Category: NATIONAL NEWS

Six of the seven accused in the horrific gangrape-and-murder case of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua were convicted by a court here on Monday, lawyers said.A seventh accused, namely Vishal — son of main accused Sanji Ram — was acquitted by the court, giving him the ‘benefit of doubt’, said Farooqi Khan, who represented the victim’s family in the court.The court pronounced its much-awaited verdict away from the gaze of media which has gathered outside the premises.Sanji Ram, the caretaker of the temple where the crime took…

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday accused the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi of according step-motherly treatment to the states not ruled by the BJP, which he dubbed as a party “blinded by hate and anger”.The Congress president made the allegations, doubting Modi’s remarks on Saturday that Kerala from where the BJP won no Lok Sabha seat, was as dear to him as his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi.Winding up his three-day thanksgiving visit to the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency from where he was elected in the recent polls, Rahul Gandhi…

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Expansion of the Karnataka cabinet would take place on June 12, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy announced Saturday, in a much expected move to quell growing dissent within the Congress-JD(S) coalition that threatens the stability of its government.Kumaraswamy made the announcement in a tweet after meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala, which comes after weeks of consultations between the chief minister and Congress leaders amid coalition worries compounded by the Lok Sabha poll rout.”Today, I met the honourable governor and requested him to give time for the cabinet expansion. He has fixed…

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 Braving heavy rains, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took out a roadshow in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency on Friday, thanking voters for electing him with a massive majority.Gandhi, who travelled in a special open vehicle along with state Congress leaders, criss-crossed through the narrow lanes of Kalikavu in the district and waved to the huge crowd.Thousands, including women and children, overcame the downpour to catch a glimpse of the leader who arrived in the high range constituency on a three-day tour for the ceremonial thanksgiving to the electorate.This is the first…

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer prayers at the famous shrines of Sri Krishna at Guruvayur in Kerala and at Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh this week end, officials said Thursday.On his first visit to the two southern states in his second term as prime minister, Modi will offer prayers at the Sri Krishna temple in Guruvayur on Saturday and pray at the Lord Venkateswara shrine Sunday.An official release in Kochi said the Prime Minister will arrive at 11.35 pm Friday and stay at the Government Guest House…

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Former civil aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel is expected to depose before the ED on Thursday in connection with a money-laundering probe related to the losses suffered by national carrier Air India as part of an alleged multi-crore-rupee aviation scam.Patel (62) has also been named in a recent chargesheet filed by the federal agency before a court as a person known to alleged aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar.The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, who was in charge of the civil aviation ministry between 2004 and 2011, has not been…

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A 23-year-old college student here has been confirmed to be infected with the Nipah virus while 86 others are under medical observation, Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja Tuesday said. The results of blood samples of the student, which were tested at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, have confirmed Nipah, she said.The result came this morning, she added.Earlier, blood samples examined at two virology institutes–Manipal Institute of Virology and Kerala Institute of Virology and Infectious Diseases–had indicated NipahShailaja said the condition of the student, who is being treated…

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 Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday said country’s security and welfare of the people are the key priorities of the Modi government.Shah, who assumed the charge of the sensitive ministry on Saturday, also said he would try his best to implement all these priorities.”Country’s security and people’s welfare are the Modi government’s priorities. Under the leadership of Modi, I will try my best to fulfill all these priorities,” he tweeted after assuming the charge. Shah also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bestowing the responsibility of the sensitive ministry. “Today, I…

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Overwhelmed with the love and respect he has been receiving, first time MP and minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi, who has been given the sobriquet ‘Odisha’s Modi’, says that the comparison with the prime minister is unfair. “I don’t know why people call me Odisha’s Modi . There are no comparisons at all. I am a common man while Modi is an unusual talent, Sarangi told PTI in an interview after being appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and in the Ministry of Animal…

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MPs selected for ministerial berths will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence at 4.30 pm on Thursday, shortly before the swearing-in ceremony, sources said. Earlier in the morning, the prime minister held a final round of consultations with BJP president Amit Shah to give shape to his council of ministers before sending the list to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.Capping a landslide election victory, Modi will take oath along with his new council of ministers at 7 pm.As the party geared up for the celebrations, Shah’s Akbar Road residence was…

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