Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would be flying in the indigenously-built light combat aircraft Tejas from the HAL airport in Bengaluru on Thursday, said a senior official on Tuesday.

  

He will be the first defence minister to fly in this aircraft.

Last Friday in Goa, Tejas had successfully carried out an "arrested landing", a key performance demonstrating its ability to land on board an aircraft carrier, making it a major milestone in development of the naval variant of the fighter jet.

The Indian Air Force has already inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft. The naval version of the LCA is in development stage.

"The minister will fly a sortie in the twin-seater version of Tejas on Thursday. He will be flying from HAL airport in Bengaluru," an official from the defence ministry said.

On Thursday, Singh would also be attending an exhibition of products of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in Bengaluru, he said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday stepped up her attack on the BJP government, saying it looks the other way when it comes to providing jobs or says North Indian youth don't have merit.

  

Her comments come in the backdrop of Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar statement that there was no dearth of employment opportunities in the country, but recruiters visiting north India complain of lack of "quality people" to fill vacancies 

"There are 2 lakh vacancies of teachers in Uttar Pradesh. The youth are finding new avenues for jobs. They are protesting under the sun and in the rains. 

"But when it comes to providing jobs, people in the BJP government look the other way or say that youth of north India do not possess adequate merit," she said in a tweet in Hindi. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife at the city airport before boarding her flight to New Delhi and they exchanged pleasantries.

Jashodaben was leaving the city after a two-day visit to Dhanbad in neighbouring Jharkhand, a source close to the chief minister said.

"It was a chance meeting and they exchanged greetings. 

The chief minister also gifted her a sari," the source said.

Banerjee is scheduled to meet the prime minister on Wednesday in New Delhi, during which she would highlight various issues like funds that are due to the state.

Jashodaben had on Monday offered puja at Kalyaneswari temple at Asansol in Paschim Barddhaman district of West Bengal. Asansol is around 68 kilometres from Dhanbad.

Two-wheelers and vehicles driven by women may be exempted from the odd-even road rationing scheme which will be implemented in the national capital from November 4 to 15, sources said on Tuesday.

  

However, the final decision on exemptions are yet to be taken by the Delhi government.

Sources said that most of exemptions, which had been given in the previous two editions of odd-even scheme in January and April in 2016, may remain the same.

On September 13, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that the third edition of the road rationing scheme would be implemented from November 4 to November 15 as part of measures to combat high-level air pollution caused due to stubble burning in neighbouring states during winters.

"Exemptions given in the previous two experiments are likely to remain the same in the next phase of odd-even scheme. Two-wheeler and women commuters may be exempted from the rule," sources said.

Earlier, a fine of Rs 2,000 had been imposed on the violators of the rule.

During the scheduled 12-day scheme, vehicles will ply alternately on odd and even dates as per their registration numbers. 

While announcing the move last week, Kejriwal had said the details of the scheme will be shared with people in coming days.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday handed over a 12th century Buddha statue, which was stolen 57 years back and finally traced at an auction in the UK, to Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel.

  

The 12th century bronze statute of Buddha seated in the Bhumipasara mudra was amongst the 19 bronze images/statues stolen from the Archaeological Survey of India's Nalanda site museum in August 1961.

After a gap of nearly 57 years, in early 2018, the image was spotted by Art enthusiasts at an auction organised by a London based dealer, an official statement said.

On receipt of the information, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence through its attache posted in High Commission of India, London, UK took up the matter with the ASI, UK Customs and London Metropolitan Police, it said.

"The ASI confirmed the findings and provided documentary evidence including FIR filed in 1961. International Council of Museums (ICOM) also inspected the image and confirmed that it is the same as the one stolen from Nalanda in 1961," it said.

The police investigations revealed that the statue changed hands several times before eventually being consigned to a London dealer for sale, it said. 

"Once it was confirmed that the Buddha statue was the same as that stolen from India, both the dealer and the consignor co-operated with the police and decided to return the sculpture to India. UK's Cultural Department was contacted to facilitate the same through the Metropolitan Police Art and Antiques Unit," it said.

The India Pride Project, an online volunteer group of art enthusiast, played an active role in identification of the idol and the statue was restituted to India, it said.

Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha reached the Srinagar airport on Tuesday but was not allowed to enter the city which is under communication clampdown and restrictions, and he had to return to Delhi by the last flight.

Sinha arrived at the Srinagar airport along with Air Marshal Kapil Kak (retd) and social activist Sushoba Bhave this afternoon.

Surprised on seeing Sinha deboarding a flight from Delhi, airport officials and the police immediately escorted him to the VIP lounge as there was no information about whether to allow him to entre the city.

The 81-year-old Sinha was politely asked to return as he was not allowed to enter the city which has been witnessing restrictions and clampdown on communication network since August 5, the day when the Centre abrogated the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

Sinha argued with the officials to show him the order under which he was not allowed to enter the city, the officials said.

He was reluctant even to board a return flight and conveyed to the state officials that he would stay put at the airport until he was allowed to enter the city, the officials said.

State administration and police officials finally managed to persuade his accompanying team members, following which Sinha was put on the last flight and sent to Delhi. The other two members moved into the city.

On his 69th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared several of his old photographs on Twitter, and has asked people to share their memories with him on his website.

"Reliving precious moments and special memories," he said, adding that he has been receiving old photos from his friends.

"I have been receiving many old photos from various friends. I am sharing few such photos with a request- if you have such memories, kindly share them with me," he added.

PM Modi also shared a link where people can upload their memories with him.

The Indian Space Research Organisation has tweeted a thank you for all the support that has been showered on the agency since it lost contact with the Chandrayaan-2 lander during its descent on to the lunar surface.

"Thank you for standing by us. We will continue to keep going forward - propelled by the hopes and dreams of Indians across the world!" the Indian Space Research Organisation tweeted, long with a graphic of an imposing looking Moon.

The graphic also has the silhouette of a man jumping between across a cliff and the words, "Thank you for inspiring us to always aim for the sky".

The tweet comes 10 days after ISRO lost contact with the Vikram lander during its attempt to land on the Moon. Contact with Vikram was lost moments before it was to land near the south pole of the Moon.

The united front of Left student groups AISA, SFI, AISF, DSF won all the four central panel posts in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union polls, the election committee announced on Tuesday.

  

The grouping's presidential candidate Aishe Ghosh defeated Manish Jangid of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad by bagging 2,313 votes. Jangid got 1,128 votes. 

Saket Moon was elected JNUSU vice president and bagged 3,365 votes. Moon defeated ABVP's Shruti Agnihotri, who got 1,335 votes. 

Satish Chandra Yadav was elected general secretary. He polled 2,518 votes to defeat Sabareesh PA, who got 1355 votes. 

Md Danish was elected joint secretary with 3,295 votes and he defeated Sumanta Kumar Sahu. 

The results were announced after the Delhi high court directed the election committee to do so. The court had restricted the varsity from notifying the results.

The voter turnout JNUSU election held on Friday was 67.9 per cent, believed to be the highest in seven years. Over 5,700 students cast their votes.

Former Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Tuesday failed to get relief from the Barasat District and Sessions Court on his anticipatory bail plea in the Saradha chitfund case.

 

Barasat Sessions judge S Rashidi said it has no jurisdiction in the matter as the multi-crore chitfund scam case was registered at Alipore district court.

 

While the Barasat court is in North 24 Parganas district, the Alipore court is in adjacent South 24 Parganas district.

 

Kumar had moved the Barasat court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a CBI notice served on him to appear before it for assisting it in the case.

Addressing a press conference with CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, the former member of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly said that whatever is happening in Kashmir is not in the interest of the country. 

"We, Abdullah and others are not terrorists. It is such a horrible time. I am very disturbed," he said. Tarigami said he was under house arrest since August 5, when the Centre announced abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcation of the state into Union territories. He was brought to the AIIMS in Delhi for treatment on the direction of the Supreme Court after it allowed Yechury to meet him in Srinagar and submit a report on his health condition. 

Tarigami slammed the government over scrapping of special status to Jammu and Kashmir and contested its claim of normalcy returning to the Valley. 

"It has been 40 days of restrictions but the government claims there is normalcy. Do this in Delhi or any other city and see what is the situation of business, hospitals, schools and media. 

"How can they say that everything is under control? They are claiming that no one has been killed. I say people are dying, there is suffocation in the state," Tarigami said. 

Alleging that the "very foundation of the unity of India with Kashmir is under assault", he said, "Listen to our version, the version of the people of Kashmir. We all want to live peacefully. I am not a foreigner." 

People of Jammu and Kashmir had decided to remain with secular India, Tarigami said. "Today Kashmiri politicians are in jail... people sitting across the border are clapping that you have done what we could not," he said and hit out at the government for detaining NC leader Abdullah. 

"What is happening in Kashmir is not in the interest of the country. Now Kashmiri people do not have much expectations with today's regime," he said. Tarigami said militancy can be tackled with the help of people but the government's policy is not helping in building trust. "I want to ask, can you build trust among people by beating them, putting them in jails, suspending internet and telephone lines, crippling the daily life? Isn't it playing into the hands of the enemies of this country? he asked. -- PTI

This came after the Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation gave assent to MMRCL to cut down over 2,700 trees from Aarey colony in order to build a car shed for the Metro.

The colony, spread over 13,000 hectares, is home to over 27 Adivasi villages and inhabits various animal species.

A bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dongre passed was hearing a joint petition filed environmental activist Zoru Bathena, resident of the Aarey region and other activists.

The court also said that they are planning to personally visit the area to see what the issue is and slated the matter for September 30 for hearing. -- ANI

She gets promptly corrected and told off that Mahatma Gandhi is called the Father of Nation and nobody else. 

Talking to reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for the national capital, Banerjee said she would also raise matters like changing name of West Bengal as well merger of public sector banks during the meeting. 

Amid hype surrounding the one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, not on good terms since recent general election, Banerjee said her visit to the national capital was part of the "routine work". 

According to sources in the state secretariat, Nabanna, the CM and PM's meeting is scheduled at 4:30 pm on Wednesday. 

"I go to New Delhi very rarely. I do not go anywhere because I am having some responsibilities here. We have to go to New Delhi for some administrative reasons because it is the capital, the Parliament is there, the President, Prime Minister all stay there that's is at times we need to go there. This is a routine work," the TMC supremo said. "This time I am going to talk about funds that are due to West Bengal. I will also highlight issues like change of West Bengal's name. "Will also talk about matters like merger of public sector banks, issues with Air India, BSNL, Railways where there are several problems. They (employees of these organisations) cannot go anywhere and come to us," Banerjee said before leaving for New Delhi. -- ANI

State Disaster Management Authority found 17 new bodies today and said that 21 are yet to be traced.

The SDMA release said that 26 people have survived the incident.On Sunday, a tourist boat carrying 61 people on board capsized in the Godavari river. It is believed that the accident took place due to overloading of the boat.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia for the bereaved families. He had also directed National Disaster Response Force, Navy and ONGC helicopters to carry out the rescue operations on war-footing. -- ANI

EAM S Jaishankar on the Kulbhushan Jadhav issue: Our objective was to seek access to him, to ascertain his well-being. Seeking access to him was one step in eventually providing that remedy which ICJ has mandated and finally finding a solution which would bring an innocent person back to his country. We had to look at a variety of factors and see what's the importance you put at this time to ascertaining his well being. We thought ascertaining his well-being is a priority issue at this point and we wanted to begin proceedings however unsatisfactory they may be. Whether the Pakistanis carried out in letter and spirit what the International Court of Justice wanted them to do, I think is obvious to all.

Regarding minorities in Pakistan: "This isn't a new thing. Here's a country which is waxing eloquent about other nations. Look at their treatment of minorities, I think minority numbers have come down dramatically in the last 70 years to a point where they don't even put it out publicly anymore.

"What is happening now in Sindh (Pakistan) is not the only thing which has happened in last 100 days. You also had cases of abduction of Sikh girls. I think if there is a human rights audit today in this part of the world I can pretty confidently assert who'll come last in it."

EAM S Jaishankar on the Kulbhushan Jadhav issue: Our objective was to seek access to him, to ascertain his well-being. Seeking access to him was one step in eventually providing that remedy which ICJ has mandated and finally finding a solution which would bring an innocent person back to his country. We had to look at a variety of factors and see what's the importance you put at this time to ascertaining his well being. We thought ascertaining his well-being is a priority issue at this point and we wanted to begin proceedings however unsatisfactory they may be. Whether the Pakistanis carried out in letter and spirit what the International Court of Justice wanted them to do, I think is obvious to all.

Regarding minorities in Pakistan: "This isn't a new thing. Here's a country which is waxing eloquent about other nations. Look at their treatment of minorities, I think minority numbers have come down dramatically in the last 70 years to a point where they don't even put it out publicly anymore.

"What is happening now in Sindh (Pakistan) is not the only thing which has happened in last 100 days. You also had cases of abduction of Sikh girls. I think if there is a human rights audit today in this part of the world I can pretty confidently assert who'll come last in it."

Addressing a press conference to mark the first 100 days of the BJP-led government at the Centre in its second tenure, Jaishankar said that there is a stronger link now between domestic and foreign policy. He said the country was leveraging global practices and partnerships to foster development and there were more technology and project-based outcomes. "Collaborations have become a more salient part of foreign policy," he said and referred to North America, Europe, Northeast Asia, ASEAN, and the Gulf as among areas of active engagement. 

With regard to Pakistan, Jaishankar said, "The issue is not Article 370 but Pakistans terrorists. We must make the world realise. I always ask other people show me anywhere else in the world where any country conducts terrorism openly against its neighbor as part of what it considers its foreign policy.  I meet the Pakistani Foreign Minister on the sidelines of UNGA."

After nosediving 704 points, the 30-share index ended 642.22 points, or 1.73 per cent, lower at 36,481.09. The broader NSE Nifty too settled 185.90 points, or 1.69 per cent, down at 10,817.60.  

On the Sensex chart, losses were mainly driven by Hero MotoCorp, Tata Motors, Axis Bank, Tata Steel, Maruti and SBI -- falling as much as 6.19 per cent. Of the 30 scrips of the BSE gauge, HUL, Asian Paints and Infosys were the three gainers.

Investors were spooked by geopolitical uncertainties over the Saudi oil turmoil amid reports that higher oil prices were likely to severely hit economic conditions in India, which imports more than 70 per cent of its oil needs, experts said. 

The attack on the world's largest oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia has led to a record surge in global crude prices. After soaring as much as 20 per cent to USD 71.95 per barrel on Monday, Brent crude futures corrected slightly to trade at USD 67.97 per barrel on Tuesday. Higher import cost of oil could sharply worsen current account position, compress profit margins and raise inflation, a Nomura report said. -- PTI

Pictures showed the PM having lunch at a table with his mother. Lunch -- that seemed like rotis or rotlas with dal, vegetables and salad -- was served in gleaming copper-lined stainless steel crockery. 

TV visuals showed the PM paying obeisance with folded hands to his mother, who was seen blessing her son. Modi was to meet his mother early on Tuesday before the Sardar Sarovar event but there was a change in the schedule. -- PTI

Mayawati took to Twitter to post "Congress party in Rajasthan has once again proved that it is irresponsible and cheat party by breaking all the six BSP MLAs."

"This is a betrayal with the BSP movement and it is done when the BSP was supporting Congress in Rajasthan from outside," she said.

In another tweet, Mayawati said that instead of fighting its bitter opponents, Congress always hurts those which provide it support and cooperation. "Congress is a party which is against people belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Castes (OBC) and has never been serious and honest in matters of providing Reservation to these castes," she said.

The BSP chief in another tweet accused Congress of remaining in opposition to the ideals of Humanity propounded by Babasaheb Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar. She added, "It is because of this reason that Ambedkar had to resign from the post of the country's first Law Minister. The Congress never let him get elected in the Lok Sabha nor gave him Bharat Ratna. It is very disheartening and shameful."In a big jolt to BSP, all six members of Rajasthan Assembly belonging to Bahujan Samaj Party joined Congress on late Monday night. -- ANI

All pending matters related to this case will be handled over to Special Judge Kuhar from October 1, since judge Saini is getting retired at the end of September. 

"Chief Justice and Judges of this Court (high court) have been pleased to order that cases pertaining to 2G Spectrum scam pending in the Court of Mr O P Saini, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (PC Act)(CBl), Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, New Delhi be transferred and allocated to the Court of Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI)-09, Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, New Delhi presently presided over by Mr A K Kuhar with effect from October, 1, 2019 which shall be the designated Court to undertake the trial of the said 2G Spectrum Cases in addition to matters already pending before the Court of Mr A K Kuhar," the order issued by the high court said. Judge Kuhar is currently presiding over the special court to try lawmakers in the national capital including Congress leader D K Shivkumar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his family members, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his family members, among others. 

The Supreme Court had appointed Judge Saini to try all cases pertaining to the alleged 2G spectrum allocation scam on a day-to-day basis. -- PTI

"The country is realising Sardar's dream of Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat (One India, Great India). Today, the country is trying to complete the tasks which were left incomplete during Independence and years afterwards.

"People of Jammu and Kashmir had to face discrimination for 70 years. The entire nation suffered in the form of ill effects and violence, unfulfilled hopes and aspirations. The country has taken an important decision with the inspiration of Sardar Saheb," he said while addressing a public meeting at the site of Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Modi said the decision has been taken to follow a new path to solve the decades-long problem.

"I am confident that with the active support of millions of colleagues from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Kargil, we will be able to create a new stream of development and trust. I am fully committed to the unity and greatness of India. We have strengthened this commitment in the last 100 days," he added.

In August, Parliament had scrapped Article 370 which gave special rights to Jammu and Kashmir and also bifurcated the state into two Union Territories- Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Recalling the contribution of India's first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabh Patel, the Prime Minister said had if Sardar was not there, the map of India would be different today and the problems of India would have been much more.

"This day is the golden page of Sardar Saheb and his efforts for the unity of India. Today is also Hyderabad Liberation Day. In 1948, Hyderabad was merged with India and today Hyderabad is contributing strongly in the progress and progress of the country," he said. -- ANI

Naik, a 53-year-old radical television preacher, left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to the largely Muslim Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency. Mahathir said that Modi, whom he met in Russia during an economic forum earlier this month, made no extradition request for the controversial Islamic televangelist despite official notice from New Delhi. 

Briefing reporters on Prime Minister's bilateral meeting with Mahathir, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had said that Modi raised the issue of Naik's extradition with the Malaysian premier. 

"Not many countries want him. I met with Modi. He didn't ask me for this man," Mahathir told Malaysian radio station BFM 89.9 when asked about Naik's extradition. He also said that Malaysia was looking for a place to send Zakir who has made racially sensitive comments against Hindu and Chinese Malaysians recently. The prime minister then reaffirmed that Zakir will no longer be allowed to publicly speak in Malaysia following his racially divisive remarks. "Well, he's not a national of this country. He has been given, I think by the previous government, permanent residence status. A permanent resident isn't supposed to make any comments on this country's systems and politics. He has breached that. He is now not allowed to speak. "We are trying to find some place he can go to but at the moment, no one wants to accept him (Naik)," he said. 

 Naik is wanted by Indian authorities since 2016 for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches. He has been banned from from any public activities in the multi-ethnic country after his remarks against Malaysian Hindus and Chinese on August 8. -- PTI

"Continuous efforts are on to double the income of every farming family of the country including Gujarat by 2022. After the formation of the new government, several steps have been taken in this direction in the last 100 days. Farmers are getting benefits of PM Kisan scheme benefits. Pension scheme for farmers and small traders was also started," he said while addressing a public meeting in Kevadia. 

The National Pension Scheme for the traders and the self-employed aims at providing a minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 to small traders and self-employed after attaining the age of 60 years. Around three crore small traders are expected to benefit from the scheme.

The Prime Minister, who was in Gujarat on his 69th birthday, said that the scope of tap water has also increased by nearly three times in the last two decades in the state.

"In 2001, only 26 per cent people of Gujarat used to get tap water. Today, 78 per cent houses of Gujarat get water due to schemes by the Gujarat government. Now we have to achieve 'Har Ghar Jal' water for every house across the country. Villages and cities of Gujarat are being connected to the water network," he said.

Modi said that increased irrigation facilities in Gujarat have benefitted benefits farmers in the state.

"Earlier, farmers used to grow traditional crops only. But after the irrigation facility was started, the production of cash crops started and the inclination towards horticulture also increased. The income of many farming families has increased due to this change," he said.

PM Modi, who served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for 13 years from 2001, said that almost double the land has been brought under irrigation in the state in the last 17 years.

"In 2000 summer, special trains were deployed to provide water in Rajkot Surendranagar and Jamnagar. When we remember those days then we see how much Gujarat has developed today. When you gave me the responsibility here, we had a double challenge," he said.

"For irrigation, for drinking, for electricity, the work of the dam was to be speeded up, on the other hand, the Narmada canal network and also the alternative irrigation system should be increased. But the people of Gujarat did not lose heart and today a wide network of irrigation schemes has emerged in Gujarat. In the last 17-18 years, almost double the land has been brought under irrigation," the Prime Minister said.

Modi said that the scope of micro-irrigation was only 14 thousand hectares in the year 2001 and only 8 thousand farmer families were getting its benefits. -- PTI

Image: The Prime Minister at the Control Room of the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

"Seventy years after Independence, people of the nation had doubts in their mind if the multi-party parliamentary democratic system had failed. Will it be able to meet our goals? They were disappointed," he said at an event in New Delhi.

The BJP chief said that the constitution-makers had adopted multi-party democratic system after studying various democracies across the world with an aim to further the national progress so that people get equal rights and prosper.

Taking a dig at the erstwhile Congress government, he said that during their tenure, there used to be news of corruption every day, borders were insecure, soldiers were beheaded, women felt unsafe and people protested on the roads every day.

"The government was politically paralysed. No decisions were taken," he said, adding that the government was such that every minister considered himself as Prime Minister but did not look at the actual Prime Minister as one.

Shah said that unlike the erstwhile government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government never took any decision for "vote bank" but rather for the benefit of the people.

"Some governments work for 30 years and take one big decision, but our government worked for five years and took over 50 major decisions, including GST, demonetisation, airstrikes, etc. No one else dared take it during their tenure," said the Union Minister. -- ANI

The PM speaking on the Sardar Sarovar project said it catered to the needs of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. "In our culture it is believed that development can be done while protecting the environment, and it is evident here. Nature is dear to us, it is our jewel," he said. 

The 133-year-old Statue of Liberty gets 10,000 visitors  per day but 8,500 people visit 11-month-old Statue of Unity daily, he added. 

The Prime Minister lauded the vision of Sardar Patel, adding the BJP-led government's decision last month on Jammu and Kashmir was an inspiration from the former home minister of India. The Union government's decision on Kashmir is inspired by Sardar Patel and is an attempt to find solution to adecades-old problem, Modi said at at the public rally.

The BJP, however, said the Sena needs to look at things practically in view of the Amit Shah-led party's vote share going up in the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year. 

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the Sena is ready for a 135 seats each formula with the BJP, while leaving 18 seats for their allies. But, the BJP no longer seems willing to accept it. 

"The BJP is not willing to give more than 120 seats to the Sena and we don't approve of it. Before the announcement of alliance in February this year, Uddhavji and BJP president Amit Shah agreed to contest equal number of seats in the Assembly polls," a senior Sena leader said. However, a BJP leader pointed out that as compared to the 2014 polls, the party's vote share increased in the Lok Sabha elections this year. 

"It is a fact that our leader (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi's image has helped some of the 18 Sena Lok Sabha members to retain their seats. Hence, we expect to contest more seats than the Sena, and it is based on the (latest) trends," he said. With the BJP seemingly firm on contesting more seats, the Sena has been trying to put it in the dock by opposing the proposed tree felling in Aarey Colony here to make way for a Metro car shed. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Kevadia, Gujarat on his birthday:

'Sardar Sarovar project catering to needs of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In our culture it is believed that development can be done while protecting the environment, and it is evident here. Nature is dear to us, it is our jewel," he said.

The PM said he thanks and salutes lakhs of people who worked to make Sardar Sarovar project a success.

Modi said focus on 'per drop more crop'; adds 19 lakh hectare land in Gujarat now under micro irrigation.   -- PTI/ANI

The Congress on Tuesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh over the incident of a 20-year-old Dalit man allegedly burnt alive, saying the social fabric of the state is being attacked to achieve political objectives.

The Dalit man was allegedly burnt alive in Hardoi district over his relationship with a woman from another caste, a killing that his relatives said also led to his mother's death.

"Under the BJP rule, another Dalit has been burnt alive -- inhuman and shameful," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

'In order to achieve political objectives in Uttar Pradesh, the social fabric is being attacked,' he said in a tweet in Hindi.

The political advantage-seeking ruling dispensation is silent, he alleged.

"In UP, neither women are safe, nor Dalits and backwards classes," the Congress leader claimed.  -- PTI

On a visit to his home state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turned 69 on Tuesday, offered prayers to goddess Narmada at the Sardar Sarovar dam.

Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Modi offered prayers as part of the state government's Namami Devi Narmade Mahotsav celebrations being held to mark the dam receiving water to its full capacity.

Modi also visited the Butterfly Garden in Kevadiya andnamed the saffron coloured plain tiger butterfly as the state butterfly.

Modi began the day with a visit to the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada.   -- PTI

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his sixty-ninth birthday.

'Congress president Smt Sonia Gandhi has extended her greetings to Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on his Birthday.

'She wished him a healthy, happy and long life,' read a statement from the party.   -- ANI

Supreme Court judge Justice M M Shantanagoudar on Tuesday recused himself from hearing petitions filed by 17 disqualified MLAs of Karnataka challenging the decision of the then Speaker to disqualify them from the Assembly.

"In this matter, I am not participating" Justice Shantanagoudar, who was part of a three-judge bench headed by Justice N V Ramana, said at the outset.

The bench has now posted the matter for hearing on September 23.       

The then Assembly speaker, K R Ramesh Kumar, had disqualified 17 MLAs which eventually led to the fall of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government headed by then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Kumaraswamy had resigned as the chief minister after losing the trust vote which paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Karnataka under incumbent Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.  -- PTI

Social activist Tamanna Hashmi filed the petition on Monday before the court of chief judicial magistrate Surya Kant Tiwari in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. 

In the petition, Hashmi has accused the minister of state for labour and employment of "insulting" the people of north India by the statement. 

The social activist has filed the petition under sections 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 195 (fabricating false evidence), 295 (insult the religion of any class) and 405 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. 

 It is likely to be taken up for hearing on September 25. 

Gangwar, who made the controversial remark in Bareilly on Saturday -- his Lok Sabha constituency -- later clarified he was only stressing on the lack of requisite skills among the youth. And to address it, the government has set up the skill development ministry, he added.

An unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) belonging to the Defence Research and Development Organisation crashed during a trial in an agriculture field in Chitradurga district on Tuesday, a video of which has gone viral.

However, no casualties were reported.

The incident created quite a scare at Jodi Chillenahalli village as a loud noise was heard after the drone crashed.

Soon, large number of people gathered at the spot.

Confirming the incident, Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Arun K told PTI that the UAV crashed in the arecanut farm this morning, but no one was injured.

Videos of the broken UAV went viral on the social media.

According to state government officials, the testing of aerial vehicle called 'Rustom-2' was in progress when the incident occurred.

When contacted, a DRDO official declined to comment on it.   -- PTI

"Warm birthday wishes to the Prime Minister Mr. @narendramodi ji, the country's most popular leader, a symbol of strong will, decisive leadership and tireless hard work. A new India emerging under your leadership has made a mark in the world as a strong, secure and trustworthy nation," Shah tweeted.

Shah went on to say that along with development, Prime Minister Modi has given an unprecedented contribution in further enriching Indian culture.He said that as a reformist, the Prime Minister not only gave a new direction to politics but also made everyone proud by finding a permanent solution to the problems that have been going on for decades along with economic reforms.

"To make the life of every Indian easy, your hard work and determination is an inspiration for us. It is a privilege to be a partner with you in national building as a public representative, a worker and a countryman. I pray to God for your healthy and long life," Amit Shah said in another post.

Union Minister Smriti Irani also took to the micro-blogging site and called the Prime Minister a reputed, energetic and strong personality. -- ANI

Earlier in the day, Modi arrived at Kevadiya to take part in the 'Namami Narmada' festival being celebrated by the Gujarat government to mark the filling up of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river to its full reservoir level of 138.68 m. The Statue of Unity, billed as the tallest in the world, was inaugurated by Modi on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary on October 31 last year. -- PTI

Image: PM Modi offers prayers at the Sardar Sarovar dam

Abdullah has now been detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), which enables authorities to detain any individual for two years without trial. 

The 81-year-old patron of the National Conference has been under house arrest since August 5 when the Centre announced abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into Union territories. 

"Now PSA (43 days later).Earlier BJP said 92% of people in J&K welcome dilution of Article 370; that normalcy prevails. Then Amit Shah in Parliament: Farooq Abdullah neither detained nor arrested," Sibal said in a tweet. 

"If no danger to public safety then, why now? Because Vaiko filed petition?" he said. The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to respond to Vaiko's plea seeking that the former J&K chief minister be produced before the court. 

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer issued notice to the Centre and the state, and fixed Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko's plea for hearing on September 30. -- PTI

National Conference (NC) president and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah, will be confined to a single room in his multi-storey house located on Srinagars high-profile Gupkar Road, hours after Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, approved his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Senior officials in the government told The Hindu that the government had decided to designate the residence of the three-time chief minister as a subsidiary jail to implement the jail manual and provide all the rights of a prisoner, which include access to legal aid.

With the PSA slapped on Dr. Abdullah to formalise his arrest after 43 days of house detention, the police also started a process to seal all other rooms in his residence and evict the family cook, who had been with him during his house detention. Only one room, with a bathroom, will be spared for Dr. Abdullah and his meetings with anyone from outside will be restricted and only those with a legal order will be allowed.

The controversial Act, which was termed as a lawless law by the rights group Amnesty International India, was introduced by Dr. Abdullahs father Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah in 1975 to contain rampant timber smuggling in the State. Of late, it was slapped on most senior separatist leaders and protesters to detain them for a prolonged period. A person booked under the PSA can be held without a trial for three months.

The Acts provisions were amended on several occasions by the NC government in the past. NC vice president Omar Abdullah, in his public speeches earlier this year, had promised to repeal the PSA in case his party came to power.

All lanes leading to Gupkar Road were sealed for vehicular movement on Monday. The house of Dr. Abdullahs daughter Safiya Khan, who lives next to her father, was conspicuous with a black flag hoisted in protest atop the gate and the NC flag at the houses entrance.

Hinna Abdullah, another daughter, appealed to the government to allow Ms. Khan to visit him for providing medication. Please do not believe any reports about Dr. Abdullah being allowed to have visitors, she said in a statement. Even my sister, who lives next door, is not able to see him. And she is the one who helps him with all his daily medication needs. He is 83 years old. At least allow his daughter to see him, Ms. Abdullah urged.

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"Heartfelt birthday wishes to our Prime Minister @narendramodi. Your leadership in building a #NewIndia has been an inspiration to all of us. Pray for your long and healthy life as we all work together towards achieving this vision," tweeted Jaishankar.

Prime Minister Modi is celebrating his 69th birthday today. Modi will be spending the day in his home state -- Gujarat. He had received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Ahmedabad on Monday night. -- ANI

Image: External Affairs minister S Jaishankar with NSA Ajit Doval and PM Modi in a file pic. 

The Statue of Unity, billed as the tallest in the world, was inaugurated by him on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary on October 31 last year. There were reports that he filmed a video of the Statue of Unity from his helicopter. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Modi arrived at Kevadiya to take part in the 'Namami Narmada' festival being celebrated by the Gujarat government to mark the filling up of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river to its full reservoir level of 138.68 metres. For the first time since the height of the dam was raised in 2017, the water level reached its highest peak at 138.68 metres on Sunday evening. 

Modi along with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani would perform 'puja' at the dam site to 'welcome' the water of river Narmada, the lifeline of Gujarat. 

The PM, who would be addressing a gathering near the dam, visited various developmental projects being carried out near the dam and Statue of Unity to boost tourism. 

These projects include river rafting, a jungle safari park, a butterfly park and Ekta Nursery, an officila said. Modi also visited the Khalvani Eco-Tourism site. In the safari, he apparently spotted deer. Modi is also expected to visit Dutt Mandir at nearby Garudeshwar village on the banks of Narmada. 

-- ANI

The fan identified as Arvind Singh made the offerings at the revered temple on Monday, a day before the Prime Minister's birthday.

Singh said that he had taken a pledge to offer the gold crown to Lord Hanuman if the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who represents Varanasi parliamentary constituency, returns to power at Centre for a consecutive second-term.

"Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, I took a vow to offer gold crown weighing 1.25 kg to Lord Hanuman if Modiji formed the government for the second time," he told ANI.

"He is the one who is building the nation in a way that was not done in the last 75 years. So it was decided that this crown would be offered to Lord Hanuman a day before his birthday with faith that Prime Minister Modi's and India's future would shine like gold. It is a gift for him on behalf of Kashi people," a priest said.

Late on Monday night, Prime Minister Modi reached Ahmedabad and was welcomed by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at the airport. He will be celebrating his birthday in the state.

The BJP is celebrating Prime Minister Modi's birthday as 'Seva Saptah' from September 14 to September 20. The party has announced that several social initiatives will be undertaken by the party leaders across the nation during this week-long period. -- ANI

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Jungle Safari Tourist Park in Kevadiya, Narmada district.

If the meeting takes place as scheduled, it will be their first formal interaction since Modi returned to power with a spectacular mandate.

Sources in Nabanna said the chief minister's office had sent a letter seeking an appointment with the Prime Minister. The confirmation arrived on Monday. The meeting is scheduled for 4.30 pm on Wednesday. Read more

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"I have no meeting scheduled (with Rouhani). I know they (Iranians) want to meet," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I know they are not doing well as a country. Iran has got a lot of problems right now.. but two and half to three years ago they were causing a lot of trouble... and we'll see what happens," he said. 

After coming to power, Trump had withdrawn from the Iranian nuclear deal and imposed stringent sanctions on Iran. Trump said certain conditions had to be met for talks with the Iranians. 

"The biggest thing you can talk about are the sanctions, and the sanctions are massive. There's never been sanctions put on a country like that. I think they have a tremendous future, but not the way they're behaving," he said. 

Responding to a question, Trump said the evidence from the recent attack on the oil units in Saudi Arabia indicated foul play from Iran. "It's looking that way. We are having some very strong studies done, but it's certainly looking that way at this moment. And we'll let you know. As soon as we find out definitively, we'll let you know. But it does look that way," he said. 

On Saturday, air attacks targeted Abqaiq, the site of the largest oil processing plant run by the Saudi state oil company, Aramco, and the Khurais oilfield. Iran has denied involvement in the air attacks, which were claimed by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and other US officials will be visiting Saudi Arabia to hold talks in the aftermath of the attacks. 

Trump said: "We have a lot of options, but I'm not looking at options right now. We want to find definitively who did this. We're dealing with Saudi Arabia. We're dealing with the Crown Prince and so many other of your neighbours, and we're all talking about it together. We'll see what happens," he said. -- PTI

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress government had harassed and humiliated former Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker K Siva Prasada Rao, who died in Hyderabad on Monday.

In a suspected case of suicide, Rao, slapped with a criminal case for 'illegal' possession of legislature property, died shortly after he was allegedly found hanging, police said.

"This is the first time in Indian history, a senior politician has committed suicide because of government harassment. The present YSRC government headed by Jagan Mohan Reddy has created so many problems for Kodela Siva Prasada Rao," Naidu alleged while speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Monday night.

The former chief minister alleged that at the same time, 'they harassed him (Rao) physically, mentally and also financially'.

"Never in my 40-year political career ( I have seen) this type of harassment," Naidu said.

The TDP chief flew to Hyderabad late on Monday night to pay homage to the departed leader.

Rao's mortal remains are kept at the NTR Trust Bhavan, the TDP's office in Hyderabad, for party leaders and workers to pay tributes.

The YSR Congress government filed cases against Rao saying he has kept with himself government furniture which he had got in his capacity as assembly speaker, Naidu claimed.

Rao had written to the government that the furniture would be surrendered but the it did not take the furniture, he said.

"They initiated criminal prosecution against him. They insulted him. They humiliated him and finally (filed) so many cases against his family members, against him'," the Andhra Pradesh former chief minister said.

The YSR Congress government must answer on the death of Rao, Naidu said.

"Rao has committed suicide because of government harassment and victimisation and humiliation. Now, they (YSR Congress government) has to answer," he said.  -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought ideas from the people for his September 22 speech at Houston in the United States.

'Share your ideas for my address. I would refer to some of them during my remarks,' he tweeted.

Modi urged the people to express their thoughts on the special open forum on the NaMo application.

US President Donald Trump will also participate in the 'Howdy Modi' event.

Modi has earlier asked the people for ideas for his Independence Day speech and 'Mann Ki Baat' monthly radio programme.

More than 50,000 Indian-Americans from across the US have registered for the September 22 'Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures' event to be held at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

"Howdy", short for 'How do you do?' is a friendly greeting commonly used in southwestern United States.  -- PTI

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden wants to come home - but claims the US won't give him a fair trial.

The former United States intelligence contractor, who leaked details of a classified mass surveillance program in 2013, has been living in self-imposed exile in Moscow for six years.  

"I would like to return to the United States. That is the ultimate goal," Snowden said in an interview with CBS This Morning on Monday. 

"But if I'm gonna spend the rest of my life in prison, the one bottom line demand that we have to agree to is that at least I get a fair trial."

Snowden claimed that the US government has 'refused to guarantee' his freedom because it won't allow him to take a public interest defense. 

"I'm not asking for a parade. I'm not asking for a pardon. I'm not asking for a pass. What I'm asking for is a fair trial," he said.

The interview was part of Snowden's press tour for his book, Permanent Record, in which he explains in great detail his decision to reveal secret details about the government's mass collection of Americans' emails, phone calls and internet activity in the name of national security.  

He was subsequently charged under the Espionage Act.