An industry body today said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals threat to go on hunger strike if the issue of the sealing drive against commercial establishments wasnt resolved was a mere political drama. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said the chief minister was shedding crocodile tears on the issue that affected the livelihood of numerous people in the last few months. Instead of talking about hunger strike, Kejriwal should honestly work for the traders and accordingly pass a bill for a moratorium on sealing in the upcoming session of the state Assembly and send it to the central government for approval, CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said. Kejriwal yesterday had threatened that he would go on a hunger strike if the issue of the ongoing sealing drive against commercial establishments in the national capital was not resolved by the end of this month. At a meeting with traders in south Delhis Amar Colony, on whom police had on Thursday allegedly used force while they were protesting against a sealing action in the area, the chief minister demanded that the Centre bring an ordinance to stop the drive. The chief ministers talking about a hunger strike is a political drama…
Month: May 2015
India-Pakistan diplomatic spat: Pakistan releases video of ‘Delhi incident’, summons Indian Deputy High Commissioner
Amidst allegations and counter-allegations over the aleged harassment and intimidation of Indian and Pakistani diplomats as also their families in past few weeks, the Pakistan High Commission has come out with a video, showing one of its diplomat Pakistan has claimed that the incident happened when the diplomat was returning home in Vasant Vihar. Today, the deputy high commissioner was summoned by Pakistans Director General (South Asia SAARC) Mohammad Faisal. A protest was lodged by Pakistan on maltreatment being meted out to the officials and families of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, a statement by Pakistan Foreign Affairs Ministry in Islamabad has said. Faisal also stressed that security and safety of Pakistani diplomats and their families is the responsibility of India under the Vienna Convention . The video that Pakistan has released shows a white Maruti car moving slowly, in front of the Pakistan diplomat Two persons are also seen blocking the way on a scooter, and urging other vehicle drivers to move on, reported The Indian Express. The video was apparently shot by the Pakistani diplomat in the car. He also clicked a video of a man taking photographs. The release of the video comes after a…
No evidence of Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide’s involvement in Pune riots, says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
A day after prominent Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shielding Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that there was no evidence to prove Bhides involvement in the January 1 caste riots in Bhima-Koregaon. Fadnavis said although an offence has been registered against Bhide, alias Guruji, who heads the Shri Shiv Pratishthan, based on a complaint by a woman, there is no evidence to prove that he had instigated the riots that day. Based on the complaint by the woman, police had registered a case against Bhide Guruji. The complainants statement was recorded in camera before a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. She told the magistrate that she had not seen Bhide Guruji taking part or instigating the riots. She had named him as an accused based on speculation that was on in the locality, Fadnavis told the assembly during a discussion on the law and order situation in the state. He added that during investigations, it was revealed that the GPS locations of Bhides mobile phone and 8-10 of his associates proved they were not in the vicinity of the Bhima-Koregaon area of Pune when the riots broke out. However, the…
Raja Ravi Varma’s ‘Tilottama’ fetches over Rs 5 crore at Sotheby’s sale
Raja Ravi Varmas untitled painting of Tilottama sold for Rs 5.17 crores at Sothebys New York sale of Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art, fetching more than its upper estimate of Rs 3.90 crores. Among the handful of Raja Ravi Varma works to appear at international auctions, the painting features a celestial nymph from Hindu mythology, who embodies the nearly perfect being. Varma, who was declared a national treasure by the Indian government in 1979, eschewed Western subject matter and often illustrated myriad stories from Vedic mythology as well as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The challenge for Varma lay in mediating images, which were life-like in appearance and often Western, neo-classical in inspiration to make them viable as Indian cultural symbols, according to the auction houses website. According to the Hindu mythology, Tilottama, was created at Brahmas request to destroy two demon brothers Sunda and Upasunda, who could not be killed by anyone except themselves. Legend has it that the two brothers were so captivated by her beauty, that they fought over her and ended up killing each other. Varmas painting that portrays the apsaras descent through the skies down to earth, is said to be inspired from Venus who…
PM Narendra Modi’s mantra for 2019 Lok Sabha polls: ‘Win the hearts of party workers’
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, every political party seems to be focused on connecting with the common people, but for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it is the party workers who are the priority. At the first assembly of BJP workers in the newly built headquarters in the national capitals Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told all the MPs to win the hearts of party workers. PM Modi told the MPs that workers are keys to victory and they should be with them through ups and downs. Not only PM Modi but even BJP president Amit Shah too outlined that MPs win the hearts of the party workers in a mega outreach programme ahead of the 2019 parliamentary election. PM Modi was reportedly quoted as saying that the party workers are the key to victory. He added that BJP will win the 2019 Amit Shah asked MPs to work to strengthen booth-level organisation in their constituencies, asserting that the organisations work at the booth level, along with BJPs ideology and Modis leadership, has been a key reason for its success. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said that PM Modi told the MPs that the party is in…
ED attaches flats worth Rs 462 cr in Mumbai in slum rehab fraud case
The Enforcement Directorate today said it has attached 33 flats worth Rs 462 crore in connection with its money laundering case probe relating to alleged violation of the slum rehabilitation scheme in the Bandra area of Mumbai. The central probe agency said the attached flats belonged to Ms Pyramid Developers and the case related to alleged use of fake documents for fraudulent availment of extra FSI (floor space index) under the SRA (slum rehabilitation authority) scheme. The agency had registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in March last year and had conducted searches at multiple locations of the firm and those belonging to Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. The ED had taken cognisance of a Mumbai police FIR for filing the case under the PMLA. The FIR reveals that the suspect persons have defrauded the state (government) by preparing false ration cards, photo passes, shop and establishment licences and submitted the same to the SRA with an intention to get approval from the SRA for redevelopment scheme of Jamat-E-Jamhooria CHS Ltd in Bandra (West), the agency said in a statement. The bogus documents, it said, were also used to get extra…
Interview: James Streeter of Life Sciences Product Strategy for Oracle Health Sciences says ‘Clinical one is a game changer’
The Indian healthcare market is poised to grow from $100 billion in 2016 to $280 billion in 2020, creating huge opportunity for healthcare and healthtech companies. The sector is expected to see adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data in the entire drug development lifecycle in a big way. Particularly, AI will help healthcare practitioners utilise data mining to identify risk factors for providing efficacious clinical treatment. Typically, the journey from a promising drug molecule to an approved therapy that can save lives can take more than a decade and cost billions of dollars due to redundant processes, increasing volumes and variety of patient data, and older technology systems that don It is here that cloud-based e-clinical solution Clinical One comes into play. James Streeter, global vice president, Life Sciences Product Strategy for Oracle Health Sciences tells BV Mahalakshmi that the newly-launched Clinical One platform will unify clinical development operations and information in a single environment with shared functions and an easy-to-use interface for sites, clinical coordinators and their counterparts. Excerpts: What are your views on clinical trials industry in India and the challenges in drug development? Looking at the clinical trials industry in India and the challenges in…
Crackdown on Maoists in Odisha: DGP says Odisha police to step up operations
The Odisha police has decided to step up operations against the Maoists and bring in necessary changes in the strategy to deal with the Naxalites, a top police police official said. This was stated by Odishas Director General of Police (DGP) R P Sharma after reviewing operations with top police officials in Naxalism-hit Rayagada, where a District Voluntary Force personnel was killed in a landmine blast on April 9. The police chief emphasised the importance of adhering to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) during anti-Maoist operations to avert any injury or casualty, officials present at the meeting said. While underlining the need to intensify anti-Maoist operations, Sharma also urged the insurgents to surrender and return to the social mainstream to lead a normal life. Maoists who surrender will be rehabilitated according to the prevailing surrender policy, the DGP said. A cheque of Rs 18 lakh was handed over as ex-gratia to the father of the deceased DVF jawan, Sanjaya Majhi. The jawan was killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the Maoists went off near Sakata village under the jurisdiction of Muniguda police station late on April 9 night, police said. Terming the attack as an act of…
PM Narendra Modi arrives in India after wrapping up 3-nation tour, received by MEA Sushma Swaraj
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning arrived here, after wrapping up his three-nation tour. The Prime Minister was received by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj. He visited three countries including Sweden, the UK and Germany. Prime Minister Modi undertook his first visit to Sweden on April 16 to 17 at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. He attended India-Nordic Summit there, besides addressing a gathering of select Swedish business leaders. Prime Minister Modi was in the United Kingdom from April 17 to 20 where he attended Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London and also conducted bilateral meetings with leaders from Commonwealth nations. At the last day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi reached Berlin in Germany on April 20 where he attended a dinner hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. It was the first meeting between the two leaders since Merkel began her fourth term as German chancellor last month.(ANI)
Karnataka Elections 2018: PM Narendra Modi to launch campaign blitzkrieg tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch his campaign blitzkrieg tomorrow in poll-bound Karnataka to add heft to the BJPs efforts to unseat the Congress from power and form its government in the southern state for a second time. Modi, who last visited Karnataka for campaigning in February, will be addressing rallies at Santhemarahalli in Chamarajanagara district, and Udupi and Chikkodi in Belagavi tomorrow. Ahead of his Udupi rally, Modi is scheduled to visit Krishna matha and meet the senior seer there. At least a dozen rallies are expected to follow in the coming days, party sources said. Polling for the 224-member Assembly will be held on May 12, and results will bedeclared on the 15th of the month. On the eve of Modis visit, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posed questions to Modi on Twitter while welcoming him to the state. Dear @narendramodi, Heard you are visiting Namma Karnataka tomorrow. We welcome you to our state. While you are here, we Kannadigas would like you to address the following concerns. Please #AnswerMaadiModi, Siddaramaiah tweeted. In a series of tweets, assailed the prime minister over BJP giving tickets to tainted mining baron G Janardhan Reddys brothers and associates as also declaring Yeddyurappa its…
2016 Jeddah suicide bomber was an Indian, DNA test confirms identity: Report
The suicide bomber who blew himself up outside the US consulate in Jeddah in July 2016 was an Indian national and an operative of banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a report in The Indian Express revealed citing a senior security official. As per the report, Saudi Arabia confirmed the development on the basis of DNA test of the suicide bomber who was identified as Fayaz Kagzi. The official cited above said that they have received confirmation from Saudi Arabian authorities that the DNA samples sent by New Delhi last year have matched those of the bomber. On July 4, 2016, four suicide bombs at three different locations had rocked the Kingdom. While one bombing was reported in the parking lot of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, killing four, the second and third bombers targeted a Shia mosque in Qatif. The fourth suicide bombing was reported near the US Consulate in Jeddah when the police tried to arrest him. Two police officers were injured in the fourth blast. After Saudi Arabia released the photos of Jeddah bomber, who was bearing a close resemblance to Kagzi, the Maharashtra ATS and NIA sought to verify if he was the same man who is wanted in terror-related…
Tamil Nadu Governor says ‘sorry’ for pat on cheek, female scribe accepts apology but ‘not convinced’; read full statement
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who came for serious flak from several quarters for patting the cheek of a woman journalist instead of responding to her question at a presser, on Wednesday apologized. In a letter on the Governor of Tamil Nadu letterhead, Purohit said what he did was an act of appreciation and he considered the lady journalist as his grand-daughter. The female journalist has accepted the apology. . therefore, as an act of appreciation for the question that you had posed, I gave a pat on your cheek considering you to be like my grand-daughter. It was done with affection and to express my appreciation for your performance as a journalist since I was also a member of that profession for about 40 years, the Governor said in the letter addressed to the female journalist. Purohit further said,I do understand from your mail that you are feeling hurt about the incident.express my regret and my apologies to assuage your sentiments that have been hurt. The journalist has accepted the apology but said she wasnt convinced with his contention that what he did was an act of appreciation as claimed in the letter. Your excellency I accept your apology…
Supreme Court expresses concern over the change of colour of Taj Mahal
The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the changing colour of the iconic Taj Mahal apparently due to pollution and rapped the government saying perhaps you dont care and directing it to take urgent steps to restore the pristine glory of the ancient monument at Agra. Observing that the monument had earlier turned yellow and was now going brownish and greenish in colour, the apex court pulled up the authorities for not taking appropriate steps to preserve and protect the Taj. It asked the Centre to take the assistance of experts from India and abroad to first assess the damage and then take steps to restore the 17th century white marble mausoleum. While perusing the recent pictures of the Taj Mahal, a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta observed, this is now becoming the eighth wonder of the world. First it was yellow and now it is becoming brown and green, the bench commented and asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ANS Nadkarni, who was representing the government, as to why the colour has changed. Nadkarni told the bench that management of Taj Mahal has to be done by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, petitioner and…
Renuka Chowdhury’s sensational claim: ‘Casting couch’ exists everywhere, Parliament not immune to it
Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Renuka Chowdhury Speaking to news agency ANI, Chowdhury said that the casting couch exists in the Parliament as well. Responding to a question on the remark by Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan on the subject, She then went on to say that the casting couch is not limited to the film industry and that it exists everywhere. So, dont assume that the Parliament is immune to it. It is not, this happens with women everywhere. If you look at the western world today, established top actresses Its time India stood up and said Its me too, she said. It is not just in the film industry. It happens everywhere and it is the bitter truth. Dont imagine that Parliament is immune or other workplaces are immune to it. It is time that India stood up and said Me Too. Earlier in the day, while addressing the media in Mumbai, the Bollywood Khan also alleged that government officials were also involved in the incident. This has been happening since time immemorial. Anyone and everyone tries to get cozy with every girl. Even people in the government do it. Why are you after the film industry?…
Need for India to do well on human development index: NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said today Indias eastern states have done remarkably well on ease of doing business index, but he stressed that they need to repeat their progress on the human development index as well. He, however, said several Indian states remain backward on human development indicators because of legacy issues. The governments Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) aims to correct this by focusing on education, health and nutrition on a real-time basis. We are capturing incremental progress of 115 districts on 49 indicators, Kant said in a statement. His remarks came a day after he said the states in Indias southern and western region were growing rapidly, but those like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were keeping the country backward. He said while we have have improved on ease of doing business, we have remained backward on human development index. We are still 131 out of 188 countries in HDI. Today, he said: The focus of the programme (ADP) is to improve Indias rank in the Human Development Index, raising the living standards of citizens and ensuring inclusive growth for all. The programme is being implemented in the spirit of cooperative federalism in full partnership with states. These…
INX Media money laundering case: Delhi HC extends Karti Chidambaram’s protection from arrest in ED case till March 22
The Delhi High Court today extended the protection from arrest to Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case from March 20 to 22. A bench of justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta changed the date of hearing from March 20 to 22 after Kartis counsel said that senior advocate Kapil Sibal will not be available on March 20. Sibal is representing Karti in the matter. The Enforcement Directorate counsel Vinod Diwakar said he has instructions from Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta that the ASG has no objection if the date of hearing is changed to March 22. To this the bench said, Since no objection has been expressed by the ED for changing the dates, the petition is fixed for hearing on March 22. The high court had on March 9 directed the ED not to arrest or take any coercive action against Karti, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, till March 20 in the money laundering case. Karti is presently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with CBIs INX media corruption case relating to irregularities in the FIPB clearance given to the firm. The ED has challenged in the Supreme Court the high courts…
Bhagalpur clashes: Facing arrest, Ashwini Kumar Choubey’s son says won’t surrender, to move anticipatory bail plea
Bhagalpur violence: Arijit Shashwat, son of Union Minister of State (MoS) Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Monday said he saw no need for him to surrender in a case of violence in Bihars Bhagalpur earlier this month. Why should I surrender? The Court issues warrant but the court also gives shelter. Once you go to the court, you will do only what it decides for you, An arrest warrant has been issued against Shashwat for allegedly inciting communal violence in the state of Bihar. Shashwat said that he is not absconding and is in the shelter of court. Main nyayalay ki sharan mein hun. Bhaagte woh hain, khojna unko padta hai jo kahin gayab ho gaye hon, mein samaaj ke beech mein hun (I am in court People who are absconding are to be searched for. I am there within society), Ashwini Choubeys son said. Shashwat then said that he is moving an anticipatory bail. If the police comes to arrest me I will do what they ask. I am moving an anticipatory bail application. On March 17, a procession by the BJP, RSS and Bajrang Dal workers triggered communal clashes in Medini Chowk under Nathnagar police station, a Muslim-dominated area,…
Institutions need self correcting mechanisms, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the countrys institutions need to develop self correcting mechanism to deal with the challenges being faced by the noisy democracy. The minister was referring to repeated disruptions in Parliament and also the problems being faced by the judicial system. Our institutions, media certainly vigilant, election commission performed considerably well, judiciary independent – doesnt face external crisis, at times faces internal crisis. Parliamentary system again the same. Being a noisy democracy, we face internal challenges these days and these are institutions where we have to look for a self-corrective mechanism, he said. The minister was speaking at a function to launch Both the Houses of Parliament have been witnessing disruptions since March 5 when the House re-assembled for the Budget session after recess. Referring to developments at economic front, he said the nation has reached a stage when it would be possible to effectively deal with the problems of poverty in the country over the next two decades. .over the next at least two decades we can be confident about a reasonably high rate of growth which will eventually help us to face one of our most major challenges which is fighting poverty, he said….
INX media case: Setback for CBI, Karti Chidambaram granted bail by Delhi High Court
In a setback for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Delhi High Court granted bail to Karti Chidambaram in INX media case today. The bail has been granted to Karti on the surety of Rs 10 lakh. The Court has, however, imposed a number of conditions on Chidambaram Junior which includes not leaving his residence without informing CBI. The High Court said he will not change any of his companys composition, not travel anywhere outside the country, not close any of his bank accounts without informing the CBI and is also not allowed to contact any of the Prosecution witnesses in the case. On March 16, the Delhi High Court had reserved its order on the bail plea of Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case lodged by the CBI. Justice S P Garg heard the CBI and Karti The CBI opposed the bail plea saying that tampering of evidence and influencing witnesses in the case was a possibility. The agency also alleged that Karti has tampered with certain evidence. Karti had moved the high court after special CBI judge had not given him an urgent hearing on his bail plea. Kartis name had popped up in the…
CBSE class 10, class 12 paper leaks: Of ‘breakthrough’ and contradictions – decoding the probe so far
CBSE Class 10, 12 paper leak: The police have claimed a breakthrough in its ongoing probe into the leak of class 10 Mathematics and class 12 Economics papers that happened during the board exams conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education. The police have arrested three accused in the matter for their alleged involvement in the leak of the Economics paper at the Mother Khazani Convent School in Delhis Bawana. An official of the CBSE has also been suspended for laxity in his duty. When asked about links to the latter, the three accused said that they had no links with the official. Despite claims of a breakthrough, there are still several loose ends that the police are yet to connect. A couple of things stand out to this effect. First, the three arrested so far by the police – Mother Khazani Convent School teachers Rishabh (29) and Rohit (26) and private coaching centre tutor Tauqeer (26) – relate to the class 12th paper leak and there is little known about the progress of the probe into the leak of the class 10 Mathematics paper. Secondly, there is no clarity on where the leaks originated from, meaning that while…
Differences emerge in the NDA! Sena MPs not to forego salary, RLSP says unaware of decision
Differences emerged in the NDA today after a BJP minister announced that MPs of the ruling alliance would forego their salary for a period of 23 days when Parliament could not function, with the Shiv Sena asserting that its MPs will claim their salaries, while another ally saying it was unaware of the decision. Union minister Ananth Kumar had yesterday said that MPs of the ruling NDA would forego their salary for the 23 days of the ongoing budget session when Parliament did not function because of protests by the Congress and other political parties. Reacting to the move, the Sena said the BJP did not consult it and alleged the government was responsible for the virtual washout of the second leg of the Budget Session. The party claimed that BJP did not want Parliament to function due to the Karnataka Assembly polls next month. Sena MP Arvind Sawant lashed out at the BJP over Kumars announcement saying, They (BJP) did not consult us before taking the decision. They only remember allies when there are presidential and vice-presidential polls. Sawant said his partys MPs had been doing their work. Even if Parliament was not functioning, we have held meetings with…
Backdoor gag on press a bad idea, must be dropped
For a government whose senior leaders were jailed fighting for free speech during the Emergency and which champions the cause of freedom of the press, the backdoor move to gag the press is both unfortunate as well as perplexing. On the face of it, no one can possibly object to finding ways to root out fake news given it is a global phenomenon, but the government By focusing entirely on journalists accredited by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), it would appear the government believes it is they that are the problem. Under the plan, any complaint of While the Imagine how that can be misused Information Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani The tweet takes you a website thetruepicture where the stories are listed An Express report on violence against a Dalit man for riding a horse is cited as being It is possible the eventual investigation or the court proceedings after that show the FIR was incorrect, but are journalists to wait for that or to report an event fairly, based on what they know? The second story relates to the government asking ministers\/officials to stay away from events honouring the Dalai Lama; given that ministers did attend one function is…
BJP supremo Amit Shah accuses Siddaramaiah government of ‘pocketing’ funds
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state government of pocketing the funds pumped into the state by the Centre. Under the 13th Finance Commission, Karnataka got Rs. 88,583 crore, which was increased to Rs. 2, 19,506 crore under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. All the money sent by the Modi government has been pocketed by the Siddaramaiah government, Shah said while addressing a public rally at Koppal on Friday. Highlighting corruption prevalent in the state, Shah claimed that Karnataka under the Siddaramaiah government had become one with widespread farmer suicides, atrocities against women and unemployment. The people of Karnataka do not have supply of electricity or enough jobs to sustain a livelihood, but their chief minister wears a watch worth Rs. 40 lakh. This indicates how much corruption the government is involved in, he said. Launching a scathing attack on the incumbent chief minister, Shah claimed that the former was running away and looking for a safer seat to contest in the upcoming assembly polls. The Congress is dependent on Siddaramaiah in this election. However, he himself is running away from the Chamundeshwari to the Badami assembly constituency to escape to a safer…
Held ‘extensive, fruitful’ talks with Xi, says Modi in Chinese social media Weibo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he held extensive and fruitful talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their first round of two-day informal summit here. I am very pleased to meet with President Xi Jinping in Wuhan. We conducted extensive and fruitful talks and exchanged opinions on strengthening India-China relations and other international issues, Modi said in a post in the popular Chinese social media Weibo, where he has 1,83,112 followers. Thank you, President Xi Jinping, The Museum is home to great facets of Chinese history and culture, he said. Modi and Xi are due to conclude their unprecedented informal summit today, seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff last year.
PM Narendra Modi compliments BJP workers for Jharkhand civic polls victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated the people of Jharkhand for the BJPs thumping victory in the recently concluded civic polls, an official release said. The BJP won 26 posts of chairman\/vice chairman out of total 58 posts of Nagar Parishads and Nagar Panchayats (councils) for which elections were held on April 16, besides winning all the five posts of mayors and deputy mayors of Municipal Corporations for which elections were simultaneously held. Also congratulating the party workers, Modi said he learnt that 80 per cent of victories for the BJP had been in villages and small towns. He congratulated the BJP workers and the people of Jharkhand as they had kept faith in development. They chose long-term solution instead of short-term benefit, he added.
Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Durries get GI tag
Adilabad Dokra, an ancient bell metal craft popular in the tribal regions of Adilabad district in Telangana, and Warangal Durries, which has brought much acclaim to the weaver community of Warangal region, have been issued the Geographical Indication (GI) Registration Certificate by the GI Registry, Chennai. The GI certification of these crafts will help the authentic producers to earn a premium on their products, thereby helping in improving their livelihood. In addition, GI tag can be used as a marketing tool to promote the products in India and abroad. The Technology Centre of CII has facilitated State Handicrafts Development Corporation towards the registrations of Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Durries as Geographical Indications. Since inception, the centre has facilitated in registration of 24 products under GI, out of which nine are now registered from Telangana. GI Protection benefits both producers and consumers. While the latter have access to a genuine product, the former have opportunity to build brands and will be protected against a loss of their business against individuals involved in fake\/counterfeit production. The Dokra craftsmen belong to the Woj community, called Wojaris and also called as Otaris in Telangana. The uniqueness of Adilabad Dokra is that no two pieces…
‘Private conversation’: When PM Narendra Modi telephoned Rahul Gandhi after aircraft snag
Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Rahul Gandhi just before leaving for China yesterday to enquire about his safety after an aircraft carrying the Congress president developed a snag before landing at Hubballi airport in poll-bound Karnataka, party sources said. Gandhi received the call around 2:30 PM, the sources added. The Congress chief is on a two-day visit to the state to canvass for his party for the May 12 assembly polls. It was a private conversation between the two (over phone). All the authorities concerned were informed about the plane developing snag. After that, the prime minister rang up Gandhi enquiring if he was fine, a source told PTI. The plane carrying Gandhi and few more people from the national capital to Hubballi developed a technical snag yesterday, tilting heavily on the left side and the altitude dipped steeply with violent shuddering of the aircraft body at 10.45 am, Gandhis close aide Kaushal Vidyarthee wrote in a letter to state Director General of Police Neelmani N Raju. Vidyarthee was also travelling with Gandhi. The plane landed at the Hubballi airport around 11.25 am in the third attempt, according to the letter, which also said that the weather was normal and…
Rare signed photo of Mahatma Gandhi fetches over $41K at US auction
A signed vintage photo of Mahatma Gandhi, walking alongside Madan Mohan Malaviya, was auctioned for USD 41,806 in the United States. Signed in fountain pen, M K Gandhi, the rare photo was taken after the second session of Indias Round Table Conference in London in September 1931, according to Boston-based RR Auction. As the delegate acting on behalf of the Indian National Congress, Gandhi attended the second session of the British-organised round table conference, a three-part conference series held in London from 1930 to 1932, with the aim of discussing the ongoing constitutional reforms in India, a media release said. Malaviya, who had formerly been president of the Congress and played a significant role in the Gandhi-led non-cooperation movement, joined him as a representative advocating for a free India. The photo dates to a period in which Gandhi, suffering from pain in his right thumb, opted to write with his left hand, a temporary inconvenience that lasted from August 8-December 19, 1931, according to RR Auction. The autographed photo of Gandhi presents him as he is doing his lifes work, said Bobby Livingston, executive VP at RR Auction. We are not surprised that this giant of the 20th century still…
Harsimrat Badal urges PM Modi to take up turban issue with French president
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up with French President Emmanuel Macron the issue of Sikh community members in France were asked to remove their turbans for all official identification. The Union minister for food processing said she had written to the prime minister in this regard. Badal said she had received repeated requests from the Sikh Community settled in France as well as the Counseil Representatif des Sikhs de France that a law which required removal of turbans while being photographed for passport, ID card, health card, transport card, driving licence or any other identification issued by the French administration was causing them severe humiliation. Stating that the law was in a violation of Sikh tenets, Harsimrat Kaur, who is also the SAD MP from Bathinda, said the Sikh community was confident that this issue could be addressed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. She said this was very important because nowhere else in the world Sikhs were subjected to this kind of discrimination. Asserting that the turban was an integral part of the Sikh identity, Badal, in a statement here today, said there was a need to sensitise the French…
BJP ministers to resign from Andhra Pradesh cabinet
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members in Andhra Pradesh have announced their resignation from state cabinet, moments after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ministers to resign from the Union Cabinet. Soon after Naidus press conference, BJP MLA Akula Satyanarayana spoke to media and announced that the two BJP ministers in the state cabinet, namely Kamineni Srinivas and Paidikondala Manikyala Rao, will resign on Thursday morning. He said both Srinivas and Manikyala Rao would not attend the cabinet meeting to be held on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, BJP leader Krishna Sagar Rao on Wednesday called Naidus announcement a political opportunism. BJP believes what has happened tonight is a classic case of political opportunism and a case of compulsive politics, Rao told ANI. He also called Naidus statement, that the central government was not standing up to support Andhra Pradesh, a blatant lie. Earlier on Wednesday night, Naidu directed two Telugu Desam Party ministers to resign from Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet amid the growing strain in ties between his party and the Bharatiya Janata Party over alleged neglect of the state in the Union Budget. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Union Minister of State for…