Month: February 2015

AAP, BJP to take ‘upadravi gotra’ issue to EC

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The row over Arvind Kejriwal being shown of “upadravi gotra” – or destructive subcaste – has led the AAP and the BJP locking horns, with both parties gearing up to lodge complaints against each other with the Election Commission.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Kejriwal said he, while following social activist Anna Hazare’s ideals that one must have the capacity to tolerate insult, ignored many insulting acts of the Bharatiya Janata Party but they “crossed limits” and his party will now approach the poll panel.

Smartphones derail social development of kids

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Use of mobile devices while attending to mundane tasks may be detrimental to the social-emotional development of children, researchers said.

“It has been well-studied that increased television time decreases a child’s development of language and social skills. Mobile media use similarly replaces the amount of time spent engaging in direct human-human interaction,” said Jenny Radesky from the Boston University’s School of Medicine in the US.

Disappointing to miss out on World Cup berth: Yuvraj, Gambhir

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Out-of-favour batsmen Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, integral members of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning side, Monday said they were disappointed at being ignored for the team chosen for the 2015 edition of the tournament.

Indian selectors decided to favour youngsters while selecting the team at the expense of senior players Yuvraj, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Gambhir, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel.

“It was disappointing not being picked for the World Cup. It’s a decision which you can’t help,” Yuvraj said at the News24 cricket conclave here.

Future belongs to digital media, says Jaitley

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The future of communication belongs to digital media due to its reach, variety and accessibility and officials dealing with information dissemination must package data and facts in line with contemporary trends and media requirements, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley said Monday.

Inaugurating a workshop here on ‘Streamlining government communication’, he said the present environment offered a tremendous opportunity to stakeholders within the government to disseminate credible, factual, relevant and reader-friendly information.

Make in Madhya Pradesh: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan to US

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has invited Indian diaspora and the American business community here to share their expertise and capabilities with his state in areas like IT, agriculture, business and social sectors.

Chouhan invited industries and entrepreneurs to ‘Make in Madhya Pradesh’, drawing upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. Chouhan addressed hundreds of Indian-Americans and key American lawmakers at the ‘Friends of Madhya Pradesh Conclave’ at the prestigious Lincoln Centre here yesterday.

Rupee rises 6 paise vs dollar ahead of RBI policy

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Ahead of RBI credit policy, the Indian rupee on Monday ended 6 paise higher at 61.80 against the American currency on fag-end selling pressure from banks and exporters due to a weak dollar in the overseas markets.

The rupee resumed lower at 62.00 per dollar as against last weekend’s level of 61.86 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex). It moved down further to 62.01 per dollar on initial dollar demand from banks.

However, it recovered immediately to end at 61.80 per dollar on selling of dollars by banks and exporters, showing a gain of six paise or 0.10 per cent.

Kerala CPI-M leader in jail for 19 days

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Firebrand CPI-M leader M.V. Jayarajan was Monday evening lodged at the Central Jail here and would remain in jail for 19 days.

Jayarajan Monday surrendered to the Kerala High Court registrar who handed him over to the police.

The Supreme Court last Friday upheld his conviction for using unparliamentary language against state high court judges.

While the Kerala High Court had sentenced him to six months in jail, following his appeal, the apex court reduced it four weeks’ simple imprisonment.

Sachin, Rahul refused to take off shirts at Lord’s: Shukla

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He was the manager of the Indian cricket team during its memorable Natwest Trophy triumph over England at Lord’s way back in 2002 and Rajeev Shukla on Monday revealed that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman refused then skipper Sourav Ganguly’s request of taking off their shirts and wave it.

Shukla, who was sitting by Ganguly’s side at the Lord’s balcony, on Monday, recollected that evening’s incident.

Delhi Police constable hit by speeding vehicle

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A 50-year-old Delhi Police constable is battling for life at a private hospital after he along with a home guard was hit by a speeding car at a police picket here early Monday, police said.

The incident occurred around 1.50 a.m. in Ghazipur area of east Delhi.

Constable Ajmer Singh received multiple injuries while home guard Krishan Pal, 25, was discharged after first aid as he suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Singh and Pal were deployed at the police picket situated at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border when a white colour Fortuner vehicle coming from Uttar Pradesh hit them.

Krishna Madiga’s ultimatum to KCR

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Manda Krishna Madiga MRPS leader on Saturday demanded that K. Chandrasekhar Rao must drop five Ministers “three Reddy and two Velama Ministers belonging to upper castes” should be dropped from the Cabinet immediately”. Induct persons belonging to the Mala and Madiga communities and women immediately, he added.

Uma Bharti praises Manjhi for ‘good work’

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Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Monday found a new fan in central Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, who described him as a ‘garibon ka Masiha’ (champion of the poor).

Uma Bharti praised Manjhi’s work as chief minister after she met him here to discuss the problems of flood and drought in Bihar.

“Manjhi is from humble background and is doing good work. He is a champion of the poorest of the poor,” she told the media here.

Uma Bharti said the central government would help Bihar in all possible ways to deal with floods and drought in the state.

Teacher held for raping student, forcing abortion

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A school teacher was arrested Monday here on charges of raping a Class 12 student and forcing her to abort her child, police said.

The wife of the teacher and two doctors who performed the abortion have also been arrested.

Officials told IANS that the teenager was taking tuition from a chemistry teacher who started sexually exploiting her.

Threatening to fail her in exams if she did not cooperate, the teacher sexually assaulted her every day and warned her not to tell her family or friends.

Bogus companies funding AAP

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received donations from bogus companies and indulged in money laundering, a breakaway group of the party claimed Monday.

“There have been four donations each of Rs.50 lakh by four bogus companies (to the AAP),” Gopal Goyal, a member of the AAP Volunteer Action Manch (AVAM), said.

Addressing a press conference, Goyal claimed the funds were received April 5 at midnight and the companies that made the donations were bogus.

They said they had the screenshots of the details of the donations.

–IANS

Modi invites Chinese to visit India for boosting ties

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday that India and China share age-old ties and it is necessary for both countries to boost people-to-people links through tourism in order to know each other better.

In a video message on the occasion of launch of the “Visit India Year 2015” in China, the prime minister said that in 2016, India will celebrate ‘Visit China Year’.

Modi’s video message comes as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is in Beijing for bilateral talks to lay the groundwork for Modi’s visit in May.

Kate Winslet thinks divorce good for kids as it teaches them to ‘struggle’

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Kate Winslet believes that parents’ divorce can teach children how to struggle, and can hence be considered good for them.

While speaking to the Harper’s Bazaar UK magazine, the 39-year-old mom-of-three, said that she tries to turn negative incidents into positive ones, adding that she wouldn’t change the bad things in her life, including her two divorces, the Independent reported.

India, China bound by historical ties, says PM Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India and China are bound by historical ties.

Addressing the people of China through a video message on the occasion of launch of ‘Visit India Year’ in China, he said both civilizations have contributed a lot to the world and added that the coming century will be of Asia.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of people to people exchange between both nations for better understanding of each other’s views.

Maharashtra government will take steps to boost coastal security: Devendra Fadnavis

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Maharashtra government will take necessary measures to boost coastal security, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday.

Fadnavis was speaking to reporters after reviewing coastal security during a boat ride between Girgaum Chowpatty and Vashi, along with senior state government and Navy officials.

He directed officials to implement measures to strengthen coastal security and take steps to curb illicit sea trade and avert terrorists sneaking in via sea.

Fadnavis also reviewed mangroves in Airoli area, adjoining Navi Mumbai.

PTI

Egypt court upholds Muslim Brotherhood death sentences

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A court in Egypt has upheld the death sentences of 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters over a 2013 attack on a police station here.

The men were convicted in the killings of 16 policemen in the town of Kardas, BBC reported.

The attack took place after Egyptian military forces cracked down on protests over the ousting of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July.

Hundreds of death sentences have been passed on Morsi’s supporters since but none have been carried out.

–IANS

India, China taking solid steps for new momentum in ties

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Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping smile for the media as they greet each other before starting a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Feb. 2, 2015. AP Photo
Chinese President Xi Jinping today met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here and said China and India have taken “solid steps” to make new progress in bilateral ties besides implementing the agreements reached between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dealing with media: Arun Jaitley briefs his ministers

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Union Minister Arun Jaitley gives his ministerial tips on how to share information through media
Arun Jaitley said that the bureaucracy had a vital role to play in ensuring that authentic information is

Stressing the importance of government’s connect with public through media, Union minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said ministers, even those unfamiliar with the art of dealing with press, have to take lead and along with bureaucrats ensure that authentic information reaches people.

Govt’s big hiring drive to recruit over 62,000 constables

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In one of its biggest recruitment drives, government has announced hiring of over 62,000 young men and women as constables in central paramilitary and police organisations this year.

The candidates will be hired by central forces like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, CISF, NIA and SSF as the Union Home Ministry launched the mega-drive of hiring workforce for these security organisations in the last about five years.

Army chopper crashes in Dimapur

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A Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed while taking off at the Rangapahar helipad in Nagaland’s Dimapur district today.

Two pilots and an army official, who were on board, have escaped unhurt after the helicopter crashed from a height of about 10-12 feet on the ground.

A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the crash. (ANI)

Kiran Bedi’s campaign aide Narendra Tandon takes his resignation back

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Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay on Monday said that Narendra Tandon, the campaign manager of chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, has withdrawn his resignation and will continue to work for the party.

“I just got to know from the party that Narendra Tandon visited the central party office and took back his resignation. He will continue to work for the BJP,” he said.

Tandon withdrew his resignation earlier this afternoon and cited his ’emotional’ state of mind as the reason behind his earlier decision. He had accused the former IPS officer of insulting him on every issue.

AAP moves EC over BJP’s casteist ad attack on Kejriwal

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly targeting its chief Arvind Kejriwal and describing him as a person of anarchist ‘gotra’ (sub-caste) in the latest campaign advertisement.

“The Election Commission has said that they will take appropriate action against it,” AAP leader Pankaj Gupta told ANI.

Haryana to get rid of unmanned railway crossings

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All unmanned railway crossings in Haryana will be done away with, said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Monday.

He said that this would be done by progressively constructing limited height subwayw (LHS) or by converting them into manned crossings to reduce accidents and loss of life.

The Haryana government has asked the railways authorities to provide planning for the manning of all level crossings in the state.