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&nbspAmid a heated debate over the NRC exercise in Assam, chief of Delhi BJP Manoj Tiwari has requested Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for a similar action against foreign infiltrators living in the national capital.

Tiwari also demanded that AAP government in Delhi identify and evict Rohingyas and Bangladeshi living illegally in the national capital.

In a letter written to the Union Home Minister, Tiwari claimed that thousands of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis were living illegally in Delhi and some had even obtained Aadhaar and ration cards in collusion with administrative officials.

"This requires a probe. Their presence in the national capital has many times come to light as a serious threat to law and order. I request you for a similar action against such foreign infiltrators as is being done in some states of the country," he wrote to Singh.

He alleged such illegal immigrants in the country are depriving poor Indians of their rights and were also sometimes found to be involved in criminal activities.

"Delhi government should identify and ensure action against Rohingyas and Bangladeshi living illegally in different parts of Delhi," he said.

The demand has already been made by the BJP with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and now it's time that the Delhi government acted to ensure eviction of illegal immigrants, he said.

The BJP has defended the National Register of Citizen(NRC) exercise in Assam with its president Amit Shah asserting that it will be implemented "to the last full stop". He has also asked all political parties to clarify their stand on the issue of illegal immigrants.

The party leaders have also demanded the NRC exercise in Assam to be extended to other states for eviction of illegal immigrants.

Names of over 40 lakh people in Assam were excluded from the draft NRC list, prepared following a long-drawn process to identify illegal Bangladeshis living in the state.

The complete draft NRC has 2.9 crore names out of the 3.29 crore applications leaving out the names of over 40 lakh applicants.

'Delhi government should identify and ensure action against Rohingyas and Bangladeshi living illegally in different parts of Delhi' Manoj Tiwari said

&nbspAmid a heated debate over the NRC exercise in Assam, chief of Delhi BJP Manoj Tiwari has requested Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for a similar action against foreign infiltrators living in the national capital. Tiwari also demanded that AAP government in Delhi identify and evict Rohingyas and Bangladeshi living illegally in the national capital. In a letter written to the Union Home Minister, Tiwari claimed that thousands of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis were living illegally in Delhi and some had even obtained Aadhaar and ration cards in collusion with administrative officials. "This requires a probe. Their presence in the national capital has many times come to light as a serious threat to law and order. I request you for a similar action against such foreign infiltrators as is being done in some states of the country," he wrote to Singh. He alleged such illegal immigrants in the country are depriving poor Indians of their rights and were also sometimes found to be involved in criminal activities. "Delhi government should identify and ensure action against Rohingyas and Bangladeshi living illegally in different parts of Delhi," he said. The demand has already been made by the BJP with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and now it's time that the Delhi government acted to ensure eviction of illegal immigrants, he said. The BJP has defended the National Register of Citizen(NRC) exercise in Assam with its president Amit Shah asserting that it will be implemented "to the last full stop". He has also asked all political parties to clarify their stand on the issue of illegal immigrants. The party leaders have also demanded the NRC exercise in Assam to be extended to other states for eviction of illegal immigrants. Names of over 40 lakh people in Assam were excluded from the draft NRC list, prepared following a long-drawn process to identify illegal Bangladeshis living in the state. The complete draft NRC has 2.9 crore names out of the 3.29 crore applications leaving out the names of over 40 lakh applicants.

Tiwari writes to Rajnath for Assam-like action against illegal immigrants in Delhi

India has officially extended President Trump an invitation to attend Republic Day celebrations next year.

Former president Barack Obama had attended India's glittering Republic Day parade on 26th January, 2015 during his three-day visit to the country amid much fanfare.

Obama was the first US president to attend India's Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath.&nbsp

PM Modi and Obama attended the colourful ceremony on that rainy day with the new Modi government determined to push ahead Indo-US ties.

However, the White House said the final decision on Trump's presence at the Republic Day celebrations was still "undecided".

The US this week elevated India at par with Nato allies after granting the Modi government Strategic Trade Authorization status (STA-1) status allowing the country to import high tech defence machines including non-defence products.

Further, in its South-Asia push, the US has consistenly implored India to play a greater role in Afghanistan with increased incidents of terror-related activities in the country.

The White House said the final decision on Trump's presence at the Republic Day celebrations was still "undecided".

India has officially extended President Trump an invitation to attend Republic Day celebrations next year. Former president Barack Obama had attended India's glittering Republic Day parade on 26th January, 2015 during his three-day visit to the country amid much fanfare. Obama was the first US president to attend India's Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath. PM Modi and Obama attended the colourful ceremony on that rainy day with the new Modi government determined to push ahead Indo-US ties. However, the White House said the final decision on Trump's presence at the Republic Day celebrations was still "undecided". The US this week elevated India at par with Nato allies after granting the Modi government Strategic Trade Authorization status (STA-1) status allowing the country to import high tech defence machines including non-defence products. Further, in its South-Asia push, the US has consistenly implored India to play a greater role in Afghanistan with increased incidents of terror-related activities in the country.

Modi government invites Trump to attend India's Republic Day celebrations next year

With 40 lakh people failing to get their names on the draft<a href="http://wionews.com/videos/assam-government-releases-nrc-4-lakh-people-stripped-citizenship--156334"> National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam</a>, the poll panel Wednesday said an exclusion from this list would not automatically result in their removal from the electoral rolls as registration of voters is decided by the election laws.

Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said in New Delhi that the <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-adjourned-amid-furore-amit-shah-rajnath-unable-to-speak-on-nrc-156238">NRC </a>and electoral rolls are "very different".

He said the NRC is just one element that affects the electoral roll and quoted provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to say that anybody can register as an elector if that person is a citizen of India, is above 18 years of age on January 1 of the year of enrolment, and is ordinarily a resident of the constituency in which enrolment as a voter is sought.

"These three conditions have to be fulfilled with documentary evidence and that person can be enrolled in electoral roll," he said.

Giving an example, Rawat said there can be a person who has not applied for the NRC in Assam but may be living there for a few years for job or for studies.&nbsp

"He is a citizen of India working in Delhi and is transferred to Assam where he is now living for the past two years and has applied with documents to be included in the electoral roll. The electoral registration officer, after checking the veracity of the document, includes his name because he is an Indian citizen, though he is not in the NRC," he explained.

Rawat also said that this is a draft NRC. After this, in the next one month all these 40 lakh individuals will be informed about the reasons why their names were not included. Thereafter they can file their claims and objections and after decision on the claims, final list of NRC will be published.

The CEC said the chief electoral officer of Assam will give a factual report in the coming week on various aspects arising out of the publication of the final draft NRC.&nbsp

On whether there would a confusion, Rawat said, "No. There will be no confusion. If a person fulfils the three criteria and the electoral registration officer is convinced, he will be made part of the electoral roll."

People will have to satisfy the electoral registration officers that they are citizens of India to be part of the voter list and they can use documents available with them to support their claim, he added.

The EC voter enrolment exercise is independent of the NRC, though authorities responsible for the two lists are working in sync.

"The EC, with its objective of 'no voter to be left behind', has asked CEO Assam to coordinate closely with State Coordinator NRC so as to ensure that all eligible persons are included in Electoral Roll during Summary Revision 2019. This way a final Electoral Roll will be published on January 4, 2019, to be used for general elections 2019," Rawat had said yesterday.

The complete draft of the NRC, published earlier this week, in Assam has included 2,89,83,677 people out of a total 3,29,91,384 applicants.

Names of around 40.07 lakh applicants did not figure in the document.

At the time of last assembly elections in 2016, Assam had about 1.99 crore voters, out of which about 1.69 crore (84.72 per cent) cast their votes, as per the information available with the state's chief electoral officer.&nbsp

Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said the NRC is just one element that affects the electoral roll and quoted provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to say that anybody can register as an elector if that person is a citizen of India, is above 18 years of age on January 1 of the year of enrolment, and is ordinarily a resident of the constituency in which enrolment as a voter is sought

With 40 lakh people failing to get their names on the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, the poll panel Wednesday said an exclusion from this list would not automatically result in their removal from the electoral rolls as registration of voters is decided by the election laws. Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said in New Delhi that the NRC and electoral rolls are "very different". He said the NRC is just one element that affects the electoral roll and quoted provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to say that anybody can register as an elector if that person is a citizen of India, is above 18 years of age on January 1 of the year of enrolment, and is ordinarily a resident of the constituency in which enrolment as a voter is sought. "These three conditions have to be fulfilled with documentary evidence and that person can be enrolled in electoral roll," he said. Giving an example, Rawat said there can be a person who has not applied for the NRC in Assam but may be living there for a few years for job or for studies. "He is a citizen of India working in Delhi and is transferred to Assam where he is now living for the past two years and has applied with documents to be included in the electoral roll. The electoral registration officer, after checking the veracity of the document, includes his name because he is an Indian citizen, though he is not in the NRC," he explained. Rawat also said that this is a draft NRC. After this, in the next one month all these 40 lakh individuals will be informed about the reasons why their names were not included. Thereafter they can file their claims and objections and after decision on the claims, final list of NRC will be published. The CEC said the chief electoral officer of Assam will give a factual report in the coming week on various aspects arising out of the publication of the final draft NRC. On whether there would a confusion, Rawat said, "No. There will be no confusion. If a person fulfils the three criteria and the electoral registration officer is convinced, he will be made part of the electoral roll." People will have to satisfy the electoral registration officers that they are citizens of India to be part of the voter list and they can use documents available with them to support their claim, he added. The EC voter enrolment exercise is independent of the NRC, though authorities responsible for the two lists are working in sync. "The EC, with its objective of 'no voter to be left behind', has asked CEO Assam to coordinate closely with State Coordinator NRC so as to ensure that all eligible persons are included in Electoral Roll during Summary Revision 2019. This way a final Electoral Roll will be published on January 4, 2019, to be used for general elections 2019," Rawat had said yesterday. The complete draft of the NRC, published earlier this week, in Assam has included 2,89,83,677 people out of a total 3,29,91,384 applicants. Names of around 40.07 lakh applicants did not figure in the document. At the time of last assembly elections in 2016, Assam had about 1.99 crore voters, out of which about 1.69 crore (84.72 per cent) cast their votes, as per the information available with the state's chief electoral officer.

Exclusion from NRC won't mean automatic removal from voter list: Chief Election Commissioner

Seventeen opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, are planning to approach the Election Commission, demanding that ballot papers be used to conduct the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The 17 parties would meet next week to discuss the plan.

"This is a matter on which all opposition parties agreed. We are planning to meet next week. We plan to go to Election Commission and demand that the EC conduct the coming Lok Sabha elections using ballot papers," TMC leader Derek O'Brien told reporters.

The initiative to solicit the support of all opposition parties on the matter was taken by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee yesterday, when she visited Parliament to meet opposition leaders and invite them for her planned rally in Kolkata on January 19.

Banerjee was heard appealing to opposition party leaders who visited her in the TMC office in Parliament, to send a joint delegation to the Election Commission over reports of EVM tampering and to demand that the 2019 general election be held on ballots.

"All opposition parties should go to EC on this matter. There should be a joint delegation of opposition parties to EC," Banerjee was heard telling opposition party leaders, including from the Congress.

The TMC had staged protests outside Parliament, questioning the neutrality of electronic voting machines, and demanded that ballot papers be brought back for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The ruling party in West Bengal said it is a "common programme" that will unite all opposition parties.

Interestingly, Banerjee had also urged the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, to be a part of the delegation.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray previously demanded that the 2019 Lok Sabha election be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs.

"This is a matter on which all opposition parties agreed. We are planning to meet next week. We plan to go to Election Commission and demand that the EC conduct the coming Lok Sabha elections using ballot papers," TMC leader Derek O'Brien told reporters.

Seventeen opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, are planning to approach the Election Commission, demanding that ballot papers be used to conduct the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The 17 parties would meet next week to discuss the plan. "This is a matter on which all opposition parties agreed. We are planning to meet next week. We plan to go to Election Commission and demand that the EC conduct the coming Lok Sabha elections using ballot papers," TMC leader Derek O'Brien told reporters. The initiative to solicit the support of all opposition parties on the matter was taken by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee yesterday, when she visited Parliament to meet opposition leaders and invite them for her planned rally in Kolkata on January 19. Banerjee was heard appealing to opposition party leaders who visited her in the TMC office in Parliament, to send a joint delegation to the Election Commission over reports of EVM tampering and to demand that the 2019 general election be held on ballots. "All opposition parties should go to EC on this matter. There should be a joint delegation of opposition parties to EC," Banerjee was heard telling opposition party leaders, including from the Congress. The TMC had staged protests outside Parliament, questioning the neutrality of electronic voting machines, and demanded that ballot papers be brought back for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The ruling party in West Bengal said it is a "common programme" that will unite all opposition parties. Interestingly, Banerjee had also urged the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, to be a part of the delegation. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray previously demanded that the 2019 Lok Sabha election be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs.

Seventeen parties to approach EC demanding 2019 polls be held using ballot papers

About 30 Indian companies would be participating in the Damascus International Trade Fair in Syria in September, said the country's envoy to India in New Delhi on Wednesday&nbspas he appealed the India Inc to participate in the rebuilding process of the strife-torn nation.

Ambassador Riad&nbspKamel Abbas said peace and stability was returning to the nation following a prolonged conflict and that the Assad government was "determined to take control of the entire country" from "foreign occupation and "terrorist organisations".&nbsp

The southern territory, he said, has already been reclaimed.

"Syria will be able to defeat terrorists and all other conspiracies against Syria. Now we are planning to rebuild Syria and we are looking for help from friendly countries, in particular, India," he said addressing the media.&nbsp

The envoy said that a high-level Indian business delegation would be visiting his country coinciding with the trade fair, during which a host of agreements are expected to be signed.&nbsp

Indian companies participating the fair beginning September 6 would also include PSU giants such as the ONGC and BHEL.&nbsp

"In all, 30 Indian companies would be participating," he said, adding the participants would be provided incentives to do business there.

Hailing India's position on the Syrian issue and its stand against terrorism and foreign intervention, the envoy said he was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing 1,000 scholarships for Syrian students taking up studies in India.&nbsp

The ambassador said the Indian healthcare sector should be an active participant in the rebuilding process in the aftermath of the war as he lauded the medical aid sent by the Indian government to Syria.&nbsp

He said the "game plan" of the foreign forces to "destabilise" Syria has been defeated because the people of Syria have stood behind the Assad government. The war also had nothing to do with "democracy" or forcing a regime change.&nbsp

"There were two reasons (for USA and its allies) for forcing Syria to change its position. They were to safeguard the security of Israel, to control the natural resources of Syria and to extend the gas pipeline from Qatar through Syria to Europe. They have now realised they are unable to reach their objective," he said.

He alleged that the latest "massacre" in Sweida, in southern Syria that claimed over 260 lives was "pre-planned" by the US and terrorist supported organisation.&nbsp

The aim was to give cover to the white helmet organisation and sneak them out of the country. He described the organisation as terrorists. White helmet is known as a volunteer organisation that operates in parts of rebel-controlled Syria, the envoy said.&nbsp

About 30 Indian companies would be participating in the Damascus International Trade Fair in Syria in September, said the country's envoy to India in New Delhi on August 1 as he appealed the India Inc to participate in the rebuilding process of the strife-torn nation

About 30 Indian companies would be participating in the Damascus International Trade Fair in Syria in September, said the country's envoy to India in New Delhi on Wednesday&nbspas he appealed the India Inc to participate in the rebuilding process of the strife-torn nation. Ambassador Riad&nbspKamel Abbas said peace and stability was returning to the nation following a prolonged conflict and that the Assad government was "determined to take control of the entire country" from "foreign occupation and "terrorist organisations". The southern territory, he said, has already been reclaimed. "Syria will be able to defeat terrorists and all other conspiracies against Syria. Now we are planning to rebuild Syria and we are looking for help from friendly countries, in particular, India," he said addressing the media. The envoy said that a high-level Indian business delegation would be visiting his country coinciding with the trade fair, during which a host of agreements are expected to be signed. Indian companies participating the fair beginning September 6 would also include PSU giants such as the ONGC and BHEL. "In all, 30 Indian companies would be participating," he said, adding the participants would be provided incentives to do business there. Hailing India's position on the Syrian issue and its stand against terrorism and foreign intervention, the envoy said he was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing 1,000 scholarships for Syrian students taking up studies in India. The ambassador said the Indian healthcare sector should be an active participant in the rebuilding process in the aftermath of the war as he lauded the medical aid sent by the Indian government to Syria. He said the "game plan" of the foreign forces to "destabilise" Syria has been defeated because the people of Syria have stood behind the Assad government. The war also had nothing to do with "democracy" or forcing a regime change. "There were two reasons (for USA and its allies) for forcing Syria to change its position. They were to safeguard the security of Israel, to control the natural resources of Syria and to extend the gas pipeline from Qatar through Syria to Europe. They have now realised they are unable to reach their objective," he said. He alleged that the latest "massacre" in Sweida, in southern Syria that claimed over 260 lives was "pre-planned" by the US and terrorist supported organisation. The aim was to give cover to the white helmet organisation and sneak them out of the country. He described the organisation as terrorists. White helmet is known as a volunteer organisation that operates in parts of rebel-controlled Syria, the envoy said.

Syrian envoy appeals India Inc to join the country's rebuilding process

Expressing concerns over revealing the identity of minor rape victims by the media, the Supreme Court on Thursday put restrictions on the use of pictures and videos of such rape victims.

The court has also restrained the media from telecasting&nbsp;blurred or morphed images and videos of minor rape victims.

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Supreme Court restrains the media from telecasting images and videos of minor rape victims even in blurred and morphed form. Court also expresses concern over identity of child rape victims being revealed by media and as to how the media has revealed their identities.
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1024907141696679936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The decision came at a court hearing on Thursday where the court took a&nbsp;suo motu cognisance of the <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/new-medical-reports-confirm-5-more-rapes-at-bihar-shelter-home-155527">alleged rape of minor girls in a shelter home</a> run by an NGO in Bihar.

The NGO was run by a&nbsp;55-year-old man.

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The court has restrained the media from telecasting blurred or morphed images and videos of minor rape victims

Expressing concerns over revealing the identity of minor rape victims by the media, the Supreme Court on Thursday put restrictions on the use of pictures and videos of such rape victims. The court has also restrained the media from telecasting blurred or morphed images and videos of minor rape victims. Supreme Court restrains the media from telecasting images and videos of minor rape victims even in blurred and morphed form. Court also expresses concern over identity of child rape victims being revealed by media and as to how the media has revealed their identities. — ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2018 × The decision came at a court hearing on Thursday where the court took a suo motu cognisance of the alleged rape of minor girls in a shelter home run by an NGO in Bihar. The NGO was run by a 55-year-old man.

Supreme Court restrains use of photos of minor rape victims

Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev on Thursday said they are yet to receive any formal&nbsp;invitation received for former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.&nbsp;

The World Cup-winning captain said he hasn't checked yet but has no qualms in visiting the neighbouring country, considering the government's approval.&nbsp;

"I haven't checked yet about the invitation, but if I will get the invite then I will surely go there(Pakistan) for the oath ceremony (of Imran Khan), considering government approval," said Kapil.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been very complex and largely hostile due to the ceaseless infiltrations and cross-border terrorist activities abetted by Islamabad.&nbsp;

Gavaskar too echoed the same views but in a different manner. The batting legend said that he will further not talk on the matter till he receives a formal invitation.

Earlier, reports emerged that Pakistan's World Cup winning skipper invited former cricketers Gavaskar, Kapil and Navjot Singh Sidhu for the ceremony.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet Minister Sidhu has confirmed his participation, terming it a 'personal invitation and not a political one'.

Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the single largest party in the July 25 general elections, winning 116 National Assembly seats out of the contested 270 parliamentary constituencies.&nbsp;

Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 64 seats and former President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan People's Party (PPP) with 43 seats are placed at number two and three respectively.&nbsp;

However, the two said they will surely go if they get an invite.

Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev on Thursday said they are yet to receive any formal invitation received for former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. The World Cup-winning captain said he hasn't checked yet but has no qualms in visiting the neighbouring country, considering the government's approval. "I haven't checked yet about the invitation, but if I will get the invite then I will surely go there(Pakistan) for the oath ceremony (of Imran Khan), considering government approval," said Kapil. Relations between India and Pakistan have been very complex and largely hostile due to the ceaseless infiltrations and cross-border terrorist activities abetted by Islamabad. Gavaskar too echoed the same views but in a different manner. The batting legend said that he will further not talk on the matter till he receives a formal invitation. Earlier, reports emerged that Pakistan's World Cup winning skipper invited former cricketers Gavaskar, Kapil and Navjot Singh Sidhu for the ceremony. Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet Minister Sidhu has confirmed his participation, terming it a 'personal invitation and not a political one'. Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the single largest party in the July 25 general elections, winning 116 National Assembly seats out of the contested 270 parliamentary constituencies. Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 64 seats and former President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan People's Party (PPP) with 43 seats are placed at number two and three respectively.

Kapil, Gavaskar yet to receive formal invitation for Imran Khan's oath ceremony

The Trinamool Congress is planning to move a <a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/six-tmc-mps-two-mlas-detained-at-silchar-airport-not-allowed-to-visit-assam-on-nrc-issue-report--156509">privilege motion in Lok Sabha tomorrow</a> against the detention of its members of parliament in Silchar in Assam on Thursday.

The TMC delegation consisting six members of Parliament, one MLA and one minister from West Bengal government had left for Silchar to interact with people left out of the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) published on Monday.

The TMC has launched a strong protest against the draft NRC inside and outside Parliament.

The members of the delegation have alleged that they were stopped at the Silchar airport and confined "unlawfully".

"As soon as we landed in Silchar hundreds of state policemen led by commissioner and deputy commissioner surrounded us and confined us illegally and unlawfully in a room. They have even manhandled many of us. This is super emergency here," TMC lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told.&nbsp;

The matter was also raised inside Lok Sabha by party leader Saugata Roy, who said Assam is not out of the country and how Assam government could stop members of Parliament from entering Assam. "I said I will raise the privilege motion against the Assam government," Roy said.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at BJP after Trinamool Congress delegation was stopped at Silchar airport while they were on their way to Assam in connection with National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue.&nbsp;

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These atrocities being done, aren't only being condemned, I think this is beginning of the end. They are frustrated, they are political tensed & depressed. And that's why they are showing muscle power: Mamata Banerjee on TMC MP&MLA delegation detained at Silchar airport.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NRCAssam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NRCAssam</a> <a href="https://t.co/geWCsLxMg8">pic.twitter.com/geWCsLxMg8</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1024982326663569409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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''These atrocities aren't only being condemned, I think this is beginning of the end,''&nbsp;

The BJP is frustrated and they are political tensed and depressed and that's why they are showing muscle power,'' she further said.&nbsp;

She also condemned West Bengal BJP for demanding NRC in the state.&nbsp;

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Who are they? What significance do they have in West Bengal? Nobody knows them. They are just some hooligans. Their existence itself is in question & they will implement NRC here? I will see how they intervene: Mamata Banerjee on West Bengal BJP leaders demanding NRC in the state <a href="https://t.co/S4mpTNmJI7">pic.twitter.com/S4mpTNmJI7</a>
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Launching a scathing attack on the BJP and its government in the state, TMC lawmaker Derek O'Brien said the delegation was stopped even though the members decided to go and meet the people left out of NRC in groups of two. They were stopped and "beaten up", he alleged.

The TMC has launched a strong protest against the draft NRC inside and outside Parliament.

The Trinamool Congress is planning to move a privilege motion in Lok Sabha tomorrow against the detention of its members of parliament in Silchar in Assam on Thursday. The TMC delegation consisting six members of Parliament, one MLA and one minister from West Bengal government had left for Silchar to interact with people left out of the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) published on Monday. The TMC has launched a strong protest against the draft NRC inside and outside Parliament. The members of the delegation have alleged that they were stopped at the Silchar airport and confined "unlawfully". "As soon as we landed in Silchar hundreds of state policemen led by commissioner and deputy commissioner surrounded us and confined us illegally and unlawfully in a room. They have even manhandled many of us. This is super emergency here," TMC lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told. The matter was also raised inside Lok Sabha by party leader Saugata Roy, who said Assam is not out of the country and how Assam government could stop members of Parliament from entering Assam. "I said I will raise the privilege motion against the Assam government," Roy said. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at BJP after Trinamool Congress delegation was stopped at Silchar airport while they were on their way to Assam in connection with National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue. These atrocities being done, aren't only being condemned, I think this is beginning of the end. They are frustrated, they are political tensed & depressed. And that's why they are showing muscle power: Mamata Banerjee on TMC MP&MLA delegation detained at Silchar airport.#NRCAssam pic.twitter.com/geWCsLxMg8 — ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2018 × ''These atrocities aren't only being condemned, I think this is beginning of the end,'' The BJP is frustrated and they are political tensed and depressed and that's why they are showing muscle power,'' she further said. She also condemned West Bengal BJP for demanding NRC in the state. Who are they? What significance do they have in West Bengal? Nobody knows them. They are just some hooligans. Their existence itself is in question & they will implement NRC here? I will see how they intervene: Mamata Banerjee on West Bengal BJP leaders demanding NRC in the state pic.twitter.com/S4mpTNmJI7 — ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2018 × Launching a scathing attack on the BJP and its government in the state, TMC lawmaker Derek O'Brien said the delegation was stopped even though the members decided to go and meet the people left out of NRC in groups of two. They were stopped and "beaten up", he alleged.

TMC planning to bring privilege motion in Lok Sabha after its MPs stopped at Silchar airport

Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sunil Gavaskar and Aamir Khan has been invited by Imran Khan in the oath taking ceremony as PM in Pakistan.

Navjot Singh Sidhu: Sportsmen break barriers

The noose is tightening around three of India’s most wanted economic fugitives: Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. One new legislation is likely to achieve what years of fruitless policing haven’t: the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FOE) Bill which was passed recently by both houses of Parliament.

The implications of the legislation aren’t lost on Mallya. Extradition notwithstanding, he has begun making preparations to return to India before the deadline of August 27, 2018 set by the PMLA-designated special court. If Mallya doesn’t present himself to the court on that date, his Indian assets can be seized without further notice. Mallya has enough liquid assets in the form of equity shares in listed companies (United Spirits Ltd. and United Breweries Holdings Ltd.) as well as prime properties to pay off the roughly Rs 12,500 crore he owes to banks, employees, vendors and statutory authorities.

Nirav Modi presents a more complex problem. As in Mallya’s case, he was clearly tipped off by rogue elements in the CBI and ED. He fled India weeks before Punjab National Bank (PNB) lodged its complaint against him. Mallya too had left India a day before he was likely to be arrested.

Mehul Choksi planned his escape even earlier. Top jewellers who know Choksi well reveal that Choksi’s companies have been bankrupt for years. They carried on business on the back of fraudulent Letters of Understanding (LoU). Choksi was tipped off by rogue officers in the investigative agencies as early as September 2017. He began preparations to acquire a passport from the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda months before the agencies discovered his fraudulent transactions and raided his companies.

But like Mallya, bad news now awaits both Choksi and Nirav Modi. Pressure is mounting on the Antigua government to send Choksi to India to face trial. The Caribbean island, which is a member of the Commonwealth, has a strong Opposition and press. Both have excoriated Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Foreign Minister E Paul Chet Greene for protecting Choksi. Taking a leaf out of the JNU playbook, Choksi has said he fears being lynched if extradited to India. There is of course no extradition treaty between India and Antigua. Choksi can be deported only if India can show credible evidence that he committed financial fraud in India.

Notoriously slow and riven by internal rivalries, the CBI is still putting its case against Choksi together. Its tardiness almost helped Mallya evade justice. Fortunately, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) extracted the necessary evidence from the CBI in time to indict Mallya. The British High Court last week denied Mallya permission to appeal its recent verdict that allowed British authorities to enter and seize goods in the fugitive’s UK properties.

While Choksi is unlikely to get relief from the Antigua government for much longer, Nirav Modi could be in even more immediate trouble. A bankruptcy court in New York last Thursday ‘recognised’ PNB’s claims on the proceeds of any US assets sold by Nirav. The court also ordered summons to examine Nirav and four associates for alleged financial fraud. Nirav Modi will now be forced to appear before the US bankruptcy court when he will be grilled over PNB’s allegations of fraud.

Of the three fugitives – and there are dozens more who have fled India but are not as well known – Mallya ironically may appear the cleanest, if that’s quite the right word. He allegedly engaged in money laundering, siphoned off funds that belonged to his companies, cheated employees by not paying their salaries, cut TDS but did not credit it to the government, defaulted to vendors, and led an extravagant lifestyle while his employees suffered. All of this reflects criminality bordering (in the case of unpaid employees) on cruelty. But what Choksi and Nirav Modi have done is of a different dimension altogether. For years they defrauded clients by selling them fake diamonds for a fortune, cheated banks with fraudulent LoUs and planned their escape from India months in advance. The sheer venality of their criminal actions surpass even the malevolence of Mallya.

There is of course a deeper lesson to be learnt from all this. India’s investigative agencies are corrupt and incompetent. They are fissured by rivalries between senior officers. The open battle between CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana has brought discredit to India’s premier investigative agency. The war between the ED’s joint director Rajeshwar Singh and Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia is equally tawdry. In both cases serious allegations of complicity with economic fugitives like Mallya and Choksi have been made.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) must take the blame for first, not imposing discipline on its IAS and IPS officers and second, for not instituting sweeping police and administrative reforms to improve the efficiency of India’s top two civil services. In Gujarat, as chief minister, Narendra Modi held an iron grip on the bureaucracy. It got work done. At the Centre, the bureaucracy and investigative agencies, wracked by corruption and cronyism, have so far resisted Modi’s efforts to tame them. But tame them he must. Otherwise there will be more Mallyas, Choksis and Nirav Modis laughing all the way to the bank. 
 
(Minhaz Merchant is author of The New Clash of Civilizations: How The Contest Between America, China, India and Islam Will Shape Our Century)

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-catching-india-s-fugitives-2644477">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

One new legislation is likely to achieve what years of fruitless policing haven’t: the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FOE) Bill which was passed recently by both houses of Parliament.

The noose is tightening around three of India’s most wanted economic fugitives: Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. One new legislation is likely to achieve what years of fruitless policing haven’t: the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FOE) Bill which was passed recently by both houses of Parliament. The implications of the legislation aren’t lost on Mallya. Extradition notwithstanding, he has begun making preparations to return to India before the deadline of August 27, 2018 set by the PMLA-designated special court. If Mallya doesn’t present himself to the court on that date, his Indian assets can be seized without further notice. Mallya has enough liquid assets in the form of equity shares in listed companies (United Spirits Ltd. and United Breweries Holdings Ltd.) as well as prime properties to pay off the roughly Rs 12,500 crore he owes to banks, employees, vendors and statutory authorities. Nirav Modi presents a more complex problem. As in Mallya’s case, he was clearly tipped off by rogue elements in the CBI and ED. He fled India weeks before Punjab National Bank (PNB) lodged its complaint against him. Mallya too had left India a day before he was likely to be arrested. Mehul Choksi planned his escape even earlier. Top jewellers who know Choksi well reveal that Choksi’s companies have been bankrupt for years. They carried on business on the back of fraudulent Letters of Understanding (LoU). Choksi was tipped off by rogue officers in the investigative agencies as early as September 2017. He began preparations to acquire a passport from the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda months before the agencies discovered his fraudulent transactions and raided his companies. But like Mallya, bad news now awaits both Choksi and Nirav Modi. Pressure is mounting on the Antigua government to send Choksi to India to face trial. The Caribbean island, which is a member of the Commonwealth, has a strong Opposition and press. Both have excoriated Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Foreign Minister E Paul Chet Greene for protecting Choksi. Taking a leaf out of the JNU playbook, Choksi has said he fears being lynched if extradited to India. There is of course no extradition treaty between India and Antigua. Choksi can be deported only if India can show credible evidence that he committed financial fraud in India. Notoriously slow and riven by internal rivalries, the CBI is still putting its case against Choksi together. Its tardiness almost helped Mallya evade justice. Fortunately, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) extracted the necessary evidence from the CBI in time to indict Mallya. The British High Court last week denied Mallya permission to appeal its recent verdict that allowed British authorities to enter and seize goods in the fugitive’s UK properties. While Choksi is unlikely to get relief from the Antigua government for much longer, Nirav Modi could be in even more immediate trouble. A bankruptcy court in New York last Thursday ‘recognised’ PNB’s claims on the proceeds of any US assets sold by Nirav. The court also ordered summons to examine Nirav and four associates for alleged financial fraud. Nirav Modi will now be forced to appear before the US bankruptcy court when he will be grilled over PNB’s allegations of fraud. Of the three fugitives – and there are dozens more who have fled India but are not as well known – Mallya ironically may appear the cleanest, if that’s quite the right word. He allegedly engaged in money laundering, siphoned off funds that belonged to his companies, cheated employees by not paying their salaries, cut TDS but did not credit it to the government, defaulted to vendors, and led an extravagant lifestyle while his employees suffered. All of this reflects criminality bordering (in the case of unpaid employees) on cruelty. But what Choksi and Nirav Modi have done is of a different dimension altogether. For years they defrauded clients by selling them fake diamonds for a fortune, cheated banks with fraudulent LoUs and planned their escape from India months in advance. The sheer venality of their criminal actions surpass even the malevolence of Mallya. There is of course a deeper lesson to be learnt from all this. India’s investigative agencies are corrupt and incompetent. They are fissured by rivalries between senior officers. The open battle between CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana has brought discredit to India’s premier investigative agency. The war between the ED’s joint director Rajeshwar Singh and Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia is equally tawdry. In both cases serious allegations of complicity with economic fugitives like Mallya and Choksi have been made. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) must take the blame for first, not imposing discipline on its IAS and IPS officers and second, for not instituting sweeping police and administrative reforms to improve the efficiency of India’s top two civil services. In Gujarat, as chief minister, Narendra Modi held an iron grip on the bureaucracy. It got work done. At the Centre, the bureaucracy and investigative agencies, wracked by corruption and cronyism, have so far resisted Modi’s efforts to tame them. But tame them he must. Otherwise there will be more Mallyas, Choksis and Nirav Modis laughing all the way to the bank. (Minhaz Merchant is author of The New Clash of Civilizations: How The Contest Between America, China, India and Islam Will Shape Our Century) (This article was originally 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: Catching India’s fugitives

Sonam Wangchuk a Ladakhi engineer, innovator and education reformist who recently received Magsaysay award speaks to WION.

Magsaysay awardee Sonam Wangchuk speaks to WION

The Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected the status report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare murder cases.

The court also criticised the agencies for submitting similar reports every time as status reports in the matter.

Dabholkar was murdered by unknown bike-borne assailants on August 20, 2013, in Pune, while he was returning home from a morning walk.

A CBI investigation is underway in the matter and is being monitored by the Bombay High Court. However, no major breakthrough has taken place in the case so far despite several warnings and deadlines front the high court.

After Dabholkar's murder, another rationalist, MM Kalburgi, was murdered in Karnataka's Dharwad district two years later.

The investigation had earlier revealed that there was a similarity of modus operandi in both the murders and were reportedly committed using the same weapon.

On the other hand, Pansare, a Communist Party of India leader and was known for his nationalist views, was shot dead in Kolhapur on February 20, 2015. His wife too was injured in the attack.&nbsp;

The court also criticised the agencies for submitting similar reports every time as status reports in the matter

The Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected the status report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare murder cases. The court also criticised the agencies for submitting similar reports every time as status reports in the matter. Dabholkar was murdered by unknown bike-borne assailants on August 20, 2013, in Pune, while he was returning home from a morning walk. A CBI investigation is underway in the matter and is being monitored by the Bombay High Court. However, no major breakthrough has taken place in the case so far despite several warnings and deadlines front the high court. After Dabholkar's murder, another rationalist, MM Kalburgi, was murdered in Karnataka's Dharwad district two years later. The investigation had earlier revealed that there was a similarity of modus operandi in both the murders and were reportedly committed using the same weapon. On the other hand, Pansare, a Communist Party of India leader and was known for his nationalist views, was shot dead in Kolhapur on February 20, 2015. His wife too was injured in the attack.

Dabholkar, Pansare murder cases: Bombay HC hits out at CBI, SIT

Two terrorists were on Thursday killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir Shesh Paul Vaid confirmed the same and tweeted, " Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with J&K Police/ Security Forces in Lolab Kupwara a few minutes back."

The exchange of fire between the terrorists and the security forces took place during Naka checking.

The attack comes days after terrorists opened fire on security forces, deployed at the Kandahar general road in Maidanpora area of Kupwara district. They also snatched an INSAS rifle from a security official.

The exchange of fire between the terrorists and the security forces took place during Naka checking

Two terrorists were on Thursday killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir Shesh Paul Vaid confirmed the same and tweeted, " Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with J&K Police/ Security Forces in Lolab Kupwara a few minutes back." The exchange of fire between the terrorists and the security forces took place during Naka checking. The attack comes days after terrorists opened fire on security forces, deployed at the Kandahar general road in Maidanpora area of Kupwara district. They also snatched an INSAS rifle from a security official.

J&K: 2 terrorists gunned down in Kupwara encounter

The Congress on Thursday approved names of two candidates for the by-elections to the Meghalaya assembly.

The two candidates, Jackiush A Sangma would be contesting from Ranikot assembly segment while Charlotte W Monin from South Tura seat.

According to the EC, the last date for nomination filing is August 8 and scrutiny of will be on August 9.

The ECI will use both Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for the elections.

A valid identification proof for voter's identification will be mandatory for a voter to exercise his/her right to vote.

However, Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) will be the main document for identification.

The two candidates, Jackiush A Sangma would be contesting from Ranikot assembly segment while Charlotte W Monin from South Tura seat

The Congress on Thursday approved names of two candidates for the by-elections to the Meghalaya assembly. The two candidates, Jackiush A Sangma would be contesting from Ranikot assembly segment while Charlotte W Monin from South Tura seat. According to the EC, the last date for nomination filing is August 8 and scrutiny of will be on August 9. The ECI will use both Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for the elections. A valid identification proof for voter's identification will be mandatory for a voter to exercise his/her right to vote. However, Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) will be the main document for identification.

Congress approves 2 candidates for Meghalaya by-polls

A day after the Union Cabinet approved the restoration of the original provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Bill, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the bill will be tabled during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament.

"The government has already approved the restoration of the original bill yesterday. We will introduce the bill and want to pass it in this session of parliament," he said in Lok Sabha.

Rajnath Singh's statement came after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded an ordinance for SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities to be brought soon.

"The government has not done anything to nullify the Supreme Court order. You bring ordinances for every small issue, why didn't you bring an ordinance for this issue," he asked.

On August 1, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to negate the Supreme Court ruling of March 20 that had barred immediate arrests in cases registered under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, which came amid the deadline fixed by Dalit organisations and LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) to overturn the ruling, restored the original provisions of arresting the accused over suspicion of offence against the weakest section of the society.

The SC/ST Act protects the marginalised communities against discrimination and atrocities.

The Supreme Court verdict was widely criticised by the Dalit organisations and the Opposition who claimed that the dilution of the Act will lead to more discrimination and crime against the backward community.

On April 2, Dalit organisations across the country staged a massive protest against the judgment of the top court.

Later, the Centre filed a review petition against the ruling, which went in vain as the top court refused to stay its order and asked all parties to submit detailed replies.

On a related note, all the Dalit groups have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' protest on August 9 against the ruling of the top court.

The LJP, which is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also threatened to join the protest.

'The government has already approved the restoration of the original bill yesterday. We will introduce the bill and want to pass it in this session of parliament,' he said in Lok Sabha

A day after the Union Cabinet approved the restoration of the original provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Bill, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the bill will be tabled during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament. "The government has already approved the restoration of the original bill yesterday. We will introduce the bill and want to pass it in this session of parliament," he said in Lok Sabha. Rajnath Singh's statement came after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded an ordinance for SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities to be brought soon. "The government has not done anything to nullify the Supreme Court order. You bring ordinances for every small issue, why didn't you bring an ordinance for this issue," he asked. On August 1, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to negate the Supreme Court ruling of March 20 that had barred immediate arrests in cases registered under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, which came amid the deadline fixed by Dalit organisations and LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) to overturn the ruling, restored the original provisions of arresting the accused over suspicion of offence against the weakest section of the society. The SC/ST Act protects the marginalised communities against discrimination and atrocities. The Supreme Court verdict was widely criticised by the Dalit organisations and the Opposition who claimed that the dilution of the Act will lead to more discrimination and crime against the backward community. On April 2, Dalit organisations across the country staged a massive protest against the judgment of the top court. Later, the Centre filed a review petition against the ruling, which went in vain as the top court refused to stay its order and asked all parties to submit detailed replies. On a related note, all the Dalit groups have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' protest on August 9 against the ruling of the top court. The LJP, which is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also threatened to join the protest.

Will pass SC/ST act in Monsoon session: Rajnath Singh

"PM Modi attends Imran's swearing-in at Islamabad, Indo-Pak relations on a high" - it could have been a headline-grabbing event of the 21st century: However, the excitement&nbsp;died after Pakistani media reported that no foreign dignitaries&nbsp;will be invited to the event on August 11.

The antics of reality TV notwithstanding, the fact is&nbsp;there are far too many things which have gone wrong in the past two years, especially in J&K, and it is worth remembering several Indian troops have returned home draped in the Indian flag.

A Pakistani PM attending&nbsp;the swearing-in ceremony of an Indian Prime Minister was once unimaginable. It happened on May 25, 2014 when the then prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif visited PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi.&nbsp;

This was four years ago, before the surgical strikes, Pathankot attack and violence and stone-pelting in Kashmir.

PM Modi (the statesman) could have been&nbsp;tempted to visit Pakistan - for the second time but India would have&nbsp;felt&nbsp;let down because the Pakistan Army has constantly tied India down. PM Modi who has met Trump several times in the past two years should perhaps take a leaf out of his "diplomatic playbook"&nbsp;and agree to meet Imran in "neutral territory only" like Trump's meeting with Putin and Kim Jong-un.&nbsp;

A neutral territory would ensure the hullabaloo&nbsp;of the meeting being reduced to a "media event" is avoided and discussions take place in a much easier "political climate".

India should also raise the stakes on Imran Khan and put a premium on India-Pak relations going forward with "no strings attached".

Imran in his speech just after the elections had said Pakistan would be ready to respond to India if the Modi government takes the first step, meaning the onus is on India. There is no guarantee the Pakistan Army will cooperate with India even if PM Modi attends Imran's impending swearing-in ceremony.

History suggests whenever an Indian prime minister has tried to connect with Pakistan, the all-powerful Pakistan Army including the ISI has thwarted peace efforts. India should now put the onus on Imran to convince the Pakistan Army and ISI to ensure peace moves are not undone midway as it will again lead to bad blood(as if there is not enough of it already).

It is, of course, no secret how Vajpayee's bus trip to Lahore in early 1999 resulted in the Kargil war just months later with Nawaz Sharif unable to cage the rampant Pakistan Army under Musharaff, even President Clinton at the time failed to rein in the Pakistan Army.

PM Modi would do well to stay clear, moreover in an election year to be seen as "soft" towards Pakistan could have its own consequences.

The Imran brand right now symbolises peace and hope, if India and Pakistan engage again and fail, the newly crowned King of Pakistan will find it very difficult bring India back on the negotiating table.

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A neutral territory would ensure the hullabaloo of the meeting being reduced to a "media event" is avoided and discussions take place in a much easier "political climate".

"PM Modi attends Imran's swearing-in at Islamabad, Indo-Pak relations on a high" - it could have been a headline-grabbing event of the 21st century: However, the excitement died after Pakistani media reported that no foreign dignitaries will be invited to the event on August 11. The antics of reality TV notwithstanding, the fact is there are far too many things which have gone wrong in the past two years, especially in J&K, and it is worth remembering several Indian troops have returned home draped in the Indian flag. A Pakistani PM attending the swearing-in ceremony of an Indian Prime Minister was once unimaginable. It happened on May 25, 2014 when the then prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif visited PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi. This was four years ago, before the surgical strikes, Pathankot attack and violence and stone-pelting in Kashmir. PM Modi (the statesman) could have been tempted to visit Pakistan - for the second time but India would have felt let down because the Pakistan Army has constantly tied India down. PM Modi who has met Trump several times in the past two years should perhaps take a leaf out of his "diplomatic playbook" and agree to meet Imran in "neutral territory only" like Trump's meeting with Putin and Kim Jong-un. A neutral territory would ensure the hullabaloo of the meeting being reduced to a "media event" is avoided and discussions take place in a much easier "political climate". India should also raise the stakes on Imran Khan and put a premium on India-Pak relations going forward with "no strings attached". Imran in his speech just after the elections had said Pakistan would be ready to respond to India if the Modi government takes the first step, meaning the onus is on India. There is no guarantee the Pakistan Army will cooperate with India even if PM Modi attends Imran's impending swearing-in ceremony. History suggests whenever an Indian prime minister has tried to connect with Pakistan, the all-powerful Pakistan Army including the ISI has thwarted peace efforts. India should now put the onus on Imran to convince the Pakistan Army and ISI to ensure peace moves are not undone midway as it will again lead to bad blood(as if there is not enough of it already). It is, of course, no secret how Vajpayee's bus trip to Lahore in early 1999 resulted in the Kargil war just months later with Nawaz Sharif unable to cage the rampant Pakistan Army under Musharaff, even President Clinton at the time failed to rein in the Pakistan Army. PM Modi would do well to stay clear, moreover in an election year to be seen as "soft" towards Pakistan could have its own consequences. The Imran brand right now symbolises peace and hope, if India and Pakistan engage again and fail, the newly crowned King of Pakistan will find it very difficult bring India back on the negotiating table. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Remember Vajpayee's bus trip to Lahore

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday referred to the former Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan as a Greek god and a pure soul and hoped relations between India and Pakistan would improve&nbsp;with Khan becoming his country's prime minister.

Sidhu said he would&nbsp;attend the swearing-in.

"If I am allowed, then I will definitely go. It is a huge honour," the Punjab minister said, alluding to a clearance by the Centre.

"My personal opinion is that sportsmen break barriers. They unite people. I see a sportsman in great Imran khan and I see someone who will always do good to mankind. I have great hopes that relations will improve," Sidhu told PTI.

''I believe this could be a new era, this could be a new dawn and this could usher in an era of hope," Sidhu told reporters.

Sidhu figures in the list of Indian celebrities who have reportedly been invited for Khan's swearing-in ceremony. These include actor Aamir Khan and former cricketers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar.

Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has emerged as the single largest party in Pakistan's National Assembly after the July 25 general election, but lacks the numbers to form the government on its own.

Khan had reportedly said he would take oath as Pakistan's prime minister on August 11.

Asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi should attend Khan's oath-taking ceremony if an invitation extended to him, Sidhu said he was nobody to comment.

He is the prime minister of India and he is mature enough. I will mind my own business. It will be his prerogative. I am nobody. I respect him as prime minister of India," said Sidhu.

Sidhu recalled how he first met Khan at Faridabad in 1983 during a cricket match, and they developed a mutual respect.

"I saw him as a pure soul. I saw him as a selfless man who always worked for the team," said Sidhu.

Sidhu referred to former Pakistan cricketer as a Greek god and a pure soul.

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday referred to the former Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan as a Greek god and a pure soul and hoped relations between India and Pakistan would improve with Khan becoming his country's prime minister. Sidhu said he would attend the swearing-in. "If I am allowed, then I will definitely go. It is a huge honour," the Punjab minister said, alluding to a clearance by the Centre. "My personal opinion is that sportsmen break barriers. They unite people. I see a sportsman in great Imran khan and I see someone who will always do good to mankind. I have great hopes that relations will improve," Sidhu told PTI. ''I believe this could be a new era, this could be a new dawn and this could usher in an era of hope," Sidhu told reporters. Sidhu figures in the list of Indian celebrities who have reportedly been invited for Khan's swearing-in ceremony. These include actor Aamir Khan and former cricketers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar. Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has emerged as the single largest party in Pakistan's National Assembly after the July 25 general election, but lacks the numbers to form the government on its own. Khan had reportedly said he would take oath as Pakistan's prime minister on August 11. Asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi should attend Khan's oath-taking ceremony if an invitation extended to him, Sidhu said he was nobody to comment. He is the prime minister of India and he is mature enough. I will mind my own business. It will be his prerogative. I am nobody. I respect him as prime minister of India," said Sidhu. Sidhu recalled how he first met Khan at Faridabad in 1983 during a cricket match, and they developed a mutual respect. "I saw him as a pure soul. I saw him as a selfless man who always worked for the team," said Sidhu.

India-Pakistan relation will improve with Imran Khan as PM: Navjot Singh Sidhu

Trinamool Congress delegation has been stopped at Silchar airport and not allowed to visit Assam on National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Trinamool Congress MP and MLA delegation detained at Silchar airport <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NRCAssam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NRCAssam</a> <a href="https://t.co/G8l2l3OEFp">pic.twitter.com/G8l2l3OEFp</a>
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Six Trinamool Congress MPs and two MLAs have reportedly been detained at Silchar Airport.&nbsp;

''Our delegation was detained at Silchar airport. It is our democratic right to meet people, this is a super emergency like situation,'' Derek O' Brien, TMC MP told ANI.

The draft list, which was released on Monday, has left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam, incorporating names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants. The list was released in line with the directions of the Supreme Court to identify permanent residents and illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

Soon after the final draft was released, the Congress and TMC alleged irregularities in the report, with Assam Congress MP Ripun Bora terming it as a politically motivated move. The Opposition leaders also created a ruckus in the Parliament, leading to the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also alleged that the NRC exercise in Assam was done with a "political motive" to divide people and warned that it would lead to bloodbath and a civil war in the country.

She said the saffron party was trying to divide the country and asserted this will not be tolerated.

''Our delegation was detained at Silchar airport. It is our democratic right to meet people, this is a super emergency like situation,'' Derek O Brien, TMC MP told ANI.

Trinamool Congress delegation has been stopped at Silchar airport and not allowed to visit Assam on National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue. #WATCH Trinamool Congress MP and MLA delegation detained at Silchar airport #NRCAssam pic.twitter.com/G8l2l3OEFp — ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2018 × Six Trinamool Congress MPs and two MLAs have reportedly been detained at Silchar Airport. ''Our delegation was detained at Silchar airport. It is our democratic right to meet people, this is a super emergency like situation,'' Derek O' Brien, TMC MP told ANI. The draft list, which was released on Monday, has left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam, incorporating names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants. The list was released in line with the directions of the Supreme Court to identify permanent residents and illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Soon after the final draft was released, the Congress and TMC alleged irregularities in the report, with Assam Congress MP Ripun Bora terming it as a politically motivated move. The Opposition leaders also created a ruckus in the Parliament, leading to the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also alleged that the NRC exercise in Assam was done with a "political motive" to divide people and warned that it would lead to bloodbath and a civil war in the country. She said the saffron party was trying to divide the country and asserted this will not be tolerated.

6 Trinamool MPs stopped at Silchar airport, not allowed to visit Assam on NRC issue

The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended the interim protection granted to the in-laws of the air hostess who committed suicide recently till September 17.

The court further said the next hearing in the case would take place on the same day.

On July 13, the Delhi-based air hostess, Anissia Batra, jumped off the terrace of her house after a heated argument with her husband, Mayank Singhvi.

Before her death, the air hostess had allegedly sent a message to her friend on WhatsApp, stating that she was locked up in a room by Singhvi. She had also asked her friend to inform the police of the same.

On July 16, the Delhi Police arrested Singhvi and subsequently sent him to a 14-day judicial custody in the case.

A week later, the court granted interim protection from arrest to Batra's in-laws and also sought a status report from the Delhi Police.

On a related note, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch is probing the case.&nbsp

The court further said the next hearing in the case would take place on the same day

The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended the interim protection granted to the in-laws of the air hostess who committed suicide recently till September 17. The court further said the next hearing in the case would take place on the same day. On July 13, the Delhi-based air hostess, Anissia Batra, jumped off the terrace of her house after a heated argument with her husband, Mayank Singhvi. Before her death, the air hostess had allegedly sent a message to her friend on WhatsApp, stating that she was locked up in a room by Singhvi. She had also asked her friend to inform the police of the same. On July 16, the Delhi Police arrested Singhvi and subsequently sent him to a 14-day judicial custody in the case. A week later, the court granted interim protection from arrest to Batra's in-laws and also sought a status report from the Delhi Police. On a related note, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch is probing the case.

Air-hostess death: Interim protection for in-laws extended

Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister in waiting Imran Khan's invitation for the swearing-in, cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu confirmed on Thursday that he has accepted the invitation.

Sidhu said that the invitation received was not political but personal.

Referring to the estranged relations between India and Pakistan Sidhu said he respected the foreign policy of the government and the country but " this was a personal invitation".

He also expressed hopes for the political tenure of Imran Khan and said that Imran had risen from scratch in politics and exhibited a great character.

He said, "He has risen from scratch in politics, he has exhibited great character. I see him as a ray of hope".

"Its a huge honour for me. Its a personal invitation( for Imran Khan's swearing-in) from him and not a political one", he added.

"I respect the foreign policy of the Govt and the country, but this is a personal invitation(Imran Khan's swearing in). I believe sportspersons and artists break barriers", Sidhu added.

Sidhu was among other personalities who had reportedly been invited by Khan to attend his oath-taking ceremony.

Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has emerged as the single-largest party in the National Assembly after last week's general election in the neighbouring country.

Khan had said he would take oath as Pakistan's prime minister on August 11.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

Referring to the estranged relations between India and Pakistan Siddhu said he respected the foreign policy of the government and the country but 'this was a personal invitation'

Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister in waiting Imran Khan's invitation for the swearing-in, cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu confirmed on Thursday that he has accepted the invitation. Sidhu said that the invitation received was not political but personal. Referring to the estranged relations between India and Pakistan Sidhu said he respected the foreign policy of the government and the country but " this was a personal invitation". He also expressed hopes for the political tenure of Imran Khan and said that Imran had risen from scratch in politics and exhibited a great character. He said, "He has risen from scratch in politics, he has exhibited great character. I see him as a ray of hope". "Its a huge honour for me. Its a personal invitation( for Imran Khan's swearing-in) from him and not a political one", he added. "I respect the foreign policy of the Govt and the country, but this is a personal invitation(Imran Khan's swearing in). I believe sportspersons and artists break barriers", Sidhu added. Sidhu was among other personalities who had reportedly been invited by Khan to attend his oath-taking ceremony. Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has emerged as the single-largest party in the National Assembly after last week's general election in the neighbouring country. Khan had said he would take oath as Pakistan's prime minister on August 11. (With inputs from Agencies)

Sidhu will attend Imran Khan's swearing-in, says it's an honor for him

There has been a massive surge in customer grievances lately relating to unauthorised transactions resulting in debits to their accounts or cards.

Several bank customers have reported that cash amount from their account were withdrawn, speculating that it could be a malicious attempt were fraudsters stole the ATM pins and other data by fitting skimming devices and preparing clones of the ATM cards (though not verified independently).

A Delhi-based couple became a victim of fraudulent cash transaction message recently. Five back to back cash transactions, and money worth Rs 50,000 was gone in a jiffy. In a similar fashion, fraudsters syphoned off Rs 90,000 from the account of a domestic help in the NCR region. The fraud seems to be happening on random customers' account. Such instances are being massively reported these days and the date of fraudulent transaction seems to be the first day of the month, usually the payday.

What to do in case of a fraud?

In case of the fraudulent transaction, the customer must immediately notify the bank of such a transaction within three working days.

RBI says that if the complaint is made within 3 working days, the customer has Zero liability. But if the complaint is registered within Within 4 to 7 working days, the customer has certain transaction value liability. If the complaint is made beyond 7 working days, the liability will be as per the bank’s Board approved the policy.

Maximum liability of a customer for reporting fraud between 4-7 days

<img alt="Fraud.PNG" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="317" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Fraud.PNG" width="531" />

With the increased thrust on financial inclusion and customer protection, the RBI has put in place a mechanism to address customer grievances arising out of physical transactions.

<ul>
	<li>The RBI circular says that banks must ask their customers to mandatorily register for SMS alerts and wherever available register for e-mail alerts, for electronic banking transactions.</li>
	<li>The SMS alerts shall mandatorily be sent to the customers, while email alerts may be sent, wherever registered.</li>
	<li>The customers must be advised to notify their bank of any unauthorised electronic banking transaction at the earliest after the occurrence of such transaction and informed that the longer the time taken to notify the bank, the higher will be the risk of loss to the bank/ customer.</li>
	<li>To facilitate this, banks must provide customers with 24x7 access through multiple channels (at a minimum, via website, phone banking, SMS, e-mail, IVR, a dedicated toll-free helpline, reporting to home branch, etc.) for reporting unauthorised transactions that have taken place and/ or loss or theft of payment instrument such as card, etc.</li>
	<li>Banks shall also enable customers to instantly respond by "Reply" to the SMS and e-mail alerts and the customers should not be required to search for a web page or an e-mail address to notify the objection if any.</li>
	<li>Further, a direct link for lodging the complaints, with specific option to report unauthorised electronic transactions shall be provided by banks on the home page of their website.</li>
	<li>The loss/ fraud reporting system shall also ensure that immediate response (including auto response) is sent to the customers acknowledging the complaint along with the registered complaint number.</li>
	<li>The communication systems used by banks to send alerts and receive their responses thereto must record the time and date of delivery of the message and receipt of customer’s response, if any, to them. This shall be important in determining the extent of a customer’s liability.</li>
	<li>The banks may not offer the facility of electronic transactions, other than ATM cash withdrawals, to customers who do not provide mobile numbers to the bank.</li>
	<li>On receipt of the report of an unauthorised transaction from the customer, banks must take immediate steps to prevent further unauthorised transactions in the account. 
	&nbsp</li>
</ul>

In case of a fraudulent transaction, the customer must immediately notify the bank of such a transaction within three working days.

There has been a massive surge in customer grievances lately relating to unauthorised transactions resulting in debits to their accounts or cards. Several bank customers have reported that cash amount from their account were withdrawn, speculating that it could be a malicious attempt were fraudsters stole the ATM pins and other data by fitting skimming devices and preparing clones of the ATM cards (though not verified independently). A Delhi-based couple became a victim of fraudulent cash transaction message recently. Five back to back cash transactions, and money worth Rs 50,000 was gone in a jiffy. In a similar fashion, fraudsters syphoned off Rs 90,000 from the account of a domestic help in the NCR region. The fraud seems to be happening on random customers' account. Such instances are being massively reported these days and the date of fraudulent transaction seems to be the first day of the month, usually the payday. What to do in case of a fraud? In case of the fraudulent transaction, the customer must immediately notify the bank of such a transaction within three working days. RBI says that if the complaint is made within 3 working days, the customer has Zero liability. But if the complaint is registered within Within 4 to 7 working days, the customer has certain transaction value liability. If the complaint is made beyond 7 working days, the liability will be as per the bank’s Board approved the policy. Maximum liability of a customer for reporting fraud between 4-7 days With the increased thrust on financial inclusion and customer protection, the RBI has put in place a mechanism to address customer grievances arising out of physical transactions. The RBI circular says that banks must ask their customers to mandatorily register for SMS alerts and wherever available register for e-mail alerts, for electronic banking transactions. The SMS alerts shall mandatorily be sent to the customers, while email alerts may be sent, wherever registered. The customers must be advised to notify their bank of any unauthorised electronic banking transaction at the earliest after the occurrence of such transaction and informed that the longer the time taken to notify the bank, the higher will be the risk of loss to the bank/ customer. To facilitate this, banks must provide customers with 24x7 access through multiple channels (at a minimum, via website, phone banking, SMS, e-mail, IVR, a dedicated toll-free helpline, reporting to home branch, etc.) for reporting unauthorised transactions that have taken place and/ or loss or theft of payment instrument such as card, etc. Banks shall also enable customers to instantly respond by "Reply" to the SMS and e-mail alerts and the customers should not be required to search for a web page or an e-mail address to notify the objection if any. Further, a direct link for lodging the complaints, with specific option to report unauthorised electronic transactions shall be provided by banks on the home page of their website. The loss/ fraud reporting system shall also ensure that immediate response (including auto response) is sent to the customers acknowledging the complaint along with the registered complaint number. The communication systems used by banks to send alerts and receive their responses thereto must record the time and date of delivery of the message and receipt of customer’s response, if any, to them. This shall be important in determining the extent of a customer’s liability. The banks may not offer the facility of electronic transactions, other than ATM cash withdrawals, to customers who do not provide mobile numbers to the bank. On receipt of the report of an unauthorised transaction from the customer, banks must take immediate steps to prevent further unauthorised transactions in the account.

Bank account debited for a transaction you haven't made? Know what to do

The Rajya Sabha today took up 12 of the 15 starred questions listed for the day during the Question Hour, with members earning praise from Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

This is a second time since the Winter Session sitting on&nbsp;January 2&nbsp;this year that 80 per cent or more questions listed for the day were taken up by the Upper House and oral answers were given by ministers during Question Hour.

During the last Winter Session of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha took up all the 15 listed starred questions for oral replies on January 2, 2018.&nbsp;

The total number of starred questions for oral answers listed for a day is 15. A member who asks the starred question is allowed to ask two supplementary and three more members are allowed to ask one supplementary each.&nbsp;

In the past, five to six questions could be covered each day and their answers given orally by ministers. For the remainder of the questions, written replies are laid on the table.&nbsp;

The highlight of the day's proceedings in the Rajya Sabha was the Question Hour which went smoothly, even though there were disruptions during Zero Hour preceding it.&nbsp;

The House was adjourned for the day after uproar created by TMC members when it met post lunch and the issue of NRC was taken up.

Naidu expressed happiness over the House transacting 12 questions during the Question Hour and complimented the members for the same.&nbsp;

This is a second time since the Winter Session sitting on January 2 this year that 80 per cent or more questions listed for the day were taken up by the Upper House and oral answers were given by ministers during Question Hour.

The Rajya Sabha today took up 12 of the 15 starred questions listed for the day during the Question Hour, with members earning praise from Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. This is a second time since the Winter Session sitting on January 2 this year that 80 per cent or more questions listed for the day were taken up by the Upper House and oral answers were given by ministers during Question Hour. During the last Winter Session of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha took up all the 15 listed starred questions for oral replies on January 2, 2018. The total number of starred questions for oral answers listed for a day is 15. A member who asks the starred question is allowed to ask two supplementary and three more members are allowed to ask one supplementary each. In the past, five to six questions could be covered each day and their answers given orally by ministers. For the remainder of the questions, written replies are laid on the table. The highlight of the day's proceedings in the Rajya Sabha was the Question Hour which went smoothly, even though there were disruptions during Zero Hour preceding it. The House was adjourned for the day after uproar created by TMC members when it met post lunch and the issue of NRC was taken up. Naidu expressed happiness over the House transacting 12 questions during the Question Hour and complimented the members for the same.

Rajya Sabha takes up 80% of starred questions listed for the day, Naidu lauds members

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today said she was not vying to be the prime minister and that the first priority was to defeat the BJP which is "scared and nervous" to face the 2019 polls because of opposition unity.

Banerjee, who has been at the forefront of efforts to rally opposition parties for an anti-BJP front, spent the second day of her Delhi visit meeting leaders of various parties including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

Besides leaders of the Congress, TDP, YSR(Congress), DMK, RJD, SP and JD(S), she also met BJP veteran L K Advani, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and dissident BJP leaders.&nbsp;

"The opposition is united... In 2019 BJP will be finished," Banerjee, who invited the leaders of the opposition parties as well as Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to her January 19 rally in Kolkata, told reporters.

The rally is seen as not just a show of opposition unity but also an attempt to catapult Banerjee to the centre stage.&nbsp;

"We are all for all. We will take a decision on collective leadership. If all opposition political parties can join hands and work together in Parliament, then why not fight unitedly outside," the TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister told reporters after her nearly half-an-hour long meeting with the Gandhis at 10, Janpath, the residence of Sonia Gandhi.

On the Congress' indication of its willingness to accept her candidature as opposition's PM face, she said, "I am not for any chair, our aim is to defeat the BJP."&nbsp;

Almost all the opposition parties are holding preliminary talks to put a united fight against the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Banerjee said she met both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and discussed the NRC issue as 40 lakh people have not been included in it and genuine voters had been kept out.&nbsp;

"We discussed the political situation. We discussed how the opposition can together take on the BJP because it knows that it will not come back to power," she said.

Asked about the prime ministerial candidate of the proposed anti-BJP front, she said, "it will be decided later. The first priority is to defeat the BJP. The BJP has to be defeated first."

To a query on Amit Shah's criticism of her on the NRC issue, she said, "I am not his servant. Why should I reply to his comments."

"Gali ka jawaab hum gaali se nahin denge. Yeh hamari parampara hai. (We will not reply to an abuse with an abuse, that is our tradition)," she said.

"The BJP is scared and nervous politically due to the unity of opposition parties. The BJP knows what will happen to them in 2019 as they will not come back to power. That is why they are trying to create such an atmosphere and doing all this," she said.

On her meeting with leaders of various political parties, she said, "We know every political leader. I am happy to meet all of them."

Attacking the Centre on Assam's National Register of Citizens final draft, she said, "People whose names have been kept out are from Bihar, UP, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, West Bengal. We want them to live peacefully. Some of them are living for 100 ears for five generations in Assam. How can you do this to them?"&nbsp;

Banerjee yesterday warned of a civil war and bloodbath in the country in case 40 lakh people of Assam are left out of the NRC.

"I do not know what the BJP wants -- a civil water or a bloodbath. But we do not want it," she said today.

On a tie-up with the Congress in West Bengal, she said every party will take their own decision.&nbsp;

"I cannot interfere in the Congress' decisions. We believe that the strongest in a state should take on the BJP," she said.&nbsp;

The TMC office in Parliament was abuzz with meetings after Banerjee arrived there today.

The TMC chief met Congress leaders Gulam Nabi Azad, and Ahmed Patel, Samajwadi Party leaders Ram Gopal Yadav and Jaya Bachchan, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva, YSR Congress leader Vijaysai Reddy, RJD leaders Misa Bharti, Jayprakash Narayan Yadav among others.

Banerjee met JD(S) leader Deve Gowda at Karnataka Bhavan and invited him to the rally.

She also met Advani at his chamber in Parliament House ."I went to meet him and enquired about his health," she told reporters.

Suspended BJP member of Parliament Kirti Azad hailed her as a great leader and said that her efforts to consolidate all opposition parties are "commendable".

The TMC chief later went to the Central Hall of the Parliament to meet other opposition leaders and invited them to the rally.

Banerjee also appealed to all the opposition parties to send a joint delegation to the Election Commission against EVM tampering and to press for holding polls on ballots. "All opposition parties should go to EC on this matter," Banerjee told the leaders.

Interestingly, Banerjee extended an invitation for the rally to the Shiv Sena chief through Raut who said the party would take a decision on it. Though a constituent of the NDA, the Sena has been openly critical of the Modi government.

She also appealed to the leaders to send an all-opposition-party delegation to Assam stating that though TMC delegation would be visiting the state on Thursday, other parties should also exert pressure on the government.&nbsp;

Banerjee, who has been at the forefront of efforts to rally opposition parties for an anti-BJP front, spent the second day of her Delhi visit meeting leaders of various parties including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today said she was not vying to be the prime minister and that the first priority was to defeat the BJP which is "scared and nervous" to face the 2019 polls because of opposition unity. Banerjee, who has been at the forefront of efforts to rally opposition parties for an anti-BJP front, spent the second day of her Delhi visit meeting leaders of various parties including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Besides leaders of the Congress, TDP, YSR(Congress), DMK, RJD, SP and JD(S), she also met BJP veteran L K Advani, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and dissident BJP leaders. "The opposition is united... In 2019 BJP will be finished," Banerjee, who invited the leaders of the opposition parties as well as Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to her January 19 rally in Kolkata, told reporters. The rally is seen as not just a show of opposition unity but also an attempt to catapult Banerjee to the centre stage. "We are all for all. We will take a decision on collective leadership. If all opposition political parties can join hands and work together in Parliament, then why not fight unitedly outside," the TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister told reporters after her nearly half-an-hour long meeting with the Gandhis at 10, Janpath, the residence of Sonia Gandhi. On the Congress' indication of its willingness to accept her candidature as opposition's PM face, she said, "I am not for any chair, our aim is to defeat the BJP." Almost all the opposition parties are holding preliminary talks to put a united fight against the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls next year. Banerjee said she met both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and discussed the NRC issue as 40 lakh people have not been included in it and genuine voters had been kept out. "We discussed the political situation. We discussed how the opposition can together take on the BJP because it knows that it will not come back to power," she said. Asked about the prime ministerial candidate of the proposed anti-BJP front, she said, "it will be decided later. The first priority is to defeat the BJP. The BJP has to be defeated first." To a query on Amit Shah's criticism of her on the NRC issue, she said, "I am not his servant. Why should I reply to his comments." "Gali ka jawaab hum gaali se nahin denge. Yeh hamari parampara hai. (We will not reply to an abuse with an abuse, that is our tradition)," she said. "The BJP is scared and nervous politically due to the unity of opposition parties. The BJP knows what will happen to them in 2019 as they will not come back to power. That is why they are trying to create such an atmosphere and doing all this," she said. On her meeting with leaders of various political parties, she said, "We know every political leader. I am happy to meet all of them." Attacking the Centre on Assam's National Register of Citizens final draft, she said, "People whose names have been kept out are from Bihar, UP, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, West Bengal. We want them to live peacefully. Some of them are living for 100 ears for five generations in Assam. How can you do this to them?" Banerjee yesterday warned of a civil war and bloodbath in the country in case 40 lakh people of Assam are left out of the NRC. "I do not know what the BJP wants -- a civil water or a bloodbath. But we do not want it," she said today. On a tie-up with the Congress in West Bengal, she said every party will take their own decision. "I cannot interfere in the Congress' decisions. We believe that the strongest in a state should take on the BJP," she said. The TMC office in Parliament was abuzz with meetings after Banerjee arrived there today. The TMC chief met Congress leaders Gulam Nabi Azad, and Ahmed Patel, Samajwadi Party leaders Ram Gopal Yadav and Jaya Bachchan, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva, YSR Congress leader Vijaysai Reddy, RJD leaders Misa Bharti, Jayprakash Narayan Yadav among others. Banerjee met JD(S) leader Deve Gowda at Karnataka Bhavan and invited him to the rally. She also met Advani at his chamber in Parliament House ."I went to meet him and enquired about his health," she told reporters. Suspended BJP member of Parliament Kirti Azad hailed her as a great leader and said that her efforts to consolidate all opposition parties are "commendable". The TMC chief later went to the Central Hall of the Parliament to meet other opposition leaders and invited them to the rally. Banerjee also appealed to all the opposition parties to send a joint delegation to the Election Commission against EVM tampering and to press for holding polls on ballots. "All opposition parties should go to EC on this matter," Banerjee told the leaders. Interestingly, Banerjee extended an invitation for the rally to the Shiv Sena chief through Raut who said the party would take a decision on it. Though a constituent of the NDA, the Sena has been openly critical of the Modi government. She also appealed to the leaders to send an all-opposition-party delegation to Assam stating that though TMC delegation would be visiting the state on Thursday, other parties should also exert pressure on the government.

Not vying for PM post, BJP nervous because of Opposition unity: Mamata Banerjee

The Congress in Tripura has alleged that the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Assam were involved in a "pre-planned conspiracy" to exclude 40 lakh people from the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The ruling BJP in Tripura, however, refuted the charges as "baseless", saying the process of updating the NRC started on the direction of the Supreme Court.

"Genuine citizens with valid documents have been excluded only to drive them out of Assam. It's a pre-planned conspiracy of the Centre and Assam government. Those whose names do not figure in the draft NRC are mostly Bengali Muslims, Bengali Hindus and Manipuris," Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee chief Birajit Sinha said.

Many residents of Tripura have matrimonial links with the people of Assam. They are also in trouble, the Congress leader told reporters in Tripura.

Nearly one lakh people have migrated to Assam from Tripura in search of livelihood. Despite having valid documents, they were left out, he claimed.

Unlike the BJP-led NDA, the Congress wanted to find an amicable solution to the exclusion of people from the NRC list, he added.

Reacting to it, BJP vice-president Pratima Bhowmik said, "It is a baseless charge because the BJP government in Assam had nothing to do with the exclusion of names in the NRC. The entire process of updating the NRC started on the directive of the Supreme Court."

It is only a draft and it would be finalised in December, Bhowmik told PTI.

She said the Assam Accord was signed by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 14, 1985, and later there was a student movement for driving out people with no valid papers.

In 2005, when the Congress was in power in Assam, it also asserted that illegal migrants should be driven out, the BJP leader alleged.

She said the CPI-M and Congress are now on the same page on the issue and TPCC president Birajit Sinha brought such 'fictitious' charges without knowing facts.

The people of Tripura has nothing to worry about the NRC as there is no proposal to revise the citizens' list in the state, Bhowmik said.&nbsp;

The ruling BJP in Tripura, however, refuted the charges as 'baseless', saying the process of updating the NRC started on the direction of the Supreme Court

The Congress in Tripura has alleged that the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Assam were involved in a "pre-planned conspiracy" to exclude 40 lakh people from the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC). The ruling BJP in Tripura, however, refuted the charges as "baseless", saying the process of updating the NRC started on the direction of the Supreme Court. "Genuine citizens with valid documents have been excluded only to drive them out of Assam. It's a pre-planned conspiracy of the Centre and Assam government. Those whose names do not figure in the draft NRC are mostly Bengali Muslims, Bengali Hindus and Manipuris," Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee chief Birajit Sinha said. Many residents of Tripura have matrimonial links with the people of Assam. They are also in trouble, the Congress leader told reporters in Tripura. Nearly one lakh people have migrated to Assam from Tripura in search of livelihood. Despite having valid documents, they were left out, he claimed. Unlike the BJP-led NDA, the Congress wanted to find an amicable solution to the exclusion of people from the NRC list, he added. Reacting to it, BJP vice-president Pratima Bhowmik said, "It is a baseless charge because the BJP government in Assam had nothing to do with the exclusion of names in the NRC. The entire process of updating the NRC started on the directive of the Supreme Court." It is only a draft and it would be finalised in December, Bhowmik told PTI. She said the Assam Accord was signed by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 14, 1985, and later there was a student movement for driving out people with no valid papers. In 2005, when the Congress was in power in Assam, it also asserted that illegal migrants should be driven out, the BJP leader alleged. She said the CPI-M and Congress are now on the same page on the issue and TPCC president Birajit Sinha brought such 'fictitious' charges without knowing facts. The people of Tripura has nothing to worry about the NRC as there is no proposal to revise the citizens' list in the state, Bhowmik said.

Tripura Congress alleges NRC exclusions 'conspiracy' of Centre, Assam government; BJP denies the charge

Former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief H D Deve Gowda said today that his party would support West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's stand against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in Assam.

In a meeting with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief here, Gowda said Banerjee discussed the prevailing situation in the country and emphasised the need to bring together all non-BJP parties.

"Absolutely, I will stand by Mamata Banerjee on the issue of NRC," Gowda told reporters after the meeting. This is Banerjee's first meeting with Gowda after the TMC chief shared a stage with him during the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as Karnataka Chief Minister.

Speaking to reporters, Banerjee, who is in the national capital to meet leaders of various parties, said, "Politics was also discussed in the meeting."&nbsp;

The TMC supremo has strongly opposed the central government's NRC project in Assam, in which around 40-lakh names of applicants did not figure in the final draft published on Monday.&nbsp;

The TMC, along with other Opposition parties like Congress, have been vociferously protesting on this issue in the ongoing session of the Parliament. The West Bengal government has also passed a motion against the final draft of the NRC.&nbsp;

Gowda said Banerjee discussed the prevailing situation in the country and emphasised the need to bring together all non-BJP parties.

Former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief H D Deve Gowda said today that his party would support West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's stand against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in Assam. In a meeting with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief here, Gowda said Banerjee discussed the prevailing situation in the country and emphasised the need to bring together all non-BJP parties. "Absolutely, I will stand by Mamata Banerjee on the issue of NRC," Gowda told reporters after the meeting. This is Banerjee's first meeting with Gowda after the TMC chief shared a stage with him during the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as Karnataka Chief Minister. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee, who is in the national capital to meet leaders of various parties, said, "Politics was also discussed in the meeting." The TMC supremo has strongly opposed the central government's NRC project in Assam, in which around 40-lakh names of applicants did not figure in the final draft published on Monday. The TMC, along with other Opposition parties like Congress, have been vociferously protesting on this issue in the ongoing session of the Parliament. The West Bengal government has also passed a motion against the final draft of the NRC.

Support Mamata Banerjee on NRC: Deve Gowda

&nbsp;A Mumbai BJP MLA today demanded that the Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in the city be identified and deported on the pattern of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise carried out in Assam.

The Colaba MLA Raj Purohit has written a letter to the district collector (city) Shivaji Jondhale in this regard.

He stated that Bangladeshi nationals could settle in Mumbai illegally due to "blessings" of local politicians.

Purohit, the chief whip of the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, alleged the politicians have protected the Bangladeshi "infiltrators" by recommending their names for ration card, Aadhar card, voter ID and other documents.

He said the Bangladeshi nationals pose threat to Mumbai's law and order.

"Hence, you should, with the help of the Election Commission and police officials, chalk out a time-bound programme to identify and deport the Bangladeshi nationals to their home country from Colaba and Mumbai in line with the (draft) NRC," Purohit stated.

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is the list of Indian citizens of Assam.

The draft NRC, which was released on&nbsp;August 30, has triggered a political firestorm over the exclusion of over 40 lakh residents of the north-eastern state.

The Opposition Congress and TMC are accusing the BJP of making Indian citizens refugees in their own country while the saffron party has defended the document, saying the NDA governments in the Centre and Assam have the courage to weed out illegal Bangladeshis.

Purohit, the chief whip of the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, alleged the politicians have protected the Bangladeshi 'infiltrators' by recommending their names for ration card, Aadhar card, voter ID and other documents.

A Mumbai BJP MLA today demanded that the Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in the city be identified and deported on the pattern of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise carried out in Assam. The Colaba MLA Raj Purohit has written a letter to the district collector (city) Shivaji Jondhale in this regard. He stated that Bangladeshi nationals could settle in Mumbai illegally due to "blessings" of local politicians. Purohit, the chief whip of the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, alleged the politicians have protected the Bangladeshi "infiltrators" by recommending their names for ration card, Aadhar card, voter ID and other documents. He said the Bangladeshi nationals pose threat to Mumbai's law and order. "Hence, you should, with the help of the Election Commission and police officials, chalk out a time-bound programme to identify and deport the Bangladeshi nationals to their home country from Colaba and Mumbai in line with the (draft) NRC," Purohit stated. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is the list of Indian citizens of Assam. The draft NRC, which was released on August 30, has triggered a political firestorm over the exclusion of over 40 lakh residents of the north-eastern state. The Opposition Congress and TMC are accusing the BJP of making Indian citizens refugees in their own country while the saffron party has defended the document, saying the NDA governments in the Centre and Assam have the courage to weed out illegal Bangladeshis.

Deport illegal Bangladeshi settlers in Mumbai: BJP MLA

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