India sends relief teams, equipment
Nearly 1,800 people were killed and thousands more injured after an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on Saturday. The epicentre of the quake was reported to be around 80 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. Tremors and aftershocks were felt across the entire subcontinental region, including in parts of India, Pakistan and China. At least 51 people have died in India, 38 of them in Bihar. India has sent medical equipment and relief teams to help in the search-and-rescue efforts. Indian armed forces officers have also recovered bodies around Mount Everest, which experienced a number of avalanches after the quake. Around 300,000 foreign tourists are estimated to be in Nepal for the spring climbing season.
Amit Shah meets Gajendra Singh's family
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Saturday met the family of Rajasthan farmer Gajendra Singh, who allegedly committed suicide at a rally organised by the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and state health minister Rajendra Rathore. “This is our family and we consoled them,” Shah said. The BJP President had earlier addressed a meeting of party workers in Jaipur.
Land issue will revive Congress: Jairam Ramesh
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that the issue of the land acquisition bill would help revive the party. Ramesh stated that the bill had been amended to favour industrialists and traders. “We are not opposing for the sake of opposing,” he added. There was no evidence to show that development had been obstructed due to the enactment of the 2013 land acquisition law implemented by the Congress, he said. “Without giving a chance for the law to be implemented, the government has set about amending the law which I think is simply unacceptable to us,” Ramesh said.
Swaraj Abhiyan to get Maharashtra unit
Maharashtrian supporters of ex-Aam Aadmi Party leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan will launch 'Swaraj Abhiyan' in the state on Monday to create support for Bhushan and Yadav. Swaraj Abhiyan is an off-shoot of the AAP formed under Yadav and Bhushan's leadership. The meeting is being organised by key members of the party's Maharashtra leadership with Manav Kamble, a former state executive committee member who resigned from the party on Wednesday, claiming that "democracy has been trampled upon under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal." Senior leaders Bhushan and Yadav were accused of undermining the party's campaign for the Delhi elections in February, leading to them being expelled from the party on April 21.
Whistle-blower shot at in Delhi
A whistle-blower who had conducted sting operations against allegedly corrupt policemen in Delhi was shot at and injured in the national capital on Friday night. Chetan Prakash Sharma was attacked by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike while he was walking his dog in front of his house at 10.30pm. “Sharma sustained a bullet injury in his hand while the attackers fled,” a senior police official said. Sharma’s dog died as it tried to protect him from the attackers, the official said. Sharma was taken to a hospital where he was declared to be out of danger. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal assured Sharma of security and a fair trial in the case.
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Nearly 1,800 people were killed and thousands more injured after an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on Saturday. The epicentre of the quake was reported to be around 80 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. Tremors and aftershocks were felt across the entire subcontinental region, including in parts of India, Pakistan and China. At least 51 people have died in India, 38 of them in Bihar. India has sent medical equipment and relief teams to help in the search-and-rescue efforts. Indian armed forces officers have also recovered bodies around Mount Everest, which experienced a number of avalanches after the quake. Around 300,000 foreign tourists are estimated to be in Nepal for the spring climbing season.
Amit Shah meets Gajendra Singh's family
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Saturday met the family of Rajasthan farmer Gajendra Singh, who allegedly committed suicide at a rally organised by the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and state health minister Rajendra Rathore. “This is our family and we consoled them,” Shah said. The BJP President had earlier addressed a meeting of party workers in Jaipur.
Land issue will revive Congress: Jairam Ramesh
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that the issue of the land acquisition bill would help revive the party. Ramesh stated that the bill had been amended to favour industrialists and traders. “We are not opposing for the sake of opposing,” he added. There was no evidence to show that development had been obstructed due to the enactment of the 2013 land acquisition law implemented by the Congress, he said. “Without giving a chance for the law to be implemented, the government has set about amending the law which I think is simply unacceptable to us,” Ramesh said.
Swaraj Abhiyan to get Maharashtra unit
Maharashtrian supporters of ex-Aam Aadmi Party leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan will launch 'Swaraj Abhiyan' in the state on Monday to create support for Bhushan and Yadav. Swaraj Abhiyan is an off-shoot of the AAP formed under Yadav and Bhushan's leadership. The meeting is being organised by key members of the party's Maharashtra leadership with Manav Kamble, a former state executive committee member who resigned from the party on Wednesday, claiming that "democracy has been trampled upon under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal." Senior leaders Bhushan and Yadav were accused of undermining the party's campaign for the Delhi elections in February, leading to them being expelled from the party on April 21.
Whistle-blower shot at in Delhi
A whistle-blower who had conducted sting operations against allegedly corrupt policemen in Delhi was shot at and injured in the national capital on Friday night. Chetan Prakash Sharma was attacked by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike while he was walking his dog in front of his house at 10.30pm. “Sharma sustained a bullet injury in his hand while the attackers fled,” a senior police official said. Sharma’s dog died as it tried to protect him from the attackers, the official said. Sharma was taken to a hospital where he was declared to be out of danger. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal assured Sharma of security and a fair trial in the case.