Politics

Badalta Manzar (March 13, 2014): An independent news report on Jammu and Kashmir

In a bid to promote education among poor and orphan girls, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya is providing free education to some 50 orphan girls from poor tribal families in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Besides education, free accommodation, books and stationary are also being provided to the girls. In the past ten years many model villages have come up in Jammu & Kashmir. But nothing has changed in Nud Kapahi village. It still lacks basic infrastructure. Damaged roads, lack of sanitation and no supply of electricity are some problems faced by the villagers here. The residents of Doda face many problems due to the condition of roads. Ghat is just a few kilometers away from Doda, but the condition of the link road is very bad and residents of the area and other adjoining places are facing inconvenience.

Mar 13, 2014

Villagers avail the benefit of skill development programme in Manipur

Imphal, March 13 (ANI): Situated in the Imphal East District, some 18 km away from Imphal, the Andro Village is widely known for its specialization in the art of making pots. Recently, a six-month-long training programme on integrated design and technical development in pottery and terracotta crafts was organized at the Common Facility Centre in Andro Kharam Leikai. The programme aimed at enhancing the skills of crafts persons in order to enable them to earn a decent livelihood, which would thereby boost the state’s economy. The training was conducted under the aegis of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with the Social Development Organisation, Kongba Nandeibam Leikai.

Mar 13, 2014

SC rejects Sahara Chief Subrata Roy's bail plea

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday refused interim bail to Sahara chief Subrata Roy and said the matter would next be heard on March 26. Sahara Chairman Subrata Roy, 65, was arrested on February 28 after failing to appear at a contempt hearing in the long-running legal battle between the unlisted group and the Indian securities regulator over repayment of billions of dollars to investors in outlawed bonds. Lawyers of Roy, argued that they had submitted a bail application demanding an answer on how could a person be sent to jail without his complete hearing. He also said that Roy was the chief of Sahara group but that didn’t mean that he had committed any crime.

Mar 13, 2014

NCW hails Delhi HC'S verdict against Dec 16 gang rape convicts

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): The National Commission for Women on Thursday hailed the Delhi High Court's verdict confirming death penalty to all four convicts of the December 16 Delhi gangrape and murder case. NCW Chairperson Mamta Sharma said that with this verdict, women in the country would be assured that the courts are sensitive about their safety.

Mar 13, 2014

Israeli warplanes strike back over Gaza rocket salvo

Israeli warplanes pounded 29 Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip Thursday night in response to heavy Palestinian rocket fire into the Jewish state earlier, the military said.

Mar 13, 2014

Nirbhaya's case a model one: Kiran Bedi

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Social activist Kiran Bedi has expressed satisfaction at the verdict of the Delhi High Court upholding death sentence for four men convicted in the gang-rape and murder of a young medical student in December, 2012. Terming the Nirbhaya case a "model one", the former IPS officer said that the case was well investigated. Sensing that the accused would now approach the Supreme Court and the President thereafter for clemency, she said that a sense of closure will only be realized if the case is solved and the sentence upheld on an urgent basis.

Mar 13, 2014

Dissension Comes to Fore in AAP, Cry over PAC's Monopoly

It is apparent that dissension in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which took birth on the platform of anti-corruption, is brewing.

Mar 13, 2014

Happy with High Court's verdict: Nirbhaya's parents

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Nirbhaya's parents expressed happiness over the Delhi High Court's verdict which confirmed death penalty for all four convicts.

Mar 13, 2014

Delhi gang-rape case: HC upholds death sentence of convicts

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Upholding the decision of a trial court in the fatal December 16 gang-rape case, the Delhi High Court confirmed death penalty for all four convicts. The defence lawyer, unhappy with the verdicts, said that the convicts will now move the Supreme Court against the order.

Mar 13, 2014

Edible insects

Caterpillars, crickets, wasps and ants -- insects are eaten by a third of the world's population. Supplementing diets as an environmentally-friendly and nutritious food source, nearly 2,000 types are currently consumed, with trade thriving in cities like Bangkok and Kinshasa. The trend is even taking hold in Europe, where some high-end restaurants are serving up beetles, grasshoppers and other insects as delicacies. VIDEOGRAPHIC

Mar 13, 2014

Khurshid faces flak for mocking SC & EC

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has heaped scorn on the Supreme Court and the Election Commission. Speaking at an event in London, Khurshid mocked the EC, saying the directions issued by the organization only ensure that a party will lose elections and not win them. Reacting on the same, former Congress leader Jagdambika Pal said that only a mentally bankrupt person can make such comments on judiciary and the election commission. Former JD (U) leader Shivanand Tiwari also said that when Khurshid is in Congress then they don’t need anybody else to ruin it. BJP Leader Prakash Javadekar said that Khurshid's diatribe against the EC is nothing but his sheer desperation. Meanwhile, Retired Justice R S Sodhi said that it is not wrong to criticize the Apex Court but it should be constructive.

Mar 13, 2014

BJP says everything okay with all-weather friend Shiv Sena

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prakash Javadekar has ruled out the possibility of there being any strained relationship with long standing ally Shiv Sena (SS). The Shiv Sena, in its political mouthpiece ' Saamana', had reportedly taken a swipe at the BJP, over the latter striking deals with new parties such as the rival Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is led by Raj Thackeray, while keeping existing allies in the dark. The editorial cited examples of how the party has spoken to Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief Om Prakash Chautala without speaking to Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi, and how former Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh Purandeshwari Devi was inducted into the BJP without speaking to the TDP. The editorial also warns that ties may be strained in the future, despite Modi, Rajnath Singh and Rajiv Pratap Rudy mending fences at present.

Mar 13, 2014

Chhattisgarh Naxal attack: Families mourn death of victims

Meerut /Ranchi /Bhopal, March 13 (ANI): The families of 16 people who were killed in an attack by Maoists in Chhattisgarh mourned the death of the victims and sought government’s help in supporting them. Maoist rebels on March 11 ambushed and killed 16 security personnel involved in a mine clearing operation near Tongpal in Sukma district, a remote part of Chhattisgarh, as the insurgents demonstrated their strength ahead of the general election next month. The victims were clearing mines laid by rebels on a road through a densely forested area in resource-rich state when the rebels attacked from all sides. Out of the 16, one person was a civilian, 11 persons belonged to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and four were from district police. CRPF’s head constable Neeraj Singh was one of the security officials killed in the attack. His family and his wife, who are shocked by his sudden death, expressed their grief and sought government’s help.

Mar 13, 2014

Kejriwal says will choose Modi as PM only when someone puts gun on his head, politicos react

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal recently said that he will choose BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narenda Modi as the PM of country only when somebody puts a gun on his head and asks him to do the same. Reacting to the same, Congress Leader Kapil Sibal said that nowadays Kejriwal has put his gun on others heads. Meanwhile, BJP Leader Sudhanshu Trivedi said that such statement by Kejriwal shows that he does not have any belief in peaceful democracy.

Mar 13, 2014

Opposition backs Uddhavs criticism of BJP

New Delhi, March 13 (ANI): Various opposition parties have backed Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray’s veiled attack on the BJP in the party mouthpiece Saamna. Thackeray said that the Saffron Party has angered its allies. There are no saints left in politics these days and everyone is an opportunist. Instead of attacking its enemies, the BJP was hurting itself. Ali Anwar of the JDU hit out at the BJP and accused it of not abiding by coalition dharma. He said that this is precisely the reason behind the JD (U)’s decision to sever ties with the BJP. Meanwhile, Naresh Agarwal from the Samajwadi Party has said that the Modi wave is entirely a creation of the media and his association with small regional parties is testimony to his insecurity with regard to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Congress, however, refused to comment on the issue.

Mar 13, 2014