Month: March 2015

Canada offers expertise in smart city development to Telangana, Andhra

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Canada can provide expertise to the new states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in building smart cities, a Canadian diplomat said here on Monday.

Consul General in Bengaluru Sidney Frank, who is leading a business delegation on a two-day visit to the two states, made the remarks at meeting here.

Sixteen Canadian companies on Monday participated in a day-long workshop on “Shaping the South – Emerging smart city opportunities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh”, organized by the Canadian Trade Commissioner’s Service.

Kolkata civic polls: Trinamool promises green city, Left slams inefficiency

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The ruling Trinamool Congress on Monday released its manifesto for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) polls, promising to build a “green and clean” city.

Claiming to be the “main opposition” in West Bengal, the CPI-M led Left Front too issued its manifesto for the polls, slamming the Trinamool-run KMC and charging the Mamata Banerjee-led party of being complementary to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“Our aim is to provide a green and clean Kolkata. Development, peace and secularism comprise our way forward,” Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said releasing the manifesto.

Minor girl raped in Delhi

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A nine-year-old girl was raped by an unidentified man at a secluded place on the pretext of conducting religious rituals, police said on Monday.

The girl was hospitalised after the incident in east Delhi’s Preet Vihar on Saturday.

The man took the girl from her house by telling her parents that he wants to feed “kanyas” (young girls) on the occasion of Hindu religious event Ram Navami, which marks the end of the nine-day Navaratri festival.

Police said the girl, who stays in the slums of Preet Vihar, was taken in a car by the accused man.

Rahul to return to action on April 19: Digvijaya

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to attend a farmers’ rally here on April 19, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said on Monday.

To be addressed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the rally to protest the Bharatiya Janata Party’s failure to implement its poll promises will be “attended by all senior leaders of the Congress…When I say senior leaders, it includes Rahul Gandhi as well,” Digvijaya Singh told IANS.

No lowering of guard at border, says CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

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The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday  said there would be no lowering of guard on the security front along the the borders of the country.

“The government will not lower guard on security front in protecting our borders,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed told the Assembly in Jammu. He commended the police, paramilitary forces and the Army for having done a commendable job in bringing peace to the state.

Keshari Nath Tripathi to take charge as Mizoram Guv before April 9

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West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who has been given additional charge of Mizoram, will assume office before President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the state on April 9. The state must have a governor during the President’s visit, a Raj Bhavan official said.

Aizawl Raj Bhavan sources said that the outgoing governor Aziz Qureshi, who returned to Aizawl from Delhi on Monday, told the Raj Bhavan officials he would stay back in Mizoram for one or two days.

India, Japan review strategic developments relating to international security situation

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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who held a defence ministerial meeting with his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani here on Monday, reviewed strategic developments relating to international security situation with emphasis on the inter-connected Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

The two ministers briefed each other on the security environment surrounding each country and their respective defence policies during the meeting, which was held in a constructive, friendly and forward looking atmosphere.

‘Disturbing’ photos prompt retd Lt Gen to seek Army probe into Hashimpura case

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Saying that it was “disturbing” to see the pictures of the Army during the 1987 communal riots in Hashimpura, Lt Gen. HS Panag (retd) has sought a thorough probe by the force so that lessons can be learnt.

A former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Northern and Central Commands, Panag has said he would
soon write to Army chief Gen. Dalbir Singh seeking a probe into the incident, which was the precursor to the Hashimpura
massacre.

“It was disturbing to see the pictures published now of Army personnel pointing gun at a child,” he said after airing

Rahul to attend Cong’s Kisan rally on Apr 19

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Rahul Gandhi, who is on a long sabbatical, will be back in action to attend a Kisan rally here on April 19 against land ordinance brought out by the Narendra Modi government.

The rally is significant as it is being held on the eve of the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament at a time when almost the entire opposition has joined ranks against the ordinance, which is being dubbed by them as “anti-farmer and pro-corporate”.

Cabinet Secretary chairs meeting to review J-K flood situation

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A meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth to take stock of the flood-like situation in Jammu and Kashmir and to review the arrangements made or required to be made to deal with the situation.

The meeting was attended by the Secretaries/Sr. Officers of the relevant departments of the Government. The Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and other officers of the state government participated through video conferencing.

Land Acquisition Bill row: Sonia to address ‘Kisan Rally’ in Delhi

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address a massive ‘Kisan Rally’ at the Ramlila Ground here on April 20 during which she is expected to target the Centre’s contentious Land Acquisition Bill.

“Under the aegis of AICC, Smt. Sonia Gandhi will address the massive Kisan Rally on 20th April at Ramlila Ground and the main issue would be the Land Bill,” Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said.

Army prepared for rescue operations in flood-hit Kashmir

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The Indian Army has kept 20 columns, equipped with boats and water pumps, ready for rescue operations in the flood-hit Kashmir valley, officials said on Monday.

The columns — comprising 100 to 125 personnel — and rescue boats with water pumps have been kept ready, army officials said.

Two IL-76 transport aircrafts have, meanwhile, flown in two companies of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to Srinagar from Bathinda.

Indian pilots may be subjected to psychometric tests

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Pilots of Indian air carriers may now be subjected to mid-term psychometric tests to ensure that they are mentally fit to fly, following the deliberate crashing of German airliner by the co-pilot last week.

Nine commercial airlines in India employ well over 3,000 pilots who are subjected to such tests at the point of
induction but there are no subsequent appraisals of their mental state. They, however, undergo physical fitness tests
every six months.

The government is mulling “mid-term” psychometric tests in the backdrop of the action of Andreas Lubitz, co-pilot of a

TRS Govt will fulfill all promises: Dy CM

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Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari on Monday reiterated that the TRS Government would fulfill all the promises that it made with the people during elections.

Speaking to media persons after newly elected MLC Rajeshwar Reddy took oath of office, the Deputy CM said that the government has been working hard to take the Telangana State on the path of development. He said that the government was facing lot of constraints in implementing the welfare measures. However, he assured that the TRS Government would not leave any stone unturned till the State is turned into ‘Bangaru Telangana’.

Five new MLCs of AP take oath

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Five newly elected MLCs of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council took oath of office here on Monday.

The MLCs – VV Chowdhary and Sandhya Rani of Telugu Desam Party and P Subhashchandra Bose and K Veerabhadraswamy of YSRCP, who were elected under MLAs’ quota and Ramakrishna, who was elected from Teachers’ constituency, were administered oath by Council Chairman Dr A Chakrapani. Deputy Chairman Satish Reddy was also present on the occasion.

Two more newly elected MLCs – Tippeswamy and Surya Ra are yet to take oath.

AP Govt to set up Energy Conservation Corps in schools, colleges

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With a view to take up integrated approach in implementing energy conservation activities by involving all key departments having huge energy savings potential such as Energy, MA&UD, Agriculture, Industrial, Panchayat raj & Rural Water supply schemes, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has contemplated to nominate Nodal officers in all major departments to pursue implementation of energy conservation activities in co-ordination with SECM in accordance with the objectives of the state government.

Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates modern crematorium “Maha Prasthanam”

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Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the GHMC’s modern crematorium “Maha Prasthanam” near Whisper Valley in Jubilee Hills here on Monday.

The crematorium has been established at a cost of Rs 3 crore by the Phoenix Foundation under “Fund Your City” programme initiated by the GHMC. Venkaiah Naidu praised the GHMC and Phoenix Foundation for setting up the modern crematorium with all facilities.

Cyberabad Police depute women constables on traffic duty

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For the first time ever, the Cyberabad Police have allotted six women police constable to Traffic PC Madhapur for regulation of traffic.

The women PCs have been deployed at TCS Junction, Cyber Towers Junction and 100-Feet Road Junctions. The women PCs are performing traffic regulation duties like Free Left maintenance, Stop Line maintenance and taking the pictures of traffic violators.

The women PCs also participating in initiatives like Drunken Drives and removal of encroachments, wherein they deal with women traffic violators. (INN)

Telangana’s new MLCs take oath

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Two newly elected members of Telangana Legislative Council – N Ramchandra Rao and P Rajeshwar Reddy took the oath of office here on Monday.

Council Chairman Swamy Goud administered the oath of office to the new MLCs at his chambers in the presence of Deputy Chairman Nethi Vidyasagar Rao.

Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy and other BJP legislators were present when Ramchandra Rao, who was elected from Mahabubnagar-Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy Graduates constituency, took oath.

Congress to launch agitation against power tariff hike

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Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday announced that his party would launch a massive agitation against hike in power tariff in Telangana State.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the State Government’s move to increase the power tariff was not justified, especially at a time when the global prices of crude oil are falling and coal prices too have been slashed. He said that the average increase in power tariff by 4.42% would have a manifold impact on several sectors, especially the industries.

AAP protests ‘VIP culture’ with 100-km cycle rally

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday ended a 100-km cycle rally to denounce the ‘VIP culture’ of the Punjab government.

The rally, which began on Sunday from Ludhiana, culminated in Chandigarh with party leaders calling for an immediate stop to the ‘VIP culture’ in the name of security.

“This cycle rally is to protest against the rampant VIP culture and the wastage of public money on VIPs,” AAP leader and lawyer H.S. Phoolka said, addressing AAP volunteers here after the rally ended.

Britain’s Queen faces prospect of first-ever staff strike

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For the first time in history, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II faces the prospect of her staff declaring a strike over low pay.

Workers at her Windsor Castle residence in Berkshire county of England will vote on industrial action over what they describe as “appallingly” low salary and allowances.

Castle staff start on an estimated 14,400 pounds per year, which is less than the UK living wage.

They are also expected to carry out extra duties for no extra pay, such as giving guided tours to paying visitors and acting as interpreters and first-aiders.