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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Delhi Dentist Dragged Out Of Home, Beaten To Death With Hockey Sticks

A little after midnight on Thursday, a group of young men arrived at 40-year-old dentist Pankaj Narang's house in west Delhi's Vikaspuri, dragged him out on the road and beat him with hockey sticks, bats and rods till he died.

Mr Narang fell to the ground and hit his head against the road, but the men did not stop, hitting him repeatedly on the head.

The police said today that it has arrested five people and apprehended four minors for Mr Narang's murder. Among those arrested is the mother of Naseer, a 23-year-old man with whom Mr Narang had an altercation less than an hour before he died  

The police said at a little after midnight, Dr Narang was playing cricket in his home with his son and nephew, celebrating India's one-run victory over Bangladesh in the World Twenty20 tournament.

The ball bounced out on to the road and the dentist's eight-year-old son ran out to retrieve it. Just then, the police said, Naseer and one of the minors arrested were speeding past on a motorbike, which grazed the child. Dr Narang flagged them down and a heated argument followed.

Naseer then drove off, the police said, only to return about 10 minutes later with 10 people and they attacked Dr Narang. Witnesses said people who had gathered attempted to intervene, but they were thrashed too. Dr Narang died on the way to hospital.

The police said today that all the accused live in a slum just behind the dentist's home and do casual jobs at a local market. While the men arrested are in their early twenties, the minors are between 17 and 18 years in age.

A case of murder, attempt to murder, trespassing and rioting has been registered. 

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Never a breakdown in BJP, PDP coalition in J-K: Jitendra Singh

Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday there were no differences between coalition partners BJP and PDP in Jammu and Kashmir where decks have been cleared for government formation.

“There was never a breakdown in the coalition between BJP and PDP. I think this is the continuation of the process that started about a year back,” Singh, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, told reporters.

Singh, who is a party MP from Udhampur-Doda seat, said, “There were no differences. When you are in a coalition, you have to accommodate each other’s priorities and each other’s preferences.”

“That is precisely what we do in a healthy coalition that augers well for Jammu and Kashmir.”

On a question on how long it will take for government formation in the state, he said, “Very soon.”

“I think the coalition partners will sit together and work out all the modalities soon to ensure that a structure is in place with all its compatibilities and coordination intact,” he said.

The minister said that both the parties will work on the agenda of development.

Meanwhile, BJP legislators met in Jammu on Friday to discuss government formation in the state.

Sources said the legislators and senior leaders at the meeting were apprised by Ram Madhav, BJP’s general secretary in charge of J-K, about recent developments including Tuesday’s meeting between PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The BJP leadership 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 told IANS.

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We can make 100 films on you and it will still not be enough': Sushant Singh Rajput praises Dhoni

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who essays Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a Bollywood biopic on the Indian cricket team captain's life, has hailed him as one of the "best sports mind and a great person".

Sushant has stepped into Dhoni's shoes for the upcoming biopic M.S. Dhoni - The Untold Story. After India's win against Bangladesh in the World Twenty20 tournament, Sushant took to Twitter, saying that making even over a 100 films on the Indian cricket legend is "still not enough".

"We can make 100 films on you and it will still not be enough. You are one of the best sports mind ever and a great person. We love u MS," Sushant tweeted on Thursday.

The biopic is directed by Neeraj Pandey.

For the film, Sushant was trained by former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More, and he reportedly injured his ribs while practicing the cricketer’s signature ‘helicopter’ shot.

Produced by Fox Star Studios, the film, releasing on September 2, also stars Kiara Advani, Anupam Kher and Herry Tangri.

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Hated India since childhood; Ex-Pak PM Yousaf Raza Gillani visited home when my father died, claims Headley

Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley on Friday told the court that he has hated India since his childhood and later joined LeT to take the revenge of his school's bombing in 1971.

The 55-year-old, who has turned approver in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, stated this during a cross-examination on the third day by Abdul Wahab Khan, the lawyer of Abu Jundal, an alleged key plotter of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, via a video link from the US.

"I have this hatred towards India since December 7, 1971, when Indian planes bombed my school & people who worked there died," claimed Headley.

He further claimed that he joined LeT to avenge those bombings on his school.

Meanwhile, Headley also admitted that he was trying to organise a fund-raising programme for Shiv Sena in the USA, and intended to invite Bal Thackeray to the US. However, there was no plan to attack him there.

Headley, had on Thursday said that LeT wanted to target Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Speaking to the media after Headley's cross-examination, Special Prosecutor in the case Ujjwal Nikam said that the Pakistani-American terrorist had made four major revelations.

# Headley says his father was retired DG Radio Pakistan, and he died on December 25, 2008.

# The then Pak PM Yousaf Raza Gillani visited our home in Pakistan when  father passed away.

# My father, brother & some other of my relatives were in Pakistan establishment but I can't disclose their details.

# I told my father about my association with LeT. I told him myself. My father had objections with my association with LeT.

# I have never been interrogated or questioned in connection with 9/11 US attacks case.

# I was arrested in Pakistan once, the case was registered by my ex-wife Faiza.
 

David Headley during cross-examination in Mumbai Court (With ANI Inputs)

# Headley admits that he was trying to  organise a fund-raising programme for Shiv Sena in the USA.

# He was intending to invite Bal Thackeray to the US but there was no plan to attack him there.

# He was in touch with Rajaram Rege for that. He never met or talked to Bala Saheb for inviting him to that programme.

# He was willing to invite some other Shiv Sena leader for that prog after being told by Rege that Bala Saheb was old & not well.

# I cannot disclose location of my jail where I'm lodged in. I can't reveal what facilities I am getting here.

# It's not true that I am living a luxurious life in the US prison.

# I have hatred towards Indian since my childhood and I have pleaded guilty to that.

# I have this hatred towards India since 7th December 1971 when Indian planes bombed my school & people who worked there died.

# I joined LeT to avenge those bombings on my school.This was one of the reasons why I joined LeT.

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Is Ranveer Singh in Sri Lanka with Deepika Padukone?

Deepika Padukone, who was shooting for her Hollywood debut in Los Angeles and Montreal, recently took out time to attend a friend's wedding and headed to Sri Lanka.

Now, it is being reported that the 30-year-old actress' alleged love interest Ranveer Singh also visited Sri Lanka to accompany her. A fan clicked a picture with the 'Gunday' star at the Sri Lankan airport and posted it on the social networking sites. Along with the picture, he wrote, "He is there! He is in srilanka!!! Ranveer is in srilanka. One of my friend's aunt have seen him." Ravnveer, however, has not commented on this.

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Subramanian Swamy calls for global fight against ISIS

A day after terrorists attacked Brussels killing over 30 people, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday said India should join other countries to fight terrorism.

"We should retaliate and must be ready to join other countries to fight ISIS," he told ANI here.

"The ISIS is not like any other terrorist organisation. It controls a territory and no other terrorist organisation has such a large territory as ISIS," he added.

Swamy said that the Indian Army has the best manpower, adding it is better than the American Army.

Swamy added, "India is the only country which they controlled for 80 years and still we have 80% Hindu population. India is an unfinished chapter for the Islamic history and we have prevented them from settling down. So, they are using social media to recruit poor people of Muslim community from India."

At least 13 people have lost their lives while 35 others seriously injured following the suspected terrorist attack at the Brussels airport yesterday.

Two explosions reportedly shook the building shortly after 8 a.m. local time, leaving the passengers terrified.

The incident took place four days after the arrest of Paris attack mastermind Salah Abdeslam from the Belgian capital.

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Deepika to launch awareness campaign for depression

Mumbai: Actress Deepika Padukone, who opened up about dealing with depression earlier, will launch an awareness campaign that will take her fight against the condition forward.

Deepika will spread awareness about depression through her NGO The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF).

The programme titled ‘You Are Not Alone’ will be launched on Wednesday. It will focus on educating high school students and teachers on stress, anxiety and depression, while also aiming to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health.

“Last year, I spoke about my own fight with depression as I felt I could not just sit by and watch as people who were going through what I had gone through. So, we decided to launch ‘You Are Not Alone’ with an idea to raise awareness and to enable students and teachers to identify signs of anxiety and depression,” Deepika said in a statement.

Starting with Deepika’s own alma mater Sophia’s High School in Bengaluru, the awareness campaign will cover over 500 schools in the year.

“We believe that schools can be the first line of defence for emotional and mental health disorders in our youth. We could also help connect the schools to counselling organisations and independent counsellors if they need such help,” Deepika said.

“Our aim is to bring the issue of mental health from the shadows and include this discussion in drawing room conversations from being spoken of in hushed tones,” added the “Tamasha” actress, who launched her NGO in June 2015 after she came out about her personal fight against depression.

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RSS unhappy over 'PM Modi God's gift' remark, says organisation is supreme

New Delhi:  The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has expressed its displeasure at BJP leaders descrbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "God's gift to India", sources have said.

After a recent meeting of its Pratinidhi Sabha at Rajasthan's Nagaur, the RSS leaders on Tuesday held discussions with the top BJP leaders. The meeting was convened to convey the outcomes of the meet to the BJP, said informed sources.

The ideological mentor of the BJP told party leaders including chief Amit Shah to go ahead with the issue of "nationalism" but also add development to the plank.

Sources said that the RSS leaders expressed displeasure over the remarks made by union minister M Venkaiah Naidu describing Modi as "God's gift" to the nation, and suggested the BJP leadership not encourage "individual worship" as "organisation" is supreme.

Mr Naidu, while presenting political resolution on the last day of the national executive meeting on Sunday, dubbed PM Modi "god's gift to India" and a "messiah of the poor" and said India is recognised and respected everywhere because of him.

The JNU row and the Rohit Vemula suicide case also figured in the meeting, the sources said.

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We Heard From Hrithik Roshan. Here's What Kangana Ranaut Says

Kangana Ranaut may be having her cake and eating it too on the eve of her birthday as she was named ambassador for a clothing brand, but the outspoken actress was also deciding - perhaps for the first time in a while - to mince her words.

The famously plain-spoken Kangana, asked about her public feud with Krrish 3 co-star Hrithik Roshan, was uncharacteristically reticent, saying: "Sometimes even actors need personal space. Being strong doesn't mean not being affected. I will speak about it, but for now please give me space."

We grant this is a sensible enough request but we certainly hope that this doesn't signify the emergence of a cautious Kangana. (Also Read: What Hrithik Roshan Says About Feud With Kangana)

Meanwhile, while their lawyers were having a go at each other, Hrithik and Kangana have been away on work - Kangana returned to the city on Monday night after shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj's Rangoon in Arunachal Pradesh.

Kangana vs Hrithik refresher:

The actors are currently in the thick of a legal wrangle which is the result of a reported romance gone wrong. Hrithik sent Kangana a legal notice demanding she apologise publicly for having appeared to refer to him as a 'silly ex' in an interview. Kangana sent him a legal notice back, accusing him of "intimidation and threat" and dismissing his demand for an apology as "baseless." (Also Read - Hrithik vs Kangana: Friend Reveals Explosive Details)

On March 17, an unnamed friend of Kangana told Mumbai Mirror that Hrithik proposed to Kangana in 2014, allegedly hacked her mail, had her shadowed and accused her of having Asperger's Syndrome.

On the same day, Hrithik issued a statement saying that he "followed the legal path to resolve the matter in question so as to keep it private." He also denounced Kangana's friend's claims about Asperger's Syndrome and alleged that an imposter had been sending mails to Kangana pretending to be him. (Also Read: Kangana's Alleged 1439 Mails to Hrithik Roshan is Making Twitter ROFL)

Hours after Hrithik issued this statement, Kangana's lawyer told news agency PTI: "Hrithik's statements made to the media are nothing but efforts to gain public sympathy."

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Bengal: This Holi, get drenched in political colours

From participating in colourful processions, to organizing community celebrations, distributing sweets and gulal, and attending get-togethers in the evening — Holi in Bengal’s poll season is prompting many a candidate to use several novel ways to reach out to and bond with voters.

Be it the ruling Trinamool or the Congress or the BJP, barring the Left parties, nominees of most parties have drawn up elaborate plans to ‘celebrate Holi with the masses’. And though Left candidates will not play Holi with the people, they may attend small get-togethers on March 23 evening.

“Like every year, this time too I will play Holi with the people. We will take part in processions, complete with songs and dances. I am busy in door-to-door campaign for over six hours a day. But on the day of Holi, everything will be special,” said Sovondeb Chatterjee, Trinamool candidate from Rashbehari constituency.

Bags full of gulal have already been stocked up in party offices and green gulal, the colour of the Trinamool, is topping the sales charts. Trinamool heavyweights Subrata Mukherjee, Sovon Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim, all featuring in the Narada sting op, will celebrate Holi in their neighbourhoods.

Ritesh Tiwari, the BJP candidate from Chowringhee, said, “I have been invited at two dozen places. I will try to attend all.”

Rajib Majumder, the CPI(M) candidate from Manicktala, said, “I have many invitations, especially in Hindi-speaking belts. I will surely attend them.”

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Baahubali 2: Who does Rana Daggubati's Bhallaladeva have the eyes for?

There is a lot of speculation and curiosity as to what S S Rajamouli's Baahubali - The Conclusion will be like. Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali is a big question that everyone wants to be answered. But another question is whether Bhallaladeva, played by Rana Daggubati, has a wife and whom he romances in the second part of the film.

Actresses Lavanya Tripathi and Shriya Saran were rumoured to have been approached for the role of Rana's wife in the film. However, they promptly denied this but added they would love to do the role if offered.

Ask Rana Daggubati and he doesn't seem too thrilled. He reportedly told media that Bhallaladeva doesn't have time for women but only to romance the throne. He added that in case there are new actors roped in for the project, an official announcement would be made.

As for his role in the second part of Baahubali, the actor stated that he will be meaner and more villainous than in the first part.

Rajamouli has already started filming part two and it is all set to release in 2017. 

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After Engineering Student Hacked To Death, 4 Relatives of Wife Arrested

Chennai:  Two days after a 22-year-old engineering student was hacked to death in a daylight attack in Tamil Nadu caught on CCTV camera, four relatives of his wife have been arrested.

V Sankar and his young wife Kausalya were out shopping on a crowded road on Sunday when they were attacked by three men armed with sickles and other sharp weapons.

In CCTV footage, the men are seen repeatedly attacking Sankar till he stops moving. Then they turn on Kausalya and hit her till she falls to the ground.

Sankar, a Dalit, and 19-year-old Kausalya had married eight months ago after meeting in college. Kausalya's family, which belongs to the powerful and dominant Thevar caste, had refused to accept the marriage and had allegedly threatened the couple several times.

Kausalya is being treated for head injuries.  Her father Chinnasamy surrendered yesterday but claimed he had no role in the killing and that he turned himself in because the police were looking for him.

Sankar was cremated last night at his hometown Udumalpet under tight security after protests and clashes.

A large number of people had surrounded the van carrying Sankar's body, refusing to allow the cremation unless the killers were arrested. The police had to use force and reassurances to convince the protesters to let go of the body.

Kausalya is being treated for head injuries.  Her father Chinnasamy surrendered yesterday but claimed he had no role in the killing and that he turned himself in because the police were looking for him.

Sankar was cremated last night at his hometown Udumalpet under tight security after protests and clashes.

A large number of people had surrounded the van carrying Sankar's body, refusing to allow the cremation unless the killers were arrested. The police had to use force and reassurances to convince the protesters to let go of the body.

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Not a 'Power Couple': Malaika Arora allegedly files for divorce from Arbaaz Khan

Over the last few months, Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan have been subject of fevered speculation about their marriage. Malaika and Arbaaz have not addressed the topic publicly, however the latter has regularly been updating his social media pages rejecting divorce rumours.

However, if recent reports are anything to go by, Malaika has allegedly filed for divorce from Arbaaz. Additionally, according to this detailed report by Mumbai Mirror, Malaika isn't willing to listen to her family and friends, especially Salman Khan who has been trying to mend bridges between the two for some time now.

Malaika has been missing from a lot of family events off late, and this has given more fuel to the rumours. She missed sister Amrita Arora's birthday party in Dubai, and was also a no show at sister-in-law Arpita Khan Sharma's baby shower recently.

Meanwhile, as divorce rumours continue to swirl around Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora, the actor-producer’s father and noted scriptwriter Salim Khan refused to comment on their relationship, saying he doesn’t interfere in the personal lives of his children.

“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,” Salim told PTI.

Malaika’s mother Joyce Polycarp, too, isn’t willing to speak on the issue. “They are two grown-up adults …it is there business. I don’t want to get into it. I don’t want to talk to press,” she said when reached for comments about divorce reports.

Rumours of a split between Malaika and Arbaaz, who have been married for 18 years, started emerging from the time the couple stopped coming to gether on a popular reality show, Power Couple. Only Arbaaz was shooting for the show while Malaika came only at the very end.

Malaika and Arbaaz have a 13-year-old son Arhaan. With so many Bollywood couples calling it quits recently, (Katrina and Ranbir, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna), maybe it is safe to say that 2016 is a bad year for relationships?

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Aamir Khan plans to buy home for his mother in Kashi

VARANASI: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan wishes to become a 'chhora Ganga kinare wala' by buying the ancestral place in the old city area of Varanasi where his mother spent her childhood. Once known as 'Khwaza Manzil' owned by maternal ancestors of Aamir is today in the ruins attracting gamblers as well as giving space to local children for playing.

Aamir, who turned 51 on Monday, reportedly expressed his birthday wish to buy his mother's ancestral home in Varanasi. Aamir reportedly said, "My biggest wish today is that if I could buy my mother her ancestral home in Varanasi. My mother spent her childhood in Varanasi. I've seen that home. Since then it has been in my mind that if I can request people there and get that house." Calling Varanasi "extremely beautiful and historic", he said that he can't wait to have a house there. "Varanasi is a beautiful and a historic place. So, If I get a home there, my mom's home there, that will give me the biggest happiness. Let's hope it happens," he said during his birthday celebration in Mumbai.

When TOI team visited the place a group of people were busy in gambling in a corner of the open space surrounded by debris and decaying walls. Some children were also there to spend their leisure time or playing.

Amir's first encounter with his mother's place in the narrow lane of Bharadwaji Tola near Chohatta Lal Khan, a walking distance from Prahlad Ghat on the bank of Ganga, was in December 2009 when he was in Varanasi for the promotion of his blockbuster film '3 Idiots' in disguise. With the help of auto-driver Ramlakhan he travelled through the narrow lanes to locate his mother's birth place.

During his visit Aamir also met late Nawab Kayam Raza, a native of neighbouring Katra Dara Shikoh and only relative from maternal side. "Aamir met my husband and gifted a golden ring," said Kaniz Fatima, widow of Nawab, who passed away in July 2015. She also showed the golden ring gifted by Aamir and an old photograph depicting Aamir and late Nawab at a tea shop. "Mein unke jam din par dua deti hun, aur to kuchh nahi hai mere paas dene ke liye," (I pray for him on his birthday, I have nothing to gift him," said the lady living in utter penury with her only son Varish Raza, a high school student. He also does some part time job and urns Rs 100 a day to run the family of two.

The property owned by Amir's maternal ancestors was sold out to others long ago. Even Fatima has no knowledge about the present owners of the property. A portion of the property was bought by a Sahu family living in front of the ruined Khwaza Manzil. An elderly woman of the family Gunja Devi said that they came to know about Amir's association with Varanasi only when he was here in 2009 during his film's promotion.

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BJP slams Asaduddin Owaisi's 'anti-India' rant

"I do not know why it has to be linked to cutting ones throat," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday slammed All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his remark that he won't chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan and asked him as to what was wrong in respecting the mother land. "I do not know why this kind of language is catching up. Such a senior leader should not use such language. Secondly, with regard to considering mother earth not as an idol or idol worship, this is the land we come from. To have respect for it, I do not know why it has to be linked to cutting ones throat," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

Owaisi's comments came in wake of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion that the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India. "I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do Bhagwat sahab?" Owaisi said at a public rally in Latur.

"I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife on my throat. Nowhere has it been mentioned in the Constitution that one should say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'," he added.

The RSS chief had earlier said the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India. Bhagwat's comments came against the backdrop of the row over alleged anti-India sloganeering in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on February 9.

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