Politics

Devotees across India throng temples to mark 'Mahashivaratri'

New Delhi/ Haridwar/ Allahabad, Feb 17 (ANI): Thousands of devout Hindus thronged temples and congregated at the banks of holy rivers across India to celebrate festival of 'Mahashivaratri', better known as Lord Shiva's wedding anniversary, with religious fervour on Tuesday. The Hindu festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated every year, as devotees offer golden apple, fruits, milk and observe fast in reverence of Lord Shiva. The magnificently decorated 'Gauri Shankar temple' in New Delhi witnessed crowd of devotees, as they flocked in large numbers to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The temples in Uttar Pradesh immersed into devotional spirit with devotees offering prayer and lighting 'diyas' or earthen lamps to mark the festivity of Mahashivaratri. The pilgrims and devotees chant holy words--"Bol Bum" and "Har Har Mahadev"-- in praise of Lord Shiva, as they took holy dip at the river bank. Devotees also thronged temples in Allahabad city of Uttar Pradesh with assortment of religious offerings like 'belpatra' (aegle marmelos leaf) flowers, honey and milk on the 'Shiva Lingam' (a representation of Hindu deity Shiva) while others made sculpture of lingam with sand at the river bank.

Feb 17, 2015

RSS, mohan bhagwat, all indians are hindus

Bihar Polls: RSS Takes Charge of BJP's Strategies After Delhi Disaster?

The right-wing Hindu outfit plans to monitor BJP's campaign in Bihar, say sources.

Feb 17, 2015

Raebareli Couple to leave property worth millions to their pampered monkey 'Chunmun'

Raebareli, Feb 17 (ANI): Presenting yet another example of human-animal loving and affectionate relations, a couple from Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh has decided to leave their property worth millions to their adopted monkey, Chunmun. It happened like this that one day, Savista Brajesh saw a female monkey falling off from a height and she had a baby monkey attached to her. That was the day the couple decided to adopt the baby when the mother died. The couple does not have a child of their own and looks after Chunmun like their own baby. The duo has decided to leave their house worth rupees seven million, a 200 yard plot, and bank balance worth millions to Chunmun after they are gone. People might call it superstition, added Brajesh, but ever since Chunmun became part of the family, they have seen prosperity.

Feb 17, 2015

Pakistan releases 173 Indian prisoners

Amritsar, Feb 17 (ANI): Pakistan released 173 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen. As the released men repatriated to the Indian Territory through Wagah border in Punjab, many touched their country's soil with forehead. The fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing in Pakistani waters. India shares an expansive oceanic border with Pakistan without any perceptible demarcation and fishermen on both sides ignore rules while netting their catch. Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors have recently escalated over cross-border firing in the region, giving rise to serious concerns about the security of the region. India in the meantime is planning to send new foreign secretary, S Jaishankar, to Islamabad in what is being viewed as an effort to revive the stalled dialogue.

Feb 17, 2015

Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi seeks new law to check child labour in India

New Delhi, Feb 17 (ANI): Nobel laureate and child rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi sought a new law to keep a check on child labour in India. Satyarthi estimated that 60 million children, or 6 percent of the country's population, are forced into work. This, he believes, has nothing to do with parental poverty, illiteracy or ignorance. Satyarthi, 61, rooted for amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act in the upcoming session of Parliament which could ensure rehabilitation.

Feb 17, 2015

CPI demands arrest of attackers who shot Govind Pansare

Mumbai/ Nagpur, Feb 17 (ANI): Workers of the Communist Party of India (CPI) staged a protest in Maharashtra, demanding immediate arrest of the gunmen who shot at their leader. Unidentified gunmen shot at senior communist leader Govind Pansare and his wife Uma in Kolhapur city while the couple was on a morning walk early on Monday. In Mumbai, the protesting and slogan-shouting CPI members tried to climb the gate of state Secretariat but the police managed to stop them. They also tried to block the traffic in the city. The protesters threatened to intensify their stir if the shooters were not arrested in a day. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised to nab the culprit and said that an inquiry at the highest level would be undertaken into this attack.

Feb 17, 2015

Reactions come in over India's nuclear deal with Sri Lanka

New Delhi/ Chennai, Feb 17 (ANI): Congress party took a dig at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party after the Narendra Modi-led government signed a nuclear energy agreement with Sri Lanka. This deal is India's first breakthrough with the new government of the tiny Indian Ocean island where China has been building ports and highways in a diplomatic push in recent years. Under the deal, India will help Sri Lanka build its nuclear energy infrastructure, including training of personnel, the Indian foreign ministry said. Later, India could also sell light small-scale nuclear reactors to Sri Lanka which wants to establish 600 MW of nuclear capacity by 2030, a Sri Lankan official and an Indian analyst said earlier. Meanwhile, Tamil Activist Thirumurugan Gandhi also the founder of May 17 Movement for the cause of Eelam Tamil society's struggle for a separate Eelam Nation, criticised the growing ties between the two nations.

Feb 17, 2015

President Mukherjee hosts banquet for his Sri Lankan counterpart

New Delhi, Feb 17 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee hosted a banquet for his Sri Lankan counterpart, Maithripala Sirisena in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders attended the event in the presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhawan. The two neighbours had signed a nuclear energy agreement earlier. This deal is India's first breakthrough with the new government of the tiny Indian Ocean island where China has been building ports and highways in a diplomatic push in recent years. Under the deal, India will help Sri Lanka build its nuclear energy infrastructure, including training of personnel, the Indian foreign ministry said. Earlier in the day, Health Minister JP Nadda met his Sri Lankan counterpart, Rajitha Senaratne, and discussed health related issues.

Feb 17, 2015

AAP Gets Into the Act, Bans Demolitions, Orders Cut in Power Tariff

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet were seen in full flow on their first day in power.

Feb 17, 2015

India's female karate cops out to make Delhi safer

A team of karate-trained policewomen in Delhi are trying to make the Indian capital safer for women, by patrolling

Feb 17, 2015

Aero show to boost PM Modi's 'Make in India' initiative

Bengaluru, Feb 17 (ANI): The tenth international edition of Aero India, the biennial air show and exhibition, is set to kick-start in Bengaluru. The event is being organized by Defence Exhibition Organisation under the aegis of Ministry of Defence and 54 ministerial and other high-level delegations from several countries are scheduled to attend it. The exhibition will have 'Make in India' as its major theme and will be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Aero India, which began in 1996, has become a major platform for armament giants to initiate defence deals. The event will see the participation of leading countries including U.S, Russia, France and U.K from where the aircrafts and fighter planes have started arriving at Air Force Station (AFS) Yelahanka.

Feb 17, 2015

Students in Shimla face troubles due to snow in school campus

Shimla, Feb 17 (ANI): Students and teachers faced difficulties as schools in Himachal Pradesh were covered with snow. Schools in Narkanda town in Shimla city received heavy snowfall, blanketing schools in the region. Due to this, students are unable to study inside their classes because of intense cold condition as there is no facility of heater made by the school authorities. The mid-day meal workers were also facing problems making food as there was no water in the taps. Some workers were also melting snow for cooking purposes. Most of the schools in the town re-open in the month of February. The temperature has dropped in the area due to the melting of snow. The temperature was recorded at 5 degree Celsius.

Feb 17, 2015