Politics

Locust plague descends on Madagascan capital

A thick grey swarm of locusts engulfed Madagascar's capital on Thursday, sending children scuttling and causing florists to burn tyres in panic. Duration: 00:55

Aug 29, 2014

Film Maker Ashok Pandit condemns Ram Gopal Verma's tweet

Mumbai, Aug 29 (ANI): Film Maker Ashok Pandit on Friday condemned Ram Gopal Verma for his tweet on Ganesha Chaturthi. Pandit said that strong action should be taken against Verma for dishonouring the religion and festival of Ganesha Chaturthi. Verma had tweeted that Ganesha could not save his own head from being cut, so how he can save his followers' heads.

Aug 29, 2014

BJP exploring dubious means to form government in Delhi: AAP

New Delhi, Aug 29 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday (August 29) alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was exploring dubious means to form government in Delhi. AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said that the BJP was trying to poach members of legislative assembly (MLA) to shore up its strength in 70-member house. He added that BJP could misuse Lieutenant Governor Najib Jung office to achieve its objective. Delhi has been under President's rule since February when AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal resigned from the post of chief minister after his 49-day-old government failed to table its Jan Lokpal Bill in the state assembly. The assembly has been under suspended animation ever since and no party has staked a claim to form the government.

Aug 29, 2014

UP to have fast track courts in every district: Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow, Aug 29 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, during a state cabinet meeting on Friday announced that a fast track court would be set up in every district for cases related to violence against women. The state government has come under attack for turning a blind eye on the growing lawlessness in the state. The state, infamous for the dreadful law and order situation, has come under attack for the spate of violence and sex crimes in the recent past, especially after two girls were gang-raped and hanged from a tree in Badaun district.

Aug 29, 2014

Former Haryana Congress leader Birender Singh joins BJP

New Delhi, Aug 29 (ANI): Former Congress leader Chaudhary Birender Singh on Friday joined the BJP. 67-year-old Singh is a Rajya Sabha MP, who had openly revolted against Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, he said that the BJP will win the upcoming Haryana assembly elections with full majority.

Aug 29, 2014

Aircel-Maxis deal case: CBI chargesheets Maran brothers

New Delhi, Aug 29 (ANI): The CBI on Friday filed a chargesheet in the Maxis-Aircel case in the CBI special court hearing the 2G scam. Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and six others, including four companies, were chargesheeted by the CBI. Besides the Maran brothers, the CBI has named Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan, Ralph Marshall, a top executive and four companies, including Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd and Malaysia's Maxis Communication Berhad, as accused in the case.

Aug 29, 2014

It Happens: Kolkata Art exhibition

Kolkata, August 29 (ANI): An exhibition of paintings in Kolkata showcased tribal and ethnic art forms of different regions of India. The exhibition called ‘Art of the Tribal Folk’ featured the work of 21 artists from Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. For the artists, their work is a reflection of their heritage passed down from generation to generation. Folklore, aboriginal and religious beliefs feature in each of the paintings. Organiser of the event, Surva Choudhary, said while originally most paintings were made using natural substances like turmeric and henna on mud surfaces, modern day painters use other materials. Traditionally, these pictographs were made during festive occasions. They served multiple purposes like appeasing of gods, promoting fertility, warding off evil spirits and preventing disease. Now they have evolved into narratives with religious and sometimes contemporary themes.In bringing together various art forms from different parts of India, ‘Art of the Tribal Folk’ aims to preserve not only the traditions of such art forms but also the plurality of Indian culture.

Aug 29, 2014

It Happens: Kashmir Book Fair

Srinagar, August 29 (ANI): The National book fair held in the 'Kashmir Haat' ground in Srinagar city of Kashmir which attracted thousands of book lovers, promises to make future generations of the valley aware of the history, culture and heritage of the country. The biggest national book fair has been organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Academy for Art, Culture and Languages, Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) and District Administration Srinagar. Organiser of the Book Fair, Vijender Kumar, said that the fair has received a great response.

Aug 29, 2014

Police arrest Muslim boy for masquerading as Hindu and exploiting Hindu girl in Jharkhand

Chatra, Aug 29 (ANI): Police arrested a Muslim boy for masquerading as Hindu and sexually exploiting a Hindu woman in Chatra district of Jharkhand. Police said Ehsan Aalam presented himself as Sonu Singh and sexually exploited the woman who is pregnant with an eight-month-old child. Police arrested the accused after conducting a series of raids after girl's father Ram Singh registered a case of kidnapping, as the couple had eloped. The incident has led to anger among different communities.

Aug 29, 2014

Case registered against Jagmohan Dalmiya for dishonouring national flag

Kolkata, Aug 29 (ANI): A case has been registered against the President of Cricket Association of Bengal, Jagmohan Dalmiya, for dishonouring the national flag on Independence Day celebrations. The petitioner said that he had filed a petition and an FIR has been lodged in Maidan Police Station of Kolkata against Dalmiya. He added that he had clicked pictures of the national flag lying on the floor and being disrespected.

Aug 29, 2014

LG Najeeb Jung likely to invite single largest party to choose a CM and end Delhi's deadlock, politi

New Delhi, Aug 29 (ANI): According to reports Lieutenant Governor (LG) is likely to write to President Pranab Mukherjee discussing alternatives on government formation in Delhi. Jung's recommendation will go through the home ministry to the Union Cabinet, which will then advise the President. The President can accept or reject that advice. If he accepts it, the single largest party will be asked to name its leader who will then be invited to take over as chief minister. Meanwhile, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said his party will react to the ongoing speculation about government formation in Delhi only after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung takes a final call on the issue. Hussain said the people of Delhi want this political deadlock to end.

Aug 29, 2014