1. Class 12 Retest in April, Class 10 Still Uncertain
The government on Friday said that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) would conduct a re-examination for the Class 12 economics paper on 25 April after a controversy over an alleged question paper leak forced it to scrap the exam conducted earlier this week.
Anil Swarup, Secretary, school education, Human Resource Development ministry, said the Class 10 mathematics exam, over which too there is a cloud regarding a possible leak of the question paper, would be conducted again in July if needed, but only in Delhi, the National Capital Region (NCR), and Haryana.
CBSE had initially said the mathematics exam was being scrapped too.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
2. Diplomats' Row: India, Pakistan Agree to Resolve Issues
India and Pakistan on Friday mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, after almost three weeks of harassment and intimidation of diplomats and their families.
In statements issued by both foreign ministries, they said, “India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, in line with the 1992 ‘Code of Conduct for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan’.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Govt Objects as SC Collegium Clears Judge Accused of Sexual Harassment
The government has taken serious objection to the Supreme Court collegium — a body of top judges that makes appointments to the higher judiciary — not conducting a “proper inquiry” into charges of sexual harassment made by a Karnataka judicial officer against her superior, a district judge, and persisting with appointing him as a judge in the high court, a top government functionary said on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“No woman judge inquired into the matter. The so-called discreet inquiries are not on record,” the functionary added.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. Asansol Clashes: Police Probe Involvement of Coal Mafia
On Tuesday, the VHP had planned Ram Navami rallies from six places to congregate in Asansol, just over 200 km to the north-west of Kolkata and less than an hour’s drive from West Bengal’s boundary with Jharkhand. But unlike other years, the town in the state’s coal belt, already reeling under communal tension that left one person dead in next-door Ranigunj a day earlier, was witness to violence, and one death, this time.
“We are taking out Ram Navami processions in Asansol for the last 40 years but have never seen this — our rallies were attacked and even fired upon, vehicles were burnt and idols damaged,” Om Narayan Prasad, VHP working president of West Burdwan district, said.
(Source: The Indian Express)
5. Don't Jump Queue: Ashok Gehlot to Younger Congress Colleagues
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has cautioned young party colleagues to stay in the queue and not try to jump it, warning those who “break the line” that they risked a premature end to their political career.
The remarks of Gehlot, 66, a former Rajasthan chief minister, come at a time when he is locked in an internal tussle with party state chief Sachin Pilot, 40, over the leadership issue ahead of the crucial assembly elections. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday appointed Gehlot as general secretary in charge of organisation and training.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. After TDP Exit, NDA Allies Want BJP to Be More Accommodative
While opposition parties look to be regrouping, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is facing a challenge of keeping its flock in order as constituents demand better coordination and expect BJP to be more accommodative and inclusive.
After TDP's exit and Shiv Sena's continuing ambivalence over ties with BJP, JD(U) is now not feeling comfortable with communal tensions in Bihar during Ram Navami and "provocative" statements of some BJP leaders in the state.
Alliance partners like Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) leader and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha are also miffed. Kushwaha called on convicted RJD leader Lalu Prasad in hospital in Delhi. The BJP camp is uncomfortable as Kushwaha recently organised a demonstration against the JD(U)-BJP government in Patna.
(Source: Times of India)
7. CBI Begins Initial Check Into Charges Against ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar's Husband
The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) into the alleged nexus between ICICI Bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar’s husband Deepak Kochhar and Videocon group chairman Venugopal Dhoot.
Sources said the PE will seek to ascertain veracity of the allegations that Dhoot provided crores of rupees to a firm promoted by Deepak Kochhar and two relatives six months after Videocon group got Rs 3,250 crore as loan from ICICI Bank in 2012. The amount was part of the Rs 40,000-crore loan that Videocon group secured from a consortium of 20 banks led by SBI.
(Source: Times of India)
8. Uneasy Calm in Asansol, Police Deployed Ahead of Hanuman Jayanti
A fragile peace returned to West Burdwan on Friday when, for the first time since last Sunday's Ram Navami processions, there was no violence.
One more body was recovered from the riot-torn areas of Asansol but cops said this death had no connection with the post-Ram Navami violence that claimed three lives in West Burdwan and five across Bengal between Sunday and Thursday.
BJP scaled up its pressure on the Trinamool Congress government, with party president Amit Shah calling the violence "sad and unfortunate".
The decision came a day after police stopped Union junior minister and Asansol North MP Babul Supriyo from visiting trouble-torn areas on the pretext that Section 144 CrPC had been clamped.
(Source: Times of India)
9. Dalit Man Killed in Gujarat for Keeping, Riding Horse
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A Dalit man was killed in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district by some higher-caste persons for keeping and riding a horse, police said.
Even as area residents claimed that tension prevailed in Timbi village in Umrala tehsil, police said three suspects have been detained from a nearby village and sought the help of the Bhavnagar Crime Branch for further investigations.
Pradeep Rathod, 21, had bought a horse about two months ago and had been threatened ever since by some of his co-villagers. He was killed late Thursday night. His father Kalubhai Rathod said Pradeep intended to sell the horse following the threats but he had convinced him against doing so.
(Source: The Indian Express)
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