Politics

Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc in Shimla

Shimla, July 20 (ANI): Heavy rainfall over the past two days disrupted normal life in Shimla, with uprooted trees, mudfilled roads and power outages. The state's meteorological department had issued warnings for heavy rainfall on July 17. Shedding light on the situation in the city, Chief engineer of south zone, Shimla, M.S. Thakur, told reporters that the department is using all resources to bring the situation under control.

Jul 20, 2014

Politicos react on issue of government formation in Delhi

New Delhi, July 20 (ANI): Political leaders on Sunday reacted over the issue of government formation in Delhi which has created a tug-o-war between various political parties. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that BJP is not capable of forming government in Delhi because it lacks the required number of MLAs. NCP leader Tariq Anwar said that there is no other option than to hold fresh elections in Delhi to form a state government. Anwar also slammed the vote bank politics going on between AAP and Congress which has lead to a disturbed situation in the capital.

Jul 20, 2014

Reactions pour in after ceasefire violation at JandK's RS Pura reported

New Delhi, July 20 (ANI): Pakistani troops again resorted to violating ceasefire by firing on an outpost along the international border in RS Pura sector of Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir. The firing started at around 1:00 am in the night and lasted till morning 5:30 am. Reportedly, heavy firing took place at border villages including Gharna, Sai, Kaku De Kothey and Pindi villages. Due to landing of some mortar shells in the residential areas some animals died and some were left injured as well. Pakistan had targeted an Indian post in the same area on July 16 as well wherein an Indian soldier died and three others were injured.

Jul 20, 2014

Indian scientist claims Ukraine air crash tragedy an attempt to wage World War III

Coimbatore, July 20 (ANI): Indian scientist, Jayaprabhu, who claimed to have located the debris of the missing MH 370 airliner, said that the tragedy of MH 17 Boeing was to initiate a World War III by certain people. The Boeing 777, on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, came down in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, near the Russian border, on Thursday. Jayaprabhu said his theory concludes that this was either a threat operation or an operation carried out to suppress the global economy.

Jul 20, 2014

Politicos react as PM's relief fund to follow Gujarat model

New Delhi, July 20 (ANI): Politicos on Sunday reacted over Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had reviewed the functioning of the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and suggested several qualitative changes in the way the fund is managed. Modi said that that the Gujarat model should be emulated in selection of beneficiaries, giving priority to the poor and children.

Jul 20, 2014

Modi writes to Malaysian PM, condoles the loss of lives on board MH17

New Delhi, July 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Sri Mohammad Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, expressing his condolences on the loss of lives on board MH17. The Prime Minister said there is "justifiable outrage across the world and India fully supports efforts for an investigation that can help establish the exact circumstances" in which the incident took place. The Prime Minister also referred to the tragedy that befell Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 some months ago, mentioning that there is "still no closure" on that incident. A Malaysian airliner enroute to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam carrying 295 people on board was reportedly shot down in Ukraine near the Russian border.

Jul 20, 2014

Farmers fear drought- like situation due to poor monsoon

Faizabad, July 20 (ANI): Poor monsoon and scanty rains have caused distress among farmers of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh as they fear a drought- like situation. Delayed monsoon has raised the concerns of Indian farmers who are facing difficulty with the plantation of crops. A leader of State's Farmers' Union, Dev Narayan Singh, fretted over the scanty monsoon this year, adding, the prime time of farming is passing away.

Jul 20, 2014

Tea workers in Tripura get skill development training to enhance production

Tripura, July 19 (ANI): The northeast region is one of the main producers of tea in the country. In order to give a boost to the tea industry in Tripura, a training scheme for skill development of the tea workers was launched recently. Implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation through its various training partners, it aims to provide scientific knowledge to the traditional tea growers as well as to those interested in joining this sector. The one-month long training programme imparts skills on various aspects of growing tea, including the preparation of nurseries, choosing saplings, use of fertilizers and maximizing the yield. Upon completing the training, the trainees will be awarded with a certificate from the government and National Skill Development Corporation, along with a monetary reward. The scheme is a part of Standard Training Assessment and Rewards (STAR) and was launched by the government last year to encourage people to acquire skills for different job roles. The programme is expected to benefit over 10000 small tea growers of the state.

Jul 19, 2014

Parents' delegation meets Bangalore Commissioner regarding safety in school

Bangalore, July 19 (ANI): A delegation of parents on Saturday went to meet the Bangalore Commissioner regarding safety of students in schools after a six year old was allegedly raped in school premises. One of the parents said that the Commissioner assured them of improved safety measures for all students in schools.

Jul 19, 2014

Residents demand screening of Bollywood film on boxer Mary Kom in Manipur

Imphal, July 19 (ANI): The residents of Manipur demanded the screening of woman boxer, Mary Kom's biopic in her home state. The biopic of MC Mary Kom, five-time women's world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medalist, won't be screened due to a ban on Bollywood films in the state. Bollywood films were banned in the state over a decade ago by separatist organizations that felt the movies undermined Manipur's culture. However, people in Imphal said the movie should be screened as Kom hailed from Manipur and the film will be an inspiration to many.

Jul 19, 2014

London's heritage art gallery pays homage to World War I Sikh soldiers

London, July 19 (ANI): The UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) paid homage to World War I Sikh soldiers through an art exhibition organized in London commemorating their remarkable but largely forgotten contribution. The story of Sikh soldiers volunteered in World War I (WWI) is being showcased through original artefacts that include unpublished photographs, drawings, newspapers, comics, postcards, stunning works of art, uniforms, gallantry medals, and folk songs sung by the wives left at home. The exhibition titled “Empire, Faith and War: The Sikhs and World War One” is being held at the Brunei Gallery in London. Project Historian of the UK Punjab Heritage Association, Parmjit Singh, said the exhibition puts together the tales of Sikhs soldiers who fought in Great War and the stories of families they left behind.

Jul 19, 2014

AAP part of RSS, Kejriwal doing vote bank politics: Congress

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): DPCC Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday severely slammed the Aam Aadmi Party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal saying that the AAP is a part of RSS. Lovely added that Kejriwal is trying to do vote bank politics in order to help BJP gain power and deviate people's attention from Congress.

Jul 19, 2014

Hindu priests' apex body terms Shankaracharya Swaroopanand's anti-Saint remark as baseless

Shirdi, July 19 (ANI): A delegation of Hindu priests' apex body after visiting the revered Saint Sai Baba temple at Shirdi termed the recent controversial remark made by top Indian seer Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati as baseless. Condemning Swaroopanand's remark, the delegation said they monitored all the Hindu rituals being performed in the Sai Baba's temple very closely and did not find anything anti-ancient Hindu tradition. Taking a dig at Swami Swaroopanand, Swami Acharya Pramod Krishnam, one of the senior Hindu priests said the traditional rituals and routine followed by the temple do not violate norms of ancient Hindu customs.

Jul 19, 2014

Vice President says lawmaking serious for proper governance

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari called lawmaking a serious exercise for proper governance as he addressed orientation programme for newly elected members of upper house of the parliament on Saturday. Ansari acquainted the first time members of the upper house with roles, responsibilities and functioning of the parliament.

Jul 19, 2014

Uttarakhand witnesses flood like situation due to incessant rains

Uttarakhand, July 19 (ANI): Incessant rainfall in Uttarakhand flooded roads on Saturday and interrupted Hindu pilgrimage of Badrinath. Weather office has issued a warning for heavy rainfall in the state for next three days, while the official machinery has been put on high alert. The state has been receiving intermittent rains since monsoon has hit the region. Meanwhile, director of disaster management in Uttarakhand, Piyush Rautela, said devotees were stuck at various places but necessary arrangements were made for them.

Jul 19, 2014