Category: India

BJP targets Rawat seat

Many BJP leaders, including former chief ministers Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri and Bhagat Singh Koshyari, have been camping there with the hope of defeating Congress chief minister Harish Rawat. “Rawat is contesting from Haridwar Rural and Kichha.

Jat quota stir spooks BJP

Chandigarh, Feb. 9: A Jat quota agitation in Haryana’s Rohtak that could have ramifications over 130km away in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, which votes this Saturday, has left the BJP worried. The movement was resumed on January 29 from Haryana and in the last 11 days, the demonstrations have reached Delhi and poll-bound Uttar Pradesh where Jat leaders have campaigned against BJP nominees and accused the party of “betrayal”.

JNU entry rule row intensifies

New Delhi, Feb. 9: JNU students began an indefinite sit-in today, two days after a tentative intake list for 2017-18 indicated seat cuts in MPhil and PhD courses across several disciplines. Several students also wore bandages as a mark of protest against the use of pellet guns in Kashmir – exactly a year after alleged anti-national sloganeering on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s death anniversary led to the arrest of three students, including then student union president Kanhaiya Kumar.

Jat agitation to intensify; secret report sent to PMO

Sources in the Special Branch have said that the Jat agitation will intensify, creating a major law and order problem during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election As Jat protests hit parts of the national Capital and adjoining areas, the Delhi Police intelligence unit, Special Branch, has apparently prepared a secret report on demands put forward by Jat leaders and sent it to the Prime Minister’s Office . Sources in the Special Branch have said that the Jat agitation will intensify, creating a major law and order problem during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

J&K Counsel in Supreme Court sacked over ‘sovereignty’ row7 min ago

New Delhi, Feb 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Government sacked its counsel in Supreme Court, Sunil Fernandez, when he refused to file a review petition to dispute the Apex Court’s view that Jammu and Kashmir “has no vestige of sovereignty outside the Constitution of India.” This statement by the Supreme Court also was followed with an uproar in the valley and reportedly Fernandez was instructed to resign ‘immediately’ on Monday evening.

PM Modi’s ‘raincoat’ barb: Congress says it has disturbed everybody1 hour ago

New Delhi [India], Feb. 9 : The Congress on Thursday strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘raincoat’ barb against his predecessor Manmohan Singh and remarked it has disturbed not only the political parties, but everybody. Congress leader Manoj Jha said this is the moment when everyone should urge PM Modi to address his opponents in a more civilised way now hence.

Buoyant India have the edge

Calcutta: Had this match been pushed three-four years back, one could have easily said that India were the outright favourites. India are still the favourites, but one isn’t sure what their degree of dominance over Bangladesh will be, when the one-off Test begins in Hyderabad on Thursday.

We’ll improve in Tests if we play more: Rahim

Hyderabad: Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim termed the criticism of Bangladesh’s average performance in the longer format a tad unfair, considering most of the top nations do not invite them for bilateral series on regular basis. Bangladesh will, however, be playing 10 Test matches in the coming year, mostly abroad, something that augurs well for the team.

Governor may bide time on Sasikala’s ascension

MUMBAI: The man who holds the key to the leadership struggle in Tamil Nadu is expected to arrive in Chennai on Thursday. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao , who holds joint charge for Maharashtra and TN, is not yet scheduled to meet with the Sasikala camp though an appointment was sought through his office after she was elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections: Mayawati takes voters down the…

Ghaziabad, Feb 8: Addressing the public for the first time in Ghaziabad district for the assembly elections which starts from Feb 11, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati decided to take the voters down the memory lane and remind them of various incidents or atrocities under the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party . In her address she made references to the incidents of Dadri lynching, the Muzaffarnagar riots and the Bulandshahr gangrape case in particular and said that if the people choose any party other than hers, these crimes will continue.

Indian Nobel peace laureate’s replica medal stolen

Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s apartment in New Delhi has been burgled and a gold-plated replica of his medal and the citation are missing, police in India said. Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s apartment in New Delhi has been burgled and a gold-plated replica of his medal and the citation are missing, police in India said.

India A call-up just the start for Rahul Singh

NEW DELHI: In September last year, Gahlaut Rahul Singh shared a ‘to do list’ on Instagram that had tick marks against 1 Work Hard, 2 Get selected for Services Ranji team and 3 Keeping working hard. Number 4 was ‘Do well in Ranji’ and against it was the remark ‘Preparation in progress’.

India A call-up just the start for Rahul Singh

NEW DELHI: In September last year, Gahlaut Rahul Singh shared a ‘to do list’ on Instagram that had tick marks against 1 Work Hard, 2 Get selected for Services Ranji team and 3 Keeping working hard. Number 4 was ‘Do well in Ranji’ and against it was the remark ‘Preparation in progress’.

‘Moderate’ earthquake shakes Delhi, NCR

New Delhi, Feb 7 – A earthquake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, shook residents of Delhi and north India on Monday night, creating panic and causing office workers to evacuate buildings, the IMD said. There were no reports of any casualties or any damage yet.

Man accused of killing parents, girlfriend, brought to Kolkata

Kolkata, Feb 7 – Bhopal resident Udayan Das, who was arrested for allegedly killing his parents and live-in partner, was taken to Bankura Aby a team of West Bengal Police officers on Monday late night. The state Police said the accused was taken to West Bengal’s Bankura district by road directly from the metropolis, where he was flown earlier in the evening.

IndusInd Bank appoints Gaurav Kapur as Chief Economist

New Delhi , Feb. 6 : IndusInd Bank announced the appointment of Gaurav Kapur as Chief Economist of the Bank, as a part of the Global Markets team, on Monday. Kapur will be based in Mumbai and will be responsible for formulating IndusInd Bank’s economic forecasts and developing cross-border thematic research.

Uncertainty over Sasikala’s swearing-in tomorrow3 min ago

Chennai, Feb 6 Speculation was rife about AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala taking charge as chief minister of Tamil Nadu tomorrow but there was no official word from the party in this regard. However, the Madras University Auditorium, which had earlier hosted the swearing-in of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, was being reportedly spruced up for the occasion, while apparently awaiting the court directive.

Day 2, Tea: India A continue to dominate Bangladesh in warm-up match

Bangladesh have struggled to get breakthroughs at regular intervals in the warm-up match against India A A Getty Images India A dominated yet another session against Bangladesh in the two-day warm-up match being played at the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad. India A were at 390 for 7 at tea on the second and final day, having secured a lead of 166 runs.

TN Governor accepts Panneerselvam’s resignation

Chennai, Feb 6 – Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on Monday accepted Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam’s resignation. In a letter to Panneerselvam, copies of which were distributed to the media Rao said: I hereby accept your resignation and the resignation of your Council of Ministers tendered vide your letter dated 5.2.2017.

Arms deals of Rs 20k cr inked to keep forces ready

India is finally taking steps to make its armed forces fighting fit. The country has inked a flurry of emergency deals for ammunition and spares worth around Rs 20,000 crore over the last two to three months to ensure its fighters and tanks, infantry and warships, are all ready to go to battle at short notice.

High time Kashmir issue is resolved: Afridi

Out-of-favour Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi on Sunday expressed his solidarity and support for the region of Kashmir and the people residing in the violence affected areas. The two neighbours India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since partition over the region which has seen wars in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999 and numerous incidents of infiltration, cross-border terrorism that has taken lives of soldiers and civilians in both countries.

Not – Lone Wolves’ After All: How ISISGuides World’s Terror Plots From Afar

Not ‘Lone Wolves’ After All: How ISIS Guides World’s Terror Plots From Afar New York Times, by Rukmini Callimachi HYDERABAD, India – When the Islamic State identified a promising young recruit willing to carry out an attack in one of India’s major tech hubs, the group made sure to arrange everything down to the bullets he needed to kill victims. For 17 months, terrorist operatives guided the recruit, a young engineer named Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani, through every step of what they planned to be the Islamic State’s first strike on Indian soil.

Business environment becoming challenging for steel sector: SAIL

SAIL today said with the business environment becoming extremely challenging for the steel sector, it has identified five core areas, including optimisation of new assets utilisation, to turn impending challenges into opportunities. NEW DELHI: Country’s largest steel maker SAIL today said with the business environment becoming extremely challenging for the steel sector, it has identified five core areas, including optimisation of new assets utilisation, to turn impending challenges into opportunities.

Pak boy

Lahore, Feb. 4 : A five-year-old Pakistani boy, allegedly taken to India on the sly by his father a year ago, was today reunited with his Pakistani mother at the Wagah border. Iftikhar Ahmed, whose father is from Jammu, was handed over by the Indian authorities.

Chorus for Sasikala as CM

Chennai, Feb. 4 : The chorus for AIADMK general secretary Sasikala to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister is likely to gain further momentum at a meeting of party MLAs here tomorrow. However, the sources did not commit on the agenda of the meeting and declined to confirm reports that the MLAs would urge Sasikala, who was made general secretary following the death of Jayalalithaa, to take over as chief minister.

Fortification plan for food

New Delhi, Feb. 4: The Centre has proposed making food fortification mandatory for all staples like rice, wheat flour, edible oil and milk to fight malnutrition but some experts have urged a cautious approach, warning of hidden costs and unproven health benefits. The Telegraph had reported in January 2016 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pushed the idea of universal fortification – addition of key vitamin and minerals to foods to improve their nutritional value and address nutritional gaps in the population – in meetings with top officials of the ministries of agriculture, food and public distribution, commerce, health and women and child development.

Kidney curse blanket test

Hyderabad, Feb. 4: “Each and everyone” from a population of one lakh-odd will be medically tested as an expert committee probes a mystery kidney disease tormenting the Uddanam region in northern Andhra Pradesh. The Telegraph had last month reported how “chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology” or CKDu had killed 4,500 people in Uddanam in the past decade and continued to afflict thousands, with a 30 per cent prevalence in some villages.

New Haj policy being drafted

New Delhi, Feb. 4: The minority affairs ministry is drafting a new Haj policy to factor in demands from the community, changes in the administrative structure and the Supreme Court’s 2012 order to abolish the colonial-era subsidy for the pilgrimage. On whether the Haj subsidy would be done away with, minister of state Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said a committee set up to draft the policy would look into all these aspects.