Politics

Bangladesh police besiege Khaleda Zia ahead of first anniversary of elections

Dhaka, Jan 5 (ANI): Bangladesh is today marking the first anniversary of the controversial 2014 prime ministerial elections that was boycotted by the BNP-led coalition. Earlier on Sunday, police besieged former Bangladesh Prime Minister and chief of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, at her office, amid fears of violence as the opposition party planned rallies across the country. The BNP and its allies had boycotted the election that was held in January 05, 2014 which was marred by deadly unrest. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held to her stance that a fresh poll can be called only if her rivals halt violence. The BNP denounced Hasina's scrapping of the practice of having a caretaker government oversee elections. On Sunday, the BNP party workers held a protest in front of the party office to know the reason as to why the police besieged the party chief.

Jan 5, 2015

Amit Shah to meet party leaders in J-K over govt. formation

New Delhi, Jan 5 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah will be meeting Jammu and Kashmir party leaders on Monday to discuss government formation in the state. According to reports, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav will meet the members one on one and take their feedback. Earlier, the BJP had stated that any attempt to form a government in the Jammu and Kashmir without its inclusion would be a travesty of the mandate given by the people of the state. The J-K elections threw up a hung verdict, with the PDP emerging as the single-largest party in with 28 seats. The BJP won 25 seats, with the National Conference and Congress winning 15 and 12 seats respectively.

Jan 5, 2015

Will explore possibility of recommending Saina Nehwal's name for Padma Bhushan: Sarbananda Sonowal

New Delhi, Jan 05 (ANI): Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that he would examine possibility of recommending ace shuttler Saina Nehwal's name for third highest civilian award after the snub. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) had recommended Nehwal's name in August last year to the sports ministry for conferring her with Padma Bhushan. But, the ministry instead sent two-time Olympic medalist wrestler Sushil Kumar's name to the panel. Nehwal on Saturday said she was hurt as her name was not further recommended to a panel for the award. He also praised Nehwal as one of the great players of the country.

Jan 5, 2015

Evidence suggests 'Pak boat' was not smuggler's vessel but had suspected terrorist link: Manohar Par

New Delhi, Jan 05 (ANI): Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that the men on board the Pakistani boat which blew itself up off Gujarat coast on New Year's eve were suspected to be terrorists. Parrikar said that the evidence till now suggest that the boat was not smuggler's vessel but had suspected terror link. Rejecting the smuggling angle to the incident, he said that the route taken by the boat was not the route taken by smugglers. The defence minister said that the boat was under surveillance for 12 hours and the act that it was stationed at one position does not indicate smuggling. Secondly, he also stated that smugglers won't stay in touch with Pakistani maritime authorities and would not commit suicide. He also commended the Coast Guard, saying they could not have done any better.

Jan 5, 2015

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pitches for unity among Hindus

Ahmedabad, Jan 05 (ANI): Making a strong pitch for unity among Hindus, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said if every Hindu is brought under one camp, no power on earth would be able to stop the community's progress. Addressing a gathering in Gujarat during a three-day RSS training programme, Bhagwat said if the Hindu society is in danger, the entire country is also in danger.

Jan 5, 2015

French mayor denies refusing burial of Roma baby

French officials voiced disgust Sunday after the mayor of a Paris suburb reportedly refused to allow a dead Roma baby to be buried in the municipal cemetery although the mayor himself later denied the claims. Duration: 01:38

Jan 4, 2015

Truce talks stalled, Ukraine fighting continues despite snow

Heavy snowfall has not stopped fighting around Donetsk, following the breakdown of truce negotiations between pro-Ukrainian fighters and separatists. Firefights took place near the village of Pisky, not far from Donetsk's airport. Duration: 01:04

Jan 4, 2015

Former Greek PM launches new party weeks before elections

Former Greek prime minister Georges Papandreou officially launched a new political party. Called the Democrat Socialists Movement, the new party has been founded just weeks before snap elections this month. Duration: 01:08

Jan 4, 2015

Wakes and prayers held for AirAsia victims

The families of victims of AirAsia Flight 8501 have been preparing funerals as the bodies are identified in Surabaya, where a crisis centre has been set up at a police hospital. So far at least 34 bodies have been recovered. Duration: 00:50

Jan 4, 2015

Mamata Banerjee's Nephew Slapped at Public Meeting

An unidentified youth slapped Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, when he was addressing a public meeting in East Midnapore.

Jan 4, 2015

PMO responds to Indian man seeking financial assistance for sister's wedding after a year

Bulandshahr, Jan 04 (ANI): Indian man, who wrote to prime minister in 2014 seeking financial assistance for his sisters' marriage, got a reply after one year. Manjit, from Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh, had written to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January 2014, asking for monetary help for wedding of his two sisters. His troubles came to an end when he got a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office in this regard. The PMO wrote to the district officials, asking them to initiate an inquiry in the matter. PMO has written to District Magistrate, seeking details about Manjit's financial condition and his family background. Manjit's father, who was working with a private firm in fringes of New Delhi, recently quit his job owing to poor health. His mother is a homemaker.

Jan 4, 2015

Petition filed in India against US firm for using Mahatma Gandhi's image on beer cans

Hyderabad/ New Delhi, Jan 04 (ANI): A lawyer in Hyderabad city of Andhra Pradesh filed a petition on Sunday against a US liquor company for using iconic freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi's picture on beer cans. New England Brewing Company came out with beer cans named 'Gandhi-Bot' claiming that their intention was to pay homage to Gandhi. He also said that using Gandhi's image on the beer cans is punishable under Indian laws. Matt Westfall, head brewer and partner at the New England Brewing Company, has apologised on behalf of the company through mail. Meanwhile, CPI leader D Raja said the American company should understand the sentiments of people. CPI leader Atul Anjan also slammed the foreign company for the same and said that India would oppose this if US President Barack Obama does not take cognizance of the matter.

Jan 4, 2015

TMC says Abhishek Banerjee slapped by 'an outsider', political parties allege 'act by an insider'

New Delhi/ Kolkata, Jan 04 (ANI): After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee was slapped by an unidentified youth at a public rally, TMC leader Derek O' Brien alleged that it was done by and outsider who apparently wanted to click a photograph along with Banerjee. Meanwhile, BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said that the act is unfortunate and is definitely done by a party insider. Congress leader Rashid Alvi also condemned the act and said that the same was unlawful and this was not a correct way to protest. CPI leader Atul Anjan also expressed confidence that the act was done by a party insider who expressed anguish over the series of scams by the party.

Jan 4, 2015

Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee slapped by unidentified man

East Midnapore, Jan 04 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee was slapped by a man while addressing youth TMC rally in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Sunday. An unidentified man got on the stage during Abhishek's rally and slapped him. The attacker was quickly taken away by the security officials after the incident and was beaten harshly by the TMC supporters. As per the latest reports, the attacker was badly thrashed by the TMC workers after the incident and is said to have been rushed to the hospital.

Jan 4, 2015

Kejriwal lashes out at BJP over price rise and corruption part - 2

New Delhi, Jan 4 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday slammed the BJP over price rise and corruption. During a public meeting in Delhi, Kejriwal said that the BJP talked about development before polls and now they talk about religious conversions.

Jan 4, 2015