Bihar: Nitish refuses to revise seat-sharing formula
Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Monday rejected the Nationalist Congress Party's ultimatum over the number of seats allotted to it for the upcoming state assembly elections. Refusing to revise the seat-sharing formula agreed to by the constituents of the "grand secular alliance", Kumar said that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP would have to decide if it wanted to remain in the grouping formed by the JD(U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress. On Sunday, Pawar had asked the alliance to give the NCP 12 seats instead of three. Under the existing deal, the JD(U) and the RJD will contest 100 seats each, while the Congress will contest 40 seats.
Uttar Pradesh: Conviction of Katara's killers upheld
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the conviction of Vishal and Vikas Yadav for murdering Nitish Katara in 2002. The court also upheld the conviction of Sukhdev Yadav, who assisted the two cousins in killing Katara. Katara, the son of a senior railway official, was killed because he was suspected to be in a relationship with Vikas' sister, Bharti. They are the children of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav. Confirming the convictions, Justices JS Khehar and AK Goel said that the murder had been "very well planned", adding that they would now decide the quantum of the sentence to be awarded to the three men.
Andhra Pradesh: Actor tweets against forcible land acquisition
Actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday appealed to the Andhra Pradesh government to stop acquiring land forcibly. In a tweet on Sunday, he urged the ruling Telugu Desam Party to review its policies as the government moves towards building a new state capital near Vijaywada. In March, the actor visited some villages in the area to ask them their views on the land-pooling scheme that is being implemented for the new city, which will be called Amaravati.
Jammu and Kashmir: Civilians targeted in Pakistan firing
Pakistan fire in the Balakote sector on Monday targeted civilian areas, in addition to the army's forward posts, officials said. "Pakistan has again started unprovoked firing at about 7 pm with mortar shells," said defence spokesperson Lt Colonel Manish Mehta. "The army is also retaliating in an equal manner." Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations had said on August 15 that one person had died and three were injured in Indian firing in the Kotli sector, across Poonch. According to analysts, the firing seems to be an attempt to derail the forthcoming National Security Advisor-level talks planned for August 23.
Andhra Pradesh: Two cops arrested for helping Huji actiists
Telangana police officials on Monday have arrested one Special Branch constable Basheer Ahmed and a Home Guard SK Saleem for allegedly helping four Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami activists to get passports using forged identity papers. They also arrested passport agent Ahsan Zia Ansari. At least six Special Branch constables who verify passport applicants and four officials who issue voter IDs and Aadhar cards are under the scanner.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Monday rejected the Nationalist Congress Party's ultimatum over the number of seats allotted to it for the upcoming state assembly elections. Refusing to revise the seat-sharing formula agreed to by the constituents of the "grand secular alliance", Kumar said that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP would have to decide if it wanted to remain in the grouping formed by the JD(U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress. On Sunday, Pawar had asked the alliance to give the NCP 12 seats instead of three. Under the existing deal, the JD(U) and the RJD will contest 100 seats each, while the Congress will contest 40 seats.
Uttar Pradesh: Conviction of Katara's killers upheld
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the conviction of Vishal and Vikas Yadav for murdering Nitish Katara in 2002. The court also upheld the conviction of Sukhdev Yadav, who assisted the two cousins in killing Katara. Katara, the son of a senior railway official, was killed because he was suspected to be in a relationship with Vikas' sister, Bharti. They are the children of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav. Confirming the convictions, Justices JS Khehar and AK Goel said that the murder had been "very well planned", adding that they would now decide the quantum of the sentence to be awarded to the three men.
Andhra Pradesh: Actor tweets against forcible land acquisition
Actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday appealed to the Andhra Pradesh government to stop acquiring land forcibly. In a tweet on Sunday, he urged the ruling Telugu Desam Party to review its policies as the government moves towards building a new state capital near Vijaywada. In March, the actor visited some villages in the area to ask them their views on the land-pooling scheme that is being implemented for the new city, which will be called Amaravati.
Jammu and Kashmir: Civilians targeted in Pakistan firing
Pakistan fire in the Balakote sector on Monday targeted civilian areas, in addition to the army's forward posts, officials said. "Pakistan has again started unprovoked firing at about 7 pm with mortar shells," said defence spokesperson Lt Colonel Manish Mehta. "The army is also retaliating in an equal manner." Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations had said on August 15 that one person had died and three were injured in Indian firing in the Kotli sector, across Poonch. According to analysts, the firing seems to be an attempt to derail the forthcoming National Security Advisor-level talks planned for August 23.
Andhra Pradesh: Two cops arrested for helping Huji actiists
Telangana police officials on Monday have arrested one Special Branch constable Basheer Ahmed and a Home Guard SK Saleem for allegedly helping four Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami activists to get passports using forged identity papers. They also arrested passport agent Ahsan Zia Ansari. At least six Special Branch constables who verify passport applicants and four officials who issue voter IDs and Aadhar cards are under the scanner.
