Politics

Pakistani Media succumbing to Islamist threat unlike Bangladeshi media

New Delhi, March 2 (ANI): Media freedom has come under attack in Pakistan with the Taliban trying their best to turn Pakistan into another Afghanistan. The recent attacks on media houses certainly point in that direction. In contrast the media is still very much independent in Bangladesh despite the pressure from the Islamists who have ideological links to extremists in Pakistan. Media is said to be the fourth pillar of a democracy but the media in Pakistan is under the scanner for giving into pressure from hardliners. Media houses either resort to self-censorship or if not are attacked for expressing independent opinion. Its not just the Islamist groups but also the Pakistan army and particularly the country’s premier intelligence agency the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) which has muzzled media freedom as well. In many regions especially in Balochistan and in Pakistani Kashmir it is very difficult for a journalist to investigate and report fairly and safely.

Mar 2, 2014

Modi takes on UP govt, says BJP tsunami will uproot SP, BSP & Congress

Lucknow, March 02 (ANI): Taking jibe at the Samajwadi party government in UP, Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Lucknow, said that ‘BJP tsunami’ will uproot SP, BSP & Congress with elections approaching. Modi also lashed out at Akhilesh Yadav over the number of riots that took place in the state under his governance. Modi said that Samajwadi party is divided into two parts, that is, Samajvirodhi Party and Sukhwadi Party. He said that UP makes news of lost buffaloes but pays no attention when somebody’s son is lost.

Mar 2, 2014

Nitish Kumar sits on Satyagraha demanding special status to Bihar

Patna, March 02 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday sat on a day-long Satyagraha in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan demanding special status for the state. Kumar said that the centre’s announcement to grant special status to Seemandhra and not Bihar, who are demanding for the same since past 90 years has shown the discriminatory behaviour of the government and therefore a dawn-to-dusk bandh is called upon.

Mar 2, 2014

Mulayam attacks Modi, says apology after mass killing of Muslims not acceptable

Allahabad, March 02 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday launched a scathing attack on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, accusing him of inaction during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Yadav said that apologizing after mass murder is unacceptable.

Mar 2, 2014

Mulayam attacks UPA; says PM, Defence minister stay silent over security issues

Allahabad, March 02 (ANI): Addressing a rally at Allahabad, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav slammed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister AK Antony for staying silent over security issues. Yadav said the country’s borders have shrunk during the Congress rule.

Mar 2, 2014

Bangladesh tanners boom despite toxic costs

Bangladesh’s tanneries produce leather for fashion brands around the world but the environmental cost of global demand for cheap shoes is on full display in Dhaka where the industry's toxic waste is killing the city's main river. Duration: 02:30

Mar 2, 2014

Stop offering help to Hindu migrants to discourage Islamist radicals: Bangladesh

New Delhi, March 02 (ANI): A leading filmmaker from Bangladesh, Nasiruddin Yousuff, pressed New Delhi to stop actively offering shelter and help to Hindu migrants as it would encourage vengeance among Islamist fundamentalists who would commit atrocities against innocent Bangladeshi Hindu citizens. Guests and dignitaries were participating in the fourth round of Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue in New Delhi where the subject of deliberation was the rising fundamentalism in South Asia, which has become a threat to regional integration of the nations. Hindus, who are a minority in Bangladesh, are being increasingly attacked by Islamists fundamentalists and also members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party for actively supporting the ruling Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Mar 2, 2014

Russia approves use of armed forces in southern Ukraine

Simferopol, Mar 2 (ANI): The Russian Federal Council has approved President Vladimir Putin's request to use armed forces in Ukraine, amid rising tensions in Ukraine's Crimea region, where ethnic Russians make up the majority. The Kremlin website said Putin made the request in connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine, the threat to the lives of citizens of the Russian Federation, their compatriots, and the personnel of the military contingent of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation deployed in the territory of Ukraine (Autonomous Republic of Crimea). The troops would be used until the "political-social situation in the country is normalized," Putin added.

Mar 2, 2014

As Bihar protests for special status, adjoining Jharkhand follows suit

Jharkhand, Mar 2 (ANI): All Jharkhand Students Union protested and called for a shutdown in Jharkhand on Sunday, demanding special status and package for the state, following footsteps of neighbouring Bihar, which is witnessing continuous protests demanding the same. The protesters halted trains and called for a 24-hour shutdown and pressed Indian government to fulfil their demands.

Mar 2, 2014

Nitish's call for Bihar Bandh a political gimmick: BJP

New Delhi, Mar 2 (ANI): The BJP on Sunday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's call for Bihar Bandh demanding special status is not a serious effort but a political gimmick. Kumar has called for statewide bandh on Sunday demanding special status for the state on the lines of one given to Seemandhra. He has slammed the Centre for granting special status to Seemandhra while ignoring Bihar. He set out on a 'pad yatra' from his residence to head to the historic Gandhi Maidan of Patna. The CM will be holding a day-long dharna demanding special status to the state.

Mar 2, 2014

Maoists kill four villagers in Gumla

Gumla, March 02 (ANI): Maoists recently gunned down four tribal men of a family in Borang village of Gumla district in Jharkhand. One of the members of the family, Lohra Urav said that the incident took place at a time when everyone was present in the house. The Maoists who were carrying weapons broke inside the house and brutally killed the four men. Although no reason has been ascertained yet, police suspect it to be a feudal dispute.

Mar 2, 2014

JD (U) calls for Bihar bandh, demands special status for state

Patna, March 02 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called for statewide bandh on Sunday demanding special status for the state on the lines of one given to Seemandhra. He has slammed the Centre for granting special status to Seemandhra while ignoring Bihar. He set out on a 'pad yatra' from his residence to head to the historic Gandhi Maidan of Patna. The CM will be holding a day-long dharna demanding special status to the state. Road and rail traffic have been severely hit by the bandh as JD (U) workers are out on streets blocking traffic movement on national highway leading to Patna.

Mar 2, 2014

Gogoi dismisses reports of woman burnt to death for kissing Rahul

Guwahati, March 02 (ANI): Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, dismissed media reports as 'unfortunate' which alleged that a woman was set ablaze as a punishment for kissing Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi at a recent public interaction. Media reported that a 35-year-old woman, who was part of a public interaction on women empowerment that was presided over by Rahul Gandhi during his recent visit to Assam on February 26, was allegedly burnt to death by her husband following a quarrel after the event. Gogoi, who also attended the event, clarified saying that the alleged woman was not the one who attended the interactive session.

Mar 2, 2014

Police investigate rail station attack which killed 33 in southwest China

China, March 02 (ANI): Chinese police carried out investigative work after an attack at a train station on Saturday which killed at least 33 people and injured more than 130 in southwest China. Official state-run news agency Xinhua described the incident as an "organised, premeditated violent terrorist attack". Police shot dead four of the attackers and detained one, Xinhua said, while approximate five others are on the run. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed footage of local police carrying out investigative work in the aftermath of the incident as onlookers watched cautiously from a distance. CCTV also showed police wrapping a long, sword-like knife in a plastic bag, amid heavy security at the station. China blamed militants from the restive far western region of Xinjiang on Sunday for the attack

Mar 2, 2014

No human rights violations took place in 2009: Sri Lankan minister

Bhopal, March 02 (ANI): Sri Lanka's Deputy Finance Minister, Sarath Amunugama, who was in Madhya Pradesh to speak at an international symposium, said that there were no human rights violations in 2009 - towards the end of 25-year long war between the Tamil rebels and Sri Lankan government. Reacting to the recommendation of United Nations to investigate the alleged war crimes, Amunugama denied that there were any human right violations but said Sri Lankan government is falling victim to allegations of 'Tamil Diaspora'. Amunugama lambasted the Tamil diaspora who he alleged to be conspiring against the Sri Lankan administration. He added that his government will answer for the charges levelled against them.

Mar 2, 2014