The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages Sikh shrines, has banned photography and videography in the precincts of the Golden Temple.
It has put a notice board in the marbled periphery of the Sikh shrine, prohibiting devotees to click photos and make videos, an SGPC official said.
The decision was taken to avoid any “disturbance” to the spiritual atmosphere inside the Golden Temple, the official said.
Devotees take selfies with the Golden Temple in the background. A large number of devotees visit the Golden Temple daily, the holiest Sikh shrine, to pay obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum.
A high-level panel led by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan on Tuesday held its first meeting to decide on an appropriate size of reserves that the central bank should maintain and the dividend it should give to the government. The six-member panel is likely to submit its report in April, sources said.
The panel has been entrusted with the task of reviewing the best practices followed by central banks worldwide in making assessment and provisions for the risks which a central bank balance sheets are subject to.
The panel having former economic affairs secretary Rakesh Mohan as its vice chairman will propose a suitable profit distribution policy taking into account all the likely situations of RBI, including the situation of holding more provisions than required.
The government and RBI under previous governor Urjit Patel had been at loggerheads over the Rs 9.6 lakh crore surplus capital with the central bank.
The finance ministry was of the view that the buffer of 28 per cent of gross assets maintained by RBI is well above the global norms of around 14 per cent.
Following this, the RBI board in its meeting on November 19, 2018, decided to constitute a panel to examine Economic Capital Framework.
The committee also includes Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg and two members of RBI central board — Bharat Doshi and Sudhir Mankad, whereas
RBI Deputy Governor NS Vishwanathan is the sixth member of the committee.
The Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday that, as many as 183 civilians and 838 terrorists have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014.
Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said that since 2014 till December 31, 2018, there were 1,213 incidents involving terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. “In these incidents approximately 183 civilian lost their lives where as 838 terrorists were neutralised” he said replying a written question.
Ahir also said that, during this period, six other incidents involving terrorists were reported from the other parts of the country in which 112 civilian lost their lives and seven terrorists were neutralised.
Agitators clashed with the police, gheraoed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s house at his native place in Dibrugarh, blocked national highways and damaged vehicles in Assam during an 11-hour “bandh” called by the AASU to protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) activists clashed with the police when they attempted to ransack a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Dibrugarh, prompting the security forces to resort to lathicharge and fire rubber bullets to disperse the protestors.
Nobody was injured in the incident, the police said.
The AASU has called for a statewide “bandh” and it is being supported by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Assam on Monday.
Opposition Congress, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) are also supporting the bandh.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to those Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.
Normal life was hit in the Brahmaputra valley and was partially affected in the Barak valley due to a “north-east bandh” called separately by the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), an umbrella organisation of students’ bodies in the region, of which the AASU is a constituent.
The “bandh” called by the NESO on the same issue is being supported by over 100 organisations in Assam as well as in the other north-eastern states.
The agitators gheraoed Sonowal’s house in his home town, Dibrugarh, to register their protest against the bill. They raised slogans that the chief minister had no reason to continue on his post as he could not protect the interests of the people of the state.
The protesters blocked roads and national highways by burning tyres and smashed the windshields of trucks, cars and autorickshaws at many places, including in Guwahati, the police said.
The picketers squatted on the railway tracks at various places in Guwahati and Dibrugarh district, but the movement of trains, including that of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express and the Kolkata-bound Kamrup Express, resumed after the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel removed them from the tracks, railway sources said.
There was no movement of goods-laden trucks on all the national highways, following an economic blockade call issued by the KMSS, sources said.
Private and government vehicles plying on the national highways were being escorted by the police in convoys, they added.
Banners and posters at a BJP office were set ablaze in Golaghat, while a black flag was put up at another office of the saffron party in Lakhimpur district, the police said.
Shops, markets, banks and other financial institutions kept their shutters down, educational institutions, private offices remained closed and private vehicles including long-distance buses kept off the roads in the Brahmaputra valley, the police and official sources said.
The attendance was thin in government offices as the employees faced difficulty in reaching the workplace in the absence of adequate public transport, the sources said.
The “bandh” also evoked response in the Barak valley, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on January 4 that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would be passed in Parliament as soon as possible as a penance for past injustices.
Thirty ethnic organisations, besides 69 other groups along with the KMSS, have extended their support to the “bandh”.
AASU and NESO chief adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya told reporters, “If Meghalaya and Mizoram can adopt a cabinet resolution opposing the bill, why can’t Assam do the same?
“The people of Assam, for the last 70 years since Independence, have been forced by the Centre to agitate for their rights, language, existence, culture, heritage and infrastructure.”
Dipankar Nath, the president of AASU, which had led the six-year-long Assam Movement against illegal immigrants, said, “Despite wide opposition to it, the BJP government at the Centre has undemocratically imposed the bill on us as they want to win the (Lok Sabha) election by taking the votes of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.”
The “north-east bandh” called by the NESO is being enforced by its member organisations such as the Mizo Zirlai Pawal (MZP), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), the Garo Students’ Union (GSU), the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) and the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF).
The “bandh” has hit normal life in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, according to reports from these states.
The Government on Tuesday introduced in Lok Sabha amendments to the POCSO Act, which provides for death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children, making it gender neutral and introducing provisions against child pornography and for enhancing punishment for certain offences.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019, seeks to protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography and provide for establishment of Special Courts for trial of such offences.
The POCSO Amendment Bill, introduced by Minister of State in Ministry of Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar, also provides for stringent punishments for other crimes against those below 18 years of age.
“The said Act is gender neutral and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as matter of paramount importance at every stage so as to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child,” said the statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill.
The Sections 4, 5, 6 of the Act are proposed to be amended to provide the option of stringent punishment, including death penalty, for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a child.
The Act defines child as any person below the age of 18 years and the amendments are aimed at discouraging the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent.
Besides, Section 9 of the Act is being amended to protect children from sexual offences in times of natural calamities and disasters and in cases where children are administered any hormone or chemical substance to attain early sexual maturity for the purpose of penetrative sexual assault.
The Bill proposes a fine of not less than Rs 1,000 for not destroying or deleting or reporting the pornographic material involving a child. In case of subsequent offence, the fine would be not less than Rs 5,000 crore.
The offender can be further penalised with 3-year jail term or fine or both for transmitting, propagating, administrating such material.
“In the recent past incidences of child sexual abuse cases demonstrating the inhumane mind-set of the abusers who have been barbaric in their approach towards young victims is rising in the country. Children are becoming easy prey because of their tender age, physical vulnerabilities and inexperience of life and society,” the Bill said.
It said there is a strong need to take stringent measures to deter the rising trend of child sex abuse in the country.
The proposed amendments make provisions for enhancement of punishments for various offences so as to deter the perpetrators and ensure safety, security and dignified childhood for a child.
No one can save Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Rafale investigation and the entire nation will know “without a shadow of doubt” that he has taken Rs 30,000 crore of people’s money and given it to his “friend” Anil Ambani, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on a day the Supreme Court reinstated CBI Director Alok Verma.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said that the CBI chief was removed at 1 am as he was about to begin an investigation into the Rafale jet agreement and Prime Minister Modi and his government cannot run away from a probe into the deal.
“The CBI chief was ousted at 1 am in the night because he was about to begin a probe into the Rafale deal. The CBI chief has been reinstated and we have got some relief. Now let’s see what happens,” he told reporters.
“They cannot run away from Rafale, it is impossible. Modi ji ran away from a debate. He should have discussed with us the Rafale issue, in the people’s court. No one can save them from Rafale, as Rafale is the truth. No one can run away from the truth,” he said.
His remarks come after the Supreme Court reinstated CBI Director Verma, setting aside the Centre’s decision on October 23 to divest him of his powers. The top court, however, restrained verma from taking any major policy decision till the CVC probe into corruption charges against him is over.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the green tribunal’s order of setting aside the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to close Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin.
A bench, headed by Justice R.F. Nariman, sought response from Vedanta on the state government’s appeal against the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT’s) order to reopen the plant.
The state had moved to the top court, saying that the NGT has erroneously set aside various orders regarding Sterlite plant which were passed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) last year. It had said that the tribunal had consequentially directed the TNPCB to pass afresh orders of renewal of consent and issue authorisation to handle hazardous substances to the Vedanta Limited.
On December 15, the NGT had set aside the state government’s order for closure of the Sterlite copper plant, saying that it was “non sustainable” and “unjustified”.
Sony is all set to bring out a sequel of the the 2018 science-ficton thriller “Venom”.
As The Hollywood Reporter reported, Kelly Marcel, the writer of the original film, is penning the sequel while its plot details remain undisclosed.
The first film had Eddie Brock, a journalist who “follows people who don’t want to be followed”, attempts to pull down Carlton Drake, the notoriously brilliant founder of “Life Foundation”. While investigating one of Drake’s projects, Eddie comes into contact with an alien venom that shares his body and in return gives him superpowers.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film is based on the famous Marvel character. The cast list of the 2018 movie included Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Woody Harrelson and Jenny Slate.
The fans were treated to the Marvel feature in October last year. While the reviews were disappointing, the film ended up with a pretty decent box office collection of $855 million globally.
BSP chief Mayawati said on Tuesday that the Union Cabinet’s decision to give a 10% reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to the economically backward general section was an election stunt and political gimmick for upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, she said that her party welcomes the immature move by the government. “It would have been better if the BJP party had taken the decision much earlier, while, now it’s evident that the party is on its way out,” she added.
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the quota for economically weaker sections. The move came as the upper castes, a staunch support base of the BJP, have shown signs of drifting away from the ruling party ahead of Lok Sabha polls which is likely to be held in April-May.
Mayawati said her party has demanded reservation for economically weak Muslims and other minority communities but BJP did not do “justice” to them and that is condemnable. Her reaction came a day after other opposition parties too questioned the timing of the Cabinet decision. But they have also extended support, reflecting the decision’s political significance whereas the BJP has termed the government decision “historic”.
“The party had written a letter in this regard to the government but Centre took a narrow and communal stand and provided the benefit to only a particular section (upper caste), which is injustice for other sections,” Said Mayawati.
“In reality, there should be review of reservation provided to SC/ST and OBC and these sections should be provided reservation as per their population by increasing their quota by amending the Constitution,” Mayawati said, demanding the implementation of quota in promotions.
The Union government is likely to bring a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament to provide the quota over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation.
Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be amended for implementation of the decision. The benefit of the reservation, when implemented, is likely to be availed by those whose annual income is below Rs eight lakh and have up to five acres of land.
The hit medical series – “Grey’s Anatomy” has bagged three extra additional episodes as ABC has ordered, bringing the total count up to 25.
The show, fronted by Ellen Pompeo, currently ranks as No 1 series in the network from the 2018-19 broadcast season.The showrunner of the series created by Shonda Rhimes is Krista Vernoff.
As the Hollywood Reporter reported, this certain development has the series closing in to become the longest-running primetime medical drama on television ever.
Pompeo, now earning $575,000 per episode, inked a new two-year contract with the ABC Studios for seasons 15 and the potential 16 instalment of the show last January. The deal also gives her a producer tag on the long-running medical drama, along with a co-executive producer credit on its upcoming spin-off.
“Grey’s Anatomy” returns for the second half of season 15 on January 17.
A high-level panel led by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan on Tuesday held its first meeting to decide on an appropriate size of reserves that the central bank should maintain and the dividend it should give to the government. The six-member panel is likely to submit its report in April, sources said.
The Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday that, as many as 183 civilians and 838 terrorists have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014.
The Government on Tuesday introduced in Lok Sabha amendments to the POCSO Act, which provides for death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children, making it gender neutral and introducing provisions against child pornography and for enhancing punishment for certain offences.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the green tribunal’s order of setting aside the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to close Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin.
BSP chief Mayawati said on Tuesday that the Union Cabinet’s decision to give a 10% reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to the economically backward general section was an election stunt and political gimmick for upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, she said that her party welcomes the immature move by the government. “It would have been better if the BJP party had taken the decision much earlier, while, now it’s evident that the party is on its way out,” she added.