The army wants homosexuality and adultery to remain as punishable offences to ensure discipline and has made a representation to the defence ministry, a year after the Supreme Court decriminalised these acts, sources said on Thursday.

 

The sources also said the Army Act had a provision under which its personnel can be charged for homosexuality and adultery, but now it will be under another provision of the same Act.

 

The apex court last year decriminalised homosexuality and adultery.

 

The sources said the army has approached the ministry of defence raising concern over the decriminalisation of the acts in question.

 

They said keeping the actions punishable would act as a deterrent, failing which there would be severe discipline issues and create a command and control problem.

  

At an interaction with reporters on Wednesday, General Ashwani Kumar, the Adjutant General in the Indian Army, said some cases could be "legally right but ethically wrong".

 

The Adjutant General's branch is responsible for welfare and also deals with different type of complaints against the Army personnel at all levels.

 

"Anything told by the Supreme Court is the law of the land and has to be abided," said Kumar, who superannuated on Thursday.

 

Asked whether the army will go for a review of the apex court judgment, he replied "How do you know that we haven't already done so?"

 

The army deals with cases of homosexuality and adultery under the relevant sections of the Army Act that prescribe punishment unbecoming of an officer, he said.

British telecom giant Vodafone on Thursday said it will continue to stay invested in the Indian market and is seeking the government's support to tide over the current challenging times.

   

The clarification assumes significance as Vodafone Idea is staring at nearly Rs 40,000 crore of potential statutory dues after a Supreme Court ruling upheld the government's way of calculating telecom revenue, on which licence fee and spectrum usage charges are computed.

 

"Vodafone is aware of the unfounded and baseless rumours circulating in some of the Indian media that we have decided to exit the market. We would like to categorically state that this is not true and is malicious," Vodafone group said in a statement.

 

Vodafone said it is actively engaging with the government and is "fully supportive of our local management as they continue to manage our joint venture in these challenging times".

 

Old telecom operators which have been hit the hardest by the Supreme Court verdict are seeking relief from the government on these unpaid dues.

 

Meanwhile, a senior government official said that Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran on Thursday met Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in the backdrop of the apex court ruling on Adjusted Gross Revenue.

 

Responding to an e-mail query, a Tata Sons spokesperson said, "We do not comment on speculations."

 

Holding out hope for the crisis-ridden sector, the government earlier this week constituted a committee of secretaries to explore a financial bailout package for the telecom sector by lowering spectrum charges as well as ending the era of free mobile phone calls and dirt cheap data.

 

The committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, has been asked to examine "all aspects" of "financial stress" faced by service providers such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea and suggest measures to mitigate them, sources in the Department of Telecommunications have said. -- PTI

In a major development, the United States House of Representatives on Thursday passed a resolution to formally proceed with the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

The resolution sets the stage for the next phase of investigation into a whistleblower's complaint which alleges that the US President attempted to pressure Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 presidential elections by investigating the family of his potential political rival, former vice president Joe Biden, CNN reported.

The vote, 232-196, was largely along party lines. 

No Republican supported the resolution, while Independent Justin Amash of Michigan, who left the Republican party earlier this year, voted in favour.

This was the first formal vote on the new impeachment process by the House of Representatives after Speaker Nancy Pelosi had backed the need for an inquiry against the US President last month. -- ANI

Condemning the "snooping" of Indian journalists and human right activists through WhatsApp, NCP leader Dhananjay Munde on Thursday wrote to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, seeking steps to stop such

spying activities.

He also demanded the guilty concerned be given strict punishment.

WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, on Thursday said Indian journalists and human rights activists were among those globally spied upon by unnamed entities using an Israeli spyware Peagasus.

In his letter, Munde drew the Governor's attention towards a media report about a certain spyware snooping during the Lok Sabha poll period between April 20 and May 10. The newly-elected MLA also mentioned about a matter in this connection pending before a US court.

"There is a possibility of government agencies being behind the snooping. It has come to the fore that in the past, too, government agencies spied upon in the personal lives of citizens. This is deplorable," he said in the letter,

according to a statement.

"Steps be taken to ensure such snooping is stopped. Strict punishment be given to the guilty concerned," the NCP leader added. -- PTI

A day after the Rajasthan high court quashed a case of illegal bovine transportation against lynching victim Pehlu Khan, his sons and a transporter, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday alleged that the former state BJP government and police intentionally registered the case against them.

   

He further alleged that this was done under a conspiracy to protect the real culprits.

 

"A person named Pehlu was killed in mob lynching and when it became an issue, the then (BJP) government and police administration, to save their skin, registered a counter case of illegal bovine transportation against Pehlu and his sons instead of an impartial probe," he said welcoming the court order.

 

Gehlot said there was an atmosphere of mob lynching in the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to say that it (lynching) was done by anti-social elements.

"Modi said this once only. If he, Amit Shah, RSS and the BJP repeat this again, then the mob lynching can be stopped because after (the case of) Pehlu Khan, mob lynching is still happening in the country," he said.

"A case was framed against Pehlu and his sons and a challan was submitted within 10 days after we came to power in December last year and no one got to know this because they already had the conspiracy and the challan was silently submitted in the court, which has now been quashed," he said.

In the Pehlu Khan lynching case, Gehlot said, the accused were acquitted because the investigation was done with an intention to save them. -- PTi

Parts of Maharashtra are expected to receive post-monsoon rains for another week, said an official of the Indian Meteorological Department on Thursday.

Thunderstorms accompanied with lightning are very likely to occur at isolated places over Vidarbha, Marathawada, Central Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Konkan and Goa, coastalAndhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalseema till November 7, he said.

Parts of Maharashtra have been recieving intermittent unseasonal rains since the last few days and this trend will continue till November 7, the official said.

Moderate rainfall is likely in Pune district in the next 48 hours, he said.

Gale winds with speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph are prevailing over Lakshadweep and west-central Arabian Sea, the official said.

The wind speed is likely to increase to 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph over north Lakshadweep and adjoining southeast and east-central Arabian Sea, he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night on a two-day visit during which she will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a host of bilateral issues, with nearly 20 agreements expected to be signed between the two countries.

 

Merkel was received at the airport by MoS Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh. 

She will be meeting with the Indian leadership, besides a business delegation during her visit.

She will be accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday morning and will pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat later in the day.

"Enriching the strategic texture of our relationship. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Delhi beginning her State visit to India during which she, along with PM @narendramodi will co-chair the 5th-IGC (Inter Governmental Consultations).This would be the 5th meeting between the leaders within a year," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. 

Merkel will co-chair the 5th IGC with Prime Minister Modi following which the two leaders will make press statements and a raft of agreements will be signed between the two sides.

She will call on President Ram Nath Kovind in the evening and will also hold a meeting with the prime minister at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence. -- PTI

The United Kingdom Parliament on Thursday suspended one of Britain's longest-serving Indian-origin MPs Keith Vaz for six months after he was found to have "expressed willingness" to purchase cocaine for male prostitutes.

MPs approved the suspension after the Parliament Standards Committee concluded in its report that the 62-year-old Goan-origin Labour Party MP for Leicester East had "disregarded" the law when he "expressed willingness" to purchase cocaine for male prostitutes.

In a strongly-worded report earlier this week, the Commons watchdog said there was "convincing evidence" that Vaz was "evasive or unhelpful" during an investigation into his conduct.

The Labour Party said it accepted the suspension recommendation, describing it as a "sad day for us". -- PTI  

Spiralling inflation and not the Kashmir issue is the biggest problem haunting the people of Pakistan, a survey conducted by Gallup International in all four provinces of the cash-strapped country has said.

   

The study, which was published by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan on Tuesday, said 53 per cent of respondents believe the country's economy, specifically increasing inflation, is the biggest problem facing the country.

 

Worries of inflation is followed by unemployment (23%), the Kashmir issue (8%), corruption (4%) and water crisis (4%), the survey has said.

 

The survey also mentions fears over political instability, power crisis, dengue outbreak among other issues.

 

Gallup Pakistan said the survey's sample comprised men and women from across the four provinces -- Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.

 

Pakistan's economy has struggled in the last few years.

 

In July, the International Monetary Fund had said Pakistan was facing "significant economic challenges" due to weak and unbalanced growth and that its economy is at a critical juncture where it needs an ambitious and bold set of reforms. -- PTI

Islamic State confirmed the death of its former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and said Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurashi is named as "new caliph."

In an audio statement by spokesman Abu Hamza al Qurashi published on IS social media accounts, the group also confirmed the death of former spokesman Abu Hassan Al-Muhajir.

The statement also contained threats against America, referred to United States President Donald Trump as a senile old man and warned that what's to come will be worse by comparison to the days of the group under Baghdadis leadership.

All central laws -- such as the anti-corruption act and provisions of the IPC -- will be applicable in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from Thursday, according to a notification issued by the Union home ministry.

 

Some of these laws were until now not applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, because of its special status under Article 370 and Article 35.

On Thursday, through a government notification, two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh came into existence, in line with the announcement on August 5 on the withdrawal of the special status of JK.

The government said in a notification that under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, "central laws, ordinance and rules which are applicable to the whole of India except the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir are to be made applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh."

It said certain laws applicable to the state like the Jammu and Kashmir Bovine Breeding (Regulation of Production, Sale of Bovine Semen and Artificial Insemination) Act, 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir Single Window (Industrial Investment and Business Facilitation) Act, 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act, 2018 and the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University Act, 2018 "shall continue to apply" to the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh until altered, repealed or amended by a competent legislature or other competent authority. -- PTI

Chief Minister of Puducherry V Narayanasamy, who has been at loggerheads with the Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on administrative issues, on Thursday said the Centre had posted a 'demon' here, as she has allegedly been impeding various welfare schemes.

Addressing a meeting of the ruling Congress party on the occasion of the 35th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in  Puducherry, the chief minister said, "We are putting in strenuous efforts to ameliorate the lot of the people through various welfare schemes."

       

But the Centre has posted a `demon` here and she has been hindering the implementation of the schemes, he said.

      

Narayanasamy claimed the consecutive win of the Congress or its alliance partner the DMK in the polls held either to Parliament or to the Legislative Assembly (in the bypolls) showed that people had reposed faith in the Congress government.

     

The chief minister took strong exception to allowing Members of European Parliament visit Jammu and Kashmir while denying and banning the visit by the political leaders from within the country.

     

"How can this irony be justified?" he asked and alleged that the NDA was only staging a drama by letting the European MPs visit the Kashmir valley. -- PTI

The Central Board of Direct Taxes on Thursday extended the deadline for filing of income tax returns to November 30 in the newly-created Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

 

The policy-making body for the Income Tax Department issued an order stating that "on consideration of reports of disturbances in internet facility in certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the CBDT...further extends the due date for filing of ITRs and tax audit reports to November 30 in respect of all categories of income tax assessees in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh..."

It said the ITRs filed by individual taxpayers, post the set deadline of August 31, will be considered valid till November 30.

Internet facilities have been clamped down in Jammu and Kashmir following the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 on August 5.

In the aftermath of the decision, Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated into UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh from Thursday. -- PTI 

Amid tussle with the Bharatiya Janata Party over government formulation in Maharashtra,  Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that he met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at his residence today.

"I met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at his residence today. I had come to wish him on the occasion of Diwali. We also discussed the politics in Maharashtra," Raut told ANI.

The Sena is locked in a tug-of-war with the ally BJP post-October 21 Maharashtra elections seeking equal sharing of the power.

The Sena has won 56 seats against the BJP's 105. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party has claimed that seven independents are supporting it.

On Thursday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray expressed disappointment' over chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's statement that the Bharatiya Janata Party had not promised `50:50' formula for power-sharing in Maharashtra, sources said.

In a study, two scholars from the Centre for Global Development examined new data and found further evidence that India's growth statistics may be worse than reported, and that IMF forecasts may have the same issues. 

"Several key indicators are not just slowing, but in absolute decline, including non-oil imports (-6.6 per cent in current dollars), non-oil exports (-1.6 percent in current dollars), and the index of production of capital and infrastructure goods (-3.5 per cent up to August 2019),' CGD scholars Julian Duggan and Justin Sandefur said. Other indicators show positive growth, but far below the 6 per cent benchmark that the World Bank and IMF project for the economy as a whole: the aggregate index of industrial production is up just 2.5 percent, the index of manufacturing output up just 2.1 percent, and receipts from the goods and services tax are up just 1.6 percent in real terms, they wrote. 

"Growth in toothpaste sales is slowing, car sales have declined for 11 consecutive months, and reports suggested declines in underwear sales," CGD scholars said. With trade volumes shrinking and indicators of real economic activity slowing to a crawl, it might be time for the IMF and World Bank to ask some harder questions, they said.

The government is committed to protecting fundamental rights of citizens and reports of breach of people's privacy are an attempt to malign India, home ministry officials said on Thursday in the wake of the WhatsApp snooping controversy.

 

The officials also said the government will take strict action against any intermediary responsible for breach of privacy of citizens.

"Some statements have appeared based on reports in media, regarding breach of privacy of Indian citizens on WhatsApp. These attempts to malign the government of India for the reported breach are completely misleading," an official said.

The official said the central government is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to privacy.

"It is clarified that the government of India operates strictly as per provisions of law and laid down protocols. There are adequate safeguards to ensure that no innocent citizen is harassed or his privacy breached," the official said. 

Facebook-owned WhatsApp on Thursday said Indian journalists and human rights activists were among those globally spied upon by unnamed entities using an Israeli spyware Peagasus. -- PTI 

The main runway of the Mumbai international airport will remain closed for eight hours everyday, except Sundays and select days, from November 4 to March 28, 2020 for carrying out re-carpeting work.

   

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is the country's second busiest aerodrome and has two runways.

 

The aerodrome operator -- GVK Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) -- on Thursday said the runway 'RWY 09/27' would be open for operations on Sundays as well as on select days, including Christmas and New Year.

 

The runway would also be open for operations throughout the day on January 15, February 19 and 21, March 10 and 25 on account of public holidays and festivals.

 

In a release, MIAL said that due to prolonged monsoon in Mumbai, the runway re-carpeting work has been postponed.

 

"As per the revised date, RWY 09/27 will not be available for aircraft operations from November 4, 2019 up to March 28, 2020, 6 days of the week, from Mondays to Saturdays between 09:30 hours IST to 17:30 hours IST, due to major rehabilitation and re-carpeting work.

 

"However, during the closure of RWY 09/27, RWY 14/32 will be available for aircraft operations," the release said.

 

Earlier, the repair work of the runway was to start from November 1. -- PTI 

A delegation of Shiv Sena leaders, including MLA Aditya Thackeray, on Thursday met Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

A Sena leader said the delegation sought prompt financial aid for farmers hit by untimely rains.

Others in the delegation included Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde, who was earlier in the day elected the party leader in the state legislature.

At the party meeting, Shinde's candidature was proposed by Aaditya Thackeray, whose name was also doing the rounds for the post.

The election was announced at the meeting of the newly-elected Sena MLAs at party office Sena Bhavan in Dadar area. -- PTI 

Emphasisng Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli's impact, former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer claimed that he saw selectors getting tea for Virat's wife and actor Anushka Sharma during a 2019 World Cup match in the UK.

The 82-year-old Farokh Engineer was highly disappointed with the current MSK Prasad-led selection committee, calling it a "Mickey Mouse selection committee" with no appropriate qualification for the job. 

"We have got a Mickey Mouse selection committee. Virat Kohli has a major impact (in the process) which is very good. But how are the selectors qualified? Between them, have they played about 10-12 Test matches," Engineer told The Times Of India.

"I didn't even know one of the selectors during the World Cup and I asked him who the hell he was, because he was wearing the India blazer and he said he was one of the selectors. All they were doing was getting Anushka Sharma (Kohli's wife) cups of tea," Engineer added.

However, Anushka has refuted Engineer's claim.

"The latest version of these ill intended lies is that I was being served tea by selectors at matches during the World Cup! I came to one game during the World Cup and sat in the family box and not the selectors box as reported but when has the truth mattered when it's about convenience," she said in a statement.

"If you want to have a comment on the selection committee and their qualifications please do so as it's your opinion but don't drag my name into it to substantiate your claim or sensationalise your opinion. I refuse to allow anyone from using my name in such conversations," she added.

Here's her full statement:-

I have always been of the opinion that maintaining silence on false & fabricated news and stories against one is the best way to deal with your detractors. This is how I have handled my career for 11 years now. I always saw dignity & truth embedded in the shadow of my silence. 

They say, say a lie so many times repeatedly that it starts to look like the truth and I am afraid this is what has been happening with me. My silence has made the lies spitted against me seem true but that ends today. 

I have stayed quiet through all the times I was blamed for the performance of my then boyfriend, now husband Virat and continue to take the blame for the most baseless things involving Indian cricket. I kept quiet then. My name has been used in fabricated stories claiming that I am part of close-door team meetings and influenced selection processes and I have kept silent. My name has been wrongfully used to say how I have been given preferential treatment or how I have overstayed my authorised time with my husband on foreign tours which if anyone really cared about finding facts from the board, would know that I have always and always followed protocol but yet, I kept quiet. 

My name was used for false stories to make it look like the board was being bothered for my tickets or security, etc when in reality I bought my own tickets for matches and flights and I still kept quiet. I was asked to stand in a group photo by the High Commissioner's wife despite my hesitation to be in it, and a huge issue was created over this blaming me for intentionally wanting to be part of it and the said event, even though i was invited for it. An official clarification was issued by the board on the same and I still kept quiet. And the latest version of these ill intended lies is that I was being served tea by selectors at matches during the World Cup! I came to one game during the World Cup and sat in the family box and not the selectors box as reported but when has the truth mattered when it's about convenience! If you want to have a comment on the selection committee and their qualifications please do so as it's your opinion but don't drag my name into it to substantiate your claim or sensationalise your opinion. I refuse to allow anyone from using my name in such conversations. 

It's not like this last piece of 'news' has upset me more and that's why I have decided to break my silence. They have all been as regressive and horrible and malicious and vicious. So, don't take this letter as my retort to this 'news' . Today, I have decided to speak up because someone's silence cannot be taken as their weakness. I am not and will not be a pawn to be used by anyone's thoughts or beliefs or agendas and next time you want to use my name to discredit someone or the board or even my husband, do it with facts and proof & leave me OUT of it I have led my life, built my own career with utmost dignity and I am not going to compromise that for anything. Maybe, it's hard for some to believe that. because, I am a self-made, independent woman who only happens to be the wife of a cricketer. 

... and for the record, I drink coffee. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Thailand from November 2-4 during which he will attend the ASEAN-India, East Asia and RCEP summits, the ministry of external affairs announced on Thursday.

 

Modi will be visiting Bangkok at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Secretary East Vijay Thakur Singh said at a media briefing.

He will attend the 16th ASEAN-India summit, 14th East Asia Summit and 3rd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit and related events, she said.

Negotiations for resolving outstanding issues on RCEP are going on in Bangkok, she said, adding the leaders will review the state of negotiations at the summit.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership bloc comprises 10 ASEAN group members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners -- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. -- PTI

Output of core infrastructure industries shrank by 5.2 per cent in September 2019 as seven of eight sectors witnessed negative growth, according to official data released on Thursday.

   

The eight core sectors had expanded by 4.3 per cent in September 2018.

 

Production of seven sectors of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, cement, steel, and electricity contracted in September.

 

Fertilizers production increased by 5.4 per cent in September 2019 over the year-ago month.

 

During the April-September period, the growth of core industries fell to 1.3 per cent against 5.5 per cent in the year-ago period. -- PTI 

A 68-year-old man who had an account with the scam-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank died in suburban Mulund, his relatives said on Thursday.

They, however, did not the blame the crisis at the bank for his death.

Keshumalbhai Hinduja is the sixth known PMC Bank depositor who died after restrictions were imposed on withdrawal of funds from the bank, leaving its depositors high and dry.

Hinduja, a resident of Mulund Colony, was admitted to a private hospital on Tuesday evening after he complained of chest pain, said a family member.

Hinduja, who ran a shop in the area, died due to cardiac arrest, he said.

"We don't want to blame the bank for the death, as it was by natural causes," he added.

The bank's depositors have been agitating, seeking that they be allowed to withdraw their money which is stuck due to an RBI-imposed cap. -- PTI

"It has also illegally acquired Indian territories from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the so-called China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963," a statement quoted Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar as saying. 

Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated on Thursday into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- in accordance with the government's August 5 announcement revoking the state's special status under Article 370. 

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media in Beijing on Thursday that "India unilaterally changed its domestic laws and administrative division challenging China's sovereignty."

"This is unlawful and void and this is not effective in any way and will not change the fact that the area is under Chinese actual control," he said. Reacting to China's statement, Kumar said China is well aware of India's consistent and clear position on this issue. "The matter of reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is entirely an internal affair of India," he said. -- PTI

Modi was addressing bureaucrats participating in the first-ever Common Foundation Course called 'Aarambh', being held at Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat. "This course, Aarambh, is nation-centric and future- centric. It will usher a paradigm shift in administration, whereby people stop working on silos.

"Instead, people work together and in a comprehensive manner," a tweet posted on Modi's official twitter handle - PMO India - quoted him as saying at the event. Modi said no bureaucratic posting should be seen as a punishment rather it should be treated as an opportunity. "The presence of silos and hierarchy doesn't help our system. Whoever we are, wherever we are, we have to work together for the nation," he added.

She said the changes will allow the Modi Government to appoint "submissive officials who don't mind serving at the pleasure of the state and who will not allow questions the government finds inconvenient to answer".

"To further erode and dilute its effectiveness, the Modi Government has passed amendments which diminish the office of the Information Commissioner in a manner that it leaves them at the mercy of very government it is required to hold accountable," Gandhi said.

She said one of the proudest achievements of the Congress-led UPA was the passage of the Right to Information Act of 2005 and the "historic legislation" gave birth to an institution that in the last 13 years has become a sentinel of democracy, transparency and accountability to the common man.

"It is no secret that the Modi Government has seen this remarkable institution as an obstacle to enforcing their majoritarian agenda without being held accountable to people. For the majority of their first term, several of the Information Commissioner offices remained vacant, including that of the Chief Information Commissioner (for ten months)," she said.

The broader NSE Nifty too advanced 33.35 points, or 0.28 per cent, to close at 11,877.45. Yes Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, soaring 24.03 per cent, after the lender said it had received a binding offer for USD 1.2 billion (approximately Rs 8,500 crore) funding from an overseas investor. 

SBI, Infosys, Tata Motors, Bharti Airtel, HCL Tech and HDFC too rallied up to 7.69 per cent. On the other hand, Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank, Tata Steel, M&M and ICICI Bank fell up to 2.09 per cent. -- PTI

However, BJP and Shiv Sena were not a part of the meeting.The NDA alliance partners met to lend support to BJP and made the decision under the leadership of RPI chief Ramdas Athawale. 

Notably, the candidates of these allies contested the polls on BJP ticket.After the meeting, Athawale, who was vocal about the demands of the allies, said that a resolution was passed to congratulate Devendra Fadnavis for being elected as the leader of BJP legislative party and NDA partners in Maharashtra supporting his name as for the chief ministerial post."

Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena alliance) has got a clear majority. Yesterday, Devendra Fadnavis was elected BJP legislative leader. We have decided to support his name for the chief minister as he is the only front runner for us. We want one chief minister who continues for the entire five-year term," RPI chief Ramdas Athawale told reporters. -- PTI

The ministry has written to WhatsApp seeking its response on the matter, a senior government official told PTI. On Thursday, Facebook-owned WhatsApp said Indian journalists and human rights activists were among those globally spied upon by unnamed entities using an Israeli sypware Peagasus. 

WhatsApp said it was suing NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance firm, that is reportedly behind the technology that helped unnamed entities' spies to hack into phones of roughly 1,400 users. These users span across four continents and included diplomats, political dissidents, journalists and senior government officials. However, it did not say on whose behest the phones of journalists and activists across the world were targeted. -- PTI

State Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat and former chief ministers Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan were among those who visited Pawar's residence, sources said. Pawar, 79, virtually spearheaded the poll campaign of the opposition alliance in the elections.

"The meeting was to discuss the strategy of the alliance partners (NCP and Congress) in view of the current political situation," sources said. Thorat, however, told reporters that leaders of the two parties discussed the damage caused by withdrawing monsoon rains to crops in various parts of the state. Though the BJP-Sena combine has won a clear majority in the Maharashtra assembly, the two parties haven't been able to form government with the Sena demanding equal sharing of the chief minister's post. -- PTI

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray put paid to reports that the party was softening its stance on power sharing in Maharashtra. Thackeray said there was no headway in talks with the BJP. 

Lashing out at Fadnavis, the BJP's legislative party chief and CM nominee, Thackeray said either he or Fadnavis was lying. This refers to Fadnavis' claims yesterday while being elected as the leader of BJP legislative party, that the the 'Mahayuti' was going to form its government soon in the state.

Thackeray said the Shiv Sena wanted what was decided, an indication that the party was refusing to budge from the 50:50 demand. 

Sena leaders Aditya Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, Diwakar Raote and Subhash Desai will be meeting Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari this evening. Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the meeting was scheduled for 6:15 pm. "We are meeting the Governor regarding the losses faced by farmers due to heavy rain in the state," he said.

The Sena mouthpiece Saamna lashed out at its ally saying the BJP was enacting the "second act" of the "use and throw" policy while dealing with the Sena. 

"Maharashtra chief minister in that press conference (held after the two parties sealed the alliance) had said all government posts would be equally shared," it said. "If the post of chief minister does not come under it, then we need to rewrite the syllabus of political science," the Sena said. 

The five labourers were shot dead by terrorists in Kulgam district of Kashmir on Tuesday. One labourer, also from Murshidabad, sustained severe injuries in the attack and was currently undergoing treatment at a Kolkata hospital. -- PTI

Asserting that Gandhi's frequent foreign visits were a matter of public interest as he was a public representative, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao claimed that the Congress leader had travelled abroad on 16 occasions in the last five years, which was more than the number of his visits to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, which used to be his Lok Sabha constituency.

Addressing a press conference at the party office in New Delhi, Rao said, "This is also one of the reasons the people of Amethi rejected him (Gandhi). Of the 16 visits (abroad), on nine occasions, the destination was not known. "Why was it not revealed? Was he involved in some secret operation?," he asked.

Gandhi lost the parliamentary polls held in April-May from Amethi, a stronghold of the Congress. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad in Kerala. Rao cited a letter written by the parliamentary affairs minister on July 3 to inform the members of Parliament about the norms for them. 

The minister had informed the members that they should, in advance, inform Parliament of their foreign visits, even if those were purely for private purposes, he said.

Rao claimed that the Lok Sabha secretariat had not received any information from Gandhi about his foreign visits. Taking a dig at the former Congress chief, Rao said the entire world came to India for meditation but he was travelling abroad frequently. 

Pointing out that foreign tours were an expensive affair, the BJP leader questioned who footed the bill for Gandhi's visits abroad, including for air tickets, staying in five-star hotels and other such expenses. -- PTI

The user, whose identity was yet to be ascertained by the police, had posted a tweet making derogatory comments and issuing a threat to "shoot", tagging Mhatre, corporator from suburban Dahisar, and Chaturvedi. 

When Mhatre saw the tweet, she approached the police. A case under IPC section 506 (criminal intimidation) was registered against the user, the police officer said. Chaturvedi, in a tweet, thanked Mhatre for helping file FIR against the "open death threat". PTI

Her attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party came on a day the government organised a series of events across the country to mark the birth anniversary of Patel, the first home minister of the country. "Sardar Patel was a stalwart of the Congress who was devoted to the ideology of the party," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. He was a close companion of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the country, and was strongly opposed to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP, the Congress general secretary said. "Today, seeing the BJP trying to adopt him and pay tributes to him gives a lot of happiness, because two things are clear from this action of the BJP: 1. It has no great freedom fighter of its own. Almost all of them were associated with the Congress. 2. Even enemies have to bow before great men like Sardar Patel one day," she added. PTI

The oath of office to Murmu, who will turn 60 next month, was administered by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Justice Gita Mittal at a simple function held at Raj Bhawan at the foothills of the Zaberwan range. The warrant of appointment of Murmu, a 1985 batch IAS officer from Gujarat, was read out by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam.  BJP leader Jugal Kishore and Rajya Sabha MP and PDP member Nazir Laway were among the over 250 guests present the function.

 

Presenting the report of the International Court of Justice to the 193-member General Assembly on Wednesday, Yusuf said in its judgement of July 17 the principal judicial organ of the United Nations "found that Pakistan had violated its obligations under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention and that appropriate remedies were due in this case.'

In a major victory for India, the ICJ had ruled that Pakistan must review the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer who was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" after a closed trial in April 2017. 

India had argued that consular access was being denied to its national in violation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The bench led by Yusuf had ordered an "effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav.' Yusuf elaborated on several aspects of the Court's ruling in Jadhav's case while presenting his report to the General Assembly. 

He said one of the issues that the Court had to examine was the question of whether the rights relating to consular access, set out in Article 36 of the Vienna Convention, were in any manner to be excluded in a situation where the individual concerned was suspected of carrying out acts of espionage.

"The Court noted in that regard that there is no provision in the Vienna Convention containing a reference to cases of espionage; nor does the Article concerning consular access, Article 36, exclude from its scope certain categories of persons, such as those suspected of espionage. Therefore, the Court concluded that Article 36 of the Vienna Convention was applicable in full to the case at hand,' he said.

Raut described reports in a section of media alluding to the 'softening of stand' by the Sena as hearsay. "The (reports that) Sena has softened (its stand), has compromised and relinquished equitable distribution of posts, are all rumours," he tweeted. "This is the public, which knows everything. Whatever will was decided (between BJP and Sena), will happen," he added. Raut also dismissed reports of possible split in Shiv Sena. "If anyone is floating rumours of 23 (of total 56) Sena MLAs maintaining a contact with the BJP, then they must have forgotten to mention Aaditya Thackerays name as one of those defectors. And why are they saying 23 MLAs only, why not say all 56," he said. 

Addressing a Press conference on Wednesday, Raut had given an indication of the Sena's apparent climbdown, saying it is necessary for the party to stay in the BJP-led alliance in the larger interest of Maharashtra, but without compromising on "respect". "Individuals are not important but state's interest is important. Decisions need to be taken in a calm manner and keeping in mind the state's interest," the Rajya Sabha member had said. PTI

WhatsApp said it was suing the NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance firm, that is reportedly behind the technology that helped unnamed entities' spies to hack into phones of roughly 1,400 users. These users span across four continents and included diplomats, political dissidents, journalists and senior government officials. However, it did not say on whose behest the phones of journalists and activists across the world were targeted.

Refusing to divulge identities or the exact number of those targeted in India, WhatsApp said it had in May stopped a highly sophisticated cyber attack that exploited its video calling system to send malware to its users. The mobile messaging giant said it had sent a special WhatsApp message to approximately 1,400 users that it has "reason to believe were impacted by this attack to directly inform them about what happened". 

While the messaging giant didn't disclose the details or the number of people affected in India, a WhatsApp spokesperson said: "Indian users were among those contacted by us this week". WhatsApp has over 1.5 billion users globally, of which India alone accounts for about 400 million.

The high court said Hyderabad-based gastroenterologist Nageshwara Redy be included in the board to give his opinion on Chidambaram's medical condition, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. 

Chidambaram has sought interim bail in the INX media money laundering case on medical grounds, saying his condition is deteriorating and he needs to be in a sterile environment.

Justice Suresh Kait said the board will sit today to discuss Chidambaram's medical condition and the report be placed before the court which will hear the matter on Friday. PTI

The data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry also showed retail price of onion ruling high at Rs 55/kg and tomato at Rs 53/kg in the national capital region.

The rates have remained high in the last one month even as the government has boosted supplies in the national capital through state-owned Mother Dairy's Safal outlets, cooperatives Nafed and NCCF. Safal through its 400-odd outlets is selling onion at Rs 23.90 per kg and tomato at Rs 55 per kg to provide relief to consumers from rising prices. The onion is being provided from the government's buffer stock. 

The price rise in these two perishable vegetables was due to supply disruption in the wake of heavy rains and floods in the main growing states like Maharasthra and Karnataka. With arrival of fresh kharif (summer) crop, a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official said the prices of these two commodities are expected to cool down in the coming days. -- PTI

After opening on a strong note, the 30-share index was trading 263.69 points, or 0.66 per cent, higher at 40,315.56 in morning session. The broader NSE Nifty too advanced 71.85 points, or 0.61 per cent, to 11,915.95. 

Top gainers in the Sensex pack included SBI, Infosys, Tata Motors, Yes Bank and Sun Pharma, rising up to 4.35 per cent. On the other hand, M&M, Tata Steel, TechM, PowerGrid and Axis Bank fell up to 1.09 per cent. According to experts, hopes that the government will cut long term capital gain tax, dividend distribution tax and the securities transaction tax enthused domestic investors. Massive foreign fund inflow too boosted investor sentiments, traders said. 

Foreign institutional investors purchased a whopping Rs 7,192.42 crore in the capital market, on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 185.87 crore, data available with stock exchange showed. -- PTI

The train, Tezgam, was on its way to Rawalpindi from Karachi when the fire broke out, destroying three of the train's carriages, including two economy class carriages and one business class carriage at Liaquatpur near Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab province.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said a gas stove blew up when some of the passengers were preparing breakfast on the speeding train in violation of rules. At least 46 people killed and several others injured in the fire, District Police Officer Rahim Yar Khan Ameer Taimoor Khan said. Most deaths occurred from people jumping off the train, he added.

"He (Dasgupta) passed away at his home in Kolkata at 6 am. He was suffering from lung cancer for quite some time. Due to his poor health, he had relinquished party posts though he continued to be a member of CPI national executive council," Banerjee said. Dasgupta, known for his oratory skills, was a veteran trade union leader of AITUC.

"Article 370 only gave separatism & terrorism to J&K. It was the only place in the country where Article 370 was present, where in last 3 decades, over 40,000 people got killed and several mothers lost their sons due to terrorism. Now this wall of Article 370 has been demolished."

However, rising crude oil prices capped the gains for the domestic unit, they added. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened on a firm footing at 70.77 but soon pared some gains to trade at 70.81, up 9 paise over its previous close. On Wednesday, the rupee had settled at 70.90 against the US dollar.  -- PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid tribute to her grandmother and former PM, Indira Gandhi, on her death anniversary today. 

Priyanka posted a picture on Twitter of Indira Gandhi hugging a young girl, with her back to the camera -- presumably Priyanka -- with the words: 

Om Asato Ma Sadgamaya,

Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya,

Mrityorma Amritam gamaya.

She tweeted, "This is the first shloka which our grandmorther had taught me and my brother. Often, she would spot us and recited the first lines and we had to finish the rest of the lines. 

Today the last line echoes in my heart." 

Rahul Gandhi also remembered his grandmother on her death anniversary. Gandhi, who is currently abroad, posted an emotional tribute to his grandmother on Twitter, saying that her principles continue to be the guiding force in his life.

"Today is the anniversary of my grandmother's martyrdom. Your iron resolve and fearless decisions will guide me at every step," Gandhi tweeted along with a photo of his grandmother.

As per the list issued by Shiv Sena's media and communication department, four independent MLAs, Manjula Gavit, Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Jaiswal and Narendra Bhondekar have extended their support to the party. Besides them, Bachchu Kadu and Rajkumar Patel of Prahar Janshkti Party and Shankarrao Gadakh of Krantikari Shetkari Party have also extended their support.

The list was released by Shiv Sena on a day when BJP legislators unanimously chose Devendra Fadnavis as their leader and BJP top brass is claiming that soon a government of 'Mahayuti' will be formed in Maharashtra with all allies including Shiv Sena.

Fadnavis on Wednesday said there should be no doubt that it will be a Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena) government in Maharashtra.Fadnavis was elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party on Wednesday here.During his speech at the legislative party meeting, Fadnavis said, "This mandate is surely for 'Mahayuti' (BJP-Shiv Sena alliance) as we sought votes for 'Mahayuti'. People also voted for it. So, there should be no doubt that it will be a 'Mahayuti' govt." -- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Statue of Unity on the occasion of his 144th birth anniversary.

'Tributes to the great Sardar Patel on his Jayanti. His contribution to our nation is monumental,' he tweeted earlier in the day.

In October last year, Modi had inaugurated 'Statue of Unity' on the occasion of Patel's 143rd birth anniversary.

He had announced to build the statue when he was Gujarat's Chief Minister.

Located on Sadhu-Bet Island, Gujarat, the 182-metre tall statue which occupies over 20,000 square meters is the tallest statue in the world.

Since 2014, October 31 is observed as National Unity Day and people from all walks of life participate in the Run for Unity.

In his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi had urged people to participate in large numbers in the 'Run for Unity'.

"Friends, as you know that October 31 every year since 2014 has been celebrated as 'National Unity Day'. This day imparts the message to protect the unity, integrity and security of our country at any cost. On October 31, this year too 'Run for Unity' is being organised like the previous years.

"'Run for Unity' is a symbol of unison, that the nation being united, is moving in one direction and collectively aims for- One goal! Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat," he said. -- ANI

Radha Krishna Mathur was on Thursday sworn-in as the first Lt Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh, which came into existence after bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir.

The oath of office was administered by chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir high court Geeta Mittal at a simple function held at Leh.   -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said Article 370 and Article 35A were the gateway of terrorism into Jammu and Kashmir which was closed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by abrogating them.

Shah also said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's unfullfilled dream of integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country was accomplished on August 5 when Article 370 and 35A were repealed.

"Article 370 and 35A were the gateway of terrorism in India. Prime Minister Modi has closed this gate by repealing them," he said while flagging off a run to commemorate the 144th birth anniversary of Patel in New Delhi.    -- PTI

JUST IN: Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta passes away at the age of 83 in Kolkata.

He was suffering from heart and kidney related ailments.   -- ANI

A United States service dog who was injured during the raid at the hideout of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northwestern Syria has returned to service, a top American general said.

The dog is a four-year veteran of the SOCOM Canine Program and has been a member of approximately 50 combat missions, US Central Command Commander General Kenneth McKenzie told reporters at a Pentagon news conference on Wednesday.

"He was injured by exposed live electrical cables in the tunnel after Baghdadi detonated his vest beneath the compound," the general said, adding the dog, whose name was not revealed, has returned to duty.

McKenzie said that US special operations command military working dogs are critical members of the US forces.

These animals protect US forces, save civilian lives, separate combatants from noncombatants, and immobilize individuals who express hostile intent, he said.

These special dogs are very good at scenting humans and going after them when they're not immediately obvious.

Baghdadi's safe house in northwest Syria was stormed on Sunday by special forces along with military working dogs and chased the world's most wanted terrorist leader as he tried to flee.

He was cornered in a tunnel beneath the building.  -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday flagged off a run to commemorate the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the national capital.

The 'Run for Unity', which began from the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, saw the participation of a large number of people, including sports personalities, sports enthusiasts and personnel of central police forces among others.

The 1.5-km run in Delhi takes place at the India Gate C-Hexagon-Shah Jahan Road radial. People wearing white T-shirts and bearing Patel's photo assembled at the national stadium and India Gate roundabout for the run.

The flag off also saw the presence of Union ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Hardeep Singh Puri, R K Singh, Kiren Rijiju, G Kishan Reddy, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal and home secretary Ajay K Bhalla on the dais with the home minister.

Shah also administered a unity pledge to the participants of the run.

Earlier, the home minister visited Patel's statue located at the the national capital's Patel Chowk and offered floral tributes.

The central government observes October 31 across the country as a day of special occasion to foster and reinforce the government's dedication to preserve and strengthen unity, integrity and security of the nation by celebrating it as a 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

Modi government has been observing Patel's birth anniversary as 'Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day since 2014. Patel was born on October 31, 1875 at Nadiad in Gujarat.

India's first home minister, Patel is credited for merger of over 560 states into the Union of India.

As part of celebrations, various programmes are being organised across the country, recalling Sardar Patel's contribution to unification of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending a special function being organised in Kevadia in Gujarat, where a giant statue of Patel is located.  -- PTI

The President's rule imposed in undivided Jammu and Kashmir was on Thursday revoked following bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

The two UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh come into existence on Thursday after the central government on August 5 decided to abrogate the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and create them on October 31.

'In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of article 356 of the Constitution, I, Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, hereby revoke the proclamation issued by me under the said article on the 19th December, 2018 in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir,' the official notification said.

Earlier, the central rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir in June 2017 after resignation of the then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti when the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew support to the People's Democratic Party led government.

The first central rule as 'Governor's rule' continued for six months. After six months, President's rule was imposed for next six months which was subsequently extended with the approval of Parliament.

Article 356 of the Constitution under which President's rule is imposed in a state, is not applicable in Union Territories. G C Murmu and R K Mathur will be sworn-in as first Lt Governors of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh respectively on Thursday.   -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party's national vice president Om Mathur on Wednesday said the tussle for chief minister's post in Maharashtra would settle in a couple of days. 

 

He said the NDA government in Maharashtra which was voted to power in the assembly elections will also complete its tenure of five years.

Mathur said no one has the ability to threaten the BJP and everyone should fulfil commitments made under the alliance.

"People have voted the NDA to power in Maharashtra and certainly the government will complete its five-year tenure. I believe the discussion over the chief minister's post, which is going on currently, would be settled in a day or two," Mathur told reporters. 

He stressed that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis must become the chief minister there for full five years.

He said that the party returned to power in Haryana also, which was a good sign that people retained faith in BJP.

On the victory of the BJP-RLP alliance candidate in assembly bypolls on Rajasthan's Khinwsar seat, one of the two seats where the bypolls were held recently, Mathur said it was a major win of the opposition alliance. -- PTI