Officer died because of ‘political pressure’, claims brother
Family members of Indian Administrative Service officer DK Ravi on Wednesday threatened to commit suicide unless a probe was initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation into his death. Ravi’s younger brother alleged that he had died due to “political pressure”. Members of Ravi’s family staged a protest in front of the Legislative Assembly to press for their demand. Opposition parties and members of the public criticised the police and the Karnataka state government for supporting the theory that Ravi had committed suicide. Ravi, a prominent opponent of the sand mafia, was found hanging in his apartment in Bengaluru on Monday.
Sadhvi Prachi says Mahatma Gandhi was a ‘British agent’
Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Prachi on Wednesday alleged that Mahatma Gandhi was a “British agent”. “It was only due to sole effort of Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and Subhash Chandra Bose that India was freed from the clutches of Britishers,” said Prachi. She said that the Gandhian methods of protests and hunger strikes were “worthless”, and that Gnadhi’s overall contribution towards the independence movement had been “negligible”. Prachi had earlier stoked controversy by saying that people with more than two children should not be allowed to vote, and that those killed cows were not entitled to live in India.
Government open to extending budget session by two days
The first half of the budget session could be extended by two days to March 23 and March 24, said the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, in order to help steer Bills pertaining to coal and mines and minerals through Parliament. Representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party said that they were hopeful that the Bills would successfully pass through the Rajya Sabha, even though the ruling party is in a minority there. However, if the government does not accept amendments made by the Select Committees to the Bills, they will be passed back to the Lok Sabha for consent. The first half of the budget session is scheduled to end on March 20.
Food shortages plague Vanuatu after cyclone Pam
Aid groups on Wednesday warned of massive food shortages in the island nation of Vanuatu after the destruction caused by Cyclone Pam, which had hit the archipelago on Saturday. The groups said that the storm, which had affected more than two-thirds of the islands, had also wiped out crops and fishing fleets, raising the risk of hunger and disease. The World Food Programme of the United Nations said that it was working with aid agencies to help distribute food.
Sharad Yadav expresses regret over remarks on Smriti Irani
Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday expressed regret over comments he made to Human Resources Department Minister Smriti Irani. The HRD Minister and several other leaders had criticised Yadav for his comment that South Indian women had good physiques because they practiced classical dance. In response, Yadav had told Irani that he knew “what kind of person” she was. While not explicitly apologising to Irani during a session of the Lok Sabha, Yadav added that he held both Irani and Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in high esteem, saying that he had been the first to defend Irani when controversy over her educational qualifications erupted.
Family members of Indian Administrative Service officer DK Ravi on Wednesday threatened to commit suicide unless a probe was initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation into his death. Ravi’s younger brother alleged that he had died due to “political pressure”. Members of Ravi’s family staged a protest in front of the Legislative Assembly to press for their demand. Opposition parties and members of the public criticised the police and the Karnataka state government for supporting the theory that Ravi had committed suicide. Ravi, a prominent opponent of the sand mafia, was found hanging in his apartment in Bengaluru on Monday.
Sadhvi Prachi says Mahatma Gandhi was a ‘British agent’
Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Prachi on Wednesday alleged that Mahatma Gandhi was a “British agent”. “It was only due to sole effort of Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and Subhash Chandra Bose that India was freed from the clutches of Britishers,” said Prachi. She said that the Gandhian methods of protests and hunger strikes were “worthless”, and that Gnadhi’s overall contribution towards the independence movement had been “negligible”. Prachi had earlier stoked controversy by saying that people with more than two children should not be allowed to vote, and that those killed cows were not entitled to live in India.
Government open to extending budget session by two days
The first half of the budget session could be extended by two days to March 23 and March 24, said the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, in order to help steer Bills pertaining to coal and mines and minerals through Parliament. Representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party said that they were hopeful that the Bills would successfully pass through the Rajya Sabha, even though the ruling party is in a minority there. However, if the government does not accept amendments made by the Select Committees to the Bills, they will be passed back to the Lok Sabha for consent. The first half of the budget session is scheduled to end on March 20.
Food shortages plague Vanuatu after cyclone Pam
Aid groups on Wednesday warned of massive food shortages in the island nation of Vanuatu after the destruction caused by Cyclone Pam, which had hit the archipelago on Saturday. The groups said that the storm, which had affected more than two-thirds of the islands, had also wiped out crops and fishing fleets, raising the risk of hunger and disease. The World Food Programme of the United Nations said that it was working with aid agencies to help distribute food.
Sharad Yadav expresses regret over remarks on Smriti Irani
Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday expressed regret over comments he made to Human Resources Department Minister Smriti Irani. The HRD Minister and several other leaders had criticised Yadav for his comment that South Indian women had good physiques because they practiced classical dance. In response, Yadav had told Irani that he knew “what kind of person” she was. While not explicitly apologising to Irani during a session of the Lok Sabha, Yadav added that he held both Irani and Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in high esteem, saying that he had been the first to defend Irani when controversy over her educational qualifications erupted.
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