Ishaq Khan, the Howrah divisional railway manager said the deceased is yet-to-be-identified.

KOLKATA: One of the two injured in a partial collapse of the 140-year-old main building of Burdwan railway station succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning. Railway officials said more people could have been injured as small chunks of the building had started coming off around 20 minutes before the collapse alerting commuters to the impending danger.

Ishaq Khan, the Howrah divisional railway manager said the deceased is yet-to-be-identified. “The injured person from Jharkhand, identified as Hepna Tudu, is under treatment at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. An inquiry by a three-member committee has been initiated to ascertain what led to the mishap,’’ he said.

According to railway officials, minor repairing work was being conducted in the building but it was not clear that the collapse had anything to do with the ongoing work. “The building is adjacent to platform No. 1. The portion that collapsed is on the other side of the building. There were not many commuters on the platform when the mishap took place,’’ said a railway official.

The building houses chambers of railway officials, a dormitory, guest rooms, and waiting rooms for passengers and railway employees.

“Small concrete chunks first started to come off around 20 minutes before the collapse people came rushing out of the platform. This saved many lives,’’ said a railway official.

Reason behind collapse still unclear
According to officials, minor repairing work was being conducted in the building but it was not clear that the collapse had anything to do with the ongoing work

The telephonic conversation between the home minister and the LG came a day after masked men indulged in violence on the JNU campus.

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday talked to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and requested him to call representatives from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for discussions, officials said.

The telephonic conversation between the home minister and the LG came a day after masked men indulged in violence on the JNU campus.

“The home minister spoke to the LG and requested him to initiate discussions with representatives from the JNU,” an official said.

Yesterday, the home minister had spoken to Delhi Police chief Amulya Patnaik and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The Home Ministry has sought a report from the Delhi Police.

Violence broke out in JNU on Sunday night as masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police which conducted a flag march.

At least 28 people, including JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos prevailed on the campus for nearly two hours.

The JNU administration said “masked miscreants armed with sticks were roaming around, damaging property and attacking people”.

NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, both alumni of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, condemned the violence at the varsity on Sunday evening.

The government wants universities to be safe for students, Sitharaman said.

“Have seen pictures of what is happening in JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university,” Jaishankar tweeted.

Have seen pictures of what is happening in #JNU. Condemn the violence unequivocally. This is completely against the tradition and culture of the university.

“Horrifying images from JNU- the place I know & remember was one for fierce debates & opinions but never violence. I unequivocally condemn the events of today. This govt, regardless of what has been said the past few weeks, wants universities to be safe spaces for all students,” Sitharaman tweeted.

Horrifying images from JNU — the place I know & remember was one for fierce debates & opinions but never violence. I unequivocally condemn the events of today. This govt, regardless of what has been said the past few weeks, wants universities to be safe spaces for all students.

The Left-controlled JNUSU and the ABVP blamed each other for the violence that continued for nearly two hours as masked men armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in the police.

JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh suffered a head injury.

The JNU administration said “masked miscreants armed with sticks were roaming around, damaging property and attacking people”.

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as a masked group of people armed with sticks and rods attacked students.

NEW DELHI: Thirty-four people admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hereafter violence at the JNU were discharged on Monday, officials at the institute said.

“34 people were admitted at the trauma centre after violence in JNU. Four of them had head injuries. They were discharged on Monday,” they said.

Violence broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday night as a masked group of people armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus.

A day after his open request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for central assistance towards flood relief went unanswered, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was in damage-control mode on Friday.

BENGALURU: A day after his open request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for central assistance towards flood relief went unanswered, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa was in damage-control mode on Friday. Thrashing reports of the PM deliberately snubbing his plea for assistance, Yediyurappa said that contrary to the picture being painted by the Opposition and the media, Modi had assured that Karnataka’s demands will be considered. 

Lashing out at the media for ‘attaching motive to his speech which was plain and honest in content’, Yediyurappa insisted that the PM had lent him an ear. “Being in federal set-up, there is nothing wrong in placing the facts before the Prime Minister and making submissions. As a Chief Minister, I placed our state’s problems and need of more funds for developmental activities before him,” he said.

“The PM spoke to me personally and assured me of all help. He suggested that I visit New Delhi to meet the ministers concerned and apprise them about the state’s problems and pending projects. He also directed me to prepare a detailed report on this matter,” the CM added.

Yediyurappa, who was sharing the stage with the PM at Tumakuru on Thursday, apprised him of the damage caused due to floods and how only Rs 1,200 crore had been released from the Union government. Even as Modi looked on, Yediyurappa insisted that the Centre release more funds. The PM, however, neither made mention of Yediyurappa’s plea nor assured more assistance to Karnataka during his address.

The PM’s refusal to talk on the issue of flood relief and Yediyurappa’s speech bordering on accusation of the Centre for not providing enough relief had hit the headlines and provided Congress ammunition to target for Modi as being unconcerned about Karnataka and Yediyurappa for being a “weak Chief minister”.

The MLAs who haven’t complied, have been asked to complete the directives of the drive within January 12 and submit a fresh report.

KOLKATA: More than 80% of 211 Trinamool Congress MLAs ‘failed’ to comply with the directives issued by party supremo Mamata Banerjee in regard to the “Didi Ke Bolo” (Tell Your Sister) outreach drive, a survey conducted by Prashant Kishor’s team I-PAC revealed.

In a meeting with the CM’s nephew Abhishek, Trinamool Congress’ secretary-general Partha Chatterjee and state president Subrata Bakshi, Kishor revealed how most of the MLAs had skipped the phases of the drive to reach the local masses ignoring the CM’s dictate.

“We have been told that majority of the MLAs did not complete the seven phases of the outreach drive, which include spending a night at a worker’s house, hoisting party’s flag next morning in the area and addressing a rally in the locality. Kishor told us to ask the MLAs to complete all the phases of the outreach drive within January 12,’’ said a Trinamool leader.

The outreach drive is a brainchild of Kishor, who was hired by the Bengal CM after the ruling party’s poor showing in the 2019 LS elections. Kishor had drawn up an elaborate roadmap to reach the masses across the state and advised the ruling party’s MLAs, including ministers, to carry out the outreach initiative.
“Seven instructions were given to MLAs… Once the MLAs submitted their report, Kishor’s team swung into action to cross-check the legislators’ performance and the fact emerged,’’ said an MLA.       

The MLAs who haven’t complied, have been asked to complete the directives of the drive within January 12 and submit a fresh report.

Other than spending a night at a booth worker’s house, MLAs were asked to hold a meeting on the courtyard of the house with locals, regardless of their political affiliation

Jitendra Singh said that Jammu had a sizeable population of Rohingyas and a list would be prepared and their biometrics would also be collected.

JAMMU: Amid ongoing nationwide protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Union Minister of State (MoS) Jitendra Singh said that the Central government’s next step would be the deportation of Rohingyas from the country.

“The Citizenship (Amendment) Act is applicable across the country including in Jammu and Kashmir. By implication, what will happen here is that the next move will be in relation to the Rohingyas,” Singh said while speaking at a function here on Friday.

“Jammu had a sizeable population of Rohingyas and a list would be prepared and their biometrics would also be collected. They’ll have to leave India and details being worked out. CAA doesn’t give them leverage. The government is considering ways to deport them,” he added.

The Union Minister further said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 had become applicable in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir the day it was passed by the Parliament.

“They (Rohingyas) are not part of the six religious minorities in three neighbouring states. They are from Myanmar. So, they have to go back as they are not eligible for Indian citizenship under this act,” Singh said.

The law grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Mamata Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, congratulated party workers on the occasion and said TMC is observing the day as ‘Nagorik Dibas’ (Citizens’ Day) at the booth-level.

KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday observed its 22nd Foundation Day as ‘Citizens’ Day’ as a mark of protest against the amended Citizenship Act and pledged not to stop until the “draconian law” is withdrawn.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, congratulated party workers on the occasion and said TMC is observing the day as ‘Nagorik Dibas’ (Citizens’ Day) at the booth-level.

“We are observing the foundation day of AIT official as ‘Nagorik Dibas’ (Citizens’ Day) in every booth of #Bangla. We all are citizens and Trinamool will continue to fight for the rights of the people. Jai Hind. Jai Bangla.”

“#Trinamool22 Today @AITCofficial turns 22. The journey which began on January 1, 1998 has been full of struggles, but we have been steadfast in our resolve to fight for the people. We thank Maa-Mati-Manush for their constant support. Our workers are our biggest assets,” she tweeted.

TMC general secretary Subrata Bakshi said laws are passed to help the people and not to divide the country.

“The amended Citizenship Act is anti-people. It wants to divide the country on religious lines. So, if the people don’t accept it, this law has to be withdrawn,” he said.

Claiming that the people of West Bengal have started rejecting the BJP, Bakshi hinted that the party would use the CAA and the proposed country-wide NRC as its main issues in the upcoming municipal elections in the state.

Elections to around 107 municipalities of the state including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation are due in April- May this year.

The civic polls, in which about 60 per cent voters of the state would be eligible to take part, are being tipped as the ‘mini assembly election’ ahead of the crucial 2021 state polls.

Parties believe that the results of the civic polls will indicate the possible outcome of the assembly elections.

Banerjee had last week instructed party workers to conduct various programmes to observe the TMC’s foundation day.

The district TMC leaders have organised flag-hoisting programmes and street corner meetings to discuss and highlight the achievements of the state government and speak against the amended Citizenship Act, party sources said.

Banerjee, who has been at the forefront in opposing the CAA and nation-wide NRC, has been crisscrossing the state, holding protest marches and rallies against the new citizenship law.

On the party’s foundation day, TMC activists also organised blood donation camps in several parts of the state.

The TMC was founded by Mamata Banerjee on January 1, 1998 with an aim to oust the then Left Front regime from power.

The party achieved its goal in May 2011 after forging an alliance with the Congress.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is celebrated with much joy and fervour across the world where devotees visit various gurdwaras to take part in religious activities to mark the day.

Amritsar: Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2020: Devotees gather at Golden Temple in Amritsar to celebrate Gurpurab.

On Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti today, thousands of devotees offered prayers in Punjab’s Golden Temple Today. They also took dip in the holy pond called sarovar and sought blessings from Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhism who was born on this day. Guru Gobind Singh birth anniversary is celebrated with much joy and fervour across the world where devotees visit various gurdwaras to take part in religious activities to mark the day. Gurpurab is also dedicated to serving poor and underprivileged as directed in the teachings of the holy Guru. A spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher, Guru Gobind Singh was born in 1666 in Patna.

On the holy day, leaders greeted the nation on Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2020.

Pramesh Jain

“ISRO chief K Sivan declared 2020 as the year of Gaganyaan,India’s maiden human spaceflight mission,and Chandrayaan-3, another attempt to land a rover on the south pole of the moon.”

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief K.Sivan said on Wednesday that the government has approved the Chandrayaan-3 project,work has started on it and it is likely to be launched in 2021.  

He said that four people have been selected for the Gaganyaan mission.The training of all the astronauts will begin in the third week of this month in Russia .  Simultaneously, the Gaganyaan Advisory Committee has been formed.

Sivan also officially announced the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission which is again set to tackle the tricky south pole of the moon. Set to cost around Rs 600 crore, Sivan said the sequel to the moon mission may take 14-16 months and will use a lander and rover configuration while relying on Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had said that Russia will train the Indian astronauts for Gaganyaan mission.Scheduled for 2022,the mission is expected to carry three astronauts,who will be picked from among the test pilots in the Indian armed forces. The chosen three astronauts will be sent to space for seven days onboard Gaganyaan, a crew capsule,to be launched with the help of Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

If Gaganyaan is successful, India would become the fourth nation to achieve the feat.

K Sivan further said that this year is going to be an eventful year for ISRO.

“Just like last year, this year is also going to be an eventful year for ISRO.This year is going to the year of Chandrayan-3 and Gaganyaan.We have planned another satellite for this year i.e.GSAT 20.Many targets have been planned for 2020.For Gaganyan many systems need to be tested before flight.Crew training is another major activity that is going to happen this year,” said Sivan.

The ISRO chief said,”We had tried better during the Chandrayaan-2 mission,but could not land it on the lunar surface.  However,its orbiter is working better.This orbiter will provide data for up to seven years.”He said that the land acquisition work for the construction of the second space port is in the initial stage,which will be built at Tutukudi in Tamil Nadu.

 K Sivan said,plans to launch more than 25 missions this year:

K Sivan mentioned the success of ISRO of 2019.He said,“Our main strategy in 2019 was to expand ISRO.We wanted ISRO to have horizontal expansion.The second strategy was to expand our capacity.At the same time,the third strategy was to cut down the physical functions in ISRO.2020 will be very important for ISRO.He said that we plan to launch more than 25 missions this year.”

Union Minister had said- India will launch Chandrayaan-3 in 2020:

Union Minister,Jitendra Singh had said in a written reply to the Winter Session of Parliament that India would launch Chandrayaan-3 in 2020 and it would cost less than Chandrayaan-2.He had said that it would be wrong to call Chandrayaan-2 unsuccessful.This gave us a lot to learn.  This was India’s first attempt to land on the lunar surface.No country in the world has done so in the first attempt.

Pilot will spend seven days in space:

In May last year,the Air Force entered into an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organization to provide crew selection and training for the Gaganyaan mission.Under this, a team of four-member scientists is to be sent from Gaganyaan in 2022, which will spend at least seven days in space.The vehicle will be sent into space with GSLV Mach-3.These selected test pilots will be sent to Russia for training.  For this, ISRO signed an agreement with Russia’s space agency Glavkosmos on 2 July this year.

10 thousand crores will be spent on Gaganyaan:

The Gaganyaan mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day from Red Fort last year.  About 10 thousand crore rupees will be spent on the mission.It will probably be launched in 2022.For this, it was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2018.

While ISRO had said it had found Vikram’s debris on September 8 itself,it did not release any image in support.It was only recently a Chennai-based 33-year old mechanical engineer,Shanmuga Subramanian,spotted the Vikram debris on the pictures released by US space agency NASA.

Congratulating Subramanian,Sivan said, “We must appreciate the effort he put in.”

Asked why ISRO did not release visuals of the crash site earlier,Sivan attributed it to “strategy”.“ISRO is very, very transparent. We announced this as soon as we located it.”

Sivan also denied speculation of pressure from the government after Chandrayaan-2’s failed landing,adding that ISRO is trying to improve its own tech for landing.

Commenting on the famous image of being consoled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the morning after Chandrayaan-2 lander crashed, Sivan said,“Nothing transpired.It was an emotional moment; two persons emotionally moved.It consoled us.There was no discussion or anything Sivan said.