Politics

Delhi LG recommends dissolution of assembly; Congress, BJP, AAP gear up for fresh polls

New Delhi, Nov 4 (ANI): The Congress, BJP and AAP are gearing up for fresh polls in Delhi as the Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung recommended on Tuesday the dissolution of the state assembly, a day after the BJP and other parties said no to government formation. Delhi has been under President's Rule since February after Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government stepped down after 49 days in power.

Nov 4, 2014

Manipur police reduce drugs worth crores to ashes

Imphal, Nov 4 (ANI): In what seems to be a unique clean up exercise, state police of Manipur set fire to a bounty worth of large amount of drugs seized from various parts of capital Imphal. Police trucks arrived at an open field in the Lilong Pan Ahanbi area in the state capital and unloaded huge packages containing narcotics that had been seized from various police stations in Imphal between 2012 and 2013. The police officer who headed the disposal, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Range-IV, Imphal, Kh. Chandramani Singh said that the illegal narcotics were worth more than 4.5 crore. The drugs were piled in a mound after which officials set fire to it.

Nov 4, 2014

Security tightened in Trilokpuri on Muharram

New Delhi, Nov 4 (ANI): Security was tightened in Trilokpuri area on the occasion of Muharram on Tuesday. Along with the local police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were also seen on patrol in the area. The police have imposed restrictions on the display of weapons- swords, lathis and knives - during the festival and will be keeping a close watch on the procession. The measures have been taken in the wake of last week's communal clashes in the area which had left five injured including two teenagers. Over 1,000 policemen and paramilitary personnel have been posted at Trilokpuri area after the clashes took place. Every year, Muslims observe Muharram to mourn the death of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, in the battle of Karbala.

Nov 4, 2014

Curfew imposed in Srinagar ahead of Muharram

Srinagar, Nov 4 (ANI): Even as a complete shutdown is being observed in several parts of the Kashmir valley, Muharram processions would be taken out amid tight security in the state on Tuesday. Security personnel are manning the streets in Srinagar and shops and businesses have been shut down. More than 6,000 police personnel and several drones with live satellite feed would patrol and guard the city so that mourners can observe the Muharram peacefully. The processions would be taken out amid water-tight security, as Shi'ite Muslim mourners indulge in self flagellation, to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad. Since 1989, Muharram processions have been banned in Srinagar after a pro-independence revolt started in Kashmir.

Nov 4, 2014

Politicos slam TMC after its MLA accuses party workers of extortion in Burdwan

New Delhi, Nov 4 (ANI): Politicos from rival parties slammed the TMC government in West Bengal after a party MLA Tapan Chatterjee accused that some of his party workers in Burdwan have been extorting money from businessmen. Chatterjee was shown making the claims in a video which was shown on a TV channel.

Nov 4, 2014

Delhi Government formation: LG sends status report to MHA

New Delhi, Nov 4 (ANI): Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung on Tuesday sent a status report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) over government formation in Delhi. Jung had held consultations with the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the Raj Niwas to explore the possibility of government formation in Delhi on Monday. In the meeting, all the parties had expressed their inability to form the government in Delhi. Delhi has been under President's Rule since February after Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government stepped down after 49 days in power.

Nov 4, 2014

Politicos condemn UP transport minister for taking family on govt-sponsored study tour to Brazil

New Delhi/ Lucknow, Nov 04 (ANI): Political leaders on Tuesday condemned Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Durga Prasad Yadav for taking his family on a government sponsored study tour to Brazil. Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Pramod Tiwari said that the party and state government should come clean on who is funding for the expenses of his family members. BJP's Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that useless spending is in habit of Samajwadi party leaders. Meanwhile, BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadoria said that UP ministers are living a life of luxury on the common man's money and that this is like making fun of poor and downtrodden in the state.

Nov 4, 2014

Hooda challenges Haryana Govt on Vadra land deal case saying probe will fail to prove his involvemen

New Delhi/Haryana, Nov 4 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Tuesday after former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda challenged the Haryana government on Robert Vadra land deal case and said that the investigations would fail to prove his involvement in the case. BJP leader Sambit Patra said that BS Hooda should question the top brass of Congress about the state of the party rather than challenging the State and Central government. BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said that BS Hooda didn't act in the interest of Haryana government and hence lacks the right to challenge anyone. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that the government shouldn't take actions out of hatred as such actions would be hazardous for the country.

Nov 4, 2014

Awami League supporters hail Supreme Court's ruling on convicted war criminals

Dhaka, Nov 04 (ANI): Supporters and activists of the ruling Awami League party hailed Bangladesh Supreme Court's verdict of upholding the death penalty for Islamist leader, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, convicted for war crimes. In May last year, a special war crimes tribunal found Kamaruzzaman, an assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, guilty of genocide and torture of unarmed civilians during the 1971 war. Defence lawyers earlier in the day said they would file a petition for a review but state prosecutors said it was not an option. The tribunals have angered Islamists who call them a politically motivated bid to persecute the leadership of Jamaat and weaken the opposition.

Nov 4, 2014

Bhopal gas tragedy victims to start indefinite fast from November 10

Bhopal, Nov 04 (ANI): Victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy would begin an indefinite fast in New Delhi from November 10, pressuring the central government for additional compensation. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is one of the worst industrial disasters in history. It was 12 a.m. on December 3, 1984 when 40 tonnes of toxic Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, killing thousands and condemning thousands more to chronic illness. Recently, the victims were frustrated on the news of death of Warren Anderson, chief of Union Carbide, who did not face any trial for his crimes. An activist supporting the victims, Rachna Dhingra, said that the government should update the facts and figures of dead and injured victims so that compensation can be taken from Union Carbide Corporation.

Nov 4, 2014

Maoists gun down seven people in Jharkhand ahead of assembly polls

Ranchi, Nov 04 (ANI): Maoists gunned down seven people in poll-bound Jharkhand, said a senior police officer. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anurag Gupta said ultra belonged to banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI). Gupta refused to confirm identity of the deceased. Maoists, also known as Naxals, have killed police and politicians, and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since 1960s.

Nov 4, 2014

Organiser say World Economic Forum to reignite global interest in India

New Delhi/ Kolkata, Nov 04 (ANI): Indian edition of the World Economic Forum set to begin on Tuesday has generated a buzz among international investors and businesses about the country under the stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has promised to ease rules to attract investments into the economy, organisers say. The India Economic Summit is being organised by World Economic Forum, in partnership with the leading industry body the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi from 4-6 November. Speaking ahead of the summit, Chandrajit Banerjee, one of the organiser and Director General of the CII, said that the current edition would help not only India to attract investment but would also help forge an understanding of the global perspective on India. Banerjee added that there was a newfound excitement around India now.

Nov 4, 2014

Indian army ensures safe assembly polls in JandK, tightens security

Srinagar, Nov 04 (ANI): Indian army ensured water tight security and round the clock vigil in Kashmir ahead of assembly polls after a suicide bomber blew himself up near Wagah border on the Pakistan side, killing almost 60 people and injuring several others. The five-phase polls in Jammu and Kashmir will begin on November 25 and end on December 20. The results would be announced on December 23. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a response to the Pakistani army's actions against their positions in tribal areas straddling Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. General, ST Upasni, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Victor Force, said the security has been beefed up after the Wagah border incident and the forces will ensure safe elections in Kashmir.

Nov 4, 2014

Haryana's legislative committee to probe Robert Vadra's illegal land dealings

Chandigarh/ New Delhi/ Dehradun, Nov 04 (ANI): Haryana's legislative committee will look into the improper land dealings of Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, Robert Vadra, said the state Health Minister Anil Vij after the first cabinet meeting. The DLF is accused of arranging favourable loans and real estate transactions for Vadra, which the company denied. Vij said that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would probe into the allegations following which action will be taken. Vadra's land dealings were stirred up once again when on late Saturday night, he was caught on camera misbehaving with a journalist who inquired about his land dealings. However, defending Vadra, Congress leader Ambika Soni said that the privacy of a private citizen must be respected and nobody will object if the state government will conduct a probe into the matter.

Nov 4, 2014

Pak performs border flag ceremony even as India cancels it in wake of Wagah border blast

Attari, Nov 04 (ANI): India cancelled while Pakistan performed the retreat ceremony at Wagah border on after a suicide attack killed almost 60 people on the Pakistani side. India's home ministry had earlier said the daily flag-lowering ceremony would be suspended at Wagah-Attari border as a mark of respect for the dead - the first time the parade would have been called off since the two countries went to war in 1971. But later Pakistani officials changed their mind and deciding to go ahead with the ritual to send a message to the militants. Meanwhile, India- Pakistan cross border land trade was suspended in the wake of the suicide blast. Traders said they were hopeful that business between the two sides will be resumed soon. At least 60 people were killed and around 110 wounded when the explosion ripped through a car park about 500 metres (yards) from Pakistan's border gate just as hundreds of people left the daily flag-lowering ceremony.

Nov 4, 2014