No proposal for Modi-Sharif meeting in New York: Pak envoy
New Delhi: Pakistan on Monday said it was not aware of any proposal for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York on the margins of UN General Assembly this month. “As of this moment, I am not aware of any proposal on this (Modi-Sharif meeting),” Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said here at a function. While Prime Minister Modi will be in New York from September 26 to 29, Sharif is scheduled to be there from September 22 to 27. Though there is an overlapping of small period when both the leaders will be there, a meeting is unlikely given the frosty ties between the two countries. The two countries witnessed a war of words last month as India cancelled Foreign Secretary-level meeting after Pakistan went ahead with talks with the Kashmiri separatists despite India asking it to choose a “dialogue with India or talks with separatists”. (PTI)
ASI proposes plan to prevent waterlogging in Hampi site
Bellary (Karna): Archaeological Survey of India has mooted a plan to conduct a thorough survey of Hampi, capital of the erstwhile Vijayanagar empire and an UNESCO world heritage site, to prevent waterlogging of the monuments during the monsoon. Water gushes into a few religious and civil monuments in partially low lying areas, especially after incessant rains. Due to poor drainage system, water stagnates for a few days till it dries up on its own. ASI is contemplating a survey in a move to find a lasting solution to the problem, ASI Deputy Superintending Archaeologist Prakash Naykanda told PTI, adding, it had been proposed to the Karnataka government. A permanent solution to protect the monuments will be possible once the mini circle office of ASI comes up at Hospet in Bellary district, he said. The old drainage system constructed during the Vijayanagar empire period is in a neglected state. “Firstly we have to trace the old drainage systems in order to chalk out a plan for a new system,” he said. Virupaksha and Vittal temples top the list of monuments threatened due to inundation. (PTI)
DMK, AIADMK pay tributes to Anna on 106th birth anniversary
Chennai: Veteran Dravidian leader and former Chief Minister C N Annadurai was remembered in the state on the occasion of his 106th birth anniversary. DMK President M Karunanidhi, accompanied by senior leaders including M K Stalin, paid floral tributes to the portrait of Annadurai, fondly addressed as Anna by his followers. AIADMK leaders also paid tributes to the leader under party’s Presidium Chairman E Madhusudhanan. MDMK leader Vaiko and DMDK founder Vijayakanth also paid floral tributes to Annadurai. In Delhi, Principal Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu House, Jasbir Singh Bajaj, garlanded a statue of Anna. Annadurai, founder of DMK, ushered in the first non-Congress government in Tamil Nadu. His party had unseated the Congress government in 1967 and he became the Chief Minister. A veteran Dravidian leader, he is respected across party lines. (PTI)
DM prohibits use of beacon lights
Gurgaon: Use of beacon lights by the members of political parties, their candidates and leaders has been banned by the authorities till the completion of Assembly election process in the district. Gurgaon District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthi today issued the prohibitory orders, under Section 144 of CrPC, banning the use of red, blue and other similar beacon lights on vehicles. As per the orders, the DM has prohibited the use of Red, Blue lights or any similar light or indication on vehicles by any political leader or person, any member of political party or any candidate contesting for election or any of his supporters or any other person of the public without permission or in contravention of the provisions laid down in the Motor Vehicle Act and rules made there under election process. Assembly polls in Haryana is scheduled on October 15. However, the order would not be applicable to the vehicles of officers of administrative, judicial, police, transport, health and other departments who have been authorised to use such lights on their vehicles for maintenance of law and order. The order has come into force with immediate effect and remained in effect in entire Gurgaon district till the election process is over on October 19. In case of violation of the order, legal action under Election Law as well as under the provisions of Section 188 and other provisions of IPC would be taken against the defaulters, the order said. (PTI)