Politics

No rescue in sight for Nigeria's kidnapped schoolgirls

2014 saw Islamist group Boko Haram abduct more than 200 schoolgirls, provoking a wave of global outrage. As the group intensifies its attacks and declares a caliphate in north-eastern Nigeria, hope is fading for their safe return.

Dec 19, 2014

Bangladesh President meets Sushma Swaraj

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): The visiting Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid met Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday. The two leaders discussed matters of bilateral and regional importance. Bangladesh President's visit is aimed at strengthening and expanding the bilateral relations between the two countries.Hamid is in Delhi on the invite of President Pranab Mukherjee. The Bangladesh president is scheduled to visit places of historical and cultural importance both in and outside Delhi. This is the first visit by a ceremonial Head of State of Bangladesh since 1972.

Dec 19, 2014

Sushma Swaraj condemns granting of bail to Lakhvi by Pak court; resolution passed in Parliament

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday condemned the granting of bail to 26/11 accused Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi by a Pakistani court, while addressing in Lok Sabha. She said India does not accept Pakistan government's argument that there was no evidence against Lakhvi. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha also passed a resolution moved by all parties condemning the grant of bail. Pakistan has, however, said that Lakhvi will remain in jail for three months, while it challenges the bail granted to him by the court.

Dec 19, 2014

Pages of Robert Vadra-DLF land deal case file goes missing, Politicos react

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Friday after two pages of controversial DLF-Robert Vadra deal went missing from government records. Minority Affairs MoS Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the Haryana government will do the needful in the case. Congress leader Rashid Alvi blamed Haryana government for making excuses as they had nothing to prove against Robert Vadra. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the Modi government is capable of even finding out the missing pages. JD (U) leader Ali Anwar said that BJP is in power and can find the missing papers.

Dec 19, 2014

Politicos react after Kota BJP MLA abuses CMO on phone

New Delhi/Jaipur, Dec 19 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Friday after Kota BJP MLA Prahlad Gunjal threatened the Kota Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr R N Yadav on phone for not allowing his relative's transfer. According to reports, Dr Yadav has registered a complaint of threat and intimidation against Gunjal. It is also understood that Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has sought a report on the incident. Taking serious note of the alleged threats Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chandra Kataria stated that his department will take action as per law against the errant legislator. Meanwhile, Congress leader Narendra Budhania criticized the alleged threats made by Gunjal, terming them as shameful. NCP leader Majid Memon and JD (U) leader Ali Anwar also expressed similar sentiments and appealed the Rajasthan government to take appropriate action.

Dec 19, 2014

Strong message sent to Pak on Lakhvi bail: Modi

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said in the Lok Sabha that India has "strongly conveyed" to Pakistan its opposition to bail for Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the Lashkar-e-Taiba commander who plotted the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in 2008. He said that bail to Lakhvi has come as a "shock" to all those who believe in humanity world over. He also said that this verdict is a condemnable specially as it comes just days after the deadly Peshawar attack claimed lives of innocent school children.

Dec 19, 2014

Hindu Mahasabha wants to install Godse's bust at public places

New Delhi, Dec 18 (ANI): The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' wants to install Nathuram Godse's bust at public places in cities across India, national president Chandra Prakash Kaushik said on Friday. Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, he said that he will write a letter to the central government asking for space. He added that if roads can be named after Aurangzeb who killed so many Hindus, why cant Godse's statues be not installed. If the government refuses, Mahasabha will install the busts at Hindu Mahasabha bhavans in different states.

Dec 19, 2014

Key Documents Missing for Robert Vadra's Haryana Land Deal

On filing an RTI, Ashok Khemka found that crucial documents that cleared a contentious land deal in Haryana for Robert Vadra have gone missing

Dec 19, 2014

Politicos react as PM Narendra Modi comes second in list of 30 top-performing world leaders

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Politicos on Friday react as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was placed No 2, behind Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a list of 30 top-performing world leaders by a Japanese market research firm. The survey of more than 26,000 respondents, conducted this fall by Tokyo-based GMO Research rated Xi, Modi, and Merkel the top-performing world leaders, with scores of 7.5, 7.3, and 7.2 respectively on a scale of one to 10. While BJPandShiv Sena welcomed the same and said that it was natural that the world is recognizing Modi as world leader, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that it is for Indian citizens to decide on performance of Modi.

Dec 19, 2014

Politicos react even as BJP denies Mamata's claims of engaging in vendetta politics

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday stated that the investigation in the Saradha chit-fund scam was being undertaken under the Supreme Court's jurisdiction and the Central government had no role to play in the case. The party further denied engaging in a political vendetta against the Trinamool Congress (TMC), as claimed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Other politicos from various parties also reacted on the issue.

Dec 19, 2014

Sonia Gandhi admitted to hospital after respiratory infection, stable

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Congress president Sonia Gandhi was admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after she complained of problems in breathing. Doctor Ajay Swaroop said that Gandhi was suffering from an infection in the lower respiratory tract. He added that her condition is stable and she is under observation.

Dec 19, 2014

Trade unions call for taxi strike in Kolkata

Kolkata, Dec 19 (ANI): Trade unions in Kolkata on Friday called for a 24-hour taxi strike over demands for a revised fare structure and improved working conditions. Meanwhile, daily commuters bore the brunt of the strike and were forced to seek other modes of transportation. Friday's strike is the tenth to occur in the West Bengal capital since August this year.

Dec 19, 2014

Cold wave continues to sweep northern India

New Delhi/Amritsar /Kanpur, Dec 19 (ANI): People in north India are grappling with the chilling cold with foggy weather paralyzing normal life over the past few days. The dip in mercury due to snowfall in the upper reaches has impacted northern states such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The cold wave has also forced people to stay indoors and keep themselves warm with bonfire. Dense fog was seen on Friday morning in New Delhi and Amritsar, making life difficult for the people. The cold is intensifying in the region as the temperature in the hilly areas has dipped into minus. Places like Kufri, Manali, Kullu and other tourist spots are witnessing minus temperatures for the last few days. The sub-zero level of temperature has led to freezing of water in the pipes in Shimla. Meanwhile, poor people in Kanpur alleged apathy by the administration which they say has failed to provide them facilities.

Dec 19, 2014

14-month-old boy dies after falling into borewell in Madhya Pradesh

Chhatarpur, Dec 19 (ANI): A 14-month-old boy, who got trapped after accidentally falling into a 100-feet deep borewell in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, was found dead after the end of the 36-hour massive operation on Thursday. The boy fell into the borewell on Wednesday at 8.50 pm. The borewell had been left open. The army joined the rescue operation initiated by the district administration. However, the child could not be saved. Police identified the child as Krishna, who was the only child of his parents. He was left alone near the borewell while her aunt went to the adjacent farmland to fetch vegetables. The woman heard her nephew crying in the pit dug for the borewell. She informed other family members and villagers who in turn informed the police. Four JCB machines were also pressed into service to rescue the child. A team of doctors was also rushed to the spot to help provide oxygen to the child through a pipe, said police. A parallel large hole was dug, but it was found that the path towards the borewell was full of stones severely affecting the rescue operations.

Dec 19, 2014

Italian troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan

Italian troops are preparing to leave Afghanistan as NATO winds up its combat mission. Some will remain to help train the Afghan army but there are concerns that more violence is on the way after foreign troops withdraw.

Dec 19, 2014