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President, PM, other leaders greet Vajpayee

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday led the nation to greet the now ailing former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 91st birthday, wishing him a long life.

“Warm greetings and good wishes to Vajpayeeji on his birthday. May the Almighty bless Vajpayeeji with good health, happiness and a long fruitful life,” the president said in a message.

Mr. Modi, who was visiting Afghanistan, extended birthday greetings “to our beloved Atalji. We salute this great personality who provided exceptional leadership to India at a crucial time. Be it as a party leader, parliamentarian, minister, prime minister, Atalji distinguished himself in every role. This is his speciality.”

One of India’s most popular politicians, Mr. Vajpayee was prime minister three times — first in 1996 (May 16-31) and later for two consecutive stints between March 19, 1998 and May 13, 2004.

In the latter two stints, he headed the National Democratic Alliance governments led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which he is the founder.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also hailed the BJP veteran: “In a diverse country like ours, Vajpayee is a shining example of tolerance and inspiration for taking everyone along in the public life.”

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also saluted Mr. Vajpayee.

“Vajpayeeji has always been a source of inspiration to me. I pray for his happy and healthy life,” Raman Singh said.

Mr. Chouhan said Mr. Vajpayee was a politician who would not mind taking a two-wheeler or an autorickshaw to reach a venue. “And wherever he went, he won people’s confidence.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said: “A very happy birthday to Vajpayee Sahib. A great human being and an amazing prime minister to work for.”

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley described Vajpayee as “my guide and mentor” and said: “May God bless him with good health.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Mr. Vajpayee — who was prime minister from 1998 to 2004, was an inspiration to him and was also one of India’s best leaders.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh prayed for speedy recovery for Vajpayee, who has been ailing for years.

Central ministers Piyush Goyal, Ravishankar Prasad and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also greeted Vajpayee.

“I pray for his good health and long life,” said Goyal. Naqvi said he was a symbol of good governance and development.

Mr. Vajapyee was first elected to parliament in 1957, and was repeatedly elected to both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He was elected from Lucknow for five times consecutively.

In 1951, Mr. Vajpayee helped to set up the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He was the external affairs minister in 1977-79 when the Janata Party — of which the Jana Sangh was a constituent — ruled the country.

(IANS)

LG questions legality of DDCA probe, Kejriwal hits back

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Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (Photo: PTI/File)

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: Seeking Centre’s intervention, LG Najeeb Jung has questioned the legality of appointment of inquiry by Arvind Kejriwal Government to probe DDCA issue, triggering a new round of confrontation with the Chief Minister who said the matter was out of the LG’s purview.

“In a communication to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the LG has stated that the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 empowers only the Centre and state governments to appoint a commission of inquiry. Since, Delhi is a Union Territory, a commission of inquiry may be ordered only with the concurrence of the Centre, through the LG,” sources said.

“Also, the funding for the DDCA comes not only from Delhi but also other states and hence it is not just Delhi Government’s jurisdiction to conduct a probe,” they added.

The LG is also believed to have cited that the inquiry into the CNG fitness kit scam set up by the Kejriwal government earlier was set aside by the Centre on the same ground.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, however, has claimed that the action amounts to “unjustified interference” as the inquiry is “perfectly” legal and Union Minister Arun Jaitley should cooperate with the inquiry commission and stop “misusing” the LG office.

“We are not scared when all the agencies under them including police CBI, DRI are after us, why are they scared with one commission of enquiry,” he added.

Kejriwal also maintained that the Transaction Business Rules (TBR) clarify that this file is not needed to be sent to LG for clearance, tersely adding “he is not a dictator”.

“According to the Constitution, LG has three subjects under him- police, public order and land. According to the TBR, no other file should go to LG for clearance, he is not a dictator,” Kejriwal said.

“The rule says that the commission of enquiry can be instituted by the Cabinet and Legislative Assembly, they are empowered to do so. Raising objections to this is politics to save those who are corrupt,” he said on sidelines of an event.

“Jaitley should cooperate with the commission of enquiry and stop misusing the LG house. I also hope that Rajnath Singh will not try to shield him by obstructing the probe,” he said.

(Agencies)

Modi inaugurates new parliament building in Afghanistan

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modi

Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi todayinaugurated the Parliament building which has been constructed by India at a cost of USD 90 million here.

 

The new parliament building in Afghanistan will stand as a symbol of ties between India and Afghanistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the inauguration ceremony.

“It will stand as an enduring symbol of the ties of emotions and values, of affection and aspirations that bind us in a special relationship,” the prime minister said.

“The great Afghan people waged an epic struggle of courage and resolve to shape their future with vote and debate and not gun and violence.”

Modi said he stands on behalf of “1.25 billion friends in India in admiration for your achievements and in gratitude for your friendship.”

He said the day was special as it was former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday, adding he was “deeply touched” that a block in the new building was named ‘Atal block’.

Earlier, Khaama press reported that Ghani and Modi toured the parliament building, including the main session hall in the presence of guests, including member of the Afghan parliament.

PM has arrived on a visit during which he is expected to hold talks with Afghan leadership, including President Ashraf Ghani.

Modi who flew in the wee hours from Moscow, where he had annual summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was received by Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and deputy Foreign minister Hekmat Karzai.

“From Russia to Afghanistan. A pre-dawn arrival in Kabul begins a day of engagements with another dost,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

On his arrival Modi said, “delighted to be in Kabul among friends. Will meet Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai”.

Modi will be holding talks with Afghan leaders on key bilateral issues, including security co-operation and discuss the ways to help war-torn country where India has committed over two billion assistance.

The Prime Minister will also be inaugurating the Parliament building and expected to address the Afghan lawmakers.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of USD 45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Significantly, prior to the Prime Minister’s visit, India has delivered three Mi 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan, in what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards the strife-torn country.

Defence sources said that three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of USD 45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Situated between historic landmarks King’s Palace “Darulaman” and the Queen’s Palace – the building has elements of Mughal and modern architecture and has Asia’s largest dome as its key feature.

The building will house the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) with a seating capacity of 294, a 190-seat Meshrano Jirga (Upper House), besides other facilities like conference hall and press room.

Meanwhile, Mi 25 choppers were taken to Afghanistan in a C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, sources said.

While Afghanistan has repeatedly sought India’s support in beefing up its military’s fighting capability in terms of machinery, India had shied away till now.

The development came after the recent visit of Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar to New Delhi.

Afghanistan has till now been dependent on the US air support in its operations against the Taliban.

However, with the American forces pulling out that country to a large extent, the Afghan forces will be using the Mi 25 now.

(Agencies)

Clashes in Srinagar after Yasin Malik arrested

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Yasin Malik arrested

Srinagar: Clashes erupted in parts of Srinagar after Friday, Dec 25 prayers as senior separatist leader Yasin Malik was detained following protests in the city.

The protests erupted in Maisuma and Gawkadal areas, adjacent to business hub of Lal chowk.

The protestors were demanding disbanding of Village Defence Committees (VDCs).

As soon as protesters reached near the city centre, alarge posse of security forces blocked their way and detained Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik, who was leading the protest match, along with scores of party activists.

Soon after the separatist leader’s arrest angry protestors clashed with the security force personnel and pelted stones on them.

Police and paramilitary troopers had to use tear smoke gas shells to disperse the stone-pelting protestors. However, protestors kept on re-grouping and clashes were going on in the area.

“VDCs are tools of state sponsored terrorism and have unleashed a reign of terror. They should be disbanded at an earliest”, Malik said before his arrest.

Opposition National Conference (NC) and separatist leaders have demanded disbanding of VDCs after a VDC member allegedly killed a senior NC leader in Rajouri district of Jammu province on Sunday evening and another member of the committee “murdered” a woman on Thursday in the same district.

Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for protest shutdown on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir against the VDCs.

(IANS)

Man torches wife for bad curry

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man-sets-on-fire-wife

Mailardevpally: In a bizarre incident on Thursday in Hyderabad’s Mailardevpally area, a labourer set his wife ablaze over a bad mutton curry which she cooked for him, according to reports.

The victim identified as Sulochana, worked as a maid reported The Hindu.

The woman prepared the curry and served it to Shanker Rao. The man, who was in an inebriated state, picked up a quarrel with the woman and argued that the mutton curry did not taste good. He later assaulted the woman and set her ablaze after dousing her with kerosene, the daily quoted S. Venkat Reddy, Inspector of Mailardevpally Police Station.

The woman was rushed to a hospital where she succumbed to death.

The police have detained the man, Shankar Rao, and several charges have been brought against him including murder.

(Agencies)

UP CM sacks MoS rank leader after temple remarks

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Akhilesh-Yadav

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister President Akhilesh Yadav has stripped Samajwadi Party leader Ompal Nehra of minister of state status after his remarks asking Muslims to help build temples in Ayodhya and Mathura.

“Nehra has been sacked by the Chief Minister yesterday,” SP spokesman and cabinet minister Rajendra Chowdhury told PTI today.

The action by Chief Minister, who is also the state president of ruling Samajwadi Party, came as the Ram temple issue came into renewed focus with two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple being brought to Ayodhya by Vishva Hindu Parishad.

Nehra had on December 23 suggested during a function that Muslims should come forward and help build temples at disputed sites in Ayodhya and Mathura, so that organisations like VHP lose their identity.

“Where can a Ram temple be built if not in Ayodhya? It is an emotional issue. In Mathura, where we worship Krishna, how can there be a mosque there. Muslims should think about it and in fact come forward for Kar Seva (voluntary work) and say build the temples at these places. We should not fall in their (VHP’s)trap,” Nehra has said in Bijnore.

(Agencies)

Modi to meet Sharif in Lahore

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modi-sharif

Kabul: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that he will meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on his way back to New Delhi.

Now in Kabul, Modi tweeted that he spoke to Sharif over telephone and wished him on his birthday.

“Looking forward to meeting Sharif in Lahore today afternoon when I will drop by on my way back to Delhi.”

(Agencies)

Actress Sadhana dies at 74

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Sadhana

Mumbai: Veteran actress Sadhana Shivdasani, known for films like “Mera Saaya”, “Wo Kaun Thi” and “Waqt”, died here today after a brief illness. She was 74.

Sadhana, who is credited for introducing the fringe hairstyle in Indian film industry, passed away at a private hospital here, sources said.

Her body was taken to her residence in suburban Mumbai where Bollywood personalities, including her former colleague and friend Waheeda Rehman, went to pay their last respects.

Sadhana was admitted to a suburban hospital here last year for a lesion in her mouth and underwent a surgery.

Born in 1941 in a Sindhi family, she was named after her father’s favourite actress Sadhona Bose. Her father and actor Hari Shivdasani were brothers. Hari’s daughter is actress Babita Kapoor.

Sadhana was the only child and and her mother home-schooled her until she was eight. In 1955 she played a chorus girl in the song “Mur mur ke na dekh mur mur ke” in Raj Kapoor’s “Shree 420”. She made her full-fldged film debut in the first ever Sindhi film “Abana”.

Some of her memorable films include “Love in Simla”, “Hum Dono”, “Ek Musafir Ek Hasina”, “Asli-Naqli”, “Mere Mehboob” and “Woh Kaun Thi”.

(PTI)

Kabul: Modi meets Ghani to discuss security, bilateral cooperation

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modi-ghani

Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to discuss a wide range of issues, including security and bilateral cooperation.

Modi met Ghani soon after his arrival here from Moscow in the wee hours. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome after which Ghani warmly received him at presidential palace.

“A meeting between friends…President @ashrafghani warmly welcomes PM @narendramodi as they begin their meeting,” Prime Minister’s office tweeted.

“The embrace of a friend, the strength of a true partner. Prez @ashrafghani welcomes PM @narendramodi in Kabul,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

On his arrival here, Modi was received by Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and deputy Foreign minister Hekmat Karzai.

“From Russia to Afghanistan. A pre-dawn arrival in Kabul begins a day of engagements with another dost,” Swarup tweeted.

Modi will also be holding talks with other Afghan leaders, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai.

His talks with Afghan leaders will be focused on key bilateral issues including security co-operation and the ways to help the war-torn country where India has committed over USD two billion assistance.

He will also inaugurate the Parliament building which has been constructed by India at a cost of USD 90 million. He is expected to address the Afghan lawmakers.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of USD 45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Significantly, prior to the Prime Minister’s visit, India has delivered three Mi 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan, in what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards the strife-torn country.

Defence sources said that three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists.

(PTI)

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan’s kids removed from school as he ‘fails’ to pay fees

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MLA Amanatullah Khan

New Delhi: AAP MLAs have been in the news lately for the proposal of 400 per cent hike in salaries.

An AAP MLA made headlines on Wednesday after his children’s names were removed from school register due to non-payment of fees.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Amanatullah Khan, AAP MLA from Delhi’s Okhla, said he had failed to pay his children’s school fees for the last six months due to his ‘abysmal’ salary.

Amanatullah Khan says it’s embarrassing for him as a parent. Also, he says his wife has been inconsolable due to the incident.

“I could not afford to pay the fees; how can you manage with such an abysmal salary,” the AAP MLA said.

According to the AAP MLA, the outstanding amount was already Rs 58,000 for both of his children.

Khan gets Rs 83,500 every month as salary.

Out of Rs 83,500 every month as salary, the AAP MLA says he ‘spends’ Rs 62,000 in running his office.

Union Home Ministry is yet to give its nod to the bill passed by the Delhi legislative assembly proposing a 400 per cent hike in the salaries of MLAs and ministers.

(Agencies)

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