Page 79 - Social Issues
BJP-led govt needed to get Bihar out of backwardness: Nitish
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said the BJP needs to be voted to power again, as the Narendra Modi-led government can get Bihar out of backwardness. Addressing an election rally at Lalji High School ground in Raniganj block in favour of NDA candidate Pradeep Singh, Kumar enumerated the achievements of the BJD-led NDA government. He also exhorted voters to cast their ballots in favour of the BJP candidate from Araria Lok Sabha constituency. The JD(U) national president hailed central government programmes that "helped the poor" such as the Ujjwala scheme, Ayushmaan Bharat scheme and the Kisan Samman scheme. Taking a swipe at opposition leaders of the 'Mahagathbandhan', Kumar said they don't have any unity, unlike the NDA.
TV advertisement: BJP leader files police complaint
A BJP MLC has approached police against the Congress-NCP combine alleging telecast of a "false and misleading" poll campaign advertisement on television, a Mumbai police officer said Sunday. In a complaint lodged with Dahisar police station, the MLC Pravin Darekar, who is also the chairman of the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd, demanded that telecast of the advertisement be stopped, said Dahisar police station senior inspector Vasant Pingle. "In the advertisement, the family of a farmer who committed suicide gets a cheque of Rs 10 as aide from the government, which the complainant claimed is false and misleading," he said. Darekar also demanded removal of the advertisement claiming that it may impact voters, the officer added.
King restores citizenship of 551 Bahrainis
King Hamad has ordered that the citizenship of 551 Bahrainis revoked by courts be restored, official media said Sunday, days after a senior UN official expressed concern about the punishment. The king, who can reverse court decisions, requested that the competent authorities take into account "the nature of crimes committed", the Bahrain News Agency reported. The interior ministry has been instructed to examine files and prepare lists of those to be freed. Human rights groups estimate that 990 mainly Shiite people have had their citizenship revoked since protests against the government early this decade. Ruled for more than two centuries by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, Bahrain has a majority Shiite Muslim population, according to unofficial estimates contested by the government. A Bahraini court on Tuesday revoked the citizenship of 138 people and jailed 139, at the end of a mass trial denounced by rights group Amnesty International. Those convicted -- Shiite Bahraini citizens, ...
Kishtwar authorities order time-bound survey of tenants
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district Sunday ordered a time-bound survey of tenants and also asked house owners not to provide rental accommodation to anybody without proper verification. Kishtwar District Development Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana also warned of "stringent action" against house owners and tenants who create any kind of hurdle in the registration process. The communally sensitive Kishtwar, which was declared terrorism-free over a decade ago, was rattled by the killing of BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar on November 1 last year, followed by assassination of senior RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his security guard inside a hospital on April 9. "The assistant commissioner development and executive officer, municipal committee, have been directed to conduct a detailed survey of tenants residing within the municipal and panchayat limits of the town and adjoining areas through their field officials by or before April 30 ...
Married woman facing harassment by lover allegedly commits suicide
A 20-year-old married woman, who was harassed by a lover, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling of a room at her parent's home in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, police said Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday in Hajipur area under the Civil Lines police station, they said. The deceased's father, Anees Ahmed, has lodged a complaint saying his daughter Nagma was being forced to divorce her husband Kasif by one Shavez who wanted to marry her, Superintendent of Police (SP) Satpal Antil said. In the complaint, Ahmed alleged that when Nagma refused to do so she was threatened of dire consequences, the SP said. A case of abetment to suicide has been registered against Shavez who could not be traced yet, he said. Nagma and Kasif got married eight months ago, the officer added.
PIL in HC to implement law on issuing caste certificates to converted Buddhists
The Delhi High Court has sought responses of the Centre and the AAP government on a PIL seeking implementation of a law mandating issuance of caste certificates to those scheduled caste (SC) persons who converted to Buddhism. The plea has claimed that the implementation of the Constitution (Schedule Caste) Order (Amendment) Act of 1990 would enable scheduled caste persons who have embraced Buddhism to get caste certificates, a benefit which is available to them only in Maharasthra. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani issued notices to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Delhi government seeking their stands on the issue raised in the petition filed by lawyer Rahul Mohod. The petitioner has claimed that the Act has been in existence for over 28 years, but has not yet been implemented anywhere in the country except for Maharashtra. "In spite of the clear mandate under the aforesaid law, the public authorities in the pretext of not having
Pope urges return of refugees to Syria
Pope Francis urged politicians Sunday to make a new effort to resolve the Syrian conflict and so help ensure the return home of millions of refugees and displaced people. It is "time for a renewed commitment for a political solution (to) ... favour the secure re-entry of the homeless, along with all those who have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, especially Lebanon and Jordan," Francis said in his traditional Easter Sunday address at the Vatican.
Guj: Implement Schedule V of Constitution, demands BTP chief
Bharatiya Tribal Party chief Chhotu Vasava Sunday said Schedule V of the Constitution, which allows certain areas with a preponderance of tribal population to be declared as "scheduled areas", should be implemented across the country. He said it would allow tribals to have rights to their own lands, especially when they are getting displaced in large numbers due to various projects. "During the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river, tribals from 526 villages were evacuated. Similarly during the building of the Sardar Patel Memorial at Kevadiya, tribals from 72 villages lost their land. Is it justified," he told PTI. "Tribals are the real inhabitants of this land and they are being made migrants in the name of development," he claimed. Vasava, currently an MLA from Jhagadiya, is contesting from Bharuch Lok Sabha seat where he is pitted against the BJP's Mansukh Vasava and Congress' Sher Khan Pathan. He said the party, which is contesting from seven ...
US arrests rightwing militia member said to detain migrants
The FBI has arrested a member of an armed rightwing militia group accused of illegally detaining migrants at the US-Mexico border, officials said Saturday. Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 70, was arrested for illegal possession of a weapon. His small but well-armed United Constitutional Patriots (UCP) group says it watches the border, stands guard over people who want to hand themselves in to border patrol and pursues those who don't. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas described Hopkins, who also goes by the name of "Striker," as a "dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families." "Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes," he added. Hopkins was said to have been detaining migrants near Sunland Park, New Mexico. In recent months, thousands of migrants have arrived in Mexico, primarily Central Americans fleeing poverty and violence at home. US President ..
US arrests right-wing militia member said to detain migrants
The FBI has arrested a member of an armed right-wing militia group accused of illegally detaining migrants at the US-Mexico border, officials said Saturday. Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 70, was arrested for illegal possession of a weapon. His small but well-armed United Constitutional Patriots (UCP) group says it watches the border, stands guard over people who want to hand themselves in to border patrol and pursues those who don't. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas described Hopkins, who also goes by the name of "Striker," as a "dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families." "Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes," he added. Hopkins was said to have been detaining migrants near Sunland Park, New Mexico. In recent months, thousands of migrants have arrived in Mexico, primarily Central Americans fleeing poverty and violence at home. US President .
FBI arrests right-wing militia leader for detaining migrants
The FBI on Saturday arrested the leader of a right-wing militia for detaining groups of migrant families at gunpoint on Southern border of United States.The agents have detained Larry Mitchell Hopkins, who had been operating as Johnny Horton Jr. He has been charged with firearms possession by a felon."Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes. This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families," The New York Times quoted Hector Balderas, New Mexico's attorney general, as saying.The arrest comes a day after the New York Times reported on an ultraconservative paramilitary group, United Constitutional Patriots, operating along the southwestern border.The activity of the group came into light after it posted a 45-minute video in which they could be seen detaining around 200 migrants who had crossed the southern border near Sunland Park. They were later ..
EC notice to Sidhu over appeal for votes to Muslims
The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday issued a notice to Punjab Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for violating Model Code of Conduct during an election rally in Bihar's Katihar when he urged Muslims to not split their votes.
TDP MP CM Ramesh's nephew commits suicide
Dharma Ram, nephew of Telegu Desam Party's Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh, committed suicide after failing in a subject in the intermediate final examination.The 17-year-old Ram died on Friday night while undergoing treatment. He had committed suicide on April 18 by jumping from his apartment, police saidHis body has been shifted to Osmania General Hospital for the post-mortem examination (PME).A case has been registered by the police under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Paris: Yellow Vest protesters attack police with excreta-like substance, torch vehicles
Police on Saturday had to resort to using tear gas after they were attacked by the Yellow Vest protesters with an excreta-like substance here as the demonstrations entered their 23rd continuous week.Aside from attacking the police with the substance, a few demonstrators also lit garbage and vehicles on fire in Paris during Saturday's agitation. Around two people were wounded in the rally, which also saw participation from the 'Black Bloc' group.Demonstrators donning yellow vests have been taking to the streets across France continuously since November 17 last year. They initially protested against the proposed rise in fuel prices, which were scrapped by French President Emmanuel Macron in a bid to quell protests.Around 60,000 police officers and gendarmes have been deployed to maintain peace during the protests, according to Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner. Meanwhile, Sputnik reports that at least 100 protesters have been arrested in Saturday's protests.Protesters were ..
EC notice to Sidhu for warning Muslims about division of votes
The Election Commission Saturday issued a showcause notice to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for his remarks in which he allegedly warned the Muslim community that efforts were on to divide their votes in Bihar. The EC said prima facie he has violated provisions of the model code of conduct, election law and a Supreme Court direction asking politicians not to mix religion with political discourse while electioneering. The Punjab minister has been asked to respond within 24 hours, failing which the EC will take a decision without further reference to him. The poll panel pointed out that an FIR has already been lodged against him in Bihar's Kathiar under some sections of the penal code and section 123 of the Representation of the People Act. Section 123 (3) bars promotion of, or attempt to promote, feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of the citizens of India on grounds of religion, race, caste, community, or language, by a candidate or his agent or any other ...
EC notice to Sidhu for asking Muslims to vote to defeat Modi
The Election Commission Saturday issued a showcause notice to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for his remarks wherein he asked Muslims to vote en bloc to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The poll panel said prima facie Sidhu violated the model code of conduct in place for the Lok Sabha polls, and also a Supreme Court direction barring use of religious references for political propaganda. The Congress leader has been given 24 hours to respond to the notice. An FIR was lodged against Sidhu recently in the Katihar district of Bihar for making the remarks at an election rally there. Addressing the rally, the cricketer-turned-politician had urged Muslim voters of a Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, with a sizeable population of the minority community, to vote together and defeat Modi.
Manmohan defends Nyay, says it won't entail new taxes
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that Nyay scheme of the Congress will usher in an era of minimum income guarantee in India, end poverty and restart the economic engine which has "come to a stop" under the Narendra Modi government.
2 yrs on, Afrajul killing still weighs on in Malda
The killing of a labourer from Maldah in far- away Rajasthan almost two years ago weighs heavily on the minds of people of the district, which is heavily dependent on remittance from its male members working as construction labourers in other states, as it prepares to vote on April 23. Mohammad Afrajul, a labourer from Saiydpur village, was allegedly hacked and burnt to death by a man in December 2017. The attack was filmed on video, which shows the victim pleading for his life. "The video is still there. People in the village still see it. I don't know what wrong he did, but I keep wondering was it his religion that killed him," asked Afrajul's wife Gulbahar Bibi in her one-room house, with her youngest daughter Habiba and her grandchildren sitting near her. Afrajul's death stunned the district, whose extent of migration is such that the Farakka Express leaving Malda railway station every evening to ferry migrant workers to Delhi is popularly called the 'labour express'. "There is ..
Bynes is 'doing great' since checking into rehab
Actress Amanda Bynes is "doing great" and focusing on herself as she continues to seek treatment after checking into a rehabilitation facility in January.
Three youths commit suicide in J-K's Rajouri
Three youth allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves inside their houses in three separate incidents in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said Saturday. On Friday, Ram Lal (22) was allegedly found hanging from the ceiling of his room at Hasoit-Sunderbani in the district, police said. In an another incident, Sourav Singh (28) and Vanny Bhalla (21) were found hanging from the ceiling of their rooms on Saturday at Khadarian-Kalakote and Jawahar Nagar areas of Rajouri district respectively, a police official said. The preliminary investigations suggests that the trio had committed suicide for unknown reasons, the official said. Three separate case were registered and the police have started inquest proceedings in the cases, he added.