For BJP President Amit Shah, who has set his eyes on winning Kerala, the first test will come when a by-election to the Chengannur Assembly constituency is held in the not-too-distant future. After spreading the partys tentacles with a resounding victory in the northeast, Shah has set the organisation on the road to securing power in Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal, saying the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) golden period will come only when it has won these states. And for Shah, the first test in Kerala of achieving what currently appears to be a distant dream could be the soon-to-be-announced Chengannur Assembly by-election following the sudden demise of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator K.K. Ramachandran Nair in January. While the BJP ruling Kerala looks almost an impossibility in the present scheme of things, the saying that politics is the art of the possible could well be the motivating factor for Shah and his think tank. In the 2014 Lok sabha elections, the BJP contested 18 out of the 20 parliamentary seats in the state and secured 10.33 per cent of the votes. And it was only in the 2016 Assembly elections that the Lotus (the party symbol) bloomed…
Month: August 2015
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unconcerned about Opposition for 2019 elections
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday expressed confidence about winning the 2019 general elections while remaining unperturbed with the Opposition. Speaking to ANI, Pradhan said that BJPs defeat in the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh and Bihar bypolls will not affect the party in the general elections. Remaining unruffled following results in the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar bypolls, where Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidates registered victories over their BJP rivals, the Union Minister claimed that the situation all over the country cannot be gauged by results in just a couple of elections. Why do you forget that we just formed NDA governments in Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, be it in far, remote areas or in the mainland the presence BJP and NDA is strong everywhere. In 2019 as well the government will be formed under Narendra Modis leadership, and we will also form a government in Odisha, he added. Commenting on the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, he said, The people who have, for a long time, led the country astray, deprived it from progress, have played family politics and have looted it, they were standing together in 2014 as well and even if they do so again…
Union Minister Jayant declines direct comment on father Yashwant Sinha meeting Mamata
Union minister Jayant Sinha today declined a direct comment on his father and rebel BJP leader Yashwant Sinha meeting West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is trying to bring anti-BJP parties on one platform. Asked to comment on his father meeting Mamata Banerjee in Delhi, Sinha told reporters: Unka prashn unse puchiye aur mera prashn mujhse (Ask his question to him and mine to me). Without taking anybodys name, he said everybody is free to put across ones views. Yashwant Sinha, who held the finance portfolio in the NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, met TMC supremo in the national capital yesterday along with disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie. Mamata Banerjee during the course of her stay in Delhi met prominent opposition leaders, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and a host of leaders from the Shiv Sena, the RJD and the TDP in a bid to build up a strong opposition to the BJP for the 2019 general elections. Jayant Sinha has replaced his father as Lok Sabha member from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand and is presently serving as the minister of state for civil aviation…
Cauvery row: Kannada outfits call for Karnataka bandh on April 12
Pro-Kannada outfits today called for a bandh in poll-bound Karnataka on April 12 in a counter to the ongoing stir in neighbouring Tamil Nadu for an early setting up of the Centre to form Cauvery Management Board (CMB). The Karnataka bandh call came amid the DMK-led opposition parties observing a state-wide shutdown in Tamil Nadu on Monday, demanding early setting up of CMB to ensure water for farmers as per the Supreme Court orders. Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami, his deputy O Ironically, the CMB has been mandated to be established by the Supreme Court to implement its February 16 verdict on Cauvery water allocation to the riparian states, including Karnataka, whose water share from the river has been raised by 14.75 tmcft per year. Accordingly, the Karnataka bandh call would give an impression that the Kannada outfits are opposed to an early implementation of the apex court ruling which has enhanced the states water share. The Karnataka bandh was announced by Kannada outfit Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj during a protest near Attibele on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border to press the Centre not to yield to pressure from Tamil leaders on CMB. Nagaraj heads the umbrella of…
Madras HC says no to banners that may pose hindrance to public
The Madras High Court today said no posters or banners that may pose a hindrance to the public or movement of vehicles should be put up in the city. A bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice A Selvam dropped the suo motu proceedings initiated in a case related to erection of banners in the city. The court had initiated suo motu proceedings based on a letter received from social activist Traffic Ramasamy and two other representations seeking a direction to authorities to take action against unauthorised banners in the city and submit a report. The bench said, Paper banners and\/or cloth banners tied with strings, erected across the streets for a specific occasion, should ensure that sufficient height is maintained so that they do not disturb pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including heavy vehicles, in any manner whatsoever. No poles shall be erected on pavements and\/or streets for putting up such banners. No placard, banner, board, etc., should obstruct pedestrian or vehicular movement in any manner whatsoever.
Fake news like cancer, needs surgery, says BJP leader Subramanian Swamy
Fake news has become like Swamy was in the city to address the 14th Annual India Business Conference at Columbia Business School hosted by the South Asia Business Association. In a democratic country, the balance has to be drawn between freedom of expression and permitted restrictions that the Constitution allows. That is where the line drawing has become a major problem for the governments, He said the media has now genuinely become mass media, the cyber world has made it possible to get instantaneous news but it has become very difficult to keep track of contradicting information that spreads fast. Swamy also referred to the Information and Broadcasting Ministrys recent guidelines, which were later withdrawn, journalists would have lost their accreditation if it was confirmed they published fake news. Swamy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi He added that competitiveness in the media has reached a high point. He said he does not think that journalists are putting out fake news Swamy said explosion of fake and incorrect news has to be dealt with in a sophisticated manner, adding that if an accusation is made against somebody, then the news organisation must also print his or her The issue of fake…
Tales for World Book Day
On the ocassion of World Book and Copyright Day on Monday, Puffin India has partnered with Flipkart and UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office for the release of a new edition of The Puffin Book of Folktales. It features stories by prestigious authors like Ruskin Bond, Sudha Murty, among others. We are delighted to be acknowledged by UNESCO for this endeavour,
BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi; says Congress President can’t speak anywhere for 15 minutes without consulting a slip
Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi for his statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be able to face the Lok Sabha even for 15 minutes, the BJP today said such a challenge from the Congress president, who cannot speak anywhere for as many minutes without consulting a slip is laughable. UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi today told PTI, The Congress president cannot speak for 15 minutes without consulting a slip. In any public event or even in the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi has been unable to speak at length for 15 minutes. And, in this case, challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi is laughable. He added, It was due to the antics of the Opposition that the functioning of the Parliament was stalled. If anybody is stopping Rahul Gandhi from speaking in the Parliament, it is the Congress. Tripathi also said, When the students asked Rahul Gandhi valid questions on development, Rahul Gandhi tried to shift the blame to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In fact, Rahul Gandhi must answer as to why the parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli have been deprived of the basic amenities, despite both the seats having been represented in…
Was your data stolen during EPFO-Aadhaar seeding? Why is website down? All you need to know
Employment Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Wednesday suspended the service of Common Service Centre (CSC) amid reports of a data breach in Aadhaar-seeding with PF accounts. Subsequently, the website, aadhaar.epfoservices.com, used to link Aadhar with EPFO, was also shut by the department. Earlier, it was reported that EPFO Central Provident Fund Commissioner V P Joy has written a letter to CSCs CEO, Dinesh Tyagi, on March 23, flagging the issue of data theft. The EPFO, while announcing the services of CSC, said that the warnings regarding vulnerabilities in data or software is a routine administrative process. It further said that the services of CSC were discontinued from March 22 on the basis of vulnerabilities recorded in the process. The pension body assured that there is nothing to be concerned about and that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that no data leakage takes place. The statement issued by the EPFO said that no confirmed data leakage has been established or observed so far. It added that the closing of server and host service through the CSC pending vulnerability checks has come up as an advance measure to avoid the data breach. The EPFO statement came after reports suggested…
Rejection of CJI Dipak Misra impeachment notice ‘illegal’? Legal experts back Venkaiah Naidu, question opposition’s timing
Contrary to cries of illegality by Congress over Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidus decision to reject the impeachment notice moved by the opposition, top legal experts in the country have welcomed the decision, saying the Vice President was well within his rights to decide on the petition. Noted academic and legal expert NR Madhav Menon on Monday backed the Vice Presidents move, saying he is well within the power to do so and that it is written in the Article 124 of the Constitution. But, he said, the only question is on what grounds. Terming the motion ill-conceived, unfortunate and regrettable, Menon said that there was a need for great caution while dealing with Constitutional functionaries. He also questioned the timing of the oppositions petition. Menon said that it would have been grave injustice to admit the seven opposition parties notice in this manner. To my mind, it would have been a great injustice if it was admitted in this manner, Questioning the oppositions charge of misbehaviour, he said that even coming late to office amounts to misbehaviour. Without naming the opposition parties, he said that a section of political establishment is trying to gain mileage from the press conference…
Kamala Mills fire: Bombay HC rejects Mojo’s Bistro co-owner Yug Tuli’s bail plea
The Bombay High Court today rejected the bail plea of Yug Tuli, the co-owner of the Mojos Bistro restaurant and an accused in the December, 2017 fire incident at the Kamala Mills compound here, in which 14 people were killed. Justice Ajey Gadkari dismissed Tulis bail application and said he would pass a detailed order later. Tuli, who was arrested in mid-January, had approached the high court after his bail plea was rejected by the sessions court. In his plea, Tuli had claimed that the tragedy occurred due to the mistake of the staff at 1 Above, the other restaurant that was gutted in the blaze on the intervening night of December 28-29. His counsel Shirish Gupte argued that while as per the police inquiry, the fire did start at Mojos Bistro, none of the guests at the restaurant was among the dead. Prosecution lawyer Prakash Shetty, however, opposed the bail plea and said there was gross negligence on the part of Tuli and all the other accused. Shetty told the court that as per the inquiry reports of the police as well as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the fire was caused by the flying embers emanating from a…
Before joining BJP, Naresh Agrawal wanted to know this from Modi government
Days before Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agrawal joined the ruling BJP, he had put a rather inconvenient question to the government, asking if it has accepted that demonetisation was its worst decision. Denied a re-nomination to the Upper House by Samajwadi Party, Agrawal joined BJP yesterday. But days before that he had put a written question to the finance minister, the reply to which was given today. In an unstarred question, he had wanted the finance minister to state if it is a fact that government has accepted that its decision of demonetisation was the worst decision; (and) if so the reasons thereof. Minister of State for Finance P Radhakrishnan in a written response tabled in the House today, said No to the first part of the question and doesnt arise to the second. As per the rules and procedures of the Rajya Sabha, an MP can raise or ask a question to any minister by giving it in writing at least 15 days in advance. A notice of a question is to be given in writing to the Secretary-General of Rajya Sabha and must contain the name of the minister it is addressed to and the date on which…
BJP chief Amit Shah to address rally in Mumbai on April 6
BJP president Amit Shah will address a rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in the city on April 6, the Foundation Day of the BJP. Shah is coming here on April 6, which is the Foundation Day of the BJP. He will address a rally in the BKC on the same day. He will hold meetings with party officials, leaders and workers, a BJP leader said tonight. The decision to organise the rally and finalise Shahs schedule was taken at the state-level meeting of the BJP leaders and functionaries. According to the leader, discussion on probable candidates for the Bhandara-Gondia and Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls may be on the agenda of Shah during his visit. Bhandara-Gondia seat in east Maharashtra fell vacant after sitting BJP MP Nana Patole resigned from the party and returned to the Congress. Palghar bypoll is necessitated due to the death of sitting MP Chintaman Wanga of the BJP. The Election Commission has not yet announced the formal schecule for the bypolls.
Heartwarming! 7-year-old cancer patient dons the ‘inspector’ hat for a day at Mumbai police station
It was a dream come true for seven-year-old Arpit Mandal! At the Mulund Police Station in Mumbai, this young lad fulfilled his ambition of donning the hat of a police officer, even if its for a day. All thanks to Mumbai police, who gave wings to the ambitions of this young boy, who also happens to be a cancer patient. Arpit was given charge of the Mulund Police Station for a day. Mumbai Police and Make-a-Wish India foundation got together to fulfill Mandal In a post on Mumbai Polices Twitter handle, Arpit can be seen writing something as he sits on the desk at the police station. He is wearing the police uniform as he is surrounded by the officials of the Mulund police station. In another photo, Arpit is being fed by a cake by the cops. Mulund Police Station was completely won over by the undaunted spirit of 7 year old Arpit Mandal, fighting cancer! If we could, we would fulfill all his wishes beyond just being a Police inspector for a day #ProtectingSmiles @MakeAWishIndia pic.twitter.com\/jPOJosXFDU Mulund Police Station was completely won over by the undaunted spirit of 7-year-old Arpit Mandal, fighting cancer! If we could, we would…
Important bridge over Assi Ganga river on Gangotri Highway collapses in Uttarakhand, second time in 3 months
A bridge on Gangotri highway in Uttarakhand collapsed on Sunday morning. The bridge was built on Assi Ganga river. The incident triggered panic as people traveling to Badrinath were stopped from advancing further. Due to the sudden collapse, traffic movement stopped immediately and angry pilgrims and tourists were seen standing on both sides of the bridge. The bridge that collapsed around 10:30 am connects Gangotri, Maneri, Harsil and 42 other villages on the hills. According to reports, reason for the bridge collapse was attributed to passing of an overloaded truck. The truck while passing over the bridge caused the upper chord of the bridge to snap, resulting the entire bridge to collapse in the river. The truck also went down with bridge in the river. No loss of lives has been reported. The district administration and rescue teams have rushed to the spot and operation is underway. This is not the first time when the bridge has collapsed. The bridge had collapsed on December 14 last year after being constructed by Border Road Organisation (BRO). It is the second time in three months that the bridge has slumped due to overloading, even though heavy trucks are prohibited to shuttle on…
77,569 government jobs created in Kerala in two years! CM Pinarayi Vijayan shares detail
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that as many as 77,569 people were given state jobs after the CPI-M led LDF government came to power in the state in 2016. The number of appointments and creation of new posts in the government services rose during the first 20 months of the present government, the chief minister said in his Facebook post. Out of the total jobs given, 64,982 candidates were issued appointment letters by Kerala State Public Service Commission (KSPSC) while 12,587 got jobs through Employment Exchange between May 25, 2016 and January 31, 2018, he said. Vijayan said during the first 20 months from May 18, 2011 to January 31, 2013 of the previous Congress-led regime, only 48,951 people had got the government jobs. Vigilance in reporting vacancies and filling the same has helped the state government provide more government jobs to eligible the candidates, Vijayan said. The timetable maintained by the Public Service Commission in conducting examinations and publishing rank lists also helped candidates in getting opportunities, he added.
Kathua rape-murder case: Police to submit supplementary chargesheet
The crime branch which is investigating the alleged rape and killing of a minor girl in Kathua district, is in the process of submitting a supplementary charge sheet in the case, a spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Police said today. However, the spokesperson did not mention the date when the supplementary charge sheet would be filed. The crime branch submitted a charge sheet in the case against seven of the eight accused in the case at a court in Kathua on April 9, amid protest by local lawyers. The next day it filed a separate charge sheet against another accused, who was earlier said to be a juvenile. After completion of all legal formalities of investigation, a charge sheet was produced in the competent court of law and the investigating agency is in the process of submitting a supplementary charge sheet, He also said there are no truth in reports that the girl was not subjected to rape before her killing. On the strength of opinion furnished by medical experts, it has been confirmed that the victim was found subjected to sexual assault by the accused, On the basis of medical opinion, Section 376 (D) Ranbir Penal Code was added…
This Ordinance likely to award death penalty for raping children up to 12 years
An ordinance to award death penalty to those convicted of raping a child up to 12 years of age is likely to come up before the Union Cabinet tomorrow. Against the backdrop of outrage over the incidents of rape of minors in Uttar Pradeshs Unnao and Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua, the government plans to bring the ordinance to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act by bringing an ordinance, sources aware of the development said today. According to the proposal, those convicted of committing rape on children up to 12 years can also be awarded death penalty. As the POCSO law stands today, the maximum punishment for aggravated assault is life in jail. The minimum sentence prescribed is seven years in jail. After the Nirbhaya case in December 2012, when the criminal laws were amended, a provision of death penalty in case the woman either dies or is left in a vegetative state after rape was introduced through an ordinance which later became the Criminal Law Amendment Act. The government informed the Supreme Court today that it is actively considering amending the penal law to introduce death penalty to those convicted of sexually abusing children up to 12…
Delhi government employees carry out protest march on Labour Day
Scores of employees of the Delhi government today took out a peaceful march with black bands on their mouths to protest against non-regularisation of contractual workers. The march was held under the aegis of Joint Council of All Employees Organisations Delhi on the occasion of the International Labour Day. It started from the Vidhansabha Metro Station and concluded at the office of Lt Governor Anil Baijal. Later, the Council members submitted memorandum to the offices of L-G, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Labour Commissioner with regard to their demands. Sandeep Kapoor, the general secretary of the Council, said that hundreds of employees working in various departments of the Delhi government participated in the protest march which mainly focused on the demands of contractual workers this year. Among the demands being raised by Council are regularisation of contractual workers, equal pay for equal work in line with verdict of the Supreme Court and doing away of discrimination with contractual workers. Kapoor said that the Joint Council has already requested all concerned authorities on these demands pertaining to contractual employees. Meanwhile, several trade unions held a public meeting outside the Town Hall in north Delhis Chandni Chowk area on the occasion of…
‘Missing’ 24-year-old Indian Sikh found in Pakistan from his ‘Facebook friend’ residence, to be sent back to India
A 24-year-old Indian Sikh man, who had gone missing in Pakistan during Baisakhi festival celebrations and was subsequently found from the residence of his Facebook friend, was today handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border. After getting special approval from the interior ministry the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) today handed over Amarjit Singh to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Wagah Border, ETPB spokesman Amir Hashmi told PTI. He said Singh crossed into India on foot. Amarjit Singh, a resident of Amritsar, had arrived in Pakistan along with other 1,700 Sikh pilgrims to celebrate Baisakhi festival on April 12. But his disappearance was only noticed when the entourage he came along with embarked upon the return journey to India on April 21. Yesterday he was found from his Facebook friend Amir Razzak house in Sheikhupura, about 50 kms from Lahore, where he had gone to see him. According to the ETPB, Singh on his arrival to Nankana Sahib had left the group to meet Razzak. The family of Razzak contacted the board yesterday and told them about his (Singhs) stay at his residence. Both Singh and Razzak visited the ETPB office in Lahore and said that…
3,292 NGOs, institutes including JNU, IIT Delhi yet to disclose foreign donations: MHA
As many as 3,292 NGOs and institutes, including some top academic centres like JNU, IGNOU, IIT Delhi and Madras, besides the Infosys Foundation in Bangalore have not disclosed their annual foreign donations and expenditure for the last fiscal or previous years, the Home Ministry has said. The ministry told the NGOs and institutes in a notice that after scrutiny of records for 2011-12 to 2016-17, it has been observed that the mandatory annual returns\/accounts for some of the financial years in the said period have not been found uploaded on the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act portal despite several opportunities were given to them to do so. Those whose names figure in the Home Ministry list include Infosys Foundation, University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Panjab University, University of Rajasthan, Madras Christian College, Indian Council Of Agricultural Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Madras, besides others. The ministry said in the notice that those associations which have not filed the annual returns must file it immediately online. The status of submission of mandatory annual return will be reviewed after 15 days of issue of this notice (electronically\/physically) in respect of…
Delhi Sealing issue: Arvind Kejriwal calls for all-party meet, seeks Ajay Maken’s ‘expert advise’
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday called for an all-party meeting at his residence to discuss the issue of on going sealing drive in the national capital. Writing a letter to Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and Congress leader Ajay Maken, Kejriwal stressed that sealing drive is a serious issue and parties should rise above politics to find a solution. We should rise above politics and come together to find a solution to the problems that have risen due to sealing, Kejriwal wrote. The chief minister also suggested that a maximum of three people from each party should attend the meeting for smooth proceedings. In January, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta had alleged that AAP leaders and workers misbehaved with some BJP members at Kejriwals residence. At that time too, the meeting was held to discuss relief for traders hit by the sealing drive. A case was registered against some AAP MLAs. On Saturday, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken had written to Kejriwal, offering to share his views on a solution to stop the ongoing sealing drive. Maken, in his letter, claimed the amended master plan and National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011, has…
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari wants ‘no work, no pay’ rule for MPs
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari today demanded implementation of no work, no pay rule in Parliament, and pitched for reducing emoluments of MPs if they fail to engage in constructive work. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, he expressed his great anguish at the stalemate in the Lower House over the unprecedented chaos, and said it was equally disturbing to see public representatives, who are primarily responsible for making laws, running away from their respons1b1ht1es. I, therefore, propose deducting the salaries of MPs for their failure to engage in any constructive work. Lets follow the fair practice of no work, no pay, he wrote. Tiwari, who represents North East Delhi constituency in the Lok Sabha, also heads the BJPs Delhi unit. With opposition parties protesting in both Houses of Parliament over a variety of issues, the second leg of the Budget Session has been a virtual washout so far.
Local NCP, Shiv Sena leaders land in police net for allegedly making extortion demands in Maharashtra
Police in Palghar district yesterday registered four more cases of extortion against local leaders of the Shiv Sena and NCP for allegedly extorting money from builders. While three cases were registered by Vasai police, one by Valiv police station. Police have so far booked ten accused in the case. Nine persons, including Vasai-Virar NCP chief Govind Gunjalkar, have been arrested so far in connection with the cases while Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) corporator Dhananjay Gawde, former deputy district chief of the Shiv Sena, is untraceable. According to a senior police officer, Gawde allegedly made a fresh demand for extortion while he was on the run. The fresh offences of extortion have been registered against Gunjalkar, Gawde and other accused, according to an official release issued here today. Police have also booked BJP Yuva Morcha district chief Arun Singh and have launched a hunt to trace him. The ten accused, including two women, have been booked under sections 384 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC besides under provisions of the Arms Act, said Palghar (Rural) SP Manjunath Singe and Additional SP Raj Tilak Roshan in a joint press conference in Vasai. The officers said Gawde figured in all…
If TMC attacks us, it will be paid back in same coin, says BJP
The BJP today warned the Trinamool Congress (TMC) that if the ruling party workers attacked BJP candidates during panchayat polls in the state, it would be paid back in the same coin. Talking to reporters on the last day of filing nominations for the rural polls to be held in three phases from May 1, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said the party would fight the panchyat polls with all their strength. If the TMC tries to unleash violence on the day of the polls, it will be paid back in the same coin. If they attack us with bombs and pistols, we wont greet them with a plate of sweets, he said. We have worked hard to ensure that our candidates file their nominations. Now as it is clear that the central forces will not be deployed for panchyat elections. We have to be prepared for all eventuality. We will fight till the end, Ghosh said. The Supreme Court today refused to extend the last date for the filing of nominations for panchayat polls saying it could not interfere with the election process. The top court, however, granted liberty to all candidates to approach the West Bengal State Election…
Parl panel wants written commitment from Facebook that its platform would not be used to manipulate Indian elections
A parliamentary panel today directed IT ministry officials to get a written commitment from Facebook and other social networking sites that their platforms would not be used to manipulate Indian elections, a member present at the meeting said. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT, headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, also told officials of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) to furnish all written communication and queries sent to Facebook and its response, a member of the panel told PTI on condition of anonymity. The chairman told the ministry officials to get a written commitment from Facebook and other social media platforms with an influential market share in the country that their platforms would not be used to manipulate Indian elections, he said. Supporting the chairman, members of the panel said the government should also get in writing the details of steps Facebook and other social networking platforms have taken or will take to avoid their misuse. After the meeting, Thakur posted a tweet inviting questions and queries from the general public on online security and privacy. Panel members at the meeting also said that India is still playing catch up on the issue of a robust IT data…
Good news in times of communal incidents: 40 Mulsim families grow flowers for Hindu temples in Jharkhand
Amid incidents of communal conflicts in parts of the country, people in a tiny hamlet in Dhanbad district are sowing seeds of love and peace. Around 40 Muslim families in Vikhrajpur village of Baliapur block, 20 km from district headquarters, have been growing flowers and weaving garlands for Hindu temples in and around the district for the past four decades. The families depend on flower cultivation for their livelihood, said a farmer Sheikh Samsuddin. We supply flowers and garlands to a trader in Jharia township, who then sells the wreaths to agents of different temples as per requirement, he said, adding that the garlands were sold at Rs 5 per piece. On occasions such as Ram Navami and Durga puja, the farmers often shoulder the responsibility of decorating the temples free of cost. Dayashankar Dubey, a priest at a local Kali temple in Jharia, said the farmers in Vikhrajpur had never failed to deliver wreaths during festivities. The temple committee tries to compensate their contribution in different ways, he added. Communal tension has never deterred them from supplying flowers to the temples. This is the question of our livelihood There have been occasions though when the farmers were pressurised to…
CBSE leaks: Rahul Gandhi’s scathing jibe at PM Modi – ‘Exam Warriors 2 will focus on destroyed careers’
In a big jibe over CBSE examination paper leaks, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that PM Narendra Modis next book will focus on students parents stress relief after their careers are destroyed by leaked exam papers. PM wrote Exam Warriors, a book to teach students stress relief during exams. Next up: Exam Warriors 2, a book to teach students parents stress relief, once their lives are destroyed due to leaked exam papers, Gandhi wrote on Twitter. Earlier in the day, students protested against CBSE decision to conduct a re-examination. Launching a thorough probe in the issue, the Delhi Crime Branch has questioned 10 more people and interacted with the CBSE controller of examinations. During the probe, the CBSE said that its chairperson had received an e-mail about the Class 10 mathematics paper being leaked a day before the exam. The two exams – class 10th mathematics and class 12th economics – were held on March 28 and March 26 respectively. Since yesterday, the police have questioned 35 people, including a coaching centres owner, 18 students and some tutors. The officials have also interacted with the CBSE controller of examination to understand the process of conducting exams. The official…
Delhi HC closes Arun Jaitley’s Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Arvind Kejriwal, 4 AAP leaders in DDCA row
The Delhi High Court today allowed another joint settlement plea of Arun Jaitley, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and four other AAP leaders in a Rs 10 crore defamation suit filed against them by the union minister in the DDCA row. The plea for settlement was allowed by Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw as Kejriwal and the AAP leaders – Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh and Deepak Bajpai – tendered an apology to Jaitley, who accepted it. The court, however, said the defamation suit against AAP leader Kumar Vishwas will continue as he has not offered to settle the matter. It also asked Jaitleys counsel Manik Dogra to inform Vishwas, who was neither present nor represented by any counsel during the hearing, about todays order and said that if nobody appeared for him on April 26 (the next date of hearing) the court will proceed against him. Earlier in the day, another single judge bench of the high court had closed the second defamation suit filed by Jaitley against Kejriwal over alleged use of objectionable word by the chief ministers former lawyer Ram Jethmalani in open court during the proceedings of the original defamation suit. Jaitley had lodged the first defamation…
Kathua incident: Ram Madhav cites JK BJP’s resolution to highlight party’s position
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav today cited a resolution of his partys Jammu and Kashmir unit which was passed on April 1 to underscore its condemnation of efforts to communalise two rape cases in the Jammu region. The working committee condemns the heinous crime of rape of minors that took place in Rasana and Nagrota. Such crimes are anti-human and any effort to communalise them needs to be condemned unequivocally, Madhav said quoting the resolution. The perpetrators of the crime must be dealt with the provisions of law while innocents should not be harassed, it had said. Madhav is the BJP central leaderships pointsman for the state where the party is a partner in the government led by PDPs Mehbooba Mufti. The rape and murder of an eight-year-girl, who came from a minority nomadic tribe in Rasana, Kathua, has snowballed into a major issue as various groups, including Bar Association of Jammu, have hit the streets in support of some accused and sought a CBI investigation. Some state BJP leaders have also reportedly questioned the police probe. Union minister V K Singh today said we as humans had failed the eight-year-old girl The child from the nomadic Bakerwal Muslim community…