Films, exhibitions in Delhi to mark Bhopal gas tragedyNovember 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A three-day film festival on one of the worst industrial disasters, the Bhopal gas tragedy, will start in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) this Sunday. Similar festivals, photo and art exhibitions and a rally will take place here Nov 29 onwards to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the event.
Children release Unicef report in BhopalNovember 20th, 2009 BHOPAL - For the first time in Madhya Pradesh, a clutch of children released the Unicef State of the World Children Report 2009 here Friday, praising the efforts of the government for their survival, care and protection but also calling for more focus. Children like Pappi Khan, Madhu, Aashi, Shivani Sen, Aarti, and Sunil - from Bhopal and Hoshangabad - were delighted to get a platform to speak out.
16 countries to commemorate Bhopal gas tragedyNovember 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - On Dec 3 it will be 25 years since the Bhopal gas disaster took place, killing 3,500 people instantly. While a number of public meetings, film screenings and marches are being planned in the week leading up to the D-day in Bhopal and across India, 16 other countries have expressed their intention to join in the commemoration.
Government's stand sought on former Maharashtra police chief's pleaNovember 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Friday sought the central government's stand on a lawsuit by former Maharashtra police chief S.S. Virk, who has challenged his retirement from the post without completing a tenure of two years as laid down by an apex court ruling on police reform.
Bhopal gas survivors slam opening of Union Carbide plantNovember 12th, 2009 BHOPAL - Bhopal gas tragedy survivors Thursday criticised the Madhya Pradesh government's announcement to throw open Union Carbide's now defunct pesticide plant here for the public on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy as a "dangerous publicity stunt" and termed it a violation of court orders. The tragedy on the intervening night of Dec 2-3, 1984, occurred when tonnes of Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) and other lethal gases spewed out of the Union Carbide Corporation's pesticide plant here, killing more than 3,500 people instantly and maiming several thousand others for life.
Dabwali fire victims finally get Rs 11.24 crore in damagesNovember 9th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Nearly 14 years after one of the worst fire tragedies in the country claimed 446 lives and left over 200 others with burn injuries in Haryana's Dabwali town, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday awarded a compensation of Rs.11.24 crore to the victims' kins. A bench comprising Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia Monday held the DAV managing committee, DAV Centenary Public School and the management of the Rajiv Marriage Palace liable for the deaths and injuries of scores of students and parents, and directed them to pay 55 per cent of the total compensation awarded.
Families of Sikh riot victims protest outside courtOctober 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Demanding justice, some families of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots Saturday protested outside the Karkardooma court here, which was hearing a case related to the savagery in the capital 25 years ago. It has been 25 years since the riots took place.
Boat tragedy: Kerala government, tourism agency also responsibleOctober 20th, 2009 KOCHI - The Kerala High Court Tuesday held the Kerala government and the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) also responsible for the Thekkady boat tragedy because they did not act on earlier recommendations. Justice K.T.Sankaran made this observation while granting bail to five of the six people who were arrested by the Crime Branch during investigations into the tragedy.
Government also blamed for Kerala boat tragedyOctober 20th, 2009 KOCHI - The Kerala High Court Tuesday held the Kerala government and the Kerala Tourism Development Corp (KTDC) also responsible for the boat tragedy that killed 45 tourists last month, saying they did not act on earlier recommendations to improve safety. Justice K.T.
Madhya Pradesh tribals protest inaction on droughtOctober 13th, 2009 BHOPAL - Thousands of tribals, including a large number of women and children, held a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district Tuesday alleging inaction by the central and state governments on drought and high food prices. The tribals, who were protesting under the aegis of Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, said the rich and the corporate sector were being pampered with tax subsidies while they were being left to die of hunger.
Don't victimise sex trafficking victims further: expertsOctober 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Experts Monday called for changing the laws on sex trafficking so the perpetrators of the trade are punished, instead of the victims, and effective measures are taken to ensure rehabilitation. "Let's not victimize the victims of sex trafficking further.
Cover-up in Bofors bribery case now complete: CPI-MSeptember 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Wednesday slammed the Congress-led central government for its decision to stop prosecution against Italian businessmen Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Rs. 640 million Bofors payoff case.
No building religious places on public land: Supreme CourtSeptember 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - No more construction of religious places on public land, the Supreme Court said in an order Tuesday. A bench of Justice Dalbir Bhandari and Justice M.K.
Early release of three Uphaar tragedy convicts criticisedSeptember 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The early release of three persons convicted in the Uphaar fire tragedy case has been criticised by the association of the victims' kin. The three accused got just two years of punishment and that too was cut short by nearly six months courtesy our system, said Neelam Krishnamurthy, the convenor of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT).
Now seven-point action plan to stop illegal migrationSeptember 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A seven-point action plan to stop illegal migration to other countries has been agreed upon following a two-day consultation meeting between the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and the state governments that ended here Wednesday. The plan seeks to notify a focal point at least at the level of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to tackle illegal migration, to launch awareness campaign at the grassroots level and to identify high-risk prone areas - districts/talukas - for focused attention, and to start institutional efforts through district police to gather intelligence on intermediaries and middlemen who foster illegal immigration.
