BackPolitical updates: Pakistan embarrassed as members pull out from Saarc summit?
In other news, the BSP is wooing the upper castes in Uttar Pradesh in a bid to broaden its appeal before next year's assembly polls
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Saarc summit: Pakistan increasingly isolated in South Asia
Pakistan faces growing isolation in South Asia with Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan joining India in pulling out of the 19th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), which Islamabad is to host in November.
Not only does it nix the summit and pose an embarrassment to Pakistan, it also puts the focus on the menace of cross-border terrorism—the bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Read more
BSP courts upper castes with brotherhood groups ahead of UP elections
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a predominantly Dalit party, is reaching out to upper castes in Uttar Pradesh in a bid to broaden its appeal before the assembly election due in less than six months.
Brahmin bhaichara (brotherhood) committees have been formed in eastern and western UP to mobilize upper castes at the grassroots level, even as party chief Mayawati mounts a determined campaign to reclaim the Muslim vote bank. With its loyal Dalit vote in place, the BSP is looking to win back the Dalit-Muslim-upper caste combine that voted the first majority BSP government to power in 2007. Read more
Maharashtra gets Rs1,269 crore as drought aid
The Union government on Wednesday approved Rs1,269 crore of drought assistance for Maharashtra. A panel headed by home minister Rajnath Singh decided on the aid at a meeting on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Maharashtra chief minister’s office said. The move was approved following the recommendations of a Central government committee that inspected drought conditions in Maharashtra earlier this year. Read more
Shahabuddin’s bail: Supreme Court slams ‘sleeping’ Bihar government
The Supreme Court on Wednesday castigated the Bihar government, questioning its seriousness on a plea seeking the cancellation of the bail granted to Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Mohammad Shahabuddin.
“Why did you not challenge bail granted to him in other cases? Did you wake up from a slumber after he was released?" the court asked the Bihar government’s lawyer. Read more
Cabinet approves ratification of Paris agreement on climate change
The cabinet approved on Wednesday the ratification of the Paris agreement on climate change on 2 October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
“Today, the Union cabinet approved the ratification of Paris agreement which is a historic decision. India will be one of the key countries instrumental in bringing the historic Paris agreement into force," human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar said. Read more
CPM plenum to focus on reviving West Bengal unit
The West Bengal unit of the Communist Part of India (Marxist), or CPM, will meet for a two-day plenum starting on Friday to discuss ways to revive the party in a state where it is a fading force.
The meeting comes less than six months after an assembly election where the party won only 26 seats in the 294-member assembly. Read more
India to sign social security pacts with other Brics nations
India will sign social security agreements with Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa after a consensus emerged at a Brics labour ministers conference on Wednesday that they will promote labour mobility in the grouping. Read more
Bengal lags in urban reforms
Bengal has shown the least progress in initiating reforms under a scheme launched last year to modernize the working of urban local bodies, according to data available with the urban development ministry. Read more
In wake of Maratha rallies, Maharashtra wants Centre to modify Atrocities Act
The BJP-ed government in Maharashtra is set to recommend to the Centre that changes be made to the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act to ensure that the law is not “misused" — a key demand of Marathas who have been protesting across the state after the brutal rape and murder of a girl from their community in Ahmednagar’s Kopardi village in July. Read more
Centre to aid rain-hit Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
The Centre has promised to assist rain-battered Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Central teams will visit both the states to assess the damage to life and property, Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said in New Delhi on Wednesday. Read more
Jayalalithaa announces bonus worth Rs476.71 crore for Tamil Nadu govt employees
Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa announced a bonus of ₹ 476.71 crore for employees of state public sector companies on Wednesday. About 3.67 lakh eligible employees would receive bonus of a minimum Rs.8,400 up to Rs.16,800 per month for the period 2015-16. Read more
Gujarat: FIR filed against Mevani, others
The Ahmedabad police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani and others for alleged rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from his duty, disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant and damaging public properties among other charges. Read more
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