The much-debated <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/triple-talaq-bill-cabinet-approves-amendment-now-magistrates-can-grant-bail-to-guilty--158095">Triple Talaq</a>&nbsp;Bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, a day after the Union Cabinet approved amendments to the bill.

On Thursday, the Cabinet proposed two changes to the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, 2017.

First,&nbsp;only the victim, or a close relative is allowed to lodge an FIR against a case of triple talaq.

And second, the case can be dropped if the husband and wife agree to settle their differences.

The government however has refused to soften&nbsp;the three-year jail term the bill prescribes for someone found guilty of using triple talaq.&nbsp;

And only a magistrate can release an accused on bail.&nbsp;

If the amended bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha, it will have to go back to the Lok Sabha for approval of the amendments.

Friday is the last day of the monsoon session of Parliament.&nbsp;

News reports on Friday said that if the upper house does not pass the bill, the government may bring in an ordinance to turn it into law.

The Lok Sabha had passed the bill, which seeks to make triple talaq a criminal offence, on December 29, a day after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government tabled it.

Triple talaq, or verbal divorce, is practised by a section of the Muslim community.

The practice allows a man to instantly divorce his wife by uttering the word "talaq" (divorce) three times.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The bill is an amended bill. If passed, it will have to be sent back — for approval of the amendments — to the Lok Sabha which passed it on December 29. News reports Friday said that if the bill is not passed, the government may bring in an ordinance to turn it into law.

The much-debated Triple Talaq Bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, a day after the Union Cabinet approved amendments to the bill. On Thursday, the Cabinet proposed two changes to the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, 2017. First, only the victim, or a close relative is allowed to lodge an FIR against a case of triple talaq. And second, the case can be dropped if the husband and wife agree to settle their differences. The government however has refused to soften the three-year jail term the bill prescribes for someone found guilty of using triple talaq. And only a magistrate can release an accused on bail. If the amended bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha, it will have to go back to the Lok Sabha for approval of the amendments. Friday is the last day of the monsoon session of Parliament. News reports on Friday said that if the upper house does not pass the bill, the government may bring in an ordinance to turn it into law. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill, which seeks to make triple talaq a criminal offence, on December 29, a day after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government tabled it. Triple talaq, or verbal divorce, is practised by a section of the Muslim community. The practice allows a man to instantly divorce his wife by uttering the word "talaq" (divorce) three times.

Triple Talaq Bill to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today, ordinance may be next step

In India's southern state of Kerala 27 people have been killed in flash floods and landslides and in North Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir hundreds of houses were damaged due to cloud burst.

WION Fineprint: Bad weather is causing havoc across world

Senior Congress leader R P N Singh on Thursday said the BJP government at the Centre has deported only 1800 Bangaladeshi infiltrators since 2014, while 82,000 such illegal immigrants had been sent back during the 10 years of the UPA rule.

Singh, the party's in-charge of Jharkhand, also accused the BJP led NDA government at the Centre of failing to fulfill its promises.

BJP president Amit Shah have been claiming that the government would initiate action against Bangladeshi infiltrators but deported only 1800 during its four-and-a- half-year tenure, he said.

In between 2004-2014, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deported 82,000 Bangladeshi infiltrators, Singh said.

"These figures were not ours but presented by the government in Parliament," he said.

Singh said the government has recently assured the parliament that no Bangladeshi would be deported.

The Congress Working Committee member also lambasted the BJP for allegedly politicising the issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC) ahead of the Lok Sabha election next year.

The NRC was in fact initiated by the Congress as the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had signed the Assam Accord in 1985, Singh told a press conference here.

Asked whether the Congress would favour implementation of NRC across the country, he said it was framed specifically for Assam following the Assam accord signed in 1985.

Demanding that the government make the Rafale deal public, Singh charged it with failing to fulfill promises like providing employment to two crore youths every year and to check corruption in the country.

On who would be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the UPA in the Loks Sabha poll, Singh said the clear stand of the Congress as well as some of its allies was that Congress president Lok Gandhi should be the candidate for the post.

On Jharkhand, he said, "We have discussion with leaders of various allies and our effort will be to form a grand alliance."&nbsp;

The NRC was in fact initiated by the Congress as the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had signed the Assam Accord in 1985, Singh told a press conference here.

Senior Congress leader R P N Singh on Thursday said the BJP government at the Centre has deported only 1800 Bangaladeshi infiltrators since 2014, while 82,000 such illegal immigrants had been sent back during the 10 years of the UPA rule. Singh, the party's in-charge of Jharkhand, also accused the BJP led NDA government at the Centre of failing to fulfill its promises. BJP president Amit Shah have been claiming that the government would initiate action against Bangladeshi infiltrators but deported only 1800 during its four-and-a- half-year tenure, he said. In between 2004-2014, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deported 82,000 Bangladeshi infiltrators, Singh said. "These figures were not ours but presented by the government in Parliament," he said. Singh said the government has recently assured the parliament that no Bangladeshi would be deported. The Congress Working Committee member also lambasted the BJP for allegedly politicising the issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC) ahead of the Lok Sabha election next year. The NRC was in fact initiated by the Congress as the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had signed the Assam Accord in 1985, Singh told a press conference here. Asked whether the Congress would favour implementation of NRC across the country, he said it was framed specifically for Assam following the Assam accord signed in 1985. Demanding that the government make the Rafale deal public, Singh charged it with failing to fulfill promises like providing employment to two crore youths every year and to check corruption in the country. On who would be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the UPA in the Loks Sabha poll, Singh said the clear stand of the Congress as well as some of its allies was that Congress president Lok Gandhi should be the candidate for the post. On Jharkhand, he said, "We have discussion with leaders of various allies and our effort will be to form a grand alliance."

UPA deported many more illegal Bangladeshis, says Cong leader

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-led-air-strikes-in-yemen-kill-dozens-including-children-travelling-on-bus--158172">Saudi-led air strikes kill dozens in Yemen, including at least 29 children travelling in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-led-air-strikes-in-yemen-kill-dozens-including-children-travelling-on-bus--158172">bus</a>

Saudi-led coalition air strikes on Thursday killed dozens of people, including children travelling on a bus through a market, in Yemen's Saada province, a Yemeni health official and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.

The Western-backed alliance fighting the Iranian-aligned Houthi group in Yemen said in a statement that the air strikes targeted missile launchers used to attack the southern Saudi city of Jizan on Wednesday, killing a Yemeni civilian there.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-death-toll-due-to-flooding-and-landslides-rises-to-26-158185">Kerala rains: Death toll rises to 26</a>

The death toll due to flooding and landslides in Kerala following heavy and incessant rains in rose to &nbsp26 on Friday.

According to Kerala State Emergency Operations Centre, 22 people have lost their lives due to the heavy rains and landslides till Thursday night. An ANI report on Friday morning put the toll at 26.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-wants-space-force-by-2020-dumb-say-his-critics-158177">Trump wants Space Force by 2020, 'dumb' say his critics</a>

President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday announced an ambitious plan to usher in a new "Space Force" as the sixth branch of the military by 2020, but the proposal was scorned by opponents and may struggle to get liftoff in a divided Congress.

Trump has strongly championed the idea of creating a space-focused military service with the same stature as the Air Force and the Army, turning his dreams of a "Space Force" into a rallying cry for supporters at political events.&nbsp

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/melania-trumps-slovenian-parents-granted-us-citizenship-158174">Melania Trump's Slovenian parents given US citizenship</a>

Melania Trump's parents were granted US citizenship Thursday.

Viktor and Amalija Knavs, they're originally Slovenian, obtained their citizenship through sponsorship of their adult daughter.&nbsp

Melania of course is the First Lady of the US.&nbsp

While her husband, US President Donald Trump, &nbsphas always taken a very hard line on immigration, including criticising so-called main migration which allows naturalised US citizens to sponsor close relatives for permanent residency.&nbsp

&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-struggles-to-find-parents-of-migrant-children-158186">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-struggles-to-find-parents-of-migrant-children-158186"> struggles to find parents of migrant children</a>

The number of immigrant children in US care who have still not been reunited with their families after being separated at the Mexican border has barely budged in the past week, as the government struggles to locate parents no longer in the United States.

Over 500 children out of more than 2,500 separated from their parents by officials at the border remain in the care of the government. The number dipped to 559 this week from 572 last week, according to a court filing on Thursday.

Read the top 5 stories of the morning here

Saudi-led air strikes kill dozens in Yemen, including at least 29 children travelling in bus Saudi-led coalition air strikes on Thursday killed dozens of people, including children travelling on a bus through a market, in Yemen's Saada province, a Yemeni health official and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. The Western-backed alliance fighting the Iranian-aligned Houthi group in Yemen said in a statement that the air strikes targeted missile launchers used to attack the southern Saudi city of Jizan on Wednesday, killing a Yemeni civilian there. Kerala rains: Death toll rises to 26 The death toll due to flooding and landslides in Kerala following heavy and incessant rains in rose to &nbsp26 on Friday. According to Kerala State Emergency Operations Centre, 22 people have lost their lives due to the heavy rains and landslides till Thursday night. An ANI report on Friday morning put the toll at 26. Trump wants Space Force by 2020, 'dumb' say his critics President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday announced an ambitious plan to usher in a new "Space Force" as the sixth branch of the military by 2020, but the proposal was scorned by opponents and may struggle to get liftoff in a divided Congress. Trump has strongly championed the idea of creating a space-focused military service with the same stature as the Air Force and the Army, turning his dreams of a "Space Force" into a rallying cry for supporters at political events. Melania Trump's Slovenian parents given US citizenship Melania Trump's parents were granted US citizenship Thursday. Viktor and Amalija Knavs, they're originally Slovenian, obtained their citizenship through sponsorship of their adult daughter. Melania of course is the First Lady of the US. While her husband, US President Donald Trump, &nbsphas always taken a very hard line on immigration, including criticising so-called main migration which allows naturalised US citizens to sponsor close relatives for permanent residency. US struggles to find parents of migrant children The number of immigrant children in US care who have still not been reunited with their families after being separated at the Mexican border has barely budged in the past week, as the government struggles to locate parents no longer in the United States. Over 500 children out of more than 2,500 separated from their parents by officials at the border remain in the care of the government. The number dipped to 559 this week from 572 last week, according to a court filing on Thursday.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The United States on Thursday issued an advisory, asking its citizens not to visit Kerala because of the flash floods in the state, news agency PTI reported.

In the advisory, the US said the heavy southwest monsoon rains triggered landslides and floods in the state, and American citizens should avoid visiting all affected areas in the state.

"Avoid all areas throughout Kerala affected by landslides and flash floods," it read.

At least 26&nbsp;people have lost their lives till Friday morning due to incessant rainfall and flooding in the past two days, the Home Ministry said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the situation as "very grim".

With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost their maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in Kerala have been opened to drain out excess water.

Heavy rains for the past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam yesterday, resulted into localised flooding in low-lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala.

The flood water also triggered landslides at some places.&nbsp;

The US meanwhile has issued an adivsory, asking its citizens to avoid visiting affected areas of the state.

The United States on Thursday issued an advisory, asking its citizens not to visit Kerala because of the flash floods in the state, news agency PTI reported. In the advisory, the US said the heavy southwest monsoon rains triggered landslides and floods in the state, and American citizens should avoid visiting all affected areas in the state. "Avoid all areas throughout Kerala affected by landslides and flash floods," it read. At least 26 people have lost their lives till Friday morning due to incessant rainfall and flooding in the past two days, the Home Ministry said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the situation as "very grim". With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost their maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in Kerala have been opened to drain out excess water. Heavy rains for the past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam yesterday, resulted into localised flooding in low-lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala. The flood water also triggered landslides at some places.

Kerala rains: US asks its citizens not to visit state

The death toll due to flooding and landslides in Kerala following heavy and incessant rains in rose to &nbsp;26 on Friday.

According to Kerala State Emergency Operations Centre, 22 people have lost their lives due to the heavy rains and landslides till Thursday night. An ANI report on Friday morning put the toll at 26.

Among the total deaths, 11 people died in Idukki district, five in Malappuram district, three in Wayanad, two in Kannur and one in Kozhikode, a home ministry spokesperson said.

An Inter-Ministerial Central Team of the Union government is also visiting flood-affected areas in Kerala, while Army troops are being mobilised from Bengaluru for deployment in the rain-battered southern state.

With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost their maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in Kerala have been opened to drain out excess water.

Heavy rains for past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam yesterday, resulted in&nbsp;localised flooding in low lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala.

The flood water also triggered the landslide in some places.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The deaths have been caused by flooding and landslides. The toll on Thursday night was 22.

The death toll due to flooding and landslides in Kerala following heavy and incessant rains in rose to 26 on Friday. According to Kerala State Emergency Operations Centre, 22 people have lost their lives due to the heavy rains and landslides till Thursday night. An ANI report on Friday morning put the toll at 26. Among the total deaths, 11 people died in Idukki district, five in Malappuram district, three in Wayanad, two in Kannur and one in Kozhikode, a home ministry spokesperson said. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team of the Union government is also visiting flood-affected areas in Kerala, while Army troops are being mobilised from Bengaluru for deployment in the rain-battered southern state. With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost their maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in Kerala have been opened to drain out excess water. Heavy rains for past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam yesterday, resulted in localised flooding in low lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala. The flood water also triggered the landslide in some places.

Kerala rains: Death toll rises to 26

The Army discovered a large quantity of arms and explosive materials, including 7 firearms, 14 grenades and 401 rounds, during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday.

Army troops discovered the weapons during a search operation in the Chapriyan-KP Nala area of Mandi tehsil, a defence spokesperson said.

The recoveries include four 9mm pistols with seven magazines and 31 rounds, four carrying bags, one AK-56 rifle (with sling) along with three loaded magazines, one 7.62mm rifle of foreign origin, one revolver, 14 hand grenades and one AK-47 Bayonet, he added.&nbsp;

Army troops discovered the weapons during a search operation in the Chapriyan-KP Nala area of Mandi tehsil, a defence spokesperson said.

The Army discovered a large quantity of arms and explosive materials, including 7 firearms, 14 grenades and 401 rounds, during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday. Army troops discovered the weapons during a search operation in the Chapriyan-KP Nala area of Mandi tehsil, a defence spokesperson said. The recoveries include four 9mm pistols with seven magazines and 31 rounds, four carrying bags, one AK-56 rifle (with sling) along with three loaded magazines, one 7.62mm rifle of foreign origin, one revolver, 14 hand grenades and one AK-47 Bayonet, he added.

7 firearms, 14 hand-grenades, 401 rounds discovered in J&K's Poonch

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today termed the Rafale fighter jet deal as the country's "biggest ever" defence scam and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it.

Addressing an event here, he claimed that the price of the Rafale jets "magically" rose from Rs 540 to Rs 1600 crore per piece.

India had signed an agreement in 2015 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes from France.

"The UPA government had readied the Rafale contract, according to which the price for each jet was approximately Rs 540 crore. The contract was ready and Modi ji only had to take a decision.

"But, Modi ji goes to France and scraps the previous contract and the Defence Minister and other cabinet ministers do not know about it," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader alleged that a contract related to the fighter deal was snatched from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and given to a private company which has never made an aeroplane nor taken any defence contract.

"The company, which was given the contract, was in a debt of Rs 45,000 crore," he claimed.

Gandhi, while speaking after inaugurating the newly- constructed office of the party's state unit, also said that PM Modi has not yet spoken a word on the rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.

The situation has not been as bad in the "last 3000 years", he said while referring to the rape incidents.

Gandhi also said that PM Modi has not yet spoken a word on the rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today termed the Rafale fighter jet deal as the country's "biggest ever" defence scam and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it. Addressing an event here, he claimed that the price of the Rafale jets "magically" rose from Rs 540 to Rs 1600 crore per piece. India had signed an agreement in 2015 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes from France. "The UPA government had readied the Rafale contract, according to which the price for each jet was approximately Rs 540 crore. The contract was ready and Modi ji only had to take a decision. "But, Modi ji goes to France and scraps the previous contract and the Defence Minister and other cabinet ministers do not know about it," Gandhi said. The Congress leader alleged that a contract related to the fighter deal was snatched from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and given to a private company which has never made an aeroplane nor taken any defence contract. "The company, which was given the contract, was in a debt of Rs 45,000 crore," he claimed. Gandhi, while speaking after inaugurating the newly- constructed office of the party's state unit, also said that PM Modi has not yet spoken a word on the rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. The situation has not been as bad in the "last 3000 years", he said while referring to the rape incidents.

Rafale 'biggest ever' defence scam: Rahul Gandhi

Debt-ridden Air India has again failed to disburse the salaries of their employees on time for the fifth consecutive month. The people working for the national carrier are yet to receive their payment for the month of July.

Angry over the organisation for defaulting on salary, General Secretary of Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) captain Deepankar Gupta penned a letter to the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India and said, "It is disheartening to note that the salary has yet again been delayed for the fifth consecutive month. Despite confirmation and assurance from you, the management has failed to even intimate the employees regarding the delay of salary and flying allowance."

He also added that the members are being 'hounded' by financial institutions constantly because of the delay in salary payment.

"To add fuels to the fire, in these uncertain times, the very high handed knee-jerk, impulsive and reactionary behaviour of the top management has deeply anguished our members. We feel sorry that the company we give our blood and sweat for, considers us a liability and looks for means to humiliate our abilities at all instances," the letter read.

Gupta also highlighted the fact that the airlines do not have enough money for mandatory maintenance of aircraft.

"With affairs reaching escalated levels of international default in payments, with insufficient funds to revive aircraft locked up in the hangers (Routinely and ruthlessly used as Christmas Trees in the absence of spare parts), we are seriously concerned about the safety of operations and concerned about the safety of our passengers. Does the airline even have enough money for regular/mandatory maintenance? Or id that also a casual collateral of the present state of despair?," the ICPA letter added.

In his remark, the ICPA general secretary said that the body will "operate flights under protest due to harassment on account of unpaid dues and serious concerns of flight safety."

Angry over the organisation for defaulting on salary, General Secretary of Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) captain Deepankar Gupta penned a letter to the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India.

Debt-ridden Air India has again failed to disburse the salaries of their employees on time for the fifth consecutive month. The people working for the national carrier are yet to receive their payment for the month of July. Angry over the organisation for defaulting on salary, General Secretary of Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) captain Deepankar Gupta penned a letter to the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India and said, "It is disheartening to note that the salary has yet again been delayed for the fifth consecutive month. Despite confirmation and assurance from you, the management has failed to even intimate the employees regarding the delay of salary and flying allowance." He also added that the members are being 'hounded' by financial institutions constantly because of the delay in salary payment. "To add fuels to the fire, in these uncertain times, the very high handed knee-jerk, impulsive and reactionary behaviour of the top management has deeply anguished our members. We feel sorry that the company we give our blood and sweat for, considers us a liability and looks for means to humiliate our abilities at all instances," the letter read. Gupta also highlighted the fact that the airlines do not have enough money for mandatory maintenance of aircraft. "With affairs reaching escalated levels of international default in payments, with insufficient funds to revive aircraft locked up in the hangers (Routinely and ruthlessly used as Christmas Trees in the absence of spare parts), we are seriously concerned about the safety of operations and concerned about the safety of our passengers. Does the airline even have enough money for regular/mandatory maintenance? Or id that also a casual collateral of the present state of despair?," the ICPA letter added. In his remark, the ICPA general secretary said that the body will "operate flights under protest due to harassment on account of unpaid dues and serious concerns of flight safety."

Air India delays salaries for fifth consecutive month

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/ready-for-peace-talks-with-india-improved-trade-relations-says-imran-to-indian-envoy-158314">Ready for peace talks with India, improved trade relations, says Imran to Indian envoy</a>

India's envoy Ajay Bisaria made a "courtesy call" to Pakistan's prime-minister-waiting Imran Khan at his residence today as the PTI chairman declared he favoured improved trade ties with India.

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/kapil-dev-navjot-sidhu-to-attend-imrans-oath-taking-ceremony-pti-158325">Kapil Dev, Navjot Sidhu to attend Imran's oath-taking ceremony: PTI</a>

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) announced today that cricketers Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu will be attending Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/4-killed-in-shooting-in-canada-incident-ongoing-says-police-158328">4 killed in shooting in Canada incident ongoing, says police</a>

At least four people were killed in a shooting incident in the eastern Canadian city of Fredericton, police said on Friday. Police said commuters should void the area of Brookside drive between main and ring road where an "incident had resulted in the death of four people".

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/kerala-floods-27-dead-tourists-stranded-home-minister-assures-all-possible-assistance-158312">27 dead, tourists stranded in Kerala Rajnath Singh assures all possible assistance</a>

Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala prompting authorities to open all floodgates of Idukki dam on Friday. According to reports, Cheruthoni town, located close to the dam is worst hit.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/further-us-sanctions-would-mean-declaration-of-economic-war-russian-pm-medvedev-158317">Further US sanctions would mean 'declaration of economic war': Russian PM Medvedev</a>

After the US imposed new round of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that further sanctions would mean "declaration of economic war".

Ready for peace talks with India, improved trade relations, says Imran to Indian envoy India's envoy Ajay Bisaria made a "courtesy call" to Pakistan's prime-minister-waiting Imran Khan at his residence today as the PTI chairman declared he favoured improved trade ties with India. Kapil Dev, Navjot Sidhu to attend Imran's oath-taking ceremony: PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) announced today that cricketers Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu will be attending Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony. 4 killed in shooting in Canada incident ongoing, says police At least four people were killed in a shooting incident in the eastern Canadian city of Fredericton, police said on Friday. Police said commuters should void the area of Brookside drive between main and ring road where an "incident had resulted in the death of four people". 27 dead, tourists stranded in Kerala Rajnath Singh assures all possible assistance Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala prompting authorities to open all floodgates of Idukki dam on Friday. According to reports, Cheruthoni town, located close to the dam is worst hit. Further US sanctions would mean 'declaration of economic war': Russian PM Medvedev After the US imposed new round of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that further sanctions would mean "declaration of economic war".

A group of five terrorists, who were spotted and killed by security forces on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Rafiabad, has now been identified to have belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba Tanzeem.&nbsp;

"Analysis of recovered items suggests that group belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba Tanzeem. They had probably infiltrated recently across the LoC from Pak occupied Kashmir," Brigadier DR Rai, Rashtriya Rifles, Indian Army told media.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-4-firearms-14-hand-grenades-recovered-in-poonch-158162">The encounter was underway for the last 3-4 days</a> wherein the security forces gunned down five terrorists and recovered weapons.

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Analysis of recovered items suggest that group belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba Tanzeem. They had probably infiltrated recently across the LoC from Pak occupied Kashmir: Brig. D.R. Rai, Rashtriya Rifles, Indian Army on the weapons recovered after Rafiabad encounter <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/5zfXj3SKA9">pic.twitter.com/5zfXj3SKA9</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1027847660684881922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Army recovered a large number of arms and explosive material including four firearms and 14 grenades during a search operation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, an official said.

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Visuals of arms & ammunition recovered by the security forces after the Rafiabad encounter that took place on August 8. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/jlXnPmG2Tk">pic.twitter.com/jlXnPmG2Tk</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1027839852740534273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The recovered weapons included one 9mm pistol, four rounds of 9mm pistol, one AK-56 rifle (with a sling), an unidentified weapon, one revolver, 14 hand grenades and one AK-47 bayonet, PTI reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

The encounter was underway for the last 3-4 days wherein the security forces gunned down five terrorists and recovered weapons.

A group of five terrorists, who were spotted and killed by security forces on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Rafiabad, has now been identified to have belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba Tanzeem. "Analysis of recovered items suggests that group belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba Tanzeem. They had probably infiltrated recently across the LoC from Pak occupied Kashmir," Brigadier DR Rai, Rashtriya Rifles, Indian Army told media. The encounter was underway for the last 3-4 days wherein the security forces gunned down five terrorists and recovered weapons. Analysis of recovered items suggest that group belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba Tanzeem. They had probably infiltrated recently across the LoC from Pak occupied Kashmir: Brig. D.R. Rai, Rashtriya Rifles, Indian Army on the weapons recovered after Rafiabad encounter #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/5zfXj3SKA9 — ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 × The Army recovered a large number of arms and explosive material including four firearms and 14 grenades during a search operation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, an official said. Visuals of arms & ammunition recovered by the security forces after the Rafiabad encounter that took place on August 8. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/jlXnPmG2Tk — ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 × The recovered weapons included one 9mm pistol, four rounds of 9mm pistol, one AK-56 rifle (with a sling), an unidentified weapon, one revolver, 14 hand grenades and one AK-47 bayonet, PTI reported. (With inputs from ANI)

Rafiabad encounter: Terrorists belonged to LeT, investigation suggests

Security forces seized arms and ammunition from terrorist hideouts in&nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch's Chapriyan village on Thursday.&nbsp;

The Army recovered a large number of arms and explosive material including four firearms and 14 grenades during a search operation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today, an official said.

According to news agency PTI, the Army troops launched a search operation at 9 am on Thursday which came to an end at around 12 pm during which the weapons were discovered.

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Security forces have seized arms & ammunition from terrorist hideouts in 
Poonch's Chapriyan village, today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/InTjoaZWUj">pic.twitter.com/InTjoaZWUj</a>
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The army recovered weapons that included one 9mm pistol, four rounds of 9mm pistol, one AK-56 rifle (with a sling), an unidentified weapon, one revolver, 14 hand grenades and one AK-47 bayonet, PTI reported.&nbsp;

Five terrorists were spotted by security forces and killed on Wednesday. The encounter was underway from the last 3-4 days in Jammu and Kashmir's Rafiabad. Security forces also recovered weapons, an investigation is underway, Javed Iqbal, SSP Sopore told ANI.&nbsp;

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This encounter was underway from last 3-4 days in Rafiabad and yesterday evening five terrorists were spotted by security forces. All of them have been killed this morning and arms have recovered from them. Investigation is underway: Javed Iqbal, SSP Sopore on Rafiabad encounter <a href="https://t.co/XmNFVCLjwk">pic.twitter.com/XmNFVCLjwk</a>
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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Meanwhile, five terrorists were spotted by security forces and killed on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Rafiabad.

Security forces seized arms and ammunition from terrorist hideouts in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch's Chapriyan village on Thursday. The Army recovered a large number of arms and explosive material including four firearms and 14 grenades during a search operation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today, an official said. According to news agency PTI, the Army troops launched a search operation at 9 am on Thursday which came to an end at around 12 pm during which the weapons were discovered. Security forces have seized arms & ammunition from terrorist hideouts in Poonch's Chapriyan village, today. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/InTjoaZWUj — ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2018 × The army recovered weapons that included one 9mm pistol, four rounds of 9mm pistol, one AK-56 rifle (with a sling), an unidentified weapon, one revolver, 14 hand grenades and one AK-47 bayonet, PTI reported. Five terrorists were spotted by security forces and killed on Wednesday. The encounter was underway from the last 3-4 days in Jammu and Kashmir's Rafiabad. Security forces also recovered weapons, an investigation is underway, Javed Iqbal, SSP Sopore told ANI. This encounter was underway from last 3-4 days in Rafiabad and yesterday evening five terrorists were spotted by security forces. All of them have been killed this morning and arms have recovered from them. Investigation is underway: Javed Iqbal, SSP Sopore on Rafiabad encounter pic.twitter.com/XmNFVCLjwk — ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2018 × (With inputs from agencies)

Jammu and Kashmir: 4 firearms, 14 hand-grenades recovered in Poonch

As many as 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas.

27 dead, tourists stranded as rain continue to lash Kerala

Eminent scientist and former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair believes the monsoon fury in Kerala might be a part of "global phenomena" but local factors like deforestation and "invasion" of mountain slopes contributed significantly to flash floods and landslips in the state.

He said from the statistics point of view, this week's rainfall was a "peak" of the last 50 years, and was an "unusual phenomena" and could not be attributed to any systematic change.

"Also, in many parts of Europe and other places, heat wave is going on. May be it (rain fury in Kerala) is part of global phenomena, it is my assessment," Nair, who hails from Kerala, told PTI.

But he hastened to add that "from one sample (the current spell), we cannot make a judgement. We have to keep a watch. But it (the heavy rainfall) is not contributed by Kerala alone. (It being part of a global phenomena cannot be discounted)".

Nair, who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 2003-2009, said deforestation has contributed significantly to the weather change in Kerala, where torrential rains and landslips have claimed 26 lives so far.

In addition, unauthorised invasion of mountain slopes caused landfall, he said. The veteran space scientist also said that the Kuttanad region, which is below the sea level, was not properly managed.

The recommendations made by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation on Kuttanad a few years ago had also not been implemented, he claimed.

"If we manage all these things, flood waters would not have caused so much of havoc. A proper rain harvesting and water management system...That is what is required for the state now," Nair asserted.

The scientist said rivers in Kerala are full of sand resulting in floods in the event of "slightest increase" in normal rains.

The rivers require "excavation" for easy passage of water. Kuttanad region needs a thorough planning on how water can be drained off, he said.

"The Swaminathan Committee report was comprehensive. If it was implemented, damage could have been minimised. Unfortunately, that report is virtually in cold storage for the last six years or so," Nair said.

"But we have to act positively. Forest...We have to pay more attention...Maintaining and sustaining we have to manage river beds proper schemes for overall management of water are a must. We have to improve water storage and distribution system," he added. 
&nbsp

Nair, who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 2003-2009, said deforestation has contributed significantly to the weather change in Kerala.

Eminent scientist and former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair believes the monsoon fury in Kerala might be a part of "global phenomena" but local factors like deforestation and "invasion" of mountain slopes contributed significantly to flash floods and landslips in the state. He said from the statistics point of view, this week's rainfall was a "peak" of the last 50 years, and was an "unusual phenomena" and could not be attributed to any systematic change. "Also, in many parts of Europe and other places, heat wave is going on. May be it (rain fury in Kerala) is part of global phenomena, it is my assessment," Nair, who hails from Kerala, told PTI. But he hastened to add that "from one sample (the current spell), we cannot make a judgement. We have to keep a watch. But it (the heavy rainfall) is not contributed by Kerala alone. (It being part of a global phenomena cannot be discounted)". Nair, who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 2003-2009, said deforestation has contributed significantly to the weather change in Kerala, where torrential rains and landslips have claimed 26 lives so far. In addition, unauthorised invasion of mountain slopes caused landfall, he said. The veteran space scientist also said that the Kuttanad region, which is below the sea level, was not properly managed. The recommendations made by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation on Kuttanad a few years ago had also not been implemented, he claimed. "If we manage all these things, flood waters would not have caused so much of havoc. A proper rain harvesting and water management system...That is what is required for the state now," Nair asserted. The scientist said rivers in Kerala are full of sand resulting in floods in the event of "slightest increase" in normal rains. The rivers require "excavation" for easy passage of water. Kuttanad region needs a thorough planning on how water can be drained off, he said. "The Swaminathan Committee report was comprehensive. If it was implemented, damage could have been minimised. Unfortunately, that report is virtually in cold storage for the last six years or so," Nair said. "But we have to act positively. Forest...We have to pay more attention...Maintaining and sustaining we have to manage river beds proper schemes for overall management of water are a must. We have to improve water storage and distribution system," he added.

Global, local factors contributed to rain fury in Kerala: Former ISRO chief 

The Dalai Lama apologised Friday for saying there would have been no Partition, and that <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/india-pak-would-have-been-united-had-jinnah-been-pm-dalai-lama-157951">India and Pakistan would have stayed together</a> had Nehru agreed to let Jinnah have the prime ministership.&nbsp;

The Dalai Lama had made his comments earlier this week in Goa. He had at the time been speaking to management students about how, if one were to take emotions out of decision making, would make better decisions.&nbsp;

News reports quoted the Dalai Lama as saying in Goa that he thought "Mahatma Gandhi was very much willing to give prime ministership to Jinnah, but Pandit Nehru refused."

"I think Pandit Nehru had a little bit self-centred attitude," he had added.&nbsp;

"If Mahatma Gandhi's thinking had materialised, then India and Pakistan would have remained united," he added.&nbsp;

The Tibetan spiritual leader's comments led to a massive outcry. He apologised on Friday, saying, "My statement has created controversy. If I said something wrong I apologise."

The Dalai Lama had visited Nehru before China invaded Tibet in 1950. In 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, thousands of his people followed him, and was given shelter in India by Nehru.&nbsp;

The Dalai Lama currently lives in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

'Mahatma Gandhi was very much willing to give prime ministership to Jinnah, but Pandit Nehru refused,' the Dalai Lama had said. 'I think Pandit Nehru had a little bit self-centred attitude,' he had added.

The Dalai Lama apologised Friday for saying there would have been no Partition, and that India and Pakistan would have stayed together had Nehru agreed to let Jinnah have the prime ministership. The Dalai Lama had made his comments earlier this week in Goa. He had at the time been speaking to management students about how, if one were to take emotions out of decision making, would make better decisions. News reports quoted the Dalai Lama as saying in Goa that he thought "Mahatma Gandhi was very much willing to give prime ministership to Jinnah, but Pandit Nehru refused." "I think Pandit Nehru had a little bit self-centred attitude," he had added. "If Mahatma Gandhi's thinking had materialised, then India and Pakistan would have remained united," he added. The Tibetan spiritual leader's comments led to a massive outcry. He apologised on Friday, saying, "My statement has created controversy. If I said something wrong I apologise." The Dalai Lama had visited Nehru before China invaded Tibet in 1950. In 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, thousands of his people followed him, and was given shelter in India by Nehru. The Dalai Lama currently lives in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. ×

India, Pak would be one if Nehru had let Jinnah be PM: Dalai Lama apologises for comment

Triple Talaq bill could not be tabled in Parliament on Friday due to non-consensus. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu noted that no consensus could be built around it today.

The bill is now likely to be tabled in the next Parliamentary session.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday stated that Congress' stand on the bill is clear.&nbsp;

"Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything on the matter," Gandhi noted.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TripleTalaqBill?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TripleTalaqBill</a> will not be taken up today because no consensus could be built around it: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu <a href="https://t.co/dVcllNp3qY">pic.twitter.com/dVcllNp3qY</a>
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The Cabinet on Thursday approved an amendment in the draft law which introduces the provision wherein a magistrate can grant bail to the guilty.

"Cabinet has approved amendments in the law relating to triple talaq. We've proposed 3 changes. If any husband gives triple talaq instantaneously and breaks the marriage then an FIR shall only become cognizable when it is filed by victim or blood relation or relation by marriage," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told media today.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved an amendment in the draft law which introduces the provision wherein a magistrate can grant bail to the guilty.

Triple Talaq bill could not be tabled in Parliament on Friday due to non-consensus. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu noted that no consensus could be built around it today. The bill is now likely to be tabled in the next Parliamentary session. Meanwhile, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday stated that Congress' stand on the bill is clear. "Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything on the matter," Gandhi noted. #TripleTalaqBill will not be taken up today because no consensus could be built around it: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu pic.twitter.com/dVcllNp3qY — ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 × The Cabinet on Thursday approved an amendment in the draft law which introduces the provision wherein a magistrate can grant bail to the guilty. "Cabinet has approved amendments in the law relating to triple talaq. We've proposed 3 changes. If any husband gives triple talaq instantaneously and breaks the marriage then an FIR shall only become cognizable when it is filed by victim or blood relation or relation by marriage," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told media today.

Triple Talaq Bill deferred in Parliament, likely to get tabled in next session 

The Supreme Court on Friday took into the record the affidavit filed by the Centre which stated that the President had rejected the proposal to release seven convicts jailed in Tamil Nadu in connection with the assassination case of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The apex court later adjourned the matter after hearing.

The affidavit from the Central Government came after the apex court asked the Centre to explain its take on Tamil Nadu's 2016 decision to acquit all seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber, during an election rally in Sriperumpudur.

Besides Nalini, Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran were convicted in the case. All seven convicts are serving life terms and had been in jail for last 27 years.&nbsp

The affidavit from the Central Government came after the apex court asked the Centre to explain its take on Tamil Nadu's 2016 decision to acquit all seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The Supreme Court on Friday took into the record the affidavit filed by the Centre which stated that the President had rejected the proposal to release seven convicts jailed in Tamil Nadu in connection with the assassination case of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The apex court later adjourned the matter after hearing. The affidavit from the Central Government came after the apex court asked the Centre to explain its take on Tamil Nadu's 2016 decision to acquit all seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber, during an election rally in Sriperumpudur. Besides Nalini, Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran were convicted in the case. All seven convicts are serving life terms and had been in jail for last 27 years.

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Centre against release of convicts

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted additional time to former union telecom minister A Raja, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi and others to file their replies against an appeal challenging their acquittal in 2G spectrum allocation scam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has challenged the Patiala House court's ruling which had acquitted all the accused in the aforementioned case.

The court will hear the matter next on October 9.

Meanwhile, the company, Unitech has also filed a reply which was taken on record by the court. Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra was also acquitted by the court in connection with the matter.

The verdict in the case was announced on December 21 last year, nearly seven years after the first arrest was made by the CBI in 2011.

The alleged scam relates to the granting of 2G spectrum licence allocations in 2007-08, which caused, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the public exchequer.

It was among the major corruption scandals that came to light during the second term of the UPA government headed by then prime minister Manmohan Singh.&nbsp

The court will hear the matter next on October 9.

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted additional time to former union telecom minister A Raja, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi and others to file their replies against an appeal challenging their acquittal in 2G spectrum allocation scam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has challenged the Patiala House court's ruling which had acquitted all the accused in the aforementioned case. The court will hear the matter next on October 9. Meanwhile, the company, Unitech has also filed a reply which was taken on record by the court. Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra was also acquitted by the court in connection with the matter. The verdict in the case was announced on December 21 last year, nearly seven years after the first arrest was made by the CBI in 2011. The alleged scam relates to the granting of 2G spectrum licence allocations in 2007-08, which caused, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the public exchequer. It was among the major corruption scandals that came to light during the second term of the UPA government headed by then prime minister Manmohan Singh.

2G scam: Raja, Kanimozhi get time to file reply on CBI plea

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the CBI's appeal challenging the acquittal of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the 2008 twin murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.

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A bench headed by Justices Ranjan Gogoi said the CBI's appeal would be heard along with Hemraj's wife's pending petition, which has also challenged the acquittal of the Talwars by the Allahabad High Court on October 12 last year.

"Leave granted," the bench, also comprising Justices Navin Sinha and K M Joseph, said.

Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, representing the CBI, referred to the plea filed by Hemraj's wife. The bench said CBI's appeal would be tagged with it.

Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead inside her room in the Talwars' Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially moved towards 45-year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing, but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later.

A CBI court at Ghaziabad sentenced the Talwars to life imprisonment on November 26, 2013 in connection with the case.

The high court had freed them of the charges on the ground that they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record.&nbsp;

A bench headed by Justices Ranjan Gogoi said the CBI's appeal would be heard along with Hemraj's wife's pending petition, which has also challenged the acquittal of the Talwars by the Allahabad High Court.

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the CBI's appeal challenging the acquittal of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the 2008 twin murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj. × A bench headed by Justices Ranjan Gogoi said the CBI's appeal would be heard along with Hemraj's wife's pending petition, which has also challenged the acquittal of the Talwars by the Allahabad High Court on October 12 last year. "Leave granted," the bench, also comprising Justices Navin Sinha and K M Joseph, said. Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, representing the CBI, referred to the plea filed by Hemraj's wife. The bench said CBI's appeal would be tagged with it. Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead inside her room in the Talwars' Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially moved towards 45-year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing, but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later. A CBI court at Ghaziabad sentenced the Talwars to life imprisonment on November 26, 2013 in connection with the case. The high court had freed them of the charges on the ground that they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record.

Aarushi murder case: SC agrees to hear CBI appeal against Talwars' acquittal

Police on Thursday&nbsp;arrested the director of a government-aided shelter home for the hearing and speaking impaired on charges of raping a 19-year-old tribal girl for several months.

Two fellows of the victim's narrated her ordeal to a sign language expert in Indore. The two sisters who blew the lid had also been molested by the accused.

Bhopal Superintendent of Police (SP) said that they have arrested a man following a complaint by a differently-abled girl.

''Based on a complaint of a differently-abled girl at a Bhopal shelter home, man has been arrested on charges of raping her,'' SP said.&nbsp;

The victim claimed that the accused raped her several times at the shelter home's hostel.&nbsp;

20-25 girls stay at shelter home.&nbsp;

Police registered a case and are investigating.&nbsp;

The latest incident of rape at the shelter home comes on the backdrop of similar rape incidents at Muzaffarpur shelter home in Bihar and Deoria shelter home in Uttar Pradesh. Several arrests have been made in both the incidents.&nbsp;Bihar’s social welfare minister Manju Verma resigned recently in the wake of Muzaffarpur shelter home case. Her husband has been accused of having links with alleged mastermind Brajesh Thakur in Muzaffarpur incident.&nbsp;

Bhopal Superintendent of Police (SP) said that they have arrested a man following a complaint by a differently-abled girl.

Police on Thursday arrested the director of a government-aided shelter home for the hearing and speaking impaired on charges of raping a 19-year-old tribal girl for several months. Two fellows of the victim's narrated her ordeal to a sign language expert in Indore. The two sisters who blew the lid had also been molested by the accused. Bhopal Superintendent of Police (SP) said that they have arrested a man following a complaint by a differently-abled girl. ''Based on a complaint of a differently-abled girl at a Bhopal shelter home, man has been arrested on charges of raping her,'' SP said. The victim claimed that the accused raped her several times at the shelter home's hostel. 20-25 girls stay at shelter home. Police registered a case and are investigating. The latest incident of rape at the shelter home comes on the backdrop of similar rape incidents at Muzaffarpur shelter home in Bihar and Deoria shelter home in Uttar Pradesh. Several arrests have been made in both the incidents. Bihar’s social welfare minister Manju Verma resigned recently in the wake of Muzaffarpur shelter home case. Her husband has been accused of having links with alleged mastermind Brajesh Thakur in Muzaffarpur incident.

Director of Bhopal shelter home arrested for allegedly raping differently-abled girl

By Simran&nbsp;Jeet Singh&nbsp;

New Jersey’s first Sikh attorney general, Gurbir Singh Grewal, was a target of disparaging remarks recently. Two radio hosts commented on Grewal’s Sikh identity and repeatedly referred to him as “turban man.” When called out on the offensiveness of their comments, one of them stated, “Listen, and if that offends you, then don’t wear the turban and maybe I’ll remember your name.”

Listeners, activists and Sikhs around the country acted immediately by contacting the station to express their concerns. News outlets quickly picked up the story and the radio hosts were suspended.

Grewal is a practicing Sikh who maintains a turban and beard. Scholars and government officials estimate the Sikh American population to number around 500,000. Nevertheless for many American Sikhs, such experiences are not uncommon. As a scholar of the tradition and a practicing Sikh myself, I have studied the harsh realities of what it means to be a Sikh in America today. I have also experienced racial slurs from a young age.

The bottom line is there is little understanding of who exactly the Sikhs are and what the believe. So here’s a primer.

Founder of Sikhism

To start at the beginning, the founder of the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in the Punjab region of South Asia, which is currently split between Pakistan and the northwestern area of India. A majority of the global Sikh population still resides in Punjab on the Indian side of the border.

From a young age, Guru Nanak was disillusioned by the social inequities and religious hypocrisies he observed around him. He believed that a single divine force created the entire world and resided within it. In his belief, God was not separate from the world and watching from a distance, but fully present in every aspect of creation.

He therefore asserted that all people are equally divine and deserve to be treated as such.

To promote this vision of divine oneness and social equality, Guru Nanak created institutions and religious practices. He established community centers and places of worship, wrote his own scriptural compositions and institutionalized a system of leadership (gurus) that would carry forward his vision.

The Sikh view thus rejects all social distinctions that produce inequities, including gender, race, religion and caste, the predominant structure for social hierarchy in South Asia.

Serving the world is a natural expression of the Sikh prayer and worship. Sikhs call this prayerful service “seva,” and it is a core part of their practice.

The Sikh identity

In the Sikh tradition, a truly religious person is one who cultivates the spiritual self while also serving the communities around them – or a saint-soldier. The saint-soldier ideal applies to women and men alike.

In this spirit, Sikh women and men maintain five articles of faith, popularly known as the five Ks. These are: kes (long, uncut hair), kara (steel bracelet), kanga (wooden comb), kirpan (small sword) and kachera (soldier-shorts).

Although little historical evidence exists to explain why these particular articles were chosen, the 5 Ks continue provide the community with a collective identity, binding together individuals on the basis of a shared belief and practice. As I understand, Sikhs cherish these articles of faith as gifts from their gurus.

Turbans are an important part of the Sikh identity. Both women and men may wear turbans. Like the articles of faith, Sikhs regard their turbans as gifts given by their beloved gurus, and its meaning is deeply personal. In South Asian culture, wearing a turban typically indicated one’s social status – kings and rulers once wore turbans. The Sikh gurus adopted the turban, in part, to remind Sikhs that all humans are sovereign, royal and ultimately equal.

Sikhs in America

Today, there are approximately 30 million Sikhs worldwide, making Sikhism the world’s fifth-largest major religion.

After British colonizers in India seized power of Punjab in 1849, where a majority of the Sikh community was based, Sikhs began migrating to various regions controlled by the British Empire, including Southeast Asia, East Africa and the United Kingdom itself. Based on what was available to them, Sikhs played various roles in these communities, including military service, agricultural work and railway construction.

The first Sikh community entered the United States via the West Coast during the 1890s. They began experiencing discrimination immediately upon their arrival. For instance, the first race riot targeting Sikhs took place in Bellingham, Washington, in 1907. Angry mobs of white men rounded up Sikh laborers, beat them up and forced them to leave town.

The discrimination continued over the years. For instance, when my father moved from Punjab to the United States in the 1970s, racial slurs like “Ayatollah” and “raghead” were hurled at him. It was a time when 52 American diplomats and citizens were taken captive in Iran and tension between the two countries was high. These slurs reflected the racist backlash against those who fitted the stereotypes of Iranians. Our family faced a similar racist backlash when the US engaged in the Gulf War during the early 1990s.

The racist attacks spiked again after 9/11, particularly because Americans did not know about the Sikh religion and conflated the unique Sikh appearance with popular stereotypes of what terrorists look like.

In comparison to the past decade, the rates of violence against Sikhs have surged since the election of President Donald Trump. The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S., estimated earlier this year that Americans Sikhs were being targeted in hate crimes about once a week. Just in the past two weeks, two Sikh men have been brutally assaulted in California. Police are still investigating the motivation.

As a practicing Sikh, I can affirm that the Sikh commitment to the tenets of their faith, including love, service and justice, keeps them resilient in the face of hate. For these reason, for many Sikh Americans, like Gurbir Grewal, it is rewarding to maintain their unique Sikh identity.

(Simran Jeet Singh is Henry R. Luce Post-Doctoral Fellow in Religion in International Affairs Post-Doctoral Fellow, New York University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/who-are-the-sikhs-and-what-are-their-beliefs-97237">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Sikh commitment to the tenets of their faith, including love, service and justice, keeps them resilient in the face of hate.

By Simran Jeet Singh New Jersey’s first Sikh attorney general, Gurbir Singh Grewal, was a target of disparaging remarks recently. Two radio hosts commented on Grewal’s Sikh identity and repeatedly referred to him as “turban man.” When called out on the offensiveness of their comments, one of them stated, “Listen, and if that offends you, then don’t wear the turban and maybe I’ll remember your name.” Listeners, activists and Sikhs around the country acted immediately by contacting the station to express their concerns. News outlets quickly picked up the story and the radio hosts were suspended. Grewal is a practicing Sikh who maintains a turban and beard. Scholars and government officials estimate the Sikh American population to number around 500,000. Nevertheless for many American Sikhs, such experiences are not uncommon. As a scholar of the tradition and a practicing Sikh myself, I have studied the harsh realities of what it means to be a Sikh in America today. I have also experienced racial slurs from a young age. The bottom line is there is little understanding of who exactly the Sikhs are and what the believe. So here’s a primer. Founder of Sikhism To start at the beginning, the founder of the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in the Punjab region of South Asia, which is currently split between Pakistan and the northwestern area of India. A majority of the global Sikh population still resides in Punjab on the Indian side of the border. From a young age, Guru Nanak was disillusioned by the social inequities and religious hypocrisies he observed around him. He believed that a single divine force created the entire world and resided within it. In his belief, God was not separate from the world and watching from a distance, but fully present in every aspect of creation. He therefore asserted that all people are equally divine and deserve to be treated as such. To promote this vision of divine oneness and social equality, Guru Nanak created institutions and religious practices. He established community centers and places of worship, wrote his own scriptural compositions and institutionalized a system of leadership (gurus) that would carry forward his vision. The Sikh view thus rejects all social distinctions that produce inequities, including gender, race, religion and caste, the predominant structure for social hierarchy in South Asia. Serving the world is a natural expression of the Sikh prayer and worship. Sikhs call this prayerful service “seva,” and it is a core part of their practice. The Sikh identity In the Sikh tradition, a truly religious person is one who cultivates the spiritual self while also serving the communities around them – or a saint-soldier. The saint-soldier ideal applies to women and men alike. In this spirit, Sikh women and men maintain five articles of faith, popularly known as the five Ks. These are: kes (long, uncut hair), kara (steel bracelet), kanga (wooden comb), kirpan (small sword) and kachera (soldier-shorts). Although little historical evidence exists to explain why these particular articles were chosen, the 5 Ks continue provide the community with a collective identity, binding together individuals on the basis of a shared belief and practice. As I understand, Sikhs cherish these articles of faith as gifts from their gurus. Turbans are an important part of the Sikh identity. Both women and men may wear turbans. Like the articles of faith, Sikhs regard their turbans as gifts given by their beloved gurus, and its meaning is deeply personal. In South Asian culture, wearing a turban typically indicated one’s social status – kings and rulers once wore turbans. The Sikh gurus adopted the turban, in part, to remind Sikhs that all humans are sovereign, royal and ultimately equal. Sikhs in America Today, there are approximately 30 million Sikhs worldwide, making Sikhism the world’s fifth-largest major religion. After British colonizers in India seized power of Punjab in 1849, where a majority of the Sikh community was based, Sikhs began migrating to various regions controlled by the British Empire, including Southeast Asia, East Africa and the United Kingdom itself. Based on what was available to them, Sikhs played various roles in these communities, including military service, agricultural work and railway construction. The first Sikh community entered the United States via the West Coast during the 1890s. They began experiencing discrimination immediately upon their arrival. For instance, the first race riot targeting Sikhs took place in Bellingham, Washington, in 1907. Angry mobs of white men rounded up Sikh laborers, beat them up and forced them to leave town. The discrimination continued over the years. For instance, when my father moved from Punjab to the United States in the 1970s, racial slurs like “Ayatollah” and “raghead” were hurled at him. It was a time when 52 American diplomats and citizens were taken captive in Iran and tension between the two countries was high. These slurs reflected the racist backlash against those who fitted the stereotypes of Iranians. Our family faced a similar racist backlash when the US engaged in the Gulf War during the early 1990s. The racist attacks spiked again after 9/11, particularly because Americans did not know about the Sikh religion and conflated the unique Sikh appearance with popular stereotypes of what terrorists look like. In comparison to the past decade, the rates of violence against Sikhs have surged since the election of President Donald Trump. The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S., estimated earlier this year that Americans Sikhs were being targeted in hate crimes about once a week. Just in the past two weeks, two Sikh men have been brutally assaulted in California. Police are still investigating the motivation. As a practicing Sikh, I can affirm that the Sikh commitment to the tenets of their faith, including love, service and justice, keeps them resilient in the face of hate. For these reason, for many Sikh Americans, like Gurbir Grewal, it is rewarding to maintain their unique Sikh identity. (Simran Jeet Singh is Henry R. Luce Post-Doctoral Fellow in Religion in International Affairs Post-Doctoral Fellow, New York University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. 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: What keeps Sikhs resilient in the face of hate?

Tamil Nadu Police's Idol Wing on Friday gave an undertaking to the Madras High Court that it would not arrest TVS Motor Company's Chairman Venu Srinivasan&nbsp;for a period of six weeks in connection with an idol theft case.

The matter came up for hearing before a Division Bench, comprising Justices R Mahadevan and P D Audikesavulu, constituted to hear cases regarding idol theft.

Before senior counsel B Kumar was about to start his arguments on behalf of Srinivasan, personnel of the Idol wing's Special Investigation Team, who were in the court, gave the undertaking.

After recording the undertaking, the bench posted the matter for hearing after six weeks.

Srinivasan had moved the court yesterday seeking anticipatory bail in connection with an idol theft case.

In his bail application, Srinivasan cited a writ plea filed by advocate 'Elephant' G Rajendran which refers to the FIR against him.

The TVS Motor chairman said he too understood that an FIR was registered by the Mylapore police and it was later transferred to the CB-CID Idol Wing.

The FIR against the industrialist alleges that he replaced an antique peacock idol with a new one at the Sri Kapaleeswarar temple here and it was registered following a complaint from a devotee, Rangarajan Narasimhan, Rajendran told.

Asserting that he was innocent, Srinivasan submitted before the court that he had spent around Rs 70 lakh in 2004 from his personal fund for painting and flooring work at Sri Kapaleeswarar temple.

Though he was appointed a member of the government-constituted Temple Renovation Committee that year, officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department oversaw the renovation work, he said.

Srinivasan claimed that beyond this, he has no other connection with the temple except that he is also a devotee of Lord Kapaleeswarar (Shiva).

He claimed that as the chairman of the board of trustees of Ranganathaswamy Temple at Tiruchirappalli, he spent nearly Rs 25 crore for its renovation in 2015.

A trust funded by him and his company had undertaken renovation work of over 100 temples in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, Srinivasan submitted.

In view of the serious allegations and the FIR against him, Srinivasan said he sought anticipatory bail.&nbsp;

Police gave the undertaking to the Madras High Court, saying they would not arrest TVS Motor Company's Chairman Venu Srinivasan for a period of six weeks in connection with an idol theft case.

Tamil Nadu Police's Idol Wing on Friday gave an undertaking to the Madras High Court that it would not arrest TVS Motor Company's Chairman Venu Srinivasan for a period of six weeks in connection with an idol theft case. The matter came up for hearing before a Division Bench, comprising Justices R Mahadevan and P D Audikesavulu, constituted to hear cases regarding idol theft. Before senior counsel B Kumar was about to start his arguments on behalf of Srinivasan, personnel of the Idol wing's Special Investigation Team, who were in the court, gave the undertaking. After recording the undertaking, the bench posted the matter for hearing after six weeks. Srinivasan had moved the court yesterday seeking anticipatory bail in connection with an idol theft case. In his bail application, Srinivasan cited a writ plea filed by advocate 'Elephant' G Rajendran which refers to the FIR against him. The TVS Motor chairman said he too understood that an FIR was registered by the Mylapore police and it was later transferred to the CB-CID Idol Wing. The FIR against the industrialist alleges that he replaced an antique peacock idol with a new one at the Sri Kapaleeswarar temple here and it was registered following a complaint from a devotee, Rangarajan Narasimhan, Rajendran told. Asserting that he was innocent, Srinivasan submitted before the court that he had spent around Rs 70 lakh in 2004 from his personal fund for painting and flooring work at Sri Kapaleeswarar temple. Though he was appointed a member of the government-constituted Temple Renovation Committee that year, officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department oversaw the renovation work, he said. Srinivasan claimed that beyond this, he has no other connection with the temple except that he is also a devotee of Lord Kapaleeswarar (Shiva). He claimed that as the chairman of the board of trustees of Ranganathaswamy Temple at Tiruchirappalli, he spent nearly Rs 25 crore for its renovation in 2015. A trust funded by him and his company had undertaken renovation work of over 100 temples in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, Srinivasan submitted. In view of the serious allegations and the FIR against him, Srinivasan said he sought anticipatory bail.

Idol theft case: Police give undertaking to not arrest TVS Motors Chairman

The Supreme Court told police on Friday to act against "kanwariyas" who vandalise &nbspproperty and take the law into their hands.&nbsp

The kanwariyas have been all over the news after they attacked a car in Delhi on Tuesday. Photographs of the car, which lay overturned on the road by the end of the attack, were splashed all over the media.&nbsp

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: A group of 'kanwariyas' vandalise a car in Delhi's Moti Nagar after it brushed past them while driving. The people in the car got off safely. No injuries were reported. Police says no formal complaint has been filed by the victims (07.08.2018) <a href="https://t.co/rKc6VJMZnh">pic.twitter.com/rKc6VJMZnh</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1027036432555106305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Video footage then emerged showing the kanwariyas attacking a police vehicle in Bulandhsahr, UP.&nbsp

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Kanwariyas vandalize police vehicle after an altercation with locals in Bulandshahr on 7th August, police have registered a case. <a href="https://t.co/UaIcNU55RV">pic.twitter.com/UaIcNU55RV</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1027408388773367809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Footage has since also emerged of the kanwariyas attacking a car in Muzzafarnagar, again in UP.&nbsp

wionews.com had reported on Thursday that senior Uttar Pradesh police and administration officials had been caught on camera showering rose petals on kanwariyas from a helicopter.&nbsp

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar showered rose petals on Kanwariyas from a helicopter yesterday <a href="https://t.co/SvHH64DGxr">pic.twitter.com/SvHH64DGxr</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1027390107798528000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The kanwariyas are Shiva devotees who make pilgrimages each year to Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar. Their emergence on the scene however has been linked to political reasons.&nbsp

They are also a nuisance on the road and have picked up a massive reputation for violence.&nbsp

The court told police to act against kanwariyas who vandalise property and take the law into their hands

The Supreme Court told police on Friday to act against "kanwariyas" who vandalise &nbspproperty and take the law into their hands. The kanwariyas have been all over the news after they attacked a car in Delhi on Tuesday. Photographs of the car, which lay overturned on the road by the end of the attack, were splashed all over the media. #WATCH: A group of 'kanwariyas' vandalise a car in Delhi's Moti Nagar after it brushed past them while driving. The people in the car got off safely. No injuries were reported. Police says no formal complaint has been filed by the victims (07.08.2018) pic.twitter.com/rKc6VJMZnh — ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018 × Video footage then emerged showing the kanwariyas attacking a police vehicle in Bulandhsahr, UP. #WATCH: Kanwariyas vandalize police vehicle after an altercation with locals in Bulandshahr on 7th August, police have registered a case. pic.twitter.com/UaIcNU55RV — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 9, 2018 × Footage has since also emerged of the kanwariyas attacking a car in Muzzafarnagar, again in UP. wionews.com had reported on Thursday that senior Uttar Pradesh police and administration officials had been caught on camera showering rose petals on kanwariyas from a helicopter. #WATCH Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar showered rose petals on Kanwariyas from a helicopter yesterday pic.twitter.com/SvHH64DGxr — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 9, 2018 × The kanwariyas are Shiva devotees who make pilgrimages each year to Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar. Their emergence on the scene however has been linked to political reasons. They are also a nuisance on the road and have picked up a massive reputation for violence.

Supreme Court tells police to act against 'kanwariyas'

At least 20&nbsp;people were killed as heavy rains and landslides hit parts of Kerala early today, officials said.

According to the disaster control room sources, 10 people were killed in landslides in Idukki, five in Malappuram, two in Kannur and one in Wayanad district. Three persons are missing -- one each in Wayanad, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts.

Five members of a family lost their lives in Idukki's Adimali town. Two persons were pulled out alive from the debris by the local people and police.

According to news agency ANI,&nbsp;Idukki dam has been opened after 26 years, following rising water levels due to heavy rains in the district.

Around 600 cusecs of water were discharged from the Idamalayar dam this morning, with the water level rising to 169.95 metres against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 169m. The water level at Idukki dam was 2,398 at 8 am 50 feet against the FRL of 2,403 feet. The administration has been put on high-alert.&nbsp;

Due to heavy rains and resultant floods in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been moved to Kozhikode. Two teams have been sought from the Centre for North Kerala.

Educational institutions have declared a holiday in Idukki, Kollam and some other districts due to the rains.

Five members of a family lost their lives in Idukki's Adimali town

At least 20 people were killed as heavy rains and landslides hit parts of Kerala early today, officials said. According to the disaster control room sources, 10 people were killed in landslides in Idukki, five in Malappuram, two in Kannur and one in Wayanad district. Three persons are missing -- one each in Wayanad, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts. Five members of a family lost their lives in Idukki's Adimali town. Two persons were pulled out alive from the debris by the local people and police. According to news agency ANI, Idukki dam has been opened after 26 years, following rising water levels due to heavy rains in the district. Around 600 cusecs of water were discharged from the Idamalayar dam this morning, with the water level rising to 169.95 metres against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 169m. The water level at Idukki dam was 2,398 at 8 am 50 feet against the FRL of 2,403 feet. The administration has been put on high-alert. Due to heavy rains and resultant floods in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been moved to Kozhikode. Two teams have been sought from the Centre for North Kerala. Educational institutions have declared a holiday in Idukki, Kollam and some other districts due to the rains.

20 killed in landslides and heavy rains in Kerala

IKEA is looking to keep prices even lower in India than it typically does elsewhere when it opens its first store in the country on Thursday, overcoming high taxes on imported goods as it woos cost-conscious shoppers unaccustomed to DIY furniture.

IKEA makes its India debut

NDA Candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh was on Thursday elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.

He won with 125 votes. UPA's BK Hariprasad got 105 votes.&nbsp;

Earlier, BJP has issued a three-line whip to its Rajya Sabha members of Parliament (MPs) to be present in the house for the voting.

The post of the deputy chairman has been lying vacant since June 2018 after the retirement of Congress leader PJ Kurien.

At the farewell of Kurien, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu had urged the ruling and opposition parties to find a suitable replacement for the post.

The post of the deputy chairman has been lying vacant since June 2018 after the retirement of Congress leader PJ Kurien.

NDA Candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh was on Thursday elected as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman. He won with 125 votes. UPA's BK Hariprasad got 105 votes. Earlier, BJP has issued a three-line whip to its Rajya Sabha members of Parliament (MPs) to be present in the house for the voting. The post of the deputy chairman has been lying vacant since June 2018 after the retirement of Congress leader PJ Kurien. At the farewell of Kurien, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu had urged the ruling and opposition parties to find a suitable replacement for the post.

NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh is elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman

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Opinion: What keeps Sikhs resilient in the face of hate?

Idol theft case: Police give undertaking to not arrest TVS Motors Chairman

Supreme Court tells police to act against 'kanwariyas'

20 killed in landslides and heavy rains in Kerala

IKEA makes its India debut

NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh is elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman