LIVE! Bhim Army chief, supporters taken in custody for violating poll code

LIVE

Tue, 12 March 2019

Bhim Army chief, supporters taken in custody for violating poll code

Timeline Refresh

23:47 Bhim Army chief, supporters taken in custody for violating poll code

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and his supporters were taken in custody on Tuesday for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by using more than stipulated number of motorcycles in a political rally.

Chandrashekhar was taken ill soon after being detained, following which he was admitted to Anand Hospital in Meerut, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar.

They were taken into custody when they were planning to take out a procession to Muzaffarnagar on motorcycles and other vehicles, in violation of the model code of conduct, set in since announcement of poll schedule by the Election Commission of India, said Kumar.

He added that Chandrashekhar and his supporters were detained by police at Deoband in Shaharanpur district. Chandrashekhar had told reporters in a news conference in New Delhi on Saturday that if the opposition's 'mahagathbandhan' fails to field strong candidates against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Smriti Irani, Bhim Army would field its own strong candidates against them. -- PTI

A case was filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi in a Bihar court on Tuesday for addressing terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad chief as 'Masood Azhar ji'.

The case was filed under various Indian Penal Code sections, including sedition, by social activist Tamanna Hashmi in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of Muzaffarpur, Suryakant Tiwary.

Addressing a meeting of Congress workers in New Delhi on Monday, Gandhi had attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying, "These people with 56-inch chest, you would recall, in their previous government, the current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went in an aircraft with Masood Azhar ji and handed over Masood Azhar there in Kandahar."

Azhar's outfit plotted the Pulwama attack.

In his complaint, Hashmi said Gandhi's reference to Jaish-e-Mohammad's head as 'Masood Azhar ji' has hurt the people's sentiment and insulted the entire nation.

The case was filed under various sections of IPC including 124A (sedition), 153 (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc), and 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class).

The court fixed March 16 as the next date for hearing. -- PTI

Britain, Germany and France on Tuesday joined other countries in banning Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace as a growing number of airlines around the world grounded the jets following a second deadly accident in just five months.

On Sunday, a new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board.

It came after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189.

United States regulators have ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to the model and insisted they would take action if safety issues are detected.

But it was not enough to reassure aviation authorities in Britain, Germany and France and four other countries -- Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Oman -- who temporarily banned all 737 MAX planes from their airspace.

China, a hugely important market for Boeing, had already ordered domestic airlines to suspend operations of the plane Monday, as did Indonesia.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement headlined 'Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft' that 'as a precautionary measure' it had decided 'to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace'.

Aviation regulators in Singapore, a global air travel hub and popular transit point for long-haul travellers, said they would work with the country's main airport and 'the affected airlines to minimise any impact to travelling passengers'.

Meanwhile, the Boeing Company said safety is its 'number one priority and we have full confidence in the safety of 737 MAX'.

"We understand that regulatory agencies and customers have made decisions that they believe are most appropriate for their home markets," it said.

"We'll continue to engage with them to ensure they've info needed to have confidence in operating their fleets.

"US Federal Aviation Admn isn't mandating any further action at the time and based on info available,we don't have any basis to issue new guidance to operators," it said. -- Agencies

21:57 Rafale deal: NSUI files complaint against PMO

Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India on Tuesday marched to police stations in various state capitals and filed a complaint against the PMO, accusing it of 'corruption' in the Rafale fighter jet deal, the student organisation said.

In Delhi, NSUI members marched to Parliament Street police station and submitted a complaint to police.

"The Rafale deal has led to massive loss to the public exchequer, by conveniently replacing Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with Reliance Defence in parallel negotiations led by the misuse of the Prime Minister's Office by Mr Modi in a personal capacity," NSUI alleged.

This 'malfeasance by Modi' has not only benefited his corporate friends in Reliance Defence with thousands of crores but has put the nation's safety and security in grave jeopardy, they added.

Officials at the police station said a complaint by NSUI has been received. Government and Reliance Defence have denied allegations of corruption in the deal. -- PTI

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Tuesday that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was 'never in the reckoning', rejecting reports that the Congress may field him from Amritsar in the Lok Sabha polls.

He also denied any alliance talks with the Aam Aadmi Party or any other party for the polls in the state.

"The Congress did not need any alliance in Punjab, nor was it in talks with any party on the same," he said.

Earlier in the day, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said in Delhi that his party and a breakaway outfit of the Shiromani Akali Dal are in talks for an alliance in Punjab for the Lok Sabha polls.

Amarinder Singh, who turned 77 on Monday, described his meeting with the former prime minister in Delhi as a courtesy call, during which he briefed him about Congress' plans in Punjab.

"Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was never in the reckoning for candidature as he had made it clear that he was not interested in contesting elections," the chief minister said in Chandigarh.

He along with party's in-charge for Punjab affairs Asha Kumari and state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar had met Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Sunday and according to some reports, they urged him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar.

Although some reports suggested that Manmohan Singh was not inclined to contest polls because of his age.

Exuding confidence about the Congress prospects in the parliamentary elections, Amarinder Singh said the party was gung-ho about these polls, as was evident from the fact that it had chosen Ahmedabad -- the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- for the CWC meeting.

In response to a question on the Punjab Congress candidates, Amarinder Singh said the next meeting was likely to be held in Delhi around the end of this week.

Asked about the party's star campaigner in the state, the chief minister said it was up to the Congress high command to decide the names of the key campaigners for the party in these elections.

On whether the IAF air strike across the LoC would prove beneficial to the ruling BJP at the Centre, Amarinder Singh, who was an Army captain, said with Indian soldiers continuing to be killed every day, the air strike had clearly not proved to be a deterrent so far against Pak-backed attacks on India.

He reiterated that no attempts should be made to politicise the Indian forces. -- PTI

The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday arrested three accused -- Parveez A Wani, Javid Y Dar and Subzar A Kumar -- for their role in the theft of seven rifles and a pistol from the official residence of former People's Democratic Party MLA Aijaz Ahmad Mir almost six months ago.

The trio had provided logistical support to SPO Adil Bashir Sheikh (attached with ex-MLA Aijaz Ahmad Mir) and his associates who fled away with 7 AK rifles and the ex-MLA's personal pistol on September 28, 2018.

They will be produced in the Special NIA court in Jammu on Wednesday for seeking police custody for further investigation and unearthing the larger conspiracy.

"It was found that SPO Adil Bashir Sheikh and his associates Yawar Ahmad Dar and Rafique Ahmad Bhat had taken away the weapons as part of conspiracy hatched by Kashmir-based top leadership of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen," the NIA siad.

NIA had earlier arrested Rafique. Adil and Yawar are still absconding. -- ANI

Training its guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trusted security adviser, the Congress on Tuesday cited Ajit Doval's published comments in a 2010 interview in which he justified the release of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar by asserting that the most-wanted terrorist didn't even know how to make a bomb or shoot straight.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi also ridiculed Doval by saying that he had 'escorted' Azhar -- who was in an Indian jail and released in the IC 814 hijacking episode -- to Kandahar in a 'special aircraft' in 1999.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala quoted Doval as saying in an interview to a think-tank that Azhar did know how to fabricate an improvised explosive device and that he was not a marksman.

The Congress leader said Doval also saluted the real 'nationalistic policy' of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance to tackle terror.

The Manmohan Singh government came out with a categorical policy on hijacking, stating that there would be no concession and no talks in such cases, Surjewala added.

The Congress' two-pronged attack against the National Security Advisor came a day after the BJP latched on to Gandhi's reference to the Jaish-e-Mohammad's chief as 'Masood Azhar ji'.

Congress dismissed the criticism, accusing the BJP of deliberately twisting Gandhi's sarcastic comments. In an address at a rally in Gandhinagar, Gandhi said, "I want to ask who sent Pulwama terror attack perpetrator Masood Azhar to Pakistan from Indian jail?"

"It was the BJP government that put Masood Azhar on a special aircraft, gave him money, and sent him to Kandahar. Narendra Modi ji, your National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar in the aircraft with Masood Azhar as an escort," Gandhi said.

"Tell the people that it was your government that had sent Masood Azhar to Pakistan. Who had caught Masood Azhar? The Congress party had done it, and put him in jail," the Congress chief added.

Azhar and two other terrorists, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, were released by the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government in exchange for passengers held hostage on board IC-814 flight hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan.

Then foreign minister Jaswant Singh accompanied Azhar in a special aircraft and Doval, then a top Intelligence Bureau official, was in Kandahar as part of India's negotiating team when the terrorists were handed over.

"Modi government's NSA, Ajit Doval, 'spills the beans' and indicts BJP government in release of terrorist, Masood Azhar. Doval said (in the interview), 'Releasing Masood Azhar was a political decision'," Surjewala said in a series of tweets.

"Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad admit to the anti-national act now," Surjewala said, using the hashtag 'BJP Loves Terrorists'.

He also attached a link of Doval's 2010 interview with the tweets.

"Modi government's NSA, Ajit Doval's 'clean chit certificate' to terrorist, Masood Azhar revealed," he said.

"1. Masood doesn't know how to fabricate an IED. 2. Masood is not a marksman. 3. After releasing Masood, tourism in J&K has gone up by 200%," Surjewala quoted Doval as saying in the interview.

Doval saluted the real 'nationalistic policy of Congress-UPA to tackle terror', the Congress spokesperson claimed.

"UPA-Cong came with a categorical policy on hijacking. No concession, no talks," he quoted Doval as saying.

Why did the BJP government not show the same guts, Surjewala asked.

After his release, Azhar formed the Pakistan-based terror group JeM and since then has been involved in terrorist attacks on India.

The group was responsible for the attack on Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001 in which nine security personnel and officials were killed.

On January 2, 2016, a heavily armed group of JeM attacked the Pathankot air base in which seven security personnel were killed.

JeM also carried out the attack on Uri brigade headquarters on September 18, 2016, killing 17 soldiers and injuring 30 others.

And the latest is the Pulwama attack. -- PTI

The opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar appeared under strain on Tuesday when a senior Congress leader asserted his party was not dependent on allies in the state, drawing sharp reactions from RJD, which questioned the national party's commitment to defeating BJP in the Lok Sabha election.

Congress Legislature Party leader Sadanand Singh, also a member of the recently constituted state election committee, said, "The party has emerged stronger under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. If seat-sharing does not work out, there will be no problem. Ham kisi ke bhi mohtaj nahin hain (we are not dependent on anybody)."

Singh cited the example of Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress is gearing up to go it alone after being dumped by Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party, arch-rivals who have buried the hatchet and formed an alliance to take on the BJP.

"Rahul Gandhi had said in the context of UP that the party will be playing on the front foot. We are game for that in Bihar as well," Singh added.

Reacting to the Congress leader's comments, RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary said, "The grand old party must make up its mind on whom it wants to fight. Does it want to defeat the BJP or engage in a fight against those who are committed to thwarting the saffron party.

"Our party has the biggest janadhar (support base) in Bihar. The Congress can belittle us at its own peril. Moreover, it will also have to answer the voters who wish to get rid of the BJP."

A senior Congress leader camping in New Delhi, meanwhile, told PTI over phone that the two parties could not reach a consensus over seat allocation.

"We had initially sought 15 seats out of 40 seats in Bihar. But RJD supremo Lalu Prasad insisted that we contest only 10. Our party leadership could have agreed to make concession for one or two seats, but it is not possible for us to forgo five," he said on the condition of anonymity.

19:16 Shatrughan Sinha fires fresh salvo at Modi

Disgruntled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shatrughan Sinha has fired a fresh salvo at Narendra Modi, highlighting the inconvenience caused to commuters whenever the prime minister's convoy passes through notwithstanding his avowed dislike for 'VIP culture'.

Amid speculations that his exit from the BJP may be imminent, the Patna Sahib MP made the stinging attack on his official twitter handle on Monday.

Sinha hoped that Modi, whom he did not name in his tweets, would bridge the gap between his "kathani" (words) and "karni" (action), "wherever" he was after the Lok Sabha election results.

"Sirji, while addressing a function on the 50th Raising Day of Central Industrial Security Force you appreciated their tremendous efforts at protecting our country and how difficult their task was with the VIP culture. Specially, when VIPs take advantage of their position and stature," he tweeted.

"Sirji, what about the 'Route Culture'... Inconvenience to the public, when you travel, causing immense traffic snarls, congestion and it is said route laga hua hai," the actor-turned-politician added.

"It is an MP who becomes the PM, so why the vast difference. It should start with you, setting an example for others to follow. Hope, wish and pray that whenever and wherever you may be after elections, you will take care and bridge the gap between 'kathani and karni'," Sinha said in another tweet.

Last year, Sinha was stripped of his VIP status at the Patna airport, which entailed exemption from frisking and vehicular access to tarmac, in a development which many saw as being linked to his having fallen out with the BJP.

There is speculation that Sinha might be fielded as a candidate of the Grand Alliance from the Patna Sahib seat.

"The Congress is not averse to fielding him on its own symbol despite a very strong anti-incumbency but the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) seems keen on contesting the seat this time," a senior Congress leader, on condition of anonymity, told PTI.

"For the Congress, it is not a matter of prestige. We hold that if Sinha contests on a Congress ticket, he may retain a chunk of his own Kayastha community votes, some other upper caste urban voters besides the RJD's traditional support base of Yadavs and Muslims," the leader added. -- PTI

China and Pakistan plan to upgrade their jointly- produced JF-17 Thunder fighter jet to enhance the its "informatised warfare capability and weapons which experts says could effectively defend against strong opponents like India.

The development and production of the JF-17 Block 3 are underway, Yang Wei, a Chinese legislator and chief designer of the China-Pakistan co-developed fighter jet, said.

The Pakistan media claimed that JF-17 aircraft was used to carry out an attack along the Line Of Control (LOC) on February 27. The Indian Air Force, however said a US made F-16 has been shot down during the attack.

The up-gradation of JF-17 is aimed to enhance the jet's "informatised warfare" capability and weapons, the state-run Global Times reported on Tuesday.

"Informatised warfare is often used by the Chinese military which broadly refer to use of information and communication technology in modern wars.

The JF-17, which was previously referred as FC-1 Xiaolong, a single-engine multi-role light fighter was being jointly produced by the two countries for several years with engines supplied by Russia.

It is mostly used by Pakistan than by China as the Chinese Air Force has acquired new generation aircraft like Russia's Sukhoi as well as array of home grown new planes including stealth aircraft.

The JF-17 is currently contending with India's Tejas and South Korea's FA-50, the Global Times report said.

"All related work is being carried out," for JF-17 Block 3 Yang was quoted as saying by the daily.

"The third block will see the JF-17's informatised warfare capability and weapons upgraded," Yang said. -- PTI

The Balakot airstrike and the Pakistani response to it, in which they shot down an Indian MiG21 Bison piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, and who in turn show down a Pakistani F16, has led to reams written on it plus hours of TV news anchors exercising their vocal chords.

Weighing in on the discussion, Tyler Rogoway, who is editor of Time In's The War Zone, writes, 'I have to make clear that we have zero evidence that a Pakistani F-16 was lost in combat. None. That does not mean it didn't happen, it just means that at this time we have no reason to believe it beyond taking India's word for it.'

So, 'is it possible that a MiG-21 Bison shot down a Pakistani F-16?' he asks, and says, 'Of course it is'.

But, 'does this mean the Bison is superior or equal to the F-16? Or does this put into question the F-16's capabilities? Absolutely not.'

'In fact, India's claim that the Bison got off an R-73 shot just before being shot down fits exactly with what we know about the Bison's sneaky tactics dating back to Cope India 2004,' he writes, here.

18:50 Industrial growth slows to 1.7% in January

Instead of going to town in the Rafale deal, here's something the Congress could talk about in its poll campaign that will resonate with voters.

Industrial output growth has fallen to a shocking 1.7 per cent in January on account of the slowdown in the manufacturing sector. Factory output as measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production had grown by 7.5 per cent in January 2018.

During April-January 2018-19, industrial output grew at 4.4 per cent as against 4.1 per cent in the same period previous fiscal, according to the data released by the Central Statistics Office on Tuesday. -- PTI

Every day, all through the next two-and-a-half months, we will bring you interesting tidbits of the upcoming general elections. The candidates, the seats, the parties, the swing states and the attendant politics. Here's a sampler.

Narendra Modi: The prime minister will contest from his 2014 Varanasi seat, but reports indicate that he may likely contest from Puri in Odisha, as well.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: So, here's the buzz. The Congress general secretary from UP (East) may take on the PM on his home turf in Varanasi. Remember, Priyanka's name does not figure in the Congress party's 1st list of candidates. But the decision on the seat has been left entirely to Priyanka.

Maneka Gandhi: The union minister is likely to contest from Karnal in Haryana. In 2014, she had contested from her late husband Sanjay Gandhi's seat in Pilibhit in UP.

Arun Jaitley: The union minister has been recuperating after a surgery in the US has begun attending office and visitors are allowed to meet him between 3 pm and 6 pm every day.

Amit Shah: The BJP president's bungalow at 10 Akbar Road has got a special RAX telephone, a hotline of sorts, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We expect the phone to be inordinately busy for the next few months.

Nirmala Sitharaman: The minister has refused to use the defence ministry car ever since the code of conduct came into place on Sunday. On Monday, in Delhi, she hitched a ride with a BJP leader in a Uber.

Robert Vadra: The BJP's weapon against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The BJP war room has been collecting videos and documents on Vadra to be released as polling dates near.

Three former CBDT CBCE chairmen have accepted appointments as consultants to the Election Commission to oversee the black money and illegal transfers of cash during polling days. They are headed to Tamil Nadu on April 2 where they will visit all the districts for four days.

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan believes that the UK could benefit from leaving the European Union if the government gets the Brexit policy framework right. Rajan, a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund who has also been tipped by some UK media reports as one of the candidates to succeed Mark Carney as the Governor of the Bank of England next year, said that the Brexit vote in June 2016 was as much a "cry" against London as it was against the EU.

"I don't think it will be resolved if power goes back to London but doesn't get diffused to communities. This [Brexit] is as much a cry against London as it is a cry against the EU," he told 'The Times'. Asked if he thought Britain's future might be brighter outside the EU, he said: "It could be, but it does require a lot of things to go right. The big Brexit debate is, can you, in a short span of time, re-engage with the world on equal terms while getting more sovereign powers?

"I have no doubt that there is a scenario in which that can happen, and I have no doubt there are other scenarios where it flops miserably."

The 56-year-old, now based at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, was also critical of the "profoundly undemocratic' centralisation of power by the EU and called on Brussels to roll back its federalising agenda and relax its strict harmonisation of standards. -- PTI

Market benchmark Sensex Tuesday rallied over 481 points, riding on a host of positive factors like sustained foreign fund inflows, stronger rupee and chances of the incumbent NDA government coming for a second term. Besides, gains in global equity markets also had its impact on domestic bourses.

The 30-share BSE gauge settled 481.56 points, or 1.30 per cent, higher at 37,535.66. The broader NSE Nifty reclaimed the psychological 11,300-level and closed with gains of 133.15 points, or 1.19 per cent, at 11,301.20.

In the Sensex pack, Bharti Airtel was the top performer, surging 4.61 per cent. Other gainers included ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, L&T, Sun Pharma, RIL, HDFC duo, Tata Motors and M&M -- climbing up to 3.69 per cent. Bucking the overall trend, Bajaj Finance, ONGC, NTPC, Coal India, Yes Bank, Bajaj Auto, SBI and Hero MotoCorp fell as much as 1.13 per cent. -- PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Tuesday targeted the Modi government, adding she was saddened by what was happening in the country. She was addressing her first political rally in Gujarat after assuming charge as Congress general secretary.

"Your vote is your weapon. Make the right decision, ask the right questions," she said in her first election speech.

The newly-minted Congress general secretary targeted PM Modi without once taking his name. "Think and decide - those who talk big in front of you, where are the jobs they promised? What about the Rs 15 lakh in every bank account that they talked about? What about women's safety?" she said at the rally in Ahmedabad, dressed in a white and blue sari.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi were present at the rally near Adalaj village of Gandhinagar district. The Congress held a rally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state to sound its poll bugle for the crucial Lok Sabha elections. PTI

A Delhi Court on Tuesday allowed the Enforcement Directorate to quiz AgustaWestland deal 'middleman' Christian Michel for two days. Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar allowed financial investigators to question Michel tomorrow (Wednesday) and day after tomorrow (Thursday).

ED can question him on both days from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and again from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, the judge added. During the course of hearing, Michel's counsel Aljo K Joseph raised an objection over the plea filed by the ED saying his client is "medically unfit" to participate in the investigation.

"He is not in a position both mentally and physically to be questioned. No canteen access to him, he is not being given food. It is their pressure tactic," Joseph claimed.

The financial investigators had requested the court to let them confront him with fresh documents to further record his statement.

"After the said accused was remanded to judicial custody, certain subsequent facts and developments have come to the knowledge of the ED through examination of witness and procurement of certain documents," the plea from the ED contended.

Michel, who was extradited from the UAE in December last year, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with the CBI and ED cases against him related to the AgustaWestland deal. On Monday, the ED attached a Paris-based property of Michel's former wife. -- ANI

In a setback to the prospects of an opposition grand alliance to take on the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha election, the BSP made it clear on Tuesday that it would not have any electoral tie-up with the Congress in any state for the polls beginning April 11.

In a statement, BSP supremo Mayawati said, "It is being made clear again that the Bahujan Samaj Party will not have any electoral alliance with the Congress in any state."

Referring to her party's pre-poll alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, she said it was based on "mutual respect" and "honest intentions", adding that "the SP-BSP alliance is perfect enough to defeat the BJP, especially in Uttar Pradesh".

Addressing party leaders from various states, excluding Uttar Pradesh, here, Mayawati said while several parties were "eager" for an alliance with the BSP, her party would not do anything for mere electoral gains as it could "harm the BSP movement". -- PTI

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he was trying to play victim while compromising on national interest, sources said.

She spoke at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, held in Prime Minister Modi's home state, Gujarat.

Sources shared that Sonia Gandhi expressed in the meeting that the Prime Minister tries to play victim while the real victims are the people of the country.

Chaired by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the meeting was also attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among others.

Manmohan Singh stressed in the meeting on publicising the work done by the Congress party, sources said.

Singh claimed in the meeting that the NDA government is doing fake publicity and the GDP has declined due to bad policies of the central government. -- ANI

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said no sacrifice was too great to defeat the RSS and BJP ideology of "fascism, hatred, anger and divisiveness". Speaking at the crucial Congress Working Committee meeting at the Sardar Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad, he underlined the Congress party's resolve to fight the forces of hatred.

"On the anniversary of Gandhiji's historic Dandi March, the Congress Working Committee in Ahmedabad, resolved to defeat the RSS/ BJP ideology of fascism, hatred, anger & divisiveness. No sacrifice is too great in this endeavour; no effort too little; this battle will be won," Gandhi tweeted on the occasion.

Led by president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the party's top leadership started discussions on key poll issues at the CWC meeting.

The party started the day by paying rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram. The day also marks the anniversary of the historic Dandi March, started by Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930.

It is also the first official meeting of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was appointed as Congress general secretary in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh recently. Sources said the CWC is likely to authorise the party president to finalise alliances in key states with other like-minded parties in order to defeat the BJP 'unitedly'.

They said the party was also likely to discuss the issue of national security and pass a resolution condemning terrorism of any kind. The day-long meeting of the Congress Working Committee--the highest decision making body of the party-- assumes significance as it comes barely two days after the declaration of the poll schedule.

The meeting is being held in Gujarat after a gap of 58 years. It was last held in the state at Bhavnagar in 1961. -- PTI

In a major crackdown against terror funding and Hafiz Saeed, the Enforcement Directorate has begun attaching 25 properties in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of country associated to Srinagar based businessman Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali.

The probe agency believes a large amount of money that was used to procure these properties came from chief of Pakistan based terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafiz Saeed.

The agency has initiated the process of attaching these properties which include bungalows, palatial houses and farmhouses across the country.

Watali is being investigated by the agency for allegedly handling Hafiz Saeed's finances in India.

The ED's investigation is based on a case registered by the National Investigative Agency.

Watali was arrested by the NIA in August last year for his alleged involvement in terror funding.According to sources, these properties worth crores are part of "proceeds of crime" invested by Watali.

ED has named Hafiz Saeed as an accused in its case. Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and sponsoring terrorism in the Kashmir valley.

Image: Kashmiri businessman Zahoor AS Watali's residence. The ED under PMLA has attached his property worth Rs 1.03 cr.

Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was tortured and killed after his MiG-21 was shot down and he ejected across the Line of Control during the Kargil war. Wing Commander C H Bal Reddy (retd) identified his mortal remains and brought the coffin home. He tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih about the Indian hero we must not forget. Read the story here.

In what is being seen as a setback and embarrassment to the Maharashtra Congress ahead of the national election, which begins on April 11, party leader Sujay Vikhe Patil, has announced that he is joining the BJP today.

Sujay is the son of leader of opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil. He has been upset over not being fielded by the Congress from the Ahmednagar seat that he wants to contest.

Sujay Vikhe Patil said, "I've taken this decision against my father's wishes. I don't know how much my parents will support this decision, but I'll try my best to make my family proud by working under the guidance of the BJP. The CM (Devendra Fadnavis) and other BJP MLAs were supportive and helped me take the decision."

The Congress has reportedly finalised its seat-sharing arrangement with the NCP for the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, retaining 26 seats and giving 22 to its electoral ally. The NCP is unwilling to give the seat to Sujay Patil, a practising neurosurgeon.

Last month, Maharashtra Congress Chief Ashok Chavan had said Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil should convince his son. "Sujay should know that his request is under the Congress party's consideration. I have also suggested his father that he should convince his son (to back down if necessary)," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

13:32 B737 MAX planes not operational: Jet Airways

Jet Airways' five B737 MAX aircraft are currently not operational, the airline said in a statement.

The clarification came after 157 people on board a Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines flight (Boeing 737 MAX 8) were killed after the plane crashed on Sunday shortly after taking off from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

"Jet Airways is deeply saddened by the unfortunate accident involving a B737 MAX aircraft of Ethiopian Airways. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the bereaved families and friends and all our colleagues from the aviation community impacted by this tragedy."

"The airline is in contact with the manufacturer and the regulator in context of this development, and remains committed to implementing all directives or advisories that may be published by those authorised," read the statement issued by the airline.

Jet Airways has placed orders for 225 737 MAX planes with Boeing and some have already been delivered.SpiceJet too has a deal with Boeing for up to 205 aircraft, including at least 155 737 MAX 8 planes.

The fuel-efficient 737 MAX is the fastest-selling plane in Boeing's history. The plane-maker has accumulated nearly 4,700 orders from more than 100 customers worldwide.

Soon after the crash, Ethiopian Airlines authorities outlined that the pilot had reported technical difficulties after takeoff and asked for clearance to return to Addis Ababa. The CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, added that the pilot had flown more than 8,000 hours and had an "excellent flying record." The exact cause behind the crash is being investigated. -- ANI

All India Babri Masjid Action Committee convenor Zafaryab Jilani will meet All India Muslim Personal Law Board and committee members over the Ayodhya issue in Lucknow today.

The Supreme Court had on Friday referred the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for court-appointed and monitored mediation and expressed the view that the proceedings should be conducted with "utmost confidentiality' to ensure its success.

"There is no formal meeting anywhere of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and All India Babri Masjid Action Committee. The telephonic talk held between the parties residing in Faridabad and Ayodhya. If they have to discuss anything and don't have other engagements then they will come anytime today. We will hear their suggestions on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case," Jilani told ANI.

After taking note of the submissions made by the parties concerned, the apex court had on Friday constituted a three-member committee which would be chaired by retired top court judge Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla for mediation.

-- ANI

Sonia Gandhi writes in the visitors' book at Sabarmati Ashram: "It is most inspiring for me to visit this museum... We are inspired by him (Mahatma Gandhi), his life, his sacrifice."

12:55 'Reservation will outlive 2019, 2024 polls...'

Though PS Krishnan retired in 1990 after serving governments under many prime ministers in various capacities as an IAS officer, he continues his work for the socially deprived classes in India.

Krishnan has been on numerous government committees after retirement and instrumental in creating many laws to bring social justice to the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes.

The Supreme Court on March 11, 2019 said it would hear on March 28 a plea to refer the issue of 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections for upper castes to a Constitution bench.

Krishnan believes the current 10% quota will not stand in a court of law."If the case is properly argued, which I think it will be -- people are also taking my guidance -- I don't think the Supreme Court can uphold this Constitutional amendment," he tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

Read the interview here.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi writes in the visitors' book at the Gandhi Ashram, Sabarmati: 'A very inspiring place, Thank you for keeping the flame of our leader alive'.

A far cry from the Rahul Gandhi of 2015 when he copied a message from his phone while writing condolences in the visitors' book at the Nepal embassy in Delhi in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

The Congress president visited the museum at Sabarmati Ashram on the 89th anniversary of the historic Dandi March led byMahatma Gandhi. He was accompanied by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Priyanka Gandhi attended a prayer meeting at the ashram. The Congress president will attend a Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad.

Gandhi will also address a public meeting at Trimandir Grounds in Adlaj in Gandhinagar along with Priyanka Gandhi.

PM Narendra Modi told young members of the film industry that they should choose content propagating the idea of "inclusive India and unity" when he met them earlier this year, says actor Ranveer Singh.

Ranveer had met the Prime Minister, along with Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana and others, in January this year.

"I met the Prime Minister recently, we had a very pleasant meeting. We apprised him what we as young members of the film fraternity are doing.

"He had something to say to us, which was, that if possible, we should choose content that has in it a message of inclusive India and unity," Ranveer told reporters.

The actor was speaking at the announcement of 64th Vimal Filmfare Awards on Monday. Ranveer said his upcoming "83", which chronicles India's first cricket world cup victory, is a film which will make the country proud.

"I was very happy to report to him that my next film '83' is one such film where it's truly team India. You have gentlemen from all across the country coming together to make the nation proud. It's also an extraordinary underdog story that I'm very happy and proud to be a part of."

The actor said his purpose in life is to entertain people and he will do his best towards that goal. "I believe my calling in life is to be an entertainer. So the best thing I can do is to fulfil what I believe is my purpose in life, that is to do my best to entertain people. When it comes to being a responsible citizen, I think I am," Ranveer said. -- PTI

Image: Ranveer Singh picture courtesy: @RanveerOfficial

On the 89th anniversary of the historic Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a jibe at the Congress, saying, "Its culture is the anti-thesis of Gandhian values."

He quoted the works of Mahatma Gandhi to claim that Congress stands for everything that the Father of the Nation did not like -- casteism, corruption, communalism and dynastic politics.

The Prime Minister in his blog titled, "When a handful of salt shook an Empire!" said, "Gandhiji taught us to think of the plight of the poorest person we have seen and think about how our work impacts that person. I am proud to say that in all aspects of our Government's work, the guiding consideration is to see how it will alleviate poverty and bring prosperity. Sadly, the anti-thesis of Gandhian thought is the Congress culture."

He also accused Congress of creating caste divisions and practising inequality in the country while in power.

"Bapu said, ...through the realisation of freedom of India I hope to realise and carry on the mission of brotherhood of man. In many of his works, Gandhiji said that he does not believe in inequality and caste divisions. Sadly, Congress has never hesitated from dividing society. The worst caste riots and anti-Dalit massacres happened under Congress rule," Modi said in the blog. -- PTI

Top Congress leadership Tuesday paid their respect to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, ahead of launching the party's poll campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Party leaders led by its chief Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former prime minister Manmohan Singh sought to give a symbolic message to the people of the country ahead of the general elections by remembering Mahatma and his ideals of non-violence and tolerance. Other party leaders like A K Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, former chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Tarun Gogoi, Harish Rawat and Oommen Chandy attended a prayer meeting at the Sabarmati Ashram.

Rahul while addressing Congress booth workers in Delhi on Monday had said the upcoming general elections will be a battle between Mahatma Gandhi's India and Nathuram Godse's India with love on one side and hate on the other.

Today also marks the anniversary of the famous 'Dandi March' started by Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930 with a group of Satyagrahis.

The Congress, at its meeting of the working committee -- the highest decision making body, later in the day will give the final shape to its strategy for the general elections.

The Congress Working Committee meeting is being held at Vallabhbhai Patel's national memorial here, with top party leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and newly-appointed Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in attendance. This will be the first official meeting of Priyanka after assuming an active political role in the Congress party.

Later, the party will sound the poll bugle from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state, with a 'Jan Sankalp Rally' here, party leaders said. The day-long meeting of the Congress Working Committee assumes significance as it comes barely two days after the declaration of the poll schedule. -- PTI

The Congress Tuesday cited a 2010 interview of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to claim that he blamed the BJP-led government for the release of JeM chief Masood Azhar in the Kandahar hijacking episode and gave a "clean chit" to the terrorist.

The scathing attack by the Congress comes a day after the BJP latched on to Rahul Gandhi's reference to the Jaish-e-Mohammad's chief as "Masood Azhar ji". The opposition party had hit back, accusing its rival of deliberately twisting Gandhi's comments made sarcastically.

"Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad admit to the anti-national act now," he said in a series of tweets using the hashtag 'BJP Loves Terrorists'.

Surjewala also attached a link of Doval's 2010 interview with the tweets. "Modi government's NSA, Ajit Doval's 'clean chit certificate' to terrorist, Masood Azhar revealed," he said.

"1. Masood doesn't know how to fabricate an IED.

2. Masood is not a marksman. 3. After releasing Masood, tourism in J&K has gone up by 200%," Surjewala quoted Doval as saying in the interview.

Doval saluted the real "nationalistic policy of Congress-UPA to tacke terror, the Congress spokesperson claimed. "UPA-Cong came with a categorical policy on hijacking. No concession, no talks," he quoted Doval as saying. Why did the BJP government not show the same guts, Surjewala said. -- PTI

10:26 Will Priyanka speak at CWC?

General Secretary UP-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives in Ahmedabad for the CWC meeting.

10:25 Gandhis arrive for CWC

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi arrive in Ahmedabad for the Congress Working Committee meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity has soared over the past five months as the country prepares for general elections, an India Today TV survey has found.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi still has a lot of catching up to do on the overall voter preference charts for the next PM, according to the poll conducted by Axis-My-India for India Today's Political Stock Exchange (PSE).That said, the 48-year-old opposition leader is more popular than the Prime Minister among Scheduled Castes (SC) and Muslim communities, the PSE suggests. Read the report here.

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has appointed self-styled godman NamdevTyagi, also known as Computer Baba, as chairman of a river trust in the state, an official said on Tuesday. The state spiritual department passed the order of appointing Tyagi as head of the 'Ma Narmada, Ma Kshipra and Ma Mandakini Rivers Trust' a few days back, just before the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls came into effect, he said.

Notably, Tyagi was accorded minister of state (MoS) status by the previous BJP-led government last year, but he later resigned, accusing the then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of "not fulfilling" the promise of stopping illegal sand mining in the river Narmada.

Tyagi told PTI on Tuesday that he would now work to conserve the rivers in the central state and check illegal sand mining. "My priority would be to rejuvenate the three holy rivers, especially the river Narmada. I will ensure that no illegal sand mining takes place in the holy river," he said.

Tyagi, a friend-turned-critic of Chouhan, campaigned against the BJP ahead of the last year's state Assembly polls in which the Congress dethroned the saffron party and came to power after over 15 years. -- PTI

The BSE benchmark Sensex Tuesday jumped over 300 points led by gains in metal, oil and gas, banking and energy stocks amid unabated buying by foreign investors and strong global cues.

Key indices extended the pre-election rally on expectations that the incumbent NDA government will get a second term following the announcement of 2019 general election dates earlier this week, experts said. BSE Sensex was trading 346.60 points, or 0.94 per cent, higher at 37,400.70. Similarly, the 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 86.65 points, or 0.78 per cent, to 11,254.70. The 30-share index ended at 37,054.10, up by 382.67 points, or 1.04 per cent, in its previous session Monday; and the Nifty closed at 11,168.05 points, up 132.65 points, or 1.20 per cent.

Top gainers in early trade include PowerGrid, NTPC, RIL, L&T, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, HCL Tech and Vedanta, rising over 2.60 per cent. While, Bharti Airtel and IndusInd Bank were trading in the red. -- PTI

Image: ICICI Bank is among the top gainers.

Congress is all set to launch its 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bastion Gujarat today. The principal opposition party has charted out a day long program - which is fully loaded with a "political message" in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

Congress has zeroed in on March 12 - which marks the anniversary of famous Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi.

The prayer meet will be followed by a small roadshow where all the prominent leaders of the Congress including party chief Rahul Gandhi will ride in buses to Sardar Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad to attend the Congress Working Committee meeting. This CWC is also significant as it will be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's first meeting of the committee as the party's newly appointed General Secretary.

The CWC will be followed by a public meeting at Trimandir in Adalaj, Gandhinagar where patidhar leader Hardik Patel will officially join the Congress.

09:05 Ethiopia Airline Crash: Black box recovered

The black box of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 which crashed killing all the 157 people on board has been recovered.

According to Fox News, the authorities sifting through the crash site recovered the black box which is a critical discovery in the search for what caused the disaster.

Ethiopian Airlines announced on Twitter, The Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder of ET302 have been Recovered.

Following the crash, several airlines have grounded their Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircrafts. Several people including UN staff, students and humanitarian workers were killed in the ghastly tragedy.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Monday that it is reviewing safety issues relating to Boeing 737 MAX planes. Four Indians were among those killed.

This is for the second time in less than five months that a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed. In October 2018, an aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed killing over 180 people in Indonesia.

-- ANI

The three-member Supreme Court appointed mediation team in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case is set to meet at ground zero in Ayodhya today.

To assist them in their task, the district administration on directions of the state government has built a mini secretariat inside the Awadh university campus. From lodging to a negotiation room, all facilities for the three mediators have been set up there.

Following the Supreme Court order that the process should remain a secret, the government and the local administration have taken steps in this regard. No official communication about the movement of the members or their schedule is being made public.

Sources, however, confirmed that the court-appointed mediators former Supreme Court judge FMI Kalifulla, senior advocate Sriram Panchu and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will reach Ayodhya by a special flight on Tuesday morning around 11am.

Highly-placed sources reportedly said that the guest house at the engineering department of the university has been earmarked for the meetings and lodging of the panel members.

As of now, two typists one for Hindi and the other for English have been assigned to work with the mediation panel. Sources say some of the required staff is being directly brought by the negotiators themselves.

In the first leg, the mediation panel is expected to stay in Ayodhya for around three days, following which the further schedule will be worked out depending upon the progress in mediation and dialogue with the litigants in the case.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to condole the deaths in recent terrorist attacks in the country and wish speedy recovery to those injured, a statement said on Monday.

During their conversation, Modi underscored the importance of "immediate, demonstrable, and irreversible action" against terrorism by all countries concerned.

He asserted that terrorism remains one of the gravest threats to global peace and security.

"President Erdogan expressed condolences for the victims of recent terrorist attacks in India, and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the attacks," the statement said.

Forty personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed on February 14 when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a paramilitary bus in Kashmir's Pulwama district . -- PTI

Timeline Refresh

TOP STORIES