LIVE! Emergency quietly approaching, should we keep silent: Uddhav

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Tue, 20 November 2018

Emergency quietly approaching, should we keep silent: Uddhav

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23:39 Emergency quietly approaching, should we keep silent: Uddhav

Emergency is 'quietly approaching', Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday in an apparent dig at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Sena is an ally of the BJP in the Maharashtra and Union governments but the two saffron allies have continually engaged in a war of words on several state and national issues.

Thackeray was speaking to reporters after attending two functions in the city.

Responding to a query, Thackeray said journalists should not shy away from using harsh words while criticising, adding that if the intention of such criticism was pure, it was not an issue.

"However, Emergency is quietly approaching today. Should we be silent," Thackeray asked.

In a swipe at the BJP, Thackeray said the Babri demolition case was reopened during Presidential elections and now the Ram temple issue is being raised before the Lok Sabha polls.

While Thackeray did not name anybody, he was apparently referring to senior BJP leader LK Advani who was widely tipped as a front-runner for the post of President in July 2017 before a Supreme Court ruling in April that year on the Babri masjid demolition case effectively ruled him out of the race.

On April 19, 2017, the Supreme Court had said Advani, along with Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti, would be prosecuted for serious offence of criminal conspiracy in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case and had ordered day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years, that is by April 19, 2019.

Thackeray on Tuesday also said that he would visit Ayodhya on November 25 but he had not yet decided if he would hold a rally there.

In a bid to intensify his party's campaign for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Thackeray has given a new slogan-- 'pehle mandir, fir sarkaar'.

"Everybody has to come together to construct Ram temple. I have nothing to say to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) now. I will decide whether to hold a rally (in Ayodhya) or not," Thackeray said.

The VHP, on November 10, had announced that it would hold a rally on November 25 in Ayodhya to press for the construction of the Ram temple. -- PTI

The Punjab Police has found striking similarities between the modus operandi of the perpetrators of the grenade attack at a Nirankari congregation in Amritsar and the one allegedly planned by an Inter-Services Intelligence-backed terror module busted in Patiala early this month.

The Punjab Police had nabbed on November 1 Shabnamdeep Singh alias Maninder Lahoria, who 'confessed' to the police that he was asked by his Pakistani handlers to target police posts and crowded places during festivals.

Besides a motorcycle, Lahoria was found in possession of a pistol and a hand grenade - the weapons used by the two perpetrators of the Sunday grenade attack, in which two motorcycle-borne assailants had barged into the Amritsar Nirankari Bhawn, brandishing a pistol and lobbed a grenade at devotees, pointed out police officials.

Lahoria was also found having letter pads of 'Khalistan Gadar Force' and other terror outfits, said police officials, probing the Amritsar grenade attack.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had Monday described the grenade attack as a suspected handiwork of the ISI-backed terror modules.

"Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups," Singh had said.

"There are a lot of similarities between Amritsar grenade attack and what Lahoria had planned to do in the state," a senior official of Punjab police said on Tuesday, adding Lahoria too had planned to spread terror by lobbing a hand grenade at a crowded place.

Lahoria, who was arrested from Patiala, has confessed that he was getting instructions from his handlers in Pakistan and was promised Rs 10 lakh for each act of violence, the police official said.

The Punjab police also suspects the involvement of Pakistan-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) leader Harmeet Singh alias 'PhD' in the Amritsar grenade attack.

Harmeet Singh had been accused of radicalising youths in Punjab through social media, an official said.

"Pakistan-based handlers seek to radicalise youths here through internet to incite them to spread terror in Punjab," the officials added.

Initial investigations into the Amritsar case suggested the grenade used in the attack was similar to the ones manufactured by Pakistani army ordinance factories, the Punjab CM had said on Monday, adding that the government has taken serious note of the incident and was 'aggressively pursuing all angles of investigation'.

Asked if the police had been able to get any clue about the duo behind the Amritsar grenade attack, a police official said, "We are on the job."

The state government has already announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh for anyone providing information, leading to the duo's arrest.

Radical outfit Dal Khalsa's spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh, meanwhile, claimed in Amritsar Tuesday that two persons -- Paramjit Singh Mand and Gurjant Singh -- have been asked to appear before police.

While accusing the police of not following the legal procedure in summoning people, Kanwarpal Singh said the police came to their houses in wee hours of Tuesday and told them to appear before it.

The Dal Khalsa spokesperson claimed Mand has been asked to appear before Batala SSP while Gurjant was taken in custody.

He also claimed several more youths have been summoned by the police for questioning in connection with the grenade attack.

The Bathinda police, meanwhile, inspected over 190 paying guest accommodations at Ajit Road to keep a check on anti-social elements.

"Nothing incriminating has been found," said Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh.

He said two persons who were earlier detained during the checking were released after nothing suspicious was found on them.

In Ludhiana, the Government Railway Police pasted posters of Zakir Musa, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir-based terror outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Earlier his posters were put up in Gurdaspur district.

Last month, Punjab police had arrested three Kashmiri students of Jalandhar's CT Institute of Engineering, Management and Technology, allegedly linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

The police had also recovered weapons, including an assault rifle, from them.

In the wake of Amritsar grenade attack, the Punjab Police has beefed up security arrangements in the state and stepped up highway-patrolling and checking of key installations and busy places. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said his party didn't accept a Congress offer for an alliance in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls because the Rahul Gandhi-led party was not ready to include the Bahujan Samaj Party in the proposed coalition.

Criticising the Congress, Yadav said its policies were responsible for the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He said that Congress would have 'won' more than 200 seats out of 230 in the November 28 elections in Madhya Pradesh had it tied-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party, the SP and the Gondwana Gantantra Party.

BSP chief Mayawati had in October announced that her party would contest Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assembly polls alone and had accused the Congress of being 'arrogant' and not being interested in fighting the BJP.

It was seen as a setback for the Congress which has been trying to rally opposition forces to forge an anti-BJP front.

"The Congress doesn't give us any importance. That party was ready to allot seats to SP in Madhya Pradesh elections. However, we told them that the election is going to be a big battle and we need to include the BSP in the alliance, but the Congress was not ready. So, our alliance could not materialise," Yadav told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday after the launch of his party's poll manifesto.

The SP chief's remarks come in the backdrop of the arch-rivals SP and BSP coming together against the BJP in Uttar Pradesh bypolls earlier this year to wrest two important Lok Sabha seats -- Gorakhpur and Phulpur -- from the saffron party.

Yadav has been maintaining that an alliance with the BSP will be formed in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha, to defeat the BJP in the 2019 general elections.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister hit out at the Congress for failing to form an alliance in the state and said its policies were 'responsible for the rise of the BJP in the country's politics'.

"The Congress would have won more than 200 seats in the November 28 elections had it tied-up with the BSP, SP and GGP. But by not forging an alliance with us, the Congress has given us an opportunity to criticise them," Yadav quipped.

The SP is contesting 51 of the total 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh.

In 2013 assembly elections, the SP had drawn a blank.

Earlier in September, Mayawati had tied up with Ajit Jogi's party in Chhattisgarh where the BJP has been in power for 15 years.

Meanwhile, Yadav refused to comment on the demand for construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, saying the issue is 'sub judice'.

Attacking the BJP, Yadav alleged the saffron party 'takes refuge in caste, Ram temple etc. when it is cornered on issues like demonetisation, GST (Goods and Services Tax) and its poll promise to create two crore jobs'.

Yadav also took a dig at the BJP over its electoral promise to provide free scooty to meritorious girl students in Madhya Pradesh.

"The BJP manifesto talked about giving scooty to girls but is silent on (prices of) petrol," he said.

Yadav alleged that "40,000 farmers have committed suicide under the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh". -- PTI

At least 40 people were killed in an explosion at a meeting of top clerics in Kabul on Tuesday, officials said, in one of the deadliest attacks to strike the Afghan capital in months.

Another 60 people were wounded in the blast, health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said, which targeted an Ulema Council gathering at a wedding hall to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday.

"Initial information suggests it was caused by a suicide bomber," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.

He said the number of dead and wounded was 'more than 50' so far.

According to reports, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering. -- Agencies

Image only for representation.

Pakistan has issued visas to over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims to participate in the birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev there from November 21-30.

These visas are in addition to those issued to Sikh pilgrims participating in the event from other countries, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi said in a statement on Tuesday.

'This is by far the largest number of visas issued in recent years to Sikh yatrees for Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrations, well beyond the maximum number of 3000, mutually agreed between the two countries for this event,' the statement said.

Under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions every year, it said.

According to Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood, this was a 'special gesture' by the Pakistan government in view of Guru Nanak's 550th anniversary celebrations commencing from this year.

"We extend profound felicitations to our brothers and sisters celebrating this auspicious occasion and wish all yatrees a spiritually fulfilling yatra," he said. -- PTI

Devotees opposing the entry of women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala temple on Tuesday raised a banner of protest following rumours that a young couple reached Erumeli for visiting the hill shrine.

However, the issue was resolved when the couple from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh informed the protesters that they were not going to Sabarimala, officials said.

Devotees, comprising women in large numbers, had assembled at Erumeli, about 50 km from the hill shrine, following information that the couple were travelling in a Sabarimala-bound Kerala state transport corporation bus.

The devotees started their protest when the bus reached the station here. Police threw a security ring around the duo.

Protesters followed them when they went to the Erumeli temple to offer prayers. Erumeli is an important pilgrim centre associated with the Lord Ayyappa hill shrine.

The couple left for Chengannur in Alappuzha district after informing protesters that they came to Kerala to offer prayers in various temples.

They said they had no plans to visit the Sabarimala temple. -- PTI

The Delhi Police has on Tuesday registered a first information report against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's ex-Delhi University Students' Union president Ankiv Baisoya, for allegedly furnishing a fake degree to get admission in the Delhi University.

The university authorities had filed a police complaint in connection with the matter on Monday.

According to the complaint filed by K T S Sarao, the head of the Buddhist Studies department, Baisoya had appeared in the entrance examination conducted nationally by the university for admission in the masters course.

"After qualifying in this examination, Baisoya took admission in MA Buddhist Studies, Part I, and submitted six marksheets of six semesters of Bachelor of Arts degree from Thiruvalluvar University.

"The basic qualification for admission to MA (Buddhist Studies) is a bachelor's degree from any recognised university," Sarao said in the complaint.

According to the complaint, in a written response to a request from Sarao for verification of these marksheets, the controller of examinations of Thiruvalluvar University has said that each of these marksheets submitted by Baisoya 'is not genuine. It is a fake certifcate'.

"On the basis of verifcation report received from the Controller of Examinations Thiruvalluvar University, admission of Baisoya was cancelled on November 14," Sarao said.

Baisoya, who was elected the DUSU president in September, resigned from his post on November 15 after the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) reportedly asked him to do so. He has also been suspended from the students' outfit till an inquiry into the allegations is complete. -- PTI

The income tax department Tuesday said quoting of father's name in PAN application forms will not be mandatory in cases where mother of the applicant is a single parent.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes through a notification amended the income tax rules and said the application forms would give an option to the applicant as to whether mother is a single parent and the applicant wishes to furnish the name of mother only.

Currently, furnishing father's name is mandatory for the allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN).

The new rules would come into effect from December 5.

Nangia Advisors LLP Partner Suraj Nangia said that through the notification, the tax department has addressed the concerns of those persons whose mother is a single parent and, hence, would want to get their mother's name printed on PAN cards instead of the estranged/ deceased father.

The notification has also made it mandatory for entities that have made financial transactions worth Rs 2.5 lakh or more in a financial year to apply for a PAN card.

The application has to be filed on or before May 31 of the assessment year for which such income is assessable.

Nangia said that now, the resident entities shall have to obtain PAN even if the total sales/ turnover/ gross receipts are not or are not likely to exceed Rs 5 lakh in a financial year.

"This will help the income tax department track financial transaction, broaden its tax base and prevent tax evasion," Nangia added. -- PTI

20:10 Ashes of Ananth Kumar immersed in Ganga

The ashes of Union Minister Ananth Kumar were immersed in the Ganga at Haridwar on Tuesday in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and his cabinet colleague Madan Kaushik.

The chief minister said Kumar was a true well-wisher of Uttarakhand.

Terming the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) inaugurated at Doiwala in July as a big project given to the state by the Bangalore South MP, Rawat said giving 833 acres free of cost to Uttarakhand, a plastic recycling unit in Doiwala, approval for Plastic Medical Devices Park in Sitarganj and approval of 100 additional centres for generic medicines in the state reflected the late minister's special attachment to Uttarakhand.

"He will always remain in the hearts and memories of the people of Uttarakhand," Rawat said. -- PTI

India and Russia on Tuesday sealed a $500 million deal for construction of two missile frigates in Goa for the Indian Navy, sending a clear signal of continuing with high-level defence collaborations notwithstanding the United Sstates warnings of sanctions.

Officials said the agreement for manufacturing of the two Talvar-class warships was signed between defence PSU Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Russia's state-run defence major Rosoboronexport under the government-to-government framework for defence cooperation.

Under the deal, Russia will provide design, technology know how and key materials to GSL for construction of the ships in India.

The ships will be fitted with most advanced missiles and other weapon systems, they said.

"We have finalised a $500 million deal with Russia for construction of two warships in Goa," CMD of GSL Shekhar Mital told PTI.

He said construction of the ships will begin in 2020 and the first one will be ready for induction in 2026 while second one will be ready by 2027.

The two sides already finalised another deal amounting to around $1 billion under which Russia will supply two frigates to India by 2023.

Tuesday's agreement came nearly six weeks after India signed an agreement with Russia to buy a batch of S-400 air defence missile systems at a cost of around $5 billion. India is going ahead with mega defence deals with Russia disregarding warnings by the US of sanctions.

The Trump administration has put several Russian firms under sanctions under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

The US said countries engaged with Russia's defence firms may also face actions under CAATSA.

India has been hoping to get a waiver from the US on the deals it was signing with Russia. Russia has been India's largest defence supplier. The defence and security cooperation has been on an upswing between the two countries in the last few years.

Yesterday, Russian defence major Rosoboronexport emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army's tender for procurement of a batch of short-range air defence missile systems, official sources said Monday.

The other contenders for the deal were Swedish firm SAAB and French military firm MBDA. The size of the contract is likely to be around $3 billion. -- PTI

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday left for Kuala Lumpur on a two-day official visit to Malaysia where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an International Monetary Fund bailout package.

Prime Minister Khan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Radio Pakistan reported.

This is Khan's first bilateral visit to Malaysia after assuming office in August. Prime Minister Khan and his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks, the Foreign Office said.

The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the Foreign Office said in a statement last week.

Khan's visit 'would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit,' the statement said.

Pakistan was facing a $12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year.

The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the International Monetary Fund by getting loans from 'friendly' countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials in Islamabad believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions.

On Sunday, Khan visited the United Arab Emirates where he held talks with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and discussed matters of bilateral, regional and mutual interest, amid reports that the Gulf country is ready to extend financial assistance to Pakistan.

Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide $6 billion in aid to Pakistan.

Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a $6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. -- PTI

A lawyer for Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman recently acquitted of blasphemy charges after eight years on death row in Pakistan, says she would like to leave her homeland for any western country willing to issue visas for her and her family.

Lawyer Saiful Malook told reporters in Frankfurt on Tuesday that the failure of any country to offer to take them is why Bibi and her family haven't already left Pakistan.

Malook said that for Bibi, who is currently at a secret location in Pakistan, 'any western country would be acceptable'.

Pakistan's Supreme Court judges on October 21 acquitted the 54-year-old mother-of-five of blasphemy charges, but her case has inflamed radical Islamists some of whom are calling for her death. -- Agencies

Lawyer Saiful Malook told reporters in Frankfurt on Tuesday that the failure of any country to offer to take them is why Bibi and her family haven't already left Pakistan.

Malook said that for Bibi, who is currently at a secret location in Pakistan, 'any western country would be acceptable'.

The ancestral house of late Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi's family at Thirukuvalai village near Tiruvarur has suffered damage in the 'Gaja' cyclone, officials said on Tuesday.

A tree in front of the house got uprooted and fell on the house damaging the tiled roof and a name board, they said.

The house is being maintained as a memorial and a library.

The cyclone crossed the Tamil Nadu coast near Vedaranyam in neighbouring Nagapattinam district on November 16 causing extensive damage and claiming 46 lives. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked people to vote intelligently in the November 28 assembly poll, asking them to ensure that 'not even a single Congress candidate' is elected.

Addressing a poll rally in Rewa, Modi reminded voters that Madhya Pradesh has a 'double-engine' as Bharatiya Janata Party is in power in the state and the Centre.

Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said, "History proves that no dynasty prevails after its fourth generation rule in Delhi and Congress will also meet the same fate."

Modi urged people to think for a moment before voting about what the Congress has done for them compared to 15 years of BJP rule in the state.

Asking people to be active participants in development process, Modi said, "If people work for 10 hours, then I will work for 11 hours for the country's progress."

Modi credited Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan with developing the state.

"He is in power for the last 15 years but effectively got only four-and-a-half years as during rest of the period, the state always fought with the Centre for its rights in the United Progressive Alliance-led regime at the Centre," he said.

"In 55 years (of Congress rule), only 30 MW green energy was generated (in the state) while in our 15-year rule, 4,000 MW renewable energy is being generated," he said. -- PTI

Chhattisgarh poll update: 64.8 per cent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in the second phase of polls.

A total of 1,079 candidates, including 119 women, are contesting in 72 constituencies of the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596.

The figure stood at nearly 25.2 per cent till 12.30pm.

The first phase of the polls in 18 seats of eight Naxal- hit districts last week had recorded over 76-per-cent voter turnout.

This is the last of the two-phase polls to the 90-member assembly, where the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power for the last 15 years.

The time of polling is from 8 am to 5 pm in all booths except two- Amamora (booth no.72) and Modh (no.76) in Bindranavgarh constituency in Gariaband district, where voting is being held from 7 am to 3 pm due to the Naxal issue, an official informed.

There were reports of technical snag in EVMs at some places which delayed the polling, he said.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has removed a presiding officer and a polling staff deployed at different polling booths in Marwahi constituency of Bilaspur district following the receipt of complaints against them. -- ANI, PTI

17:26 Woman Naxal gunned down in Sukma

A woman Naxal was on Tuesday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said.

The firefight took place in the afternoon near Burdhapara village under Fulbagdi police station limits when security personnel were out on an anti-Naxal operation, Deputy Inspector General (Anti-Naxal Operation) Sundarraj P told PTI.

A combined squad of the state's Special Task Force (STF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was cordoning off a forest area near Burdhapara, located around 500 kilometres away from the capital, Raipur, when Naxals opened fire, he said.

After a brief exchange of fire with the security forces, the ultras fled the spot, the DIG said.

The woman ultra, identified as Hemla Ayathi, was a member of Badesetti local organisation squad (LOS) of Maoists.

Her body was recovered from the spot, he said.

The search operation was still underway in the region and further details were awaited, the DIG added.

A Naxal, identified as Chinga, who was a 'deputy commander' of 'Kerlapal area committee' of the Maoist outfit, was killed in an encounter in the same Fulbagdi area of Sukma on Monday. -- PTI

The Delhi Patiala House Court has sentenced one of two convicts Yashpal Singh to death for his role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The other convict, Naresh Sherawat was given the life sentence. Both were convicted on November 15 for killing two young Sikhs in Delhi's Mahipalpur area after the assassination of erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

This is the first death sentence awarded in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh were held guilty of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh. The complaint against the two was filed by Hardev Singh's brother, Santokh Singh. Even though the Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for lack of evidence. However, it was further investigated by a Special Investigation Team.

As per a report, the SIT said in a statement that it was a "brutal murder of two innocent young persons aged around 25 each. It was a planned murder since the accused were carrying kerosene oil, sticks etc."

Actor Preity Zinta, who has been receiving backlash for her views on #MeToo movement, released her statement on the movement and aplogised for unintentionally hurting sentiments of people.

In her statement, the 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' star said, "I am a huge supporter of the movement and its unfortunate that some of my comments were taken out of context. I recognise that everyone is in a position to fight back and I don't want to marginalise the women that have been abused."

Referring to her own #MeToo experience, Preity said that it also happened to her and she reacted to it strongly.

"My reason for saying this 'I wish something like this would have happened to me, I would have reacted to it and much layer, when it did happen, I did react and the whole world saw it," she stated.

The #MeToo movement, which began in Hollywood more than a year ago, gathered steam in India after actor Tanushree Dutta accused co-star Nana Patekar of allegedly harassing her on the sets of 'Horn Ok Pleassss' in 2008.

Since then, women from various walks of life, especially the media and entertainment industry have levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against Subhash Ghai, Alok Nath, Vikas Bahl, Kailash Kher, Chetan Bhagat, Sajid Khan, among others even as they all have denied the charge. -- ANI

In a massive breach of security Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was attacked with chilli powder just outside his office at the Delhi Secretariat today. Early reports say the men accosted the CM, yanked off his glasses and threw a matchbox full of chilli powder into Kejriwal's face. Kejriwal is being treated by doctors right now.

A man, Anil Kumar, has been detained. The attack took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch.
Further details are awaited.

Image: The chilli powder on the floor inside the secretariat. Pic courtesy: @AnkitLal

The public row between the ministry of finance and the Reserve Bank of India has been making news. The media have reported statements, and unearthed similar rows that occurred earlier. They have also pointed out that the Reserve Bank of India Act gives the finance ministry unlimited power to bend the RBI to its will. If that is so, what both sides say does not matter: if push comes to shove, the finance minister can dismiss the dissenting governor and deputy governor and put his own yes-men in their place. In that case, the merits of the contretemps are irrelevant; the finance minister will win -- unless he realizes his error or sees that display of muscle would do his image no good. He is not known for backing down or changing his mind, so the likely outcome seems boringly clear.

Read Ashok V Desai's column here.

Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj has declared that she will not contest the 2019 general election.

"It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest the next elections," said the Union minister for external affairs told reporters in Indore.

She said she had informed her party.

Sushma is the Lok Sabha MP from Vidisha from Madhya Pradesh.

14:48 SC changes date of hearing 2nd time to Nov 29

The Supreme Court Tuesday adjourned the hearing on CBI Director Alok Verma's plea challenging the government's decision to divest him of his duties, expressing anguish over the alleged leak of his response to a CVC report.

The court, while adjourning the hearing to November 29, also expressed displeasure over publication of graft allegations by CBI DIG M K Sinha against senior officers. The top court adjourned the matter twice, soon after the hearing began and again later in the day.

Irked over the alleged leak of Verma's confidential response to the Central Vigilance Commission's findings on corruption charges against him, the top court said none of "you deserve any hearing". "We don't think any of you deserve any hearing," Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, adjourning the matter for the first time. However, the court agreed to hear Verma's plea after finishing the day's hearing after his lawyers Fali S Nariman and Gopal Shankaranarayanan mentioned the case again before a bench headed by Gogoi.

The CBI director in his plea has challenged the government's decision of divesting him of his duties and sending him on leave. Later, the bench recommenced the hearing, making it clear at the outset that it was not going to hear any party and would confine itself to the issues red flagged by it.

Miffed over the alleged leak in a media portal, the bench, which also comprised justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, said it wanted to keep Verma's response confidential to maintain the CBI's dignity. Taking umbrage of various media reports based on the petition filed by Sinha, Gogoi said, "But here is a litigant who mentions it before us and then goes out to distribute the petition to everyone." Sinha on Monday dragged the names of NSA Ajit Doval, Union minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with his boss. The bench said, "This court is not a platform for people to come and express whatever they want." -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said he used the "bitter medicine" of demonetisation to bring back money into the banking system and to give "proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system" in the country.

Addressing a poll rally in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, for the November 28 Assembly elections, Modi said, "We use poisonous medicine to eradicate termite. Similarly, I used note ban as a 'tez' (bitter) medicine to treat corruption in the country".

"People who used to hide their money under beds, in their houses, offices and factories are now paying tax of every single penny and we are using this money for the right schemes for the common man," Modi said.

Modi cautioned the Madhya Pradesh farmers not to get carried away by the Congress' loan waiver promise, adding it was a sham. "The Congress made loan waiver promise to farmers in Karnataka before state Assembly polls there but instead of doing so, it is preparing to send peasants to jail," he said.

"In 2008, a year ahead of general elections, the Congress promised loan waiver to the farmers which turned out to be an eyewash," he said. "My government is aiming to double farmers' income by 2022," the prime minister said.

The CAG in its report pointed to anomalies in the farmers loan waiver during the Congress regime, he said. The Congress is anti-farmer, he added. Modi said his government has so far disbursed loans to 14 crore people, "that too without guarantee", under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.

"The amount of work we (BJP-led government) have done in four years, Congress would be able to do it in 10 years," Modi said. "Remember the time when Congress was in power here in Madhya Pradesh, what was the condition of people? Madhya Pradesh does not deserve a government which never thinks about the state's welfare," Modi said, targeting the Congress party.

Modi said that during the Congress' 55 year rule in Madhya Pradesh, 1,500 schools were made, but Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan established 4,000 schools in the state in just 15 years. -- PTI

Calling the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections a "big battle" against a formidable force, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has said he is "hungry" to bring his party back in power in the state.

The Congress has been out of power in this vast state with about 5 crore voters since 2003 when it was ousted by the BJP. The grand-old party is making its all-out efforts to wrest control of the state from the BJP and has mounted an aggressive campaign for the November 28 elections for 230 assembly seats. The BJP had won 165 seats in the last state elections in 2013 with 44.88 per cent votes, while the Congress had got only 58 seats with 42.67 per cent votes.

Nath, the state Congress chief and a key campaigner for his party, told PTI in an interview that he is a "party worker who is hungry to bring the Congress back in power in Madhya Pradesh".

He, however, evaded a direct reply to a question on whether he could be made the chief minister if his party wins the polls. "(Congress president) Rahul Gandhiji will decide how it will happen," he said during his first campaign rally in the Budhni assembly seat in support of Congress candidate Arun Yadav.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the BJP candidate from Budhni and it has traditionally been known as a bastion of the saffron party leader who has been heading the state government for 13 years and is now eyeing his fourth term.

Yadav is Nath's predecessor in the Pradesh Congress Committee chief post and the change of guard was undertaken by the party high-command in Delhi only a few months back. Nath, a MP from the Chhindwara constituency of the state, also hit back at the BJP over the recent controversy about the Congress party's manifesto proposing a ban on holding RSS 'shakhas' in government premises.

While some BJP leaders have alleged that the Congress wants to ban the RSS, Nath said his party was only wanting to implement a protocol that was also in operation during the regimes of two BJP CMs before Chouhan.

"They (BJP) are trying to incite people by telling lies. I have never said that we will ban the RSS. I have said we will do that is as per central government rules and what was prevalent in Ms Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur's time," he said.

Chouhan had replaced Gaur as the chief minister in November 2005, while it Bharti who was made the chief minister after the BJP stormed to power in Madhya Pradesh in 2003 by ending the ten-year rule of the then Congress chief minister Digvijay Singh.

The Congress manifesto says that "the holding of RSS shakhas in government premises would be banned and the order regarding relaxation given to public servants to attend them will be revoked". The then Congress government had banned RSS activities in government premises in Madhya Pradesh in 1981. The ban was later revived in 2000 by the then chief minister Digvijaya Singh under the Civil Services Conduct Rule.

In a sudden development, the Supreme Court Tuesday agreed to hear CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's plea challenging the government's decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave, this evening.

The court had earlier adjourning the case to November 29.

Earlier in the day, the alleged leak of Verma's confidential response to the Central Vigilance Commission's findings on corruption charges against him irked the top court, which said none of "you deserve any hearing".

Senior advocate Fali S Nariman and lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan, who represent Verma, mentioned the case again before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and sought hearing during the day itself.

The bench agreed to the submission and said it will accord them a hearing after finishing the day's work. On the leak of Verma's confidential reply in the media, the bench, without divulging the name of the news portal, which allegedly carried a story on the CBI director's response, handed over to Nariman, a copy of the news report.

"It is only for you Mr Nariman and not as a counsel for Alok Verma. We have given this to you as you are one of the most respected and senior member of the institution. Please help us," the bench also comprising justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, told Nariman. Nariman, after going through the news report, said it was totally "unauthorised" and he was very "disturbed and shocked" with it. -- PTI

In the wake of rising pollution in the city, authorities might seed clouds to induce artificial rain this week to wash away toxic pollutants in the air. Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to alarming levels in the past three weeks.

Cloud seeding for artificial rain would be done once the meteorological conditions are stable, a senior official said. He said plans are to induce rainfall this week, but if the meteorological conditions are not found suitable then it would be done next week.

Cloud seeding is the process of combining different kinds of chemical agents, including silver iodide, dry ice and even common table salt, with existing clouds in an effort to thicken them and increase the chance of rainfall.

The weathermen are monitoring conditions to become favourable for creating artificial rain, which can be induced in 24 hours, the official said.

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday due to humidity and slow wind speed. The overall air quality index was recorded at 352, which falls in the 'very poor' category, according Central Pollution Control Board data. -- PTI

Former Bihar minister Manju Verma, who had been evading arrest in an Arms Act case lodged in the course of investigations in the Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal, surrendered before a court in Begusarai Tuesday. Verma reached the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Prabhat Trivedi in an auto rickshaw. She fainted as soon as she entered the court premises along with a few aides. She regained consciousness after water was sprinkled on her face by bystanders after which she was taken into the court room.

The Supreme Court had on November 12 rapped the Bihar Police for failing to arrest the former minister and directed the DGP to appear before it in person on November 27 if she was not nabbed by then.

Verma had stepped down as the minister for social welfare in August, following reports that her husband, Chandrashekhar Verma, had close links with Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal.

Over 30 girls were allegedly raped at the shelter home. The Arms Act case was lodged against Verma following recovery of a huge quantity of ammunition from her residence here during a CBI raid. -- PTI

File pic.

12:23 News briefs

Muzaffarpur shelter home case: Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma surrenders in a Begusarai Court.

Hurriyat leader Hafizullah Mir shot at in Achabal area of South Kashmir. He has been admitted to hospital. More details awaited.

The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29.

The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a news portal, which has published the CBI director's response.

Nariman after going through the media report told the bench that he was "shattered" and "shocked" on Verma's reply being leaked in the media.

The senior lawyer said the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned as the press should be free and responsible. The court was hearing Verma's plea against govt's decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave. -- PTI

Intensifying his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that a crime thriller by the name of 'Chowkidar hi chor' is being played in the national capital.

The Gandhi scion's comments come after the Reserve Bank of India on Monday held a crucial board meeting yesterday.

Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, which roughly translates to, "In Delhi, a crime thriller by the name of 'Chowkidar hi chor' is being played. In its latest episode, the Central Bureau of Investigation's DIG has put serious charges against a minister, NSA, law secretary and cabinet secretary. On the other hand, his partner from Gujarat is taking away crores of money. The officers are tired. Trust is broken. Democracy is crying."

On Monday, Indian Police Service officer Manish Kumar Sinha, who was leading the team probing the CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana's case, moved Supreme Court against his transfer to Nagpur and pleaded a Special Investigation Team probe into the case.

Sinha alleged that he was unjustly transferred to Nagpur in the wee hours of October 24 as his investigation was leading towards certain influential people. His application terms the transfer "arbitrary, motivated and malafide" and one that is made "solely with the purpose and intent to victimise the officer as the investigation revealed cogent evidence against certain powerful persons." -- PTI

10:55 Chhattisgarh polls: Ajit Jogi casts his vote

Janta Congress Chhattisgarh President Ajit Jogi and his son Amit Jogi cast their votes at a polling booth in Pendra. 12.54% voting recorded till 10 am in the second phase of voting with polling being held in 72 seats. A total of 1079 candidates are contesting in the 72 constituencies of 19 districts in the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596.

In the first phase of the Chhattisgarh polling on November 12, voting was held in 18 out of 90 seats.

Newly-weds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on Tuesday jetted off to Bengaluru where the couple will host a wedding reception on November 21.

DeepVeer, as they are called, were spotted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in the morning. The couple looked happy as they posed for the media outside the airport.

Deepika looked resplendent in a beige anarkali and sported a choora and also wore sindoor. The 'Simmba' star, on the other hand, donned a white kurta pajama which he teamed with a floral Nehru jacket.

After the wedding reception in Bengaluru, the couple will host another reception in Mumbai at The Grand Hyatt on November 28, which will be attended by their industry friends.

The invite of the Mumbai reception reads, "Please join us at a reception to celebrate the wedding of our son Ranveer and Deepika."

Also see the pictures from their Lake Como wedding.

Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's son KT Rama Rao and daughter-in-law own total assets of over Rs 40 crore, revealed the electoral affidavit submitted by Rama Rao while filing the nomination for ensuing Assembly election.

Rama Rao, commonly known as KTR filed his nomination from the Siricilla constituency and submitted the affidavit to the election authorities on Monday.

KTR's wife K Shailima is richer than him as the Telangana IT Minister, in his affidavit mentioned that his wife owns assets worth over Rs 35.98 crore while he has assets worth Rs 4.93 crore. According to the affidavit, the total value of KTR movable assets stood at Rs 3.63 crore and immovable assets at Rs. 1.3 crore while his wife's total movable assets stood at more than Rs. 27 crore and immovable assets at Rs. 6.66 crore. Her inherited assets mentioned in the affidavit were worth Rs. 2.32 crore.

KTR also declared in his affidavit that his total income and agricultural income stood at Rs 14.57 lakh and Rs. 59.85 lakh per annum respectively while his wife's total income is Rs 3.55 crore and agriculture income is Rs 24. 65 lakh.

The affidavit also revealed that KTR owns only one car while his father Chandrasekhar Rao does not have any vehicle. He also mentioned in the affidavit that his liabilities are Rs 33.28 while that of his wife is Rs 27.39 crore.

According to the affidavit, there were 16 pending cases against KTR which were registered during the Telangana agitation. KTR also mentioned that he was convicted in one case and was later released. -- ANI

The benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 100 points in early session Tuesday, breaking its three-day winning run as metal, IT, realty and banking stocks retreated, tracking sell-off in the global market.

The 30-share index dropped 104.41 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 35,670.47 points in opening trade. The gauge had rallied about 633 points in the previous three sessions.

The NSE Nifty too fell 36.80 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 10,726.60. Brokers said besides a weak trend at other Asian markets amid sharp losses at the Wall Street, profit-booking by investors in recent gainers also dampened the sentiment here.

Meanwhile, signalling a temporary truce, the Reserve Bank and the government Monday agreed to refer to an expert committee for the contentious issue of appropriate size of reserves that the RBI must hold, while restructuring of stressed loans of small businesses would be considered by the central bank. -- PTI

BJP MLA Gyan Dev Ahuja has been booked for violating the model code of conduct by allegedly distributing money to his supporters during a rally before filing nomination papers as an independent candidate on Monday.

The action was taken after a video purportedly showing Ahuja distributing money went viral. Returing officer of Sanganer constituency Jagat Rajeshwar said the FIR was lodged with Banipark Police Station under sections of the Representation of the People's Act on Monday. -- PTI

Four people have been killed and at least 11 injured in an explosion at the Pulgaon Army depot in Wardha, Maharashtra. The explosion took place near the ordnance depot in Wardha while disposing off old explosives, a defence official said. Further details awaited.

Voting for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls is underway at over 2,100 polling stations in the state. The nine-phased elections, being conducted on the non-party basis, began Saturday. The National Conference, PDP and the CPI(M) have announced they will stay away from the electoral exercise due to the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution in the Supreme Court.

Polling is underway at 2,179 polling stations across the state, including 828 in Kashmir division and 1,351 in Jammu division, officials said.

They said 4,014 candidates are in the fray for 281 sarpanch and 1,286 panch seats in the second phase.

The officials said 90 sarpanch and 1,069 panch have been elected unopposed in this phase.

In Kashmir, 490 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive and in the Jammu division 111, they said, adding that there are 3,29,818 electors for sarpanch seats and 2,07,796 for panch constituencies. The officials said all arrangements, including those related to security, are in place for the smooth conduct of the polls. PTI

An army soldier was killed and four terrorists were shot dead in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

Based on specific information about the presence of terrorists in Nadigam area of Shopian, security forces launched a cordon and search operation, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired on the forces, who retaliated.

The Trump administration has restored the full press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta who was temporarily barred from entering thw White House.

Following the decision, CNN announced to withdraw its lawsuit against the White House.

Simultaneously, the White House also announced that it has framed new rules for the reporters covering the news conferences, either by President Donald Trump or senior administration officials.

As per the guidelines, a reporter can ask a single question and permission for a follow up will be subject to the discretion of the individual holding the news conference.

Any violation of the rule might result in revocation of the press credentials, the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, as she announced restoration of full access to Acosta.

"This afternoon we have notified Jim Acosta and CNN that his hard pass has been restored. We have also notified him of certain rules that will govern White House press conferences going forward," Sanders said.

Acosta, is the Chief White House Correspondent of CNN. His hard pass was temporarily suspended after his altercation with Trump during a news conference on November 7.

CNN challenged the decision in the court. After a federal district court overruled the White House's order, Acosta's hard pass was temporarily restored on Friday.

Meanwhile, listing out the three new rules, Sanders said a journalist will ask a single question and then yield the floor to other journalists.

Secondly, at the discretion of the president or other White House official taking questions, a follow-up question or questions may be permitted.

Finally, "yielding the floor" includes, when applicable, physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff for use by the next questioner, Sanders said.

"Failure" to abide by any of rules "may result in suspension or revocation of the journalist's hard pass," she warned. -- PTI

Voting for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections began on Tuesday amid high security.

A total of 1079 candidates are contesting in the 72 constituencies of 19 districts in the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596.

This is the last of the two-phase polls to the 90-member assembly where the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power for the last 15 years.

"Voting begun at 7 am in two polling booths of Bindranavagarh constituency (Gariaband district), while in the remaining 72 booths, polling started at 8 am," an election official said.

The time of polling in 72 constituencies is from 8 am to 5 pm except in two polling booths -- Amamora (booth no. 72) and Modh (no.76) in Bindranavgarh where polling is being held from 7 am to 3 pm due to the threat posed by Naxals, he said.

Around 1.50 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure peaceful polling, he said.

In the second phase, districts like Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur are Naxal-affected areas and extra vigil was being maintained there, the official said.

The polling will take place in central and north Chhattisgarh, where 72 each from the BJP and Congress, are in the fray.

There are 119 women contestants while the maximum number of candidates are in Raipur city south constituency where 46 nominees are in the fray.

The least number of candidates are in Bindranavagarh seat 6.

The fate of the state assembly speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal (Kasdol constituency) and 9 ministers- Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur city south seat), Rajesh Munat (Raipur city west), Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur), Bhaiyyalal Rajwade (Baikunthpur), Ramsevak Paikra (Pratappur), Punnulal Mohile (Mungeli), Prem Prakash Pandey (Bhilai Nagar), Dayaldas Baghel (Nawagarh) and Ajay Chandrakar (Kurud) besides party state president Dharamlal Kaushik (Bilha) will be decided in this phase.

Besides, Congress state chief Bhupesh Baghel (Patan constituency), leader of opposition TS Singhdeo (Ambikapur), Congress MP from Durg Lok Sabha seat Tamradhwaj Sahu (Durg rural), former union minister Charandas Mahant (Shakti) are among the key Congress candidates who are contesting in the final phase. -- PTI

Continuing his tirade against Pakistan, US President Donald Trump on Monday said the US has paid Islamabad billions of dollars but it never told the Americans that the Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was living in that country.

Trump had defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad.

"We paid Pakistan billions of dollars and they never told us he was living there. Fools!..," Trump said in a tweet, a day after he told Fox News in an interview that Laden should have been captured long before.

"We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another," Trump said.

"They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. That's ENDING!" he said.

Beginning with a tweet on January 1, the US President has announced stop giving military and security assistance to Pakistan.

Trump believes that the Pakistan has been a reluctant partner of the US in the war against terrorism and that it has misused the US money.

Trump insisted that Bin laden should have been captured long time back before he was killed in a daring raid in Abbottabad.

"Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Centre. President Clinton famously missed his shot," Trump said.

-- PTI

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