Page 16 - Bihar

PM Modi gifts Mahakumbh water, Ram Mandir replica to Trinidad & Tobago PM

During his address to the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago, PM Modi underlined Bihar's historic and cultural importance, and called the PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar 'daughter of Bihar'

Special Intensive Revision in Bihar 'on schedule', says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Special Intensive Revision is a focused voter list update exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to ensure electoral rolls are accurate ahead of upcoming elections

Bihar guv defends appointment of principals in Patna University colleges

In an unprecedented move, five colleges of Patna University got their principals through draw of lots with Bihar Governor and varsity chancellor Arif Mohammed Khan defending the move on Thursday saying, "we have adopted a system in which a principal's appointment is not guided by personal likes and dislikes". According to a notification by the varsity registrar, the appointments of new principals were made on the recommendation of the Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC). Those appointed as principals on Wednesday in the constituent colleges of the university are Nagendra Prasad Verma (Magadh Mahila College), Anil Kumar (Patna College), Alka (Patna Science College), Suheli Mehta (Vanijya Mahavidyalaya) and Yogendra Kumar Verma (Patna Law College). "We have adopted a system in which a principal's appointment is not guided by personal likes and dislikes... ," Governor Khan told reporters. Sources at the Raj Bhavan confirmed that the governor-cum-chancellor directed the

Opposition slams EC over special intensive revision of electoral rolls

Congress and its allies accuse the Election Commission of attempting to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections, demanding that it not act on the ruling party's behest

Meeting held under pressure: Jairam Ramesh attacks ECI over INDIA bloc meet

The Congress leader noted that the Election Commission earlier refused a meeting, however, later only allowed two leaders from a party, due to which some leaders could not even meet the officials

Patna University uses lottery to assign principals, sparks academic ire

Five Patna University colleges received new principals via a lottery system. The unusual method saw a home science teacher assigned to head a commerce college

Exercise done to ensure integrity: BJP on Bihar electoral roll revision

A delegation of INDIA bloc leaders from 11 political parties met with ECI to register their opposition to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls underway in Bihar

Vote-bandi will destroy democracy: Cong opposes EC's roll revision in Bihar

Leaders of several INDIA bloc parties met the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and raised concerns over its timing, alleging that over two crore voters of the state may be disenfranchised by this mammoth exercise being done just ahead of assembly elections. The Congress claimed that after the prime minister's 'notebandi' (demonetisation) that "destroyed" the country's economy, EC's 'Vote-bandi' in Bihar will demolish India's democracy. Leaders from 11 parties, including the Congress, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, NCP-SP and the Samajwadi Party, put forth their objections before Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other election commissioners to the special scrutiny of the voters' list. The INDIA bloc parties have been vocal in their opposition to the Special Intensive Revision exercise that has already started in Bihar and is to be carried out in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which ar

Bihar was kept backward deliberately by Congress, RJD: Rajnath Singh

Singh was addressing the party's state executive meeting today in Patna, Bihar. He was also accompanied by Bihar Deputy CMs Vijay Sinha, Samrat Chaudhary, Party President Dileep Jaiswal and others

Bihar govt launches paid internship scheme to support youth employment

The Bihar government on Tuesday launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Pratigya' scheme to provide financial support to youths for carrying out internship programmes after clearing their class 12 board examination. The decision to launch the paid internship program, which aims to address youth unemployment and enhance industry readiness among students, was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday. "The Cabinet approved the 'Mukhya Mantri Pratigya' scheme on Tuesday. Under the scheme, youths aged between 18 and 28, having either trained under skill development programme or those who have passed Class 12 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) diploma, graduate and post-graduate will get financial support for availing internship training," Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddhartha said. The youths during their internship programme will be given financial support for a period ranging from three months to 12 months. Those who have cleared the .

Bihar Cabinet okays ₹882.87 cr for developing temple at Sita's birthplace

The Bihar government on Tuesday approved more than Rs 882 crore for the overall development of 'Punaura Dham Janki Mandir', a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi district that is considered the birthplace of Goddess Sita. The state Cabinet decided at a meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here on Tuesday. "I am extremely delighted to inform that the state Cabinet on Tuesday approved a comprehensive plan, worth Rs 882.87 Crore, for the overall development of Punaura Dham, the birthplace of goddess Sita (Janaki), in Sitamarhi district. The plan includes the construction of a grand temple and other structures," Kumar posted on X soon after the meeting. According to the proposal of the state Tourism department, which was approved by the Cabinet, around Rs 137 crore will be spent on the renovation of the old Punaura Dham Janki Mandir and Rs. 728 crore for the development of tourist infrastructure around the temple. The remaining amount will be spent on the maintenance of t

Security boosted at Patna airport after bomb scare; turns out to be a hoax

Security has been beefed up at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport (JPNI) following a bomb threat received via email, though it turned out to be a hoax, a police official said on Tuesday. "A bomb threat through email was received at the JPNI airport in Patna a few days ago. The authorities convened a high-level meeting at the airport and further security measures were implemented. The email turned out to be a hoax," City SP Central, Patna, Diksha, told PTI. Security was beefed up following the threat at the airport, she said. "A case has been registered. We are now trying to trace the IP address and catch the sender," she said. The cyber cell of the Economic Offences Unit is also investigating the case to find out the sender, she added.

Electoral roll a dynamic list, only eligible citizens can be listed: EC

Amid protests by opposition parties, the Election Commission on Monday said the special intensive revision is needed as the electoral roll keeps changing due to a variety of reasons and the Constitution mandates it to ensure that only eligible citizens are part of the voters' list and those not, do not get to vote. Several opposition parties have said that the intensive revision carries the risk of willful exclusion of voters using the state machinery. In a statement, the poll panel said the revision of electoral rolls is must as it is a dynamic list which keeps changing due to deaths, shifting of people due to migration and addition of new voters who have turned 18. "Further, Article 326 of the Constitution specifies the eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian citizens, above 18 years and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible to be registered as an elector," it said. The Election Commission said it has uploaded the 2003 electoral roll of Bihar comprising deta

SC denies plea challenging Bodh Gaya Temple Act; asks petitioner to move HC

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea challenging the vires of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, and asked the petitioner to approach the concerned high court. The Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar's Bodh Gaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the four holy areas related to the life of Lord Gautam Buddha. Bodh Gaya is a place where Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment. A plea challenging the vires of the 1949 Act came up for hearing before a bench of Justices M M Sundresh and K Vinod Chandran. The bench asked the petitioner's counsel about the prayer sought in the plea. "I (petitioner) have prayed that the Bodh Gaya Temple Act should be annulled as ultra vires," the counsel said. The bench said the petitioner should approach the concerned high court. "Why don't you do it before the high court?" the bench asked. "We are not inclined to entertain the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. However, liberty is given to the ..

Mahagathbandhan will throw Waqf Act into trash in Bihar: Tejashwi

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday claimed that the ruling NDA in Bihar was "on its way out", and the new government in the state led by the Mahagathbandhan will "consign to dustbin" the Waqf Act brought by the Narendra Modi dispensation at the Centre. The young leader addressed a 'Save Waqf, Save Constitution' rally, held at the historical Gandhi Maidan here, where leaders from various political parties had turned up, wearing black bands as a mark of protest. The former deputy chief minister, who is now the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, underscored, "Our national president Lalu Prasad has made it clear that the RJD will oppose this law tooth and nail. Our MPs opposed it in both Houses of Parliament. We have also moved the court against the legislation." "I would also ask my Muslim brethren in Bihar to remember that the NDA government is on its way out. In November, a new pro-poor government will be installed in the state and it will consign the Waqf Act to the ..

Owaisi accuses EC of quietly implementing NRC in Bihar ahead of polls

Owaisi said the Election Commission plans to finish door-to-door voter checks in Bihar within a month, but this is unfair in a state with poor connectivity and a high population

INDIA bloc to oppose electoral roll revision ahead of Bihar elections

The opposition INDIA bloc in Bihar on Friday strongly opposed the Election Commission's (EC) proposed intensive revision of electoral rolls ahead of the state assembly elections. Averment to this effect came at a joint press conference here addressed by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Congress' media and publicity department chief Pawan Khera and CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, among others. "We suspect that this exercise, which seeks documents from voters that few might possess, is aimed at disenfranchising a large number of people especially those from deprived sections of society," alleged Tejashwi Yadav, a former Deputy CM who is currently the leader of the opposition. He alleged, "Once names are struck off the voters' list, the next step could be depriving these people of the benefits of social welfare schemes". The young leader remarked, "It is impossible for the EC to conduct such a mammoth exercise in just 25 days, as it has proposed. If, indeed, it is possible

No dispute in Mahagathbandhan on Tejashwi being CM face: Kanhaiya Kumar

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Friday said if the 'Mahagathbandhan' gets a majority in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, the chief minister will be from the RJD, and added that there was "no confusion or dispute" over Tejashwi Yadav being the main face for the CM's post. Kanhaiya Kumar, however, asserted that issues would be paramount in the polls and there was "a conspiracy" by rivals to divert attention by raking up the matter of the coalition's CM face. Claiming that as soon as the BJP gets a chance it will remove Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and replace him with its own leader in Bihar, Kumar alleged that the BJP is following its standard template -- to first take the support of a regional party and then "slowly swallow it". In an interview with PTI, he claimed that "winds of change" are stronger than in the last assembly polls in Bihar and the BJP is not raking up Operation Sindoor as a poll plank because it knows that the people of Bihar will respond negatively to it as the

Congress to ensure backwards get respect in Bihar, north India: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that his party is with backward communities in their fight for power in proportion to their population and again called for conducting a caste census at the earliest. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said this during a meeting with members of the Vishwakarma community at his residence here earlier this week. In a video shared by him on Thursday, Gandhi is heard saying that the Congress would strive to help the OBCs and the extremely backwards get respect in north India and Bihar. "My aim is to hand over the Congress party's command in the hands of OBCs, Dalits, tribals. This is your weapon," he told the Vishwakarma community leaders. "...when I see injustice being done to backwards and very backward communities, I don't like it. My endeavour is that in Bihar and north India, the extremely backwards should get respect and their history should be respected. I want to strengthen the original roots of extremely backward community,

Lalu Prasad Yadav files nomination papers for re-election as RJD president

RJD president Lalu Prasad on Monday filed his nomination papers to seek re-election to the top post in the party he has been heading since its inception nearly three decades ago. The 78-year-old, who has grown frail because of age and multiple ailments, reached the party office, accompanied by younger son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav and wife Rabri Devi, who had succeeded her husband as the chief minister of Bihar. A large number of RJD workers had reached the party office to catch a glimpse of the leader, once known for his earthy but electrifying presence. Talking to reporters on the occasion, Yadav said, "A wave of delight has swept across party workers upon Lalu ji completing his tenure and raring to go for another. We are confident his leadership will steer us to victory in the days to come". Notably, at the party's state council meeting held here last week, Prasad had called upon RJD workers to approach the upcoming assembly polls with the resolve to make Yadav the next .