India

Chandigarh, Jan 17 (PTI) Shortly after the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution by voice vote against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said his government like Kerala will approach the Supreme Court on the issue.

He said the Centre will have to make the necessary amendments to the CAA if it has to be implemented in Punjab and other states opposing the legislation.

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India and the US are in an "advance stage" of dialogue to resolve some of the pressing trade issues.

He said that both the countries can expand their trade relations which in future may result in a preferential or a free trade agreement.

"With the US, we are in an advance stage of dialogue to sort out some of the pressing issues," he said here.

Hyderabad, Jan 17 (PTI): Hitting out at the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat who said de-radicalisation camps are operating in the country, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has questioned who would deradicalise attackers of Muslims and Dalits.

Speaking at a public meeting at Adilabad on Thursday night, the Hyderabad MP said de-radicalisation is needed for those who lynch and kill innocent Dalits and Muslims.

Kolkata, Jan 17 (PTI) Citing "preoccupations" West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not attend an all- party meeting called by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday, to discuss issues pertaining to two bills, a Raj Bhavan official said here.

The Chief Minister's Office informed the Governor's Secretariat that on account of preoccupations on Friday, it will not be possible for Banerjee to attend the meeting, the Raj Bhavan said in a statement on Thursday.

Chandigarh, Jan 16 (PTI) A man wanted for killing a woman friend on New Year's eve at a hotel here was arrested from a television studio after he confessed to the crime while on air, police said on Thursday.

The accused, Maninder Singh, was wanted by the police for allegedly killing Sarabjit Kaur (27), a nurse at a private hospital in Mohali on New Year's eve.

Panaji, Jan 16 (PTI) Shiv Sena's Goa unit on Thursday said misplaced priorities and wrong decisions have caused locals to lose their business to non-Goans, gradually merging Goa with other states.

The party's vice-president Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik congratulated people on the anniversary of Goa's historic referendum in 1967, but cautioned that misplaced priorities and wrong decisions are leading to the "catastrophe" that was averted in 1967.

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) The Union Home Ministry has convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the modalities for the 2020 Census and the National Population Register (NPR), officials said.

Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai will chair the meeting which will be attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Chief Secretary and Census Directors of all states.

Mumbai, Jan 16 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Thursday came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for dragging its feet over financial aid to Wadia Hospitals for women and children, and said the government has money for statues but not for public health.

A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and R I Chagla was hearing a public interest litigation seeking release of grants to Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children and Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the state government.

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Some demonstrators were detained while protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens in Central Delhi's Turkman Gate on Thursday.

The protest started from Wednesday night.

Sara Javed Chawla, one of the protestors, said police detained some of the demonstrators on Thursday morning.

Noida (UP), Jan 16 (PTI) A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Greater Noida by a teenager, who has been apprehended, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place around 7 pm on Wednesday in Jarcha police area when the Class 9 student lured the girl to an isolated spot near her home, the police said.

"Both the accused and victim live in the same neighbourhood and belong to the same caste. After the matter was reported to the police, we apprehended the accused and he has been sent to a juvenile correction home, a police official said.