Category: NATIONAL NEWS

The Maharashtra government today informed the Bombay High Court that it would soon take a policy decision on whether women-related offences lodged after December 2009 would fall under the Manodhairya Yojana of 2013 or the new scheme of last year. Under the Manodhairya scheme of October 2013, the victims of acid attacks and rape cases were liable for monetary compensation up to Rs 3 lakh. But, after facing flak from the high court, the state government in December last year came up with a revised scheme under which the monetary…

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President Ram Nath Kovind today called for a “sustained debate” on holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies, saying all parties need to arrive at a consensus over the issue. In his maiden address to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament at the beginning of the Budget session here, he said citizens alive to the state of governance in the country were concerned about frequent elections in one part of the country or another, which adversely impacted the economy and development. “Frequent elections…

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As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the strife-torn Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh where the situation remained tense but peaceful today, two days after clashes between two communities claimed one life. In the evening, the UP Police said the situation was headed towards normalcy. They also said three drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance. Explosives were found during house-to-house searches following which the state police chief said the stringent National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked against the culprits. The Yogi…

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Four people, including two children, were killed and seven others injured in three separate accidents caused due to dense fog here today, police said. Two brothers, aged 9 and 10, were killed and and six others, including the mother of the children, were injured when a bus collided with their auto near Ading village, under the Goverdhan police station area, amidst dense fog this morning, they added. The deceased were identified as Krishna (9) and Yash (10). Their mother, Ruchi, and other injured were undergoing treatment, police said, adding that…

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As the Congress voiced displeasure over its president Rahul Gandhi being seated in the sixth row at the main Republic Day event in Delhi, senior party leader Salman Khurshid said it was “more an issue of good manners than protocols”. Gandhi attended the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath and took the designated sixth-row seat, along with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. “It’s sad if those in power think somebody’s stature is decided by where that person is seated,” Khurshid said. Speaking on the sidelines of…

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Marching contingents, strategic defence weaponry and colourful tableaux were on display as India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand parade watched by thousands of people along with ten ASEAN leaders who attended the event as chief guests, in a historic first. Signifying India’s fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all the 10 countries of the powerful bloc attended the parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country’s military might and cultural diversity. Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands…

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Security has been stepped up across Tamil Nadu, particularly at vital installations, in view of the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow, the police said today. A multi-layer security ring has been put in place here around Kamarajar Salai where Governor Banwarilal Purohit will review the Republic Day parade and take the salute. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, state ministers and dignitaries are scheduled to participate in the celebrations on the arterial road facing the Marina Beach. “Commissioners of police in the cities and superintendents in the districts have been tasked with directly…

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An NRI fugitive, wanted in the USA to face trial in a drugs case, has been granted bail by a special extradition court here as the US authorities failed to respond to Indian requests seeking clarification over the quantity of contraband seized from him. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur, who presides over the sole Special Extradition Court of India, granted the relief to Sekhon till the time “any response/ clarification” is received from the US authorities, noting that repeated reminders to them had not borne fruit. Terming “liberty and…

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today rejected opposition RJD’s allegation that he had done a political volte-face by walking out of the Grand Alliance and re-joined the BJP-led NDA. Without naming RJD or any of its leaders, Kumar, who is also the JD(U) national president, asserted that he had not turned his back on any of his government’s agenda but found it difficult to work with people who believed in using power for amassing wealth. “It is often said about me – ‘palat gaye’ (did a volte- face). I wish…

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Four police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were killed and seven others injured in a gun-fight with Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district today, police said. The encounter took place in the forests of Irpanar village in Abhujmad area when a police team was out on anti- Naxal operation, Special Director General of Police (anti- Naxal operations) D M Awasthi told PTI. “Two sub-inspectors and as many constables, belonging to DRG (District Reserve Guard of Police) lost their lives and seven other personnel sustained injuries in the incident,” he said. The team,…

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