Former Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is hosting a dinner for Opposition leaders tonight at her residence 10 Janpath. It has been learnt the dinner will be attended by 17 opposition parties leaders. This dinner comes at a time when Congress is increasingly losing foothold in the country to BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and opposition parties are getting desperate to prevent saffron partys win in 2019. There has been a growing chorus among opposition parties for a collaboration among them to counter the saffron party. More so after BJP got a historic mandate in recently-concluded Tripura assembly polls. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, during an interaction, categorically said she had proposed to Congress President Rahul Gandhi that Tripura election must be fought together. Last year, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had made an effort to bring opposition leaders to one platform by a holding a rally in iconic Gandhi Maidan, Patna. Even in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls, traditional rivals Samajwadi Party and Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have joined hands. BJP will keenly follow the meeting, especially in the wake of resignation two Union Ministers from Telugu Desham Party…
Month: July 2016
Tamil Nadu pegs revenue deficit at Rs 17,000 crore for 2018-19
The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday presented its first budget post implementation of the GST, expecting total revenue receipts of Rs 1,76,251.48 crore and total revenue expenditure of Rs 1,93,742.06 crore during 2018-2019, leaving a revenue deficit of Rs 17,490.58 crore. O Pannerselvam, deputy chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, while presenting the budget told the state Assembly that the pace of economic growth has picked up in 2017-2018 and will continue to improve in 2018-2019. The gross state domestic product in real terms was expected to grow at 8.03% in 2017-2018. As the economic outlook of the state has been favourable, sustained investments made by the government in the primary sector and the measures taken for invigorating the industrial investment could drive the economic growth further to surpass 9% in 2018-2019. In the budget estimates 2018-2019, capital expenditure has been estimated at Rs 28,282.76 crore, and the fiscal deficit has been projected to be at Rs 44,480.73 crore, which is about 2.79% of the GSDP. It is estimated that Rs 43,962.48 crore would be raised as net borrowings during 2018-2019, against the permissible limit of Rs 47,887.59 crore. The net outstanding debt at the end of March…
Delhi to be pollution-free this winter? Centre okays Rs 1,151-crore scheme to tackle stubble-burning
In a move that could offer some much-needed relief to residents of Delhi-NCR battling air pollution, especially during winters, the Narendra Modi-led government has approved a plan to the tune of Rs 1,151 crore to tackle stubble burning, seen as one of the major reasons behind the menace. The proposed scheme is aimed at helping farmers in managing crop residue that eventually leads to stubble burning and results in raising air pollution levels. The scheme proposes in-situ crop residue management, meaning that the government will facilitate stubble management in the farm itself. The scheme is likely to be carried out in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh along with Delhi, reported The TImes Of India. The cabinet committee on economic affairs has been tasked with promoting agricultural mechanisation for the next two years, reports said, adding that the fund approved by the Centre will be used for establishment of The body will provide for the custom hiring of in-situ crop residue management machinery. To ensure the success of the scheme, the government will not only assist individual farmers, cooperative societies and farmer producer organisations but also train the Self Help Groups (SHGs), private entrepreneurs and registered groups of…
Mahavir Jayanti 2018: Date, Significance, Importance and celebration ideas
Mahavir Jayanti 2018: Observed on March 29, Mahavir Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of sage Mahavir, which is celebrated by the Jains across the country. Mahavir, also known as Vardhamana, was the 24th and the last Jain sage who established the core tenets of Jainism, according to Drikpanchang.com. Lord Mahavir was born in Kundalagrama, that is situated in Vaishali district in Bihar, during 599 BC, on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chaitra month. It is believed that he belonged to a royal family of the Ikshvaku dynasty and his parents were King Siddartha and Queen Trishala. Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most important religious events for the Jains as he was the founder of Jainism. Mahavir Jayanti 2018: Date, Significance and Importance Mahavir Jayanti is a sacred day for the Jain community. The date of his birth is debatable as the Shwetambar Jains believe that he was born in 599 BC while the Digambar Jains believe that Mahavir was born in 615 BC. According to legends, before his birth, Queen Trishala is believed to have had different auspicious dreams. When these dreams were interpreted by the kingdom It is because of these dreams that he was…
Parliament sees least productive Budget session in 18 years
With Parliament passing only two laws outside Budget-related Bills during the month-long session, the Budget session that concluded on Friday is the least productive Budget session since 2000, data shows. Besides the Finance Bill and the two Appropriation Bills, the Lok Sabha could pass only the Payments of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill and the Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill in its overall 29 sittings. The Rajya Sabha passed only the Payments of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, that too without any discussion, in its 30 sittings. It was for the first time since 2000 that the two Houses spent almost no time on discussing the Budget and 100 per cent of the demand for grants were passed without discussion, data compiled by NGO PRS Legislative Research showed. A no confidence motion notice was given by the opposition against the Narendra Modi government for the first time since 2014 but it was not admitted by the Lok Sabha Speaker. Lok Sabha worked for 21 per cent of the scheduled hours and Rajya Sabha for 27 per cent. It was Lok Sabhas poorest performance of Question Hour since 2014. One per cent of productive time was spent on legislative business in Lok Sabha and six per…
Big blow for Azam Khan, FIR filed against him in UP Jal Nigam recruitment scam
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Uttar Pradeshs police on Wednesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan and four others in connection with Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam recruitment scam, reported news agency ANI. Responding to the complaint filed by the Special Investigation Team, Samajwadi Party leader said that there are no corruption charges against him and others. Lashing out at Yogi Adityanath government, he said that the intention of FIR is to harass him. I had provided them jobs. There are no corruption charges on me or others. Those who have lied should answer to the society. If the intention is to harass us then so be it, Azam Khan told ANI. Earlier this year, the former UP minister told SIT that he had no role in the recruitment scam. According to reports, after the discovery of the scam, the Allahabad High court had directed the state government to probe the irregularities. The government handed the case to a Special Investigation team. The recruitment to the Jal Nigam was started in November 2016 to fill the various posts such as civil, electrical, mechanical, computer science, electronics and communication. The entire process was concluded…
Government sends second notice to Facebook, Cambridge Analytica; seeks response by May 10
The government today shot-off notices for the second time to both Cambridge Analytica and Facebook, seeking more details on the data breach issue, sources said. Taking a tough stance against Cambridge Analyticas cryptic response to its first notice, the government has again sent notices to both the British data analytics firm and Facebook, confronting them with additional questions on potential misuse of data. It has asked Facebook to list out security architecture proposed to be created by the company so that data concerning Indians are not pilfered or manipulated again for extraneous purposes including to influence the elections. The government also asked Facebook about steps it plans to clamp down on any unauthorised use of data or manipulation, and fixed a deadline of May 10 for responses. It had earlier questioned both the companies on the impact of the data breach, following which Facebook had admitted that nearly 5.62 lakh people in India were potentially affected by the incident. Earlier this month, Facebook and Cambridge Analytica had submitted their responses, following which the government has now sought more details. The sources, who did not wish to be identified, said the two companies have now been given time till May 10…
Sukma Naxal Attack: Union Minister Hansraj Ahir denies intelligence failure; top 10 developments
Sukma Naxal Attack: At least nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and two others injured, on Tuesday, in a powerful IED blast triggered by Maoists in insurgency-hit Sukma district in Chhattisgarh. As per the media reports, the rebels used over 50 kgs of explosives to blow up the CRPF vehicle. Soon after the incident, reinforcements were rushed to the spot. Home Minister Rajnath Singh also took stock of the situation. Many media reports claimed the attack as an intelligence failure. However, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir, on Wednesday, denied any intelligence failure asserting that the government is committed to ensuring the security of jawans, as per a PTI report. Sukma Naxal Attack: Top 10 developments so far: 1. When and How – The blast occurred when a team of CRPF The CRPF van was blown off by the Naxals using a large quantity of IED. Extra security forces have now been deployed in the area. 2. Pre-planned attack – As per reports, it was a pre-planned attack as the Naxals weren There was no gun-fight during the incident. Notably, the first encounter between the CoBRA personnel (an elite wing of the CRPF) and Naxals took place at 8…
Who was M Natarajan? Know the curious tale of Sasikala’s husband
M Natrajan, the husband of jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala, passed away on Tuesday. He was 76. Natarajans story of rising to power from a small village and developing proximity with top politicians in Tamil Nadu is often narrated with much interest in political circles of the state. In fact, it was Natarajan, not Sasikala, who had close relations with M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa. Born in Vilar village in Tamil Nadus Thanjavur district, Natarajan rose to fame during his participation in 1965 anti-Hindi agitations. As a student of BA, he got the attention of many DMK leaders. Later, in 1973, Natarajan was appointed as states Public Relations Officer by the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Same year, he got married to VK Sasikala, and famously, Karunanidhi presided over his marriage. As the power was switched in the state, Natarajan was able to save his place even in AIADMK regime, when MG Ramachandran took over as the chief minister of the state. Reports in Tamil Nadu-based newspapers claim that Natarajan was able to wield strong influence in the AIADMK in early 1980s. Due to his strategy making skills, Natarajan developed a closeness with MGR and soon started participating in partys…
Senior Rajasthan BJP leader revolts against Vasundhara Raje, says state government hit by sense of fear
In a news that should worry the ruling BJP in Rajasthan where the party is already facing revolt by its own leaders, former state Minister Devi Singh Bhati has announced he will not contest the upcoming assembly polls that will be held later this year. At a press conference on Tuesday, Bhati said the government was running away from the people because there was a sense of fear. He said there was no need to be in politics to serve the people and accused the government of indulging in vote-bank politics. Bhati said the government is trying to hide its failures. I would not contest the state Assembly election, but would continue to work for the people, Bhati said, adding corporate houses are running the system. Bhati is a senior BJP leader and seven-time MLA from Srikolayat in Bikaner. He was a member of state Legislative Assembly for more than three decades. He had successfully contested polls from Srikolayat seat between 1980 and 2013. He had served as an Irrigation minister in Vasundhara Raje government from 2008 to 13. Rajasthan is slated to go to polls later this year. The BJP is facing infighting over the state leadership with many…
Kathua case: Farooq Abdullah wants bill to award death penalty for raping minors
Opposition National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah today demanded a special session of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to bring in a bill to award capital punishment to those who rape minors. Abduallahs comment comes in the backdrop of a nationwide condemnation of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua. Capital punishment must be brought in for such cases, Abdullah told reporters here. She (Kathua rape victim) is just like my daughter. Thank God, today the nation has woken up and they have taken it very seriously. I hope justice will be done and we will bring a bill in the Assembly session wherein (if) any such incident takes place, the hanging must be brought in, he said. Abdullah was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of NCs provincial committee for Kashmir province at the party headquarters in Nawa-e-Subha. The NC president said the PDP-BJP government should call a special session of the state legislature to pass the bill which would act as a deterrent against such crimes. When the special session of the Assembly is called and this bill is passed, it will be a great thing for the future Jammu and…
Dust storm wreaks havoc in three Rajasthan districts, toll climbs to 27
At least 27 people were killed and nearly 100 injured as a high-intensity squall followed by thunder showers hit parts of Rajasthan overnight, leaving a trail of destruction. Houses collapsed and electricity poles and trees were uprooted as the severe dust storm swept the Matysya region. So far, 27 people have died due to the disaster, including 12 in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and 5 in Alwar. The squall was reported mainly in three districts, Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief, Hemant Kumar Gera told PTI. Two of those killed in Dholpur were from Agra in Uttar Pradesh. He said nearly 100 were injured in the disaster. 20 were injured in Alwar, 32 in Bharatpur and 50 in Dholpur respectively. A few are undergoing primary treatment while others were discharged. One critical patient from Dholpur was referred to Jaipur, he said. A detailed report of the disaster is awaited even as relief and rescue teams have been pressed into service to clear debris and restore power supply, he said. Gera said contigency funds have been released to the respective district administration. He said Rs 4 lakh will be given to family members of deceased, Rs 2 lakh to persons sustaining 60…
Donald Trump hails Kalpana Chawla as American hero
US President Donald Trump has hailed Indian-origin Kalpana Chawla as an American hero for devoting her life to the space programme and inspiring millions of girls to become astronauts. Trumps remarks came yesterday as he issued a proclamation declaring May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The US Congress has also designated the month of May each year as Asian\/Pacific American Heritage Month. Chawla was the first woman of Indian-origin in space. She was one of the seven crew members who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 when the craft disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earths atmosphere. Indian American Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian descent to fly in space, and became an American hero for her devotion to the Space Shuttle programme and its various missions transporting cargo and crew to and from the International Space Station, Trump said. For her achievements, the Congress posthumously awarded her the Congressional Space Medal of Honour, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) posthumously awarded her the NASA Space Flight Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, he said. Ms Chawlas courage and passion continue to serve as an inspiration for millions of…
Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav engaged to Aishwarya Rai, see pics
Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadavs son and RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav is today getting engaged in Bihars capital city of Patna. The 30-year-old is getting engaged to Aishwarya Rai, the daughter of former Bihar minister Chandrika Rai. The visuals from engagement have surfaced on the internet where the couple can be seen taking part in the ceremony. Earlier today, the visuals of fruit baskets were also seen from the engagement venue. Who is Aishwarya Rai? The daughter of former Bihar minister Chandrika Rai, Aishwarya Rai belongs to the Chhapra region of Bihar. She completed her schooling from Patnas Notre Dame Academy. Rais alma mater says that she did her MBA from Amity University while she completed her graduation from the reputed Miranda House college of the University of Delhi where she studied History. Aishwarya Rais father Chandrika has been the MLA for six times and has served as a minister in many governments under the RJD supremo. Aishwarya Rais grandfather, Daroga Prasad Rai served as a CM of the state for 11 months back in 1970. Aishwarya is 25-years-old and has two younger siblings. In comparison, Tej Pratap Yadav had served as the Health Minister in the…
Gorakhpur, Phulpur seats analysis: UP bypoll results ring alarm for BJP, hold out lifeline for SP-BSP
In a little over a year, Uttar Pradeshs political landscape has seen a dramatic change. On March 11 last year, the BJP state headquarters rang with celebrations as the party returned to power after a 14-year gap. But on March 14 this year, silence reigned there with all the festivity shifting to the office of the Samajwadi Party – dethroned last year but coming back to limelight by wresting from the BJP both Gorakhpur and Phulpur parliamentary seats. Winning the by-elections for these seats, held by current Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, was a matter of prestige for the BJP but it seemed to have taken its prowess for granted. The BJP had been winning the Gorakhpur seat since 1989 and Adityanath had held it for five straight terms since 1998. A loss at the hands of a resurgent Bahujan Samaj Party-Samajwadi Party combine in the key seat has left the party red-faced. It is a personal loss for Adityanath who till now thought the seat was his pocket borough. Ever since he was named Chief Minister of the countrys most populous state, he made weekly visits to Gorakhpur, including for prayers at the…
Minimum wages for maids: Government working on national policy for domestic workers, says Santosh Gangwar
Labour ministry is planning to bring about a national policy to protect the interests of domestic workers and to guarantee them minimum wages and social security which has been pending for almost three years now. Discussions are underway regarding a national policy for domestic workers, including women with the aim to protect the domestic workers from abuse, harassment, violence and guarantee them rights in the matter of social security and minimum wages, Minister of State for Labour Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. The policy has been hanging fire for nearly three years as it was to be presented before the Cabinet in 2015. Among others, the policy envisages to make a provision for a minimum salary of Rs 9,000 per month, compulsory paid leave of 15 days in an year and maternity leave benefits to full-time domestic helps. The policy also includes social security cover and provisions against sexual harassment and bonded labour. Gangwar was replying to a question if the government has enacted or proposes to enact any law to safeguard the interests of female domestic workers and provide them with social security and other benefits. The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008…
Mumbai Shocker! Ceiling crashes on patients undergoing dialysis, two injured
In yet another incident of medical apathy, two patients waiting for dialysis suffered minor injuries as the hospitals ceiling fell down. On Wednesday night, a part of the ceiling of the dialysis unit at KEM hospital, located in the Parel area of Mumbai, fell down injuring two patients who were admitted for dialysis. As per a report by The Indian Express, the dialysis unit was located on the second floor of the civic-run hospital. The dean, Dr Avinash Supe, while speaking to The Indian Express, said that the patients are in a stable condition. He added that the two patients survived the accident with minor scratches. Meanwhile, hospital authorities are shifting a part of the dialysis unit into another area. Supe claimed that the services will be restored completely within the next 3 to 4 days. A doctor at the hospital told The Indian Express that the number of casualties in the incident would have been greater had the accident occurred during the daytime. The dialysis unit, as per the report, has over eight beds and witnesses a footfall of 25 patients on a daily basis. This is not the lone instance of its kind in Mumbai. Even last year,…
Rajeev Chandrasekhar to join BJP tomorrow
Independent Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has been given a BJP ticket to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections from Karnataka, will join the BJP tomorrow. Speaking to PTI, Chandrasekhar said he would work towards BJPs movement to install a clean government in Karnataka. I will work with with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to make sure that we have a corruption free government in Karnataka as well, he said. If elected, this will be Chandrasekhars third stint as a Rajya Sabha member. He has been a parliament member since 2006. Rajeev Chandrasekhar is among 18 candidates named by BJP for the Rajya Sabha polls. i Chief among others are former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, BJP general secretaries Anil Jain and Saroj Pandey and its spokespersons Anil Baluni and G V L Narasimha Rao.
Information and Broadcasting Ministry withdraws guidelines on fake news
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today withdrew its contentious press release on fake news after a directive from the Prime Ministers Office. PIB Press Release titled Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists amended to regulate Fake News issued on 02 April 2018 stands withdrawn, the ministry said in a brief statement. Taking note of condemnation from various quarters, the PMO had ordered the ministry to withdraw the release, holding that the decision on what amounts to fake news should be left to press bodies. According to official sources, the PMO also felt that the government should not interfere in the matter. The ministry had yesterday announced measures to contain fake news saying the accreditation of a journalist could be permanently cancelled if the scribe is found generating or propagating fake news. The amended guidelines stated that if the publication or telecast of fake news was confirmed, accreditation of the journalist would be suspended for six months in the first violation and for one year in case of a second violation. In case of a third violation, his or her accreditation would be cancelled permanently, the information and broadcasting ministry said in a release. However, the press release did not define what…
Karnataka elections 2018: BJP releases first list of 72 candidates
The BJP on Sunday released the first list of 72 candidates to contest in the May 12 Karnataka assembly elections for the 224 seats across the southern state. The central election committee of the party has decided the first 72 names for the ensuing Karnataka legislative assembly elections, said the BJP in a statement released by its state unit here. The committee met under the partys national president Amit Shah and among its members, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended it at the partys head office in New Delhi. Among the candidates are many of the partys 48 sitting or outgoing legislators from the states northern, central and southern region, including Bengaluru, which has 28 assembly constituencies. Prominent nominees are the partys chief ministerial face B.S. Yeddyurappa from Shikaripura, K.S. Eshwarappa from Shivamogga, Jagadish Shettar from Hubli-Dharwad Central, Basavaraj Bommai from Shiggaon, C.M. Udasi from Hangal, K.V. Hegde from Sirsi and B. Sriramulu from Molakalmuru (reserved). Of the 224 assembly segments across the state, 173 are general, 36 reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Only three women figure among the 72 contestants – Sashikala…
Modi government for reservation in promotions for SCs, STs
In a bid to emphasise its seriousness over Dalit issues, the government would knock on the doors of the judiciary to ensure reservation in promotions for scheduled castes and tribes in government jobs. Union minister and BJP ally Ram Vilas Paswan said the Modi government wants three issues – reservation for SCs and STs in promotions in government jobs, quota for them in universities, besides the law on atrocities against them – to be settled as per the demands of the Dalit groups, which have argued that a string of court orders on these matters have hit their interests adversely. While the government has already filed a review against the apex courts order on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, it has announced that it will also challenge a judicial order which led the University Grants Commission (UGC) to change rules for the counting of reserved seats for teachers in universities. Dalit groups have claimed that the UGC direction has led to a fall in the number of seats reserved for the SCs and STs. A group of ministers, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot and Paswan, is of the…
BJP terms Cabinet ordinance on rape ‘historic’, opposition asks why it took so long
The ordinance providing stringent punishment, including death penalty, for raping girls below 12 years, was today hailed by the BJP as historic, even as the opposition parties asked why it took so long for the government to bring the measure. The BJP and its chief Amit Shah said the step confirms the Narendra Modi governments commitment to ensuring safety of women. He said, I thank and congratulate PM Narendra Modi as well as the Cabinet for the historic ordinance on womens safety. I welcome the provision of death penalty for rape of any girl below 12 years and increasing punishment from 10 to 20 years if a girl below 16 years is violated. Congress leader Salman Khurshid said this is a sensitive issue and incidents that have taken place are shameful. We need to address the root cause of such crimes as there is a limit to which judiciary can help, he said. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said death penalty is to be given in the rarest of the rare cases, but in principle her party is against capital punishment. She, however, said the actual problem is not that there is no death penalty for rape of minors, but the…
Congress not main player; regional adjustments needed in Lok Sabha polls, says Yechury
Congress is not the main player in many states and regional adjustments, based on the ground realities, have to be worked out during elections in which there can be no macro-level understanding, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has said. The diversity of our country reflects in everything, including politics. Now, SP and BSP get together in Uttar Pradesh. Neither the Left, nor the Congress is of any consequence (there). The same thing happened in Arariya (in Bihar), he told PTI in an interview after being re-elected to the post at the CPI(M)s Congress here which concluded on Sunday. To questions about putting up a joint fight against the BJP, he said in several states, the Congress is not the main player. That is why every front or (political) formation in India takes place only after elections. There will be regional adjustments. There will be regional level understandings. It cannot be a macro-level understanding. Political leaders also should realise this, he said. Soon after his re-election at the party congress, Yechury began receiving hundreds of congratulatory messages, tweets and phone calls from various people including top leaders of the Congress, BSP, SP, and other Left and opposition parties. While thanking them,…
Opposition should sink differences to ensure BJP defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha POlls, says Ajit Singh
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh has called upon opposition parties to sink their differences and pave the way for a grand alliance at the national level to ensure the BJP meets its Waterloo in 2019 general elections. The former Union minister claimed that beneath the calm surface, a major anti-BJP wave was sweeping across the country, and it is for the opposition to ensure that the saffron party loses by preventing a split in anti-BJP votes. The BJP government has failed completely on all fronts, especially on farmers issues and unemployment, Singh told reporters here last night. He claimed the dismal failure of the government was reflected by the fact that over 170 engineering colleges were forced to close down in Uttar Pradesh alone because of lack of job opportunities. Singh said the BJPs promises to farmers on the issue of minimum support price of crops like sugarcane and wheat were totally unfulfilled. The flawed policies of the BJP can be seen, especially in western Uttar Pradesh, which has suffered severe economic woes because of the devastation caused by engineered riots shortly before the 2014 general elections, he alleged. Singh said it would be tragic if the opposition parties…
IMA rejects Parliament panel suggestions on National Medical Commission bill
Rejecting the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the National Medical Commission bill, the Indian Medical Association, the largest body of private doctors in India, today called for an indefinite strike from April 2. More than 25,000 doctors from across India today held a mahapanchayat at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi and opposed the parliament panels recommendations and the bill. The NMC bill proposes to allow practitioners of alternative medicines – such as homoeopathy and ayurveda – to practice modern medicine once they complete a bridge course. It also proposes that the National Licentiate Examination (NLE) be made compulsory for any MBBS doctor, including a foreign graduate, to make them eligible to practice medicine in India. The parliamentary panel has recommended that the bridge course should not be made a mandatory provision. It has also suggested to integrate the NLE with the final year MBBS exam. The doctors say the panels suggestions are deceptive. IMA national president Ravi Wankhedkar said all medical students and doctors will go on an indefinite strike on April 2. He said there was no need for the government to make any law if they want to boost only AYUSH, homeopathy, pharmacists and dentist….
Mumbai Rail Roko Highlights: Case registered, 2 accused arrested; check what Piyush Goyal said
Mumbai Rail-Roko: Morning commute came to a grinding halt after students blocked rail tracks at around 7 am, causing difficulties to lakhs of commuters. The agitators forced the railway to stop the suburban as well as express trains in the affected section between Matunga and CSMT. Track00 pm:00 pm: Case registered under relevant sections over todays Rail-Roko agitation by railway job aspirants. 2 accused arrested. 1: 35 pm: The apprentice students across the country assembled here yesterday and the railway could not get a whiff of it. This is the reason why the entire Mumbai is held hostage, he said. He sought to know why even after three hours of the agitation, no railway official reached the spot to have a dialogue with the protesters. BJP MP from Mumbai, Kirit Somaiya, said he spoke to the railway minister, who assured to look into the demands of the protesters 1: 15 pm: Making a statement, CM Fadnavis said railways have increased the reservation for apprentices from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. The youth are demanding 100 per cent reservation for apprentices in railway jobs. Railway administration has initiated talks with the protesters and a solution would be arrived at,…
Himachal Pradesh school bus accident: As tragedy struck 27 kids, a 9-year-old who saved lives, lived to tell the tale
Tragedy struck Nurpur city in Himachal Pradeshs Kangra district on Monday as a school bus rolled into a gorge killing 30 people, 27 kids among them. The accident occurred when the bus that was carrying 38 people veered off the road and fell into a 200-foot gorge Monday afternoon. A total of 27 children, the bus driver and two teachers were killed in the accident, officials said. Most of the students killed were in the age group of 10-12 years. Among those present inside the bus at the time of the accident was nine-year-old Ranbir Singh. His first day at school after a break, Ranbir and the other children were on their way back from school when the driver allegedly lost control of the bus and it veered off the road and rolled into the gorge. As fate would have it, Ranbir was flung out of the window as the bus rolled. Injured but not out, the nine-year-old kid crawled uphill to reach the road and alerted a man who was passing by on a two-wheeler and a shop a little distance away on the Malakwal-Symbly link leading to Chamba, reported The Indian Express. It was the alert that this…
Shatrughan Sinha rubbishes reports of quitting BJP, says ‘not going anywhere’
Disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Singh, on Saturday, dismissed reports suggesting that he may quit the party and contest the next general election on a different party ticket. Addressing a gathering in Patna, Shatrughan Sinha clarified that reports are incorrect and he is not going anywhere. Shatrughan Sinhas remark comes hours after senior BJP leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha announced that he is ending all ties with the BJP. But, I am clarifying it today that I am here to stay and I am not going anywhere, There were reports doing the rounds that Shatrughan Sinha may quit the saffron party and contest the next Lok Sabha election on a different party ticket. He had told a news channel that leaders like him were unfairly treated from the day the Modi government was formed. My party knows it hurt me. Not just now but from day one when this government came to power, Shatrughan Sinha currently represents Patna Sahib constituency in the Lok Sabha. The MP had in recent past expressed unhappiness over governments several decisions. He had also accused the BJP bigwigs of sidelining him by not inviting him at party events in Bihar. When the Grand Alliance…
Kathua case: Jammu and Kashmir government opposes victim’s father plea for transfer of trial
The Jammu and Kashmir government today opposed in the Supreme Court a plea filed by the father of the victim in the Kathua case for transfer of trial to Chandigarh saying the state was committed to ensure a fair, expeditious and impartial trial. In an affidavit, the state said that the prayer for transfer of trial was misconceived and the court would have to consider that prosecution witnesses in the case were residents of Jammu and Kashmir and shifting of trial outside the state would cause great inconvenience. It also denied the allegations that prime accused Sanjhi Ram was supported by government officials merely because he was a retired revenue officer. The affidavit was filed on a day when a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that its real concern was to see that a fair trial was conducted in the case. The real concern of this court is to see that a fair trial is conducted and fair trial means fair to the accused as well as to the victims. In the present case, the victims are the family members of the deceased, the bench, which also comprised justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said…