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The chief of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) K Chandrashekhar Rao held a one-hour meeting with Prime Minister Modi on Saturday.

In the meeting the two leaders aimed at formulating a post-poll alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha&nbsp;polls, reports said.

The Telangana Chief Minister is ready to form a post-poll alliance with BJP, however, he was not open to&nbsp;forming a&nbsp;pre-poll alliance as&nbsp;it may&nbsp;not benefit his party, reports said.

The TRS, which is not part of the NDA, resisted from voting against the BJP in the no-trust motion moved by the TDP.

The two leaders also discussed various other issues including revaluation of the reservation percentage for backward communities in education and jobs.

The Chief Minister also submitted a letter in this regard, requesting the Ministry of Home Affairs to relook at the percentage of reservation as the proportion of the backward communities has increased post bifurcation and expedite the process.

A bill titled 'Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in Educational Institutions and of appointments or posts in the services under the State) Bill 2017' was passed by the state assembly in April 2017 to provide reservations in state-run educational organisations and state government jobs.

Rao also submitted a proposal which sought assistance for the development of backward areas of the state.

He also requested an early completion of several railway projects stating that the railway network in Telangana is below average.

The Chief Minister also made a few requests to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD) regarding the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in the state.

He further requested the Central Government to sanction 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya to cover all the districts of the state and, modification in the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) scheme, and implement it in the state.

The ITIR scheme was recently dropped by the Centre.

The state government made another request to the Ministry of Home Affairs to amend the Presidential Order on Zonal system and issue a fresh Presidential Order adjusting zones, multi-zones, and State cadre etc., under section 371-D of the Constitution of India.

Rao also requested for a separate High Court for the state and transfer of defence lands to the state government for construction of a new Secretariat building for the state.He also demanded a grant of Rs 20,000 crore for Kaleshwaram Project on Godavari river as it would provide drinking water and industrial water for irrigation to over 18 lakh acres land in 20 districts. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed various issues including revaluation of the reservation percentage for backward communities in education and jobs

The chief of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) K Chandrashekhar Rao held a one-hour meeting with Prime Minister Modi on Saturday. In the meeting the two leaders aimed at formulating a post-poll alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, reports said. The Telangana Chief Minister is ready to form a post-poll alliance with BJP, however, he was not open to forming a pre-poll alliance as it may not benefit his party, reports said. The TRS, which is not part of the NDA, resisted from voting against the BJP in the no-trust motion moved by the TDP. The two leaders also discussed various other issues including revaluation of the reservation percentage for backward communities in education and jobs. The Chief Minister also submitted a letter in this regard, requesting the Ministry of Home Affairs to relook at the percentage of reservation as the proportion of the backward communities has increased post bifurcation and expedite the process. A bill titled 'Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in Educational Institutions and of appointments or posts in the services under the State) Bill 2017' was passed by the state assembly in April 2017 to provide reservations in state-run educational organisations and state government jobs. Rao also submitted a proposal which sought assistance for the development of backward areas of the state. He also requested an early completion of several railway projects stating that the railway network in Telangana is below average. The Chief Minister also made a few requests to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD) regarding the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in the state. He further requested the Central Government to sanction 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya to cover all the districts of the state and, modification in the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) scheme, and implement it in the state. The ITIR scheme was recently dropped by the Centre. The state government made another request to the Ministry of Home Affairs to amend the Presidential Order on Zonal system and issue a fresh Presidential Order adjusting zones, multi-zones, and State cadre etc., under section 371-D of the Constitution of India. Rao also requested for a separate High Court for the state and transfer of defence lands to the state government for construction of a new Secretariat building for the state.He also demanded a grant of Rs 20,000 crore for Kaleshwaram Project on Godavari river as it would provide drinking water and industrial water for irrigation to over 18 lakh acres land in 20 districts. (With inputs from ANI)

Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao meets PM Modi, hints at forming post-poll alliance for 2019

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, speaking at a book launch event in Pune on Saturday, said that the people of Pakistan share a close bond with India.&nbsp

"Whenever I have spoken to common people of Pakistan during my visit there, I have felt that they share a closeness with India," said Pawar.

Commenting on certain people making remarks such as "go to Pakistan", he said that those passing such comments neither understood Pakistan nor India.&nbsp

"If a youth, belonging to the minority, makes such statements then some people ask him to go to Pakistan. What is Pakistan? There may be differences today but before independence, it was the part of India only. Being the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), I had to travel to Pakistan multiple times. I got the chance to communicate with Pakistan team players multiple times and every time I had experienced that there is a closeness they have about every Indian. They have their brothers - sisters in Uttar Pradesh or other states but just because of the situation between both the countries they unable to meet each other so easily. And hence those who ask go to Pakistan neither know Pakistan nor India.," he added.

Ties between India and Pakistan have remained tense since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and nosedived after the Uri terror attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in September 2016, that claimed lives of 19 Indian soldiers.

The relation further deteriorated after a military court in Pakistan sentenced naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of alleged espionage and terrorism in April last year. 
 
(With inputs from ANI)

The relation further deteriorated after a military court in Pakistan sentenced naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of alleged espionage and terrorism in April last year.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, speaking at a book launch event in Pune on Saturday, said that the people of Pakistan share a close bond with India. "Whenever I have spoken to common people of Pakistan during my visit there, I have felt that they share a closeness with India," said Pawar. Commenting on certain people making remarks such as "go to Pakistan", he said that those passing such comments neither understood Pakistan nor India. "If a youth, belonging to the minority, makes such statements then some people ask him to go to Pakistan. What is Pakistan? There may be differences today but before independence, it was the part of India only. Being the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), I had to travel to Pakistan multiple times. I got the chance to communicate with Pakistan team players multiple times and every time I had experienced that there is a closeness they have about every Indian. They have their brothers - sisters in Uttar Pradesh or other states but just because of the situation between both the countries they unable to meet each other so easily. And hence those who ask go to Pakistan neither know Pakistan nor India.," he added. Ties between India and Pakistan have remained tense since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and nosedived after the Uri terror attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in September 2016, that claimed lives of 19 Indian soldiers. The relation further deteriorated after a military court in Pakistan sentenced naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of alleged espionage and terrorism in April last year. (With inputs from ANI)

Those saying 'go to Pakistan' have understood neither India nor Pakistan: Sharad Pawar

Stating that reservation will not guarantee employment as jobs are shrinking, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday there is a "school of thought" which wants policy-makers to consider the poorest of poor in every community.

Gadkari made the remarks, responding to reporters' questions on the ongoing agitation by the Marathas for reservation and similar demands by other communities in Maharashtra.

"Let's us assume the reservation is given. But there are no jobs. Because in banks, the jobs have shrunk because of IT. The government recruitment is frozen. Where are the jobs?

"The problem with the quota is that backwardness is becoming a political interest. Everyone says I am backward. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Brahmins are strong. They dominate politics. (And) They say they are backward," the senior BJP leader said.

"So one school of thought is that a poor is poor, he has no caste, creed or language. Whatever may be the religion -- the Muslim, the Hindu or the Maratha (a caste), in all communities there is one section which has no clothes to wear, no food to eat.

"One school of thought also is (that) we must also consider the poorest of the poor section in every community," he said.

This is a "socio-economic thinking" and it must not be politicised, the Union Minister said.

Maintaining that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was trying to resolve the Maratha quota demand by holding talks, Gadkari urged people to maintain peace.

"The responsible political parties must not add fuel to the fire," he added.

The development, the industrialisation and the good prices for rural produce would ease the economic distress that the Maratha community is suffering from, he said.

'Let's us assume the reservation is given. But there are no jobs. Because in banks, the jobs have shrunk because of IT. The government recruitment is frozen. Where are the jobs?', he said.

Stating that reservation will not guarantee employment as jobs are shrinking, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday there is a "school of thought" which wants policy-makers to consider the poorest of poor in every community. Gadkari made the remarks, responding to reporters' questions on the ongoing agitation by the Marathas for reservation and similar demands by other communities in Maharashtra. "Let's us assume the reservation is given. But there are no jobs. Because in banks, the jobs have shrunk because of IT. The government recruitment is frozen. Where are the jobs? "The problem with the quota is that backwardness is becoming a political interest. Everyone says I am backward. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Brahmins are strong. They dominate politics. (And) They say they are backward," the senior BJP leader said. "So one school of thought is that a poor is poor, he has no caste, creed or language. Whatever may be the religion -- the Muslim, the Hindu or the Maratha (a caste), in all communities there is one section which has no clothes to wear, no food to eat. "One school of thought also is (that) we must also consider the poorest of the poor section in every community," he said. This is a "socio-economic thinking" and it must not be politicised, the Union Minister said. Maintaining that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was trying to resolve the Maratha quota demand by holding talks, Gadkari urged people to maintain peace. "The responsible political parties must not add fuel to the fire," he added. The development, the industrialisation and the good prices for rural produce would ease the economic distress that the Maratha community is suffering from, he said.

Maratha quota row: Reservation won't guarantee jobs,' says Nitin Gadkari

Four people drowned in Yamuna river near Alipur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. While two bodies have been recovered, the search of&nbspthe remaining is underway, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp

Meanwhile, water levels in Yamuna river were on a continuous rise in Delhi/ NCR last week.&nbsp

According to reports, the river, on Tuesday, rose to 206.05 meters in Delhi/NCR, leading to around 14,000 evacuations.&nbsp

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Delhi: Four people drown in Yamuna river near Alipur. Bodies of two people have been recovered, search for others is underway
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"The level of Yamuna maintained at 206.05 meters for seven hours (till 8 pm). The rise was contributed by hourly discharge from Hathani Kund Barrage," Delhi government's flood control room said.

The river's water level was inching towards the danger mark in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district until Wednesday when the administration of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district has asked people not to panic as the Yamuna river was flowing below the danger mark

Meanwhile, water levels in Yamuna river were on a continuous rise in Delhi/ NCR last week.

Four people drowned in Yamuna river near Alipur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. While two bodies have been recovered, the search of&nbspthe remaining is underway, news agency ANI reported. Meanwhile, water levels in Yamuna river were on a continuous rise in Delhi/ NCR last week. According to reports, the river, on Tuesday, rose to 206.05 meters in Delhi/NCR, leading to around 14,000 evacuations. Delhi: Four people drown in Yamuna river near Alipur. Bodies of two people have been recovered, search for others is underway — ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2018 × "The level of Yamuna maintained at 206.05 meters for seven hours (till 8 pm). The rise was contributed by hourly discharge from Hathani Kund Barrage," Delhi government's flood control room said. The river's water level was inching towards the danger mark in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district until Wednesday when the administration of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district has asked people not to panic as the Yamuna river was flowing below the danger mark

Uttar Pradesh: Four drown in Yamuna river, bodies of two found

The UIDAI on Sunday said vested interests misused Google's "inadvertent" act around it old helpline number to create fear and tarnish the image of Aadhaar while emphasising that a number stored in contact list cannot steal data from a mobile phone.

The Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) said rumour mongers attempted to tarnish the image of Aadhaar for a Google's inadvertent act that led to appearance of its old helpline number 1800 300 1947 in the contact list of several mobile phone users.

"UIDAI condemns the vested interests who tried to misuse Google's "inadvertent" act as an opportunity to spread rumours and go around fear-mongering against Aadhaar," the authority said in a statement.

Last week, a French security expert who goes under the pseudonym Elliot Alderson and describes himself as the "worst nightmare" of the UIDAI, in a tweet had raised alarm on the presence of a UIDAI contact number in contact list of mobile phone users without their consent.&nbsp;

His tweet scared many mobile phone users on appearance of the UIDAI's old helpline number in their contacts even though they did not add it.&nbsp;

Google on last Friday admitted that the number 18003001947 was added by it 'inadvertently' along with police and fire number 112 in 2014 and has since been continuing through sync mechanism.&nbsp;

The UIDAI said it has earlier clarified and emphasised that it has not asked any agency whatsoever to include its helpline number in mobile phones and also added that merely adding a phone number cannot steal data from the phone.&nbsp;

"Just by a helpline number in a mobile's contact list the data stored on the mobile phone cannot be stolen. Therefore, there should be no panic to delete the number as no harm will be caused. Rather people may, if they so wish, update it with UIDAI's new helpline number 1947," the authority said.

Anderson in his another tweet had said that there was no need to freak out as it was just a contact but alarmed that it could be the tip of "an iceberg". &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The UIDAI said rumours being spread on social media to delete helpline number are "totally false propaganda and is nothing but scare-mongering against Aadhaar by vested interests trying to exploit Google's act to spread misinformation about Aadhaar by scaring people."

"UIDAI condemns the vested interests who tried to misuse Google's "inadvertent" act as an opportunity to spread rumours and go around fear-mongering against Aadhaar," the authority said in a statement.

The UIDAI on Sunday said vested interests misused Google's "inadvertent" act around it old helpline number to create fear and tarnish the image of Aadhaar while emphasising that a number stored in contact list cannot steal data from a mobile phone. The Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) said rumour mongers attempted to tarnish the image of Aadhaar for a Google's inadvertent act that led to appearance of its old helpline number 1800 300 1947 in the contact list of several mobile phone users. "UIDAI condemns the vested interests who tried to misuse Google's "inadvertent" act as an opportunity to spread rumours and go around fear-mongering against Aadhaar," the authority said in a statement. Last week, a French security expert who goes under the pseudonym Elliot Alderson and describes himself as the "worst nightmare" of the UIDAI, in a tweet had raised alarm on the presence of a UIDAI contact number in contact list of mobile phone users without their consent. His tweet scared many mobile phone users on appearance of the UIDAI's old helpline number in their contacts even though they did not add it. Google on last Friday admitted that the number 18003001947 was added by it 'inadvertently' along with police and fire number 112 in 2014 and has since been continuing through sync mechanism. The UIDAI said it has earlier clarified and emphasised that it has not asked any agency whatsoever to include its helpline number in mobile phones and also added that merely adding a phone number cannot steal data from the phone. "Just by a helpline number in a mobile's contact list the data stored on the mobile phone cannot be stolen. Therefore, there should be no panic to delete the number as no harm will be caused. Rather people may, if they so wish, update it with UIDAI's new helpline number 1947," the authority said. Anderson in his another tweet had said that there was no need to freak out as it was just a contact but alarmed that it could be the tip of "an iceberg". The UIDAI said rumours being spread on social media to delete helpline number are "totally false propaganda and is nothing but scare-mongering against Aadhaar by vested interests trying to exploit Google's act to spread misinformation about Aadhaar by scaring people."

UIDAI slams rumour-mongering; says 'contact number cannot steal data' 

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that people of Pakistan share a closeness with India.

Speaking at a book launch event in Pune, Pawar said, "Whenever I have spoken to common people of Pakistan during my visit there, I have felt that they share a closeness with India."

He further said those who ask people to "go to Pakistan" neither understood Pakistan nor India.

"If a youth, belonging to the minority, makes such statements then some people ask him to go to Pakistan. What is Pakistan? There may be differences today but before independence, it was the part of India only.. Being the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), I had to travel to Pakistan multiple times. I got the chance to communicate with Pakistan team players multiple times and every time I had experienced that there is a closeness they have about every Indian. They have their brothers - sisters in Uttar Pradesh or other states but just because of the situation between both the countries they unable to meet each other so easily. And hence those who ask go to Pakistan neither know Pakistan nor India.," he added.

Ties between India and Pakistan have remained tense since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and nosedived after the Uri terror attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in September 2016, that claimed lives of 19 Indian soldiers.

The relation further deteriorated after a military court in Pakistan sentenced naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of alleged espionage and terrorism in April last year.&nbsp

He further said those who ask people to 'go to Pakistan' neither understood Pakistan nor India

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that people of Pakistan share a closeness with India. Speaking at a book launch event in Pune, Pawar said, "Whenever I have spoken to common people of Pakistan during my visit there, I have felt that they share a closeness with India." He further said those who ask people to "go to Pakistan" neither understood Pakistan nor India. "If a youth, belonging to the minority, makes such statements then some people ask him to go to Pakistan. What is Pakistan? There may be differences today but before independence, it was the part of India only.. Being the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), I had to travel to Pakistan multiple times. I got the chance to communicate with Pakistan team players multiple times and every time I had experienced that there is a closeness they have about every Indian. They have their brothers - sisters in Uttar Pradesh or other states but just because of the situation between both the countries they unable to meet each other so easily. And hence those who ask go to Pakistan neither know Pakistan nor India.," he added. Ties between India and Pakistan have remained tense since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and nosedived after the Uri terror attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in September 2016, that claimed lives of 19 Indian soldiers. The relation further deteriorated after a military court in Pakistan sentenced naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of alleged espionage and terrorism in April last year.

Pak people share closeness with India: Sharad Pawar

President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to a Bill that will deter fugitive economic offenders to evade legal process in India and flee the country.

A fugitive economic offender is any individual against whom warrants for arrest is issued for his involvement in select economic offences involving an amount of at least Rs 100 crore or more and has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution.

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 has got the nod from the president, according to an official order.

The new legislation will prevent big economic offenders like <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/vijay-mallya-extradition-uk-court-asks-indian-government-to-submit-videos-of-arthur-road-jail-by-september-12-156067">Vijay Mallya</a> and <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/request-for-extradition-of-nirav-modi-sent-to-uk-government-mos-mea-vk-singh--156699">Nirav Modi</a> from fleeing the country and evading the law.

Both Mallya and Modi wanted in cases being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), are out of India.

The new law allows designated special court to declare a person as fugitive economic offender and to confiscate his property, including 'benami' ones.

"All the rights and title in the confiscated property shall, from the date of the confiscation order, vest in the central government, free from all encumbrances," the Act says.

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on July 25. The Lok Sabha had cleared the measure on July 19.

Justifying the financial limit of Rs 100 crore for invoking the provisions of this new law, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had recently said in Parliament that it was being done to "catch the big offenders and not to clog the courts".

"This bill is an effective, expeditious and constitutional way to stop these offenders from running away. Legislative changes or a new law must be in place to confiscate assets of such absconders till they don't present themselves in front of the courts.

We will also work out what has to be done with the confiscated assets," Goyal had said in Rajya Sabha.

The Enforcement Directorate will be the investigative agency under the Act, he had said.

The president has also given nod to other laws-- the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act, 2018, the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Act, 2018 and the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act is aimed at allowing a court to try offences related to cheque bounce expeditiously and direct the drawee to pay a minimum of 20 per cent of the cheque amount as interim compensation.

The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Act is to repeal two other laws --The State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 and the State Bank of Hyderabad Act, 1956-- and to further amend the State Bank of India Act of 1955.

The Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018 grants a party the right to seek damages from the other side in case of a breach of a business contract and to reduce discretion of courts in such matters.

Bills in these regards were approved by Parliament recently.

A fugitive economic offender is any individual against whom warrants for arrest is issued for his involvement in select economic offences involving an amount of at least Rs 100 crore or more and has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution

President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to a Bill that will deter fugitive economic offenders to evade legal process in India and flee the country. A fugitive economic offender is any individual against whom warrants for arrest is issued for his involvement in select economic offences involving an amount of at least Rs 100 crore or more and has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 has got the nod from the president, according to an official order. The new legislation will prevent big economic offenders like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi from fleeing the country and evading the law. Both Mallya and Modi wanted in cases being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), are out of India. The new law allows designated special court to declare a person as fugitive economic offender and to confiscate his property, including 'benami' ones. "All the rights and title in the confiscated property shall, from the date of the confiscation order, vest in the central government, free from all encumbrances," the Act says. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on July 25. The Lok Sabha had cleared the measure on July 19. Justifying the financial limit of Rs 100 crore for invoking the provisions of this new law, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had recently said in Parliament that it was being done to "catch the big offenders and not to clog the courts". "This bill is an effective, expeditious and constitutional way to stop these offenders from running away. Legislative changes or a new law must be in place to confiscate assets of such absconders till they don't present themselves in front of the courts. We will also work out what has to be done with the confiscated assets," Goyal had said in Rajya Sabha. The Enforcement Directorate will be the investigative agency under the Act, he had said. The president has also given nod to other laws-- the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act, 2018, the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Act, 2018 and the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018. The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act is aimed at allowing a court to try offences related to cheque bounce expeditiously and direct the drawee to pay a minimum of 20 per cent of the cheque amount as interim compensation. The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Act is to repeal two other laws --The State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 and the State Bank of Hyderabad Act, 1956-- and to further amend the State Bank of India Act of 1955. The Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018 grants a party the right to seek damages from the other side in case of a breach of a business contract and to reduce discretion of courts in such matters. Bills in these regards were approved by Parliament recently.

President nods to Bill to deter fugitive economic offenders from fleeing country

Justice KM Joseph was finally appointed to the Supreme Court Saturday, but the government notification announcing the appointment places him below the two other two judges — Justice Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran — appointed along with him.&nbsp;

Joseph's appointment to the Supreme Court has been long and tortuous. His name was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-asks-collegium-to-reconsider-elevation-of-justice-km-joseph-to-supreme-court-sources-132958">returned by the government</a> after the Supreme Court collegium first recommended it.&nbsp;

Joseph's name was only cleared by the government after the collegium sent it back. But the government notification this time — it was cleared last week — placed his name below Justices Banejee and Saran.&nbsp;

News reports Sunday said Supreme Court justices (it did not say how many) were upset by the move and planned to meet Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra about it.&nbsp;

The justices' contention was that since Joseph's name was sent first to the government, it should have been placed before the names of Justice Banerjee and Saran and not after.&nbsp;

The reports said the justices saw this as "clear interference" by the government in judicial matters.&nbsp;

The reports added the justices planned to meet Misra on Monday to lodge their protest with him.

Joseph, as chief justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, had struck down President's Rule in the state in 2016, thereby allowing the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat back into power.&nbsp;

The BJP government at the Centre however has consistently denied that that is why it has opposed Joseph's appointment to the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

Joseph has been made junior to Justices Banerjee and Saran who were appointed to the Supreme Court along with him Saturday. The court's justices contend that since Joseph's name had been sent to the government earlier — the government returned it for reconsideration — he should have been made senior and not junior to Banerjee and Saran

Justice KM Joseph was finally appointed to the Supreme Court Saturday, but the government notification announcing the appointment places him below the two other two judges — Justice Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran — appointed along with him. Joseph's appointment to the Supreme Court has been long and tortuous. His name was returned by the government after the Supreme Court collegium first recommended it. Joseph's name was only cleared by the government after the collegium sent it back. But the government notification this time — it was cleared last week — placed his name below Justices Banejee and Saran. News reports Sunday said Supreme Court justices (it did not say how many) were upset by the move and planned to meet Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra about it. The justices' contention was that since Joseph's name was sent first to the government, it should have been placed before the names of Justice Banerjee and Saran and not after. The reports said the justices saw this as "clear interference" by the government in judicial matters. The reports added the justices planned to meet Misra on Monday to lodge their protest with him. Joseph, as chief justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, had struck down President's Rule in the state in 2016, thereby allowing the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat back into power. The BJP government at the Centre however has consistently denied that that is why it has opposed Joseph's appointment to the Supreme Court.

Justice Joseph made junior to judges appointed with him, SC justices to meet CJI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that all constitutional obligations in connection with the granting of reservations to the Maratha community in the state would be completed by November this year.

Fadnavis, making a 15-minute address on state television and radio, said that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) would inform the Bombay Hight Court on August 7 about when it will submit its report regarding the Maratha quota.

He said that once the report of the MSBCC was submitted, a special session of the state Legislature would be convened within a month to pass a "law or resolution" regarding granting reservations to the community.

The CM said MSBCC was a statutory body and cannot be "pressurised" (to submit the report quickly).

The commission was in the process of collecting "quantifiable" data. "About 1.86 lakh shreds of evidence and data have been collected," he informed.

Fadnavis appealed to the community to shun violence as a "handful of people" were giving a bad name to the silent marches (mook morchas) (taken out for reservation earlier) that were seen as a model form of protest.

The Maratha reservation stir took a violent turn following the death of a youth on July 23 and since then it has seen arson and stone-pelting in several districts of the state.

The chief minister said that the agitation was justified only if the government was apathetic and claimed that "sincere and genuine" efforts were being made to address the community's grievances which had prevailed for years.

"Our government is addressing them sincerely. I appeal to community leaders to monitor schemes implemented in the districts and bring loopholes, if any, to the notice of the government," he said.

Fadnavis also took on his critics who have been demanding an ordinance to grant reservations to the Maratha community.

"Some are saying promulgate an ordinance and what was the need for the Backwad Class Commission. An ordinance can be promulgated and you will get satisfaction that a decision was taken. However, it won't stand legal scrutiny," he said.

The chief minister said that legal experts, during detailed discussions, had opined that Maratha reservations would not stand in a court of law if legal and constitutional obligations were not completed.

Referring to a mega recruitment drive to fill government posts in the state, Fadnavis said that no injustice would be done to Marathas.

"The drive is yet to start. The process of how to ensure justice for Marathas while not impacting reservations for members of the SC/ST communities was being worked out," Fadnavis said.

Calling on the Maratha community to "trust" his government, he said that the government was taking effective steps to implement provisions under the Annabhau Sathe Finance Corporation and Rajashri Shahu Maharaj Scholarship schemes for the community.

He said that the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had been entrusted with the task of surveying and submitting a report in connection with reservations for the Dhangar community in the state.

The TISS report would be submitted by the end of this month, he said.

Appealing people to be calm and shun violence, Fadnavis said that "disturbances of this sort would affect the sizable investment that Maharashtra was attracting."

He also appealed to the youth to not commit suicide (several instances of which have occurred during the Maratha stir that started afresh in the last week of July) as it pained him "to the core".

"I appeal to the youth to not commit suicide. Please come forward and discuss (your issues) with the government. If there is a lacuna, then share it with the government and all efforts will be made to rectify it," he said.

Asking parties to set aside politicking, he requested them to unite in order to "fulfil the aspirations of the youth".

Fadanvis, during his address, said that Maharashtra was the most favourable destination for investment in the country.

"About 42 to 47 per cent investment in the country is coming to Maharashtra and this is generating employment on a large scale. The EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Organisation) report for last year stated that Maharashtra was the biggest generator of jobs, at 8 lakh, in a single year," he said.

Citing the violence in Chakan industrial belt near Pune last week, the Maharashtra CM asked whether investors would turn up if such incidents continued.

He informed that industrial corridors were being planned in places like Jalna and Aurangabad and violence in the name of caste and religion among others would ruin the image of a progressive state like Maharashtra.

He also asked people to stop the "misuse of social media" to "mislead society".&nbsp;

Fadnavis, making a 15-minute address on state television and radio, said that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) would inform the Bombay Hight Court on August 7 about when it will submit its report regarding the Maratha quota.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that all constitutional obligations in connection with the granting of reservations to the Maratha community in the state would be completed by November this year. Fadnavis, making a 15-minute address on state television and radio, said that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) would inform the Bombay Hight Court on August 7 about when it will submit its report regarding the Maratha quota. He said that once the report of the MSBCC was submitted, a special session of the state Legislature would be convened within a month to pass a "law or resolution" regarding granting reservations to the community. The CM said MSBCC was a statutory body and cannot be "pressurised" (to submit the report quickly). The commission was in the process of collecting "quantifiable" data. "About 1.86 lakh shreds of evidence and data have been collected," he informed. Fadnavis appealed to the community to shun violence as a "handful of people" were giving a bad name to the silent marches (mook morchas) (taken out for reservation earlier) that were seen as a model form of protest. The Maratha reservation stir took a violent turn following the death of a youth on July 23 and since then it has seen arson and stone-pelting in several districts of the state. The chief minister said that the agitation was justified only if the government was apathetic and claimed that "sincere and genuine" efforts were being made to address the community's grievances which had prevailed for years. "Our government is addressing them sincerely. I appeal to community leaders to monitor schemes implemented in the districts and bring loopholes, if any, to the notice of the government," he said. Fadnavis also took on his critics who have been demanding an ordinance to grant reservations to the Maratha community. "Some are saying promulgate an ordinance and what was the need for the Backwad Class Commission. An ordinance can be promulgated and you will get satisfaction that a decision was taken. However, it won't stand legal scrutiny," he said. The chief minister said that legal experts, during detailed discussions, had opined that Maratha reservations would not stand in a court of law if legal and constitutional obligations were not completed. Referring to a mega recruitment drive to fill government posts in the state, Fadnavis said that no injustice would be done to Marathas. "The drive is yet to start. The process of how to ensure justice for Marathas while not impacting reservations for members of the SC/ST communities was being worked out," Fadnavis said. Calling on the Maratha community to "trust" his government, he said that the government was taking effective steps to implement provisions under the Annabhau Sathe Finance Corporation and Rajashri Shahu Maharaj Scholarship schemes for the community. He said that the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had been entrusted with the task of surveying and submitting a report in connection with reservations for the Dhangar community in the state. The TISS report would be submitted by the end of this month, he said. Appealing people to be calm and shun violence, Fadnavis said that "disturbances of this sort would affect the sizable investment that Maharashtra was attracting." He also appealed to the youth to not commit suicide (several instances of which have occurred during the Maratha stir that started afresh in the last week of July) as it pained him "to the core". "I appeal to the youth to not commit suicide. Please come forward and discuss (your issues) with the government. If there is a lacuna, then share it with the government and all efforts will be made to rectify it," he said. Asking parties to set aside politicking, he requested them to unite in order to "fulfil the aspirations of the youth". Fadanvis, during his address, said that Maharashtra was the most favourable destination for investment in the country. "About 42 to 47 per cent investment in the country is coming to Maharashtra and this is generating employment on a large scale. The EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Organisation) report for last year stated that Maharashtra was the biggest generator of jobs, at 8 lakh, in a single year," he said. Citing the violence in Chakan industrial belt near Pune last week, the Maharashtra CM asked whether investors would turn up if such incidents continued. He informed that industrial corridors were being planned in places like Jalna and Aurangabad and violence in the name of caste and religion among others would ruin the image of a progressive state like Maharashtra. He also asked people to stop the "misuse of social media" to "mislead society".

All constitutional obligations for Maratha reservation to be completed by November: Fadnavis

An input shared by Intelligence Agencies warns of a possible ‘fidayeen attack’ in the national capital.&nbsp

According to intelligence sources, terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed is planning an attack in Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day 2018.&nbsp

As per media reports, Jaish Chief Masood Azhar's brother named Abdul Rauf Ashgar's ex-bodyguard, Ebrahim Ismail alias Lambu is reported to have received training and is behind the planning of an attack on 15 August in Delhi.

Reports also say that Jaish has sent two of their commandos in Kashmir valley so as to prepare for the attack. The other terrorist who has crossed over along with Ebrahim Ismail or Lambu is Masood Azhar's elder brother's son named Umar.&nbsp

Earlier in July, there were reports of Pakistan-based jihadist group Jaish-e-Muhammad, reportedly training its cadres in deep sea diving with the aim to target "strategic assets" of the Indian Navy.&nbsp

Meanwhile on Saturday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in a strong message to Pakistan, asserted that every infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir from across the border would be thwarted.

“I am here as defence minister to take care of our borders to stop infiltration. I will keep doing that irrespective of what is happening there (in Pakistan). Our stand remains the same. Every attempt of infiltration will be thwarted,” she said.

There were reports of Pakistan-based jihadist group Jaish-e-Muhammad, reportedly training its cadres in deep sea diving with the aim to target "strategic assets" of the Indian Navy.

An input shared by Intelligence Agencies warns of a possible ‘fidayeen attack’ in the national capital. According to intelligence sources, terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed is planning an attack in Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day 2018. As per media reports, Jaish Chief Masood Azhar's brother named Abdul Rauf Ashgar's ex-bodyguard, Ebrahim Ismail alias Lambu is reported to have received training and is behind the planning of an attack on 15 August in Delhi. Reports also say that Jaish has sent two of their commandos in Kashmir valley so as to prepare for the attack. The other terrorist who has crossed over along with Ebrahim Ismail or Lambu is Masood Azhar's elder brother's son named Umar. Earlier in July, there were reports of Pakistan-based jihadist group Jaish-e-Muhammad, reportedly training its cadres in deep sea diving with the aim to target "strategic assets" of the Indian Navy. Meanwhile on Saturday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in a strong message to Pakistan, asserted that every infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir from across the border would be thwarted. “I am here as defence minister to take care of our borders to stop infiltration. I will keep doing that irrespective of what is happening there (in Pakistan). Our stand remains the same. Every attempt of infiltration will be thwarted,” she said.

Independence Day 2018: Delhi police on high alert as intelligence agencies warn of terror attack 

The iconic Mughalsarai station was officially renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction on Sunday.&nbsp;

Deen Dayal Upadhyay was an RSS thinker and a co-founder of the Jana Sangh, the forerunner of the BJP. Interestingly, Upadhyay was found dead, in mysterious circumstances, in February 1968&nbsp;near Mughalsarai station.&nbsp;

The renamed station was inaugurated by BJP president Amit Shah, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The station was given splotches of saffron paint before the inauguration.&nbsp;

The trio flagged off a passenger train, and a goods train with an all-woman crew, and also launched a "smart yard" project at the 156-year-old station on the Delhi-Howrah route.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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BJP president <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmitShah?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmitShah</a> inaugurates new Deen Dayal Upadhyaya railway station, which was earlier known as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mughalsarai?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mughalsarai</a>. Union Minister Piyush Goyal & UP CM Yogi Adityanath, also present. <a href="https://t.co/nrEaylgilP">pic.twitter.com/nrEaylgilP</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1026039607517884417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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News reports Sunday added that next on the renaming block were the Agra, Bareilly, and Kanpur airports. The first of them, interestingly, is already named Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Airport. .

The reports added that Adityanath has already sent a request to the Centre asking for permission to rename the airports.

They also quoted opposition leaders as saying the renaming was just the government's way of diverting attention from real issues.&nbsp;

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By changing Mughalsarai station's name to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, trains won't start coming on time,they should rectify the mismanagement in railways. Changing of names won't lead to development: Om Prakash Rajbhar, UP Minister <a href="https://t.co/jHRx18DzqX">pic.twitter.com/jHRx18DzqX</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1026126744019984384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The iconic Mughalsarai station was officially renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay station on Sunday. Upadhyay is an RSS ideologue co-founder of the Jana Sangh, the forerunner of the BJP

The iconic Mughalsarai station was officially renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction on Sunday. Deen Dayal Upadhyay was an RSS thinker and a co-founder of the Jana Sangh, the forerunner of the BJP. Interestingly, Upadhyay was found dead, in mysterious circumstances, in February 1968 near Mughalsarai station. The renamed station was inaugurated by BJP president Amit Shah, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The station was given splotches of saffron paint before the inauguration. The trio flagged off a passenger train, and a goods train with an all-woman crew, and also launched a "smart yard" project at the 156-year-old station on the Delhi-Howrah route. BJP president #AmitShah inaugurates new Deen Dayal Upadhyaya railway station, which was earlier known as #Mughalsarai. Union Minister Piyush Goyal & UP CM Yogi Adityanath, also present. pic.twitter.com/nrEaylgilP — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 5, 2018 × News reports Sunday added that next on the renaming block were the Agra, Bareilly, and Kanpur airports. The first of them, interestingly, is already named Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Airport. . The reports added that Adityanath has already sent a request to the Centre asking for permission to rename the airports. They also quoted opposition leaders as saying the renaming was just the government's way of diverting attention from real issues. By changing Mughalsarai station's name to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, trains won't start coming on time,they should rectify the mismanagement in railways. Changing of names won't lead to development: Om Prakash Rajbhar, UP Minister pic.twitter.com/jHRx18DzqX — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 5, 2018 ×

UP: Mughalsarai railway station renamed; Agra, Bareilly, Kanpur airports reportedly next

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's comments on the National Register of Citizens draft (NRC) has landed her in trouble. According to reports, an FIR has been lodged against the minister.

This is not the first time Banerjee is facing an FIR over her speeches. A case was registered against Banerjee on &nbsp;August 3 at Geetanagar Police Station in Assam for allegedly delivering "inflammatory speech and attempting to disrupt communal harmony".

Two similar cases were registered in Assam previously, this is the fourth FIR against the minister, ANI reported.&nbsp;

The Chief Minister has maintained a stance of disapproval towards the release of the final draft on the NRC. In a statement made last week, Banerjee lashed out at the Centre asking about the fate of the 40 lakh people who have been excluded from the list.&nbsp;

She also stated that the government is making people <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/people-are-being-made-refugees-in-their-own-country-mamata-banerjee-slams-centre-on-nrc-move-155698">refugees in their own country</a>. The Chief Minister, while speaking at an event on July 31 had also said that there will be "civil war and bloodbath" in the country if the NRC issue is not resolved.

The draft, which was released on July 30, left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam, incorporating names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)

The draft, which was released on July 30, left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's comments on the National Register of Citizens draft (NRC) has landed her in trouble. According to reports, an FIR has been lodged against the minister. This is not the first time Banerjee is facing an FIR over her speeches. A case was registered against Banerjee on August 3 at Geetanagar Police Station in Assam for allegedly delivering "inflammatory speech and attempting to disrupt communal harmony". Two similar cases were registered in Assam previously, this is the fourth FIR against the minister, ANI reported. The Chief Minister has maintained a stance of disapproval towards the release of the final draft on the NRC. In a statement made last week, Banerjee lashed out at the Centre asking about the fate of the 40 lakh people who have been excluded from the list. She also stated that the government is making people refugees in their own country. The Chief Minister, while speaking at an event on July 31 had also said that there will be "civil war and bloodbath" in the country if the NRC issue is not resolved. The draft, which was released on July 30, left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam, incorporating names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants. (With inputs from ANI)

FIR lodged against Mamata Banerjee for comments over NRC draft 

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said today that his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee's "inflammatory" comment on NRC does not behove of a senior politician and asserted that his government was committed to complete the exercise as per the Supreme Court order.

Sonowal, a student-leader-turned politician, said precious time of Parliament were wasted by stalling its proceedings by Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress, by spreading "false propaganda" and "wrong information" on National Register of Citizens (NRC), a list of Assam's citizens.

Not a single law and order situation has arisen in Assam after the publication of the draft NRC, which was completely fair and transparent, Sonowal said.

"The statements of the West Bengal chief minister were inflammatory and divisive and aimed at her vote bank in her own state. It does not behove of a chief minister," he told PTI in a telephonic interview from Guwahati.

Sonowal, 55, was responding to a question on Banerjee's comment that the NRC exercise in Assam was done with a "political motive" to divide people and it would lead to "bloodbath" and a "civil war" in the country.

He said rumours have been spread about the NRC in the country as well as abroad but he was thankful to the people of Assam, especially those from the Barak valley and the Bengalis, who did not fall to the prey to the "evil design" of the "outside" forces which tried to instigate people for "narrow political gain".

Sonowal also blasted the Congress for trying to take credit for the publication of draft NRC after initially criticising it.

"The Congress government in the state even failed to complete a pilot project on NRC launched in 2010 due to law and order problems. It was our government which took the initiative under the Supreme Court order and expedited the whole process in the last two years," he said.

The chief minister, who first went to the NRC office after taking oath in 2016 even before attending his office, said he was committed to complete the entire NRC update process as per the apex court mandate.

He said, as a chief minister, he will ensure that not a single Indian is left out from the final NRC.

Sonowal also profusely thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh for their wholehearted support to the complex exercise.

Sonowal also dwelt on the Assam's relations with West Bengal saying the two states share harmonious relations since ages and scholars like Ashutosh Mukherjee helped to introduce the Assamese language in the Calcutta University early 20th century.

He said the people of Assam were guided by the humanitarian and unifying philosophies of singers Bhupen Hazarika and Hemanga Biswas and the former spent his prime time of his career in Kolkata producing some of his immortal creations both in Assamese and Bengali.&nbsp

Sonowal said even renowned Assamese litterateur Lakshminath Bezbaroa strengthened the intrinsic relations by marrying Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's grand-daughter Pragya Sundari.

"Therefore, being a chief minister of such a state which has its deep-rooted culture and traditions, Mamata Banerjee should not have made such baseless comments which have got communal undertone aimed at disturbing the strong relations between Assam and Bengal," he said.&nbsp

Sonowal also thanked the Registrar General of India and the NRC authorities for carrying out the successful work of the NRC update as per the Supreme Court directive.

The massive Supreme Court-monitored exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals living in Assam excluded over 40 lakh people from the draft list published on July 30, creating a huge political controversy.&nbsp

Not a single law and order situation has arisen in Assam after the publication of the draft NRC, which was completely fair and transparent, Sonowal said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said today that his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee's "inflammatory" comment on NRC does not behove of a senior politician and asserted that his government was committed to complete the exercise as per the Supreme Court order. Sonowal, a student-leader-turned politician, said precious time of Parliament were wasted by stalling its proceedings by Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress, by spreading "false propaganda" and "wrong information" on National Register of Citizens (NRC), a list of Assam's citizens. Not a single law and order situation has arisen in Assam after the publication of the draft NRC, which was completely fair and transparent, Sonowal said. "The statements of the West Bengal chief minister were inflammatory and divisive and aimed at her vote bank in her own state. It does not behove of a chief minister," he told PTI in a telephonic interview from Guwahati. Sonowal, 55, was responding to a question on Banerjee's comment that the NRC exercise in Assam was done with a "political motive" to divide people and it would lead to "bloodbath" and a "civil war" in the country. He said rumours have been spread about the NRC in the country as well as abroad but he was thankful to the people of Assam, especially those from the Barak valley and the Bengalis, who did not fall to the prey to the "evil design" of the "outside" forces which tried to instigate people for "narrow political gain". Sonowal also blasted the Congress for trying to take credit for the publication of draft NRC after initially criticising it. "The Congress government in the state even failed to complete a pilot project on NRC launched in 2010 due to law and order problems. It was our government which took the initiative under the Supreme Court order and expedited the whole process in the last two years," he said. The chief minister, who first went to the NRC office after taking oath in 2016 even before attending his office, said he was committed to complete the entire NRC update process as per the apex court mandate. He said, as a chief minister, he will ensure that not a single Indian is left out from the final NRC. Sonowal also profusely thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh for their wholehearted support to the complex exercise. Sonowal also dwelt on the Assam's relations with West Bengal saying the two states share harmonious relations since ages and scholars like Ashutosh Mukherjee helped to introduce the Assamese language in the Calcutta University early 20th century. He said the people of Assam were guided by the humanitarian and unifying philosophies of singers Bhupen Hazarika and Hemanga Biswas and the former spent his prime time of his career in Kolkata producing some of his immortal creations both in Assamese and Bengali. Sonowal said even renowned Assamese litterateur Lakshminath Bezbaroa strengthened the intrinsic relations by marrying Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's grand-daughter Pragya Sundari. "Therefore, being a chief minister of such a state which has its deep-rooted culture and traditions, Mamata Banerjee should not have made such baseless comments which have got communal undertone aimed at disturbing the strong relations between Assam and Bengal," he said. Sonowal also thanked the Registrar General of India and the NRC authorities for carrying out the successful work of the NRC update as per the Supreme Court directive. The massive Supreme Court-monitored exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals living in Assam excluded over 40 lakh people from the draft list published on July 30, creating a huge political controversy.

Mamata's 'bloodbath', 'civil war' comment on NRC does not behove a CM: Sonowal

India and China will attempt to resolve differences in setting up of a hotline soon between the armies of the two countries, during Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe's upcoming visit here, official sources said.

After the Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April, both sides revived the long-pending proposal to set up the hotline so as to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/doklam-was-a-setback-china-keen-on-teaching-india-a-lesson-19300">avoid flare-ups</a> between the two militaries along their disputed border.

But, the initiative hit a roadblock over differences between the two sides on issues relating to protocol and technical aspect of the hotline.

China's State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe is scheduled to visit India later this month.

While the Indian Army has been maintaining that the hotline should be between its Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and his equivalent official in Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing proposed that deputy commander of its Chengdu-based Western Theatre Command would engage with the Indian DGMO, the sources said.&nbsp;

It is learnt that Chinese PLA has also conveyed to Indian Army that they do not have any DGMO in its headquarters and that it was favouring engaging the Western Theatre Command which looks after the Sino-India border.

However, the Indian side feels the protocol must be maintained and equating the Indian Army headquarters to PLA's Western Theatre Command in Chengdu was not proper.&nbsp;

Three commands of the Indian Army -- the Kolkata-based eastern command, the central command headquartered at Lucknow and the northern command, headquartered at Udhampur -- have been tasked to keep an eye on the nearly 3,500-km-long border with China.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam in Sikkim sector last year which was the most serious military confrontation between the two sides in decades.

At the two-day Wuhan summit in April, Modi and Xi decided to issue "strategic guidance" to their militaries to strengthen communications and build trust. The move was seen as aimed at avoiding a Doklam-like standoff between the two militaries.

An eight-member Chinese military delegation led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, Deputy Commander of Western Theatre Command, visited India in June as a follow-up to the Wuhan summit between Modi and Xi.

On the proposed hotline, the official sources said there were certain issues relating to engaging translators for Mandarin and English by the two sides. Both sides will also have to sort out issues relating to technical aspect of the hotline as well.

Currently, India and Pakistan have a hotline between their DGMOs.

The hotline between India and China was first mooted by the two countries in 2013.&nbsp;

The sources said a host of other issues like ways to improve coordination between the two militaries along the border will figured in talks Fenghe will have with his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman and others.&nbsp;

The two armies will attempt to set up the hotline during the Chinese Defence Minister's upcoming vist to India.

India and China will attempt to resolve differences in setting up of a hotline soon between the armies of the two countries, during Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe's upcoming visit here, official sources said. After the Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April, both sides revived the long-pending proposal to set up the hotline so as to avoid flare-ups between the two militaries along their disputed border. But, the initiative hit a roadblock over differences between the two sides on issues relating to protocol and technical aspect of the hotline. China's State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe is scheduled to visit India later this month. While the Indian Army has been maintaining that the hotline should be between its Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and his equivalent official in Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing proposed that deputy commander of its Chengdu-based Western Theatre Command would engage with the Indian DGMO, the sources said. It is learnt that Chinese PLA has also conveyed to Indian Army that they do not have any DGMO in its headquarters and that it was favouring engaging the Western Theatre Command which looks after the Sino-India border. However, the Indian side feels the protocol must be maintained and equating the Indian Army headquarters to PLA's Western Theatre Command in Chengdu was not proper. Three commands of the Indian Army -- the Kolkata-based eastern command, the central command headquartered at Lucknow and the northern command, headquartered at Udhampur -- have been tasked to keep an eye on the nearly 3,500-km-long border with China. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam in Sikkim sector last year which was the most serious military confrontation between the two sides in decades. At the two-day Wuhan summit in April, Modi and Xi decided to issue "strategic guidance" to their militaries to strengthen communications and build trust. The move was seen as aimed at avoiding a Doklam-like standoff between the two militaries. An eight-member Chinese military delegation led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, Deputy Commander of Western Theatre Command, visited India in June as a follow-up to the Wuhan summit between Modi and Xi. On the proposed hotline, the official sources said there were certain issues relating to engaging translators for Mandarin and English by the two sides. Both sides will also have to sort out issues relating to technical aspect of the hotline as well. Currently, India and Pakistan have a hotline between their DGMOs. The hotline between India and China was first mooted by the two countries in 2013. The sources said a host of other issues like ways to improve coordination between the two militaries along the border will figured in talks Fenghe will have with his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman and others.

To avoid flare-ups on border, India-China armies to attempt to set up hotline

Pitching for a "formidable front" against the BJP, former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has said he is not averse to projecting TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the Opposition's prime ministerial face for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The remark by Gowda, 85, comes against the backdrop of reports that the Congress and other opposition parties favour leaving the issue of a prime ministerial candidate for the post-election phase as they feel that opposition unity could be hurt if the subject is taken up ahead of the polls.

The remark also comes days after top Congress sources indicated that the party will not mind a nominee for the top post from any Opposition alliance which does not have the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Gowda, whose party has formed a coalition government in Karnataka with the support of the Congress, said the Congress will play a crucial role in forging opposition unity in the bid by the alliance to dislodge the BJP from power.

The former prime minister noted while the formation of a third front is still in the "early stage" Banerjee is "trying her best" to bring all the non-BJP parties together. Gowda headed the Janata Dal-led United Front(UF) coalition government in 1996 but his tenure did not last more than a year.

Banerjee is pursuing the task of the formation of a federal front seriously after the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam that excluded 40 lakh people from the list in the eastern state, he said.

Banerjee is a bitter critic of the NRC and has pilloried the BJP over the citizenship issue. She is also seeking the support of other opposition parties to take on the ruling party. The BJP has stoutly defended the Supreme Court-mandated exercise, saying it concerned national security and safety of the country's citizens.

Asked if he would support the TMC chief as the prime ministerial face of the opposition, Gowda said: "Most welcome if Mamata is projected as PM. Indira Gandhi ruled as prime minister for 17 years. Why should we (men) alone become PM? Why not Mamata or Mayawati?"

Indicating he is not opposed to a woman prime minister, Gowda said he had piloted the women's reservation bill in Parliament way back in 1996.&nbsp

Noting that the JD(S) has not made any effort to unify regional parties so far, he, however, said the regional party is prepared to cooperate with other parties to fight the BJP.

"It is because there is a sense of fear in the country. There is a suffocating atmosphere for minorities in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. A formidable front is necessary to take on the BJP in 2019," he noted.&nbsp

Observing that the clamour for a political alternative to BJP will gradually gain momentum, Gowda stressed that the Congress as a national party will also play a crucial role.

"I want to see how things will shape up in the next 2-3 months," he added.

Gowda also mentioned that the Congress and his party will fight together in Karnataka during 2019 general polls. However, the issue of seat sharing has not been discussed yet, he said. Karnataka accounts for 28 Lok Sabha seats.

Asked if he would support the TMC chief as the prime ministerial face of the opposition, Gowda said: "Most welcome if Mamata is projected as PM. Indira Gandhi ruled as prime minister for 17 years. Why should we (men) alone become PM? Why not Mamata or Mayawati?"

Pitching for a "formidable front" against the BJP, former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has said he is not averse to projecting TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the Opposition's prime ministerial face for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The remark by Gowda, 85, comes against the backdrop of reports that the Congress and other opposition parties favour leaving the issue of a prime ministerial candidate for the post-election phase as they feel that opposition unity could be hurt if the subject is taken up ahead of the polls. The remark also comes days after top Congress sources indicated that the party will not mind a nominee for the top post from any Opposition alliance which does not have the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Gowda, whose party has formed a coalition government in Karnataka with the support of the Congress, said the Congress will play a crucial role in forging opposition unity in the bid by the alliance to dislodge the BJP from power. The former prime minister noted while the formation of a third front is still in the "early stage" Banerjee is "trying her best" to bring all the non-BJP parties together. Gowda headed the Janata Dal-led United Front(UF) coalition government in 1996 but his tenure did not last more than a year. Banerjee is pursuing the task of the formation of a federal front seriously after the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam that excluded 40 lakh people from the list in the eastern state, he said. Banerjee is a bitter critic of the NRC and has pilloried the BJP over the citizenship issue. She is also seeking the support of other opposition parties to take on the ruling party. The BJP has stoutly defended the Supreme Court-mandated exercise, saying it concerned national security and safety of the country's citizens. Asked if he would support the TMC chief as the prime ministerial face of the opposition, Gowda said: "Most welcome if Mamata is projected as PM. Indira Gandhi ruled as prime minister for 17 years. Why should we (men) alone become PM? Why not Mamata or Mayawati?" Indicating he is not opposed to a woman prime minister, Gowda said he had piloted the women's reservation bill in Parliament way back in 1996. Noting that the JD(S) has not made any effort to unify regional parties so far, he, however, said the regional party is prepared to cooperate with other parties to fight the BJP. "It is because there is a sense of fear in the country. There is a suffocating atmosphere for minorities in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. A formidable front is necessary to take on the BJP in 2019," he noted. Observing that the clamour for a political alternative to BJP will gradually gain momentum, Gowda stressed that the Congress as a national party will also play a crucial role. "I want to see how things will shape up in the next 2-3 months," he added. Gowda also mentioned that the Congress and his party will fight together in Karnataka during 2019 general polls. However, the issue of seat sharing has not been discussed yet, he said. Karnataka accounts for 28 Lok Sabha seats.

Not averse to projecting Mamata as prime ministerial face: Deve Gowda

An RSS-linked NGO, which has moved the Supreme Court for scrapping Article 35A that gives special rights and privileges to the Jammu and Kashmir natives, today said it would seek hearing of its plea by a Constitution bench.

''There is no need to defer the hearing again. We are going to tell the Supreme Court through our counsel tomorrow that our petition on Article 35A should be decided by a Constitution bench,'' Chetan Sharma, the convener of the J&K chapter of the civil society 'We the Citizens', told reporters here.

The Article 35A, which was added to the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir and denies property rights to a native woman who marries a person from outside the state.

It also bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property in the state.

The main petition demanding scrapping of the Article 35A was filed before the apex court in 2014 by Delhi-based NGO 'We the Citizens'.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea against the validity of the Article 35-A tomorrow.

The state government has filed an application to the Supreme Court's registrar, informing him that it is going to seek adjournment of the hearing of the petition in view of the "ongoing preparations for the upcoming Panchayat and urban local body elections in the state".

''We are ready for an argument. Those who want an argument over it should come forward. How long will it be deferred?&nbspDelaying the judgement is not the solution,''&nbspSharma said.

Without naming anyone, he said the NGO was also approached by "certain persons" to seek deferment of the case.

''We want an argument over the issue. We've&nbspfiled the main petition seeking revocation of the article 35A and eight petitions were filed jointly against our petition in the Apex court,''&nbsphe said. 
&nbsp

He dismissed as propaganda&nbspthat revocation of the Article would cause a massive jolt to the state and said Kashmir-centric parties and "some so-called intellectuals in Jammu" are misleading the people on the issue even as it is sub-judice.

''We do not have the right to speak on the issue either as it is pending before the Supreme court. But certain developments over the past couple of days compelled us to negate the propaganda in the state,''&nbsphe said.

Those issuing threats of mass agitation in Kashmir and elsewhere must remain within limits as their poisonous propaganda with mala fide intentions to subjugate masses would boomerang,&nbsphe said, adding that pressurizing the Supreme Court by issuing threats is unlawful and demands legal action.

''We appeal to the central government and the state administration for dealing these anti-nationals with iron hand. The Supreme Court decides on the facts and cannot be pressurized by the masses. We have deep faith in the Indian judiciary and the Indian flag will keep fluttering with all its might,''&nbsphe said.

The Article 35A, which was added to the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir and denies property rights to a native woman who marries a person from outside the state.

An RSS-linked NGO, which has moved the Supreme Court for scrapping Article 35A that gives special rights and privileges to the Jammu and Kashmir natives, today said it would seek hearing of its plea by a Constitution bench. ''There is no need to defer the hearing again. We are going to tell the Supreme Court through our counsel tomorrow that our petition on Article 35A should be decided by a Constitution bench,'' Chetan Sharma, the convener of the J&K chapter of the civil society 'We the Citizens', told reporters here. The Article 35A, which was added to the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir and denies property rights to a native woman who marries a person from outside the state. It also bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property in the state. The main petition demanding scrapping of the Article 35A was filed before the apex court in 2014 by Delhi-based NGO 'We the Citizens'. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea against the validity of the Article 35-A tomorrow. The state government has filed an application to the Supreme Court's registrar, informing him that it is going to seek adjournment of the hearing of the petition in view of the "ongoing preparations for the upcoming Panchayat and urban local body elections in the state". ''We are ready for an argument. Those who want an argument over it should come forward. How long will it be deferred?&nbspDelaying the judgement is not the solution,''&nbspSharma said. Without naming anyone, he said the NGO was also approached by "certain persons" to seek deferment of the case. ''We want an argument over the issue. We've&nbspfiled the main petition seeking revocation of the article 35A and eight petitions were filed jointly against our petition in the Apex court,''&nbsphe said. He dismissed as propaganda&nbspthat revocation of the Article would cause a massive jolt to the state and said Kashmir-centric parties and "some so-called intellectuals in Jammu" are misleading the people on the issue even as it is sub-judice. ''We do not have the right to speak on the issue either as it is pending before the Supreme court. But certain developments over the past couple of days compelled us to negate the propaganda in the state,''&nbsphe said. Those issuing threats of mass agitation in Kashmir and elsewhere must remain within limits as their poisonous propaganda with mala fide intentions to subjugate masses would boomerang,&nbsphe said, adding that pressurizing the Supreme Court by issuing threats is unlawful and demands legal action. ''We appeal to the central government and the state administration for dealing these anti-nationals with iron hand. The Supreme Court decides on the facts and cannot be pressurized by the masses. We have deep faith in the Indian judiciary and the Indian flag will keep fluttering with all its might,''&nbsphe said.

NGO wants Constitution bench to hear plea for scrapping Article 35A

Former president Pranab Mukherjee who had served in the Manmohan Singh government in various capacities, yesterday lauded the former prime minister for ushering in political stability in the country and successfully presiding over the country's finances during "turbulent time".

He said that Manmohan Singh assumed his political role as the finance minister at a time when the country had lost its international credibility in money and finance. "But Dr Singh through his skill and deftness" steered the country's economy to a growth trajectory.

Mr Singh, a former Reserve Bank governor, was appointed as the country's finance minister in 1991 by the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao when the country's economy was passing through a crisis.

Mr Mukherjee listed a host of legislation including the landmark Right to Information Act and the Food Security Act which were enacted during Mr Singh's tenure as prime minister.

He said Mr Singh displayed "skill and deftness" in handling the country's economy and decisively managed the coalition government, ending a period of political instability in the country.

"We will remain grateful to you for providing political stability in the most uncertain time," he said.

The former president was speaking at an award function in New Delhi where Mr Singh was given the lifetime achievement award.

He recalled how the then US President George W Bush had called upon Mr Singh to show light out of the tunnel and restore the world economy when it was passing through a recessionary phase.

He said there was widespread fear during those days that the world economy would slide the way as it happened during the 1930s.

Indian economic credential was also at stake and the country had to pledge 25 tons of gold to the Bank of England just to borrow a few hundred million dollars when nobody was prepared to give a loan to India.

But on assuming the role as the finance minister, Mr Singh "staked his own personal prestige...the skill and deftness with which doctor saheb led the economy in that turbulent period are simply marvellous," Mr Mukherjee said.

The V C Padmanabhan Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, given to Manmohan Singh, has been instituted by Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Former President said that landmark legislations such as RTI Act and the Food Security Act were enacted during Manmohan Singh's tenure.

Former president Pranab Mukherjee who had served in the Manmohan Singh government in various capacities, yesterday lauded the former prime minister for ushering in political stability in the country and successfully presiding over the country's finances during "turbulent time". He said that Manmohan Singh assumed his political role as the finance minister at a time when the country had lost its international credibility in money and finance. "But Dr Singh through his skill and deftness" steered the country's economy to a growth trajectory. Mr Singh, a former Reserve Bank governor, was appointed as the country's finance minister in 1991 by the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao when the country's economy was passing through a crisis. Mr Mukherjee listed a host of legislation including the landmark Right to Information Act and the Food Security Act which were enacted during Mr Singh's tenure as prime minister. He said Mr Singh displayed "skill and deftness" in handling the country's economy and decisively managed the coalition government, ending a period of political instability in the country. "We will remain grateful to you for providing political stability in the most uncertain time," he said. The former president was speaking at an award function in New Delhi where Mr Singh was given the lifetime achievement award. He recalled how the then US President George W Bush had called upon Mr Singh to show light out of the tunnel and restore the world economy when it was passing through a recessionary phase. He said there was widespread fear during those days that the world economy would slide the way as it happened during the 1930s. Indian economic credential was also at stake and the country had to pledge 25 tons of gold to the Bank of England just to borrow a few hundred million dollars when nobody was prepared to give a loan to India. But on assuming the role as the finance minister, Mr Singh "staked his own personal prestige...the skill and deftness with which doctor saheb led the economy in that turbulent period are simply marvellous," Mr Mukherjee said. The V C Padmanabhan Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, given to Manmohan Singh, has been instituted by Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Manmohan Singh took India on path of economic growth: Pranab Mukherjee

<a href="wionews.com/india-news/sc-judges-upset-to-meet-cji-after-justice-joseph-is-made-junior-to-other-judges-reports-157156">SC judges to meet CJI after Justice Joseph is made junior to judges appointed with him: Reports</a>

Justice KM Joseph was finally appointed to the Supreme Court Saturday, but the government notification announcing the appointment places him below the two other two judges — Justice Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran — appointed along with him.&nbsp;

<a href="wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-carolina-marin-wins-final-sindhu-settles-for-silver-as--157131">BWF World Championships: Carolina Marin wins final, Sindhu settles for silver</a>

Carolina Marin of Spain dominated the final of BWF World Championships and defeated India's PV Sindhu to claim her third title on August 5.

<a href="wionews.com/world/magnitude-7-earthquake-again-rocks-indonesias-lombok-island-157163">Magnitude 7 earthquake hits Indonesia's Lombok island, week after 1st trembler</a>

A major earthquake rocked Indonesia's Lombok island Sunday, just a week after a quake had killed 17 people on the holiday island, sending people running from their homes and triggering a tsunami alert.

<a href="wionews.com/india-news/up-mughalsarai-railway-station-renamed-agra-bareilly-kanpur-airports-reportedly-next-157142">UP: Mughalsarai railway station renamed Agra, Bareilly, Kanpur airports reportedly next</a>

The iconic Mughalsarai station was officially renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay station on Sunday.&nbsp;

<a href="wionews.com/world/melania-trump-backs-lebron-after-president-donald-trump-critices-157133">After Trump insults him, Melania praises basketball star </a><a href="wionews.com/world/melania-trump-backs-lebron-after-president-donald-trump-critices-157133">LeBron</a><a href="wionews.com/world/melania-trump-backs-lebron-after-president-donald-trump-critices-157133"> James</a>

After Donald Trump sniped back at LeBron James' suggestion that he fuels American racial divides, support has flooded in for the NBA great -- including from the US president's own wife, Melania.

&nbsp;

SC judges to meet CJI after Justice Joseph is made junior to judges appointed with him: Reports Justice KM Joseph was finally appointed to the Supreme Court Saturday, but the government notification announcing the appointment places him below the two other two judges — Justice Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran — appointed along with him. BWF World Championships: Carolina Marin wins final, Sindhu settles for silver Carolina Marin of Spain dominated the final of BWF World Championships and defeated India's PV Sindhu to claim her third title on August 5. Magnitude 7 earthquake hits Indonesia's Lombok island, week after 1st trembler A major earthquake rocked Indonesia's Lombok island Sunday, just a week after a quake had killed 17 people on the holiday island, sending people running from their homes and triggering a tsunami alert. UP: Mughalsarai railway station renamed Agra, Bareilly, Kanpur airports reportedly next The iconic Mughalsarai station was officially renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay station on Sunday. After Trump insults him, Melania praises basketball star LeBron James After Donald Trump sniped back at LeBron James' suggestion that he fuels American racial divides, support has flooded in for the NBA great -- including from the US president's own wife, Melania.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Bank fraud fugitive Mehul Choksi looted the country under the very nose of the Narendra Modi government and fled to Antigua, National Secretary of CPI D Raja said on Sunday, demanding that the Centre respond to the Caribbean nation's assertion that Indian authorities did not give any adverse report to stall granting of citizenship to him.

India has handed over a request to Antigua for extradition of bank fraud fugitive Choksi who has obtained citizenship of the Caribbean nation.

"All this was happening under the very nose of the Modi government. Why was no action taken against Choksi? He has looted the country and the people's money and fled away. He has taken the citizenship of another country. All these things were known to the government agencies. Government must answer," said Raja.

Choksi is one of the alleged masterminds of the $&nbsp2 billion scam in state-run Punjab National Bank and is an uncle of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi.&nbsp

He is wanted in India by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate probing the fraud, the biggest banking scam in the country.&nbsp

As per reports, Antiguan authorities cleared his citizenship in November 2017 after India did not give any adverse report to stall his application.&nbsp

Choksi had fled India on January 4 this year and took oath of allegiance in Antigua on January 15.

The CBI had sent its request to the Ministry of External Affairs for extradition of Choksi.&nbsp

India has handed over a request to Antigua for extradition of bank fraud fugitive Choksi who has obtained citizenship of the Caribbean nation.

Bank fraud fugitive Mehul Choksi looted the country under the very nose of the Narendra Modi government and fled to Antigua, National Secretary of CPI D Raja said on Sunday, demanding that the Centre respond to the Caribbean nation's assertion that Indian authorities did not give any adverse report to stall granting of citizenship to him. India has handed over a request to Antigua for extradition of bank fraud fugitive Choksi who has obtained citizenship of the Caribbean nation. "All this was happening under the very nose of the Modi government. Why was no action taken against Choksi? He has looted the country and the people's money and fled away. He has taken the citizenship of another country. All these things were known to the government agencies. Government must answer," said Raja. Choksi is one of the alleged masterminds of the $&nbsp2 billion scam in state-run Punjab National Bank and is an uncle of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. He is wanted in India by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate probing the fraud, the biggest banking scam in the country. As per reports, Antiguan authorities cleared his citizenship in November 2017 after India did not give any adverse report to stall his application. Choksi had fled India on January 4 this year and took oath of allegiance in Antigua on January 15. The CBI had sent its request to the Ministry of External Affairs for extradition of Choksi.

Mehul Choksi looted country under the nose of the Modi government: CPI

Tucked away in a bylane in Delhi's Hauz Rani lies a small Yemeni restaurant.&nbsp;

The restaurant is run by the refugee Yasir who has made India his home. He is married to a Manipuri but kept it hidden from the family he loves.&nbsp;

Yasir finds himself in India because of both desire and disruption. He had always wanted to come to India as a child today he cannot go back because of the war.&nbsp;

The opportunity and freedom afforded by India have made him what he is today.&nbsp;

Yasir serves authentic Yemeni food to thousands of West Asians who flock to India for cheap medical care. There is a reason why his restaurant is placed right in front of a massive hospital — it creates footfall.&nbsp;

In pictures: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-yemeni-refugee-who-found-a-home-away-from-home-in-delhi-157141">Yemeni refugee who found a 'home' away from home in Delhi</a>

The area is full of people from West and Central Asia. Some come to India for treatment, others to make a quick buck. Some also disappear into this vast land.&nbsp;

This is not new to the subcontinent. For thousands of years, it has seen migration which led to new cultures, languages and food. Like Hyderabadi cuisine which is a fine example of the blending of two cultures — Deccani produce and Iranian technique.&nbsp;

Yasir finished his education from Aligarh Muslim University.&nbsp;

He wants to bring his mother here. In fact, such is the crisis in his part of the world that his parents and siblings do not live together — to try and avoid death.&nbsp;

Yemen has seen mass bombings. Families stay apart in the hope that at least some will survive in case of a terror or military attack.&nbsp;

Immigration is perceived as a problem the world over today. It is seen as a threat. In fact, most right-wing governments owe their success to the immigration of Muslims from West Asia.&nbsp;

But the fact is that it was western intervention in West Asia and North Africa that caused the immigrant outflux back to Europe and the rest of the wold.

Interventions by the West or backed by it destroyed stable states in the region, leaving the people no option but to flee.&nbsp;

It is the modern world that has ended up creating the maximum number of refugees.&nbsp;

But refugees also enrich the places they go to. Their culture and food become&nbsp;part of the local tradition. Yasir’s story has been like that (although Muslim refugees today are seen through the prism of Islamist fundamentalism.)&nbsp;

He has built a life in India,&nbsp;has done well for himself, and he wants more.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e4DT3hZHNFs" width="560"></iframe>

Yasir, who runs a restaurant in New Delhi, came to India because of both desire and disruption. This is not a new phenomenon in the subcontinent.

Tucked away in a bylane in Delhi's Hauz Rani lies a small Yemeni restaurant. The restaurant is run by the refugee Yasir who has made India his home. He is married to a Manipuri but kept it hidden from the family he loves. Yasir finds himself in India because of both desire and disruption. He had always wanted to come to India as a child today he cannot go back because of the war. The opportunity and freedom afforded by India have made him what he is today. Yasir serves authentic Yemeni food to thousands of West Asians who flock to India for cheap medical care. There is a reason why his restaurant is placed right in front of a massive hospital — it creates footfall. In pictures: Yemeni refugee who found a 'home' away from home in Delhi The area is full of people from West and Central Asia. Some come to India for treatment, others to make a quick buck. Some also disappear into this vast land. This is not new to the subcontinent. For thousands of years, it has seen migration which led to new cultures, languages and food. Like Hyderabadi cuisine which is a fine example of the blending of two cultures — Deccani produce and Iranian technique. Yasir finished his education from Aligarh Muslim University. He wants to bring his mother here. In fact, such is the crisis in his part of the world that his parents and siblings do not live together — to try and avoid death. Yemen has seen mass bombings. Families stay apart in the hope that at least some will survive in case of a terror or military attack. Immigration is perceived as a problem the world over today. It is seen as a threat. In fact, most right-wing governments owe their success to the immigration of Muslims from West Asia. But the fact is that it was western intervention in West Asia and North Africa that caused the immigrant outflux back to Europe and the rest of the wold. Interventions by the West or backed by it destroyed stable states in the region, leaving the people no option but to flee. It is the modern world that has ended up creating the maximum number of refugees. But refugees also enrich the places they go to. Their culture and food become part of the local tradition. Yasir’s story has been like that (although Muslim refugees today are seen through the prism of Islamist fundamentalism.) He has built a life in India, has done well for himself, and he wants more.

Lessons from a Yemeni immigrant in India

Senior BJP leader C P Thakur on Sunday said Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma should resign owning moral responsibility for the alleged sexual abuse of minor girls at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur.

Talking to a regional news channel here, the former Union minister said Verma of the JD(U) should take a call on the demand for her resignation by opposition parties, keeping in view the "lapses on part of the social welfare department" on which the scandal has been blamed.

"The scandal points at huge lapses on part of the state social welfare department. How could the department be unaware of such a huge racket taking place right under its nose?" Thakur asked.

"There are also complaints of similar irregularities having taken place at other organisations controlled by the department," Thakur said.

Asked about the demand by opposition parties for the resignation of Verma, whose husband has been accused of being a regular visitor to the Muzaffarpur shelter home by the wife of one of the arrested accused, Thakur said, "She should take a decision on the same based on her conscience. I think she should take moral responsibility for the scandal."

The BJP is a partner in the ruling coalition in Bihar.

Asked about Thakur's statement, the JD(U), which is headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, came up with a guarded response.

"C P Thakur has expressed his personal opinion. It is not that the BJP has come up with an official stand. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, himself a senior BJP leader, has been articulating the government's position on the issue," JD(U) spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar said.

"There are also complaints of similar irregularities having taken place at other organisations controlled by the department," Thakur said.

Senior BJP leader C P Thakur on Sunday said Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma should resign owning moral responsibility for the alleged sexual abuse of minor girls at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur. Talking to a regional news channel here, the former Union minister said Verma of the JD(U) should take a call on the demand for her resignation by opposition parties, keeping in view the "lapses on part of the social welfare department" on which the scandal has been blamed. "The scandal points at huge lapses on part of the state social welfare department. How could the department be unaware of such a huge racket taking place right under its nose?" Thakur asked. "There are also complaints of similar irregularities having taken place at other organisations controlled by the department," Thakur said. Asked about the demand by opposition parties for the resignation of Verma, whose husband has been accused of being a regular visitor to the Muzaffarpur shelter home by the wife of one of the arrested accused, Thakur said, "She should take a decision on the same based on her conscience. I think she should take moral responsibility for the scandal." The BJP is a partner in the ruling coalition in Bihar. Asked about Thakur's statement, the JD(U), which is headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, came up with a guarded response. "C P Thakur has expressed his personal opinion. It is not that the BJP has come up with an official stand. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, himself a senior BJP leader, has been articulating the government's position on the issue," JD(U) spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar said.

Bihar social welfare minister should resign: BJP leader

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday asked the Indian startups to develop unmanned drones with missiles for the Indian armed forces.

"Today unmanned drones with missiles on them are the envy of many countries. I already get the feeling that those are not beyond us to produce," Sitharaman said at the launch of Defence India Startup Challenge in Bengaluru.

"You won't lose your skilled manpower if you can remote control operations to finish your targets," she added.

Emphasising to work in direction of cyber and space warfare, the Defence Minister said that if the two areas are left defenceless, everything with manpower is meaningless.

She urged the Defence India Startup to come up with the solutions in the matters pertaining to space and cyber warfare.

Further highlighting various measures taken by the Centre for the growth of startups, the Defence Minister said that her Ministry will make sure that their ideas and prototypes get a market.

"We are not going to disqualify startups in anything you want to approach us with. Whether it is a bid, tender or suo motu proposal. All three avenues are open for startups," she said.

"The entire Ministry of Defence wants startups to tell us when you want to have the trials for the ideas you have. We don`t want to delay it in any way, "she added.

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday asked the Indian startups to develop unmanned drones with missiles for the Indian armed forces

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday asked the Indian startups to develop unmanned drones with missiles for the Indian armed forces. "Today unmanned drones with missiles on them are the envy of many countries. I already get the feeling that those are not beyond us to produce," Sitharaman said at the launch of Defence India Startup Challenge in Bengaluru. "You won't lose your skilled manpower if you can remote control operations to finish your targets," she added. Emphasising to work in direction of cyber and space warfare, the Defence Minister said that if the two areas are left defenceless, everything with manpower is meaningless. She urged the Defence India Startup to come up with the solutions in the matters pertaining to space and cyber warfare. Further highlighting various measures taken by the Centre for the growth of startups, the Defence Minister said that her Ministry will make sure that their ideas and prototypes get a market. "We are not going to disqualify startups in anything you want to approach us with. Whether it is a bid, tender or suo motu proposal. All three avenues are open for startups," she said. "The entire Ministry of Defence wants startups to tell us when you want to have the trials for the ideas you have. We don`t want to delay it in any way, "she added.

Nirmala Sitharaman calls on startups to develop unmanned drones with missiles

Holding the tenth round of talks for widening the scope of existing free trade agreement in goods, India and Sri Lanka are aiming at concluding the negotiations by December this year.

"The talks are going at a healthy pace and both the countries are targeting to conclude the talks by December for the Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA)," an official said.

The pact is aimed at further boosting the economic ties between the two countries by liberalising trade norms.

Both the countries already have a free trade agreement (FTAs) in goods, but now the talks are on to widen the scope of this pact by including services and investments to make it comprehensive.

India and Sri Lanka have a free trade agreement in goods was implemented in March 2000.

India has a healthy trade surplus in goods with Sri Lanka. India exported goods worth US $4.5 billion in 2017-18 and its imports from that country were only US $773 million.

Sri Lanka is India's major trading partner in South Asia.

In 2003, both sides set up a joint study group to widen the ambit of the FTA. Based on its recommendations, they started negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in February 2005.&nbsp

The pact is aimed at further boosting the economic ties between the two countries by liberalising trade norms

Holding the tenth round of talks for widening the scope of existing free trade agreement in goods, India and Sri Lanka are aiming at concluding the negotiations by December this year. "The talks are going at a healthy pace and both the countries are targeting to conclude the talks by December for the Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA)," an official said. The pact is aimed at further boosting the economic ties between the two countries by liberalising trade norms. Both the countries already have a free trade agreement (FTAs) in goods, but now the talks are on to widen the scope of this pact by including services and investments to make it comprehensive. India and Sri Lanka have a free trade agreement in goods was implemented in March 2000. India has a healthy trade surplus in goods with Sri Lanka. India exported goods worth US $4.5 billion in 2017-18 and its imports from that country were only US $773 million. Sri Lanka is India's major trading partner in South Asia. In 2003, both sides set up a joint study group to widen the ambit of the FTA. Based on its recommendations, they started negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in February 2005.

Widening of Free Trade Agreement: India, Sri Lanka aiming to conclude talks by December

BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday dared the Congress, SP, BSP to clear their stand on National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue.

''Complying with Supreme Court orders we brought NRC. The NRC is a way to evict illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Assam. I would like to ask SP, BSP and the Congress to clear their stand on whether they want illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to stay here or evict them,'' BJP president Amit Shah was quoted as saying.

Shah charged the opposition with playing vote bank politics on the NRC issue.

The BJP president was attending a function on the&nbsp;renaming of Mughalsarai junction after RSS stalwart Pt Deendayal Upadhyay.&nbsp;

"We have to push out each and every Bangladeshi infiltrator from the country," he said.

"Mamata Banerjee and Congress say that NRC should not be done. I ask Rahul Baba whether NRC should be conducted in the country or not. But, he does not answer. You all should tell that whether the Bangladeshi infiltrators should be pushed out (from India) or not," he said.

"Today I would like to ask the SP, the BSP and the Congress whether they want the infiltrators to stay in the country or they should be driven out. I know the answer of the people of UP. The answer is that not even a single infiltrator should be allowed to stay in India," he added.

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Complying with Supreme Court orders we brought NRC. The NRC is a way to evict illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Assam. I would like to ask SP, BSP & Congress to clear their stand on whether they want illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to stay here or evict them: Amit Shah <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NRCAssam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NRCAssam</a> <a href="https://t.co/FT7cZ9MlA1">pic.twitter.com/FT7cZ9MlA1</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1026057505267281920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Shah charged the opposition with playing vote bank politics on the NRC issue.

BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday dared the Congress, SP, BSP to clear their stand on National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue. ''Complying with Supreme Court orders we brought NRC. The NRC is a way to evict illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Assam. I would like to ask SP, BSP and the Congress to clear their stand on whether they want illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to stay here or evict them,'' BJP president Amit Shah was quoted as saying. Shah charged the opposition with playing vote bank politics on the NRC issue. The BJP president was attending a function on the renaming of Mughalsarai junction after RSS stalwart Pt Deendayal Upadhyay. "We have to push out each and every Bangladeshi infiltrator from the country," he said. "Mamata Banerjee and Congress say that NRC should not be done. I ask Rahul Baba whether NRC should be conducted in the country or not. But, he does not answer. You all should tell that whether the Bangladeshi infiltrators should be pushed out (from India) or not," he said. "Today I would like to ask the SP, the BSP and the Congress whether they want the infiltrators to stay in the country or they should be driven out. I know the answer of the people of UP. The answer is that not even a single infiltrator should be allowed to stay in India," he added. Complying with Supreme Court orders we brought NRC. The NRC is a way to evict illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Assam. I would like to ask SP, BSP & Congress to clear their stand on whether they want illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to stay here or evict them: Amit Shah #NRCAssam pic.twitter.com/FT7cZ9MlA1 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 5, 2018 ×

Amit Shah dares Opposition to clear stand on NRC

Almost half of the districts in India are not on track to reduce the mortality rates of newborns and meet the target set under the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, a study has found.

India still has the world's highest number of deaths among children under five and newborns, around 1.1 million per year.

The study, by Jayanta Bora and Nandita Saikia from Austria-based non-profit International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, is the first to evaluate neonatal and under-five mortality at a district level in India, as well as a state level.

Under the World Health Organization's Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), all countries should aim to reduce neonatal mortality to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births per year, and under-five mortality to a maximum of 25.&nbsp

Researchers used data from the National Family Health Survey, a survey of the full birth history of women aged 15-49, carried out most recently in 2015-16, and used the data from the previous round conducted in 2005-06 to model future trends.

They found that the various measures employed in India have cut the number of deaths of under-fives by around half in in the past 23 years, from 109 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to around 50 in 2013, but this is still double the target.

The number of neonatal deaths remains around 2.4 times higher than the target, at around 29 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The picture, however, is very complex. For example, the under-five mortality rate for boys in the South West district of Delhi is 6.3 per 1,000 live births, well within SDG3 targets.

However, in Rayagada in Odisha, the mortality rate is 141.7. The researchers found that just nine per cent of districts in India overall have so far reached the SDG3 targets for neonatal mortality, with 14 per cent reaching the targets for under-five mortality.

The vast majority of the worst performing states on mortality rates are in the poorer states of north-central and eastern India, although there are some high-risk districts in richer, more developed states such as Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

Almost all districts in the most populous states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh will fail to achieve the SDG3 goal on neonatal mortality.

In Uttar Pradesh, the research showed that not a single district would meet the target for under-five mortality.

There is also some variation between genders. The female neonatal mortality rate is below that of males, which is expected as this is the global trend.

However, this is not the case with under-five mortality, indicating gender discrimination.

"The state-level mortality rate does not reflect the inter-district variation in neonatal or under-five mortality rates," said Bora.

"While some districts of a particular state may already have achieved the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) target 15 years in advance, some districts will not achieve this even by the 2030 target time," he said.

"Mortality rates vary enormously across the districts," he added.

Much of the variation is likely due to socioeconomic and geographic disparities. District-level female literacy rates vary from 24-89 per cent while urbanisation ranges from 0-100 per cent.

There are also large differences in the implementation of mortality reduction schemes and the accessibility and availability of healthcare.

"It is important to note that India experienced the highest reduction in mortality rate in the period 2005-2016. Therefore, to achieve the SDG-related mortality goals at the district level, it needs to intervene more rigorously than ever," said Saikia.

"The majority of Indian districts need to make a giant leap to reduce their neonatal and under-five mortality rates," he said.

India still has the world's highest number of deaths among children under five and newborns, around 1.1 million per year.

Almost half of the districts in India are not on track to reduce the mortality rates of newborns and meet the target set under the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, a study has found. India still has the world's highest number of deaths among children under five and newborns, around 1.1 million per year. The study, by Jayanta Bora and Nandita Saikia from Austria-based non-profit International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, is the first to evaluate neonatal and under-five mortality at a district level in India, as well as a state level. Under the World Health Organization's Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), all countries should aim to reduce neonatal mortality to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births per year, and under-five mortality to a maximum of 25. Researchers used data from the National Family Health Survey, a survey of the full birth history of women aged 15-49, carried out most recently in 2015-16, and used the data from the previous round conducted in 2005-06 to model future trends. They found that the various measures employed in India have cut the number of deaths of under-fives by around half in in the past 23 years, from 109 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to around 50 in 2013, but this is still double the target. The number of neonatal deaths remains around 2.4 times higher than the target, at around 29 deaths per 1,000 live births. The picture, however, is very complex. For example, the under-five mortality rate for boys in the South West district of Delhi is 6.3 per 1,000 live births, well within SDG3 targets. However, in Rayagada in Odisha, the mortality rate is 141.7. The researchers found that just nine per cent of districts in India overall have so far reached the SDG3 targets for neonatal mortality, with 14 per cent reaching the targets for under-five mortality. The vast majority of the worst performing states on mortality rates are in the poorer states of north-central and eastern India, although there are some high-risk districts in richer, more developed states such as Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Almost all districts in the most populous states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh will fail to achieve the SDG3 goal on neonatal mortality. In Uttar Pradesh, the research showed that not a single district would meet the target for under-five mortality. There is also some variation between genders. The female neonatal mortality rate is below that of males, which is expected as this is the global trend. However, this is not the case with under-five mortality, indicating gender discrimination. "The state-level mortality rate does not reflect the inter-district variation in neonatal or under-five mortality rates," said Bora. "While some districts of a particular state may already have achieved the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) target 15 years in advance, some districts will not achieve this even by the 2030 target time," he said. "Mortality rates vary enormously across the districts," he added. Much of the variation is likely due to socioeconomic and geographic disparities. District-level female literacy rates vary from 24-89 per cent while urbanisation ranges from 0-100 per cent. There are also large differences in the implementation of mortality reduction schemes and the accessibility and availability of healthcare. "It is important to note that India experienced the highest reduction in mortality rate in the period 2005-2016. Therefore, to achieve the SDG-related mortality goals at the district level, it needs to intervene more rigorously than ever," said Saikia. "The majority of Indian districts need to make a giant leap to reduce their neonatal and under-five mortality rates," he said.

India not on track to meet 2030 targets of reducing child mortality

As the Trump administration continues to tighten screws on the <a href="http://wionews.com/videos/us-h1-b-visa-rule-may-impact-families1-lakh-jobs-raise-domestic-tensions-148624">H-1B visa programme</a>, United States Consul General in Mumbai, Edgard Kagan, says his country encourages and welcomes "<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/h1-b-approvals-for-indian-it-companies-dropped-by-43-between-2015-17-report-132720">qualified Indians</a>".

US President Donald Trump is "very committed" to relations with India, he told PTI.

"The US continues to be as welcoming as it has always been to qualified Indian travellers," Kagan said, adding a record number of Indians flying to the US last year proves that people in India are aware that his country welcomes them.

Also read: <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-h1-b-visa-127909">Everything you need to know about the H1-B visa</a>

"We strongly encourage and welcome Indians to study in the US. We believe that Indians studying in the US and our students studying in India are part of the glue that holds our relationship together," he told PTI.

Indians who are in the US continue to have great opportunities there. The country is aware that Indians there want to be treated well.

"If you look at the facts, you will see that the US continues to be just as welcoming as it has always been," he said.

Responding to another question, he said the <a href="http://wionews.com/world/international-students-face-uncertain-future-under-trumps-reform-of-h1-b-visa-process-14708">US president</a> is "very committed" to relations with India.

"If you look carefully you can see that from the very beginning of his administration, his time in office, the president and his team have emphasised the need to expand and strengthen the already good relations with India," he said.

"I think part of this is making sure we continue to grow trade in a way that is fair and balanced on both sides, part of it is making sure that both the countries continue to support investment," he said.

"We welcome and are thrilled with the amount of Indian investments that are coming to the US," he added.

Kagan said the US wants to get the right policy framework favouring investments in both the countries and make sure that ties between people of the US and India remain strong.

"The president understands all that Indian-Americans have done in the United States. He also is very proud of what the Americans have done in India and I think we want to find ways to highlight that and expand it," he said.

Asked about the US withdrawing from the Paris pact on climate change, Kagan said his country is deeply committed to protecting the environment in the US and in the world.

"We recognise that there always are trade-offs and difficult decisions to be made, but we believe the way in which we go forward is by building popular support for the idea that we all have a shared stake in our world," he said.

The US had last year announced its decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change and renegotiate the deal that was agreed upon by over 190 countries.

On the areas in which the US and India could further strengthen ties, Kagan said, "Having more travel, having more people know each other, expanding study, expanding partnerships in educational institutions, partnerships between businesses."

He underlined the need for getting the right regulatory framework, encouraging investments and capital flow to those who can use it, making sure venture capital is supported, and that entrepreneurs and technology innovators can get access to support for their companies through loans and on a market basis.

"Making sure we continue to expand the collaborations between our educational and academic institutions and also look at ways to expand our business ties because those have been incredibly important in both the countries," Kagan added.

US President Donald Trump is 'very committed' to relations with India, United States Consul General said.

As the Trump administration continues to tighten screws on the H-1B visa programme, United States Consul General in Mumbai, Edgard Kagan, says his country encourages and welcomes "qualified Indians". US President Donald Trump is "very committed" to relations with India, he told PTI. "The US continues to be as welcoming as it has always been to qualified Indian travellers," Kagan said, adding a record number of Indians flying to the US last year proves that people in India are aware that his country welcomes them. Also read: Everything you need to know about the H1-B visa "We strongly encourage and welcome Indians to study in the US. We believe that Indians studying in the US and our students studying in India are part of the glue that holds our relationship together," he told PTI. Indians who are in the US continue to have great opportunities there. The country is aware that Indians there want to be treated well. "If you look at the facts, you will see that the US continues to be just as welcoming as it has always been," he said. Responding to another question, he said the US president is "very committed" to relations with India. "If you look carefully you can see that from the very beginning of his administration, his time in office, the president and his team have emphasised the need to expand and strengthen the already good relations with India," he said. "I think part of this is making sure we continue to grow trade in a way that is fair and balanced on both sides, part of it is making sure that both the countries continue to support investment," he said. "We welcome and are thrilled with the amount of Indian investments that are coming to the US," he added. Kagan said the US wants to get the right policy framework favouring investments in both the countries and make sure that ties between people of the US and India remain strong. "The president understands all that Indian-Americans have done in the United States. He also is very proud of what the Americans have done in India and I think we want to find ways to highlight that and expand it," he said. Asked about the US withdrawing from the Paris pact on climate change, Kagan said his country is deeply committed to protecting the environment in the US and in the world. "We recognise that there always are trade-offs and difficult decisions to be made, but we believe the way in which we go forward is by building popular support for the idea that we all have a shared stake in our world," he said. The US had last year announced its decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change and renegotiate the deal that was agreed upon by over 190 countries. On the areas in which the US and India could further strengthen ties, Kagan said, "Having more travel, having more people know each other, expanding study, expanding partnerships in educational institutions, partnerships between businesses." He underlined the need for getting the right regulatory framework, encouraging investments and capital flow to those who can use it, making sure venture capital is supported, and that entrepreneurs and technology innovators can get access to support for their companies through loans and on a market basis. "Making sure we continue to expand the collaborations between our educational and academic institutions and also look at ways to expand our business ties because those have been incredibly important in both the countries," Kagan added.

As Trump tightens H-1B visa programme, US says it welcomes 'qualified Indians'

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