Governance Problem In Delhi Due To Fight Between Centre And AAP, Says SC September 21, 2015 16:48
On Monday, the Supreme Court (SC) said that it was well aware of serious governance problem in Delhi due to constant fight between AAP government and Centre. But, SC refused to entertain a PIL on the deficit of the governance that leads to deaths from dengue. According to the court, it could entertain a petition on any specific constitutional provision violation but not deficit of governance. The court also said that people would pass proper verdict when time ripens if Narendra Modi led government at the Centre and Arvind Kejriwal led government fail to resolve disputes thereby creating governance problem. A bench of Justices V Gopala Gowda and TS Thakur said after hearing Sidharth Luthra, senior advocate, that the two governments are supposed to sit together to resolve the issues and provide good governance to the people of Delhi and not the court’s duty to peep into such matters. -Sumana
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RSS Chief Urges For Reservation Policy Review As Patel Quota Stir Continues September 21, 2015 12:55
Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief, has inclined for a review of the reservation policy in the midst of Patel quota stir continuing in Gujarat. He contended that it was used for political ends. The chief suggested for an apolitical committee so as to review who is in need of the facility and for how long. Bhagwat said that ‘interest groups’ form in democracy, but one section’s aspirations should not be met at the cost of others. In an interview, Bhagwat told Sangh mouthpiece 'Organiser' and 'Panchjanya' that, "Interest groups are formed because we have certain aspirations in democracy. At the same time, we should remember that through interest groups we should not strive to address those aspirations at the cost of others.” "We should have integral approach of welfare for all. It is sensible to realize that my interest lies in larger national interest. Government also has to be sensitive to these issues that there should not be any agitations for them," he added. Constitution of a committee to look into the issue was what he pitched for, which contains representatives belonging to the civil society. "We believe, form a committee of people genuinely concerned for the interest of the whole nation and committed for social equality, including some representatives from the society, they should decide which categories require reservation and for how long,” he said. "The non-political committee like autonomous commissions should be the implementation authority; political authorities should supervise them for honesty and integrity.” Bhagwat argued that the reservation policy on social backwardness basis being extended now is not matching with the Indian Constitution. "If we would have implemented this policy as envisaged by the Constitution makers instead of doing politics over it, then present situation would not have arrived. Since inception it has been politicised," Bhagwat said. -Sumana
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Man With Air Gun Arrested At Rahul Election Rally September 19, 2015 16:32
On Saturday, the Bihar Police arrested a man with air gun at an election rally led by Rahul Gandhi, Congress Vice President, at Ram Nagar in West Champaran district of Bihar. It was identified that the youth was Tayyab Jaan. He is a Jharmuhi village resident that falls under Chautarwa Police Station in the district. Anand Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police of Bagaha Police district said the youth was caught at the main entrance with air gun. By then, Mr. Gandhi had not yet reached the rally venue at Hazari Maidan. “He seems to be mentally unstable and claimed that he had brought the weapon for his own protection. We are investigating the entire episode in detail,” Mr. Singh said. Singh said that the police also seized a bag from the youth, which contained air gun pellets and few clothes. Inquiring is going on into the antecedent. A rally is being addressed by Mr. Gandhi that is organized to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad are missing the program, while Tej aswi Yadav, Mr. Prasad’s son, and K.C. Tyagi, JD(U) General Secretary, are representing the alliance partners. -Sumana
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Hardik Patel detained for taking out Ekta Yatra without permission September 19, 2015 15:03
The 22-year-old Patel community leader, Hardik Patel was detained in Surat by Gujarat police for trying to take out ‘Ekta Yatra' without necessary permission from the authorities. Along with the leader of Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti, over 30 others were detained. Heavy police have been deployed by the authorities in the Patel-dominated areas of Diamond city Surat. Also, mobile internet was disrupted by the Gujarat police in the cities of Surat and Ahmedabad. A notice of 24-hour suspension of the mobile based Internet services was issued by the Ahmedabad police commissioner Shivanand Jha. The suspension of internet was a bid to prevent spread of rumors in the social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Whastapp. A senior police official from Surat was quoted by The Hindu as saying that, “We have detained and currently they are being interrogated by the police.” "we have appealed to the people of Surat to maintain," said the police official. Meanwhile, appealing to the Patel community to maintain peace and law and order in Gujarat, Mr. Patel sent a message to his followers that read, "I sincerely appeal to the people to maintain peace." When he was detained along with other members, the message was sent by Mr. Patel to his followers from the police headquarters. -Sumana
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Indian Fisherman Killed In Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Firing September 18, 2015 17:34
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) personnel fired at two fishing boats during which an Indian fisherman was killed on Friday off Gujarat. The instigation for the firing is not clear. It is vivid if the Indian boats crossed the maritime border. The incident occurred 100 nautical miles off the Okha coast in Gujarat. In mid-sea to the spot, an Indian Coast Guard vessel was rushed. It is learnt that Iqbal Bhatti was identified as the slain fisherman and another fisherman was present in the boat. Gujarat shares coastline of over 1,600 km with Pakistan. Several times, the maritime agencies of Pak and India arrested fishermen from both the countries for crossing each other’s territorial waters. However, firing at fishermen is a rare. Calling the act of killing ‘despicable’, Congress leader Ahmed Patel said that it is failure of the NDA government to provide security to fishermen. Gujarat chapter of National Fishworkers Forum secretary, Manish Lodhari, told The Indian Express that, “Fishing trawler Prem Sagarof Okha was fired upon at around 9 am on Friday when it was operating near the IMBL, some 100 nautical miles off Okha coast. One fisherman has been killed after being hit by a bullet while the captain and the other four crew members are safe.” -Sumana
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Netaji Files Open To Public At Calcutta Police Museum From Monday September 18, 2015 17:10
The West Bengal government declassified 64 files pertained to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Friday. The files, which were under the Kolkata police and West Bengal police possession, are being kept for public view at the Calcutta Police Museum. From Monday, the files will be open to public on the basis of first come, first served. The Calcutta Police Museum is housed in the Office of Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police, North Division on 113 APC Road. In their original form, the files will be kept for view in a glass cabinet. The museum was open only to Netaji's family members and the media on Friday. Kolkata Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha said, "Making the files public was quite a big task. There are 64 files which contained 12,744 pages and it had to be digitised before being made public." Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s family members including nephew Chandra Kumar Bose and former MP Krishna Bose were handed the digitised files in the compact disc form. Earlier on 11 September, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made an announcement that the Netaji files would be declassified. It is purportedly suggested in the documents that in 1948-49, Bose is believed to be alive by the British and American intelligence agencies, which also believe that the leader was instrumental in various communist uprisings in Southeast Asia. -Sumana
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Gas Cylinder Explodes At Restaurant In MP, 20 Feared Dead September 12, 2015 11:45
At a restaurant in Petlawad town of the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, cooking gas cylinder exploded because of which at least 20 were feared dead and many injured. Around 8.30 a.m., blast took place at a building housing the restaurant in Petlawad town. It is 60km away from the district headquarters Jhabua, said A.R. Khan, Petlawad Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP). “Nearly 15-20 people are feared dead in the mishap and as many were injured,” Khan said. According to SDOP, many could have been trapped in the debris. He added that upon clearing the debris, the exact number of casualties will be identified. He also said that many adjacent buildings were damaged due to the explosion caused by the gas cylinder. -Sumana
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In Mumbai Train Blasts Case, 12 Convicted, One Acquitted September 11, 2015 17:05
A special MCOCA court on Friday has convicted 12 and acquitted one out of the 13 accused in the case concerning Mumbai train blasts. This came nine years after RDX bombs slashed seven Western Railway trains. Among the convicted were main conspirators Faisal Sheikh and Asif Khan Bashir Khan alias Junaid. Abdul Wahid Shaikh, accused No. 8, acquitted. From Monday there would be arguments on the quantum. The 12 convicted for these blasts include Kamal Ahamed Ansari (37), Ehtesham Siddiqui (30), Mohammad Majid Shafi (32), Mohd Sajid Ansari (34), Shaikh Alam Shaikh (41), Mohd Faisal Shaikh (36), Soheil Mehmood Shaikh (43), Zamir Ahmad Shaikh (36), Muzzammil Shaikh (27), Naveed Hussain Khan (30), Tanvir Ahmed Ansari (37), and Asif Khan (38). On Monday, the quantum of punishment will be pronounced. In August 2014, the trial in the case concluded. Little was left for the pronouncement of the judgment over a year. Presided by Yatin D Shinde, special judge, the court issued production warrants to all the 13 accused in the case. On 11 July 2006, seven blasts occurred in the first class compartments of suburban locals during which 188 people were killed while 817 were injured. Bombs went off for eight minutes beginning 6.23pm. The blasts occurred at or nearer to the Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bandra, Borivli, Mahim, Matunga and Mira Road stations. -Sumana
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Good news for central government employees with 6% hike in DA September 09, 2015 16:14
On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet gave green signal to a proposal to increase dearness allowance (DA) to 119% from 113%. With this more than one crore government employees and pensioners could potentially benefit. The proposal to hike DA, which is paid as a part of basic pay, by 6% hike to the central government employees was taken at a meeting by the Union Cabinet. DA was hiked 6% to 113% of their basic pay by the government earlier in April, effective January. The newly proposed DA hike will be effective 1 July 2015. According to the agreed formula, the hike in DA rate is an average of 12-month consumer price index-industrial workers from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. The proposed hike complies with the accepted formula, which is on the basis of the recommendations of the 6th pay commission. Around 55 lakh pensioners and 48 lakh government employees would benefit fro it. The Cabinet last month approved a four month extension to the term of the 7th Central pay commission up to December 31. -Sumana
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MEA clarifies, 7 Indians missing, 13 alive after Saudi-led airstrike in Yemen September 09, 2015 13:58
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has disputed with reports indicating 20 Indians’ death in Yemen after Saudi-led airstrike on boats. MEA clarifies saying that 20 Indian crew members were there in two boats. Out of them seven have gone missing while 13 are alive. Currently, no other information on the identities of the Indian nationals is available. Vikas Swarup, MEA spokesperson, said in a statement that, “Embassy officials are in constant touch with local authorities and are also due to meet with the boat owner today at which point of time more information would be available.” Indian Embassy officials in Djbouti and local contacts are in touch. The officials ascertained that one boat of the two was plying between Berbera (Somalia) and Mocha (Yemen). On 8 September afternoon, two boasts came under aerial bombardment. For the last few months, the Saudi-led alliance has been bombing Houthi rebels. Ground troops were sent into Yemen to retake Sana’a, the capital. It is under the control of Houthi since September 2014. Since last week, air strikes from the alliance are intensified as 60 soldiers belonging to Saudi, United Arab Emirates and Bahraini lost lives due to Houthi attack at a military camp east of Sana'a. Due to the clash, India evacuated around foreign nationals and 5,000 Indians under Operation Rahat across several parts of Yemen. However, the evacuation was refused by some Indians who preferred staying back. -Sumana
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Ministers in Modi's government get ready for appraisals September 08, 2015 15:01
It is now the appraisal time for the PM Modi Government as ministers of state reporting to Cabinet minister started preparing presentations to PM Modi. The presentations are supposed to include the details like their achievements as well as the areas of improvement. It holds prominence as this is the first of its kind in the Prime Minister's Office. The performance review would be the key focus. Approximately 25 MoSes report to Cabinet ministers in the PM Modi government. Also, internal rating is on cards for every minister, sources revealed. Assessments may also lead to reshuffling of work allotment to ministers in case they are seen to display poor record or seen disinterested. Junior ministers will present the details about allotted work, goals, and achieved targets through this one year period. A senior officials was quoted as saying that, "They will also be required to talk about performance as junior ministers and what they have delivered in the past one year.” The exercise has begun since last week, while Junior ministers in rural development and HRD have already given their presentations. Ministers of state in the home ministry will make presentation in the upcoming review on J&K, internal security, FCRA violation related issues besides issues related to cancellation of Greenpeace licence and action against Ford Foundatiod, reveled the Officials. Presentation of the tribal affairs minister was postponed two times. -Sumana
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China to grab Dalai Lama’s institution, CTA claims September 07, 2015 17:53
Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) at Dharamshala has claimed that China wants to grab Dalai Lama’s institution in Tibet, amid controversy that the country is looking to take control over the process of reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama. The move is due to the previous geopolitical importance in the unstable politics of China, Mongolia and Tibet. CTA sys internal assessment of China is that it can’t rule Tibet everlastingly without legitimizing Dalai Lama’s influence over the people of Tibet is also another cause. A report with 31 pages was prepared by CTA as a response to White Paper on Tibet from China. The report claimed that ‘the legitimacy of the14th Dalai Lama of Tibet rests on China's recognition and approval’. According to the report, China is claiming this spiritual resource of Tibet by making a demand on the reincarnation of 14th Dalai Lama and determining to appoint his incarnation. China could turn Tibet into a highly potent political tool. CTA has prepared a 31-page report in response to China's White Paper on Tibet claiming that the legitimacy of the14th Dalai Lama of Tibet rests on China's recognition and approval. The report states that by demanding that 14th Dalai Lama reincarnate and in its determination to appoint his reincarnation, China is claiming this spiritual resource of Tibet which at its whim could be turned into a highly potent political tool. The report stated, "Such a move on the part of China will create an international furor comparable to China muscling its way into the South China Sea.” It also stated that the collapse of the trust of the people of Tibet in its administration is realized by the Communist Party in China. "The peaceful protests that erupted throughout Tibet and the ongoing self-immolations are indicators of the Communist China's consistent failure to win the trust of the Tibetan people," report said. -Sumana
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