Pak PM Sharif wears pink turban gifted by Modi at granddaughter's wedding............

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday wore the pink turban gifted to him by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his granddaughter's wedding.

A source at Sharif's Jati Umrah residence told PTI that Sharif had donned the "Indian Rajasthani pink turban" gifted to him by Modi during the Indian premier's visit on Friday. "Wearing the gifted turban of Mr Modi itself shows that Mr Sharif's sincere intention towards the neighbouring country.

Besides, it also demonstrates that Mr Sharif values the gift of Mr Modi," the PML-N source said. Mehrun Nisa, daughter of Maryam Nawaz, married Raheel Munir, son of well known industrialist Chaudhry Munir, who was the first to shake hands with Modi when he got off the car at Jati Umrah outside Lahore on Friday evening.

Modi had congratulated Sharif on the wedding of his granddaughter and also presented him gifts. Today evening around 2,000 guests attended the Walima ceremony of the couple. Some VVIP guests had also come from Saudi Arabia for the occasion.

Both the groom and the bride have studied at the London School of Economics. The source say that Walima ceremonies will also be held in UAE and the UK next month because many friends of the Sharifs could not make it to Lahore.

Though all the wedding ceremonies are being kept a close family affair away from the public eye, selected footage is released to the media like during the marriage of Sharif's elder son Husain back in the 1990s. The locals as well as British tailors have reportedly been hired to prepare dresses of the bride and her relatives.

AS officer from SC community converts to Islam, takes VRS claiming 'victimization'...........

Chairman of Rajasthan Roadways Development Corporation, Umrao Salodia quit from his post alleging discrimination by not being made chief secretary. 

Incumbent Rajasthan Chief Secretary Rajan whose tenure was suppose to end on December 31, 2015, has been given an extension to continue for next three months. Salodia was reportedly a front-runner in the race to become the next CS, but was left disheartened when Rajan's tenure was extended. 

"I had understanding that being member of Scheduled Caste (SC) and senior IAS officer cadre, I would be given a chance to work as Chief Secretary, I feel victimised, hence I submitted three months notice of VRS to the state government," the Additional Chief Secretary rank IAS officer said.

"Now the state government has to take a decision on my VRS cum protest letter within three months. However my retirement is due June 2016," he said.

Salodia has claimed that if he were made the CS, he would have been the first SC/ST to have become CS since Independence. But, according to Salodia, the Raje government took away this opportunity from him by letting Rajan continue. 

Salodia is a 1978 batch IAS officer was set to retire on June 30, 2016. But he has applied for VRS and has asked to be relieved by March 31, 2016. 

In a letter to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Salodia says that since he doesn't want to continue functioning under his junior and hence applied for voluntary retirement. 

In another letter, he announces that he is also converting from Hinduism to Islam on December 31, 2015.

"Article 25(1) of the Constitution of India guarantees to every person and not only to the citizens of India, the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practise and propogate religion. Under this fundamental right I have converted myself from Hinduism tto Islam religion on today the 31st December 2015. After conversion my name is Umrao Khan."

According to reports, Vasundhara Raje was not too keen in making Salodia as the Chief Secreatry as he has only a few months to retire. 

Indian test captain Virat Kohli named BCCI Cricketer of the Year.............

Continuing his meteoric rise, Indian Test captain Virat Kohli was today named 'Cricketer of the Year', while Mithali Raj was picked for the top women's award in the BCCI annual honours to be given away on January 5 in Mumbai.

The 27-year-old batsman, who took over as captain in the middle of the tour of Australia after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's sudden retirement, delivered some good results under his leadership. Under Kohli, the Indian team ended a 22-year wait for a series win on Sri Lankan soil before battering world No.1 South Africa to give them their first overseas loss in nine years.

The right-hander has done well with the bat too, scoring 640 runs in 15 Test innings that he played at an average of 42.67. In his 20 ODI outings this year, Kohli managed 623 runs at an average of 36.65. Mithali, on the other hand, became the first Indian woman and second overall to complete 5,000 runs in ODI format this year. Mithali will be presented with the M A Chidambaram Trophy for the best women's cricketer.

In other awards, former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani will be presented the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. Karnataka State Cricket Association has been chosen the state association of the year for achieving the treble of winning the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy in the season.

Karnataka all-rounder Robin Uthappa has been picked for the Madhavrao Scindia Award for being the highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy. Uthappa scored 912 runs in 11 matches, averaging 50.66.
The top wicket-taker's award is being shared this year by Karnataka's R Vinay Kumar and Mumbai's Shardul Thakur, both of whom scalped 48 in the previous season.  

Arvind Kejriwal targets PM Modi, says officers in Delhi have become 'B-teams of BJP'..............

Hours after the Union Home Ministry termed the suspension of two DANICS cadre (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) officers by the Delhi government null and void, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacked PM Modi, and said that DANICS and IAS associations in Delhi have become full-fledged B teams of BJP.

Two senior civil service officers of the Home Department were on Wednesday suspended by the AAP government for refusing to sign on a Cabinet decision file, following which around 200 DANICS-cadre officers went on mass leave, showing solidarity.

The action was taken against Yashpal Garg, special secretary (Prosecution), and Subhash Chandra, after they refused to sign a file pertaining to the Cabinet decision to increase salary of public 
prosecutors.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Kejriwal said, "DANICS and IAS associations in Delhi have become full-fledged B teams of BJP and Modi was shooting from the shoulder of LG and Bureaucrats."

"LG personally attended DANICS association meeting yesterday through speaker phone. LG in turn was in touch with Nripendra Misra in PMO," claimed Kejriwal.

Kejriwal further added that people will be very happy if these officers go on long leave and said, "Government is ready to give paid leave. Governance will become honest, smooth and efficient."

In a series of tweets, Kejriwal also said, "Government is exploring all options against officers who are on leave today. चोरी और सीनाज़ोरी?. Government will not tolerate corruption in insubordination."

The Chief Minister also said that, "Time has come to replace bureaucrats wid professionals and sector experts. Infuse fresh energy n ideas in governance."

Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) are selected through civil service exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Earlier this month, Kejriwal had also suspended two sub-divisional magistrates for failing to provide instant relief to victims whose shanties were demolished by Railways in West Delhi's Shakur Basti area.

However, these two SDMs are still holding their posts.

Delhi odd-even rule: Trial run to be conducted on Thursday............

To check preparations of the odd-even scheme starting from Friday, Delhi government will conduct a coordination trial between different agencies at 200 points for two hours tomorrow in the national capital.

"The coordination trial-run of different agencies will be conducted at 200 points for two hours from 9 am to 11 am tomorrow to check preparation of odd-even scheme. 66 enforcement teams of Transport department and 27 teams of sub-divisional magistrates will be deployed. Besides, 5700 civil defence personnel, 1000 cadets of NCC and 1,000 volunteers of National Service Scheme will also deployed," Delhi Transport minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday.

Around 125 teams of Transport department and Revenue department will be deployed during the 15-day road-rationing plan so that the scheme could be effectively implemented, he said. Violations of odd-even scheme will attract a fine of Rs 2,000. Officials of Transport department, Traffic police and Revenue department have been given powers to impose the penalty on the violators.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal administrated anti-pollution pledge to students and addressed civil defence volunteers at Chhatrasal stadium, who will be deployed across the city to assist officers at different locations.

Civil defence volunteers have been briefed about their role by Kejriwal during the 15-day of odd-even scheme starting January 1.

"Convince your parents, relatives and friends to follow the odd-even scheme. We are to do this not out of any imposition, but because it is important for our health and life. If you see anyone violating the odd-even scheme, just ask that person to go back home. If the same person receives 10 such remarks in a day, it would stir his conscience and persuade him to keep his car off the road," Kejriwal said, addressing the students at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya in north Delhi's Civil Lines.

High time India, Pakistan set aside hostilities, says Nawaz Sharif............

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said it is "high time" India and Pakistan set aside their hostilities even as he expressed confidence that the spirit of goodwill generated by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's visit to Lahore will persist.

"The Indian Prime Minister came to Lahore and gave us his few hours. It is high time the countries put aside their hostilities," Sharif said. "Goodwill gestures are the solution to many an ill," he told reporters at Zhob airport in Balochistan. Sharif also thanked Modi for visiting Lahore last week.

Modi had sprung a surprise when he visited Lahore on the occasion of Sharif's 66th birthday and his granddaughter's wedding on December 25. "It has been agreed that we will re-start the dialogue between Pakistan and India," Sharif said, adding that "progress is being made in bilateral negotiations with India".

The Pakistan premier's comments came a day after his Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet in Islamabad on January 14-15 to prepare a schedule of meeting for the comprehensive dialogue covering Jammu and Kashmir and other issues. Sharif also expressed optimism that India-Pakistan ties would improve in the days ahead and the "spirit of goodwill generated with Modi's visit will continue to prevail".

We want to make job-creators, not job-seekers: PM Modi...........

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the country is looking at creating job-creators and not job seekers.

He was speaking after inaugurating the National Conference of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes entrepreneurs in New Delhi organised by Dalit Indian chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) on the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar. 

"We all know Baba Saheb as the man behind our constitution, but not many know him as a master economist," he said.

Modi added that "Ambedkar was right in saying that industrialisation will give maximum benefit to our dalit sisters and brothers."

While speaking at the conference he said, financial inclusion and making the bottom of the pyramid stronger is the ultimate aim. 

He said, so far, 80 lakh people have received loans from banks under the Prime Minister Mudra Yojna, without the guarantee of a single rupee. Most of these are dalits, OBCs and STs. 

While speaking at the Dalit commerce chamber, Modi also said, "Our government is your government; we're working for your empowerment."

The programme, which is being conducted to seek the support from the Centre in promoting entrepreneurship among Dalits, is being attended by more than 1200 Dalit entrepreneurs.

Prime Minister Modi has initiated several measures to boost entrepreneurship among youth, and especially among Dalits.

Rs 50,000-crore loans disbursed to small entrepreneurs under MUDRA: PM Modi.............

Underlining that financial inclusion is the government's core focus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said banks have given loans worth Rs 50,000 crore to small entrepreneurs under the MUDRA Yojana.

Addressing Dalit entrepreneurs, he said, "80,000 borrowers have benefited from the scheme under which more than Rs 50,000 crore worth of loans have been given primarily to SC, ST, OBCs and women entrepreneurs who are engaged in small business and provide jobs to about 14 crore persons."

Speaking at the National Conference of SC/ST Entrepreneurs on B R Ambedkar's ideas and thoughts on industrialisation and entrepreneurship, Modi said it was quite difficult earlier for SC/ST entrepreneurs to get loans from banks.

Under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), loans between Rs 50,000 and Rs 10 lakh are provided to small entrepreneurs as an initiative to fund the unfunded.

"Financial inclusion is at the core of the government's focus, which is to create job-creators, not job-seekers," he said, adding that the strength of a pyramid depends on its base and the people at the base need to be empowered so that they can strengthen the Indian economy.

Modi hailed Babasaheb Ambedkar's contributions, saying that he was not only the architect of the Indian Constitution, but also an accomplished economist.

"Babasaheb rightly said that industrialisation will give maximum benefit to our Dalit sisters and brothers," he said, adding that people participating in the function pay crore of taxes and employ lakhs of youth.

To support businesses of SC/ST, the government has created Rs 200 crore venture capital fund with IFCI as the nodal agency. It has so far given loan worth Rs 144 crore to 28 businesses belonging to the SC/ST community. "Our Government is your Government. We are working for your empowerment," he said. 

The Prime Minister assured the Dalit entrepreneurs that the government is working for their benefit.

The successes of members at the gathering on Tuesday could inspire anyone who faces adversity, he said.

He expressed hope that Dalit entrepreneurs will be able to double in next two years what has been achieved in the last 10 years.

"This is possible because this is your government at the Centre," he said.

Modi recalled one of his "Mann Ki Baat" programmes, where he had exhorted people to talk not just about their rights, but also about their duties.

He said that this gathering of Dalit entrepreneurs is one which has not just talked about their duties, but has successfully fulfilled them.The Prime Minister presented five business excellence awards to Dalit entrepreneurs.

Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) founder Milind Kamble said that the body is working for the growth of Dalit entrepreneurs.It is also working with other chambers on affirmative action, he said.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said that last year about 1.5 lakh person belonging to SC/ST were trained.

He said the ministry has identified about 7,500 persons engaged in manual scavenging and they have been given a grant of Rs 40,000 to look for small business opportunities.

Shiv Sena warns Narendra Modi, calls Pakistan cursed land By Dna Correspondent.............

Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "political masterstroke" of paying a surprise visit to Lahore, the Shiv Sena warned that Indian politicians had their careers cut short after reaching out to Pakistan.

An editorial on Monday in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna — which has party president Uddhav Thackeray as the editor and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut as the executive editor — said that "there is a superstition about politicians who hobnobbed with Pakistan being unable to continue for long in politics."

It pointed out to the rough pockets in the political careers of senior BJP leaders like former deputy prime minister LK Advani and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after the visit to Muhammed Ali Jinnah's tomb in Karachi and meeting with the then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at Agra, respectively.

"The land of Pakistan is cursed. Hobnobbing with that cursed land is costly as the blood of lakhs of innocents has seeped into that land," the editorial claimed, adding that Modi had been "surprisingly brave" in his outreach to that country.

The Shiv Sena questioned if the BJP would have welcomed a similar initiative like that taken by Modi in case it had been launched by a Congress prime minister.

14-year-old girl allegedly gang-raped by armymen on Howrah-Amritsar Express..............

A minor girl alleged that two Army jawans raped her on Monday inside a compartment of the Howrah-Amritsar Express, after being compelled to consume alcohol by a third jawan, an RPF official said here.

The 14-year-old girl, in her statement to the RPF, said that she had boarded the train from Howrah Junction.

In the train compartment, she alleged that she was first forced to drink alcohol by a jawan and then raped by two others, according to RPF sub-inspector P Jani.

He said, they got a message from RPF Howrah, which received a complaint from the girl's father that his daughter has allegedly 'fled' and travelling by the train.

After receiving message, RPF raided the train when it reached Madhupur railway station.

It was searched thoroughly and the girl was found from the compartment, the official said, adding that a jawan, who had forced her to drink liquor, was arrested.

The other two accused were absconding, he said.

The girl had been sent to a hospital for a medical test.

Hyderabad becomes first airport to offer e-boarding facility to domestic fliers................

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Hyderabad became the first airport in India to go live on e-boarding for all domestic passengers. On Monday, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated seamless E-boarding facility, built in-house by GMR Hyderabad Airport Limited (GHIAL).
 
After getting the approval from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in August 2015, GHIAL implemented the E-boarding process for all domestic passengers at RGIA. With this, the airport has embarked on providing a whole new experience to the domestic passengers. The innovative end-to-end E-boarding process has triggered a paradigm shift in air passenger handling process in the country. 
 
E-boarding solution at RGIA fully eliminates the need to manual stamping of boarding cards even for physical boarding cards issued by CUSS (Common Use Self Service) machines or the check-in counters.  Further, it covers end-to-end all the key passenger processes at the airport viz. starting from entry to terminal and including check-in, security check, boarding gate and finally the boarding bridge check before entering the aircraft.
 
With the implementation of E-boarding at RGIA, now a domestic passenger flying from the airport will need only a mobile E-boarding card and his Aadhaar Card Number to gain entry into the airport. However, the system is equally compatible with other conventional modes as well and one can use the boarding card issued by CUSS machine or check-in counters also. Further, fliers would have flexibility to follow the traditional process of showing a photo-ID to gain entry into the airport in case the Aadhaar number is not available.
 
The process leads to ‘Enhanced Security’ where in passenger details are checked online with Airline DCS (Departure Control System) at Main Entry and Security Hold area for Authenticity thereby avoiding fake entries. Availability of High Definition CCTV cameras at strategic locations ensures a high level of security.  This automated facility promises a better environment as it is paperless and requires lesser manual interface. 
 
From entry into the terminal, to boarding the aircraft, a passenger needs to only use E-boarding card. Movement through this channels ensures that the passenger’s movements are tracked electronically (with timestamp) and through dedicated HD CCTV cameras at each of these checkpoints. This enhances the security at the airport by adding an extra layer of technologically advanced tracking to the existing security apparatus.
 
The process of E-boarding is seamless and integrated with the passengers’ name list from the airline. This also makes it very easy to check whether the passenger is actually at the airport or not. Timings of the entry to the airport and the other touch points are recorded, which help RGIA to continuously enhance its operational efficiency. Since the entry through E-boarding is time bound and guided as per regulations, the E-Boarding Reader machine does not allow the passengers inside the terminal before the stipulated time, thus reducing congestion inside the airport.

Mumbai Congress journal editor sacked after saying Sonia Gandhi's father had fascist links...........

In perhaps an inevitable fallout to the massive embarrassment Congress party faced when party mouthpiece said Sonia Gandhi's father has fascist links, now the editor has been sacked.

Content editor Sudhir Joshi has faced the boot and Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam has apologised for the article.

An article published by the party's Mumbai unit earlier caused stir for blaming Jawaharlal Nehru for the state of affairs in Kashmir, China and Tibet.  

The article in the December issue of 'Congress Darshan' said that Sonia Gandhi's father was a member of the fascist forces in Italy, adding that Sonia Gandhi registered as a primary member of the Congress in 1997 and became the party’s president in 62 days.

The article, which does not bear the name of the writer, had been published in the Hindi edition as a tribute piece to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's death anniversary on December 15.

According to a report published in a leading tabloid, the article stated that Nehru should have listened to freedom fighter and former home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s views on international affairs.

After the controversy broke, Congress readily disassociated itself from the views of the article. Now content editor has faced the axed.

The article also stated that, despite Patel getting the post of deputy prime minister and home minister, the relations between the two leaders remained strained, and both had threatened to resign time and again. If Nehru had embraced Patel's foresight, many problems in international affairs would not have arisen, it adds.

The article also cited a letter that Patel reportedly wrote in 1950 to caution Nehru against China's policy towards Tibet where "Patel described China as unfaithful, and a future enemy of India."

“Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been heard then (by Nehru), the problems of Kashmir, China, Tibet and Nepal wouldn’t have existed now. Patel opposed Nehru’s move of taking the Kashmir issue to the UNO,” stated the article, adding, “Nehru did not agree with Patel’s views on Nepal.”

Congress Mumbai chief Sanjay Nirupam on Monday apologised for criticism and said that action would be taken against the people responsible in the editorial team.

"Some words that have been used in some articles of 'Congress Darshan' are certainly objectionable. I accept the mistake. Action will be taken against people in editorial team who are responsible for this mistake," Nirpuam said.

Govt decides to limit LPG subsidy for tax payers earning over Rs 10 lakh............

Govt decides to limit LPG subsidy for tax payers earning over Rs 10 lakh

Tax payers with annual income of more than Rs 10 lakh will not get subsidised cooking gas (LPG) from next month as the government on Monday decided to limit supply of under-priced fuel to cut subsidies.

At present, all households are entitled to get 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rate of Rs 419.26, while the market price is Rs 608.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the public at large to those who can afford LPG to voluntarily give up using subsidised LPG and instead buy cooking fuel at market price so that the subsidies can be passed on to those in dire need. 

While many consumers have given up subsidy voluntarily, it is felt that consumers in the higher income bracket should get LPG cylinders at the market price," the Petroleum ministry said while addressing various media organisations. 

The government, it said, "has decided that the benefit of the LPG subsidy will not be available for LPG consumers if the consumer or his/her spouse had taxable income of more than Rs 10 lakh during the previous financial year.

"The government has decided that the benefit of the LPG subsidy will not be available for consumers if the consumer or his/her spouse had taxable income of more than Rs 10,00,000/- during the previous financial year computed as per the Income Tax Act, 1961,” the Petroleum ministry said while addressing to various media organisations.

So far, over 57.5 lakh LPG consumers, out of nearly 15 crore customers, have given up subsidies.

This would, however, be done initially on a "self-declaration basis while booking cylinders from January 2016 onwards."

To cut the subsidy bill and reduce fiscal deficit, the previous UPA government had restricted the number of subsidised domestic cylinders per household to six every year in September 2012, revising it to nine the following January.

The cap was revised in January 2014 to 12 cylinders a year, starting April 1. The subsidy for 12 cylinders in a year is transferred directly to the bank account of consumers which they use to buy LPG at market rate.

The subsidy payout on LPG in 2014-15 was Rs 40,551 crore, which this fiscal will be less than half as oil prices have slumped to a six-year low. During April-September, the subsidy outgo was Rs 8,814 crore.

Currently, there are no estimates of how many LPG customers may have a taxable income of Rs 10 lakh or more.

This year, in April, PM Narendra Modi's LPG subsidy campaign-- 'give it up'- to exhort the better off sections of society to forego their LPG subsidy that can be utilised in providing subsidised LPG connections to the poor.

Urging the well-off to give up their LPG subsidy, he said "gas cylinders surrendered by them would be transferred to the poor who use wood for cooking. If one crore people give up their LPG subsidy, one crore poor people will benefit as they will be given new LPG cylinders instead.

DDCA row: BJP asks Kejriwal to apologise after inquiry report makes no mention of Jaitley.............

The BJP on Sunday demanded "public apology" from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for levelling allegations against Arun Jaitley on the DDCA issue, saying a report of the city government has found no evidence against the Finance Minister.

Party spokesperson M J Akbar said the DDCA file which Kejriwal made his basis to attack Jaitley over the CBI raid and affairs of the cricket body does not name Jaitley. "The truth is out. The report does not name Jaitley.
There is no allegation against him, there is no indication (of wrong doing). The Delhi Chief Minister, we believe, should apologise to Jaitley for his allegations...he should publicly apologise. He should also admit his fault in the court (where Jaitley has filed a civil defamation suit against the CM and other AAP members)," he told a press conference here.

He claimed that after a "conspiracy" by the then Congress government, the Serious Frauds Investigation Office (SFIO) had made an enquiry and found nothing against Jaitley, a former DDCA chief, "though it was a Congress government." He said in his press conference Kejriwal had attacked Jaitley alleging that the CBI raid was carried out for the DDCA file. "Now the CM himself is trapped...his own team has found no allegation against Jaitley," Akbar said.

The BJP spokesperson said after the November 15 report became public, AAP is trying to wriggle out of the situation, saying the investigation was not meant to name any person. "But there are names in the report...you don't run government with tamasha (drama)," he said. 

Formulate common population policy, redefine minority: Union Minister Giriraj Singh..............

Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh on Sunday called for curbing "uncontrolled growth" of population through a uniform policy for all Indians and said time has come to redefine the meaning of "minority".

"The aim of four-sided development can be achieved only when the population of our country is in control. If America, Japan, China could achieve the desired pace of growth, it was only because they put total control on growth rate of their population," he said. There should be a common population policy, strictly applicable to all citizens, to maintain social harmony and achieve all-around growth, the Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said.

Singh was here to review the progress of projects undertaken by his Ministry. Speaking to select mediapersons, he said, "Time has come when meaning of minority ought to be redefined, keeping in mind their population in respective localities." "It has been over 68 years since India got freedom, and now time has come when we should clearly lay down parameters to call a particular community minority," he said. "There are several villages, blocks, tehsils, districts, where over 70 per cent the population belongs to a particular community, but they enjoy minority status. This should be done away with," said Minister.

"We may launch mammoth infrastructure projects, but by the time these are executed, population explosion would nullify their objectives," the Lok Sabha MP from Bihar said. "I want to emphasise very categorically that till we chalk out and execute plans for controlled growth of population, no real development can take place," he said.

Asked whether he would be put forth population policy issue at the party forum or BJP MPs would bring a private Bill, he said, "I am a Minister, so I cannot bring a private Bill. But in my personal capacity, I want to start a debate nationwide on this burning issue as it (population explosion) is an impediment in maintaining social amity and development." The BJP leader slammed Congress for its conduct during the just-concluded Winter Session of Parliament and said its "most unfortunate" that we have an Opposition party like it.

The party (Congress) held Parliament "hostage" and tried to block the Narendra Modi's efforts to put the country on the fast track of development, he said. 

Hrithik Roshan rings in Christmas by skiing with his boys!...........

It seems like Hrithik Roshan's way of celebrating Christmas is bit different from others as marked it by ice skating.

The 41-year-old actor, who flied to Switzerland with kids to celebrate Christmas, took to his Instagram and Twitter pages to share a video, wherein he is seen enjoying snowboarding with his kids.

The Bang Bang actor tweeted, D"ashing thru d snow...With 3 hearts open so...left n right is joy n pride, together is how v go! Merry Christmas!"

Dashing thru d snow...With 3 hearts open so...left n right is joy n pride, together is how v go! Merry Christmas!pic.twitter.com/aYZhvbUtTx

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) December 25, 2015

Hrithik, who received acclaim for his work as a paraplegic in the dramaGuzaarish, will be soon seen in upcoming epic-adventure film Mohenjo Daro that also stars debutante Pooja Hegde and is slated to release on 12th August 2016.

Amateur Indian cricketer creates Guinness world record for longest net session...........

Virag Mare, an amateur cricketer from Latur, has broken the Guinness world record of the longest net session on Thursday, say media reports.

Batting for three days and two nights at a stretch, the 24-year-old Pune-based amateur cricketer broke the Guinness record of the longest individual net session.

Mare batted for 50 hours beginning December 22. Playing at the Mahalaxmi Lawns in Karve Nagar, he faced 2,447 overs i.e. 14,682 balls, in exactly 50 hours, 5 minutes and 51 seconds.

The previous record of 48 hours was set by English duo, Dave Newman and Richard Wells, and none other than British PM David Cameron had cheered them on.

But Mare had no such luck. He batted against both an actual bowler and a bowling machine.  He first batted 5 hours at a stretch before taking a 25-minute break. By Wednesday, exhaustion meant he had to take a break every hour or so.

Around the halfway mark to the record, Mare thought of giving up. But his father had traveled from his village to watch him break the record, which Mare says egged him on.

"I don't have words to express my emotions. The reason why I am able to talk merely 2-3 hours after I broke the record because I love this game. I had worked really hard to fulfill this dream," Mare told Indian Express.

"We had thought of crossing the 15,000 balls mark. But he was already very tired. It would’ve been wrong to stretch him beyond his limit," said Ramdas Potale, his friend and organiser of the event.

Mare had actually joined Sachin Tendulkar's coach Ramakant Achrekar's academy at the age of 16, but had to drop out due to his inability to pay the fees. He then shifted to Pune and began to run a vada pav stall. 

But he never lost his passion for cricket, and has now created a world record that will be very difficult to break.

Robert Vadra slams AAP government over VIP exemption from odd-even car policy............

Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, on Saturday took a swipe at the Delhi Government for exempting the vehicles of VIPs from the odd-even formula.

"If a law is implemented in the interest of the people, we all must adhere, and not be VIPs. Creating parallel lists of exemption, is complete hypocrisy," Vadra wrote in a Facebook post.

Vadra, had earlier taken a swipe at Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju's comments on special privileges for "VIPs" at airports, calling it "hypocrisy of the highest limits."

The Delhi Government has exempted 20 categories of vehicles including the two-wheelers, women drivers, hybrid cars, VVIPs except Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The exemption list includes the President, Vice President, the Prime Minister, governors, the Chief Justice of India, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, Union Ministers, Leaders of Opposition in Parliament, all chief ministers except for Delhi's, Supreme Court judges, the Deputy Speaker and emergency vehicles.

Two-wheelers, vehicles with defence ministry number plates, pilot cars, those protected by the elite Special Protection Group and embassy cars with CD number plates will also be kept out of the ban. The rule will also not apply to public transport.

Pak opposition parties welcome Modi's visit, say constant engagement only way to resolve all issues............

Pakistan's major political parties on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore, saying it was a "new beginning of relations" and will help improve ties between the two countries. Modi stayed for over two hours in Lahore on his way back home from Afghanistan yesterday during which he held talks with his counterpart Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind house.

Opposition leader in the parliament Syed Khurshid Shah said his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supports Modi's visit. PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had tweeted "Welcome to Pakistan @narendramodi. Constant engagement is the only way to resolve all outstanding issues."

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party chief Imran Khan also welcomed Modi's trip and said it will help improve ties between the two countries.

Welcome to Pakistan @narendramodi . Constant engagement is the only way to resolve all outstanding issues.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 25, 2015

Welcoming Modi's visit, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that it would be helpful for peace and stability in the region. He said such contacts should continue for resolving all the issues, including the longstanding Kashmir dispute. Asif said Pakistan wanted good ties with its neighbours.

Radio Pakistan reported that former PPP Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said Modi's trip would help in holding composite dialogue between the two countries. 

Awami National Party leader Zahid Khan said Modi's visit was a "new beginning of relations between Pakistan and India".

Renowned human rights activist Asma Jehangir said the Indian Prime Minister should play his role in stopping alleged human rights violation in Kashmir as well as reducing visa restrictions between the two countries.

Defence expert Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Shahid Latif said the meeting between the two leaders was a positive move and it would pave the way for resolving core issues between the two nuclear powers. Despite broad welcome, there were isolated voices opposing Modi's trip.

Sirajul Haq, chief of right wing Jamaat-i-Islami, said it was unfortunate that Modi was welcomed in Pakistan. 

This is how PM Modi arranged his surprise visit to Pakistan.............

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arranged his landmark visit to Pakistan, - the first by an Indian leader in a decade, at the last minute on Friday, a Pakistani official said.

PM Modi phoned Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while on a visit to neighbouring Afghanistan and asked if he could make a stop in Pakistan on his way home, Pakistani foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry told media after Modi departed.

"And the Pak PM said to him, 'Please come, you are our guest, please come and have tea with me'," he said.

The two leaders met at Nawaz Sharif's residence for over an hour.