Indian shares moved higher on Wednesday, as investors looked towards a rise in September-quarter earnings for companies after the government`s corporate tax cut, amid a rise in inflation and hopes of further rate cuts from the central bank.

The broader NSE Nifty rose 0.4 per cent at 11,474.90 as of 0408 GMT, while the benchmark BSE Sensex was up 0.35 per cent at 38,634.90.

The September-quarter earnings season has so far seen blue-chip companies such as Hindustan Unilever (HUL) , Wipro Ltd and ACC Ltd beat estimates.

Earnings were in-part helped by the government`s move to slash corporate taxes last month.

Federal Bank and Mindtree Ltd are among the companies scheduled to report earnings later on Wednesday. Both the companies` shares were up between 0.5 per cent and 1 per cent ahead of the announcement.

Meanwhile, retail inflation for September rose, but a sharp economic slowdown has left analysts predicting a further rate cut by the Reserve bank of India.

"Investors are hoping for optimism from corporates in their Q2 earnings commentary led by corporate tax rate cuts and revival in consumer demand," said Rajesh Cheruvu, chief investment officer at Validus Wealth.

Broader Asian shares that rose in line with overnight gains in U.S. equities also supported Indian indexes.

MSCI`s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.2 per cent.

In the domestic market, Bharat Petroleum Corp topped the gainers list on the Nifty index, as the stock rose 4.79 per cent.

Wipro shares were up about 2.7 per cent&nbsp;after the company reported better-than-expected September-quarter earnings and also gave an optimistic revenue forecast for the next quarter.

Among other companies that reported earnings on Tuesday, ACC Ltd rose 2.69 per cent, while the Multi Commodity Exchange of India was up about 7%.

However, Vedanta Ltd was the morning`s top loser on the NSE index, dropping 1.4 per cent. 
&nbsp;

Indian shares moved higher on Wednesday, as investors looked towards a rise in September-quarter earnings for companies after the government`s corporate tax cut, amid a rise in inflation and hopes of further rate cuts from the central bank.

Indian shares moved higher on Wednesday, as investors looked towards a rise in September-quarter earnings for companies after the government`s corporate tax cut, amid a rise in inflation and hopes of further rate cuts from the central bank. The broader NSE Nifty rose 0.4 per cent at 11,474.90 as of 0408 GMT, while the benchmark BSE Sensex was up 0.35 per cent at 38,634.90. The September-quarter earnings season has so far seen blue-chip companies such as Hindustan Unilever (HUL) , Wipro Ltd and ACC Ltd beat estimates. Earnings were in-part helped by the government`s move to slash corporate taxes last month. Federal Bank and Mindtree Ltd are among the companies scheduled to report earnings later on Wednesday. Both the companies` shares were up between 0.5 per cent and 1 per cent ahead of the announcement. Meanwhile, retail inflation for September rose, but a sharp economic slowdown has left analysts predicting a further rate cut by the Reserve bank of India. "Investors are hoping for optimism from corporates in their Q2 earnings commentary led by corporate tax rate cuts and revival in consumer demand," said Rajesh Cheruvu, chief investment officer at Validus Wealth. Broader Asian shares that rose in line with overnight gains in U.S. equities also supported Indian indexes. MSCI`s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.2 per cent. In the domestic market, Bharat Petroleum Corp topped the gainers list on the Nifty index, as the stock rose 4.79 per cent. Wipro shares were up about 2.7 per cent after the company reported better-than-expected September-quarter earnings and also gave an optimistic revenue forecast for the next quarter. Among other companies that reported earnings on Tuesday, ACC Ltd rose 2.69 per cent, while the Multi Commodity Exchange of India was up about 7%. However, Vedanta Ltd was the morning`s top loser on the NSE index, dropping 1.4 per cent.

Nifty, Sensex gain as September-quarter earnings season gathers steam

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/inx-media-case-three-enforcement-directorate-officers-to-question-p-chidambaram-at-tihar-jail-256153">Finance Minister P Chidambaram</a> after grilling him for nearly two hours at Delhi`s Tihar Jail in connection with the INX Media money laundering case.

At present, ED officials along with Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta are outside the court of special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar for issuance of production warrant.

Chidambaram's arrest came a day after a special court allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to grill Chidambaram for 30 minutes in connection with the matter to decide on his arrest.

A three-member team of ED including Mahesh Gupta, Sandeep Thapliyal, and Dainik Jain had arrived at Tihar Jail to interrogate P Chidambaram, who is lodged in the case which is also being investigated by the CBI.

Nalini and Karti Chidambaram, the wife and son of the Congress leader, too reached the jail premises ahead of the interrogation process.

Chidambaram is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail since September 5 in a corruption case related to the alleged scam being probed by the CBI and ED.

His remand is slated to end on October 17. The case pertains to an FIR registered by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 by Chidambaram when he was the Finance Minister.

ED is investigating the alleged offence of money laundering that arose out of the FIR.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested former Finance Minister P Chidambaram after grilling him for nearly two hours at Delhi`s Tihar Jail in connection with the INX Media money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested former Finance Minister P Chidambaram after grilling him for nearly two hours at Delhi`s Tihar Jail in connection with the INX Media money laundering case. At present, ED officials along with Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta are outside the court of special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar for issuance of production warrant. Chidambaram's arrest came a day after a special court allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to grill Chidambaram for 30 minutes in connection with the matter to decide on his arrest. A three-member team of ED including Mahesh Gupta, Sandeep Thapliyal, and Dainik Jain had arrived at Tihar Jail to interrogate P Chidambaram, who is lodged in the case which is also being investigated by the CBI. Nalini and Karti Chidambaram, the wife and son of the Congress leader, too reached the jail premises ahead of the interrogation process. Chidambaram is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail since September 5 in a corruption case related to the alleged scam being probed by the CBI and ED. His remand is slated to end on October 17. The case pertains to an FIR registered by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 by Chidambaram when he was the Finance Minister. ED is investigating the alleged offence of money laundering that arose out of the FIR.

INX media case: Enforcement Directorate arrests P Chidambaram after questioning him at Tihar jail

India wants to comply with global sanctions, including US&nbsp;sanctions on Venezuela and Russia, but also needs to maintain its own strength and strategic interests, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in an interview on Tuesday.

The United States in January imposed the toughest sanctions yet on Venezuela's oil industry. The move has scared away some global customers, but with few alternative suppliers of heavy oil, Indian refiner Reliance Industries Ltd has been buying Venezuelan crude from Russian major Rosneft. The company is set to resume direct oil loadings in the South American nation after a four-month pause.

Sitharaman said the government has expressed its view to the United States.

"In specific issues which are critical for India's strategic interests, we have explained to the United States that India is a strategic partner for the United States of America and you want a strategic partner to be strong and not weakened," she said.

"We value the strong partnership with the USA, but we should equally be allowed to be a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-committed-to-provide-eco-friendly-energy-security-to-india-nirmala-sitharaman-255784">strong economy</a>."

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-economy-at-its-weakest-pace-since-global-financial-crisis-international-monetary-fund-256126">International Monetary Fund</a> earlier on Tuesday lowered its outlook for Indian growth in 2019, citing weaker-than-expected domestic demand. The US-China trade war will cut 2019 global growth to its slowest pace since the 2008/09 financial crisis, the IMF said.

India's gross domestic product grew at its weakest pace since 2013 between April and June, stoking expectations of further stimulus.

"Global headwinds ... are getting stronger by the day," Sitharaman said. Asked about further fiscal stimulus, she said,&nbsp;"I have not closed the door" on that.

New Delhi has been trying to boost domestic growth through an infrastructure package and a new loan programme organised with the banking sector that has doled out loans worth over 80,000 crore (8.7 billion pounds), she said.

The finance minister defended the government's move to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August.

The removal of the constitutional article that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir will boost the region and the country's economic potential, she said. 
&nbsp;

India wants to comply with global sanctions, including US sanctions on Venezuela and Russia, but also needs to maintain its own strength and strategic interests, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in an interview on Tuesday.

India wants to comply with global sanctions, including US sanctions on Venezuela and Russia, but also needs to maintain its own strength and strategic interests, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in an interview on Tuesday. The United States in January imposed the toughest sanctions yet on Venezuela's oil industry. The move has scared away some global customers, but with few alternative suppliers of heavy oil, Indian refiner Reliance Industries Ltd has been buying Venezuelan crude from Russian major Rosneft. The company is set to resume direct oil loadings in the South American nation after a four-month pause. Sitharaman said the government has expressed its view to the United States. "In specific issues which are critical for India's strategic interests, we have explained to the United States that India is a strategic partner for the United States of America and you want a strategic partner to be strong and not weakened," she said. "We value the strong partnership with the USA, but we should equally be allowed to be a strong economy." The International Monetary Fund earlier on Tuesday lowered its outlook for Indian growth in 2019, citing weaker-than-expected domestic demand. The US-China trade war will cut 2019 global growth to its slowest pace since the 2008/09 financial crisis, the IMF said. India's gross domestic product grew at its weakest pace since 2013 between April and June, stoking expectations of further stimulus. "Global headwinds ... are getting stronger by the day," Sitharaman said. Asked about further fiscal stimulus, she said, "I have not closed the door" on that. New Delhi has been trying to boost domestic growth through an infrastructure package and a new loan programme organised with the banking sector that has doled out loans worth over 80,000 crore (8.7 billion pounds), she said. The finance minister defended the government's move to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August. The removal of the constitutional article that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir will boost the region and the country's economic potential, she said.

India cannot sacrifice economic strength to comply with US sanctions: Sitharaman

'Defiant message' as North Korea's Kim rides white horse on sacred mountain

Ahead of Diwali, the air quality in the national capital has taken a turn for the worse.

People in Delhi and its nearby areas Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad woke up on Wednesday to a thick blanket of smog covering the region as the AQI plunged to the "very poor" category.

It is believed that the crop residue burning in the nearby states of Punjab and Haryana are contributing to polluting the air.

At around 8:30 am, the overall AQI in Delhi docked up at 309.An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 `very poor`, and 401 and 500 `severe`.

The AQI in Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa was 314, 313, 132 and 287 respectively.

From October 15, stringent measures to combat the menace of air pollution has come into force in the national capital and its nearby regions as part of the Graded Response Action Plan.

This plan which was first implemented in Delhi and NCR in 2017 include increasing bus and metro services, hiking parking fees and stopping the use of diesel generator when the air quality turns poor.

Other major cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai, as compared to Delhi, have had much better air quality.&nbsp;

Ahead of Diwali, the air quality in the national capital has taken a turn for the worse. People in Delhi and its nearby areas Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad woke up on Wednesday to a thick blanket of smog covering the region as the AQI plunged to the "very poor" category.

Ahead of Diwali, the air quality in the national capital has taken a turn for the worse. People in Delhi and its nearby areas Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad woke up on Wednesday to a thick blanket of smog covering the region as the AQI plunged to the "very poor" category. It is believed that the crop residue burning in the nearby states of Punjab and Haryana are contributing to polluting the air. At around 8:30 am, the overall AQI in Delhi docked up at 309.An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 `very poor`, and 401 and 500 `severe`. The AQI in Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa was 314, 313, 132 and 287 respectively. From October 15, stringent measures to combat the menace of air pollution has come into force in the national capital and its nearby regions as part of the Graded Response Action Plan. This plan which was first implemented in Delhi and NCR in 2017 include increasing bus and metro services, hiking parking fees and stopping the use of diesel generator when the air quality turns poor. Other major cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai, as compared to Delhi, have had much better air quality.

Delhi's air quality turns 'Very Poor' for first time this season

As <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hazy-morning-in-delhi-ncr-air-quality-continues-to-be-poor-256010">air quality in the national capital region</a> continues to dip, NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) depicts stubble burning in Delhi's adjoining areas.&nbsp;

While the fires were highlighted in isolated places across the country, the concentration intensified as one moved northward on India's map near Punjab, Haryana. &nbsp;

According to reports, the Delhi government also shared the NASA images pointing at the "large scale crop residue burning in states adjoining Delhi".&nbsp;

The Kejriwal-government has long blamed the stubble-burning activities in adjoining states like Punjab, Haryana and other areas for the drop in the air quality of the national capital during the winter months.&nbsp;

Previously conducted studies by NASA show&nbsp;the drop in North India's air quality during winters.

Research published in November 2015 by NASA's Earth Observatory stated, "satellites began to detect large numbers of active fires in mid-October. Normally extensive agricultural burning lasts for about three weeks. Although most of the haze appears to originate from the agricultural fires, other factors such as urban and industrial smog may also be contributing".

It explained how several types of particles and gases are released into the atmosphere, "including smog-forming carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide" due to this fire.&nbsp;

"Haze that forms over Punjab rarely stays there. While the fires burn, smoke often blankets much of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, exposing millions of people in the densely populated plain to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-12-million-early-deaths-in-india-due-to-air-pollution-report-207651">elevated levels of air pollution</a>," it added.&nbsp;

Another piece shared by the Earth Observatory way back in the year 2010 described skies over northern Indian as "some of the haziest in the world".

"After the rains of the summer monsoon clear the dust, the composition of the air shifts in the fall crop-burning season (October and November) for farmers, particularly in the northwestern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. When MODIS passed over on November 4, 2010, the sensor observed numerous small fires and a large smoke plume lingering downwind."

The finding published on NASA's webpage attributed the change in air quality in Northern India to a host of factors ranging from smoke originating from cooking, heating stoves in rural areas, "smattering of agricultural fires that continue through the winter", adding that the urban community adds to the worsening air quality by the means of vehicular pollution, "coal-fired power plants, and other industrial sources".

Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday sought a report from the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab over the action taken to stop stubble burning in their respective states, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

The NGT said that the report should be filed by November 15 which is also the next date of hearing.&nbsp;

The bench observed that the burning of crops is still taking place and that the states have not been able to communicate with the farmers and educate them about the same.

"If you have not succeeded then it is the failure of the state. Ultimately, the citizens are suffering," the tribunal observed.

Farmers residing in Haryana and Punjab have begun burning their crop residue in order to clear the fields of the summer harvest. Smoke from these two states travels to Delhi, leading to a spike in the air pollution levels.

The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital remains in the 'poor' category according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

As air quality in the national capital region continues to dip, NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) depicts stubble burning in Delhi's adjoining areas.

As air quality in the national capital region continues to dip, NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) depicts stubble burning in Delhi's adjoining areas. While the fires were highlighted in isolated places across the country, the concentration intensified as one moved northward on India's map near Punjab, Haryana. According to reports, the Delhi government also shared the NASA images pointing at the "large scale crop residue burning in states adjoining Delhi". The Kejriwal-government has long blamed the stubble-burning activities in adjoining states like Punjab, Haryana and other areas for the drop in the air quality of the national capital during the winter months. Previously conducted studies by NASA show the drop in North India's air quality during winters. Research published in November 2015 by NASA's Earth Observatory stated, "satellites began to detect large numbers of active fires in mid-October. Normally extensive agricultural burning lasts for about three weeks. Although most of the haze appears to originate from the agricultural fires, other factors such as urban and industrial smog may also be contributing". It explained how several types of particles and gases are released into the atmosphere, "including smog-forming carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide" due to this fire. "Haze that forms over Punjab rarely stays there. While the fires burn, smoke often blankets much of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, exposing millions of people in the densely populated plain to elevated levels of air pollution," it added. Another piece shared by the Earth Observatory way back in the year 2010 described skies over northern Indian as "some of the haziest in the world". "After the rains of the summer monsoon clear the dust, the composition of the air shifts in the fall crop-burning season (October and November) for farmers, particularly in the northwestern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. When MODIS passed over on November 4, 2010, the sensor observed numerous small fires and a large smoke plume lingering downwind." The finding published on NASA's webpage attributed the change in air quality in Northern India to a host of factors ranging from smoke originating from cooking, heating stoves in rural areas, "smattering of agricultural fires that continue through the winter", adding that the urban community adds to the worsening air quality by the means of vehicular pollution, "coal-fired power plants, and other industrial sources". Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday sought a report from the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab over the action taken to stop stubble burning in their respective states, news agency ANI reported. The NGT said that the report should be filed by November 15 which is also the next date of hearing. The bench observed that the burning of crops is still taking place and that the states have not been able to communicate with the farmers and educate them about the same. "If you have not succeeded then it is the failure of the state. Ultimately, the citizens are suffering," the tribunal observed. Farmers residing in Haryana and Punjab have begun burning their crop residue in order to clear the fields of the summer harvest. Smoke from these two states travels to Delhi, leading to a spike in the air pollution levels. The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital remains in the 'poor' category according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

NASA images show stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday hinted that the arguments in the sensitive Ayodhya case may be wrapped up on Wednesday.

During the hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi said: "Today is 39th day. Tomorrow is 40th day and last day of hearing in the case."

The five-judge bench headed by Justice Gogoi was hearing appeals challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict, which ordered equal division of the 2.77-acre of disputed land in Ayodhya among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and the Ram Lalla.&nbsp;

The top court had recently said that it would wrap up hearing in the case on October 17, a day earlier than it was scheduled. The judgment is likely to be pronounced on November 4-5.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday hinted that the arguments in the sensitive Ayodhya case may be wrapped up on Wednesday. During the hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi said: "Today is 39th day.

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday hinted that the arguments in the sensitive Ayodhya case may be wrapped up on Wednesday. During the hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi said: "Today is 39th day. Tomorrow is 40th day and last day of hearing in the case." The five-judge bench headed by Justice Gogoi was hearing appeals challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict, which ordered equal division of the 2.77-acre of disputed land in Ayodhya among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and the Ram Lalla. The top court had recently said that it would wrap up hearing in the case on October 17, a day earlier than it was scheduled. The judgment is likely to be pronounced on November 4-5. (With inputs from ANI)

Ayodhya case: Supreme Court likely to conclude hearing today

Turkey vowed to press ahead with its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-halts-weapon-exports-to-turkey-over-syria-offensive-foreign-secretary-dominic-raab-256092">offensive in northern Syria</a> on Tuesday despite US&nbsp;sanctions and growing calls for it to stop, while <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-forces-patrolling-between-syrian-turkish-forces-256159">Syria's Russia-backed army</a> moved on the key city of Manbij that was abandoned by US&nbsp;forces.

"They say 'declare a ceasefire'. We will never declare a ceasefire," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after a visit to Baku.

"They are pressuring us to stop the operation. They are announcing sanctions. Our goal is clear. We are not worried about any sanctions."

Erdogan said an attack from Manbij that killed one Turkish soldier was launched by Syrian government forces.

Reuters journalists accompanied Syrian government forces who entered the centre of Manbij, a flashpoint where US&nbsp;troops had previously conducted joint patrols with Turkey.

Russian and Syrian flags were flying from a building on the city outskirts and from a convoy of military vehicles.

Russia's Interfax news agency, citing Moscow's Defence Ministry, said later that Syrian forces had taken control of an area of more than 1,000 square km (386 miles) around Manbij, including Tabqa military airfield.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's unexpected decision to withhold protection from Syria's Kurds after a phone call with Erdogan a week ago swiftly upended five years of US&nbsp;policy on Syria.

As well as clearing the way for the Turkish incursion, the US&nbsp;withdrawal gives a free hand to Washington's adversaries in the world's deadliest ongoing war, namely Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.

The Syrian army deployments into Kurdish-held territory amount to a victory for Assad and Russia, giving them a foothold in the biggest remaining swathe of Syria that had been beyond their grasp through much of its eight-year-old war.

The United States announced on Sunday it was withdrawing its entire force of 1,000 troops from northern Syria. Its former Kurdish allies immediately forged a new alliance with Assad's government, inviting the army into towns across their territory.

A Reuters cameraman on the Turkish frontier reported heavy bombardment on Tuesday morning of the Syrian border town of Ras al Ain, where an SDF spokesman reported a battle going on.

US&nbsp;military aircraft carried out a "show of force" around the town of Kobani after Turkish-backed fighters came close to American forces, a US&nbsp;official told Reuters. The Turkish-backed fighters dispersed after the show of force, the official said.

US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence will meet Erdogan on Thursday in Ankara.

"Vice President Pence will reiterate President Trump's commitment to maintaining punishing economic sanctions on Turkey until a resolution is reached," the White House said in a statement.

After Trump announced a set of sanctions on Monday to punish Ankara, US&nbsp;prosecutors hit Turkey with charges on the majority state-owned Halkbank for taking part in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade US&nbsp;sanctions against Iran.

A Turkish embassy official in Washington said the indictment did not contribute positively to the current state of US-Turkey ties. Turkish and American officials had been in talks on the Halkbank case for at least a year.

More US sanctions pressure 

A senior Trump administration official said Washington would threaten more sanctions to persuade Turkey to reach a ceasefire and halt its offensive.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a loyal Trump supporter who has nevertheless been highly critical of the president's troop withdrawal, said he would introduce a bill on Thursday to impose tougher sanctions on Turkey.

The measures announced on Monday - mainly a hike in steel tariffs and a pause in trade talks - were less robust than financial markets had anticipated, and Trump's critics derided them as too feeble to have an impact.

The Turkish lira, which had fallen on the expectation of tougher US&nbsp;measures, recovered after the sanctions were announced, as did its bond and stock markets, with traders noting that Trump had spared Turkish banks.

Bilateral trade between Turkey and the United States is relatively small - around a tenth the size of Turkey's trade with Europe. Washington's most effective form of economic leverage would be to hinder Turkey's access to US&nbsp;financial markets, a step Trump has so far avoided.

In a potentially more damaging blow, German carmaker Volkswagen said it was postponing a final decision on whether to build a 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) plant in Turkey, citing concern over "current developments".

Following Trump's announcement, the US&nbsp;Treasury said on Monday it had sanctioned Turkey's energy, defence and interior ministers.

Accusations of betrayal

Trump has defended his reversal of US&nbsp;policy as part of a plan to extricate the United States from "endless" wars in the Middle East.

But his critics cast it as a betrayal of the Kurds, loyal allies who lost thousands of fighters as the principal ground force in Washington's battle against Islamic State.

A senior US&nbsp;defence official said the US&nbsp;military would continue to combat Islamic State militants, who experts say could take advantage of the chaos to stage a resurgence.

"The intent is to reposition (US&nbsp;forces leaving Syria) and use what assets and personnel we have available to continue the mission," the official said.

However, without a partnership on the ground in Syria like the with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, any such US&nbsp;efforts would almost certainly be limited. The Kurdish YPG militia, the key component of the forces who fought Islamic State, is seen by Ankara as a terrorist group aligned with Kurdish separatist insurgents in Turkey.

Turkey says it aims to defeat the YPG and create a "safe zone" where millions of Syrian war refugees now in Turkey could be resettled.

The United Nations says 160,000 people have fled their homes as Turkish forces advance. The regional Kurdish administration puts the number of displaced at 270,000.

The U.N. Security Council will likely meet on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Syria, diplomats said, the second such session since Turkey began its offensive.

The U.N. Human Rights office said on Tuesday that Turkey could be held responsible for war crimes by fighters under its direction, potentially including the assassination of Hevrin Khalaf, a leading Kurdish politician killed on the side of a highway on Saturday by gunmen who posted the attack on the internet.

Turkish-backed fighters have denied blame for her murder.

Erdogan said Ankara was giving the world a chance to bring peace to the region.

"The international community missed its opportunity to prevent the Syrian crisis from pulling an entire region into a maelstrom of instability," he wrote in the Wall Street Journal. "The European Union - and the world - should support what Turkey is trying to do."

Turkey vowed to press ahead with its offensive in northern Syria on Tuesday despite US sanctions and growing calls for it to stop, while Syria's Russia-backed army moved on the key city of Manbij that was abandoned by US forces.

Turkey vowed to press ahead with its offensive in northern Syria on Tuesday despite US sanctions and growing calls for it to stop, while Syria's Russia-backed army moved on the key city of Manbij that was abandoned by US forces. "They say 'declare a ceasefire'. We will never declare a ceasefire," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after a visit to Baku. "They are pressuring us to stop the operation. They are announcing sanctions. Our goal is clear. We are not worried about any sanctions." Erdogan said an attack from Manbij that killed one Turkish soldier was launched by Syrian government forces. Reuters journalists accompanied Syrian government forces who entered the centre of Manbij, a flashpoint where US troops had previously conducted joint patrols with Turkey. Russian and Syrian flags were flying from a building on the city outskirts and from a convoy of military vehicles. Russia's Interfax news agency, citing Moscow's Defence Ministry, said later that Syrian forces had taken control of an area of more than 1,000 square km (386 miles) around Manbij, including Tabqa military airfield. US President Donald Trump's unexpected decision to withhold protection from Syria's Kurds after a phone call with Erdogan a week ago swiftly upended five years of US policy on Syria. As well as clearing the way for the Turkish incursion, the US withdrawal gives a free hand to Washington's adversaries in the world's deadliest ongoing war, namely Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. The Syrian army deployments into Kurdish-held territory amount to a victory for Assad and Russia, giving them a foothold in the biggest remaining swathe of Syria that had been beyond their grasp through much of its eight-year-old war. The United States announced on Sunday it was withdrawing its entire force of 1,000 troops from northern Syria. Its former Kurdish allies immediately forged a new alliance with Assad's government, inviting the army into towns across their territory. A Reuters cameraman on the Turkish frontier reported heavy bombardment on Tuesday morning of the Syrian border town of Ras al Ain, where an SDF spokesman reported a battle going on. US military aircraft carried out a "show of force" around the town of Kobani after Turkish-backed fighters came close to American forces, a US official told Reuters. The Turkish-backed fighters dispersed after the show of force, the official said. US Vice President Mike Pence will meet Erdogan on Thursday in Ankara. "Vice President Pence will reiterate President Trump's commitment to maintaining punishing economic sanctions on Turkey until a resolution is reached," the White House said in a statement. After Trump announced a set of sanctions on Monday to punish Ankara, US prosecutors hit Turkey with charges on the majority state-owned Halkbank for taking part in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade US sanctions against Iran. A Turkish embassy official in Washington said the indictment did not contribute positively to the current state of US-Turkey ties. Turkish and American officials had been in talks on the Halkbank case for at least a year. More US sanctions pressure A senior Trump administration official said Washington would threaten more sanctions to persuade Turkey to reach a ceasefire and halt its offensive. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a loyal Trump supporter who has nevertheless been highly critical of the president's troop withdrawal, said he would introduce a bill on Thursday to impose tougher sanctions on Turkey. The measures announced on Monday - mainly a hike in steel tariffs and a pause in trade talks - were less robust than financial markets had anticipated, and Trump's critics derided them as too feeble to have an impact. The Turkish lira, which had fallen on the expectation of tougher US measures, recovered after the sanctions were announced, as did its bond and stock markets, with traders noting that Trump had spared Turkish banks. Bilateral trade between Turkey and the United States is relatively small - around a tenth the size of Turkey's trade with Europe. Washington's most effective form of economic leverage would be to hinder Turkey's access to US financial markets, a step Trump has so far avoided. In a potentially more damaging blow, German carmaker Volkswagen said it was postponing a final decision on whether to build a 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) plant in Turkey, citing concern over "current developments". Following Trump's announcement, the US Treasury said on Monday it had sanctioned Turkey's energy, defence and interior ministers. Accusations of betrayal Trump has defended his reversal of US policy as part of a plan to extricate the United States from "endless" wars in the Middle East. But his critics cast it as a betrayal of the Kurds, loyal allies who lost thousands of fighters as the principal ground force in Washington's battle against Islamic State. A senior US defence official said the US military would continue to combat Islamic State militants, who experts say could take advantage of the chaos to stage a resurgence. "The intent is to reposition (US forces leaving Syria) and use what assets and personnel we have available to continue the mission," the official said. However, without a partnership on the ground in Syria like the with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, any such US efforts would almost certainly be limited. The Kurdish YPG militia, the key component of the forces who fought Islamic State, is seen by Ankara as a terrorist group aligned with Kurdish separatist insurgents in Turkey. Turkey says it aims to defeat the YPG and create a "safe zone" where millions of Syrian war refugees now in Turkey could be resettled. The United Nations says 160,000 people have fled their homes as Turkish forces advance. The regional Kurdish administration puts the number of displaced at 270,000. The U.N. Security Council will likely meet on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Syria, diplomats said, the second such session since Turkey began its offensive. The U.N. Human Rights office said on Tuesday that Turkey could be held responsible for war crimes by fighters under its direction, potentially including the assassination of Hevrin Khalaf, a leading Kurdish politician killed on the side of a highway on Saturday by gunmen who posted the attack on the internet. Turkish-backed fighters have denied blame for her murder. Erdogan said Ankara was giving the world a chance to bring peace to the region. "The international community missed its opportunity to prevent the Syrian crisis from pulling an entire region into a maelstrom of instability," he wrote in the Wall Street Journal. "The European Union - and the world - should support what Turkey is trying to do."

Turkey pushes offensive in Syria, despite sanctions and calls to stop

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-officials-not-aware-of-escape-of-islamic-state-extremists-mike-pence-leaving-for-turkey-in-24-hours-256166">US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence</a> and President Donald <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-lawyer-giuliani-was-paid-500000-to-work-for-company-run-by-arrested-ukrainian-american-businessman-256142">Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani</a> said on Tuesday they will not cooperate with a US&nbsp;House of Representatives <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-diplomat-testifies-at-house-impeachment-enquiry-on-trumps-ukraine-dealings-256157">impeachment enquiry</a>, prompting a leading Democrat to say that would strengthen the case against the president.

The Pentagon also said it would not comply with lawmakers' request for documents related to Trump's effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival, further illustrating Trump's determination to stonewall the Democratic-led impeachment effort, which threatens to consume his presidency.

"The evidence of obstruction of Congress continues to build," Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, one of the leaders of the impeachment effort, said at a news conference.

Other US&nbsp;government officials have not been as reluctant to cooperate.

A senior US&nbsp;diplomat, George Kent, said in closed-door testimony that he had been alarmed by efforts by Giuliani and others to pressure Ukraine, according to one lawmaker who heard his testimony.

"He was pretty detailed in talking about some of the shady characters Giuliani was dependent on for misinformation," Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly told reporters.

House Democrats are focussing on Trump's request to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to look into unsubstantiated allegations about Joe Biden, the former vice president and a leading contender to become the Democratic nominee to run against Trump in the November 2020 US&nbsp;presidential election.

If the Democratic-controlled House votes to approve articles of impeachment - formal charges - the Republican-controlled Senate would then hold a trial on whether to remove the president from office. Success is seen as unlikely at this point as few Republican senators have criticized Trump.

A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday found that 43 per cent US&nbsp;adults believe Trump should be impeached, and 42 per cent said he should not be impeached. Another 14 per cent said they were not sure.

Kent, who has spent much of his career fighting corruption in Ukraine and elsewhere, is the second career diplomat to testify as part of the probe after being subpoenaed. The White House and State Department had ordered them not to appear.

His testimony backed up accounts from other US&nbsp;government insiders who have said they were unnerved by Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine.

Diplomats testify

Marie Yovanovitch, the former US&nbsp;ambassador to Ukraine, on Friday accused the Trump administration in the testimony of recalling her in May based on false claims.

Kent also said that a top White House official, acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, picked the officials who would handle Ukraine policy after the sitting ambassador was abruptly recalled in May.

"Here is a senior State Department official responsible for six countries, one of which is Ukraine, who found himself outside of a parallel process that he felt was undermining 28 years of US&nbsp;policy in promoting the rule of law in Ukraine. And that was wrong. He used that word, 'wrong'," Connolly said of Kent.

Two of those officials, US&nbsp;ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and Kurt Volker, a special representative for Ukraine, worked with Giuliani to pressure Ukrainian officials to launch investigations that could benefit Trump, according to communications provided to the committee.

Volker resigned his post in late September. Sondland is due to testify later in the week in response to a congressional subpoena.

Lawmakers on Monday heard from Fiona Hill, Trump's former Russia adviser, who said she and her then-boss, former national security adviser John Bolton, were also alarmed by the effort.

Hill told lawmakers that Bolton characterized Giuliani as "a hand grenade who is going to blow everybody up," according to two sources familiar with her testimony. A Bolton spokeswoman said he would have no comment on the testimony.

Giuliani had faced a Tuesday deadline to produce the requested documents. His lawyer, Jon Sale, said the documents were protected by legal principles that shield attorney-client communications and presidential communications.

"This appears to be an unconstitutional, baseless, and illegitimate 'impeachment inquiry,'" Sale wrote, echoing language the White House used last week.

Pence's lawyer, Matthew E. Morgan, also cited the White House's response, saying the House had not voted to authorise the inquiry.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said no vote is necessary.

"There is no requirement that we have a vote and so at this time we will not be having a vote," Pelosi told a news conference.

Hunter Biden denies wrongdoing

The investigation is focussed on the July call in which Trump pressed Zelenskiy to have Ukraine officials investigate Biden and his businessman son, Hunter Biden, who had been on the board of a Ukrainian energy company.

Hunter Biden, 49, denied doing anything improper in past work for the company but acknowledged he had benefited professionally from his father's political career in an interview with ABC News that aired on Tuesday.

Joe Biden has denied Trump's allegations of corruption.

Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US&nbsp;ally to dig up dirt on Biden after withholding $391 million in US&nbsp;security aid intended to help combat Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine. Zelenskiy agreed to investigate. Trump eventually allowed aid.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and defended his request to Zelenskiy during the phone call, which prompted a formal whistleblower complaint by a person with a US&nbsp;intelligence agency.

US Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on Tuesday they will not cooperate with a US House of Representatives impeachment enquiry, prompting a leading Democrat to say that would strengthen the case against the president.

US Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on Tuesday they will not cooperate with a US House of Representatives impeachment enquiry, prompting a leading Democrat to say that would strengthen the case against the president. The Pentagon also said it would not comply with lawmakers' request for documents related to Trump's effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival, further illustrating Trump's determination to stonewall the Democratic-led impeachment effort, which threatens to consume his presidency. "The evidence of obstruction of Congress continues to build," Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, one of the leaders of the impeachment effort, said at a news conference. Other US government officials have not been as reluctant to cooperate. A senior US diplomat, George Kent, said in closed-door testimony that he had been alarmed by efforts by Giuliani and others to pressure Ukraine, according to one lawmaker who heard his testimony. "He was pretty detailed in talking about some of the shady characters Giuliani was dependent on for misinformation," Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly told reporters. House Democrats are focussing on Trump's request to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to look into unsubstantiated allegations about Joe Biden, the former vice president and a leading contender to become the Democratic nominee to run against Trump in the November 2020 US presidential election. If the Democratic-controlled House votes to approve articles of impeachment - formal charges - the Republican-controlled Senate would then hold a trial on whether to remove the president from office. Success is seen as unlikely at this point as few Republican senators have criticized Trump. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday found that 43 per cent US adults believe Trump should be impeached, and 42 per cent said he should not be impeached. Another 14 per cent said they were not sure. Kent, who has spent much of his career fighting corruption in Ukraine and elsewhere, is the second career diplomat to testify as part of the probe after being subpoenaed. The White House and State Department had ordered them not to appear. His testimony backed up accounts from other US government insiders who have said they were unnerved by Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine. Diplomats testify Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, on Friday accused the Trump administration in the testimony of recalling her in May based on false claims. Kent also said that a top White House official, acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, picked the officials who would handle Ukraine policy after the sitting ambassador was abruptly recalled in May. "Here is a senior State Department official responsible for six countries, one of which is Ukraine, who found himself outside of a parallel process that he felt was undermining 28 years of US policy in promoting the rule of law in Ukraine. And that was wrong. He used that word, 'wrong'," Connolly said of Kent. Two of those officials, US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and Kurt Volker, a special representative for Ukraine, worked with Giuliani to pressure Ukrainian officials to launch investigations that could benefit Trump, according to communications provided to the committee. Volker resigned his post in late September. Sondland is due to testify later in the week in response to a congressional subpoena. Lawmakers on Monday heard from Fiona Hill, Trump's former Russia adviser, who said she and her then-boss, former national security adviser John Bolton, were also alarmed by the effort. Hill told lawmakers that Bolton characterized Giuliani as "a hand grenade who is going to blow everybody up," according to two sources familiar with her testimony. A Bolton spokeswoman said he would have no comment on the testimony. Giuliani had faced a Tuesday deadline to produce the requested documents. His lawyer, Jon Sale, said the documents were protected by legal principles that shield attorney-client communications and presidential communications. "This appears to be an unconstitutional, baseless, and illegitimate 'impeachment inquiry,'" Sale wrote, echoing language the White House used last week. Pence's lawyer, Matthew E. Morgan, also cited the White House's response, saying the House had not voted to authorise the inquiry. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said no vote is necessary. "There is no requirement that we have a vote and so at this time we will not be having a vote," Pelosi told a news conference. Hunter Biden denies wrongdoing The investigation is focussed on the July call in which Trump pressed Zelenskiy to have Ukraine officials investigate Biden and his businessman son, Hunter Biden, who had been on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. Hunter Biden, 49, denied doing anything improper in past work for the company but acknowledged he had benefited professionally from his father's political career in an interview with ABC News that aired on Tuesday. Joe Biden has denied Trump's allegations of corruption. Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US ally to dig up dirt on Biden after withholding $391 million in US security aid intended to help combat Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine. Zelenskiy agreed to investigate. Trump eventually allowed aid. Trump has denied wrongdoing and defended his request to Zelenskiy during the phone call, which prompted a formal whistleblower complaint by a person with a US intelligence agency.

Pence, Giuliani will not cooperate in US House impeachment inquiry

Rescue workers in Japan searched for the missing on Wednesday as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clean-up-rescue-efforts-in-japan-as-typhoon-death-toll-nears-70-255968">death toll from one of the worst typhoons</a> to hit the country rose to 74, public broadcaster NHK said, many drowned by flooding after scores of rivers burst their banks.

Public broadcaster NHK said 12 were missing and more than 220 injured after Typhoon Hagibis lashed through the Japanese archipelago at the weekend. Throughout the eastern half of the main island of Honshu, 52 rivers had flooded over.

Residents in Fukushima prefecture, which has seen the highest number of casualties, were busy dumping water-damaged furniture and rubbish onto the streets. Many elderly remained in evacuation centres, unable to clean up their homes.

In Date city, not far from the site of the nuclear disaster in 2011, farmer Masao Hirayama piled damp books in the street in front of his house, adding to a mound of rubbish from the neighbourhood.

He said the water had reached about 2 metres (6.6 feet) deep in his house when he and his son were rescued by boat and taken to an evacuation centre. His wife and grandchildren had stayed with relatives through the storm.

"I feel down," Hirayama, 70, said, adding that the flood had swept away all his greenhouses and farming equipment. "All that is left is the land."

Hirayama said he had rebuilt his house in 1989, raising the ground level following a flood in 1986. His family plan to live on the second floor until he can make repairs, which he reckons could take three months.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government would spend 710 million yen ($6.5 million) to facilitate disaster relief.

Rescue workers in Japan searched for the missing on Wednesday as the death toll from one of the worst typhoons to hit the country rose to 74, public broadcaster NHK said, many drowned by flooding after scores of rivers burst their banks.

Rescue workers in Japan searched for the missing on Wednesday as the death toll from one of the worst typhoons to hit the country rose to 74, public broadcaster NHK said, many drowned by flooding after scores of rivers burst their banks. Public broadcaster NHK said 12 were missing and more than 220 injured after Typhoon Hagibis lashed through the Japanese archipelago at the weekend. Throughout the eastern half of the main island of Honshu, 52 rivers had flooded over. Residents in Fukushima prefecture, which has seen the highest number of casualties, were busy dumping water-damaged furniture and rubbish onto the streets. Many elderly remained in evacuation centres, unable to clean up their homes. In Date city, not far from the site of the nuclear disaster in 2011, farmer Masao Hirayama piled damp books in the street in front of his house, adding to a mound of rubbish from the neighbourhood. He said the water had reached about 2 metres (6.6 feet) deep in his house when he and his son were rescued by boat and taken to an evacuation centre. His wife and grandchildren had stayed with relatives through the storm. "I feel down," Hirayama, 70, said, adding that the flood had swept away all his greenhouses and farming equipment. "All that is left is the land." Hirayama said he had rebuilt his house in 1989, raising the ground level following a flood in 1986. His family plan to live on the second floor until he can make repairs, which he reckons could take three months. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government would spend 710 million yen ($6.5 million) to facilitate disaster relief.

Japan typhoon death toll climbs to 74, rescuers search for missing people

The West Bengal has ensured food security to more than 8.5 crore people residing in the state under the `Khadya Sathi` scheme, claimed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the occasion of World Food Day.

Taking to the micro-blogging site, CM Banerjee said, "Today is #WorldFoodDay. We have ensured the food security of more than 8.5 crore people of #Bangla through Khadya Sathi Scheme."

The Trinamool Congress president also stated that her government has provided special assistance to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas besides Aila-affected areas and farmers of Singur, tea garden workers as well as the Toto tribe.

"Special assistance is also provided to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas, Aila-affected areas, farmers of Singur, tea garden workers &amp; Toto tribe," she added.

World Food Day is celebrated worldwide on this day. It calls for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone.

At the same time, it calls on everyone to start thinking about what we eat.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The West Bengal has ensured food security to more than 8.5 crore people residing in the state under the `Khadya Sathi` scheme, claimed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the occasion of World Food Day.

The West Bengal has ensured food security to more than 8.5 crore people residing in the state under the `Khadya Sathi` scheme, claimed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the occasion of World Food Day. Taking to the micro-blogging site, CM Banerjee said, "Today is #WorldFoodDay. We have ensured the food security of more than 8.5 crore people of #Bangla through Khadya Sathi Scheme." The Trinamool Congress president also stated that her government has provided special assistance to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas besides Aila-affected areas and farmers of Singur, tea garden workers as well as the Toto tribe. "Special assistance is also provided to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas, Aila-affected areas, farmers of Singur, tea garden workers & Toto tribe," she added. World Food Day is celebrated worldwide on this day. It calls for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone. At the same time, it calls on everyone to start thinking about what we eat.

Ensured food security of over 8.5 crore Bangla people through Khadya Sathi scheme: Mamata

Hitting out at "political opportunists", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that there is no need to question the link between abrogation of Article 370 and Maharashtra elections as Jammu and Kashmir and its people are "children of Maa Bharti".

"For political gains, some are openly saying that Article 370 has nothing to do with Maharashtra Assembly polls. I want to tell such people that Jammu and Kashmir and its people are also sons of Maa Bharti only," said Prime Minister Modi addressing a rally in Akola of the poll-bound state.

"The thinking of political opportunists pains me from within. How can they ask what Maharashtra has to do with Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

"Doob maro, doob maro," Modi lashed out. He said that the nation is proud of the sons of Maharashtra who have sacrificed for Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the entire country stands with the patriotic people of the region to counter the terrorism coming from the other side of the border.

The Prime Minister further hailed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and said that Maharashtra has been witnessing development under his leadership.

"Before Fadnavis, you have seen a government who have had only one aim -- their own progress and the progress of their families. But today, you have seen that the BJP government has only aim that is Maharashtra's progress, and the progress of the people," he said.

Calling for higher voter turn out, Modi said that elections are a festival of democracy and no one should be behind in celebrating this festival.

Prime Minister Modi's election campaign in Maharashtra will end on October 18. Single-phased polls in Maharashtra are scheduled to be held on October 21 and results will be announced on October 24.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Hitting out at "political opportunists", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that there is no need to question the link between abrogation of Article 370 and Maharashtra elections as Jammu and Kashmir and its people are "children of Maa Bharti".

Hitting out at "political opportunists", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that there is no need to question the link between abrogation of Article 370 and Maharashtra elections as Jammu and Kashmir and its people are "children of Maa Bharti". "For political gains, some are openly saying that Article 370 has nothing to do with Maharashtra Assembly polls. I want to tell such people that Jammu and Kashmir and its people are also sons of Maa Bharti only," said Prime Minister Modi addressing a rally in Akola of the poll-bound state. "The thinking of political opportunists pains me from within. How can they ask what Maharashtra has to do with Jammu and Kashmir," he said. "Doob maro, doob maro," Modi lashed out. He said that the nation is proud of the sons of Maharashtra who have sacrificed for Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the entire country stands with the patriotic people of the region to counter the terrorism coming from the other side of the border. The Prime Minister further hailed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and said that Maharashtra has been witnessing development under his leadership. "Before Fadnavis, you have seen a government who have had only one aim -- their own progress and the progress of their families. But today, you have seen that the BJP government has only aim that is Maharashtra's progress, and the progress of the people," he said. Calling for higher voter turn out, Modi said that elections are a festival of democracy and no one should be behind in celebrating this festival. Prime Minister Modi's election campaign in Maharashtra will end on October 18. Single-phased polls in Maharashtra are scheduled to be held on October 21 and results will be announced on October 24.

'Doob maro': PM tells those questioning link between Art 370 and Maharashtra polls

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Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.