January 2018

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Nitish Kumar Gets Posh Bungalow In Lutyens' Delhi

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who joined the ruling NDA at the Centre after breaking ties with RJD and Congress, has been allotted a posh bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi.

Nitish Kumar Gets Posh Bungalow In Lutyens' Delhi

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs alloted the top bracket bungalow at 6 K Kamraj Lane to the JD(U) supremo, an official said.

Every state has a certain quota of bungalows in the national capital, he said, adding based on that quota, Kumar, as the chief minister, was alloted the house.

Mr Kumar made headlines after he decided to shun the grand alliance of the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and rejoined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form the government in Bihar last year.

Following the split, former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and party leader Ali Anwar were expelled from the Rajya Sabha in December last.

Mr Sharad Yadav is expected to launch his own party soon.

As the railway minister in the NDA government i.e. from 2001 to 2004, Mr Kumar had lived in one of the biggest bungalows at Akbar Road in the national capital.

Varun Gandhi Wants Rich Lawmakers To Forego Salary To Reduce Inequality Gap

New Delhi: BJP lawmaker Varun Gandhi has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to initiate a "movement" to encourage economically advantaged Lok Sabha members to forego their remunerations for the remaining term of the Lower House. The move would reinforce people's faith in their representatives, he said.

Varun Gandhi Wants Rich Lawmakers To Forego Salary To Reduce Inequality Gap

"A voluntary exercise such as this would send a positive message across the nation regarding the level of sensitivity we possess as elected representatives," he wrote in a letter to Sumitra Mahajan.

He also suggested creating an independent, statutory body to ascertain the affordability of the move and the need for an increase in fiscal compensation for lawmakers.

The Sultanpur lawmaker expressed concern over the widening inequality in the country, saying it was "detrimental" to democracy.

"India's inequality gap is widening further every day. A growing divide is detrimental to our democracy and we as public representatives must be seen to be more responsive to the socio-economic realities of our country," the letter read. Mr Gandhi underlined that the move may trouble a few lawmakers.

The remuneration of a lawmaker includes a basic salary of Rs 50,000 per month, Rs 45,000 as constituency allowance, among other allowances. The government spends roughly Rs 2.7 lakh per lawmaker per month, he wrote in the letter.

The number of lawmakers with assets worth over Rs 1 crore rose sharply from 319 in 2009 to 449 at present. Roughly 24 per cent or 132 Lok Sabha members have declared assets worth over Rs 10 crore. According to a report, the average value of lawmakers' assets in the 16th Lok Sabha is Rs 14.61 crore.

Over the last decade, salaries of parliamentarians have increased by 400 per cent, a rise that is unlikely even in the profit driven private sector, he added.

2 Naxals Killed In Gunbattle With Security Forces In Chhattisgarh's Sukma

Raipur: Two naxals, including one woman, were gunned down in an exchange of fire with security forces in a dense forest area in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district this morning, police said.

2 Naxals Killed In Gunbattle With Security Forces In Chhattisgarh's Sukma

The skirmish took place in the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli villages under Chintalnar police station limits, Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

"A joint team of CoBRA (commando battalion for resolute action) 201st battalion - a CRPF specialised unit, and local police had launched the counter-insurgency operation in the jungles of Chintalnar, around 500 km away from here," he said.

The security forces were cordoning off the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli, when they came under fire from a group of armed naxals leading to an exchange of fire, he said.

After the guns fell silent, the security forces searched the area and recovered the body of two Maoists including one woman, along with two weapons, he said.

Further details are awaited as the operation was still underway in the region, he added.

Rajputs Who Saw 'Padmaavat' Angry For Opposing It Earlier": Manish Sisodia

New Delhi: With protests still continuing against "Padmaavat", Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said he saw the film along with a few others Rajput leaders and found nothing objectionable in it. A Rajput himself, Mr Sisodia said that those opposing the film earlier were angry with themselves after watching it.

Rajputs Who Saw 'Padmaavat' Angry For Opposing It Earlier": Manish Sisodia

"I took many of them to the theatre. Saw the movie. Forget about me, people opposing it ... they said there was nothing in this movie," the 46-year-old deputy chief minister told reporters.

Groups like the Karni Sena allege that "Padmaavat" hurts Rajput pride and twists the story of 14th century Queen Padmini, who chose death before surrendering to Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji. Protesters took to violence and arson in Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh - the states that had initially banned the movie despite the censor board allowing it with tweaks.

Over the last two days, a train was stopped in UP and the Delhi-Jaipur highway and other roads were blocked. In Gurgaon, a bus was set on fire. In parts of UP, protesters forced shops and markets to shut down. A mob was lathi-charged in Etawah. Protesters set afire a ticket booth in Jammu.

On Wednesday, a mob protesting against the film even attacked a school bus in Gurgaon, which was carrying about two dozen children.

"Some people claim themselves to be Rajputs... and hurl stones at school buses... boycott such Rajputs... I don't associate myself with such people," Mr Sisodia, who has been extremely vocal against the violent protests, said.

"The Rajput in me is crying, the father is crying.... This is not the Rajput aan baan shaan that we are known for," he added.

The period drama stars Deepika Padukone as Queen Padmini, Shahid Kapoor as king Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji, who leads an invasion to try to capture the queen. A year ago, members of the Karni Sena attacked the film's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and vandalised the set during filming in Rajasthan. They alleged that the film showed a romance between Queen Padmini and Khilji, which the filmmakers have emphatically denied.

Earlier this month, the censor board cleared the film with tweaks that included changing the title from "Padmavati" to "Padmaavat".

Central Government Announces Four New Fellowships For Young Scientists, Researchers

New Delhi: Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today announced four schemes to promote young scientists and researchers in the country. The schemes primarily aim at early recognition and reward to young talent in the field of science. "The schemes focus on youth to empower, recognize and motivate them," Dr Harsh Vardhan said, while announcing the new schemes.

Central Government Announces Four New Fellowships For Young Scientists, Researchers

The Minister said that in a bid to tap the potential of trained faculty in Universities, colleges and private academic institutions, 500 teachers will be assisted under the Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE) scheme. It will connect them to leading public funded institutions like IIT, IISc or national institutions like CSIR, preferably nearer to their place of work to pursue research. They will be paid Rs. 5 lakh yearly, and a monthly out-of-pocket expense of Rs. 5,000. This will be in addition to the salary from their existing employer.

The second scheme - Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship offers support to 100 PhD scholars for training in universities/laboratories abroad upto 12 months during their doctoral research. They would be given a monthly fellowship equivalent to US $ 2000, one-time contingency allowance of Rs. 60,000/- to cover travel and visa fee.

The Distinguished Investigator Award offers a maximum of 100 fellowships to principal investigators of SERB/DST projects. "This one-time career award will be judged on the basis of a completed project," said Dr Harsh Vardhan. "This is aimed at giving early recognition and reward to young scientists, he added."

The selected 100 researchers will be given a monthly fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- for three years and an optional research grant, based on peer review of the project proposal submitted.

A scheme to encourage science writing seeks to tap the potential of over 20,000 PhD scholars in science to popularise and communicate their research outcome. Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research, AWSAR carries a monetary incentive of Rs. 10,000/- each for 100 best entries in a year and a Certificate of Appreciation, besides getting the story published. Three leading stories from the selected 100 would be awarded Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 50,000/- and Rs. 25,000/- respectively.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that these schemes will be notified and applications invited from across the country on February 1.

The film inspired by 16th century fictional poem titled Padmavat penned by Sufi pet Malik Muhammed Jayasi, stars Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer as Alauddin Khilji.

Mumbai: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial film Padmaavat hits theatres today amid high security. The film starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, which has been in the eye of storm ever since its inception, was initially slated to release on December 1 last year. And now, after almost over a month-and-a-half, moviegoers looking forward to the film will get to watch the film.

The film inspired by 16th century fictional poem titled Padmavat penned by Sufi pet Malik Muhammed Jayasi, stars Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer as Alauddin Khilji.
The film inspired by 16th century fictional poem titled Padmavat penned by Sufi pet Malik Muhammed Jayasi, stars Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer as Alauddin Khilji.

The Central Board of Film Certification cleared the film for screening after suggesting five modifications that the makers agreed to incorporate. After much delay and deliberation, the film will open in theatres and multiplexes today in various states.

The multiplex association of India has said that the film will not be released in four states - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. Representatives of the body said that they had decided to not screen the movie in these states because the administration told them that the law and order situation is not conducive.

The makers had even invited the Rajput Karni Sena to watch the film but the invitation was declined by the group that is hell bent on stopping Padmaavat from releasing.

Violent protests spread to towns and cities in many states including Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra and UP, a day ahead of the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat, as fringe groups opposing the film remained defiant.

A bus was torched and a highway blocked in Haryana's Gurgaon where protesters violated prohibitory orders while the police had to use force to disperse an agitating mob in Lucknow.

Karni Sena members allegedly damaged two state roadways buses in Jaipur and blocked a road in the city's Kalwar area scores of activists were held in Mumbai and Nashik.

Meanwhile, in Ahmedabad, the police arrested 50 people in connection with the violence and vandalism outside malls last night. As many as 30 bikes and scooters, parked outside three multiplexes in the city were set ablaze by protesters.

In a yet another worrying sign for the controversy-mired flick, the Multiplex Association of India, which represents about 75 per cent of multiplex owners, said the film would not be screened in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa.

The Supreme Court had however paved the way for the nationwide release of Padmaavat after some states had issued notifications banning the film.

Horror On A School Bus In Gurgaon, Attacked By Mob Protesting Padmaavat

Little children crouched on the floor, some with their hands clamped on their mouth in fear, as a mob protesting against the film Padmaavat threw rocks at their school bus in Gurgaon near Delhi.

Horror On A School Bus In Gurgaon, Attacked By Mob Protesting Padmaavat

Children from Classes 2 to 12 of the GD Goenka World School were in the bus, along with teachers and staff. The youngest children are heard crying in a mobile phone video that captured several terrifying moments on the bus, caught in the mob violence.

Teachers and students were seen in the video on the space between the seats, ducking to take cover from the hail of stones. A teacher had her arms wrapped around a frightened girl. The school bus was right behind a state-run bus that had been set on fire by the mob this afternoon.

After the attack, the seats were filled with shards of glass. The police could not help the group, the teachers and staff complained.

"There were policemen, but no one was listening to them. The protesters didn't care," said a teacher.

Padmaavat is set to be released tomorrow but groups like Karni Sena have vowed to block the film at all costs, in defiance of Supreme Court orders.

Violence and arson has been reported from parts of Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh -- the states that had initially banned the movie.

Congress, BJP Call For Shutdown Over Alleged Suicide Of Odisha Girl

Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJP and the Congress on Tuesday slammed the BJD government in Odisha over the alleged suicide of a girl who had claimed to have been raped by "four men in uniform", staging separate demonstrations and calling for a state-wide shutdown today.

Congress, BJP Call For Shutdown Over Alleged Suicide Of Odisha Girl

A day after the minor tribal girl ended her life in Koraput, Congress gave called for dawn-to-dusk bandh across the state, while the BJP announced its decision to observe a 12-hour strike from 6 AM to 6 PM.

In view of the bandhs, schools and colleges would remain closed for the safety of students and examinations would be shifted to a suitable date, officials said.

Elaborate security arrangements have also been made, police said.

Leaders of both the opposition parties said the shutdown would be observed to protest alleged failure of state government in handing out justice to the girl and to demand a CBI probe into the incident.

Terning the 14-year-old survivor's suicide as a "black day", Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Prasad Harichandan also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for failure to provide justice to the girl.

The OPCC chief urged people to support the peaceful agitation against alleged injustice to the class 9 girl student, who was forced to end her life.

Harichandan alleged that the girl took the extreme step 100 days after the incident as she was mentally tortured by police and other officials, including doctors.

He also slammed police and its Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) for ruling out the girl had been raped, despite the girl claiming that she had been raped by four men in combat uniform near Kunduli in Maoist-hit Koraput district on October 10.

Announcing the call for state-wide shutdown, BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan said the party would continue its stir till the girl gets justice.

The party had initially called for a strike in four districts in south Odisha.

Meanwhile, stepping up attack on the BJD government, BJP activists, including women wing members, clashed with police while trying to march to 'Naveen Niwas', the residence of the chief minister.

The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Satyabrata Bhoi said.

Members of the Congress' women wing also staged a demonstration and attempted to enter 'Naveen Niwas'.

The police have detained some BJP and Congress activists, the DCP said.

"The situation is now under control. We have dispersed the agitators," he said, adding that at least four police personnel suffered injuries as the protesters pelted them with stones. Several BJP activists were injured in the police lathicharge.

The girl had alleged that she was raped by four men in uniform in Kunduli on October 10 last year when she was returning home to Musaguda village, about five kilometres away.

The suicide of the girl also triggered tension in Koraput as local people led by Congress leader Pradip Majhi took away the girl's body from the hospital without allowing officials to perform a post-mortem, officials said.

BJP leader and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has demanded a CBI probe into the whole episode and alleged that the girl was denied justice.

BJP state general secretary Bhrugu Buxipatra urged the people to make the bandh successful tomorrow "as the girl died after being denied justice".

"The girl had earlier claimed that there was threat to her life. She was forced to take the drastic step of ending her life as she was denied justice," said Congress Chief Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

Meanwhile, Odisha Women and Child Development Minister Prafulla Samal said his department would inquire into the circumstances that led to the death of the girl.

"We feel that the department has some responsibility.

Our officers will probe into the cause of her death," Prafulla Samal told reporters.

Rajendra Dadua, president of Zilla Dom Samaja, said, "The state government did not take her plight seriously and justice was denied to her."

The state government had ordered a crime branch probe and judicial inquiry into the alleged rape.

Republic Day 2018: Why January 26 Is Celebrated As Republic Day

New Delhi: Republic Day celebrated in grandeur every year with ceremonious parades at Rajpath in New Delhi, as well as celebrations across the country, marks the day when the Constitution of India came into effect. After gaining independence from the British on August 15, 1947, India was an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The British monarch King George VI was still officially India's head of state even though it was a fully independent sovereign state.

Republic Day 2018: Why January 26 Is Celebrated As Republic Day

It was after the constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950 that India became a federal, democratic republic within the commonwealth, abolishing the monarchy.

After independence, the Constituent Assembly appointed the drafting committee, with Dr BR Ambedkar as its chairman, to draft the constitution. The drafting committee was tasked with framing the constitution which would be passed and accepted by the assembly

The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949 but brought it into effect on January 26, 1950.

The reason January 26 was picked as the day for the constitution to come into force is because during the independence struggle in 1929, during the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, where Jawaharlal Nehru was elected president, a resolution was passed demanding complete independence for the first time.

The day, 26 January, 1930 was declared as "Purna Swaraj Diwas" or Independence Day. However, it wasn't until 1947 that the demand was to be met. To honour the significance of the first Independence Day, members of the constituent assembly decided to enforce the constitution on January 26, marking it as Republic Day.