Politics

Court pronounces life imprisonment to Sher Singh Rana in Phoolan Devi murder case

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): A Delhi court on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to Sher Singh Rana in 2001 bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi murder case. While delivering its judgement, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Rana. Public Prosecutor Manisha Sharma said that they demanded death sentence from the court as it was pre planned murder, but the court refrained from the same. On August 08, the court convicted Rana, who gunned down Phoolan Devi, allegedly avenging the 1981 Behmai massacre in which she killed 17 people of the Thakur community.

Aug 14, 2014

BSF, Pakistan Rangers exchange sweets at Wagah Border on Pakistan_s Independence Day

Wagah Border, Aug 14 (ANI): On the occasion of Pakistan_s 68th Independence Day, Border Security Force personnel exchanged sweets and offered their good wishes to personnel of the Pakistan Rangers. The Independence Day of Pakistan was also celebrated at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi earlier today. The Pakistani National flag was hoisted by the Pakistan_s High Commissioner, Abdul Basit, before he addressed the gathering.

Aug 14, 2014

Petrol prices to be reduced by Rs.2.18 per litre from Friday

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): The Indian Oil Corporation will reduce petrol prices by Rs.2.18 per litre in Delhi from Friday post-midnight. The price of petrol in the capital will be Rs.70.33 per litre. The cut in the retail price of petrol is about three percent. The Company also said that the cut is being undertaken owing to a reduction in international crude oil prices. Three state-run fuel retailers - IOC, BPCL and HPCL - tend to move their prices together. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted, _Price of Petrol will be reduced from midnight of 14/15 August 2014 in the range of Rs.1.89-2.38 (Rs 2.18/litre at Delhi)._ The price of petrol was last reduced by Rs.1.09 per litre on July 31, while the price of diesel was hiked by 50 paise per litre.

Aug 14, 2014

NIC launches its e greetings portal

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the E-Greetings portal of National Informatics Centre (NIC) from his residence on Thursday.

Aug 14, 2014

BJP MLA and son attack toll booth staff in Morena

Morena, Aug 14 (ANI): BJP MLA Rustom Singh and his son Rakesh Singh were caught on CCTV footage attacking toll booth staff in Morena area of Madhya Pradesh. The incident took place late Wednesday night when Singh was returning from Gwalior to Morena. The staff of NH 3 Toll Booth was allegedly attacked as they asked for toll from the MLA. The CCTV footage showed recording of the MLA_s car trying to run over the toll staff and later the staff being badly beaten. Meanwhile, In-Charge of Civil Lines Police Station, Amit Singh said that a case has been registered against the toll staff for misbehaving with the MLA.

Aug 14, 2014

Pope in S. Korea on first Asia visit for 15 years

Pope Francis kicks off a five-day visit to South Korea fuelled by the Vatican_s desire to expand the Church in Asia despite challenges posed by governments like atheist China. Duration: 01:08

Aug 14, 2014

SC relaxes norms on Dahi Handi, allows participation of children above 12 years

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): In a relief for the Dahi Handi mandals in Mumbai, the Supreme Court has relaxed the norms and restrictions put by the Bombay High Court on formation of the human pyramids. The court has also said that children below the age of 12 cannot participate in it. The Bombay High Court had banned the children below 18 years of age from participating in the formation of human pyramids during the festival and had put a height limit of 20 feet to the pyramids. The order was issued after two boys, aged 14 and a 19, died last week in Mumbai during practice.

Aug 14, 2014

Congress, BJP indulge in blame game over communal violence, politicos react

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): Politicos on Thursday continued the blame game over the spurt in communal violence in the country recently. While, the Congress accused the BJP of inciting such violence, the BJP dismissed the accusation say the Congress is unnecessarily dragging its name into every controversy.

Aug 14, 2014

Snowden's New Leak: NSA behind 2-Day Syrian Internet Outage Blamed on Assad

Edward Snowden has revealed that NSA was behind the 2012 two-day internet outage in Syria, which was blamed on Assad.

Aug 14, 2014

Terror and Friendship cannot go together: Venkaiah Naidu on Pak Statement

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Venkaiah Naidu, on Thursday condemned the cross-statement of Pakistan_s Foreign Ministry claiming to develop friendly relations with India. Responding to PM Narendra Modi_s statement about Pak indulging in proxy wars of terrorism, Pakistan Foreign Ministry had considered the statement as unfortunate after efforts are being made to develop friendly relations between both countries. Naidu said that Pakistan should understand that terror and friendship cannot go together.

Aug 14, 2014

Venkaiah Naidu holds RSS Raksha Bandhan function at his residence

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): Bhartiya Janata Party_s Members of Parliament on Thursday attended the RSS Raksha Bandhan function held at Union minister Venkaiah Naidu _s residence. BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Manoj Tiwari, Prakash Javadekar were present at the function. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Manmohan Vaidya was also seen in attendance.

Aug 14, 2014

Jitan Ram Manjhi says corruption prevails in Bihar, draws mixed reactions

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has conceded that corruption prevails in Bihar. Reacting over this LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan said that nothing can be more shameful than the CM saying he paid bribe. BJP leader Kirti Azad said that he is happy that atleast the CM of Bihar came out with the truth that there is corruption in Bihar. Congress leader Manish Tewari also said that if Manjhi has admitted to corruption then he should also be ready to face the consequences.

Aug 14, 2014

Jet Airways Bhopal New Delhi flight aborted after engine catches fire

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): A Bhopal bound Jet Airways flight's engine caught fire on Thursday morning while taking off from Delhi. All the passengers were evacuated safely. Speaking over this, Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that there was a fire incident and now every body is safe. He further said that investigation is going on.

Aug 14, 2014

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill to be introduced in RS

New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): The Judicial Appointments Bill which was passed unanimously in Lok Sabha on Wednesday will be introduced in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. On one hand, Political leaders hope that the bill shall be passed in the Upper House too but on the other some think that the bill should have been discussed more. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that the government should have given more time for discussion over the Bill. NCP leader Tariq Anwar said that he hoped the Bill shall be passed in Rajya Sabha. SP leader Naresh Agarwal stated that after some amendments required in the bill it shall be passed in Rajya Sabha.

Aug 14, 2014

India under tight security blanket ahead of Independence Day

Srinagar /Imphal /Agartala, Aug 14 (ANI): Security has been beefed up across India on Thursday as thousands of police and paramilitary personnel kept a hawk-eyed vigil to thwart any possible threats ahead of Independence Day. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed at the airport, market places, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and metro stations in major Indian cities. Parking lots in the Delhi Metro stations have been closed from today till the next afternoon due to security measures. Tight security blanket has also been thrown in Srinagar city of Jammu and Kashmir as armed paramilitary personnel and police guard stand outside the Bakshi Stadium, the main venue of the Independence Day function. Public relation officer of India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Kishore Prasad, said three-tier security arrangement has been made in the valley.

Aug 14, 2014