The RBI will remove restrictions on cash withdrawals after assessing market situation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday even as he ruled out interfering with the conditions barring anyone other than NRIs and Indians returning from abroad from depositing the junked notes in select central bank branches.

"RBI will decide by assessing market situation. Many a time, actions are taken in phases, so relaxations are also done in phases," he said when asked by when restrictions on cash withdrawals are expected to be removed.

Currently, an account holder is allowed to withdraw Rs.24,000 per week from the counters and Rs.4,500 per day from ATM.

The 50-day demonetisation exercise of depositing and exchanging of defunct Rs.500 and Rs.1000 notes closed on December 30.

To a question on people not being able to avail the facility due to some genuine reasons, the Finance Minister said this facility was available for everyone and he would not like to interfere with the criteria set by the RBI.

Without committing to any easing of the restrictions for those who failed to avail the window, he said: "People in large number have already exchanged. Only a few are left…we don't go by… Whatever reason, the RBI has fixed their own criteria. At least, I will respect that criteria."

When told that the Prime Minister in his November 8 address to the nation had also said that people will have opportunity till March 31 to deposit old notes in select RBI branches, Jaitley said the Prime Minister had specifically said that RBI will fix terms and conditions.

"The word terms and conditions was part of Prime Minister's address," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, on November 8 had said, "There may be some who for some reason, are not able to deposit their old 500 or 1,000 rupee notes by December 30, 2016.

"They can go to specified offices of the Reserve Bank of India up to March 31, 2017 and deposit the notes after submitting a declaration form."

As per the terms and conditions of RBI, NRIs and Indians returning from abroad will have to physically show the junked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes to Customs officials at the airport and get a declaration form stamped before they can deposit the demonetised currency in RBI during the grace period.

Indians who were abroad during November 9 to December 30 have been given a 3-month grace period till March 31 to deposit the junked notes, while for the NRIs, it is six months till June 30.

While there is no limit on deposit of defunct notes by an Indian national who was abroad when the 50-day window was in operation, NRIs can deposit only Rs.25,000 as per FEMA law restrictions

"Of trembling winter, the fairest flowers o' th' season
Are our carnations…," wrote William Shakespeare.

If you are born in the month of January, carnation, considered "the fairest of flowers of the season", is your flower.

Flushed with prettiness, sweet fragrance, splendid hues and good luck, this January flower has fascinated and inspired many great souls and romantic at heart.

Grown and cultivated with a lot of care and tending, carnation is associated with different emotions, beliefs and symbols that enhance its international status.

Red carnation symbolises tender heart, pure love and romance.

Pink carnation gives a message of happiness and remembrance.

Purple carnation signifies capriciousness.

Yellow carnation symbolizes disappointment.

White carnation reflects sweetness, innocence and gratitude.

Striped carnation indicates sadness and apology.

In Korea, there has been a tradition on Mother’s Day to put on a red or pink carnation to honour the parents who are alive and white carnation if they are no more.

Purple carnations are the national funeral flower in France. In UK and Ireland people wear purple carnation on ST. Patrick’s Day.

White carnations are worn by UK’s Oxford University students during their first exam and red on the last one. Pink is regularly worn throughout all other exams.

The history of the flower dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times. In Christian tradition, it is believed that the first carnation came into existence on earth when Virgin Mary shed her first tear seeing her son Jesus carrying the cross to his crucifixion. During ancient times, the flowers often grew in pale, pink and peach colours. But walking a long way, it has soaked up great changes in shades and structure. Nowadays, carnations are widely used in weddings and ceremonies.

Carnations are the florists’ beloved. Some carnations are exceptionally aromatic, especially the Australian ones. Not only its positive charm and powerful beauty fascinate people, its edible nature has also added to its popularity. It is a good choice when it comes to salad seasoning, cake garnishing and French liquor ‘Chartreuse’ brewing.

They are easy to grow and among the longest lasting cut flowers all around the world. They can make your surroundings blissful bright, and sweetly fragrant.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal on Wednesday sought action from Delhi Police against Abu Azmi and G Parameshwara for their alleged sexist remarks after the molestations by a mob on New Year Eve in Bengaluru.

Maliwal shot off a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma and urged him to file an FIR against Samajwadi Party MLA from Maharashtra Abu Azmi and Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code. 

Speaking to the media, Parameshwara had blamed the influence of western culture for such crimes against women, while Azmi advocated more modest dressing for women.

The DCW chief denounced both politicians for their comments on women's sartorial choices.

"Parameshwara and Azmi have made extremely misogynistic statements on this incident which has caused national and international outrage," Maliwal wrote in the letter.

"Parameshwara, despite being the Home Minister of Karnataka, casually referred to the molestation incidents as ones which happen usually, thereby implying that these are not big incidents," she wrote.

Maliwal said: "Azmi crossed all boundaries by saying that women walking alone at night or not covering their bodies fully and ensuring a 'burka' or 'pallu' invite sexual violence."

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has announced a holiday on Thursday on account of 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, said an official statement.

Thursday will be a holiday "in all government offices, autonomous bodies and public sector under-takings under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi", as per the statement.

Nepal Parliament Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar on Wednesday requested Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to forge consensus with the opposition parties before the next session of Parliament, the media reported.

The Speaker, who went to the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar, made the request in order to resume the house meetings, which had been disrupted since November 29, the Himalayan Times reported.

In response, Prachanda expressed his commitment to end the stalemate and forge consensus with the agitating political parties.

Meanwhile, the leading political parties have begun fresh talks after the Supreme Court's order to let Parliament endorse the second Constitution amendment bill.

The main opposition Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist also hinted it would not obstruct the house meetings anymore.

The Speaker also held separate meetings with the leaders of other political parties to make her request for running the house.

Next house meeting has been scheduled for January 8.

Nepal Parliament Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar on Wednesday requested Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to forge consensus with the opposition parties before the next session of Parliament, the media reported.

The Speaker, who went to the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar, made the request in order to resume the house meetings, which had been disrupted since November 29, the Himalayan Times reported.

In response, Prachanda expressed his commitment to end the stalemate and forge consensus with the agitating political parties.

Meanwhile, the leading political parties have begun fresh talks after the Supreme Court's order to let Parliament endorse the second Constitution amendment bill.

The main opposition Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist also hinted it would not obstruct the house meetings anymore.

The Speaker also held separate meetings with the leaders of other political parties to make her request for running the house.

Next house meeting has been scheduled for January 8.

People in several parts of Delhi-NCR on Wednesday went around looking for functional ATMs, or waiting in queues before the ones dispensing cash, as the cash machines continued to perform below the official claims.

Almost all the ATMs in Mandavali, Lakshmi Nagar and Mother Dairy areas in East Delhi wore a forlorn look and failed to cough up any cash.

However, a couple of them did dispense cash in Mayur Vihar and Patparganj area.

In Yusuf Sarai area of south Delhi, ATMs of HDFC Bank and Axis Bank were found to be without cash.

The cash machines of several other banks were also either non-functional or without cash.

The situation was much worse in Noida Sector-16, only SBI's had cash and around 20 people queued up before it.

The ATMs of IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank stood like show pieces – either out of service or without cash.

A similar scenario was witnessed at Noida Sector 62, where none of the ATMs was found to be working.

"I have visited at least five-six ATMs and none had cash. I'll have to manage money again from bank this month," Sagar Arora, a manager at an insurance company there said.

It is over four days now since the 50-day period asked for by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for things to become normal got over, but the situation is yet to become normal.

Jharkhand's dreams of reaching their maiden Ranji Trophy final were on Wednesday dashed by India seamer Jasprit Bumrah's devastating spell, who guided his Gujarat side to their second final in 66 years, beating the first-timers by 123 runs here.

Gujarat's only other final came in 1950-51, when they lost to Holkar, in the tournament's 83-year history.

Bumrah, who was recently named by Cricket Australia (CA) in their One-Day International (ODI) Team of the Year, returned with figures of 6/29 to bundle Jharkhand out for a paltry 111 in their second innings at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground here.

Bumrah was well assisted by India discard Rudra Pratap Singh, who took 3/25 while Hardik Patel picked 1/46 to clinically finish the match within four days.

Chasing a modest 234, Jharkhand were off to a disastrous start, losing their openers Pratyush Singh (0) and Sumit Kumar (0) with just six runs on the board.

Thereafter, Jharkhand kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, only young Kaushal Singh (24) offering some resistance. But that was not enough as Bumrah and Co. kept on exerting the pressure on the side.

Earlier, resuming the day at 110/4, Gujarat rode on Manpreet Juneja (81) and Chirag Gandhi's (51) defiant efforts to post 252.

Juneja's 125-ball knock comprised of 12 hits to the fence while lower order batsman Gandhi consumed 105 deliveries and hit four boundaries and one over it.

For Jharkhand, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem once again turned out to be the wrecker-in-chief with figures of 5/69 while medium pacer Vikash Singh took 2/44.

Bumrah was adjudged the Player of the Match for his efforts.

In the final, Gujarat will lock horns with the winner of the other semi-final between defending champions Mumbai and Tamil Nadu, which is currently being played in Rajkot.

In a bid to ensure more participation of women in the electoral process, the Election Commission on Wednesday said that it has decided to make special arrangements in form of "all women managed polling stations" in the five states where assembly elections are to be held.

"As part of its firm commitment towards gender equality and greater constructive participation of women in the electoral process, the Commission has directed to set up 'All women managed polling stations' in each Assembly constituency," Chief Election Commissioner of India Nasim Zaidi told a press conference here. 

He also said that the entire polling staff, including the police and security personnel, in such centres shall be woman.

The EC's directions came in view of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

Looking at the customs and social practice of some areas, the EC also directed to separate polling stations for the women. 

"The Commission has directed that in areas where women folk feel inhibited in mingling with male members because of some local custom or social practice, a separate polling station for women can be provided after getting approval of the Election Commission," a statement said.

The Commission also elaborated that in big villages if two polling stations are to be provided for the village, one may be provided for male electors and the other for female electors. 

"In polling stations provided exclusively for women electors, polling personnel also should normally be women," it added.

China supports the Philippines in assuming the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2017, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday.

"China hopes to push relations with Asean to a new level," Xinhua news agency reported spokesman Geng Shuang as saying.

The Chinese government has always regarded Asean as a priority in its diplomacy with neighbouring countries, said Geng.

China and Asean commemorated the 25th anniversary of dialogue relations between the two sides in September 2016.

During the meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and leaders from the 10 Asean members agreed to lift China-Asean cooperation to a new level, which demonstrated the firm resolve of the two sides to deepen mutual trust and enhance cooperation, said Geng.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Asean and it is also the China-Asean year of tourism cooperation. 

A day after BJP state headquarters here was attacked allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters, BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday warned the ruling TMC to refrain from violence or be ready for consequences.

"If Trinamool tries to walk the path of violence, we will also not sit silently," the BJP leader said.

Vijayvargiya said Trinamool chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her MPs can be stopped from entering Delhi if an all-India party like the BJP decides to pay them back in the same coin.

"The TMC has a majority in Bengal but the BJP is present from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. If we also walk the path of violence, will Didi (Mamata Banerjee) be able to roam freely in the country? If the BJP decides to stop the Trinamool Congress MPs from entering Delhi, will they be able to get there?" the BJP leader said.

Trinamool Congress supporters threw stones at the Bharatiya Janata Party office in Central Kolkata after TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday in the Rose Valley chit fund scam.

The BJP leader accused City Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar of not taking adequate steps against TMC activists involved in the attack and said the party will demand a CBI probe against the officer.

"The Police Commissioner did not take steps against thousands of agitators who attacked the BJP office. He is the same person who destroyed important documents related to the Sarada chit fund scam. We will ask for a CBI probe into his involvement," he added.

President Pranab Mukherjee will send on Thursday a New Year message to the Governors and Lt. Governors of states and Union Territories through video conferencing from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The message will be delivered through the National Knowledge Network (NKN) platform.

The NKN project is aimed at establishing a strong and robust Indian network, capable of providing secure and reliable connectivity.

The Delhi government on Wednesday declared Aamir Khan starrer 'Dangal' tax free in the national capital for promoting sports.

“Dangal movie would be tax free in Delhi cinemas. Orders issued. It's an inspiring movie to promote sports-spirit by Aamir Khan,” Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Twitter.

Based on the life of Commonwealth Gold medalist wrestler Geeta Phogat, 'Dangal' entered the Rs.100 crore club within the first week of its release. It is already tax free in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

In a bid to reach out to maximum viewers, Aamir had applied for a tax redemption before the release of the film.

The United Naga Council (UNC) on Wednesday decided to intensify its protest in Manipur despite the Election Commission announcement for assembly elections.

Former UNC president K S Paul said they are left with no option than to intensify the economic blockade as the state government has failed to respond politically.

"The blockade will continue. Solving of Manipur's problems has to be done through dialogue between the parties in conflict. So far, the government of Manipur has failed to respond politically. We have no other option but to intensify the blockade, no matter what the Election Commission has announced regarding the polls in the state" Paul said.

Alleging that the state government has betrayed the Nagas, Paul doubts if the situation will be right for free and fair elections in the state.

"We have been betrayed by the Manipur government, as it did not consult us on the creation of seven new districts out of our ancestral land. We do not know whether the situation will be conducive for holding free and fair elections in the Naga areas of the state," Paul said.

EC on Wednesday announced that five states- Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa will go to polls between February 4 and March 8. Manipur will vote in two phases – March 4 and 8.

Maintaining that rights of the Nagas should not be compromised, Paul added that bulldozing the interests of the Nagas, particularly on the issue of our ancestral land, won't be compromised under any circumstances.

“We do not consider the Manipur government as a popular government, as the districts were created without consulting us," Paul said.

The state has been in turmoil due to the economic blockade called by UNC since November 1 protesting against the state government’s decision to upgrade Sadar Hills and Jiribam to full-fledged districts.

The protest intensified when the state government ignored the agitation and went ahead to declare 7 new districts- Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Noney, Kamjong, Jiribam and Kakching on December 8.

UNC condemned the creation of the new districts terming it as a deliberate act to suppress the rights of Nagas.

“The creation of new districts out of Naga territory without our consent is a deliberate act to suppress the rights of Nagas in the state” UNC said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hailing the decision of the Supreme Court to appoint a two-member committee to oversee reforms in the Cricket Board after the removal of two top BCCI officials, some Olympians and Arjuna Awardees from other disciplines on Wednesday backed ex-cricketers Bishen Bedi and Kirti Azad to undertake the task.

"The Hon. Supreme Court has given the onerous responsibility of suggesting names of eminent people who shall comprise a committee to oversee reforms in BCCI and state bodies which have been bedevilled by controversies and malfeasance," they said in a media statement following the apex court's ejection of Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke as President and Secretary of the BCCI.

"Kirti Azad and Bishen Bedi are amongst the two most eminent cricketers and administrators who have done yeoman service to the game of cricket by helping in the clean-up of the BCCI and should be first choices for being made members of the proposed committee to be suggested by Shri Anil Divan and Shri Gopal Subramanian," they said further.

"We request the Hon Supreme Court to kindly nominate Bishen Bedi and Kirti Azad, two experienced and fearless cricketers, in the proposed committee which will signal major reforms in BCCI and other Sports in due course," they added.

Among those backing Bedi and Azad were hockey Olympians Ashok Kumar, M K Kaushik, Gurbax Singh, Balbir Singh, Joaquim Carvalho, athletes Ashwini Nachappa, Reeth Abraham, Vandana Rao and Edward Sequeira, swimmer Nisha Millet and shuttler Jwala Gutta.

"With this proactive judgement of the Hon Supreme Court we are hopeful that the cleansing up of sports in India has just begun. 25 former Internationals, Olympians, Arjuna and Dronacharaya Awardees have already petitioned the Hon. Supreme Court to direct the Government to implement the Justice Lodha Committee Reforms/Guidelines across all sporting disciplines in the country," they remarked.

A court here on Wednesday granted bail to two more accused arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal case.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Arvind Kumar allowed the bail pleas of the former IAF chief SP Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan and said that "no purpose will be served by keeping (the) accused behind the bars".

The court asked the two to furnish personal bonds of Rs. 2 lakh and sureties of the like amount each.

"The correctness or otherwise of the allegations as to whether the accused has taken the kickbacks and in what manner he was connected with the same can only be looked into during the course of trial," the court said.

Both were directed not to leave Delhi without prior permission and join investigation whenever required. They were also warned against tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses in the case.

The court noted that the accused have roots in society.

Lawyer Pramod Kumar Dubey, while seeking bail for client Khaitan, argued that he has been falsely implicated and had joined investigation a number of times as and when called.

Former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi was arrested on December 9 but bailed out on December 26. The CBI has since moved Delhi High Court to seek cancellation of Tyagi's bail.

The CBI has alleged that Tyagi and the other accused received bribes from AgustaWestland and helped the manufacturer win the $530-million contract to purchase the helicopters for the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force for ferrying the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIPs.

The probe agency said the company was favoured in lieu of illegal gratification accepted through different companies in the name of consultancy services.

A FIR was registered against the accused on March 12, 2013, on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that the government has virtually taken over the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) role with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the shots on everything from demonetisation to rates cuts by banks.

"Virtually, government has taken over RBI's function and the central bank is stunned into silence. Tomorrow the government will stipulate who will get a loan and who will not," Chidambaram told BTVi in an interview

"The credibility took a further hit when the Prime Minister on December 31 announced that banks will reduce interest rates, working capital limits will be increased, cash credit will be increased. This was on Saturday and Sunday evening, the State Bank of India (SBI) announced a rate cut," he said, noting that while the government is entitled to nudge the banks, but making a formal announcement on interest rates cut is unprecedented. 

He said that demonetisation is also a good illustration of how RBI surrendered to the government compromising its independence and autonomy. 

"If RBI was pulling out Rs 15.40 lakh crore from circulation, it should have told the government that they quickly need to remonetise the economy. If not Rs 15.40 lakh crore, but at least Rs 10 20 lakh crore. But apparently they did not as the agenda of the board meet did not disclose these numbers. That's why they are reluctant to disclose the minutes of the meeting," Chidambaram said. 

The total amount of high denomination currency circulating in the system on November 8 was Rs 15.44 lakh crore or $225 billion (Rs 8.58 lakh crore in Rs 500 notes and Rs 6.86 lakh crore in Rs 1,000).

Alleging that demonetisation was a pre-scripted performance by the government where everyone was asked to play its role, Chidambaram said: "We need to know if in the RBI board meeting, there was any dissent."

RBI, in response to an RTI plea, has refused to reveal the minutes of the board meeting wherein demonetisation was discussed saying it will compromise the security of the nation and the people.

Chidambaram said that no earlier RBI Governor had thought that demonetisation would turn around the economy. 

"Now we have a governor, who after 64-65 days of assuming office, is suddenly saying that demonetisation is the way to turn around economy, given the turbulence in the world economy. Why did they hit upon the completely disruptive move. Nobody has been able to justify the move, nor the Prime Minister nor the RBI governor," he added.

He said that RBI Governor Urjit Patel has not given details of the new currency being pushed into the system, which shows "that demonetisation was poorly conceived, badly planned and terribly executed".

He added that in October 2014, the then RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan had opposed demonetisation.

"In October 2014, Rajan was totally opposed to demonetisation. There is a note given by RBI to the government listing the demerits of demonetisation. It is an official note with the PM's office," he said.