An annular solar eclipse takes place when the moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than that of the Sun’s, blocking most of the Sun’s light. This causes the Sun to look like a ‘ring of fire

New Delhi:  Solar Eclipse 2019: PM Modi shared images on his official Twitter handle.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he was enthusiastic “like many Indians” to witness the annular solar eclipse but he could not see the sun due to “cloud cover”, adding that he “did catch glimpses of the eclipse” in Kerala’s Kozhikode on live-stream. Thick fog blocked view of the much-awaited spectacle in several parts of Delhi this morning.

“Like many Indians, I was enthusiastic about #solareclipse2019,” PM Modi tweeted this morning. “Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts,” he added.

Like many Indians, I was enthusiastic about #solareclipse2019.

Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts.

There are three types of solar eclipse – total, partial and annular. An annular solar eclipse takes place when the moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than that of the sun’s, blocking most of the sun’s light. This causes the sun to look like a “ring of fire”. Today’s was the third eclipse of the year and decade’s last.

In India, the rare celestial spectacle was first viewed from Chervathur in Kerala. People from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were also able to see the annular solar eclipse, while the rest of the country could see a partial solar eclipse. The annular solar eclipse in Kerala began at around 8 this morning and lasted till about 11.15 am. 

Besides India, the eclipse was visible in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. Riyadh was the first one across the world to witness the rare spectacle. 

CDS will be the single-point advisor to the government on military matters and is going to give impetus to the tri-service synergy.

NEW DELHI:  Moving ahead with the biggest decision on military reform, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the post of Chief of Defence Staff on Tuesday, a move that is seen as a major change in the higher defence management. 

“The Cabinet has approved creation of post of Chief of Defence Staff of the rank of 4-Star General with salary equivalent to the services chiefs, and will head the Department of Military Affairs  (that will be created under the Ministry of Defence) and will function as its Secretary,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said after the Cabinet meeting.

The approval came after a report submitted by the implementation committee, headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, was accepted. 

The role and charter have also been given a go-ahead. CDS will be the single-point advisor to the government on military matters and is going to give impetus to the tri-service synergy.

PM Narendra Modi had announced the decision to appoint a CDS during his Independence Day address this year.

The Kargil Review Committee set up after the war in 1999 had also pitched for the CDS. But former Chiefs of Staff feel the CDS should not become another four-star appointment.

Ex-navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) said, “The MoD should amend the Rules of Business to include DMA as the sixth department.” Else, it will not be like the five departments directly under MoD, he feels.  

Former army chief General VP Malik (retd) said, “The government will have to clear some areas. One is that the service chiefs are already senior to GOI secretaries, equated with Cabinet Secretary whereas the announcement equates the CDS with the Secretary.” Director-General, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses ambassador Sujan Chinoy considers it to be important for the civil-military relationship.

“This will bring the civilian and military officials to work together thus increasing the understanding.”

CDS will be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by the defence minister and the Defence Planning Committee chaired by NSA. But, General Malik suggests the CDS be given financial powers. The CDS will look after procurements exclusive to the services except capital acquisitions, training and staffing for the services. 

The CDS will be the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and will act as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters. The three chiefs will continue to advise the minister on matters exclusively concerning their respective services.

The CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three service chiefs. But the administration of the tri-service agencies/ organisations/ commands related to cyber and space will be under the command of the CDS.

The Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur was reportedly irked over the journalist’s question that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) seemed to be the main Opposition party in Punjab.

CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday got into a heated argument with a journalist at a press conference here.

The Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur was reportedly irked over the journalist’s question that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) seemed to be the main Opposition party in Punjab as it was protesting against the Congress government, while AAP was nowhere to be seen.

“Who says this? You are taking Sukhbir Badal seriously, he is a retarded child,” Mann said in his reply.

When the journalist tried to ask another question, the AAP leader said: “Have you taken a contract to ask all the questions?”

Later, Mann stood up and charged towards the journalist. However, he was stopped by his party leaders.

Kamlesh Tiwari was shot in Naka area of Lucknow on October 18 and succumbed to his injuries at a hospital during treatment.

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against 13 accused in connection with Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari’s murder.

Of the 13, Ashraf and Moinuddin have been charged with murder.

Kamlesh Tiwari was shot in Naka area of Lucknow on October 18 and succumbed to his injuries at a hospital during treatment.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had sanctioned a financial help of Rs 15 lakh and a house to the wife of Kamlesh Tiwari.

A prayer meeting was held at Sadaiv Atal–the memorial to Atal Bihari Vajpayee– to mark the birth anniversary of the former prime minister.

NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several union ministers on Wednesday paid tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 95th birth anniversary.

A prayer meeting was held at Sadaiv Atal–the memorial to Atal Bihari Vajpayee– to mark the birth anniversary of the former prime minister.

BJP veteran L K Advani, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and members of Vajpayee’s family were amongst those who paid tributes to the BJP leader amid the playing of hymns and devotional music.

The memorial was dedicated to the nation in December last year.

Vajpayee was born in 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

He died on August 16, 2018, at AIIMS here.

“Tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is etched in the hearts of the countrymen, on his birth anniversary,” Modi wrote on Twitter.

He also posted a brief video on Vajpayee, recalling his contributions to the country.

He also paid tributes to Madan Mohan Malaviya on his 158th birth anniversary.

“A humble tribute to Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya ji on his birth anniversary, who dedicated his life to the service of Mother India,” Modi wrote on Twitter.

He said Malaviya played an important role in the freedom movement besides making an invaluable contribution in the field of education.

“His scholarship and ideals will always inspire the countrymen,” Modi said.

Kaithal MLA Leela Ram Gurjar also said today’s India is not of former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Gandhi, but of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

CHANDIGARH: In provocative remarks seemingly directed at Muslims, a Haryana BJP MLA has said those opposing CAA and NRC can be “wiped out” in an hour.

Kaithal MLA Leela Ram Gurjar was speaking at an event in his constituency in support of the amended citizenship law.

He said today’s India is not of former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Gandhi, but of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

“Aaj yeh Jawaharlal Nehru ka Hindustan nahi hai, aaj yeh Gandhi wala nahi hai. Aaj yeh Hindustan hai, Narendra Modi ji ka. Miya ji, ab yeh Hindustan, Narendra Modi ji ka hai, agar ishara ho gaya na, toh ek ghante mei safaya kar denege (India is not of Jawaharlal Nehru or of Gandhi today, but it is of Narendra Modi. If we get a signal, within one hour we will wipe them out),” he said.

Referring to the amended citizenship law, he said in a video clip that Modi had taken up this initiative.

“If Muslims think there is a conspiracy to make them leave the country, there is nothing of that sort in this act. But those who have illegally entered the country will definitely have to go,” he said.

“I want to tell the people here that this is not Manmohan Singh’s, Jawahar Lal Nehru’s or Gandhi’s India today, but of Modi ji and that of Amit Shah,” said Gurjar who had defeated veteran Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala in the state assembly polls held in October.

Referring to those against the new law and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), he said, “You must have seen a few come and give warnings. Today, India is of Modi ji, if we get a signal, we will clean them up in one hour.”

In a series of tweets, late on Monday night and on Tuesday, Chandra Kumar Bose also said that India is a nation open to all religions and communities and should not be compared to any other country.

NEW DELHI: Chandra Kumar Bose, BJP Vice President for West Bengal, on Tuesday demanded transparency in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 saying if it was not related to any religion, then Muslims should also be included.

“If CAA, 2019 is not related to any religion why are we stating – Hindu, Sikh, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis and Jains only! Why not include Muslims as well? Let’s be transparent,” he tweeted.

In a series of tweets, late on Monday night and on Tuesday, Bose also said that India is a nation open to all religions and communities and should not be compared to any other country.

“Don’t equate India or compare it with any other nation – as it’s a nation open to all religions and communities,” he said.

On BJP’s stand that Muslims are not being persecuted in their home countries, he said if that is the case, “they would not come, so there’s no harm in including them.”

However, he added, “this is not entirely true – what about Baloch who live in Pakistan and Afghanistan? What about Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan?”

Bose said the party which would follow the inclusive ideology of Subhas Chandra Bose representing all communities and work for the upliftment of all strata of the society would win Bengal in the 2021 Assembly elections. “The rest would be irrelevant.”

Party leaders feel that the BJP is not invincible and can be defeated if like-minded parties get together.

NEW DELHI: The victory of the JMM-Congress alliance in Jharkhand has come as a moral booster for opposition unity and for the grand old party seeking to become relevant again in Indian politics after suffering two successive defeats in general elections.

Party leaders feel that the BJP is not invincible and can be defeated if like-minded parties get together.

This, they feel, has been proved right in some states and the experiment can be implemented in upcoming polls.

The poll results indicate that local and real issues of farm crisis, economy and unemployment have found more resonance at the ground and that bodes well for the opposition in future polls to win back states from the BJP.

The Jharkhand poll results also show that the caste equations against BJP are consolidating.

A Congress leader said the BJP has lost the support of tribals by installing a non-tribal chief minister in the tribal-dominated state.

Though the Congress has returned to power in seven states with the latest victory in Jharkhand, its last two successes have come primarily with the support of allies.

While Congress is in power in the states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry on its own, it has come to power in Maharashtra and Jharkhand jointly with the support of its allies Shiv Sena and NCP and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Party leaders feel the latest victory in Jharkhand is a lesson taught by the people of the state to the “arrogance” of the BJP and its leadership.

Some feel it is also the defeat of BJP’s “corruption”.

They feel the alliance of like-minded parties in some states can bring opposition unity in states and oust the BJP from power.

Congress leader and in-charge for Jharkhand affairs, RPN Singh said the Congress and the alliance leaders raised the local issues of unemployment, farm distress, economic distress and increased debts and these issues touched the people of Jharkhand, who came out in favour of the alliance.

“We raised the issues of Jharkhand which are also the issues of the people of India.

Unemployment, farm distress, economic crisis and rising debts, starvation deaths are issues that touched the people of Jharkhand.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah tried to divert and distract from the real issues but that failed to cut ice with the common people.

On opposition unity, he said it worked out well on the ground as workers of the alliance partners performed unitedly at all levels that gave good results.

“The opposition unity and better coordination can be replicated in other state elections too and this will give positive results,” he said.

Party leaders feel the opposition needs to work closely and grab power in states through better coordination in state elections.

With Jharkhand joining the growing list of states slipping out of BJP’s rule, the party now governs mere 35 per cent of the country’s landmass in comparison to over 71 per cent during its peak in 2017 when it was in power in the entire Hindi-speaking heartland.

Its string of losses in states despite the massive victory in the April-May Lok Sabha elections may force the party’s top brass to revisit its strategy for the assembly polls as it prepares for the upcoming battles in Delhi and Bihar.

The incident happened late Sunday night when the students were holding a demonstration in front of Baghajatin I Block, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said.

KOLKATA: A group of Jadavpur University students who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Kolkata’s Baghajatin area was allegedly thrashed and some of the women taking part in the agitation were molested, police said on Monday.

The incident happened late Sunday night when the students were holding a demonstration in front of Baghajatin I Block, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said, adding that three persons have been arrested.

“A group of eight people allegedly attacked them with wooden sticks and thrashed the male students and molested the women demonstrators. The attackers also broke their camera and further threatened them,” the officer said.

The students then went back to the Jadavpur University campus, around 2 km away, after which a police complaint was lodged.

“Acting upon credible inputs, three persons have been arrested. They have been booked under relevant sections of the IPC and we are further investigating the matter,” the officer said.