Yaseen Malik arrested from hunger strike venue

Kashmir police on Saturday arrested Kashmiri leader Yaseen Malik from the venue of a hunger strike against a rehabilitation programme for Kashmiri Pandits in the disputed valley.

The arrest came shortly after the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief announced the 30-hour long hunger strike in protest of the proposed establishment of a separate township for Pandits in Kashmir.

“People who are living here have a tradition to live together in joint colonies in villages and towns. From the last 5-6 years more than 5,000 Kashmiri Pandits have come back and are living with Kashmiri Muslims in joint mohallas,” Malik was quoted by Indian media as saying.

"We will not allow separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits. We want them to stay with other communities," he said.

Hurriyat leaders oppose separate townships for Kashmiri Pandits and have called for a complete shutdown across the valley over the issue.

The latest developments from the restive region came a day after another Kashmiri leader, Masarat Alam, was arrested for waving the Pakistani flag and chanting pro-Pakistan slogans at a rally where thousands welcomed Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani on his return from New Delhi.

On Friday, at least 14 people were injured when Indian police baton charged protestors in Srinagar rallying against the arrests of Kashmiri leaders.

Earlier,  police had also placed several pro-independence leaders, including Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest.

Saturday witnessed a complete shutter-down strike in the disputed valley.

China offering Pakistan ‘huge’ financing

Pakistan needs a “huge amount of financing” for infrastructure and energy projects and China is ready to announce help when President Xi Jinping visits next week, a foreign ministry official said Friday.

Islamabad has for decades been Beijing´s closest ally in South Asia, and China -- which is expanding its influence in the region -- is a major trading partner and key supplier of military technology to Pakistan.

Chinese assistant foreign minister Liu Jianchao declined to offer details in a briefing to reporters ahead of Xi´s two-day trip, which starts Monday, saying that the "specific figure" would be announced during the visit.

But he said a "huge amount of financing" was needed for projects in the transport, infrastructure and energy fields that are part of a China-Pakistan economic corridor initiative.

"China stands ready to provide financial support for Pakistan to be used on these projects," Liu said.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Xi would announce a $46 billion spending plan for infrastructure, with the largest share going for electricity generation.

Xi was originally scheduled to visit last September but Beijing cancelled the trip with Islamabad in the grip of major anti-government street protests.

China has been a key financial and military ally of Islamabad over the years and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif secured promises of $42 billion worth of investment when he went to Beijing in November last year.

Much of that centred on the energy sector -- Pakistan has wrestled with chronic power shortages in recent years that have scrubbed several points off GDP growth and inflicted misery on the everyday lives of its citizens.

Pakistan´s foreign ministry said Thursday that a number of important agreements and memorandums of understanding would be signed during the visit, but gave no details.

Liu said Xi´s visit would be the first by a Chinese president in nine years and stressed that it was his first overseas trip this year.

"It is yet another major diplomatic action taken by China´s top leader in China´s neighbourhood," he said.

He added that the trip will "map out an overall plan for China-Pakistan relations and cooperation in various areas for the next five to 10 years and take bilateral relations to a new level."

Nitin: Adoption of organic farming tech to bail out distressed farmers

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Apr 18

Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Mr. Nitin Gadkari has called for adoption of organic farming techniques and combining allied and processing activities with the traditional farming with a view to bail out the distressed farmers who have had to face a series of natural calamities this year. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Organic Farming Workshop organized by Agrovision and Vidarbha Gaurav Foundation in Nagpur today.

Dwelling upon various problems being faced by the farming community in Vidarbha region, the Minister said that the suitable crop pattern should be developed after analysis of the soil content report presented through the Soil Health Cards.

Mr. Gadkari further said that though the Governments at Centre and in the State are running various developmental schemes for promoting all-round development, peoples’ participation is the key for effective implementation of these schemes. Guardian Minister of the district Mr. Chandrashekhar Bawankule informed that the Self-Help Groups in Nagpur district would be provided the organic manure machines worth five lakh rupees each.

Besides, Maharashtra Government is trying to reduce the backlog of agricultural pumps in the backward Vidarbha abd Marathwada region along with distribution of seven and half thousand solar water pumps and deployment of the ambitious Jalyukta Shivar Yojana would also go a long way to develop the irrigation facilities in the arid region, he added.

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APRIL 19, 2015 | EDIT

Sitaram Yechury elected new CPI(M) general secretary

Apr 19, The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has elected Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury as the new general secretary of the party. He was unanimously elected as General Secretary of the Party in its 21st Congress in Visakhapatnam today. At the meeting of the Central Committee, outgoing general secretary Prakash Karat proposed Mr Yechury’s name and SR Pillai seconded it. Mr Yechury is the fifth general secretary of the 50-year-old party. He replaces Prakash Karat who has stepped down after three terms. Earlier, veteran leaders V.S. Achuthanandan, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Nirupam Sen were dropped from the Central Committee.

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Rahul Gandhi accuses Modi govt of being anti-farmer

APRIL 19, 2015 | EDIT

Apr 19

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today came down heavily on Narendra Modi led NDA government, saying relief announced by it for farmers affected by hailstorm and untimely rain is worthless. Addressing the farmer’s rally organised by the party at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi, Mrs Gandhi said that farmers and labourers have understood the hollow claims of NDA government. Saying that even BJP supported the 2013 Land Aquisition Act, she said there is no provision of return of unused land in the new ordinance whereas the Act brought by UPA had a time limit of 5 years.

Earlier, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today accused Narendra Modi government of being anti-farmer and said farmers and workers in the country are worried as they feel that the government has forgotten them. Addressing the farmers’ rally organised by the party at Ramlila Ground in the national capital, Mr Gandhi said farmers strengthen the nation before industrialists as they feed the nation. He said, UPA government had waived 70000 crore rupees of farmer loans and increased the Minimum Support Price of wheat from 540 rupees to 1400 rupees per quintal.

In his address, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said, the ordinance which NDA government has brought, has weakened the 2013 Land Act. He said due to unseasonal rains, farmers have lost their crop, but Narendra Modi government has been apathetic to the farmers. Mr Singh said the Congress has always fought for the interests of the farmers. He assured farmers of the party’s support against forced land acquisition and said Congress will give a tough fight against the anti-farmer policies of Narendra Modi government.

Senior party leaders Digvijay Singh, A K Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ajay Maken and party workers were also present on the occassion. Thousands of farmers from all across the country have gathered at Ramlila Ground.

Refuting the allegation of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi that NDA government is anti farmer, BJP today said this is the frustration of the party which failed to work for the poor. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Union minister and senior BJP leader, Ravi Shanker Prasad said present Narendra Modi government is popular. Mr Prasad said Mr Modi’s governance is now recognised world wide and doing so much for the country.

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APRIL 19, 2015 | EDIT

PM at Workshop for BJP MPs

• Government is dedicated to the poor, and improving their life
• Our decisions are guided by Rashtra-neeti, not Rajneeti

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that his Government is firmly focused on serving the poor, and improving their life. Addressing a workshop for BJP MPs on the subject of welfare schemes for the poor, the Prime Minister attacked those “with a perverted mindset” who were spreading lies about various initiatives of the Government, including the land acquisition act.

Stating that the decisions of the Government were guided by rashtra-neeti (national interest), and not rajneeti (politics), the Prime Minister urged the MPs to connect directly with the poor, to spread the word about the benefits of various Government schemes. He said his Government was committed to providing Housing for All, schools and hospitals for the poor.

The Prime Minister highlighted the initiatives and successes of the Government, including curbing corruption and inflation. He also mentioned the recent steps taken by the Government for relief to farmers affected by adverse weather conditions, including input subsidy being increased by 50%, and eligibility criteria for the same being expanded to include all those farms where 33% of the cultivated land was affected, instead of 50%. He said procurement norms had been relaxed to allow procurement even of the crop which is adversely affected by the adverse weather conditions. He said such decisions taken by the Government for the benefit of the poor, were not being talked about enough.

The Prime Minister gave a broad overview of various other schemes initiated by his Government for the benefit of the poor, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, and Toilets for all.

The Prime Minister said MPs should see that schemes were being effectively implemented in their areas, and benefits should reach the poor.

Shri Narendra Modi appreciated the role played by External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj, and MoS External Affairs Gen. VK. Singh, in the successful evacuation of citizens from Yemen. He also highlighted some of the less talked about achievements of his recent visit to France, Germany and Canada, including the agreement between L&T and Areva for manufacture of nuclear reactors; and the uranium supply deal with Canada.

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Migrant boat capsizes, 120 miles south off Lampedusa,

APRIL 19, 2015 | EDIT

A high sea rescue operation is under way after a boat carrying an estimated 700 migrants capsized in Libyan waters, 120 miles south off Lampedusa, the Times of Malta reports.

Twenty-eight people have been reported rescued, while a number of bodies have been washed ashore in Libya.

Migrants reportedly fell overboard when they ran to draw the attention of a passing vessel. The boat is said to have capsized at midnight. The disaster could become one of the worst over the decades of the migrant situation in the southern Mediterranean, which has seen the death toll rise over 1,500 since the beginning of 2015, media reported.

“At the moment, we fear that this is a tragedy of really vast proportions,” Carlotta Sami, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, told SkyTG24 television.

A Maltese Navy spokesman told the BBC that Italian ships and commercial boats were also involved in the emergency operation.

A few days earlier, almost 400 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean as their boat carrying 550 people bound for Italy capsized approximately 24 hours after leaving Libya.

The flow of migrants has increased due to fine spring weather over the last few weeks.

Media agencies

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Aam Aadmi Party · Budgetaryapproval by masses -जनता का बजट – जनता के द्वारा।

APRIL 19, 2015 | EDIT

Aam Aadmi Party

47 mins · 

जनता का बजट – जनता के द्वारा।

AAP is implementing the concepts of Self-Governance. Voters of Mohalla’s are now deciding what tasks need to be completed in their areas.

A picture of one such event that happened today.

Change is here. Share widely.

2.3k Likes104 Comments167 Shares

Naresh Kumar Sagar

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• 

  Naresh Kumar Sagar AAP Government  knows no LSG & other maintenance obligations, scheme must admit dont know governance

  New AAP drama to find out the people what scheme to be carried out for the residents,

  Is AAP unable to listen to constituency of Ambedkar Nagar, South Delhi constituency where water,electricity and dwelling sanitation,cleanliness, is important .Even the main roads and water drains are not cleaned ,schools and hospital lie is deep pathetic conditions but the nautanki of AAP to have a dialogue with masses for budgetary approval is one.AK 49 who is daily and currently exposed by his own dedicated members of his party for whom AK 49 planned unceremoniously ousters. Many term the CM of Delhi a leader who want to give  moon in afternoon to the masses to get comfort. What a folly that mike snatcher in front of media on many occasion treat each sentence of CM as sacrosanct with honest words his only assets  other who speak are untruthful and bundle of lie. Media therefore has hos kudos to prop-up such magnificent character in governance cadre thus simple Q arise with people of Delhi granting him brute majority in assembly polls get to some alternates the formation of another  party is in offing as this party did not match the words spokes or promises made to the people. New party and no-confidence to form new group is in offing in case if gossips are to be believed in circles of political analyst and thinkers who propagate with such brute majority rebel groups emerges when masses scuttled bust is bound to happen.

Aam Aadmi Party · Budgetaryapproval by masses -जनता का बजट - जनता के द्वारा।

Aam Aadmi Party · Budgetaryapproval by masses -जनता का बजट - जनता के द्वारा।

  

Aam Aadmi Party

47 mins · 

जनता का बजट - जनता के द्वारा।

AAP is implementing the concepts of Self-Governance. Voters of Mohalla's are now deciding what tasks need to be completed in their areas.

A picture of one such event that happened today.

Change is here. Share widely.

2.3k Likes104 Comments167 Shares

Naresh Kumar Sagar

Like

Comment

Share

• Most Relevant
• 
  
  

  Write a comment...

  
  
• 

  Naresh Kumar Sagar AAP Government  knows no LSG & other maintenance obligations, scheme must admit dont know governance

  
  
  New AAP drama to find out the people what scheme to be carried out for the residents,
  
  Is AAP unable to listen to constituency of Ambedkar Nagar, South Delhi constituency where water,electricity and dwelling sanitation,cleanliness, is important .Even the main roads and water drains are not cleaned ,schools and hospital lie is deep pathetic conditions but the nautanki of AAP to have a dialogue with masses for budgetary approval is one.AK 49 who is daily and currently exposed by his own dedicated members of his party for whom AK 49 planned unceremoniously ousters. Many term the CM of Delhi a leader who want to give  moon in afternoon to the masses to get comfort. What a folly that mike snatcher in front of media on many occasion treat each sentence of CM as sacrosanct with honest words his only assets  other who speak are untruthful and bundle of lie. Media therefore has hos kudos to prop-up such magnificent character in governance cadre thus simple Q arise with people of Delhi granting him brute majority in assembly polls get to some alternates the formation of another  party is in offing as this party did not match the words spokes or promises made to the people. New party and no-confidence to form new group is in offing in case if gossips are to be believed in circles of political analyst and thinkers who propagate with such brute majority rebel groups emerges when masses scuttled bust is bound to happen.