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Pakistan flags fly in Srinagar again: </br><br> Scores of youth, some of them carrying Pakistani flags, today took out a protest rally and pelted stones at security forces after Friday prayers in Nowhatta area here against the house arrest Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The protests erupted soon after the culmination of the congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid, against the arrest of the moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman. As the rally reached Nowhatta chowk, police did not allow it to proceed after which the youth started throwing stones at the security forces. Pitched battles were fought between the security forces and the protesters, with the police resorting to aerial firing and tear-gas shelling to quell the protests. Several youth were seen carrying Pakistani flags in the rally. (Reuters) (22/05/2015)
Jayalalithaa to be sworn in Tamil Nadu CM on Saturday: </br><br> AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa will be sworn in for the fifth time as Tamil Nadu chief minister tomorrow along with 28 ministers, nearly eight months after she was forced to quit over corruption charges. On a day of fast paced developments, 67-year-old Jayalalithaa was elected as legislature party leader at a meeting of party MLAs here, 11 days after she was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in a disproportionate assets case. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11 am at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium. As many as 28 others will be sworn in as Ministers along with her. (PTI) (22/05/2015) -
Now Maharashtra puts Maggi noodles under scanner: </br><br> Food and Drug Administration in Maharashtra today said it will verify the claims about presence of lead in Maggi noodles before taking a decision on recalling the product. FDA in UP had claimed levels of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in a batch of ready-to-cook noodles were high, following which the set was recalled from the market in the state. "We have collected samples of the product from different parts of the state such as Pune, Nagpur and Mumbai and have sent them to our laboratory for tests," Dr Harshdeep Kamble, state FDA commissioner, told reporters here. "The results will come in a few days, after which we will decide if there is a need to take action," the senior IAS official said. (22/05/2015)
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Arvind Kejriwal's AAP govt bested by Delhi LG in tussle for power: </br><br> In the midst of a raging row over his powers vis-a-vis Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Delhi LG Najeeb Jung has been given absolute powers by the Centre in appointment of bureaucrats for which he need not "consult" the chief minister. The Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Delhi government has also been barred from registering any case against officers and political functionaries of the central government. This decision is apparently aimed at preventing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government from filing cases similar to the one against former Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily. (Express photo) (22/05/2015)
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Rahul Gandhi's elevation will help him emerge as main rival to Narendra Modi, says Digvijay: </br><br> Rahul Gandhi's elevation as Congress President will help him emerge as the principal challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party indicated today. "What new thing you are saying?", Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh remarked while replying to a query at the AICC briefing when asked whether the plans to make Gandhi as the next party chief was aimed at making him the main challenger to Modi. In the recently-concluded budget session of Parliament, Gandhi was at his aggressive best taking on the government on a range of issues including plight of farmers, cancellation of the Amethi Food Park and net neutrality. (PTI) (22/05/2015)
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Dalit youth killed in Maharashtra' Shirdi for keeping B R Ambedkar song as ringtone: </br><br> A Dalit youth in the temple town of Shirdi in Maharashtra was crushed to death for allegedly having an Ambedkar song as his mobile ringtone. Police have arrested four of the eight assailants who were allegedly involved in the brutal assault of the 21-year-old youth in Shirdi town of Ahmednagar district last week. Two assailants were nabbed from Goa, one from Pune and the fourth from Shirdi itself, an official from Shirdi police station said today. (Express photo) (22/05/2015)
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BJP slams 'two-faced' AAP, mocks 'self character certificate' </br> Attacking Aam Aadmi Party over the fake degree row and domestic violence case against its MLAs, Delhi BJP today said that the "self character certificate" given by the ruling party to its members has "fallen flat". "Today, we see two faces of AAP. One was before the Assembly polls. The second is what we see today… they had issued self character certificates to its members which have now fallen flat," Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay told reporters here. Upadhyay was referring to the controversy which has erupted over the alleged fake degrees of former Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar and the domestic violence accusations levelled against Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti by his wife. (15/06/2015) (Express Photo)
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BJP's Rupa Ganguly stopped from visiting blast 'epicentre': </br><br> Actor-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rupa Ganguly today visited Pingla in West Midnapore district where 12 persons had been killed in a firecracker unit blast on May 7. Ganguly, who was accompanied by West Bengal BJP leader Jaiprakash Majumder, was however prevented to visit the epicentre of the blast – Brahmonberia under Pingla police station where the cracker unit was located. "This shows the autocratic attitude of the state administration who are not allowing us to meet the people of village in a democracy. While there seems to be no rule of law in state, the government believes in force and coercion," an agitated Ganguly said after having some argument with policemen who prevented them. Twelve persons were killed and four others injured in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory at Pingla on May 7. (Express photo)(22/05/2015)
<br>Narendra Modi's tough talk on religious bias not only against Hindus</br> Prime Minister Narendra Modi's straight talk on zero tolerance to religious discrimination is not only aimed at "pro-Hindutva" forces but also "bigots" converting Hindus, Shiv Sena said today as it raked up core saffron agenda including Article 370 and uniform civil code. "Prime Minister has taken a strong view against extremists by saying that communal intolerance will not be accepted. But the question is whom these comments were meant for. "Modi's statement has been projected as if it is meant for 'Hindutvavadis' in certain sections. But, we don't think that Modi had only Hindutvavadis in mind when he made those comments," Sena said in its party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. Modi had recently asserted that he will not tolerate any discrimination or violence against any community and termed anti-minority comments by some Sangh Parivar leaders as "unfortunate" and "uncalled for". (Express Photo) (04/06/2015) -
Congress blasts Narendra Modi govt for clipping Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP govt wings: </br><br> Congress today slammed the Centre over its notification specifying the Delhi Lt Governor's jurisdiction, and said not allowing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to decide on transfer and postings of officers is to "negate the people's mandate". "GOI (Government of India) must ensure the right of the CM duly elected by the people should not be curbed if NDA/BJP believes in cooperative federalism," Singh said on micro-blogging site Twitter. "I am not a great admirer of Kejriwal but not allowing the CM to decide on transfer and postings of officers is to negate the people's mandate," Singh said. The Congress leader's remarks came hours after the Home Ministry issued a gazette notification stating that it was not mandatory for the LG to consult the Chief Minister on matters like appointment of bureaucrats. (Express photo) (22/05/2015)
