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Wed, 21 August 2019
It's politically motivated witch-hunt: Karti

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23:36   It's politically motivated witch-hunt: Karti
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti on Wednesday lashed out at the Central Bureau Investigation for arresting his father in the INX media case, saying it was a 'totally politically motivated witch-hunt'.

Minutes after Chidambaram, a former union minister, was taken to the CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday night amid high drama from his house, Karti said the case was apparently about events that happened in 2008.

"This is totally a politically motivated witch-hunt," the Congress MP, who is an accused in the INX media case and out on bail, told reporters outside his residence in Chennai.

He alleged the entire thing was a drama and spectacle enacted by probe agencies to simply sensationalise and satisfy the 'voyeuristic pleasure' of some.

"For events which happened in 2008 they filed an FIR in 2017 and in August 2019 they still don't have a charge sheet which means there is no case," he claimed.

The arrest of his father was an attempt aimed at diverting people's attention from serious issues, Karti alleged.

"This is a completely trumped up, made for television, made for media kind of spectacle," he charged.

He said that if the investigating agencies had a water tight case there would have been a charge sheet by now but there was none 'after four raids, 20 summons and 11 days of custody', Karti said referring to the action against himself.

Karti, who was in jail for 23 days before being granted bail by the Delhi high court in March last year in the case, said he had been grilled by CBI for ten hours on most occasions when he appeared before the agencies.

To a question, he said his father 'was not absconding', after the Delhi high court denied him anticipatory bail, maintaining it was not mandatory for such a person to produce himself before the investigating agencies.

Asserting that his father had appeared before the agencies whenever summoned, he said CBI had sought the presence of Chidambaram only once in this case and the ED a number of times.

"There had not been a single summon where he has not appeared," he claimed. Noting that they would face the case legally and through text judicial process, Karti expressed confidence that "we will be vindicated eventually."

CBI had registered an FIR in the case on May 15, 2017 alleging irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to the media group for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister.  -- PTI
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22:44   CBI arrests Chidambaram, to spend night at hq
Former Union home minister P Chidambaram was arrested in New Delhi by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with INX media case on Wednesday night, officials said.

73-year-old Chidambaram who made a surprise appearance at the Congress Headquarters was arrested by the CBI team soon after he reached his Jor Bagh residence, they said.

He was taken to CBI headquarters by a team of officials, they said.

He is likely to be kept at the CBI HQ for tonight.   -- PTI, with agency inputs
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22:22   CBI formally arrested Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram has been formally arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

He will be kept at CBI headquarters for tonight, media reports say.

More details awaited. -- with agency inputs

IMAGE: CBI officials escort Congress leader P Chidambaram from his Jor Bagh residence in New Delhi, on Wednesday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo
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21:55   Chidambaram taken away by CBI team
P Chidambaram has been taken away by the Central Bureau of Investigation teams that were at his residence.

Media reports say he's been taken to CBI headquarters.

Congress workers tried to block the way of CBI teams.

More details awaited.
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21:45  
Karti Chidambaram tweets: 'The drama and spectacle being enacted by the agencies is to simply sensationalise and satisfy the voyeuristic pleasure of some.'
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21:22   ED team enters Chidambaram's residence
An Enforcement Directorate team enters the residence of P Chidambaram.

A Delhi Police and ED team outside the residence of Chidambaram at Jor Bagh in New Delhi.  -- ANI
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21:17   CBI team scales wall to enter Chidambaram's home
A Central Bureau of Investigation team arrives at Chidambaram's residence in Jor Bagh, New Delhi.

CBI and Enforcement Directorate have issued a Look-Out Notice against him.

A CBI official jumps the gate of Chidambaram's residence to get inside.

Earlier, Chidambaram arrived at his residence from the AICC headquarters.   -- ANI
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20:37   Chidambaram surfaces, says will respect the law
Excerpts from P Chidambaram's statement at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi:

"If I am asked to choose between life and liberty, I will unhesitatingly choose liberty.

"I am aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law.

"Until Friday and beyond, let's hope the lamp of liberty will shine bright and illuminate the whole country.

"I will respect law even if applied with an unequal hand by probe agencies."

Chidambaram has now left the AICC office.

Media reports say that there was a Central Bureau of Investigation team outside the Congress headquarters which was not allowed to come inside by party workers.

More details awaited.   -- with PTI inputs
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20:20   Lies spread by 'pathological liars': Chidambaram
Chidambaram addresses press conference:

I have not been accused of anything in INX Media case. All these charges are lies spread by 'pathological liars'.

There is no FIR in the INX Media case. Neither I nor my family are accused in the case, he said.
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20:16   Chidambaram addresses presser at Cong HQ
P Chidambaram addresses a press conference at Congress headquarter in New Delhi.

Chidambaram emerges after 24 hours.

Congress leaders Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Randeep Surjewala are with him.


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20:05   Pakistan plans to raise Kashmir at UNHRC
Pakistan plans to raise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said on Wednesday.

Briefing the Senate Committee on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs, Faisal said that consultation was going on various options including to use the forum of the UN Human Rights Council.

He said another platform available for Pakistan was to raise the issue in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's foreign ministers' meeting.

Talking about the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) by India, he said that the situation was dangerous and both sides were suffering loss of lives.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday held a telephonic conversation with his Norwegian counterpart Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide and discussed the Kashmir issue.

Qureshi urged Norway to play its role and impress upon India to ease the restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Minister Soreide stated that Norway would urge both India and Pakistan to deescalate the situation and ease tensions.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.  -- PTI
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19:16   Remove PeeCee as UN goodwill ambassador: Pak minister
A Pakistani minister has called for the removal of Indian star Priyanka Chopra as United Nations goodwill ambassador for Peace, accusing her of supporting the Indian government's recent decision on Kashmir.
 
In a letter, addressed to UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore, Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said the Bollywood actor supports the Indian government's policies on Kashmir.
She further alleged that Chopra is in favour of a "nuclear war" between India and Pakistan.
"Ms Chopra has publicly endorsed this Indian government position and also supported the nuclear threat issued to Pakistan by the Indian Defence Minister. All this goes completely against the principles of peace and goodwill that Ms Chopra is supposed to uphold as an UN goodwill ambassador for Peace," Mazari wrote in the letter. 
Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. 
The minister asked for Chopra's removal as UN goodwill ambassador for Peace, which, she said, would otherwise become "a mockery globally".
Mazari's letter comes days after Chopra was verbally attacked at an event in the US by a Pakistani woman who had also accused the actor of encouraging nuclear war against her country. 
The audience member had raked up Chopra's February 26 tweet where she congratulated the Indian Air Force after Indian fighter jets attacked the Jaish-e-Mohammed's terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan. -- PTI
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19:10   Railways not to use single-use plastic from Oct 2
Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who appealed to the nation to shun single-use plastic during his Independence Day speech, Railways has decided to stop its use across the network, a statement from the national transporter said Wednesday.

All vendors and staff across Indian Railways are to be encouraged to use reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint. 

A pledge will be administered to cut use of plastics on October 2, the statement said. 

"Ministry of Railways has directed all Railway units to enforce ban on single-use plastic material, with less than 50 micron thickness, from October 2, 2019. Emphasis is on making necessary arrangements to minimize generation of plastic waste and its eco- friendly disposal," it said.

It also appealed to its staff to reduce, reuse and refuse plastic products and to use inexpensive reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint.

"IRCTC to implement return of plastic drinking water bottles as part of extended producer responsibility," it said, adding that plastic bottle crushing machines will be provided expeditiously. -- PTI
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18:32   CBI issues look out notice against Chidambaram
The Central Bureau of Investigation has issued a Look Out Circular against former finance minister P Chidambaram to prevent him from leaving the country, officials said on Wednesday.
 
The agency has alerted all the airports to prevent Chidambaram from boarding a flight, they said, adding the circular was issued recently.
 
The ED has also issued a fresh lookout circular against him in connection with the INX Media money laundering case. -- PTI 
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18:24   Chandrayaan-2 completes 2nd lunar-bound orbit maneuver
The ISRO on Wednesday said it has performed the second lunarbound orbit maneuver for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft thatis currently in the lunar orbit for its rendezvous with the Moon.
     
All spacecraft parameters are normal, the Bengaluru headquartered space agency said after the maneuver.
     
"Second Lunar bound orbit maneuver for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was performed successfully today (August 21, 2019) beginning at 1250 hrs IST as planned, using the onboard propulsion system.
     
The duration of the maneuver was 1228seconds.
     
The orbit achieved is 118 km x 4412 km," ISRO said.
     
The next Lunar bound orbit maneuver is scheduled on August 28, 2019 between 0530 - 0630 hrs IST. -- PTI
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18:06   No complete withdrawal from Afghanistan: Trump
United States President Donald Trump has indicated that the US forces will not completely withdraw from warn-torn Afghanistan and America will have "somebody there" to make sure that Taliban does not regain control.
During the presidential election campaign in 2016, Trump had pledged to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan and end America's longest war.
The Trump administration has intensified its efforts to seek a negotiated settlement of America's longest war in Afghanistan where the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers since late 2001, when it invaded the country after the 9/11 terror attacks.
"We will always have intelligence, and we'll always have somebody there," Trump told reporters at his Oval Office on Tuesday.
He was responding to questions on the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Trump said he would like to look at various alternatives.
"One of the alternatives is going on right now. We're talking about a plan -- I don't know whether or not the plan is going to be acceptable to me. Maybe it's not going to be acceptable to them. But we are talking. We have good talks going, and we'll see what happens.This is more than other Presidents have done," he said.
"We have brought it down. We are bringing some of our troops back.  But we have to have a presence," Trump said, ruling out a complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
He was asked, "Could we be back to where we were pre-9/11 with the Taliban in complete and total control of Afghanistan?"
"Well, that's what we have to watch," Trump responded.
And if the Taliban were "really right" in what they're saying, they would stop that from happening, because they could stop that from happening very easily.
Trump said, right now, the US is negotiating with the Afghan government and with the Taliban. -- PTI
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17:16   China hails Pak Army chief 's 3-year extension
China on Wednesday welcomed the extension of Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's term for another three years, saying he is an "old friend" of the Chinese government who has made "robust" contributions to the bilateral relations.
 
General Bajwa, 58, who was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in November 2016, was to retire in November, but Prime Minister Imran Khan extended his term for another three years in view of the "regional security environment". 
 
The decision was taken amid fresh tension in India-Pakistan relations and the ongoing Afghan peace talks between the United States and the Taliban militants, facilitated by Islamabad.
 
Asked about the extension of Gen Bajwa's term, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here that the Pakistan Army chief has made "robust" contribution to China and Pakistan relations.
"We noticed the decision by the Pakistan government. Gen Bajwa is an extraordinary leader of the Pakistani army. He is also an old friend of Chinese government and the army," he said.
"He has also made robust contributions to China Pakistan relations. We believe under his leadership, the Pakistan Army will continue to make contributions to upholding Pakistan's sovereignty, security interests and regional peace and stability," Geng said in response to a question from Chinese official media.
 
Gen Bajwa has promised Beijing to safeguard China's interests in Pakistan under the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which will connect China's largest province Xinjiang with Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan.
 
The Pakistan Army has already raised a battalion and has announced plans to form another battalion to protect Chinese citizens and installations under the CPEC. -- PTI
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17:08   SC to hear Chidambaram's plea on Friday
Former finance minister P Chidambaram's urgent petition to seek pre-arrest bail has been listed for a hearing by the Supreme Court on Friday. 

The apex court's decision comes after Chidambaram's legal team led by Congress leader Kapil Sibal made several attempts through the day to get a hearing by the top court.

The Delhi high court had on Tuesday opened the doors for his arrest by two investigating agencies when the judge denied interim protection from arrest to the senior Congress leader in a case of suspected irregularities related to foreign investment received by INX Media group when he was finance minister in 2007.
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16:52   DGCA team to conduct preliminary probe in Uttarakhand helicopter crash
Aviation regulator DGCA has deputed a team of officials to conduct a preliminary enquiry in the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand that killed three people on Wednesday, according to a senior official. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is likely to probe the accident, the official added. 


A private helicopter with three persons on board crashed near Moldi in the rain-hit Uttarkashi district after getting entangled in cables. The helicopter was engaged in relief and rescue operations.


The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has deputed a team for preliminary enquiry. The AAIB is likely to probe the accident, the official said. The AAIB has the responsibility of investigating all major aircraft incidents and accidents in the country. -- PTI
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16:40   Sunanda sobbed over 'my darlingest' mail: Counsel
The counsel for Sunanda Pushkar on Tuesday told a Delhi court that prior to her death, she was suffering from mental agony following a scuffle with her husband, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.


Alluding to the post mortem report, Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava submitted before the special CBI court Judge Ajay Kumar that Pushkar had injury marks on various parts of her body, which were at least 12 hours to four days old.


The counsel read out the statement of Pushkar's friend Nalini, in which she had narrated Tharoor's relationship with a woman named Tarar.


"I got a call from Sunanda who was sobbing. She had found some messages exchanged between Tarar and Tharoor," he said, adding that an e-mail written by Tharoor to Tarar addressing her as "my darlingest" has also been found.


Vikas Pahwa, the lawyer appearing on the behalf of Tharoor, however, refuted the claims.After hearing the contentions put forth by both the sides, Judge Kumar posted the matter for hearing on August 31 and also directed the prosecution to arrange all the documents in the case.


Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. Following her murder, Tharoor was charged under sections 498-A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. -- ANI
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16:18   Pak violates ceasefire in Rajouri, 2nd in 24 hrs
Pakistan violates ceasefire in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district at about 3:45 pm, today. The Indian Army is retaliating. 


This is the second ceasefire violation in less than 24 hours. 


An Army jawan lost his life while four other Army personnel including two officers were injured on Tuesday as Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in the Krishna Ghati sector. 


The soldier who lost his life was identified as Naik Ravi Ranjan Kumar Singh, 36, a resident of Rohtas district in Bihar.


According to army sources, the four injured included two officers and two jawans who were hit by a mortar fired from across the LoC. The jawans and the officers were travelling in their official vehicle when the incident happened.
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16:12  
When you have a flight to catch... Traffic jam on Manali-Leh highway in Kullu district. Border Roads Organisation is conducting road clearing operation near Rohtang Pass on Manali-Leh highway.
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15:39   India opens up 137 Himalayan peaks for foreigners
The government has opened for foreigners 137 Himalayan peaks, including the mighty Kanchenjunga located at a height of 8,589 metre, for mountaineering expeditions and trekking in a major boost to tourism, officials said Wednesday. Presently foreigners have to seek permission from the ministries of defence and home to climb these peaks. 


With the government opening them up, foreigners can now directly apply to the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for permits. The decision comes following a proposal from the tourism ministry. 


The list of peaks include, Dunagiri (7,066 m) and Hardeol (7,151 m) in Uttarakhand; Kabru South and North in Sikkim, both of which are at a height of over 7,000 metre; Mount Kailash (6400 m) in Jammu and Kashmir; and Mulkila (6,571 metre) in Himachal Pradesh. Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel said it was a historic step, which will give a big boost to tourism.
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15:34   3-crore Indians sign up for BJP membership
With the culmination of its successful membership drive, the BJP increased its strength nearly by 3 crore members, taking it to over 14.78 crore. "BJP has added 3,78,67,753 crore new members with the conclusion of its membership drive. The campaign which started on July 6 concluded on August 20," the BJP said in a statement.


Now, the total number of BJP members stands at 14,78,67,753 crore.


Around 55 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh and 15 lakh in Delhi joined the party within a span of 1.5 months.


This comes in wake of BJP's mission to double the figure after its mammoth victory in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections.


According to statistics projected by the party, the BJP was likely to achieve the target of adding 4 crore new members under this drive. The party's originally set aim was to enrol two crore new members into the party fold. 
-- ANI    
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15:17   Stalin dubs action against Chidambaram 'political vendetta'
DMK chief M K Stalin on Thursday said that there is a political vendetta behind actions of the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation against Congress leader P Chidambaram in the INX media case.


"P Chidambaram is an expert in law and he is able to come out of this situation legally.  I think that the actions by CBI and ED are due to political vendetta," he said when asked about the action being taken against the former Union Minister Chidambaram.
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15:10   Govt will provide relief materials if there's a shortage: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday met people affected by the flood and said the government will ensure availability of relief materials if there is any "shortage". 


Over 15,000 people living in the Yamuna flood-plains have been shifted to tents set up by various government agencies after the river water inundated low lying areas. 


The Yamuna continued to flow well above the danger mark on Wednesday but Delhi government officials said the water level was constant at 206.60 metres for several hours and was likely to recede. Kejriwal met the people at tents set up in the Usmanpur area.  


The BJP leaders including party's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari and former Union minister Vijay Goel also met the flood affected people and offered them help. Goel alleged that during his visit, people complained about unavailability of tents, toilets and food at the Usman Khadar area. 


However, Delhi's Revenue Minister Kailash Gehlot said that people living in relief camps were appreciating the efforts of the government. "Efforts of Delhi Govt being appreciated by people staying in Relief Camps. Food, water and other necessary relief materials being provided. Officers of Revenue Dept in coordination with other Depts are working round the clock," Gahlot tweeted. -- PTI
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14:54   Srinagar, Jammu mayors get MoS status
The mayors of Srinagar and Jammu civic bodies have been grated status equivalent to that of Minister of State, according to an official order. The order, issued by additional secretary Subash Chhibber on Tuesday, said the hospitality and protocol department shall make necessary insertion in the J&K State Warrant of Precedence with the approval of the competent authority.


"Sanction is hereby accorded to the grant of status equivalent to Minister of State to the Mayors of SMC (Srinagar Municipal Corporation) and JMC within their territorial jurisdiction," the order said. The elections for the municipal corporations were held in four phases in October last year after a gap of 13 years. People's Conference leader Junaid Maattu and BJP leader Chander Mohan Gupta are the mayors of SMC and JMC, respectively. 


On August 5, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and split it into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. -- PTI
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14:46   NDTV's Roys booked for alleged FDI violations
The CBI has booked NDTV promoters Prannoy Roy and his wife Radhika Roy, and others in connection with alleged violation of foreign direct investment rules, officials said on Wednesday. 


The agency has also booked the media outlet's former CEO Vikramaditya Chandra under charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption, they said. It is alleged that the company floated 32 subsidiaries in several tax haven countries to bring foreign funds to India through sham transactions, they said. -- PTI


Read the full FIR against the Roys here 
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14:43   SC refuses urgent listing of Chidambaram's petition
The Supreme Court Wednesday refused urgent listing of Congress leader P Chidambaram's petition seeking protection from arrest in the INX Media scam cases. 


The top court said the defects in the petition were removed just now and it "cannot be listed for hearing today itself". 


"Without listing of the petition, we cannot hear the matter," said a bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, M Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi. "Sorry Mr Sibal. We cannot hear the matter" the bench said when Sibal repeatedly asked for hearing the matter today itself. -- PTI
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14:05  
CBI books senior journalist Prannoy Roy and others in a new case against NDTV for alleged FDI violation. 
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13:47   Chidambaram's plea has 'defects'
The Special Leave Petition filed by P Chidambaram has certain defects, as a result of which the Supreme Court registry is not in a position to clear it for a mentioning before the Supreme Court.
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13:46   Chopper crash: All 3 on board killed
Update:  State Disaster Response Force  PRO on the Uttarakhand helicopter crash: All the three persons, Captain Lal, Co-pilot Shailesh and a local person Rajpal, who were on-board the helicopter, have died in the crash. A team of 10 members has been sent to the site of the crash.
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13:40   Savarkar, Bose, Bhagat Singh rub shoulders at DU
A pillar with busts of Vinayak Savarkar, Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose was installed by Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) outside the Faculty of Arts on the campus, yesterday. 


ABVP leader and DUSU president Shakti Singh said, "They had made great contributions in the freedom struggle. Youth should take inspiration from them. There is a cellar on campus where Bhagat Singh was kept during trial. We had demanded that either a statue of Bhagat Singh be erected or the cellar be made public. But DU administration did not respond to us. So we had no other option but to do this."
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13:32   Scrapping Art 370 India's internal matter: Bangladesh
Bangladesh on Wednesday said that the Central government's move in abrogating Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir is India's "internal matter".


"Bangladesh maintains that Article 370's abrogation by Indian Govt is an internal issue of India," a statement by country's Foreign Ministry read.


It further said that Bangladesh has always advocated, as a matter of principle, that maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as the development should be a priority for all countries.


The statement is a further blow to Pakistan, which has been making continuous efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue, despite being snubbed at the United Nations Security Council, as well as by many countries, including US, Russia, and France.The statement by Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has come a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met called on the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Dhaka.  -- ANI
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13:05   Rahul accuses govt of character assassinating PC
Rahul Gandhi tweets in support P Chidambaram. "The Modi govt is using the ED, CBI and sections of a spineless media to character assassinate Mr Chidambaram. I strongly condemn this disgraceful misuse of power."


The Congress party yesterday criticised the BJP-led central government of doing vendetta politics as CBI team reached the house of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram after Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in cases filed by the CBI and the ED related to his alleged role in INX Media scam.


Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, "India witnesses worst kind of virulent vendetta by Modi Govt as the BJP runs a police state. Judge reserves judgement for 7 months & delivers it 72 hours before retirement, CBI/ED are sent to raid as a respected former FM is hounded. Banana Republic?"


Resonating similar sentiments, Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted, 
"Unrelenting, insidious and vindictive persecution of P Chidambaram and his family is an insult to rule of Law as it stands constituted in a Democracy. Those who sow the wind eventually reap the whirlwind. Hubris of ignorance and arrogance is a deadly cocktail. Vendetta never pays..."


The CBI has put up a notice outside the residence of Chidambaram to appear before them in the next two hours.
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12:45   Uttarakhand floods: Relief chopper crashes
Uttarakhand: A helicopter, carrying relief material to flood affected areas, has crashed in Uttarkashi. The helicopter was going from Mori to Moldi, in Uttarkashi district. Three people were on-board the helicopter.  Details awaited.


Heavy rain in northern India has claimed at least 58 lives in the last three  days. Several landslides in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand left tourists and residents stranded in some villages. Officials said many of them have been rescued, though hundreds of tourists are still stranded in Himachal Pradesh.


Although rain subsided across the region on Monday, rivers in several parts of the region are overflowing, officials said. Thirty-two people have died and eight are missing in Uttarakhand, while 26 have died in Himachal Pradesh.
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12:11   Chidambaram MIA: Alerts sent to land, air, ports
The Enforcement Directorate has issued a fresh look out circular against former finance minister P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media money laundering case, officials said Wednesday. 


They said the alert notice against the Congress leader, whose anticipatory bail was cancelled on Tuesday, has been sent to all land, air and seaports and law enforcement agencies at these facilities. 


It says the ED should be alerted in case the person is found on their premises.  It also asks them to not allow the Congress leader to cross the Indian border without the permission of the ED. 


The officials said this is a preventive measure exercised by the agency as Chidambaram's whereabouts are not known at present and he is required by them to take the probe forward in the INX Media case, being investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. -- PTI
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12:05   Militant, SPO killed in encounter in Baramulla
A militant and a Special Police Officer were killed while a Sub-inspector was injured in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Wednesday, a police spokesman said. 


On a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Ganie-Hamam area , he said. During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter, he added. 


In the exchange of fire two policemen sustained injuries identified a SPO Bilal Ahmad and SI Amardeep Parihar, the spokesman said.  SPO Ahmad succumbed to injuries while SI Parihar has been admitted to the Army hospital, he said.


"We pay our rich tributes to martyr Bilal who made supreme sacrifices in the line of duty," the spokesman said. In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and the body was retrieved from the site of encounter, he said adding the identity and affiliation of the killed terrorist is being ascertained. 


Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter, he said. The spokesman said that citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with the police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all explosive materials, if any, he added. -- PTI 
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11:45   The chequered history of military occupations
"What leads to the disintegration of the dubious narrative of the oppressor occupying the moral high ground, leading to the eventual failure of the occupation, is that the violence perpetrated in the name of liberty is usually disproportionate. The body count in strife-torn Iraq remains disputed. But what is indisputable is that the casualty figure during the occupation of Iraq far exceeds the death toll during the invasion of Iraq."


Read  Uddalak Mukherjee's column in the Telegraph. 
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11:42   Yamuna flows above danger mark
The Yamuna continued to flow well above the danger mark on Wednesday but Delhi government officials said the water level was constant at 206.60 metres for several hours and was likely to recede. The river breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres on Monday. 


Over 15,000 people living in flood-plains have been shifted to tents set up by various government agencies due to the river water inundating low lying areas, officials said. 


"The level of Yamuna at railway bridge was 206.60 metres at 10 am. This water level is constant for the past six hours and expected to recede later on," said an official at the Flood department's control room. From Hathnikund Barrage 16280 cusec water was released in the river from Harayana side at 10 am, he said. The train traffic over old Yamuna bridge (Lohewala Pul) was temporarily suspended on Tuesday night and several trains were diverted to their destinations, said a Northern Railways spokesperson.


In view of the rising level of water, authorities in Delhi have already shut the Lohewala Pul on the Yamuna for traffic. A government official said of the over 15,000 people moved out of the Yamuna flood-plains, 10,500 have been putting up in 2,300 tents. In 1978, the water in the river rose to its highest-ever level of 207.49 metres, causing a devastating flood in the national capital. 


The river flows through six districts of Delhi whose low-lying areas are prone to flooding. The administration has deployed 30 boats to prevent accidental drowning. -- PTI
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11:31   ED issues lookout notice against Chidambaram
The Enforcement Directorate has issued a lookout notice against former finance minister P Chidambaram. 


This comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation put up a notice outside his residence asking him to appear before them in the next two hours.


Initially, a team of CBI officials had reached Chidambaram's Jor Bagh residence but left after not finding him there. Shortly later, a team of ED officials also went to his residence and failed to locate him.

The officials refused to talk to a horde of media persons who sought to know whether they had come to arrest the former union minister.


Delhi High Court had dismissed Chidambaram's both anticipatory bail pleas in connection with INX Media case.


At the outset, Sibal told the apex court that Chidambaram's plea was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday.


He said Chidambaram was granted protection from arrest for more than an year in INX cases lodged by the CBI and ED.


Sibal said the high court had also refused to grant any protection from arrest to Chidambaram to enable him to approach the apex court 


"The matter should be heard. I (Chidamabaram) should not be arrested in the meanwhile," Sibal said.


Sibal told the court that at 2 am on Wednesday the probe agencies have pasted a notice on Chidambaram's house that he has to appear before them  within two hours.
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11:16   Modi's upcoming UAE visit another milestone: Envoy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third official visit to the UAE on August 23-24 is another important milestone in the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and the Indian community is looking forward to it, India's envoy in the country has said. During the visit, the prime minister would receive the 'Order of Zayed', the highest civil decoration of the country for "giving a big boost to bilateral relations between the two countries." 


Modi would also meet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest.


India's Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Singh Suri on Monday tweeted that the Indian community was looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Modi. "Another important milestone in our comprehensive strategic partnership. He will also receive the Sheikh Zayed Medal, UAE's highest civilian award," he said. -- PTI


Image: PM Modi with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
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11:11   Zakir Naik apologises to non-Muslims, says he isn't racist
A day after being questioned by Malaysian police for hours over his racially sensitive remarks against Hindus and Chinese, controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on Tuesday apologised to non-Muslims for the comments.


Naik, who is facing charges of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities in India, has come under fire over his provocative remarks against Hindus and Chinese residing in Muslim-majority nation.


The Malaysian police called Naik in to record his statement last Friday and on Monday over his alleged remarks earlier this month in which he had asked the Malaysian Chinese to "go back" first as they were the "old guests" of the country.


His speech at the same venue was also condemned by many parties after he compared the Hindus in Malaysia with Muslims in India, saying that the Hindus here enjoyed more than 100 per cent rights as compared to Muslims in India.
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10:58   SC refuses immediate relief for Chidambaram
Supreme Court Judge NV Ramana gives no relief to P Chidambaram though Kapil Sibal asks the judge to pass an order to protect the former FM from arrest. Justice Ramana sends Chidambaram's file to CJI Ranjan Gogoi to be allocated a bench.  Justice Ramana says that he will forward the case to the CJI since this is a case of 'monumental money laundering'.
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10:44  
Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Vivek Tankha are inside the courtroom. Anticipatory bail plea of P Chidambaram now to be mentioned before CJI Ranjan Gogoi in the Supreme Court. 
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10:41   Cong slams BJP over 'vendetta' politics
The Congress party yesterday criticised the BJP-led central government of doing vendetta politics as CBI team reached the house of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram after Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in cases filed by the CBI and the ED related to his alleged role in INX Media scam.


Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, "India witnesses worst kind of virulent vendetta by Modi Govt as the BJP runs a police state. Judge reserves judgement for 7 months & delivers it 72 hours before retirement, CBI/ED are sent to raid as a respected former FM is hounded. Banana Republic?" 
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10:38   PC files plea in SC on anticipatory bail order
A Special Leave Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by lawyers of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram seeking interim relief against yesterday's order of the Delhi High Court cancelling his anticipatory bail plea.


The former Union finance minister, who is facing a summons notice from the Bombay High Court in a suit filed by 63 moons technology company seeking Rs 10,000 crore in damages, has sought a copy of the plaint and other relevant documents from the firm. 


The high court on July 24 directed Chidambaram and two bureaucrats to remain present in person or through their lawyers on October 15 to respond to the claims made by the company, formerly known as Financial Technologies Ltd.


Chidambaram will today seek relief from the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant him any protection from arrest in the INX Media Case. A 


team of officers from the CBI arrived at Chidambarams Jor Bagh residence late last night but could not find him home.


The high court denied the anticipatory bail plea to Chidambaram, saying he seems to be the "kingpin" and "key conspirator" in the case and needs to be interrogated in custody for the investigation to be effective. 
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09:33   Top Cong lawyers gear up for fight in SC today
The top legal brains of the Congress party -- Abhishek Singhvi, Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid -- have geared up for a legal battle at the Supreme Court on Wednesday to prevent former Union minister P Chidambarams arrest in connection with the INX Media case.

They are likely to highlight Chidambarams track record of responding to all summonses issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, cite the date of the alleged offence and other details, and argue that there is absolutely no legal ground for his arrest.

After the Delhi high court rejected his anticipatory bail application, Chidambaram, Sibal, Singhvi and Khurshid went into a huddle in Singhvis chambers to quickly decide on the future course of action.

Singhvi was also not impressed with a delay in the Delhi high courts ruling on the matter.

The matter was heard seven months ago with the order reserved for seven months. It is unfortunate that a request to defer the order was decided at 4 pm, making it impossible for us to raise the issue at the Supreme Court, Singhvi said.

For last many years, P Chidambaram attended every summons issued by the CBI as well as the ED without any single default. He has been on anticipatory bail for over last 15 months. There is absolutely no probable cause for arrest, Singhvi added.

While Singhvi may not be personally present in the Supreme Court on Wednesday when the matter is taken up, his team and other legal brains are ready with what they call a strong defence.
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09:22   What did Trump exactly say when he offered once again to mediate on the Kashmir issue
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again offered to mediate the "explosive" situation in Kashmir, saying it is a "very complicated place". Speaking a day after phone calls with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Mr Trump said he was happy to try and help calm the situation in Kashmir. He said religion was one of the main reasons for uneasy ties between India and Pakistan.

Here's the full transcript of what the US president said:

Q: The crisis between India and Pakistan --

Trump:  Its a big deal.

Q: and I know youve had some number of discussions -- is that solvable?

Trump:  Well, theyve been having this -- these talks for hundreds of years, even under different names.  But this is -- but its Kashmir.  And Kashmir is a very complicated place.  You have the Hindus and you have the Muslims, and I wouldnt say they get along so great.  And thats what you have right now.

And you have millions of people that want to be ruled by others, and maybe on both sides.  And you have two countries that havent gotten along well for a long time.  And, frankly, its a very explosive situation.

I spoke to Prime Minister Khan.  I spoke with, yesterday, also, Prime Minster Modi. Theyre both friends of mine. Theyre great people.  Theyre great people. And they love their countries.  And theyre in a very tough situation.

Kashmir is a very tough situation.  And, you know, were talking about -- this has been going on for decades and decades.  Shooting.  I dont mean shooting like shooting a rifle, I mean like major shooting of howitzers, of -- you know, of heavy arms.  And its been going on for a long period of time.

But I get along really well with both of them.  As you know, Prime Minister Khan was here just recently.  And I was with -- Im going to be with Prime Minister Modi.  Ill be with him over the weekend in France.

So, you know, I think were helping the situation. But theres tremendous problems between those two countries, as you know. And I will do the best I can to mediate or do something. Great relationship with both of them, but they are not exactly friends at this moment. Complicated situation.  A lot has to do with religion. Religion is a complicated subject. 
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09:12   He's being hunted down: Priyanka on Chidambaram
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has tweeted in support of Chidambaram, calling him an extremely qualified and respected Congress leader who served the nation as both, the home minister and finance minister, with loyalty 'for decades. 

In her tweets, she writes, "An extremely qualified and respected member of the Rajya Sabha, @PChidambaram_IN ji has served our nation with loyalty for decades including as Finance Minister & Home Minister. He unhesitatingly speaks truth to power and exposes the failures of this government, but the truth is inconvenient to cowards so he is being shamefully hunted down. We stand by him and will continue to fight for the truth no matter what the consequences are."

 In a major setback to Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Delhi High Court Tuesday rejected his anticipatory bail application in two cases of alleged corruption and money laundering linked to INX Media. This opens up the possibility of his arrest. Calling it a "classic case of money laundering", the court said that "facts prima facie reveal" that Chidambaram is the "kingpin, i.e., the key conspirator in the case".
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08:41   CBI pays 3rd visit to Chidambaram's home
Former Union finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram will today seek relief from the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant him any protection from arrest in the INX Media Case. 

A team of officers from the CBI arrived at Chidambarams posh Jor Bagh residence late last night but could not find him home.

The CBI once again paid a visit to P Chidambaram's residence in South Delhi's Jor Bagh after various teams of ED tried to locate him overnight but were unable to find him anywhere. This the third visit paid by CBI to his home. 

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh condemned the CBI action, says that this is nothing but 'political vendetta'. 
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08:15   Chidambaram to knock on SC's doors today
Congress leader P Chidambaram suffered a major setback Tuesday as the Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail in the INX Media scam, paving way for the investigating agencies, CBI and ED, to arrest him.

Hours after the rejection of P Chidambaram's anticipatory bail application, a team of CBI reached his the Jor Bagh residence around 6.45 pm only to find he was not home.

Arshdeep Singh Khurana, P Chidambaram's lawyer, then wrote to CBI after CBI had put up a notice outside Chidambaram's residence: " I am instructed to state that your notice fails to mention the provision of law under which my client has been issued a notice to appear within 2 hours. Furthermore, my client is exercising the rights available to him in law & had approached the Supreme Court on August 20 seeking urgent reliefs in respect of the order dismissing his anticipatory bail (in INX media case). He has been permitted by SC to mention the urgent Special Leave Petition against the order before Court at 10:30 am today. I, therefore, request you not to take any coercive action against my client till then & await the hearing at 10:30 am."
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07:50   Trump again offers to mediate Kashmir standoff
US President Donald Trump offered on Tuesday to mediate the "explosive" situation in Kashmir, long a flashpoint between nuclear armed India and Pakistan.
  
Trump said he would raise the matter over the weekend with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who the US has urged to act to ease tensions in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Kashmir is a very complicated place. You have Hindus and you have the Muslims and I wouldn't say they get along so great," Trump told reporters.

"I will do the best I can to mediate," he said.
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00:19   Modi talks to UK PM, raises I-day violence issue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held telephonic conversation with his British counterpart Boris Johnson during which he raised the issue of violence against members of the Indian diaspora celebrating Independence Day outside the Indian mission in London.
 
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Modi drew Johnson's attention to the challenges posed by vested interests pursuing their motivated agenda, including by violent means. 
 
"In this context he referred to the violence and vandalism perpetrated by a large mob against the High Commission of India in London on the last Independence Day of India," the statement read.
 
Prime Minister Johnson regretted the incident and assured that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure safety and security of the High Commission, its personnel and visitors, the statement said. 
 
Violent clashes took place outside the Indian High Commission when thousands of people converged there for pre-planned protests and counter-demonstrations on last Thursday.
 
The anti-India protest was organised by Pakistani groups as well as Sikh and Kashmiri separatist outfits over the government's decision on Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
A separate pro-India demonstration also took place outside India House as a counter to the anti-India protests.
During the conversation, Prime Minister Modi also pointed out that terrorism had plagued all parts of the world, including India and Europe. 
 
He stressed the importance of effective steps to ward off the threats posed by radicalisation, violence and intolerance, particularly in the context of the expanding footprint of terrorist organisations such as ISIS.
 
The prime minister congratulated Johnson on his election to the high office and expressed his readiness to work with him for strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the United Kingdom.
 
Prime Minister Johnson congratulated Modi on the latter's emphatic electoral victory for the second term in his office.
 
Both leaders agreed that as the world's pre-eminent democracies, the two countries have much to contribute together to effectively addressing the many challenges faced by the world.
 
The two leaders looked forward to interacting during the G-7 Summit in France. -- PTI 

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