Prime Minister Modi takes charge as 15th PM

 45-member team takes oath  Cabinet berth for Rajnath, Sushma, Jaitley, Gadkari, Harsimrat 

New Delhi, May 26 - Ushering in the new government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee today administered oath of office and secrecy to the 45-member Council of Ministers, marking the completion of a transition to a new order mandated by the people and witnessed by a galaxy of leaders of South Asian region and India.

As the evening shadows lengthened across the sprawling forecourt, the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan formed an impressive backdrop to the special stage set up to conduct the ceremony witnessed by over 3,000 special invitees and millions through television and live streaming on the web.

Ministers of State (Independent Charge): Gen VK Singh (retd) | Rao Inderjit Singh | Santosh Gangwar | Shripad Naik | Dharmedra Pradhan | Sarbnanda Sonawal  Prakash Javadekar | Piyush Goyal | Dr Jitendra Singh | Nirmala Seetharaman Ministers of State: GM Siddeswara | Manoj Sinha | Nihal Chand | Upendra Kuswaha Pon Radhakrishnan | Kiren Rijiju | Krishan Pal | Dr Sanjeev Kumar Baliyaan | Mansukh Bhai Vasava | Rao Saheb Dadarao Danve | Vishnu Dev Sai | Sudarshan Bhagat

Having propelled the BJP to victory with absolute majority in three decades, the 63-year-old Modi took oath in Hindi shortly after 6.00 pm. Earlier, on his arrival, slogans of Bharat Mata-ki-Jai' and `Vande Matram' reverberated in the air.

Promising to usher in a transparent era of governance matched with delivery, the Modi government was fastest-off-the-block with the official website launched almost simultaneously as Modi signed the register.

In his first message to the people, he said: “On 16th May 2014, the people of India gave their verdict. They delivered a mandate for development, good governance and stability. As we devote ourselves to take India’s development journey to newer heights, we seek your support, blessings and active participation. Together we will script a glorious future for India. Let us together dream of a strong, developed and inclusive India that actively engages with the global community to strengthen the cause of world peace and development.”

Responding to Modi's major diplomatic initiative, leaders of SAARC countries, including Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan), Hamid Karzai (Afghanistan), Mahinda Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka) graced the occasion. Vice President Hamid Ansari, outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Governors, including NN Vohra, Lieutenant Governor Virendra Kataria, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, allies of NDA, members of the diplomatic core, and personalities from the field of sports, films and industry also witnessed the 90-minute grand ceremony.

The new Prime Minister, who advocates a lean government, inducted 24 ministers in the Cabinet, 10 Ministers of State with Independent Charge and 12 Ministers of State seeking to strike a balance with a blend of experience and new.

The biggest beneficiary among the allies was SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal. She was rewarded with a Cabinet rank even without any previous experience unlike Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) Ashok Gajapathi Raju (TDP) and Ananth Geete (Shiv Sena), all of whom have had a stint as ministers either in the state or Centre. Bagging a Cabinet berth, television-star-turned-politician Smriti Irani was another big gainer.

Star-studded show

SAARC heads: Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan), Hamid Karzai (Afghanistan), Mahinda Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka), Tshering Tobgay (Bhutan), Sushil Koirala (Nepal) , Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom (Maldives), Navinchandra Ramgoolam (Mauritius), Shirin Chaudhury (Bangladesh Speaker)
Bollywood: Salman Khan, Anupam Kher, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini
Industry: Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Anil Ambani, Gautam Adani, Ashok Hinduja, Sunil Mittal

Other VVIPs: Hamid Ansari, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, APJ Abdul Kalam

Gunmen attack Indian consulate in Afghanistan

All four terrorists killed  Modi talks to Karzai, vows to continue help

New Delhi, May 23

Gunmen armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked the Indian Consulate at Herat in Afghanistan early this morning, barely three days before the BJP-led NDA government formally assumes office in Delhi.

The Indian diplomatic staff escaped unharmed, while all four attackers were killed. The attack is believed to be the handiwork of elements operating from Pakistan.

Gunmen opened fire around 3.15 am on the consulate from a nearby home, Herat provincial police chief Abdul Sami Qatra was quoted as saying. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that was repulsed by India's Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel and Afghan security forces.

One attacker was killed while climbing the wall to enter the premises of the consulate that also houses the residence of the Consul General, said Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin was guarded in his response to questions from the media on the attack. “We strongly condemn this cowardly attack. It again underscores that the main threat to Afghanistan and its peace, stability and security stems from terrorism beyond its borders,” he said.

Asked if India apprehended Pakistan’s involvement in the incident, Akbaruddin said New Delhi was assessing the entire incident in coordination with the Afghan authorities. “I won’t like to jump to any conclusion at this stage.”

Herat lies near Afghanistan's border with Iran and is considered one of the safer cities in the country. The Indian Consulate there focuses on some development projects, including the Salma Dam hydropower project.

Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi spoke to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha to discuss the situation arising from the attack. During the 10-minute conversation with Karzai, he told the Afghan leader attacks of this nature would not dilute India’s commitment to assist the people of Afghanistan.

On his part, Karzai promised Modi he would do everything to protect Indian missions in his country. “India salutes the efforts of India’s security personnel and Afghan security forces for their valiant efforts to fight terrorists in Herat,” Modi tweeted later.

This is not the first time that terrorists have attacked an Indian mission in the war-ravaged nation, where India has invested more than $2 billion in development works, including roads and power projects.

Last August, an assault on the Indian consulate in the eastern city of Jalalabad killed at least nine persons. Earlier this year, a suicide bomber was gunned down near the consulate in the southern city of Kandahar. In 2008, suicide bombers attacked the Indian Embassy in the capital, Kabul, killing about 50 persons and wounding scores. There was another attack on the Indian Embassy in 2009.

Terror attack rocks China’s Xinjiang, 31 killed

94 hurt as militants ram two explosive-laden vehicles into a crowd, set off over a dozen blasts

Beijing, Urumqi - May 22
At least 31 persons were killed and 94 others injured today in China’s bloodiest terrorist attack at a busy market in Urumqi, provincial capital of the restive Xinjiang province, when militants rammed two explosive-laden vehicles into a crowd and set off over a dozen blasts.
The two vehicles, without license plates, broke through roadside fences and ploughed into people at an open air market at Park North Street near Renmin Park at 7:50 am (local time) and the occupants set off explosive devices, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s government said in a statement.
Witnesses said explosives were thrown before the vehicles exploded. Many of the injured were elderly people who frequently visited the morning market, according to witnesses.
A business owner in the market told state-run Xinhua news agency he heard a dozen big blasts.
This was by far the biggest attack suspected to have been carried out by the banned East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) fighting for the independence of Xinjiang, the sprawling province bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan.
In response to today’s attack, President Xi Jinping pledged to severely punish terrorists and spare no efforts in maintaining stability and directed the local authorities to solve the case quickly, put the injured under proper care and offer condolences to families of the victims.
A work panel led by Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun has headed for Xinjiang to join the investigation. All the injured were rushed to hospitals.
The regional government has launched an emergency response system and organised medical efforts for treatment of the injured, said the statement.
Observers say that scale of today’s attacks showed ETIM, stated to be an Al-Qaida-backed outfit is gaining ground in Xinjiang taking advantage of the anger of native Uyghur Muslim militants over Han Chinese settlements.
Xinjiang has witnessed riots between Uyghurs and Han settlers from outside the province. The Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking community, resent the settlements as they believe the large scale migration is marginalising them in their own homeland.
Today’s attack is regarded as the worst violence as militants, earlier largely confined to knife attacks, used multiple explosives besides triggering car bombs.
Today’s blasts came a day after sentencing of 39 persons for up to 15 years of imprisonment for inciting violence in Xinjiang in the last two months.
Significantly, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain who met his Chinese counterpart Xi in Shanghai today promised to step up crackdown against “East Turkestan” forces said to be operating from Pakistan’s tribal areas. This was a rare admission by Pakistan about East Turkestan forces, which China equates with the ETIM.
Hussain is in Shanghai to attend the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). 

The restive province

• Xinjiang, bordering PoK and Afghanistan, has been plagued by violence for years.
• Chinese officials suspect that the explosions were caused by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, an Al-Qaida affiliate.
• Xinjiang region has witnessed riots between native Muslim Uygurs and Han settlers from outside the province.
• Uygurs, a Turkic speaking community, resent the settlements as they believe the large scale migration is marginalising them in their own homeland.

India condemns attack

NEW DELHI: India on Friday condemned the terrorist attack in Urumqi saying it opposed terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In a statement, MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said: "We strongly condemn the terrorist attack which took place earlier today at Urumqi, China. India opposes terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We extend condolences to the families of the victims. 

Thailand Crisis: Talks fail, Thai Army seizes power in coup

Bangkok, May 22
Thailand's Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized control of the government in a coup on Thursday, two days after he declared martial law, saying the military had to restore order and push through reforms after six months of turmoil.

Anti-government protesters raise slogans after Army took control in Bangkok on Thursday.

The military declared a 10 pm until 5 am curfew, suspended the Constitution and told outgoing Cabinet ministers to report to an army base in the north of the capital by the end of the day. Rival protest camps were ordered to disperse.

Thailand is locked in a protracted power struggle between supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and opponents backed by the royalist establishment that has polarised the country and battered its economy. "In order for the situation to return to normal quickly and for society to love and be at peace again... and to reform the political, economic and social structure, the military needs to take control of power," Prayuth said in the televised address.

The General made his broadcast after a meeting of rival factions to find a compromise to end six months of protests, but no progress was made. 

India warns citizens

The Indian Embassy in Bangkok has advised all Indian tourists and residents to take "abundant precautions" for their safety and urged them to avoid moving around during the curfew period and also avoid areas where demonstrations, political gatherings and marches were likely to take place. It said public transport, including to and from the airport, could be affected from 8 pm (local time) onwards due to a 10 pm to 5 am curfew.

Jaswinder Sidhu's Murder Case: Mother, uncle of alleged honour killing odered to be extradited to India over her slaying

Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu @ Jassi

Vancouver - The mother and uncle of Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu have been ordered extradited to India to face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, 14 years after she was found dead.
Sidhu, also known as Jassi, 25, was found strangled and beaten to death in Punjab in 2000. Her mother, Malkit Sidhu, and uncle, Surjit Badesha, both of Maple Ridge, B.C., were arrested in 2012.
In court Friday, Justice Gregory Fitch ordered the siblings be extradited to India, to face accusations they killed Sidhu after she married Mithu Sidhu, a rickshaw driver she met in India a few years earlier, of whom her family did not approve.
The final decision on the extraditions will be made by Canada's justice minister, and that decision could be appealed.
Jaswinder Sidhu, 25, of Maple Ridge, B.C. worked at a Coquitlam beauty salon​. Last year, co-worker Jody Wright testified at the extradition hearing for Malkit Sidhu and Badesha that Sidhu had told her the marriage had remained a secret for about a year because she had married for love, while her family wanted her to have an arranged marriage.
Justice Gregory Fitch heard that when the clandestine union accidentally came to light, what happened next was an "interrogation," during which Sidhu's own life and that of her husband were threatened.
Wright testified her friend told her she admitted to her family that she was married and was forced to sign a document seeking an annulment.

Jaswinder Sidhu married Mithu Sidhu for love, against the wishes of her family

 

"She was fearful of her life. She told me she didn't know what they were capable of," Wright said.
Even prior to Sidhu's admission of her marriage, Wright testified that her relatives would often come to the salon to keep an eye on her. After the admission, Wright told the court, their presence increased.
Sidhu arranged a code with Wright that would initiate a call to police. Wright said she made that call twice.
"The code word was, 'I'm sick or I have the flu.' That was my trigger to call the cops because she was locked in her bedroom," she told the court.
Finally, weeks before her death, Wright testified that Sidhu ran away from home, fleeing to the home of another co-worker, Tamara Lamirande, with the help of a Maple Ridge police officer.
Sidhu had heard from her husband who was still in India and the news was not good, Lamirande testified.
"She had been receiving phone calls from India from Mithu and his friends that he was being threatened, that his family was being threatened, his mother, and he was scared and that he was beaten up," she told Fitch.
"Jassi knew that the uncle had arranged people to go after Mithu and his family to scare him off, so that this marriage would break up."

Jaswinder Sidhu's mother, Malkit Kaur Sidhu, and uncle, Surjit Singh Badesha, in court during their extradition hearing.

 

After about a week at Lamirande's home, Sidhu flew to India to reunite with her husband, and bring him back to start a new life in Canada. She never returned.
Sidhu and her husband were attacked as they rode a scooter in a village near Sangrur, Punjab, in June 2000. According to reports in India, her husband was severely beaten and left for dead.
Sidhu was kidnapped and later strangled to death, her body left in a canal.
The case received extensive media coverage, which included a book and more than one television documentary.
Seven people have been convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in her death, but several of those convictions were overturned on appeal.
The family has denied any involvement.

Bodo militants kill 23 in Assam; Army out; curfew in 4 districts

Guwahati, May 2 - At least 23 persons, including children and women, were killed and 14 seriously injured by heavily armed militants of the NDFB(S) — National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) — in communally sensitive districts of Kokrajhar and Baksa of Assam in the past 24 hours.

Shoot-on-sight was ordered and an indefinite curfew imposed tonight in both districts falling under the Bodoland Territorial Administration Districts (BTAD) area. An indefinite curfew was also enforced in Chirang district, which comes under BTAD jurisdiction, and parts of Dhubri district as a precautionary measure, sources said.
Curfew went into force from 6pm today to 4am tomorrow in Baksa district's Salbari subdivision and pockets of Mushalpur and Tamulpur subdivisions.
A group of 40 NDFB(S) militants, armed with AK-47 rifles, swooped down on Balapara-I village in Kokrajhar district early today and fired indiscriminately killing seven persons. The Army help has been sought and troops were staging flag marches to instil confidence among the locals in the violence-affected places, the Chief Minister's office said in a statement.

Today's attack followed the one by the militants on Thursday when three members of a family, including two women, were shot dead and an infant seriously injured in Baksa district.

Blasphemous speech matter against Majithia, Sikh clergy awards ‘Tankhah’

Takht’s word Perform 'langar sewa' at all five takhts Hold Akhand Path at Akal Takht Wash utensils for three days.

Those who got ‘tankhah’ earlier Former President Giani Zail Singh Former Union Home Minister Buta Singh Former Punjab CM Surjeet Singh Barnala Budha Dal chief Baba Santa Singh Nanaksar Kaleran (Ludhiana) chief Baba Ghala Singh Former DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna

Amritsar, May 1
Following a six-hour marathon meeting to discuss his blasphemous speech row, the Sikh clergy today awarded ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) to Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

He has been directed to perform ‘langar sewa’ in all the five takhts, besides holding an Akhand Path at Sri Akal Takht, washing utensils at the ‘langar’ facility and listening to ‘Gurbani’ for three days.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh pronounced this decision from the balcony of the Akal Takht at 5 pm while Majithia stood outside with folded hands to listen to the directions from the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.

In his pronouncement, the Jathedar said, “Majithia had distorted the pious ‘baani’ of Guru Gobind Singh during a public rally recently after which various Sikh organisations had expressed resentment while demanding that he be punished.

“Realising his mistake, he had submitted a letter of apology, saying he was ready to follow the directions of the Akal Takht, following which a meeting of the Sikh high priests took place in Amritsar today.”

The Jathedar then went on to declare the ‘tankhah’ against him. “The Sikh clergy directs you to perform ‘langar sewa’ (both monetary as well as manual) at Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Takht Sri Hazur Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib. “Following this, you would hold an Akhand Path at Sri Akal Takht Sahib and wash utensils in the ‘langar sewa’ as also listen to ‘Gurbani’ for three days.

“Finally, you have to make Rs 501 as offering and ‘karah parshad’ while performing ‘ardaas’ at Sri Akal Takht Sahib.” The Jathedar also clarified that this decision has been taken in the light of the resolution of the Sikh clergy dated November 19, 2003 and that all the takhts must acknowledge it.

His clarification apparently came in the light of the recent edict of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in which Majithia was declared ‘tankhaiya’ in the matter and a day later, his apology was accepted.

According to the resolution, apart from the Akal Takht, the other four takhts could only deal with local religious, social and cultural issues. However, the issues concerning the entire community could only be deliberated upon by the Sikh high priests by holding a meeting at Sri Akal Takht. Talking to the mediapersons after being awarded ‘tankhah’, Majithia said, “I accept the ‘tankhah’ with all humility. I had committed a mistake which I realised and had appeared before the Akal Takht. I apologise to the entire Sikh Sangat today.”

On when he would serve his ‘tankhah’, the minister said though he has not been given any time limit, he would try to do so at the earliest. Majithia had reached the Golden Temple complex early in the morning. He performed prayers, listened to 'Gurbani' and also washed utensils at the 'langar' facility before he was called by the Sikh clergy to the meeting venue where he stayed for around three hours.

Meanwhile, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh expressed satisfaction over the pronouncement of religious punishment to Majithia, saying at least the Akal Takht Jathedar has dared to act against a close relative of the “mighty Badals and his de-facto appointing authority”.

Punjab News Weekly: Lok Sabha Elections 2014 - 70.39% Voting in PUNJAB...

• ਪੰਜਾਬ 'ਚ 70.39% ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਮਤਦਾਨ, 
• ਲੋਕ ਸਭਾ ਹਲਕਾ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਮਤਦਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਭਰ 'ਚੋਂ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਸਥਾਨ 'ਤੇ 

Punjab News Weekly: Lok Sabha Elections 2014 - 70.39% Voting in PUNJAB...: ਪੰਜਾਬ 'ਚ 70.39% ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਮਤਦਾਨ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 30 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ - ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਅੱਜ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਾਂ ਹੇਠ ਲੋਕ ਸਭਾ ਦੀਆਂ 13 ਸੀਟਾਂ ਲਈ ਵੋਟਾਂ ਪਈਆਂ। ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿ...