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Scores of people assemble in Attari to welcome IAF pilot

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Nasheman News : Scores of people assembled at the Attari Joint Check Post (JCP) here on Friday to receive Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman who is likely to be released by Pakistani authorities later in the day.

People started arriving in Attari, around 30 km from Sikh holy city of Amritsar, since 6 a.m. Their numbers swelled by 9 a.m.

“We have come here to welcome our country’s hero back home. We will give him a grand welcome. He showed a lot of bravery in the air combat and even after being captured by the Pakistanis,” Jitender, a resident of Amritsar, who arrived here with his friends, said.

Abhinandan’s parents, Air Marshal S. Varthaman (Retired) and mother Shobha Varthaman, who is a doctor, were cheered by passengers when they boarded a flight from Chennai to New Delhi on Thursday evening. They are expected to be in Attari to welcome their son back home.

The 35-year-old Wing Commander was captured on Wednesday by Pakistan after his MiG-21 Bison fighter jet was hit by Pakistan Air Force jets near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said that the pilot is likely to be brought by Pakistani authorities from Rawalpindi to Lahore and handed over first to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) under rules of the Geneva Convention before being brought to the JCP on Friday afternoon.

The Border Security Force (BSF), which mans the JCP and the 553-km long International Border with Pakistan in Punjab at high alert, Punjab Police and other security agencies stationed additional personnel since early Friday morning.

Varthaman will be debriefed by defence and security officials after his return before he is taken to New Delhi from the Amritsar airport.

“Many celebrities and other important people come to Attari border on different occasions. But today, a real hero is coming back. We will give him a a big and warm welcome with dhol and bhangra,” Manjit Singh, who was carrying a dhol, said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Thursday that the captured IAF pilot will be freed as a “goodwill gesture” after New Delhi sought his unconditional, immediate and unharmed release.

GST rate cut to spur Bengaluru realty market growth: Credai

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Nasheman News :  The realty market in India’s tech hub is set to grow as lower Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates become effective from April 1, builders’ apex body Credai said on Thursday.

“GST rate cut to 5 per cent from 12 per cent on under-construction properties and to 1 per cent from 8 per cent on affordable housing projects from April 1 will spur the growth in the realty sector,” Credai (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India) President Ashish Puravankara said in a statement.

The sector is also betting on benefitting from the incentives given to the sector in the interim Budget for 2019-20 and anticipated higher investment in commercial and housing projects.

“Many potential home buyers are enquiring to book flats or duplex houses in gated communities and avail the GST rate cuts,” Puravankara said.

The GST Council cut the rates on February 24. It, however, did not accept the super carpet area concept as many developers have made it variable and flexible.

Cashing in on the GST relief and budgetary sops, Credai is holding its annual realty expo here on March 2-3 and March 9-10, where 30 developers will offer the properties with new indirect tax rates.

“Seven financial institutions will be at the expo to assist buyers in applying for home loans and benefits offered by them,” Puravankara said.

The state’s Stamps and Registration Department also witnessed 20 per cent increase in revenue from property registrations from May to December over the like period of 2017.

“Sales growth and higher revenue collection indicates property buyers are no longer in a wait mode, as developers have been offering houses at a better price,” Puravankara added.

Putin calls Modi, conveys support in fight against terrorism

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Nasheman News : Russian President Vladimir Putin called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone on Thursday and conveyed solidarity of the Russian people with India’s people in the fight against terrorism.

He also expressed his deep condolences on the Pulwama terrorist attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. 

An official release said that Modi thanked Putin for Russia’s steadfast support for India’s efforts to protect its interests against cross-border terror attacks.

He renewed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism as a pillar of privileged and special strategic partnership. 

Both leaders agreed that all concerned should stop all support to terrorism.

Both the leaders also agreed that the growing cooperation between the two countries will take their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership “from strength to strength”.

President Putin reiterated the invitation to the Prime Minister to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok later this year. 

Modi welcomed the invitation and underscored the significance of growing economic cooperation, including in the Russian Far East, between the two countries.


IGNOU student found murdered in Delhi

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Nasheman News : A 24-year-old female student of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was found murdered at an isolated place in the national capital, police said on Thursday.

The body of victim — later identified as Nisha Kumari — was on Wednesday found in a jute sack lying near a railway track in south Delhi’s Sarita Vihar area, according to the police.

“A resident of Ambedkar Nagar, the victim had been missing since Monday. Her parents said that she had left the home to meet her friend for a job interview but did not return after that,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said.

“We are scanning her call detail record (CDR) and questioning her friends to track down the culprit,” Biswal added.

“As my father works as a security guard, my sister was looking for a job for helping him financially. She had gone for a job interview on Monday but did not return. She was a student of IGNOU,” victim’s younger brother Manish told IANS. 

A case of murder has been registered at Ambedkar Nagar Police station.

Jamaat-e-Islami J&K banned

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Nasheman News : The Central government on Thursday banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, declaring it an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The order by the Union Home Ministry said that the organisation has “been indulging in activities which are prejudicial to internal security and public order and have the potential of disrupting the unity and integrity of the country”.

Around 200 leaders and cadres of the Jamaat have been arrested in nocturnal raids across the Kashmir Valley in the last seven days.

Aadhar not mandatory for second installment of PM-KISAN

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Nasheman News :In a measure to woo farmers ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved waiving, in the interim, Aadhaar seeding for farmers to receive the second instalment of the income support scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the one-time waiver of the mandatory quoting of Aadhaar to avail benefits under PM-KISAN was made due to paucity of time as the second instalment is to be given on April 1 as promised by the Modi government. 

“The PM-KISAN was launched in Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) on February 24 by the Prime Minister and the first instalment of the income to the tune of Rs 2,021 crore has already been transferred to the beneficiaries. 

“For the second instalment which is to be paid on April 1, the cabinet has decided that Aadhaar quoting will not be mandatory,” said Prasad. 

The PM-KISAN entailing a direct cash support of Rs 6,000 for farmers was announced in the Interim Budget 2019. 

The cabinet also approved promulgation of the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on January 4. However, before the bill could be considered and passed by the Rajya Sabha, the House was adjourned sine die. 

Prasad also said the voluntary use of Aadhaar will be considered in either electronic or physical form. 

“Any entity that takes Aadhaar will follow the privacy standards. Aadhaar can be used on voluntary basis for KYC documents for Telegraph Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,” he said

BJP told me of the war before LS polls: Pawan Kalyan

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Nasheman News :  Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan here on Thursday claimed, the BJP told him two years ago that there will be war before the Lok Sabha elections.

Jana Sena chief revealed this while addressing an election rally in the Kadapa district.

“I was told two years ago war will be coming. You can understand from this what kind of situation our country is in,” said Pawan, a former ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Voicing concern over the war-like situation between India and Pakistan, he said the terror attack on CRPF troopers led to this situation.

Pawan said war was not a solution to any problem and could cause huge damage to both the countries.

The actor slammed the BJP for behaving as if they were the only patriots. “Patriotism is not the BJP’s right alone. We are 10 times more patriotic than them,” he said.

Pawan, younger brother of superstar Chiranjeevi, also said Muslims do not need to prove their patriotism and asked Jana Sena cadres to foil any attempts to create communal disharmony in the society.

“Muslims have equal rights in India. I don’t know what is the status of Hindus in Pakistan but India keeps Muslims in its heart. It made Azharuddin captain of its cricket team and Abdul Kalam President of the country,” he said.

Cabinet clears FDI of up to Rs 25,000 cr in Vodafone Idea via rights issue

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New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the proposal for Foreign Direct Investment of more than Rs 5,000 crore and up to Rs 25,000 crore in Vodafone Idea as part of the proposed equity fund raise through rights issue.

It also approved to take on record the proposed changes in the indirect foreign investment in the subsidiaries of Vodafone Idea, which will take place on account of non-residents subscribing to the equity shares in the fund raise, an official statement said.

According to the statement, “the inflow of foreign investment to India will spur economic growth as well as foster innovation”.

FDI up to 100 per cent is allowed in telecom services sector wherein 49 per cent is under automatic route and beyond 49 per cent through government route. The 100 per cent FDI has been approved in the company, it said. 

However, it is necessary to take the government approval for FDI beyond Rs 5,000 crore even if there is no change in the percentage of foreign equity already approved.


Last rites of IAF chopper pilot done with military honours

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Nasheman News : The last rites of Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter pilot, Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisth, who was among the six personnel killed when their MI-17 chopper crashed near Badgam, Jammu and Kashmir, were done with full military honours here on Friday.

Hundreds of people, including family members and friends, and serving and retired defence officers attended the cremation.

Air Force personnel fired in the air and reversed their arms as a mark of respect.

He is survived by his wife, Squadron Leader Arti Singh, who is also posted with the IAF in Srinagar, and a two-year-old son.

The 31-year-old pilot was a fourth generation from his family in the defence forces. He had received commendation on January 26 for his exceptional contribution towards rescue operations during the Kerala floods last year.

Siddharth had taken off from the Srinagar airport on Wednesday morning and the helicopter crashed minutes later due to a technical snag.

He was posted to 154 Helicopter Unit in Srinagar in last July. He had joined the IAF in 2010.

Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore and other senior officers met the family of the pilot and condoled his death.

The last rites of IAF corporal Vikrant of Haryana’s Jhajjar district were also done on Friday with full military honours.

Tri-service media briefing postponed after IAF pilot’s release announced

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Nasheman News :The joint services press conference scheduled for Thursday has been postponed as following Pakistan’s decision to release captured Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

The conference, scheduled for 5 p.m., will now take place at 7 p.m.

The Ministry of Defence had announced the first tri-service media briefing where operational details were to be made public for the first time by India. 

Source said India was about to share the visuals of evidence about the aerial engagement that took place on Wednesday leading to the shooting down of a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 by an IAF MiG-21. An Indian MiG also went down and Varathaman was captured.

Details of the air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror camp at Jaba Top in Balakot were also to be shared as well as evidence about the PAF dropping shells in Indian territory, claiming the target was a military installation, sources added. 


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