Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today discussed India&#39;s NSG membership with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and also raised the issue of the confidential data leak of the Indian Scorpene Class submarines with French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. 
 
On the second and final day of the summit in this east Chinese city, Modi met Erdogan and Hollande in separate &quot;pull-aside&quot; meetings. 
 
Prior to that, he met Britain&#39;s new Prime Minister Theresa May and held discussions on &quot;building opportunities&quot; in the aftermath of UK&#39;s decision to exit the European Union. 
 
In his meeting with Erdogan, the prime minister discussed the issue of India&#39;s membership of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), foreign affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters.&nbsp;The discussion with Erdogan on NSG was significant as Turkey was among the few countries - along with China - which had stalled India&#39;s bid to join the elite grouping at its plenary meeting in June in Seoul. 
 
China had then raised objection saying India was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).&nbsp;Turkey too raised its concern over the presence of supporters of dissident Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who it accuses of masterminding the failed July coup attempt, in India. 
 
Swarup said enhancing civil aviation with Turkey also figured during the discussions. 
 
In his bilateral meeting with Hollande, Modi raised the leak of sensitive data related to Scorpene Class submarines. &quot;This issue&nbsp;has also figured,&quot; Swarup said. 
 
Over 22,000 pages of secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French defence company DCNS were leaked. The data leak reportedly happened overseas. 
 
With May, the prime minister underlined that even after UK&#39;s exit from the EU, &quot;Britain remains an important partner&quot; for India. 
&quot;May also referred to the recent passage of GST (bill) which would further boost trade and investment ties with the UK. She supported PM&#39;s reform agenda and the UK is keen to participate in Make in India, Smartcity and Skill India initiatives,&quot; he said. 
 
The two leaders discussed further enhancing of the defence partnership and Modi invited UK firms to India.&nbsp;They also talked about the challenges of terrorism, calling it &quot;the biggest threat and danger to the world with no boundaries,&quot; Swarup said. 
 
Modi and May also discussed enhancing counter-terrorism&nbsp;cooperation between India and the UK, the spokesperson said. 
 
May, UK&#39;s second woman prime minister after Margaret Thatcher, also underlined the importance Britain attaches to the Indian diaspora in the UK. 
 
Modi had congratulated May, who succeeded David Cameron after he quit following UK&#39;s decision to exit the 28-member world&#39;s largest single market EU, on her assumption of the new responsibility on July 27 and had affirmed India&#39;s commitment to further strengthen the strategic bilateral partnership.&nbsp;In his final bilateral meeting, Modi held talks with Argentine President Mauricio Macri. 
 
Modi was accompanied by India&#39;s national security advisor Ajit Doval and foreign secretary S Jaishankar during the brief meeting with the French president. 
 
Modi yesterday briefly interacted with US President Barack Obama and had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 
He also had separate meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman yesterday. 
 
(PTI)

Modi also met Britain's PM May during the G20 summit and underlined that 'Britain remains an important partner' for India even after Brexit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today discussed India's NSG membership with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and also raised the issue of the confidential data leak of the Indian Scorpene Class submarines with French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. On the second and final day of the summit in this east Chinese city, Modi met Erdogan and Hollande in separate "pull-aside" meetings. Prior to that, he met Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May and held discussions on "building opportunities" in the aftermath of UK's decision to exit the European Union. In his meeting with Erdogan, the prime minister discussed the issue of India's membership of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), foreign affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters. The discussion with Erdogan on NSG was significant as Turkey was among the few countries - along with China - which had stalled India's bid to join the elite grouping at its plenary meeting in June in Seoul. China had then raised objection saying India was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Turkey too raised its concern over the presence of supporters of dissident Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who it accuses of masterminding the failed July coup attempt, in India. Swarup said enhancing civil aviation with Turkey also figured during the discussions. In his bilateral meeting with Hollande, Modi raised the leak of sensitive data related to Scorpene Class submarines. "This issue has also figured," Swarup said. Over 22,000 pages of secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French defence company DCNS were leaked. The data leak reportedly happened overseas. With May, the prime minister underlined that even after UK's exit from the EU, "Britain remains an important partner" for India. "May also referred to the recent passage of GST (bill) which would further boost trade and investment ties with the UK. She supported PM's reform agenda and the UK is keen to participate in Make in India, Smartcity and Skill India initiatives," he said. The two leaders discussed further enhancing of the defence partnership and Modi invited UK firms to India. They also talked about the challenges of terrorism, calling it "the biggest threat and danger to the world with no boundaries," Swarup said. Modi and May also discussed enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the UK, the spokesperson said. May, UK's second woman prime minister after Margaret Thatcher, also underlined the importance Britain attaches to the Indian diaspora in the UK. Modi had congratulated May, who succeeded David Cameron after he quit following UK's decision to exit the 28-member world's largest single market EU, on her assumption of the new responsibility on July 27 and had affirmed India's commitment to further strengthen the strategic bilateral partnership. In his final bilateral meeting, Modi held talks with Argentine President Mauricio Macri. Modi was accompanied by India's national security advisor Ajit Doval and foreign secretary S Jaishankar during the brief meeting with the French president. Modi yesterday briefly interacted with US President Barack Obama and had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also had separate meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman yesterday. (PTI)

Indian PM Modi raises submarine leak with Hollande, NSG bid with Erdogan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted the issue of tax evasion and black money as he spoke at the ongoing G20 summit in Hangzhou city of China.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;G20&#39;s efforts should be for zero tolerance for corruption and black money, zero administration, policy and treaty loopholes, zero barriers and full commitment to action,&quot; Modi said speaking at the session, &#39;More Effective and Efficient Global Economic and Financial Governance&#39; on the second day of the summit.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We need to act on eliminating safe havens for economic offenders, track down and unconditionally extradite money launderers and tax offenders and break down the web of complex international regulations and excessive banking secrecy that hide the corrupt and their deeds.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
India supports BEPS: Modi 
 
Modi also highlighted the important points on why a stable global economic and financial system is imperative for growth. Professing India&#39;s support for Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) recommendations, he called on the G20 nations to commit to the timeline of 2017-2018. 
 
The long delayed 15th General Review of Quotas must be completed by 2017 Annual Meetings, he said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It is essential that capital requirements under the new regulations do not raise the cost of finance. Important mechanisms like Financial Stability Board (FBS) should stick to their core mandate. IMF should remain quota base institution and not depend on broader resources,&quot; he added. 
 
He asserted that the Global Financial Safety Net (GSFN) needs further strengthening. 
 
&quot;We need a regular dialogue between the IMF, Regional Financial Arrangements and Bilateral Swap Arrangements,&quot; he said. 
 
&#39;Global trading regime must respond to needs of developing nations&#39;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Global trade is at a cross roads&quot;, Modi further said while talking at &#39;Robust International trade and Investment session&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
India&#39;s focus is to work towards World Trade Organization&#39;s Trade Facilitation Agreement, he insisted.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Global trading regime must respond to needs &amp; priorities of developing nations. Global value chains must provide them level playing field,&quot; Indian external Affairs ministry spokesman quoted him as saying on his Twitter account.&nbsp; 
 
He also highlighted other important points raised by Modi during his address.&nbsp;
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The Prime Minister also pointed out on the Day-2 of the summit that there is need of energy to support development needs, adding balanced mix of nuclear, renewable energy and fossil fuels are at core of India&#39;s policy, Indian news agency ANI reported.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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Narendra Modi talked about acting on eliminating safe havens for economic offenders and extradition of money launderers

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted the issue of tax evasion and black money as he spoke at the ongoing G20 summit in Hangzhou city of China. "G20's efforts should be for zero tolerance for corruption and black money, zero administration, policy and treaty loopholes, zero barriers and full commitment to action," Modi said speaking at the session, 'More Effective and Efficient Global Economic and Financial Governance' on the second day of the summit. "We need to act on eliminating safe havens for economic offenders, track down and unconditionally extradite money launderers and tax offenders and break down the web of complex international regulations and excessive banking secrecy that hide the corrupt and their deeds." India supports BEPS: Modi Modi also highlighted the important points on why a stable global economic and financial system is imperative for growth. Professing India's support for Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) recommendations, he called on the G20 nations to commit to the timeline of 2017-2018. The long delayed 15th General Review of Quotas must be completed by 2017 Annual Meetings, he said. "It is essential that capital requirements under the new regulations do not raise the cost of finance. Important mechanisms like Financial Stability Board (FBS) should stick to their core mandate. IMF should remain quota base institution and not depend on broader resources," he added. He asserted that the Global Financial Safety Net (GSFN) needs further strengthening. "We need a regular dialogue between the IMF, Regional Financial Arrangements and Bilateral Swap Arrangements," he said. 'Global trading regime must respond to needs of developing nations' "Global trade is at a cross roads", Modi further said while talking at 'Robust International trade and Investment session'. India's focus is to work towards World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement, he insisted. "Global trading regime must respond to needs & priorities of developing nations. Global value chains must provide them level playing field," Indian external Affairs ministry spokesman quoted him as saying on his Twitter account. He also highlighted other important points raised by Modi during his address. The Prime Minister also pointed out on the Day-2 of the summit that there is need of energy to support development needs, adding balanced mix of nuclear, renewable energy and fossil fuels are at core of India's policy, Indian news agency ANI reported. (WION with inputs from agencies)

G20 summit: Indian Prime Minister stresses on need to fight corruption

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the two-day G20 Summit in Hangzhou city of China.&nbsp; 
 
During the meeting, Modi condemned the recent militant attack on Chinese embassy in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. He highlighted the menace of terrorism, saying the recent attacks show how it is spreading across the world and is, therefore, a matter of grave concern.&nbsp; 
 
Clearing bilateral differences&nbsp; 
 
This is the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Jinping after they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent in June 23. 
 
&quot;First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM @narendramodi meets President Xi Jinping,&quot; tweeted spokesperson of Indian foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup. 
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First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> meets President Xi Jinping <a href="https://t.co/Bkj4CGywz6">pic.twitter.com/Bkj4CGywz6</a>
&mdash; Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/772251806177067009">September 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The meeting is a significant one, reported ANI news agency, as it follows after China stalled India&#39;s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and bilateral differences over the proposed USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-cantrolled Kashmir, Beijing blocking the UN move to ban Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). 
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<h5>Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi&#39;s visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India&#39;s membership to the NSG.&nbsp;</h5>
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Beijing has raised concerns over the close ties of India with the US and the recently signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), which will enable the militaries of both the democracies access to each other&#39;s facilities for supplies and repairs. 
 
However, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi&#39;s visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India&#39;s membership to the NSG.&nbsp; 
 
The two nuclear-armed neighbours have been seemingly moving to gradually ease long-existing tensions between them. 
 
Leaders of Asia&#39;s two giants pledged last year to cool a festering border dispute, which dates back to a brief border war in 1962, though the disagreement remains unresolved. 
 
China lays claim to more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) ruled by New Delhi in the eastern sector of the Himalayas. India says China occupies 38,000 sq km (14,600 sq miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. 
 
Meanwhile, Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia&#39;s deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. 
 
He will attend the two-day G20 summit that begins today where leaders of the world&#39;s 20 biggest economies will be seeking to jolt global economy out of sluggish growth and avert trade protectionism. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Condemning the recent militant attack on Chinese embassy in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan, Modi said spread of terror is a matter of grave concern

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the two-day G20 Summit in Hangzhou city of China. During the meeting, Modi condemned the recent militant attack on Chinese embassy in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. He highlighted the menace of terrorism, saying the recent attacks show how it is spreading across the world and is, therefore, a matter of grave concern. Clearing bilateral differences This is the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Jinping after they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent in June 23. "First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM @narendramodi meets President Xi Jinping," tweeted spokesperson of Indian foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup. First engagement in Hangzhou is a meeting with the host. PM @narendramodi meets President Xi Jinping pic.twitter.com/Bkj4CGywz6 — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 4, 2016 The meeting is a significant one, reported ANI news agency, as it follows after China stalled India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and bilateral differences over the proposed USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-cantrolled Kashmir, Beijing blocking the UN move to ban Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India's membership to the NSG. Beijing has raised concerns over the close ties of India with the US and the recently signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), which will enable the militaries of both the democracies access to each other's facilities for supplies and repairs. However, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to India last month indicated that it would be ready to revisit the question of India's membership to the NSG. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have been seemingly moving to gradually ease long-existing tensions between them. Leaders of Asia's two giants pledged last year to cool a festering border dispute, which dates back to a brief border war in 1962, though the disagreement remains unresolved. China lays claim to more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) ruled by New Delhi in the eastern sector of the Himalayas. India says China occupies 38,000 sq km (14,600 sq miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. Meanwhile, Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. He will attend the two-day G20 summit that begins today where leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies will be seeking to jolt global economy out of sluggish growth and avert trade protectionism. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Modi meets Jinping ahead of G20 summit, highlights menace of terror

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been asked&nbsp;to disclose information on what his administration has done to bring back black money&nbsp;to the country.&nbsp; 
 
The Central Information Commission (CIC), a government regulatory body, has directed the Prime Minister&#39;s Office to respond to a Right to Information query within the next 15 days.&nbsp; 
 
The Right to Information (RTI) Act is a legal instrument that empowers citizens to access information from a public authority. 
 
Modi had made the issue of black money the centrepiece of his 2014 general election campaign. He had vowed to bring back illegal money stashed in foreign banks.&nbsp; 
 
During the campaign trail, the prime minister had promised to distribute the retrieved black money among the poor. He had said&nbsp;he would deposit Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts&nbsp;of every poor person.&nbsp; 
 
Kanhaiya Lal, a resident of the north-west state of Rajasthan, had filed an RTI application to get a status update on Modi&#39;s black money promise. 
 
On February 8, he wanted to know when the government would put the promised Rs 15 lakh in his bank account. 
 
The government is, however, yet to officially reply to the query, and claims not to have received the RTI application. 
 
(WION) 
 
 
 
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PM Modi, during his 2014 election campaign, had vowed to distribute the retrieved black money among the poor

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been asked to disclose information on what his administration has done to bring back black money to the country. The Central Information Commission (CIC), a government regulatory body, has directed the Prime Minister's Office to respond to a Right to Information query within the next 15 days. The Right to Information (RTI) Act is a legal instrument that empowers citizens to access information from a public authority. Modi had made the issue of black money the centrepiece of his 2014 general election campaign. He had vowed to bring back illegal money stashed in foreign banks. During the campaign trail, the prime minister had promised to distribute the retrieved black money among the poor. He had said he would deposit Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts of every poor person. Kanhaiya Lal, a resident of the north-west state of Rajasthan, had filed an RTI application to get a status update on Modi's black money promise. On February 8, he wanted to know when the government would put the promised Rs 15 lakh in his bank account. The government is, however, yet to officially reply to the query, and claims not to have received the RTI application. (WION)

Information body tells Indian PM's office to disclose status on black money promise

In a major shift, India will now escalate the issue of alleged human rights violations in Pakistan Controlled Kashmir and Baluchistan in international forums. This is to offset Pakistan&#39;s attempt to rake up the Kashmir issue in multilateral forums.&nbsp; 
 
Last week, Pakistan had appointed 22 emissaries to address alleged human rights violations in the valley. Top sources in New Delhi confirmed to WION that India will exclude Pakistan from the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) regional outreach programme to be held in Goa in the month of October. This marks a break in tradition where the host countries invite regional players or neighbours for the outreach programme - Latin American countries were called at Fortaleza in Brazil in 2014. The following year, Russia had invited all the Central Asian countries for an outreach event in Ufa. So, instead of calling SAARC nations, India has decided to engage with the BIMSTEC nations that include Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. 
 
The Indian Express reports that while Pakistan has been excluded, there is a proposal to invite the neighbouring non-BIMSTEC countries of Afghanistan and Maldives as &quot;special invitees&quot; or &quot;observers&quot;. 
 
Sources say that India is also expected to raise the Baluchistan issue vigorously at next week&#39;s G-20 summit in China and at the NAM conference which is supposed to be held in Venezuela in September end.&nbsp; 
 
The change in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Pakistan policy has come after protests in the wake of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani&rsquo;s death after an encounter in Kashmir. Experts say that the idea is to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and portray it as an undependable neighbour which is not ready to invest in peace, development and stability of the region. 
&nbsp; 
India maintains that protests in the state have been actively fueled and financed by Pakistan. The thaw, which was evident after the Pathankot cantonment attack in Janaury this year, seems to have evaporated in the wake of the Kashmir crisis which continues to threaten stability of the coalition government in Kashmir. 
 
(WION)

India now aims at thwarting Pakistan's attempt to rake up the Kashmir issue in multilateral forums

In a major shift, India will now escalate the issue of alleged human rights violations in Pakistan Controlled Kashmir and Baluchistan in international forums. This is to offset Pakistan's attempt to rake up the Kashmir issue in multilateral forums. Last week, Pakistan had appointed 22 emissaries to address alleged human rights violations in the valley. Top sources in New Delhi confirmed to WION that India will exclude Pakistan from the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) regional outreach programme to be held in Goa in the month of October. This marks a break in tradition where the host countries invite regional players or neighbours for the outreach programme - Latin American countries were called at Fortaleza in Brazil in 2014. The following year, Russia had invited all the Central Asian countries for an outreach event in Ufa. So, instead of calling SAARC nations, India has decided to engage with the BIMSTEC nations that include Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. The Indian Express reports that while Pakistan has been excluded, there is a proposal to invite the neighbouring non-BIMSTEC countries of Afghanistan and Maldives as "special invitees" or "observers". Sources say that India is also expected to raise the Baluchistan issue vigorously at next week's G-20 summit in China and at the NAM conference which is supposed to be held in Venezuela in September end. The change in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pakistan policy has come after protests in the wake of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s death after an encounter in Kashmir. Experts say that the idea is to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and portray it as an undependable neighbour which is not ready to invest in peace, development and stability of the region. India maintains that protests in the state have been actively fueled and financed by Pakistan. The thaw, which was evident after the Pathankot cantonment attack in Janaury this year, seems to have evaporated in the wake of the Kashmir crisis which continues to threaten stability of the coalition government in Kashmir. (WION)

Pakistan to be kept away from BRICS outreach: Indian sources

Chief minister of India&#39;s Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday insisted that people give her a chance to address the crisis in the state.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you. But please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations,&rdquo; she said. 
 
After her 45-minute-meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Mehbooba told DNA that she had outlined a three-pronged action during the meeting. 
 
It included the involvement of separatists and Pakistan in a substantive dialogue. But she refused to divulge details. 
 
Mehbooba said that good governance in her state was linked to peaceful relations between India and Pakistan. &ldquo;How can you govern and undertake development-related work when there are tensions?&rdquo; she said. 
 
On this front, she blamed Islamabad for not responding to Modi&rsquo;s peace overtures. 
 
&quot;PM Modi reached out to Pakistan, went to Lahore, but then Pathankot happened. Home minister Rajnath Singh also went to Islamabad. Unfortunately, Pakistan has repeatedly given up the chances to talk and resolve the issue of violence in Kashmir. Now, it is again time for Pakistan (to respond),&quot; she said. 
 
Only Modi can revive the process, she said. Mehbooba, however, skirted questions on the PM&rsquo;s recent pronouncements on Balochistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PoK). 
 
Fifty seven-year-old Mehbooba, mother of two and one of the few women politicians from Kashmir, said she asked Modi to put in place an institutionalised mechanism to address the issue. &ldquo;I asked for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process, which was initiated by the then NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005,&rdquo; she said. 
 
It was the brushing of issues under the carpet, as in 2008 and 2010, that has resulted in the current unrest, Mehbooba said. &ldquo;The country&rsquo;s political leadership must commit itself to address all dimensions of the problem in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the state and the region,&rdquo; she said. 
 
She expressed confidence that the escalating tensions would not derail the scheduled South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit and the PM&rsquo;s proposed visit to Islamabad. 
 
She also appealed to all political parties to help resolve the problems and not make the state a discussion point during their election campaigns. An &ldquo;all-party delegation will visit the state soon to reach out to the people,&rdquo; she said. 
 
Mehbooba, who single-handedly built the edifice of People&rsquo;s Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the monopoly of mainstream National Conference (NC) said the Agenda of Alliance enacted between her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the Prime Minister has a commitment to normalise the relationship with Pakistan. 
 
(This piece first appeared in DNA)

Mehbooba Mufti believes that only Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can smoothen the fraying relations with Pakistan

Chief minister of India's Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday insisted that people give her a chance to address the crisis in the state. “I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you. But please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations,” she said. After her 45-minute-meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Mehbooba told DNA that she had outlined a three-pronged action during the meeting. It included the involvement of separatists and Pakistan in a substantive dialogue. But she refused to divulge details. Mehbooba said that good governance in her state was linked to peaceful relations between India and Pakistan. “How can you govern and undertake development-related work when there are tensions?” she said. On this front, she blamed Islamabad for not responding to Modi’s peace overtures. "PM Modi reached out to Pakistan, went to Lahore, but then Pathankot happened. Home minister Rajnath Singh also went to Islamabad. Unfortunately, Pakistan has repeatedly given up the chances to talk and resolve the issue of violence in Kashmir. Now, it is again time for Pakistan (to respond)," she said. Only Modi can revive the process, she said. Mehbooba, however, skirted questions on the PM’s recent pronouncements on Balochistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PoK). Fifty seven-year-old Mehbooba, mother of two and one of the few women politicians from Kashmir, said she asked Modi to put in place an institutionalised mechanism to address the issue. “I asked for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process, which was initiated by the then NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005,” she said. It was the brushing of issues under the carpet, as in 2008 and 2010, that has resulted in the current unrest, Mehbooba said. “The country’s political leadership must commit itself to address all dimensions of the problem in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the state and the region,” she said. She expressed confidence that the escalating tensions would not derail the scheduled South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit and the PM’s proposed visit to Islamabad. She also appealed to all political parties to help resolve the problems and not make the state a discussion point during their election campaigns. An “all-party delegation will visit the state soon to reach out to the people,” she said. Mehbooba, who single-handedly built the edifice of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the monopoly of mainstream National Conference (NC) said the Agenda of Alliance enacted between her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the Prime Minister has a commitment to normalise the relationship with Pakistan. (This piece first appeared in DNA)

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister urges protesters to give her chance to address crisis

As the unrest in the Kashmir valley enters its 50th day, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today and discussed the security situation in the state.&nbsp; 
 
Following a discussion at 7 Race Course Road, the official residence of the Prime Minister in the capital New Delhi, she accused Pakistan of openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in the Valley.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Pakistan has repeatedly wasted chances to talk and resolve issues. It is time for Pakistan to respond if it wants peace in Kashmir,&quot; she said, lashing out at the neighbouring country.&nbsp; 
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PM Modi like all of us is very concerned with the situation in J&amp;K: CM Mehbooba Mufti after meeting PM <a href="https://t.co/vCIExGgUxo">pic.twitter.com/vCIExGgUxo</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/769413945866260480">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Modi ji took an initiative, our HM took an initiative, they went to Pakistan, but now its upto Pakistan to respond: J&amp;K CM
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/769416623929356288">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Defending the long spell of curfew in the region, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister called for talks between interlocutors and all stakeholders on the Kashmir issue.&nbsp; 
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Separatists should also come forward and help in saving lives of the innocent youth: J&amp;K Mehbooba Mufti <a href="https://t.co/sauL6fluYj">pic.twitter.com/sauL6fluYj</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/769419871608250368">August 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Modi expressed concern over the situation in the Valley.&nbsp; 
 
The meeting comes two days after Indian home minister Rajnath Singh visited the Valley to take stock of the situation. Singh also reiterated the need to substitute the controversial pellet guns that have left hundreds blind during the ongoing unrest.&nbsp; 
 
Kashmir in midst of worst unrest in six years&nbsp; 
 
Embroiled in violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, Kashmir is in the midst of its worst unrest in six years.&nbsp; 
 
Wani represented a new generation of fighter in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen in recent years. 
 
About 70 people have been killed and 6,000 injured in month-and-a-half of clashes, many of them wounded by shotgun rounds fired by security forces enforcing a curfew across the Muslim-majority region. 
 
A police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama district of in the wee hours today. The police constable, Khurshid Ahmed, was killed outside his house in Koil village at around 3:00 a.m.&nbsp; 
 
As per reports, he was leaving his home for duties when the militants shot him from close range. &nbsp;However, the number of militants has still not been ascertained. 
 
A youth also died in Pulwama district during protests on Friday, according to media reports, when security forces opened firing during protests.&nbsp; 
 
Normal life remains crippled across Kashmir and roads largely remain deserted amid restrictions. Indian Army and paramilitary personnel have been patrolling the streets of summer capital Srinagar while barricades and concertina wires have been erected in sensitive areas. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Prime Minister expressed concern over the situation in the Kashmir Valley

As the unrest in the Kashmir valley enters its 50th day, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today and discussed the security situation in the state. Following a discussion at 7 Race Course Road, the official residence of the Prime Minister in the capital New Delhi, she accused Pakistan of openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in the Valley. "Pakistan has repeatedly wasted chances to talk and resolve issues. It is time for Pakistan to respond if it wants peace in Kashmir," she said, lashing out at the neighbouring country. PM Modi like all of us is very concerned with the situation in J&K: CM Mehbooba Mufti after meeting PM pic.twitter.com/vCIExGgUxo — ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Modi ji took an initiative, our HM took an initiative, they went to Pakistan, but now its upto Pakistan to respond: J&K CM — ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Defending the long spell of curfew in the region, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister called for talks between interlocutors and all stakeholders on the Kashmir issue. Separatists should also come forward and help in saving lives of the innocent youth: J&K Mehbooba Mufti pic.twitter.com/sauL6fluYj — ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016 Meanwhile, Modi expressed concern over the situation in the Valley. The meeting comes two days after Indian home minister Rajnath Singh visited the Valley to take stock of the situation. Singh also reiterated the need to substitute the controversial pellet guns that have left hundreds blind during the ongoing unrest. Kashmir in midst of worst unrest in six years Embroiled in violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, Kashmir is in the midst of its worst unrest in six years. Wani represented a new generation of fighter in a region where alienation runs deep even though attacks have fallen in recent years. About 70 people have been killed and 6,000 injured in month-and-a-half of clashes, many of them wounded by shotgun rounds fired by security forces enforcing a curfew across the Muslim-majority region. A police constable was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama district of in the wee hours today. The police constable, Khurshid Ahmed, was killed outside his house in Koil village at around 3:00 a.m. As per reports, he was leaving his home for duties when the militants shot him from close range. However, the number of militants has still not been ascertained. A youth also died in Pulwama district during protests on Friday, according to media reports, when security forces opened firing during protests. Normal life remains crippled across Kashmir and roads largely remain deserted amid restrictions. Indian Army and paramilitary personnel have been patrolling the streets of summer capital Srinagar while barricades and concertina wires have been erected in sensitive areas. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Kashmir chief minister meets Indian PM Modi, accuses Pak of fuelling tension

After much chest thumping over India&#39;s two medal victory at Rio Olympics 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today a task force will be set up to prepare athletes for effective participation in the next three Olympic Games in 2020, 2024 and 2028. 
 
The task force will be set up in a few days, the Prime Minister said. It will focus on providing better infrastructure for training, improved facilities, selection procedure and will comprise of experts from India and abroad.&nbsp; 
 
In India, education has always been given importance over sports. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly stressed on the need to link sports with the education system. 
 
In 2013, during a speech in Ferguson College in western Maharashtra state&#39;s Pune city, Modi had said, &ldquo;During Olympics, people often say despite its huge size, we don&#39;t get medals. Have we linked sports with our education system? Did we give enough opportunity to our youth? Believe me if you give our defence forces this responsibility and match the potential of the new recruits in the interested sports and then train them properly, we will earn 5-7 medals even without much efforts. It requires vision!&rdquo; 
 
A contingent of 118 athletes were sent to Rio, but only two medals were achieved by wrestler Sakshi Malik and badminton player P V Sandhu. The abysmal performance highlighted poor training and lack of facilities given to most Indian athletes.&nbsp; 
 
Indian track and field athlete, O P Jaisha collapsed at the finish line at the end of the women&#39;s marathon. She said she was not provided any water nor energy drinks by officials despite designated stations being provided for India. 
 
(WION) 
 
 
&nbsp;

It will focus on providing better infrastructure for training, improved facilities and selection procedure

After much chest thumping over India's two medal victory at Rio Olympics 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today a task force will be set up to prepare athletes for effective participation in the next three Olympic Games in 2020, 2024 and 2028. The task force will be set up in a few days, the Prime Minister said. It will focus on providing better infrastructure for training, improved facilities, selection procedure and will comprise of experts from India and abroad. In India, education has always been given importance over sports. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly stressed on the need to link sports with the education system. In 2013, during a speech in Ferguson College in western Maharashtra state's Pune city, Modi had said, “During Olympics, people often say despite its huge size, we don't get medals. Have we linked sports with our education system? Did we give enough opportunity to our youth? Believe me if you give our defence forces this responsibility and match the potential of the new recruits in the interested sports and then train them properly, we will earn 5-7 medals even without much efforts. It requires vision!” A contingent of 118 athletes were sent to Rio, but only two medals were achieved by wrestler Sakshi Malik and badminton player P V Sandhu. The abysmal performance highlighted poor training and lack of facilities given to most Indian athletes. Indian track and field athlete, O P Jaisha collapsed at the finish line at the end of the women's marathon. She said she was not provided any water nor energy drinks by officials despite designated stations being provided for India. (WION)

Indian PM Modi announces 'task force' to prepare athletes for next three Olympics

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top aides to prepare last week&#39;s annual Independence Day address, some senior bureaucrats warned him against mentioning Balochistan, arch-rival Pakistan&#39;s restive southwestern province. 
 
Referring to Balochistan in such a prominent speech would be a highly unusual move bound to ratchet up tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours more used to trading barbs over northern Kashmir state, the cause of two of their three wars. 
 
According to a senior official at the meeting in early August, the more hawkish politicians in the room, angered by what they saw as Pakistan&#39;s recent trouble-making in Kashmir, thought differently, and so did Modi. 
 
By siding with the hawks, and including Balochistan in his address, Modi signalled a more muscular approach towards Pakistan. 
 
That dims prospects of bringing the bitter rivals closer together to reduce economic pain and the risk of more violence, an issue that will be high on US secretary of state John Kerry&#39;s agenda when he lands in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit. 
 
&quot;The bureaucrats suggested that talking about Balochistan is a good idea but may be the Independence Day speech was not a good platform for it,&quot; said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the meeting&#39;s sensitivity. 
 
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar &quot;rejected these ideas&quot;, while home minister Rajnath Singh &quot;supported him (Parrikar) by saying we should do everything to silence Pakistan&quot;, this official said. 
 
India&#39;s ministry for external affairs declined to comment on the debate about Modi&#39;s speech. His office, and the defence and home ministries, did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
Speaking from the ramparts of the 17th-century Red Fort in Old Delhi on August 15, Modi thanked the Baloch people for their support after a number of separatist leaders published videos praising him for acknowledging their cause previously. 
 
He also lashed out at supporters of &quot;terrorism&quot;, in a more familiar broadside against India&#39;s old foe. 
 
Crossing the red line 
 
Pakistan has seized on Modi&#39;s speech as evidence that India has a hand in a decades-long Baloch separatist campaign, in which insurgents in the resource-rich yet impoverished region have launched sporadic attacks and demanded independence. India denies the charge. 
 
A senior foreign ministry official in Islamabad said Modi had &quot;crossed the red line&quot;. 
 
Indian officials said Modi&#39;s speech was designed to remind the world about alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, just as Pakistan accuses India of abusing civilians in the disputed region of Kashmir during recent unrest. 
 
But outside Modi&#39;s entourage, questions are being asked about what strategic reward, if any, India can hope to gain by raising the geopolitical stakes. 
 
&quot;Politically, it&#39;s much less useful in terms of Pakistan using this as evidence of Indian meddling. It gives them ammunition,&quot; said Daniel Markey, a South Asia expert at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, referring to Modi&#39;s mention of Balochistan. 
 
But he added: &quot;There is a strategic utility in looking a little unhinged, in sending that message.&quot; 
 
A New Delhi-based diplomat from a major power with traditionally close ties to India said it will only escalate tension. 
 
Deteriorating relations 
 
Relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the killing of a separatist leader in Indian-ruled Kashmir on July 8 sparked the worst violence in the disputed territory in six years. 
 
At least 66 protesters and two security personnel have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, according to official state figures. 
 
India blames Pakistan for failing to stop militants crossing the heavily-militarised de facto border between them and attacking Indian security forces. Pakistan denies this. 
 
Two senior Indian officials said Modi had become frustrated with Pakistan&#39;s latest attempt to draw wide international attention to the Kashmir question and the current clampdown, and to take the matter to the United Nations. 
 
&quot;Dealing with militancy is our internal issue and we will not tolerate any other country&#39;s interference,&quot; said one of the officials, from Modi&#39;s nationalist ruling party, who is closely involved in regional policy. 
 
At the August meeting, Parrikar, the defence minister, also said that by raising Balochistan, Modi would be highlighting China&#39;s role in unrest in the region, said the official present. 
 
The reference to China reflects Indian unease at Beijing&#39;s backing of a $46 billion trade corridor running through land in northeast Pakistan that New Delhi claims, onward through Balochistan to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea coast. 
 
Some of the Baloch separatist leaders who praised Modi before his address worry that their battle for a homeland will become a political football between the South Asian neighbours. 
 
&quot;If India&#39;s support is just a reaction to the politics and to Kashmir, then it could damage the political struggle,&quot; said Geneva-based Baloch Republican Party leader Brahamdagh Bugti. 
 
He said New Delhi had rejected his application for Indian asylum in 2007. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

By including Balochistan in his address, Modi signalled a more muscular approach towards Pakistan.

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top aides to prepare last week's annual Independence Day address, some senior bureaucrats warned him against mentioning Balochistan, arch-rival Pakistan's restive southwestern province. Referring to Balochistan in such a prominent speech would be a highly unusual move bound to ratchet up tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours more used to trading barbs over northern Kashmir state, the cause of two of their three wars. According to a senior official at the meeting in early August, the more hawkish politicians in the room, angered by what they saw as Pakistan's recent trouble-making in Kashmir, thought differently, and so did Modi. By siding with the hawks, and including Balochistan in his address, Modi signalled a more muscular approach towards Pakistan. That dims prospects of bringing the bitter rivals closer together to reduce economic pain and the risk of more violence, an issue that will be high on US secretary of state John Kerry's agenda when he lands in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit. "The bureaucrats suggested that talking about Balochistan is a good idea but may be the Independence Day speech was not a good platform for it," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the meeting's sensitivity. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar "rejected these ideas", while home minister Rajnath Singh "supported him (Parrikar) by saying we should do everything to silence Pakistan", this official said. India's ministry for external affairs declined to comment on the debate about Modi's speech. His office, and the defence and home ministries, did not respond to requests for comment. Speaking from the ramparts of the 17th-century Red Fort in Old Delhi on August 15, Modi thanked the Baloch people for their support after a number of separatist leaders published videos praising him for acknowledging their cause previously. He also lashed out at supporters of "terrorism", in a more familiar broadside against India's old foe. Crossing the red line Pakistan has seized on Modi's speech as evidence that India has a hand in a decades-long Baloch separatist campaign, in which insurgents in the resource-rich yet impoverished region have launched sporadic attacks and demanded independence. India denies the charge. A senior foreign ministry official in Islamabad said Modi had "crossed the red line". Indian officials said Modi's speech was designed to remind the world about alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, just as Pakistan accuses India of abusing civilians in the disputed region of Kashmir during recent unrest. But outside Modi's entourage, questions are being asked about what strategic reward, if any, India can hope to gain by raising the geopolitical stakes. "Politically, it's much less useful in terms of Pakistan using this as evidence of Indian meddling. It gives them ammunition," said Daniel Markey, a South Asia expert at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, referring to Modi's mention of Balochistan. But he added: "There is a strategic utility in looking a little unhinged, in sending that message." A New Delhi-based diplomat from a major power with traditionally close ties to India said it will only escalate tension. Deteriorating relations Relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the killing of a separatist leader in Indian-ruled Kashmir on July 8 sparked the worst violence in the disputed territory in six years. At least 66 protesters and two security personnel have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides, according to official state figures. India blames Pakistan for failing to stop militants crossing the heavily-militarised de facto border between them and attacking Indian security forces. Pakistan denies this. Two senior Indian officials said Modi had become frustrated with Pakistan's latest attempt to draw wide international attention to the Kashmir question and the current clampdown, and to take the matter to the United Nations. "Dealing with militancy is our internal issue and we will not tolerate any other country's interference," said one of the officials, from Modi's nationalist ruling party, who is closely involved in regional policy. At the August meeting, Parrikar, the defence minister, also said that by raising Balochistan, Modi would be highlighting China's role in unrest in the region, said the official present. The reference to China reflects Indian unease at Beijing's backing of a $46 billion trade corridor running through land in northeast Pakistan that New Delhi claims, onward through Balochistan to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea coast. Some of the Baloch separatist leaders who praised Modi before his address worry that their battle for a homeland will become a political football between the South Asian neighbours. "If India's support is just a reaction to the politics and to Kashmir, then it could damage the political struggle," said Geneva-based Baloch Republican Party leader Brahamdagh Bugti. He said New Delhi had rejected his application for Indian asylum in 2007. (Reuters)

Indian PM Modi goaded Pakistan on Balochistan in deliberate but risky move

Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, who began a significant two-day visit of the Kashmir Valley today, has asserted that with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir. 
 
He invited all those believe in &quot;Kashmiriyat (ethos of Kashmiri culture), Insaniyat (humanity) and Jamhooriyat (democracy)&quot; as he takes stock of the situation in the Valley hit by violence after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen millitant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.&nbsp; 
 
Singh, who is accompanied by home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will review the situation in Kashmir where as many as 65 persons have been killed and more than 8,000 &nbsp;have been injured in clashes between protestors and security forces that broke out in the wake of Wani&#39;s killing. &nbsp;He arrived at Srinagar airport at 11.30 AM in a special plane.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome.
&mdash; Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/768307110669058048">August 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar on a two day visit. Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders.
&mdash; Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/768306991571750912">August 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
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This is his second visit to the Kashmir Valley in a month. &nbsp;He is likely to emphasise the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the valley. 
 
The home minister&#39;s visit to Kashmir comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s interaction with a delegation of opposition parties led by former state chief minister Omar Abdullah in the national capital on Monday. 
 
Modi had expressed &quot;deep concern and pain&quot; over the situation there and had asked all political parties to work together to find a &quot;permanent and lasting&quot; solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

This is his second visit to the Valley where more than 60 people have died, 8,000 have been injured

Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, who began a significant two-day visit of the Kashmir Valley today, has asserted that with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir. He invited all those believe in "Kashmiriyat (ethos of Kashmiri culture), Insaniyat (humanity) and Jamhooriyat (democracy)" as he takes stock of the situation in the Valley hit by violence after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen millitant commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Singh, who is accompanied by home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, will review the situation in Kashmir where as many as 65 persons have been killed and more than 8,000 have been injured in clashes between protestors and security forces that broke out in the wake of Wani's killing. He arrived at Srinagar airport at 11.30 AM in a special plane. I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 Leaving New Delhi for Srinagar on a two day visit. Shall interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2016 This is his second visit to the Kashmir Valley in a month. He is likely to emphasise the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the valley. The home minister's visit to Kashmir comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with a delegation of opposition parties led by former state chief minister Omar Abdullah in the national capital on Monday. Modi had expressed "deep concern and pain" over the situation there and had asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Indian home minister Rajnath Singh visits Kashmir valley to take stock of unrest?

At least 17 people were injured after fresh protests broke out in the Shopian district of Kashmir and&nbsp;security forces fired pellets at stone pelters. Thirteen of the injured were discharged after being administered first-aid at a local hospital. 
 
Hundreds of people from Vehil village&nbsp;were protesting this afternoon against the recent civilian killings in the Kashmir&nbsp;valley when some &quot;miscreants&quot; started pelting stones at security forces, a police official said. 
 
The&nbsp;forces retaliated by firing tear smoke shells and pellet guns, the official said. 
 
&quot;Four of the injured have been referred to hospitals in Srinagar for specialised treatment,&quot; he added. 
 
Reports of stone pelting were also received from Nowgam area of the city, Khushhaalpora in Sopore area of Baramulla district and Bandipora town, the official said. 
 
The protest comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there was a need to find a permanent solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution. 
 
65 persons, including two policemen, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan&nbsp;Wani was killed by security forces in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district. 
 
Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed in the Valley for the 46th consecutive day due to curfew, and the separatist-called&nbsp;strike. 
 
Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to stay off the roads. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, and calling facilities&nbsp;on prepaid mobiles remained barred. 
 
(DNA webdesk)&nbsp;

The protests came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there was a need to find a permanent solution to the problem

At least 17 people were injured after fresh protests broke out in the Shopian district of Kashmir and security forces fired pellets at stone pelters. Thirteen of the injured were discharged after being administered first-aid at a local hospital. Hundreds of people from Vehil village were protesting this afternoon against the recent civilian killings in the Kashmir valley when some "miscreants" started pelting stones at security forces, a police official said. The forces retaliated by firing tear smoke shells and pellet guns, the official said. "Four of the injured have been referred to hospitals in Srinagar for specialised treatment," he added. Reports of stone pelting were also received from Nowgam area of the city, Khushhaalpora in Sopore area of Baramulla district and Bandipora town, the official said. The protest comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there was a need to find a permanent solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution. 65 persons, including two policemen, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed in the Valley for the 46th consecutive day due to curfew, and the separatist-called strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to stay off the roads. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, and calling facilities on prepaid mobiles remained barred. (DNA webdesk)

17 more injured in clashes between protesters and security forces in Kashmir

India&#39;s former central bank governor Raghuram Rajan&#39;s abrupt announcement of his departure as governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came as a nasty surprise to many, especially his fans in the investment community, but the way Urjit Patel was chosen as his successor has been anything but. 
 
Aides to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have sought to show that the search and selection process has been deliberate and controlled, that the nation&rsquo;s leader and the finance minister Arun Jaitley were closely involved, and that the government is fully behind the RBI&rsquo;s battle to control inflation. 
 
Critically for the stability of financial markets, Patel lent his name to the panel that drew up the blueprint for formally adopting a consumer inflation target of 4 per cent, as well as creating a new Monetary Policy Committee to steer interest rates and help India hit that goal. 
 
At the same time, the officials have stressed that no single individual should again dominate the RBI in the way that Rajan did over his three-year term. Where Rajan is known for pithy one-liners at news conferences and speeches larded with social criticism, Patel is seen as more of a backroom technocrat who avoids the limelight. 
 
Rajan&#39;s shock announcement on the afternoon of June 18, a Saturday, caught the government off-guard &ndash; Jaitley was watching a movie at home with his family and took more than two hours to issue a public statement. 
 
The recovery of composure was quick, though. A shortlist of potential successors was floated before the evening was out. Patel, the 52-year-old deputy governor who takes over from Rajan on September 4, was on it, along with a clutch of other contenders that included veterans of the RBI. 
 
On Saturday evening, exactly nine weeks later, the choice was made public. And it was done without Modi holding meetings about the job with any of the candidates, according to sources with direct knowledge of the process. 
 
While Modi may have been involved in the final decision on Patel, he wanted to &quot;keep his distance&quot; in the weeks before as the appointment committee ran the process, one aide said. 
 
&quot;Lobbying does not get you such a job - but Modi ji&#39;s confidence in Patel was a big factor,&rdquo; the official said, using the honorific Indian suffix. 
 
Patel has wide international policy experience. He worked at the IMF as an economist from 1990 to 1995, and for Boston Consulting Group and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries. 
 
Sources said Patel had been vetted and his candidacy blessed by the Hindu-nationalist umbrella group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), that backs Modi&#39;s nationalist party. 
 
That marks a big change from its attitude to Rajan, who came under fire from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh&nbsp;(RSS), a right-wing ,Hindu nationalist Party and in particular from lawmaker Subramanian Swamy who demanded he be fired for being &quot;mentally not fully Indian&quot;. Rajan this month denounced the personal attacks he had faced as &quot;abominable&quot;. 
 
Patel is looked on favourably as dependable and low-key, with no ambition to upstage the government. Rajan, by contrast, drew RSS ire by straying into politically sensitive territory in high-profile speeches in which he said social tolerance was vital to a country&rsquo;s economic development. 
 
That was perceived as an implied attack on the Hindu-nationalist agenda of the RSS and other supporters of Modi. Rajan has denied criticising the government. 
 
Getting to know you 
 
Modi warmed to Patel at a face-to-face meeting earlier this year, when the central banker was given an extension to his term as deputy governor in charge of monetary policy, said a second Modi aide. 
 
&quot;Patel has a direct working equation with the Prime Minister,&quot; this aide said, using an Indian-English expression for a personal relationship, adding the Prime Minister valued Patel as a &quot;clear thinker&quot; and appreciated his &quot;direct approach&quot;. 
 
The only sign of nervousness senior officials betrayed was in their initial suggestion that the next governor would be named by the time of Rajan&#39;s final policy meeting on August 9. 
 
But, after financial markets remained calm despite Rajan&#39;s announcement that he would not seek a second term, they reverted to a timeline that would allow just enough time for an orderly handover - as was the case with Rajan&#39;s own appointment three years ago. 
 
Throughout, the Prime Minister&#39;s Office has owned the process - reflecting Modi&#39;s determination to centralise decision-making in India&#39;s sprawling and often recalcitrant bureaucracy - with cabinet secretary PK Sinha heading the selection committee. 
 
In its initial recommendations in July, the panel called for the next RBI governor to be a technocrat, and not a bureaucrat; a macroeconomist; and team player. 
 
The successful candidate needed to be an individual of stature who could also ensure continuity at the RBI, one of the panel&#39;s members said after Patel&rsquo;s appointment. 
 
Jaitley met Modi to discuss the RBI succession on Thursday. A five-strong candidate list was then submitted to the selection panel, with the field led by Patel and also featuring contenders such as India&#39;s IMF executive director Subir Gokarn and World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu. 
 
The selection committee provided its feedback after a lengthy session on Friday. It did not recommend any name; nor did it formally interview candidates, the member said, adding the final decision to pick Patel was made by Modi and Jaitley. 
 
&nbsp;Inflation hawk 
 
The choice shows that Modi is paying more than just lip-service to the fight against inflation. 
 
Modi endorsed the inflation fight in his Independence Day speech last Monday, and that will shield Patel as he seeks to consolidate the inflation-targeting framework brought in under the leadership of Rajan. 
 
&quot;While we have embraced the idea of the MPC, it has yet to be tested,&quot; said another senior government official. &nbsp;&quot;You need a smooth transition from the current system of decision making. Patel can ensure that there are no hiccoughs.&quot; 
 
&nbsp;Also, with the inflation rate now pushing above 6 per cent, it is vital to send a clear message to investors that the government would not waver in its resolve to keep inflation in check, this official added. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;It is very important that the credibility we have acquired in managing inflation doesn&#39;t get dented,&quot; the official also said. 
 
(Reuters)

Officials stress no single individual to dominate the Reserve Bank of India, the way former governor Raghuram Rajan did

India's former central bank governor Raghuram Rajan's abrupt announcement of his departure as governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came as a nasty surprise to many, especially his fans in the investment community, but the way Urjit Patel was chosen as his successor has been anything but. Aides to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have sought to show that the search and selection process has been deliberate and controlled, that the nation’s leader and the finance minister Arun Jaitley were closely involved, and that the government is fully behind the RBI’s battle to control inflation. Critically for the stability of financial markets, Patel lent his name to the panel that drew up the blueprint for formally adopting a consumer inflation target of 4 per cent, as well as creating a new Monetary Policy Committee to steer interest rates and help India hit that goal. At the same time, the officials have stressed that no single individual should again dominate the RBI in the way that Rajan did over his three-year term. Where Rajan is known for pithy one-liners at news conferences and speeches larded with social criticism, Patel is seen as more of a backroom technocrat who avoids the limelight. Rajan's shock announcement on the afternoon of June 18, a Saturday, caught the government off-guard – Jaitley was watching a movie at home with his family and took more than two hours to issue a public statement. The recovery of composure was quick, though. A shortlist of potential successors was floated before the evening was out. Patel, the 52-year-old deputy governor who takes over from Rajan on September 4, was on it, along with a clutch of other contenders that included veterans of the RBI. On Saturday evening, exactly nine weeks later, the choice was made public. And it was done without Modi holding meetings about the job with any of the candidates, according to sources with direct knowledge of the process. While Modi may have been involved in the final decision on Patel, he wanted to "keep his distance" in the weeks before as the appointment committee ran the process, one aide said. "Lobbying does not get you such a job - but Modi ji's confidence in Patel was a big factor,” the official said, using the honorific Indian suffix. Patel has wide international policy experience. He worked at the IMF as an economist from 1990 to 1995, and for Boston Consulting Group and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries. Sources said Patel had been vetted and his candidacy blessed by the Hindu-nationalist umbrella group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), that backs Modi's nationalist party. That marks a big change from its attitude to Rajan, who came under fire from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing ,Hindu nationalist Party and in particular from lawmaker Subramanian Swamy who demanded he be fired for being "mentally not fully Indian". Rajan this month denounced the personal attacks he had faced as "abominable". Patel is looked on favourably as dependable and low-key, with no ambition to upstage the government. Rajan, by contrast, drew RSS ire by straying into politically sensitive territory in high-profile speeches in which he said social tolerance was vital to a country’s economic development. That was perceived as an implied attack on the Hindu-nationalist agenda of the RSS and other supporters of Modi. Rajan has denied criticising the government. Getting to know you Modi warmed to Patel at a face-to-face meeting earlier this year, when the central banker was given an extension to his term as deputy governor in charge of monetary policy, said a second Modi aide. "Patel has a direct working equation with the Prime Minister," this aide said, using an Indian-English expression for a personal relationship, adding the Prime Minister valued Patel as a "clear thinker" and appreciated his "direct approach". The only sign of nervousness senior officials betrayed was in their initial suggestion that the next governor would be named by the time of Rajan's final policy meeting on August 9. But, after financial markets remained calm despite Rajan's announcement that he would not seek a second term, they reverted to a timeline that would allow just enough time for an orderly handover - as was the case with Rajan's own appointment three years ago. Throughout, the Prime Minister's Office has owned the process - reflecting Modi's determination to centralise decision-making in India's sprawling and often recalcitrant bureaucracy - with cabinet secretary PK Sinha heading the selection committee. In its initial recommendations in July, the panel called for the next RBI governor to be a technocrat, and not a bureaucrat; a macroeconomist; and team player. The successful candidate needed to be an individual of stature who could also ensure continuity at the RBI, one of the panel's members said after Patel’s appointment. Jaitley met Modi to discuss the RBI succession on Thursday. A five-strong candidate list was then submitted to the selection panel, with the field led by Patel and also featuring contenders such as India's IMF executive director Subir Gokarn and World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu. The selection committee provided its feedback after a lengthy session on Friday. It did not recommend any name; nor did it formally interview candidates, the member said, adding the final decision to pick Patel was made by Modi and Jaitley. Inflation hawk The choice shows that Modi is paying more than just lip-service to the fight against inflation. Modi endorsed the inflation fight in his Independence Day speech last Monday, and that will shield Patel as he seeks to consolidate the inflation-targeting framework brought in under the leadership of Rajan. "While we have embraced the idea of the MPC, it has yet to be tested," said another senior government official. "You need a smooth transition from the current system of decision making. Patel can ensure that there are no hiccoughs." Also, with the inflation rate now pushing above 6 per cent, it is vital to send a clear message to investors that the government would not waver in its resolve to keep inflation in check, this official added. "It is very important that the credibility we have acquired in managing inflation doesn't get dented," the official also said. (Reuters)

India: PM Modi regains composure after Rajan shock, visible in naming of new central bank chief

No decision has yet been reached to appoint India&#39;s next central bank governor, finance minister Arun Jaitley said today, 18 days before the incumbent is due to stand down. 
 
A senior aide to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was &quot;expected to make up his mind very soon&quot; on replacing Raghuram Rajan, the former International Monetary Fund chief economist who dropped a bombshell in June by announcing he would not seek a second term. 
 
&quot;We will let you know when we decide,&quot; Jaitley told reporters as he returned to the finance ministry from a meeting with Modi. &quot;You will come to know the conclusion, not the process.&quot; 
 
Rajan ends his three-year term as governor of the Reserve Bank of India on September 4. 
 
In that short time, he transformed the RBI into an inflation-targeting central bank, with a central goal for consumer price growth of four per cent. The government is also in the process of selecting a new, six-member Monetary Policy Committee that will decide on interest rates. 
 
Officials have suggested that Rajan&#39;s replacement would be named soon to give enough time for an orderly leadership handover at the Mumbai-based central bank. 
 
A shortlist of possible successors was floated in the immediate aftermath of Rajan&#39;s June 18 announcement that, in the ensuing weeks, has seen hopefuls drift in and out of contention. 
 
Former RBI deputy governor Subir Gokarn, now India&#39;s executive director at the IMF, has featured throughout. Also in consideration is current deputy governor Urjit Patel, according to officials with direct knowledge of the matter. 
 
World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu, who is soon to retire, has edged into contention. Other names also mentioned have been State Bank of India chair-managing director Arundhati Bhattacharya; the government&#39;s chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian; and Ashok Lahiri, who held the same role under an earlier government. 
 
One finance ministry official said a decision was likely to be announced by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office, adding it was difficult to say at this stage whether Modi would accept Jaitley&#39;s recommendation at all. He declined to comment on what was discussed at the meeting between Modi and Jaitley. 
 
(Reuters)

Officials have suggested that Rajan's replacement would be named in time enough for an orderly leadership handover

No decision has yet been reached to appoint India's next central bank governor, finance minister Arun Jaitley said today, 18 days before the incumbent is due to stand down. A senior aide to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "expected to make up his mind very soon" on replacing Raghuram Rajan, the former International Monetary Fund chief economist who dropped a bombshell in June by announcing he would not seek a second term. "We will let you know when we decide," Jaitley told reporters as he returned to the finance ministry from a meeting with Modi. "You will come to know the conclusion, not the process." Rajan ends his three-year term as governor of the Reserve Bank of India on September 4. In that short time, he transformed the RBI into an inflation-targeting central bank, with a central goal for consumer price growth of four per cent. The government is also in the process of selecting a new, six-member Monetary Policy Committee that will decide on interest rates. Officials have suggested that Rajan's replacement would be named soon to give enough time for an orderly leadership handover at the Mumbai-based central bank. A shortlist of possible successors was floated in the immediate aftermath of Rajan's June 18 announcement that, in the ensuing weeks, has seen hopefuls drift in and out of contention. Former RBI deputy governor Subir Gokarn, now India's executive director at the IMF, has featured throughout. Also in consideration is current deputy governor Urjit Patel, according to officials with direct knowledge of the matter. World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu, who is soon to retire, has edged into contention. Other names also mentioned have been State Bank of India chair-managing director Arundhati Bhattacharya; the government's chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian; and Ashok Lahiri, who held the same role under an earlier government. One finance ministry official said a decision was likely to be announced by the Prime Minister's Office, adding it was difficult to say at this stage whether Modi would accept Jaitley's recommendation at all. He declined to comment on what was discussed at the meeting between Modi and Jaitley. (Reuters)

India finance minister: We'll let you know on RBI governor

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reached the Red Fort in the nation&#39;s capital city of New Delhi on the occasion of 70th Independence Day.&nbsp;He was received by defence minister Manoha Parrikar and other dignitaries.&nbsp; 
 
Modi began his address to the nation by bringing into focus the march from self-governance to good-governance, which will require sacrifices, saying: &quot;There was a time when the government was shrouded by&nbsp;allegations but now the government is surrounded by expectations.&quot; 
 
Talking of his mantra, Modi said: &quot;I have tried to adopt the strategy of &#39;Reform, Perform and Transform&#39; and tried to avoid populism.&quot; 
 
The main focus seemed to be on the development of rural infrastructure. &quot;Construction of rural roads increased to 100 kilometres a day&nbsp;from 70-75 kilometres a day.&nbsp;Around four crore new gas connections had been distributed in 60 weeks as against 14&nbsp;crore connections given in past 60 years, Modi said.&quot; 
 
Then the Prime Minister moved on to power sources. &quot;Laying of power transmission lines increased to 50,000&nbsp;kilometres in a year from 30,000-35,000-kilometre earlier.&nbsp;Electricity has reached 10,000 villages out of 18,000&nbsp;unelectricified villages.&quot; 
 
After stating that the inflation rate has gone below six per cent, the Prime Minister brought food security into focus, saying: &quot;I will continue to work to ensure food plate of poor is not affected by inflation.&quot; &nbsp; 
 
&quot;Sowing of pulses has increased 1.5 times this year, it will help solve problem of demand shortfall.&quot;&nbsp;But it wasn&#39;t only about grains. Modi spoke of reviving 90 shut irrigation schemes and 77,000 solar&nbsp;pumps being distributed to bring down input cost for farmers.&nbsp; 
 
When it comes to storage, he mentions in his address that food godowns with 15 lakh ton capacity have been built and emphasis is on food processing with the objective being to double farmers&#39; income by 2022.&nbsp;There will also be renewed focus on revival of 118 stuck projects worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore.&nbsp; 
 
One of the major problems plaguing the nation is the plight of debt-ridden farmers. On this, the Prime Minister said that 99.5 per cent of past dues of sugarcane farmers have been cleared and&nbsp;95 per cent of sugarcane sold this season has been paid for to farmers.&nbsp; 
 
In the recently passed Goods and Services Tax bill, Modi promised a strong economy, thanking all parties for its passage. 
 
The&nbsp;PM announced 20 per cent increase in pension of freedom fighters.&nbsp; 
 
Our social unity is most important. Division in the name of caste, creed hurts the country. Need to rise above all these issues,&quot; the Prime Minister said adding that a tough and &quot;sensitive&quot; approach is required to tackle the age-old social evils whether it is castism or untouchability.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;A strong country cannot be built without a strong society which is based on social justice.&quot; 
 
Country will not yield to terrorism and extremism, asserts PM, asking youth to shun violence and return to mainstream. 
 
Narendra Modi hit out at neighbouring Pakistan saying they glorify terrorists attacking India while the nation cried when children were killed in terror attack on Peshawar.&nbsp; 
 
Government to bear up to one lakh in Indian Rupees healthcare expenses&nbsp;annually for families below the poverty line, the Prime Minister added. 
 
(PTI)

From inflation to food security, the PM's Independence Day address focused on infrastructure and rural development

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reached the Red Fort in the nation's capital city of New Delhi on the occasion of 70th Independence Day. He was received by defence minister Manoha Parrikar and other dignitaries. Modi began his address to the nation by bringing into focus the march from self-governance to good-governance, which will require sacrifices, saying: "There was a time when the government was shrouded by allegations but now the government is surrounded by expectations." Talking of his mantra, Modi said: "I have tried to adopt the strategy of 'Reform, Perform and Transform' and tried to avoid populism." The main focus seemed to be on the development of rural infrastructure. "Construction of rural roads increased to 100 kilometres a day from 70-75 kilometres a day. Around four crore new gas connections had been distributed in 60 weeks as against 14 crore connections given in past 60 years, Modi said." Then the Prime Minister moved on to power sources. "Laying of power transmission lines increased to 50,000 kilometres in a year from 30,000-35,000-kilometre earlier. Electricity has reached 10,000 villages out of 18,000 unelectricified villages." After stating that the inflation rate has gone below six per cent, the Prime Minister brought food security into focus, saying: "I will continue to work to ensure food plate of poor is not affected by inflation." "Sowing of pulses has increased 1.5 times this year, it will help solve problem of demand shortfall." But it wasn't only about grains. Modi spoke of reviving 90 shut irrigation schemes and 77,000 solar pumps being distributed to bring down input cost for farmers. When it comes to storage, he mentions in his address that food godowns with 15 lakh ton capacity have been built and emphasis is on food processing with the objective being to double farmers' income by 2022. There will also be renewed focus on revival of 118 stuck projects worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore. One of the major problems plaguing the nation is the plight of debt-ridden farmers. On this, the Prime Minister said that 99.5 per cent of past dues of sugarcane farmers have been cleared and 95 per cent of sugarcane sold this season has been paid for to farmers. In the recently passed Goods and Services Tax bill, Modi promised a strong economy, thanking all parties for its passage. The PM announced 20 per cent increase in pension of freedom fighters. Our social unity is most important. Division in the name of caste, creed hurts the country. Need to rise above all these issues," the Prime Minister said adding that a tough and "sensitive" approach is required to tackle the age-old social evils whether it is castism or untouchability. "A strong country cannot be built without a strong society which is based on social justice." Country will not yield to terrorism and extremism, asserts PM, asking youth to shun violence and return to mainstream. Narendra Modi hit out at neighbouring Pakistan saying they glorify terrorists attacking India while the nation cried when children were killed in terror attack on Peshawar. Government to bear up to one lakh in Indian Rupees healthcare expenses annually for families below the poverty line, the Prime Minister added. (PTI)

Reform, perform and transform: Indian Prime Minister Modi

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in New Delhi.&nbsp; 
 
The two leaders held discussions on issues of mutual interests, said local media reports. 
 
India&#39;s national security advisor Ajit Doval and foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar were also present during the meeting. 
 
Wang, on a three-day visit to India, is also met his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj later in the day on key regional and bilateral issues. He is likely to seek India&#39;s support for Chinese position on the South China Sea dispute.
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Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets EAM Sushma Swaraj <a href="https://t.co/R7eFr7DZJh">pic.twitter.com/R7eFr7DZJh</a>
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Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets PM Narendra Modi <a href="https://t.co/N52UqLkNC1">pic.twitter.com/N52UqLkNC1</a>
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China has refused to recognise last month&#39;s ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague that invalidated its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, to which India reacted by saying that all parties involved must &quot;show utmost respect&quot; to the verdict by Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. 
 
Modi&#39;s upcoming trip to Hangzhou for G-20 summit on September 04-05 and recent transgression by Chinese troops in Chamoli district of northern Uttarakhand state are also expected to figure in discussions. 
 
Wang&#39;s visit is the first bilateral meeting between leaders of the two Asian giants after China ruled out bending rules for India for its entry to the prestigious Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in June. 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp;

Wang's visit is the first bilateral meeting between leaders of two Asian giants after China ruled out bending rules for India for its NSG

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in New Delhi. The two leaders held discussions on issues of mutual interests, said local media reports. India's national security advisor Ajit Doval and foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar were also present during the meeting. Wang, on a three-day visit to India, is also met his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj later in the day on key regional and bilateral issues. He is likely to seek India's support for Chinese position on the South China Sea dispute. Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets EAM Sushma Swaraj pic.twitter.com/R7eFr7DZJh — ANI (@ANI_news) August 13, 2016 Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/N52UqLkNC1 — ANI (@ANI_news) August 13, 2016 China has refused to recognise last month's ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague that invalidated its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, to which India reacted by saying that all parties involved must "show utmost respect" to the verdict by Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Modi's upcoming trip to Hangzhou for G-20 summit on September 04-05 and recent transgression by Chinese troops in Chamoli district of northern Uttarakhand state are also expected to figure in discussions. Wang's visit is the first bilateral meeting between leaders of the two Asian giants after China ruled out bending rules for India for its entry to the prestigious Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in June. (Agencies)

Chinese foreign minister meets Modi, discusses issues of 'mutual interest'

Indian television and film actress Rakhi Sawant has taken her admiration for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to another level this time. 
 
Sawant was attending a pre-Independence Day party in Chicago, USA where she wore a black dress with Modi&rsquo;s pictures all over the dress. The event was reported to be organised for Indians in the US. 
 
Her pictures soon went viral across social media, evoking outrage from many, especially given the placement of the pictures on her dress. 
 
Sawant, who has also briefly tried her hands at politics, has in the recent past made her admiration for the prime minister very vocal.

Sawant, Indian film and TV actress, wore the dress to a pre-Independence Day party in Chicago, USA

Indian television and film actress Rakhi Sawant has taken her admiration for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to another level this time. Sawant was attending a pre-Independence Day party in Chicago, USA where she wore a black dress with Modi’s pictures all over the dress. The event was reported to be organised for Indians in the US. Her pictures soon went viral across social media, evoking outrage from many, especially given the placement of the pictures on her dress. Sawant, who has also briefly tried her hands at politics, has in the recent past made her admiration for the prime minister very vocal.

Rakhi Sawant wears Narendra Modi emblazoned dress at USA event

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin today jointly inaugurated the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 
 
Speaking from Moscow via video conference, President Putin highlighted that the plant was mostly about bringing advanced technology to India, adding that Russia has huge plans regarding this matter and that the deed for the third unit of the plant should be signed by the end of this year. 
 
&quot;Russia is a world leader in the&nbsp;nuclear market. Nuclear power plants build by Russians are of high standards and safe. 85 per cent fund comes from the Russia federation. I thank all who worked in implementing the project,&quot; Putin said. 
 
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi, speaking from the national capital via video conference, asserted that the plant marks another step in Indo-Russian cooperation, and is a celebration of the collaboration between the two nations. 
 
&quot;The first unit is the single largest power plant in India and we have planned for five more. Today&#39;s event is a joyful occasion for the experts and scientists of Russia and India in the nuclear field. I&#39;m grateful to President Putin and I deeply value our friendship. I looking forward to meeting you in G20 in China,&quot; he said. 
 
Speaking at the inauguration from Chennai, chief minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, asserted that the Nuclear Plant is a monument of the long-standing relationship between India and Russia, adding this project is important to Tamil Nadu, which is trying to rise above in all sectors. 
 
&quot;As chief minister, I have always extended support of the Kudankulam projects and also allayed the fears of local people regarding the plant. This project has overcome many hurdles so far, politically, financially and technically. The successful commission is a testimony of how the fear of the people should be allayed,&quot; she said. 
 
She further requested that the second unit of the plant also be commissioned at the earliest, considering their need for the growing industrial and farming sectors.The first unit of Kudankulam nuclear power plant attained criticality in July 2013. 
 
Till now, more than 10,800 million units of power have been generated from the first unit according to site director R S Sundar. The 1,000 megawatt Kudankulam nuclear power plant was built with Russian expertise following a pact between the then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in November 1988. The first unit was synchronised with southern power grid on October 22 in 2013 and commercial power generation started by the end of December 2014. 
 
(ANI)

The Indian PM said the plant is a celebration of the collaboration between the two nations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin today jointly inaugurated the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Speaking from Moscow via video conference, President Putin highlighted that the plant was mostly about bringing advanced technology to India, adding that Russia has huge plans regarding this matter and that the deed for the third unit of the plant should be signed by the end of this year. "Russia is a world leader in the nuclear market. Nuclear power plants build by Russians are of high standards and safe. 85 per cent fund comes from the Russia federation. I thank all who worked in implementing the project," Putin said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi, speaking from the national capital via video conference, asserted that the plant marks another step in Indo-Russian cooperation, and is a celebration of the collaboration between the two nations. "The first unit is the single largest power plant in India and we have planned for five more. Today's event is a joyful occasion for the experts and scientists of Russia and India in the nuclear field. I'm grateful to President Putin and I deeply value our friendship. I looking forward to meeting you in G20 in China," he said. Speaking at the inauguration from Chennai, chief minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, asserted that the Nuclear Plant is a monument of the long-standing relationship between India and Russia, adding this project is important to Tamil Nadu, which is trying to rise above in all sectors. "As chief minister, I have always extended support of the Kudankulam projects and also allayed the fears of local people regarding the plant. This project has overcome many hurdles so far, politically, financially and technically. The successful commission is a testimony of how the fear of the people should be allayed," she said. She further requested that the second unit of the plant also be commissioned at the earliest, considering their need for the growing industrial and farming sectors.The first unit of Kudankulam nuclear power plant attained criticality in July 2013. Till now, more than 10,800 million units of power have been generated from the first unit according to site director R S Sundar. The 1,000 megawatt Kudankulam nuclear power plant was built with Russian expertise following a pact between the then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in November 1988. The first unit was synchronised with southern power grid on October 22 in 2013 and commercial power generation started by the end of December 2014. (ANI)

Modi in Delhi, Putin in Moscow inaugurate Kudankulam nuclear plant via video conference

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached out to the people of Kashmir and indicated a willingness to hold dialogue under the framework of &#39;insaniyat (humanity), jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat&#39;. 
 
Breaking his silence on the more than month-long unrest which has claimed more than 55 lives, Modi appealed to the people that they maintain peace and harmony in &quot;heaven&quot; on earth. 
 
Modi reassured the people of Kashmir that they have the same freedom as the rest of India. He asserted that the government is working to solve the state&#39;s difficulties but some people are causuing harm to the plan of development. 
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Whether it is the J&amp;K Govt under Mehbooba ji or the Central Govt, we are finding a solution to all problems through development: PM
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Kashmir, which we give so much love to, some people there are causing it a lot of harm: PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/SyGKjMYIwp">pic.twitter.com/SyGKjMYIwp</a>
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&quot;When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister he had adopted the path of insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat and we walk the same road. I want to tell the brothers and sisters of Kashmir from this great birthplace of Chandra Shekhar Azad that Kashmir has the same strength that has been given to (other parts of) India by our freedom fighters. 
 
&quot;Today, one feels pained to see that innocent youths have been handed stones. Politics of some people is clicking but what will happen to these gullible and simple youths. Humanity and Kashmiriyat will not be allowed to be hit,&quot; Modi said.
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Boys who should be holding laptops, bats, balls in their hands &amp; dreams in their hearts are ones carrying stones: PM Modi on Kashmir
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Modi said it was his good fortune to bow his head in the birthplace of Chandra Shekhar Azad and in his speech remembered all the freedom fighters who made it possible to breathe in a free India 
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Many of us were born in a free India. But the freedom fighters got the honour to sacrifice their lives for the nation: PM
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Therefore today is a fitting moment to remember all those who made it possible for us to breathe in freedom: PM Modi
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Making an impassioned appeal to the youth of Kashmir,&nbsp;Modi said Kashmir should remain a heaven on earth. 
 
He hailed other political parties, especially Congress, for speaking in one voice on the Kashmir issue, calling it the strength of India. &quot;We would like to move forward with this strength,&quot; he said. 
 
Asserting that the state government, in which BJP is a partner, along with the central dispensation, is working towards the state&#39;s development, he said his government would do everything in this regard and will help lawyers, doctors, those depending on tourism and apple growers in their endeavours. 
 
&quot;Our Kashmir is heaven for the countrymen. Every India has a dream to travel to Kashmir sometime. But we can see that a handful of people in Kashmir, which is loved by India so much, a few misled people are harming this great tradition,&quot; he said before invoking Vajpayee&#39;s mantra. 
 
&quot;The common man in Kashmir wants peace,&quot; he said. 
 
His government wants to take Kashmir to new heights of development, empower its panchayats and give job opportunities to its youths, he said. 
 
The Prime Minister congratulated Mehbooba Mufti for ensuring that the Amarnath yatra continue despite the &quot;malicious intentions&quot; of a few people. 
 
&quot;Peace, unity and harmony in Kashmir... And I will especially call upon the youngsters of Kashmir that my friends we should together keep Kashmir as the heaven in the world. We should keep this dream,&quot; he said. 
 
He also used the occasion to make an appeal to Maoists and militants to lay down their arms, asking them to reflect if violence has given them anything even though they lost so much. 
 
Addressing the people of conflict-hit Kashmir, he said, &quot;Governments of India and Jammu &amp; Kashmir, besides 125 crore Indians, wish you well. They want your development. Whatever India has to give for your development, we are ready to give.&quot; 
 
In Kashmir, there has been no dearth of people willing to die for the country, he said, asking the people to join hands in nation-building. 
 
The valley has been hit by violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Over 55 people, including two policemen, have been killed during clashes between protesters and security forces. Large parts of Kashmir have been under intermittent curfew during the period. 
 
Modi was here to kick off a 15-day exercise, &#39;70 Saal Azadi-Zara Yaad Karo Kurbani&#39;, a BJP move to commemorate the Independence Day. 
 
Speaking on the day Mahatma Gandhi had given Quit India call to the British in 1942, the Prime Minister asked the countrymen to take up a cause and develop the country to the ideals of freedom fighters.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

Modi reassured the Kashmiris they have the same freedoms as the rest of India and that development will solve their problems

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached out to the people of Kashmir and indicated a willingness to hold dialogue under the framework of 'insaniyat (humanity), jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat'. Breaking his silence on the more than month-long unrest which has claimed more than 55 lives, Modi appealed to the people that they maintain peace and harmony in "heaven" on earth. Modi reassured the people of Kashmir that they have the same freedom as the rest of India. He asserted that the government is working to solve the state's difficulties but some people are causuing harm to the plan of development. Whether it is the J&K Govt under Mehbooba ji or the Central Govt, we are finding a solution to all problems through development: PM — ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016 Kashmir, which we give so much love to, some people there are causing it a lot of harm: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/SyGKjMYIwp — ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016 "When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister he had adopted the path of insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat and we walk the same road. I want to tell the brothers and sisters of Kashmir from this great birthplace of Chandra Shekhar Azad that Kashmir has the same strength that has been given to (other parts of) India by our freedom fighters. "Today, one feels pained to see that innocent youths have been handed stones. Politics of some people is clicking but what will happen to these gullible and simple youths. Humanity and Kashmiriyat will not be allowed to be hit," Modi said. Boys who should be holding laptops, bats, balls in their hands & dreams in their hearts are ones carrying stones: PM Modi on Kashmir — ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016 Modi said it was his good fortune to bow his head in the birthplace of Chandra Shekhar Azad and in his speech remembered all the freedom fighters who made it possible to breathe in a free India Many of us were born in a free India. But the freedom fighters got the honour to sacrifice their lives for the nation: PM — ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016 Therefore today is a fitting moment to remember all those who made it possible for us to breathe in freedom: PM Modi — ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016 Making an impassioned appeal to the youth of Kashmir, Modi said Kashmir should remain a heaven on earth. He hailed other political parties, especially Congress, for speaking in one voice on the Kashmir issue, calling it the strength of India. "We would like to move forward with this strength," he said. Asserting that the state government, in which BJP is a partner, along with the central dispensation, is working towards the state's development, he said his government would do everything in this regard and will help lawyers, doctors, those depending on tourism and apple growers in their endeavours. "Our Kashmir is heaven for the countrymen. Every India has a dream to travel to Kashmir sometime. But we can see that a handful of people in Kashmir, which is loved by India so much, a few misled people are harming this great tradition," he said before invoking Vajpayee's mantra. "The common man in Kashmir wants peace," he said. His government wants to take Kashmir to new heights of development, empower its panchayats and give job opportunities to its youths, he said. The Prime Minister congratulated Mehbooba Mufti for ensuring that the Amarnath yatra continue despite the "malicious intentions" of a few people. "Peace, unity and harmony in Kashmir... And I will especially call upon the youngsters of Kashmir that my friends we should together keep Kashmir as the heaven in the world. We should keep this dream," he said. He also used the occasion to make an appeal to Maoists and militants to lay down their arms, asking them to reflect if violence has given them anything even though they lost so much. Addressing the people of conflict-hit Kashmir, he said, "Governments of India and Jammu & Kashmir, besides 125 crore Indians, wish you well. They want your development. Whatever India has to give for your development, we are ready to give." In Kashmir, there has been no dearth of people willing to die for the country, he said, asking the people to join hands in nation-building. The valley has been hit by violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Over 55 people, including two policemen, have been killed during clashes between protesters and security forces. Large parts of Kashmir have been under intermittent curfew during the period. Modi was here to kick off a 15-day exercise, '70 Saal Azadi-Zara Yaad Karo Kurbani', a BJP move to commemorate the Independence Day. Speaking on the day Mahatma Gandhi had given Quit India call to the British in 1942, the Prime Minister asked the countrymen to take up a cause and develop the country to the ideals of freedom fighters. (PTI)

Indian PM Modi reaches out to people of Kashmir, indicates willingness to hold dialogue

Keeping up his attack on cow vigilantes, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked people to beware of &quot;fake cow protectors&quot; as they were trying to create tension in the society. 
 
He also asked the state governments to take stringent action against them. 
 
PM Modi, while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a host of development projects here, accused the cow vigilantes of trying to create tension in the society, and said they should be &#39;exposed&#39; and punished. 
 
&quot;I want to tell everybody beware of these fake cow protectors. These handful of vigilantes have nothing to do with cow protection, but want to create &#39;tanaav&#39; (tension) in the society,&quot; Modi said. 
 
&quot;In the name of cow protection, these fake cow protectors are trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the nation. I want the real cow protectors to expose them (fake ones) and the state governments should take stringent action against them,&quot; he added. 
 
&#39;Cow should be linked to country&#39;s development&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Describing cattle as India&#39;s wealth and not burden, the Prime Minister made a mention of a campaign run by governor of northern Himachal Pradesh of protecting abandoned cows and handing them over to farmers to use them for agricultural activity. 
 
&quot;Cow will never become a burden. Cow urine and dung are used in agriculture,&quot; he said, adding that cow should be linked to the country&#39;s economic development. 
 
India is a land of diversity, he said, adding &quot;protecting our country&#39;s unity and integrity is our primary responsibility. To fulfil it all countrymen should protect and serve cows (gau raksha and gau seva karein). Such service enhances national wealth.... It does not create problem for the nation&quot;. 
 
&quot;But fake (cow protectors) destroy society and country. We need to beware of these people. There is a need to punish these people. Then alone can we take the nation to great heights,&quot; the Prime Minister said after inaugurating a host of development projects. 
 
Modi&#39;s comments come at a time when his government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are facing criticism over incidents of violence against Dalits, considered the lowest caste in India, and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. 
 
Earlier, Modi launched Phase-1 of Mission Bhagiratha, a flagship project of Telangana government aimed at providing piped drinking water to every household in the state. 
 
Modi unveiled a plaque in Medak district&#39;s Komatibanda village in Gajwel constituency, represented in the Assembly by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and formally turned on a water tap on the premises to mark the occasion. 
 
This is Prime Minister&#39;s maiden visit to Telangana after formation of the state in June 2014. 
 
(PTI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused 'fake' cow vigilantes of trying to divide the nation

Keeping up his attack on cow vigilantes, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked people to beware of "fake cow protectors" as they were trying to create tension in the society. He also asked the state governments to take stringent action against them. PM Modi, while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a host of development projects here, accused the cow vigilantes of trying to create tension in the society, and said they should be 'exposed' and punished. "I want to tell everybody beware of these fake cow protectors. These handful of vigilantes have nothing to do with cow protection, but want to create 'tanaav' (tension) in the society," Modi said. "In the name of cow protection, these fake cow protectors are trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the nation. I want the real cow protectors to expose them (fake ones) and the state governments should take stringent action against them," he added. 'Cow should be linked to country's development' Describing cattle as India's wealth and not burden, the Prime Minister made a mention of a campaign run by governor of northern Himachal Pradesh of protecting abandoned cows and handing them over to farmers to use them for agricultural activity. "Cow will never become a burden. Cow urine and dung are used in agriculture," he said, adding that cow should be linked to the country's economic development. India is a land of diversity, he said, adding "protecting our country's unity and integrity is our primary responsibility. To fulfil it all countrymen should protect and serve cows (gau raksha and gau seva karein). Such service enhances national wealth.... It does not create problem for the nation". "But fake (cow protectors) destroy society and country. We need to beware of these people. There is a need to punish these people. Then alone can we take the nation to great heights," the Prime Minister said after inaugurating a host of development projects. Modi's comments come at a time when his government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are facing criticism over incidents of violence against Dalits, considered the lowest caste in India, and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Earlier, Modi launched Phase-1 of Mission Bhagiratha, a flagship project of Telangana government aimed at providing piped drinking water to every household in the state. Modi unveiled a plaque in Medak district's Komatibanda village in Gajwel constituency, represented in the Assembly by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and formally turned on a water tap on the premises to mark the occasion. This is Prime Minister's maiden visit to Telangana after formation of the state in June 2014. (PTI)

Indian PM Narendra Modi wants 'fake cow protectors' exposed

Expressing gratitude to all parties for support, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described goods and services tax (GST) as a &quot;crucial step&quot; towards ending tax terrorism besides reducing corruption and black money and said the new regime of indirect taxation will make the consumer&nbsp;&quot;king&quot;. 
 
He emphasised in India&#39;s lower house Lok Sabha that the passage of the GST constitution amendment bill by parliament was not a victory of any party or government but was everybody&#39;s victory as it highlighted the success of the democratic ethos of the country. 
 
Intervening in a debate on Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, Modi asserted that the GST will benefit mainly those states which are considered backward and address the problem of imbalanced development. He acknowledged that manufacturing states will suffer losses but said they will be compensated. 
 
&quot;August 8th marks a crucial step towards freedom from tax terrorism,&quot; the Prime Minister said, while recalling that this was the day in 1942 when Mahatma Gandhi had sounded the bugle of &#39;Quit India&#39; which marked a major step towards the country&#39;s independence. 
 
&quot;GST can&#39;t be seen as a victory of a party or government. It is the victory for democratic ethos of India and a victory for everyone,&quot; he said, while noting that the measure was being supported by all parties, irrespective of different ideologies. 
 
(PTI)

Modi asserted that the bill will benefit mainly those states which are considered backward and address the problem of imbalanced development

Expressing gratitude to all parties for support, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described goods and services tax (GST) as a "crucial step" towards ending tax terrorism besides reducing corruption and black money and said the new regime of indirect taxation will make the consumer "king". He emphasised in India's lower house Lok Sabha that the passage of the GST constitution amendment bill by parliament was not a victory of any party or government but was everybody's victory as it highlighted the success of the democratic ethos of the country. Intervening in a debate on Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, Modi asserted that the GST will benefit mainly those states which are considered backward and address the problem of imbalanced development. He acknowledged that manufacturing states will suffer losses but said they will be compensated. "August 8th marks a crucial step towards freedom from tax terrorism," the Prime Minister said, while recalling that this was the day in 1942 when Mahatma Gandhi had sounded the bugle of 'Quit India' which marked a major step towards the country's independence. "GST can't be seen as a victory of a party or government. It is the victory for democratic ethos of India and a victory for everyone," he said, while noting that the measure was being supported by all parties, irrespective of different ideologies. (PTI)

Goods and services tax will end tax terrorism, says Indian PM Modi

The oath taking ceremony of Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel as the chief minister and deputy chief minister of Indian state of Gujarat respectively will take place today at Mahatma Mandi in Gandhinagar. 
 
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and finance minister Arun Jaitley will attend the oath taking ceremony. 
 
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bharat Pandey told ANI that the group of BJP MLAs including BJP MP in Rajya Sabha Parsottambhai Rupala and former chief minister Aandiben Patel will meet Governor O P &nbsp;Kohli today to tender a proposal containing the name of Rupani and Patel to appoint them as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively. 
 
&quot;Oath taking ceremony will take place on Sunday at Mahatma Mandi at 2 p.m,&quot; he said. 
 
He expressed hope that Rupani and Nitin will carry the legacy, inherited from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to make Gujarat a `symbol of development`. 
 
&quot;Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel are one of our excellent workers, we have the required strength in the assembly and we also have the confidence our MLAs and I am confident that people of Gujarat will accept them as their leader,&quot; he said. 
 
BJP state unit chief Vijay Rupani was appointed as the new chief minister of Gujarat while state health minister Nitin Patel was appointed as the deputy chief minister earlier on Friday. 
 
Thanking Prime Minister Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for reposing faith in him, Rupani, asserted that his team is fully committed to harnessing aspirations of the poor, marginalised, farmers and youngsters. 
 
In a crucial meeting attended by BJP chief Amit Shah and transport minister Nitin Gadkari at the party headquarters in the state, the decision to make Rupani as the next chief minister was announced. 
 
Earlier, the BJP central leadership made it clear that a state MLA would be assigned the job. 
 
Anandiben Patel had tendered her resignation to the governor earlier on Wednesday. 
 
The governor has asked her to continue as the care taker chief minster till the alternate arrangement.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

BJP leaders are hopeful that Rupani will carry forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's legacy to make Gujarat a symbol of development

The oath taking ceremony of Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel as the chief minister and deputy chief minister of Indian state of Gujarat respectively will take place today at Mahatma Mandi in Gandhinagar. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and finance minister Arun Jaitley will attend the oath taking ceremony. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bharat Pandey told ANI that the group of BJP MLAs including BJP MP in Rajya Sabha Parsottambhai Rupala and former chief minister Aandiben Patel will meet Governor O P Kohli today to tender a proposal containing the name of Rupani and Patel to appoint them as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively. "Oath taking ceremony will take place on Sunday at Mahatma Mandi at 2 p.m," he said. He expressed hope that Rupani and Nitin will carry the legacy, inherited from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to make Gujarat a `symbol of development`. "Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel are one of our excellent workers, we have the required strength in the assembly and we also have the confidence our MLAs and I am confident that people of Gujarat will accept them as their leader," he said. BJP state unit chief Vijay Rupani was appointed as the new chief minister of Gujarat while state health minister Nitin Patel was appointed as the deputy chief minister earlier on Friday. Thanking Prime Minister Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for reposing faith in him, Rupani, asserted that his team is fully committed to harnessing aspirations of the poor, marginalised, farmers and youngsters. In a crucial meeting attended by BJP chief Amit Shah and transport minister Nitin Gadkari at the party headquarters in the state, the decision to make Rupani as the next chief minister was announced. Earlier, the BJP central leadership made it clear that a state MLA would be assigned the job. Anandiben Patel had tendered her resignation to the governor earlier on Wednesday. The governor has asked her to continue as the care taker chief minster till the alternate arrangement. (ANI)

Chief minister-designate of India's western state of Gujarat to take oath today

Vijay Rupani was elected today as the new chief minister of western Indian state of Guajrat after senior members of India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), including state lawmakers, met national president Amit Shah here.&nbsp; 
 
Rupani has been elected two days after Anandiben Patel stepped down as the chief minister, citing her age as the cause of the resignation. 
 
Nitin Patel, who was speculated to be elected as chief minister, will serve as deputy chief minister of the state. 
 
It&#39;s pertinent to mention Rupani was in charge of &nbsp;transport, water supply, labor and employment in Anandiben&#39;s cabinet.
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Vijay Rupani to be the next Chief Minister of Gujarat. Nitin Patel to be the Deputy CM, announces Nitin Gadkari. <a href="https://t.co/Dk95cDhmtU">pic.twitter.com/Dk95cDhmtU</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/761541731850588160">August 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Vijay Rupani &amp; Nitin Patel being felicitated by Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah &amp; Anandiben Patel in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) <a href="https://t.co/F1JZJMNgdn">pic.twitter.com/F1JZJMNgdn</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/761542422207791104">August 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
(ANI)

Rupani was elected today after former chief minister Anandiben Patel stepped down, citing her age as cause of resignation

Vijay Rupani was elected today as the new chief minister of western Indian state of Guajrat after senior members of India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), including state lawmakers, met national president Amit Shah here. Rupani has been elected two days after Anandiben Patel stepped down as the chief minister, citing her age as the cause of the resignation. Nitin Patel, who was speculated to be elected as chief minister, will serve as deputy chief minister of the state. It's pertinent to mention Rupani was in charge of transport, water supply, labor and employment in Anandiben's cabinet. Vijay Rupani to be the next Chief Minister of Gujarat. Nitin Patel to be the Deputy CM, announces Nitin Gadkari. pic.twitter.com/Dk95cDhmtU — ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2016 Vijay Rupani & Nitin Patel being felicitated by Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah & Anandiben Patel in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) pic.twitter.com/F1JZJMNgdn — ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2016 (ANI)

Vijay Rupani takes over as Indian state Gujarat's chief minister

Attackers wearing military uniforms shot dead at least 14 people and wounded 15 today in a busy market area in a town in India&#39;s restive northeastern state of Assam, in an attack blamed by the authorities on a regional separatist group. 
 
The gunmen fired indiscriminately and threw hand grenades at the crowded weekly market in Kokrajhar, a town 220 km (137 miles) by road west of the state&#39;s commercial capital Guwahati, eyewitnesses said. 
 
One assailant was killed and security forces were in pursuit of three or four others hiding in a nearby forest, Assam police chief Mukesh Sahay told reporters. 
 
Sahay said police had recovered an AK-47 rifle and explosives from the dead gunman, as well as a three-wheeler van the assailants had arrived in. 
 
He blamed the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) group, a militant outfit fighting for a separate homeland for the indigenous Bodo tribespeople.&nbsp; 
 
The dead gunman was yet to be identified, said Sahay. 
 
A senior home ministry official in New Delhi said preliminary reports indicated the attack, one of the deadliest in recent years in a region with a history of sectarian and separatist bloodshed, was carried out by the group. 
 
&quot;Police have launched a hunt to trace insurgents hiding near the incident spot. It is a militant attack and we will be sending a team from Delhi to investigate further,&quot; the official said. 
 
However, there was no claim of responsibility for the attack. 
 
Home ministry in touch with Assam government&nbsp; 
 
Asserting that he was saddened by the deadly terrorist attack in Kokrajhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured. 
 
&quot;Saddened by the attack in Kokrajhar. We strongly condemn it. Thoughts &amp; prayers with the bereaved families &amp; those injured,&quot; the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. 
 
He further said that the home ministry is in touch with the Assam government and is monitoring the situation closely. 
 
Expressing concern over the sorry state of affairs, &nbsp;Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal told ANI, &nbsp;&quot;Our government is committed to protection of people of Assam.&quot; &nbsp; 
 
Senior officials were directed to rush to the spot, he mentioned. &nbsp;He added ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to next of kin of people who died, while Rs1 lakh would be given for the injured.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval also met Sonowal.&nbsp; 
 
Assam finance minister Hemant Bishwar told ANI that Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Assam Police and paramilitary forces are conducting a joint combing operation to neutralise remaining extremists. He said that the army has been kept at standby and will be called if necessary.&nbsp; 
 
Assam has suffered years of tribal insurgencies&nbsp; 
 
Assam, a remote and underdeveloped state, has suffered from years of ethnic and tribal insurgencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won power in a state election in May for the first time after pledging to increase spending in the state. 
 
&quot;This attack is intended to destabilise peace in Assam,&quot; said Sarma.&nbsp; 
 
Violence in Assam and wider northeast has fallen as more militant groups have called ceasefires, although attacks by one community against another are not uncommon. 
 
Militants fighting for a Bodo homeland killed at least 70 people, most of them tea-plantation workers from other parts of India, in a series of attacks in Assam in late 2014. 
 
(Agencies) 
&nbsp;

Assam police chief blamed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) for carrying out one of the deadliest attacks in recent years

Attackers wearing military uniforms shot dead at least 14 people and wounded 15 today in a busy market area in a town in India's restive northeastern state of Assam, in an attack blamed by the authorities on a regional separatist group. The gunmen fired indiscriminately and threw hand grenades at the crowded weekly market in Kokrajhar, a town 220 km (137 miles) by road west of the state's commercial capital Guwahati, eyewitnesses said. One assailant was killed and security forces were in pursuit of three or four others hiding in a nearby forest, Assam police chief Mukesh Sahay told reporters. Sahay said police had recovered an AK-47 rifle and explosives from the dead gunman, as well as a three-wheeler van the assailants had arrived in. He blamed the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) group, a militant outfit fighting for a separate homeland for the indigenous Bodo tribespeople. The dead gunman was yet to be identified, said Sahay. A senior home ministry official in New Delhi said preliminary reports indicated the attack, one of the deadliest in recent years in a region with a history of sectarian and separatist bloodshed, was carried out by the group. "Police have launched a hunt to trace insurgents hiding near the incident spot. It is a militant attack and we will be sending a team from Delhi to investigate further," the official said. However, there was no claim of responsibility for the attack. Home ministry in touch with Assam government Asserting that he was saddened by the deadly terrorist attack in Kokrajhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured. "Saddened by the attack in Kokrajhar. We strongly condemn it. Thoughts & prayers with the bereaved families & those injured," the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. He further said that the home ministry is in touch with the Assam government and is monitoring the situation closely. Expressing concern over the sorry state of affairs, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal told ANI, "Our government is committed to protection of people of Assam." Senior officials were directed to rush to the spot, he mentioned. He added ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to next of kin of people who died, while Rs1 lakh would be given for the injured. Meanwhile, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval also met Sonowal. Assam finance minister Hemant Bishwar told ANI that Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Assam Police and paramilitary forces are conducting a joint combing operation to neutralise remaining extremists. He said that the army has been kept at standby and will be called if necessary. Assam has suffered years of tribal insurgencies Assam, a remote and underdeveloped state, has suffered from years of ethnic and tribal insurgencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won power in a state election in May for the first time after pledging to increase spending in the state. "This attack is intended to destabilise peace in Assam," said Sarma. Violence in Assam and wider northeast has fallen as more militant groups have called ceasefires, although attacks by one community against another are not uncommon. Militants fighting for a Bodo homeland killed at least 70 people, most of them tea-plantation workers from other parts of India, in a series of attacks in Assam in late 2014. (Agencies)

Three gunmen open fire at market in India's Assam, at least 14 dead

<div style="text-align: justify;">An ambitious project to awaken a sleeping giant of Asian soccer looks like confirming Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen&#39;s famous remark that India pricks up its ears only when comparisons with China are made. 
 
With China embarked on a multi-billion dollar mission to become a soccer superpower by 2050, India looks set to follow suit with its own plan to raise its status in the game to match its burgeoning economic power. 
 
Come&nbsp;October, India,&nbsp;most famously described as soccer&#39;s sleeping giant by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in soccer-related activities. 
 
All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials will not share details of the FIFA-backed programme yet, but according to a government statement, &quot;Mission 11 Million&quot; will be launched in about 30 cities across the country. 
 
As in China, where the soccer revolution was inspired by President Xi Jinping, the desire to improve India&#39;s standing in the world game goes to the very top. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March lamented India&#39;s decline from one of Asia&#39;s top soccer nations in the 1960s to its current position at 163rd in the FIFA rankings, sandwiched between the Comoros and Tajikistan. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Unfortunately, over the decades we have slipped to the lowest rungs,&quot; Modi said in his weekly radio talk. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Today our ranking in FIFA is so low that I feel reluctant even to mention it.&quot; 
 
With India hosting the under-17 World Cup next year, states have been asked to promote football in a pattern similar to the trend across the border in China. 
 
The world&#39;s most populous nation plans to engage 30 million school children by 2020 as the first step towards achieving Xi&#39;s &quot;three wishes&quot; for China - to qualify for a second World Cup finals, to host a World Cup and to eventually win one. 
 
TARGETING DIASPORA 
 
And while the AIFF are looking to engage as many of the country&#39;s 1.3 billion people as possible, they have also cast their net wider with a global scouting programme to identify talent in the Indian diaspora. 
 
&quot;The idea is to increase the talent pool,&quot; former India captain and head of the scouting programme Abhishek Yadav told Reuters. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;We can&#39;t guarantee that we can unearth 20 players overnight. It&#39;s an attempt, which we believe might work. There&#39;s no harm in trying.&quot; 
 
The programme encourages anyone under 16 with an Indian passport to post, on a soon-to-be-launched portal, a two-minute video from a competitive match. 
 
&quot;We wanted to give the message that if you&#39;re talented, location should not be a problem. All you need is a passport and potential,&quot; said the former forward, who played 67 matches for India between 2002-2011. 
 
Yadav and his team are now focusing on the Gulf States, where a large number of expatriates still hold Indian passports. 
 
&quot;Maybe we can then expand it to U.S. and Australia, where we have many Indian students as well as parents who recently migrated there. We will also look at South Africa and Germany.&quot; 
 
While this has added to the buzz in the country around the hosting of the under-17 World Cup, not everyone believes India is standing on the cusp of a soccer resurgence. 
 
&quot;The fundamental difference between the neighbours is that China woke up long ago and played in World Cup finals before veering slightly off-track,&quot; soccer writer Jaydeep Basu told Reuters. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;With state support, they are now trying to get back on track. In contrast, India, I&#39;m afraid, is still in deep slumber,&quot; added Basu, who has written an anecdotal history of Indian soccer. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;&#39;Mission 11 Million&#39; has a nice ring to it but with only 3,000-odd certified coaches around, who&#39;ll teach these kids to play soccer?&quot; 
 
&nbsp;As well as the lack of qualified coaches, Basu cites a fast-shrinking number of pitches - China plans to build 70,000 around the country by 2020 - and paucity of infrastructure as the major handicaps for Indian soccer. 
 
MESSY MERGER OF LEAGUES 
 
The AIFF is also preoccupied with a messy merger of two Indian leagues, which jeopardises the future of several sides, including a couple of century-old clubs in Kolkata. 
 
The franchise-based India Super League (ISL), which is promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani&#39;s Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch&#39;s Star India TV, looks set to supplant the I-League. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m afraid the ISL franchises have no soccer pedigree and I doubt if they have any long-term commitment to the game either,&quot; Basu said. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Who can guarantee they won&#39;t switch to another business if they suffer losses in ISL?&quot; 
 
&nbsp;There is, however, no denying the ISL&#39;s spectacular success in gaining a foothold in India&#39;s cricket-dominated sporting landscape since the 2014 launch of the league with celebrity owners. 
 
&nbsp;The ISL debuted as the fourth biggest soccer league with an average attendance lower only than Germany&#39;s Bundesliga, the English Premier League and Spain&#39;s La Liga. 
 
&nbsp;The government hopes next year&#39;s under-17 World Cup will further consolidate football&#39;s popularity in India, attracting kids who would otherwise be picking up bats and heading to the neighbourhood cricket academy. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Our youth, the children in our schools, should be drenched in sweat just playing football,&quot; Modi said in his radio talk. 
 
&quot;If that happens, we shall have real fun playing the host. So, all of us should make the effort to ensure football reaches every village, street and alley.&quot; 
(Reuters)</div>

The country will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in activities related to the sport

An ambitious project to awaken a sleeping giant of Asian soccer looks like confirming Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's famous remark that India pricks up its ears only when comparisons with China are made. With China embarked on a multi-billion dollar mission to become a soccer superpower by 2050, India looks set to follow suit with its own plan to raise its status in the game to match its burgeoning economic power. Come October, India, most famously described as soccer's sleeping giant by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in soccer-related activities. All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials will not share details of the FIFA-backed programme yet, but according to a government statement, "Mission 11 Million" will be launched in about 30 cities across the country. As in China, where the soccer revolution was inspired by President Xi Jinping, the desire to improve India's standing in the world game goes to the very top. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March lamented India's decline from one of Asia's top soccer nations in the 1960s to its current position at 163rd in the FIFA rankings, sandwiched between the Comoros and Tajikistan. "Unfortunately, over the decades we have slipped to the lowest rungs," Modi said in his weekly radio talk. "Today our ranking in FIFA is so low that I feel reluctant even to mention it." With India hosting the under-17 World Cup next year, states have been asked to promote football in a pattern similar to the trend across the border in China. The world's most populous nation plans to engage 30 million school children by 2020 as the first step towards achieving Xi's "three wishes" for China - to qualify for a second World Cup finals, to host a World Cup and to eventually win one. TARGETING DIASPORA And while the AIFF are looking to engage as many of the country's 1.3 billion people as possible, they have also cast their net wider with a global scouting programme to identify talent in the Indian diaspora. "The idea is to increase the talent pool," former India captain and head of the scouting programme Abhishek Yadav told Reuters. "We can't guarantee that we can unearth 20 players overnight. It's an attempt, which we believe might work. There's no harm in trying." The programme encourages anyone under 16 with an Indian passport to post, on a soon-to-be-launched portal, a two-minute video from a competitive match. "We wanted to give the message that if you're talented, location should not be a problem. All you need is a passport and potential," said the former forward, who played 67 matches for India between 2002-2011. Yadav and his team are now focusing on the Gulf States, where a large number of expatriates still hold Indian passports. "Maybe we can then expand it to U.S. and Australia, where we have many Indian students as well as parents who recently migrated there. We will also look at South Africa and Germany." While this has added to the buzz in the country around the hosting of the under-17 World Cup, not everyone believes India is standing on the cusp of a soccer resurgence. "The fundamental difference between the neighbours is that China woke up long ago and played in World Cup finals before veering slightly off-track," soccer writer Jaydeep Basu told Reuters. "With state support, they are now trying to get back on track. In contrast, India, I'm afraid, is still in deep slumber," added Basu, who has written an anecdotal history of Indian soccer. "'Mission 11 Million' has a nice ring to it but with only 3,000-odd certified coaches around, who'll teach these kids to play soccer?" As well as the lack of qualified coaches, Basu cites a fast-shrinking number of pitches - China plans to build 70,000 around the country by 2020 - and paucity of infrastructure as the major handicaps for Indian soccer. MESSY MERGER OF LEAGUES The AIFF is also preoccupied with a messy merger of two Indian leagues, which jeopardises the future of several sides, including a couple of century-old clubs in Kolkata. The franchise-based India Super League (ISL), which is promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch's Star India TV, looks set to supplant the I-League. "I'm afraid the ISL franchises have no soccer pedigree and I doubt if they have any long-term commitment to the game either," Basu said. "Who can guarantee they won't switch to another business if they suffer losses in ISL?" There is, however, no denying the ISL's spectacular success in gaining a foothold in India's cricket-dominated sporting landscape since the 2014 launch of the league with celebrity owners. The ISL debuted as the fourth biggest soccer league with an average attendance lower only than Germany's Bundesliga, the English Premier League and Spain's La Liga. The government hopes next year's under-17 World Cup will further consolidate football's popularity in India, attracting kids who would otherwise be picking up bats and heading to the neighbourhood cricket academy. "Our youth, the children in our schools, should be drenched in sweat just playing football," Modi said in his radio talk. "If that happens, we shall have real fun playing the host. So, all of us should make the effort to ensure football reaches every village, street and alley." (Reuters)

'Mission 11 Million' to kickoff as India follows China's lead

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday offered help to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had to cut short her Varanasi visit after falling ill, by sending a doctor for her health check-up and a plane for her transportation back to the national capital. 
 
Sources said that the Prime Minister Modi also spoke to Congress&#39; chief ministerial candidate for 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Sheila Dikshit, and enquired about Gandhi&#39;s health.&nbsp;Earlier, the Congress president, who had to leave the party&#39;s roadshow in Varanasi midway after she developed a high fever, said she was sad to have cut short her visit to the temple town. 
 
In a statement, Gandhi said, I am saddened that due to my ill health, I had to cut my visit to Varanasi short. I could not visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple either. 
 
&quot;I will come back very soon, and then visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple,&quot; she added. 
 
Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said her condition was &quot;stable&quot; after she suffered a bout of &quot;dehydration, vomited and had fever&quot; in Varanasi. She received medical attention in Varanasi and doctors who attended to her in the holy city accompanied her on the flight back to Delhi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was at the airport to receive her mother, said she was unwell for the last couple of days but decided against cancelling the programme. 
 
After landing, Sonia was taken to the RR Hospital, which is close to the airport. Doctors at the Gangaram Hospital were also kept on standby. 
 
The Congress president was leading a massive roadshow in Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s constituency for the party&#39;s campaign for the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. She, however, had to cut short the roadshow towards the fag end of the march route in the evening after she fell ill.The doctors advised her to cut short her visit after which she left for the national capital. Later on, she was treated at the Varanasi Airport&#39;s VIP Lounge. As per sources, she would return to Delhi by tonight.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI, PTI)

The Congress leader had to cut short her Varanasi visit, where she was leading a roadshow for her party's campaign, after she fell ill

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday offered help to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had to cut short her Varanasi visit after falling ill, by sending a doctor for her health check-up and a plane for her transportation back to the national capital. Sources said that the Prime Minister Modi also spoke to Congress' chief ministerial candidate for 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Sheila Dikshit, and enquired about Gandhi's health. Earlier, the Congress president, who had to leave the party's roadshow in Varanasi midway after she developed a high fever, said she was sad to have cut short her visit to the temple town. In a statement, Gandhi said, I am saddened that due to my ill health, I had to cut my visit to Varanasi short. I could not visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple either. "I will come back very soon, and then visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple," she added. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said her condition was "stable" after she suffered a bout of "dehydration, vomited and had fever" in Varanasi. She received medical attention in Varanasi and doctors who attended to her in the holy city accompanied her on the flight back to Delhi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was at the airport to receive her mother, said she was unwell for the last couple of days but decided against cancelling the programme. After landing, Sonia was taken to the RR Hospital, which is close to the airport. Doctors at the Gangaram Hospital were also kept on standby. The Congress president was leading a massive roadshow in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency for the party's campaign for the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. She, however, had to cut short the roadshow towards the fag end of the march route in the evening after she fell ill.The doctors advised her to cut short her visit after which she left for the national capital. Later on, she was treated at the Varanasi Airport's VIP Lounge. As per sources, she would return to Delhi by tonight. (ANI, PTI)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sends doctor, plane to help Sonia Gandhi

Two days after she announced in a Facebook post she would be stepping down, Chief Minister of western Indian state Gujarat, Anandiben Patel, submitted her resignation to Governor OP Kohli today afternoon. 
 
India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has already accepted her resignation and party legislators will decide on a new chief minister. 
 
The decision was taken after the board met today at Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s residence. 
 
Patel, who will turn 75 in November, had offered to resign on Monday, and asked the BJP to select a new face for the post. 
 
Information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said the state legislature will meet in Gujarat to decide on the next chief minister for the state under the guidance of BJP national president Amit Shah.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said the state legislature will meet in Gujarat to decide on the next chief minister

Two days after she announced in a Facebook post she would be stepping down, Chief Minister of western Indian state Gujarat, Anandiben Patel, submitted her resignation to Governor OP Kohli today afternoon. India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has already accepted her resignation and party legislators will decide on a new chief minister. The decision was taken after the board met today at Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s residence. Patel, who will turn 75 in November, had offered to resign on Monday, and asked the BJP to select a new face for the post. Information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said the state legislature will meet in Gujarat to decide on the next chief minister for the state under the guidance of BJP national president Amit Shah. (ANI)

India: Gujarat CM submits resignation?

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today cut short her visit to the Indian temple town Varanasi after she was advised by the doctors to return to the national capital Delhi. 
 
This development comes after it was reported that Sonia had high fever. Before leaving for the national capital, the Congress president, standing in an SUV, waved to the thousands of people who gathered to see her off. 
 
&quot;Heard about Sonia ji&#39;s ill health during her Varanasi visit today. I pray for her quick recovery and good health,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. 
 
Gandhi, earlier in the day, launched her party&#39;s campaign for the 2017 assembly elections in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s parliamentary constituency Varanasi. 
 
The roadshow began with Gandhi putting a garland at the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, hailed as an architect of the Indian constitution, at the Circuit House. 
 
Thousands of party supporters and workers took part in the roadshow, which started from the Circuit House to Englishiya Line, a distance of about eight kilometres.It was ensured that Congress president&#39;s posters, banners, welcome arches and gates are seen everywhere in the city.&nbsp; 
 
Gandhi, who was initially travelling in a car and later moved to a vehicle with open sunroof, waved at the crowd which cheered and raised slogans against the Modi government.&nbsp;She came out of her vehicle several times to accept the greetings of the cheering supporters, including groups of Muslim women. As the road show passed through several localities, rose petals were showered on Gandhi and her cavalcade from adjoining buildings. 
 
Dozens of mini trucks prominently displayed posters with &#39;27 Saal, UP Behaal&#39; (27 years of UP&#39;s distress) written on them. Placards carried by hundreds of workers also had the same slogan written on them. 
 
Besides the party&#39;s chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit, All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, state party chief Raj Babbar and senior leaders Pramod Tiwari and Sanjay Singh accompanied Gandhi. 
 
This was Gandhi&#39;s first visit to Varanasi after Modi became Prime Minister. 
 
(ANI, PTI)&nbsp;

This was Gandhi's first visit to Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency since he became Prime Minister

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today cut short her visit to the Indian temple town Varanasi after she was advised by the doctors to return to the national capital Delhi. This development comes after it was reported that Sonia had high fever. Before leaving for the national capital, the Congress president, standing in an SUV, waved to the thousands of people who gathered to see her off. "Heard about Sonia ji's ill health during her Varanasi visit today. I pray for her quick recovery and good health," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. Gandhi, earlier in the day, launched her party's campaign for the 2017 assembly elections in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi. The roadshow began with Gandhi putting a garland at the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, hailed as an architect of the Indian constitution, at the Circuit House. Thousands of party supporters and workers took part in the roadshow, which started from the Circuit House to Englishiya Line, a distance of about eight kilometres.It was ensured that Congress president's posters, banners, welcome arches and gates are seen everywhere in the city. Gandhi, who was initially travelling in a car and later moved to a vehicle with open sunroof, waved at the crowd which cheered and raised slogans against the Modi government. She came out of her vehicle several times to accept the greetings of the cheering supporters, including groups of Muslim women. As the road show passed through several localities, rose petals were showered on Gandhi and her cavalcade from adjoining buildings. Dozens of mini trucks prominently displayed posters with '27 Saal, UP Behaal' (27 years of UP's distress) written on them. Placards carried by hundreds of workers also had the same slogan written on them. Besides the party's chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit, All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, state party chief Raj Babbar and senior leaders Pramod Tiwari and Sanjay Singh accompanied Gandhi. This was Gandhi's first visit to Varanasi after Modi became Prime Minister. (ANI, PTI)

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi cuts short Varanasi visit after falling ill

Abu Jundal, key accused in 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, and 11 others were today convicted by a special &nbsp;court in India&#39;s western Maharashtra state in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case.&nbsp; 
 
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court acquitted eight others in the case while trial of two accused have been separated.&nbsp; 
 
Special MCOCA Judge Shrikant Anekar delivered the verdict after final arguments in the case concluded recently following a ten-year-long wait.&nbsp; 
 
The court also dropped MCOCA charges in the case, in which 22 people, including Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, were arrested. 
 
The court accepted prosecution&#39;s case that the aim of the convicted accused was to create terror in the minds of people and to eliminate public leaders like then Chief Minister of western Indian state of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, and Hindu leader Pravin Togadia. 
 
On May 8, 2006, a Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team chased a Tata Sumo and an Indica car on Chandwad-Manmad Highway near Aurangabad in Maharashtra and arrested three terror suspects and seized 30kg of RDX, 10 AK-47 assault rifles and 3,200 bullets. 
 
The Indica, allegedly driven by Jundal, managed to give police the slip. Jundal, who hails from Beed district of Maharashtra, drove to Malegaon and a few days later he escaped to Bangladesh from where he fled to Pakistan, according to the state police. 
 
He was deported to India from Saudi Arabia in 2012. Later, charges were framed against the arrested accused in August 2013. 
 
During the trial, the prosecution examined 100 witnesses while defence lawyers examined 16. 
 
The trial was stayed by the India&#39;s top court for a while after one of the accused challenged constitutional validity of certain provisions of MCOCA. The stay was vacated in 2009. 
 
In August last year, the Bombay High Court directed the lower court to expedite the trial.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)&nbsp;

Special court in western state of Maharashtra accepted that aim of convicted was to eliminate PM Narendra Modi, then Gujarat chief minister

Abu Jundal, key accused in 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, and 11 others were today convicted by a special court in India's western Maharashtra state in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case. Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court acquitted eight others in the case while trial of two accused have been separated. Special MCOCA Judge Shrikant Anekar delivered the verdict after final arguments in the case concluded recently following a ten-year-long wait. The court also dropped MCOCA charges in the case, in which 22 people, including Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, were arrested. The court accepted prosecution's case that the aim of the convicted accused was to create terror in the minds of people and to eliminate public leaders like then Chief Minister of western Indian state of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, and Hindu leader Pravin Togadia. On May 8, 2006, a Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team chased a Tata Sumo and an Indica car on Chandwad-Manmad Highway near Aurangabad in Maharashtra and arrested three terror suspects and seized 30kg of RDX, 10 AK-47 assault rifles and 3,200 bullets. The Indica, allegedly driven by Jundal, managed to give police the slip. Jundal, who hails from Beed district of Maharashtra, drove to Malegaon and a few days later he escaped to Bangladesh from where he fled to Pakistan, according to the state police. He was deported to India from Saudi Arabia in 2012. Later, charges were framed against the arrested accused in August 2013. During the trial, the prosecution examined 100 witnesses while defence lawyers examined 16. The trial was stayed by the India's top court for a while after one of the accused challenged constitutional validity of certain provisions of MCOCA. The stay was vacated in 2009. In August last year, the Bombay High Court directed the lower court to expedite the trial. (PTI)

India: 26/11 terror attack accused Abu Jundal convicted in 2006 arms haul case

The lower house of Indian Parliament on Wednesday cleared amendments to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, pertaining to dilution of Section 44 of the Act dealing with disclosure of assets of spouses of public servants and those holding positions on the boards of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). 
 
In an unprecedented step, neither the copies of the amendments were circulated to the MPs, nor the Union cabinet had approved them ahead of introduction. 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked special powers, vested to him to approve the bill without the Cabinet clearance. 
 
The amendments will restrict the declaration of the assets and liabilities of the public servants only, sparing their spouse and dependent children. The amendments will also seek to do away with this proactive disclosure requirement. 
 
The public servants includes the government officials, political functionaries that is the Prime Minister, ministers and also the members of Parliament. 
 
Minister of state in the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office Jitendra Singh moved the amendments, which was not listed in the business list, assuring the members that a Standing Committee of Parliament will be looking into the amendments in any case. 
 
The amendment were cleared without discussion amidst protests from the Opposition benches. On the urgency, the minister said since the date of filing such returns was July 30, it has become necessary to address the impasse. 
 
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and several members of Parliament, including nominated member Anu Agha and independent MP in the Rajya Sabha Rajeev Chandrashekhar had raised concerns over the income disclosure clause for trustees and board members of NGOs. 
 
According to the minister civil servants, mostly lady officers had also raised the issue that the spouses were working elsewhere and they were not very clear whether they should be asked to make it public and declare the assets. 
 
While the Congress and the Left parties agreed that there was an &#39;urgency&#39; to pass the bill, they urged that the government should be stringent in imposing the provisions of the bill. 
 
As per the rules notified under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, every public servant shall file declaration, information and annual returns pertaining to his assets and liabilities as well as for his spouse and dependent children on March 31 every year or on or before July 31 of that year. 
 
Iftikhar Gilani/ DNA 
 
 
&nbsp;

Lokpal act will warrant declaration of assets and liabilities of public servants only, sparing their spouse and dependent children

The lower house of Indian Parliament on Wednesday cleared amendments to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, pertaining to dilution of Section 44 of the Act dealing with disclosure of assets of spouses of public servants and those holding positions on the boards of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In an unprecedented step, neither the copies of the amendments were circulated to the MPs, nor the Union cabinet had approved them ahead of introduction. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked special powers, vested to him to approve the bill without the Cabinet clearance. The amendments will restrict the declaration of the assets and liabilities of the public servants only, sparing their spouse and dependent children. The amendments will also seek to do away with this proactive disclosure requirement. The public servants includes the government officials, political functionaries that is the Prime Minister, ministers and also the members of Parliament. Minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh moved the amendments, which was not listed in the business list, assuring the members that a Standing Committee of Parliament will be looking into the amendments in any case. The amendment were cleared without discussion amidst protests from the Opposition benches. On the urgency, the minister said since the date of filing such returns was July 30, it has become necessary to address the impasse. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and several members of Parliament, including nominated member Anu Agha and independent MP in the Rajya Sabha Rajeev Chandrashekhar had raised concerns over the income disclosure clause for trustees and board members of NGOs. According to the minister civil servants, mostly lady officers had also raised the issue that the spouses were working elsewhere and they were not very clear whether they should be asked to make it public and declare the assets. While the Congress and the Left parties agreed that there was an 'urgency' to pass the bill, they urged that the government should be stringent in imposing the provisions of the bill. As per the rules notified under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, every public servant shall file declaration, information and annual returns pertaining to his assets and liabilities as well as for his spouse and dependent children on March 31 every year or on or before July 31 of that year. Iftikhar Gilani/ DNA

Indian PM Modi clears bill which restricts asset declaration by public servants

Indian woman Judith D&#39;Souza, abducted in Afghanistan&#39;s Kabul, was rescued today morning, said Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in a tweet.
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I am happy to inform you that Judith D&#39;souza has been rescued. <a href="https://twitter.com/jeromedsouza">@jeromedsouza</a>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/756657643419160577">July 23, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
D&#39;Souza was kidnapped from the Tamani area of Kabul&nbsp;on June 9 while she was returning home. On June 10, in the wee hours of the morning, family members of D&#39;Souza, residing in India&#39;s eastern state of West Bengal had received a call from the Indian embassy in Afghanistan informing them of her abduction. 
 
Since then, her family had written to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on several occasions.&nbsp; 
 
A day back, D&#39;Souza&#39;s brother Jerome had met Swaraj in person and she had assured him that his sister will be brought back home safe.&nbsp; 
 
D&#39;Souza had been working with a non-profit organisation (NGO), Aga Khan Foundation, for a year in Afghanistan.&nbsp; 
 
(DNA)

Judith D'Souza, who worked with the Aga Khan Foundation, was kidnapped from the Tamani area of Kabul on June 9

Indian woman Judith D'Souza, abducted in Afghanistan's Kabul, was rescued today morning, said Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in a tweet. I am happy to inform you that Judith D'souza has been rescued. @jeromedsouza — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016 D'Souza was kidnapped from the Tamani area of Kabul on June 9 while she was returning home. On June 10, in the wee hours of the morning, family members of D'Souza, residing in India's eastern state of West Bengal had received a call from the Indian embassy in Afghanistan informing them of her abduction. Since then, her family had written to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on several occasions. A day back, D'Souza's brother Jerome had met Swaraj in person and she had assured him that his sister will be brought back home safe. D'Souza had been working with a non-profit organisation (NGO), Aga Khan Foundation, for a year in Afghanistan. (DNA)

Indian aid worker who was abducted in Kabul rescued

The monsoon session of the Indian parliament began on Monday, amid government&#39;s effort to push through major reform bills including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the Rajya Sabha, upper house of the parliament. 
 
Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that all should work together in this session to take the country forward. 
 
Modi had on Sunday reached out to the opposition parties to ensure passage of the GST bill while urging all to keep national interests above other issues. Speaker of the Lok Sabha, lower house of the parliament, Sumitra Mahajan also expressed hope that the house would function smoothly without any adjournments. 
 
Buoyed by the restoration of its governments in two states - Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand - the Congress party is likely to target the Modi supporters for &quot;using all tricks&quot; to destabilise opposition-ruled states. 
 
The Congress, which originally piloted the GST bill, has said it is still in favour of the same. The changes it has demanded include putting a cap of 18 per cent on GST rate in the constitution amendment bill. 
 
Of the 10 bills expected to come up in the Lok Sabha during the 20-day sittings are the Consumer Protection Bill 2015, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill 2015, and the Lok Pal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Bill. 
 
A total of 25 bills are expected to come up for passing and consideration during the session. 
 
(DNA webdesk)

Prime Minister Modi has appealed to the opposition for smooth functioning of the house and keep national interests above others

The monsoon session of the Indian parliament began on Monday, amid government's effort to push through major reform bills including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the Rajya Sabha, upper house of the parliament. Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that all should work together in this session to take the country forward. Modi had on Sunday reached out to the opposition parties to ensure passage of the GST bill while urging all to keep national interests above other issues. Speaker of the Lok Sabha, lower house of the parliament, Sumitra Mahajan also expressed hope that the house would function smoothly without any adjournments. Buoyed by the restoration of its governments in two states - Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand - the Congress party is likely to target the Modi supporters for "using all tricks" to destabilise opposition-ruled states. The Congress, which originally piloted the GST bill, has said it is still in favour of the same. The changes it has demanded include putting a cap of 18 per cent on GST rate in the constitution amendment bill. Of the 10 bills expected to come up in the Lok Sabha during the 20-day sittings are the Consumer Protection Bill 2015, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill 2015, and the Lok Pal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Bill. A total of 25 bills are expected to come up for passing and consideration during the session. (DNA webdesk)

Tax bill in focus as monsoon session of Indian parliament begins

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