J&K: Hurriyat leader says Kashmiris love Pakistan
Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said on Sunday that Pakistan flags would "continue to be hoisted" in the Kashmir Valley, adding that "people here love Pakistan". The separatist leader said that the Pakistani flag had been flying in the region since 1947 and that the practice would continue. Geelani's comments came days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh warned of action against people displaying the Pakistan flag. Four people were recently arrested for hoisting the Pakistani flag at a rally in south Kashmir organised by a Hurriyat leader.
Andhra Pradesh: Ruling party MLA caught offering Rs 50 lakh bribe
Telegu Desam Party legislator A Revanth Reddy was arrested on Sunday for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to a nominated member of the assembly in connection with Monday's legislative council elections. The arrest took place on the basis of a recording of a conversation between Reddy and Elvis Stephenson, who represents the Anglo-Indian community in the assembly. An anti-corruption bureau official said a trap was laid for Reddy following a complaint by Stephenson. Reddy and three others arrived at Stephenson's house to hand over the Rs 50 lakh, which the anti-corruption official said was part of an overall deal of Rs 5 crore.
Kerala: Monsoon to hit coast by June 4
Even as scattered rain provided temporary relief to heatwave-hit Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Meteorological Department announced on Sunday that the southwest monsoon will hit the Kerala coast by June 4. An official attributed the monsoon's "sluggish" progress to an anticyclone in the Arabian Sea. The weather department had earlier predicted the onset of the monsoon for May 30. Though thunderstorms struck sections of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Sunday, the Met department predicted that temperatures here would hover around 45 degrees Celsius in the coming week.
Bihar: Swaraj Abhiiyan will 'intervene' in Bihar polls
Yogendra Yadav, former Aam Aadmi Party leader and current member of the recently-formed Swaraj Abhiyan, said on Sunday that the social movement would be involved in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections and may support political parties in the fray. Yadav said it was the movement's "duty to intervene positively" in the elections owing to what he called a lack of political options in the state. He said the intervention could be in the form of a manifesto, creating awareness about candidates or ensuring that the polls are free and fair.
Chhattisgarh: Rajnath urges Maoists to give up arms
Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday urged Maoists to give up violence and return to mainstream society. Singh, who on Sunday became the first home minister to visit the Maoist hotbed Sukma, said the rebels were intent on stopping development in the backward region but the government had taken vow to establish peace in the region. He appealed to tribals to give the Centre a chance to develop their areas, Singh said he was confident was that the Chhattisgarh government would secure the state from the Maoist threat and assured continued assistance from Centre for the same.
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Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said on Sunday that Pakistan flags would "continue to be hoisted" in the Kashmir Valley, adding that "people here love Pakistan". The separatist leader said that the Pakistani flag had been flying in the region since 1947 and that the practice would continue. Geelani's comments came days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh warned of action against people displaying the Pakistan flag. Four people were recently arrested for hoisting the Pakistani flag at a rally in south Kashmir organised by a Hurriyat leader.
Andhra Pradesh: Ruling party MLA caught offering Rs 50 lakh bribe
Telegu Desam Party legislator A Revanth Reddy was arrested on Sunday for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to a nominated member of the assembly in connection with Monday's legislative council elections. The arrest took place on the basis of a recording of a conversation between Reddy and Elvis Stephenson, who represents the Anglo-Indian community in the assembly. An anti-corruption bureau official said a trap was laid for Reddy following a complaint by Stephenson. Reddy and three others arrived at Stephenson's house to hand over the Rs 50 lakh, which the anti-corruption official said was part of an overall deal of Rs 5 crore.
Kerala: Monsoon to hit coast by June 4
Even as scattered rain provided temporary relief to heatwave-hit Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Meteorological Department announced on Sunday that the southwest monsoon will hit the Kerala coast by June 4. An official attributed the monsoon's "sluggish" progress to an anticyclone in the Arabian Sea. The weather department had earlier predicted the onset of the monsoon for May 30. Though thunderstorms struck sections of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Sunday, the Met department predicted that temperatures here would hover around 45 degrees Celsius in the coming week.
Bihar: Swaraj Abhiiyan will 'intervene' in Bihar polls
Yogendra Yadav, former Aam Aadmi Party leader and current member of the recently-formed Swaraj Abhiyan, said on Sunday that the social movement would be involved in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections and may support political parties in the fray. Yadav said it was the movement's "duty to intervene positively" in the elections owing to what he called a lack of political options in the state. He said the intervention could be in the form of a manifesto, creating awareness about candidates or ensuring that the polls are free and fair.
Chhattisgarh: Rajnath urges Maoists to give up arms
Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday urged Maoists to give up violence and return to mainstream society. Singh, who on Sunday became the first home minister to visit the Maoist hotbed Sukma, said the rebels were intent on stopping development in the backward region but the government had taken vow to establish peace in the region. He appealed to tribals to give the Centre a chance to develop their areas, Singh said he was confident was that the Chhattisgarh government would secure the state from the Maoist threat and assured continued assistance from Centre for the same.