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Nine people have been killed in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu after a car rolled down a hill on Thursday.&nbsp

The fatal accident took place near Rohtang at Rani Nallah in Kullu district of the hill state. More details are awaited.&nbsp

On Tuesday, a similar accident took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district where a vehicle carrying Machail Yatra pilgrims fell into a deep gorge in the Dool area.&nbsp

Earlier this month, three people travelling in a taxi had a miraculous escape after their vehicle met with an accident in Himachal's Kullu district.&nbsp

The incident took place at the mountainous Patlikuhal-Pangah road in Kullu. The occupants of the car jumped out after it skidded off the landslide-battered road and hit an uprooted tree.

The incident took place at the mountainous Patlikuhal-Pangah road in Kullu.

Nine people have been killed in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu after a car rolled down a hill on Thursday. The fatal accident took place near Rohtang at Rani Nallah in Kullu district of the hill state. More details are awaited. On Tuesday, a similar accident took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district where a vehicle carrying Machail Yatra pilgrims fell into a deep gorge in the Dool area. Earlier this month, three people travelling in a taxi had a miraculous escape after their vehicle met with an accident in Himachal's Kullu district. The incident took place at the mountainous Patlikuhal-Pangah road in Kullu. The occupants of the car jumped out after it skidded off the landslide-battered road and hit an uprooted tree.

Nine killed after car rolls down a hill in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu District

As you will probably know by now, because of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unbelievable-says-bjp-after-rahul-accuses-it-of-excluding-minorities-from-development-process-161068">the flutter he created there</a>, Rahul Gandhi is currently in Germany.&nbsp;

On Thursday, the Congress Twitter handle @INCIndia tweeted four photographs of the Congress president. The photographs showed Rahul Gandhi, clothed in the Congress' trademark white khadi, looking, well, in various directions.&nbsp;

The photographs were captioned "The many facets of Rahul Gandhi":&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The many facets of Rahul Gandhi. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bundestag?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bundestag</a> <a href="https://t.co/MtoNs1TxjO">pic.twitter.com/MtoNs1TxjO</a>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1032575016288710656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Twitter was very quick to pick up on them (and quite hilariously too), and the photographs soon turned into a meme.&nbsp;

Have a look for yourself:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Me when my mom starts talking about my marriage <a href="https://t.co/k0bCIf0g8Z">pic.twitter.com/k0bCIf0g8Z</a>
— Shreemi Verma (@shreemiverma) <a href="https://twitter.com/shreemiverma/status/1032582643789905920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Mom : ye dress kithne ka hai? 
 
Shopkeeper : 5000rs 
 
Mom : 1000rs me dedo 
 
Me : <a href="https://t.co/n6J3gGKKAN">pic.twitter.com/n6J3gGKKAN</a>
— Mohammad imran (@mohdimran46) <a href="https://twitter.com/mohdimran46/status/1032618041719304193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Wen relatives ask beta aage ka kya socha hai <a href="https://t.co/W1ohkEEUwn">pic.twitter.com/W1ohkEEUwn</a>
— SwatKat- The dancing Rajput ? (@swatic12) <a href="https://twitter.com/swatic12/status/1032582845330612225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Teacher : and I need a volunteer to finish this task *looks straight at me* 
 
Me : <a href="https://t.co/IHga3uDLgb">pic.twitter.com/IHga3uDLgb</a>
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) <a href="https://twitter.com/HaramiParindey/status/1032606713613086720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Waiter: Here is your bill sir ☺️ 
 
Friends: <a href="https://t.co/q1WnkVCmG5">pic.twitter.com/q1WnkVCmG5</a>
— BALA (@erbmjha) <a href="https://twitter.com/erbmjha/status/1032610755718406145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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The BJP too got in on the act:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Even we couldn't resist retweeting this ) <a href="https://t.co/M0y9Uvun7M">https://t.co/M0y9Uvun7M</a>
— BJP (@BJP4India) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India/status/1032596382979252224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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The Congress handle shared another set of pictures of Rahul at the German parliament:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
CP <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> walks through the 'Archive of German Members of Parliament', the 'archive' has boxes labeled with every MP elected to the Bundestag from 1919 & 1999. 
 
The 'archive boxes' resemble brick walls, which are a metaphor for the foundation of the parliamentary structure. <a href="https://t.co/o6Fi2ak5Sx">pic.twitter.com/o6Fi2ak5Sx</a>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1032576526217166850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Rahul will head to the UK after Germany. He is there to talk about the "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/to-talk-on-performance-of-govt-rahul-to-visit-uk-germany-159518">overall performance</a>"&nbsp;of the Narendra Modi-led government.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EtIcS5dlTB8" width="560"></iframe>

The photographs were captioned 'The many facets of Rahul Gandhi'. They soon turned into meme gold.

As you will probably know by now, because of the flutter he created there, Rahul Gandhi is currently in Germany. On Thursday, the Congress Twitter handle @INCIndia tweeted four photographs of the Congress president. The photographs showed Rahul Gandhi, clothed in the Congress' trademark white khadi, looking, well, in various directions. The photographs were captioned "The many facets of Rahul Gandhi": The many facets of Rahul Gandhi. #Bundestag pic.twitter.com/MtoNs1TxjO — Congress (@INCIndia) August 23, 2018 × Twitter was very quick to pick up on them (and quite hilariously too), and the photographs soon turned into a meme. Have a look for yourself: Me when my mom starts talking about my marriage pic.twitter.com/k0bCIf0g8Z — Shreemi Verma (@shreemiverma) August 23, 2018 × Mom : ye dress kithne ka hai? Shopkeeper : 5000rs Mom : 1000rs me dedo Me : pic.twitter.com/n6J3gGKKAN — Mohammad imran (@mohdimran46) August 23, 2018 × Wen relatives ask beta aage ka kya socha hai pic.twitter.com/W1ohkEEUwn — SwatKat- The dancing Rajput ? (@swatic12) August 23, 2018 × Teacher : and I need a volunteer to finish this task *looks straight at me* Me : pic.twitter.com/IHga3uDLgb — Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) August 23, 2018 × Waiter: Here is your bill sir ☺️ Friends: pic.twitter.com/q1WnkVCmG5 — BALA (@erbmjha) August 23, 2018 × The BJP too got in on the act: Even we couldn't resist retweeting this ) https://t.co/M0y9Uvun7M — BJP (@BJP4India) August 23, 2018 × The Congress handle shared another set of pictures of Rahul at the German parliament: CP @RahulGandhi walks through the 'Archive of German Members of Parliament', the 'archive' has boxes labeled with every MP elected to the Bundestag from 1919 & 1999. The 'archive boxes' resemble brick walls, which are a metaphor for the foundation of the parliamentary structure. pic.twitter.com/o6Fi2ak5Sx — Congress (@INCIndia) August 23, 2018 × Rahul will head to the UK after Germany. He is there to talk about the "overall performance" of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Rahul in Germany: Congress posts pics, Twitter can't stop laughing

India's population could surpass that of China's around 2030 and is projected to touch 1.7 billion in 2050, according to a population report.

2018 World Population Data Sheet: Released by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), a Washington-based non-profit organisation, said that India will become the world’s most populous country with 1.7 billion people, with China in second place at 1.3 billion. Currently, China is at 1.39 billion, compared with 1.35 billion in India.

The PRB figures demonstrate that, right now, the Indian and Chinese populaces are evaluated to be 1.37 and 1.39 billion separately.&nbsp;

While India's populace is relied upon to achieve 1.53 and 1.68 billion by mid-2030 and mid-2050, China's is probably going to achieve 1.42 billion by mid-2030 and afterwards tumble to 1.34 billion by mid-2050.

India will also register the largest increase in the population of any country, adding 323 million people by 2050. Nigeria will post the second-largest rise at 220 million, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo at 134 million.

According to a UN report, In India, life expectancy at birth will be 71 years in 2025-2030, growing to 74.2 years in 2045-2050. The under-five mortality rate will decline from 32.3 deaths under age five per 1,000 live births in 2025-2030 to 18.6 in 2045-2050.

Ten countries are expected to account collectively for more than half of the world's projected population increase over the period 2017-2050: India, Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the United States, Uganda, Indonesia and Egypt.

India will also register the largest numerical increase in population of any country, adding 323 million people by 2050.

India's population could surpass that of China's around 2030 and is projected to touch 1.7 billion in 2050, according to a population report. 2018 World Population Data Sheet: Released by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), a Washington-based non-profit organisation, said that India will become the world’s most populous country with 1.7 billion people, with China in second place at 1.3 billion. Currently, China is at 1.39 billion, compared with 1.35 billion in India. The PRB figures demonstrate that, right now, the Indian and Chinese populaces are evaluated to be 1.37 and 1.39 billion separately. While India's populace is relied upon to achieve 1.53 and 1.68 billion by mid-2030 and mid-2050, China's is probably going to achieve 1.42 billion by mid-2030 and afterwards tumble to 1.34 billion by mid-2050. India will also register the largest increase in the population of any country, adding 323 million people by 2050. Nigeria will post the second-largest rise at 220 million, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo at 134 million. According to a UN report, In India, life expectancy at birth will be 71 years in 2025-2030, growing to 74.2 years in 2045-2050. The under-five mortality rate will decline from 32.3 deaths under age five per 1,000 live births in 2025-2030 to 18.6 in 2045-2050. Ten countries are expected to account collectively for more than half of the world's projected population increase over the period 2017-2050: India, Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the United States, Uganda, Indonesia and Egypt.

India to have 25% more population than China by 2050: Study

In refusing foreign aid for the rehabilitation of flood-hit Kerala, the Centre has followed a 14-year convention it "inherited" from previous governments of refusing such assistance in the face of natural calamities, Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam said on Thursday.

The government is under fire for refusing aid for Kerala from countries like the UAE and Thailand. Alphons said this was a policy that was followed by the current government since former prime minister Manmohan Singh had refused aid from foreign countries in 2004 during the devastating Tsunami, according to PTI report.

"A policy decision was taken by the Manmohan Singh government in December, 2004 in the aftermath of the Tsunami and that policy has been continued with for the last 14 years. This is something we have inherited," he told reporters.

Earlier, among others, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had criticised the BJP-led government over the refusal of aid and said the rain-ravaged southern state had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore.

"We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy (sic)," Isaac had written on Twitter.

He had further said as part of the state government's resource mobilisation efforts for the ongoing relief-and-rescue operations for the flood-hit people, it had increased the excise duty on liquor and was geared to approach the GST Council for imposing a 10-per cent cess on SGST. "Both together on annualised basis mobilise 750 crore (sic)," Isaac had written on the microblogging website.

Alphons, who has been in the thick of things, is continuously updating the rest of the country about the conditions in Kerala and listing out the requirements of the people of the state as they hobble back to normalcy.

The Union tourism minister also appealed to all the Indians to donate "big money" for the cause.

"We need huge amounts of money -- millions and billions of dollars to rebuild Kerala. Now we need that big money. Please send money to the chief minister's relief fund and not to NGOs that are not credible," he said.

Incessant rains have claimed over 230 lives in Kerala since August 8.&nbsp;

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had criticised the BJP-led government over the refusal of aid and said the rain-ravaged southern state had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore

In refusing foreign aid for the rehabilitation of flood-hit Kerala, the Centre has followed a 14-year convention it "inherited" from previous governments of refusing such assistance in the face of natural calamities, Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam said on Thursday. The government is under fire for refusing aid for Kerala from countries like the UAE and Thailand. Alphons said this was a policy that was followed by the current government since former prime minister Manmohan Singh had refused aid from foreign countries in 2004 during the devastating Tsunami, according to PTI report. "A policy decision was taken by the Manmohan Singh government in December, 2004 in the aftermath of the Tsunami and that policy has been continued with for the last 14 years. This is something we have inherited," he told reporters. Earlier, among others, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had criticised the BJP-led government over the refusal of aid and said the rain-ravaged southern state had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore. "We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy (sic)," Isaac had written on Twitter. He had further said as part of the state government's resource mobilisation efforts for the ongoing relief-and-rescue operations for the flood-hit people, it had increased the excise duty on liquor and was geared to approach the GST Council for imposing a 10-per cent cess on SGST. "Both together on annualised basis mobilise 750 crore (sic)," Isaac had written on the microblogging website. Alphons, who has been in the thick of things, is continuously updating the rest of the country about the conditions in Kerala and listing out the requirements of the people of the state as they hobble back to normalcy. The Union tourism minister also appealed to all the Indians to donate "big money" for the cause. "We need huge amounts of money -- millions and billions of dollars to rebuild Kerala. Now we need that big money. Please send money to the chief minister's relief fund and not to NGOs that are not credible," he said. Incessant rains have claimed over 230 lives in Kerala since August 8.

Government has inherited 14-year policy of refusing foreign aid:  Union minister

Union minister KJ Alphons on Thursday on Thursday requested the Centre to make a "one-time exception" to its 14-year policy of not accepting foreign aid in the face of natural calamities for Kerala, news agency PTI reported.

As the row over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-has-inherited-14-year-policy-of-refusing-foreign-aid--union-minister--161056">foreign aid</a> for the flood-ravaged southern state escalated, Alphons earlier in the day said the NDA government had "inherited" the policy of not accepting foreign funds for natural calamities from the previous UPA government, the report added.

He said the Centre's stand on Kerala was a convention "inherited" from previous governments, when during 2004's devastating Tsunami, then prime minister Manmohan Singh had refused aid from foreign countries.

Bureaucrats serving during Singh's tenure as prime minister, however, indicated that the 2004 decision was not cast in stone.

"Kerala has contributed huge amounts of foreign exchange through remittance in the last 50 years. In fact, in the last year itself, it had brought in Rs 75,000 crore. Also, Kerela is the biggest tourist destination in the country and contributes hugely to the economy. For these reasons, as a junior minister, I am appealing to my senior colleagues to make a special consideration for the state. I appeal to them to make a one-time exception to the policy," Alphons was quoted as saying&nbsp;

The minister, who is from Kerala, said there were two lakh families staying in the relief camps and when they return home, they will have no clothes to wear, no food, no utensils, no toilet and no drinking water.

"We need big fat cheques. We do not need people to open their wardrobes and send old clothes, we need them to send big fat cheques," he added.

Earlier, among others, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had criticised the BJP-led government over the refusal of aid and said Kerala had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore.

"We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy (sic)," Isaac had written on Twitter. 
Alphons accused Isaac of playing "misleading politics".

Stating that the Centre's Rs 760-crore aid to the state was for the the immediate rescue-and-relief operations, the Union minister said the due process will be followed in releasing the required funds to Kerala once it assessed the losses it had incurred.

Shivshankar Menon, who was the national security adviser during Singh's tenure as prime minister, tweeted, saying the 2004 decision was "to not accept foreign participation in relief but accept it for long-term rehabilitation case by case".

"No to rescue teams needing hand-holding and interpretation but yes to help rebuilding houses, bridges, roads etc. A way forward for Kerala? (sic)," he tweeted.

Singh's former media adviser and veteran journalist Sanjaya Baru also tweeted, saying the policy of accepting aid only from the US, UK, Japan and Germany was in fact put in place by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after 1998.

"One must distinguish between developmental aid and humanitarian assistance. UAE is offering latter.

"Development Aid = Money + Lecture. Disaster Aid = Money + Sympathy. We said no to former. No harm in saying yes to latter," Baru wrote on Twitter.

Bureaucrats serving during Singh's tenure as prime minister, however, indicated that the 2004 decision was not cast in stone.

Union minister KJ Alphons on Thursday on Thursday requested the Centre to make a "one-time exception" to its 14-year policy of not accepting foreign aid in the face of natural calamities for Kerala, news agency PTI reported. As the row over foreign aid for the flood-ravaged southern state escalated, Alphons earlier in the day said the NDA government had "inherited" the policy of not accepting foreign funds for natural calamities from the previous UPA government, the report added. He said the Centre's stand on Kerala was a convention "inherited" from previous governments, when during 2004's devastating Tsunami, then prime minister Manmohan Singh had refused aid from foreign countries. Bureaucrats serving during Singh's tenure as prime minister, however, indicated that the 2004 decision was not cast in stone. "Kerala has contributed huge amounts of foreign exchange through remittance in the last 50 years. In fact, in the last year itself, it had brought in Rs 75,000 crore. Also, Kerela is the biggest tourist destination in the country and contributes hugely to the economy. For these reasons, as a junior minister, I am appealing to my senior colleagues to make a special consideration for the state. I appeal to them to make a one-time exception to the policy," Alphons was quoted as saying The minister, who is from Kerala, said there were two lakh families staying in the relief camps and when they return home, they will have no clothes to wear, no food, no utensils, no toilet and no drinking water. "We need big fat cheques. We do not need people to open their wardrobes and send old clothes, we need them to send big fat cheques," he added. Earlier, among others, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had criticised the BJP-led government over the refusal of aid and said Kerala had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore. "We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy (sic)," Isaac had written on Twitter. Alphons accused Isaac of playing "misleading politics". Stating that the Centre's Rs 760-crore aid to the state was for the the immediate rescue-and-relief operations, the Union minister said the due process will be followed in releasing the required funds to Kerala once it assessed the losses it had incurred. Shivshankar Menon, who was the national security adviser during Singh's tenure as prime minister, tweeted, saying the 2004 decision was "to not accept foreign participation in relief but accept it for long-term rehabilitation case by case". "No to rescue teams needing hand-holding and interpretation but yes to help rebuilding houses, bridges, roads etc. A way forward for Kerala? (sic)," he tweeted. Singh's former media adviser and veteran journalist Sanjaya Baru also tweeted, saying the policy of accepting aid only from the US, UK, Japan and Germany was in fact put in place by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after 1998. "One must distinguish between developmental aid and humanitarian assistance. UAE is offering latter. "Development Aid = Money + Lecture. Disaster Aid = Money + Sympathy. We said no to former. No harm in saying yes to latter," Baru wrote on Twitter.

Make one-time exception in policy of not accepting foreign aid for Kerala: Union Minister Alphons

This August has turned out to be the cruellest month of the year so far. It saw the demise of three political titans — Dravida leader, thinker, scholar and writer Muthuvel Karunanidhi followed by Marxist parliamentarian Somnath Chatterjee and, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was the first to successfully helm a coalition government that completed its term at the Centre — and Kerala battling the worst-ever floods, which has so far killed hundreds and uprooted lakhs of people and left behind a terrible trail of destruction. 
&nbsp;

At the global level, in the death of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the world lost a statesman who was passionate in his pursuit of both peace as well as equity and justice.

In India, the three departed patriarchs were in their autumn. Much as their loss may be felt acutely, their death did not come as a shock or surprise. Long before they drew their last breath, there were enough indications of the end being near.

Kerala, however, is still reeling under the shock and trauma of the fury unleashed by the unprecedented floods. The rains have abated. But what the sun shines on is a crushing scene of devastation, where the huge loss of lives and livelihoods is compounded by the land as well as human habitations being laid waste on a mind-boggling scale. The road to recovery, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction will be long and hard, and at great cost. In the process of life returning to normal, there is bound to be new problems such as the outbreak of disease, the mountains of garbage left behind by receding waters and the pain and effort of coming to terms with loss.

This coming to terms with loss is common to both: the politically bereaved and, those who lost their loved ones as well as the threads of their life in the deluge.

The loss brought people together in different ways. This was heartening to witness at a time when divisive forces and hate campaigns are in full flow to keep apart people and stir unrest. The floods, as much as the death of three politicians, provided the backdrop for this coming together. In Kerala, the floods saw lakhs of homeless survivors — in spite of acute deprivation and misery — eating, sleeping and living together and caring, sharing and helping each other regardless of their religion, caste, language, class or political loyalty. All differences, at least among the common people, were swept away by the flood waters.

The deaths of Vajpayee, Karunanidhi and Chatterjee saw politicians and parties across the spectrum united in their tributes and in paying homage. There was hardly any divergence among the political class in their perception of the contribution of these political leaders, their legacy and the values they represented. No doubt, these were with an eye on the consequences of their death, which would bring to the fore new sites of political contest and re-alignments, with a bearing on assembly elections and the General Election in 2019.

The third common factor is that the three deaths and the disaster that struck Kerala are bound to alter political equations and give rise to new political and ideological questions, particularly in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Bengal is the next big battleground, which would see a bitterly fought contest between the BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC). This is already underway, including a tussle between the Centre and the state on a variety of issues. In the present situation, regardless of whether the TMC returns to office in Kolkata, the BJP appears poised to make inroads — both in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections — and including at the expense of the Congress party and the CPI(M).

The CPI(M)’s ideology and politics do not appear to be reinforcing each other. The party’s position on Chatterjee, including his crude expulsion from the CPI(M), underscored this contradiction in the starkest terms. As savvy players in parliamentary politics, having accepted Chatterjee’s elevation to the office of Speaker, the CPI(M) leadership ought to have accorded primacy to Parliament over the party and party politics. Once Chatterjee had risen to the constitutional office, he was above party and partisan politics.&nbsp;

To expect him to resign as Speaker because of the CPI(M) withdrawing support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s UPA was unacceptable. It betrayed impatience with pluralism and, at that time, indifference to the sense and sentiments of the House.

Chatterjee’s death should serve as a reminder for the CPI(M) to reconcile its politics and ideology, and make a clean break with Stalinist tendencies.

Vajpayee’s legacy, doubtless, would be made the most of by the BJP. For all practical purposes, the campaign for 2019 has been already launched at an opportune juncture.

In the aftermath of Karunanidhi, the Dravida legacy is up for grabs. His successor MK Stalin has to hold together the party and the cadres from the onslaught of the BJP, the Congress, the other Tamil parties, and the factions led by his siblings and the Maran brothers. More than the prospects of the DMK, the future of Dravida politics is at stake. Tamil Nadu is yearning for change. Whether the change is a continuation of Dravida politics or a departure from the political culture of the last 50 years, it would — like the electoral outcome in Bengal and Kerala — have immense bearing on the direction of politics and federalism after 2019. 
 
(The author is Consulting Editor-Opinion Page, DNA)

(This article was first published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-intimations-of-change-hope-2653376">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

The deaths of Vajpayee, Karunanidhi and Chatterjee saw politicians and parties across the spectrum united in their tributes and in paying homage.

This August has turned out to be the cruellest month of the year so far. It saw the demise of three political titans — Dravida leader, thinker, scholar and writer Muthuvel Karunanidhi followed by Marxist parliamentarian Somnath Chatterjee and, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was the first to successfully helm a coalition government that completed its term at the Centre — and Kerala battling the worst-ever floods, which has so far killed hundreds and uprooted lakhs of people and left behind a terrible trail of destruction. At the global level, in the death of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the world lost a statesman who was passionate in his pursuit of both peace as well as equity and justice. In India, the three departed patriarchs were in their autumn. Much as their loss may be felt acutely, their death did not come as a shock or surprise. Long before they drew their last breath, there were enough indications of the end being near. Kerala, however, is still reeling under the shock and trauma of the fury unleashed by the unprecedented floods. The rains have abated. But what the sun shines on is a crushing scene of devastation, where the huge loss of lives and livelihoods is compounded by the land as well as human habitations being laid waste on a mind-boggling scale. The road to recovery, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction will be long and hard, and at great cost. In the process of life returning to normal, there is bound to be new problems such as the outbreak of disease, the mountains of garbage left behind by receding waters and the pain and effort of coming to terms with loss. This coming to terms with loss is common to both: the politically bereaved and, those who lost their loved ones as well as the threads of their life in the deluge. The loss brought people together in different ways. This was heartening to witness at a time when divisive forces and hate campaigns are in full flow to keep apart people and stir unrest. The floods, as much as the death of three politicians, provided the backdrop for this coming together. In Kerala, the floods saw lakhs of homeless survivors — in spite of acute deprivation and misery — eating, sleeping and living together and caring, sharing and helping each other regardless of their religion, caste, language, class or political loyalty. All differences, at least among the common people, were swept away by the flood waters. The deaths of Vajpayee, Karunanidhi and Chatterjee saw politicians and parties across the spectrum united in their tributes and in paying homage. There was hardly any divergence among the political class in their perception of the contribution of these political leaders, their legacy and the values they represented. No doubt, these were with an eye on the consequences of their death, which would bring to the fore new sites of political contest and re-alignments, with a bearing on assembly elections and the General Election in 2019. The third common factor is that the three deaths and the disaster that struck Kerala are bound to alter political equations and give rise to new political and ideological questions, particularly in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Bengal is the next big battleground, which would see a bitterly fought contest between the BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC). This is already underway, including a tussle between the Centre and the state on a variety of issues. In the present situation, regardless of whether the TMC returns to office in Kolkata, the BJP appears poised to make inroads — both in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections — and including at the expense of the Congress party and the CPI(M). The CPI(M)’s ideology and politics do not appear to be reinforcing each other. The party’s position on Chatterjee, including his crude expulsion from the CPI(M), underscored this contradiction in the starkest terms. As savvy players in parliamentary politics, having accepted Chatterjee’s elevation to the office of Speaker, the CPI(M) leadership ought to have accorded primacy to Parliament over the party and party politics. Once Chatterjee had risen to the constitutional office, he was above party and partisan politics. To expect him to resign as Speaker because of the CPI(M) withdrawing support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s UPA was unacceptable. It betrayed impatience with pluralism and, at that time, indifference to the sense and sentiments of the House. Chatterjee’s death should serve as a reminder for the CPI(M) to reconcile its politics and ideology, and make a clean break with Stalinist tendencies. Vajpayee’s legacy, doubtless, would be made the most of by the BJP. For all practical purposes, the campaign for 2019 has been already launched at an opportune juncture. In the aftermath of Karunanidhi, the Dravida legacy is up for grabs. His successor MK Stalin has to hold together the party and the cadres from the onslaught of the BJP, the Congress, the other Tamil parties, and the factions led by his siblings and the Maran brothers. More than the prospects of the DMK, the future of Dravida politics is at stake. Tamil Nadu is yearning for change. Whether the change is a continuation of Dravida politics or a departure from the political culture of the last 50 years, it would — like the electoral outcome in Bengal and Kerala — have immense bearing on the direction of politics and federalism after 2019. (The author is Consulting Editor-Opinion Page, DNA) (This article was first published on The DNA. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Floods, death of three veteran leaders indicate upsets in settled political equations

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe on Thursday discussed the Doklam standoff between the two countries during a delegation-level meet, reported news agency ANI.&nbsp;

The duo expressed positive views on the "maturity and restraint" displayed by the two neighbouring countires during the 73-day military stand-off last year and said that it could serve as a model to resolve the other disputes along the borders in the future, ANI report said quoting sources.

ANI report said India raised objections pertaining to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying that the project passed through Indian territory, illegally occupied by Pakistan.

The implementation of a Director General of Military Operations (DGMO)-level hotline was also discussed during their meeting.&nbsp;

General Fenghe, during his talk, repeatedly mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his "talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping", positively referring to Prime Minister Modi's "vision".

The two Defence Ministers also agreed upon expanding the engagement between their armed forces related to training, joint exercises and other professional interactions.&nbsp;

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi met Fenghe and appreciated the increased momentum of high-level contacts between India and China in all the spheres.

India raised objections pertaining to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying that the project passed through Indian territory, illegally occupied by Pakistan

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe on Thursday discussed the Doklam standoff between the two countries during a delegation-level meet, reported news agency ANI. The duo expressed positive views on the "maturity and restraint" displayed by the two neighbouring countires during the 73-day military stand-off last year and said that it could serve as a model to resolve the other disputes along the borders in the future, ANI report said quoting sources. ANI report said India raised objections pertaining to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying that the project passed through Indian territory, illegally occupied by Pakistan. The implementation of a Director General of Military Operations (DGMO)-level hotline was also discussed during their meeting. General Fenghe, during his talk, repeatedly mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his "talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping", positively referring to Prime Minister Modi's "vision". The two Defence Ministers also agreed upon expanding the engagement between their armed forces related to training, joint exercises and other professional interactions. Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi met Fenghe and appreciated the increased momentum of high-level contacts between India and China in all the spheres.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discusses  Doklam standoff with Chinese counterpart

Veteran journalist &nbsp;Kuldeep Nayar passed away on Wednesday night in a Delhi hospital. He was 95 years old.

Born in Sialkot of Pakistan on 14 August 1923, Nayar started his career in Urdu journalism and worked in The Statesman as editor.&nbsp;

Nayar breathed his last at the Escorts Hospital at 12.30 a.m., and his cremation will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.

He was arrested during the Emergency imposed by ex-prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Nayar, a veteran journalist, has been High commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

He has penned many books and been a human right activist. In 1997, he was nominated as a Member of the Rajya Sabha.

Offering condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Nayyar an "intellectual giant" and recalled his work, backed by frank and fearless views. &nbsp;

"Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences," he tweeted.

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Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1032474490880634881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Nayar, a veteran journalist, has been High commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.

Veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayar passed away on Wednesday night in a Delhi hospital. He was 95 years old. Born in Sialkot of Pakistan on 14 August 1923, Nayar started his career in Urdu journalism and worked in The Statesman as editor. Nayar breathed his last at the Escorts Hospital at 12.30 a.m., and his cremation will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. He was arrested during the Emergency imposed by ex-prime minister Indira Gandhi. Nayar, a veteran journalist, has been High commissioner of India to the United Kingdom. He has penned many books and been a human right activist. In 1997, he was nominated as a Member of the Rajya Sabha. Offering condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Nayyar an "intellectual giant" and recalled his work, backed by frank and fearless views. "Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences," he tweeted. Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2018 ×

Veteran journalist and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Kuldeep Nayar passes away at 95

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of ''justice for our daughters'' with regard to what he described mysterious death and hurried burial of a key witness in the Unnao rape and murder case.&nbsp;

Gandhi's Mr 56 remark refers to Modi's comment at a rally in Uttar Pradesh that "a 56-inch chest" is a pre-requisite to convert India's most populous state into one as developed as Gujarat.

Modi made the remark in the run up the Assembly elections in the state in 2014.

''The mysterious death & hurried burial without an autopsy, of the key witness in the #Unnao rape & murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, smells of a conspiracy. &nbsp;Is this your idea of “justice for our daughters”, Mr 56? '' he tweeted.

The key eyewitness in Unnao gang-rape and murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, died under mysterious circumstances.

Identified as Yunus, a CBI key eyewitness was allegedly buried hurriedly without a post-mortem.&nbsp;

Gang-rape victim’s uncle has alleged conspiracy behind Yousuf's death and held the jailed BJP MLA and his goons responsible for the mysterious death.

The investigating agency had made Yunus its main witness in the brutal thrashing of victim’s father by BJP MLA’s brother Atul Singh Sengar and four others, which resulted in his death in police custody.&nbsp;

According to a DNA report, Yunus owned a general merchant shop in Makhi village of Unnao and had witnessed the assault on victim’s father. Villagers said that Yunus suddenly fell ill on Saturday and passed away within an hour even before he could be taken to the hospital for treatment. The family members buried him without even informing the CBI and the police, the report added.

Victim’s uncle suspects foul play in Yunus’ death. He said that he may have been poisoned to death by the BJP MLA’s men. He demanded that the body of Yunus be exhumed and a post-mortem be conducted to ascertain the cause of death to rule out foul play.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the victim’s family alleged that BJP MLA’s henchmen have been threatening witnesses and villagers to stay away from the CBI and not to give any statement against Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brother.

“The BJP MLA is using his muscle power from jail to ensure that all CBI witnesses turn hostile during his trial in the court so that he comes out clean. We demand adequate security to all witnesses,” said victim’s uncle.&nbsp;

The victim’s family said that they will also move an application in the High Court in this regard during the next hearing of the case. The family is also not happy with the tardy progress of investigation in the case.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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The mysterious death & hurried burial without an autopsy, of the key witness in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unnao?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unnao</a> rape & murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, smells of a conspiracy. 
 
Is this your idea of “justice for our daughters”, Mr 56 ?<a href="https://t.co/Tft8fpPFYy">https://t.co/Tft8fpPFYy</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1032590285061214208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

'The mysterious death & hurried burial without an autopsy, of the key witness in the #Unnao rape & murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, smells of a conspiracy,' Gandhi said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of ''justice for our daughters'' with regard to what he described mysterious death and hurried burial of a key witness in the Unnao rape and murder case. Gandhi's Mr 56 remark refers to Modi's comment at a rally in Uttar Pradesh that "a 56-inch chest" is a pre-requisite to convert India's most populous state into one as developed as Gujarat. Modi made the remark in the run up the Assembly elections in the state in 2014. ''The mysterious death & hurried burial without an autopsy, of the key witness in the #Unnao rape & murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, smells of a conspiracy. Is this your idea of “justice for our daughters”, Mr 56? '' he tweeted. The key eyewitness in Unnao gang-rape and murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, died under mysterious circumstances. Identified as Yunus, a CBI key eyewitness was allegedly buried hurriedly without a post-mortem. Gang-rape victim’s uncle has alleged conspiracy behind Yousuf's death and held the jailed BJP MLA and his goons responsible for the mysterious death. The investigating agency had made Yunus its main witness in the brutal thrashing of victim’s father by BJP MLA’s brother Atul Singh Sengar and four others, which resulted in his death in police custody. According to a DNA report, Yunus owned a general merchant shop in Makhi village of Unnao and had witnessed the assault on victim’s father. Villagers said that Yunus suddenly fell ill on Saturday and passed away within an hour even before he could be taken to the hospital for treatment. The family members buried him without even informing the CBI and the police, the report added. Victim’s uncle suspects foul play in Yunus’ death. He said that he may have been poisoned to death by the BJP MLA’s men. He demanded that the body of Yunus be exhumed and a post-mortem be conducted to ascertain the cause of death to rule out foul play. Meanwhile, the victim’s family alleged that BJP MLA’s henchmen have been threatening witnesses and villagers to stay away from the CBI and not to give any statement against Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brother. “The BJP MLA is using his muscle power from jail to ensure that all CBI witnesses turn hostile during his trial in the court so that he comes out clean. We demand adequate security to all witnesses,” said victim’s uncle. The victim’s family said that they will also move an application in the High Court in this regard during the next hearing of the case. The family is also not happy with the tardy progress of investigation in the case. The mysterious death & hurried burial without an autopsy, of the key witness in the #Unnao rape & murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, smells of a conspiracy. Is this your idea of “justice for our daughters”, Mr 56 ?https://t.co/Tft8fpPFYy — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 23, 2018 ×

Is this your idea of 'justice for our daughters', Mr 56? asks Rahul Gandhi

This segment of WION brings to you latest updates. Indian cyberspace under attack and most number of cyber attacks are from China.

India facing cyber threat from neighbours

This segment of WION brings to you latest updates. Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe meets Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Watch this video to know more.

Breaking News: India, China discuss border issues

Pakistani <a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-promises-a-new-pakistan-calls-for-good-relations-with-india-154815">Prime Minister Imran Khan</a> has sent the people of Kerala "prayers and best wishes" and offered "any humanitarian assistance that may be needed".&nbsp;

Kerala has been wracked by some of the heaviest monsoon rains ever, with over 200 people dying in the ensuing floods and landslides since the rains hit on August 8.

Close to 400 people have died since the beginning of the monsoon.&nbsp;

"On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we send our prayers and best wishes to those who have been devastated by the floods in Kerala, India," Khan tweeted on Thursday.&nbsp;

"We stand ready to provide any humanitarian assistance that may be needed," he added.&nbsp;

The Indian government however is refusing any foreign aid at the moment. That is not a situation Kerala is happy with.&nbsp;

The government of the UAE has offered Kerala Rs 700 crore, which the Centre is refusing to let Kerala collect. Chief Minister Pinari Vijayan has said his government will take up the issue with the union government, if needed. &nbsp;

Vijayan has told the central government his state requires Rs 2,100 crore, with some commentators saying the figure could be closer to Rs 20,000 crore.

The central government — which classified the Kerala floods as a calamity of severe nature — meanwhile has far offered Kerala Rs 600 crore.&nbsp;

'On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we send our prayers and best wishes to those who have been devastated by the floods in Kerala, India. We stand ready to provide any humanitarian assistance that may be needed,' Khan tweeted on Thursday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has sent the people of Kerala "prayers and best wishes" and offered "any humanitarian assistance that may be needed". Kerala has been wracked by some of the heaviest monsoon rains ever, with over 200 people dying in the ensuing floods and landslides since the rains hit on August 8. Close to 400 people have died since the beginning of the monsoon. "On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we send our prayers and best wishes to those who have been devastated by the floods in Kerala, India," Khan tweeted on Thursday. "We stand ready to provide any humanitarian assistance that may be needed," he added. The Indian government however is refusing any foreign aid at the moment. That is not a situation Kerala is happy with. The government of the UAE has offered Kerala Rs 700 crore, which the Centre is refusing to let Kerala collect. Chief Minister Pinari Vijayan has said his government will take up the issue with the union government, if needed. Vijayan has told the central government his state requires Rs 2,100 crore, with some commentators saying the figure could be closer to Rs 20,000 crore. The central government — which classified the Kerala floods as a calamity of severe nature — meanwhile has far offered Kerala Rs 600 crore.

Kerala floods: Pakistan's Imran Khan offers 'any humanitarian assistance that may be needed'

Pakistan has "solid evidence" against Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav and is hopeful of winning the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/icj-sets-february-2019-for-hearing-kulbhushan-jadhavs-case-report-160888">case against him</a> at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan's new <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kashmir-is-an-issue-we-need-to-acknowledge-it-says-pak-foreign-minister-qureshi--160350">Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi</a> said today.

Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on spying charges in April 2017. India moved the ICJ in May the same year against the verdict. The world court halted Jadhav's execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it.

Both India and Pakistan have already submitted their detailed pleas and responses in the world court.&nbsp;

"We have solid evidence against Jadhav and are hopeful we will win the case in the ICJ,"&nbsp;Qureshi told the media in his home city of Multan in southern Punjab.&nbsp;

"We will try our best to present our stance in an effective manner before the ICJ,"&nbsp;he said.

Yesterday, the Geo TV citing sources had said that the world court will hear the case daily for a week in February next year.

Pakistan says its security forces arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province in March 2016 after he reportedly entered the country from Iran.&nbsp;

In its submission to the ICJ, Pakistan had stated that Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.&nbsp;

India denies all the charges and maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy and that he has no links with the government.&nbsp;

On Indo-Pak talks, Qureshi said Pakistan wants to resolve the core issue of Kashmir in a peaceful manner through dialogue with India.&nbsp;

He hoped that India would reciprocate Pakistan's offer for talks.&nbsp;

'We have solid evidence against Jadhav and are hopeful we will win the case in the ICJ,' Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

Pakistan has "solid evidence" against Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav and is hopeful of winning the case against him at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan's new Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said today. Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on spying charges in April 2017. India moved the ICJ in May the same year against the verdict. The world court halted Jadhav's execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it. Both India and Pakistan have already submitted their detailed pleas and responses in the world court. "We have solid evidence against Jadhav and are hopeful we will win the case in the ICJ," Qureshi told the media in his home city of Multan in southern Punjab. "We will try our best to present our stance in an effective manner before the ICJ," he said. Yesterday, the Geo TV citing sources had said that the world court will hear the case daily for a week in February next year. Pakistan says its security forces arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province in March 2016 after he reportedly entered the country from Iran. In its submission to the ICJ, Pakistan had stated that Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities. India denies all the charges and maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy and that he has no links with the government. On Indo-Pak talks, Qureshi said Pakistan wants to resolve the core issue of Kashmir in a peaceful manner through dialogue with India. He hoped that India would reciprocate Pakistan's offer for talks.

We have 'solid evidence' against Kulbhushan Jadhav: Pakistan Foreign Minister 

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai this evening for a "review health check-up" after his return from the US where he had gone for a 'follow-up' treatment of his pancreatic ailment, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.

Parrikar (62) returned to Panaji from the US last evening. He had gone to the United States on August 10 for a follow-up treatment.

He flew to Mumbai this afternoon and was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital, the report added. He would stay in the hospital for at least a day for a "review health check-up", a senior official from the hospital said.

Sources close to the chief minister's office in Panaji said Parrikar had also visited the Goa Medical College and Hospital last evening soon after his return.

Refusing to divulge further details about his health, the CMO officials said the chief minister is expected to return from Mumbai on August 25.

Parrikar had undergone treatment in the US for nearly three months for a pancreatic ailment earlier this year, returning in the last week of June. Subsequently, he went to the US again earlier this month for a follow-up.&nbsp

Parrikar (62) returned to Panaji from the US last evening. He had gone to the United States on August 10 for a follow-up treatment

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai this evening for a "review health check-up" after his return from the US where he had gone for a 'follow-up' treatment of his pancreatic ailment, news agency PTI reported quoting officials. Parrikar (62) returned to Panaji from the US last evening. He had gone to the United States on August 10 for a follow-up treatment. He flew to Mumbai this afternoon and was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital, the report added. He would stay in the hospital for at least a day for a "review health check-up", a senior official from the hospital said. Sources close to the chief minister's office in Panaji said Parrikar had also visited the Goa Medical College and Hospital last evening soon after his return. Refusing to divulge further details about his health, the CMO officials said the chief minister is expected to return from Mumbai on August 25. Parrikar had undergone treatment in the US for nearly three months for a pancreatic ailment earlier this year, returning in the last week of June. Subsequently, he went to the US again earlier this month for a follow-up.

Goa CM Manohar Parrikar admitted to Mumbai hospital for check-up

The sudden release of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam by the Tamil Nadu government was one of the reasons for the devastating deluge in Kerala, the state government told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

It said that out of a total population of about 3.48 crore, more than 54 lakh or one-sixth of the population of Kerala, had been directly affected by the floods.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government said that in the wake of prior alerts by its engineers, Kerala's Water Resources Secretary had written to her counterpart in Tamil Nadu government and the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee on Mullaperiyar dam, requesting controlled release of water without waiting for the water level in the reservoir to reach its full level.

"Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu Government was requested to gradually release water at least by 139 feet...But no positive assurance in this regard was received from Tamil Nadu even after repeated requests.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

"But the sudden release from the Mullaperiyar dam, third largest reservoir in the Periyar Basin, forced us to release more water from Idukki reservoir, downstream of Mullaperiyar, which is one of the causes of this deluge," the affidavit said.

The Mullaperiyar Dam is located on the Western Ghats near Thekkady in Idukki district of Kerala on the Periyar river.&nbsp;

The state government said that to avoid a repeat of such situations, the Supervisory Committee be headed by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission with Secretaries of both the states as members.&nbsp;

This panel should be empowered to take decisions by a majority opinion regarding operations during flood or any similar crisis, it said.

The Kerala government also sought the constitution of a Management committee to manage the day-to-day operations of the Mullaperiyar Dam.&nbsp;

"We propose that this committee be headed by a Chief Engineer/Superintending Engineer of the CWC with both Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers of the two states," the state government said.&nbsp;

The affidavit was filed in pursuance to August 18 direction of the apex court which had asked the Kerala Chief Secretary to show the steps they have been taken to meet the needs of disaster management, rescue operations and rehabilitation.&nbsp;

Kerala resident Russel Roy had filed a plea seeking, among other things, a direction to Tamil Nadu to manage the water level in the dam as the floods in Kerala have created a havoc.

The top court had earlier ordered the disaster management panel of the Mullaperiyar Dam to urgently decide on lowering the water level.

The direction to consider reducing the water level up to 139 feet from the existing 142 feet had come in the backdrop of Kerala Chief Minister writing to his Tamil Nadu counterpart E K Palaniswami seeking lowering of the water-level in the Mullaperiyar dam in the interest of its safety.

The top court had said the committee may suggest measures before releasing water in the downstream areas to handle the disaster so that the people are not hit by "the catastrophe of the flood".

Tamil Nadu government had opposed the plea with regard to bringing down the water level in the dam, saying the current inflow of water into the dam was 20,000 cusecs and due to rains, it may not be possible to reduce water level immediately.&nbsp;

The Mullaperiyar Dam is located on the Western Ghats near Thekkady in Idukki district of Kerala on the Periyar river.

The sudden release of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam by the Tamil Nadu government was one of the reasons for the devastating deluge in Kerala, the state government told the Supreme Court on Thursday. It said that out of a total population of about 3.48 crore, more than 54 lakh or one-sixth of the population of Kerala, had been directly affected by the floods. The Pinarayi Vijayan government said that in the wake of prior alerts by its engineers, Kerala's Water Resources Secretary had written to her counterpart in Tamil Nadu government and the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee on Mullaperiyar dam, requesting controlled release of water without waiting for the water level in the reservoir to reach its full level. "Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu Government was requested to gradually release water at least by 139 feet...But no positive assurance in this regard was received from Tamil Nadu even after repeated requests. "But the sudden release from the Mullaperiyar dam, third largest reservoir in the Periyar Basin, forced us to release more water from Idukki reservoir, downstream of Mullaperiyar, which is one of the causes of this deluge," the affidavit said. The Mullaperiyar Dam is located on the Western Ghats near Thekkady in Idukki district of Kerala on the Periyar river. The state government said that to avoid a repeat of such situations, the Supervisory Committee be headed by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission with Secretaries of both the states as members. This panel should be empowered to take decisions by a majority opinion regarding operations during flood or any similar crisis, it said. The Kerala government also sought the constitution of a Management committee to manage the day-to-day operations of the Mullaperiyar Dam. "We propose that this committee be headed by a Chief Engineer/Superintending Engineer of the CWC with both Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers of the two states," the state government said. The affidavit was filed in pursuance to August 18 direction of the apex court which had asked the Kerala Chief Secretary to show the steps they have been taken to meet the needs of disaster management, rescue operations and rehabilitation. Kerala resident Russel Roy had filed a plea seeking, among other things, a direction to Tamil Nadu to manage the water level in the dam as the floods in Kerala have created a havoc. The top court had earlier ordered the disaster management panel of the Mullaperiyar Dam to urgently decide on lowering the water level. The direction to consider reducing the water level up to 139 feet from the existing 142 feet had come in the backdrop of Kerala Chief Minister writing to his Tamil Nadu counterpart E K Palaniswami seeking lowering of the water-level in the Mullaperiyar dam in the interest of its safety. The top court had said the committee may suggest measures before releasing water in the downstream areas to handle the disaster so that the people are not hit by "the catastrophe of the flood". Tamil Nadu government had opposed the plea with regard to bringing down the water level in the dam, saying the current inflow of water into the dam was 20,000 cusecs and due to rains, it may not be possible to reduce water level immediately.

Sudden water release by Tamil Nadu from Mullaperiyar a reason for deluge: Kerala to SC

Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday appealed to the employees of his ministry and the staff of the universities and colleges across the country to donate at least a day's salary for the relief-and-rehabilitation work in Kerala, which has been devastated due to floods, news agency PTI reported.

Javadekar also donated a month's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, the report further said.

"There has been unprecedented devastation in Kerala due to floods. I have donated one month's salary to PM's National Relief Fund. I appeal to all employees of @HRDMinistry, univ/college teachers and employees to donate at least a day's salary for relief and rehab work (sic)," he tweeted.

Kerala is struggling to find its feet after the devastating deluge that left 231 people dead in a fortnight and displaced over 14 lakh people.

Though the rains have eased over the last two days, vast swathes of land remain under a seemingly endless sheet of water in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kollam districts.

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There has been unprecedented devastation in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a> due to floods . I have donated 1 month’s salary to PM’s National Relief Fund. I appeal to all employees of <a href="https://twitter.com/HRDMinistry?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HRDMinistry</a> , Univ/College teachers & employees to donate atleast a day's salary for relief & rehab work. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KeralaFloods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KeralaFloods</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ucv3bx4Hoo">pic.twitter.com/Ucv3bx4Hoo</a>
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrakashJavdekar/status/1032590302823895040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp

Javadekar also donated a month's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund

Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday appealed to the employees of his ministry and the staff of the universities and colleges across the country to donate at least a day's salary for the relief-and-rehabilitation work in Kerala, which has been devastated due to floods, news agency PTI reported. Javadekar also donated a month's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, the report further said. "There has been unprecedented devastation in Kerala due to floods. I have donated one month's salary to PM's National Relief Fund. I appeal to all employees of @HRDMinistry, univ/college teachers and employees to donate at least a day's salary for relief and rehab work (sic)," he tweeted. Kerala is struggling to find its feet after the devastating deluge that left 231 people dead in a fortnight and displaced over 14 lakh people. Though the rains have eased over the last two days, vast swathes of land remain under a seemingly endless sheet of water in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kollam districts. There has been unprecedented devastation in #Kerala due to floods . I have donated 1 month’s salary to PM’s National Relief Fund. I appeal to all employees of @HRDMinistry , Univ/College teachers & employees to donate atleast a day's salary for relief & rehab work. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/Ucv3bx4Hoo — Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) August 23, 2018 ×

Javadekar appeals to HRD ministry, university staff to donate day's salary for Kerala

The warm reception accorded to Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe. Watch this video to know more.

Sino-India bilateral talks: Wei Fenghe meets Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Floods in the river Godavari in East and West Godavari districts in the last one week caused damage to the tune of Rs. 600 crore, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at Amaravati today.

He announced a compensation of Rs. 25,000 per hectare to the crops damaged in the flood.

The chief minister stated this after conducting an aerial survey of the affected areas.

Paddy crop in about 11,000 hectares in the two districts considered the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh remained submerged, though agriculture department officials see some chance of revival once the water in the fields dries up.

Cotton too suffered extensive damage in about 1,300 hectares, but there is no chance of any revival, the officials said.

Official sources said the state government would submit a report on the flood damages to the Centre, seeking financial assistance, after a complete assessment in the next few days.

The two districts have been ravaged by the floods for the past six days.

The chief minister reviewed the situation with Collectors of the two districts and other officials in Rajamahendravaram airport and later told reporters that steps would be taken to overcome the submergence problem of Erra Kalava (red canal) on a permanent basis.

"This canal caused the major damage in West Godavari district," he pointed out.

Causeways damaged in the flood would be rebuilt while roads in the region would be repaired at a cost of Rs. 35 crore, he added.

Meanwhile, the Godavari continued to be in spate with the flood discharge crossing 15.24 lakh cusecs at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowaleswaram by this evening.

The discharge that was 14,34,636 cusecs late last night, rose to 15,24,268 cusecs this afternoon and remained steady.

On the other hand, flood discharge in river Krishna at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada fell by half to just about 75,107 cusecs this evening from a high of 1.50 lakh cusecs last evening.

Inflow into the Srisailam reservoir, however, witnessed a sharp increase today with the level almost touching the Full Reservoir Level (FRL).

Srisailam now holds 206.1 tmc ft of water at 883.3 feet as against the FRL of 215 tmc ft (885 ft), and as such, 2,12,365 cusecs was being released into the Nagarjuna Sagar dam downstream.

Copious inflows of 1,83,579 cusecs from Srisailam has resulted in Nagarjuna Sagar slowing inching towards the FRL, with the storage now at 216.88 tmc ft (553.2 feet).

However, about 100 tmc ft more water is required for Nagarjuna Sagar to fill to its capacity of 312 tmc feet.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated this after conducting an aerial survey of the affected areas.

Floods in the river Godavari in East and West Godavari districts in the last one week caused damage to the tune of Rs. 600 crore, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at Amaravati today. He announced a compensation of Rs. 25,000 per hectare to the crops damaged in the flood. The chief minister stated this after conducting an aerial survey of the affected areas. Paddy crop in about 11,000 hectares in the two districts considered the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh remained submerged, though agriculture department officials see some chance of revival once the water in the fields dries up. Cotton too suffered extensive damage in about 1,300 hectares, but there is no chance of any revival, the officials said. Official sources said the state government would submit a report on the flood damages to the Centre, seeking financial assistance, after a complete assessment in the next few days. The two districts have been ravaged by the floods for the past six days. The chief minister reviewed the situation with Collectors of the two districts and other officials in Rajamahendravaram airport and later told reporters that steps would be taken to overcome the submergence problem of Erra Kalava (red canal) on a permanent basis. "This canal caused the major damage in West Godavari district," he pointed out. Causeways damaged in the flood would be rebuilt while roads in the region would be repaired at a cost of Rs. 35 crore, he added. Meanwhile, the Godavari continued to be in spate with the flood discharge crossing 15.24 lakh cusecs at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowaleswaram by this evening. The discharge that was 14,34,636 cusecs late last night, rose to 15,24,268 cusecs this afternoon and remained steady. On the other hand, flood discharge in river Krishna at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada fell by half to just about 75,107 cusecs this evening from a high of 1.50 lakh cusecs last evening. Inflow into the Srisailam reservoir, however, witnessed a sharp increase today with the level almost touching the Full Reservoir Level (FRL). Srisailam now holds 206.1 tmc ft of water at 883.3 feet as against the FRL of 215 tmc ft (885 ft), and as such, 2,12,365 cusecs was being released into the Nagarjuna Sagar dam downstream. Copious inflows of 1,83,579 cusecs from Srisailam has resulted in Nagarjuna Sagar slowing inching towards the FRL, with the storage now at 216.88 tmc ft (553.2 feet). However, about 100 tmc ft more water is required for Nagarjuna Sagar to fill to its capacity of 312 tmc feet.

Godavari floods caused Rs 600 crore damage, says Chandrababu Naidu

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said some of his own party members did not like it when he hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in parliament.

In his address in Hamburg, Germany, Mr Gandhi also said there is a big job problem in India but the Prime Minister refuses to see it.

"You have to accept the problem to fix it," he said.

Mr Gandhi also spoke about India and its progress over the last 70 years.

Referring to his famous hug, after a no-holds-barred attack in a parliament debate last month, Mr Gandhi said, "When I hugged PM Modi in parliament, some within my party did not like it."

Gandhi also talked about his father former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's killers.

"When I saw the man who killed my father lying dead in a field in Sri Lanka, I did not like it, I saw his crying children in him," he said.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Velupillai Prabhakaran, responsible for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, was shot dead by Sri Lankan troops in 2009.

In his address in Hamburg, Germany, Rahul Gandhi also said there is a big job problem in India.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said some of his own party members did not like it when he hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in parliament. In his address in Hamburg, Germany, Mr Gandhi also said there is a big job problem in India but the Prime Minister refuses to see it. "You have to accept the problem to fix it," he said. Mr Gandhi also spoke about India and its progress over the last 70 years. Referring to his famous hug, after a no-holds-barred attack in a parliament debate last month, Mr Gandhi said, "When I hugged PM Modi in parliament, some within my party did not like it." Gandhi also talked about his father former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's killers. "When I saw the man who killed my father lying dead in a field in Sri Lanka, I did not like it, I saw his crying children in him," he said. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Velupillai Prabhakaran, responsible for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, was shot dead by Sri Lankan troops in 2009.

Some within my party didn't like it: Rahul Gandhi on hugging PM Modi

Congress President Rahul Gandhi's hug to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament continues to be a topic of discussion not just in India but beyond the borders too.

Hugged PM Modi in response to his hateful remarks but he got upset: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday called on some members of the German Parliament and discussed with them a number of domestic and international issues including jobs and trade.

During the second day of his two-day visit to Germany, he also walked through the "archives of German Members of Parliament" today.

The Congress party said that Gandhi met with German Parliamentarians Gerold Otten, Johannes Schraps, Omid Nouripour and Rene Springer and discussed with them domestic and international politics, jobs and trade.

"I began my 2 day visit to Germany with a speech at the Bucerius Summer School in Hamburg, yesterday. Today, I am in Berlin to meet members of the German Bundestag, NGO's and business leaders. I will also be addressing a public meeting organised by the Indian Overseas Congress," Gandhi said on Twitter.

The Bundestag is Germany's Parliament. It can be compared to the lower house of Parliament along the lines of the United States House of Representatives or India's Lok Sabha.

"Member of the Bundestag Schraps took Congress President Rahul Gandhi on a tour of the Bundestag including the Graffiti wall from World War II and the 'Archive of MPs'," the Congress tweeted along with pictures.

"CP Rahul Gandhi walks through the 'Archive of German Members of Parliament', the 'archive' has boxes labelled with every MP elected to the Bundestag from 1919 and 1999.

"The 'archive boxes' resemble brick walls, which are a metaphor for the foundation of the parliamentary structure," the Congress said in another tweet.

"Congress President @RahulGandhi met Herr Michael Sommer, Dy Chairman of Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a political foundation associated with @spdde," the party tweeted.

Gandhi will tomorrow travel to London, where he is slated to hold a series of meetings with MPs and address a meeting of overseas Indians.

The Congress party said that Gandhi met with German Parliamentarians Gerold Otten, Johannes Schraps, Omid Nouripour and Rene Springer and discussed with them domestic and international politics, jobs and trade.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday called on some members of the German Parliament and discussed with them a number of domestic and international issues including jobs and trade. During the second day of his two-day visit to Germany, he also walked through the "archives of German Members of Parliament" today. The Congress party said that Gandhi met with German Parliamentarians Gerold Otten, Johannes Schraps, Omid Nouripour and Rene Springer and discussed with them domestic and international politics, jobs and trade. "I began my 2 day visit to Germany with a speech at the Bucerius Summer School in Hamburg, yesterday. Today, I am in Berlin to meet members of the German Bundestag, NGO's and business leaders. I will also be addressing a public meeting organised by the Indian Overseas Congress," Gandhi said on Twitter. The Bundestag is Germany's Parliament. It can be compared to the lower house of Parliament along the lines of the United States House of Representatives or India's Lok Sabha. "Member of the Bundestag Schraps took Congress President Rahul Gandhi on a tour of the Bundestag including the Graffiti wall from World War II and the 'Archive of MPs'," the Congress tweeted along with pictures. "CP Rahul Gandhi walks through the 'Archive of German Members of Parliament', the 'archive' has boxes labelled with every MP elected to the Bundestag from 1919 and 1999. "The 'archive boxes' resemble brick walls, which are a metaphor for the foundation of the parliamentary structure," the Congress said in another tweet. "Congress President @RahulGandhi met Herr Michael Sommer, Dy Chairman of Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a political foundation associated with @spdde," the party tweeted. Gandhi will tomorrow travel to London, where he is slated to hold a series of meetings with MPs and address a meeting of overseas Indians.

Rahul Gandhi calls on German MPs; discusses jobs, trade

Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed that the incidents of lynching in India were due to "anger" emanating from joblessness and "destruction" of small businesses due to demonetisation and the "poorly implemented" GST by the ruling BJP.

In his address in Hamburg, Germany, Mr Gandhi traced the creation of ISIS to warn against a similar situation at home if people are excluded from the development process.

"It is very dangerous in the 21st century to exclude people. If you don't give people a vision in the 21st century somebody else will give them one.

"And that's the real risk of excluding a large number of people from our development processes," he said, accusing the BJP government of excluding tribals, Dalits and minorities from the development process.

Asserting that the transformation taking place in the world requires certain protection for people, he accused the current dispensation in India of taking these protections away from them and hitting the informal economy through demonetisation and GST, causing anger which is leading to lynching incidents.

"They (the BJP government) feel that tribal communities, poor farmers, lower caste people, minorities shouldn't get the same benefits as the elite," the Congress president alleged.

Mr Gandhi claimed that the other thing the BJP has done is that they have started attacking the support structures created to help certain groups of people.

"That's not the only damage they've done. There's something much more dangerous," he said.

He alleged that a couple of years back Prime Minister Narendra Modi "demonetised the Indian economy and destroyed the cash flow" of all small and medium businesses rendering millions jobless.&nbsp;

"They imposed a badly conceptualised GST which complicated lives further," Mr Gandhi said.

"Large numbers of people who worked in small businesses were forced back to the villages and these three things that the government has done has made India angry.

"And that's what you get to read in the newspapers. When you hear about lynchings when you hear about attacks on Dalits in India when you hear about attacks on minorities in India, that's the reason for it," Mr Gandhi said.

He said that some of his own party members did not like it when he hugged PM Modi in Parliament.

Mr Gandhi also said there is a big job problem in India but the prime minister refuses to see it.

"You have to (first) accept the problem, to fix it," he said.

Mr Gandhi also spoke about India and its progress over the last 70 years.

Referring to his famous hug, after a no-holds-barred attack during a Parliament debate last month, Mr Gandhi said, "When I hugged PM Modi in Parliament, some within my party did not like it."

The Congress president also talked about his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assailants.

"When I saw the man who killed my father lying dead in a field in Sri Lanka, I did not like it, I saw his crying children in him," he said.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Velupillai Prabhakaran, responsible for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, was shot dead by Sri Lankan troops in 2009.

In his address in Germany's Hamburg, Rahul Gandhi traced the creation of ISIS to warn against a similar situation at home if people are excluded from the development process.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed that the incidents of lynching in India were due to "anger" emanating from joblessness and "destruction" of small businesses due to demonetisation and the "poorly implemented" GST by the ruling BJP. In his address in Hamburg, Germany, Mr Gandhi traced the creation of ISIS to warn against a similar situation at home if people are excluded from the development process. "It is very dangerous in the 21st century to exclude people. If you don't give people a vision in the 21st century somebody else will give them one. "And that's the real risk of excluding a large number of people from our development processes," he said, accusing the BJP government of excluding tribals, Dalits and minorities from the development process. Asserting that the transformation taking place in the world requires certain protection for people, he accused the current dispensation in India of taking these protections away from them and hitting the informal economy through demonetisation and GST, causing anger which is leading to lynching incidents. "They (the BJP government) feel that tribal communities, poor farmers, lower caste people, minorities shouldn't get the same benefits as the elite," the Congress president alleged. Mr Gandhi claimed that the other thing the BJP has done is that they have started attacking the support structures created to help certain groups of people. "That's not the only damage they've done. There's something much more dangerous," he said. He alleged that a couple of years back Prime Minister Narendra Modi "demonetised the Indian economy and destroyed the cash flow" of all small and medium businesses rendering millions jobless. "They imposed a badly conceptualised GST which complicated lives further," Mr Gandhi said. "Large numbers of people who worked in small businesses were forced back to the villages and these three things that the government has done has made India angry. "And that's what you get to read in the newspapers. When you hear about lynchings when you hear about attacks on Dalits in India when you hear about attacks on minorities in India, that's the reason for it," Mr Gandhi said. He said that some of his own party members did not like it when he hugged PM Modi in Parliament. Mr Gandhi also said there is a big job problem in India but the prime minister refuses to see it. "You have to (first) accept the problem, to fix it," he said. Mr Gandhi also spoke about India and its progress over the last 70 years. Referring to his famous hug, after a no-holds-barred attack during a Parliament debate last month, Mr Gandhi said, "When I hugged PM Modi in Parliament, some within my party did not like it." The Congress president also talked about his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assailants. "When I saw the man who killed my father lying dead in a field in Sri Lanka, I did not like it, I saw his crying children in him," he said. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Velupillai Prabhakaran, responsible for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, was shot dead by Sri Lankan troops in 2009.

In Germany, Rahul Gandhi blames GST, unemployment for lynchings

Adani Foundation, the CSR arm of the Adani Group, has committed to giving Rs 50 crore for relief and rehabilitation of the Kerala flood victims, the group said on Thursday.

It will provide Rs 25 crore for immediate relief to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund and an equal amount for rehabilitation and resettlement, news agency PTI reported.

Adani Group employees have also pledged a day's salary to the effort, it said in a statement.

"The financial assistance will be dispatched in phases to aid the state in its herculean task of reconstruction and rehabilitation," the statement added.

The Foundation has also started massive rehabilitation work in collaboration with Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd.

Honda firms donate Rs 3 crore&nbsp

Meanwhile, Honda group companies in India along with their employees donated Rs 3 crore for Kerala flood relief efforts.

Cheques amounting to Rs 3 crore were handed over to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund today, the companies said in a joint statement.

"As a responsible corporate, Honda group in India is committed to contribute in restoration of the devastated infrastructure and helping rebuild lives of the affected people," the companies added.

All Honda group companies in India - Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Honda Cars India Ltd, Honda Siel Power Products Ltd, Honda R&D (India) and Honda Motor India have contributed towards the reconstruction and recovery of the region.

Yesterday, Maruti Suzuki India along with its employees had announced to donate Rs 3.5 crore for relief effort in Kerala.&nbsp

Already, Bajaj Auto, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) and TVS Motor have announced contribution towards the relief fund.

Other companies such as Tata Motors, Nissan India and BWM have announced service support to customers in the state.&nbsp

Honda group companies in India along with their employees donated Rs 3 crore for Kerala flood relief efforts

Adani Foundation, the CSR arm of the Adani Group, has committed to giving Rs 50 crore for relief and rehabilitation of the Kerala flood victims, the group said on Thursday. It will provide Rs 25 crore for immediate relief to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund and an equal amount for rehabilitation and resettlement, news agency PTI reported. Adani Group employees have also pledged a day's salary to the effort, it said in a statement. "The financial assistance will be dispatched in phases to aid the state in its herculean task of reconstruction and rehabilitation," the statement added. The Foundation has also started massive rehabilitation work in collaboration with Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd. Honda firms donate Rs 3 crore Meanwhile, Honda group companies in India along with their employees donated Rs 3 crore for Kerala flood relief efforts. Cheques amounting to Rs 3 crore were handed over to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund today, the companies said in a joint statement. "As a responsible corporate, Honda group in India is committed to contribute in restoration of the devastated infrastructure and helping rebuild lives of the affected people," the companies added. All Honda group companies in India - Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Honda Cars India Ltd, Honda Siel Power Products Ltd, Honda R&D (India) and Honda Motor India have contributed towards the reconstruction and recovery of the region. Yesterday, Maruti Suzuki India along with its employees had announced to donate Rs 3.5 crore for relief effort in Kerala. Already, Bajaj Auto, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) and TVS Motor have announced contribution towards the relief fund. Other companies such as Tata Motors, Nissan India and BWM have announced service support to customers in the state.

Adani Foundation commits Rs 50 crore for Kerala flood relief; Honda firms donate Rs 3 crore 

The BJP has for some time now been mooting the idea of simultaneous polls. That is, the holding of both general and state assembly elections as the same time.&nbsp;

The BJP's contention is that the country is otherwise always in election mode and that there is no time left for governance. (There have been instances of states being under the ambit of the Election Commission's model code of conduct for over half a year, meaning that the government can do no work in that time.)&nbsp;

wionews&nbsp;reported recently that the BJP was planning on holding <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-thinking-of-holding-11-state-elections-with-lok-sabha-polls-next-year-reports-159028">simultaneous polls next year</a>. And that it would do so by pushing some state elections forward, and postponing others.&nbsp;

On Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said that was not going to happen.&nbsp;

"Koi chance nahi" (No chance at all), Rawat said in Aurangabad after he was asked if it was feasible to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections.

Rawat added that simultaneous polls could not be held without a "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/law-commission-set-to-recommend-legal-framework-for-simultaneous-polls-159281">legal framework</a>" in place.

The Lok Sabha elections are due in April-May next year while Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram are scheduled to be held later this year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

OP Rawat said it would not possible to hold simulatenous polls without a 'legal framework' in place.

The BJP has for some time now been mooting the idea of simultaneous polls. That is, the holding of both general and state assembly elections as the same time. The BJP's contention is that the country is otherwise always in election mode and that there is no time left for governance. (There have been instances of states being under the ambit of the Election Commission's model code of conduct for over half a year, meaning that the government can do no work in that time.) wionews reported recently that the BJP was planning on holding simultaneous polls next year. And that it would do so by pushing some state elections forward, and postponing others. On Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said that was not going to happen. "Koi chance nahi" (No chance at all), Rawat said in Aurangabad after he was asked if it was feasible to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections. Rawat added that simultaneous polls could not be held without a "legal framework" in place. The Lok Sabha elections are due in April-May next year while Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram are scheduled to be held later this year. (With inputs from PTI)

Simultaneous polls in 2019? 'Koi chance nahin,' says CEC

The Maharashtra government would build a memorial for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday.

Mr Fadnavis made the announcement while paying tributes to Mr Vajpayee at a condolence meeting.

At the meeting, Mr Fadnavis also distributed urns containing ashes of the former prime minister to BJP leaders for immersion in 14 rivers in the state, including the Godavari, Panchaganga and Chandrabhaga.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve and ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar, Chandrakant Patil, Vinod Tawde and others were present.

Mr Vajpayee, 93, died in Delhi on August 16.

"Atal Ji showed us the path of loving this country, doing something for it. We can pay homage to him by walking on that path," Mr Fadnavis said.

"The government will build a memorial for him in Mumbai," he said, adding that details will be worked out soon.

"Vajpayee gave first priority to the country, then to the party and then to the self. He not only talked but lived that ideology," Mr Fadnavis added.

The Chief Minister listed several initiatives the Vajpayee-led NDA government took, including the rural road connectivity program and efforts aimed at generating jobs.

"Vajpayee was not an economist, but he was aware of human development indices. He stressed social justice," Mr Fadnavis said.

Mr Naik shared his memories of Mr Vajpayee, particularly during the days leading up to the BJP's formation, and talked about how the late leader was always concerned about common party workers.

An urn containing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ashes was brought from Delhi to Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon by Maharashtra BJP president Raosaheb Danve. The ashes are to be immersed across 11 rivers in the state.

The Maharashtra government would build a memorial for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday. Mr Fadnavis made the announcement while paying tributes to Mr Vajpayee at a condolence meeting. At the meeting, Mr Fadnavis also distributed urns containing ashes of the former prime minister to BJP leaders for immersion in 14 rivers in the state, including the Godavari, Panchaganga and Chandrabhaga. Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve and ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar, Chandrakant Patil, Vinod Tawde and others were present. Mr Vajpayee, 93, died in Delhi on August 16. "Atal Ji showed us the path of loving this country, doing something for it. We can pay homage to him by walking on that path," Mr Fadnavis said. "The government will build a memorial for him in Mumbai," he said, adding that details will be worked out soon. "Vajpayee gave first priority to the country, then to the party and then to the self. He not only talked but lived that ideology," Mr Fadnavis added. The Chief Minister listed several initiatives the Vajpayee-led NDA government took, including the rural road connectivity program and efforts aimed at generating jobs. "Vajpayee was not an economist, but he was aware of human development indices. He stressed social justice," Mr Fadnavis said. Mr Naik shared his memories of Mr Vajpayee, particularly during the days leading up to the BJP's formation, and talked about how the late leader was always concerned about common party workers.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s memorial in Mumbai soon, says Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Some people never hang up their boots and some, like Kuldip Nayar, never put down their pens. The veteran journalist died today at age 95, working till the end -- his last column appearing in the Lokmat Times this morning, hours after he breathed his last around 12.30 am in a Delhi hospital.&nbsp

The prolific journalist, columnist and author, known not just as one of India's most respected mediapersons but also as a passionate advocate for peace and press freedom, discussed the immigrants as vote banks in his last article, focussing on the northeast.

He ended with advice to the BJP to not ignore the problems of the region, pointing out that Assam has 14 of 25 seats in the northeast.&nbsp

It was a fitting end for the journalist, who was born in 1923 in Sialkot, Pakistan, and began his career in journalism in the Urdu language press before going on to serve as editor of several newspapers, including Indian Express and The Statesman.&nbsp

It was a career with many highs for the mostly journalist, who also served a stint as India's high commissioner to the United Kingdom and was appointed to the Rajya Sabha.&nbsp

An oft-quoted Nayar anecdote is about how he broke the news of Lal Bahadur Shastri's death in Tashkent.

Nayar was in Tashkent when Shastri died after signing the historic Tashkent Declaration.

Soon after midnight on January 11, 1966 when most newspapers in India had gone to bed with front-page headlines on the Tashkent Declaration, Nayar, who had accompanied Shastri on the trip, phoned in the flash to the United News of India.&nbsp

But the shock value was such that many back in India, at first, refused to accept it, Nayar recounts in his 2012 autobiography "Beyond the Lines".

"Surinder Dhingra on late-night duty received the call. I told him to send the flash 'Shastri dead'. Dhingra began laughing and told me that I must be joking because he had just cleared Shastri's speech at the evening function," the book reads.

"I told him not to waste time and send the flash immediately. He still did not believe me and I was obliged to resort to some harsh words in Punjabi to get him to action," he goes on to say.&nbsp

Nayar also narrates how he learnt about Shastri's demise.

"I got up abruptly to a knock on my door. A lady in the corridor told me:'Your prime minister is dying'. I hurriedly dressed and drove with an Indian official to Shastri's dacha which was some distance away."

In the book, Nayar says then Pakistan president General Ayub Khan was "genuinely grieved" by Shastri's death.

"He came to Shastri's dacha at 4 am and said, looking toward me: 'Here is a man of peace who gave his life for amity between India and Pakistan'," he writes.

Another Nayar "scoop" was his interview with Pakistan's nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, where it was revealed that Pakistan had a nuclear device.

For Nayar, who did his graduation from the Forman Christian College in Lahore and also got a law degree from the Law College in the city, Pakistan was a subject close to his heart.&nbsp

He argued tirelessly for peace with Pakistan.&nbsp

One of Nayar's most enduring images will be of him leading peace activists in lighting candles at the Attari-Wagah border on the Independence Days of India and Pakistan -- while India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15, Pakistan does so a day earlier.&nbsp

The journalist, who in historian Ramachandra Guha's words followed the dictates of his conscience rather than the lure of money or fame, penned 15 books, including "India after Nehru", "Wall at Wagah - India Pakistan relations" and "Scoop!: Inside stories from Partition to the Present".&nbsp

He was also imprisoned during Emergency.

"My story is really the story of modern India. Of the freedom struggle, of partition, of Nehru's India, of the Bangladesh war, of Emergency, and more recently of liberalisation and India as a world power," he writes in his memoirs, the title of which

played was borrowed from his syndicated column "Between the Lines".

A newsman till the end, Nayar, who was imprisoned during the Emergency, remembers his first job in the book.&nbsp

"I found a job in an Urdu daily, Anjam (meaning end).&nbsp

"That is why I always say that I entered the profession of journalism for the end, not the beginning: Mere sahafat ka agaz anjam se hua," he said.&nbsp

An oft-quoted Nayar anecdote is about how he broke the news of Lal Bahadur Shastri's death in Tashkent.

Some people never hang up their boots and some, like Kuldip Nayar, never put down their pens. The veteran journalist died today at age 95, working till the end -- his last column appearing in the Lokmat Times this morning, hours after he breathed his last around 12.30 am in a Delhi hospital. The prolific journalist, columnist and author, known not just as one of India's most respected mediapersons but also as a passionate advocate for peace and press freedom, discussed the immigrants as vote banks in his last article, focussing on the northeast. He ended with advice to the BJP to not ignore the problems of the region, pointing out that Assam has 14 of 25 seats in the northeast. It was a fitting end for the journalist, who was born in 1923 in Sialkot, Pakistan, and began his career in journalism in the Urdu language press before going on to serve as editor of several newspapers, including Indian Express and The Statesman. It was a career with many highs for the mostly journalist, who also served a stint as India's high commissioner to the United Kingdom and was appointed to the Rajya Sabha. An oft-quoted Nayar anecdote is about how he broke the news of Lal Bahadur Shastri's death in Tashkent. Nayar was in Tashkent when Shastri died after signing the historic Tashkent Declaration. Soon after midnight on January 11, 1966 when most newspapers in India had gone to bed with front-page headlines on the Tashkent Declaration, Nayar, who had accompanied Shastri on the trip, phoned in the flash to the United News of India. But the shock value was such that many back in India, at first, refused to accept it, Nayar recounts in his 2012 autobiography "Beyond the Lines". "Surinder Dhingra on late-night duty received the call. I told him to send the flash 'Shastri dead'. Dhingra began laughing and told me that I must be joking because he had just cleared Shastri's speech at the evening function," the book reads. "I told him not to waste time and send the flash immediately. He still did not believe me and I was obliged to resort to some harsh words in Punjabi to get him to action," he goes on to say. Nayar also narrates how he learnt about Shastri's demise. "I got up abruptly to a knock on my door. A lady in the corridor told me:'Your prime minister is dying'. I hurriedly dressed and drove with an Indian official to Shastri's dacha which was some distance away." In the book, Nayar says then Pakistan president General Ayub Khan was "genuinely grieved" by Shastri's death. "He came to Shastri's dacha at 4 am and said, looking toward me: 'Here is a man of peace who gave his life for amity between India and Pakistan'," he writes. Another Nayar "scoop" was his interview with Pakistan's nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, where it was revealed that Pakistan had a nuclear device. For Nayar, who did his graduation from the Forman Christian College in Lahore and also got a law degree from the Law College in the city, Pakistan was a subject close to his heart. He argued tirelessly for peace with Pakistan. One of Nayar's most enduring images will be of him leading peace activists in lighting candles at the Attari-Wagah border on the Independence Days of India and Pakistan -- while India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15, Pakistan does so a day earlier. The journalist, who in historian Ramachandra Guha's words followed the dictates of his conscience rather than the lure of money or fame, penned 15 books, including "India after Nehru", "Wall at Wagah - India Pakistan relations" and "Scoop!: Inside stories from Partition to the Present". He was also imprisoned during Emergency. "My story is really the story of modern India. Of the freedom struggle, of partition, of Nehru's India, of the Bangladesh war, of Emergency, and more recently of liberalisation and India as a world power," he writes in his memoirs, the title of which played was borrowed from his syndicated column "Between the Lines". A newsman till the end, Nayar, who was imprisoned during the Emergency, remembers his first job in the book. "I found a job in an Urdu daily, Anjam (meaning end). "That is why I always say that I entered the profession of journalism for the end, not the beginning: Mere sahafat ka agaz anjam se hua," he said.

Kuldip Nayar: Modern India's chronicler and conscience keeper

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