'Baseless and misconceived': India issues statement after Elon Musk's 'oligarchs' claim over Starlink delay

‘You earned that love’: Messi’s wife shares heartfelt message as football icon bids farewell to international stage

BJP chief Nitin Nabin calls Rahul Gandhi ‘anarchist’, says Oppn ‘spreading poison’ in society

‘Team first and team ahead’: India coach Gambhir pens heartfelt wish for chief selector Ajit Agarkar

Trump's naked 23-karat gold statue unveiled near European Parliament

Nana Patekar: Remembering a legend of the Indian cinema

Thai Actors Fourth Nattawat, Gemini Norawit face racism accusations from Indian fans over viral Bollywood act

Captain Smit Machchhar on feet again, walks 10 steps as recovery continues after Flydubai flight attack

Ronaldo sends 'a hug' after Messi says he misses 'wearing the blue and white'

Trump distances himself from senior political advisers over work for pro-Russian government

A Love Other Than Yours: The temptation to cheat and what pushes people over the edge

Narendra Modi Stadium bomb threat declared hoax; India & Australia U19 squads safe

US midterms 2026: Why the Latino vote could shape control of Congress

BTS agency HYBE announces first-ever Weverse Con Festival in India

US Midterms 2026: Barack Obama hits campaign trail to boost Democratic candidates

Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth head for divorce after nearly 10 years

Who is DogeDesigner? All we know about the X account that sparked India-Musk-Starlink ‘oligarchs’ controversy

India at UN: Pak allows terror groups to operate from its soil

Christa Pike wakes after failed execution, asks 'Where am I and who are you?'

Christa Pike 'angry' and 'confused' after failed execution; judge orders to preserve evidence

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hails Modi’s 25-year leadership milestone, calls for deeper Nigeria-India strategic ties

US midterms 2026: 10 leaders and candidates to watch in the battle for Congress

Nana Patekar's #MeToo controversy: From Tanushree Dutta’s allegations to court ruling

Atlantic hurricane Isaias could make landfall as a strong Category 2 storm, tornado warnings issued

Veteran actor Nana Patekar dies at 75 after suffering cardiac arrest

Musk alleges ‘oligarchs’ blocking Starlink in India, here is what we know so far

Lightning strikes IndiGo Patna-Lucknow flight at 17,000 feet, damages nose; all 110 safe

Who is Nana Patekar's wife Neelakanti? The bank officer who earned Rs 2,500 when he earned Rs 50

France holds talks with Taliban government amid diplomatic outreach 

New Cold War: Why is China buying more gold? Explained

Nadella to be honoured with national medal of technology & innovation

IndiGo flight struck by lightning at 17,000 feet, nose of Patna-Lucknow flight damaged

US readying to strike Iran? Report suggests Trump preparing to put on show of strength ahead of US midterms

Zendaya gives The Odyssey white lace jacket a stylish twist at Paris Fashion Week 2026

World’s top vehicle producers: Top 10 countries making the most cars. Check where India stands

'We don't think so': Trump says Russian plague lab worker's death not linked to bio-weapon

Sri Lankan Tamil worker gets death sentence in Saudi Arabia over blasphemy, calls for pardon intensify

France protests: How a Gen Z school movement turned into a political war | The Verdict

<p>Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tuesday that the public-sector HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) had been edged out of the Rafale deal during the UPA's tenure itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Deal didn't happen during UPA. What also didn't happen during UPA was that between HAL and Dassault, they couldn't agree on production terms. So HAL and Rafale couldn't go together," Sitharaman said on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Doesn't that very clearly say who didn't go together with HAL, under which government did that happen?" she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sitharaman was responding to her predecessor AK Anthony's allegation earlier in the day that she was suppressing facts in the case. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Anthony asked why <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-dares-pm-modi-for-debate-on-rafale-158873">the government was shying away&nbsp;from a joint parliamentary committee probe</a> into the deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anthony also accused the NDA government of "gravely compromising" national security over the deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also accused Sitharaman of tarnishing HAL's image.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Rafale deal was originally brokered by the UPA government. India was to buy 126 of the fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dassault's India partner was to be HAL, which was to build a number of the planes in India. That would have meant a transfer of technology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The original deal was however junked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who brokered a new government-to-government deal with the then French President Francois Hollande.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Under the new deal, India would buy only 36 of the Rafale jets. And HAL was junked as the India partner in favour of Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The opposition Congress has repeatedly attacked the government over the new deal, saying it is paying three times as much as the UPA was for every Rafale jet. It has also pointed out again and again that Anil Ambani's company has absolutely no prior experience in the aerospace industry.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The negotiation with Russia on the S-400 have reached almost the final stage, we'll have to see it if it’s signed before the Russian President’s visit. But the negotiations are almost complete: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on S-400 missile deal with Russia <a href="https://t.co/Ez6dARoJwI">pic.twitter.com/Ez6dARoJwI</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1042000953648578561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It certainly has impact on soldiers&the people in Ministry. Public response has been similar that it demoralises. If it demoralises people I wished Sidhu would have avoided. I'm not talking about going, but that single gesture of hugging the Chief of Pakistan Army: Defence Min <a href="https://t.co/nbRslzGYWJ">pic.twitter.com/nbRslzGYWJ</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041997489509941248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Sitharaman added in her press conference that India's negotiations with Russia over the S-400 missile defence system have almost reached the final stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And she added that Sidhu's hugging of the Pakistan Army chief certainly "has (an) impact on soldiers". She added that she wished he hadn't done it.&nbsp;</p>


Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was the India partner in the Rafale deal brokered with Dassault Aviation by the UPA government. The India partner in the new deal brokered by the NDA government is Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tuesday that the public-sector HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) had been edged out of the Rafale deal during the UPA's tenure itself. "Deal didn't happen during UPA. What also didn't happen during UPA was that between HAL and Dassault, they couldn't agree on production terms. So HAL and Rafale couldn't go together," Sitharaman said on Tuesday. "Doesn't that very clearly say who didn't go together with HAL, under which government did that happen?" she added. Sitharaman was responding to her predecessor AK Anthony's allegation earlier in the day that she was suppressing facts in the case. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Anthony asked why the government was shying away from a joint parliamentary committee probe into the deal. Anthony also accused the NDA government of "gravely compromising" national security over the deal. He also accused Sitharaman of tarnishing HAL's image. The Rafale deal was originally brokered by the UPA government. India was to buy 126 of the fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation. Dassault's India partner was to be HAL, which was to build a number of the planes in India. That would have meant a transfer of technology. The original deal was however junked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who brokered a new government-to-government deal with the then French President Francois Hollande. Under the new deal, India would buy only 36 of the Rafale jets. And HAL was junked as the India partner in favour of Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd. The opposition Congress has repeatedly attacked the government over the new deal, saying it is paying three times as much as the UPA was for every Rafale jet. It has also pointed out again and again that Anil Ambani's company has absolutely no prior experience in the aerospace industry. The negotiation with Russia on the S-400 have reached almost the final stage, we'll have to see it if it’s signed before the Russian President’s visit. But the negotiations are almost complete: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on S-400 missile deal with Russia pic.twitter.com/Ez6dARoJwI — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × It certainly has impact on soldiers&the people in Ministry. Public response has been similar that it demoralises. If it demoralises people I wished Sidhu would have avoided. I'm not talking about going, but that single gesture of hugging the Chief of Pakistan Army: Defence Min pic.twitter.com/nbRslzGYWJ — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × Sitharaman added in her press conference that India's negotiations with Russia over the S-400 missile defence system have almost reached the final stage. And she added that Sidhu's hugging of the Pakistan Army chief certainly "has (an) impact on soldiers". She added that she wished he hadn't done it.

Nirmala Sitharaman says HAL was edged out of Rafale deal during UPA's tenure

<p>A class X student of a boarding school in Dehradun was allegedly gang-raped by four of her seniors, news reports said Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports added that the 16-year-old girl became pregnant, and that school officials allegedly tried to abort the pregnancy by giving her medicated drinks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports said the girl was raped on August 14.</p>

<p>The girl&nbsp;said she had been called to a store room by some of her seniors on the pretext of preparing for Independence Day celebrations.&nbsp;Instead, she was allegedly gang-raped.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The girl only confided to her sister — who also lived in the school hostel — after she fell ill. She added that she was one month pregnant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports quoted police as saying the school management allegedly tried to hush up the crime.</p>

<p>Police said the girl had reported the gang rape on the day of the assault itself but the school management allegedly tried to dissuade her from reporting it any further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Four students have been detained and five school officials, including the principal, administrator and hostel caretaker, have been arrested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports quoted officials as saying the girl was allegedly given the medicated drinks by the school's administrator and his wife. And that the girl was taken to a nursing home for an abortion by school officials.&nbsp;</p>


News reports said the 16-year-old girl became pregnant but school officials allegedly tried to abort the pregnancy by giving her medicated drinks.

A class X student of a boarding school in Dehradun was allegedly gang-raped by four of her seniors, news reports said Tuesday. The reports added that the 16-year-old girl became pregnant, and that school officials allegedly tried to abort the pregnancy by giving her medicated drinks. The reports said the girl was raped on August 14. The girl said she had been called to a store room by some of her seniors on the pretext of preparing for Independence Day celebrations. Instead, she was allegedly gang-raped. The girl only confided to her sister — who also lived in the school hostel — after she fell ill. She added that she was one month pregnant. The reports quoted police as saying the school management allegedly tried to hush up the crime. Police said the girl had reported the gang rape on the day of the assault itself but the school management allegedly tried to dissuade her from reporting it any further. Four students have been detained and five school officials, including the principal, administrator and hostel caretaker, have been arrested. The reports quoted officials as saying the girl was allegedly given the medicated drinks by the school's administrator and his wife. And that the girl was taken to a nursing home for an abortion by school officials.

Class X Dehradun boarding school student allegedly gang-raped by seniors

<p>Curious whistles and chirrups echo through the jungle around Kongthong, a remote Indian village, but this is no birdsong. It's people calling out to each other in music — an extraordinary tradition that may even be unique. &nbsp</p>

<p>Here in the lush, rolling hills of the northeastern state of Meghalaya, mothers from Kongthong and a few other local villages compose a special melody for each child. Everyone in the village, inhabited by the Khasi people, will then address the person with this individual little tune -- and for a lifetime. They have conventional "real" names too, but they are rarely used. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp</p>

<p>To walk along the main road in this village of wooden huts with corrugated tin roofs, perched on a ridge miles from anywhere, is to walk through a symphony of hoots and toots. On one side a mother calls out to her son to come home for supper, elsewhere children play and at the other end friends mess about -- all in an unusual, musical language of their own. &nbsp &nbsp</p>

<p>"The composition of the melody comes from the bottom of my heart," mother-of-three Pyndaplin Shabong told AFP. "It expresses my joy and love for my baby," the 31-year-old said, her youngest daughter, two and a half years old, on her knee. &nbsp</p>

<p>"But if my son has done something wrong, if I'm angry with him, he broke my heart, at that moment I will call him by his actual name," rather than singing lovingly, said Rothell Khongsit, a community leader. &nbsp &nbsp</p>

<p><strong>Harmony with nature</strong></p>

<p>Kongthong has long been cut off from the rest of the world, several hours of tough trek from the nearest town. Electricity arrived only in 2000, and the dirt road in 2013. Days are spent foraging in the jungle for broom grass -- the main source of revenue -- leaving the village all but deserted, except for a few kids. &nbsp</p>

<p>To call out to each other while in the forest, the villagers would use a long version lasting around 30 seconds of each other's musical "name", inspired by the sounds of nature all around.</p>

<p>"We are living in far-flung villages, we are surrounded by the dense forest, by the hills. So we are in touch with nature, we are in touch with all the gracious living things that God has created," says Khongsit. "Creatures have their own identity. The birds, so many animals, they have ways of calling each other." &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp</p>

<p>The custom is known as "jingrwai lawbei", meaning "song of the clan's first woman", a reference to the Khasi people's mythical original mother. And unusually for India, this is a matrilineal society. Property and land are passed down from mother to daughter, while a husband moves in with his wife and takes her name. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp</p>

<p>"We consider the mother the goddess of the family. A mother looks after a family, after the inheritance we get from our ancestors," Khongsit said. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp</p>

<p><strong>Modern world</strong></p>

<p>But according to anthropologist Tiplut Nongbri, a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, it is something of a "disguised patriarchy".</p>

<p>Women "don't have decision-making powers. Traditionally, they can't take part in politics, the rules are very clearly demarcated between male and female," she told AFP. "Taking care of the children, that's the women's responsibility. Statecraft and all that is (a) male function."</p>

<p>The origin of "jingrwai lawbei" isn't known, but locals think it is as old as the village, which has existed for as long as five centuries. The tradition's days may be numbered, though, as the modern world creeps into Kongthong in the shape of televisions and mobile phones. &nbsp &nbsp&nbsp</p>

<p>Some of the newer melodic names are inspired by Bollywood songs. And youngsters are increasingly going off singing out their friends' melodic names, preferring instead to phone them.</p>


The origin of "jingrwai lawbei" isn't known, but locals think it is as old as the village, which has existed for as long as five centuries.

Curious whistles and chirrups echo through the jungle around Kongthong, a remote Indian village, but this is no birdsong. It's people calling out to each other in music — an extraordinary tradition that may even be unique. Here in the lush, rolling hills of the northeastern state of Meghalaya, mothers from Kongthong and a few other local villages compose a special melody for each child. Everyone in the village, inhabited by the Khasi people, will then address the person with this individual little tune -- and for a lifetime. They have conventional "real" names too, but they are rarely used. To walk along the main road in this village of wooden huts with corrugated tin roofs, perched on a ridge miles from anywhere, is to walk through a symphony of hoots and toots. On one side a mother calls out to her son to come home for supper, elsewhere children play and at the other end friends mess about -- all in an unusual, musical language of their own. "The composition of the melody comes from the bottom of my heart," mother-of-three Pyndaplin Shabong told AFP. "It expresses my joy and love for my baby," the 31-year-old said, her youngest daughter, two and a half years old, on her knee. "But if my son has done something wrong, if I'm angry with him, he broke my heart, at that moment I will call him by his actual name," rather than singing lovingly, said Rothell Khongsit, a community leader. Harmony with nature Kongthong has long been cut off from the rest of the world, several hours of tough trek from the nearest town. Electricity arrived only in 2000, and the dirt road in 2013. Days are spent foraging in the jungle for broom grass -- the main source of revenue -- leaving the village all but deserted, except for a few kids. To call out to each other while in the forest, the villagers would use a long version lasting around 30 seconds of each other's musical "name", inspired by the sounds of nature all around. "We are living in far-flung villages, we are surrounded by the dense forest, by the hills. So we are in touch with nature, we are in touch with all the gracious living things that God has created," says Khongsit. "Creatures have their own identity. The birds, so many animals, they have ways of calling each other." The custom is known as "jingrwai lawbei", meaning "song of the clan's first woman", a reference to the Khasi people's mythical original mother. And unusually for India, this is a matrilineal society. Property and land are passed down from mother to daughter, while a husband moves in with his wife and takes her name. "We consider the mother the goddess of the family. A mother looks after a family, after the inheritance we get from our ancestors," Khongsit said. Modern world But according to anthropologist Tiplut Nongbri, a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, it is something of a "disguised patriarchy". Women "don't have decision-making powers. Traditionally, they can't take part in politics, the rules are very clearly demarcated between male and female," she told AFP. "Taking care of the children, that's the women's responsibility. Statecraft and all that is (a) male function." The origin of "jingrwai lawbei" isn't known, but locals think it is as old as the village, which has existed for as long as five centuries. The tradition's days may be numbered, though, as the modern world creeps into Kongthong in the shape of televisions and mobile phones. Some of the newer melodic names are inspired by Bollywood songs. And youngsters are increasingly going off singing out their friends' melodic names, preferring instead to phone them.

In the whistling village of Meghalaya, everyone has a musical name

<p>Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday slammed senior Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu over his Pakistan visit, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a press briefing, Badal criticised Sidhu and called him a "new agent that Pakistan has found" who is being used "as a puppet".</p>

<p>"I think he is a new agent that Pakistan has found and they are using him as a puppet and he is dancing to their tune. Let him dance and deliver to our people," Badal said.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I think he is a new agent that Pakistan has found and they are using him as a puppet & he is dancing to their tune. Let him dance & deliver to our people: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Navjot Singh Sidhu <a href="https://t.co/dEBixgHnuq">pic.twitter.com/dEBixgHnuq</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041940295305154561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>She also recalled the anger that the people of the country exhibited over Sidhu hugging Pak Army Chief Baig at the oath-taking ceremony of Imran Khan.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">He is such a close friend (of Pak PM) that out of the entire cricket team only Navjot Sidhu was invited. Let him produce a letter from the PM granting this. The moment that letter is produced, within 24 hrs, I'll have the corridor put up by my GoI: Union Min Harsimrat Kaur Badal <a href="https://t.co/XJanLEdhK6">pic.twitter.com/XJanLEdhK6</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041940292578897922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"When he (Sidhu) returned he was shown black flags, everyone was angry that he went there and hugged someone who kills our people. Instead of apologising, he played with people's sentiments... He said he hugged General as he said Kartarpur corridor will be opened," Badal claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I wrote to EAM that it's being portrayed that Pak govt gave a green signal over Kartarpur corridor&our govt is doing nothing from its side.Was shocked when received letter from her stating there's nothing like that.Pak govt never communicated anything on this:Harsimrat Kaur Badal <a href="https://t.co/EBSFW2oZEv">pic.twitter.com/EBSFW2oZEv</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041936046882091008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>She maintained that the government of Pakistan has not communicated anything over Kartarpur corridor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I wrote to the EAM that it's being portrayed that Pak govt gave a green signal over Kartarpur corridor and our government is doing nothing from its side. Was shocked when received letter from her stating there's nothing like that. Pak govt never communicated anything on this," Badal noted.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">But the truth is, no Pakistani govt has so far communicated anything on this...Everyone forgot that he (Sidhu) went to an enemy nation. Weeks passed, but the Congress minister couldn't produce any document: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal <a href="https://t.co/qEQbkDWNJ5">pic.twitter.com/qEQbkDWNJ5</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041934217075089409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>She attacked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and asked if he is going to take any action against Sidhu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I ask Rahul Gandhi that a minister of your party went to an enemy nation, betrayed our people & played with the sentiments of the Sikhs. Was this all done with your blessings? Will you take action against him or are you hand in glove with him?" she claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We had a detailed discussion during the meeting, explained to her(EAM) about the necessity of opening of the Kartarpur corridor.A formal request should go from India's side. EAM said to me, 'the draft is being prepared & I will write a letter.' : Punjab Minister Navjot S Sidhu <a href="https://t.co/cECcCphTPp">pic.twitter.com/cECcCphTPp</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041932966971301888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Meanwhile, Sidhu on Tuesday said that he had written a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to send a "formal request" to Pakistan's government to open the Kartarpur corridor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The External Affairs Minister said that, 'the draft is being prepared and I will write a letter," Sidhu noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


She attacked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and asked if he is going to take an action against Sidhu.

Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday slammed senior Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu over his Pakistan visit, news agency ANI reported. In a press briefing, Badal criticised Sidhu and called him a "new agent that Pakistan has found" who is being used "as a puppet". "I think he is a new agent that Pakistan has found and they are using him as a puppet and he is dancing to their tune. Let him dance and deliver to our people," Badal said. I think he is a new agent that Pakistan has found and they are using him as a puppet & he is dancing to their tune. Let him dance & deliver to our people: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Navjot Singh Sidhu pic.twitter.com/dEBixgHnuq — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × She also recalled the anger that the people of the country exhibited over Sidhu hugging Pak Army Chief Baig at the oath-taking ceremony of Imran Khan. He is such a close friend (of Pak PM) that out of the entire cricket team only Navjot Sidhu was invited. Let him produce a letter from the PM granting this. The moment that letter is produced, within 24 hrs, I'll have the corridor put up by my GoI: Union Min Harsimrat Kaur Badal pic.twitter.com/XJanLEdhK6 — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × "When he (Sidhu) returned he was shown black flags, everyone was angry that he went there and hugged someone who kills our people. Instead of apologising, he played with people's sentiments... He said he hugged General as he said Kartarpur corridor will be opened," Badal claimed. I wrote to EAM that it's being portrayed that Pak govt gave a green signal over Kartarpur corridor&our govt is doing nothing from its side.Was shocked when received letter from her stating there's nothing like that.Pak govt never communicated anything on this:Harsimrat Kaur Badal pic.twitter.com/EBSFW2oZEv — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × She maintained that the government of Pakistan has not communicated anything over Kartarpur corridor. "I wrote to the EAM that it's being portrayed that Pak govt gave a green signal over Kartarpur corridor and our government is doing nothing from its side. Was shocked when received letter from her stating there's nothing like that. Pak govt never communicated anything on this," Badal noted. But the truth is, no Pakistani govt has so far communicated anything on this...Everyone forgot that he (Sidhu) went to an enemy nation. Weeks passed, but the Congress minister couldn't produce any document: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal pic.twitter.com/qEQbkDWNJ5 — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × She attacked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and asked if he is going to take any action against Sidhu. "I ask Rahul Gandhi that a minister of your party went to an enemy nation, betrayed our people & played with the sentiments of the Sikhs. Was this all done with your blessings? Will you take action against him or are you hand in glove with him?" she claimed. We had a detailed discussion during the meeting, explained to her(EAM) about the necessity of opening of the Kartarpur corridor.A formal request should go from India's side. EAM said to me, 'the draft is being prepared & I will write a letter.' : Punjab Minister Navjot S Sidhu pic.twitter.com/cECcCphTPp — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × Meanwhile, Sidhu on Tuesday said that he had written a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to send a "formal request" to Pakistan's government to open the Kartarpur corridor. "The External Affairs Minister said that, 'the draft is being prepared and I will write a letter," Sidhu noted.

Pakistan using him as puppet: Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Navjot Singh Sidhu 

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday launched various development projects worth over Rs 550 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency and noted that the landscape of the city has changed for good in the last four years while it was at the mercy of the Lord under previous governments.</p>

<p>The projects inaugurated include Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for Puraani Kashi and Atal Incubation Centre at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).</p>

<p>Among the projects for which the foundation stones were laid was the Regional Ophthalmology Centre at BHU.</p>

<p>Wrapping up his two-day visit to Varanasi, Modi said work done in the city is clearly visible.</p>

<p>"Our endeavour is to bring a transformation in Kashi while keeping intact its traditions and preserving its age-old heritage. Otherwise, you have been witness to the system, when our Kashi was at the mercy of Bholey (Bholey ke Bharosey), and it was left to its fate," Modi said.</p>

<p>Four years ago people of Kashi had resolved to transform the pilgrim town and today the difference is clearly visible, he said, taking a jibe at previous governments.</p>

<p>The prime minister said a particular file relating to the laying of the ring road was gathering dust before 2014 "as the previous government did not allow the project to gather pace as it feared that if the work is done, then Modi will be eulogised".</p>

<p>The prime minister said only after Yogi Adityanath took over the state, that work is going on expeditiously.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Efforts are being made to clean river Ganga from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar. Till now, schemes worth Rs 21,000 crore approximately have been approved towards cleaning of river Ganga: PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi <a href="https://t.co/tCftLJVenv">pic.twitter.com/tCftLJVenv</a></p>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1041939665723551744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Besides Adityanath, UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey was present on the occasion.</p>

<p>In his 40-minute address, he said projects worth Rs 550 crore have either been dedicated to the public or foundation stones laid today.&nbsp</p>

<p>"This development work not only covers Varanasi but adjoining areas as well," he said.</p>

<p>Striking an emotional chord with the audience, Modi began his speech in the local dialect and chanted "Har, Har, Mahadev", amid loud applause from the audience at the amphitheatre of BHU.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Varanasi mein 'Paryatan se Parivartan' ka abhiyaan nirantar jaari hai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Varanasi <a href="https://t.co/s8fGA3Cppo">pic.twitter.com/s8fGA3Cppo</a></p>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1041937922860228609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"It is indeed a matter of pride for me that I am starting another year dedicated to the country with the blessings of Baba Vishwanath and Maa Ganga. Your affection and blessings always motivate me and also strengthen my resolve to serve you and the countrymen," he said.</p>

<p>The prime minister, who represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha said, "Before becoming an MP, when I used to visit here, I used to wonder when will this city be freed from the mesh of entangled electricity wires hanging overhead".</p>

<p>"Today, a large portion of the city has been rid of such wires and at remaining places work of laying underground cables is going on at a fast pace," he said.</p>

<p>On the first day of his visit yesterday, Modi spent his 68th birthday in his Lok Sabha constituency during which he gave a pep talk to school children telling them never to feel afraid to ask questions, saying it is a key aspect of learning.</p>

<p>Modi first interacted with students of a primary school at Narur on the outskirts of the temple town and later met students of the Kashi Vidyapeeth.</p>


Wrapping up his two-day visit to Varanasi, Modi said work done in the city is clearly visible.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday launched various development projects worth over Rs 550 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency and noted that the landscape of the city has changed for good in the last four years while it was at the mercy of the Lord under previous governments. The projects inaugurated include Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for Puraani Kashi and Atal Incubation Centre at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Among the projects for which the foundation stones were laid was the Regional Ophthalmology Centre at BHU. Wrapping up his two-day visit to Varanasi, Modi said work done in the city is clearly visible. "Our endeavour is to bring a transformation in Kashi while keeping intact its traditions and preserving its age-old heritage. Otherwise, you have been witness to the system, when our Kashi was at the mercy of Bholey (Bholey ke Bharosey), and it was left to its fate," Modi said. Four years ago people of Kashi had resolved to transform the pilgrim town and today the difference is clearly visible, he said, taking a jibe at previous governments. The prime minister said a particular file relating to the laying of the ring road was gathering dust before 2014 "as the previous government did not allow the project to gather pace as it feared that if the work is done, then Modi will be eulogised". The prime minister said only after Yogi Adityanath took over the state, that work is going on expeditiously. Efforts are being made to clean river Ganga from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar. Till now, schemes worth Rs 21,000 crore approximately have been approved towards cleaning of river Ganga: PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi pic.twitter.com/tCftLJVenv — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 18, 2018 × Besides Adityanath, UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey was present on the occasion. In his 40-minute address, he said projects worth Rs 550 crore have either been dedicated to the public or foundation stones laid today. "This development work not only covers Varanasi but adjoining areas as well," he said. Striking an emotional chord with the audience, Modi began his speech in the local dialect and chanted "Har, Har, Mahadev", amid loud applause from the audience at the amphitheatre of BHU. Varanasi mein 'Paryatan se Parivartan' ka abhiyaan nirantar jaari hai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Varanasi pic.twitter.com/s8fGA3Cppo — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 18, 2018 × "It is indeed a matter of pride for me that I am starting another year dedicated to the country with the blessings of Baba Vishwanath and Maa Ganga. Your affection and blessings always motivate me and also strengthen my resolve to serve you and the countrymen," he said. The prime minister, who represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha said, "Before becoming an MP, when I used to visit here, I used to wonder when will this city be freed from the mesh of entangled electricity wires hanging overhead". "Today, a large portion of the city has been rid of such wires and at remaining places work of laying underground cables is going on at a fast pace," he said. On the first day of his visit yesterday, Modi spent his 68th birthday in his Lok Sabha constituency during which he gave a pep talk to school children telling them never to feel afraid to ask questions, saying it is a key aspect of learning. Modi first interacted with students of a primary school at Narur on the outskirts of the temple town and later met students of the Kashi Vidyapeeth.

PM Modi gifts projects worth over Rs 550 crore to Varanasi

<p>Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukherjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, filed for divorce in Mumbai's Bandra Family Court on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The couple sought permission from the special CBI court on September 15 to attend the divorce proceedings before the family court.</p>

<p>In June, former media baron Peter Mukerjea agreed to divorce his wife and prime accused in the Sheena Bora case Indrani Mukerjea.</p>

<p>Over a month after she sent him a notice, Peter Mukerjea, 64, consented to divorce his wife in June.</p>

<p>Indrani had sent him a notice for an amicable end to their 16-year-old marriage stating that the marriage had "irretrievably broken down."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sheena Bora murder accused Indrani Mukherjea (in pic) and Peter Mukherjea have filed for divorce in Mumbai's Bandra Family Court <a href="https://t.co/HVydQP6g1U">pic.twitter.com/HVydQP6g1U</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041953544616730624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Indrani had sent a divorce notice to Peter Mukerjea in April this year.</p>

<p>The settlement plan is to divide properties and assets, including properties in Spain and London, and bank fixed deposits and other substantial investments in domestic and foreign banks.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The couple sought permission from the special CBI court on September 15 to attend the divorce proceedings before the family court.

Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukherjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, filed for divorce in Mumbai's Bandra Family Court on Tuesday. The couple sought permission from the special CBI court on September 15 to attend the divorce proceedings before the family court. In June, former media baron Peter Mukerjea agreed to divorce his wife and prime accused in the Sheena Bora case Indrani Mukerjea. Over a month after she sent him a notice, Peter Mukerjea, 64, consented to divorce his wife in June. Indrani had sent him a notice for an amicable end to their 16-year-old marriage stating that the marriage had "irretrievably broken down." Sheena Bora murder accused Indrani Mukherjea (in pic) and Peter Mukherjea have filed for divorce in Mumbai's Bandra Family Court pic.twitter.com/HVydQP6g1U — ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018 × Indrani had sent a divorce notice to Peter Mukerjea in April this year. The settlement plan is to divide properties and assets, including properties in Spain and London, and bank fixed deposits and other substantial investments in domestic and foreign banks.

Indrani, Peter Mukerjea file for divorce in Mumbai's Bandra family court  

<p>The Supreme Court Tuesday adjourned hearing on a plea seeking a stay on the Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France.</p>

<p>A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph adjourned the matter till October 10 after petitioner advocate M L Sharma told the bench that he wanted to file some additional documents in the case and sought an adjournment in the matter.</p>

<p>"You yourself circulated a letter seeking adjournment on the ground of ill health. Now you are saying that you want to file additional documents. We are simply adjourning the matter to October 10," the bench said.</p>

<p>In his petition, Sharma has alleged discrepancies in the fighter jet deal with France and sought a stay on it.</p>

<p>Sharma has said in his plea that the inter-government agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets must be quashed as it was an "outcome of corruption" and not ratified by Parliament under Article 253 (Parliament has the power to make any law for implementing any inter-government agreement) of the Constitution.</p>

<p>The petition has also sought lodging of an FIR and prosecution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former defence Minister and present Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, business tycoon Anil Ambani and French armament firm Dassault, along with the recovery of the amount.</p>

<p>A similar plea was filed in the apex court in March this year seeking an independent probe into the Rafale deal and disclosure of the cost involved in it before Parliament.</p>

<p>The plea, filed by Congress leader Tehseen S Poonawalla, had sought issuance of a direction against the Centre on why the Union Cabinet's approval was not sought as part of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) before signing the procurement deal with France on September 23, 2016.</p>

<p>Rafale deal is a defence agreement signed between the governments of India and France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.</p>

<p>Indian Air Force had advanced a proposal to buy 126 fighter aircraft in August 2007 and floated a tender. Following this, an invitation was sent to various aviation companies to participate in the bidding process.</p>

<p>Poonawalla had claimed in his plea that the MoD had withdrawn the 2007 tender for procurement of 126 fighter planes, while the deal announced for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft was altogether a fresh procurement.</p>

<p>His plea said that in 2012, the deal for 126 fighter aircraft was proposed by the then UPA government, and out of the total of 126, 18 Rafale fighter jets were to be delivered by Dassault Aviation company in a fly-away condition, while the remaining 108 were to be manufactured in India at the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a transfer of technology agreement.</p>


A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph adjourned the matter till October 10 after petitioner advocate M L Sharma told the bench that he wanted to file some additional documents in the case.

The Supreme Court Tuesday adjourned hearing on a plea seeking a stay on the Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France. A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph adjourned the matter till October 10 after petitioner advocate M L Sharma told the bench that he wanted to file some additional documents in the case and sought an adjournment in the matter. "You yourself circulated a letter seeking adjournment on the ground of ill health. Now you are saying that you want to file additional documents. We are simply adjourning the matter to October 10," the bench said. In his petition, Sharma has alleged discrepancies in the fighter jet deal with France and sought a stay on it. Sharma has said in his plea that the inter-government agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets must be quashed as it was an "outcome of corruption" and not ratified by Parliament under Article 253 (Parliament has the power to make any law for implementing any inter-government agreement) of the Constitution. The petition has also sought lodging of an FIR and prosecution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former defence Minister and present Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, business tycoon Anil Ambani and French armament firm Dassault, along with the recovery of the amount. A similar plea was filed in the apex court in March this year seeking an independent probe into the Rafale deal and disclosure of the cost involved in it before Parliament. The plea, filed by Congress leader Tehseen S Poonawalla, had sought issuance of a direction against the Centre on why the Union Cabinet's approval was not sought as part of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) before signing the procurement deal with France on September 23, 2016. Rafale deal is a defence agreement signed between the governments of India and France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. Indian Air Force had advanced a proposal to buy 126 fighter aircraft in August 2007 and floated a tender. Following this, an invitation was sent to various aviation companies to participate in the bidding process. Poonawalla had claimed in his plea that the MoD had withdrawn the 2007 tender for procurement of 126 fighter planes, while the deal announced for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft was altogether a fresh procurement. His plea said that in 2012, the deal for 126 fighter aircraft was proposed by the then UPA government, and out of the total of 126, 18 Rafale fighter jets were to be delivered by Dassault Aviation company in a fly-away condition, while the remaining 108 were to be manufactured in India at the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a transfer of technology agreement.

Supreme Court adjourns hearing on PIL to stay Rafale deal to October 10

<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Monday grassroots workers will be considered for nomination as candidates and preference will not be given to sons of party leaders during ticket distribution for the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.</p>

<p>Besides, the Congress is going to field a large number of women candidates in the BJP-ruled state, where polls are due this year-end, Gandhi said while interacting with party cadres at Dusshera Maidan here.</p>

<p>"The old system of distributing tickets won't be followed this time around. Son of any person (Congress leader) won't be picked up as nominee," he said in response to a question asked by a party worker.</p>

<p>"Those who fight for the Congress and are grassroots workers will get the ticket. The winnable party workers and persons will get the ticket," he said amid cheers from party cadres present at the event.</p>

<p>He said those who join the Congress from other political parties won't get tickets.</p>

<p>"Those who parachute in our party can come in happily. But ticket won't drop like a parachute for them," he said.</p>

<p>"First they have to fight for the party, thereafter their names would be considered," he said.</p>

<p>"Election is drawing closer in MP. I want to give maximum tickets to women to send them to the assembly. I know unless women get power, they can't be protected," he said.</p>

<p>Gandhi said party workers and district unit presidents would be consulted before finalising candidates in the respective assembly constituencies.</p>

<p>To a question, he said the Congress will fully support the Women Reservation Bill in Parliament.</p>

<p>The Congress chief said if his party is voted to power in Madhya Pradesh, more women would be inducted in the police force and special stations would be set up for them.</p>

<p>In response to a query, Gandhi said rapists would be punished severely under Congress rule.</p>

<p>He alleged a BJP MLA raped a woman in Uttar Pradesh but the prime minister kept mum over the issue.</p>

<p>Gandhi was on a day-long tour of Bhopal, where he held a roadshow and addressed a rally of Congress workers.&nbsp</p>


Rahul Gandhi also said those who join the Congress from other political parties won't get tickets.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Monday grassroots workers will be considered for nomination as candidates and preference will not be given to sons of party leaders during ticket distribution for the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. Besides, the Congress is going to field a large number of women candidates in the BJP-ruled state, where polls are due this year-end, Gandhi said while interacting with party cadres at Dusshera Maidan here. "The old system of distributing tickets won't be followed this time around. Son of any person (Congress leader) won't be picked up as nominee," he said in response to a question asked by a party worker. "Those who fight for the Congress and are grassroots workers will get the ticket. The winnable party workers and persons will get the ticket," he said amid cheers from party cadres present at the event. He said those who join the Congress from other political parties won't get tickets. "Those who parachute in our party can come in happily. But ticket won't drop like a parachute for them," he said. "First they have to fight for the party, thereafter their names would be considered," he said. "Election is drawing closer in MP. I want to give maximum tickets to women to send them to the assembly. I know unless women get power, they can't be protected," he said. Gandhi said party workers and district unit presidents would be consulted before finalising candidates in the respective assembly constituencies. To a question, he said the Congress will fully support the Women Reservation Bill in Parliament. The Congress chief said if his party is voted to power in Madhya Pradesh, more women would be inducted in the police force and special stations would be set up for them. In response to a query, Gandhi said rapists would be punished severely under Congress rule. He alleged a BJP MLA raped a woman in Uttar Pradesh but the prime minister kept mum over the issue. Gandhi was on a day-long tour of Bhopal, where he held a roadshow and addressed a rally of Congress workers.

Grassroots workers, women to get poll tickets in MP: Rahul Gandhi

<p>BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh has slammed the Maharashtra government for failing to provide reservation to the Muslim community.</p>

<p>Addressing a function recently at Katol, a taluka in Nagpur district, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator said that lack of reservations was depriving the community of good education.</p>

<p>"There is an urgent need for Muslim reservation. It will allow the community to progress if they get reservation in jobs and education," Deshmukh said.</p>

<p>The previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government in the state had issued an ordinance in October 2014 announcing 5 per cent quota in jobs and education for Muslims and 16 per cent for Marathas.</p>

<p>After the decision was challenged, the Bombay High Court scrapped the entire Maratha reservation along with 5 per cent Muslim reservation in jobs. However, it allowed the 5 per cent Muslim quota in education.</p>

<p>"But the Devendra Fadnavis government has not implemented 5 per cent reservations for Muslims in education," Deshmukh said, claiming that the community would not get quota till it showed its strength.</p>

<p>He said that intellectuals and prominent citizens from the community must come together to press for reservation, adding that the community's condition was worse than that of the Dalits.</p>

<p>The Katol MLA claimed that Sachar Committee and the Rangnath Commission had recommended quota for Muslims but political agendas had scuttled these recommendations.</p>

<p>"The Maharashtra government should immediately provide reservation to the Muslim community so that they can progress socially, economically, educationally, politically, and culturally," Deshmukh said.&nbsp</p>


Addressing a function recently at Katol, a taluka in Nagpur district, Ashish Deshmukh said that lack of reservations was depriving the community of good education.

BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh has slammed the Maharashtra government for failing to provide reservation to the Muslim community. Addressing a function recently at Katol, a taluka in Nagpur district, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator said that lack of reservations was depriving the community of good education. "There is an urgent need for Muslim reservation. It will allow the community to progress if they get reservation in jobs and education," Deshmukh said. The previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government in the state had issued an ordinance in October 2014 announcing 5 per cent quota in jobs and education for Muslims and 16 per cent for Marathas. After the decision was challenged, the Bombay High Court scrapped the entire Maratha reservation along with 5 per cent Muslim reservation in jobs. However, it allowed the 5 per cent Muslim quota in education. "But the Devendra Fadnavis government has not implemented 5 per cent reservations for Muslims in education," Deshmukh said, claiming that the community would not get quota till it showed its strength. He said that intellectuals and prominent citizens from the community must come together to press for reservation, adding that the community's condition was worse than that of the Dalits. The Katol MLA claimed that Sachar Committee and the Rangnath Commission had recommended quota for Muslims but political agendas had scuttled these recommendations. "The Maharashtra government should immediately provide reservation to the Muslim community so that they can progress socially, economically, educationally, politically, and culturally," Deshmukh said.

Maharashtra BJP MLA asks state government to provide quota to Muslims

<p><em>"Woh kahte </em><em>hain</em><em> Indira hatao. Hum kahte </em><em>hain</em><em> </em><em>garibi hatao." (They say 'Remove Indira,' we say 'Remove poverty').&nbsp</em></p>

<p>That powerful slogan gave Prime Minister Indira Gandhi-led Indian National Congress a two-thirds majority in the 1971 general elections, sealing her as the supremo of her party, and by extension the nation. There is a lot in the politics of Narendra Modi that reminds you of those days. The two leaders are generations apart, from parties bitterly opposed to each other, and often seen to represent opposite bands of the ideological spectrum split between the Right and the Left. Yet, Prime Minister Modi and Mrs Gandhi are alike in so many aspects that it is fascinating to take note of their similarities.</p>

<p>As Modi turns 68, he is ready to unveil in a few days after his birthday the details of his ambitious Ayushman Bharat scheme that promises state-supported health insurance for 50 crore out of the 125 crore-strong India. In some ways, 'Modicare' promises to a new generation of Indians a big leap forward, the way Indira's slogan for anti-poverty programmes did. You could say Modi's implicit slogan is: <em>"Woh </em><em>kahte</em><em> </em><em>hain</em><em> Modi </em><em>hatao</em><em>. Hum </em><em>kahte</em><em> </em><em>hain</em><em> </em><em>beemari</em><em> </em><em>hatao</em><em>." (They say 'Remove Modi,' we say 'Remove illness').</em> The new slogan befits an India in which poverty is much less of a problem than healthcare as millions of people move out from a malnutrition zone to one where better health is an aspiration. It is as if beneficiaries of Indira's schemes are aspirants for Modi's largesse.</p>

<p>Like Indira, Modi talks over the heads of all sorts of power brokers such as senior party leaders, mediapersons and sundry intellectuals to state an unsaid message: 'I am the deliverer. I am the saviour of the people. The votes come because of me. The power flows from me to the system. Not the other way around.'</p>

<p>Cabinet ministers show reverence beyond the usual courtesies extended to the prime minister, junking the conventional belief that in a parliamentary system, the PM is the "first among equals." Their nervous smiles, their lining up to greet their leader and their loud, sometimes overzealous display of loyalty reminds one of the Indira era.&nbsp</p>

<p>When Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister by the Congress in 1966 following the sudden death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, it was said she was installed by a gang of senior party leaders so they could manipulate her. She was even dubbed a 'goongi gudiya' (dumb doll). Indira proved to be anything but that as she manoeuvred shrewdly to oust the influential right-leaning group of the Congress known as the 'Syndicate' with a series of populist measures. She went on to nationalise a clutch of banks and enact a new anti-monopoly law that controlled big business houses from imperious highs -- splitting the party and carrying it with her as her juggernaut moved forward.</p>

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is quite different from the Congress, but there are a few things that Modi has done that remind us of those days. Modi was a barely-seen cheerleader in 1990 when Lal Krishna Advani as party president took the BJP to parliamentary centre-stage with his Rath Yatra campaign to build a Ram temple at the site disputed by Muslims in Ayodhya. Things changed after Modi was dispatched to Gujarat as chief minister in 2001 in a party reshuffle, the way the Syndicate installed Mrs Gandhi.</p>

<p>A few years later, however, there were loud murmurs of how traditional RSS titans were sidelined in the party as the likes of Murli Manohar Joshi and Lal Krishna Advani were reduced to quiet 'Margdarshaks' (guides) in the Modi dispensation, while powerful ministers of yore such as Jaswant Singh, Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha find themselves in the ranks of dissidents and losers.</p>

<p>Indira Gandhi was backed by the 'Young Turks' -- a band of left-leaning MPs -- to triumph over the 'Syndicate'. Modi has had his aggressive 'Bhakts' quietening the seasoned 'Sanghis'.</p>

<p>Demagogy and charismatic appeal came naturally to both Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. They both are seen by millions of Indians as saviours amid a bunch of power-hungry leaders as they appeal to commoners for their support.</p>

<p>Both Indira and Modi ran into obstacles halfway into their winning term. The oil shock of 1973, high inflation and unemployment resulted in the JP Movement that led to the imposition of Emergency in 1975. Modi's demonetisation of high-value currency notes in November 2016 to curb tax evaders has not quite yielded a magnificent catch and talk of a 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance) against Modi is reminiscent of the way opposition parties closed ranks against Indira Gandhi in the Emergency era.</p>

<p>Indira made the Prime Minister's Office a powerful extra-constitutional force. Modi has not done anything of that sort, but it is common knowledge in Delhi that he towers over the home and finance ministers and relies (like Mrs Gandhi did) on a bunch of chosen bureaucrats and advisors who act in stealth.&nbsp</p>

<p>Modi's call for discipline, his unstated disdain for media commentators, his not holding a news conference and his clutch of populist schemes ranging from 'Swacch Bharat' for hygiene to 'Ujwala' that provides cooking gas cylinders to poor women advertised in state-sponsored advertisements are eerily similar to the 1970s.&nbsp</p>

<p>Similarities do not necessarily mean the same agenda or circumstances. There was no private television, the internet or social media in the times of Mrs Gandhi. A rare cartoonist like RK Laxman lampooned Mrs Gandhi while a dozen celebrity stand-up comedians and hundreds of meme-makers are subjecting Modi to no-holds-barred humour.&nbsp</p>

<p>It would be a fascinating subject for future historians to study how strong personalities functioned in changing times, even as they stood for differing ideologies.<br />
<br />
<em>(This article was first published on Zeenews. Read the <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/blogs/narendra-modi-has-lots-in-common-with-indira-gandhi-in-style-populism-and-opposition-2141644.html">original article</a>.)</em></p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Demagogy and charismatic appeal came naturally to both Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. They both are seen by millions of Indians as saviours amid a bunch of power-hungry leaders as they appeal to commoners for their support.

"Woh kahte hain Indira hatao. Hum kahte hain garibi hatao." (They say 'Remove Indira,' we say 'Remove poverty'). That powerful slogan gave Prime Minister Indira Gandhi-led Indian National Congress a two-thirds majority in the 1971 general elections, sealing her as the supremo of her party, and by extension the nation. There is a lot in the politics of Narendra Modi that reminds you of those days. The two leaders are generations apart, from parties bitterly opposed to each other, and often seen to represent opposite bands of the ideological spectrum split between the Right and the Left. Yet, Prime Minister Modi and Mrs Gandhi are alike in so many aspects that it is fascinating to take note of their similarities. As Modi turns 68, he is ready to unveil in a few days after his birthday the details of his ambitious Ayushman Bharat scheme that promises state-supported health insurance for 50 crore out of the 125 crore-strong India. In some ways, 'Modicare' promises to a new generation of Indians a big leap forward, the way Indira's slogan for anti-poverty programmes did. You could say Modi's implicit slogan is: "Woh kahte hain Modi hatao. Hum kahte hain beemari hatao." (They say 'Remove Modi,' we say 'Remove illness'). The new slogan befits an India in which poverty is much less of a problem than healthcare as millions of people move out from a malnutrition zone to one where better health is an aspiration. It is as if beneficiaries of Indira's schemes are aspirants for Modi's largesse. Like Indira, Modi talks over the heads of all sorts of power brokers such as senior party leaders, mediapersons and sundry intellectuals to state an unsaid message: 'I am the deliverer. I am the saviour of the people. The votes come because of me. The power flows from me to the system. Not the other way around.' Cabinet ministers show reverence beyond the usual courtesies extended to the prime minister, junking the conventional belief that in a parliamentary system, the PM is the "first among equals." Their nervous smiles, their lining up to greet their leader and their loud, sometimes overzealous display of loyalty reminds one of the Indira era. When Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister by the Congress in 1966 following the sudden death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, it was said she was installed by a gang of senior party leaders so they could manipulate her. She was even dubbed a 'goongi gudiya' (dumb doll). Indira proved to be anything but that as she manoeuvred shrewdly to oust the influential right-leaning group of the Congress known as the 'Syndicate' with a series of populist measures. She went on to nationalise a clutch of banks and enact a new anti-monopoly law that controlled big business houses from imperious highs -- splitting the party and carrying it with her as her juggernaut moved forward. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is quite different from the Congress, but there are a few things that Modi has done that remind us of those days. Modi was a barely-seen cheerleader in 1990 when Lal Krishna Advani as party president took the BJP to parliamentary centre-stage with his Rath Yatra campaign to build a Ram temple at the site disputed by Muslims in Ayodhya. Things changed after Modi was dispatched to Gujarat as chief minister in 2001 in a party reshuffle, the way the Syndicate installed Mrs Gandhi. A few years later, however, there were loud murmurs of how traditional RSS titans were sidelined in the party as the likes of Murli Manohar Joshi and Lal Krishna Advani were reduced to quiet 'Margdarshaks' (guides) in the Modi dispensation, while powerful ministers of yore such as Jaswant Singh, Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha find themselves in the ranks of dissidents and losers. Indira Gandhi was backed by the 'Young Turks' -- a band of left-leaning MPs -- to triumph over the 'Syndicate'. Modi has had his aggressive 'Bhakts' quietening the seasoned 'Sanghis'. Demagogy and charismatic appeal came naturally to both Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. They both are seen by millions of Indians as saviours amid a bunch of power-hungry leaders as they appeal to commoners for their support. Both Indira and Modi ran into obstacles halfway into their winning term. The oil shock of 1973, high inflation and unemployment resulted in the JP Movement that led to the imposition of Emergency in 1975. Modi's demonetisation of high-value currency notes in November 2016 to curb tax evaders has not quite yielded a magnificent catch and talk of a 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance) against Modi is reminiscent of the way opposition parties closed ranks against Indira Gandhi in the Emergency era. Indira made the Prime Minister's Office a powerful extra-constitutional force. Modi has not done anything of that sort, but it is common knowledge in Delhi that he towers over the home and finance ministers and relies (like Mrs Gandhi did) on a bunch of chosen bureaucrats and advisors who act in stealth. Modi's call for discipline, his unstated disdain for media commentators, his not holding a news conference and his clutch of populist schemes ranging from 'Swacch Bharat' for hygiene to 'Ujwala' that provides cooking gas cylinders to poor women advertised in state-sponsored advertisements are eerily similar to the 1970s. Similarities do not necessarily mean the same agenda or circumstances. There was no private television, the internet or social media in the times of Mrs Gandhi. A rare cartoonist like RK Laxman lampooned Mrs Gandhi while a dozen celebrity stand-up comedians and hundreds of meme-makers are subjecting Modi to no-holds-barred humour. It would be a fascinating subject for future historians to study how strong personalities functioned in changing times, even as they stood for differing ideologies. (This article was first published on Zeenews. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Narendra Modi has lots in common with Indira Gandhi in populism and opposition

<p>A Delhi court on Monday reserved its order on whether to summon Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav, wife Rabri Yadav and their son Tejashvi Yadav as the accused in the IRCTC scam case.</p>

<p>According to news agency ANI, special judge Arun Bhardwaj said that the court needs time to go through the documents filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before taking cognisance of the charge sheet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Enforcement Directorate had demanded Lalu Yadav to be produced before it and had summoned&nbsp;others accused in the case.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">IRCTC scam case: Enforcement Directorate had demanded production of RJD chief Lalu Yadav and summons for other accused in the case. Order on cognizance of chargesheet reserved for later today.</p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041555977999331328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>On August 31 the court had granted bail to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav on a personal bond of one lakh and one surety of the like amount.</p>

<p>The case involves alleged irregularities in grant of an operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.</p>

<p>The CBI had registered a case in July last year and carried out searches at 12 locations in Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Gurugram in connection with the case.</p>

<p>The charge sheet said that between 2004 and 2014, a conspiracy was hatched in pursuance of which BNR hotels of Indian Railways, located at Puri and Ranchi, were first transferred to the IRCTC and later for its operations, maintenance and upkeep, it was given on lease to a private firm Sujata Hotel Private Limited based in Patna.</p>

<p>It alleged that the tender process was rigged and manipulated and the conditions were tweaked to help the private party (Sujata Hotels).</p>

<p>Lalu Yadav, the then railway minister, allegedly entered into criminal conspiracy with owners of Sujata hotels, Sarla Gupta, wife of his close associate Prem Chand Gupta, an RJD MP in Rajya Sabha, and IRCTC officials for "undue pecuniary advantage to himself and others", the CBI FIR had alleged.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Enforcement Directorate had demanded productions of Lalu Yadav and summons for the other accused in the case.

A Delhi court on Monday reserved its order on whether to summon Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav, wife Rabri Yadav and their son Tejashvi Yadav as the accused in the IRCTC scam case. According to news agency ANI, special judge Arun Bhardwaj said that the court needs time to go through the documents filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before taking cognisance of the charge sheet. The Enforcement Directorate had demanded Lalu Yadav to be produced before it and had summoned others accused in the case. IRCTC scam case: Enforcement Directorate had demanded production of RJD chief Lalu Yadav and summons for other accused in the case. Order on cognizance of chargesheet reserved for later today. — ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018 × On August 31 the court had granted bail to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav on a personal bond of one lakh and one surety of the like amount. The case involves alleged irregularities in grant of an operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm. The CBI had registered a case in July last year and carried out searches at 12 locations in Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Gurugram in connection with the case. The charge sheet said that between 2004 and 2014, a conspiracy was hatched in pursuance of which BNR hotels of Indian Railways, located at Puri and Ranchi, were first transferred to the IRCTC and later for its operations, maintenance and upkeep, it was given on lease to a private firm Sujata Hotel Private Limited based in Patna. It alleged that the tender process was rigged and manipulated and the conditions were tweaked to help the private party (Sujata Hotels). Lalu Yadav, the then railway minister, allegedly entered into criminal conspiracy with owners of Sujata hotels, Sarla Gupta, wife of his close associate Prem Chand Gupta, an RJD MP in Rajya Sabha, and IRCTC officials for "undue pecuniary advantage to himself and others", the CBI FIR had alleged. (With inputs from agencies)

IRCTC scam: Delhi court reserves order on summoning Lalu Yadav

<p>Bishop of Jalandhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a Kerala nun, has written a letter to the Pope Francis, expressing his desire to temporarily step down from the responsibilities of the diocese. The letter has been handed over to Pope's representative in India.</p>

<p>"Bishop Franco Mullakal has written to the Pope on 16 September expressing his desire to step down temporarily from the responsibilities of the diocese and has sought permission for the same", Jalandhar diocese said in a statement.</p>

<p>The decision is being attributed to bishop requiring more time to fight his case and his repeated travels to Kerala, where the case is lodged.</p>

<p>Elaborating further on the details of latest development in the case, the statement reads, "Bishop requires to spend more time to fight his case, to even to travel to Kerala several times, and thus has expressed his willingness to absolve himself from the responsibilities of the diocese temporarily and has handed over a letter to the representative of the pope, seeking permission for the same".</p>

<p>Earlier, the victim had written a letter to the Apostolic Nunciature- the representative of the Pope in India- describing the ordeal she allegedly went through at the hands of Bishop Mulakkal.</p>

<p>Last week, the Jalandhar bishop who has been summoned by the Kerala Police for questioning on September 19 in the case, had announced that Monsignor Mathew Kokkandam will administer the diocese of Jalandhar in his absence.</p>

<p>The nun has accused the bishop of raping her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop, however, refuted the allegation terming it "baseless and concocted.</p>


The nun has accused the bishop of raping her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. However, Bishop has denied any wrongdoing.

Bishop of Jalandhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a Kerala nun, has written a letter to the Pope Francis, expressing his desire to temporarily step down from the responsibilities of the diocese. The letter has been handed over to Pope's representative in India. "Bishop Franco Mullakal has written to the Pope on 16 September expressing his desire to step down temporarily from the responsibilities of the diocese and has sought permission for the same", Jalandhar diocese said in a statement. The decision is being attributed to bishop requiring more time to fight his case and his repeated travels to Kerala, where the case is lodged. Elaborating further on the details of latest development in the case, the statement reads, "Bishop requires to spend more time to fight his case, to even to travel to Kerala several times, and thus has expressed his willingness to absolve himself from the responsibilities of the diocese temporarily and has handed over a letter to the representative of the pope, seeking permission for the same". Earlier, the victim had written a letter to the Apostolic Nunciature- the representative of the Pope in India- describing the ordeal she allegedly went through at the hands of Bishop Mulakkal. Last week, the Jalandhar bishop who has been summoned by the Kerala Police for questioning on September 19 in the case, had announced that Monsignor Mathew Kokkandam will administer the diocese of Jalandhar in his absence. The nun has accused the bishop of raping her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop, however, refuted the allegation terming it "baseless and concocted.

Rape accused Bishop seeks Pope Francis' permission to step down temporarily

<p>Karnataka Chief Minister on Monday announced a cut in fuel prices by Rs 2, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today, we are taking a decision that we are going to reduce Rs 2 on both petrol and diesel," CM Kumaraswamy noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, last week, said that her <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-follows-andhra-rajasthan-as-mamata-banerjee-reduces-fuel-prices-by-1-rupee-165100">government has decided to reduce the prices</a> of petrol and diesel in the state.</p>

<p>She said, "We have decided to reduce the price of both petrol and diesel by Rs 1".</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today, we are taking a decision that we are going to reduce Rs 2 on both petrol and diesel: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Kalaburagi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karnataka?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karnataka</a> <a href="https://t.co/COyYWzFAmy">pic.twitter.com/COyYWzFAmy</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041551842256158721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The proposal for the reduction in fuel prices by the TMC chief came a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced a decrease in petrol and diesel prices by 2 Rs each.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje had also announced a reduction in the prices of fuel in the poll-bound state.</p>

<p>Raje announced a four per cent reduction in value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel which will translate into reducing fuel prices by Rs 2.5 per litre in the state.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, fuel prices across India rose again on Monday with petrol selling at Rs 82.06 per litre and diesel at Rs 73.78 per litre in Delhi, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Petrol and diesel prices in the national capital went up by Rs 0.15/litre and Rs 0.6/litre respectively.&nbsp;</p>


West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, last week, said that her government has decided to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel in the state.

Karnataka Chief Minister on Monday announced a cut in fuel prices by Rs 2, news agency ANI reported. "Today, we are taking a decision that we are going to reduce Rs 2 on both petrol and diesel," CM Kumaraswamy noted. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, last week, said that her government has decided to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel in the state. She said, "We have decided to reduce the price of both petrol and diesel by Rs 1". Today, we are taking a decision that we are going to reduce Rs 2 on both petrol and diesel: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Kalaburagi #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/COyYWzFAmy — ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018 × The proposal for the reduction in fuel prices by the TMC chief came a day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced a decrease in petrol and diesel prices by 2 Rs each. Earlier Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje had also announced a reduction in the prices of fuel in the poll-bound state. Raje announced a four per cent reduction in value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel which will translate into reducing fuel prices by Rs 2.5 per litre in the state. Meanwhile, fuel prices across India rose again on Monday with petrol selling at Rs 82.06 per litre and diesel at Rs 73.78 per litre in Delhi, news agency ANI reported. Petrol and diesel prices in the national capital went up by Rs 0.15/litre and Rs 0.6/litre respectively.

CM Kumaraswamy announces fuel prices cut of Rs 2 in Karnataka

<p>Despite all the strides the country has made since Independence, India has struggled to develop, manage and conserve two vital fluids — water and oil — that are essential for its economic health. Water and crude oil are the fluids that impact every citizen of this country and the sustained supply of both at an affordable cost and reliable quality is absent. Almost every year we have lurched from crisis to crisis because we have not invested enough in the development and management of water and oil.</p>

<p><strong>Dependence on imported oil&nbsp</strong></p>

<p>Let’s start with oil. India is suffering from inordinately high fuel prices at the moment and with consumption rising steadily, the country is likely to remain woefully dependent on the import of crude oil. In 2012, India imported just over 171 million metric tonnes of crude oil while in 2017-2018, this figure has grown to over 220 million metric tonnes. The biggest oil suppliers to India include Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nigeria, and Venezuela. Statistics also show that the cost of imports has risen over 25 per cent in the past one year to $87 billion in 2017-18 and is expected to grow by another $26 billion in the current year.</p>

<p>It is no secret that the dependence on oil and gas imports for energy is very high for India. Currently, about 95 per cent of LPG and 86 per cent of crude oil that India consumes is imported. So when there is global volatility, the country suffers. The fall of the rupee combined with local taxes ensure that consumers end up with intimidating retail prices for oil and gas. And, with US sanctions on Iran curbing the supply of oil in the global markets, there is no guarantee that oil supplies will come down anytime soon.&nbsp</p>

<p>The problems are there, but India is not bereft of solutions. Here are some steps which the country can take to minimize its dependence on foreign sourcing and reduce its fuel burden.</p>

<p><strong>Domestic oil and gas production</strong></p>

<p>The national exploration policy has improved since the NDA government took charge, but still, the pace and efficiency of domestic exploration and development of oil and gas have to be enhanced.</p>

<p><strong>Own, develop oil sources abroad&nbsp</strong></p>

<p>The second best option after domestic sources is those which may be global but owned by Indian companies. ONGC, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum are among the Indian companies that own oil and gas fields abroad. The acquisition of more should be made a key priority.</p>

<p><strong>Enhance alternative energy&nbsp</strong></p>

<p>The focus on alternate energy, especially solar and wind energy, has picked up the pace in recent years. These energy sources should try to replace fossil fuels as much as possible. Serious challenges remain on the transmission of solar energy which is impeding its large scale usage.</p>

<p><strong>Electric vehicles&nbsp</strong><br />
<br />
After years of confusion, the government seems to be coming around to a clear policy on promoting electric vehicles. This is the need of the hour as reducing dependence on petrol and diesel is the best option to prevent the shocks of volatile oil prices. These are some of the steps that could solve India’s oil problems.</p>

<p><strong>Tackling India’s water woes&nbsp</strong><br />
<br />
Moving on to water, India’s biggest problem is its over-dependence on the monsoon. Just 60 per cent of the country receives irrigated water. The rest of the land is dependent on monsoon rains. The major problem here though is that India has not invested in irrigation for decades. Though investment in irrigation is rising, it will take years for the country to reduce its reliance on the monsoon. Even if it does this, the country also has to deal with the problem of water wastage with rainwater harvesting struggling to become popular in many parts of urban India. In non-urban areas, poor water management, deforestation, and unchecked development are not allowing water bodies to be sufficiently regenerated.</p>

<p><strong>Lessons from Kerala</strong></p>

<p>The recent floods in Kerala have highlighted another disappointing dimension of India’s dismal water management. The management of river dams by state authorities was so poor that much of the natural disaster’s impact was caused by waters released by the dams. Even though the dams were almost full before that phase of the heaviest rains, the water was not released in anticipation. As a result, when the rains intensified, the dam waters were also released. A combination of heavy rains and dam water flowing together was more than the capacity of rivers which flooded vast stretches of habitation and arable land.</p>

<p>This swing between drought and floods is an enduring tragedy for India’s economy and ecology. Add to this the volatility and import dependence on oil, and it becomes clear that India is wasting vital fluids and resources. Investment in water management and oil production is a priority for the country’s growth, for without it, India will remain stunted and weak. Focusing on these two should be a national priority with equal and urgent action from states.<br />
&nbsp</p>

<p><em>(This article was first published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-fixing-india-s-oil-water-woes-2663591">original article</a>.)</em></p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp</p>

<p>&nbsp</p>


Almost every year we have lurched from crisis to crisis because we have not invested enough in the development and management of water and oil.

Despite all the strides the country has made since Independence, India has struggled to develop, manage and conserve two vital fluids — water and oil — that are essential for its economic health. Water and crude oil are the fluids that impact every citizen of this country and the sustained supply of both at an affordable cost and reliable quality is absent. Almost every year we have lurched from crisis to crisis because we have not invested enough in the development and management of water and oil. Dependence on imported oil Let’s start with oil. India is suffering from inordinately high fuel prices at the moment and with consumption rising steadily, the country is likely to remain woefully dependent on the import of crude oil. In 2012, India imported just over 171 million metric tonnes of crude oil while in 2017-2018, this figure has grown to over 220 million metric tonnes. The biggest oil suppliers to India include Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nigeria, and Venezuela. Statistics also show that the cost of imports has risen over 25 per cent in the past one year to $87 billion in 2017-18 and is expected to grow by another $26 billion in the current year. It is no secret that the dependence on oil and gas imports for energy is very high for India. Currently, about 95 per cent of LPG and 86 per cent of crude oil that India consumes is imported. So when there is global volatility, the country suffers. The fall of the rupee combined with local taxes ensure that consumers end up with intimidating retail prices for oil and gas. And, with US sanctions on Iran curbing the supply of oil in the global markets, there is no guarantee that oil supplies will come down anytime soon. The problems are there, but India is not bereft of solutions. Here are some steps which the country can take to minimize its dependence on foreign sourcing and reduce its fuel burden. Domestic oil and gas production The national exploration policy has improved since the NDA government took charge, but still, the pace and efficiency of domestic exploration and development of oil and gas have to be enhanced. Own, develop oil sources abroad The second best option after domestic sources is those which may be global but owned by Indian companies. ONGC, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum are among the Indian companies that own oil and gas fields abroad. The acquisition of more should be made a key priority. Enhance alternative energy The focus on alternate energy, especially solar and wind energy, has picked up the pace in recent years. These energy sources should try to replace fossil fuels as much as possible. Serious challenges remain on the transmission of solar energy which is impeding its large scale usage. Electric vehicles After years of confusion, the government seems to be coming around to a clear policy on promoting electric vehicles. This is the need of the hour as reducing dependence on petrol and diesel is the best option to prevent the shocks of volatile oil prices. These are some of the steps that could solve India’s oil problems. Tackling India’s water woes Moving on to water, India’s biggest problem is its over-dependence on the monsoon. Just 60 per cent of the country receives irrigated water. The rest of the land is dependent on monsoon rains. The major problem here though is that India has not invested in irrigation for decades. Though investment in irrigation is rising, it will take years for the country to reduce its reliance on the monsoon. Even if it does this, the country also has to deal with the problem of water wastage with rainwater harvesting struggling to become popular in many parts of urban India. In non-urban areas, poor water management, deforestation, and unchecked development are not allowing water bodies to be sufficiently regenerated. Lessons from Kerala The recent floods in Kerala have highlighted another disappointing dimension of India’s dismal water management. The management of river dams by state authorities was so poor that much of the natural disaster’s impact was caused by waters released by the dams. Even though the dams were almost full before that phase of the heaviest rains, the water was not released in anticipation. As a result, when the rains intensified, the dam waters were also released. A combination of heavy rains and dam water flowing together was more than the capacity of rivers which flooded vast stretches of habitation and arable land. This swing between drought and floods is an enduring tragedy for India’s economy and ecology. Add to this the volatility and import dependence on oil, and it becomes clear that India is wasting vital fluids and resources. Investment in water management and oil production is a priority for the country’s growth, for without it, India will remain stunted and weak. Focusing on these two should be a national priority with equal and urgent action from states. (This article was first published on The DNA. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Fixing India’s oil, water woes

<p>In a massive outreach exercise, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday, began a three-day conclave in New Delhi to engage with a cross section of people and present its perspective on the future of the country.</p>

<p>Addressing the 'Bharat of Future' event at Vigyan Bhawan, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said the Congress should be credited for playing a "major role" in India's independence movement.</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rss-idea-is-similar-to-the-idea-of-muslim-brotherhood-in-arab-world-rahul-gandhi--161261">Rahul Gandhi equates RSS to Muslim Brotherhood</a></p>

<p>Mohan Bhagwat addressed the gathering for more than one hour and continued to emphasise the point that the reason why Hindu word was chosen because it was the only word which could encompass the divided indigenous society that India was.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that Hindu word is not against anyone. He said that it should be understood in the cultural sense about people who for long have been facing invasions from the West.</p>

<p>Mohan Bhagwat also said that there does not exist any remote control in RSS. He stressed that collective opinion is the way of RSS. He also said that RSS respects national flag and it should not be compared with traditional 'bhagwa' flag of the organisation. RSS was earlier criticised for not saluting the national flag during Vijay Dashmi festival.</p>

<p>Mohan Bhagwat said that the principal aim of the RSS is character building and it would continue to do so. He said that the aim of the RSS is to organise Hindu society rather than build a separate organisation for Hindus. He also spoke on the issue of women participation and role RSS pracharaks play outside the organisation. Bhagwat said that the work of people associated with the organisation is not monitored minutely.</p>

<p>At the end of his speech, Bhagwat also said that RSS is not an organisation of unmarried workers only.</p>

<p>He said, " Ye sanyasiyon ka sangathan nahi hain." He said that a lot of married people participate in the function of RSS.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Central to his speech remained that open decision-making within RSS since inception. He said that from the days of Hedgewar, the decisions taken by the workers were given due weight. In the end, he also stressed the point that RSS runs on the Guru Dakshina of the workers rather than any charity.</p>

<p>This is an attempt by the RSS to address left of centre opinion which continues to oppose it in schools and universities. Through this lecture series, RSS also want to set the agenda of debate right before the election.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Insiders say that RSS for long has felt that it has not been represented fairly by the intellectual class and it needs to set the record straight. RSS chief will also take questions on the last day. The three-day lecture series started on Monday.</p>


Central to his speech remained that open decision-making within RSS since inception.

In a massive outreach exercise, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday, began a three-day conclave in New Delhi to engage with a cross section of people and present its perspective on the future of the country. Addressing the 'Bharat of Future' event at Vigyan Bhawan, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said the Congress should be credited for playing a "major role" in India's independence movement. Also read: Rahul Gandhi equates RSS to Muslim Brotherhood Mohan Bhagwat addressed the gathering for more than one hour and continued to emphasise the point that the reason why Hindu word was chosen because it was the only word which could encompass the divided indigenous society that India was. He said that Hindu word is not against anyone. He said that it should be understood in the cultural sense about people who for long have been facing invasions from the West. Mohan Bhagwat also said that there does not exist any remote control in RSS. He stressed that collective opinion is the way of RSS. He also said that RSS respects national flag and it should not be compared with traditional 'bhagwa' flag of the organisation. RSS was earlier criticised for not saluting the national flag during Vijay Dashmi festival. Mohan Bhagwat said that the principal aim of the RSS is character building and it would continue to do so. He said that the aim of the RSS is to organise Hindu society rather than build a separate organisation for Hindus. He also spoke on the issue of women participation and role RSS pracharaks play outside the organisation. Bhagwat said that the work of people associated with the organisation is not monitored minutely. At the end of his speech, Bhagwat also said that RSS is not an organisation of unmarried workers only. He said, " Ye sanyasiyon ka sangathan nahi hain." He said that a lot of married people participate in the function of RSS. Central to his speech remained that open decision-making within RSS since inception. He said that from the days of Hedgewar, the decisions taken by the workers were given due weight. In the end, he also stressed the point that RSS runs on the Guru Dakshina of the workers rather than any charity. This is an attempt by the RSS to address left of centre opinion which continues to oppose it in schools and universities. Through this lecture series, RSS also want to set the agenda of debate right before the election. Insiders say that RSS for long has felt that it has not been represented fairly by the intellectual class and it needs to set the record straight. RSS chief will also take questions on the last day. The three-day lecture series started on Monday.

RSS is not an organisation of 'sanyasis': Mohan Bhagwat

<p>"Shoot me if you want to, but don't ask me questions" - these were the last words of Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, an Army jawan shot dead by the terrorists in Kashmir on Monday when he had gone home following his son's death, according to officials.</p>

<p>Lance Naik Malik's son died on September 15 after battling for life at an Army hospital for four days following an accident.</p>

<p>Giving details of the incident, officials said the family was preparing for 'Rasm-e-Chauram' (post-death ritual) when terrorists barged into the house of 43-year-old Malik at Churat village in the terror-hit Kulgam district of South Kashmir.</p>

<p>According to eyewitnesses, the officials said, terrorists, tracked the movement of his friend and reached the residence and started looking for Lance Naik Malik, who belonged to 162 battalions of Territorial Army.</p>

<p>They found him on the first floor of the house and started questioning him about the deployment of the Army.</p>

<p>"Shoot me if you want to, but don't ask me questions," those present at the scene quoted Lance Naik Malik as having told the terrorists.</p>

<p>After that, Lance Naik Malik was shot from a close range and he died on the spot. The terrorists managed to flee the scene.&nbsp</p>


Lance Naik Malik's son died on September 15 after battling for life at an Army hospital for four days following an accident.

"Shoot me if you want to, but don't ask me questions" - these were the last words of Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, an Army jawan shot dead by the terrorists in Kashmir on Monday when he had gone home following his son's death, according to officials. Lance Naik Malik's son died on September 15 after battling for life at an Army hospital for four days following an accident. Giving details of the incident, officials said the family was preparing for 'Rasm-e-Chauram' (post-death ritual) when terrorists barged into the house of 43-year-old Malik at Churat village in the terror-hit Kulgam district of South Kashmir. According to eyewitnesses, the officials said, terrorists, tracked the movement of his friend and reached the residence and started looking for Lance Naik Malik, who belonged to 162 battalions of Territorial Army. They found him on the first floor of the house and started questioning him about the deployment of the Army. "Shoot me if you want to, but don't ask me questions," those present at the scene quoted Lance Naik Malik as having told the terrorists. After that, Lance Naik Malik was shot from a close range and he died on the spot. The terrorists managed to flee the scene.

Jawan killed by terrorists in J&K was home after son's death

<p>A fire broke out at Sri Kanya Cinema Hall in Visakhapatnam's Gajuwaka area on Monday morning, news agency ANI reported.</p>

<p>According to reports, five fire tenders are present on the spot. No casualties have been reported, more details awaited.</p>

<p>The fire incident comes a day after a massive broke out at Kolkata's Bagri market.&nbsp</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Andhra Pradesh: A fire has broken out in Sri Kanya Cinema Hall in Visakhapatnam's Gajuwaka. Five fire tenders are present at the spot. No casualties have been reported. More details awaited. <a href="https://t.co/FMJqxYy5UT">pic.twitter.com/FMJqxYy5UT</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041517694544166912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>According to reports, the Bagri market blazes rages on with as many as 35 fire tenders and nearly 250 firemen on the spot. The fire has caused huge losses to traders ahead of the Durga Puja festival.&nbsp</p>

<p>"We have been able to control the blaze from spreading to neighbouring buildings, but it's still raging. The huge amount of inflammable materials stacked inside is not helping our efforts," Director General of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services, Jagmohan.</p>

<p>It will take 24 to 48 hours to control the blaze, he said, adding, efforts were on to bring hydraulic ladders inside the area to boost the firefighting measures.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from agencies</em>)&nbsp</p>


According to reports, five fire tenders are present on the spot. No casualties have been reported, more details awaited.

A fire broke out at Sri Kanya Cinema Hall in Visakhapatnam's Gajuwaka area on Monday morning, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, five fire tenders are present on the spot. No casualties have been reported, more details awaited. The fire incident comes a day after a massive broke out at Kolkata's Bagri market. Andhra Pradesh: A fire has broken out in Sri Kanya Cinema Hall in Visakhapatnam's Gajuwaka. Five fire tenders are present at the spot. No casualties have been reported. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/FMJqxYy5UT — ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018 × According to reports, the Bagri market blazes rages on with as many as 35 fire tenders and nearly 250 firemen on the spot. The fire has caused huge losses to traders ahead of the Durga Puja festival. "We have been able to control the blaze from spreading to neighbouring buildings, but it's still raging. The huge amount of inflammable materials stacked inside is not helping our efforts," Director General of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services, Jagmohan. It will take 24 to 48 hours to control the blaze, he said, adding, efforts were on to bring hydraulic ladders inside the area to boost the firefighting measures. (With inputs from agencies)

Fire breaks out at cinema hall in Visakhapatnam, no casualties reported 

<p>Birthday greetings and wishes have started pouring in from early morning on Monday for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 68th birthday.</p>

<p>President Ram Nath Kovind extended birthday greetings to the Prime Minister and wished for his long life. "Birthday greetings to our Prime Minister @narendramodi. Wish him a long life and many years of dedicated service to the people of the country," tweeted the President.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Birthday greetings to our Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>. Wish him a long life and many years of dedicated service to the people of the country <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentKovind?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PresidentKovind</a></p>
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1041499478350618629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also took to Twitter to wish Prime Minister Modi. "Warm birthday compliments to the dynamic and illustrious Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi ji. I wish him good health and a long life. May he continue to render for many more years his exceptional services to the nation and guide the country to its glory," Jaitley wrote.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Warm birthday compliments to the dynamic & illustrious Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji. I wish him good health and a long life. May he continue to render for many more years his exceptional services to the nation and guide the country to its glory. <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a></p>
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) <a href="https://twitter.com/arunjaitley/status/1041492552128651264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Lauding Prime Minister for his "dynamic leadership", Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar tweeted, "Heartiest birthday wishes to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nation continues to make progress under your dynamic leadership."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heartiest birthday wishes to our Hon’ble PM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji. The nation continues to make progress under your dynamic leadership.</p>
— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) <a href="https://twitter.com/manoharparrikar/status/1041500894641246208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya also extended his greetings through a tweet. "Happy birthday Prime Minister @narendramodi May the nation have the benefit of your strong and dynamic leadership for many years to come", he tweeted.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy birthday Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> May the nation have the benefit of your strong and dynamic leadership for many years to come.</p>
— Arvind Panagariya (@APanagariya) <a href="https://twitter.com/APanagariya/status/1041452624170627073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also wished Prime Minister Modi a long life and good health on his birthday. "Heartfelt greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I pray for your long life and good health," Adityanath tweeted.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">माननीय प्रधानमंत्री आदरणीय श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी को जन्मदिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं, आपकी दीर्घायु व स्वास्थ्य के लिये ईश्वर से प्रार्थना करता हूँ। <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBdayPMModi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBdayPMModi</a> <a href="https://t.co/b4kiMZaIIR">pic.twitter.com/b4kiMZaIIR</a></p>
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) <a href="https://twitter.com/myogiadityanath/status/1041503928154697728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Prime Minister Modi will celebrate his 68th birthday in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.</p>

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observes the day, September 17, as 'Sewa Diwas' across India with the party leaders organising various welfare programmes like cleanliness drives and blood donation camps. (ANI)</p>


Prime Minister Modi will celebrate his 68th birthday in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

Birthday greetings and wishes have started pouring in from early morning on Monday for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 68th birthday. President Ram Nath Kovind extended birthday greetings to the Prime Minister and wished for his long life. "Birthday greetings to our Prime Minister @narendramodi. Wish him a long life and many years of dedicated service to the people of the country," tweeted the President. Birthday greetings to our Prime Minister @narendramodi. Wish him a long life and many years of dedicated service to the people of the country #PresidentKovind — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 17, 2018 × Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also took to Twitter to wish Prime Minister Modi. "Warm birthday compliments to the dynamic and illustrious Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi ji. I wish him good health and a long life. May he continue to render for many more years his exceptional services to the nation and guide the country to its glory," Jaitley wrote. Warm birthday compliments to the dynamic & illustrious Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji. I wish him good health and a long life. May he continue to render for many more years his exceptional services to the nation and guide the country to its glory. @narendramodi — Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) September 17, 2018 × Lauding Prime Minister for his "dynamic leadership", Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar tweeted, "Heartiest birthday wishes to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nation continues to make progress under your dynamic leadership." Heartiest birthday wishes to our Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. The nation continues to make progress under your dynamic leadership. — Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) September 17, 2018 × Former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya also extended his greetings through a tweet. "Happy birthday Prime Minister @narendramodi May the nation have the benefit of your strong and dynamic leadership for many years to come", he tweeted. Happy birthday Prime Minister @narendramodi May the nation have the benefit of your strong and dynamic leadership for many years to come. — Arvind Panagariya (@APanagariya) September 16, 2018 × Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also wished Prime Minister Modi a long life and good health on his birthday. "Heartfelt greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I pray for your long life and good health," Adityanath tweeted. माननीय प्रधानमंत्री आदरणीय श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी को जन्मदिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं, आपकी दीर्घायु व स्वास्थ्य के लिये ईश्वर से प्रार्थना करता हूँ। #HappyBdayPMModi pic.twitter.com/b4kiMZaIIR — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) September 17, 2018 × Prime Minister Modi will celebrate his 68th birthday in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observes the day, September 17, as 'Sewa Diwas' across India with the party leaders organising various welfare programmes like cleanliness drives and blood donation camps. (ANI)

Wishes pour in for PM Modi on his 68th birthday

<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi began his roadshow here on Monday after taking blessings from 11 Hindu priests as he kick-started his party's campaign in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.</p>

<p>The 48-year-old Congress chief, whom the main opposition party in the state has been describing a 'Shiv bhakt' in banners and posters put up in Bhopal, arrived at the airport here earlier to a grand welcome.</p>

<p>Gandhi was received at the airport by Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and senior party leader and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia among others.</p>

<p>As he stepped out from the airport, several Congressmen holding the party flags chanted "Rahul Gandhi Zindabad".</p>

<p>Hindu priests, chanting mantras, blessed Gandhi as he reached the Lalgathi area, amid a heavy security cover, to launch the poll campaign in Madhya Pradesh where the BJP has been ruling for the last 15 years.</p>

<p>Before hopping on to a bus for the 15-km-long roadshow, Gandhi performed a 'puja'. Thousands of Congressmen thronged the road sides and jostled to catch a glimpse of their party chief, who set out in the bus along with senior party leaders.</p>

<p>Gandhi's roadshow, after passing through the main streets of the city, will conclude at the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's Dussehra Maidan, where he will interact with party cadres this evening.</p>

<p>"A T-shape ramp has been constructed near the stage from where Gandhi is going to take questions from party workers and interact with them," state Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LIVE: Congress President <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> addresses Party Workers in Bhopal <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CongressSankalpYatra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CongressSankalpYatra</a> <a href="https://t.co/V19CK4NSlX">https://t.co/V19CK4NSlX</a></p>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1041656708269895684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Before leaving in the evening, Gandhi will address a meeting of Congress workers, which is also open to public, he said.</p>

<p>Heavy security has been deployed in the areas from where Gandhi is going to pass. Besides the regular police force, an additional 1,500 policemen are manning the streets of Bhopal.</p>

<p>The Congress president recently returned from a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar. As part of the pilgrimage, devotees undertake an arduous journey to Mount Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology.&nbsp;</p>


The Congress has been describing the 48-year-old Congress President as a 'Shiv bhakt' in banners and posters put up in Bhopal.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi began his roadshow here on Monday after taking blessings from 11 Hindu priests as he kick-started his party's campaign in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. The 48-year-old Congress chief, whom the main opposition party in the state has been describing a 'Shiv bhakt' in banners and posters put up in Bhopal, arrived at the airport here earlier to a grand welcome. Gandhi was received at the airport by Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and senior party leader and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia among others. As he stepped out from the airport, several Congressmen holding the party flags chanted "Rahul Gandhi Zindabad". Hindu priests, chanting mantras, blessed Gandhi as he reached the Lalgathi area, amid a heavy security cover, to launch the poll campaign in Madhya Pradesh where the BJP has been ruling for the last 15 years. Before hopping on to a bus for the 15-km-long roadshow, Gandhi performed a 'puja'. Thousands of Congressmen thronged the road sides and jostled to catch a glimpse of their party chief, who set out in the bus along with senior party leaders. Gandhi's roadshow, after passing through the main streets of the city, will conclude at the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's Dussehra Maidan, where he will interact with party cadres this evening. "A T-shape ramp has been constructed near the stage from where Gandhi is going to take questions from party workers and interact with them," state Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said. LIVE: Congress President @RahulGandhi addresses Party Workers in Bhopal #CongressSankalpYatra https://t.co/V19CK4NSlX — Congress (@INCIndia) September 17, 2018 × Before leaving in the evening, Gandhi will address a meeting of Congress workers, which is also open to public, he said. Heavy security has been deployed in the areas from where Gandhi is going to pass. Besides the regular police force, an additional 1,500 policemen are manning the streets of Bhopal. The Congress president recently returned from a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar. As part of the pilgrimage, devotees undertake an arduous journey to Mount Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology.

With blessings of 11 Hindu priests, Rahul Gandhi kicks off Cong campaign in MP

<p>A massive fire that broke out at Kolkata Bagri market on Sunday, rages on. According to reports, the firefighters are struggling to douse the blaze, however, it has been stopped from spreading further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We've reached from ground to top floor and have succeeded in containing the fire but due to the presence of chemicals there, it's difficult to contain pockets of fire inside," Deputy fire director, Kolkata told media. &nbsp;</p>

<p>As many as 35 fire tenders and nearly 250 firemen are on the spot trying to put out the fire that has caused huge losses to traders here ahead of the Durga Puja festival.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We've reached from ground to top floor & have succeeded in containing fire but due to presence of chemical there, it's difficult to contain pockets of fire inside. Now 35 fire tenders & 250 firemen are here and operation is going on continuously: Deputy Fire Director <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kolkata?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kolkata</a> <a href="https://t.co/01RktPb1Ur">pic.twitter.com/01RktPb1Ur</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041519649245069313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The blaze, which erupted around 2.30 am on the ground floor of the multi-storey building in the congested Canning Street, continues to rage on, the Director General of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services, Jagmohan, said.</p>

<p>"We have been able to control the blaze from spreading to neighbouring buildings, but it's still raging. The huge amount of inflammable materials stacked inside is not helping our efforts," Jagmohan told PTI.</p>

<p>It will take 24 to 48 hours to control the blaze, he said, adding, efforts were on to bring hydraulic ladders inside the area to boost the firefighting measures.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">West Bengal: Latest visuals from Kolkata's Bagree market on Canning Street where a fire broke out yesterday morning. Firefighting operation is still underway as the fire continues to rage in some parts of the building. <a href="https://t.co/9i31fHoZ9p">pic.twitter.com/9i31fHoZ9p</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041533682157215744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"As the area is very congested, we are finding it difficult to work. We are using ladders and gas cutters to enter the building through window grills. A forensic team will visit the site soon to ascertain the cause behind the incident," a senior fire official said.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from PTI</em>)&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


It will take 24 to 48 hours to control the blaze, an official said, adding that efforts were on to bring hydraulic ladders inside the area to boost the firefighting measures.

A massive fire that broke out at Kolkata Bagri market on Sunday, rages on. According to reports, the firefighters are struggling to douse the blaze, however, it has been stopped from spreading further. "We've reached from ground to top floor and have succeeded in containing the fire but due to the presence of chemicals there, it's difficult to contain pockets of fire inside," Deputy fire director, Kolkata told media. As many as 35 fire tenders and nearly 250 firemen are on the spot trying to put out the fire that has caused huge losses to traders here ahead of the Durga Puja festival. We've reached from ground to top floor & have succeeded in containing fire but due to presence of chemical there, it's difficult to contain pockets of fire inside. Now 35 fire tenders & 250 firemen are here and operation is going on continuously: Deputy Fire Director #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/01RktPb1Ur — ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018 × The blaze, which erupted around 2.30 am on the ground floor of the multi-storey building in the congested Canning Street, continues to rage on, the Director General of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services, Jagmohan, said. "We have been able to control the blaze from spreading to neighbouring buildings, but it's still raging. The huge amount of inflammable materials stacked inside is not helping our efforts," Jagmohan told PTI. It will take 24 to 48 hours to control the blaze, he said, adding, efforts were on to bring hydraulic ladders inside the area to boost the firefighting measures. West Bengal: Latest visuals from Kolkata's Bagree market on Canning Street where a fire broke out yesterday morning. Firefighting operation is still underway as the fire continues to rage in some parts of the building. pic.twitter.com/9i31fHoZ9p — ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018 × "As the area is very congested, we are finding it difficult to work. We are using ladders and gas cutters to enter the building through window grills. A forensic team will visit the site soon to ascertain the cause behind the incident," a senior fire official said. (With inputs from PTI)

'It's difficult to contain pockets of fire inside,' deputy fire director on Kolkata's Bagri market blaze 

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates his 68th birthday today. The Prime Minister decided to spend his birth anniversary visiting his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi where he is scheduled to inaugurate development projects worth over Rs 500 crore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Born on September 17, 1950, Narendra Damodardas Modi was born to a Gujarati family in Vadanagar, Gujarat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the tender age of eight when he used to help his father with selling tea and later on had a tea-stall of his own to support his family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His humble background did not deter him from fanning his dreams, he continued working towards honing his political journey.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Warm wishes to our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji on his birthday. On your birthday we pledge to take your vision, your mission - your dream of a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewIndia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewIndia</a> forward. May your dynamism and indomitable will continue to inspire us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBdayPMModi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBdayPMModi</a> <a href="https://t.co/aEC867Hm6W">pic.twitter.com/aEC867Hm6W</a></p>
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VasundharaBJP/status/1041523244392767489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>PM Modi had a long-standing association with the RSS in Gujarat. His big political break came when he was assigned to the Bhartiya Janata Party in the year 1985. He went to hold numerous positions within the party until he was named the general secretary in 2001.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the wake of Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel's ill-health, Modi was handed over the reigns of the state in the year 2001; he became the 14th Chief Minister of Gujarat -- a journey that spanned over 14 years and came to an end in the year 2014 with him taking over the Prime Minister of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Under his leadership, the BJP won the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. It was the first time when a political party managed to form the government with a clear majority, sans alliance, since 1984.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wishing our beloved Prime Minister Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> on his birthday. May he lead a long and healthy life and continues to guide our country on the path of prosperity. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBdayPMModi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBdayPMModi</a> <a href="https://t.co/VsRV0QcZgT">pic.twitter.com/VsRV0QcZgT</a></p>
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/rsprasad/status/1041521985845710848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As the Chief Minister of Gujarat, his leadership was hailed for encouraging development and economic reforms in the state, however, the Modi-led government has been criticised for its weak agenda on poverty alleviation, farmers' welfare, health and education -- areas which PM Modi's leadership has categorically tried to address and reform in the past four years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Even if one child falls in a borewell, the entire country gets worried; we must generate more awareness about hundreds of children who are unable to survive due to lack of primary health care facilities," the Prime Minister once stated.</p>

<p>On his birthday today, the prime minister decided to spend the day launching development projects for the people of Varanasi and interacting with children&nbsp;and students.</p>

<p>The prime minister is known to have utmost love for children and is often seen alluding to his childhood days and anecdotes during his speeches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I too was naughty as a child & played pranks. The child within us has to be kept alive because that child keeps us alive," PM Modi noted during his address on the occasion of Teachers' Day in 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On his birthday, PM Modi will also meet with students at Kashi Vidyapeeth and interact&nbsp;with children at the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) campus.</p>


Born on September 17, 1950, Narendra Damodardas Modi was born to a Gujarati family in Vadanagar, Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates his 68th birthday today. The Prime Minister decided to spend his birth anniversary visiting his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi where he is scheduled to inaugurate development projects worth over Rs 500 crore. Born on September 17, 1950, Narendra Damodardas Modi was born to a Gujarati family in Vadanagar, Gujarat. PM Modi was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the tender age of eight when he used to help his father with selling tea and later on had a tea-stall of his own to support his family. His humble background did not deter him from fanning his dreams, he continued working towards honing his political journey. Warm wishes to our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on his birthday. On your birthday we pledge to take your vision, your mission - your dream of a #NewIndia forward. May your dynamism and indomitable will continue to inspire us. #HappyBdayPMModi pic.twitter.com/aEC867Hm6W — Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) September 17, 2018 × PM Modi had a long-standing association with the RSS in Gujarat. His big political break came when he was assigned to the Bhartiya Janata Party in the year 1985. He went to hold numerous positions within the party until he was named the general secretary in 2001. In the wake of Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel's ill-health, Modi was handed over the reigns of the state in the year 2001; he became the 14th Chief Minister of Gujarat -- a journey that spanned over 14 years and came to an end in the year 2014 with him taking over the Prime Minister of the country. Under his leadership, the BJP won the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. It was the first time when a political party managed to form the government with a clear majority, sans alliance, since 1984. Wishing our beloved Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi on his birthday. May he lead a long and healthy life and continues to guide our country on the path of prosperity. #HappyBdayPMModi pic.twitter.com/VsRV0QcZgT — Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) September 17, 2018 × As the Chief Minister of Gujarat, his leadership was hailed for encouraging development and economic reforms in the state, however, the Modi-led government has been criticised for its weak agenda on poverty alleviation, farmers' welfare, health and education -- areas which PM Modi's leadership has categorically tried to address and reform in the past four years. "Even if one child falls in a borewell, the entire country gets worried; we must generate more awareness about hundreds of children who are unable to survive due to lack of primary health care facilities," the Prime Minister once stated. On his birthday today, the prime minister decided to spend the day launching development projects for the people of Varanasi and interacting with children and students. The prime minister is known to have utmost love for children and is often seen alluding to his childhood days and anecdotes during his speeches. "I too was naughty as a child & played pranks. The child within us has to be kept alive because that child keeps us alive," PM Modi noted during his address on the occasion of Teachers' Day in 2014. On his birthday, PM Modi will also meet with students at Kashi Vidyapeeth and interact with children at the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) campus.

PM Modi to spend his 68th birthday today in Varanasi, will inaugurate projects and interact with kids 

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day trip to his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi on Monday, 17 September.</p>

<p>This is the first time the PM will be spending his birthday in Varanasi since the NDA came to power in May 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Born on September 17, 1950, Narendra Damodardas Modi was born to a Gujarati family in Vadanagar, Gujarat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the tender age of eight when he used to help his father with selling tea and later on had a tea-stall of his own to support his family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Happy Birthday to our PM, Narendra Modi ji! Wishing him good health and happiness always." Rahul wrote in his wish for the prime minister.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Birthday to our PM, Narendra Modi ji! Wishing him good health and happiness always.<a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a></p>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1041557321699282944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Vedpathis in Varanasi conducted a special '</strong><strong>hawan</strong><strong>' for PM's birthday</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Varanasi: Vedpathis conduct special 'hawan' and offer prayers on Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NarendraModi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NarendraModi</a>'s birthday. <a href="https://t.co/BnF2QWUsMJ">pic.twitter.com/BnF2QWUsMJ</a></p>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1041550977529208833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>On his birthday today, the prime minister decided to spend the day launching development projects for the people of Varanasi and interacting with children&nbsp;and students.</p>

<p>The prime minister is known to have utmost love for children and is often seen alluding to his childhood days and anecdotes during his speeches.&nbsp;</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day trip to his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi on Monday, 17 September. This is the first time the PM will be spending his birthday in Varanasi since the NDA came to power in May 2014. Born on September 17, 1950, Narendra Damodardas Modi was born to a Gujarati family in Vadanagar, Gujarat. PM Modi was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the tender age of eight when he used to help his father with selling tea and later on had a tea-stall of his own to support his family. "Happy Birthday to our PM, Narendra Modi ji! Wishing him good health and happiness always." Rahul wrote in his wish for the prime minister. Happy Birthday to our PM, Narendra Modi ji! Wishing him good health and happiness always.@narendramodi — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 17, 2018 × Vedpathis in Varanasi conducted a special 'hawan' for PM's birthday Varanasi: Vedpathis conduct special 'hawan' and offer prayers on Prime Minister #NarendraModi's birthday. pic.twitter.com/BnF2QWUsMJ — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 17, 2018 × On his birthday today, the prime minister decided to spend the day launching development projects for the people of Varanasi and interacting with children and students. The prime minister is known to have utmost love for children and is often seen alluding to his childhood days and anecdotes during his speeches.

PM turns 68: Rahul Gandhi wishes 'health and happiness' for Modi on his birthday

<p>India does not discriminate against tourists based on their sexual orientation and everyone is welcome to come to the country, Tourism Minister K J Alphons said on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The minister was responding to a question about the government’s view on promoting LGBT tourism in the country in the backdrop of the Supreme Court decriminalising homosexuality and Thailand promoting itself as a safe destination for the community.</p>

<p>“Our tourism is for all. We do not discriminate against sexual preferences of anyone. Everybody is welcome here, absolutely everyone. We believe in tourism for all,” Alphons told newspersons at the launch of the India Tourism Mart. The minister, however, had initially refused to answer the question, terming it as “irrelevant”.</p>

<p>Later, he addressed it. On September 6, the Supreme Court ruled that gay sex between consenting adults is not a crime saying sexual orientation is natural and people have no control over it. Thailand held the very first LGBT+ Travel Symposium in June to promote the country as a safe and inclusive destination for same-sex couples.</p>


The tourism minister, however, had initially refused to answer the question, terming it as "irrelevant".

India does not discriminate against tourists based on their sexual orientation and everyone is welcome to come to the country, Tourism Minister K J Alphons said on Monday. The minister was responding to a question about the government’s view on promoting LGBT tourism in the country in the backdrop of the Supreme Court decriminalising homosexuality and Thailand promoting itself as a safe destination for the community. “Our tourism is for all. We do not discriminate against sexual preferences of anyone. Everybody is welcome here, absolutely everyone. We believe in tourism for all,” Alphons told newspersons at the launch of the India Tourism Mart. The minister, however, had initially refused to answer the question, terming it as “irrelevant”. Later, he addressed it. On September 6, the Supreme Court ruled that gay sex between consenting adults is not a crime saying sexual orientation is natural and people have no control over it. Thailand held the very first LGBT+ Travel Symposium in June to promote the country as a safe and inclusive destination for same-sex couples.

India does not discriminate against tourists based on their sexual orientation: K J Alphons

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-mangkhut-leaves-trail-of-destruction-at-least-65-killed-in-philippines-166053">Typhoon Mangkhut leaves </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-mangkhut-leaves-trail-of-destruction-at-least-65-killed-in-philippines-166053">trail</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-mangkhut-leaves-trail-of-destruction-at-least-65-killed-in-philippines-166053"> of destruction at least 65 killed in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-mangkhut-leaves-trail-of-destruction-at-least-65-killed-in-philippines-166053">Philippines</a></p>

<p>As Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall in China late on Sunday, Hong Kong began the difficult task of cleaning up the city after the mega typhoon left a trail of destruction.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/another-record-high-for-fuel-prices-petrol-sells-at-rs-8206-in-the-national-capital-166038">Another record high for fuel prices, petrol sells at Rs 82.06 in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/another-record-high-for-fuel-prices-petrol-sells-at-rs-8206-in-the-national-capital-166038">national</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/another-record-high-for-fuel-prices-petrol-sells-at-rs-8206-in-the-national-capital-166038"> capital&nbsp</a></p>

<p>Fuel prices across India rose again on Monday with petrol selling at Rs 82.06 per litre and diesel at Rs 73.78 per litre in Delhi, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/stormy-daniels-lawyer-very-serious-about-running-for-presidency-in-2020-166036">Stormy Daniels' lawyer 'very serious' about running for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/stormy-daniels-lawyer-very-serious-about-running-for-presidency-in-2020-166036">presidency</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/stormy-daniels-lawyer-very-serious-about-running-for-presidency-in-2020-166036"> in 2020</a></p>

<p>Adult actress Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti on Sunday said that he is "very serious" about running for presidency in 2020.&nbsp</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-congresswoman-says-people-realising-they-dont-trust-trump-166045">Indian-origin Congresswoman says people </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-congresswoman-says-people-realising-they-dont-trust-trump-166045">realising</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-congresswoman-says-people-realising-they-dont-trust-trump-166045"> they don't trust Trump</a></p>

<p>Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Sunday said people are increasingly recognising that they do not trust US Presidenrt Donald Trump as how it could possibly be the case he knew nothing about what was going on in his campaign.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-dubs-robert-muellers-russia-probe-illegal-166051">Trump dubs Robert Mueller's Russia probe 'illegal'</a></p>

<p>United States President Donald Trump on Sunday criticised special counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation on alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, saying that the latter is continuing his "search of a crime."</p>


Typhoon Mangkhut leaves trail of destruction at least 65 killed in Philippines As Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall in China late on Sunday, Hong Kong began the difficult task of cleaning up the city after the mega typhoon left a trail of destruction. Another record high for fuel prices, petrol sells at Rs 82.06 in national capital Fuel prices across India rose again on Monday with petrol selling at Rs 82.06 per litre and diesel at Rs 73.78 per litre in Delhi, news agency ANI reported. Stormy Daniels' lawyer 'very serious' about running for presidency in 2020 Adult actress Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti on Sunday said that he is "very serious" about running for presidency in 2020. Indian-origin Congresswoman says people realising they don't trust Trump Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Sunday said people are increasingly recognising that they do not trust US Presidenrt Donald Trump as how it could possibly be the case he knew nothing about what was going on in his campaign. Trump dubs Robert Mueller's Russia probe 'illegal' United States President Donald Trump on Sunday criticised special counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation on alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, saying that the latter is continuing his "search of a crime."

News brief: Big stories of the day

<p>The RSS kicked off its three-day lecture&nbsp;series "Bhavishya ka Bharat" in New Delhi on Monday with a talk by its chief Mohan Bhagwat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A number of celebrities attended including the actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Annu Kapoor, Manisha Koirala and Bhagyasree but there was no sign of Congress President Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;There had been reports that Gandhi would be invited.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Delhi: Actors Manisha Koirala, Ravi Kishen,Annu Kapoor and others at RSS's 'Bhavishya ka Bharat' lecture series <a href="https://t.co/54M4aGLwMp">pic.twitter.com/54M4aGLwMp</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1041662831681327104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Bhagwat said the RSS did not force its ideology on anyone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that the organisation did not want "Sangh domination", and that there should be a cordial atmosphere for discussion in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Backing up his aforementioned claim, the RSS chief hailed the role played by the Congress in the freedom movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also spoke of BK Hegdewar who he said had been a part of the Congress before founding the RSS.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhagwat added that the country needs a leader who can bring about social change, and that "you don't have to die for the country every day but actually live for it".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhagwat said the RSS cannot be compared to any other organisation, and that the work it did was unique.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhagwat also said that the RSS was working towards nation building and for social welfare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhagwat's talk is being seen as the RSS reaching out to the country's&nbsp;different social groupings. The opposition however, which had been invited, gave the event a miss.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhagwat, in his talk, also added that the RSS was formed to unite Hindu society. He added that the organisation of society has been behind any major transformation.</p>

<p>He added however that the RSS' vision of Hindutva is not meant to oppose anybody.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


A number of celebrities attended the three-day lecture series in Delhi which was kicked off by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. There had been reports that Rahul Gandhi would be invited but there was no sign of him.

The RSS kicked off its three-day lecture series "Bhavishya ka Bharat" in New Delhi on Monday with a talk by its chief Mohan Bhagwat. A number of celebrities attended including the actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Annu Kapoor, Manisha Koirala and Bhagyasree but there was no sign of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. There had been reports that Gandhi would be invited. Delhi: Actors Manisha Koirala, Ravi Kishen,Annu Kapoor and others at RSS's 'Bhavishya ka Bharat' lecture series pic.twitter.com/54M4aGLwMp — ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018 × Bhagwat said the RSS did not force its ideology on anyone. He added that the organisation did not want "Sangh domination", and that there should be a cordial atmosphere for discussion in the country. Backing up his aforementioned claim, the RSS chief hailed the role played by the Congress in the freedom movement. He also spoke of BK Hegdewar who he said had been a part of the Congress before founding the RSS. Bhagwat added that the country needs a leader who can bring about social change, and that "you don't have to die for the country every day but actually live for it". Bhagwat said the RSS cannot be compared to any other organisation, and that the work it did was unique. Bhagwat also said that the RSS was working towards nation building and for social welfare. Bhagwat's talk is being seen as the RSS reaching out to the country's different social groupings. The opposition however, which had been invited, gave the event a miss. Bhagwat, in his talk, also added that the RSS was formed to unite Hindu society. He added that the organisation of society has been behind any major transformation. He added however that the RSS' vision of Hindutva is not meant to oppose anybody.

Beginning outreach, Mohan Bhagwat says RSS does not force its ideology on anyone

<p>The Assam Police on Sunday arrested two individuals found to be having links with suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist -Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was arrested from Kanpur on Thursday.</p>

<p>The two, identified as Saidul Alam and Omar Farooq, were arrested following an interrogation with Zaman. Another close aide of Zaman - Shahnawaz Alam - was arrested by the Assam Police on Saturday.</p>

<p>On September 13, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Kanpur police jointly arrested Zaman from Chakeri area of Kanpur, who was reportedly planning an attack during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.</p>

<p>"Qamar-uz-Zaman was arrested in Kanpur. Following an interrogation, three people have been arrested. The three- Shahnawaz Alam, Saidul Alam and Omar Farooq are also being interrogated. We have discovered that they have links to Qamar-uz-Zaman," said Deepak Kumar, Uttar Pradesh's Inspector General (Law and Order).</p>

<p>"There have been a few terror activities in Assam in the recent past. Some time ago, a person related to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen was arrested. Activities of Bangladesh-based Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen was also noted some time ago," he added.</p>

<p>According to the UP Police, Zaman, a 37-year-old resident of Assam, was in the city to identify targets for a terrorist incident. The police have also recovered a video from his mobile featuring images of a Kanpur temple.</p>

<p>Following the interrogation by the UP police, Zaman confessed to being an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen and accepted that he was in Kanpur for preparations of a terror attack.</p>


On September 13, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Kanpur police jointly arrested Zaman from Chakeri area of Kanpur, who was reportedly planning an attack during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

The Assam Police on Sunday arrested two individuals found to be having links with suspected Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist -Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was arrested from Kanpur on Thursday. The two, identified as Saidul Alam and Omar Farooq, were arrested following an interrogation with Zaman. Another close aide of Zaman - Shahnawaz Alam - was arrested by the Assam Police on Saturday. On September 13, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Kanpur police jointly arrested Zaman from Chakeri area of Kanpur, who was reportedly planning an attack during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. "Qamar-uz-Zaman was arrested in Kanpur. Following an interrogation, three people have been arrested. The three- Shahnawaz Alam, Saidul Alam and Omar Farooq are also being interrogated. We have discovered that they have links to Qamar-uz-Zaman," said Deepak Kumar, Uttar Pradesh's Inspector General (Law and Order). "There have been a few terror activities in Assam in the recent past. Some time ago, a person related to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen was arrested. Activities of Bangladesh-based Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen was also noted some time ago," he added. According to the UP Police, Zaman, a 37-year-old resident of Assam, was in the city to identify targets for a terrorist incident. The police have also recovered a video from his mobile featuring images of a Kanpur temple. Following the interrogation by the UP police, Zaman confessed to being an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen and accepted that he was in Kanpur for preparations of a terror attack.

Assam: Two with links to arrested suspected Hizbul terrorist held

india-news

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news

india news