NEW DELHI: Ending months of uncertainty, the Centre today recommended dissolution of the Delhi Assembly with immediate effect after BJP, AAP and Congress expressed their inability to form a government.

Assembly elections in the national capital are likely to be held early next year.

"The Union Cabinet recommended dissolution of the Delhi Assembly with immediate effect," a senior Union Minister said after the brief meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The decision came after the Cabinet considered the report of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in which he had suggested dissolution of the year-old Assembly after his meeting with the BJP, AAP and Congress. 

The report by Jung paved the way for holding of fresh polls in the capital which is under President's Rule since February after the AAP government quit after ruling for 49 days.

With all the three main parties favouring fresh mandate, the LG recommended to the President dissolution of the Assembly.

The LG held consultations yesterday with political parties in the wake of the Supreme Court putting the issue on the fast track and giving him time till November 11 to explore the possibility of forming a government.

The court was hearing AAP's petition seeking early dissolution of the Assembly which has been under suspended animation since February after the fall of the AAP government.

Currently BJP, along with ally Akali Dal's lone MLA, has 29 legislators and would have required support of five more MLAs to form a government and prove majority in the 67-member Assembly. Three seats fell vacant after the incumbents were elected to the Lok Sabha. The bypolls for the three seats are scheduled for November 25.

BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the December Assembly polls winning 31 seats but fell four seats short of a simple majority.

It had refused to form government then, saying it will not resort to any "unfair means" to take over the reins.

AAP had formed the government in Delhi with the support of Congress.

The government led by Kejriwal had resigned on February 14 after the party's pet project, the Janlokpal Bill, could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress.

President's Rule was imposed on February 17. -PTI

SRINAGAR: The army has ordered an inquiry into the killing of two youths by its soldiers in a firing incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district, a statement said on Tuesday.

"Army regrets the loss of lives and has ordered an inquiry into the circumstance leading to the incident. Anyone found guilty will be severely dealt with," a statement issued by the army said.

Two youths identity as Faisal Yusuf Bhat and Mehrajuddin Dar were killed, while two others --Shaker Bhat and Zahid Naqash -- were injured Monday evening when soldiers of 53 Rashtriya Rifles opened fire on the Maruti car they were travelling in at Chattergam village in Badgam district, 20 km from Srinagar.

The youths belonged to the Nowgam area of Srinagar district.

The army said the driver of the car did not stop at a mobile vehicle check post (MVCP) after he was signalled to do so. 
"Based on specific intelligence reports about the movement of terrorists in a white Maruti 800 car on Nov 3 along Nowgam-Pulwama road, three MVCPs were established along the road.

"At approximately 5 p.m. a white Maruti 800 car approached the first check point where a personnel tried to stop the car, but it did not stop. Again at the second check point, the vehicle did not stop," the statement said.

"At the third check point, the vehicle tried to break through the check point, resulting into a firing incident in which four people were injured." The injured were rushed to the army base hospital in Srinagar where two succumbed to injuries.

Amit Kumar, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Srinagar, said the youths had no militant links.

Abdul Ghani Bhat, inspector general of police (IGP) Kashmir zone, told IANS that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in the case. "We have lodged an FIR in the incident and investigation has been started," the IGP said.

Meanwhile, sources in the state government said the Election Commission of India has been asked to either order an inquiry into the incident directly or allow the state government to do so, as the model code of conduct is in force in Jammu and Kashmir where assembly elections are due this month. -IANS

SRINAGAR: Clashes broke out on Tuesday between protestors and security forces in Nowgam area of the city over killing of two youths in army firing in Budgam district of Kashmir even as authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of the people as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

Groups of youth started pelting stones at police personnel posted on law and order duty in Nowgam area minutes after the two deceased youth -- both local residents -- were laid to rest, police said.

Cops used tear smoke shells to chase away the protestors but intermittent clashes were going on in the area, the police said.

So far there were no reports of any one getting hurt in the clashes.

Two youth were killed and two others injured, who were travelling in a car, when they were fired upon by army personnel in Chattergam area of Budgam district at 5 pm yesterday.

The army had claimed that the youths did not pay heed to signals to stop at three barriers set up by security forces.

"Three motor vehicle check points were established along the route to nab the militants. The car in which these youth were travelling did not stop at two check points when they were flagged down. They even broke through the third barrier at Chattergam leading to the security forces opening firing on them," Army said in a statement.

The Army has ordered a court of inquiry into the incident to ascertain the facts even as it regretted the loss of lives in the incident.
Police also has lodged an FIR into the incident and started investigations. -PTI

SRINAGAR: Militants on Tuesday fired a rifle grenade towards a security forces bunker in Sopore town of Baramulla district in Kashmir but the device failed to explode, police said.

The ultras fired the rifle grenade towards the bunker of 179 battalion CRPF at Sopore town this morning which failed to explode, a police spokesman said.

He said a bomb disposal squad was called in to destroy the grenade.

There was no harm caused by the controlled explosion of the grenade. -PTI

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki on Tuesday said the "decisive mandate" in the recent election of the state assembly in which BJP came to power for the first time "demonstrates people's yearning for a corruption-free and transparent development process." 

Addressing members of the 13th Haryana Assembly on the second day of its session, Solanki said, "It also entails their aspiration for an environment in which law and order is strictly enforced. Therefore, in the context of the national vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', this government is committed to achieving the cherished goal of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' through good governance." 

"The people of Haryana have overwhelmingly participated in the recent electoral process and reposed their abiding faith in you. I am sure you will work with utmost dedication to shoulder varied responsibilities of a legislator that lead to fulfillment of people's hopes and aspirations," he told MLAs.

The massive and clear mandate in the election reflects the discontent of the people with the previous regime but, at the same time, it also expresses their faith in the future policies and programmes of the new government, he added.

In his address, Solanki promised all-round development of all parts of the state by gainful employment for the youth, transparent and graft-free administration and steps to check the legacy of opaque decision-making and iniquitous distribution of resources.

The new government will make earnest efforts to build a bond of trust with the people and work for a vibrant, dynamic and resurgent Haryana, he added.

Assuring that the state government will make sustained efforts to explore new avenues to increase growth in agriculture, Solanki said steps in this direction will be taken by increasing investment, especially in agri infrastructure, promoting labour-intensive manufacturing to boost job creation, and making adequate, reliable and quality power available to all consumers.

"The government stands committed to reviewing and streamlining the inefficient financial management which led to a severe strain on the public exchequer. We will reverse the legacy of the past that preferred "populism at the cost of realism"," he added.

He said that plans will be prepared for rejuvenation of the economy of the state with equitable distribution of resources for long-term sustained development and efforts will be made to raise resources without putting any burden on the common man, he said. Maintaining that the government will seek to instill a feeling of oneness among all residents of Haryana irrespective of caste, creed and region, the governor said, "This is in consonance with government's belief in the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', that the whole world is one family."

 Solanki said the government shall efficiently tackle the legacy of opaque decision-making and iniquitous distribution of resources. This is particularly true, for example, in case of decisions on land use and acquisitions.
Stressing on the mantra of "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" of the NDA government, he said gigantic task of all-round development will be accomplished through elimination of bottlenecks in the delivery of public services. These include, first and foremost, the state's core infrastructural services such as electricity, water supply, road network and housing.

A key issue will be plugging the missing links in the last-mile connectivity in all sectors, activities and services. This will be supplemented by harnessing the opportunities, both in rural and urban areas, for entrepreneurship, job creation and skill development, he added.

He said that the government shall make utmost efforts to curtail wasteful and unproductive expenditure, rationalise public sector undertakings, boards and corporations and proliferation of commissions and regulators.

Concerted efforts will be made to arrange resources and to increase capital expenditure, he said, adding, this will ensure a better and more prosperous economic future for all the citizens of the state.
"My government will not be satisfied with 'poverty alleviation' but commit itself to the goal of poverty elimination in the state. Under the "Pradhanmantri Jan Dhan Yojana", my government will strive to connect all citizens of Haryana with the facility of bank accounts along with insurance cover," he said.

Necessary steps will be taken to plug leakage of funds and bring accountability in implementation of the MGNREGA. Efforts will also be made to reform the PDS to enable the poorest to access requisite subsidies in the supply of essential commodities, he added.

"It is time to foster strong and trust-oriented government-citizen relations. It is also time to shun the lethargic and tedious delivery system so that the state of Haryana once again becomes vibrant, dynamic and resurgent. "With three D's of Democracy, Demography and Demand on our side, my Government is poised to actualise people's aspirations. Constructive deliberations by you on all the issues that I have outlined will help in all round progress and development of the state," Solanki said.

He said the new government will give education top priority, break the barriers between formal education and skill development, launch e-courses and virtual class-rooms, and provide the people of the state a health care system which is accessible, affordable and effective.

Highest attention would be paid to education and equipping the youth, especially women, with the right kind of education, skill set and opportunity to reap the demographic dividend.

Solanki said the state government will formulate a multi-pronged strategy to improve the adverse sex ratio in the state in collaboration with civil society.
Having zero tolerance for crimes against women, the government will also ensure that they are empowered to participate and excel in every walk of life through equal opportunities. Women would be ensured protective environment to enable them to attain full potential, he said.

Referring to healthcare, Solanki said, "Haryana needs a holistic healthcare system that is accessible, affordable and effective. The government will take effective steps to tackle malnutrition.

The existing health care system will be rejuvenated. Yoga and alternative systems of medicine will also be given due priority, he said. PTI

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the deaths of two youths in army firing in Budgam have "vitiated" the election atmosphere in the Valley and stressed that such incidents have no place in an improving security situation in the state.

A day after two youths were killed in army firing, Omar spoke to Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on the matter.

"Have spoken to Union Defence Minister @arunjaitley reg. yesterday's incident where army firing resulted in 2 avoidable deaths

"Such killings have no place in an otherwise improving security environment where militancy incidents are at record low levels," Omar tweeted.

The Chief Minister said the deaths have vitiated the election atmosphere in the Valley which was already strained by the post-flood reconstruction challenge.
"These deaths have served to vitiate the poll atmosphere already strained by the post flood reconstruction challenge that people face," he added.

Two youths were killed and two others were injured in army firing at Chattergam in Budgam district of Kashmir yesterday.

While regretting the deaths, the army claimed that the youths, who were travelling in a car, did not stop at two vehicle checking points and even tried to break through the third barrier when asked to stop.

The army has initiated a court of inquiry to ascertain the facts.

The Government had last night termed as "highly regrettable" the Budgam incident and said a fair inquiry will be held and action taken against those found guilty.
"The Budgam incident in the Kashmir valley is highly regrettable. A fair inquiry will be held and action taken against those found guilty," Defence Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted.

Omar's National Conference has asked to order a probe into the incident or allow the state government to do so.

Model code of conduct is in force in Jammu and Kashmir, which is going to polls in a five-phased exercise with the first phase of polling scheduled on November 25. -PTI

MELBOURNE: Former India coach Greg Chappell ON Tuesday hit back at Sachin Tendulkar and rubbished the champion batsman's claim that he had made a "shocking" suggestion to him to take over India's captaincy from Rahul Dravid months before the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

Tendulkar has written in his autobiography 'Playing it My Way', due for release on Thursday, that the Australian visited his house months before the 2007 World Cup and tried to convince him to take over the captaincy from Dravid.

But Chappell said he was stunned by the claims.

"Whilst I don't propose to get into a war of words, I can state quite clearly that during my time as Indian coach I never contemplated Sachin replacing Rahul Dravid as captain," Chappell said in a statement.

"I was therefore very surprised to read the claims made in the book.
"During those years, I only ever visited Sachin's home once, and that was with our physio and assistant coach during Sachin's rehabilitation from injury, at least 12 months earlier than what was reported in the book," he said.

Chappell said he enjoyed a pleasant afternoon at Tendulkar's home and the captaincy issue never came up for discussion.

"We enjoyed a pleasant afternoon together but the subject of captaincy was never raised," Chappell added.

In the book Tendulkar wrote that Chappell told him that together they could "control Indian cricket for years".

"Together, we could control Indian cricket for years", the Australian told Tendulkar during a visit to his home when he offered to "help me in taking over the reins of the side" from Dravid, the master batsman writes in his autobiography.
Tendulkar said he was shocked by the suggestion and the lack of respect shown to Dravid by Chappell.

In the book, Tendulkar is scathing in his criticism of Chappell who was the national coach from 2005 to 2007, describing him as a "ringmaster who imposed his ideas on the players without showing any signs of being concerned about whether they felt comfortable or not". -PTI