LIVE! Teach those misusing power a lesson: Pawar

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Sat, 19 October 2019

Teach those misusing power a lesson: Pawar

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21:51 Teach those misusing power a lesson: Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday hit out at Union home minister Amit Shah and said the Centre was misusing power and foisting cases against leaders who were speaking out against their wrong policies.

Addressing a rally in Baramati, from where nephew and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is in the fray, Pawar asked the people to teach those misusing power a lesson in the October 21 polls.

Lashing out at Shah, he said, "I am asking you, did you hear Shah's name five years ago? The person whose name people don't know, whose contribution the country does not know is asking what I have done for Maharashtra," he said.

In a reference to senior leader P Chidambaram, Pawar said, "When a former finance minister criticised the government on its economic policies, some case was made and he was put behind bars. Similarly my name was brought into the case of a bank in which I am not even a member."

Pawar was named by the ED in an alleged scam in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank.

Asserting that he was not scared of such tactics, Pawar said, "Do what you want to do. We have the power to face these things. In this election, time has come to answer them. We have to show those who misuse power their place." -- PTI

The family of Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari who was murdered at his residence in Lucknow on Friday demanded a National Investigation Agency-led investigation in the case.

"We want the National Investigation Agency to investigate the case. We do not trust anyone. My father was killed although he had security guards, how can we possibly trust the administration then?," Satyam Tiwari, son of Kamlesh Tiwari said.

Five people have been detained including three in Gujarat's Surat in connection with the murder of Kamlesh Tiwari, the president of a little-known Hindu outfit, with police saying on Saturday that the suspects were "radicalised" and appeared to have targeted him for his inflammatory remarks made in 2015.

Tiwari was shot dead at his residence by some unidentified persons on Friday afternoon. The family of the victim had said that he had received a threat to his life in 2016. -- ANI

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said making the state drought-free and getting its economy past the $1 trillion mark were the main issues he highlighted during the assembly poll campaign which ended on Saturday.

The state polls are scheduled for October 21 and results will be declared on October 24.

Speaking to select group of journalists, Fadnavis claimed the revocation of provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was not the BJP's main poll plank.

"Since we exposed the Congress on this (Article 370) important issue of national importance, it got prominence. Article 370 was not the main poll plank. Our main agenda is drought-free Maharashtra and achieving $1 trillion economy," Fadnavis said.

He went on to claim the main thrust of his speeches during the campaign were development works carried out by his government as well as plans it had for the next five years.

"For the last few minutes (of the speech), I raised the issue of Article 370 because Kashmir and Maharashtra are part of India. Everyone wants Article 370 to go and the Congress-NCP opposed the move. We expose them through our speeches," he added.

The Maharashtra CM said the public sentiment was high on nationalism and BJP's theme has always been "nationalism and development".

He, however, justified the BJP's emphasis on abrogation of Article 370 and said, "There is nothing wrong with it. The entire nation wanted it to be repealed but the Congress-NCP did not do it and so we exposed them. The Opposition is claiming our stand is wrong because they are on the defensive."

Queried on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's placatory comments on Hindutva icon Veer Svarakar, Fadnavis said, "The former PM tried to do damage control. The necessity of facing polls made the Congress change their stand on Veer Savarkar."

"His (Singh) comments are contrary to what Rahul Gandhi said about Savarkar during the Lok Sabha elections," the CM added. -- PTI

20:06 British MPs vote to delay Brexit deal decision

British MPs voted to delay a decision on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, arguing they needed more time to study its contents before an October 31 deadline.

Lawmakers backed an amendment which effectively forces the government to request an extension until January next year, while they scrutinised the proposed domestic legislation to enforce the deal with Brussels.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to stop the reported move to disinvest the state owned Bharat Petroleum Corproation Ltd.

In a letter to Modi, a copy of which was released to the media, Vijayan said that the centre had initiated action through release of Request for Proposal, causing 'severe anxiety' among the general public in the state.

The state government was the promoter of the erstwhile Kochi refinery with five per cent stake and the state government had extended financial and non-financial incentives to BPCL when the refinery capacity was augmented, he said.

The state government had also agreed to refund the entire 'Work Contract Tax' amounting to Rs 85 crore to BPCL.

It was also agreed to treat the additional VAT revenue, due to the augmented capacity of BPCL, as soft loan, which is refundable after 15 years, the letter stated.

About Rs 1,500 crore has been advanced in this endeavour and these assistances from the state government was to ensure that the public sector refinery should be stregthened,he said.

The Kerala government proposes to set up a petrochemical park adjacent to BPCL on the assurance that the feed stock from the refinery would be made available. --PTI

Terming the murder of Hindu Samaj Party chief Kamlesh Tiwari "an act of mischief to create terror", Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said such incidents will not be tolerated and those involved will not be spared.

"This is an act of mischief to create terror. In this case, five people have been taken into custody. Of these, three have been taken into custody in Gujarat and two in Uttar Pradesh. A Special Investigation Team has been constituted to probe it," he said.

"The elements who create an atmosphere of fear and terror in the state will be strongly dealt with, and their plans crushed. This type of incident will not be tolerated, and those involved will not be spared," Adityanath added.

Tiwari (45), earlier associated with a faction of the Hindu Mahasabha, was killed at his home in Lucknow's Khurshed Bagh on Friday.

The chief minister said the killers were allowed to meet Tiwari by the security guard posted at his residence only after the leader of the lesser-known Hindu outfit gave him the nod.

The killers sat with Tiwari and had food and tea. Subsequently, the personal aide of Tiwari and his son were sent to the market to purchase something, and it was during this period that Tiwari was murdered, Adityanath said.

The chief minister said he was willing to meet the family members of Tiwari. -- PTI

The Maharashtra government will explore possibility of merging crisis-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank with other bank, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said.

Assuaging concerns of depositors facing hardships due to restrictions on withdrawal of funds from the scam-hit bank, the chief minister said that money of account-holders would remain safe.

The alleged scam to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore scam at the bank is attributed to loans given to realty firm HDIL, which were allegedly hidden from regulators' scrutiny, turning non-performing assets.

"Unfortunately, a revival package for PMC bank is not in jurisdiction of the state government, but with the RBI. But, the state government can facilitate merger of the bank with other bank. I have already spoken to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister on this issue. I will again peruse the matter after polls," Fadnavis said in an interaction with selct journalists as the campaign for the October 21 polls winds up at 6 pm on Saturday.

When asked about the steps taken by the BJP-Shiv Sena government in the bank scam, Fadnavis said accused have been arrested and their assets seized.

"Depending on the provisions of the Depositors Act the state or the Central government can auction the assets (of the accused) and pay depositors," he said, adding that the process may take time.

Investigators have so far arrested five persons, including promoters of HDIL and top executives of the bank, in connection with the alleged scam. -- PTI

19:11 Abhijit Banerjee visits alma matter JNU

Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee visited his alma mater Jawaharlal Nehru University on Saturday.

Banerjee, who completed his masters in Economics from the JNU in 1983, came in the campus early in the morning and later met Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, according to sources.

However, there was no confirmation from administration officials.

Couple Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo jointly won the 2019 Nobel Economics Prize with Harvard's Michael Kremer "for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty". -- PTI

Under attack from top Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over Article 370, the Congress's Jammu and Kashmir unit on Saturday accused the saffron party of using it as a "political tool" for the upcoming Maharashtra and Haryana assembly polls.

The Congress said the urgency shown by the Centre to scrap the provisions of Article 370 which accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir was "unfortunate".

The Centre will not be able to delay for long the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said.

Referring to the amendments made to Article 370 in the past, he asked what else is left in it that the BJP is using it as a political tool to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana.

On August 5, besides abrogating certain provisions of Article 370, the Centre announced the decision to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, which will come into existence on October 31. -- PTI

17:58 Restore Art 370 in J-K: Shah dares Rahul

Union home minister and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah on Saturday dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to declare that his party will restore provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir if voted to power.

Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's tribal Nandurbar district, Shah said after Narendra Modi won the second term with a massive mandate in May this year, the first thing he did was to abrogate provisions of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Due to the special provisions, Pakistan fomented terror in the state and over 40,000 people died. Development in Kashmir came to a standstill. But Congress was not ready to scrap the provisions. It was worried about its vote bank and not about the national interest.

"No PM ever dared to take the decision. It was Modi with his 56-inch chest who made the move," he said.

"Rahul Gandhi asks what is the connection between Article 370 and Maharashtra. I dare him to declare that if voted to power, his party would restore the provisions of Article 370. There is still one day to go for the assembly elections. See how the people will react. Don't you want Kashmir to be an integral part of India?" the Union minister asked. -- PTI

V Anantha Nageswaran has been appointed as a non-permanent member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, for a period of two years.

Nageswaran, dean of IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University, would serve as a non-permanent member of the council, a university press release said on Saturday.

"It is a privilege to serve on a committee dedicated to enhancing the dynamism of the Indian economy. I look forward to working closely with members of the Council on all issues that have a bearing on the Indian economy," he said on his appointment to EAC-PM.

Nageswaran, who has a doctoral degree from University of Massachusetts, has held responsibilities in Singapore Management University and Wealth Management Institute at the Nanyang Technological University.

He is also the co-founder and a member of Board of Directors, NPS International School, Singapore.

Nageswaran is also on the Board of Directors of various companies including TVS Supply Chains Pvt Ltd, TVS Sri Chakra and Aparajitha Corporate Services, the release added. -- PTI

17:30 Sri Lanka removed from FATF's Grey List

Sri Lanka has been removed from the "Grey List" of the international terror financing watchdog FATF, according to a media report.

The island nation will no longer be subject to the Financial Action Task Force's monitoring under its on-going global anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism compliance process, the Colombo Gazette reported on Saturday.

The FATF said Sri Lanka made significant progress in addressing the strategic AML/CFT deficiencies identified earlier, the daily said.

In October 2016, the FATF announced that Sri Lanka will be subjected to a review of the International Cooperation Review Group of the terror financing watchdog to assess the progress of AML/CFT effectiveness in the country.

The Paris based organisation indicated Sri Lanka had not made sufficient progress in four parameters -- international cooperation, supervision, legal persons and arrangements and targeted financial sanctions on proliferations (North Korea and Iran), the daily said. -- PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday hit out at Union Minister Piyush Goyal for his remarks on Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee, saying the government's job is to improve the "collapsing" economy and not to run a "comedy circus".

Goyal on Friday said Banerjee supported 'NYAY', a minimum income scheme proposed by the Congress, which was rejected by the Indian voters and there was no need to "accept what he thinks".

The 'NYAY' scheme was one of the highlights of the Congress manifesto for the April-May Lok Sabha polls.

The Union commerce and industry minister, at a media briefing in Pune, also described Banerjee as a "Left-leaning" person.

Lashing out at Goyal for his remarks, Priyanka Gandhi said instead of doing their work, BJP leaders are trying to belie the achievements of others.

The Nobel laureate did his work honestly and won the Nobel Prize, she said in a tweet in Hindi.

"The economy is collapsing. Your job is to improve it, not to run a comedy circus," the Congress general secretary said.

She also tagged a media report which claimed that the slowdown in the auto sector continued in September.

Banerjee, an Indian-American who has been critical of the Narendra Modi government's economic policies, won the 2019 Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences. -- PTI

Pakistan government may call in army troops in Islamabad to counter a protest march called by Opposition parties to "topple" the Imran Khan government, accusing it of coming into power through rigged elections, according to a media report.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam's chief Maulana Fazl has announced that he will march in Islamabad on October 31 against the government.

All major Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Awami National Party and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party have announced their support for the 'Azadi March'.

The Express Tribune reported that the government is devising its strategy to deal with the protest march and is weighing the option of calling in armed forces in the capital.

A meeting held at Prime Minister Imran Khan's residence in Islamabad on law and order situation discussed different options to counter the march, the daily said.

The daily quoting its sources said that in the meeting the participants agreed that peaceful protest is everyone's right but no one can be allowed to besiege Islamabad.

The meeting also discussed security of sensitive government buildings and foreign embassies.

It decided that the government will hold talks with all Opposition parties including Fazl. If the talks fail, army troops will be deployed to protect the government buildings and important installations. -- PTI

Bharatiya Jantaa Party president and Union home minister Amit Shah's helicopter made an emergency landing at Ozar Airport in Nashik, around 160 kms from Mumbai, due to heavy rains on Saturday, the last day of campaigning for the October 21 Maharashtra assembly polls, an official said.

The helicopter was on its way to Akole in Ahmednagar district, over 70 kilometres from Nashik, where Shah was to address a poll rally, the official said.

The pilot decided to land the chopper at Ozar airport at 2:2 5pm due to inclement weather, he said.

"After a halt of 40 minutes, the chopper took off at around 3:08 pm for Ahmednagar," he informed.

Shah had earlier addressed a rally in Navapur in Nandurbar district in north Maharashtra.

It has been raining in several parts of the state since Saturday morning. -- PTI

The Congress on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of raising the issue of revocation of Article 370 provisions in assembly polls campaign for electoral gains and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must tell the people that it was because of the Congress that Pakistan's integral part split from it.

"Modi ji only remembers (Article) 370. He does not know when Pakistan split and who did it. It was we (Congress) who split Pakistan's integral part from it... where were you (Modi) then?" senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal asked.

"Tell the people of Haryana that it was because of the Congress that Pakistan's integral part was split from it. This happened under the Congress rule. Praise the Congress, but you don't have the guts to do that," he said.

Training his guns at Modi, the Congress leader asked what has the BJP government under him done for implementation of Article 47 of the Constitution which states that raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living and improving public health is the duty of the state.

"You only remember Article 370 but you do not keep in mind your constitutional duties. Around 93 per cent children are not getting proper nutrition and your entire focus is on Article 370," he said.

"You are doing this because of the Assembly polls... You do not know about the people who are suffering," Sibal said.

He further attacked Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over their remarks that Jammu and Kashmir lagged in development because of Article 370.

16:12 Govt's love for cow only on paper: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday attacked the government over the alleged decline in population of indigenous cattle, saying the government's love for cow is only on paper.

The former finance minister also hit out at the government over what he said was an "acute" job crisis.

In a tweet posted by his family on his behalf, Chidambaram, who is currently in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, put out two economic indicators for people to draw their own conclusions.

"Over 50% of those asked said that the employment situation is presently worse. Over 30% said it will worsen. Meaning, the job crisis is acute," he said, posting the first economic indicator.

"Population of indigenous cattle declined by 6% between 2012 and 2019. Meaning, the government's love for the cow is only on paper. It does not translate into increased productivity or fertility," he added.

Chidambaram had on Wednesday said he would tweet two economic indicators every day for people to draw their own conclusions. -- PTI

Restrictions that were imposed in parts of Srinagar in view of Friday prayers were lifted on Saturday, but normal life remained affected across the valley for the 76th consecutive day following the abrogation of provisions of Article 370, officials said.

They said the curbs, under Section 144 of the CrPC, were imposed in Anchar area under the jurisdiction of Soura police station and the areas around the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta police station on Friday morning.

They were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of the Friday congregational prayers.

The restrictions have been lifted from parts of Srinagar, the officials said.

Authorities have been imposing curbs in vulnerable areas of the valley on Friday, apprehending that vested interests may exploit the large gatherings at big mosques and shrines to fuel protests.

Friday prayers have not been allowed at Jamia Masjid -- the grand mosque of Kashmir in Downtown (old city area) -- for over two months.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected across the valley.

Shops opened for a few hours early in the morning in some areas, including in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk in Srinagar, but the main markets and other business establishments were shut, the officials said.

Private transport plied unhindered in Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir, the officials said, adding few areas in the city witnessed traffic jams.

Auto-rickshaws and few inter-district cabs were also seen plying in some areas of the valley, they said.

However, the other modes of public transport were off the roads. -- PTI

Two persons were arrested for allegedly threatening Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal, police said on Saturday.

According to the DCW, Maliwal had being receiving threat calls over her action against sex rackets allegedly operating in several spa centres across Delhi.

Maliwal and her family members received several threatening calls and audio recordings from some spa owners, following which she wrote a letter to the Delhi Police on September 20 seeking urgent action in the matter, the DCW said.

Police said Maliwal lodged a complaint alleging that she received threat calls from some unknown spa owners.

During investigation, two persons were identified with the help of technical surveillance and later arrested by Cyber Crime Unit of the Delhi Police, they said, adding that further investigation is underway. -- PTI

An FIR has been lodged against the Border Guard Bangladesh by its Indian counterpart Border Security Force over the killing one of its jawans earlier this week, a senior police officer said.

A Bangladeshi border guard on Thursday fired from his AK-47 rifle during a 'flag meeting' along the international boundary in West Bengal, killing BSF head constable Vijay Bhan Singh (51) and injuring another jawan, Rajvir Yadav.

A BSF statement said the incident took place in Murshidabad district around 9 am when a force party approached the BGB troops, standing at a "char" or a riverine in the middle of the Padma river, to resolve an issue linked to Indian fishermen.

"Yes, we have received a complaint from the BSF. A case has been registered and investigation is on," Murshidabad Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar said.

The BSF officials, too, confirmed that police have lodged an FIR against the BGB.

Refuting claims by the Bangladeshi border force that its patrol team "had to open fire in self-defence", a senior official of the BSF said not a single bullet was fired from the Indian side.

"Although an inquiry has been ordered by the BSF, we still decided to lodge a complaint with the police, in accordance with the norms. The allegation by the BGB that we had fired first is not just absurd but a blatant lie. We didn't fire a single bullet," a senior BSF official said. -- PTI

Depositors of the scam-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank held a protest outside the Reserve Bank of India headquarters in south Mumbai on Saturday.

The depositors gathered outside the RBI around 11.45 am and held protests by showing placards and chanting slogans against PMC Bank and the RBI, a police official said.

Police were deployed to avert any untoward incident, he said, adding that nobody has so far been detained or taken into custody.

After an alleged Rs 4,355 crore scam came to light at the PMC Bank, the RBI initially capped withdrawals at Rs 1,000 in view of liquidity crisis, and later hiked it to Rs 40,000 in three moves.

The depositors have been protesting to get their money back. -- PTI

Image: Depositors of the PMC bank display placards during a protest outside RBI headquarters in Mumbai. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo

14:10 Cong destroyed nation with wrong policies: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress, alleging that their wrong policies destroyed the nation and injustice was continuously done with Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a gathering in Haryana's Ellenabad on the last day of campaigning, Modi attacked the party on Article 370 issue, saying it was a temporary provision, but for 70 years the Congress did nothing about it.

"I ended this temporary provision. When you made me permanent for five years, why would I allow this temporary thing," he asked.

The prime minister also said that four lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes in the valley.

He also attacked the Congress on the Kartarpur Corridor issue, saying for 70 years the devotees had to seek 'darshan' of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara using binoculars.

He said the inability to bring Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in the Indian territory during Partition was a mistake. -- PTI

Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that misunderstanding between border forces led to Border Security Force jawan's death.

He also that he will talk to his Indian counterpart Amit Shah if needed.

In a first of its kind incident, Bangladeshi border guards opened fire at a Border Security Force team on Thursday killing a jawan after a 'flag meeting' along the Indo-Bangla riverine frontier in West Bengal.

The Bangladeshi border guards said they fired gunshots in 'self defence'.

Khan said that Indian fisherman held by Border Guard Bangladesh will be released.

13:22 Pak violates ceasefire along IB in JK's Kathua

Pakistani Rangers violated ceasefire by targeting forward posts and villages with small arms firing along the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.

The firing from across the border in Manyari-Chorgali area in Hiranagar sector was unprovoked and started around 7.30 pm on Friday and continued intermittently throughout the night, the officials said.

They said the Border Security Force retaliated effectively.

There was no report of any casualty or damage in the Pakistani firing which ended around 4.15 am on Saturday morning, the officials said. -- PTI

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday asserted that there is pressure on Pakistan to deliver on Financial Action Task Force directions after it warned the neighbouring country of blacklisting it

"Pressure is on them to deliver and they have to take action. It is up to them how much seriously they take it. We would only like them to follow its (FATF) directions and work towards restoring peace. To be on such a 'Grey List' is a setback for any nation," Rawat said.

The global finance watchdog had warned Islamabad on Friday that it only had until February to improve its counter-terror financing operations or face international action.

"Pakistan needs to do more and faster. If by February 2020, Pakistan doesn't make significant progress, it will be put in the 'Black List'," FATF President Xiangmin Liu said while addressing a press conference on the last day of its five-day plenary in Paris.

While Pakistan has escaped the terror blacklist, according to sources, there was a consensus among members in the global watchdog to retain Pakistan in 'grey list' based on its 27-point action plan.

A decision on the status of Pakistan will now be taken by FATF in February next year. -- ANI

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday conducted searches at about a dozen premises of DHFL and other linked firms in connection with its money laundering probe against Iqbal Mirchi, the aide of global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, officials said.

They said the raids are being conducted in and around Mumbai under provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

About a dozen premises are being searched, they added.

The Dewan Housing Finance Corp Ltd (DHFL) allegedly had business links with Sunblink Real Estate, the firm at the heart of investigations into the financial dealings of Mirchi. The DHFL had given loans of Rs 2,186 crore to the real estate firm.

The ED suspects these monies were allegedly routed by Sunblink into accounts linked to Mirchi and his associates.

The agency is looking for evidence in the form of documents and other paraphernalia as part of the latest operation, they said.

The DHFL earlier said it had no links to the alleged dubious transactions.

The ED turned up the heat in the money laundering case linked to the multi-crore real estate deals of Mirchi and others after recently arresting two of his alleged aides.

Mirchi had died in 2013 in London. He was alleged to be the right hand man of Dawood Ibrahim in drug trafficking and extortion crimes.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel was questioned by the agency in this case on Friday for his alleged property deal with the family of Mirchi.

Patel has denied wrongdoing. -- PTI

12:10 3 arrested in UP Hindu group leader's killing

A joint team of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat Police has arrested three people in connection with the murder of Hindu outfit leader Kamlesh Tiwari, UP's director general of police OP Singh said on Saturday.

DGP OP Singh said the murder of 52-year-old Kamlesh Tiwari, the founder of the Hindu Samaj Party, was a fallout of communal hate.

Kamlesh Tiwari was killed by two unidentified men in Lucknow's Khursheed Bagh on Friday.

The accused arrested in Gujarat have been identified as Maulana Mohsin Shiekh (24), Rasheed Pathan (23) and Faizan (21).

The DGP ruled out any terror link to the murder.

"We are working in collaboration with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad. Till now no link with any terrorist organisation has been established. We will look into all the details and take action," Singh said.

Image: Hindu Samaj Party founder Kamlesh Tewari.

11:41 Amitabh discharged from hospital

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was discharged from Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai on Friday night after being admitted for some routine check-up, hospital sources said.

Bachchan had gone for a routine check-up at the hospital on Tuesday and remained there for the next two days.

At around 10 pm, Bachchan left the hospital with his wife Jaya Bachchan and son Abhishek, the sources said.

Reports of Bachchan, who turned 77 on October 11, suffering a liver problem were doing the rounds but sources claimed there was no truth to it.

"He came to the hospital for routine check-up. He is doing fine. He is hale and hearty," sources had said earlier.

On Thursday, Bachchan had posted a picture with wife Jaya, wishing her on Karwa Chauth.

On work front, the actor is currently hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati and has already shot a few episodes in advance.

He has four films in his kitty - Gulabo Sitabo, Brahmastra, Chehre, Jhund. -- PTI

11:36 Gutka, pan masala banned in Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government has put a total ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of products like gutka and pan masala which have a high content of tobacco and nicotine in them.

An order to this effect was issued here by Food Safety Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Jha late on Friday evening.

The decision was taken in view of the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine-based chewing products like gutka and pan masala on human health.

Explaining reasons behind the ban, the order said, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India prohibits use of tobacco and nicotine as an ingredient in any product meant for human consumption but it has been found that gutka, pan masala and several other similar products being sold under different names continue to have a high content of them as components. -- PTI

10:52 India slams Pak for raising Kashmir at UN

India has slammed Pakistan for raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at a forum of the United Nations, saying the country employs 'empty rhetoric' to serve its 'distorted agenda' and continues to engage in spreading unsubstantiated allegations.

Minister in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Deepak Misra did not name Pakistan but his remarks were in response to a statement by Islamabad's UN envoy Maleeha Lodhi, who while speaking at forum last week, had yet again raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Lodhi had said that UN's decolonisation agenda will remain incomplete without the resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and refereed to India's decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have one delegation which has a penchant for deviating from the subject being deliberated upon in this august forum and making unwarranted remarks not pertinent to the agenda on hand," Misra said on Wednesday.

"It seeks to employ empty rhetoric to serve its distorted agenda and continues to engage in spreading malevolent and unsubstantiated allegations," he said.

Misra, addressing the Committee, said that since the creation of the United Nations, more than 80 former colonies have gained their independence and joined the family of United Nations.

As a result of sustained efforts by the UN membership, today, fewer than two million people live in non-self-governing territories, according to UN documentation.

However, he noted that even as seven decades have gone by, the process of decolonisation that began with India's own independence remains unfinished.

"There still remain 17 non-self-governing territories, which are in various stages of the decolonisation process' on the agenda of this Committee. He underscored the need to step up international efforts to conclude this long-drawn process.

"In this inter-connected world, India strongly believes that pursuing a pragmatic approach towards decolonisation would surely lead to fulfillment of legitimate wishes of the people of Non-Self Governing Territories.

"The complex challenges facing the present world can only be met by coordinating our responses in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration," Misra said.

He added that the international community must strive to enhance cooperation with international agencies and actors and channelise resources for the 17 non-self governing territories that would enable them to build capacities in their just and noble quest towards achieving long cherished goals.

Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for its decision to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcate the state into two union territories.

After India's decision on August 5, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian High Commissioner from the country.

Rejecting Pakistan's reaction, India has categorically told the international community that its move on Kashmir is an internal matter. India maintains Kashmir is a bilateral issue with Pakistan and no third party has any role in it. -- PTI

09:48 China wants India-Pak to join hands: Envoy

China wants India and Pakistan to have good relations and join hands for promoting peace and stability in the region, said Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong.

Speaking exclusively to ANI on the recently concluded informal talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "Both China and India are major countries with important influence in the region. The two leaders had in-depth communication on the regional situation.

"China stressed that it sincerely look forward to good relations between China and India, China and Pakistan as well as India and Pakistan. We hope to see countries in the region join hands in promoting regional peace and stability and realising development and prosperity." -- ANI

09:03 Committed to implement FATF action plan: Pak

Pakistan on Friday said it is committed to implement the action plan of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after the international terror financing watchdog put Islamabad on notice, warning that the country will be blacklisted if it does not control terror funding by February next.

The FATF voiced serious concern over Pakistan's failure to deliver on most of its 27 targets.

The Ministry of Finance in a statement said Pakistan's delegation at the FATF reaffirmed its political commitment to fully implement the action plan.

The Pakistan officials also held sideline meetings with various delegations and briefed them about the progress on the FATF action plan and steps taken for strengthening its AML/CFT framework, it said.

The Paris-based FATF gave the warning to Pakistan at its five-day plenary which concluded in the French capital on Friday while deciding to again put the country on the 'Grey List'.

By making this decision on Pakistan public, the FATF has given notice to the global financial institutions that they need to prepare to red flag the jurisdiction and ready their systems in February 2020 if the country falters in meeting the targets. -- PTI

The International Monetary Fund on Friday supported India's recent decision to reduce corporate income tax, saying it has a positive impact on investment.

It, however, said India should address continued fiscal consolidation and secure long-term stability of the fiscal conditions.

"We believe India still has limited fiscal space so they have to be careful. We support their corporate income tax cut because it has a positive impact on investment," Changyong Rhee, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF, told reporters at a news conference in Washington, DC.

Following a marked slowdown in the last two quarters in India, the economy is expected to grow at 6.1 per cent this fiscal year, picking up to 7.0 per cent in 2020, he said.

"The monetary policy stimulus and the announced corporate income tax cut are expected to help revive investment," said the top IMF official.

Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF, said India should address the non-bank financial sector issues.

"While there have been improvements that have been put in motion, including efforts to recapitalise the state banks, the issue of non-bank financial institution remains partly unresolved and regulatory equity is one of the issues that needs to be achieved," she said.

The government is aware of it, she added.

"We also had a FSAP. So there are issues working at that and this is something that is why not yet fully achieved, but is entrained. While there are problems at this stage, increased attention to lending practices of non-bank financial institutions continue to be very important," Gulde-Wolf said.

Responding to a question, she said India overall has a fairly high level of debt and fiscal consolidation needs to be a priority.

"However, implementing fiscal consolidation in the context of a federal system is much more complicated. The level of fiscal structural issues and challenges are different in different states," she said.

So one of the ways in which the IMF is engaged in this question is it has a regional training institute that has started working with the individual states on strengthening fiscal management at the state level, Gulde-Wolf said.

In the context of surveillance engagement with India, she said, the IMF is increasingly placing emphasis on the need to better coordinate the fiscal state level activities and fiscal activities.

"But it is a concern that the authorities are taking serious and are working at," Gulde-Wolf said. -- PTI

08:46 India-US defence trade to reach $18bn this yr

Ahead of the ninth India-United States Defence Technologies and Trade Initiative or DTTI group meeting in New Delhi next week, the Pentagon on Saturday said the bilateral defence trade between the two countries is expected to reach $ 18 billion by year end.

Undersecretary Of Defense For Acquisition And Sustainment Ellen M Lord said the US is committed to strengthen its partnership with India while furthering military-to-military relationships and cooperation.

"Bilateral defence trade, essentially zero in 2008, will reach an estimated USD 18 billion later this year," she told reporters at the Pentagon.

Lord heads to New Delhi next week to co-chair the ninth India-US Defence Technologies and Trade Initiative or DTTI group meeting with her co-chair Secretary for Defence Protection Apurva Chandra.

"As the US Department of Defense leads for DTTI, I'm excited to continue working with our Indian major defence partner," Lord said.

She said the US granted the India Strategic Trade Authority Tier 1 designation last August, providing New Delhi with greater supply-chain efficiency by allowing American companies to export a greater range of dual-use and high-technology items to India under streamlined processes.

This grants India the same authorisation as NATO allies Japan, South Korea and Australia, she added.

"All of these examples show how the United States and India are working bilaterally and in cooperation with other like-minded partners to advance our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific," Lord said.

Responding to a question, she said she personally has seen an uptick in the pace of movement in India and the willingness to engage.

"We truly are developing some new capabilities together for production in India, as well as to be produced here," Lord said. -- PTI

Directorate of Higher Education, Uttar Pradesh has refuted certain media reports about banning the use of mobile phones in college premises across the state and has said that no such ban has been imposed.

In a letter issued to administrative heads and principal of different colleges, Vandana Sharma Director, Higher Education, has stated that 'no such directive has been given by the education board'.

The clarification by the higher education department comes after some media outlets on Friday reported that a ban has been imposed over usage of mobile phones in the colleges. -- ANI

08:05 Salman Khan's aide Shera joins Shiv Sena

With 3 days to go for assembly polls in Maharashtra, Bollywood actor Salman Khan's long-time aide Gurmeet Singh alias Shera on Friday joined Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena took to its official Twitter handle to make the formal announcement.

He joined Shiv Sena in presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray and Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray at their residence Matoshree in Mumbai.

Maharashtra will go to polls on October 21 and the counting of votes will take place on October 24. -- ANI

00:18 Mehbooba meets brother: PDP sources

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti's brother Tassaduq Hussain Mufti on Friday met her at the government guest house in Srinagar where she has been kept under detention, party sources said.

The meeting lasted for about 20 minutes, they said, without giving any further details.

The former chief minister has been detained at the guest house which has been designated as a sub-jail.

Cinematographer by profession, Tassaduq served as the tourism minister in Mehbooba-led Jammu and Kashmir government.

Restrictions have been imposed across the Kashmir Valley since August 5 when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution and to bifurcate the state into two Union territories.

The restrictions were lifted in phases from the valley as the situation improved with the passage of time.

Mobile services were restored in Kashmir on Monday, but the SMS facility was snapped once again later that night due to apprehensions of the services being misused.

Internet services -- across all platforms - continued to be snapped in the valley, they added. -- PTI

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