In a shocking development, some unidentified persons hurled crude bombs at BJP workers in Murshidabads Jangirpur of West Bengal. The clashes between BJP and TMC workers have left many injured. As per PTI report, the violence between two parties has claimed at least two lives in Malda and Bankura since the beginning of the filing of nominations on Monday. According to the police, clashes have been reported from the Nabagram area in Murshidabad district, and Nalhati in Birbhum district. Clashes in Birbhum and Nalhati broke out between the police and BJP supporters when they did not obey orders against holding rallies or processions while filing nomination papers. The orders were issued after an attack on former CPI(M) MP Ramchandra Dome allegedly by TMC supporters. BJP workers were taking out a rally when they were stopped by the police. An argument began between the two sides that led to a clash. Police had to use batons and fired rubber bullets to disperse the mob, a police official told the news agency. Here is the video of the bomb hurling incident:- WATCH Unidentified persons hurled crude bombs at BJP workers in Murshidabads Jangirpur as they were going to file nomination for Panchayat…
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Madhya Pradesh violence over SC ST Act: Curfew remains in Gwalior, Bhind, Morena; top developments
Simmering tension was palpable in parts of Madhya Pradesh even as law-and-order situation limped back to normalcy on Wednesday. Eight people have been killed so far in the violence that erupted during the Mondays Bharat Bandh called by various Dalit groups. Protesters resorted to stone pelting and damaged public and private properties. Train services were hit and roads were blocked. The Supreme Court had refused to stay its order on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (SC\/ST) Act. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, We are walking on the path shown by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. At the core of Dr. Ambedkars ideals is peace and togetherness. Working for the poorest of the poor is our mission. Here are the latest developments in Madhya Pradesh Gwalior Superintendent of Police (SP) has said security personnel have conducted flag march in the city. He has said the situation was normal and Internet services have been restored. However, curfew still remains imposed in certain areas of Gwalior, Bhind and Morena. The curfew was relaxed between 10 am and 12 noon. Notwithstanding the curfew imposed in the area, protesters torched a shop outside the municipal office and set a tyre on fire in Bhind. Heavy police forces…
Tracing the rise of H Raja: BJP’s firebrand leader from Tamil Nadu, in news for targeting Periyar
It is not yet known whether there was a plan behind vanadalising a Periyar statue in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. But the incident happened just a few hours after H Raja, BJP national general secretary, supported the toppling of Lenins statue in Tripura by a crowd and also hinted Periyars statues in Tamil Nadu could be next. Vandalising the statue of Periyar, who is considered as the pioneer of Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, created a huge political uproar not only in the state but at the national level, putting the spotlight on Raja. Raja was born in a simple Sivaganga-based Brahmin family. He became a chartered accountant by profession and kicked off his political-social life as an RSS pracharak. It is now believed that Rajas caste has come in the way of his rise in Tamil Nadu politics as it is dominated by OBC communities, Raja owns a cow farm in Karaikudi, his native place and also an apartment in Chennai. According to The Indian Express, Raja never faced any allegation of corruption, working as a plus in his political career. Raja has been associated with the RSS for around four decades. This explains the reason why he has…
Rahul Gandhi slams GST citing World Bank report, Smriti Irani says he is quoting selectively
Rahul Gandhi today said terror of the GST was now globally acclaimed and cited a World Bank report, prompting a rebuttal from Union minister Smriti Irani who asserted that the Congress president was selectively quoting from the study to berate Indias progress. In a tweet, Gandhi said, Modi ji, the terror of Gabbar Singh Tax is now globally acclaimed. The World Bank says its the 2nd highest in the world and one of the most complex. The Congress president also tagged with his tweet a media report that quoted the World Bank report as saying that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implemented by the government from July 1 last year was one of the most complex, with the second highest tax rate in the world among 115 countries which have a similar indirect tax system. Reacting to Gandhis remarks, Information and Broadcasting Minister Irani tweeted, Rahul Gandhis hatred for India is astonishing. When World Bank hailed Indias rise in Ease of Doing Business rankings, he rubbished the report. Now selectively quotes WB report to berate Indias progress! In an another tweet, Irani said, Adarniya @RahulGandhi ji, if you are free from the worlds longest coronation exercise, I request you…
Shocking! 40-year-old man stabbed 22 times by 3 youths in Delhi’s Dwarka
A 40-year-old man was stabbed to death by three youths as one of them suspected that the victim was in an illicit relationship with his mother, police said today. The youths- Aman (20), Ashish (21) and Sahil (19) have been arrested, they said. Police said that the man was stabbed 22 times with a dagger. The incident was reported from southwest Delhis Dwarka. On April 17, the police were informed that a man was lying with fatal stab injuries near the Peer Baba Majar. He was rushed to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Hari Nagar where he was declared brought dead. The deceased was identified as Raju alias Mamraj and his family members suspected the role of Aman as he was suspicious about the victim having an illicit relationship with his mother, police said. On April 16, Raju had gone to Amans house where they had quarrel. The accused had warned Raju against coming to his house. During investigation, the mobile phone of Aman was put on surveillance and it was found that he was changing his location constantly. On the basis of technical surveillance, houses of Amans relatives in Azadpur and Deenpur and other possible hideouts were searched,…
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.
TDP no-confidence motion in Parliament: Chandrababu Naidu takes on PM Modi, BJP over special status for Andhra Pradesh; a timeline
The Telugu Desam Partys (TDP) no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government over special category status for Andhra Pradesh could not be taken up in Parliament as Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as both the houses were adjourned for the day. Earlier in the day, TDP issued a whip directing their MPs to be present during the Budget 2018 session in Parliament. Opposition parties, including Congres and Mamata Banerjees TMC, have backed TDPs no-confidence move. BJP, on the other hand, has exuded confidence that the government is ready for the trust vote even as it accused N Chandrababu Naidus party of misusing a sentimental issue. The issue, which started as a seemingly regular protest at Parliament, has escalated into a political turmoil. We track how the things began with the budget and the prospect of the Modi government facing a no-trust vote has arisen. Protest after Budget 2018 The budget was presented on February 1. The TDP MPs from Andhra Pradesh have alleged that budgetary allocations enmarked for the newly formed state was not enough and demanded special status. However, the central government has time to time claimed that allocation was sufficient. The protest at the Parliament continued till February…
Sotheby’s all set to launch India auctions with Tyeb Mehta’s ‘Durga Mahisasura Mardini’
Following the opening of their Mumbai office in 2016, Sothebys is all set to launch sales in India this December, the London-based auction house has said. Mumbai will be established as the new selling point for the auction house. The decision comes after the visibly growing presence of Indian collectors in Sothebys global auctions, and the development of an increasingly vibrant domestic Indian art market, says Jan Prasens, Sothebys Managing Director for Europe, Middle East, Russia and India. Given these promising signs, and the projected economic growth for India in the future, it is the right time for Sothebys to further expand the services we offer our clients in the region, and to bring our auctions directly to the doorstep of the many collectors who live there, Prasens added. The launch will be marked by Boundless: Mumbai, a sale featuring South Asias greatest artists, as well as artworks by western artists inspired and influenced by the art, culture, geography and people of South Asia. It will be led by Tyeb Mehtas seminal work Durga Mahisasura Mardini. Commissioned directly from the artist in 1993, the work has remained in a private collection since. One of most provocative portrayals of goddess Durga…
SC/ST Act: Centre approves filling of review petition in Supreme Court
The Union Law Ministry has approved filing of a review petition in the Supreme Court on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC\/ST Act). Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government has taken note of the directives of the apex court about laying down new norms and will soon do the needful. I have already instructed the Ministry of Law over the desirability of filling a review and appropriate follow-up action, Prasad said. Earlier this month, the court had passed an order that diluted the provisions for immediate arrest under the Act. The court had ruled that preliminary enquiry in a case under the Act would be done by the DSP to ensure there is no misuse of the law and also to avoid false implication of an innocent. The court had also observed that a government official cant be arrested on a mere allegation of committing an offence. It had said that to prosecute a government servant, prior approval from the competent authority would be a must. Since then, lawmakers from opposition parties have been demanding that the Centre file a review petition in the court. They had even called on…
Big win for BJP in Delhi: Party to win 3 mayor seats unopposed as AAP, Congress say no to fielding candidates
Bhartiya Janata Party is all set to win the three mayor seats in Delhi unopposed as rival Aam Aadmi Party and Congress have not fielded candidates in the elections. The BJP has announced its candidates for the post of mayor, deputy mayor and other office-bearers for the three municipal corporations in the city. The party has fielded Narendra Chawla (South Delhi), Adesh Kumar Gupta (North Delhi) and Bipin Bihari Singh (East Delhi) for the polls due for next week. However, the elections will be a mere formality in view of dominance of BJP councilors in the three corporations. The names of the candidates were released by partys Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari. In 2012, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated into North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations. The presidents for the three corporations are rotated annually for 5 years. The first year is reserved for women, the second open category, third for reserved category and the remaining two also being in open category. Last year, the polls were held in the women category. The saffron party had fielded Preety Agarwal (NDMC), Kamaljeet Sehrawat (SDMC) and Neema Bhagat (EDMC) as its mayors candidates, all of whom have won….
Gujarat High Court underlines need to make marital rape criminal offence
The Gujarat High Court observed the destructive attitude that promotes rape in a marriage can be removed only by making marital rape illegal. Hearing a petition filed by a doctor seeking quashing of an FIR of rape registered against him by his wife, Justice J B Pardiwala said the attitude that promotes rape in a marriage can be removed only by making marital rape illegal or an offence. The judge today partly allowed quashing of the FIR registered by police against the doctor at Idar in Sabarkantha district, stating that Sections 376 (punishment for rape) and 377 (unnatural sex) will not be applicable against the petitioner. The high court, however, directed the police to instead book the doctor under Sections 354 (sexual harassment) and 498 (A) (husband and relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) after his wife, also a doctor, told the court that he was subjecting her to mental and physical torture and forcing her to have oral sex. No one is even willing to discuss to reform the criminalisation of marital rape.A law that does not give married and unmarried women an equal protection creates conditions that lead to the marital rape, justice Pardiwala said in his order….
West Bengal Rajya Sabha Elections 2018 Results: Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, 4 TMC candidates win RS poll
Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and four Trinamool Congress nominees were today elected to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, Returning Officer Jayanta Koley announced. TMC supported Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha poll who contested as the fifth candidate as the Congress did not have the strength in the Assembly to get its candidate elected. Singhvi secured 47 votes, he said. The four TMC candidates who won the RS election are Nadimul Haque, Subhasish Chakraborty, Abir Biswas and Santunu Sen, he said. Nadimul Haque secured 52 votes, Subhasish Chakraborty got 54 votes, Abir Biswas bagged 52 and Santunu Sen secured 51 votes, Koley said. Left Front-backed CPI(M) candidate Rabin Deb lost the poll. He had contested for the fifth seat bagged only 30 votes. It will be the second term for Nadimul Haque in the upper house. A candidate required 49 votes to win a RS seat from the state. The Congress has 42 MLAs in the house. Of the 294 MLAs of the assembly, 288 had cast their votes. Two votes were declared invalid. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Opposition leader Abdul Mannan and the MLAs cast their votes in the assembly premises. Altogether six candidates including Singhvi were in…
Mamata Banerjee hails Mayawati stand on SP-BSP pact
Welcoming BSP leader Mayawatis statement that the BSP-SP pact in Uttar Pradesh wont be affected by the Rajya Sabha poll results in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she is with her and this is a mission for India. I welcome the views expressed by Mayawati-ji today. We are strongly with her and @yadavakhilesh in this mission for the nation, Mamata tweeted. The BJP on Friday bagged nine Rajya Sabha seats it contested in UP. One remaining seat was claimed by the Samajwadi Party, while the BSPs lone candidate backed by the SP and others lost. Mayawati alleged the BJP tried to create a divide between the two parties (SP and BSP) by indulging in malpractices to defeat her party candidate. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had also called off victory celebrations for his party nominee Jaya Bachchan to be held in the state capital on Saturday as a sign of solidarity with the BSP.
Kathua rape: BJP MP sees Pakistan role, says ‘Hindus just 1% in Kashmir, living in fear’
Amid a nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a minor girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua, BJP MP from Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa, Nandkumar Singh Chauhan, has given a bizarre theory, saying Pakistan is to be blamed for the communalisation of the case. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the BJPs fast on Thursday, he said that there could be involvement of Pakistani agents in creating unrest. Calling the deceased girl a daughter of Hindustan, he said that if Explaining his logic further, the MP said that there are not even 1% Hindus in Kashmir. He said that helpless Hindus are living in fear and they cant even speak. How can they raise Jai Shri Ram slogans? he asked. A report in The Times of India quoted him as saying that it was Pakistan-backed militants who raped and murdered the girl. They have a motive to instigate communal sentiments and provoke Hindus and Muslims against each other, he said. So far, eight persons including mastermind Sanji Ram have been charged with abduction, rape and murder of the 8-year-old girl in Kathuas Rasana village in January. The chargesheet has revealed that the girl was held in a temple, drugged,…
Pakistan to exhibit archives of Bhagat Singh case trial
The Pakistan government will for the first time put on display the case file of the trial of legendary Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh among other historical documents here tomorrow. This was decided at a meeting of the Punjab government top bureaucrats, headed by chief secretary Zahid Saeed, which proclaimed the revolutionary Singh as hero of both India and Pakistan. The meeting decided that Bhagat Singh was the Independence movement hero of both India and Pakistan. The people of the country have the right to know about his (Singh) and his comrades great struggle to get freedom from the British Raj, an official of the Punjab government told PTI today. The exhibition will take place at the Anarkali tomb in Lahore which houses the Punjab Archive Department. The official said letters written by Singh from jail to his father and for getting A Class after declaring himself and others as political prisoners and books, newspapers, record of the hotels where he and others stayed when underground would also be exhibited. The application Singh had written for facilities carried his signatures. The revolutionary significantly did not end each application with the customary yours truly or obediently. Instead he chose the words…
Narendra Modi hosts Emmanuel Macron in Varanasi Live: PM, French President in Assi ghat, take boat ride
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Varanasi today. PM Modi and President Macron have inaugurated a solar plant in Mirzapur district. Both the leaders will now visit the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Trade Facilitation Centre. They are visiting Assi ghat. Both the leaders have taken a boat ride on river Ganga. While President Macron will fly back to Delhi thereafter, PM Modi will flag off Varanasi-Patna intercity train from Manduadih railway station. PM Modi will also address a public rally. President Macron is visiting India and had met with PM Modi on Saturday. They had a discussion over Indo-French trade and nuclear plants. The French president also praised Indias efforts towards moving towards renewable energy and also announced an additional investment of 700 million euro to reduce use of fossil fuels. He also lauded Indias efforts towards making the International Solar Alliance a reality. Notably, Varanasi is the Lok Sabha constituency of PM Modi. Earlier, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe visited Varanasi with the Prime Minister. Track Live Updates of Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron in Varanasi 2:45 PM: More visuals from PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macrons boat-ride. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath…
Aircel-Maxis case: ED questions former FM P Chidambaram’s son Karti
The Enforcement Directorate today questioned former finance minister P Chidambarams son Karti Chidambaram in connection with the Aircel Maxis money laundering case, officials said today. This is the first time the agency is questioning him in connection with the case, they said. The case relates to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval granted in 2006 by then finance minister P Chidambaram. The agency is investigating the circumstances of the FIPB approval granted by the then finance minister, an official said.
Mathura shocker! Woman forced to carry differently-abled husband on her back for disability certificate
In a shocking and disturbing case of medical apathy, a woman was forced to carry her differently-abled husband on her back to obtain a disability certificate. The woman allegedly couldnt get an access to a wheelchair for her husband. The incident was reported from Mathura, where a woman was seen carrying her husband on her back to the office of the chief medical officer to obtain a disability certificate. Describing the ordeal, the woman said that no one could provide a wheel-chair or a tricycle for her husband. Also, after going to a number of offices, the couple still have not got the certificate. Meanwhile, speaking on the incident, UP Minister Bhupendra Chaudhary was quoted as saying by ANI that inspection will be done in the case, while help will be provided to the couple accordingly. It is a sad incident to happen in a civilised world. We will inspect the case and help accordingly, Chaudhary said. This is is not the first incident of medical indifference that has surfaced. Recently, a 25-year-old woman in Madhya Pradesh had to deliver a baby on the floor when she could not get an access to a wheelchair. The woman was forced to…
AP CM Chandrababu Naidu meets his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal amid attempts to garner support for no-confidence vote
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today met his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, amid his attempts to garner support for the no-confidence motion moved by his party TDP against the Centre. No immediate details were available about what transpired between the two leaders in the meeting here. However, it is believed that Naidu discussed the issue of Special Category Status (SCS), promised under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the injustice met out to his state by the Centre. Last month, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had pulled out of the NDA after the Centre expressed its inability to grant SCS to Andhra Pradesh. It has also moved a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government over the issue. Naidu is also believed to have asked for the AAPs support for the no-confidence motion against the Centre. The AAP has four MPs in the Lok Sabha. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister, who arrived here yesterday, has met leaders from different political parties to further his cause. Yesterday, Naidu met leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, AIADMK, DMK and Shiv Sena. Naidu has met Congress Veerappa Moily, NCP president Sharad Pawar and Harsimrat Kaur Badal of…
India, UK agree to develop new trading arrangements: Joint statement
India and the UK today agreed to develop new trading arrangements and reaffirmed the crucial role of rules-based multilateral trading system, said a joint statement of the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently visiting the United Kingdom (UK). The prime minister will also participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here from April 19-20. Modi and his counterpart Theresa May held wide-ranging discussions and underlined strategic partnership and growing convergence on regional as well as international issues. The leaders agreed to forge a dynamic new India-UK Trade Partnership, to develop new trading arrangements as the UK assumes responsibility for its independent trade policy, facilitate investment in both directions and intensify collaboration on shared or complementary strengths, said the statement. The statement, issued during the visit of Modi, said that building on the recommendations of the recently-completed UK-India Joint Trade Review, the two sides will work together on a sector-based roadmap to reduce barriers to trade, make it easier to do business and enable a stronger bilateral trade relationship after the UK exits the EU. We will also ensure continued application to the UK of EU-India Agreements during the Implementation Period following the UKs departure from the EU,…
Nitish Kumar rebuffs NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant’s comment on Bihar’s backwardness
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today apparently rebuffed NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kants comment blaming states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Chattisgarh for countrys economic backwardness, saying the state was making rapid progress despite being in need of more assistance than it had so far been receiving. Delving into history, Kumar claimed that the British rulers had meted out a harsh treatment to the state following its active participation in the Revolt of 1857, which led to its relative backwardness. The CM was speaking at a seminar organized here on the eve of the 160th death anniversary of Veer Kuer Singh, a hero of 1857 revolt against British empire. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi was present with him on the occasion. Even today, Bihar is making progress mainly through its own resources though it needs and deserves help, Kumar remarked. Kumar has been at the helm of states affair for past 13 years except for a brief period when he had appointed Jitan Ram Manjhi on the chair after JD(U) shocking defeat in 2014 general elections. The NITI Aayog CEOs comment while speaking at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi on Monday last that eastern India, particularly states…
SC/ST Act: PM Modi assures that government will not allow dilution of law, Congress cries foul; top 10 developments
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, sought to clear the air over criticism of his government by various quarters in dealing with the matter related to the dilution of SC\/ST Act. Speaking at the inauguration of the Ambedkar Memorial in New Delhi on Friday evening, PM Modi launched an all-out attack on the Congress party, accusing it of spreading lies to divide the society. He assured the nation that his government will not allow the dilution of the SC\/ST Act and noted that the government has decided to form a commission for sub-categorisation of backward castes. The Congress too was quick to respond to PM Modis charges. The grand old party said that PM was shedding crocodile tears in the name of Dalits. Top 10 developments: 1. The Prime Minister through his speech tried to reach out to Dalits, saying his government had strengthened the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Protection of Atrocities Act) in 2015 by increasing the number of atrocities covered under it from 22 to 47. 2. He said that the decision to increase the compensation was also taken by his government only. The PM said special courts are being formed for the urgent hearing of cases…
Post Lok Sabha bypolls victory, SP to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti after friendship with Mayawati
After its new found bonhomie with the BSP won it two Lok sabha seats in recent bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party is set to celebrate Dr Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14 in a big way. The party which had stayed content with celebrating anniversaries of socialist idealogues like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Janeshwar Misra so far has asked all its district units to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti at the district party headquarters or any public place to mark the day. Though the Samajwadi Partys move has not gone down well with the BJP, which has termed it a big drama, political analyst Ramesh Dixit said it is aimed at further consolidating the relations. All the forces of social justice are coming together on one platform. this move is aimed at consolidating the friendship for the cause of defeating rivals, Dixit said, who retired as head of the political science department of Lucknow University. Samajwadi Party which had been holding customary functions on Ambedkar Jayanti has this time asked its partymen to recall the services of Babasaheb as also his resolve taken while framing the Constitution. SPs state unit president Party Naresh Uttam said that on 127th anniversary of…
Kathua incident: Accused Police officials now move Jammu and Kashmir High Court after SIT arrest
A policeman and a SPO arrested in connection with the Kathua rape and murder case have moved the Jammu and Kashmir High Court seeking a fresh CBI probe into the matter and quashing of the investigation by the state crime branch. Sub-Inspector Anand Dutta and Special Police Officer (SPO) Deepak Khajuria were arrested for allegedly destroying evidence related to the rape and killing of an eight-year-old girl in the states Kathua district. A petition was filed in the high court in this regard yesterday by their counsel Veenu Gupta. The petitioners pleaded that the crime branch probe be quashed as it had been shifted on three occasions from the local police to it, and finally to a Special Investigation Team (SIT). It is strange that a policeman, who was involved in a rape and murder case a few years ago and evaded arrest for three years despite being a officer, was a member of the SIT, the petition said. The officers subsequent acquittal in a trial court for lack of evidence is a matter of record, it said. Despite the sensitivity of the case, he is member of the probe panel, the petitioners said, while pleading for a fresh CBI…
Diplomatic row: India, Pakistan officials reach out to resolve standoff over harassment of diplomats
Almost a fortnight after the diplomatic spat between India and Pakistan, the two neighbouring sides have begun efforts to put a stop to incidents of harassment of diplomats and their families. According to a report in The Indian Express, top officials of the High Commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad are in touch with Foreign Offices over the phone to discuss the matter. Citing sources, the report said that Pakistans Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua is in touch with Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria in Islamabad and Pakistans envoy Sohail Mahmood is in discussions with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi. Earlier this month, Pakistan had summoned its ambassador to India for consultations amidst allegations by both sides that their staff and families were harassed in their respective capitals. While Pakistan claimed that three of its diplomats were harassed and their families were threatened in New Delhi, India said the neighbouring sides spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence officials had raided its embassys residential compound in Islamabad in February. Immediately after this, Sohail Mahmood returned to Islamabad for consultations with government officials. However, the MEA sought to downplay it terming it a routine visit. Mahmood returned to New Delhi on…
Karnataka elections 2018: BJP releases first list of 72 candidates
The BJP on Sunday released the first list of 72 candidates to contest in the May 12 Karnataka assembly elections for the 224 seats across the southern state. The central election committee of the party has decided the first 72 names for the ensuing Karnataka legislative assembly elections, said the BJP in a statement released by its state unit here. The committee met under the partys national president Amit Shah and among its members, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended it at the partys head office in New Delhi. Among the candidates are many of the partys 48 sitting or outgoing legislators from the states northern, central and southern region, including Bengaluru, which has 28 assembly constituencies. Prominent nominees are the partys chief ministerial face B.S. Yeddyurappa from Shikaripura, K.S. Eshwarappa from Shivamogga, Jagadish Shettar from Hubli-Dharwad Central, Basavaraj Bommai from Shiggaon, C.M. Udasi from Hangal, K.V. Hegde from Sirsi and B. Sriramulu from Molakalmuru (reserved). Of the 224 assembly segments across the state, 173 are general, 36 reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Only three women figure among the 72 contestants – Sashikala…
Alarm bells in UP BJP after Lok Sabha bypoll defeat; talk of alliance in Opposition
The defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party in all six Lok Sabha seats where by-elections were held this year has sounded alarm bells in the party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2019 Parliamentary polls, while stoking speculation about the Opposition stitching an alliance together to take the BJP on after tasting success in the recent bypolls. The BJP failed to break the jinx of repeated failures in Parliamentary by-elections in 2018 when it was defeated yesterday in Gorakhpur, the bastion of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Phulpur, earlier held by deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. The ruling partys candidates in the two constituencies lost to the Samajwadi Party (SP), triggering a debate on whether political outfits opposed to the BJP could forge a mega alliance before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The SP, supported by the BSP, romped home in the bypolls. SPs Pravin Nishad defeated Upendra Dutt Shukla of the BJP by 21,961 votes in Gorakhpur, a seat which had been with the BJP since 1989. Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel of SP cornered the Phulpur seat, drubbing the saffron partys Kaushalendra Singh Patel by 59,460 votes. As the results of the two by-election were declared yesterday, Adityanath…
Bad news for Maharashtra officials, judges: HC says this about property-owning bureaucrats and judicial officers
The Bombay High Court today opined that bureaucrats and judicial officers, who have at least one property in Maharashtra, should not be allotted another one under any government scheme. A division bench headed by Justice B R Gavai was hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar, which questioned the state governments decision to construct a high-rise residential building in suburban Oshiwara for sitting high court judges. Tirodkar argued that apart from the sitting judges, the government also allots flats to those judges who retire from the Bombay High Court or those judges, who were earlier here and were later promoted to the Supreme Court. After hearing the brief arguments, Justice Gavai said, We feel that if a judge or a senior bureaucrat already has a house in the city or state, then he or she should not opt for another house under any government scheme. What is the need? The bench directed Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhkoni to take up the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today itself, and posted the petition for hearing tomorrow. According to Tirodkars petition, in August 2015, the government had sanctioned a housing scheme for the serving judges on a 32,300 sq…
Cauvery protests: Horrific! PMK worker dies after coming in contact with high-voltage live wire; shocking incident caught on camera
The protest over the formation of the Cauvery Management Board turned tragic when a Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) worker died (as per ANI report) after coming in contact with a high-voltage live wire in Tamil Nadus Tindivanam. The shocking incident captured on camera showed the PMK worker climbing on top of an electric locomotive at Tindivanam railway station. Another worker walking in front of him has also suffered severe injuries. The video shows a group of PMK workers protesting at the Tindivam Railway station carrying their party flag. While some cadres are seen sitting on the top of the engine, some had climbed on to the top of the engine. Suddenly, a worker comes in contact with the high-tension wire and is immediately electrocuted. The PMK has called for a shutdown, demanding that the Central government constitute the CMB and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC). Earlier in the day, PMK workers stopped a train at Chennai Egmore railway station during the protest over the CMB issue. Scores of PMK workers including party leader and Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss were later arrested for trying to stage a rail blockade in Chennai over the Cauvery issue. Ramadoss, farmers leader PR Pandian…
Trouble mounts for Banwarilal Purohit as DMK stages protests in Tamil Nadu, wants Governor recalled
Things got tougher for Tamil Nadu Governer Banwari Lal Purohit over the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) scandal as the opposition demanded that the Governor be recalled immediately as he had been tainted. The protests against Banwarilal Purohit came a day after he held a press conference to defend the charges against him in the major controversy that erupted when a purported audio tape of a conversation involving the principal reportedly makes mention of the Governor In the purported audio tape, a woman assistant professor of a college affiliated to the MKU is allegedly heard luring students to offer sexual favours to higher officials, including the governor. Banwarilal Purohits name allegedly finds a mention more than once. On Wednesday, opposition parties including DMK, the CPM and the PMK held protests and warned that the furore would escalate till the governor was replaced. As per The Times of India, the DMK cadre took out a march from Saidapet to Raj Bhawan on Wednesday led by MLA M Subramanian who was picked up by the police. The DMK cadre was then addressed by Stalin in Guindy where the partys Working President said that the protests will continue until Purohit is recalled by the…