Can’t take back chocolate from kid immediately: Sumitra Mahajan on SC/ST Act

Amid widespread anger, including calls of ‘Bharat bandh’, against the amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday said all political parties should get together to discuss the issue. A Bharat bandh was called Thursday by some anti-reservation bodies against the amendment to the Act last month. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha had, on August 6 and August 9 respectively, passed the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill to overturn a Supreme Court order concerning certain…

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There was no hurry to replace SP Vaid as DGP: Omar Abdullah

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah has criticised the timing of changing the state DGP, saying there was no hurry to replace S P Vaid and the state police could do without having to deal with the confusion of leadership. The state government removed Vaid as the DGP late Thursday night and handed the charge to DG Prisons Dilbagh Singh till a permanent appointment is made. “There was no hurry to replace @spvaid. He should have been changed only when a permanent arrangement had been worked out.…

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To handle critical work three more advisers on cards

Governor Satya Pal Malik is likely to appoint three more advisers to tune the administrative work in the state and infuse a greater sense of accountability, said highly placed sources. The sources said the Governor was keen to enhance contact with the people with the help of the advisers, Chief Secretary and other officials in the administration. It is felt that he needs more hands to handle the critical work of the administration and make it available and accessible to the public at all levels, they said. The sources said…

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Four years after deluge, Valley women still picking up pieces, Traders decry lack of rehab

Even four years after the floods hit the summer capital, the memory of devastation they caused is still fresh in minds of many residents, especially women, who have worked hard to pick up the pieces since then. Nasreen Bano, 45, who lives in Raj Bagh, one of the localities that was severely affected by September 2014 floods, has shifted along with her family to their new house just six months ago. “We were unaware about the danger the floods posed when water entered our house on September 7, 2014. We…

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Kashmir Tourism goes in for fresh marketing

As Kashmir tourism sector is on a revival path, the government and private stakeholders on Thursday embarked on a fresh countrywide promotional campaign. The tourism department will focus on wooing south Indian tourists in the first phase. “We will be making a presentation and have also set up a stall at the three-day 34th Indian Association of Tour Operators’ (IATO) Convention that started at Vishakapatnam on Thursday. We have started a fresh promotional campaign and we will go to all major cities across the country. However, we will concentrate on…

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PDP yet to take final call on local elections, but likely to go NC way

A day after the National Conference announced that it would boycott the upcoming panchayat elections, the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday decided to go for further consultations on the panchayat poll participation. The decision was taken by the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), the highest decision-making body of the party, after a meeting which was chaired by Mehbooba Mufti at her residence. Party insiders, however, said the PDP was likely to go the NCway. It was likely to announce the boycott in a day or two. A senior party leader said…

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J&K Police Chief SP Vaid removed post abductions of cops kin

Jammu and Kashmir director general of police (DGP) SP Vaid was removed from his post and appointed transport commissioner, a state government order issued late Thursday said. Dilbag Singh, currently director general, prisons, will be acting DGP, the order said. The removal of Vaid came two days after additional director general, CID, Abdul Gani Mir was replaced by B Srinivas, who had returned from central deputation. The reshuffle came as Centre and the new governor Satya Pal Malik were not happy over the spike in the incidents of militancy in…

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