Politics

BSE closes points 297.85 down on Dec 24

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Trading at the Bombay Stock Exchange today closed 297.85 points down to stand at 27,208.61. At the National Stock Exchange the Nifty closed 92.90 points down to stand at 8,174.10. JAIPRAKASH ASSOCIATES LTD and UNITECH were among the top gainers of Group A with an increase of 8.96% and 4.87% along with ORIENTAL BANK OF COMMERCE and MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD. with an increase of 4.80% and 4.33% respectively, while the top losers of Group A include PMCFIN and RASOYA PROTEINS LTD. with a decrease of 9.78% and 4.88% along with JETAIRWAYS and PAGE INDUSTRIES LTD with a decrease of 3.30% and 3.28% at the close of the markets. The Auto sector is down 123.14 points at 18,462.55 while the banking sector is down 80.66 points at 21,226.64 and the reality sector is up 17.12 points at 1,519.85. The Indian currency is up 0.35% at Rs 63.50 per dollar.

Dec 24, 2014

Politicos condemn Bodo militant attack, call for strict action against culprits

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Politicos on Wednesday condemned the attack by Bodo militants in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam in which atleast 40 innocent people were killed. They also called for strict action against the culprits. An indefinite curfew has been imposed in five police station areas of Sonitpur district.

Dec 24, 2014

BJP leaders hail Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Former prime minister and BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya will be honoured with the country's highest civilian award the "Bharat Ratna", the government announced on Wednesday. Senior BJP leaders hailed the decision and said that it is a proud moment for them. They said that it was a fitting recognition of the services of the "illustrious stalwarts" to the nation.

Dec 24, 2014

Either Leave India or Convert to Hinduism: Bajrang Dal to Bangladeshi Refugees

Another Hindu group, VHP, does not want the Bangladeshis to stay in India at all.

Dec 24, 2014

Politicians and celebrities pay homage to veteran film director K. Balachander

Chennai, Dec 24 (ANI): Politicians and many celebrities on Wednesday paid homage to veteran Tamil film director K. Balachander, who passed away on Tuesday at a hospital in Chennai. He was 84. DMK Chief M Karunanidhi and film star Rajnikanth were among many celebrities and politicians who paid their last respects to Balachander.The death of K Balachander has left the entire South Indian film industry in mourning. Rajnikanth expressed deep shock and grief at the passing away of the veteran director. Film actress Radhika Sarathkumar termed the death as shocking and loss to Indian cinema.

Dec 24, 2014

BJP Parliamentary Board Meeting ends

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday during the BJP Parliamentary board meeting appointed observers for Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir, a day after the party's good show in the assembly elections in the two states. General Secretary J.P. Nadda and Vinay Sahstrabuddhe have been appointed as the party observers to oversee the election of the leader of the legislature party in Jharkhand. For Jammu and Kashmir, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and party secretary Arun Singh have been appointed as observers. The Parliamentary board meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and M. Venkaiah Naidu, among others.

Dec 24, 2014

Assam attack: GoI is taking it very seriously; Centre is providing assistance, says Tarun Gogoi

Guwahati, Dec 24 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, speaking over the Bodo militant attack, on Wednesday said that the Government of India is taking the attack very seriously. He added that the Centre is providing the state with necessary assistance. He further stated that the target of such an attack is to spread disturbance in Assam.

Dec 24, 2014

Omar Abdullah submits his resignation as chief minister of JandK

Jammu, Dec 24 (ANI): Omar Abdullah on Wednesday met Jammu and Kashmir Governor Narinder Nath Vohra and submitted his resignation from the post of chief minister of the state. He said that he submitted his resignation accepting people's verdict in the assembly elections. Abdullah said that he is waiting to see what other combinations of political parties emerge from this Assembly election, although he refuted claims of any talks with other parties for a coalition government. Further, he said that it is not the responsibility of National Conference to take responsibility of who forms the government in the state.

Dec 24, 2014

All You Need to Know about Jharkhand's Likely Non-Tribal CM Raghubar Das

The forerunner for Jharkhand CM's post Raghubar Das also faces corruption charges in an alleged scam that dates back to 2005.

Dec 24, 2014

Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya, politicos react

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): The government on Wednesday announced that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya will be honoured with India's highest civilian award - Bharat Ratna. Political leaders welcomed the decision.

Dec 24, 2014

Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, family welcomes

New Delhi/Raipur/Ahmedabad, Dec 24 (ANI): Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family welcomed the Centre's decision to confer Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour on him. Hailing the announcement, Vajpayee's family said that it is a proud moment for them.

Dec 24, 2014

Coal allocation ordinance re-promulgated, guidelines approved by Cabinet: Jaitley

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday while addressing a press conference said that the coal allocation ordinance has been re-promulgated and guidelines have been approved by Cabinet for allocation for power and other core sectors. Speaking on the Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, Jaitley said that the government has decided to recommend promulgation of insurance amendment laws to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Dec 24, 2014

Union Cabinet pays homage to Assam attack victims, Rajnath Singh to visit state

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Union Cabinet on Wednesday paid homage to victims of attacks at five different places in Assam wherein more than 40 people lost their lives. The cabinet ministers maintained silence for the lost souls and prayed for peace. Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju announced that they would visit Assam this afternoon to take stock of the situation. Earlier, curfew has been imposed in parts of Assam after the attack by the suspected NDFB (Songbijit) militants. Meanwhile, people staged protest outside of Assam Bhavan in Delhi against the attack and demanded action by the state and central government over the same.

Dec 24, 2014

President, PM condemn the killing of innocents by Bodo militants in Assam

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the killing of innocents by the banned outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam. "President Mukherjee strongly condemns killings in Assam, says such acts of terror and violence must be put down with a firm hand," said the President's office tweeter handle. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "Killing of innocent people in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar is an act of cowardice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased. I spoke to Assam CM Shri Tarun Gogoi and Home Minister Rajnath ji. Rajnath ji will travel to Assam and take stock of the situation," he added.

Dec 24, 2014

Haryana govt distributes blankets as cold wave tightens grip

New Delhi/ Amritsar, Dec 24 (ANI): Government in Haryana distributed blankets to poor people living on road on Wednesday as cold wave tightened its grip, forcing people to sit around bonfires and staying indoors. As per local media reports, minimum temperature recorded in Haryana was 2.5 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh city recorded 5.8 degrees Celsius. Yadav also requested people to distribute their warm clothes to needy. Meanwhile, people in New Delhi also shivered under cold weather condition. The minimum temperature recorded was six degrees coupled with dense fog. In Amritsar city, dense fog disrupted normal life as it reduced visibility. Located in the tropics, most of India witnesses a very hot summer and a largely temperate winter.

Dec 24, 2014