Politics

Sakshi Maharaj takes u turn on Nathuram Godse 'patriot' remark

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Amid reports of Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse being eulogized at a function held in Maharashtra earlier this month, BJP leader Sakshi Maharaj on Thursday said that Godse was a patriot. However, later he took a u turn and said that he was misquoted, but he said that if he has said something by mistake he takes his words back. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha witnessed protests today as opposition leaders raised the issue in the house.

Dec 11, 2014

Godse a 'nationalist, not a traitor', says BJP lawmaker Sakshi Maharaj

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Stirring a political hornet's nest, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Sakshi Maharaj on Thursday said that Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Vinayak Godse was equally a patriot and a nationalist, and should not be seen as a traitor or considered as one. Godse had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi by shooting him in the chest thrice at point-blank range on January 30, 1948 in New Delhi. After a trial that lasted over a year, Godse was sentenced to death on November 8, 1949 and was subsequently hanged a week later.

Dec 11, 2014

Lawyers continue strike in Delhi courts over delay in tabling of amendment bill

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Lawyers in Delhi courts said that they will continue their strike for the third day on Thursday protesting the delay in tabling an amendment bill of enhancing pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts. Chairman of co-ordination committee of bar associations RK Wadhwa said that all the district courts in Delhi, in its emergent meeting last week, decided to abstain from work with effect from December 09, till the bill is tabled in Parliament. The committee said that despite assurances, the proposed bill recommending enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction to Rs 2 crore for the courts, has found no mention in the agenda of ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

Dec 11, 2014

Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Gets Election Commission Recognition

Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party is now become an official political party as it has been recognised by Election Commission of India.

Dec 11, 2014

Badaun case: CBI files closure report

Badaun, Dec 11 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday submitted the closure report in the death case of two teenaged girls who were found hanging from a mango tree in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh. According the reports, CBI in its report has concluded that they had committed suicide after the elder one's affair with local boy got busted. Meanwhile, the court gave the victims' family time till January 6 to register their objection over the closure report.

Dec 11, 2014

Conversion row: Adityanath says will go to Aligarh on Christmas

Gorakhpur, Dec 11 (ANI): Despite a massive outrage over the alleged conversion of nearly 200 Muslims into Hinduism in Uttar Pradesh's Agra district earlier this week, reportedly Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have planned a "shuddhi" (re-conversion) ceremony in Aligarh on December 25. While the BJP has denied its role in the Agra conversions, the party's leader Yogi Adityanath has said that he will go to Aligarh on December 25 for what the right-wing groups call a 'Purkhon ki ghar vapsi' (Coming home of the ancestors) ceremony.

Dec 11, 2014

Punjab and Haryana HC defers hearing on Ashutosh Maharaj funeral case to Monday

Chandigarh, Dec 11 (ANI): Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday deferred the case of funeral of Ashutosh Maharaj to Monday and said that further hearing in the case will take place then only. The Punjab government had moved the High Court against the order to cremate Ashutosh Maharaj, who has been in a freezer since January. The state has pleaded that the issue of cremation of Ashutosh Maharaj is "an emotional and contentious issue" that can lead to law and order problem in the region. There are three appeals in the case and the court decided to hear all on first priority on Monday.

Dec 11, 2014

Adityanath says nothing wrong in calling Taj Mahal a part of ancient temple

Gorakhpur, Dec 11 (ANI): BJP leader Yogi Adityanath on Thursday refused to budge from his statement on Taj Mahal and said that there is nothing wrong in claiming that Taj Mahal was earlier a part of the ancient Tejo Mahalaya temple. He added that if Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan can claim that Taj Mahal belongs to Waqf Board property, then it can be claimed that Taj Mahal was a part of a Shiv Temple.

Dec 11, 2014

Threat to Guam Base as Chinese Military Aircraft Fly Dangerously Close to Japan Islands

Five Chinese military aircraft were reportedly observed flying menacingly close to the islands of Japan.

Dec 11, 2014

Defence Minister pays homage to martyrs in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 11 (ANI): Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday paid tributes to soldiers who were killed in a militant attack in Srinagar. Parrikar, accompanied by Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, visited Badami Bagh cantonment in the city. This was his first visit to the state after taking charge of the defence ministry. Militants had sneaked into an Indian military camp in Kashmir on December 05, killing 11 soldiers and police, the worst losses for security forces in six years in the Himalayan territory claimed by Pakistan. The attack was followed by a gun battle in the state capital, Srinagar, and a grenade blast in south Kashmir.

Dec 11, 2014

Vladimir Putin meets Modi at Hyderabad House

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, with an aim to take the bilateral relations between both countries to 'newer heights'. Modi and Putin posed for the customary photograph before beginning talks on the various deals that are set to be signed between the two countries. In his talks with PM Modi, both in restricted and delegation level formats, Putin is likely to seek deeper economic engagement with "time-tested" ally India to try to minimize impact of sanctions against Russia by the US and its Western allies over the Ukraine issue. It will be the first annual summit meeting between Putin and PM Modi.

Dec 11, 2014

Opposition slams BJP after Yogi Adityanath claims Taj Mahal was built on Shiv temple

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Opposition leaders slammed BJP on Thursday after Bharatiya Janata Party MP Yogi Adityanath claimed that Taj Mahal was built on a Shiv temple. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that one who has no knowledge about history should not give such a statement. NCP leader Majid Memon said that such issues should not be given importance. NCP leader Tariq Anwar said that BJP leaders always make statements to spread communalism in the country. JD (U) leader KC Tyagi expressed similar sentiments.

Dec 11, 2014

War of words continue over Agra mass religious conversions

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Alleging that the BJP and the RSS are conspiring against the country on the basis of religion, leaders of rival political parties on Thursday said that they will continue to oppose the issue of 'forced' conversion inside and outside parliament. While the BJP defended itself, the opposition leaders said that the BJP should stop pursuing politics on the basis of religion.

Dec 11, 2014

Subramaniam Swamy expresses confidence in bringing settlement on Babri Masjid issue, Politicos react

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Thursday after BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy expressed confidence that a negotiated settlement would come through on the long drawn issue of Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue. NCP leader Majid Memon said that Subramanian Swamy is not the spokesperson of Muslim and hence his statement has no meaning. JD (U) leader Ali Anwar said that the issue is the court and hence no one should make such statements on this issue. JD (U) leader KC Tyagi expressed similar sentiments.

Dec 11, 2014

CIA Torture: UN Vows Action Against 'Each Torturous Act' as Poland Confirms It Allowed Secret Black Site

The United Nations will not take "no" for an answer and that the United States will be punished for 'each torturous act'.

Dec 11, 2014