Politics

India pleased with Indonesia's desire to collaborate on food security

Onboard, Oct 12 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday expressed happiness over Indonesia's desire to collaborate with India on the issue of food security, and added that the bilateral visit had a very clear indication of convergence between the two countries. Khurshid further said that the Food Security Programme was not just reasonable, but this was a moral imperative. Earlier on Friday, India and Indonesia decided to collaborate to ensure food security for their people.

Oct 12, 2013

No doubt that there will be a UPA 3: Salman Khurshid

Onboard, Oct 12 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will form a government at the Centre for a third consecutive term under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Khurshid, however, hinted that the UPA would have new alliance partners in the future.

Oct 12, 2013

India, Pak not at resumed talks stage: Khurshid

Onboard, Oct 12 (ANI): While returning with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a bilateral visit to Indonesia, Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday made it clear that India and Pakistan are not at a stage where they can resume dialogue. He also said that the recent incidents on the LoC are "upsetting" and are not conducive to the normalization of ties.

Oct 12, 2013

Upcoming elections in Bangladesh will hopefully be peaceful and fair: British Journalist

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): The ongoing war crimes trial in Bangladesh has put the future of the country's main Islamist party into jeopardy. The war crimes tribunal which was set up in 2010 by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was mandated to prosecute the guilty, even though 10 of the 11 sentenced belong to the Jamaat e Islami, which is an ally of the opposition BNP. The tribunals have so far sentenced six prominent Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and a senior BNP lawmaker to death. The Jamaat and its allies went on a rampage in protest against the conviction of their leaders, destroying public property, burning vehicles and clashing with police personnel. Frances Harrison, a visiting Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies or ICWS in London was of the view that the trial of those accused of committing war crimes during 1971 Liberation War has impacted Bangladesh's polity.

Oct 12, 2013

Devotees converge at temples for Durga Puja in Kolkata

Kolkata, Oct 12 (ANI): Devout Hindus queued up at temples across Kolkata on the eighth day of the 'Durga Puja', which is held in honour of goddess Durga. 'Navratri', which literally means nine nights and is observed twice a year, began across India with religious fervour from October 05 this year. Durgashtami, the eighth day of the Navaratri and Durga Puja celebrations is also known as Mahashtami and is one of the important days of the Puja and on this particular day, many devotees observe fast. The weapons of Goddess Durga are worshipped on the day and this ceremony is known Astra Puja. It is believed that during the Navratri, Goddess Durga descends upon earth to rid it of the demons and blesses her devotees with happiness and prosperity. Meanwhile, the fragrance of the incense sticks and the perfumes used by ladies pervades the atmosphere of the pandals.

Oct 12, 2013

Will help India fight poverty says Scottish minister

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): Scotland's External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf who is on a visit to India, met representatives of a women Self Help Group (SHG) trained by the Scottish Government under a cultural exchange programme in New Delhi. While interacting with the media person he said that his government will help India fight poverty through joint developmental projects. Humza is in India as part of a six-day visit to strengthen social, cultural and economic ties. Humza, who has his roots in India raised Scotland's concerns over the poverty in India and said that the later would continue to funds schemes in a bid to eradicate poverty.

Oct 12, 2013

Allahabad HC gives relief over ban on Durga idol immersion with conditions

Lucknow, Oct 12 (ANI): A day after Allahabad high court refused to withdraw its order directing that no idol be immersed in the Ganga and Yamuna in the city, Principal Secretary for Home Affairs, RM Srivastava confirmed that the High Court has given some relief on the same with a few conditions. Further, Srivastava said that the state administration will take measures to ensure that there is peaceful immersion of Durga idol and there will be steps taken to ensure that the environmental concerns are taken into consideration. The relaxation was provided keeping in view the time left with administration to bring the order into practice.

Oct 12, 2013

About 4 lakh people have been evacuated from AP and Odisha: NDMA

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): As Cyclonic storm Phailin, which is touching wind speeds of 210 to 220 kilometer an hour, is expected to hit the coast of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh between 6 pm and 8 pm tonight on Saturday, NDMA Vice Chairman Shashidhar Reddy on Saturday said that on the whole, about 4 lakh people have been evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Oct 12, 2013

Power services and agriculture will be affected by Cyclone Phailin: NDMA

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): As Cyclonic storm Phailin, which is touching wind speeds of 210 to 220 kilometer an hour, is expected to hit the coast of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh between 6 pm and 8 pm tonight on Saturday, NDMA Vice Chairman Shashidhar Reddy on Saturday said that on power services, agriculture road communication and railways will be affected by the Cyclone. He also requested people to abide by evacuation orders else local government will use force.

Oct 12, 2013

Around 1,800 NDRF personnel deployed for Odisha and AP: NDMA

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): As Cyclonic storm Phailin, which is touching wind speeds of 210 to 220 kilometer an hour, is expected to hit the coast of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh between 6 pm and 8 pm tonight on Saturday, NDMA Vice Chairman Shashidhar Reddy on Saturday said that his team have reached the site. He also said that 11 NDRF teams are in Andhra Pradesh and 23 teams in Odisha at different locations. 1200 NDRF personnel are deployed in Odisha and about 600 in AP.

Oct 12, 2013

Cyclone Phailin: Raj Babbar urges pol parties to come together and support state govt's

New Delhi, OCT 12 (ANI): As Cyclonic storm Phailin, which is touching wind speeds of 210 to 220 kilometer an hour, is expected to hit the coast of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh between 6 pm and 8 pm tonight on Saturday, Congress leader Raj Babbar urged all the political parties to come together and help the state government in this natural calamity. The storm, likely to affect around 1.2 crore people, has triggered mass exodus in at least seven districts of the two states.

Oct 12, 2013

AP Revenue Minister confirms satisfactory arrangements made before Cyclone Phailin

Vishakhapatnam, Oct 12 (ANI): Responding to the upcoming Phailin cyclone at about 06:00 in the evening, Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said that the arrangements made before the disaster is satisfactory and that the state and administration is all set to face the same. Further, he said that the central government is fully cooperating in the process and also appealed the people living in low lying areas to cooperate in the evacuation process.

Oct 12, 2013

SP denies talks on construction of Ram tample, calls it 'a mistake'

Lucknow, Oct 12 (ANI): After the news of UP government's high-level meeting on Ram temple raised eyebrows and created political flutter, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal denied any such reports and said that it is a sheer "mistake". He further went on to explain that the meeting was to ensure that there remains proper security during the festival season of Dussehra, Diwali and Bakri Id. Agarwal also said that UP government is not against any particular community and are against hurting their sentiments.

Oct 12, 2013

Intensity of winds and rainfall will increase as the day progresses: MeT Dept

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): As Cyclonic storm Phailin, which is touching wind speeds of 210 to 220 kilometer an hour, is expected to hit the coast of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, DG, MeT Dept Dr L S Rathore said that heavy rains have been reported by many coastal regions in Odisha and both intensity of rainfall and wind will increase as the day progress. Phailin, which has been put in the category of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS), is expected to touch 230 kilometer per hour, when it hits the two states.

Oct 12, 2013

Letter on rebuilding Ram temple at Ayodhya, a political stunt: BJP

Lucknow, Oct 12 (ANI): BJP leader Kalraj Mishra on Saturday said that UP official's letter on rebuilding Ram temple at Ayodhya is a political stunt to divert the attention of people from the Muzaffarnagar riots. The communique issued by Satish Chandra Mishra, secretary to the state government, instructed the DGP and other senior police officers to attend a meeting convened on Monday evening in connection with the "enactment of a law in Parliament for construction of a temple at Shri Ramjanmabhoomi on the lines of the reconstruction of Somnath Mandir".

Oct 12, 2013