Politics

Train fare hike effective from today, passengers demand justifiable services

Ahmedabad/Bhopal/ Hyderebad/ Chandigarh, June 25 (ANI): Passengers gave mixed reaction as the 14.2 percent increase in rail passenger fare and 6.5 percent hike in freight rates is to be effective from Wednesday. While some oppose the hike, thinking that the hike should justify the railway services, others think that it was necessary considering the loss the raliway was running at. A passenger from Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Rajesh Rana said that the hike should have been brought in stages and the sudden hike is unaffordable. Another passenger, Navinder Singh opposed the hike citing the deplorable state of services provided by the Indian railways including drinking water and cleanliness issues. India's railway network is one of the world's largest, but years of low investment and populist policies to subsidize fares at affordable levels have crimped growth in new lines. A passenger from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Rama Dubey said that the train fare hike along with price rise has turned a terror for the common people.

Jun 25, 2014

Railway Minister arrives in Patna to review Dibrugarh Express derailment site

Patna, June 25 (ANI): Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda arrived in Patna to take a stock of the accident site in Chhapra where the Delhi-Dibrugarh Express had derailed. The incident took place at 2:15 in the morning killing at least four people and injuring eight. Gowda has announced compensation of Rs two lakh for the deceased and Rs one lakh for those who were injured, although the Bihar government had questioned the compensation saying that the set amount should be Rs five lakh.

Jun 25, 2014

Dalit community stages protest demanding Nihal Chand's resignation

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): A huge crowd of Dalits staged a protest in front of Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence on Wednesday, against Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Nihal Chand, who has been accused in a rape case. BJP on Friday ruled out resignation of Chand after allegations of rape surfaced against him. The Dalit protesters tried to burn the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but were stopped by the police, who arrested many of them. The protesters shouted slogans against the Modi-led NDA government, blocking the traffic, and demanded immediate resignation of Chand until the trial finishes and also demanded that the trial should be completed within the next three months. Dalit leader, Chatthar Singh said that Modi had promised good days but are keeping a rapist as a minister in his cabinet, who should be removed from his post immediately.

Jun 25, 2014

Maharashtra CM Assures to Regularise Illegal Flats in Campa Cola Compound

The worried owners of 96 illegal flats in Mumbai's Campa Cola Compound society in Worli area have been assured of regularising their homes. The assurance has reportedly been given by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday.

Jun 25, 2014

Teachers in favour of FYUP enters second day of hunger strike

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): The teachers in favour of the Four-year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) entered the second day of their hunger strike on Wednesday following the continued tussle between the university and the University Grants Commission (UGC). Former DUTA President Aditya Narayan Mishra alleged that the HRD Ministry and the UGC are playing a game of coercion and trying to make the colleges into autonomous bodies. The University VC had resigned on Tuesday, the reports of which were negated by the Academic Council. The Council member Rajesh Jha said that the there should be rule of law and not the rule of mob. Meanwhile, students pursuing B. Tech course from the university under the FYUP also staged protest outside the UGC office demanding acceptance of the programme and not scrap the same.

Jun 25, 2014

Congress leaders protest in Nagpur, demand complete roll back of hiked train fares

Nagpur, June 25 (ANI): Leaders and members of the Congress party protested in Nagpur city of Maharashtra on Wednesday as they blocked trains shouting slogans against hike in train fares and demanded a complete rollback. Earlier on Tuesday, lawmakers from Mumbai met Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda to convey the strong sentiments of commuters using the suburban trains in Mumbai over steep fare hike. The government later agreed to the partial rollback, and announced that the recent hike of 14.2 per cent in passenger fares will not apply to second class suburban journey upto 80 kms, thus providing relief to lakhs of travellers. Local trains, a lifeline in the city, ferry more than six million commuters every day. In rest of the country, passenger fares have been increased by 14.2 percent, while freight charges have gone up by 6.5 percent respectively, eliciting people's outrage.

Jun 25, 2014

Politicos react as Narendra Modi's government completes one month in office

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): Politicos on Wednesday reacted over Narendra Modi's government which has completed one month in office. CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that the government in the past one month has only worsened the situation of the country. Congress leader Manish Tewari also said that in the last one month NDA government did exactly opposite of what they used to say while in opposition. To mark the completion of one month as the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi narrated directives for PMO bureaucrats to pay immediate attention to three different sectors and perform action as quickly as possible.

Jun 25, 2014

Rajdhani Express mishap: Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi rules out Maoist role

Patna, June 25 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday ruled out the involvement of Maoists in the Rajdhani Express derailment in Chapra which left four persons dead. Talking to mediapersons in Patna he ruled out "sabotage" by Maoists as the cause behind the derailment of the train. He said that the incident appears to be a result of "error" on the part of Railways. Manjhi also said that he spoke to Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda about the incident and also drew his attention towards announcement of ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the dead whereas the standard practice is to pay Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia in such cases. He questioned why a pilot engine was not run ahead of Rajdhani Express as per standard practise in the Maoists-hit region.

Jun 25, 2014

72 trains affected due to Dibrugarh train derailment

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): At least 72 trains have been affected due to the derailment of the Dibrugarh Express in the early hours of this morning, according to Additional Director General (ADG) PR, Railways, Anil Saxena. Adding to the woes of passengers, another 25 trains have been cancelled and many others diverted.

Jun 25, 2014

PM, President condoles death of people killed in Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani train mishap

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the death of people who were killed after the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express train derailed. PMO tweeted, "The PM has condoled the loss of lives due to the accident of the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express. He prays for the speedy recovery of the injured" Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee too expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express accident. In a message, the President has said "I am saddened to learn about the derailment of a train near Chhapra this morning, in which some persons have lost their lives and many others are injured. "I call upon the state government and railway authorities to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families as well as the best of medical attention to the injured," he said.

Jun 25, 2014

Politicos on Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derailment in Bihar

Chhapra/ New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): Politicos on Wednesday reacted over a railway accident in Chhapra city of Bihar. 11 compartments of Dibrugarh bound Delhi Rajdhani Express was derailed in Chapra. Railway Minister DV Sadanand Gowda has announced compensation for the families of those who were killed or injured in the accident.

Jun 25, 2014

ISIS fighters at a checkpoint in the northern Iraq city of Mosul

Iraq Crisis: US, UK Knew of ISIS Invasion Plan Since January?

Why did the US and the UK chose not to act, despite being warned of an impending ISIS invasion in Iraq?

Jun 25, 2014

Rajdhani Express Accident 'Gross Negligence' of Railway Ministry, Says Lalu

Lalu Prasad blamed the Railways Ministry for being negligence towards the Rajdhani Express derailment.

Jun 25, 2014

HC agreed to hear the FYUP case on July 1st

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): The High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the Four year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) case, but deferred it to July 1st. Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to intervene in the matter and had asked the High Court to hear the case. The Petitioner said that their plea is that the system of 10+2+3 should be complied by the Delhi University as by the other Universities and the directives of the UGC should be followed.

Jun 25, 2014