Prez pays floral tributes to A P J Abdul Kalam
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind Monday paid floral tributes to former president A P J Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan, an official statement said. Kalam, who served as the 11th president of India from 2002-07, was born October 15, 1931 at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The president paid floral tributes to Kalam, the statement issued by Kovind’s office said. “Officers and staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan also paid tributes on the occasion,” it said. (PTI)
Cong, NCP workers show black flags to Maharashtra minister
Nashik: Congress and NCP workers Monday showed black flags to Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan as part of protest against the rising prices of essential commodities under the BJP-led government. The workers waived black flags at Mahajan when his convoy was in Satana tehsil of Nashik district in North Maharashtra, police said. The activists of the two opposition parties, who were protesting against the rising prices of essential items, were rounded up and later released, the police added. Mahajan, who is also the Guardian Minister of Nashik district, was in Satana to oversee an ongoing survey to determine whether a drought-like situation prevailed in the area in view of deficient rainfall. Local Congress leaders Kishor Kadam, Rahul Patil and NCP’s Kakaji Sonawane led the agitation, the police added. (PTI)
People need home delivery of aid, not of liquor: Uddhav
Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday slammed the BJP-led Maharashtra government over the proposal to allow home delivery of liquor, saying it was against the state’s culture. People in parched areas of the state need help delivered at home, he said. Excise Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had announced earlier that the government was going to allow online sale and home delivery of liquor, but later he said it was only a proposal and no decision had been taken yet. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified later that there was no plan to allow home delivery of liquor. However, Thackeray, whose party is part of the state government, told the media here, “People are reeling under a scarcity-like situation (due to deficient rainfall). They want help, and not liquor, delivered at home. “Online liquor sale does not suit the state’s culture. But every day, something is being done (by the government) that embarrasses the state,” the Sena chief said. “The Marathwada region has been badly affected by scarcity….Do not make affected people wait in queues to get help from the Central government,” he said. (PTI)
Goa BJP’s website hacked, ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ posted
Panaji: An old web site of BJP’s Goa unit was hacked Monday by unknown persons, who posted the message ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ on it, a party functionary said. The identity of the group which possibly carried out the cyber attack “Team PCE” and an individual’s name “Mohammad Bilal” were also posted on the web page, after it was hacked. The hacker, after defacing the web site, left the message “mailto:[email protected]”. A BJP functionary attached to the party’s IT cell said the web site in question was an old one. He added that the new web site has anti-hacking security measures in place. He said the BJP had integrated its state units with the new web site, which remained unharmed in the cyber attack. BJP Goa general secretary Sadanand Tanavade refused to divulge details in connection with the cyber attack. The party has not filed a police complaint. (PTI)
Man killed over WhatsApp post
Aurangabad: A real estate broker was killed for allegedly posting some comments on a WhatsApp group, police said Monday. Moin Mehmood Pathan, 35, was attacked with swords, knives and rods Sunday night by a group of around 20 persons in Fatimanagar locality of Harsul area here, police said. Police attributed the killing to enmity between two local groups, police said. Pathan had a bickering with members of the rival group, police said. On Sunday evening, he posted a message on the WhatsApp group, challenging his opponents. Hours later, around 20 youth reached Fatimanagar with weapons and attacked Pathan, police said. His nephew Irfan tried to intervene and was also assaulted, police said. He received head injuries. Pathan was taken to the government medical college and hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Police nabbed six alleged assailants early while search is on for the others. (PTI)