Niti Central

This day in history: June 20

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:35:34 +0000

1214 – The University of Oxford receives its charter.

1605 – After only three months as tsar, 16-year-old Feodor II of Russia is assassinated.

1756 – A British garrison is imprisoned in the Black Hole of Calcutta.

1782 – The US Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States.

1789 – Deputies of the French Third Estate take the Tennis Court Oath.

1837 – Queen Victoria succeeds to the British throne.

1863 –…

England storms into CT final, beats Chokers SA by 7-wickets

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:37:20 +0000

It was a cakewalk victory for the home side England as they comfortably defeated the semi-finals chokers South Africa by a huge margin of seven-wickets at the Oval on Wednesday as they entered into the finals of the Champions Trophy for the second time.

After dispatching the South African batting line up to its seam bowling, the English batsmen finished the remaining task after chasing an easily achievable 175 in the 38th over at the loss of…

SIT concludes arguments against Zakia’s petition

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:33:43 +0000

The Supreme Court appointed SIT on Wednesday concluded its arguments against Zakia Jafri’s petition challenging the SIT report which gave clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in the 2002 post-Godhra riots case.

While concluding the submissions before metropolitan magistrate BJ Ganatra, SIT lawyer R S Jamuar urged the court to reject the petition filed by Zakia and accept the report.

Zakia is the widow of Ehsan…

There is no word called revenge in cricket: Angelo Mathews

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:27:52 +0000

After beating New Zealand comfortably in their last league fixture and making way for the Champions Trophy semi-final against India, a confident Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said that his team is physically and mentally ready for the challenge that will be posed a by formidable Indian side led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday.

“India are a strong team to beat, but we are prepared physically and mentally,” the young Lankan skipper told…

Uttarakhand floods: PM announces Rs 1000 cr package

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:22:15 +0000

Rajnath appeals for relief to flood affected people in Uttarakhand

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:10:17 +0000

BJP president Rajnath Singh on Wednesday expressed grave concern on the devastating tragedy witnessed in Uttarakhand due to heavy rains and floods.

Mourning for the dead ones in this disaster, the BJP president has expressed his heart-felt condolences towards their family members.

A large number of people are stranded at various places in Uttarakhand. Among them many belong to States other them Uttarakhand.

The BJP president has asked…

Mamata plays martyr, says ‘All parties are conspiring to kill me’

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:05:48 +0000

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that CPI(M) has allegedly joined hands with the Maoists to kill her in their bid to return to power, and also charged the Marxists for being hand-in-glove with Congress and BJP in plotting against her.

“CPI(M) has joined hands with the Maoists in making a blueprint to kill me and to make room for their return to power in West Bengal which will never come off,” Banerjee thundered…

CBI registers 13th FIR in Coalgate

Niticentral Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:41 +0000

The CBI on Wednesday registered the 13th FIR in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam probe.

The case was registered against a Delhi-based steel company for allegedly giving false data about its land holdings and capacity while getting a coal block in Chhattisgarh.

CBI sources said Rathi Steel and Power Limited, its Chief Executive Officer Udit Rathi and unknown others have been booked for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating…

Tragedy in what was once Dev Bhoomi

Kanchan Gupta — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:42:14 +0000

Vast stretches of Uttarakhand have been devastated by flash floods followed by landslides. Houses have either been washed away or lie in ruins; roads built over decades have disappeared. More than 100 people, many of them tourists and pilgrims, are reported dead – the actual toll could be many times that number. The holy shrine of Kedarnath has barely survived the disaster; it is buried deep in mud.

It will take years to rebuild the damaged…

After Modiphobia, Congress now suffers from secularosis

Ankit Grover — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:45:02 +0000

What does it take to prove the ‘secular credentials’ of a certain individual. Is secularism an absolute or a relative term? Is secularism decided by thoughts and actions, or is it certified by an overarching authority?

In the Indian political context at least, in both cases, the latter appears to be the case.

Most recently, the definition of secularism — subject to much revision — is defined by one man: Narendra Modi. Already, having…