Live: Russia may try to split country, says Ukraine intelligence

Live news updates: India will resume scheduled international flights from Sunday; Joe Biden meets Ukraine ministers and Polish president.

11:51 PM

Innocent people needn't worry: JK Police on attaching properties of those harbouring militants

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday said innocent people need not to worry about attaching properties of those giving shelter to militants, saying it has the skill and knowledge to segregate the chaff from grains.

Honest and innocent citizens don't have to worry a bit about the implementation of #law regarding action against house owners in whose house #terrorists come to hide at gunpoint. Law already provides protection to such persons and police will go by law, Kashmir Zone Police said on its Twitter handle.

The police said it is also aware that agents of terrorists and separatist leaders from time to time cleverly push terrorists into innocent citizens' houses to damage them.

@JmuKmrPolice has the skill and knowledge to segregate the chaff from grains. But law will not spare the rest, it said.

Police has warned that properties of people providing shelter to militants or their associates will be attached under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

However, they said action will be taken only if the house owner "wilfully harboured terrorists" and there was no duress.

11:50 PM

El Salvador declares state of emergency amid killings

El Salvador's congress granted President Nayib Bukele request to declare a state of emergency early Sunday amid a wave of gang-related killings over the weekend.

Fourteen people were killed Friday and 62 people died Saturday, a scale of violence that has not been seen for years. By comparison, there were 79 homicides in the entire month of February.

Bukele announced the request Saturday in his social media accounts, and congress approved it early Sunday. The decree would suspend constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly and loosen arrest rules for as much as thirty days, but could be extended.

The homicides appeared linked to the country's notorious street gangs, who effectively control many neighbourhoods in the capital. The National Police reported they has captured five leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13, who they claimed ordered the weekend killings.

Bukele announced the request in his social media accounts, and taunted those who opposed the measure, saying: Is the opposition coming out to defend the gang members?

While Bukele has tried to project a tough attitude on crime, the country's enormously powerful street gangs have proved a double-edged sword for him.

We must remind the people of El Salvador that what is happening now is due to the negligence of those who protected criminals," the conservative Arena party said in a statement.

That was an apparent reference to a December report by the US Treasury Department that said Bukele's government secretly negotiated a truce with leaders of the gangs. That contradicted Bukele's denials and raised tensions between the two nations.

 

11:43 PM

BJP fears AAP's rising footprints: Sisodia on Shah's Chandigarh announcement

After Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Chandigarh administration employee's service conditions will be aligned to that of the central civil services, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday took a dig at the BJP, saying it is scared of the "rising footprints" of the AAP

Taking to Twitter soon after the home minister's statement in Chandigarh, the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said Shah did not take away Chandigarh powers when the Congress was ruling in Punjab.

But soon after the AAP formed its government in Punjab, the home minister announced the move as "the BJP is scared of rising footprints" of the AAP, Sisodia said.

Earlier in Chandigarh, Shah said that the service conditions of employees of the Chandigarh Union Territory administration will now be aligned to that of the central civil services and this will benefit them in a "big way".

He also said that women employees will now get child care leave of two years from the current one year.

"I want to give a good news to employees of the Chandigarh administration. From today, service conditions of employees of the Chandigarh administration will now be aligned to that of the central civil services. You (employees) are going to benefit in a big way," Shah said.

11:26 PM

French Navy Chief scheduled to begin 3-day India visit on Monday

Chief of French Navy Admiral Pierre Vandier is set to begin a three-day visit to India on Monday with an aim to explore further boosting bilateral maritime cooperation, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, people familiar with the development said.

As his visit comes in the midst of the crisis in Ukraine, both sides are expected to deliberate on the possible implications of the conflict for the Indo-Pacific region, they said on Sunday.

Admiral Vandier is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart Admiral R Hari Kumar as well as Army Chief Gen MM Naravane and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari.

"The visit is aimed at further enhancing bilateral maritime security cooperation," said one of the people cited above.

The visit by the French Navy Chief comes over a month after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to Paris.

During the visit, Jaishankar said India looks at France as a "trusted" partner in countering myriad security challenges from the seabed to space and from cyber to oceans.

The maritime cooperation between India and France has witnessed a major expansion in the last few years.

The Indian and French navies in April last year carried out a mega wargame in the Arabian Sea in the backdrop of growing concern over China's growing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean region.

11:16 PM

US favours negotiated end to Ukraine war, says Congressman Ro Khanna

An influential Indian-American Congressman said on Sunday that the United States is in favour of a negotiated end to the Ukrainian war and that has to be with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a settlement.

Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna made the remarks in an interview to Fox News, a day after US President Joe Biden in his unscripted remarks in Europe indicated that he wants Putin to be out of power.

"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden had said.

His comment drew widespread international attention, with observers wondering if Biden was advocating for a regime change in Moscow.

The White House later pushed back, and clarified that Biden is not advocating regime change.

Khanna reiterated that the US was in favour of a negotiated end to the Ukrainian war and that has to come with Putin as a settlement.

I think the White House has been clear, they have been disciplined and they've said, we need a negotiated end to this war. That has to be with Putin as a settlement. It's not the policy of regime change. There's no support in the Democratic Congress for a regime change. We've been the party against regime change for the past 20 years, Khanna explained.

He, however, acknowledged that Putin would take advantage of the situation.

10:56 PM

Jaishankar concludes 'productive' visit to the Maldives

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday concluded his "productive" visit to the Maldives during which he held discussions with the country's top leadership on wide ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation.

"Completed a productive visit to Addu, Maldives. Thank President @ibusolih and Foreign Minister @abdulla_shahid," he tweeted.

In another tweet, Jaishankar said he is "leaving Addu with so many warm memories".

During his visit here, Jaishankar called on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and held discussions with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on wide ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation.

He also inaugurated a number of India-supported projects and firm up several agreements to further bolster bilateral cooperation.

Tweeting a video clip, Jaishankar said, "For those who want to see Indian project delivery abroad now, see the clip on the Maldives Police Academy inaugurated today."

The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the bilateral defence and security ties have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years.

 

10:50 PM

Birbhum killings: CBI questions arrested TMC leader, records statement of injured in hospital

CBI sleuths probing the Birbhum carnage on Sunday interrogated arrested local Trinamool Congress leader Anarul Hossain and other accused persons, besides recording the statement of those who were injured in the violence.

Experts of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Delhi, who arrived here on Friday, collected samples from the place of occurrence in Bogtui village, which is almost deserted following the gruesome incident on the night of March 21.

CBI officers also visited the village near here, where eight people were charred to death after their houses were set on fire, in a suspected fallout of a local TMC panchayat leader's murder.

A team of CRPF personnel are providing security to the sleuths of the central agency, who are investigating the case on a Calcutta High Court order.

Earlier, a state government formed SIT was conducting an enquiry.

Anarul Hossain, who was arrested by the police within hours of a directive by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday to hunt down all accused including her party workers and leaders, was taken to the CBI camp office from Rampurhat police station in the morning and was interrogated by the agency's officers.

Hossain, a former TMC president of Rampurhat block-I, was questioned along with two others accused, a CBI officer said.

The Calcutta High Court had directed the state police to hand over custody of all arrested persons in connection with the case to the CBI.

Another team of CBI officials visited the Rampurhat hospital on Sunday and recorded the statement of the four injured persons.

"They spoke to the patients; I was there," Superintendent of the government hospital, Dr Palash Das, told reporters.

The sleuths could not question a woman, who has suffered over 60 per cent burns, as her condition is still not okay to take questions.

 

10:41 PM

India ought to condemn Putin, says influential Indian American Congressman

An influential Indian American Congressman on Sunday said India ought to be condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine and New Delhi should not be getting oil from Russia or China.

Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives and has been critical of India's current policy on Russia, said it is time for New Delhi to pick sides.

I've been clear actually on India, and I think India ought to be condemning Putin and India ought not to be getting oil from Russia or China. We ought to rally the world to isolate Putin, Khanna told Fox News in an interview.

Khanna is also the vice chair of the US India Caucus, the largest country-specific caucus in the House of Representatives.

First India should condemn Putin in the UN for the blatant human rights violations. Second, they need to realise, they have to pick sides, he asserted.

We, the United States, were with them when China invaded India. Putin wasn't there. And it's time for them to buy weapons from the United States, not Russia. We've got to look at how we can facilitate that and make that easier. We need India as an ally ultimately to contain China, Khanna said.

In recent weeks, several top American Senators have expressed deep disappointment over India's position on the Ukrainian crisis. This includes Senate John Cornyn, Republican co-chair of the Senate India Caucus and Indian American Congressman Dr Ami Bera.

 

10:39 PM

Maha invokes MESMA to bar staff of state-run power cos from joining strike

Ahead of the two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions on March 28-29, the Maharashtra government on Sunday invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) barring employees of state-run electricity companies from joining the protest.

Maharashtra Power Minister Nitin Raut confirmed the invocation of MESMA.

According to government sources, electricity consumption in Maharashtra has already gone up at present and there is also a coal shortage in the state.

Staging a strike at this juncture will cause inconvenience to farmers, industries and the people in general, the sources said.

The government has so far ensured that there is no load shedding in Maharashtra despite the coal shortage and financial concerns. However, if the strike happens at this juncture, it will result in load shedding.

The government does not want this to happen. People should not be inconvenienced and hence, MESMA has been invoked in the state today, the minister said.

Sources also said that the government is open to talking with representatives of unions of employees attached to the state's power companies like Maharashtra State Power Generation Company, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company over their concerns.

The employees are against the alleged privatisation of power companies in the state and, therefore, want to join the nationwide strike called by the trade unions.

 

10:27 PM

Imran Khan says he has proof of foreign money being used to topple his govt

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said that attempts are being made through foreign money to change the government in Pakistan.

He claimed to be in possession of evidence that he said would prove his point, the Dawn reported.

"The letter I have is proof and I want to dare anyone who is doubting this letter. I will invite them off the record. We have to decide for how long we will have to live like this. We are getting threats. There are many things about foreign conspiracy which will be shared very soon.

"Mostly inadvertently, but some people are using money against us. We know from what places attempts are being to pressure us. We have been threatened in writing but we will not compromise on national interest," he said, in his address at the party rally in Islamabad, Dawn reported.

"The nation wants to know who the man sitting in London is meeting with and whose directions the characters based in Pakistan are following? I am revealing the proofs we have. I cannot talk more in detail because I have to protect the interest of my country. I cannot talk about anything that harms my country. I could have told you about it. I do not fear anyone but I care about Pakistan's interest," he added.

At the rally, billed as one of the "biggest" rallies in his party's history at the Parade Ground in Islamabad as the Opposition gears up to oust him from office through the no-confidence motion, the voting for which is scheduled to take place on Monday, Imran Khan had earlier called out the "corrupt" opposition leaders and said that whether he loses his government or his life, he will never forgive them, Geo News reported.

10:25 PM

MPs from various parties visit Baramati to study development

MPs from various parties are on a two-day visit to Baramati in Pune district of Maharashtra to study various development works.

Baramati is the home turf of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar.

"MPs from various parties came to Baramati on a two-day study tour to see various development works, executed by Ajit Pawar and the Baramati model, which was put forth by NCP chief Sharad Pawar," said Baramati MP Supriya Sule, daughter of the NCP chief, on Sunday.

The delegation of MPs visited various works in the fields of education, agriculture, artificial intelligence, innovation, and investment in MIDC areas, she said.

The MPs deliberated on various aspects of these projects and their implementation.

10:24 PM

Congress leader Ripunath Seth dies of cardiac arrest

Congress leader and former Odisha minister, Ripunath Seth, died following a cardiac arrest at his native place in Bargarh district on Sunday, his family said.

The 64-year-old former minister had complained of chest pain after which he was rushed to a private hospital and then shifted to Barpali Community Health Centre where he died.

Seth, who was elected to the Odisha Assembly from the Bijepur constituency in 1995, had started his political career as the chairman of Barpali notified area council (NAC).

He had also unsuccessfully contested from the Bijepur seat in 2019 against Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Leaders cutting across party lines and people of the Barpali area gathered at the late politician's residence to pay their last respects.

The chief minister expressed grief over Seth's death.

10:23 PM

Rajasthan BJP demands arrest of Cong MLA's son, 4 others booked for raping girl

The opposition BJP in Rajasthan on Sunday demanded the arrest of the Congress MLA's son accused of raping a 15-year-old girl, with one office bearer asking Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit the state, reminding her of her "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign.

BJP state secretary Jitendra Gothwal challenged Gandhi to come to Jaipur, and tweeted that he has sent her a train ticket.

Congress MLA from Rajgarh constituency (Alwar) Johari Lal Meena's son Deepak Meena and four other people have been booked for allegedly raping the minor girl in February 2021. The case was registered on Friday on the basis of a complaint lodged by the girl's family. Police have identified Deepak Meena as the key accused.

"Congress MLA's son has raped a minor in Rajasthan. The minor girl is not able to fight against the power of the MLA. @priyankagandhi ji, I am sending a train ticket for you. Come to Jaipur immediately. 'There are girls in Rajasthan too and they are not able to fight'," Gothwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

Gandhi had come out with the poll slogan "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon (I am a girl and can fight)" ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Sikar MP Swami Sumedhanand said law and order has deteriorated in the state.

"The accused should be arrested. The party is going to take up the issue to mount pressure on the government," Sumedhanand told reporters here.

"Atrocities against women have increased, but the government is not bothered," he added.

10:22 PM

Cong names Jenny Thummar Gujarat Mahila Cong chief

The Congress on Sunday appointed Jenny Thummar as the president of the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Congress.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed Thummar as head of the party's women's wing in the state where polls are slated to be held later this year.

She replaced Gayatriba Waghela as head of the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Congress.

"I thank Hon'ble Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji and Shri @RahulGandhi for the organisational change in Gujarat. My best wishes to Ms @Jenny_IYC for being appointed as @GujaratPMC President," Mahila Congress chief Netta D'Souza tweeted.

Last week, the Congress appointed 25 vice-presidents and 75 general secretaries to the party's revamped Gujarat unit.

9:52 PM

Axe falls on Bihar minister Mukesh Sahani after BJP demands his sacking

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday sacked Mukesh Sahani, a cabinet minister and founding chief of Vikassheel Insaan Party, who was brought into the NDA in the thick of the last assembly elections by the BJP, which is now at odds with him.

According to highly placed sources, Kumar recommended Sahani's expulsion from the cabinet to the Governor in the evening, after a written submission to the effect by the BJP, hours after the minister for fishery and animal husbandry was given the ultimatum to withdraw forthwith a recent notification.

State BJP spokesman Arvind Kumar Singh said in a statement our Bihar unit chief had asked Sahani, who seems hell-bent upon stabbing those in the back who healed his wounds, to mend his ways. But he did not. He brought in a notification which had greatly angered the machhuara' (fishermen) community in whose name he had sought to build his political edifice.

Sahani, a former Bollywood set designer, had entered the BJP's bad books after he repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while campaigning for assembly elections in the adjoining state where his party contested more than 50 seats but sunk without a trace.

A self-proclaimed leader of the fishermen's community who uses the nickname Son of Mallah, Manjhi had twisted the knife by fielding candidates against a number of BJP nominees in elections for 24 legislative council seats.

The BJP struck back, fielding its own candidate for by-poll in Bochahan assembly segment which has fallen vacant upon the death of a VIP MLA, and left Sahani blindsided last week when it wrested all the remaining three assembly members who had won on tickets of the fledgling party.

Formerly with the RJD-led Grand Alliance, Sahani had quit the opposition camp after elections were announced, accusing Tejashwi Yadav of giving him a raw deal. A meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi was followed by his entry into the NDA.

His party won four seats even though Sahani himself lost, but the BJP, which has been working to win over OBCs and shedding its pro-upper caste label, helped him clinch a cabinet berth and facilitated the same by getting him elected to the legislative council.

Recently, Sanjay Jaiswal had also claimed that Sahani had been asked to merge his party with the BJP within six months of the 2020 elections but the VIP chief reneged on the promise as ambition got the better of him.

However, Sahani has denied having struck such a deal and claimed that the terms and conditions of his entry into NDA were known only to Shah.