At least 377 people have been debarred from undertaking Haj pilgrimage this year after the Central Haj Committee found them allegedly flouting travel norms.
According to Haj committee sources, the permits of the pilgrims were cancelled as they managed to get it for the second time before the completion of a mandatory gap.
According to rules as specified by the committee, a person cannot undertake pilgrimage twice within a three year period.
—PTi
A total of 126 couples hailing from underprivileged backgrounds, tied the knot in a mass wedding ceremony here Sunday.
Under the aegis of the city-based Vishwa Jagriti Mission Trust, the couples – all from the backward and tribal community and coming from various rural belts of West Bengal – were marrried in the presence of Trinamool Congress leader and state Public Health Engineering Minister Subrata Mukherjee.
“I am so happy and I sincerely hope we have a happy married life ahead,” said Tanmay Gayen after his marriage to Mamata Sardar.
Opener Chris Gayle has praised the West Indies batting following their 56-run win over New Zealand in the opening Twenty20 International here but said it was important the Caribbean side kept up the pressure in Sunday’s second match.
The left-handed Gayle was at the centre of the victory, paving the way for the Windies’ total of 209 for two with a measured but flamboyant innings of 85 not out, reported Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
Guntur MP Rayapati Sambhasiva Rao on Sunday said that the Centre would announce a favourable decision on the bifurcation of State issue by July-end.
Actress Penelope Cruz says being a housewife is the “best thing in the world”.
Cruz, 38, who is married to Javier Bardem, has been staying at home since giving birth to 17-month-old son Leonardo, her son with husband Javier Bardem.
“I’m a housewife and it’s beautiful, the best thing in the world. I know how to cook and it’s important to me to make fresh food every day,” contactmusic.com quoted Cruz as saying.
“I don’t do crazy diets, just the good Mediterranean food that I love because it’s important to eat well,” she added.
India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand led from the front with a magnificent 121 in the thrilling tied final against Pakistan as both the countries shared the Asia Cup at the Kinrara Academy Oval here Sunday.
Chasing a target of 283, opening batsman Chand kept alive India’s hope till the final over when seven runs were needed. But after Chand’s dismissal, India were left with the task of scoring five off two balls.
Two sisters from West Bengal’s Darjeeling district’ have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the Kolkata branch of a nationalised bank to the tune of Rs.1.48 crore, police said Sunday.
“Rani Mitra and Tanushree Mitra were arrested by the city police from Siliguri for defrauding the Kolkata branch of United Bank of India. They have been accused of defrauding it of Rs.1.48 crore and we have sought their transit remand,” said Kolkata Police’s Joint Commissioner (Crime) Pallab Kanti Ghosh .
Pakistan’s former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said he stepped down from the post because he respected the judiciary and is the only premier who has not left the country despite losing premiership.
Gilani was disqualified as the prime minister and member of the National Assembly on April 26 by the Supreme Court after it convicted him for contempt of court for refusing to write to the Swiss authorities to reopen corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.
A minor fire broke out at the historic Jubilee Hall here Sunday, minutes after United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee left the building, police said. No casualties were reported.
The fire is believed to have been caused by short circuit.
After Mukherjee came out of Jubilee Hall, smoke was seen billowing out from the rooftop of the majestic building as tar sheets caught fire.
Units of the Indian Army have stepped up relief efforts in the northeastern states after swollen rivers caused devastation in the region, leaving over 75,000 people homeless Sunday in Meghalaya alone, an official said.
The swollen Brahmaputra and Jingiram rivers submerged whole villages in Meghalaya. More than 15,000 houses went under a sea of floodwater, West Garo Hills’ district commissioner Pravin Bakshi told IANS.
The Jinjiram, one the major rivers in Garo Hills, caused havoc after it breached a major embankment, flooding low-lying areas.
Bihar will no more engage school teachers in non-teaching assignments like survey and data collection works, an official said Saturday. The decision comes after protests by thousands of teachers and experts that such tasks take a toll on the quality of teaching.
New Zealand all-rounder Jesse Ryder Sunday called the Indian Premier League (IPL) a “big party”.
Ryder’s international career hit a roadblock after he admitted to having a drinking problem, and said that the IPL franchises provided all the luxuries to the player.
“It’s an easy life over there. They (IPL franchises) look after you so well and there’s so many parties and at those parties, there’s free booze,” Ryder was quoted as saying by Fairfax News Agency.
Dissidents in Karnataka’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday set a July 5 deadline for the party’s central leadership to remove Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.
“We will wait till July 5 for our high command to remove Gowda and make (Rural Development Minister) Jagadish Shettar chief minister,” a dissident leader told reporters after a meeting here.
“The high command will be responsible for developments in the state unit after July 5 if it does not accept our demand,” BJP Lok Sabha member Suresh Angadi said after the dissidents’ meeting at Shettar’s residence here.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will make an aerial survey of some of the flood-affected areas of Assam Monday, a minister said Sunday, as the death toll in the floods, affecting 27 districts of the state, has gone up to 61.
However, the water levels of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are now receding after the incessant rains, though large stretches of land are still inundated, said officials.
A forensic laboratory report on the recent fire at Mantralaya has stated that no external “combustible” articles were found from samples collected from the devastated building, while negating the sabotage angle.
“No external combustible articles were found from the samples collected from the spot (Mantralaya). Our report does not indicate any sabotage in the fire,” the officials from the laboratory.
Seeking to broaden his support base in the electoral college, UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday appealed to political parties, including Trinamool Congress which are still undecided on the election for the President, to back his candidature.
“I am appealing to all those who have not yet decided to take decision in my favour, in favour of UPA,” Mukherjee told reporters here, after an interaction with the ruling Congress MPs, MLAs, MLCs in Andhra Pradesh.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Sunday said the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh had failed to prove even a single corruption charge against him despite making all efforts since it came to power in 2003.
Addressing a meeting of office-bearers of the state Congress Committee, Singh said whenever he makes a statement against the BJP or the RSS, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is taken to task by the BJP leaders.
“The BJP leaders ask Chouhan as to why he was unable to bring out any corruption charge against me,” Singh said.
Bollywood star Salman Khan, who has been vehemently seeking the release of Sarabjit Singh from a Pakistan prison, has begun an online campaign urging people to sign a petition to free the falsely accused Indian.
The 46-year-old actor plans to hand the petition to the Pakistan government in a bid to free Sarabjit, who has been on death row in a Lahore jail since 1990.
-_PTi
As part of the campaign for the Presidential election scheduled to be held on July 19, the nominee of United Progressive Alliance Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday met ruling Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs at Jubilee Hall in the city and sought their support for his candidature.
A night dedicated to noted satirical and humorous poet Mr. Ghouse Khwamakhwa is being organized by Zinda dilan-e-Hyderabad on Sunday, July 1, at 7 pm, at Rajiv Vidya Mission Auditorium, opposite Lal Bahadur Stadium.
Noted humourist Padmasri Mr. Mujtaba Husain will preside over and Mr. Mohammad Ali Rafath IAS and spokesman Zinda Dilan Hyderabad and editor Shagufa monthly Mr. Mustafa Kamal will be the chief guests.
Puja of a stone is being performed by cordoning two feet area, opposite Vijay Anand Garden, beneath Express way near pillar number 284. When the 11 kilometer long fly over was being constructed from Sarojini hospital to Aaram Ghar there was no such activity. But later when the construction of the flyover was complete, venomous minded persons in Road and Buildings department and municipality left an area of 15X20 and by not laying road on that part, they provided backing to such elements and supported them in making the place, a place of worship.
Puja of a stone is being performed by cordoning two feet area, opposite Vijay Anand Garden, beneath Express way near pillar number 284. When the 11 kilometer long fly over was being constructed from Sarojini hospital to Aaram Ghar there was no such activity. But later when the construction of the flyover was complete, venomous minded persons in Road and Buildings department and municipality left an area of 15X20 and by not laying road on that part, they provided backing to such elements and supported them in making the place, a place of worship.
Mohammed Irfan Ali, Hyderabad based champion of Jo Jeeta Vohi Sikander superstar season 2, telecast on Star Plus, was given a warm welcome after arriving at Hyderabad. Great celebration was organised at the historical Charminar.
Rahila Tabassum former associate professor Sultan-ul-Uloom college of Business Administration and Shadan Institute of Management Studies, has been awarded doctorate degree.
Rahila Tabassum had completed MBA (marketing) from Sultan-ul-Uloom College of Business Administration (present name Amjad Ali Khan College of Business Administration) during the years 1998-2000.
Sultan-ul-Uloom Education Society has congratulated Rahila Tabassum on receiving doctorate degree.
Siasat news
State Coordinator Telangana Praja Front Mr. M Ved Kumar, demanding Telangana formation, declared the formation of Rayal-Telangana by the UPA government as ludicrous.
He said Telangana people are victims of exploitation by Andhra and Rayalseema rulers and investors. The said investors didn’t even spare the waqf properties.
Hundreds of youth sacrifices their lives and kept Telangana movement alive. Inspite of this, announcement of Rayal-Telangana to sabotage Telangana demand tantamounts to playing with the sentiments of 4 crore Telangana people.
Siasat news