Politics

Lakhvi sent to 14 days' judicial custody in kidnapping case, Lawyer slams govt

Islamabad, Jan 01 (ANI): The 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi has been sent to a 14-day judicial custody by a court in Islamabad. Lakhvi's lawyer slammed the Pakistan government for using its naked power under pressure from Indian counterparts. He added that the FIR filed against Lakhvi is false and baseless.

Jan 1, 2015

BJP leaders meet Kashmir governor to discuss govt formation

Jammu, Jan 01 (ANI): A delegation of BJP leaders on Thursday (January 01) met Governor NN Vohra of Jammu and Kashmir as suspense continues over government formation since the elections threw a hung legislature last month. Governor's meeting with BJP leaders comes a day after PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, met him on Wednesday. President of Kashmir's unit of BJP Jugal Kishore said the party was holding talks with various stakeholders to provide a stable government in the state. BJP leader Avinash Rai, said the formation of a stable government was the party's top priority. The deadline for forming a new government is January 19, post which governor's rule will be imposed in the state.

Jan 1, 2015

New Year begins with marathon in Shimla

Shimla, Jan 01 (ANI): Local administration in Shimla on Thursday (January 01) organized a high altitude half-marathon to propagate federal government's Clean India Mission on New Year day. About 200 participants ran the 2.5- kilometer stretch. Addition Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Shimla, Unis, who flagged off the marathon, said the importance of the otherwise an annual exercise was to spread awareness about cleanliness. Some of the participants in the marathon vowed to make the run a part of their daily routine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the nationwide cleanliness mission on October 02 last year to raise awareness at the grassroots level for better sanitation in a bid to create a sense of responsibility among citizens under the banner of 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan' or Clean India Mission.

Jan 1, 2015

Four months on, Kashmir flood victims still await compensation

Rajouri, Jan 01 (ANI): Four months since Jammu and Kashmir was ravaged by floods, the poor are still waiting for their share of compensation to rebuild their houses as the cold weather makes life difficult for them.Hundreds of people were killed and thousands of villages devastated by the worst flooding in decades in the Kashmir valley in September. A flood victim, Talib Sen, said the benefits of several schemes introduced by the government in the aftermath of the floods never reached them. Another flood victim, Abdar Rashid, echoed Sen’s sentiment and said the legislators were least bothered about their woes.

Jan 1, 2015

Police nab three Maoists in Jharkhand

Simdega, Jan 01 (ANI): Police arrested three Maoists belonging to People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of the Communist party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), and seized cash and weapon-making equipments in Jharkhand. A black-coloured SUV car used by the accused was also seized. Police said PLFI was running an illegal weapon-making factory in Simdega district and the trio was taking the seized material there before being intercepted.

Jan 1, 2015

Congress releases first list of 24 candidates for upcoming Delhi Assembly polls

New Delhi, Jan 1 (ANI): The Congress party on Thursday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls. Prominent among the 24 names released are that of former Delhi minister Haroon Yusuf , who shall be contesting from Ballimaran; Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, who will contest from Gandhi Nagar; and Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed , who will stand from Seelampur. Dr. A K Walia will contest from Laxmi Nagar, while the Congress candidates from the Matiya Mahal and Uttam Nagar constituencies are Shoaib Iqbal and Mukesh Sharma respectively.

Jan 1, 2015

Jitan Ram Manjhi says PK might be made tax-free

Patna, Jan 01 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said on Thursday that as suggested by the former state CM Nitish Kumar, the film 'PK' can be made tax-free in the state. Manjhi also said that the further formalities might take some more time to execute the decision. The Aamir Khan starrer movie has been made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh.

Jan 1, 2015

Pakistan lodges protest against ceasefire violation, demands India to investigate

Islamabad, Jan 01 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam on Thursday said that Pakistan had summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner over ceasefire violation. Aslam said that Pak held strong protest over the incident handing over a protest note to India demanding the country to investigate the incident. She also added that Pakistan demands strict punishment for those who are responsible for ambushing Pak soldiers by calling them for white flag meet.

Jan 1, 2015

Is Charlize Theron 'secretly' engaged to beau Sean Penn?

New Delhi Jan 1 (ANI): Charlize Theron and her boyfriend Sean Penn has secretly engaged on a trip to Paris in November, 2014. A source told a US Magazine that the duo decided to take their relationship to the next level. The new issue of the publication has revealed that Theron has accepted a proposal from Penn after dating for one year. The 39-year-old actress had earlier revealed that she wasn't afraid of long-term relationships.

Jan 1, 2015

NDA is only for namesake, it is BJP govt: Vaiko

Chennai, Jan 01 (ANI): MDMK Chief Vaiko said that the NDA government is only for namesake it is actually ruled and governed completely by the BJP. He also said that there has not been any meeting of the NDA parties since the formation of BJP government at the centre like it used to be earlier.

Jan 1, 2015

Jitan Ram Manjhi says PK might be made tax-free

Patna, Jan 01 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said on Thursday that as suggested by the former state CM Nitish Kumar, the film 'PK' can be made tax-free in the state. Manjhi also said that the further formalities might take some more time to execute the decision. The Aamir Khan starrer movie has been made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh.

Jan 1, 2015

Pakistan lodges protest against ceasefire violation, demands India to investigate

Islamabad, Jan 01 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam on Thursday said that Pakistan had summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner over ceasefire violation. Aslam said that Pak held strong protest over the incident handing over a protest note to India demanding the country to investigate the incident. She also added that Pakistan demands strict punishment for those who are responsible for ambushing Pak soldiers by calling them for white flag meet.

Jan 1, 2015

Congress releases first list of 24 candidates for upcoming Delhi Assembly polls

New Delhi, Jan 1 (ANI): The Congress party on Thursday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls. Prominent among the 24 names released are that of former Delhi minister Haroon Yusuf , who shall be contesting from Ballimaran; Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, who will contest from Gandhi Nagar; and Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed , who will stand from Seelampur. Dr. A K Walia will contest from Laxmi Nagar, while the Congress candidates from the Matiya Mahal and Uttam Nagar constituencies are Shoaib Iqbal and Mukesh Sharma respectively.

Jan 1, 2015

NDA is only for namesake, it is BJP govt: Vaiko

Chennai, Jan 01 (ANI): MDMK Chief Vaiko said that the NDA government is only for namesake it is actually ruled and governed completely by the BJP. He also said that there has not been any meeting of the NDA parties since the formation of BJP government at the centre like it used to be earlier.

Jan 1, 2015

Centre faces criticism for changing name of Planning Commission to 'Niti Aayog'

New Delhi, Jan 1 (ANI): The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government on Thursday changed the name of the Planning Commission to 'Niti Aayog'. Congress leader Rashid Alvi and JD (U) leader Ali Anwar however, criticized the government for only changing the name of the body, instead of coming out with any new initiatives to take the nation forward economically. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav questioned whether changing the name will ensure justice and morality.

Jan 1, 2015