Jaya buried with full state honours, Prez, PM pay homage

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee paying tributes to the mortal remains of Ms. J. Jayalalithaa, in Chennai on December 06, 2016

Chennai, Dec 6 (PTI) Lakhs of grieving men and women today bid a tearful adieu to J Jayalalithaa, the charismatic Chief Minister who held sway over Tamil Nadu politics for more than three decades with a pro-poor image, as the AIADMK supremo was buried here with full state honours.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, his counterparts from several states, Governor Vidyasagar Rao, DMK leader M K Stalin and superstar Rajnikanth were among the dignitaries who paid homage at Rajaji Hall where the body of 68-year-old Jayalalithaa lay in state since early morning.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi pays tributes to the mortal remains of Ms. J. Jayalalithaa, in Chennai on December 06, 2016.

Sasikala Natarajan, the close confidante of Jayalalithaa for over three decades, was beside the body throughout the day and later conducted the religious rituals before the sandalwood casket was lowered at a site close to MGR memorial on the shores of Marina beach.

No sooner had the brief rituals concluded at around 6 PM, the casket carrying the mortal remains of the five-time chief minister was lowered after a gun salute amid emotional chants of 'Amma Vazhga' (Long Live Amma) by a sea of humanity which had converged at the burial site.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi pays tributes to the mortal remains of Ms. J. Jayalalithaa, in Chennai on December 06, 2016

Various leaders including Naidu, Rao, Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Paneerselvam, Speaker Dhanapal and former Governor K Rosiah placed wreaths at the feet of the body that was draped in a silk saree in her favourite green colour and a sandalwood garland placed around her neck.

Earlier, thousands of people hailing 'Puratchi Thalaivi Amma' (Revolutionary Leader Amma) walked with the cortege that was part of a military convoy in which her coffin was carried, wrapped in the national flag and covered with flowers.

Amid heavy security cover, the funeral procession made steady progress to the destination, a distance of three km from Rajaji Hall in the government estate, passing through Madras University and the burial site opposite the British-era iconic PWD building.

Big photographs of Jayalalithaa, an actor-turned- politician, were placed all around the coffin even as people showered the hearse with flowers, as Sasikala accompanied the body.

With the Central government ordering a state funeral, personnel from the three armed forces paid their respects and gave a guard of honour before Sasikala conducted the last rites with the aid of a Brahmin priest.

The rituals include sprinkling of water, offering of rice, showering of flower petals and sandalwood pieces.

Jayalalithaa, a spinster who never shied away from flaunting her religious identity and beliefs, was surprisingly buried and not cremated. She was laid to rest by the side of her mentor and actor-turned politician M G Ramachandran, a former chief minister.

Lakhs of people had packed the area around Rajaji Hall where men and women wept in grief as they attempted to reach the body of their Amma or "mother".

The mortal remains of Jayalalithaa was earlier taken from her Poes Garden residence to Rajaji Hall, hours after she died at a private hospital late last night after battling for life for 75 days. .

India's southern leader Jayalalithaa dies, supporters grieve in streets

Well wishers of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaraman hold her portrait as they pray at a temple in Mumbai, India, December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

One of India's most popular politicians, Jayalalithaa Jayaraman, died on Monday following a massive cardiac arrest, setting off an outpouring of grief among thousands of supporters gathered outside.

Her political party and the hospital where she was being treated confirmed the popular former film actress and chief minister of southern India's Tamil Nadu state, widely known as "Amma" or "Mother", had died at the age of 68.

"Our beloved leader, The Iron Lady of India ... is no more," tweeted her AIADMK party, the third-largest party in India's lower house of parliament in New Delhi.

Her death deprived her regional ruling party of its only charismatic leader, whose portrait adorned placards and posters around her home state and who was tipped as a possible future Indian prime minister.

Jayalalithaa had gone into cardiac arrest on Sunday night, the Apollo Hospital in Chennai said, following her admission with fever and dehydration in September.

Despite being resuscitated and put on life support, "her underlying conditions rendered her unable to recover and she passed away at 11:30 p.m.", the hospital said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, tweeting that Jayalalithaa's death had left a huge void in Indian politics.

"Jayalalithaa ji's connect with the citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women and marginalized will always be a source of inspiration," Modi said.

The news of her death was met with howls of grief and tears from the crowd of supporters outside the hospital. Rumors earlier in the evening that she had died, which proved to be false, led to brief unrest.

CULT FOLLOWING

About 2,000 policemen were deployed around the hospital in case crowds of devoted supporters reacted strongly to Jayalalithaa's death. Supporters have been known to commit suicide in reaction to bad news.

"Nothing can kill Amma," said one man holding a picture of the leader outside the hospital earlier as doctors battled to save her life.

Aloof and powerful, Jayalalithaa had a cult following among the people of Tamil Nadu that endured even though she went to jail for corruption more than once.

She began a film career at 16 and rose to stardom with dozens of hit Tamil films, often with her screen partner M.G. Ramachandran, an actor-turned politician who then served three terms as chief minister of Tamil Nadu state.

With voters ready to confer god-like status on their matinee idols, she also went into politics and trumped her mentor by serving five times as head of the state government.

Jayalalithaa leaves behind a legacy of populist schemes, including giving away free cellphones, laptops and kitchen grinders that endeared her to millions of voters. She also drew foreign investors to India's second largest state economy.

Auto giants Ford Motor, Daimler, Hyundai and Nissan have operations in Chennai as has U.S.-listed outsourcing firm Cognizant .

LEADERSHIP VACUUM

Her death opens up a leadership vacuum in her AIADMK party, which she ran with an iron hand with designated successor.

During her latest illness, her picture was put in a chair at the head of the table at state cabinet meetings.

O.P. Panneerselvam, a cabinet colleague, has stood in for Jayalalithaa in the past, but he has repeatedly made it clear he was not replacing her. He pointedly refused to take her place at the head of the cabinet table while she was ill.

"There is no second line of defense here, and these are emotive times. There is a chance of violence," said T.R. Ramachandran, an independent expert on Tamil Nadu politics.

The AIADMK and its bitter rival, the DMK party, are the main political groupings in Tamil Nadu. Both are built around a personality cult of their leaders, both of whom are drawn from the Tamil film industry.

India's two national parties, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress, have little political presence in the state, despite decades of efforts.

The death of Jayalalithaa's mentor Ramachandran, or MGR as he was known, sparked looting and rioting across Tamil Nadu by his grief-stricken supporters in 1987.

The U.S. consulate in Chennai asked American citizens to avoid areas where demonstrations were happening and be vigilant because of the chance of violence.

"U.S. citizens are reminded that even gatherings intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence," the consulate said in a notice posted on its website.

PM to visit Chennai to pay tributes to Jayalalithaa

New Delhi, Dec 6 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will shortly leave for Chennai to pay floral tributes to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who passed away at a Chennai hospital last night.

He will place a wreath on the mortal remains of Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall.

In a series of tweets last night, the Prime Minister, who enjoyed a good personal equation with the late leader, said he was "deeply saddened at the passing away of Selvi Jayalalithaa. Her demise has left a huge void in Indian politics."

Jayalalithaa, a popular leader who showered the poor with populist programmes, died last night at a private hospital in Chennai after battling for life for the past 75 days.

The 67-year-old leader had suffered a massive cardiac arrest on Sunday evening.

PM Narendra Modi Briefed On Jayalalithaa's Health By Venkaiah Naidu

 Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday. She's on life support, Apollo Hospital has said

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Jayalalithaa in ICU after cardiac arrest on Sunday evening
2. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on heart, lung support system
3. Crowd of supporters, police outside Apollo hospital

 NEW DELHI:Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who has been camping in Tamil Nadu since today morning, has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latest health condition of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Mr Naidu, who met doctors from the Apollo hospital, where she is admitted and those from AIIMS who have been called in to treat the AIADMK chief, briefed the Prime Minister on the latest health condition of the 68-year-old chief minister, sources said.

Ms Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest Sunday evening and is said to be in an "extremely grave" condition.

Mr Naidu also met top leadership of AIADMK, including party legislators, during the day, sources said.

They said Jayalalithaa's condition would be evaluated once again around 10.30 pm.

Sensex makes a late recovery, up 118 pts on rate cut odds

Mumbai, Dec 5 (PTI) Staging a late recovery, the Sensex today shook off its initial weakness and ended higher by 118 points at 26,349 as bets stacked up in anticipation of a rate cut at RBI's policy review on Wednesday.

The Nifty too regained the key 8,100 mark at the close.

The monetary policy committee (MPC) is meeting tomorrow to decide on the interest rate and the final announcement is due on Wednesday. On the global front, Europe took in its stride a 'no' vote to the constitutional referendum in Italy and opened positive, which provided the momentum here.

The 30-share Sensex after shuttling between 26,390.80 and 26,125.35 settled higher by 118.44 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 26,349.10. The gauge had lost 422 points in the previous two sessions on foreign fund outflows amid weak global cues.

The NSE Nifty ended up by 41.95 points, or 0.52 per cent, at 8,128.75 after moving in a range of 8,141.90 to 8,056.85.

The rate cut prospects brightened after the sharpest contraction in services PMI in three years opened up room for RBI to lower rates. A better trend in European shares lifted mood.

"With rate cut expectations running high ahead of RBI meet this week, risk appetite improved, especially in rate sensitive stocks forcing short covering. Sentiment was also helped by European markets swinging higher after Italian referendum," said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.

"Expectations of populist measures aimed at softening demonetisation worries are also allowing markets to be forward looking now."

Caution prevailed due to muted regional indices after Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's resignation in the wake of a heavy referendum defeat sparked worries about political instability in the euro zone and beyond.

The Nikkei India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks services sector companies on a monthly basis, stood at 46.7 in November, down from 54.5 in October.

Among bank stocks, SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank ended 0.90 per cent higher as participants created fresh positions ahead of the RBI policy review.

Shares of IT exporters, however, traded with a negative bias as the rupee strengthened against the dollar after falling to an all-time low of 68.86 last month. TCS, Wipro and Infosys all fell by up to 1.68 per cent.

On the sectoral front, BSE auto index rose by 1.92 per cent, metal 1.52 per cent and FMCG 1.36 per cent.

Broader markets too showed a better trend, with the mid-cap index rising by 0.66 per cent and small-cap 0.26 per cent as investors made fresh purchases.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 190.52 crore last Friday, showed provisional data.

Overseas, key indices in Japan, Shanghai and Hong Kong dropped by up to 1.21 per cent. In Europe, Frankfurt's DAX surged 1.73 per cent and Paris CAC 1.34 per cent while London's FTSE was up 0.72 per cent in their late morning trade. .

Trump tweets against China's currency, military policies

Washington, Dec 5 (AFP) US President-elect Donald Trump railed against China in a series of tweets, accusing the Asian giant of currency manipulation and flexing its military might in the South China Sea.

"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!" 

It was not clear what prompted the last night's tweets, which came amid a controversy over a phone conversation Trump held with the leader of Taiwan, a self-ruled island Beijing considers part of its territory.

India-US defence ties closest ever: Carter

Washington, Dec 4 (PTI) Days ahead of his visit to India, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter today said that the defence relationship between the world's two largest democracies has never been as close as it is now.

"The US-India defence relationship is the closest it's ever been. Through our strategic handshake with America reaching west in the rebalance, and India reaching east in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls his Act East policy our two nations are exercising together by air, land, and sea like never before," Carter said.

Carter, who would be in India next week, said this in his address to the Regan National Defence Forum in Simi Valley, California.

The outgoing US defence secretary's last overseas trip includes Japan, India, Israel, Bahrain, Italy and the UK.

"We also have a technological handshake as the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, or DTTI, grasps hands with Prime Minister Modi's Make in India campaign that's helping our countries move toward more diverse co-development and co-production of weapons systems," he said.

As he begins his last overseas tour from the Asia Pacific region, Carter reflected on the rebalance strategy of President Barack Obama.

"It will ensure DoD continues to help provide the security necessary for that consequential region which is home to nearly half the global population and nearly half the global economy to remain a place where everyone can rise and prosper for decades to come," he said.

"That's been American policy and practice since the end of World War II more than 70 years ago. Regardless of what else was going on at home or in other parts of the world during Democratic and Republican administrations, in times of surplus and deficit, war and peace the United States has remained economically, politically, and militarily engaged in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

The US, he said, has long taken a principled and inclusive approach, and collaborated with a network of regional allies and partners to enable security and uphold important principles like resolving disputes peacefully; ensuring countries can make choices free from external coercion and intimidation; and preserving the freedom of overflight and navigation guaranteed by international law.

"Because we did so, out of the rubble of World War II, economic miracle after miracle has occurred. Think about it...first Japan, then Taiwan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia rose and prospered, and today, China and India are doing the same," he said.

That progress has produced incredible changes in the region: populations are growing, education has improved, freedom and self-determination have spread, economies have grown more interconnected, and military spending and cooperation are growing, he added.

Ghani slams Pak on terror, tells it to end 'undeclared war'

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the President of Afghanistan, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani at the inaugural session of the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference, in Amritsar, Punjab on December 04, 2016.

Amritsar, Dec 4 (PTI) In a hard hitting attack on Pakistan, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today accused it of launching an "undeclared war" on his country by covertly supporting several terror networks including the Taliban, and noted that there were no hidden deals in India's growing engagement in the war-ravaged country.

In his address at the 6th annual conference of Heart of Asia, Ghani, who severely criticised Islamabad, said an Asian or international mechanism must be put in place, without "playing games", to find out who was benefiting from terror, extremism and other illicit activities.

He said time has come for concrete action against terror infrastructure and those support it, and quoted a top Taliban commander saying unless terror sanctuaries were allowed in Pakistan, the outfit will not last even a month.

He said despite Afghanistan's bilateral and multilateral ties with Pakistan, the "undeclared war" that started in winter of 2014, has intensified after the recent Brussels conference on Afghanistan's transition.

Slamming Pakistan's habit of denying cross border terror attacks, the Afghan President called for setting up of international mechanism to verify reality of such attacks which have increased in the last few months.

He also sought setting up of a global fund to contain terrorism.

"There should be an Asian or international regime, whatever is acceptable to Pakistan, should be put in place to verify frontier activities and terrorist operations.

"We do not want blame game, we want verification," he said, without mincing words.

"We need to set up a fund to combat extremism," Ghani said.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz was among representatives of 30 countries who attended the conference inaugurated jointly by Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Hailing India's role in Afghanistan's transition, he said "India's assistance is transparent and with no strings attached", adding "there are no hidden deals between India and Afghanistan." 

"We thank Pakistan for their pledges of USD 500 million for reconstruction of Afghanistan.

"This fund Mr Aziz could very well be used to contain extremists because without peace any amount of assistance will not meet the needs of our people," he said.

Asserting that no amount of money can assist Afghanistan if there is support to terrorists by Pakistan, he said military operations in Pakistan have brought about selective displacement of terrorists. .

Heart of Asia conference begins with focus on tackling terror in region

Amritsar, Dec 3 (PTI) As Afghanistan faces the resurgence of Taliban, a conference of major regional and global powers began today in this holy city to explore ways to effectively deal with threat of terrorism in the region, its complex security matrix and help the war-ravaged nation in its transition.

Being attended by nearly 40 countries and leading groupings like the European Union, the annual conference of the Heart of Asia -- Istanbul Process is deliberating on various challenges facing Afghanistan, including revival of a peace process in the conflict-ridden country.

Today, senior officials of all 14 countries, including India, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan, and representatives of 17 supporting nations were deliberating on a vast range of issues facing the region including its complex security scenario and dealing with threat of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism.

Issues like enhancing Afghanistan's connectivity with South and Central Asian countries to boost trade were being discussed at the senior officials' meeting which was co-chaired by India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hikmat Khaleel Karzai.

The meeting is finalising the text for tomorrow's Ministerial Conference and is also deliberating on its Declaration which will have substantial portion on terrorism.

Pakistani Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz is representing Islamabad at the Ministerial conference on Sunday which will be jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The annual conference is taking place amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the audacious terror attack on Nagrota army base and there was no clarity on an Indo-Pak bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the conclave.

India had already made it clear that it would never accept continuing cross-border terrorism as the "new normal" in bilateral ties with Pakistan while making it clear that talks cannot take place in an atmosphere of "continued terror".

At the senior officials' meeting, Afghanistan, which has also been facing increased attacks from terror groups operating from Pakistan, pushed for a regional counter-terror framework.

Ahead of the conference, both India and Afghanistan had called terror emanating from Pakistan as the "greatest threat" to regional peace and stability, and both the countries are set to press hard for adopting the counter-terror framework at tomorrow's deliberations. .

SC refuses to entertain plea to play national anthem in courts

New Delhi, Dec 2 (PTI) The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a plea of a BJP leader and lawyer seeking playing of national anthem in all courts before the start of proceedings.

A bench of justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy said it is not inclined to entertain the plea of BJP spokesperson Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted that the petitioner should file a proper application.

"Whether right or wrong, our order should not be overstretched. Bar (referring to Upadhyay) should show some retrain," the bench said.

Earlier in the morning, Upadhyay mentioned the plea before the bench which had on November 30 made it mandatory for cinema halls to play national anthem before screening of a movie and the audience must stand and show respect.

The bench has then sought AG's assistance to learn his view on the plea of Upadhyay.

In its November 30 order, the apex court had said that "love and respect for the motherland is reflected when one shows respect to the national anthem as well as to the national flag. That apart, it would instill the feeling within one a sense committed patriotism and nationalism." 

It had said that when the anthem is played the national flag shall be shown on the screen and the order should be given effect in a week's time.

The bench had also said that prior to the anthem being played or sung in the cinema hall, the entry and exit doors shall remain closed so that no one can create any kind of disturbance which will amount to disrespect to the national anthem and the doors can be opened once it is over.

Army presence at toll WB plazas kicks up storm, Mamata spends night at secretariat

Army presence at toll plazas in WB kicks up storm, Mamata spends night at secretariat



Kolkata/New Delhi, Dec 2 (PTI) Presence of army personnel at toll plazas in West Bengal triggered a row with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remaining at the state secretariat overnight in protest, asking was it an "army coup", drawing a a stinging condemnation today from the Centre which said the remark showed her "political frustration".

The row also echoed in Parliament with Trinamool Congress seeing "sinister" designs behind the move and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar vehemently denying the charge, saying it was a routine exercise. Parrikar also said it was very unfortunate that army has been dragged into an "unnecessary controversy".

The Army on its part strongly rebutted Banerjee's allegations that its personnel were deployed at toll plazas without informing the state government and were collecting money, saying the exercise was being carried out in coordination with Kolkata Police. The Army personnel, however, had left the toll plaza near the secretariat last night.

TMC MLAs and ministers also staged a dharna outside Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.

Banerjee left the state secretariat in the evening after she spent over 24 hours and fired a fresh salvo at the Modi government.

Accusing the Modi government of making a "wrong and concocted" statement in Parliament regarding the deployment of Army, Banerjee said her voice could not be stifled by "hatching conspiracy and showing force".

Banerjee also said the state government will take legal recourse if there is no withdrawal of army personnel from all toll plazas in the state.

Speaking to reporters late last night at 'Nabanna', the state secretariat in Kolkata, she said, "I will stay at the secretariat to guard our democracy".

"Is this a military coup?" she asked.

She said that army personnel were there in different districts like Murshidabad, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North 24 Paragans, Burdwan, Howrah, Hooghly etc.

"The army is deployed without informing the state government. This is unprecedented and a very serious matter."

The issue was raised in both Houses of Parliament with main opposition Congress too seeking clarification on the army deployment at 19 toll plazas in West Bengal.

In Lok Sabha, Parrikar termed the deployment a "routine exercise not unique to West Bengal" and saying similar operations to collect information on heavy vehicle movement that can be used during national emergencies had last month being conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.