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Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi today talked to Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the attack on the Indian Consulate in Herat province and was assured that everything will be done to protect the Indian missions in Afghanistan.

Modi also spoke to India’s Ambassador in Afghanistan Amar Sinha soon after the attack, condemned it and said that he was closely monitoring the situation.

He also lauded the role of security forces manning the Consulate in Herat for their valiant efforts in fighting and killing the terrorists who attacked it.

A Pakistani writer paid tributes to Indian democracy Friday by underlining the graceful manner the Congress accepted defeat — in contrast to what losers do in Pakistan.

An article in the Dawn newspaper said that when it became clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was headed for an election victory, “the Congress gracefully and publicly accepted defeat.

“There (were) no… allegations about rigging, either by individuals or hidden forces,” said the article.

Hyder Ali, alias Black Beauty, the mastermind of the Patna serial blasts has in an eye-opener disclosure revealed to his interrogators that major terror outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed had joined hands with Indian Mujahideen and Simi with the sole objective of eliminating Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi.

He (Ali), along with three others, including a juvenile, has been arrested in a major breakthrough by the National Investigation Agency along with central intelligence agencies.

On Thursday, an auction house failed to find a buyer willing to pay even half the expected amount for three handwritten letters by Mahatma Gandhi, one of which point the finger at his eldest son Harilal of committing rape.

Shropshire-based Mullock’s had expected the letters locks had expected to fetch no less than £80,000. On the contrary, the letters opened for auction at just £20,000 -and failed to find a buyer even then. The lot was “passed“-meaning remained unsold.

Narendra Modi after meeting his mother Hiraben at her Gandhinagar home moved from Ahmedabad to Delhi on Thursday evening.

His baggage reached Gujarat Bhawan before him. Apart from clothes, watches and shoes his personal kit includes accessories needed for yoga and other exercise equiment, like a treadmill, electronic devices like an iPad and laptop too packed from him.

Badri,the cook, who has served Modi for over a decade, also moved to Delhi with him.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday, condemned the terror attack on the Indian consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, and termed the incident tragic.

He asked Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi to be cautious while dealing with Pakistan, as its involvement in the attack could not be ruled out.

“It is one more reminder that there are people in the Government of Pakistan who are unable or unwilling to exercise control over the elements on their soil who conduct terror attack s against India or Indian interests whether in India or Afghanistan,” Tharoor said.

The new government led by Narendra Modi should have a lean and compact structure without too many layers, Assocham said today.

“The new government does not need 70-80 ministers. We need refreshment in the management style of the government and it is important to have a compact team, without too many layers, akin to the flat organisation structure that the Gujarat government had,” Assocham President Rana Kapoor said.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s jail stay was extended till June 6 today as he remained adamant on not furnishing bail bond in a criminal defamation case against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, with a Delhi court chiding him for “legal illiteracy” and asking him to be “sensible”.

Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha remanded the former Delhi chief minister, who was produced in a packed court room from Tihar Jail, in judicial custody till June 6 saying she cannot review her order passed on May 21.

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali on Friday said that the security operation in Herat following an attack on the Indian consulate has been completed, and confirmed the deaths of all four terrorists.

In an exclusive interview to ANI, Abdali said, “I just spoke to the security commandos in Afghanistan and learnt that the operation they started in Herat, against the terrorists, has been completed, and all four terrorists have been killed. The operation was completed by our forces,;, we will see as to who will take the responsibility for this attack.”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody has been extended by a Delhi court till June 6 in connection with a defamation case.

Kejriwal is being taken back to Tihar jail by the Delhi Police.

Earlier, Kejriwal had been arrested and sent to jail till May 23 after he refused to furnish a bail bond in a criminal defamation complaint filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. (ANI)

President Pranab Mukherjee has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Indian Consulate in Herat this morning and commended the bravery shown by all Indian and Afghan staff members of the consulate.

Mukherjee also expressed gratitude to the Afghanistan security forces for having quickly responded to the situation and come to the assistance of the Consulate ensuring the safety of our staff and officers.

He further asked Ministry of External Affairs to remain in close touch with Afghanistan authorities to ensure the continued safety of our diplomatic personnel in the country.