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Five people were killed In Uttarakhand's Almora district after a bus fell into a 50-feet deep gorge on Thursday.

According to a report, twenty-one others were also injured. There were about thirty people in the bus.

The accident took place on Bhatrojkhan-Bhikiyasan route near Mohanri.&nbsp

"A Garhwal Motor Owners Union (GMOU) bus plying between Ramnagar to Gairsan fell off the road into a 50-feet deep gorge near Bhatrojkhan Mohanri," a police official was quoted as saying by ANI.

Senior officials have reached the spot and injured have been admitted to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand has been hit by heavy rain. A rescue team was rushed to the Chamoli district after a cloudburst caused flash floods in the area.

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Chamoli: Flash flood due to cloudburst in Ghat area last night. Rescue teams rushed to the spot. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uttarakhand?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Uttarakhand</a> <a href="https://t.co/ad9Zp2MMQt">pic.twitter.com/ad9Zp2MMQt</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1037899665432182785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The torrential rains have washed away the only bridge built on a river forcing people to cross the river using a rope-- a temporary arrange putting lives of locals at risk.

Chamoli District Magistrate Swati Bhadoria said the village administration has been directed to build a bridge at the earliest.

The accident took place on Bhatrojkhan-Bhikiyasan route near Mohanri.

Five people were killed In Uttarakhand's Almora district after a bus fell into a 50-feet deep gorge on Thursday. According to a report, twenty-one others were also injured. There were about thirty people in the bus. The accident took place on Bhatrojkhan-Bhikiyasan route near Mohanri. "A Garhwal Motor Owners Union (GMOU) bus plying between Ramnagar to Gairsan fell off the road into a 50-feet deep gorge near Bhatrojkhan Mohanri," a police official was quoted as saying by ANI. Senior officials have reached the spot and injured have been admitted to hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand has been hit by heavy rain. A rescue team was rushed to the Chamoli district after a cloudburst caused flash floods in the area. Chamoli: Flash flood due to cloudburst in Ghat area last night. Rescue teams rushed to the spot. #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/ad9Zp2MMQt — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 × The torrential rains have washed away the only bridge built on a river forcing people to cross the river using a rope-- a temporary arrange putting lives of locals at risk. Chamoli District Magistrate Swati Bhadoria said the village administration has been directed to build a bridge at the earliest.

5 Dead, 21 Injured After Bus Falls Off A Mountain In Uttarakhand

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has called for a crucial meeting after the Telangana cabinet decided to dissolve the state Assembly for early polls on Thursday, news agency ANI reported. &nbsp;

According to reports, the meeting has been called to consider all legal and logistical aspects to deliberate on the next course of action.&nbsp;

The meeting will be headed by top ECI officials and will set the ground for the legal and logistical framework required to hold early polls in the state this year. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Telangana cabinet on Thursday decided to <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/telangana-cabinet-decides-to-dissolve-assembly-cm-kc-rao-meets-governor-163959">dissolve the assembly</a> ahead of state elections due next year. The ruling TRS reportedly sees political benefit in delinking the two polls.

Governor ESL Narasimhan approved the dissolution as recommended by CM KC Rao and has asked CM Rao to continue as caretaker Telangana CM till the new government is formed.

CM Rao held a press conference and announced that his party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will contest the elections alone. The TRS will kickstart its election campaign today.&nbsp;

Speculation about the dissolution and early polls in Telangana were rife for over a fortnight now.

According to reports, the meeting has been called to consider all legal and logistical aspects to deliberate on the next course of action.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has called for a crucial meeting after the Telangana cabinet decided to dissolve the state Assembly for early polls on Thursday, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the meeting has been called to consider all legal and logistical aspects to deliberate on the next course of action. The meeting will be headed by top ECI officials and will set the ground for the legal and logistical framework required to hold early polls in the state this year. Telangana cabinet on Thursday decided to dissolve the assembly ahead of state elections due next year. The ruling TRS reportedly sees political benefit in delinking the two polls. Governor ESL Narasimhan approved the dissolution as recommended by CM KC Rao and has asked CM Rao to continue as caretaker Telangana CM till the new government is formed. CM Rao held a press conference and announced that his party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will contest the elections alone. The TRS will kickstart its election campaign today. Speculation about the dissolution and early polls in Telangana were rife for over a fortnight now.

Telangana early polls: Election Commission calls for meeting, TRS to kick-off election campaign today

India and the US on Thursday asked Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terror attacks and expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of cross-border terror strikes, including those on Mumbai, Pathankot and Uri.

The stern warning to Pakistan came after India and the US held their first 2+2 dialogue here during which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held wide-ranging deliberations with US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis.

"The ministers announced their intent to increase information-sharing efforts on known or suspected terrorists and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2396 on returning foreign terrorist fighters," a joint statement issued after the talks said.

"The ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region, and in this context, they called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries," it said.

Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attack, they also called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot (2016), Uri (2016), and other cross-border terrorist attacks, the statement said.

Addressing a joint press conference, Swaraj said the Indo-US counter-terrorism cooperation has acquired a new "qualitative edge and purpose".

"We welcomed the recent designations of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists by the United States. They underscore the international community's scrutiny over the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which has affected India and the United States alike.

"In the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, we recognised the importance of justice and retribution for the masterminds behind this terrorist attack," she said.

Sitharaman, in her remarks, said India and the US were committed to working together to combat the "persistent threat of terrorism" and other shared security challenges.

Mattis said he and Pompeo, during the talks, gave insights on a range of issues from the North Korea sanction enforcement to counter-terror cooperation, recognising that both the nations have endured the effects of senseless terrorist strikes like the one on Mumbai which killed innocents from more than a dozen countries.

"We remember those lives lost as we approach the 10th anniversary of attacks this November," he said.

Pompeo said the two sides committed to deepening their "already-strong" counter-terror cooperation.

The ministers committed to enhancing their ongoing cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and reaffirmed their support for a Comprehensive Convention on International

Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation and reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism, the joint statement said.

"The ministers welcomed the launch of a bilateral dialogue on the designation of terrorists in 2017, which is strengthening cooperation and action against terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, D-Company, and their affiliates," it said.

The two sides further reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing and future cooperation to ensure a stable cyberspace environment and to prevent cyber attacks.

Swaraj said India recognises the value of the Terrorists Designations Dialogue established last year as well as other mechanisms to promote cooperation in counter-terrorism and homeland security.

"We also discussed the situation in South Asia in some detail. India supports President Trump's South Asia Policy. His call for Pakistan to stop its policy of supporting cross-border terrorism finds resonance with us," she said. 
Swaraj said the efforts by India and the US in promoting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan government-controlled reconciliation process were also discussed.&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the two sides committed to deepening their 'already-strong' counter-terror cooperation.

India and the US on Thursday asked Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terror attacks and expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of cross-border terror strikes, including those on Mumbai, Pathankot and Uri. The stern warning to Pakistan came after India and the US held their first 2+2 dialogue here during which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held wide-ranging deliberations with US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis. "The ministers announced their intent to increase information-sharing efforts on known or suspected terrorists and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2396 on returning foreign terrorist fighters," a joint statement issued after the talks said. "The ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region, and in this context, they called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries," it said. Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attack, they also called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot (2016), Uri (2016), and other cross-border terrorist attacks, the statement said. Addressing a joint press conference, Swaraj said the Indo-US counter-terrorism cooperation has acquired a new "qualitative edge and purpose". "We welcomed the recent designations of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists by the United States. They underscore the international community's scrutiny over the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which has affected India and the United States alike. "In the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, we recognised the importance of justice and retribution for the masterminds behind this terrorist attack," she said. Sitharaman, in her remarks, said India and the US were committed to working together to combat the "persistent threat of terrorism" and other shared security challenges. Mattis said he and Pompeo, during the talks, gave insights on a range of issues from the North Korea sanction enforcement to counter-terror cooperation, recognising that both the nations have endured the effects of senseless terrorist strikes like the one on Mumbai which killed innocents from more than a dozen countries. "We remember those lives lost as we approach the 10th anniversary of attacks this November," he said. Pompeo said the two sides committed to deepening their "already-strong" counter-terror cooperation. The ministers committed to enhancing their ongoing cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and reaffirmed their support for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation and reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism, the joint statement said. "The ministers welcomed the launch of a bilateral dialogue on the designation of terrorists in 2017, which is strengthening cooperation and action against terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, D-Company, and their affiliates," it said. The two sides further reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing and future cooperation to ensure a stable cyberspace environment and to prevent cyber attacks. Swaraj said India recognises the value of the Terrorists Designations Dialogue established last year as well as other mechanisms to promote cooperation in counter-terrorism and homeland security. "We also discussed the situation in South Asia in some detail. India supports President Trump's South Asia Policy. His call for Pakistan to stop its policy of supporting cross-border terrorism finds resonance with us," she said. Swaraj said the efforts by India and the US in promoting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan government-controlled reconciliation process were also discussed.

Bring perpetrators of 26/11, cross-border terror strikes to justice: India, US warn Pakistan

Two pilots have been taken off duty after an Air India aircraft carrying more than 136 people&nbsp;landed on a wrong runway at Velana international airport in Male,&nbsp;Maldives.

The plane landed at an "uncommissioned runway" and that all passengers are safe, said an Air India spokesperson.

A senior DGCA official said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been informed since it is a serious incident, reported news agency PTI.

The A320 neo plane was operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Male.

There were 136 passengers and crew on board.&nbsp;Citing a preliminary report, the spokesperson said two tyres of the aircraft were deflated.

"It could be because the pilots applied brakes on realising that they landed on a wrong runway. The local authorities are conducting a probe," he added.

The senior official at aviation regulator DGCA said both pilots of the plane have been "off rostered".

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> This being a serious incident, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been informed. Both the pilots have been off rostered: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) <a href="https://t.co/z36oMW4OUQ">https://t.co/z36oMW4OUQ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1038060633609125889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The plane landed at an "uncommissioned runway" and that all passengers are safe, said an Air India spokesperson

Two pilots have been taken off duty after an Air India aircraft carrying more than 136 people landed on a wrong runway at Velana international airport in Male, Maldives. The plane landed at an "uncommissioned runway" and that all passengers are safe, said an Air India spokesperson. A senior DGCA official said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been informed since it is a serious incident, reported news agency PTI. The A320 neo plane was operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Male. There were 136 passengers and crew on board. Citing a preliminary report, the spokesperson said two tyres of the aircraft were deflated. "It could be because the pilots applied brakes on realising that they landed on a wrong runway. The local authorities are conducting a probe," he added. The senior official at aviation regulator DGCA said both pilots of the plane have been "off rostered". #UPDATE This being a serious incident, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been informed. Both the pilots have been off rostered: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) https://t.co/z36oMW4OUQ — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 ×

Air India plane lands on under-construction runway at Male airport; pilots taken off duty

<a href="wionews.com/world/us-has-seen-evidence-of-syria-preparing-chemical-weapons-in-idlib-envoy-164086">US</a><a href="wionews.com/world/us-has-seen-evidence-of-syria-preparing-chemical-weapons-in-idlib-envoy-164086"> has seen evidence of Syria preparing chemical weapons in Idlib: Envoy</a>

There is "lots of evidence" that chemical weapons are being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib in northwest Syria, the new US adviser for Syria said on Thursday, as he warned of the risks of an offensive on the country's last big rebel enclave.

<a href="wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-dgp-sp-vaid-removed-164085">SP Vaid removed as Jammu and Kashmir police chief</a>

Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid was unceremoniously removed late Thursday and shunted as the Transport Commissioner and Director General of Prison Dilbagh Singh was directed to look after the force until a regular appointment was made.

<a href="wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-wont-become-part-of-war-of-any-other-country-pm-imran-khan-164094">Pakistan won't become part of any other country's war: PM Imran Khan</a>

Pakistan will never fight any other country's war in future, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Thursday, asserting that he was against the war from the very beginning and his government's foreign policy will be in the best interest of the nation.

<a href="wionews.com/india-news/iran-to-handover-chabahar-port-to-indian-co-for-operation-in-a-month-iranian-minister-164087">Iran to handover Chabahar port to </a><a href="wionews.com/india-news/iran-to-handover-chabahar-port-to-indian-co-for-operation-in-a-month-iranian-minister-164087">Indian</a><a href="wionews.com/india-news/iran-to-handover-chabahar-port-to-indian-co-for-operation-in-a-month-iranian-minister-164087"> firm for operation in a month: Iranian Minister</a>

Iran will handover the strategic Chabahar port to Indian company within a month for operation as per an interim pact, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said Thursday.

<a href="wionews.com/south-asia/us-calls-for-fair-elections-in-maldives-warns-of-sanctions-164088">US calls for fair elections in Maldives, warns of sanctions</a>

The United States on Wednesday expressed its concerns over the "continued democratic backsliding" in the Maldives and warned the island nation it would take "appropriate measures" against those undermining fair electoral process and democracy.

&nbsp

US has seen evidence of Syria preparing chemical weapons in Idlib: Envoy There is "lots of evidence" that chemical weapons are being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib in northwest Syria, the new US adviser for Syria said on Thursday, as he warned of the risks of an offensive on the country's last big rebel enclave. SP Vaid removed as Jammu and Kashmir police chief Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid was unceremoniously removed late Thursday and shunted as the Transport Commissioner and Director General of Prison Dilbagh Singh was directed to look after the force until a regular appointment was made. Pakistan won't become part of any other country's war: PM Imran Khan Pakistan will never fight any other country's war in future, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Thursday, asserting that he was against the war from the very beginning and his government's foreign policy will be in the best interest of the nation. Iran to handover Chabahar port to Indian firm for operation in a month: Iranian Minister Iran will handover the strategic Chabahar port to Indian company within a month for operation as per an interim pact, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said Thursday. US calls for fair elections in Maldives, warns of sanctions The United States on Wednesday expressed its concerns over the "continued democratic backsliding" in the Maldives and warned the island nation it would take "appropriate measures" against those undermining fair electoral process and democracy.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Congress leader Anand Sharma blasted&nbsp;Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday for calling Congress president Rahul Gandhi `buffoon`.

Telangana Chief Minister, who is also known as KCR, is a thankless person, Sharma said.

"The choice of the words is&nbsp;distasteful. KCR is also an ungrateful person. Instead of thanking the Congress leadership, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and chairperson of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Sonia Gandhi, who withstood all pressure to create Telangana, he has behaved in a manner which is unbecoming of a chief minister. It is his wishful thinking if he wishes that they are going to win, the voters know that he has presided over a government which has been a miserable failure. He has plundered the state`s resources and betrayed them," he was quoted as saying according to news agency ANI.

Nationalist Congress Party of India (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar said KCR`s statement reflected his "squalid thinking".

"It is very unfortunate that these harsh statements are coming from a person who holds a very responsible position. Such grotty statements clearly show that KCR has a very squalid thinking," he added.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja also disapproved of the language, which KCR used for the Congress party president.

"In public life, one should not use this language. Rahul Gandhi is the president of the Indian National Congress, which is the oldest party in the country. This is not the language one should use. Earlier, BJP was calling him Pappu and now they (TRS) are calling him a buffoon, what kind of language is this?" Raja said.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi`s gesture in the Parliament towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, KCR on Thursday described the Nehru-Gandhi scion as "the biggest buffoon in the country", while addressing a press conference after the dissolution of the Telangana Assembly.&nbsp;

Congress party leader Anand Sharma condemned Rao`s statement and said that the Telangana Chief Minister, who is also known as KCR, is a thankless person.

Congress leader Anand Sharma blasted Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday for calling Congress president Rahul Gandhi `buffoon`. Telangana Chief Minister, who is also known as KCR, is a thankless person, Sharma said. "The choice of the words is distasteful. KCR is also an ungrateful person. Instead of thanking the Congress leadership, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and chairperson of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Sonia Gandhi, who withstood all pressure to create Telangana, he has behaved in a manner which is unbecoming of a chief minister. It is his wishful thinking if he wishes that they are going to win, the voters know that he has presided over a government which has been a miserable failure. He has plundered the state`s resources and betrayed them," he was quoted as saying according to news agency ANI. Nationalist Congress Party of India (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar said KCR`s statement reflected his "squalid thinking". "It is very unfortunate that these harsh statements are coming from a person who holds a very responsible position. Such grotty statements clearly show that KCR has a very squalid thinking," he added. Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja also disapproved of the language, which KCR used for the Congress party president. "In public life, one should not use this language. Rahul Gandhi is the president of the Indian National Congress, which is the oldest party in the country. This is not the language one should use. Earlier, BJP was calling him Pappu and now they (TRS) are calling him a buffoon, what kind of language is this?" Raja said. Reacting to Rahul Gandhi`s gesture in the Parliament towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, KCR on Thursday described the Nehru-Gandhi scion as "the biggest buffoon in the country", while addressing a press conference after the dissolution of the Telangana Assembly.

Telangana CM KCR's choice of the words distasteful: Anand Sharma

Amid widespread anger, including calls of 'Bharat bandh', against the amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Thursday said all political parties should get together to discuss the issue.&nbsp;

A Bharat bandh was called Thursday by some anti-reservation bodies against the amendment to the Act last month.&nbsp;

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha had, on August 6 and August 9 respectively, passed the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill to overturn a Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under this Act.

Speaking at a programme of Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP) traders cell meet, Mahajan said the issue must not be politicised because all parties had voted in favour of maintaining the basic structure of the Act.

"The Parliament's work is to enact laws but all MPs should think on this subject (amendments made in the SC/ST Act). It is the responsibility of all the people in society to create a proper environment for this discussion," she said.

Explaining her point, the Lok Sabha Speaker said, "Suppose if I give a big chocolate to my son and I later realise that it is not good for him to have so much of it at one go, one will try to take back the chocolate from the child. But you cannot take it as he will get angry and start crying".&nbsp;

"But some sensible person can make the child understand and take back the chocolate from him," she said.

"If anybody immediately tries to snatch anything given to a person, there may be an explosion," Mahajan claimed.

She stressed on the need for discussions regarding relevant legal changes.&nbsp;

"The prevailing social situation is not correct. If injustice was done earlier with a section (of society), it does not mean that injustice should be done with other sections to settle score," she said.

The BJP leader said justice must be done with everybody and this could be achieved only by explaining it to people.

"Everyone should also feel that there should be no atrocity against the deprived castes," the Lok Sabha Speaker added. 
&nbsp;

A Bharat bandh was called Thursday by some anti-reservation bodies against the amendment to the Act last month.

Amid widespread anger, including calls of 'Bharat bandh', against the amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Thursday said all political parties should get together to discuss the issue. A Bharat bandh was called Thursday by some anti-reservation bodies against the amendment to the Act last month. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha had, on August 6 and August 9 respectively, passed the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill to overturn a Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under this Act. Speaking at a programme of Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP) traders cell meet, Mahajan said the issue must not be politicised because all parties had voted in favour of maintaining the basic structure of the Act. "The Parliament's work is to enact laws but all MPs should think on this subject (amendments made in the SC/ST Act). It is the responsibility of all the people in society to create a proper environment for this discussion," she said. Explaining her point, the Lok Sabha Speaker said, "Suppose if I give a big chocolate to my son and I later realise that it is not good for him to have so much of it at one go, one will try to take back the chocolate from the child. But you cannot take it as he will get angry and start crying". "But some sensible person can make the child understand and take back the chocolate from him," she said. "If anybody immediately tries to snatch anything given to a person, there may be an explosion," Mahajan claimed. She stressed on the need for discussions regarding relevant legal changes. "The prevailing social situation is not correct. If injustice was done earlier with a section (of society), it does not mean that injustice should be done with other sections to settle score," she said. The BJP leader said justice must be done with everybody and this could be achieved only by explaining it to people. "Everyone should also feel that there should be no atrocity against the deprived castes," the Lok Sabha Speaker added.

Parties should come together to discuss SC/ST Act: Sumitra Mahajan

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that India will have an ethanol industry worth Rs 1 lakh crore within the next five to seven years.

Addressing the 58th Annual Convention held by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Gadkari said, "The Government of India has formulated a policy to use substitute, cost-effective, and pollution free fuels. We want to promote usage of substitute fuels and we will have an ethanol industry worth Rs 1 lakh crore within the next five to seven years."

Terming pollution "India's biggest problem", Gadkari said that Ethanol-based fuel will help tackle pollution.

"Diesel buses in Mumbai run at a cost of Rs 110 per kilometre, Air Conditioned ethanol buses at Rs 78 per kilometre in Nagpur, electric buses at Rs 50 per kilometre, electric minibuses at Rs 27 per kilometre. Using substitute fuels will help bring down the cost of ticket as well as reduce pollution. It is important for our economy to promote indigenous fuels," added Gadkari.

Earlier today, Gadkari announced an exemption of commercial vehicles, buses, taxis and all vehicles running on alternative fuel from the permit requirements. As long-term focus areas for the government, he listed three areas - reduction of imports, increase of exports and reduction of pollution.&nbsp;

Terming pollution 'India's biggest problem', Gadkari said that Ethanol-based fuel will help tackle pollution.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that India will have an ethanol industry worth Rs 1 lakh crore within the next five to seven years. Addressing the 58th Annual Convention held by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Gadkari said, "The Government of India has formulated a policy to use substitute, cost-effective, and pollution free fuels. We want to promote usage of substitute fuels and we will have an ethanol industry worth Rs 1 lakh crore within the next five to seven years." Terming pollution "India's biggest problem", Gadkari said that Ethanol-based fuel will help tackle pollution. "Diesel buses in Mumbai run at a cost of Rs 110 per kilometre, Air Conditioned ethanol buses at Rs 78 per kilometre in Nagpur, electric buses at Rs 50 per kilometre, electric minibuses at Rs 27 per kilometre. Using substitute fuels will help bring down the cost of ticket as well as reduce pollution. It is important for our economy to promote indigenous fuels," added Gadkari. Earlier today, Gadkari announced an exemption of commercial vehicles, buses, taxis and all vehicles running on alternative fuel from the permit requirements. As long-term focus areas for the government, he listed three areas - reduction of imports, increase of exports and reduction of pollution.

Will have ethanol industry worth 1 lakh crore in 5-7 years: Nitin Gadkari

Iran will handover the strategic Chabahar port to Indian company within a month for operation as per an interim pact, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said Thursday.

Akhoundi is in India to participate in the Mobility Summit by Niti Aaayog on the invitation of India government.

"Now, we are ready just to hand over the port (Chabahar) to the Indian company just to operate this in an interim agreement that already we had with Indian part for one and a half year," Akhoundi said.

The Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar.

Akhoundi after a meeting with his Indian counterpart Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said: "We have already moved one step forward...We should introduce a banking channel to India, which we already did it and fortunately has been formally accepted by the Indian side".

He said India has also introduced a banking channel, which has been approved by Iran's Central Bank.

"Indian side had investment in Chabahar port and we are moving towards utilisation of the Chabahar port," Akhoundi said, adding that the handing over of the port should be done "during one month. We have done everything".

The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated in December 2017 by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan.

The Chabahar port is being considered as a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries, besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi. 
 
"The routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air," Rouhani had said at the inauguration ceremony.

Under the agreement signed between India and Iran earlier, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with a capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

On US sanctions impacting oil trade, the visiting minister hoped to find a way out to continue selling crude oil to India.

"Of course, it will impact the trade between the two countries," Akhoundi said, adding the sanctions would not halt oil sale to India.

"At the end of the day, both sides will find out some way out to carry on their relationship as we hear from the Indian part that they are already committed to buy the crude oil and we are also committed to continue our trade relationship with India and buy rice and other food material and also industrial material from the Indian side".

Iran is India's third biggest supplier of crude oil but US sanctions will from November 3 block payment gateways.

"There has been some impact... I will just not say something that is not realistic ...Certainly, the US has made the trade between the two sides uneasy but I would like to emphasise that this is not something that the US can halt and stop this relationship between two sides," Akhoundi added.

He said Iran welcomes Indian firms developing the giant Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf nation. "Indian side is very keen to invest there. We are still to receive the project proposal," he said.

On his meeting with Gadkari, the Iranian Minister said: "We reviewed the formal statement which was released by Prime Minister Modi during the visit of Mr Ruhani to India. That statement is very very strong which shows that ... We have very deep relationship".

He said the thing that was emphasised in the meeting was that India is very committed to all the agreements that India has signed.&nbsp;

Under the agreement signed between India and Iran earlier, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with a capital investment of $85.21 million.

Iran will handover the strategic Chabahar port to Indian company within a month for operation as per an interim pact, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said Thursday. Akhoundi is in India to participate in the Mobility Summit by Niti Aaayog on the invitation of India government. "Now, we are ready just to hand over the port (Chabahar) to the Indian company just to operate this in an interim agreement that already we had with Indian part for one and a half year," Akhoundi said. The Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar. Akhoundi after a meeting with his Indian counterpart Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said: "We have already moved one step forward...We should introduce a banking channel to India, which we already did it and fortunately has been formally accepted by the Indian side". He said India has also introduced a banking channel, which has been approved by Iran's Central Bank. "Indian side had investment in Chabahar port and we are moving towards utilisation of the Chabahar port," Akhoundi said, adding that the handing over of the port should be done "during one month. We have done everything". The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated in December 2017 by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port is being considered as a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries, besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi. "The routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air," Rouhani had said at the inauguration ceremony. Under the agreement signed between India and Iran earlier, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with a capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a 10-year lease. On US sanctions impacting oil trade, the visiting minister hoped to find a way out to continue selling crude oil to India. "Of course, it will impact the trade between the two countries," Akhoundi said, adding the sanctions would not halt oil sale to India. "At the end of the day, both sides will find out some way out to carry on their relationship as we hear from the Indian part that they are already committed to buy the crude oil and we are also committed to continue our trade relationship with India and buy rice and other food material and also industrial material from the Indian side". Iran is India's third biggest supplier of crude oil but US sanctions will from November 3 block payment gateways. "There has been some impact... I will just not say something that is not realistic ...Certainly, the US has made the trade between the two sides uneasy but I would like to emphasise that this is not something that the US can halt and stop this relationship between two sides," Akhoundi added. He said Iran welcomes Indian firms developing the giant Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf nation. "Indian side is very keen to invest there. We are still to receive the project proposal," he said. On his meeting with Gadkari, the Iranian Minister said: "We reviewed the formal statement which was released by Prime Minister Modi during the visit of Mr Ruhani to India. That statement is very very strong which shows that ... We have very deep relationship". He said the thing that was emphasised in the meeting was that India is very committed to all the agreements that India has signed.

Iran to handover Chabahar port to Indian firm for operation in a month: Iranian Minister

The Delhi High Court today sought the CBI's response on a bail plea of a convict serving life sentence in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

The plea by former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar came up before a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel, which listed it for hearing on September 11.

Khokhar has sought the relief saying he should be granted regular bail till the pendency of appeals filed against the trial court's verdict in the riots case.

Advocate Tarannum Cheema, appearing for the CBI, said the appeals were listed for hearing on September 11 and the agency will file its response on the bail plea.

Khokhar has been lodged in Tihar Jail here since his conviction by the trial court in the case in May 2013.

Khokhar, a retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in a case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984, after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

They had challenged their conviction and the award of life sentence by the trial court in May 2013.

The trial court had acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in the case but awarded life term to Khokhar, Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal and a three-year jail term to two others -- former MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar.

The convicts have filed their appeals before the high court challenging the trial court's verdict.&nbsp

The CBI has also filed an appeal, alleging they were engaged in "a planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing". It also appealed against the acquittal of Kumar.

The high court had on March 29 last year issued show cause notices to 11 accused including Khokhar and Yadav in five 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases which were earlier closed.

The accused, who were acquitted of the charges, were asked why should the court not order reinvestigation and retrial against them as they faced allegations of "horrifying crimes against humanity".

The plea by former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar came up before a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel, which listed it for hearing on September 11

The Delhi High Court today sought the CBI's response on a bail plea of a convict serving life sentence in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The plea by former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar came up before a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel, which listed it for hearing on September 11. Khokhar has sought the relief saying he should be granted regular bail till the pendency of appeals filed against the trial court's verdict in the riots case. Advocate Tarannum Cheema, appearing for the CBI, said the appeals were listed for hearing on September 11 and the agency will file its response on the bail plea. Khokhar has been lodged in Tihar Jail here since his conviction by the trial court in the case in May 2013. Khokhar, a retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in a case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984, after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. They had challenged their conviction and the award of life sentence by the trial court in May 2013. The trial court had acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in the case but awarded life term to Khokhar, Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal and a three-year jail term to two others -- former MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar. The convicts have filed their appeals before the high court challenging the trial court's verdict. The CBI has also filed an appeal, alleging they were engaged in "a planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing". It also appealed against the acquittal of Kumar. The high court had on March 29 last year issued show cause notices to 11 accused including Khokhar and Yadav in five 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases which were earlier closed. The accused, who were acquitted of the charges, were asked why should the court not order reinvestigation and retrial against them as they faced allegations of "horrifying crimes against humanity".

High Court seeks CBI reply on 1984 anti-Sikh riots case convict's bail plea

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-government-has-right-to-take-control-of-national-territory-says-putin-in-tehran-164286">Syrian</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-government-has-right-to-take-control-of-national-territory-says-putin-in-tehran-164286"> government has right to take control of national territory, says Putin in Tehran</a>

Russian president Vladimir Putin said today that Syria has every right to take back all its terrority even as Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a "ceasefire" in the rebel bastion of Idlib.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-slightly-friendly-towards-rohingyas-bsf-dg-sharma--164260">West Bengal slightly friendly towards Rohingyas: BSF DG Sharma</a>

As India grapples with Rohingya influx in its eastern border, &nbspBSF Director General (DG) K K Sharma said the West Bengal government is &nbsp"slightly friendly" to the Rohingyas and has set up special camps for about 70 such families.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-permanently-bans-american-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones-164276">Twitter permanently bans American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones</a>

Twitter today permanently banned radio talk show host Alex Jones who is known as "America's leading conspiracy theorist". &nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2-suspected-isis-terrorist-arrested-near-red-fort-in-delhi-164275">2 suspected ISIS terrorists arrested in Delhi: Police</a>

Delhi Police's special cell on Friday arrested two suspected terrorists linked to a Jammu and Kashmir-based affiliate of ISIS, reported news agency ANI.&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-china-launches-satellite-to-improve-ocean-remote-sensing-capability-164280">Watch: China launches </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-china-launches-satellite-to-improve-ocean-remote-sensing-capability-164280">satellite</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-china-launches-satellite-to-improve-ocean-remote-sensing-capability-164280"> to improve ocean remote sensing capability</a>

China sent a new marine satellite into orbit on Friday to help improve understanding of maritime waters and climate change.

Syrian government has right to take control of national territory, says Putin in Tehran Russian president Vladimir Putin said today that Syria has every right to take back all its terrority even as Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a "ceasefire" in the rebel bastion of Idlib. West Bengal slightly friendly towards Rohingyas: BSF DG Sharma As India grapples with Rohingya influx in its eastern border, &nbspBSF Director General (DG) K K Sharma said the West Bengal government is "slightly friendly" to the Rohingyas and has set up special camps for about 70 such families. Twitter permanently bans American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones Twitter today permanently banned radio talk show host Alex Jones who is known as "America's leading conspiracy theorist". 2 suspected ISIS terrorists arrested in Delhi: Police Delhi Police's special cell on Friday arrested two suspected terrorists linked to a Jammu and Kashmir-based affiliate of ISIS, reported news agency ANI. Watch: China launches satellite to improve ocean remote sensing capability China sent a new marine satellite into orbit on Friday to help improve understanding of maritime waters and climate change.

September 6, 2018 marked the verdict of a hearing at the Supreme Court of India, launched to consider whether to decriminalise Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. It&nbsp;was decriminalised in July 2009 as well, but the law was reinstated in December 2013.

What is Section 377?&nbsp;

It is a law in the Indian Penal Code that criminalises ‘unnatural’ sexual activity. It was established under British rule in 1861. Although this law technically applies to heterosexual ‘activity’, it has had the greatest impact on the LGBTQIA+ community in India, through threats, intimidation, and prosecution.&nbsp;

The September 6 ruling deemed that homosexual sex between consenting adults is no longer illegal.

This court case does not exist in a vacuum. As the court case began, the Indian Psychiatric Society stated the homosexuality is not a psychiatric disorder, and came out in support of the decriminalisation of homosexual sex.&nbsp;

Why do I write this?

Why do I write about this case? Why am I so excited to see the overturning of an outdated colonial law that came from leaders of the land of my own ancestors?

I did not partner with an organisation focused on the rights of disadvantaged communities of gender and sexuality minorities. Though some fair trade organisations in and outside India may do so, I did not work with them. 
 
Even so, I have spent much of this Fellowship year with queerness in the back (and front) of my mind. As in the majority of my professional life, LGBTQIA+ – lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*,queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, gender non-conforming, and the infinite other gender and sexuality identities – issues were not the focus of my day-to-day work. I am not yet, though I may one day be, what is occasionally referred to as a ‘professional gay’.

But these are the issues that consume my brain when I let them, draw me in when I approach them. I identify as a bisexual, quoigender (meaning “questioning”, or my favorite descriptor, “what gender even”) person assigned female at birth and socialised as a woman. I go by she/her pronouns but I certainly would accept they/them — I just have yet to decide if ‘they’ are the pronouns for me.

There is a vast LGBTQIA+ community across India and South Asia, with centuries of history. I will fail here to describe or understand a full picture of the LGBTQIA+ community in India or elsewhere, but as I realised this year, it is important to at least try, to start a conversation.

I was fortunate to get to know some members of this community in person, through friends, and online - through social media. The challenges and goals do not begin or end with this or future Section 377 rulings, though it is important. For these communities to survive and thrive, it is essential that spaces exists, off- and on-line, for individuals to come together and connect (this applies to other marginalised groups too).

Who/what have I connected to?

First: Gaysi. Self-defined as “a space where the Desi-Gay community comes together and shares personal stories, their triumphs and failures, their struggles and their dreams, their hopes and despair. And in doing so, gives other gaysis a sliver of hope too.”

Gaysi is an on and offline forum with content ranging from ‘7 Real-Life Narratives of Desi-Queers Out at Work’ to Tips for Aspiring Drag Artists. Gaysi is more than a forum, however. They host off-line events, create materials to describe the under-documented and under-disseminated South Asian queer history, and raise awareness. See their Instagram, Facebook, or website.&nbsp;

The organisation I connected the most with during my time here is Nazariya, a self-described “Queer Feminist Resource Group.” I first heard of their organisation through an event, the launch of a queer calendar. Nazariya partnered up with Intercultural Resources, a ‘Research, Documentation, and Intervention’ organisation, for IR’s ‘Social Movements Calendar and Resource Book’.

They created a 2018 Planner documenting the history of the queer movement in India,&nbsp;with the stated purpose: “We therefore aim to create tangible material with visual appeal that presents the truth of what happened in the queer movement in an interesting way that can be shared and distributed, forming connections between organisations and individuals.” Described as a “collective process”, the planner includes centuries of history and artwork created by lesbian, bisexual or transgender artists assigned female at birth.

This calendar is just one of their many, many initiatives to foster space for their community, since they began in 2014. Co-directed by Rituparna Borah and Ritambhara Mehta, one can read more about their beginnings on their website and some of the questions and informational resources they provide on a daily basis on their Instagram. I was fortunate to be able to participate in and contribute to a documentation workshop they held in June for a group of transmen in Delhi, an example of the creative ways in which the organisation seeks to connect to and provide resources for their community.

The Queer Muslim Project too is focused on the creation and collaboration of on- and off-line spaces for members of the queer community in India and beyond. Started in 2017 by Rafiul Alom Rahman, the project is now “a digital advocacy platform focused on creating visibility and awareness of LGBTQ+ Muslim issues in India and South Asia.”

In May, the project held its first consultation in Bangalore to bring together and discuss the experiences of queer Muslims in India. According to The Hindu, “The closed group of 30 include transmen and transwomen, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and people who identify with the cause and want to understand what it means to live as a queer Muslim in India.”

In June of this year, the organisation held their first in-person event in Delhi, a Queer Iftaar. My Co-Fellow Minahil Khan introduced me to the organisation and the event, after she spent the year learning more about her Islamic heritage and sought out new religious traditions that were more inclusive of other marginalised groups. She and I attended as shared Allies.

This is only a small sample of the queer organisations and communities in and from India and South Asia, a few of those that have impacted me this year. There are near endless contributions to a broad on- and off-line community. I was fortunate to come across the work of Artwhoring, Mumbai-based artist Priyanka Paul, who created a t-shirt and public art project to raise awareness of &nbsp;the harmful aspects of the Protection of Trans Persons Bill, 2016 . The Delhi International Queer Theatre and Film Festival allows the LGBTQIA+ community in Delhi to come together in a physical space and publicly consume queer media. When I went to Kolkata for field work, I heard of Amra Odbhuth Café, a queer feminist cafe space started and maintained by the LGBTQ+ community in the city. 
 
Why does this matter?

From each of the organisations, artists, and communities I came across, peripherally or in-person, I heard, again and again, of the need for a safe space. Aside from legal challenges faced by Section 377, the lack of space to act as one’s self or to be amongst like-minded individuals has an impact on one’s physical and mental health.&nbsp;

As an outsider in Delhi, I felt fortunate to find these spaces to connect to, to feel safe amongst. I am not the main target of these groups or intentional online spaces I am grateful for the support they inadvertently provided me.&nbsp;

Though I am fortunate to live in this time and to be born in the state of Massachusetts, the first state in the United States to legalise &nbsp;gay marriage in 2004, the claiming of queer spaces in the United States remains a challenge today, across the country.&nbsp;

I am not the first AIF Clinton Fellow who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I am certainly not the last. This Section 377 ruling affirms it. I feel so fortunate to have the chance to get to know some of the LGBTQ+ community in India and in South Asia that is working so hard to claim a space for themselves. I feel lucky to have been a part of Delhi’s 10th Pride Parade in November 2017, the first pride march I walked in. I feel like to witness this development (this decolonisation) and to share this excitement with close friends. I feel lucky for the chance to share this story here.&nbsp;

*A previous version of <a href="https://aif.org/section-377-goes-straight-to-court/">this article</a> was originally published on August 2nd, 2018, by the <a href="https://aif.org/">American India Foundation</a> 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

As the court case began, the Indian Psychiatric Society stated the homosexuality is not a psychiatric disorder, and came out in support of the decriminalisation of homosexual sex.

September 6, 2018 marked the verdict of a hearing at the Supreme Court of India, launched to consider whether to decriminalise Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. It was decriminalised in July 2009 as well, but the law was reinstated in December 2013. What is Section 377? It is a law in the Indian Penal Code that criminalises ‘unnatural’ sexual activity. It was established under British rule in 1861. Although this law technically applies to heterosexual ‘activity’, it has had the greatest impact on the LGBTQIA+ community in India, through threats, intimidation, and prosecution. The September 6 ruling deemed that homosexual sex between consenting adults is no longer illegal. This court case does not exist in a vacuum. As the court case began, the Indian Psychiatric Society stated the homosexuality is not a psychiatric disorder, and came out in support of the decriminalisation of homosexual sex. Why do I write this? Why do I write about this case? Why am I so excited to see the overturning of an outdated colonial law that came from leaders of the land of my own ancestors? I did not partner with an organisation focused on the rights of disadvantaged communities of gender and sexuality minorities. Though some fair trade organisations in and outside India may do so, I did not work with them. Even so, I have spent much of this Fellowship year with queerness in the back (and front) of my mind. As in the majority of my professional life, LGBTQIA+ – lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*,queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, gender non-conforming, and the infinite other gender and sexuality identities – issues were not the focus of my day-to-day work. I am not yet, though I may one day be, what is occasionally referred to as a ‘professional gay’. But these are the issues that consume my brain when I let them, draw me in when I approach them. I identify as a bisexual, quoigender (meaning “questioning”, or my favorite descriptor, “what gender even”) person assigned female at birth and socialised as a woman. I go by she/her pronouns but I certainly would accept they/them — I just have yet to decide if ‘they’ are the pronouns for me. There is a vast LGBTQIA+ community across India and South Asia, with centuries of history. I will fail here to describe or understand a full picture of the LGBTQIA+ community in India or elsewhere, but as I realised this year, it is important to at least try, to start a conversation. I was fortunate to get to know some members of this community in person, through friends, and online - through social media. The challenges and goals do not begin or end with this or future Section 377 rulings, though it is important. For these communities to survive and thrive, it is essential that spaces exists, off- and on-line, for individuals to come together and connect (this applies to other marginalised groups too). Who/what have I connected to? First: Gaysi. Self-defined as “a space where the Desi-Gay community comes together and shares personal stories, their triumphs and failures, their struggles and their dreams, their hopes and despair. And in doing so, gives other gaysis a sliver of hope too.” Gaysi is an on and offline forum with content ranging from ‘7 Real-Life Narratives of Desi-Queers Out at Work’ to Tips for Aspiring Drag Artists. Gaysi is more than a forum, however. They host off-line events, create materials to describe the under-documented and under-disseminated South Asian queer history, and raise awareness. See their Instagram, Facebook, or website. The organisation I connected the most with during my time here is Nazariya, a self-described “Queer Feminist Resource Group.” I first heard of their organisation through an event, the launch of a queer calendar. Nazariya partnered up with Intercultural Resources, a ‘Research, Documentation, and Intervention’ organisation, for IR’s ‘Social Movements Calendar and Resource Book’. They created a 2018 Planner documenting the history of the queer movement in India, with the stated purpose: “We therefore aim to create tangible material with visual appeal that presents the truth of what happened in the queer movement in an interesting way that can be shared and distributed, forming connections between organisations and individuals.” Described as a “collective process”, the planner includes centuries of history and artwork created by lesbian, bisexual or transgender artists assigned female at birth. This calendar is just one of their many, many initiatives to foster space for their community, since they began in 2014. Co-directed by Rituparna Borah and Ritambhara Mehta, one can read more about their beginnings on their website and some of the questions and informational resources they provide on a daily basis on their Instagram. I was fortunate to be able to participate in and contribute to a documentation workshop they held in June for a group of transmen in Delhi, an example of the creative ways in which the organisation seeks to connect to and provide resources for their community. The Queer Muslim Project too is focused on the creation and collaboration of on- and off-line spaces for members of the queer community in India and beyond. Started in 2017 by Rafiul Alom Rahman, the project is now “a digital advocacy platform focused on creating visibility and awareness of LGBTQ+ Muslim issues in India and South Asia.” In May, the project held its first consultation in Bangalore to bring together and discuss the experiences of queer Muslims in India. According to The Hindu, “The closed group of 30 include transmen and transwomen, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and people who identify with the cause and want to understand what it means to live as a queer Muslim in India.” In June of this year, the organisation held their first in-person event in Delhi, a Queer Iftaar. My Co-Fellow Minahil Khan introduced me to the organisation and the event, after she spent the year learning more about her Islamic heritage and sought out new religious traditions that were more inclusive of other marginalised groups. She and I attended as shared Allies. This is only a small sample of the queer organisations and communities in and from India and South Asia, a few of those that have impacted me this year. There are near endless contributions to a broad on- and off-line community. I was fortunate to come across the work of Artwhoring, Mumbai-based artist Priyanka Paul, who created a t-shirt and public art project to raise awareness of the harmful aspects of the Protection of Trans Persons Bill, 2016 . The Delhi International Queer Theatre and Film Festival allows the LGBTQIA+ community in Delhi to come together in a physical space and publicly consume queer media. When I went to Kolkata for field work, I heard of Amra Odbhuth Café, a queer feminist cafe space started and maintained by the LGBTQ+ community in the city. Why does this matter? From each of the organisations, artists, and communities I came across, peripherally or in-person, I heard, again and again, of the need for a safe space. Aside from legal challenges faced by Section 377, the lack of space to act as one’s self or to be amongst like-minded individuals has an impact on one’s physical and mental health. As an outsider in Delhi, I felt fortunate to find these spaces to connect to, to feel safe amongst. I am not the main target of these groups or intentional online spaces I am grateful for the support they inadvertently provided me. Though I am fortunate to live in this time and to be born in the state of Massachusetts, the first state in the United States to legalise gay marriage in 2004, the claiming of queer spaces in the United States remains a challenge today, across the country. I am not the first AIF Clinton Fellow who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I am certainly not the last. This Section 377 ruling affirms it. I feel so fortunate to have the chance to get to know some of the LGBTQ+ community in India and in South Asia that is working so hard to claim a space for themselves. I feel lucky to have been a part of Delhi’s 10th Pride Parade in November 2017, the first pride march I walked in. I feel like to witness this development (this decolonisation) and to share this excitement with close friends. I feel lucky for the chance to share this story here. *A previous version of this article was originally published on August 2nd, 2018, by the American India Foundation (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: Section 377 verdict - September 6, 2018 marks a historic day for India

Delhi Police's special cell on Friday arrested two suspected terrorists linked to a Jammu and Kashmir-based affiliate of ISIS, reported news agency ANI.&nbsp;

The two men from Kashmir were arrested from a bus stop near Red Fort. Two pistols,10 cartridges and four mobile phones were seized from their possession, police said.

According to reports, the two men had acquired weapons from Uttar Pradesh and were on their way to Kashmir when they were arrested.

Both are residents of the same village in Kashmir's Shopian district.

Both the men are engineering students and were well versed with the areas of Delhi, the police said.

Parvez's brother was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in January, ANI report said quoting a police officer.

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Delhi: Parvez and Jamshed, two terrorists of ISJK who were arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police last night near Red Fort. They were going to Kashmir and were found in possession of weapons. They have been taken under 5-day police remand by Special Cell of Delhi Police. <a href="https://t.co/UQFzZpWn5W">pic.twitter.com/UQFzZpWn5W</a>
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Two men had acquired weapons from Uttar Pradesh and were on their way to Kashmir when they were arrested.

Delhi Police's special cell on Friday arrested two suspected terrorists linked to a Jammu and Kashmir-based affiliate of ISIS, reported news agency ANI. The two men from Kashmir were arrested from a bus stop near Red Fort. Two pistols,10 cartridges and four mobile phones were seized from their possession, police said. According to reports, the two men had acquired weapons from Uttar Pradesh and were on their way to Kashmir when they were arrested. Both are residents of the same village in Kashmir's Shopian district. Both the men are engineering students and were well versed with the areas of Delhi, the police said. Parvez's brother was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in January, ANI report said quoting a police officer. Delhi: Parvez and Jamshed, two terrorists of ISJK who were arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police last night near Red Fort. They were going to Kashmir and were found in possession of weapons. They have been taken under 5-day police remand by Special Cell of Delhi Police. pic.twitter.com/UQFzZpWn5W — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 ×

2 suspected ISIS terrorists arrested in Delhi: Police

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Friday dubbed that the `Bharat Bandh` called against the amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, was in fact "a conspiracy of the BJP" and an "event orchestrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh" to divide the people on caste lines ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In a statement, she said the Bharatiya Janata Party is supporting such agitations to divert people's attention from "burning" issues such as fuel price hike.

Citing the example of her governments in Uttar Pradesh, former chief minister underlined how she ensured that the Act was not abused to harass anyone or any caste.

"The BJP and the RSS are indulging in divisive politics as part of which agitations are being organised, especially in the BJP-ruled states, to oppose the amendments to the SC ST Act . It is nothing but an electoral conspiracy sponsored by the RSS and the BJP," she said in the statement.&nbsp

Some organisation had Thursday called the one-day bandh to protest against the amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Parliament had passed the amendment bill last month, overturning the Supreme Court order barring arrests without a preliminary inquiry to avoid false implication of innocent persons under the Act.&nbsp

Citing the example of her governments in Uttar Pradesh, former chief minister underlined how she ensured that the Act was not abused to harass anyone or any caste

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Friday dubbed that the `Bharat Bandh` called against the amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, was in fact "a conspiracy of the BJP" and an "event orchestrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh" to divide the people on caste lines ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In a statement, she said the Bharatiya Janata Party is supporting such agitations to divert people's attention from "burning" issues such as fuel price hike. Citing the example of her governments in Uttar Pradesh, former chief minister underlined how she ensured that the Act was not abused to harass anyone or any caste. "The BJP and the RSS are indulging in divisive politics as part of which agitations are being organised, especially in the BJP-ruled states, to oppose the amendments to the SC ST Act . It is nothing but an electoral conspiracy sponsored by the RSS and the BJP," she said in the statement. Some organisation had Thursday called the one-day bandh to protest against the amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Parliament had passed the amendment bill last month, overturning the Supreme Court order barring arrests without a preliminary inquiry to avoid false implication of innocent persons under the Act.

BJP-RSS behind 'Bharat Bandh' against SC/ST Act: Mayawati

In a major setback to the Congress ahead of elections in Telangana, senior party leader and former assembly speaker K R Suresh Reddy announced his decision to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Reddy, who hails from Nizamabad district, had served as speaker of the Legislative Assembly in undivided Andhra Pradesh between 2004 to 2009 when Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister.

State minister K T Rama Rao, son of TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and other TRS leaders met Reddy and invited him to join the TRS.

Reddy, who was flanked by Rama Rao, said he decided to join the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/hours-after-dissolving-assembly-kcr-announces-list-of-105-candidates--163984">TRS to contribute</a> to the growth process of the TRS regime.

"There will be trouble for state and its people if the driver of a car who is driving well and with speed is changed midway," PTI quoted him as saying.

The veteran politician said he will be an ambassador between the people and the government.

Reddy&nbspwas elected to the assembly in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004.

The first Legislative Assembly in Telangana was dissolved yesterday following a recommendation by the TRS government.

State minister K T Rama Rao, son of TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and other TRS leaders met Reddy here and invited him to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi

In a major setback to the Congress ahead of elections in Telangana, senior party leader and former assembly speaker K R Suresh Reddy announced his decision to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Reddy, who hails from Nizamabad district, had served as speaker of the Legislative Assembly in undivided Andhra Pradesh between 2004 to 2009 when Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister. State minister K T Rama Rao, son of TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and other TRS leaders met Reddy and invited him to join the TRS. Reddy, who was flanked by Rama Rao, said he decided to join the TRS to contribute to the growth process of the TRS regime. "There will be trouble for state and its people if the driver of a car who is driving well and with speed is changed midway," PTI quoted him as saying. The veteran politician said he will be an ambassador between the people and the government. Reddy&nbspwas elected to the assembly in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004. The first Legislative Assembly in Telangana was dissolved yesterday following a recommendation by the TRS government.

Congress leader and former speaker Suresh Reddy to join TRS

As India grapples with <a href="http://wionews.com/world/have-jurisdiction-to-probe-rohingya-exodus-as-possible-crime-against-humanity-international-criminal-court-164055">Rohingya influx in its eastern border</a>, &nbspBSF Director General (DG) K K Sharma said the West Bengal government is &nbsp"slightly friendly" to the Rohingyas and has set up special camps for about 70 such families.

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/conditions-still-not-suitable-for-safe-return-of-rohingya-un-chief-162380">Also Read:&nbspConditions still not suitable for </a><a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/conditions-still-not-suitable-for-safe-return-of-rohingya-un-chief-162380">safe</a><a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/conditions-still-not-suitable-for-safe-return-of-rohingya-un-chief-162380"> return of Rohingya, says&nbspUN chief</a>

India has been trying to ensure that Rohingyas don not illegally cross over to India from Bangladesh. Last month Union home minister Rajnath Singh had said his ministry had issued orders to all states that no Rohingya should possess Indian documents.

BSF chief who has been given the task of keeping the Rohingya refugee crisis in control, said: "We are alive to the situation. We are aware that a large number of Rohingyas are assembled&nbspin Bangladesh and from time-to-time some small groups did try to enter India, but I am very happy to say that we did not let them succeed."

"So, there has not been any large-scale influx of Rohingyas into India. Whatever Rohingyas are already there in the country... In fact, they are also under pressure at some places so they are going to West Bengal, a state which is slightly friendly with them."

Minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju had cited the Foreigners` Act, 1946 and asserted that the government has the power to "identify, detect and deport any illegal foreign national staying in the country." Rijiju had added that Rohingyas had illegally entered the country.

BSF DG Sharma said that West Bengal had set up camps for Rohingyas coming from within the country and not from Bangladesh, adding that he had checked and that there were at least 70 families who had come from various places within India.&nbsp

Rijiju had earlier said Rohingyas were staying in the Jammu city and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Jaipur.

Sharma said he was happy at the way BSF had successfully contained the influx of Rohingyas, adding that it had not allowed any intusion so far. "This has also been verified by our sister security agencies," Sharma asserted.

"Our security forces are very much alert and as we detect them, we get them back to our camps again. We are very keen on keeping them in the designated camps," the BSF chief said.&nbsp&nbsp &nbsp&nbsp

He said any decision on the this subject is the prerogative of the Bangladeshi government.

"This (Rohingyas movement from Myanmar) is not migration. They have been forcibly displaced. This is a political decision and at the political level, the Bangladesh government is trying to resolve the problem with help of the international community," Sharm said, &nbsphe however added that the BSF had not come across any specific case where the Rohingya refugees were caught possessing arms, ammunition or had any terror connection.

Rijiju had earlier said Rohingyas were staying in the Jammu city and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Jaipur.

As India grapples with Rohingya influx in its eastern border, &nbspBSF Director General (DG) K K Sharma said the West Bengal government is "slightly friendly" to the Rohingyas and has set up special camps for about 70 such families. Also Read:&nbspConditions still not suitable for safe return of Rohingya, says&nbspUN chief India has been trying to ensure that Rohingyas don not illegally cross over to India from Bangladesh. Last month Union home minister Rajnath Singh had said his ministry had issued orders to all states that no Rohingya should possess Indian documents. BSF chief who has been given the task of keeping the Rohingya refugee crisis in control, said: "We are alive to the situation. We are aware that a large number of Rohingyas are assembled&nbspin Bangladesh and from time-to-time some small groups did try to enter India, but I am very happy to say that we did not let them succeed." "So, there has not been any large-scale influx of Rohingyas into India. Whatever Rohingyas are already there in the country... In fact, they are also under pressure at some places so they are going to West Bengal, a state which is slightly friendly with them." Minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju had cited the Foreigners` Act, 1946 and asserted that the government has the power to "identify, detect and deport any illegal foreign national staying in the country." Rijiju had added that Rohingyas had illegally entered the country. BSF DG Sharma said that West Bengal had set up camps for Rohingyas coming from within the country and not from Bangladesh, adding that he had checked and that there were at least 70 families who had come from various places within India. Rijiju had earlier said Rohingyas were staying in the Jammu city and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Jaipur. Sharma said he was happy at the way BSF had successfully contained the influx of Rohingyas, adding that it had not allowed any intusion so far. "This has also been verified by our sister security agencies," Sharma asserted. "Our security forces are very much alert and as we detect them, we get them back to our camps again. We are very keen on keeping them in the designated camps," the BSF chief said. He said any decision on the this subject is the prerogative of the Bangladeshi government. "This (Rohingyas movement from Myanmar) is not migration. They have been forcibly displaced. This is a political decision and at the political level, the Bangladesh government is trying to resolve the problem with help of the international community," Sharm said, &nbsphe however added that the BSF had not come across any specific case where the Rohingya refugees were caught possessing arms, ammunition or had any terror connection.

West Bengal slightly friendly towards Rohingyas: BSF DG Sharma

Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel was on Friday rushed to a hospital on the 14th day of his indefinite fast as he complained of difficulty in breathing, reported news agency PTI.

He was admitted to the Government Civil Hospital in Sola two weeks after he gave up even taking water in protest against the government ignoring his demands, the report further said.

Hardik, who launched his indefinite fast on August 25 at his farmhouse, was visibly weak and was seen being moved around in a wheelchair yesterday.

Doctors after an examination advised him to immediately get admitted for medical treatment.

The Gujarat Congress is also observing a 24-hour fast today in support of Hardik Patel.

Patel was admitted to the Government Civil Hospital in Sola two weeks after he gave up even taking water in protest against the government ignoring his demands.

Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel was on Friday rushed to a hospital on the 14th day of his indefinite fast as he complained of difficulty in breathing, reported news agency PTI. He was admitted to the Government Civil Hospital in Sola two weeks after he gave up even taking water in protest against the government ignoring his demands, the report further said. Hardik, who launched his indefinite fast on August 25 at his farmhouse, was visibly weak and was seen being moved around in a wheelchair yesterday. Doctors after an examination advised him to immediately get admitted for medical treatment. The Gujarat Congress is also observing a 24-hour fast today in support of Hardik Patel.

Hardik Patel rushed to hospital on Day 14 of fast

The Shiv Sena Friday likened Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam to Alauddin Khilji, 13th century Sultan of Delhi, for telling youngsters he would "kidnap" a girl they like, and also questioned his party's silence over his remarks.

The Sena said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on giving "justice" to Muslim women in triple talaq, in Maharashtra the MLAs of his party were creating panic among the women of the state.

"Queen Padmini committed 'jauhar' along with thousands of other Rajput women to protect their honour, prestige and religion. Their 'jauhar' against Alauddin Khilji and his tyranny is still inspiring women in India. But it seems time has come for the women in Maharashtra to commit 'jauhar' against the BJP's Khilji," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

According to the legend, queen of Mewar Rani Padmavati had committed 'jauhar' (self immolation) along with thousands of other women in Chittorgarh to protect their honour when Alauddin Khilji attacked the fort in 1303.

"BJP MLA Ram Kadam, who is the chief minister's favourite, uttered derogatory words against women that showed his arrogance. He said 'Just let me know the girl you like and I will kidnap her and hand her over to you'. What kind of hedonistic culture has landed in Maharashtra?" it asked.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party alleged that the BJP was nurturing such kind of people, who speak ill of women, farmers and wives of soldiers.

"Such people have no right to take Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's name and rule the state," it added.

"What kind of message is the BJP sending out to the youth in the state? Is this what the party's Hindutva and its culture is all about?...This is bound to happen if you rub dirt on yourself in the greed to win elections. What was sown in the last five years is being reaped now," the Sena said.

It further said that Lord Krishna was a protector of women, but ironically the BJP MLA passed anti-women remarks on the birthday of Lord Krishna.

The Sena sought to know why the ruling BJP, which is generally quick to label the opposition as anti-nationals if they raise its voice on issues concerning the country, was silent over Kadam's remarks.

"On the one hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to give relief to Muslim women on triple talaq, on the other hand a sense of fear is prevailing in the minds of women due to the BJP legislator's remarks. The only woman cabinet minister in the state government, Pankaja Munde, should speak on it," it said.

It said why Union minister Smriti Irani, who usually talks about the rights of women, was keeping mum over the issue.

The Sena added that had a Congress legislator made such remarks, the BJP would have created a din and even spoken against president Rahul Gandhi.

Kadam, while speaking at an event during Dahi handi celebrations in the city had said hewould "kidnap" a girl a boy likeseven if she says no to the proposal.

"You (youngsters) can meet me for any work," he is seen in the video clip, telling the crowd, mainly comprising youth.

He was heard further saying that he got requests from youngsters to help them after girls rejected their proposals.

"I will help, 100 per cent. Come (to me) with your parents. What will I do if parents approve (the girl a boy has liked)? I will kidnap the girl concerned and hand her over to you (for marriage)," he was heard telling the crowd.&nbsp;

According to the legend, queen of Mewar Rani Padmavati had committed 'jauhar' (self-immolation) along with thousands of other women in Chittorgarh to protect their honour when Alauddin Khilji attacked the fort in 1303.

The Shiv Sena Friday likened Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam to Alauddin Khilji, 13th century Sultan of Delhi, for telling youngsters he would "kidnap" a girl they like, and also questioned his party's silence over his remarks. The Sena said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on giving "justice" to Muslim women in triple talaq, in Maharashtra the MLAs of his party were creating panic among the women of the state. "Queen Padmini committed 'jauhar' along with thousands of other Rajput women to protect their honour, prestige and religion. Their 'jauhar' against Alauddin Khilji and his tyranny is still inspiring women in India. But it seems time has come for the women in Maharashtra to commit 'jauhar' against the BJP's Khilji," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. According to the legend, queen of Mewar Rani Padmavati had committed 'jauhar' (self immolation) along with thousands of other women in Chittorgarh to protect their honour when Alauddin Khilji attacked the fort in 1303. "BJP MLA Ram Kadam, who is the chief minister's favourite, uttered derogatory words against women that showed his arrogance. He said 'Just let me know the girl you like and I will kidnap her and hand her over to you'. What kind of hedonistic culture has landed in Maharashtra?" it asked. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party alleged that the BJP was nurturing such kind of people, who speak ill of women, farmers and wives of soldiers. "Such people have no right to take Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's name and rule the state," it added. "What kind of message is the BJP sending out to the youth in the state? Is this what the party's Hindutva and its culture is all about?...This is bound to happen if you rub dirt on yourself in the greed to win elections. What was sown in the last five years is being reaped now," the Sena said. It further said that Lord Krishna was a protector of women, but ironically the BJP MLA passed anti-women remarks on the birthday of Lord Krishna. The Sena sought to know why the ruling BJP, which is generally quick to label the opposition as anti-nationals if they raise its voice on issues concerning the country, was silent over Kadam's remarks. "On the one hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to give relief to Muslim women on triple talaq, on the other hand a sense of fear is prevailing in the minds of women due to the BJP legislator's remarks. The only woman cabinet minister in the state government, Pankaja Munde, should speak on it," it said. It said why Union minister Smriti Irani, who usually talks about the rights of women, was keeping mum over the issue. The Sena added that had a Congress legislator made such remarks, the BJP would have created a din and even spoken against president Rahul Gandhi. Kadam, while speaking at an event during Dahi handi celebrations in the city had said hewould "kidnap" a girl a boy likeseven if she says no to the proposal. "You (youngsters) can meet me for any work," he is seen in the video clip, telling the crowd, mainly comprising youth. He was heard further saying that he got requests from youngsters to help them after girls rejected their proposals. "I will help, 100 per cent. Come (to me) with your parents. What will I do if parents approve (the girl a boy has liked)? I will kidnap the girl concerned and hand her over to you (for marriage)," he was heard telling the crowd.

Shiv Sena likens Ram Kadam to Alauddin Khilji over his anti-women remarks

The DMK on Friday said it would extend its support to the Congress party's nationwide shutdown on September 10 over rising fuel prices.

The party said that would play an active part in making it a success.

Conveying his party's "whole-hearted support," party president M K Stalin said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) would "enthusiastically take part and cooperate to make the shutdown a complete success", a PTI report said.

The DMK chief urged all sections of people, including government employees, teachers, traders and state transport corporation workers, to voluntarily support the bandh to "teach the BJP government a fitting lesson", the report added.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Accusing the BJP government of not being bothered about the public or their purchasing power, he alleged that the Centre did not take any steps to rein in the "dangerous and unprecedented" fuel price rise and stop the slide of the rupee against the dollar.

He said the government has "pushed the people to the streets" to protest against the price rise.

Similarly, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar on Friday extended its support to the nationwide protest on September 10.&nbsp;

RJD state President Ramchandra Purve said thousands of party leaders and workers will participate in the protest across the state.

The RJD is a major ally of the Congress in Bihar.

The Congress had Thursday called a Bharat Bandh to protest against the rising fuel prices.

It had said that the nationwide shutdown has the support of most of the opposition parties.&nbsp;

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DMK will extend complete support to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BharatBandh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BharatBandh</a> call by the Indian National Congress protesting against the BJP government for steep rise in prices of petrol-diesel: DMK Chief MK Stalin <a href="https://t.co/nZih03XOiQ">pic.twitter.com/nZih03XOiQ</a>
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The DMK chief urged all sections of people, including government employees, teachers, traders and state transport corporation workers, to voluntarily support the bandh to "teach the BJP government a fitting lesson".

The DMK on Friday said it would extend its support to the Congress party's nationwide shutdown on September 10 over rising fuel prices. The party said that would play an active part in making it a success. Conveying his party's "whole-hearted support," party president M K Stalin said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) would "enthusiastically take part and cooperate to make the shutdown a complete success", a PTI report said. The DMK chief urged all sections of people, including government employees, teachers, traders and state transport corporation workers, to voluntarily support the bandh to "teach the BJP government a fitting lesson", the report added. Accusing the BJP government of not being bothered about the public or their purchasing power, he alleged that the Centre did not take any steps to rein in the "dangerous and unprecedented" fuel price rise and stop the slide of the rupee against the dollar. He said the government has "pushed the people to the streets" to protest against the price rise. Similarly, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar on Friday extended its support to the nationwide protest on September 10. RJD state President Ramchandra Purve said thousands of party leaders and workers will participate in the protest across the state. The RJD is a major ally of the Congress in Bihar. The Congress had Thursday called a Bharat Bandh to protest against the rising fuel prices. It had said that the nationwide shutdown has the support of most of the opposition parties. DMK will extend complete support to the #BharatBandh call by the Indian National Congress protesting against the BJP government for steep rise in prices of petrol-diesel: DMK Chief MK Stalin pic.twitter.com/nZih03XOiQ — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 ×

DMK, RJD to support Cong-sponsored Bharat Bandh against fuel price hike

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil Friday said the controversy surrounding his party colleague Ram Kadam's remarks against women should end as the latter has apologised.

Patil also advised public representatives saying they need to exercise caution while speaking.

"Ram Kadam has apologised and the issue should now end. Kadam does not have a history of speaking ill about women. On the contrary, he is known for helping women immensely. Thousands of women in his constituency tie him rakhi every year," Patil told a Marathi news channel.

"Public representatives should be extremely cautious while speaking and they should properly frame every sentence in their heads before uttering them," the minister added.

He said new channels should also try to show the true meaning of what has been spoken.

"But if what the channels are saying about the remarks is right, the public representative should apologise. In this case, Ram Kadam was not arrogant and he apologised...So the matter should come to an end," Patil said.

Kadam, while speaking at an event during dahi handi celebrations in the city, had said he would "kidnap" a girl a boy likes even if she says no to the proposal.

"You (youngsters) can meet me for any work," he is seen in the video clip, telling the crowd, mainly comprising youth.

Kadam was heard saying that he got requests from youngsters to help them after girls rejected their proposals.

"I will help, 100 per cent. Come (to me) with your parents. What will I do if parents approve (the girl a boy has liked)? I will kidnap the girl concerned and hand her over to you (for marriage)," he was heard telling the crowd. Kadam was also heard sharing his mobile number with the crowd.

His remarks created a huge controversy as it drew sharp reactions from the opposition parties, Shiv Sena and women's organisations. The Maharashtra State Commission for Women issued a notice to Kadam over his remark.

In a video message issued Wednesday, Kadam expressed regret over his remarks saying, "I have very high regard for women. Without giving any explanation about the video clip (of his controversial remarks), I express my regret."

He also tweeted saying, "By doctoring my statements, my political rivals created an atmosphere which has hurt the sentiments of our mothers and sisters. I have already expressed regret over my comments and (I am) once again tendering an apology to all my mothers and sisters."

Patil also advised public representatives saying they need to exercise caution while speaking.

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil Friday said the controversy surrounding his party colleague Ram Kadam's remarks against women should end as the latter has apologised. Patil also advised public representatives saying they need to exercise caution while speaking. "Ram Kadam has apologised and the issue should now end. Kadam does not have a history of speaking ill about women. On the contrary, he is known for helping women immensely. Thousands of women in his constituency tie him rakhi every year," Patil told a Marathi news channel. "Public representatives should be extremely cautious while speaking and they should properly frame every sentence in their heads before uttering them," the minister added. He said new channels should also try to show the true meaning of what has been spoken. "But if what the channels are saying about the remarks is right, the public representative should apologise. In this case, Ram Kadam was not arrogant and he apologised...So the matter should come to an end," Patil said. Kadam, while speaking at an event during dahi handi celebrations in the city, had said he would "kidnap" a girl a boy likes even if she says no to the proposal. "You (youngsters) can meet me for any work," he is seen in the video clip, telling the crowd, mainly comprising youth. Kadam was heard saying that he got requests from youngsters to help them after girls rejected their proposals. "I will help, 100 per cent. Come (to me) with your parents. What will I do if parents approve (the girl a boy has liked)? I will kidnap the girl concerned and hand her over to you (for marriage)," he was heard telling the crowd. Kadam was also heard sharing his mobile number with the crowd. His remarks created a huge controversy as it drew sharp reactions from the opposition parties, Shiv Sena and women's organisations. The Maharashtra State Commission for Women issued a notice to Kadam over his remark. In a video message issued Wednesday, Kadam expressed regret over his remarks saying, "I have very high regard for women. Without giving any explanation about the video clip (of his controversial remarks), I express my regret." He also tweeted saying, "By doctoring my statements, my political rivals created an atmosphere which has hurt the sentiments of our mothers and sisters. I have already expressed regret over my comments and (I am) once again tendering an apology to all my mothers and sisters."

Ram Kadam has apologised for his remarks, row should end: Maharashtra minister

Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid was unceremoniously removed late Thursday and shunted as the Transport Commissioner and Director General of Prison Dilbagh Singh was directed to look after the force until a regular appointment was made.

The official order to this effect was issued late Thursday by Principal Secretary, Home, R K Goyal.

Vaid, a 1986-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the Director General of Police in December 2016. He is due to retire in October next year.

Singh, who has been made the in-charge Director General of Police, is a 1987-batch officer. He was made the head of the prison department in March after the infamous of escape of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Naved Jhatt while the latter was on a routine health check-up at a city hospital in February.

Singh, during his tenure as Director General of Prisons, streamlined many things, including the removal of hardened terrorists from Kashmir jails.

He will have a regular appointment only after his name is cleared by the UPSC.

Some more orders are likely to come, in which Arun Chaudhury is likely to be appointed as the Director General of Prisons and S J M Gilani as the Additional Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police.

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&nbsp;

Vaid, a 1986-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the Director General of Police in December 2016. He is due to retire in October next year.

Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid was unceremoniously removed late Thursday and shunted as the Transport Commissioner and Director General of Prison Dilbagh Singh was directed to look after the force until a regular appointment was made. The official order to this effect was issued late Thursday by Principal Secretary, Home, R K Goyal. Vaid, a 1986-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the Director General of Police in December 2016. He is due to retire in October next year. Singh, who has been made the in-charge Director General of Police, is a 1987-batch officer. He was made the head of the prison department in March after the infamous of escape of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Naved Jhatt while the latter was on a routine health check-up at a city hospital in February. Singh, during his tenure as Director General of Prisons, streamlined many things, including the removal of hardened terrorists from Kashmir jails. He will have a regular appointment only after his name is cleared by the UPSC. Some more orders are likely to come, in which Arun Chaudhury is likely to be appointed as the Director General of Prisons and S J M Gilani as the Additional Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police. ×

SP Vaid removed as Jammu and Kashmir police chief

The Centre Friday assured all possible support including more financial assistance to flood-ravaged Kerala to rehabilitate the affected people.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda said during his visit to flood-affected areas in Thrissur district that the Central government understands the sensitivity of the situation in Kerala.

"Fund is no problem, funds have been always there and we have been always giving it. All possible support has been given as far as the rehabilitation part is concerned and re-development part is concerned," Nadda said.

The minister said he would evaluate with the state government the rehabilitation and rebuilding work being carried out in the affected areas.

"We just want to have an evaluation and whatever best we can do and what more we can do, that is what we are going to discuss," he added.

Nadda, who is accompanied by Health and Family Welfare secretary Preeti Sudan, expressed satisfaction over the work being done to restore medical facilities in affected areas.

He said the central team's visit was to see how the relief work is going on, and evaluate what more is required to assist Kerala.

Kerala state Health Minister K K Shailaja Teacher also accompanied the minister to affected areas.

"We feel very much disturbed. The people of Kerala had to face a lot of problems because of the natural calamity and we are all with them," Nadda said.

He said medical experts including doctors sent by the central government and state governments including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were working in flood-affected areas.

The deluge last month triggered by torrential monsoon rains had left a trail of destruction in the state and claimed 491 lives since May 29. 
&nbsp

JP Nadda said he would evaluate with the state government the rehabilitation and rebuilding work being carried out in the affected areas.

The Centre Friday assured all possible support including more financial assistance to flood-ravaged Kerala to rehabilitate the affected people. Union Health Minister J P Nadda said during his visit to flood-affected areas in Thrissur district that the Central government understands the sensitivity of the situation in Kerala. "Fund is no problem, funds have been always there and we have been always giving it. All possible support has been given as far as the rehabilitation part is concerned and re-development part is concerned," Nadda said. The minister said he would evaluate with the state government the rehabilitation and rebuilding work being carried out in the affected areas. "We just want to have an evaluation and whatever best we can do and what more we can do, that is what we are going to discuss," he added. Nadda, who is accompanied by Health and Family Welfare secretary Preeti Sudan, expressed satisfaction over the work being done to restore medical facilities in affected areas. He said the central team's visit was to see how the relief work is going on, and evaluate what more is required to assist Kerala. Kerala state Health Minister K K Shailaja Teacher also accompanied the minister to affected areas. "We feel very much disturbed. The people of Kerala had to face a lot of problems because of the natural calamity and we are all with them," Nadda said. He said medical experts including doctors sent by the central government and state governments including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were working in flood-affected areas. The deluge last month triggered by torrential monsoon rains had left a trail of destruction in the state and claimed 491 lives since May 29.

Centre will provide all possible support to flood-hit Kerala: Union Health Minister Nadda

The controversy around Rahul Gandhi's Mansarovar Yatra got cleared on Friday after pictures of him from Kailash Mansarovar went viral on social media platform Twitter.

Sadhavi Khosala, former BJP IT cell volunteer posted her pictures with Gandhi on Twitter.

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Pictures of <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KailashMansarovarYatra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KailashMansarovarYatra</a> 
 
Har Har Mahadev ? 
 
God is with you!!! <a href="https://t.co/tFbep2xwk4">pic.twitter.com/tFbep2xwk4</a>
— Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) <a href="https://twitter.com/sadhavi/status/1037927617020809216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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She also posted a forty-five-second video in which Gandhi can be seen interacting with the pilgrims.

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Here’s the Video of <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KailashMansarovarYatra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KailashMansarovarYatra</a> camp! 
 
Har Har Mahadev! 
 
Bhole Baba Is with you RG! <a href="https://t.co/NV8dqzROmj">pic.twitter.com/NV8dqzROmj</a>
— Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) <a href="https://twitter.com/sadhavi/status/1037931799966613504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to the sacred lake shrine at 13,000 feet began on September 6 from Doda hills with a first-ever chopper service too ready to fly pilgrims.&nbsp;

The Congress president too embarked on the 12-day trip to Kailash Mansarovar on August 31 via Nepal.&nbsp;

Gandhi's trip to Kailash Mansarovar has been questioned by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the authenticity of pictures of the lake and its surrounding posted by him on Twitter.

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It is so humbling to be walking in the shadow of this giant. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KailashYatra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KailashYatra</a> <a href="https://t.co/SGbP1YWb2q">pic.twitter.com/SGbP1YWb2q</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1037538896865886208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The stunning beauty of lake Rakshas Tal.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KailashYatra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KailashYatra</a> <a href="https://t.co/GXYsR4hjAT">pic.twitter.com/GXYsR4hjAT</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1037331152527388672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On April 26, the plane carrying Gandhi and some others from Delhi to Hubballi airport in Karnataka developed a technical problem and tilted heavily on the left side.

The plane dipped steeply with violent shuddering, but soon recovered and landed safely,&nbsp;after which Rahul Gandhi had expressed his undertake the pilgrimage.

The arduous pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology and is in the Tibetan Himalayas, is organised every year between June and September.

Sadhavi Khosala, former BJP IT cell volunteer posted pictures of her standing with Gandhi scion on Twitter.

The controversy around Rahul Gandhi's Mansarovar Yatra got cleared on Friday after pictures of him from Kailash Mansarovar went viral on social media platform Twitter. Sadhavi Khosala, former BJP IT cell volunteer posted her pictures with Gandhi on Twitter. Pictures of @RahulGandhi from #KailashMansarovarYatra Har Har Mahadev ? God is with you!!! pic.twitter.com/tFbep2xwk4 — Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) September 7, 2018 × She also posted a forty-five-second video in which Gandhi can be seen interacting with the pilgrims. Here’s the Video of @RahulGandhi at #KailashMansarovarYatra camp! Har Har Mahadev! Bhole Baba Is with you RG! pic.twitter.com/NV8dqzROmj — Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) September 7, 2018 × The annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to the sacred lake shrine at 13,000 feet began on September 6 from Doda hills with a first-ever chopper service too ready to fly pilgrims. The Congress president too embarked on the 12-day trip to Kailash Mansarovar on August 31 via Nepal. Gandhi's trip to Kailash Mansarovar has been questioned by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the authenticity of pictures of the lake and its surrounding posted by him on Twitter. It is so humbling to be walking in the shadow of this giant. #KailashYatra pic.twitter.com/SGbP1YWb2q — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 6, 2018 × The stunning beauty of lake Rakshas Tal.#KailashYatra pic.twitter.com/GXYsR4hjAT — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 5, 2018 × On April 26, the plane carrying Gandhi and some others from Delhi to Hubballi airport in Karnataka developed a technical problem and tilted heavily on the left side. The plane dipped steeply with violent shuddering, but soon recovered and landed safely, after which Rahul Gandhi had expressed his undertake the pilgrimage. The arduous pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology and is in the Tibetan Himalayas, is organised every year between June and September.

Amid controversy, pictures of Rahul Gandhi's Mansarovar Yatra go viral

For the first time in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, a football school has been established to groom the future footballers of the state. Every Friday and Sunday, young boys and girls aged between 8 to 16 sweat it out to make it big.

With an eye on future, the Jammu and Kashmir football association launched this school at the world-class Astroturf football field at TRC ground in the summer capital, Srinagar.

These footballers are given all the modern facilities to help them achieve their dreams. Currently, around 300 boys and girls have enrolled themselves for the training.&nbsp

Marred by the conflict, academies like these never existed but this academy is bringing out a bright future for the young kids.

"We have all the facilities here, we were given uniform and coaches also teach us well. They also give attention to each one of us," says Akeel Hussain, a budding footballer from Srinagar.&nbsp

There is also a young batch of girls who aim to make the woman football team of the state. Hailing from the different part of the valley, they are being taught from the grass root level.&nbsp

They are being trained by the professional footballers of the state headed by the footballer and national player Mehrajuddin Wadoo.&nbsp

"We come here regularly and practice every day. We have improved our footballing skills. We want to defeat other states in any football match," says Samreen, a 16-year-old footballer, adding that the training and practice are very professional.&nbsp

Many footballers from the state have represented India in the past at national and international level. Surprisingly, football remained the most popular sport when the valley was going through the tough time in the 90's.

Players like Abdul Majeed Kakroo, Mehrajudin Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad have played for the Indian football team in the past.

Mehrajudin started playing football from a very early age. He was motivated by his father Mohd Sultan Wadoo, who had represented J&K in Santosh Trophy to pursue football. He shot to fame after he played for the top Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Wadoo currently plays for Mumbai City FC.

"We have a lot of talent and we are encouraging it. We lacked a platform in the past now this platform will help players in playing for national and state football teams," says Wadoo.&nbsp

This football academy will now run throughout the year, thanks to this world-class Astroturf. The frequent shutdowns and curfew sometimes create hurdles for the kids but they are determined to play their game.

From the last 5 years, football has come back to life after the successive governments gave special attention to it. Now there seems to be no end to the passion of these young and budding footballers.&nbsp

A young batch of girls, who aim to make the woman football team of the state, are being taught from the grass root level.

For the first time in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, a football school has been established to groom the future footballers of the state. Every Friday and Sunday, young boys and girls aged between 8 to 16 sweat it out to make it big. With an eye on future, the Jammu and Kashmir football association launched this school at the world-class Astroturf football field at TRC ground in the summer capital, Srinagar. These footballers are given all the modern facilities to help them achieve their dreams. Currently, around 300 boys and girls have enrolled themselves for the training. Marred by the conflict, academies like these never existed but this academy is bringing out a bright future for the young kids. "We have all the facilities here, we were given uniform and coaches also teach us well. They also give attention to each one of us," says Akeel Hussain, a budding footballer from Srinagar. There is also a young batch of girls who aim to make the woman football team of the state. Hailing from the different part of the valley, they are being taught from the grass root level. They are being trained by the professional footballers of the state headed by the footballer and national player Mehrajuddin Wadoo. "We come here regularly and practice every day. We have improved our footballing skills. We want to defeat other states in any football match," says Samreen, a 16-year-old footballer, adding that the training and practice are very professional. Many footballers from the state have represented India in the past at national and international level. Surprisingly, football remained the most popular sport when the valley was going through the tough time in the 90's. Players like Abdul Majeed Kakroo, Mehrajudin Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad have played for the Indian football team in the past. Mehrajudin started playing football from a very early age. He was motivated by his father Mohd Sultan Wadoo, who had represented J&K in Santosh Trophy to pursue football. He shot to fame after he played for the top Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Wadoo currently plays for Mumbai City FC. "We have a lot of talent and we are encouraging it. We lacked a platform in the past now this platform will help players in playing for national and state football teams," says Wadoo. This football academy will now run throughout the year, thanks to this world-class Astroturf. The frequent shutdowns and curfew sometimes create hurdles for the kids but they are determined to play their game. From the last 5 years, football has come back to life after the successive governments gave special attention to it. Now there seems to be no end to the passion of these young and budding footballers.

First football school in Kashmir aims big

Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid, who was unceremoniously removed late Thursday from office, reacted to his sudden transfer on Friday.

In an interaction with media, Vaid noted that he was grateful and to God for being able to serve the people of the country.

"I got a chance to contribute my bit, I am going with a lot of good feelings," Vaid stated.&nbsp;

He expressed concern over deaths of youths and the unnecessary loss of human life in the Valley.&nbsp;

"The sooner it ends, it will be a very good news for me," Vaid shared.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: SP Vaid reacts to his transfer from the post of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> DGP to J&K Transport Commissioner says, "I'm going with a lot of good feelings" <a href="https://t.co/utSkqJ11uB">pic.twitter.com/utSkqJ11uB</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1037956362183966720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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SP Vaid was shunted as the Transport Commissioner on Thursday. Director General of Prison Dilbagh Singh was directed to look after the force until a regular appointment is made.

The official order to this effect was issued late Thursday by Principal Secretary, Home, RK Goyal.

Vaid, a 1986-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the Director General of Police in December 2016. He is due to retire in October next year.

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There was no hurry to replace <a href="https://twitter.com/spvaid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@spvaid</a>. He should have been changed only when a permanent arrangement had been worked out. <a href="https://twitter.com/JmuKmrPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JmuKmrPolice</a> has enough problems without having to deal with confusion of leadership.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah/status/1037770931773558787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/why-dg-as-temporary-arrangement-asks-omar-abdullah-on-sp-vaids-sudden-transfer-164160">Omar Abdullah on Thursday reacted to the sudden transfer</a> of J&K police chief SP Vaid. Abdullah stated that there was no hurry to replace Vaid.

"He should have been changed only when a permanent arrangement had been worked out. @JmuKmrPolice has enough problems without having to deal with the confusion of leadership," Abdullah tweeted out on Thursday. 
&nbsp;

Vaid, a 1986-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the Director General of Police in December 2016.

Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid, who was unceremoniously removed late Thursday from office, reacted to his sudden transfer on Friday. In an interaction with media, Vaid noted that he was grateful and to God for being able to serve the people of the country. "I got a chance to contribute my bit, I am going with a lot of good feelings," Vaid stated. He expressed concern over deaths of youths and the unnecessary loss of human life in the Valley. "The sooner it ends, it will be a very good news for me," Vaid shared. #WATCH: SP Vaid reacts to his transfer from the post of #JammuAndKashmir DGP to J&K Transport Commissioner says, "I'm going with a lot of good feelings" pic.twitter.com/utSkqJ11uB — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 × SP Vaid was shunted as the Transport Commissioner on Thursday. Director General of Prison Dilbagh Singh was directed to look after the force until a regular appointment is made. The official order to this effect was issued late Thursday by Principal Secretary, Home, RK Goyal. Vaid, a 1986-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the Director General of Police in December 2016. He is due to retire in October next year. There was no hurry to replace @spvaid. He should have been changed only when a permanent arrangement had been worked out. @JmuKmrPolice has enough problems without having to deal with confusion of leadership. — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 6, 2018 × Meanwhile, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Thursday reacted to the sudden transfer of J&K police chief SP Vaid. Abdullah stated that there was no hurry to replace Vaid. "He should have been changed only when a permanent arrangement had been worked out. @JmuKmrPolice has enough problems without having to deal with the confusion of leadership," Abdullah tweeted out on Thursday.

Got chance to serve my country, I am going with lot of good feelings: SP Vaid on transfer as J&K police chief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the first ever Global Mobility Summit (MOVE) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The event was organized by NITI Aayog.&nbsp;

The focus of the summit will be on raising awareness about various aspects of mobility and bringing together various stakeholders involved in enhancing mobility across different platforms, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

During his inaugural address, PM Modi underlined the significance of mobility and described it as integral in boosting the economy and for the preservation of the planet.&nbsp;

"We are in the middle of a new mobility revolution. We have opened new air routes and are reducing travel distance," PM Modi noted.

The Prime Minister stated that better mobility can provide better jobs, smart infrastructure and improve the quality of life.

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Indeed, India is on the MOVE. Our economy is on the MOVE. We are the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Our cities and towns are on the MOVE. We are building 100 smart cities. Our infrastructure is on the MOVE. We are speedily building roads, airports, rail lines & ports: PM <a href="https://t.co/VqJc6Nv2H2">pic.twitter.com/VqJc6Nv2H2</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1037950591794704386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Indeed, India is on the MOVE. Our economy is on the MOVE. We are the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Our cities and towns are on the MOVE. We are building 100 smart cities. Our infrastructure is on the MOVE. We are speedily building roads, airports, rail lines and ports," PM Modi shared.&nbsp;

"My vision for the future of mobility in India is based on 7 Cs: Common, connected, convenient, congestion-free, charged, clean, cutting-edge," PM Modi added.&nbsp;

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My vision for the future of mobility in India is based on 7 C’s: Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean, Cutting-edge: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of 1st Global Mobility Summit 'MOVE' at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/D7is3gx6zt">pic.twitter.com/D7is3gx6zt</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1037952075101954049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Global Mobility Summit is the first of its kind, with over 2200 participants expected from across the world including leaders from the government, industry, research organizations, academia, think tanks and civil society.

The Summit, in its inaugural session, will see global CEOs in attendance with 12 more key CEOs in a panel discussion.&nbsp;

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Convenient mobility means safe, affordable and accessible for all sections of the society. This includes the elderly, the women and the specially abled. We need to ensure that public transport is preferred to private modes of travel: PM Modi at 1st Global Mobility Summit 'MOVE'
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1037952732223565825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Union Ministers speaking at various sessions include Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha.

Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis is expected to speak on Day 2, along with Lt Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal.

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

The focus of the 2-day-long summit will be on raising awareness about various aspects of mobility.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the first ever Global Mobility Summit (MOVE) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The event was organized by NITI Aayog. The focus of the summit will be on raising awareness about various aspects of mobility and bringing together various stakeholders involved in enhancing mobility across different platforms, news agency ANI reported. During his inaugural address, PM Modi underlined the significance of mobility and described it as integral in boosting the economy and for the preservation of the planet. "We are in the middle of a new mobility revolution. We have opened new air routes and are reducing travel distance," PM Modi noted. The Prime Minister stated that better mobility can provide better jobs, smart infrastructure and improve the quality of life. Indeed, India is on the MOVE. Our economy is on the MOVE. We are the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Our cities and towns are on the MOVE. We are building 100 smart cities. Our infrastructure is on the MOVE. We are speedily building roads, airports, rail lines & ports: PM pic.twitter.com/VqJc6Nv2H2 — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 × "Indeed, India is on the MOVE. Our economy is on the MOVE. We are the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Our cities and towns are on the MOVE. We are building 100 smart cities. Our infrastructure is on the MOVE. We are speedily building roads, airports, rail lines and ports," PM Modi shared. "My vision for the future of mobility in India is based on 7 Cs: Common, connected, convenient, congestion-free, charged, clean, cutting-edge," PM Modi added. My vision for the future of mobility in India is based on 7 C’s: Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean, Cutting-edge: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of 1st Global Mobility Summit 'MOVE' at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi pic.twitter.com/D7is3gx6zt — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 × The Global Mobility Summit is the first of its kind, with over 2200 participants expected from across the world including leaders from the government, industry, research organizations, academia, think tanks and civil society. The Summit, in its inaugural session, will see global CEOs in attendance with 12 more key CEOs in a panel discussion. Convenient mobility means safe, affordable and accessible for all sections of the society. This includes the elderly, the women and the specially abled. We need to ensure that public transport is preferred to private modes of travel: PM Modi at 1st Global Mobility Summit 'MOVE' — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2018 × Union Ministers speaking at various sessions include Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis is expected to speak on Day 2, along with Lt Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal. (With inputs from ANI)

We're building smart cities, opening new air routes; we are on 'move': PM Modi at Global Mobility Summit

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Hardik Patel rushed to hospital on Day 14 of fast

Shiv Sena likens Ram Kadam to Alauddin Khilji over his anti-women remarks

DMK, RJD to support Cong-sponsored Bharat Bandh against fuel price hike

Ram Kadam has apologised for his remarks, row should end: Maharashtra minister

SP Vaid removed as Jammu and Kashmir police chief

Centre will provide all possible support to flood-hit Kerala: Union Health Minister Nadda

Amid controversy, pictures of Rahul Gandhi's Mansarovar Yatra go viral

First football school in Kashmir aims big

Got chance to serve my country, I am going with lot of good feelings: SP Vaid on transfer as J&K police chief

We're building smart cities, opening new air routes; we are on 'move': PM Modi at Global Mobility Summit