India

Thane, Jan 19 (PTI) Criticising the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said it is unfortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can only see the "white cap" and "hijab" (worn by Muslims) but not the national flag in the hands of lakhs of people.

He said the ongoing protests across the country against some decisions of the Centre were a way for people to vent out their "suffocation".

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday accused the BJP of repeatedly harassing party leader Hardik Patel, who has been arrested for failing to appear before a court in a 2015 sedition case.

The Congress general secretary said Patel has been fighting for the employment of youth and the rights of farmers.

Berhampur (Odisha), Jan 19 (PTI) A total of five child marriages have been foiled across Odisha's Ganjam district following swift action by the administration, officials said on Sunday.

While three attempts to marry off three minor girls were thwarted in Hinjili block, two such attempts were foiled in Sanakhemundi and Bhanjanagara blocks on Saturday, they said.

All the girls were aged between 15 and 17 years, they said.

Mumbai, Jan 18 (PTI) Actor Shabana Azmi and another person were injured in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Saturday, the police said.

Azmi was rushed to MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai and was said to be out of danger, said a police official. Her husband and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was traveling with her, escaped unhurt.

KANPUR: Protest against much-publicized CAA & NRC at a Park in the city's Chamanganj locality continues from the evening hours and ends at the night since the past several days. Beginning from 4 p.m.everyday it concludes at 9 p.m. As the sit-ins are largely attended by the females, young and old, they do not appear to be hindered from their resolve to protest amid the stringent cold climatic conditions.

Raising their voice against the Citizenship Amendment Act and proposed Nation Register of Citizens they emphasised that biased law was not acceptable to them.

Dimapur, Jan 18 (PTI) Thousands of people led by students from different colleges gathered in the Supermarket area in Dimapur district of Nagaland on Saturday to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

With banners and placards saying, "We stand united against CAA", "Save Dimapur - Listen to peoples' voice" and "CAA -- Modi Shah vote bank", people from all walks of life joined the protest rally.

Addressing the gathering, the students urged people to unite and fight until the Act is revoked.

New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) The Supreme Court has defined the power and duties of a three-member commission headed by a former apex court judge set up to inquire into the alleged encounter killing of the four accused in the gang-rape and murder case of a woman veterinarian in Hyderabad.

Fixing the terms of reference for the commission headed by former SC judge V S Sirpurkar, the court said the panel would go into the circumstances that led to the death of the four and ascertain if any offence has been committed in the course.

Mumbai, Jan 17 (PTI) Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday said India and Iran need to work together to expedite rail connectivity to Afghanistan and procurement of equipment for development of Chabahar Port.

The minister who was in the city said that India has good relations with Iran as well as US and can play a role in bringing both the countries to negotiating table.

Jammu, Jan 17 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Friday said protection of land and jobs for the locals would be ensured keeping in view the interest of the Union Territory.

Interacting with the councillors of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) here, he also said the non-implementation of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments was hampering the complete empowerment of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies (ULBs) in the UT.

Kakinada (AP), Jan 17(PTI): A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two minor boys while she was alone in her residence here on Friday, police said.

Based on a complaint from the victims mother, the boys, aged 8 and 12, have been detained under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, the police said, adding that the girl has been sent for a medical examination.