|
|
|
|
|
Panel suggests shifting water to Concurrent List
Panchayat diktats against women illegal: Chidambaram
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Girl student stripped, searched by teacher in WB
Animation centre to come up at Mohali
Navy begins recruitment for its new cyber cell
Rail services hit as goods train derails in Bihar
Centre okays two Central varsities for Bihar
IAF offers help to assess Assam flood damage
A first in Asia-Pacific
Sabarimala Temple Fake encounter case: SC rejects Gujarat’s review plea
HC reserves order on Bhatt’s plea
Cabinet Secy to chair panel on military pay issues
Army officers flout ban on using social networking sites
Protest over land recovery for IIT, IIM
5 envoys
present credentials to Prez Delhi may see a new Parliament House Mamata not to attend dinner hosted by Sonia Police to take DNA samples of Laila’s grandmother N-capable
Agni-I test-fired
|
|
Panel suggests shifting water to Concurrent List
Chandigarh, July 13 Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the Centre was yet to think about the sentiments expressed by the members of the committee cutting across the party lines. Bansal, who is part of the Group of Ministers on Media and also the local MP, said the Centre is aware of the water shortage in the country. He said the Centre had increased the funding for conservation of water so that it could be used for irrigation and other purposes. An accelerated irrigation plan helped irrigate an additional 110 million hectares. Last year, there was a 1.5 million hectare increase in irrigation, he said. The minister said a new water conservation policy was being drafted that would recommend the use of drip and sprinkler irrigation. This policy would also recommend the setting up of a standing tribunal to resolve inter-state water disputes. A new dam safety law was also being drafted, he added. He said 143 per cent groundwater was being extracted as compared the re-charging of sub-soil water. This had led to depletion in Punjab, Haryana and other states by 3-4m annually.
|
|
Panchayat diktats against women illegal: Chidambaram
Baghpat (UP), July 13
— P Chidambaram,
Home Minister
The panchayat in Asara village in Baghpat's Ramala area also ruled on Wednesday that when women leave their homes, their heads must be covered, according to police. Banning love marriages, the panchayat said those doing so would not be allowed to live in the village. Deprecating the directives, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "There is no place for such diktats in a democratic society. If such a diktat is being issued in Baghpat, I would expect the state government to instruct the police authorities to ensure that nobody comes to harm for violating that diktat. "That diktat has no legal authority and if anybody takes any action against a boy or girl saying that you are violating the diktat, action should be taken against the person who is trying to enforce these illegal codes of conduct. I would expect the state government to take action," he told reporters in Chandigarh. IG (Law and Order) B P Singh said in Lucknow that two persons were called for questioning in connection with panchayat orders and a case has been registered after a mob created a ruckus last night to get them released. The police had called Mokim and Mujahid of Asara village for questioning yesterday in connection with the panchayat orders but a mob collected before a sugar mill in Asara to demand their release and two policemen who went there to clear a traffic jam were beaten up and their motorbike torched, he said. A case has been registered in connection with the attack on the policemen, he said. While the diktats created outrage in the country, UP Minister Mohd Azam Khan apparently found nothing wrong with them, saying people have freedom of speech, but the government and the law were there if force was used to make people fall in line. "Anyone can say anything...We have freedom of speech and how can you prevent them from this. But if any force is used or law comes in the way, then for that there is the government and there is the law," Azam told reporters while replying to question on the panchayat directives. Superintendent of Police, Baghpat, V K Shekhar said he has been informed about the panchayat orders and any action that may be needed would be taken after getting the inquiry report. Reacting to the diktats, National Commission for Women chief Mamta Sharma regretted that such directives have issued after 64 years of independence. "Panchayats do not enjoy constitutional powers. And if there are no powers, there is no need to follow the orders," she said, maintaining that the authorities should take action and direct that the diktats should not be followed. She also termed the orders as "laughable" in the modern era. In Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission has sought a report from Baghpat district administration. "The Commission has sought an immediate report from Baghpat district magistrate in this connection," official sources said. Meanwhile, local residents claimed the panchayat had issued the directives after a consensus was reached on them by members of several communities living in the village. — PTI
The diktats
|
||
|
Girl student stripped, searched by teacher in WB Barasat, July 13 The girl's father Pabitra Mondal lodged an FIR today alleging that teacher Rupali Dey of Gopalnagar Giribala Balika Vidyalaya took his daughter to the staff room and stripped and searched her on July 11, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Jayanta Mukherjee said. No arrest has been made so far. — PTI
|
||
|
Animation centre to come up at Mohali
Chandigarh, July 13 The proposal has been cleared by the Union Government and Punjab has been intimated about it. The centre will come up in 12 acres with Central funding and help prepare Punjab’s youth for the second Information Technology (IT) revolution. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni while stating this in Chandigarh today said that the Centre was very concerned about Punjabi youth taking to drugs and other anti-social activities. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had specially chosen Mohali for this centre of excellence as this would provide Punjabi youth an opportunity to compete globally. Soni, who is part of the Group of Ministers on Media, was in the city to participate in the 26th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council of Chief Ministers of the northern states. She said that the Centre was very worried about the latest social indicators that had suggested slow correction in gender inequality in Punjab and Haryana.
|
||
|
Navy begins recruitment for its new cyber cell
New Delhi, July 13 The officers will be posted on all the 100 plus warships, including submarines, in order to make the Navy capable of operating in a network-centric environment that is totally dependent on inter-connectivity. Navy officials today said the recruitment of the first batch of these officers as short service commission (SSC) officers in the executive branch (information technology) has commenced. They will get 22 weeks of training starting from December and will handle open-source applications and proprietary tailor-made software. The Navy is looking to recruit only those officers who have a degree in computer science, computer engineering or information technology. The dedicated cadre will design and implant secure and critical networks. Recently, six computers of the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam were found to be compromised. All Naval warships are fitted with the state-of-the-art satellite-driven equipment and computers. The Navy aims to give a real-time picture of its entire fleet deployed in far seas to the Commander sitting in the Navy headquarters here. Defence Minister AK Antony also expressed concern over the threat of cyber warfare in the recently concluded Naval Commanders’ Conference.
Securing the seas
|
||
|
Pranab Mukherjee to meet Bal Thackeray
Mumbai, July 13 According to the paper, Mukherjee will drop in at the Thackeray residence to thank him for the Sena’s support for his presidential bid. Party sources said here today that Mukherjee will be accompanied by senior UPA leaders including NCP leader Sharad Pawar and state-level Congress leaders. However, neither the NCP nor the Congress were willing to comment.
|
||
|
Rail services hit as goods train derails in Bihar
Bhabua/New Delhi, July 13 The goods train derailed in Gaya-Mughalsarai section of the East Central Railway last night. "Prime facie, it seems there was a technical fault in the rail line. But the real cause of the derailment would be ascertained after an inquiry," Amitabh Prabhakar, spokesperson of East Central Railway, said. The goods train was coming from Dhanbad to Mughalsarai junction. The derailment has caused damage to tracks and disrupted regular train services in the grand cord. "We are diverting all passenger trains to different routes as all the three lines between Gaya and Mughalsarai are blocked due to the derailment," said Prabhakar, adding "the main focus now is on restoring the line." Asked how soon the train service on the line will be restored, he said it will take about 48 hours to restore the line completely. "The movement of goods train has been suspended on the affected route and the priority is to divert the passenger trains," he said. Ninty trains, including Howrah Rajdhani, Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, Sealdah Rajdhani and Jammu Tawi Mail are being diverted to Gaya-Patna route. Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto Express has been diverted towards Gomo-Barka-Chunar route while Howrah-Kalka Mail has been diverted to Jhaja-Patna-Mughalsarai route. Senior railway officials have reached the site to supervise the rescue and restoration operation. A relief train has been sent to the accident spot from Mughalsarai. Northern Railway has opened several helpline numbers to assist passengers. Helpline numbers are operational at Old Delhi station (011-23962389, 011-23962332), New Delhi (011-23341074, 011-23342954), Varanasi (0542-2504658) and Lucknow (0522-2635844, 09794830973, 09794830975). Northern Railway officials said adequate arrangements have also been made to provide tea, water and refreshments to the passengers of trains regulated at Varanasi, Kashi and Vyas Nagar stations of Lucknow Division. Facilitation Centres have also been opened at major railway stations which are being manned by railway officials.
— PTI
|
||
|
Centre okays two Central varsities for Bihar
New Delhi, July 13 The approval, announced today by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, comes after three years of nit-picking between the Centre and the state over the site of location for the original central varsity proposed as part of the 16 new ones in 2009. Bihar CM and JDU leader Nitish Kumar wanted the University to come up at Motihari but HRD Ministry’s inspection teams favoured Gaya. Today, Sibal said the Ministry had agreed to set up two central universities - one each in Motihari and Gaya. There would, however, be no change in the budget of Rs 240 crore originally sanctioned for one central university. There will be two V-Cs but budgets wold have to be divided. HRD Ministry said that the agreement was reached to ensure students did not suffer any further. The agreement on the new site in Motihari, officials said, came after the HRD site selection committee cleared a new location which was not flood prone as the original one and which also had better connectivity. The committee had recommended the new site in Motihari at Bankat Bairia village and Fursatpur under Chandrahia panchayat where 300 acres were available along NH 28-A. The ministry justified the new site saying it was better connected and once the proposed four laning of roads in the area happens, the duration of reaching the new site from Patna would reduce from 4.5 hours to less than 2.5. Sibal’s announcement comes at an interesting time - days after the JDU pledged support for UPA’s presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee for the forthcoming polls, taking a view different from the BJP, its NDA ally. Importantly, the Gaya location for a central university in Bihar was the demand of state BJP leaders.
A quid pro quo?
Sibal’s announcement comes at an interesting time - days after the JDU pledged support for UPA’s presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee for the forthcoming polls, taking a view different from the BJP, its NDA ally
|
||
|
IAF offers help to assess Assam flood damage
Guwahati, July 13 Air Commodore P E Patange of the Eastern Air Command headquartered in Shillong informed here yesterday that the IAF had been doing its best to help Assam government and Arunachal Pradesh government in rescue and relief operation in the flood-affected areas and the force was ever ready to offer its service in assessing the extent of flood damage by deploying its high-tech equipment provided it is asked by the governments of the flood-hit states. He said over 400 marooned people had been evacuated across Assam in the past 20 days as relief helicopters and transport planes are on round-the-clock standby. The IAF also airlifted dozens of tonnes of relief material for air dropping among the flood-hit at places as marked by concerned district administrations. The IAF’s disaster management cell is on a high alert at the Eastern Command headquarters in Shillong while similar cells have also been formed at various places in Assam, the official said. The IAF engaged its AN-32 aircraft to airlift 140 personnel and about nine tonnes of relief materials of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Kolkata to Jorhat and Guwahati for deployment in flood-hit areas of Assam. The IAF has currently put two Mi-17 choppers on standby at Mohanbari in Dibrugarh, besides two Chetaks in Tezpur and one Mi-17 in Guwahati. In addition, two AN-32 transport planes are stationed at Jorhat for flood-relief operations. "The Assam government had put us on alert in June 21 about requirement of our emergency service for flood relief operation. We are still maintaining the alert," Patange said. The IAF also dropped food packets and organised medical camps. The official said such relief and rescue operation by the IAF personnel at the time of disaster would get a boost with the induction of three squadrons (3x10 =30) of the advanced Mi-17 V5 choppers equipped with night vision technology and advanced avionics. The official said one squadron each has been set up at Bagdogra and Barrackpore and one more was being based at
Purnea.
|
||
|
A first in Asia-Pacific
New Delhi, July 13 An agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris between HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova. The formal agreement marked the end of a three-year process that commenced in 2009 with the decision by UNESCO’s 35th General Conference to locate a Category I institute in New Delhi. India had earlier submitted a proposal to this effect to UNESCO, which sent teams to assess India’s capacity in this respect. While the Government of India will spend around Rs 100 crore for building infrastructure of the institute, UNESCO will contribute around $5,00,000. The institute’s core activity would be research and capacity building. It will encourage knowledge exchange, regional networking and catalyse innovation by helping to design and test new approaches
to education. The institute would be inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of peace and sustainability. UNESCO Category I institutes and centres are an integral part of UNESCO. The governing bodies of these institutes are either elected by the General Conference or appointed in whole or part by the Director General, UNESCO, and report to the General Conference. These are governed by UNESCO’s rules and regulations and are an integral part of the organisation’s programme and budget. These institutes are designed to serve as centres of excellence and expertise in the member states to contribute to UNESCO’s programmes, objectives and strategies. At present, there are 11 UNESCO Category I institutes in the world and except three, all are located in developed countries.
Towards sustainable development
|
||
|
Kannada actress gets relief in idol touching case
Shubhadeep Choudhury Tribune News Service
Bangalore, July 13 The Kerala High Court today quashed the chargesheet filed by police in the case known as Sabarimala astrological finding case. “Jayamala stood by her claim that she had touched Lord Ayyappa,” her lawyer Sudhindra told The Tribune. Jayamala (51),who has also acted in some Bollywood films (Aaj Ka Ye Ghar, Sampooran Tirth Yatra, Love and Murder, etc), refused to give a straightforward answer when this reporter asked her if she had really touched Lord Ayyappa’s idol. “I made my position clear before the court,” she said. The actress triggered off a furore in 2006 when she claimed that she had, in the prime of her youth, entered the sanctum sanctorum of the hill shrine and touched the idol, defying a ban on women in the 10-50 age group worshipping in the temple. The deity at Sabarimala, which attracts millions of followers every year, is considered a Brahmachari (celibate). During an astrological examination of the temple affairs, astrologer Unnikrishnan had claimed pujas and rituals of the shrine were not performed with due sanctity and there were even signs of the idol having been touched by a woman. It was in this backdrop that Jayamala made the startling claim that she had visited the temple and accidentally touched the idol when she was 18 and she wanted to do penance for that. She claimed that on that day, there was a mad rush of devotees in the temple precincts and in the melee, she was pushed into the shrine’s sanctum sanctorum. The Kerala government ordered a probe into her claim by Crime Branch, which concluded that the entire episode had been staged to earn name and fame for the astrologer. Police filed a chargesheet against Unnikrishnan, his assistant Raghupathy and Jayamala for “hatching a conspiracy and hurting religious sentiments of the state’s people”. The controversy had the potential of snowballing into a Kerala vs Karnataka conflict. The Karnataka Assembly took serious note of the issue. “The case has been quashed on three grounds. First, it was barred by the law of limitation. Second, the chargesheet did not comply with the law and third, it was observed by the court that it would not be possible to examine the veracity of Jayamala’s claim since the incident (of her touching the idol) took place more than three decades back,” Sudhindra said.
|
||
|
Fake encounter case: SC rejects Gujarat’s review plea
New Delhi, July 13 A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan passed an order after considering the state government’s plea within the chambers. The Supreme Court had ordered a CBI probe, though the state CID had already filed the chargesheet in the case. According to the CBI, Tulsiram was an eye-witness to the killing of Sohrabuddin by the Gujarat Police and so he was also eliminated in a bid to destroy evidence. The CBI also probed the Sohrabuddin case in which former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah is an accused. The petition seeking the transfer had been filed by Tulsiram’s mother, Narmada Bai. The CBI supported this plea, contending that there was a close link between the killing of Sohrabuddin in November 2005 and Tulsiram in December 28, 2006.
|
||
|
HC reserves order on Bhatt’s plea
Ahmedabad, July 13 Justice R H Shukla will pronounce his judgement on July 20 on Bhatt's petition who has prayed the court to quash and set aside the order of Jamnagar Sessions court, which on June 30, had rejected his revision application in the case. The Sessions court had also scheduled the framing of charges in the custodial death case on July 17. But the high court today asked the government pleader to instruct his counter part (public prosecutor) in the Sessions court to request for adjournment of case that was to decide on framing of charges till July 20.
— PTI
|
||
|
Cabinet Secy to chair panel on military pay issues
Chandigarh, July 13 The other members of the committee are Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Secretary, Department of Ex-servicemen’s Welfare and Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training. The committee was set up on the directions of the Prime Minister’s Office, on July 8. It, however, does not include any member of the Armed Forces or representative of ex-servicemen. The committee’s “terms of reference” are to look into a total of nine issues, five concerning serving personnel and four related to ex-servicemen. Issues relating to the serving personnel include common pay-scale for in-service JCOs/Ors, initial pay-fixation of Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel and Brigadier/equivalent, review and enhancement of grade pay, placing of all Lieutenant Generals in HAG+ scale and grant of non-functional upgradation (NFU) to armed forces personnel. Issues relating to ex-servicemen include one-rank one-pension, enhancement of family pension, dual family pension and family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage. The committee may co-opt any other member. It will finalise its recommendations and submit its report to the PM by August 8.
|
||
|
Army officers flout ban on using social networking sites
Jalandhar, July 13 This at a time when the Army is already investigating an alleged incident in which a Lt Col based in Rajasthan developed contact with a woman through Facebook. Reportedly, the woman from Bangladesh was working for Pakistan’s ISI. While the Army has completely banned its personnel from using such social networking sites, the
officers have been openly posting their pictures in uniforms, mentioning their status on Facebook like ‘whether on leave or back to field’ and pictures of cantonment functions and colleagues. Among those using the Facebook include young Army officers. Officers’ wives have also been posting pictures of their
spouses on Facebook. A majority of the officers said when they remain away from their families like at field stations, social networking sites like Facebook and Orkut help them to stay in touch. Many officers have also been using Facebook through fake identities, while some officers have posted their own pictures as ‘profile pictures’ on such sites. As social networking sites are available on mobiles phones and most officers own smart phones, hence the increased usage of these sites. However, there are many officers who are abiding by the directives and are refraining from using social sites. Some officers are also using these sites with utmost caution. “I have never posted any of my pictures on Facebook, the ones that I have are of my family. Even my profile page is completely blank on Facebook,” said a young Army officer. The Army has directed its officers to refrain from using social networking sites as it could lead to information compromise and unintentional ‘leaking of sensitive information’.
|
||
|
Protest over land recovery for IIT, IIM
Ranchi, July 13 Former Chief Minister and the JVMP president Babulal Marandi sat on a one-day fast at Morabadi ground in Ranchi, protesting the state government's move to acquire land and baton charges by police against villagers last week. The Congress had earlier staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan. "The agriculture land should not be acquired forcefully," Stephen Marandi, a Congress
leader told reporters here on Tuesday. The ruling BJP finds itself in a piquant situation as its key alliance partner JMM is against forceful land acquisition. "The issue should be resolved amicably instead of the use of force," said Jharkhand Agriculture Minister and BJP leader, Satyanand Jha. The government had acquired 227 acres of land at Nagri situated around 20 km from Ranchi more than 50 years ago. The land was used by the villagers for farming as it was not used by the government. When the state government last year decided to build buildings of IIT, IIM and a law university, villagers started protesting the government move to acquire the land. —
IANS
|
|
5 envoys
present credentials to Prez New Delhi, July 13 “Tackling threats emanating from terrorism, extremism and piracy will only be possible with the full support and co-operation of all countries,” she said as she received the credentials of the new envoys at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President said this was her last credential ceremony before she demits office, and she looks forward to seeing India’s relations with the countries they represent grow. The envoys who presented their credentials were Salman Bashir (Pakistan), Michael Steiner (Germany), Gustavo Manuel de Aristegui y San Roman (Spain), Shaida Mohammad Abdali, (Afghanistan) and Harald Sandberg (Sweden). Salman Bashir, the new High Commissioner of Pakistan, was until recently the Foreign Secretary and had played a critical role in putting the dialogue process between India and Pakistan back on track after a hiatus of more than two years in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack. A career diplomat, Bashir has also been Pakistan’s envoy to Denmark, Lithuania, China and Mongolia. He had a stint at Pakistan’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva. During his stint in China, he had developed a close rapport with the then Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao. That did help both of them in resuming the dialogue process in February 2011 when they were Foreign Secretaries of their respective countries. New German Ambassador Michael Steiner, after presenting his credentials, said, “In the last 60 years of diplomatic relations, Germany and India have become important strategic partners on the global stage. Our friendship and trust have grown manifold. It will be my endeavour to take this partnership to new heights during my time in India.” Prior to this posting, Ambassador Steiner was the German Government’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and coordinated the preparations for the Bonn II conference on Afghanistan, which was held in December 2011.
|
||
|
Delhi may see a new Parliament House New Delhi, July 13 A High Powered Committee (HPC) is being set up to suggest an alternative complex to house the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha amidst apprehensions over the structural stability of the building built in 1927. The issue of the site, the size and the structure of the alternative complex would be decided by the HPC which will soon be set up by Speaker Meira Kumar, Lok Sabha Secretary General TK Viswanathan told PTI. The move is being thought of at a time when severe wear and tear as also a spate of changes and encroachments in the original design has endangered the structural stability of the heritage building. Viswanathan said the HPC is being set up in view of the fact that the present structure which was 85 years old could not cope with the growing foot falls and not able to service so many people. The Parliament House is one of the most heavily fortified buildings in the country with the presence of a large number of security personnel. Besides, in the next 50 years, the strength of both the Houses is also expected to increase with moves for greater representation to women and other weaker sections. Quoting the Speaker, he said the magnificient building was “weeping” as it has to bear much load with heavy foot falls, new additions, including air conditioning of both the Houses and heavy cabling which was not originally planned. The Lok Sabha Secretariat has also approached an eminent technical institute at Roorkie to undertake a study of the building, which may not be able to withstand a major earthquake. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also been approached to detail the measures to be taken in the event of a quake, Viswanathan said. Viswanathan said that efforts are being made on a war footing to secure a ‘no objection certificate’ from the Delhi Fire Service “which we have never got so far”. The Speaker had directed the secretariat to take all possible precautions and steps in the backdrop of the Mantralaya fire in Mumbai which gutted a major portion of Maharashtra government headquarters. In the wake of the Mumbai incident, the Secretary General held a meeting with the CPWD officers last month. The meeting saw a report being presented on the encroachment in various parts of Parliament House building. The view was that these encroachments were dangerous in case of a fire incident as most of the escape routes - staircase on different floors are blocked either by erecting structures or by keeping unused furniture or pantries. Reports earlier had it that a a spate of changes to the original design of the Parliament House, so as to accommodate the growing number of MPs, their staff and security, has been identified as reasons for “endangering” the structural stability of the complex. These changes include toilet blocks added over the years, additional rooms, covering of spaces designated as open courtyards and niches created even on the staircases to meet the growing demand for space. — PTI
|
||
|
Mamata not to attend dinner hosted by Sonia Kolkata, July 13 Sonia’s political secretary Ahmed Patel rang up Mamata inviting her to the UPA dinner on July 18, but the Trinamool Congress chief said she would be unable to attend, TMC sources said. The sources insisted it was not a boycott of the dinner but Mamata would not be able to make it as she would be busy with a Trinamool Congress ‘martyr’s day’ rally here on July 21 for which party workers would begin arriving from July 18. Top Trinamool leaders have been asked to be present in the metropolis on July 18 a day before the presidential poll on July 19. The Trinamool Congress is yet to make public its stand on the Presidential poll candidate. Banerjee had earlier stated that she would announce the party’s decision three days before the election.— PTI
|
||
|
Police to take DNA samples of Laila’s grandmother Mumbai, July 13 "We will request Laila's grandmother to give her DNA samples," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy said. Toxicology test will be done to find out if key accused Parveez Tak had poisoned the victims. — PTI
|
||
|
N-capable
Agni-I test-fired Balasore, July 13 "The trial of Agni-I missile conducted from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island was successful. It met the mission objectives," ITR Director MVKV Prasad said. The surface-to-surface single-stage missile, powered by solid propellants, was test fired from a mobile launcher at about 10.10 am from launch pad-4 of the ITR at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here, a defence scientist said. — PTI
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
In Taliban-style diktats, a panchayat has banned love marriages and barred women below 40 from going out for shopping and using mobile phones outside their homes, an action deprecated by the Centre which asked UP government to ensure that such "illegal" orders are not enforced.
There is no place for such diktats in a democratic society. If such a diktat is being issued in
Baghpat, I would expect the state government to instruct the police authorities to ensure that nobody comes to harm for violating that diktat.