Politics

India's Modi makes landmark visit to disputed Kashmir

Narendra Modi visits the disputed area of Kashmir, where he will become the first Indian prime minister in 15 years to visit the Siachen glacier -- dubbed the world's highest battlefield. Duration: 00:41

Aug 12, 2014

Traders protest against load shedding in PoK

Kotli, PoK, August 12: Pakistan occupied Kashmir is on the boil yet again… The prolonged power cuts and inflated utility bills have brought traders on to the roads.

Aug 12, 2014

Phoolan Devi murder case: Decision to be pronounced on August 14

New Delhi, Aug 12 (ANI): The decision on Phoolan Devi murder case will be pronounced on August 14. A court on Tuesday reserved its order on the quantum of sentence against main accused Sher Singh Rana, convicted for killing bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi. Delhi Police has demanded death penalty for Rana. Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Parashar fixed Aug 14 for delivering the order on the quantum of sentence against Rana. On Aug 8, the court convicted Rana, who gunned down Phoolan Devi, to avenge the 1981 Behmai massacre in which she killed 17 people of the higher caste Thakur community.

Aug 12, 2014

Politicos react after Sonia Gandhi attacks Modi government over communal violence

New Delhi, Aug 12 (ANI): Launching a scathing attack on Narendra Modi Government, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said there has been an increase in communal violence in the country since it came to power and alleged this was part of a _deliberate_ attempt to divide the people. Politicos gave mixed reaction on the same.New Delhi, Aug 12 (ANI): Launching a scathing attack on Narendra Modi Government, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said there has been an increase in communal violence in the country since it came to power and alleged this was part of a _deliberate_ attempt to divide the people. Politicos gave mixed reaction on the same.

Aug 12, 2014

Floods in Odisha leave villagers marooned

Odisha, Aug 12 (ANI): People in Odisha continued to face difficulties as floods triggered by heavy rain marooned residents of 15 villages in Sonepur district on Tuesday. Floods triggered by days of heavy rain in Odisha have killed 45 people and left more than 300,000 people cut off from basic services. More than 300 villages in the state have been left surrounded by floodwater, after major rivers such as the Mahanadi, burst their banks submerging large swathes of farmland, immersing roads and sweeping away bridges. More than 100,000 people had made their way to government relief camps where they were receiving shelter and cooked meals. Block Development Officer of Birmaharajpur, Basanta Kumar Majhi, said government was ready to provide relief to people.

Aug 12, 2014

Sushma Swaraj launches website to track information on death of nationals overseas

New Delhi, Aug 12 (ANI): Union Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, launched a website to facilitate exchange of updated information on the status of return of bodies of citizens to the country in case of death overseas.Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi on Tuesday, Swaraj said relatives in India have to face a lot of inconvenience due to lack of information if their loved ones, living in other countries, die due to some reason. She said that they are usually unaware on when the bodies will return and approach her inquiring about the same. In a bid to facilitate an easy flow of information between the missions abroad and kin over tracking bodies, the foreign ministry came up with the idea. The website has been created by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and will be taken forward by the foreign ministry.

Aug 12, 2014

Communal Clashes 'Deliberately Orchestrated' by BJP, Says Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi claimed that the party in power, BJP, deliberately orchestrated hundreds of communal violence across India after forming government at the center.

Aug 12, 2014

Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana not Parts of India, Says TRS MP Kavitha

Telangana MP Kavitha has been booked for sedition for saying Jammu & Kashmir and Telangana are not parts of India.

Aug 12, 2014

Relatives hail bus service as they bid farewell to Pakistani residents crossing border in Kashmir

Poonch, Aug 12 (ANI): Friends and relatives bid farewell to Pakistani residents as they crossed the border in Kashmir to return home, hailing the bus service introduced by the governments to enhance friendly relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours. At least 23 residents of Pakistan crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in the Chakan Da Bagh area of Poonch Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. A resident of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Nazeer Begum said bus services along the border should continue to help them meet their dear ones. A resident of Gujranwala district in Punjab state of Pakistan, Usma Rehman expressed gratitude towards the government for facilitating cross-border bus service.

Aug 12, 2014

Rajnath says all efforts on to arrest Dawood Ibrahim, politicos react

New Delhi, Aug 12 (ANI): Political leaders on Tuesday reacted over union home minister Rajnath Singh_s statement on fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Singh said that the government is making every effort to Dawood, who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan. The Congress rubbished Singh_s statement and said the government is just showing off. However, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, said if the government could succeed in this task, there would be nothing better. NCP leader Majid Memon, also shared similar sentiments and welcomed the idea.

Aug 12, 2014

Rise in communal violence after BJP came to power: Sonia

Trivandrum, Aug 12 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday while addressing the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Executive Meet in Trivandrum hit out at the Narendra Modi government over the rising incidents of communal violence in the country

Aug 12, 2014

Palestinian sources have said that the 3-day truce which is currently underway in the Gaza strip could be extended to another 72 hours

Gaza Conflict: Truce May be Extended to Another 72 Hours as Peace Talks Stall

Palestinian sources claim that the three-day truce, which is currently underway in the Gaza strip, could be extended to another 72 hours.

Aug 12, 2014

Narendra Modi visits Kargil, says Government will improve connectivity there

Kargil, Aug 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited Kargil and said that it is his privilege that he was able to come here and meet all. He further said that this time he is hearing the sound of claps but when he had came earlier only sound of guns could be heard. He also said that his party is committed to enhancing connectivity in this region. He also said that in his Governance he won_t let officials ask for bribes or let people give bribes.

Aug 12, 2014

Government_s move to table new Judicial Appointments Bill draws mixed reactions

New Delhi/ Ahmedabad, Aug 12 (ANI): The government_s move to scrap the previous Bill on judicial appointments and introduce a new one in the Lok Sabha got mixed reactions from other political parties on Tuesday. Law minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, on Monday (August 11) tabled the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill in the Lok Sabha and it will replace the existing collegium system when it comes into effect. Earlier, Prasad had told the parliament the government was keen to set up a committee to appoint judges in wake of allegations of judicial corruption by a former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Markandey Katju. There is an overwhelming opinion to amend the present system where a collegium of five Supreme Court judge appoints their colleagues.

Aug 12, 2014

BJP praises Modi, rival leaders mock his Leh and Kargil visit

Lucknow/ Ahmedabad, Aug 12 (ANI): Opposition leaders on Tuesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who visited Leh and Kargil to inaugurate power projects. Addressing troops of Army and the Indian Air Force on his maiden trip to Leh and Ladakh, Modi condemned the continuing proxy war by Pakistan. However, Congress and Samajwadi Party questioned Modi_s promises of giving a befitting reply to Pakistan in case it violates the ceasefire or kills Indian soldiers at the border.

Aug 12, 2014