Politics

Railway budget 2014-15: Highlights Part - 1

New Delhi, July 08 (ANI): Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda on Tuesday presented the Railway Budget for fiscal 2014-15 in the Lok Sabha. Gowda said that the government is targeting to become the largest freight carrier in the world. He said that Indian Railways is starved of funds despite 100 percent advance payment by customers. Now it_s time to take corrective actions, fare revision was one such step. He added that there is need to FDI except Railway operations, need to have Private Public Partnership to improve Railways. There is also need to explore new opportunities and to involve private funding in infrastructure development. He proposed WiFi systems on all A1 category stations, retiring rooms on all stations, bullet trains for which Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector has been identified. Keeping in mind the security of women, he said that 4,000 women RPF personnel will be deployed.

Jul 8, 2014

Sonia says Congress entitled to LoP post in LS, politicos react

New Delhi, July 08 (ANI): The Congress has drafted a four-page letter stating the reasons why its leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge should be given the Leader of the Opposition status. The party is planning to send the letter to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan even as it is circulating a memorandum articulating its case for the post among pre-poll allies in the UPA. Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi made a strong pitch for the party being given the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, contending that it is the single largest party in the opposition. Reacting over this, political leaders said that Congress should get Leader of Opposition post

Jul 8, 2014

Preliminary results put Ghani ahead in Afghanistan

Kabul, July 8 (ANI): Ashraf Ghani has garnered 56 percent of last month_s election run-off in Afghanistan. Ghani_s opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, pulled 43 percent of the vote. Abdullah_s camp rejected the results as a _coup_ against the people. The Independent Election Commission, however, is calling for patience. The chairman maintains the results could still change.The final official numbers are expected to come out July 22.

Jul 8, 2014

Politicos react over reports of RSS leader Ram Madhav possibly joining BJP

New Delhi, July 8 (ANI): Reports of RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav_s joining BJP, drew reaction from politicos who said that BJP is a political wing of Sangh. According to sources, RSS leader Ram Madhav has been deputed by the Sangh to work in BJP where he is expected to be given a role by the new party president.

Jul 8, 2014

Jharkhand Police rescue children from Maoists

West Singhbhum, July 08 (ANI): Police in red corridor of Jharkhand rescued 11 children as they were being trafficked to a Maoist camp for training. Among the rescued children, five are girls and the rest six are boys. Superintendent of Police (SP), west Singhbhum, Narendra Kumar Singh said the arrested rebel identified as Samuel has admitted that he was taking the children to a Maoist camp for training. The United Nations in its report in year 2013 has expressed concern over the killing of children who are recruited as human shields by Maoists.

Jul 8, 2014

Sustenance of economy depends on Railways, work on bullet trains should start for long term goal: Si

New Delhi, July 08 (ANI): Siemens Executive Vice-President Tilak Raj Seth on Tuesday said that the sustenance of economy largely depends on Railways. He said that the gap between demand and supply especially of Railways has been widening over the years and that travel of passengers needs to be enhanced. Seth also said that work on plans of bullet trains needs to be started now so that it reaches a point after 5-7 years.

Jul 8, 2014

Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda reaches Parliament, to present rail budget soon

New Delhi, July 8 (ANI): Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda reached Parliament all set to present his maiden rail budget on Tuesday. Gowda, accompanied by Minister of States for Railways, Manoj Sinha, left Rail Bhavan following a BJP Parliamentary meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. Earlier, Gowda left his home at 9 am to take part in the BJP Parliamentary board meeting after which he reached Rail Bhavan. Gowda will present his maiden Rail Budget at 12 noon in Lok Sabha. The Railway Minister tweeted saying, _Going to present my maiden budget as a atRailMinIndia minister today. Hope we are able to meet public expectations._ Gowda is going to present the first Railway Budget of the Narendra Modi government amid high expectations that he will offer bold plans to improve the service.

Jul 8, 2014

Railway tracks should be improved before bringing high speed trains: AR Chowdhury

New Delhi, July 08 (ANI): Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday said that before introducing bullet trains the railway tracks must be improved. He said that though UPA government faced difficulties in taking steps regarding Railways but worked for its improvement. The Railway Budget for 2014-15 will be presented today by Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and is expected to deliver a slew of new measures like bullet trains and speedier commute.

Jul 8, 2014

BJP Parliamentary meet ends, PM Modi said ready to debate on all issues: Javadekar

New Delhi, July 08 (ANI): As BJP___s Parliamentary meet ends Tuesday, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that PM Narendra Modi said that the government is ready to debate on all issues. He said that Modi also appealed that opposition does not create hindrance in the functioning of the Parliament like yesterday and all the major issues will be discussed. The meeting was held ahead of Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda is to present the Rail Budget.

Jul 8, 2014

Expectations poured in as Sadanand Gowda is to present maiden Rail Budget

Bhopal/ Nagpur, July 8 (ANI): As Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda is to present his maiden rail budget on Tuesday, Indians expected improved facilities, nominal fares and safe travel. Majority of people see the railways, which transport an estimated 25 million people each day, as a service for the _common man_. In Kerala, daily commuters said they expected Narendra Modi-led government to charge normal fares and enhanced facilities. India_s railway network is one of the world_s largest, but years of low investment and populist policies to subsidise fares at affordable levels have crimped growth in new lines and hindered private investment.

Jul 8, 2014

Red cross begins air drops in South Sudan

The Red Cross begins its first air drops for nearly two decades, hoping to reach hundreds of thousands of starving people in crisis-hit South Sudan. Duration 01:37

Jul 8, 2014

Railway Budget: AP, Telangana Hope to Get New Trains, Lines; Bangalore May Get Commuter Trains

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are hoping for several new railway lines, introduction of new trains completion of several pending rail projects from the new rail budget.

Jul 8, 2014

Government would ensure continuous flow of River Ganges: Uma Bharti

New Delhi, July 8 (ANI): India_s minister for water resources and river development, Uma Bharti has said that earlier there was lack of coordination between departments for carrying out river cleaning project but now Prime Minister Narendra Modi_s government will ensure uninterrupted and clean flow of River Ganges. Speaking at an event, _Ganga Manthan_ in New Delhi, Bharti said Modi-led government will work with full sincerity on the outcome of this dialogue. She added there won_t be any shortage of funds for the Ganges cleaning campaign.

Jul 8, 2014

UK ministers seek deals on first India visit since Modi_s election

Mumbai, July 8 (ANI): Two of Britain_s most senior government ministers- finance minister, George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague, began a two-day visit to India hoping to open up opportunities in the defence and infrastructure sectors, the first such trip since Prime Minister Narendra Modi_s May election win. Osborne expressed UK_s interest in investing in infrastructure projects in India while addressing a news conference in western Mumbai city on Monday (July 07). London also wants British firms to help India develop new cities and districts along a 1,000 km (600 mile) corridor between Mumbai and southern Bangalore city. The arrival of Osborne and Hague, is the latest in a series of high-profile visits by foreign governments keen to build strong relations with Modi and to position themselves for a possible further opening up of India_s defence industry.

Jul 8, 2014

Assam_s students_ union opposes govt_s move to restart dam project along Assam-Arunachal border

Guwahati, July 8 (ANI): The All Assam Students_ Union (AASU) staged a protest in Guwahati city of Assam, opposing any move by the central government to resume construction of hydroelectric project along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The protesters resisted reconstruction of 2,000-MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation at Gerukamukh. India_s power minister, Piyush Goyal, had announced that work on the dam project would resume within a week. Members of the student union took to streets asking Narendra Modi-led government to honour the opinion of experts on safety of the dam as well as downstream impact.

Jul 8, 2014