Contending that the removal of manager Arsene Wenger might not help Arsenal solve its problems, the London football club's former defender Gael Clichy insists that the Frenchman is still the right person for the job.

Arsenal, yet to win an English Premier League (EPL) title since the 2003-04 season, are currently sixth in the standings. They are seven points outside the top four with 10 games remaining.

They are already out of the UEFA Champions League after being hammered by Bayern Munich in the pre-quarterfinal (10-2 on aggregate).

This has led to several fans and critics demanding the removal of Frenchman Wenger, who has been coaching Arsenal since 1996.

"The manager does not really deserve what he is getting. I can understand because football is free for everybody to have opinions so you cannot stop that. And you cannot only think about the past because it is also about the present. But I don't think many managers could have done what he has in the last 10 years," Clichy, who currently plays for Manchester City, was quoted as saying by espnfc.

"You always want something new when you are used to something and what you get is probably most of the time not better than what you have, so you have to be careful what you wish for," the 31-year-old, who played for Arsenal between 2003 and 2011, added.

"I'm not going to get into any detail but I do believe he is the right man. He has been the right man for so many years and I am listening to what people are saying. If the club is spending more money and they have the players they need, then perhaps Wenger is the perfect man. If you take him off and you bring someone else with the same structure, would he be better? Would he do better? I'm not sure."

Clichy, who was part of Arsenal's last EPL winning team in 2004, warned that a change may not be as beneficial for the club as it is expected to be.

"It's not for me to say if it's in the right hands or not but I do believe what he has done in the past is amazing," the French international said.

Light rains fell in parts of Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday, bringing respite to people from the hot weather conditions.

However, the showers have left wheat farmers worried as even a drizzle at this time of the season is considered harmful for the standing wheat crop which is ready for harvest.

"Inclement weather is detrimental to ripened wheat and its continuation could lead to lower yield," Jalandhar-based farmer Sital Singh said.

Union Territory Chandigarh recieved light rains this morning causing a dip in the maximum temperature.

A few places in Punjab including Mohali, Ropar, Phagwara and Jalandhar also received light rains.

Light showers were also reported in Panchkula, Ambala, Kalka and Yamunanagar in Haryana.

The maximum temperature across Punjab and Haryana had been hovering 2 to 5 notches above normal limits for over a week.

Light rains fell in parts of Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday, bringing respite to people from the hot weather conditions.

However, the showers have left wheat farmers worried as even a drizzle at this time of the season is considered harmful for the standing wheat crop which is ready for harvest.

"Inclement weather is detrimental to ripened wheat and its continuation could lead to lower yield," Jalandhar-based farmer Sital Singh said.

Union Territory Chandigarh recieved light rains this morning causing a dip in the maximum temperature.

A few places in Punjab including Mohali, Ropar, Phagwara and Jalandhar also received light rains.

Light showers were also reported in Panchkula, Ambala, Kalka and Yamunanagar in Haryana.

The maximum temperature across Punjab and Haryana had been hovering 2 to 5 notches above normal limits for over a week.

Late King of Pop Michael Jackson's daughter Paris says she want to be an advocate for the LGBT community and others who who are "voiceless".

The 18-year-old made the comments after she won the Emerging Talent honour at the Fashion Los Angeles Daily Awards on April 2, reports mirror.co.uk.

"I will use my voice to speak for the voiceless, and fight for the rights that every one of us deserve — every woman that walks this earth, every mother, every sister, every daughter and every lover," she said.

"(Also for) Every member of my fellow LGBTQ community, every immigrant, every animal and every plant," she added.

Late King of Pop Michael Jackson's daughter Paris says she want to be an advocate for the LGBT community and others who who are "voiceless".

The 18-year-old made the comments after she won the Emerging Talent honour at the Fashion Los Angeles Daily Awards on April 2, reports mirror.co.uk.

"I will use my voice to speak for the voiceless, and fight for the rights that every one of us deserve — every woman that walks this earth, every mother, every sister, every daughter and every lover," she said.

"(Also for) Every member of my fellow LGBTQ community, every immigrant, every animal and every plant," she added.

Three Sri Lankan nationals were arrested here, for attempting to fly out of the country allegedly using fake Indian passports on Wednesday.

The trio had arrived from Tiruchirappalli and were on their way to Ireland via Dubai, when immigration officials grew suspicious and detained them for enquiry, police said.

During interrogation, the men, all in their early 30s, confessed that they were Sri Lankan nationals and had acquired fake passports, police said, adding, they were subsequently arrested.

Three Sri Lankan nationals were arrested here, for attempting to fly out of the country allegedly using fake Indian passports on Wednesday.

The trio had arrived from Tiruchirappalli and were on their way to Ireland via Dubai, when immigration officials grew suspicious and detained them for enquiry, police said.

During interrogation, the men, all in their early 30s, confessed that they were Sri Lankan nationals and had acquired fake passports, police said, adding, they were subsequently arrested.

Cracking down on errant caterers, railways have terminated a food contract and blacklisted 16 contractors besides collecting a fine of Rs.1.8 crore in 2,108 cases related to food complaints in the last one year.

In its endeavour to provide quality and hygienic food to passengers, railways have developed and operationalised an institutionalised mechanism for monitoring of quality andn hygiene of catering services through regular inspections at various levels to address catering complaints.

A centralised catering service monitoring cell (CSMC) has been operationalised to monitor and address the complaints from passengers besides a toll free number (1800-111- 321) for prompt redressal of passenger grievances relating to catering has been in operation for real time assistance to the travelling public.

The CSMC gives real time assistance to 250-300 passengers per day, said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with catering.

On the stringest measures taken against caterers, he said one contract has been terminated, another is under notice for termination while 16 contractors have been blacklisted for breach of terms of contracts in the last one year.

Penal action arising out of irregularities, complaints and inspections are regularly taken against the licensee depending upon the gravity of lapse.

Inspections at various levels are conducted in trains and stations wherein feedback from passengers through surveys for enhanced satisfaction of the passengers is taken.

A Twitter handle with the address @IRCATERING has also been made operational to cater to the complaints/suggestions with regard to catering services.

Another helpline (138) for rail-users to lodge complaints/suggestions regarding food and catering services is operational.

Railways have also implemented e-catering facility at 357 major stations to provide wider options to passengers.

Introduction of ready to eat and precooked food on trains has also been introduced through IRCTC to ensure supply of hot meals.

Cracking down on errant caterers, railways have terminated a food contract and blacklisted 16 contractors besides collecting a fine of Rs.1.8 crore in 2,108 cases related to food complaints in the last one year.

In its endeavour to provide quality and hygienic food to passengers, railways have developed and operationalised an institutionalised mechanism for monitoring of quality andn hygiene of catering services through regular inspections at various levels to address catering complaints.

A centralised catering service monitoring cell (CSMC) has been operationalised to monitor and address the complaints from passengers besides a toll free number (1800-111- 321) for prompt redressal of passenger grievances relating to catering has been in operation for real time assistance to the travelling public.

The CSMC gives real time assistance to 250-300 passengers per day, said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with catering.

On the stringest measures taken against caterers, he said one contract has been terminated, another is under notice for termination while 16 contractors have been blacklisted for breach of terms of contracts in the last one year.

Penal action arising out of irregularities, complaints and inspections are regularly taken against the licensee depending upon the gravity of lapse.

Inspections at various levels are conducted in trains and stations wherein feedback from passengers through surveys for enhanced satisfaction of the passengers is taken.

A Twitter handle with the address @IRCATERING has also been made operational to cater to the complaints/suggestions with regard to catering services.

Another helpline (138) for rail-users to lodge complaints/suggestions regarding food and catering services is operational.

Railways have also implemented e-catering facility at 357 major stations to provide wider options to passengers.

Introduction of ready to eat and precooked food on trains has also been introduced through IRCTC to ensure supply of hot meals.

Six persons were killed and 22 injured in an attack on a convoy of census teams here in Pakistan on Wednesday.

Four security personnel and two civilians were among the dead, The News International quoted a government spokesperson as saying.

Punjab Law Minister said the security threat was imminent on census teams and the government has been very vigilant in this regard.

He said the process of census will not be stopped at any cost, and the government is determined to eliminate militancy from the country.

According to him, halting the census will be tantamount to succumbing to militants' pressure.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but terror outfit Jamat-ul Ahrar has been involved in similar attacks earlier.

Six persons were killed and 22 injured in an attack on a convoy of census teams here in Pakistan on Wednesday.

Four security personnel and two civilians were among the dead, The News International quoted a government spokesperson as saying.

Punjab Law Minister said the security threat was imminent on census teams and the government has been very vigilant in this regard.

He said the process of census will not be stopped at any cost, and the government is determined to eliminate militancy from the country.

According to him, halting the census will be tantamount to succumbing to militants' pressure.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but terror outfit Jamat-ul Ahrar has been involved in similar attacks earlier.

The issue of tampering of EVMs was raised again in the Rajya Sabha with the Opposition Congress, SP and BSP on Wednesday forcing a brief adjournment of proceedings in Rajya Sabha over alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVM) to favour the ruling BJP. Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House calling the government a “cheat”, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the proceedings for about 7 minutes. 

 The government vehemently denied the charge, saying if anybody has a problem, they should go to the Election Commission as Parliament is not the forum to agitate. Congress and SP members gave as many as four notices under Rule 267 seeking suspension of business to take up the issue, which the treasury benches vehemently opposed.  Deputy Chairman P J Kurien did not allow the notices but let those who had given such notices make brief submissions on the issue. 

 Kurien asked Opposition members to take up the issue with the Election Commission. “This is an issue to be taken up with Election Commission,” he said. “Election Commission is to examine if EVM is functioning properly or not. Chair cannot do anything.” Later, he adjourned the proceedings till 11.30 a m. 

 BSP's Mayawati's comments led to pandemonium in the House with Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi saying the BSP supremo had “insulted the people of the country” and insulted democracy. Opposition members protested saying the barb was directed at BJP and not to the people, but the protests from treasury benches led Kurien to say he would expunge Mayawati's remarks from the records. 

 Angry exchanges were also witnessed between Naqvi and Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. Naqvi said the general elections in 2004 and 2009 and the assembly elections in Bihar, Punjab and Delhi where the BJP lost, were all conducted using EVMs and the Congress did not seem to have any objections then. Azad shot back saying the governments under Congress rule did not tamper with EVMs and it's only now that such practices have crept in. 

 When the House met for the day, Digvijaya Singh (Congress) said the testing of EVMs for a by-election in Madhya Pradesh had a few days back shown manipulations wherein votes would be credited to BJP irrespective of the candidate for whom it has been cast. He demanded that ballot papers be used for the upcoming by-elections and elections henceforth. 

 HRD Minister Prakash Javedkar countered him saying the Election Commission has made it clear there can be no manipulation of EVMs and if the opposition had any problem they should go to it and not waste Parliament's time. While Ramgopal Yadav of SP and SP's Naresh Aggarwal alleged the EVMs are being deliberately programmed to favour the BJP, Mayawati said mass irregularities were committed in the recently concluded assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. 

 The BSP, Mayawati said, has gone to court against the use of EVMs. She went on to call it “murder of democracy” and demanded the use of ballot papers in future elections. Her party's Satish Misra said this was a government of EVMs and the ministers protesting were “EVM ministers”. The treasury benches protested these remarks as an insult to the people and democracy. 

Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded that by-elections in Madhya Pradesh and the coming assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh be conducted using ballot papers. Naqvi again said aspersions cast are not against the government but against the Election Commission and the people of the country. 

 “If victory has a glamour, defeat should have grace,” he said, a comment which infuriated the Opposition who trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans. 

The issue of tampering of EVMs was raised again in the Rajya Sabha with the Opposition Congress, SP and BSP on Wednesday forcing a brief adjournment of proceedings in Rajya Sabha over alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVM) to favour the ruling BJP. Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House calling the government a “cheat”, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the proceedings for about 7 minutes. 

 The government vehemently denied the charge, saying if anybody has a problem, they should go to the Election Commission as Parliament is not the forum to agitate. Congress and SP members gave as many as four notices under Rule 267 seeking suspension of business to take up the issue, which the treasury benches vehemently opposed.  Deputy Chairman P J Kurien did not allow the notices but let those who had given such notices make brief submissions on the issue. 

 Kurien asked Opposition members to take up the issue with the Election Commission. “This is an issue to be taken up with Election Commission,” he said. “Election Commission is to examine if EVM is functioning properly or not. Chair cannot do anything.” Later, he adjourned the proceedings till 11.30 a m. 

 BSP's Mayawati's comments led to pandemonium in the House with Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi saying the BSP supremo had “insulted the people of the country” and insulted democracy. Opposition members protested saying the barb was directed at BJP and not to the people, but the protests from treasury benches led Kurien to say he would expunge Mayawati's remarks from the records. 

 Angry exchanges were also witnessed between Naqvi and Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. Naqvi said the general elections in 2004 and 2009 and the assembly elections in Bihar, Punjab and Delhi where the BJP lost, were all conducted using EVMs and the Congress did not seem to have any objections then. Azad shot back saying the governments under Congress rule did not tamper with EVMs and it's only now that such practices have crept in. 

 When the House met for the day, Digvijaya Singh (Congress) said the testing of EVMs for a by-election in Madhya Pradesh had a few days back shown manipulations wherein votes would be credited to BJP irrespective of the candidate for whom it has been cast. He demanded that ballot papers be used for the upcoming by-elections and elections henceforth. 

 HRD Minister Prakash Javedkar countered him saying the Election Commission has made it clear there can be no manipulation of EVMs and if the opposition had any problem they should go to it and not waste Parliament's time. While Ramgopal Yadav of SP and SP's Naresh Aggarwal alleged the EVMs are being deliberately programmed to favour the BJP, Mayawati said mass irregularities were committed in the recently concluded assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. 

 The BSP, Mayawati said, has gone to court against the use of EVMs. She went on to call it “murder of democracy” and demanded the use of ballot papers in future elections. Her party's Satish Misra said this was a government of EVMs and the ministers protesting were “EVM ministers”. The treasury benches protested these remarks as an insult to the people and democracy. 

Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded that by-elections in Madhya Pradesh and the coming assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh be conducted using ballot papers. Naqvi again said aspersions cast are not against the government but against the Election Commission and the people of the country. 

 “If victory has a glamour, defeat should have grace,” he said, a comment which infuriated the Opposition who trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans. 

The J&K National Conference on April 4 launched a door-to-door campaign and reached out to the Kashmir Pandit community here to seek votes for former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll as NC-Congress alliance candidate.

“National Conference Migrant Cell today launched a door-to-door campaign in support of party nominee from Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency Farooq Abdullah, by urging the people to strengthen secular forces for heralding a lasting peace in Kashmir,” NC Minority Cell President MK Yogi told reporters here.

On the campaign trail along with Provincial Vice President Anil Dhar, former MLC BL Bhat and other migrant leaders, Yogi visited biggest township of KP displaced people in Jagti belt in outskirts of Jammu city and sought votes for Abdullah.

They also criticised the PDP-BJP government for “neglecting” the displaced people, as a result of which their problems continue to accumulate.

He particularly made a reference of the dilapidated condition of tenements in Jagati and suburbs of the Jammu city, alleging the government was unmoved as far as their renovation was concerned.

“J&K National Conference has all along worked for the welfare of displaced people and initiated several measures to make their life comfortable in and outside camps in Jammu and elsewhere in the State,” Dhar said while interacting with the people.

Former MLC Bhat criticised the “lackadaisical attitude” of the coalition government in carrying forward the recruitment drive under the Prime Minister's package.

He said the educated youth were losing their patience, as some of them were turning over-aged.

The NC leaders also sought vote and support for GA Mir from Annantnag parliamentary constituency.

The byelections to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies are to be held on April 9 and April 12, respectively.

Kusal Perera struck a quick-fire half century to steer Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first of their two-match Twenty20 International series in Colombo on Wednesday.

Perera, who passed a late fitness test to be included for the game, hit 77 off 53 balls as Sri Lanka reached 158-4 in 18.5 overs after restricting Bangladesh to 155-6.

Sri Lanka never lost their grip on the match after Perera and captain Upul Tharanga put on 65 runs in the opening stand, though a double strike by Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza slowed their progress.

Mashrafe, who announced his retirement from Twenty20 International cricket before the game, removed Tharanga for 24 and took a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Dilshan Munaweera for eight.

Perera, who smashed nine fours and a six, was out in the penultimate over hoisting a catch to Soumya Sarkar at mid-off off Taskin Ahmed but Seekkuge Prasanna (22 not out) and Thisara Perera ( four not) ended the game in the same over.

"I tried to finish the game. (I) had a couple of injuries but recovered well," said Kusal Perera. "Every player has a couple of bad patches, (you) have to get over it, do the hard work and get out of bad patches." 

Mashrafe finished with 2-32 but other Bangladeshi bowlers struggled as Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Earlier, Mosaddek Hossain top-scored with 34 not out to help Bangladesh revive the innings with a 57-run sixth wicket stand with Mahmudullah after some disciplined bowling by Sri Lanka left the visitors reeling at 82-5 at one stage.

Mahmudullah made 31 off 26 balls while Soumya chipped in with 29 in Bangladesh's stop-start innings at R Premadasa Stadium.

Mashrafe won the toss and opted to bat first but Bangladesh were rocked by Lasith Malinga's second ball strike.

Making a comeback in international cricket after weeks of injury lay-off, Malinga bowled opener Tamim Iqbal for a duck, though Sri Lanka could not capitalise on the wicket of the visitors' batting mainstay .

Soumya and Sabbir Rahman put on 57 runs for the second wicket to put Bangladesh back on track before a run-out of Sabbir for 16 triggered a Bangladesh collapse and choked the visitors in the middle overs.

Soumya left in the same over before quick dismissals of Mushfiqur Rahim (11) and Shakib Al Hasan (11) threatened to derail Bangladesh completely.

"The way we batted in the first six overs was brilliant, but we lost too many wickets in the middle… we need to be more calculating while batting," Mashrafe said after the match.

Malinga finished with 2-38.

Tharanga praised Malinga for his efforts.

"Malinga is one of the best bowlers in the world," he said.

The second and final match of the series will be held at the same ground on April 6.

The J&K National Conference on April 4 launched a door-to-door campaign and reached out to the Kashmir Pandit community here to seek votes for former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll as NC-Congress alliance candidate.

“National Conference Migrant Cell today launched a door-to-door campaign in support of party nominee from Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency Farooq Abdullah, by urging the people to strengthen secular forces for heralding a lasting peace in Kashmir,” NC Minority Cell President MK Yogi told reporters here.

On the campaign trail along with Provincial Vice President Anil Dhar, former MLC BL Bhat and other migrant leaders, Yogi visited biggest township of KP displaced people in Jagti belt in outskirts of Jammu city and sought votes for Abdullah.

They also criticised the PDP-BJP government for “neglecting” the displaced people, as a result of which their problems continue to accumulate.

He particularly made a reference of the dilapidated condition of tenements in Jagati and suburbs of the Jammu city, alleging the government was unmoved as far as their renovation was concerned.

“J&K National Conference has all along worked for the welfare of displaced people and initiated several measures to make their life comfortable in and outside camps in Jammu and elsewhere in the State,” Dhar said while interacting with the people.

Former MLC Bhat criticised the “lackadaisical attitude” of the coalition government in carrying forward the recruitment drive under the Prime Minister's package.

He said the educated youth were losing their patience, as some of them were turning over-aged.

The NC leaders also sought vote and support for GA Mir from Annantnag parliamentary constituency.

The byelections to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies are to be held on April 9 and April 12, respectively.

In just over a week after the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) launched demand survey for  affordable houses, nearly 41,000 have applied for the same under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) — Housing for All (Urban) Scheme.

A spokesperson of the CHB said so far, more than 4,900 application forms have been received physically in CHB apart from more than 36,000 received online on the PMAY-MIS portal under the scheme.

The scheme is for people belonging to the lower income group and economically weaker sections on a no-profit-no-loss basis.

An annual income of up to Rs.3 lakh has been fixed as the eligibility for applying under the EWS category and annual income between Rs.3 lakh and Rs.6 lakh for the lower income group (LIG) category.

The cost of a flat in the LIG will be from Rs.10 to 15 lakh while it will be half the amount for the EWS category. The period for the submission of the survey form has been extended from March 20 to April 20.

"The households living in urban areas of Chandigarh are eligible to submit demand survey forms for affordable housing in partnership and individual house enhancement provided that they are residents of Chandigarh as on 17.6.2015 having Aadhar Card/Voter Card and having no house/residential plot anywhere in India," the CHB said.