Assam: Over 50 thought to be dead in Sonitpur, Kokrajhar carnages
At least 50 people in the state died on Tuesday when armed members of the militant National Democratic Front of Bodoland went on a killing spree in the Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts. All victims were former teagarden workers from the adivasi community. Since 1998, the NDFB has been demanding a sovereign state carved out of Assam for Bodos, who comprise 10% of the population. The group has consistently targeted non-Bodos such as adivasis and Muslims.
New Delhi: Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya
On Wednesday, the President’s Office announced that it would award the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and posthumously to Madan Mohan Malaviya, the educationist and one of the first modern advocates of Hindu nationalism. The announcement comes on the eve of Vajpayee’s 90th birthday on December 25, which has also been declared to be Good Governance Day by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the centre.
Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah to resign on Wednesday
Incumbent Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will tender his resignation to the state’s governor NN Vohra on Wednesday. Abdullah’s National Conference party won 17 seats out of the possible 87 during the recently concluded assembly elections. Its long-time rival People’s Democratic Party emerged with the highest number of seats – 28 – followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which won 25.
Maharashtra: RTI replies will be accessible online from Jan 1, 2015
Starting January 1, the Maharashtra government will let residents state access information obtained through the RTI Act online. The decision by the Devendra Fadnavis government is being celebrated by activists, who expect to be able to track down defaulting officers. The state government is also working on making the process of filing RTI requests fully digital.
Telengana: Construction set to start on two sets of thermal power plants
The Telengana government on Wednesday announced it had decided to set up thermal power plants to generate 7,600 MW in Nalgonda district and 6,000 MW from Khammam. The decision had been anticipated for some time as the government was only waiting to obtain land for construction to begin. The Nalgonda plants will be situated in a 7,800-acre swath of land adjoining the Krishna River. The environmental clearance was fast-tracked at the insistence of Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
At least 50 people in the state died on Tuesday when armed members of the militant National Democratic Front of Bodoland went on a killing spree in the Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts. All victims were former teagarden workers from the adivasi community. Since 1998, the NDFB has been demanding a sovereign state carved out of Assam for Bodos, who comprise 10% of the population. The group has consistently targeted non-Bodos such as adivasis and Muslims.
New Delhi: Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya
On Wednesday, the President’s Office announced that it would award the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and posthumously to Madan Mohan Malaviya, the educationist and one of the first modern advocates of Hindu nationalism. The announcement comes on the eve of Vajpayee’s 90th birthday on December 25, which has also been declared to be Good Governance Day by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the centre.
Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah to resign on Wednesday
Incumbent Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will tender his resignation to the state’s governor NN Vohra on Wednesday. Abdullah’s National Conference party won 17 seats out of the possible 87 during the recently concluded assembly elections. Its long-time rival People’s Democratic Party emerged with the highest number of seats – 28 – followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which won 25.
Maharashtra: RTI replies will be accessible online from Jan 1, 2015
Starting January 1, the Maharashtra government will let residents state access information obtained through the RTI Act online. The decision by the Devendra Fadnavis government is being celebrated by activists, who expect to be able to track down defaulting officers. The state government is also working on making the process of filing RTI requests fully digital.
Telengana: Construction set to start on two sets of thermal power plants
The Telengana government on Wednesday announced it had decided to set up thermal power plants to generate 7,600 MW in Nalgonda district and 6,000 MW from Khammam. The decision had been anticipated for some time as the government was only waiting to obtain land for construction to begin. The Nalgonda plants will be situated in a 7,800-acre swath of land adjoining the Krishna River. The environmental clearance was fast-tracked at the insistence of Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
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