News This Week

Assembly polls date announced in five states

2008-10-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

Election Commission of India has announced today poll dates i.e. between November 14 and December 4 of five Indian states. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Mizoram will have one-day poll where as Naxalite-infested Chattisgarh will have poll in two-phase. The poll date of Jammu and Kashmir is yet to be decided.

Chattisgarh will have election on November 14 and 20. Madhya Pradesh’s election will be on November 25 while Mizoram and Delhi will go to poll on November 29. rajasthan will hold election on December 4. The counting of votes will be on December 8 of all the states.

Chief Election Commission N. Gopalaswami has taken no decision at this moment for Jammu and Kashmir but assured that soon they he will do so.

68 killed, including 30 children, in stampede at Hindu temple in India

2008-08-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today, according to police sources, 68 people - all women and children - were killed in stampede at a remote Hindu temple on montain top in northern part of India. The accident is a pilgrims stampede. The worshippers were killed in the crush over a broken railing. It was the occassion of nine-day religious festival in the foothills of the giant Himalayas at Naina Devi Temple.

The railing, which was the cause of death, collapsed during the crush and send the pilgrims over the edge. The district deputy police chief said that 30 children and 38 women has been killed and more than 40 people are wounded. The dead were wrapped in brown blankets and layed out in rows at the Bilhaspur hospital for the relatives to identify the bodies.

Today was the second day of the festival, Shravan Navratras. This festival commemorates the Hindu Goddess Shakti, or the Divine Mother.

Three Cheers for UPA... Hip Hip Hurray!

2008-07-23T01:08:00.000-07:00

The UPA government survived amid allegations in the parliament with 275 votes, a 19-vote victory. The opponents secured 256 votes. The vote, yesterday, was followed by two days of debate in the Lok sabha with constant heckling of speakers, including Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. This win of the government will seal a landmark nuclear agreement with the US.

There were charges of horse-trading on UPA a day before the trust vote. On the day of trust vote three BJP members waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha saying that it was given to them by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh's men for obtaining the vote. The three MPs also claimed to have videographic evidence of it.

13 MPs cross-voted and the 10 abstained gave the government victory. The opposition claimed that this was a false victory as it was bought with money.

The current government's term expires in May 2009 and national election will be held sometimes before May09.

Irrespective of Horse Trading, Government will fall: BJP

2008-07-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

The BJP yesterday claimed that all constituents would vote against the present government on 22 June trust vote in the Lok Sabha. It said that it is sure the government will fall irrespective of horse trading. The PMO and the residence of Sonia Gandhi has become “mandis” and they are in search of salable MPs.

The BJP also criticized the Congress for putting an attempt to persuade Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MPs to vote in favor of the government by taking strong exception to the Congress Punjab unit leader.

The BJP leader confirmed that Mr Badal has said that SAD will not vote for the Congress as long as he is alive.

The party also confirmed that ailing former PM, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee will vote. Moreover, other MPs will be brought using air ambulances to the Parliament to take part in voting during the trust motion.

Left no more Right for UPA after July 10

2008-07-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

By July 10 Left Front will handover a letter to the President withdrawing support to the UPA government. This was decided after the government refused to meet deadline of Left and it is clear that it is proceeding with the Indo-US nuclear deal. Earlier the CPI(M) Left parties asked the government for clarifying whether it is going to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In reply to this statement of the communists, the Government has urged them to attend one more meeting on July 10.

The Left has announced that they would not withdraw support when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in Japan attending the G-8 summit. Mr. Singh left for Japan today morning and is expected to meet US President George Bush and he will back in the country on Thursday.

Protest Against Land Transfer for Hindu Settlement in Kashmir

2008-06-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Protests rocked on the streets of Indian Kashmir on Friday (27.07.08) over fear of Hindu settlements. It sparked after the transfer of 99 acres land by state government to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the construction of facilities for pilgrims who flock here every year.

To ease the tension in the valley, Ghulam Nabi Azad (state CM) promised earlier this week that there would be no construction on the transferred land. Meanwhile, to get control over the situation, the police did firing into the air, lobbed tear gas shells, canned protesters.

It is reported that three protesters have been killed and 200 injured. 140 police officers have also been injured and over dozen government vehicles damaged.

These five days protests have forced tourists to flock back. According to one guest house, nearly 40 percent of clients have canceled their advance booking. Analysts say that this protest is a message to the country that peace would not be maintain in the valley unless a proper solution was found.

Left Unable to Initiate Right Talks with Gorkha Leaders

2008-06-17T01:54:00.001-07:00

WB Government failed to convince the Gorkha leaders, carrying a movement for separate Gorkhaland, for a talk. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung wants the center to be involved before the talk. Meanwhile relaxation on bandh in Siliguri is also being said by the group.

Dr. Talwar’s Compounder Arrested by CBI in Aarushi Murder Case

2008-06-17T01:53:00.001-07:00

CBI arrests Dr. Rajesh Talwar’s componder, Krishna, on Friday (13.06.08) under IPC section 302, 210 and 120(B) for alleged involvement in a criminal conspiracy in Aarushi murder case. The arrest was made after examining the results of the tests conducted over him.

Emergency Landing of Lalu’s Flight

2008-06-17T01:51:00.000-07:00

An emergency landing was made to a Kingfisher plane carrying Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday (14.06.08) when a bird hit the plane. The incident took place when the flight IT 331 from Delhi to Varanasi was taking off. Later, Mr. Yadav left in an Indian Airlines flight.