News

UP gets decorated for SP Chief Mulayam Singh's 75th birthday celebrations

Lucknow/ Moradabad/ Rampur, Nov 21 (ANI): Samajwadi Party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav will celebrate his 75th birthday on Friday in Rampur. Senior leader Azam Khan is in charge of the two-day celebrations which will begin on November 21 in Rampur. Elaborate arrangements are being made for the occasion which will also be attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Streets of Lucknow, Rampur and Moradabad were decorated for the celebrations. Khan has planned to get a towering "75-feet cake" and a horse-drawn buggy imported straight from London to celebrate the SP chief's birthday. Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak criticized the SP government in the state and said that spending government funds on birthday celebrations is condemnable and needs to be answered.

Nov 21, 2014

Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai meets PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi, Nov 21 (ANI): Former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, who is in India to attend a series of events, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. On meeting Karzai, Modi congratulated him for enabling a successful political transition in Afghanistan and also for strengthening India-Afghanistan relations. India, added Modi, is committed to extend help to Afghanistan in becoming a prosperous nation. Meanwhile, Karzai said relations between India and Afghanistan are time-tested and acknowledged developmental steps taken by India in Afghanistan. Afghanistan, added Karzai, gave high priority to India in its foreign policy.

Nov 21, 2014

Indian fishermen released from Sri Lanka return home, thank PM Modi

New Delhi/ Chennai, Nov 21 (ANI): The five Indian fishermen, who were on death row for charges of alleged drug trafficking, thanked the Modi government as they reached Chennai airport after Sri Lankan government freed them. The fishermen returned to Delhi airport on Thursday and thereafter left for Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka on Wednesday had released the fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in 2011 on charges of smuggling drugs and on October 30, the Colombo High Court held them guilty of drug trafficking. The released fishermen - P Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasad and J Langlet - hail from Rameswaram coast of Tamil Nadu. R Wilson, another released fishermen, expressed gratitude towards the BJP government for securing their release and also thanked the Sri Lankan President for pardoning them.

Nov 21, 2014

Japan PM Dissolves Lower House for Snap Elections

Abe said he would resign if his coalition failed to win a majority, though he could end up weakened if the LDP loses too many seats.

Nov 21, 2014

India decides to enhance co-operation between SAARC nations

New Delhi, Nov 21 (ANI): Indian government decided to enhance co-operation in the field of tourism, energy, railway and motor movement among the member countries of SAARC, said Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Leaders from eight South Asia nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Pakistan - will meet in Kathmandu from November 26 for two-day the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit. The cabinet also decided to set a central agricultural university in Imphal, capital of northeast state of Manipur.

Nov 21, 2014

BJP demands removal of tainted ministers from Karnataka cabinet

Bangalore, Nov 21 (ANI): The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested in Bangalore city, the IT hub of Karnataka, against the induction of four tainted ministers in the state cabinet. The protesters shouted slogans against the chief minister of the state, Siddaramaiah and demanded the immediate dismissal of tainted ministers. The protesters walked up to the Raj Bhawan (Governor's office) to meet the state Governor Vajubhai Vala and submit a memorandum to press their demand for the removal of the tainted ministers. However, the police put up barricades and did not let them in, following which, they sat down at the site and continued shouting slogans before finally leaving. BJP Vice President BS Yeddyurappa said that the party would not spare the chief minister of the state.

Nov 21, 2014

Rajnath Singh calls for comprehensive debate on special status to JandK

Leh, Nov 21 (ANI): Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh called for a comprehensive debate on special status to poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir granted in the Constitution. According to Article 370, the Indian government needs approval of Kashmir assembly to implement all other laws except for defence, foreign affairs, finance and communications. Singh said the ruling BJP would repeal the article, if the people of Jammu and Kashmir were ready. Singh alleged that Article 370 was impediment in development of the state. The BJP is banking on support in Hindu-dominated Jammu as well as in Buddhist Ladakh to pick up seats. The Election Commission of India has already announced the dates for assembly elections in Kashmir. The polls will be held in five-phases, beginning on November 25 and ending on December 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 23.

Nov 21, 2014

Pak PM Nawaz Sharif to bring his own car for SAARC summit: Foreign Ministry

Islamabad, Nov 21 (ANI): Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will take his own car to SAARC meeting in Nepal next week, the foreign ministry Spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said while in a briefing in Islamabad. Pakistan will transport Sharif's car hundreds of kilometres to Nepal's capital Kathmandu in the foothills of the Himalayas. Leaders from eight nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Pakistan - meet in Kathmandu for two days from November 26 for SAARC summit. Asked whether a bilateral meeting between Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SAARC summit was on the cards, Aslam said no such meeting was scheduled so far.

Nov 21, 2014