Page 80 - Social Issues
No need for new taxes to finance NYAY: Manmohan Singh
Former prime minister and senior Congress leader Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday stated that there will be no need for any new taxes to finance party's poll promise of NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) in which an income support of Rs 72,000 would be provided annually, if the party voted to power in 2019."Congress is committed to fiscal discipline. NYAY scheme will cost between 1.2 - 1.5 per cent of GDP at its peak. Our nearly $3 trillion economy has the fiscal capacity to absorb this expenditure. There will be no need for any new taxes on the middle class to finance NYAY. The economic stimulus that NYAY will provide will further help in fiscal discipline," Singh said in a statement."NYAY will also help restart our economic engine that has come to a stop today. Money in the hands of the needy will stimulate demand in the economy which can then lead to increased economic activity and job creation, referred to as the Keynesian effect by economists. At a time when private investment and industrial
Minorities well protected under Modi govt : Naqvi
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Saturday said minority communities are well protected under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's NDA government than under the Congress dispensation in the past. When Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, many parties had opposed him by saying that the minority community will be targeted and India's relations with Islamic countries will deteriorate. "But they have been proved wrong," the union minority affairs minister said at a series of election meetings at Salipur in Cuttack and Kendrapara. "One-way of lies and narrow minded politics of some political parties has been demolished by the high-way of inclusive growth constructed by Modi who has become the architect of new India," he said. These political parties have become panicky and restless after seeing the "high-way of development and trust constructed by Modi and are going to the people against him carrying "bunch of lies" every day, Naqvi said. Modi, he said, has prepared the "high-way .
Fed up with life, man kills self ahead of his marriage
A 30-year-old smalltime businessman allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his flat here in Maharashtra, just two days ahead of his marriage which was scheduled for Saturday, police said. In his suicide note, the deceased Nikhil Deshmukh purportedly wrote that he was ending his life due to his "unsuccessful life". A police official said Saturday that Deshmukh hanged himself with a rope on Thursday night, on the eve of the pre-marriage rituals. "Deshmukh had told his parents, who were outside, that he would be back in a short while and instead went to his flat in Satpur industrial area on Thursday evening. But as he did not return for a long time, his parents reached the flat where they found him hanging," the official said. Police have found a suicide note in the flat, purportedly written by Deshmukh, which stated that he was "committing suicide due to my unsuccessful life", the official said quoting the note. Police have registered a case of accidental death,
Yasin Malik ill, shifted to hospital in Delhi: Family
The family of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail, on Saturday said that he is ill and has been shifted to a hospital.
Hyderabad: IS sympathiser arrested in NIA raid, taken to custody
The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested an alleged Islamic State (IS) sympathiser from his home in Kings Colony here, sources said.The suspect, Taha, was taken into custody by the NIA sleuths, sources said.The NIA is carrying out searches in Telangana and Maharashtra against an IS module, according to sources.The raids are being conducted at three locations in Hyderabad and one in Wardha.
New Snapchat Lens to spread anti-bullying awareness
Photo-messaging app Snapchat is working out ways to spread awareness about bullying on its platform by launching its first ever social impact-based Lens Challenge.
IMA, IPS appeal to producers of 'Mental Hai Kya' to withdraw film's teasers
The Indian Medical Association and the Indian Psychiatric Society Saturday appealed to producers of the film "Mental Hai Kya" to withdraw its teasers and change the movie's title, besides revising its content if it has any provocative sequence, dialogue or song. The makers of the film have recently released a poster which shows its two lead actors facing each other as they balance a blade between their tongues. "Brilliant imagination! But can we call it creative too? Creativity is all about producing a useful novelty. Yes, it is a novelty but would you call it useful?" the IMA and the IPS said in a statement issued here. "The title 'Mental Hai Kya' is clearly derogatory to people fighting with their mental maladies. It is sarcastic and ridicules persons in pain," said Dr Santanu Sen, national president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). He alleged that the title of the film "ridicules" persons with mental illness which is not only unethical and inhuman but also illegal, he ...
Tejashwi attacks Modi ahead of Bihar meeting
Hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar to address a public meeting in the Araria parliamentary constituency, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday attacked him for the state's suffering.
Columbine high school massacre marks 20th anniversary
The United States on Saturday commemorated the 20th anniversary of Columbine High school massacre in Colorado that left 12 students, one teacher, and both gunmen dead in 1999.Survivors and families of the deceased in the shotgun blast, who gathered outside the school on Friday said that the upcoming anniversary of the massacre was conjuring up feelings of pain, hope, love, and despair, CNN reported.The children of Dave Sanders, the lone teacher who died in the shootings at Columbine High School, told CNN that people still come up to him to thank their father for showing bravery on this day two decades ago. Sanders have been praised for securing other students' lives before succumbing to his wounds."I run into kids who had him as a teacher, and one of them said, 'Can I take a picture of you holding my child?' And I said, 'Why?' And they said, 'Because he wouldn't be here without your dad,'" Coni Sanders told Fox31."And so we're seeing these generations of kids who had a chance to grow .
IS module case: Raids in Hyderabad, Maharashtra
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday carried out raids in Telangana's Hyderabad and Maharashtra's Wardha in connection with an Islamic State module case, officials said.
Two stranded Indian nationals apprehended for trying to enter US illegally
Two Indian nationals have been apprehended by the patrol agents at the US-Mexico border in Arizona after they got stranded while trying to enter America illegally, authorities said. The duo, including a Sikh man, called for help using technology installed in remote locations to help people in distress. Agents assigned to the Ajo Border Patrol Station rescued the two migrants following the activation of a US Border Patrol rescue beacon Wednesday evening. They responded to the rescue beacon located approximately 14 miles northwest of the Lukeville Port of Entry in Arizona and found the two men alone in the beacon. The two men were in good health, and did not request further medical assistance, the US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. The duo was transported back to the station for processing, where records checks revealed the men were Indian nationals who were trying to enter US illegally. The US agency said criminal organizations often abandon migrants in the desert. ..
Pope leads Way of the Cross procession in Rome
Pope Francis presided over a Way of the Cross procession here in honour of migrants and the victims of human trafficking and lamented that they often find closed doors at the countries they are trying to reach.
US: Right-wing militia detaining migrants at gunpoint: report
A right-wing militia group operating in southern New Mexico has begun detaining groups of migrant families at gunpoint, reports New York Times.Members of the United Constitutional Patriots recently uploaded a video on social media in which they could be seen detaining a group of about 200 migrants who had crossed the southern border near Sunland Park. They were later handed over to Border Patrol agents.New Mexico government has condemned the act and termed it unlawful. In a statement, Hector Balderas, New Mexico's attorney general, said: "These individuals should not attempt to exercise authority reserved for law enforcement."However, The United Constitutional Patriots have claimed that they have done nothing unconstitutional."We are just here to support the Border Patrol and show the public the reality of the border," Jim Benvie, the spokesman for the United Constitutional Patriots said.Carlos A. Diaz, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, the federal agency that includes ...
Pope cites plight of migrants, children on Good Friday
Pope Francis used a Good Friday ceremony to decry "all the crosses" of suffering in the world, including those borne by migrants who find doors closed due to "political calculations" and children who are harmed in their "innocence and purity," in a reference to pedophile clergy. From a canopied platform on the Palatine Hill, Francis watched the traditional torch-lit, nighttime procession at Rome's Colosseum that solemnly recalled the crucifixion of Jesus. Along with thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans, he listened to reflections that were composed by an elderly Italian nun, who for 25 years has gone out to the city's streets to bring comfort and hope to migrant women who were trafficked into prostitution. Francis prayed to Jesus to help "us to see in your cross all the crosses of the world." The pope cited persons starved for food and for love, and those "abandoned" even by their own children or parents. Then he touched on two issues heavily marking his papacy - how to promote .
Sex racket busted in Delhi's Aman Vihar, four arrested
A sex racket was busted and four persons were arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) and police in outer Delhi's Aman Vihar, the women's panel said Friday. The DCW received a call on women's helpline 181 about a prostitution racket being run from a house in his neighbourhood in Aman Vihar, it said. A DCW team reached the area on Thursday early morning and interacted with the residents who confirmed that a sex racket was being run from the house during daytime. The team noticed four women entering the house around 10.30 am. Thereafter, one of them left the house after 15 minutes. Soon, men on bikes and scooters started coming to the house. They were seen placing calls before being allowed to enter the premises. Bamboo 'chiks' covered the house in such a way that it was difficult to see what activity was going on inside, they said. The DCW team informed the police and thereafter entered the premises with the police in the afternoon. The team ...
HC notice to Congress on minimum income scheme
The Allahabad High Court Friday issued a notice to the Congress on a plea seeking deletion from the party's election manifesto the promise of the minimum income guarantee scheme to grant Rs 72,000per annum to the poorest families. The bench comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Rajendra Kumar passed the order based on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocates Mohit Kumar and Amit Pandey. The court directed the Congress party and the Election Commission of India to file their replies within two weeks and fixed May 13 as the next date of hearing. The petitioners contended that such a promise in a manifesto amounted to bribery and is in violation of the Representation of the People Act. A political party can not make such promises as it is violation of the law and the model code of conduct, the plea said.
Social media boycott as footballers in England say 'enough' over racism
Premier League stars led footballers in England and Wales in a 24-hour social media boycott on Friday in a bid to combat racist abuse online. Watford striker Troy Deeney -- who blocked replies to his Instagram account earlier this month after receiving abuse -- summed up the anger he and fellow footballers feel, saying: "Enough is enough." The campaign, which is being coordinated by England's Professional Footballers' Association, urges players to stay off all social media from 9:00am (0800 GMT) Friday. The universal message across the footballers' Twitter accounts used the hashtag #Enough with the message "MAKE A STAND AGAINST RACISM -- A campaign by the PFA". The PFA said the boycott was the "first step in a longer campaign to tackle racism in football". The boycott is not just aimed at those who use the platforms to air their racist views but also at the social media companies themselves and football authorities. There have been growing concerns over how football should tackle ...
Raj: Woman along with two kids jumps in front of oncoming train
A 27-year-old woman committed suicide by jumping in front of an oncoming train along with her two minor sons in Rajasthan's Dausa district on Friday, police said. The children too died in the incident which occurred near Lalsot flyover, they said. The woman, Seema Kumari Meena, jumped in front of the Pooja Express along with Vikas (6) and Aryan (4), they said. All three died on the spot and the bodies were shifted to the district hospital's mortuary for a post-mortem examination, they said.
Nation could not accelerate progress unless women are involved as equal stakeholders: Naidu
The nation could not accelerate its progress unless women were involved as equal stakeholders in every sphere, said Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday while talking about women empowerment."In our country, women's population is higher than men. So, to develop our country, we need to educate women," he said.He also urged the governments at the state and the Centre, NGOs and civic society at large to collectively work towards educating women about financial management.Naidu said the financial literacy is important for every individual irrespective of age, gender and social economic status. "When we empower every citizen, we can ensure a powerful economic future for India," he said."Our government has started a mission for the elimination of poverty in urban areas and also set target of training two million Self Help Group (SHG) members across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to educate them about financial concepts of borrowings, investments, financial planning and digital financial .
Allahabad HC issues summons on plea seeking closure of brothels in Meerut district
The Allahabad High Court has issued summons to SSP, District Magistrate and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in connection with a plea seeking the closure of brothels in the district. The high court will hear the matter on April 23.Hearing a plea filed by advocate Sunil Chaudhary, the bench of Justices Sudhir Agrawal and Rajendra Kumar has summoned SSP Nitin Tiwari, DM Anil Dhingra, and CMO Rajkumar after the petitioner submitted that the officials have filed a false affidavit in the matter.The bench in its order said: "After hearing the petitioner, we find the presence of district administration authorities as well as the Chief Medical Officer concerned, is necessary since serious issues of human trafficking and prostitution are involved in the matter."In its affidavit, the district administration had submitted that there was no brothel in the proximity of Kaabari Baazar, Meerut, as claimed by the petitioner."It is incorrect to suggest that the brothel is still running in the proximity of