The scene outside the examination centres in Bihar is really pathetic this time.

Under pressure to curb use of unfair means in the ongoing class 12 examination which got underway last week, authorities are showing just no dignity towards the poor examinees.

They are pulling their pants down and pushing their hands inside undergarments of examinees to search for chits in full public view, inviting wide condemnations from the general masses.

How things go at the examination centre this time around was clearly visible from a few photographs which have gone viral ion the social media.

In the photographs, the school staffs and cops are seen unbuttoning the pants of the examinees coming to the exam centre and unhesitatingly searching for chits inside their undergarments—a kind of anti-cheating excise perhaps never witnessed in the past. This particular incident relates to Uta middle school, Jehanabad, a central Bihar district.

The extensive searches are not limited to boys only. Even the girls coming at the examination centres are made to pass through similar rigorous humiliating searches by the female cops, though in private. Such scenes are quite familiar at all almost exam centres in Bihar in a bid to curb malpractices in the exam at all costs.

The state government has tightened measures this time after facing much embarrassment for two consecutive years.

The ruling Nitish Kumar government faced severe embarrassment last year when quite many incompetent students topped the merit chart of intermediate examination conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board at the cost of the genuine and meritorious students.

One of them was Ruby Rai, arts topper who spelt Political Science as “Prodikal Science” which is all about cooking. Later, the government registered a case against the fake toppers after the merit scandal came to light.

Prior to that another such visual had gone viral, dealing further blow to the image of the state. The video showed the guardians clambering up to the walls of an exam centre in Bihar and supplying chits to their children appearing at the matriculation exam.

Apparently taking a lesson from these two incidents in quick succession, the state government has resorted to stricter measures to curb cheating in the exam but the kind of steps the officials are taking to plug holes in the system have certainly not gone down well among the general masses.

“We appreciate government’s initiate to curb cheating in the exam but the way the school authorities have gone on nearly undressing the examinees in public which just can’t be approved. One holds no right to play with the dignity of poor students in the name of searching chits,” commented a BJP leader Rajiv Kumar Singh.

Around 1,300 students have been expelled from the class 12 examination in the past five days since the examination began on Tuesday last.

A total of 12.61 lakh students are appearing at 1,274 examination centres across the state. Of the total examinees taking exam this time, seven lakhs are girls.

The scene outside the examination centres in Bihar is really pathetic this time.

Under pressure to curb use of unfair means in the ongoing class 12 examination which got underway last week, authorities are showing just no dignity towards the poor examinees.

They are pulling their pants down and pushing their hands inside undergarments of examinees to search for chits in full public view, inviting wide condemnations from the general masses.

How things go at the examination centre this time around was clearly visible from a few photographs which have gone viral ion the social media.

In the photographs, the school staffs and cops are seen unbuttoning the pants of the examinees coming to the exam centre and unhesitatingly searching for chits inside their undergarments—a kind of anti-cheating excise perhaps never witnessed in the past. This particular incident relates to Uta middle school, Jehanabad, a central Bihar district.

The extensive searches are not limited to boys only. Even the girls coming at the examination centres are made to pass through similar rigorous humiliating searches by the female cops, though in private. Such scenes are quite familiar at all almost exam centres in Bihar in a bid to curb malpractices in the exam at all costs.

The state government has tightened measures this time after facing much embarrassment for two consecutive years.

The ruling Nitish Kumar government faced severe embarrassment last year when quite many incompetent students topped the merit chart of intermediate examination conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board at the cost of the genuine and meritorious students.

One of them was Ruby Rai, arts topper who spelt Political Science as “Prodikal Science” which is all about cooking. Later, the government registered a case against the fake toppers after the merit scandal came to light.

Prior to that another such visual had gone viral, dealing further blow to the image of the state. The video showed the guardians clambering up to the walls of an exam centre in Bihar and supplying chits to their children appearing at the matriculation exam.

Apparently taking a lesson from these two incidents in quick succession, the state government has resorted to stricter measures to curb cheating in the exam but the kind of steps the officials are taking to plug holes in the system have certainly not gone down well among the general masses.

“We appreciate government’s initiate to curb cheating in the exam but the way the school authorities have gone on nearly undressing the examinees in public which just can’t be approved. One holds no right to play with the dignity of poor students in the name of searching chits,” commented a BJP leader Rajiv Kumar Singh.

Around 1,300 students have been expelled from the class 12 examination in the past five days since the examination began on Tuesday last.

A total of 12.61 lakh students are appearing at 1,274 examination centres across the state. Of the total examinees taking exam this time, seven lakhs are girls.

Former chief minister and opposition leader Prem Kumar Dhumal on Monday lashed at Congress government in Himachal for financial mismanagement in Himachal and said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s statement on running government through ‘Jugaad’ (makeshift arrangements) proves the point.

Dhumal said the financial mismanagement in Himachal was due to corruption, nepotism and mis-utilisation of resources by the government which had resulted in total debt burden on the state reaching to Rs 40,000 crore.

“There were little efforts on the part of Congress government to increase the revenue receipts by the state from its own resources. Further, the government managed to increase revenue by only Rs 30 crore in the last four years, whereas during the previous BJP regime, the revenue had reached at Rs 4,000 crore,” he said.

He also lashed the government for appointing an army of 45 chairpersons and vice-chairpersons and others, which is causing additional burden on the state exchequer.

Dhumal also questioned government on financial policy, direction and directives to reduce state expenditure and said the Congress leaders seems to be satisfied with blaming Centre government only.

Dhumal added Prime Minister Narendra Modi had increased the financial assistance to the state by three times but the government had failed to properly utilize the central grants.

Former chief minister and opposition leader Prem Kumar Dhumal on Monday lashed at Congress government in Himachal for financial mismanagement in Himachal and said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s statement on running government through ‘Jugaad’ (makeshift arrangements) proves the point.

Dhumal said the financial mismanagement in Himachal was due to corruption, nepotism and mis-utilisation of resources by the government which had resulted in total debt burden on the state reaching to Rs 40,000 crore.

“There were little efforts on the part of Congress government to increase the revenue receipts by the state from its own resources. Further, the government managed to increase revenue by only Rs 30 crore in the last four years, whereas during the previous BJP regime, the revenue had reached at Rs 4,000 crore,” he said.

He also lashed the government for appointing an army of 45 chairpersons and vice-chairpersons and others, which is causing additional burden on the state exchequer.

Dhumal also questioned government on financial policy, direction and directives to reduce state expenditure and said the Congress leaders seems to be satisfied with blaming Centre government only.

Dhumal added Prime Minister Narendra Modi had increased the financial assistance to the state by three times but the government had failed to properly utilize the central grants.

Political parties in Punjab and Haryana are on warpath again over the contentious issue of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal following Haryana’s main Opposition party Indian National Lok Dal’s (INLD) call to march towards the neighbouring state on March 23 for digging the SYL canal.

Even as Punjab’s political parties have warned the INLD against any provocation on this emotive issue, the INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala on Monday said even if the Army is deployed, party workers will go ahead with digging of the canal in the villages bordering Punjab.

He also urged the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Congress leaders to join the INLD in its march from Ambala (Haryana) towards Patiala in Punjab for re-digging the canal on the state’s border which was planned for sharing the river water between the two states.

As expected, political parties in Punjab reacted strongly to the INLD leader’s statements and warned against en inter-state crisis due to it.

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh said Chautala’s inflammatory statement has the potential of further escalating the tension already triggered by the ongoing Jat agitation in Haryana.

The Congress leaders said people of Punjab would not allow themselves to be victimized or brow-beaten into submission on such a critical issue, on which depended their lives and future, Captain Amarinder warned the INLD, asking them to refrain from engaging in any ill-conceived action on the SYL matter.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, INLD’s alliance partner in Haryana, also urged the political parties from the neighboring state o not to indulge in activities that provoke the people of the Punjab on the SYL issue.

SAD’s spokesman  Daljit Singh Cheema said the SAD will never let the project complete as it would deprive the farmers of the Punjab from their own waters.

Some radical outfits in Punjab, including Dal Khalsa, have also warned the INLD to face the consequences if the party goes ahead with its plan to dig the SYL canal.

Meanwhile, Punjab government has deployed forces at Kapoori and Shambu border in Patiala district in view of the INLD’s call. The state government has sought 20 companies of Paramilitary Forces from the Centre to prevent any face-off between INLD workers and Punjab’s radical outfits.

Political parties in Punjab and Haryana are on warpath again over the contentious issue of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal following Haryana’s main Opposition party Indian National Lok Dal’s (INLD) call to march towards the neighbouring state on March 23 for digging the SYL canal.

Even as Punjab’s political parties have warned the INLD against any provocation on this emotive issue, the INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala on Monday said even if the Army is deployed, party workers will go ahead with digging of the canal in the villages bordering Punjab.

He also urged the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Congress leaders to join the INLD in its march from Ambala (Haryana) towards Patiala in Punjab for re-digging the canal on the state’s border which was planned for sharing the river water between the two states.

As expected, political parties in Punjab reacted strongly to the INLD leader’s statements and warned against en inter-state crisis due to it.

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh said Chautala’s inflammatory statement has the potential of further escalating the tension already triggered by the ongoing Jat agitation in Haryana.

The Congress leaders said people of Punjab would not allow themselves to be victimized or brow-beaten into submission on such a critical issue, on which depended their lives and future, Captain Amarinder warned the INLD, asking them to refrain from engaging in any ill-conceived action on the SYL matter.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, INLD’s alliance partner in Haryana, also urged the political parties from the neighboring state o not to indulge in activities that provoke the people of the Punjab on the SYL issue.

SAD’s spokesman  Daljit Singh Cheema said the SAD will never let the project complete as it would deprive the farmers of the Punjab from their own waters.

Some radical outfits in Punjab, including Dal Khalsa, have also warned the INLD to face the consequences if the party goes ahead with its plan to dig the SYL canal.

Meanwhile, Punjab government has deployed forces at Kapoori and Shambu border in Patiala district in view of the INLD’s call. The state government has sought 20 companies of Paramilitary Forces from the Centre to prevent any face-off between INLD workers and Punjab’s radical outfits.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea for interim bail by a convict in the 1996 Delhi bomb blasts, saying those convicted of killing innocents must forget their family ties.

"Those who indulge in indiscriminate killings of innocent people must forget their family ties," observed a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul as the court rejected Mohammaed Naushad's plea for the interim bail to attend his daughter's wedding in March.

 Naushad is serving a life term for his involvement in the bomb blasts in Lajpat Nagar area on 21 May 1996, which left 13 persons dead and 38 injured.

The counsel for Naushad urged the court to grant him parole as he had already spent 20 years in jail.

 "This is such a heinous crime. If you want to kill indiscriminately you cannot say I have a family. Those who carry out such activities must realise this is the end of the families. You can't kill citizens indiscriminately and say I have my family, my sons, my daughters… You cannot have both. Once you kill, that's the end of your family," Chief Justice Khehar observed.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea for interim bail by a convict in the 1996 Delhi bomb blasts, saying those convicted of killing innocents must forget their family ties.

"Those who indulge in indiscriminate killings of innocent people must forget their family ties," observed a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul as the court rejected Mohammaed Naushad's plea for the interim bail to attend his daughter's wedding in March.

 Naushad is serving a life term for his involvement in the bomb blasts in Lajpat Nagar area on 21 May 1996, which left 13 persons dead and 38 injured.

The counsel for Naushad urged the court to grant him parole as he had already spent 20 years in jail.

 "This is such a heinous crime. If you want to kill indiscriminately you cannot say I have a family. Those who carry out such activities must realise this is the end of the families. You can't kill citizens indiscriminately and say I have my family, my sons, my daughters… You cannot have both. Once you kill, that's the end of your family," Chief Justice Khehar observed.

As the electioneering for the remaining four phases of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly polls heats up, the  Congress party on Monday charged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi with allegedly making attempts to polarise the people on the ground of religion in the course of his UP election campaign.

The Congress accused PM Modi of thus allegedly vitiating the atmosphere in UP, demanding appropriate action from the Election Commission (EC) in this regard for the sake of fair elections. 

The senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here that PM Modi has allegedly been making inflammatory remarks at his UP poll rallies and that his comment

yesterday that if there is a "kabaristaan (graveyard)" there should also be a "shamshaan (cremation ground)"  was part of such a bid to cause polarisation in the midst of polls. 

"Our Constitution does not allow anyone to divide the nation, be it on caste or religion basis. The Prime Minister is not above the Constitution or the law. We expect the Election Commission to take appropriate action on this," Mr Sharma said.

The Congress leader said the EC has issued strict directives to ensure that no attempt is made by anyone to inflame passion and divide the society on the basis of religion or caste. "So, it is expected of the EC that it issues a notice to the Prime Minister and the BJP on this matter."

Mr Sharma claimed that PM Modi has been again making such remarks at his poll rallies "out of frustration" since "his party BJP is staring at an imminent defeat in the UP elections".  

But, he alleged, "in doing so, PM Modi is disrespecting the Constitution and violating the diginity of his office".

Addressing a poll rally in UP yesterday, PM Modi had said there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste and religion.

Mr Sharma, however, said that instead of making "divisive" remarks PM Modi should rather tell the people

about his performance, especially whether he has fulfilled his promises made to them, since assuming his office in May 2014.

"We would like the PM to talk about development and progress rather than about crematoriums and graveyards. PM Modi has reduced our political debate to low levels. With him being perennially busy with election speeches, India's governance is suffering," the Congress leader charged, alleging that the PM has "failed" all sections of people.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda was on MOnday urged to lower the cut-off score in the NEET exam to facilitate qualification of more students from the states.

At a meeting with Nadda, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas said the reduction in the cut-off marks would help more students qualify for courses under the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

"The Union minister accepted my request in principle and assured a positive outcome. The move would help fill up vacant seats, including in non-clinical courses, in government colleges," Srinivas said.

Srinivas also requested a NEET exam centre in Tirupati to facilitate students in Rayalaseema region.

"We have centres in Vijayawada and Vizag. We have requested another centre in Tirupati to help students from Rayalaseema region," he said.

Srinivas also urged Nadda to hasten the process of setting up AIIMS at Mangalagiri.

"Apart from AIIMS, 3 more super speciality blocks in existing district medical college hospitals were requested. The state government will be submitting a priority list of three locations for setting up the blocks after a meeting with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu," he said.

A trauma centre in Nellore, virology lab in Guntur, second tranche of funds for strengthening medical colleges were part of the wish list from the state.

Nepal government on Monday decided to hold the elections in local bodies across the country in a single phase on May 14. But the decision saw strong reservation from Madhes-based political parties.

Within an hour after government declared dates for the polls, the Madhes based parties, who had been demanding an amendment to the Constitution prior to the poll announcement, rejected the polls and announced a fresh stir programme.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister had held final consultations with the Election Commission.

Ahead of the polls date, the government also decided to discuss the much awaited Constitution amendment Bill in Legislative-Parliament in order to appease the Madhes based parties.

In the midst of failing constitution amendment proposal, the Madhes based parties also declared fresh round of protest from Tuesday. According to their programme, they will conduct torch rally and called for Madhes banda on Wednesday.

Nepal was bound to hold elections to local level, provincial and center parliament by 2018 February. 

The last local elections were held in May 1997. After the end of tenure of local bodies elected in 1997, the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba failed to conduct fresh elections in 2002, owing to the Maoist threat and his political ambitions, which ultimately led to his dismissal.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) unveiled a "one of a kind" park here on Monday which is adorned with artistic installations built with waste material from Metro construction sites and is mostly powered by the solar energy.

"The main highlights of the park are the artistic installations created from waste materials generated from the Delhi Metro's construction sites. Artists from across the country have come together to create these beautiful installations," a statement issued by the DMRC said. 

The park, which is located near Shastri Park Metro Station, is spread over 10 acres and will offer a host of facilities like auditorium, amphitheatre, meditation corner, playground for children and gymnasium. The park also has a lake and a fountain in it. 

There are a range of other environment-friendly measures which the transporter adopted to make the park live upto its name.

"The water required for horticultural use will be provided by the Sewage Water Treatment Plant (STP) in the vicinity and 20 kilowatt of power requirement will be met by solar power, making it a net positive energy park," the statement added.

In making of the park the DMRC also used "top soil from various underground station sites" and furnished it with "medicinal and pollution absorbing plants", because of which the location has received 'Platinum' rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)', the statement said. 

Justice Swatanter Kumar, Chairman, National Green Tribunal (NGT), present at the unveiling, said, "(The) DMRC has not only contributed excellence in transportation but it stands out for two more things — it is environmentally conscious and it makes the effort to be self-reliant. 

"With the Prakriti Park, (the) DMRC has begun a new chapter in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). It will set a good precedence for others in the corporate sector."

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday chastised UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for his "donkeys of Gujarat" comment, saying it shows his anxiety ahead of "defeat" in the assembly polls.

He also condemned the incident of molestation of a Kerala actress and urged the state government to take stringent action against those involved.

"The statement by Akhilesh Yadav is not only deplorable but shows his anxiety of the defeat in the elections," Naidu, who also holds the Information and Broadcasting portfolio, told reporters here.

"We can understand that they (Congress and SP) are giving such comments as they are disturbed and perturbed as March 8 (the last day of voting) is coming near, and their fate will be sealed with the ballot boxes," he said.

Akhilesh, earlier in the day in Rae Bareli, advised megastar Amitabh Bachchan not to endorse the donkeys of Gujarat.

Without taking any name, he referred to an advertisement in which Bachchan, the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism, is seen inviting tourists to visit the Wild Ass Sanctuary located in Little Rann of Kutch in the state.

"There's an advertisement on TV which shows donkeys. I appeal to the century's biggest star, please stop endorsing the donkeys of Gujarat," Akhilesh had said.

Naidu alleged SP had ruled the state for five years but "did nothing" for the betterment of the state and its people, leaving the state "totally lawlessness".

"When they (Akhilesh) realised that the party could not win the election on its own, it joined hands with Congress at the last moment. Everybody knows that they had no self confidence," he said.

Stressing that Akhilesh government is answerable as to why Uttar Pradesh still remains in BIMARU states, he said "Why UP lagged behind? Akhilesh government has no solution for the state. If the UP government had done well, then why it formed the coalition."

Terming the Kerala actress molestation case as a very serious issue, he said, "It's condemnable. The perpetrators of the crime should be given exemplary punishment so that it act as deterrent for the others. I urge the state government to take stringent actions against the culprits". 

Asked whether he has sought a report from the Kerala government, Naidu said "Law and order is a state subject and I am very concerned as an I&B minister."

"What is required is not a bill alone, but a bill with strong political will, and administrative and investigative skills so that you can take a strong action," he said.

The Minister said leaders of the Congress party, in their election campaigns, have said that there was no need of an outsider for Uttar Pradesh. "Does it require to have an outsider for the country?" he said, without naming anyone from the Congress.

He said what was the problem, if the Prime Minister has said that he is elected from Varanasi and Uttar Pradesh is his adopted state?

"They are trying to invoke the local feeling against the Prime Minister. He is elected by the people of the country and Gujarat is in India only. It is not in Italy. Irrespective of caste, creed, sex, religion, India is one," he said.

Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ramazan-Diwali comment, he said the Prime Minister had said that "there should not be any discrimination and everybody should get the electricity on every festival".

Hitting out at the Congress, he said, "You are soft on terror. This is my charge on Congress party and its supporters. You take objection to Army Chief comments. It shows where your sympathy lies."

He also hit out at the SP government for its "lacklustre approach" towards the Centre's housing scheme, saying the Union government is "ready to give money" to the Uttar Pradesh but there was no response from the state government.

Vice President Hamid Ansari on Monday launched an India-Rwanda innovation growth programme here to boost ties in areas of science, technology and innovation, and said Rwanda offers a "wonderful platform" to Indian partners to enhance their presence in other parts of Africa.

The Vice President was addressing a gathering of business leaders and experts from both the countries at a business forum hosted at the Convention Centre.

Ansari also emphasised that India was now "ready to work" with partners in Rwanda and other partners of Africa in "transferring our experience" in building an innovation-driven economy in Africa.

"India-Rwanda Innovation Growth Program is being launched to expand ties in science, Technology and Innovation. After this pilot project, the programme is proposed to be implemented in the East African community in seven countries and will then be scaled up to seven other economic zones across Africa," he said.

Under the programme, 20 demonstrated and validated Indian technologies and innovations are expected to be adopted over a period of two years.

"The joint ventures created with Rwandan partners can deliver many sustainable social enterprises that will stimulate economic development in Rwanda," he said.

"The programme aims at creating an ecosystem wherein Indian innovations and technology enterprises will thrive and encourage business ventures from both sides," Ansari said.

Prime Minister of Rwanda Anastase Murekezi attended the event organised by Rwanda Development Board and the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

"The translation of ideas and innovations into practical applications will require the 3 Ds of discovery, development and delivery. India has, over the years, developed certain expertise and skills in domains of low-capital intensive innovations. We are now ready to work with our partners in Rwanda and other partners of Africa in transferring our experience in building an innovation driven economy in Africa," he added.

The Vice President said it was an 'exciting prospect' to see the captains of trade and industry from Rwanda stand alongside members of Indian business community and innovators from various parts of India.

"This portends well for the future of Rwanda-India commercial and economic relations," he said

"The efficient and clean city of Kigali, captures the great strides that this country is taking on its path of growth and prosperity. Rwanda has put behind it the unfortunate genocide of 1994 and has embarked on the path of economic development. Its economy has since made steady and considerable progress," he said.

Reacting to BJP President Amit Shah's remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi works for 21 hours a day, Congress on Monday said "there is a limit to sycophancy".

"We have the right and duty to criticise the Prime Minister because we are in the opposition. Amit Shah is an acolyte of Naredra Modi and an ardent follower. I have no objection to that," said senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma.

"The point is if he works for 21 hours a day, then it should have reflected in the government's works in the past 34 months," Sharma said.

"He also takes time to change his dress, to travel and to eat. If he is saying that the PM hasn't slept for the past 34 months, then it is very difficult to understand. There is a limit to sycophancy. There is also a limit to assume that people are fools. This is just a joke," he added.

On a question that BJP demanded President's rule in Kerala following the molestation of an actress, Sharma said: "Then President's rule should have been imposed multiple times in Gujarat for the atrocities against women, for the atrocities against Dalit, literally lynching of people."

"This matter should not be trivialised for political agenda. Its a larger question, its a shocking and condemnable thing," the spokesperson said. 

"The Union and the state government have to ensure that the dignity of the women is upheld and their safety is ensured. Stringent and deterrent action must be taken against those who outrage the modesty or harass women in any manner," he said.

Acclaimed actor-director Nandita Das who is currently preparing for her new directorial venture Manto said that a book and a film are two different mediums and both have their own charm, so it is not necessary to adapt every book into a film.

"Reading a book is a different experience than watching a film. When I was going through some stories of Manto (Saadat Hasan Manto) I realised that they can reach to your mind with a different level of intensity… So I think it's not necessary to make a film out of every book," the actress said.

Nandita was present here at the launch of young author Varun Gwalani's The First Storyteller that touches upon the issue of psychological health.

"A society can develop only if we talk about issues like mental illnesses openly, create awareness among people, share others' experiences and understanding. Avoiding such issues will not help resolve any problem," the actress, known for her work in movies like 1947 Earth, Fire and Firaaq, said.

The actress confirmed that Manto will go on floor on March 15. 

"Though it is an independent film with a small budget, many well-known actors in the industry have shown interest to play even small (yet crucial) roles in the film. we will be disclosing those names soon," she added.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea for interim bail by a convict in the 1996 Delhi bomb blasts, saying those convicted of killing innocents must forget their family ties.

"Those who indulge in indiscriminate killings of innocent people must forget their family ties," observed a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul as the court rejected Mohammaed Naushad's plea for the interim bail to attend his daughter's wedding in March.

Naushad is serving life term for his involvement in the bomb blasts in Lajpat Nagar area on May 21, 1996 which left 13 persons dead and 38 injured.

"This is such a heinous crime. Those who carry out such activities must realise this is the end of the families. You can't kill citizens indiscriminately and say I have my family, my sons, my daughters," the bench said.

"You cannot have both… Either this or that. If you want to kill indiscriminately you cannot say I have a family. Once you kill, that's the end of your family," Chief Justice Khehar observed.

The counsel for Naushad urged the court to grant him parole as he had already spent 20 years in jail.

Naushad sought interim bail for a month to attend his daughter's marriage in March. The police confirmed the wedding was fixed for March.