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Fri, 29 November 2019
Uddhav to face floor test tomorrow
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22:57 Uddhav to face floor test tomorrow
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance will face floor test in the assembly on Saturday.
The government is expected to have a smooth sailing in the floor test, a Vidhan Bhawan official told PTI.
A two-day sitting of the assembly will begin Saturday.
The trust vote will be taken up on day one, preceded by the introduction of the new ministers in the House.
On Sunday, the assembly speaker's election will be held, followed by tabling a motion of thanks on the governor's address in the House.
The new speaker will then announce the name of the Leader of Opposition in the assembly.
Governor B K Koshyari has asked Thackeray to prove majority by December 3.
The ruling combine has claimed support of 162 MLAs in the 288-member assembly.
The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress formed the government after the Thackeray-led party fell out with pre-poll ally BJP over sharing the chief ministerial post.
The BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 105 seats.
The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress won 56, 54 and 44 seats respectively in the October 21 polls.
NCP MLA Dilip Walse Patil was on Friday appointed as pro tem speaker of the assembly.
He replaces BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar who was earlier this week appointed to the post.
Walse Patil is a former speaker of the assembly.
Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena president, was sworn-in as the chief minister on Thursday evening and hours later, presided over his government's first cabinet meeting.
Besides Thackeray, six other ministers -- two each from the Sena, the Congress and the NCP -- also took oath. -- PTI
22:52 Cong may once again have tie up with JD-S: Parameshwara
Senior Congress leader G Parameshwara on Friday hinted at the possibility of his party once again having an alliance with Janata Dal-Secular if the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party failed to garner the required number of seats in the December5 bypolls to remain in a majority.
His remark comes days after the regional party patriarch H D Deve Gowda's cryptic remark in this regard sparked speculation.
"After the bypolls, as we feel- if people don't elect the disqualified legislators, naturally BJP will lose majority and the government will fall. In such a situation both our parties (Congress and JD-S) can form a government or President's Rule may be imposed and then mid-term polls may be announced," Parameshwara told reporters in Tumakuru.
To a question on Deve Gowda's comments, he said there maybe a possibility of Congress and JD-S forming the government once again.
"This is what we have to understand from his statement."
"Two parties will have to form a government. Either JD-S and BJP should form a government or JD-S and Congress like in the past will have to form one," he added.
Parameshwara, who is a former state Congress president, had functioned as the deputy chief minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy.
Gowda in a cryptic remark made in the context of the bypolls had recently said Congress president Sonia Gandhi's decision after the election should be watched out for, leading to speculation about the possible coming together of the two parties once again,if the situation arose.
Gowda's son Kumaraswamy too had said there would be a stable government in the state after the bypolls, but not necessarily that of BJP.
"Lets see what happens on December 9 (bypolls resultsdate)," he had said.
The ruling BJP needs to win at least six seats in the bypolls to 15 constituencies to remain in a majority in the 224-member assembly, which would still have two vacant seats -- Maski and R R Nagar.
The Congress and JD-S,who had run a coalition government for 14 months and contested Lok Sabha polls in alliance, have parted ways after the collapse of the Kumaraswamy ministry in July, following the rebellion by 17 MLAs, and are contesting the bypolls independently.
However, in what is perceived as JD-S' softening stand on the BJP, Gowda -- not wanting mid-term polls -- had earlier said he wants the Yediyurappa-led government to complete its term as it would give him time to build his party.
JD-S had also run a coalition government with BJP in 2006 and under a rotational chief ministership arrangement, Kumaraswamy had helmed the state for 20 months, before it collapsed.
Among 15 constituencies going to the bypolls, 12 were held by Congress and three by JD-S, whose coalition government collapsed due to rebellion by the disqualified MLAs.
With winning a majority of seats being crucial for the government's survival, BJP has fielded 13 of the 16disqualified legislators who joined the party as its candidates from their respective constituencies. -- PTI
22:36 Winter to be warmer, warns IMD
With rising global temperatures and keeping with forecasts of past three years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday this year's winter season -- from December to February -- will be warmer than average.
In its winter forecast released on Friday, the IMD said, "DJF (December, January, February) season average minimum temperatures are likely to be warmer than average over most parts of the country except over northernmost parts of India."
The IMD has been issuing seasonal forecast for winter since 2016, and every forecast has predicted a warmer winter. Even 2018 was the warmest year globally.
The weatherman also said there is relatively 'higher probability' for above-normal minimum temperatures in the core cold wave (CW) zone during December 2019 to February 2020.
The core cold wave zone covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana, and meteorological subdivisions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Marathawada, Vidharbha, Saurashtra (Gujarat) and central Maharashtra.
M Rajeevan, the Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the warmer winters are due to global warming.
The IMD forecast said minimum temperatures over most parts of central and peninsular India are likely to be warmer than normal by less than one per cent.
The season averaged mean temperatures are likely to be warmer than normal by 0.50 degree Celsius over peninsular India and some part of east and central India, it said.
However, the season average maximum temperatures are likely to be colder than normal over some part of central Indian region and warmer than normal over few subdivisions in the peninsular region. -- PTI
21:58 Govt extends FASTag roll out date to Dec 15
The government on Friday announced extending the date to December 15 for making FASTag mandatory for toll payments on national highways.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had earlier announced that from December 1, toll payments on highways would be accepted through FASTags only.
"To facilitate sufficient lead time to citizens to obtain FASTag, it has now been decided that all the lanes in the Fee plazas shall be declared as 'FASTag lane of Fee Plaza' by December 15, 2019," a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways communication said.
The National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) programme, the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has been implemented on a pan-India basis in order to remove bottlenecks and ensure seamless movement of traffic and collection of user fee as per the notified rates, using passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.
Over 70 lakh FASTags had been issued till Wednesday, with the highest per-day issuance of 1,35,583 tags on November 26, 2019, whereas 1.03 lakh tags were issued on the day before.
The average daily issuance had grown by 330 per cent from 8,000 in July to 35,000 tags sold in November 2019 after the Government announced to implement it from December 1.
After announcement of waiver of tag cost from November 21, there has been a growth in FASTag issuance.
To give a fillip to digital payments and bring in enhanced transparency, the ministry had directed to declare all lanes of fee plazas on national highways as 'FASTag lanes' by December 1.
However, one lane in each direction was decided to be kept as 'hybrid lane' which will accept FASTag and other modes of payment..
"With the above mandate, average daily transactions processed through FASTag have grown from 8.8 lakh in July this year to 11.2 lakh transactions in November 2019, while the average daily collection has grown from Rs 11.2 crore to Rs 19.5 crore for the given period," the ministry has said earlier this week.
All the available mode of recharges such as debit card, credit card, net banking and Unified Payments Interface have been enabled for loading money to the FASTag account.
A customer may call on the helpline number, '1033', for any assistance related to FASTags, the ministry said and added that they can also reach out to the banks to obtain FASTags. -- PTI
21:43 EC recognises JJP as state party of Haryana
The Election Commission on Friday recognised the Jannayak Janta Party as a state party of Haryana.
The JJP, founded by Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, won 10 seats in the 90-member assembly in the recent polls. It extended support to the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government.
'The commission has granted recognition to the Jannayak Janta Party as a state party in the state of Haryana.... As per party's request...the commission has allotted Key symbol for the party,' the poll panel said in a letter to the JJP.
The JJP was formed December, 9 last year after a split in Indian National Lok Dal due to infighting in the Chautala family.
JJP is based on the ideology of former Prime Minister Devi Lal, who was the founder of INLD.
It was founded by Dushyant Chautala.
Chautala thanked the party workers and people of Haryana for supporting the JJP, as it has been recognised and given symbol within a year of its formation.
So far the INLD was the only recognised state party of Haryana. -- PTI
20:53 Several injured in stabbing near London Bridge
Several people are believed to have sustained injuries in a stabbing incident that took place near London Bridge on Friday, London's Metropolitan Police said, adding that a person has been detained in alleged connection with it.
'Police were called at 1:58 pm to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge. Emergency services attended, including officers from the Met and @CityPolice. A man has been detained by police. We believe a number of people have been injured. Further info to follow,' Metropolitan Police wrote on Twitter.
Further details are awaited. -- ANI
IMAGE: Police officers and emergency staff work at the site of an incident at London Bridge in London, Britain, on Friday. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters
20:42 Gotabaya invites Modi to visit Lanka
Newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa , invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to visit the island nation, saying India was a long-standing friend of his country.
Modi is the first premiere to be invited to Sri Lanka after Rajapaksa took over the reins of the island nation.
The Sri Lankan president asserted that his country's ties with India were multifaceted, with a priority given to security-related matters.
With other nations, the initiatives and cooperation were by and large economic and commercial in nature, he noted.
"We will continue to work with India to ensure that the Indian Ocean Region is a zone of peace," Rajapaksa said in a joint press statement with Modi after the two leaders held talks in New Delhi.
He also described India as a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka.
"I would avail this opportunity to invite Prime Minister Modi to visit us as the first head of the government since my election as the President of Sri Lanka," Rajapaksa said.
Congratulating Rajapaksa on his victory, Modi said it was an honour that he chose India for his first foreign visit after taking over the reins of the island nation.
"It symbolises the strength and dynamism of the friendly relations between India and Sri Lanka. It is also a sign of how much importance both countries attach to these relations," he said.
The two leaders also discussed the issue of fishermen, a sensitive matter between the two countries.
"We discussed at length the fishermen issue and we will take steps to release the boats belonging to India (which are) in our custody," the Sri Lankan president said.
Besides cooperation in the area of security, Rajapaksa said Modi and he also discussed how the two countries could work together as regards economic matters.
"We also discussed how India can assist us in trade between our two countries," he said.
Rajapaksa, a former defence secretary who is credited with ending Sri Lanka's long civil war, was sworn-in as the island nation's president on November 18, a day after he won the closely-fought presidential election. -- PTI
20:35 No provision to provide assistance to family of farmers who committed suicide: MoS Agri
There is no provision in government's existing policy to provide assistance to family of farmers who committed suicide, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala said in Rajya Sabha on Friday.
Rupala was replying to a supplementary during Question Hour in the Upper House.
"There is no provision in the policy of the government to provide any assistance to farmers who committed suicide," Rupala said while replying to a query as to whether government has provided any relief to the kith and kin of farmers who committed suicide.
However, he said the Agriculture Department of the government has taken up a number of programmes to improve the condition of farmers.
He said loans to distressed farmers and to other persons, not exceeding Rs 1 lakh per borrower, indebted to non-institutional lenders is an eligible category under priority sector lending as per Reserve Bank of India's directions.
Under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), a flexible limit of Rs 10,000-50,000 has been provided to marginal farmers based on the land holding and crop grown for post-harvest storage related credit needs, he said.
RBI has also issued directions for relief measures to be provided by respective lending institutions in areas affected by natural calamities.
Besides, the government has also introduced an interest subvention scheme for short-term crop loans up to Rs 3 lakh, he added.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidi scheme has been started to provide income support to farmers' families holding cultivable land to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs so as to protect them from debt trap.
Under the scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided in three four-monthly instalments of Rs 2,000 to farmers' families.
Agriculture credit targets have also been enhanced from Rs 9 lakh crore in 2016-17 to Rs 13.5 lakh crore in 2019-20.
In reply to another supplementary, he said there is a provision to provide 100 subsidies to state governments for a 200 tonne unit to promote organic farming.
Besides, there is a provision of 25 per cent assistance for loans up to Rs 40 lakh to entrepreneurs for organic fertiliser facility and Rs 50,000 a year for farmers interested in it, he said.
He also appealed to the Members of Parliament (MPs) to ensure KCCs to farmers through banks in their respective areas.
The use of fertilisers is increasing in the country, but the government is trying to create awareness in this direction, he said.
The minister said the total consumption of major fertilisers in 2019-20 (up to October) was at 349 LMT (lakh metric tonnes) and added that the government has been promoting soil test based integrated nutrient management for balanced and judicious use of fertilisers. -- PTI
19:53 NCP's Walse-Patil pro tem Speaker of Maha House
Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Dilip Walse- Patil was appointed as pro tem Speaker of Maharashtra assembly on Friday ahead of the floor test of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government.
NCP sources confirmed that Patil has been appointed as pro tem Speaker.
The floor test is likely to be conducted on Saturday, they said.
Ambegaon MLA Patil, serving his seventh term as legislator, replaced the BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar, who was appointed as pro tem Speaker earlier when the MLAs were administered oath.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as chief minister on Thursday. -- PTI
18:59 4.5% GDP growth unacceptable: Manmohan
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has termed the new economic growth numbers as 'unacceptable'.
"The GDP figures released today are as low as 4.5 per cent. This is clearly unacceptable. Aspiration of our country is to grow at 8-9 per cent. Sharp decline of GDP from 5 per cent in Q1 to 4.5 per cent in Q2 is worrisome.
"Mere changes in economic policies will not help revive the economy," Dr Singh said.
"We need to change current climate in our society from one of fear to one of confidence for our economy to start growing at 8 per cent per annum.
"The state of economy is a reflection of state of its society. Our social fabric of trust & confidence is now torn and ruptured," he said. -- ANI
18:50 No congregational prayers at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid for 17th consecutive Friday
No congregational prayers were offered at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid -- the grand mosque of Kashmir -- for the 17th consecutive Friday since
the Centre announced abrogation of Article 370 provisions on August 5
this year, officials said.
Even though movement of public,
private and transport vehicles was less on Friday compared to the
previous day, shops and business establishments remained open till noon
in most parts of Kashmir Valley and in some areas in the Civil Lines
till late afternoon, they said.
While there was a semblance of
normalcy in the Kashmir valley over the past few weeks, a fresh shutdown
started on Wednesday last week as posters threatening shopkeepers and
public transport operators appeared at some places.
The mosque
in Nowhatta area in downtown Srinagar -- the old city area -- has been
closed for prayers for nearly four months, officials said.
People were barred from offering Friday prayers at the grand mosque
after the Centre's decision to abrogate the special provisions for Jammu
and Kashmir given under Article 370 of the constitution as authorities
apprehended that vested interests might exploit the large gatherings at
the mosque to fuel protests.
The officials said pre-paid mobile
phones and Internet services continued to remain suspended. Separatists
remained in preventive custody while the mainstream leaders, including
former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been either
detained or placed under house arrest.
The government has also
detained former chief minister and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar
Farooq Abdullah under the controversial Public Safety Act, a law enacted
by his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah
in 1978 when he was the chief minister. -- PTI
18:25 Cong mocks GDP fall: 'Gross Divisive Politics'
The Congress on Friday took a swipe at the BJP government over the GDP growth falling to 4.5 per cent, and said this was the lowest GDP recorded in six years.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that for the BJP, the GDP was "Godse Divisive Politics".
He was referring to the ongoing row surrounding a BJP MP's remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse.
"India's GDP has collapsed to an abysmal 4.5%. We are in a virtual free fall. This is the lowest GDP quarter in 6 years. But why is the BJP celebrating? Because their understanding of GDP (Godse Divisive Politics) suggests double digit growth levels. All in the perspective," he said on Twitter.
India's economic growth slipped further to hit an over six-year low of 4.5 per cent in July-September, according to official data released on Friday.
17:40 India's GDP growth slows to 4.5% in July-Sep
India's economic growth slows to 4.5 per cent in July-September quarter from 7 per cent a year ago, says government data.
More details awaited. -- PTI
17:20 Uddhav orders to stop metro work in Aarey
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered to stop the work of Aarey metro car shed project today.
"I have ordered to stop the work of Aarey metro car shed project today.
Metro work will not stop but till next decision, not a single leaf of
Aarey will be cut," Thackeray told journalists in Mantralaya, the state secretariat.
"I'm in mantralaya for the first time. I just had a meeting with the secretaries and we introduced each other. I told them to use taxpayers money in the best way, and that it should not be wasted," Thackeray said. -- ANI
17:16 JNUSU panel meets MHRD secy over fee hike issue
A four-member committee of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU), including union president Aishe Ghosh met a delegation of Ministry of Human Resource Development at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi over the JNU fee hike issue.
"We met secretary of MHRD and submitted a memorandum. We were informed that the MHRD high power committee has submitted its report to ministry which will be disclosed after formal procedure," Ghosh said later. -- ANI
17:13 Minister: Doc should've called 100, not sister
Telangana Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali on Friday said the alleged rape and murder of the female veterinary doctor could have been prevented had she called up the police rather than her sister, upon sensing danger.
"We are saddened by the incident. Telangana Police are alert and efficient in controlling crime. It is unfortunate that despite being educated, she called up her sister and did not dial the police helpline number -- 100.
"Had she called up the police, she could have been saved," Home Minister Ali told ANI.
The minister added that efforts would be made to spread awareness about the use of police helpline number in the future.
"We will try to spread awareness about the use of '100' number. It is for the help of the public," said Ali.
The home minister hoped that the whole matter would be clear by the evening and added that justice would be ensured to the victim's family.
"Just six months back, justice was ensured within two months in another case in which a minor girl was raped. In this case too, 10 teams have been formed. Some people have been picked up in connection with the crime. I believe the whole matter will be clear by evening," he said.
The Hyderabad Police have arrested the accused persons involved in the alleged rape and murder case of the doctor in Telangana.
On Thursday, the burnt body of the doctor was found at Shadnagar outskirts in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district.
As per the preliminary probe, the police suspect that the doctor was sexually assaulted.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. -- ANI
16:44 Electoral bonds not a scam: Ex-finance secretary
Defending the electoral bonds scheme, former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said that it is in fact a 70 to 90 per cent cleansing of the political donation system.
"If it has replaced cash contribution to political parties, then it is a very good scheme and not a scam," he said in his first interview after retiring as Secretary at the Ministry of Power on October 31.
Garg told ANI on Thursday that the critical detail of electoral bonds on who gave which party cannot be disclosed as it is confidential and is hard-coded as the scheme's integral part. He added that the system of electoral bonds was meant to eliminate large cash donations.
In case a political party receives a political donation in cash primarily, then that might actually indicate a scam, he stated.
"It is not 100 per cent cleansing of the political donation system but it is 70 to 90 per cent cleansing of the system. Electoral bonds are not a scam," Garg said.
"How can it be a scam when the political contribution is given from the white money of a company or from somebody's bank account after transparently buying it from the bank after due KYC? Also, there is corresponding disclosure of how much amount a political party received in the form of bonds by the political party to the Election Commission," he added.
Garg was replying to a question over former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who earlier raised questions over electoral bonds and called it 'the biggest scam of the decade.'
Read: Electoral bonds: What the latest controversy is all about
16:36 Nadda heads to Tamil Nadu tomorrow
BJP National Working President Jagat Prakash Nadda will be on a one-day visit to Tamil Nadu tomorrow to lay the foundation stones for the party Offices in 15 districts of the state. He will also address party karyakartas at around 12:30 pm.
Nadda will reach Chennai Airport at 10:15 am and will head to Thiruvallur, which he should reach by 11:50 am.
Nadda will also chair a meeting with state office bBearers at Hotel Sennetta, Thiruvallur at 14:10 pm. After that, he will hold a meeting with the state BJP core committee at 3 pm.
16:10 Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy booked for sedition over protests
Police have booked former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and H D Kumaraswamy along with the then Bengaluru police commissioner T Sunil Kumar, his subordinates and some Congress and JD(S) leaders on sedition charges for protesting the income tax raids during Lok Sabha polls. Based on a complaint by activist Mallikarjuna A, a city court recently directed the commercial street police to register a case under various sections of the IPC including criminal conspiracy and attempting or abetting waging war against the Government of India, police said.
The case relates to protests near the I-T office here by the leaders including the then Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy against the Income Tax raids at the residence of Congress and JD(S) leaders. The charges are that Kumaraswamy had informed public about the possible raids after getting inputs about the action. -- PTI
File pic
16:05 Calling her terrorist worse: BJP MP defends Pragya
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday moved a privilege motion against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for calling BJP MP Pragya Thakur a 'terrorist'.
"Calling a woman a terrorist is worse than the murder of Mahatma Gandhi. Hence I request you to move privilege against Rahul Gandhi," said Dubey in Lok Sabha on Friday.
"Congress has made a government with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena called Nathuram Godse a patriot in 'Saamna'. Congress can go up to any extent for power and greed," he said.
Pragya Thakur on Friday apologised twice in the Lok Sabha over her controversial remark praising Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse but also added that her statements made in the Parliament are being distorted.
In Lok Sabha, Thakur said that if her remarks have hurt anyone, she regrets it and tenders an apology.
16:00 Hold your horses! There's gold in the dung
CISF personnel at the Kolkata Airpprt have apprehended a Indian passenger who allegedly concealed gold worth over Rs 8 lakh in packets containing horse excreta, officials said on Friday. Anguswamy Ramaiah (41), who arrived at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport from Myanmar on Thursday evening, was nabbed for smuggling a total of 215 gms of the yellow metal, they said.
"Four pieces of yellow metal bar weighing about 162.1 gms wrapped in blue carbon paper and concealed in four separate horse poop (excreta) packets were recovered from the baggage of the traveller. Another yellow bar was recovered from his wallet," a senior official said.
The man was intercepted on suspicion by CISF personnel as he was transiting the airport to catch a flight to Chennai, they said. The passenger has been handed over to Customs authorities along with the seized gold that is estimated to be worth Rs 8.20 lakh, officials added. PTI
15:49 The Shiv Sena is suddenly kosher for liberals.
Shiv Sena was hated by Indian liberals as extremist Hindutva party. Now, its their darling. Between the partys Hindutva ideology and a Congress alliance, Uddhav Thackeray will have to walk a tightrope. Read Shivam Vij's column here.
15:41 Why this hurry to discuss my reincarnation, asks Dalai Lama
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Friday played down the debate over his successor, saying it was too early to discuss it. "All of you discussed a lot about my reincarnation. I am 84 or 85 years old and I am quite well. So why are you in a hurry about my reincarnation?' he was quoted as saying at a meeting of Tibetan religious leaders in Dharamshala.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was addressing them on the last day of the three-day 14th Tibetan Religious Conference, where a resolution on reincarnation was earlier adopted.
While China has been insisting that the tradition of reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should continue, many Tibetans are opposed to Beijing's apparent attempt to "impose' a successor.
The 14th Dalai Lama himself has said in the past that it is not necessary that the tradition should continue. At the conference held at the Central Tibetan Administration headquarters in this Himachal Pradesh town, the Dalai Lama said monasteries must focus more on studies. "Chanting mantras only is not enough. Knowledge and education should be the base,' he said. -- PTI
15:27 Pragya apologises for 2nd time over Godse remarks
BJP MP Pragya Thakur apologises again in Lok Sabha today. She said, "On 27 Nov, during discussion on Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019, I did not call Nathuram Godse a 'deshbhakt'. I did not even mention his name. I apologise again if I have hurt any sentiments."
Her fresh statement came after Speaker Om Birla convened a meeting of party leaders to end the impasse in the House. -- PTI
15:18 Youth Cong workers want Pragya expelled
On the Congress party's Twitter handle, this: "How Pragya Thakur spends her time, when she's not busy eulogising terrorists in Parliament." The Indian Youth Congress staged a protest demanding her expulsion from Parliament.
15:03 Pragya knows perfectly well what she said: Rahul, Tharoor
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor on Friday said that BJP MP Pragya Thakur made the comment about Mahatma Gandhi's murderer Nathuram Godse knowing fully well what she meant and that her apology is a farce.
"Sadhvi Pragya said what she believes in. I do not agree with her. I have cleared my position," Rahul Gandhi told reporters outside the Parliament.
"She knows perfectly well what she has said. It was absolutely disgraceful. She made a so-called statement of apology. She should have given an unqualified apology. If she does not give an unqualified apology, she should be suspended from the House," Shashi Tharoor said.
Thakur, a first-time MP from Bhopal had triggered uproar when during a discussion in the lower house on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, she interjected DMK member A Raja with a remark purportedly in praise of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse. However, later on, she claimed that she was referring to Udham Singh.
Speaker Om Birla expunged Thakur's remark from the records but opposition members protested outside the House.
Earlier this year, she described Godse as a 'patriot' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had even made it clear that such statements would not be tolerated by the party. -- ANI
14:54 MVA govt may face floor test tomorrow
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance may face the floor test in the Assembly on Saturday, sources said. The floor test is "most likey" to be held on Saturday, the Vidhan Bhawan sources told PTI.
Governor B K Koshyari has asked Thackeray to prove majority by December 3. Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena president, was sworn-in as the chief minister on Thursday evening and hours later, presided over his government's first cabinet meeting. Besides Thackeray, six other ministers - two each from the Sena, the Congress and the NCP - also took oath.
14:51 Fadnavis to Maha govt: Why do you doubt your MLAs so much?
Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis begins his new role in the opposition. Fadnavis, who changed his Twitter bio to Maharashtra Sevak, tweets, "In the first Cabinet Meeting of new government, yesterday, they chose to discuss how to prove majority secretly, instead of discussing on how assistance & relief can be given to farmers suffering from unseasonal rains.
"If this government has majority then why are they secretly calling the house?
"Why efforts to change the Pro-tem Speaker, going against the rules? Why still doubt your own MLAs so much? Why are they still hiding them?
then why are they secretly calling the house?"
Image: Devendra Fadnavis and Mukesh Ambani chat at the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray at Shivaji Park yesterday.
14:41 Uddhav takes charge, floor test likely tomorrow
Uddhav Thackeray-led govt may face floor test on Saturday, says Vidhan Bhawan sources.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray formally took charge of his office here in Mumbai this afternoon. He took charge shortly after 2 pm, entering the sixth floor office of the CM, outside which a plate bearing the name 'Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray' was put up.
When he reached Mantralaya, he paid floral tributes to the portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the building. On way to Mantralaya from the Thackeray family residence Matoshree in suburban Bandra, he stopped at the Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai and paid tributes to martyrs.
Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena president, was sworn-in as the chief minister on Thursday evening and presided over the first cabinet meeting on Thursday night. Thackeray is heading the government of a three-party alliance, 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', whose main constituents are the Sena, the NCP and the Congress. Besides Thackeray, six other ministers - two each from the Sena, the Congress and the NCP - also took oath. -- PTI
14:09 Chidambarams Kafkaesque conviction
He is In prison for 100 days. Prosecution is still investigating grave charges against him. It's willing to share evidence but only in sealed covers and only with the court. Kafkaesque? Read the report here.
14:06 Wolves roaming streets: NCW on H'bad vet murder
The National Commission for Women has constituted an inquiry committee to look into the alleged killing of a 27-year-old veterinarian who was reportedly set on fire after being sexually assaulted in Hyderabad. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said in a tweet that the women's panel would not "leave any stone unturned" till the perpetrators get the punishment they deserve.
"It feels like there are wolves on streets who are just waiting to pounce on a woman. The culprits should be arrested soon and hanged, if found guilty. A member of NCW is going there,she'll assist the bereaved family and provide them all help. She'll coordinate with police and see that action is taken as soon as possible," Sharma said.
According to media reports, the woman, an assistant veterinarian at a state-run hospital, was on her way home in Hyderabad when she was allegedly abducted and burnt alive by unidentified persons late on Wednesday. In a letter to Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar, Sharma said the commission is disturbed by the reported incident and is seriously concerned about the safety and security of women.
"The National Commission for Women is constituting an Inquiry Committee headed by a Member, NCW to inquire into the matter. Considering the gravity of the matter, I request you to kindly investigate and take appropriate action in the matter," Sharma said in the letter. A detailed action taken report may be sent to the commission at an early date, Sharma said. -- PTI
13:59 'Loveyatri' row: No coercive action against Salman, says SC
The Supreme Court on Friday said that no coercive action will be taken against Bollywood actor Salman Khan on a complaint filed against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiment by producing Bollywood movie Loveyatri.
Several private criminal complaints were filed in 2018 against the movie alleging that its name has hurt the religious sentiment of Hindus.
The film which was earlier named as Loveratri, but was changed to Loveyatri by the producers keeping in mind that earlier name sounded like Navratri. -- PTI
13:57 Bill to amend 6-decade-old Arms Act introduced in LS
A bill which seeks to enhance punishment for illegally possessing and making prohibited arms besides other changes in the six-decade-old Arms Act was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The Arms (Amendment) Bill makes provision that a person can have a maximum of two firearms, as against the present norm of three.
Those who own more than two firearms will have to deposit the third one with authorities or authorised gun dealers within 90 days for de-licensing once the amendment is approved by Parliament, according to the bill.
The bill was introduced by minister of state for home affairs G Kishen Reddy.
As per the bill, the government proposes to amend Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act, 1959, to give punishment from the usual life term of 14 years to "imprisonment for the remainder of that person's life" for manufacturing, selling, repairing and possessing "prohibited" arms.
The minimum punishment under this section will be 14 years. -- PTI
13:20 We're ready to go to jail, no problem: Shivakumar
After an FIR was registered against him for allegedly obstructing I-T officials from discharging their duties, Congress leader DK Shivakumar called it a "political vendetta" and said he is ready to go to jail.
"This is all a political vendetta. All cases are being done by these officers and friends of BJP. We know that. We will fight it out politically. We are ready to go to jail, no problem," Shivakumar said.
An FIR was registered against Shivakumar, former Karnataka chief ministers HD Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah, and ex-Bengaluru city police commissioner Suneel Kumar among others under several sections of the IPC, including the charge of sedition, for allegedly obstructing I-T officials from discharging their duties. -- ANI
13:15 Aghadi 2.0 in Goa soon, announces Raut
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut announces Aghadi 2.0 for Goa. Speaking to news agency ANI, Raut said, "The Goa Forward Party president and former Deputy CM of Goa, Vijai Sardesai along with three MLAs, is forming an alliance with the Shiv Sena. A new political front is taking shape in Goa, just like it happened in Maharashtra. Jaldi hi Goa mein bhi aapko ek chamatkar dikhai dega. Very soon you will see a miracle in Goa."
Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party said, "Governments don't change after making announcements. It happens suddenly. What happened in Maharashtra, should be done in Goa too. Opposition should come together. We met Sanjay Raut. The 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' which has been formed, should extend to Goa too."
The move ties in with Raut's statement yesterday. Raut said that the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra chief minister will affect the national politics.
"What is going to happen in Maharashtra will affect national politics. Maharashtra is a state which influences the politics of the entire country," Raut told media persons ahead of Thackeray's scheduled oath-taking ceremony.He alleged that BJP used all tactics to prevent Sena from forming the government.
"From President House to Governor and ED to CBI -- everything was used," the Sena leader said, adding that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government will complete its full term.
Image: Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party.
13:03 In Yogi's UP, 1 ltr milk in a bucket of water fed to school kids
A government school in Uttar Pradesh's Chopan block has been accused of mixing one litre of milk in a bucket of water and serving it to 81 children as part of their midday meal.
Officials took cognisance of the matter after a video showing milk being adulterated by Salai Banwa primary school's cook went viral. The government's Mid-Day Meal Scheme aims to better the nutritional standing of school-age children in the country. The cook is seen mixing a litre of milk in a bucket full of water in the video clip.
Basic Siksha Adhikari Gorakhnath Patel said that an inquiry has been ordered and stern action will be taken against those found responsible. In August, a video showing a woman distributing rotis and another woman giving salt to children as midday meal in Siyur primary school in Jamalpur block had surfaced. -- PTI
12:45 Pragya Thakur apologises in LS for Godse remarks
BJP MP Pragya Thakur on Friday tendered an apology in Lok Sabha for her remarks on Nathuram Godse. The Bhopal MP also said she was dubbed as a terrorist despite being acquitted by a court. "If I have hurt anyone with my comments, I regret and tender my apology," she said, without taking Godse's name. -- PTI
12:16 Uddhav posters flood Mumbai
A day after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took over the reins of Maharashtra as the first chief minister of the Thackeray family, several posters and banners were seen installed across the city congratulating the leader of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi'.
Some of the posters feature three generations of Thackeray's with the photographs of Bal Thackeray, Maharashtra Chief Minister and his son Aaditya Thackeray, who is an MLA of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Mumbai.
Apart from Thackeray, six leaders -- two each from Congress, Shiv Sena, and NCP -- took oath as ministers in Maharashtra's alliance government. They were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Shivaji Park here.Congress' Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut, NCP's Jayant Rajaram Patil, and Chhagan Chandrakant Bhujbal took oath as ministers.
From Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai were sworn in as ministers.Uddhav is the first member of the Thackeray family to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the third Shiv Sena leader to hold the top post after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane. -- ANI
11:50 Maharashtra CM's cabin undergoes name change
The name plate of Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray as the Chief Minister of the state replaces Devendra Fadnavis' on his cabin at the Maharashtra Secretariat. He will assume today.
Last night, Thackeray chaired the maiden meeting of his cabinet which sanctioned Rs 20 crore for conservation of the Raigad Fort as he promised concrete assistance for farmers after reviewing existing schemes instead of any piecemeal aid.
Thackeray chaired the first meeting of his cabinet at Sahyadri Guest House in south Mumbai. He said the first decision of the cabinet was to approve a sum of Rs 20 crore for conserving the Raigad Fort, which was the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century.
Addressing his first press conference after taking over as CM last night, Thackeray said he has asked the chief secretary to review all existing government schemes for farmers to understand how much they have actually helped the community.
"We can paint a better picture if we know the reality. We have sought inputs. Farmers have not got anything, but only assurances. We want to provide concrete help to farmers," he said after the meeting. "I have asked the chief secretary to provide a realistic picture about the number of schemes aimed at helping farmers and how much they have benefited them.
"Once I get the real picture, we will be able to come up with solution," Thackeray said. The CM said he is not looking at piecemeal approach to resolve issues related to cultivators, who suffered crop losses in unseasonal rains in October.
11:37 Cong MLA threatens to burn alive Pragya Thakur
Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh, Govardhan Dangi on Friday has threatened to burn alive Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bhopal Pragya Thakur if she enters the state.
The Congress leader was agitated over Thakur's remark in praise of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi during a discussion in Parliament on Special Protection Group (SPG) Bill on Wednesday.
"We will not just burn her effigy...if she sets foot here, we will burn her also," he said while speaking to media in Rajgarh on Thursday.Congress workers also burnt the effigy of Bhopal MP yesterday at Biaora municipality in Rajgarh district while sloganeering against her.
Also, as many as 50 Members of Parliament including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Dayanidhi Maran, Manicka Tagore, and NK Premachandran gave a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla yesterday to censure Thakur for "insulting Mahatma Gandhi." -- ANI
11:19 'Every Shiv Sainik feels like the CM today'
Last night, as Uddhav Thackeray and six ministers of his cabinet were sworn-in at the Sena's stomping ground -- Shivaji Park -- Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore was there speaking to people who had come from as far the distant suburb of Mira Road just for a glimpse of their leader.
Here's what they had to say. Do read the report here.
11:07 Now, cops come knocking at Fadnavis' door
The Nagpur Police has delivered to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, summons issued by a local court in connection with the case wherein he is accused of concealing information about two criminal matters against him in his election affidavit.
The summons was delivered by Nagpur (Sadar) police on Thursday, said Nagpur (Sadar) Police Inspector Mahesh Bansode.In 2014, complainant, advocate Satish Uke, had filed criminal proceedings against Fadnavis before the JMFC court Nagpur over non-disclosure of two criminal cases against Fadnavis in election affidavit of the year 2014.
Subsequently, the court had dismissed the petition in 2015.Following this, Uke approached Sessions court for revision of the case which was allowed by the Sessions court in 2016. Later Fadnavis had approached the High Court, following which in 2018, the High Court had set aside the Sessions court order and upheld the decision of JMFC court.
Subsequently, the complainant approached the Supreme Court and thereafter it set aside the JMFC and High Court order and directed the trial court on October 1 to proceed with the matter from the date of the order of High Court.
On November 1, a magistrate's court had restored an application seeking criminal proceedings against Fadnavis for alleged non-disclosure. Later on November 4, the court said the case would be held as a summary criminal case and issued against accused under Section 125A of Representation of the People Act, 1951. -- ANI
11:01 RCom hits upper circuit for 6th straight session
Shares of Reliance Communications hit their upper circuit for the sixth consecutive session on Friday amid reports that Bharti Airtel has submitted conditional bids of around Rs 9,500 crore for the debt-ridden firm's assets. On the BSE, the stock rose 3.85 per cent to 81 paise. The scrip advanced 5.26 per cent to Re 1 on the NSE. The shares have hit upper price band on the stock exchanges. Meanwhile, shares of Bharti Airtel were trading 2 per cent up at Rs 445.45 on the BSE. -- PTI
10:50 Sharif undergoes PET, CT scan in London: reports
Pakistan's ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif underwent a range of tests, including PET and CT scan, at a hospital in the UK to know the exact cause of his low platelet count, media reports in Islamabad quoted his personal physician as saying.
Sharif, 69, left for London on November 19 in an air ambulance for medical treatment after the Lahore High Court allowed him to travel abroad for four weeks.
"Former PM Nawaz Sharif is undergoing a PET/CT FDG Scan at London Bridge Hospital under care of Haematology/Haemoncology at Guy's Cancer Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London," Dr Adnan Khan tweeted. "It's one of the key investigations to establish cause of severe Thrombocytopenia," he said.
Thrombocytopenia is a condition which causes low blood platelet count. Platelets are colourless blood cells that help blood clot, the Express Tribune reported.
Earlier, Khan had said that the PET scan will give a clearer picture of the reasons behind Sharif's low platelet count, and that once this is determined, the ailing politician will undergo a cardiac procedure, Dawn News reported. -- PTI
10:39 PM must cooperate with younger brother: Saamna
The Shiv Sena on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray share brotherly ties and that it is the responsibility of the former to co-operate with his "younger brother" who has taken charge of the state.
Apparently referring to the Centre, the Shiv Sena said Delhi should respect the decision made by the people of Maharashtra and take care that the stability of the state government is not bedeviled.
The Sena made the comments in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' as it latched onto wishes extended by Modi to Thackeray after he took oath as the chief minister on Thursday evening. Modi has in the past referred to Thackeray, who is also the Sena president, as his "younger brother".
"Congratulations to Uddhav Thackeray Ji on taking oath as the CM of Maharashtra. I am confident he will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra," the prime minister tweeted after Thackeray was sworn-in. Responding, the Shiv Sena referred to Modi as "our prime minister" and said he has wished Maharashtra attains speedy development under Thackeray's leadership.
"The Centre will have to co-operate (with the state) for that (speedy development). The Centre will have to extend help to bring Maharashtra's farmers out of their miseries," the Shiv Sena said. The Shiv Sena made the remarks in the editorial of the Marathi daily. "The BJP-Shiv Sena are sharing strained relations in Maharashtra politics, but Modi and Thackeray share brotherly ties.
"Hence, it is the responsibility of Shri Modi to cooperate with the younger brother from Maharashtra as the prime minister," it added. The Shiv Sena maintained the prime minister does not belong to any single party, but the entire country.
"Delhi should respect the decision people of Maharashtra have taken and take care the stability of the state government is not bedeviled," it said. The soil of Maharashtra is filled with valour as inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the people of the state had fought with Delhi for its creation, the Shiv Sena said.
Image: Security arrangements at Maharashtra Secretariat this morning. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take charge today.
10:19 RJD MP gives notice in RS on Gandhi (the Mahatma not Sonia)
RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha has given Zero Hour Notice over the need to call a dedicated session 'to discuss the life and values of Gandhi Ji and teach the same to the members of Parliament'. This comes after immediately after Bhopal's BJP MP had called Mahatma Gandhi's killer, Nathuram Godse, a deshbhakt or patriot.
10:09 Sensex falls over 100 points ahead of GDP data
Market benchmark BSE Sensex dropped over 100 points in early trade on Friday tracking losses in in index-heavyweights RIL and ICICI Bank ahead of quarterly GDP growth data release. Retreating from its lifetime peak scaled in the previous session, the 30-share index was trading 158.97 points, or 0.39 per cent, lower at 40,971.20 in morning session.
Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty was quoting 38.45 points, or 0.32 per cent, down at 12,112.70. Yes Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising up to 4 per cent, followed by Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, Tech Mahindra, NTPC and Axis Bank. On the other hand, Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank and Infosys were trading in the red. -- PTI
10:05 Rupee slips 11 paise to 71.73 against US dollar ahead of GDP data
The Indian rupee opened on a weak note and fell 11 paise to 71.73 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, as investors traded the cautious path ahead of the release of GDP data. Forex traders said rupee is trading in a narrow range as investors are also awaiting clarity on the US-China trade front.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 71.63 then fell to 71.73 against the US dollar, showing a decline of 11 paise over its previous closing. The Indian rupee on Thursday had closed at 71.62 against the US dollar. The second-quarter GDP number is scheduled to be announced on Friday. India's economy grew at 5 per cent in the first quarter of 2019-20 -- the slowest pace in over six years. -- PTI
09:56 Afghan peace talks with Taliban has resumed: Trump
United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that his administration had resumed talks with the Taliban with the purpose of bringing peace in Afghanistan, but refused to give a timeline for drawdown of his troops.
"Yes," Trump told a small group of reporters at the Bagram Air Filed on Thursday when asked to confirm whether the US had restarted discussions with the Taliban after calling the peace talks "dead" in September.
During his first and surprise trip to Afghanistan on Thanksgiving, Trump said the terms of the deal would have to include a Taliban ceasefire, adding that he thought the Taliban would agree to it.
"The Talbian wants to make a deal and we're meeting with them and we're saying it has to be a ceasefire and they didn't want to do a ceasefire and now they do want to do a ceasefire. I believe it'll probably work out that way," he said.
The president said the US had made tremendous progress over the past six months and had been drawing down its troops at the same time.
"We're going to stay until such time as we have a deal or we have total victory and they (Taliban) want to make a deal very badly," he told reporters during a hastily-arranged bilateral meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the air field, the largest US base in Afghanistan.
Trump confirmed that he hoped to reduce the number of American troops in Afghanistan to 8,600.
The US currently has less than 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, but military officials would not confirm the exact number.
09:55 BHU's Firoz Khan to appear for interview to teach at varsity's Ayurveda dept
Firoz Khan, who was facing protests for being appointed as an assistant professor in the Sanskrit Department of Banaras Hindu University, will appear for an interview on Friday to teach at the varsity's Ayurveda Department.
"It has been our demand that he (Khan) can be appointed in any department other than our department. We do not have any problem with it," Amit Kumar Dubey, student of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vedvigyan Sankay Department told ANI.
On November 24, the faculty members and the retired professors of the BHU had expressed their support for the students who are protesting against the appointment of Firoz as an assistant professor of Sanskrit at the Sanskrit Vidya Dharm Vigyaan department (faculty of theology).
The teachers of the University had penned down a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind in this regard.
The agitated professors were demanding immediate annulment of the appointment of Khan from the department and have urged the President, who is also a visitor of BHU, to place Khan in any other Sanskrit teaching department of the University.
The appointment of Khan in the department had triggered protests by the varsity's students.
The agitating students said that the protest is not against the appointment of a Muslim professor, but the appointment of a non-Hindu in a subject closely connected with the religion. -- ANI
09:49 Several financial irregularities in NRC process: Assam minister
Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that a huge financial scam took place in the National Register of Citizens update process.
"An inspection report by the Accountant General of Assam confirms that a huge financial scam took place in the NRC update process. We did not make it public while the NRC update process was underway as it could have affected the process," Sarma told media.
He said that the process of finding irregularities in the NRC is over and soon the government will make the data public.
Sarma further informed that the Comptroller and Auditor General has found 16 instances of "financial irregularities" while going through the papers and functioning of the NRC office.
The NRC list for Assam is aimed at segregating Indian citizens living in the state from those, who illegally entered the state from Bangladesh.
In the final NRC list published on August 31, a total of 3,11,21,004 persons were found eligible for inclusion in the list, leaving out 19,06,657 persons, including those who did not submit their claims in Assam. -- ANI
08:53 India slams Pak at UNHRC over Ayodhya verdict
India on Thursday lambasted Pakistan over its statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict and asked the country to rather work constructively and positively for education and upliftment of its own minorities instead of spewing lies for a self-serving malicious propaganda.
Exercising India's right to reply in response to the statement delivered by Pakistan at the 12th session of Forum of Minority Issues, Indian diplomat Vimarsh Aryan noted that the religious, ethnic, sectarian and linguistic minorities in Pakistan have suffered an immense infringement of their fundamental human rights due to the so-called blasphemy laws.
"India is a robust democracy where independent and effective constitutional mechanisms are in place to safeguard interests of all our citizens including religious and linguistic minorities and we strongly reject Pakistan's reference to our judicial decisions," Aryan said.
"It is widely known that in Pakistan, the religious, racial, ethnic, sectarian and linguistic minorities have suffered an immense infringement of their fundamental rights due to the so-called blasphemy laws," he added.
Aryan said that the world does not need lessons on human rights of minorities from a country whose own citizens have never enjoyed true democracy.
"This forum is meant to deliberate upon crucial Human Rights issues of minorities. But instead of adhering of that objective, Pakistan is merely spewing lies of self-serving mendacious propaganda that was evident in its statement which was nothing but a farrago of distortions and misrepresentations," he said. -- ANI
08:24 Trump makes surprise trip to Afghanistan
United States President Donald Trump made his first trip to Afghanistan when he made a surprise visit to an air base near Kabul to thank American troops serving in the war zone and joined 500 of them in having turkey on the occasion of Thanksgiving.
After having dinner with his troops during the unannounced visit on Thursday, Trump had a hastily-arranged bilateral meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Kept a highly-guarded secret till the time he left Afghanistan, Trump touched down at the Bagram Air Field outside Kabul on a pitch-dark tarmac after a 13-hour flight abroad Air Force One.
The president reached just in time to serve troops Thanksgiving dinner at the air field's dining facility.
He was greeted at the airfield by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley.
A small pool of reporters travelling with him were only allowed to shoot Trump's arrival from inside a van.
Wearing a navy blue suit and a striped red tie, the president dished out turkey to roughly two dozen troops at a dining facility decorated with red, orange, and yellow Thanksgiving banners and tablecloths.
Trump wished them a Happy Thanksgiving. He then walked into a dining hall full of about 500 troops.
"I'll be talking to you later, but right now I want to have some turkey." he said. "I'm going to join you for a little lunch. We're also going to shake hands with some of the folks."
00:52 Maha cabinet to give names for pro tem Speaker
The new Maharashtra cabinet, led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, will recommend names of three senior MLAs to the governor for appointment as pro tem Speaker of the assembly, a senior official said on Thursday.
The pro tem Speaker will conduct election for full-time Speaker, he said. The floor test of the Thackeray-led government -- which was sworn in on Thursday -- will be conducted by the full-time Speaker. -- PTI
Read yesterday's live commentary HERE
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