Backward Class converts to Islam retains BC status: Madras HC

Backward Class converts to Islam retains BC status: Madras HC

CHENNAI: A Hindu backward class person, who embraces Islam, shall be considered as backward class Muslim, the Madras high court has held. Justice D Hariparanthaman passed the order and directed Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission to accept the application of R Ayesha, converted to Islam in 2005 and applied for a job as a typist […]

Village kids make music at Ravi Bharati

Village kids make music at Ravi Bharati

For the past two decades, Ravi Bharati the archdiocesan communication centre has been welcoming kids to a ‘summer camp’ of music. On Saturday, the eve of World Music Day, some 42 kids put on a concert for their parents, on the concluding day of their month long camp. The children, aged 10 to 13 showcased […]

Protests in the northeast over Yoga Day

Protests in the northeast over Yoga Day

The ‘over-promotion’ of International Yoga Day has resulted in vocal protests against it in Assam and other parts of the Northeast. The ‘surya-namaska’r element is raising hackles in certain quarters. Muslims point to the fact that the holy month of Ramadan is on, while some Christian sects object to being coerced to participate in such […]

Mizoram to ignore World Yoga Day

Mizoram to ignore World Yoga Day

Mizoram’s protestant and evangelical churches have appealed to the people of the state to ignore International Yoga Day slated for Sunday, on religious grounds. “Sunday is a holy day for Christians. The government’s decision to celebrate Yoga Day on Sunday has hurt us. We appeal to the Christian community not to participate in the celebrations,” […]

Advani’s ’emergency may happen again’ point has BJP scrambling

Advani’s ’emergency may happen again’ point has BJP scrambling

New Delhi, June 18: Bharatiya Janata Party patriarch Lal Krishna Advani  spoke and  his party BJP as well as their mentors  the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were rushing to deflect talk  that his comments about an Emergency-like situation were aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s style of governance. “At the present point of time, the forces […]

Pakistan Tribal Court fines child for ‘adultery’

Pakistan Tribal Court fines child for ‘adultery’

A ‘jirga’ or tribal court in southern Pakistan has convicted a 10-year-old boy of having an affair with a married woman in her late 30s and ordered him to pay a fine of $7,000, according to media reports. Jigras, like India’s Khap Panchayats, do not have a legal standing, but are powerful bodies in the […]

“When they attack, there will be a counter-attack”: Zoramthanga

“When they attack, there will be a counter-attack”: Zoramthanga

Former Mizoram chief minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga has said the ceasefire agreement between the government and the rebel groups was the only way to bring peace in Manipur. “There was no ceasefire agreement between the Centre and the rebel group which was involved in the ambush on an army convoy on […]

60 thousand affected, more coming as flood season hits Assam

60 thousand affected, more coming as flood season hits Assam

Guwahati: Assam has been hit by the first wave of floods affecting over 60,000 people in nine districts of the state. At least one person has been washed away. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has said that Brahmaputra and the Jia Bharali were flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and […]

Women’s Studies can help stop elder abuse

Women’s Studies can help stop elder abuse

Elder women are the most prone to destitution, and the government is partly to blame for the abetment of elder abuse, says Bihar Mahila Samakhya State Project Officer Keerti. “The way the government has a focus on adolescent girls, and young mothers, why doesn’t the government have a programme for elderly women on the same […]

Queen of the Hills once again on track

Queen of the Hills once again on track

She’s back. The Queen of the Himalayan railway has resumed her 80 kilometre run which takes around eight hours. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has resumed its full-fledged toy-train service along the whole length of 80km tracks from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling after a gap of five years. The toy train service from NJP to Darjeeling, […]

KFC Pizza Hut shut doors in Nepal

KFC Pizza Hut shut doors in Nepal

Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken will no longer be served in Nepal. That’s just another fallout of the great earthquake that flattened the country. The twist in the tale is that union workers demanded that they get off at 6 pm every evening. The four restaurants, on the other hand, needed to operate beyond […]

Will Bihar political parties add brick kilns to their agenda?

Will Bihar political parties add brick kilns to their agenda?

In the state of Bihar, pre-occupied with caste politics, are any of the political parties committed enough to address one of the hazardous issues -brick kilns’ adverse impact on environment? Bypassing the environmental norms, continuous emission from some six hundred brick kilns regularly mutltiply the density of air pollutants in the Bihar capital. The fuels used […]