-
-
Temple leader quits over beating scandal
The president of a Hare Krishna temple in Letchmore Heath has been forced to resign after being found guilty of beating students in India.
Gauri Das, president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hilfield Lane, inflicted "inappropriate and excessive corporal punishment", according to a report published this week.
The abuse occurred during his time teaching at the Vrndavana Gurukula school between 1991 and 2001.
A Bhaktivedanta Manor representative said: "We regret that Gauri Das will not be able to continue as an officer of our temple, but we also recognise the important need of the child protection office to acknowledge problems in the care of children in the past, and to address those issues.
"We are pleased Gauri Das has indicated he would like to meet with the former students in the hope of further reconciliation."
Filip Hnizdo The president of a Hare Krishna temple in Letchmore Heath has been forced to resign after being found guilty of beating students in In... more -
The Running of the Nerds
The end of July may mean nothing to some besides the upcoming start of August and the impending return to school, but for nerds, geeks, and gamers eveywhere it means Comicon!
Comicon was first held in 1970 at the US Grant Hotel but has greatly expanded since its debut. It has moved from hotel to hotel but is now set to remain in the San Diego Convetion Center until 2012.
Comicon is used to promote film, video games, TV series, and of course, comic books and fantasy novels. While others have approved of this expansion, others say that the convention has become too Hollywood influenced.
G4TV.com is not the only channel covering ComiCon. Reelz, a channel dedicated toward movies, is also covering the convention on their daily news update show called Dailies. The end of July may mean nothing to some besides the upcoming start of August and the impending return to school, but for nerds, geeks... more -
BIG 92.7 FM: In search of the coolest fresher
BIG 92.7 FM will be organising a contest for the freshers joining the college this year. They are on a look out for the coolest fresher male and female at the Delhi University. The contest is aimed to attract more number of youth through the channel.
In its endeavor to further cement the clear leadership that it enjoys amongst the youth of Delhi as the radio station of choice, BIG 92.7 FM, India’s first and Delhi’s only 100 chartbuster station, brings an innovative ‘Coolest Fresher of Campus’ contest. The contest has been conceptualised as a means to capture the excitement in colleges with the entry of a new batch of students. The ‘fresher’ contest intends to create and provide a platform for all the freshers in colleges to showcase their talent to become the coolest fresher.
The ‘Coolest Fresher’ contest will commence on July 25 in colleges primarily in Delhi’s North and South Campuses. BIG’s evening jock – Radio Jockey (RJ) Nitin who hosts ‘Chal Kat Le’ will visit colleges and screen participants through various interesting rounds like talent, IQ and also to conduct various screening in each college. RJs will also visit the college campuses in a BIG float and conduct the screening on the same along with live links. The call for entries will commence from July 25 and will continue till August 1,2008.
The initial rounds will have in all 60 students short-listed based on the best performances. Further, six contestants will be shortlisted by BIG RJs and further the numbers will be brought down to six through sms votes. A mix of on-ground’ on-air and web based contests will result in the selection of the ‘Coolest Male and Female Fresher’ of Delhi University. It can’t get bigger than this, winners a boy and a girl will get co-RJing opportunity and many more grand prizes. The contest will have three phases of screening starting with the call for entries from July 25 to August 1, to voting sms August 2 – 8 , with a grand culmination by celebrity judges announcing the winner. BIG 92.7 FM will be organising a contest for the freshers joining the college this year. They are on a look out for the coolest freshe... more -
Recycled plastics for roads in Himalayan region
Recycled plastic wastes can be used in constructing roads. The Himalayan Development Society suggests the Government to encourage its use in building roads in the Himalayan region as plastic wastes abound the mountains and river banks.
Looking at the mess caused by plastic usage in the Himalayan region, we shall treat it as source of raw material. The Government should provide special provision and encourage use of recycled plastics in building roads in Himalayan towns and cities.
Government of Karnataka in association with KK Waste Management Ltd, has already been building plastic roads. Its time to promote it vigorously in the Himalayan region.
Utilisation of waste plastic for road construction
Disposal of waste materials, including waste plastic bags is a menace and has become a serious problem, specially in urban areas in terms of its misuse, its dumping in the dustbins, clogging of drains, reduced soil fertility and aesthetic problem etc. Waste plastics are also burnt for apparent disposal, causing environmental pollution.
The laboratory studies conducted by Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) in utilisation of waste plastic bags in bituminous concrete mixes have proved that these enhance the properties of mix in addition to solving disposal problems. The results indicated that there was an improvement in strength properties when compared to a conventional mix. Therefore, the life of pavement surfacing, using the waste plastic is expected to increase substantially in comparison to the use of conventional bituminous mix.
There are two different processes, namely dry and wet process, to incorporate waste plastic bags into the bituminous mixes. The performance test proved that the fatigue life was doubled and increased resistance to rutting and water damages when plastic waste was used. Field trials have been carried out using dry process i.e. by mixing the appropriate quantity of dry shredded plastic bags with hot aggregate prior to production of bituminous mixes at hot mix plant. Recycled plastic wastes can be used in constructing roads. The Himalayan Development Society suggests the Government to encourage its ... more -
H.T. Sangliana’s office attacked
Bangalore, Jul 24 : Around 60 workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday staged a protest against cross-voting by Bangalore North MP H.T. Sangliana. They later went to his office on Ali Askar Road and attacked it. The party workers reportedly damaged a board and broke a window pane.
Shankar Bidari, Commissioner of Police, said that Mr. Sangliana had contacted him early Tuesday and sought protection for his office and residence. Accordingly, police pickets were posted near his office and residence at Koramangala National Games Village. When party workers tried to barge into the office, an official prevented them from entering. However, three or four persons sneaked into the compound and tried to kick open the door, but were stopped by the police. A case has been registered in this regard at the Cubbon Park Police Station. Bangalore, Jul 24 : Around 60 workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday staged a protest against cross-voting by Bangalore ... more -
Getting To Know Shillong Lajong FC
“Football is to the people of North east what cricket is to the rest of India”. This itself says so much about the region which has given us so many great footballers in the past, and continues to produce many more on a regular basis.
The biggest club in the region, Lajong SC, is now finally pushing for representation of the region nationally, through a spot in the National 2nd division. Goal.com spoke to the General Secretary of the famous Shillong club, Mr. Larsing Ming Sawyan, who was kind enough to discuss all things ‘Lajong’ with us.
1) So how did Lajong SC come about into existence?
Well, the club was formed 25 years ago, after a group of friends got together and decided to do something for football in the North-east. Lajong, which means “Our own”, was created with the initial vision to become the biggest club in the north-eastern region of India. We have applied for a change in name, which will rechristen us as “Shillong Lajong Football Club”, and push us on to the national front.
2) You tell us that Lajong is the only privately funded club in the North-east. Where does the club get its main funding from?
The club’s founding and current President, Mr. P.D.Sawyan, who is also an entrepreneur, has been funding the club ever since its birth in 1983 through his business group, Center Point Group Enterprise. However, this year we have reached an agreement with the largest mobile service provider in the north-east, Aircel, who will also be sponsoring us from now on. “Football is to the people of North east what cricket is to the rest of India”. This itself says so much about the region which has gi... more -
Pakistan warns of nuclear arms race.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they were created in the y partition of the Indian subcontinent at independence from Britain in 1947.
Pakistan has warned that a deal leading to increased Indian access to nuclear fuel could accelerate the atomic arms race between the rivals, according to a letter obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
The letter addressed to more than 60 nations comes less than two weeks before the 35-nation International Atomic Energy Agency board is expected to approve a so-called safeguards agreement setting up rules for inspecting some of India's civilian nuclear facilities.
Relations have improved considerably since the start of a peace process in 2004. But progress at the talks has been slow and deep distrust remains between the two rivals, which developed their nuclear arms in secret.
The Bush administration has signed a deal to supply India with nuclear fuel but needs approval, first from the Nuclear Suppliers Group and then the U.S. Congress.
Pakistan is vehemently opposed to the Nuclear Suppliers Group doing business with its rival and may vote against approval of the draft at the August 1 board meeting. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they were created in the y partition of the Indian subcontinent at independence f... more -
Another elephant run over by train
JALPAIGURI: Within a week of three elephants being poisoned to death inside Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, an elephant calf was run over by a train in the same forest on Tuesday morning.
The incident took place in the Gulma range area of the sanctuary. The Guwahati-Jhaja Express ran over the seven-year-old calf around 3 am.
P T Bhutia, conservator of Forest (northern circle), Wildlife, will probe the death. The forest department will take action only after receiving his report.
Principal chief conservator of forest S S Bisht, who was in Delhi to attend a meeting, said he would inform the Union environment ministry about the matter.
"We had earlier asked the Centre to intervene. The ministry has already sent a note to the Railway Board. I will again raise the issue before them," Bisht said from Delhi.
The stretch where the calf was run over on Tuesday has seen many jumbo deaths over the years. On an average, as many as four elephants die in this area every year.
The tracks pass through the Mahananda, Chapramari and Jaldapara sanctuaries and the Buxa Tiger Reserve. It cuts across the elephant corridor that stretches from north Bengal and Sankosh in Assam to Mechi in Nepal.
Till 2001, the tracks were metre gauge. The railways then converted it to broad gauge despite vehement protests from environmental organizations.
A PIL was filed in Calcutta High Court, following which a special inspection team - in accordance with a court order - instructed the railways to maintain a slow speed through this area. But the instruction does not seem to have been followed.
With the latest pachyderm death, the number of elephant casualties over the past year has climbed to seven.
There is a parallel railway track bypassing the forest, but several appeals to direct goods trains through that track have fallen on deaf ears.
JALPAIGURI: Within a week of three elephants being poisoned to death inside Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, an elephant calf was run ov... more -
Physician chosen as Nepal's first president
Decision comes just months after centuries-old monarchy was abolished
Nepal's governing assembly on Monday elected the new republic's first president since it abolished the centuries-old monarchy in May, state-run television said.
Nepal Television said Constituent Assembly members elected Ram Baran Yadav, a physician from the Madheshi ethnic community in southern Nepal, which has been campaigning for greater rights and more say in the administration.
State-run television said an official announcement was expected later in the evening by assembly chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung. Yadav, of the Nepali Congress party, received more than half the votes in the 594-seat assembly that was required to win.
Yadav had the backing of his party, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and Madhesi People's Rights Forum — the second, third and fourth largest parties.
Yadav has served twice as the health ministry and elected twice in parliament elections. He has held senior positions in his Nepali Congress party.
Yadav had secured the most votes in initial voting for president on Saturday, but voting went to a second round because none of the three candidates were able to secure the required majority.
His closest opponent, Ramraja Singh, was backed by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), former communist rebels who have emerged as the largest political party in Nepal.
The Maoists won the most seats in the Constituent Assembly in April elections. Since the dissolution of the monarchy, the assembly has been unable to form a new government because the main parties have bickered over forming a ruling coalition.
The president will swear in the new prime minister, who will run the executive branch. Decision comes just months after centuries-old monarchy was abolished ... more -
Storico accordo fra India e USA sul nucleare
Mentre noi stiamo qui belli belli a giocare con libri e computer è passata, anche se per pochissimi voti, la fiducia al governo di Manmohan Singh.
E' scongiurato così il pericolo delle elezioni anticipate e passa l’intesa India-Usa sul nucleare civile. Il voto di fiducia era stato chiesto dall'opposizione di sinistra, e in particolare dal partito comunista, che si era espresso contro. Come si vede nella foto è Bush che si è spostato per firmare l'accordo e non il presidente indiano, e questo in termini diplomatici indica che Bush ne ha riconosciuto l'importanza strategica anche per gli USA.
Il problema della grande crescita economica dell'India è proprio la carenza di risorse energetiche ma ora può importare la tecnologia occidentale per i suoi reattori. Washington ha fatto concessioni notevoli all’India, che dovrà solo sottoporre i suoi impianti civili alle ispezioni dell’agenzia internazionale per l’energia atomica, ma conserverà il segreto sul programma nucleare militare.
In cambio l’America spera di ottenere degli accordi particolari in materia economica e politica con l'India per contrastare la potenza che sembra far paura a tutti, Oriente e Occidente: la Cina.
Così sullo scacchiere politico internazionale c'è un gigante, la Cina, con la quale tutti stanno cominciando a fare i conti, gli Stati Uniti che sanno di perdere il primato economico e l'India che, in pratica, sta diventando uno stato allineato.
Mentre noi stiamo qui belli belli a giocare con libri e computer è passata, anche se per pochissimi voti, la fiducia al governo di Man... more -
Rakhi - Biggest Traditional Festival in India
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) is a traditional Indian festival in which sisters tie a sacred thread of protection around their brother’s wrists. By accepting a thread from his sister, the brother is bound to protect his sister from harm.
The sanctity of the thread that the sister ties to a brother’s hand makes the relationship glow with noble thoughts and blessings of love, devotion and duty of the brother towards his sister.
People in India celebrate this festival on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana. The frail rakhi thread is considered stronger than iron chains in India as it binds brothers and sisters in a bond of everlasting trust and love. Sisters apply ‘tikka’ on their brothers’ foreheads and brothers reciprocate by giving them gifts and tokens of cash.
In turn, sisters buy gifts and sweets for their brothers. The meaning of this festival has expanded, so those who do not have brothers tie rakhis to others and initiate a new brother-sister relationship that usually continues for a lifetime.
This festival also has an important social significance, because it underlines the notion that every one in society should live in harmonious coexistence with each other as brothers and sisters in society. The best way forward towards attaining this social goal is to initiate a lifetime bond that makes men and women, young and old alike with pious feelings towards each other.
The aim of Rakhi is to achieve a harmonious coexistence for everyone and removal of social strains. Simultaneously, it strives to cultivate noble thoughts in society and imbibe feelings of brotherly as well as sisterly love for members of society.
The festival is rooted deeply in the psyche of every Indian since the past. Legend says that Rajput and Maratha queens have send rakhis even to Mughal kings who despite their personal differences, rose to protect them from harm.
Another story has it that Lord Indra - the ruler of the heavenly realm, was almost on the verge of losing a long drawn battle against the demons. Indira’s wife came forward to help her husband and tied a talisman on his wrist. This helped Lord Indira win the war against the demons.
Yet another legend has it that Lord Yama, the God of death had a sister Yamuna. On every “Shravan Purnima”, she would tie a rakhi on her brother’s wrist. Since then it became customary for sisters to tie a rakhi on their brother’s wrist.
There are a lot of rakhis available in the market encompassing both traditional and modern themes. These include thread rakhis, moti (pearl) rakhis, silver rakhis, silver coin rakhis and more. There are rakhis even for children such as chocolate rakhis, Superman, Batman, Pokemon, Krish, Mikey mouse rakhis, and so on.
On this day, brothers and sisters send cards and gifts to each other. Traditional gifts mark the occasion. These gifts include rakhi baskets with ethnic stuff, fashion jewellery, gift hampers, ethnic dresses like sarees, kurtis, Punjabi suits, dresses and dress material, traditional puja thalis, Indian Sweets like Kaju Katli, barfi, pendas, boondi laddoos and such, dry fruits such as cashew nuts, raisins, almonds, pistachios, and such.
Other gifts include apparels, watches, perfumes, etc other due to the influence of the present day modern culture. On this occasion, brothers also give a token of money as appreciation for their sisters. Sisters also purchase return gifts for their brothers, which includes men’s items such as perfumes, kerchiefs, sunglasses, watches, mobiles, shirts, trousers, wallets, belts, apparels, electronic items, and such.
Rakhi Festival 2008 Celebration - Infibeam.com launches india's largest online rakhi and gifts collection - http://www.infibeam.com/rakhi-gifts
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) is a traditional Indian festival in which sisters tie a sacred thread of protection around their brother’s wris... more -
In India, Cheap Car Will Challenge Two-Wheelers
It is billed as the world's cheapest car — and the world is eager for it to hit the streets of India.
-
India's Nuclear Brinksmanship
Even in the cacophony of Indian politics, there is one thing that everyone seems to agree on: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has absolute faith in his country's controversial civilian nuclear deal with the U.S. So unshakable is his commitment to the agreement, which would give India access to U.S. technology to help slake India's soaring demand for electricity, that Singh has bet his political future on it. "It's completely personal for him," says Prem Shankar Jha, a columnist for New Delhi's Outlook magazine. "The Prime Minister is determined to do this."
On July 22, Singh will find out whether his gamble has paid off — or if it has cost him his four-year-old administration. That's the date when Singh's centrist Congress Party faces a vote of confidence on the floor of Parliament, a vote brought about by the recent exit from Singh's coalition government of the country's two main leftist parties, which bolted in protest over the nuclear deal. Even if Singh manages to rally enough supporters to retain a majority and stay in office, there could be lasting fallout. In parliamentary elections expected to be held early next year, Singh's Congress Party colleagues could find themselves targeted by an angry electorate for putting so much effort into foreign policy while India's citizens face an economic slowdown and the worst inflation the country has seen in 13 years.
The agreement that has caused so much turmoil in Indian politics — and so much trouble for Singh — is a version of a pact that the U.S. has signed with more than a dozen other nations. It would open up nuclear-materials trade between the U.S. and India, with the proviso that some of India's nuclear reactors be open to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. That's a big concession for India, which withstood international sanctions and withering criticism after its 1998 nuclear weapons tests and has chafed ever since at the idea of submitting its nuclear program to any outside review. But the country needs clean energy, and signing the agreement would be a first step toward joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) — the club of 45 nations committed to both nuclear energy and nonproliferation. With U.S. backing, the NSG may allow India to join even though the country has not signed the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Even in the cacophony of Indian politics, there is one thing that everyone seems to agree on: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has absolu... more -
Go green: Save the trees
WE, THE inhabitants of earth, have reached that stage where we need to redesign and reconsider our lifestyles for further survival on this planet. If we want the generations to look forward to a healthy and green earth, then we really have to change ourselves at the earliest.
No denying the fact that the forest cover of the whole world has drastically depleted over a period of time owing to the human needs and activities. One contributing factor towards this is the paper industry.
I’m putting forward some of the facts regarding paper:
Worldwide more than 300 million metric tons of paper and paperboard is produced every year.
Of the total global wood harvest for industrial use. 42 per cent goes into paper making and it is expected to reach 50 per cent in the next fifty years.
In our country we have about 600 paper mills producing different varieties of paper.
On an average each one of us uses 700 pounds of paper products every year.
For the production of paper special kind of tree plantations are made called as the managed timberlands.
These managed timberlands comprises of the special kind of trees, which are required for the pulp and paper manufacturing like the softwood tress (pine, fir etc). It means the diverse natural forests have been replaced by these managed plantations (like fast growing conifers), which has a direct impact on the biodiversity of the whole forest.
Designing of the managed timberlands for pulp generation means the loss of valuable wildlife habitats, poor soil quality and ecosystem. They have 90 per cent fewer species than the natural forests.
The managed timberlands often use chemical herbicides and pesticides in order to ensure fast production rates, causing acute environmental pollution.
Paper can be made from a variety of other materials like cotton, hemp, grass and even elephant dung but unfortunately in most parts of the world it is made by sacrificing the trees only.
Paper products are the largest ingredients at a waste disposal sites.
Pulp and paper production industry is the third largest producer of air and water pollutants, waste products and the gases responsible for climatic changes (green house gases).
Pulp and paper production is the largest industrial consumer of energy, water and forest resources.
Huge water consumption involved in paper making process can lead to reduced water levels, required for fish and other aquatic flora and fauna along with alterations in the water temperature.
Air discharges of the pulp industry include certain hormone disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals like the polyclinic aromatic hydrocarbons.
About one fifth of the contents of household dustbins consist of paper and card, of which half is newspapers and magazines.
Industrial nations with 20 per cent of the world's population consume 87 per cent of the world's writing and printing papers. WE, THE inhabitants of earth, have reached that stage where we need to redesign and reconsider our lifestyles for further survival on ... more -
Soldiers killed in Kashmir blast
At least nine soldiers have been killed in an explosion triggered by suspected separatist militants, police in Indian-administered Kashmir said.
More than 20 others were hurt when a bus carrying the troops was caught in the blast in the Narbal area, close to the provincial capital, Srinagar.
Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
Police said the soldiers were on leave and returning home. No group has said it carried out the attack.
The latest incident comes a day after senior officials from India and Pakistan held talks to step up confidence-building measures in the disputed region. At least nine soldiers have been killed in an explosion triggered by suspected separatist militants, police in Indian-administered Kas... more -
Soldiers killed in Kashmir blast
At least nine soldiers have been killed in an explosion triggered by suspected separatist militants, police in Indian-administered Kashmir said.
At least nine soldiers have been killed in an explosion triggered by suspected separatist militants, police in Indian-administered Kas... more -
Stink record: Indians lead in defecating in open
New Delhi, Jul 19 : Around 1.2 billion people worldwide have no access to toilets and India tops the list of countries with the most number of people defecating in the open, at 665 million—about half its population, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.
According to a report jointly conducted by WHO and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), the next three most offending countries are Indonesia, Ethiopia and Pakistan.
While 66 million people in Indonesia have no access to toilets, in Ethiopia it is 52 million and 50 million in Pakistan. In China, a whopping 32 million people don’t have access to toilets.
In Nigeria, 29 million people use the open spaces while 18 million each in Brazil and Bangladesh do so.
Most of the 1.2 billion defecting in the open - 83 percent - are from 13 countries, especially Asia and Africa.
Both global health watch dogs have said that it’s the “riskiest sanitary practice of all” in its report released on the International Year for Sanitation (2008). New Delhi, Jul 19 : Around 1.2 billion people worldwide have no access to toilets and India tops the list of countries with the most n... more -
thelastdance
Working to make this the
Last "Dance"
of
Pain
for these Bears !
Under the law, the Indian sloth bear is entitled to the
same protection as the tiger. Yet crimes against it are
committed openly across India as bears are made to dance
for our entertainment. By venturing on an undercover
anti-poaching operation and witnessing the surrender of
dancing bear, The Last Dance shows how this crime can be
brought to an end.
http://wildlifesos.org/
The Last Dance
Ashima.narain@gmail.com
For more information on Sloth Bear Rescue and
Rehabilitation please visit
www.wildlifesos.org or call +91-9871963535/ +91 - 11 -
24621939 / +91 - 11 - 24644231
For Information on The Last Dance email
Ashima.narain@gmail.com
*For more information on 'Dancing Bears' please visit these pages:
VIDEO of Dancing Bear Cruelty - REUTERS
http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=57...
World Society for the Protection of Animals - Bear Baiting
http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/391_bear_baiting.cfm
World Society for the Protection of Animals
http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/24_wildlife.cfm
AAF
http://www.animalsasia.org/
"Can you bear it?"
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/2008/01/31/120171412...
More Bear Welfare Information:
Bears-News
http://www.bears-news.com/
MoonBears.org - A global coalition campaigning to save Korea's Moon Bears.
http://www.moonbears.org/
nformation on Japan's 'Bear Parks' & a petition - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/420824836/ins...
Andean Bear Conservation Project - Home
http://www.andeanbear.org/ Working to make this the Last "Dance" of Pain ... more -
Desperate to divorce: man takes impersonator to court to divorce wife
An Indian man who took an impersonator to court to get a divorce faces legal action after his real wife found out, lawyers said on Friday.
Sanjib Saha presented a woman as his wife in a lower court in the eastern city of Kolkata this month. Both said they sought a mutual divorce, something the court granted immediately.
Saha's real wife was then asked to leave the marital home. She has since appealed the ruling at a higher court, charged her husband with cheating and the original divorce was suspended.
"The case exposed the legal loopholes in our system," Kaushik Chanda, lawyer of Saha's real wife, said. An Indian man who took an impersonator to court to get a divorce faces legal action after his real wife found out, lawyers said on Fri... more -
India’s Government accused of buying votes
New Delhi, Jul 18 : The Indian Government, on the brink of a crucial no-confidence motion that is regarded as a turning point in the world’s biggest democracy, has been accused of buying votes on an epic scale.
In the run-up to Tuesday’s vote, Delhi has been gripped by a frenzy of mud-slinging, back-slapping and deal-making as the Congress Party and its main rivals try to make up the numbers. An MP said this week that the Government was offering to pay as much as 250 million rupees (£3 million) for each vote in parliament.
The Government secured three votes yesterday by naming an airport in Lucknow after the father of Ajit Singh, the leader of a small regional party. It is even planning to free six jailed MPs for the vote, five of whom are allies and four of whom are convicted murderers.
Zipping between politicians’ bungalows in a chauffeur-driven car, with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance, Mani Charenamei had never felt so powerful — or so popular.
As a Member of Parliament for Outer Manipur, in India’s remote northeast, he usually struggles to get a hearing from senior Delhi politicians. New Delhi, Jul 18 : The Indian Government, on the brink of a crucial no-confidence motion that is regarded as a turning point in the w... more
-
related topics
India
Contributors (987)
India
