15th LS lost maximum hours to disruptions: Digvijay
Bhopal: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh has said that the present Lok Sabha has created a record for losing maximum hours of work due to repeated obstruction of proceedings. He also urged the Members of Parliament to behave properly so that people do not lose faith in democracy. “15th LS creates record for maximum hours lost as Members obstruct proceedings. If people lose confidence in Democracy who is responsible?” Digvijay said in a tweet recently. “Parliamentarians pl behave else we are putting Democracy at peril. Hope Parliamentarians behave so that people don’t lose faith in Democracy,” he tweeted. In its last session before the general elections, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have witnessed repeated disruptions over separated Telangana statehood and other issues. (PTI)
Snowfall brings down mercury in Kashmir Valley
Srinagar: Parts of Kashmir received fresh snowfall and rains on Sunday bringing down minimum temperatures in most areas of the Valley and Ladakh region by several degrees. “Fresh snowfall was recorded in many areas of Kashmir Valley including in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Pahalgam and Qazigund today(Sunday),” an official of the MET Department here said. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, received snowfall and rains equivalent to 4 mm of rainfall, the official said. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 0.3 degree Celsius Saturday night, compared to minus 0.6 degree Celsius the previous night, the official said. Leh town, in Ladakh region, registered a decline of almost four degrees in the minimum temperature as the mercury settled at a low of minus 10.7 degrees Celsius as against minus 6.9 degrees Celsius the previous night. The data for Kargil was not available, the official said. The MET Department has predicted the weather would remain mainly dry over the state. (PTI)
CVC official’s ‘anti-corruption’ painting exhibition
New Delhi: A painting exhibition by a senior official in Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has anti-corruption as its theme. ‘Eternal Quest’, sixth solo exhibition of paintings by K Subramaniam, has been dedicated to his organisation CVC and fight against corruption. A mural ‘anti-corruption crusader’ — with its three arms of a fighter representing preventive, punitive and participative approach to combating corruption — is a centre of attraction for visitors. The exhibition, which was inaugurated by Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar on Friday, is being held at Lalit Kala Akademi till February 21. Subramaniam, who is an Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS) officer, is working as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the CVC. (PTI)
Drones buzz in Bihar to track Maoists
Patna: Drones are flying in Bihar to help combat Maoists. Security forces in Bihar’s worst Maoist-hit districts are using the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to ensure the safety and security of their men in field operations, police officials Saturday said. “The induction of UAVs will keep an eye on Maoist movements in Maoist strongholds in north Bihar plains and forest areas in southern Bihar. It will minimise the chances of casualties of security personnel engaged in anti-Maoists operations,” said a senior police official. By using the Global Positioning System (GPS), UAVs feed real time location and movement of Maoists and help plan counter strategies. “After UAVs were deployed in Maiosts affected areas, security forces with the help of devices are able to pick up ground conversation and movement,” the police official said. According to officials, UAVs flash real time imagery of Maoist movements and conversations and the data is immediately passed on to commandos. With the help of UAVs, security forces would also detect Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that cause maximum casualties among security personnel. It is the first time that security forces are using UAVs in Bihar in anti-Maoist operations. But UAVs have been in use Chhatishgarh and Jharkhand. Amit Kumar, inspector general, police operation, said that in 2013 in different Maoists attacks a total of 25 security personnel were killed and three dozen arms were also looted from police personnel. “We have intensified combing operations against Maoists in their stronghold in Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui districts,” he said. Amit Kumar said that Maoists influence and their areas of activities have been decreasing day by day in the state. (IANS)