The government has called an all-party meeting on Monday, a day ahead of the start of the Budget Session of Parliament.

The customary meeting, called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, is to be held at noon on January 30 in Parliament Annexe Building.

During the meeting, the government is expected to seek cooperation from all parties for the smooth running of Parliament.

Opposition parties are expected to raise matters of concern during the meeting and also highlight issues they plan to raise during the session.

In the afternoon, a meeting of National Democratic Alliance floor leaders will also be held to strategise floor cooperation.

The Budget Session will be held in two parts.

The session will begin with President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament.

Economic Survey will be tabled after the President's address.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February 1.

The Union Budget 2023-24 may be the last full budget before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The first part of the session will be held from January 31 and will go on till February 13.   -- PTI

Odisha's Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das died of bullet injuries on Sunday, Apollo Hospital officials said.

Earlier in the day, Das was shot and grievously injured when he got out of his car, allegedly by a police officer who was captured.

The injuries were repaired, and steps were taken to improve the pumping of the heart. He was given urgent ICU care.

But, despite best of efforts, he could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries, a statement issued by the hospital said.   -- PTI

The highly anticipated H1B visa filing season for fiscal 2023-24 will officially begin on March 1 when the United States immigration agency will start accepting applications for skilled foreign workers visas, the most sought-after by Indian IT professionals.

The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023, it will accept applications between March 1 and March 17 petitions for H-1B visas that allow them to work and live in the US for up to six years in specialised fields such as technology, engineering, and medicine.

After six years, it opens up pathways to permanent residency or Green Card.

'If we receive enough registrations by March 17, we will randomly select registrations and send selection notifications via users' myUSCIS online accounts. If we do not receive enough registrations, all registrations that were properly submitted in the initial registration period will be selected,' the USCIS said.

'We intend to notify account holders by March 31,' a media release said.

The USCIS said it would release additional information in the coming weeks.  

The H1B visa allocations are capped at 85,000 visas per year, with 20,000 of those set aside for workers holding advanced degrees from US institutions.

The remaining 65,000 visas are awarded through a lottery system, making the competition for H1B visas fierce.

The high demand for H1B visas has led to calls for reforms to the programme, with many advocating for an increase in the number of visas available and a simplification of the application process.

Proponents argue that the H-1B programme is crucial for maintaining the United States' position as a global leader in technology and innovation, while also supporting the country's economy.    -- PTI

Authorities in Pakistan's Rawalpindi have demolished houses of a minority community, a Hindu and a Christian family, who were living in the area for the past 70 years.

As per the sources, at least five houses were demolished in the Cantonment area of Rawalpindi on January 27 that belonged to a Hindu family, a Christian family and the Shias.

Their belongings were thrown on the streets in the neighbourhood.

The Hindu family was forced to take shelter in a nearby temple, whereas the Christian family and Shias were forced to live without any shelter.

Sources reveal that the victims' families tried to take a stay order from the court, but authorities used force to demolish their houses.

A Hindu victim said, "They are mafias and came in a group of at least 100 people. They even harassed us, attacked us as we tried to counter them. They are so powerful that no FIR was registered at the police station."

He added, "We tried to oppose them in a court, but the Cantonment Board has only one judge, Naveed Akthar, who takes their favour. We were having all the papers as we have been living here for over 70 years. They have not given us any notice and no time to save our household goods. We have no option but to take the family to a temple."   -- ANI

'Beating the Retreat' ceremony, which marks the formal end of Republic Day celebrations, began at Vijay Chowk in the national capital on Sunday.

Amid rain lashing the national capital, military bands enthralled audience at at Vijay Chowk at the ceremony attended by President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

According to the Ministry of Defence, 29 captivating and foot-tapping Indian tunes are being played by the music bands of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the State Police and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).

The event will witness the country's biggest Drone Show comprising 3,500 indigenous drones.

The drone show will light up the evening sky over the Raisina Hill, weaving myriad forms of national figures/events through smooth synchronisation.

It will depict the success of the startup ecosystem, and the technological prowess of the country's youth and pave the way for future path-breaking trends.

Botlabs Dynamics will organise the drone show.

For the first time, a 3D anamorphic projection will be organised during Beating Retreat Ceremony on the facade of the North and South Block.Indian Air Force's band will play 'Aprajey Arjun', 'Charkha', 'Vayu Shakti', 'Swadeshi', while 'Ekla Cholo Re', 'Hum Taiyyar Hai', and 'Jai Bharati' will be played by the band of Indian Navy.

The Indian Army's band will play 'Shankhnaad', 'Sher-e-Jawan', 'Bhupal', 'Agranee Bharat', 'Young India', 'Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja', 'Drummers Call', and 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon'.

The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of 'Sare Jahan se Acha'.

The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.

It marks a centuries-old military tradition when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sound of the Retreat.

Colours and Standards are cased and flags are lowered.

The ceremony creates nostalgia for the times gone by.   -- ANI

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday sacked one of his Cabinet ministers and Conservative Party chairman, Nadhim Zahawi, after he was found to have been in serious breach of the Ministerial Code.

Zahawi, who was a minister without portfolio as the chief of the governing Tory party, had faced fierce pressure in recent days to quit over questions about his finances after it emerged that he had agreed a penalty settlement with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) department.

Sunak had ordered an independent investigation into the Iraqi-born former Chancellor's tax affairs amid growing Opposition demands for him to sack Zahawi.

His independent ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, submitted his assessment on whether the HMRC settlement amounted to a breach of the ministerial code.

When I became Prime Minister last year, I pledged that the government I lead would have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level, writes Sunak in his letter to Zahawi, released by Downing Street.

"Following the completion of the independent adviser's investigation the findings of which he has shared with us both it is clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code. As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty's government," he said.

He added that Zahawi should be 'extremely proud' of his 'wide-ranging achievements in government over the last five years', particularly crediting his 'successful oversight of the COVID-19 vaccine procurement and deployment programme'.

In the correspondence to Sunak, also released by Downing Street, Magnus said his overall judgement was that 'Mr Zahawi's conduct as a minister has fallen below the high standards that, as Prime Minister, you rightly expect from those who serve in your government'.

Earlier this week, Zahawi said he welcomed the investigation and looked forward to 'explaining the facts of this issue' to Magnus the UK Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests.

"In order to ensure the independence of this process, you will understand that it would be inappropriate to discuss this issue any further, as I continue my duties as chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party," Zahawi said at the time.

The minister has insisted he 'acted properly throughout' and any tax error was due to being careless and not deliberate.

The Opposition parties and even some members of the Conservative Party had called for Zahawi to step down as Tory chairman amid too many unanswered questions.

In his report, dated 29 January, Magnus notes: "Given the nature of the investigation by HMRC, which started prior to his appointment as secretary of state for education on 15 September 2021, I consider that by failing to declare HMRC's ongoing investigation before July 2022 despite the ministerial declaration of interests form including specific prompts on tax affairs and HMRC investigations and disputes Mr Zahawi failed to meet the requirement to declare any interests which might be thought to give rise to a conflict."

He adds: "I also conclude that, in the appointments process for the governments formed in September 2022 and October 2022, Mr Zahawi failed to disclose relevant information in this case the nature of the investigation and its outcome in a penalty at the time of his appointment, including to cabinet office officials who support that process.

"Without knowledge of that information, the Cabinet Office was not in a position to inform the appointing prime minister."   -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar as part of the Kanyakumari-Kashmir 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and said a 'promise' made to India has been fulfilled.

The security for the 10-minute event was at its peak as all roads in a one-kilometre radius leading to the chowk, which holds symbolic importance for Srinagar, were sealed off from Saturday night and no vehicular movement was allowed.

Barricades were set up and concertina wires installed at all entry points with a heavy deployment of security personnel, while shops, business establishments and the weekly flea market were closed as part of the security exercise.

Gandhi, along with his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party leaders and workers, resumed the final lap of the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir from Srinagar's Pantha Chowk around 10:45 am.

Those part of the march walked for about eight kilometres to Sonwar raising slogans such as 'Jodo Jodo Bharat Jodo', and along the way, were cheered and greeted by locals.

Within a multi-layer security ring, Gandhi, in a white T-shirt which he has sported for most of the over 4,000-kilometre yatra from India's southern tip, waved at people as yatris, including a large number of women, carrying the tricolour and Congress flags, moved towards Sonwar.

After reaching their destination, Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other senior party leaders drove to the party's headquarters at M A Road in Srinagar.

Later, they headed to Lal Chowk, where the former Congress president unfurled the national flag.

'By hoisting the tricolour at Lal Chowk, the promise made to India was fulfilled today. Hate will lose, love will always win. There will be a new dawn of hopes in India,' Gandhi tweeted in Hindi after the event.

The yatra, which was launched on September 7 last year in Kanyakumari, has traversed 12 states and two Union Territories.

It will culminate with the hoisting of the national flag at the Congress office here on Monday.

Yatris of the foot-march led Gandhi will halt for the night at the Nehru Park in Srinagar.

On Monday, a public rally will also be held at the SK Stadium for which 23 opposition political parties have been invited by the Congress.  -- PTI

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan continued its record-breaking spree at the box office as it collected Rs 429 crore gross worldwide in four days, said production banner Yash Raj Films (YRF) on Sunday.

According to YRF, the high-octane spy thriller raised Rs 53.25 crore nett in India (Hindi, all dubbed versions), taking the domestic gross box office numbers to Rs 64 crore.

Pathaan was also released in Tamil and Telugu on Wednesday.

'Pathaan hit another 100 crore+ day on its 4th day, as it registered Rs 53.25 crore nett in India (Hindi, all dubbed versions), taking the India gross to Rs 64 crore.

'The overseas gross on day 4 is at Rs 52 crore, taking the total collection on its fourth day of release to Rs 116 crore gross,' the studio said in a press note.

Pathaan, which is Shah Rukh's first big screen release as a lead in over four years, had raised Rs 106 crore globally on its opening day, followed by Rs 113.6 crore on day two and Rs 90 crore on day three.

Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film follows the titular spy (Shah Rukh) who comes out of exile to stop terrorist group Outfit X, led by Jim (John Abraham), from launching a debilitating attack on India. It also stars Deepika Padukone.

Pathaan is the fourth movie in producer Aditya Chopra's ambitious spy universe, following Salman Khan's Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), and War, featuring Hrithik Roshan (2019).

The movie, which according to YRF has broken over 21 box office records, also has a guest appearance by Salman as fellow spy Tiger.   -- PTI

People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi unfurled the national flag here under 'different circumstances' when Jammu and Kashmir has been turned into a military garrison and assurances given by the Constitution demolished by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

She said former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru first unfurling the tricolour in Kashmir in 1948 amongst a sea of people was a momentous occasion marked by celebrations.

'Today history stands witness as RG (Rahul Gandhi) unfurled the same flag albeit under completely different circumstances at a time when J and K has been turned into a military garrison.

'Assurances given by Indian Constitution have been demolished by BJP and is a complete betrayal,' Mehbooba said in a series of tweets.

'In 1948 when PM Nehru first unfurled tiranga in Kashmir amongst a sea of people, it was a momentous occasion marked by celebrations.

'People of J and K had successfully fought off invaders by pushing them back and thus began a new relationship with India based on mutual trust and respect,' she said.

The former chief minister said Nehru's efforts ensured a Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India.

'He assured Kashmiris and allayed concerns about preserving their identity not only in terms of religion but also culturally within India.

'This was achieved through constitutional safeguards guaranteed by Article 370,' she said.

Despite these facts, the BJP claims to have resolved the Kashmir issue by the 'unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370', Mehbooba said.

'Not only have they failed to address the issue but also gifted 2000 sq km of our territory to China,' she said.  -- PTI

Actor Annu Kapoor, who was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi after he complained of chest pain four days ago, was discharged on Sunday, doctors said.

He was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of January 26.

According to Dr Ajay Swaroop, Chairman (Board of Management, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital), Kapoor complained of chest discomfort and he has been discharged Sunday.

He underwent treatment under a cardiology team comprising Dr J P S Sawhney, Dr Rajneesh Jain, Dr Rajiv Passey, Dr BS Vivek and Dr Sushant Wattal, the hospital said in a statement.

According to Dr Jain, co-director of cath lab and head of the unit, under whom the actor was admitted, "Kapoor was discharged today in a stable condition."   -- PTI

A passenger on board an IndiGo flight to Mumbai from Nagpur allegedly attempted to remove the cover of the emergency exit when the aircraft was approaching for landing in Mumbai, the airline said on Sunday.

An FIR has been registered against the passenger for the alleged act, IndiGo said in a statement and added there was no compromise on the safety.

The airline, however, did not share other details.

A passenger travelling on Flight 6E-5274 from Nagpur to Mumbai allegedly tried to remove the cover of the emergency exit while the aircraft was in the air and on approach for landing.

On noticing this violation, the crew on board alerted the captain and the passenger was appropriately cautioned, the airline said in a statement.

There was no compromise on the safe operation of the said flight, it said.

An FIR has been filed against the passenger for unauthorised tampering of the emergency exit as the aircraft was in the process of landing, the airline said.   -- PTI

Odisha Health Minister Naba Das sustained injuries after being shot at by some unidentified miscreant near Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district.

The incident occurred when Naba Das was on his way to attend a programme at Gandhi Chowk in Brajarajnagar.

More details awaited. -- ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk in Srinagar as part of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', amid stringent security measures usually reserved for a prime ministerial visit.

Taking a 30-minute break from the Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march at Sonawar, Gandhi drove to the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters on Maulana Azad Road before heading to the clock tower, locally known as 'Ghanta Ghar', to unfurl the tricolour.

Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir for the flag hoisting.

The security for the 10-minute event was at its peak as all roads leading to Lal Chowk had been sealed off from Saturday night and no vehicular movement was allowed.

Shops, business establishments and the weekly flea market were closed as part of the security drill for the flag unfurling by the former Congress president.   -- PTI

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on Sunday reached the Hurriyat Conference office in the Rajbhag area in Srinagar as part of its investigation into a terror funding case, officials said.

Sources claimed that the federal agency might seal the office as part of the probe.

The Hurriyat Conference is an amalgam of 26 separatist outfits and was formed in 1993.

The office has remained closed since August 2019 following a crackdown on separatist groups by the government.   -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Srinagar's Panthachowk on Sunday, as the foot march entered its last day.

Gandhi, along with his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, began the yatra at 10.45 am in his trademark white T-shirt.

The Gandhis joined hundreds of Congress supporters, including women, who were seen carrying the tricolour and party flags.

The yatra will cover a distance of seven kilometres up to the Sonwar area of Srinagar.

After a brief halt there, the Gandhis will reach the Lal Chowk City Centre to unfurl the tricolour.

The whole area around Lal Chowk has been sealed off and a multi-layer security ring deployed around the city centre.

After Lal Chowk, the yatra will travel to Nehru Park in the Boulevard area of Srinagar, marking an end to the 4,080-km walkathon, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7 and traversed 75 districts across the country.

On Monday, Gandhi will unfurl the tricolour at the party headquarters on the M A Road in Srinagar, following which a public rally will be held at the SK stadium, for which 23 opposition political parties have been invited. -- PTI

Shariq, who was undergoing treatment in the Victoria Hospital in Mangaluru for burns, is learnt to have recovered from the injuries. 

Following his recovery, the NIA has decided to take him into custody for questioning, the sources said. 

Shariq was injured when the cooker bomb he was allegedly holding while travelling in an autorickshaw on November 19 in Mangaluru exploded. 

Along with him, the auto-rickshaw driver too was wounded. 

The accused had sustained 40 per cent burn injuries. 

As his survival was necessary to probe the matter, he was shifted to the Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru for further treatment. 

Shariq, a native of Tirthahalli in Shivamogga district, was allegedly inspired by the terror outfit Islamic State and was planning to set up a similar IS base in Shivamogga town. 

The alleged IS-inspired terror module was busted last year when a group went on a rampage and after vandalising some public properties, one of its member stabbed a man. -- PTI

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP Vincent H Pala said the final list of five candidates was approved by the central election committee. 

The five candidates are Jhanika Siangshai (Khliehriat), Arbiangkam Khar Sohmat (Amlarem), Chireng Peter R Marak (Kharkutta), Dr Tweel K Marak (Resubelpara) and Carla R Sangma (Rajabala), he said. 

The party on January 25 had announced the names of 55 candidates for the 60 member state assembly. 

Pala's name was in the first list and he will be contesting the assembly election from the Sutnga-Saipung constituency in East Jaintia Hills district. Election to the Meghalaya Assembly is scheduled to be held on February 27 and the last date for filing nominations is February 7. The counting of votes will be held on March 2.

As many as 9.5 lakh candidates had registered for the exam for 1,181 posts which was to be held at 2,995 centres across the state. 

Based on a tip-off, the police detained a suspect and recovered a copy of the question paper of the exam early Sunday morning, after which the Gujarat Panchayat Service Selection Board decided to "postpone" the exam in the wider interest of the candidates, the board said in a statement. 

The police was investigating the matter, it said. "The junior clerk (administrative/accounting) exam was to be conducted in different districts between 11 am and 12 noon on January 29. As per the information received from the police early Sunday morning, they detained a suspect and upon his interrogation seized a copy of the question paper from his possession," the board said in the statement. 

The board expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the candidates and informed them not to go to the examination centres. 

"The examination will be conducted afresh at the earliest, for which the board will issue a new advertisement," it said. 

Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi claimed this was the 15th government competitive exam which was cancelled in the last 12 years because of question paper leak. -- PTI

The 97th edition of Mann Ki Baat, the PM's monthly radio programme, will be aired at 11 am on Sunday.   

Earlier, on December 25, 2022, Modi addressed the 96th episode of Mann Ki Baat.      

In his last Mann Ki Baat of 2022, PM Modi said the country had become the world's fifth-largest economy in 2022.      

"The year 2022 was wonderful, India completed 75 years of Independence while 'Amrit Kaal' began. India progressed rapidly and became the world's fifth-largest economy, and achieved the unbelievable record of 220 crore vaccines and crossed the $400 billion mark in exports," he said.      

He also talked about the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the government and lauded the launch of INS Vikrant. -- ANI

Fifty per cent of the invigilators at the examination centres will be external and a teacher of the subject for which an exam is being held will not be put on duty, according to the statement by the Uttar Pradesh government issued on Saturday. 

These follow directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for a copying-free board exam. 

The guidelines also state that no girl examinee will be frisked by a male invigilator. 

Besides, women invigilators will be deployed at centres where girls are sitting for exams. 

No teacher shall be appointed at a particular examination centre on his/her request for vested interest, the statement said. 

According to secretary of the Board of Secondary Education Divyakant Shukla, each examination hall will have two invigilators while those with more than 40 students will have three invigilators, it said. 

Invigilators will also have to ensure confidentiality and security of question papers. 

No candidate can enter the examination hall with any material for copying, mobile phone, calculator, or any such electronic device. -- PTI

Bheda, 73, passed away around 9 pm, said Deepak Namjoshi, pulmonologist and director, CritiCare Asia Multispecialty Hospital & Research Center, Juhu. 

"Sawant's mother had stage four endometrial cancer which had spread to the brain, lungs and liver. She was admitted around a fortnight ago. She was earlier treated at another hospital and later referred here," he told PTI. 

Rakhi, who is best known for her appearance in Shah Rukh Khan's Main Hoon Na and Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss, often visited her mother at the hospital. -- PTI

The SFI activists raised slogans and tried to stop the police from removing the screen installed on the University campus, resulting in a minor scuffle. 

The screening was stopped after 15-20 minutes, eyewitnesses said. 

The registrar of the University said they had issued a notice to SFI to stop screening of the documentary India, the Modi Question immediately as it could create a law and order situation on the campus. 

"Besides this, the documentary has been banned in India and invites contempt as per the orders passed by the Himachal high court... in view of this the screening of the film be stopped immediately and the same shall not be screened in the campus in future also," the registrar said. 

BJP state co-incharge of media Karan Nanda has also written to the police to ensure that the documentary is not allowed to be screened. 

SFI leaders lashed out at the government, accusing it of being intolerant. -- PTI

The four men had entered the mine in Dhanpuri, some 28 km from the district headquarters, allegedly with the intention to collect coal or scrap and died after inhaling toxic gas, the police had said on Friday. 

It was suspected some more persons could be inside the abandoned mine after we came across three missing person complaints filed in police stations in the area, additional superintendent of police Mukesh Vaish told PTI. 

"A rescue team from the local colliery and police reached the spot and started a five-hour long search operation leading to the recovery of three bodies on Saturday evening. They were identified as Rohit Kol, Rajesh Mishra and Manoj Barman," Vaish said. 

On Friday, superintendent of police Kumar Prateek had said four deaths took place between 10 pm and 11 pm on Thursday. 

The deceased were identified as Raj Mahto (20), Hazari Kol (30), Rahul Kol (23) and Kapil Vishwakarma (21), all residents of Dhanpuri. -- PTI

The Ladakh-based innovator had announced a five-day long hunger strike at 18,380 feet high Khardung La from January 26 to invite attention of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre to the demands of the people of Ladakh, including extension of sixth schedule of the Constitution and environmental protection form unchecked industrial and commercial expansion. 

Barring BJP, almost all major political parties, social and religious groups and student organisations have come together in both Leh and Kargil districts in support of the demands, including statehood and constitutional safeguards after the region was given a Union Territory status in August 2019 after being carved out of J&K. 

"He (Wangchuk) was not given permission by the administration to hold a five-day fast at Khardung La pass as the temperatures fall below minus 40 degrees Celsius there. 

"It was high risk for him and his followers to move to the place and accordingly, he was requested to observe the fast at his Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh campus," senior superintendent of police, Leh, PD Nitya said. 

She said police intercepted him when he tried to move towards Khardug La pass and requested him to return but he showed resistance and was brought back under lawful action to his institute. 

"He has signed a bond and police was deployed as a precautionary measure as he did not cooperate with the police," the officer said. 

However, Wangchuk said "he was under house arrest, actually worse than the house arrest at the institute where he had started the five-day fast coinciding the Republic Day." -- PTI