Politics

Politicos react as over 100 bodies found afloat in River Ganges in UP, demand probe

New Delhi/ Lucknow, Jan 14 (ANI): Political leaders on Tuesday react as over 100 bodies were found floating over River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. More than 100 decaying dead bodies surfaced in the river Ganga near Pariyar between Kanpur and Unnao. The administration, which indicted these were reportedly bodies that are immersed in the river in the hope of salvation, was caught by surprise by the high number. The administration has however ordered an investigation in the case. Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said that the ministry will act after looking at the report in the matter. SP leader Naresh Agarwal said that the Hindu ritual of giving away the bodies in the river for salvation may be the cause. BJP and Congress leaders on the other hand accused the SP government in the state for the same.

Jan 14, 2015

Eleven Maoist sympathisers surrender in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, Jan 14 (ANI): Eleven Maoist sympathisers surrendered before police in port city of Visakhapatnam. One woman member was among those surrendered. Police said they also arrested a Maoist rebel accused in 15 cases. Praveen said the surrendered members would be rehabilitated under various government policies, adding he was expecting more to come forward to join the mainstream. The surrender comes after police along with paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) called tribals in interior places in Andhra Pradesh to submit themselves amid combing operations at the Andhra-Odisha state borders.

Jan 14, 2015

Fresh spell of snowfall elates tourists in Shimla

Shimla, Jan 14 (ANI): Fresh spell of snowfall on Wednesday in Shimla turned the region into a picturesque panorama, pleasing the residents and bringing much delight to tourists. The adjoining tourist spots like Kufri, Narkanda, Kharapathar, Manali, Sangla, Pangi, Rohthang, Kelong and other high hills received 6 to 15 centimetres of fresh snowfall within last five hours. Locals, hoteliers and businessmen are happy as fresh snowfall is likely to boost tourism in the region. The temperature in various hilly regions plummeted to zero and minus levels. In Kelong area of Himachal Pradesh, the temperature dipped to minus nine degree Celsius and in Shimla it has come down to 3 degree Celsius. During winters, holidaying crowd from the plains of India and other parts of the country prefer to throng northern states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to experience snowfall.

Jan 14, 2015

Delhi BJP Councillor caught on camera slapping MCD Junior Engineer

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): BJP's Delhi Councillor from Ward Number 188 Neeraj Gupta has invited trouble for the BJP in the poll bound national capital as he was caught slapping a MCD Junior Engineer. The BJP Councillor from Sangam Vihar East area slapped the Junior Engineer after a tiff over an unauthorised construction in the area. The Engineer had reportedly come to put a stop to unauthorized construction in the area. Meanwhile, BJP leader Nalin Kohli said that no person or any public figure should slap anybody. Delhi is scheduled to go to polls on February 07 and the BJP is engaged in a pitched battle with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress.

Jan 14, 2015

Recommended that very senior positions should not be on contract, there is no controversy: Parrikar

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that former DRDO Chief Avinash Chander's tenure had finished in November and Chander was on contract for the next three years. Parrikar said he had recommended that such a senior position cannot be held by a person on contract. He further stated that no new name has yet been decided as Chander's successor. Meanwhile, Indian Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan said that removal of DRDO chief was government's decision. The government has removed Defence Research and Development Organization Director General Avinash Chander from his post, 15 months before his contract was to end.

Jan 14, 2015

Vikaspuris church vandalised by unknown miscreants

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): A church in west Delhi's Vikaspuri area was vandalised by unknown miscreants early on Wednesday morning, officials said. The incident came to light when officials of Our Lady of Graces church noticed broken shards of glass and statues inside the premises and informed the police. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed in the church and the footage show two men approaching the church at 4:19 AM. Police officials rushed to spot and are currently scrutinizing the CCTV footage for more details.

Jan 14, 2015

PM Modi attends 'Chuda Dahi Bhoj' at Paswan's residence on Makar Sankranti

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attended a 'Chuda Dahi Bhoj' at the residence of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The Prime Minister greeted Paswan, his family members, and a large number of people who had gathered for the occasion. Meanwhile, earlier in the day Hindu devotees converged on the banks of holy River Ganges to take holy dip to mark harvest festival, ‘Makar Sankranti’.

Jan 14, 2015

Congress leadership accepts Ajay Maken as party face for Delhi polls

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): Congress leaders on Wednesday should confidence in Ajay Maken as the face of party for the 2015 Delhi Assembly Polls. The Congress high command had on Tuesday, named party general secretary Ajay Maken as the head of party's 101-member campaign committee for the upcoming Assembly elections. Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit welcomed the decision and said that she will participate in the campaigning but had informed about not contesting the polls beforehand only. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and JP Agarwal also said that Maken will come out strong and will prove beneficial for Congress at the polls.

Jan 14, 2015

Pope set for huge welcome in Philippines

Pope Francis’ second visit to Asia takes in the Philippines, a stronghold of Christianity in the region, where he is set to attract one of the biggest gatherings ever for a head of the Catholic Church. Duration: 02:17

Jan 14, 2015

Narendra Modi Goes Multilingual; Wishes Followers on Makar Sankranti

On the Pongal, Lohri, Makar Sankranti week, the PM has wished his followers in Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil and Telugu.

Jan 14, 2015

Devotees take holy dip in River Ganges to mark 'Makar Sankranti'

Varanasi/ Allahabad/ Haridwar, Jan 14 (ANI): Devout Hindus in India converged on the banks of holy River Ganges on Wednesday to take holy dip to mark harvest festival, ‘Makar Sankranti’. The festival marks the arrival of spring. Large number of devotees gathered in Allahabad and Varanasi cities of Uttar Pradesh to take a dip in River Ganges. The pilgrims camp by the riverside and in the evening they decorate the entire riverbank with earthen oil lamps. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended best wishes on the occasion. He tweeted saying, “I convey my heartfelt greetings to our fellow countrymen & women on the various festivals across the Nation. The festive spirit across India is gladdening. It celebrates the diversity of India that we cherish & are extremely proud of.”

Jan 14, 2015

Pope Francis gives Sri Lanka its first pope before huge crowd

Colombo, Jan 14 (ANI): Pope Francis gave Sri Lanka its first saint on Wednesday at a Mass for hundreds of thousands of people packed on a Colombo oceanfront, in a climax to a 300-year campaign to recognize the holiness of Indian-born missionary Joseph Vaz. Vaz, who was captured as a suspected spy after he crept into the tropical island in disguise was born in 1651 in Goa. He traveled south at the age of 36, dressed as a beggar, to a country then divided into kingdoms after hearing about the persecution of Catholics by the Dutch, and worked for years under the protection of a Buddhist king. Meanwhile, Pope Francis touched upon the need for religious freedom at the mass. Francis, speaking slowly in English, said Christians should follow the example of Vaz to build peace, justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Jan 14, 2015

SC grants 3 months extension to Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended, by another three months, stay in Italy of Massimiliano Latorre, one of the two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen in 2012. The court allowed his application for extension of stay on medical grounds.

Jan 14, 2015

Black buck poaching case: SC quashes suspension of Salman Khan's conviction

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the Rajasthan high court order which stayed actor Salman Khan's conviction in the blackbuck poaching case. The apex court asked the HC to decide Khan's plea afresh in which the trial court had sentenced him to five-year jail term. The SC also said that the actor can approach the HC if he really needs to travel abroad.

Jan 14, 2015

Nearly 50 bodies found in River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh

Unnao, Jan 14 (ANI): Nearly 50 bodies have been found in River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. The administration has ordered a probe in the matter. Dogs, crows and vultures dug into bodies as they had reached the bank due to low water level, posing major environment challenges in the areas under Unnao District. A district official, Suraj Prasad, promised action after probe. Residents blamed the state as well as the government at the centre for it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, elected to represent the 3,000-year-old riverside city of Varanasi, has taken personal responsibility to clean up the Ganges, as part of a broader push to India's scarce water resources and improve standards of public health and hygiene.

Jan 14, 2015