The standing committee on urban development has asked the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs 59% since 2014-15 and no substantial increase is given despite mandated to implement some of the highly ambitious missions, The ministry is implementing various flagship schemes of the government. The panel noted that allocations made to the ministry over the years were not even half of what was proposed by it. The committee said in 2018-19, against a demand of Rs 86,099.97 crore for all these schemes, only Rs 41,765.13 crore, or 48.5%, was granted, whereas it was 43.73% in 2017-18.
Month: July 2015
Telugu Desam Party’s no-trust motion against Narendra Modi government: What is a no-confidence motion?
The Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress will today pitch for taking up their notices of No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers in Lok Sabha against the Modi government. Amid no signs of a let-up in the deadlock in its proceedings, the issue will be raised when the lower house meets on Monday. Yesterday, Y V Subba Reddy of the YSR Congress has written to the Lok Sabha secretariat to put his notice for the motion in the revised list of business for today. The TDP has also moved a notice for a no-confidence motion. YSR had submitted the no-confidence letter in the wake of the Narendra Modi governments denial to grant of special status category to Andhra Pradesh. This is the first no-confidence motion moved against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) since the beginning of their tenure. Soon after, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo Chandrababu Naidu announced support for the motion. YSR head Jagan Mohan Reddy is believed to have written letters to other party chiefs and sought for support for the motion. Reddy expects to garner alliances of parties like Congress, the Left, NCP, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party. The TDP is…
JNU students, Delhi Police clash during protest against professor outside Vasant Kunj Police Station
In a major development, clashes broke out between police and students of Jawaharlal National University (JNU) in front of Vasant Kunj Police Station where the students were protesting against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed students in class. Reacting to the matter, Milind Dumbere, DCP South West Delhi, said, Matter is being dealt according to law. Notice has been issued and he (JNU professor accused of sexual harassment) has been called tomorrow to join the investigation. Over 50 JNU professors have accused the police of disregarding procedures and are demanding registration of separate The teachers said eight complaints were filed by as many women students, however, the Delhi Police chose to register only one FIR based on only one of the complaints. We are shocked to learn this as the law requires that a separate FIR is registered for each complaint, The JNU Students Union which has been protesting for the past three days demanding arrest of the professor had announced a march to the Vasant Kunj Police Station. Students of School of Life Sciences, with which the
Rajnath Singh says serious challenge of Naxalism on its last leg in the country
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the serious challenge of Naxalism in the country has entered its last leg and Maoists are now resorting to coward ambushes against security forces as they are unable to undertake a direct fight. Addressing troops of the countrys lead anti-Naxal operations force CRPF on the occasion of their 79th Raising Day, the home minister said due to operational efforts of these forces incidents of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) have drastically come down in the recent past and the casualty rate of extremists has gone up. The demoralised Naxal cadres are now not able to undertake a fight head on with security forces and hence with their limited capabilities are now resorting to coward ambushes and attacks, he said while addressing the men and officers of the force. The minister, during his speech, paid tributes to the 9 men of the force who were killed in a Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarhs Sukma early this month after a deadly explosive was clandestinely triggered by ultras underneath a mine protected vehicle. Maoism has become a serious challenge.but because of the gallant and determined action of the CRPF and other forces, these incidents have come down drastically….
JNU protest: Delhi Police book SHO for harassing journalist during students’ march, case transferred to Crime Branch
Vidyadhar Singh, an SHO of Delhi Cantonment police station has been booked by the Delhi police and an FIR registered against him for alleged molestation charges on the basis of a written complaint by a woman journalist. The officer has been transferred to District Lines, reported The Indian Express. The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch for further investigation. This comes three days after the alleged molestation charges by the woman who was covering the JNU protest by students and teachers against compulsory attendance, autonomy, and The police there resorted to lathi-charge and used water cannons to disperse the protestors. It was alleged that the SHO manhandled the woman journalist and some JNU students during a protest march. A large number of JNU students and teachers were stopped from marching to the Parliament Complex over various demands, including academic freedom, with police resorting to lathi-charge and use of water cannons. In her complaint, the journalist wrote that Singh pushed her and another reporter, who then told him that they are journalists. The complaint states that the SHO allegedly placed his hand on her chest before backing off. A case under IPC Section 354 A has been registered at…
Fake news issue: Narendra Modi nixes move to blacklist journalists, forces u-turn by I&B ministry
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has nixed the Information and Broadcasting Ministrys move to blacklist journalists for writing fake news. As per reports, the Prime Ministers office has directed Smriti Irani-led Information and Broadcasting Ministry to leave the final decision on recent law on fake news on press bodies. In a surprise move, the IB ministry had amended guidelines for journalists accreditation. A press release of the ministry said on Monday that if a journalist is found to have created and\/or propagated fake news, her\/his accreditation would be suspended or permanently cancelled. The press release said that the responsibility of determining whether a news item is fake or not would lie with the Press Council of India and the News Broadcasters Association (NBA). Both these bodies regulate the print and TV media in the country. It further said that determination is expected to be completed within 15 days. Determination is expected to be completed within 15 days by these regulating agencies. Once the complaint is registered for determination of fake news, the correspondent or journalist whoever created or propagated the fake news will, if accredited, have the accreditation suspended till such time the determination regarding the fake news is made by…
Rahul Gandhi to haters: ‘Honoured some people make their livelihoods spinning lies about me’
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took to Twitter to react to a sting operation that exposed senior staff of some media organisations allegedly agreeing to push polarising news for money when offered by an undercover journalist. The sting videos have purportedly shown these media workers willing to accept cash and not raise a bill for that amount. The alleged media staff exposed in the sting operation purportedly belonged to some of the top media organisations, including regional outfits. The sting was carried out by Cobrapost. In the sting videos, the accused journalists appeared to be ready to peddle soft Hindutva agenda and ready to show leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Arun Jaitley, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Manoj Sinha, Jayant Sinha, Maneka Gandhi, and Varun Gandhi in the bad light. These media representatives were either owner of regional news outlets or were senior business executives of the media companies. On Wednesday, Gandhi shared a news on the sting operation by The Indian Express and commented, I can never hate those who try to stir up hate against me, with fake stories and their cunning twisting of fact.For them it I I can never hate those who try to stir up hate against…
BJP ministers who took part in rally in support of Kathua rape case accused submit resignation
Amid strain in the PDP-BJP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir over the rape and killing of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, two ministers of the saffron party, who courted controversy by attending a rally supporting the accused in the case, today tendered their resignation to the state BJP chief. In the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the nation that no criminal will be spared and daughters will get justice, in an apparent reference to the two rape cases of Kathua and Unnao. Following criticism by the Opposition over his silence on the rape cases, Modi, at an event in New Delhi, said such incidents shake our sensibilities. In Jammu and Kashmir, the alliance between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the BJP had come under strain after many leaders of the Mehbooba Mufti-led party pressed for dropping Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga and Forest Minister Lal Singh from the Cabinet. The two BJP ministers, who were at the centre of a storm over their participation in a rally in support of the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case, today submitted their resignations to the partys state president Sat Sharma. Sharma told PTI that a legislature…
AP bandh for special status: Andhra Pradesh to shut down Monday; here’s are details
A state-wide bandh would be held in Andhra Pradesh tomorrow by a peoples forum, fighting for special category status to the state, pressing its demand with most opposition parties backing the call. The bandh has been called by Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti. The opposition parties such as the YSR Congress (YSRC), Congress and the Left parties have extended support to the shutdown call, but the ruling TDP has opposed it. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said bandhs were not welcome as they hamper development. Reacting to this, the YSRC accused the Chief Minister of adopting double standards. When Naidu was the opposition leader, he had called for bandhs on many occasions, but as a Chief Minister he is now opposing them (bandhs), saying they hinder development, YSRC political affairs committee member Ambati Rambabu said. He said Naidu should understand that bandh was a form of a democratic protest and he had no right to oppose it. He alleged that the government has been issuing notices to those supporting the bandh, saying cases would be booked against them. Why this intimidation? As long as they are peaceful, we will continue all forms of democratic protests, Rambabu added.
Andhra pradesh: Two and 5-year-old kids weigh 42 kg and 32 kg respectively, here’s why they have sought government help
Two kids from Andhra Pradeshs Vijayawada fighting a tough battle against obesity. Among the first three cases of this rare disorder reported from India, two-year-old Tabish and five-year-old Sufian are suffering from Leptin deficiency that has caused them to gain excessive weight. This uncommon condition is, in fact, the first two cases in Andhra Pradesh and the third in India. What is most surprising in the case is the weight of these two kids! While Sufiyan weighs 42 kgs, Tabish weighs 32 kgs. Worried about the kids condition, their family has now sought help from the state government. The reason being the high cost of treatment that their family is unable to bear. The cost that is estimated to be around Rs 50 lakh for both the children has now made things more difficult. Both Tabish and Sufian are undergoing treatment at the Livlife Hospital in Vijayawada. Khadar Hussain, fathers of the kids, had first consulted a bariatric surgeon in Tamil Nadus Rayavellore, and then was brought to the hospital. He was then informed by the doctors of this disease and was told that this rare ailment doesnt have any treatment available in India and the kids need to be…
Rahul Gandhi meets Indian origin businessmen in Malaysia
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met business executives of Indian origin in Malaysia and said he valued actionable solutions over rhetoric. He also assured them that their interests will be suitably addressed in his partys manifesto. Gandhi met the business executives of the Malaysia India Business Council, Asean India Business Council, Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Consortium of Indian Industries in Malaysia. Businessmen who met Gandhi said that the Indian community and their interests have been neglected by the Narendra Modi government, the Congress party said in a tweet. In response Gandhi assuaged their concerns and said: We value actionable solutions over rhetoric. I assure you that your interests will be suitably addressed in the Congress Partys manifesto, the party added. Gandhi also met Subramaniam Sathasivam, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) in Kuala Lumpur. Originally a part of the AICC until 1946, the MIC has played a major role in the Malaysian Independence Movement.
Kerala to seek ILO expertise to fine-tune IT labour laws
Kerala will rope in global agencies such as the International Labour Organisation to fine-tune labour laws with global acceptance, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. The move is being made to ensure rights of employees in the IT sector without nixing the favourable working atmosphere for IT companies in the state. Employees in the IT sector are under constant threat of termination and they were being denied due allowances that are enjoyed by persons working in other sectors,
World Trade Organisation chief Roberto Azevêdo calls on PM Narendra Modi
World Trade Organisation chief Roberto Azev The WTO director-general is here for a mini-ministerial meeting. Had a wonderful meeting with Mr. Roberto Azev Talking to reporters, Azev We are facing many challenges in the WTO and outside. Trade environment globally is very risky at this point of time. We will try to have an open and honest conversation at the informal WTO meeting here, Azevedo said here earlier today.
Team ‘Bua-Bhatija’ Trumps BJP: Akhilesh-Mayawati alliance can upset Adityanath’s 2019 arithmetic
UP by election results 2018: In a shot in the arm, Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party, which entered into an experimental alliance with arch-rival Bahujan Samaj Party, has managed to dent the Bharatiya Janata Partys winning streak, and decisively so. The SP-BSP combine won Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, vacated by partys two top leaders – Adityanath and Keshav Prasad Maurya who respectively went on to become the chief minister and deputy chief minister of the state. The elections, touted to be a battle of prestige for CM Adityanath, and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya, came as an undesired drubbing before 2019 for them. What makes the decision even more emphatic is that it comes at a time when the two are at the peak of their respective careers. On the other hand, for the BSP and SP, it was a battle of existence and a decider for the future on two accounts. First, whether theres a possibility of an alliance, and more significantly, whether the alliance will gain acceptability among the masses. The results were something unthought of. The SP wrested Gorakhpur, a seat held by BJP for the last seven terms, and won a landslide in Phulpur. An…
BJP not interfering in AIADMK matters, says Tamil Nadu unit chief Tamilisai Soundarajan
Tamil Nadu unit BJP President Tamilisai Soundarajan today dismissed the reported charge by expelled AIADMK spokesperson K C Palanisamy that the ruling party had become a puppet in the hands of the saffron party. Such allegations against BJP were being made every now and then, she told reporters here replying to a question. Can any one say that M K Stalin (DMK Working President) is taking decisions at the behest of the Congress in the state, she asked. Soundarajan said each and every party was capable of taking its own decision and BJP is not interfering in AIADMKs matters. She also added that people would not believe such allegations. Palanisamy was expelled from the primary membership of the AIADMK after he favoured that the ruling party support the no-confidence motion moved by the TDP and YSR Congress against the BJP-led NDA government in Parliament. Reacting to sacking, Palanisamy, a former MP, has blamed the party leadership for his removal under pressure from BJP. Talking to reporters here, he sought to know why he was singled out for the remarks, though another leader Venugopal, an MP, also expressed similar views on the issue. The BJP state chief said her party had…
SC dismisses plea of hospitality firm linked to Robert Vadra in Income Tax case
The Supreme Court today dismissed the petition filed by a hospitality firm linked to Robert Vadra challenging an Income Tax (I-T) department notice to it for re-assessment of its profits from land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan for 2010-11. The Delhi-based firm, Sky Light Hospitality LLP, had filed an appeal against the February order of the Delhi High Court which had rejected its petition against the I-T notice. The I-T department, in a tax evasion report tabled before the high court, had said it had reasons to believe that over Rs 35 crore, earned by the firm in 2010-11, had escaped from assessment. The high court had said, After going through the reasons, we are satisfied that the reasons to believe show and establish a live link and connect with the inference drawn that income had escaped assessment, which is required for issuance of notice. In the high court, the firm had challenged the I-T departments notice, contending that the reasons to believe were mere reasons to suspect and do not establish that income had escaped assessment. Disagreeing with the firms contention, the high court had said that absolute certainty is not required at the time of issue of notice…
Setting up Cauvery Management Board: Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan observe silent protest with actors
Joining the ongoing state-wide protests, demanding constitution of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, actors Kamal Hassan and Vijay, along with other actors and film personalities, participated in a silent protest here. The Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC), South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA), Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) and Distributors Association had announced that the silent protest would be held here in Valluvar Kottam area today. Top actors, including SIAA president and actor Nasser, Film Producers Council president and actor Vishal, actors Dhanush and Sathyaraj, directors Shankar and Vikraman and actor-director S A Chandrasekar also participated in the protest. The silent protest was also for demanding closure of the Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin, against which the locals have been staging agitations, citing health reasons. Tamil Nadu has been witnessing protests over the CMB issue, with ruling AIADMK staging a hunger strike, led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on April 3, condemning the Centre for not setting it up . The DMK-led opposition parties state-wide bandh, demanding early establishment of the CMB to ensure water for farmers as per the Supreme Court order, was held on April 5. In…
Fresh snowfall in Gulmarg, higher reaches of Kashmir; while rain lashes Srinagar
Gulmarg and other areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall today, while the plains in the valley, including the summer capital Srinagar, were lashed by rains. Fresh snowfall has been recorded in Gulmarg He said there are reports of snowfall in other areas in the higher reaches of the valley, including in Zojila Pass, near Amarnath Cave and Drass. The plain areas in the valley were lashed by rains which have brought down the maximum temperature below the normal for this part of the season, the official said. He said Srinagar recorded a maximum of 18.5 degrees Celsius yesterday, against the normal of 21.1 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Divisional Administration, Kashmir, has issued an avalanche warning for hilly and avalanche-prone areas of the valley and Ladakh region. He said all deputy commissioners concerned have been asked to take precautionary measures in their respective districts and advise people not to venture in avalanche-prone areas and monitor the situation regularly to avert any untoward incident.
Judge Loya case verdict: After SC setback, Opposition parties meet to discuss impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra
A day after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking an independent probe into the death of CBI special judge BH Loya, opposition parties will convene a meeting today to discuss the current political scenario of the country and bringing an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. The meeting is scheduled to be held at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azads chamber inside the Parliament house at The parties are also likely to meet Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu at 12 pm today. According to reports, the parties will discuss to bring an impeachment motion against the CJI, something that The While the Left parties (CPIM, CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP), the National Congress Party and the Congress are on board for moving the impeachment motion, some parties that had signed the petition have backed out. CJI Misra is under fire from the oppositions on a number of issues. The impeachment motion gained prominence once again after a bench headed by CJI Misra rejected multiple pleas for an independent probe into the death of special Judge Loya. On Thursday, the top court dismissed several pleas seeking an independent probe…
6 devotees killed, 25 injured in separate incidents in Himachal Pradesh
Six devotees, including four women, were killed while 25 others were injured in two road accidents in Himachal Pradesh. Six persons, including four women, were killed and 10 others injured when the vehicle carrying them fell into a gorge near Neherian village in Una district. The group of 16 devotees from Batala tehsil in Gurdaspur district of Punjab had come to pay obeisance at the Dera Vadbhag Singh gurdwara, near Una, and the accident took place while they were returning, the police said. Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was overloaded and the accident occurred as the driver lost control of it while avoiding a head-on collision with a truck. The officers of the district administration rushed to the spot and extracted the bodies with the help of fire brigade personnel. The injured were rushed to a hospital. Una district police chief Diwakar Sharma said the bodies of the deceased were sent to the zonal hospital for post-mortem, while the injured were admitted to the hospital. He added that a case was lodged and a probe was on to ascertain the cause of the accident. In another incident, 15 devotees, including 14 women, were injured – eight of them seriously – when…
Rahul Gandhi Live Updates: Congress President warns PM Modi of voters’ ‘Mann ki Baat’ in 2019
Rahul Gandhi save the constitution campaign Live Updates: Upping the ante against the Narendra Modi government over issues pertaining to Dalits, Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), Congress President Rahul Gandhi has launched the Save the Constitution campaign today. Through this nationwide campaign, Gandhi is likely to highlight alleged attacks on the Constitution and Dalits under the BJP-led regime. It has been learnt that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, senior party leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarjun Kharge will attend the event. The Save the Constitution will continue till April 14, 2019, which is the birth anniversary of Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Congresss present and former Dalit MPs, zilla parishad, civic bodies and panchayat samitis officials, the partys office-bearers attached to its regional units will also attend the event. Track Live Updates of Rahul Gandhis save the constitution campaign 1:25 PM: WATCH- Congress vice President Rahul Gandhi has challenged PM Modi #BREAKING Rahul Gandhi throws down gauntlet, from a dias in national capital, Rahul Gandhi dares PM Modi for a twitter.com\/NQPatsHUWB The people of India will speak their Mann ki Baat in 2019, Gandhi a the Save the Constitution rally. 1:12 PM: Training his…
Government asks ministries details of delayed projects, cost overruns
All ministries have been asked to share details of delay and cost overrun in implementing projects and schemes, according to an official statement issued by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha. The move comes after it was observed that several proposals involving time and cost overrun or extension in time frame of implementation of projects or schemes are being referred to the Cabinet or Cabinet Committees for consideration. In this context, it has now been decided that all such proposals must necessarily incorporate in the note for Cabinet\/Cabinet Committees, specific physical and financial milestones with corresponding half yearly targets for their implementation, Sinha said in a missive to secretaries of all central government departments. He said that at the end of every six months, the Cabinet or Cabinet Committees would need to be apprised of the reasons for such slippage along with the strategy to achieve the target. As per norms, proposals related to Revised Cost Estimates (RCEs) due to time and cost overrun or extension in time frame of implementation of various projects or schemes are placed for consideration of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees. After approval of the projects and schemes by the competent authority, it is expected that the…
BJP condemns killing of 39 Indians in Iraq, says curb ISIS with iron hand in Jammu and Kashmir
Condemning the killing of 39 Indians by ISIS in Iraq, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP today said the emergence of the terror group in Kashmir needs to be curbed with iron hand. Speaking with mediapersons, BJPs state spokesperson Anil Gupta said the disclosure that a youth from Telangana who was recently killed in an encounter had come to Kashmir as an ISIS fighter should act as an eye-opener for those who refuse to acknowledge the presence of ISIS in Kashmir. The emergence of ISIS in Kashmir needs to be curbed with an iron hand. The government can no longer afford to remain in denial mode, Gupta said. On February 27, shortly after it was revealed that MD Toufeeq was an ISIS operative, the Centre sought to downplay the issue of the presence of the dreaded terror group in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it had no existence in the Valley. There is no physical infrastructure or manpower of the IS (ISIS) in the Valley. It does not exist in the Valley, a Home Ministry spokesperson had said while reacting to a statement of the terror group claiming responsibility for the killing of a policeman in the Valley. Gupta…
Will BJP agree to hold elections with paper ballots? Here’s is the condition, says Ram Madhav
Amid demands for holding elections with paper ballots in future, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday said his party may consider this if all parties agree to it. I would like to remind Congress that the decision to shift from paper ballots to EVMs was taken because of a larger consensus, Madhav said while speaking to ANI on Sunday. Now today, if every party think that we should return to paper ballots again, after due discussion, we can consider, Madhav added. On Saturday, the Congress urged that the Election Commission (EC) to revert to the old practice of paper ballots. During its 84th plenary session, the party said there are scruples over EVMs and the practice of paper ballots should be re-adopted. Passing a resolution, the grand old party called for reverting to the old practice of paper ballots. It cited that paper ballots were re-adopted by other major democracies to help restore the credibility of the electoral process. On BJPs contention to hold simultaneous elections, Congress said the move is Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again pressed upon the idea of holding simultaneous elections to Parliament and state assemblies. Modi has said that the idea will…
Nobody should be shouted down at varsities by saying ‘you are anti-national’, says Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan
Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan today said universities need to be safe spaces where debates takes place and no one is shouted down after being branded an anti-national. Every stream of thought needs to be encouraged in a varsity, he said, citing instances like one of his colleagues at the University of Chicago inviting President Donald Trumps former chief strategist Steve Banon to speak, despite not agreeing with his views. We need to learn to respect universities as places where ideas are debated and you dont shout down the other side and say that no no you dont have the right to speak like this or you are anti-national, he told reporters here. We have to, as a society, create safe spaces where debates and discussions take place, where people using freedom, not licence, can express their views which can take the society forward, Rajan said. He was speaking on the sidelines of announcing the launch of Krea University, which will be devoted to liberal arts and humanities apart from science. Any university will court controversy but the point is that controversy should be protected. Part of the point is to debate. Sometimes ideas that are unappealing come forward and…
Hotels, resorts, plots and land parcels: ED attaches Rs 2,300 cr assets in Rose Valley ponzi scam case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today attached assets worth Rs 2,300 crore, including two dozen hotels and resorts, in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rose Valley ponzi scam case. Officials said the agency issued a provisional order, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), attaching 11 resorts, nine hotels and few other such facilities, a plot of about 200 acres and 414 land parcels spread across West Bengal. This is one of the single largest attachment of properties order issued by the central probe agency under the PMLA. With the latest action, the total value of assets seized in this case stands at about Rs 4,200 crore. The ED had registered an FIR against the firm, its Chairman Gautam Kundu and others in 2014 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Kundu was arrested by the agency in Kolkata in 2015. Multiple charge sheets have been filed in the courts in Kolkata and Bhubaneswar by the ED in this case. The group had allegedly floated a total of 27 companies for running the alleged chit fund operations out of which only half-a-dozen were active. The agency has alleged that the firm had floated the scheme promising…
Centre to file review petition tomorrow challenging Supreme Court order on SC and ST Act
The government will file a review petition before the Supreme Court tomorrow, challenging its order banning automatic arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of SCs and STs. The petition will be filed by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry tomorrow, a senior government official said. Meanwhile, Union Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot had on Friday appealed to organisations and individuals opposing the Supreme Courts verdict on the SC\/ST Act to withdraw their protests in the wake of the governments decision to file a review petition challenging the order. Top law officers are constantly brainstorming with officials of the ministry of social justice to prepare a credible review plea, sources in the government said. The top court had recently banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. The law protects the marginalised communities against discrimination and atrocities. A delegation of NDAs SC and ST MPs, led by LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Gehlot, had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to discuss the apex court judgement diluting provisions of the SC\/ST atrocities act. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and the National…
Road accidents in India: Three incidents claim 57 lives in 24 hours; is government doing enough on road safety?
Three accidents in the past 24 hours from across the country have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Yesterday, thirty, including 27 school children, died when a school bus ferrying them back home plunged into a deep gorge near village Gurchal on the Nurpur-Chamba highway near Shimla. In another incident, at least 18 labourers were killed and 15 others injured when a speeding truck overturned in western Maharashtras Satara district in the early hours of Tuesday. In the third incident, nine people were killed and four others injured on Tuesday when a vehicle rammed into a truck in Uttar Pradeshs Shamli district. The accidents have led to the loss of 57 innocent lives and an irreparable damage to the lives of their families. Shockingly, such losses are not new. As per Road Ministry figures coted by Bloomberg in January, over 150,000 people in India die in road accidents every year, translating into 400 deaths per day. Road ministry data show that 83 percent of road accident fatalities were in the age group of 18 to 60 years, or mostly the working age population. The menace of road accidents and the subsequent loss of lives, however, is not new. The…
‘Conspiracy to create problems’ – MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan says Rs 2,000 notes are vanishing
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today claimed that Rs 2,000 notes were vanishing from the market, and alleged that there was a conspiracy behind it. Addressing a farmers convention here, Chouhan said, The currency worth Rs 15,00,000 crore was in circulation before demonetisation. After this exercise (demonetisation), the currency in circulation increased to Rs 16,50,000 crore. But notes of Rs 2,000 are missing from the market. He was apparently referring to news reports of ATMs running out of cash at some places in the state. Where these notes of Rs 2,000 denomination are going, who are keeping them out of circulation? Who are the persons creating shortfall of cash? This is a conspiracy to create problems. The government will act tough on this, he said. He had taken up the issue with the Union Government, Chouhan added. Farmers can call the control room at his official residence on 0755-2540500 if they face any agrarian problem, the chief minister said. Hitting out at opposition Congress, Chouhan said, Last year farmers were instigated in a planned manner..The Congress wants to set the state on fire. Western Madhya Pradesh had witnessed a violent farmers agitation over crop prices and loan waiver…
‘Is he working for the BJP’: Tehseen Poonawalla slams Ajay Maken after Chola Bhatura fiasco
Congress party found itself in a spot of major embarrassment when its senior Delhi unit leaders were pictured having a breakfast, moments before they were scheduled to Rahul Gandhi for a nationwide day-long fast. The leaders draw major criticism as the picture went viral moments after it was posted on social media. Tehseen Poonawalla, a relative of Raul Gandhi and a Congress supporter, raised questions on partys Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken competence and intent. Poonawalla said that he will vote for the Congress till last breath, used the adjectives like stupid and incompetent while referring to Maken. I will vote for the Cong till my last breath. But sometimes we need to draw the line with the person who is stupid \/incompetent or we need to ask ourselves does he work for the BJP! Poonawalla said. The Congress is down to 0 under this persons leadership and he today destroyed RGs dalit outreach, he added. He further slammed Maken and wondered how he could not stay away from Cholla Batura just for 1 day. Even if the breakfast plan may have been made for 8 am by some leader. as the boss of Delhi Congress, do u not have…