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Maharashtra assembly has passed the bill which was introduced by the state government proposing a&nbsp;16 per cent quota for the Maratha community&nbsp;under the Socially and Educationally Backward&nbsp;category.

The Maratha community, which constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population, had been demanding reservation in government jobs and education for some time now.

The community's agitation for the same in July and August this year had taken a violent turn.&nbsp;

The Marathas are OBCs.

OBC communities are given reservations but since the Marathas were seen as part of the OBC "creamy layer" — along with the Jats and the Patels who are now also demanding they be given reservations — they were not given reservations.&nbsp;

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The previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition government had also granted the Marathas a 16 per cent quota&nbsp;in jobs and education, but the move was stayed by the Bombay High Court.

News agency PTI had earlier quoted a source as saying that the government had been proposing to&nbsp;provide reservation to Marathas under a new category, called the 'Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC)', without disturbing the existing quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The Opposition Congress and the NCP had been demanding tabling of reports of the State Backward Class Commission's (SBCC) recommending quota for Marathas and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' report on reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community.

The Dhangar community had been pressing for reservation under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

The Cabinet sub-committee was formed last week to study the SBCC's report on reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education and take a decision on it.

The government had received the report on November 15 and it was placed before the Cabinet on November 18 for approval.

(With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra assembly has passed the bill which was introduced by the state government proposing a 16 per cent quota for the Maratha community under the Socially and Educationally Backward category.

Maharashtra assembly has passed the bill which was introduced by the state government proposing a 16 per cent quota for the Maratha community under the Socially and Educationally Backward category. The Maratha community, which constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population, had been demanding reservation in government jobs and education for some time now. The community's agitation for the same in July and August this year had taken a violent turn. The Marathas are OBCs. OBC communities are given reservations but since the Marathas were seen as part of the OBC "creamy layer" — along with the Jats and the Patels who are now also demanding they be given reservations — they were not given reservations. Maharashtra government proposes 16% reservation for Maratha community in jobs and education pic.twitter.com/dCA5fvSWQI — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018 × The previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition government had also granted the Marathas a 16 per cent quota in jobs and education, but the move was stayed by the Bombay High Court. News agency PTI had earlier quoted a source as saying that the government had been proposing to provide reservation to Marathas under a new category, called the 'Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC)', without disturbing the existing quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The Opposition Congress and the NCP had been demanding tabling of reports of the State Backward Class Commission's (SBCC) recommending quota for Marathas and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' report on reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community. The Dhangar community had been pressing for reservation under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The Cabinet sub-committee was formed last week to study the SBCC's report on reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education and take a decision on it. The government had received the report on November 15 and it was placed before the Cabinet on November 18 for approval. (With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra clears bill giving 16% reservation to Maratha

CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/cbi-vs-cbi-cleaning-the-rot-within-176144">divested of all duties by the Centre and sent on leave</a>, told the Supreme Court on Thursday that he was appointed for a fixed tenure of two years and cannot even be transferred.

Challenging the government's decision, his counsel and senior advocate Fali S Nariman said Verma was appointed on February 1, 2017 and "the position of law is that there will be a fixed tenure of two years and this gentleman cannot be even transferred".

Making his submission before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, the advocate said there was no basis for the Central Vigilance Commission to pass such an order recommending to send him on leave.

"There has to be strict interpretation of the Vineet Narain judgment. This is not the transfer and Verma has been denuded of his power and duties...Otherwise there was no use of the Narain judgement and the law...," Nariman said.

The Vineet Narain decision, delivered by the apex court in 1997, relates to the investigation of allegations of corruption against high-ranking public officials in India.

Before 1997, the tenure of the CBI director was not fixed and they could be removed by the government in any manner. But the apex court in the Vineet Narain judgment fixed a tenure of a minimum of two years for the CBI director to allow the officer to work with independence.

Nariman referred to the terms and conditions of appointment and removal of the CBI director and concerned provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.

At the outset, Nariman told the bench, which on November 20 had expressed deep anguish over the purported leak of CBI Director's response to the CVC's findings against him, that the court cannot prohibit the publication of the content of the petition as&nbsp; 
Article 19 of the Constitution is paramount. He also referred to the apex court 2012 judgement in a case on the issue.

The bench was irked over the publication of allegations levelled by agency's DIG Manoj Kumar Sinha in a separate plea.

The senior lawyer said, "If I file something tomorrow in the Registry then it can be published."

He added that if the apex court later prohibits then the matter cannot be published.

When Nariman suggested the apex court to mould a rule to postpone media reporting in some cases of scandalous allegations, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for CBI Deputy SP A K Bassi, the former probe officer of the bribery case against the Special Director CBI Rakesh Asthana, said he has serious reservations about his advice.

The CJI, however, said the court does not intend to pass any orders.

Dhawan said, "It is unfortunate that last time you said that none of us deserve to be heard"

The CJI said, "Unfortunate it may be, but we will hear you today".&nbsp;

The hearing is underway.&nbsp;

CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of all duties by the Centre and sent on leave, told the Supreme Court on Thursday that he was appointed for a fixed tenure of two years and cannot even be transferred.

CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of all duties by the Centre and sent on leave, told the Supreme Court on Thursday that he was appointed for a fixed tenure of two years and cannot even be transferred. Challenging the government's decision, his counsel and senior advocate Fali S Nariman said Verma was appointed on February 1, 2017 and "the position of law is that there will be a fixed tenure of two years and this gentleman cannot be even transferred". Making his submission before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, the advocate said there was no basis for the Central Vigilance Commission to pass such an order recommending to send him on leave. "There has to be strict interpretation of the Vineet Narain judgment. This is not the transfer and Verma has been denuded of his power and duties...Otherwise there was no use of the Narain judgement and the law...," Nariman said. The Vineet Narain decision, delivered by the apex court in 1997, relates to the investigation of allegations of corruption against high-ranking public officials in India. Before 1997, the tenure of the CBI director was not fixed and they could be removed by the government in any manner. But the apex court in the Vineet Narain judgment fixed a tenure of a minimum of two years for the CBI director to allow the officer to work with independence. Nariman referred to the terms and conditions of appointment and removal of the CBI director and concerned provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946. At the outset, Nariman told the bench, which on November 20 had expressed deep anguish over the purported leak of CBI Director's response to the CVC's findings against him, that the court cannot prohibit the publication of the content of the petition as Article 19 of the Constitution is paramount. He also referred to the apex court 2012 judgement in a case on the issue. The bench was irked over the publication of allegations levelled by agency's DIG Manoj Kumar Sinha in a separate plea. The senior lawyer said, "If I file something tomorrow in the Registry then it can be published." He added that if the apex court later prohibits then the matter cannot be published. When Nariman suggested the apex court to mould a rule to postpone media reporting in some cases of scandalous allegations, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for CBI Deputy SP A K Bassi, the former probe officer of the bribery case against the Special Director CBI Rakesh Asthana, said he has serious reservations about his advice. The CJI, however, said the court does not intend to pass any orders. Dhawan said, "It is unfortunate that last time you said that none of us deserve to be heard" The CJI said, "Unfortunate it may be, but we will hear you today". The hearing is underway.

Have fixed tenure of 2 years, that cannot be changed: CBI chief Alok Verma to SC

The former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian has said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-economic-growth-held-back-due-to-demonetisation-gst-raghuram-rajan-176545">demonetisation was a "massive, draconian, monetary shock"</a> that dragged India's GDP growth rate down.&nbsp;

Subramanian was Chief Economic Adviser when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation on November 8, 2016. He has since quit.&nbsp;

Subramanian makes his assertion in his upcoming book "Of Counsel: The Challenges of the Modi-Jaitley Economy" to be published by Penguin.&nbsp;

"Demonetisation was a massive, draconian, monetary shock: In one fell swoop, 86 per cent of the currency in circulation was withdrawn. The real GDP growth was affected by the demonetisation. Growth had been slowing even before, but after demonetisation, the slide accelerated," IANS quoted Subramanian as writing in the book.&nbsp;

"In the six quarters before demonetisation, growth averaged 8 per cent and in the seven quarters after, it averaged about 6.8 per cent (with a four-quarter window, the relevant numbers are 8.1 per cent before and 6.2 per cent after)," IANS quoted Subramanian as saying in the chapter "The Two Puzzles of Demonetisation — Political and Economic".&nbsp;

Subramanian goes on to say that he does not think anybody is disputing the fact that demonetisation slowed growth. What they are debating is how big the hit was — did it slow GDP growth by two percentage points or less?&nbsp;

"...But when a shock like demonetisation occurs, that primarily affects the informal sector, relying on formal indicators to measure overall activity will overstate GDP. This hypothesis goes only a small way towards explaining the puzzle since any squeeze in informal sector incomes would depress demand in the formal sector, and this effect should have been sizable."&nbsp;

Subramanian answers his question by saying people may have found ways around the ban, the extension of credit for example. Or e-payments.&nbsp;

"Or, there may be other, completely different explanations that have eluded my understanding of demonetisation, one of the unlikeliest economic experiments in modern Indian history," he writes.&nbsp;

Looked at from the political perspective, Subramanian says the shock move was unprecedented. Countries either go in for demonetisation piecemeal or if they do it at one swoop, they do it during times of war or hyperinflation.&nbsp;

But, the IANS report quotes Subramanian as saying, the BJP government did not seem to pay a political price for the move. (Subramanian points to the BJP's massive victory in the UP elections a little after demonetisation was announced as proof.)&nbsp;

The answer that has been put forward, says Subramanian, is that perhaps the poor overlooked their own hardships because they thought the rich were having an even harder time. "I lost a goat, but they lost their cows," writes Subramanian.&nbsp;

According to this view, he says, the cost to the poor was unavoidable collateral damage for the attainment of a greater goal.&nbsp;

But he adds that the answer is not very plausible, for the collateral damage was in fact avoidable.&nbsp;

He finally goes on to say that perhaps what worked for the policy was that it hurt so many people.&nbsp;

"Understanding the political economy of demonetisation may require us, therefore, to confront one overlooked possibility -- that adversely impacting the many, far from being a bug, could perhaps have been a feature of the policy action.

"Not necessarily by design or in real time, but in retrospect, it appears that impacting the many adversely may have been intrinsic to the success of the policy," IANS quoted Subramanian as writing.&nbsp;

The former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian has said demonetisation was a "massive, draconian, monetary shock" that dragged India's GDP growth rate down.

The former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian has said demonetisation was a "massive, draconian, monetary shock" that dragged India's GDP growth rate down. Subramanian was Chief Economic Adviser when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation on November 8, 2016. He has since quit. Subramanian makes his assertion in his upcoming book "Of Counsel: The Challenges of the Modi-Jaitley Economy" to be published by Penguin. "Demonetisation was a massive, draconian, monetary shock: In one fell swoop, 86 per cent of the currency in circulation was withdrawn. The real GDP growth was affected by the demonetisation. Growth had been slowing even before, but after demonetisation, the slide accelerated," IANS quoted Subramanian as writing in the book. "In the six quarters before demonetisation, growth averaged 8 per cent and in the seven quarters after, it averaged about 6.8 per cent (with a four-quarter window, the relevant numbers are 8.1 per cent before and 6.2 per cent after)," IANS quoted Subramanian as saying in the chapter "The Two Puzzles of Demonetisation — Political and Economic". Subramanian goes on to say that he does not think anybody is disputing the fact that demonetisation slowed growth. What they are debating is how big the hit was — did it slow GDP growth by two percentage points or less? "...But when a shock like demonetisation occurs, that primarily affects the informal sector, relying on formal indicators to measure overall activity will overstate GDP. This hypothesis goes only a small way towards explaining the puzzle since any squeeze in informal sector incomes would depress demand in the formal sector, and this effect should have been sizable." Subramanian answers his question by saying people may have found ways around the ban, the extension of credit for example. Or e-payments. "Or, there may be other, completely different explanations that have eluded my understanding of demonetisation, one of the unlikeliest economic experiments in modern Indian history," he writes. Looked at from the political perspective, Subramanian says the shock move was unprecedented. Countries either go in for demonetisation piecemeal or if they do it at one swoop, they do it during times of war or hyperinflation. But, the IANS report quotes Subramanian as saying, the BJP government did not seem to pay a political price for the move. (Subramanian points to the BJP's massive victory in the UP elections a little after demonetisation was announced as proof.) The answer that has been put forward, says Subramanian, is that perhaps the poor overlooked their own hardships because they thought the rich were having an even harder time. "I lost a goat, but they lost their cows," writes Subramanian. According to this view, he says, the cost to the poor was unavoidable collateral damage for the attainment of a greater goal. But he adds that the answer is not very plausible, for the collateral damage was in fact avoidable. He finally goes on to say that perhaps what worked for the policy was that it hurt so many people. "Understanding the political economy of demonetisation may require us, therefore, to confront one overlooked possibility -- that adversely impacting the many, far from being a bug, could perhaps have been a feature of the policy action. "Not necessarily by design or in real time, but in retrospect, it appears that impacting the many adversely may have been intrinsic to the success of the policy," IANS quoted Subramanian as writing.

Demonetisation a 'massive, draconian, monetary shock': Arvind Subramanian 

Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has broken every single promise made by him.&nbsp;

Making a strong pitch for farm loan waiver, he said, "...If the Prime Minister of India can forgive three lakh fifty thousand crore of 15 people...The richest people in the country, then he should be ready to forgive the loan of India's farmers".

"We are not asking for any free gift for farmers; we are just saying that whatever you do, you treat everyone fairly. If you are treating the richest people in the country, and you are giving them loan waiver, then you owe that to the farmers of the country", Gandhi said.

The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of indulging in crony capitalism from time to time, a charge which has been vehemently denied by the saffron party.&nbsp;

Addressing a convention on "KG to PG recognised institutions in Telangana for 'Change and Existence" here, he alleged that Modi has broken every single promise of his, including that of being an honest Prime Minister.

Assembly elections are scheduled in Telangana on December 7.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has broken every single promise made by him. Making a strong pitch for farm loan waiver, he said, ".

Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has broken every single promise made by him. Making a strong pitch for farm loan waiver, he said, "...If the Prime Minister of India can forgive three lakh fifty thousand crore of 15 people...The richest people in the country, then he should be ready to forgive the loan of India's farmers". "We are not asking for any free gift for farmers; we are just saying that whatever you do, you treat everyone fairly. If you are treating the richest people in the country, and you are giving them loan waiver, then you owe that to the farmers of the country", Gandhi said. The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of indulging in crony capitalism from time to time, a charge which has been vehemently denied by the saffron party. Addressing a convention on "KG to PG recognised institutions in Telangana for 'Change and Existence" here, he alleged that Modi has broken every single promise of his, including that of being an honest Prime Minister. Assembly elections are scheduled in Telangana on December 7.

Assembly elections 2018: Rahul says PM Modi has 'broken' all promises

Thousands of farmers from across the country started to converge in Delhi on Thursday for a two-day protest rally to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.

"Farmers, from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states, will march on four different routes in the national capital, starting at three major railway stations Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Bijwasan&nbsp;and at Sabzi Mandi,"&nbsp;their leaders said.

All the marchers will pour in at Ramlila Ground in the heart of the city by evening.

Farmers from Delhi, Punjab and Haryana started trickling in by 10:30 am.

Kamla, a functionary of the All India Kisan Sabha's Delhi unit, said farmers have also arrived at Majnu Ka Tila, from where they will start marching in groups to Ramlila Maidan.

"We hope by 3 pm, farmers from across the country will arrive at Ramlila Ground," said AIKS.

The two-day rally will be "one of the largest congregations of farmers" in Delhi, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) claimed on Wednesday.

The AIKSCC, which claims to be an umbrella body of 207 organisations of farmers and agricultural workers, said a cultural programme would be held at Ramlila Ground on Thursday, the first day of the protest, where prominent singers and poets from rural India would perform.

Police said they have made elaborate arrangements for the rally on Friday when the farmers will begin their march from Ramlila Ground to Parliament Street.

Support for farmers has started pouring with activists taking to Twitter to ask the general public to join the march.

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Delhi: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> of farmers' protest from near Ramlila Maidan area. Farmers from all across the nation have gathered in Delhi to participate in a 2-day protest from today over their demands, including debt relief &amp; better MSP for crops <a href="https://t.co/SB5pVkw2HT">pic.twitter.com/SB5pVkw2HT</a>
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Delhi: Farmers who gathered at Bijwasan, on their way to Ramlila Maidan. Farmers have gathered at different locations in the city &amp; will march to Ramlila Maidan. They are holding a 2-day protest from today over their demands, including debt relief &amp; better MSP for crops <a href="https://t.co/pmN38f26cV">pic.twitter.com/pmN38f26cV</a>
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"Women farmers greet us this morning from Brijwasan as they are all set to embark on #KisanMuktiMarch. Join us even if you are not a farmer. Join the hands that toil to feed us. Jai Kisan!," tweeted political activist Yogendra Yadav.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan also tweeted in solidarity with farmers.

"Over 3 lakh farmers have committed suicide in India in last 15 years,due to successive government betraying them. Tomorrow 1 lakh farmers from across the country are marching to Delhi to ask for fair prices&amp; freedom from debt. Let's stand in solidarity with them," he said.

Thousands of farmers from across the country started to converge in Delhi on Thursday for a two-day protest rally to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.

Thousands of farmers from across the country started to converge in Delhi on Thursday for a two-day protest rally to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce. "Farmers, from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states, will march on four different routes in the national capital, starting at three major railway stations Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Bijwasan and at Sabzi Mandi," their leaders said. All the marchers will pour in at Ramlila Ground in the heart of the city by evening. Farmers from Delhi, Punjab and Haryana started trickling in by 10:30 am. Kamla, a functionary of the All India Kisan Sabha's Delhi unit, said farmers have also arrived at Majnu Ka Tila, from where they will start marching in groups to Ramlila Maidan. "We hope by 3 pm, farmers from across the country will arrive at Ramlila Ground," said AIKS. The two-day rally will be "one of the largest congregations of farmers" in Delhi, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) claimed on Wednesday. The AIKSCC, which claims to be an umbrella body of 207 organisations of farmers and agricultural workers, said a cultural programme would be held at Ramlila Ground on Thursday, the first day of the protest, where prominent singers and poets from rural India would perform. Police said they have made elaborate arrangements for the rally on Friday when the farmers will begin their march from Ramlila Ground to Parliament Street. Support for farmers has started pouring with activists taking to Twitter to ask the general public to join the march. Delhi: #Visuals of farmers' protest from near Ramlila Maidan area. Farmers from all across the nation have gathered in Delhi to participate in a 2-day protest from today over their demands, including debt relief & better MSP for crops pic.twitter.com/SB5pVkw2HT — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018 × Delhi: Farmers who gathered at Bijwasan, on their way to Ramlila Maidan. Farmers have gathered at different locations in the city & will march to Ramlila Maidan. They are holding a 2-day protest from today over their demands, including debt relief & better MSP for crops pic.twitter.com/pmN38f26cV — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018 × "Women farmers greet us this morning from Brijwasan as they are all set to embark on #KisanMuktiMarch. Join us even if you are not a farmer. Join the hands that toil to feed us. Jai Kisan!," tweeted political activist Yogendra Yadav. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan also tweeted in solidarity with farmers. "Over 3 lakh farmers have committed suicide in India in last 15 years,due to successive government betraying them. Tomorrow 1 lakh farmers from across the country are marching to Delhi to ask for fair prices& freedom from debt. Let's stand in solidarity with them," he said.

To protest to govt, thousands of farmers converge on Delhi from across the country

Hopeful that its 'grand alliance' against the ruling TRS will succeed in Telangana polls, the Congress expects a big jump in its tally by winning at least 75 seats in the 119-member assembly.

The Congress state unit working president Ponnam Prabhakar Goud said there is a direct fight between the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the BJP is nowhere in the picture for December 7 polls.

The Congress, which had won just 22 seats in 2014 state polls, is part of a grand alliance this time along with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS).&nbsp;

"The grand alliance is not an experiment and we are hopeful it will succeed. Our party will win at least 75 seats," Goud told PTI in an interview. 
The 52-year-old leader called this election a "do or die" situation for the Congress, saying its fight is not only against the TRS candidates but also against the "money power of KCR" and communal forces led by the BJP at the Centre.

TRS chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekar's party has fielded candidates in 107 seats, while Congress is contesting in 94 seats as part of the grand alliance.&nbsp;

Asserting that the TRS is "scared" of the grand alliance, the Congress leader said, "Instead of talking about their achievements, the TRS is attacking us and our leader Rahul Gandhi."

The TRS is not even giving reasons for advancing polls by eight months, he added.&nbsp;

While the Telangana assembly polls would have otherwise happened along with Lok Sabha elections in 2019, KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known as, dissolved the assembly ahead of time and the state elections, therefore, got clubbed with four other states -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Rajasthan.

Out of these five states, voting will take place in Rajasthan and Telangana on December 7, while other three states have already voted. Counting of votes for all five states is scheduled for December 11.

Goud, an OBC leader, is contesting from the Karimnagar constituency, which is 160 km from Telangana's capital Hyderabad. In his fight against the TRS and the BJP in the assembly election, Goud is banking heavily on his "good work" done during his term as an MP from 2009 to 2014.

While the TRS has renominated G Kamalakar, who won both the 2009 and 2014 elections, the BJP has fielded B Sanjay Kumar, who lost to the TRS candidate in the last election.

Asked about the TRS's performance in the constituency, the Congress leader said there has not been any development but the incumbent chief minister claims that it has been developed like New York.&nbsp;

"The CM thinks Karimnagar has been developed like New York. I challenge him to go around the constituency and see the plight of roads. There is no development at all. I will withdraw my candidature (if proven wrong)," he said.&nbsp;

The Karimnagar constituency was one of the hotbeds for the separate Telangana statehood agitation.

"TRS won on the basis of the Telangana pride. People voted them after getting attracted to their welfare schemes, but not all promises have been fulfilled," Goud said.&nbsp;

He claimed the TRS activists are now joining the Congress as they are unable to bear the "torture and monarchism" of some TRS leaders. 
Senior TRS leaders, however, rubbished these claims.

In Karimnagar assembly constituency, there are 2,77,236 voters including 1,39,065 men, 1,38,135 women and 36 others.

Hopeful that its 'grand alliance' against the ruling TRS will succeed in Telangana polls, the Congress expects a big jump in its tally by winning at least 75 seats in the 119-member assembly.

Hopeful that its 'grand alliance' against the ruling TRS will succeed in Telangana polls, the Congress expects a big jump in its tally by winning at least 75 seats in the 119-member assembly. The Congress state unit working president Ponnam Prabhakar Goud said there is a direct fight between the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the BJP is nowhere in the picture for December 7 polls. The Congress, which had won just 22 seats in 2014 state polls, is part of a grand alliance this time along with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS). "The grand alliance is not an experiment and we are hopeful it will succeed. Our party will win at least 75 seats," Goud told PTI in an interview. The 52-year-old leader called this election a "do or die" situation for the Congress, saying its fight is not only against the TRS candidates but also against the "money power of KCR" and communal forces led by the BJP at the Centre. TRS chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekar's party has fielded candidates in 107 seats, while Congress is contesting in 94 seats as part of the grand alliance. Asserting that the TRS is "scared" of the grand alliance, the Congress leader said, "Instead of talking about their achievements, the TRS is attacking us and our leader Rahul Gandhi." The TRS is not even giving reasons for advancing polls by eight months, he added. While the Telangana assembly polls would have otherwise happened along with Lok Sabha elections in 2019, KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known as, dissolved the assembly ahead of time and the state elections, therefore, got clubbed with four other states -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Rajasthan. Out of these five states, voting will take place in Rajasthan and Telangana on December 7, while other three states have already voted. Counting of votes for all five states is scheduled for December 11. Goud, an OBC leader, is contesting from the Karimnagar constituency, which is 160 km from Telangana's capital Hyderabad. In his fight against the TRS and the BJP in the assembly election, Goud is banking heavily on his "good work" done during his term as an MP from 2009 to 2014. While the TRS has renominated G Kamalakar, who won both the 2009 and 2014 elections, the BJP has fielded B Sanjay Kumar, who lost to the TRS candidate in the last election. Asked about the TRS's performance in the constituency, the Congress leader said there has not been any development but the incumbent chief minister claims that it has been developed like New York. "The CM thinks Karimnagar has been developed like New York. I challenge him to go around the constituency and see the plight of roads. There is no development at all. I will withdraw my candidature (if proven wrong)," he said. The Karimnagar constituency was one of the hotbeds for the separate Telangana statehood agitation. "TRS won on the basis of the Telangana pride. People voted them after getting attracted to their welfare schemes, but not all promises have been fulfilled," Goud said. He claimed the TRS activists are now joining the Congress as they are unable to bear the "torture and monarchism" of some TRS leaders. Senior TRS leaders, however, rubbished these claims. In Karimnagar assembly constituency, there are 2,77,236 voters including 1,39,065 men, 1,38,135 women and 36 others.

Congress hopeful of winning 75 seats in Telangana: Working state chief Goud

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Thursday jumped to defend the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-2019-polls-govt-slashes-gdp-growth-rates-during-upa-era-180147">revision in India's GDP growth rate</a> during the previous UPA era, saying the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which came out with the revised numbers, was a credible organisation and maintains arm's length distance from the finance ministry.

A day after Chief Statistician Pravin Srivastava, in an unusual move, announced the revised numbers based on back series data alongside Niti Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar, Jaitley said, "I don't think any service is being rendered by those who discredit the highly credible organisation, CSO."

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram had Wednesday called the revision a "bad joke."

"Niti Aayog's revised GDP numbers are a joke. They are a bad joke," he had tweeted. "Actually they are worse than a bad joke. The numbers are the result of a hatchet job."

Jaitley said when the CSO had revised upward the growth rate of 2012-13 and 2013-14, the then government had welcomed the decision.

The same yardstick has been applied by the CSO while revising the growth downwards, he said.

Just months before the general elections, the country's economic growth rate during the previous<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-government-manipulating-gdp-data-of-previous-years-congress-180145"> Congress-led UPA</a> regime was lowered Wednesday, shaving off over 1 percentage point from the only year when India posted double-digit GDP growth post liberalisation and from each of the three years with 9-plus per cent expansion.

Recalibrating data of past years using 2011-12 as the base year instead of 2004-05, the CSO estimated that India's GDP grew by 8.5 per cent in the financial year 2010-11 (April 2010 to March 2011) and not at 10.3 per cent as previously estimated.

Similarly, 9.3 per cent growth rate each in 2005-06 and 2006-07 was lowered to 7.9 per cent and 8.1 per cent, respectively, while 7.7 per cent rate was now estimated for 2007-08 instead of 9.8 per cent.

Chidambaram had called the revision a "hatchet job" by Niti Aayog.

"Now that Niti Aayog has done the hatchet job, it is time to wind up the utterly worthless body," he had tweeted. "The earlier numbers were calculated by the National Statistical Commission. Has the commission been disbanded?"

"Former Chief Statistician Pranab Sen is absolutely correct. Niti Aayog has nothing to do with tabulation of data," he had said. "I wonder if Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar will agree to a debate the data than telling journalists that their questions are "undeserving of an answer", he said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Thursday jumped to defend the revision in India's GDP growth rate during the previous UPA era, saying the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which came out with the revised numbers, was a credible organisation and maintains arm's length distance from the finance ministry.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Thursday jumped to defend the revision in India's GDP growth rate during the previous UPA era, saying the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which came out with the revised numbers, was a credible organisation and maintains arm's length distance from the finance ministry. A day after Chief Statistician Pravin Srivastava, in an unusual move, announced the revised numbers based on back series data alongside Niti Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar, Jaitley said, "I don't think any service is being rendered by those who discredit the highly credible organisation, CSO." Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram had Wednesday called the revision a "bad joke." "Niti Aayog's revised GDP numbers are a joke. They are a bad joke," he had tweeted. "Actually they are worse than a bad joke. The numbers are the result of a hatchet job." Jaitley said when the CSO had revised upward the growth rate of 2012-13 and 2013-14, the then government had welcomed the decision. The same yardstick has been applied by the CSO while revising the growth downwards, he said. Just months before the general elections, the country's economic growth rate during the previous Congress-led UPA regime was lowered Wednesday, shaving off over 1 percentage point from the only year when India posted double-digit GDP growth post liberalisation and from each of the three years with 9-plus per cent expansion. Recalibrating data of past years using 2011-12 as the base year instead of 2004-05, the CSO estimated that India's GDP grew by 8.5 per cent in the financial year 2010-11 (April 2010 to March 2011) and not at 10.3 per cent as previously estimated. Similarly, 9.3 per cent growth rate each in 2005-06 and 2006-07 was lowered to 7.9 per cent and 8.1 per cent, respectively, while 7.7 per cent rate was now estimated for 2007-08 instead of 9.8 per cent. Chidambaram had called the revision a "hatchet job" by Niti Aayog. "Now that Niti Aayog has done the hatchet job, it is time to wind up the utterly worthless body," he had tweeted. "The earlier numbers were calculated by the National Statistical Commission. Has the commission been disbanded?" "Former Chief Statistician Pranab Sen is absolutely correct. Niti Aayog has nothing to do with tabulation of data," he had said. "I wonder if Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar will agree to a debate the data than telling journalists that their questions are "undeserving of an answer", he said.

Arun Jaitley defends revised GDP numbers for UPA era, says CSO credible organistaion

An officer has died after jumping off the Delhi Police headquarters building.&nbsp;

The ACP-rank officer was identified as Prem Ballabh. He was&nbsp;55 years old.&nbsp;

Ballabh had been posted with Delhi Police's Crime and Traffic Unit.

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Delhi: Prem Ballabh, 55 year old ACP rank official, who died after he allegedly jumped off from the Police Headquarters building. <a href="https://t.co/ISX6JTkXEA">pic.twitter.com/ISX6JTkXEA</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1068017970142691329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It is not yet known what might have caused Ballabh to kill himself.&nbsp;Police are investigating the apparent suicide.

(This is a developing story.&nbsp;Further details are awaited.)

An officer has died after jumping off the Delhi Police headquarters building. The ACP-rank officer was identified as Prem Ballabh. He was 55 years old. Ballabh had been posted with Delhi Police's Crime and Traffic Unit.

An officer has died after jumping off the Delhi Police headquarters building. The ACP-rank officer was identified as Prem Ballabh. He was 55 years old. Ballabh had been posted with Delhi Police's Crime and Traffic Unit. Delhi: Prem Ballabh, 55 year old ACP rank official, who died after he allegedly jumped off from the Police Headquarters building. pic.twitter.com/ISX6JTkXEA — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018 × It is not yet known what might have caused Ballabh to kill himself. Police are investigating the apparent suicide. (This is a developing story. Further details are awaited.)

Officer dies after jumping off from Delhi Police headquarters

Our problem is just one - Kashmir, it can be solved, says PM Imran Khan during Kartarpur ceremony

The "kamdar" is in a fight against the "naamdar" in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-assembly-elections-bjp-releases-manifesto-179698">Rajasthan</a>, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Nagaur on Wednesday, making a distinction between the one who works and the dynast in a jibe against Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Driving home the difference between himself and the Congress leader, who he has often referred to as 'naamdar' (dynast), he said he was like the people and was not born with a golden spoon.

"We are not seeking votes for our grandsons or granddaughters but for your welfare and to help fulfil your dreams," the prime minister said at a rally here ahead of elections in the state on December 7.

Hitting out at the Congress, he said those whose four generations have had no connect with the public cannot understand the pain of the common people.

"Our only mantra is 'sabka saath, sabka vikas', inspired by social reformist Jyotiba Phule and B R Ambedkar," the prime minister said.

Asking people to elect the Vasundhara Raje government for another term in the state, he said water is a big problem in the desert state. The Raje government has provided irrigation facilities in 1.5 lakh hectare area, he told the gathering.

The "kamdar" is in a fight against the "naamdar" in Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Nagaur on Wednesday, making a distinction between the one who works and the dynast in a jibe against Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The "kamdar" is in a fight against the "naamdar" in Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Nagaur on Wednesday, making a distinction between the one who works and the dynast in a jibe against Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Driving home the difference between himself and the Congress leader, who he has often referred to as 'naamdar' (dynast), he said he was like the people and was not born with a golden spoon. "We are not seeking votes for our grandsons or granddaughters but for your welfare and to help fulfil your dreams," the prime minister said at a rally here ahead of elections in the state on December 7. Hitting out at the Congress, he said those whose four generations have had no connect with the public cannot understand the pain of the common people. "Our only mantra is 'sabka saath, sabka vikas', inspired by social reformist Jyotiba Phule and B R Ambedkar," the prime minister said. Asking people to elect the Vasundhara Raje government for another term in the state, he said water is a big problem in the desert state. The Raje government has provided irrigation facilities in 1.5 lakh hectare area, he told the gathering.

'Kamdar' in fight against 'naamdar' in this election: PM Modi attacks Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan

Delhiites woke up to a thick haze hanging over the city as the air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category.

The overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 316, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

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 CPCB said 22 areas of Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality while 13 areas recorded 'poor' air quality.

The level of PM2.5 -- particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres -- was recorded at 159 and the PM10 level was recorded at 316, it said.

In NCR, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality while Gurgaon recorded 'poor' air quality, the CPCB data showed.

According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, a haze has engulfed Delhi and the wind speed and ventilation index are "extremely unfavourable" for dispersion of pollutants.

Ventilation index determines how fast pollutants can get dispersed.

The ventilation index of around 6,000 sqm/second gets rid of pollutants, but it came down to 1,500 sqm/second on Tuesday in the city.

The air quality is very poor and as expected, gradual increasing trend is noticed," the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said.&nbsp;

"It is likely to remain very poor with a gradual increasing trend till Wednesday without any major episode and then likely to decline, but (will) continue to remain in very poor (category)," it said.&nbsp;

Delhiites woke up to a thick haze hanging over the city as the air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category. The overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 316, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

Delhiites woke up to a thick haze hanging over the city as the air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category. The overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 316, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. 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 CPCB said 22 areas of Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality while 13 areas recorded 'poor' air quality. The level of PM2.5 -- particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres -- was recorded at 159 and the PM10 level was recorded at 316, it said. In NCR, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality while Gurgaon recorded 'poor' air quality, the CPCB data showed. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, a haze has engulfed Delhi and the wind speed and ventilation index are "extremely unfavourable" for dispersion of pollutants. Ventilation index determines how fast pollutants can get dispersed. The ventilation index of around 6,000 sqm/second gets rid of pollutants, but it came down to 1,500 sqm/second on Tuesday in the city. The air quality is very poor and as expected, gradual increasing trend is noticed," the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said. "It is likely to remain very poor with a gradual increasing trend till Wednesday without any major episode and then likely to decline, but (will) continue to remain in very poor (category)," it said.

Thick haze envelopes Delhi, air quality very poor

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-warns-of-threat-of-full-scale-war-with-russia-179864">Ukraine warns of threat of 'full-scale war' with Russia</a>

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday warned of the threat of "full-scale war" and said Russia had sharply increased its military presence on their shared border as tensions escalate between the ex-Soviet neighbours.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-elections-2018-polling-begins-in-mizoram-179865">Assembly elections 2018: Polling begins in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram</a>

Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram go to the polls today. While the northeastern state is one of three in the country currently under Congress rule, the BJP has now been in power in Madhya Pradesh for three terms.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/paks-imran-khan-to-lay-foundation-stone-for-kartarpur-corridor-today-179871">Pak's Imran Khan to lay </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/paks-imran-khan-to-lay-foundation-stone-for-kartarpur-corridor-today-179871">foundation</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/paks-imran-khan-to-lay-foundation-stone-for-kartarpur-corridor-today-179871"> stone for Kartarpur Corridor today</a>

Prime Minister Imran Khan will on Wednesday lay the foundation stone for the much-awaited corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur — the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev — to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-to-cut-gm-subsidies-in-retaliation-for-us-job-cuts-179852">After US job cuts, Trump threatens to stop all GM subsidies</a>

US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to eliminate subsidies for General Motors Co in retaliation for the automaker cutting US jobs and plants, and the automaker also took fire from Canadian political and labour leaders for cutbacks there.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-suggests-creating-worldwide-network-to-counter-cnns-unfair-reporting-179855">To counter CNN's 'unfair' reporting, Trump suggests creating a 'Worldwide Network'</a>

President Donald Trump slammed American broadcast network CNN for portraying the US in an "unfair and false way" to the rest of the world and suggested launching a "Worldwide Network" to counter CNN`s reporting by showing another view of the situation in the country.

Ukraine warns of threat of 'full-scale war' with Russia Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday warned of the threat of "full-scale war" and said Russia had sharply increased its military presence on their shared border as tensions escalate between the ex-Soviet neighbours.

Ukraine warns of threat of 'full-scale war' with Russia Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday warned of the threat of "full-scale war" and said Russia had sharply increased its military presence on their shared border as tensions escalate between the ex-Soviet neighbours. Assembly elections 2018: Polling begins in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram go to the polls today. While the northeastern state is one of three in the country currently under Congress rule, the BJP has now been in power in Madhya Pradesh for three terms. Pak's Imran Khan to lay foundation stone for Kartarpur Corridor today Prime Minister Imran Khan will on Wednesday lay the foundation stone for the much-awaited corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur — the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev — to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims. After US job cuts, Trump threatens to stop all GM subsidies US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to eliminate subsidies for General Motors Co in retaliation for the automaker cutting US jobs and plants, and the automaker also took fire from Canadian political and labour leaders for cutbacks there. To counter CNN's 'unfair' reporting, Trump suggests creating a 'Worldwide Network' President Donald Trump slammed American broadcast network CNN for portraying the US in an "unfair and false way" to the rest of the world and suggested launching a "Worldwide Network" to counter CNN`s reporting by showing another view of the situation in the country.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Pakistan has altered the demography of PoK and the identity of Kashmiris on that side has been systematically eroded, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-has-no-extra-territorial-ambitions-says-army-chief-bipin-rawat-174949">Army Chief Bipin Rawat</a> said on Wednesday.

He disapproved of suggestions about sending back security forces "to barracks" whenever there is "a little bit of peace" in Kashmir, saying it will give terrorists time to revamp their networks and asserted that there was a need to maintain sustained pressure "to control the situation".

Rawat, who was delivering the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Lecture, also expressed concern over allowing funeral processions of terrorists, saying they glorify militants as martyrs and are "possibly encouraging more people to join the terrorist ranks".

Referring to PoK, Rawat said, "Pakistan has very cleverly changed the demography of so-called Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan. So, one is not very sure who is an actual Kashmiri."

"Is he is a Kashmiri or a Punjabi who has come in there and occupied that area. People from Gilgit-Baltistan are also now being taken over gradually. So, if there is an identity between our side of Kashmiri and the other side, then the identity thing has gradually been eroded. That is an issue we have to look at," he said.

The Army chief credited the locals for successful operations against militants in Kashmir, saying they were providing "hard intelligence".

"Things will be brought into control and are being brought under control, but sustained pressure needs to be maintained."

"It should not happen that little bit of peace that we see and say, Oh, it is hunky dory and it is now time to return to the barracks and let things happen. This time will be used for revamping the network of the terrorists," he said.

Rawat said the situation needs to be brought to a level where the terror groups are not able to revamp.

"You have to bring them to a level where they (terrorists) are not able to revamp, get the leadership out and make sure they have very few weapons left with them and they do not have opportunities to carry out conglomeration and get together wherever they want to," the Army chief said.

He also pointed out that the funeral processions that glorify terrorists as martyrs should be addressed.

"In a funeral procession when you make a martyr of a terrorist is what is possibly encouraging more people to join the terrorist ranks," he said.

"These are some of the issues which we are gradually addressing," Rawat said noting that the Army does not want to deal with a heavy hand and allow that to become a trigger for violence in the Valley.

Rawat stressed on the need for a greater positive engagement with the youth to motivate them to remain off the street and the "gun culture".

He said the Army will also take maulvis from Kashmir on 'Sadbhavna yatras' to places like Ajmer Sharif, Agra and show them that there is no persecution of any religious minorities in India.

Pakistan has altered the demography of PoK and the identity of Kashmiris on that side has been systematically eroded, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday. He disapproved of suggestions about sending back security forces "to barracks" whenever there is "a little bit of peace" in Kashmir, saying it will give terrorists time to revamp their networks and asserted that there was a need to maintain sustained pressure "to control the situation".

Pakistan has altered the demography of PoK and the identity of Kashmiris on that side has been systematically eroded, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday. He disapproved of suggestions about sending back security forces "to barracks" whenever there is "a little bit of peace" in Kashmir, saying it will give terrorists time to revamp their networks and asserted that there was a need to maintain sustained pressure "to control the situation". Rawat, who was delivering the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Lecture, also expressed concern over allowing funeral processions of terrorists, saying they glorify militants as martyrs and are "possibly encouraging more people to join the terrorist ranks". Referring to PoK, Rawat said, "Pakistan has very cleverly changed the demography of so-called Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan. So, one is not very sure who is an actual Kashmiri." "Is he is a Kashmiri or a Punjabi who has come in there and occupied that area. People from Gilgit-Baltistan are also now being taken over gradually. So, if there is an identity between our side of Kashmiri and the other side, then the identity thing has gradually been eroded. That is an issue we have to look at," he said. The Army chief credited the locals for successful operations against militants in Kashmir, saying they were providing "hard intelligence". "Things will be brought into control and are being brought under control, but sustained pressure needs to be maintained." "It should not happen that little bit of peace that we see and say, Oh, it is hunky dory and it is now time to return to the barracks and let things happen. This time will be used for revamping the network of the terrorists," he said. Rawat said the situation needs to be brought to a level where the terror groups are not able to revamp. "You have to bring them to a level where they (terrorists) are not able to revamp, get the leadership out and make sure they have very few weapons left with them and they do not have opportunities to carry out conglomeration and get together wherever they want to," the Army chief said. He also pointed out that the funeral processions that glorify terrorists as martyrs should be addressed. "In a funeral procession when you make a martyr of a terrorist is what is possibly encouraging more people to join the terrorist ranks," he said. "These are some of the issues which we are gradually addressing," Rawat said noting that the Army does not want to deal with a heavy hand and allow that to become a trigger for violence in the Valley. Rawat stressed on the need for a greater positive engagement with the youth to motivate them to remain off the street and the "gun culture". He said the Army will also take maulvis from Kashmir on 'Sadbhavna yatras' to places like Ajmer Sharif, Agra and show them that there is no persecution of any religious minorities in India.

Pakistan has changed demography of PoK: Army chief General Bipin Rawat

Trade wars between the United States and China will be the top focus at the 13the G20 summit even as host Argentina will focus on South-South cooperation and India on highlighting the issue of terror, especially in its region. Speaking to WION ahead of the G20 summit that will take place in Argentina’s capital&nbsp;Buenos Aires, India’s sherpa or top negotiator at the grouping, Shaktikanta Das, said, “On FATF (Financial Action Task Force) leaders will spell out what kind of appeal or political message they would like to give to FATF. Not just passing laws to deal with terror but the actual implementation of FATF principals by all countries”.&nbsp;

This comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s inaction on 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed who roams the streets of that country freely and even wanted to contest the general elections. Earlier this year, Pakistan was blacklisted for failing to take strong action, especially against financial support to terror groups.

In the previous G20 summit held in Hamburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given an 11-point agenda on terror.

Prime Minister Modi will&nbsp;meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the fourth time this year on the sidelines of G20. They first met at the famous informal Wuhan summit in April followed by meetings on the sidelines of SCO and BRICS summit in China and South Africa.

In a pre-departure statement, Modi said, "I look forward to meeting leaders from other G-20 countries to review the work of G-20 in the last ten years of its existence and chart the ways and means to meet the new and upcoming challenges of the coming decade. We will deliberate on the situation of global economy and trade, international financial and tax systems, the future of work, women empowerment, infrastructure and sustainable development."

Prime Minister&nbsp;Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump. The expected meet will be the first one since the S400 deal was signed between India and Russia.&nbsp;India hasn’t confirmed the meet with Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale saying New Delhi is “Currently working on several bilateral meetings”.&nbsp;

Both India and the US have been focusing on terror emanating from Pakistan. The Indian prime minister&nbsp;had raised the issue with US Vice-President Mike Pence when the two met on the sidelines of the 13th East Asian summit just two weeks ago. Last week, US President Trump made known his displeasure with Islamabad when he justified his aid cut saying that the country does not do a single “damn thing”. He also came down on Pakistan for providing safe haven to Osama bin Laden&nbsp;who was killed by US forces in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in 2011.

India’s sherpa also told WION that India would call for “greater international cooperation on economic offences and offenders, especially fugitive economic offenders” and “economic offences pose a major threat to global economy”. This comes even as Nirav Modi, the man behind the infamous scam at Punjab National Bank and Vijay Mallya who owes billions of rupees to India’s public sector banks continue to stay in the&nbsp;UK, a fellow G20 country.

A BRICS meeting will also take place.&nbsp;A similar BRICS summit&nbsp;followed the&nbsp;2017 G20 summit&nbsp;during which the talks between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping helped in defusing the Doklam crisis.

All in all, New Delhi will be using the high table to raise awareness about issues that concern today's increasingly fragile world.&nbsp;Meanwhile, host, Argentina will be focusing on giving perspective on&nbsp;south-south&nbsp;cooperation and raising the issue of cryptocurrency. Argentina’s ambassador to India Daniel Chuburu spoke to WION and said, “consensus is that cryptocurrency touches important issues like money laundering, protection of the right of investors, consumers, financing of terror”

Argentina is the first South American country to host the G20 summit. This is the 13th G20 summit and comes on the 10th anniversary of leaders summit which took place on the backdrop of financial crisis in 2008.

On South-South cooperation, Argentinian ambassador said, “Our sherpa and our minister have been visiting the region and developing member countries of the G20. We thought it was very important to bring the perspective of the south. The perspective of developing countries.”

But this year summit will have a lot of big bilaterals. US President Donald Trump will be meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. With Xi, Trump will be focusing on solving the current trade wars that have broken between world’s number one and number two economy. No solution means global growth can suffer in 2019. With Russian president, with whom he will be meeting for the second time this year, the focus will be on Syria and the current crisis in Ukraine.

The long shadow of Khashoggi murder will also have an impact some uncomfortable moments are expected when Turkish President&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdogan&nbsp;and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman come face to face for the first time since the news of&nbsp;Khashoggi's&nbsp;killing came.

Trade wars between the United States and China will be the top focus at the 13the G20 summit even as host Argentina will focus on South-South cooperation and India on highlighting the issue of terror, especially in its region.

Trade wars between the United States and China will be the top focus at the 13the G20 summit even as host Argentina will focus on South-South cooperation and India on highlighting the issue of terror, especially in its region. Speaking to WION ahead of the G20 summit that will take place in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires, India’s sherpa or top negotiator at the grouping, Shaktikanta Das, said, “On FATF (Financial Action Task Force) leaders will spell out what kind of appeal or political message they would like to give to FATF. Not just passing laws to deal with terror but the actual implementation of FATF principals by all countries”. This comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s inaction on 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed who roams the streets of that country freely and even wanted to contest the general elections. Earlier this year, Pakistan was blacklisted for failing to take strong action, especially against financial support to terror groups. In the previous G20 summit held in Hamburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given an 11-point agenda on terror. Prime Minister Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the fourth time this year on the sidelines of G20. They first met at the famous informal Wuhan summit in April followed by meetings on the sidelines of SCO and BRICS summit in China and South Africa. In a pre-departure statement, Modi said, "I look forward to meeting leaders from other G-20 countries to review the work of G-20 in the last ten years of its existence and chart the ways and means to meet the new and upcoming challenges of the coming decade. We will deliberate on the situation of global economy and trade, international financial and tax systems, the future of work, women empowerment, infrastructure and sustainable development." Prime Minister Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump. The expected meet will be the first one since the S400 deal was signed between India and Russia. India hasn’t confirmed the meet with Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale saying New Delhi is “Currently working on several bilateral meetings”. Both India and the US have been focusing on terror emanating from Pakistan. The Indian prime minister had raised the issue with US Vice-President Mike Pence when the two met on the sidelines of the 13th East Asian summit just two weeks ago. Last week, US President Trump made known his displeasure with Islamabad when he justified his aid cut saying that the country does not do a single “damn thing”. He also came down on Pakistan for providing safe haven to Osama bin Laden who was killed by US forces in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in 2011. India’s sherpa also told WION that India would call for “greater international cooperation on economic offences and offenders, especially fugitive economic offenders” and “economic offences pose a major threat to global economy”. This comes even as Nirav Modi, the man behind the infamous scam at Punjab National Bank and Vijay Mallya who owes billions of rupees to India’s public sector banks continue to stay in the UK, a fellow G20 country. A BRICS meeting will also take place. A similar BRICS summit followed the 2017 G20 summit during which the talks between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping helped in defusing the Doklam crisis. All in all, New Delhi will be using the high table to raise awareness about issues that concern today's increasingly fragile world. Meanwhile, host, Argentina will be focusing on giving perspective on south-south cooperation and raising the issue of cryptocurrency. Argentina’s ambassador to India Daniel Chuburu spoke to WION and said, “consensus is that cryptocurrency touches important issues like money laundering, protection of the right of investors, consumers, financing of terror” Argentina is the first South American country to host the G20 summit. This is the 13th G20 summit and comes on the 10th anniversary of leaders summit which took place on the backdrop of financial crisis in 2008. On South-South cooperation, Argentinian ambassador said, “Our sherpa and our minister have been visiting the region and developing member countries of the G20. We thought it was very important to bring the perspective of the south. The perspective of developing countries.” But this year summit will have a lot of big bilaterals. US President Donald Trump will be meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. With Xi, Trump will be focusing on solving the current trade wars that have broken between world’s number one and number two economy. No solution means global growth can suffer in 2019. With Russian president, with whom he will be meeting for the second time this year, the focus will be on Syria and the current crisis in Ukraine. The long shadow of Khashoggi murder will also have an impact some uncomfortable moments are expected when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman come face to face for the first time since the news of Khashoggi's killing came.

At G20 summit, India will call for greater cooperation on fugitive economic offenders

Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram went to the polls Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

Amid tight security, polling for Mizoram's 40-member <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mizoram-polls-litmus-test-for-cm-thanhawla-bjp-looks-to-uproot-congress-from-last-bastion-in-northeast-179767">legislative assembly</a>&nbsp;began at 7 am. Madhya Pradesh went to the polls an hour later at 8 am, apart from the Maoist-affected Balaghat district where polling again began at 7 am. Starting an hour earlier will also polling to end before it gets dark.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mizoram-polls-litmus-test-for-cm-thanhawla-bjp-looks-to-uproot-congress-from-last-bastion-in-northeast-179767">Mizoram</a> is one of three states currently under Congress rule, while the BJP has been in power in Madhya&nbsp;Pradesh for the last 15 years. The BJP has never formed a government in Mizoram.

The Congress and the MNF (Mizoram's second party) are contesting all 40 constituencies in the state, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fighting in 39 seats.

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Voting for 40 constituencies in Mizoram begins. Polling to conclude at 4 pm. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MizoramElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MizoramElections</a> <a href="https://t.co/7wHPcVQLsL">pic.twitter.com/7wHPcVQLsL</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1067592238446858240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The battle for power in Madhya Pradesh's 230 seats is mainly between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are also in the fray.&nbsp;

The BJP has fielded candidates in all 230 seats, while the Congress is contesting 229 seats.

In the last polls, of the 230 seats, the BJP won 165, the Congress 58, the BSP four, and Independents three.&nbsp;

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan prays on the banks of Narmada river, in Budhni. Voting in the state is underway. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradeshElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradeshElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hh9hjNds8Y">pic.twitter.com/Hh9hjNds8Y</a>
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Congress leader Kamal Nath offers prayers at a Hanuman temple in Chhindwara <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradeshElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradeshElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/tjdOwNrwtJ">pic.twitter.com/tjdOwNrwtJ</a>
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I have full faith in the people of Madhya Pradesh, they are simple and innocent people who have been robbed for a long time by BJP: Kamal Nath, Congress <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradeshElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradeshElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/t7J1mxan9u">pic.twitter.com/t7J1mxan9u</a>
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In the previous election in 2013 in Mizoram, the Congress had fielded 40 candidates while it won 34 seats, whereas Mizo National Front (MNF) secured only five seats after contesting 31 seats.

Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) had contested on eight seats but it managed to bag only one.

The elections are being fought between&nbsp;209 candidates.

The Congress party, which has been in power in Mizoram since 2008, is eyeing a third consecutive term in the state.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is contesting from two seats - Serchhip and Champhai South. In Serchhip, Thanhawla will be contesting against Zoram People`s Movement`s (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma, Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee C Lalramzauva and People`s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) party chief Vanlalruata among others.

In the Champhai South, the incumbent Chief Minister would contest against MNF`s T J Lalnuntluanga and ZPM`s C Lalremliana.

Preparations have also been made&nbsp;for 12,026 Bru refugees who are lodged in six relief camps of Tripura to cast their votes at Kanhmun village in Mamit district where 15 temporary polling stations have been set up.

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Mizoram: Visuals from a polling station in Zarkawt, Aizawl. Polling for the 40 constituencies in the state will begin at 7 am. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MizoramElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MizoramElections</a> <a href="https://t.co/BnKJsWf36E">pic.twitter.com/BnKJsWf36E</a>
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An elderly woman after casting her vote at a polling station in Kanhmun <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MizoramElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MizoramElections</a> <a href="https://t.co/95FxeIAyVb">pic.twitter.com/95FxeIAyVb</a>
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The results will be announced on December 11.

(With inputs from agencies)

Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram went to the polls Wednesday morning. Amid tight security, polling for Mizoram's 40-member legislative assembly began at 7 am. Madhya Pradesh went to the polls an hour later at 8 am, apart from the Maoist-affected Balaghat district where polling again began at 7 am.

Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram went to the polls Wednesday morning. Amid tight security, polling for Mizoram's 40-member legislative assembly began at 7 am. Madhya Pradesh went to the polls an hour later at 8 am, apart from the Maoist-affected Balaghat district where polling again began at 7 am. Starting an hour earlier will also polling to end before it gets dark. Mizoram is one of three states currently under Congress rule, while the BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years. The BJP has never formed a government in Mizoram. The Congress and the MNF (Mizoram's second party) are contesting all 40 constituencies in the state, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fighting in 39 seats. Voting for 40 constituencies in Mizoram begins. Polling to conclude at 4 pm. #MizoramElections pic.twitter.com/7wHPcVQLsL — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018 × The battle for power in Madhya Pradesh's 230 seats is mainly between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are also in the fray. The BJP has fielded candidates in all 230 seats, while the Congress is contesting 229 seats. In the last polls, of the 230 seats, the BJP won 165, the Congress 58, the BSP four, and Independents three. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan prays on the banks of Narmada river, in Budhni. Voting in the state is underway. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/Hh9hjNds8Y — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018 × Congress leader Kamal Nath offers prayers at a Hanuman temple in Chhindwara #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/tjdOwNrwtJ — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018 × I have full faith in the people of Madhya Pradesh, they are simple and innocent people who have been robbed for a long time by BJP: Kamal Nath, Congress #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/t7J1mxan9u — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018 × In the previous election in 2013 in Mizoram, the Congress had fielded 40 candidates while it won 34 seats, whereas Mizo National Front (MNF) secured only five seats after contesting 31 seats. Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) had contested on eight seats but it managed to bag only one. The elections are being fought between 209 candidates. The Congress party, which has been in power in Mizoram since 2008, is eyeing a third consecutive term in the state. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is contesting from two seats - Serchhip and Champhai South. In Serchhip, Thanhawla will be contesting against Zoram People`s Movement`s (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma, Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee C Lalramzauva and People`s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) party chief Vanlalruata among others. In the Champhai South, the incumbent Chief Minister would contest against MNF`s T J Lalnuntluanga and ZPM`s C Lalremliana. Preparations have also been made for 12,026 Bru refugees who are lodged in six relief camps of Tripura to cast their votes at Kanhmun village in Mamit district where 15 temporary polling stations have been set up. Mizoram: Visuals from a polling station in Zarkawt, Aizawl. Polling for the 40 constituencies in the state will begin at 7 am. #MizoramElections pic.twitter.com/BnKJsWf36E — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018 × An elderly woman after casting her vote at a polling station in Kanhmun #MizoramElections pic.twitter.com/95FxeIAyVb — ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018 × The results will be announced on December 11. (With inputs from agencies)

Assembly elections 2018: Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram go to the polls

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday.

The trilateral, which would be an expansion of the bilateral between Trump and Abe, is part of the series of meetings Trump would have later this week on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina. The annual meeting is being attended by leaders of the top 20 economies of the world.

However, all eyes are expected to be on two meetings that Trump would have with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Briefing reporters ahead of the G-20 Summit, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Trump will also have meetings with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, President Moon Jae-In of South Korea, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Bolton said the Trump-Abe bilateral meeting would expand into a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

"He is going to meet with President Macri, the host government of Argentina, he'll meet with President Moon of South Korea, he'll meet with President Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, that will transform at some point during that meeting a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi,"&nbsp;Bolton said.

"The president will meet with President Putin and have a working dinner with President Xi," he said. PTI&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday. The trilateral, which would be an expansion of the bilateral between Trump and Abe, is part of the series of meetings Trump would have later this week on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina. The annual meeting is being attended by leaders of the top 20 economies of the world. However, all eyes are expected to be on two meetings that Trump would have with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Briefing reporters ahead of the G-20 Summit, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Trump will also have meetings with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, President Moon Jae-In of South Korea, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Bolton said the Trump-Abe bilateral meeting would expand into a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. "He is going to meet with President Macri, the host government of Argentina, he'll meet with President Moon of South Korea, he'll meet with President Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, that will transform at some point during that meeting a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi," Bolton said. "The president will meet with President Putin and have a working dinner with President Xi," he said. PTI

PM Modi to have trilateral meeting with Trump and Japanese counterpart in Argentina

The India-Britain partnership will remain strong irrespective of the direction the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/no-deal-brexit-could-cost-uk-economy-93-of-gdp-over-15-years-govt-180049">ongoing Brexit </a>negotiations take, India's new High Commissioner to the UK, Ruchi Ghanshayam, has said.

In one of her first addresses on the bilateral partnership since taking charge at the Indian High Commission in London last week, Ghanshayam told a gathering organised by the Indian Professionals Forum (IPF) at Chatham House that it was important that familiarity does not lead to&nbsp; 
complacency in the relationship.

"The India-UK partnership is very old, it has stood the test of time and whatever happens to this Brexit process, whichever way it turns out, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that India and the UK will remain, important partners," she said in her keynote address on the topic of 'Indo-UK Collaboration: Opportunities and Challenges'.

The UK is set to exit the European Union on March 29, 2019. Lawmakers will debate Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal in Parliament on December 11.

"The relationship is both special and deep. One of our greatest strengths is familiarity with one another. But the risk of familiarity is that we must guard against complacency. We must remain conscious of the need not to be complacent," the Indian envoy said.

The IPF, a non-profit think tank for Indian diaspora-related policy advocacy and a members' club launched last year, followed up the keynote address with a focus on the prospects of India-UK collaboration in the health care sector.

"We see considerable potential in the area of health, with some parallels being drawn between the Ayushman Bharat programme and the UK's National Health Service (NHS). We want to reflect on how India and the UK can collaborate on health care policy and provision," said IPF founder and president Mohan Kaul.

A range of panellists from the sector highlighted areas such as affordability, availability and accessibility as the focal points of the collaboration.&nbsp;

The India-Britain partnership will remain strong irrespective of the direction the ongoing Brexit negotiations take, India's new High Commissioner to the UK, Ruchi Ghanshayam, has said.

The India-Britain partnership will remain strong irrespective of the direction the ongoing Brexit negotiations take, India's new High Commissioner to the UK, Ruchi Ghanshayam, has said. In one of her first addresses on the bilateral partnership since taking charge at the Indian High Commission in London last week, Ghanshayam told a gathering organised by the Indian Professionals Forum (IPF) at Chatham House that it was important that familiarity does not lead to complacency in the relationship. "The India-UK partnership is very old, it has stood the test of time and whatever happens to this Brexit process, whichever way it turns out, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that India and the UK will remain, important partners," she said in her keynote address on the topic of 'Indo-UK Collaboration: Opportunities and Challenges'. The UK is set to exit the European Union on March 29, 2019. Lawmakers will debate Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal in Parliament on December 11. "The relationship is both special and deep. One of our greatest strengths is familiarity with one another. But the risk of familiarity is that we must guard against complacency. We must remain conscious of the need not to be complacent," the Indian envoy said. The IPF, a non-profit think tank for Indian diaspora-related policy advocacy and a members' club launched last year, followed up the keynote address with a focus on the prospects of India-UK collaboration in the health care sector. "We see considerable potential in the area of health, with some parallels being drawn between the Ayushman Bharat programme and the UK's National Health Service (NHS). We want to reflect on how India and the UK can collaborate on health care policy and provision," said IPF founder and president Mohan Kaul. A range of panellists from the sector highlighted areas such as affordability, availability and accessibility as the focal points of the collaboration.

India, UK to remain important partners post-Brexit: Indian envoy

Tata Consultancy Services once again became the most-valued Indian company by market capitalisation following a smart surge in its share price Wednesday.&nbsp;

Reliance Industries (RIL) on November 16 had pipped Tata Consultancy Services to become the most-valued company in terms of market capitalisation.

At the end of trade on BSE Wednesday, TCS commanded a market valuation of Rs 7,41,677.60 crore, which is Rs 15,124.33 crore more than that of RIL’s Rs 7,26,553.27 crore m-cap.

Shares of TCS went up by 4.67 per cent to close at Rs 1,976.55 on BSE. During the day, it surged 4.96 per cent to Rs 1,982.15.

The scrip of Reliance Industries Ltd ended 1.66 per cent higher at Rs 1,146.25. Intra-day, it gained 2.67 per cent to Rs 1,157.70.

Over the past few months, RIL and TCS are competing with each other to claim the number one position in terms of market capitalisation.

The m-cap figure of companies changes daily with stock price movement.

Tata Consultancy Services once again became the most-valued Indian company by market capitalisation following a smart surge in its share price Wednesday. Reliance Industries (RIL) on November 16 had pipped Tata Consultancy Services to become the most-valued company in terms of market capitalisation.

Tata Consultancy Services once again became the most-valued Indian company by market capitalisation following a smart surge in its share price Wednesday. Reliance Industries (RIL) on November 16 had pipped Tata Consultancy Services to become the most-valued company in terms of market capitalisation. At the end of trade on BSE Wednesday, TCS commanded a market valuation of Rs 7,41,677.60 crore, which is Rs 15,124.33 crore more than that of RIL’s Rs 7,26,553.27 crore m-cap. Shares of TCS went up by 4.67 per cent to close at Rs 1,976.55 on BSE. During the day, it surged 4.96 per cent to Rs 1,982.15. The scrip of Reliance Industries Ltd ended 1.66 per cent higher at Rs 1,146.25. Intra-day, it gained 2.67 per cent to Rs 1,157.70. Over the past few months, RIL and TCS are competing with each other to claim the number one position in terms of market capitalisation. The m-cap figure of companies changes daily with stock price movement.

Tata Consultancy Services becomes the most-valued Indian company by market capitalisation, overtakes Reliance Industries

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday alleged that the Congress was the mother of “anarchy” and development was not in its DNA.

The Congress is a hurdle in the path of development, good governance and nationalism, whereas BJP governments are establishing “Ram Rajya” by providing electricity, homes, LPG connections, better health care services and toilets, he said at an election rally in Rajasthan where polls will be held on December 7.

The chief minister also alleged that the opposition party gave riots, terrorism, Naxalism to the country and birth to corruption.

“The Congress is the mother of anarchy. Development is not in its DNA. It is least bothered about the honour and pride of the country,” Adityanath said.

Reiterating that the Congress had served “biryani” to terrorists and treated them as their vote bank, he alleged that the party finds and connects with terrorists as well as hold events to honour them.

It was during BJP’s rule that everyday terrorists were gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said.

One of the BJP’s stars campaigners for the polls, Adityanath was electioneering for the party in the Amer Assembly constituency here.

He alleged that the Congress insults the martyrdom of army jawans and praises Naxalites and Maoists by calling them, revolutionaries.

The Congress is doing divisive and caste-based politics. It pushed several Hindi-speaking states, including Rajasthan, into the BIMARU category in its 55 years of rule, the BJP leader said.

Mocking Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he claimed that even his party leaders do not trust him and they believe that the party cannot form a government under his leadership.

The chief minister said Gandhi should show some mercy on the country considering his failure in past elections.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday alleged that the Congress was the mother of “anarchy” and development was not in its DNA. The Congress is a hurdle in the path of development, good governance and nationalism, whereas BJP governments are establishing “Ram Rajya” by providing electricity, homes, LPG connections, better health care services and toilets, he said at an election rally in Rajasthan where polls will be held on December 7.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday alleged that the Congress was the mother of “anarchy” and development was not in its DNA. The Congress is a hurdle in the path of development, good governance and nationalism, whereas BJP governments are establishing “Ram Rajya” by providing electricity, homes, LPG connections, better health care services and toilets, he said at an election rally in Rajasthan where polls will be held on December 7. The chief minister also alleged that the opposition party gave riots, terrorism, Naxalism to the country and birth to corruption. “The Congress is the mother of anarchy. Development is not in its DNA. It is least bothered about the honour and pride of the country,” Adityanath said. Reiterating that the Congress had served “biryani” to terrorists and treated them as their vote bank, he alleged that the party finds and connects with terrorists as well as hold events to honour them. It was during BJP’s rule that everyday terrorists were gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said. One of the BJP’s stars campaigners for the polls, Adityanath was electioneering for the party in the Amer Assembly constituency here. He alleged that the Congress insults the martyrdom of army jawans and praises Naxalites and Maoists by calling them, revolutionaries. The Congress is doing divisive and caste-based politics. It pushed several Hindi-speaking states, including Rajasthan, into the BIMARU category in its 55 years of rule, the BJP leader said. Mocking Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he claimed that even his party leaders do not trust him and they believe that the party cannot form a government under his leadership. The chief minister said Gandhi should show some mercy on the country considering his failure in past elections.

Congress ‘mother of anarchy’, development not in its DNA: Yogi Adityanath

Prime Minister Imran Khan will on Wednesday lay the foundation stone for the much-awaited corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur — the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev — to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims.

Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which will facilitate the visa-free travel of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, is expected to be completed within six months, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said on Tuesday.

The development comes ahead of Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary next year. 
India has also said it will build and develop a corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border to facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday hoped that the Kartarpur Corridor would act as a bridge between the peoples of India and Pakistan that might lead to a better future as he referred to the fall of the Berlin Wall to underline the importance of people-to-people contact.

Speaking at a function to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in New Delhi, Modi said the issues between the governments and the armies would continue and only time will show the way out.

Thousands of Sikh devotees from India visit Pakistan every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

The issue of Kartarpur Sahib came into focus after Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu visited Pakistan in August to attend the oath-taking ceremony of his cricketer-turned-politician friend Imran Khan as prime minister of that country.

After his return, Sidhu said that Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had told him that Pakistan may open a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib.

Sidhu has already arrived in Lahore with a group of Indian journalists to attend the ground breaking ceremony on Wednesday.

The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place. The ties between the two countries had strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016.

Sidhu has termed the Kartarpur Corridor as a "corridor of infinite possibilities" and said such initiatives would promote peace and erase "enmity" between India and Pakistan.&nbsp;

"The seed Imran Khan had sown three months ago has become a plant. It is a happy moment for the Sikh community that the corridor to reach Kartarpur to get Baba Guru Nanak's blessing without any hassle," he told the media.&nbsp;

"Karturpur corridor will prove to be a path of peace," Sidhu added.

On Monday, Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone of the corridor in Gurdaspur.

Pakistan had invited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who thanked her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi for the invite and said she was unable to travel to Kartarpur Sahib due to prior commitments.

India will send Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri to Pakistan Wednesday to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the corridor in Kartarpur.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Imran Khan will on Wednesday lay the foundation stone for the much-awaited corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur — the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev — to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will on Wednesday lay the foundation stone for the much-awaited corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur — the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev — to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims. Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died. The Kartarpur Corridor, which will facilitate the visa-free travel of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, is expected to be completed within six months, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said on Tuesday. The development comes ahead of Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary next year. India has also said it will build and develop a corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border to facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday hoped that the Kartarpur Corridor would act as a bridge between the peoples of India and Pakistan that might lead to a better future as he referred to the fall of the Berlin Wall to underline the importance of people-to-people contact. Speaking at a function to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in New Delhi, Modi said the issues between the governments and the armies would continue and only time will show the way out. Thousands of Sikh devotees from India visit Pakistan every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The issue of Kartarpur Sahib came into focus after Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu visited Pakistan in August to attend the oath-taking ceremony of his cricketer-turned-politician friend Imran Khan as prime minister of that country. After his return, Sidhu said that Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had told him that Pakistan may open a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib. Sidhu has already arrived in Lahore with a group of Indian journalists to attend the ground breaking ceremony on Wednesday. The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place. The ties between the two countries had strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016. Sidhu has termed the Kartarpur Corridor as a "corridor of infinite possibilities" and said such initiatives would promote peace and erase "enmity" between India and Pakistan. "The seed Imran Khan had sown three months ago has become a plant. It is a happy moment for the Sikh community that the corridor to reach Kartarpur to get Baba Guru Nanak's blessing without any hassle," he told the media. "Karturpur corridor will prove to be a path of peace," Sidhu added. On Monday, Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone of the corridor in Gurdaspur. Pakistan had invited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who thanked her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi for the invite and said she was unable to travel to Kartarpur Sahib due to prior commitments. India will send Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri to Pakistan Wednesday to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the corridor in Kartarpur.

Pak's Imran Khan to lay foundation stone for Kartarpur Corridor today

The Supreme Court Wednesday said its order restraining acting CBI director M Nageswara Rao from taking any policy decision does not mean that the agency would stop investigating the cases. 
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A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said the order that Rao should not take policy decisions was passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi but it did not in any way mean that the CBI would not investigate any matter.

A bench headed by the CJI, while hearing a petition by CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, who has challenged the Centre’s decision to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave, had earlier said that the acting CBI Director would not take major policy decisions.

This issue cropped up before the apex court on Wednesday when it was hearing the case of alleged sexual and physical abuse of inmates in several shelter homes in Bihar.

The court had on Tuesday asked the CBI counsel to take instructions as to whether the agency was ready to take over the probe into cases of abuse in 16 shelter homes in Bihar.

On Wednesday, the council told the bench, “The interim director has told me that court number one (of the apex court) has asked him not to take any policy decision. Tomorrow, the CBI case is coming up in court number one.”

To this, the bench, also comprising justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, said: “It (order) does say that he (Rao) will not take any policy decision but that does not mean that all investigation will stop.

“Tomorrow’s matter (before the CJI-led bench) has nothing to do with this, absolutely nothing. You find out if the CBI is ready to take up the investigation. Tell us after five minutes.”

Later, the CBI’s counsel said he has taken instructions from the acting director and “in-principle” the CBI was ready to take up all these cases for investigation.

The apex court directed the CBI to conduct a probe into the allegations of physical and sexual abuse of inmates in 16 shelter homes in Bihar which were flagged in a report of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

The report had highlighted rampant sexual and physical abuse of inmates in several shelter homes in the state.

The Supreme Court Wednesday said its order restraining acting CBI director M Nageswara Rao from taking any policy decision does not mean that the agency would stop investigating the cases.

The Supreme Court Wednesday said its order restraining acting CBI director M Nageswara Rao from taking any policy decision does not mean that the agency would stop investigating the cases. Advertising A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said the order that Rao should not take policy decisions was passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi but it did not in any way mean that the CBI would not investigate any matter. A bench headed by the CJI, while hearing a petition by CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, who has challenged the Centre’s decision to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave, had earlier said that the acting CBI Director would not take major policy decisions. This issue cropped up before the apex court on Wednesday when it was hearing the case of alleged sexual and physical abuse of inmates in several shelter homes in Bihar. The court had on Tuesday asked the CBI counsel to take instructions as to whether the agency was ready to take over the probe into cases of abuse in 16 shelter homes in Bihar. On Wednesday, the council told the bench, “The interim director has told me that court number one (of the apex court) has asked him not to take any policy decision. Tomorrow, the CBI case is coming up in court number one.” To this, the bench, also comprising justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, said: “It (order) does say that he (Rao) will not take any policy decision but that does not mean that all investigation will stop. “Tomorrow’s matter (before the CJI-led bench) has nothing to do with this, absolutely nothing. You find out if the CBI is ready to take up the investigation. Tell us after five minutes.” Later, the CBI’s counsel said he has taken instructions from the acting director and “in-principle” the CBI was ready to take up all these cases for investigation. The apex court directed the CBI to conduct a probe into the allegations of physical and sexual abuse of inmates in 16 shelter homes in Bihar which were flagged in a report of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The report had highlighted rampant sexual and physical abuse of inmates in several shelter homes in the state.

CJI’s order on interim CBI chief does not stop agency from probing cases: Supreme Court

The CPI(M) said Tuesday Governor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/governor-of-jammu-and-kashmir-satya-pal-malik-speaks-to-sudhir-chaudhary-173379">Satya Pal Malik</a>'s comments on the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir confirmed the apprehensions of the people that the BJP was desperately trying to impose its government on the state by hook or crook.

"The statement of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik in Gwalior that Sajad Lone would have become chief minister of the state had he sought the opinion of New Delhi before <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/end-of-honeymoon-political-mccarthyism-bites-bjp-in-kashmir-178810">dissolving the legislative assembly</a> confirms the apprehensions of the people that BJP was trying desperately to impose its government on Jammu and Kashmir by hook or cook", the J&amp;K CPI(M) said in a statement in Jammu.

The CPI(M) had been saying it from Day I that the BJP-led Centre's intentions for keeping the Assembly in suspended animation were not clear and finally the cat is out of the bag, the statement said.

They were trying to encourage defections and indulge in horse-trading to form a government in the state. Now, the nominee of the Centre, the governor has himself blown the lid off, it added.&nbsp;

Addressing a function in Gwalior on Saturday, the governor had purportedly said he dissolved the state Assembly as he did not want to go down in history as a "dishonest man".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-did-not-act-on-bjps-behest-nobody-gave-me-list-of-mlas-says-jk-governor-satya-pal-malik-after-dissolving-assembly-178721">I did not act on BJP's behest, says J&amp;K governor Satya Pal Malik after dissolving </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-did-not-act-on-bjps-behest-nobody-gave-me-list-of-mlas-says-jk-governor-satya-pal-malik-after-dissolving-assembly-178721">assembly</a>

Malik had abruptly dissolved the J&amp;K Assembly last week after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of the rival NC and the Congress. This was followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference, led by Lone, which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.

The CPI(M) said now everything was clear before the people of the state and the country what actually the BJP wanted to do in J&amp;K. "People of Jammu and Kashmir state have always rejected the divisive designs of communal forces and will do the same in the future", it added.&nbsp;

The CPI(M) said Tuesday Governor Satya Pal Malik's comments on the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir confirmed the apprehensions of the people that the BJP was desperately trying to impose its government on the state by hook or crook.

The CPI(M) said Tuesday Governor Satya Pal Malik's comments on the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir confirmed the apprehensions of the people that the BJP was desperately trying to impose its government on the state by hook or crook. "The statement of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik in Gwalior that Sajad Lone would have become chief minister of the state had he sought the opinion of New Delhi before dissolving the legislative assembly confirms the apprehensions of the people that BJP was trying desperately to impose its government on Jammu and Kashmir by hook or cook", the J&K CPI(M) said in a statement in Jammu. The CPI(M) had been saying it from Day I that the BJP-led Centre's intentions for keeping the Assembly in suspended animation were not clear and finally the cat is out of the bag, the statement said. They were trying to encourage defections and indulge in horse-trading to form a government in the state. Now, the nominee of the Centre, the governor has himself blown the lid off, it added. Addressing a function in Gwalior on Saturday, the governor had purportedly said he dissolved the state Assembly as he did not want to go down in history as a "dishonest man". Also read: I did not act on BJP's behest, says J&K governor Satya Pal Malik after dissolving assembly Malik had abruptly dissolved the J&K Assembly last week after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of the rival NC and the Congress. This was followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference, led by Lone, which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties. The CPI(M) said now everything was clear before the people of the state and the country what actually the BJP wanted to do in J&K. "People of Jammu and Kashmir state have always rejected the divisive designs of communal forces and will do the same in the future", it added.

Finally, the cat is out of the bag: CPI(M) on J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik's remark

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.&nbsp;

The PAG is a body which works under the parental body, the Professional Congress headed Dr Shashi Tharoor. The idea is to organise contacts across the country in middle and upper middle class who are pre-disposed towards Congress. The membership can be taken online and chapters automatically close once membership touches 100.

Every chapter of Professional Congress has a president and a vice-president and they are allowed to take up issues of their choice. They are also allowed to pick and organize there out-reach programme.&nbsp;

The PAG also remains in touch with the overseas Congress and lastly, it wants these cells to be the networking platforms across the country.&nbsp;

The idea is to curate debates and narratives which are close to Congress or independent and popular with the middle class. Congress feels that professionals can also be an independent feedback system to the party on the work which the ruling government is doing.

It is also expected to work as a platform for knowledge sharing whereby the expertise of the professionals can be shared, the party, in turn, can provide insight into the political process and functioning to the professionals.

WION spoke with Amita Singh who is part of the Political Action Group, she said that Professional Congress will be a platform for the middle class.&nbsp;

“Educated professionals should start feeling that they can also contribute to the idea of India and that their opinion matters,” said Amita Singh. The AIPC will also curate discussions both nationally and regionally and one such discussion is being organized in Delhi on November 30th which is being moderated by Shashi Tharoor. The topic is, “Is India being redefined.”

Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Shashi Tharoor and P Chidambaram will be part of the discussion.

BJP shot to power in 2014 on the shoulder of an anti-corruption campaign headed by independent actors throughout the country. With social media, middle class opinion has become loud and influential. After the economic reforms, the Indian middle class has become larger and metamorphosed into a strong political constituency.&nbsp;

Congress has a lot of catching up to do but feels that if it can organize the middle class to its advantage then it will have a fighting chance in urban areas during Lok Sabha elections. 
&nbsp;

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The PAG is a body which works under the parental body, the Professional Congress headed Dr Shashi Tharoor. The idea is to organise contacts across the country in middle and upper middle class who are pre-disposed towards Congress. The membership can be taken online and chapters automatically close once membership touches 100. Every chapter of Professional Congress has a president and a vice-president and they are allowed to take up issues of their choice. They are also allowed to pick and organize there out-reach programme. The PAG also remains in touch with the overseas Congress and lastly, it wants these cells to be the networking platforms across the country. The idea is to curate debates and narratives which are close to Congress or independent and popular with the middle class. Congress feels that professionals can also be an independent feedback system to the party on the work which the ruling government is doing. It is also expected to work as a platform for knowledge sharing whereby the expertise of the professionals can be shared, the party, in turn, can provide insight into the political process and functioning to the professionals. WION spoke with Amita Singh who is part of the Political Action Group, she said that Professional Congress will be a platform for the middle class. “Educated professionals should start feeling that they can also contribute to the idea of India and that their opinion matters,” said Amita Singh. The AIPC will also curate discussions both nationally and regionally and one such discussion is being organized in Delhi on November 30th which is being moderated by Shashi Tharoor. The topic is, “Is India being redefined.” Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Shashi Tharoor and P Chidambaram will be part of the discussion. BJP shot to power in 2014 on the shoulder of an anti-corruption campaign headed by independent actors throughout the country. With social media, middle class opinion has become loud and influential. After the economic reforms, the Indian middle class has become larger and metamorphosed into a strong political constituency. Congress has a lot of catching up to do but feels that if it can organize the middle class to its advantage then it will have a fighting chance in urban areas during Lok Sabha elections.

Congress targets middle class for 2019 elections

Altogether 74.61 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections Wednesday, while that in the northeastern state Mizoram was recorded as 75 per cent.

The turnout till 3 pm was recorded as 50 per cent in MP while 58 per cent in Mizoram.

In the 2013 Assembly election, 72.69 per cent turnout was recorded, an election official said.

The polling Wednesday was marred by complaints of faulty Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVVPAT) machines. Poll officials said 1,145 EVMs and 1,545 VVPATs were replaced after complaints of technical snags.

Polling was held between 8 am and 5 pm in 227 seats, while in three assembly segments - Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar - in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district, the voting time was between 7 am to 3 pm, state Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao said.

About 2.5 per cent (polling) machines were replaced, Rao said, adding this percentage was around two per cent in other states where elections were held recently.

Three employees died due to "health reasons" while performing poll duty in Dhar, Indore and Guna districts, he said.

At Gadhpura village in Bhind district, a person was injured in violence but it was not poll-related, he said. The incident happened "far from the booth" and was related to enmity between two groups, he added.

Asked about reports that some EVMs were found in a hotel, Rao said, "We have got the information that a sector officer in Shujalpur was staying in a hotel along with ballot machines. On getting information, the officers reached the hotel and seized the machine. The officer concerned was removed (from poll duty) and the polling team was sent along with a new sector officer."

The battle of ballots in Madhya Pradesh is just months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls slated in the first half of 2019.

Altogether 2,899 candidates were in the fray. The state has 5.04 crore, eligible voters.

Also, 3,00,782 government employees, including 45,904 women, were on poll duty and 65,341 polling stations were set up.

75 per cent polling in Mizoram

Around 75 per cent votes were cast in the Mizoram assembly polls on Wednesday but the figure is expected to rise as there were long queues of voters outside polling booths to exercise their franchise, Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said.

Polling was held in all the 40 assembly seats.

Kundra told reporters that the highest turnout of 81 per cent was reported at Serchhip seat, where Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is one of the contestants.

At Kanhmun village in Mamit district bordering Tripura where Bru refugees lodged in Tripura camps cast their votes, 52 per cent of the 118987 electorates exercised their franchise, he said.

"This is satisfactory considering the circumstances," he said.

The polling in Kanhmun ended at 3 pm, while for the rest of the state the time was 4 pm.

Altogether 74.61 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections Wednesday, while that in the northeastern state Mizoram was recorded as 75 per cent.

Altogether 74.61 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections Wednesday, while that in the northeastern state Mizoram was recorded as 75 per cent. The turnout till 3 pm was recorded as 50 per cent in MP while 58 per cent in Mizoram. In the 2013 Assembly election, 72.69 per cent turnout was recorded, an election official said. The polling Wednesday was marred by complaints of faulty Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVVPAT) machines. Poll officials said 1,145 EVMs and 1,545 VVPATs were replaced after complaints of technical snags. Polling was held between 8 am and 5 pm in 227 seats, while in three assembly segments - Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar - in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district, the voting time was between 7 am to 3 pm, state Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao said. About 2.5 per cent (polling) machines were replaced, Rao said, adding this percentage was around two per cent in other states where elections were held recently. Three employees died due to "health reasons" while performing poll duty in Dhar, Indore and Guna districts, he said. At Gadhpura village in Bhind district, a person was injured in violence but it was not poll-related, he said. The incident happened "far from the booth" and was related to enmity between two groups, he added. Asked about reports that some EVMs were found in a hotel, Rao said, "We have got the information that a sector officer in Shujalpur was staying in a hotel along with ballot machines. On getting information, the officers reached the hotel and seized the machine. The officer concerned was removed (from poll duty) and the polling team was sent along with a new sector officer." The battle of ballots in Madhya Pradesh is just months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls slated in the first half of 2019. Altogether 2,899 candidates were in the fray. The state has 5.04 crore, eligible voters. Also, 3,00,782 government employees, including 45,904 women, were on poll duty and 65,341 polling stations were set up. 75 per cent polling in Mizoram Around 75 per cent votes were cast in the Mizoram assembly polls on Wednesday but the figure is expected to rise as there were long queues of voters outside polling booths to exercise their franchise, Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said. Polling was held in all the 40 assembly seats. Kundra told reporters that the highest turnout of 81 per cent was reported at Serchhip seat, where Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is one of the contestants. At Kanhmun village in Mamit district bordering Tripura where Bru refugees lodged in Tripura camps cast their votes, 52 per cent of the 118987 electorates exercised their franchise, he said. "This is satisfactory considering the circumstances," he said. The polling in Kanhmun ended at 3 pm, while for the rest of the state the time was 4 pm.

Assembly Elections 2018: MP registers 74.61% voter turnout, Mizoram 75%

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India today reacted strongly after Pakistan PM Imran Khan said the Kashmir issue can be solved during his speech after laying the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor.

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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday allowed CBI Director Alok Verma and Joint Director A K Sharma to inspect in the CVC's office the case file relating to FIR against the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana.

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Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that former cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu is so popular in Pakistan that he can contest and win an election here.

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The voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh till 3 pm was recorded as 50 per cent, while that in the northeastern state was recorded as 58 per cent in Mizoram.

The turnout till 1 pm was recorded as 27 per cent in MP while 49 per cent in Mizoram.

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Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith won a US Senate special election runoff in conservative Mississippi on Tuesday, defeating a black challenger after a campaign that recalled the history of racist violence in the deep South state.

Regret Pak chose to politicise Kartarpur ceremony by making unwarranted reference to J&K: India India today reacted strongly after Pakistan PM Imran Khan said the Kashmir issue can be solved during his speech after laying the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor.

Regret Pak chose to politicise Kartarpur ceremony by making unwarranted reference to J&K: India India today reacted strongly after Pakistan PM Imran Khan said the Kashmir issue can be solved during his speech after laying the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor. CBI vs CBI: Delhi High Court allows Alok Verma, A K Sharma to inspect Rakesh Asthana's case files The Delhi High Court on Wednesday allowed CBI Director Alok Verma and Joint Director A K Sharma to inspect in the CVC's office the case file relating to FIR against the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Navjot Sidhu should contest election in Pakistan's Punjab, he will win surely, says Imran Khan Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that former cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu is so popular in Pakistan that he can contest and win an election here. Assembly polls: Madhya Pradesh registers 50% voter turnout, Mizoram 58% till 3 pm The voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh till 3 pm was recorded as 50 per cent, while that in the northeastern state was recorded as 58 per cent in Mizoram. The turnout till 1 pm was recorded as 27 per cent in MP while 49 per cent in Mizoram. Republican Hyde-Smith wins racially charged US Senate race in Mississippi Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith won a US Senate special election runoff in conservative Mississippi on Tuesday, defeating a black challenger after a campaign that recalled the history of racist violence in the deep South state.

The hectic political campaign in five states has not stopped Prime Minister Modi from keeping a busy schedule on the diplomatic front.

After visiting Singapore and Maldives during the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh campaign, the Prime Minister today is travelling to Argentina to attend the G20 summit, in the midst of campaigning for the Rajasthan and Telangana elections.

In fact, from November 23, the Prime Minister has been on the campaign trail every day. Beginning with Mizoram on the 23rd, the Prime Minister has campaigned across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana in the last six days.

November 28 saw him address two election rallies in Rajasthan, in the course of a seven-hour journey. Barely 90 minutes after landing in Delhi, the Prime Minister emplaned for Argentina.

The journey from Delhi to Buenos Aires involves two legs of nearly 12-hour duration each, with a short technical halt in Cape Town, South Africa. The total travel time to Buenos Aires is 25 hours, and consequently, the to and fro trips will involve a combined journey time of nearly 50 hours.

In between these two trips, the Prime Minister will be in Buenos Aires for just over 50 hours. This time period includes two nights. In the space of these 50 hours, the Prime Minister has over 25 scheduled engagements. These include the various sessions of the G20 summit, sideline meetings including the BRICS informal meeting, and bilateral meetings with various world leaders. Besides these scheduled engagements, the Prime Minister may engage informally with other leaders as well.

An important item on his itinerary is to attend and address a "Yoga for Peace" event in Buenos Aires.

The Prime Minister will return to India in the wee hours of December 3, only to take off again within 12 hours to resume his political campaigning in Rajasthan and Telangana for the next two days. On December 3, PM Modi will campaign in Jodhpur and Hyderabad.

The hectic political campaign in five states has not stopped Prime Minister Modi from keeping a busy schedule on the diplomatic front. After visiting Singapore and Maldives during the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh campaign, the Prime Minister today is travelling to Argentina to attend the G20 summit, in the midst of campaigning for the Rajasthan and Telangana elections.

The hectic political campaign in five states has not stopped Prime Minister Modi from keeping a busy schedule on the diplomatic front. After visiting Singapore and Maldives during the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh campaign, the Prime Minister today is travelling to Argentina to attend the G20 summit, in the midst of campaigning for the Rajasthan and Telangana elections. In fact, from November 23, the Prime Minister has been on the campaign trail every day. Beginning with Mizoram on the 23rd, the Prime Minister has campaigned across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana in the last six days. November 28 saw him address two election rallies in Rajasthan, in the course of a seven-hour journey. Barely 90 minutes after landing in Delhi, the Prime Minister emplaned for Argentina. The journey from Delhi to Buenos Aires involves two legs of nearly 12-hour duration each, with a short technical halt in Cape Town, South Africa. The total travel time to Buenos Aires is 25 hours, and consequently, the to and fro trips will involve a combined journey time of nearly 50 hours. In between these two trips, the Prime Minister will be in Buenos Aires for just over 50 hours. This time period includes two nights. In the space of these 50 hours, the Prime Minister has over 25 scheduled engagements. These include the various sessions of the G20 summit, sideline meetings including the BRICS informal meeting, and bilateral meetings with various world leaders. Besides these scheduled engagements, the Prime Minister may engage informally with other leaders as well. An important item on his itinerary is to attend and address a "Yoga for Peace" event in Buenos Aires. The Prime Minister will return to India in the wee hours of December 3, only to take off again within 12 hours to resume his political campaigning in Rajasthan and Telangana for the next two days. On December 3, PM Modi will campaign in Jodhpur and Hyderabad.

From Assembly polls to G20 summit, tracking PM Modi's schedule

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From Assembly polls to G20 summit, tracking PM Modi's schedule