Indias monsoon rains are expected to be slightly below normal this year, while parts of Australias eastern grain belt could be drier as an El Nino weather pattern may develop in the second half of 2018, a private US-based weather forecaster said. Drought-hit Argentina is expected to receive rains in eastern parts of the country over the next two weeks but it will be too late to revive the soybean crop, Kyle Tapley, senior agricultural meteorologist at Radiant Solutions, formerly MDA Earthsat, said on the sidelines of an industry event. La Nina is weakening and we are moving towards neutral weather, which is forecast to be followed by El Nino in the second half of the year as the most likely scenario, he said. The El Nino weather pattern brings dry conditions to parts of Asia and above normal rains in South America. Other forecasters have also flagged the potential for a late-year El Nino pattern to emerge, but so far few major meteorologists are categorizing it as being more than a possibility. Last year, Indias annual monsoon season was below average, with some crop-growing central and northern states receiving less rain than needed. Indian monsoon rains, which occur from…
Month: October 2018
UP CM Yogi Adityanath skips visit to Gonda after Lok Sabha bypoll drubbing
After BJPs defeat in Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradeshs Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today cancelled his scheduled visit here because of unavoidable reasons and sent his deputy Dinesh Sharma in his place. Adityanath was scheduled to take part in the ongoing All India Lok Kala Sangam at Deendayal Shodh Sansthan today. The organisers of the programme said that the chief ministers visit has been put off due to unavoidable reasons. Meanwhile, on BJPs loss in the bye-elections, the deputy chief minister said, Victory and defeat are part of politics.the party had posted an impressive win in the local body elections prior to this. He said the state government has taken note of over 10 lakh students dropping out of board examinations and the process has started for appointing 10,000 teachers to ensure students proper attendance in schools from the next academic year. The Yogi government is committed to bring out qualitative improvement in the education system and has taken steps in this direction, Sharma said, adding that steps will now be taken to effectively check cheating cases in higher education.
Now, pay Rs 2,000 fine for wasting water: How Chandigarh plans to hook residents’ habit
Residents of Chandigarh found wasting water will soon have to shell out Rs 2,000 as penalty, the Muncipal COrporation has said. As per new rules introduced by the municpal body, a fine of Rs 2,000 will be levied upon residents over incidents of water wastage. From April 15 to June 30, the people living in the city will be challaned if they are found wasting water, reported The Indian Express. The corporation has asked people to discontinue watering of lawns, courtyards, washing of cars and other vehicles using a hosepipe, else they will be fined. A fine would also be imposed on a resident for overflowing water tanks, water coolers or leakage in pipes. Under the annual drive, there would be intensified checking said Chief Engineer Manoj Bansal. Pictures or videos of violators can also be posted on WhatsApp of the civic body team officials. The violator will be challaned on the basis of the video. Bansal said that teams have been constituted that will check water wastage during morning hours as well as in the evening. A Sub Divisional officer will head each team who will hand over the challan to the violator on the spot. The person who…
Opposition parties slam Maharashtra govt for motion of confidence, meet Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao
Hitting out at the Maharashtra government and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for getting the motion of confidence in Speaker passed in the Assembly, Opposition Congress-NCP today said the incident was a blot on the democracy and an attempt to suppress dissent. Leaders of the opposition Congress and NCP met Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao here in the evening and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention into the matter. Outmanoeuvring the opposition, which had given a notice of no-confidence against Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde, Fadnavis today moved a motion of confidence in the Chair, which the lower house passed by a voice vote. The opposition had submitted a notice of no-confidence against the speaker on March 5 alleging that he was conducting the proceedings in a biased manner. In the memorandum given to the governor, the opposition parties said Fadnaviss trust vote in favour of Bagde had no connection with their no-confidence notice against the latter. The delegation comprised Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, former CM Prithviraj Chavan, NCP leaders Jayant Patil, Dilip Walse Patil and others. They said Fadnavis had moved a trust vote when the issue was not even listed on the days agenda, which violated the legislature norms….
Demonetisation a ‘failure’, GST ‘nightmare’ at present but BJP will win 2019 elections: Subramanian Swamy
The BJP is well set to get a majority in the 2019 general elections and will eliminate any remnants of corruption in its second term, party leader Subramanian Swamy has said. Swamy, who was in the city to address the 14th Annual India Business Conference at Columbia Business School hosted by the South Asia Business Association at the school, said in its second term in power the BJP will build a strong and united India. We are very well set to get a majority in 2019, Swamy told PTI here. We came to power for three reasons – Narendra Modis reputation as a man of governance, the fight against corruption and persuading people, particularly Hindus to rise above their caste loyalties and vote for that party which will safeguard the interest of the Hindus, He said going into the 2019 national elections mode, the BJP will campaign on the promise to eliminate whatever corruption we could not (eliminate) in the last five years. We want to build a strong and united India. We are not against the minorities, Addressing the conference, attended by students, academicians, entrepreneurs and executives, Swamy spoke at length about Indias political and economic landscape. He acknowledged…
Two Chinese die on board a ship due to gas leakage near Gujarat port
Two Chinese nationals died while another one was seriously taken ill today apparently due to leakage of gas on board a cargo ship near Rozi Port in Gujarats Jamnagar, police said. The incident occurred on board a bulk carrier, Feng Hui Ha from Hong Kong, which was sailing to a Gujarat port from Singapore, a police official said. Prima facie, the two Chinese died due to gas leakage on the ship, said SP, Jamnagar, Pradip Sejul. He said three persons from the carrier passed out due to the gas leakage and were subsequently brought to the Jamnagar coast by their colleagues in a tug. The trio were then taken to Jamnagar civil hospital, where doctors declared two of them brought dead while the third person is undergoing treatment. We are investigating the incident. The ship is still in sea, he said. Another police official from Jamnagar civil hospital said the deceased are identified as Zhang Baohai (55) and Dong Kui (32), and the sick person as Sun Yingdong. The vessel, which had set sails from Singapore, was shipping coal to Navlakhi Port near Morbi for Jamnagar-based Scorpio Shipping Company, he said.
Miss u Papa! Tej Pratap Yadav posts emotional tweet after engagement with Aishwarya Rai; see pics
Tej Pratap Yadav, former Bihar minister and son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, got engaged to Aishwarya Rai in a grand ceremony at a 5-star hotel in Patna. Rai is the granddaughter of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Prasad Rai. Tej Pratap missed the presence of his father, who is presently jailed after his conviction in fodder scam cases. Tej Pratap posted an emotional tweet while reacting to the absence of his father on the occasion: Miss you Papa. Miss you PAPA ???? Reports say Aishwarya completed her schooling from Bihar and higher education from Delhi. The couple will reportedly marry on May 12 and Veterinary College ground in Patna has been booked for the event.
Uttar Pradesh shamed again: Minor girl raped, murdered in Etah district at wedding ceremony; accused held
In yet another horror story emanating from Uttar Pradesh, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Etah district, according to news agency ANI. A report in The Times of India said that the shocking incident relates to Tuesday morning allegedly by a youth who was hired to set up tents at a wedding ceremony. The victims body was found abandoned at an under-construction home near the wedding venue in Sitalpur village. News agency ANI reported that a case has been filed and an investigation is underway. The accused managed to escape after committing the crime but was nabbed by the police later. SSP Akhilesh Kumar Chaurasia said that the accused has been identified as Sonu. Chaurasia said that Sonu has been booked under Sections of the POCSO Act and Section 302 and 376 of the IPC. The incident took place just two-km away from the Kolwali police station. Eight-year-old girl allegedly killed after being raped in Etah. Case registered, accused arrested. Further investigation underway pic.twitter.com\/gG1GiGYzKs The girl went missing from the event. Her parents and others started searching her and around 1:30 am the girl was found in an unconscious and semi-naked condition. There were marks of strangulation…
BJP leader among 125 people booked for obstructing anti-encroachment drive
Over 125 people, including a local BJP leader, were booked for allegedly obstructing an anti-encroachment drive here, police said today. The case was registered following a complaint by the Muzaffarnager Municipal boards executive officer, according to City Magistrate Vebhav Mishra. BJP leader Sunil Tayal was among those who were booked for disrupting the anti-encroachment drive, an official said. Reportedly, the police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob, including traders, opposing the drive. The protestors also staged a sit-in.
JNU protest march: 2 police constables suspended
A woman constable and a head constable of the Delhi Police have been suspended for allegedly snatching the camera of a photo-journalist during a protest march organised by JNU students, the department said today. On Friday, Jawaharlal Nehru University students had taken out the march from the varsity campus towards the Parliament Complex over various demands, including academic freedom. They were, however, stopped near Sanjay Jheel area in south Delhi by the police, who also resorted to baton-charge and used water cannons to disperse the students participating in the march. In the clashes that followed, journalists were targeted. Two journalists have filed separate complaints accusing police personnel of assaulting and molesting media persons. On a complaint received from the photo-journalist who had alleged snatching of her camera, a case was registered and taken up for investigation. The camera has since been traced and the police is contacting the photo-journalist to facilitate its restoration, the police said. Madhur Verma, Delhi Police PRO, said two police personnel have been placed under suspension. On the basis of the preliminary findings of vigilance enquiry for the unprofessional conduct of mishandling the journalists camera during crowd control, one woman constable of the Delhi Armed Police…
Ola Cabs, Uber drivers’ strike LIVE updates: Cabbies off roads, commuters face trouble in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru
Ola Cabs, Uber drivers strike LIVE updates: Users of Ola and Uber cabs in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune are facing tough times today. Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has called for a strike of Uber and Olas drivers which has started from midnight. Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena (MNVS), which is the transport wing of MNS, has organised the strike. The MNVS has alleged that that drivers of the cab aggregators have been suffering due to falling business. MNVS leader Sanjay Naik claimed that Ola and Uber drivers have invested Rs 5-7 lakh and they were assured by the companies. While they were expecting to earn Rs1.5 lakh per month. However, deivers have been failing make half of that estimation, Naik said. Mumbai Taximen Take a stringent move to check any untoward incident, Police has already issued notices under section 149 of CrPC to leaders. Track live updates of Ola Cabs, Uber drivers strike 4:23 PM: The strike has been organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena. 4:00 PM: 3:53 PM: The drivers are reportedly agitated over non-payment of assured income. They had also alleged to have incurred heavy losses due to a shortage of funds. 3:40 PM:…
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale pays 2-day visit to Bhutan
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale held extensive talks with top brass of the Bhutanese government on key bilateral and regional issues during a two-day visit to Bhutan, his second in as many months. Besides holding deliberations with his Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Sonam Tshong, Gokhale called on Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during the visit which began yesterday, the External Affairs Ministry said. The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere in keeping with the unique and exemplary bonds of friendship and cooperation that exist between the two countries, it said. Without elaborating, the ministry said matters concerning bilateral partnership figured in the talks. The situation in India, China, Bhutan tri-junction in Doklam is understood to have figured during talks between Gokhale and the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had quietly travelled to Bhutan in the first week of February during which they held extensive talks with the Bhutanese leaders on strategic issues including the situation in Doklam. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of…
Militants shot dead special police officer in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag; wife too injured
Militants tonight shot dead a special police officer (SPO) and injured his wife in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said. Militants fired upon SPO Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh inside his residence at Katsoo in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, the police official said. While the SPO was killed in the spot, his wife, Fareeda, suffered injuries in the firing by the militants, the official said. He said the woman has been rushed to a hospital for treatment. In a separate incident, the ultras fired upon a man at Chancer in Kulgam district, the official said. Sayar Wani was hit by a bullet in the leg, he said, adding the injured was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
Man held at IGI airport with 3 bullets, booked under the sections of arms act
A Hyderabad-bound passenger was apprehended at the Delhi airport for allegedly carrying three live bullet rounds in his baggage, an official said today. A CISF officer, deputed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) to scan the baggage of commuters, detected a bullet-like object on the x-ray monitor yesterday evening, they said. Three live bullet rounds of 7.65mm calibre were recovered from the passenger identified as A A Choudhary. Choudhary and his wife were not allowed to take the flight and were handed over to the police as he could not produce any documents for carrying the ammunition, the official said, adding the man was later booked under sections of the Arms Act.
Heat on Congress? Report says Mamata Banerjee may meet Narendra Modi in Delhi
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The crucial meeting is set to take place even as TMC and BJP are at loggerheads ahead of West Bengal Panchayat Elections. CM Banerjee is scheduled to travel to New Delhi on May Day. She will attend a meeting of the government committee formed to coordinate year-long celebrations of Mahatma Gandhis 150th birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads the panel. If everything goes according to plan, then Modi-Mamata one-on-one meeting could take place, according to Bengali daily Ebela. In the wake of a political slugfest between BJP and TMC in West Bengal, this meeting assumes significance. The report says both leaders could discuss the demands made by West Bengal government. It further said Banerjee-Modi meeting, if it happens, will put pressure on the Congress. Banerjee has time to time lashed out at PM Modi over an array of issues. The political rivalry that started ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, has now snowballed into one of the most highlighted one on issues ranging from from demonetisation, GST implementation to recent incidents of rapes. While BJP has often accused…
Modi in London LIVE: PM makes big revelation about surgical strikes against Pakistan
PM Narendra Modi is addressing people at Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath event in Londons Central Hall Westminster. Here are all the LIVE updates:- – When the Rohingya crisis occurred in Myanmar, the whole world took their own positions in the matter. Rohingyas who went to Bangladesh, we sent steamers containing packets of food for them, so that they dont remain hungry. – Earlier when people used to talk on the humanitarian grounds, they only used to talk about western countries. But when we were able to take out 5000-6000 Indians out of Yemen, many countries requested us to take their people out of Yemen safely. – I was not born with an aim to be in history books. I request you all- remember our country and not Modi. I am just like you all, a common citizen of India. – I could not go to the Commonwealth Summit in Malta. This time, Prince Charles came himself to invite me said you have to attend the summit. Even Queen Elizabeth wrote a letter to me saying that you have to come. – You all must have seen that the power of your passport has increased. People look at you with…
Verdict in rape case against Asaram to be pronounced on jail premises, confirms Rajasthan High Court
The Rajasthan High Court today allowed a plea by the state police for pronouncement of trial court verdict in a rape case against self-styled god-man Asaram on premises of Jodhpur central jail, where he is lodged, and directed the authorities to deploy adequate security personnel to ensure that his followers do no create any law and order problem in the city. The high court directed the court of special judge SC\/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Jodhpur to conduct proceedings for pronouncement of judgment in the case against Asaram on the jail premises on the fixed date of April 25. A bench of justices Gopal Krishna Vyas and Ramchandra Singh Jhala also directed the Superintendent of Jodhpur Central Jail The advocates will be permitted to remain present at the time of pronouncement of judgment. The Jodhpur police commissioner and district administration officials were also directed by the court to make all arrangements to provide protection to people and properties in Jodhpur city and to ensure that no inconvenience and hurdle are created by the followers of the accused. Adequate police force will be deployed for the purpose of law and order situation in Jodhpur on the judgment day on April 25,…
BJP-TDP break-up? Andhra Pradesh special status demand is fraught with risks for Chandrababu Naidu
A year ahead of Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections in the state, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislatures are in favour of breaking ties with the BJP over granting of special status to Andhra Pradesh. In a meeting on Tuesday called by Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, 95 per cent of MLAs and MLCs voted in favour of breaking ties with the BJP, while the remaining According to Varaprasad, the five per cent MLCs want to wait to see if Centre would react favourably during the ongoing Budget session when TDP MPs raise the demand in Parliament. However, it may not be easy for the Centre to accept Naidus demand. The demand for a special status for Andhra Pradesh betrays competitive federalism being promoted by Narendra Modi government since 2014. The idea urges states to compete and not depend totally on the Centre for funds. The benefits of Special Category Status (SCS) was also blunted by the 14th Finance Commission, which submitted its report in December 2015. In past, Bihar and Odisha have failed in making the Centre accept their demand for special status. If these two poor states failed to get special status tags, TDP knows it…
Tripura Deputy CM Jishnu Deb Burman wins Charilam
Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Deb Burman today won the election from the Charilam (ST) Assembly constituency with a record margin of 25,550 votes. With his victory, the BJPs strength in the 60-member House rose to 36. The elections to the remaining 59 seats were held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in Charilam due to the death of the CPI(M) candidate, Ramendra Narayan Debbarma. Deb Burman secured 26,580 votes, while the CPI(M)s Palash Debbarma got 1,030 votes, Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura Tapas Ray said. Congress candidate Arjun Debbarma bagged only 775 votes, he added. The landslide victory proved that the CPI(M) had lost its support base in the north-eastern state, BJPs Tripura in-charge Sunil Deodhar told reporters. CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar, however, alleged that the Left party wanted to withdraw its candidature from Charilam due to the massive violence let loose by the BJP, but could not do so as the last date for withdrawal of nominations had passed. He refused to comment on the results. Echoing Dhar, state Congress vice-president Tapas De alleged that the saffron party had resorted to violence in Charilam and nobody dared to vote against them. The BJP-IPFT combine overthrew the…
Rabri Devi, Akhilesh Yadav slam Giriraj Singh over ‘terror hub’ comment, say people won’t forgive BJP
Just hours after Union Minister Giriraj Singh claimed that the RJDs win in the bypoll in Bihars Araria will convert it into a terror hub, political leaders have come out all guns blazing against the controversial mantri. Fresh from its victory in the Araria Lok Sabha constituency, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi slammed Giriraj Singh for his comments saying that the people of Araria and Bihar wont forgive him. Giriraj Singh has lost his mind after suffering the resounding defeat. Their slogan- Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi has been blown away. They have lost both in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They have lost both the seats in Uttar Pradesh. People of Araria have taught BJP a lesson and they must rectify their strategy. He should take back his comment and apologise to the people of Araria, else they will never forgive BJP, Rabri Devi said. Ex-Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav tweeted saying that Giriraj shouldnt forget that there is a BJP government in Bihar and Centre. Janta maaf nai karegi, says Rabri Devi, Former CM Bihar, #Sack Giriraj pic.twitter.com\/xoUBrmg9rJ If he BJP doesn Such a Shame for Nitish Kumar.. Akhilesh Yadav said that Singhs malicious intentions are clear…
CPI says fielding common opposition candidate is best strategy to beat BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections
The CPI today said fielding a common opposition candidate against the BJP would be the best strategy to defeat the lead party of the ruling NDA in the next Lok Sabha elections. CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said it is possible to adopt such an approach in most of the states. But this strategy cannot be possible at a national level, as also in states where the Congress and the Left, and the Congress and regional parties are main opponents, he said. We believe one-to-one contest (opposition parties, including the Congress, fielding a common candidate against the BJP) is the best, as far as possible. In some States, it may not be possible but in majority of the States, it will be possible, thats what we are expecting, Reddy told PTI. He said the results of byelections to Gorakhpur and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP lost, are a big inspiration for secular parties. This shows and has proved that unity of secular forces can defeat communalism and Sangh parivar, BJP, the communist veteran said. Congratulating BSP supremo Mayawati for the decision to support SP in the two byelections, Reddy said: Its because of her gesture (BSP support)…
Heart-wrenching! Nashik man travels 200 km with iron rod still inside body, beats death; here’s his story
Thirty-three-year-old Saleem Sheikhs life is nothing short of a brave story now. Sheikh, a labourer from Nashik in Maharashtra, has gone through a horrific time that many of us could just think of and yet come out victorious. It was that fateful Thursday of March 8 when Sheikh met a deadly accident while he was at work. While working at the construction site in Lasalgaon, Sheikh slipped and fell from a height of 7 feet on a 4-feet long iron rod that pierced his torso. The iron rod was jutting out of the concrete pillars at the construction pillars. It was a horrendous moment for Sheikh who juggled with pain as the rod entered his body through the groin. And whats even more astonishing that doctors at Mumbais JJ Hospital performed a complex five-hour-long surgery to save his life. On that day, the metal rod perforated his intestines, liver, abdomen and chest before coming out of the back. Sheikhs co-workers had to cut the iron rod to detach him from the concrete pillar. With the residual rod still inside his body, Sheikhs co-workers rushed him to the nearby primary health centre in Niphad in a van. The primary health centre…
Rs 2.6 crore swindle: The curious case of a banker and a gang of six that never met!
A well-organised racket that was recently uncovered in Delhi duped people of crores of money by creating forged signatures of the victims. While all things must come to end, this well-organised racket also came to an end after a person filed a complaint with the police. The team of the accused included a total of 6 people, involving a bank official, who took copies of peoples signatures after stealing blank cheques, a calligraphy expert who made the exact signature on a new cheque and several other middlemen, according to a Times of India report. Whats peculiar in this case is that while the six men were working together, they had never met in person. The police have arrested all the accused and have seized images of cheques worth Rs 2.6 crore. But how can a team of six who have never met, work together? Here is how it happened. The Bank official used to steal blank cheques from the bank and also made copies of the account holders signatures. He would then send it to the calligraphy expert who lived in Kolkata. The calligraphy expert would then replicate the signatures on to the blank cheques and submit the cheque so…
Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik quits; says was inspired by Rahul’s speech on making way for young leaders
Goa Congress President Shantaram Naik today resigned from his post, saying he was inspired by Rahul Gandhis speech at the party plenary about making way for younger leaders. Naik, 71, is the first senior Congress leader to resign after Rahul Gandhi announced on Sunday in his concluding speech that he wants to give the younger generation a chance to come forward and lead the party. Naik has sent his resignation to the All India Congress Committee this morning, ending his stint as Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president since July 8, 2017 when he had replaced senior party leader Luizinho Faleiro. I have resigned from the post of Goa Congress chief to pave the way for the younger generation to come forward. I was inspired by party chief Rahul Gandhis speech at the plenary session, where he said he wanted to give chance to the younger generation, he told PTI. During the session, the entire stage was empty and only those who were delivering speech used to go up and do it from the podium, he said. Everyone including Sonia Gandhi was off the dais, Naik told PTI. When Rahul Gandhi went to deliver the speech, he said the stage is…
Left propagandist singer Kovan arrested for song against PM Narendra Modi
A propagandist singer of a an ultra Left outfit was arrested here today for his alleged highly deprecative song against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling AIADMK regime over the Cauvery issue. Comrade Kovan, Tiruchirappalli district functionary of art and literary outfit Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam, was arrested and released after a local court granted him bail, a senior police official told PTI. Acting on a complaint from a BJP functionary, police arrested Kovan under IPC sections including those related to promoting enmity between different groups and provoking breach of public peace. High drama marked Kovans arrest with his relatives and friends objecting to him being taken away by police. They placed vehicles in front of a police van brought in to take the propagandist away. Police personnel had a tough time removing them and arresting him. I sang a song against the Ram Rajya rath yatra. My song sought Cauvery Management Board. While we seek Cauvery water, they held a rath yatra as a precursor to riots and I have been arrested, Kovan alleged. The song with alleged objectionable content was sung by Kovan in a protest here last month seeking CMB. The song, which is also available…
Rahul Gandhi takes a sly jibe at PM Narendra Modi over skyrocketing fuel prices
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a sly jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel. In a tweet, Rahul shared a small portion of the PMs speech in which he can be heard asking the crowd at a rally to attest his claim that fuel prices have come down during his regime and thus helping the people to save their money. What is more interesting about Rahuls video tweet of PM Modis speech is that it is clubbed with Bollywood actor Salman Khans ROFL moment from a comedy show. Everytime Modi asks the crowd petrol price have fallen or not? it suddenly jumps to Salmans ROFL moment. The Congress leader said poor and middle classes are suffering the most because of high fuel prices. The poor the middle class bear the brunt of rising fuel prices. In this video, our PM is quite obviously talking about some other country. #PeTrolled pic.twitter.com\/J6PHC7UsJZ 95 per litre on Tuesday. The previous high in the national capital was in December 2013 when Delhiites paid Rs 74.10 for a litre. Diesel prices also touched new record levels in Delhi with people shelling out Rs 64.82 for a litre…
AIIMS constitutes medical team for treatment of Lalu Prasad
The AIIMS administration has constituted a medical team comprising six doctors to decide the course of the treatment of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who was admitted to the institute on March 29. The committee is chaired by Head of Department of Medicine Dr Naveet Wig and comprises doctors from the departments of surgery, cardiology, nephrology, and neurology. Prasad is admitted in the old private ward of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). His condition is stable. His sugar levels are a little bit high and he has some infection in the kidney, an AIIMS doctor said. Prasad, who has been serving a jail term in Ranchi in connection with the fodder scam, was admitted to the AIIMS here for specialised treatment. He was referred to AIIMS by the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Ranchi. The RJD chief had been admitted to RIMS in Ranchi on March 17 over complaints of uneasiness while he was lodged at the Birsa Munda Jail. Prasad has been serving a jail term since December 23. The former Bihar chief minister has been convicted in four fodder scam cases since 2013 – the latest being the Dumka treasury case, in which a special…
Uttarakhand landslide LIVE: 2 killed, 3 injured at NH 58 in Devprayag, rescue operations underway
Uttarakhand landslide LIVE: As per the early reports, a landslide has occurred in the state of Uttarakhand. In this incident, as many as two people are reported dead and as many as three people are feared injured. The landslide has occurred at the NH 58 highway in the state which is located in Devprayag. Initial reports have hinted that rescue operations underway. In the debris, many are feared trapped. The injured people have been taken to a hospital in Srinagar which is nearby. The condition of those injured is said to be critical. As per the police, following a landslide, a car was hit by debris after which the driver lost control the control over his vehicle. The vehicle soon fell into the gorge. More details on the incident are expected to come in.
Kolkata meat scandal: Scam leaves restaurants cautious, customers sceptical
Top restaurants in Kolkata have asserted that there has been no decline in footfall in view of a carcass racket unearthed by the police earlier this week, even as foodies showed scepticism in ordering meat-based dishes. People here have resorted to fish, prawn and even vegetarian items amid a chaos over carcass meat sales, Sudesh Poddar, President, Hotel and Restaurants Association of Eastern India (HRAEI), said. Roughly, there has been a 60 per cent fall in order of meat items across our member restaurants this week. But we cannot say that the profit margin has gone down as people have replaced chicken and mutton items on their plates with fish and prawn delicacies, he said. Poddar, who also owns Manthan Songhai restaurant in the central part of the city, said the customers have also been asking about the meat quality and the supply source before ordering. Earlier this week, police busted a racket involved in selling carcass meat from dump yards. They seized nearly 20 tonnes of rotten meat, meant to be supplied to restaurants in and around the city, from a cold storage in central Kolkata. The incident has, however, made restaurant owners more cautious about the quality of…
Radicalisation of youth most challenging problem for world, says Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said radicalisation of the populace, particularly youths, is one of the most challenging problems the world is facing currently. Addressing the fourth counter-terrorism conference – Changing Contours of Global Terror – here yesterday, Singh, without taking Pakistans name, said some countries are providing sponsorship and safe havens to terrorists and this has further played a major role in the phenomenal growth of terrorism globally. Radicalisation of populace, particularly youths, is another trend and one of the most challenging problems being faced the world over. Several countries in the world have identified the problem and have taken measures to check and control the process of radicalisation and I am happy to state that India has timely busted some modules that were planning to orchestrate terrorist attacks on her soil, he said. The home minister said providing sponsorship and safe havens have further played a major role in the phenomenal growth of global terrorism. In addition, state support has granted terrorist groups access to resources, guidance and logistics, which would normally be beyond their capabilities, Singh said. Any effort to counter the activities of terrorist groups carries the danger of placing the victim nation in direct confrontation…