LIVE! CAA should be scrapped: Amartya Sen

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Wed, 08 January 2020

CAA should be scrapped: Amartya Sen

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23:26 CAA should be scrapped: Amartya Sen

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Wednesday rallied behind the Jawaharlal Nehru University students who were attacked inside the campus and criticised the role of police in dealing with the violence saying there was a "big absence of justice in the matter".

Speaking to a Bengali TV news channel on Wednesday, Sen questioned how those who were beaten up by "masked outsiders" were named in the FIR lodged by the Delhi Police.

On the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, Sen who has been vocal against the Narendra Modi government, said it should be scrapped.

The professor of economics and philosophy at Harvard University said, "Some outsiders came and tortured the students of the (Jawaharlal Nehru) University and indulged in lawlessness there. The University authorities could not stop it and even the police could not come on time.

"... They (police) have failed to nab anybody till date. I have heard that the cameras (CCTVs) were not working. I have also heard that there were some problems in their (police's) report and that's why that cannot be submitted. And instead an FIR was lodged against those who got beaten up.

"That there is a big absence of justice in this matter is very conspicuous," Sen said.

Violence had broken out at JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property in the campus, prompting the administration to call in police which conducted a flag march.

At least 28 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured. -- PTI

23:25 5% estimate growth 'imaginary': Ex-FM

Former Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha on Wednesday questioned estimation that the economy will grow at 5 per cent in 2019-20, saying the figure is "imaginary" and raised doubt about the Modi government's capability of tackling economic issues.

Talking to reporters, Sinha also demurred Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding "pre-budget consultation", saying it is "unprecedented" and asked what the latter's Finance Minister is doing.

India's GDP growth is seen dipping to an 11-year low of 5 per cent in the current fiscal, mainly due to poor showing by manufacturing and construction sectors, government data showed on Tuesday.

"Even this 5 per cent growth is imaginary. Because this does not include what has happened, the damage which was caused as a result of demonetisation and GST on the MSME and the informal sector," Sinha told reporters in Mumbai.

The former Union finance minister said several economists are suggesting that India is experiencing negative growth if the factors caused by demonetisation and GST are to be kept in mind.

The economic situation is "too bad", he added.

"You (reporter) talked about budget. The budget has lost all its meaning. The budget has lost its sanctity which was there at some point of time," he said while replying to a query.

"I have grave doubts about the capability of this government to tackle economic issues," the former BJP leader added.

Sinha said there is no magic wand to correct the course of economy and added there is a need for sustained effort to put things on track.

"But frankly, I don't expect anything much from the government either before or after," he said.

Don't know what the Bharatiya Janata Party's "trolls" would have done to Mahatma Gandhi and Jayprakash Narayan had the great leaders been around, Congress leader and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha said on Wednesday.

He also said targeting anyone who takes stand for truth or in the interest of the country is "not a big deal, but business" for the "trolls".

The former BJP leader's comments came in the wake of reports of Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone being trolled for expressing solidarity with Jawaharlal Nehru University students attacked by masked goons inside the campus in Delhi on Sunday night.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Bollywood veteran Sinha, without naming the BJP, took a dig at the party, saying its 'war room' is the only place where employment is being given at a time when unemployment is allegedly being experienced in the country.

"Fortunately, Gandhi ji and JP (as Narayan was popularly known) are not among us. Don't know what the trolls would have done to them," Sinha said.

He alleged the BJP's war room and "its trolls" see those who are standing with the truth and are coming to the fore in the interest of the country as "anti-nationals".

"They (trolls) themselves are doing things which an anti-national would do, but are seeing others as anti-nationals. For them, it is neither a big thing nor a bad thing, they are doing their business," he added.

Asked by a reporter that his daughter and Bollywood actress Sonkashi, too, may get trolled for supporting Padukone, Sinha said he and his family is already being trolled since long time. -- PTI

23:07 CCPA recommends budget session from Jan 31

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has recommended holding the Budget Session in two phases from January 31 to April 3, with the Union Budget to be presented on February 1, sources said on Wednesday.

They said the first phase of the session will be from January 31 to February 11 and the second will be from March 2 to April 3.

There is usually a month-long break between the two phases of the Budget Session to allow parliamentary committees to examine budgetary allocations made to various ministries.

The President convenes both Houses of Parliament on the recommendation made by the Union Cabinet. -- PTI

22:27 Trump announces fresh sanctions on Iran

President Trump announced his administration will hit Iran with new sanctions in the wake of its attack on two Iraqi military bases housing US troops.

"The United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime," Trump said.

He noted that his administration is continuing to review other options to respond to the Iranian missile strikes.

"These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior," he said.

Trump ended his remarks on the Iran crisis with a message to the people of Iran.

"Finally, to the people and leaders of Iran, we want you to have a future and a great future, one that you deserve," Trump said.

"One of prosperity at home and harmony with the nations of the world. "The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it," Trump added.

22:14 Iran appears to be standing down: Trump

President Donald Trump said US forces are "prepared for anything," but for now, "Iran appears to be standing down."

"Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world," Trump said.

President Trump also criticised the Iran nuclear deal as "very defective."

"The very defective JCPOA expires shortly, anyway, and gives Iran a clear and quick path to nuclear breakout. Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism," Trump said.

Trump called on other allies to "break away" from the deal.

"We must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place," he said.

Trump described the Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani killed in a US strike last week as "the world's top terrorist."

"He trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terrorist strikes against civilian targets. He fueled bloody civil wars all across the region. He viciously wounded and murdered thousands of US troops, including the planting of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims," Trump said.

Trump said Soleimani directed the recent attacks on US personnel in Iraq that "badly wounded four service members and killed one American" and he orchestrated "the violent assault" on the US Embassy on Baghdad.

"In recent days he was planning new attacks on American targets, but we stopped him," he added.

Trump said that since he took office "America has achieved energy independence."

"We are now the No. 1 producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. We are independent and we do not need Middle East oil," he declared.

22:07 No Americans were harmed in Iran attack: Trump

United States President Donald Trump said that no Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime.

"We suffered no casualties. All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases," Trump said in his address in Washington.

He further said, "As long as I'm President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon."

21:56 Should Deepika visit Nagpur if not JNU: Cong

The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at the BJP, asking if Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone should visit the RSS headquarters in Nagpur instead of JNU.

The opposition party's reaction came amid calls, including from some BJP functionaries, to boycott Padukone's upcoming movie 'Chhapaak' for her visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a mob.

"The ruling party has reduced (itself) to indulging in petty social media polls, faking videos. Should she (Deepika Padukone) go to Nagpur, the Sangh headquarters, to promote her movie? What do they want this country to be?" Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, when asked about a strong reaction from a quarter of the BJP on the actor's visit to the university.

Khera said the government is filing FIRs against students and youth instead of hearing them out.

"If someone is showing concern to the protesting youth, you raise questions on him/her," he said, alleging the ruling BJP claims it is the world's largest party but it has a "small heart".

"If there is unrest across universities, we expect the Prime Minister to go there, we expect the Home Minister, the senior leader of the BJP to go and listen to the youth of this country, whichever campus we are talking about," he said in reference to protests by youth and students on various campuses.

On Padukone's visit to the JNU and the BJP's criticism of it, Khera alleged the ruling party sees "bad intent" everywhere.

He alleged that the prime minister, home minister and other BJP leaders have never heard or answered the youth on their problems. -- PTI

A Jawaharlal Nehru University student on Wednesday claimed that he escaped a masked mob that went on a rampage on the campus three days ago by "faking" that he belonged to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Rajesh Kumar Arya, a student of School of International Studies, told this to a four-member fact-finding committee of the Congress, which was recording statements of those injured and eyewitnesses to the violence on Sunday.

Arya told the panel that a mob of around 20 men carrying sticks, iron rods and hammer stormed the Sabarmati hostel around 6.45 pm.

"My room is on the second floor of the hostel. When I looked down, I saw men moving from room to room, beating up students. Most of them had their faces covered," he recalled.

According to Arya, when the masked mob saw him, one of them pointed towards him and yelled: "Look, there are people above too".

The student switched off the lights of his room and bolted the door from inside.

Arya said the men banged on the door for sometime and broke the ventilator's glass. Scared, he "surrendered" before them.

"I folded my hands. They surrounded me and pushed me into a corner. Some of the men stood on my bed. They asked my name and enquired about my political affiliation," he told the panel.

"Some of them said 'lay him on the floor and beat him up'. I said folks, I am also from the ABVP," he said. "They asked me who all I knew in the organisation. I blurted out some names, but could not convince them."

"They then asked for proof. I showed them the book I was reading 'Hindu Nationalism: A Reader'," Arya claimed.

The men took the book, read the title and left, he added.

Asked about the fact-finding committee, Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said they had met the faculty members and students, adding that they would ask every side to talk to them.

"We don't want to give a pre-determined judgement because there are many versions," the All India Mahila Congress president added. -- PTI

Police on Wednesday recorded the statement of the woman against whom a case has been registered for holding a 'Free Kashmir' placard during a protest against the JNU violence at the Gateway of India here, an official

said.

The woman, Mehak Mirza Prabhu, who is a poet and a script writer, was called to the Colaba Police Station, where her statement was recorded by a woman police officer in front of Sangramsinh Nishandar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I), the official said.

Mirza, who was accompanied by her lawyer, was allowed to go after her statement was recorded in the evening, he said.

The proceeding was also video recorded, the official said, adding the placards, banners and posters used during the protest, were also brought to the police station.

Mirza, however, did not speak to the waiting media.

She had displayed the 'Free Kashmir' placard during a demonstration held on Monday to denounce the violence at Delhi's JNU at the Gateway of India.

Though she had later apologised for her act, the Colaba police had on Tuesday booked her under IPC section 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration). -- PTI

Sixteen envoys will be travelling to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday where they will meet civil society members and will be briefed on the security situation in the Union territory, officials said on Wednesday.

The group will primarily comprise envoys from Latin American and African countries, they said.

The European Union countries are understood to have conveyed that they would visit the Union Territory on a different date and are also believed to have stressed on meeting three former chief ministers -- Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- who are in detention.

The envoys travelling on Thursday will meet civil society members and receive a briefing on the security situation from various agencies, the officials said.

On the same day, the envoys will be taken to Jammu, where they will meet Lt Governor G C Murmu and other officials before returning to the national capital the next day, they added.

Sources said envoys of a number of countries had requested the government for a visit to Kashmir to get a first-hand account of the situation prevailing in the Valley following the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 there.

The move will be part of India's diplomatic outreach to rebut Pakistan's propaganda against it on the Kashmir issue.

India had reached out to the P5 countries and all the world capitals, putting forward its perspective on its decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two Union territories.

After India announced its decision to reorganise J&K on August 5 last year, Pakistan reacted angrily and mounted a major diplomatic offensive against New Delhi on the issue.

Pakistan has also downgraded diplomatic ties by expelling the Indian envoy.

This will be the second visit of a foreign delegation to Kashmir since August 5, 2019, the day when the Centre withdrew special status of the state and also bifurcated it into union territories -- Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, a delegation of 23 EU MPs was taken on a two-day visit to assess the situation in the Union territory by the International Institute for Nonaligned Studies, a Delhi-based think tank.

However, the government had distanced itself from the visit of the delegation and Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy informed Parliament that the European parliamentarians were on a "private visit". -- PTI

The Indian Navy has deployed warships in the Gulf region to ensure security of India's sea-borne trade and effectively respond to any emergent situation in the wake of fast escalating tension between the United States and Iran, officials said on Wednesday.

Iran launched missile strikes against two American military bases in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation to the killing of its top commander General Qassem Soleimani by the US in a drone strike.

The Indian Navy said warships and aircraft were deployed to establish presence, provide a sense of reassurance to the Indian merchant men, monitor the ongoing situation and respond to any emergent crises.

"Indian Navy continues to monitor the situation in the Gulf region and is maintaining presence in the region to ensure security of our sea-borne trade and the safety of Indian Flag Merchant Vessels transiting through the region," it said in a statement.

"The Indian Navy stands committed to protection of the nation's maritime interests," the navy added. -- PTI

20:56 PM to skip Khelo India Youth Games in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to inaugurate the 3rd Khelo India Youth Games 2020 here on January 10 as Bharatiya Janata Party's Assam unit is yet to receive confirmation about his programme.

An invitation was sent to the PMO to invite Modi to inaugurate the Khelo India Youth Games but no confirmation on it has been received, BJP state unit spokesman Rupam Goswami told PTI on Wednesday.

"There is no talk about the prime minister coming to Guwahati to inaugurate Khelo India. Sending an invitation to the PM is a formality. We have not received any confirmation from the PMO to our invitation," he said when asked whether Modi has cancelled his visit to Assam, which is witnessing protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act.

Various organisations have threatened to intensify their stir if the prime minister came for the inaugural ceremony.

There is speculation in the media whether Modi would come to Guwahati to inaugurate the Youth Games and had cancelled his visit due to the ongoing protests against the CAA.

Meanwhile, many of the expected 11,000 participants of the Khelo India Youth Games from across the country have started arriving here, officials said.

The Games will continue till January 22. -- PTI

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has launched a crowd-funding campaign for the upcoming assembly polls and urged the public to donate to continue "AAP-led education revolution" in the national capital.

The campaign that aims to raise Rs 28 lakh is being carried out through 'Our Democracy' website which is a campaign community that helps journalists, political activists and changemakers build a community online that supports them financially and amplifies their campaign.

Sisodia said, "After having worked for five years to transform Delhi's schools, I am now going back to people to seek re-election and carry on the #DelhiEducationRevolution".

"Contribute to my campaign to help me continue this work in Delhi's schools," he said in a tweet, sharing a link to his crowdfunding page.

In a note on the page, Sisodia said what has happened in Delhi is nothing short of a revolution.

"But this is only the beginning. We have miles to go before the dream is realised. And that is where I need your help. I will be seeking a second term as Education Minister in a few weeks and I need your support to run a clean, honest campaign," he said.

Delhi assembly polls will be held on February 8 and the counting of votes will take place on February 11. -- PTI

Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday condemned the call to boycott Deepika Padukone's upcoming film Chhapaak after the Bollywood actor visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University to express solidarity after a mob rampaged the university.

"It's a very narrow mindset if any actor or actress is not in your favour, then you talk about boycotting their films," Pilot told reporters in Jaipur.

"I condemn the leaders who talk about boycotting to watch the film of any actor or actress. More people will watch this film now," the Congress leader said.

On Tuesday evening, Deepika made a surprise visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi to express solidarity with the students who were attacked when a masked mob stormed the campus on Sunday.

Deepika, who faced death threats and social media vitriol for speaking out during the release of her controversial film Padmaavat, turns producer with Chhapaak, directed by Meghna Gulzar.

The movie is scheduled to release on Friday. -- PTI

A day after the meeting between Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray fuelled speculation of a tie-up in Maharashtra, a senior BJP leader on Wednesday said "anything can happen in the future".

Fadnavis, a former Maharashtra chief minister, and Raj Thackeray met in Prabhadevi here on Tuesday. The meeting lasted for nearly two hours, sources had said.

Asked about the Fadnavis-Raj Thackeray meet, which took place in the backdrop of political realignment in the state, Maharashtra BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar did not provide any details, but pointed out that nobody had expected that the Shiv Sena will join hands with the Congress-NCP.

It was a courtesy meeting between the two leaders... there was nothing political, but anything can happen in the future.

"Nobody had predicted that the Shiv Sena would go with the Congress-NCP. People would term someone talking on these lines as crazy, but it happened, said the former state BJP president who was a member of the Fadnavis cabinet.

The Shiv Sena, a long-time ally of the BJP, walked out of the saffron alliance in November last year and joined hands with the Congress-NCP combine to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), founded by Raj Thackeray in 2006, fared poorly in the October assembly polls winning just one seat.

Raj Thackeray is expected to hold a public rally on January 23, where he might announce a 'key' decision, an MNS official had said on Tuesday.

It is being widely speculated that Raj Thackeray, estranged cousin of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, may announce a shift to the right amid changed political scenario in the state.

Raj Thackeray had become a trenchant critic of the BJP prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and had held several rallies in the state where he criticised the Modi government on a range of issues. -- PTI

19:40 Modi and Shah should listen to youth: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday said there is anger in the country with every section of society feeling disturbed, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as home minister Amit Shah to visit universities facing unrest and listen to the youth.

Discussing Sunday's attack on students by a masked mob in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also said it was the government, not just Delhi Police, that had been found wanting.

"If there is unrest in the universities, we expect the prime minister to go there, we expect the home minister, senior leaders of the BJP to go and listen to the youth of this country...," he told reporters.

Addressing a press conference in which he discussed a host of issues, Khera referred to JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh being named in FIRs and said it was the "new normal" in the country with the victim being named rather than the perpetrator.

"Delhi Police is one aspect, a very critical aspect, but when your leadership acts in a manner which is divisive, which tries to provoke one group against the other, which is unfair, unjust, what else do you expect the Delhi Police to do?

"They are just carrying orders. I hope Delhi Police realises its potential and the expectations people have from it and acts responsibly," he said.

No arrests have been made in the JNU attack case yet.

The Congress leader alleged that there is unrest and anger in the country and every section of society is feeling disturbed and apprehensive.

"Be it the 45-year record high unemployment, price rise, unkept promises or arrogant attitude of the government, the result of this attitude is visible across the country. From campuses to different sections of the society, you see unrest, you see anger, you see apprehension," he said.

Khera also questioned the government over the state of PSU undertakings and asked why the government was "hell bent" on destroying Maharatna companies by planning to sell them at cheap prices. -- PTI

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said to mark the 75th anniversary of the country in 2022, the parliament session will be held in the new building.

"...to fulfil the dream of 'New India'. Indian parliament will hold its session in 2022, in new Parliament House to mark the 75th anniversary of its independence," Birla said, speaking at the 25th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Ottawa in Canada.

Noting that the Parliament House Building has completed 92 glorious years after it was made functional in 1927, Birla said in a statement issued by Lok Sabha Secretariat that there is an urgent need to provide sufficient space and facilities for the Members of Parliament and the staff in Parliament House to fulfil the dream of 'New India'.

Birla also made it clear that members and staff of parliament will be consulted before undertaking the renovation and reconstruction and that too, within the prescribed time limit with minimal capital and without any interference in the parliamentary work.

The speaker said the redevelopment of the Central Vista from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate has been initiated and the aim of this exercise is to fulfil the needs for the next 250 years.

"Architecture of Parliament building symbolises the aspirations of the State and its people; it also epitomizes the character of the State, its traditions and cultural heritage," Birla was quoted as saying in the statement.

With the increasing number of lawmakers and the ever-growing mandate of Parliaments, he said, the legislatures across the world are also expanding.

The speaker emphasised that the renovation and reconstruction of Parliamentary building facilitates transformation in cultural, technological and infrastructural spheres which strengthen the interface of citizens with parliament and in turn consolidates democracy.

Birla said legislatures across the world have been contemplating to renovate and redevelop parliamentary buildings to address the emerging requirements of the 21st Century. -- PTI

Actor Deepika Padukone, who visited Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University to express solidarity with students, on Wednesday came in for praise from noted filmmaker Aparna Sen for her "act of courage".

The Bollywood star on Tuesday evening attended a public meeting, called by JNU Teacher's Association and JNUSU in response to Sunday's attack on students and teachers by a masked mob armed with sticks and rods.

"There comes a tipping point in everyone's life. I guess the violence in JNU was Deepika's. Salutations Deepika. The country will remember this act of courage," Sen said in a tweet.

The National Award-winning director had joined a host of eminent personalities on Monday in condemning the violence at JNU.

Bengali actor Swastika Mukherjee also lauded Padukone on Twitter. "SHE took a stand. SHE stood by the youth seeking justice. It is the only thing that matters???? #DeepikaPadukone," Mukherjee said.

Padukone, 34, had on Monday told a news channel she feels proud that people have come out and raised their voice without fear, in reference to the protests against the amended Citizenship Act, the National Register of Citizens and the violence in JNU. -- PTI

The human resource development ministry on Wednesday suggested to Jawaharlal Nehru University vice chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar to become more communicative with students, take faculty into confidence and facilitate the semester registration process, days after violence ran amok on the university campus.

Human resource development ministry officials met Kumar and told him normalcy should be restored at the earliest, a senior ministry official said.

The official also said the VC has been advised to be more communicative with students and take the faculty into confidence.

Kumar, who has been severely criticised by students and faculty members for not doing enough when they were brutally attacked by a masked mob on the campus on Sunday evening, told the ministry officials that efforts were being made to facilitate the semester registration process for "willing" students.

"Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare and G C Hosur had a meeting with JNU VC at the ministry today about the efforts being made to restore normalcy on campus. He informed the officials about efforts being made for facilitating semester registration for willing students and a conducive environment for their academic pursuits," the ministry official added.

The VC later took to Twitter to inform about the meeting.

On Monday, a day after the violence on JNU campus, JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar visited the ministry and updated the top brass about the situation besides submitting a detailed report of the sequence of events that led to the violence. Kumar did not attend the meeting.

On Tuesday, he urged to students to "put the past behind" and return to studies.

"Our heart goes out to all the injured students. The incident (violence) is unfortunate. I would like to tell students that JNU campus is a secure place. I urge all students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind," the vice chancellor had said.

A group of masked people armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus on Sunday evening, prompting the administration to call in the police. -- PTI

The manufacturing of the country's first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant is currently under phase three which involves setting to work of machinery and other equipment and it is likely to be commissioned by early 2021, sources said on Wednesday.

This carrier is being built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi.

"Currently, phase three of the construction of Vikrant is under progress, which involves setting to work of machinery and equipment, like power generation and propulsion machinery. The carrier is likely to be commissioned by early 2021," a source told PTI.

The third phase of construction will go on till acceptance of harbour and sea trials, sources added.

Aviation trials would also take a year or so after that, they said.

Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on December 3 had said that Vikrant will be fully operational by 2022 and it will have a fleet of MiG-29K aircraft.

The first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant complemented with MiG-29K aircraft will be showcased as part of the Navy's tableau during the ceremonial parade on Rajpath on the Republic Day, officials said. -- PTI

18:15 Police on verge of cracking JNU case: Sources

Police has got vital clues about the identities of masked men who attacked students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and is on the verge of cracking the case, government sources said.

Police personnel are on "extra alert" on Wednesday following the mobilisation of students and teachers on the university campus, they said.

Violence broke out at JNU on Sunday night as a group of masked people armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.

At least 35 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured in the violence in the university.

They were admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre and discharged on Monday. -- PTI

Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, leading an Indian military delegation to China, met the Chinese ground forces' commander Gen Han Weiguo and discussed issues having strategic ramifications and measures to enhance peace and tranquillity along the sensitive borders, a defence spokesman said on Wednesday.

The Indian Army described the meeting Lt Gen Singh and Gen Han as "historic".

Gen Singh's visit is the second-ever by a Northern Army commander to China, earlier being in 2015, said Udhampur-based Army PRO (Defence) Lt Col Abhinav Navneet in a statement here.

He said they discussed issues having strategic ramifications to include regional security environment, joint training and measures to enhance peace and tranquillity along the borders.

The spokesman said the visit would "serve as a milestone" by cementing mutual ties. "This will achieve the twin aims of high level military co-operation and stabilizing the sensitive borders of both the countries."

During the five-day visit, that started on January 7, the Indian delegation will hold talks with top generals of China's People's Liberation Army and visit vital military and civil establishments in Beijing, Chengdu, Urumqi and Shanghai.

The visit comes close on the heels of Joint Military Exercise 'Hand-in Hand 2019' held recently between the two countries in eastern theatre in Meghalaya.

"There has been a marked increase in mutual coordination between armies of both the countries and a will to foster friendly relations between them," the spokesman said. -- PTI

17:28 BJP will pay heavy price on CAA: Punjab CM

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday slammed former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan for asserting that the Centre will implement the amended citizenship law at any cost and said the Bharatiya Janata Party will have to pay a "heavy price for its stubbornness".

"An elected government which refuses to heed the voice of its people or respond to their anger is bound to lose their confidence and collapse," the CM said reacting to BJP leaders statement made in Ludhiana on Tuesday.

He said the BJP's stance on the issue smacked of a "dangerously fascist approach" that would lead to their eventual downfall.

"The BJP will have to pay a heavy price for stubbornness on the CAA," he said in a statement.

On his government's stance on the contentious law, the CM said they can't be forced to implement the "brazenly divisive Act" in Punjab.

The Punjab CM reiterated that neither he nor the Congress was against the granting of citizenship to persecuted minorities but they were completely opposed to the discrimination in the CAA against Muslims.

Amarinder Singh said despite a nationwide outrage against the legislation, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was refusing to acknowledge the unconstitutionality of the CAA.

He lashed out at the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, saying that Chouhan, like other BJP leaders, had no inkling of the implications or consequences of the CAA.

He rejected Chouhan's claim that the protests against the legislation were the brainchild of the Congress.

The protests against the legislation were the result of a spontaneous outrage among Indians cutting across religious and party lines, the CM stressed.

"Does Chouhan really believe that lakhs of people, including students, who had come out on the streets to brave bullets and lathis, were Congress supporters," asked Amarinder Singh.

"Can't he or the other BJP leaders hear the voice of these protesters, a majority of whom have no personal stake in the matter," he added. -- PTI

Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution for caste-based Census in the country.The resolution that aims to find out the population of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the country was moved by Speaker Nana Patole and was passed by the Assembly unanimously. Patole said that the data would help to give benefits for the development of the OBCs.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Assembly unanimously ratified the 126th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was passed by Parliament in December 2019 last year.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said reservation is important for the SC/ST people in the country.

"The benefits of the reservation should reach all downtrodden castes. Several decades have passed since the reservation is being given but still there are many castes whose representatives have not been elected to any houses in state legislatures or Parliament," he said.

"So we should ensure that all castes benefit from it. If that is not ensured, not only 10 years but even after 40 years this extension of the reservation will not solve the purpose," the BJP leader said.The Bill seeks to extend by 10 years the reservation given to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and the State assemblies. -- ANI

17:08 Markets wobble as Iran strikes US forces

Equity benchmarks clawed back most of their lost ground to end modestly lower on Wednesday as global markets were whiplashed by a fresh wave of volatility after Iran launched retaliatory strikes against US forces in Iraq. After plunging nearly 400 points in early trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex stabilised to finally settle 51.73 points, or 0.13 per cent, down at 40,817.74. Similarly, the broader Nifty shed 27.60 points, or 0.23 per cent, to finish at 12,025.35.

World equities nosedived while gold and US Treasuries firmed up on safe-haven demand after Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases with US personnel in response to the killing of its top general Qasem Soleimani. -- PTI

Image: Mourners attend a funeral procession of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, at Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf on January 4, 2019. Photograph: Reuters.

17:03 Pawar to join Yashwant Sinha in anti-CAA yatra

NCP chief Sharad Pawar will flag off and participate in the yatra being organised by the Rashtra Manch of former Union minister Yashwant Sinha against the new citizenship law, proposed NRC and NPR.

The "Gandhi Shanti Yatra" will commence from the Gateway of India in south Mumbai on January 9 morning and will culminate at the 'Raj Ghat' in Delhi on January 30 -- the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The NCP made the announcement after Sinha, a former NDA minister, met Pawar in Mumbai on Wednesday. The yatra will pass through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Harayana and Delhi and cover the distance of over 3,000 kms.

"Sharad Pawar will flag off the yatra and also participate. NCP workers and office-bearers should take part in the yatra," Maharashtra minister and NCP's Mumbai unit chief Nawab Malik said in a statement.

Pawar's NCP is a part of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, which also comprises the Shiv Sena and the Congress. Passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which proposes to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, had triggerred protests in many states.

The proposed National Register of Citizens is also being opposed by many parties. Some states like Kerala and West Bengal are also against the National Population Register. -- PTI

17:03 Pawar to join Yashwant Sinha in anti-CAA yatra

NCP chief Sharad Pawar will flag off and participate in the yatra being organised by the Rashtra Manch of former Union minister Yashwant Sinha against the new citizenship law, proposed NRC and NPR.

The proposed National Register of Citizens is also being opposed by many parties. Some states like Kerala and West Bengal are also against the National Population Register. -- PTI

The police have received 11 complaints, including one lodged by a professor in connection with the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University, officials said on Wednesday. Heavy Police force continued to be deployed at JNU after a mob of masked young men stormed the varsity campus in south Delhi on Sunday, police said.

"The police have received 11 complaints in connections with the incident on January 5. Out of these, one complaint has been lodged by a professor while the other complaints have been lodged by the students," they said.

The 11 complaints received in connection with the violence at the varsity on Sunday, will be transferred to Crime branch, police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Devender Arya said the present situation in JNU is in control.

"At the request of the JNU administration, the police presence will continue," he said. Policemen in civil clothes will be inside the JNU campus while personnel in uniform will remain outside the campus, he said. Teams of both the Crime Branch and Forensic Science Laboratory have visited the campus to collect evidence. Videos are also being scrutinised, they said. An appeal has already been made to public to share information and video clips of the incident, police added.

On Sunday, a mob of masked young men stormed the JNU campus in south Delhi and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings. They also attacked a women's hostel.

-- PTI

Image: Delhi Police personnel deployed outside JNU campus today after the attack on JNU students on Sunday night, in New Delhi.

The nationwide strike seems to have failed to evoke much response in Maharashtra till Wednesday afternoon with transport and banking services remaining largely unaffected in many districts as well as in the country's financial capital. No untoward incident was reported so far from any region of the state.

Suburban trains, which are called as the "lifeline of Mumbai" with a ridership of more than 75 lakh commuters per day, public buses, taxis and autorickshaws are running normally in the island city and suburbs.

Similarly, Metro and Monorail services are running smoothly, officials said, adding that BEST-operated bus services are also running as per schedule. Private transport services like taxis and auto-rickshaws are also plying normally in Mumbai.

Film and TV shoots also remained unaffected. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees said all its members were at work as usual and nothing was hampered because of the strike.

In Pune, transport services remained unaffected. "Buses operated by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd are plying normally," said Shankar Pawar, Director, PMPML. Educational institutes and commercial establishments in the city remained opened as usual.

Trade union leader Ajit Abhyankar claimed that at least 15000 people affiliated to various Central trade unions, Bhartiya Kamgar Sena, posts, banks, and other government establishments participated in a public rally outside the district collectorate in Pune. He said 70 per cent of factories and manufacturing units in Pimpri Chinchwad, Bhosari, Chakan and Ranjangaon MIDC around Pune remained closed.

A pilot error is unlikely to have caused the crash of Ukraine's Boeing 737 near Tehran, the vice president of operations at the Ukraine International Airlines said on Wednesday.

According to the Iranian and Ukrainian officials, the crash, which happened shortly after take-off from Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran, left no survivors.

"We know, as of today, that the aircraft went to the altitude of 2,400 meters (7,874 feet). The crew mistake is minimal. We simply do not consider it. Considering their experience, it is very hard to say that it could somehow be about the crew," Igor Sosnovsky said at a briefing.

"All crew members had enough experience and flight hours," he added.

Evgeny Dykhne, the company president, said that the crashed aircraft was one of the best at the Ukraine International Airlines.Dykhne said the company had "no right out to work out its own theories (of what happened)," adding that a special investigative panel was to put forward possible versions. -- Sputnik/ANI

Amid calls for boycotting Bollywood star Deepika Padukone's upcoming movie Chhapaak for her visit to JNU, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said not only artistes, even a common man can go anywhere to express his opinion and there cannot be any objection over it.

Padukone made a surprise visit to the the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday evening to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a mob.

"Why only artistes, any common man can go anywhere to express his opinion, there cannot be any objection," Javadekar said when asked about Padukone attending a protest in JNU.

Asked about the call by some BJP functionaries to boycott her upcoming movie, Javadekar said he had not read the remarks and sought to underscore the significance of his statement, saying he is stating so as a minister and regular BJP spokesperson. -- PTI

Image: Deepika Padukone made a surprise visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday evening to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a mob.

15:05 Mamata slams 'gundagardi' in Left-backed bandh

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slams the Left parties and Congress-backed Bharat bandh today. "CPI-M has no ideology. Planting bombs on railway tracks is 'gundagardi'. In the name of movement, commuters are being beaten up and stones are being pelted. This is 'dadagiri', not a movement. I condemn this.

"Bandhs called by them (Left parties) earlier were rejected. They want to get cheap publicity by calling bandh and hurling bombs on buses. Instead of gaining this publicity, political death is better."

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from various parts of West Bengal on Wednesday as trade union activists backed by Left and Congress members tried to enforce the 24-hour strike against the Centre's "anti people" policies. The strikers blocked rail and roads in several parts of the state affecting normal life. They burnt tyres and blocked roads in various parts of the East Burdwan district, besides staging sit-in on railway tracks, affecting train services in the sector.

In East Midnapore district, stones were hurled at buses. When police tried to remove protesters, a scuffle ensued, following which several strikers were arrested, the police said.

The protesters tried to break past barricades in Kolkata's Jadavpur and Central Avenue areas, prompting the police to use of force. Several strikers were held, they said. In Dum Dum and Lake Town areas, clashes broke out between Left supporters, who took out rallies in support of the strike, and TMC supporters who were opposing it.

A huge police contingent was rushed to the spot to control the situation, the police said. Country-made bombs were found on various roads in Barasat area of the North 24 Paraganas district, they said.

The strikers also took out rallies in the industrial belt of the district and blocked roads and railway tracks. But police removed them to ensure movement of vehicles without hitch. Daily commuters and office-goers across the state had a harrowing experience as the number of vehicles plying on the roads was much less than other days.

In Kolkata, government buses were plying normally but the number of private buses was less. Metro services were normal in the city and auto-rickshaws and taxis were also seen on the roads.

14:54 Condemn Deepika's visit to JNU: BJP leader

BJP leader Ram Kadam on Wednesday condemned the visit of actor Deepika Padukone to Jawaharlal University to support students protesting against the recent violence in the campus and termed it "unfortunate!".

"It is unfortunate that Deepika Padukone visited JNU. We condemn this," said Kadam while speaking to media. Targetting the actor, the BJP leader suggested that she should have visited the place with "an agenda of national interest".

"An actor should be an actor. It seems like she was the spokesperson of a political party," he added.

The Bollywood actor on Tuesday had joined students protesting against the recent violence on the JNU campus.

She was seen standing with students as the demonstrators raised the slogan of "Jai Bhim-Jai Bhim" and former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar gave a speech. She did not issue any statement nor did she address the students.

Deepika was in the national capital to promote her upcoming film 'Chhapaak'.

Image: Deepika Padukone met JNUSU Aishe Ghosh last evening.

14:36 Ukraine crash had 63 Canadians, 82 Iranians

Crashed Ukraine plane had 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians on board, ANI reports quoting AFP. The vast majority of passengers on the flight to Ukraine that crashed near Tehran Wednesday morning were not Ukrainian nationals, say reports.

Image: The Ukrainian plane crash site. Pic: ANI

14:22 Kanimozhi meets JNU's Aishe Ghosh

DMK MP Kanimozhi meets Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union President Aishe Ghosh in the campus.

In Delhi, DMK MP Kanimozhi meets Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union President Aishe Ghosh in the campus. When asked about the social media campaign to boycott Deepika Padukone's upcoming movie, Chhapaak releasing tomorrow, Kanimozhi said, "I don't watch many Hindi movies, so they're actually making people like me go and watch her movies and support her.

The Bollywood star on Tuesday visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a mob, but she did not address the crowd. The actor reached the university campus at around 7.40 pm and attended a public meeting, called by JNU Teacher's Association and Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union in response to Sunday's attack on students and teachers by a masked mob armed with sticks and rods.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that a 'slap in the face' has been delivered to the United States today. His remarks come as the Islamic republic fired missiles at US troop bases in Iraq on Wednesday.

He made the remarks in a broadcast live on state television.

The Ayatollah had vowed "severe revenge" for a US drone strike that killed one of Iran's top military commanders near Baghdad international airport last week.

JNU Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, who met HRD Ministry officials on Wednesday over the recent violence on campus, said the university has not made any suggestions to temporarily shut the varsity.

"We have not made any such suggestions," Kumar told PTI following reports that the varsity administration suggested the Ministry about temporarily shutting the campus following the mob violence on Sunday.

"There is no move to do so. Efforts are on to facilitate conducive environment for students," he added. Kumar, who has been under fire from students and faculty members for not doing enough when they were brutally attacked by a masked mob on campus, had on Tuesday appealed the students to "put the past behind and return to campus". -- PTI

13:05 Congress CEC to meet on Jan 11 for Delhi polls

The Congress Central Election Committee meeting for the Delhi assembly elections will be held on January 11 at party interim president Sonia Gandhi's residence in Delhi.

Assembly polls will be held in the national capital on February 8 while counting of votes will take place on February 11.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Delhi with the announcement of the poll schedule.

The Election Commission stated that election notification will be issued on January 14, the last date of nomination of candidates is January 21, scrutiny of nominations will take place on January 22 and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is January 24.

In 2015 assembly polls, AAP won 67 of 70 seats while the BJP could win only three. Congress, which was in power for 15 years in Delhi between 1998 to 2013, failed to get any seat. -- ANI

12:52 Will welcome India's peace initiatives: Iran

Iran will welcome any peace initiative by India for de-escalating its tensions with the US after the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian envoy in New Delhi said on Wednesday. His comments come hours after Iran launched missile strikes against two US military bases in Iraq in retaliation to the killing of its top commander General Qassem Soleimani.

"India usually plays very good role in (maintaining) peace in the world. At the same time India belongs to this region. We welcome all initiatives from all countries, especially India as a good friend for us, to not allow escalation (of tensions)," Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni told reporters after a condolence meeting for Solemani at the country's embassy in New Delhi.

"We are not for war, we are looking for peace and prosperity for everybody in this region. We welcome any Indian initiative or any project that can help peace and prosperity in this world," he said.

On the Iranian attack on US targets in Iraq, Chegeni said his country retaliated under its right to defend.

Amid spiralling US-Iran tensions over the killing of Soleimani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday had a conversation with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, voicing India's concerns over the escalation of tensions. -- PTI

Image: Iran launched missile strikes against two US military bases in Iraq in retaliation to the killing of its top commander General Qassem Soleimani.

12:45

Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar reached Union HRD ministry to meet HRD Secretary Amit Khare, earlier today.

12:34 CM skips office, bandh near-total in Kerala

The day-long strike called by central trade unions was near total in Left-ruled Kerala on Wednesday, with vehicles, including state-owned KSRTC and private buses keeping off the roads. In the state capital, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) did not operate city and long distance services. Very few private vehicles and autorickshaws were seen plying on roads. As Sabarimala pilgrims have been exempted from the strike, KSRTC buses are taking Ayyappa devotees to Pamba.

With trade unions of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and opposition Congress-headed UDF participating in the strike, most of the staff did not turn up at the Secretariat.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other ministers also did not attend office. The weekly state cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday had been held a day earlier.

Police have made arrangements to ensure that there are no untoward incidents and 160 police pickets have been set up at various junctions in the city. Railway sources said train services were unaffected by the strike called by various trade unions and there were no protests at railway stations. However, passengers who reached the railway station here this morning had a tough time getting vehicles.

Image: In Punjab, protesters block a railway track in Amritsar during the all-India trade union strike. Pic: ANI

12:16 Nirbhaya: Tihar jail asks for hangman

More than a month before death warrants were issued in the Nirbhaya case on Tuesday, a jail in Bihar had been commissioned to make 10 execution ropes, raising speculations that these could be used for the four accused, who are scheduled to be hanged on January 22. The four convicts are housed in Tihar jail in Delhi.

In fact, Jai Kumar Singh, Minister of State for jail said today that Tihar jail had asked to avail the service of a hangman from Meerut for the execution of the Nirbhaya Rape case convicts. "We have approved permission for the same," he said.

The Buxar jail, the only prison in the state having the required knowhow, had received an instruction to the effect in the first week of December. However, state government officials could not confirm if the ropes from Buxar will be used for the execution of the accused.

The four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case will be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail, a Delhi court said on Tuesday.

According to Buxar jail superintendent Vijay Kumar Arora, the ropes are "strong but with a short shelf life as these are made of unprocessed cotton", and were made available to the prison directorate by the December 14 deadline.

"We do not know where these are going to be used. But, the Buxar jail has a long tradition of manufacturing such ropes," he had said. "It is from this jail that the rope used for executing the death sentence awarded to Parliament attack case accused Afzal Guru was sent. In 2016-17, we had received orders from Patiala jail though we do not know for what specific purpose. It takes about three days to prepare one rope and it involves mainly manual labour with a little use of motorised machinery," he added. Arora said the last time a rope was supplied from here, it had cost Rs 1,725 "only".

Image: Jai Kumar Singh (pictured), Minister of State for jail said today that Tihar jail had asked to avail the service of a hangman from Meerut for the execution of the Nirbhaya Rape case convicts. "We have approved permission for the same," he said.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Wednesday hailed Delhi court's issuing of death warrants against all four convicts in the Nirbhaya case."Justice is the sum of all Moral duties", Kudos to the Delhi court for its judgement on the #Nirbhaya case.

"Rest in eternal peace now you braveheart," Yuvraj tweeted.All four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case will be hanged on January 22, Delhi's Patiala House court said on Tuesday.

Additional Session Judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrants in the presence of all convicts, who were produced before the court through video conferencing.The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on January 22.

The amended Citizenship Act providing Indian nationality to persecuted minorities from Pakistan among others was an "unfinished business" of the country's independence and partition, BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda said on Tuesday.

The CAA was the "only scheme" that lived up to Mahatma Gandhi's assurance to minorities in Pakistan in 1947 that they will always have shelter in their "original homeland," if given no proper security there, he said. Panda also sought to allay any fears over the proposed National Register of Citizens, saying it was only an "idea" welcomed by many people and that no formal proposal has been made.

Speaking to reporters after attending a pro-CAA rally organised by the BJP's state unit, Panda accused the opposition of lying on the Citizenship Act.

"This is one specific scheme which is an unfinished business of our independence and partition. I keep saying that this particular scheme does not prevent others (religions) from applying for (Indian) citizenship."

"This is the only one scheme which lives up to Gandhiji's assurance to the minorities of Pakistan in 1947 that if they are not given shelter, security properly in that country they will always be having shelter in their original homeland," Panda, BJP National Vice-President, said.

At least 80 'Americans terrorists' were killed in missile attacks by Iran on two US bases in Iraq on Wednesday, Iranian state media said.

The attacks were carried out in retaliation to the killing of Iranian military commander, General Qassem Soleimani.

In a statement, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said "the fierce revenge by the Revolutionary Guards has begun'.

At least six rockets hit the Al-Asad air base in western Iraq at 1.20 am local time -- the exact time Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike at the Baghdad airport last Friday. Taji base, an Iraqi military base where US troops are deployed, was hit in a second round of attacks two hours later.

Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif later said the country does not seek escalation or war, but would itself against any aggression. An adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that any US retaliation to Iran's missile attacks could lead to "an all-out war in the Middle East".

Hours after the attack, US President Donald Trump said "all is well', and "so far, so good'.

Image: Mourners hold pictures slain Iranian military commander, General Qassem Soleimani, during a protest march.

The Government of India has issued an advisory for travel to Iraq. "In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification. Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq. Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq," the MEA said in a release.

India also tells all Indian carriers to avoid airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf following tension in the region.

This morning, a Ukrainian airplane carrying at least 170 people crashed Wednesday near an airport in Tehran, Iranian state TV reported.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

The plane had taken off from Imam Khomeini International Airport, the report said. The crash is suspected to have been caused by mechanical issues, it added, without elaborating.

An investigation team was at the site of the crash in southwestern outskirts of Tehran. State TV earlier said there were 180 passengers and crew aboard. The discrepancy could not be immediately reconciled.

Flight data from the airport showed a Ukrainian 737-800 flown by Ukraine International Airlines took off Wednesday morning, then stopped sending data almost immediately afterward, according to website FlightRadar24.

The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A photo later published by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency showed rescue officials in a farm field, with what appeared to be pieces of the aircraft laying nearby.

Image: The Ukrainian plane crashed hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting two bases in Iraq housing US forces in retaliation for the killing of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani. In the pic, lakhs gathered for the funeral of Soleimani, yesterday, leading to a stampede that left over 50 dead.

All 170 people on board the Ukrainian airplane which crashed today, have died. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's main airport, state TV reported. The plane had taken off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital.

The crash is suspected to have been caused by mechanical issues, the TV reported, without elaborating. An investigation team was at the site of the crash in southwestern outskirts of Tehran, civil aviation spokesman Reza Jafarzadeh said. "After taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport, it crashed between Parand and Shahriar," Jafarzadeh said.

IMAGE: An Iranian demonstrator holds a picture of the late Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, during a protest against the assassination of Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Photograph: Nazanin Tabatabaee/West Asia News Agency via Reuters

Banking services were impacted on Wednesday as employees went on a nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

Branch activities including cash withdrawal deposit in public sector banks in many places across the country have been affected due to the strike. Most of the lenders had informed their customers in advance about the strike call given by All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), and its impact on banking services. Bank employees have extended support to the nationwide strike call given by 10 central trade unions, AIBEA general Secretary C H Venkatachalam told PTI.

The trade unions have claimed around 25 crore people are participating in the strike to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

File pic.

10:42 4.9 magnitude quake jolts Iran

An earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter Scale hit near the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran on Wednesday.According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres.The earthquake in the Middle Eastern country comes as tensions continue to soar in the region following missile attacks on two military bases housing American troops in Iraq.

09:54 Salute 25-cr workers on Bharat bandh: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi greets Wednesday with a tweet on the Bharat bandh call by 10 labour unions. Gandhi tweeted, "The Modi-Shah Govt's anti people, anti labour policies have created catastrophic unemployment and are weakening our PSUs to justify their sale to Modi's crony capitalist friends. Today, over 25 crore workers have called for #BharatBandh2020 in protest. I salute them."

Transport and banking services at several places are likely to be affected due to the 'Bharat Bandh' called by all 10 Central trade unions along with different federations being organised to protest against "anti-worker policies of BJP government" on Wednesday.

Ten central trade unions including CITU, INTUC, among others have given the call for strike with a 12-point charter of demand. Trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will not be taking part in the strike.

Image: The West Bengal government is not supporting the bandh, but CM Mamata Banerjee said she supported their demands. In Kanchrapara, North 24 Parganas, protesters block railway tracks.

West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh turned away an ambulance which tried to make way through the rally he was addressing in Nadia district of West Bengal, on Monday. He ordered the ambulance to divert its route stating that it was a Trinamool Congress' tactic to disrupt the rally. "Divert the route of ambulance as hundreds of people are sitting here. They (TMC) are doing it purposely. It is their tactic to disrupt this rally," Ghosh said while addressing the rally on Monday.

09:32 Ukrainian plane with 180 passengers crashes

Iranian state TV reports that an Ukrainian airplane carrying 180 passengers and crew has crashed near the airport in capital, Tehran. Early reports say that the Boeing 737 plane carrying 180 passengers and crew crashed shortly after takeoff from Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran. Details awaited.

Representational image.

09:21 Shiv Sena extends support to Bharat Bandh

The Shiv Sena on Wednesday extended its support to trade unions' 'Bharat Bandh' call and slammed the central government for its policies and decisions.

In its mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena stated that during the 'first regime of BJP government, the industry and labour class was badly affected due to its decisions like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST)'.

The editorial stated that people expected that things will improve, but 'six months have passed since the present government was formed and neither industries nor the condition of the labourers improved'. -- ANI

09:17

A North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus driver wears a helmet in Siliguri in wake of protests during Bharat Bandh called by 10 trade unions against 'anti-worker policies' of the central government. -- ANI

08:42 Bharat Bandh: Banking, transport to be affected

Transport and banking services at several places are likely to be affected due to the 'Bharat Bandh' called by all 10 Central trade unions along with different federations being organised to protest against 'anti-worker policies' of the Bharatiya Janata Party government on Wednesday.

The 10 central trade unions including Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Indian National Trade Union Congress, among others have given the call for strike with a 12-point charter of demand.

Trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will not be taking part in the strike.

Earlier on Tuesday, speaking to ANI Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU had said, "All 10 central unions along with all national independent federations of central and state governments, bank, defence production and other service sectors have called a strike against anti-worker and anti-national policies of BJP government."

"Workers are going on strike with a 12-point charter of demands. We are demanding equal wage for equal work for contract workers who do the same work but receive less than half wage than regular workers," he added.

All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) which comprises about 250 farmers' organisations has also announced to observe 'Grameen Bharat Bandh', on Wednesday.

Moreover, services at various bank branches are likely to be affected as hundreds of employees are likely to go on a bank strike across the country on Wednesday.

The bank strike is part of the Bharat Bandh call given by trade unions to protest against the labour reforms and economic policies of the Central government, according to reports.

The protestors' demand during the Bharat Bandh includes the Centre to drop the proposed labour reforms.

A Bill in this regard was passed and proposes to merge 44 labour laws into four codes -- wages, industrial relations, social security, and safe working conditions.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal Transport Department will operate 22 per cent additional buses on Wednesday in view of nationwide strike supported by various trade unions against economic policies of the central government.

"The State Transport Units (STUs) will operate about 22 per cent additional buses tomorrow," a Transport Department release said. -- ANI

IMAGE: Protesters block a railway track in Howrah on Wednesday. -- Photograph: ANI/Twitter

00:19 Can't stay neutral: Varun Dhawan on JNU attack

Actor Varun Dhawan on Tuesday condemned the violence in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University and said one cannot stay neutral during such incidents, joining a section of Bollywood personalities who have denounced the campus mayhem.

Violence had broken out inside the university campus on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property.

At least 34 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured.

Speaking to reporters here in Madhya Pradesh while promoting his upcoming film, Dhawan said, "I think we cannot stay neutral in such issues. You have to condemn such attacks.

"It is dangerous and sad if masked people enter an educational institution and all this (assault, vandalism) happens."

Queried on whether there was a "divide" in the Hindi film industry on the incident going by the vast number of tweets and posts on social media from the fraternity, the 32- year-old actor evaded a direct reply and said, "I am not going to get into what people are saying on Twitter on this issue."

He feigned ignorance when asked about tweets against the Centre on the JNU violence by producer-director Anurag Kashyap, and said "I have been promoting my film for the past three days and have not read statements of these people".

The Badlapur actor said it was not known, right now, who was behind Sunday's violence inside the premier central varsity.

"But the police will investigate it. As an Indian, I have full faith in the police and judiciary. I hope those involved in this incident get severe punishment as soon as possible," he said.

Dhawan said everybody, especially parents, wanted students to remain safe in campuses, adding that the need now was for peace and stability and for all people to act unitedly.

"It is easy to sit here and say whether this or that man is wrong," he added.

"Horrifying", "heartbreaking" and "barbaric" is how voices emerging from Bollywood such as director Zoya Akhtar, actors Anil Kapoor and Alia Bhatt on Monday described the JNU violence and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

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