Tripura: Insurgency 'largely contained', says government
The Tripura government on Wednesday lifted the Armed Forces Special Powers Act after 18 years. The law, imposed in so-called disturbed areas of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, had been in effect in the North Eastern state to curb armed insurgencies. State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that the decision had been taken after the council of ministers reviewed the situation in the affected areas of the state and found that the militant had by and large been contained. The law, which was widely criticised for allowing human rights violations to be covered up, had been imposed in the state in 1997 following rising violence by militants in the region.
Bihar: Lalu says conviction bars him from CM race
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday said he was not in the race for the chief minister’s post because of his conviction in the fodder scam in 2013. He said he would enter the race for the top post and “an even bigger posting” if his conviction was overturned. The former chief minister’s remarks come amid reports of a growing rift between the RJD and Janata Parivar ally Janata Dal (United), led by current chief minister Nitish Kumar, over the chief ministerial candidate for the election. Yadav also rejected suggestions that his wife Rabri Devi was in the running for chief minister.
Jammu and Kashmir: Shutdown in Jammu during Rajnath's visit
Union home minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Jammu city on Wednesday was met with a day-long bandh to protest the Centre's decision to shift the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences to Kashmir. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader was in the city to address a rally as part of the central government’s celebrations to mark its first year in power. The shutdown was called by an umbrella group representing 70 social, political, religious and business organisations. Supporters of the bandh held protests at several places in the city and shouted slogans against the BJP leader, whose party had dominated the Jammu region in the assembly elections held late last year.
Rajasthan: Gujjar demand for quota unlikely to be met
Even as Gujjars continued their agitation for a seventh day, the Rajasthan government on Wednesday said that it would not be able to meet the community’s demand for a 5% quota in government jobs. State health minister Rajendra Rathore cited “social harmony” as the reason for its reluctance to introduce changes to the reservation quotas currently in place. While Rathore expressed hope of further talks, Gujjar leaders expressed their disappointment over the government’s stand. Himmat Singh, spokesperson of Gujjar Arakshan Sangharh Samiti, said that members of its delegation would not vacate the Delhi-Mumbai railway tracks despite a court ordering them to do so earlier on Wednesday.
Uttarakhand: Ramdev's brother held
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's brother Ram Bharat was among several people arrested after a trucker was killed and four others injured following a clash between supporters of a truck union and security guards at a food park in Haridwar. Bharat manages the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, one of Ramdev's business ventures. A senior police officer said that there were reports of firing on the spot after a dispute between the Herbal Park’s management and the local truck union over assigning responsibility for transportation of goods. The officer said that the cause of the death of Daljeet Singh, a transporter, would only be known after the autopsy report was completed.
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The Tripura government on Wednesday lifted the Armed Forces Special Powers Act after 18 years. The law, imposed in so-called disturbed areas of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, had been in effect in the North Eastern state to curb armed insurgencies. State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that the decision had been taken after the council of ministers reviewed the situation in the affected areas of the state and found that the militant had by and large been contained. The law, which was widely criticised for allowing human rights violations to be covered up, had been imposed in the state in 1997 following rising violence by militants in the region.
Bihar: Lalu says conviction bars him from CM race
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday said he was not in the race for the chief minister’s post because of his conviction in the fodder scam in 2013. He said he would enter the race for the top post and “an even bigger posting” if his conviction was overturned. The former chief minister’s remarks come amid reports of a growing rift between the RJD and Janata Parivar ally Janata Dal (United), led by current chief minister Nitish Kumar, over the chief ministerial candidate for the election. Yadav also rejected suggestions that his wife Rabri Devi was in the running for chief minister.
Jammu and Kashmir: Shutdown in Jammu during Rajnath's visit
Union home minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Jammu city on Wednesday was met with a day-long bandh to protest the Centre's decision to shift the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences to Kashmir. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader was in the city to address a rally as part of the central government’s celebrations to mark its first year in power. The shutdown was called by an umbrella group representing 70 social, political, religious and business organisations. Supporters of the bandh held protests at several places in the city and shouted slogans against the BJP leader, whose party had dominated the Jammu region in the assembly elections held late last year.
Rajasthan: Gujjar demand for quota unlikely to be met
Even as Gujjars continued their agitation for a seventh day, the Rajasthan government on Wednesday said that it would not be able to meet the community’s demand for a 5% quota in government jobs. State health minister Rajendra Rathore cited “social harmony” as the reason for its reluctance to introduce changes to the reservation quotas currently in place. While Rathore expressed hope of further talks, Gujjar leaders expressed their disappointment over the government’s stand. Himmat Singh, spokesperson of Gujjar Arakshan Sangharh Samiti, said that members of its delegation would not vacate the Delhi-Mumbai railway tracks despite a court ordering them to do so earlier on Wednesday.
Uttarakhand: Ramdev's brother held
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's brother Ram Bharat was among several people arrested after a trucker was killed and four others injured following a clash between supporters of a truck union and security guards at a food park in Haridwar. Bharat manages the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, one of Ramdev's business ventures. A senior police officer said that there were reports of firing on the spot after a dispute between the Herbal Park’s management and the local truck union over assigning responsibility for transportation of goods. The officer said that the cause of the death of Daljeet Singh, a transporter, would only be known after the autopsy report was completed.
