NEW DELHI, June 20: BJP today rejected the charge that its Government was acting with vendetta in nudging the Governors appointed by previous UPA regime to step down.
“We are not working with vendetta against anyone. But those who have been political appointees, their appointees are no longer there in power. We cannot stop anyone from stepping down as per their own conscience,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters.
Hussain said his party’s Government was not asking anyone to quit from their posts but reminded the political appointees that the Government at the Centre has now changed.
To a question on the Planning Commission, he said the Government is discussing the role of such institutions, which are meant for public good, but took a jibe at the panel which defined Rs 26 as the yardstick for assessing those who were considered above poverty line.
“There is a debate on the role of such organisations which were formed for the benefit of the country to do public good. The Government will address the issue,” he said.
The BJP leader also took a jibe at Congress saying its leaders have yet to realise that they are out of power now.
Attacking former Union Minister P Chidambaram for recalling the legacy “left behind” by the previous Congress Government, Hussain said the public has already “left Congress far behind” through their verdict.
“P Chidambaram is recalling the legacy and has used the word “left behind” many times in his press conference. He should understand that people of the country have left them far behind,” he said, adding “Congress cannot believe they are out of power.”
Hussain said the condition in which Congress left the country’s economy, the people are “angry” over it and have given them a lesson by throwing them out of power in which “the previous Finance Minister also had a big role to play because of the way the economy was badly handled”. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, June 20: In one of the biggest hikes, the cash-strapped railways today raised passenger fares by 14.2 per cent for all classes and increased freight rates by 6.5 per cent to garner Rs 8000 crore annually through the pre-budget decision.
The decision, which will come into effect from June 25 and apply on basic fare, comes nearly a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country should be ready for “tough decisions”.
Due to the hike, a passenger will now have to shell out Rs 4354 for a journey between Delhi and Kolkata by AC-I on Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani, instead of Rs 3813.
Travel by AC-II on the same train will cost Rs 2508 instead of Rs 2197 and by AC-I, it will cost Rs 1728 instead of Rs 1514.
Journey between Delhi and Mumbai by Rajdhani will cost Rs 4073 instead of Rs 3567 in AC-I, Rs 2357 instead of Rs 2064 in AC-II and Rs 1617 instead of Rs 1416 in AC-III.
Travel between Delhi and Chennai by Delhi-Chennai Rajdhani will now cost Rs 4673 instead of Rs 5430 in AC-I, Rs 3129 instead of Rs 2740 in AC-II and Rs 2119 instead of Rs 1856 in AC-III.
Today’s decision marks implementation of an announcement of May 16, the day Lok Labha election results came, when the hike was announced but put on hold immediately.
In a flip-flop, the Ministry first announced that today’s hike will be implemented with immediate effect but later changed it to June 25, saying the officials needed time to execute it.
Announcing the decision, less than a month after the NDA Government took over, Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda said, “I was forced to implement the order that was done by my predecessor. I am only withdrawing the withholding order.”
He said the interim budget presented by the previous Government had assumed certain revenues on the basis of the proposed hike that was announced on May 16.
“Meeting the annual expenditure would not be possible unless the revised rates as finalised by previous Government is implemented, hence order of withdrawing implementation of revised fare and freight has been withdrawn,” said the Railway Ministry, which is incurring a loss of about Rs 900 crore per month in passenger segment.
“Accordingly, the revised passenger fare and freight rates and freight structure rationalization will come into effect from June 25, 2014,” it said in a statement.
The Railway Budget will be presented in Parliament in the first week of next month.
While a flat 10 per cent has been announced in all classes, an additional 4.2 per cent increase under fuel adjustment component (FAC)-linked revision scheme will be effected on passenger fares, taking the upper revision of fares to 14.2 per cent, an official said.
The Railways had earlier issued a notification on May 16 effecting hike in passenger fare by 14.2 per cent across the board and freight charges by 6.5 per cent from May 20. This was followed up with an official press release.
The May 16 fare hike decision, which had raised eyebrows as it came in the midst of Lok Sabha election results, led to a scurry of activities in Rail Bhawan on that day and the Railway Board went into a huddle to discuss its fallout.
Soon after, the red-faced Railway Ministry had put the decision on hold, saying the matter related to the revision will be left to the next Government.
The then Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge came out with a statement directing the Board to leave the decision on the hike to the new Government.
“It is now informed that under the directions of the Minister of Railways Mallikarjun Kharge, the decision on the proposed hike in the freight charges and passenger fares have been kept pended till further advice for placing this proposal before the new Government,” the statement said.
A fresh notification was issued later, stating that the “revision of fares with effect from May 20 should be pended till further advice.” (PTI)
NEW DELHI, June 20: Five foreign satellites will be launched by India under commercial agreements on June 30, space agency ISRO said today.
The indigenous PSLV-C23 rocket will carry a 714 kg French Earth Observation Satellite ‘SPOT-7’ as the main payload. It will also carry 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and two NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) satellites of Canada, each weighing 15 kgs, and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore, it said.
These five satellites will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Sriharikota under commercial arrangements that ANTRIX, the marketing arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has entered into with the respective foreign agencies.
“All the five satellites have been integrated with PSLV-C23 and the final phase of checks is progressing. The Mission Readiness Review (MRR) Committee and the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) are meeting on June 27 to review the progress of pre-launch activities.
“After the clearance from LAB, the 49-hour countdown for the mission will commence at 08:49 AM on June 28,” ISRO spokesperson B R Guruprasad said. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, June 20: In an unpopular decision, railway passenger fare was today increased by 14.2 per cent in all classes while freight charge was hiked by 6.5 per cent with effect from today.
The decision of the Railways today restores an announcement of May 16, the day Lok Sabha election results came, when the same hike was effected but immediately put on hold.
The Railways had then issued a notification effecting hike in passenger fare by 14.2 per cent across the board and freight charges by 6.5 per cent from May 20. This was followed up with an official press release.
The May 16 fare hike decision, which had raised eyebrows as it came in the midst of Lok Sabha election results, led to a scurry of activities in Rail Bhawan on that day and the Railway Board went into a huddle to discuss its fallout.
Soon after, the red-faced Railway Ministry had put the decision on hold, saying the matter related to the revision will be left to the next government.
The then Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge came out with a statement directing the Board to leave the decision on the hike to the new government.
“It is now informed that under the directions of the Minister of Railways Mallikarjun Kharge, the decision on the proposed hike in the freight charges and passenger fares have been kept pended till further advice for placing this proposal before the new government,” the statement said.
A fresh notification was issued later, stating that the “revision of fares with effect from May 20 should be pended till further advice.” (PTI)
LOS ANGELES, June 20: Actress Olivia Wilde has revealed the best feeling for her is to see fiance Jason Sudeikis and their son Otis laugh together.
The 30-year-old ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ star said she looks forward to see Sudeikis, 38, read to their two-month-old son, reported Us magazine.
“It’s such a joy to watch them laughing and smiling together. It’s the best feeling in the world,” Wilde said.
“I look forward to when Jason can start reading to Otis because then, the best thing ever, is when your dad is reading to you and does all the characters from the books,” she said. (PTI)
LOS ANGELES, June 20: Filmmaker Alejandro Jodorwsky, who recently met Kanye West, has revealed the rapper has an honest, child-like soul.
Jodorowsky said his reunion with West was pleasant, reported Us magazine.
“The reunion with Kanye West was very pleasant,” he tweeted in Spanish. “I saw an honest being, with a beautiful child-like soul. He puts on a big show. I read him his Tarot,” he added.
Jodorowsky’s 1973 film ‘The Holy Mountain’ is rumoured to be the inspiration behind West’s over-the-top Yeezus Tour. The director posted several photos with Kim Kardashian’s husband on Twitter, including one where the two pose with Oscar-winning director Spike Jonze.
“I was surprised by the purity of West, and his deep desire to create work that develops awareness of young people,” Jodorowsky tweeted. (PTI)
LOS ANGELES, June 20: Director Quentin Tarantino is taking his favourite character of Django beyond the Oscar-nominated film by writing a comic on it.
The new comic book story will revolve around Django Freeman, the lead character of his 2012 movie where Zorro will also have a role. Tarantino is writing the story with comic book writer Matt Wagner, reported Ace Showbiz.
The ‘Kill Bill’ helmer has already adapted the original script into a graphic novel but in the comic book, the gun-totting hero will set out on a new adventure where he will cross path with the masked swordsman Zorro.
The story is set to be co-plotted by Tarantino along with Wagner who is known for creating acclaimed comic series like ‘Mage’ and ‘Grendel’.
Reginald Hudlin, who scripted ‘Django Unchained’ comic and produced the movie, will work closely with the writing duo as the editor for the upcoming graphic novel due later this year via Dynamite and DC Entertainment.
“I’m very very excited about both this story and the opportunity to work with Matt,” Tarantino said in a statement.
“It was reading his Zorro stories that convinced me what a good idea it was to join these two icons together. And the story idea we came up with is thrilling, and I think will be an exciting new chapter for both characters.” (PTI)
LOS ANGELES, June 20: Actress Uma Thurman and director Quentin Tarantino have fuelled speculation of a romance after their were caught kissing on camera.
Tarantino, 51, who has directed Thurman in ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Kill Bill’, has been friends with the actress for a long time.
They were caught kissing following a dinner date in Beverly Hills. The pair, however, left the establishment in different cars, reported Ace Showbiz.
At the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Thurman, 44, and Tarantino were seen holding hands.
Thurman called off her engagement to fiance Arpad Busson recently. (PTI)
NEW YORK, June 20: Singer-songwriter Bjork will be the subject of an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The exhibit is being organised by MoMA curator-at-large Klaus Biesenbach, and will include biographical and fictitious text written by Bjork and poet Sjon, reported ABC News. A statement on Bjork’s website has promised that “costumes, performances, instruments and more” from throughout the singer’s 20-year solo career will be on display. The Museum of Modern Art is also adding the application version of Bjork’s 2011 album Biophilia to its digital design collection in a first for the institution. Bjork has described that LP as being “folk music of our time”, rather than rock or pop in style. This exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art will run from March 7, 2015 to June 7, 2015. (PTI)
NEW YORK, June 20: Singer-songwriter Bjork will be the subject of an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
The exhibit is being organised by MoMA curator-at-large Klaus Biesenbach, and will include biographical and fictitious text written by Bjork and poet Sjon, reported ABC News.
A statement on Bjork’s website has promised that “costumes, performances, instruments and more” from throughout the singer’s 20-year solo career will be on display.
The Museum of Modern Art is also adding the application version of Bjork’s 2011 album Biophilia to its digital design collection in a first for the institution.
Bjork has described that LP as being “folk music of our time”, rather than rock or pop in style.
This exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art will run from March 7, 2015 to June 7, 2015. (PTI)
