In a shocking incident reported from the state of Bihar, a video of Arrah Jail that has been doing rounds on social media shows inmates using phones and even taking drugs openly. In the video, a group of criminals can be clearly seen using phones and passing on drugs among each other. The video has been shot from inside the jail premises and no police personnel can be seen around the prisoners taking drugs. Speaking to ANI over the incident, SK Singhal, ADG HQ, said the video is being probed and strict action will be taken against those in the video after verifying the authenticity of the video. He further added that the police will investigate as to how the prisoners got the mobile phones in the first place. Immediately after the video went viral, jail authorities swung into action. A team of senior officials led by the SSP is currently conducting raids in prisons to seize any objectionable material. The Opposition has taken note of the incident and attacked the incumbent government on the same. Targetting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the incident of Jungle Raj, the Opposition has questioned the government asking if the criminals cannot be…
Month: January 2019
Senior Congress leader Patangrao Kadam dies in Mumbai
Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Patangrao Kadam died at a city hospital tonight after prolonged illness, his family said. The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) also confirmed Kadams demise. He was 74 and is survived by his son Vishwajeet Kadam, a Youth Congress leader who unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from Pune in 2014. His wife predeceased him. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi visited Lilavati Hospital, where Kadam had been undergoing treatment for renal dysfunction. He had been put on ventilator for the past few days as his condition remained serious. Congress president Rahul Gandhi condoled the demise of Kadam, saying it was an irreparable loss to his party. My deepest condolences on the unfortunate demise of senior Congress leader and educationist Patangrao Kadam ji. This is an irreparable loss to the Congress party. My love and support to his family in this hour of grief, Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter. Born in a lower-middle class family in Sonsal village of Sangli district, Western Maharashtra, on January 8, 1944, Kadam completed MA and LLB degrees. After working as a part-time teacher for some time, Kadam decided to join politics. He was elected to the…
Pune, Kolkata among India’s best-governed cities: You won’t believe where Bengaluru is ranked; check full list
Pune has emerged as the best-governed city of India in the fifth round of Annual Survey of India Surprisingly, Bengaluru is at the bottom of the list. (Check full list below). Pune took over the number one position from the Thiruvananthapuram this year, while Surat was the biggest gainer. The Gujarati city jumped 12 positions over 2016 to reach the fifth spot. This became possible for Surat because of its improved performance in revenue generation, higher capital expenditure per capita and implementation fo AMRUT reforms including the appointment of an internal auditor and credit rating, Vivek Anandan Nair, Associate Manager of ASICS 2017 said in a press release today. Pune wrested the number one position from Thiruvananthapuram in ASICS 2017. Surat was the biggest gainer in this year This was on the back of improved performance on own revenue generation, higher capital expenditure per capita by the city and implementation of AMRUT reforms including the appointment of an internal auditor and credit rating, Nair said. Odisha capital Bhubaneswar has stood out on the list because the city has shown steady improvement and moved six positions to fourth this year from 10th in 2016. For the first time, Guwahati and Vishakhapatnam…
Delhi shocker: Surgeon attacked by goons at farm house, he shoots back; accuses brothers
In a shocking incident that has once again brought to light the unabated incidents of crime that have kept Delhi-NCR in spotlight in terms of crime, a doctor was shot at by assailants at the doctors farm house. Under fire, the sexagenarian orthopaedic surgeon reportedly opened fire from his licensed pistol in retaliation. The perpetrators fired at least 12 bullets at the doctor, while he shot 13 rounds in turn. The incident took place on Saturday night at the doctors farm house in south Delhi The identity of assailants is yet to be ascertained but two of them sustained bullet injures, police said. Nagar, who has been recuperating at a Gurgaon hospital, has claimed that his brothers are the masterminds behind the attack, Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya said. Police is suspecting a sibling dispute over property as the plausible reason. The brothers have been summoned for interrogation. Police said that three brothers have been fighting over a Gurugram property for the last 10 years and have even filed cases against each other. Police have launched a probe into the matter and scanned the CCTV footage. However, CCTV cameras could not capture the assailants. A case of criminal conspiracy,…
IIT Delhi vs Subramanian Swamy: Now Modi government steps in to resolve decades-old matter; latest developments
The feud between Indian Institute of Delhi (IIT-Delhi) and feisty BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy may be resolved thanks to the Narendra Modi governments intervention, according to The Indian Express report. The dispute is over salary dues and has been going on for 45 years now. However, both the parties may now opt for out-of-court settlement, the report says. What is the dispute? Swamy joined IIT-Delhi faculty in 1971. However, the prestigious the institute sacked him on the grounds that his appointment was illegal while he was on probation. Subsequently, the matter reached the threshold of the court and Swamy won the case in 1991. Later he rejoined IIT-Delhi on March 27, 1991, but resigned the same day. He had demanded his salary and allowances for the period between 1972 and 1991. IIT-Delhi agreed, but cited FR 54 to demand details of his earnings from Harvard University, where he had taught for some time during the same period. Swamy however claimed that he should be deemed to have been on Extraordinary Leave (EOL), and he was not expected to disclose his earnings from elsewhere. Swamy had even filed a civil suit and the matter is still being heard by…
Assam cabinet expansion: Here are the new faces likely in Sarbananda Sonowal government
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is all set to expand his cabinet for the first time since the formation of his government in 2015. The six new faces are likely to include four from the BJP and one each from alliance partners, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF). Although no BJP leaders have made any comments, some reports say that BJP legislators including Siddhartha Bhattacharyya, Sum Ronghang, Tapan Gogoi and Piyush Hazarika can be the new faces in the cabinet. As per IANS sources, a woman legislator can also be inducted as minister. Reports say that Angoorlata Deka, who won from Batadraba constituency, can make the cut in the list. Currently, an 11-member cabinet of Sonowal includes seven Bharatiya Janata Party legislators including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Among the remaining four, two are from AGP legislators and two are from BPF. As per norms, the ministry in Assam can have a maximum of 19 members. However, the Chief Minister is likely to keep the remaining slots unfilled. From AGP, senior leader Phani Bhushan Choudhury is likely to be inducted in the cabinet. From the BPF, either Emmanuel Moshahary or Chandan Brahma is likely to be nominated. The…
Akhilesh Yadav to meet Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao today
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav will meet Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao here today as part of the TRS chiefs plans to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative at the national level. Rao had recently met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and the party working president M K Stalin. On April 29, Rao had held discussions with Stalin in Chennai on a wide range of issues, including more autonomy to states. He had said his ongoing effort was not aimed at some kind of a third front. It was not a mere alignment of political parties but that of the people of the country, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo had said at a joint press conference with Stalin. Rao, however, parried a question on whether he was projecting Mamata Banerjee, as the prime ministerial candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The efforts were aimed at the countrys betterment,better economy and better opportunities for the youth, he had said. A resolution at the TRS Plenary on April 27 had authorised Rao to take appropriate decisions on forming the alternative to the BJP and Congress.
Asaram rape case verdict: Tight security in Jodhpur, prohibitory orders issued in city
Security has been stepped up and prohibitory orders issued in the city ahead of the trial court verdict in the rape case against self-styled godman Asaram tomorrow. As per the directions of the Rajasthan High Court, the trial court will deliver its verdict in the case in Jodhpur Central Jail premises. Apprehending a threat to law and order from followers of Asaram, the police have imposed prohibitory orders. We have made all arrangements for the judgement day. Magistrate along with court staff, Asaram and co-accused along with the defence and prosecution counsels will remain present in the courtroom in jail premises Final arguments in the case had been completed by the special court for SC\/ST cases on April 7 and the court had kept the order reserved to be pronounced on April 25. Asaram was arrested on the complaint filed by a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur of Uttar Pradesh, who was studying at the godmans ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. The victim had alleged that Asaram had called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013. Asaram was arrested from Indore and brought to Jodhpur on 1 September,…
Asaram verdict: Farhan Akhtar defends PM, asks people to stop sharing images of Narendra Modi with self-styled godman
As the Jodhpur court pronounced its verdict in the Asaram Bapu rape case, a certain section of people started sharing old images of the self-styled godman with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The idea, obviously was to attack him for his alleged association with the godman-turned-rapist. As the pictures began to spread and the attacks against the PM grew vicious, actor-director-singer Farhan Akhtar, who has spoken out on crucial issues on several occasions, came to the defence of the PM. Akhtar took to Twitter and asked people to stop sharing those images on social media after the self-styled godman was convicted in a 2013 rape case. The actor said that PM Modi should be given the benefit of doubt as he may have been unaware of Asarams wrongdoings just like so many other people. So, Asaram is a child rapist. And he has been found guilty. Good. But can people please stop sharing images of him with PM Modi. Patronising him before he was exposed to be a pervert is no crime. Let Akhtars tweet came after Congress also shared a video of PM Modi with Asaram Bapu on its Twitter handle. A man is known by the company he keeps…
PM Narendra Modi to launch Rashtriya Gramin Swaraj Abhiyan from Madhya Pradesh tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Rashtriya Gramin Swaraj Abhiyan in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh on the National Panchayati Raj Day tomorrow and also take part in the Aadi Mahotsav event, showcasing heritage of tribals in the region. The Prime Minister will visit Ramnagar, the capital of erstwhile Gond kingdom in the district tomorrow. He will arrive here around 12 noon, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Manoj Thakur told PTI. The prime minister will arrive at Ramnagar in the district via Jabalpur and address a convention, an official release stated, adding he would take part in the Aadi Mahotsav event, beginning tomorrow. Around 2,000 experts on Panchayati Raj system will participate in the convention, he said. Another release said Modi will launch the Rashtriya Gramin Swaraj Abhiyan at a public meeting and address Panchayati Raj representatives across the country, from Mandla. On this occasion, the prime minister will unveil a road map for overall development of tribals during the next five years and will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of an LPG bottling plant of Indian Oil Corporation at Maneri in Mandla district. He would also launch a local government directory, it said. The…
Tripura violence: 2 Lenin statues brought down, BJP, CPI-M blame each other; top developments so far
Tripura violence: A political slugfest has started between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM-M) over alleged post poll violence in Tripura. Two Lenin statues have reportedly been brought down. While, left leaders have claimed that their workers are being targetted by supporters of BJP-IPFT alliance, the ruling party at the Centre hit back saying CPM workers were carrying out these wearing BJP clothes to destabilise normalcy, according to Indian Express report. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that CPM headquarters in the Bishalgarh sub-division of Tripura Many wokers were taking shelter in this office. Left leaders alleged that out of 90 offices, located in Bishalgarh sub-division, 87 were burnt and ransacked since Saturday when the assembly election results came out. CrPC section 144 has been imposed in Bishalgarh to prevent any untoward situation, the report says. K V Srijesh, IG (law and order) Tripura, said that maximum violence was reported from West Tripura, Bishalgarh and Gomti. Srijesh said that a few incidents took place on the nights of March 3 and 4. He also said that CPM offices were also attacked. Poilce have been registering relevant cases, Srijesh was quoted as saying by IE. Srijesh, however,…
Delhi sealing drive: Traders’ body carries out protest march, calls for complete bandh
Protesting against the ongoing sealing drive, a group of traders on Tuesday carried out a mock funeral procession and called for a complete bandh in the city. Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), had announced on Saturday that shops in Delhi will remain shut on Tuesday. In a show of solidarity, all traders, under the aegis of CAIT, held a CAIT had also asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to The CAIT had said that all major wholesale and retail markets of Delhi will remain close. The market places included Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Place, Lajpat Rai Market, Khari Baoli, Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazar, Kashmere Gate, Naya Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Chawri Bazar, Nai Sarak, Khan Market, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, Amar Colony and Defence Colony. Meanwhile, CAIT also termed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Slamming Kejriwal, CAIT said the chief minister was shedding On Saturday, Kejriwal had also called for an all-party meeting at his residence to discuss the issue. Writing a letter to Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and Congress leader Ajay Maken, Kejriwal stressed that sealing drive was a serious issue and parties should rise above politics to find a solution. On…
Staff Rationalisation Committee Recommendations: Tamil Nadu eyeing to cut posts for reducing revenue deficit
The Tamil Nadu government today said revenue deficit could be reduced by implementating the recommendations of the Staff Rationalisation Committee, set up to identify non-essential posts for reducing expenditure. The committee, headed by retired IAS official S Audiseshaiah, was set up last month, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam told the state assembly. Once the recommendations are implemented, it will lead to reduction in revenue deficit and ways and means would open up for the state to revert to revenue surplus, he added. The panel is mandated to identify non-essential posts in government departments to reduce expenditure and submit a report within six months. Winding up the four-day discussion on the 2018-19 budget, which was presented on March 15, Panneerselvam, holding the finance portfolio, said the state had surplus revenue in 2011-12 and 2012-13. In 2013-14, slowdown in economy affected the state like the rest of the country and the tax revenue fell. Factors like economic sluggishnes, inadequate tax revenue and cut in devolution of funds to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore by the Centre for Tamil Nadu in 2015-16 led to revenue deficit, he said citing the 14th Finance Commission report. Since expenditure increased to 13.71 per cent in…
Promised Rs 350 and food to attend Arvind Kejriwal’s Haryana rally, disgruntled labourers cry foul as AAP ‘backtracks’
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals Haryana Bachao Rally in Hisar on Sunday which saw the AAP convenor announce his partys decision to contest the assembly elections in the state in 2019 has been caught in an alleged controversy. A video posted by news agency ANI shows labourers alleging that they were promised Rs 350 each and food to be present at the Aam Aadmi Party conveners public rally. Labourers claimed that they neither received the money nor food as promised to them. Kejriwal, who was born in Haryana He also exuded confidence that AAP will go past the historic mandate of 67 out of 70 seats that the party received in Delhi. AAPs foray into Haryana comes after its attempts to expand its footprint in elections in Punjab and Goa Assembly polls in 2017. AAP, however, failed miserably in both the states. It had also fielded 33 candidates in the crucial Gujarat Assembly polls but all failed to make a mark. AAP has earlier said that it is likely to fight in the Rajasthan assembly polls to be held in 2018. WATCH-Here is what labourers said #WATCH Labourers allege that they were promised Rs 350 each and food, to be…
West Bengal panchayat polls: SC to pass order on BJP’s plea on April 9
The Supreme Court today said it will pass orders on April 9 on the BJP West Bengal units plea alleging that its candidates are not being allowed to file their nomination papers for the panchayat polls next month. In its plea, BJP sought an extension of the last date of nomination, which is April 9, and online availability of nomination papers. A bench of Justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre said, We are reserving verdict for April 9. During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the West Bengal unit of the BJP, said democracy is being murdered in the state as candidates are not being allowed to file their nomination papers and there is large-scale violence. The West Bengal panchayat elections are scheduled to be held on May 1, 3, and 5 and the votes are to be counted on May 8. According to the notification, the last date of filing nominations is April 9 and the last date of scrutiny of the nominations is April 11. The plea alleged that block development officers, appointed as assistant panchayat electoral registration officers by the West Bengal State Election Commission, are refusing to give nomination forms to BJP…
Unnao case: CBI arrests BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar; read what Allahabad HC said in its 20-page order
BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar who is accused of raping a minor Dalit girl, was on Friday night arrested by the CBI after 15-hour long grilling. The action by CBI came hours after the Allahabad High Court reprimanded the police administration for its lacklustre attitude and made strong observations in the case. The HC bench of Chief Justice DB Bhosale and Justice Suneet directed that the MLA should be arrested immediately. In its 20-page order, the HC said that law and order machinery was directly in the league under the influence of Sengar. Citing the SIT report, it said that police and doctors were\/are under the influence of the MLA. Besides, the SIT report explains how they tampered with evidence and tried to instil a sense of fear in the victim and her family. The court said that what is disturbing is that the father of the victim was arrested for no reason and he was brutally thrashed and later succumbed to his injuries. The court had on Thursday questioned the state government over the delay in the MLAs arrest. To this, Advocate General Raghvendra Singh submitted that Sengar would not be arrested on more registration of the FIR. The…
Home Minister Rajnath Singh tears into Pakistan, alleges conspiracy to break India
In a thinly-veiled reference to Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the neighbouring country is conspiring to break India apart with the help of terrorism. Observing that the country continues to pursue terrorism, Singh said that some day, Pakistan would have to concede to the global pressure. Singh also said that Pakistan is making it difficult for India to maintain good relations even though India wants it. We always want to maintain good relations with our neighbouring countries. We consider all our neighbours our relatives. However, one of them doesnt listen. But they will have to listen some day. All international forces are putting pressure on them, international agencies are trying their best to convince them to boycott terrorism. Singh said while addressing a gathering here. He also lauded the Indian armed forces for successfully keeping the terrorists at bay, Being our neighbour, they are conspiring to break our country with the help of terrorism. We are proud of our security forces as they are perfectly retaliating to the terror attacks. The Home Minister was in Dadra Nagar Haveli to inaugurate a number of development projects. At the event, he also announced that Centre will be presenting a fugitive…
Jairam Ramesh says secular doesn’t mean anti-Hindu, reminds how UPA was coined
Former union minister Jairam Ramesh has said that P card is going to be the only tactic Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party will bank upon in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. By P card, Ramesh referred to polarisation. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Ramesh said that being a secularist doesnt mean anti-Hindu. While answering a question as to why Congress appears defensive on secularism, Ramesh reminded that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was initially named as United Secular Alliance, however, it was later changed to Progressive Secular Alliance as the acronym for the former term could have been USA. Later, DMK chief Karunanidhi, who was a large stakeholder in the alliance, said secular in Tamil translates into irreligious and hence the name United Progressive Alliance came up. The former union minister said that India is a multi-religious country and there is a place for all the people with different beliefs. However, he added that as far as the Indian state is concerned, it should have nothing to do with religion. Ramesh said that Opposition parties charge that Congress is playing Hindu politics is an intellectually lazy argument. Recalling former Congress president Sonia Gandhis comments, Ramesh said that Congress has to fight communalism of…
Aamir Khan appeals to youth – Here is what Thugs of Hindostan actor requested
Superstar Aamir Khan today requested students and citizens of urban areas of Maharashtra to contribute in making the state drought-free. The 53-year-old actor, who is the founder of Paani Foundation, interacted with the students of Symbiosis University, Pune and appealed to them to become By signing up on the link jalmitra.paanifoundation.in, people from the cities can register to work in villages with villagers on May 1, which is Maharashtra Day. I would like to appeal to all the young of Maharashtra to join us in the noble cause to make Maharashtra drought-free. On the occasion of Maharashtra Day, lets celebrate it with Mahashramdan and bridge the rural-urban divide, Aamir said. Till now we have 1 lakh registration on Jalmitra app and we are expecting more support from all over Maharashtra. I would request each and every person to do Shramadan, and aggressively participate in this peoples movement to make the state drought free, he added. Paani Foundation will start its third edition of Satyamev Jayate Water Cup, with an aim to extend the watershed management programme to 75 talukas in 24 districts of the state. On the May 1, there will be a Mahashramdaan across Maharashtra in all 75 talukas…
AIADMK for no-trust move against NDA Government, says party leader M Thambidurai
In what appears to be a bid to shift the political onus on DMK on the Cauvery issue, senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai today said his party would consider moving a no-trust motion in Parliament against the NDA Stalin says AIADMK should bring a no-trust motion (on Cauvery issue). We are ready to bring it, he told reporters at the airport. In the same breath, the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker said Congress support was needed to facilitate such an initiative. Let Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi issue a statement (indicating support), they (DMK) are in alliance with them (Congress). only if they (Congress) support, we will get the (requisite) numbers, he said. Seeking to make his partys position clear,Thambidruai, a senior AIADMK leader from Western Tamil Nadu, said such a no-trust move would however be only for the Cauvery issue. Only on the Cauvery issue. not for any other general issue. To urge constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, and since the Centre has failed to do that, we will consider that if other parties like Congress support it. Thambidurai said Tamil Nadus demand seeking setting up of Cauvery Management Board should become a peoples movement in the state just…
Supreme Court website hacked by ‘Brazillian team’: Reports
The Supreme Court of India website supremecourtofindia.nic.in went down on Thursday and remained under maintaince for hours. Some reports claimed that the website of the apex court was first hacked by a Brazilian team. The reports also shared the screenshots of the messages written on top courts website. The website displayed an image of a leaf, and read The crash came moments after the court delivered a crucial verdict in Justice BH Loya death case. The news of hacking of top courts website comes days after official website of ministry of defence was hacked. Later, the websites of Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Home Affairs had faced technical errors and glitches. The law ministry website showed a message which said that it has been hit by an unexpected error. Error.. The website encountered an unexpected error. Please try again later. Error messagePDOException: SQLSTATE[HY000] [2003] Cant connect to MySQL server on 10.247.38.11 (111) in lock_may_be_available() (line 167 of home), the message on the website lawmin.gov.in read. On the other hand, the website of Ministry of Home Affairs displayed a message which read that the site is not available due to technical errors. Site off-line.. The site is currently…
Justice KM Joseph matter: Top government official ‘surprised’ over Justice Kurien Joseph’s statement
A top government official has expressed surprise that a possible decision to re-elevate Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court had been taken even before the scheduled meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday. The development comes after senior Judge of the top court, Justice Kurian Joseph, who is also part of the collegium, had said that it will be reiterating its recommendation to the government. Speaking to The Indian Express, Justice Joseph had said: The collegium might have to reiterate its recommendation furnishing facts and figures and citing precedent which has not been put in perspective by the government when it returned his name. What The official also expressed dissatisfaction over the collegium. This has never happened. A member of the collegium discussing whom to appoint and not to appoint According to the official, the government is waiting on the conclusion of the collegium meeting. If the collegium resends the proposal of Justice Joseph for the elevation to the top court, then the government will treat the proposal as a fresh suggestion. If the collegium sends Justice Joseph Slamming the government, Justice Kurian Joseph had said that Centre is not behaving with the Justice KM Joseph for the…
A couple decided to give up fat salary package of Rs 30 lakh to open a tea shop – Here is why
This is one couple who decided to give up the comfort zone of fat-pay packets, Rs 30 lakh annualy between them to venture into an unknown realm – starting a tea shop. The duo – Nitin V. Biyani, 36 and wife Pooja, 34 – embarked on their journey after considerable thought and intellectual inputs from their elders, especially Poojas father. One fine day, the Biyanis finally dumped their cushy software engineering jobs with top multinationals in Pune to throw open their Chai Villa in Nagpurs centrally-located Darodkar Square. Pooja and I worked in the highly-taxing IT industry. Often, like other professionals, we used to drink a cup of tea (chai) to relax and destress. We always craved for healthy and tasty chai, but what we got was really terrible chai made at tea-stalls in grossly unhygienic conditions and poor in taste, Nitin told IANS. We both thought of changing all this and replace with hot, tasty, fresh handmade chai at nominal rates. Then, we just kick-started the idea in Nagpur, the Orange City of India last November, Pooja added. Earlier, they carried out detailed market research for nearly four months to learn that true to its reputation, India is indeed…
Asansol violence: West Bengal government to revamp intelligence mechanism
The West Bengal government is revamping its intelligence wing to help avert incidents of violence in the state, a senior home department official said. Caught off guard during the recent Asansol-Raniganj violence, the state is also planning to strengthen its ground-level intelligence gathering mechanism, the official told PTI. The revamp has been necessitated owing to inadequate infrastructure in the present set up. We are strengthening the local intelligence gathering mechanism so that such kind of incidents can be averted, the official said. After the Khagragarh blast in 2014, which unearthed a terror module of a Bangladeshi militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, the need for strengthening the local intelligence gathering mechanism was first felt. Following the incident two years ago, the state government had mooted the idea of setting up Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) in every police district of the state for gathering information at the grass root level which will help in gaining information about terrorists and subversive activities in the state. But apart from deputing officers in LIU unit, this special intelligence cell is yet to take off fully due to lack of office space and other infrastructure in most districts. The officers for LIU have been deputed in most…
Is Yogi Adityanath fast losing his popularity, a year after becoming Uttar Pradesh CM?
Is Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath – in power for just over a year – fast losing his lustre? Many here feel so. A litany of complaints about his public conduct, his behaviour with colleagues as well as common people is fast eroding the aura he had built up as the five-time Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur who was catapulted to the Chief Ministers office of a socially diverse and politically volatile state of 220 million people. Last week, 24-year-old Ayush Bansal shocked many when he broke down in front of media in Gorakhpur and disclosed how the monk-turned-Chief Minister mocked him during a junta darbaar where he had gone to complain about a land-grab case in which independent legislator from Nautanwa, Amanmani Tripathi, was involved. He also accused the Chief Minister of calling him awaraa (wayward) and pushing him while throwing his file in the air. Maharaj ji angrily snapped at me and said my work will never be done and that I should get out of his sight, Bansal told IANS. While officials got down to damage control and said the matter was being looked into, the fact that Adityanath behaved in a manner unbecoming of a…
2016 Bhopal jail break: Government approves 120 additional posts of security personnel
Nearly 16 months after eight SIMI undertrials escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail after killing a guard, the Madhya Pradesh government today approved 120 additional posts of security personnel at the facility which currently houses 32 operatives of the banned organisation. Hours after the eight SIMI members escaped from the jail on the intervening night of October 30-31, 2016, all of them were killed in an encounter with police on the outskirts of the city. State cabinet today sanctioned 120 posts of security personnel in a bid to beef up security at the Bhopal Central Jail which currently houses (32) SIMI operatives besides other prisoners, Public Relations Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters. To a query, the minister said the 120 security personnel would also guard the 32 SIMI members facing trial in various offences including their alleged role in terrorist activities. Referring to new appointments, Mishra said the security at the jail has been strengthened overruling the objection raised by Finance department which had approved only 17 additional posts of security personnel. Despite Finance departments objection, the Cabinet has decided to sanction 120 (additional) posts as demanded by the Department of Jail, he said. The minister said the Cabinet also…
CJI impeachment: Voices of dissent in Congress, two former Law Ministers question move
Two senior Congress leaders and former Law Ministers Salman Khurshid and Ashwani Kumar have expressed their reservations over the grand old party and other opposition parties decision to give an impeachment notice against Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra. According to a report by The Indian Express, while Khurshid said that he was not consulted by the party and that he was unhappy with the move, Kumar termed the development a watershed moment in the history of India. Khurshid told the daily that he was not kept in the loop by the party before taking the decision. The former Union minister, however, added that he feels very saddened that this has happened. To a question, Khurshid replied that he cant see any straightforward resolution to the situation and expressed hope that there is no lasting damage to our institutions. When asked about the oppositions charges in the notice, he said that party has indicated five issues but he has no idea what is the backdrop. Notably, Khurshid was among the senior leaders who were consulted by Congress president Rahul Gandhi after four senior-most SC judges had addressed the media expressing their anger over the CJIs style of functioning. Kumar said…
Delhi Shocker: Influenced by ‘Godman’, mother beheads eight-month-old son, stabs herself
In a shocking incident, a 29-year-old woman killed her eight-month-old son and later attempted to commit suicide at her house in Delhis Aman Vihar. Whats even more horrific are the reports of her being influenced by a Godman, whom she used to visit. The incident came to light on Friday morning when her husband found her sitting on the floor with the body of her son. The woman, Sarika, had beheaded her son and his body was disembowelled. On Thursday night, Shankar, a vegetable vendor, returned home late in the evening and found the door of his single-room house in Aman Vihars slum cluster, locked inside. He called to Sarika a few times and then went to sleep at his parents home nearby where his daughters too were sleeping. On Friday morning, he returned home and shouted for Sarika but there was no response. He then climbed a wall into their room and was shocked to see Sarika sitting with the body of their son Chirag. As per a report by TOI, Sarika had severed Chirags head and smashed it with a pestle. She had also ripped open the stomach. Sarika had even tried to kill herself and had stabbed…
Judge Loya Supreme Court verdict: UP CM Yogi Adityanath welcomes SC ruling, mounts attack on Rahul Gandhi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today welcomed the Supreme Courts verdict turning down the pleas to probe the death of special CBI judge B H Loya and mounted attack on Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Rahul does not want that any person other than someone from the Gandhi family should run the country. The Congress stands exposed, he tweeted. Referring to a Congress press conferences and a Rahul Gandhi-led delegation to the President for a probe into Judge Loyas death, the chief minister said the apex court verdict on the issue has exposed the ugly face of the Congress. Talking to reporters later, he said, The verdict in Judge Loya case has exposed the Congress once again. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people of the country. They have tried to create such an environment that develops negative emotions in the people for the government. The Supreme Court today ruled that Judge Loya died of natural causes and that the petitions were a serious attempts to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. The top…
After Red Fort, government to include more monuments under ‘adopt a heritage’ for private players, says Tourism Minister KJ Alphons
Notwithstanding criticism over the governments decision to give Red Fort to a corporate for upkeep, Tourism Minister K J Alphons today insisted that his ministry will expand the adopt a heritage site project to put more monuments under private care. The minister also attacked the Congress for opposing the initiative, saying the opposition party has a poor memory and they are forgetting that they had also engaged a private player to maintain and operate the iconic Humayun Tomb. Alphons told PTI that he was not worried about the controversy over the adoption of the Red Fort by the Dalmia Bharat Group and rejected reports that that the 17th century monument was being handed over for Rs 25 crore to the corporate house under the adopt a heritage scheme. It is an executive decision taken by the government to sign the MoU. No changes to the present project will be done. We will only expand the project to include more such sites and monuments, Alphons said. Explaining the adopt a heritage project , the minister said its aim is to entrust heritage sites and monuments and other tourist sites to private sector companies, public sector companies and individuals for the development…