Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said Pakistan is the "least qualified" country to criticise India on the Kashmir issue, especially in view of its own record in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Speaking at the Pune International Literary Festival, the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala also said differences between political parties do not matter when it comes to foreign policy.

"I would like to send an implicit message outside. We may have differences within our country but when it comes to India's interest, it is not BJP's foreign policy nor is it Congress' foreign policy. It is the Indian foreign policy," Tharoor asserted.

He had the right to criticise the (Union) government on Jammu and Kashmir as to the treatment meted out to the people and elected representatives of that state, he said.

"I will continue to attack the government on domestic issues, but when it comes to the international position, I feel Pakistan is the least qualified country to criticise India on Kashmir issue. Look at what they have done to PoK," he said.

Talking about his own transition from international diplomat to politician, the Congress leader said earlier he got "preferential treatment", but now the "protective ring" has been removed, adding that he has had many "tests by fire".

He used to interact with "real people" when he first took to social media, but now 95 per cent people on social media are "abusers", he said.

"There is a mafia of abusers on social media and they will do everything to call me a murderer or declare me the reincarnation of Casanova," he said.

Talking about Narendra Modi, Tharoor said he must be given his due as a democratically elected prime minister.

 

"Whether we like his politics or not, nonetheless he is the democratically elected PM of the country and when he goes abroad, he is PM of India and he carries my flag. I want him to be received and treated with the respect due to my country's prime minister," he said. -- PTI

The navy has planned to name the seventh ship in the P17A frigate series as 'Mahendragiri', senior officials said.

 

The first of the seven frigates, christened 'Nilgiri', is slated to be launched in Mumbai on September 28 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The first ship under P17A borrows its name from an old frigate of the Navy, INS Nilgiri that was named after Nilgiri Hills.

Five more ships of the Nilgiri-class, an upgrade of Leander-class, were also named after other hill ranges of India. The six ships were built a few decades ago and have been decommissioned.

These six ships were called -- 'Nilgiri', 'Himgiri', 'Udaygiri', 'Dunagiri, 'Taragiri' and 'Vindhyagiri'.

"The first P17A frigate 'Nilgiri' will be launched on September 28. Since, it is named after the previous frigate which was part of a series of six ships, so the remaining names will also follow till the sixth ship," said Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, the vice chief of the Navy.

"For the seventh frigate, we have identified one more in the series -- 'Mahendragiri'," he said.

He said this recently during an interactive session held here ahead of the commissioning of Navy's second Scorpene-class submarine INS Khanderi.

The commissioning of 'Khanderi', launch of 'Nilgiri' and inauguration of an aircraft carrier drydock are all scheduled to take place on September 28 in Mumbai.

The first Scorpene in a series of six, 'Kalvari' is named after the first Kalvari of the Navy.

Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said on Saturday that unemployment would be the biggest poll issue in the Haryana assembly election.

 

 Referring to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy  for the period of May-August, Yadav said the number of unemployed in the state had crossed 20 lakh.

 

"This time, the election be prevented from becoming issue-less. Instead of bickering and horse-trading, there should be a meaningful debate on the biggest problem of the state -- unemployment," Yadav told reporters.

 

Unemployment is the biggest election issue in Haryana, he said. "Unemployment in Haryana has taken shape of an epidemic."

 

Latest statistics reveal that Haryana has more unemployed people than states with bigger populations like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, according to Yadav.

 

Punjab has 11.24 lakh unemployed people, whereas Haryana, which has a smaller population, the number of unemployed people are 20.20, lakh, the Swaraj India leader said, adding that out of these, 4.5 lakh are either graduate or have a higher degree.

 

Yadav said it was "deeply worrying" that in states like Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which has three times the population of Haryana, the number of unemployed was 11.84 lakh and 11.58 lakh respectively.

 

Three years ago in August 2016, Haryana was placed seventh on the ladder of unemployment rate, but now at the end of August 2019, Haryana is placed number 1, which means that none of the other states has an unemployment rate of 28.7 per cent, he added.  -- PTI

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter's swipe about Pawar 'liking' Pakistan, and said it did not become of a PM to speak before verifying the facts.

 

Addressing a rally in Nashik on Thursday, ahead of Maharashtra elections, Modi alleged that Congress leaders' comments were being used by 'other countries' against India.

"I can understand the confusion of the Congress. But Sharad Pawar? I feel bad when an experienced leader like him makes wrong statements for votes. He said he likes the neighbouring country. But everyone knows where the terror factory is," Modi had said.

Countering him, Pawar said in Ahmednagar in central Maharashtra on Saturday that the ruling establishment and the army in Pakistan have a policy of badmouthing India.

"This policy is not in the interest of common people in Pakistan, but it serves the interests of the rulers in that country...I said this. Did this help Pakistan in any way? Should a prime minister speak in this way?" Pawar asked.

 

With the Election Commission announcing state Assembly polls on October 21, Pawar asked NCP workers to oust the BJP and Shiv Sena from power.

The NCP -- which has seen a lot of senior leaders exiting in the recent weeks -- will give opportunity to youngsters in these elections, Pawar said. -- PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday opposed a plea by four Gujarat policemen seeking their discharge in the 2004 case of alleged fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan and three others on grounds of absence of state's sanction to prosecute them.

 

Gujarat's Inspector General of Police G L Singhal, retired Deputy Superintends of Police Tarun Barot and J G Parmar, and SRP commando Anaju Chaudhary have also sought their discharge on grounds of parity of their cases with those of discharged police officers D G Vanzara and N K Amin in the same case.

 

In their discharge pleas to the court of Special Judge P K Dave, the four policemen have also asserted that the government has not granted sanction to the CBI to prosecute them (under section 197 of the CrPC).  

The Central Bureau of Investigation, however, opposed the four policemen pleas, contending that the sanction for prosecution against the four was not needed under section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code as the case pertains to serious offences including that of murder.

"The CBI has consistently maintained that there is no requirement of sanction for prosecution under section 197 of the CrPC in the cases where offences relate to criminal conspiracy of abduction, illegal confinement, murder, etc," the CBI said in its application to the court, opposing the four policemen's plea.

Under section 197 of the CrPC, the competent authority is required to grant sanction to prosecute public servants accused of offence alleged to have been committed while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of their official duty.

 

"It has been a consistent stand of the CBI during the filing of the chargesheet and during the discharge applications of the accused persons that the case does not warrant sanction for prosecution as envisaged under section 197 of the CrPC.

"The court (the special CBI court), however, in its order dated August 7, 2018, said the sanction for prosecution is required against them (Vanzara and Amin). In view of the order of the court, the CBI approached the competent authority -- the State of Gujarat -- for sanction for prosecution. The competent authority declined sanction for prosecution against both of them," it said. -- PTI

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday will release findings of a survey conducted by a Sangh-linked organisation that claims married women are more happy than those in live-in relationships.

 

The survey was conducted by Pune-based Drishti Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra and its findings were discussed at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's coordination meeting in Pushkar earlier this month, sources in the RSS said.

They said as per the survey, married women have a very high level of happiness, whereas the level of happiness was lowest in women in live-in relationships.

The findings of the survey will be released after Bhagwat's interaction with the foreign media.

RSS publicity in-charge Arun Kumar in an official statement released on Saturday said Bhagwat's interaction with the foreign media is a routine exercise.

This meeting is part of the RSS's continuous process of interacting with people from different walks of life, he said. 

Bhagwat will brief the international media about the RSS, its views and its functioning, Kumar said. -- PTI

The National Conference on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statements on "hugging Kashmiris" and "turning Kashmir into a paradise" sound hollow and belie actions taken by his government.

 

"Now we see PM Modi parroting new catch-words. These catch-words are hollow and will eventually vanish into oblivion," the party said in a statement.

Asserting that the party rejects the prime minister's "rants", the NC said people are the best judge of the veracity of Modi's earlier catch-words of "Kashmiriyat, Jhamooriyat and Insaniyat". 

"The government led by PM Modi has obliterated the very visage of Kashmiriyat by bifurcating the state. The jhamooriyat rant too turned out to be a damp squib following the detention of legitimate political voices of the state," said the NC statement.

 

"The PM's insaniyat rant too turned out to be a damp squib following the unparalleled clampdown in the state in the shape of communication gags and curfews," it said.

The party said Modi's dream of 'Naya (new) Kashmir' is to "disempower people" of the state.

"By turning the state of Jammu and Kashmir into (two) Union territories, the lieutenant governor, chief minister and other elected functionaries of the Jammu and Kashmir Union territory will be confined far behind in the protocol as compared to when J&K was a state," it said.

The statement said jobs and scholarships which otherwise were only reserved for state subjects would cease to be solely available to the youths of the state.

"By removing the safety valve of the state in the shape of Article 370 and Article 35-A, the people of the state, irrespective of their caste, creed and religion have become prone of numerous susceptibilities," said the NC statement.

 

The party accused the Centre of trying to put the state land on sale ignoring the fact that farmers in a mountainous jammu and Kashmir have very low land-holdings.

"The state is mountainous and as such the land holding of the farmers are very small as compared to the farmers in the rest of the country. Today, we see how the government of India and the local administration is persistent on putting up the land of the state on wanton sale without giving a thought to the plethora of socio-political, ecological and political issues that will pop up following such a move," the party said. -- PTI

Alleging that some powerful people wanted to trample him, former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat accused the CBI of being "impatient" and "under pressure " in its probe into the sting operation case.

 

Rawat on Friday said that he was ready for any punishment but his right to justice should be protected. "Some powerful people want to trample me under their feet," he tweeted.

 

"Justice is free, it will punish the guilty and protect the innocent but why do the powerful today seem to mount pressure on everything. Am I a threat to the country's security? Am I a threat to law and order? Am I running away from the country," he asked.

 

"When the high court has set October 1 as the next date of hearing in the sting case, why is the CBI so impatient," the AICC general secretary asked.  

   

A sting video purportedly showing Rawat negotiating a deal to buy the support of rebel party MLAs to save his government in 2016 had created a flutter.

 

Though Rawat subsequently won a Supreme Court monitored floor test in the state assembly and his government was reinstated after a brief spell of President's rule a CBI probe was launched into the sting operation.

 

The CBI, which had told the Uttarakhand high court on September 3 that it will file an FIR against Rawat in the sting case, on Friday told the court that the former chief minister was not cooperating with its probe into the case.

The moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday termed as "baseless" the reports of its chairman having signed a bond to secure his release.

   

Official sources had on Friday said the Mirwaiz was among seven individuals, detained following the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, who have signed bonds to secure their release.

 

"The news item carried by some newspapers quoting sources that the Hurriyat chairman has been released after signing a bond is extremely baseless," the Hurriyat said in a statement here.

 

The conglomerate said the Mirwaiz continued to be under house arrest since 5 August at his residence, and as such his access to people and communication is "extremely limited".

 

"The conglomerate is firm on its principle stand on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and stands with the people in this unprecedented situation that all are facing," the Hurriyat said. -- PTI 

Ranveer Singh starrer 'Gully Boy' has been selected as India's official entry to the 92nd Oscar Awards, which is scheduled to take place on February 9 next year.

The Zoya Akhtar directorial draws inspiration from the lives of Mumbai street rappers Vivian Fernandes aka Divine and Naved Shaikh aka Naezy and revolves around the underground rap movement in India.

The news was announced on Twitter by film's producer Farhan Akhtar. He wrote, "Gully Boy has been selected as India's official entry to the 92nd Oscar Awards."

'Gully Boy' also starred Alia Bhatt along with Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Vijay Raaz in pivotal roles.

The film has received a number of accolades including the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, South Korea; and Best Film at the Indian Festival of Melbourne in August this year. -- ANI

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said the Opposition is "divided" in the state and exuded confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party will win over 75 of the total 90 seats in the next month's assembly polls.

   

Assembly elections in Haryana will be held on October 21 and the counting of votes in the state will be taken up on October 24, according to the the Election Commission.

 

"The BJP is strong on all the 90 assembly seats in the state. Opposition political parties are divided and a stampede is taking place in these parties.We will cross the 75 plus seats in the state assembly, I am confident about it," Khattar told the media in Chandigarh.

 

The BJP's state unit has completed all preparations for the assembly polls, he said, adding that tickets will be allocated to those who follow the party's ideology and have a "clean image".

 

On the occasion, Congress leader Dura Ram and Indian National Lok Dal stalwart Ram Pal Majra joined the BJP. Also present during the joining of these leaders was state BJP chief Subash Barala. Both Ram and Majra had remained MLAs of their parties when these were in power.

 

Khattar and Barala welcomed the leaders to the party fold and claimed that it will further strengthen the BJP in the state.

"Generally during the polls, the ruling party starts weakening, but at present, the BJP is further strengthening with joining of leaders of other political parties," he said. -- PTI

The cash-strapped Pakistan International Airlines operated 46 flights without any passengers during 2016-17, incurring a loss of over $1.1 million to the national carrier, according to a media report.

 

The figures were revealed in an audit report which stated that the airline suffered huge financial losses by operating 46 empty flights from Islamabad, the Geo TV reported.

The report stated that the PIA flew the empty flights during the time period of 2016 to 2017.

The airline faced a huge loss worth Rs 180 million ($1.1 million) and no inquiry was launched despite the administration being informed of the matter, the news report said.

The audit report also mentioned that besides these, around 36 Hajj flights also operated without any passengers. -- PTI 

Moody's Investors Service on Saturday said the cut in corporate tax increases the government's fiscal risks while headwinds from cyclical factors such as rural stress, weak corporate sentiment and slow credit pose threat to near-term growth.

   

On Friday, the Centre announced a reduction in the base corporation tax rate to 22 per cent from 30 per cent as part of stimulus measures to revive slowing economic growth.

 

The rating agency said it does not expect the corporate tax rate cut to revive growth to the extent that stronger tax buoyancy compensates for the loss of revenue.

 

"While the reduction brings India's corporate tax rate closer to peers throughout Asia and will support the business environment and competitiveness, a host of cyclical factors, including rural financial stress, weak corporate sentiment, and a slow flow of credit in the financial sector, remain headwinds to near-term growth," it said.

 

Moody's said the cut in corporate tax is credit positive for companies because it will enable them to generate higher post-tax incomes. "However, it is credit negative for the sovereign, as it aggravates mounting risks for the government in meeting its fiscal deficit target."

 

Commodity and information technology (IT) services companies will benefit most from the tax rate cut.

 

"But the degree of strengthening in corporate credit profiles will depend on whether companies reinvest surplus earnings into their businesses, or use them to reduce debt or to boost shareholder returns," it said.

Senior Telugu Desam Party leader and former MP N Sivaprasad died due to renal failure on Saturday, party sources said.

He was 68.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters, TDP sources said.

Sivaprasad had been suffering from kidney ailment for some time now and was admitted to hospital in Tirupati a few days ago.

On Thursday, he was shifted to Apollo hospitals in Chennai, where he died.

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu visited Sivaprasad in the hospital on Friday.

Sivaprasad was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chittoor (SC) constituency twice.

He had also served as a member of (united) Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Minister for Information and Public Relations in the Chandrababu Naidu cabinet.

Sivaprasad became well-known as the MP who donned fancy dresses, enacting a unique character every day, during protests outside Parliament opposing the bifurcation of Andhra (2013-14) and later demanding special category status to the state (2018-19).

A trained doctor, Sivaprasad had a love for acting and began as a stage artist.

He also acted in several Telugu movies alongside top stars like Chiranjeevi.

He also received the Nandi award from the AP government as the best villain.

Congress leader D K Shivakumar may influence witnesses in the money laundering case in which he has been arrested, the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday told a Delhi court, which said it will pass an order on his bail application on September 25.

 

Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, appearing for the ED, opposed the bail application before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar, saying that Shivakumar cannot turn his tainted property into untainted one just by paying tax on it.

Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Shivakumar, opposed the ASG's submission and said that he was innocent and that the ED was desperate to keep him in jail.

Rohatgi said if people like P Chidambaram, arrested by ED in another case, are flight risk then everyone in the country is a flight risk.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its order.

During the hearing, the ED, also represented by special public prosecutors Amit Mahajan, N K Matta and Nitesh Rana, said, "More than Shivakumar having deep roots in the society, I say, the case has deep rooted conspiracy. There is possibility of tampering with evidence."

"In the I-T proceedings, statements were made by certain people which were later retracted. This shows he can influence the witnesses in the case. Being an influential and powerful person, he may hamper the investigation," Rana said.

The ED accused Shivakumar of committing "serious economic offence" and said it's a threat to national economy.

"It may imbalance the national economy and pose a threat to national security. It has to be dealt this an iron hand," Rana said, adding that Shivakumar remained non-cooperative and evasive during investigation.

Apart from agricultural land, there are many non-agricultural land and properties which are required to be probed further and the investigation is at a crucial stage, the agency said.

"Shivakumar's brother had about 27 properties and agricultural land out of which 10 properties were purchased in cash or acquired by his father, but how it was acquired, we don't know," it said.

Opposing ED's plea, Singhvi said, "What is the meaning of presumption of innocence if this approach is taken? I object to going into merits at this stage. The approach is trying to influence the court by throwing huge figures. The amount of money is increasing every day."

"There are only 20 active accounts then where is the figure of 317 accounts coming from? Show me the 21st account and I would sit down," he said. -- PTI

A 20-year-old Indian girl in the UAE has been diagnosed with a rare disease, leaving her on ventilator support for the last six months, according to a media report.

   

Neethu Shaji Panikker, who was visiting her husband in Sharjah, was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis in March, Khaleej Times reported on Saturday.

 

The disease refers to a group of conditions that occur when the immune system attacks healthy brain cells, leading to inflammation of the brain.

 

Neethu was referred to the Sheikh Khalifa Hospital in Abu Dhabi as her condition worsened. By March 27, Neethu was on ventilator and has been there ever since.

 

Neethu's mother Lalitha said, "I worked odd, menial jobs to raise my kids after coming to the UAE 10 years ago. My daughter was married in December last year to Jithin, who works in Sharjah. She came to the UAE on a visit visa in late January and got ill by March 17."

 

Lalitha, an employee at a tailoring shop, said she had a hard time raising her two kids after her husband abandoned them.

 

"The doctors at the hospital have done so much for us. I can never stop thanking them. How much I thank them, it will not be enough," Lalitha said.

 

Treatment for autoimmune encephalitis may involve intravenous immunosuppressive therapy and tumour removal when necessary. Early treatment decreases the likelihood of long-term complications, speedy recovery and reduce the risk of recurrence. -- PTI

Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K Sivan on Saturday said the Chandrayaan-2 mission has achieved 98 per cent of its objectives, even as scientists are working hard to establish contact with lander 'Vikram'.

Sivan also said Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is doing well and performing scheduled science experiments.

"Why we are saying Chandrayaan-2 achieved 98 per cent success is because of two objectives -- one is science and the other technology demonstration. In case of technology demonstration, the success percentage was almost full," he told reporters at the Bhubaneswar airport, before heading to IIT-Bhubaneswar to attend its 8th convocation ceremony.

Sivan said ISRO is focusing on another moon mission by 2020.

"Discussion is on about the future plan... nothing is finalised. Our priority is on an unmanned mission by next year. First, we have to understand what exactly happened to the lander," he said.

He said a national-level committee comprising academicians and ISRO experts are analysing the cause of the communication loss with 'Vikram'.

"We have not been able to establish communication with the lander yet. As soon as we receive any data, necessary steps will be taken," Sivan said.

Noting that the orbiter was initially planned for a year, the ISRO chief said there is every possibility that it will last for another seven-and-a-half years. -- PTI

Automobile industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers on Saturday said the auto industry would have to "find its own balance" to boost demand, with the GST Council declining to cut rates for the sector.

   

"The auto industry was very hopeful of GST reduction. It is clear that there is no reduction of GST rate on vehicles from 28 per cent to 18 per cent," SIAM president Rajan Wadhera said in a statement.

 

The industry has to find its own balance to enhance demand, he added.

 

The GST Council, which met in Goa on Friday, did not cut tax rates on automobiles. The industry had been demanding a GST rate cut from the current 28 per cent to 18 per cent in order to revive sales which have been facing a prolonged slowdown.

 

The auto components industry too had demanded a uniform GST of 18 per cent. At present, 60 per cent of auto components are taxed at 18 per cent, while the rest are in the 28 per cent slab.

 

Wadhera expressed hope that the festive season would help in ushering in positive consumer sentiments.

 

He said the reduction of GST compensation cess for the sub-segment of 10-13 seaters with length less than 4 metres is positive step as the industry had been demanding it for a long time.

 

"SIAM had requested for abolishing compensation cess for the whole segment of 10-13 seaters vehicles, however, the benefit has been partially met," Wadhera said.

 

He also expressed hope that the recent measures taken by the finance minister will support growth and once the market stabilises and revenue rises to comfortable levels, the government would be able to rationalise GST levels and reduce rates on vehicles.

 

The all-powerful GST Council on Friday announced a slew of measures, including slashing the tax rate on hotel room tariffs and more than doubling the tax on caffeinated beverages to 40 per cent. -- PTI 

A Doha bound flight of a private carrier carrying 240 passengers and a crew of five, on Saturday returned to the Chennai airport, about 40 minutes after its departure due to technical issues, officials said.

     

As soon as the glitches were noticed when it was airborne, the pilot got the nod of authorities to return and safely landed the aircraft at the airport here, they said.

     

The passengers of the early morning aircraft were provided accommodation at a nearby hotel and the flight resumed its journey hours later.

     

Following a similar episode, involving the same carrier days ago, the civil aviation authorities have asked the airline to look into such matters and submit a report. -- PTI 

The Congress on Saturday appointed Supriya Shrinate, who was the party's candidate from Maharajganj in the Lok Sabha polls, as a spokesperson.

 

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has approved the appointment of Supriya Shrinate as spokesperson of All India Congress Committee, a statement issued by the party's communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said.

Until a few months ago, Shrinate was a TV journalist. 

She is the daughter of former Congress MP Harsh Vardhan.

She lost to BJP's Pankaj Chaudhary in the Lok Sabha polls from Maharajganj. Her father Harsh Vardhan was a two-time MP from the seat. -- PTI 

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena will contest the next month's assembly polls together.

The CM also exuded confidence that he will retain the post after elections.

He dismissed media reports that the BJP will contest 162 out of total 288 seats and the Sena 126.

Fadnavis' remarks come a day after Sena president Uddhav Thackeray asserted that both the parties will contest the elections in alliance, and that an announcement on the seat sharing formula will be made in a couple of days.

Maharashtra will go for a single-phase election on October 21. Counting of votes will be taken up on October 24.

"I am saying with no uncertainty that we will contest the assembly polls along with Shiv Sena. The seat-sharing talks are still on, do not trust the reports," Fadnavis said while speaking at the India Today Conclave 2019 being held in Mumbai.

Referring to the Sena pitching for equal sharing of the 288 seats, the chief minister said all details about the seat-sharing arrangements will be formally announced at a press briefing.

To a question, Fadnavis said the BJP did not dictate terms to the Sena and that decisions between them are taken "amicably".

On the Sena's criticism of his government through party mouthpiece Saamana, Fadnavis quipped, "I don't read Saamana".

He said all the decisions taken by his Cabinet were "unanimous" with the support of Shiv Sena ministers.

"No Shiv Sena minister had second thought about any of the decisions in the last five years (since BJP-led government came to power). So, we are not concerned about what happens outside," he said in an oblique reference to Saamana.

Responding to a query on whether he will get another term as the chief minister, the CM retorted: "Do you have any doubt"?

He also said the decision to appoint Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray as deputy chief minister, in the event of the NDA government returning to power, will be taken by the Sena.

Fadnavis said he looked at "positively" Aaditya becoming active in politics. -- PTI

Bypolls to 64 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituency spread across 18 states will be held on October 21 and the counting of votes will be on October 24, the Election Commission announced on Saturday.

   

While assembly by-elections will be held on 64 assembly seats, the Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar will also have a bypoll.

 

These assembly seats include 15 in Karnataka and 11 in Uttar Pradesh.

 

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said the byolls in Karnataka will be held on seats, including where sitting MLAs were disqualified recently.

 

The 11 UP assembly seats mostly belong to MLAs who had won the Lok Sabha elections and had resigned as members of the state assembly.

 

The Samastipur (Bihar) Lok Sabha by-election was necessitated following the death of sitting MP Ram Chandra Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party in July.

 

Responding to a question, Arora said the bypoll to the Satara Lok Sabha seat will not be held along with the Maharashtra assembly elections on October 21.

 

Satara MP from Nationalist Congress Party Udayanraje Bhosale had recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party after resigning from the Lok Sabha.

 

Assembly bypolls in West Bengal are not being held now as the state government had cited the Durga Puja festivities to postpone the exercise. They will also not be held in Uttarakhand now as panchayat elections are already underway and the state machinery is occupied with the exercise, Arora said.

 

In some other seats, by-elections are not being held as respective high courts are hearing election petitions and the matters are sub judice, he added.

 

States where assembly bypolls will be held are Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha and Puducherry (one seat each).

 

The other states are Assam (4), Bihar (5), Gujarat (4), Himachal Pradesh (2), Kerala (5), Punjab (4), Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu (two each) and Sikkim (3).

 

The notification for on the Lok Sabha bypoll and 64 assembly by-elections will be issued on September 23. 

The nomination process will begin the same day. -- PTI 

At least 16 animals were killed in heavy firing and shelling by Pakistan Army on forward posts and villages in different sectors along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, officials said on Saturday.

   

The intense shelling from across the border also prompted the authorities to suspend class work in nearly half a dozen government-run schools falling within the firing range in Poonch district on Saturday, they said.

 

A defence spokesman said Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation by targeting Nowshera sector in Rajouri and Balakote area of Mendhar, Shahpur and Kerni sectors in Poonch district, drawing befitting response from the Indian army.

 

Pakistan first violated the ceasefire in Nowshera sector from 8 pm to 10 pm on Friday, followed by firing of small arms and shelling with mortars in Balakote area of Mendhar sector in Poonch district from 11.45 pm to 2 am, he said.

 

At about 9.45 am on Saturday, the spokesman said, Pakistan again violated the ceasefire and targeted Shahpur and Kerni sectors in Poonch district.

 

The cross-border firing between the two sides was going on when the last reports were received, he said.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Rahul Yadav said 16 domestic animals were killed in the overnight Pakistani shelling in the Balakote area.

 

"The class work in four schools was suspended today (Saturday) as a precautionary measure as there was apprehension of unexploded mortar shells lying in the vicinity," Yadav said.

 

Officials said a few more schools were closed in Shahpur sector in view of the ongoing shelling for the safety of the students. -- PTI

A teacher in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, who has been on a sit-in protest here for more than 23 years over alleged land grabbing by a former legislator, has been booked for hanging his undergarments outside the Collectorate office, police said on Saturday.

 

A case under Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC was registered against teacher Vijay Singh following a complaint by Nazarat in-charge of the Collectorate Sanjay Kumar, Station House Officer Sameypal Atri said.

 

Singh has reportedly shifted his dharna site after the authorities asked him to call off his protest and move away from the Collectorate premises.

 

He had started the sit-in protest at the site on February 26, 1996, against the alleged land grabbing by the former legislator. PTI 

Restrictions were lifted from most parts of Kashmir on Saturday, but remained in force in the Handwara area of Kupwara district as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, officials said.

   

Fresh restrictions were imposed in many parts of the Valley on Friday in view of apprehensions that vested interests might exploit the large Friday prayer gatherings at big mosques and shrines to fuel protests.

 

Officials said restrictions have been eased out in most areas of Kashmir.

 

However, the curbs continued to be in force in many areas of Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, they said.

 

The restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPc continued as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, the officials added.

 

Security deployment remained in vulnerable areas and mobile and internet services were yet to be restored in most parts of the Valley 48 days after the Centre abrogated Article 370 provisions of the Constitution.

 

Restrictions were first imposed across Kashmir on 5 August after the Centre announced stripping of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcating the state into two Union territories. The restrictions were lifted in phases from many parts of the Valley.

 

Friday prayers have not been allowed at any of the major mosques or shrines - including Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta or Dargah Sharief in Hazratbal.

 

Normal life continued to remain affected across the valley for the 48th consecutive day on Saturday with markets closed and public transport off the roads, the officials said. -- PTI

Indian-Americans in Houston are all set to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the mega "Howdy, Modi" event on Sunday, to be attended by 50,000 audience, the largest gathering ever for an elected foreign leader visiting the United States, other than the Pope.

 

The three-hour "Howdy, Modi!" event  in which President Donald Trump will join Prime Minister Modi is being organised at the sprawling NRG Football Stadium, one of the largest in the US, with an impressive history of shows that starred Beyonce, Metallica, U2.

 Indian Ambassador Harsh V Shringla along with his team previewed the event at NRG Stadium early Friday, where preparations are in full swing and over 1,500 volunteers are working round the clock to make it a memorable event.

A car rally was organised on Friday at the NRG stadium, where more than 200 cars participated, fluttering flags of both India and the US to signify the friendship between the the two countries.

 

The organisers and volunteers sporting 'NAMO AGAIN' shirts, chanted "NaMo Again" and said they are ready to welcome Prime Minister Modi "wholeheartedly".

 

At a press briefing on Friday, Texas India Forum spokespersons Priti Dawra, Gitesh Desai and Rishi Bhutada briefed media about the event timeline, what to expect and why Houston was chosen for such a mega community event.

 

"The event is a grand celebration of culture and unity of America and India, where attendees will hear Modi speak about the deepening US-India ties strengthened by the confirmations of over 3 million Indian Americans in the US and will lay out his vision of the continuous India's growth and development as he begins his second term following his historic re-election," Dawra said.

 

"First time the leaders of the world's two biggest democracies are appearing together at such an event to share their resolve to build strong partnership," she said.

 

They will showcase the growing US-India geopolitical partnership, commitment to global peace and prosperity through entrepreneurship, hard work and sacrifice of the people of both nations. The presence of these two leaders is also a sign of the positive growing influence of Indo Americans and their invaluable contributions to Texas and United States, the spokespersons said.

 

Dawra said President Trump's participation in the event shows that he is highlighting his "goodwill and friendship" towards the Indian Prime Minister, the people of India and the Indian American diaspora. -- PTI

The Election Commission has announced that assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana will be held on October 21. 

The result will be declared on October 24. 

The issue of notification deadline for Maharashtra and Haryana is September 27, while the last date of filing nomination is October 4 and the last date to withdraw nomination is October 7.

The Election Commission of India assured all stakeholders of the quality of electronic voting machines during assembly elections in both Maharashtra and Haryana.

Election Commission of India chief Sunil Arora announced that each candidate can spend up to Rs 28 lakh on poll expenditure.

"The upper limit for expenditure on the election campaign is Rs 28 lakh for each candidate," Arora said.

The EC appealed to party candidates in both Haryana and Maharshtra to use environmental-friendly material while campaigning for polls.

Election Commission Chief Sunil Arora briefs media on the schedule for Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2019.

The 288-member Maharashtra assembly's term ends on November 9 while the 90-member Haryana assembly's term comes to an end on November 2.

The Model Code of Conduct will come into force after the announcement of dates.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis experienced "one of his worst flying experiences" ahead of the Test series in India after his British Airways flight was delayed.

   

"Finally on a plane to Dubai after a 4 hour delay. Now I'm gonna miss my flight to India, next flight is only 10 hours later," du Plessis tweeted on Friday.

 

His following tweet read: "When life gives you lemons , make lemonade .My cricket bag hasn't arrived !!!!!!!!!!Actually can just smile about it but, wow @British_Airways today was one of my worst flying experiences where everything went wrong. Now just hoping I'll have my bats back eventually."

 

Du Plessis skipped the ongoing T20 series in India with Quinton de Kock leading the side in his absence. 

 

The three-Test series begins in Visakhapatnam from October 2. -- PTI

Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by targeting forward posts and villages along the Line of Control in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, an army spokesman said on Saturday. 

   

Pakistani troops initiated unprovoked firing of small arms and shelling with mortars in Balakote sector of Poonch and Nowshera in Rajouri overnight, drawing befitting retaliation by the Indian Army, he said. 

 

The spokesman said Pakistan first violated the ceasefire in Nowshera sector from 8 pm to 10 pm on Friday followed by firing of small arms and shelling with mortars in Balakote from 11.45 pm to 2 am.

 

There was no report of any casualty in the Pakistani firing on the Indian side, he said.

 

This year, according to officials, Pakistan violated the ceasefire over 2,050 times, leaving 21 Indians dead and scores of others injured.

 

India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to ask its forces to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire understanding and maintain peace and tranquility along the LoC and the International Border. -- PTI 

Massive protests are expected in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Saturday.

The New York Times on September 19 had reported that the residents 'have called for a massive protest on border with India on Saturday and in early October that is expected to be the biggest demonstrations yet'.

The report had highlighted that the call for independence within PoK has been growing.

It said that pro-independence movements are now attracting thousands of protesters.

These protests were barely covered in Pakistani media and mobile phone and internet were cut off for a while in the area. One military general dismissed the demonstrators as 'Indian agents'.

This comes ahead of the scheduled UNGA session where both the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers are scheduled to speak.

This also comes in the wake of India decision to do away with Article 370 of the Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Even as Pakistan continues to make attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue despite rebuffs, it has put curbs on residents of PoK who wants an end to its control over the territory.

Pakistan's message to the residents in PoK has been very clear: No talk of independence will be allowed, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

A few NYT journalists who were granted rare access to the region in recent days found a toughening Pakistani security response to a growing pro-independence movement there.

Residents were quoted as saying that Pakistan's domination over the occupied territories has increased over the years especially after the scope of dialogue between the two countries came down.

Quoting the locals of the area, the NYT reported that the Pakistani crackdown also has another focus.

As outrage over India's move to end Kashmir's previously accorded (temporary) constitutional status has galvanised militants, Pakistani officials fear they could face international sanctions if they don't rein in the armed groups.   -- ANI

United States President Donald Trump has approved the deployment of US forces to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

"The President has approved the deployment of US forces which will be defensive in nature and primarily focused on air and missile defence," US Defence Secretary Mark Esper was quoted as saying on Friday evening (local time) by Sputnik.

The US Defence Secretary noted that the US doesn't seek war with Iran, but 'has other options' as well.

He said that a 'layered defence' could better protect the kingdom in the event of being 'swarmed' by drones or missiles, but noted that no system can prevent all such attacks.

The move comes in response to findings by the US and Saudi intelligence that last weekend's attack on two Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province did not come from Yemen, as that country's Houthi movement claimed, but was launched from Iran.

The decision also comes days after the drone attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, the US and Saudi officials had accused Iran of being behind the attack. The charges were denied by Tehran.

A few days ago, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo had described the attack on Saudi oil facilities as an 'act of war'.

After meeting Saudi Crown Prince, Pompeo had in a tweet said that the US stands with Saudi Arabia and supports its right to defend itself.

'Met with #Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today to discuss the unprecedented attacks against Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure. The U.S. stands with #SaudiArabia and supports its right to defend itself. The Iranian regime's threatening behaviour will not be tolerated,' he had said in a tweet on September 19.   -- ANI

Ahead of the Assembly elections, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has stoked a possible controversy by saying that only a Pulwama attack-like incident can change the mood of the people of Maharashtra as they have resentment for the incumbent Devendra Fadnavis-led government in the state.

"Before Lok Sabha elections, there was an environment of anger and distress against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, Pulwama attack on CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) jawans had changed the entire scenario," Pawar said during a press conference on Friday in Aurangabad.

He continued, "Now people's mind can be changed only with other Pulwama attack-like situation."

Pawar also claimed that when he enquired about the Pulwama attack took place in February this year, he suspected that it was 'deliberately orchestrated'.

"I have worked in Defence. When I talked to some officials that time I suspected the attack was deliberately orchestrated or Pakistan may be behind it," he said.

After the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which, 40 paramilitary personnel were killed, prompted the Modi government to carry out airstrikes against a terror base at Balakot inside Pakistan's territory.

He continued saying that the airstrikes led to boost the popularity of the Modi government.

However, he maintained that Modi's popularity will not work in Maharashtra as people are not satisfied with the Fadnavis government.

"BJP will suffer loss in the assembly elections. The expectations of people from nationalists have increased. No such work was done that Fadnavis will come back to power," the NCP chief said.

He further stressed on Congress and NCP's decision to come together to contest Maharashtra Assembly polls.

"We are trying to bring together more secular forces. We have joined hand with Congress come together and now we are trying to take Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Samajwadi Party and other smaller parties with us," Pawar said.

He added that the NCP was willing to join hands with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, but the Congress was not ready for that. -- ANI

The President has accepted the resignation of Madras high court Chief Justice V K Tahilramani.

She had tendered her resignation on September 6.

Supreme Court Collegium on August 28 had recommended the transfer of Justice Tahilramani to Meghalaya high court.

Justice Vineet Kothari has been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Madras high court after the President accepted the resignation of Chief Justice Tahilramani.  -- ANI

The Election Commission of India is set to announce dates for Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections at a press conference at 12 noon today.

Polling in Maharashtra and Haryana are likely to be held before the Diwali on October 27, media reports said.

The model code of conduct will be come into effect in the two states post the announcement of polls today.

In 2014, the elections in Maharashtra and Haryana took place in October.

The Bharatiya Janata Party won in both states with with 122 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, and a majority for the first time in the 90-member Haryana assembly.  -- with inputs from ANI

After receiving complaints of a suspected gas leak that caused panic among the resident of Mumbai, the police has said that the operation to locate gas leak origin was halted as the situation is under control now.

"Since there were no further complaints about the presence of any sort of smell or gas, the operation was halted in the morning as neither the source of leakage was found nor any further complaints were received from citizens," DCP Pranay Ashok, Mumbai Police Public Relation Officer, said on Friday in a statement.

On Thursday, Mumbai Police Control Room received a total of 82 calls regarding complaints of gas leakage from Ghatkopar, Powai, Chandivili, Jogeshwari, Malad, Vile Parle and Borivali.

Teams from local police station were dispatched immediately and they reached the spot within minutes.

"We also coordinated with Mahanagar Gas Limited, RCF and BPCL. All three informed that there were no leakage from their plants or pipelines," the DCP said.

In coordination with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Mumbai Fire Brigade, City Disaster Cell was activated, a unit of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and nine fire engines were also deployed to discover the origin of gas leakage as reported by locals.

"On reaching the various spots, no further trace of the gas, nor the source of the leakage could be found. The situation is normal," the statement said. -- ANI

Hoardings have been put up near the NRG Stadium in Houston, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival.

On September 22, Modi will deliver his address at 'Howdy Modi', an Indian community event.

United States President Donald Trump will join Modi and will address over 50,000 Indian-Americans.

 In an unprecedented and bold gesture, Trump would fly to Houston on Sunday, September 23, just for a few hours to join Modi at the largest-ever gathering of Indian-Americans in the US.

"Overall, the message is very loud and clear that US and  India are natural allies and this relationship will get stronger as time goes by," Mukesh Aghi, president of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum told PTI on the eve of Modi's arrival to Houston.

Meanwhile in an op-ed in the local Houston Chronicle, Congressman Pete Olson said the "Howdy Modi" event is about unity, not division and it will bring the United States, India and Texas closer "than we've ever been before".

Chicago-based community leader Nirav K Patel said 1300 people from this windy city are attending the mega rally in Houston.

"This is a unique moment in world history as the leaders of the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy will share a stage speaking to 50,000 Indian-Americans," said Ohio State Representative Niraj Atani.

"I am excited to welcome Prime Minister Modi back to the United States for the event and I thank President Trump for attending and speaking at this incredibly important event for the US-Indian relationship," he said

Atani, the youngest Indian-American elected official in the US, said it speaks of President Trump's commitment to Indian-Americans and the strength of the relationship between the United States and India.  -- PTI/ANI

Canada's Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says if he is re-elected next month, he plans to ban assault rifles.

That would include the controversial AR-15 rifle, which has been used in repeated mass shootings over recent years, including those in Parkland and Sandy Hook.

Trudeau made the announcement on Friday morning in Toronto following a walkabout through the Danforth neighbourhood, the site of a 2018 mass shooting that killed two and injured 13 in the midst of a broader spate of gun violence that has gripped Toronto and other urban centres over recent years.

"You don't need a military-grade assault weapon -- one designed to take down the most amount of people in the shortest time -- to take down a deer," Trudeau said in his announcement.

The accompanying press release described the pledge as one to "ban all military-style assault rifles, including the AR-15."

Trudeau described the move as one "that's going to work to keep our communities safe."