India

Chennai, May 17 (PTI) Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, who is at the centre of a raging row over his Hindu extremist remarks, Friday said "every religion has its own terrorists" and that no one can claim to be sanctimonious.

The Makkal Needhi Maiam chief also said that he was not afraid of being arrested but warned any such action would escalate tensions.

Imphal, May 17 (PTI) Contending that the BJP does not pay heed to its ideas and suggestions, the NPF, a partner in the saffron party-led alliance in the state, has convened a meeting of its leaders on Saturday to decide if it would continue to stay in the coalition or withdraw support.

Denying the allegation, the BJP said it has extended all possible cooperation to its partners to ensure smooth functioning of the government.

Jammu, May 17 (PTI) Curfew remained clamped in Bhaderwah valley of Doda district for the second day on Friday following violent protests by members of a community against killing of a person.

The Doda district administration refuted media reports that "cow vigilantism" was the reason behind the murder and said some people were trying to give communal colour to the incident.

The Army has been deployed in the town besides additional security personnel being posted in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.

Kanpur: Today is World Communication Day and we have now been experiencing the famous line of Duniya mutthi mein. Let us know about the first landline connection released in the name of the Nagar Nigam's chief health officer Radha Raman Srivastava in the district on August 27, 1947.

New Delhi, May 16; PTI/GANASHAKTI:  The Congress on Thursday accused the Election Commission of losing its credibility and independence and said time has come to review the process of the poll panel's appointment.

Asking whether the model code of conduct had become the "Modi code of misconduct", Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Election Commission order curtailing campaigning in West Bengal by 20 hours is a "dark spot" on India's democracy and institutions like the poll panel.

Mumbai, May 15; GANASHAKTI: Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt on Wednesday condemned the desecration of the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during a road show violence in Kolkata, saying the attack on the social reformer is akin to an attack on the Bengali language.

Clashes broke out between BJP supporters and student activists and those of the Left and Trinamool Congress Chatra Parishad (TMCP) during BJP President Amit Shah's road show on Tuesday.

Kolkata, May 15; GANASHAKTI:  Within  24 Hours of the ghastly act  of demolishing the Vidyasagar Statue   by the BJP –RSS--TMC  hoodlums in a show of BJP -TMC mockfight in the state, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury  and Left Front Chairman Biman Basu  led a Huge March of Red flag carriers  in Kolkata, in the same place, where  hours before Modi’s  and Amit Shah’s  followers in the name of roadshow  had been engaged in a mockfight  and demolished the statue of Pt Vidyasagar, the 19th Century iconic reformer and Rationalist. 

Lucknow May 16 (PTI) Rallying behind Mamata Banerjee, BSP supremo Mayawati Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah of targeting the West Bengal chief minister as part of a conspiracy and said it reflected a "dangerous attitude".

A day after the Election Commission curtailed campaigning in West Bengal, Mayawati charged that the poll body acted under pressure of the central government.

Muzaffarnagar, May 16 (PTI) A 31-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his wife and in-laws over a family dispute in neighbouring Shamli district and his body was dumped in a drain, police said.

Harish was killed on Wednesday in Khedi Karmu village under Kotwali police station area in the district, Station House Officer (SHO) Subhash Rathore said.

A case of murder has been registered against four persons and the victim's wife Shivani along with a relative Shivam was arrested, the SHO said.

Srinagar, May 16 (PTI) National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Thursday said BJP's attempt to "polarise" the electorate in West Bengal will come to nothing as the Trinamool Congress will sweep the Lok Sabha polls in the state.