India

Agartala, Feb 25 (IANS) Around 100 surrendered militants of different outfits on Tuesday blocked National Highway-8, the surface lifeline of Tripura, demanding the fulfillment of their long-standing demands, including the withdrawal of all court cases against them and the proper implementation of the tripartite agreement signed with them.

An official said that the blockage was, however, withdrawn after several hours following the persuasion of the district administration and the senior police officials.

Hundreds of passenger and goods-laden vehicles have been stranded due to the vital National Highway blockade at Sadhupara in the foothills of the Hataikotor (erstwhile Baramura Mountain) hill range in West Tripura district.

This marks the fifth time the surrendered militants, who were once members of various extremist outfits, have organised the highway blockade over the same demands.

The spokesperson of the surrendered militants, Daniel Debbarma claimed that under the tripartite peace agreement, both the state and Central governments had committed to providing them with equal opportunities for socio-economic development, allowing them to reintegrate into normal life with their families but the promises made were not kept.

He said that the road blockade was organised in protest against the governments' failure to implement a 21-point charter of demands, which also includes proper rehabilitation, land allotment, housing, and economic assistance.

Debbarma said that despite multiple meetings with Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister, District Magistrates, and the Director of Tribal Welfare Department, the demands have remained unfulfilled since the signing of the agreement on January 5, 2021.

Among the key demands are the implementation of the housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the surrendered militants, providing basic facilities of piped water supply and electricity, vocational training and financial assistance, free education to their children up to University level, and a special economic development package.

The surrendered militants are also demanding recognition of the Roman script for the tribal “Kokborok” language.

The agitating surrendered militants threatened to go for an indefinite blockade of National Highway-8 in future if their demands are not fulfilled.

Meanwhile, numerous security forces have been deployed at Sadhupara, where senior police officials are engaged in discussions with the protesters to convince them to withdraw the blockade.

--IANS

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Guwahati, Feb 25 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday termed the 'Advantage Assam 2.0', the investment summit, a landmark event in the state's industrial journey.

He said that with the blessings and esteemed presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 'Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit' will mark a new era of growth and opportunity.

On behalf of the people of Assam, he extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister.

The Chief Minister said that celebrating 200 years of Assam Tea, marks Assam's industrial legacy. Referring to its history, CM Sarma said tea was the first major industry in Assam, discovered in 1823.

Talking about the rich past of Assam's industrialisation, the Chief Minister said that the state has been a pioneer in India's oil industry and coal was discovered in Assam in 1847, which further propelled the state's industrial journey and laid the foundation for its sustained economic growth.

CM Sarma said that at the time of India's independence, Assam was an economic front runner, enriched with tea, natural resources and hydrocarbon reserves with per capita income above the national average by 4 per cent.

The Chief Minister mentioned that today, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Assam has undergone a historic transformation.

He said, "Prime Minister's commitment has propelled Assam into a new era of rapid development and renewed optimism.

He said that since 2014, over 2,324 km of National Highways have been constructed. Indian Railways has completed gauge conversion of 600 km of meter gauge lines.

Moreover, Assam is now a catalyst for India's aviation growth as Guwahati Airport is the seventh busiest airport in India. State GDP is surging from $29 billion in 2013–14 to $68.7 billion in 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 12.4 per cent."

Moreover, CM Sarma requested all the industrialists, investors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to discover Assam's vast investment potential across diverse sectors.

He reiterated that Assam is ready to be the investors' reliable partner, ensuring their investment journey is rewarding and full of boundless opportunities.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 25 (IANS) The student wing of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged large-scale protests across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, condemning the Centre’s alleged imposition of Hindi and its impact on the state’s education system.

Rallies were held in multiple locations, including Saidapet, Tiruvannamalai, Namakkal, and Villupuram, where protesters demanded the withdrawal of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) draft policy and the National Education Policy (NEP), which enforces a three-language formula.

The demonstrators accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of attempting to undermine Tamil Nadu’s long-standing two-language policy of Tamil and English.

Several DMK-affiliated groups, including the party’s youth wing and members of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, joined the protests, intensifying the ongoing conflict between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over educational policies.

The Tamil Nadu government has repeatedly accused the Union Ministry of Education of withholding essential funds for state-run educational programmes as a means of coercing compliance with the NEP.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has firmly rejected the three-language policy, reaffirming Tamil Nadu’s commitment to its existing two-language system.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, accusing him of politicising progressive educational reforms.

Pradhan urged the DMK government to consider the benefits of NEP for students rather than opposing it for political reasons.

A major point of contention in this dispute is the allocation of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the release of ₹2,152 crore in SSA funds, which he claims have been unfairly linked to the PM SHRI scheme.

CM Stalin argued that SSA and PM SHRI are separate centrally-sponsored programmes and that withholding funds violates the principles of cooperative federalism.

He further accused the Union government of leveraging financial allocations to pressure states into adopting centrally dictated policies, warning that such actions adversely affect students and teachers in Tamil Nadu.

He urged PM Modi to ensure the unconditional release of SSA funds, independent of NEP mandates.

The three-language formula remains a deeply contentious issue in Tamil Nadu, with not only the DMK but also the state’s principal Opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), supporting the two-language policy.

As the political standoff over language policy and education funding escalates, the DMK government remains steadfast in its opposition to what it perceives as an attempt to erode Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and educational autonomy.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 25 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that the government is committed to the overall development of tribal areas ensuring balanced growth through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

He further stated that the government is making dedicated efforts to bring the tribal community into the mainstream. Various schemes are being implemented to achieve this goal.

CM Fadnavis was speaking at a conference organised by the Tribal Development Department in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He emphasised the need for rapid improvements in education and healthcare services for the tribal population.

"CSR funds should not be concentrated only in metropolitan areas but should be utilised for balanced development. Special focus should be given to education and healthcare," he said.

Highlighting the rich history and cultural heritage of the tribal community, he noted that despite having their own legal systems and values, they fell behind over time.

The central and state governments have launched several schemes to integrate them into the mainstream, aiming to bring new hope into their lives. He also mentioned that the government is running various schemes to provide nutritional support to pregnant women and children.

"Maharashtra has approximately 9.5 per cent of its total population belonging to the tribal community, which constitutes about 10 per cent of India's total tribal population. This makes Maharashtra a state with a significant tribal presence. Efforts are being made to provide high-quality education to tribal children and ensure that their natural talents receive appropriate recognition. To facilitate this, admissions are being given in reputed schools," said the chief minister.

He appreciated the Tribal Development Department for organising this conference to accelerate the development of Scheduled Tribes.

Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uikey stated that, for the first time, the department has initiated a programme called 'CSR for Change', which promotes social responsibility partnerships for tribal communities' upliftment.

"Through this initiative, companies' CSR contributions will strengthen our efforts in implementing welfare schemes for tribal people," he added.

Tribal Development Department Secretary Vijay Waghmare, in his introductory speech, outlined various schemes and government initiatives for tribal communities' upliftment.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Feb 25 (IANS) Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, pledged unwavering support from the Union government to potential investors. Laying emphasis on importance of urban mobility, the minister stated that improved mobility facilitates easier access to residential facilities and enhances the appeal of cities.

Highlighting the vast potential of Madhya Pradesh, Khattar noted that the state's growing population necessitates a focus on creating sustainable living environments. He acknowledged that urban development is a challenging endeavour, with numerous obstacles continually arising.

Khattar made these remarks during his address on the concluding day of the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2025, held in Bhopal on Tuesday.

"Madhya Pradesh has immense potential, and with its population, we must focus on developing sustainable living environments. Alongside housing, urban mobility assumes a pivotal role -- better mobility ensures easier access to residential facilities and renders cities more desirable. Expanding the metro network in Bhopal and Indore is imperative, and we are resolute in our commitment to meeting the mobility demands as they arise," he said.

The minister extolled Gurugram as the epitome of urban development and avowed that he had invariably considered suggestions and recommendations proffered by both the government and the public alike if they come for public cause and development.

"Having now been entrusted with the mantle of urban development at the central level, I assure you that any suggestions or concerns pertaining to new policies will be addressed with the requisite improvements. You are well aware of the public's demands, and whatever you propose, we shall earnestly strive to fulfil," proclaimed the minister.

He remarked that Madhya Pradesh possesses abundant potential and commended the state for its rapid assimilation of Central government policies. The minister assured that there would be a single-window clearance from the Centre for need-based approvals from the state.

The Union Minister remarked upon Delhi's rampant illegal encroachments, which have led to its developmental stagnation, and vowed to transform the Capital within the next two years.

He eloquently highlighted the significant growth witnessed during his decade-long incumbency as the Chief Minister of Haryana, drawing a stark contrast with Delhi, which he lamented had shown little progress.

He elucidated that Delhi's limited land and the rampant illegal encroachments had severely impeded urban expansion, further aggravated by policy and political challenges.

Khattar also asserted that his administration had introduced novel policies and effected nearly thirty amendments to existing ones. Now, assuming his responsibilities at the Centre, he pledged that all suggestions would be duly acknowledged and implemented.

The Union Minister reiterated that Delhi's limited land and widespread illegal encroachments have hindered urban expansion, compounded by policy and political challenges.

"Over the past 10-12 years, we have metamorphosed Gurugram, whereas Delhi has remained stagnant. Unauthorised colonies have proliferated, and illegal encroachments are ubiquitous. Fortunately, the political landscape has ameliorated. Today, from this very stage, I declare that within the next two years, we shall reform all requisite policies and comprehensively address Delhi’s urban development needs," the Minister said.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Feb 25 (IANS) Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani broke down in tears during the House proceedings on Tuesday, accusing State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra of insulting him and using abusive language.

Expressing his distress, Speaker Devnani said, "I have been a member of this House for five terms, but I have never heard such words before. I have always remained impartial, yet these baseless allegations deeply hurt me."

He also remarked, "After hearing all this, I feel he is not even fit to be an MLA, but I leave this decision to the House."

The Assembly has been in a deadlock following the 'Dadi' remark made by a state Minister about former late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The situation escalated on Tuesday when suspended Congress MLAs attempted to forcibly enter the Assembly, leading to a scuffle with security personnel.

Outside the Assembly, Dotasra emphasised that there was no discussion about his personal apology in any agreement and highlighted internal differences within the government.

In protest against the suspension proceedings, Congress leaders staged a protest outside the Assembly for nearly an hour.

The Assembly impasse, ongoing for the past five days, began with the Minister's remarks on Indira Gandhi.

However, the situation worsened after the State Congress President refused to issue an apology in the House on Monday.

Adding to the turmoil, Dotasra's alleged abusive remarks against the Speaker after Monday's session further complicated negotiations, stalling the reinstatement of six suspended Congress MLAs and reigniting tensions between the ruling party and the Opposition.

With the suspended MLAs now barred from re-entering the House, the political deadlock in the Assembly shows no signs of easing.

Meanwhile, state Minister Jawaharsingh Bedham told IANS that those responsible for making the Speaker teary eyed will have to pay the cost.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Feb 25 (IANS) Rescue teams involved in the intensive operation to pull out eight persons trapped in an under-construction tunnel which collapsed in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district for three days are re-drawing the strategy to move forward in the last stretch of 40-50 metres.

Facing several hurdles, the authorities have roped in experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the National Geographical Research Institute (NGRI), and the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) to assess the situation and suggest the way forward for rescue operations.

Multiple teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and various agencies are moving cautiously as the stability of the tunnel has to be taken into consideration while undertaking any excavation work.

While continuing dewatering, the rescue teams were waiting for the experts to suggest the next step.

Various agencies including the Army, Navy, SDRF, National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation, and Singareni Collieries Company Limited have mapped out the tunnel operation. They prepared a detailed diagram to help prepare a rescue strategy to locate and reach eight trapped men.

Officials said the conveyor belt used to bring back debris from the tunnel after excavation was not working.

Minister for Roads and Buildings Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said the efforts were on to repair the belt.

Deployment of advanced equipment like endoscopic and robotic cameras to trace the trapped men has not yielded results. According to officials, the robotic camera is not working.

Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) broke into two after a portion of the tunnel roof collapsed on the morning of February 22.

The tail unit of TBM was found 50 metres before the end of the 14 km long tunnel. The head portion of the tunnel has a safe container for workers to take shelter in an emergency. It was not known if the trapped men could enter the container when the roof collapsed and water seepage became intensive.

The drone was also not accessible after the TBM tail unit. The 50-metre area is filled with sediments and debris hampering further movement of the rescue teams for the last 24 hours.

The tunnel map prepared by the rescue teams shows that the loco track is accessible up to 12 km though the track is available for a length of 13.5 km.

There is no water stagnation in the tunnel till 10.7 km point. The teams found 1.5 feet water at 10.95 km There is 2 to 2.5 feet water at 11.30 km.

The NDRF team has also deployed a trained sniffer dog for the rescue operation but the same could not be pressed into service due to slush.

A team of expert rat miners, known for a successful rescue operation in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand in 2023, has arrived, but their services have not yet been used. In Uttarakhand, the team rescued 41 workers who were trapped inside the tunnel for 17 days.

The team members, however, said that the situation in Telangana is different. In the Uttarakhand tunnel, it was rock and they used hand tools to reach trapped workers through small pits. However, the SLBC tunnel is filled with water and mud.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Tourism Minister Jupally visited the tunnel and reviewed the rescue operations with various agencies.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said he invited Harpal Singh, former engineer-in-chief of Border Road Organisation to share his expertise and knowledge for the rescue operation. The minister quoted Harpal Singh as saying he had never seen such a complicated tunnel accident.

Two workers were injured and eight others were trapped when a portion of the tunnel being dug as part of SLBC collapsed near Domalapenta.

A total of 50 persons were working on the left-side tunnel when the roof collapsed for three metres. The accident occurred at the 14th km point.

While 42 workers came out of the tunnel, the remaining eight were trapped. Those trapped include two engineers and two machine operators.

The trapped men are from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

Project manager Manoj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Machine engineer Srinivas (Uttar Pradesh) and machine operators Sunny Singh (J&K) and Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) are among those trapped.

The four workers from Jharkhand are Sandeep Sahu, Santosh Sahu, Anju Sahu and Jagta Khes.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, Feb 25 (IANS) The Union government on Tuesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a 15-member parliamentary committee, led by BJP member Biplab Kumar Deb, has been constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker to examine leave applications of all absent Members of Parliament, including jailed Amritpal Singh, from the ongoing Parliament session.

During the hearing of Amritpal Singh's petition, Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain told a bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel that the committee, formed on Monday, would review the cases of all such MPs.

After taking the Centre’s statement on record, the High Court adjourned the matter to next week.

The Centre’s submission came in response to the petition of Amritpal Singh, who had approached the High Court seeking direction to the Union and Punjab governments and other respondents to allow him to attend parliamentary proceedings in obedience to the summons issued by Lok Sabha General Secretary.

However, Amritpal Singh’s counsel, R.S. Bains, could not appear before the court and sought time for arguments.

In the previous hearing, the High Court had asked the Central government to inform whether the committee for granting leave to MPs from attending sessions of the House has been constituted.

Sikh radical Amritpal Singh has been locked up in an Assam jail under the National Security Act.

In his first electoral contest, Amritpal Singh, head of 'Waris Punjab De', won the Khadoor Sahib seat by 197,120 votes over his nearest rival, Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira. For supporters and sympathisers, Amritpal Singh is the next-gen of Sikh 'separatist leaders' like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed in the Indian Army's Operation Blue Star in 1984. He also considers the late separatist an "inspiration" for him.

The fiery pro-Khalistan, self-styled preacher had been running 'separatist' propaganda through speeches before going to jail. On the radar of Central investigating agencies, he drew comparisons to Bhindranwale owing to his looks and donning a navy blue turban, a white chola and a sword-sized kirpan. However, unlike Bhindranwale, Amritpal Singh didn't have any formal religious schooling. A dropout from a polytechnic, he cut his hair and shaved his beard while in Dubai. Police records say Amritpal Singh, who tied the knot with UK-based NRI Kirandeep Kaur in 2023, has been involved in scores of disputes, kidnappings and issuing threats.

Amritpal Singh, who hails from Jallupur Khera in Amritsar district, was not known till September 2022 when he returned to India from Dubai where he had been running his family's transport business since 2012. After taking charge of 'Waris Punjab De', which means the heirs of Punjab, he was trying to position himself as a new fulcrum for the panthic cause by calling on the youth to "fight for the freedom" of the Panth. 'Waris Punjab De' was floated by lawyer-actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu in 2021. One of the accused in Red Fort violence, Sidhu died in a road accident near Haryana's Sonepat in February 2022.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) After a Delhi court sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment for his role in the brutal killings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, BJP leaders have vocally demanded a harsher punishment, including the death penalty.

The case stems from the horrific killing of Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, in the Saraswati Vihar area on November 1, 1984, during the violent aftermath of the assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Talking to IANS, BJP leader Tarvinder Singh Marwah expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict, stating, "I demand that Sajjan Kumar be hanged for his involvement in the massacre. I would like to extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for establishing the SIT, which has brought justice after almost 3 decades. For so long, Sajjan Kumar was provided with Z security, which speaks volumes about the complicity in his actions. On behalf of the Sikh community, I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in seeking justice."

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva also voiced his concerns, condemning the massacre as an atrocious act that caused immense suffering to humanity.

"The 1984 massacre was not just a tragedy for Sikhs, but for humanity as a whole. Sajjan Kumar has been sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with this horrific crime, yet the Congress party remains silent. I urge the Congress president to come forward and explain why they continue to shield a person like Sajjan Kumar," he said.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who has been vocal about the injustice faced by the Sikh community, expressed his gratitude to the court for the verdict but emphasised the need for a stronger punishment.

"Congress did a grave injustice to the Sikh community by sheltering people like Sajjan Kumar. Today, the court has delivered a decision that holds him accountable, and for that, I thank the judiciary. But I want to challenge the Congress leadership—Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi—who have often claimed to fight for justice. Will they stand up for the Sikhs today, or will they continue to protect the perpetrators of this violence?"

RP Singh, another BJP leader, lamented that the court’s decision did not meet the public’s expectations.

"The killing of a father and son in such a brutal manner under Sajjan Kumar’s orders is a crime that demands the harshest penalty. The whole country was hoping for a death sentence. This was not an ordinary case; it was driven by racial hatred. Sajjan Kumar acted on the orders of his leader, Rajiv Gandhi, during a time of communal unrest. I request Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene. The CBI should be instructed to appeal this verdict in a higher court, and Sajjan Kumar should be given the death penalty for his crimes," he said.

The verdict was pronounced by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who had convicted Sajjan Kumar of murder charges on February 18. The case pertains to the brutal killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in the aftermath of the 1984 riots. On January 31, the Rouse Avenue Court had reserved its decision after hearing additional submissions from Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat.

--IANS

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Raipur, Feb 25 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday bestowed profound tributes upon the former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who departed from this mortal realm in December of the preceding year.

With the commencement of proceedings, the Speaker, Raman Singh, acknowledged the lamentable passing of Dr. Singh.

The departed statesman is revered as the harbinger of economic liberalisation and reforms, a sentiment echoed by the Speaker.

The monumental contributions of Dr. Singh in propelling the Indian economy to unprecedented heights were lauded as truly unforgettable, the Speaker observed.

His legacy, marked by humility, a gentle disposition, and an unassuming nature, was fondly remembered.

With his demise, the nation has suffered the loss of a distinguished politician, an adept administrator, and an erudite economist, observed the Speaker.

The state Chief Minister, Vishnu Deo Sai, extolled Dr. Manmohan Singh as a paragon of scholarship and humility.

"I was privileged to garner invaluable knowledge from Dr. Manmohan Singh during my tenure as a Member of Parliament. The words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivered at the culmination of Dr. Singh's Rajya Sabha tenure, remain indelibly etched in memory," proclaimed Sai.

"Dr. Singh, even when confined to a wheelchair, exemplified an unwavering commitment to his duties, casting his vote on a Bill -- an embodiment of the conscientiousness expected of an member of Parliament. His presence in the House fortified the principles of democracy," the Chief Minister expounded.

Dr. Manmohan Singh, a luminary of extraordinary intellect, adeptly shouldered myriad significant responsibilities throughout his public service. He held the esteemed positions of Governor of the Reserve Bank, Finance Minister at the Centre, and Prime Minister, elaborated Sai, concluding, "His life shall eternally serve as an inspiration to us all."

Leader of the Opposition, Charan Das Mahant, and former Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel, also paid homage to Dr. Singh, reminiscing upon his manifold contributions.

In a gesture of solemn respect, the Assembly observed a moment of silence for several minutes, paying homage to the departed leader, subsequent to which the Speaker adjourned the House for a brief interval of five minutes.

--IANS

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