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Mixed response to all-India shutdown in Maharashtra

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The all-India anti-fuel price hike shutdown evoked a mixed response in Maharashtra on Monday, with all parties – barring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena – joining it wholeheartedly.

In Mumbai and other cities, large numbers took to the streets, railway stations, bus depots, and other public places carrying banners and placards, raising anti-government slogans, taking out processions or staging sit-in protests against the spiraling prices of petrol, diesel and gas.

However, suburban trains, BEST buses, schools and colleges functioned normally. But shops and commercial establishments downed shutters in many localities.

Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam led thousands of slogan-shouting activists to stage protests outside the Andheri bus depot and later they trooped down on the railway tracks to stage a rail-blockade.

However, before they could disrupt the train services, many leaders, including Chavan, Nirupam, Manikrao Thakre, Baba Siddiqui, Suresh Shetty and others were detained.

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists also led protests in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Pune, Nashik and others areas of the state.

In Dadar, MNS activists broke police cordons and waved black flags as the motorcade of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis zoomed past. In Andheri, they attempted to stop the Mumbai Metro Rail but there were no major dislocations in the services.

The shutdown elicited mixed response in urban centres but secured widespread support in the semi-urban and rural hinterland which have been severely hit by the fuel prices and its cascading effects.

In Aurangabad, protestors took out bullock cart rallies and filled petrol in their vehicles with droppers. Some petrol pumps in Thane, Pune and elsewhere remaind shut as a precaution.

Places like Thane, Palghar, Pune, Nashik, Nanded, Parbhani, Kolhapur, Raigad, Ratnagiri witnessed processions and roadside dharnas. There was stone-pelting at buses in Mumbai and Pune.

The Shiv Sena editorially attacked the Modi government for its failures on all fronts.

In edits in party mouthpieces ‘Saamana’ and ‘Dopahar Ka Saamana’, the Sena also criticized the opposition parties for “finally awakening” to the misery of the masses.

The shutdown has been supported by Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (S), RPI (G), Peasant and Workers Party, Left Parties, Swabhimani Shetkari Party, Peoples Republican Party, besides other local and regional parties in Maharashtra.

(IANS)

England lead by 154, Jadeja’s batting heroics keeps India in contest

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Alastair Cook and Joe Root took England to 114/2 with a lead of 154 runs after India rode Ravindra Jadeja’s batting heroics to post 292 in their first innings on Day 3 of the fifth and final test here on Sunday.

At stumps, Cook playing his final test match was batting on 46 while Root was on 29.

For India, Mohammed Shami and Jadeja got a wicket apiece.

Earlier, Jadeja remained unbeaten on 86 while debutant Hanuma Vihari scored 56 to help the tourists trim the lead to 40 after resuming the day on 174/6.

Brief scores: England 332 & 114/2 (Alastair Cook 46 batting, Joe Root 29 batting); India 292 (R Jadeja 86, Hanuma Vihari 56, Virat Kohli 49; James Anderson 2/54, Ben Stokes 2/56, Moeen Ali 2/50)

After NC, PDP to boycott municipal and Panchayat polls

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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday announced a boycott of the upcoming municipal and Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the government to review its decision to hold elections amid an atmosphere of insecurity.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said there was a sense of insecurity among the people of the state with the “sword of Article 35A dangling on our heads”. She said the party had unanimously decided to stay away from the electoral exercise.

“The party urges the government to review its decision to hold local body elections at this time against the will of the people and instead focus on confidence-building measures,” the former Chief Minister told reporters here after meeting her party leaders and MLAs.

“Our Party will not contest the polls as the prevailing situation is not favourable for such an exercise.

“The government is not keen on defending 35-A and insecurity has crept in the population. The party therefore urges the government to review its decision to hold polls at this time”.

A dissident PDP MLA, Javaid Beigh, who represents Baramulla Assembly, was present at the meeting chaired by Mehbooba Mufti.

But five other PDP MLAs including Haseeb Drabu, Imran Ansari, Abid Ansari, Abdul Majeed Padder and Abbas Wani did not attend the meeting.

The National Conference has already announced a boycott of the elections.

Governor Satya Pal Malik has announced that the elections to urban local bodies in the state will be held between October 1 and 5 and to the Panchayats between November 8 and December 4.

Article 35A of the Constitution prohibits outsiders from owning land and property in Jammu and Kashmir.

Trump administration to close PLO office in Washington DC

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The United States will shut the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s diplomatic office in Washington DC over the Palestinian government’s refusal to enter into US-led negotiations with Israel.

“We have been notified by a US official of their decision to close the Palestinian mission to the US,” PLO secretary-general Saeb Erekat said in a statement on Monday.

“This is yet another affirmation of the Trump administration’s policy to collectively punish the Palestinian people, including by cutting financial support for humanitarian services including health and education.”

According to a draft text of a speech seen by the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, will also reportedly threaten the International Criminal Court (ICC) with sanctions if it carries out investigations into the US and Israel.

“The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel,” Bolton is expected to say in his speech to the Federalist Society, a conservative group, in Washington DC.

“The Trump administration will not keep the office open when the Palestinians refuse to start direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel.”

Dangerous consequences after US cuts funding for Palestinian refugees (2:54)
The speech is also expected to say that the Trump administration “will fight back” if the ICC formally proceeds with opening an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US service members and intelligence professionals during the war in Afghanistan.

If such a probe proceeds, the Trump administration will consider banning judges and prosecutors from entering the US, put sanctions on any funds they have in the US financial system and prosecute them in US courts.

“We will not cooperate with the ICC. We will provide no assistance to the ICC. We will not join the ICC. We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us,” the draft text said.

Deteriorating ties
The action against the PLO, which serves as the main entity representing the Palestinian people, is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration against the Palestinian leadership.

Over the past year, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, has repeatedly questioned Mahmoud Abbas’ commitment to peace and Trump’s so-called “ultimate deal”.

The Palestinian leadership, which sees East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, suspended contacts with the US, after Washington recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel late last year.

The Palestinians insist the status of the city is an issue to be negotiated between them and the Israelis.

Officials in the Gaza Strip, which has been administered by Hamas since 2007, have also previously blasted the US for its support to Israel, saying Washington has long lost its regional credibility.

The US gives Israel annual military aid of $3.1bn. Next year, that figure will increase to $3.8bn under a 10-year deal agreed by Barack Obama shortly before he stepped down as president.

While the details of Trump’s so-called “deal of the century” have not officially been released, leaks have suggested that the Palestinians would initially control the Gaza Strip and less than half of the occupied West Bank, while a Palestinian capital would be created from villages surrounding Jerusalem.

The Israelis would retain security control over the Jordan valley and have total control over Palestinian travel between the West Bank and Gaza, while a corridor will be created between Palestinian territory and Jerusalem’s holy sites.

It appears meanwhile that Palestinians would have to surrender the principle of the right of return of Palestinian refugees expelled during the creation of Israel, while the future of illegal Israeli settlements and the final border between Palestine and Israel would be decided at a later date.

Cut in funding
Monday’s announcement comes just weeks after the US said it would cut more than $200m in economic aid for the Palestinians.

Wishing away Palestinian refugees: End of US’ UNRWA aid explained
The US had planned to give the Palestinians $251m for good governance, health, education and funding for civil society in the current 2018 budget year that ends on September 30.

On Sunday, Haaretz reported that the US has also decided to cut more than $20m in foreign aid meant to support hospitals in East Jerusalem.

According to Haaretz, the hospitals treat Palestinian patients who require cancer and eye treatments.

The decision to cut funding comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where more than 160 Palestinians protesting for their right to return to the areas from which they were forcibly expelled from in 1948 have been killed by Israeli gunfire since March 30 during weeks-long demonstrations near the fence with Israel.

(Aljazeera)

Manmohan seeks opposition unity to defeat BJP

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Urging the opposition to unite in their shared desire to defeat the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday hit out at the Modi government for the crises-like all-round situation in the country due to rising fuel prices and farm distress.

Manmohan Singh said the BJP-led central government had “miserably” failed in controlling fuel prices and fulfilling the promises made to the people before the 2014 elections.

“Circumstances show that the situation has gone beyond control now. Farmers, businessmen, youth are facing crises in their respective fields. The government has failed miserably in fulfilling the promises made to common people.

“The time has come to change the party in the Centre and this will happen very soon,” he said, addressing a protest rally at the Ramlila ground here.

“The parties opposing the present government should forget their differences and come together for maintaining the unity and secular identity of the country. We need to draw the collective benefit of the unity shown (here),” he said.

The former Prime Minister along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined the protest march that started from Rajghat and culminated at Ramlila ground.

The march as part of a nationwide protest, or “Bharat Bandh”, was led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders.

The former Prime Minister appreciated the presence of around 20 political opposition parties joining the Congress in the protest against the government.

He said it was a significant moment ahead of the general elections next year and “we should take advantage of this (unity) and bring about a movement” in the country.

The protest was called by the Congress and Left parties against the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel which have reached record levels.

The protest was supported by several opposition parties including the Janata Dal-Secular, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Loktantrik Janata Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal, All India United Democratic Front, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Aam Aadmi Party among others.

(IANS)

Bharat Bandh fails, hike in fuel prices momentary difficulty: BJP

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Calling the hike in prices of petroleum products a “momentary difficulty” due to the international crisis, the BJP on Monday condemned incidents of violence during the Bharat Bandh.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also claimed that the shutdown was “unsuccessful” because people understand the reasons why petrol and diesel prices were going up.

“Why the people of India are indifferent to Bharat Bandh? They understand the rise in fuel prices, though temporary, is because of factors beyond the control of the Indian government and ordinary indian,” Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media.

He said that in spite of some “momentary difficulty”, the people don’t support the Bandh.

“This is unnerving the Congress and other opposition parties. That is why they are resorting to violence.

“Bharat Bandh has been unsuccessful. We condemn the violence being used to instil fear among citizens across the country.”

(IANS)

The Minister said: “The petroleum need of the global world today is under severe restrictions because of non-availability and limited supply. We are not trying to justify the price hike. The NDA government has been trying its best to contain inflation. It has succeeded on numerous fronts.”

Referring to the alleged death of a girl in Bihar’s Jehanabad district during the Bandh, Prasad demanded to know who was responsible for it.

“Everyone has a right to protest but what is happening today? Petrol pumps and buses being set ablaze, putting to risk lives. A child died after an ambulance was stuck in the protests in Jehanabad. Who is responsible?”

Bharat Bandh hits normal life in Karnataka

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The day-long nationwide shutdown or Bharat bandh on Monday against rising fuel prices called by the Congress affected normal life in Karnataka as public transport kept off the roads across the state.

“There is an overwhelming response from the public to our shutdown call as petrol and diesel price hike affects all, especially the poor,” a Congress spokesman told IANS here.

Schools and colleges were closed although state and central government offices remained open.

In Bengaluru, global software firms like Infosys and Wipro functioned normally.

With the ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) supporting its ally Congress on the bandh, their cadres as well as activists of the pro-Kannada organisations like Kannada Vedica Paksha (KVP) were seen forcing restaurants, shops and fuel stations to remain shut at least till 3 p.m.

Many theatres, multiplexes and malls did not open for business. Bank transactions were hit.

“We have not opened for business for the day to avoid damage to our property caused by frenzied mobs,” a tea vendor told IANS here.

The shutdown, however, did not affect flight or train services in Bengaluru and Mysuru though passengers faced harrowing time at the airport and railway stations in the absence of buses, cabs and autos.

About 1,000 cadres and supporters of the JD-S and Congress staged a massive demonstration at the Town Hall here and took out a protest rally to the Freedom Park through main roads, which had less vehicular traffic on a working day due to the shutdown.

Emergency services, including hospitals and medical shops, were exempted from the bandh.

(IANS)

Bharath Bandh observed across Karnataka

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Nationwide strike today has been observed across the state today.

State-run transport corporations – BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC – are all likely to see workers observing the strike after multiple unions voiced their support to the bandh call. Auto rickshaws and app hailed cabs will also ply in very low numbers.

The cab association members said that they will be supporting the Congress in the bandh and if need be they will protest in front of Town Hall as well.

Bengaluru Urban DC Vijay Shankar declared holiday for all schools and colleges across Bengaluru.

Bundh garners good response in Udupi, DK

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Nationwide strike today has been observed across the state today.

State-run transport corporations – BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC – are all likely to see workers observing the strike after multiple unions voiced their support to the bandh call. Auto rickshaws and app hailed cabs will also ply in very low numbers.

The cab association members said that they will be supporting the Congress in the bandh and if need be they will protest in front of Town Hall as well.

Bengaluru Urban DC Vijay Shankar declared holiday for all schools and colleges across Bengaluru.

Haryana Woman Constable Alleges Rape By Cop, His Brother

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A woman head constable with Haryana Police has accused a man and his brother, who too is a head constable, of raping and blackmailing her, an official said on Sunday.

Following the rape case being filed at women’s police station, Palwal on Saturday, a probe was launched, Palwal SP, Waseem Akram said.

However, he denied the rumours that the woman was raped inside a police station as reported by a section of the media.

“The woman head constable has complained that she came in contact with the main accused Joginder alias Mintu of Alawalpur, Palwal in 2014. She had first met him in Mahendergarh,” Mr Akram said quoting the complaint by the woman.

“She stated that they were in touch since then and Joginder had allegedly repeatedly raped her during her posting in Faridabad, Jind and Palwal,” he added.

The complainant further alleged that in June 2017, Joginder introduced her to his brother– a head constable with Faridabad Police– who too allegedly raped her, Mr Akram said.

She alleged that Joginder has been blackmailing her for money and sexual favours as he possesses objectionable photographs of her and threatens to post them on social media.

“During the investigation, it has been found that the accused Joginder is married and has two children. The complainant is also married,” he said.

(IANS)

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