Month: November 2013

Akhilesh Yadav ministry to be expanded today

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The 19-month old Akhilesh Yadav ministry in Uttar Pradesh will be expanded on Friday with the induction of a minister, the fifth such exercise since the formation of the government in March last year.

Official sources said the new minister will be administered oath in the Raj Bhawan. The party, however, did not disclose the name of the person.

The last expansion of the ministry was held on October 11 when Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya was re-inducted after the CBI gave a clean chit to him in Deputy SP Zia-ul-Haq murder case in Kunda.

Formation of Third Front a failed idea: BJP

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BJP today dismissed the possibility of formation of a Third Front as a “failed idea” and hit out at the 14 parties that came together under a common banner saying it was an indirect strategy of helping the UPA.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said any talk of the Third Front is an exercise in futility and such governments are “detrimental to governance”.

Muzaffarnagar violence: DG admits to lapses

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As the fresh communal violence here tested the Akhilesh Yadav government again, the Uttar Pradesh police chief today admitted to lapses on the part of police even as paramilitary forces patrolled sensitive areas.

Eight persons have been arrested and cases registered against 15 people in connection with last night’s violence in Budhana area of Muzaffarnagar in which three men were killed. A woman was also killed and her husband injured when some unidentified people attacked them in Thugana area but police said it was not known if there was a communal angle to it.

Advani knew about my going to Kandahar with terrorists:Jaswant

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Contradicting L K Advani, former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has said the then Home Minister was aware of the controversial decision about his travelling to Kandahar along with three terrorists released in exchange for the hostages of hijacked Indian Airlines plane in 1999.

Singh, however, said Advani along with Arun Shourie were the two ministers who had opposed the decision which he had taken on his own and informed the Cabinet.

“He was in Cabinet (meeting),” Singh told PTI when asked whether Advani was aware of the decision.

Tight security for Narendra Modi’s Pune rally today

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The Maharashtra Police and the Gujarat Police have made tight security arrangements for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Pune rally on Friday against the backdrop of Sunday’s Patna blasts, officials said.

Modi will arrive around 1.30 pm in Pune where the city Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made hurried arrangements for a short rally outside the airport.

“He is coming to inaugurate a new wing at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Superspecialty Hospital here. Prior to that function, we have half an hour for him to address party workers,” city BJP chief Anil Shirole told a news agency.

No need to refer Telangana resolution to AP assembly: Telangana MPs

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Two MPs from Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, saying there was no provision under the Constitution for voting in a legislative assembly while carving out a new state.

In two separate press conferences here, Congress Rajya Sabha member Pallavai Govardhan Reddy and TRS Lok Sabha member Gaddam Vivekanand argued the resolution for a separate state need not be referred to the state assembly.

“There was no assembly resolution when Bombay and Gujarat, besides Punjab and Haryana were formed,” Reddy told reporters here.

‘China, India may set up military hotline’

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China and India are considering to establish a hotline between headquarters of their armed forces according to a recently signed agreement, the Chinese Defence Ministry has said.

The two armed forces will make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in border areas following the signing of a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s official visit to China last week, reported Xinhua citing the ministry’s spokesman, Yang Yujun, during a press briefing on Thursday.

Muzaffarnagar violence ‘unfortunate’, UP Govt. should take stern action: Rajnath

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh on Thursday appealed to the people of Uttar Pradesh to maintain peace following reports of fresh violence in Muzaffarnagar, and said the state government should take strict action.

“Muzaffarnagar has been through such a communal turmoil before. I find it extremely disheartening and unfortunate. I want to appeal to the people in Uttar Pradesh to maintain peace and calm. And I expect the Uttar Pradesh Government to take strict measures against the perpetrators, so that no one gets an opportunity to raise a question on them,” he said.

BUMS and B.Sc (Nursing) courses counseling on 9th November

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(Siasat News) Second and final counseling for admission into BUMS and B.Sc (Nursing) courses will be held at 9 am on 9th November at N.T.R. Health University in Vijayawada. All the candidate who have passed BUMS common entrance test and Post Basic Nursing Entrance Test (PBNET) are eligible to seek admission. All the eligible candidates are required to attend the counseling along with the original certificates and the prescribed fees. For further details, please visit the website of the university www.ntrhs.ap.nic.in.

—–Siasat News

Kiran Reddy lauds Indira Gandhi for keeping AP united

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Coming out strongly in support of united Andhra again, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today praised late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for keeping the state united in the face of separate statehood agitations in the past.

“If we are all united in Andhra Pradesh and if the country has developed so much, it is only because of Indira Gandhi. Separate Telangana movement took place in 1969. Separate Andhra movement happened in Seemandhra in 1972. She put a full stop to both and said Andhra Pradesh should not be divided. She was such a great leader,” Reddy said.

8 political parties invited for all party meeting

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(Siasat News) Mr. Susheel Kumar Shinde, Home Minister of India told that there is little time left for the completion of process of formation of separate Telangana state. He met the president of India yesterday and apprised him of the steps taken by the Home Ministry for the formation of separate. He also informed about the all party meeting. He also told him that the process will be democratic. He informed him that 8 recognized political parties of A.P. have been invited for an all party meeting. The opinion of these political parties will be elicited.

Relief to Muzzaffarnagar Communal riots victims – Siasats’ grant

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(Siasat News) Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi, Director of Nadvathul Ulema, Lucknow and President of Muslim Personal Law Board in a letter written to Mr. Zahid Ali Khan, Editor of Siasat Urdu Daily informed that a group of teachers of Nadvathul Ulema, was sent to Muzzaffarnagar to review the rehabilitation work of the victims. They have finalized the report. Maulana Noor-ul Hasan Rashed Kandhelvi is incharge of rehabilitation work in Muzzaffarnagar.

He further informed that the amount of Rs. 10 lakh sent by Siasat Millat Fund has been handed over to Maulana Rashed.

AP division: STF may focus on strengthening of security

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The Special Task Force, constituted by Union Home Ministry to look into the issues related to division of Andhra Pradesh vis-a-vis the police force, has indicated its recommendations would focus on strengthening of the security “as and when the bifurcation happens”.

Headed by former DG, CRPF, K Vijayakumar, the task force completed its three-day consultation process on the issues related to division and met Chief Secretary P K Mohanty here today.

The STF is expected to submit its report to the MHA in two to three days.

Two groups of Haj pilgrims returned to Hyderabad

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(Siasat News) Two groups of Haj pilgrims came back to Hyderabad by special flight of Saudi Airlines. The first group consisting of 295 Haj pilgrims landed at Hyderabad International Airport at 6.30 pm yesterday. Minister of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Mohammed Ahamad Ullah, Commissioner of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Shaik Mohammed Iqbal, IPS, Chairman of State Wakf Board, Maulana Syed Afzal Biyabani, Special Officer of A.P. State Haj Committee, Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Executive Office of Haj Committee Mr. M.A. Hameed welcomed the Haj pilgrims. Customs Officer, Mr. Sajid Ghouri and Mr.

Police administration is strong in the state

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(Siasat News) The Central Task Force which is touring the state to take stock of the Law and Order situation met Dr. P.K. Mohanty, State Chief Secretary and discussed various issues which are likely to arise consequent on bifurcation of the state.

Babu to visit Nalgonda

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(Siasat News) President of TDP Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu will visit Damarcherla, Miryalguda Mandal of Nalgonda District today at 9 pm. He will meet the farmers to know the extent of damages the recent rains and flood has caused.

—–Siasat News

Namaz-e-Fajr saved life of Hafeez

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(Siasat News) Mr. Hafeez had arranged alarm at 5.0’ clock with an intension to offer Namaz-e-Fajr when alarm bell started ringing the bus was getting ablazed. He immediately jump out of window in this way he was saved whereas 45 bus passengers of the luxury bus coming from Bangalore was burnt alive.

—-Siasat News

Centre keeping watch on Muzaffarnagar situation: Shinde

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In the wake of fresh violence in Muzaffarnagar, the Home Ministry is keeping a close watch on the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and has sought a report on it.

“We are keeping a watch on the situation. We have also sought a report from UP,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters here.

Shinde said the Central government was conscious about the Muzaffarnagar situation and was ready to offer all help to the state government in maintaining law and order.

“A decision on sending additional paramilitary force will be taken after we receive the report,” he said.

JPC report on 2G scam most shameful in India’s history: BJP

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BJP today described the JPC report on 2G scam as the “most shameful” in the history of independent India and said its dissent note in the document has been deleted by panel chairperson P C Chacko.

“The JPC report on 2G spectrum scam that was submitted by Chacko to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is the most shameful in the history of independent India. Chacko has acted as the Congress spokesperson and not as JPC chairperson,” Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

All Syria chemical weapons placed under seal: OPCW

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Syria’s entire declared stock of chemical weapons has been placed under seal, inspectors said today, as international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi wrapped up a visit to muster support for peace talks.

“All stocks of chemical weapons and agents have been placed under seals that are impossible to break,” Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons spokesman Christian Chartier said, adding that the seals were “tamper proof.”

“These are 1,000 tonnes of chemical agents (which can be used to make weapons) and 290 tonnes of chemical weapons,” Chartier told AFP in The Hague.

Middle East crises draw Kerry back to the region

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US Secretary of State John Kerry is heading back to the Middle East as efforts to hold Syria peace talks bog down, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations stumble and rare tensions with key ally Saudi Arabia flare into the open.

With the Obama administration taking fire at home and abroad for what is perceived to be its indecisive Syria policy and Arab unease about its outreach to Iran, Kerry is hitting the road again seeking to ease tensions and soothe allies vital to its Middle East ambitions.

Israeli airstrike inside Syria: Officials

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Officials say Israeli warplanes attacked a military target inside Syria.

An Obama administration official confirmed the attack happened overnight today but provided no details.

Another security official said that the attack occurred in the Syrian port city of Latakia and that the target was Russian-made SA-125 missiles.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the attack.

At least twice earlier this year Israel launched airstrikes on shipments of missiles inside Syria.

Kenyan president’s trial at ICC postponed

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The International Criminal Court postponed the trial of Kenya’s president on crimes against humanity charges until February, but the African Union said that’s not enough time and stepped up pressure for a one-year deferral.

The judges made the announcement while an AU ministerial delegation was meeting behind closed doors with members of the UN Security Council in New York to press the case for the yearlong deferral of the trials of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto on the ground that the stability of Kenya is at stake.

I bombed my ‘Lord of the Rings’ audition: Jake Gyllenhaal

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Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has revealed that he once auditioned for “The Lord of the Rings” to play Frodo.

The “Source Code” actor said he messed it up completely, reported Ace showbiz

“I remember auditioning for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and going in and not being told that I needed a British accent. I really do remember Peter Jackson saying to me, ‘You know that you have to do this in a British accent?’ We heard back it was literally one of the worst auditions,” he said.

The “Dallas Buyers Club” star said he messed up on the set due to lack of preparation.

Strong earthquake shakes Chile’s capital

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A strong earthquake has rocked central Chile, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago. There were no immediate reports of major damage or deaths.

The US Geological Survey is reporting that the quake had a magnitude of 6.6, and its epicenter was located about 65 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of the city of Coquimbo. It’s depth was 10 kilometres (6 miles).

Chile is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. A magnitude-8.8 quake and the tsunami it unleashed in 2010 killed more than 500 people and destroyed 220,000 homes.