Month: February 2015

Make Maha Anti-Superstition law national: Vice President Hamid Ansari

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Vice President Hamid Ansari on Friday called for making the Anti-Superstition law of Maharashtra a national one.

Speaking after releasing three-volume books on eradicating superstitions penned by anti-superstition activist late Narendra Dabholkar at a function here, Ansari stressed on the need to enlighten the young generation.

He said August 20, 2013, will be remembered in history as a black day when Dabholkar was murdered as he was trying to awaken people against various superstitions.

Three killed in Afghan suicide attack

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At least three people — two children and the attacker — were killed and 13 injured in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, police said.

The likely target of the attack was the motorcade of parliamentarian Farhidoon Mohmmand from the province (200 km from Kabul), Xinhua quoted police spokesperson as saying. But the legislator escaped the attack unharmed.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

(IANS)

I am not against minorities: Praveen ​Togadia

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Denied permission by the Odisha government to visit communally sensitive Kandhamal district, VHP president Praveen Togadia on Friday clarified that he was not against the minorities but would continue to speak in favour of his Hindu brothers and sisters.

“I am not against the minorities, but I’ll certainly speak on the interest of my Hindu brothers and sisters,” Togadia told reporters, adding that he was, however, against the illegal entry of Bangladeshi Muslims.

Togadia said he had been worried over the safety, security and well being of the Hindus.

PM Modi is “allergic” to me: Anna Hazare

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Stepping up his attack on the government over the land acquisition bill, Anna Hazare on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “allergic” to him due to which he does not expect any talk with Modi on the issue.

Hazare also said that he will launch a three-month long padyatra from Maharashtra’s Wardha to Delhi which he said would culminate with a “jail bharo andolan” in the capital.

The 77-year-old anti-graft crusader assailed the government’s move to get the proposed legislation passed in Parliament, saying it was as draconian as the Ordinance.

My government’s religion is ”India first”: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said his government, which followed the religion of “India first”, was working keeping in mind the thought of “development of all” with particular emphasis on the northeastern part of the country.

Replying to the discussion in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee`s address, he also said his government “corrected” the land acquisition act for the sake of farmers, and if there is anything anti-farmer in the law they are ready to change it.

Five people arrested for rape of Sikkim girl in Delhi

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Five people, including an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) doctor, were arrested by the police on Friday in connection with the rape of a 25-year old woman from Sikkim.

The victim was allegedly raped by the doctor in the Hauz Khas area of the national capital.

The police had initiated an inquiry in this matter following a complaint by the victim.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

Anand Sharma accuses PM Modi of delivering ‘false promises’

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Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of delivering ‘false promises’ and ‘false hopes’.

“This is his tenth month as the Prime Minister of India, what has he delivered? He has delivered false promises and false hopes but nothing has moved on the ground. Manufacturing is in the negative, investments and savings are low,” Sharma said to ANI.

The former union minister also alleged that the nation is currently burdened by debt.

Congress demands early tabling of Gujarat riots report

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Apprehending a deliberate delay by the BJP-led Gujarat government in tabling of Justice Nanavati Commission’s final report on 2002 Gujarat riots in the ongoing Assembly session, Congress today said it would approach the Speaker to seek early tabling.

Senior Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar alleged that the government would avoid discussion on the report by tabling it on the last day of the session.

Pakistan violates ceasefire again in Jammu, second in 24 hours

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In the second instance of ceasefire violation within 24 hours, Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on a Border Out Post along the International Border in Jammu district on Friday.

The firing comes in the backdrop of the meeting between PDP Patron Mufti Sayeed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce the formation of a BJP-PDP government in the state.

Pakistani troops resorted to firing of two to three rounds at BoP Jai Kishan in R S Pura sector of Jammu district around 1950 hours, a BSF officer said.

Don’t see AAP competing for space nationwide: Tharoor

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Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today said that he does not see the Aam Aadmi Party competing nationwide for political space with the Congress, and that the new party posed more of a threat to the Communist parties.

Referring to the AAP’s landslide victory in the recent Delhi elections, Tharoor said he saw it more as a Delhi phenomenon.

“The Aam Aadmi Pary is particularly so far a Delhi phenomenon. I don’t see it competing for a space nationwide,” Tharoor said here as part of a discussion on his latest book ‘India Shastra’.

All 6 accused acquitted: Gujarat 2002 riots:

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Citing lack of evidence,a special trial court here today acquitted all the six accused in a case related to the killing of three British nationals during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

The deaths of the British nationals near Prantij town in Sabarkantha district had prompted the UK government to take a policy decision not to have active engagement with Gujarat government. UK resumed the engagement only in October 2012.

Representatives of the British High Commission to India were present in the court today.

Over 13 lakh students to take CBSE class 10 exams

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In all 13,73,853 students would be appearing for the class 10 CBSE board examination this year, a 3.37 per cent hike than last year.

Both the class 10 and class 12 examinations would start from March 2.

While 8,17,941 boys will be appearing for the exam, 5,55,912 girls will be sitting for the exam, said CBSE in a statement issued on Friday.

Last year 13,28,970 students had appeared for the examination.

In case of class 12, 10,40,368 students would be appearing for the exam, 6,07,383 of whom are boys.

Man cancels marriage on receiving SMSes about bride’s affair

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A police complaint has been filed against a man for calling off his wedding at the last minute here after receiving SMSes about his fiancee’s past love affair, police said today.

Embarrassed by the sudden turn of events, the woman’s family, which hails from Nagpur, filed a complaint of dowry
and cheating against against Abhishek Jain, 28, a resident of Betul district in Madhya Pradesh.

Jain was to get married here yesterday but cancelled the wedding after claiming to have received some SMSes about

NHRC notice to Telangana government over child labourers

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The NHRC has sought a report from the Telanagana government on the rehabilitation of around 220 children who were recently rescued from bangle making factories in the state, a statement said Friday.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that the children, including girls aged between 12 and 16 years from different parts of Bihar, were being made to work for a pittance, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to the Commissioner of Police and District Magistrate, Hyderabad, Telangana calling for a report within two weeks.

Bill to merge PIO, OCI schemes introduced in Lok Sabha

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A bill seeking to merge Person of Indian Origin card with Overseas Citizenship of India card was introduced in Lok Sabha Friday.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was introduced by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to replace the ordinance brought by the government.

The bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 and provide, among other things, for “registration of overseas citizen of India cardholder and also that the persons of Indian origin cardholders shall be deemed to be overseas citizen of India cardholders”.

Bengal Inc lauds small industry-centric Bengal budget

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West Bengal’s major industry bodies Friday welcomed the state budget saying the proposals on tax revision, especially Value Added Tax, would facilitate the growth of small scale industries.

“The state budget has further introduced a slew of measures to simplify and reform the taxation system which would stimulate the business and revenue generation for the government,” saidMerchant Chamber of Commerce president Arun Kumar Saraf.

Tirumala temple ropes in TCS as technology partner

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The Venkateswara temple, India’s richest shrine located on the hills of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati, has roped in software giant Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) as the technology partner to provide all online services.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the temple, Friday said TCS would take care of services including of e-darshan and all advance and current booking.

TTD executive officer D. Sambashiva Rao reviewed details of the collaboration with TCS CEO N. Chandrasekaran.

Rossouw’s energy inspired me: De Villiers

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South African skipper A.B. De Villiers, who cracked 162 from 66 deliveries against West Indies in a Pool B World Cup encounter here, Friday said it was fellow team-mate Rilee Rossouw’s energy that inspired him to play such a knock.

“There’re quite a few things that played a role. The credit had to go to the guys upfront and Rilee’s energy inspired me. That affected me and I wanted to play like that and then I started timing the ball and it all came off,” said De Villiers.

Saudi Reports 10 MERS Deaths in a Week

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Ten more people in Saudi Arabia have died from MERS over the past week, health ministry figures showed today, after an international mission urged extra measures to combat the virus.

Saudi Arabia is the country worst-hit by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

The latest deaths occurred between February 20 and 26, adding to a surge of cases which has killed 27 people since the start of the month.

Five members of family convert to Hinduism

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Five members of a family have converted to Hinduism near Wadakkancherry here as part of the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ initiative of Sangh Parivar, VHP representatives said.

Sources known to the development said the family from Nelluvai converted to Hinduism today at a ceremony held at a temple at Paralikkad by VHP and Bajrang Dal.

Suhra was a Hindu before she married Abdurahiman and embraced Islam. She reconverted to Hinduism today along with her husband and three children.

When contacted Thrissur police sources confirmed the religious conversion took place at Paralikkad temple.

2 pedestrians among four killed in road accidents

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A 28-year-old doctor died while his colleague sustained injuries when the car they were travelling on hit an unidentified vehicle from behind.

According to Shamirpet police, the deceased, Dr Nikhil Jogi, a native of Bodhan, was driving the car and apparently lost control and hit an unidentified vehicle from behind near Shamirpet crossroads on Thursday night. Jogi and the co-passenger, Padmaja, sustained grievous injuries. They were immediately rushed to the Gandhi Hospital where Jogi was declared brought dead. Padmaja is still undergoing treatment.

Have fish, soak up some sun for healthy brain

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Eating enough sea fish and outdoor activities affect the levels of brain chemical serotonin that plays a role in ameliorating the symptoms associated with a broad array of brain disorders, new research has found.

Many clinical disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression share as a unifying attribute low brain serotonin.

Train accidents: two killed in different incidents

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Talking on cell phone while crossing a railway track proved fatal for a city businessman.

According to Secunderabad Railway Police, P Balreddy, 30, of Chengicherla, was walking on Platform No 3 of Cherpally Railway Station while speaking to someone on his mobile phone on Thursday. While continuing his talk, he tried to cross the railway tracks without noticing an arriving train. Consequently, he was hit by the train leading to his instantaneous death.

75yr old woman succumbs to burn injuries

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A 75-year-old woman died of burn injuries which she accidentally sustained at her residence.

According to Medipally police, the victim, Lingamma, caught fire from the ‘Deepak’ while performing pooja at her residence in Peerzadiguda on February 22. She was admitted to the Gandhi Hospital where she died on Thursday night. (INN)

TRS Leader Ridicules TDP talk of Corruption in Mission Kakatiya

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TRS MLC Karne Prabhakar has ridiculed the TDP leaders’ charge about corruption in Mission Kakatiya and asked how could there be corruption when it is still in Tender process only. He said that during earlier TDP regime, there was large scale corruption in ‘Neeru—Meeru’ programme.