Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his bullet train promise, asking him to hurry up as he will "not get another chance" at the Centre.

Modi, the SP leader said, served as chief minister of Gujarat for three terms but could not get a Metro there.

"We have started Metro train (but) where is your bullet train? It has been three years now since your government came to power, where has that train gone? Please hurry up as you will not get another chance," Akhilesh told an election rally here.

"You have been chief minister of Gujarat three times but could not get a Metro there…we have started its work at three places," he said, hitting back at Modi for his charge that UP lacked development.

Referring to the Prime Minister's remark on mass copying in the state, Akhilesh asked, "Are examinations being held anywhere at this point of time…in BJP-ruled states (too) those who had leaked papers were caught."

"Modiji should tell when then US President Barack Obama had come, whom had he copied and got his suit stitched…we know that there was a rich man who got his name printed on his suit and the same has been done by Modiji," Akhilesh said.

Taking a dig at BJP MP from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath for his remark over electricity supply in the state, Akhilesh said, "There is a 'baba' (the Yogi, who dons saffron robes) in the neighbourhood who has raised questions on power supply…I will only say that 'babaji' you can touch an electric wire and see whether there is power or not," he said amid applause from the crowd.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his bullet train promise, asking him to hurry up as he will "not get another chance" at the Centre.

Modi, the SP leader said, served as chief minister of Gujarat for three terms but could not get a Metro there.

"We have started Metro train (but) where is your bullet train? It has been three years now since your government came to power, where has that train gone? Please hurry up as you will not get another chance," Akhilesh told an election rally here.

"You have been chief minister of Gujarat three times but could not get a Metro there…we have started its work at three places," he said, hitting back at Modi for his charge that UP lacked development.

Referring to the Prime Minister's remark on mass copying in the state, Akhilesh asked, "Are examinations being held anywhere at this point of time…in BJP-ruled states (too) those who had leaked papers were caught."

"Modiji should tell when then US President Barack Obama had come, whom had he copied and got his suit stitched…we know that there was a rich man who got his name printed on his suit and the same has been done by Modiji," Akhilesh said.

Taking a dig at BJP MP from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath for his remark over electricity supply in the state, Akhilesh said, "There is a 'baba' (the Yogi, who dons saffron robes) in the neighbourhood who has raised questions on power supply…I will only say that 'babaji' you can touch an electric wire and see whether there is power or not," he said amid applause from the crowd.

A BJP MP from Karnataka on Monday courted controversy by comparing Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur, whose social media post against the ABVP has gone viral, with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Kaur, the daughter of an Indian Army captain who died in the Kargil war, launched a social media campaign against the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad after last week's violence in Ramjas College.

BJP MP Pratap Simha, who represents Mysuru, on Sunday posted an image on microblogging site Twitter with the pictures of Gurmehar Kaur on one side and Dawood Ibrahim on the other.

In the post Kaur is addressed as a soldier's daughter and is compared with Dawood, who is addressed as the son of a policeman.

Kaur, a student of Lady Shri Ram college, is the daughter of late Captain Mandeep Singh, who was killed during the Kargil war.

In the image the girl is holding a placard "Pakistan did not kill my dad, war killed him" while Dawood is seen holding a notice which reads "I didn't kill people in 1993, bombs killed them."

The post also has a caption which reads "At least Dawood did not use the crutches of his father's name to justify his anti-national stand".

Clashes erupted between activists of the All India Students Association (AISA) and the RSS' student wing ABVP outside Ramjas College here last week, a day after the ABVP forced suspension of an event to be addressed by JNU student Umar Khalid.
 

A BJP MP from Karnataka on Monday courted controversy by comparing Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur, whose social media post against the ABVP has gone viral, with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Kaur, the daughter of an Indian Army captain who died in the Kargil war, launched a social media campaign against the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad after last week's violence in Ramjas College.

BJP MP Pratap Simha, who represents Mysuru, on Sunday posted an image on microblogging site Twitter with the pictures of Gurmehar Kaur on one side and Dawood Ibrahim on the other.

In the post Kaur is addressed as a soldier's daughter and is compared with Dawood, who is addressed as the son of a policeman.

Kaur, a student of Lady Shri Ram college, is the daughter of late Captain Mandeep Singh, who was killed during the Kargil war.

In the image the girl is holding a placard "Pakistan did not kill my dad, war killed him" while Dawood is seen holding a notice which reads "I didn't kill people in 1993, bombs killed them."

The post also has a caption which reads "At least Dawood did not use the crutches of his father's name to justify his anti-national stand".

Clashes erupted between activists of the All India Students Association (AISA) and the RSS' student wing ABVP outside Ramjas College here last week, a day after the ABVP forced suspension of an event to be addressed by JNU student Umar Khalid.
 

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday said his country is not a threat to any other country.

"Afghanistan is an independent country and will remain so for hundreds of years to come," Ghani said here.

"Those who want to change Afghanistan into a battle field will take their wishes to the grave with them."

The President also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the security forces and said: "Mawlawi Salam, [Taliban's shadow governor for Kunduz] and his fighters were eliminated in Kunduz because of you."

"Terrorists do not have the ability to face Afghan security forces," he said.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday said his country is not a threat to any other country.

"Afghanistan is an independent country and will remain so for hundreds of years to come," Ghani said here.

"Those who want to change Afghanistan into a battle field will take their wishes to the grave with them."

The President also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the security forces and said: "Mawlawi Salam, [Taliban's shadow governor for Kunduz] and his fighters were eliminated in Kunduz because of you."

"Terrorists do not have the ability to face Afghan security forces," he said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of trivializing the charges made against his government.

Addressing the media here, the minister also expressed his pain over the use of objectionable language by opposition leaders for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the election campaign.

"I am very hurt due to the objectionable words used for the Prime Minister," he said.

Responding to Akhilesh Yadav's claim that his government had ushered in unprecedented development in the past five years, Rajnath Singh said such claims were farcical.

"Akhilesh talks of one road repeatedly whereas we have made 10 times more roads and plan to touch 25,000 km of road per year by 2017-18," he said.

He said the four-lane and six-lane roads were taken up on war footing by the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Akhilesh Yadav "often speaks of the Lucknow Metro… Little does he know that of the total amount spent, 80 per cent was contributed by the government of India", Rajnath Singh said. 

Eight modern highways have also been built by the central government, he said.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also detailed the welfare schemes rolled out by the Modi government.

Rajnath Singh said the people of Uttar Pradesh were tired of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party and had made up their minds to vote for a BJP government in the state.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of trivializing the charges made against his government.

Addressing the media here, the minister also expressed his pain over the use of objectionable language by opposition leaders for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the election campaign.

"I am very hurt due to the objectionable words used for the Prime Minister," he said.

Responding to Akhilesh Yadav's claim that his government had ushered in unprecedented development in the past five years, Rajnath Singh said such claims were farcical.

"Akhilesh talks of one road repeatedly whereas we have made 10 times more roads and plan to touch 25,000 km of road per year by 2017-18," he said.

He said the four-lane and six-lane roads were taken up on war footing by the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Akhilesh Yadav "often speaks of the Lucknow Metro… Little does he know that of the total amount spent, 80 per cent was contributed by the government of India", Rajnath Singh said. 

Eight modern highways have also been built by the central government, he said.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also detailed the welfare schemes rolled out by the Modi government.

Rajnath Singh said the people of Uttar Pradesh were tired of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party and had made up their minds to vote for a BJP government in the state.

Eat plenty of fruits. Fruits are good for health. These are things that has been repeatedly told for ages. And, you have been told about their benefit. Now, eat fruits with their skin. It may sound weird. But new findings states that the skin of fruits preserves nutritional concentration and makes your meal more filling. They can keep your heart and brain healthy and your waistline perfect.

You may not like to become a complete raw food eater, but you may at least incorporate few raw fruits with their peel in your diet. It can prove healthier than you can imagine. Check out some flavourful fruits that will add a kick to your health if eaten with their outer skin.

Orange and Grape Fruit: These sweet, juicy and jelly like fruits are nutritional powerhouse, full of vitamin C and dietary fibre. Their skin is a great way to get nutrients without elevating unsaturated fats and calories. It is a pack of riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Containing twice the amount of vitamin C as contained in the fleshy inside part, they have anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. To eat the peel raw is difficult. So, you may grate it and sprinkle on top of your salads, yogurt preparations, ice-creams, puddings and chocolates.

Apple: The hard, sweet and juicy fruit packed up with dietary fibre with vitamin K in the skin makes this fruit more than just a burst of flavour in every crunchy bite. Antioxidants in the skin protect lungs and memory. It also contains certain cancer killing compounds that work throughout the body. Peeling it off means losing half of the dietary fibre, most of the vitamin K content and one-third of the other fruit nutrients.

Mango: Its peel has more carotenoids, polyphenols, omega-3, omega-6 and polyunsaturated fatty acids than its flesh. It has the compounds that fight cancer, diabetes and heart problems. The skin can be eaten raw in the form of pickle. Otherwise, you may cook them in a tasty way and eat to absorb all its blissful doles.

Kiwi: The hairy skin is one’s beyond imagination. It is full of flavonoids, antioxidants and vitamin C. More nutritious than inside, it should be eaten whole with the outer skin.

Pear: The peel of this fruit is full of valuable nutrients and dietary fibre. Enriched with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, eat it without peeling to improve health.

Plums: The skin is a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants. It is of immense benefit in curing digestive problems and relieving constipation.

Cheeku: Enriched with vitamins, the skin of cheeku maintains the health of mucus lining. It has a good pack of iron, folate, potassium and pantothenic acid that leads to proper functioning of the digestive system.

We eat too much unhealthy food every day. To compensate, eating few fruits with their peel is perfect to clean out harmful compounds from your body leading to better detoxification. It will help will boost the immune system and keep you in good shape. After few days, you will fit into your skinny jeans easily. Swap the plate of peeled fruits for crunchy unpeeled fruits.

Snapping six-session winning streak amid weak Asian markets and profit booking, Indian equity markets closed Monday’s trading session with marginal declines. The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended 80 points down at 28,813 and the Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed 43 points lower at 8,897.

However broader markets closed in the positive zone. BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices rose around 0.1 per cent each.

Among the BSE sectoral indices, Oil & Gas index jumped the most, up 0.7 per cent, while Telecom index became the top loser, down 2.8 per cent.

On Thursday, the Sensex had closed 28 points up at 28,893 and the Nifty had closed 13 points higher at 8,940. Domestic equity markets were closed on Friday on account of Mahashivratri holiday.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Reliance Industries (up 4.7 per cent), HUL (up 1 per cent), Wipro (up 0.8 per cent), Lupin (up 0.7 per cent) and Coal India (up 0.5 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: Axis Bank (down 3.6 per cent), Power Grid (down 3.1 per cent), Bharti Airtel (down 2.6 per cent), ICICI Bank (down 2 per cent), and Maruti Suzuki (down 1.4 per cent).

Meanwhile, the Rupee was trading 10 paise higher at 66.72 against the US Dollar.

Citing legal provisions that bars a convict from exercising the right to vote, former AIADMK Member of Parliament KC Palaniswamy on Monday urged the Election Commission to disqualify VK Sasikala as party General Secretary.

Former Chief Election Commissioner TS Krishnamurthy said that law has to prevent convicts from holding party posts to ensure probity in public life.

"Section 62(5) of The Representation of People Act, 1951 clearly bars a convict from voting in any election in India. The right to vote is the basic democratic right in India," Palaniswamy, former MP and AIADMK member, told IANS here on Monday.

Section 62(5) of the Representation of People Act reads as follows: "No person shall vote at any election if he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise, or is in the lawful custody of the police:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a person subjected to preventive detention under any law for the time being in force."

Palaniswamy said the law is clear that a convict does not have a voting right.

"As a logical corollary a person whose basic democratic right is cancelled should not be allowed to participate in the democratic process as a leader of a political party," Palaniswamy argued.

He said AIADMK's interim General Secretary Sasikala is convicted for four years in a corruption case.

"In AIAMDK it is the General Secretary who authorises party candidates and allots the party symbol to them to fight elections. Further it is the General Secretary who issues the directions to the party Whip as to how the party legislators have to vote in the assembly or in the Parliament," Palaniswamy said.

"How can a person who is legally barred from participating in the basic democratic process – voting in an election – indirectly take charge of a political party," Palaniswamy argued.

Asked for his comments, former Chief Election Commissioner Krishnamurthy told IANS: "Section 11A and Section 65 of the Representation of People Act prevent a convicted person in respect of certain offences from voting in election to Parliament/State Assembly but such persons are not disqualified from holding positions in a political party."

"Time has indeed come for law to prevent such persons holding party posts to ensure probity in public life," Krishnamurthy added.

"Hence keeping the Representative of Peoples Act in mind the Election Commission should act swiftly to declare that such convicts and disqualified persons cannot hold any post in the political parties which may include the primary membership. This will set a precedence in the electoral reforms to a greater extent," Palaniswamy said.

Palaniswamy said he has sent an additional representation to the Election Commission.

This follows his petition sent in January 2017 in which he had urged the poll panel to appoint an independent and fearless officer to conduct the election for the post of General Secretary of AIADMK, restrain the present office bearers from being removed or replaced, so as to ensure a level playing field, till the holding of elections, and sought that direction be given to the present office bearers not to alienate or fritter away the assets of the party other than those necessary for the regular expenses of the party and not to decide on any policy decisions till the elections are over, including expulsion of any member of the party.

He also sought that the appointment of Sasikala as "interim general secretary", on December 29 last year, not be recognised.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Union government is undertaking measures for welfare of famers and the aim is to double their income by 2022.

“We are undertaking measures for welfare of our farmer brothers and sisters,” Modi said in a rally in Mau (Uttar Pradesh), adding, “We want their incomes to double by 2022”.

Explaining the meaning of development, Modi said, “Our focus is on development” and “development means — irrigation facilities for farmers, education facilities for children, employment for youth and healthcare facilities for elder”.

“Our fight is for protecting the rights of the poor. Few would try to create obstacles in the way. But our fight would keep on going,” he added.

Meanwhile, attacking the Samajwadi Party (SP) for poor power supply in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Modi said, “Centre allotted funds for 24X7 power supply in UP. But what stops the SP government from utilising those funds”.

“Why SP government doesn't care about the farmers in Utar Pradesh? Why they are not helping farmers in distress,” the prime minister asked.

Besides, luring the UP electorate, Modi asked people to vote for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if they want the state to get developed.

“Development is UP’s first need and BJP can fulfill this need,” Modi said,” adding, “The small farmers’ loan will be waived once the BJP government comes to power in the state”.

Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his remarks amid the DU row and asked whether he was leading an "alliance of subversion" when he was the DUSU president in 1975.

Jaitley had said on Saturday that there was an "alliance of subversion" on certain Indian campuses and that the ultra-Left and separatists were speaking the same language.

"When Mr Jaitley was President of DUSU in 1975, was he heading an 'Alliance of Subversion'?" the former finance minister said in a tweet.

They must also allow others with different opinions to speak, he said while delivering a talk at London School of Economics.

The minister said it was his personal belief that "free speech" in society needs to be debated, adding that "violence is however not the method".

His comments came amidst the ongoing row over the clashes between Left-affiliated AISA and the RSS-backed ABVP in Delhi University's North Campus.

Tension prevailed in the North Campus in the wake of Wednesday's incident even as members of students' groups protested at many places, including at the Delhi Police headquarters, seeking action against the ABVP members.

Jaitley was the president of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) in 1974-75.

South Korea's spy agency said on Monday that the North Korean government was behind the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, adding that those involved worked for the country's foreign ministry and spy body.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said four of the eight suspects behind the murder worked for Pyongyang's Ministry of State Security, with two others being from the foreign ministry, Yonhap reported. 

The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was killed earlier this month after a suspected poisoning while on his way to catch a flight to Macau from the Kuala Lumpur Airport. Malaysia said an autopsy showed he was poisoned with VX nerve agent and died within 20 minutes. 

However, North Korea has not acknowledged the death yet. 

The South Korean spy agency also provided lawmakers with various updates on developments taking place in Pyongyang.

The NIS said North Korea is prepared to conduct nuclear tests anytime. It said the No.2 tunnel at the North's nuclear test site in Punggye-ri was maintained throughout the winter, and that the No.3 tunnel can be used to conduct a nuke test if the country's leadership gives the order.

North Korea is also presumed to have produced 10 kg of plutonium at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, and its reprocessing is expected to improve by the end of this year, it added.

Hundreds gathered in Kansas city for a peace march and prayer vigil for slain Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla and two other victims of a US bar shooting.

Alok Madasani, the Indian injured in an apparent hate crime last week, attended the march for peace and a prayer meeting at the Ball Conference Centre in Olathe on Sunday, reported Kansas City Star newspaper. 

The vigil was sponsored by the India Association of Kansas City.

"I wish it was a dream," Madasani said of the Austins Bar & Grill shooting that left Kuchibhotla dead. 

American Ian Grillot was also shot when he tried to intervene. He is still in a hospital. 

Adam W. Purinton, 51, a former US Navy veteran, is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder. 

Purinton reportedly got into an argument with the victims and hurled racial slurs. He yelled "Get out of my country" and "terrorist" before shooting them.

"One thing I really want to emphasise is, the main reason I am here is that's what my best friend, Srinivas, would have done," Madasani told the gathering. 

"He would have been here for me, and that's what I'm doing right now."

Kuchibhotla and Madasani worked as engineers at electronics manufacturer Garmin. 

"What happened that night was a senseless crime and that took away my best friend," Madasani said of the man who befriended him in 2008. 

"Srini was the kindest person you would meet, full of love, care and compassion for everyone. 

He never uttered a word of hatred, a simple gossip, or a careless comment. He would always make sure everyone is doing fine and taken good care."

Ian Grillot's sister Maggie also attended the march and the prayer meeting. She said her brother's actions were because of how they were raised. 

"It doesn't matter what your colour is… Everybody's equal," she said. 

The vigil followed a somber march outside around the conference centre.

Marchers held pictures, banners and shouted "We want peace", "We love peace", "Let us not leave our children", "Unity is part of community, together we stand, divided we fall" and "Hate + guns = tragedy". 

Many carried candles and signs reading, "We don't support politics of hate." Clergypeople representing Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Judaism held peace prayers, local TV station KSHB reported.

Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland, Olathe Police Chief Steve Menke, Kansas state Senator Rob Olson, US Rep. Kevin Yoder and Kansas Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer also spoke about union and respect at the vigil.

Series: Star Wars Rebels

Director: Saul Ruiz

Cast: Taylor Gray, Freddie Prinze Jr, David Oyelowo, Tom Kane, Lars Mikkelsen and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn

As we get closer to the season final of Star Wars Rebels (SWR), the episodes seem to be progressively improving and we sure aren't complaining!

Through Imperial Eyes, as the title suggests, puts the spotlight back on Imperial Agent Kallus aka Agent Fulcrum and amps up the tension from the very first scene.

Ezra gets himself captured to by the Empire to rescue Fulcrum, as the Rebels feel his transmissions are being monitored and he is on the verge of being caught (Finally!). Only to find as usual, that there is a certain complication or rather two, namely Colonel Yularen and Grand Admiral Thrawn.

The two Imperial officers, among the most respected in the Imperial fleet, together on a ship raises eyebrows and you may even ask, it is overkill? 

Well, not if you have zeroed down on a traitor who has been feeding the enemy information for months to a scant few candidates. And as the game of cat and mouse mounts, the stakes are high as both the Empire and the Rebellion have a lot invested in the double agent.

So who is it?

Well of course, we know who it is, but the Imperials don’t and even as Kallus conspires to implicate his easily-prodded colleague, his childishly-simple plot seems to have momentarily fooled the Yularen and Thrawn. At that time it is hard to not be sceptical off the officers' abilities as they seem to have been thrown off the scent.

And thankfully, they aren't. 
The episode ends on an extremely interesting note as Kallus is now aware of the location of the Rebel base and by choosing to stay undercover, may just end up scuppering the Rebellion’s plans unknowingly.

For Thrawn is all-knowing and those crimson eyes see everything. One doesn't become Grand Admiral by fawning in front of the Emperor and if his past exploits are anything to go by, the Ghost crew and the rest of the Rebellion better batten down the hatches.

The challenge for SWR is that the series doesn't get sidetracked in the remaining episodes of season three and follows Through Imperial Eyes up with a satisfying conclusion in the weeks ahead.

French tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the Open 13, defeating his countryman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4 in the summit clash here.

Sunday's final saw Tsonga's ninth victory in a row, with the match lasting 69 minutes, reports Efe.

Tsonga executed seven aces against Pouille and managed to maintain his serve without a break.

The 31-year-old Frenchman had won the same competition twice before (in 2009 and 2013), while Sunday's title marks the 14th in his career, which has yet to feature a Grand Slam title.