LIVE! Prez rule in Maha under pressure of PM, HM: Cong

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Tue, 12 November 2019

Prez rule in Maha under pressure of PM, HM: Cong

Timeline Refresh

23:05 Pak Cabinet 'conditionally' allows Sharif to travel abroad for treatment

Pakistan Cabinet on Tuesday decided to allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment if he agrees to sign surety bonds making a commitment that he would return after the treatment and face corruption cases against him.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, approved removal of Sharif's name from the no-fly list (Exit Control List-ECL).

Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad told media that the Cabinet "conditionally" allowed Sharif to go abroad.

The 69-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawazsupremo agreed on Friday to go to the UK for treatment, heeding doctors' advice and accepting his family's request. He was scheduled to leave for London on a Pakistan International Airlines flight on Sunday morning. However, he could not leave as his name figured in the no fly-list.

"Majority of the Cabinet members supported the decision to let him go out of the country for treatment but with the condition that he should give surety bonds to come back," he said.

Special Assistant on Information Firdous Awan, briefing media after the Cabinet meeting, said that Prime Minister Khan looked at the case of Sharif on "human grounds and decided to allow him (Sharif) get treatment out of Pakistan.

She also said the surety bond money should be equal to the fine imposed by the courts while convicting him.

Awan said that the sub-committee will meet again tonight to finalise the modalities of the surety bonds and other related matters before his name is removed from the no-fly list. -- PTI

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday expressed apprehension that the Bharatiya Janata Party may indulge in horse-trading to form government in Maharshtra after imposing the President Rule there.

He expressed the apprehension, alleging that the decision to impose the President Rule in the state has been taken under duress from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

"Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had invited the third largest party, the National Congress Party, for the government formation in the state. The time limit for it was to end at 8.30 pm on Tuesday, but the governor made a recommendation for imposing the President Rule even before the expiry of that time limit," Singh told reporters.

This cannot be termed as right in democracy, he said.

"The governor had adopted the right procedure in the beginning and invited turn-by-turn BJP and Shiv Sena, which are the two largest parties, and had then invited the NCP for government formation," said Singh.

"But all of a sudden, a recommendation for imposing the President Rule was made," he added.

"This sudden decision indicates that it had been taken under the pressure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah," he said.

"In the garb of the President Rule, BJP may indulge in horse-trading," he added.

"The BJP has broken its promise to Shiv Sena and I have sympathy with the Sena," he said.

21:45 We didn't explore alternatives like Sena: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday blamed "stubbornness" of its estranged ally and political rival Shiv Sena, without taking its name, for imposition of President's Rule in Maharashtra, following a 19-day-long political impasse in the state.

President's Rule came into force on Tuesday evening, after governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari sent a report to the Centre stating that formation of a stable government was impossible in the current situation despite all his efforts.

"Imposition of President's Rule is an insult to the mandate of the people and this had happened because of the stubbornness of some people who disrespected that mandate. We are keeping a close watch on evolving political situation," senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters after attending a BJP core committee meeting.

In the assembly elections held last month for the 288-member House, the BJP won the maximum 105 seats, followed by its ally Sena (56). The opposition NCP and Congress won 54 and 44 seats, respectively. The poll results were announced on October 24.

However, the Sena refused to back the BJP in forming a government claiming that the Amit Shah-led party had gone back on its promise of allotting a rotational chief ministership to the Sena.

Responding to the governor's invitation, the BJP on Sunday declined to form a government for want of enough numbers in absence of the Sena's support.

"Despite getting a clear mandate, we didn't explore alternatives like our ally who after the poll results talked about having other options," Mungantiwar said while referring to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party's efforts to cobble up a possible government with the support of the Congress and the NCP.

"If they were so confident of forming a government why they failed to get the letters of support?" he asked. -- PTI

21:07 Hope stable govt will be formed soon: Fadnavis

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that it is 'very unfortunate' that President's rule is imposed in Maharashtra despite clear mandate.

"It is very unfortunate that no government has been formed in Maharashtra and President's rule is imposed in the state despite the people giving very clear mandate:," Fadnavis said in a statement.

Fadnavis hoped that a stable government in the state will be formed soon.

"There are several challenges before the state the biggest being the destruction on account of unseasonal rains. I expect all the parties to take this situation seriously and I hope a stable government will be formed soon," he said.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and injury-sidelined Jasprit Bumrah have maintained their top spots in the latest ICC ODI player rankings for batsmen and bowlers respectively.

Kohli is sitting pretty at the top of the rankings for batsmen with 895 rating points. He is followed by his deputy Rohit Sharma (834) who has been in sensational form in all three formats this year.

In the bowlers' rankings, Bumrah, who is undergoing treatment for lower back stress fracture, also maintained his top spot with 797 rating points.

He is followed by New Zealand's pacer Trent Boult (740).

Hardik Pandya is the only Indian to feature in the top 10 among all-rounders. He is at number 10 with 246 rating points.

England's World Cup hero Ben Stokes tops the chart with 319 rating points, followed by Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan.

India's next ODI fixture is against the West Indies in a three-match series beginning December 15 in Chennai. -- PTI

After a joint press conference by the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses media persons.

Here are some of the highlights: -

- Just like the Congress and the NCP, the Shiv Sena also needs clarity on the common minimum programme

- We had asked for 48 hrs but Governor gave us six months

- Sharing the post of CM was decided before polls but the BJP lied and made me look like a liar

- I am finding out how parties with different ideologies forged alliances with the BJP

- Sena was invited to stake claim in Maharashtra even before end of deadline given to BJP

After meeting with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Ahmed Patel said that the final decision on government formation in Maharashtra will be taken after formulation of common minimum program between the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena.

"No final decision can be taken without formulation of common minimum program between the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena," Congress told reporters.

"The Shiv Sena contacted us first time for support yesterday. We will hold discussions with the Shiv Sena after we hold discussions with our ally," Patel said.

Addressing a joint press conference, Pawar said, "We are in no hurry. We will hold discussions with the Congress and then take a decision."

Asked about delay in government formation Pawar said, "A meeting was held between senior leaders of NCP and Congress today. On November 11, the Shiv Sena first contacted us formally. We will discuss on all the issues and then take a decision."

19:29 Sena to move SC against Prez rule in Maha

The Shiv Sena will file a second petition in the Supreme Court after the President's rule imposed in Maharashtra, a party lawyer said on Tuesday.

Advocate Sunil Fernandes said the fresh petition challenging the imposition of President's rule in the state is being readied.

"The decision on when to file it (fresh petition) will be taken tomorrow," he said.

Earlier, the Sena challenged the Maharashtra governor's decision of not granting it three days to submit the letter of support for government formation in the state.

A sessions court in Pune on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of activist Gautam Navlakha in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.

The court also refused to extend the protection from arrest given to him by the Supreme Court.

Navlakha had moved the sessions court here on November 5 to seek anticipatory bail.

According to Pune Police, "inflammatory" speeches and "provocative" statements made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held here on December 31, 2017, triggered caste violence at Koregaon Bhima in the district on January 1, 2018.

The police alleged that the conclave was backed by Maoists.

During further probe, it arrested ten Left-leaning activists including Sudha Bhradwaj and Varavara Rao, accusing them of having links with Naxals. Navlakha was named as accused but was not arrested.

After the Bombay High Court dismissed his plea seeking quashing of the case, Navlakha moved the Supreme Court which granted him interim protection from arrest and said he could seek anticipatory bail from the local court.

Navlakha and the other accused are facing a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. -- PTI

18:43 EC Lavasa's son, linked firm under ED scanner

Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa's son Abir and a firm linked to him have come on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate for alleged violations of forex regulations, officials said on Tuesday.

They said the agency has filed a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to probe Abir Lavasa and about Rs 7.25 crore funds raised early this year by a firm -- Nourish Organic Foods Pvt Ltd -- linked to him.

The purpose of the probe is to ascertain if the FEMA law was contravened in bringing these funds from a Mauritius-based company identified as Saama Capital, officials said.

Abir Lavasa is stated to be the Director of Nourish Organic Foods Pvt Ltd.

According to officials, the fund infusion into Abir Lavasa's company is under probe and the agency recently questioned him about these transactions.

Abir Lavasa has assured full cooperation into the probe, they said, adding that some more people have been summoned to take the probe forward.

The trouble for Ashok Lavasa's family began a few months back when his wife, Novel Singhal Lavasa, came under the scanner of the income tax department on charges of alleged tax evasion.

She was issued a notice by the tax department to explain certain details in her I-T Returns with regard to holding directorship in about 10 companies, sources had said. -- PTI

18:42 Over 10K cops to be deployed in Sabarimala

Over 10,000 police personnel will be posted in phases in and around Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple for security during the two-month long pilgrimage season starting November 17.

During the Mandala Makkarvillakku festival, 10,017 police personnel will be posted around the temple complex in five phases, a police press release said.

DGP Loknath Behara said there will be stringent security in and around Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season this year.

The release said 24 Superintendents of Police and Assistant SPs, 112 Dysps, 264 inspectors, 1185 Sub-Inspectors will be posted in the team.

A total of 8402 civil police officers, including 307 women, will also be on duty around the shrine complex, the release added.

In the first phase from November 15-30, 2,551 police personnel will be posted for security duty at Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilackal, Erumeli and Pathnamthitta.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had last week taken stock of the preparations being carried out by various departments and the Travancore Devaswom Board, which administers the temple, to ensure hassle free pilgrimage.

The hill shrine had witnessed protests by right wing outfits against the LDF government's decision to implement the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups, including those in the menstruating age, to offer prayers at the ancient temple. -- PTI

British telecom giant Vodafone on Tuesday said its future in India could be in doubt if it is forced to pay thousands of crores in statutory dues following the Supreme Court ruling.

Having made no provision for dues that have been locked up in legal dispute for more than a decade, Vodafone chief executive Nick Read said the government needs to ease off on payment demands to ensure a future for group's India joint venture, Vodafone-Idea Ltd.

"Financially there's been a heavy burden through unsupportive regulation, excessive taxes and on top of that we got the negative Supreme Court decision," he said on a call with reporters after first-half results.

India, he said, had been "a very challenging situation for a long time".

"It's a very critical situation," he said when asked if it made sense for Vodafone to remain in India without any relief package. "The government has stated its desire not to end up with a monopoly."

Vodafone's operating loss from India business jumped to 692 million euros in April-September from 133 million euros in the same period last year.

Vodafone wrote off the carrying value of its share in the loss-making joint venture.

It said the 1.9 billion euros in the loss for the group during six months ended September 30 "primarily reflects losses in relation to Vodafone-Idea post an adverse judgement against the industry by the Supreme Court of India."

In the earnings statement, the group made no further commitment to equity in India business, which it said contributed zero value. It saw free cash flow of around 5.4 billion euros versus previous guidance of at least 5.4 billion.

"In October, the Supreme Court in India ruled against the industry in a dispute over the calculation of licence and other regulatory fees, and Vodafone Idea is now liable for very substantial demands made by the Department of Telecommunications in relation to these fees," the company said in its earnings statement. "We are actively engaging with the government to seek financial relief for Vodafone Idea."

The liability in telecom licence fee and spectrum usage charge together with penalty and interest for late payment may run into Rs 1.4 lakh crore for the industry.

Vodafone-Idea may have to pay a third of it. -- PTI

British telecom giant Vodafone on Tuesday said its future in India could be in doubt if it is forced to pay thousands of crores in statutory dues following the Supreme Court ruling.

India, he said, had been "a very challenging situation for a long time".

"It's a very critical situation," he said when asked if it made sense for Vodafone to remain in India without any relief package. "The government has stated its desire not to end up with a monopoly."

Vodafone's operating loss from India business jumped to 692 million euros in April-September from 133 million euros in the same period last year.

Vodafone wrote off the carrying value of its share in the loss-making joint venture.

The liability in telecom licence fee and spectrum usage charge together with penalty and interest for late payment may run into Rs 1.4 lakh crore for the industry.

Vodafone-Idea may have to pay a third of it. -- PTI

17:46 Prez nod for central rule in Maharashtra

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday signed off on Cabinet's recommendation to place Maharashtra under central rule after a fortnight-long political impasse in the state.

Earlier, Union Cabinet recommended President's rule in Maharashtra even as top leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party, the Congress and the Shiv Sena were holding a flurry of consultations in a bid to tot up the numbers and resolve the impasse over government formation in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the cabinet in the afternoon to discuss the stalemate in Maharashtra where no party has been able to form government after the assembly polls last month. The cabinet decided to recommend to the president that Central rule should be imposed in the state, sources said.

17:10 Cong leaders reach Mumbai to meet Pawar

Congress leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge, Ahmed Patel and KC Venugopal arrive in Mumbai to meet National Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar.

The Congress on Tuesday said Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari acted in a hurry in sending his report recommending President's rule in Maharashtra without exhausting all options for government formation.

The Shiv Sena, which on Monday suffered a setback in its efforts to cobble up a non-BJP government in the state, said if President's rule is imposed, it can be challenged in court.

The governor, who had given the NCP time till 8.30 pm on Tuesday to express its "willingness and ability" to form government, has submitted a report to President Ram Nath Kovind recommending President's rule in the state.

"I condemn this action which has been taken in a hurry without exhausting all options. This raises questions about the governor's impartiality. This also raises doubt whether the governor is acting under pressure," Maharashtra Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant told reporters here.

Another senior Congressman Vijay Wadettiwar, who was leader of the opposition in the 13th state Assembly, the tenure of which expired on November 9, felt President's rule will not be a roadblock in government formation. "When all the three parties (Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena) show that we have the support of more than 144 MLAs, the governor will have to invite us to form government," he said.

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde echoed a similar view, saying "once we have letters of support, the President's rule can be lifted".

Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the governor should have invited his party to indicate "willingness and ability" to form government. Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab, however, said if President's rule is imposed, it can be challenged in court. -- PTI

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday made a jibe at the possibility of a government in Maharashtra where all the three parties viz. Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP were trying to join hands to form a grand alliance and agree for a Chief Minister belonging to Sharad Pawar's party, saying, "first of all let them have a Nikaah".

On being asked, if there is a scenario of NCP Chief Minister in Maharashtra then what will be his party's stand, Owaisi said: "Pehle Nikaah Hoga, Uske Baad Sochenge Ki Beta Hoga Ya Beti Hogi. Abhi Toh Nikaah Hi Nahi Hua." (the marriage comes before we start thinking about the child, there is nothing to consider now as the marriage has not taken place yet).

Owaisi said, BJP and Shiv Sena are like 'Ram and Shyam' (brothers) and both believed in the ideology of Hindutva. It is true that people of Maharashtra need a government. As far as our party's stand is considered then we will not support BJP or Shiv Sena led government in the state.

15:48 Kapil Sibal likely to represent Sena in SC

Update on the Sena moving the SC: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday indicated it might move the Supreme Court against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's decision to decline extension of time sought by the Uddhav Thackeray-led party for submitting the "requisite letter of support" to prove its claim to form a government on Monday night. Congress senior leader and Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal is likely to represent the Sena in the Supreme Court.

The Sena, which is trying to form a coalition government with the support of the NCP and the Congress, had failed to secure the letters from both the parties.

Sena leaders had met Koshyari ahead of the 7:30 PM deadline on Monday to stake claim to form a government. When asked whether the Sena will challenge the Governor's refusal to allow the party more time to muster numbers, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai on Tuesday said, "We may do that. Uddhavji is monitoring ongoing developments in the state. He is discussing the issue with senior party leaders."

After the Sena failed to submit the letter of support of MLAs, the governor had invited the NCP, the third largest party in the 288-member Assembly with 54 MLAs, to "express ability and willingness" to stake claim for government. The Sena (56 MLAs) had sought three-day extension for submitting the letter of support, but the governor declined to accept the request, a Raj Bhavan statement had said.

Sena leaders had claimed that the governor had granted 72-hours to the BJP (105), the single largest party, to stake claim to form a government. The BJP on Sunday declined to form a government for want of numbers. "The Sena could not submit the requisite letter of support. The Sena further submitted a letter requesting three- day extension of the deadline (which ended 7.30 pm on Monday) for submitting the letter of support. "The governor expressed his inability to give any further extension," it said.

So, finally, the Raj Bhavan has announced that Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has submitted a report to President Kovind.

The press release says that "the governor having been satisfied that as the government of Maharashtra cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, has today submitted a report as contemplated by the provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution".

Article 356 of the Constitution of India states in the event that a state government is unable to function according to constitutional provisions, the Central government can take direct control of the state machinery. The state's governor issues a proclamation, after obtaining the consent of the President of India.

Breaking news:

News agency PTI reports that the Union Cabinet recommends President's Rule in Maharashtra after no political party has been able to form a government after the assembly polls last month.

Sources said the Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met in Delhi this afternoon to discuss the political impasse in Maharashtra and decided to recommend to the president to impose Central rule in the state.

After the meeting, the prime minister left for Brazil to attend the BRICS summit.

The Shiv Sena moves the Supreme Court over Governor Koshyari rejecting their plea seeking 3 days time to get letters of support from NCP and Congress.

The NCP believes that it is not possible to form an alternative govt without the coming together of the three parties (Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena). If the three don't come together, there cannot be a stable govt in Maharashtra, Nawab Malik said. If the Maharashtra Governor imposes President Rule in the state, Shiv Sena has said it will approach Supreme Court. Uddhav Thackeray has talked to Kapil Sibal and Ahmed Patel over the issue.

15:02 Pawar to meet Cong leaders at 5 pm

Addressing a press conference, NCP leader Nawab Malik said, "Today a NCP meeting was held. All 54 MLAs were present. It has been decided that looking at the uncertainty in the state, we'll empower Sharad Pawarji to take a decision on alternative govt. A committee will be formed for the same which will be led by Sharad Pawar.

"Sharad Pawar has spoken to Congress leaders and 3 Congress leaders are coming to Mumbai and they will meet Sharad Pawar at 5 pm," Malik.

Pawar will meet Mallikarjuna Kharge, Ahmed Patel and KC Venugopal at 5 pm.

The jury is still out on whether Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari did recommended President's Rule in Maharashtra.

The Raj Bhavan has denied sending any recommendation.

Reports also say that a Cabinet meeting called by the PM just before he emplaned for Brazil for the BRICS summit has approved President's Rule.

Koshyari has given time to the NCP till 8.30pm today to prove that it has the numbers after the Shiv Sena on Monday failed to get letters of support from the political rivals before the deadline set by the Governor who rejected its plea for three more days to do so.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday rejected criticism that the Congress delayed its decision on supporting the Shiv Sena for government formation in the state.

Asked whether the Congress has agreed to support the Shiv Sena to form government, Chavan said if that wasn't so, his party would not have held prolonged discussions in Delhi on Monday.

Amid speculation that President's rule may be imposed in the state on Tuesday, senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde said even if the President's rule comes into force, it could be lifted once parties have the numbers and stake claim to form government.

The Shiv Sena on Monday suffered a setback in its efforts to cobble up a non-BJP government in Maharashtra with the Congress at the last moment announcing its decision to hold more talks with ally NCP on supporting the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

"The Shiv Sena was an NDA ally and there was no question we could support it. Its lone minister Arvind Sawant quit the Modi Cabinet yesterday. It is not true that the Congress delayed the decision," Chavan told PTI.

14:35 Sena may move SC if deadline flouted

Cabinet Meeting helmed by PM Modi ends. The Maharashtra Raj Bhavan has however, denieed reports that Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has recommended President's rule in Maharashtra.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi tweets, "Governor of Maharashtra cannot give 48 hours to #ShivaSena for #MaharashtraGovtFormation but BJP can avail 5 weeks in other states is an arbitrary use of power by the Governor. This is what happens when constitutional posts are used to further political motivations."

The Shiv Sena has approached Congress leader and Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal for advice in case President's rule is imposed in the state before the expiry of the 8:30 pm deadline.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has opened consultations with the Centre on President's Rule in the state. Following this Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a cabinet meeting just before his departure tomorrow for the BRICS summit in Brazil.

While Koshyari has recommended President's Rule in Maharashtra and sent a report on the same to the Centre, it is only after the Union Cabinet's ratification that Prez Rule can be imposed.

The governor has given the NCP till 8:30 pm to cobble up numbers and stake claim to form government. However, with no headway in talks between the NCP, Congress and the Shiv Sena, the governor has begun discussing the crisis in the state with the Centre. It is now unlikely the governor will call the Congress to stake claim. He has already called the BJP and Sena to stake claim, but neither has been able to show numbers.

In fact, a high-level delegation from the Congress is on its way to Mumbai to hold talks with NCP leader Sharad Pawar to firm the way ahead for government formation in the state.

The Shiv Sena has also approached Congress leader and Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal for advice in case President's rule is imposed in the state before the expiry of the 8:30 pm deadline.

Amid the tussle for power in Maharashtra, here comes a new twist.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has recommended President's Rule in the state and sent a report on the same to the Centre.

This development comes as the NCP tries to cobble up the numbers to form the government after the Governor gave them time till 8.30 pm on Tuesday.

Sharad Pawar earlier in the day went and met shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in the hospital. Raut is in the hospital after undergoing an angioplasty.

Pawar also spoke to Sonia Gandhi in the morning and will be meeting with Congress's senior leaders around 2 pm and discuss the way forward.

Commenting on the protest organised by the Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union over the fee hike, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday and said that the institution must protect itself from such "controversies".

"JNU must protect itself from such controversies. Nobody is against the students protesting but spreading violence and fanning anarchy is not right," he said. "The students should not get violent," the Union minister added.

On Monday, a clash broke out between students and the police during a protest organised by JNUSU.

Hundreds of students took part in the protest against the "massive fee hike" and a new hostel manual which also includes provisions on dress code and curfew timings. They raised slogans against the university administration and the government.

The protest turned into a scuffle outside the All India Council for Technical Education auditorium where Vice President Venkaiah Naidu was addressing the third annual convocation.

The students removed a barricade and came face to face with the police.

-- ANI

13:15 BJP's Ashish Shelar meets Raut in hospital

Courtesy visit or hope floats of a BJP-Sena rapprochement?

BJP leader Ashish Shelar met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut at Lilawati hospital today. Raut was admitted to hospital yesterday after he complained of chest pain. In the picture (extreme right) is Dr Jaleel Parkar, the treating cardiologist.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar also visited Raut at the hospital where he underwent angioplasty. Pawar's visit to 57-year-old Raut, admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here, comes in the midst of the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra.

What transpired between the two leaders during the meet, which came in the backdrop of the political crisis in the state, was not immediately known. The NCP president was accompanied by his grandnephew and MLA Rohit Pawar.

Raut, who led the Sena's charge to seek equal share in power with the BJP after the Assembly poll results in Maharashtra, complained of chest pain on Monday following which he underwent angioplasty, a procedure to restore blood flow through the artery.

A special sub-committee was meeting on Tuesday before the Pakistan Cabinet's decision on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's travel abroad for medical treatment. The 69-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo agreed on Friday to go to the UK for treatment, heeding doctors' advice and accepting his family's request.

He was scheduled to leave for London on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight on Sunday morning. However, he could not leave as his name figured in the no fly-list (Exit Control List-ECL). The government could not remove Sharif's name from the no fly-list as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, Javed Iqbal, was not available to issue a no objection certificate.

Things hotting up in Maharashtra.

Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi speaks to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and authorises senior Congress leaders to meet Pawar for further talks on the Maharashtra government formation.

Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjuna Kharge and KC Venugopal will be leaving for Mumbai to meet Pawar.

The NCP has till 8:30 pm to stake claim to form government.

To bring you up to speed, the Shiv Sena failed to stake claim to from government yesterday, following which Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday evening asked NCP chief Sharad Pawar to indicate willingness and ability of his party, which finished third in the assembly polls, to form the government in the state.

When asked if there is a delay on part of Congress, Pawar said: "I will talk to the Congress."

The NCP chief also met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut at Lilawati hospital in Mumbai today. Raut was admitted to the hospital yesterday after he complained of chest pain.

Both the NCP and the Congress held meetings on Monday over the developments as the Shiv Sena expressed its desire to form a non-BJP government.

The NCP made it clear that it will not take a decision without its ally Congress spelling out its position.

The Congress Working Committee discussed the developments in Maharashtra and decided to have a meeting with its leaders from Maharashtra before taking a decision. At the end of deliberations, the party issued a statement which talked of further consultations with the NCP and made no mention of the Shiv Sena.

BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party in Maharashtra assembly polls with 105 seats, declined to form the government following differences with Shiv Sena on sharing power.

The NCP has 54 MLAs, just two short of the Shiv Sena's 56, while its alliance partner Congress has 44.

If NCP gets the support of Shiv Sena, which has 56 legislators, and Congress, it will easily cross the majority mark of 145 in the 288-member assembly.

Update on the Maharashtra government formation: Senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Mallikarjuna Kharge, who were supposed to come to Mumbai today to discuss modalities of support to the Shiv Sena for government formation in Maharashtra, have deferred their visit, a Congress leader said.

The two leaders postponed their visit after NCP chief Sharad Pawar conveyed that state leaders of both the parties will first discuss the "terms and conditions" of government formation, former Maharashtra Congress president Manikrao Thakare told PTI.

"The Maharashtra Congress leaders will discuss the broad contours of government formation with their NCP counterparts on Tuesday before inviting the Shiv Sena for talks," he said.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday discussed the state's political situation with Pawar and accordingly, it was decided that the state NCP and Congress leaders "will discuss the terms and conditions and a 'common minimum programme' for government formation" later in the day, he said.

"The Shiv Sena leaders are likely to join the discussions after the Congress and NCP come to an agreement. Sharad Pawar has informed the Congress central leadership that he would come to Delhi and finalise details with them," Thakare said.

"Hence, AICC general secretaries Venugopal and Kharge, who were to come to Mumbai, deferred their visit," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior NCP leader, on condition of anonymity, said unless all the three parties - Congress, NCP and Sena - join the government, there would be no stability. "Hence, we want that the Congress should be part of the government," the leader said.

While Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray said two parties (Congress and NCP) have agreed "in-principle" to support the Sena-led government, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari refused additional time sought by his party to muster numbers. Later, the NCP, which is the third largest party in the state, got an invite from the governor, asking it to express "willingness and ability to form government" by 8.30 pm on Tuesday.

With 54 MLAs, the NCP is the third largest party after the BJP (105) and the Shiv Sena (56) in the 288-member House, where the halfway mark in 145. The Congress has 44 MLAs. -- PTI

11:17 Maha CM will be from Shiv Sena: Cong leader

Amidst the political upheaval in Maharashtra, Congress leader Kagda Chandya Padvi said that the end result will be positive and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be from Shiv Sena.

"Process is still underway, but end result will be positive. Personally I think the three (Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP) parties will form the government and a Shiv Sena leader will be the Chief Minister," Padvi said.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had on Monday asked NCP chief Sharad Pawar to indicate willingness and ability of NCP to form the government in Maharashtra. The development came after Shiv Sena, which is keen to have its chief minister in the state, did not get additional time from Governor to submit letters of support from the NCP and the Congress.

Merely two months after a controversy broke out over hoardings in Tamil Nadu, a woman rider was on Monday morning hit by a truck while she was trying to avoid an AIADMK flagpole, which had fallen on the road near Goldwins area at Avinashi road in Coimbatore.

According to the police, the 30-year-old woman, identified as Anuradha, suffered multiple fractures in both her legs after the truck ran over them.

Anuradha, who works as an accountant at a hotel in Coimbatore, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

The truck was driving behind the woman when she stopped in the middle of the road to avoid hitting the flagpole lying on the ground. The flagpole was reportedly put up to welcome Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy, who was visiting Coimbatore.Police have registered a case against the truck driver identified as Murugan, who is absconding.

However, no action has been taken against the AIADMK workers who put up the flagpole without permission.

Madras High Court had on September 13 come down on government officials for failing to implement its orders and said that it is tired of passing orders against these hoardings.

A controversy had broken out after a 23-year-old woman identified as Subashree was crushed to death in Chennai by a water tanker after an illegal flex banner erected in Pallikaranai for the family function of an AIADMK functionary fell on the two-wheeler she was riding. -- ANI

10:50 Pawar meets Sanjay Raut in hospital

Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Shiv Sena's chief negotiator Sanjay Raut at the Lilavati Hospital today. Raut underwent an angioplasty last evening and his condition is stable.

Pawar on being asked if there is a meeting scheduled today between Congress and NCP, said, "Who says there is a meeting? I don't know."

Sanjay Raut, 57, who led the Shiv Sena's charge to seek equal share in power with the BJP post-assembly election results in Maharashtra, visited the private hospital in suburban Bandra in the afternoon yesterday for routine check-up.

"Raut first underwent angiography where two blocks in the heart were detected. Angioplasty is being carried out and his health is stable," the Rajya Sabha MP's brother Sunil Raut said.

Sanjay Raut, executive editor of the Sena's mouthpiece "Saamana", became the face of the party's repeated demand for chief ministership for 2.5 years and 50:50 split in portfolios ever since poll results were announced on October 24.

Since October 24, the journalist-politician has been holding media briefings everyday and posting tweets to hit out at the BJP for not "honouring" power-sharing "agreement" between the parties which stalled government formation in Maharashtra.

10:33 Death sentence of Punjab CM's killer commuted

Union Ministry of Home Affairs has commuted death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was sentenced to death in 2007 for assassination of former Punjab CM Beant Singh. Orders conveyed to Punjab and Chandigarh administrations. Chandigarh administration to pursue remission orders.

10:26 Decision will be taken jointly: NCP on Cong

A day after the Shiv Sena failed to muster the support of the NCP and Congress to end the impasse in Maharashtra, the Sharad Pawar-led party has been given time till 8.30pm today to express "willingness and ability to form government".

When asked on the Congress party's delay in agreeing with an alliance with the Shiv Sena, which is holding up government formation in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar of the NCP said, "Whatever decision will be taken will be taken collectively, so we were waiting for Congress response yesterday but it didn't come, we can't decide on it alone. There is no misunderstanding,we contested together and are together."

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar also said he will talk to the Congress. Reports say a Congress delegation was expected to meet Sharad Pawar in Mumbai, but that has now been cancelled and the Congress in fact has asked to come to Delhi for talks. Pawar has declined saying there is a meeting with NCP leaders at 11 am today.

Ajit Pawar added, "There should be stability in the govt...since 10 in morning till 7:30 pm Pawar and other senior leaders were looking up for letters of support but we didn't received them."

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had asked the Shiv Sena to prove that it has the numbers to stake claim, hours after its pre-poll partner and longtime ally BJP declined to form the government.

The Shiv Sena on Monday claimed that the NCP and Congress have agreed "in-principle" to back its government without the BJP in Maharashtra but failed to get letters of support from the political rivals before the deadline set by the Governor who rejected its plea for three more days to do so.

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict Perarivalan will be out on Tuesday from the Central Prison Vellore on parole. He will be released temporarily due to his father's poor health.

This is the second time Perarivalan will be out on parole.

In 2017, he was released for 30 days which was extended by another 30 days on his mother Arpudhammal's request.

Perarivalan and six other people were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The attack also left 14 other people dead. -- ANI

10:02 Tourists enjoy Kashmir's first snowfall

Tourists visited Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday as the region received snowfall.

"I have come from Pune. We are 18 people in total. It's a beautiful location. Before coming here, we went to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. Now we will go to Srinagar and Gulmarg. People here are very helpful. I would urge others also to come here and enjoy," said a tourist.

They shared that the locals in the region are helpful and have advised others to visit the region too.

"Besides there being a bit of network issue, we are really having a great time here. Hotel, travel and other services are really good here," said another tourist.

A lady in the group from Pune said, "We have come here for the first time. The atmosphere is quite good here. People here are very much cooperative."

Tourists started returning to Kashmir Valley after the state administration withdrew the travel advisory, which was imposed on August 5 following the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370.The travel restrictions were withdrawn on October 10. -- ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday extended his greetings to the people on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and stated that the Kartarpur Corridor is a real tribute to the founder of Sikhism.

"On the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak DevJi, best wishes to him and hearty greetings to the entire countrymen," he tweeted."

Modi government is devoted to the thoughts and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, this is our prime motto of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. The historic 'Kartarpur Corridor' dedicated to the countrymen by Modi ji on the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak DevJi is a real tribute to Guru Nanak DevJi," Shah said in another tweet.

On November 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor at Gurdaspur and Kartarpur respectively, facilitating the visa-free travel of Indian pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib, which is the last resting place of Guru Nanak Dev.The corridor connects Dera Baba Nanak in India's Punjab with Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province. --ANI

09:33 Those who try never lose: Sanjay Raut

The Maharashtra deadlock continues with the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress trying to stake claim to form the government.

Amid the Maharashtra tussle, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut tweeted early Tuesday morning, "A boat does not cross if it fears the waves, those who try never lose. We will triumph, indeed."

Raut underwent angioplasty at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Monday evening, hours after he complained of chest pain, said his brother and hospital officials.

09:29 President accepts resignation of A G Sawant

President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of A G Sawant, the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted.

It added that the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises will be handed over to Prakash Javadekar for the time being.

Haze shrouded Indias capital city again on Tuesday, with residents braving dangerous air quality to return to work after a weekend of clearer air and better weather.

A dip in wind speed and temperature is making air denser, trapping pollutants and worsening air quality, said Vivek Chattopadhyay, a senior programme manager at New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment.

Delhi is restricting the use of private cars until November 15 with an odd-even system - allowing cars on alternate days, depending on whether their licence plate ends in an odd or even number.

The political roulette in Maharashtra continues with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari inviting the Nationalist Congress Party to show its willingness to form the government. The NCP has been given time till 8.30 pm Tuesday to inform the Governor of its willingness to form the government.

However, if senior party sources are to be believed, it would be difficult for the NCP to convince the Congress leadership to go along with the Shiv Sena within the given time, while indicating that the state could be heading towards Presidents rule.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP was called to form the government Monday, after the BJP expressed its unwillingness to form government, and then the Shiv Sena, which was invited next and given 23 hours to prove its intent, could not show support for its claim within the stipulated time.

Leader of NCPs legislative wing, Ajit Pawar, was called by the Governors office to meet Koshyari where the formal proposal was handed over to a delegation of party leaders.

Following a complaint of chest pain, Congress leader DK Shivakumar was admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru last night.

DK Shivakumar visited various temples and mutts during his visit to Mysuru on November 7.

Earlier, DK Shivakumar was admitted to a hospital on November 1 following high blood pressure and variations in sugar level.

Shivakumar was released from Tihar Jail on October 23 after Delhi High Court granted him bail in a money laundering case.

-- ANI

An encounter is underway between terrorists and security forces in Gund area of Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

"Encounter has started at Gund, Ganderbal. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted on Tuesday morning.

More details of the ongoing operation are awaited.

This comes after two terrorists of UN-designated terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba, were neutralised in an encounter with security forces in Bandipora on Monday.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

-- ANI

The impasse in government formation in Maharashtra entered the 19th day on Tuesday as Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday turned down the Shiv Senas request to give the party 48 hours more to show Congress-NCP support for its claim to form the government, and instead invited Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party to show its willingness to form the government by 8.30 pm today.

However, according to senior party sources, it would be difficult for the NCP to convince the Congress leadership to go along with the Shiv Sena within the given time, while indicating that the state could be heading towards Presidents rule.

Being the third-largest party, the Governor has asked the NCP about its willingness to form the next government. We have told him that we would need to consult with our alliance partner and that we will get back to him as soon as possible, state NCP president Jayant Patil said Monday evening.

Claiming that his party was waiting for a formal letter of support from the Congress, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said they would reach out to Sena. On Monday, the Congress appeared not wanting to take a hasty decision to align with its ideological rival, and decided to hold further talks with its pre-poll ally NCP on the issue of supporting the Sena.

Earlier, the BJP, the single-largest party with 105 seats, and invited first by the Governor, expressed its unwillingness to stake claim for government formation.

The protesting students of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union on Monday said the varsity is facing an "academic emergency" and demanded the removal of V-C M Jagadesh Kumar "for his inability to carry out the role of a vice chancellor in any reasonable and democratic manner".

They also reiterated their demand for the withdrawal of draft hostel manual.

The students' union has been on a strike for close to a fortnight against demanding withdrawal of the draft hostel manual, in which service charges of Rs 1,700 were introduced and the one-time refundable mess security fee has been hiked from Rs 5,500 to Rs 12,000.

The rent for a single-seater room has been increased from Rs 20 per month to Rs 600 per month, while rent for a double-seater room has been increased to Rs 300 per month from Rs 10 per month.

The draft hostel manual also has provisions for dress code and curfew timings, the students' union alleged, even as the administration denied these two claims.

On Monday, the protests against the issue escalated with students marching from JNU campus to the AICTE building, breaking barricades, where the third convocation of the varsity was being held.

They protested for close to nine hours and the air resonated with slogans of "Humein chahiye Azaadi curfew se, dress code se" to the thumping of dhaplis.

The students' union also had the support of other parties like BAPSA, Kshatra RJD and Congress-backed NSUI.

After the protest got over at 7 pm outside the AICTE building, the students moved back to the varsity campus and said they will continue the strike.

In a statement, they said, "Due to the 999 per cent fee hike that is being imposed on us, the University today faces an unprecedented crisis, with an overwhelming number of its students facing a threat to their academic future."

"For a university where a majority of students come from the most marginalized backgrounds in this country, it no wonder that many of the degree receiving students participating in the convocation also joined the protest," they said.

The students' union office-bearers also submitted a memorandum of demands to HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', who was stuck inside the venue for close to six hours due to the protests. -- PTI

Image: Jawaharlal Nehru University students try to open the gates during a protest against the administration in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo

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