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Sonia Gandhi blasts Shashi Tharoor </br> Congress President Sonia Gandhi today pulled up former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor over the leak of his views against party's stalling tactics in Parliament in the media. "Gandhi, who generally does not get angry, literally blasted Tharoor" sources said adding that the party chief was in no mood to listen to any explanation from him. Her anger was directed at him over the fact that his opposition to disruption tactics at a strategy meeting made its way to the media. Reports quoting unnamed sources had it that at yesterday's strategy committee meeting, Tharoor had expressed himself against "stalling tactics". (Express photo by Renuka Puri) (22/07/2015)
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Rs 25 lakh compensation paid in airhostess' death </br> Three years after a 20-year-old air hostess from Nagaland died in an accident at an amusement park in Chennai, her mother was today given a compensation of Rs 25 lakh. Justice P N Prakash, who ensured that the Demand Draft for the amount was handed over to Afia Magh's mother Sasule Magh, also quashed criminal proceedings against the park's proprietors E V Perumalsamy Reddy, his wife Rajeswari, 50, and son EVR Santhosh Reddy, 31. Afia, an airhostess with Kingfisher Airlines, had visited EVP Theme Park at Sembarambakkam with nine friends on October 2 2012. While she was enjoying the 'octopus ride', she fell down and suffered serious injuries. She died at a private hospital later in the day. Investigations and eyewitness accounts revealed that the accident was caused by the game operator who rushed through security procedures due to heavy crowd. (Reuters) (22/07/2015)
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It's time to stop radical Islam: Bobby Jindal </br> In a scathing attack on President Barack Obama's leadership, Republican presidential aspirant Indian-American Bobby Jindal today said radical Islam has brought terror and death across the world and it's time to defeat it. In an op-ed published in Conservative Review, he praised the direct approach of British Prime Minister David Cameroon in this regard and criticised President Obama for describing the menace as violent extremism. "Our President's political correctness and fear of speaking the truth are no longer amusing, they are just plain dangerous, because you cannot defeat an enemy you refuse to name," Louisiana Governor Jindal alleged in his op-ed. 44-year-old Jindal is the first Indian-American to be running for US presidency. He is one of the 16 candidates in the crowded Republican primary race. (Express photo) (22/07/2015)
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7 nabbed for hurling bombs at theatre where Baahubali screened </br> Seven members of a fringe Dalit outfit were arrested here today for allegedly hurling petrol bombs at a theatre where blockbuster 'Baahubali' was screened, with no report of casualty, police said. The compound wall of the theatre was damaged. None were present in the theatre when the incident occurred, they said. Members of 'Puratchi Puligal' (Revolutionary Tigers) surrendered before police and were later arrested, they said. The activists claimed that the film contained derogatory dialogues about Dalits. Police said they had hurled the bombs just to gain publicity for their outfit. (Bollywood Hungama) (22/07/2015)
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Rise of 140 pct in crimes in Delhi Metro from 2013 to 2014: Min </br> There has been a rise of 140 per cent in the number of crimes like pickpocketing, mobile theft in Delhi Metro's jurisdiction in the city and the NCR in 2014 over the same for 2013, owing to hike in its ridership. "The ridership of Delhi Metro has risen to 2.6 million. Metro is running with maximum capacity most of the time. The crime such as picking pockets, mobile theft, etc have increased with the increase in the ridership," Union Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said. He said this in Rajya Sabha in a written reply in response to a question, but did not specify any reasons. While 962 crimes were committed in Delhi-NCR areas under the jurisdiction of the metro in the year 2013, the figure rose to 2,309 within a year. The number of crimes has already touched 1,769 by June in 2015. (Express photo by Ravi Kanojia) (22/07/2015)
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Defamation case filed against Arvind Kejriwal over 'Thulla' remark </br> A Delhi Police constable today filed a criminal defamation case in a court here against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for referring to policemen as 'thulla', a slang, during his recent interview.</br> The complaint was filed by a constable, posted at Govind Puri police station here, in which he has claimed that he was insulted by Kejriwal's remark. "…Using a derogatory and demeaning term like 'thulla' to refer to police personnel is equivalent to referring to all Delhi Police officials as lethargic and unproductive. This word has, therefore, harmed the reputation of the complainant in the eyes of general public including his family, relative and friends," the plea filed by constable Harvinder said. The complaint further said that Kejriwal has intentionally insulted the entire Delhi Police force "as a whole and caused unnecessary provocation to police personnel in Delhi". (Express photo by Amit Mehra) (22/07/2015)
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Yoga not made mandatory in KVs, JNVs: Smriti Irani </br> HRD Minister Smriti Irani today said that yoga will not be treated as a mandatory subject for students in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, though it has been made a part of physical activity programme in schools. Informing this in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, the minister said, "Yoga is not a compulsory subject in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, though it is part of sports and physical activity in schools." She was responding to a question in the Lower House whether the government has decided to make yoga mandatory in all central government-run schools, including KVs and JNVs. The ministry of AYUSH had yesterday said that "there are 15,962 schools affiliated to the CBSE who have already been advised to provide compulsory 40-45 minutes of physical activities or games to the students of Classes I-X every day… and that students of Classes XI-XII should participate in physical activity/ games/mass physical training/yoga for at least two periods per week (90-120 minutes/ week)," it said based on the information provided by the HRD ministry. (Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey) (22/07/2015)
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St Stephen's College student moves HC for character certificate from college </br> A student-editor of St Stephens' banned e-magazine today moved the Delhi High Court seeking a character certificate and alleging that the provisional graduation certificate issued to him does not certify his character as has been done in the case of others who graduated from the college. The student has moved the court saying he has secured admission into the Journalism School of Columbia University, USA, and requires his college leaving documents and this requirement is urgent as he leaves for America on July 26. Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw agreed to hear the matter on July 24 in view of the strike in the high court today. The student, Devansh Mehta, has contended in his plea that while one of his classmates was issued a provisional certificate with an endorsement of her character, his did not have that detail. He said he had written to Principal Valson Thampu on July 13 asking for a corrected certificate to be issued to him but till date he has not received any response due to which he had to move the court. (Express photo by Amit Mehra) (22/07/2015)
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Activists extend support to Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand </br> Activists from Gujarat, including a former Gujarat chief minister, extended their support to Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand today, alleging the recent CBI action against her was an "open misuse of power" by the Centre. "We, the undersigned, express our profound dismay and disquiet at the continued official harassment of human rights defenders Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand by the central government," said a statement signed by rights activists from Gujarat, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Suresh Mehta. "After the BJP-led government was installed in Delhi in May 2014, the country has witnessed open official efforts to foist a large variety of charges of financial irregularities on them, in order to harass them, tarnish their reputations and to secure their arrests," the statement said. (Express photo by Kevin D'souza.) (22/07/2015)
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Andhra Govt offers money to beggars to stay off 'Puskharam' </br> The Andhra Pradesh Government wants to keep beggars away from bathing ghats during the ongoing 'Godavari Puskharam' and is offering Rs 10,000 to each of them so that they stay away from the religious event, which is attracting lakhs of pilgrims here. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana, who is also Godavari Puskharam Organising Committee (GPOC) Chairman, today confirmed that the Government has come out with such a scheme to keep beggars away from the 12-day festival which will end on July 25. The scheme is aimed at ensuring pilgrims are not put to any inconvenience and there is smooth movement of devotees, especially at the Pushkaram ghats, and traffic in the temple town. At the same time, beggars are being compensated for loss of income, he said. (Reuters) (22/07/2015)
H-1B visa bill introduced to scrap lottery, end OPT program for foreign workers
