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Mon, 09 December 2019
CAB not violative of Article 14: Shah in LS

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23:22   Difference between refugee and infiltrator: Shah
Shah's statement in Lok Sabha continues:

"There is a difference between a refugee and an infiltrator. Those who come here due to persecution, to save their religion and the honour of the women of their family, they are refugees and those who come here illegally are infiltrators," he said.  -- ANI
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22:54   CAB not violative of Article 14: Shah in LS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah replies to discussion on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

This bill is not in violation of constitutional provisions, said Shah.

Citizenship Bill will give relief to people living a painful life after facing persecution in neighbouring countries, he said.

"Had India not been divided on religious lines, there was no need for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill," Shah said in his reply.  -- PTI
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22:11   20 kg onion looted from state-run store in Birbhum
Around 20 kg onion was allegedly looted from a state-run store in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Monday, an official said.

The incident happened at a Sufal Bangla store at the Bolpur bus stand area of the district, where onions at subsidised price were being sold, he said.

The shopkeeper alleged that as sale of onions began in the morning a large number of people gathered in front of the store, during which the loot took place.

The state government has begun selling onions at Rs 59 a kg through fair price shops and Sufal Bangla stores, with each family getting a maximum of 1 kg on producing ration cards.

Retail price of onions has touched Rs 164 per kg mark in the state, as per market sources.

Meanwhile, locals alleged that the shopkeeper is hoarding the onions and no loot took place.

No complaint has been filed in the incident, the official said.  -- PTI
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21:39   SAD wants persecuted Muslim sects in CAB
The Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday urged the government to include sects from the Muslim community, who are facing persecution in neighbouring countries, in the Citizenship Amendment Bill as it will send a positive signal.

Participating in the debate on the bill, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said his party supports the bill as it will hugely benefit Sikhs facing persecution in Pakistan.

He also urged the government to include Ahmediyas and Hazaras in the ambit of the bill as they too are facing persecution in neighbouring countries.

He said the move will send a good signal. According to the proposed legislation, members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and were facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants and will be given Indian citizenship.  -- PTI
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20:48   Man held for stealing onions from grocery store
Feeling the pinch of soaring prices of onion, a man was on Monday arrested for stealing 2 kg of the vegetable from a grocery shop in  Madurai by diverting the attention of the shop owner.

Police said the accused Abdul Rahman, who is known to the shop-owner, went to the store and told the staff that his boss owed him some money and asked for it.

When the worker was making a call to his boss to seek his consent for repaying the amount, Rahman stole the onions.

Meanwhile, the owner who returned, verified the CCTV footage and found Rahman stealing onion from the shop following which he lodged a complaint with the police.

Previous recordings also showed Rahman stealing various grocery items. A case was registered against him and investigation is on.  -- PTI
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20:44   Uproar in House as Owaisi tears copy of CAB
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi created uproar in the Lok Sabha on Monday evening by tearing a copy of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, on which a discussion is going on in the Lower House.

Speaking on the Bill, Owaisi called it 'worse' than the 'laws of Hitler'.

He invoked Mahatma Gandhi's action of burning down obligatory identity document cards provided by the South African government in 1908 and said he will emulate the Mahatma by tearing the bill.

Owaisi then tore a copy of the bill leading to protest from the Treasury Benches, who called it a contempt of the House and demanded expulsion of Owaisi.

The Chair, however, expunged Owaisi's remarks and said his actions will not go on record.
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20:31   YSRCP, JD-U support Citizenship Bill
Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party and Janata Dal-United on Monday supported the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, which was introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Participating in the debate on the bill, YSRCP leader Midhun Reddy said his party supports it but has certain concerns and voiced hope that the government will take note of them.

Supporting the bill, JD-U leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh asserted that the proposed legislation is not against secularism.

The JD-U is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.  -- PTI
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20:19   NHRC seeks detailed report on Anaj Mandi fire
Describing the Anaj Mandi fire incident as a 'catastrophe' waiting to happen, the National Human Rights Commission on Monday issued notices to the Delhi government, the Delhi police chief and the North MCD and sought a detailed report in six weeks.

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that at least 43 people were killed in Filmistan's Anaj Mandi area in central Delhi early Sunday morning when a blaze caused by a short-circuit turned a five-storey building into a 'lethal gas chamber', the rights panel said.

About 100-150 people were sleeping when the fire broke out and most of the victims choked to death.

The Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary of the Delhi government, the Delhi police commissioner and the commissioner of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

It has sought a report within six weeks along with action taken against the errant officials, and details of relief and rehabilitation provided to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured persons, it said in a statement.  -- PTI
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19:44   Don't give voting rights for 25 yrs, Sena on CAB
The Shiv Sena on Monday said in Lok Sabha that people who get Indian citizenship under the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill should not be granted voting rights for 25 years.

Participating in the debate on the bill, Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) said there is no clarity yet on how and in which state these people would be rehabilitated.

He said framing laws is not enough and there is a need to implement them properly. He also said that while citizenship should be granted, such people should not get voting rights for 25 years.

Raut was of the view that besides Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, refugees from Sri Lanka should also be allowed to get Indian citizenship.  -- PTI
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19:21   31 Army personnel killed in terrorist attacks along LoC from 2016 to 2018: Govt
31 Army personnel were killed in terrorist attacks along the Line of Control (LoC) from 2016 to 2018, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

In written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said that in 2016, six Army personnel died in terrorist attacks, followed by 13 in 2017 and 12 in 2018.

"All the forward posts are adequately strengthened to withstand terrorist attacks. Continuous improvements, including the usage of modern technology, in the defences are made to make them more robust and resilient. The Army also carries out in depth analysis of the terrorist incidents and security breaches that are identified with various incidents," he said.  -- PTI
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18:47   Savarkar founded 2-nation theory: Cong to Shah
Congress leader Manish Tewari on Monday opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in the Lok Sabha and said that it is against Article 14, Article 15, Article 21, Article 25 and Article 26 of the Constitution of India.

Tewari further stated that the foundation for two-nation theory was laid in Ahmedabad by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in a Hindu Mahasabha session in 1935 and not the Congress.

"This is against Article 14, Article 15, Article 21, Article 25 and Article 26 of the Indian Constitution. This bill is unconstitutional and against basic right of equality," Tewari said.

"Today the home minister said that Congress is responsible for partition on the basis of religion. I want to make it clear that the foundation for two-nation theory was laid in 1935 in Ahmedabad by Savarkar in a Hindu Mahasabha session, and not Congress," he added.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Through this Bill, Indian citizenship will be provided to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, to put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country.   -- ANI
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18:09   Discussed weather: Ajit Pawar on public chat with Fadnavis
As eyebrows were raised over their first joint public appearance after the fall of the 80-hour-long government last month, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Monday said he and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis discussed 'weather' during the meeting.

In a stunning turn of events, Fadnavis had on November 23 returned as chief minister propped up by Ajit Pawar, who was made his deputy.

Both were sworn in a hush-hush early morning ceremony but the government lasted only 80 hours.

On Sunday, Fadnavis, now the Leader of Opposition in the assembly and Pawar, leading contender for the deputy CM's post in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, were seen together for the first time since the fall of their short-lived government.

They shared the stage at the marriage ceremony of independent MLA Sanjay Shinde's daughter in Solapur district and were seen engrossed in a 20-minute animated chat.

"Just because we sat together doesn't mean something new is cooking. We discussed the weather and rainfall," Pawar told reporters in his home turf Baramati in Pune district.

"The chairs at the wedding were arranged in such a manner that both of us were seated together," he said.

"There are no permanent foes in politics. As we were seated together, it was natural for us to talk about the weather," he added.

Fadnavis last week told a TV channel that it was Ajit Pawar who approached him to form the short-lived government in Maharashtra.  -- PTI
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18:03   130 crore citizens endorse CAB: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday asserted that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, which seeks to give Indian nationality to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who were facing religious persecution there, has the endorsement of the people as it was part of the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto.

Trying to allay apprehensions of the people of Northeastern region, Shah said the Narendra Modi government was committed to protect the customs and culture of the people of the region and informed that Manipur will be brought under Inner Line Permit regime.

"Citizenship amendment bill has the endorsement of 130 crore citizens of the country as it was the part of the BJP manifesto in 2014 as well as 2019 Lok Sabha elections," he said, initiating the debate on the contentious bill.

"We will have to differentiate between intruders and refugees. Citizenship amendment bill does not discriminate against anyone and does not snatch anyone's rights," he said.  -- PTI
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17:32   Pak shells forwards areas along LoC in Poonch
Pakistan army violated ceasefire by targeting forward areas with mortar shelling and small arms firing along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Monday, officials said.

Pakistan resorted to small arms firing and mortar shelling on forward areas along the LoC in Balakote sector of Poonch, they said.

Pakistani troops also initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC in Shahpur sector of the district at 3.45 pm, the officials said.

The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, they added.

The officials said Pakistan has been repeatedly violating the ceasefire in Rajouri and Poonch districts of J and K.  -- PTI
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17:19   No political agenda behind CAB: Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha on the Citizenship Amendment Bill: "There is no political agenda behind this bill. No question of injustice with anyone. In 1947, all refugees which came in, all were accepted by the Indian Constitution, there would hardly be any region of the country where refugees from West and East Pakistan didn't settle. From Manmohan Singhji to LK Advaniji, all belong to this category. 


"We are including Manipur in Inner Line Permit system, this big issue has now been resolved. I thank PM Modi on behalf of people of Manipur for fulfilling this long standing demand. 


"I've discussed this matter for 119 hours in recent times with over 140 NGOs, political parties and CMs of several states. Their suggestions have been duly included in this Bill."
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16:50   Gundu Rao 2nd K'taka leader to quit after bypolls
KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao resigns taking moral responsibility for the poor show by the Congress in the Karnataka Assembly bypolls. BJP has secured a comfortable majority in the Karnataka assembly, winning 12 out of 15 seats in the bypolls; Congress wins 2, independent 1.


Gundu Rao is the second Karnatka leader to quit. This afternoon, Siddaramaiah resigned as the Congress Legislative Party leader and Leader of Opposition. He has submitted his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.


"As the leader of the legislative party, I need to respect democracy. I have resigned as the Congress Legislative Party leader. I have submitted my resignation to Sonia GandhiJi. In 15 constituencies, we accept and respect the mandate given by the voters. I have accepted the result," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

He said that he has also resigned as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly."I have also resigned as the Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly," he said. Siddaramaiah further said that he will be sending a copy of his resignation to senior Congress leader KC Venugopal and the KPCC president.
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16:44   HM to make statement on Delhi blaze on Tuesday
Home Minister Amit Shah will speak in Lok Sabha on Tuesday on the concerns raised by members over the devastating Delhi blaze which claimed 43 lives. During the Zero Hour, members, cutting across party lines, raised the issue of the massive fire in a four-storey building comprising illegal factories in north Delhi's Anaj Mandi on Sunday. 


Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP) demanded a special investigation into the incident and steps to prevent its recurrence. He also sought increase in compensation to Rs 25 lakh each for the families of the deceased. K Suresh (Cong) said this is the second worst fire in Delhi and again reflects the fact that enforcement is not done strictly. This kind of incidents have been happening regularly in Delhi, he said and lamented that both the Centre and the state were passing the buck after such an unfortunate event. -- PTI
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16:28   JNU students lathi charged by cops during march to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Jawaharlal Nehru University students who were marching towards Rashtrapati Bhawan were stopped by police and baton charged near the Bhikaji Cama Place metro station here on Monday. Heavy deployment of police was in place ahead of the students' march against the hostel fee hike. When the students reached the cordoned off area, they tried to jump across the barricades and were lathi charged by police. -- PTI
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16:13   Vet's murder: Preserve bodies of accused, says HC
The Telangana High Court on Monday ordered the state administration to preserve till December 13 the bodies of the four accused of the rape and murder of a woman veterinarian, who were gunned down by the police last week.


The matter has been posted for hearing on December 12.


The high court directed that the bodies will be transported to Gandhi Medical College and will be preserved there till December 13.


The case was adjourned as the Supreme Court will on December 11 hear a plea seeking action against police personnel involved in the encounter of four accused in the rape and murder of the woman veterinarian in Telangana.


The petitioner has sought registration of an FIR, investigation and action against police personnel who were involved in the encounter.The accused -- Mohammed Arif, Naveen, Shiva, and Chennakeshavulu -- were killed in the police encounter at Chatanpally, Shadnagar on the morning of December 6.


On Sunday, a complaint was filed against Cyberabad Police alleging that the four suspects were killed in a fake encounter.


The Telangana government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the police encounter against the four accused.


The veterinarian was gang-raped and killed by the accused before they burnt her body in Telangana's Shamshabad on November 27. Her charred body was recovered on November 28. -- PTI
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16:07   Sidda quits as CLP leader after K'taka fail
Siddaramaiah quits as leader of the Congress legislative party after defeat in the Karnataka bypolls. "I need to respect democracy. I have resigned as Congress Legislative Party leader. I have submitted my resignation to Sonia Gandhiji."


Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday asserted that he would give a stable and pro-development government for the next three-and-half years -- the remainder of his term. 


 "Voters have given their verdict and the results are out. Now we have to focus on the development of the state. I will give a good administration in the next three-and- half years with the help of our ministers and MLAs," an upbeat Chief Minister told reporters.


He sought the support of the opposition to complete his term unhindered. The opposition was trying to create confusion among people. I appeal to them that at least from now on give us their complete support," Yediyurappa said.


BJP is leading in 12 out of 15 seats, Congress in 2 and an Independent in 1 seat. 
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15:43   SC issues notice to all States over allegations of starvation deaths
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to all states over allegations of starvation deaths of persons who did not get rations because they did not have Aadhaar cards.


A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde sought a response from the states on whether a person being denied rations over Aadhaar. CJI Bobde said, "I was part of the bench (which decided Aadhar case) it said people can't be denied services over Aadhaar. We want to appoint a high powered committee to probe this issue."


Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre informed the court that the reports suggest that these deaths are not starvation deaths. "No one denied food because of lack of Aadhaar, he said.


Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for petitioner Koili Devi said "in many states, the notification is there but when tribals go to the centres there is no ration."


The petition was filed on behalf of the mother Koili Devi and sister Gudiya Devi of Santoshi, an 11-year-old girl from Simdega, Karimati in Jharkhand who died of starvation on September 28, 2017.


The petition highlighted that Santoshi's death was due to the cancellation of her poor Dalit family's ration card since it had not been linked to their Aadhaar card.


Their rations had been stopped from March 2017, because of which, the entire family had been starving. On the day of Santoshi's death, her mother saves her some tea and salt - the only two things they had left. Later that night, Santoshi died, the plea said. -- ANI
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15:08   SC may hear PIL on encounter killings of vet murder accused
The Supreme Court will consider on Wednesday whether to hear a PIL seeking an SIT probe into the killing of four men, who were arrested on charges of gang rape and murder of a veterinarian in Telangana, an alleged encounter by the police. 


A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde took note of the submissions of lawyer G S Mani on Monday that the plea seeking independent investigation against the police officials concerned be listed for urgent hearing.


Another advocate ML Sharma has also filed a similar petition saying the SIT probe should be monitored by former apex court judges. The PIL, filed by Mani and lawyer Pradeep Kumar Yadav, claimed that the alleged encounter was "fake" and FIR should be lodged against police officials who were involved in the incident. -- PTI
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14:51   Modi working towards marginalising Muslims: Le Monde
@churumuri tweets: 'Le Monde', "one of the most important and widely respected newspapers in the world', front-pages India's descent into darkness: "India's @narendramodi is working towards marginalising Muslims,' reads headline of story that slips into page 2 and 3. @pmoindia @lemondefr #NRC #CAB.
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14:45   Long life, good health, PM's birthday wishes for Sonia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended birthday greetings to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on her 73rd birthday and prayed for her long and healthy life.


"Birthday wishes to Sonia Gandhi ji. Praying for her long life and good health," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter. Both Modi and Sonia, who are political rivals, have targetted each other on various occasions over several issues. Despite the political differences, Sonia had also sent birthday greetings to Prime Minister Modi in Septemeber and wished him a "healthy, happy and long life". 


Several Congress leaders have also posted birthday greetings for their party chief, praising her for her leadership skills and keeping the party's ideology high."Warm birthday greetings to Sonia Gandhi. She refuses to get cowed down by adversities and keeps the flag of INC India and its ideology high. Respects for her always," Congress leader Pawan Khera tweeted.

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14:36   Yeddyurappa celebrates
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa celebrated the party heading towards a win in the bypolls with his son BY Vijayendra who sought his father's blessings and greeted him with sweets.
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14:24   PM reads out mandate message from K'taka poll win
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked Congress and JD-S while citing the result trends of Karnataka by-polls and asserted that the people of Karnataka had witnessed corruption and 'laxity in development' during tenure of Congress-JD(S) government and hence have voted BJP.


He also said that the by-polls results of this state are a message for all those states where anyone betrays public mandate.


The Prime Minister's comments came at a time when BJP was leading in as many as nine seats of Karnataka in by-poll results and has emerged victorious on three.


As of now, the ruling BJP on Monday retained majority in the Karnataka Assembly when it bagged six seats in the byelections in which it was also leading in an equal number in other segments where counting is underway.
The BJP's good show in 12 seats comes as a morale booster for the saffron party after it's setback in Maharashtra.


Speaking at an election rally in Hazaribagh, Modi said, "Today people of Karnataka have proved that Congress and JD-S won't be able to betray them. This is a message for all states of the country that if someone will go against the public mandate and betray people, the citizens will punish them at the first opportunity".


Modi also spoke about the political tussle that the state of Karnataka had witnessed soon after the assembly election results.


"Earlier the people gave mandate to BJP to form the government but Congress played behind the curtain and managed to stop the BJP government formation. But today people gave them punishment as BJP candidates are either winning or leading in most of the seats in the bye-elections," the Prime Minister said.


"I pay gratitude to the people of the state for choosing stability and development by showing confidence in the BJP," he added. -- PTI
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14:06   Recent cut in corporate tax rate was done to boost investments: CEA
Chief Economic Adviser KV Subramanian on Monday said private investment is key to economic growth and the recent cut in corporate tax rate was done to boost investments. 


"Private investment is the driver of economic growth. Steps that we are taking, be it corporate tax rate cut, be it code on wages and industrial relations, is to try and create a more favourable environment for investment," Subramanian said at the FICCI Young Leaders Summit in New Delhi. He said investment is required for a sustained economic growth.


"So there is indeed well thought out agenda in implementing these measures and the effects of these will show (results), " he said. India's GDP growth slowed sharply to a pace of 4.5 per cent in the July-September, hit by a slump in manufacturing output. The pace of GDP growth has moderated from the 5 per cent rate in April-June and 7 per cent in July-September quarter of 2018. In September, the government had announced a cut in the corporate tax rate to 22 per cent from 30 per cent. It also lowered the tax rate for new manufacturing companies to 15 per cent to attract new foreign direct investments. PTI
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14:03   Schools shut, flight ops disrupted as heavy fog blankets Kashmir
Authorities in Kashmir closed primary schools on Monday due to adverse weather conditions as heavy fog engulfed most parts of the valley, also affecting flight operations at the Srinagar airport, officials said. 


Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan ordered the closure of all government and private primary schools on Monday in view of the adverse weather conditions, the officials said. 


They said the decision was taken in view of the heavy fog which has been prevailing in the valley for the past few days. A thick layer of fog engulfed most parts of the valley for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, affecting the visibility and causing problems to the people, especially motorists. A Meteorological Department official said the foggy weather conditions in the valley would remain till Tuesday. -- PTI

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14:01   Your dream house in Bandra will be cheaper by 1% next year: Report
International property consultant Knight Frank on Monday ranked Mumbai as the seventh global city in terms of expected price appreciation in prime residential properties and estimated that prices of luxury homes in certain areas are set to fall by one per cent in 2020.


These areas include Cuffe Parade, Napean Sea Road, Colaba, Lower Parel, Worli, Tardeo, Juhu, Bandra Kurla Complex, Santacruz West, Bandra West, Khar West and Prabhadevi, according to its latest report Prime Global Forecast 2020.


"The buyers of prime residential properties in Mumbai are expected to remain cautious in 2020 due to deteriorating economic environment impacting market liquidity and an additional one per cent stamp duty being levied by the Maharashtra government, taking the total to six per cent.


According to Knight Frank Prime Global Cities Index Q3 2019, while Mumbai was ranked as the 28th fastest-growing prime residential market in the world, registering a 0.8 per cent year-on-year increase in average capital value in Q3 2019, the prices had actually remained stable in the past three months. -- PTI
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13:46   LS votes in favour of tabling CAB
The Lok Sabha votes in favour of tabling the Citizenship Amendment Bill. 293 vote in favour of tabling the bill, while 82 vote against tabling the bill.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha on Monday said the name of the Muslim community is nowhere mentioned in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.


"Nowhere in the Bill, is the Muslim community named even once. You cannot distort and present it in the House," said Amit Shah after tabling the Bill, while replying to a member from Opposition Bench who alleged that the Bill is discriminatory against the community.


"Why do we need this Bill today? After independence, if Congress had not done Partition on the basis on religion, then, today we would have not needed this Bill. Congress did Partition on the basis of religion. If any Muslim from these three (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh) nations, applies for citizenship according to our law, then we will consider it, but the person won't get benefit of this amendment as the person has not faced religious persecution."

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Through this bill, Indian citizenship will be provided to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, to put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country.


The Bill was passed by the Lower House of the Parliament earlier this year but lapsed with the term of the previous Lok Sabha during the first term of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in the Centre.
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13:18   BJP wins 6 seats in K'taka bypolls, leads in 6 more
Ruling BJP wins six seats in the bypolls in Karnataka, while leading in six others; retains majority in the Assembly.
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12:52   CAB not even .001% against minorities: HM
CAB tabled in Lok Sabha: Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on says it is nothing but a targeted legislation over minority people of our country.


Union Minister Amit Shah says, "This Bill is not even .001% against minorities in the country". I will answer all questions on the Bill. Tab House se walkout mat karna. Don't stage a walkout of the House. 


NK Premachandran, Revolutionary Socialist Party MP says the Bill violates the basic structural features of the constitution envisioned in the preamble as entitlement of citizenship based on religion is against the secular fabric of the country.


The bill (CAB) seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there. The BJP has issued a a three-line whip to all its lawmakers to be present in Parliament from Monday to Wednesday. 
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12:28   Citizenship Amendment Bill tabled in Lok Sabha
Citizenship Amendment Bill tabled in the Lok Sabha. The bill (CAB) seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there. The BJP has issued a a three-line whip to all its lawmakers to be present in Parliament from Monday to Wednesday. 

The Citizenship Act, 1955 regulates who may acquire Indian citizenship and on what grounds.

According to the proposed legislation, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.
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12:27   Protests over CAB in Assam from dawn to dusk
Assam: People stage protest against the CAB in Golaghat.
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12:11   Aghadi's 1st sticking point: CAB
Ahead of tabling of the Citizen (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the Shiv Sena has opposed granting of any voting rights to illegal "intruders" even as it advocated citizenship for immigrant Hindus. 


The bill (CAB) seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there.


"Illegal Intruders should be thrown out. Immigrant Hindus must be given citizenship, but let's give rest to allegations of creating vote bank & not give them voting rights, what say? And yes what about pandits, have they gone back to Kashmir after article 370 was removed?" Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut tweeted in morning and tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who will introduce the CAB in the Lower House. 


The Congress has said it will strongly oppose the CAB in Parliament as it is against the country's Constitution and its secular ethos, the party's leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Sunday. Chowdhury made the remarks after a meeting of the Congress' parliamentary strategy group at party president Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence.


Raut's comment assumes significance as he is the chief whip of the Sena in Parliament. What stand does the Sena, which has 18 MPs in Lok Sabha, take on the bill is being closely watched as the saffron party heads a coalition government in Maharashtra with the NCP and Congress. 


The Sena had last month parted ways with its ally BJP to form a coalition government in Maharashtra, which is headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. 
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11:50   Ailing Nawaz Sharif likely to be shifted to US
Pakistan's ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently undergoing treatment in London, may be shifted to the US next week for better medical care for his multiple diseases, a media report said on Monday. Sharif, 69, left for London from Pakistan on November 19 in an air ambulance for medical treatment after the Lahore High Court allowed him to travel abroad for four weeks. 


The four-week duration can be extended further on his doctors' recommendations. The three-time prime minister and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PML-N supremo is suffering from multiple health ailments, including an immune system disorder causing low platelet count. "Nawaz Sharif is likely to fly to the US on December 16 for medical treatment of his ailment there," the Dawn quoted Sharif's family sources as saying. 


The medical tests conducted in London revealed that blood supply to a part of Sharif's brain was obstructed causing low platelet count issue and the surgical procedure facility required to treat it was available only in Boston, USA, the report said. -- PTI
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11:30   Security upped around JNU ahead of students' march
Security has been beefed up around the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Monday ahead of the JNU students' long march to Rashtrapati Bhavan against the hostel fee hike. 


The students circulated photos claiming that the police closed all the gates of the JNU. Roads leading to the JNU have also been closed for the traffic, the traffic police said. Baba Gangnath Marg is closed for vehicular traffic due to students' protest and the long march, the Delhi Traffic Police said. 
-- PTI
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11:15   BJP appears headed for a splendid show in Karnataka bypolls
The ruling BJP appeared headed for a splendid show, leading in 11 out of 15 Assembly constituencies that went for the bypolls on December five, as
the counting was taken up on Monday.4.


The BJP needs to win at least six of those 15 seats to remain in a majority in the assembly. In the previous elections, the Congress had won in 12 of those 15 seats and the JDS of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, the remaining three. 


Trends available so far showed Congress leading in two (Shivajinagar and Hunsur), while JD(S) and an independent candidate were ahead in Yeshwanthpura and Hoskote constituencies respectively. 


BJP candidate Narayana Gowda has taken a lead of 1,403 votes in K R Pete against Congress' B L Devaraj, who was ahead in the initial rounds. If Gowda wins, this will be Amit Shah-led party's first ever victory in the Vokkaliga bastion of Mandya district, dominated by Congress and JD(S) for decades. 


Marching towards victory, BJP's Shivaram Hebbar was leading against Bhimanna Naik of Congress in Yellapur by a margin of 39,598 votes. Also, Gopalaiah of BJP was leading in Mahalakshmi Layout by a margin of 15,094 votes against Girish K Nashi of JD(S). JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had extensively campaigned in Mahalakshmi Layout to defeat their former close confidant Gopalaiah, who joined BJP. 


In Gokak that saw a battle between the Jarkiholi brothers, Ramesh Jarkiholi of BJP was ahead of his brother Lakhan from the Congress by a margin of 12,615 votes. 

Congress nominees H P Manjunath (Hunsur) and Rizwan Arshad (Shivajinagar) were leading by a margin of 19,395 and 2,414 votes respectively at last count, while JD(S)' Javarayi Gowda was ahead by a wafer-thin margin in Yeshwanthpura.
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11:02   Cong concedes defeat in Karnataka bypolls
Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar concedes defeat as counting in the bypolls shows the BJP set to win. "We have to agree with the mandate of the voters of these 15 constituencies. People have accepted the defectors. We have accepted defeat, I don't think we have to be disheartened."


The Congress party was heading for defeat in nine out of its 12 seats, with the BJP making huge gains. The BJP was leading in 12 out of 15 seats. 


Bypolls were held in 15 out of 17 assembly seats left vacant by MLAs who resigned in July, causing the collapse of the Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition and the BJP's takeover.


The BJP currently has 105 MLAs and the support of one independent candidate, while the Congress has 66 and the JDS 3.
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10:45   Air quality in national capital remains in "very poor" category
The air quality in the national capital remained in the "very poor" category for the sixth consecutive day on Monday as cold weather and calm winds allowed accumulation of pollutants. 


The Air Quality Index in the city at 8.45 am was recorded at 358. An AQI between 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor" and 401-500 "severe". An AQI above 500 falls in the "severe plus" category. 


In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad performed worst as its air quality index recorded 404. The air quality in Greater Noida, Gurgaon and Noida was 377, 341 and 390, respectively. In Delhi, the Karni Singh shooting range (391) was worst affected followed by Jahangirpuri, Bawana and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 388. PTI
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10:32   Cab ride with divisive driver: Sibal on CAB
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday hit out at the government over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, saying it is a "cab" ride with a divisive driver. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there. 


The Congress has said it will oppose "tooth and nail" the Bill in Parliament as it is against the country's Constitution and its secular ethos. "CAB is a cab ride with a divisive driver to: destabilise, destroy our polity values both societal and constitutional with an eye only on political dividends. Hath milao Desh bachao!" Sibal said in a tweet. 


The bill to amend the six-decade-old Citizenship Act will be introduced in Parliament on Monday afternoon, and later in the day it will be taken up for discussion and passage, according to the Lok Sabha's List of Business. 
--  PTI
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10:20   Rupee slips 7 paise to 71.27 against USD in early trade
The Indian rupee opened on a cautious note and fell 7 paise to 71.27 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday tracking muted opening in domestic equities and sustained foreign fund outflows. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 71.24 then fell to 71.27 against the US dollar, showing a decline of 7 paise over its previous closing. The Indian rupee on Friday had closed at 71.20 against the US dollar. Traders were also awaiting fresh cues on the potential US-China trade deal. --PTI
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10:18   'I don't think Modi will ever retire from politics'
Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai's just launched book 2019: How Modi Won India is an engaging account of Narendra Modi's grand return to power.
If the 2014 election changed India, 2019 may well have defined what 'new India' is likely to be all about. 
2019: How Modi Won India takes a look at that fascinating, developing, story. "Modi wants to be seen as a statesman. He wants to be seen as someone who one day may even win the Nobel Prize. He has a sense of history," Rajdeep Sardesai tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih. The first of a three-part interview.Video: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com. Do read
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09:48   Vet murder case: SIT to probe killing of accused
The Telangana government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the killing of four accused in the rape and murder of a woman veterinarian in "retaliatory" firing by police last week. A Government Order was issued in this regard on Sunday.


"The cause and circumstances leading to the death of the four persons should be ascertained with reasons and establish truth and in view of the fact that the case requires sustained and focused investigation, a SIT is constituted to investigate the case,' the Order said.


The eight-member SIT led by Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat, should immediately take over investigation in the case registered over the "exchange of fire" and all other related cases registered in the state as per Supreme Court guidelines, it said. 


The SIT should complete the investigation and submit the report before a competent court of law, it said. All the four accused were gunned down by police on Friday morning at Chattanpalli when they were taken to the scene of the crime near the culvert beneath where the charred remains of the 25-year-old woman veterinarian were found on November 28, to recover her phone, wrist-watch and others pertaining to the case.


The Cyberabad Police had said its personnel resorted to "retaliatory" firing after two of the accused opened fire at police after snatching their weapons besides attacking the latter with stones and sticks, resulting in injuries to two policemen. While the police action has largely come in for praise, it has also evoked concerns over extra-judicial executions. 


Taking cognisance of the 'encounter' killings of the four accused, the NHRC had ordered the probe, and accordingly a seven-member investigative committee of the NHRC had begun its inquiry. The four were arrested on November 29 for allegedly raping and killing the woman by smothering her and later burning the body. -- PTI


Image:  Cyberabad police chief V C Sajjanar who helmed the encounter deaths of the four accused in the woman vet rape and murder case. 
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09:29   BJP takes early lead in Karnataka assembly bypolls
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has taken an early lead in 10 out of 15 assembly constituencies that went for bypolls on December 5, as the counting of votes was taken up on Monday, election officials said.
 
Initial trends showed the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular were ahead in two seats, while independent candidate was maintaining lead in Hoskote.
BJP candidates who are leading are -- Shivaram Hebbar (Yellapur), Anand Singh (Vijayanagara), Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), B C Patil (Hirekerur), Shrimant Patil (Kagwad), K Sudhakar (Chikkaballapura), Mahesh Kumthalli (Athani), Arun Kumar Guttur (Ranebennur), Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout) and Byrathi Basavaraj (K R Puram).
Congress nominees H P Manjunath (Hunsur) and Rizwan Arshad (Shivajinagar) were leading; JD(S)' B L Devaraj  and Javarayi Gowda were ahead in K R Pete and Yeshwanthpura respectively.
BJP's rebel and independent candidate Sharath Bachegowda, son of Chikkaballapura Lok Sabha member B N Bachegowda, was leading ahead of party's official candidate MTB Nagaraj in Hoskote.
The bypolls were held to fill vacancies caused by the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and JD-S MLAs, whose revolt led to collapse of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July and paved the way for BJP to come to power.
The BJP needs to win at least six of the 15 seats to remain in majority in the 225-member assembly including the Speaker, who has a casting vote), which would still have two vacant seats -- Maski and R R Nagar.
In the assembly with the current strength of 208 after disqualifications, the BJP has 105 MLAs (including an independent), the Congress 66 and the JD(S) has 34 MLAs. There is also one BSP member, a nominated member and the Speaker. -- PTI  
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09:25   PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi to hold rallies in Jharkhand today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on Monday address two public rallies each for the third phase of elections in Jharkhand.

Modi is scheduled to hold rallies in Jharkhand's Barhi and Bokaro, while his main political opponent Gandhi will address the public in Barkagaon and Ranchi.

Jharkhand, which has 81-member assembly, is undergoing polling in five phases.

The first phase of election in the state had taken place on November 30. 

The state voted for the second phase on December 7. 

The voting for the third phase will be conducted on December 12, the fourth phase on December 16, and the fifth and last phase on December 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 23. -- ANI
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08:46   Fire at same bldg in Delhi where 43 people died
A fire broke out at the same building in north Delhi where 43 people, mostly labourers, were killed in a blaze on Sunday.  

Four fire tenders have been rushed to the spot.

The building at the crowded Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road was built without proper clearances, the police have said, adding its two owners have been arrested.
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08:28   Karnataka bypolls: Counting of votes begins
The counting of votes for the by-elections on 15 assembly seats in Karnataka that went to polls on December 5 is underway at 11 centres in the state. 
 
The election results will have a bearing on the future of the four-month-old Bharatiya Janata Party government, led by B S Yediyurappa, in Karnataka.
The counting began at 8 am, poll officials said.
The elections had taken place at Yellapur, Ranebennur, Vijayanagar, Yashwanthapur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Chikkaballapura, KR Puram, Shivajinagar, KR Pet, Hunsur, Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Hirekerur and Hoskote.
While the overall polling percentage was 67.91, the highest voter turnout was recorded in Hoskote assembly segment (90.9 per cent), whereas the lowest was KR Puram (46.74 per cent).
According to the poll officials, the first set of results may come by 11 am.
These byelections were necessitated due to the disqualification of 17 MLAs. 

While elections took place in 15 segments, the polls in the two other constituencies -- Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Maski -- will be held later as the matter is sub-judice.

The BJP needs at least six seats in an assembly of 221 seats minus speaker to continue in the government.

 Its failure to garner the required number of seats may result in another bout of political drama in the southern state. -- PTI

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