authors list | date_download timestamp[s] | date_modify null | date_publish timestamp[s] | description stringlengths 1 5.93k ⌀ | filename stringlengths 33 1.45k | image_url stringlengths 23 353 | language stringclasses 21
values | localpath null | title stringlengths 2 200 ⌀ | title_page null | title_rss null | source_domain stringlengths 6 40 | maintext stringlengths 68 80.7k ⌀ | url stringlengths 20 1.44k | fasttext_language stringclasses 1
value | date_publish_final timestamp[s] | path stringlengths 76 110 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[] | 2016-08-26T13:18:40 | null | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | The issue of erecting fences along the international Indo-Bangla border was in cold storage for last several years. | Why BSF wants 81.7 km of Indo-Bangla border fenced urgently | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwhy-bsf-wants-817-km-of-indo-bangla-border-fenced-urgently%2F20160821.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/21lead3.jpg | en | null | Why BSF wants 81.7 km of Indo-Bangla border fenced urgently | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 21, 2016 15:07 IST
Amid growing concerns over terrorists using the porous Indo-Bangla border, the Border Security Force has submitted a detailed proposal to the West Bengal government about the amount of land needed for setting up fences in a highly sensitive 81.7 km area on an urgent basis.
The issue of erecting fences along the international Indo-Bangla border was in cold storage for last several years. It was taken up just months after the terror attack in Dhaka and various intelligence inputs about how the porous Indo-Bangla border is fast turning into a transit point for terrorists and cattle smugglers.
"The matter of identifying land and survey of land was held back since 2009. But recently the state government had sought detailed proposals from us regarding the amount of land that is required in the south Bengal frontier. We have placed a detailed report about the amount of land and alignment that is needed and other basics that is required by the BSF," Sandeep Salunke, Inspector General BSF (South Bengal frontier) said.
According to Salunke, that the BSF had handed over a detailed report of land plots needed in North 24 Parganas, Nadia and Murshidabad district to fence 81.7 km without delay. Bangladesh and West Bengal share about 2,216.7 km of border.
"Out of the 915 km of border in the South Bengal frontier only 371 km is fenced. So we have sent the proposal for setting up fences in 81.7 km at an urgent basis. These areas are highly sensitive. Fencing would be an added advantage in border patrolling," a senior BSF official said.
According to state secretariat sources, the report was handed to the state chief secretary and home secretary and the process for the survey of the land has already started.
"Yes we had received a report from them. Now the state has land purchase committee, under the state owns land policy, which will look into it. The BSF will pay for the land and it will be registered under BSF only.
"The process of survey of that land and alignment has started on an war footing. The entire process will be completed very soon," a senior official of the state home department told PTI on condition of anonymity.
According to BSF and state home department sources, 67.38 km in North 24 parganas, 7.99 km in Nadia and 6.41 km in Murshidabad district need immediate fencing as these areas are fast turning into safe heavens for JMB members and other anti-socials.
The North 24 Parganas district shares nearly 241 km of international border with Bangladesh. As per state police and BSF sources, till July more than 50 Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested for illegally crossing over.
According to state government sources, the deadlock over the land issue came after there was agreement with the Bengal government's suggestion of direct land purchase by the BSF with help from the state administration.
Recently, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given strict instructions to the police and district administration to stop cow smuggling across the international border.
According to BSF and state home department sources, the recent terror attack in Dhaka's posh Gulshan area and recent arrest of Mohammed Musiruddin (25) that has exposed the presence of the terror group in the state, particularly in the districts bordering Bangladesh including Burdwan.
"After Burdwan blast it came into light how this porous border was used by the JMB terrorists to set up their base in the state. A proper border fencing would help in checking it," a senior state IB official said.
Burdwan district entered the terror map in October 2014 when two suspected JMB terrorists were killed while making improvised explosive devices at a rented house at Khagragarh. The JMB wants to established the Sharia rule by overthrowing the democratically-elected government in Bangladesh, the NIA had stated in its charge sheet.
Representative Photograph: Mukesh Gupta/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/why-bsf-wants-817-km-of-indo-bangla-border-fenced-urgently/20160821.htm | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/26a2222fab41da59ceaef8ea09bda331c472373946be28d2ef2743e6c48d1a41.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:36:21 | null | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | Security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive and vulnerable areas to maintain law and order.
| Kashmir violence: 3 killed in fresh clashes after Friday prayers | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Flife-remains-paralysed-in-kashmir-for-28th-day%2F20160805.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/05kashmir01.JPG | en | null | Kashmir violence: 3 killed in fresh clashes after Friday prayers | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 05, 2016 21:20 IST
Three persons were killed and over 150 injured in fresh clashes which rocked Kashmir at several places after Friday prayers, raising the death toll during the current unrest to 53.
The clashes took place even as curfew was extended to more areas of Kashmir to thwart a planned march by separatists to Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar even as normal life in the Valley remained paralysed for the 28th consecutive day.
IMAGE: Injured being shifted to hospital after fresh clashes in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie
Mohammad Maqbool Khanday was killed allegedly in action by security forces against mobs who indulged in stone-pelting after Friday prayers at Nagam in Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, a police official said.
As the news of Khanday's death spread, protests erupted at several places along the Chanapora-Chadoora road and clashes were reported from Kralpora area, he said.
In another incident, three youth were critically injured in action by security forces against violent mob at Khansahib area of Budgam district, the official said.
He said the injured were taken to SMHS hospital here where one of them was declared "brought dead" by the doctors.
The death of the youth led to protests within the hospital and some youth started pelting stones on the nearby Karan Nagar police station.
IMAGE: 3 people were killed in fresh clashes after Friday prayers. Photograph: Umar Ganie
One youth was killed in a clash in Sopore, he said.
Mobs also indulged in stone-pelting on the ancestral house of Asia Naqash, Minister of State for Health, in Habbak area of Srinagar. However, nobody was in the house.
The house of Independent MLA Hakeem Mohd Yaseen was also attacked by mobs in Khan Sahib area but nobody was injured, the official said.
The official said clashes between protestors and security forces were also reported from Sopore town and Palhallan town in north Kashmir Baramulla district and Goshbug in Kupwara district.
More than 100 people were reported to be injured in these clashes but officials refused to comment on this, saying they were busy with law and order situation.
Earlier in the day, authorities had extended curfew to more areas of Kashmir to thwart a planned march by separatists to Hazratbal shrine.
Curfew was imposed in entire Srinagar district as also in Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag town, Awantipora, Kulgam town, Baramulla district excluding Sopore, Shopian town, Kaloosa in Bandipora and parts of Handwara, the police official said.
He said restrictions were also clamped on assembly of four or more persons in rest of the Valley as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
Security forces had been deployed in strength in sensitive and vulnerable areas to maintain law and order.
IMAGE: People pray for the youth killed in Chadoora after normal life went out the window on the 28th consecutive day of curfew in the state. Photograph: Umar Ganie
Normal life in the Valley remained affected for the 28th consecutive day due to the curbs imposed by the authorities and separatist-sponsored strike against the death of civilians in clashes between violent mobs and security forces following the killing of Hizbul Majahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter July 8.
Schools, colleges, business establishments, petrol pumps banks and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off roads. Attendance in government offices was also thin, the official said.
For the last couple of days, many shops and business establishments open after sundown after the separatists announced relaxation in the agitation programme to allow people to buy essentials in view of the prolonged shut down.
IMAGE: People offering funeral prayers for youth killed in Chadoora during clashes. Photograph: Umar Ganie
Mobile internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where the outgoing facility on prepaid connections is barred.
The separatists, who have extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till August 12, have demanded that mainstream politicians resign from their parties and posts.
They have called for blocking routes to Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and other government offices in districts to "ensure that no employee is able to join the duty".
53 people have been killed in the violence and 5,500 injured during the unrest.
Police has launched a massive crackdown against "hooligans and miscreants" in Kashmir, arresting nearly 500 youths from across the Valley. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/life-remains-paralysed-in-kashmir-for-28th-day/20160805.htm | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/f298a1fc22f42d16666ea315f431c977ee5cd7d0b016dab27c99d5cb89631605.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T04:51:00 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | A Twitter user had claimed that he had filed an online complaint with the Delhi Police against Vishal Dadlani and Congress leader Tehseen Poonawalla. | Vishal Dadlani quits politics after sarcastic tweet about Jain guru backfires | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fvishal-dadlani-quits-politics-after-sarcastic-tweet-about-jain-guru-backfires%2F20160828.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/movies/2014/jun/09tweet5.jpg | en | null | Vishal Dadlani quits politics after sarcastic tweet about Jain guru backfires | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 28, 2016 08:12 IST
Aam Aadmi Party supporter Vishal Dadlani on Saturday raked up a controversy after he mocked Digambar Jain monk Tarun Sagar for giving a speech in Haryana assembly following which the music director and singer announced on Twitter that he was quitting from all active political work and affiliations.
Dadlani had tweeted the following: "If you voted for these people, YOU are responsible for this absurd nonsense! No #AchcheDin, just #NoKachcheDin."
However, soon after the singer made this tweet, he was ridiculed by several Jain sect followers. Dadlani was quick to reply to everyone with an apology: "I apologise to you too, wholeheartedly, Sir. I hope that religion and governance can be separated, for Indias sake. I am sorry to have offended you and your beliefs too, Sir. My intent was not to hurt anyone. Spoke without thinking."
Delhi CM and AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal too took to Twitter to praise the Jain monk and said that his family deeply respects Tarun Sagar.
The Jains are an influential community in the poll-bound Gujarat where the AAP is seeking to make a powerful debut. Kejriwal and Jain's tweets promptly condemning Vishal's off-the-cuff tweet may have been influenced by that consideration.
'It feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends & my friends @ArvindKejriwal & @SatyendarJain .I hereby quit all active political work/affiliation,' Dadlani tweeted soon after.
A Twitter user had claimed that he had filed an online complaint with the Delhi Police against Vishal Dadlani and Congress leader Tehseen Poonawalla.
IMAGE: A screengrab of the now deleted tweet that was posted by singer-musician Vishal Dadlani after Jain monk Tarun Sagar addressed the Haryana assembly naked. Photograph: Vishal Dadlani/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/vishal-dadlani-quits-politics-after-sarcastic-tweet-about-jain-guru-backfires/20160828.htm | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/7dd2bb73ecc0f8fe3c2e11b2c5f77e071f367182141926a83321e6e5a2a1cb7c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:38:12 | null | 2016-08-02T00:00:00 | Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday deplored violence against dalits in the name of cow protection | Naidu expresses grief over violence against Dalits | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fnaidu-expresses-grief-over-violence-against-dalits%2F20160802.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/02naidu01.jpg | en | null | Naidu expresses grief over violence against Dalits | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 02, 2016 17:05 IST
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday deplored violence against dalits in the name of cow protection but maintained that their getting converted would not end prejudices, days after his ministerial colleague
Ramdas Athawale suggested that members of the community should embrace Buddhism.
Asserting that Hinduism does not sanction discrimination, the minister said,"No person who discriminates against another human being could ever be called a Hindu."
"If you respect cow it is great, but other human beings also have the right to live, right to do their work. If you want to respect a cow respect it. Nothing wrong in this, but that doesn't mean that you can kill anybody on that pretext. That is totally wrong," Naidu told reporters on the sidelines of an event to felicitate IAS topper Tina Dabi, a dalit.
His remarks came in the backdrop of the Bharatiya Janata Party facing flak over incidents of violence against dalits by cow vigilantes in various states including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
He said some people have suggested that conversion can end this problem, but that has not happened. There have been cases where people came back saying they witnessed the same situation in other religions also, he said.
"See, some converted, then they came back and said we are witnessing same situation there. Now they are complaining that they are not getting reservation as Constitution does not provide reservation on the basis of religion," Naidu said.
Naidu's comments came days after the statement by Athawale, a dalit leader from Maharashtra, that people from the community should embrace Buddhism to avoid pressure or violence against them.
There have also been reports of some dalit families, who have been protesting after being denied permission to attend a temple festival in Tamil Nadu's Karur region last week, threatening to convert to Islam.
Emphasising on equality, Naidu said, "Bharat Mata ki jai means glory of all those who live in this country", adding that those who live in this country are Indians and they are equal in all aspects. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/naidu-expresses-grief-over-violence-against-dalits/20160802.htm | en | 2016-08-02T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/02a09af580ed83793dc27f5d776d3e8dcd8f1202e4c3d455f62a2158b0345cd3.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:00:58 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | As rigor mortis had set in, the workers broke the body at the hip, wrapped it in an old sheet, tied it to a bamboo pole, and carried it to the railway station from where it was taken to Balasore by train. | Another shocker from Odisha: Woman's body broken at hip, slung on bamboo pole | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fanother-shocker-from-odisha-womans-body-broken-at-hip-slung-on-bamboo-pole%2F20160826.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/26odisha.jpg | en | null | Another shocker from Odisha: Woman's body broken at hip, slung on bamboo pole | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 26, 2016 11:03 IST
First, it was a man having to carry his wife’s body for 10 km as he could not afford a vehicle and the hospital authorities reportedly refused to make arrangements.
Now, it is hospital workers breaking the bones of a woman, before wrapping it in a sheet and slinging it on a bamboo pole in Balasore district of Odisha.
No ambulance was available to take the body of Salamani Barik, an aged widow, to Balasore, 30 km from Soro town, where she was run over by a train on Wednesday.
There are no hospitals in Soro, only a community health centre, and the body had to be taken to Balasore by train for a post-mortem. When hiring an auto to ferry the body proved too expensive, workers were asked to take it on foot.
The body was taken by the police to the health centre, where it lay for hours on a stretcher and became stiff.
As rigor mortis had set in, the workers broke the body at the hip, wrapped it in an old sheet, tied it to a bamboo pole, and carried it to the railway station from where it was taken to Balasore by train.
The woman’s son Rabindra Barik was quoted as saying, “They carried my mother in a broken condition. I am helpless to do anything. I pray to the authorities for justice.”
Odisha is confronting criticism over a man in Kalahandi, Dana Majhi, being forced to walk with his wife's body, his daughter by his side, for six hours. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/another-shocker-from-odisha-womans-body-broken-at-hip-slung-on-bamboo-pole/20160826.htm | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/7c7423ff407a076aa6b6a2d095c384fd97348b90422b48adbf09ef73acd33957.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:27:51 | null | 2016-08-13T00:00:00 | A group of 5 armed militants of the anti-talk ULFA faction opened fire at some people at Bahbon village. | 2 dead, 6 injured after suspected ULFA militants open fire in Assam | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fulfa-militants-open-fire-in-assam%2F20160813.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/12assam.jpg | en | null | 2 dead, 6 injured after suspected ULFA militants open fire in Assam | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 13, 2016 01:00 IST
In another incident in the run-up to the Independence Day, two persons were shot dead and six injured in indiscriminate firing by suspected United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent militants at Bahbon village in the upper Assam's district on Friday, police said.
A group of five armed militants of the anti-talk ULFA faction came to the house of Arvind Shah, a small trader, of the village under Philobari police station, and opened fire at some people sitting outside around 7.30 pm, they said.
DIG Bishnu Prasad Rabha said two persons were killed in the firing. They have been identified as Kishori Teli and Rajesh Shah.
The six injured were shifted to Assam medical college hospital in neighbouring Dibrugarh district.
The police and paramilitary forces have been deployed and security measures tightened in the district, officials said.
On Thursday, in Philobari, suspected ULFA-I militants had exploded an improvised explosive devise in a drain near Badalbheta Tea Estate but none was injured.
Assam has witnessed intensified militant violence in the last one week. 14 people were killed and over 20 injured by heavily-armed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) insurgents at Balajan in Assam's Kokrajhar district on August 5.
IMAGE: An injured being treated at a hospital after suspected ULFA-I militants opened fired. Photograph: PTI | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/ulfa-militants-open-fire-in-assam/20160813.htm | en | 2016-08-13T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/f50cc076edbd18a55b6b6376ac705bbaeb53b537e90efd53439a76e23a8973fa.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:16:41 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | The kind of freedom Kashmir is enjoying today is not there even in Islamic countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey and Pakistanis, Mufti said. | Even Islamic countries don't get freedom which Kashmir is enjoying today: Mehbooba | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fkashmir-unrest-was-pre-planned-mehbooba%2F20160822.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/jul/19kashmir-violence4.jpg | en | null | Even Islamic countries don't get freedom which Kashmir is enjoying today: Mehbooba | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 22, 2016 22:10 IST
Contending that the unrest in Kashmir was "pre-planned", Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said a "handful of people" were deliberately keeping the Valley on the boil while 95 per cent people were peace-loving and should not be punished for the fault of 5 per cent.
She expressed pain that children are being used as a shield by "vested interests" while attacking camps and posts of security forces to incite them, as a result of which innocent kids become a casualty.
Mehbooba also sent out a message to those raising "pro-azadi" slogans, asking them to see the condition of Muslims in Islamic countries like Pakistan, Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan even though these nations have "freedom". She said once gun makes inroads in a society, then the meaning of 'azadi' is lost.
"I have been saying that gun will not solve anything. Stones also will not solve anything," she said at a public meeting here, while underlining that anybody having any grievance should come forward to discuss it through talks.
Contending that she had planned so many developmental programmes to be pushed after Eid, she said the unrest was "pre-planned" as "vested interests" were keen to latch on to something to trigger unrest.
"I don't understand what happened... people were waiting for a chance. Whenever the situation becomes little better in J&K, tourism starts, work begins, something or the other happens which creates problems in normal functioning," Mehbooba said.
"After the Assembly (session) was over, we had decided to work more. But after (her) Assembly (election) result and Eid, all this began," she said.
Referring to the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a gunfight, the Chief Minister said, "there was nothing new in this. Killing of militants has been happening for the past 25 years. I want to tell you this because all this was pre-planned. They were waiting for a reason, a chance to put the state back into that fire in which it was always."
She said, "they (those indulging in violence) are only a handful of people. Most Kashmiris want peace. They understand that the kind of freedom Kashmir is enjoying today is not there even in Islamic countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey and Pakistanis. When gun enters a country, it is no more free, no matter how much it claims to be free."
Mehbooba repeatedly said that Kashmiris are not bad people and that they want peace, education and development.
She added that they have lot of faith in the country which is proved by the fact that many of them have sent their children for studies to various parts of the country because of sense of insecurity in Kashmir.
"If they did not have faith in the country, they would not sent their children there but to other countries," the chief minister said.
She said she was working to withdraw cases against the youth who had FIRs registered for stone-pelting since 2008 to give them a chance to lead their lives afresh "but only because of these handful of people, our government is not able to do much".
"I request the government in Delhi to do something for Kashmiris... I want to tell the government in Delhi that they should not view Kashmiri people from one angle. 95 per cent of the people want to send their children to the schools, want to work and want to earn their livelihood.
"...the Union government has to think about these 95 per cent and because of the rest 5 per cent Kashmiris (involved in the unrest), these 95 per cent should not be punished," the chief minister said.
The Centre should take care of these 95 per cent people and see how to bring them out of this misfortune.
"The central government and the Congress, which has been creating a lot of hue and cry on Kashmir right now, should work together to formulate some kind of mechanism to bring out 95 per cent people of the Kashmir out of this troubled situation," she said.
Talking about casualty of children, Mehbooba said at a time when they should be with their mothers, they are being incited and pushed by "vested interests" to attack camps of security forces and police stations to use them as a shield.
"These handful of people do not come out in the open. They want women and the children to be their shield and once security forces are provoked, they vanish, leaving the children to face pellet guns etc.. They don’t have any concern for their lives," he said.
At the same time, she said security forces have exercised maximum restraint, which is clear by the fact that so many of them have suffered injuries.
Drawing a contrast between the unrest now and that in 2010, Mehbooba said in the previous episode, there was anger because three people had been killed in fake encounter and two girls had been raped and killed. "But this time, no such thing happened. It was only an encounter where three militants were killed. There is nothing new in this. Killing of militants has been happening for the past 25 years," she said.
Mehbooba said the people, who are vitiating the environment and creating unrest in the region, are not Kashmiris. "The people of Jammu and Kashmir know what 'azadi' is. These few people want to vitiate the environment of peace because the BJP-PDP government is doing good work and they have began to deliver," the chief minister said.
Sending out a terse message to the stone-pelters, she said, "If you want to protest, then why small children are taken to security camps and police stations and are pushed into by inciting for attacks by petrol bombs. These people incite the mob and then run away and allow them to die."
She added, "You (protesters) go to CRPF camps with children and you escape from there after inciting the mob of these children and raise their sentiments for entering into the camp. You escape from there and the result is whether it is pellet gun firing or rifle firing, the children get killed."
The chief minister said "the children, who should have been with their parents, in the lap of their mothers, have been made shield by defying curfews and restrictions for attacking camps and police stations".
Narrating the events leading to unrest, she said "we shifted from Jammu to Srinagar, held peaceful assembly session and were faced with Handwara episode where we wanted to ensure peace then the issues were racked up one or the other colony.
"I mean to say that some people were waiting in wings to get some excuse (to disturb peace). Whenever the situation in Jammu and Kashmir becomes normal, tourism gets back on track and people get engaged into their jobs and trades, there is some or the other trouble instigated."
Before the unrest, there was a huge footfall of tourists in Kashmir valley, Amarnath yatra started in a big way and the government tried to provide better infrastructure, including power supply, ration, She said.
"We introduced a policy for ensuring that every individual gets his or her share of food and we thought after the conclusion of the Assembly session we will start this work. The Assembly session concluded I got the results (of victory in Assembly elections) and then what has happened you all know," she said.
She said, "Some people thought that this PDP-BJP government will carry forward the agenda of previous Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government in Jammu and Kashmir towards development, peace, progress and prosperity by opening new routes between two sides of LoC and strengthen the cross border trade and travel."
The chief minister said the attempts to disturb peace were first made from Handwara to trigger unrest but the people did not respond. She was referring to the purported incident of alleged molestation of a school girl by a soldier.
"....they got an excuse (after Burhan's encounter). Otherwise there have been hundreds of encounters till now and hundreds of security forces, militants and policemen and innocent people have been killed," she said.
While attacking "vested interests" for making children their sheild during stone pelting, Mehbooba said she had earlier fought to end the practice of security forces and police of making civilians a human shield during encounters and searches.
"Earlier, security forces and police used to take people along with themselves during search operations and the people would fear that if there are militants inside, they can fire on them and they will get killed," she said.
"I fought with security forces, STF and the government that you cannot make those people shields, but today I feel sorry that we have removed the fear among the youth that nobody can touch you whether army, police or security forces if you are on the right path," she added.
IMAGE: Protesters throw stones on police amid tear smoke during clashes in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/kashmir-unrest-was-pre-planned-mehbooba/20160822.htm | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/69425002091d7255a15367e27b961ef22218449f7b1558331945ff2689afc91a.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:29:27 | null | 2016-08-10T00:00:00 | Zia and 27 leaders and officials of her BNP have been accused of instigating the firebombing in Dhaka as part of a deadly campaign against the government.
| Khaleda Zia gets bail in sedition case | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fkhaleda-zia-gets-bail-in-sedition-case%2F20160810.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/10zia.jpg | en | null | Khaleda Zia gets bail in sedition case | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 10, 2016 17:49 IST
In a relief to Bangladesh’s former premier and Opposition leader Khaleda Zia, a court on Wednesday granted her bail in nine cases, including one for sedition and others for a deadly transport blockade.
Metropolitan Sessions Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah granted Zia bail in the sedition case filed by a Supreme Court lawyer over her remarks against liberation war martyrs.
Speaking at a discussion on December 21 last year, 70-year-old Zia had ‘expressed doubts’ about the casualty figures of the 1971 liberation war with Pakistan.
Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party is a crucial ally of fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan.
The ruling Awami League, 1971 veterans and members of the martyred families had sharply reacted to Zia’s comments, with some of them even calling her as the ‘agent of Pakistan’.
The court came up with the bail order after Zia surrendered before it seeking bail in the case.
Her supporters gathered outside the court and chanted anti-government slogans as she arrived at the court.
The court also granted bail to Zia in eight arson attack cases filed with Draussalam Police Station.
Zia and 27 leaders and officials of her BNP have been accused of instigating the firebombing in Dhaka as part of a deadly campaign against the government.
The attack took place during a nationwide blockade of roads, rail and waterways, which Zia called to try to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and pave the way for new elections.
The protest triggered a wave of violence that left more than 120 people dead, as opposition activists firebombed hundreds of buses and trucks and police responded by firing live rounds.
The court fixed October 10 for the next date of hearing in the sedition and eight arson cases.
She also appeared before Session Judge’s Court-2 that fixed September 8 for next hearing in a coalmine corruption case.
Zia has described cases against her as aimed at keeping her out of politics.
There are about 30 cases against the former two-time prime minister, mostly related to alleged violence and graft.
Last month, a court sentenced Zia's eldest son and heir apparent Tarique Rahman to seven years in jail after convicting him over a money laundering case.
Photograph: Andrew Biraj/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/khaleda-zia-gets-bail-in-sedition-case/20160810.htm | en | 2016-08-10T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/075ff634130f7d66ab1502975d3d5859c912db506edff553ddba085a6914fcb0.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:31:41 | null | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | A decision to this effect was taken by the business advisory committee of the house which also decided to have a debate on the flood situation in the country on Friday. | Lok Sabha to discuss Dalit atrocities issue on Thursday | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Flok-sabha-to-discuss-dalit-atrocities-issue-on-thursday%2F20160809.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/money/2014/dec/24par.jpg | en | null | Lok Sabha to discuss Dalit atrocities issue on Thursday | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 09, 2016 20:20 IST
The government on Tuesday said the issue of atrocities against Dalits will be taken up by the Lok Sabha on Thursday asserting that it has always been open for a discussion on it.
A decision to this effect was taken by the business advisory committee of the house which also decided to have a debate on the flood situation in the country on Friday, the last day of the session.
"The issue of Dalit atrocities will be taken up on Thursday. There is no hesitation from government to discuss this issue. We have always been open for the discussion," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters here.
He also informed that a notice has been given by all the major political parties.
Earlier, a demand of the Opposition for a debate on the Dalit atrocity issue was rejected by the government at a previous meeting of the committee.
The government, sources said, is now more comfortable in holding the discussion after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at those indulging in violence in the name of cow protection.
Meanwhile, a bill relating to amending the Motor Vehicles Act, which aims to improve road safety in the country, is likely to be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Several Opposition members had suggested on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha that it should be referred to the standing committee for a thorough scrutiny. Opposition also protested that the copies of the bill were not circulated to them in advance as per rule before it was introduced.
The amended bill will bring about hefty penalties for traffic rule violations, juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, overloading and so on. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/lok-sabha-to-discuss-dalit-atrocities-issue-on-thursday/20160809.htm | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/a2621c1e51c1e64ad02b04ebcadc6cc09b6bde2402513d669285900821429305.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T14:50:18 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | In his latest response to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry's fresh invitation of August 19 for talks, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar once again emphasised on the need for earliest possible vacation of Islamabad's illegal occupation of PoK and conveyed that not just India but the larger region is aware that Pakistan is actually a 'prime perpetrator' of terrorism. | War of words intensifies; India tells Pak to get out of denial mode over terror | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwar-of-words-intensifies-india-tells-pak-to-get-out-of-denial-mode-over-terror%2F20160826.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/26lead4.jpg | en | null | War of words intensifies; India tells Pak to get out of denial mode over terror | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 26, 2016 19:58 IST
India on Friday asked Pakistan not to remain in a "denial" mode regarding its support to cross-border terrorism as the war of words between the two countries intensified.
In his latest response to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry's fresh invitation of August 19 for talks, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar once again emphasised on the need for earliest possible vacation of Islamabad's illegal occupation of PoK and conveyed that not just India but the larger region is aware that Pakistan is actually a "prime perpetrator" of terrorism.
The foreign secretary has made it clear that India seeks result-oriented talks with Pakistan with an agenda to put an end to cross-border terrorism and incitement to violence by it, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Jaishankar while conveying his readiness to be available to engage any time at mutual convenience on these issues, however, mentioned that justifying terrorism and interference in the internal affairs of India are hardly serious basis for a result-oriented dialogue.
Asked about absence of the finance minister from the ongoing SAARC meet, indicating the growing strain in relationship, Swarup said, "Providing support, safe havens and sanctuary to terrorists and making the distinction between good terrorist and bad terrorist has posed enormous risk to peace and stability to our region.
"It is important for Pakistan to realise the reality and not remain in denial on the impact of cross-border terrorism on the bilateral relationship. Sooner Pakistan recognises this central and important fact, the sooner, India-Pakistan relationship can progress."
In the letter, the Foreign Secretary hoped that the government of Pakistan will reconsider its approach and show sincerity towards promoting good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence.
"This will also send a larger message to a region which is deeply troubled by the policies that emanate from Pakistan," Jaishankar's letter said.
The foreign secretary has also reiterated that basis of further discussions between the two countries are the Simla Agreement of 1972, the Lahore Declaration of 1999 and the Joint statement of 2004, Swarup added.
On its part, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, while briefing the ambassadors of the P-5 and European Union countries in Islamabad about the situation in the Valley, "regretted" India's virtual rejection of its proposal for talks on Kashmir.
At his meeting with the ambassadors, Aziz "deplored the lethal use of force by the Indian forces against the innocent Kashmiri people and conveyed serious concerns over the bloodshed" in Kashmir which has taken a "toll of more than 80 innocent Kashmiris since July 8, 2016, and inflicted injuries on more than 7,000 people," the Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.
On the UN's statement on Dawood Ibrahim's address, the spokesperson said this information about the international terrorist is the result of latest updating of records pertaining to him by UN's 1267 Committee monitoring team which periodically updates the record of the global terrorists on its database.
He added that Dawood continues to remain on the designated list as a global terrorist; the 1267 monitoring committee continues to retain his Pakistani passport as a valid document; the UN has also confirmed that he resides in and has properties in Pakistan; and that the UN continues to keep a regular watch on him.
Besides the fact that his Pakistan addresses have been verified, some other record have also been updated as result of info provided by India such as his wife's name, father's name and several of his aliases.
"India continues to maintain that it is incumbent upon Pakistan to extradite this global terrorist to whom they have provided sanctuary for a very long period of time to face justice for his many crimes. We hope Pakistan will heed international opinion on this issue," he added.
Asked whether India will raise the issue of Balochistan at the UNGA or UNHRC, Swarup remained non-committal, saying "India has a strong human rights record at home and we are naturally concerned of gross violations of human rights in the region you have referred to. How this is expressed in our diplomacy is something that you will have to wait and see."
Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/war-of-words-intensifies-india-tells-pak-to-get-out-of-denial-mode-over-terror/20160826.htm | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/9996fd5d40e6cd7d53ae087eaac8350e2379f0ef1fa246a73ce94d810903a7e8.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:31:37 | null | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday once again attacked Raghuram Rajan on the monetary policy, over a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had disapproved of his criticism of the Reserve Bank of India chief. | Swamy targets Rajan again: 'He was painted as an angel who had come to save us' | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fswamy-targets-rajan-again-he-was-painted-as-an-angel-who-had-come-to-save-us%2F20160807.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/07swamy.jpg | en | null | Swamy targets Rajan again: 'He was painted as an angel who had come to save us' | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 07, 2016 22:15 IST
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday once again attacked Raghuram Rajan on the monetary policy, over a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had disapproved of his criticism of the
Reserve Bank of India chief.
He also criticised the media of painting Rajan as "some angel" and him as a "devil".
"In the Raghuram Rajan case, the whole media was motivated by forces outside this country to support him. They said the stock markets will collapse if he goes. The stock markets are not collapsing, it's gone up in fact.
"He was harming the India economy by raising interest rates and making it impossible for small and medium industries to take loans from the banks," Swamy alleged.
"...So, it was as if I was some devil, and this man was some angel, who has come from abroad to save us," he said.
The Rajya Sabha BJP MP was speaking at a function organised in New Delhi by Virat Hindustan Sangam, to recall his political life during the Emergency era.
Prime Minister Modi on June 27 had disapproved of Swamy's attacks on the RBI governor and some top finance ministry officials, saying they were "inappropriate".
Swamy has been accusing Rajan over financial policy attracting widespread media attention.
Rajan has already said that he will not seek a second term as the RBI governor.
During his talk, Swamy also alleged that "Two attempts were made on his life while he was abroad during the Emergency, on the order of Sanjay Gandhi."
However, later when asked what was the basis of his claim, he just said, "It was there in the newspapers of those days."
The senior BJP leader also claimed that Emergency was not something that was imposed suddenly.
"Mrs Gandhi had been planning something with the Soviets," he said.
Swamy also recalled his experiences during the Emergency days and his interactions with social leader Jai Prakash Narayan or 'JP' as he is famously known as.
"Freedom within our Constitutional framework cannot be compromised. And, I tell you, the next generation, that your mind is your protection against any emergency," he said.
IMAGE: Subramanian Swamy addresses a seminar in New Delhi. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/swamy-targets-rajan-again-he-was-painted-as-an-angel-who-had-come-to-save-us/20160807.htm | en | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/e735686aab339135e3e3591ca25f09f97fdb708affda754dbab604aa371296cd.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:32:07 | null | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | A two-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra on early Sunday morning. | 8 dead after 'most dangerous' building collapses in Bhiwandi | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fseveral-trapped-after-2-storey-building-collapses-in-bhiwandi%2F20160807.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/07bhiwandi-collapse.jpg | en | null | 8 dead after 'most dangerous' building collapses in Bhiwandi | null | null | www.rediff.com | At least eight people were killed when a two-storey building came crashing down in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district on Sunday, a week after as many people lost their lives in a similar incident of house collapse in the powerloom town near Mumbai.
The deceased included an elderly couple who owned the building, declared as "most dangerous" by the civic body, and six members of a family living on ground the floor, officials said.
The building located on Khadan Road in Hanuman Tekadi locality crashed around 8 am.
Owner Sajjanlal Mahadev Gupta (60) and his wife Satyawati Sajjanlal Gupta (55) died at a hospital, Resident Deputy Collector Vandana Suryavanshi said.
An NDRF team rushed to the spot and by evening six more bodies were pulled out of the debris. The deceased have been identified as Dhaniram B Rajput (45), his wife Rekha (35), sons Devesh (9) and Naitik (3), daughter Shivani (13) and Dhaniram's mother Somvanti B Rajput (60).
Two injured persons -- Ramjan Ali Ahmed Ansari (38) and Shabir Ali Mohamamd Azim Ansari (38) are still being treated at the hospital, while some others were discharged.
The 35-year-old building had been declared as "most dangerous", a release by Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation said.
According to a spokesman for the civic body, the occupants had been served eviction notices after which two of the around 5-6 families had vacated their accommodations.
Water connection had been cut and power supply was about to be snapped by the administration as the remaining occupants were not ready to leave, he said.
On July 31, a two-storey residential building, similarly dilapidated, had collapsed in the town amid heavy rain claiming eight lives. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/several-trapped-after-2-storey-building-collapses-in-bhiwandi/20160807.htm | en | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/aabb92e2c6784a6efe725998dc087ce8dd00ecd01ad3f212d2f9c1dad098b192.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T06:51:39 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | Do NOT to wear short skirts while roaming around Agra city in the evenings -- that's what Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma's had to tell female tourists in the list of dos and don'ts handed to them on their arrival in India. | Culture minister 'skirts' new controversy! | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fculture-minister-mahesh-sharma-skirts-new-controversy%2F20160829.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/29lead2.jpg | en | null | Culture minister 'skirts' new controversy! | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 29, 2016 10:19 IST
Do NOT to wear short skirts while roaming around Agra city in the evenings -- that's what Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma's had to tell female tourists in the list of dos and don'ts handed to them on their arrival in India.
In comments that have landed him in fresh controversy, Sharma has been caught on tape saying: "... Paryatako ko, jab wo airport par aate hain, unko ek welcome kit di jaa rahi hai. Ek card hai usme, usme do's and don'ts -- kya karein aur kya na karein. Jaise chhoti chhoti batein hain, humne unhe bataya ke aap chhoti jagah par raat-waat ke time akele na niklein, skirts na pahnein... Doosra humne unhe bataya ki aap jis gaadi mein baithe, us gaadi ki number plate ka photo le lein aur apne... kisi dost ko forward kar dein... (We give welcome kits to tourists when they land at the airport. The kit includes a card with do’s and don’ts such as, do not venture out alone at night in small towns, do not wear skirts; take a picture of the registration number of the vehicle you use and send it to a friend...)”
"The pamphlet also says that India is a cultural state where apparels change with respect to religious places like temples and asks the visitors to mind their dress codes," he retorted.
However, after a journalist sought Sharma's justification, the latter retracted or amended his view by saying that the suggestion was made with regard to visits to religious places.
Sharma, last year, had stoked controversy by saying that girls wanting a night out was not acceptable in India.
"Girls wanting a night out may be all right elsewhere, but it is not part of Indian culture," he had said.
Representative Image: Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/culture-minister-mahesh-sharma-skirts-new-controversy/20160829.htm | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/87c31338a77062e72d28535b7f4ba796b0acb6b76bb288f405e990aedad4f7a2.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:17:21 | null | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | Rajnath Singh also lashed out at Pakistan for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, saying it was continuously trying to derail peace in the Valley. | Want to see pen, computers in hands of Kashmiris, not stones: Rajnath | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwant-to-see-pen-computers-in-hands-of-kashmiris-not-stones-rajnath%2F20160820.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/20rajnath.jpg | en | null | Want to see pen, computers in hands of Kashmiris, not stones: Rajnath | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 20, 2016 18:52 IST
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday lashed out at Pakistan for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, saying it was continuously trying to derail peace in the Valley.
"Today, I don't feel hesitant in saying that Pakistan is continuously trying to create unrest in Kashmir. It wants to destroy it and derail peace in the Valley," he said on Shahjahanpur while addressing a Tiranga rally.
"Recently, I went to Pakistan and you all know our neighbouring country's misdeeds. I don't want to repeat what happened over there but would like to say that I did not let India's pride go down there. I said one country's terrorist cannot be the hero of another," he said.
"I want to tell the people of Kashmir that we not only love the land of Kashmir but also its people. I would like to appeal to the Kashmiris that we do not want to see stones, bricks and firearms in their hands but pen, computers and jobs. We want to see you employed," Singh said.
He said that a violent protest cannot be a solution to a particular issue. There should be peace at first then issues can be resolved through talks.
"Some people are trying to create hatred among Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Parsis by following the divide and rule trick adopted by British rulers but they have been failed miserably. No one can divide the people of India," Singh said.
He said if people want to make India a great nation, then all residents regardless of their community, race or religion will have to contribute and go ahead together.
"British rulers tried to divide communities on religious lines but their malicious attempts were thwarted by the friendship of freedom fighters Ashfaqullah Khan and Ramprasad Bismil," he said.
"India's Muslims know that India is the only country in the world where Islam's all 72 sects are found. No other nation, not even Muslim countries have all the 72 sects of Islam. Christianity's all sects are found only in India," he said.
According to Singh, whenever China or Pakistan tried to show aggression at the borders in the past, "our people stood united and challenged them".
Singh paid floral tributes to freedom fighters Khan, Bismil and Thakur Roshan Singh and visited their memorial in the city's Ramprasad Bismil park in the presence of Shahjahanpur MP Krishna Raj and local BJP leaders along with hundreds of people.
He laid wreaths at the statues of the three freedom fighters who belonged to Shahjahanpur and laid their lives in India's freedom struggle.
Singh lauded the contribution of the three and met the family of Khan. He greeted people of Shahjahanpur and said he is delighted to visit the city where these freedom fighters were born.
IMAGE: Rajnath Singh addresses a Tiranga rally in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: ANI_News/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/want-to-see-pen-computers-in-hands-of-kashmiris-not-stones-rajnath/20160820.htm | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/f9ce92b382400faa84a6bd77828c962b789971dd84d5db5d5deb6200eb4d3859.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:35:12 | null | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | Setting aside the trial court order acquitting the accused, the Gujarat high court on Thursday sentenced eleven persons to life imprisonment for the murder of two persons during a 2002 post-Godhra riot at Meda Adraj village in Mehsana district. | Godhra riots: HC awards life term to 11 for murder | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fgodhra-riots-hc-awards-life-term-to-11-for-murder%2F20160804.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/feb/27riot.jpg | en | null | Godhra riots: HC awards life term to 11 for murder | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 04, 2016 21:06 IST
Setting aside the trial court order acquitting the accused, the Gujarat high court on Thursday sentenced eleven persons to life imprisonment for the murder of two persons during a 2002 post-Godhra riot at Meda Adraj village in Mehsana district.
A division bench of justices Anant Dave and B N Karia awarded the accused "life imprisonment with remission", allowing the state Government to release them after they have served 14 years.
The HC also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of them and granted them ten weeks to surrender.
Last month, the high court had held 11 out of the 27 accused guilty for murdering a father-daughter duo from the minority community at Meda Adraj.
The eleven convicted persons are: Mukesh Amritlal Patel, Narendra Chimanlal Patel, Dinesh Jaswantbhai Patel, Kirit Somabhai Patel, Kirit Chandubhai Patel, Girish Ambalal Patel, Girish Chunnilal Patel, Mukesh Mahendrabhai Patel, Nilesh Naranbhai Patel, Janak Rameshbhai Patel and Mukesh Somabhai Patel.
They were convicted under sections 302 (murder), 148 and 149 (unlawful assembly) and 436 (mischief by fire) of the Indian Penal Code.
A fast-track court in Mehsana on June 14, 2005, acquitted all the 27 accused for killing Kalu Miyan Saiyed and his daughter Hasina Bibi on March 3, 2002, in the aftermath of train burning incident at Godhra in which 58 persons died.
According to the prosecution, a mob of around 200 people surrounded the victims who had taken shelter in the house of Joitaram Prajapati and burnt them alive. There were six eye-witnesses in the case.
The Gujarat government and the victims' family had challenged the trial court's verdict. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/godhra-riots-hc-awards-life-term-to-11-for-murder/20160804.htm | en | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/ee9ce0aa5936a9a59b8210e2a21ae1602ef70c8c499891cf7613f982a8e2941f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:23:26 | null | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | Curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town while restrictions were in place in the rest of the Valley as normal life remained paralysed for the 39th consecutive day. | 5 killed in fresh clashes in Kashmir, toll climbs to 63 | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fviolence-erupts-again-in-kashmir-death-toll-goes-up%2F20160816.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/16kashmir2.jpg | en | null | 5 killed in fresh clashes in Kashmir, toll climbs to 63 | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 16, 2016 13:49 IST
Five persons were killed and several others injured in security forces action against stone-pelting protesters in Budgam and Anantnag districts of Kashmir on Tuesday where normal life remained paralysed for the 39th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike.
With the fresh deaths, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley has now gone up to 63.
Four persons were killed in Central Reserve Police Force firing on stone-pelting protesters in Aripathan area of Magam in Budgam district while five others were injured, a police official said.
The deceased have been identified as Javaid Ahmad, Manzoor Ahmad, Mohammad Ashraf and Kauser Sheikh, he said.
The incident took place when a group of protesters hurled stones at a passing CRPF vehicle on Tuesday morning.
In another incident at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag district, five persons were injured when security forces opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting group of youth, the official said.
He said one of the injured -- Amir Yousuf -- succumbed to his injuries.
Meanwhile, curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town while restrictions were in place in rest of the Valley as normal life remained paralysed for the 39th consecutive day.
The official said curfew and restrictions were imposed to thwart the plans of separatists to organise sit-in protest by traders against the civilian killings at main market places of the Valley.
“Curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town in south Kashmir as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” the police official said.
Schools, colleges and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off the roads due to the strike called by the separatists.
The attendance in government offices was thin. Internet and mobile services across the Valley remained suspended.
While broadband services were snapped on Saturday evening, the mobile telephony was suspended late in the night on the same day.
Normal life has been affected due to protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.
The separatist camp is spearheading the protests in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani’s killing.
As many as 62 persons including two cops have been killed and several thousand others have been injured in the clashes that began on July 9.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Omar Abdullah lashed out at the Centre for raising the issue of Balochistan at a time when Kashmir has been hit by violence.
“Six protesters dead in Kashmir in 24 hours but WTH let’s go sort out Balochistan since we are doing such a good job in J&K at the moment!” Omar wrote on Twitter.
Following the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 12, the Centre decided to raise the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan province of Pakistan.
The PM also referred to Balochistan in his Independence Day speech on Monday.
Image: A policeman chases protesters in Srinagar. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/violence-erupts-again-in-kashmir-death-toll-goes-up/20160816.htm | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/60148d271c918d47e5f00c135eb828b65a4a1a49255c4614fcafac72e8c4c571.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:20:04 | null | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | The Republican presidential candidate urged the African-American community, which had steadfastly backed Clinton in the primaries, to join his campaign for a 'better future'. | 'What the hell do you have to lose?' Trump to African-Americans | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwhat-the-hell-do-you-have-to-lose-trump-to-african-americans%2F20160820.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/20trump1.jpg | en | null | 'What the hell do you have to lose?' Trump to African-Americans | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 20, 2016 09:26 IST
Aiming to make a dent in the support base of his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has urged the African-American community, which had steadfastly backed the former in primaries, to join his campaign for a “better future”.
“Tonight, I am asking for the vote of every African-American citizen in this country who wants a better future,” Trump said on Friday at an election rally in Michigan during which he alleged that Clinton has done “nothing for them”.
“No group in America has been more harmed by Hillary Clinton’s policies than African-Americans. If Hillary Clinton’s goal was to inflict pain on the African-American community, she couldn’t have done a better job,” Trump said.
Latest polls suggests that Clinton has support of over 90 per cent of African-Americans, while Trump has little or negligible support in the large community where unemployment rate is very high and so is poverty.
“Look at how much African-American communities are suffering from democratic control. To those I say the follow, what do you have to lose by trying something new like Trump? What do you have to lose?” he asked amidst huge applause from the audience.
“Look, what do you have to lose? You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 per cent of your youth is unemployed, what the hell do you have to lose? And at the end of four years, I guarantee you, that I will get over 95 per cent of the African-American vote, I promise you; because I will produce for the African-Americans,” Trump said.
The Clinton campaign was quick to criticise Trump over his alleged past history against the community.
“Donald Trump asks what the African-American community has to lose by voting for him. The answer is everything from a man who questions the citizenship of the first African-American President, courts white supremacists, and has been sued for housing discrimination against communities of colour,” said Hillary for America Director of State Campaigns and Political Engagement Marlon Marshall.
“Trump painting the entire community as living in poverty with no jobs continues to show he is completely out of touch with the African American community,” Marshall said.
In his speech, Trump alleged that the Democrats have just taken advantage of their votes. “And once the election’s over, they go back to their palaces in Washington and, you know what, they do nothing for you, just remember it,” he said.
“So you have nothing to lose, one thing we know for sure is that if you keep voting for the same people, you will keep getting the same, exactly, the same result. My administration will go to work for you as no one has ever done before -- we will work. We will bring back jobs. We will work,” he insisted.
“By contrast, the one thing every item in Hillary Clinton’s agenda has in common is that it takes jobs and opportunities away from African-American workers. It takes jobs away from all workers, because your companies are leaving Michigan, your companies are leaving every single state in our union. They are going to Mexico; they’re going everywhere but here,” Trump noted.
“Hillary Clinton supports open borders, which means many things, but it means people pour in and take your jobs, whether you like it or don’t like it, they take your jobs. Her fierce opposition to school choice; you need choice. You have to get your children into good schools. You do that through competition. You need choice,” he said.
Trump said America must reject the bigotry of Hillary Clinton, who sees communities of colour only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future.
“Hillary Clinton would rather provide a job to a refugee from overseas, than to give that job to unemployed African-American youth in cities like Detroit, who have become refugees in their own country,” he said.
“It’s time to get our country back to work and that includes an all-out effort to help young African-Americans get the good paying jobs that they deserve,” Trump said.
Image: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Dimondale, Michigan. Photograph: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/what-the-hell-do-you-have-to-lose-trump-to-african-americans/20160820.htm | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/6cb3d0b19e039e314a24948f2c7a8f079022877316316061657abd0c4183beba.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:34:48 | null | 2016-08-06T00:00:00 | While Ryan is expected to easily sail through his House seat, McCain is facing a tough battle from the Arizona Senate seat. | Donald Trump endorses Paul Ryan, John McCain in bid to unite Republicans | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fdonald-trump-endorses-paul-ryan-john-mccain-in-bid-to-unite-republicans%2F20160806.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/movies/2009/apr/14sld1.jpg | en | null | Donald Trump endorses Paul Ryan, John McCain in bid to unite Republicans | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 06, 2016 10:39 IST
Ending days of suspense, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed his party's two stalwarts House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator John McCain for re-election and vowed to make Republicans a "big tent" party as was under ex-president Ronald Reagan.
"In our shared mission to make America great again, I support and endorse our Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. We need unity. We have to win this election. This is truly one of the most important elections in my lifetime," Trump said at an election rally in Ryan's home state of Wisconsin.
Over the past few days, Trump had refused to endorse either Ryan and McCain fuelling speculations that all is not well among the Republicans and the party is not united ahead of the crucial November general elections.
While Ryan is expected to easily sail through his House seat, McCain is facing a tough battle from the Arizona Senate seat.
"While I'm at it, I hold in the highest esteem Senator John McCain for his service to our country in uniform and in public office and I fully support and endorse his re-election," Trump said amidst cheer from supporters.
"This campaign is not about me or any one candidate, it's about America. I understand and embrace the wisdom of Ronald Reagan's big tent within the party," Trump said.
"I need a Republican Senate and a House to accomplish all of the changes that we have to make. So I embrace the wisdom that my 80 per cent friend is not my 20 percent enemy," he said at the election campaign in Green bay in Wisconsin.
"Working hand-in-hand we will grow our majority in the House and in the Senate. Arm-in-arm we will rescue the nation from the Obama-Clinton disaster that has bled our country dry and spread terrorism unabated across the world," Trump said.
Later in a fund raising email to his supporters, Trump alleged that the Democrats and the mainstream media are doing everything they can to divide the Republican party.
"We must rise above their dirty tactics and prove that only the Republican Party is offering the ideas and solutions that can truly fix America," he said.
"It's time to unite our Party and deny a third term of Obama. I have officially endorsed Paul Ryan -- and together, we will fight for you, and together we will Make America Great Again!" Trump said. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/donald-trump-endorses-paul-ryan-john-mccain-in-bid-to-unite-republicans/20160806.htm | en | 2016-08-06T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/3ef6efa09cf714eec170be64099b4ff0362ec312d75f1a49e45141fa9f41e270.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T12:52:27 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | Carter has said India's designation as a 'major defence partner' would allow the US to cooperate with it -- | India's major defence partner tag deepens ties with US: Carter | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Findias-major-defence-partner-tag-deepens-ties-with-us-carter%2F20160830.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/apr/12carter01.jpg | en | null | India's major defence partner tag deepens ties with US: Carter | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 30, 2016 16:54 IST
Countering terrorism is an important objective shared by India and the United States, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in Washington while appreciating American support in India's efforts to eliminate extremism in its neighbourhood.
"We resolved to continue our cooperation on counter-terrorism. Our open and diverse societies are committed to peace. However, as the United States has shown, there can be no compromise when we are faced with terrorism," Parrikar said at a joint news conference with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter on Monday.
"The forces that seek to undermine our progress and our ways of life require our comprehensive and robust response. We appreciate the support from United States in our efforts to eliminate terrorism in India's neighbourhood," Parrikar said.
"Secretary Carter and I agreed that countering terrorism is an important shared objective. The partnership between India and the United States is driven by our shared values and interests. This was underlined by the enthusiasm of the US Congress with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June this year," Parrikar said.
Responding to a question, Carter said that not only Indian civilians but its military also has been a victim of terrorism, in an apparent reference to the terrorist attack on Pathankot military base, carried out by Pakistani intruders.
"Terrorism is one of the many missions on which we cooperate...We oppose terrorism affecting anyone and us. That's certainly true with respect to terrorist acts perpetrated against the Indian people, and also I should mention the Indian military, which has happened as well. And this gives new scope for that, as well," Carter said.
As per a joint statement issued after the meeting between the two leaders, they agreed to facilitate greater and regular interactions to deepen mutual understanding between military services and promote practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, special operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
"We and India share the principled view that in matters of freedom of the seas and freedom of the commons and freedom of navigation, as in so many other matters, States need to take a principled view where abiding by the rule of law and pursuing disputes peacefully is fundamental. We are able to operate together," Carter said.
During the meeting Carter and Parrikar praised the discussions at the inaugural Maritime Security Dialogue held in May.
They welcomed the conclusion of the bilateral 'White Shipping' technical arrangement for data sharing on commercial shipping traffic.
They also discussed cooperation on capabilities to augment India's capacity for maritime domain awareness.
Acknowledging India's positive contributions to regional security and stability, including in matters beyond the maritime space, Carter and Parrikar announced their agreement to take forward consultations in this area, including through the next Maritime Security Dialogue, which will be held later this year.
They noted recent high-level official exchanges, including the visit of Gen John Nicholson to New Delhi for consultations on Afghanistan, as well as by the secretary of the US Navy and the secretary of the US Air Force earlier this month, the joint statement said.
Carter has said India's designation as a 'major defence partner' would allow the US to cooperate with it -- in both strategic and technological domains -- at par with its closet and most long-standing allies.
"First of all with respect to the major defence partnership agreement, that is a very substantial change. It's an enormous change from 50 years of history. And a very substantial advance over just a few months ago," Carter told Pentagon reporters.
"And here's the gist of it. It will allow the United States and India to cooperate, which speaking from the US point of view, in a way that we do only with our closest and most long-standing allies. That's a very big change," Carter said.
In June when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited US and met President Barack Obama, the country had designated India as a 'major defence partner'.
"The Indian government sent us before our meeting today a very lengthy, detailed and we thought very constructive paper about how to implement the major defence partnership understanding. That's an excellent basis for the implementation of the major defence partnership," he said.
The major defence partnership designation, has "knocked down" the previous barriers that came in the way of defence, strategic co-operation including co-production, co-development projects and exercises.
Appreciating the US government's decision, Parrikar said: "In our discussions today, we looked at how this could provide further energy and momentum to our partnership on defence technology and manufacturing. We agreed to continue efforts to establish an efficient framework to encourage tie-ups between our defence companies."
Parrikar said the US is one of India's primary sources of defence equipment, and while it has shared some of its cutting-edge platforms, he would like to take this forward to greater collaborative projects.
The two leaders, he said, decided to significantly expand the scope and activities of Defence Technology and Trade Initiative.
Carter said the designation builds on the success of last year's framework for the US-India defence relationship.
"It will facilitate defence, trade and technology sharing with India on a level we reserve only for our closest friends and allies, and it will support both of what I have called the two important handshakes between our countries and our two militaries," he said.
"The first is the strategic handshake. As the United States is reaching West in President Obama's rebalance, India is reaching East in Prime Minister Modi's Act East Policy, which will extend India's reach further into the broader Indo-Asia-Pacific region," he said.
The major defence partner designation will also tighten the second handshake between the two countries, the technological one, he said.
"Four years ago, the United States and India created the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, DTTI, to leverage the convergence between our industrial and technological abilities in an unprecedented way. That initiative grasps hands with Prime Minister Modi's Make in India campaign," he said.
"We made important progress on that technological partnership today, also. We agreed to advance a number of collaborative projects, on jet engine technology, chemical and biological protection, aircraft carriers and other systems; all by the end of the year. That collaboration will surely bring further cooperation, co-development and co-production," he added.
"And we're working together and networking with other Asia-Pacific militaries to provide the security and to promote the principles, including freedom of navigation and overflight, that have benefited so many in the region, including India," Carter said.
Spent more time with Parrikar than other counterparts: Carter
Carter said he has spent more time with Parrikar in little over an year than any of his other foreign counterparts, a relationship he attributed to "the new bonhomie" in India-US ties.
"Even before today's very productive discussion, which was our sixth meeting since I became Secretary of Defence, I had already spent more time with Minister Parrikar than I had with any other defence counterpart anywhere in the world,” said Carter.
Heaping praise on the defence minister, Carter said: "One (of the reasons) is Minister Parrikar himself. He's a strong and effective leader. He's an innovator. He's a great partner and a true friend."
"The second reason that Minister Parrikar and I spent so much time together is that the US-India relationship is destined to be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century," he said.
"We share so much, so many interests and values, as well as a common vision for peace, for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As Minister Parrikar's busy itinerary and our extensive deliberations today demonstrate, that destiny is rapidly and surely becoming a reality," Carter said, soon after the two leaders concluded talks at the Pentagon. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/indias-major-defence-partner-tag-deepens-ties-with-us-carter/20160830.htm | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/5607e33946d99a42d8c28b408298badc8e4f16ac8aa3dfd0ee2e6c440d72a6a6.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:22:26 | null | 2016-08-17T00:00:00 | Former Union Minister Najma Heptulla was on Wednesday made Governor of Manipur while ex-Rajya Sabha MP V P Singh Badnore goes to Punjab in new gubernatorial appointments announced for four states with all of them being associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. | Najma Heptulla appointed Manipur governor | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fnajma-heptulla-appointed-manipur-governor%2F20160817.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/17lead8.jpg | en | null | Najma Heptulla appointed Manipur governor | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 17, 2016 15:59 IST
Former Union Minister Najma Heptulla was on Wednesday made Governor of Manipur while ex-Rajya Sabha MP V P Singh Badnore goes to Punjab in new gubernatorial appointments announced for four states with all of them being associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Banwarilal Purohit, a three-time former member of Lok Sabha from Nagpur and Managing Editor of Central India's daily 'The Hitavada', will be the Governor of Assam while Delhi-based BJP leader and former MLA Prof Jagdish Mukhi was made Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique.
Heptulla, 76, had last month resigned as minority affairs minister from the Union cabinet.
The resignation had come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is believed to have set an unwritten writ of '75-year age bar' for ministers and had kept veterans like L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi out of the Cabinet and co-opted them in 'Margdarshak Mandal'.
Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan was holding the additional charge as Manipur governor.
68-year-old Badnore, who hails from Rajasthan, will be the new Governor of Punjab, the communique said. Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki was holding additional charge of Punjab, which goes to polls next year, after Shivraj Patil's term ended last year.
Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya was holding additional charge as Assam Governor, a post which will now be assumed by 76-year-old Purohit.
Professor Jagdish Mukhi, who has been Member of Delhi Legislative Assembly from Janakpuri constituency, has been appointed as Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the communique said.
73-year-old Mukhi has been appointed in place of Lt General (Retd) A K Singh, it said.
Photograph: Press Information Bureau | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/najma-heptulla-appointed-manipur-governor/20160817.htm | en | 2016-08-17T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/f2e38ae895fb0367d94180ff2c4ced2d0c9ff16e094b3d4981f39a4d3a6d1697.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:19:41 | null | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | A CBI team visited the spot of incident on Friday. | CBI takes over Bulandshahr gang rape probe | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fcbi-takes-over-bulandshahr-gang-rape-probe%2F20160819.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/oct/06rape.jpg | en | null | CBI takes over Bulandshahr gang rape probe | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 19, 2016 21:02 IST
The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe in Bulandshahr gang rape and dacoity case in which a woman and her minor daughter were assaulted by a gang in July.
The incident had taken place when six members of a Noida-based family were traveling to Shahjahanpur in western Uttar Pradesh.
At the national highway passing through Bulandshahr, their car was stopped by criminals who dragged the 13-year-old girl and her mother out and raped them in a field nearby.
The Allahabad high court had ordered the CBI to take over investigation in the case.
CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said the agency has registered a case under Indian Penal Code sections related to dacoity, gang rape, kidnapping among others besides provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
“The CBI took over the investigation of case No. 838 of 2016 registered at Police Station Kotwali Dehat, District Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh) on the allegations of abduction, dacoity and rape of a lady and her daughter by five-six assailants in fields situated in village Dostpur, district Bulandshahr in the intervening night of 29/30 July 2016,” the spokesperson said.
A CBI team, headed by Deputy Inspector General Sharad Agarwal, met senior district police officials in New Delhi and took stock of the situation on Friday.
Later, it visited the spot of incident and examined the things minutely. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/cbi-takes-over-bulandshahr-gang-rape-probe/20160819.htm | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/394e091d56cb6174e00a6a63e8445ac01d4b1697400b4252842706f493d63238.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:27:01 | null | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | The death of 10 soldiers earlier this year in an avalanche in the critical Sonam post, located close to the Line of Control with Pakistan, was due to global warming. | Global warming making Siachen riskier for soldiers | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fglobal-warming-making-siachen-riskier-for-soldiers%2F20160814.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/feb/10ice2.jpg | en | null | Global warming making Siachen riskier for soldiers | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 14, 2016 16:07 IST
The death of 10 soldiers earlier this year in an avalanche in the critical Sonam post, located close to the Line of Control with Pakistan, was due to global warming.
Climate change is making the life of the soldiers posted in the world’s highest and arduous battlefield -- Siachen Glacier -- not just tough but also dangerous, as temperature rises and the snow melts faster.
Siachen, which has the dubious distinction of having seen more soldiers dying due to extreme weather (temperatures at times drop below -50 degree Celsius) than the enemy bullet, is feeling the heat of global warming.
The death of 10 soldiers earlier this year in an avalanche in the critical Sonam post, located close to the Line of Control with Pakistan, was due to global warming.
“The entire incident (at Sonam) was because of climate change only. Because, we generally don’t have ice avalanches. Avalanches are generally snow avalanches.
“What happened in Sonam was that a hanging glacier, which was stuck to the ice wall had fallen off. That was just because in the last 15 or 20 days (prior to the accident), the temperature had been rising,” Lieutenant Colonel S Sengupta, Commandant of the Siachen Battle School said.
Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who was rescued after being buried 30 feet below snow for six days at the Sonam Post, located at about 19,600 feet, could not be saved.
Sengupta said that climate change actually makes the glacier break, due to which a lot of crevasses, one of the deadliest enemies of the soldier in Siachen, keep coming up.
“It (rising temperature) is making life tough,” he said. The army has now taken some precautionary measures and even moved some of the posts a little.
Keeping ice avalanches in mind, the army is buying special radars that can detect humans buried under ice, unlike the earlier ones which could detect only through the snow.
The army is also equipping its men with Avalanche Buoyance Systems - air bags that can be triggered remotely - which prevent burial in an avalanche by providing extra buoyancy.
The effect of the climate change is such that the snout of the Siachen Glacier has actually receded back by about 800 metres in the last one decade or so.
Over 41 soldiers have lost their lives on the Siachen Glacier since 2013, even though not a single shot has been fired since the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in 2003.
At least 1,013 Indian soldiers have lost their lives in Siachen since 1984.
The studies carried out by Indian Space Research Organisation, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Dehradun and other institutions have revealed that majority of the glaciers in India are retreating (melting) at varying rates from 5-20 metre per year.
The situation is such that at this time of the year, more than the pristine white snow, what you find more is black snow (often called moraine).
The river Nubra, which flows through the Base Camp, is actually black in colour rather than blue it was once.
“Global warming is definitely having its side effects on the glacier but things are different during summers. During the winters, the pristine white snow will be back and the waters will again become blue,” a senior officer said.
Explaining the impact of climate change in Siachen, officers said that over a decade ago, rains were never seen here. However, the area now witnesses light drizzle in between over the past few years.
“Earlier one could not see any greenery over 12,000 feet. Now one can even see some green at even 15,000 feet which shows how temperatures have risen over the years,” another officer said. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/global-warming-making-siachen-riskier-for-soldiers/20160814.htm | en | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/eda0d6b213fbaf0b7ddbc13a4953e07cf1c5549e85b6c997bc91bb21f470a1d7.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T06:52:18 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | Pope Francis on Monday met Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wife, Priscilla Chan at the Vatican. | Mark Zuckerberg meets Pope, gifts him Facebook drone | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpix-mark-zuckerberg-meets-pope-gifts-him-facebook-drone%2F20160830.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/30pope01.jpg | en | null | Mark Zuckerberg meets Pope, gifts him Facebook drone | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 30, 2016 10:11 IST
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on Monday met Pope Francis at the Vatican.
The chief executive of the social media site and his wife, Priscilla Chan were granted a personal invitation to the Vatican to meet the Pope during their sojourn in Italy.
IMAGE: Mark Zuckerberg gifted the Pope a replica of Facebook drone. Photograph: Mark Zuckerberg/Facebook
One topic of discussion at the meeting was “how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and make a message of hope arrive, especially to those most in need,” Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said.
During the meet, Zuckerberg gifted the Pope a replica of the Aquila drones that Facebook is developing to beam Internet to places without connectivity.
IMAGE: Pope Francis Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan at the Vatican. Photograph: Mark Zuckerberg/Instagram
“We gave him a model of Aquila, our solar-powered aircraft that will beam Internet connectivity to places that don't have it,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. “And we shared our work with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to help people around the world.”
The social media entrepreneur's tour of Italy also included a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in the aftermath of the Amatrice earthquake which left 281 dead. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-mark-zuckerberg-meets-pope-gifts-him-facebook-drone/20160830.htm | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/e5cf49d836d5de457d4ee587f676c6ae6db5c20e6b980bf2052c3400aa5537fb.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:35:00 | null | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | Two more bodies were on Sunday found in the search and rescue operations which continued for fourth day following the collapse of a bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway near Mahad in Raigad district, taking the death toll to 26. | Mahad bridge collapse: 2 more bodies found; death toll climbs to 26 | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fmahad-bridge-collapse%2F20160807.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/07mahad.jpg | en | null | Mahad bridge collapse: 2 more bodies found; death toll climbs to 26 | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 07, 2016 16:36 IST
Two more bodies were on Sunday found in the search and rescue operations which continued for fourth day following the collapse of a bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway near Mahad in Raigad district, taking the death toll to 26.
"During the course of rescue operations, officials have managed to recover two more bodies taking the death toll to 26. All the deceased have been identified," said state disaster management cell director Suhas Diwase.
While initially 42 people were feared missing, the authorities have no information and clarity yet on a Honda City car reportedly carrying four persons which is suspected to have also fallen in the river.
"Only once we know for sure that a Honda City car with four people went missing, we will be able to say 42 people are missing. For now, the number of missing people stands at 38," he said.
The National Disaster Response Force and Coast Guard officials have so far been able to locate only a signboard of one of the missing state transport buses bearing the word 'reserved' on it.
Various techniques, including electronic sensors, fish finders (sonar devices), and massive magnets are being used to trace the metal bodies in the water.
The swollen Savitri river washed away a 100-year-old bridge at Mahad, about 170 km south of Mumbai, on Tuesday night, taking with it two buses and at least one SUV.
The river, which turned into a torrent due to heavy downpour in its catchment area in Mahabaleshwar, weakened the foundations of the bridge, which ultimately gave way on Tuesday night.
Stepping up rescue efforts, divers have been deployed in areas where currents are not strong.
An NDRF commandant said his team has extended the area of search operations up to 40 km from the accident spot, with fishing nets installed across the bridges over the river.
The Raigad, Ratnagiri and state highway police too have joined the operation to find the missing people belonging to various parts of Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said the government will give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased. The government has already announced that the kin of the deceased staff members of the two state-run buses would either be given job or compensation of Rs 10 lakh each.
IMAGE: The remains of Mahad-Poladpur bridge. Photograph: PTI | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/mahad-bridge-collapse/20160807.htm | en | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/a5f947794a0612de45a209ffcc57d0efe51007b7b395187afcafe2ccfa230707.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:19:57 | null | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | Prime Minister Narendra Modi lamented that every effort of the BJP was seen in 'bad light'. | Cong faced less adversity under Brits than BJP has in Independent India: Modi | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fbjp-has-made-more-sacrifices-than-any-other-party-pm-modi%2F20160818.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/18modi01.jpg | en | null | Cong faced less adversity under Brits than BJP has in Independent India: Modi | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 18, 2016 14:48 IST
Bharatiya Janata Party has faced more adversities in independent India as compared to what Congress would have during the British rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday and lamented that every effort of his party was seen in "bad light".
Asserting that the BJP has made more sacrifices than any other party, Modi, who laid the foundation stone of the new party headquarters in New Delhi, said fissiparous forces have become more active as the country's strength has grown and it is now more imperative to ensure that the society is strengthened and becomes more harmonious.
Underlining his party's commitment to take everybody along with the motto of 'sabka saath, sabka vikaas', he asked party workers to present to the country and the democratic world an example of how a party "devoted to ideals and devoid of dynasty" functions as the world knows the saffron outfit "not the way it is but based on hearsay".
"The BJP will be the only party which has faced adversities since its birth. It faced difficulties at every turn and its every effort was seen in bad light. Even during the British times, the Congress party would not have faced so much adversity that we, our dedicated workers have gone through in 50-60 years," he said at the event attended by top BJP leaders including party chief Amit Shah, L K Advani, Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley among others.
During the recent West Bengal assembly polls, it was difficult for the BJP candidates to even hire an office in Kolkata as anybody willing to given them space would face trouble, he said in an apparent attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress.
"No party has perhaps made more sacrifices than us (BJP) after freedom," he said, adding that "hundreds of" its workers were killed because they were not associated with the prevalent ideology of those times.
BJP workers do not work for crowd but for organisation as "anybody can collect a crowd by talking about populist issues but what is more important is to stick to ideology", he said.
In a lighter vain, he said election candidates of no other party would have forfeited more deposits than those of BJP as they kept fighting for their ideology irrespective of the results.
Modi used the occasion to congratulate grappler Sakshi Malik for bringing glory to the country by winning a bronze medal in the Rio Olympics.
Noting the global research bodies began studying Jana Sangh, the BJP's forerunner, when it came to power in Madhya Pradesh in 1969, Modi said, "The world was surprised again over how much we had grown when the government of Vajpayee ji was formed. They tried to know us from the people, so they could never know us correctly. The world's curiosity has arisen again now."
Ruing the lack of recorded materials like photographs about important events associated with party leaders through its history, he said it is the need of the time to record everything related to the organisation's activities.
Stressing on party leaders' commitment to ideology, Modi said rival parties would certainly have thought that they will be served well if likes of L K Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Murli Manohar Joshi joined them, but these leaders decided to live for ideals.
The prime minister said that training workers of the party in its ideology and work culture is a challenge with its membership growing to over 11 crore and added that its new headquarters, which will be equipped with modern communication and recorded history of the organisation and its leaders, will play a role in its future success.
"This party has not grown due to some leader, prime minister or chief minister but due to its lakhs of dedicated workers," he said, adding that the new office spread across two acres will not be dedicated to political interests but national interests.
The construction of this office is not merely about a building but it will smell of the sweat of party workers, he said.
IMAGE: Modi, who laid the foundation stone of the new party headquarters in New Delhi, said fissiparous forces have become more active as the country's strength has grown. Photograph: BJP/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/bjp-has-made-more-sacrifices-than-any-other-party-pm-modi/20160818.htm | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/c287c21cbec4d26097792e0d7d7623cd6c3d4a86ad09cab72b770ca1c715356d.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:40:49 | null | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | The home minister will reach Islamabad on Wednesday and return to New Delhi the next day after attending the 7th meeting of SAARC. | Rajnath to attend SAARC meet in Islamabad despite threat by Hafiz Saeed | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Frajnath-to-attend-saarc-meet-in-islamabad-despite-threat-by-hafiz-saeed%2F20160801.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/apr/14lead4.jpg | en | null | Rajnath to attend SAARC meet in Islamabad despite threat by Hafiz Saeed | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 01, 2016 22:50 IST
Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Pakistan on Wednesday to attend the SAARC Home Ministers' conference, notwithstanding threat by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and is expected to ask Islamabad to stop sponsoring terror in India.
"The SAARC meeting is a multilateral meeting. There are some commitments. He is not going to give some message or having a separate meeting with (the) Pakistani home minister," minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters in New Delhi.
He was responding to questions about threats made by the Lashkar-e-Taiba founder over the home minister's visit. Saeed warned of a countrywide protest in Pakistan by his outfit if Singh arrives in Islamabad to attend the SAARC ministerial conference.
Official sources said Singh is unlikely to meet his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan separately as top echelons of the government feel that time is not conducive for a bilateral meeting.
However, the home minister, in his speech at the SAARC meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country.
Singh's visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in Indo-Pak ties after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of Burhan Wani's killing on July 8. Wani was a wanted terrorist of banned Hizbul Mujahideen.
Not only did Sharif praise Wani but he also remarked that "Kashmir will one day become Pakistan", a comment which evoked a sharp reaction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said his dream of the state becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity".
The home minister will reach Islamabad on Wednesday and return to New Delhi the next day after attending the 7th meeting of SAARC Interior/ home ministers.
Singh is also likely to raise the issue of fake Indian currency notes being circulated at the behest of Pakistani agencies, sources said.
Apart from terrorism, other key issues to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/rajnath-to-attend-saarc-meet-in-islamabad-despite-threat-by-hafiz-saeed/20160801.htm | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/a167a214c8f71cfd7e37eeea71d406f9080434b79c2cf68455ea9e9b380e098f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T14:50:28 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | The defence minister said that the leaked documents put on the website of The Australian newspaper did not include any of the weaponry systems of the Scorpene as been reported in the media. | Govt plays down Scorpene leak; says it's not a big worry | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fgovt-plays-down-scorpene-leak-says-its-not-a-big-worry%2F20160826.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/26lead2.jpg | en | null | Govt plays down Scorpene leak; says it's not a big worry | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 26, 2016 18:34 IST
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday played down the Scorpene leak saying its a "not big worry", but there are few pockets of concerns because the ministry is assuming the worst case scenario.
The defence minister said that the leaked documents put on the website of The Australian newspaper did not include any of the weaponry systems of the Scorpene as been reported in the media.
Parrikar said that the navy has assured him that most of the leaked documents are not of concern.
The minister also said that Scorpene submarine has not even fully completed the sea trials, which is important to understand how it will work under water.
The Indian Navy has taken up Scorpene document leak matter with French Directorate General of Armament.
"We are waiting for the report. Basically, what is on the website is not of big concern. We are assuming, on our own, that this has leaked and we are taking all precautions", he said.
"What I am given to understand that there are few pockets of concern assuming that what is claimed to have been leaked has leaked actually.
"We are going by assumption of the worst case scenario. I think there is not big worry because we will be able out put things in right perspective", Parrikar added.
Asked by a journalist whether the Rafale deal would be affected because of the leak, the minister shot back questioning whether one can stop using French products just because a leak has happened in another company.
"You stop using all products from France? Obviously, the companies are different, the type of equipment is different and an incident should be punished with whatever the contractual punishment is there. It is not intentionally leaked," Parrikar said.
He said the punishment should be based on the conditions in the contract.
More than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company have been leaked, raising alarm bells today in the security establishment.
The combat capability of the Scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of $3.5 billion by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, The Australian, put the details on the website.
IMAGE: Navy's Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari being escorted by tugboats as it arrives at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters/Files | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/govt-plays-down-scorpene-leak-says-its-not-a-big-worry/20160826.htm | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/235984b93d42c61904afbb6db354bdd93d9da0160dd2938aa23a0315db8fbadc.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T12:51:13 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | Wani said he also asked Sri Sri to use his influence in finding a solution to Kashmir problem. | Burhan Wani's father: Discussed Kashmir with Sri Sri | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fburhan-wanis-father-discussed-kashmir-with-sri-sri%2F20160828.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/27lead3.jpg | en | null | Burhan Wani's father: Discussed Kashmir with Sri Sri | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 28, 2016 16:15 IST
The father of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who met Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the latter’s ashram in Bengaluru, discussed the situation in the Valley with the spiritual guru.
“I met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during a personal visit to Bengaluru last week. Since Sri Sri is a man of peace, I apprised him about the ground situation,” Muzaffar Wani said over phone from his residence in south Kashmir’s Tral town.
The killing of Wani’s son Burhan sparked off violence in Kashmir that has left 68 persons dead and thousands others injured as the unrest entered its 51st day on Sunday.
Wani said he also asked Sri Sri to use his influence in finding a solution to Kashmir problem.
“Sri Sri asked me what the people of Kashmir wanted. I asked him to visit the Valley to find out for himself,” he said.
Wani, a teacher by profession, said there should be an unconditional dialogue with the separatists to find a lasting solution to Kashmir problem.
“Hurriyat is the leadership of Kashmir and there should be an unconditional dialogue ... the precondition of ‘within the ambit of Indian Constitution’ will not lead to a solution,” he added.
Burhan’s father had gone to Bengaluru on Thursday for ‘treatment’ of a health-related issue and returned home on Saturday.
A photograph of Wani with the Sri Sri, posted by the latter on Twitter, has gone viral on social networking sites.
Wani said he had gone to Bengaluru to get treatment for his diabetes problem at the Sri Sri Ayurvedic hospital. “I did not stay in a hotel as i did not find it safe. I stayed at the Ashram (of Sri Sri),” he said.
“Muzaffar Wani, the father of Burhan Wani was in the ashram for the last 2 days. We discussed several issues,” Ravi Shankar had tweeted, without elaborating. The tweet was accompanied by a picture of the two together.
His elder son, Khalid, was also killed by security forces during an anti-militancy operation in the forests of Tral in April last year.
Photograph: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/burhan-wanis-father-discussed-kashmir-with-sri-sri/20160828.htm | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/01d3bcba09406f2d522387d862585fcc50a953a2e45df7e76cb774cd2c17856f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:41:12 | null | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | Her deputy V K Singh is leaving for Saudi Arabia to oversee the evacuation process, she said in a statement in both Houses of Parliament.
| About 10,000 Indians stranded in Saudi to be evacuated: Swaraj | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fabout-10000-indians-stranded-in-saudi-to-be-evacuated-swaraj%2F20160801.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2012/dec//01guj2.jpg | en | null | About 10,000 Indians stranded in Saudi to be evacuated: Swaraj | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 01, 2016 20:31 IST
A large number of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia who have lost their jobs and cannot even buy food due to severe financial hardship will be brought back home, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, asserting that not one of them will go hungry.
In a statement in Parliament amid concerns by members in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Swaraj said her deputy V K Singh is leaving for Saudi Arabia to oversee the evacuation process.
She said the Indian embassy in the Gulf nation was running five camps to feed the affected people.
“Not one worker of ours will go hungry. This is my assurance to the country through Parliament... We will bring all of them back to India,” Swaraj said.
Issues like logistics and modalities of a possible repatriation of the workers who want to return to India will be worked out during Singh’s visit.
Official sources said approximately 10,000 Indian workers have been affected by the economic slowdown in the Gulf and the situation was ‘fluid and dynamic’. They said the situation varied from company to company.
Sources said 3,172 Indian workers in Riyadh have not been paid their salary dues for several months but are getting regular rations.
Separately, 2,450 Indian workers belonging to the Saudi Oger Company are housed in five camps in Jeddah, Mecca and Taif. Since July 25, the company had stopped providing meals to the workers besides defaulting on their salaries, the sources said.
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah, with the assistance of the diaspora, has provided rations to the workers which should be sufficient for the next 8-10 days, they said.
The government, Swaraj said, was in touch with the foreign and labour offices in Saudi Arabia to ensure early evacuation of affected Indians.
Swaraj noted that the law there does not permit an emergency exit visa without no objection certificate from the employers who, she said, have shut their factories and left the country, leaving these employees stranded.
The government has requested the Saudi authorities to give them exit visas without a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from employers and also urged it to clear the dues of workers who have not been paid for months, whenever they settle the accounts with the companies concerned.
Swaraj said she recieved the last report at 2.45 am and informed the Lok Sabha that ration for 10 days had been distributed to people in all the five camps. “I am personally monitoring the situation.”
MoS in the External Affairs Ministry M J Akbar is liaising with the Saudi authorities to ensure that the claims of all Indian workers with unpaid dues are lodged and processed in accordance with law.
He has also sought Saudi assistance in arranging exit visa for all Indian workers who wish to be repatriated, said the sources.
“VK Singh would be proceeding imminently to Saudi Arabia to visit the worker camps and make an on the spot assessment of the ground situation. Logistics and modalities of a possible repatriation of those workers who want to return will be worked out following MoS’ visit,” the sources said.
Swaraj has been monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/about-10000-indians-stranded-in-saudi-to-be-evacuated-swaraj/20160801.htm | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/f9386a607deca37eea6a3a2e86306ab2604e9d9934938f6fb4bf628c263c5755.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:14:00 | null | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | Two days after two of his former associates accused him of using the Patidar quota agitation as a 'tool to nurture his leadership ambition', Hardik Patel on Wednesday hit back saying his detractors were 'playing into the
hands of some in the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat who were trying to weaken the protest' by maligning his image. | Hardik Patel rubbishes PAAS leaders' charge of funds 'misuse' | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fhardik-patel-rubbishes-paas-leaders-charge-of-funds-misuse%2F20160824.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/jul/20hardik.jpg | en | null | Hardik Patel rubbishes PAAS leaders' charge of funds 'misuse' | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 24, 2016 19:36 IST
Days after two of his former associates accused him of using the Patidar quota agitation as a "tool to nurture his leadership ambition", Hardik Patel on Wednesday hit back saying his detractors were "playing into the hands of some in the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat who were trying to weaken the protest" by maligning his image.
Seeking to counter his rivals, Hardik's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, the outfit leading the agitation for OBC status for the community and reservation in jobs and education, has called a special meeting on August 29 at Udaipur where he has moved after being granted bail by the Gujarat high court.
Two days ago, two of his former close aides -- Chirag and Ketan Patel -- had levelled allegations against Hardik in an open letter which hinted at cracks in his outfit.
In the letter, they had alleged that 23-year-old Hardik "used" the agitation as a "tool to satisfy his ambition to emerge as a leader and a 'crorepati' (millionaire) within a year of launching it.
Reacting to the allegations, Hardik told PTI that Chirag and Ketan were levelling "false allegations at the behest of the BJP government in the state".
"I strongly believe that both Chirag and Ketan are playing into the hands of some people in the state government who are trying to weaken the protest by maligning my image. But, they will not succeed as the people know that I am clean. The Patel community knows who I am," he said.
"There is no need to offer an explanation to these allegations as I know that I am not at fault. This is not new to me. Even when I was in jail, certain elements had tried to malign my image by claiming that I had amassed Rs 80 lakh through the agitation. In the end, I came out clean," he added.
Hardik has moved to Udaipur in Rajasthan after being granted bail by the high court last month in two sedition cases lodged against him at Ahmedabad and Surat. One of the conditions of bail was he would stay outside Gujarat for the next six months.
Hardik was in jail for almost nine months. Along with him, Chirag and Ketan were also behind bars for almost eight months as they too were named as accused by Ahmedabad police in one of the sedition cases following large-scale violence in Gujarat after a mega PAAS rally in the city on August 25, 2015.
The PAAS has called a meeting of all its key conveners at Udaipur to give a "fitting reply" to the allegations levelled by the duo, said Hardik's close aide Dinesh Bambhaniya who too is an accused in the case.
"The letter was a part of a political conspiracy against Hardik and PAAS. Instead of working for the cause, both of them (Chirag and Ketan) want to become leaders. We will not tolerate such elements. We have called a meeting at Udaipur on August 29 to clear the air surrounding the issue," said Bambhaniya who once worked closely with Ketan.
In the letter, Chirag and Ketan had also accused Hardik of a "dictatorial style of working" which they said had ruined the chances of securing reservation for Patels. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/hardik-patel-rubbishes-paas-leaders-charge-of-funds-misuse/20160824.htm | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/00db6624a0af3055ae4e93640aa1f080559444cbf53ac6000aec126c5264a50c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:37:58 | null | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | As many as 56 cases are pending against Central Bureau of Investigation officers, the Central Vigilance Commission has said. | 56 cases against CBI officers: Central Vigilance Commission | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Ffifty-six-cases-against-cbi-officers-cvc%2F20160804.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2013/apr/26sd3.jpg | en | null | 56 cases against CBI officers: Central Vigilance Commission | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 04, 2016 19:13 IST
As many as 56 cases are pending against Central Bureau of Investigation officers, the Central Vigilance Commission has said.
"The commission regularly reviews cases pending against CBI officers. Pendency of cases against CBI officers reflects on the reputation and image of the country's premier investigation agency," it said in annual report tabled in Parliament recently.
A total of 56 cases--31 departmental cases of Group A officers and 25 cases for Groups B and C--at various stages were pending against CBI personnel as on December 31, 2015, the report said.
Of these 19 cases were pending for over four years, three for three years and five for more than two years, it said.
Seven such cases were pending for more than one year and 22 were pending for less than one year, the report said.
A total of 1,135 cases, comprising 971 regular cases and 164 preliminary enquiries, were registered in 2015 as compared to 1,174 regular cases and preliminary enquiries registered by CBI in 2014.
Out of the 1,135 cases, 185 cases were registered for allegedly demanding bribe for showing official favours and 67 cases for alleged possession of assets disproportionate to known source of income, it said.
As on December 31, 2015, 571 alleged corruption cases were pending investigation. Of these, one case was pending for more than five year, 14 for more than three years and 39 for over two years.
As many as 129 such cases were pending investigation for more than two years and upto three years, and 397 others for less than and equal to one year, the report said. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/fifty-six-cases-against-cbi-officers-cvc/20160804.htm | en | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/4d1da35412bf203a3615ed2fbfc0c6226303e017f31d675e85084e4bfae8a410.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:16:48 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | Our societies and people have had age old ties and links, says Modi. | PM inaugurates Stor Palace, says India always with Afghanistan | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpm-inaugurates-stor-palace%2F20160822.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/22modi-ghani.jpg | en | null | PM inaugurates Stor Palace, says India always with Afghanistan | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 22, 2016 13:44 IST
IMAGES: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf GHani jointly Inaugurate renovated Stor Palace in Kabul via video-conferencing. Photographs: @PIB_India/Twitter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the 1.25 billion people of India will ‘always’ stand with Afghanistan in ensuring peace and prosperity as he jointly inaugurated through video conferencing the restored Stor Palace in Kabul with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
“Afghanistan is a close friend. Our societies and people have had age old ties and links. It, therefore, saddens us to see that your proud nation continues to be challenged by externally sponsored instruments and entities of violence and terror.
“Let me assure the people of Afghanistan that in your quest to build a prosperous Afghanistan and to bring peace, security and stability to your society, the 1.25 billion people of India will always be on your side,” he said.
Modi, while speaking from his North Block office in New Delhi, stressed that ‘whatever may be the odds, India will work with you for a bright future for all Afghans’.
“The pledge of our partnership and strength of our friendship with Afghanistan is unwavering. Today’s (Monday’s) event is a testimony to the resolve and range of our cooperative endeavours. We want each Afghan to flourish and your society to be benefited from fruits of economic growth,” he said.
On his part, Ghani said the ‘logic’ of peace and benevolence will defeat the logic of terror and violence as he said India and Afghanistan have always been close friends and joint initiatives like these are a fruitful journey of cooperation between the two nations.
The prime minister underlined that ‘in our hearts and minds Indians and Afghans have always been closest of friends’.
Modi also thanked the Afghan government for ‘protecting the Indian Embassy and consulates and ensuring the safety and security of Indian experts working in Afghanistan’.
“The sacrifices made by our Afghan brothers will not be forgotten,” the prime minister said.
Modi said the Stor palace ‘brings back to life a valuable landmark of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage’.
The palace, located on a hilltop in capital city Kabul, was built by Afghan King Amanullah Khan in the 1920s.
“The Stor palace has been the setting for many momentous historical events. To those who cannot see beyond shadows of violence in Afghanistan, the restored Stor palace is a reminder of the glory of Afghanistan’s rich traditions.
“And for our Afghan brothers and sisters, it revives the beauty, the richness and splendor of lost memories of Afghan society,” he said.
True to the foundations of Indo-Afghan ties, Modi said, it links the present of the friendship to the historical bonds.
“I must commend all the artists, experts and consultants who worked day and night to accomplish this delicate task,” he said.
Calling Afghanistan a ‘close friend’, the PM said the societies and people of the two nations ‘have had age-old ties and links’.
“It, therefore, saddens us to see that your proud nation continues to be challenged by externally sponsored instruments and entities of violence and terror,” he added.
During his speech, the PM talked about the successful ‘joint initiatives’ that both the countries have accomplished in the past like inauguration of the new Parliament complex in that country and the Salma dam in June this year, also called as the Afghanistan-India Friendship dam.
The Salma dam will revive and renew not just the economy and agriculture of the Heart region of Afghanistan. But will also build a strong and lasting pillar of support for Afghanistan’s overall growth and development.
The historic palace, also known as the Darul Aman palace, has been a witness of decades of conflict in the country. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pm-inaugurates-stor-palace/20160822.htm | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/ed47ea4d4afe6d035e7afd7623d65910494da8ca5398234ee2ccdc413a48618f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:21:33 | null | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | The above map shows the highly consumed meat varieties all over the world from 1991 to 2015. | How has the world's meat consuming habits changed? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Frediff-labs-how-has-the-worlds-meat-consuming-habits-changed%2F20160819.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/getahead/2015/jun/29chicken.jpg | en | null | How has the world's meat consuming habits changed? | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 19, 2016 11:25 IST
Humans have hunted and killed animals for meat since prehistoric time. Meat is rich in protein and there are different varieties of meat consumed by people.
The above map shows the highly consumed meat varieties all over the world from 1991 to 2015. The data is taken from Organisation for economic Co-operation and development.
The time period has been divided into intervals of five years. The highly consumed meat variety is calculated by the kilogram of meat variety consumed by per capita.
For each time interval of five years, the kilograms of meat consumed by per capita in each year is added to give the total kilograms of meat variety consumed in that particular interval of five year. The meat varieties are poultry, mutton, beef and pork.
In some countries they had consumed two varieties of meat in equal quantities.
Mutton is highly consumed in African countries like Nigeria, Egypt and Sudan.
Pork is highly consumed in countries like China, Japan, Philippines and Vietnam.
From 1991 to 1995, beef is widely consumed in countries like Brazil, Australia, India, and Pakistan.
In India from 1991 to 2005, beef was highly consumed, but from 2006 it has changed from beef to poultry. Similarly, the countries who consumed beef in earlier times changed their meat consuming habit to poultry.
The above chart compares meat consumption in India to the world. The beef and pork consumption in India has gradually decreased whereas the consumption of poultry has increased.
For the world, poultry and pork consumption has increased gradually but the consumption of mutton has decreased. The widely consumed meat variety all over the world including India is poultry.
For more data driven journalism, check out Rediff Labs | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/rediff-labs-how-has-the-worlds-meat-consuming-habits-changed/20160819.htm | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/d6b569b4eb611f6c464210a6aef5766c97eff8c8a48fef9aaf33a5f31db102d1.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:16:59 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | How much longer will we see such tragic images of children ravaged by war? | Does the world care about these children? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpix-does-the-world-care-about-these-children%2F20160822.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/22syria1.jpg | en | null | Does the world care about these children? | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 22, 2016 09:22 IST
How much longer will we see such tragic images of children ravaged by war?
Haggard and covered in blood, his blank stare startled the world.
Photographs and video of shell-shocked Omran Daqneesh, 5, being carried to an ambulance, the left side of his face bloodied, shook up even those indifferent to the continuing carnage in Syria.
IMAGE: This haunting image of Omran Daqneesh, 5, is a stark reminder of War's horrors.
Such scenes are seen every day in Aleppo and other parts of Syria. Does the world even care?
Photograph: Aleppo Media Centre
Omran's story is not that he alone survived the bombing and the bloodshed. It is a tragedy that thousands of children in Syria share.
'The truth is that the image you see today is repeated every day in Aleppo,' says Mustafa al Sarouq, a cameraman with the Aleppo Media Centre, who captured Omran's story on video.
IMAGE: An injured boy at a field hospital in the Syrian capital Damascus' Douma neighbourhood.
Fifty per cent of Syria's hospitals have been destroyed, leaving children like these maimed for life.
Photograph: Mohammed Badra/Reuters
7.5 million Syrian children have been affected by the civil war that began in 2011.
Bombings have destroyed crowded Syrian cities. Food and medical supplies are sparse.
18,598 Civilians killed in the war in Syria
Half its population has fled Syria, reveals the International Red Cross. The 13.5 million Syrians who stay on in their war-ravaged homeland are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Between 1.5 to 2 million people still stay in Aleppo. Once considered Syria's largest city, it is now divided into rebel-held and government-held areas.
IMAGE: Sheima, 5, now in Kilis, southeastern Turkey. Sheima lost her sight when a stray bullet hit her. She got out of Syria, but sadly she will never see again.
Photograph: Osman Orsal/Reuters
Last year, the photograph of two-year-old Aylan Kurdi's body lying on a Turkish beach became -- sadly, briefly -- the symbol of the world's migrant crisis.
4,500 Children who have died in the war in Syria
IMAGE: You are left with no home, no family and no country. What would you do?
Photograph: Bassam Khabieh/Reuters
A Sudanese artist based in Doha, Qatar, captured the two stories that symbolise the suffering of millions into one heart-wrenching image.
2.8 million Children displaced by the war in Syria
If you think these images will change anything, think again.
IMAGE: What choice do Syrian children have? The image above sums up Syria's tragedy.
You live in Syria you become an 'Omran Daqneesh', you leave, you risk becoming an 'Aylan Kurdi'.
That's the tragedy of Syria's children. Photograph: Khalid Albaih/Facebook
'The whole world,' United Nations Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson says, 'has failed the Syrian people.'
If Syria's children are to be saved from the unspeakable savagery of war, the world's leaders need to stop ignoring the tragedy and intervene quickly to halt the conflict.
Will they? | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-does-the-world-care-about-these-children/20160822.htm | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/f5f52f47930b1ff85ab50f035d63138ea14c9aa4cdc5d179edc76c69c5f0d585.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:27:57 | null | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | An unspecified number of terrorists fired at the security forces in the area which is close to the historic Jama Masjid. | CRPF officer, 2 terrorists killed in Srinagar encounter | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fterrorists-target-security-forces-in-nowhatta-1-trooper-killed%2F20160815.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/15jk3.jpg | en | null | CRPF officer, 2 terrorists killed in Srinagar encounter | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 15, 2016 15:02 IST
A Central Reserve Police Force officer and two terroists were killed while nine others were injured during an attack on security forces at Nowhatta in downtown Srinagar on Monday.
An unspecified number of terrorists fired at the security forces in the area which is close to the historic Jama Masjid, triggering an encounter.
Ten security personnel were injured in the militant attack, a police official said, adding, a CRPF commanding officer injured in the attack later succumbed to injuries.
Two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire between the two sides.
The attack came even as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, In her maiden Independence Day address, made an emotional appeal to the youth indulging in violence, telling them not to be misled by the "vested interests" who want to keep Kashmir burning, and prevent the beautiful valley from turning into another Syria or Afghanistan.
Images: Security forces take cover during the encounter with terrorists at Nowhatta. Photographs: Umar Ganie | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/terrorists-target-security-forces-in-nowhatta-1-trooper-killed/20160815.htm | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/d7f027b5ea83ff01c0ed14c0ea959a43b8cb92404ba1233183b65c577dee3014.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:28:37 | null | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | The Indian govt has been slow to react when violence has taken place, the US said. | US conveys concerns to India over religious violence | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fus-conveys-concerns-to-india-over-religious-violence%2F20160811.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/jul/22live2.jpg | en | null | US conveys concerns to India over religious violence | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 11, 2016 00:47 IST
The United States on Wednesday said it has been clear in conveying its concerns whenever the Indian government was "slow" in reacting to incidents of religious violence and cow vigilantism.
"We have been clear in our engagement with India about our concerns about those times when the government has been slow to react when violence has taken place, and some of those controversies over the cows -- are an example of that," US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, Rabbi David Nathan Saperstein, told reporters at a news conference.
"There have been other times where (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi has spoken out and has spoken out very forcefully about the need to protect religious freedom for all and security for all," Saperstein said in response to a question on religious freedom in India after releasing the annual report on International Religious Freedom in 2015.
The US has been "clear" about its view of what is needed and its willingness to be supportive in confronting the challenges to religious freedom that need to be addressed there and when the government has been "slow to react", urging them to be more assertive on that, Saperstein said.
"He (Modi) has promised to ensure that 'everyone has the' -- I'm quoting him now -- 'the undeniable right to retain or adopt religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influences', responding to some of the attacks on Christians because they are seen as proselytising and encouraging others to convert," he said.
The United States, Saperstein said, has been clear and consistent in its messages about the things that they think are most helpful to the stability of the region and the stability of the country.
"And we'll continue to be supportive of those efforts where he is acting in accordance with the international obligations of India in these regards," he said.
Saperstein also reiterated the remarks made by US President Barack Obama when he visited India last year.
"President Obama travelled to India. He gave a major public speech in which he was very clear about the need for religious freedom in India that could be exercised without people being subject to violence, urging the government to ensure that all people were able to safely live out their religious lives," he said.
Saperstein's remarks come amid a slew of incidents of cow vigilantism in India.
India's home ministry issued an advisory on Tuesday asking all states not to tolerate anyone taking law into their hands in the name of protecting cow and take prompt action against such offenders.
The advisory came two days after Prime Minister Modi denounced cow vigilantes and asked the states to severely punish them. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/us-conveys-concerns-to-india-over-religious-violence/20160811.htm | en | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/1d8c197bf593ffad313d56fa5784ac3f8e3689af6b020a175a121c7b9828ccc4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:16:07 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | On a visit to Kashmir amid unrest, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh on Tuesday asked the forces to exercise maximum possible restraint while dealing with mobs and uphold human rights. | Army chief visits epicentre of Kashmir unrest, asks forces to exercise restraint | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Farmy-chief-visits-epicentre-of-kashmir-unrest%2F20160823.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/23lead3.jpg | en | null | Army chief visits epicentre of Kashmir unrest, asks forces to exercise restraint | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 23, 2016 21:45 IST
On a visit to Kashmir amid unrest, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh on Tuesday asked the forces to exercise maximum possible restraint while dealing with mobs and uphold human rights.
He also made an earnest appeal to the people to eschew violence and help restore peace and calm at the earliest.
The Army chief, who was in Kashmir a day ahead of the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, travelled to south Kashmir, the epicentre of the ongoing unrest, and was briefed by officials about the situation there.
"Following his previous visit only a month ago, the Chief of Army Staff was in the Valley again for review of the security situation," an army official said.
He appreciated the professionalism with which the troops had been operating in full synergy with other security and civil agencies to keep the situation under control, the official said.
"The Army Chief impressed upon everyone to uphold human rights and exercise maximum possible restraint while dealing with the protesting mobs," the official said.
The General also directed to ensure measures "to prevent armed terrorists who jeopardise the lives of innocent civilians from moving with impunity".
Lauding the humanitarian steps, Gen Singh reinforced the need to synergise efforts with all the other stakeholders.
Accompanied by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda, the Army Chief also visited formations on the Line of Control and units in North Kashmir.
"He was briefed on the operational preparedness besides the recent successful counter infiltration operations in which over ten terrorists have been eliminated over the past one month," the official said.
Commending the alertness of all troops deployed along the Line of Control in foiling the nefarious designs of inimical forces, Gen Singh stressed upon the need to continue high degree of vigil and operational focus, he said.
Later, the Army Chief visited the headquarters of the 15 Corps at Badamibagh Cantonment here where he was briefed by the Northern Army and Chinar Corps Commanders on the numerous initiatives undertaken by the Army all across the Valley to constructively engage with the people towards their well being and an early return of normalcy.
Photograph: ADGPI/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/army-chief-visits-epicentre-of-kashmir-unrest/20160823.htm | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/83f3399a1b3063cf7026e1511b3527b0c285bd0ccc13421a6400ea7cdad201a6.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:31:47 | null | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | Gadkari said the bill's early passage in Lok Sabha was necessary so that it could be moved to the Rajya Sabha for passage during the ongoing session, which ends on Friday. | Bill proposing hefty penalties for traffic violations in LS | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fbill-proposing-hefty-penalties-for-traffic-violations-in-ls%2F20160809.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/money/2014/feb/17cars2.jpg | en | null | Bill proposing hefty penalties for traffic violations in LS | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 09, 2016 14:45 IST
A bill proposing hefty penalties for violating traffic rules to curb road accidents was introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid protests from the Opposition which said its copies were not circulated to them in advance, as per practice.
The Congress, Trinamool Congress and Left members urged Speaker Sumitra Mahajan not to allow Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to introduce the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill saying it will otherwise set a “bad precedent”. But she overruled their objections, noting that Gadkari was only tabling it and discussion would occur later.
Gadkari contended that road safety was not only his but also the responsibility of other members and said the bill’s early passage in Lok Sabha was necessary so that it could be moved to the Rajya Sabha for passage during the ongoing session, which ends on Friday.
“I am ready to accept you suggestions. More lives could be lost if a lot of time passes before it is passed,” he said.
Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said the bill should be sent to a parliamentary committee for threadbare discussion as it was an important legislation.
Opposing its introduction, Saugata Roy of the TMC said the practice is to circulate a bill among members two days before its introduction but he and other members had not received it.
“Let it be circulated. This scrappy work by the ministry should not be condoned by Parliament. If you allow, it will set a bad precedent,” he told the Speaker.
Mohammad Salim of the Communist Party of India-Marxist said he had received the bill only on Tuesday morning and added that he needed time to study the voluminous legislation.
Making a strong plea, Gadkari cited huge number of road accidents which claimed over 1.5 lakh lives annually, as he urged the members to support the introduction of the bill.
Kharge said they are “enthusiastic” to support his measures but he should go by the rules.
Gadkari said the measure had been pending for over a year and incorporates suggestions of 18 transport ministers of various states belonging to different political parties and called for its quick passage.
Mahajan allowed him to introduce the bill amid “no, no” remarks by several opposition members.
The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases. The bill also has provision of up to Rs 10 lakh compensation in case of road fatality.
The bill includes penalties in the range of Rs 1,000-4,000 for over-speeding. According to the bill, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or three-month imprisonment, while driving a two-wheeler without helmet will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of license.
The provisions also include that guardian/owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of road offense by juveniles while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/bill-proposing-hefty-penalties-for-traffic-violations-in-ls/20160809.htm | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/9c4489c6542f2c8ca121367dd059beece85ad218a7dc06325534f828f9c824e8.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:36:08 | null | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | An American national, who was blacklisted and deported from Pakistan in 2011 after he was allegedly caught spying on sensitive installations, has been arrested after he arrived at the airport in Islamabad. | Pakistan arrests US national blacklisted for 'spying' | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpakistan-arrests-us-national-blacklisted-for-spying%2F20160807.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/07arrest.jpg | en | null | Pakistan arrests US national blacklisted for 'spying' | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 07, 2016 18:10 IST
An American national, who was blacklisted and deported from Pakistan in 2011 after he was allegedly caught spying on sensitive installations, has been arrested after he arrived at the airport in Islamabad and got clearance from immigration officials.
Matthew Craig Barrett, who was barred from entering the country after being deported on charges of espionage, arrived at Benazir Bhutto International airport on Saturday and was granted entry by the immigration officials.
When it came to the notice of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, he ordered the arrest of Barrett, and suspended immigration officials at the airport for negligence, according to a statement by the ministry.
Barrett was later picked up by Federal Investigation Agency and police officials in a joint raid on a guest house in the capital and an FIR was lodged against him for violation of immigration laws, the statement said.
The interior minister has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the grant of a Pakistani visa to Barrett, the Dawn reported.
A case has also been registered against two FIA immigration officials, Sub-Inspector Raja Asif and his son Ehteshamul Haq. Ehtesham has been arrested, while raids were being conducted to arrest his father, police sources said.
The minister has already suspended an assistant director of the FIA as well as the immigration officials who were on duty when Barrett was cleared by authorities at the airport.
He has also issued directions for the formation of a joint investigation team for a thorough probe into the matter.
The interior ministry said that action would also be initiated against officials at the Pakistani consulate in Houston, who were responsible for issuing a visa to Barrett.
A spokesperson for the United States embassy in Islamabad told the daily that the privacy act prohibited him from releasing any information about the American citizen without his consent. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pakistan-arrests-us-national-blacklisted-for-spying/20160807.htm | en | 2016-08-07T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/772713d60e229ff2167c14e68be8a2796e13796a5df807584459d22d7df75f2d.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T06:50:05 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | The transformation of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, once a naive politician, into the most elastic entities in Indian politics is complete. | Rahul Gandhi's more elastic than steel now | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Fcolumn%2Frahul-gandhis-more-elastic-than-steel-now%2F20160827.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/26lead1.jpg | en | null | Rahul Gandhi's more elastic than steel now | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 27, 2016 12:08 IST
The transformation of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, once a naive politician, into the most elastic entities in Indian politics is complete, says Sudhir Bisht.
When I was in the tenth standard, the science teacher asked my class a question, "Tell me students, what is more elastic -- rubber or steel?"
The entire class roared back in unison, "Sir, rubber."
"No, my dear students, steel as an object is more elastic than rubber. Though in common parlance, rubber appears to be more elastic... But because elasticity is the capacity of a body to resist stress and return to its original size and shape when the stress is removed. Elasticity is measured as a ratio of stress to strain..."
The teacher went on and on as a few of us began to wonder what exactly did he mean.
Of course, we later learnt what stress meant and what strain signified in Physics and were perfectly at ease with this theory of elasticity.
What remained stuck in mind was that in the matters of Physics, steel and not rubber was more elastic. Steel, in fact, was one of the most elastic elements on earth.
It wasn’t until earlier this week that I realised that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was the latest epitome of perfect elasticity.
This is what happened in the yet another episode of the weekly soap involving Rahul and his sense of history about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Some time in March 2014, perhaps after receiving a quick gyan download of history by his gurus in the Congress, Rahul in an election rally in Bhiwandi said (external link): "People of RSS shot at Gandhiji and today their people talk of him..."
Taking serious offence to the utterances of Rahul, an aggrieved gentleman, a devoted RSS follower named Rajesh Kunte, filed a defamation case against the Congress vice president.
As is well known, the First Family of the Congress party does not appreciate cases being filed against them, especially in the lower courts. The reason for this is unknown.
It could be that the lawyer on whom they seem to have maximum trust, the eminent and honourable Kapil Sibal, may not be able to travel to mofussil town courts to represent them.
Rahul approached Bombay high court to quash the case when the lower court asked him to appear before it.
The high court dismissed his appeal. He then approached the Supreme Court, but the apex court told him that he must either apologise or face trial for his remarks alleging that the RSS was responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination.
The Congress's First family also seems to believe that it is their entitlement to get the cases quashed from the higher courts. However, the judiciary has its own guiding principles which don’t discriminate between a priest and a pariah and thus we often find the Congress VP rolling his sleeves up and down at various public forums.
To cut a long story short, Rahul's lawyer, sensing that the Supreme Court may summarily dismiss his client's appeal to order the lower court to quash the defamation case, pleaded that the Congress vice president never intended to paint the entire RSS as the killers of Gandhiji.
He said his client only meant to point his accusing finger at some people from the RSS. This was a significant climb-down from the earlier position of his client that virtually accused RSS in its entirety of being the killers of Bapu.
The Supreme Court then accepted the plea of Rahul's lawyer which was supported by an affidavit that was submitted earlier in the Bombay high court.
It appeared that the matter would come to a close if the original complainant, Kunte, was satisfied by the new position taken by the original defendant.
It was then that the principle of elasticity came into play.
No sooner than he thought that he had escaped from the case, Rahul was back to his former self.
He tweeted, "I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said."
He also attached the video of his controversial speech that he made in Bhiwandi in 2014.
Thus, as soon as the young leader thought that the external stress was off his body, he was back to his very acerbic and critical position against the RSS.
He even beats the ability of steel as an object in respect of its index of elasticity.
Leaving matters of Physics aside, a few questions need to be asked of the Congress leader:
• What is his real grouse against the RSS? Is it that he really believes that the organisation was behind the killing of Gandhiji? In which case he should stick his neck out and take a position to that effect in the highest court.
• Is he bitter about the fact that the Saffronites are now praising Gandhi and Patel? In the Bhiwandi speech video, Rahul looks angry that people who opposed Gandhi and Patel are now turning their opposition into admiration for the Congress icons. Let us for a moment assume that all those who oppose Gandhi and Patel are evil people. But if the evil too is trying to tread the holy path, shouldn't he welcome the change instead of opposing it?
• Why was Rahul so hell bent upon quashing the court case that was filed by Kunte? In my memory, no leader has ever gone to jail for defamation in free India yet. The court case would have lingered on for decades and maybe forever. Is it that by bringing the matter to the apex court, Rahul wants to sensationalise the case and project himself as the most strident critic, the most ferocious fighter against the RSS? Is this new positioning to consolidate the anti-BJP votes for the party that finds itself completely marginalised on the national scene?
Rahul made his controversial speech against the RSS in Bhiwandi, which is a Muslim majority city in Maharashtra. It made good politics to link the RSS with Gandhiji's murder just before the Lok Sabha elections.
In the court, Rahul's able counsel did what he was supposed to do -- wriggle his client out of a situation where his client would have been forced to issue an apology to the RSS.
Is Rahul's tweet signifying his immediate about-turn from the stand he took in the court aimed at the Uttar Pradesh elections due next year?
Maybe his gurus have told him that his rival Akhilesh Yadav has provided enough laptops to young people to be hooked on to Twitter, and hence his tweet of standing by his Bhiwandi speech. It may be his attempt to get Muslim votes apart from the Brahmin votes.
Or maybe it's the Prashant Kishor doctrine at work?
Anyway you look at it, the transformation of this once naive politician into the most elastic entities in Indian politics is complete.
Image: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: PTI Photo.
Sudhir Bisht is an author and columnist writing from New Delhi. He tweets at @sudhir_bisht. | http://www.rediff.com/news/column/rahul-gandhis-more-elastic-than-steel-now/20160827.htm | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/a4c9ee0b42516d0bd84f1c79366f66a061f74b3170bbaafa1d2e499270894efb.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T22:51:59 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | Officials sought to downplay the incident saying the convoy was not stuck but had only slowed down due to heavy traffic and rainfall. | When John Kerry got stuck in Delhi traffic | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwhen-john-kerry-got-stuck-in-delhi-traffic%2F20160830.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/29kerry.jpg | en | null | When John Kerry got stuck in Delhi traffic | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 30, 2016 03:29 IST
Visiting United States Secretary of State John Kerry and his convoy were stuck in massive traffic near Satya Marg in New Delhi on Monday evening due to water-logging caused by heavy rains while on his way to the hotel from the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The convoy of Kerry, who arrived in New Delhi to participate in the Second Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, was heading to the hotel in Chanakyapuri in south Delhi when it was stuck in the traffic jam near Satya Marg on Monday, an official said.
Senior Delhi Police and traffic officials declined to share details of the incident claiming it was a 'security matter'.
Mediapersons, accompanying Kerry's convoy, posted on social media pictures of vehicles stuck up.
Officials sought to downplay the incident saying the convoy was not stuck but had only slowed down due to heavy traffic and rainfall.
The capital received heavy rains in on Monday evening with the Safdarjung observatory recording 15.2 mm rainfall while the reading at Palam observatory was 8 mm.
Vehicular movement was affected across the city with traffic crawling at various major intersections.
IMAGE: United States Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in New Delhi on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/when-john-kerry-got-stuck-in-delhi-traffic/20160830.htm | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/7f6c56e836d481c325882f825bfa1399bcbed0d092b12734fbdbcecaea855c58.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:16:49 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | The Iraqi leadership assured full cooperation and support in the matter. | India reaches out to Iraq to get 39 nationals freed | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Findia-reaches-out-to-iraq-to-get-39-nationals-freed%2F20160822.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/22lead4.jpg | en | null | India reaches out to Iraq to get 39 nationals freed | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 22, 2016 19:35 IST
India on Monday requested Iraq for assistance in rescuing 39 Indians taken hostage in war-ravaged Mosul two years back as Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar held extensive talks with President Fuad Masum and other top Iraqi leaders in Baghdad on a range of issues including threat from Islamic State.
Iraq has been hit hard by the Islamic State (IS), which has captured vast swathes of the oil-rich country and the talks focused largely on ways to combat terrorism and the two countries resolved to support each other in fighting the menace.
Besides President Masum, Akbar held talks with President of the Council of Representatives Salim al-Jabouri, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Eshaiqer Al-Jaafari and National Security Advisor Faleh al-Fayyadh.
In the meetings, Akbar sought Iraq's assistance in tracing the 39 Indians and securing their safe release. The Iraqi leadership assured full cooperation and support in the matter, the external affairs ministry said in New Delhi.
The two sides discussed the entire gamut of bilateral engagement, including in spheres of trade, investment, energy security, defence and security and counter terrorism.
Akbar arrived in Baghdad on Sunday on a three-day visit, as part of a three-nation trip to Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
"The two sides acknowledged the grave threat posed by international terrorism and its sponsors to international peace and security as also the very architecture of nation state.
"They conveyed strong support to each other in their common fight against the menace of terrorism," the external affairs ministry said, sharing details of Akbar's meetings with Iraqi leaders.
The MEA said Akbar conveyed India's support for the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and conveyed New Delhi's abiding commitment to the emergence of a stable, peaceful, united and democratic Iraq, which was in the interest of regional and global peace and security.
The minister conveyed New Delhi's willingness to partner in the reconstruction of Iraq as also for continued assistance through India's well acknowledged capacity-building programmes under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC).
Before Akbar, the then External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had paid a visit to Iraq in June 2013. Khurshid's visit then was first visit by an foreign minister since 1990.
IMAGE: Relatives pose with the photographs of Indian workers, who have been kidnapped in Iraq, in front of the holy Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. Photograph: Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/india-reaches-out-to-iraq-to-get-39-nationals-freed/20160822.htm | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/81c3cf322282c676850cff244d235cac487c74a386450163df05d655236e95b9.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:21:11 | null | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma has landed into controversy after his personal bodyguards were caught on CCTV camera ruthlessly thrashing security guards of a society in Ghaziabad. | Caught on CCTV: Culture minister's security thrashes society guards | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fcaught-on-tape-culture-ministers-security-thrashes-society-guards%2F20160819.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/18mahesh2.jpg | en | null | Caught on CCTV: Culture minister's security thrashes society guards | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 19, 2016 12:16 IST
Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma has landed into controversy after his personal bodyguards were caught on CCTV camera ruthlessly thrashing security guards of a society in Ghaziabad.
In the CCTV footage which was shared online by ANI, the minister's bodyguard is seen thrashing the security guards without any provocation from the latter's side.
"There were about five vehicles. We told them to wait for two minutes after which the minister's bodyguard started beating us. All three of us were brutally beaten up by the bodyguard," a security guard told media persons.
The culture minister, who reportedly did not intervene, later said that he had apologised to the guards for his security detail's behaviour.
According to media reports, as Sharma’s entourage moved away, the officer in question was seen pointing a finger at the guard saying something at first.
A moment later, he could be seen slapping and thrashing the guard while yelling at him.
A guard standing next to the man tried to save him from being beaten, but he too was slapped repeatedly in return. After stopping for a while, the security officer also made threatening advances towards the third man standing at the scene. He then came back and slapped the guards again. Other security officers finally stopped him.
A housing society official said that they were not happy with the behaviour and would approach the police.
Video grabs: Courtesy ANI | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/caught-on-tape-culture-ministers-security-thrashes-society-guards/20160819.htm | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/4f16e1d6041b24aa3ff22447adaaf7c1f709280739e8361c91b1910f0aafeeed.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T14:49:43 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | In a big relief to the family of Mohammed Akhlaq, who was lynched to death by a violent mob over suspicion of consuming beef in the Bisada village near Dadri in Noida last year, the Allahabad high court on Friday stayed their arrest in connection with the case. | Dadri beef row: HC stays arrest of Akhlaq's family | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fdadri-beef-row-hc-stays-arrest-of-akhlaqs-family%2F20160826.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/oct/02dadri.jpg | en | null | Dadri beef row: HC stays arrest of Akhlaq's family | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 26, 2016 19:23 IST
The Allahabad high court on Friday stayed the arrest of five family members of Mohd Akhlaq, who beaten to death by a mob in Dadri, in connection with a case registered against them at Gautam Buddh Nagar district for allegedly slaughtering a cow and consuming its meat.
A division bench comprising Justices Ramesh Sinha and P C Tripathi, however, refused to grant relief to Akhlaq's brother Jaan Mohammed, who was among the six persons named in the FIR lodged following a direction issued to the effect last month by a Surajpur district court.
The bench observed that Jaan Mohammed "could have been involved in the alleged act alongside his deceased brother".
Others named in the FIR, but whose arrests were stayed, are Akhlaq's son Danish, mother Asghari, wife Ikraman, daughter Shaista and sister-in-law Sona.
Danish had sustained critical injuries while his father was beaten to death by a mob which had barged into their house on the intervening night of September 28-29 last year suspecting them of having consumed beef.
Passing the order, the court disposed of the petition filed by Jaan Mohammed and others who had challenged the FIR alleging that they had been "falsely implicated".
The lower court had order filing of the FIR on the complaint of Surajpal Singh and other residents of Bisada village in Dadri tehsil who had prayed for booking Akhlaq's family under the cow slaughter act, citing a forensic report which had stated that the meat found inside their house was "of cow or its progeny". | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/dadri-beef-row-hc-stays-arrest-of-akhlaqs-family/20160826.htm | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/75e093b3528e347f01164d9884d86dd1d9730951d638a5e85c9d1e17523e9ebd.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:28:43 | null | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | Saudi Arabia has also set up a crisis management group to address difficulties being faced by the jobless Indian workers. | First batch of stranded laid-off Indians return from Saudi | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Ffirst-batch-of-stranded-laid-off-indians-return-from-saudi%2F20160811.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/11saudi1.jpg | en | null | First batch of stranded laid-off Indians return from Saudi | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 11, 2016 22:06 IST
The first batch of 26 Indian workers, who had lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday after the country issued them exit visas.
Saudi Arabia had agreed to swiftly resolve plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers including providing them free passage to return to India during visit of Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh to the Gulf nation last week.
“Minister of State, V K Singh has had very productive meetings with the Labour minister and other senior ministers during his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a result of these meetings, the process of lodging claims and for those wishing to come back to India has already started,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
He said India appreciated the ‘magnanimous view’ taken by the Saudi Arabian government of granting exit visas expeditiously and agreeing to bear the expenses for the travel of the workers.
Saudi Arabia has also set up a crisis management group to address difficulties being faced by the jobless Indian workers while a separate panel has been appointed to look into their claims relating to unpaid wages.
Saudi rules restrict foreign workers to leave the country without ‘No Objection Certificate’ by the employers.
“The swift action to tackle a localised problem specific only to some companies of Saudi Arabia signifies the deep and abiding relationship that our two countries share. We are confident that this will alleviate the problems faced by workers of all nationalities,” said the MEA spokesperson.
The spokesperson referred to the difficulties of retrenched workers of Saudi Oger limited and said the first batch of 26 Indian workers were issued exit visas. The workers came by a flight from Jeddah.
“From here (New Delhi), respective state governments will be making arrangements for their travel to their home towns,” Swarup said.
IMAGE: Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia leave for New Delhi from Jeddah airport on Thursday. Photograph: @CGIJeddah/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/first-batch-of-stranded-laid-off-indians-return-from-saudi/20160811.htm | en | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/b6176e9b6c09dd071c565904de5f36598cf26fe912c7ab63124e9da04e5e6bd2.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T04:52:14 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | 'With the recent challenging of the notion of the Indian Ocean Region being India's strategic backyard, China is gradually upping the ante in the maritime realm around India.' | Decoding China's game play against India | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Finterview%2Fdecoding-chinas-game-play-against-india%2F20160830.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/26china2.jpg | en | null | Decoding China's game play against India | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 30, 2016 08:17 IST
'With the recent challenging of the notion of the Indian Ocean Region being India's strategic backyard, China is gradually upping the ante in the maritime realm around India'
'Even though New Delhi does not seem keen to get drawn into the on-going ‘big power’ contest in the region, it can ill-afford to ignore the movements in its own strategic backyard'
'Beijing will continue in its attempt of keeping India confined regionally'
Tensions are simmering between the two Asian giants of late. India's decision to bolster its defences along the border with China has not gone down with the latter, who has being flexing its muscles in the region and elsewhere.
Many view India's actions as a response to Beijing's manoeuvres earlier this year to run down New Delhi's attempts to secure a seat at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group high table and its posturing in the Indian Ocean region.
To make sense of the Chinese concerns and its belligerence, Vipin Vijayan/Rediff.com spoke to Dr Monika Chansoria, image, below, Senior Fellow and head of China study programme at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies.
Dr Chansoria, a regular participant in track II (non-governmental, informal and unofficial) diplomatic dialogues, says the best way to deal with Beijing’s growing economic and military might and its growing global ambitions is to notch up one’s own strategic and military capabilities in a sustained manner, backed by an effective and long-term economic growth chart.
Why is there a feeling of tension and distrust between the two Asian giants despite frequent meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and between senior government officials from both sides?
In contextual reference to the construct of great power ambitions and rivalry, China’s long-term geo-strategic intent remains that of rewriting international rules in accordance with its own vision of a Sino-centric Asia in the short-term, and that of China being a global power centre in the distant future.
China’s rapidly expanding military reach and prowess, coupled with higher stages of economic growth, could well tempt it to chip away at the claims of other nations through mechanisms of coercive diplomacy.
While India’s rise as a regional power-centre cannot be ignored/negated by Beijing anymore, China concurrently has managed to make inroads into India’s immediate and extended neighbourhood by broadening economic and security linkages with virtually every South Asian nation.
India’s divergence with China on strategic interests is well spelt as they are bound to vie for greater strategic space and say within Asia.
The prevailing strategic differences -- most significantly, the bilateral territorial and boundary dispute -- holds the potential to flare into a limited protracted border conflict, leading to an alteration of the strategic balance in South Asia the impact of which shall reverberate throughout Asia.
China has been repeatedly stating that India’s bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group seat was scuttled by the norms set by the elite grouping. But New Delhi firmly believes that's not the case. Do you believe the Chinese contention? Why doesn't China want India in the NSG?
As part of the geo-strategic chessboard, Beijing will continue in its attempt to keep India confined regionally, expectedly through the Pakistan angle (including during future discussions at the NSG).
The idea is to challenge India's appearance on the global stage, especially as far as New Delhi’s role in international rule making is concerned. In the long-term, China aims to deny India a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, for which membership at the NSG would be a key milestone for India to build up its case.
It was well acknowledged that during the NSG plenary session (in Seoul) in June 2016, China blocked a consensus vote on India’s application for membership.
China was decidedly prepared to scuttle India’s application for the NSG membership, even if it was to be the last man standing -- and did not disappoint by doing exactly as stated, and expected. What worked in Chinese favour is that the NSG, as a group, works on decision-making by consensus, and not by majority vote.
The position in Beijing is that it wants NSG entry to be norm-based, and is taking the route of “criteria procedure” as a means to ultimately reach its desired end, that of blocking India’s NSG membership -- as demonstrated amply at the NSG plenary.
Norm-based entry is presumed to help Pakistan gaining entry into the NSG -- which, surely, will meet with serious objections from a number of existing members given Pakistan’s much blemished record on non-proliferation.
The iniquitous and illicit nuclear and missile-related proliferation activities run by China and Pakistan across Asia are all too well known and documented.
The major reason for Chinese opposition to India’s membership revolves around blocking India’s entry into “nuclear related rule-making”.
Expert Speak: 'Iit appears that even though New Delhi does not seem keen to get drawn into the on-going ‘big power’ contest in the region, however, it can ill-afford to ignore the movements in its own strategic backyard.'
In a recent journal, you wrote that the trade balance between India and China is 'heavily fashioned to favour' the latter. Why has New Delhi allowed it to happen? Or is it the case that they didn't have much of an option?
The current trade deficit between India and China has risen to $44.7 billion (Rs 2.9 lakh crore) between April 2015 and January 2016.
While Indian exports to China stand at $7.56 billion (Rs 50,656 crore), the imports have jumped to $52.26 billion (Rs 3.5 lakh crore).
China is exporting more than two-and-half times as much as it imports.
It should be highlighted that every time there is a major visit by a Chinese leader to India, the delegation mainly comprises of exporters in their business team.
The ongoing economic problems in the West that has contributed to China’s economic slowdown, only buttresses the growing importance of the Indian market for Beijing.
Beijing focuses on raking in more and more profits from the Indian market. Resultantly, Chinese goods have swamped the Indian markets, while access to Chinese markets is becoming increasingly difficult for Indian exporters, especially in sectors including pharmaceuticals and IT, which are traditional Indian strongholds.
China's State-supported banks are known to offer debt financing to heavily indebted Indian companies amid a precondition that of buying Chinese equipment or supply of raw materials.
China's trade situation with India will only swell further unless India strictly contains the flood of Chinese-made subsidised goods through anti-dumping measures and countervailing duties.
What is the best way to deal with China’s growing economic and military might and its growing global ambitions?
While comprehending China’s internal debates on foreign and defence policy, a key concept, which often emerges, is termed ‘shi’ -- referring to the overall configuration of power and direction/tendency of the process of change in which an actor acts and interacts, regionally and internationally.
Shi conceptually involves guoji geju, which means international power configuration, and identification of shi remains a central concern for China when it conceives its global strategy.
The best way to deal with China’s growing economic and military might and its growing global ambitions is to notch up one’s own strategic and military capabilities in a sustained manner, backed by an effective and long-term economic growth chart.
China uses Indian Ocean Island nation of Seychelles where its escort ships halt for replenishment, it has invested in two major ports -- Hambantota and Colombo -- in Sri Lanka. In the Arabian Sea, China has invested in the Pakistani port of Gwadar as part of its development of the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Now, there are reports of a "logistic facilities centre" in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa which is near the world's busiest shipping lanes. Help one understand China's game play here.
With the recent challenging of the notion of the Indian Ocean Region being India's strategic backyard, China is gradually upping the ante in the maritime realm around India -- a traditional strategic nerve centre for New Delhi.
Beijing is sending a tacit signal, wherein it “recognises India's special role in stabilising the strategic Indian Ocean Region, but the perception that it is India's ‘backyard’ may result in clashes...”
The caution thrown in by China needs to be read in conjunction with the cumulative maritime activity of the PLA Navy (PLA-N) and its mounting forays into the Indian Ocean -- the third largest water body in the world.
The expanding strategic naval footprint in the Indian Ocean by means of acquiring more maritime bases and berthing facilities is a core pillar of China’s ports policy.
China recognises fully well that in order to boost its naval power projection capability, it will have to gain greater access to ports and berthing facilities.
The long shadow of China's ports policy in the Indian Ocean being currently driven and characterised by both, State- and private-sponsored “infrastructure investment”, foretells strategic ramifications militarily as these facilities shall end up becoming communication and surveillance facilities, in addition to being repair and replenishment centres for the Chinese Navy -- underscoring the intransigent course of Beijing's influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean.
How major a threat is the China-Pakistan axis? What can India do to negate its impact?
The nuclear, missile, and military hardware nexus between China and Pakistan is known to be collusive and poses a major strategic challenge to India.
China’s direct assistance to Pakistan for its nuclear weapons programme since 1980s, including nuclear warhead designs and enough HEU (highly enriched uranium) for at least two nuclear devices, has been well documented.
China was placed under the international scanner for more than two decades owing to its clandestine transfer of dual-use technology and materials for the development of nuclear weapons to Pakistan.
Because of these illicit activities, China was in gross violation of its treaty obligations under the NPT and the MTCR.
In the military realm, China subsidises Pakistan’s defence budget, with almost 50 per cent of China’s surplus arms being exported to Pakistan at ‘friendly’ prices.
It is this equation because of which the Indian military, today, faces a two-front threat situation from China and Pakistan.
The Indian Armed Forces need to continue and accelerate their military modernisation campaign more vigorously and further bolster their existing conventional and nuclear deterrent.
Has the Permanent Court of Arbitration verdict on South China Sea sowed seeds for a potential military confrontation in the region in the future?
China has suffered immense loss of face internationally due to the verdict of the International Court of Justice, which is expected to have a long-term impact on China’s domestic politics as well.
The 501-page verdict delivered on July 12, 2016, by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, on the complaint filed by the Philippines vis-à-vis the South China Sea issue has favoured the Philippines and given a judgment which is unambiguous and categorical on sovereignty claims, environmental issues, fisheries, and freedom of navigation.
The decision announced by the PCA goes considerably beyond the issues raised by the Philippines and effectively demolishes the arguments advanced by China.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration has dismissed China’s very basic contention that its claims date back to the 2nd century BC and ruled that China has no legal basis for its maritime territorial claims over 3.5 million sq km (nearly 90 per cent) of the South China Sea, nor over its undersea mineral and other resources.
More so, the so-called ‘nine-dash’ line used by Beijing since May 2009 when it submitted a map detailing this line to the United Nations, to delineate its South China Sea claims is in contravention to the United Nations convention on maritime law.
The July 12 decision is a definite setback to China’s assiduous efforts since at least 1974 to build a case for its claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea.
The court slammed China for obstructing the Filipino fishermen’s livelihood, and clarified that sovereignty claims cannot be obtained through historical claims or artificial reef build-up, and that international trade should not be impeded by any country.
Despite the PCA’s verdict against China on the militarisation of the region, Beijing is unlikely to vacate the artificial reefs or remove missile batteries and other military assets from the region -- leading to heightening of tensions regionally.
China’s president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, placed the People’s Liberation Army on ‘secondary alert’ to ‘check all the possibilities’ and ‘prepare to make war.’
The PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, the PLA Navy’s South China Sea Fleet, Air Force and Rocket Forces have been placed on ‘pre-war status.’
India's policy shift from 'Look East' to 'Act East' has naturally made it a party to the South China Sea imbroglio. Modi’s forthcoming bilateral visit to Vietnam is expected to raise eyebrows in Beijing. Should India play a role in the South China Sea and if so what?
India’s defence strategy towards Southeast Asia can be understood in terms of two broad sets of strategic objectives, which drive India’s relationships in the region.
The first is a perceived imperative to be the predominant power in the northeast Indian Ocean, and the second is India’s objective to assume a greater strategic role in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The northeast Indian Ocean represents a key defensive space against potential threats that may emanate from or through the Southeast Asian archipelago, as also has been put forth by David Brewster (an expert on South Asian security at the Australian National University).
The ability to safeguard the sea lines of communication that cross the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea and enter the Pacific Ocean through the Malacca Straits would provide India with considerable strategic leverage.
The area also has numerous immediate security issues that may either directly threaten India’s interests or otherwise require it to act as a regional maritime security provider.
Commensurate with its current Act East Policy announcement, India dispatched four warships, including a frontline destroyer and a stealth frigate, on a long overseas deployment to the Indian Ocean and South China Sea in May 2015 –-- to kick off exercises with Singapore.
Two of the warships -- stealth frigate INS Satpura and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kamorta, kicked off the four-day SIMBEX exercise with the Singaporean Navy.
The exercise is expected to include all facets of naval operations ranging from air defence and surface firing to maritime security and search and rescue operations with Singaporean warship RSN Supreme and submarine RSN Archer along with fighters, patrol aircraft and helicopters -- thus boosting constructive engagement during peacetime.
Moreover, the Eastern Fleet’s deployment will see the warships, which also include destroyer INS Ranvir and fleet tanker INS Shakti, make port calls at Jakarta (Indonesia), Freemantle (Australia), Kuantan (Malaysia), Sattahip (Thailand) and Sihanoukville (Cambodia).
As the Indian flag will be visible on all these strategically significant points, it appears that even though New Delhi does not seem keen to get drawn into the on-going ‘big power’ contest in the region, however, given its central location in the Indian Ocean, it can ill-afford to ignore the movements in its own strategic backyard, being a major stakeholder there.
That notwithstanding, India’s stand on the South China Sea is clear -- affirming the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the South China Sea.
The use, or threat of use, of force in advancing claims needs to be avoided, and concerned parties should pursue resolution of their territorial and maritime disputes through all peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Photograph: Chance Chan/Reuters. | http://www.rediff.com/news/interview/decoding-chinas-game-play-against-india/20160830.htm | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/316e8fb9a0089b48a933f4f27bc3d6de353f6d72f3ad5bf7d83ca909d2d01365.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:27:37 | null | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | The ancient Ganga-Godavari-temple on the bank of river Godavari was later closed till next Kumbh mela to be held in 2027-28. | Simhastha Kumbh: Amit Shah, Fadnavis attend final event of year-long mela | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fyear-long-simhastha-kumbh-mela-concludes%2F20160812.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/aug/29nashik-kumbh1.jpg | en | null | Simhastha Kumbh: Amit Shah, Fadnavis attend final event of year-long mela | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 12, 2016 15:09 IST
The Kumbh flag was brought down to mark the end of the year-long Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah.
Fadnavis and Shah received a warm welcome at Juna Akhada at Trimbakeshwar in the district on Thursday night.
They paid obeisance at Trimbakeshwar Mandir. The dhwajavtaran (flag lowering ceremony), held to mark the completion of Simhanstha Mahaparva, was performed in their presence.
Union Minister Niranjan Jyoti, Maharashtra ministers Pankaja Munde and Girish Mahajan, MPs and MLAs and others were also present.
Fadnavis and Shah felicitated the officials who worked hard to make the Simhastha Mahaparva a grand success, a CMO official said.
In Nashik city, state Animal Husbandry Minister Mahadev Jankar, Mayor Ashok Murtadak, Collector Radhakrishanan B and others participated in the ceremony to bring down the Kumbh flag at the sacred 'Ramkunda'.
A maha aarti was performed on the occasion.
The ancient Ganga-Godavari-temple on the bank of river Godavari was later closed till next Kumbh mela to be held in 2027-28.
The Kumbh mela had begun in Trimbakeshwar and Nashik on July 14 last year with a flag-hoisting ceremony in the presence of Fadanvis, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sadhus and seers of various akhadas.
During the Kumbh, lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country witnessed the three parvanis (special occasion) and took holy dip in Godavari river on the ghats in Nashik city and the holy town of Trimbakeshwar.
IMAGE: Sadhus take a dip in the Godavari river during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at the Kumbh Mela in Nashik. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/year-long-simhastha-kumbh-mela-concludes/20160812.htm | en | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/03d40f8438890e2a086866755d5ea9c23947a539bcabf96fa760a745cde22c5d.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:38:18 | null | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif is in China's militancy hit Muslim-majority Xinjiang province on a rare visit where he met his Chinese counterpart General Fang Fenghui, promising to crackdown on Uighur militants. | What's Pak army chief doing in China's militancy-hit Xinjiang? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwhats-pak-army-chief-doing-in-chinas-militancy-hit-xinjiang%2F20160804.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/04lead2.jpg | en | null | What's Pak army chief doing in China's militancy-hit Xinjiang? | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 04, 2016 01:52 IST
Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif is in China's militancy hit Muslim-majority Xinjiang province on a rare visit where he met his Chinese counterpart General Fang Fenghui, promising to crackdown on Uighur militants.
The two Generals discussed military-to-military relations, bilateral security cooperation and all dimension of long term China-Pakistan Economic Corridor security, according to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations.
Fang said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners and mutual support between their armed forces is critical for safeguarding regional peace and stability.
On his part, Gen Sharif pledged to firmly crack down on terrorist forces like the al-Qaeda linked 'East Turkestan Islamic Movement' and protect the security of the economic corridor.
Gen Sharif, who arrived in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi on a day-long visit, also met with Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang province Zhang Chun Xian.
They discussed bilateral ties and regional security issue with particular reference to $46 billion CPEC's completion and its security.
CPEC will link the Pakistani city of Gwadar to China's Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways, allowing China access to Arabian Sea.
Xinjiang is hit by a separatist movement whose supporters claim that the region is not part of China and they oppose settlement of majority Han population in the province which could change the Uyghur character of the region.
Photograph Courtesy: Inter Services Public Relations | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/whats-pak-army-chief-doing-in-chinas-militancy-hit-xinjiang/20160804.htm | en | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/9f390c2da3c6ab6dc5e780fdce0fbae2b70ba1237be8e9115008cbddec9985c2.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:19:17 | null | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | As unrest continues in Kashmir, the central government on Sunday outlined its priorities, asserting that there will be no compromise with those indulging in violence even efforts will be made for development of the state which was 'denied' for the last 60 years. | Stone pelters not satyagrahis but aggressors: Jaitley in Jammu | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fstone-pelters-not-satyagrahis-but-aggressors-jaitley-in-jammu%2F20160821.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/21lead4.jpg | en | null | Stone pelters not satyagrahis but aggressors: Jaitley in Jammu | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 21, 2016 17:10 IST
As unrest continues in Kashmir, the central government on Sunday outlined its priorities, asserting that there will be no compromise with those indulging in violence even efforts will be made for development of the state which was "denied" for the last 60 years.
Acknowledging that situation in Kashmir was "serious", senior union minister Arun Jaitley said those indulging in stone-pelting in Kashmir are "not satyagrahis but aggressors" who target police and security forces but some people with limited vision cannot see this.
Addressing a rally on the outskirts of Jammu city, he also slammed Pakistan for the current unrest, saying it was "attacking the integrity of India" in a "new way" after failing to snatch the state by waging wars and fuelling trouble ever since partition in 1947.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has three priorities for Jammu and Kashmir, said Jaitley, Minister of Finance.
Outlining these priorities, he said, "There will be no compromise on the security and integrity of the country and no compromise with the people who indulge in violence.
"Secondly, as Jammu and Kashmir has faced violence and wars, it needs development which was denied for past 60 years by National Conference and Congress governments. Thirdly, Jammu, being the support base of BJP, needs added attention."
His outlining of the priorities assumes signficance as the opposition has been accusing the Modi government of having no policy with regard to dealing with the unrest. The opposition parties have been pressing for a political solution and dialogue to address the unrest.
Talking in the context of ongoing 44-day unrest in Kashmir, Jaitley said, "Now this time, a serious situation has emerged in which Pakistan, separatists and religious forces have joined hands and now with a new way, they are attacking the integrity of India."
Describing it as a "major challenge", he said, "today in such a challenge, the need of the country is that we don’t compromise with the integrity and security of the nation."
He asked people of Jammu and Kashmir to stand with the country in the "struggle against the separatists" so that "this new phase of Pakistani strategy of war is defeated this time as well".
He described stone-pelters as aggressors.
"They (stone pelters) are not satyagrahis but aggressors. If a police post manned by 10 police personal is attacked by 2000 stone pelters, it is an attack, but some people do not realise it," he said.
Jaitley said that after facing defeats in two wars, Pakistan realized that it was not possible to snatch Jammu and Kashmir from India by means of wars, so it started training and pushing in terrorists.
"But after those terrorists were getting eliminated, it adopted anew strategy. When Amaranth agitation started in Jammu in 2008, they found a new way and stone pelting started.
"Children going to school were given stones in their bags instead of books to target police and security forces and the people with limited vision could only see the arrested stone pelters but could not see thousands of injured police and CRPF personnel in the hospitals," said the union minister and BJP leader.
He said ever since the partition, Pakistan never recognised Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India.
"If you see the history, you will find that Pakistan never accepted Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India. The day country got divided, India had a positive agenda as it wanted to come out of poverty to improve livelihood of the people, education, fight with poverty.
"Many problems came and we fought them and came out of them and its impact is that India, born in poverty, is known in the whole world as the fastest growing economy," he said.
On the other hand, "the agenda of Pakistan was not to improve the livelihood of its people but to divert their attention from the real issue by raining slogans in Kashmir and India," the union minister said.
Referring to the Pakistani aggression in 1947, he said, "India was not ready and it launched attack on Jammu and Kashmir and took some part of the state."
The subsequent two wars of 1965 and 1971 made India emerge as a strong military power in conventional warfare.
"After defeats in war, Pakistan tried to internationalize Kashmir but world was not ready to listen to them. In 1990, they realized they would not win J&K through war. So they started sending in terrorists and started this phase. They set up camps and used to send terrorists, but India learned to deal with such situation and in thousands these terrorists were eliminated," he said.
Photograph: PTI Photo | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/stone-pelters-not-satyagrahis-but-aggressors-jaitley-in-jammu/20160821.htm | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/8235b42d4fc67107ce4e0859ece02a5abb56dea840a2956ecb2ee2ea24d56257.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:39:00 | null | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | Curtains will fall on the Rim of the Pacific 2016, the world's largest international maritime exercise, on August 4. | World navies unite @ Rim of the Pacific | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpix-world-navies-unite--rim-of-the-pacific%2F20160803.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/03lead3.jpg | en | null | World navies unite @ Rim of the Pacific | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 03, 2016 09:05 IST
Curtains will fall on the Rim of the Pacific 2016, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, on August 4.
Participants in drills that lasted over a month in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California included over 40 ships and submarines, over 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel from 26 nations, including India.
RIMPAC provided a unique training opportunity that helped participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.
Scroll below to see glimpses of the 25th exercise in the RIMPAC series that began in 1971.
Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Satpura (F48) steams in close formation as one of 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ace Rheaume/US Navy
Forty ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations steam in close formation during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago/US Navy
Indian Navy Lt Commander Limaye Kutuhal, from Pune, Maharashtra, is currently a Surface Warfare and Communications officer aboard the Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Satpura. He joined the Navy as a cadet at the age of 17. Kutuhal spent three years at the Naval Academy, followed by one year of sea training before becoming a commissioning officer in 2008. This was Kutuhal's first time participating in RIMPAC, and he made the most of the time he had in Hawaii with all the wonderful set of new people he met from all over the world. Photograph: US Navy
Members of the visit, board, search, and seizure team assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay approach the Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Satpura while conducting a VBSS exercise during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan J Batchelder/US Navy
Two US Army AH-64D Apache attack helicopters assigned to the 2-6 Cavalry Squadron, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade launch eight "fire and forget" AGM-114L Hellfire Air to Surface Missiles during a training exercise off the coast of Oahu as part of the Rim of the Pacific 2016. Exercise participants boosted their proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing during a sinking exercise with the decommissioned Pearl Harbor frigate USS Crommelin. Photograph: Sgt Erin Sherwood/US Army
USS Coronado, an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, launches a Harpoon Block 1C missile for the first time during exercise Rim of the Pacific. Photograph: Lt Bryce Hadley/US Navy
An F-22 Raptor from the 199th Fighter Squadron and the active-duty 19th Fighter Squadron prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory A Harden II/US Navy
An MV-22 Osprey assigned to the "Greyhawks" of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 prepares to land aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Demetrius Kennon/US Navy
Australian and Chinese navy divers conduct a multinational salvage dive exercise from Chinese Navy submarine rescue ship Changdao (867) during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Han Fuxiao/Chinese Navy
Snipers, Pathfinders and Reconnaissance members, from 2e Bataillon Royal 22e Regiment, conduct insertion and extraction by helicopter training with a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-147F Chinook helicopter during RIMPAC 2016 on Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California. Photograph: Sgt Marc-Andre Gaudreault/Flickr.
An MV-22 Osprey, assigned to the "White Knights" of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 and embarked on board the amphibious assault ship USS America, conducts flight operations near the island of Hawaii. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Riley/US Navy
A CH-53E Super Stallion cargo helicopter assigned to Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 463 transports a supply container from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to the island of Hawaii. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle Goldberg/US Navy
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided missile destroyer JS Chokai (DDG-176) launches a missile as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016. Photograph: Ryo Tanaka/Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Canadian army soldiers advance into a trench during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Sgt Marc-Andre Gaudreault/Canadian Forces Combat Camera
US Marines participate in an amphibious assault exercise during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/US Navy
US Marines participate in an amphibious assault exercise during Rim of the Pacific. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/US Navy
Three MV-22 Ospreys from US Marines 3rd Battalion 3rd Regiment lift off from Pacific Missile Range Facility during a joint exercise with three other countries (South Korea, Australia, and Malaysia) as part of Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Omar Powell/US Navy
Vice Adm Nora Tyson, commander of US 3rd Fleet, addresses Indian Navy officers after a Task Force Energy and Environment training symposium held at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Conference Centre on Ford Island. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class K Cecelia Engrums/US Navy
Littoral combat ship USS Coronado steams in close formation as one of 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ace Rheaume/US Navy
A US Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules and two CH-53E Super Stallions conduct a refueling exercise during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/US Navy
Chinese Navy multirole frigate Hengshui fires its main gun against a towed target while conducting a live-fire exercise, during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photograph: Senior Capt Liu Wenping/Chinese Navy | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-world-navies-unite--rim-of-the-pacific/20160803.htm | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/747d232634445158d8b0330813459e5a8d6fd36aff03877e15ed41ba50cfc9bd.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:35:24 | null | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | Incessant rains since the wee hours of Friday threw normal life out of gear in Mumbai | Rain wreaks havoc in Mumbai: Flights, trains delayed; roads flooded | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpix-rains-lash-mumbai%2F20160805.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/05mumrains2.jpg | en | null | Rain wreaks havoc in Mumbai: Flights, trains delayed; roads flooded | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 05, 2016 22:59 IST
Mumbai on Friday recorded a whopping 126.6 mm of rain. Road, rail and air traffic was severely disrupted while schools were closed early after several areas remained waterlogged.
Weather forecast agency, skymet, reported that heavy rainfall of around 72 mm was recorded during the first three hours of the day between 8.30 and 11.30 am, another 54.6 mm of rainfall was observed over the maximum city.
Scroll down to see images to see how the city faced the torrents.
IMAGE: Many roads were flooded, causing heavy traffic jams. Public transport was also badly hit. Photograph: Sahil Salvi
IMAGE: People waded through waist-deep water in several areas of the city. Photograph: Sahil Salvi
IMAGE: A top view of flooded tracks at Mahim Station. Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
IMAGE: Schoolchildren wade through knee-deep water on Friday morning. Photograph: Sahil Salvi
IMAGE: A local train stranded between Kurla and Sion. Photograph: Sahil Salvi
IMAGE: Water-logged roads led to hour-log traffic jams. Photograph: Sahil Salvi
IMAGE: Several low-lying areas such as Hindmata in Central Mumbai faced water-logging. Photograph: @PureNautanki/Twitter
IMAGE: Sion station on the Central Railway Line. Train services have been disrupted owing to the heavy flooding on the tracks. Photograph: Chandrabhan Prajapati
IMAGE: People were forced to stand at the railway stations for hours owing to the flooding on the tracks.Photograph: @apoorvaphale/Twitter
IMAGE: The Thane and Navi Mumbai municipal corporations have also been alerted of possible heavy rains over the next 48 hours in their respective jurisdictions by the IMD. Photograph: ANI/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-rains-lash-mumbai/20160805.htm | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/527142860e0dd5723ce27a2fbc6d90da4b220279138ef8123d1bcd79d8f5bb20.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:03:57 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | Want to live in Maharashtra, follow these eight rules or get jailed. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com on the proposed Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act. | Is Maharashtra's new internal security law draconian? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fis-maharashtras-new-internal-security-law-draconian%2F20160825.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/25security.jpg | en | null | Is Maharashtra's new internal security law draconian? | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 25, 2016 16:24 IST
Want to live in Maharashtra, follow these eight rules or get jailed. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com on the proposed Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act.
Opposition parties are calling the draft Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act a draconian piece of legislation but the state government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena is calling it the need of the hour.
The MPISA will be tabled in the next session of the Maharashtra assembly, and is currently open to public feedback.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com lists eight things that can get you jailed if the new law comes into force.
1. If you want to call an assembly of 100 people and more you will need to take permission from the Mumbai police. As the organiser you will be responsible for the safety and security of the people assembled.
And if the 100 people are assembled in a public place, then the organiser has to mandatorily provide for their CCTV coverage. And the footage must be stored for 30 days so the police can check it whenever they want.
One wonders if the rule will apply to a gathering like at a wedding, too, especially if it is conducted at a public venue with more than 100 in attendance?
2. 'Every owner or person incharge of any public establishment shall at all times provide and maintain public safety measures, as may be specified by the state police chief.
'The owner/manager should store the video footage of the public activities for 30 days.'
For instance, if you have a car parking contract in a public establishment, ensure that you install CCTV.
3. 'No person shall cause damage to any building, vehicle, machinery, apparatus or other property used or intended to be used for the purpose of government or any local authority; Other government properties like public transport including railways, aerial ropeway, metro/mono rail road and bridges, canal, ports, dockyards, lighthouses, aerodromes, airstrip or any installation for any public telecommunication; water storage, dam; water works; water supply pipeline, electricity sub-station, electricity generation plant or distribution network or any part thereof, sewage works, mine or factory.'
What this means is that political parties taking out morchas or labour unions going on a strike need to be careful. If their supporters damage any government property, they will be in deep trouble.
4. 'Any person who carries on his person or knowingly has in his possession or under his control any corrosive substance under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion can be arrested.'
'Unless the person does not prove that he was carrying it for some lawful work, he can be imprisoned for up to five years.'
If you are in chemical business this provision can set the police after you so ensure that you have proper licences in place.
5. 'Whoever obstructs, prevents or otherwise attempts to stop the police from making audio or video or electronic record of any activity performed by the police during discharge of their duties can be convicted with imprisonment up to five years.'
So if a cop is videotaping you, don't stop him.
6. If you are a ship/vessel owner, then be prepared for coastal security checks by the police.
Under this act if your ship is in the territorial waters of Maharashtra and the government has room for suspicion, be ready for a police check-up. Fishermen too, beware.
7. 'The Maharashtra police chief or his subordinate officer not below the rank of commissioner of police in the area of commissionerates can on reasonable suspicion regulate and move public transport vehicle, in any direction as he may determine.'
'For the purposes of this act the term "public transport vehicle" shall also include railways, metro/mono rail, aerial ropeways, ship, vessels and airplane.'
No questions on this point as the police commissioner is in charge.
8. Lastly, if you unlawfully take over any function or power of the police, you are in trouble.
You can be imprisoned for up to five years. You cannot impersonate the police even for fun.
Photograph: Sahil Salvi | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/is-maharashtras-new-internal-security-law-draconian/20160825.htm | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/057713a9fa262bc90bb5bed4e4daa3df3957f7a93581a5e7e281c225005c73e4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:40:08 | null | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | Uttar Pradesh Police had on Sunday arrested the three accused -- Naresh (25), Bablu (22) and Rais (28) -- and detained a dozen others after launching a massive hunt for a gang of dacoits suspected to be behind the highway crime. | 3 Bulandshahr gang rape accused sent to jail for 14 days | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fthree-bulandshahr-gang-rape-accused-sent-to-jail-for-14-days%2F20160801.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/oct/06rape.jpg | en | null | 3 Bulandshahr gang rape accused sent to jail for 14 days | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 01, 2016 20:08 IST
Three accused in the Bulandshahr gang rape case were on Monday sent to judicial custody, even as Governor Ram Naik expressed anguish, saying cases like this have been occurring at different places and there was need to halt recurrence of such incidents.
Uttar Pradesh Police had on Sunday arrested the three accused -- Naresh (25), Bablu (22) and Rais (28) -- and detained a dozen others after launching a massive hunt for a gang of dacoits suspected to be behind the highway crime.
"The trio have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a Bulandshahr court," IG (Law and Order) Hare Ram Sharma told reporters in Lucknow.
Gold ornaments of the victims and Rs 5,500 cash were recovered from the accused, he said, adding a request would be made for trial by a fast-track court.
Efforts will be made to file the charge sheet within three months, he said.
Seven to eight more names have come up and the police have constituted six teams to nab them, Sharma said.
As the Samajwadi Party government faced fresh flak from opposition parties over the "deteriorating" law and order in the state where Assembly polls are barely a few months away, the Governor voiced his anguish over the incident and asked the state government and the police to take immediate steps to ensure that such cases did not recur.
"The state government and the police need to follow their duties in ensuring that such incidents do not take place in the state," he said on the sidelines of a programme here.
"This is not the first incident...Cases like these have been taking place at different places...There is a need to work to ensure safety to all," Naik said, adding immediate steps are needed in this regard.
The Governor, however, expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in rushing senior officials like the DGP of the state police and principal secretary (home) to the scene of the crime.
Special directives have been issued by the government to intensify highway patrolling so that such crimes did not take place again, Sharma said.
The state government, meanwhile, posted PAC Commandant Anees Ahmad Ansari as the new SSP of Bulandshahr following suspension of Vaibhav Krishna after the gang rape of a woman and her teenage daughter by bandits on Friday night.
Deputy SP Maan Singh is the new Additional SP replacing Rammohan Singh, who was among the five suspended officers, an official spokesman said here.
Bawariya gang members had brutally gangraped the woman and her 13-year-old daughter on gunpoint after dragging them out of a car in Bulandshahr on NH-91 when they were travelling with their family from Noida to Shahjahanpur.
The matter had an echo in Lok Sabha where BJP members hit out at the UP government over the law and order situation and demanded resignation of the chief minister.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Bhola Singh, who represents Bulandshahr, alleged that such incidents were happening in the state as criminals enjoyed the government's "protection".
"The police are not able to work. The situation in the state is very serious. The chief minister should resign," he said, drawing support from other party members, one of whom said, "Uttar Pradesh is burning."
Members of the Samajwadi Party, which is in power in the state, were seen protesting, with Dharmendra Yadav heard asking the treasury benches to get Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation first.
BSP supremo Mayawati demanded resignation of the chief minister on moral grounds, saying there was complete 'jungle raj' in the state and criminal elements were roaming freely.
"The SP government and its head must tell the people if they can return the modesty of women in such a painful and heinous crime," she told reporters in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women summoned a doctor who conducted medical examination of the minor victim, for allegedly ill-treating her and asking "awkward" questions and also slammed the police for not including sections of POCSO Act in the FIR.
NCW Chairperson Lalitha Kumarmangalam said the family had told the NCW team, which met the victims in Bulandshahr, that when the girl was taken for a medical examination, "she was abused by the doctor, who asked her a number of awkward questions and berated her".
"The FIR in the case did not have sections of POCSO Act. We had pointed it out to them. NCW members asked them why the FIR had no sections of POCSO Act, but no police official gave them a concrete answer," she said.
DIG Meerut Range Laxmi Singh said that POCSO Act has not yet been added in the FIR. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/three-bulandshahr-gang-rape-accused-sent-to-jail-for-14-days/20160801.htm | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/3470a2c0b8139a9ab206e88665b675fab4a9be9d274d48c389d686b06ea21ad7.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T16:51:24 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | The action came after the students and teachers staged protests demanding action against Ratan to ensure safety of women on the campus and send out a strong message of intolerance towards such incidents. | JNU suspends rape accused scholar | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fjnu-suspends-rape-accused-scholar%2F20160828.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/25ratan.jpg | en | null | JNU suspends rape accused scholar | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 28, 2016 22:09 IST
The Jawaharlal Nehru University has suspended a PhD scholar who has been accused of rape by a fellow student, and declared the campus out of bounds for him pending an inquiry, a decision which comes following protests from students and teachers.
A 28-year-old research student has alleged that a fellow student, Anmol Ratan, raped her after offering her a spiked drink in his hostel room in the university on August 20.
Ratan, an activist of the left-affiliated All India Students’ Association, has also been expelled from the student outfit and police have booked him.
While he evaded arrest at first, Ratan subsequently surrendered on August 24 and was sent to 14 days in judicial custody.
‘Considering the seriousness of the case and in conformity with zero tolerance against sexual assault on women, Anmol Ratan is suspended from the university with immediate effect during pendency of the case,’ the suspension order read.
‘The entire JNU campus shall remain out of bounds for Ratan during his suspension. Anyone found giving shelter to Ratan in any hostel residence in the campus shall invite disciplinary action against him or her,’ it added.
The action came after the students and teachers staged protests demanding action against Ratan to ensure safety of women on the campus and send out a strong message of intolerance towards such incidents.
University administration, has also asked the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment, to investigate the matter.
The GSCASH is the university's panel to deal with complaints of such nature.
The rape case has become a centre of political agenda setting at JNU campus where student union polls are scheduled to be held in the next fortnight.
Student wings of various political parties are trying to encash the issue ahead of the keenly contested polls. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/jnu-suspends-rape-accused-scholar/20160828.htm | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/0fcef0d0dddd94f340c2a27a17ae6ab6b76c4c61449c72426ea9acb0cbe9da3a.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:41:01 | null | 2016-08-02T00:00:00 | Acting on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Karan Singh Tanwar, a former MLA from Delhi Cantonment, the Jhajjar police booked him.
| Another AAP MLA, another case, but this time in Haryana | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fanother-aap-mla-another-case-but-this-time-in-haryana%2F20160802.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/aug/22surinder.jpg | en | null | Another AAP MLA, another case, but this time in Haryana | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 02, 2016 14:39 IST
Haryana Police has booked Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Delhi Cantonment Surinder Singh on the charge of cheating after he was accused of getting a job as a government teacher on the basis of a fake graduation degree.
Acting on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Karan Singh Tanwar, a former MLA from Delhi Cantonment, the Jhajjar police booked him.
Police on Tuesday said Tanwar had moved a complaint before Jhajjar Superitendent of Police seeking registration of a case against the legislator after accusing him of getting the job on the basis of a forged graduation degree.
Reacting to the development, AAP leader from Haryana Naveen Jaihind charged it was being done at the behest of the ruling BJP and an atmosphere is being created to “browbeat our MLAs”.
Documents related to his service record, which were procured under the RTI Act by Tanwar, show that the AAP legislator had passed Class XII, whereas he claimed to be a graduate while applying for the post of physical training instructor in a government school of Jhajjar, the complainant has alleged.
“The complaint against Surinder Singh is that he was employed as teacher in a government school in Jhajjar, a job which he is alleged to have got on the basis of a forged graduation degree. We have registered a complaint and we will get the degree verified,” Jhajjar Police SP Jashandeep Singh said on Tuesday.
He further added, “We have not called him for questioning as yet, first of all we will get the degree verified”.
The AAP claimed that “Delhi police had given him clean chit earlier when similar charge was levelled against him”.
Jaihind said, “At the behest of the ruling BJP, an atmosphere is being created to browbeat our MLAs. Since Delhi police had conducted a separate enquiry and given a clean chit then what is the logic of Haryana police taking cognisance of the same complaint. This is sheer harassment of our party legislator”.
“We are saying if anyone has done any wrongdoing, arrest him and actively pursue the case before courts. But the way the BJP government is acting, it only shows that they are frustrated with AAP’s growing popularity. But we are not going to be cowed down by such tactics. AAP party was formed after a revolution. People are wise and the know what tactics the BJP is adopting,” Jaihind alleged.
So far, 12 AAP MLAs were arrested by the Delhi Police and their Punjab counterpart in various cases since the party came to power in Delhi for a second time in February last year.
The party has claimed that its MLAs were being arrested under a “conspiracy”. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/another-aap-mla-another-case-but-this-time-in-haryana/20160802.htm | en | 2016-08-02T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/34b4a43ec3dd04072f467b788f7b5cb009065ead6cdc5a76e423489c99cbc1f4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:26:30 | null | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | Some glimpses of the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort | PHOTOS: When PM hailed free India @ Red Fort | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpix-when-pm-hailed-free-india--red-fort%2F20160815.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/15redfort1.jpg | en | null | PHOTOS: When PM hailed free India @ Red Fort | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 15, 2016 15:34 IST
Here are some glimpses of the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
Didn't hear the prime minister speak, click HERE
Also Read: Top 20 quotes from PM's Red Fort speech
Before addressing the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected the guard of honour contingent which consisted of one officer and 24 men each from Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police. The Army contingent for the Guard is drawn from the 8th Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (Siachen). The battalion was raised as the First Battalion Border Scouts by volunteers who took up arms in the aftermath of partition to check the multitude of Kabailies intruding into Poonch on December 18, 1947. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
The unfurling of the tricolour was synchronised with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the valiant gunners of the elite 2281 Field Regiment (Ceremonial). The Air Force Band played National Anthem when the National Guard presented "Rashtriya Salute". The Army Contingent for the National Flag Guard is drawn from 11th Battalion of the Jat Regiment. This is a 52-year-old battalion with a gallant past. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
People from all walks of life had queued up to participate in the event as early as 5:00 am. Around 10,000 seats were set aside for general public at the venue and they were filled by 7:00 AM. Security personnel had a tough time managing an enthusiastic crowd. According to the police, about 40,000 people attended the function. There were seating arrangements for 22,000 people, including 2000 VVIPs and VIPs, 9000 for school children and 10,000 for the general public. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
For the third year in a row, Prime Minister Modi chose to deliver his Independence Day address from an open air podium instead of from behind a bullet proof glass. Overruling strong objections from his security detail, Modi had shunned the bullet-proof enclosure to "connect directly" with people during his maiden Independence Day speech as PM from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort in 2014. He had decided to opt out of the enclosure last year as well. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made 2 major announcements in his speech: a 20 per cent hike in the pension for freedom fighters and that medical expenses of up to Rs 1 lakh for BPL families will be borne by the government. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Like the previous year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not disappoint children who were waiting to greet him. As he got down from the ramparts of the 17th century monument on conclusion of his address and left at around 9:13 am, Modi halted his motorcade after it covered only a few metres to reach an enclosure from where children cheered him on. Modi greeted and shook hands with them, breaking away from the close security cover. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with wife Gursharan Kaur, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, were some of the VVIPs present for the event. The shutterbugs also spotted Kejriwal with his eyes closed during the Prime Minister's address. Photograph: Twitter/rajsan2016 | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-when-pm-hailed-free-india--red-fort/20160815.htm | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/529d70600e2d71b893fd9521bd260f9249ec40fdb804672970350567d9bd6216.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:26:40 | null | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | The incident comes close on the heels of a similar case where 100 cows died in state-run Hingonia cow shelter due to 'mismanagement and lack of facilities'. | 22 cows die in Chhattisgarh shelter home; Jogi alleges cover-up, orders probe | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fcows-die-in-chhattisgarh-shelter-home-jogi-alleges-cover-up-orders-probe%2F20160814.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/14cow1.jpg | en | null | 22 cows die in Chhattisgarh shelter home; Jogi alleges cover-up, orders probe | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 14, 2016 18:18 IST
In yet another incident of neglect in cow shelters, at least 22 cows died of “starvation and lack proper care” at a facility getting state aid in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party government to order a probe and weekly inspection of all shelters in the state.
Former state Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, who recently floated a new party Chhattisgarh Janata Congress, alleged that over 200 cows died in the government-aided shelter home in past three-four months and that the matter was being covered-up. He also sought a high-level probe.
The incident comes close on the heels of a similar case coming to light in BJP-ruled Rajasthan, where it was alleged that 100 cows had died in state-run Hingonia cow shelter due to “mismanagement and lack of facilities”.
Chhattisgarh’s Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal ordered an inquiry into the death of livestock at ‘Kamdhenu Gau Sewa’ centre at Karramad village in Durgkondal development block of Kanker, an official said on Sunday.
The directive in this regard was issued on Saturday evening following which the probe team on Sunday visited the cow shelter home, he said.
Agrawal has also asked animal husbandry department officials to conduct inspection of all cow shelter homes across the state every seventh day and ensure proper sanitation and hygiene there.
While Jogi’s party claimed that over 200 cows died at the shelter home in last three-four months, Kanker district collector said 22 cows died there since August 1.
“I have received information about death of 22 cows as of today morning since August 1 at Kamdhenu Gau Sewa shelter home,” Collector Shammi Abidi said.
Taking a serious note of the incident, Agrawal spoke to veterinary services director, Kanker collector, secretary and registrar of state Gau Sewa Ayog, besides other officials, and decided to send an investigation team to take stock of the situation at the shelter home, the official said, adding that the minister has asked for a probe report at the earliest.
Agrawal has also said that stern action will be taken against those found guilty for the death of animals after the inquiry, he mentioned.
According to Abidi, the inspection team was at the shelter home for investigation while four-five veterinary teams have also been pressed into service to take care of the other ailing cows there.
The exact cause of the deaths was yet to be ascertained as the blood samples of the carcasses have been sent to labs and reports are awaited, she further said.
However, prima facie it appears that the cows died of starvation and lack proper care as they were not fed properly, she said.
The shelter home was overcrowded as it has a capacity of around 80 animals against which nearly 300 animals were kept there, she said.
Meanwhile, the collector also slapped a notice on the shelter home’s owner seeking his response as to why he should be funded by government as he failed to feed the animals properly.
Agarwal also directed veterinary officials to provide proper medication to the livestock at regular intervals.
Ajit Jogi, while talking to reporters, alleged that, “Our team recently visited the shelter home and found that around 203 cows have died in past three months there. The owners buried the carcasses in haste at the premises itself to cover up the matter.”
He also alleged that the state government aid to the shelter home was being siphoned-off instead of being used for fodder or to treat the cattle. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/cows-die-in-chhattisgarh-shelter-home-jogi-alleges-cover-up-orders-probe/20160814.htm | en | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/6c002f866b47024a001baee508341239db56ddfae69986510a5d622294230ccc.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:38:57 | null | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | The apex court was deciding on the question whether an expelled member could be disqualified under the law, if he or she defies party whip. | SC refuses to revisit its verdict on anti-defection law | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fsc-refuses-to-revisit-its-verdict-on-anti-defection-law%2F20160803.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2012/jan/31radia2.jpg | en | null | SC refuses to revisit its verdict on anti-defection law | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 03, 2016 16:13 IST
The Supreme Court today refused to revisit its two-decade-old verdict on the anti-defection law holding that an elected or nominated member of Parliament of a political party is bound by its whip even after expulsion.
“Though we have heard the matter at length, we are not answering the question,” a three-judge bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi, P C Pant and Arun Mishra said while disposing of a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh politician Amar Singh and actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada.
The apex court was deciding on the question whether an expelled member could be disqualified under the law, if he or she defies party whip.
The issue had cropped up after Singh and Jaya Prada, who were members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively, had moved the Supreme Court on their expulsion from the Samajwadi Party on February 2, 2010, anticipating ouster from Parliament.
Pyarimohan Mohapatra, who was expelled from Biju Janata Dal, had also moved the apex court on the issue.
“The petitioner MPs have already completed their tenure. It would be more appropriate to not answer the question,” the bench said.
Earlier, the court had reserved the order on the petition seeking to revisit the 1996 verdict on the anti-defection law by which a member elected or nominated by a political party continues to be under its control even after expulsion.
The petitioners had contended that they have landed in a piquant situation as expelled members and apprehended disqualification under the anti-defection law if they chose to defy party’s whip on any issue in Parliament.
The counsel for Singh and Jaya Prada had said the interpretation of the anti-defection law, as per a 1996 ruling of the apex court, does not apply to them as they did not form their own party.
As per the interpretation of the anti-defection law by the Supreme Court in G Vishwanathan case in 1996, a member elected or nominated by a political party continues to be under its control even after his or her expulsion.
The apex court on November 15, 2010, had directed that no action shall be taken against Amar Singh and Jaya Prada under anti-defection law in the event of their defying a party whip.
The two leaders had then sought interim stay on any possible action against them in case they decided to vote in favour of Women’s Reservation Bill to which the SP was fiercely opposed.
Singh has now returned to the SP and was elected to Rajya Sabha recently after being nominated by the party.
The apex court had decided to make the reference while considering that the judgment in the Vishwanathan case was not clear on certain aspects of the anti-defection law.
Earlier, the two leaders had argued that anti-defection law could be invoked only against those who either defect from the party or defy its whip while being in the party.
However, they had contended that in case like theirs, they did not defect from the party but were expelled, and as unattached members, they were not amenable to the party’s whip.
The two MPs had moved the apex court fearing they may be disqualified from Parliament for not abiding by the party whip in view of the apex court 1996 verdict.
They felt the apex court’s interpretation of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution impinged upon fundamental rights of the expelled members, including their rights to equality, free speech and expression and life under Articles 14, 19 and 21 respectively. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/sc-refuses-to-revisit-its-verdict-on-anti-defection-law/20160803.htm | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/16713328f751817199b64d5580eb0a0e3764bed55ead29cf4a0a642567a1039f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:19:56 | null | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | Asserting that the prime minister had been thanked by these people for flagging their cause at the all-party meeting, he added that the former was sufficiently moved by their gratitude massages. | People of PoK are our own, will do what it takes: MEA | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpeople-of-pok-are-our-own-will-do-what-it-takes-mea-%2F20160818.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/dec/27pakarmy.jpg | en | null | People of PoK are our own, will do what it takes: MEA | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 18, 2016 17:42 IST
Keeping the next course of action regarding Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Balochistan under wraps, the ministry of external affairs on Thursday asserted the government will do what it has to do no matter what as the people there were India's own.
Attempting to downplay repeated posers from the media regarding India's next move in the case of PoK following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphatic reference of the same in his Independence Day address, MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the plan of action cannot be shared at this stage.
"Several people from Balochistan and PoK, including Gilgit Baltistan, had messaged him (prime minister), had been writing to him following his comments at the all-party meeting in which he had flagged the atrocities being committed on the people of Balochistan," Swarup said.
Asserting that the prime minister had been thanked by these people for flagging their cause at the all-party meeting, he added that the former was sufficiently moved by their gratitude massages.
"As far as the next course of action is concerned, prime minister also gave us certain instructions in the all-party meet. How those instructions will be implemented, I cannot at this stage share with you. However, the MEA will do what it has to do because after all the people of PoK are our own people," Swarup added.
Prime Minister Modi, for the first time, raised the Balochistan and PoK issues in his Independence Day address this year.
"I want to express my gratitude to the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK for the way they whole-heartedly thanked me, the way they expressed gratitude to me.... People of a distant land I haven't even seen....When they thank the Indian PM, it's an honour for the 125 crore people of the country," he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
However, former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid said that the prime minister should not have spoken openly about Balochistan.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, Khurshid told ANI that no one asked the former to speak on the prevailing situation in Balochistan while highlighting the Kashmir issue in his Independence Day address.
"My party is firm on it. This is an amateur foreign policy," he added.
Backing his party colleague, former union minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the Balochistan mention will have "consequences".
The Centre later criticized the Congress for attacking the prime minister's new Balochistan-PoK strategy, saying the only thing that's consistent about the grand old party is its inconsistency. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/people-of-pok-are-our-own-will-do-what-it-takes-mea-/20160818.htm | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/ba7cd895c474d38e587a21073b7c41a0301895ee5ff17b2848434c3eef6019c0.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:18:13 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | The pugnacious 61-year-old conservative, who was deeply unpopular by the end of his five years as president, had made no secret of his ambition to reconquer the top office. | Nicolas Sarkozy to seek French presidency again | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fnicolas-sarkozy-to-seek-french-presidency-again%2F20160823.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2010/aug/19sl3.jpg | en | null | Nicolas Sarkozy to seek French presidency again | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 23, 2016 03:42 IST
Former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy launched a fresh bid on Monday to win back the presidency, announcing he would seek the nomination of his centre-right party to run in next year's election.
The pugnacious 61-year-old conservative, who was deeply unpopular by the end of his five years as president, had made no secret of his ambition to reconquer the top office.
"I have decided to be a candidate in the 2017 presidential election," Sarkozy, who was voted out of office in 2012, wrote in the foreword to a new book "Tout pour la France" (All for France) due out later this week.
"France demands that you give her your all.
"I feel I have the strength to lead the fight at such a turbulent moment in our history," he wrote in the book extract seen by AFP, alluding to the string of terror attacks that have rocked the country in the past year and a half.
His aides said that he would be stepping down on Monday as the leader of the Republicans party to focus on his campaign.
"This book is the starting point," Sarkozy tweeted, together with a link to the foreword.
"The next five years will be filled with danger but also with hope," he wrote.
Sarkozy listed five main challenges in the years ahead: keeping promises made to the nation, defending national identity, restoring lost competitiveness, enforcing stat authority and striving "to restore confidence and hope in the future".
His announcement that he will seek his party's nomination at a primary in November comes in the midst of a resurgent debate over the place of Islam in French society, encapsulated in the row over the Islamic "burkini" swimsuit.
Sarkozy said France's "principal battle" was over how "to defend our lifestyle without being tempted to cut ourselves off from the rest of the world".
The opposition leader, who has repeatedly dismissed Socialist President Francois Hollande as weak, said he would also restore authority in neighbourhoods where he said "minorities are successfully blackmailing the current authorities".
The politician, who was defeated in his bid for reelection in 2012 after conducting a campaign seen by many in his own camp as too right-wing, faces several challengers for the conservative nomination.
His chief rival, popular former premier and Bordeaux mayor Alain Juppe who is seen as a moderate, is the favourite to win the nod.
But Juppe's lead in opinion polls has shrunk in recent weeks as Sarkozy steps up his rhetoric on Islamist extremists and immigration in the wake of last month's massacre in Nice.
"War has been declared on us," Sarkozy said in an interview with Valeurs Actuelles magazine in mid-August.
"The barbarians who are attacking us believe we are weak," he said, calling for a "merciless" response.
Sarkozy has already won the support of a Republicans heavyweight in the shape of Christian Estrosi, president of the southern region that includes Marseille.
"He is the best candidate," Estrosi told the Journal de Dimanche on Sunday.
If Sarkozy wins, he could face a rematch against Hollande, who has said he too has the "desire" for a second term, despite opinion polls overwhelmingly showing the French wanting neither man as their leader. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/nicolas-sarkozy-to-seek-french-presidency-again/20160823.htm | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/77151fdf762ef3ec30baaa139d75f0ea76936cb59570c2cd88b3ac0fb37da002.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T12:51:47 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | Meena Devi is charged in the case of the unfortunate death of 23 children after they consumed the mid-day meal at Dharmasati Gandaman Primary School in Saran district of Bihar on July 16 2013. | Bihar mid-day meal tragedy: School principal sentenced to 17 years in jail | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fbihar-mid-day-meal-tragedy-school-principal-sentenced-to-17-years-in-jail%2F20160829.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/29meal1.jpg | en | null | Bihar mid-day meal tragedy: School principal sentenced to 17 years in jail | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 29, 2016 17:54 IST
A court in Bihar’s Saran district on Monday sentenced former principal of the Gandaman Government Primary School, Meena Devi, to 17 years imprisonment.
On August 25, Meena Devi was pronounced guilty in the case. Her husband Arjun Rai, another accused, was let off for lack of evidence against him by a trial court.
Meena Devi is charged in the case of the unfortunate death of 23 children after they consumed the mid-day meal at Dharmasati Gandaman Primary School in Saran district of Bihar on July 16 2013.
Additional District and Sessions Judge of Saran VA Tiwari has awarded 17 years prison to Meena Devi, including 10 years under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and seven years under section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court found Meena Devi, guilty of serving the poisonous mid-day meal to students and convicted her of culpable homicide “not amounting to murder”.
Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/bihar-mid-day-meal-tragedy-school-principal-sentenced-to-17-years-in-jail/20160829.htm | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/7f5af8b120e46f713462141b443c50c26d4628db802997fbb51e403f3d08315c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:06:03 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | Let Bihar be damned under its contradictions of having gone 'dry' and then having been submerged under flood, which is a recurrent phenomena? After all it is a godforsaken land, having lost its promises of overcoming its problems, says Mohammad Sajjad. | Flooded yet 'dry': The great Bihar paradox | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Fcolumn%2Fflooded-yet-dry-the-great-bihar-paradox%2F20160825.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/25bihar1.jpg | en | null | Flooded yet 'dry': The great Bihar paradox | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 25, 2016 15:58 IST
IMAGE: A man escapes a water-logged village in Bihar. Photograph: PTI Photo.
Let Bihar be damned under its contradictions of having gone ‘dry’ and then having been submerged under a flood. After all, it is a godforsaken land, having lost its promise of overcoming its problems, says Mohammad Sajjad.
Paradoxes and ironies seem to abound in Bihar. The Nitish Kumar-led administration, in its previous tenures (2005-13 in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party) was criticised heavily for raising revenue from the liquor trade. The revenue went up from Rs 350 crore in 2004-05 to over Rs 3,700 crore in 2014-15.
In the resource-starved state, liquor shops mushroomed across Bihar hinterlands. Further, this arrangement strengthened the liquor dealers’ position. The principal opposition then was the Rashtriya Janata Dal which was critical of the policy.
In the incumbent tenure of Nitish-led administration in Bihar (since 2015), the RJD is the dominant (and aggressive/hegemonic too) ally.
One of the important (and by now controversial, too) steps taken by this regime is to ban liquor. The Bihar government had the banned sale and consumption of country and spiced liquor in rural areas. but had allowed the sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in towns and cities. Subsequently, even this selective exemption was done away with. The Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act has restricted the manufacture, transport, sale and consumption of liquor in Bihar and with effective implementation the state was declared dry.
However, what is turning out to be too irksome is the penal provisions in the act which are stringent, as there is a large fine as well as a large jail sentence for anyone caught violating the law. Even more criticism is due for the provisions to penalise even the members of the family and neighbourhood.
Notwithstanding the initial misgivings and outcry, it was claimed by the officials like Patna Divisional Commissioner Anand Kishore that prohibition as well as proactive policing have contributed to a decrease in crime rates in Bihar. The total crime rate in Bihar has reduced by 27 per cent in April. Crimes such as murder, rape, domestic violence, atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and riots have reduced, and that that the number of road accidents have also reduced since the ban.
Further, the National Family Health Survey report claimed that the ban and its strict enforcement brought a positive impact upon the lives of the women in Bihar; that as many as 46 per cent of women were facing violence after their partner consumed alcohol; that the drunken husbands used to beat up their wives after coming back from work in the evening. The money which was used for consuming alcohol now reached the hands of the wives who could use it to support their child’s education or provide them food and clothing.
The rural women, particularly from poor and lower middle class backgrounds, are said to be still happy with this ban, and they didn’t take it as a draconian one, so long as excessive intrusion by ban enforcement agencies was not there. Now, this is increasingly becoming problematic even for those segments that were quite happy with the ban. This is where the Nitish regime needs to realise that the draconian aspects of the liquor ban laws should be dropped, sooner than later.
IMAGE: Liquor stores mushroomed across Bihar before the alcohol ban was imposed. Photograph: Reuters.
This contradictory and divided response in our times asks us to revisit the history of the non-cooperation movement in Bihar, 1920-22. One of the most rigorous of the recent researches on Bihar is by Lata Singh (2009), Popular Translations of Nationalism: Bihar, 1920-22, which demonstrates that ‘there was a strong protest in Bihar’, despite the fact that the ‘liquor boycott was not a part of the official programme of the Congress when the non-cooperation movement started, but once this programme gained momentum, the Congress encouraged it….the brunt of taxation of drink was borne by the lower classes’.
Her evidence further elaborates that this specific issue of liquor boycott enjoyed the support of even those segments of the Indian population who were otherwise opposed to the non-cooperation movement. ‘The liquor dealers were emerging as the great landowners. Most of the poor peasants’ and tribals’ lands were passing to them. Moreover, as the liquor dealers’ estates became larger, they became more rapacious. They maintained their own strongmen to coerce the poor and landless into labouring in their fields for minimal payment. Any protest by the peasants was suppressed with the help of the local police’. The nationalists, while appealing for prohibition, put forward the argument that drinking was a vice and the government had no right to derive revenue from it.
Almost a century later, this narrative of colonial Bihar can be quite instructive for our times. The liquor dealers of 2005-15 minted money and observers say how this segment emerged as the major support base of the BJP in the 2014 elections. Part of the reason for the outrage against the liquor ban laws is this. The responsible sections of media need to take this significant aspect into account, as much as the Nitish regime would be well-advised to review the draconian aspects of the legislation.
Even while the media was articulating the state of affairs in Bihar as ‘dry’, this wretched state is now reeling under the recurrent catastrophe of river-flood, even while the rainfall is 15 per cent less than the usual. However, the larger section of the media is not shouting as much against this recurrence of flood and persistence of neglect by successive Union governments. Even the traditional ruling elites of Bihar, most of who were first with the Congress, and are now with the BJP, preferred to protest least on this aspect.
Thus, till date, Bihar continues to be India’s ‘internal colony’, as coined by the great socialist thinker Sachidanand Sinha, who is in his 90s and lives in his ancestral village in Muzaffarpur.
The magnitude of the flood impact can be gauged by the fact that the flood-prone area in Bihar went up to 68 lakh hectares in 1994 from 25 lakh hectares in 1954. In November 1937, the then minister Syed Mahmood (1889-1971), in the provincial ministry of the Congress in Bihar, had convened a conference in Patna to discuss the flood problems of Bihar. This probably was the first initiative of a popular provincial government in the state. The governor, Hallet, in his inaugural address discussed the flood problems of Bihar only to downplay the enormity of the problem and said that the problem was not that acute as has been made out to be.
Eventually, Syed Mahmood also authored a book, A Plan of Provincial Reconstruction [of Bihar, 1939]. With a foreword by Rajendra Prasad, this book ran into many editions. Now this valuable book is scarcely available beyond the Khuda Bakhsh Library of Patna, which is suggestive of our concern about Bihar’s economic facelift.
A noted flood expert on Bihar, Dinesh Kumar Mishra’s interventions and research publications remain as much neglected by the policy elites as they always have been. Another scholar, Praveen Singh, argues that the “colonial dispensation in north Bihar believed that the rivers of the flood plains needed to be controlled. The zamindar became the pivot around which the implementation of these flood control efforts revolved. Along with the railways and roads, the uncontrolled manner in which many zamindary embankments were built led to deterioration in the flood situation.
"By the 1930s, there was a strong view among engineers that rivers should not be controlled and embankments should be removed wherever possible. However, in contrast to the new official technical doctrine on flood control, a slew of powerful social and economic interests argued for retaining the ‘protected areas’ through embankments”.
Shockingly, despite these adverse experiences, the post-Independence regime in Bihar went ahead with the same kind of embankment policy. Why? Understandably, to let the elites make money, through corruption, from these gigantic projects, so much so that till the 1980s, even the low-ranking employees such as the ‘overseers’ (subsequently called with a rather more ‘dignified’ designation of junior engineers) in the irrigation departments of the Bihar government were counted among the richest government employees, not to say of the contractors who became money-bags of the politicians, preferably of their own castes.
Many of these hegemons went on to become legislators themselves. These ‘wise-men’ of yesteryear came out with the congenitally flawed scheme of making canals the basin of which were lower than the fields to be irrigated. Thus, these canals, in many cases, hardly served the purpose, except filling in the coffers of the politician-engineer-contractor nexus.
What about the academic researches addressing these issues? Well, the universities were busy ‘taking over’ the colleges founded by the landlord politicians who recruited only their caste-men on teaching and non-teaching positions, before handing these colleges over to the government. This was an arrangement wherein there was the practice of almost cent per cent reservation of jobs for the specific caste. These very beneficiaries later scornfully, disdainfully and vehemently critiqued the Mandal Commission on the plea that it was implemented at the altar of meritocracy.
Notwithstanding the adverse impacts of embankment projects, why did the Union government not fund dams which may have provided with hydro-electricity, engendering industrialisation in Bihar along the Nepal border, besides irrigation facilities to the peasantry? One guess could be that unlike the Narmada dam projects in Gujarat, in Bihar the displacements brought about by the dams, could have been wreaked upon the upper caste elites too. And unlike the tribals, these elites are not expendable human beings, to be subjected to forced displacements.
Given the transformation in the character of the media in our times, therefore, we can hardly expect that there would be loud-voiced prime time discussions on television news channels with development experts on the panel. The common people pretending to be educated and informed ones have greater passions reserved for cow protection, ghar wapsi and love jihad.
In such cynical times, who has got the time to think about Bihar's flood devastation!
Let Bihar be damned under its contradictions of having gone ‘dry’ and then having been submerged under a flood, which is a recurrent phenomena. After all it is a godforsaken land, having lost its promise of overcoming its problems, isn’t it?
Mohammad Sajjad teaches Modern Indian History at the Aligarh Muslim University, and has published two books: Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours (Routledge, 2014) and Contesting Colonialism & Separatism: Muzaffarpur (Primus 2014). | http://www.rediff.com/news/column/flooded-yet-dry-the-great-bihar-paradox/20160825.htm | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/0b742f234d382728fc8f7f54f83e387c26bdef7f492a60a0e519f1923a9f9678.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:20 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | The solution to the Kashmir problem does not lie in India speaking to Pakistan; it does not lie in the Indian government speaking to the separatists; it lies in the Kashmiris talking to their inner selves. They need to trace their history to include their rich cultural heritage of Hindu Saivism and Sufi mysticism. Only then will Kashmiris be at peace with themselves, says Vivek Gumaste. | Did the Last Queen of Kashmir have a message for the present? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Fcolumn%2Fdid-the-last-queen-of-kashmir-have-a-message-for-the-present%2F20160826.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/apr/16kashmir-protest.jpg | en | null | Did the Last Queen of Kashmir have a message for the present? | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 26, 2016 11:30 IST
The solution to the Kashmir problem does not lie in India speaking to Pakistan; it does not lie in the Indian government speaking to the separatists; it lies in the Kashmiris talking to their inner selves. They need to trace their history to include their rich cultural heritage of Hindu Saivism and Sufi mysticism. Only then will Kashmiris be at peace with themselves, says Vivek Gumaste.
The currents of history do not coalesce together logically or flow smoothly. They pursue an erratic capricious course with an uncanny knack of picking up nondescript incidents or seemingly minor indiscretions that appear paltry and banal at that moment and transforming them into sentinel events of enormous significance whose impact stretches out into posterity for generations.
So in the 1300s, when Devaswami, the head pontiff of Sharada Peeth (the great Kashmiri centre of Vedic learning) in a transient fit of arrogance rebuffed Rinchina’s (a prince of Ladakh and an usurper to the throne of Kashmir) request to be inducted into the Hindu fold, little did he realise the far-reaching consequences that his fateful pronouncement would have for the Hindu community of Kashmir.
Rakesh Kaul recapitulates the poignant exchange between them in his magnificent historical novel, The Last Queen of Kashmir (2016. Harper Collins, India) which artfully reconstructs early 14th century Kashmir -- a contentious period rife with anarchy and chaos that facilitated the entry of Islam into the cradle of Vedic civilisation.
The book virtually transports one back in time: use of vernacular phrases, flowing references to Vedic shlokas, tongue-twisting Sanskrit terminology, and colourful descriptions of native people and their characteristic clothing infuse the novel with a medieval reality that is impressive and credible.
But more notable than the literary embellishments is the historical fidelity of the narration that is sustained throughout its entirety: the overall plot remains true to historical time lines and rarely deviates from reality.
This saga of 14th century Kashmir courses through a rich and complex plot of personal betrayal, political intrigue and subversive religious proselytisation culminating in a disastrous alteration of ideological demography: the guiding principle of Kashmir -- ‘truth, beauty and bliss through knowledge and consciousness’ -- is thrust aside to make way for a narrow, rigid and alien fanaticism.
Central to the theme is Kotarani, the young beautiful and pragmatic daughter of commander-in-chief turned leader Ramachandra; her life forms the fulcrum around which these events are narrated. When Ramachandra is murdered before her eyes by the turncoat Rinchina, a Tibetan Botha who had been given sanctuary by her father at her behest and with the assurance that ‘from now on you are a part of Kashmir where dharmic justice is the law of the land’, Kotarani lapses into a state of shock.
In pursuit of her vendetta, Kotarani accepts the offer of marriage from a partially repentant Rinchina in order to safeguard the interest of Kashmir. However, Rinchina soon realises that despite his betrothal to the rightful queen of Kashmir, his outsider status persists. He approaches Devaswami for acceptance into Hinduism. When Devaswami demurs, the hurt Rinchina succumbs to the machinations of the wily Shah Mir (another key player in this drama) who manipulates him into embracing Islam -- he thus becomes the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir.
Fortunately for Kashmir, Rinchina’s religious mentor proves to be a benevolent Sufi mystic named Bulbul Qalandar whom the Kashmiri respect and honour: 'The Kashmiris honored Bulbul for his divine insights and in return they were the beneficiaries of his grace. It did not matter what faith you were: Bulbul’s heart was the universal receptor, and the Kashmiris marveled that Islam had produced such a luminous being.'
Nevertheless, this turn of history paves the way for Islam to find a prominent place in the Valley. Shah Mir, an immigrant from Swadgabar who had sought asylum in Kashmir in 1313 with his band of followers and relatives, is a man who harbours mounting political ambitions and is smitten with religious fervour. His religious confidant is a foil to Bulbul Qalandar: an extremist fakir who propounds an aggressive brand of Islam at odds with the pluralistic milieu of Kashmir.
Together, the fakir and Shah Mir plan on a strategy.
Coincidentally, fear of invasion by barbaric and fanatic religious raiders like Dulucha and his Ghazi warriors who demand zan, zamin and zenana (gold, land and women) along with religious submission hangs heavy over the kingdom of Kashmir.
Thus, internal and external forces collude to undermine the native philosophy of Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Shah Mir with fake humility and cunning ingratiates himself to the system rising to be the commander in chief of the kingdom, all along coveting the throne of Kashmir. Once firmly ensconced in a position of authority he resorts to outright political murders, stages dissent and corners Kotarani into submission.
In response to his precondition for marriage Kotarani kills herself on July 17, 1339, and Shah Mir establishes the first Muslim dynasty of Kashmir, a dynasty that would ring the death knell of Hinduism in Kashmir through its descendants like the notorious Sikander Butshikan (1389-1413), the iconoclast during whose reign forced proselytisation reached a peak.
In barely 100 years, by the end of Sikandar’s regime, the demography had been irreversibly altered to leave a lasting impact on Kashmir.
The striking parallels between those times and modern-day happenings in Kashmir is hard to ignore: history does not go away, it repeats itself.
On January 19, 1990 (known as the Kristallnacht of Kashmiri Pandits), the ghosts of Dulucha and Sikandar once again returned to Kashmir. On that cold wintery night as the frightened Pandit community cowered behind closed doors, mosques in Kashmir blared out a warning as all law and order collapsed: “Kashmir mei agar rehna hai, Allah-O-Akbar kehna hai” (“If you want to stay in Kashmir, you have to say Allah-O-Akbar”); “Yahan kya chalega, Nizam-e-Mustafa” (“What do we want here? Rule of Shariat”); “Asi gachchi Pakistan, Batao roas te Batanev san” (“We want Pakistan along with Hindu women but without their men”).
ALSO READ: 19/01/90: When Kashmiri Pandits fled Islamic terror.
The spirit of Sharadapeeth and Baba Qalandar still lingers on in the Valley albeit in a muted form but so do the likes of Shah Mir and the fanatic fakir.
The solution to the Kashmir problem does not lie in India speaking to Pakistan; it does not lie in the Indian government speaking to the separatists; it lies in the Kashmiris talking to their inner selves and coming to terms with their whole identity -- their past and their present.
They need to trace their history from the beginning of time to include their rich cultural heritage of Hindu Saivism and Sufi mysticism. Nobody is asking them to negate their Muslim persona but to be true to themselves and their ancestors they must accept their Hindu past that stretches back 5,000 years. Only then will Kashmiris be at peace with themselves.
The Last Queen of Kashmir is a tour de force that is informative, entertaining as well as edifying. | http://www.rediff.com/news/column/did-the-last-queen-of-kashmir-have-a-message-for-the-present/20160826.htm | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/7ab00bf76e9a8e881db82835872f93cdbd66c5284a8bc125846ab1caae0fd447.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:39:29 | null | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | The floods have affected 31 lakh people across 13 districts and also widely damaged crops in different parts of the state.
| Bihar floods: 1 fresh death; toll mounts to 61 | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fbihar-floods-toll-mounts-to-61%2F20160803.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/03flood.jpg | en | null | Bihar floods: 1 fresh death; toll mounts to 61 | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 03, 2016 23:56 IST
With one fresh death reported from Gopalganj, the toll in Bihar floods on Wednesday increased to 61 with many areas in 13 districts still under water in the state.
IMAGE: The disaster management department said one fresh death has been reported from Gopalganj taking the toll to three in the district . Photograph: PTI
The floods have affected 31 lakh people across 13 districts and also widely damaged crops in different parts of the state.
The disaster management department said one fresh death has been reported from Gopalganj taking the toll to three in the district.
Other deaths have been reported from Purnea (24), Katihar (15), Supual (8), Kisanganj (5), Madhepura (4), Saharsa and Araria 1 each.
Fed by heavy rains in the Terai region of Nepal, river Ganga at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district remained above the danger mark.
Other rivers, Ghaghra-Darauli and Gangpur-Siswan, were flowing above danger level in Siwan district, while the Adhwara group of rivers was above danger level in Darbhanga, Bagmati-Benibad in Muzaffarpur district and Mahananda in Purnea.
The 13 flood-affected districts of the state are Purnea, Kisanganj, Araria, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Saharsa, Supual, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East and West Champaran, where 69 blocks and 584 panchayats are affected by the floods.
Farm produce on 1.61 lakh hectares of land has been damaged so far as per a survey, the release said.
A total of 460 relief camps are functioning in the flood-hit areas, giving shelter to 3,78,257 people even as 175 medical teams are providing their services.
Arrangements have been made for food and other items with 6,698 quintal of flattened rice, 1,235.00 quintal jaggery, 9.46 lakh matchsticks, 3,540 candles, besides 92,71,46 litres of kerosene oil and adequate supply of polythene sheets and food packets among others, it said.
The National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the flood-affected areas, the release added. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/bihar-floods-toll-mounts-to-61/20160803.htm | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/a1ec32909c499f2f13dd4ffa1f0e73c63c262824961aa8fc90d41510691ab09c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:35:32 | null | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | The company wants to make F 16-Block 70 'for India, from India and export to the world'. | Lockheed Martin offers to build F-16s in India on assured orders from IAF | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Flockheed-martin-offers-to-build-f-16s-in-india-on-assured-orders-from-iaf%2F20160804.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/04lead10.jpg | en | null | Lockheed Martin offers to build F-16s in India on assured orders from IAF | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 04, 2016 22:50 IST
American defence major Lockheed Martin on Thursday said it has offered to move its lone production line of the latest version of fighter aircraft F 16-Block 70 to India from Texas to meet Indian and global requirement.
However, the company made it clear the proposal is "conditional" to IAF choosing the world's largest-sold fighter aircraft for its fleet.
"The offer we have given to the Indian government is unmatched and from our side unprecedented," Randall L Howard, F16 Business Development head at Lockheed Martin, said in New Delhi.
Interacting with mediapersons, Howard said the company wants to make F 16-Block 70 "for India, from India and export to the world".
However, he parried questions on whether the company is willing to give a commitment not to sell F16s to Pakistan saying it will be part of discussions between the Indian and American governments.
Asked if the offer to move the production line from Fort Worth to India is conditional to IAF picking up the aircraft for its fleet, Abhay Paranjape, National Executive, India said, "Yes".
He said it is conditional to assured orders from the Indian Air Force which is looking to acquire new aircraft to beef up its depleting strength.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said India will choose at least one more aircraft, besides the indigenous Tejas, for the IAF through the 'Make in India' route.
Lockheed Martin, which has sold 4,588 F16s in the world, faces competition from its American rival Boeing (F/A-18E), Dassault Aviation of France (Rafale), Swedish plane Gripen by Saab and the Eurofighter.
All the companies have offered to set up a production facility here.
"But we are offering not only moving the lone production line to India but also meeting the global requirement through the same unit here," Howard said, adding it is a "win-win situation".
Arguing the F 16-Block 70 will be the best fighter aircraft in the Indian region, he said, "It is critical for you to pick up a partner who will deliver on his promise".
Howard said the company is having multiple discussions with the government here besides the industry and "they have not been told to go away", indicating the discussions are on.
He added Lockheed believes the production in India will also bring down the cost of the aircraft which in turn will increase its global demand.
Howard did not reply to questions on the kind of investment the company plans to make in the country and whether it would be looking at a 100 per cent FDI, saying it was too early to discuss this.
He said the aim of the company right now was to give maximum data to the government and the IAF so they can be helped in making an informed decision.
The company termed India as the "new epicenter of the world's most extensive, industrial defence network".
Company sources said besides catering to India's demand, they are also looking at a potential export order of another 100 aircraft.
Lockheed officials said the US Air Force will continue to fly F16s for decades to come.
They added the new avionics configuration is the largest leap in F16 combat capability and represents the most significant F16 upgrade till date.
The company said current order allows the production line in the US to stay open till late 2017. If a foreign order comes through, for which talks are on with the US government, the production line will be open till 2021.
Photograph: US Air Force | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/lockheed-martin-offers-to-build-f-16s-in-india-on-assured-orders-from-iaf/20160804.htm | en | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/21cbde8ff6f9230928d98cc18fd3e316a9fff7be8b7da895e7555c09de0a950b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:19:03 | null | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | Twenty people were killed on Saturday in rain-related incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan even as rivers continued to be in spate in Bihar. | 20 killed as heavy rains hit MP, Rajasthan | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Ftwenty-killed-as-heavy-rains-hit-mp-rajasthan%2F20160821.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/20flood01.jpg | en | null | 20 killed as heavy rains hit MP, Rajasthan | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 21, 2016 01:11 IST
Twenty people were killed on Saturday in rain-related incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan even as rivers continued to be in spate in Bihar.
Fifteen deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh since Friday evening as the Met department predicted more showers and sounded heavy downpour alert for some districts on Sunday.
IMAGE: People with their cattles shifting to a safer place as their houses submerged in flood water of River Ganga in Danapur, Patna. Photograph: PTI
Three Indian Air Force aircraft dropped food packets and medicines in flooded areas of Rewa district, collector Rahul Jain said.
Seven people, including a woman and four minors, were killed and three others injured when a house collapsed in Rahatgarh area of Sagar district.
Two people including an old woman were also killed and seven injured this noon when a newly-constructed building collapsed amid incessant rains at Maihar, Satna district of Madhya Pradesh.
A jeep carrying two persons was swept away in the swollen Betwa river as it tried to cross a bridge in Raisen district.
Three bodies were recovered from a nullah in Chhattarpur district. The victims were in a car which was washed away off a bridge on the flooded nullah on Friday.
In Rajasthan, five people died when their house collapsed in Phool Baroda village in Baran district due to incessant rains since Saturday morning that created flood-like situation in several areas in the state.
IMAGE: A multi story building collapsed in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. Photograph: PTI
Several people are feared stranded in Chabra, Chipabarode, Kawai, Harnavadashahaji areas as the Parvan, Parwati, Ujjad and other rivers are overflowing after the rains.
The army was called in the flood-affected areas of Baran district as senior officials also rushed to the spot.
At least 24 people were airlifted in Baran district and nearby areas. Several villages are inundated as water has entered buildings, houses and a private power plant in Baran.
Baran and nearby areas have been witnessing heavy rains since Friday.
Meanwhile, two youths were reported as having been swept away by strong current of water in Balapura Dam near Chipabarode town of Baran district. One of the youths was reportedly rescued hours later while the other is still missing and the search operation is underway.
IMAGE: People move through path submerged by flooded river Ganga on their bicycles. Photograph: PTI
The national capital experienced a humid day and the mercury too settled at two notches above normal.
"The maximum temperature was recorded at 35.9 degrees Celsius and minimum 27.6 degrees Celsius, both two notches above normal," a MeT official said adding the humidity levels oscillated between 85 and 60 per cent.
The rising water level of Ganga affected all the districts situated along the banks of the river in Bihar with riverbank areas of the districts bearing the brunt.
Ganga and five other rivers were flowing above danger mark in Patna, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Katihar, Siwan, Bhojpur and Buxar districts.
IMAGE: People shifting to a safe place for shelter. Photograph: PTI
More rain is likely to aggravate the flood-like situation in areas situated on the banks of the Ganga.
Rani Gupta (65) and Bablu Martin (45) were killed and five others injured when a three-storey building, constructed by the Madhya Pradesh Housing Board, collapsed in incessant rains at Maihar in Satna district at around 10 am on Saturday, collector Naresh Pal told PTI.
Prima facie it seemed that the sub-standard material used in the construction led to the collapse, Pal said, adding that 22 shops on the ground floor were constructed in 2013-14 while 20 flats on the second-third floors were built in 2014-15.
The building might not have withstood force of the water that had inundated the pavement for two-three days, the collector said, adding that rescue operation was still on, but according to the local people, only seven persons lived there.
Number of casualties was not high as the shops had not opened when it collapsed, and several flats had no one living there because the allotment process was still underway. Some labourers living in the building too had left for their homes for Rakshabandhan, the collector said.
IMAGE: A partially submerged police station due to heavy rains in Rewa. Photograph: PTI
Sanjay Singh Dhakat (35) and Padam Singh Bhadoria (40) who were returning from Bhopal in a jeep were swept away in the water flowing over a bridge on Betwa river on NH 146 in Raisen district last evening, said the Superintendent of Police Dipak Verma.
Bodies of Akshay Jain (22), Vabhav Jain (25) and N Jain (25), residents of Sagar district, were recovered from a nullah in Chhattarpur district on Saturday, Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Pandey said.
They were travelling in a car which was washed away while crossing a bridge over the swollen Chipa nullah.
Indian Meteorological Department's Bhopal Centre Director Dr Anupam Kashyapi said heavy downpour alert had been issued to Vidisha, Rajgarh, Raisen, Bhopal, Sehore, Sagar and Damoh districts for the next 24 hours. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/twenty-killed-as-heavy-rains-hit-mp-rajasthan/20160821.htm | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/86079b202abf23bb6a5304ef268f4cd71b6be7eb075cbaf7947a0e55ae9d096c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:33:01 | null | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | Four of the 226 boxes stacked with the cash were found tampered with. | Rs 5 cr of Rs 340 cr RBI cash transported by train stolen | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Frbi-cash-transported-by-train-stolen%2F20160809.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/10rewind09.jpg | en | null | Rs 5 cr of Rs 340 cr RBI cash transported by train stolen | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 10, 2016 04:00 IST
IMAGE: Forensic experts inspecting the roof of the train which was broken open by miscreants for robbing four boxes carrying Indian currencies at Egmore Railway Station in Chennai on Tuesday. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI
Rs 5 crore out of Rs 340 crore cash being sent to Reserve Bank of India in Chennai from Salem in Tamil Nadu was found stolen on Tuesday, police said.
A sum of Rs five crore had been stolen, Inspector General of Police M Ramasubramani told reporters hours after the incident came to light when four of the 226 boxes stacked with the cash were found tampered with on arrival of the train in Chennai.
Meanwhile, an RBI official said the train was carrying also soiled notes from Salem to Chennai in 226 boxes with a total value of Rs 340 crore.
“Out of the 226 wooden boxes, four boxes were found tampered with soon after the train reached Chennai from Salem,” the official said.
Police said an air-vent in one of the three cargo coaches in which the cash boxes were kept was found broken, triggering doubts that someone could have entered from its roof.
They suspect that culprits could have entered the coach on the Salem-Vriddhachalam section where trains don’t run on electricity but on diesel locomotives, making it easy for the robbers to make their way from the top.
Police said they were probing several angles, including how the theft could have happened despite police protection provided to the cash which had both currency notes printed prior to 2005 as well as soiled notes.
Currency notes printed prior to 2005 had been ordered to be exchanged by the central bank with June 30 last as the deadline. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/rbi-cash-transported-by-train-stolen/20160809.htm | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/ba644033c4211f89f5476020666d0cd7f11cb731afc2086f666086f40f2b7f93.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:32:26 | null | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | 'You cannot say that I have blocked a thousand Web sites (operated by IS) and so I am happy.'
'They will immediately open another thousand such Web sites.' | 'Neutralising IS modules has no easy solutions' | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Finterview%2Fneutralising-is-modules-has-no-easy-solutions%2F20160809.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/nov/18lead2.jpg | en | null | 'Neutralising IS modules has no easy solutions' | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 09, 2016 22:18 IST
'You cannot say that I have blocked a thousand Web sites (operated by IS) and so I am happy.'
'They will immediately open another thousand such Web sites.'
Praveen Dixit, below left, who recently retired as Maharashtra's director general of police, tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore about tackling terrorists who make use of social media to influence young minds.
What kind of problems do social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook pose for policing?
These are just platforms, technologies (used by criminals and terrorists). These are advanced systems that make the use of the Internet to enable criminal activities and terrorism.
But technology is neutral and the person using a given technology may have good or bad intentions and accordingly makes use of such technologies.
Some may use it for criminal activity; some may use it for wrong advocacies; it all depends on the mentality of people using these technologies.
One cannot find fault with a technology if it is used by wrong people for wrong purposes. But whenever people with such criminal intent are found they must be tackled according to existing laws.
What measures need to be taken or are taken to deal with such people?
Every city, including a big city like Mumbai, has a large number of cyber experts whose help should be sought to expose those using these technologies for criminal or terrorist activities.
Such activities can be brought to the notice of local police stations. Or, the police can and must co-opt cyber experts to find out more about the misuse of these technologies.
For example, a private service in Pune has opened a cyber helpline. It is possible that all victims of cyber crime may not go directly to the police.
Specifically speaking, how does one neutralise the influence of terrorist organisations like IS (Islamic State) have on young minds by using social media?
IS keeps on spreading their propaganda and attracting young minds across various spaces.
Once you notice their propaganda on a given Web site and you proceed to block it, they go for a new one the moment it is blocked.
You cannot say that I have blocked a thousand Web sites and so I am happy. They will immediately open another thousand such Web sites. It is an untiring, continuous process.
The other way to deal with such influence in India is to have thousands of police friends ('police mitra'), systematically ensconced in various localities in small groups, who can report directly to the police about any such incident of terror brainwashing.
The police, too, has its informants who are part and parcel of groups that indulge in such terror activities and anybody coming across any wrongdoing shares it with the police immediately.
Does the Maharashtra police have an advanced technological backbone to tackle IS propaganda on social media?
There is no problem here (in Maharashtra), though one can never say that we are foolproof and we are comprehensive. You have to take help of cyber experts, you have to take help of society and other people.
It is a collective effort and only through such efforts can this (neutralising the spread of IS propaganda online) happen.
In addition, we had also organised seminars for creating awareness in colleges and universities everywhere (across the state), where cyber experts, parents, teachers, and students would come together and they are sensitised about such things.
As far as IS is concerned, a lot of senior Muslim leaders have come forward and through whom these seminars and workshops have been organised in all the sensitive pockets in Maharashtra. And this has created a very good impact.
Is Parbhani (in Maharashtra) emerging as a hub for IS recruiters? Reports these days speak of IS 'commanders' being arrested from Parbhani.
It could be a specific module, which is being identified and neutralised.
One must understand that this (neutralising IS or any terror module that operates online) is a challenging area and there are no easy solutions.
ALSO READ | http://www.rediff.com/news/interview/neutralising-is-modules-has-no-easy-solutions/20160809.htm | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/661dade0faeeeed0c0246057d56cd5bea75becdcb181288d487cc560d989c226.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:20:35 | null | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | The coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have been reporting cases of cow vigilantism in the last several years. | BJP worker killed in cow vigilante attack in Karnataka | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fbjp-worker-killed-in-cow-vigilante-attack-in-karnataka%2F20160818.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/mar/19lead1.jpg | en | null | BJP worker killed in cow vigilante attack in Karnataka | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 18, 2016 17:06 IST
In a brutal incident of cow vigilantism, a Bharatiya Janata Party worker was killed and another person injured allegedly by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists who waylaid and attacked them near Hebri in this district last night.
Praveen Poojary (28) and Akshay Devadiga (20) were surrounded and attacked with sharp weapons by the VHP and Bajrang Dal activists as they were transporting three cows in a vehicle, Udupi district Superintendent of Police K T Balakrishna told PTI.
Poojary died instantly while Devadiga has been admitted to a hospital at Bramhavar, he said.
Seventeen people were arrested and a hunt was on to nab the others involved, he said.
The coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have been reporting cases of cow vigilantism in the last several years.
The incident comes days after the Union home ministry had cracked the whip on cow vigilantism, asking all states not to tolerate anyone taking law into their hands in the name of protecting cow and to take prompt action against such offenders.
The home ministry advisory had come two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked cow vigilantes and asked people to beware of these 'fake' protectors trying to divide the society and the country.
He made these comments after his government and BJP came under attack over incidents of violence against Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said prima facie cattle trade-related business dispute may be the reason behind the killing of the BJP worker.
"... Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with the incident, they (police) are suspecting some sort of a cattle trade-related business dispute," he told reporters in Bengaluru, adding police have taken up the case.
Noting that he does not see a communal angle to the incident "at this point of time", Parameshwara said "some reason must be there, we will find out".
He said "... We don't know at this stage, but they are suspecting some sort of a dispute because of the trade, it is not definite, but they are suspecting. Investigation will give us the final picture."
Parameshwara also expressed concern over repeated incidents relating to beef and cattle trade in Karnataka.
"We are vigilant, we will definitely try and maintain peace and order. I appeal to the people who are trying to create this kind of disturbance not to do this because we are a tolerant society and we should not create these kind of issues," he said. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/bjp-worker-killed-in-cow-vigilante-attack-in-karnataka/20160818.htm | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/bd3cc8de01a707212e16c035b569235f64081f0c55e17284f7fbebbb6233e532.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:18:49 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | 'Our longstanding position has always been that India and Pakistan stand to benefit from a normalisation of relations and practical cooperation, and so we would be encouraged that India and Pakistan continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions,' the US said. | US encourages India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fus-encourages-india-and-pakistan-to-engage-in-dialogue%2F20160823.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/jun/13modi-sharif.jpg | en | null | US encourages India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 23, 2016 08:53 IST
A direct dialogue between India and Pakistan is good for them and the region, the United States has said as it voiced support to meetings at any level between the two countries.
“We strongly support all efforts between India and Pakistan that can contribute to a more stable and prosperous region, and that includes meetings at any level between Indian and Pakistani officials,” State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said.
“Our longstanding position has always been that India and Pakistan stand to benefit from a normalisation of relations and practical cooperation, and so we would be encouraged that India and Pakistan continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions,” he added.
The State Department’s statement came days after India rejected Pakistan’s proposal to hold foreign secretary-level talks on Kashmir and asserted that it would like to discuss aspects related to cross-border terrorism which are central to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry’s invitation, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on August 17 expressed his willingness to travel to Islamabad but maintained Pakistan has no locus standi in addressing any aspect of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is an internal matter of India, except to put an end to cross-border terrorism and infiltration. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/us-encourages-india-and-pakistan-to-engage-in-dialogue/20160823.htm | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/ee92ca1382723bcd91fa3812597a28a29a788a3ad1d30cce3632257702e0e9ad.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:20:16 | null | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | Uppal was forced to write a confession saying he was 'part of ISIS, knew how to make bombs, and that he was going to blow up the school fence,' the suit alleges. | Muslim boy forced to falsely confess ISIS allegiance, claims lawsuit | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fmuslim-boy-forced-to-falsely-confess-isis-allegiance-claims-lawsuit%2F20160818.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/jul/14lead2.jpg | en | null | Muslim boy forced to falsely confess ISIS allegiance, claims lawsuit | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 18, 2016 16:33 IST
A 12-year-old Pakistani-American special needs student was forced by a school in New York to sign a false confession stating that he was part of ISIS and wanted to blow up the school fence, according to a USD 25 million (approximately Rs 167 crore) lawsuit filed by his family.
The Muslim family from Long Island has sued the East Islip Union Free School District for USD 25 million, saying their son Nashwan Uppal was taunted by his classmates as a "terrorist" and then was asked repeatedly by school officials if he was a terrorist, if he made bombs, if he knew who "Osama" was and if he was part of ISIS.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, claims Uppal, a Pakistani-American student, was sitting in the lunchroom of the East Islip Middle School on January 6 when other kids started asking him what he was going to "blow up next", the New York Post reported.
Uppal, who has severe learning and social disabilities, attempted to move to another table as adults in the lunchroom did nothing, according to the lawsuit, but the bullies followed him and continued their Islamophobic taunts.
The suit says, the next day, Uppal was pulled from gym class by Superintendent John Dolan, Principal Mark Bernard and Assistant Principal Jason Stanton, and interrogated.
"Stanton repeatedly asked Nashwan if he was a terrorist, and if he made bombs in his house," the suit says. When he said no, an increasingly irate Stanton allegedly bellowed, "Don't lie to us!"
A trembling Uppal was forced to write a confession saying he was "part of ISIS, knew how to make bombs, that he had bombs in his house, and that he was going to blow up the school fence," the suit alleges.
Officials eventually let him call his mother, Nubaisha Amar, who was told her son had pledged allegiance to ISIS and was going to blow up the school.
Police escorted mother and son back to their home before searching the entire house and concluding he was no threat. However, Uppal was suspended for a week for "criminal activity".
Attorney David Antwork said the boy was emotionally scarred.
"The defendants trampled on...Nashwan's civil rights, berated and humiliated him by forcing Nashwan to confess to crimes which he did not commit while ignoring the fact that he was incessantly bullied and had known social, language and learning disabilities," Antwork was quoted as saying.
The lawsuit also claims that Uppal suffered from "severe and extreme emotional distress" including "nightmares, sleeplessness, crying, fear, humiliation and stress" as a result of the incident. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/muslim-boy-forced-to-falsely-confess-isis-allegiance-claims-lawsuit/20160818.htm | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/435c26d8ee509cd42ac8bc40dd42b729ee262e0e3d61e2166cf7661064b237c7.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:15:20 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | During his visit, Rajnath will review the situation and may hold talks with cross section of people. | Amidst tensions, HM Rajnath to visit troubled Kashmir Valley on Wednesday | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Famidst-tensions-hm-rajnath-to-visit-troubled-kashmir-valley%2F20160823.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/23rajnath-1.jpg | en | null | Amidst tensions, HM Rajnath to visit troubled Kashmir Valley on Wednesday | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 23, 2016 16:30 IST
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday during which he will review the situation and may hold talks with cross section of people, a move which comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed "deep concern and pain" over the situation there.
This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the valley which has been witnessing unrest since July 8 when Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.
As many as 65 people, including two policemen, have been killed and several thousand were injured so far in different violence.
The home minister had said the Centre wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based.
Singh had said the central government will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state.
"As far as the government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state.
On Monday, while meeting a joint opposition delegation led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Modi had expressed his "deep concern and pain" over the situation there and asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in Jammu and Kashmir.
Photograph: PIB | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/amidst-tensions-hm-rajnath-to-visit-troubled-kashmir-valley/20160823.htm | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/32a01e73dc1874d145ac78bb04089057a2882f94e9f08ddb456cd4318f8bf7a7.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:26:39 | null | 2016-08-13T00:00:00 | The documents obtained from the cyberattack on Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was released by a hacker known as Guccifer 2.0. | Democrats hacked again! | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fdemocrats-hacked-again-mail-accounts%2F20160813.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/13lead4.jpg | en | null | Democrats hacked again! | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 13, 2016 13:27 IST
Hacker has released personal data of 200 Democratic leaders.
A hacker believed to be linked to Russia has posted cellphone numbers and other personal information of nearly 200 current and former congressional Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, in the latest public disclosure of sensitive records.
The documents obtained from the cyberattack on Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was released by a hacker known as Guccifer 2.0.
Researchers believe Guccifer 2.0 is a front for a prominent hacking group with ties to the Russian military intelligence agency, dubbed 'Fancy Bear'.
The Hill said the hacking is widely believed to be the work of Russian hackers.
"Word began to spread Friday evening among Democrats whose personal information was posted, and several became furious, a congressional staffer said. Not all the information appeared to be correct, as at least one email address listed on the spreadsheet was no longer current," The Wall Street Journal said.
In its tweet, Guccifer 2.0 said that it would provide "the major trove" of stolen information from the DCCC, including emails, to WikiLeaks, the daily said.
"The same Twitter account sent a message to The Wall Street Journal on Friday evening that said the hacker had acted alone, not as part of a team," the daily said.
The cellphone numbers of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland were among the information posted.
The posting of the cellphone numbers and personal email addresses of members of Congress has national security implications. Included in the spreadsheet were the personal information of members of the House Intelligence, Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. Foreign spies could use that information to try to intercept sensitive communications, the Journal said.
The DCCC breach was reported late last month. In June, Guccifer claimed responsibility for hacking the Democratic National Committee and posting an opposition research document of Donald Trump online.
A number of US intelligence officials believe the most likely culprit for stealing the DCCC data, as well as a large batch of records from the Democratic National Committee, are hackers backed by the Russian government.
Image: US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton looks at a computer screen during a campaign stop at Atomic Object company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photograph: Carlos Barria/File Photo/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/democrats-hacked-again-mail-accounts/20160813.htm | en | 2016-08-13T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/cbf124ddb25a36b46cfd376a2fb276b9c2a931966e04f2b7ce9f77133dba71b1.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:14:24 | null | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | Prime accused Salim Bawariya and his two associates were produced in the court by CBI on the last day of their three-day remand. | Bulandshahr rape: 3 accused sent to jail custody | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fbulandshahr-rape-3-accused-sent-to-jail-custody%2F20160824.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/oct/06rape.jpg | en | null | Bulandshahr rape: 3 accused sent to jail custody | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 24, 2016 03:35 IST
A fast-track court sent to jail custody the three accused in the case of gang-rape of a woman and her teenaged daughter, after their three-day CBI remand ended on Tuesday.
Prime accused Salim Bawariya and his two associates were produced in the court by CBI on the last day of their three-day remand.
The counsel of the accused said that they were innocent and were being framed in the case and accused the CBI of not presenting the material seized by the police during their investigation.
The court ordered the CBI to deposit with it the items recovered from the accused. The counsel also sought lie-detector test of the accused.
The case was transferred to CBI on the instructions of the Allahabad High Court.
The woman and her 13-year-old daughter were gang-raped while they were travelling in a car from Noida to Shahjahanpur on the intervening night of July 29-30. The incident took place on the national highway passing through Bulandshahr. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/bulandshahr-rape-3-accused-sent-to-jail-custody/20160824.htm | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/2d3102c15049490a99cc1808043e696315216e7057154cbae46b7b39f62c92f6.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T16:51:47 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | Claiming to be innocent, he said he might have some information which could enable the Indian authorities to progress with their probe into the scandal. | Chopper scam: Middleman says he'll meet Indian cops in Dubai | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fchopper-scam-middleman-says-hell-meet-indian-cops-in-dubai%2F20160829.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/29michel1.jpg | en | null | Chopper scam: Middleman says he'll meet Indian cops in Dubai | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 29, 2016 20:31 IST
Embattled middleman in the VVIP chopper scam Christian James Michel has written to Central Bureau of Investigation, saying he is willing to meet with Indian investigators in Dubai and has sought the withdrawal of Interpol Red Corner Notice against him in case the meeting takes place.
In the letter to CBI on August 25, the English law firm representing him, said Michel is ready for a meeting at the Indian consulate in Dubai too.
Claiming to be innocent, he said he might have some information which could enable the Indian authorities to progress with their probe into the scandal.
Michel, against whom there exists a non-bailable warrant, said he is reluctant to come to India for the proposed questioning as he fears that “a long period of time might elapse”, between his questioning and withdrawal of criminal charges or conclusion of criminal trial, during which he will be detained against his wish.
“Michel vigorously denies having been involved in any wrongdoing relating to this matter -- and in particular, we are instructed that he denies making or facilitating any
corrupt payments to inducements relating to this matter,” the letter read.
The British national has also claimed that he has not received any communication from the Indian authority regarding the charge sheet against him in court and the issuance of non-bailable warrant.
Subject to certain conditions, Michel has offered to return to India not less than seven days before the scheduled start of any criminal trial against him and attend every court hearing which he might be required to attend “until his innocence or guilt has been established”.
The conditions for the same are that within two days of the meeting with investigators in Dubai or through video conference, they shall ask Interpol to withdraw the Red Corner Notice against him as long as he sticks to his promise of appearing in court.
He also wants that no authority shall arrest or otherwise detain him in relation to this matter until he is found guilty and subsequently sentenced.
Michel had allegedly played a key role in swinging the Rs 3,727-crore deal for AgustaWestland to supply 12 VVIP choppers to India in 2010.
AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, allegedly paid more than Rs 370 crore as kickbacks to secure the deal. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/chopper-scam-middleman-says-hell-meet-indian-cops-in-dubai/20160829.htm | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/9a87f459dd16b33245a7ee91d9bab84436e2aed509fa04db2a45544f0a48e754.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:38:16 | null | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | Few leaders have been more defined by their speeches as the current leader of the free world. | 7 Obama speeches that made us go 'wow' | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fseven-obama-speeches-that-made-us-go-wow%2F20160804.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/jul/29obama1.jpg | en | null | 7 Obama speeches that made us go 'wow' | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 04, 2016 09:04 IST
What will Barack Obama be most remembered for?
His style, his policies?
Maybe, maybe not.
Few leaders have been more defined by their speeches as the current leader of the free world.
Obama gave his final Democratic convention speech as President on July 28 and brought the crowd to their feet.
His speeches have both glimpses of his unusual personal narrative and his sweeping vision for America.
Obama turns 56 today, August 4, and we mark the occasion with the times the US president left his audience amazed at his oratory.
1. Keynote address to the Democratic National Convention, 2004
When Obama delivered this 17-minute speech, he was running for the US Senate. His rousing words, rooted in optimism, is arguably the finest political speech in recent American history.
2. A More Perfect Union, 2008
In 2008, when America witnessed protests, police shootings and inflammatory political rhetoric (much as it, alas, does now) the junior Senator from Illinois -- the outsider (Hillary Clinton was the frontrunner, remember?) vying for the Democratic party presidential nomination -- drew on the history of his nation and his family to explore the complex issues of race and discrimination.
The Pew Research Centre called the speech 'arguably the biggest political event of the campaign,' while The New Yorker magazine felt the speech helped elect Obama President.
3. A New Beginning, the Cairo address in 2009
After assuming office, President Obama wanted to signal a clean break with the Bush administration's policies towards the Arab and Muslim worlds (the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan) and proclaim a new beginning based not on military might and intervention, but on 'dialogue.'
Then acclaimed by the Muslim world, the eloquent speech was, however, felled later by the complexities and realpolitik of the Middle East and Islamist radicalism.
4. Together We Thrive: Tucson and America memorial
Perhaps the most moving moment of Obama's first term as President came when he spoke at the memorial for victims of the shooting in Arizona that killed nine people and injured 13, including US Congresswoman Gabby Gifford.
Obama, who teared up at one point and had to collect himself, rose above the intensely partisan political discourse, calling for a new era in civility in America.
5. 50th anniversary of the Selma March, 2015
Fifty years after those marches for equality and the end to racial discrimination, Obama -- whose father was black and mother was white -- spoke of the turbulence in the 1950s and 1960s that led to the march on Selma (which was led by Dr Martin Luther King, Jr) and reminded Americans that the legacy of Selma was that there is still work to do, bringing blacks and whites together.
6. The 2015 Charleston shooting eulogy
Obama delivered the eulogy for the victims of the June 2015 Charleston shooting, where a white supremacist murdered nine members of a black church.
The President spoke of the safe space the black church had been throughout the centuries-long struggle for civil rights, leaving his audience in Charleston and indeed worldwide moved by the sheer power of his words.
7. Remarks at the Democratic Convention, 2016
Twelve years after he first addressed the Democratic National Convention, Obama said he felt more optimistic about the nation's future than he did when he first took office.
He credited it, in part, to his supporters and asked them to 'carry' Hillary Clinton to the Oval Office and after, the way they carried him all this time.
And this is why Obama is the king of mic drops... | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/seven-obama-speeches-that-made-us-go-wow/20160804.htm | en | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/2cdac59211cf7f1d0f7555a6a8830b864e5f834fef9b3ae7f8ff6416164b46dc.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:41:03 | null | 2016-08-02T00:00:00 | China will be the nuclear threat of most concern to New Delhi for at least another decade, the latest report by the Arms Control Association says. | Asia's nuclear stockpile is worryingly growing | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Findia-has-120-nuclear-warheads-but-pak-has-130-china-230%2F20160802.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/02nuke.jpg | en | null | Asia's nuclear stockpile is worryingly growing | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 02, 2016 11:22 IST
China will be the nuclear threat of most concern to New Delhi for at least another decade, the latest report by the Arms Control Association says.
Greg Thielmann and David Logan -- authors of the report titled The complex and increasingly dangerous nuclear weapons geometry of Asia -- say that that the nuclear arsenals and ambitions of India, Pakistan, and China pose significant dangers and deserve more attention.
While Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is designed to counter India’s conventional and nuclear forces, New Delhi measures its own nuclear weapons programme against that of China.
Beijing, in turn, judges the adequacy of its nuclear arsenal against the threat it perceives from the United States' strategic offensive and defensive capabilities. And in its efforts to mitigate the ballistic missile threat from North Korea, the United States and its allies in the region are expanding their strategic and theater missile defense capabilities.
The complicated nuclear weapons geometry of Asia thus extends from the subcontinent to the other side of the world.
Here's what the report states about the three Asian nuclear powers:
India
Nuclear stockpile: 120 warheads
What the report says about India:
* Even though India has now flight-tested ballistic missiles that can reach over the Himalayas to target China’s largest cities, it remains a regional nuclear weapons power. Although India has long aspired to build a nuclear triad, its nuclear forces today still essentially constitute a dyad based on attack aircraft carrying gravity bombs and short-and medium range ballistic missiles, mostly based on land.
* During the next decade, it is likely that India will be able to deploy significant numbers of longer-range, land-based ballistic missiles, the Agni-4 (3,500+ km range) and Agni-5 (5,200+ km range), which will be able to cover targets throughout China. (See the table below to see India's nuclear strength)
* India's stockpile of fissile materials is estimated to include 5.7 tons of weapon-grade plutonium for non-civilian purposes and 3.2 tons of HEU -- although part of India's HEU is reserved for naval propulsion.
* Due to technical realities and doctrinal inclinations, India's nuclear forces will remain an inherently secondstrike system against China and Pakistan for the foreseeable future -- even if it is perceived otherwise in Islamabad.
* More than is the case with India’s two potential nuclear antagonists, New Delhi wields its nuclear weapons to enhance its prestige and to gain leverage for winning "a seat at the high table" among the NPT nuclear-weapon states. Equating nuclear weapons prowess with prestige also means that India will be tempted to pursue technological advances in its capabilities whether or not they are required to assure the viability of its nuclear deterrent.
China
Nuclear stockpile: 230 warheads
What the report says about China:
* There is little evidence that China is very concerned with Indian nuclear forces -- or with the massive nuclear arsenal of Russia, which from a technical standpoint, potentially poses a much larger threat.
* Just over ten years ago, most of China's nuclear-armed missiles and all of its ICBMs were liquid-fueled, silo-based, and each capable of carrying only one very heavy warhead. Today, China’s missiles are increasingly solid-fueled, road-mobile, and capable of carrying multiple warheads.
* Over the last decade, China has added more than 50 nuclear warheads to its ICBM forces capable of hitting the US mainland; within another decade, the number could well exceed 100. (See the table below to see China's nuclear strength)
* Although there is not yet evidence that China's political leadership has altered any of its core beliefs about nuclear weapons, nor that the newly-created PLA Rocket Force command implies a change in nuclear doctrine, the modernization and expansion of Chinese nuclear weapons may be harbingers of such changes down the road.
* A larger, more sophisticated Chinese nuclear arsenal, at a higher alert level, could also spur both horizontal and vertical proliferation by potentially prompting Japan or Korea to consider their own nuclear programs or motivating India to further expand its growing nuclear arsenal.
Pakistan
Nuclear stockpile: 130 warheads
What the report says about Pakistan:
* Whatever the role of national pride in motivating their initial development, Islamabad wields them today primarily to compensate for the growing conventional military superiority of India. As India increases its conventional military edge and economic power, Pakistan will rely more and more on its nuclear forces to counter conventional threats from India.
* As of the end of 2014, Pakistan was estimated to have accumulated a stockpile of about 0.19 tons of plutonium and 3.1 tons of HEU. With four reactors (Khushab-I, -II, -III, and -IV) now believed to be operational,23 Pakistan is adding 0.04 tons of weapons grade plutonium to its inventory annually. (See the table below to see Pakistan's nuclear strength)
* Pakistan has six types of operational nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and at least two more under development. It has also deployed nuclearcapable, air-launched cruise missiles, is testing ground launched cruise missiles, and apparently plans to develop and deploy sea-launched cruise missiles as well.
* Military planners in Pakistan are convinced of its utility by the advocacy of some Indian planners for a "Cold Start" doctrine that would permit Indian forces to seize territory in response to a provocation before Pakistan had a chance to fully mobilize.
* Alone among Asian nuclear-weapon states, Pakistan faces serious challenges to the security of its nuclear weapons stockpiles. Terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba, the Pakistani Taliban, and the al-Qaeda affiliate Jaish-eMohammed, operate out of Pakistan and are supported by some elements of the Pakistani government, like the Inter Services Intelligence directorate. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/india-has-120-nuclear-warheads-but-pak-has-130-china-230/20160802.htm | en | 2016-08-02T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/06d73d722e5014ca6b593190534c5b17d04d33eaa97df1ed18cfcb2f34bd1e5e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:33:56 | null | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | A fresh search operation, involving multiple agencies and local divers, will be launched on Saturday morning | Mahad bridge collapse: 8 more bodies recovered; toll rises to 22 | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fmahad-bridge-collapse-search-continues-more-bodies-recovered%2F20160805.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/05mahad2.jpg | en | null | Mahad bridge collapse: 8 more bodies recovered; toll rises to 22 | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 05, 2016 23:48 IST
Eight more bodies were recovered on Friday during search operation in the Savitri river, where two state-run buses and some private vehicles were swept away after a British-era bridge collapsed in Mahad, taking the toll in the tragedy to 22 as hopes for survivors faded.
"Eight more bodies from different locations in the river were recovered and the toll has now gone up to 22. Of these, 17 are males and five females," said Satish Bagal, Resident Deputy Collector of Raigad district.
A fresh search operation, involving multiple agencies and local divers, will be launched on Saturday morning, he said.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday night at Mahad, about 170km from Mumbai, when two state-run buses and some private vehicles fell into the swollen river following collapse of a British-era bridge on Mumbai-Goa Highway.
Of the 22 victims, 10 were in Rajapur-Borivili bus while seven travelling in Jaigad-Mumbai bus, both belonging to State Transport Corporation.
Six of the deceased belonged to Mumbai and its neighbouring suburbs of Virar and Nalasopara, while five hailed from Chiplun town in Ratnagiri district, he told the media.
The bodies of Shrikant Kamble, the driver of Jaigad-Mumbai bus, and Prabhakar Shirke, the conductor of Rajapur-Borivili bus, have also been recovered, the official said.
Two of the deceased -- Shewanti Mirgal and Sampada Vaze -- were travelling in a private Tavera vehicle.
Divisional Commissioner Tanaji Satre and Guardian Minister of Raigad district Prakash Mehta supervised the search operation, said Bagal.
Twenty boats and nearly 160 personnel from Coast Guard, NDRF and Navy were deployed in the search operation, Raigad Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjay Patil said, adding the district administration was also taking help of local fishermen.
The local police were providing all logistical and technical support to the jawans, he said.
Another senior police official said some of the bodies were recovered as far as about 120 km from the mishap site. He said the search operation will continue till the remains of the buses and other vehicles are found.
"We have extended the area of search operation and alerted local residents and appealed them to inform us if they spot anything floating in the water," he said, adding heavy rains were hampering the exercise.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the government will give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased. The government has already announced the kin of the deceased staff members of the two state-run buses would either be given job or compensation of Rs 10 lakh each.
Images: Rescue operations continue at the periphery of the site of bridge collapse. Photographs: Sahil Salvi/Rediff.com | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/mahad-bridge-collapse-search-continues-more-bodies-recovered/20160805.htm | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/07e1cc7f60a9ba3f259069de8fb2588774347f2a969b55c6c1fafc8af8bf3344.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:19:37 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | An Indian-origin woman faces 25 years to life in prison in the United States for strangling her 9-year-old stepdaughter to death as federal prosecutors charged her with the murder and her ex-husband for obstructing the
investigation. | Indian-origin woman faces life term in US for killing 9-yr-old stepdaughter | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Findian-origin-woman-faces-life-term-in-us-for-killing-9-yr-old-stepdaughter%2F20160822.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2011/jun/30baghel6.jpg | en | null | Indian-origin woman faces life term in US for killing 9-yr-old stepdaughter | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 22, 2016 13:45 IST
An Indian-origin woman faces 25 years to life in prison in the United States for strangling her 9-year-old step-daughter to death as federal prosecutors charged her with the murder and her ex-husband for obstructing the investigation.
Arjun Shamdai Pardas, 55, was arraigned on Sunday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Gerald Lebovits on a criminal complaint charging her with one count of second-degree murder -- an intentional killing that is not premeditated -- of Ashdeep Kaur.
Pardas, who faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, was ordered held without bail.
She will return to court on September 2.
Pardas' former husband Raymond Narayan, 65, is being held on charges of obstructing governmental administration and faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Pardas' actions are "beyond comprehension" and she will be brought to book.
"This is a horrifying case of a child, a defenceless nine-year-old, who was left in the care of her stepmother who allegedly strangled her to death. Her actions, if true, are beyond comprehension and must be severely punished," Brown said.
Queens Assistant District Attorney Michael Curtis said Pardas repeatedly and on numerous occasions threatened to kill the victim, "most recently doing so this past Tuesday. On Friday, she made good on that threat."
Ashdeep had arrived in the US from India three months ago and was living with her father Sukhjinder Singh and Pardas in an apartment in Queens that was shared with another couple.
The housemate had seen Ashdeep go in the bathroom with Pardas, who later came out alone and left the building. She allegedly said that Ashdeep was taking a bath.
The charges added that on the evening of August 19, the housemate saw Pardas leaving the house along with Narayan, and her two grandchildren aged 3 and 5.
When the housemate asked Pardas about Ashdeep, she allegedly said that the child was in the bathroom and was waiting for her father to pick her up.
The housemate had observed that the bathroom light had been on for several hours and called Ashdeep's father.
She was instructed to break open the bathroom door at which time she found Ashdeep's lifeless naked body in the bathtub. There were several bruises on her body.
A report filed by the medical examiner's office determined that the cause of death was manual strangulation.
It is further alleged that New York Police Depratment detectives went to Narayan's residence and found him, Pardas and the two grandchildren inside the apartment.
Pardas refused to come out and refused to allow entry to the police for over one hour.
Narayan later opened the door and both defendants were apprehended.
Ashdeep's relatives said the young girl had been previously allegedly abused by Pardas, who had been entrusted with her care while Singh worked in a local restaurant. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/indian-origin-woman-faces-life-term-in-us-for-killing-9-yr-old-stepdaughter/20160822.htm | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/04d169f8c280c006825dd81e9d03f2ce17c7fd9768fb8c3ce51ca86fda15bb0b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:17:17 | null | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | Amnesty International India has never involved itself in any kind of anti-national activities, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Saturday, even as it faced sedition charges over an event held by it in Bengaluru in which anti-India and anti-Army slogans were allegedly raised. | Karnataka home minister gives clean chit to Amnesty | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fkarnataka-home-minister-gives-clean-chit-to-amnesty%2F20160820.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/may/04keralarape.jpg | en | null | Karnataka home minister gives clean chit to Amnesty | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 20, 2016 20:43 IST
Amnesty International India has never involved itself in any kind of anti-national activities, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Saturday, even as it faced sedition charges over an event held by it in Bengaluru in which anti-India and anti-Army slogans were allegedly raised.
"Amnesty International is not new to Bengaluru; this organisation has been functioning here for a long time. I don't know nor I have heard in the past about it (Amnesty) or anyone from it involving in any anti-national activities," he said.
"They (Amnesty) had organised a programme about Army's excesses in Kashmir. They had called a few families (from Kashmir) to console them and give them some sort of mental support, in which certain incidents took place about which an FIR has been registered," he said.
Amnesty International had on Saturday last organised the event as part of a campaign to seek justice for "victims of human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir, which took an ugly turn with heated exchanges and alleged raising of pro-Kashmir 'Independence' and anti-Army slogans.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists had submitted a CD containing video recording of the event after filing a complaint with police, who have registered an FIR against Amnesty International, including on sedition charge.
IPC sections-- 142 (being member of an unlawful assembly), 143 (whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) have been invoked against Amnesty.
Criticising the BJP and the ABVP for holding protests, Parameshwara said now that an FIR had been registered, the ABVP were holding protests on the streets.
"What is your culture? What are you trying to do? What kind of society are you trying to build?"
"They (protesters) are students, they are not aware of anything, those who had gone for classes are being brought forcefully (to protest), this is BJP's culture," he added.
ABVP activists have been staging protests, demanding the arrest of those who allegedly raised anti-India and anti-Army slogans at the event organised by Amnesty International India.
During one such protest in front of Amnesty International India office on Friday, police resorted to a mild lathi charge during which a few students were injured.
The ABVP on Saturday intensified its agitation by launching a day-night protest in Bengaluru.
Several state BJP leaders and party's women's wing also staged a protest here condemning police action against ABVP activists and demanding arrest of those involved in alleged anti-Army sloganeering. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/karnataka-home-minister-gives-clean-chit-to-amnesty/20160820.htm | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/82e6dfaecc9a69367f4647966d5aa168ee67e314f751defa4dd33c02f5060004.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T08:52:16 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | 'They did not provide treatment to my son. They didn't even provide me a stretcher. I was running from here to there carrying my son on my shoulder,' a teary Sunil said. | Boy dies on father's shoulder after being denied medical help in Kanpur | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fboy-dies-on-fathers-shoulder-after-being-denied-medical-help-in-kanpur%2F20160830.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/30kanpur1.jpg | en | null | Boy dies on father's shoulder after being denied medical help in Kanpur | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 30, 2016 13:09 IST
Deteriorating health facilities at hospitals in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have been magnified by the death of a 12-year-old boy on his father’s shoulder because he was denied timely access to medical facilities at different hospitals.
The incident took place on August 26 when Ansh, a resident of Kanpur’s Fazalganj area, was admitted to a medical facility with high fever.
After being treated in private hospitals for two days, his father finally took him to the Hallet Hospital. Doctors at the hospital told the father to take Ansh to the children’s ward, but by the time Ansh’s father, Sunil, carried Ansh to the children’s ward, the 12-year-old boy died.
“My son had high fever... He was studying in class sixth. He was very good at his studies. Doctors at the children’s ward told me had I arrived 10 minutes before, my son would have been saved,” the father said carrying his dead son on his shoulder.
“It is negligence on the part of Hallet Hospital. They did not provide treatment to my son. They didn’t even provide me a stretcher. I was running from here to there carrying my son on my shoulder,” a teary Sunil said.
The incident comes close on the heels of Dana Majhi incident in Kalahandi district of Odisha in which Majhi had to carry his dead wife on his shoulders, as the hospital allegedly denied him a vehicle to carry the body back home.
Photograph: ANI/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/boy-dies-on-fathers-shoulder-after-being-denied-medical-help-in-kanpur/20160830.htm | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/ace53286c6b9bf229f74115ee8ab1ccef7bd20802702eb6ebccbf674f6965195.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:28:35 | null | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | United States-backed Libyan forces said they captured the Islamic State group's headquarters in Sirte on Wednesday, the militants' final bastion in Libya. | Libya pro-government forces seize IS headquarters in Sirte | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Flibyan-forces-seize-is-hq-in-sirte%2F20160811.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/11libya.jpg | en | null | Libya pro-government forces seize IS headquarters in Sirte | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 11, 2016 04:41 IST
United States-backed Libyan forces said they captured the Islamic State group's headquarters in Sirte on Wednesday, the militants' final bastion in Libya.
IS fighters remained in several parts of the city, officials said, but seizing control of their headquarters has been the key goal of the forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord.
The taking of the headquarters followed rapid gains by pro-government forces through the city on Wednesday and after the United States last week launched air strikes on IS positions in Sirte at the GNA's request.
The city's fall to IS in June last year raised deep concerns in the West, with fears the jihadists were gaining an important foothold just across the Mediterranean from Europe.
"The Ouagadougou centre is in our hands," the operations centre for pro-GNA forces said, referring to the Sirte conference centre where IS had set up base.
Reda Issa, a spokesman for the forces, said IS jihadists remained in three residential areas of the city and in a villa complex near the seafront.
"The announcement of the liberation (of Sirte) will only be made once the entire city is liberated," he said.
The militants seized control of the city, the hometown of Libya's former dictator Gaddafi, in 2015.
IMAGE: Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government fire weapons during a battle with IS fighters in Sirte, Libya. Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/libyan-forces-seize-is-hq-in-sirte/20160811.htm | en | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/5ec9241de0ab3f6743102a593df79f134a2a2be3f16995347a35574bdd7c8a9c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:02:22 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | Rejecting the judicial commission's report on Rohith Vemula's suicide as 'fake and fictitious', the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman P L Punia on Wednesday said the deceased Hyderabad Univeristy research scholar was a Dalit. | 'Rohit Vemula was Dalit; commission's findings fake' | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Frohit-vemula-was-dalit-commissions-findings-fake%2F20160825.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/jan/19lead1.jpg | en | null | 'Rohit Vemula was Dalit; commission's findings fake' | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 25, 2016 21:36 IST
Rejecting the judicial commission's report on Rohith Vemula’s suicide as "fake and fictitious", the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman P L Punia on Wednesday said the deceased Hyderabad Univeristy research scholar was a Dalit.
Punia's remarks came in response to the reports that the one-man judicial commission of former judge of Allahabad high court A K Roopanwal, has observed that Vemula did not belong to the Scheduled Caste community.
"The commission was formed to find out why Rohit Vemula committed suicide and who were responsible for his death. Instead of working as per the mandate, the commission was trying to find out the caste of Vemula which is unfortunate," said Punia, Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
"Its findings are fake and fictitious. The final authority on caste is District Collector, and the Collector with conclusive evidences has given us report that he is a Scheduled Caste (person) and does not belong backward class," Punia added.
Amid a nation-wide outrage on educational campuses over Vemula's suicide, the Roopanwal commission was constituted to probe the reasons for it. Vemula had been suspended by the university a few days before he committed suicide.
The Roopanwal panel had recently submitted its report to the UGC. Though its contents are yet to be made public officially, some reports said the commission has held Vemula was not a Dalit.
Punia said the suicide by the Dalit scholar was "painful and unfortunate". Vemula had committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of a hostel room in the university.
The suicide by Vemula had triggered a huge political storm with opposition parties launching a massive attack on the Union government over the issue. They also accused the university authorities of mishandling the situation, which led to Vemula's suicide. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/rohit-vemula-was-dalit-commissions-findings-fake/20160825.htm | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/abe04367fe964454561653c9759869e593f4d1ed5dce979997cc84224fb75b6b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:19:22 | null | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | Rajiv Gandhi had made the comment following the anti-Sikh riots which broke out after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. The comment had created a major controversy. | WB Congress tweets infamous Rajiv Gandhi quote, courts controversy | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwb-congress-tweets-infamous-rajiv-gandhi-quote-courts-controversy%2F20160820.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/20rajiv1.jpg | en | null | WB Congress tweets infamous Rajiv Gandhi quote, courts controversy | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 20, 2016 15:36 IST
The West Bengal unit of Congress was on Saturday left red faced after a controversial comment made by Rajiv Gandhi following 1984 anti-Sikh riots was posted from its official Twitter handle on the former prime minister’s birth anniversary, but the party claimed its account was hacked.
IMAGE: Following his mother's assassination, Rajiv Gandhi had said, 'When a big tree falls, the ground shakes'. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images
The tweet on WBPCC Twitter handle said, “When a big tree falls, the ground shakes #BharatRatnaRajivGandhi.” It was later removed by WBPCC.
Rajiv Gandhi had made the comment following the anti-Sikh riots which broke out after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. The comment had created a major controversy.
When contacted, the state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury claimed that the official Twitter handle has been hacked and the comment has been posted with an intention to malign Rajiv Gandhi and Congress.
IMAGE: President Pranab Mukherjee pays homage to the former PM at Vir Bhoomi, in Delhi. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
“This tweet was not posted by anyone from the Congress who handles our Twitter account. Somebody hacked the official Twitter handle and posted this tweet. This is being done with the intention to malign Rajiv Gandhi and Congress.
“We condemn such attempts and we have decided to lodge a police complaint against hacking of our account,” state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said.
IMAGE: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi at Rajiv Gandhi's memorial on his 72nd birth anniversary. Photograph: @officeofRG/Twitter
The nation on Saturday remembered Rajiv Gandhi on his 72nd birth anniversary with President Pranab Mukherjee and other leaders paying tributes to him at his memorial in New Delhi. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/wb-congress-tweets-infamous-rajiv-gandhi-quote-courts-controversy/20160820.htm | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/bbb5b40fad50cc101fe68259bcaf26cc01134080c51022976660f482dfee31f2.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:17:43 | null | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | The Congress leader has been targeting the BJP and Sangh, accusing them of pursuing a divisive agenda. | Rahul Gandhi makes veiled attack at BJP, says some prefer divided India | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Frahul-gandhi-makes-veiled-attack-at-bjp-says-some-prefer-divided-india%2F20160820.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/20rahulg.jpg | en | null | Rahul Gandhi makes veiled attack at BJP, says some prefer divided India | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 20, 2016 22:27 IST
Rahul Gandhi on Saturday made a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sangh Parivar, saying there are forces which are promoting disharmony and are seeking a "divided and divisive" India.
"Unfortunately, there are also those that prefer a divided and divisive India, out of tune with itself and the world. They seek to spread disharmony. These are the forces that wish to break the bonds between us.
"There are, unfortunately in India today, men and women who actively promote disharmony, who humiliate and separate, who isolate and kill. But though the few may feel they are thriving in India today, we are proud to honor you ma'am and the many millions like you, who stand for everyone," the Congress vice president said.
Gandhi's remarks came at a function at which the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award 2014-15 was conferred on noted Hindustani classical singer Shubha Mudgal for her outstanding contribution towards the promotion of communal harmony, peace and goodwill. The award carries a citation and cash award of Rs 10 lakh.
The Congress leader has been targeting the BJP and Sangh, accusing them of pursuing a divisive agenda.
Gandhi hailed Mudgal for using her art to bring millions of people together.
"Her songs have broken barriers and brought harmony to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. My father Rajiv Gandhi did the same in politics. He carried millions of people together, bringing India closer and allowing it to imagine a collective dream," he said.
He insisted that India has achieved what it has precisely because millions of people have chosen to live in harmony together. "India in harmony with itself is musical."
Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not attend the function as she is recovering after illness. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leader Karan Singh, who is the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Award, hailed the contribution of Mudgal.
In her acceptance speech, Mudgal said that in giving the award to her, the composite culture of India is being honoured. The Hindustani classical music truly reflects sadbhavna and harmony, she said.
Manmohan Singh said that Rajiv Gandhi was "embodiment" of sadbhavana, love and compassion.
Photographs: @OfficeOfRG/Twitter | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/rahul-gandhi-makes-veiled-attack-at-bjp-says-some-prefer-divided-india/20160820.htm | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/340b7fd80e23caa2d518de8df95ab2212589b3977c1cab0748d1cd995e78403c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:25:21 | null | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | 'While China expressed reservations on the Indian role in the South China Sea, Beijing threw to the winds Indian concerns on Kashmir by announcing $46 billion in investments Pakistan occupied Kashmir,' says Srikanth Kondapalli. | India must tell China it is playing with fire | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Fcolumn%2Findia-must-tell-china-it-is-playing-with-fire%2F20160812.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/apr/18sushma2.jpg | en | null | India must tell China it is playing with fire | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 12, 2016 17:01 IST
'While China expressed reservations on the Indian role in the South China Sea, Beijing threw to the winds Indian concerns on Kashmir by announcing $46 billion in investments Pakistan occupied Kashmir,' says Srikanth Kondapalli.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting New Delhi primarily to prepare the draft of the joint statements by mutual consultations at the G-20 summit meeting in Hangzhou and the BRICS meeting in Goa. Despite the recent stepped-up high-level leaderships visits to each other, India and China are straddled with a number of contentious issues.
Both China and India have been cooperating in the G20 process since its inception, mainly in opposing Western trade protectionist measures, for uninterrupted investment flows and restructuring of the Bretton Woods institutions to accommodate the emerging economies. These issues have become acute since the spread of the global financial crisis from 2007 onwards.
Apart from deliberating on these, Wang's brief is also to thwart any discussion at the G20 summit on last month's Permanent Court of Arbitration's caustic judgment on the South China Sea issue.
The tribunal dismissed any legal validity to China's claims to territories in the region. While China claimed to have garnered the support of over 60 countries for its position on the issue, it has also made efforts to ward off criticism in multilateral fora like the Southeast Asian grouping recently. China intends to divide the G20 grouping on similar lines.
Wang will also make a probing mission on the forthcoming BRICS meeting in Goa. While consensus has emerged on a host of issues in the BRICS format such as on multi-polarity, sustainable development, infrastructure development, the United Nations Charter, no regime change in Syria and others, China and India appear to be at loggerheads on the global commons -- maritime, cyber and space domains.
Given the democratic nature of the Indian polity, New Delhi had advocated freedom of navigation, no restrictions on cyberspace and no weaponisation of space.
China on the other hand had advocated territorial sea, cyber sovereignty and the consequent restrictions on cyber domains and anti-satellite missions. These differences come at a time when emerging economies, except India, are facing acute hardships.
More significantly, bilateral relations, instead of multilateral formats, will be the focus areas of Wang's visit.
China had been forcing India to accept its controversial version on the South China Sea, with no clear and explicit assurances on the safety of 55 per cent of Indian trade passages through the region.
India needs to take into consideration its trade interests and feelings of the countries in the region before making any commitments to Beijing. The Indian Navy needs to deploy contingents to the region on a regular basis.
While China expressed reservations on the Indian role in the South China Sea, Beijing threw to the winds Indian concerns on Kashmir by not only announcing $46 billion in investments in infrastructure projects in turbulent Gilgit, Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir as a part of its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor build-up with Pakistan but also brazenly deploying 'non-combat' security forces in the region.
While India all along stated the 'One China' policy, there is no reciprocal understanding on the 'One India' policy from Beijing, despite Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's reminder to Wang in May 2014 when the latter came as a 'special envoy' to greet the new government.
New Delhi also finds unpalatable China's statements on the recent turmoil in the Kashmir valley -- forgetting for the moment nearly 150 self-immolation protests in Tibet.
India needs to protect its sovereignty interests in the entire Kashmir according to the Indian Parliament resolution in 1993. India also needs to evaluate the costs and take appropriate actions on the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar forum, the South China Sea and other areas.
Also contentious between the two countries is the issue of terrorism. Even though the bilateral statements suggested that India and China both oppose all forms of terrorism and they did conduct five 'hand-in-hand' joint army operations, China's 'technical hold' five times at the United Nations on the terror list has come as a shocker for New Delhi.
India needs to convey to China that Beijing is playing with fire.
Another issue that divided both countries is India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. China displayed its obstructionist position at the recent NSG meeting in Seoul by arguing that India has to sign nuclear arms control and disarmament measures and that any waiver for India should not be discriminatory for other aspirant States, meaning Pakistan.
In 2008 China finally consented with the United States for such a waiver for India, but it has now been blocking India's membership, throwing to the winds the 'strategic and cooperative partnership' agreement between India and China in 2005.
In the next round at the NSG, after India obtained the consent of Mexico and South Africa, China is likely to find itself isolated. In that event China's Plan B is to put a condition for Pakistan's membership in the NSG.
However, given the proliferation record between China and Pakistan -- both in the nuclear and ballistic missile fields, in addition to no unilateral declarations on Pakistan either on no first use or moratorium on fissile material production, non-proliferation, international safeguards and inspections -- NSG members are likely to see through this insidious game.
Wang will also be confronted by New Delhi with growing the bilateral trade deficit which had mounted to more than $45 billion (about Rs 3 lakh crore) last year in China's favour out of a total trade volume of over $70 billion (about Rs 4.7 lakh crore).
While some Chinese have argued that Indian exports will be further curtailed if India resists the Chinese position on the South China Sea, New Delhi needs to take a stronger position on insisting on a market economy status in China under the mutually binding World Trade Organisation rules.
Also despite promises of over $4 billion (about Rs 26,800 crore) in investments from China per annum, New Delhi needs to remind Beijing that the actual investment so far since 2014 has not been more than a $1 billion (about Rs 6,700 crore). This calls for more punitive trade measures than concessions.
IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Photograph: MEA/PTI
Srikanth Kondapalli is Professor in Chinese Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi | http://www.rediff.com/news/column/india-must-tell-china-it-is-playing-with-fire/20160812.htm | en | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/ca4a36a50ff92c4f8b5ee54da7a9bad167bddcc27ae0d0a2a85e8f42c14b8022.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:36:26 | null | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | The Russian-made chopper, owned by the provincial government of Punjab, was on its way to Russia on routine maintenance when it suffered unknown technical glitch and had to force land in Azra district of restive Logar province on Thursday. | Pak MI-17 crashes in Afghanistan; Taliban abducts survivors | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpak-mi-17-crashes-in-afghanistan-taliban-abducts-survivors%2F20160805.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/05lead2.jpg | en | null | Pak MI-17 crashes in Afghanistan; Taliban abducts survivors | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 05, 2016 01:12 IST
A Pakistani government helicopter crash-landed in Afghanistan, with seven people on-board including one Russian, feared to have been taken hostages by the Taliban, official said.
The Russian-made chopper, owned by the provincial government of Punjab, was on its way to Russia on routine maintenance when it suffered unknown technical glitch and had to force land in Azra district of restive Logar province on Thursday.
"We believe that it was our chopper but we need confirmation from the Afghan government," an official of Punjab government said.
The official could not confirm the whereabouts of the seven people who were in the chopper.
However, he said, it included one Russian engineer and six Pakistanis, including four former army personnel.
There were conflicting reports about the fate of the chopper as some reports suggested that it was set on fire by Taliban while others said that it caught fire while landing.
Foreign Office said in a statement that helicopter owned by the Punjab government took off at 8.45 am (local time) for Russia.
"We are trying to ascertain if it was the same helicopter which went down in Afghanistan," FO said in a statement.
Afghan media reported through government sources that it was a Pakistani helicopter and that all those on board were captured by Taliban and transported to unknown location.
A spokesman for Pakistani embassy in Kabul confirmed the crash, but did not provide any details on the fate of the passengers.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that so far he has no information about the incident.
Pakistan Army uses Russian-made MI-17 choppers, several of which have carshed in the recent past.
Seven people including two foreign ambassadors were killed in May last year when an Mi-17 army helicopter crashed at a holiday resort in the mountains of Gilgit.
Representative Image: Mian Khursheed/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pak-mi-17-crashes-in-afghanistan-taliban-abducts-survivors/20160805.htm | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/941c4360130b91e73c6bafce36da634f2d5f3a8717aa8d43dbcff82d0f06444f.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T20:51:55 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | The 48-year-old man's brother helped his friend marry a girl from another community. | Boycotted by caste 'panchayat', man ends life | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fboycotted-by-caste-panchayat-man-ends-life%2F20160830.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/sep/11capital-punishment.jpg | en | null | Boycotted by caste 'panchayat', man ends life | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 30, 2016 01:45 IST
The 48-year-old man’s brother helped his friend marry a girl from another community.
A 48-year-old man allegedly hanged himself to death at his house in Pune on Monday, apparently as he was depressed over the decision of jaat panchayat (community court) to socially ostracise him and his family, police said.
The victim has been identified as Arun Naikuji, who belonged to the Gavali community, police said.
Police said members of the jaat panchayat had allegedly boycotted Arun and his family as his brother helped his friend marry a girl from another community.
“We have booked Vahappa Pailwan, Mankappa Aurange, Vitthal Pailwan, Kisan Janubas and other members of Veershaiva Lingayat Gavali Samaj Jaat Panchayat under Indian Penal Code sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 34 (common intention),” a police official from Chandan nagar police station said.
The deceased and his family were allegedly boycotted by the jaat panchayat two years ago and they were not allowed to take part in any functions of the community.
“On Sunday, Arun went to the panchayat members and tried to seek explanation from them why they were not being allowed to take part in the functions, where he was insulted.
“Depressed due to the boycott and reeling under the insult by the panchayat members, Arun allegedly hanged himself in his room. The incident came to light today,” the officer said.
He said that five years ago, one a man from Lingayat Gavali community, had married a girl from other community and Arun’s brother, Appa Naikuji, had helped him and even attended the wedding in Pandharpur.
“Two years ago, the jaat panchayat members had come to know that the girl whom Dheeraj had married belonged to other caste and they boycotted him from the community.
“The members learnt that Appa had also helped him in the marriage, following which they passed an order for the community to boycott him and his family,” he said.
Further investigation is on. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/boycotted-by-caste-panchayat-man-ends-life/20160830.htm | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/4c0a48b4a9f53105af47a324a0dbc9a9fd43f5eb3fc54bce03ce2dac90bfacca.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:24:49 | null | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | The Modi PMO is like none other: It is staffed by people who are so low profile that the only dominant personality is the Prime Minister's. | All the Prime Minister's officers | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Fspecial%2Fall-the-prime-ministers-officers%2F20160816.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/jun/06class2.jpg | en | null | All the Prime Minister's officers | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 16, 2016 08:30 IST
The Modi PMO is like none other.
It is staffed by people who are so low profile that the only dominant personality is the Prime Minister's, reports Aditi Phadnis.
IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a round of the PMO soon after assuming office. On extreme left, in the pink shirt, is Nripendra Misra, principal secretary to the prime minister.
"Man! What a cat!" exclaimed a 30-something investment banker, unwittingly slipping back into college lingo, such was his excitement after a meeting with T V Somanathan (Tamil Nadu IAS, 1987), joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Office handling finance and capital markets.
Amid moves made after the 2016-2017 Budget that suggested a redefinition of long-term capital gains, with potentially profound tax effects on the earnings of foreign institutional investors, managers have been making a beeline to the finance ministry, PMO, anybody who will listen, to impress upon the government what a bad idea this is.
In Somanathan, they have found a worthy sparring partner. "He listens to you quietly and then catches you out with a gentle query that comprehensively demolishes your whole argument," said the banker. He added, sighing: "He really knows."
This is hardly surprising. With a doctorate in economics (commodity futures, to be exact), a book on derivatives and a stint in the World Bank, Somanathan was head-hunted by the Narendra Modi government that ignored his seemingly unsuitable background: He was PS to M Karunanidhi when the latter was chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
The only corruption case against Jayalalithaa that reached successful prosecution was based on an investigation by Somanathan.
Little wonder then, that when she became CM, he was moved as commissioner (disciplinary proceedings) for the Tirunelveli region. He didn't have a lot to do. He went to the World Bank and, later, returned to join PMO.
He is low key but knows everything there is to know about the tax provisions of the Mauritius, Singapore and other tax treaties, and will catch you out instantly if you haven't done your homework.
Somanathan is among six joint secretaries in the Modi PMO, who are the equivalent of worker bees. What they all have in common is zero desire to call attention to themselves, a high degree of competence and administrative mastery over the subjects they have been allotted.
And, by now, a fairly good understanding of exactly what Narendra Modi wants from the government.
Arvind Sharma, (Gujarat, 1988) along with Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra, handles infrastructure issues like roads and highways, power and railways. He has unofficial, informal charge of another politically important department -- the PM's foreign trips.
While the logistics and organisational outreach is handled by Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Ram Madhav, along with Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale, it is Sharma who liaises on the PMO's behalf.
He understands the PM's mind extremely well and seldom makes promises. Which frequently annoys those he is dealing with, until they realise the wisdom of his strategy!
His colleagues describe him as a quintessentially decent human being who does not stray from the territory allotted to him, even if invited to.
Tarun Bajaj (Haryana, 1988) handles human resource development and the home ministry. His input is said to have been a factor in the decision to replace Smriti Irani with Prakash Javadekar. Bajaj is full of ideas and has benefited from his tenure in the department of economic affairs, where he handled pensions and insurance.
Debashree Mukherjee (AGMUT, 1991) handles the ministries of rural development, land and urban development. From the PMO's point of view, these are all key ones, given the emphasis on the Smart Cities project and the overall urbanising thrust of the government.
Anurag Jain (Madhya Pradesh, 1989) is considered a bright spark, somewhat dimmed because of the government's handling of the one rank, one pension issue. He has the charge of liaising with the ministry of defence, which, with the ministry of finance, must share the charge of politically overpromoting and then underselling OROP.
Vinay Mohan Kwatra (IFS, 1988) is the foreign service mandarin in the PMO. He caught the eye of the establishment when Modi was to leave for the BRICS summit in Brazil in 2014. He needed to have officers fluent in Hindi and lore has it Kwatra (whose Hindi is fluent, along with his French and Russian) helped quickly find officials who could help with interpretation.
Kwatra has served in Geneva (liaising with UN organisations such as ILO), the consulate in Durban, China (deputy chief of mission, handling trade and commerce) Russia (in the embassy's economic and political wing), in MEA, handling India's development programme in Afghanistan, and as head of economic, trade and finance issues at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Bhaskar Khulbe (West Bengal, 1983), recently promoted as secretary, is known as Mr ACC (Appointments Committee of the Cabinet). He has charge of the sensitive judiciary department and everything to do with it, and is said to be the PM's speech writer. Said to be because no one, not even in the PMO, knows who actually writes the PM's speeches.
This is considered one of the most important jobs in PMO, not the least because of the number of speeches this PM delivers (as opposed to the previous one). And, also because it is the PMO that prepares drafts of the speeches read out by the President of India and the PM on Independence Day.
As additional principal secretary, P K Mishra (retired, Gujarat, 1972) knows everything there is to know in government. Earlier, he was the one who used to handle ACC matters but now shares these with Khulbe. All postings, transfers, and appointments are seen by him before they go to the PM.
"He knows the PM's mind better than the PM himself," said a government servant. After 16 years of working with Narendra Modi and no personal agenda, Mishra and Modi share a rapport that cannot be replicated. His greatest quality is his frankness -- and his capacity to divine what the PM is thinking.
Principal Secretary to the PM, Nripendra Misra (retired, UP, 1967) was also head-hunted by this PMO and had no previous experience of working with Modi. However, he has reached a degree of comfort in two years that has resulted in his elevation as policy czar.
Almost always on policy matters, Nripendra Misra's word is final -- although some aberrations have been reported.
In the debate last year on whether the government should breach its fiscal deficit target, for instance, he's said to have weighed in with Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan that the government should not breach the target, amid an assertion by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian that spending would create new economic and commercial impetus and a breach of fiscal deficit was a small price to pay.
But, it was P K Mishra's final word, not Nripendra Misra's, that decided matters -- that the fisc should not be breached for the international signals it would send.
Poles of power outside the PMO
NITI AAYOG
Few realise how powerful this body is -- because it interacts with chief ministers directly, without aides, and this is a crucial factor in the economic thinking in the government.
Principal Advisor Rattan Wattal's terms of appointment direct him to report to the chairman (the prime minister) directly. Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant, on the other hand, reports to Vice Chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya.
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Ajit Doval, former spook, had confided in friends early on that having installed Narendra Modi in office, it was time for him to move on.
When Modi heard these stories, he was called and the PM said: 'Itni door saath aakar ab saath chhod denge? (So long together and now you'll leave?)' Nobody gets to be in the room when Doval and the PM are together.
Some turbulence has been reported in the relationship between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and the NSA, but this is far cry from the days when differences between Special Advisor M K Narayanan and the NSA, J N Dixit, would descend into slanging matches in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's presence. | http://www.rediff.com/news/special/all-the-prime-ministers-officers/20160816.htm | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/c7eea57f615c11315568ec39870f2baa3872d8e3977a21eb9d71f5ea64495766.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:17:23 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | This week's collection of unbelievably unusual images that show it's an odd, crazy world we live in. | The odd, crazy world we live in! | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpix-the-odd-crazy-world-we-live-in%2F20160823.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/22odd1.jpg | en | null | The odd, crazy world we live in! | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 23, 2016 08:39 IST
This week's collection of unbelievably unusual images that show it's an odd, crazy world we live in.
Participants hold smoke flares as they slide down along a chute to cross a pool of water and foam during the "Letniy Gornoluzhnik" (Summer mountain puddle rider) festival at the Bobroviy Log Fun Park near the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters
A Volkswagen Beetle car, reconstructed like a police car, is seen at the so called "Sunshinetour 2016" in Travemuende at the Baltic Sea. Photograph: Fabian Bimmer/Reuters
A street performer entertains tourists by playing his flame-throwing tuba on the South Bank in London, Britain. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters
A man holds a picture of badminton player PV Sindhu during a special prayer for her to win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics in Chandigarh. Sidhu won the silver after losing the final match against world number one Corolina Marin. Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters
Street vendors in traditional Arabic outfits walk along Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters
An owner takes a picture of her dog as it climbs up on a glass panel while swimming at a pool for dogs in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Photograph: Reuters
Shoppers are reflected in a shop window as they walk along Oxford Street on the last Saturday before Christmas, in London. Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Reuters
A man sits on top of boxes on a delivery tricycle as a man rides past on a scooter sporting the British flag in central Beijing, China. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters
Tourists take a selfie on a suspension bridge made of glass at the Shiniuzhai National Geological Park in Pingjiang County, China. The 300-meter-long glass suspension bridge, with a maximum height of 180 meters, opened to the public on August 20. Photograph: VCG via Getty Images
A woman lies in bed as she takes part in an event marking the World Day of Laziness in Itagui, Colombia on August 14. Photograph: Fredy Builes/Reuters
Guram Ustiashvili, 22, pulls four cars with his teeth during an attempt to set a world record in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photograph: David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters
A squirrel monkey enjoys frozen berry treats at London Zoo in London, Britain. Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters
Fireworks explode in front of the full moon during celebrations for the feast of Saint Leonard, patron of the town of Kirkop, in central Malta. Photograph: Darrin Zammit/Reuters
A woman is caught unexpectedly by a dog shaking off water after emerging from a canal in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-the-odd-crazy-world-we-live-in/20160823.htm | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/491cb73f8c991646c90e6bb76692a9d6b5c2d903258e8fa01b62f529701437f3.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:27:23 | null | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | When Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier shone a light on the Pandora's Box that became famous as the Panama Papers, even they didn't know how it would shake up the murky world of finance, indeed the world itself. | Ping! How Nawaz Sharif & Co were exposed! | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Fspecial%2Fping-how-nawaz-sharif--co-were-exposed%2F20160812.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/sep/29nawaz.jpg | en | null | Ping! How Nawaz Sharif & Co were exposed! | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 12, 2016 13:42 IST
When Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier shone a light on the Pandora's Box that became famous as the Panama Papers, even they didn't know how it would shake up the murky world of finance, indeed the world itself.
IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in the thick of the Panama Paper revelations.
We are fascinated by the way our data comes alive without us having to do anything at all. 'Ping' -- a new result. Often overnight, due to the time difference between us and the Americas.
The data is now being fished 24 hours a day; at any given moment, at least one of our colleagues is sitting at a laptop entering new names into the search mask in one time zone or other.
We come back from lunch and someone has discovered another head of state or government.
When our European colleagues are mining the data, we see the new results coming in live, hour by hour. A number of the findings are spectacular:
The president of the United Arab Emirates.
The former prime minister of Jordan.
The family of a former South American dictator.
The Palestinian deputy prime minister.
There is also a trail leading to Nawaz Sharif, the current prime minister of Pakistan.
Sharif had also been prime minister on two separate occasions in the 1990s. In a critical report, the World Bank names two companies in the British Virgin Islands that Sharif is said to have used for questionable business deals: Nescoll and Nielson.
Sharif is believed to have bought luxury homes through these companies, including in London. State funds transformed into a private villa in the blink of an eye.
We find both companies in the data. The documents reveal that the owner, at least until 2012, was Mariam Safdar, nee Sharif: Nawaz Sharif's daughter.
***
IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, with his predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Juntao at the parade in Beijing, September 3, 2015. Photograph: Wang Zhao/Reuters
'Ping' -- the next big name.
Deng Jiagui.
The name will not mean much to readers in the Western hemisphere, but Deng Jiagui is the brother-in-law of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Very close relatives.
According to the data, Deng Jiagui owned two offshore companies between 2009 and 2011: Wealth Ming International Ltd and Best Effect Enterprises Ltd, both based in the British Virgin Islands.
That is controversial because of all people, his brother-in-law, the Chinese president, announced a few years earlier that he would crack down on greed and corruption. Both in the lower ranks, the 'flies', and in the upper echelons, the 'tigers'.
Back in 2004 he called on China's politicians to 'rein in your spouses, children, relatives, friends and staff!'
Perhaps he should have had a word with his brother-in-law.
The case is also interesting because there have been so many revelations concerning Chinese politicians using relatives as beneficiaries when they have wanted to hide away the wealth they have accumulated.
We come across other princelings, as the close relatives of the powerful Chinese elite are called. They have often been the subject of negative headlines in recent years, involving stories about Ferraris, wild parties, arrogant behaviour, drunken accidents and rapes.
The most prominent case among them involves the daughter of former premier Li Peng, who is known as the 'Butcher of Beijing' because he was the one who sent in the tanks to crush the protest in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
According to the documents, Li Peng's daughter Li Xiaolin and her husband established the Cofic Investment Ltd company in the British Virgin Islands through a Geneva law firm in 1994.
The Chinese president's brother-in-law and the daughter of the former premier -- two more trails to current and former heads of state and government, two more names for our list in the 'war room'.
***
IMAGE: Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on as Sergei Chemezov and Ashok Baweja sign an agreement. Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/Reuters
'Ping.'
A post by our colleague from Le Monde. He has discovered a five-page list in the data that was compiled by and emailed to Mossack Fonseca staff members in 2010. A list that reveals the real owners of dozens of companies. A list full of Russian names.
But these are not just any old names.
The list includes a close relative of a very well-known Russian oligarch.
It includes the son of Sergey Chemezov, who runs the Russian defence Company Rostec and who knows Vladimir Putin from their KGB days in Dresden -- he has been on the US sanctions list since 2014.
And there is more to come: Two brothers, Boris and Arkady Rotenberg, who are among Vladimir Putin's closest associates, and are probably two of the Russian president's most important business partners. They too are on the sanctions list.
These names will keep us busy for weeks. During the Washington conference we established a special working group that would focus on Russia. This group includes journalists from the BBC, The Guardian, the Swiss SonntagsZeitung and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, whose team includes Russian colleagues, some of whom are still reporting from inside Russia.
We will be subjecting these sensational names to further scrutiny as part of this team.
It is clear that the Russia story is going to be huge.
Excerpted from The Panama Papers: Breaking The Story Of How The Rich And Powerful Hide Their Money by Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier, Rs 499, with the permission of the publishers, Pan Macmillan India. | http://www.rediff.com/news/special/ping-how-nawaz-sharif--co-were-exposed/20160812.htm | en | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/e3ce8b5e3c6f84de9261f5c4b8bad0fd2352ec6f7a684b5df553b82f28cb9375.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:17:29 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | images of Shivraj Singh Chouhan being carried by cops on his visit to Panna to take stock of the situation went viral. | On visit to flood-hit areas, Madhya Pradesh CM gets a 'lift' by cops | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpix-on-visit-to-flood-hit-areas-madhya-pradesh-cm-gets-a-lift-by-cops%2F20160822.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/22shivraj1.jpg | en | null | On visit to flood-hit areas, Madhya Pradesh CM gets a 'lift' by cops | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 22, 2016 14:47 IST
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has drawn flak and ridicule for a photograph showing him being lifted by security personnel to cross a swollen nullah in the state’s Panna district to meet flood-hit people there, with the Congress saying it reflected his “feudal mindset”.
The picture, which has gone viral on internet with netizens taking pot-shots at the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, was issued on Sunday by the State Public Relations department after his visit to the rain-ravaged district but was later withdrawn.
MP Congress chief Arun Yadav said Chouhan’s “photo-stunt” for cheap publicity had backfired but Principal Secretary S K Mishra contended that the chief minister was a ‘Z’ security protectee and the security personnel had to ensure that he is not bitten by any poisonous animal in the flood waters.
“Chouhan in a bid to garner cheap publicity has indulged in this photo stunt. Instead of mitigating the problems of flood-hit people in Panna and other parts, the chief minister has himself become a problem for people (security personnel),” Congress leader Arun Yadav said.
He said that the “real face” of the chief minister has been exposed in the photo. “Now people know him well. We seek his resignation over the photo, depicting his feudal mindset,” the Congress leader said.
In social media, social activist Ajay Dubey posted the photo of the chief minister being lifted by security personnel with a caption “I am a prince”.
Dubey took a dig at Chouhan saying the picture has revived memories of feudalism.
Reacting to the photo, one Sachin Jain posted “Liability, isn’t it”.
Likewise, journalist Abhilash Khandekar, who had written Chouhan’s biography, has reacted to the photo commenting it as “Inhuman.Indecent”.
When a senior officer of state public relations department was asked about the photo release, he said the picture was released by their Panna office to media houses and not by Bhopal office.
However, it was withdrawn on Sunday evening itself, he added.
Meanwhile, defending Chouhan, the Principal Secretary said the CM was having ‘Z’ security cover prompting his security personnel to lift him to ensure that any poisonous animal in water doesn’t bite him.
“Nothing should be read into it,” Mishra said.
“Chouhan in fact risked his life to cross the swollen nullah. He is too sensitive to people’s problems. He is meeting people affected by flood round-the-clock. We should appreciate his concern, sensitivity for the people rather taking it the other way round,” Mishra said. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-on-visit-to-flood-hit-areas-madhya-pradesh-cm-gets-a-lift-by-cops/20160822.htm | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/f1fab7949798454930a9a1243ae3a344f81aa18acc2890abe5e0371013bde9d4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:26:43 | null | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | Her medical condition was stable and she has been advised rest. | Sonia Gandhi discharged from hospital | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fsonia-gandhi-discharged-from-hospital%2F20160814.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/02sonia01.jpg | en | null | Sonia Gandhi discharged from hospital | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 14, 2016 09:57 IST
Congress president Sonia Gandhi was on Sunday discharged after 11 days of hospitalisation and being treated for her illness and shoulder injury.
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where she was admitted on August 3, said her medical condition was stable and has been advised rest.
“Sonia Gandhi’s medical condition at the time of discharge from the hospital is stable. She has been advised rest and continuation of medicines. Mrs Gandhi is likely to visit the hospital for further evaluation of her condition in the coming week," said D S Rana, chairman of Board of Management of the hospital.
69-year-old Gandhi was admitted to the hospital after being taken ill during a roadshow in Varanasi.
She had undergone a surgery on her left shoulder on August 3 and doctors said she has recovered from the injury.
Gandhi was admitted under the care of Arup Basu, senior consultant, Department of Pulmonology and Chest Medicine and his team.
She was operated for her shoulder injury at the hospital by Prateek Gupta, senior consultant and his team from Department of Orthopaedics and Sanjay Desai from Mumbai.
Gandhi was shifted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital from the Army Research and Referral Hospital, where she was rushed soon after her arrival from Varanasi around midnight of August 2.
The Congress president had to cut short her roadshow in Varanasi after she was taken ill. She had fractured her left shoulder during the roadshow. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/sonia-gandhi-discharged-from-hospital/20160814.htm | en | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/716608f86edc87de68f0c96cdafefebe1ec6f785b4edb206ed6fb40c7fae8bc6.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:17:48 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | The judge also observed that gruesome crimes against women were on the rise and any leniency to the criminals would send a wrong message to society. | Death for 2, life term for another in Jigisha murder case | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fdeath-for-2-life-term-for-another-in-jigisha-murder-case%2F20160822.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/jul/14live1.jpg | en | null | Death for 2, life term for another in Jigisha murder case | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 22, 2016 13:29 IST
A Delhi court on Monday awarded death penalty to two convicts and life term to another for robbing and killing IT executive Jigisha Ghosh here in 2009, observing that it was a “brutal” and “cold blooded murder”.
“To be hanged by neck till death,” Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav said, while awarding death to convicts Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla.
The judge also observed that gruesome crimes against women were on the rise and any leniency to the criminals would send a wrong message to society.
“The offence was committed in a brutal, cold blooded and cruel manner. The victim was helpless and remained in captivity for hours and the convicts brutally mauled her to death. It was an uncivilised act done in a barbaric manner.
“The magnitude and brutality of the crime makes it fall in the category of rarest of rare,” the judge said.
Besides Ravi and Amit, the court sentenced Baljeet to life imprisonment.
Jigisha, 28, working as an operations manager in a management consultancy firm, was abducted and killed on March 18, 2009 after she was dropped by her office cab around 4 am near her home in Vasant Vihar area of South Delhi.
Her body was recovered three days later from a place near Surajkund in Haryana, police had said.
While awarding the death penalty, the court said according to the pre-sentencing report, there was “no scope for Ravi Kapoor and Amit Shukla to reform”.
As per the report, Baljeet’s conduct was normal and there was no complaint against him and he was not a threat to society.
The court also imposed a total fine of Rs nine lakh on the three convicts, who were present at the hearing, out of which Rs six lakh is to be given to the victim’s family as compensation.
It also said this amount was not adequate and asked the legal aid authority to decide appropriate compensation for the victim’s family.
“The pain, agony and trauma of victim’s parents cannot be compensated,” the court observed.
The court had on July 14 convicted the three men, saying it was “abundantly clear” that they had committed the crime.
The court had said it was proved that the three convicts had abducted Jigisha, robbed her of her gold chain, two mobile phones, two rings, debit and credit cards and killed her.
The court had on August 20 reserved the order on sentence after the arguments concluded and a PSR was submitted by probationary officer.
While seeking death sentence for the convicts, Special Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan had argued that they abducted Jigisha, robbed her, killed her and used her debit card for shopping, and a CCTV footage of their shopping showed they had no remorse for their act.
Advocate Amit Kumar, appearing for convicts Baljeet and Amit Shukla, had argued that his clients have already spent over seven years in jail and maintained good conduct.
The counsel for convict Ravi Kapoor sought leniency for his client, saying he was suffered from a life threatening disease and belonged to a poor family.
The police had filed the charge sheet in the case in June 2009 and trial began on April 15, 2010.
Recovery of the weapon allegedly used in Jigisha’s murder had led to the cracking of the murder case of Soumya Vishwanathan, who was a journalist with a news channel.
Soumya was shot dead on September 30, 2008 while she was returning home in her car from office in the wee hours.
Police had claimed robbery as the motive behind the killing of both Jigisha and Soumya.
The accused had used Jigisha’s ATM card to buy expensive goggles, wrist watches and shoes from Sarojini Nagar market in South Delhi, police had said. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/death-for-2-life-term-for-another-in-jigisha-murder-case/20160822.htm | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/bb92cb09c4faf06e8a342b868a9b8c0a38d615f0f04d5d475a6004fd7198bd97.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T14:52:31 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | Swaraj said there is scope to do a lot more and this would be an important element of their deliberations. | John Kerry meets Sushma Swaraj, lauds India-US defence ties | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2F-kerry-meets-swaraj-lauds-india-us-defence-ties%2F20160830.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/30swarajkerry.jpg | en | null | John Kerry meets Sushma Swaraj, lauds India-US defence ties | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 30, 2016 19:55 IST
India and the United States on Monday reaffirmed the "urgent necessity" for Pakistan to "dismantle safe havens for terrorists and criminal networks" including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and D-Company.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, along with her US counterpart John Kerry, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Secretary Kerry and I also agreed on the need for Pakistan to do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice quickly."
Divulging detail of their dialogue, Swaraj said, "Secretary Kerry and I discussed at length the issue of terrorism, which is the key challenge to the international community, and the foremost threat to international peace and security. I am happy to note that there was a 'meeting of minds' on this issue."
Stating that she briefed Secretary Kerry on the continuing problem of cross-border terrorism that India and the larger region faces from Pakistan, Swaraj said, "We both agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations."
"I thanked Secretary Kerry for the US’ constant support for India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. This interaction has strengthened the US-India relationship, and I hope it contributes to the world at large," she added.
Earlier delivering opening remarks at the Opening Plenary during the Second India-US SCD, Swaraj said there is scope to do a lot more and this would be an important element of their deliberations.
Swaraj said, "For this, we need to define the benefits associated with India's designation as a 'major defence partner' of the US during the prime minister's visit in June. This would spur defence industry collaboration between India and the U.S. and help India play the desired role as a net provider of security in the region."
The external affairs minister said it is heartening to note that "we have been able to conclude a framework for the India-US cyber relationship -- the first of its kind both for India and the US, with any other country".
Pointing out that both countries share the same democratic ethos of freedom, equality, pluralism and rule of law, she said, "India's enhanced global role is in our mutual interest. It is in this context, we look forward to continue working closely with the US to secure our membership of the NSG and permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council."
"In view of the rapidly evolving regional and global situation," said Swaraj, "we look forward to resuming the meeting of the Trilateral with Afghanistan; consultations on Africa and on multilateral issues within this year."
IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with John F Kerry, Secretary of State for US, in New Delhi during the strategic and commercial dialogue. Photograph: MEA/Flickr | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/-kerry-meets-swaraj-lauds-india-us-defence-ties/20160830.htm | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/af758efd6ccfe55426953e1e40547fc6e221ca6e70a40c722f973d969efbbe7f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:22:36 | null | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | International cooperation to cut off their funding, expanded intelligence sharing, and cyber warfare to disrupt and disable their propaganda and recruiting is his plan to stop the terror group. | Donald Trump reveals plan to defeat Islamic State | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fdonald-trump-reveals-plan-to-defeat-islamic-state%2F20160816.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/mar/02tuesday1.jpg | en | null | Donald Trump reveals plan to defeat Islamic State | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 16, 2016 09:48 IST
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that the era of nation building should come to an end, as he laid out a foreign policy approach to deal with the Islamic State militant group and radical Islam.
“If I become president, the era of nation-building will be brought to a very swift and decisive end. Our new approach -- which must be shared by both parties in America, by our allies overseas and by our friends in the Middle East -- must be to halt the spread of radical Islam,” Trump said in a major policy speech on defeating radical Islam in Ohio.
“All actions should be oriented around this goal and any country which shares this goal will be our ally. Some don’t share this goal. We cannot always choose our friends but we can never fail to recognise our enemies,” he said.
“As president, I will call for an international conference focused on this goal. We will work side by side with our friends in the Middle East, including our greatest ally Israel. We will partner with King Abdullah of Jordan and the president of Egypt, President Sisi, and all others who recognise this ideology of death that must be extinguished,” Trump said.
A Trump Administration, he said, will also work very closely with NATO on this new mission.
“I had previously said that NATO was obsolete because it failed to deal adequately with terrorism. Since my comments, they have changed their policy and now have a new division focused on terror threats. Very good. Very, very good,” he said.
“I also believe that we could find common ground with Russia in a fight against the Islamic State. Wouldn’t that be a good thing? Wouldn’t that be a good thing? They, too, have much at stake in the outcome in Syria, and have had their own battles with Islamic terrorism just as bad as ours. They have a big, big problem in Russia with IS,” he said.
Trump said his administration will aggressively pursue joint and coalition military operations to crush and destroy IS.
International cooperation to cut off their funding, expanded intelligence sharing, and cyber warfare to disrupt and disable their propaganda and recruiting. Their recruiting is taking place right now, and they’re setting records. It’s got to be stopped, he said.
“We cannot allow the internet to be used as a recruiting tool and for other purposes by our enemy. We must shut down their access to this form of communication, and we must do it immediately,” he said.
Trump alleged that the rise of IS is the direct result of policy decisions made by US President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival who served as the Secretary of State in his first term.
“Let’s look back at the Middle East at the very beginning of 2009 before the Obama-Clinton administration took over. Libya was stable. Syria was under control. Egypt was ruled by a secular president and an ally of the US,” Trump said.
“Iraq was experiencing a reduction in violence. The group that would become what we now call IS was close to being extinguished. Iran was being choked off by economic sanctions. Fast forward to today. What we have -- and think of this -- and the decisions made by the Obama/Clinton group have been absolutely disastrous,” he said.
“In Egypt, terrorists have gained a foothold in the Sinai desert near the Suez Canal, one of the most essential waterways of the world. Iraq is in chaos. And IS is on the loose. IS has spread across the Middle East and into the West. In 2014, ISIS was operating in seven nations. They were in seven nations. Terrible, but that’s what it was,” Trump said.
“Today they’re fully operational in 18 countries with aspiring branches in six more for a total of 24. And many believe that number is actually 28 to 30 countries. They don’t even know. The situation is likely worse than the public has any idea,” he said.
“A new congressional report reveals that the administration has downplayed the growth of IS with 40 per cent of analysts saying they had experience efforts to manipulate their findings in trying to make it look much better than it is. It’s bad,” he added. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/donald-trump-reveals-plan-to-defeat-islamic-state/20160816.htm | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/56a76a6b81a2bd40bfbc0cb712675c637e6c72c085ba0bea11d213eb052a0f88.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:29:25 | null | 2016-08-10T00:00:00 | Catch all the debates and discussions from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha | WATCH LIVE! All the action from Parliament | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fwatch-live-the-action-from-parliament%2F20160810.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2013/aug/24lead1.jpg | en | null | WATCH LIVE! All the action from Parliament | null | null | www.rediff.com | Last updated on: August 10, 2016 18:22 IST
The Rajya Sabha will take up a discussion on Jammu and Kashmir issue. The assurance was given by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday as the Upper House witnessed noisy scenes during the Zero Hour with the Opposition demanding a discussion. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha is likely to take up the issue of Dalit beatings and the floods.
Watch it LIVE on Rediff.com | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/watch-live-the-action-from-parliament/20160810.htm | en | 2016-08-10T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/8f48d14616b00170c6af018cc788937455cd7cfaa00aab16b7659d7edfb4367f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:18:00 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | The incident happened after the accused went to the bakery and demanded 'vargani' (donation) of Rs 151 from the workers for the Ganesh festival. | Pune workers made to do sit-ups for not paying festival donation | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fpune-workers-made-to-do-sit-ups-for-not-paying-festival-donation%2F20160823.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/23situps.jpg | en | null | Pune workers made to do sit-ups for not paying festival donation | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 23, 2016 11:10 IST
Workers at a bakery in Pune were allegedly made to do sit-ups by members of a local Ganesh Mandal for refusing to pay them donation for the upcoming festival, police said.
A purported video of the incident, which occurred at a bakery in Bhosari area on August 15, has gone viral, while the three accused have been arrested, police said.
According to an official of Bhosari police station, the accused went to the bakery and demanded ‘vargani’ (donation) of Rs 151 from the workers for the Ganesh festival.
The workers, who are non-Maharashtrians, said the owner of the shop was not there and hence they did not give the donation, the official said.
Following the denial for donation, the accused, identified as Prakash Landage, 30, Ganesh Landage, 30, and Mahesh Mare, 31, abused the workers and later made them to do sit-ups, the official said.
A complaint was filed by one of the workers, Irshad Mommammed Ayub Khan, and a case under sections 294 (obscene act or words in public), 341 (wrongful confinement), 385 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code was registered, the official said, adding investigations are underway. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pune-workers-made-to-do-sit-ups-for-not-paying-festival-donation/20160823.htm | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/d7e327e6513f58edcb3c78c4017ca47d03fac85afee1d357063d76693364aa6b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:30:05 | null | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | The NIA has so far charge-sheeted 29 accused under the UAPA.
| 54 IS supporters arrested in India so far | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Ffifty-four-is-supporters-arrested-in-india-so-far%2F20160811.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/nov/13lead12.jpg | en | null | 54 IS supporters arrested in India so far | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 11, 2016 16:15 IST
As many as 54 supporters and sympathisers of dreaded terror group Islamic State have been arrested from various parts of the country, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
The National Investigation Agency and state police forces have registered cases to investigate the alleged links with the IS in different places, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said.
“54 IS supporters or sympathisers have so far been arrested before they could carry out any terrorist attack in the country,” he said, replying to a written question.
Ahir said the NIA has so far charge-sheeted 29 accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.
As per available information, some individuals have been reported missing from Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and West Bengal and are suspected to have joined terrorist outfits like the IS, the minister said. | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/fifty-four-is-supporters-arrested-in-india-so-far/20160811.htm | en | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/4cda67742edc74e41d30b4eb2fb3fbcfa621c904dbffa9f3abc98b6a04ea7387.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:16:06 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | The writer and producer died 'peacefully' on Sunday evening surrounded by his wife and family, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. | 'Yes Minister' co-creator Sir Antony Jay passes away | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fyes-minister-co-creator-sir-antony-jay-passes-away%2F20160825.htm.json | http://im.rediff.com/news/2016/aug/25yesminister01.jpg | en | null | 'Yes Minister' co-creator Sir Antony Jay passes away | null | null | www.rediff.com | August 25, 2016 04:25 IST
The writer behind popular British political satire shows 'Yes, Minister' and 'Yes, Prime Minister', Sir Anthony Jay, has passed away at the age of 86 after a long illness.
The writer and producer died "peacefully" on Sunday evening surrounded by his wife and family, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Jay's career began in the BBC's current affairs department where he was a founding member of the 'Tonight' team.
He later scripted a number of documentaries on the British royal family and Queen Elizabeth II.
However, he was best known for his political comedies which he co-wrote with Jonathan Lynn.
'Yes Minister', which ran for three series between 1980 and 1984, followed the travails of fictitious British MP James Hacker, minister for administrative affairs, and his battles against unflappable Whitehall civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby.
The subsequent 'Yes, Prime Minister', broadcast for two seasons between 1986 and 1988, portrayed Hacker's life after he entered 10 Downing Street.
Then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was known to be a great fan of the series.
Lynn told BBC he and Sir Antony were "very, very good friends", adding: "Tony was someone I was immensely fond of. We didn't really agree about a great many things -- he was a right-wing Conservative and I would describe myself as sort-of left leaning."
Jay also authored several management books and founded Video Arts, a management and sales training film company, alongside British actor John Cleese and two other colleagues in 1972.
IMAGE: The writer and producer, who co-authored the successful BBC series 'Yes, Prime Minister' died "peacefully" on Sunday evening surrounded by his wife and family. Photograph: UKTV | http://www.rediff.com/news/report/yes-minister-co-creator-sir-antony-jay-passes-away/20160825.htm | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.rediff.com/df028cd9665229def1b1ab69eba52eed830b83d46b567a7ce4e591b844a5914a.json |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.