In the wake of a setback in the Odisha panchayat elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said the performance of the ruling BJD will be reviewed diligently and correctives applied in both the party and government.

"Though they (people) are generally happy with our performance, they want us to do some course correction. They have given us a golden opportunity for serious introspection and want us to perform and deliver even better," the Chief Minister said.

He said the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) did well in most districts, with less-than-expected performance in some.

"We shall work harder, get more re-connected with the people to fulfil their expectations. I am confident that the Biju Janata Dal will return to office in 2019 with a thumping majority by virtue of our good work," he said.

The Chief Minister congratulated all newly-elected members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and urged them to work hard for public welfare, in improving governance processes and strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The BJD has emerged victorious in 473 of the 846 Zila Parishad zones, the results of which were declared by the state Election Commission on Sunday.

The BJD ceded about 178 seats in panchayat elections compared with 2012 polls. The BJD had won 651 of the 853 seats last time.

On the other hand, the BJP won 297 seats compared with just 36 seats in 2012. The Congress, which won 128 zones last time, has been relegated to the third spot with only 60 seats.
 

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) remained in the title race with a 5-1 away victory over Marseille, while Saint-Etienne suffered their fourth straight loss after being shocked 0-1 by Caen in the 27th round of the French Ligue 1 football tournament.

PSG maintained their second position with 59 points from 27 matches, three points adrift of league leaders Monaco, while leading Nice on goal difference, reports Xinhua news agency.

The reigning champions took the lead six minutes into the game on Sunday evening, when their Brazilian centre back duo of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos spectacularly combined with a heading combination, before the latter finished on target.

In the 16th minute, Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani netted his 26th goal of the campaign off Javier Pastore's pass outside the box, followed by Lucas Moura and Julian Draxler's goals early in the second half.

After Marseille defender Rod Fanni scored a consolation goal in the 70th minute, Blaise Matuidi steered PSG's fifth goal into the top corner three minutes later, capping off a scoring frenzy for the defending champions.

Crashing out at the Europa League last 32 with a 0-4 aggregate defeat to Manchester United, Saint-Etienne could not return to winning ways in the domestic league.

They were one goal down in the 33rd minute against relegation-threatened Caen, as Vincent Bessat's pass from the left found Rodelin, who headed the ball into the far corner.

Caen nearly doubled their lead in the second half, but Jonathan Delaplace's shot was denied by the bar. 

As Saint-Etienne pressed forward in search of the equaliser, their empty defence was almost taken advantage of by the visitors when substitute Yann Karamoh's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.

Former Ligue 1 champion Olympique Lyon continued their recent momentum after scoring a total of 11 goals over two legs against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League round of 32.

Memphis Depay, who joined from Manchester United during the winter transfer window, nailed his first brace in the French league before Ivan Balliu's own goal, Lacazette's 22nd league goal of the season and Mathieu Valbuena's strike added to a 5-0 win against FC Metz.

Lyon are currently at the fourth position with 46 points from 26 games, four points ahead of Bordeaux.

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh has lashed out at the right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Janata Party (ABVP) for its shameful and despicable rape threat against the Delhi University student who had taken up cudgels against the student body over the recent violence at Ramjas College.

Reacting strongly to the allegation of Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Kargil martyr Captain Mandeep Singh, that she had been receiving threats of rape and violence following her heroic stand on the Ramjas College incident, Captain Amarinder said that the ABVP and its mentors should be ashamed of their abominable behaviour.

“The girl’s father laid down his life for the country during the Kargil war and she is now being victimised for her legitimate act,” Amarinder said, condemning the alleged ABVP threat as shocking display of total lack of nationalism and patriotism on the part of the student wing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Expressing shock at the brazenness of the ABVP, which had indulged in unprovoked and rampant violence against students and teachers of Ramjas College, the Congress chief ministerial candidate said that the reported threat now being issued against Gurmehar by the student organisation reflects total disregard for the law of the country.

The failure of the Delhi Police to take action against the ABVP goondas who had unleashed the unprovoked violence at Ramjas College on February 22 has clearly encouraged them to issue such heinous threats, said Captain Amarinder, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and a ban on the organisation to prevent the further travesty of the law.

Not only does the organisation have no respect for women, as is evident from their alleged threat against Gurmehar, but their shocking defiance of the law shows that it is no longer a genuine student body working for the welfare of students, said Captain Amarinder.

He warned that failure to crack down on the organization would encourage more such anti-social elements to take the law in their hands, which could lead to total breakdown of the law and order situation in the country.

In the wake of the Ramjas College incident, Gurmehar had changed her Facebook profile picture holding a placard which read “I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me. #StudentsAgainstABVP”. The reported ABVP threat came even as her profile picture went viral and evoked humungous response on the social media.

Mars' mantle may be more complicated than previously thought, say scientists who have studied the geochemical changes over time in the lava flows of a major volcanic province on the red planet.

Scientists at Louisiana State University (LSU) in the US found that the unusual chemistry of lava flows around the volcanic province Elysium is consistent with primary magmatic processes.

Elysium is a giant volcanic complex on Mars, the second largest behind Olympic Mons. It rises to twice the height of Earth's Mount Everest, or about 16 kilometres.

Elysium is unique among martian volcanoes. It is isolated in the northern lowlands of the planet, whereas most other volcanic complexes on Mars cluster in the ancient southern highlands.

Elysium also has patches of lava flows that are remarkably young for a planet often considered geologically silent.

"Most of the volcanic features we look at on Mars are in the range of three to four billion years old," said David Susko, a graduate researcher at LSU.

"There are some patches of lava flows on Elysium that we estimate to be three to four million years old, so three orders of magnitude younger. In geologic timescales, three million years ago is like yesterday," said Susko.

The research shows that the composition of volcanoes on Mars may evolve over their eruptive history.

Earlier research found that particular regions of Elysium and the surrounding shallow subsurface of Mars are geochemically anomalous, strange even relative to other volcanic regions on Mars.

Researchers started to piece together the geologic history of Elysium, an expansive volcanic region on Mars characterised by strange chemistry.

They sought to uncover why some of Elysium's lava flows are so geochemically unusual, or why they have such low levels of thorium and potassium.

Perhaps the mantle has changed over time, meaning that more recent volcanic eruption flows differ chemically from older ones.

If so, Susko could use Elysium's geochemical properties to study how Mars' bulk mantle has evolved over geologic time, with important insights for future missions to Mars.

Understanding the evolutionary history of Mars' mantle could help researchers gain a better understanding of what kinds of valuable ores and other materials could be found in the crust, as well as whether volcanic hazards could unexpectedly threaten human missions to Mars in the near future.

Mars' mantle likely has a very different history than Earth's mantle because the plate tectonics on Earth are absent on Mars as far as researchers know. The history of the bulk interior of the red planet also remains a mystery.

The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The response given by the Finance Ministry on an RBI report about the introduction of Sharia banking in India cannot be disclosed, the central bank has said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was asked to give the copy of the letter sent to it by the ministry on the recommendation of its Inter Departmental Group (IDG) regarding Islamic banking.

The central bank had sought response from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the finance minister whether their letter can be disclosed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

"In this regard we have been advised by the DFS, Government of India that the letter is exempt under Section 8 (1) (c)," the RBI said in response to an RTI application filed by PTI.

The Section bars disclosure of information "which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the state legislature".

Islamic or Sharia banking is a finance system based on the principles of not charging interest, which is prohibited under Islam.

The RBI had earlier proposed opening of "Islamic window" in conventional banks for gradual introduction of Sharia- compliant or interest-free banking in the country.

"In our considered opinion, given the complexities of Islamic finance and various regulatory and supervisory challenges involved in the matter and also due to the fact that Indian banks have no experience in this field, Islamic banking may be introduced in India in a gradual manner.

"Initially, a few simple products which are similar to conventional banking products may be considered for introduction through Islamic window of the conventional banks after necessary notification by the government," the RBI had told the Finance Ministry in a letter, copy of which was received in response to the RTI query.

The central bank's proposal is based on examination of legal, technical and regulatory issues regarding feasibility of introducing Islamic banking in India on the basis of recommendation of the IDG.

The RBI had in February last year sent a copy of the IDG to the Finance Ministry.

In late 2008, a committee on Financial Sector Reforms, headed by former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, had opined the need for a closer look at the issue of interest-free banking in the country.

"Certain faiths prohibit the use of financial instruments that pay interest. The non-availability of interest-free banking products results in some Indians, including those in the economically disadvantaged strata of society, not being able to access banking products and services due to reasons of faith," the committee had said.

"This non-availability also denies the country access to substantial sources of savings from other countries in the region," it added.

US Press Secretary Sean Spicer has launched a crackdown on leaks to the media, with increased security measures that include random phone checks of the White House staff.

The crackdown comes after a week in which President Donald Trump strongly criticized the media for using unnamed sources in stories and expressed growing frustration with the unauthorised sharing of information by individuals in his administration, the Politico daily reported on Sunday.

Last week, after Spicer became aware that information had leaked out of a planning meeting with his communications staffers, he reconvened the group in his office to express his frustration.

Upon entering Spicer's office, the staffers were told to dump their phones on a table for a "phone check" to prove they had nothing to hide.

There, he explicitly warned staffers that using texting apps like Confide – an encrypted and screenshot-protected messaging app that automatically deletes texts after they are sent – and Signal, another encrypted messaging system, was a violation of the Presidential Records Act, the report said.

Within the communications office, the mood has grown tense, the daily said.

Spicer has harshly criticised some of the work Deputy Communications Director Jessica Ditto had done, causing her to cry, according to two people familiar with the incident.

"The only time Jessica recalls almost getting emotional is when we had to relay the information on the death of Chief Ryan Owens," Spicer said, referring to the navy serviceman killed in Yemen.

On Friday, Trump called the media the "enemy of the American people" during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in which he railed against journalists for using anonymous sources.

Later on Friday, Spicer blocked certain media, including CNN, The New York Times, BuzzFeed and Politico, from attending an off-camera press briefing in his office.

On Saturday, Trump said he would not attend the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington.

Requesting the Uttar Pradesh (UP) electorate to vote in large numbers for the fifth phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party is capable of winning majority in the state.

“Today (Monday) is fifth phase of UP elections is happening and I request all the voters to vote in this festival of democracy,” Modi said, adding, “We are capable of winning majority on our own, but small parties in alliance with us will get representation in the Cabinet”.

“India is scaling newer heights of progress. It is due to the 125 crore Indians. UP too can develop. It needs a stable BJP Government,” Modi said during an election rally in Mau (Uttar Pradesh).

Modi said that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) know the strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and that is why they don’t want the BJP to get a clear majority.

“SP, BSP are well aware that they'd be defeated in these elections. And, now they are creating an environment that no party gets majority,” Modi said.

“As the elections are progressing, people of Uttar Pradesh have made up their minds to support the BJP,” he added.

Meanwhile, asking the nation to use digital facilities and promote cashless economy, Modi said, “I call upon the people of India to download the BHIM App & get 125 more people to download the App by 14th April, Dr. Ambedkar’s Jayanti”.

The fifth phase polling for the 51 Assembly constituencies was being helfd on Monday in over 11 districts of the state.

A total of 54 crorepati candidates are in the fray for the first phase of Manipur Assembly elections to be held on March 4, while 8 have declared criminal cases against themselves, as per a latest report.

Manipur Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 167 candidates from 17 political parties, including 6 national parties, 5 state parties, 6 unrecognised parties and 14 independent candidates who are contesting in the first phase of Manipur Assembly elections.

Out of the 167 candidates, 54 are crorepatis, it said.

Among party wise crorepati candidates, 21 out of 37 from INC, 21 of 38 from BJP, 5 of 12 from National Peoples Party, 2 of 8 from North East India Development Party and 2 of 6 from NCP have declared assets worth more than Rs.1 crore, Delhi-based ADR said in a report released on Monday.

The average assets per candidate contesting in the first phase of Manipur polls is Rs.1.04 crore.

Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 37 INC candidates is Rs.1.73 crore, 38 BJP candidates (Rs.1.49 crore), 12 National Peoples Party candidates (Rs.1.06 crore), 10 AITC candidates (Rs.32.74 lakh), 6 NCP candidates (Rs.58.74 lakh) and 14 Independent candidates (Rs.26.36 lakh).

The three richest candidates contesting in the first phase of Manipur Assembly Elections are Sehpu Haokip of Naga Peoples Front with total assets of over Rs.13 crore, followed by Konthoujam Krishnakumar of BJP (over Rs.9 crore) and Kshetrimayum Biren Singh of INC (over Rs.8 crore), the report by the think-tank said.

A total of nine candidates have not declared their PAN details. The top three candidates with highest income are Kshetrimayum Biren Singh of INC with total income of over Rs.2 crore followed by Khundrakpam Bhabeshwar of LJP (over Rs.28 lakh) and Konthoujam Govindas also from INC (over Rs.27 lakh), it said.

The report further said that out of 167 candidates analysed, 8 have declared criminal cases against themselves.

There are 3 candidates who have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to attempt to murder, cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property etc.

Among party wise candidates with criminal cases, 4 of 38 candidates from BJP, 2 of 37 candidates from Indian National Congress, 1 of 10 candidates from Manipur National Democratic Front and 1 of 6 candidates from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, it added.

On the education details of candidates the report said, 38 have declared their qualification to be between 5th and 12th, while 124 have declared having a qualification of graduate or above and one candidate is illiterate.

A total of 72 candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years, while 95 between 51 and 80 years.

In the first phase of Manipur Assembly election this year, 7 female candidates are contesting.

A total of 54 crorepati candidates are in the fray for the first phase of Manipur Assembly elections to be held on March 4, while 8 have declared criminal cases against themselves, as per a latest report.

Manipur Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 167 candidates from 17 political parties, including 6 national parties, 5 state parties, 6 unrecognised parties and 14 independent candidates who are contesting in the first phase of Manipur Assembly elections.

Out of the 167 candidates, 54 are crorepatis, it said.

Among party wise crorepati candidates, 21 out of 37 from INC, 21 of 38 from BJP, 5 of 12 from National Peoples Party, 2 of 8 from North East India Development Party and 2 of 6 from NCP have declared assets worth more than Rs.1 crore, Delhi-based ADR said in a report released on Monday.

The average assets per candidate contesting in the first phase of Manipur polls is Rs.1.04 crore.

Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 37 INC candidates is Rs.1.73 crore, 38 BJP candidates (Rs.1.49 crore), 12 National Peoples Party candidates (Rs.1.06 crore), 10 AITC candidates (Rs.32.74 lakh), 6 NCP candidates (Rs.58.74 lakh) and 14 Independent candidates (Rs.26.36 lakh).

The three richest candidates contesting in the first phase of Manipur Assembly Elections are Sehpu Haokip of Naga Peoples Front with total assets of over Rs.13 crore, followed by Konthoujam Krishnakumar of BJP (over Rs.9 crore) and Kshetrimayum Biren Singh of INC (over Rs.8 crore), the report by the think-tank said.

A total of nine candidates have not declared their PAN details. The top three candidates with highest income are Kshetrimayum Biren Singh of INC with total income of over Rs.2 crore followed by Khundrakpam Bhabeshwar of LJP (over Rs.28 lakh) and Konthoujam Govindas also from INC (over Rs.27 lakh), it said.

The report further said that out of 167 candidates analysed, 8 have declared criminal cases against themselves.

There are 3 candidates who have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to attempt to murder, cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property etc.

Among party wise candidates with criminal cases, 4 of 38 candidates from BJP, 2 of 37 candidates from Indian National Congress, 1 of 10 candidates from Manipur National Democratic Front and 1 of 6 candidates from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, it added.

On the education details of candidates the report said, 38 have declared their qualification to be between 5th and 12th, while 124 have declared having a qualification of graduate or above and one candidate is illiterate.

A total of 72 candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years, while 95 between 51 and 80 years.

In the first phase of Manipur Assembly election this year, 7 female candidates are contesting.

A book on 50 years of The Statesman vintage car rally titled The Statesman 50 Classic Years of Vintage Glory was launched at the grand event of The Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally event here.

The book with a classic feel and look – The Statesman 50 Classic Years of Vintage Glory – was released by Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Judge, International Court of Justice, at the event on Sunday that witnessed an impressive number of participants and visitors.

Photographed and curated by photographer Varun Joshi, the book highlights the age-old charm and glorious 50 years of the vintage car rally. Of heritage and nostalgia, classic and sublime, the book is a delight for all car lovers.

RP Gupta, Chairman, and Ravindra Kumar, Editor and Managing Director of The Statesman were also present at the book release function.

The 51st edition of the rally was graced by Commissioner of Delhi Police Amulya Kumar Patnaik as the chief guest. It was flagged off by Naresh Kumar, NDMC chairman,from Statesman House, Barakhamba Road.

There were over 100 participants this year. John Morris, the 1914 fire engine, was the main centre of attraction at the rally.

The Statesman vintage car rally first began in Delhi in the year 1964, titled: The Statesman Vintage Car Rally. Following its huge success, it was brought to Kolkata in 1968, and later it was renamed The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally. Since then, the event is being held every year in New Delhi and Kolkata around this time of the year. This year's Kolkata edition was held on 28 January.

A book on 50 years of The Statesman vintage car rally titled The Statesman 50 Classic Years of Vintage Glory was launched at the grand event of The Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally event here.

The book with a classic feel and look – The Statesman 50 Classic Years of Vintage Glory – was released by Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Judge, International Court of Justice, at the event on Sunday that witnessed an impressive number of participants and visitors.

Photographed and curated by photographer Varun Joshi, the book highlights the age-old charm and glorious 50 years of the vintage car rally. Of heritage and nostalgia, classic and sublime, the book is a delight for all car lovers.

RP Gupta, Chairman, and Ravindra Kumar, Editor and Managing Director of The Statesman were also present at the book release function.

The 51st edition of the rally was graced by Commissioner of Delhi Police Amulya Kumar Patnaik as the chief guest. It was flagged off by Naresh Kumar, NDMC chairman,from Statesman House, Barakhamba Road.

There were over 100 participants this year. John Morris, the 1914 fire engine, was the main centre of attraction at the rally.

The Statesman vintage car rally first began in Delhi in the year 1964, titled: The Statesman Vintage Car Rally. Following its huge success, it was brought to Kolkata in 1968, and later it was renamed The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally. Since then, the event is being held every year in New Delhi and Kolkata around this time of the year. This year's Kolkata edition was held on 28 January.

As the recent violence that hit Ramjas College created hue and cry in the Delhi University, protests refuse to die down. The Akhil Bharatoya Janata Party (ABVP) on Monday carried out ‘Tiranga march’ in the capital city.

The protest march started from Ramjas College parking to the Faculty of Arts. The ABVP members said they will be protesting against Left student groups for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities.

Ramjas College on February 22 witnessed violent clashes between members of the ABVP and the All India Students Association (AISA). The ABVP carried out the protest against an event invite to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid, accused in sedition case last year for an event in the college.

Professors and students of the college were injured during the clashes.

A Delhi University student whose social media campaign against ABVP went viral alleged on Sunday to have received “rape threats”.

Lady Sri Ram College student Gurmehar Kaur, a Kargil martyr’s daughter on the day of clashes, posted in Facebook: “I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me. #StudentsAgainstABVP.”

As the recent violence that hit Ramjas College created hue and cry in the Delhi University, protests refuse to die down. The Akhil Bharatoya Janata Party (ABVP) on Monday carried out ‘Tiranga march’ in the capital city.

The protest march started from Ramjas College parking to the Faculty of Arts. The ABVP members said they will be protesting against Left student groups for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities.

Ramjas College on February 22 witnessed violent clashes between members of the ABVP and the All India Students Association (AISA). The ABVP carried out the protest against an event invite to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid, accused in sedition case last year for an event in the college.

Professors and students of the college were injured during the clashes.

A Delhi University student whose social media campaign against ABVP went viral alleged on Sunday to have received “rape threats”.

Lady Sri Ram College student Gurmehar Kaur, a Kargil martyr’s daughter on the day of clashes, posted in Facebook: “I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me. #StudentsAgainstABVP.”

Leaders of Haryana's INLD were ordered to be released by a court in Punjab's Rajpura town on Monday.

Those released included INLD Secretary General Abhay Chautala, state INLD President Ashok Arora, two MPs, 18 legislators and 73 others.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leaders were produced in the court in Rajpura, 45 km from here.

"There was no threat from the INLD leaders to law and order in Punjab. So it was decided they could be released," Patiala range Deputy Inspector General Ashish Chaudhary said.

The INLD leaders were taken in different vehicles and escorted out of Punjab's boundary with Haryana.

The INLD leaders were arrested on February 23 following a protest over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and water sharing issue between Punjab and Haryana.

The INLD leaders had remained in Patiala jail since February 23. They had refused to seek bail.

"The Punjab government was forced to release us," Chautala told the media after the release.

He said the INLD will wait till March 15 for Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take an all-party delegation from Haryana to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the SYL canal issue.

"If he (Khattar) fails to get the appointment, the INLD will protest outside Parliament to raise the issue," Chautala said.

With the Haryana Assembly budget session beginning on Monday, the INLD leadership is trying to make the most of its stand on the SYL canal issue and the arrest of its leadership.

Punjab and Haryana are locked in a bitter tussle over sharing of river waters through the SYL canal. The Supreme Court, in November, had ordered in favour of Haryana.

Leaders of Haryana's INLD were ordered to be released by a court in Punjab's Rajpura town on Monday.

Those released included INLD Secretary General Abhay Chautala, state INLD President Ashok Arora, two MPs, 18 legislators and 73 others.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leaders were produced in the court in Rajpura, 45 km from here.

"There was no threat from the INLD leaders to law and order in Punjab. So it was decided they could be released," Patiala range Deputy Inspector General Ashish Chaudhary said.

The INLD leaders were taken in different vehicles and escorted out of Punjab's boundary with Haryana.

The INLD leaders were arrested on February 23 following a protest over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and water sharing issue between Punjab and Haryana.

The INLD leaders had remained in Patiala jail since February 23. They had refused to seek bail.

"The Punjab government was forced to release us," Chautala told the media after the release.

He said the INLD will wait till March 15 for Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take an all-party delegation from Haryana to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the SYL canal issue.

"If he (Khattar) fails to get the appointment, the INLD will protest outside Parliament to raise the issue," Chautala said.

With the Haryana Assembly budget session beginning on Monday, the INLD leadership is trying to make the most of its stand on the SYL canal issue and the arrest of its leadership.

Punjab and Haryana are locked in a bitter tussle over sharing of river waters through the SYL canal. The Supreme Court, in November, had ordered in favour of Haryana.

A woman living in the UK who had been married to a British man for 27 years has been forcibly removed from the country, a media report said on Monday.

Irene Clennell, who made headlines when she was placed in immigration detention, was deported to Singapore on Sunday, the Guardian reported.

Clennell first arrived in London in 1988 and married John, a British man, two years later. They settled in County Durham and had two children.

Her sister-in-law Angela confirmed Clennell had been deported. She said she had been subject to "insensitive and unfair government rules" and that Irene's husband, her brother, was seriously ill.

She told the Guardian: "It's outrageous what has happened. I'm appalled by it especially doing it on a Sunday so you can't contact anyone to try and stop it happening.

"I made numerous phone calls to immigration solicitors… I feel sick about the whole situation."

She said her sister-in-law only had 12 pounds in her pocket but a fellow Singaporean made contact with the family and offered her a place to stay for two weeks.

A Go Fund Me page to raise money for her legal fees passed 8,000 pounds after the news broke that she had been deported.

The UK government's spousal visa system requires the British partner to prove earnings of at least 18,600 pounds and the couple being able to show long stretches of uninterrupted time living in the UK.

Her last visitor visa expired last year and she was sent to a detention centre in Scotland after a routine appointment with immigration service in mid-January.

A woman living in the UK who had been married to a British man for 27 years has been forcibly removed from the country, a media report said on Monday.

Irene Clennell, who made headlines when she was placed in immigration detention, was deported to Singapore on Sunday, the Guardian reported.

Clennell first arrived in London in 1988 and married John, a British man, two years later. They settled in County Durham and had two children.

Her sister-in-law Angela confirmed Clennell had been deported. She said she had been subject to "insensitive and unfair government rules" and that Irene's husband, her brother, was seriously ill.

She told the Guardian: "It's outrageous what has happened. I'm appalled by it especially doing it on a Sunday so you can't contact anyone to try and stop it happening.

"I made numerous phone calls to immigration solicitors… I feel sick about the whole situation."

She said her sister-in-law only had 12 pounds in her pocket but a fellow Singaporean made contact with the family and offered her a place to stay for two weeks.

A Go Fund Me page to raise money for her legal fees passed 8,000 pounds after the news broke that she had been deported.

The UK government's spousal visa system requires the British partner to prove earnings of at least 18,600 pounds and the couple being able to show long stretches of uninterrupted time living in the UK.

Her last visitor visa expired last year and she was sent to a detention centre in Scotland after a routine appointment with immigration service in mid-January.