Politics

Dalai Lama, Anna Hazare express grief over demise of Nelson Mandela

New Delhi, Dec 6 (ANI): Spiritual Leader The Dalai Lama and Social Activist Anna Hazare on Friday expressed grief over the demise of anti-apartheid crusader and former South African President, Nelson Mandela. The Dalai Lama said Mandela is a man of courage, principle and unquestionable integrity.

Dec 6, 2013

Police arrest 8 PLFI Maoists in Jharkhand

Palamu, Dec 06 (ANI): Eight Maoists of People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were arrested by police in Jharkhand. Police also recovered arms and ammunitions from their possession in the Palamu district. The arrested Maoists include Laxman Yadav, who is said to be the zonal commander of PLFI. Yadav is accused of abducting three bank officials in the state a few months ago. Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state, police said.

Dec 6, 2013

Manish Tewari condoles Nelson Mandela's death

New Delhi, Dec 06 (ANI): Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Friday condoled the passing away of South Africa's first elected black President and a global anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, he said that Mandel and his party had a huge contribution in dismantling the racist policies and apartheid in South Africa.

Dec 6, 2013

Nation pays homage to BR Ambedkar on his 57th death anniversary

New Delhi, Dec 6 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top leaders paid homage to father of Indian Constitution, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, on his 57th death anniversary in New Delhi on Thursday. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who is also known as Babasaheb, is remembered as India's Constitution architect and social reformer across the nation. He was a Jurist, politician, anthropologist and a historian, who revived Buddhism in India. Top leaders of India including members of ruling Congress party and the main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were present during an event organized on the occasion.

Dec 6, 2013

India mourns death of Nelson Mandela

New Delhi, Dec 6 (ANI): India mourned the death of South Africa's anti-apartheid crusader and former President, Nelson Mandela, who passed away at the age of 95. President Pranab Mukherjee called South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Mandela an icon of humanity and a crusader against injustice, comparing him to India's iconic freedom leader Mahatma Gandhi. Mandela died peacefully at home at the age of 95 on Thursday after months of fighting a lung infection. Meanwhile, PM Manmohan Singh while paying tribute to Mandela said it is as much India's loss as South Africa's and Mandela was a true Gandhian. In India, Mandela is highly revered for adopting methods of non-violence and peace to achieve his political objects against apartheid system, which were espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, leader of independence struggle. After the demise of Mandela, the National Flag of South Africa at the High Commission in New Delhi was seen flying at half-mast on Friday morning.

Dec 6, 2013

Farooq Abdullah apologizes for sexist remark, says media misquoted him

New Delhi, Dec 06 (ANI): After his sexist remark raised many a eyebrows, Union New and Renewable Energy minister, Farooq Abdullah on Friday apologized for the remark wherein he said he was now afraid of women to the extent that he won't keep them as secretaries any more.

Dec 6, 2013

Politicos surprised at Farooq Abdullahs sexist comment

New Delhi, Dec 06 (ANI): Union New & Renewable Energy minister Farooq Abdullah’s shocker of a statement on Friday saying he was now afraid of women to the extent that he won’t keep them as secretaries any more had politicos from both Congress and BJP visibly shocked and concerned.

Dec 6, 2013

BJP meets Bangladesh envoy over violence against minorities

Kolkata, Dec 06 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in West Bengal visited Bangladesh High Commission and raised the issue of violence against minorities in the poll-bound nation. A seven-member team visited the Bangladesh High Commission on Thursday and submitted a memorandum to end violence on minorities. Rahul Sinha, President of BJP unit in West Bengal said that Indian government should raise the issue with Bangladesh. Sinha said it is disappointing to see that no one from ruling Congress party or even West Bengal government have spoken against it.

Dec 6, 2013

Farooq Abdullah now fears women, won't keep them as secretaries

New Delhi, Dec 06 (ANI): Reacting to law graduate's sexual harassment case against retired Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly, Union New & Renewable Energy minister, Farooq Abdullah on Friday made a shocker of a statement saying he was now afraid of women to the extent that he won’t keep them as secretaries any more.

Dec 6, 2013

AMU suspends professor after sexual harassment charge

Aligarh, Dec 06 (ANI): The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) suspended a Law Department professor following a complaint of sexual harassment against him by a girl student of LLM first year. Mohammad Shabbir, chairman, department of law has been has been suspended on charges of misconduct following the complaint. The university registrar Captain Shahrukh Shamshad said the accused Professor Shabbir was suspended following the women cell recorded statements of the girl student as well as the faculty members.

Dec 6, 2013

Bangladesh political unrest affects cross border trade with India

West Bengal, Dec 06 (ANI): Political turmoil in poll-bound Bangladesh has affected cross border trade with India, putting a halt on exchange of businesses between the two nations. On November 25, the Election Commission announced that elections would be held on January 05. The BNP has rejected any attempt to hold an election until it is satisfied a neutral interim administration is in place without Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The strike on Thursday adversely affected the truck drivers, especially their daily wages. Stationary trucks loaded with goods were seen at the parking area, bearing the brunt of the strike.

Dec 6, 2013

Bangladesh ministers to quit over poll issue

Dhaka, Dec 06 (ANI): Four ministers of Jatiya Party were likely to quit the Bangladesh’s interim government, as their party chief Hussain Mohammad Ershad decided to boycott January parliament polls over formation of a neutral caretaker government. Decision of Ershad has come as a blow to the ruling Awami League alliance. Jatiya Party is the third largest outfit. Media reports claimed that Commerce Minister GM Quader, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Junior Minister for Youth and Sports Mujibul Haq Chunnu and Junior Minister for Women and Children Affairs Salma Islam have submitted their resignations to Ershad.

Dec 6, 2013

Cabinet approves bill for separate Telangana with 10 districts

Hyderabad/ New Delhi, Dec 06 (ANI): The cabinet has finally cleared a parliamentary bill for bifurcating Andhra Pradesh to create a separate state of Telangana, with 10 districts. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde confirmed the approval after the cabinet meeting on Thursday. Shinde said the bill would now be sent to the President Pranab Mukherjee within a day or two with the request to make reference to state legislature under Article 3 of the Constitution of India. The home minister also said that the Government of India would be extending financial support for the creation of a new capital.

Dec 6, 2013

11 Chinese sandalwood smugglers arrested in West Bengal

Kolkata, Dec 06 (ANI): Custom officials arrested 11 Chinese nationals after they were caught with huge amounts of sandalwood at an airport in West Bengal. Assistant Commissioner of Customs at Kolkata said that this was the second group of Chinese nationals which was caught smuggling sandalwood on Thursday. Earlier on Wednesday, a group of six Chinese nationals were caught carrying 120 kilograms of red sandalwood while the second group of five Chinese nationals was caught carrying 150 kilograms of white sandalwood.

Dec 6, 2013