Major News and Events of 28 July 2014

A team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has visited Tripura after the attacks were made on party cadres allegedly by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). Some members of the delegation of the BJP visited the rural areas of Tripura where clashes were reported after the panchayat polls. This is the first time when a delegation from BJP has visited any northeastern state since the Modi government has assumed power in the Centre.

Francis D’Souza, Deputy Chief Minister of Goa has apologised for his comments that India was already a Hindu nation. He said, “My opinion could be wrong for others. I accept it. I don't say it is the most correct opinion. You might say I am wrong. If anyone's sentiment is hurt, I apologise”. D’Souza’s comments sparked an uproar in the political scene when he said, “Hindu is my culture, Christianity is my religion. When I say Hindu, it means culture and not religion. Hindu culture is 5,000 years old and my religion is 2,000 years old".

The NDA government is likely to permit the lady officers to command battalions in the branches of Army such as engineers, signal and aviation. According to an Army source, the government might file an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that the women officers who will be joining the force from 2015-16 onwards would be trained to command battalions. So far the women officers were allowed only in the non-combat arms.   

The meteorological department has warned another round of unceasing heavy rains in Uttarakhand. Ten days ago heavy rains pounded the state. At least six people were killed and two others injured in a landslide on Sunday. The alert has been meant for areas including Chamoli, Champawat, Nainital, Uttarkashi and Dehradun. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has expressed his condolences for the dead people and has ordered an enquiry into the incidence.

Reliance Power Ltd. is likely to buy the entire hydropower business of Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd. After the deal, Anil Ambani’s group will become the largest private hydropower provider in the country. Reliance CleanGen Ltd., a subsidiary of Reliance Power, which is a part of the Reliance Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jaiprakash to purchase three power plants. None of the companies have disclosed the amount of the deal, but according to media reports, the portfolio value of the hydropower is estimated at 120 billion rupees ($2 billion).

The situation in violence-hit areas of Saharanpur is still not stable. Three people were killed in the communal violence which took place two days ago in the city. The tensed situations continued to prevail in the city which has forced the authorities to extend curfew in some more areas. The district police chief Rajesh Pandey said that para-military personnel and police have been deployed in the tensed areas. So far, 38 people have been arrested since Sunday in the violence.