Derailment injures 150, Railway Minister calls for inquiry
At least 38 people were killed and more than 150 injured when the engine and two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janta Express derailed at near the Bachrawan railway station in the Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu called for an inquiry into the mishap, which took place 50-km away from Lucknow. While the cause of derailment is yet to be verified, railway officials stated that the train may have suffered a brake failure, which led to it overshooting a signal before coming off the track. Most of the casualties were said to be from the General compartments of the train. Injured passengers were rushed to a district hospital. The Railways, meanwhile, announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, as well as Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured and Rs 20,000 for passengers with minor injuries.
SPG probing security breach during Modi’s Jaffna visit
The Special Protection Group began its investigation of a security breach that took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jaffna in Sri Lanka. The breach took place when a local youth came in close proximity to Modi during his visit to the war-ravaged Northern region of the island nation on March 14. The incident occurred as Modi was boarding his car after handing possession certificates for houses to beneficiaries in the village of Ilavalai in the region. The youth was searched by officials of the SPG and handed over to Sri Lankan police after the breach took place. However, the man later said that he had wanted to simply shake hands with the Indian Prime Minister. The probe is being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Officer with help from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Research and Analysis Wing.
Lakhvi to remain in jail as court rejects plea against detention
The Lahore High Court in Pakistan on Friday dismissed a plea by Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi against his second detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Act. Lakhvi, accused of masterminding terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, will continue to stay in jail at least until April. The Lashkar-e-Taiba commander had filed a petition against the Punjab Home Department’s order to detain him under the Act, a day after an Islamabad court had ruled his first detention under the same Act void and ordered his immediate release. India had reacted strongly to the decision, saying that the evidence of his role in the Mumbai attacks had not been properly presented. Lakhvi had been arrested for his role in the attacks in November 2009.
Coal Mining Bill passed in Rajya Sabha
The Union Government on Friday succeeded in its efforts to pass the Coal Mining Bill in the Rajya Sabha. While the Congress and the Left bloc opposed the passage of the bills during voting, legislators of the Janata Dal (United) staged a walkout, enabling the Government to win the vote through the support of parties such as the Trinamool Congress, the Biju Janata Dal and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Multiple states in the country have seen a significant drop in revenues generated from the mining of coal and minerals due to orders passed by various courts. The new coal law, which amends an existing piece of legislation from 1973, allows the government to grant private companies the right to mine coal and sell it in the open market, in competition with state-run companies.
Putin calls for currency union with ex-Soviet allies
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called for a single currency union with allies of the ex-Soviet Union. “We think the time has come to discuss opportunities to form a potential currency union,” said Putin at a meeting with his counterparts from Kazakhstan and Belarus. He urged for closer financial integration between the three countries and other allies such as Armenia. However, Western nations slammed the call, saying that it was an attempt by Moscow to revive to Soviet Union. Russia’s currency, the Ruble, has seen a drastic decline in its value following economic sanctions imposed by Western nations, including the European Union and the United States. The sanctions were imposed for Russia’s alleged backing of separatist rebels in Eastern Ukraine.
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At least 38 people were killed and more than 150 injured when the engine and two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janta Express derailed at near the Bachrawan railway station in the Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu called for an inquiry into the mishap, which took place 50-km away from Lucknow. While the cause of derailment is yet to be verified, railway officials stated that the train may have suffered a brake failure, which led to it overshooting a signal before coming off the track. Most of the casualties were said to be from the General compartments of the train. Injured passengers were rushed to a district hospital. The Railways, meanwhile, announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, as well as Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured and Rs 20,000 for passengers with minor injuries.
SPG probing security breach during Modi’s Jaffna visit
The Special Protection Group began its investigation of a security breach that took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jaffna in Sri Lanka. The breach took place when a local youth came in close proximity to Modi during his visit to the war-ravaged Northern region of the island nation on March 14. The incident occurred as Modi was boarding his car after handing possession certificates for houses to beneficiaries in the village of Ilavalai in the region. The youth was searched by officials of the SPG and handed over to Sri Lankan police after the breach took place. However, the man later said that he had wanted to simply shake hands with the Indian Prime Minister. The probe is being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Officer with help from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Research and Analysis Wing.
Lakhvi to remain in jail as court rejects plea against detention
The Lahore High Court in Pakistan on Friday dismissed a plea by Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi against his second detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Act. Lakhvi, accused of masterminding terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, will continue to stay in jail at least until April. The Lashkar-e-Taiba commander had filed a petition against the Punjab Home Department’s order to detain him under the Act, a day after an Islamabad court had ruled his first detention under the same Act void and ordered his immediate release. India had reacted strongly to the decision, saying that the evidence of his role in the Mumbai attacks had not been properly presented. Lakhvi had been arrested for his role in the attacks in November 2009.
Coal Mining Bill passed in Rajya Sabha
The Union Government on Friday succeeded in its efforts to pass the Coal Mining Bill in the Rajya Sabha. While the Congress and the Left bloc opposed the passage of the bills during voting, legislators of the Janata Dal (United) staged a walkout, enabling the Government to win the vote through the support of parties such as the Trinamool Congress, the Biju Janata Dal and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Multiple states in the country have seen a significant drop in revenues generated from the mining of coal and minerals due to orders passed by various courts. The new coal law, which amends an existing piece of legislation from 1973, allows the government to grant private companies the right to mine coal and sell it in the open market, in competition with state-run companies.
Putin calls for currency union with ex-Soviet allies
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called for a single currency union with allies of the ex-Soviet Union. “We think the time has come to discuss opportunities to form a potential currency union,” said Putin at a meeting with his counterparts from Kazakhstan and Belarus. He urged for closer financial integration between the three countries and other allies such as Armenia. However, Western nations slammed the call, saying that it was an attempt by Moscow to revive to Soviet Union. Russia’s currency, the Ruble, has seen a drastic decline in its value following economic sanctions imposed by Western nations, including the European Union and the United States. The sanctions were imposed for Russia’s alleged backing of separatist rebels in Eastern Ukraine.
