NEWS FILE

NIA records instructor’s statement in Headley case

Mumbai, November 23 (PTI): Vilas Warack, a gym instructor who met terror suspect David Coleman Headley along with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s son Rahul, was today questioned by the the National Investigation Agency probing the LeT plot to carry out major strikes in India. The agency recorded the statement of Warack on how he knew Headley, who was arrested by the FBI in the US last month for planning attacks on the National Defence College in Delhi, Doon school in Dehradun and Woodstock school in Mussoorie, at the behest of LeT, official sources said today. Warack, who worked as an instructor at Moksha Gym frequented by Headley, was asked about the locations the American visited and names of persons whom he met there. The sources said that Warack was a little nervous but responded to the questions.

Parliament to now have only portraits of leaders

New Delhi, November 23 (PTI): With statues galore, Parliament will hereafter have only portraits of leaders. A broad agreement to this effect was seen at a meeting of the Statues Committee headed by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today. Leader of Opposition L K Advani, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, DMK Parliamentary Party leader T R Baalu and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley were present at the meeting which saw leaders agreeing that the Parliament House complex has reached the saturation point so far as statues and busts are concerned. The leaders are understood to have suggested that instead of statues, portraits of leaders could be put in Parliament Museum. Parliament House has statues and busts of as many as 48 stalwarts who have made immense contributions to the national cause.

Meet on sugarcane pricing inconclusive

New Delhi, November 23 (PTI): Discussions on sugarcane pricing remained “inconclusive” today at an all-party meeting, which was called to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament after both Houses remained paralysed for the first two days of the winter session over the issue. The issue of sugarcane pricing dominated the meeting, in which top leaders of the ruling and opposition parties were present. “Discussions remained inconclusive (on sugarcane). Sharad Pawar has been asked to convene another meeting tomorrow noon to discuss the issue with the opposition leaders,” CPI leader D Raja said when asked whether the government and the opposition have reached any unanimity on the matter. Raja, at the same time, maintained that the government does not appear rigid on the issue and appears to have “an open mind” on it.