Jaya launches ‘Amma’ medical shops
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday launched “Amma Pharmacy”, which will sell quality medicines at ‘fair price.’ Jayalalithaa launched ten ‘Amma’ pharmacies at Chennai, Erode, Salem, Cuddalore, Erode, Madurai, Sivaganga and Virudhunagar through video-conferencing from the secretariat here. The pharmacies, set up a cost of Rs one crore, will “sell quality medicines at fair prices,” in line with directives from Jayalalithaa in this regard, a state government release said. The ‘Amma Pharmacy’ effort comes close on the heels of the government launching the subsidised ‘Amma Salt’ recently even as ‘Amma Canteens’ and ‘Amma Mineral Water’, both low-cost initiatives, have been well received by a large section of the people. Jayalalithaa is popularly addressed as Amma (Mother) by her party workers and supporters. The ruling AIADMK is already implementing a slew of schemes including providing rice, laptops to students and milch animals, all free of cost to beneficiaries. The Chief Minister launched a series of other initiatives covering various departments including transport. She flagged-off over 400 new and refurbished buses and small bus services, a Rs 94 crore initiative, the release added. (PTI)
Modi appeasing minorities: Hindu leader
Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Goa’s Archbishop this month is proof of his “minority appeasement”, a leader of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) said Thursday. Charudatta Pingale of HJS, which organised a seven-day (June 20-26) Hindu convention near the temple town of Ponda, 35 km from here, also accused the BJP government in Goa of appeasing minorities. “During his visit to Goa, Modi found time to meet the Archbishop but not the Shankaracharya of the region or any Hindu religious head. This is nothing but minority appeasement,” Pingale said. Modi met Archbishop Fr. Filipe Neri Ferrao at the Raj Bhavan here. The meeting came against the backdrop of a subtle pre-election campaign by the Goa Church against the BJP, especially Modi. The campaign has somewhat soured the newly formed bonhomie of the BJP with the Church in Goa, where more than 25 percent of the people are Catholic. Modi’s meeting with the Archbishop was crammed in between several functions organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the state government and the Indian Navy. (IANS)
BSP raises issue of rape of minor sisters in UP council
Lucknow: The issue of rape of two sisters in Badaut area of Bagpath district was raised in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council by BSP members, who demanded a debate over the matter and immediate arrest of the accused. Raising the matter during Zero hour through an adjournment notice, the BSP members said the two minor girls, aged 4 and 6 years, were raped by unidentified persons on June 17 and their medical examination at a government hospital confirmed rape. They said there was resentment among local people towards the administration as no arrest has been made in this connection. Leader of the Opposition Naseemuddin Siddiqui demanded immediate arrest of the accused and financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the family members of the victims. Leader of the House Ahmad Hasan said that Circle Officer, Badaut was investigating the case under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police. The victims’ family suspect involvement of a man from their neighborhood, he said, adding that stern action would be taken against the culprits. Rejecting the adjournment notice, Chairman Ganesh Shanker Pandey said it was a gruesome incident and directed the government to take stern action and extend adequate financial assistance to victims’ family. (PTI)
SRK’s driver arrested for raping minor
Mumbai: A driver who works with superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Rajendrakumar Gautam has been arrested for allegedly raping a girl who works at former beauty queen and actress Sangeeta Bijlani’s house, said an official from Bandra police station and added that the investigation is going on. “The case was registered here Wednesday evening and the investigation is going on. At the moment, we are not allowed to talk about the case as the investigation department is looking after it,” the official told IANS. The driver Rajendrakumar alias Pintu Mishra, 34, who is reportedly not SRK’s personal driver, called the 17-year-old at a hotel in Nallasopara here, on the pretext of offering her a job, where he raped her. Although the girl is said to be a minor, the police are checking her date of birth to get the right age. “We are also checking the victim’s date of birth certificate to check if she is still a minor or not,” another official from Bandra police station told IANS. The girl, who came to the city from Latur (Maharashtra) in search of a job, got the opportunity to work at Sangeeta’s house. (IANS)