LIVE! Stop supporting terrorists, dismantle safe havens: India to Pak

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Thu, 14 February 2019

Stop supporting terrorists, dismantle safe havens: India to Pak

Timeline Refresh

23:30 Congress cancels Friday's lunch for G20 envoys

In view of the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district that killed at least 39 CRPF personnel on Thursday, the Congress has cancelled the lunch it was scheduled to host on Friday for the ambassadors of G20 nations.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the party stood in solidarity with the brave jawans who lost their lives, while strongly condemning such cowardly attacks.

He added that Friday's lunch was cancelled as the Congress party stood in solidarity with the fight against terror.

The former Union minister said the lunch for G20 ambassadors was to be attended by top Congress leaders, including party chief Rahul Gandhi.

-- PTI

India on Thursday slammed Pakistan over the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed and asked the neighbouring country to stop supporting terrorists and dismantle terror infrastructure operating from its soil.

India also strongly reiterated its appeal to all members of the international community to support the proposal to list terrorists, including JeM chief Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, and to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan.

At least 39 CRPF personnel were killed on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded.

The Indian government condemns in the strongest possible terms the cowardly terrorist attack on India's brave security forces in Pulwama, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

This heinous and despicable act has been perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries, it said.

This terror group is led by the international terrorist Masood Azhar, who has been given full freedom by the Pakistani government to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under Pakistan's control and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity, the MEA said.

The Indian government is firmly and resolutely committed to take all necessary measures to safeguard national security, it said.

"We are equally resolved to fight against the menace of terrorism. We demand that Pakistan stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from their territory, and dismantle the infrastructure operated by terrorist outfits to launch attacks in other countries," the statement said.

"We express our sincere condolences to the family members of our fearless security personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice," the MEA said. -- PTI

IMAGE: An army soldier guards near the site of suicide bomb attack at Lathepora Awantipora in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, on Thursday. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo

Mobile internet services were snapped on Thursday in south Kashmir, while the data speed in Srinagar was reduced to that of 2G-level following the deadly attack on security forces in the state's Pulwama district that left 39 CRPF jawans dead and several others injured, officials said.

Mobile internet was suspended in south Kashmir as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, the officials said. They said there were apprehensions that social media could be misused to create trouble.

A video of the suicide bomber, who rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the CRPF convoy at Lethpora in Pulwama district, was widely being shared on social media in the Valley.

Intelligence officials were apprehensive that the circulation of the video could lead to mobilisation of anti-national elements to foment trouble.

The speed of mobile internet in the city was also reduced to 2G, making it difficult to share videos.

-- PTI

The government on Thursday issued an advisory to private TV channels to not air any content which may either incite violence, promote anti-national attitudes or which contain anything affecting national integrity, in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The ministry of information and broadcasting in a statement said: 'On various occasions in the past, this ministry has issued advisories for private satellite TV channels to broadcast content strictly in adherence to the Programme and Advertising Code as prescribed in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Rules framed thereunder.

'In light of the recent terrorist attack, TV channels are advised to be particularly cautious with regard to any content which: (i) is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes; and/ or (ii) contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation; and ensure that no such content is telecast which is violative of these Codes,' the statement added.

In one of the deadliest terror attack on security forces, more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed earlier on Thursday when their convoy was targeted in Pulwama district on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

The convoy comprised 78 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.

-- ANI

22:06 Pulwama attack: CCS to meet tomorrow morning

The Cabinet Committee on Security will meet on Friday morning over the Pulwama attack in which around 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed when their convoy was targeted on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

The meeting will be held at 9.15 am, sources said.

The convoy comprised 78 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.

K Vijay Kumar, Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Governor, told ANI that the death toll in the attack was around 40.

The convoy was targeted in Ladoora area on the new Expressway, CRPF Director General RP Bhatnagar told ANI.

A bus, in which 42 CRPF personnel were travelling, was extensively damaged in the blast which was followed by firing on the vehicle.

The cause of the blast is being ascertained, Bhatnagar added. -- ANI

Home Minister Rajnath Singh: "The attack was carried out by Pakistan backed Jaish-e-Mohammed.

"A strong reply will be given and I assure the people of the country this.

"The country pays tribute to the brave jawans who were martyred."

Meanwhile, mobile internet services have been snapped in the whole of South Kashmir and speed slowed to 2G in Srinagar district. -- ANI

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday called off her first press conference after being inducted in the Congress as a Congress general secretary, expressing grief over the deaths of 30 Central Reserve Police Force personnel in a terror attack in Kashmir.

The press conference was meant to wrap up her four-day visit to the state, the first after being appointed in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

"This conference was called for political discussions. But when our jawans have been killed in a terror attack in Pulwama, I feel it would not be right if we have political discussions at this time," she told reporters at the press conference venue.

"I want to tell their families that every single countryman is with them in their hour of grief," she said.

"They should have faith... we are standing by them," she added.

A two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of grief.

The Congress leader has held a series of discussions with party workers over the past four days, with at least one session lasting through the night. -- PTI

K Vijay Kumar, Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir government, has said that the National Investigation Agency would be involved in the investigation of Pulwama Attack.

Subsequently, an NIA team with suitable forensic component is leaving tomorrow morning for Kashmir to assist the Jammu & Kashmir Police in forensic evaluation of the spot.

Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, who reached Thimpu, Bhutan earlier today for the annual secretary-level talks, has decided to cut short the visit and rush back. -- ANI

20:16 US condemns Pulwama attack

United States Envoy to India Kenneth Juster, "US Mission in India strongly condemns today's terrorist attack in J&K.

"We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

"The United States stands alongside India in confronting terror and defeating it."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval over Pulwama Attack.

The PM also spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack.

"Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. Sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain.

"The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly," the PM said. -- ANI

The Aam Aadmi Party is keen on an alliance with the Congress in Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed on Thursday.

It is now up to the Congress to reciprocate, she said.

"Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi chief minister and AAP chief) wants an alliance with the Congress in Delhi," Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress chief, told reporters.

Banerjee said she respected the decision of political parties which cannot take a call on pre-poll alliance because of political compulsions.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal said the Congress had 'more or less' declined to have an alliance in Delhi.

He also said the Bharatiya Janata Party will benefit in a three-cornered fight in the national capital.

Kejriwal's remark came a day after he had participated in a meeting with opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi. -- PTI

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Srinagar tomorrow.

He has also spoken to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik over Pulwama Attack.

The home minister's rally in Patna tomorrow has been cancelled.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also monitoring the situation.

Senior Central Reserve Police Force officials are briefing him on the situation. -- ANI

17:58 Pak's JeM claims responsibility for IED attack

A CRPF official on the Pulwama attack says there were 70 vehicles in the convoy and one of the vehicles came under attack. The convoy was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar. ANI reports that the Pakistan backed Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the IED terror attack, in a text message to Kashmiri News Agency GNS.

At least 18 CRPF personnel were killed in Pulwama district on Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in, officials said.

Police identified the terrorist as Adil Ahmad from Kakapora in Pulwama. He joined the Jaish-Mohammed in 2018, they said. The casualties are likely to go up. Several people were injured in the terror attack, which reduced the bus to a mangled heap of iron.

Body parts could be strewn around the area. The vehicle was blown up on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Awantipora area of the district, a police official said.

2,500 personnel were in the convoy and some shots were also fired at the convoy, DG, CRPF, RR Bhatnagar, said.

India's first semi-high speed train the Vande Bharat Express will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday from the New Delhi railway station, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and members of the Railway Board will be on board the train on its inaugural journey, it said.

The train will travel from Delhi to Varanasi in nine hours and forty-five minutes.

This includes stoppage time of 40 minutes each at Kanpur and Allahabad where there will be special programmes.

At the New Delhi railway station, Modi will inspect the facilities in the train and address a gathering on the occasion.

The semi-high speed Train 18, which has been recently rechristened Vande Bharat Express, can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and has travel classes like the Shatabdi trains but with better facilities.

It aims to provide a totally new travel experience to passengers. It has 16 air-conditioned coaches of which two are executive class.

The total seating capacity is 1,128 passengers. It is much more than the conventional Shatabdi rakes of equal number of coaches, thanks to shifting of all electric equipment below the coaches and seats in the driving coach also.

All coaches are equipped with automatic doors, GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot WiFi for entertainment purposes and very comfortable seating.

All toilets are bio-vacuum type.

The lighting is dual mode, that is diffused for general illumination and personal for every seat. Every coach has a pantry facility to serve hot meals and, hot and cold beverages.

The insulation is meant to keep heat and noise to very low levels for additional passenger comfort.

Adding up the green footprints, the train has regenerative braking system which can save up to 30 per cent of electrical energy.

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, has been the force behind the completely in-house design and manufacture of this train which was completed in just 18 months. -- PTI

17:36 Reactions to the CRPF attack

Omar Abdullah: Terrible news coming from the valley. A number of CRPF soldiers are reported to have been killed & injured in an IED blast. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. My prayers for the injured & condolences to the families of the bereaved. #Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti: Disturbing news coming in from #awantipura . Twelve of our security personnel have been martyred and several have been injured. No words are enough to condemn the gruesome terror attack. How many more lives will be snuffed out before this madness ends?

Rahul Gandhi Im deeply disturbed by the cowardly attack on a #CRPF convoy in J&K in which 10 of our brave men have been martyred and many others wounded. My condolences to the families of our martyrs. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.

17:33 New Election Commissioner appointed

Former IRS (IT)-1980 officer Sushil Chandra appointed as Election Commissioner.

The explosive-laden vehicle that rammed into the CRPF bus in Pulwama was driven by Jaish-E-Mohammed terrorist Adil Ahmed Dar. Kashmir-based journalist Saleem Iqbal Qadri @SaleemQadri posts this picture believed to be Dar.

CRPF DG RR Bhatnagar said senior CRPF officers are at the spot and the investigation is underway. Injured being taken care of. There were 2500 personnel in the convoy, he says.

Update: The toll has gone up. 18 CRPF jawans have died in the IED blast in Awantipora, Pulwama, reports PTI. Terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the IED blast. The blast took place in the bus the CRPF men were travelling in. Two buses in the CRPF convoy were targeted in an high intensity IED blast.

Image: An ambulance at the blast site. The toll has gone up to 18 and is likely to rise with several CRPF jawans injured, say officials. Pic: ANI

16:51 Colonel shot accidentally dies

In a tragic incident, an Army Colonel from Army Air Defence has been killed after a bullet hits him in accidentally at the Mahajan field firing range in Rajasthan. The officer was Commanding Officer of the Air Defence unit.

At least eight CRPF personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday when a blast ripped through the bus they were travelling in, officials said.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the incident, they said. The casualties are likely to go up. Several people were injured in the IED blast, which reduced the bus to a mangled heap.

The vehicle was blown up on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Awantipora area of the district, a police official said. -- PTI

15:34 Narayanasamy's letter to Kiran Bedi

Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy in his letter to Governor Kiran Bedi, dated February 13, writes, "Your undemocratic acts and way of functioning exhibited to people what can be the worst disastrous rule of a dictator. The autocratic attitude i.e, 'I am the Government','I know everything' and 'I am everything'.

The peaceful protest (a Gandhian means) which all of us have undertaken now, in front of your office, is basically a people's movement against your continuous acts of high-handed dictatorship. What we have undertaken is our democratic right and it is the reflection of people against your undemocratic and unlawful activities, which I have listed in my letter dated 07.02.2019."

See the full letter alongside.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his ministerial colleagues continued their dharna outside the Raj Nivas for the second day on Thursday protesting Lt Governor Kiran Bedi's "negative stand" towards his government' proposals awaiting her approval.

Narayanasamy, his ministers and party MLAs had on Wednesday night slept on a pavement close to the Raj Nivas wearing black shirts. They have been demanding that that the Lt Governor accord sanction to 39 government proposals, including a free rice scheme.

If you recollect, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had gone on a dharna for over a week in June last year at the Raj Niwas protesting against the four-month long 'strike' by bureaucrats.

In Puducherry, functionaries of different wings of the ruling Congress and the DMK have also joined the protest.

Bedi left for New Delhi early on Thursday morning under tight security of the Rapid Action Force. A source in the Raj Nivas told PTI that she would return on February 20 and has invited the chief minister for discussion over the issues raised by him on February 21. Asserting that their protest would continue till the government proposals were cleared, the chief minister said, "Even if it is not possible to immediately concede all the 39 pleas, the Lt Governor can give her nod to some of the important schemes including the free rice scheme and grants."

Barricades were erected around the Lt Governor's office to keep agitators at bay as a section of volunteers of different political parties raised slogans against the deployment of the RAF around Raj Nivas and at various vantage points.

The Lt Governor and the government headed by Narayanasamy had been at loggerheads over various issues ever since Bedi assumed office in May 2016. -- PTI

Image: Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy (foreground) lies down outside the Raj Nivas.

Sheila Dikshit on Delhi CM's remarks on SC order: "Constitution has defined the power Delhi has, its not unlimited. Centre, Lt Governor and Home Ministry handle a lot of things. So fighting is no solution, make changes if needed.Power doesn't depend on the number of seats you have."

The Congress has "more or less" ruled out an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday, a day after he had participated in a meeting with opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Responding to a question on an alliance with the Congress, he said it has "more or less ruled out the alliance (with AAP)". Asked whether the AAP was more eager for an alliance with the Congress, he said the BJP would benefit in a three-cornered contest.

Moving forward on a united anti-BJP front for the Lok Sabha elections, top opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee Wednesday agreed to work together to prepare a common minimum programme to oust the Modi government and to consider forging a pre-poll alliance.

The meeting, hosted by NCP president Sharad Pawar at his residence here, also saw Congress chief Gandhi and Kejriwal coming together for the first time. -- PTI

Image: The image has been photoshopped to include both leaders in the same frame.

Claiming the Supreme Court's split verdict on the contentious issue of control of services in the National Capital Territory is against "Constitution and democracy", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said the AAP government will seek legal remedies.

Addressing a press conference after the apex court order, he alleged that the BJP-led central government is creating hurdles in the functioning of the AAP dispensation. "The judgment is against constitution and democracy. We will seek legal remedies," Kejriwal said, adding it was "injustice to the people" of Delhi.

A two-judge bench of the apex court comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, agreed on their views on disputes pertaining to the anti-corruption branch, setting up of commission of inquiry, control over electricity boards, land revenue matters and appointment of pubic prosecutors. The apex court also upheld the Centre's notification that its employees cannot be probed in corruption cases by ACB of Delhi government. After the split verdict, it referred the matter to a larger bench.

Kejriwal added, "If a government can't even transfer its officers, how is it supposed to function? The party that has 67 seats doesn't have the rights but the party who won 3 seats has those rights." - PTI

File pic.

"In Lucknow, the entire media was after Priyanka Gandhi in that road show, but when it came to speaking, only Rahul Gandhi spoke," points out Prashant Trivedi, a political scientist who specialises in the social development, political economy of land reforms and rural studies in Uttar Pradesh.

"Priyanka is charismatic and will galvanise workers, not only in UP but beyond. But results will only reflect in those constituencies where local leaders have their own organisations," Dr Trivedi tells Rediff.com's

Archana Masih. Read the interview here.

Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party Thursday said it was unfortunate that there was no clarity in the Supreme Court judgement that delivered a split verdict on who controls services in the National Capital Territory.

The party tweeted a video of actor Sunny Deol's iconic monologue in the film, Damini, where he in effect says justice delayed is justice denied. "Tareekh pe tareekh. #DelhiVsCenter #Services, " @AamAadmiParty posted.

"People of Delhi will continue to suffer," AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told reporters after the Supreme Court referred the issue of clarity on division of powers between the Delhi government and the Centre to a larger bench.

A two-judge bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, agreed on disputes relating to the Anti-Corruption Branch, setting up of a commission of inquiry, control over electricity boards, land revenue matters and appointment of pubic prosecutors. -- PTI

Image: Sunny Deol in a still from the film, Damini, where he plays a lawyer.

In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged on Thursday that he made an empty promise of loan waiver to farmers, but wrote off bank dues of his industrialist-friends.

Addressing a two-day meet of the All India Congress Seva Dal, Gandhi said every section of society, be it farmers, youths or small-scale traders, suffered under the Modi government and they should get justice. When the Congress returned to power in Rajasthan, the state government waived farm loans, Gandhi said.

The prime minister made an empty promise of loan waiver to farmers, but wrote off bank dues of his industrialist-friends, he charged. Gandhi said while the prime minister "insults" him, his family and the Congress party, he had hugged Modi in Parliament. "Hatred can be defeated only by love. He has hatred and the love in me countered that hatred," the Congress president said. -- PTI

Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi on Mulayam Singh Yadav's statement in Lok Sabha 'I want you (PM Modi) to become PM again': Unki umar ho gayi hai. Yaad nahi rehta hai kab kya bol denge. Unki boli ka koi mayene nahi rakhta hai

The Delhi unit of the BJP on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court judgement and said it removes ambiguities in the powers of the Delhi government. There should be no scope for "confusion or conflict" and the AAP government should humbly accept the Supreme Court judgement, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said.

"We welcome the Supreme Court decision removing ambiguities in the powers of the Delhi govt. After this verdict there shouldn't be any scope for confusion or conflict. The Delhi govt should humbly accept it & govern the capital as it was being done before they had come to power," he said on Twitter.

The Supreme Court Thursday delivered a split verdict on the contentious issue of control of services in the National Capital Territory in the tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre and referred the matter to a larger bench.

A two-judge bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, agreed on their views on disputes pertaining to the Anti-Corruption Branch, setting up of a commission of inquiry, control over electricity boards, land revenue matters and appointment of pubic prosecutors.

The apex court also upheld the Centre's notification that its employees cannot be probed in corruption cases by ACB of Delhi government. -- PTI

Modi says in an undated speech that he took out a yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir -- a yatra that was actually Murli Manohar Joshi's. However, the actual facts are somewhat different. The 'Ekta Yatra' was conducted by -- and is associated with -- the then president of the Bharatiya Janata Party Murli Manohar Joshi from December 11, 1991. Joshi followed the same route that Modi claimed to take, and unfurled the flag surrounded by army security in Lal Chowk on January 26, 1992. Read the report here

A two-judge bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, agreed on disputes pertaining to the anti-corruption branch, setting up of commission of inquiry, control over electricity boards, land revenue matters and appointment of pubic prosecutors.

The apex court also upheld the Centre's notification that its employees cannot be probed in corruption cases by ACB of Delhi government. The top court also said that instead of the LG, Delhi government will have the right to appoint public prosecutors or law officers.

The fact that the Centre now the anti-corruption bureau and not the Delhi government, will come as a huge blow to Arvind Kejriwal's ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

The court has given its verdict on on petitions seeking clarity on the powers of the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor.

Judgment in short:

Services - Larger Bench

Anti corruption branch - Centre

Appropriate govt under the Commission of Enquiry Act - Centre Electricty reforms - Delhi govt

Revision of minimum rates of agri land: Delhi govt but LG can refer to President

Power to appoint Special Public Prosecutor and law officers: Delhi govt

The SC also says the LG need not unnecessarily sit over files and in case of difference of opinion must refer it to President.

A fire broke out at a commercial building in west Delhi's Naraina on Thursday, Delhi Fire Service said.

A call was received at 7.10 am after which 23 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior fire service officer said.

No causality was reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, he said.

The incident occurred days after a massive fire at a hotel in Karol Bagh claimed 17 lives. -- PTI

11:19

Judgment in short:

Services - Larger Bench

Anti corruption branch - Centre

Appropriate govt under the Commission of Enquiry Act - Centre Electricty reforms - Delhi govt

Revision of minimum rates of agri land: Delhi govt but LG can refer to President

Power to appoint Special Public Prosecutor and law officers: Delhi govt

10:41 30000 motorcyclists booked for not wearing helmets in Puducherry

Around 30,000 people have been booked for riding motorcycles without wearing helmets in the Union Territory of Puducherry since February 11, a senior police officer said. The officer said traffic policemen have been noting down registration numbers of motorcycles when they come across the riders without helmets. Court summons will be issued to the violators. A first-time offender will be levied a penalty of Rs 100 and repeat offenders will be fined Rs 300. For violations of the rule thereafter, the riders' driving licence would be cancelled, the officer said. -- PTI

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Thursday accused Governor Kiran Bedi of interfering in the governments functioning and asserted that Bedi is being encouraged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create problems for his government.

She (Kiran Bedi) has no power at all, she has to only be a post office and sign papers which have been sent by the council of ministers. She has no right to touch cabinet decisions, she is vetoing decisions. She is being encouraged by the Prime Minister to create problems for our government," the Chief Minister told ANI.

Bedi has been at loggerheads with the Puducherry government on various issues with Narayanasamy accusing her of delaying clearance to welfare schemes and bypassing the elected government.

On Wednesday, he had staged a protest outside the Raj Bhawan, the official residence of Governor Kiran Bedi alleging she was misusing her powers and also interfering in the day-to-day activities of the government.

Protesting outside the Raj Bhawan wearing black clothes, Narayanasamy alleged that Bedi was forcing upon the law-abiding citizens rules such as the compulsory wearing of helmets and others.

The Chief Minister urged that people of Puducherry are law-abiding citizens and nobody should impose rules upon them forcefully. He also urged that the helmet enforcement rule by Puducherry director general of police S Sundari Nanda should be taken up in a phased manner.

In a tweet, Narayanasamy alleged that Bedi had not yet resolved 39 pending issues which were raised and sent to her, including the release of funds, payment of salaries and approval of projects.

Earlier, Kiran Bedi took to Twitter and criticised the Chief Minister for stalling enforcement of helmet rule.

"When there's no culture of wearing a helmet in Puducherry and its CM keeps stalling enforcement and every 3rd day there's a fatal accident, due to non-wearing of a helmet, where does one begin? Give up or take it in ones own hands as well, alongside challenging enforcement agencies?" she wrote on Twitter on February 10. -- ANI

A 46-year-old senior naval officer posted in Goa has been booked for allegedly molesting his domestic help, police said on Thursday. The maid filed a complaint of molestation and sexual harassment against Commodore Mankandan Nambiar, posted at the INS Hansa naval base in Panaji, on Wednesday, Vasco police station inspector Nolasco Raposo said.

In the complaint, the woman accused the officer of molesting her at his private residence in Vasco town, located around 40 km from in South Goa district, he said.

The officer has been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with an intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment) and 354-B (assault or use of criminal force on woman with an intent to disrobe), he said. After the officer was booked, he moved a local court for anticipatory bail, the police added. -- PTI

A fire broke out at a commercial building in west Delhi's Naraina on Thursday, Delhi Fire Service said.

A call was received at 7.10 am after which 23 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior fire service officer said.

No causality was reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, he said.

The incident occurred days after a massive fire at a hotel in Karol Bagh claimed 17 lives. -- PTI

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross had to cancel his India visit for the India-US Commercial Dialogue and the CEO Forum on Thursday due to inclement weather that led to the cancellation of his flight.

Ross will now participate in both the meetings via video conference.

"Due to inclement weather, technical problems that led to the cancellation of his flight, and other logistical issues, Secretary Ross regrets he is no longer able to attend the CEO Forum and Commercial Dialogue in person," a US Commerce Department spokesperson said.

"He intends to participate in most of the sessions remotely and thanks our private sector and Government of India hosts for their continued partnership as we further strengthen the ties between our two countries," the spokesperson said. -- PTI

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya on Thursday asked as to why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not instructing the banks to take the money he had made available to pay off the public funds lent to Kingfisher.

On February 4, the UK Home Office has signed an order approving the extradition of Mallya to India.

"The Prime Ministers last speech in Parliament was brought to my attention. He certainly is a very eloquent speaker. I noticed that he referred to an unnamed person who ran away with 9000 crores. Given the media narrative I can only infer that reference is to me," Mallya said in a serie of tweets.

"Following on from my earlier tweet, I respectfully ask why the Prime Minister is not instructing his Banks to take the money I have put on the table so he can at least claim credit for full recovery of public funds lent to Kingfisher," he said in a series of tweet.

The reaction from Mallya came after Modi in his last Parliament speech on Wednesday referred to an unnamed person who "ran away" with Rs 9,000 crore.

The fugitive liquor baron further claimed that he has made the offer to settle the matter before the high court of Karnataka.

"I have made the offer to settle before the HonBle High Court Court of Karnataka. This cannot be dismissed as frivolous. It is a perfectly tangible, sincere, honest and readily achievable offer. The shoe is on the other foot now. Why dont the Banks take the money lent to KFA?" he added.

Mallya said: "Am appalled to say the least at the media reports on the Enforcement Directorate claims that I hid my wealth ! If there was hidden wealth how could I put approximately 14,000 crores worth of assets openly in front of Court? Shameful misleading of public opinion but unsurprising."

An unidentified and badly-charred body, recovered from Hotel Arpit Palace in central Delhi where a blaze claimed 17 lives on Tuesday, would be subjected to DNA profiling amid a desperate search by the family members of hotel staff Lal Chand, who remained untraced after the tragic incident, officials said on Wednesday.

The family members of Chand described him as a heavily-built man. They were in a state of shock when asked to identify the body at the mortuary of Ram Manohar Lohia hospital as it was beyond recognition.

"At least five members of our family went to identify the body, but it was charred to such an extent that we could not identify it. He was a heavyweight man. Hardly anything is left (of the body), only the skeleton. The body has compressed. How can we claim the body when we are not sure?," asked Kamlesh, a relative of Chand.

Since the body is charred beyond recognition, officials are now opting for DNA profiling to ascertain if it is that of Chand.

The medical officer at the RML hospital said the tissues had been preserved and the blood samples of Chand's relatives would be taken, adding that the DNA profiling would take a couple of days since it also involved the role of the Forensic Science Laboratory.

Chand's family has been running from pillar to post to trace him.

His elder brother, Tulsi Ram, along with Chand's son Himanshu and other members of the family, visited at least five hospitals since Tuesday morning.

The family also went to the Karol Bagh police station at around 10 am on Wednesday to check if the officials had any details about him.

Himanshu was on his way to college on Tuesday, when he saw a huge crowd and a heavy police deployment near the hotel, where his father worked as a supervisor for close to 25 years. -- PTI

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday asked people to vote for an educated person for the prime ministerial post, instead of a Class "12th pass", indirectly referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I want to tell the people that the position of the prime minister is very important. Last time, you made a 12th pass person the prime minister of India. This time don't make the 12th pass the prime minister. Search for a well-educated person. It is better when a literate person becomes the prime minister. The person who is 12th pass does not even understand which document he is signing. The second problem with him is that he does not consult anyone. He does what he wants to do," Kejriwal said at a dharna at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Talking about the political drama between the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government and the Centre, Kejriwal said that Prime Minister Modi wants to destroy BR Ambedkar's Constitution.

"If Kolkata Police Commissioner (Rajeev Kumar) had got arrested that day then a message would have gone to all governments and police force across the country that one needs to be worried about the Narendra Modi-led government now and not the state governments," Kejriwal said.

"BR Ambedkar made a Constitution which provided different powers to the state and central governments. Today Narendra Modi wants to destroy that Constitution. He wants to end democracy in this country. I salute Mamata Banerjee for what she did to Prime Minister Modi's CBI officials," he added.

Kejriwal later went on to compare Prime Minister Modi with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. -- ANI

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday concluded an official bilateral visit to Germany and reviewed a gamut of bilateral defence cooperation, which is emerging as an important facet of India-Germany Strategic Partnership.

Sitharaman's visit took place between February 12-13, at the invitation of her counterpart, Minister of Defence of Germany, Ursula von der Leyen.

The ministers noted with satisfaction the steady growth in bilateral defence ties and signed an Implementing Arrangement on Enhanced Defence and Defence Industry Cooperation, which would further strengthen military to military engagement, the defence industry as well as research and development (R&D) linkages.

The duo also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

Sitharaman addressed a select audience at the prestigious German think tank DGAP (German Council on Foreign Relations), on Indias Defence Engagement in a Disordered World: Principles, Priorities and Partnerships.

She highlighted Indias defence priorities and engagements with the aim to contribute towards a secure, stable and peaceful environment and enable greater prosperity for all.

Sitharaman further emphasised the need for like-minded liberal democracies with common values and common interests, such as India and Germany, to build on the commonality of assessments on strategic issues and work together to strengthen the rules-based world order.

During her visit, the defence minister also interacted with CEOs of the German and Indian defence industry.

The minister also urged them to expand their collaboration in defence manufacturing in India under the Make in India initiative as well as promote defence technology and R&D cooperation with the Indian companies. -- ANI

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