Month: April 2014

BJP if voted to power will bring down prices within 6 months

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BJP President Rajnath Singh today took on Congress over the issues of price rise and unemployment under its rule and said a BJP government, if voted to power, will bring prices under control within six months.

Holding that the NDA government had created over 6.7 crore jobs between 1999 and 2004 while the UPA government generated only 27 lakh jobs between 2004 and 2009, he told a public meeting that a BJP government will create opportunities so that in five to seven years the youth will become assured about getting jobs.

Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Ugly’ to open New York Indian film festival

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The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) will open with Anurag Kashyap’s “Ugly”, a sensational tale of corruption, indifference, and systemic violence that begins with the disappearance of an aspiring actor’s 10-year-old daughter.

Celebrating its 14th year, NYIFF, widely recognised as the oldest, most prestigious Indian film festival in the US showcasing some of the greatest talents working in the diaspora, will run May 5 to 10 at a variety of prestigious New York City venues.

No buyers for Powell’s ‘retirement’ story

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No one is buying the American story that the resignation of US ambassador in India, Nancy Powell, was unrelated to recent tensions between the two countries, but as yet there is no definitive word about her likely successor.

A section of the Indian media has speculated that Powell may be replaced by USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, the highest ranking Indian American in the Obama administration, as the US tries to clean the slate with India.

Himachal ex-MLA booked for sexual assault

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A former BJP legislator in Himachal Pradesh was Tuesday booked on a complaint by a woman who alleged that she was sexually assaulted by him two years ago.

In her complaint, the woman said she was sexually exploited in March 2012 by the accused Baldev Sharma, who was then a sitting legislator from Badsar in Hamirpur district.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dullar said the woman said she had approached the legislator for the transfer of her husband.

She said he called her to his residence in Shimla and sexually assaulted her.

Himachal Police officer killed in accident

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A Himachal Police officer was killed in a road accident here Tuesday evening, an official said.

Superintendent of Police Chandrashekhar Pandit was killed on the spot when his vehicle skidded off the road and rolled down the hills on the outskirts of Shimla, police said.

At the time of accident, Pandit was at the wheel in his private vehicle.

Passers-by immediately took him to the nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Pandit was posted at the Police Training Centre in Daroh in Kangra district.
(IANS)

Stop ad featuring Hema Malini, Congress urges poll panel

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The Congress Tuesday urged Election Commission to stop telecast of a commercial advertisement featuring actress Hema Malini, the BJP candidate from Mathura, for a water company, saying that it was violation of the model code of conduct.

K.C.Mittal, secretary of Congress’ legal and human rights department, wrote to Chief Election Commissioner V.S.Sampath saying that commercial advertisement of Hema Malini for a water filter company was being broadcast on various TV channels all over the country, including Uttar Pradesh.

BSF recovers heroin worth Rs 135 crore near Indo-Pak border

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Border Security Force (BSF) today seized 27 kg heroin, worth Rs 135 crore in the international market, along with 500g opium and arms and ammunitions after a brief encounter with Pakistani smugglers in Abohar sector near Indo-Pak border here.

“The narcotics and the explosives were recovered after the jawans manning the border near Khanpur outpost in Abohar sector witnessed some suspicious movement,” said Jaswal Singh, Assistant Inspector General, Punjab Frontier.

When challenged, the smugglers opened fire on the jawans, who also retaliated.

15-year-olds in Asia are better problem solvers than in the US

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Children in Asian countries like Singapore and South Korea are on average better problem solvers than their European and American peers, according to a new OECD study.

Students in Asian countries are quick learners, highly inquisitive and able to solve unstructured problems in unfamiliar contexts, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said.

In 2012 the OECD tested more than 85,000 15-year-olds in 44 countries and economies on their problem solving skills, testing their ability to explore limitations or obstacles and to understand information given to them.

Election officials search Jaya’s helicopter

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Election officials today carried out a search in the helicopter in which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo, Jayalalithaa arrived at Pollachi near here to address an election meeting.

The search was carried out by the flying squad to see whether any money or articles were kept inside, as per the instructions by the Election Commission, police sources said.

However, nothing, violating the election code, was found in the copter, they said.

Capt. Amarinder says Modi’s ’56 inch breast beating’ remark ‘shameless’ and ‘arrogant’

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Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Amritsar, Capt. Amarinder Singh, on Tuesday said the remark made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi about his ’56 inch chest’ indicated his ‘chauvinistic pride and shameless arrogance’.

“This election season has thrown up many a xenophobes, fascists and pseudo-nationalists camouflaging as ultranationalists beating their ’56 inch chest’ with chauvinistic pride and shameless arrogance” wrote Amarinder on his Facebook wall apparently referring to Modi.

Congress legislators blame Majithia for sabotaging Amritsar’s development

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Congress legislators and leaders from Amritsar on Tuesday blamed Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia for betraying and sabotaging the development of the city just to satisfy his bloated ego and not letting sitting MP Navjot Singh Sidhu to succeed.

In a joint statement the party legislators OP Soni, Sukh Sarkaria, Raj Kumar Verka, urban and rural district presidents Rajiv Bhagat and Gurjeet Aujla, said that ever since Bikram became an MLA in 2007 he started his campaign against Sidhu in a battle for one upmanship.

Rahul lists UPA’s achievements, stresses need to lift standard of working class

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday detailed the achievements of the Congress-led UPA government in improving the standards of poor people during its ten-year rule at the Centre and stated that he aims to get the 70 crore-strong working class who are working in the unorganised sector lifted upwards.

“There are about 70 crore people in India, who are employed in a variety of jobs including as electricians and security guards. We want to uplift them,” Rahul said while addressing a rally in Bihar’s Aurangabad.

Delhi HC verdict on Nitish Katara murder Wednesday

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The Delhi High Court will Wednesday deliver its judgment on appeals of three convicts against a trial court verdict awarding them life imprisonment for abducting and killing Nitish Katara in 2002.

A division bench of Justice Gita Mittal and Justice J.R. Midha had reserved the judgment April 16 last year.

The court was hearing appeals of convicts Vikas Yadav, brother of Katara’s friend Bharti, and Vishal Yadav, Bharti’s cousin, and contract killer Sukhdev Pehalwan, who are serving life terms in Tihar jail.

Centre make circumvent ratification of Prez rule in Andhra Pradesh

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The Centre is toying with the idea of revoking President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh and reimposing it immediately to circumvent the need for convening a special session of Parliament in the midst of Lok Sabha polls to ratify central rule in the state.

The move could help the central government gain two more months before approaching Parliament for the mandatory ratification of President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh.

Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh are being held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

Agra mayor, BSP leader join Samajwadi Party

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Agra Mayor Indrajeet Arya from the BJP and BSP legislator Chhote Lal Verma Tuesday joined the Samajwadi Party.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the two leaders into the party.

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Verma from Fatehabad assembly constituency joined the Samajwadi Party along with a large number of followers, including over 100 pradhans and block-level members.

Verma in 2007 had left the Bharatiya Janata Party to contest the assembly election on a Samajwadi Party ticket. He joined the BSP shortly before the 2009 Lok Sabha election.
(IANS)

‘Illiterate’ Rakhi Sawant has assets worth Rs 15 crore

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Bollywood starlet Rakhi Sawant who is contesting from Mumbai North West seat has declared herself an “illiterate” with total assets of Rs 14.69 crore.

Rakhi (36), who is taking on heavyweights like Gurudas Kamat of Congress and Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena from the constituency, has movable property worth Rs 3.57 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 11.12 crore.

The Rashtriya Aam Party candidate has cash of Rs 96,427 in hand, and Rs 39.13 lakh in fixed deposits.

The actress has invested Rs 61.26 lakh in bonds and shares and Rs 2.12 crore in insurance and postal savings.

Saina is not in good form owing to injury: Sidek

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Malaysia’s Badminton great Rashid Sidek believes ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal is currently struggling for form because of her injury and she needs to work on her fitness to get back to her best again.

London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina had to battle poor form and injuries last season as she didn’t win a single title, but the Indian showed signs of a comeback when she started the new season with a win at the Syed Modi International tournament and Sidek said it is a slow process to get back into shape after an injury.

Trinamool terrorising opposition: Left Front

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West Bengal’s opposition Left Front Tuesday alleged that leaders and workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress were terrorising its supporters and expressed fears about the collapse of the law and order during the coming Lok Sabha polls.

In a memorandum to the Election Commission in Delhi, a high-level Left Front delegation demanded steps on the part of the EC to put a stop to the “unlawful activities” of the Trinamool and restore the democratic “fabric and polity” in the interest of free and fair elections.

AAP leader embarks on 50-km walk to file nomination!

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Braving 45 degrees Celsius temperature, AAP candidate for Dhule Lok Sabha seat Ansari N. Ahmed has embarked on a 50-km walkathon to file his nomination papers, a party leader said here Tuesday.

“We started this afternoon from Malegaon and have already covered around 10 km. The march will continue for some time tonight, tomorrow (Wednesday) and we shall reach Dhule on Thursday to file the papers,” Ahmed’s aide and media consultant Aleem Faizee told IANS.

Attacked by Trinamool activists, say officials; EC seeks report

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The Election Commission Tuesday sought a report from the district magistrate following allegations by a election Model Code of Conduct (MCC) team that they were roughed up by Trinamool Congress activists after posters and festoons of the ruling party were removed in West Bengal’s Howrah district.

“We have asked the district magistrate to submit a action-taken report in the incident immediately,” Amit Roy Chaudhury, officer on special duty and ex-officio joint secretary in the chief electoral officer’s department, told reporters here.

Govt. has not spent a penny out of ‘Nirbhaya fund’: Modi

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday alleged that the Congress-led UPA government has not properly utilized the money in ‘Nirbhaya Fund’, and added that incidents of rapes are becoming a day-to-day affair in Delhi.

Addressing a rally here, Modi said in the last ten years the country has lost so much, and added that unemployment, poverty, corruption and farmers suicide are very much prevalent.

Government’s decision to grant reservation on Jats justified: Major H.S. Ahlawat

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Major H.S. Ahlawat, who is representing the Jat community, on Tuesday said that the recommendations of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) were not binding on the Indian government.

Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Union government seeking its response on the decision to include the Jat community in category of Other Backward Classes (OBC) in nine states that is likely to benefit around 90 million people.

India will be destroyed if Modi becomes PM: Mayawati

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday said country could plunge into communal violence if Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister.

“If such a person (Modi) by some reason or mistake becomes prime minister of our country, if such a person remains in power, our country can lead to destruction or get ruined by plunging into communal violence,” she said.

You must stop this person from coming into power in the federal government for the sake of country and the people,” she added.

State BJP leaders have “no face” to campaign, Siddaramaiah

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said state BJP leaders had “no face” to campaign in Lok Sabha elections, as several of them were involved in scandals during their party rule in the state.

Addressing a public meeting at Sindagi, 60 km from here, he said several ministers and the then Chief Minister (B S Yeddyurappa) hit by scandals had to go to jail and they had no “moral courage” to face the voters.

“That is why they asked their national leader Narendra Modi to address public meetings in state,” Siddaramaiah said.

Shah Rukh not to be a part of ‘Koffee with Karan’ this time

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Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who has appeared on all the previous seasons of ‘Koffee with Karan’, will not feature on the TV show this time.

This will the first time Shah Rukh will be skipping the popular show, hosted by his good friend and filmmaker Karan Johar, which is in its fourth edition.

The 48-year-old “Chennai Express” actor has appeared in all the previous seasons of the chat show, which revolves around celebrities from the film industry.