Former Puducherry Agriculture Minister VMC Sivakumar was hacked to death by an unidentified gang here on Tuesday, police said.

Sivakumar was on his way to inspect construction work when his car was blocked by the gang at Neravy-TR Pattinam near Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district and attacked with sickles, police said.

He was rushed to government hospital, where he was declared brought dead, they said.

67-year-old Sivakumar is survived by wife, two sons and two daughters.

He was the speaker of Puducherry Assembly from 1996 to 2000.

Sivakumar was MLA for five terms – four times on DMK ticket and once as independent – since 1980 representing Neravy-TR Pattinam constituency.He is now with AIADMK.

BJP never did nor will it do politics of religious polarisation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, stressing that the "secular" parties need to be cautious in the wake of the Supreme Court order that candidates should not seek votes in the name of religion, caste or creed.

Asked if his party will raise the issue of Ram temple in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Singh said the matter is sub-judice.

"After the Supreme Court order, the so-called secular parties should be cautious," he said, adding that the court was "absolutely right" and politics should not involve caste or religion.

"BJP neither did politics of polarisation nor will it do in future. I feel if it was doing politics of polarisation, it would not have got clear majority in Parliament.

"It is for the first time that a non-Congress party has got clear majority in Parliament. Now to accuse that political party and its workers and volunteers is not right," he said.

On the Supreme Court order, he said, "Whatever Supreme Court has said is absolutely right. I fully agree with whatever the apex court has said.

"Politics should not be on the lines of caste, cult or religion. Politics should be only in the name of humanity and justice.

Deepika Padukone’s much anticipated Hollywood debut ‘xXx: The Return of Xander cage’ is all set to release in India on January 14, 2017.

Deepika, who has started with the promotions of the film with Vin Diesel in all key international markets had suggested Vin Diesel to visit India for the promotions of the movie.

Confirming his arrival, Deepika posted a tweet in HindiI on Tuesday for Vin Diesel. In the tweet, she wrote, "विन, इंडिया बेसब्री से तुम्हारा इंतज़ार कर रहा है! जल्द ही मुलाकात होगी, १२ और १३ जनवरी को! हम सबका ढेर सारा प्यार!"
 
Vin Diesel, who has already ruled Indian hearts with his top-grossing flick ‘Fast and Furious’ opposite Paul Walker, is all set to expand his fan base in India with his next ‘xXx: The Return of Xander cage’.
 
Deepika plays a huntress in the movie and her rapport with Vin Diesel has been instrumental in giving rise to umpteen anticipation. The film is also said to release in India before any other country.

Directed by DJ Caruso, the action thriller is a sequel to the 2002 film 'xXx' and '2005 film xXx: State of the Union'.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is gearing up for the release of "Raees", will be seen promoting the action crime thriller film on popular reality show "Bigg Boss 10", which is hosted by Salman Khan.

Shah Rukh and Salman recreated the "Karan Arjun" moment when they appeared together on an episode in the ninth season of "Bigg Boss", when Shah Rukh promoted "Dilwale".

They will shoot together again for the semi-finale episode of "Bigg Boss 10" on January 20 on the show's set here, read a statement from channel Colors.

They will be seen having a lot of fun over interesting tasks and games.

Shah Rukh and Salman's onscreen chemistry was loved by all in the recently aired 23rd annual Star Screen Awards 2016, which they co-hosted.

Set against the backdrop of the prohibition in Gujarat, "Raees" touches upon the way alcohol industry crumbled and several illegal activities followed. 

In the film, Shah Rukh essays the title role of Raees, a bootlegger. 

Directed by Rahul Dholakia, "Raees" also stars Nawazzuddin Siddiqui and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan. It is slated to release on January 25, 2017.

Amid higher opening of European markets, Indian equity markets erased initial declines and closed Tuesday’s trading session with marginal gains.

The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended 48 points higher at 26,643 and the Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed 13 points up at 8,192.

Broader markets outperformed the key benchmark indices. BSE Midcap index jumped 0.6 per cent while Smallcap index surged over 1 per cent.

Among the BSE sectoral indices, Consumer Durables index jumped the most, up 3 per cent, while Telecom index became the top loser, down 1.6 per cent.

On Monday, the Sensex had closed 31 points down at 26,595 and the Nifty had ended six points down at 8,180.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Power Grid (up 2.5 per cent), Coal India (up 2.1 per cent), Axis Bank (up 1.9 per cent), Gail (up 1.1 per cent) and ICICI Bank (up 1.1 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: Bharti Airtel (down 2.9 per cent), Hero Motocorp (down 1.4 per cent), Tata Motors (down 1.3 per cent), Tata Steel (down 1 per cent) and Wipro (down 0.9 per cent).

However, the Rupee was trading 10 paise down at 68.32 against the US Dollar.

Singer Sam Hunt has got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Hannah Lee Fowler, his representative has confirmed.

"Sam and Hannah are engaged," Hunt's representative told people.com.

No further details are known about when Hunt got engaged, but he released a new personal song called "Drinkin' Too Much" on New Year's Eve, in which he sings about trying to win Fowler back.

In the new tune, Hunt apologised to Fowler for bringing her into the spotlight. 

"I'm sorry I named the album Montevallo…I'm sorry people know your name now and strangers hit you up on social media… I'm sorry you can't listen to the radio… I know you want your privacy… You've got nothing to say to me…But I wish you'd let me pay off your student loans with these songs you gave to me," he sings. 

The first trial on a parliamentary motion to impeach South Korean President Park Geun-hye ended on Tuesday with Park, the principal of the trial, not in attendance.

The first hearing was wrapped up just in nine minutes as Park refused to appear in the constitutional court, Xinhua news agency reported.

The second date for pleading was set for Thursday and the third was scheduled for next Tuesday.

By law, the court is allowed to continue the legal proceedings if the principal refuses to appear.

Four former presidential secretaries will appear as witnesses on Thursday, while two senior presidential advisors as well as Choi Soon-sil, Park's longtime confidante at the centre of the influence-peddling scandal, will be summoned in the third trial.

Attending the first trial were nine justices on the bench, three lawmakers of the National Assembly's impeachment committee and nine defence counsels for Park.

The three lawmakers assisted by 11 counsels have played prosecutors' role as the impeachment bill is on trial in the court, not in a court of law.

Park was impeached in the unicameral assembly on December 9. The court has up to 180 days to deliberate, but the judges are widely forecast to rule as early as late February to shorten the period of power vacuum.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn temporarily assumed presidential power, acting as a caretaker President.
 

Following in the footsteps of former world champion L Sarita Devi, Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist boxer Pinki Jangra has decided to turn professional but will not give up on her amateur career either.

The former national champion has signed up with the Sporty Boxing Private Limited, the commercial arm of the Indian Boxing Council (IBC), a licensing body for professional boxers in India.

Pinki, who was a part of the ongoing national camp here, will now be training at the National Boxing Academy in Rohtak, where the IBC is currently conducting a camp for its women boxers.

"I have decided to turn professional but I have not given up on my amateur career either. I am still aspiring for the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year. I have turned professional to gain in strength and endurance," Pinki told PTI.

"The International Boxing Association has already ended the amateur-professional distinction by allowing professionals in National International tournaments. So I thought this is the right time to explore something new," she added.

Pinki, in all probability, will make her professional debut along with Sarita Devi in a January 19 event against a yet-to-be-finalised opponent.

The flyweight boxer, who was once seen as a rival to the legendary MC Mary Kom, had been laid low by a wrist injury, which also forced her out of the National Championships in Haridwar last year.

Among her accomplishments in the amateur circuit is an Asian Championships silver medal and the rare credit of beating Mary Kom in a National Championship.

"I will remain in flyweight and if all goes well, I will look to win the national title in three-four months' time. After that, I will challenge for the Asian and world title as well," she explained.

"Basically, I want to gain in strength and endurance, which I feel can come from training in the professional circuit," she said.

"I remain a boxer who will compete for India. Nothing changes apart from the fact that I would trying myself in a slightly different version of the sport," she added.

The Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday had an informal luncheon meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and congratulated him on the excellent arrangements made by his government for the historic 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh.

Capt was in Patna to participate in the historic 350th birth anniversary celebrations of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. He, along with AICC in-charge of Congress affairs Asha Kumari, met Nitish after offering prayers at the holy Takht Shri Harmindar Ji at Patna Sahib. Capt and Asha Kumari used the opportunity to formally invite the Bihar chief minister to come to Punjab and campaign for the Congress in the coming assembly elections.

“We just had an informal chat over lunch,” said Capt, adding that there was no political agenda for the meeting and the Bihar Chief Minister had merely extended to him the courtesy of inviting him for lunch.

Former Australia cricketer Arthur Morris was on Tuesday inducted into the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Hall of Fame by ex-skipper Steve Waugh during the tea break on the opening day of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan here.

Morris, who became the 82nd player to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, was given the honour posthumously. His wife Judith Morris received a personalised cap from Waugh, himself an ICC Cricket Hall of Famer. Cricket Australia Chairman David Peever was also present at the occasion.

According to a release, Judith said on occasion: "It is a great honour to be receiving this award, which brings in a flood of memories along with it. I thank the ICC for recognising my husband's contribution to cricket by inducting him into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame."

Steve Waugh said: "Cricket has developed over the years and decades due to the contribution of players who entertained the crowds with their attractive game and made contests memorable due to their steely resolve. Arthur Morris was one such cricketer and that is why he is remembered even so many years after he played the game."

"I congratulate his family for this big honour and commend this gesture by the ICC to recognise his impact on the game of cricket."

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said in a message: "Arthur Morris is among the best left-handed openers that the game has ever seen. He was a key member of ‘Bradman's Invincibles' with an exceptional average, especially for an opening batsman. He was a courageous batsman whose temperament and style of play was praised liberally, even by Bradman."

"He is a deserving recipient of this honour and I have great pleasure in congratulating his family on behalf of the ICC."

Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Bedi, Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble are the Indians in the elite list.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer was shot and wounded by militants on Tuesday in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Police said the militants fired at an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Muran Chowk, about 40 km from here.

"It was apparently a hit-and-run attack. The trooper has been shifted to the Army's Base Hospital in Srinagar where his condition is said to be stable," a police official said.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer was shot and wounded by militants on Tuesday in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Police said the militants fired at an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Muran Chowk, about 40 km from here.

"It was apparently a hit-and-run attack. The trooper has been shifted to the Army's Base Hospital in Srinagar where his condition is said to be stable," a police official said.

The RBI on Tuesday said the supply of currency notes in rural areas was not adequate and asked banks to send at least 40 per cent of the supply to their rural branches.

"The bank notes, being supplied to rural areas, at present, are not commensurate with the requirements of the rural population," the Reserve Bank of India said in a notification. 

With a view to ensure that at least 40 per cent bank notes were supplied to rural areas, the banks were advised to increase the issue of currency towards the main channels of distribution in these areas.

"Banks should advise their currency chests to step up issuance of fresh notes to rural branches of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and commercial banks, white label ATMs and post offices on priority basis which are considered main rural channels of distribution," it said.

RBI asked the banks to issue notes in denominations of Rs 500 and below in rural areas with liberal issuance of existing stock of notes below Rs 100.

It also asked the bank chests to obtain supply of coins on priority basis and if required even get it issued from the central bank.

As the rural requirements could vary depending on variations in the rural and urban mix of each district, a certain percentage of allocation has been assigned to each district by RBI to facilitate a need based approach.

"The indicated proportion may be maintained on weekly average basis at each chest level as it may be difficult to stick to the proportion on daily basis," RBI said.

 Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra says one of her original reasons for producing the forthcoming Punjabi film "Sarvann" was to include her late fathers rendition of a ‘shabad.

"My father Dr. Ashok Chopra's rendition of the famous shabad by Guru Gobind Singhji. ‘Sarvann'," Priyanka tweeted on Tuesday with a link to the track.

"One of my original reasons for making ‘Sarvann'. Can't wait to share it with you all. Miss you dad," added the National Award winner.

Priyanka said: "He had recorded the song and we meant to release it, but then he fell ill… It really feels like he's next to me when I hear it."

Her father — who was a retired doctor from the Indian Army — died in 2013 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Priyanka was very close to him, and she has the words "Daddy's little girl" tattooed on her wrist.

In 2010, Priyanka had launched her father's debut devotional music album "Haal Mureedan Da Kehna", which had verses from the Guru Granth Sahib.

"Sarvann" is the second production from Priyanka's home banner Purple Pebble Pictures. It features Amrinder Gill along with Ranjit Bawa and Simi Chahal. Directed by Karaan Guliani, it is a story of a young NRI returning to India to find his roots. The film is releasing on January 13.
 

In what could come as a good news for taxpayers in the new year, the Income Tax department has asked its officials to resolve their grievances within 30 days time.

The department's new wing called the 'Directorate of Tax Payer Services' has asked all the regional heads of the I-T to ensure that "there are no grievances aged more than 30 days pending at any level" pertaining to complaints of refunds, PAN issues and other Income Tax-related subjects.

In a communication, the Directorate has also underlined the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his review meetings in this regard has "stressed upon adhering to the timeline of 30 days for the redressal of a particular grievance".

"One of the major reasons for delay in the grievance redressal is failure to identify competent officer to redress the grievance and lack of knowledge of recent circulars or instructions," the communication said, adding if the person (tax official) dealing with the grievance identifies the competent I-T authority, "a lot of time can be saved".

The Directorate has also directed the taxman that in case the grievance does not pertain to the authority directed by the CBDT, it "should be transferred back in not more than five days time." 

The Directorate, nodal wing for all taxpayer grievances pan-India, has suggested that the official handling the grievance should give "due attention to the grievance at hand" and ensure that the required action is undertaken without any delay.

The communication added that any action like referring the matter to the Bengaluru-based Central Processing Centre (CPC) of the I-T department (where I-T Returns are e-filed) or a similar centre for Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) processes in Ghaziabad near here, should be intimated in case the issue requires their intervention.

"Sometimes the Assessing Authority fails to understand the processes and sends back the grievance to a wrong person.

All these issues can be addressed if the assessing officer or the concerned authority gives due attention to the grievance at hand," it said.

It noted that regular monitoring of grievances via the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) by the field formations of the department has resulted in "better performance" by the department and the number of such issues pending between 181-365 days has "substantially gone down." 

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policy- making body for the tax department, had last year created a new setup in the I-T establishment to put focus on taxpayers' grievances and hence the new Directorate came up.

The PM had underlined that his government desires to ensure better taxpayer services as he said he wants to remove the fear of the taxman hounding the people by ushering in accountability and answerability in his Independence Day speech last year from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

The controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been extended for another six months in Nagaland, an official said on Tuesday.

"The Union Home Ministry in a notification on December 30, extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, in the entire area of Nagaland for another six months, a Nagaland home department official said.

The notification issued by the Home Ministry's Joint Secretary Satyendra Garg said that the Centre was of the opinion that the area comprising the entire state of Nagaland was in such a "disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary".

Rights groups, various civil societies and political parties, specially the tribal-based parties in Northeastern states described the law as "draconian" and have been demanding its withdrawal as the act gave huge powers to the Army and para-military forces to conduct operations anywhere in the disturb areas without any prior notice.

Besides Nagaland, the AFSPA is also in force in Manipur (excluding the Imphal Municipal Council area), some parts of Assam and in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Manipur's Irom Sharmila Chanu was on hunger strike since 2000 demanding the repeal of the Act. She however, withdrew the strike in August 2016.

The Left-ruled Tripura in May 2015 had withdrawn the AFSPA which gave sweeping powers and judicial immunity to security forces in conflict-hit areas. The law was enforced in the state 19 years ago to curb terrorism.

The central government, various political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress hailed the Tripura government's decision.

The Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) had entered into a ceasefire agreement in August 1997. Around 60 rounds of talks were held to end the insurgency that was said to have claimed 25,000 lives since 1947.

The central government had also appointed interlocutor R.N. Ravi to continue the peace process with the NSCN (IM).

The NSCN (IM) has been fighting for an independent Nagaland for over six decades. But since the peace talks began, it has scaled down the demand to a "Greater Nagaland", including parts of three neighbouring states to unite areas inhabited by around 1.5 million Nagas.

Three Northeastern states — Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh — have opposed the demand.

The RBI on Tuesday said the supply of currency notes in rural areas was not adequate and asked banks to send at least 40 per cent of the supply to their rural branches.

"The bank notes, being supplied to rural areas, at present, are not commensurate with the requirements of the rural population," the Reserve Bank of India said in a notification. 

With a view to ensure that at least 40 per cent bank notes were supplied to rural areas, the banks were advised to increase the issue of currency towards the main channels of distribution in these areas.

"Banks should advise their currency chests to step up issuance of fresh notes to rural branches of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and commercial banks, white label ATMs and post offices on priority basis which are considered main rural channels of distribution," it said.

RBI asked the banks to issue notes in denominations of Rs.500 and below in rural areas with liberal issuance of existing stock of notes below Rs.100.

It also asked the bank chests to obtain supply of coins on priority basis and if required even get it issued from the central bank.

As the rural requirements could vary depending on variations in the rural and urban mix of each district, a certain percentage of allocation has been assigned to each district by RBI to facilitate a need based approach.

"The indicated proportion may be maintained on weekly average basis at each chest level as it may be difficult to stick to the proportion on daily basis," RBI said.