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Fri, 13 December 2019
Mamata has to implement citizenship law: Guv

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22:49   Mamata has to implement citizenship law: Guv
Criticising West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her assertion that she would not implement the new Citizenship Act, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said a person holding a constitutional post cannot oppose a law.

His statement came hours after Banerjee, who had been vociferously opposing the Citizenship Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise, declared that the amended law will not be enacted in Bengal.

"It is no longer a bill, but a law. The Parliament had cleared the Bill, following which the President gave his assent. So a chief minister, who is holding a constitutional post and has taken oath of the Indian Constitution, can't just say that she will not implement the law," Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar has been engaged in a face-off with the Trinamool Congress government over a host of issues, since assuming charge as the governor of West Bengal.

In the wake of the ongoing protests across the state over the amended Act, the governor also appealed to people to maintain peace and calm and not take law in their own hands.   -- PTI
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22:33   UN human rights body calls Citizenship Act 'discriminatory'
The United Nations' human rights body on Friday voiced concern over India's new citizenship law, terming it 'fundamentally discriminatory' in nature.

The new citizenship law seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslim persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"We are concerned that India's new Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 is fundamentally discriminatory in nature," UN human rights spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva.

"The amended law would appear to undermine the commitment to equality before the law enshrined in India's Constitution and India's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, to which Indian is a State party, which prohibit discrimination based on racial, ethnic or religious grounds," he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi has said the new law provides expedited consideration for Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities already in India from certain contiguous countries.

It asserted that every nation has the right to enumerate and validate its citizenry, and to exercise the prerogative through various policies.

Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh have been witnessing large-scale protests in the last two days with thousands of people hitting the streets defying prohibitory orders to demand scrapping of the contentious law.

At least two persons died due to bullet injuries on Thursday after police opened fire on protesters in Guwahati, capital of Assam.

Laurence said although India's broader naturalisation laws remain in place, these amendments will have a discriminatory effect on people's access to nationality.

All migrants, regardless of their migration status, are entitled to respect, protection and fulfilment of their human rights, he said.

"Just 12 months ago India endorsed the Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration, which commits States to respond to the needs of migrants in situations of vulnerability, avoiding arbitrary detention and collective expulsions and ensuring that all migration governance measures are human rights-based," Laurence said in a statement.

The spokesman said while the goal of protecting persecuted groups was welcome, this should be done through a robust national asylum system that is premised on the principle of equality and non-discrimination.

He said it should apply to all people in need of protection from persecution and other human rights violations, with no distinction as to race, religion, national origin or other prohibited grounds.

"We understand the new law will be reviewed by the Supreme Court of India and hope it will consider carefully the compatibility of the law with India's international human rights obligations," Laurence said.  -- PTI
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21:41   Efforts on to help those stranded in Guwahati
Efforts were being made on Friday to help passengers stranded at the airport, railway station and inter-state bus terminals in Guwahati, an official said.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at these places due to the indefinite curfew in the city following violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act.

Buses were being arranged to transport the commuters stranded at the LGBI Airport, railway station and Inter State Bus Terminals (ISBT) to different parts of Guwahati, a spokesperson of the Kamrup (Metro) district, comprising Guwahati and its adjoining areas, told PTI.

The district administration was also distributing food items and water, besides providing medical assistance to them, he said.

Arrangements were also being made for transporting the stranded train passengers in New Jalpaiguri in North Bengal and Bongaigaon in Assam to travel to their destinations.

Meanwhile, restrictions in Guwahati were relaxed on Friday for transport of essential commodities amid the ongoing curfew, the official said.

Essentials such as food items, vegetables, meat, fish and poultry were allowed to be transported from the wholesellers to the retail stores, he said.

Curfew imposed in Guwahati on Wednesday was extended till indefinite period following violent protests.

The district administration and the Food and Civil Supplies Department have appealed to protestors not to obstruct movement of vehicles transporting the essential items.

The administration has also set up a district control room with phone numbers 0361-2733052, 8255095829 besides atoll free number 1077 in the deputy commissioner's office in Guwahati for emergency services.  -- PTI
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21:34   Protesters stopped from reading Article 14 in Mumbai
An innocuous protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act turned into a Kafkaesque scene on Friday evening in South Mumbai.

As a group of young men gathered to read Article 14 of the Constitution in Churchgate, a Mumbai police team arrived and bustled the young protestors into a waiting police van.

You can see what happened in the videos below:


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20:31   Students boycott exams, hit streets in Arunachal
Protests against the amended Citizenship Act continued to rage across northeast, with students' unions in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday boycotting their examination to hit the streets across cities, seeking immediate revocation of the law.

Thousands of agitators, led by Rajiv Gandhi University Students' Union (RGUSU) and Students' Union of NERIST (SUN), marched from the varsity to Raj Bhavan, covering a distance of around 30 km on the hilly terrain.

Local people, along with those belonging to the Assamese community, also joined the rally here to protest against the controversial law, most of them raising slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre.

The agitators submitted a memorandum to Governor B D Mishra, stressing that the amended Act would not be implemented in the state.

"We oppose the Citizenship Act and want its immediate revocation. The law will divide the region on religious lines and jeopardise the existence of the indigenous people," one the protesters claimed.

According to the amended Act, non-Muslim refugees, who escaped religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014, will be granted Indian citizenship.

It, however, exempted tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and areas covered under The Inner Line (ILP) regime, notified under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.

Currently, the ILP regime is applicable in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.

The protesters, however, claimed that Assam was the gateway of the northeast, and the region would suffer if the state gets affected.

Meanwhile, petrol and diesel crisis hit Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, especially in the state capital, as people queued up at fuel outlets, fearing that supply might get hit amid protests across the region.

The administration was trying its best to provide petrol and diesel to the commuters at a prescribed limit per individual, a government official said.

"All petrol depots in the state capital will be opened to the public for a few hours in the evening. The long queues at the fuel outlets have led to traffic snarls in the state capital," the official added.  -- PTI
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19:48   NE to face fuel crunch if agitation continues
Assam and other North Eastern states may face fuel supply issues if the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act continues for another week, as it has already led to the shutdown of refineries and oil-producing facilities in the region.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has been forced to shut down its Digboi refinery in Assam and is operating Guwahati unit at minimal throughput, while Oil India Ltd has been forced to shut LPG production and its crude oil production has dropped by 15-20 per cent, multiple sources at the state-owned companies said.

Sources said the agitation has blocked the movement of tankers and trucks, which are mostly used to supply petrol, diesel and LPG from the refineries to different parts of the North East.

With limited storage capacity, the companies have been forced to curtail production in absence of products being evacuated, they said.

Oil India Ltd has shut LPG production for the same reason, they said, adding the agitation has also limited movement of employees and officers who work at the refineries and oil installations.

"No employee could reach OIL facilities on Thursday," a source said, adding things improved a bit on Friday but attendance was low.

Protesters pulled out employees from IOC refineries in Guwahati and Digboi, forcing curtailment of operations.

Sources said if the agitation were to continue for another 7-10 days, the region may face fuel supply issues as in the absence of fresh replenishment the current stocks will exhaust and supply dry up.

Bongaigaon, the third refinery in Assam, was already under maintenance shutdown when the agitation broke out.

Two people were killed and 11 injured in police firing on protestors who have taken to streets since the Parliament approved the Citizenship Amendment Bill that would convert thousands of illegal immigrants into legal residents.

Sources said OIL suspended LPG as IOC was not able to lift the cooking fuel due to protests. OIL has also stopped all drilling operations as the staff was not able to reach work.

OIL supplies crude mainly to IOC's Digboi refinery and BPCL's Numaligarh unit.

The firm has also stopped production from several gas wells, curtailing supplies to tea gardens and power and fertilizer plants.

However, operations at Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) fields have been largely unaffected even though employees could not reach plants at some places, they said.  -- PTI
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19:18   Pankaja, Khadse get a warning from Maha BJP chief
A day after Eknath Khadse and Pankaja Munde vented ire about the party leadership in Maharashtra, state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Chandrakant Patil said on Friday that 'anti-party activities' would not be tolerated.

Patil was addressing BJP workers at Solapur in south Maharashtra.

On Thursday, at a rally to mark late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde's birth anniversary in Parli, Pankaja Munde and Khadse targeted former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis is facing the heat after the BJP failed to form government in the state as its alliance with the Shiv Sena fell apart.

"Henceforth, anti-party activities will not be tolerated. No one will be spared. The situation is being monitored from the central level to the local level. You have seen that nobody was spared during the Assembly elections," Patil said.

Patil himself was present at the event in Parli, organised by Pankaja, Gopinath Munde's daughter. Speaking in Solapur, he said several people had asked him not to attend the Parli rally, saying 'eggs would be hurled' at him.

"The picture is painful to some extent, but had I not gone there, the situation would have been even tenser. The communication eased many things," he added.

Some local BJP leaders were betraying the trust people reposed in the party in the municipal corporation and squabbling among themselves, Patil said, without naming anyone.

"I understand there are differences...Pankaja Taai said in Parli that people got justice when they revolted. She gave a big list....Shivaji Maharaj revolted. But against whom? the Mughals. She gave another example, of Veer Savarkar. But he revolted against whom? The Britishers," Patil said.

"You do not revolt against your own people, you don't fight with your own people...there can be heated discussions ....but that too within the confines of four walls," he added.

While Pankaja lost the assembly election from Parli, Khadse, a former minister, was denied the ticket.

His daughter was offered ticket instead, but she too lost.

Both Munde and Khadse have taken veiled swipes at Fadnavis, blaming 'conspiracies' for their respective electoral setbacks.  -- PTI
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18:18   Shah's visit to Meghalaya, Arunachal cancelled
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his visit to two Northeastern states -- Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh -- on Sunday and Monday next, officials said.

The cancellation comes amidst widespread protests in Assam and Meghalaya against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The home minister's visit to the Northeast has been cancelled, a home ministry official said, without citing any reason.   -- PTI
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17:47   Onion prices going down, imports soon: FM
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman who was trolled for saying she doesn't eat onions said at the press briefing today that the price of onions has started going down at several places. "It is not completely less, but it is going down. We've had a Group of Ministers' meeting which is reviewing on almost every 1-2 days' gap basis and deciding on how to further take up the import related issues. Onions are a perishable commodity. Due to rain in some places, flooding in some other, the crop was less and hence the low output. Govt is taking steps to import and bring onions to the market as soon as possible," she said. 


Chief Economic Advisor KV Subramanian who was at the briefing as well said the evidence of measures to boost investment was actually seen in the record FDI inflows with US dollar 35 billion in the first half of 2019-20 as against US dollar 32 billion during the last corresponding period.


"Evidence of measures to boost investment is actually seen in the record FDI inflows -- US dollar 35 billion in the first half of 2019-20 as against US dollar 32 billion during the last corresponding period," said Subramanian at a press conference.


"It is a good sign of foreigners seeing India as a very important destination," said Subramanian, while giving details of measures taken so far to bolster consumption and investment.He said that the Central government has focused on clearing all past dues of PSUs, enabling retail credit by supporting NBFCs and HFCs and supporting MSMEs via bill discounting.


Stating that there is a change on emphasis on disinvestment to enhance the efficiency of the economy, he said: "All of these measures have used transparent due diligence."


"To support NBFCs and HFCs, which are crucial for lending, total sanctioned support has been Rs 4.47 lakh crore, which includes Rs 1.29 lakh crore for pool-buy-cuts of assets," he said. 


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17:18   Sensex reclaims 41,000-mark on upbeat global sentiment
Equity benchmark indices closed nearly one per cent higher on Friday amid fresh hopes of a trade deal between the United States and China along with a decisive victory of Boris Johnson-led Conservative Party in Britain's elections.


The BSE S&P Sensex surged ahead by 428 points at 41,010 while the Nifty 50 ticked up by 115 points at 12,087.


All sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the positive terrain except for Nifty pharma, which dropped by 0.1 per cent. But Nifty PSU bank was up by 4.08 per cent, metal by 2.33 per cent and auto by 1.72 per cent.


A decisive victory of Britain's Conservative Party strengthens the prospects of a smooth Brexit, ending the three-and-a-half years of political instability in Britain.


Banking stocks gained the most amid reports that lenders are likely to get payments from Essar Steel resolution this month. Axis Bank climbed up by 4.1 per cent to Rs 752.25 per share while State Bank of India gained by 3.5 per cent, IndusInd Bank by 3.3 per cent and Yes Bank by 2.9 per cent.
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17:16   Babus get a-moving
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following appointments: 


R Subrahmanyam: Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development as Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment. 


Amit Khare: Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting as Secretary, Department of Higher Education vice R Subrahmanyam, upon his appointment as Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment. The Officer will also hold the additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy. 


Arun Goel, Secretary, Ministry of Culture as Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises vice Asha Ram Sihag, upon his superannuation on 31.12.2019. 


Kshatrapati Shivaji, Executive Director, Asian Development Bank as Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. The officer will also hold the additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare. 


Ravi Mittal, Special Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance as Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting vice Shri Amit Khare, upon his appointment as Secretary, Department of Higher Education. 


TV Somanathan, presently in the Cadre, as Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. 


Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat as Secretary, Department of Rural Development vice Amarjeet Sinha upon his superannuation on 31.12.2019. 


VP Joy, Director General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat vice Rajesh Bhushan upon his appointment as Secretary, Department of Rural Development. 


Sunil Kumar, Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry as Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj. 


Barun Mitra, Special Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence as Officer on Special Duty, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice. 


Praveen Kumar, Special Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship vice K. P. Krishnan, upon his superannuation on 31.12.2019. 


Sushil Kumar, Additional Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Secretary, Indian Council of Agricultural Research as Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
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17:05   PIL in SC for Nirbhaya's family to watch hangings
A Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday seeking that death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case be  hanged within a month and their executions be live telecast.


The petition sought that review and curative petition of the convicts be disposed of within a month. 


The Supreme Court is slated to hear review plea of one of the convicts, Akshay Kumar Singh, on December 17.


"Allow Nirbhaya's family to watch the execution (like in the USA) of the all convicts in the case so that it may bring closure to the family."


The petitioner also demanded that the cost of the hanging rope must be retrieved "so that the accused family may understand that it was their responsibility too to impart values in their rapist son."


The plea sought for a direction to frame guidelines for completion of both police probe and trial in fast track court within six months in rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases.


It also sought appeals in the High Court and Supreme Court to be completed within four months and three months, respectively. -- PTI
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16:58   Nirbhaya's mother urges govt to ensure Maliwal ends strike
Nirbhaya's mother on Friday appealed to the Centre to fulfil the demand of DCW chief Swati Maliwal to give capital punishment to rapists and ensure that she ends her fast. She visited Maliwal at Samta Sthal near Rajghat where the Delhi Commission for Women chairperson has been sitting on a hunger strike for over 10 days. Nirbhaya's mother said she was upset that the government had not bothered to check on Maliwal during her hunger strike. PTI
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16:54   LIVE! HM visits BSF HQ, reviews ops along B'desh, Pak
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday visited the headquarters of the Border Security Force and reviewed its operational preparedness along the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, officials said. Shah spent about four hours at the head office of the force that is located in the CGO complex on Lodhi road in New Delhi. 


It was Shah's first visit to the headquarters of the country's largest border guarding force after becoming home minister in the Modi government's second term.  


Officials said after presenting a ceremonial guard of honour, the home minister was given a presentation on the BSF deployment and operations along the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. 


The force guards over 2,290-km of the India-Pakistan border (international border and the Line of Control) and 4,096-km Indo-Bangla front. 


The minister was also briefed about the smart gadgets deployed, and recent operations conducted by the force to fortify its defences along the Pakistan border to check infiltration and smuggling activities, they said. 


Shah directed the officials to ensure a tight vigil and "enhance" the usage of smart technology tools to effectively secure the two frontiers, they said. 

-- PTI
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16:42   I-T dept issues tax refunds of Rs 1.57 lakh cr till Nov: Secy
The Income Tax Department has issued as much as Rs 1.57 lakh crore of income tax refunds in the first eight-and-a-half-months of the current fiscal compared to Rs 1.23 lakh crore in full 2018-19 fiscal, Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said Friday. 


At a press conference called to disclose impact of steps taken to boost consumption in the economy so as to uplift growth from a six-year low, Pandey said tax refund cases have gone up by 17 per cent to 2.16 crore. In money terms, the income tax refunds have gone up by 27.2 per cent. Also, Integrated-GST refund of Rs 38,988 crore has been released so far this fiscal as compared to Rs 56,057 crore in full 2018-19 financial year, he said. PTI
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16:15   NE people emotional, Act needs explanation: Rijiju
Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports slammed those fanning violence in the North-Eastern states over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 and assured that the implementation of the Act will cause no harm to the people of the region.


"Some elements are trying to spread violence there and take advantage of the situation in the North-East region. This has never happened in the history of India that laws were passed without consultation of the North-East states. I am very sure that the provisions of the Bill need to be properly communicated with the people of North-East. They are very emotional people, hence we need to make them understand," he said while speaking to media in New Delhi.


"All the areas of Meghalaya and Tripura are protected under this Act," the Union Minister added.


According to the Act, members of the Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014, and were facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but will be given Indian citizenship. -- ANI


Image: People buy fruits after curfew was relaxed in Guwahati today. Pic: ANI
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15:45   FM's press briefing begins
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the media in Delhi amid the economic crisis in the country. 
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15:43   Citizenship Act applicable to all states: Centre
Government sources on five states which have said that they will not implement Citizenship Amendment Act says that the issue of citizenship comes under the union list by 7th schedule of the Constitution and such an amendment is applicable to all states.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced protest rallies against Citizenship Act on December 16, 17 and 18 in Kolkata. Mamata to participate in all the rallies. 
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15:29   Guwahati stocks up on essentials, curfew eased
Goods flew off shelves as locals rushed to stock up essential items after shops and markets in Guwahati opened Friday morning amid reports that curfew has been relaxed, which were later dismissed by the authorities. Long queues were seen outside shops at the Uzan Bazar, Chandmari, Silpukhuri and Zoo Road areas with people coming out in their cars and two-wheelers after some local channels reported that the prohibitory orders have been relaxed from 6 am to 1 pm. An Assam Police spokesman later clarified that there was no order about the curfew being relaxed and restrictions will be in force. The restrictions were imposed at 6.15 pm on Thursday after violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act. 


Security forces personnel who are manning each and every corner of the city, however, did not enforce closure of the markets and restrict movement of vehicles.


Major lines were seen outside grocery stores, shops selling poultry items and fish. Many said they were stocking items for at least three-four days in wake of the uncertainties amid the protests. Several people were heard at the market saying they even got dressed for office after the reports of curfew relaxations. However, schools and offices remained shut. 


Flag marches by the Army and personnel of the security forces are being conducted across the city. Also, civic workers were seen clearing barricades, bricks and stones, burnt tyres and other things that dotted the city roads after the pitched battle between protestors and police on Thursday that left two persons dead. Public transport, including buses, were off roads.  
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15:06   BJP can't bulldoze states on Citizenship Act: WB
Lashing out at the BJP-led central government over the amended Citizenship Act, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she would not allow its implementation in the state "under any circumstances". 


Addressing a press meet in Digha, Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, said the saffron party can't bulldoze the states to implement the law.


"We will never allow NRC exercise and Citizenship Act in Bengal. We will not implement the amended Act, even though it has been passed in Parliament. The BJP can't just bulldoze the states to implement it," Banerjee said. Announcing a series of protest programmes across the state, the CM also said that she has cancelled her visit to Delhi to attend a meeting on the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. 


"The Citizenship Act will divide India. As long as we are in power, not a single person in the state will have to leave the country," the chief minister added.
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15:01   AP's Disha Act will pronounce verdict in rape cases in 21 days
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly has passed Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill 2019 (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019). The bill provides for awarding death sentence for offences of rape and gang rape and expediting verdict in trials of such cases within 21 days.
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14:51   Looking forward to working together: Modi to Johnson
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Boris Johnson on Friday for returning to power in the United Kingdom, saying he looks forward to working together for closer ties between the two countries. 


"Many congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson for his return with a thumping majority. I wish him the best and look forward to working together for closer India-UK ties," Modi tweeted. 


British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday secured a thumping victory in the UK's most dramatic general election in decades, ending months of political uncertainty and setting the country on course to leave the European Union. -- PTI
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14:40   'CAA is an effort to change ethos, culture, politics of India'
The biggest impact of the Citizenship Amendment Act will be seen in Assam where protests have erupted on the streets, the army is carrying out flag marches, curfew has been imposed and transport services curtailed.


"Is this something that bodes well for the future? I don't think so. It shows how upset people are at being taken for granted. Their voices were not being heard," Sanjoy Hazarika -- journalist, human rights activist, author and film-maker, who is steeped both in Assam's culture and the problems the state is facing -- tells Savera R Someshwar/Rediff.com. Read the interview here. 
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14:25   Seven-judge bench to revisit 2018 Sabarimala order
Decoded: Why the SC did not pass any order for the safety of women pilgrims to Sabarimala. 


The Supreme Court on Friday said that its 2018 order on Sabarimala temple issue was "not final" as the matter is pending before a seven-judge bench, which it said will be constituted soon.


A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde made these observations while passing an order on a petition filed by two activists -- Bindu Ammini and Fathima A S -- seeking safe passage for women inside the shrine.


"There is a judgment [allowing women entry] in the Sabarimala temple, but it is equally true that the issue has been referred to a larger Bench. We do not want any violence," the court observed.The apex court, however, granted police protection to the two activists.


In November, a man had sprayed chili and pepper on Bindu's face when she was on her way to Sabarimala temple. Fathima had also tried to enter the shrine.The court refused to pass any other order in connection to the matter.


The top court had last year allowed girls and women of all age groups to visit the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala, following which a batch of review petitions was filed. Allowing their review petitions, the court had last month referred the matter to a seven-judge bench. It is yet to be constituted. -- ANI
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14:08   Indo-Japan summit in Guwahati postponed
The Ministry of External Affairs announces that the Japan PM Shinzo Abe's proposed visit to India has been postponed. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "With reference to the proposed visit of Japanese PM @AbeShinzo to India, both sides have decided to defer the visit to a mutually convenient date in the near future."


Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected in India on a three-day trip for annual summit talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi from December 15-17. But due to the deteriorating security situation in Guwahati, the planned venue of the meeting, the meeting has been postponed. 


Assam has been witnessing massive protests in the last two days over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, with thousands of people hitting the streets defying prohibitory orders to demand scrapping of the bill. 


At least two persons died due to bullet injuries on Thursday after police opened fire on protesters in Guwahati. On Wednesday, protesters pulled down hoardings erected in central Guwahati to welcome Abe. According to Japan's Jiji Press, Abe has been considering cancelling his trip to India as the security situation has deteriorated in Guwahati. "The Japanese and the Indian governments continue to explore the last possibility," it said.


File pic. 
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13:51   Assam CM warns of strong action against vandals
Talking tough, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday warned of taking strong action against those involved in arson and violence, saying vandalism has no place in any democratic process. Sonowal also asserted that he was committed to protect the rights of the indigenous people of the state and urged parents of students to persuade them not to join any agitation which turns violent. 


"We will not tolerate any violence. Strong action will be taken against anyone who is involved in vandalism," he told PTI


Image: Indian Army personnel patrolling streets in Guwahati as security conditions tighten during curfew. Pic: ANI 
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13:44   Govt to administer oath to Delhi schoolboys to behave with girls: CM
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the Delhi government will administer an oath to male students at all schools to behave well with girls and not indulge in crimes against women. Addressing the FICCI women's meet, the chief minister said mothers and sisters need to talk to boys that they will not accept them at home if they do wrong to women. PTI
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13:12   Won't apologise: Rahul on 'rape in India' remark
As the Lok Sabha is adjourned sine die over uproar over Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks on 'Make in India and Rape in India', Gandhi says he will not apologise. 

Speaking outside Parliament, Rahul said, "I will not apologize. I have a clip on my phone in which Narendra Modiji is calling Delhi a 'rape capital', I will tweet it so that everyone can see. 


"Just to deflect attention from protests in North East, this is being made an issue by the BJP. The BJP, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi have set the north East on fire. 

"There is no state where the BJP is ruling and rapes are not happening. Modiji was silent on the rape in Unnao by a BJP MLA. Modiji spreads violence and now there is violence against women and violence in states across India. I met Raghuram Rajan (former RBI governor) and he said in the US adn Europe, there is no talk of India or its economy. The only narrative there on India is about attacks, violence," he said. 

Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election rally in Jharkhand and said, "Narendra Modi had said 'Make in India' but nowadays wherever you look, it is 'Rape in India'. 
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12:59   Sabarimala: SC declines to pass any order for safe entry of women
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to pass any order on the pleas by two women activists seeking a direction to the Kerala government to ensure safe entry of women in the Sabarimala temple under police protection. The top court said the issue was "very emotive" and it did not want the situation to become "explosive". 


A bench, headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, said the "balance of convenience" required that no orders are passed in the mater today as the issue had already been referred to a seven-judge bench. 


The apex court said it would endeavour to constitute the larger bench at the earliest to hear the matter. The bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, said though there was no stay on the September 28, 2018, judgment allowing entry of women of all ages into the shrine, "but it is equally true that it is not final". -- PTI
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12:51   LS wastes last day of session on Rahul's remarks
The Lok Sabha witnessed its second adjournment on Friday after BJP members led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sought apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks that 'Make in India' programme was being converted into "Rape in India."


After the house met at 12 noon following its first adjournment, Singh said that the entire country was hurt by Gandhi's remarks.The BJP leader said that he cannot repeat the remarks of Congress leader.


"I am hurt. The entire country is hurt. Should such people come to the House who make such statements? He should be called to express regret. He should apologise," Singh said. "He does not have the moral right to continue as a member," he added.


The Defence Minister said that party members in the past have apologised in the House for their comments made outside.


Gandhi was present in the House when Singh made the remarks.


Congress members were also on their feet like members from treasury benches. Speaker Om Birla then adjourned the House till 12.15 pm.


Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election rally in Jharkhand and said, "Narendra Modi had said 'Make in India' but nowadays wherever you look, it is 'Rape in India'. 


In Uttar Pradesh Narendra Modi's MLA raped a woman, then she met with an accident but Narendra Modi did not utter a word." Later, the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die. -- ANI
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12:46   The story behind Abhijit Banerjee's shiny shoes and dhoti@Nobel
"We are here as guests of India's Nobel Prize winner Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, as their publisher. All the prize winners and guests are staying at the elegant hotel (and the ones who aren't moan loudly in regret) -- and the small lobby, the bar with its wood panelled walls and the glass encased restaurant hum with people and voices and excitement. But let's begin at the beginning."

Publisher Chiki Sarkar's diary of the Nobel event. Do read
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12:13   Kanimozhi clarifies on Rahul's 'Rape in India' remark
Kanimozhi, DMK on Rahul Gandhi's 'rape in India' remark: "PM said 'Make in India', which we respect, but what is happening in country? That is what Rahul Gandhi intended to say. Unfortunately Make in India is not happening and women in the country are being raped. This is a concern."
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12:05   Uproar in Parl over Rahul's 'rape in India' remark
The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Friday witnessed uproar as BJP lawmakers demanded an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "rape in India" remark.


Amid the ruckus, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in the Lower House, "Rahul Gandhi is telling rape in India and it means what? He is asking all the outsiders to come and rape women. Is it right?"


Union Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated the Congress leader in his home bastion Amethi in 2019 Lok Sabha poll, said: "This is the first time in history that a leader is giving a clarion call that Indian women should be raped. Is this Rahul Gandhi's message to the people of the country?"


BJP lawmakers stood and raised slogans demanding an apology from the former Congress president.Ally DMK's Kanimozhi sided with Gandhi and defended his remark in the House. "PM said 'Make in India', which we respect, but what is happening in country? That is what Rahul Gandhi intended to say. Unfortunately, 'Make in India' is not happening and women in the country are being raped. This is a concern." she said amid pandemonium.


Later, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the proceedings in the Lower House till 12 pm today.A similar scenario was witnessed in the Upper House with BJP members raising slogans of, "Rahul Gandhi maafi maango" (Rahul Gandhi, apologise)." 


House Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, however, quelled the protests by asking members to not disturb the proceedings. "You cannot take the name of a person who is not a member of this House. Nobody has the business to disturb the House," said Naidu. 


Addressing a poll rally in Jharkhand on Thursday, Gandhi had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched 'Make in India' but nowadays it is 'Rape in India'."Narendra Modi had said 'Make in India' but nowadays wherever you look, it is 'Rape in India'. In Uttar Pradesh Narendra Modi's MLA raped a woman, then she met with an accident but Narendra Modi did not utter a word," he had said.
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11:56   FM to hold presser at 3:15 pm
More sops for a flagging economy or will FM Nirmala Sitharaman finally admit that the economy is on a skid? Hold your breath till 3:15 pm which is when she will hold a press conference. Stay tuned .  
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11:51   BJP's awareness campaign on CAB soon
Under the Opposition's attack over the amended Citizenship Act, the BJP is set to launch a public awareness programme to inform people about its features and benefits, and also "dispel the propaganda" that the legislation is against any community. 


Though the party intends to start a nation-wide campaign, it will run an intensive exercise in states where the legislation's beneficiaries are in large numbers. 


West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh told PTI that the party will launch a mass contact programme and distribute literature about the law. He estimated that over two crore people can get Indian citizenship under the amended Act. 


At many places, the campaign will start from Saturday, a day after the Winter Session of Parliament ends. According to the amended Act, 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. Ghosh said the BJP will help these people in applying for Indian citizenship. -- PTI
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11:34   'Modi could be PM for 15 years'
"The biggest danger is that majoritarianism is getting normalised, insidiously and overtly... We are bringing the worst, not the best in us. Now Godse is being glorified. Didn't the BJP know that Pragya Thakur was a follower of Godse when they gave her the ticket? Of course, they did. They gave a ticket to a terror accused. Whether she is convicted or not, her politics is brazenly majoritarian," Rajdeep Sardesai, journalist and author of 2019: How Modi Won India, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih in the concluding segment of the interview.  Read the interview here 
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11:30   J-K: Pak intruder shot dead in Samba sector
A Pakistani national intruding into the Indian territory was shot dead by Border Security Force personnel in Samba sector in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, sources said. "In the intervening night, a Pakistani intruder who was sneaking into Indian territory was shot dead by BSF in Manguchak border outpost in Samba sector (Jammu and Kashmir). Number of intruders who tried to sneak in is yet to be ascertained," they said.Further details are awaited. -- ANI
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11:18   Sitharaman among world's 100 most powerful women: Forbes
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, HCL Corporation CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have been named among the world's 100 most powerful women by Forbes. 


The Forbes 2019 list of 'The World's 100 Most Powerful Women' has been topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, followed by President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde in the second spot and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, ranked third. 


Also on the list is Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (29). "In 2019, women around the globe took action, claiming leadership positions in government, business, philanthropy and media. These trailblazers are not to be messed with,' Forbes said. 


Sitharaman, a newcomer on the Forbes most powerful women list, is ranked 34th. India's first female finance minister, Sitharaman has also served as the country's defence minister. Sitharaman is the first female to hold the portfolio full time. Before this, former prime minister Indira Gandhi briefly took the additional charge of the ministry. Nadar Malhotra is ranked 54th on the list. As CEO of HCL Corporation, she is responsible for all strategic decisions for the USD 8.9 billion technology company. Malhotra is also the chairperson of the company's CSR Committee and is a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which is focused on education and has established some of India's top colleges and schools, Forbes said. Mazumdar-Shaw, ranked 65 on the list, is India's richest self-made woman and founder of the country's largest biopharmaceutical firm Biocon in 1978.
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11:16   We can wait another week: Nirbhaya's mother
Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim reacts to the adjournment of the convict's mercy plea to December 18. "When we have fought for 7 years, we can wait for another week. On 18 December, their (convicts in the case) death warrant will be issued."
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11:12  
TMC leader Mahua Moitra moved the Supreme Court challenging the amended Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which got Presidential assent on Thursday night. Moitra's counsel mentioned the matter on Friday for urgent listing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, who asked him to approach the mentioning officer. 


Moitra's counsel told the bench that the plea be listed either during the day or on December 16. President Ram Nath Kovind had on Thursday night gave his assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, turning it into an Act. 


According to the Act, 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. PTI
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11:10   Nirbhaya convicts paintings sell in lakhs: Lawyer
The Supreme Court will hear on December 17 the plea filed by one of the four death-row convicts in the December 16, 2012 gang rape-and-murder case seeking review of its 2017 judgment awarding him death penalty.A three-judge bench would hear next week the plea filed by convict Akshay Kumar Singh, whose lawyer has questioned in the review petition the capital punishment at a time life is getting 'short' due to rising pollution.


Hours before the plea hearing in the Supreme Court, AP Singh, advocate for accused in Nirbhaya case on Friday claimed that there are still "legal remedies" for the convicts to exercise.


Yesterday, Nirbhaya's mother yesterday stated that she has appealed to the Supreme Court and Central government to execute the convicts immediately.


"All the pleas are getting heard in the court on time. We must respect and trust the judicature. Convicts still have legal remedies. When a terrorist can use legal remedies then these people are not even hardcore criminals. This was their first crime. Law and order should take its course," he said while speaking to ANI in New Delhi.


"When those sitting in Parliament say these kinds of criminals should be shot dead, it is disrespect of the Constitution. Can anyone guarantee that after these convicts are hanged atrocities against women, rape cases will stop?" he further stated.


He also criticized people for seeking a death sentence for the Nirbhaya rape accused and said, "law and order should prevail in the country. By gathering people and creating pressure is not the right way to seek justice.


"All the four convicts are making efforts to improve themselves. They are making paintings inside the jail. Their paintings have been sold in lakhs. Let the law takes its course." -- ANI
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10:58   Sena slams Centre on citizenship law, violence in north-east
The Shiv Sena on Friday attacked the Centre, saying it brought the new citizenship law to show it is the sole saviour of Hindus and asked what kind of politics it is playing by inviting uncalled for pain after the move caused violence in the north-eastern states. 


The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was approved by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha this week, and became an Act after President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to it on Thursday night. The Act paves the way for granting Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who have migrated after facing religious persecution in their respective country. 


The bill was brought only to prove that they are the sole saviour of Hindus across the world. But the government has no concrete answer to why Kashmiri Pandits have not been able to return to Kashmir despite scrapping of Article 370. 


"The situation in Kashmir is still not normal," the Shiv Sena said. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, which supported the bill in the Lok Sabha, but stayed away from voting on it in the Rajya Sabha, made the critical remarks in the editorial of its mouthpiece Saamana.
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10:51   Japan PM may cancel Guwahati visit
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering cancelling his three-day trip to India for annual summit talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi from December 15-17 due to the deteriorating security situation in Guwahati, the planned venue of the meeting, according to a media report here. 


 Assam has been witnessing massive protests in the last two days over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, with thousands of people hitting the streets defying prohibitory orders to demand scrapping of the bill. At least two persons died due to bullet injuries on Thursday after police opened fire on protesters in Guwahati.


On Wednesday, protesters pulled down hoardings erected in central Guwahati to welcome Abe. According to Japan's Jiji Press, Abe is considering cancelling his trip to India as the security situation has deteriorated in Guwahati.


"The Japanese and the Indian governments continue to explore the last possibility," it said. In New Delhi on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar when asked whether the government will go ahead with the India-Japan annual summit in Guwahati from December 15-17, said, "We don't have any update to share."


Asked whether the government is contemplating shifting the venue, Kumar said: "I am not in a position to clarify on it. I have no updates to offer." Sources said a Japanese team visited Guwahati on Wednesday to take stock of the preparations. 


Amid lack of clarity on the summit, PIB Hindi on its Twitter handle posted a photograph of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal with his Japanese counterpart with the caption saying their meeting was held before the scheduled Modi-Abe dialogue on December 16. -- PTI


File pic. 
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10:39   Disturbances in Tripura engineered by Pak via B'desh: Roy
Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy holds forth on CAB tweeting, "Islamic persecution drove huge numbers of East Bengali Hindus into Tripura and the tribals became a minority. The tribals are not a monolithic lot - there are 19 tribes in all. 


However, the Bengali dominated government, whether Congress, Communist or BJP, have never discriminated against the tribals and their principal language 'Kokborok' has been given all possible encouragement, including up to post-graduate courses. The tribal festivals are observed by Bengalis also. The disturbances in Tripura were engineered by Pakistanis through their Bangladeshi stooges. 


"As soon as the India-friendly govt of Sheikh Hasina came to power, all disturbances stopped. It is suspected that some Christian missionaries also had a hand. There are tribal parties and separatist tribal parties who occasionally whip up trouble. In any case relations between Bengalis and the main tribes (Debbarma, Jamatiya, Reang) are quite cordial. There are intermarriages also. So long the troublemakers are kept in leash there is not much possibility of trouble."  


Read our 2016 interview with Tathagata Roy: I am not secular, I am Hindu. 
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10:12   Will not lead party in future elections: Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn announced on Friday that he will not lead the UK Labour party into another general election, following what he described as a "very disappointing night" for the main opposition party of the country.


"This is obviously a very disappointing night for the Labour Party with the result that we have got," said Corbyn, as cited by Sputnik.Corbyn's statement came after both the exit polls and initial official results showed a clear victory for the Conservative Party in the 2019 general elections.


A victory for incumbent Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Conservatives would mean that they will plough ahead with the Brexit, dashing all chances of a second referendum over the issue.


The exit poll had suggested the Conservatives would win 368 seats in the 650-seat parliament, with the main opposition Labour party trailing on 191, as per a report by the Washington Post.


The party needs 322 seats to control Parliament -- and push through Johnson's Brexit plan, The Washington Post reported.This was Britain's third general election in a little more than four years, and the second since the June 2016 Brexit referendum. -- ANI
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09:59   CAB protests: Curfew in Dibrugarh for 19 hrs today
The indefinite curfew which was in force in Dibrugarh municipal area was relaxed for 5 hours on Friday even as large number of people gathered in Chandmari area of Guwahati to observe a fast called by the AASU to protest against the Citizenship Act. 


In Dibrugarh municipal area the indefinite curfew was relaxed from 8 am, officials said. The Army and the security forces were conducting flag marches in Guwahati town which was the epicentre of the protests, besides Dibrugarh and Tezpur.


A large number of people, including artists, singers and filmstars are observing a 10-hour fast called by the influential students' organisation against the Citizenship Act from 6 am. AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the protests will continue. 


"We will not succumb to any pressure and our agitation will continue," he said. 


On Thursday two persons were killed in police firing and thousands descended on streets defying curfew as Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed his government was committed to safeguarding their rights.


Several towns and cities were placed under indefinite curfew, including Guwahati, the epicentre of protests, besides Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Dhekiajuli. Night curfew was imposed in Jorhat, Golaghat, Tinsukia and Charaideo districts, officials said.


Internet services in 10 districts were suspended for another 48 hours beginning 12 pm of Thursday to prevent "misuse" of social media to disturb peace and tranquility, and to maintain law and order, officials said. The state government had removed the Guwahati Police commissioner Deepak Kumar and appointed Munna Prasad Gupta in his place on Thursday. -- PTI


Image: A bus was burnt after protests against the CAB in Guwahati yesterday. Pic: ANI
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09:32   US urges India to protect rights of minorities
The United States has urged India to protect the rights of its religious minorities in keeping with its Constitution and democratic values as it continues to monitor the developments in various Indian states related to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
"We are closely following developments regarding the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law are fundamental principles of our two democracies," a State Department spokesperson said on Thursday.
"The US urges India to protect the rights of its religious minorities in keeping with India's Constitution and democratic values," the spokesperson said. 
The Citizenship Amendment Bill, which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was passed by Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Lok Sabha cleared the Bill on Monday.
The parliament nod to the bill has led to protests by the people in various states of the country, especially in the Northeastern region.  
India's ministry of external affairs said the bill provides expedited consideration for Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities already in India from certain contiguous countries. 
It asserted that every nation has the right to enumerate and validate its citizenry, and to exercise the prerogative through various policies. -- PTI
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09:10   US reaches 'trade deal in principle' with China
American and Chinese negotiators have agreed in principle to the "phase one" trade deal, a source familiar with the talks told CNN on Thursday.

Donald Trump's trade team was due to brief the President on the agreement during a mid-afternoon meeting at the White House. 

He will need to sign off on the plan before it's final.

Trump had already announced the broad contours of the "phase one" deal in October, and the two sides have been haggling over specifics since then. 

The "phase one" deal does not address the major structural changes to China's economy that Trump has sought.

The terms of the agreement include a delay in new tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese-made consumer electronics and toys scheduled to go into effect on December 15, as well as a reduction by half of some existing US tariffs, a second person familiar with the deal was quoted as saying.

According to the deal, China, in exchange, has further promised to purchase US agricultural products. 

China has made similar pledges in past negotiations but has mostly failed to follow through on large purchases.

The progress with China comes days after Trump reached a deal with congressional Democrats on his revised trading pact with Mexico and Canada, fulfilling two big priorities he campaigned on in 2016.

The breakthrough with Beijing comes weeks after intense negotiations between the world's two economic superpowers resumed in October. -- ANI
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08:57   Bangladesh asks India to enhance security for its Guwahati mission
Bangladesh on Thursday asked India to enhance security for its Guwahati mission after a mob defaced two signposts near the chancery, as protests against the citizenship bill rocked Assam, plunging the state into total chaos.
 
Two persons were killed on Thursday in police firing in Assam to quell protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill with thousands descending on streets defying curfew as Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed his government was committed to safeguarding their rights.
The foreign ministry in Dhaka said in a statement that Indian high commissioner Riva Ganguly Das met acting foreign secretary Kamrul Hasan at his office this evening.
Ahsan "protested about the attack on the convoy of the (Bangladesh) assistant high commissioner and vandalisation of the signposts (of Bangladesh Chancery in Guwahati)".
"He (Ahsan) requested for protection of personnel and property of the Mission by the host government," the statement said.
Indian envoy assured that the Indian authorities were being immediately alerted for enhanced security of the Bangladesh chancery and the assistant high commissioner's residence in Guwahati, it said.
"The appropriate Indian authorities have already taken enhanced security measures to protect the assistant high commission premise, its personnel and members of their families," the statement quoted Das as saying.
According to the statement, mobs today defaced two signposts of the mission, 30 yards away from the chancery in Guwahati, a day after agitators attacked the security vehicle escorting Bangladesh assistant high commissioner as he was heading towards to the city from the airport.
Bangladesh, however, "believes that the attack on the convoy of the assistant high commissioner and vandalization of the signposts is a one-off incident and it will not affect the excellent bilateral relations that Bangladesh and India enjoy", it said. -- PTI  
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08:34   UK polls: Boris Johnson's party set for big win
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks set to return to 10 Downing Street with a comfortable majority and a victory for his "Get Brexit Done" message in the general election based on forecasts as early results poured in on Friday.
The first sign of what the results held in store came with a definitive exit poll released at the close of voting at 2200 GMT on Thursday, which predicted the Johnson-led Conservative Party winning 368 seats, with the Labour Party way down at 191 in a predominantly Tory blue versus Labour red contest.  

The forecast not only pegged the Tories way past the 326-mark required for the all-important majority in the 650-member House of Commons, but also meant Johnson's so-called divorce agreement struck with the European Union to take the United Kingdom out of the 28-member economic bloc set to be turbo-charged to go full speed ahead.
"This has been a hard-fought election in a very cold time of the year because we needed a functioning Conservative majority," said Priti Patel, the senior-most Indian-origin minister in Johnson's last Cabinet, in response to the exit poll.
"We are committed to deliver on priorities and getting Brexit done is a priority. The deal is there, we want to move forward," she said.
The Opposition Labour Party, which looked set for one of its worst performances since 1935 as the so-called "red wall" of the party's heartlands towards the north of England looked set for significant knockdowns, conceded that voters seemed to have voted strongly on the basis of Brexit.
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01:05   178 stranded at Dibrugarh brought to Kolkata
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday said 178 passengers stranded at Dibrugarh in Assam have been flown to Kolkata in an IndiGo flight.       

The stranded passengers have been evacuated in a phased manner, the ministry said in a series of tweets earlier in the day.

'In a major relief for all those stranded in Dibrugarh, a @Indigo6E flight to Kolkata has departed carrying all the 178 passengers. This would not have been possible without the intervention of the local administration and the airline. Thank you everyone involved,' the ministry said in a late evening tweet.

On Thursday, airlines cancelled flights to various places in Assam, which are witnessing unrest due to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB).

The ministry also said the temporary suspension of operations on Thursday is being closely monitored.

'In consultation with stakeholders, air operations to and from the airport shall resume as soon as the situation improves,' it said in a tweet during the day.

'The movement of passengers at Dibrugarh airport is disrupted due to the blockage of road transportation to and from the airport. The officials have extended all amenities to the stranded passengers with the help of local administration,' the ministry said.

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Vistara were among the airlines that had cancelled their flights.  -- PTI
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00:00   LIVE! Prez gives assent, CAB becomes law
JUST IN: President Ram Nath Kovind gives his assent to The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.  -- ANI

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