India

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) A bill seeking to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangaldesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Piloting the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Opposition that the bill was not against the provisions of the Constitution and would give succour to persecuted minorities in the three neighbouring countries.

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Lok Sabha Tuesday passed a landmark bill to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the general category poor with most parties backing the proposed legislation, described by the government as "historic" and in the country's interest.

Opposition, including the Congress, dubbed the proposed law as a political gimmick that may not stand judicial scrutiny but came around to support it during voting, underlining the huge political import of the measure aimed at placating upper castes.

08 Jan 2019; DW: Indian conference organizers have distanced themselves from unorthodox claims made by some prominent academics. Among the claims: ancient Indians invented stem cell technology, and Einstein and Newton were misguided.

New Delhi, Jan 7; PTI:  The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to Reliance Communication Ltd (RCom) Chairman Anil Dhirubhai Ambani and others on a plea filed by Ericsson India Pvt Ltd for allegedly not clearing its dues of Rs 550 crore after selling its assets to Reliance Jio.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Vineet Sharan sought a response from Ambani and others in four weeks.

Appearing for RCom, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and MukulRohatgi urged the bench to accept Rs 118 crore towards the dues to establish its bonafide.

Lucknow, Jan 7 (PTI) Ahead of a formal announcement of a pre-poll alliance, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati dialled Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav and extended her full support to him after reports emerged that he might be quizzed by the CBI in connection with the mining scam.

"Do not be shaken by such gimmicks," Mayawati told Akhilesh, while terming the reports as "political animosity" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Srinagar, Jan 8 (PTI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday to reinstate Alok Verma as CBI director, saying the apex court ruling had restored faith in independent institutions.

"Welcome SCs decision to reinstate #AlokVerma as CBI Dir. (It) reinstates belief in independent institutions of our democracy that are its pillars," Mufti said in a tweet.

New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) A report by the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan was tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday.

The bill is expected to be discussed in the lower house on Tuesday. The report was prepared by the Joint Parliamentary Committee by a majority vote as opposition members in the panel had objected to the provisions saying Indian citizenship cannot be granted on the basis of religion and it is against the Constitution.

Banda (UP), Jan 7 (PTI) Four cows and three calves have died apparently due to lack of fodder in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district, locals said Monday.

The incident happened in the district's Gureh village of Sadar area on Sunday.

About 150 cattle were kept in an enclosure by villagers of which seven died due to lack of fodder, Ram Kishore, husband of the village head said.

Sub Divisional Magistrate of Sadar, T Ansaria, said he has no information about cattle "deaths".

Itanagar, Jan 7 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday said the state government would provide a new designated land here for holding protests, in place of the current one that has been allotted to the ruling BJP for construction of its permanent office.

The Tennis Court inside the Indira Gandhi Park in the state capital is has been the designated area for staging protests and holding dharnas by organisations.

Kolkata, Jan 7 (PTI) The Birbhum district police Monday lodged an FIR against BJP Mahila Morcha president Locket Chatterjee and a local leader of the district for their alleged comment to beat up police personnel in the state.

A senior leader of BJP Birbhum district unit Kalosona Mondal Sunday while addressing a "Ganatantra Bachao Rally" (Save Democracy Rally) criticised the police for acting as cadres of TMC in the state and urged party cadres to "beat up" police personnel.