I broke down watching Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 'Sarbjit', says Dalbir Kaur

It’s not only team Sarbjit — Director Omung Kumar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Randeep Hooda, Richa Chadda, who are busy promoting the film, but it’s also Sarabjit Singh's real-life sister Dalbir Kaur actively participating in film promotions.

Sarbjit traces the struggles of Dalbir (played by Aishwarya) who ran from pillar to post to get her younger brother Sarabjit out of the Pakistani jail but her quest ended tragically when he died in 2013 following a brutal attack by fellow prisoners.

“I haven’t watched the film yet but I have told them that they will have to show me the film first. After all it is about our reputation. They have agreed to that. If I want any changes, I will surely let team Sarbjit know,” says Dalbir sounding determined and clear about her demand.

However, Dalbir, who has flown down from Amritsar for film promotions, is extremely happy about the choice of actors for the biopic. She feels Randeep Hooda fits perfectly well in Sarbjit’s role.

“Sarbjit’s both the daughters wanted Randeep to play his role essentially because of his Haryanvi background. They have seen all his films. Also, Randeep has a physique similar to my brother’s. I think Randeep has really gotten into the skin of the character. He spoke exactly the way Sarbjit did,” says Dalbir.

She continues, "Aishwarya has done justice to the character. In fact, all the actors have been true to their part and have portrayed the emotions beautifully, be it joy, sorrow, pain, wait, fear, faith. I would get very emotional whenever I saw Aishwarya and Richa shoot for the film. In one scene, Aishwarya was on the phone, and she was being informed about Sarabjit. She was speaking exactly like how I had spoken back then. I broke down watching her.”

The making of the biopic has obviously been an emotional journey for Dalbir, who fought for over 23 years for her brother's release. “For people, a film was being made. But for me, it was like history repeating itself. I was remembering all the past incidents, and the pain that I had gone through,” says Dalbir, further adding, “I just wanted someone to present the story well, because Sarbjit is a story that everyone already knows. People would want to watch it because they want to know the details about what happened with him. I want the truth to be out."

So did she give any suggestions to Aishwarya while on the shooting sets? "I would never give suggestions to Aishwarya directly, I would tell Omung (director). Actually, I wouldn’t spend much time on the sets. But the trailer response has been very good. I don’t have any fear, I’m satisfied, I’m sure it won’t have any aisa waisa scenes,” says Dalbir, who will be back in Mumbai close to the release date.

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Have things turned ugly between Nargis Fakhri and Uday Chopra?

Mumbai: Though they never admitted to being in love, Nargis Fakhri and Uday Chopra were believed to be in a committed relationship. But things apparently turned so awry between the two that the pretty lady ended up having a nervous breakdown, a report suggests.

According to a report in DNA, Uday Chopra was apparently keen to marry Nargis. But then, the actress wanted to focus on her career and Hollywood venture. However with time, Nargis shuffled her priorities to give her personal life more space but by then Uday had changed his mind. He dropped his plan of getting married to her and this depressed Nargis so much that she suffered a nervous breakdown.

“Nargis was all set to announce her wedding to Uday Chopra, but he’d changed his mind about getting hitched and this came as a shock to her. There was a time when he was very keen to marry her and had proposed to her, but she wanted to focus on her career and Hollywood films. Now, the tables have turned. She had a huge fight with him, suffered a nervous breakdown and left almost overnight,” DNA quoted an insider from B-Town as saying.

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West Bengal elections LIVE: Polling begins in 25 constituencies in last phase

Polling began at 7 a.m. for 25 constituencies covering the Cooch Behar and East Midnapore districts in the sixth and final phase of the staggered month-long polling for the West Bengal assembly elections on Thursday.

Nine of the constituencies are in Cooch Behar district and 16 in East Midnapore.

Over 58 lakh (58,04,019) voters across 6,774 polling stations, including nine auxiliary booths, are eligible to decide the fate of 170 candidates — 18 of them female in this phase. The Election Commission is using 7,790 EVMs and 621 VVPATs.

It is a historic day for the dwellers of the erstwhile enclaves in Cooch Behar who are voting for the first time, marking another giant leap in their absorption into India after nearly seven decades of stateless existence.

Following the implementation of the historic Land Boundary Agreement, Bangladesh and India exchanged 162 adversely-held enclaves on August 1, 2015.

Rising to the occasion, the Election Commission has rolled out the red carpet for the 9,776 first-time voters, besides setting up five model polling stations with facilities for sitting, wheelchairs etc.

In East Midnapore, all eyes are on Nandigram, where a peasants agitation in 2006-07 against the erstwhile Left Front government’s bid to acquire farmland for a chemical hub and special economic zone had triggered police firing that resulted in 14 deaths.

The peasants protest played a pivotal role in the ouster of the Left Front after 34 years in office.

While the Left Front is in fray in 18 seats, the Congress is contesting from four constituencies, with the alliance extending support to three independent candidates.

The Trinamool and the BJP are fighting all the seats.

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Clash with Salman Khan's 'Sultan' averted; check out the release date of Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’

Mumbai: Had Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan clashed at the Box Office this Eid with their releases ‘Sultan’ and ‘Raees’ respectively, Bollywood would have witnessed the biggest Box Office war ever. But thankfully, that’s not happening because SRK has decided to postpone the release of his film.

It would have certainly been a tough decision as this year’s festive dates were block by other A-listers. Akshay Kumar’s ‘Rustom’ will have an Independance Day release, while Ajay Devgn’s directorial will hit the screens on Diwali and Aamir Khan will return to the silverscreen in December.

So, to clear all the ambiguity surrounding the release of ‘Raees’, a film that will mark the launch of Pakistani beauty Mahira Khan in Bollywood, the makers of the film – SRK, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhar have decided to push the release date to January next year, reports suggest. 

The trio issued a joint statement to put all speculations regarding the release of 'Raees' to rest, reports Bollywoodlife.com.

“It was not an easy decision to move the film. We understand that this film is highly anticipated. However, a movie of such magnitude requires the appropriate showcasing and therefore, we have decided to shift our release date to 26th January 2017,” the trio said in the statement.

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The day stars took over Delhi sky

NEW DELHI: Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Kalki Koechlin, directors Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Kabir Khan walked away with top honours at the 63rd National Film Awards on Tuesday. Bachchan, who won for 'Piku', is the only one to have bagged the honour in the 'best actor' category for the fourth time.

Presenting the awards President Pranab Mukherjee said it was sprecial how the National Film Awards recognised "living legends" like Bachchan as well as newcomers.

Thespian Manoj Kumar, who essayed the role of Bhagat Singh nearly half a century ago, was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Indian cinema's most coveted honour. He in turn presented the President with a Sai Baba statuette while accepting the award to a standing ovation. Kumar started his career in 1957 and is famous for his patriotic roles in films like Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Purab Aur Paschim, and Shaheed, among others.

Describing Kumar's films, I&B minister Arun Jaitley said the actor-director's films played an important part in contextualising Indian history, like the freedom struggle, as well as the plight of farmers.

This is the third National Award for Kangana, who won the 'best actress' honour for 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'. The multilingual `Baahubali' was recognised as `best film', while Sanjay Leela Bhansali received the 'best direction' award for 'Bajirao Mastani'. The Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan won 'best popular film'.

The `best Hindi film' award was gi ven to `Dum Laga Ke Haisha', and the special jury award to Kalki Koechlinstarrer Margarita With A Straw.

`Masaan', directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, received the Indira Gandhi award for `best debut film of a director'.

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Aditya Pancholi’s wife, daughter leave home over Adhyayan-Kangana mess

Aditya Pancholi’s wife Zarina Wahab and his daughter are apparently not happy about his speaking on Adhyayan Suman’s statement that Aditya had warned him about Kangana Ranaut.

Reportedly, Zarina and her daughter have flown down to Hyderabad till things cool down.

After saying “Who is he?” when asked about Adhyayan Suman, Aditya, in a statement to a leading daily, clarified that his statement was misinterpreted. According to him, the question on Adhyayan came out of blue when the camera lights were flashing in his face.

So when he said ‘Kaun hai woh? Usko leke aa re tu! (Who is he? Get him here!)’ he meant it for the camera person who was disturbing him while he was trying to talk.

Adhyayayn Suman told an English daily on Thursday that Kangana was an abusive girlfriend who made his life “hellish” for the one year they dated. He also added that Aditya Pancholi, who is rumoured to have had an affair with Kangana before him, warned his dad about her. Adhyayan said, “Aditya Pancholi called my dad and said, ‘Shekharji what is going on? She(Kangana) is crazy, a psycho and this has been her behaviour pattern.’ He was right as that was exactly her behaviour with me. Aditya told my father that if he wanted he would speak to me but he should get me out of Kangana’s clutches as she would ruin me and by the time I would realise it, it would be too late for me.”

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SHOCKING! Kangana Ranaut HYPNOTISED Adhyayan Suman!

Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan's legal battle has gotten uglier. However, it was Adhyayan Suman's SHOCKING confessions that changed the whole scenario. The actor's parents have now come in support of their son and revealed a few more EXPLICIT details...

Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan‘s legal battle has gotten uglier and it has had many twist and turns. However, it was Adhyayan Suman‘s SHOCKING confessions about the black magic, physical torture and all the other aspects about his relationship with Kangana that changed the whole scenario. Since then, many people have SLAMMED Adhyayan on his timing of the revelations. But, he clarified over social media that he was doing this not for publicity, but for the world to know the truth.

The actor’s parents have now come in support of their son and revealed a few more EXPLICIT details. Adhyayan’s father, Shekhar Suman spoke about how Kangana had done black magic on his son and ill-treated him. In an interview to ABP, the singer revealed, “One day my wife Alka opened Adhyayan’s drawer and she found supari , some coins and other weird things in it. She called me and asked Kya Hai Yeh (What is this?), I hope he is not doing something crazy (Black Magic). The another day, when Adhyayan came home, we saw he was completely bald. We asked him what made him to do this then he replied you won’t understand fashion.Then atlast we come to know it was Kangana who forced him to do so. Kangana took Adhyayan to FilmFare awards, but Adhyayan was falling back 15 feets from Kangana as though he was some bodyguard to her. She was giving interviews and he was standing behind her. I felt so horrible for my son, I must have died thousand deaths. She didn’t even look at him. Eventually, when she went on stage she thanked every one except Adhyayan.”

Adhyayan’s mother also revealed how Kangana had hynotised his son and tortured him. As she told ABP, “Soon after we found supari, I called family’s Panditji and they (Priests) confirmed that Adhyayan was hypnotised. From his eyes it seemed either he was a drugged or was under the influence of someone. The way Kangana treated him it was horrible. She used to abuse him, beat him. We have never seen this in our home. One day Adhayayan called up around 2-3 AM, I asked him where are you? Then he started crying on phone and said Kangana had locked him out of her house. I asked him to let me talk to Kangana and request her. When Kangana came on the line she did not listen to me and refused to take him inside. I got very angry for the first time that how could anybody do this to my son. I think Adhyayan was in Mumbai and Kangana was out of India shooting for Kites, he stumbled upon some of her intimate messages which she had sent to Hrithik. This time Adhyayan made up his mind to fight for his rights.”

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19 gold bars found in checked-in washing machine at Mumbai airport

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized 19 gold bars, concealed inside the motor of a washing machine, which a passenger was carrying in his check-in luggage, on Monday morning.

“Mohamnad Aslam Shaikh, who has an Indian passport, arrived in the city from Riyadh. Gold bars were concealed inside the motor of a washing machine in his luggage. They were found during screening,” said an AIU officer, adding that 19 gold bars weighed 2,204 grams and are valued at around Rs60.15 lakh.

After Shaikh was taken into custody, the AIU officials interrogated him. According to the officials, Shaikh said he was to meet another person.

He revealed that there was another person waiting for him at the airport and the gold was to be handed over to him.

“We have held t he man, Sal man Khan. He was waiting for Shaikh outside the airport,” said an AIU officer. Investigations are on about where t he gold was being brought from and if more persons were involved.

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Karisma Kapoor, Sunjay Kapur set for divorce on June 30

Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoor and her businessman husband Sunjay Kapur are all set to divorce by mutual consent as they signed the "consent agreement" in which she was given the full-time custody of their two children and the man was given adequate visitation rights over them.The "consent terms" was submitted before the Supreme Court, which has signed off on their settlement. On June 30, when the family court will take up the divorce petition, filed by Sunjay, it will formally grant the decree of divorce.

The couple, who married in 2003, have a daughter and a son.After the in-chamber hearing for more than an hour before a bench of headed by justice AK Sikri on Friday, the actor's advocate Sandeep Kapur said: "All pending disputes between the couple have been amicably resolved. It has been agreed that the divorce petition filed by the husband at a court in Mumbai will now be converted into divorce plea by mutual consent."

"Karisma was asked by the apex court to withdraw the case filed against him under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act in two weeks in view of the settlement arrived at today," the lawyer also said.Sunjay's lawyer Aman and Priya Hingorani said: "Karisma agreed for the quashing of the criminal proceedings initiated by her at a trial court in Mumbai under section 498A (subjecting woman to cruelty) of IPC and the apex court accordingly quashed it."

In their consent agreement, Sunjay has been given visitation rights for his children. He has agreed to transfer the ownership of the family's Mumbai home to Karisma.Earlier, Sunjay had agreed to pay Rs10 lakh for the maintenance of their children.

After separating in 2014 and filing for divorce, the couple swapped nasty allegations — Sunjay moved apex court alleging that an underworld don — Ravi Pujari — acted on behalf of her and threatened him against visiting Mumbai.

Karisma filed a criminal case against him on charges of cruelty and said the financial settlement he offered was unacceptable. Both parties have agreed to withdraw the complaints against each other.

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Royal couple in Mumbai tomorrow: Visit could be ‘full of surprises'

Britain’s royal couple Prince William and his wife Kate’s India visit that starts from Mumbai on Sunday could be ‘full of surprises’, according to officials from the British high commission. The week-long tour which includes a two-day stay in the city would comprise multiple events where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would meet people from different walks, officials added.

The itinerary would include meetings with young entrepreneurs, Bollywood celebs, underprivileged children and slums dwellers in South Mumbai.

The visit would begin with their stay at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Colaba, a gesture being perceived to show their solidarity towards victims of the 26/11 terror attacks. On Sunday the royal couple would first visit Oval Maidan to watch and participate in a cricket match between beneficiaries and representatives of three city-based non-governmental organisations – India’s childline, Doorstep and Magic Bus. In the evening the British high commission and the British Asian Trust would host a gala dinner which would see the who’s who from the business world and Indian movie stars, according to a press statement issued by the British high commission.

“The Duke and Duchess are most excited about their first visit to India, and we hope this visit will mark the start of a long friendship between them and this magnificent and diverse country,” said Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, the British high commissioner to India.

He added, “They are embarking on a packed, varied and exciting programme where they will gain an understanding of modern India – a vibrant, entrepreneurial, aspirational nation that faces both its challenges and huge opportunities with confidence. The royal couple would then head for the second leg of the journey which includes Delhi, Kaziranga national park, Thimpu in Bhutan and conclude their tour at the Taj Mahal in Agra, the release added.

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Modi to launch Stand Up India today, security tightened in Noida

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday launch the Stand Up India initiative at Noida.

The initiative will promote entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women, by facilitating loans in the range of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 100 lakh, an official statement said.

As per the scheme, each branch of a scheduled commercial bank shall facilitate at least two such loans. A web portal will also be launched for the initiative, to enable online registration and support services.

Modi will also flag-off 5,100 e-rickshaws and also interact with the beneficiaries, besides inaugurating a Kaushal Vikas Kendra (skilling centre).

Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the police ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to neighbouring Noida to distribute e-rickshaw and inaugurate a micro credit programme, a senior police official said.

Apart from keeping an extra vigil in the bordering area and entry points, Ghaziabad police has enforced Operation Green under which no vehicle will be permitted to ply in the area, he said.

District borders touching Delhi and Noida will be sealed completely till the PM’s programme concludes, said Superintendent of Police (City) Salman Taj Patil. Apart from it, police personnel will be deployed on PCR vans and ‘Leopard’ motorcycle to keep a vigil in the area.

Four Deputy Superintendents of Police, seven inspectors, 30 sub-inspectors, 40 HCP (head constable promoted) and 300 constables have been sent to Noida from Ghaziabad for PM Visit duty, he added.

He said Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, who will also attend the function, will arrive here by helicopter which will land at CISF ground in Indira Puram. Following which, he will travel by car to Noida, the officer added.

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Assam goes to polls: All you need to know about the Assembly Election

The current Assam Assembly’s tenure ends on 5 June, 2016 and that’s why the Assembly elections are being conducted in this northeastern state this month. Currently, the Congress holds the majority in the Assembly and Tarun Gogoi is the chief minister. He has been in the post for the past 15 years. However, various opinion polls claim that this time, the Bharatiya Janata Party will win the elections. The verdict will be known on 19 May, when the votes will be counted. Till that happens, here’s what you need to know:

Polling:
Voting in Assam will take place in two phases – on 4 April and 11 April. The state government has declared that the constituencies will have a holiday on the day they go to polls. Assam has a total of 126 constituencies. A party needs to win 64 seats to prove majority and form the government.

Key issues:
The issue of Bangladeshi immigrants entering Assam is overshadowing all other issues in several constituencies in the state. As Sushanta Talukdar explains in this Firstpost article, this is one of the rare times that a national issue like foreign policy is affecting the Assembly elections of a state. Both the BJP and the Congress are using the issue as a major poll plank. In their attempt to woo voters, both parties are claiming that they will offer refuge to Hindu migrants from Bangladesh. This stepmotherly treatment to Muslim migrants from Bangladesh can end up polarising voters and giving the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), headed by Badruddin Ajmal, a boost. The BJP is so focused on its Hindutva politics that it is fielding its CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal from Majuli, which is home to Vaishnavite satras, Sanghamitra Baruah points out in this Firstpost article.

 The issue of Bangladeshi immigrants entering Assam is overshadowing all other issues in several constituencies in the state. As Sushanta Talukdar explains in this Firstpost article, this is one of the rare times that a national issue like foreign policy is affecting the Assembly elections of a state. Both the BJP and the Congress are using the issue as a major poll plank. In their attempt to woo voters, both parties are claiming that they will offer refuge to Hindu migrants from Bangladesh. This stepmotherly treatment to Muslim migrants from Bangladesh can end up polarising voters and giving the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), headed by Badruddin Ajmal, a boost. The BJP is so focused on its Hindutva politics that it is fielding its CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal from Majuli, which is home to Vaishnavite satras, Sanghamitra Baruah points out in this Firstpost article.

Another major issue is that of floods. Every year, the Brahmaputra river overflows and floods the surrounding villages. Severe soil erosion has led to the island of Majuli shrinking in size. Despite promises by the state and central governments, voters say that not much has been done to help the residents, the article states.

The Muslim factor:

Muslims constitute 34 percent of the electorate – the second largest in the country, with only Jammu and Kashmir ahead of it. This proves a challenge for the BJP which has traditionally banked on the Hindu vote to get elected. In Assam, they are feeding into the fear of the Hindu electorate by claiming that Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF has a secret understanding with the Congress, and Ajmal might be made home minister or deputy chief minister if the Congress comes to power. As Sandipan Sharms writes in this Firstpost article, the BJP appears to have found an easy target in Ajmal.

Phase I
Polling day:
4 April

Constituencies:
Ratabari, Majbat, Sonari, Patharkandi, Dhekiajuli, Thowra, Karimganj North, Barchalla, Sibsagar, Karimganj South, Tezpur, Bihpuria, Badarpur, Rangapara, Naoboicha, Hailakandi, Sootea, Lakhimpur, Katlichera, Biswanath, Dhakuakhana, Algapur, Behali, Dhemaji, Silchar, Gohpur, Jonai, Sonai, Bokakhat, Moran, Dholai, Sarupathar, Dibrugarh, Udharbond, Golaghat, Lahowal, Lakhipur, Khumtai, Duliajan, Barkhola, Dergaon, Tingkhong, Katigora, Jorhat, Naharkatia, Haflong, Majuli, Chabua, Bokajan, Titabar, Tinsukia, Howraghat, Mariani, Digboi, Diphu, Teok, Margherita, Baithalangso, Amguri, Doom Dooma, Paneri, Nazira, SadiyaUdalguri, Mahmara

Key battles:
Titabar will see a clash of the titans. It’s Tarun Gogoi’s constituency, and the BJP is pitching another heavyweight against him – MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa. Tasa, 40 years old, has the advantage of age against the 79-year-old Gogoi. Titabar is also part of the Jorhat parliamentary constituency, from where Tasa won his Lok Sabha seat. However, Titabar has stayed loyal to Gogoi for 15 years and it is tough to imagine that that loyalty will change this time around.

Sonowal is contesting from Majuli, which is the first time any party has fielded its chief ministerial candidate from this tiny island. The Congress candidate is incumbent Rajib Lochan Pegu, a 55-year-old post graduate in English and former Minister of State (Independent charge), Water Resources and Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes, according to the official Assam Assembly website.

Contenders:
The BJP is fielding 54 candidates while its alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has 11 candidates. Congress is fielding 65 candidates and the AIUDF has 27, according to data provided by the election commission.

Phase II
Polling day:
11 April

Constituencies:Mankachar, Patacharkuchi, Barama (ST), Salmara South, Barpeta, Chapaguri(ST), Dhubri, Jania, Kalaigaon, Gauripur, Baghbar, Sipajhar, Golakganj, Sarukhetri, Mangaldoi(SC), Bilasipara West, Chenga, Dalgaon, Bilasipara East, Boko (SC), Jagiroad (SC), Gossaigaon, Chaygaon, Marigaon, Kokrajhar West (ST), Palasbari, Laharighat, Kokrajhar East (ST), Jalukbari, Raha (SC), Sidli (ST), Dispur, Dhing, Bongaigaon, Gauhati East, Batadroba, Bijni, Gauhati West, Rupohihat, Abhayapuri North, Hajo, Nowgong, Abhayapuri South (SC), Kamalpur, Barhampur, Dudhnai (ST), Rangiya, Samaguri, Goalpara East, Tamulpur, Kaliabor, Goalpara West, Nalbari, Jamunamukh, Jaleswar, Barkhetry, Hojai, Sorbhog, Dharmapur, Lumding, Bhabanipur

Key battles:
Badruddin Ajmal is contesting from the Salmara South constituency. The 61-year-old AIUDF chief is replacing incumbent and fellow party leader Abdur Rahman Ajmal. In 2011, Abdur Rahman won the election with Congress’ Wazed Ali Choudhury coming in second, according to elections.in. In the 2009 bypolls, Choudhury had emerged winner and Abdur Rahman second. The 54-year-old Choudhury is the Congress’ candidate this time around too. In fact in 2006, when Ajmal founded the AIUDF, he contested from this seat and defeated Choudhury. Whether history will repeat itself this election remains to be seen. (The BJP however is fielding relative newcomer, 28-year-old Shiraj Hussain. According to elections.in, data available till 1978 shows that BJP has never won this seat.)

Key battles:
Badruddin Ajmal is contesting from the Salmara South constituency. The 61-year-old AIUDF chief is replacing incumbent and fellow party leader Abdur Rahman Ajmal. In 2011, Abdur Rahman won the election with Congress’ Wazed Ali Choudhury coming in second, according to elections.in. In the 2009 bypolls, Choudhury had emerged winner and Abdur Rahman second. The 54-year-old Choudhury is the Congress’ candidate this time around too. In fact in 2006, when Ajmal founded the AIUDF, he contested from this seat and defeated Choudhury. Whether history will repeat itself this election remains to be seen. (The BJP however is fielding relative newcomer, 28-year-old Shiraj Hussain. According to elections.in, data available till 1978 shows that BJP has never won this seat.)

Contenders:
The BJP is fielding 35 candidates and its partner AGP 19. Congress is fielding 57 candidates, just 10 more than the AIUDF, according to data from the election commission.

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India will deliver on hope of driving global growth: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India will live up to the global expectation of being a bright spot for growth with requisite policy as also administrative reforms on a sustained basis.

"The world has much expectations from India in contribution to the global growth. I would like to place before you how India intends to meet the challenge," the prime minister told the Bloomberg India Economic Forum 2016, held here to commemorate the media group's 20 years in India. 

Modi said India today was not just the world's fastest-growing economy but also has a low capital account and fiscal deficits, along with low inflation. "This is the result of good policies and not good fortune," he said, alluding to the achievements in the difficult times globally. 

"Let me emphasise on our fiscal consolidation. We have met the ambitious fiscal deficit targets in each of the previous two fiscal years," the prime minister said, adding: "We have reduced the deficit even while increasing capital expenditure." 

He told the gathering that the country's net foreign direct investment inflow during the third quarter of the current financial year was an all-time record. "This is concrete evidence of the success of 'Make in India' policy in employment-intensive sectors."

As examples, Modi said motor vehicle production, which was a strong indicator of consumer purchasing power and economic activity, grew at 7.6 percent this fiscal, furniture output grew 57 percent and employment-intensive wearing apparel sector grew 8.7 percent 

"My goal is reforms through transformation. Administrative reform is a start."

The prime minister said since a large share of India's population still depended on agriculture, his government's target was to double the income of farmers soon. Towards this, he added, a big focus was being given to irrigation with a large budget.

"We are also creating a national agricultural market and removing distortions," he said, adding" "Seeds have been sown for a new dawn for farming, and retaining the youth in the sector." 

The prime minister said transparency was another hallmark of his government, giving the example of auction of resources such as coal through competitive bidding. "Our record on implementation in general and reduction in corruption in particular is now well understood."

Modi said his government will also work with the Reserve Bank of India to set inflation targets and that interest rates will be set by a Monetary Policy Committee -- a panel that will have no representative from the government.

He also referred to the new norms for exploration and production of hydrocarbons assets by the private players. "We have introduced pricing and marketing freedom and also a transparent revenue sharing system. This will eliminate several layers of bureaucratic controls."

He said in renewable energy India has grown from 1,500 MW of solar power to 10,000 MW per annum in a short span of time. People were surprised when the target of 175 GW of renewables was announced. But today, this stood to be recognised by the global stakeholders, he said. 

Listing other initiatives, the prime minister said parliament had recently passed a new law on inland waterways to make it an efficient mode of transport and foreign investment limits in the stock exchanges were raised and they were allowed to be listed. 

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Ban Ki-moon condemns Lahore public park blast

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned a powerful suicide bombing that ripped through Lahore's Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park.

Ban on Sunday called for "the perpetrators of this appalling terrorist act to be brought swiftly to justice, consistent with human rights obligations", Xinhua news agency reported.

At least 69 people were killed and over 250 injured, mostly women and children, when the blast occurred at Gate No 1 of the public park, where Christian families were celebrating Easter on Sunday.

The splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it deliberately targeted Christians on Easter.

"We claim responsibility for the attack on Christians as they were celebrating Easter," a spokesperson for the terrorist group was quoted as saying.

"We had been waiting for this occasion... we want to convey... to the prime minister that we we have arrived in Punjab and we will reach you," it added.

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Vijay Mallya offers to pay Rs 4000 crore by September 31

Businessman Vijay Mallya on Wednesday offered to pay Rs 4,000 crore by September 31, 2016 to a consortium of banks, led by the SBI, against an outstanding loan of Rs 9,000 crore.

Mallya offered to pay Rs 2,000 crore upfront and remaining Rs 2,000 crore by September 31, 2016

Mallya's offer was made in the Supreme Court by his counsel C S Vaidyanathan.

But his counsel remained silent on the question of whether Mallya intended to return to India from London or not.

The SC allowed the consortium of banks to respond within a week's time to Mallya's proposal and posted the matter for hearing on April 7.

Mallya, promoter of long-grounded Kingfisher Airlines, had left India on March 2, presumably for London, days before the Supreme Court heard a plea of clutch of state-owned banks seeking recovery from his group firms.

During the hearing today, Mallya also accused media of running campaign against him while assuring to payback loans. On this, the SC bench observed that media is doing its job in public interest.

Mallya has also been summoned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) to make a personal appearance before its investigating officer in Mumbai on April 2 in connection with its money laundering probe in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case. He has sought more time from the agency to present himself on a later date instead of the scheduled time of March 18.

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Kohli hits out at people for trolling Anushka

Team India ace cricketer Virat Kohli on Monday lashed out at social media trolls for targetting Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, saying that those who blame her for anything negative in his cricket career should be ashamed of themselves.

Kohli, who single-handedly powered India into the World Twenty20 semifinal with a hurricane 82-run knock against Australia last night, took to Twitter and Instagram to hit out at the trolls who take digs at his former girlfriend after every India match.

For all those people who have been cringing every time people trolled his former girlfriend Anushka Sharma when India won a match during World T20 championship, Kohli has just one word: Shame

"Shame on those people who have been having a go at anushka for the longest time and connecting every negative thing to her. Shame on those people calling themselves educated," Kohli wrote.

"Shame on blaming and making fun of her when she has no control over what i do with my sport. If anything she has only motivated and given me more positivity. This was long time coming. Shame on these people that hide and take a dig.

"And i dont need any respect for this post. Have some compassion and respect her. Think of how your sister or girlfriend or wife would feel if someone trolled them and very conveniently rubbished them in public," he added.

Sharma has been subjected to trolling in the past as well, most notably after Kohli flopped in the ODI World Cup semifinal against Australia last year.

While Kohli and Anushka never commented on their relationship, it became public when they were spotted together on work trips. This is not the first time the Bollywood actor was connected to Kohli's performance.

 In 2014, Kohli's poor on-field performance against England had fans attacking Anushka. The lowest point came when Anushka was blamed for Kohli's blip during 2015 World Cup against the mighty Australians.

The ace cricketer had come to the Bollywood diva defence even then.

Meanwhile, the star couple had called off their relationship early this year, when they unfollowed each other on social media. But, they are yet to comment on their breakup.

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We have taken a break’: Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan confirm they have separated

For the past couple of months, speculation that Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan are headed for a divorce had been mounting in B-town. While the couple has denied the reports of trouble in their 18-year marriage so far, on Monday, they issued a joint statement in which they admitted that they had separated. Malaika and Arbaaz said they had finally decided to go public with their separation because of all the confusion it was causing their families.

“We have maintained a dignified silence till now but it is causing us too much confusion and is disturbing for our families. To put all of the speculation to rest, we are giving out this statement,” the duo said in a joint statement, that was published by DNA. “People claiming to be our friends and sources have been speaking on our behalf giving out wrong, malicious information. They have maligned us for long and we have kept quiet and not said a word as it’s a personal matter between us. We have got a child and our families are involved, but just because we have not said anything till now, it doesn’t give anybody the license to speculate on any rubbish about us.”

The couple then went on to explain that they had indeed “taken a break” from their marriage.

“The truth is, we have taken a break, but that doesn’t mean people can presume, assume and speculate things of such malicious nature. We are taking out time to figure out our lives... Yes, it’s true that we are separated, but where our lives go and what transpires between us, it is for us to decide. Wherever it goes from here, we will talk about it when we are ready to,” Malaika and Arbaaz added.

The couple’s statement has only confirmed what numerous reports have been saying all along.

The first visible sign of trouble was when Malaika and Arbaaz — who had signed on to host the reality TV show Power Couple stopped appearing together on the show. After the initial episodes, only Arbaaz anchored the show while Malaika went missing. She only returned to shoot for the finale.

On the face of it, the couple has been trying to maintain a cordial equation despite their split. On March 22, the duo met at a restobar in Bandra, spending time with their 13-year-old son Arhaan, Malaika’s mother Joyce Polycarp, Amrita Arora and her husband Shakeel Ladak, before having dinner together.

Malaika and Arbaaz — as well as their family members — have been inundated with questions about their relationship status ever since the divorce rumours started doing the rounds. When Malaika walked the ramp for designer Mandira Wirk last week at the Amazon India Fashion Week, she was once again asked about the rumours. However, Malaika had insisted that she wanted the focus to stay on fashion and refused to answer any personal questions. In a separate incident, her sister Amrita Arora told the press to cease speculating on Arbaaz and Malaika’s marriage as “they are mature enough to take their own decisions”.

Malaika’s mother Joyce also refused to comment on the issue, and was quoted by PTI as having said, “They are two adults. It is their business. I don't want to get into it. I don't want to talk to press.” As for Arbaaz’s family, it was said that Salman Khan had been tring hard to help the couple sort out their differences. Arbaaz’s father Salim Khan, however, said that he did not want to get involved in the couple’s issues: “I am a writer. Don’t ask me about anyone’s love affair or break-up reports. I never interfere in the life of my kids. I don’t want to talk about it,” he said to PTI.

In their joint statement, Malaika and Arbaaz also referred to reports that she was having an affair, was unhappy with his financial situation, was consulting a divorce lawyer etc, as “completely baseless”.

“We are not separated because of a third random person,” Malaika and Arbaaz said. “Nor was it about his family disapproving of her lifestyle, nor does she feel that her husband is not financially stable. She is not crying on her brother-in-law Salman’s shoulders, asking him to help. They are our family, so please don’t talk about them like that. We deeply respect each other’s families. We want to put to rest all these articles which are complete rubbish. Till then, please respect our privacy and do not drag our respective families and our child into it.”

On just 29 February, Arbaaz had talked about how much he loved Malaika, and how afraid he was of losing her. The couple had made an appearance on the TV show Yaar Mera Superstar, when Arbaaz said he had become possessive about Malaika over the years.

"It happens. When you achieve something or someone, you don't want to lose the person. I love Malaika but I'm possessive about her," Arbaaz said, adding, "It wasn't like this when she was younger or I was more new into the relationship (sic), but it has happened now. She is very precious and dear to me. I love her more than anything else in the world. I'm afraid of losing her now."

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National Awards: Third Win For Kangana Ranaut

Kangana Ranaut has scored her third National Award for Tanu Weds Manu Returns, sources have told NDTV. Amitabh Bachchan has won Best Actor for Piku.

The multi-lingual blockbuster Baahubali has won Best Film and Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been awarded Best Director for Bajirao Mastani.

Kangana, 29, won the Best Actress National Award last year for Queen and the Best Supporting Award for Fashion in 2009. Tanu Weds Manu Returns, co-starring R Madhavan, was 2016's first 100 crore hit.

This will be 73-year-old Mr Bachchan's fourth win after Agneepath, Black and Paa.

The Awards will be announced later this morning. 

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Arbaaz Khan – Malaika Arora Khan confirm their split in a joint statement

A few weeks ago, the nation was sent in a tizzy when the rumours of one of Bollywood's most stable couple, Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora Khan, ending their 18-year long marriage came our way. Ever since, a new rumour, a new speculation around why the duo is calling it quits has been popping out of thin air. From Malaika's alleged affair to a businessman to the Khan families' disapproval of Malaika's lifestyle, a lot many reasons were being cited to have caused trouble in the Arbaaz-Malaika paradise. However, after weeks of silence, the two have finally come out in the open and spoken about the issue in a joint statement to DNA.

In the statement, the duo has confirmed that they have parted ways and are on a break as of now. "Yes, it's true that we are separated," they added in the same report. A divorce, however, seems far-fetched.

While they have admitted to a separation, the couple outright rubbished all rumours hinting at the involvement of any "random third person" or either family being the reason behind their decision of taking a break. According to them, all sources claiming to be their friends are allegedly spreading malice which is hurtful to the couple as well as their families.

The couple further alleges that every report surrounding their separation that has come out is completely baseless and that their silence has been mistaken to be a weakness on their part.

The two then urged in the statement that they would appreciate if people give them their space and have requested media to not believe whatever their "said source" says. The duo finished off saying that they hold immense regard for each other and will do whatever is best for them, their child and their families.

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Lahore Easter blast: Taliban suicide bomber targeting Christians kills 69, injures 250

Lahore: A powerful blast ripped through a public park in Lahore where Christian families were celebrating Easter on Sunday, killing 69 people and wounding over 250, mostly women and children.

The blast, apparently caused by a suicide bomber, occurred in a parking lot at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, one of the largest parks in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, said Haider Ashraf, a senior police official here.

"Some 65-70 people have been killed, included women and children, and over 250 were injured," an Edhi spokesperson told IANS.

The splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it deliberately targeted Christians on Easter Sunday.

"We claim responsibility for the attack on Christians as they were celebrating Easter," a spokesperson for the terrorist group was quoted by the Telegraph as saying.

"It was part of our annual martyrdom attacks we have started this year," he said and warned that more attacks would follow.

"We had been waiting for this occasion... we want to convey... to the prime minister that we we have arrived in Punjab and we will reach you," it added.

The 67-acre park is frequented both by residents and visitors to the city, and is popular with families. It has walking paths as well as rides for children.

"It was a soft target. Innocent women and children and visitors from other cities have been targeted," Ashraf said. "Apparently, it seems like a suicide attack."

The explosion coincided with violence in other parts of the country as hundreds of protesters took to the streets to condemn the 29 February execution of Mumtaz Qadri, who had killed Salman Taseer, a governor who campaigned for changes in the country's blasphemy laws, in January 2011.

Sunday was the 40th day since Qadri's execution, a mourning observance called chehlum in Pakistan, and drew his supporters into the streets of a number of cities, including Rawalpindi, one of the country's largest urban areas.

Taseer had tried to soften the blasphemy laws, which he said had been used to persecute religious minorities. But to many in Pakistan, the idea of altering the blasphemy laws was itself criminal, and to his supporters Qadri has become a revered figure.

Protesters clashed throughout the day with police in Islamabad, marching on the main avenues of the city and trying to force their way into the Red Zone, a high-security area that includes the parliament building, the Supreme Court and many diplomatic missions.

Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, but appeared to be overwhelmed by their numbers. The protesters said they planned to hold a sit-in on Sunday night in front of the parliament building. Army was called in to secure government buildings.

A state of emergency was imposed on hospitals in Lahore after the blast. Television footage showed rescue workers and ambulances rushing to the park and ferrying victims to hospitals.

Distraught relatives milled about in hospital corridors as the wounded were treated.

"There was no prior intelligence report about the attack," Muhammad Usman, the district coordination officer in Lahore, told reporters.

Usman rebutted some reports that Christians were targeted in the blast. "The park belongs to all," he was quoted as saying.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced a three-day mourning in the province.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and expressed his grief over the blast.

"The coward terrorists attacked children and women," Modi said.

"It's condemnable to attack innocent children and women. We are with the Pakistani nation at the time of this grief movement," Express News quoted Modi as saying.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader Imran Khan strongly condemned the blast. "Strongly condemn the terror attack in Lahore in which our innocent citizens including women & children lost their lives."

The US condemned as "cowardly" the suicide attack, vowing to work with Pakistan to defeat those sowing terror in the country.

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms today's appalling terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a White House statement.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also expressed shock over the deadly attack and expressed his desire to give all possible support in the hour of grief.

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million people, is plagued by a Taliban insurgency, criminal gangs and sectarian violence. Punjab is its biggest and wealthiest province but has traditionally been more peaceful than other parts of Pakistan.

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Bollywood and film critics applaud John Abraham’s action-packed avatar in 'Rocky Handsome'

Nishikant Kamat's latest action thriller 'Rocky Handsome' starring John Abraham is certainly one of the most anticipated films of this year.

While the film releases today, it's not just Bollywood but film critics and trade pundits who couldn't stop praising the action thriller and John's stellar performance as Rocky Handsome and the flawless action sequences. Bollywood is buzzing with news about the film, and many critics and John's B-town colleagues have dubbed 'Rocky Handsome' as 'sensational' and a 'well-made thriller'. Here are some of the reviews:

Riteish Deshmukh: #RockyHandsome best hand to hand action I've seen in yrs @TheJohnAbraham owns the film completely & is BLOODY good. Loved Nishi dir/actor Sonakshi Sinha: Rock solid and definitely handsome! @TheJohnAbraham is rocky handsome... Flawless action and Super entertaining! Don't miss it!!!" Ayushmann Khurrana: He fights like Rocky and looks so Handsome.

@TheJohnAbraham You're so awesome in #RockyHandsome. Must watch! Manish Paul: Saw #RockyHandsome! My God! What supreme action! Hvnt seen dis kinds in a long time! @TheJohnAbraham

Sooraj Pancholi: Rockys not jst handsome but he's STRONG he's SHARP & he is not the guy u wanna mess with! Watch @TheJohnAbraham in #RockyHandsome 25th March. Nishant Bhuse: Breathtaking action @TheJohnAbraham u rock #RockyHandsome make it look soo real 2 life, awesome climax fight Akshaye Rathi: #RockyHandsome is a nice action flick. Essentially NOT for the fainthearted! And the knife fight in the pre climax sequence is INSANE! Faridoon Shahryar: Action in #RockyHandsome is simply sensational... John Abraham gives it his all... his focus n the intensity is hugely praiseworthy!!! Taran Adarsh: John Abraham carries #RockyHandsome on his brawny shoulders, essaying a part that fits him like glove. A well-made thriller!

Rocky Handsome' is the journey of an unforgiving man who embarks on a lethal rampage when the only person he cares about is kidnapped and taken away from him.

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Sold Assam Tea, Have Special Bond With This State: PM Modi

Tinsukia, Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to strike an instant bond with the people of Assam as he began his election tour of the poll-bound north eastern state with a rally in Tinsukia. Recalling his days as a tea-seller, Mr Modi said he shares a special bond with the people of Assam, a large tea-producing state. "It was your tea I sold to people and spent my childhood," he said.

Mr Modi also gave a new slogan during the rally. "I am not fighting Gogoi but Gareebi (poverty)," Mr Modi said as he began his campaign for the BJP which hopes to wrest power from the Congress which has ruled the state under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for 15 years now.

At Tinsukia, which is also the Lok Sabha constituency of Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal, Mr Modi projected his colleague as the future chief minister of the north eastern state where the BJP has never been in power.

"This election is going to cause a loss to Delhi. I am also going to be affected. One of the most important ministers in my government is Sarbananda. I will have to send him to Assam to serve the people," Mr Modi said.

He pitched the 53-year-old Mr Sonowal against the 79-year-old Chief Minister. "Assam's leader will be 90 years old in a few days. He says he's fighting with Modi. I have respect for you Chief Minister ji. You are old," Mr Modi said.

The party has decided to project Mr Sonowal as its chief ministerial candidate. "Assam is among the five poorest states in India. Assam was counted among the richest, who made it the poor?" he questioned. "I want nothing more, give Sarbananda five years. This election will give Assam a young chief minister...The day is not far when children will be taught A for Assam in schools," PM Modi said as he declared the development of Assam as his party's only agenda. Unemployment among youth is a burning issue in the state which ranks among the five worst states on employment indices in the country.

Mr Modi in his election tour of Assam will hold seven rallies in two days. The party is contesting  91 of the 126 assembly constituencies in the state. The BJP won seven of the state's 14 Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 general election securing a lead in more than half the assembly constituencies and polling nearly 37 per cent votes, seven per cent more than the Congress.

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Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora Khan divorce: Actress seeks full custody of son

New Delhi: A lot has been sung and heard about his Bollywood couple that lasted for about 17 years. However, if reports are to be believed, Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan might divorce soon, as the actress has already filed for one.

While recently it was revealed that financial instability could be one of the reasons that lead to the years-long relationship to topple – now Malaika might want to seek legal custody of their son Arhaan.

According to a report in India.com, the actress-model has approached a lawyer to seek custody of their child, though Arbaaz can visit him.

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Type 'anti-national' on Google maps, JNU comes up

As of Friday afternoon, if you type the word 'anti-national' into the search bar on Google maps, Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is what the search engine throws up

It's unclear whether this is a hacker's sense of humour - or the lack thereof, depending on your point of view, of course - or whether it's deliberate on Google's part.

You'd have to be living under a rock to not know that some students of JNU have recently been officially accused of being 'anti-national'. A section of Indians and the Indian government have also insisted they are.

JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and two other JNU students were last month arrested for sedition and jailed. All three were given bail earlier this month, on separate days.

They were charged with sedition for organizing an event on campus about the 2013 hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. It was alleged that some students, including the three arrested ones, raised anti-national slogans during the event.

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Brussels attack: Three days on, 242 Indians stranded after return home, without their baggage

A Jet Airways aircraft on Friday brought back 242 Indians including 28 crew members, who were stranded following the deadly terror attacks on airport and metro station in the Belgian capital Brussels on Tuesday.

The 'recovery' flight 9W 1229 from Amsterdam, which landed here this morning, also carried on board the passengers who were bound for Mumbai as their flight was cancelled at the last minute due to a technical problem in the aircraft.

The airline had earlier taken all its stranded passengers in Brussels to the Dutch capital by road.

"The flight 9W 1229 carrying 214 passengers, including 69 bound for Mumbai, along with 28 Jet Airways crew members landed at IGI airport at 5.10 AM," a Jet Airways spokesperson said.

"I was coming from Toronto and as soon as we arrived at the airport and when to the arrival bay, within 15 minutes they were asking us to evacuate as soon as possible. We had no idea what had happened," a woman passenger said after arriving here while narrating her ordeal at the Brussels airport.

She said that there were hundreds of passengers running out with their baggage. "From there we found out that there were three blasts."

"The blast occurred in the departure area of the airport as soon as our flight had landed. They took all of us out and we remained stranded there for quite some time," said another passenger.

Jet Airways on Thursday operated two flights from Amsterdam for Toronto and Delhi after transporting all its stranded passengers in Brussels to the Dutch capital by road.

It had initially planned to fly three recovery flights from Amsterdam including one to Mumbai after pulling out all its four grounded aircraft from the Brussels airport.

However, it had to cancel the Mumbai flight at the last moment as the aircraft developed some problem, forcing the airline to combine the two flights into one.

The aircraft, which brought back the passengers to Delhi, was later flown to Mumbai with 69 passengers onboard, Jet Airways said.

"I was just landing when the blast took place. So, we could not get inside the airport (terminal building)," said another passenger.

"We were taken to some other place. We were taken care of very well," he said.

Tuesday's suicide attacks in Brussels left 31 dead and 300 wounded.

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BJP agrees to coalition with PDP in J&K, picks Nirmal Singh as deputy CM

Mehbooba Mufti is all set to become Jammu and Kashmir's first woman chief minister, after the BJP on Friday officially agreed to form a coalition government with Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

J&K's BJP legislators on Friday unanimously agreed to a coalition government with the PDP and also came on board to support the PDP's chief ministerial candidate, the state's party president Sat Pal Sharma said.

The BJP on Friday also elected Nirmal Singh as its leader in the J&K assembly and nominated him for the deputy chief minister's post in the new PDP-BJP alliance government to be headed by Mufti.

The PDP had on Thursday unanimously elected Mufti as its legislature party leader.

The former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who headed a coalition government in J&K with the BJP, died on January 7. President's rule was imposed on the state on January 9 after a deadlock over the formation of a new government.

Nirmal Singh also served as the deputy chief minister in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP-BJP coalition that was in office for 10 months till Sayeed died on January 7.

Besides the BJP's J&K legislators, Jitendra Singh, the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office and Ram Madhav, general secretary in the party in charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs, attended the party's legislators meet here on Friday.

Informed sources said those at the meeting were apprised by Ram Madhav about the recent developments, including the Tuesday meeting in New Delhi between PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The BJP reiterated that no fresh conditions (by PDP) had been accepted and the alliance with the PDP will continue on the basis of the agenda of alliance signed (earlier) by the two parties," a BJP source said.

Jitendra Singh represents the Kathua-Udhampur Lok Sabha seat for the BJP in the Lok Sabha.

He informed that a BJP-PDP joint coordination committee will meet before the PDP and BJP separately meet governor NN Vohra on Friday.

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Yousuf Raza Gilani visited my house after 26/11 attacks, says David Headley

On the third day of his deposition before a Mumbai court, David Coleman Headley threw light on a number of aspects related to his alleged terror links — from hatred to India going back to his childhood and allegations of being financed by United States agencies.

Last month, Headley had been examined by special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam with reference to his role in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and the role of the Lashkar-e-Taiba in launching terror strikes in India. He is serving a 35-year sentence in the US for his role in the 26 November, 2008 attacks and has turned an approver for the case in India.

Headley also told the court that he had developed hatred towards India and Indians since childhood and wanted to "cause maximum damage since then".

Asked about the reasons of his hatred, Headley said, "My school was bombed in 1971 by Indian planes and that time, I developed this feeling."

People were killed in the attack, he said, adding it was one of the reasons that why he joined the LeT.

Headley also alleged that Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was Pakistan's Prime Minister in 2008, had visited David Coleman Headley's home within weeks after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"It is not correct to say that the then Prime Minister of Pakistan--Yousuf Raza Gilani — had attended the funeral of my father who passed away a month after the Mumbai terror attacks on 26 December, 2008. In fact, he (Gilani) visited our house (in Pakistan) a few weeks thereafter," the Pakistani-American terrorist said.

However, Headley refuted allegations that US agencies were financing him. "It is baseless to say that my movement to Pakistan was known to US agencies."

On Thursday, Headley told the court that terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) wanted to eliminate Bal Thackeray but the person who was assigned the job to kill the late Shiv Sena chief was arrested. Headley also told the court that he had visited the Sena Bhavan twice. He, however, did not specify the year for the same.

On Tahawwur Rana, his associate from Chicago, Headley revealed that Rana knew he was an operative of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "I informed him about the training imparted by me to LeT operatives. I disclosed to Rana that I was spying for LeT. This was four to five months before the 26/11 attacks."

In February, in possible his most controversial revelation, Headley had claimed that Ishrat Jahan was an operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, he mentioned her name in response to Ujjwal Nikam suggesting several specific names, leading to questions over whether the statement would count as evidence.

In his earlier deposition, Headley, who is serving a 35-year jail term in the US, also revealed that Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI provides "financial, military and moral support" to terror outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, and how LeT planned and executed the 26/11 Mumbai attack. He had also said that Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had 'full knowledge' of the attacks, and that they took place with his approval, as per a report in Hindustan Times.

Headley admitted to have surveyed the National Defence College in New Delhi, Chabad Houses in tourist destinations like Goa, Pune and Pushkar on instructions of Al-Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri. He also said that an attack was planned on the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.

However, it remains to be seen as to what extent Headley's revelations lead to criminal action against terror groups which India accuses the Pakistan establishment of supporting.

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