Author: newshens

The former Manipur Governor, then a Congress member, has narrated the episode in her just-released autobiography. Former Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla has recalled waiting for an entire hour to speak with then-Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who ultimately did not come on the line, while then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee answered instantly. In 1999, after being elected to lead the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international body of national parliaments, Heptulla called the two leaders from Berlin. She recounts the episode in her autobiography, In Pursuit of Democracy: Beyond Party Lines. Calling the presidency a “historic first and a great honour” in…

The Kerala SDMA has advised people living in low-lying, landslide-prone, and other such areas to relocate to safer places.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued red alerts for four districts in Kerala for Monday, December 2, warning of isolated heavy rains in the state. The weather office has forecasted extremely heavy rainfall in the northern districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur. IMD forecast light to moderate rainfall at a few places and expected isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on Sunday. “Rainfall activity will increase with light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy…

The RSS chief said the population policy of India, decided around 1998 or 2002, says that the population growth rate should not be below 2.1. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday stressed the importance of family, saying that a society will perish if its population growth rate falls below 2.1. Speaking at the ‘Kathale Kul (clan) Sammelan’ in Nagpur, he said that ‘kutumb’ (family) is an integral part of society, with each family serving as a unit. “Decreasing population is a matter of concern because the Loksankhya Shastra says that if we go below 2.1, then that…

The then formed state Waqf board had a total of 11 member, of whom three were elected and rest eight were nominated. The Chandrababu Naidu-led Andhra Pradesh government has dissolved the state Waqf board nominated by the previous YSR Congress regime. The move comes in the backdrop of the ongoing uproar against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. In an order dated November 30, the state government noted that AP State Waqf Board, formed by the YSRC regime, had been non-functional for a prolonged time (from March 2023). The then formed Waqf board had a total of 11 member, of whom…

Shinde also said that his government’s work in Maharashtra in the last 2.5 years will be written in “golden letters in history”. Maharashtra caretaker chief minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday clarified that he went to his native village in Satara to rest after a hectic election schedule and said he is ‘doing good now.’ The Shiv Sena leader had traveled to his native village on Friday after returning from a high-level meeting with BJP leaders in Delhi. Speculations were rife that Shinde was upset over the chief ministerial decision, however a Sena leader later dismissed the rumours and said the…

In a letter written to Congress lawyer Omar Hoda, Secretary Mr. SK Das thanked the Congress party for bringing the issues to the commission’s notice. The Election Commission of India has dismissed the Congress’s complaints about the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly election, citing alleged discrepancies in poll figures and draft electoral rolls. The apex poll body has invited the Congress delegation on December 3 to discuss the issue further. In a letter to Congress lawyer Omar Hoda, secretary SK Das thanked the Congress party for bringing the issues to the commission’s notice. “As regards the first allegation regarding addition and…

Congress leader Bhai Jagtap doubled down his attacks on ECI after the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance’s loss in the assembly election. Congress Maharashtra MLC Bhai Jagtap’s derogatory remark against the Election Commission of India (ECI) has snowballed into a major political controversy, with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders criticising the Opposition for indulging in dirty politics instead of working on its shortcomings. The row began when Congress leader Bhai Jagtap doubled down his attacks on the ECI after the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance’s performance in Maharashtra assembly election results, calling the poll panel ‘PM Narendra Modi’s dog”. “The Election Commission is…

People opting for destination weddings are spending ₹51 lakh on an average, as per a report from wedding firm WedMeGood. A study has found that the average wedding budget this year is ₹36.5 lakh (up 7% from 2023), while those opting for destination weddings spend an average of ₹51 lakh. This is due to a 10% year-on-year increase in costs, such as those for venue and catering, the report from wedding firm WedMeGood stated. “Everyone wants to have the best possible wedding. People are spending the most on venue, followed by food, and a good planning agency. In India, most…

The fire at Varanasi’s Cantt railway station was reportedly triggered by a short circuit. After a two-hour operation, the flames were brought under control. A massive fire engulfed the vehicle parking area of Varanasi’s Cantt railway station in Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of Saturday. At least 200 two-wheelers were destroyed in the fire. Dramatic footage emerged from the fire spot in Varanasi where towering flames can be seen consuming the parking lot as the fire brigade and police officials worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze. The fire department managed to extinguish and control the flames after a two-hour…

Kolkata hospital says ‘won’t treat’ Bangladeshi patients; 3 Hindu temples attacked in Chattogram. Attacks on Bangladesh Hindus: The Kolkata hospital’s move coincides with a series of attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh’s Chattogram. Kolkata’s JN Ray Hospital announced on Friday that it would stop treating Bangladeshi patients indefinitely. The decision comes in response to alleged anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh and reported insults to the Indian flag by Bangladeshi nationals. The hospital, located in Kolkata’s Manicktala area, issued a statement citing the “insults towards India” as the reason for its action. Subhranshu Bhakt, a hospital official, said, “From today, we will…