Mounting pressure on its electoral ally BJP, the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) today said that it would support the new government from outside if it was not given respectable positions in the ministry. Clarifying the meaning of respectable positions, IPFT president N C Debbarma said it meant proportionate representation of IPFT MLAs in the Cabinet and allocation of major departments to them. He said that the IPFT would also seek a separate block for its MLAs in the Assembly unless it was given respectable positions in the state Cabinet. The BJP and IPFT combine had swept to power in the state winning 43 out of the 59 seats for which elections were held. The BJP had won 35 and IPFT 8 seats. The election for the Charilam ST reserve constituency was countermanded due to the death of CPI-M candidate before the elections. There is an apprehension that we may not be given proper representation in the Cabinet and important portfolios would not be allocated to us as the BJP, the major constituent, alone secured 35 seats, Debbarma told PTI. He also said that the BJP and IPFT had fought the elections in alliance with the sole target of…
Month: April 2019
JNU protest: Delhi Police tenders deepest apologies to media, assures inquiry in manhandling of woman journalist
Delhi Police on Saturday tendered their deepest apologies for the attack on two media personnel in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday when police undertook a baton charge on protesting students. Yesterdays (Fridays) incident was a very unfortunate one. Our deepest apologies to the media. Our intention wasnt to obstruct the media from doing its job, said DCP and Delhi Police spokesperson Madhur Verma in a statement. On Friday, JNU teachers and students held a protest march demanding suspension of professor Atul Johri, accused of sexual harassment, and protesting against the removal of some department heads and a coordinator for not complying with the Universitys new attendance rules. As the hundreds of protesting students and teachers from the University marched towards Parliament, the Delhi Police undertook a baton charge and fired water canons on the agitators near the INA Market. In the melee, a woman journalist and a woman photographer were assaulted. The journalist has filed a case against a Delhi Police inspector for molesting her and the photographer complained of being roughed-up by policewomen. The protestors have claimed that the attack by police was unprovoked. The Delhi Police, in its statement, said the incident happened due to confusion as…
Army man jailed for 27 years; Supreme Court acknowledges wife’s plea for justice
The Supreme Court has taken note of a womans plea that her husband, an Army man, has been languishing in jail for 27 years without a final decision on the death penalty awarded by a Court Martial for killing two of his colleagues. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar took note of the plea of Mithilesh Rai, wife of the jailed Army man Lance Naik Devendra Nath Rai and issued notice to the Ministry of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and others and asked them to respond within four weeks. Rai, 60, whose mental health suffered due to the long incarceration, was awarded the death penatly by the General Court Martial (GCM) in 1991. The Centre confirmed the noose. The Army man appealed in the Allahabad High Court which, in 2000, upheld the conviction, but set aside the death penalty saying no special reason was accorded by the GCM which also did not do balancing of mitigating and aggravating circumstances. The Central government challenged the verdict in the apex court which, on January 10, 2006 remanded the case back to the High Court and asked it to decide it afresh. The high court…
Ex-Pakistani diplomat, two others on NIA ‘wanted list’ for conspiring to launch 26/11-type attacks: Report
In the first such incident ever, Indias National Investigative Agency (NIA) has put a former Pakistani diplomat on its wanted list and released a photo seeking information about him. The official has been identified as Amir Zubair Siddique who was posted as visa counsellor at Pakistans High Commission in Colombo. According to the NIA, Amir was involved in conspiring to launch 26\/11 type terror attacks at US and Israel consulates in India and is also alleged to have conspired to target defence installations in southern India in 2014 by hiring Sri Lankan nationals, ANI reported. Apart from Amir, there are two more names of Pakistani officials included by the NIA in its wanted list. The agency said that a fourth Pakistani official posted at the High Commission in Colombo was also involved in conspiring to launch terror attacks. According to a Times of India report, the identities of the remaining three officials are yet to be ascertained. However, the two who have been included in the wanted list are said to be Pakistani intelligence officials. While one went his alias Vineeth, another was codenamed Boos alias Shah, the report said. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has put a Pakistani diplomat on…
H1B visa losing sheen among techies? Indian IT companies dramatically reduce visa filing, says US daily
Indian IT companies have dramatically reduced their H-1B visa filings and foreign nationals are exhibiting reluctance to make the jump to a US company due to the Trump administrations hardline anti-immigration stance, a top Silicon Valley newspaper has said. San Francisco Chronicles editorial board has said applicants for the H-1B visa programme are anticipating the hardest process in many years. Thats affected both the applicants and the companies that employ them, it said. Indian consulting firms, which have been accused of flooding the system with applications, have dramatically reduced their filings. Foreign nationals are exhibiting new reluctance to make the jump to a US company, the paper said as the process for filing H-1B visa application for the 2019 fiscal beginning October 1, kicked off. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The Trump administrations hard-line anti-immigration stance is taking its toll, the daily said. Envoy Global, a technology-oriented immigration services provider, reports that 26 per cent of employers it surveyed have…
Lax Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government lost Rs 67 crore, says CAG report
Lack of timely and effective action by the Rural Develpoment department regarding land lease allotment to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi resulted in non-recovery of around Rs 67 crore, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in the Delhi assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said. According to the report, the Urban Development department lacked effective planning and coordination in developing Delhi road Network in a phased manner to cope up with increasing vehicle population. The compliance audit alo mentioned that 88 units of the department of trade and taxes, state excise, transport and revenue conducted during the year 2016-17 revealed under assessment, short levy, loss of revenue and other irregularities involving Rs 416 crore in 650 cases. Sisodia assured of action against those found guilty by the government auditor. Strict action will be taken against officers, even Ministers or any other found guilty, he said.
Morning News Bulletin: Track latest stories
Chaos at Delhi Airport due to delays in baggage clearance Chaos prevailed at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport here today as hundreds of passengers faced delays in baggage clearance, leading to long queues and flight delays. The problem in the baggage handling system affected flight operations, with Vistara Airline issuing a statement late in the evening, saying bags were not being loaded on to the flights and that the airline had taken up the issue with the airport officials. Congress expels Karnataka MLA after he decides to join BJP The Congress expelled senior Congress MLA Malikayya Venkayya Guttedar after he announced his decision to quit the ruling party in the state and join BJP ahead of the May 12 assembly polls in Karnataka. Guttedar, a six-time MLA from Afzalpur and a former minister, was unhappy with the party and its state leadership for some time, over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not considering him for ministership. Decision of re-test in favour of students: CBSE chief on paper leak Under attack over board paper leaks, CBSE Chairperson Anita Karwal said that the decision to hold re-examination of two subjects was taken in The remarks came a day after the Central Board…
Home Minisry does this to stop staff from watching porn, downloand malware
The Ministry of Home Affairs has put in place a robust security system to check external attempts to infiltrate into its computer network, and block access to pornographic materials on its systems, officials said. This came after former Union Home Secretary G K Pillai had said that some subordinate staff in the MHA would see pornographic content on Internet and download malware in office, leading to compromise of the computer networks. Intrusion prevention system, intrusion detection system, anti-virus and anti-malware have been put in place. It is a very robust system to ensure foolproof security in the MHA computer networks, an official said. A network security policy, network security monitoring and fireball have also been put in place. Another official said as the fireball has been installed, no employee in the MHA can watch pornography in office computers. The fireball against pornographic websites has been installed as such video clips may have attached Addressing the maiden Finsec Conclave in Mumbai yesterday, Pillai had said, When I was the Union Home Secretary almost 8-9 years ago, every 60 days we would find the entire computers compromised. Pillai, who chairs the non-profit Data Security Council of India (DSCI) promoted by Nasscom, said…
Looking forward to rescheduling two-plus-two dialogue with India: US
The US is looking to reschedule the first two-plus-two dialogue with India following the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trumps new Secretary of State, the Pentagon said today. Pompeo, 54, a former CIA director was sworn-in as the 70th US Secretary of State yesterday replacing Rex Tillerson who was fired by Trump in March. It (two plus two) was postponed. And so we will work with State, now that Secretary Pompeo is in the seat, to look to reschedule that in the near future, Chief Pentagon Press Secretary Dana White told reporters at her weekly news conference. The much-awaited dialogue between the two countries is likely to take place sometime this summer, most probably after the historic summit meeting between Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong un. The two-day dialogue, announced last summer when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a successful meeting with President Trump at the White House, was tentatively scheduled for April 18-19. The dialogue involves defense and foreign ministers from the two countries. Secretary White also said the Pentagon was looking to Pakistan and work with them to find opportunities to further regional security. She ssaid Pakistan could do more in its fight…
Asaram convicted! From Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Nithyananda to Narayan Sai – Here’re babas facing serious charges
Jodhpur: Self-styled Godman Asaram has been convicted by a Jodhpur court for raping a teenager at his ashram near this city in 2013. In her complaint, the victim had said Asaram had raper her on the night of August 15, 2013 after calling her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur. It took five years for the court to finally come up with the verdict in the case that witnessed a number of twists and turns, including alleged murders of some of the witnesses in the case. Asaram, 77, was arrested from Indore by police and brought to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013. He has remained in judicial custody since September 2, 2013. The self-styled Godman was chargesheeted under various sections of POSCO Act, Juvenile Justice Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). As Asaram stares at 10-years imprisonment, which is likely to be pronounced today, here are some other self-styled Godman accused or convicted of serious charges. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh The leader of Dera Sachha Sauda cult, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is languishing in jail for raping two sadhvis of his ashram. The sadhvis had narrated to CBI judge the horrific details of how Ram Rahim used…
Smriti Irani stalking case: Delhi police files chargesheet against 4 students; know all details here
Delhi police have registered a complaint against four students of University of Delhi for allgedly misbehaving with Union Minister Smriti Irani. As per news agency ANI, the incident had taken place last year when Irani was on her way to her official residence in Chanakyapuri. Later, the four Delhi University students were arrested after an FIR was registered against them for following Iranis car. The police had charged students under Section 354 D (stalking) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, the four students were later released on bail. Iranis staff had made a PCR call around 5 PM, on April 1 last year stating that four youths in a car were indulging in Minister Later, with the help of PCR van, the car was intercepted near the US Embassy. The four youths were soon taken into custody. In the medical examination, it was found that they had consumed alcohol. The students were staying in a PG in Vasant village and had liquor at a friend They were driving around for fun at the time of the incident. Later, the students apologised and said that…
Shatrughan Sinha says he’s no rebel, only showing mirror to those in power
Disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha has once again targeted his own partys government at the Centre and leadership over its failed policies and false promises. Speaking at an event in Pune on Tuesday, the Patna Sahib MP said that he is not a rebel and that he is just showing the mirror to those in power. The actor-turned-politician was in the city to attend an event organised by social organisation Vasantdada Seva Sanstha. The event was also attended by senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan. I have been with the BJP since it had two MPs in Lok Sabha, Without naming anyone from his party, Sinha said that arrogance and ego will not help and that the wave of change is in full swing. He also questioned the claims being made by the BJP of transparency in the government. He said that honesty and transparency should go together. The leader further accused his own party of making tall promises during elections and later backtracking. He also slammed the party for diverting focus from core issues by raises issues of Hindu and Muslims. He said that the country is united despite so many religions and castes. On rising…
Asaram verdict LIVE updates: Jodhpur court awards life-term to self-styled Godman
Asaram Bapu rape case verdict LIVE updates: A Jodhpur court today gave its judgment in the alleged rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu. Asaram Bapu was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday. Earlier, he along with two other accused was convicted by the trial court at the Jodhpur Central Jail premises. Meanwhile, Delhi and three other states have been put on high alert and Section 144 has been imposed in Jodhpur. It has been learnt that Asaram Bapu will continue to remain in jail. Check LIVE updates of Asaram Bapu rape case verdict here: 2:50 PM: It has been learnt that Asaram Bapu broke down after Jodhpur court judge 2:35 PM: Asaram Bapu has been convicted and sent to life imprisonment by Jodhpur special court in connection with a rape case. 2:05 PM: WATCH- This man has accused Asaram Bapu of killing his son allegedly for black magic rituals #AsaramVerdict – The dead body of my son was found behind the Ashram. Police did nothing to solve the case: Shantilal Vaghela pic.twitter.com\/BmqXSRHzVw The proceedings is taking place in Jodhpur Central Jail. 11:52 AM: WATCH- Here is what the victims has to say about Asaram Bapus conviction #AsaramVerdict – I…
Andhra Pradesh special status matter: Govt right on Andhra, pity Chandrababu Naidu is not convinced
The government has done well to not give in to Andhra Pradesh (AP) chief minister Chandrababu Naidu Finance minister Arun Jaitley It is true AP has been left poorer after the split but, as the FM observed on Wednesday, a Bihar or an Odisha would be equally justified in claiming SCS status. In fact, both states Given the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) had advocated that the SCS provision be phased out over a period of time, it is to the credit of the BJP that it has not pandered to the whims of its ally. In this context, the Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi Indeed, no government In fact, electoral promises of loan waivers There is no denying that AP is worse off as a consequence of the split since the more prosperous areas of the erstwhile AP are in Telangana. This fact was noted by the FM who recognises AP deserves added assistance. Naidu should be reassured by the FM Singh had said AP would be provided funds on the terms which are reserved for SCS states. That Jaitley has promised that for the period 2015-2020, the Centre will fund 90% of the CSS or Centrally Sponsored Schemes in…
Aircel-Maxis case: Karti Chidambaram’s assets worth Rs 1.16 crore attached
The adjudicating authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday confirmed attachment of Karti Chidambarams assets worth Rs 1.16 crore his Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case. The Enforcement Directorate had attached movable assets in the form of Fixed Deposits and balance in saving bank account amounting to Rs 1.16 Crore held by Karti Chidambaram and Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (ASCPL) under PMLA on September 23 last year in the said case. The role of the former finance minister P. Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis is also being investigated as he was the one who had allegedly bypassed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in granting the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approval to the Aircel-Maxis to the tune of Rs 3,500 crore. Chidambaram was authorised to approve FDI only up to Rs 600 crore, the amount above that had to be cleared by the CCEA. This attachment was done as the above amount is involved in money laundering concerning with the FIPB approval given to Aircel Limited on March 20, 2006, by the then Finance Minister for which he was not competent to approve, the Enforcement Directorate has said in a…
INX media case: No relief for Karti Chidambaram, CBI custody extended for 3 more days
A Delhi Court on Wednesday extended Karti Chidambarams CBI custodial detention by three days in the INX Media money laundering case. Karti, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, will be produced before court on March 15. Earlier, the Delhi High Court granted Karti an interim protection from arrest till March 20 in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). In the ruling, the bench comprising Justices S Muralidhar and IS Mehta had said that if the special court grants Karti Chidambaram bail, the ED will not arrest him till the next hearing before the high court. Karti was produced before the court after the expiry of his three-day police remand. The court allowed the CBI to question Karti and his CA S Bhaskararaman who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on February 16. After todays order, the central investigation agency will have Kartis continuous custody since his arrest on February 28. The court said that CBI can keep Karti under custody for a total of 15 days as per the law. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that Karti needs further custody as new incriminating materials have been found against him. Mehta claimed that a…
Ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan reveals why he is not on Twitter
Former RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan on Friday revealed the reason for not joining Twitter. The renowned economist Rajan did not join the microblogging site as he was not quick to respond to tweets in few words in 30 seconds. I dont have time. My sense is that in many of these things, once you start engaging, you have to be consistent. I certainly cant because I dont have the ability to think quickly and respond in you know 20-30 seconds in 140 characters. he said. Rajan who was addressing the Global Digital Summit (#Future) which was organised by Kerala government revealed the truth of him not joining the social media in an interaction with reporters. The former RBI governor is currently a professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, keynote speakers at the #future digital summit. The summit was organised to pave the way for the states digital future. The summit was a two-day affair which saw hectic deliberations between CEOs, industry leaders and government officials on the intersection of technology and various sectors such as travel, banking, health and education. The #future digital summit was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who launched…
Mamata Banerjee strongly opposes Air India sale, calls it ‘jewel of our nation’
Strongly opposing the Centres plans to sell 76 per cent stake in Air India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today demanded an immediate withdrawal of the order. According to a preliminary information memorandum released today on strategic disinvestment of the national carrier, the Centre plans to sell 76 per cent stake in the loss-making Air India. I am sorry to read in the media about the Govt inviting expression of interest for selling Air India, the jewel of our nation. We strongly oppose this and want this order to be withdrawn immediately, Banerjee said in a Twitter post. She said the BJP-led Centre was trying to sell the country. This Govt must not be allowed to sell our country, she said. According to the memorandum, the government plans to offload 76 per cent equity share capital of the national carrier as well as transfer the management control. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought Expression of Interest (EoI) for the stake sale in the loss-making carrier and two of its subsidiaries.
Big step! Assam Assembly passes bill to regulate fees of private schools
Assam Assembly today unanimously passed a bill to regulate fees of private schools, having a provision to slap a penalty to the tune of Rs 10 lakh as well withdrawal of registration for violators. Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami announced the passage of the The Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2018 in the House after a brief discussion over some amendments brought in by opposition MLAs. As per the bill, the government shall set up one or more Fee Regulatory Committees to determine the fee structure for any standard or course of study in any non-government schools imparting education in primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary level. The committee would headed by a government nominated retired district or sessions judge or an official of All India Service. Besides, it will have a chartered accountant, a civil engineer, a representative of the private institutes and an academician as members. The Secretary of the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council and Board of Secondary Education will be another member, while the director of education shall act as a coordinator to the committee, the bill mentioned. The Committee shall recommend maximum limits of fees to be charged by different categories of non-government…
How colour blue got associated with Bhim Rao Ambedkar
At a time when political parties are fighting it out to grab the legacy of Bhim Rao Ambedkar for political gains, not many worry as to how the colour blue came to be associated with the Dalit icon. The leader, who carved out the Constitution of free India laying down the framework assuring its citizens of justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavours to promote fraternity among them, has been depicted in blue in all statues installed all over the country. Blue was his favourite colour and he mostly used it in his personal life too, Lalji Nirmal of Ambedkar Mahasabha, which conferred the Dalit Mitra award on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Ambedkars birth anniversary, told PTI here. Retired IPS officer and leading Dalit activist SR Darapuri said that besides being his favourite colour, blue was also the colour of the flag of the party floated by Ambedkar Scheduled Castes Federation of India in 1942. The flag was blue in colour and had an Ashok Chakra in the centre.later in 1956 when the Republican Party of India was set up after dissolving the earlier party, it was also given the same blue flag, Darapuri pointed out. Blue, in another shade,…
DCW chief Swati Maliwal writes to PM Narendra Modi on rape incidents; to go on hunger strike
DCW chief Swati Maliwal today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over the increasing cases of sexual violence against women, and said she would go on an indefinite hunger strike at the Rajghat from tomorrow to protest the Unnao and Kathua rape incidents. In her letter, she said sexual violence against women and children in the country had reached critical levels. Maliwal highlighted the rape of an eight-month-old girl in Delhi, the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and the Unnao case. She appealed to the prime minister to think about these girls during his fast today and work towards securing justice for them. Maliwal reiterated her demand that a system be created to award death penalty to rapists of children within six months. The DCW chief wrote that taking inspiration from the prime ministers fast, she would go on an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow until the prime minister comes up with a concrete plan to check the incidents of sexual assault against women in the country. Maliwal expressed pain at the silence of the prime minister on the recent rapes and lack of action regarding the same, according to…
Rahul Gandhi on Salman Khurshid’s remarks: Will allow dissenting opinions in Congress
Congress President Rahul Gandhi today said he would allow different voices to flourish within the organisation but stressed all must present a united face when it comes to fighting forces like the RSS, in his first public comments on recent dissenting opinions expressed by senior party leader Salman Khurshid. Addressing the partys Jan Aakrosh Rally at the Ramlila Maidan here, with the senior leader in audience, Gandhi said, the party will respect its experienced and young leaders and workers alike. Action will be taken against anybody who shows disrespect to own party colleagues, he said. I want to give an example. Salman Khurshidji is sitting here. A few days back, he voiced opinions which were against the party line. I am ready to accept from this platform that there will be different opinions in our party and that I will allow different opinions to flourish in the party, Gandhi said he will protect people like Khurshid, a former Union minister, who has opinions different from the partys. He later said only truth prevails in the Congress party. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, Gandhi said they would This is mainly because only two people are respected…
Let’s talk death: What makes India one of the worst places to die in
Sixty-five-year-old Sita Devi has a blank gaze on her face as a nurse attends to her inside the palliative care unit (PCU) of the Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH), which is housed inside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. A cancer patient, she is in such a state that all she waits for is the next dose of pain relief medicine. But Devi can be called lucky, as she is one of the few fortunate people getting palliative care among the six million in India who need it. The situation of palliative care in India is abysmal, to say the least. The Economist Intelligence Unit Media reports have even claimed India to be one of the worst places to die in. Even the ward in AIIMS, which sees an inflow of lakhs of patients, has just six beds. The concept of palliative care is relatively new to India, having been introduced only in the mid-1980s. Since then, hospices and palliative care services have developed through the efforts of committed individuals, including Indian health professionals and volunteers, in collaboration with international organisations and individuals from other countries. There are about 1,400 palliative care…
Watch: Mother bear puts up fiery combat to save cub from tiger in Tadoba Reserve; video goes viral
A breathtaking video which has emerged from Tadoba National Park in Maharashtra captured a fiery combat between an adult tiger and a sloth bear. The video was taken on Wednesday during an afternoon safari shows the fierce encounter between the animals. The video which has emerged shows the tiger chasing way the bear but then the tables turn. The sloth bear who did not seem to be taking the chasing lightly charges back at the tiger. The tiger tries to pin the bear down, but it gives a tough fight to the carnivore. The bear tries desperately to escape the clutches of the tiger and the next few minutes is tense site to behold. Trying to assert each others dominance, both the tiger and the bear charge at each other viciously. According to the chief naturalist at Bamboo Forest Safari Lodge, Akshay Kumar, the tiger is a 7-year-old Matkasur, a dominant male from the park. The tiger has marked the water body called Jamun Bodi, the part which is seen in the video, NDTV reported. The sloth bear was headed to the water body with its cub in search of water when the tiger was leisuring there. Seeing them come…
Dismantle ‘special terrorist zones’: India’s brutal take-down of Pakistan at UN, this time by MEA’s youngest
In a sharp dig and arguably the strongest-possible comeback at Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, India has asked it to destroy special terrorist zones, safe havens and sanctuaries. The new term coined by India comes after its previous takedowns of the Islamist country at the global body through coinages like Terroristan and Ivy League of Terrorism. The hard-hitting statement was made by Mini Devi Kumam, who is said to be Indias youngest officer in Geneva. Notably, India had earlier used terms like Terroristan and Ivy League of Terrorism to point out the alarming situation across the Line of Control (LoC). Exercising its right to response to Pakistans statement at the 37th Session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, India accused Pakistan of making misleading references in connection with issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir. India has rejected Islamabads concerns as dubious. India has said that Pakistan has been using terrorism as a state policy under the guise of concern for human rights. In the statement, Kumam cited terrorism as the real problem in Jammu and Kashmir. She also said that Pakistan has been continuously providing substance to terrorist activities. Kumam has even raised difficulties that minorities like Hindu,…
Narendra Modi at Krishi Unnati Mela: ‘Committed to double farmers income by 2022’, says PM
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed farmers at the Krishi Unnati Mela that began in the national capital on March 16. The objective of the three-day event is to create awareness to farmers about the latest agriculture-related technological developments. Addressing the farmers, PM Modi said that that fairs like these play an important role in formation of New India. He said that two set of pillars are involved in the New India movement. The first one are the farmers who are providing food to the nation and the other are the scientists who are developing new technology. Praising Meghalayas progress among the states, PM Modi mentioned that Meghalaya has been awarded separately. The state of the cohort, the small area, has shown a great job. Farmers in Meghalaya have broken a five-year record of yields during the year 2015-16, said PM Modi. Our annadata has brought us out of the crisis. The country today has a record grain production, record dal, fruit, vegetables and milk production, PM Modi added. He said that it has also been urged by the state governments to implement several Model Act associated with the farmers interest. These laws will empower farmers to work after…
AIADMK leader VK Sasikala’s husband Natarajan Maruthappa passes away at 74
Husband of jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala, M Natarajan, died today at a corporate hospital here, an official said. He was 74. It is with profound grief and sorrow that we announce the sad demise of Natarajan Maruthappa at 1.35 AM today, an official release issued by Shanmuga Priyan, chief operating officer of Gleneagles Global Health City, said. Natarajan was admitted to the hospital on Saturday with severe chest infection and was put on ventilator support. Last year he underwent a kidney transplant. Natarajans body was later kept at his Besant Nagar residence for people to pay homage. Sources close to him said that his body will be taken later in the day to his native village in Thanjavur district for the final rites. However, it was not immediately known when the final rites will be held as the family anticipates a possible parole for Sasikala. Convicted in the Rs 66.6 crore disproportionate assets case, Sasikala is serving a four year jail term in Bengaluru Parappana Agrahara prison since February last. She was granted an emergency parole in October last year when Natarajan underwent the kidney transplant. Natarajan was an avid Tamil activist and was also running a vernacular magazine…
Morning Breaking News: Track Latest Stories
Narendra Modi, French President Macron to visit Varanasi today Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron will jointly inaugurate a solar plant in Mirzapur district and also visit the Trade Facilitation Centre today, said an official. Prime Minister Modi will receive the French President, who will arrive by a special plane at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International airport on Monday morning, the official said. From the airport, both the leaders will fly by a helicopter to Mirzapur, where they will jointly inaugurate the 75-megawatt solar plant and then will return back to Varanasi. Forest fire traps over 30 persons in Tamil Nadu; 15 rescued A massive forest fire broke out suddenly in a hill in Tamil Nadu today trapping 36 trekkers, most of them women, with 15 being rescued till late last night. Rescue operations were being taken up by the fire and forest department officials with the Indian Airforce sending two helicopters on the directives of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after she was approached for help by Chief Minister K Palaniswami. The helicopters undertook a survey of the area and returned to neighbouring Madurai. Mumbai ground turns into sea of red as farmers converge for protest Azad…
India processes 24 pct of solid waste generated: Government data
Nearly 24 per cent of the solid waste generated in the country was being processed as on January 31, according to data presented by the government in Parliament. Out of over 1.43 lakh tonnes per day (tpd) of solid waste generated across the country, only about 33,800 tpd (or 23.73 per cent) was being processed as on the last day of January, the housing and urban affairs ministry data showed. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the government aims to attain 100 per cent scientific management of solid waste, and also make the country Open-Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2, 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. At 22,570 tpd, Maharashtra produced the highest quantity of solid waste as on January 31, out of which 7,900 tpd or 35 per cent was processed. HUA minister Hardeep Singh Puri presented the data in the Rajya Sabha recently as part of a written reply to a question. Chhattisgarh produced 1,680 tpd of solid waste and processed 1,008 tpd or 60 per cent, while Delhi produced 10,500 tpd and processed 5,775 or 55 per cent, the data showed. Gujarat processed 23 per cent of the total waste it generated, while…
Plane carrying Rahul Gandhi develops technical snag, Congress demands probe
A plane carrying Congress president Rahul Gandhi today developed a technical snag with the party demanding a probe into the suspicious and faulty performance of the aircraft before landing at the Hubballi airport in north Karnataka. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in New Delhi that it would examine the issue, while the police said they have registered a complaint. The plane suddenly tilted heavily on the left side and the altitude dipped steeply with violent shuddering of the aircraft body at 10.45 am, Gandhis close aide Kaushal Vidyarthi wrote in a letter to state DGP Neelmani N Raju. The letter said the weather was normal and not windy according to the passengers. It was apparent from the suspicious and faulty performance of the aircraft that the incidents of shuddering and altitude dipping were not natural or weather-related, but were due to some technical snag., it said. Serious questions related to intentional tampering with the aircraft cannot also be brushed aside and are requested to be addressed and investigated, the letter read. Gandhi is on a two-day visit to poll-bound Karnataka from today to campaign for the party candidates in the districts of Uttara Kannada, Dahskina Kannada, Kodagu and…