|
Congress MPs protest against hooch tragedy in Gujarat |
 |
 |
 |
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Monday, 13 July 2009 16:53 |
 New Delhi, July 13 : Congress Party MPs today staged a protest against hooch tragedy in Gujarat that killed at least 130 people due to consumption of spurious liquor.
Congress has alleged that a BJP Corporator of Mahemdabad Municipality was behind the hooch tragedy.
The protestors led by Congress spokesperson, Rajiv Shukla, demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
"What kind of liquor prohibition policy is in Gujarat? It means the liquor mafias are on a rise in Gujarat. Liquor mafias can''t rise without protection from the state government. Hundreds of people have died because the state government is protecting liquor mafias. We demand such a government should be ousted in Gujarat," said Shukla, spokesperson of the Congress party.
On the other hand, Murli Manohar Joshi, senior leader of India''s main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party termed the resignation demands as a political gimmick.
"We remember that in Gujarat how many riots and killings have taken under Congress ruling. There is no point in recalling those episodes. This is political drama. I don''t think that there is a need for Gujarat government to resign or it is a case where a government needs to be ousted," said Murli Manohar Joshi, senior leader of India''s main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
Meanwhile, India''s lower house Lok Sabha, witnessed stormy scenes when a congress parliamentarian from Gujarat raised the question of Gujarat tragedy.
Initially, instances of the fatalities due to spurious liquor were reported on Monday (July 06) and by Thursday (July 10) the number of the dead had risen to 130.
Illicit liquor, also known as grog or hooch, is a flourishing beverage in India, particularly in states like Gujarat where prohibition is in force.
The illicit liquor is much cheaper as compared to the licensed drinks, which cannot be afforded by most of the people from the poorer sections of society.
In May 2008, at least 180 people had died in Southern Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states due to drinking spurious liquor, considered as one of India''s worst bootlegging tragedies. (ANI) |
|
|
Zardari says focus of Government is to rehabilitate displaced persons |
|
|
|
|
Written by Samrat Khanna
|
|
Monday, 13 July 2009 16:48 |
 Islamabad, July 13 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said the entire focus of the government will now shift to the rehabilitation of displaced persons and rebuilding of the damaged infrastructure in Malakand Division.
He was addressing a select gathering of international donors, NGOs and civil society who had contributed to the relief of the displaced person in and off camps and who were specially invited to the Presidency to honor them for their efforts and contributions.
Briefing newsmen about the meeting, Spokesperson former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President described it is an auspicious occasion as the formal return of the displaced persons back to their homes has started today.
The President said that the beginning of the return journey of the displaced person marked the beginning of the end of one phase; and the start of another.
Zardari said that the issue of rehabilitation of displaced persons was a huge challenge before the nation which should be met through the collective effort of the people, the government and the international community.
Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying, "Perhaps never before the world witnessed such large scale displacement in such a short span of time. The fallout was enormous. The challenge was huge."
The President appreciated the huge sacrifices made by the internally displaced persons.
"They were forced to leave their homes, businesses and workplaces. They underwent great hardships but they courageously endured it. Without their patience and endurance it would have been most difficult for us to pursue the fight against the militants," the President said.
"I salute their courage and the sacrifices they have made," The News quoted Zardari, as saying. (ANI) |
|
Nothing to worry about availability of food grains: Pawar |
|
|
|
|
Written by Reetu Sharma
|
|
Saturday, 11 July 2009 13:51 |
 Hyderabad, July 11 : Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that there was nothing to worry regarding availability of food grains in the country, as the situation would improve despite normal monsoon forecast.
"Things should, however, improve as the Indian Meteorological Department predicted bountiful rains across the country in the month of August though the downpour would be less than normal this month," Pawar said.
The IMD has predicted that there would be only 86 per cent rainfall in this month and 101 per cent in August.
He highlighted that situation should improve in Haryana, Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, parts of Bihar and Himachal Pradesh as good rain has been forecasted by IMD in the states for the next couple of days.
"If that prediction is proved to be absolutely correct, then there will be not a serious situation," Pawar said.
The minister also added that there is sufficient stock of rice and wheat in the country for next 30 months.
"In fact, this year we have supported 18 developing countries by sending rice and wheat stocks. As such, we ourselves should not face any problem in whatever situation," Pawar said. (ANI) |
|
|
Blast kills 3 in Jammu and Kashmir |
|
|
|
|
Written by Samrat Khanna
|
|
Saturday, 11 July 2009 13:45 |
 Srinagar, July 11 : A blast in Jammu and Kashmir's Mendhar region killed a boy and left two teenage girls badly injured on Saturday.
The blast was triggered off when three kids found some explosive lying in a forest area near the Pakistan border.
The boy, identified as Waqar Ahmed, aged 12, died on the spot, while the girls Sahila Praveen, 13, and Shahida Praveen, 14, suffered critical splinter injuries.
"The children found some explosive lying around in the forest area and out of curiosity they touched it triggering the blast. One boy died on the spot and two little girls have been brought here to the hospital and they will be sent to Jammu Medical College for further treatment," said Mumtaz Bhatti, Block Medical Officer, Mendhar.
The injured girls were later flown to Jammu for further treatment.
Meanwhile, the incident has created uproar in the region and the police are carrying out investigations to find out how the explosive was lying in the forest area. (ANI) |
|
Centre seeks explanation from Mayawati on Noida park project |
|
|
|
|
Written by Sheetal Mehta
|
|
Saturday, 11 July 2009 13:36 |
 New Delhi, July 11 : Ministry of Environment and Forest has sought an explanation from Uttar Pradesh government over alleged violation of environmental laws in construction of a park in NOIDA
Uttar Pradesh Government is constructing Memorial Park in 33-hectare area along the Yamuna Riverbed in Sector 15 -A of NOIDA.
State government is installing statues of Chief Minister Mayawati, her political mentor Kanshi Ram, and Dr B. R. Ambedkar in this park. This park is a new addition to the controversial statue installation projects taken up by the Mayawati's government.
Residents and environmentalists are opposing to the statue installations as it violated the green law.
Earlier, the team of Indian Forest Service officers sent by the Central Government to probe the alleged violations found out that around 6,000 trees have been chop down for the project. Their report also pointed that the State government ignored an environment impact assessment required for such a projects.
"The team during its field visit found that the state government lacks a strong stand on environment appraisal and forestry appraisal. The team opined that the state government should have taken forest and environment clearances. To consider the opinion of the state government, we have asked for their comments," said Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jai Ram Ramesh on Saturday in National Capital
Earlier this week a two-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the statue installation projects of UP government. (ANI) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 2 of 5 |
Athens - A powerful home-made bomb exploded outside a tax office in central Athens early Friday, damaging nearby bui...
Washington - The global image of the United States has sharply improved since President Barack Obama took office, a p...
Political Views