BJP-TDP Crisis – As per reports, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu led party TDPs two ministers – Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary, are expected to hand over their resignation. Earlier on Wednesday, BJP Ministers in Andhra Pradesh cabinet, K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao, also resigned from the state cabinet. With tensions escalating between the two parties, speculations are abuzz that the next step by the TDP will be to pull out of the NDA fold. BJP-TDP Crisis – The story so far 1. The root cause: It all began with the TDPs disappointment with the Union Budget 2018. The TDP leaders saw the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as something that dashed their hopes of getting more money for the state in recognition of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh. 2. How it started: Few days after the Union Budget was tabled in the Parliament, all the political parties in Andhra Pradesh came together to support a bandh call. The TDP leaders led a protest during the rest of the Budget Session. 3. Frictions come to fore: On the question of a break-up, the…
Month: October 2020
Cabinet okays MoUs between India and Iran in health, medicine
The Cabinet today approved two MoUs inked between India and Iran on cooperation in the field of health, medicine and traditional systems of medicine. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex post facto approval for the MoU in the field of health and medicine which was signed on February 17 during the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to India, an official statement said. The main areas of cooperation include exchanging experience and training of doctors, and other health professionals, assistance in development of human resource, setting up healthcare facilities and regulating pharmaceutical, medical devices and cosmetics, it said. It also includes cooperation in the field of medical research, new technologies and knowledge-based initiatives, public health and sustainable development goals (SDGs) among others. A working group will be set up to elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. The other MoU signed in the field of traditional systems of medicine will enhance bilateral cooperation and will be of immense importance to both the countries considering their shared cultural heritage, the statement said. It said India is blessed with well-developed systems of traditional medicine including medicinal plants, which hold…
Another BJP MP echoes Giriraj Singh: Parts of Bihar turning into Pakistan due to government’s inaction, says Gopal Narayan Singh
Stung by the defeat in Araria Lok Sabha seat in Bihar at the hands of bitter rival Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJD, BJP MPs appear to latching on to controversy at an alarming pace. A day after Giriraj Singhj sparked a controversy with his comments on Araria turning into a terror hub post RJDs win, another BJP MP Gopal Narayan Singh has now claimed that the area is turning into Pakistan. The Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar also alleged that areas like Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria of the state were turning into Pakistan. Singh claimed that this is happening due to government RJDs Sarfaraz Alam had won the Lok Sabha seat in Araria by defeating BJP nominee Pradeep Kumar Singh by over 60,000 votes. Since then such remarks have kept coming. Another BJP MP claimed that RJD had resorted to an extremist ideology to achieve optimum results and Bihar will become a hub of terrorism. The Nawada MP said that the RJD has started a new political culture for its political ambitions. The party has spawned an extremist ideology which is a danger not only to Bihar but also to the country in the coming days. Opposition parties have lashed out…
Rajasthan shame! Shambhua Lal Regar honoured in tableau in Jodhpur Ram Navami rally, right-wing groups defend act
In scenes which disturb many, some right-wing members honoured Shambhu Lal Regar, the man accused of burning alive a Muslim man, Afrazul, in a hate-crime incident which had shocked the nation last year. The accused was deified in a procession taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami. Officials have said that they will now look into the matter. Regar, who is presently lodged in jail, is accused of hacking Afrazul in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. Regar had video-recorded the crime on camera and the chilling video-clip had then gone viral on social media. In what should come as an embarrassment for the administration, one of the several tableaux was dedicated to murder accused. In the procession, a man impersonated Regar and posed with a pickaxe in his hand. While Shambhu was scene seated like a king, the victim lay on the ground. A message on a flex hailed Regar as someone who had tried to fight love-jihad. Wake up Hindu brothers, save your sister and daughter; Nation should be liberated of love jehad, the message, in Hindi, said. Speaking to media, some of the organisers blatantly defended the brazen hailing of a hate-crime accused. Mahaveer Singh, an office-bearer…
Puducherry, three southern states oppose Finance Commission ToR
Protesting a The FFC The latest Finance Commission has been asked to pay heed to the While this is being interpreted by these states as a signal to the FFC to trim the devolution, what frets them the most is the fact that the commission will use the population data of 2011, instead of 1971, to compute the inter se shares of states from the central tax kitty. Also, these states are opposed to inclusion of the Centre Inaugurating a conference of finance ministers of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it was widely feared that the ToR framed by the Centre would prevent the commission from fulfilling its constitutional responsibility. He said the ToR was unprecedented in asking the commission to consider proposing performance-based incentives beyond those relating to fiscal responsibility, population and devolution to local bodies. Andhra Pradesh finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the state Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy said the conference would be an He came down heavily on the ToR and the commission being tasked with defining Among the southern states, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh also have to worry about a potential removal of revenue-deficit grants by…
Data leak: IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad seeks Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s apology
IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today sought an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly using Cambridge Analytica data to swing poll results and said probity demands that he should promise not to manipulate voters in the future. Prasad said on Twitter that Cambridge Analyticas role in manipulating elections is clear and Facebook has given an assurance to stop it and maintain integrity of Indias elections. Using Facebook chief Mark Zuckerbergs apology for failing to protect the social media giants user data in the Cambridge Analytica scandal as a handle, Prasad said, probity demands that @RahulGandhi should apologise promise not to manipulate voters and divide the society in future. Last week, Zuckerberg admitted making a huge mistake as personal data of up to 87 million users may have been improperly shared with British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, a figure higher than the previous estimate of 50 million. Yesterday, Zuckerberg apologised to the US Congress and took personal responsibility for not doing enough to protect Facebooks users private data from being misused and manipulated. There have been allegations that Cambridge Analytica data has been used by parties in India too.
Woman among 2 Naxals killed in fresh encounter in Chhattisgarh
At least two Naxals, including a woman, were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh today, a senior police official said. Several other ultras were injured in the encounter and the toll may rise. Firearms were also seized from the spot, he said. The gunfight comes a day after eight Naxals, including six women, were killed in an encounter in Sukmas adjoining district Bijapur. The fresh gun-battle took place in the forest near Metagudam village in Burkapal area of Sukma district this morning, Deputy Inspector General of Police (south Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI. So far, the bodies of two Naxals, including a woman, have been recovered along with 11 weapons. A search operation following the encounter was still going on, he said. Separate teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Special Task Force (STF) and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), were carrying out combing operations in Sukma, located around 400 km from the state capital Raipur, for the last couple of days, Sundarraj said. This morning, when a joint team of the DRG and the STF was cordoning…
Narendra Modi in London: Nasscom, TechUK launch UK-India Tech Alliance to mark PM’s visit
The NASSCOM and TechUK, the leading technology trade bodies of the two countries, today launched a new UK-India Tech Alliance during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the UK. The announcement is part of the UK-India Tech Partnership, finalised earlier today by Prime Minister Modi and his British counterpart Theresa May following their bilateral talks at Downing Street, which also includes the creation of a UK-India Tech Hub. The trade associations agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will see the technology sectors from the UK and India further strengthen their relationship, developing stronger links, networks and joint platforms, helping enhance the skills of the technology workforce in both countries. Tech is at the heart of this new relationship between our two countries and we welcome TechUK and NASSCOMs (National Association of Software Services Companies) commitment to working together to strengthen the skills base in both countries that will be key to driving economic growth, development and prosperity, said Baroness Fairhead, minister in the UK Department for International Trade (DIT). The UK-India Tech Alliance will be a key partner for government The alliance is aimed at increasing collaboration on skills and new technologies, assisting policy development and encouraging innovation…
‘Complete jumla’: What Chidambaram has to say about Modi govt’s claim of 100% electrification
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today said Prime Minister Narendra Modis claim of achieving 100 per cent village electrification is a complete jumla and accused him of taking credit for work done by the previous regimes. Addressing the Youth Congress national executive meeting here, the former finance minister also alleged that the government was destroying jobs and the economy and said unemployment will be the number one issue against the present regime in 2019 elections. The government had said yesterday that all villages in the country now have access to electricity and this target has been achieved ahead of the deadline. In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi had said, 28th April 2018 will be remembered as a historic day in the development journey of India. Yesterday, we fulfilled a commitment due to which the lives of several Indians will be transformed forever! I am delighted that every single village of India now has access to electricity. That is a jumla again, a complete jumla, Chidambaram said. Stating that there are some 5.97 lakh villages in the country, Chidambaram accused the Modi government of taking credit for complete rural electrification although the UPA government electrified lakhs of villages in the country…
Sabarimala temple prasadam set to get a ‘makeover’: Details here
The appam and aravana, the sweet ball and jaggery dessert, which are sold as prasadam (offering) at the famed Lord Ayyappa temple in the state, are set to get a makeover from the next pilgrim season. The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), which provides guidance for making delicious laddu and panchamrutham, offered at the famed Tirumala Tirupati temple and Lord Murugas shrine in Palani respectively, are now gearing up to give a new touch to the prasadam of Sabarimala temple. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the hillock Ayyappa Temple, has roped in the CFTRI to enhance the quality, taste and shelf-life of the appam and aravana, which has large number of takers. Located atop holy hills of Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district, the Lord Ayyappa shrine draws lakhs of pilgrims from and outside the country including foreigners during the annual pilgrim season from November to January. TDB President, A Padmakumar said the temple would open for the monthly pooja on May 15 and an MoU between the Board and the CFTRI is expected to be signed on the next day. A team of TDB officials recently visited the government-run CFTRIs Mysore campus to evaluate its production mechanism. As…
Karnataka Assembly Election 2018: At Rs 41.48 crore, cash seizures eight times higher than 2013 elections
Surveillance teams appointed by the Election Commission across the state have seized over Rs.41.48 crore in cash and 4 lakh litres of liquor in the run-up to the polls in the state. According to a release by the PIB, the investigative wing of the Income Tax department has also seized jewellery worth Rs. 4.81 crore from different cities of Karnataka in a move aimed at ensuring fair conduct of elections in the poll-bound state. The amount pertains to recoveries and seizures till April 30. Interestingly, the total seizure by the department during the whole 2013 assembly elections was Rs.4.97 crore in cash and jewellery worth Rs.3.41 crore. The IT department and ECI are on intensive surveillance and monitoring in the politically crucial southern state. Searches were conducted in Mysore, Bangalore, Devangere, Khanapur and Hubballi by the Investigative wing of the Income Tax department. This election is extremely important for both BJP and Congress for several reasons. While the BJP wants to capture power and create a southern baston, the Congress is trying hard to save its one of those few states where it is in power. The upcoming assembly election in Karnataka is the most significant current political development in…
‘Nobody planted the bomb’: NIA faces opposition fire after court acquits all accused in Mecca Masjid blast case
The acquittal of all accused in the 11-year-old blast at Hyderabads Mecca Masjid has triggered some sharp political reactions. The five accused, which included Hindu leader Swami Aseemanand, on ground of lack of evidence in the 2007 blast was sufficient to send tempers soaring in the opposition camp. If this wasnt enough to stoke controversy, the judge who pronounced the verdict also resigned barely hours after the judgement. He, however, cited personal reasons behind his decision to quit. The exoneration of all accused in the case put the spotlight on the National Investigation Agency, which took over the probe from the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2011. As per a report in The Indian Express, when the case was transferred to the NIA from the, a part of the evidence collected from the spot allegedly never reached the NIA. Speaking to The Indian Express, former NIA special director N R Wasan, who supervised the case in its later stages, confirmed of the existence of a red shirt which is suspected to have belonged to one of the persons who placed the bombs. This red shirt, which was recovered from the blast site by the local police, strangely never reached the…
UPSC exception! This senior Congress leader’s son beats the norm, clears Civil Services 2017
Breaking the political circle running in the family, leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Ramesh Chennithalas son Ramit has bagged the 210th rank in the UPSC Civil Services examination. The Union Public Service Commissions most prestigious Civil Services exam results were announced on April 27th. Ramesh Chennithalas son went against all odds and decided not to follow the career path that was chosen by his father. Moreover, unlike the sons of scores of other politicians who treat politics as family business, Ramit has beaten the trend and chosen a new path. In neighbouring Karnataka, CM Siddaramaiahs son Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who is a doctor by profession has left his career to come into politics. Similarly, former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappas son BY Vijayendra is also in politics, though he was denied a ticket by the BJP. The news of Kerala leader of the Oppositions son Ramit securing the 210th rank in UPSC Civil Services Exam is interesting. According to reports, Ramit holds a Bachelor in Technology in Computer Science degree from the Mar Baselios College of Engineering in Thiruvananthapuram and this was his third attempt. According to PTI, more than 30 people from the state of Kerala this year performed…
Telangana gears up for ‘Million March’ to expose failures of Chandrasekhar Rao government
Scores of activists were taken into preventive custody across Telangana as a Joint Action Committee (JAC) is gearing up to stage the Million March on Saturday to expose the failures of the K.Chandrasekhar Rao government. The Left parties have supported the JACs call. However, the city police has denied permission for the rally. The JAC chairman professor M. Kodandaram announced that the march would be held defying the police order. A total of 6,000 police personnel have been deployed across the state. Hyderabad Central zone police imposed restrictions on vehicular movement on Tank Bund. The police have surrounded Kodandarams house in Secunderabads Tarnaka area. Special police forces, including rapid response teams, have been deployed at the Osmania University, the hotbed of the Telangana movement till 2014. The first Million March was held on March 10, 2011, to highlight the demand of the people of Telangana for a separate state. As crusader of the movement, Chandrasekhar Rao supported the event. But, this time, the event is against his rule. Just because they have the power, they cannot suppress the right of the people to protest, Kodandaram had said.
Amit Shah on Karnataka tour from tomorrow, to visit Lingayat mutts
BJP president Amit Shah will be touring Karnataka for two days from tomorrow during which he will visit mutts associated with the Lingayat and Dalit communities. Besides visiting a number of mutts associated with various communities, including Lingayats and Dalits, Shah will also address farmers and traders meetings, take out a road show and attend party events in the poll-bound state, a BJP statement said. Following the Siddaramaiah governments decision to accord minority religion status to Lingayats, who have mostly welcomed the move, Shahs visits to their holy places and meeting gurus is seen as part of his efforts to ensure that the community, the largest in the state, continues to back the BJP. The Congress governments decision, political observers have said, is aimed at denting the vote bank of the BJP, which has declared B S Yeddyurappa its chief ministerial candidate. Shah will go to Siddaganga mutt tomorrow and seek the blessings of its seer, the statement said. He will on Tuesday visit Madara Chennaiah mutt, which has been traditionally associated with Dalits. He will also visit the Bekkinkal, Sirgere and Muruga mutts among others during his visit to the states central region. The BJP is making an all-out…
Narendra Modi government ‘afraid’ of facing no-confidence motion, says Rahul Gandhi
As the parliament logjam persisted for nearly two weeks, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused the Narendra Modi government of being afraid to face the no-confidence motion moved against it. In parliament, a no-confidence motion against the Modi government has been moved. For the past 10 days it has been stalled because the government is afraid, Gandhi said at a public rally here. The second half of the budget session of Parliament has been a complete washout since commencement with protests from Congress, AIADMK, TDP and YSR Congress Party on various issues stalling the proceedings. Congress has given a notice to move a no-confidence motion against the Modi government, becoming the third party to do so after YSRCP and TDP. With the Lok Sabha not being in order, the no-confidence motion of YSRCP and TDP have not been taken up so far. The government has stated that it was willing for a discussion on the no-confidence motion. In his speeches almost devoted entirely to attack Modi, Gandhi chided the government on the Punjab National Bank scam, foreign policy and Jammu and Kashmir situation. Wherever you see around India, you would find China. You would find China in Nepal, Burma, Sri…
23-year-old Maharashtra woman fights tiger single-handedly with a stick; what she did next made headlines
Of all the stories that you have heard around the rage over selfies having gripped Indias billion plus population, this has got to take the cake. In a rare act of bravery, a 23-year-old woman from Maharashtra single-handedly fought a tiger with a stick and scared it off after it attacked her goat. Face covered in blood, it wasnt her act of bravery that has got her the peoples attention, but instead what she decided to do soon after warding off the big cat – Get a selfie! It all began when the tiger attacked the goat outside 23-year old Rupali Meshrams home. The brave girl fought the tiger wielding just a stick in her hand. The tiger got the better of her and injured her face. But soon she stood her, after which her mother hurriedly dragged her inside the house. However, after getting better of the tiger, the woman decided that it was apparently time for a quick selfie. While she looked smiling in the photo, her mother looked nervous after the incident that happened a few minutes back. She and her mother were soon taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The doctor treating her praised Rupalis…
Attempt to defame Hindus through Kathua case: Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday said as part of a sinister political design, attempts are being made to defame Hindus through the Kathua rape-murder case in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at a function in Bihars Nawada, his parliamentary constituency, Singh said: A conspiracy has been hatched to defame Hindus using the Kathua case. Some people with vested political interests are conspiring to divide the country. Blaming pseudo secularism for the conspiracy, the Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said: Some people are actively defaming Hindus in the name of secularism. Singh said earlier an attempt was made to defame Swami Aseemanand by linking him with Hindu terror or Bhagwa Aatankwad. Now a fresh attempt is being made to defame Hindus through the Kathua case. He condemned the Kathua incident and demanded the arrest of the accused. But instead of arresting the real culprits, Hindus are being defamed, he alleged and appealed to the youth to be alert to counter the forces opposed to the country. Singh has constantly courted controversy for his statements. During the 2014 Lok Sabha election, he wanted all those who want to oppose Narendra Modi to go to Pakistan.
SC expresses concern over change in colour of iconic Taj Mahal at Agra
The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the change of colour of the iconic Taj Mahal at Agra and said the monument had become yellowish earlier and was now turning brownish and greenish. The apex court suggested that the Centre take the assistance of experts from India and abroad to first assess the damage and then take steps to restore the historic monument. We dont know whether you have or perhaps dont have the expertise. Even if you have the expertise, you are not utilising it. Or perhaps you dont care, a bench comprising Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. Perhaps we need some expert organisation from outside India unless there is a decision that the Taj has to go, the bench said sarcastically, adding, you can get experts from India as well as from outside. The apex court perused the photographs placed before it by petitioner M C Mehta and asked Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni, who was representing the government, as to why the colour of Taj Mahal has changed. First it was yellow and now it is becoming brown and green, the bench observed. Nadkarni told the bench that the management of Taj…
Statue vandalism: Netaji’s statue vandalised in Kolkata’s Narkeldanga, FIR lodged
There seems to be no end to the politics of vandalism of statues with yet another incident being reported from West Bengal. In the latest addition to this continuing string of incidents, the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was vandalised on Wednesday night by some unknown miscreants in Kolkatas Narkeldanga area triggering protests by local people. A formal complaint was registered with the local police station against unknown persons by a follower of Forward Bloc. The bust of Netaji was damaged probably last evening or last night. Some of the residents spotted it this morning and it was brought to our notice. We are looking into the matter, a senior official of Kolkata Police told news agency PTI. The statue was constructed inside a childrens park. We have lodged a complaint at the police station. We want the police to take action against the culprits within 24 hours. Otherwise, we will start demonstrations outside the police station, said General Secretary of Forward Bloc Youth wing, Sudipto Banerjee. The police have covered the vandalised statue with a piece of cloth until it is restored to its former form. The work to rebuild it will begin soon. Many statues of noted…
Parliament live: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day, uproar continues in Rajya Sabha over Nirav Modi-PNB scam
Parliament budget 2018 session live updates: The second phase of Parliament budget 2018 session has started on a stormy note. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned after the opposition led by Congress continued its ante against the government over the Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank fraud. This is the second consecutive day since the parliament session began on Monday that has seen opposition parties trying to corner the government over the issue. The Upper and Lower houses witnessed limited transaction of business on Monday. A vociferous Opposition led by Congress had protested over the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving diamond merchant Nirav Modi. The proceedings were also stalled by TDP MPs who demanded a special package for Andhra Pradesh. Crucial bills like Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill and triple talaq are pending before parliament. The session, which has begun after a recess, will end on April 6. Track Live updates of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha 12:22 PM: Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day after opposition has created ruckus over the Nirav Modi-PNB scam. 11:52 am: Amidst ruckus by Opposition, Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 pm by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Yesterday the Lower House…
Pulwama encounter: 2 terrorists killed after failed weapon-snatching bid in Jammu and Kashmir’s Balhama
At least two militants have been killed in an encounter with security forces which broke out after a failed bid to snatch the weapon of the personal security guard (PSO) of a BJP leader. The terrorists yesterday tried to snatch the service rifle of constable Bilal Ahmad, who is the PSO of BJP leader Anwar Khan, at Balhama in Pulwama district. The police personnel accompanying Khan foiled the attempt, during which Ahmad received a bullet injury. Bodies of two militants have been recovered so far. Their identities are being ascertained, a police spokesman said. Incriminating materials, which include weapon and ammunition, have been recovered as well, he said. Searches are going on at the encounter site as there were reports of third militant as well at the time of weapon snatching attempt.
New turn in controversy, more trouble for Shami – Pakistani woman admits meeting him in Dubai
The controversy surrounding Mohammad Shami today took another turn as Pakistani woman Alishba admitted meeting him in Dubai but refuted any monetary dealings with the India pacer as claimed by his wife. Alishbas name surfaced in the controversy after Shamis wife Hasin Jahan alleged that he could have a relationship with the Pakistani woman. Yes, I met him. I am a frequent flyer to Dubai because my sister stays in Sharjah. As a person, I really like Shami. As any fan that has idolised a celebrity, they always dream of meeting their idol. I had the desire to meet him (Shami) like any other fan would want to, which I dont think is a big deal, Alishba told ABP news. Shami had been booked under various non-bailable, including attempt to murder, and bailable sections after his wife lodged a complaint of domestic violence and infidelity against him. Hasin then hinted that her husband may have cheated India following his alleged relationship with girlfriends from Pakistan and Dubai, which had prompted the Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai to ask BCCIs anti-corruption body to submit a report in a weeks time. Hasin had said in the same news channel, Alishba…
Cambridge Analytica scandal: Government sends notice to data mining firm, seeks reply by March 31
Cambridge Analytica scandal: The Ministry of Electronics Information Technology (MEITy) has officially sent a notice to Cambridge Analytica, the data mining and analysis firm who is involved in the data breach at Facebook. As per a report by The Indian Express, the notice seeks information if any of the firms clients are based out of India. The notice also mentions that if the Facebook profiles of Indian were harvested. The notice asked Cambridge Analytica to specify the What is shocking is that the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, Strategic Communications Laboratories has partnered with Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) in India. OBI mentions BJP, Congress and JD(U) as its clients on its website before. However, the website was taken down earlier this week. The notice sent out by the ministry gives Cambridge Analytica the time till March 31 to respond to its query. An official spokesperson said, The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued a notice to Cambridge Analytica. The notice is about the serious breach of propriety and misuse of data which is intended to influence voting behavior has been highlighted. He also mentions that the government is committed to ensuring that the fundamental right to privacy, safety,…
Man caught red handed for posing as AIIMS doctor for months: Here is how he pulled off the con job
In a shocking case that raises serious questions on the safety and security of patients at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), a man was arrested for allegedly posing as doctor for past five months in the countrys premier medical facility. According to reports, 19-year-old Adnan Khurram was arrested on Saturday when he was trying to enter the hospital. During interrogation, he told police that he was impersonating a doctor to ensure that his sister was admitted to AIIMS timely. It has been learnt that Khurram hails from Bihar He was charged under IPC sections 419 and 468 at Hauz Khas police station and has been lodged in Tihar Jail, DCP (south) Romil Baaniya was quoted as saying. Shocking details have emerged after his arrest. According to reports, Khurram had managed to stay undetected at the institute after having managed to make friends with doctors and medical students at AIIMS. Apart from this, he possessed a sharp knowledge about medicines and also took part in events in the institute. He had also got hold of a diary which is given to doctors which he used to gain entry to the hospital. Police said he also took advantage of…
Dalit anger: PM Narendra Modi’s ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ mantra not accepted by its own hard core constituency
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) owes much of its woes to the reluctance of its core constituency of urban, upper caste, conservative, anti-minority, middle class supporters to accept Prime Minister Narendra Modis sabka saath, sabka vikas mantra of development for all. They may have no objections to vikas, but the idea of including everyone in its fold is anathema to them. So, if they see a Dalit having fared well enough in life to own a horse and ride it, he has to be killed as in Gujarats Bhavnagar district. Or, if a Dalit groom wants to take out a baraat (marriage procession) through his village in Uttar Pradesh, the upper caste residents will not allow it. Killing is the usual option for the saffron rank and file to eliminate those whose conduct violates the Hindutva fads and fetishes. Hence, anyone suspected of eating beef or who believes in inter-faith romance is either beaten up or done away with. Moreover, the Hindutva storm-troopers are so sure of the righteousness of their cause that they are not deterred by the presence of video cameras when they engage in their lawless acts. In the 93 years since the formation of the Rashtriya…
Punjab history book controversy: Amarinder acting at behest of BJP, says AAP leader Khaira
Leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira today accused Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh of acting at the behest of BJP in tinkering with the chapters on Sikh Gurus in the history book. A controversy had erupted over the history book of Class 12 with opposition parties, including the Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the state government of deleting the history of Sikh Gurus from the history book of class 12. The Sikh Gurus history has been removed from the books (of Punjab School Education Board PSEB). There is a hidden agenda (behind deletion of history book) and it seems CM was acting like a pawn . infact, Amarinder is playing BJPs game. Have you ever heard a single word from Amarinder against the BJP, asked Khaira while talking to reporters here. Khaira, an MLA from Bholath, further said that whatever the chief minister does is as per the instructions given by the BJP, and alleged that even the states police was run by the government in centre. When asked why would Amarinder act at the behest of the BJP, Khaira said it is because his son-in-law had been booked by the CBI while…
Judge B H Loya death to Mecca Masjid bombing cases: Court rulings to fire-up BJP in election year
In the year of elections, the ruling BJP couldnt have expected better news than the Supreme Court dismissing plea for probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya or a Hyderabad court acquitting accused Swami Aseemanand and others in the 2007 Hyderabad Mecca Masjid bombing case. What is more significant for the BJP is that both these court decisions have come just a few weeks before the Karnataka Assembly elections 2018. The decisions have visibly fired-up the BJP cadre, and it can be sensed from the statements of the saffron partys spokespersons to media. The BJP today alleged that the invisible hand of Congress president Rahul Gandhi was behind the petition in the Supreme Court for character assassination of BJP president Amit Shah. In the judge Loya death case, the needle of suspicion was put directly on the BJP chief. The opposition parties including top leaders of the Congress had tried to corner the BJP over the allegedly suspicious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the alleged Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. On December 1, 2014, judge Loya had allegedly died of cardiac attack. His death came to the limelight in November last…
Row over Tripura CM Biplab Deb’s remarks on Gautam Buddha: State secretariat issues this explanation
The Tripura CMs secretariat has said that Chief Minister Biplab Debs speech on Buddha Purnima was misinterpreted in a section of the media which quoted him as saying that Gautam Buddha had spread the message of peace, harmony and prosperity by walking across India and going to places that are now known as Myanmar, Japan and Tibet. Referrring to a report in this regard, the CM secretariat said that the chief minister had in his speech on Monday said that Lord Buddha gave his message of peace, harmony and prosperity on foot in the then Bharat Varsha which (the message of peace, harmony and prosperity) has reached todays Burma, Japan and Tibet and not what was reported in a section of the media. It is evident that the speech of the Honble Chief Minister of Tripura is misinterpreted, a statement issued by Milind Ramteke, additional secretary, Tripura government said. The speech of the Chief Minister was entirely correct from the historical point of view, it added.