Bajarang Dal leader held in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: Jwalit Mehta, Ahmedabad city convener of Bajarang Dal was arrested by the city police on Tuesday in the wee hours at 2.30 am. Mehta, who was released on bail later, was arrested for protesting at an art gallery where exhibition of Pakistani artists were going on. VHP chief Pravin Togadia tweeted immediately after the arrest of Mehta and said that "opposing Pakistani artists' exhibition at a time when Pakistani rangers are killing our Jawans is crimeIJ Togadia also blamed the State Government that the arrest was for votes.
Curfew in Kishtwar, looted arms found
Jammu: Curfew continued for the 12th day on Tuesday in Kishtwar town of Jammu & Kashmir. Police said they have recovered nine guns looted from a gun-shop by rioters August 9. Curfew was relaxed for four hours on Monday, during which the situation remained peaceful with no report of any untoward incident.
PM: Defeat communal forces at all levels
New Delhi: Apparently targeting the BJP and its election campaign committee chief Narendra Modi, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said communal forces could divide society and these needed to be defeated in the elections. “A few days back, there was communal violence in the country. We have to oppose such forces all the time, at all levels, whether it is daily life or elections,” he said at a function organised here to give the Rajiv Gandhi Sadhbhavna Award to sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The award was presented by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the PM.
Ganguly to replace Siva in JPC on 2G scam
New Delhi: The Government has decided to appoint nominated member Ashok Ganguly in place of DMK member Tiruchi Siva as the member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee probing the 2G scam while West Bengal PCC president Pradeep Bhattacharya would replace EMS Natchiappan, who has become a Minister. A proposal in this regard will be brought in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Though earlier DMK was claiming its own nominee in place of Siva and AIADMK wanted its nominee in view of increased seats in Parliament, but the Government wanted a nominee from UPA quota citing that earlier DMK was part of the Government. So it appears that nominated member Ganguly has been chosen as a compromise candidate.
56,000 maternal deaths annually
New Delhi: An estimated 56,000 maternal deaths are reported annually and 3,09,000 newborns die within 24 hours of birth, the lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Quoting the State of World's Mothers Report, 2013 Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said major causes of maternal deaths are hemorrhage, sepsis, abortion, hypertensive disorders and obstructed labour. Other causes include anaemia. Azad said as according to the Sample Registration System report published by the Registrar General of India, the infant mortality rate is 44 per 1,000 live births.
Committee in place to probe howitzer deal
New Delhi: Complaints of alleged irregularities have been received in connection with Army's plan to procure ultra light howitzers worth over Rs 3,000 crore and a committee has been formed to probe these charges, Defence Minister Ak Antony told the lok Sabha.