Politics

China farmers washed away as Beijing taps water from south

Water is beginning to flow more than 900 kilometres from a huge reservoir to thirsty Beijing thanks to one of the most ambitious engineering projects in history. But hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

Dec 8, 2014

Reactions pour in as Laxmikant Bajpai claims Taj Mahal to be part of an ancient temple

New Delhi, Dec 08 (ANI): Politicos react as President of BJP unit in Uttar Pradesh, Laxmikant Bajpai claimed that Taj Mahal was a part of an ancient temple. Bajpai said that Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan "purchased a part of Tejo Mahalaya temple's land from Raja Jai Singh" and claimed that he had documents to prove it still exist. Union Minister Kalraj Mishra said that the monument will be as it is and would not change. Congress leader PL Punia said that BJP is trying to communalise the matter by making such claims. CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that he has never heard of such claims and is baseless. JD (U) leader Ali Anwar also condemned politicizing Taj Mahal by the BJP leader.

Dec 8, 2014

Political parties react as Sushma Swaraj pushes for declaring Bhagwad Gita as 'national scripture'

New Delhi/ Mumbai, Dec 08 (ANI): Political parties on Monday reacted as Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj urged that the Bhagwad Gita should be declared a 'national scripture', adding that only a formal announcement to this effect was pending. Although Minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that there is nothing wrong on the same and truth should be accepted by all, other political parties stood opposing the proposal. Political leaders are of the view that Indian Constitution is the supreme scripture and that religious books should not be brought up to represent the nation. Politicos also feared a demand of making other religious books as national scripture to crop up soon. Swaraj made the remarks while speaking at 'Gita Prerna Mahotsav', organised to celebrate 5,151 years of religious book Gita at the Red Fort Maidan where VHP President Ashok Singhal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately declare the sacred text of Hindus as a national scripture.

Dec 8, 2014

Politicos react as Parliament logjam over Niranjan Jyoti's remarks continues

New Delhi/Mumbai, Dec 08 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Monday on the continued Parliament logjam over MoS Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's controversial remarks. MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that Congress should understand that India needs development and hence shouldn't create hurdle in the work for development. NCP leader Majid Memon said that PM Modi's condemning Niranjan Jyoti's for her controversial remarks as well as protecting her shows his double standards. JD (U) leader Ali Anwar said that Niranjan Jyoti should be punished for her remarks. AAP leader Manish Sisodia expressed similar sentiments.

Dec 8, 2014

Politicos react as reports of Uber cab driver being history sheeter in rape case surfaces

New Delhi/Mumbai, Dec 08 (ANI): Politicos reacted after reports surfaced that the Uber cab rape case accused had had spent seven months in jail in a rape case which was filed against him in Mehrauli area in 2011. MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the case should be investigated properly and strict action should be taken. However, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari slammed BJP for maintaining silence in the Uber cab rape case and appealed for strict action. NCP leader Majid Memon and JD (U) leader Ali Anwar also expressed similar sentiments.

Dec 8, 2014

Politicos react after AAP, NSUI stage protest outside Rajnath's residence

New Delhi/Mumbai, Dec 08 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Monday after Aam Aadmi Party and NSUI workers staged protests outside Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence over the rape of a woman by the Uber taxi driver on Friday night. MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that in democracy people can raise their voice. NCP leader Majid Memon said that Rajnath Singh will have to answer on Uber cab rape case. AAP leader Manish Sisodia slammed PM Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh for maintaining silence and appealed them to take action against criminals.

Dec 8, 2014

Maldives Water Crisis: Business Takes Hit as Water Shortage Enters Fourth Day

Business in Maldives, the honeymoon islands, is hard hit as the water crisis entered its fourth day on Monday.

Dec 8, 2014

Opposition Slams Sushma Swaraj for asking Modi to Declare Bhagavad Gita a National Scripture

Opposition called Sushma Swaraj's suggestion to declare Bhagavad Gita a national scripture an attempt to implement Hindutva ideology.

Dec 8, 2014

Cyclone ravaged Visakhapatnam plants new trees amid celebrations

Visakhapatnam, Dec 08 (ANI): Residents of the Visakhapatnam planted new trees amid song and dance to create awareness about the need for plantation after hundreds of trees in the city were destroyed by cyclone Hudhud in October. Local residents and volunteers of India Youth for Society were seen dancing on the road to spread awareness about tree plantation. Children and parents also participated in the event with enthusiasm holding placards reading 'Adopt a plant', 'Protect Trees' and others. The dances attracted a large number of locals who stood watching and clicking pictures on their mobile phones.

Dec 8, 2014

Srinagar fortified ahead of PM Modi's rally

Srinagar, Dec 08 (ANI): Srinagar has been put under a tight security cover on Monday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in the city to address a rally in the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium. The rally venue has been virtually taken over by security forces. CCTV cameras have been installed inside the stadium and Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel will monitor activities of the crowd with binoculars. Besides this, the top police officers have also been given the job to monitor the proceedings of the rally. The arrangements have especially been made in the wake of the recent militant attacks in the valley which killed at least 16 people including army jawans and civilians. The attack was followed by a gun battle in the state capital, Srinagar and a grenade blast in south Kashmir. Reportedly, Defence minister Manohar Parrikar is himself monitoring the situation in Kashmir. The third phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Dec 8, 2014

Narendra Modi Urges Voters to Get Rid of Family Rule in J&K

Narendra Modi is addressing the election rally at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium amid tight security.

Dec 8, 2014

Former maid tells court of 'torture' by Hong Kong employers

A former Indonesian maid tells a court for the first time how she was starved, beaten and ritually humiliated by her Hong Kong employers in a case that has sparked international outrage.

Dec 8, 2014

Indias leather industry boosts economy

Kanpur, Dec 08 (ANI): Kanpur has from long been identified with its leather industry and the industry holds a prominent place in the India’s economy. Kanpur’s leather industry is among the top ten foreign exchange earning sectors of India. Kanpur is home to almost 400 tanneries concentrated in the Jajmau suburb. These small tanneries play a crucial role in supporting the economy in ways more than one as they not only bring in foreign exchange, but also offer a means of livelihood for various small time labourers. Despite their economic contribution, concerns regarding Kanpur tanneries polluting the river Ganges have been rife. One of the major pollutants is chromium which is used as a hardening agent in leather production. However, owner of Rehman Tannery, Firoz Aalam rubbishes claims of the tanneries releasing pollutants directly into the Ganges and said that each tannery had a primary water treatment plant in place.

Dec 8, 2014

Hindus and Muslims come together for community wedding ceremony in Rajkot

Rajkot, Dec 08 (ANI): Hindus and Muslims performed community weddings under common roof upholding the saga of communal harmony. At least, 101 Hindu and Muslim couples got married at a common event in Rajkot city in Gujarat. The couples mostly belonged to economically middle and poor classes. The Hindu Brahmins and Muslim priests conducted the respective rituals in front of hundreds of invitees. A Muslim priest Sayeed Mohammad Hussain Ali said this mass wedding will spread the message of love and brotherhood among both the communities across the country. Legislator of Rajkot city, Indranil Rajguru, who organised the mass wedding said no matter what happens across the nation, Hindus and Muslims always stay together peacefully in the city. A Hindu bride, Nilam Pandya said she is lucky to get married at such a unique event.

Dec 8, 2014

Protests erupt in Vadodara over Hafiz Saeed warning to PM Modi

Vadodara, Dec 08 (ANI): A youth organisation staged protest in Vadodara as Mumbai attacks mastermind and Islamist Hafiz Saeed warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Kashmir. The protesters shouted slogans against Hafiz Saeed, burnt his effigy besides burning the Pakistan's flag. BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said Saeed is making such statements as he is surprised to see large voting turnout in Kashmir assembly polls. Saeed is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a militant group banned in Pakistan but tolerated unofficially and believed to be close to the army.

Dec 8, 2014