DMK working president MK Stalin on Thursday left for New Delhi to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him of the incidents that unfolded during the February 18 trust vote, won by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Accompanied by senior leaders including Durai Murugan, Stalin left for Delhi to meet the President this evening.

His scheduled meeting with the President comes days after he had urged Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao to "nullify" the confidence vote, which was won by Palaniswami after forcible en-masse eviction of DMK legislators from the State Assembly on February 18.

Palaniswami had won the trust vote by a huge margin of 122-11, on Saturday.

To a query by reporters at the Airport here, Stalin claimed that his party's state-wide hunger strike yesterday was "so successful that the AIADMK is claiming that we are trying to topple their government."

He also indicated that the ruling party may not fare well in the forthcoming local body elections.

DMK working president MK Stalin on Thursday left for New Delhi to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him of the incidents that unfolded during the February 18 trust vote, won by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Accompanied by senior leaders including Durai Murugan, Stalin left for Delhi to meet the President this evening.

His scheduled meeting with the President comes days after he had urged Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao to "nullify" the confidence vote, which was won by Palaniswami after forcible en-masse eviction of DMK legislators from the State Assembly on February 18.

Palaniswami had won the trust vote by a huge margin of 122-11, on Saturday.

To a query by reporters at the Airport here, Stalin claimed that his party's state-wide hunger strike yesterday was "so successful that the AIADMK is claiming that we are trying to topple their government."

He also indicated that the ruling party may not fare well in the forthcoming local body elections.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Thursday trashed as "ridiculous" the agitating students' offer to "allow" the authorities to resume work in the administrative block for two days with a limited staff.

The agitators earlier sent a pamphlet to the university authorities that made the offer for use of the administrative block which the students have "seized".

Following this, the university said in a statement: "The student agitation has moved from a highly objectionable one to a ridiculous one." 

"The blockaders …, under the leadership of 'Committee of Suspended Students', have expressed their willingness… to selectively allow some employees…," the statement said.

It also denounced the students – who have the office block under a forced lockdown since February 9 – for giving out "false" impression that the building was open and the vice chancellor was free to come there.

"This laughable pamphlet is condemnable also because they have been spreading lies that the administration building is open, but the VC and other officers are not coming for work," it said.

Others falsely claimed that employees were allowed to enter the building, the university said.

The members of the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) were also pulled up by the varsity for the same reason.

The JNU alleged that the teachers' association has failed to ask even once the students to end their siege and come to the table for discussion.

The administration said that asking the vice chancellor to come in the midst of agitating students to address their issues – like the protestors were demanding – would be akin to his "public trial".

"The disorderly and disruptive students politics has already caused enormous damage to the prestige of the university and genuine interests of students, teachers and other employees…," it said, adding that it wished the students "come to their senses" and end the siege.

The blockade came after the JNU adopted a University Grants Commission (UGC) notification that sought to put an upper cap on the number of M. Phil. and Ph.D. students whom a faculty member could guide.

The students have alleged that the implementation of the guideline would result in a massive seat-cut at higher learning. They also protested the unilateral adoption of the UGC notice by the vice chancellor.

The students feel that the Academic Council members should have been consulted on it.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Thursday trashed as "ridiculous" the agitating students' offer to "allow" the authorities to resume work in the administrative block for two days with a limited staff.

The agitators earlier sent a pamphlet to the university authorities that made the offer for use of the administrative block which the students have "seized".

Following this, the university said in a statement: "The student agitation has moved from a highly objectionable one to a ridiculous one." 

"The blockaders …, under the leadership of 'Committee of Suspended Students', have expressed their willingness… to selectively allow some employees…," the statement said.

It also denounced the students – who have the office block under a forced lockdown since February 9 – for giving out "false" impression that the building was open and the vice chancellor was free to come there.

"This laughable pamphlet is condemnable also because they have been spreading lies that the administration building is open, but the VC and other officers are not coming for work," it said.

Others falsely claimed that employees were allowed to enter the building, the university said.

The members of the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) were also pulled up by the varsity for the same reason.

The JNU alleged that the teachers' association has failed to ask even once the students to end their siege and come to the table for discussion.

The administration said that asking the vice chancellor to come in the midst of agitating students to address their issues – like the protestors were demanding – would be akin to his "public trial".

"The disorderly and disruptive students politics has already caused enormous damage to the prestige of the university and genuine interests of students, teachers and other employees…," it said, adding that it wished the students "come to their senses" and end the siege.

The blockade came after the JNU adopted a University Grants Commission (UGC) notification that sought to put an upper cap on the number of M. Phil. and Ph.D. students whom a faculty member could guide.

The students have alleged that the implementation of the guideline would result in a massive seat-cut at higher learning. They also protested the unilateral adoption of the UGC notice by the vice chancellor.

The students feel that the Academic Council members should have been consulted on it.

British luxury SUV maker Land Rover is introducing a new SUV in its Range Rover lineup, the Velar. As the teaser images suggest, the new SUV will be placed in between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. Rumours of Land Rover working on a new coupe-SUV have been doing the rounds for a while now, and finally, it turned out to be true.

However, apart from a rear picture, Land Rover hasn't divulged many details regarding the Velar. It will be officially unveiled on 1 March 2017 and will make its US debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. However, it is also likely to be showcased at the upcoming 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

The name ‘Velar’ is derived from the Latin word ‘velare,’ which means ‘to veil or cover.’ The earlier prototypes of Range Rovers in 1969 were named Velar as their true identity had to be hidden. The Velar is likely to be based on the same platform as the Jaguar F-Pace and will compete with SUVs like the Porsche Macan, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe and BMW X4.

Land Rover currently offers five SUVs in the Indian market: the Range Rover, Range Rover Sports, Discovery 4, Discovery Sport, and the Evoque. Land Rover is also expected to launch the Evoque convertible in the country this year. However, the Discovery 4 will soon be discontinued from the country as its successor, the all new Discovery, is already being featured on Land Rover’s Indian website.

Source: CarDekho

British luxury SUV maker Land Rover is introducing a new SUV in its Range Rover lineup, the Velar. As the teaser images suggest, the new SUV will be placed in between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. Rumours of Land Rover working on a new coupe-SUV have been doing the rounds for a while now, and finally, it turned out to be true.

However, apart from a rear picture, Land Rover hasn't divulged many details regarding the Velar. It will be officially unveiled on 1 March 2017 and will make its US debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. However, it is also likely to be showcased at the upcoming 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

The name ‘Velar’ is derived from the Latin word ‘velare,’ which means ‘to veil or cover.’ The earlier prototypes of Range Rovers in 1969 were named Velar as their true identity had to be hidden. The Velar is likely to be based on the same platform as the Jaguar F-Pace and will compete with SUVs like the Porsche Macan, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe and BMW X4.

Land Rover currently offers five SUVs in the Indian market: the Range Rover, Range Rover Sports, Discovery 4, Discovery Sport, and the Evoque. Land Rover is also expected to launch the Evoque convertible in the country this year. However, the Discovery 4 will soon be discontinued from the country as its successor, the all new Discovery, is already being featured on Land Rover’s Indian website.

Source: CarDekho

An estimated 25 to 27 per cent of 1.84 crore voters exercised their franchise till midday on Thursday in the fourth phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh.

Polling is on for 53 assembly constituencies spread over 12 districts, including the backward Bundelkhand region.

The pace of voting was initially slow but picked up gradually as the day advanced, the office of UP Chief Electoral Officer said here.

Around 25 to 27 per cent polling was recorded till noon, the CEO office said, adding the exercise was by and large peaceful amid tight security arrangements.

Inter district and inter state borders have been sealed and patrolling by security forces has been intensified in poll-bound areas. Most of the sensitive polling centres are being manned by the personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces.

680 candidates are in the fray in this phase, prominent among them being sitting MLA from Rampur Khas (Pratapgarh) Aradhana Mishra who is the daughter of Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, and Independent MLA and minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who is again contesting from his traditional Kunda (Pratapgarh) seat.

In Rae Bareli, Aditi Singh is contesting on a Congress ticket, BSP turncoat Swami Prasad Maurya's son Utkarsh Maurya is in fray from Unchahar seat, while Leader of Opposition Gaya Charan Dinkar is contesting from Naraini (Banda) seat. Senior SP leader Reoti Raman Singh's son Ujjwal Raman Singh is in the race from Karchana (Allahabad) seat.

Assembly segments in Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency are among the seats where the electoral exercise is taking place. In a first since 1998, Gandhi gave campaigning a miss in her constituency.

Other districts where polling is going on in this phase amid tight security are Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur.

The maximum number of candidates (26) are in Allahabad North, while only six candidates are in fray in Khaga (Fatehpur), Manjhanpur (Kaushambi) and Kunda (Pratapgarh).

BSP has fielded its nominees in all seats, while BJP's nominees are in 48 constituencies. BJP has left 6 seats for its ally Apna Dal. SP nominees are in contest in 30 segments and its ally Congress is in contest from 25 constituencies.

In 2012 polls, out of the 53 seats in this phase, Samajwadi Party had won 24, BJP 5, Bahujan Samaj Party 15, Congress 6 and others had got 3.

Elections for UP Legislative Assembly are being held in seven phases, with three more on February 27, March 4 and 8 to follow after today's polling. Results will be out on March 11.

An estimated 25 to 27 per cent of 1.84 crore voters exercised their franchise till midday on Thursday in the fourth phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh.

Polling is on for 53 assembly constituencies spread over 12 districts, including the backward Bundelkhand region.

The pace of voting was initially slow but picked up gradually as the day advanced, the office of UP Chief Electoral Officer said here.

Around 25 to 27 per cent polling was recorded till noon, the CEO office said, adding the exercise was by and large peaceful amid tight security arrangements.

Inter district and inter state borders have been sealed and patrolling by security forces has been intensified in poll-bound areas. Most of the sensitive polling centres are being manned by the personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces.

680 candidates are in the fray in this phase, prominent among them being sitting MLA from Rampur Khas (Pratapgarh) Aradhana Mishra who is the daughter of Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, and Independent MLA and minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who is again contesting from his traditional Kunda (Pratapgarh) seat.

In Rae Bareli, Aditi Singh is contesting on a Congress ticket, BSP turncoat Swami Prasad Maurya's son Utkarsh Maurya is in fray from Unchahar seat, while Leader of Opposition Gaya Charan Dinkar is contesting from Naraini (Banda) seat. Senior SP leader Reoti Raman Singh's son Ujjwal Raman Singh is in the race from Karchana (Allahabad) seat.

Assembly segments in Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency are among the seats where the electoral exercise is taking place. In a first since 1998, Gandhi gave campaigning a miss in her constituency.

Other districts where polling is going on in this phase amid tight security are Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur.

The maximum number of candidates (26) are in Allahabad North, while only six candidates are in fray in Khaga (Fatehpur), Manjhanpur (Kaushambi) and Kunda (Pratapgarh).

BSP has fielded its nominees in all seats, while BJP's nominees are in 48 constituencies. BJP has left 6 seats for its ally Apna Dal. SP nominees are in contest in 30 segments and its ally Congress is in contest from 25 constituencies.

In 2012 polls, out of the 53 seats in this phase, Samajwadi Party had won 24, BJP 5, Bahujan Samaj Party 15, Congress 6 and others had got 3.

Elections for UP Legislative Assembly are being held in seven phases, with three more on February 27, March 4 and 8 to follow after today's polling. Results will be out on March 11.

 An estimated 25 to 27 per cent of 1.84 crore voters exercised their franchise till midday on in the fourth phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh.

Polling is on for 53 Assembly constituencies spread over 12 districts, including the backward Bundelkhand region.

The pace of voting was initially slow but picked up gradually as the day advanced, the office of UP Chief Electoral Officer said here.

Around 25 to 27 per cent polling was recorded till noon, the CEO office said, adding the exercise was by and large peaceful amid tight security arrangements.

Inter district and inter state borders have been sealed and patrolling by security forces has been intensified in poll-bound areas. Most of the sensitive polling centres are being manned by the personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces.

680 candidates are in the fray in this phase, prominent among them being sitting MLA from Rampur Khas (Pratapgarh) Aradhana Mishra who is the daughter of Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, and Independent MLA and minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who is again contesting from his traditional Kunda (Pratapgarh) seat.

In Rae Bareli, Aditi Singh is contesting on a Congress ticket, BSP turncoat Swami Prasad Maurya's son Utkarsh Maurya is in fray from Unchahar seat, while Leader of Opposition Gaya Charan Dinkar is contesting from Naraini (Banda) seat. Senior SP leader Reoti Raman Singh's son Ujjwal Raman Singh is in the race from Karchana (Allahabad) seat.

Assembly segments in Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency are among the seats where the electoral exercise is taking place. In a first since 1998, Gandhi gave campaigning a miss in her constituency.

Other districts where polling is going on in this phase amid tight security are Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur.

The maximum number of candidates (26) are in Allahabad North, while only six candidates are in fray in Khaga (Fatehpur), Manjhanpur (Kaushambi) and Kunda (Pratapgarh).

BSP has fielded its nominees in all seats, while BJP's nominees are in 48 constituencies. BJP has left 6 seats for its ally Apna Dal. SP nominees are in contest in 30 segments and its ally Congress is in contest from 25 constituencies.

In 2012 polls, out of the 53 seats in this phase, Samajwadi Party had won 24, BJP 5, Bahujan Samaj Party 15, Congress 6 and others had got 3.

Elections for UP legislative assembly are being held in seven phases, with three more on February 27, March 4 and 8 to follow after today's polling. Results will be out on March 11.

 An estimated 25 to 27 per cent of 1.84 crore voters exercised their franchise till midday on in the fourth phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh.

Polling is on for 53 Assembly constituencies spread over 12 districts, including the backward Bundelkhand region.

The pace of voting was initially slow but picked up gradually as the day advanced, the office of UP Chief Electoral Officer said here.

Around 25 to 27 per cent polling was recorded till noon, the CEO office said, adding the exercise was by and large peaceful amid tight security arrangements.

Inter district and inter state borders have been sealed and patrolling by security forces has been intensified in poll-bound areas. Most of the sensitive polling centres are being manned by the personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces.

680 candidates are in the fray in this phase, prominent among them being sitting MLA from Rampur Khas (Pratapgarh) Aradhana Mishra who is the daughter of Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, and Independent MLA and minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who is again contesting from his traditional Kunda (Pratapgarh) seat.

In Rae Bareli, Aditi Singh is contesting on a Congress ticket, BSP turncoat Swami Prasad Maurya's son Utkarsh Maurya is in fray from Unchahar seat, while Leader of Opposition Gaya Charan Dinkar is contesting from Naraini (Banda) seat. Senior SP leader Reoti Raman Singh's son Ujjwal Raman Singh is in the race from Karchana (Allahabad) seat.

Assembly segments in Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency are among the seats where the electoral exercise is taking place. In a first since 1998, Gandhi gave campaigning a miss in her constituency.

Other districts where polling is going on in this phase amid tight security are Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur.

The maximum number of candidates (26) are in Allahabad North, while only six candidates are in fray in Khaga (Fatehpur), Manjhanpur (Kaushambi) and Kunda (Pratapgarh).

BSP has fielded its nominees in all seats, while BJP's nominees are in 48 constituencies. BJP has left 6 seats for its ally Apna Dal. SP nominees are in contest in 30 segments and its ally Congress is in contest from 25 constituencies.

In 2012 polls, out of the 53 seats in this phase, Samajwadi Party had won 24, BJP 5, Bahujan Samaj Party 15, Congress 6 and others had got 3.

Elections for UP legislative assembly are being held in seven phases, with three more on February 27, March 4 and 8 to follow after today's polling. Results will be out on March 11.

Security has been beefed up ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here to address a public rally in favour of BJP candidates for the upcoming Manipur Assembly elections.

Officials said that the state police has started round the clock search operations to prevent any unwanted activity.

A team of Manipur police, led by additional SP S Ibomcha Singh conducted search operations at Langjing Achouba in Imphal West district, where the prime minister is scheduled to address a public rally, they said.

The venue of the rally was shifted from Kangla Fort to Langjing Achouba after Irom Sharmila's People Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) raised objection, citing the venue as a sacred place for the people of the state.

Other teams of state forces are also conducting search operations in the capital, including frisking of vehicles as part of beefing up the security apparatus, officials added.

Security has been beefed up ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here to address a public rally in favour of BJP candidates for the upcoming Manipur Assembly elections.

Officials said that the state police has started round the clock search operations to prevent any unwanted activity.

A team of Manipur police, led by additional SP S Ibomcha Singh conducted search operations at Langjing Achouba in Imphal West district, where the prime minister is scheduled to address a public rally, they said.

The venue of the rally was shifted from Kangla Fort to Langjing Achouba after Irom Sharmila's People Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) raised objection, citing the venue as a sacred place for the people of the state.

Other teams of state forces are also conducting search operations in the capital, including frisking of vehicles as part of beefing up the security apparatus, officials added.

Pop star Katy Perry got stuck into songwriting in a bid to get over the "depression" of the US election.

The 'Dark Horse' hitmaker, who was an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton during the US presidential race, which eventually saw Republican candidate Donald Trump take the White House, said she channelled her disappointment into her music and came out with her new song 'Chained to the Rhythm', reported Contactmusic.

"This was after the election and I was kind of depressed and, you know, I definitely didn't want to write a club banger.

"I was like, 'How are we writing a club banger when the world is on fire?' and it was kind of like, it was a nice exercise of like writing a song that at first listen is a really fun song, but I guess the more you dive into it, it has a different sub-text," Perry said.

And the 32-year-old singer enjoyed teaming up with Sia on the track and praised her best friend for getting her through some difficult times.
 

Facebook has come under severe criticism for banning a US-born transgender YouTube personality for slamming social justice activists.

According to a report in HeatStreet news portal, Blaire White, whose vocal criticism against social justice warriors shot her to fame, was hit with a 30-day ban from Facebook on Wednesday "for violating Facebook policies".

"I've been suspended from Facebook for a month, so don't expect to see me there. I can't accidentally stop doing wrong," she was quoted as saying.

White is YouTuber and socio-political commentator most notable for her staunch stance against modern feminism and social justice.

The ban has evoked an outcry from her supporters.

"Facebook has repeatedly shown their dedication to censoring libertarian and conservative pages," said White.

"They've also shown that their claim to want to protect minorities is disingenuous, as they have no problem booting minorities from their website if they have the wrong opinion," White added.

The social networking giant has also been accused of manipulating the influential "trending topics" features based on their liberal political views.

According to the media reports, the company has also pledged to increase censorship in the Middle East to cater to cultural norms, outraging free speech and human rights advocates.

On paper, the sides are a mismatch both in terms of history and current line ups, but somehow destiny has contrived to place Manchester United and Southampton in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.

And much as the teams they helm, their managers have had drastically different careers, with success finding Jose Mourinho on great many occasions than his opposite number, Claude Puel.

Having said that, no match was ever won on paper and whether United romp home or Southampton script a seismic upset, the battle will be won in the minds of the two tacticians on the touchline.
 
So how do the two managers compare? Let’s find out.
 
 
Jose Mourinho 
 
After the great Ronaldo-Messi debate, perhaps the biggest, most burning question in world football is: Is Jose Mourinho as great as he claims? 
 
To be fair to him, after a disastrous second season in his second spell at Chelsea, the Portuguese tactician has mellowed down a bit. 
 
Serial winner at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and then Chelsea again, the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ is now in the midst of his latest and arguably, most challenging project, placing Manchester United back at the top of the English football pile.
 
The man who has won two Champions League titles with different clubs, and has broken records wherever he went is without doubt, one of the great managers, a point reinforced by the overflowing trophy cabinet he possesses in a 16-year managerial  career.
 
Arguably the best coach from a defensive standpoint, Mourinho is reviled and respected in equal measure for making his teams almost impossible to beat. The footballing term ‘park the bus’ is said to have originated from his first tenure at Chelsea, proving that with backs-to-the-wall defending and maximum efficiency on the counter, even the most star-studded of teams can be humbled.
 
And last but not the least, are his man-management skills which can allegedly make or break a players' career. With his subtle pokes and jabs, Mourinho wrings the best out of his players, by daring them to prove him wrong.

If you couple this tendency along with the massive change in mentality that he brings to the table, it is easy to see why he has enjoyed such unprecedented success in his relatively short career cycle. 

While he may not stay as long as Sir Alex Ferguson did at Old Trafford, it will be difficult to deny him his first major trophy in his debut season with the Red Devils on Sunday.

Apart from his affinity to a pragmatic approach to football as opposed to a free-flowing football which pleases fans, Mourinho’s other drawback is his apparent distrust of youth. This prevailing theory is hard to dispute with, as the Portuguese prefers results over anything and perhaps that is why United are the bookies favourites to lift their fifth EFL Cup title.

Claude Puel
 
Is Claude Puel the complete opposite of Jose Mourinho? 

That would be a stretch but there are stark differences to their managerial approaches and career.
A combative midfielder as a player, spending the entirety of his career at Monaco, Puel’s tenacity is highly regarded even today.
 
Making the transition from playing to managing seamlessly, Puel won the Ligue 1 title with his beloved Monaco in his debut managerial season. 
 
If things were supposed to go on the up and up since then, they didn't as the Frenchman found himself carving out a reputation as a manager who took relatively small teams such as Lille and transformed them into sides who punched above their weight consistently. 
 
While his six-year stint with Lille failed to bring home any titles, he spotted then 16-year-old Eden Hazard’s talent and invited him to train with the senior side. His penchant for merging youth with experience was noticed there and he moved to French giants Olympique Lyon next.
 
Lyon were a side that were dominating French football at the time and while they stunned the mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League, they struggled mightily in Ligue 1 despite considerable player investments, which lead to Puel’s subsequent dismissal.
 
A time with relative minnows Nice followed, where again he proved that he could maximise the potential of a club with modest ambitions to compete against the nation’s heavyweights.
 
In his debut season at Southampton he has managed to keep them in the top half and scripted a famous semifinal victory over United’s arch-rivals, Liverpool. His keen eye saw that Nathan Redmond was better suited as a centre-forward than a wide winger and that shift brought instant dividends in the two-legged semifinal, in which the Saints won home and away.
 
Most of his former wards speak highly of him, complimenting his man-management techniques and his impressively laid out practices sessions. Puel doesn't trust prospects blindly as some managers do, yet isn't afraid to put them in the deep end when he has to.
 
While the Saints face an uphill task to break their trophy drought that has lasted 41 years, there is perhaps no man better equipped to accomplish the feat.

Delhi University's prestigious Ramjas College on Thursday almost turned into a war zone with students from Left-affiliated AISA and RSS-backed ABVP resorting to violent clashes including hitting each other with hockey sticks that left many of them bleeding.

The genesis of the clash was an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid, facing sedition charges, and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar on 'Culture of Protests' which was withdrawn by the college authorities on Wednesday following opposition by the ABVP.

Many teachers, policemen and a number of journalists also sustained injuries in the violence though a large contingent of police personnel was deployed across the North Campus of the Delhi University.

Police was not forthcoming when asked about the number of people who sustained injuries in the clash.

The clashes took place around 1 PM and police could bring the situation under control five hours later. A group of students were also locked up allegedly by ABVP activists for four hours at the college campus.

The ABVP supporters had on Wednesday also resorted to violence following which the college authorities withdrew the invitation to Rashid and Khalid, triggering widespread anger among a section of students and teachers who had planned a march on Thursday to Maurice Nagar police station, demanding action against those involved in the "vandalism".

On their part, the ABVP members did not allow the march to proceed and allegedly locked up the students and teachers inside the college campus.

At this point, some AISA members tried to barge inside the college to "rescue the captives" resulting in the clashes.

So far no FIR has been lodged but police said they will file it soon on the complaints of the SHO of the Maurice Nagar police station and not on the basis of complaints by AISA-backed students and teachers belonging to Delhi University Teachers Association.

Ramjas Principal Rajender Prasad said he is in discussion with the teachers, who were part of organisers of the event, and requested both the groups to not disrupt the peace and harmony in the college.

"Not only the ABVP completely disrupted the seminar, they were also abusing, beating women and even journalists leaving some profusely bleeding. Why can't the police see such hooliganism? There is adequate police presence on the campus but nobody from ABVP has been detained yet," alleged Rashid, who was formerly JNU Students' Union vice president.

She also alleged that "police joined the ABVP goons" in attacking her.

Abha Dev, a member of DU Teachers' Association, claimed that besides "several students", three teachers of different DU colleges – Prasanta Chakraborty (English), Suvrita (History) and Mousumi Bose (Philosophy) – were injured in the clashes and taken to Hindu Rao hospital.

Maruti Suzuki's latest offering, the Ignis, is amongst the first cars in its segment to get ABS with EBD and dual front airbags as standard. But how do these features save you in case of an accident? Also, how well is the Ignis designed to ensure minimum casualties in the event of a crash?

Until now, our verdict on a car's safety was always dependent on its safety features. However, the standards set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are set to give us a definitive answer to all questions on how safe a car is. But before that happens, we've sampled how an Ignis would behave when it meets a fixed barrier at 56kmph at Maruti Suzuki's R&D facility in Rohtak.

The dummies used for crash tests

Maruti Suzuki states that the Ignis conforms to the safety norms, which means that it adheres to the upcoming crash test regulations of India. The Ignis on test at Maruti Suzuki's R&D facility was loaded with crash dummies to give us an idea of the impact of the collision. The two important takeaways from the crash test were:

1. Had there been actual humans inside the crashed Maruti Suzuki Ignis, they would have escaped with lacerations and bruises.

2. The injured passengers could have been taken out in very less time, since the doors of the Ignis are designed in a way that they don’t require to be cut or wrenched open after a crash.

Ignis undergoing frontal offset crash test

So, while the safety features do ensure minimum casualty, the design of the car also plays an important role. While the Indian Ignis doesn't get as many active safety features as the Ignis sold in Europe, which scores five stars with optional safety equipment, the chassis structure of both the cars is similar.

The standards will be applicable on all new cars sold in India from October 1, 2017. For the cars that are already on sale, the manufacturers have a two-year window to make them crash-test–compliant.

Newer products from Maruti Suzuki – like the Ignis, Baleno and the Vitara Brezza – already comply with the norms. The carmaker has also updated the Ciaz and the Ertiga, which also conform to the crash test norms now. Maruti Suzuki has been criticised in the past for scrimping on the safety features on its cars; however, the carmaker has been particular about adapting its products according to the upcoming crash norms.

Source: CarDekho