15:37Kerala govt orders magisterial probe into Maoists’ killing:
The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala today ordered a magisterial probe into the recent killing of two Maoists in an alleged encounter at Nilambur forests in Malappuram district.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed Perinthalmanna Sub-Collector to conduct a comprehensive probe into the incident and submit a report.
The case, registered in connection with the encounter killing, was handed over to the Crime Branch, the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement.
The government’s decision came in the wake of CPI, a major partner in ruling LDF, and human rights activists coming out against the killing of the Left rebels.
Two Maoists — Kuppuswamy Devaraj (65), a central committee member of the outlawed outfit and Ajitha (45), were killed in an alleged encounter with police in Nilambur forests on November 24.
15:23PM’s idea of cashless economy unrealistic: Omar:
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today termed as “unrealistic” the idea of a cashless economy as floated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address, saying internet connectivity in the state was unreliable.
“I’d love to move to a cashless economy but given the reliability of connectivity in J&K & the absence of points of sale I fear I’d starve,” he tweeted.
The National Conference (NC) working president said it was an unrealistic idea especially for the people living in remote areas of the state.
“And I live in Srinagar. Imagine asking people in Gurez, Karnah, Keran & other remote areas to dispense with cash!!! Totally unrealistic idea,” he said.
15:22Protest over demonetisation, no Bharat bandh on Monday: Cong:
Congress today made it clear it has not called for a ‘Bharat bandh’ on Monday, but will hold protests across the country against demonetisation, which it alleged “was a political move being sold as a fight against corruption”.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, party leader Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in “dhamaka” politics and the decision to scrap high-value currency notes was taken because he had seen the “writing on the wall” in Uttar Pradesh, where polls are due next year.
He claimed that Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes were scrapped to cover up the government’s failure to deliver on the Prime Minister’s big electoral promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad and Modi wanted to do something “dramatic”.
“It is a political move which is being sold as a fight against corruption,” Ramesh said hitting out at the Centre.
He said people who have amassed wealth by illegal means are not suffering, but those who do not have black money are facing hardships.
“Unfortunately, people who needed to be attacked have gone scot-free,” he said, adding that one section of “suited-booted” people was still leading a life of luxury.
Ramesh, a former Union Cabinet minister, claimed that BJP was spreading misinformation that Congress and other parties have called for a ‘Bharat bandh’.
15:21What to expect from new Pakistani army chief:
The appointment of the new army chief in Pakistan invariably becomes an edifying spectacle for Indian observers. The ‘new normal’ — namely, that a superannuating general calmly and with head held high walks into the sunset — underscores that Pakistan is getting accustomed to orderly transitions.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s choice of General Raheel Sharif as the army chief three years ago proved to be judicious.
His choice of General Qama Javed Bajwa as the new army chief also appears to be motivated principally by the estimation that the general is a thoroughbred professional and ‘apolitical’ who would apparently leave politics as the concern of politicians.
Read more HERE
14:47 Hong Kong’s NG Ka Long Angus defeats India’s Sameer Verma 21-14,10-21, 21-11 to clinch men’s singles title of Hong Kong Open Super Series.
14:41Australia beat South Africa by 7 wickets in third Test:
Australia rebounded to a seven-wicket victory over South Africa to end a run of five Test defeats in the day-night third Test in Adelaide on Sunday.
The Australians, rejuvenated by five team changes in response to two humiliating defeats to the Proteas to lose the series, chased down 127 runs for victory after dismissing the tourists for 250 on the fourth day of the pink-ball Test.
Debutant Peter Handscomb hit the winning run to finish one not out with fellow newcomer Matthew Renshaw on 34 in Australia’s 127 for three.
Handscomb came to the wicket after skipper Steve Smith was caught behind for 40 off Kyle Abbott with two runs to win.
The home side also lost the wickets of David Warner and epic first-innings centurion Usman Khawaja along the way.
Warner blazed 47 off 51 balls before he was run out in a mix-up and Khawaja, who batted for almost eight hours in the first innings, lasted just two balls before he was leg before wicket to a Tabraiz Shamsi wrong’un.
Australia’s victory saw off the threat of South Africa taking an unprecedented series clean sweep Down Under and was just the tonic after recrimination over the team’s abject form.
14:10At parivartan rally in UP, PM says peope have accepyed note ban:
PM Narendra Modi addressing a public rally in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Highlights:
* Corruption and black money have ruined the nation. India should now become free from all such evils. I have asked for only 50 days.
* I salute the people of this country. Despite facing inconvenience, people have accepted demonetisation drive
* There was a time when farmers had to stand in line and wait for hours to get urea, this is not the case these days.
* We decided to pay dues to sugarcane farmers; ensured there are no middlemen.
* Want to tell the UP government that if they have time and are concerned about the farmers of the state, implement PM Fasal Beema Yojana.
* We are giving impetus to infrastructure in UP. Be it railways, fertilizer plants, we want Poorvanchal to prosper
* When my govt took charge, cane farmers were to be paid Rs 12,000 crores. We made sure the dues were cleared
* My government is dedicated to the poor, farmers, scheduled castes and tribes
* If we would’ve brought change in lives of farmers, India wouldn’t have been facing problems.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today came to the defence of RBI Governor Urjit Patel in the wake of criticism by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, saying it is an “unfair attack” and politicians should refrain from making comments on those who cannot defend themselves.
“An unfair attack by Jairam Ramesh on the RBI Governor. Must politicians attack those who can’t defend themselves in the same tone?” he said in a tweet.
In an article written in National Herald, Congress spokesperson Ramesh alleged that RBI was kept in the dark by the government about its surprise demonetisation move.
“Urjit Patel is either guilty of misleading the nation about RBI’s preparedness on demonetisation or has sacrificed the autonomy of RBI. Either way, he should resign,” Ramesh had said.
“RBI is the monetary authority of India and is solely responsible for making bank notes available to all residents of India. If RBI headed by Patel gave its approval to the Prime Minister’s demonetisation plan, then ostensibly RBI was confident of making currency notes available easily.”
13:14Pak stops import of cotton from India amid tension:
Pakistan has suspended the import of cotton and other agriculture commodities, including vegetables, from India due to rising tensions between the two countries along the LoC, a media report here said.
Officials of Department of Plant Protection said that import of agri items from India through the Wagah border crossing and Karachi port and issuing permits for future imports has been halted, the Dawn reported.
Cotton importers and customs clearing agents claimed that the department had stopped the import of agriculture commodities from India without a warning or written order because of increase in tensions across the LoC.
Imran Shami, chief of DPP which is a subordinate department of the national food security and research ministry, however sought to dispel the impression.
“We have stopped import of tomatoes and other fresh vegetables in order to protect our farmers. We have enough tomato and other vegetables stocks, which we import from India only in case of shortages in the domestic market,” he said.
The reason behind the “suspension” of cotton imports from India was, nevertheless, different, he said.
13:13Facebook tests ‘Express Wifi’ in India:
Months after it received flak for allegedly violating net neutrality with Free Basics, social networking giant Facebook is now testing a new model for public Wi-Fi deployments for offering quality internet access in rural parts of the country.
According to Facebook’s Internet.org page, the company’s “Express Wifi” is live in India and it is “working with carriers, internet service providers and local entrepreneurs to help expand connectivity to underserved locations around the world”.
“…are expanding to other regions soon,” it added.
However, Facebook did not indicate if the Wi-Fi will provide limited access of a few websites, like its Free Basics, or provide full access.
Express Wifi empowers local entrepreneurs to help provide quality internet access to their neighbours and make a steady income, it further said.
“Working with local internet service providers or mobile operators, they are able to use software provided by Facebook to connect their communities,” it said.
13:11Demonetisation: Rs 32,631 cr deposited in post offices:
People have deposited a staggering Rs 32,631 crore in nearly 1.55 lakh post offices across the country following demonetisation of Rs 500/1000 currency notes.
The post offices have also exchanged about Rs 3,680 crore of old currency notes between November 10 and 24, Department of Posts Secretary B V Sudhakar said.
“From November 10 to November 24, we have exchanged 578 lakh notes of value of about Rs 3,680 crore. If you look at the deposits, 43.48 crore old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were accepted as deposits, and their value is about Rs 32,631 crore,” he said.
As many as 1.55 lakh post offices — about 1.30 lakh in rural areas and the rest 25,000 in urban and semi-urban areas — are playing a “prominent role” in the entire exercise, he added.
During the same period, Rs 3,583 crore was withdrawn from post offices, Sudhakar said.
Following demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes from midnight of November 8, people rushed to banks and post offices to deposit or exchange old currency notes. Serpentine queues were seen in front of banks, ATMs and post offices with people lining up to get valid currency notes.
13:10We’re as Indian as Maruti: Paytm founder on Chinese ownership:
Facing criticism over significant Chinese ownership, Paytm Founder and Chief Executive Vijay Shekhar Sharma has asserted that the payments and e-commerce platform is “as Indian as Maruti” and prides itself on being a representative of the “India story”.
“We are as Indian as Maruti is…we are ‘India story’ in every sense whatsoever,” Sharma said.
The once-government controlled Maruti is now majority owned by Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor Corp with a 56.21 per cent stake as its sole promoter.
Paytm had hailed the ongoing demonetisation drive with advertisements displaying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture, leading many critics to point out that its single largest shareholder is Chinese giant Alibaba, the world’s largest e-commerce player.
Sharma said Paytm goes out into the world as an Indian company that is of “pride” to India.
“What matters to us is our customers, what matters to us is the law of land, regulator,” he said.
Alibaba Group and its affiliate Ant Financial pumped in USD 680 million into Paytm’s parent One97 Communications last year, taking its total shareholding to over 40 per cent in the country’s largest mobile wallet operator with close to 160 million customers.
13:03Hong Kong Open: P V Sindhu loses in final:
Olympic silver-medallist P V Sindhu’s quest for a second successive women’s singles title ended in disappointment after she went down in straight games to Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying in the Hong Kong Open Super Series final on Sunday.
The Indian lost 15-21 17-21 in a clash which lasted 41 minutes. It was sweet revenge for Tzu Ying, who had lost to Sindhu most recently in the Rio Olympic Games. She now leads 5-3 in the head-to-head record against the Indian.
World No. 3 and fourth seed Tzu Ying was in command of the match from the first game itself and produced a near-perfect all-round performance to be ahead 18-11. She maintained the lead and grabbed the opening game without much of a trouble. The Indian, on the other hand, was found wanting in her net-play against a swift-moving rival.
12:09 Indian men’s hockey team defeats Malaysia to finish at the 3rd Place at the 4 nations Invitational Tournament 2016.
* Countrymen whole heartedly participating in Demonetisation Maha Yagna.
* I reiterate that I need your support and am positive that you will help me in this.
* Govt, post offices, banks are all working hard & with dedication; struggle to fight ills of 70 years cannot be easy.
* Amitabh Bachchan in a letter to me wrote ‘Swachh tan’, ‘swachh mann’, ‘Swachh Bharat’, ‘mera parichay’.
* Common man will be trouble free if they’re made aware of the digital financial transaction options; youths can do this quickly
* I invite you all to not only support me but be a soldier of change & achieve it. We’ll fight to free India from corruption & black money
11:46ANI Reports: Meeting between DGP and Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal underway after Punjab Jail Break incident.
11:37Mann ki Baat: Modi tells country to go cashless:
More highlights from PM Modi’s Mann ki Baat:
* I need your help and I am confident that crores of youngsters in India will do it, pledge to be part of cashless economy from today
* There has been 300% increase in the use of Rupay card since poor people started using it; it is as simple as sending a WhatsApp
* Common man will be trouble free if they are made aware of the digital financial transaction options; youths can do this quickly
* I know that you support this (demonetisation) decision; also know that you are contributing a lot to make this a success.
* I know cashless economy is difficult; Why not move towards a less-cash society? Need your physical support in this.
* Please don’t use names of poor to deposit your black money
* I want to thank our farmers especially; was looking at the sowing details, sowing has increased this year.
* I invite small traders to adopt cashless economy to bring about a huge transformation in the country.
* A hotel in Maharashtra’s Akola has put hoardings for people to avail food even if they don’t have money post demonetisation
* I am confident that India will succeed in the demonetisation move.
* I request my labourer brothers and sisters to become partners in this scheme
* I used to talk about ‘Chai pe charcha’ during elections; never knew this will reach marriage halls; couple in Surat got married offering tea.
11:24Pak channels penalised for slandering judiciary:
Three Pakistani TV channels have been penalised by the country’s electronic media watchdog which suspended the licences of the two and fined the third one for slandering the judiciary.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority yesterday suspended licences of Din News and Neo TV and fined them Rs 1 million each for levelling “baseless allegations” against a Supreme Court judge.
It also imposed Rs 1 million fine on Sach TV for airing remarks of caller Ali Nawaz.
The regulator said that three TV channels were issued notices on November 19 for airing irresponsible analysis and were asked to submit a reply on November 26 after appearance before PEMRA.
On November 26, the reply was submitted and representatives of channels failed to defend themselves.
11:17Modi’s Mann ki Baat: ‘Cash cleanup is not ordinary, it is full of difficulties’:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the nation on his Mann Ki Baat radio show. Highlights:
* The emotion filled wishes of countrymen to soldiers were amazing, and soldiers were overwhelmed by wishes they received.
* The determination of the soldiers becomes stronger when nations supports them
* I had met few representatives from Kashmir and discussed about the unrest in the Valley. I urged the representatives to return and build a bright future for the children in Valley.
* Youth of J&K aspires to rise in life through education, I commend them for their enthusiasm.
* I can understand the inconvenience that people are going through. There have been attempts to manipulate you, but you have not swayed.
* For a disease that has infected India for 70 years, treatment can’t be simple.
* I had said that this demonetisation decision is huge and it will take at least 50 days to overcome from it.
* Cash cleanup is not ordinary, it is full of difficulties
* I can see the hard work of our bank employees and others who are working to help people post demonetisation; thank them all
* Our nation shall emerge from this like glittering gold from fire.
11:08The curious link between demonetisation, RBI and GSPC: As we all know, the country is in the midst of a financial emergency. Money is being rationed. Citizens are not being allowed to take out their own money from their bank accounts. The economy is on the brink of a collapse. There is growing frustration among citizens over restrictions on access to money.
It is important to understand the chain of events that unfolded to this disaster.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh writes on demonetisation. Read HERE
11:04 Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his address to the nation with ‘Mann ki Baat’.
10:59Economists’ criticism of demonetisation not fact-based: Bibek Debroy : Hitting out at economists for criticising demonetisation, Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy has said that critics are unaware of the government’s financial inclusion programme and their understanding of the situation is based on views expressed in English language newspapers.
“They (economists living abroad) base their understanding essentially on reading English newspapers. Otherwise, how would they know? English language newspapers understood many things wrongly,” Debroy told PTI when asked to react on comments of former World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu and other economists who have criticised demonetisation.
“Where does Dr Basu work now? He is based in US. I have a great deal of respect for him…That someone who is away from India may not necessarily be aware what is happening in India,” he added.
The eminent economist said Basu will probably react to things like financial inclusion on the basis of data that is three years old, adding, “He (Basu) does not know what happened as a result of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.”
Under PMJDY, 25 crore bank accounts were opened.
Basu, who was also Chief Economic Advisor in Ministry of Finance, had on November 11 said that Modi government’s decision to demonetise high denomination currency notes is not ‘good economics’ and the collateral damage of demonetisation is likely to far outstrip the benefits.
Lawrence ‘Larry’ Summers, a former chief economist of the World Bank and ex-economic advisor to the US President had described the Indian government’s demonetisation steps as the “most sweeping changes in currency policy in the world in decades.
10:56Armed men break into Punjab jail, free pro-Khalistan leader: Ten armed broke into Nabha jail in Punjab and freed Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh Mintoo and four other dreaded gangsters on Sunday morning.
The men, reportedly wearing police fatigues, fired over 100 rounds, ANI reported.
Police reinforcements have arrived at the spot and probe is currently underway.
The four gangsters who escaped were Gurpreet Singh, Vicky Gondra, Nitin Deol and Vikramjeet Singh Vicky.
A high alert has been sounded in Punjab.
10:22Pak stops import of cotton from India amid tension: Pakistan has suspended the import of cotton and other agriculture commodities, including vegetables, from India due to rising tensions between the two countries along the LoC, a media report said.
Officials of Department of Plant Protection said that import of agri items from India through the Wagah border crossing and Karachi port and issuing permits for future imports has been halted, the Dawn reported.
Cotton importers and customs clearing agents claimed that the department had stopped the import of agriculture commodities from India without a warning or written order because of increase in tensions across the LoC.
Imran Shami, chief of DPP which is a subordinate department of the national food security and research ministry, however sought to dispel the impression.
“We have stopped import of tomatoes and other fresh vegetables in order to protect our farmers. We have enough tomato and other vegetables stocks, which we import from India only in case of shortages in the domestic market,” he said.
The reason behind the “suspension” of cotton imports from India was, nevertheless, different, he said.
“No. We have not stopped cotton imports from India. It has just been halted over reports that the Indian exporters are not meeting our bio-security conditions. We’re looking into these reports and will lift restriction on cotton imports if our apprehensions are proved wrong,” Shami said.
He said only those cotton consignments would be allowed to enter Pakistan through surface or sea routes where importers had already secured permits from his department and carried phyto-sanitary certificates.
10:13Opposition leaders meeting scheduled to take place tomorrow in the Parliament at 9:30 AM.
10:12Need to be careful, says ex-army cChief Bikram Singh on new Pak army chief: Former Army Chief Bikram Singh, under whom the new Pakistan Army Chief Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has served on a UN assignment, said India should be “careful” and watchful with regard to his approach.
Gen (retd) Singh described Lt Gen Bajwa as a “thorough professional” who gave an “outstanding performance” under him in Congo but said things change once an officer goes back to his home country.
“There might be great bonhomie when the goal is world peace under UN mandate but things change once you go back to your country. This is because your national interest comes first,” Gen Singh told PTI.
He said India should wait and watch and be “careful”.
Asked if he sees any drastic change in Pakistani military policy once Lt Gen Bajwa takes over succeeding Gen Raheel Shareef who retires on November 30, he said, “I do not see any change”.
Gen Singh hoped that Lt Gen Bajwa will continue to consider homegrown extremism as a greater threat than India as he has publicly said.
The new Pakistan army chief has wide experience of LoC affairs due to his extensive involvement with PoK and northern areas.
“He has served in all these areas (bordering India) and knows pretty well what kind of terrain and conditions exist on both sides.
09:23Would gouge out enemy’s eyes if provoked: Parrikar: Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said India did not seek war, but would “gouge out eyes” of the enemy if provoked.
“We don’t itch for a fight, but if someone looks at the country with evil eye, we will gouge his eyes out and put them back in his hand, we have that much power,” he said while addressing a rally in Aldona Assembly constituency in Goa.
Goans can tell the world that they had sent a man to the Centre who had slapped the enemy across the face, he said.
“There was no firing on the border for the last three days because if they (Pakistan) fire once, we fire twice at them. We are giving tit-for-tat response, and when they realised it, they approached us, seeking to stop it,” Parrikar said in an apparent referrence to the request by Pakistan for DGMO-level talks three days ago.
Asserting that, Armed Forces were fully prepared, Parrikar said his mother had taught him that “even if you are going to hunt a rabbit, be prepared to kill a tiger”.
09:20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday flag off the Humsafar train that will ply between Gorakhpur and Delhi’s Anand Vihar terminus from Kushinagar
This tri-weekly train will have several new features, including LED screen display to show information about stations, train speed and will have announcement system as well.
Other facilities are vending machines for tea, coffee and milk, ports for charging electronic devices such as mobiles and laptops.
Its berths will be more comfortable than the previous three-tier AC sleeper rakes, bio toilets in compartments and the exterior of coaches will have a futuristic look with the use of Vinyl sheets.
09:17Jan Dhan deposits soar by over Rs 27,000 cr post note ban : Deposits in Jan Dhan accounts soared sharply by around Rs 27,200 crore in just 14 days after the announcement of ban on old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.
Total deposits in 25.68 crore Jan Dhan accounts crossed Rs 70,000 crore mark and were at Rs 72,834.72 crore on November 23.
As of November 9, total deposits in these accounts were Rs 45,636.61 crore. After the surprise demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have increased sharply to 27,198 crore.
However, 22.94 per cent of 25.68 crore accounts still have zero balance. As on November 16, 25.58 crore accounts with aggregate deposits of Rs 64,252.15 crore were opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana across the country.
With a view to increasing banking penetration and promoting financial inclusion and with the main objective of covering all households with at least one bank account per household, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna was launched in August 2014. Such accounts have a deposit limit of Rs 50,000.
Earlier, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had cautioned people against mis-use of Jan Dhan accounts for conversion of black into white.
“We are getting some complaints that suddenly monies have popped up in the Jan Dhan accounts, so there is a misuse and that is why the rationing in initial days takes place,” Jaitley had said.
08:50Railways, IRCTC include transgender as third gender: Indian Railways and IRCTC have included “transgender as third gender” in the option alongside male and female in ticket reservation and cancellation forms.
The decision which was taken on a representation made by a lawyer will include the facility for reservations and cancellations, both online as well offline.
The Delhi-based lawyer had made the representation after the Delhi high court in February had asked him to approach the railway ministry while disposing of his petition.
The ministry in its circular referred to the direction of the apex court of April 2014, which had said that hijras, eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be treated as third gender for protecting their rights.
“Supreme Court (in the judgement) has directed that Hijras, Eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be treated as third gender for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of our Constitution and the laws made by the parliament and the State Legislature.
“It has, therefore, been decided to include the third gender/transgender option alongside male/female in reservation /cancellation requisition form. This information will be captured by the system and tickets to transgender will be issued on full fare,” the circular stated.
08:46PM Modi to address nation through ‘Mann Ki Baat’ today: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation on the radio with “Mann Ki Baat” at 11 am today for the first time post demonetisation.
This will be the 26th edition of PM Modi’s radio programme. The first edition of the programme was aired on October 3, 2014.
