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500 pilgrims reportedly reach Amarnath shrine
Srinagar, July 22 (ANI): The first batch of about 500 pilgrims reached the holy Amarnath caves at 8 a.m. on Monday to sight the naturally formed Shiv Lingam, according to unofficial sources. This dspite the fact that the journey had been suspended due to inclement weather on the route. As a result, about 7000 yatris were stranded in Jammu. The shrine is situated at an altitute of 3880 metres in the Himalayas in south Kashmir. Over 5000 yatris had arrived at the Pahalgam base camp over the past two days. But the journey from the main base camp at Jammu was suspended on Monday for two to three days after the authorities received reports about bad weather along the highway and Pahalgam onwards to cave shrine, they said. Pilgrims all over the country have been advised to leave for Jammu only after ascertaining the status of the yatra, an official release in Jammu said. (ANI) Stranded pilgrims lodged in Jammu camps
Jammu, July 22 (ANI): Authorities said on Monday they have made special lodging arrangements for the stranded pilgrims after their onward journey to the cave shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir was suspended due to inclement weather. Although the first batch of pilgrims has already reached the shrine, the subsequent batches of pilgrims have been put up in camps in Jammu. "Although every morning there is a new batch coming in which leaves by evening and today as the journey was stalled there was an extra rush," K.B.Jandial, municipal administrator of Jammu, told reporters on Monday. "But we have given free accommodation in three community halls which is normally reserved for social events. Here more than 800 pilgrims are being lodged and we are trying to provide the best facilities possible," Jandial added. The pilgrims expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. "The police arrangement is good. We are thankful to the state government because such good security arrangements encourage the pilgrims (to undertake the journey). We hope that it will further improve the facilities by redressing the problems we face," said Gunichand Shastri, a pilgrim who came from Amritsar. Each group of pilgrims spends the night in tents and starts the trek the next morning for the shrine, which is 13,500 feet above sea level. The treacherous narrow 30-mile path from Pahalgam takes them along icy streams, and around glacier-fed lakes and dense pine forests. Officials estimate nearly 100,000 people would take part in this year's pilgrimage. Last year, 170,000 trekked to the cave discovered by a Muslim shepherd in the 16th century.(ANI) Shinde files papers
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to top New Delhi, July 22 (ANI): Opposition's vice-presidential candidate Sushil Kumar Shinde on Monday filed his nomination papers. The election is scheduled for August 12. The opposition parties have pitted veteran Congress party leader Shinde against Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who has been chosen by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's ruling National Democratic Alliance. As many as four sets of nomination papers were filed on behalf of Shinde, a backward leader from Maharashtra. Talking to reporters after filing nomination papers, Shinde said his candidature reflected a fight against the casteist and fundamentalist forces. "This is a fight of principles. I have said it that day also when Sonia Gandhi informed me that I am contesting elections. I am very thankful to Sonia Gandhi that it's a joint front posed by the opposition. I am hopeful that with all these leaders together we are fighting a fight against religion and caste, it's a fight against fundamentalists, a fight of secularists," said Shinde. Shinde got a shot in the arm early Monday when the Samajwadi Party decided to support his candidature. "Seeing the present political situation we have decided to support Sushil Kumar Shinde for the post of Vice-president," Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh told a press conference. Ruling and opposition parties conventionally tend to reach consensus on the two highest posts of president and vice- president in the executive. The Vice-President, who is also the de facto chairman of the upper house of parliament, is elected by an electoral college consisting of all members of the two houses of parliament. In the event of a contest the opposition is most likely to lose the Vice-President's election as the government has majority in the combined strength of the two Houses.(ANI)
US lifts travel restrictions to India Go to top New Delhi, July 22 (ANI): The US on Monday announced lifting of nearly two-month old travel restrictions to India and said its government employees and their families who were asked to leave the country in the wake of heightened Indo-Pak tensions may return. An announcement by the US State Department issued through the American embassy here said "tensions have subsided between India and Pakistan, although the risk of renewed increased tensions cannot be ruled out". It said the authorised departure for US government personnel in non-emergency positions and all family members has been lifted and "those who departed in early June under the authorised departure may return to India". This supersedes the travel warning issued on June 26 in which Americans were asked to defer visits to India. Britain, France, Australia, Japan and some other countries have already announced revision of their travel advisories to those wishing to travel to India.(ANI)
Din in Parliament over Gujarat issue
Go to top New Delhi, July 22 (ANI): The Gujarat issue once again rocked Parliament on Monday as Congress leaders vociferously demanded suspension of the Question Hour and discussion on the Gujarat issue instead. The Congress-led Opposition has been demanding that the polls in the state must be held under President's Rule and not under the caretaker Narendra Modi government. Following noisy protests, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 p.m. The agitated Congressmen were joined by RJD members as they trooped into the Well. Earlier, as soon as the House assembled, senior Congress leaders Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and Jaipal Reddy raised the issue saying there had been "gross abuse and misuse" of constitutional power in Gujarat. They reiterated the party's demand for President's rule as a prerequisite for elections. Reacting to the situation, Speaker Manohar Joshi said the only time the Question Hour could be suspended was with the consensus of the entire House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan, however, said the treasury benches did not see any reason to suspend the Question Hour. The Speaker ordered Question Hour to go on following which, agitated Congress members trooped into the Well of the House. Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned for the day. The two Houses are scheduled to discuss Gujarat this week for the third time this year. There was debate on the issue twice during the Budget session, with Gujarat violence at its peak when Parliament met last. While Elders are to take up the matter on Wednesday, the Lok Sabha is likely to debate the issue on Thursday. (ANI)
High Court admits Sukh Ram's petition against conviction Go to top New Delhi, July 22 (ANI): The appeal of Sukh Ram, former Communication minister, to the High Court against his conviction in the telecom scam was admitted on Monday, with Justice M A Khan directing the CBI to file its reply by July 25. The ex-minister has also sought suspension of the three-year jail sentence and regularisation of interim bail granted by the trial court on July 5. The High Court has already admitted appeals by the two co- accused, Runu Ghosh who was a senior official in the Department of Telecom (DoT) and P Ramarao, a former Managing Director of the Hyderabad firm, Advance Radio Masts (ARM). The firm had been unduly favoured in the matter of a contract in 1993-94 when Sukh Ram was the minister. The 3,000 MARR equipment supplied by the company was allegedly inferior to the synthesized version available in the market. This caused a loss of Rs. 1.66 crore to the exchequer and the trial court found the former minister and Runu Ghosh guilty of criminal conspiracy. (ANI) |