Kedarnath restoration to start from Sept 9
New Delhi: With no major damage to the outside structure of the Kedarnath Temple due to flood that ravaged Uttarakhand, a team of the ASI will kick-off the conservation work of Kedarnath Temple in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand from September 9 by cleaning its interior, packing/ consolidating loose stones and taking e-stampage of inscription within the temple. A preliminary report indicates that the temple was saved primarily due to the lodging of a large boulder on its northern side which deflected water and boulders and possibly prevented a direct impact, Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch told reporters on Friday. Just some portions of the temple on northern, western and eastern sides have indicated moderate impact of the severe jolt due to floods and boulder movement, she noted.
Concern in RS over killing of writer
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha on Friday expressed concern over the brutal killing of Indian writer Sushmita Banerjee in Afghanistan by Taliban militants. “It is a cold blooded murder,” Kunal Kumar Ghosh (Trinamool Congress) said, raising the issue during Zero Hour. He said Banerjee (49) had just returned to Kabul after celebrating Eid in Kolkata. D Raja (CPI), Rama Chandra Khuntia (Cong), Najma Heptulla (BJP) and Naresh Agarwal (SP) were among other members who associated themselves with the issue.
Jaya case: K’taka to withdraw PP order
New Delhi: Karnataka Government on Friday withdrew its order to remove special public prosecutor in a disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa pending before a Karnataka court. An undertaking in this regard was given by Attorney General GE Vahanvati, who informed the court that this decision became necessary since the State failed to consult Chief Justice of Karnataka HC before issuing the said order of August 26. Noting the statement, the Bench of Justices BS Chauhan and SA Bobde allowed the state to place all records pertaining to the appointment of SPP before Chief Justice and also present a list of four senior lawyers for selection as SPP.
‘No talk with GJM without WB govt’
New Delhi: After protests by Trinamool Congress, the Centre on Friday promised not to hold any talk with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha without involvement of the West Bengal Government and said the recent meeting of the group’s leaders with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was “coincidental”. Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh said in Rajya Sabha that the delegation led by Jaswant Singh, BJP MP from Darjeeling, had called on Shinde on September 3 at a very short notice. Since the delegation was led by an MP, Shinde decided to meet them despite not being in best of health, he said adding Shinde tried to reach West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over phone but she could not be reached immediately as she was in a meeting in Kalimpong. Earlier, Trinamool members forced brief adjournments before being assured that the government will make a statement. After the statement, Derek O’Brien (Trinamool Congress) said, “Please do not do politics and have faith in State government”.
Rajya Sabha clears Pension Bill
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Friday passed the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011 with 115 MPs voting in favour and 25 against including members form left parties and TMC. The bill was passed in the lok Sabha on September 4. Finance Minister P Chidambaram said admitted that some of the members have legitimate concerns, which the government will try to address. Since the bill has been pending for nine years, it should be passed. The bill would make the PFRDA a statutory authority, unlike its present non-statutory status.