India

New Delhi: The Parliament witnessed a massive uproar on Friday, as female BJP legislators in Lok Sabha condemned Congress party in unison, for its leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent ‘rape in India’ remark during an election rally. All the female MPs of the BJP, present in the House, demanded an apology from the Congress leader, dubbing his statement as shameful and offensive for the entire country. Amid all the commotion, the proceeding of the house had to be adjourned till 12pm. Union Minister Smriti Irani tore into Gandhi and said: “This is the first time in history that a leader is giving a clarion call that Indian women should be raped. Is this Rahul Gandhi's message to the people of the country?” Also watch: Ruckus in Lok Sabha over Rahul Gandhi's 'rape in India' comment Meanwhile few MPs in Rajya Sabha also raised slogans of 'Rahul Gandhi maafi maango' over Rahul Gandhi's 'rape in India' remark. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said, "you … [Read more...] about ‘Rahul Gandhi Must Apologise,’ Uproar In Parliament Over ‘Rape In India’ Remark

India is one of the few countries with no record of anti-Semitism as its society is known for openness and compassion, the Indian envoy to the US has said.Addressing the Jewish community, eminent Indian-Americans and Congressional staffers, at a Hanukkah celebrations event, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, New Delhi's envoy here, said the strong bond between India and Israel was reinforced by the closer partnership of Indian and Jewish communities in the US. Hanukkah is a Jewish festival and is also known as the Festival of Lights."India is one of the few countries with no record of anti-Semitism, either historically or in modern times,” Shringla said at the event organised by the Indian Embassy in Washington.Close "It is because Indian society is known for its openness and compassion, embodying the core principle of- 'Vasudaiva Kutumbakam', meaning the world is one family,” he said. related news Lok Sabha adjourned amid protests over Rahul Gandhi's rape remarks BJP to … [Read more...] about India among few countries with no record of anti-Semitism: Harsh Vardhan Shringla

Assam, a picturesque tea-growing state in India's north-east, is on the boil over a controversial new citizenship law that would make it easier for non-Muslim minorities from three neighbouring countries to seek Indian citizenship.Thousands of troops have been deployed, a curfew imposed and internet services suspended, in efforts to quell the mass protests taking place in some areas of the state. There have been pitched battles between police and demonstrators. At least two people have died and seven policemen have been injured in clashes.But the protests in Assam - the first in the country after the bill was passed - have little to do with concerns about the exclusionary nature of the bill and the threat to secularism. They have more to do with indigenous fears about being demographically and culturally swamped by "outsiders".One reason for the tensions is that Assam is one of India's most complex and multi-ethnic states. Assamese and Bengali-speaking Hindus live here, as do a medley … [Read more...] about Why has India’s Assam erupted over an ‘anti-Muslim’ law?

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was slammed by BJP’s women legislators for his ‘rape in India’ remark, denied to put forward an apology, and in turn accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of calling Delhi as ‘rape capital’ of the country. Gandhi tweeted a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he claimed that Delhi had turned into a "rape capital" under the UPA dispensation. “Modi should apologise: 1. For burning the North East, 2. For destroying India’s economy, 3. For this speech, a clip of which I'm attaching,” he said in his tweet. “I have a clip on my phone in which Narendra Modi ji is calling Delhi a 'rape capital', will tweet it so that everyone can see. Just to deflect attention from protests in North East, this is being made an issue by the BJP,” he had told media before he tweeted the video. Modi should apologise. 1. For burning the North East. 2. For destroying India’s economy. 3. For … [Read more...] about ‘Won’t Apologise,’ Says Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Rape In India’ Remark; BJP To Approach EC Today

New Delhi: India on Friday condemned Pakistan's move of declaring persona non grata an officer posted in its high commission in Islamabad. "Government notes with regret the government of Pakistan's decision to declare Surjeet Singh, Assistant Personnel and Welfare Officer in the High Commission of India in Islamabad, persona non grata and expel him and his family members," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. "No justification has been provided by the government of Pakistan except for the completely baseless and unsubstantiated allegation that his activities were not in keeping with diplomatic norms," it stated. "The government condemns Pakistan's step." Pakistan's move came hours after Indian authorities detained a Pakistani High Commission official, Mehmood Akhtar, in New Delhi on Thursday on charges of running a spy network. The Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned the Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit and asked that Akhtar, a visa officer, be sent back … [Read more...] about India condemns Pakistan’s expulsion of high commission staffer