LIVE! Pak withdraws Hafiz Saeed's detention request

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Sat, 14 October 2017

Pak withdraws Hafiz Saeed's detention request

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20:55 Modi to inaugurate first ever All India Institute of Ayurveda

The first ever All India Institute of Ayurveda, modelled on the lines of AIIMS, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on 'Ayurveda Day' on October 17.

Set up as an apex institute under the Ministry of AYUSH, the AIIA will bring in the synergy between traditional wisdom of Ayurveda and modern diagnostic tools and technology, Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for AYUSH, said today.

The All India Institute of Ayurveda, set up on a total area of 10.015 acres on a budget of Rs 157 crore, is the first medical institute under the AYUSH ministry to hold the coveted National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers accreditation.

"In a short time, the AIIA has gained wide national and international recognition. It has started working towards facilitating quality patient care and research, bridging gaps in scientific information about quality, safety and efficacy of Ayurveda products, and developing benchmarks of Ayurvedic education, research and healthcare," Naik said.

The Ayurvedic Standard Treatment Guidelines developed by the ministry will also be released at the inaugural function.

Nearly 1,500 participants from across the country are expected to be a part of the program.

The present clinical specialities of hospital block include neurological and degenerative disease care unit, rheumatology and musculoskeletal care unit, diabetes and metabolic/allergic disorders care unit, Yoga, Panchakarma

clinic, Kriya Kalpa, diabetic retinopathy clinic and infertility clinic.

It also has pathology, biochemistry, microbiology and radiology laboratories and diagnosis facilities.

Naik said post-graduate programme (MD/MS) in Ayurveda at AIIA started from the academic session 2016-17 and the PhD courses have been started for the session 2017-18.

The Ministry of AYUSH has requested all the state governments, Ayurveda teaching institutions, associations of Ayurveda practitioners and Ayurveda drug industries among others in India and abroad to observe 'Ayurveda Day' on October 17 and undertake various activities like organising public lectures, seminars, exhibition and radio talks.

20:26 Pak withdraws Hafiz Saeed's detention request

The Pakistan government today withdrew its request for extending the detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under the anti-terrorism law.

On January 31, Saeed and his four aides were detained by the Punjab government for 90 days under preventative detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. They have been under house arrest since then.

An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court that the government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention any more.

"The provincial government does not require extension to the detention of Saeed, his aides -- Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain -- under the anti-terrorism law. Therefore it requests the board to accept withdrawal of extension to detention of Jamaat-u-Dawah leaders," he said.

The board accepted the government's plea and disposed of the matter.

Explaining as to why the government withdrew its application, a senior official of the Punjab government told PTI that since the government has extended the detention of Saeed and four others till October 24 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 it does not require to have them house arrested under the anti-terrorism law.

He said the government was to produce Saeed and others before the review board for their detention under 11 EEE (I) and 11D of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

"But since since all five of them are detained under the public order there was no binding on the government to produce them before the review board today to seek extension to their detention," the official said.

The Punjab Home Department issued an order extending the house arrest of Jamat-d-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and four other JuD men for another 30 days with effect from September 25 under the public order. The previous detention order issued on July 28 was expired on September 25.

The last two extensions were made on the 'public order'. -- PTI

Terming the Rohingya issue as serious, a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader today said that "outsiders" should not be allowed to stay in India beyond a specific period, and suggested that a policy be formed to deal with the refugees.

More than a million Rohingya people have left Myanmar to escape the violence following military backlash against the Muslim minority after militants raided police posts on August 25. Many of the Rohingya refugees have come to India.

"No outsider should have the right to stay in the country after a definite period. This is a serious issue and the country should think deeply before allowing them in," RSS general secretary (Sarkaryawah) Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi said.

He was talking to reporters in Bhopal on the last day of the three-day meeting of the Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal, a top decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

"It should be pondered why they were expelled from Myanmar. When (the Myanmar government) realised that because of them there is a problem in the country, they expelled them," said Joshi, who is the No. 2 in the RSS hierarchy.

"Earlier too, such people came to our nation and settled in places like Hyderabad and Jammu," he said.

Joshi suggested running a background check on people coming to India in large numbers. "If we don't check the background of people coming to the country, then that will pose a threat to the nation's security."

"Those who arrived here secured Aadhaar and PAN cards and got their names included in the voters' list. They did not come to take refuge... They have come under a conspiracy," he said.

Joshi also wondered why the Rohingya did not go to their neighbouring nations like China and Indonesia. "Taking this into consideration, our country should make a policy for them."

When pointed that some people in India were backing the Rohingya refugees, he said there was a need to find out who these people were and what was their background.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today termed as a "sham" Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's recent visits to temples in Gujarat during his recent campaign tour in the poll-bound state.

Tearing into the Congress and its leadership, Adityanath also said they have no right to berate the `Gujarat model of development'.

"As far as Rahul Gandhi's visits to temples are concerned, I am surprised. Rahul Gandhi's 'pakhand' and 'dhong' (hypocrisy and sham) is not going to work," Adityanath said, speaking to reporters at Nakhatrana in Kutch during BJP's `Gaurav Yatra' election campaign.

"The same Congress was eager to destroy the Ram Setu. During a hearing in the Supreme Court, Congress government had raised question about the existence of Sri Ram and Sri Krishna," he claimed, and asked, "If the party does not believe in the existence of Sri Ram and Sri Krishna, then why Rahul Gandhi wants to take credit by visiting temples."

Ram Setu, also known as Adam's Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals between Pamban Island off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Mannar Island off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. PILs were filed in the Supreme Court in the past, demanding that it be declared a national monument.

"If the country is facing poverty, terrorism and Naxalism, then the Congress is to be held responsible for that. Congress and Rahul Gandhi have no right to discuss development; even the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has accepted the (genuineness of) development of Gujarat," he said.

The BJP government is not doing the politics of "caste and dynasty," the chief minister added.

"The BJP talks about the entire society, and the programmes that the BJP has launched under the leadership of respected Narendra-bhai (prime minister Narendra Modi) focus on farmers, villagers, poor, women and youth," he said. -- PTI

Citing the Global Hunger Index, Rahul Gandhi has attacked the government in a veiled manner, evoking a sharp reaction from Union minister Smriti Irani who said the Congress vice president was out to "malign" the

nation in his bid to run down Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gandhi tweeted a news report on the Global Hunger Index along with a Hindi couplet by poet Dushyant Kumar which read: "Bhookh hai to sabr kar, roti nahi to kya hua, aajkal dilli mein hai zer-e-behas yeh mudda (if you are hungry, be patient, what if bread is not available, the issue is being discussed in Delhi."

Irani, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Textiles, responded to Gandhi's tweet in a similar fashion.

"Ae satta ki bhookh, sabr kar, aankde sath nahi to kya, khudgarzon ko jama kar, mulk ki badnami ka shor toh macha hi lenge (hey hunger for power, be patient, what if you don't have the numbers, you can collect selfish people, noise can be made to malign the country)," she wrote.

In another tweet, the information and broadcasting minister said, "Not surprising that in his keenness to run down Hon PM, Rahul Gandhi maligns the Nation."

Along with this tweet, Irani posted a statement by Health Minister J P Nadda which read: "Facts vs Fiction on Global Hunger Index to enlighten people who are keen to run down our country by twisting facts." -- PTI

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said no power in the world can stop the government from resolving the Kashmir issue and hit out at Pakistan for its "impious" activities against India.

Singh said the NDA government has given a free hand to the Army to act against terrorists and give a befitting reply to any firing from across the border in Kashmir.

"I would like to say that nobody needs to be worried about Kashmir. No power in the world can stop us from resolving the issue," he said.

Addressing a gathering in Bardoli in Surat district as part of the BJP's 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatra', Singh attacked Pakistan saying it sends terrorists into India and wants to break the country.

"Pakistan is our neighbouring state. Its name is 'Pak'-istan, but it regularly indulges in 'napaak' (impious) activities, tries to break India and sends terrorists into India," he said.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried his best (for peaceful resolution of bilateral issues) considering that Pakistan is our neighbouring state. He even went to Pakistan breaking all protocol, but Pakistan is not refraining from its activities. This can't continue for long," he said.

The home minister said he has asked the Army to reply with bullets to Pakistani firings on the Kashmir border instead of showing the "white flag" (of peace).

"We have given a free hand to the Army. I have said you are free to act against terrorists," Singh said, adding this has resulted in a "record" number of militants being killed in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016-17.

"We do not need to tell you the numbers. Someines it is one (militant) in a day or two or four or six. The jawans of our Army keep greeting them with 'Jai Sri Ram.' It has never happened before that militants have been killed in such a large number," the Minister said. -- PTI

The Bombay high court quashed an order passed by a college expelling a computer engineering student, observing that an FIR cannot be treated as "gospel truth" and cannot be a reason for expulsion.

A division bench of Justices B R Gavai and S K Shinde quashed and set aside an August 5 order passed by Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management and Engineering College affiliated to Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies expelling the 21-year-old student.

The order expelling the student was passed after an FIR was lodged against him in June for allegedly raping and cheating a girl under the false pretext of marriage.

The student approached the high court challenging the institute's order on the ground that he was not given an opportunity to put forth his case.

The bench earlier this week after hearing the parties concerned concluded that the institute had admittedly acted upon the FIR lodged against the petitioner and expelled him without holding any enquiry.

"In other words, the petitioner has been punished and kept away from pursuing further studies without a hearing given to him. Thus, the order of the institute was in violation of principles of natural justice," the court said.

"We are also of the view that, registration of a crime cannot be taken as a gospel truth and held out to be a foundation to expel the petitioner," it noted.

The bench said the petitioner had not indulged in illegal activities in the campus of the institute.

"No doubt, the offence registered against the petitioner is serious in nature, however, the fact remains that the institute expelled the petitioner merely on the ground that FIR is being registered against him by the complainant who is no way concerned with the institute," it said.

"In our view, if the impugned orders are not quashed, would certainly harm his career, which cannot be compensated in terms of money or otherwise. The petitioner cannot therefore be made to suffer the consequences merely on the basis of the allegations made against him and that too, before trial," the court said.

The bench while quashing the order directed the institute to admit the petitioner to resume his studies and condone any deficiency in attendance from the time the order of expelling him was passed till date. -- PTI

Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party after its victory in Bhandup civic bypoll, the Shiv Sena today said power and money are being used to 'muzzle' opposition's voice and elections are being won through 'corrupt' means.

"An environment is being created in the country where voices of political opposition are being stifled. All possible corrupt means are being used to win elections.

"Power and money are being used to muzzle the opposition's voice. This kind of environment is dangerous for the country, democracy and freedom," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

Though Sena is part of the ruling BJP-led coalition in Maharashtra and at th centre, it has been critical of its ally on a number of issues.

The party claimed that in the run-up to the Nanded-Waghala municipal corporation polls held recently, the BJP had 'poached' corporators from the Congress and Shiv Sena, in a bid to decimate its Opposition.

The Congress won 73 of the 81 seats in the civic polls in Nanded, the home turf of senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. The BJP bagged six seats, while the Uddhav Thackeray-led party managed to win a single seat.

The Shiv Sena, which has been ruling the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for two decades and continues to be at the helm of affairs right now, lost the Bhandup bypoll to BJP nominee Jagruti Patil on Thursday.

"Power is being used to induct people from other parties and field them to win elections. Is BJP's victory in Bhandup bypoll pure? The Congress corporator there had died (which necessitated the poll), but a Congress family was 'adopted' and fielded in the by-election," the Sena said.

Taking potshots at the BJP, the Sena said that for an old party, which follows a set of principles and has intellectual and learned people in it, borrowing candidates to win elections is not a good sign.

"A Chinese company is making the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. In Ayodhya, instead of Ram Mandir, Lord Ram's statue will be built on Saryu river. Similarly, people from other parties are being inducted and celebrations are being held.

"Although this move (of poaching members from other parties) to eliminate political rivals is a clever one, those celebrating the Bhandup bypoll victory should not forget that it will surely backfire like a 'benami' property," the Sena said.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday sought report from the Karnataka government on issue of deaths in Bengaluru due to potholes and rains, said Congress sources.

Earlier last week, four people died in accidents caused by the potholes.

On October 2, a couple were run over by a bus when the husband, Anthony Joseph, 55, tried to negotiate a pothole on the Mysore Road flyover.

Last Sunday, 47-year-old Radha Ajanappa was run over by a truck near Nayandahalli.

Earlier on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party marched to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike office demanding action against road department officials.

Ahead of joint naval drill by the United States and South Korea, North Korea is believed to be preparing to launch a ballistic missile, a Korean daily reported.

The Donga Ilbo daily, quoting a government source, said satellite pictures show ballistic missiles mounted on launchers being transported out of hangars near Pyongyang and in the North Phyongan Province.

The US navy said on Friday that a US aircraft carrier will lead the drill in the coming week, a fresh show of force against North Korea as tensions soar over the hermit state's weapons programme.

The move will likely rile Pyongyang which has previously responded angrily to joint exercises.

13:40 UP staring at drought: State chief secretary

Uttar Pradesh is staring at a drought and officials have been asked to publicise ways to preserve moisture in the soil and fill all ponds with water, state chief secretary Rajive Kumar has said.

"Keeping in mind a possible drought, all divisional commissioners and district magistrates have been instructed to co-ordinate with respective departments on a priority basis, and take necessary action in this regard," Kumar said in a statement issued yesterday.

He directed officials to ensure all ponds are filled with water as soon as possible and that canals are not diverted.

Kumar also asked them to ensure adequate fodder for animals, and medicines and other resources at veterinary hospitals. -- PTI

13:05

Uttar Pradesh's Mughalsarai railway station renamed to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay railway station. -- ANI

12:48 Nitish's commitment towards Bihar is commendable: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today heaped praise on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the centenary celebrations of the Patna University.

At the event, the PM also urged youngsters to think about innovative solutions to the problems.

Here are some highlights of his speech:-

- India is a youthful nation, blessed with youthful aspirations. Our youngsters can do a lot for the nation and the world.

- As youngsters, I urge you to think about innovative solutions to the problems faced by people around you. Through what you learnt and the Start up sector there is a lot you can do for society.

- A nation seen as a land of snake charmers has distinguished itself in the IT sector.

- Living in an era of globalisation, we need to understand the changing trends across the world and the increased spirit of competitiveness. In that context India has to make its place in the world.

- From conventional teaching, our universities need to move towards innovative learning.

- Bihar is blessed with both 'Gyaan' and 'Ganga.' This land has a legacy that is unique.

- The commitment of Nitish Kumar towards the progress of Bihar is commendable. We in the Centre attach topmost importance to the development of eastern India.

- In every state, the top levels of the civil services has people who have studied in Patna University. In Delhi, I interact with so many officials, many of whom belong to Bihar.

- I consider it my honour to visit Patna University and be among the students. I bow to this land of Bihar. This university has nurtured students who have contributed greatly to the nation.

- In 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of Independence, Bihar should be among prosperous states of the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today shared the stage with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the first time after the the Janata Dal-United returned to the National Democratic Alliance fold.

Modi attended the centenary celebrations of the Patna University along with Kumar.

"It is a day of great honour that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is present for Patna University's centenary celebrations," Kumar said addressing the gathering.

Earlier, the prime minister was welcomed by Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik and the chief minister among others at the Patna airport from where he drove straight to the Patna Science College campus.

He will also launch development projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore during his visit.

This is the prime minister's first full-fledged official tour to the state since the BJP became a part of the ruling coalition in Bihar in July this year after Kumar-led JD-U snapped its alliance with Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress.

In August, Modi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had made an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts of Bihar.

The special investigation team probing journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder today released sketches of the suspected killers.

The police have appealed to public to help them nab the suspects.

"Based on information, we have made sketches.We want cooperation from people," BK Singh, Police SIT Chief said at a press conference.

The probe team has also released a video of the suspects that they obtained during the investigation.

Gauri Lankesh, known to be an anti-establishment voice with strident anti-right wing views, was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home in Bengaluru on the night of September 5.

The killing had led to national outrage and protests by several groups over "rising intolerance" in the country and attempts to muzzle dissent with the criticism targeted at the Modi government and right wing groups.

11:38 PM arrives in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Bihar to attend Patna University's centenary celebrations and inaugurate four sewage treatment plants in Mokama.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar received the PM at the Patna Airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the centenary celebrations of Patna University today, and will also lay the foundation stone of four sewerage projects under Namami Gange and four national highway projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore in Mokama.

These projects include a six-lane bridge over the Ganga.

The prime minister will also address a public meeting in Mokama in the afternoon.

The four national highway projects for which the foundation stone will be laid include four laning of Aunta-Simaria section and Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31.

In addition, a foundation stone will also be laid for the two-lane construction of Maheshkhunt-Saharsa-Purnea section of NH 107 and the Biharsharif-Barbigha-Mokama section of NH 82.

10:16 Kejriwal's missing WagonR found in Ghaziabad

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's creaky blue Wagon R, which was stolen from outside the Delhi Secretariat two days ago, has been found abandoned in Ghaziabad, the police said today.

The humble hatchback, which Kejriwal drove around in his early political career and which helped cement his position as the "aam aadmi", was being used by an AAP functionary before it was stolen.

The Delhi police said their counterparts in Ghaziabad got in touch with them regarding the car. "A blue WagonR has been found abandoned by the Ghaziabad police and we think it is the chief minister's car," said a senior police officer.

The police are verifying its engine and chassis numbers. Kejriwal had written a letter to Lt Governor Anil Baijal yesterday, saying the theft points towards the rapidly "deteriorating" law and order situation in the national capital.

The incident had outraged AAP workers, many of whom posted videos of Kejriwal using the car, especially on Republic Day in 2014, after he became the chief minister of Delhi for the first time.

The car was witness to two assembly election wins in 2013 and 2015 and also to the party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls.

It was "donated" to Kejriwal by Kundan Sharma, a software engineer, in January 2013. However, when Kejriwal parted ways with his then party colleagues Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, Sharma demanded that the vehicle be returned.

Even after Kejriwal became the chief minister in December 2013, he refused to use an official car and preferred his old WagonR.

Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters.

Two Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists, including top commander Waseem Shah, were today killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Security forces launched an operation in Litter area of Pulwama this morning following information about the presence of the terrorists in the area, a police official said.

The ultras opened fire on security forces to which the law enforcement personnel retaliated, he said.

The other slain terrorist has been identified as Nisar Ahmed Mir.

Continuing her humanitarian gesture, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has announced that two Pakistani nationals will be given visa for undergoing liver transplant surgeries in India.

The minister said she has asked the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad to give visa to Naseem Akhtar, a Pakistani woman, for her liver transplant surgery in India.

Swaraj's intervention came after Akhtar's son requested for her help. "I have asked Indian high commissioner to give visa for your mother's liver transplant surgery in India," the external affairs minister said in a tweet.

Swaraj said another visa was being granted to Pakistani national Shabbir Ahmed Shah who also required a liver transplant surgery.

"We are giving visa for your father's liver transplant surgery in India," she said on Twitter.

Shah's son Ali Asadullah had earlier requested Swaraj on the social media platform to issue visa to his father for his treatment in India.

Swaraj has been sympathetically considering medical visa applications from scores of Pakistani nationals notwithstanding a strain in the relationship between the two countries over a host of issues, including cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

08:50 Rs 22 lakh stolen from BJP MP's home

Burglars have decamped with more than Rs 22 lakh from the official residence of BJP's Moradabad MP Sarvesh Kumar Singh, the police said.

The incident happened on Wednesday and was reported to the police the next morning.

Neither the MP nor his family members was present at the home when the incident happened, the police said.

When the MP's son returned to the home, he saw the place ransacked and the money stolen, they said. He informed the police and a case was registered at the Parliament Street police station, a senior police official said.

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who has been on a multi-city promotional spree for Secret Superstar, recently organised a special screening of the film for veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani in Delhi.

Advani attended the event with his daughter and her friends, where he was warmly greeted by the actor.

Secret Superstar, also starring Zaira Wasim, received a standing ovation at the special screening. Seemingly, the film largely impacted Advani, as he was seen discussing the film at length with the Dangal star.

Produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao under the banner Aamir Khan Productions, Zee Studios, and Akash Chawla, Secret Superstar is written and directed by Advait Chandan. The film is slated to release on October 19, 2017.

You can read what the superstar has to say about his latest release, here.

08:24 LeT terrorist killed in encounter

Just In: Top Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Waseem Shah killed in an encounter in Pulwama in Kashmir, says police.

India has the potential to grow at a reasonably high level in the next decade or two, owing to some structural changes by the government and a turnaround in the global economy, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

The whole environment of doing business has changed in a matter of months, Jaitley told a Washington, DC, audience at an event organised by the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum.

"India has the potential to grow at a reasonably high level in the next one-two decades. This is mainly because of the series of structural reforms being carried out by the government, turnaround in the global economy, and the massive investment opportunity that the infrastructure sector offers," said Jaitley.

"I am certain that now that the growth is returning back to the world, the future holds an important direction as far as India is concerned. The sheer size of the country and economy would offer huge opportunity for investment in India in the next few years," he said.

Jaitley said that when the BJP government came to power in 2014, it had the choice to look the other way and allow the shadow economy to continue.

"But it did not do so, as it took a series of courageous steps which ultimately culminated in demonetisation of high-value currency," the finance minister said.

The government knew that there would be short-term impact on the economy, Jaitley said, "but, in the long term, it would benefit the country," he told a gathering of investors and corporate leaders.

FICCI President Pankaj Patel on Friday slammed the Reserve Bank of India over its reluctance to cut interest rate, saying its policies were "not industry-friendly" and posed a hurdle in the country's economic growth.

In its latest monetary policy review on October 4, the RBI had kept the policy rate unchanged at 6 per cent even as it cut the growth forecast to 6.7 per cent for the current fiscal.

Patel said such a move was "anti-growth". "RBI is not behaving properly. It (RBI policy) is anti-growth," Patel told a group of Indian reporters in Washington, DC.

Indian industry, Patel said, wishes that there be a drop in interest rates, on which, he said, the RBI has adopted a rigid approach.

"We want a drop in interest rate. This (interest rate) is a huge problem now for us. Real interest rate in India today is touching six percent," he said, arguing that there should be balance between growth, inflation, and interest rates.

"Inflation is necessary irrespective of growth. There has been no growth without inflation," a visibly upset Patel said, adding that his views were known to the RBI and the government.

Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi and his wife Zarina Wahab filed a criminal defamation complaint against Kangana Ranaut in a Mumbai court today.

They filed the complaint against the actress and her sister Rangoli at the Andheri magistrate's court, the actor said.

"Yes, we have filed a criminal defamation case...we have also kept the option of filing a civil defamation suit open," Pancholi told PTI.

Kangana had alleged in the past that she was in an abusive relationship with Pancholi, when she was a newbie in Bollywood.

Pancholi claimed that the actress had been maligning him for years, but when she named him and spoke in a derogatory manner about him on television, he decided to file the complaint.

"Kangana and her sister Rangoli dragged my wife, son and daughter (into the matter) which was not good. I am concerned about myself and my family," he said.

"I can't be called a woman-beater or an abuser or (accused of) the image that she has given me. I am not going to sit back and take all of this," Pancholi added.

"She does not have any proof about the complaint that she is talking about in TV interviews. The onus is on her to prove things now," the actor said.

He and Zarina had, a few days ago, issued a legal notice to Kangana and Rangoli demanding an unconditional apology, but they did not give a satisfactory reply, Pancholi added.

The 'Simran' actress was in news recently due to certain developments in the ongoing feud between her and fellow Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan.

Kangana had alleged that she was in a relationship with Hrithik, but the latter had denied any off-screen romance between the two of them. Both have slapped legal notices against each other.

When contacted, Kangana's lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee said, "My client, who has been a victim in the entire episode, has largely spoken about her personal experiences and it has been reported on various media platforms since 2007.

"Besides, the law of the land does not give any added advantage to any male person to silence any (victim) woman with the threat of filing defamation proceedings against her." -- PTI

Image: Aditya Pancholi and his wife Zarina Wahab arrive at the Andheri Court in Mumbai on Friday to file a defamation case against Kangana Ranaut. Photograph: PTI Photo

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