The Centre today told the Supreme Court that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was a &quot;demand-driven scheme&quot; and it has not curtailed the demand for funds by the states under it.

Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal told a bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur and N V Ramana that there were no instances where the Centre has either capped number of days of employment under the Act or not released funds to the states.

&quot;We have paid increased amount (to the states). The MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme and at no stage, the demand (of the states for funds) has been curtailed by the Union of India,&quot; he submitted.

Venugopal put forwards the arguments while countering the submissions of advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO-turned-political party Swaraj Abhiyan.

Bhushan claimed in the court that the Centre has no authority in law to reduce the &quot;person days&quot; from the projection made by the states under the Act and due of lack of funds, the states were unable to give employement to the people.

&quot;The Act provides for 100 days of employement (in a year). It is a statutory obligation,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;They are denying statutory rights to the people.&quot;

At the outset, the AG told the bench that according to the provision of the Act, a Central Employment Guarantee Council was there and the petitioner could make a representation before the body since a large number of issues were raised in the plea.

When the bench asked Bhushan about it, he said issues raised were &quot;purely legal&quot; and the apex court should deal with them.

&quot;If you (petitioner) are saying there are purely legal issues, we will hear them but no further affidavit should be filed. Or you give a representation before the council. They will give us a report and we will see,&quot; it said.

When the AG said that the petitioner should appear before the council, Bhushan claimed, &quot;That body is filled with politically affiliated persons.&quot;

Venugopal contended, &quot;The petitioner is now a political party and thus making a political attack.&quot;

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on February 13 and said that it would go into the legal issues only.

During the hearing, the bench asked the AG as to how funds were allotted to the states under the Act.

A senior government official, who was present in the court, explained to the bench about the process of fund- allocation to the states and said there was no paucity of funds under the Act.

The official also said that in the financial year 2017- 18, initially Rs 48,000 crore was allotted under the Act but when the states demanded more funds, the Ministry of Finance allotted an additional Rs 7,000 crore.

The AG said that in 2016-17 financial year, 20 states crossed the agreed budget and the Centre provided the funds to them.

The Centre had in December last year refuted the claims of the petitioner that there was a delay on the government&#39;s part in releasing funds under the Act.

The court, which is hearing the plea which has sought relief measures in drought-hit states in the country, had earlier said that state food commissions, as mandated under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, should be set up even in states not hit by drought.

The plea has alleged that parts of 12 states-- Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana and Chhattisgarh-- were hit by drought and authorities were not providing adequate relief.&nbsp;

'We have paid increased amount (to the states). The MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme and at no stage, the demand (of the states for funds) has been curtailed by the Union of India,' the Centre said Thursday

The Centre today told the Supreme Court that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was a "demand-driven scheme" and it has not curtailed the demand for funds by the states under it. Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal told a bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur and N V Ramana that there were no instances where the Centre has either capped number of days of employment under the Act or not released funds to the states. "We have paid increased amount (to the states). The MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme and at no stage, the demand (of the states for funds) has been curtailed by the Union of India," he submitted. Venugopal put forwards the arguments while countering the submissions of advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO-turned-political party Swaraj Abhiyan. Bhushan claimed in the court that the Centre has no authority in law to reduce the "person days" from the projection made by the states under the Act and due of lack of funds, the states were unable to give employement to the people. "The Act provides for 100 days of employement (in a year). It is a statutory obligation," he said, adding, "They are denying statutory rights to the people." At the outset, the AG told the bench that according to the provision of the Act, a Central Employment Guarantee Council was there and the petitioner could make a representation before the body since a large number of issues were raised in the plea. When the bench asked Bhushan about it, he said issues raised were "purely legal" and the apex court should deal with them. "If you (petitioner) are saying there are purely legal issues, we will hear them but no further affidavit should be filed. Or you give a representation before the council. They will give us a report and we will see," it said. When the AG said that the petitioner should appear before the council, Bhushan claimed, "That body is filled with politically affiliated persons." Venugopal contended, "The petitioner is now a political party and thus making a political attack." The bench posted the matter for further hearing on February 13 and said that it would go into the legal issues only. During the hearing, the bench asked the AG as to how funds were allotted to the states under the Act. A senior government official, who was present in the court, explained to the bench about the process of fund- allocation to the states and said there was no paucity of funds under the Act. The official also said that in the financial year 2017- 18, initially Rs 48,000 crore was allotted under the Act but when the states demanded more funds, the Ministry of Finance allotted an additional Rs 7,000 crore. The AG said that in 2016-17 financial year, 20 states crossed the agreed budget and the Centre provided the funds to them. The Centre had in December last year refuted the claims of the petitioner that there was a delay on the government's part in releasing funds under the Act. The court, which is hearing the plea which has sought relief measures in drought-hit states in the country, had earlier said that state food commissions, as mandated under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, should be set up even in states not hit by drought. The plea has alleged that parts of 12 states-- Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana and Chhattisgarh-- were hit by drought and authorities were not providing adequate relief.

Have not curtailed demand for NREGA funds by states: Govt to SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Centre for filing an 845-page affidavit containing incomplete information about solid waste management across the country and said the apex court is not a &quot;garbage collector&quot;.

The top court declined to take the affidavit on record and said the government cannot dump &quot;junk&quot; before it.

&quot;What are you trying to do? Are you trying to impress us? We are not impressed. You are trying to dump everything on us. We are not going to accept it,&quot; a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.

&quot;Don&#39;t do this. Whatever junk you have, you dump it before us. We are not garbage collectors. Be absolutely clear about this,&quot; the bench said.

The bench directed the Centre to file a chart within three weeks indicating whether the states and union territories have constituted state-level advisory boards in accordance with the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.

It also directed the government to state in its chart the date the advisory boards were constituted in the states and UTs, names of members of the boards and also details of any meetings conducted by them.

At the outset, the counsel appearing for the Centre said they would file an 845-page affidavit in the matter during the course of the day.

However, when the bench posed certain queries, the counsel was unable to answer them properly.

The counsel informed the court that they have received information from 22 states about constitution of state-level advisory boards and have compiled data received from the respective states.

&quot;There is no point in filing affidavits if they contain nothing. We are not taking this affidavit on record ... You have not seen it and you want us to see this affidavit,&quot; the bench observed.

The court had on December 12 last year asked the Centre to follow up on the matter of solid waste management with all states and UTs and furnish details before it.

The court had earlier expressed grave concern over the deaths due to vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya and said lack of waste management was the cause of several lives being lost across the country.

It referred to the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and said the duties of various ministries, like the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Urban Development, were specified in it.

In 2015, the apex court had on its own taken cognizance of death of a seven-year-old boy due to dengue. He had been allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals and his distraught parents subsequently committed suicide.

The court came down on the Centre for filing an 845-page affidavit containing incomplete information about solid waste management

The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Centre for filing an 845-page affidavit containing incomplete information about solid waste management across the country and said the apex court is not a "garbage collector". The top court declined to take the affidavit on record and said the government cannot dump "junk" before it. "What are you trying to do? Are you trying to impress us? We are not impressed. You are trying to dump everything on us. We are not going to accept it," a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. "Don't do this. Whatever junk you have, you dump it before us. We are not garbage collectors. Be absolutely clear about this," the bench said. The bench directed the Centre to file a chart within three weeks indicating whether the states and union territories have constituted state-level advisory boards in accordance with the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. It also directed the government to state in its chart the date the advisory boards were constituted in the states and UTs, names of members of the boards and also details of any meetings conducted by them. At the outset, the counsel appearing for the Centre said they would file an 845-page affidavit in the matter during the course of the day. However, when the bench posed certain queries, the counsel was unable to answer them properly. The counsel informed the court that they have received information from 22 states about constitution of state-level advisory boards and have compiled data received from the respective states. "There is no point in filing affidavits if they contain nothing. We are not taking this affidavit on record ... You have not seen it and you want us to see this affidavit," the bench observed. The court had on December 12 last year asked the Centre to follow up on the matter of solid waste management with all states and UTs and furnish details before it. The court had earlier expressed grave concern over the deaths due to vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya and said lack of waste management was the cause of several lives being lost across the country. It referred to the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and said the duties of various ministries, like the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Urban Development, were specified in it. In 2015, the apex court had on its own taken cognizance of death of a seven-year-old boy due to dengue. He had been allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals and his distraught parents subsequently committed suicide.

'We are not garbage collectors,' Supreme Court tells Centre

There will be no subsidy for Haj from this year, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today. 
 
Naqvi told reporters that despite the subsidy withdrawal, a record number of 1.75 lakh Muslims will undertake the pilgrimage this year from India. 
 
Naqvi also said that the Saudi Arabian government has in principle agreed to allow Haj journey from India by ships and officials of the two countries will sit together to finalise the modalities. 
 
&quot;This is part of our policy to empower minorities with dignity and without appeasement,&quot; Naqvi told reporters and cited a host of measures for the welfare of minorities. 
 
Earlier this year, Naqvi had said that the Centre would abolish the subsidy for Haj pilgrims in accordance with a Supreme Court order. 
 
&quot;A constitutional bench of the Supreme Court had, during the Congress regime in 2012, directed that the Haj subsidy be done away with. Hence, in the new policy, as per the recommendations of a committee, we have decided to do away with the Haj subsidy gradually,&quot; he had said.

A record number of 1.75 lakh Muslims will undertake the pilgrimage this year from India

There will be no subsidy for Haj from this year, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today. Naqvi told reporters that despite the subsidy withdrawal, a record number of 1.75 lakh Muslims will undertake the pilgrimage this year from India. Naqvi also said that the Saudi Arabian government has in principle agreed to allow Haj journey from India by ships and officials of the two countries will sit together to finalise the modalities. "This is part of our policy to empower minorities with dignity and without appeasement," Naqvi told reporters and cited a host of measures for the welfare of minorities. Earlier this year, Naqvi had said that the Centre would abolish the subsidy for Haj pilgrims in accordance with a Supreme Court order. "A constitutional bench of the Supreme Court had, during the Congress regime in 2012, directed that the Haj subsidy be done away with. Hence, in the new policy, as per the recommendations of a committee, we have decided to do away with the Haj subsidy gradually," he had said.

Centre ends Haj subsidy, Naqvi says decision part of plan to 'empower' minorities

The Centre on Thursday tabled a demand seeking additional grants of Rs.80,000 crore for bank recapitalisation.

The first tranche under the funding programme was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Finance P.P. Chaudhary.

It was sanctioned by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The supplementary grant is being sought to meet the expenditure towards recapitalisation of public sector banks (PSBs) through the issue of government securities.&nbsp;

Currently, the banks are reeling under non-performing assets (NPAs) which had increased from Rs 2.75 lakh in March 2015 to Rs 7.33 crore in June 2017.

Earlier in October, the Finance Minister Jaitley announced an unprecedented PSB recapitalisation program of Rs. 2.11 lakh crore, out of which Rs. 1.35 lakh crore will come from recap bonds, and rest from markets and budgetary support. 
&nbsp; 
Jaitley also stated that there is a need to increase public investment and bold steps will be taken by the government to recapitalise banks in the country.&nbsp;

The grant is being sought to meet the expenditure towards recapitalisation of banks through the issue of govt securities

The Centre on Thursday tabled a demand seeking additional grants of Rs.80,000 crore for bank recapitalisation. The first tranche under the funding programme was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Finance P.P. Chaudhary. It was sanctioned by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The supplementary grant is being sought to meet the expenditure towards recapitalisation of public sector banks (PSBs) through the issue of government securities. Currently, the banks are reeling under non-performing assets (NPAs) which had increased from Rs 2.75 lakh in March 2015 to Rs 7.33 crore in June 2017. Earlier in October, the Finance Minister Jaitley announced an unprecedented PSB recapitalisation program of Rs. 2.11 lakh crore, out of which Rs. 1.35 lakh crore will come from recap bonds, and rest from markets and budgetary support. Jaitley also stated that there is a need to increase public investment and bold steps will be taken by the government to recapitalise banks in the country.

Centre tables demand for Rs 80,000 cr grant for bank recapitalisation in Lok Sabha

The Home Ministry has released Rs. 167 crore to nine states with the international border for the development of infrastructure in forwarding areas, an official said today.

The states which will benefit include Rajasthan and Punjab, both having international border with Pakistan, and West Bengal and Assam, which share boundary with Bangladesh.

An amount of Rs. 167 crore was released recently by the Home Ministry to Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), the official said.

The fully centrally-funded BADP programme covers all villages which are located within 0-10 km of the International Border in 17 states.

However, priority is given to those villages which are identified by border guarding forces for the speedy development of infrastructure.

The schemes permissible under the BADP include activities relating to the cleanliness mission, skill development programmes, promotion of sports activities, promotion of rural tourism, border tourism and protection of heritage sites. 
&nbsp; 
Construction of helipads in remote and inaccessible hilly areas which do not have road connectivity, skill development training to farmers for the use of modern and scientific technique in farming, organic farming are other areas which come under the BADP.

While Rajasthan and Punjab share the border with Pakistan, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya share boundary with Bangladesh.

Bihar shares border with Nepal, Sikkim shares border with Nepal and Bhutan and Himachal Pradesh share the border with China.

Earlier, the Home Ministry had released Rs. 174 crore to six states having international border under the same programme.

The states include Rajasthan and Punjab, both of which share a border with Pakistan, and West Bengal and Assam, which share a border with Bangladesh

The Home Ministry has released Rs. 167 crore to nine states with the international border for the development of infrastructure in forwarding areas, an official said today. The states which will benefit include Rajasthan and Punjab, both having international border with Pakistan, and West Bengal and Assam, which share boundary with Bangladesh. An amount of Rs. 167 crore was released recently by the Home Ministry to Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), the official said. The fully centrally-funded BADP programme covers all villages which are located within 0-10 km of the International Border in 17 states. However, priority is given to those villages which are identified by border guarding forces for the speedy development of infrastructure. The schemes permissible under the BADP include activities relating to the cleanliness mission, skill development programmes, promotion of sports activities, promotion of rural tourism, border tourism and protection of heritage sites. Construction of helipads in remote and inaccessible hilly areas which do not have road connectivity, skill development training to farmers for the use of modern and scientific technique in farming, organic farming are other areas which come under the BADP. While Rajasthan and Punjab share the border with Pakistan, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya share boundary with Bangladesh. Bihar shares border with Nepal, Sikkim shares border with Nepal and Bhutan and Himachal Pradesh share the border with China. Earlier, the Home Ministry had released Rs. 174 crore to six states having international border under the same programme.

Centre releases Rs 167 crore to 9 states for border development

The Supreme Court told the Centre Thursday to ensure that the fast-track&nbsp;courts that will decide pending cases against MPs and MLAs start functioning from March 1, 2018.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-to-set-special-courts-for-speedy-trial-of-mps-mlas-pending-cases-26535" target="_blank">Will set up 12 special courts to decide criminal cases pending against MPs, MLAs, Centre tells SC</a>

The court directed the Centre to allocate Rs 7.8 crore proportionally to the states where the 12 special courts will be set up.

The court added that the courts will be set up by the state governments in consultation with high courts.&nbsp;

The court told the Centre it had two months&#39; time to collect and collate data of all cases pending against MPs and MLAs across the country.&nbsp;

The court added that the courts will be set up by the state governments in consultation with high courts

The Supreme Court told the Centre Thursday to ensure that the fast-track courts that will decide pending cases against MPs and MLAs start functioning from March 1, 2018. Also read: Will set up 12 special courts to decide criminal cases pending against MPs, MLAs, Centre tells SC The court directed the Centre to allocate Rs 7.8 crore proportionally to the states where the 12 special courts will be set up. The court added that the courts will be set up by the state governments in consultation with high courts. The court told the Centre it had two months' time to collect and collate data of all cases pending against MPs and MLAs across the country.

SC to Centre: Ensure courts deciding cases against MPs, MLAs start functioning from March 1

The government on Friday announced the dates for winter session of Parliament. The session will begin from December 15, a day after the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly polls, and will continue till January 5.

&quot;This will be a 14-day session. December 25 and 26 will be Christmas holidays,&quot; Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar said.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, had earlier this week deliberated upon the dates of the session.

The opposition had attacked the government for delaying the winter session, claiming that it was being done to avoid a debate on scams, including the Rafale deal, ahead of Gujarat Assembly polls.

The BJP, however, rejected the Congress&#39;s tirade as a &quot;chorus of baseless allegations&quot; and insisted that previous governments, including the UPA, had also scheduled sessions after state polls as politicians were busy campaigning.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had said the winter session, which generally starts from November&#39;s third week, would be convened in December.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, had earlier this week deliberated upon the dates of the session.

The government on Friday announced the dates for winter session of Parliament. The session will begin from December 15, a day after the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly polls, and will continue till January 5. "This will be a 14-day session. December 25 and 26 will be Christmas holidays," Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar said. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, had earlier this week deliberated upon the dates of the session. The opposition had attacked the government for delaying the winter session, claiming that it was being done to avoid a debate on scams, including the Rafale deal, ahead of Gujarat Assembly polls. The BJP, however, rejected the Congress's tirade as a "chorus of baseless allegations" and insisted that previous governments, including the UPA, had also scheduled sessions after state polls as politicians were busy campaigning. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had said the winter session, which generally starts from November's third week, would be convened in December.

Winter Session of Parliament to be held from December 15 to January 5

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/not-openly-extending-support-to-congress-in-gujarat-elections-hardik-patel-24806">On the eve of Gujarat polls</a>, Centre is set to reintroduce a Bill to grant Constitutional Status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in the winter session of Parliament to begin on December 15th.

The Bill, when enacted, will not only make the NCBC a Constitutional body, but will also empower the NCBC to hear complaints of OBCs, protect their interests and safeguard their rights. The Bill&rsquo;s focus is to address social inequality and protect the rights of OBCs. It was approved by the Union Cabinet and passed by the Lok Sabha in the last monsoon session.

In response to persistent and long felt demand from all categories of Other Backward Classes, the Centre, in the last Parliament session had introduced a Bill to grant Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes, on par with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The National Commission for Backward Classes, a statutory body created in 1993, was given limited powers. It could only recommend to the government inclusion or exclusion of a community in the Central list of OBCs.&nbsp;

The power to hear complaints of OBCs and protect their interests continued to be with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. &nbsp;Since the National Commission for Scheduled Castes is dealing with grievances and safeguards of SCs as well as OBCs it has limited capacity to address the grievances of OBCs.

During the same session, in the Rajya Sabha, while the proposal was generally supported and most members welcomed the grant of constitutional status to the NCBC, the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed with certain amendments.

One amendment sought to increase the number of members of the proposed commission from three to five with reservation for a member from a minority community and another for women. Another amendment was about protecting the rights of states by making their recommendations binding.

It was clarified by the government that the proposed constitution of the NCBC and its powers and functions is on similar lines as the National Commissions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and there is no infringement of the rights of the states. The issue of ensuring diversity in the Commission is more appropriately addressed in the rules. Therefore, the proposed amendments would only delay the process of passing the Bill.

In spite of these clarifications, the amendments were passed, and granting of Constitutional status to the NCBC was delayed.

The Bill will now have to be sent to the Lok Sabha again, since the two houses have passed two different versions of the Bill.

. The Bill?s focus is to address social inequality and protect the rights of OBCs

On the eve of Gujarat polls, Centre is set to reintroduce a Bill to grant Constitutional Status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in the winter session of Parliament to begin on December 15th. The Bill, when enacted, will not only make the NCBC a Constitutional body, but will also empower the NCBC to hear complaints of OBCs, protect their interests and safeguard their rights. The Bill’s focus is to address social inequality and protect the rights of OBCs. It was approved by the Union Cabinet and passed by the Lok Sabha in the last monsoon session. In response to persistent and long felt demand from all categories of Other Backward Classes, the Centre, in the last Parliament session had introduced a Bill to grant Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes, on par with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The National Commission for Backward Classes, a statutory body created in 1993, was given limited powers. It could only recommend to the government inclusion or exclusion of a community in the Central list of OBCs. The power to hear complaints of OBCs and protect their interests continued to be with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Since the National Commission for Scheduled Castes is dealing with grievances and safeguards of SCs as well as OBCs it has limited capacity to address the grievances of OBCs. During the same session, in the Rajya Sabha, while the proposal was generally supported and most members welcomed the grant of constitutional status to the NCBC, the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed with certain amendments. One amendment sought to increase the number of members of the proposed commission from three to five with reservation for a member from a minority community and another for women. Another amendment was about protecting the rights of states by making their recommendations binding. It was clarified by the government that the proposed constitution of the NCBC and its powers and functions is on similar lines as the National Commissions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and there is no infringement of the rights of the states. The issue of ensuring diversity in the Commission is more appropriately addressed in the rules. Therefore, the proposed amendments would only delay the process of passing the Bill. In spite of these clarifications, the amendments were passed, and granting of Constitutional status to the NCBC was delayed. The Bill will now have to be sent to the Lok Sabha again, since the two houses have passed two different versions of the Bill.

Ahead of Gujarat polls, Centre to move National Commission for Backward Classes Bill again in Lok Sabha

The Centre has taken note of reports about global terror group Islamic State (IS) claiming an attack in the Kashmir Valley that left a police officer dead, Union minister Jitendra Singh said adding that the future course of action would be adopted after taking an appropriate view.

The minister of state in the prime minister&#39;s office also said that the recent &quot;back to back&quot; successes achieved against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir was the result of the free hand given to security forces to wipe out the nearly three-decade-old militancy which is in its &quot;last phase&quot;.

Singh was asked about the IS&nbsp;claiming its first terror attack in Kashmir through its propaganda wing, Amaq news agency.

&quot;The government has taken cognizance of inputs and the concerned agencies, the ministry of home affairs and the security agencies, are taking an appropriate view and will adopt a future course of action accordingly,&quot; he told reporters here.

Three militants in a car opened fire on a police team at Zakura crossing on the Srinagar-Ganderbal road, killing Sub- Inspector Imran Tak and injuring a special police officer (SPO) on Friday.

The retaliatory action left a most wanted local militant dead, whose body was wrapped in ISIS flag during the funeral procession.

Responding to a question about the killing of six Pakistani militants, including the nephew of Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in an encounter in Bandipora district yesterday, Singh said this was the result of the &quot;decisive initiative&quot; taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Union government.

&quot;The free hand given to security forces to perform with professional freedom is behind such back to back successes. This is possibly the last phase of militancy in Kashmir,&quot; he said.

The minister said that he had been saying for the last several months that this was the last phase of terrorism in the state but there were people who were not taking the statement seriously.

&quot;The lifespan of any commander has been reduced to a few weeks - 10 to 15 weeks. Once a commander is appointed, the second is being kept ready to take over. The time has gone when they used to live for years,&quot; he said.

He said it was for the first time in the last quarter of a century that there is a government in place in New Delhi which is working on the principle of clarity, conviction, and consistency and does not interfere with the professional work being done by security forces.

Lauding the local police, he said the manner in which the special operations group performed is a testimony to the fact that if given right opportunity without intimidation, the force is capable of doing wonders.

On the surrender of the college student and footballer Majid Arshid, who had joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) a week ago, Singh said the change was already there but it was just a veil of fear which was holding them back.

&quot;Once the Modi government decided to initiate decisive action, this veil of fear has been taken away and the boys and girls are feeling free enough to come forward and express their aspirations,&quot; he said.

He said what Pakistan was doing has never been a secret but what is different today is that the common man in Kashmir, particularly the youth, is now ready to join the mainstream development journey led by Modi.

&quot;This change started actually two years ago and that is the reason today this year also we have 19 young boys and girls qualifying for the IITs,&quot; he said.

On Pakistan&#39;s role in fomenting terror, Singh said that all the information was already available but it was only Pakistan that was in a denial mode.

&quot;But what has changed now in the past few months is that countries which were hesitant to accept India&#39;s view point&nbsp;for reasons of their own, are now constrained to accept India&#39;s viewpoint as far as terror and perpetration of terrorism from Pakistan soil is concerned. Pakistan also now feels constrained to no longer continue in denial mode,&quot; he said.

The Centre has taken note of reports about global terror group IS claiming an attack in the Kashmir Valley that left a police officer dead, Union minister Jitendra Singh said adding that the future course of action would be adopted after taking an appropriate view

The Centre has taken note of reports about global terror group Islamic State (IS) claiming an attack in the Kashmir Valley that left a police officer dead, Union minister Jitendra Singh said adding that the future course of action would be adopted after taking an appropriate view. The minister of state in the prime minister's office also said that the recent "back to back" successes achieved against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir was the result of the free hand given to security forces to wipe out the nearly three-decade-old militancy which is in its "last phase". Singh was asked about the IS claiming its first terror attack in Kashmir through its propaganda wing, Amaq news agency. "The government has taken cognizance of inputs and the concerned agencies, the ministry of home affairs and the security agencies, are taking an appropriate view and will adopt a future course of action accordingly," he told reporters here. Three militants in a car opened fire on a police team at Zakura crossing on the Srinagar-Ganderbal road, killing Sub- Inspector Imran Tak and injuring a special police officer (SPO) on Friday. The retaliatory action left a most wanted local militant dead, whose body was wrapped in ISIS flag during the funeral procession. Responding to a question about the killing of six Pakistani militants, including the nephew of Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in an encounter in Bandipora district yesterday, Singh said this was the result of the "decisive initiative" taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Union government. "The free hand given to security forces to perform with professional freedom is behind such back to back successes. This is possibly the last phase of militancy in Kashmir," he said. The minister said that he had been saying for the last several months that this was the last phase of terrorism in the state but there were people who were not taking the statement seriously. "The lifespan of any commander has been reduced to a few weeks - 10 to 15 weeks. Once a commander is appointed, the second is being kept ready to take over. The time has gone when they used to live for years," he said. He said it was for the first time in the last quarter of a century that there is a government in place in New Delhi which is working on the principle of clarity, conviction, and consistency and does not interfere with the professional work being done by security forces. Lauding the local police, he said the manner in which the special operations group performed is a testimony to the fact that if given right opportunity without intimidation, the force is capable of doing wonders. On the surrender of the college student and footballer Majid Arshid, who had joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) a week ago, Singh said the change was already there but it was just a veil of fear which was holding them back. "Once the Modi government decided to initiate decisive action, this veil of fear has been taken away and the boys and girls are feeling free enough to come forward and express their aspirations," he said. He said what Pakistan was doing has never been a secret but what is different today is that the common man in Kashmir, particularly the youth, is now ready to join the mainstream development journey led by Modi. "This change started actually two years ago and that is the reason today this year also we have 19 young boys and girls qualifying for the IITs," he said. On Pakistan's role in fomenting terror, Singh said that all the information was already available but it was only Pakistan that was in a denial mode. "But what has changed now in the past few months is that countries which were hesitant to accept India's view point for reasons of their own, are now constrained to accept India's viewpoint as far as terror and perpetration of terrorism from Pakistan soil is concerned. Pakistan also now feels constrained to no longer continue in denial mode," he said.

Government has taken note of IS claiming attack in Kashmir: Minister

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that no criminal action would be taken against people with demonetised notes in their possession.&nbsp;

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Centre told Supreme Court no criminal action would be taken against those petitioners who were holding old currency notes of Rs500 &amp; Rs 1000
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/926333277576630272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by one Sudha Mishra, seeking a direction from the Supreme Court to the Centre for people unable to deposit old notes into their bank accounts.&nbsp;

The government had demonetised Rs 500- and 1,000-notes on November 8 last year.&nbsp;

The government had said the demonetised notes were to be deposited with banks by December 31 last year, and had at the time said criminal action would be taken against anyone failing to do so.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by one Sudha Mishra, seeking a direction from the Supreme Court to the Centre for people unable to deposit old notes into their bank accounts

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that no criminal action would be taken against people with demonetised notes in their possession. Centre told Supreme Court no criminal action would be taken against those petitioners who were holding old currency notes of Rs500 & Rs 1000 — ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2017 × The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by one Sudha Mishra, seeking a direction from the Supreme Court to the Centre for people unable to deposit old notes into their bank accounts. The government had demonetised Rs 500- and 1,000-notes on November 8 last year. The government had said the demonetised notes were to be deposited with banks by December 31 last year, and had at the time said criminal action would be taken against anyone failing to do so.

No action against those holding demonetised notes: Centre to SC

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Centre to withdraw seven of the 15 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) from strife-torn Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal for being used for election duties in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, asked West Bengal government to respond within a week to the Centre&#39;s appeal against the Calcutta High Court order directing it to allow all 15 companies of paramilitary forces to remain in the state.

The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, stayed the pending proceedings before the Calcutta High Court saying it will deal with the case &quot;in a holistic manner&quot;.

The court has now fixed the appeal of the Centre for further hearing on November 27.

The Calcutta High Court had stayed the withdrawal of CAPF from the Darjeeling hills, the scene of unrest over the statehood demand, till October 27 after the state government approached it against the Centre&#39;s decision.

The high court had on July 14 directed the Centre to deploy four more companies of CAPF in addition to the 11 that was already present in the hills then.

The West Bengal government had written to the Centre seeking extended deployment of CAPF till December 25, but was told that of the 15 companies present, 10 would be withdrawn on October 15 and the rest by October 20.&nbsp;

A bench asked West Bengal government to respond within a week to the Centre's appeal against the Calcutta High Court order directing it to allow all 15 companies of paramilitary forces to remain in the state.

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Centre to withdraw seven of the 15 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) from strife-torn Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal for being used for election duties in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. A bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, asked West Bengal government to respond within a week to the Centre's appeal against the Calcutta High Court order directing it to allow all 15 companies of paramilitary forces to remain in the state. The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, stayed the pending proceedings before the Calcutta High Court saying it will deal with the case "in a holistic manner". The court has now fixed the appeal of the Centre for further hearing on November 27. The Calcutta High Court had stayed the withdrawal of CAPF from the Darjeeling hills, the scene of unrest over the statehood demand, till October 27 after the state government approached it against the Centre's decision. The high court had on July 14 directed the Centre to deploy four more companies of CAPF in addition to the 11 that was already present in the hills then. The West Bengal government had written to the Centre seeking extended deployment of CAPF till December 25, but was told that of the 15 companies present, 10 would be withdrawn on October 15 and the rest by October 20.

Supreme Court allows Centre to withdraw forces from trouble-hit Darjeeling

West Bengal Chief Minister&nbsp;Mamata Banerjee&nbsp;said Wednesday that she would not link her Aadhar card to her phone. And that &quot;if they want to disconnect my phone, let them&quot;.&nbsp;

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I will not link <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aadhaar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Aadhaar</a> with phone, if they want to disconnect my phone, let them: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee <a href="https://t.co/bSWPTOcGxU">pic.twitter.com/bSWPTOcGxU</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/923128479037530112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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And she attacked the Centre.&nbsp;

&quot;They (Centre) are interfering in the people&#39;s rights and privacy. Aadhar number should not be linked with one&#39;s mobile phone. I will not link my Aadhar number with my mobile even if my connection is snapped,&quot; she said at an extended core committee meeting of the Trinamool Congress.&nbsp;

She accused the Centre of having unleashed &quot;autocratic rule&quot;&nbsp;in the country.&nbsp;

&quot;They (Centre) have unleashed an autocratic rule in the country. No one can raise voice against them, else I-T, ED,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=cbi" target="_blank">CBI&nbsp;</a>will be unleashed,&quot; Banerjee alleged.&nbsp;

The Centre meanwhile told the Supreme Court Wednesday that it was ready to extend the deadline (to get an Aadhar card) to March 31, 2018.&nbsp;

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Central Government told the Supreme Court that it is ready to extend the deadline for those who do not have Aadhaar, till March 31,2018
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/923131316446494720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The West Bengal chief minister also attacked the Centre, accusing it of unleashing 'autocratic rule' in the country

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday that she would not link her Aadhar card to her phone. And that "if they want to disconnect my phone, let them". I will not link #Aadhaar with phone, if they want to disconnect my phone, let them: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/bSWPTOcGxU — ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017 × And she attacked the Centre. "They (Centre) are interfering in the people's rights and privacy. Aadhar number should not be linked with one's mobile phone. I will not link my Aadhar number with my mobile even if my connection is snapped," she said at an extended core committee meeting of the Trinamool Congress. She accused the Centre of having unleashed "autocratic rule" in the country. "They (Centre) have unleashed an autocratic rule in the country. No one can raise voice against them, else I-T, ED, CBI will be unleashed," Banerjee alleged. The Centre meanwhile told the Supreme Court Wednesday that it was ready to extend the deadline (to get an Aadhar card) to March 31, 2018. Central Government told the Supreme Court that it is ready to extend the deadline for those who do not have Aadhaar, till March 31,2018 — ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017 ×

Mamata Banerjee: Will not link Aadhaar to my phone, let them disconnect it

Imagine the response by any of the previous Indian governments on Kashmir if today&#39;s&nbsp;situation had come to&nbsp;pass. Emissaries would have been activated, delegations would have camped in the valley, some would have received invites to come to Delhi and reassurance would have directly come from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s office. None of this&nbsp;has happened.

The unique form of protest--pelting of stones, participation of students, schools and hospitals being shut--is a feature consistent for almost a year now. And this has happened in a regime which started with the process of reconciliation and meeting of two ends of political spectrum, that being Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the People&#39;s Democratic Party (PDP).

But the dream went bust and the government was accused of not reaching out. The fact that the current collapse of civil administration&nbsp;receives a mute response from the Centre is because it suits its larger politics. Kashmir, instead of being treated as a people&rsquo;s problem, is being played out as a theatre for a type of nationalism which BJP has successfully churned for electoral politics. It is for this reason that for the first time, &quot;human right&quot; as a word is also being used for the army and paramilitary forces.

But this did not happen overnight.

&nbsp;

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<h5>The voices supporting talks or reconciliation in the national narrative have&nbsp;been sidelined as&nbsp;the weak liberal category</h5>
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&nbsp;

The voices supporting talks or reconciliation in the national narrative have&nbsp;been sidelined as&nbsp;the weak liberal category, making any pitch on their part feeble and without public support. It is in this climate, Kashmir continues to bleed and Kashmiris refuse to participate in hope for the announcement of a grand gesture. Unfortunately, the gesture will not come because the government has already handed over a choice between terrorism and tourism to the people. The government has already thrown in its towel, realising that every attempt by the Home Minister Rajnath Singh has failed.

It is for this reason attempt made by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha did not cut any ice with the Centre. Since the government runs the risk of looking weak, the matter has been parceled&nbsp;to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, whose political capital runs shallow. To expect a package or a complete U-turn by the government on this issue would be to fool oneself. What is evident is that the Centre has dug in its feet on Kashmir and has decided to tackle it from the angle of nationalism.

Now the question is,&nbsp;how will this approach&nbsp;evolve in the long run? The approach rests on the premise that the protest run out of steam and players will come back to the talking table tired, sooner or later. But the risk of this strategy is higher than those tried before.

Today Kashmir has a plethora of street fighters who are children. None of them are getting integrated into&nbsp;the state and political structure of the government.

How will the state then deal with this generation when it gets out of the school and colleges without any sense of engagement with the mainland?&nbsp;

Many in the ruling dispensation argue that the situation is not as bad as when Kashmiri Hindus had to leave valley. At that point of time, the migration represented failure of the state to give security to the minority, and civil society, at large, did not attack Hindus. Today civil society&nbsp;is not only alienated from the state but it has bankrupted local political players of credibility and gravitas, creating consequences for Delhi in long run.

For this very reason Kashmir, today, is very different from the Kashmir of the past. There is a departure from the cycle of violence which the Centre is used to. The new generation is asking fundamental questions on article 370. The article 370 is a commitment made by India at the time of accession. India agreed for a Kashmiri exceptionalism. Whether we like it or not, the fact that we are far removed from Kashmir when we talk about changing the alignment&nbsp;destroys our own credibility. The symbols of unity act as instruments for further violence and divisive politics.

&nbsp;

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<h5>The symbols of unity act as instruments for further violence and divisive politics.</h5>
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&nbsp;

The fact that the mainstream discourse challenges the unique identity of India has itself become a political problem. Indian politicians and resurgent middle-class need to rise above the cacophony of nationalism, homogeneity of symbols and concept of India First in which instead of people, territory comes first.

It is not possible for the Centre to hide behind the logic of normal Ladakh and Jammu. It cannot afford to have an ego with its own people even if empathy has died a slow death in popular discourse. The former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee understood it well. It is for this reason he continues to be the most remembered leader in the valley. He understood the power of hope.

Vajpayee&rsquo;s narrative rested on it. This similar narrative was used by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He raised the bar of hope when he formed the government in Srinagar. People felt that Mufti would usher certain long pending changes. The change didn&rsquo;t happen, and he passed away creating anger, resentment and rage. It is for this reason PDP leaders came under attack from its own people.

It&rsquo;s not PDP alone. The mainstream parties in Kashmir today stand discredited. To begin with, we can restore some credibility to them by giving into some of their civil administrative demand and make people in the valley feel that it is their representative who is ruling them and not the political players associated with Delhi durbar. Lastly, what works in the rest of India may not work in Kashmir or North East.

(WION)

Instead of treating Kashmir as a people?s problem, it is being played out as a theatre for nationalism which BJP has used successfully

Imagine the response by any of the previous Indian governments on Kashmir if today's situation had come to pass. Emissaries would have been activated, delegations would have camped in the valley, some would have received invites to come to Delhi and reassurance would have directly come from the Prime Minister’s office. None of this has happened. The unique form of protest--pelting of stones, participation of students, schools and hospitals being shut--is a feature consistent for almost a year now. And this has happened in a regime which started with the process of reconciliation and meeting of two ends of political spectrum, that being Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP). But the dream went bust and the government was accused of not reaching out. The fact that the current collapse of civil administration receives a mute response from the Centre is because it suits its larger politics. Kashmir, instead of being treated as a people’s problem, is being played out as a theatre for a type of nationalism which BJP has successfully churned for electoral politics. It is for this reason that for the first time, "human right" as a word is also being used for the army and paramilitary forces. But this did not happen overnight. The voices supporting talks or reconciliation in the national narrative have been sidelined as the weak liberal category × The voices supporting talks or reconciliation in the national narrative have been sidelined as the weak liberal category, making any pitch on their part feeble and without public support. It is in this climate, Kashmir continues to bleed and Kashmiris refuse to participate in hope for the announcement of a grand gesture. Unfortunately, the gesture will not come because the government has already handed over a choice between terrorism and tourism to the people. The government has already thrown in its towel, realising that every attempt by the Home Minister Rajnath Singh has failed. It is for this reason attempt made by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha did not cut any ice with the Centre. Since the government runs the risk of looking weak, the matter has been parceled to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, whose political capital runs shallow. To expect a package or a complete U-turn by the government on this issue would be to fool oneself. What is evident is that the Centre has dug in its feet on Kashmir and has decided to tackle it from the angle of nationalism. Now the question is, how will this approach evolve in the long run? The approach rests on the premise that the protest run out of steam and players will come back to the talking table tired, sooner or later. But the risk of this strategy is higher than those tried before. Today Kashmir has a plethora of street fighters who are children. None of them are getting integrated into the state and political structure of the government. How will the state then deal with this generation when it gets out of the school and colleges without any sense of engagement with the mainland? Many in the ruling dispensation argue that the situation is not as bad as when Kashmiri Hindus had to leave valley. At that point of time, the migration represented failure of the state to give security to the minority, and civil society, at large, did not attack Hindus. Today civil society is not only alienated from the state but it has bankrupted local political players of credibility and gravitas, creating consequences for Delhi in long run. For this very reason Kashmir, today, is very different from the Kashmir of the past. There is a departure from the cycle of violence which the Centre is used to. The new generation is asking fundamental questions on article 370. The article 370 is a commitment made by India at the time of accession. India agreed for a Kashmiri exceptionalism. Whether we like it or not, the fact that we are far removed from Kashmir when we talk about changing the alignment destroys our own credibility. The symbols of unity act as instruments for further violence and divisive politics. The symbols of unity act as instruments for further violence and divisive politics. × The fact that the mainstream discourse challenges the unique identity of India has itself become a political problem. Indian politicians and resurgent middle-class need to rise above the cacophony of nationalism, homogeneity of symbols and concept of India First in which instead of people, territory comes first. It is not possible for the Centre to hide behind the logic of normal Ladakh and Jammu. It cannot afford to have an ego with its own people even if empathy has died a slow death in popular discourse. The former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee understood it well. It is for this reason he continues to be the most remembered leader in the valley. He understood the power of hope. Vajpayee’s narrative rested on it. This similar narrative was used by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He raised the bar of hope when he formed the government in Srinagar. People felt that Mufti would usher certain long pending changes. The change didn’t happen, and he passed away creating anger, resentment and rage. It is for this reason PDP leaders came under attack from its own people. It’s not PDP alone. The mainstream parties in Kashmir today stand discredited. To begin with, we can restore some credibility to them by giving into some of their civil administrative demand and make people in the valley feel that it is their representative who is ruling them and not the political players associated with Delhi durbar. Lastly, what works in the rest of India may not work in Kashmir or North East. (WION)

Hope dies a slow death

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the security of the more than 200-kilometre-long Indo-Bangladesh border was a priority for the BJP government and it will be completely sealed in the next year and a half.

&quot;We are committed to sealing the 223.7-km Indo-Bangladesh border and the process is on. It is expected to be completed within the next year and a half,&quot; Singh said addressing BJP workers here.

&quot;Bangladesh is our neighbouring country and we share a good and warm relation, which we will continue to pursue and remain committed to in the future,&quot; he said.

The Union minister, without referring to the issues of illegal migration and granting of citizenship to Hindu refugees, assured the people of Assam that the BJP was committed to protecting the interests of the state&#39;s indigenous population,&nbsp;as per Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

&quot;We are committed to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and will protect it even if we have to amend the Constitution,&quot; he said. 
Referring to the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Singh said the process is underway and the state government should complete it soon.

The Union minister said the Centre will make no compromise on the issue of insurgency as he claimed that violence has considerably come down in the state.

&quot;If any people or group have any grievances, problems or issues, we are ready to talk to them...we are ready to embrace them and talk. But if there is violence, there will be no compromise,&quot; he added.

(PTI)

The Union minister said the Centre will make no compromise on the issue of insurgency as he said violence in the state was considerably down

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the security of the more than 200-kilometre-long Indo-Bangladesh border was a priority for the BJP government and it will be completely sealed in the next year and a half. "We are committed to sealing the 223.7-km Indo-Bangladesh border and the process is on. It is expected to be completed within the next year and a half," Singh said addressing BJP workers here. "Bangladesh is our neighbouring country and we share a good and warm relation, which we will continue to pursue and remain committed to in the future," he said. The Union minister, without referring to the issues of illegal migration and granting of citizenship to Hindu refugees, assured the people of Assam that the BJP was committed to protecting the interests of the state's indigenous population, as per Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. "We are committed to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and will protect it even if we have to amend the Constitution," he said. Referring to the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Singh said the process is underway and the state government should complete it soon. The Union minister said the Centre will make no compromise on the issue of insurgency as he claimed that violence has considerably come down in the state. "If any people or group have any grievances, problems or issues, we are ready to talk to them...we are ready to embrace them and talk. But if there is violence, there will be no compromise," he added. (PTI)

India-Bangladesh border to be completely sealed by 2018: Rajnath Singh

A bomb in a crowded in market in the north Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Tuesday killed at least two people and wounded 15, police officials said. 
 
Mazar-i-Sharif, an important commercial centre near the border with Uzbekistan, has generally been spared the violence unleashed by insurgent groups battling the NATO-backed government in Kabul. 
 
The attack on Tuesday was carried out by a suicide bomber, said police commander Baba Jan. 
 
&quot;The bomber detonated his explosives in the main market and all the victims are civilians,&quot; he said. 
 
The Ministry of Interior, however, reported that a bomb had been hidden in a cart. 
 
In February, three people were killed in an attack on a bus carrying military personnel not far from Mazar-i-Sharif, and in January, militants attacked the Indian consulate in the city. 
 
(Reuters)

Mazar-i-Sharif has generally been spared the violence unleashed by insurgent groups battling the NATO-backed government in Kabul

A bomb in a crowded in market in the north Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Tuesday killed at least two people and wounded 15, police officials said. Mazar-i-Sharif, an important commercial centre near the border with Uzbekistan, has generally been spared the violence unleashed by insurgent groups battling the NATO-backed government in Kabul. The attack on Tuesday was carried out by a suicide bomber, said police commander Baba Jan. "The bomber detonated his explosives in the main market and all the victims are civilians," he said. The Ministry of Interior, however, reported that a bomb had been hidden in a cart. In February, three people were killed in an attack on a bus carrying military personnel not far from Mazar-i-Sharif, and in January, militants attacked the Indian consulate in the city. (Reuters)

Bomb goes off in crowded city market in Afghanistan, two killed, 15 injured

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