4,000 kg Onions Stolen in Rajasthan, 2 Held

Jaipur:  Thieves have again decamped with onions, this time in the Pink City, where 4,000 kg of the pricey bulb was stolen from a wholesale market.

Two persons have been arrested for the theft from Muhana Mandi in Jaipur.

The accused include a watchman of the mandi and a woman who provided place for the stock, police said today. Watchman Kajor was arrested last night and the woman was caught today, Investigating officer Ashutosh Kumar said.

“The shop owner Kishan Agrawal found the stock missing and lodged an FIR. Kajor transported the onions to the woman’s place in a pick up van. Involvement of other persons is also suspected and the matter is being investigated,” he added.

Seventy sacks, of 60 kg each, were stolen from a shop in the Mandi on the intervening night of August 28-29 and the FIR was registered on August 30.

Rising onion prices have adversely hit household budgets with wholesale prices hovering around Rs 50/kg.

'All They Chanted Was Modi Modi': PMs Dig at Sonia Gandhi, Nitish Kumar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the rally in Bhagalpur today.

Patna:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to the fierce attack on him two days ago by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Congress Vice-President Sonia Gandhi and the RJD’s Lalu Yadav, was a jibe.

At a rally in Bihar’s Bhagalpur today, PM Modi scoffed, “Such big leaders came together at Patna’s Gandhi maidan and could only chant Modi, Modi, Modi, Modi.” That he thought happened only at NDA rallies and his trips abroad, the PM quipped.

He said not only the people of Bihar but also those in the rest of the country were disappointed that the rival alliance “uttered not a word on the plans it has for Bihar’s development.”

In his speech today at his fourth rally in Bihar, where elections will be held by November, PM Modi sought to underscore that its development agenda sets apart his BJP from rival parties. He said he was “happy” that his announcement last month of a central aid bonanza for Bihar had forced rivals to “come to the issue of development in this election.”

“This election is for the Bihar assembly, those who have ruled for 25 years need to account for their performance, not me. I will furnish a complete account in the Lok Sabha elections,” the PM said.

Like before, several scathing attacks on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were at the centre of his speech today.

Mr Kumar answered swiftly, alleging in a tweet as PM Modi’s speech ended, “All that could be heard in it was me, me…only me (Modi).”

The campaign for Bihar has so far been marked by a high-voltage exchange of words between Mr Kumar, who hopes to win a third term as chief minister and PM Modi, around whom the BJP has built its campaign for the state.

Two years ago, Nitish Kumar had thrown the BJP out of their 17-year alliance as it became clear that it would project Mr Modi for PM. He now takes the party on with new allies the RJD and the Congress.

 

Stop Chest-Thumping, Says Nitish Kumar to PM

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressing a press conference in Patna (Press Trust of India photo)

Patna:  As nearly one lakh people crowded into a public ground, some of them panda-climbing up poles to watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from a distance, Nitish Kumar urged Mr Modi to “stop the chest-thumping and show some moral courage.”

The tweeted and unsolicited pointers to the PM are not selfless. Mr Kumar wants a third back-to-back term as Chief Minister of Bihar. That’s wishful thinking, said the PM, whose rally in Bhagalpur is the fourth in his election campaign. “Modi-Modi-Modi – even my opponents said only this,” the PM said, referring to a rally held on Sunday in Patna by Mr Kumar and his allies. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and regional powerhouse Lalu Prasad shared top billing with Mr Kumar.

At his rallies, the PM has committed to special financial packages to assist Bihar, one of the most under-developed parts of the country. Mr Kumar dared him today to acknowledge that the money on offer has already been accounted for in earlier schemes given to the state by the Centre.

Mr Kumar also has not gotten over the PM saying a few weeks ago that “deceit and betrayal” are in the DNA of the Chief Minister. Extrapolating that as an insult to all Biharis, he has sought an apology, a demand he reiterated today.

The BJP and its three allies have decided that the PM will ask for votes directly for him, and not for a presumptive Chief Minister. This has pitched the election in Bihar to a full-blown confrontation between Mr Kumar and Mr Modi, who have, for years, and through a lengthy alliance of their parties, made no secret of their disregard for each other.

Mr Kumar has alleged that as Gujarat Chief Minister, the PM failed to do enough to stop the communal riots of 2002 (a Supreme Court inquiry has concluded that is not correct). When the BJP decided to pick Mr Modi as its candidate for PM, Mr Kumar exited an 18-year-long alliance.

Stop Chest-Thumping, Says Nitish Kumar to PM

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressing a press conference in Patna (Press Trust of India photo)

Patna:  As nearly one lakh people crowded into a public ground, some of them panda-climbing up poles to watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from a distance, Nitish Kumar urged Mr Modi to “stop the chest-thumping and show some moral courage.”

The tweeted and unsolicited pointers to the PM are not selfless. Mr Kumar wants a third back-to-back term as Chief Minister of Bihar. That’s wishful thinking, said the PM, whose rally in Bhagalpur is the fourth in his election campaign. “Modi-Modi-Modi – even my opponents said only this,” the PM said, referring to a rally held on Sunday in Patna by Mr Kumar and his allies. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and regional powerhouse Lalu Prasad shared top billing with Mr Kumar.

At his rallies, the PM has committed to special financial packages to assist Bihar, one of the most under-developed parts of the country. Mr Kumar dared him today to acknowledge that the money on offer has already been accounted for in earlier schemes given to the state by the Centre.

Mr Kumar also has not gotten over the PM saying a few weeks ago that “deceit and betrayal” are in the DNA of the Chief Minister. Extrapolating that as an insult to all Biharis, he has sought an apology, a demand he reiterated today.

The BJP and its three allies have decided that the PM will ask for votes directly for him, and not for a presumptive Chief Minister. This has pitched the election in Bihar to a full-blown confrontation between Mr Kumar and Mr Modi, who have, for years, and through a lengthy alliance of their parties, made no secret of their disregard for each other.

Mr Kumar has alleged that as Gujarat Chief Minister, the PM failed to do enough to stop the communal riots of 2002 (a Supreme Court inquiry has concluded that is not correct). When the BJP decided to pick Mr Modi as its candidate for PM, Mr Kumar exited an 18-year-long alliance.

Hardik vs Statistics on Admissions in Gujarat Medical Colleges

Hardik Patel addresses the media in Delhi on August 30.

Ahmedabad:  Hardik Patel’s allegation that caste reservation in admissions to medical colleges in Gujarat deals a grave blow to the prospects of aspiring doctors from his Patel community, does not seem to hold up to a scrutiny of data.

 

The 22-year-old has alleged in hard-hitting speeches that those on quota lists with even 45 per cent marks in entrance tests have made it to medical colleges, depriving many Patel candidates with much higher marks of a place.

 
But statistics suggest that the Patels have done well. Out of the 4,200 seats in medicine, dental surgery and nursing courses this year, over a 1000 went to Patel candidates, shows data from Gujarat’s Admission Committee for Professional Medical Educational Courses (ACPMEC).

 

Also, the difference between the cut-off marks for students in reserved categories and those from the general category, which includes the Patels, has been no more than about 6% in the last three years.

 

So this year, while aspirants from the general category had to score 95 per cent to get admission to a medical college, those from Other Backward Castes (OBC), who get the benefit of reservation, had to score 91 per cent and those from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, 89 per cent. The pattern was much the same in the last two years, with the cut-offs never going below the 84 per cent for any student.

 

Hardik Patel, the face of a massive agitation, wants the wealthy and influential Patels to be included in the list of socially and economically weaker sections in Gujarat so that they can get the benefit of reservation too in government jobs and colleges.

 

Other groups already included in the quota lists strongly oppose this and accuse Hardik Patel of running a misleading campaign. “There is a mere 3 to 4 per cent different between cut-offs for general and OBC categories in medical colleges…this is misleading propaganda,” said a Dalit activist, Jignesh Mewani.

 

Hardik Patel shrugged off the statistics, seeking to have the last word. “You are talking about 2015… I will get you data from 2011 – 12 – 13 – 14…I will get you the reports later…any more questions?” he said.

In War Over Bihar Package, PM Modi Does The Math

PM Narendra Modi addresses the rally in Bhagalpur, Bihar.

Bhagalpur, Bihar:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued his latest challenge to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in their war of crores for Bihar. At a rally in Bhagalpur today, the biggest yet he asserted, PM Modi rubbished Nitish Kumar’s announcement last week of development schemes worth Rs 2.7 lakh crore.

“There is a finance commission that decides how much money the Centre will give to the states…it has said that in the next five years, Bihar will get Rs 3.76 lakh crore. This means you are getting only Rs 2.7 lakh crore out of the Delhi money,” PM Modi alleged, adding, “We should ask where will 1.6 lakh crore go…has it gone into fodder?”

The comment was a dig not only at Nitish Kumar but also his ally Lalu Yadav, who was convicted last year in the state’s infamous fodder scam.

The PM’s attempt to deny Mr Kumar the credit he had sought is only the latest set of big numbers being thrown at the voters in Bihar, where elections are due by November. PM Modi emphasized that while Mr Kumar’s “package” would come out of monies set aside for the state by the finance commission, the Rs 1.25 lakh crore in central aid that he had announced at his last rally, is separate.

Nitish Kumar has in turn dismissed PM Modi’s package as nothing more than an election promise. “Modiji, stop the rhetorics, chest thumping & everyday new promises. Show moral courage…Respect the sentiments of people of Bihar who have been troubled by your unkept promises & unsavoury comments,” Mr Kumar said today in tweets strategically timed to coincide with the PM’s arrival in Bihar.

“This is not like the package the prime minister announced. We will get funds for these projects and implement them as soon as possible,” Mr Kumar had said while announcing the schemes worth Rs 2.7 lakh crores.

The BJP in Bihar is confident that the PM’s announcement of the central bonanza for Bihar last month is a game changer and will give it a huge advantage in the assembly elections.

The party takes on an alliance led by Nitish Kumar and which includes Lalu Yadav’s RJD and the Congress, in the Bihar elections.

In War Over Bihar Package, PM Modi Does The Math

PM Narendra Modi addresses the rally in Bhagalpur, Bihar.

Bhagalpur, Bihar:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued his latest challenge to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in their war of crores for Bihar. At a rally in Bhagalpur today, the biggest yet he asserted, PM Modi rubbished Nitish Kumar’s announcement last week of development schemes worth Rs 2.7 lakh crore.

“There is a finance commission that decides how much money the Centre will give to the states…it has said that in the next five years, Bihar will get Rs 3.76 lakh crore. This means you are getting only Rs 2.7 lakh crore out of the Delhi money,” PM Modi alleged, adding, “We should ask where will 1.6 lakh crore go…has it gone into fodder?”

The comment was a dig not only at Nitish Kumar but also his ally Lalu Yadav, who was convicted last year in the state’s infamous fodder scam.

The PM’s attempt to deny Mr Kumar the credit he had sought is only the latest set of big numbers being thrown at the voters in Bihar, where elections are due by November. PM Modi emphasized that while Mr Kumar’s “package” would come out of monies set aside for the state by the finance commission, the Rs 1.25 lakh crore in central aid that he had announced at his last rally, is separate.

Nitish Kumar has in turn dismissed PM Modi’s package as nothing more than an election promise. “Modiji, stop the rhetorics, chest thumping & everyday new promises. Show moral courage…Respect the sentiments of people of Bihar who have been troubled by your unkept promises & unsavoury comments,” Mr Kumar said today in tweets strategically timed to coincide with the PM’s arrival in Bihar.

“This is not like the package the prime minister announced. We will get funds for these projects and implement them as soon as possible,” Mr Kumar had said while announcing the schemes worth Rs 2.7 lakh crores.

The BJP in Bihar is confident that the PM’s announcement of the central bonanza for Bihar last month is a game changer and will give it a huge advantage in the assembly elections.

The party takes on an alliance led by Nitish Kumar and which includes Lalu Yadav’s RJD and the Congress, in the Bihar elections.

Hardik vs Statistics on Admissions in Gujarat Medical Colleges

Hardik Patel addresses the media in Delhi on August 30.

Ahmedabad:  Hardik Patel’s allegation that caste reservation in admissions to medical colleges in Gujarat deals a grave blow to the prospects of aspiring doctors from his Patel community, does not seem to hold up to a scrutiny of data.

 

The 22-year-old has alleged in hard-hitting speeches that those on quota lists with even 45 per cent marks in entrance tests have made it to medical colleges, depriving many Patel candidates with much higher marks of a place.

 
But statistics suggest that the Patels have done well. Out of the 4,200 seats in medicine, dental surgery and nursing courses this year, over a 1000 went to Patel candidates, shows data from Gujarat’s Admission Committee for Professional Medical Educational Courses (ACPMEC).

 

Also, the difference between the cut-off marks for students in reserved categories and those from the general category, which includes the Patels, has been no more than about 6% in the last three years.

 

So this year, while aspirants from the general category had to score 95 per cent to get admission to a medical college, those from Other Backward Castes (OBC), who get the benefit of reservation, had to score 91 per cent and those from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, 89 per cent. The pattern was much the same in the last two years, with the cut-offs never going below the 84 per cent for any student.

 

Hardik Patel, the face of a massive agitation, wants the wealthy and influential Patels to be included in the list of socially and economically weaker sections in Gujarat so that they can get the benefit of reservation too in government jobs and colleges.

 

Other groups already included in the quota lists strongly oppose this and accuse Hardik Patel of running a misleading campaign. “There is a mere 3 to 4 per cent different between cut-offs for general and OBC categories in medical colleges…this is misleading propaganda,” said a Dalit activist, Jignesh Mewani.

 

Hardik Patel shrugged off the statistics, seeking to have the last word. “You are talking about 2015… I will get you data from 2011 – 12 – 13 – 14…I will get you the reports later…any more questions?” he said.

PM Modi's 4th Rally in Bihar: Top 5 Quotes

PM Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Bhagalpur, Bihar

Bhagalpur:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Bhagalpur today, his fourth in Bihar where elections will be held by November.

Here are the top five quotes from his speech:

1. “From this record crowd, political pundits can gauge public mood. No one can stop NDA’s victory march in Bihar”


2. “In 2019, I will give an account of every paisa spent in five years. Will they (Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav) give an account of what they did in 25 years in Bihar?”


3. “I thought only in NDA rallies and foreign visits everyone says ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’. But I was surprised that even these people chant Modi, Modi, Modi”


4. “By joining hands with the Congress, they (Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav) betrayed their mentor Jay Prakash Narayan, who fought against the Emergency”


5. “Centre gave Rs 3.75 lakh crore to Bihar, only Rs 2.7 lakh crore accounted for. What about the rest? Has it gone into fodder?”

Story First Published: September 01, 2015 14:11 IST

PM Modi's 4th Rally in Bihar: Top 5 Quotes

PM Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Bhagalpur, Bihar

Bhagalpur:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Bhagalpur today, his fourth in Bihar where elections will be held by November.

Here are the top five quotes from his speech:

1. “From this record crowd, political pundits can gauge public mood. No one can stop NDA’s victory march in Bihar”


2. “In 2019, I will give an account of every paisa spent in five years. Will they (Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav) give an account of what they did in 25 years in Bihar?”


3. “I thought only in NDA rallies and foreign visits everyone says ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’. But I was surprised that even these people chant Modi, Modi, Modi”


4. “By joining hands with the Congress, they (Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav) betrayed their mentor Jay Prakash Narayan, who fought against the Emergency”


5. “Centre gave Rs 3.75 lakh crore to Bihar, only Rs 2.7 lakh crore accounted for. What about the rest? Has it gone into fodder?”

Story First Published: September 01, 2015 14:11 IST

Sensex Slumps Nearly 700 Points on Weak GDP, Global Selloff

Indian stock markets are on course for a big down day, with the BSE Sensex and Nifty indices falling nearly 2.5 per cent in late trading. The BSE Sensex fell nearly 700 points, while the Nifty slumped below the key 7,800 levels.

Here are 10 things to know about Tuesday’s selloff:

1) The selloff in domestic stock markets is being linked to fresh bout of weakness across Asia and Europe, where equities took a big beating on Tuesday. Japan’s Nikkei closed nearly 4 per cent lower.

2) European stock markets traded with over 2 per cent cuts, while Dow futures indicated a lower opening for the Wall Street.

3) Analysts say rising concerns of a deep-seated slowdown in China, the world’s second biggest economy, is weighing on global stocks. Investors tend to react in panic every time a negative data comes out of China.

4) China’s giant manufacturing sector contracted at the fastest pace in three years, rattling Asian markets on Tuesday. Even China’s services sector, which has been one of the few bright spots in the sputtering economy, showed alarming signs of cooling.

5) Traders are also disappointed with a series of weak economic data in India. Growth in core sector, which contributes nearly 40 per cent to industrial output, slowed to a 3-month low, while June quarter GDP grew below estimates at 7 per cent, weighing on sentiments.

6) A delay in recovery in corporate earnings has led Macquarie, Barclays and Ambit to downgrade Indian shares over the last few days.

7) Domestic stock markets are also reeling from rising momentum of selling by foreign investors. In August, foreign investors sold shares worth Rs 16,877 crore, which is a record.

8) Banking stocks led the losses and underperformed the broader markets. The Bank Nifty slumped nearly 4 per cent on Tuesday on fears that HDFC Bank’s aggressive rate cut will put pressure on margins of the banking system.

9) High beta metals and realty stocks also traded with over 3 per cent cuts; capital goods and auto stocks also fell sharply. 45 of 50 Nifty stocks traded lower.

10) Higher rupee was the only silver lining in Tuesday’s trade today. As of 2.15 p.m., the rupee traded 66.38 per dollar, 10 paise higher than yesterday’s close of 66.48.