CHANDUA (Jharkhand): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked Naxalites to give up arms and participate in nation-building, stressing that violence has no place in the country of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.

“There is no place for violence, which does no good to anyone. I appeal to those who have picked up the gun to shun it and pick up the plough. This is your country and work shoulder to shoulder in developing it,” he said addressing a poll meeting at Chandua in Naxalite—hit Latehar district, where the rebels laid siege to a train a few years ago.

The Prime Minister urged the people to preserve democracy without letting anything to stain it.

Referring to Jharkhand, he said ,”If the Almighty has given any State abundance of wealth, then it is Jharkhand” and lamented how it was being left poor by the “sin” committed by previous regimes.

The Centre, he said, was determined to take Jharkhand to new heights if the BJP was voted to power in the assembly elections.

AJSU president and former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto was present on the dais along with Modi. His party is contesting the elections in alliance with the BJP.

The first phase of polling in Jharkhand is scheduled on November 25 and the rest of the four phases will be held till December 20.

Counting will take place on December 23. — PTI

India must be prepared to use might if need arises: Prez 

TEZPUR: Cautioning against various threats facing the subcontinent, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said it was imperative for India to have an effective deterrence and strong defence to promote development and it must be prepared to use its "might" if the need arises.

"Today, our nation is on the path of growth in all fields. While the nation grows and develops in all realms, the subcontinent also faces varied threats especially from non-state actors.

"To preserve peace and harmony and promote all round development, it is imperative for us to have an effective deterrence and a strong defence," Mukherjee said at the Tezpur Air Force base.

The President, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, said though as a nation India was "firmly" committed to peace, "we must be prepared to use our might to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation, should the need ever arise."

"We are a nation which believes in equality in all realms. The men and women who stand before us today epitomise our grit and determination towards this underlying cause.I am immensely proud of our Armed Forces for leading the path in this respect," he said.

Earlier, he presented the prestigious Presidential Standard to 115 Helicopter Unit and 26 Squadron of the Indian Air Force here in "recognition of their selfless devotion and outstanding performance both during the time of war and in peace".

The Presidential Standard, considered one of the greatest honours for an Air Force Unit, was presented at a grand ceremonial parade at the strategically located Tezpur Air Force Station, one of the premier air bases of the Indian Air Force in the eastern sector.

Saarang helicopters and Sukhoi fleet performed manoeuvres at the function where Air Chief Arup Raha was also present.

"These distinguished flying units have a glorious past and a rich tradition of professional excellence. Since their inception, they have rendered illustrious service to the nation and done us proud," the President said.

"Their rich heritage and stellar efforts in the pursuit of excellence have set a benchmark for others to emulate.For their selfless devotion, professionalism and courage in the face of adversity, the nation honours them today with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation," he said.

Lauding the IAF, he said from Kanyakumari to the mighty Himalayas, the resilience and tenacity of the Air Warriors has been a source of tremendous pride for the whole nation.

"The professional excellence, grit and determination exhibited by them over the past few decades is highly laudable. Their excellent performance has been acknowledged both in India and abroad, during their participation in various international exercises," Mukherjee said.

The 115 Helicopter Unit has had a glorious operational record.It was formed in Chandigarh in April 1967 with Mi-4 Helicopters.

During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the Unit undertook various operations in support of the Army offensive, casualty evacuation and search and rescue operations.

Raised on April 1, 1967 in Guwahati, the Helicopter Unit earned its sobriquet 'The Hovering Angels', while incessantly working to provide relief and succor to flood-ravaged Bihar in 1975.

The 26 squadron was formed in Adampur in January 1968 and was the first squadron to be equipped with the indomitable Sukhoi-7 aircraft.

The squadron actively participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak War where it acted as a force multiplier in support of the army offensive.In 1977, the squadron was re-equipped with MIG 21 BIS aircraft and moved to Pathankot.

Since its inception, the Squadron has undertaken significant operational missions, including several missions during the Kargil conflict of 1999 and towards guarding the northern skies during the long period of activation as a part of Op Parakram.

"In acknowledgement and recognition of their outstanding performances, I award Standards to 115 Helicopter Unit and 26 Squadron. On this occasion, I take the opportunity to compliment the personnel and families of 115 Helicopter Unit and 26 Squadron, both past and present, for their selfless service and dedication towards the Nation," he said. -PTI

BANDIPORA: Accusing the BJP of playing politics over providing relief to flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday said the ruling party at the Centre promised the sky but did not follow it up with action.

Gandhi, who is here to campaign for Congress candidate Usman Majid for the forthcoming Assembly elections, said the polls are taking place at a time when people of Kashmir are yet to come to terms with the devastation caused by floods.

"Elections are taking place at a time when you have faced a natural disaster (floods). It does not feel good to talk politics (but) the relief and rehabilitation work is going on a very slow pace," the Congress president said at an election rally here, 45 kms from Srinagar.

Gandhi said the UPA government went all out to provide succour to the victims of the 2005 earthquake that affected vast areas along the Line of Control, particularly Uri sector of Baramulla district.

"What has happened now when there is a BJP government (at the Centre)? It seems they are not interested. BJP leaders came and promised the sky but did not give anything. Even what the state (government) asked was not given," she said.

The state government has submitted a comprehensive package of Rs 44,000 crore for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood affected people and infrastructure in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 745 crore assistance to the state when he visited the state on Diwali on October 23.

Gandhi lauded the role played by the volunteers in providing succour to the flood-hit saying, "they did whatever was possible".

"Congress has an all-weather relation with people of Kashmir. My family roots bring me here time and again," she said.

Highlighting the steps taken by UPA government at the Centre for Jammu and Kashmir, Gandhi said Wullar beautification project was sanctioned in 2011 and a new air strip and two regional councils were promised.

"Congress has done lot of work for the people of the state. The views of Congress for development of Jammu and Kashmir are very clear. Don't show dreams which are not possible on the ground," she said.

Asking the people to vote for Congress for safeguarding secular values, Gandhi said Congress believes in secularism and to keep away communal powers, "we decided to have a coalition government". Earlier, addressing the gathering, JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz said, a vote for BJP in the Assembly elections will mean a vote for the RSS.

Without naming the Prime Minister, he said, "This man is running foreign policy as well as internal policy without consulting anyone, furthering the RSS agenda".

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that all political parties, except Congress, had entered into secret pact with the BJP to be part of the new government.

Without naming any political party, Azad said, "We will have to defeat them."
Once a hot-bed of militancy, this constituency today wore a festive look as flags of all major political parties fluttered across the district.

Bandipora and 14 other constituencies go to polls in the first phase of elections in the state on November 25. –PTI

BEERWAH: Reclaiming Tosha Maidan firing range from the Army and promising it to develop it as a tourist resort could pay dividends for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in this Assembly seat.

Beerwah is witnessing a triangular contest. While the PDP has decided to field its sitting MLA Mohammed Sarfaraz Khan, the Congress has selected local Nazir Ahmed Khan to throw a challenge to Omar.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Chief Saif-ud-din Soz has been making attempts to bring a star campaigner into this constituency and sources within the party said attempts were made to rope in Congress President Sonia Gandhi here.

However, the plan apparently did not materialise and she would be visiting only Bandipore Assembly seat and address a campaign rally in Ramban, the sources said.

Omar, who had refused to extend the lease given to the army for the land surrounded by the majestic deodar trees after April 2014, is banking on the removal of firing range and creation of administrative units to shore up his prospects in the seat.

"People here like his sincerity. In June 2011, he left a public meeting only because people here wanted him to promise that he will create a sub-division here. Omar Sahib made it clear that he will not make promises until he is sure that he can do it," says Ghulam Hasan Khan.

Feroz, a university student, says he was touched by Omar's genuineness.

"He also could have made promises and forgotten like other politicians. But he chose to leave and returned here only after he fulfilled the wishes of the people," he said.

On his part, the Chief Minister said, "I was not sure whether I can do it and I have never been in the business of making fake promises. Their demand was genuine and the day I signed the paper, I came back to these people".

Beerwah recently got a sub division, two tehsils and three CD blocks

Notwithstanding the fact that the sitting MLA was from PDP, "Omar government has been generous to this area and helped reclaim Tosha Maidan from Army. This will put this village on the tourism map soon," says Ghulam Qadir, a tea vendor.

Tosha Maidan, which forms a part of this constituency, had become a bone of contention between Army and the state government with latter refusing to extend the lease after April 2014. 

"This had been our demand for several years but our MLA did nothing. He (Omar) understood our plight and helped us out," says Nazir Wani, a local businessman, who plans to set up a make-shift shop once Tosha Maidan comes on the tourism map.

Omar had recently said that the area could now be developed as a tourist resort and the focus would be on tourism-related activities to generate employment, trade and business in the area.

On his decision to contest from Beerwah, the Chief Minister said there was opposition from his friends in the cabinet as this assembly seat had returned only opposition candidates in last two elections.

"But I did not bother about that and went ahead," he said.

However, PDP chief spokesman Nayeem Akhtar says that if Omar had been sure about winning from Beerwah, why did he choose to fight from Sonawar Assembly seat.-PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday said the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari to annoint his son as his successor has no legal sanctity.

However, the court refused to stay the ceremony scheduled for tomorrow.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said the function is not legal and will not give any "special equities" in their (Imam's) favour.

The bench issued notice to and sought responses of the Centre, Wakf Board and Bukhari on the three PILs challenging the Imam's decision to appoint his son as the Naib Imam.

The court also questioned the Board why it has not taken any action against Bukhari till date.

Yesterday, during arguments on the three petitions, the Centre and the Wakf Board had submitted before the court that the ceremony by Jama Masjid Shahi Imam anointing his son as his deputy and successor has no legal sanctity.

The Board, in its response to the court's query as to what was their legal position on the issue, had also said that it would be holding a meeting soon and action will be taken against Bukhari for what he has done.

Earlier, the Centre had said that the Mughal-era mosque Jama Masjid is a Wakf property and it has to decide how the rule of primogeniture applies on anointment of new Shahi Imam, which has come under challenge.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had also requested the court to declare the city's Jama Masjid as an ancient monument because of its national importance while contending that it needs to be protected.

The PILs filed by Suhail Ahmed Khan, Ajay Gautam and advocate V K Anand had said Jama Masjid is a property of Delhi Wakf Board and Bukhari as its employee cannot appoint his son as Naib Imam (deputy Imam).

The petitions had said Shahi Imam had announced on October 30 that his 19-year-old son would succeed him as the next Shahi Imam and the ceremony of 'Dastarbandi' would be held on November 22. The pleas had alleged that the Shahi Imam was a public post and not the "personal property" of Syed Ahmed Bukhari and IMAMAT (the position of a divinely-appointed leader) is not transferable.

One of the pleas had also contended that Bukhari is merely an employee of Delhi Wakf Board which is the only authority to choose and appoint the next Imam of Jama Masjid.

The PILs had also asked the court to declare as invalid the appointment of Bukhari as the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid and had also sought directions for Delhi Wakf Board to take over the affairs of Jama Masjid and appoint a new Shahi Imam.

The plea had also asked ASI and the central government to declare Jama Masjid a protected monument.

Bukhari had recently sparked a controversy by announcing that he has invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the ceremony for anointing his son as the deputy Imam but did not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi. –PTI

SRINAGAR: The entire Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, experienced sub-zero minimum temperature, even as Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, registered the coldest night of the season at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, the MeT Department here said on Friday.

Srinagar registered a drop of almost one degree in night temperature as the city recorded a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest so far this season, a MeT Department official said.

He said there was a drop of about one degree in the night temperatures in south Kashmir's Qazigund and Kokernag towns as the mercury settled at a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius and minus 1.2 degree Celsius respectively.

The tourist resort of Pahalgam, the base camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, while the famous ski-resort, in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said the mercury in Kupwara town in north settled at a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius.

The frontier town of Leh, in Ladakh region, was the coldest recorded place in the state as the night temperature registered a low of minus 10.3 degrees Celsius, the official said, adding mercury settled at a minimum of minus 9.8 degrees Celsius in Kargil town.

The MeT Office has predicted mainly dry weather in both Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region during the days ahead which could lead to a further drop in the night temperatures. -PTI

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Friday bypassed Congress to announce the most sweeping immigration reform in a generation that will protect 5 million illegal workers from deportation and may benefit hundreds and thousands of Indian techies seeking legal permanent status.

Obama rejected accusations by conservatives that he is offering a free pass to undocumented immigrants and warned in a prime-time address that he would bolster border security and make it harder for unauthorised outsiders to get into the country.

The executive action, said to be one of the largest measure by a US President on immigration, is expected to help a significant number of Indian techies who currently have to undergo a painful and agonising process of H-1B visas to get legal permanent status (LPR), popularly known as Green Card.

Obama described his unilateral action as a "common-sense, middle-ground approach" that will allow otherwise law-abiding immigrants to "come out of the shadows and get right with the law".

He said a mass deportation of the nation's more than 11 million undocumented immigrants "would be both impossible and contrary to our character".

According to some estimates, there are 4.5 illegal Indian immigrants in the US.

Obama's plan would let parents of US citizens and legal permanent residents remain in the country temporarily, without the threat of deportation. The measure would apply to those who have been in the US for last five years.

The move provides portable work authorisation for high-skilled workers awaiting LPR status and their spouses.

Under the current system, employees with approved LPR applications often wait many years for their visa to become available, a White House fact sheet said.

"We'll build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel so that they can stem the flow of illegal crossings, and speed the return of those who do cross over," Obama said.

"I'll make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed.

"We'll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country," he said. -PTI

SRINAGAR: Stressing on a meaningful dialogue between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, Awami Mutahida Mahaz on Friday released its election manifesto, ahead of the assembly polls in the state.

The manifesto -- "Towards a democratic alternative platform" -- released by Awami Mutahida Mahaz (AMM), an amalgam of small political outfits in the state, promises to address the political and development issues of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing various stressful problems which have their roots in the political uncertainty and the presence of harsh anti-people laws and acts.

"The political rights of the people have been extremely limited while the administration is bereft of transparency and responsiveness," a statement issued by AMM said.

The manifesto stands for the restoration of all the powers enjoyed by the state till 1952 (restoration of greater autonomy) and stresses on the unity of the state and the delegation of more political and financial powers to all the regions and sub-regions leaving no possibility for the domination of any region, the statement said.

The manifesto also said that there is no military solution to the Kashmir issue and urges both India and Pakistan to show mature statesmanship and resolve the issue by sincere, sustained and meaningful dialogue.

Regarding the issue of Kashmiri migrants, the manifesto says that schemes framed for their return and rehabilitation should be revised and implemented in right earnest and focuses on complete rehabilitation of all those who were forced to migrate from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in 1947.

Emphasising on the youth of the state, the manifesto lays stress on resolving the various problems faced by them. It demands framing of a comprehensive employment policy, expansion of industrial sector and filling up of vacant positions, besides regularisation of all the casual and contractual workers for addressing the problem of acute unemployment.

"All the prisoners especially the youth, who are not involved in serious crimes, should be released and utmost care should be taken while dealing with law and order situation.

"Public Safety Act, AFSPA and other such acts should be scraped at the earliest while the Chattergam like incidents should not be allowed to occur in future and the responsible security officials should be given exemplary punishment in order to restore the confidence of the people," it added.

It also said the AMM will launch an "un-relented struggle" for the transfer of all the NHPC-owned hydro-electric power projects to the state. -PTI

JAMMU: Flying squad teams deployed for election duty have confiscated cash of over Rs 51 lakh and 65,100 banners/ posters in separate incidents.

"The flying squad teams deployed for election duty have so far confiscated cash of Rs 51 lakh, 65,100 banners/posters and 1,305 CGI sheets meant for use during the polls to lure the voters by illegal means," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K Umang Narola said.

Besides, the police have set up 5,769 barricades at different points, mainly along the boundaries of different districts to prevent the entry of unscrupulous elements, he said.

Since Assembly polls are announced and Model Code of Conduct imposed in the state, the state CEO has received 147 complaints from various political parties.

Out of these, 52 complaints have been disposed of and 95 have been referred to various quarters for conducting enquiry and ascertaining the details, the official said, adding "Till date, no complaint of serious nature has been received by the CEO". -PTI

AIZAWL: An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale rocked Mizoram late last night, jolting people from their sleep.

Director of state Geology and Mineral Resources H Lallenmawia said the epicenter of the quake was latitude 7.50 degree north and longitude degree 94.25 east in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh.

The tremor was also felt at the Mizoram-Myanmar border villages like Khawbung and Khawhai. -PTI

NEW YORK: The death toll from a rare pre-winter snowstorm has risen to 10 in the northeastern United States, paralysing communities for days and dumping more than six feet of snow near Buffalo.

The National Weather Service warned an extra two to three feet (60 to 90 centimetres) of "lake effect snow," created when frigid air moves over warm lake waters, could fall.

It said visibility was near zero and that thunder and lightning were likely to accompany the heaviest snow as a state of emergency and travel bans remained in place in western New York state.

The colossal snowfall has collapsed roofs, damaged homes and businesses, cancelled flights and stranded motorists for as many as two nights on the highway, including New York rock group Interpol.

Precipitation roughly equivalent to a year's supply of snow in two days has mobilised more than 5,000 people to help with snow removal and storm recovery, including the National Guard, officials said yesterday.

The death toll from "Winter Storm Knife" rose to 10 when two people died of exposure in Niagara County and Boston town in Erie County, officials told AFP.

Four or five others died earlier in the storm while working to clear mounds of heavy snow from their cars and homes, and the blizzard could yet prompt a federal disaster declaration.

The state of emergency is so severe that the NFL announced that the football game between the local Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets would not be played on Sunday in Buffalo.

The NFL said it would reschedule and relocate the game, "due to public safety concerns" in the city.

"Very dangerous storm. One more day. Let's get through this snow. People - continue to be smart. Stay at home.

Observe the driving bans," deputy Erie County executive Richard Tobe said.

The rock band Interpol said they were stranded more than 50 hours on their tour bus by the storm outside Buffalo, forcing them to cancel two consecutive nights of concerts in Montreal and Toronto.

"Finally just started making a move. 50+ hours later.

Hoping for some luck today," the band tweeted yesterday morning.

Alex Cleary, a senior program coordinator at the University of Buffalo, and her husband have been snowed in at home for three days and Cleary said the snow was still coming down.

"It is a little bit scary, especially given that no one can really drive. So if you need help, it's a little tough," she told AFP. –Agencies

NEW YORK: Mangalyaan has been named among the best inventions of 2014 by Time magazine which described it as a technological feat that will allow India to flex its "interplanetary muscles."

"Nobody gets Mars right on the first try. The US didn't, Russia didn't, the Europeans didn't. But on September 24, India did. That's when the Mangalyaan ...went into orbit around the Red Planet, a technological feat no other Asian nation has yet achieved," Time said about Mangalyaan, calling it "The Supersmart Spacecraft."

Mangalyaan is among the 25 'Best Inventions of 2014' listed by Time magazine that are "making the world better, smarter and—in some cases—a little more fun." 

Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation, the Mars spacecraft cost India just USD 74 million, less than the budget for the multi-Acacdemy Award winning science fiction thriller film Gravity. Time said at that price, the Mangalyaan is equipped with just five onboard instruments that allow it to do simple tasks like measure Martian methane and surface composition.

"More important, however, it allows India to flex its interplanetary muscles, which portends great things for the country's space programme and for science in general," Time said.

The list also includes inventions by two Indians for developing an exercise space for prisoners in solitary confinement and a tablet toy for kids.

Nalini Nadkarni, forest ecologist and college professor helped develop the 'Blue Room' with Snake River Correctional Institution in Oregon for inmates in solitary confinement, who for 23 hours a day see nothing but a tiny, white-walled cell, an experience some research suggests heightens mental illness and makes prisoners prone to suicide attempts and violence.

Last year, officials began letting some of them spend their free hour in a first-of-its-kind Blue Room, an exercise space where a projector plays video of open deserts, streaming waterfalls and other outdoor scenes. Nadkarni says the imagery is designed to calm prisoners, "much in the way we walk through a park" to relax.

Former Google engineer Pramod Sharma developed 'Osmo', a tablet toy that gets physical. Sharma got the inspiration when he saw his daughter playing with the iPad, but did not want her to be glued to the tablet all day long.

The toy, which debuted in October, has helped Osmo raise USD 14.5 million in capital and is now being sold in the Apple Store.

The other inventions are a reactor developed by aerospace company Lockheed Martin that could realize nuclear fusion, Apple's smart watch that besides telling time, can send messages, give directions, track fitness and make wireless payments and Microsoft's Surface Pro 3, a "hybrid" that bundles laptop into a 12-inch tablet and can run desktop apps. -PTI