Jaitley urges J&K CM to roll-out GST on July 1
New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday wrote to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed urging for introduction of the Goods and Services Tax in Jammu and Kashmir from July 1. He said if J&K is not able to introduce GST from July 1 it may lead to many adverse impacts. He added there will be a general increase in prices in the state of all goods being purchased from other states and also an increase in the price of all goods being sold from J&K to other states which shall have an adverse impact on domestic industry in the state. The Finance Minister pointed out that this is so because the GST is a destination based tax. To ensure this an Integrated GST (IGST) shall be levied on all supplies of goods and services made in the course of inter-state trade or commerce.(Ians)
Akhilesh questions Adityanath’s absence at Lucknow eidgah
Lucknow: SP leader and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday took a swipe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for not visiting the eidgah here on the occasion of Eid. It has been a regular feature of chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh to visit an eidgah on the occasion of Eid. “I am an ousted chief minister…I am here. Whey he (Yogi) has not come he should tell,” Akhilesh told reporters here. To a question, Akhilesh advised the Centre to “control the situation in Kashmir”. (PTI)
Makeover exercise for Rajdhani, Shatabdi trains
New Delhi: Trolley service for catering, polite uniformed staff and on-board entertainment are some of the changes slated to be introduced in Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains from October this year. Aiming at enhancing the experience of passengers travelling by these premier trains, the Indian Railways has undertaken a complete makeover exercise in 30 trains – 15 Rajdhani and 15 Shatabdi – at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore. Targeting the festive season which begins from October, railways have launched a three-month programme under Project Swarn (gold) to refurbish coach interiors, improving toilets and cleanliness in coaches. There have been complaints pertaining to catering, punctuality, toilet cleanliness and quality of linen among others in these trains. It has been decided to improve services in these premier trains significantly and accordingly the Project Swarn has been launched with a three-month timeline, said a Railway Ministry official involved with the project. The project also envisages strengthening of security system in trains with adequate escort personnel by RPF. (PTI)
Man held for stealing cash, utensils from Ashram in UP
Mathura: A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing cash and silver utensils worth lakhs of rupees from Varahghat Ashram in Vrindavan here on June 21. Bharat, hailing from Agra district, was nabbed from Morena in Madhya Pradesh after tracing him through his mobile phone’s location, the police said. On the basis of surveillance, his location was found in Khari Khera near Morena from where he was then arrested. Bharat had mixed some substance in the food of saints and people living in the Ashram and after they fled after taking cash, silver utensil and flute of deities worth lakhs from the Ashram. When some persons reached the Ashram later in the evening, they found 13 persons lying unconscious.They were later admitted to a hospital in Vrindaban. (PTI)
9-member panel to prepare final draft of national education policy
New Delhi: The Human Resource Development Ministry on Monday constituted a nine-member panel to prepare the final draft of the National Education Policy to be headed by eminent scientist K. Kasturirangan. Besides Kasturirangan, the panel includes Vasudha Kamat, academician from the field of education technology; Manjul Bhargava, Professor of Mathematics in Princeton University, USA; and K.J. Alphonse, who played a crucial role in achieving 100 per cent literacy rate in Kottayam and Ernakulam districts of Kerala, according to a statement. The panel also comprises Ram Shankar Kureel, Vice Chancellor of Baba Saheb Ambedkar University of Social Sciences, Mhow; T.V. Kattimani, Vice Chancellor of Tribal University, Amarkantak; and Krishna Mohan Tripathy, who was instrumental in implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Mazhar Asif, Professor of Persian at Gauhati University; and M.K. Shridhar, former Member Secretary of Karnataka Innovation Council and Karnataka Knowledge Commission, are also part of the panel. (IANS)
Madhav takes part in yoga hosted in Swiss Alps
New Delhi: Hundreds of people have performed yoga in Jungfrau mountains, located in Switzerland and known as the top of Europe, as part of celebrations to mark the International Day of Yoga. BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, who attended it, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged the world leaders to turn to yoga, leading to its global recognition, according to a statement. The event was organised by Indo-Swiss Center on Sunday at a height of 11,371 feet in the Swiss Alps and attracted hundreds of people, it said, adding that Jungfrau mountains are known as the “Top of Europe”. “Hundreds of global tourists in Jungfraujoch got an opportunity to participate in the Suryanamaskar sessions that was conducted throughout the day, in a specially marked area on the vast glacier, surrounded by icy peaks. ” (PTI)
Mother jumps into well with three children, two killed
Jaipur: A 40-year-old woman allegedly jumped into a well along with her three children, killing two of them in Rajasthan’s Banswara district. Jasoda Yadav along with her daughters Shivani (15) and Nandini (12), and son Shailendra (6) jumped into the well in Dashara village of the district in the morning, police said. Villagers rescued them and rushed to a nearby hospital where Nandini and Shailendra were declared dead by the doctors, they said. Jasoda and Shivani are being treated at the hospital. (PTI)
