Category: NATIONAL NEWS

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today lambasted opposition parties for criticising prohibition policy saying the stance was “anti-poor” since the economically deprived sections of the society suffered the most on account of alcoholism. In an apparent reference to spate of communal flare-ups witnessed recently in the state, Kumar also made it clear that the rule of law will be upheld under his watch, “though there are elements in every society who keep looking for an opportunity to create tension”. “There are people who are angry with me because of obvious…

Tamil Nadu’s main opposition party – the DMK – along with other parties like Congress, CPI(M) and CPI will hold a state-wide bandh or shutdown today. The reason behind the shutdown is the Cauvery water issue – a decades-old dispute between Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring state Karnataka. The DMK-led opposition parties are demanding that the Cauvery Management Board, as ordered by the Supreme Court, be set up immediately. They have accused the central government of delaying the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board due to electoral gains in…

A Dalit parliamentarian of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi complaining against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Chhote Lal Kharwar, 45, has alleged that he met the chief minister twice, but was “scolded and thrown out”. Prime Minister Modi has reportedly assured him that action will be taken. Chhote Lal represents Uttar Pradesh’s Robertsganj constituency. His complaint has emerged days after the ruling party faced massive Dalit protests across the nation, in which 11 people were killed. Dalit groups were protesting against a Supreme…

The HRD Ministry has set up a “high-powered committee” to examine the process by which the CBSE conducts examinations, following the alleged leak of the Class 10 mathematics and the Class 12 economics papers. The panel, headed by former HRD secretary V S Oberoi, will also suggest measures to make the process “secure and foolproof through the use of technology” and submit a report by May 31 to the ministry. “The government had yesterday constituted a High Powered Committee, comprising experts, under chairmanship of V S Oberoi, ex-Secretary, MHRD, to…

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were disrupted for the 20th consecutive day today due to protests by AIADMK members seeking early constitution of the Cauvery water management board. Soon after the House met to take up the day’s business, AIADMK members trooped into the Well and raised slogans seeking immediate constitution of the board. As pandemonium prevailed, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till noon after AIADMK members ignored her requests to return to their seats. At noon, even before the House was re-assembled, AIADMK members carrying placards trooped…

The treasury of the 12th century Lord Jagannath Temple will be opened for inspection tomorrow after a gap of 34 years, a top temple official said. A 10-member team will inspect the physical condition of the floor, roof and wall of the ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (treasury) on April 4, Chief Administrator P K Jena of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) told reporters yesterday. The team, including two experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), will only inspect the temple’s ‘Ratna Bhandar’ to examine its structural stability and its safety,…

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today withdrew its contentious press release on fake news after a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office “PIB Press Release titled ‘Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists amended to regulate Fake News’ issued on 02 April 2018 stands withdrawn,” the ministry said in a brief statement. Taking note of condemnation from various quarters, the PMO had ordered the ministry to withdraw the release, holding that the decision on what amounts to fake news should be left to press bodies According to official sources, the PMO also…

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today appealed to the people not to vitiate law and order, amid reports of violence in parts of western Uttar Pradesh during the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by dalit outfits against the Supreme Court court on the SC/ST Act. “The law and order should not be disturbed by these protests. The government is serious towards the development and progress of dalits. I appeal to them not to disturb the law and order,” Adityanath told reporters. “Both the Centre and the state government are dedicated to the welfare…