Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 61 per cent in the hard-fought Assembly election with the polling having picked up pace in the evening on Saturday.

According to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app, the voting percentage was 61.67 per cent at 10.26 pm.

The poll percentage was less than 67.12 per cent in the 2015 election when the ruling Aam Aadmi Party had secured a landslide victory getting 67 of 70 assembly seats.

Delhi's Chief Election Officer Ranbir Singh had said in the evening that the poll percentage was expected to go up as there were queues at several polling stations at the end of polling at 6 pm.

The officials said that elections took place peacefully and smoothly. BJP and AAP held review meetings after the polling ended and expressed confidence about their victory.

The Delhi Police said that a 60-year-old man fell unconscious outside polling booth no. 127 in Hari Nagar constituency at 10 am. He was taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, but was declared brought dead.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exit-polls-predict-two-thirds-majority-for-aap-in-delhi-assembly-279512">Exit polls predict two-thirds majority for AAP in Delhi assembly</a>

"Probably, he died of cardiac arrest," a police official said. After the polling concluded, the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were taken to strong rooms.

The counting of votes will take place on February 11. Most exit polls have predicted AAP winning over two-third majority but Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said the exit polls will fail and the party will win 48 seats.

"All these exit polls will fail. Keep this tweet of mine. BJP will form the government in Delhi with over 48 seats in Delhi. Now please do not find an excuse to blame Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)," Tiwari said in a tweet.

"Certain exit polls are showing that BJP will win 26 seats, but let me tell you that all these exit polls will fail on February 11," he told ANI.

Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra also said that exit polls will fail and expressed confidence that the party will do much better.

"BJP will not get even 20 seats and Kejriwal is not going to form the government in Delhi. I am hoping the Congress is going to do much better than what exit polls are showing. Let us wait till results are out," Chopra told ANI.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh exuded confidence about the party repeating its 2015 performance. There were 672 candidates in the fray and more than 98,000 officials had been deployed smooth conduct of elections.

Prominent among those who cast their votes were President Ram Nath Kovind, former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader LK Advani, and Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and S Jaishankar. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also cast their votes.

Over 1.4 crore people were eligible to cast their votes including 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. There are 869 third gender voters.

Ballimaran is the smallest constituency in the national capital with an area of 2.50 square kilometre.

Narela is the biggest with an area of 143.42 sq km.

The voting is being held at 13,571 polling stations of which 3,141 are critical and 144 vulnerable polling stations. The BJP had won three seats in the 2015 elections and Congress could not open its account. Both BJP and Congress had given a few seats to their allies.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 61 per cent in the hard-fought Assembly election with the polling having picked up pace in the evening on Saturday. According to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app, the voting percentage was 61.

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 61 per cent in the hard-fought Assembly election with the polling having picked up pace in the evening on Saturday. According to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app, the voting percentage was 61.67 per cent at 10.26 pm. The poll percentage was less than 67.12 per cent in the 2015 election when the ruling Aam Aadmi Party had secured a landslide victory getting 67 of 70 assembly seats. Delhi's Chief Election Officer Ranbir Singh had said in the evening that the poll percentage was expected to go up as there were queues at several polling stations at the end of polling at 6 pm. The officials said that elections took place peacefully and smoothly. BJP and AAP held review meetings after the polling ended and expressed confidence about their victory. The Delhi Police said that a 60-year-old man fell unconscious outside polling booth no. 127 in Hari Nagar constituency at 10 am. He was taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, but was declared brought dead. Also read: Exit polls predict two-thirds majority for AAP in Delhi assembly "Probably, he died of cardiac arrest," a police official said. After the polling concluded, the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were taken to strong rooms. The counting of votes will take place on February 11. Most exit polls have predicted AAP winning over two-third majority but Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said the exit polls will fail and the party will win 48 seats. "All these exit polls will fail. Keep this tweet of mine. BJP will form the government in Delhi with over 48 seats in Delhi. Now please do not find an excuse to blame Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)," Tiwari said in a tweet. "Certain exit polls are showing that BJP will win 26 seats, but let me tell you that all these exit polls will fail on February 11," he told ANI. Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra also said that exit polls will fail and expressed confidence that the party will do much better. "BJP will not get even 20 seats and Kejriwal is not going to form the government in Delhi. I am hoping the Congress is going to do much better than what exit polls are showing. Let us wait till results are out," Chopra told ANI. AAP leader Sanjay Singh exuded confidence about the party repeating its 2015 performance. There were 672 candidates in the fray and more than 98,000 officials had been deployed smooth conduct of elections. Prominent among those who cast their votes were President Ram Nath Kovind, former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader LK Advani, and Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and S Jaishankar. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also cast their votes. Over 1.4 crore people were eligible to cast their votes including 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. There are 869 third gender voters. Ballimaran is the smallest constituency in the national capital with an area of 2.50 square kilometre. Narela is the biggest with an area of 143.42 sq km. The voting is being held at 13,571 polling stations of which 3,141 are critical and 144 vulnerable polling stations. The BJP had won three seats in the 2015 elections and Congress could not open its account. Both BJP and Congress had given a few seats to their allies.

Delhi records over 61% polling; AAP, BJP express confidence of victory

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Centre has no plan to decrease the funds for the states.

"We have no plan to cut the funds for states. We are already giving what the 14th Finance Commission recommended. Now, we will fully honour the report of 15th Finance Commission," Sitharaman said at a press conference.

"We will soon return the share of GST to Tamil Nadu in two instalments," she added.

Regarding the payments to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, the Finance Minister said: "During September, October, and November, we worked hard to ensure the payments to them are cleared. Nearly 60 per cent of the amount, which was pending, has been cleared."

Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar, who was also present on the occasion, said that helping agriculture in the country was one of the main focuses of the Union Budget.

"There is a total allocation of Rs 2.83 lakh crore for the agriculture sector. This covers water-deficient districts and others. Over and above, there is an agriculture credit of Rs 15 lakh crore, which is an increase from Rs 12 lakh crore, which was given earlier," said Kumar.

Sitharaman said that a similar interaction will be held in Kolkata on Sunday too, which will be followed by a few others in other cities.

The conferences are being held by the Finance Minister with her subordinates to hold talks with representatives of industries and other sectors, seeking their opinions on the Budget.&nbsp;

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Centre has no plan to decrease the funds for the states. "We have no plan to cut the funds for states. We are already giving what the 14th Finance Commission recommended.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Centre has no plan to decrease the funds for the states. "We have no plan to cut the funds for states. We are already giving what the 14th Finance Commission recommended. Now, we will fully honour the report of 15th Finance Commission," Sitharaman said at a press conference. "We will soon return the share of GST to Tamil Nadu in two instalments," she added. Regarding the payments to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, the Finance Minister said: "During September, October, and November, we worked hard to ensure the payments to them are cleared. Nearly 60 per cent of the amount, which was pending, has been cleared." Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar, who was also present on the occasion, said that helping agriculture in the country was one of the main focuses of the Union Budget. "There is a total allocation of Rs 2.83 lakh crore for the agriculture sector. This covers water-deficient districts and others. Over and above, there is an agriculture credit of Rs 15 lakh crore, which is an increase from Rs 12 lakh crore, which was given earlier," said Kumar. Sitharaman said that a similar interaction will be held in Kolkata on Sunday too, which will be followed by a few others in other cities. The conferences are being held by the Finance Minister with her subordinates to hold talks with representatives of industries and other sectors, seeking their opinions on the Budget.

No plans to cut funds for states: Nirmala Sitharaman

It is that time of the year when South Mumbai's Kala Ghoda area transforms into a vibrant art district. The annual arts festival is highly awaited for the platform it offers to artists from across the country.&nbsp;

High on culture, art, music and theatre, the 9-day-long festival is a hit with the city's art aficionados and locals.

The Kala Ghoda Arts fest offers a vivid glimpse into Mumbai's life, its local flavours, moods and people. One of its unique features is how people from all segments of society can savour offbeat artistic insights.

Staying true to the spirit of inclusion and accessibility is a unique photo exhibition this year which displays pictures clicked by children of India's largest slum - Dharavi.&nbsp;

Interestingly, the kids were part of a 5-day photography workshop conducted last year by Indo-Canadian documentary and portrait photographer Kiran Ambwani. During the workshop, she introduced the children to the basics of camera work.&nbsp;

The children were also given the opportunity to visually explore the vicinity with their newly learnt skills. The resulting pictures have been curated into a photo exhibition at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya or the Prince of Wales Museum as part of the ongoing arts festival.&nbsp;

The exhibit has pictures clicked by nine children, most of whom are teenagers, in and around their homes in Dharavi.&nbsp;

Sam Nickson, a resident of Dharavi whose photographs are featured in the exhibition said, "initially when I joined the photography workshop, I had no idea what I was going to do there. It was all very new for me, I had never been a part of any such workshop before. With the guidance and inquisitiveness, I clicked the pictures to show Dharavi as I see it through my camera."

Sakshi Gupta, another resident whose pictures are on display says, she had never been to a museum before this and now that she is here, her own pictures are for everyone to see. She further adds, "the photography lessons taught us not only the technicals but also varied perspectives to reimagine our daily settings and the locality I have been residing in for years now."

Ambwani, who volunteered to teach these children, named the exhibition 'Full Circle' as it resembles her life journey.&nbsp;

It was fifteen years ago when as a student of photography she explored the locality and its people. She went on to graduate from Canada and fifteen years later decided to come back and teach the children of Dharavi.&nbsp;

"It was great to see them learn not only the basics of photography but also communication skills and gain confidence. I proposed the idea of exhibiting photos taken by these kids at the Kala Ghoda festival and that's how we are able to put this together. The public's reaction towards their work can be truly valorizing for these kids."

Photographs clicked by children of Dharavi are on exhibit at the Coomaraswamy Hall, CSMVS (Prince of Wales) Museum in Mumbai. The Kala Ghoda festival concludes on February 9.

It is that time of the year when South Mumbai's Kala Ghoda area transforms into a vibrant art district. The annual arts festival is highly awaited for the platform it offers to artists from across the country.

It is that time of the year when South Mumbai's Kala Ghoda area transforms into a vibrant art district. The annual arts festival is highly awaited for the platform it offers to artists from across the country. High on culture, art, music and theatre, the 9-day-long festival is a hit with the city's art aficionados and locals. The Kala Ghoda Arts fest offers a vivid glimpse into Mumbai's life, its local flavours, moods and people. One of its unique features is how people from all segments of society can savour offbeat artistic insights. Staying true to the spirit of inclusion and accessibility is a unique photo exhibition this year which displays pictures clicked by children of India's largest slum - Dharavi. Interestingly, the kids were part of a 5-day photography workshop conducted last year by Indo-Canadian documentary and portrait photographer Kiran Ambwani. During the workshop, she introduced the children to the basics of camera work. The children were also given the opportunity to visually explore the vicinity with their newly learnt skills. The resulting pictures have been curated into a photo exhibition at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya or the Prince of Wales Museum as part of the ongoing arts festival. The exhibit has pictures clicked by nine children, most of whom are teenagers, in and around their homes in Dharavi. Sam Nickson, a resident of Dharavi whose photographs are featured in the exhibition said, "initially when I joined the photography workshop, I had no idea what I was going to do there. It was all very new for me, I had never been a part of any such workshop before. With the guidance and inquisitiveness, I clicked the pictures to show Dharavi as I see it through my camera." Sakshi Gupta, another resident whose pictures are on display says, she had never been to a museum before this and now that she is here, her own pictures are for everyone to see. She further adds, "the photography lessons taught us not only the technicals but also varied perspectives to reimagine our daily settings and the locality I have been residing in for years now." Ambwani, who volunteered to teach these children, named the exhibition 'Full Circle' as it resembles her life journey. It was fifteen years ago when as a student of photography she explored the locality and its people. She went on to graduate from Canada and fifteen years later decided to come back and teach the children of Dharavi. "It was great to see them learn not only the basics of photography but also communication skills and gain confidence. I proposed the idea of exhibiting photos taken by these kids at the Kala Ghoda festival and that's how we are able to put this together. The public's reaction towards their work can be truly valorizing for these kids." Photographs clicked by children of Dharavi are on exhibit at the Coomaraswamy Hall, CSMVS (Prince of Wales) Museum in Mumbai. The Kala Ghoda festival concludes on February 9.

Photographs clicked by kids from Dharavi on exhibit at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2020

A Thai soldier killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 20 in a shooting rampage on Saturday in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the north east of Thailand and is still at large in a shopping mall, police said.

Major shootings are rare in the Southeast Asian country other than in the far south, where a decades-old insurgency persists.

At least 17 people had been killed and 21 wounded, police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said in a message to reporters. One ambulance service official in the city said the death toll was as high as 20.

"We don't know why he did this. It appears he went mad," said defence ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit.

Police identified the suspect as Jakrapanth Thomma. He had posted on his Facebook page earlier in the day that "Death is inevitable for everyone". He also posted a picture of what appeared to be his hand holding a gun.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-dead-and-one-wounded-in-shooting-at-texas-university-on-tuesday-278439">Two dead, one wounded in shooting at Texas University</a>

At one point after the shooting had begun, the suspect posted "Should I give up?" before his account became inaccessible.

The soldier opened fire at different locations in the city, which is more than 250 km (155 miles) from the capital Bangkok, the police spokesman said.

The shooter was still in the Century 21 shopping mall and had not yet been apprehended, the police said.

Thai media said the suspect's mother was being brought to the location to try to persuade him to give himself up. A video showed her in tears saying "why did he do it?" as she got into a police vehicle.

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Mall shooting

Local media showed footage of the soldier getting out of a car in front of a shopping mall and firing a series of shots, sending people running. Gunshots could be heard on the video.

One video from a bystander showed a man slumped at the wheel of a car in a pool of blood. It was unclear if he was among the dead. Another video showed at least four people who had clearly been shot and showed no sign of movement.

Later video on social media from CCTV footage inside the mall showed the gunman dressed in black and wearing a mask. He slung his gun over his shoulder as he moved into an electronics store with no sign of other people around.

Facebook sent its condolences to the victims and their families and said there was no place on Facebook for anyone who commits or supports such atrocities.

"We have removed the gunman's accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it," it said.

A woman interviewed by Thailand's Channel One television said she had heard gunshots when she was at the shopping mall and hid in a clothing store with other people before escaping.

The shooter had initially gone to a house in the city and shot two people dead, before going to the weapons store on an army base and taking a new gun, local police said.

He also shot at people on the army base, they said.

Hashtags #KoratShootingRampage and #SaveKorat were trending on social media in Thailand.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul asked on his Facebook page for blood donations at four hospitals in the vicinity of Korat.

Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong issued an order for local army commanders to rush to the scene and investigate.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed condolences to the families of those killed, a government spokeswoman said.

Nakhon Ratchasima is one of the biggest cities in northeastern Thailand, a rice-growing area and one of the poorest regions in the country of 69 million.

A Thai soldier killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 20 in a shooting rampage on Saturday in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the north east of Thailand and is still at large in a shopping mall, police said.

A Thai soldier killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 20 in a shooting rampage on Saturday in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the north east of Thailand and is still at large in a shopping mall, police said. Major shootings are rare in the Southeast Asian country other than in the far south, where a decades-old insurgency persists. At least 17 people had been killed and 21 wounded, police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said in a message to reporters. One ambulance service official in the city said the death toll was as high as 20. "We don't know why he did this. It appears he went mad," said defence ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit. Police identified the suspect as Jakrapanth Thomma. He had posted on his Facebook page earlier in the day that "Death is inevitable for everyone". He also posted a picture of what appeared to be his hand holding a gun. Also read: Two dead, one wounded in shooting at Texas University At one point after the shooting had begun, the suspect posted "Should I give up?" before his account became inaccessible. The soldier opened fire at different locations in the city, which is more than 250 km (155 miles) from the capital Bangkok, the police spokesman said. The shooter was still in the Century 21 shopping mall and had not yet been apprehended, the police said. Thai media said the suspect's mother was being brought to the location to try to persuade him to give himself up. A video showed her in tears saying "why did he do it?" as she got into a police vehicle. × Mall shooting Local media showed footage of the soldier getting out of a car in front of a shopping mall and firing a series of shots, sending people running. Gunshots could be heard on the video. One video from a bystander showed a man slumped at the wheel of a car in a pool of blood. It was unclear if he was among the dead. Another video showed at least four people who had clearly been shot and showed no sign of movement. Later video on social media from CCTV footage inside the mall showed the gunman dressed in black and wearing a mask. He slung his gun over his shoulder as he moved into an electronics store with no sign of other people around. Facebook sent its condolences to the victims and their families and said there was no place on Facebook for anyone who commits or supports such atrocities. "We have removed the gunman's accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it," it said. A woman interviewed by Thailand's Channel One television said she had heard gunshots when she was at the shopping mall and hid in a clothing store with other people before escaping. The shooter had initially gone to a house in the city and shot two people dead, before going to the weapons store on an army base and taking a new gun, local police said. He also shot at people on the army base, they said. Hashtags #KoratShootingRampage and #SaveKorat were trending on social media in Thailand. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul asked on his Facebook page for blood donations at four hospitals in the vicinity of Korat. Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong issued an order for local army commanders to rush to the scene and investigate. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed condolences to the families of those killed, a government spokeswoman said. Nakhon Ratchasima is one of the biggest cities in northeastern Thailand, a rice-growing area and one of the poorest regions in the country of 69 million.

Thai soldier kills at least 17 in shooting rampage

Calling India a "long-standing friend", <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sri-lankan-prime-minister-mahinda-rajapaksa-arrives-in-new-delhi-on-a-5-day-state-visit-279303">Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa</a> on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the island country in the aftermath of last year's Easter Sunday terror attacks and outlined that New Delhi has always helped Colombo in the fight against terrorism.

In a joint press briefing with Modi <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajapaksa-modi-hold-delegation-level-talks-in-delhi-279442">following the talks</a>, Rajapaksa hoped that India would continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka in counter-terrorism cooperation.

"Our discussions were based on the outcome of talks that the Prime Minister held with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his successful state visit to India in November last year".

Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to Modi for the neighbourhood first policy and the priority the Indian government attaches to Sri Lanka.

"We had agreed that our cooperation is multifaceted and priority is given to a number of areas including security, economy, culture and social sectors. Part of our discussions centred on cooperation with regard to the security of the two countries. India has always assisted Sri Lanka to enhance our capacity, capabilities in intelligence and counter-terrorism. We look forward to getting continued support in this regard," he said.

Rajapaksa further said, "I thank the Prime Minister for visiting Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terror attacks that provided us with immense strength to come to terms with the tragedy. We also appreciate Prime Minister Modi's USD 400 million line of credit to enhance the economy of Sri Lanka and another USD 50 million line of credit for combatting terrorism."

The Sri Lankan leader also said that ongoing projects built with Indian assistance in Sri Lanka were discussed. He urged Modi to consider further assistance to expand the housing project all over Sri Lanka to benefit its people who reside in rural areas of the island country.

Both Rajapaksa and Modi also spoke about the economy. "The Prime Minister and I discussed how Sri Lanka and India can work together in the field of economy. India is among the world's growing economies in the world. I discussed with the Prime Minister how Sri Lanka could benefit from certain economic sectors where India is in a strong position and can require India's assistance such as skill development and capacity building," Rajapaksa elucidated.

He also extended an invitation to Modi to visit Sri Lanka in the near future.

Concluding his statement, Rajapaksa said, "India is our closest neighbour and a long-standing friend. The close historical links...provided a solid foundation to our ties."

Prior to the talks, Rajapaksa, who is on a five-day trip to India, laid a wreath at the Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier this morning, he was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the visiting dignitary and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security.

Rajapaksa is further scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind later in the evening. Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit.

On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar -- where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre -- and later in the day to Tirupati, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.&nbsp;

Calling India a "long-standing friend", Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the island country in the aftermath of last year's Easter Sunday terror attacks and outlined that New Delhi has always helped Colombo in the fight against terrorism.

Calling India a "long-standing friend", Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the island country in the aftermath of last year's Easter Sunday terror attacks and outlined that New Delhi has always helped Colombo in the fight against terrorism. In a joint press briefing with Modi following the talks, Rajapaksa hoped that India would continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka in counter-terrorism cooperation. "Our discussions were based on the outcome of talks that the Prime Minister held with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his successful state visit to India in November last year". Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to Modi for the neighbourhood first policy and the priority the Indian government attaches to Sri Lanka. "We had agreed that our cooperation is multifaceted and priority is given to a number of areas including security, economy, culture and social sectors. Part of our discussions centred on cooperation with regard to the security of the two countries. India has always assisted Sri Lanka to enhance our capacity, capabilities in intelligence and counter-terrorism. We look forward to getting continued support in this regard," he said. Rajapaksa further said, "I thank the Prime Minister for visiting Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terror attacks that provided us with immense strength to come to terms with the tragedy. We also appreciate Prime Minister Modi's USD 400 million line of credit to enhance the economy of Sri Lanka and another USD 50 million line of credit for combatting terrorism." The Sri Lankan leader also said that ongoing projects built with Indian assistance in Sri Lanka were discussed. He urged Modi to consider further assistance to expand the housing project all over Sri Lanka to benefit its people who reside in rural areas of the island country. Both Rajapaksa and Modi also spoke about the economy. "The Prime Minister and I discussed how Sri Lanka and India can work together in the field of economy. India is among the world's growing economies in the world. I discussed with the Prime Minister how Sri Lanka could benefit from certain economic sectors where India is in a strong position and can require India's assistance such as skill development and capacity building," Rajapaksa elucidated. He also extended an invitation to Modi to visit Sri Lanka in the near future. Concluding his statement, Rajapaksa said, "India is our closest neighbour and a long-standing friend. The close historical links...provided a solid foundation to our ties." Prior to the talks, Rajapaksa, who is on a five-day trip to India, laid a wreath at the Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier this morning, he was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the visiting dignitary and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security. Rajapaksa is further scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind later in the evening. Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit. On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar -- where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre -- and later in the day to Tirupati, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

India a long-standing friend, helped Sri Lanka in counter-terrorism cooperation: Mahinda Rajapaksa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday once again called upon Sri Lankan government to ensure equality, justice, peace, and respect for the minority Tamils in the island nation.

"I am confident that the Sri Lankan government will realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within united Sri Lanka," he said.

The Prime Minister held delegation-level talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, which focussed on expanding cooperation over terrorism as well as promoting joint economic projects in the island nation.

"India and Sri Lanka are neighbours as well as close friends. We share common bonds. Terrorism is a big problem in our region. Both of us have fought it befittingly. We will further increase our cooperation against terror," said Prime Minister Modi.

He also recalled the painful and barbaric Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka in April last year that killed 259 people.

"These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity as a whole," Modi stressed.

The meeting focussed on promoting joint economic projects in Sri Lanka and enhancing bilateral relations over trade and investment.

The two leaders also discussed ways to increase people-to-people contact and encourage tourism between the two neighbours.

"Whether it is security or economy or social progress, our past and our future are connected with each other in every region. Stability, security, and prosperity in Sri Lanka are in India`s interest, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean region," Modi said.

"India has been a trusted partner in the development efforts of Sri Lanka. The new Lines of Credit announced last year will give more strength to our development cooperation," he added.

Rajapaksa, on the occasion, noted that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed several important issues.

"I am very pleased to be here my first official visit abroad after assuming office as a Prime Minister. Today, our discussions were based on the outcome of the discussion that the Prime Minister and President Gotabaya had during his very successful visit to India in November last year," he said.

Prior to the talks, Rajapaksa, who is on a five-day trip to India, laid a wreath at the Rajghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

Earlier this morning, he was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the visiting dignitary and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security.

Rajapaksa arrived on Friday. A delegation of Congress Party led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi met the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on the same day.

The visiting dignitary is further scheduled to call on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the evening.

Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit.

On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar -- where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre -- and later in the day to Tirupati, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday once again called upon Sri Lankan government to ensure equality, justice, peace, and respect for the minority Tamils in the island nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday once again called upon Sri Lankan government to ensure equality, justice, peace, and respect for the minority Tamils in the island nation. "I am confident that the Sri Lankan government will realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within united Sri Lanka," he said. The Prime Minister held delegation-level talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, which focussed on expanding cooperation over terrorism as well as promoting joint economic projects in the island nation. "India and Sri Lanka are neighbours as well as close friends. We share common bonds. Terrorism is a big problem in our region. Both of us have fought it befittingly. We will further increase our cooperation against terror," said Prime Minister Modi. He also recalled the painful and barbaric Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka in April last year that killed 259 people. "These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity as a whole," Modi stressed. The meeting focussed on promoting joint economic projects in Sri Lanka and enhancing bilateral relations over trade and investment. The two leaders also discussed ways to increase people-to-people contact and encourage tourism between the two neighbours. "Whether it is security or economy or social progress, our past and our future are connected with each other in every region. Stability, security, and prosperity in Sri Lanka are in India`s interest, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean region," Modi said. "India has been a trusted partner in the development efforts of Sri Lanka. The new Lines of Credit announced last year will give more strength to our development cooperation," he added. Rajapaksa, on the occasion, noted that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed several important issues. "I am very pleased to be here my first official visit abroad after assuming office as a Prime Minister. Today, our discussions were based on the outcome of the discussion that the Prime Minister and President Gotabaya had during his very successful visit to India in November last year," he said. Prior to the talks, Rajapaksa, who is on a five-day trip to India, laid a wreath at the Rajghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier this morning, he was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the visiting dignitary and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security. Rajapaksa arrived on Friday. A delegation of Congress Party led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi met the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on the same day. The visiting dignitary is further scheduled to call on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the evening. Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit. On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar -- where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre -- and later in the day to Tirupati, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

PM Modi urges Sri Lanka to ensure equality, justice for Tamils

Stating that higher education in India is undergoing a major transformation, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions that the country's huge demographic dividend is capitalised.

Speaking at the sixth convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Yupia near Itanagar, the Union Minister of State (Independent) for Sports and Youth Affairs said that Modi's 'Act East' policy has ensured that the Northeast is at par with the rest of India.

"NIT Arunachal Pradesh plays an increasingly important role in this vision by setting the highest standards of imparting quality education in the country. The Centre has allotted an additional amount of Rs 430.56 crore to the institute this year," Rijiju said.

He said the NIT should partner with foreign universities for faculty and student exchanges.

"Such type of institutional linkages confer the greatest benefit on the country's academic community and are crucial to the inflow of knowledge into the country," the minister said.

Rijiju further said that beyond the academic domain, higher educational institutes in the country have a larger role to play in the progress of the regions where they are based.

"They have to establish a connection with regional stakeholders, identify problems hindering development and use their professional expertise, academic and research temperament to find sustainable and implementable solutions to the problems," he advocated.

Rijiju appealed to the graduating students to make the best use of the knowledge and wisdom they have gained to attain professional and personal success.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever."

"I am looking forward to hearing about multiple start-ups being founded and run by the students from the graduating class today," the minister said.

Director of NIT Meghalaya Bibhuti Bhusan Biswal, who was also present in the convocation, exhorted the graduating students and said that speed of decision making and velocity of action are necessary attributes for high performance.

Speaking at the function, NIT Arunachal Pradesh Director Pinakeswar Mahanta highlighted various achievements of the institute in the past few years.

Altogether 226 students -- BTech (153), MTech (50), MSc (11), MBA (03), M Phil (03) and PhD (06) -- were awarded degrees.&nbsp;

Stating that higher education in India is undergoing a major transformation, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions that the country's huge demographic dividend is capitalised.

Stating that higher education in India is undergoing a major transformation, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions that the country's huge demographic dividend is capitalised. Speaking at the sixth convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Yupia near Itanagar, the Union Minister of State (Independent) for Sports and Youth Affairs said that Modi's 'Act East' policy has ensured that the Northeast is at par with the rest of India. "NIT Arunachal Pradesh plays an increasingly important role in this vision by setting the highest standards of imparting quality education in the country. The Centre has allotted an additional amount of Rs 430.56 crore to the institute this year," Rijiju said. He said the NIT should partner with foreign universities for faculty and student exchanges. "Such type of institutional linkages confer the greatest benefit on the country's academic community and are crucial to the inflow of knowledge into the country," the minister said. Rijiju further said that beyond the academic domain, higher educational institutes in the country have a larger role to play in the progress of the regions where they are based. "They have to establish a connection with regional stakeholders, identify problems hindering development and use their professional expertise, academic and research temperament to find sustainable and implementable solutions to the problems," he advocated. Rijiju appealed to the graduating students to make the best use of the knowledge and wisdom they have gained to attain professional and personal success. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever." "I am looking forward to hearing about multiple start-ups being founded and run by the students from the graduating class today," the minister said. Director of NIT Meghalaya Bibhuti Bhusan Biswal, who was also present in the convocation, exhorted the graduating students and said that speed of decision making and velocity of action are necessary attributes for high performance. Speaking at the function, NIT Arunachal Pradesh Director Pinakeswar Mahanta highlighted various achievements of the institute in the past few years. Altogether 226 students -- BTech (153), MTech (50), MSc (11), MBA (03), M Phil (03) and PhD (06) -- were awarded degrees.

Higher education in India undergoing major transformation: Rijiju

Former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-pakistani-cricketer-shoaib-akhtar-takes-jibe-at-virendra-sehwag-276043">Pakistan batsman</a> Nasir Jamshed has been sentenced to 17 months in prison for his role in a fixing scandal, Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.

The former test opener was banned for 10 years by an anti-corruption tribunal in 2018 for his part in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psl-spot-fixing-scandal-banned-former-pakistan-cricketer-nasir-jamshed-charged-with-bribery-185537">spot-fixing scandal</a> that engulfed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2017.

Manchester Crown Court also announced jail terms for British nationals Yousef Anwar and Mohammed Ijaz after the trio admitted their roles in the conspiracy following a covert NCA investigation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paceman-mohammad-sami-summoned-in-pakistan-super-league-spot-fixing-case-26233">Jamshed</a>, 30, played 68 international matches for Pakistan, the last being a 2015 World Cup one-day match against United Arab Emirates in Napier.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-ban-batsman-nasir-jamshed-for-10-years-for-corruption-159822">Pakistan ban batsman Nasir Jamshed for 10 years for corruption</a>

"Using an undercover officer, NCA investigators identified that the group were plotting to fix elements of the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament which Jamshed was due to play in," NCA said in a statement on Friday.

Next year, Anwar was captured on CCTV purchasing 28 different coloured bat handle grips which would subsequently be used by the players in PSL as the signal to show the fix was going ahead, it added.

"These men abused their privileged access to professional, international cricket to corrupt games, eroding public confidence for their own financial gain," NCA Senior Investigating Officer Ian McConnell said.

Pakistan Cricket Board slapped batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif with five-year bans last year, while paceman Mohammad Irfan and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz received shorter suspensions for their roles in the scandal.

In 2011, Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain for their role in a plot to bowl pre-arranged no-balls during a Lord's test against England in 2010.

&nbsp;

Former Pakistan batsman Nasir Jamshed has been sentenced to 17 months in prison for his role in a fixing scandal, Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.

Former Pakistan batsman Nasir Jamshed has been sentenced to 17 months in prison for his role in a fixing scandal, Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) has said. The former test opener was banned for 10 years by an anti-corruption tribunal in 2018 for his part in the spot-fixing scandal that engulfed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2017. Manchester Crown Court also announced jail terms for British nationals Yousef Anwar and Mohammed Ijaz after the trio admitted their roles in the conspiracy following a covert NCA investigation. Jamshed, 30, played 68 international matches for Pakistan, the last being a 2015 World Cup one-day match against United Arab Emirates in Napier. Also Read: Pakistan ban batsman Nasir Jamshed for 10 years for corruption "Using an undercover officer, NCA investigators identified that the group were plotting to fix elements of the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament which Jamshed was due to play in," NCA said in a statement on Friday. Next year, Anwar was captured on CCTV purchasing 28 different coloured bat handle grips which would subsequently be used by the players in PSL as the signal to show the fix was going ahead, it added. "These men abused their privileged access to professional, international cricket to corrupt games, eroding public confidence for their own financial gain," NCA Senior Investigating Officer Ian McConnell said. Pakistan Cricket Board slapped batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif with five-year bans last year, while paceman Mohammad Irfan and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz received shorter suspensions for their roles in the scandal. In 2011, Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain for their role in a plot to bowl pre-arranged no-balls during a Lord's test against England in 2010.

Nasir Jamshed jailed in UK; former Pakistan batsman suspected for match-fixing

Parents and family members of children who died in a 2014 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/peshawar-attack-9-suspects-arrested-25683">terror attack</a> on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar moved the Peshawar High Court on Saturday over the escape of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) former spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan from a Pakistani jail.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/car-bomb-injured-six-people-in-pakistans-peshawar-188389">kin of victims</a> filed a petition with the court, seeking contempt of court proceedings against multiple government officials - including the Director-General of the ISI, the Army Chief as well as the federal and provincial secretaries,&nbsp;reports stated.

The petition, submitted by Shuhada APS Forum President Fazal Khan Advocate, said that the respondents had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/suicide-bomb-attack-in-peshawar-awami-national-party-leader-killed--150691">violated</a> earlier orders of the PHC barring authorities from releasing Ehsan. 
"Despite clear cut directions of this honourable court.&nbsp;Now it has come to light that (a) luxurious home (was provided to Ehsan) from which the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/remembering-the-peshawar-massacre-1504">terrorist has made his escape</a>: a fact not denied by the respondents," the petition read.

"The petitioner has been informed through reliable sources that clemency was in order of Ehsanullah Ehsan for his 'full and frank disclosure' which is not only highly deplorable but also outrightly illegal and unconstitutional," it added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-leader-ehsanullah-ehsan-responsible-for-peshawar-army-school-attack-escapes-pakistans-jail-279246">Taliban leader Ehsanullah Ehsan escapes Pakistan's jail</a>

In an audio message released on Thursday, Ehsan claimed he escaped from the jail on January 11. However, no confirmation has been made by the Pakistani Army in this regard yet.

The escape of Ehsan has created an uproar in Pakistan where the opposition is accusing the government of "sheer incompetence".

Pakistan's opposition leader and PPP member Farhatullah Babar on Friday slammed the Pakistan government and demanded an explanation over the release of 'self-confessed terrorists'.

Parents and family members of children who died in a 2014 terror attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar moved the Peshawar High Court on Saturday over the escape of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) former spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan from a Pakistani jail.

Parents and family members of children who died in a 2014 terror attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar moved the Peshawar High Court on Saturday over the escape of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) former spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan from a Pakistani jail. The kin of victims filed a petition with the court, seeking contempt of court proceedings against multiple government officials - including the Director-General of the ISI, the Army Chief as well as the federal and provincial secretaries, reports stated. The petition, submitted by Shuhada APS Forum President Fazal Khan Advocate, said that the respondents had violated earlier orders of the PHC barring authorities from releasing Ehsan. "Despite clear cut directions of this honourable court. Now it has come to light that (a) luxurious home (was provided to Ehsan) from which the terrorist has made his escape: a fact not denied by the respondents," the petition read. "The petitioner has been informed through reliable sources that clemency was in order of Ehsanullah Ehsan for his 'full and frank disclosure' which is not only highly deplorable but also outrightly illegal and unconstitutional," it added. Also Read: Taliban leader Ehsanullah Ehsan escapes Pakistan's jail In an audio message released on Thursday, Ehsan claimed he escaped from the jail on January 11. However, no confirmation has been made by the Pakistani Army in this regard yet. The escape of Ehsan has created an uproar in Pakistan where the opposition is accusing the government of "sheer incompetence". Pakistan's opposition leader and PPP member Farhatullah Babar on Friday slammed the Pakistan government and demanded an explanation over the release of 'self-confessed terrorists'.

Parents of Peshawar school attack victims move court over escape of Ehsanullah Ehsan from Pak jail

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday constituted a new two-judge bench to hear <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/government-has-a-week-to-decide-on-maryams-request-to-be-struck-off-exit-control-list-lhc-267233">Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz</a> (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz's petition seeking removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL), Pakistani media reported.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will hear <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-lahore-high-court-to-hear-maryams-petition-for-removal-of-name-from-exit-control-list-today-267151">Maryam's petition</a> on February 10, Geo News reported.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lahore-high-court-to-hear-maryam-nawazs-petition-on-removal-of-name-from-ecl-on-january-15-273070">petition filed by Maryam</a> on December 21 last year seeks the removal of her name from the no-fly list as well as one-time permission to travel abroad.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imrans-government-denies-maryam-nawaz-permission-to-travel-abroad-269631">Imran's government denies Maryam Nawaz permission to travel abroad</a>

Maryam, the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is currently undergoing treatment in London, had first approached the court with this request on December 7. The petition was disposed of two days later.

Maryam and her father were placed on the ECL on August 20, 2018. Maryam is currently free on bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, in which she is a suspect, but her name remains on the no-fly list.

Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand, travelled to London in November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to fly abroad on medical grounds.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday constituted a new two-judge bench to hear Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz's petition seeking removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL), Pakistani media reported.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday constituted a new two-judge bench to hear Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz's petition seeking removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL), Pakistani media reported. The two-judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will hear Maryam's petition on February 10, Geo News reported. The petition filed by Maryam on December 21 last year seeks the removal of her name from the no-fly list as well as one-time permission to travel abroad. Also Read: Imran's government denies Maryam Nawaz permission to travel abroad Maryam, the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is currently undergoing treatment in London, had first approached the court with this request on December 7. The petition was disposed of two days later. Maryam and her father were placed on the ECL on August 20, 2018. Maryam is currently free on bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, in which she is a suspect, but her name remains on the no-fly list. Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand, travelled to London in November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to fly abroad on medical grounds.

Lahore HC's two-judge bench to hear Maryam Nawaz's plea to be allowed to travel abroad

Two people lost their lives while nine got injured after a firecracker-laden trolley caught fire and exploded in Punjab's Tarn Taran.&nbsp;

Earlier Tarn Taran SSP Dhruv Dahiya said that as per the eyewitnesses, "14-15 individuals died on the spot"

Shortly after the mishap, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh took to Twitter and announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of deceased.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Saddened to hear about the tragic firecracker blast in Tarn Taran that left 2 dead and 9 injured. My govt will give ex-gratia of ₹5 lakhs to the kin of deceased &amp; free treatment for the injured. SDM Tarn Taran will probe the incident to fix responsibility.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) <a href="https://twitter.com/capt_amarinder/status/1226151938250534912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Saddened to hear about the tragic firecracker blast in Tarn Taran that left 2 dead and 9 injured. My government will give ex-gratia of ₹5 lakhs to the kin of deceased and free treatment for the injured. SDM Tarn Taran will probe the incident to fix responsibility," read his tweet.&nbsp;

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Amritsar IG-border range Sarinderpal Singh Parmar: 2 people have been killed in the accidental explosion and 11 have been injured. The numbers given by the SSP was according to the eyewitnesses. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Punjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Punjab</a> <a href="https://t.co/928M50R16A">https://t.co/928M50R16A</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1226130370988347393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The mishap occurred during a religious procession on Sunday evening.&nbsp;

"During nagar kirtan, firecrackers were being burnt using explosive material because of which tractor-trolley exploded accidentally," Dahiya told media.&nbsp;

Two people lost their lives while nine got injured after a firecracker-laden trolley caught fire and exploded in Punjab's Tarn Taran. Earlier Tarn Taran SSP Dhruv Dahiya said that as per the eyewitnesses, "14-15 individuals died on the spot" Shortly after the mishap, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh took to Twitter and announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of deceased.

Two people lost their lives while nine got injured after a firecracker-laden trolley caught fire and exploded in Punjab's Tarn Taran. Earlier Tarn Taran SSP Dhruv Dahiya said that as per the eyewitnesses, "14-15 individuals died on the spot" Shortly after the mishap, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh took to Twitter and announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of deceased. Saddened to hear about the tragic firecracker blast in Tarn Taran that left 2 dead and 9 injured. My govt will give ex-gratia of ₹5 lakhs to the kin of deceased & free treatment for the injured. SDM Tarn Taran will probe the incident to fix responsibility. — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 8, 2020 × "Saddened to hear about the tragic firecracker blast in Tarn Taran that left 2 dead and 9 injured. My government will give ex-gratia of ₹5 lakhs to the kin of deceased and free treatment for the injured. SDM Tarn Taran will probe the incident to fix responsibility," read his tweet. Amritsar IG-border range Sarinderpal Singh Parmar: 2 people have been killed in the accidental explosion and 11 have been injured. The numbers given by the SSP was according to the eyewitnesses. #Punjab https://t.co/928M50R16A — ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 × The mishap occurred during a religious procession on Sunday evening. "During nagar kirtan, firecrackers were being burnt using explosive material because of which tractor-trolley exploded accidentally," Dahiya told media.

2 dead, 9 injured in cracker explosion in Punjab's Tarn Taran; Chief Minister calls for magisterial probe

The exit polls on Saturday predicted that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party will return to power with an impressive victory in the Delhi elections with the BJP expected to improve its numbers but finishing a distant second.

The polls predicted that AAP will win a two-thirds majority with some giving it a three-fourth majority in the 70-member assembly.

They predicted that Congress will continue its dismal show in the national capital. The Ipsos exit poll predicted 47 seats for AAP and 23 for BJP.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-assembly-elections-2020-voter-turnout-nearly-over-4270-per-cent-till-4pm-279488">Delhi Assembly elections 2020 - Polling ends, turnout at 54.65% till 6pm</a>

The C Voter poll predicted that AAP will get 49-63 seats and the BJP 5-19 seats.

According to the poll, the Congress could win 0-4 seats. The Bharatvarsh-Cicero exit poll predicted that AAP would win 54 seats, BJP 15 seats and Congress one seat.

The Jan Ki Baat exit poll gave 48-61 seats to AAP, 9-21 seats to BJP and 0-1 seat for the Congress.

The AAP had registered a landslide victory in 2015 elections getting 67 of 70 seats. The BJP had won three seats while Congress had failed to open its account.&nbsp;

The exit polls on Saturday predicted that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party will return to power with an impressive victory in the Delhi elections with the BJP expected to improve its numbers but finishing a distant second.

The exit polls on Saturday predicted that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party will return to power with an impressive victory in the Delhi elections with the BJP expected to improve its numbers but finishing a distant second. The polls predicted that AAP will win a two-thirds majority with some giving it a three-fourth majority in the 70-member assembly. They predicted that Congress will continue its dismal show in the national capital. The Ipsos exit poll predicted 47 seats for AAP and 23 for BJP. Also read: Delhi Assembly elections 2020 - Polling ends, turnout at 54.65% till 6pm The C Voter poll predicted that AAP will get 49-63 seats and the BJP 5-19 seats. According to the poll, the Congress could win 0-4 seats. The Bharatvarsh-Cicero exit poll predicted that AAP would win 54 seats, BJP 15 seats and Congress one seat. The Jan Ki Baat exit poll gave 48-61 seats to AAP, 9-21 seats to BJP and 0-1 seat for the Congress. The AAP had registered a landslide victory in 2015 elections getting 67 of 70 seats. The BJP had won three seats while Congress had failed to open its account.

Exit polls predict two-thirds majority for AAP in Delhi assembly

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