Politics

It happens: Hindus mark second Shravan Monday with special prayers and offerings

Varanasi, July 25 (ANI): Carrying assortment of religious offerings, devout Hindus thronged lord Shiva temples in north India to offer special prayers, as they marked the auspicious second Monday of month long 'Shravan' festival. The devotees on Monday gathered in large numbers to offer milk, curd, ghee, honey and holy water to Lord Shiva in wee hours of morning. Long queues of people waiting with assortment of religious offerings like joss sticks, red vermilion and flowers were seen outside the temples. The saffron-clad devotees of Lord Shiva known as Kanwaria take their foot journey to the Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River. Raj Kumar Yadav, one among the Kanwarias said that during this month long Shravan festival, believers perform rituals and make offerings especially on Monday because it is considered auspicious for bringing peace and prosperity to every household. According to the Hindu calendar, Shravan is the fifth holy month and Shravani mela begins on Shravan Amavasya, no moon day in Shravan month and ends on Shravan purnima, full moon day in Shravan month. Devotees come to sought blessing of Lord Shiva for peace and prosperity of their families. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, during the month devotee

Jul 25, 2014

Country will not have to Wait for Long to Bring Back Black Money, Says Jaitley

India will not have to wait for long to bring back the black money stashed in foreign banks by some individuals, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley indicated on Friday, 25 July.

Jul 25, 2014

Security forces seize arms and ammunition from militant hideout in Kashmir

Doda, July 24 (ANI): Indian security forces busted a militant hideout in Kashmir_s Doda district and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the area. A joint operation was launched by a branch of Indian army, Rashtriya Rifles, and state police after intelligence inputs. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohammed Sharif Chouhan said it was an old militant hideout which was busted. During the raid, the security forces also seized country-made pistol, two country-made guns, PIKA ammunition, grenades and various other ammunitions. The Kashmir region has witnessed numerous militant attacks, insurgency and infiltration attempts from across the border in the last two decades.

Jul 25, 2014

BJP President Amit Shah meets Rajasthan MPs

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): BJP President Amit Shah on Friday met the Members of Parliament from Rajasthan at New Delhi's Rajasthan Bhawan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje was also present at the meeting. Raje said that it is good that the party president met all the MPs from the state and discussed on various issues. Amit Shah was anointed as the BJP's new president earlier this month.

Jul 25, 2014

India bags seven medals on first day of 2014 Commonwealth Games

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): Indian athletes got off to a good start at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as they bagged seven medals over all on the first day of the games. 25-year-old Sukhen Dev bagged the gold in the men's category in weightlifting with 20- year-old Sanjita Khumukcham also claiming the gold medal in the women's weightlifting category. 19-year-old weightlifter Mirabai Chanu Saikhom claimed the silver medal after her counterpart Khumukcham, while their 21-year-old male counterpart Ganesh Mali bagged the bronze medal in weightlifting. Meanwhile, in Judo, Navjot Channa claimed the silver medal in the male devision, while Shushila Likmabam and Kalpana Thoudam bagged the silver and bronze medal respectively in the female category.

Jul 25, 2014

Constable shoots wife dead, attempts suicide in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, July 25 (ANI): A police constable allegedly shot dead his wife near the gate of a Government Multi-specialty Hospital in Chandigarh on Friday, before turning the gun on himself. The constable reportedly fired seven rounds at his wife who was an employee at the hospital. She died on the spot. Later, he tried to commit suicide but survived. Another woman also sustained bullet injuries in the shooting. She is believed to be out of danger.

Jul 25, 2014

Political leaders on UPSC language row

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): Political leaders on Friday reacted over Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) civil services examination aspirants, who are protesting against the C-SAT (Aptitude Test). The police detained the protesters near Rail Bhawan in the Capital. Civil services aspirants have been demanding the scrapping of Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT), calling it discriminatory against students with humanities subjects and those who had their subjects in Hindi language.

Jul 25, 2014

UPSC Protest: Police detain protesters, 3 metro stations likely to be shut

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): Police detained protesters protesting against UPSC demanding to scrap the CSAT in examination pattern, which is obstructing the Hindi medium students from getting selected. ACP of New Delhi SBS Tyagi said that forces were deployed to stop the agitated protesters. Police have also appealed to shut three metro stations considering the intense protest. Police used violent measures and beat protesters resisting to be detained and nearly 100 protesters have been detained. Protesting aspirants had said that the agitation will continue and demanded the removal of CSATs. The students argued that the questions asked in language comprehension skills are asked in English and no Hindi translations are provided.

Jul 25, 2014

BJP Parliamentary Board to Drop Ananth Kumar from Panel?

Narendra Modi hosted dinner at his residence for the first time for RSS leaders, prior to which the party reportedly decided to remove one member from its top decision-making body.

Jul 25, 2014

Sushma Swaraj hails return of workers, nurses from strife-torn Iraq

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): India's Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, on Friday hailed the return of workers and nurses who were abducted by suspected Islamist militants in Iraq. The 46 nurses, all from Kerala, had been stranded in a hospital in the militant-controlled city of Tikrit for weeks but were moved on July 03 against their will, India's foreign ministry had said. Recently, 17 more Indian nurses, who were stranded in Iraq, arrived in Kerala. Swaraj said around 4, 000 Indians have been brought back from Iraq. Meanwhile, Swaraj also lauded the government for making special arrangements to bring them back from strife-torn Iraq.

Jul 25, 2014

France announces 11 million euros in aid for Gaza

President Francois Hollande announced on Thursday an 11-million-euro ($14.8 million) aid package to the besieged Gaza Strip, where an Israeli military offensive has left more than 700 people dead. Duration: 01:54

Jul 25, 2014

Reactions flow as Goa CM comments on safety of women in UP

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): Political reactions flowed after Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar commented upon the safety of women in Uttar Pradesh saying that women disappear in UP after 6 PM. NCP leader Majid Memon said that UP is a large state and although law and order is disturbed such statements should not be made. SP leader Naresh Agarwal condemned the statement saying that Goa CM should bother about his state. CPI leader Atul Anjan stated that Parrikar should send his wife and daughter to Lucknow and see if they disappear after 6 PM.

Jul 25, 2014

Both parties trying to save alliance: Majid Memon on Congress-NCP alliance

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): NCP leader Majid Memon on Friday reacted over Congress-NCP alliance row over seat sharing in Maharashtra elections. Memon said that NCP is stronger as compared to Congress in terms of candidates winning elections so Congress should not consider itself as a higher ally. He added that NCP and Congress are equal as an alliance and both the parties are trying hard to save the alliance.

Jul 25, 2014

India Fumes as Pakistan Adjourns 26/11 Trial Again, Summons Pak Diplomat

This is the seventh adjournment of the trial, which has now been pushed to 3 September and India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest.

Jul 25, 2014

BJP_s Nishikant Dubey says black money won_t come back, Politicos react

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): Political leaders on Friday reacted a day after BJP leader Nishikant Dubey said in the presence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that black money won___t come back. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that the BJP government should give answer on the black money issue. NCP leader Majid Memon also condemned the present government for false promises. CPI___s Atul Anjan also mocked the BJP___s and Ramdev___s promise to work on and bring back the black money. Meanwhile, BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi still maintained that the government will bring the money back.

Jul 25, 2014