Ahead of the Class 10 examinations, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) on Sunday directed students to sit in exams while wearing slippers or flip-flops and not shoes along with socks.

&quot;There is nothing new in this order to students appearing in Class 10 exams from February 21. It is a usual practice in other examinations held in the state. The board decided to adopt the practice from this year,&quot; BSEB Chairman Anand Kishore, who issued the instructions on Sunday, said.

Nearly 17.70 lakh students will sit for the Class 10 exams at 1,426 centres across the state from February 21 to 28.

Nearly 1,000 students were penalised for cheating during the Class 12 exams that concluded last Saturday.

According to BSEB officials, the annual examinations this year were fair and mass cheating is a thing of the past in Bihar.

Last year, the Class 12 Arts stream topper was a 42-year-old man, who was later arrested for on the charge of faking his age to take the exams.

Nearly 17.70 lakh students will sit for the Class 10 exams at 1,426 centres across the state from February 21 to 28

Ahead of the Class 10 examinations, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) on Sunday directed students to sit in exams while wearing slippers or flip-flops and not shoes along with socks. "There is nothing new in this order to students appearing in Class 10 exams from February 21. It is a usual practice in other examinations held in the state. The board decided to adopt the practice from this year," BSEB Chairman Anand Kishore, who issued the instructions on Sunday, said. Nearly 17.70 lakh students will sit for the Class 10 exams at 1,426 centres across the state from February 21 to 28. Nearly 1,000 students were penalised for cheating during the Class 12 exams that concluded last Saturday. According to BSEB officials, the annual examinations this year were fair and mass cheating is a thing of the past in Bihar. Last year, the Class 12 Arts stream topper was a 42-year-old man, who was later arrested for on the charge of faking his age to take the exams.

Wear chappals while taking exams, Bihar Board tells students

&nbsp;RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday urged farmers of Bihar to join the Sangh and become a part of its mission to build a society free from discrimination. 
 
Speaking to farmers invited to an RSS volunteers&#39; camp here, he highlighted the work done by volunteers in villages of the country. 
 
&quot;The problems faced by our villages can be solved by only those who live in villages. The RSS has been in close touch with rural India,&quot; said the&nbsp;Sarsanghchalak&nbsp;of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 
 
&quot;Thousands of our branches operate in villages. Our swayamsevaks have made a laudable contribution towards rural development,&quot; said Mr Bhagwat who arrived in this north Bihar town on a five-day tour yesterday. 
 
The RSS chief also stressed on the need to adopt organic farming. He said that organic farming has been a part of the tradition for thousands of years. 
 
The RSS chief&#39;s tour of the state is scheduled to conclude on February 15. 
 
Opposition parties, the RJD and the Congress, have alleged that Mr Bhagwat&#39;s visits have become frequent of late and it was a part of the agenda of the BJP to &quot;saffronize&quot; Bihar.

They have also accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of having capitulated before the BJP, and taunted him over his 2016 resolve of making a RSS-free India when he had been heading an anti-BJP coalition government. 
 
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said Mr Bhagwat was meeting farmers with a view to helping them make their own lives better.

Speaking to farmers invited to a RSS volunteers' camp, he highlighted the work done by volunteers in villages of the country

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday urged farmers of Bihar to join the Sangh and become a part of its mission to build a society free from discrimination. Speaking to farmers invited to an RSS volunteers' camp here, he highlighted the work done by volunteers in villages of the country. "The problems faced by our villages can be solved by only those who live in villages. The RSS has been in close touch with rural India," said the Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "Thousands of our branches operate in villages. Our swayamsevaks have made a laudable contribution towards rural development," said Mr Bhagwat who arrived in this north Bihar town on a five-day tour yesterday. The RSS chief also stressed on the need to adopt organic farming. He said that organic farming has been a part of the tradition for thousands of years. The RSS chief's tour of the state is scheduled to conclude on February 15. Opposition parties, the RJD and the Congress, have alleged that Mr Bhagwat's visits have become frequent of late and it was a part of the agenda of the BJP to "saffronize" Bihar. They have also accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of having capitulated before the BJP, and taunted him over his 2016 resolve of making a RSS-free India when he had been heading an anti-BJP coalition government. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said Mr Bhagwat was meeting farmers with a view to helping them make their own lives better.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urges Bihar farmers to join the Sangh, build discrimination-free society

Karni Sena protestors have once again taken the law into their hands after they vandalised a cinema hall in Muzaffarpur city in Bihar on Thursday.&nbsp;

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Protesters vandalize a cinema hall in Bihar&#39;s Muzaffarpur. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://t.co/MlleJsFBkE">pic.twitter.com/MlleJsFBkE</a>
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This comes in the wake of Supreme Court&#39;s judgement against ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali&#39;s film &quot;Padmaavat&quot; in four states namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The court ruled in favour of the makers of the film who said that the film had got a release certificate by the Central Board of Film certification and a blanket state ban on the film did not make sense.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmaavat-cleared-by-the-supreme-court-in-four-states-stays-ban-29917" target="_blank">Also Read:&nbsp;When Bandit Queen can release, why not </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmaavat-cleared-by-the-supreme-court-in-four-states-stays-ban-29917" target="_blank">Padmaavat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmaavat-cleared-by-the-supreme-court-in-four-states-stays-ban-29917" target="_blank">, says Supreme Court</a>

Reacting to this news, Karni Sena called for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmaavat-should-not-be-screened-appeal-to-public-to-impose-curfew-karni-sena-chief-29942" target="_blank">&quot;Junta Curfew&quot;</a>&nbsp;(public curfew) and vandalised cinema halls in Muzaffarpur.&nbsp;

A leader of the group talking to IANS said that they&nbsp;would reach out to cinema hall owners across the country, asking them to not show the movie or face the consequences.

On Tuesday, Karni Sena had taken out a massive rally in Rajasthan&#39;s Dholpur to demand a countrywide ban on &quot;Padmaavat&quot;, which is scheduled for release on January 25.

They have <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmaavat-women-of-kshatriya-community-threaten-to-perform-jauhar-if-the-films-release-is-not-stalled-29572" target="_blank">threatened</a> mass immolation if the film is not banned.

&nbsp;

This comes after Supreme Court of India ruled against ban on the film as it has been granted a clearance certificate by the CBFC

Karni Sena protestors have once again taken the law into their hands after they vandalised a cinema hall in Muzaffarpur city in Bihar on Thursday. Protesters vandalize a cinema hall in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/MlleJsFBkE — ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018 × This comes in the wake of Supreme Court's judgement against ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film "Padmaavat" in four states namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The court ruled in favour of the makers of the film who said that the film had got a release certificate by the Central Board of Film certification and a blanket state ban on the film did not make sense. Also Read: When Bandit Queen can release, why not Padmaavat, says Supreme Court Reacting to this news, Karni Sena called for "Junta Curfew" (public curfew) and vandalised cinema halls in Muzaffarpur. A leader of the group talking to IANS said that they would reach out to cinema hall owners across the country, asking them to not show the movie or face the consequences. On Tuesday, Karni Sena had taken out a massive rally in Rajasthan's Dholpur to demand a countrywide ban on "Padmaavat", which is scheduled for release on January 25. They have threatened mass immolation if the film is not banned.

Padmaavat: Karni Sena workers vandalise Bihar cinema hall

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/judicial-rift-bar-council-forms-7-member-committee-to-resolve-the-matter-29421">Judicial rift: Bar Council forms 7-member committee to resolve the matter</a>

The 7-member delegation will meet the four Supreme Court judges.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/they-found-nothing-took-some-documents-to-justify-themselves-chidambaram-on-ed-raids-on-kartis-residence-29407">Chidambaram terms ED raids as &#39;comedy of errors&#39;</a>

He also spoke about the absence of an FIR or any Police agency.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pawan-hans-chopper-crashes-off-mumbai-coast-4-bodies-found-29420">Pawan Hans chopper crashes off Mumbai coast, 4 bodies found</a>

So far, four bodies have been recovered, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said in a statement. The search operation is on for other missing persons.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/19-held-in-connection-with-attack-on-bihar-cm-nitish-kumars-convoy-29426">19 held in connection with </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/19-held-in-connection-with-attack-on-bihar-cm-nitish-kumars-convoy-29426">attack</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/19-held-in-connection-with-attack-on-bihar-cm-nitish-kumars-convoy-29426"> on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar&#39;s convoy</a>

Nitish Kumar was on a state-wide tour to take a stock of state government&#39;s development schemes over the years when his convoy came under attack.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/gavaskar-questions-indias-team-selection-for-2nd-test-29417">Gavaskar questions India&#39;s team selection for 2nd Test</a>

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out due to a strain and Parthiv Patel was included is his place.

&nbsp;

Judicial rift: Bar Council forms 7-member committee to resolve the matter The 7-member delegation will meet the four Supreme Court judges. Chidambaram terms ED raids as 'comedy of errors' He also spoke about the absence of an FIR or any Police agency. Pawan Hans chopper crashes off Mumbai coast, 4 bodies found So far, four bodies have been recovered, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said in a statement. The search operation is on for other missing persons. 19 held in connection with attack on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's convoy Nitish Kumar was on a state-wide tour to take a stock of state government's development schemes over the years when his convoy came under attack. Gavaskar questions India's team selection for 2nd Test Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out due to a strain and Parthiv Patel was included is his place.

WION Evening News brief, January 13, 2018

Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav who was sentenced to 3.5 years of jail time and fined Rs 5 lakh for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fodder-scam-lalu-prasad-sentenced-to-35-years-in-jail-28721">fodder scam</a> has filed a complaint to special CBI judge of being treated like a common prisoner.&nbsp;

Judge Shivpal Singh, who also announced the fodder scam verdict, informed that&nbsp;&quot;law was equal for all, including mass leaders.&quot;

The 69-year-old also pleaded Singh to award him 2.5 years of imprisonment for the Dumka treasury case, whose judgment is set to be pronounced soon.&nbsp;

Also, as Makar Sankranti nears, Lalu persisted that he does not want to eat &#39;dahi chura&#39; on the occasion.&nbsp;

However, Singh ordered that the dish will be served regardless.

&quot;No sir, this is a thing of the Yadavs. If I eat dahi-chura with you, I might end up in a problem like Syed Shahabuddin of Siwan,&quot; he said while breaking into laughter.&nbsp;

He also complained earlier that the authorities were not letting him meet his party leaders and other visitors.&nbsp;Singh ruled that visitors will only be allowed following the jail manual.&nbsp;

Others convicted in the fodder scam case, Phool Chand, Mahesh Prasad, Bake Julious, Sunil Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Sudhir Kumar and Raja Ram sentenced to three-and-a-half&nbsp;years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine each.

Judge Shivpal Singh, who also announced the fodder scam verdict, informed that "law was equal for all, including mass leaders."

Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav who was sentenced to 3.5 years of jail time and fined Rs 5 lakh for fodder scam has filed a complaint to special CBI judge of being treated like a common prisoner. Judge Shivpal Singh, who also announced the fodder scam verdict, informed that "law was equal for all, including mass leaders." The 69-year-old also pleaded Singh to award him 2.5 years of imprisonment for the Dumka treasury case, whose judgment is set to be pronounced soon. Also, as Makar Sankranti nears, Lalu persisted that he does not want to eat 'dahi chura' on the occasion. However, Singh ordered that the dish will be served regardless. "No sir, this is a thing of the Yadavs. If I eat dahi-chura with you, I might end up in a problem like Syed Shahabuddin of Siwan," he said while breaking into laughter. He also complained earlier that the authorities were not letting him meet his party leaders and other visitors. Singh ruled that visitors will only be allowed following the jail manual. Others convicted in the fodder scam case, Phool Chand, Mahesh Prasad, Bake Julious, Sunil Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Sudhir Kumar and Raja Ram sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine each.

Treated like 'common prisoner', complains Lalu Prasad Yadav

A stampede broke out during an army recruitment drive at Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar&#39;s Rohtas district in the early hours today, killing an aspirant and injuring four others, police said.

The incident took place around 3 AM when thousands of aspirants, impatient as they waited outside in the cold, tried to gatecrash the BMP (Bihar Military Police) ground through the police lines to take the physical test for the job of a jawan, Rohtas Superintendent of Police M S Dhillon said.

The deceased has been identified as Mukesh Kumar, who hailed from Gaya district, the SP said.

Kumar was among the five people who were injured in the stampede, Dhillon said, adding, he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The four other injured -- Vimlesh Kumar, Devbrat Kumar Shyamnandan Kumar Verma and Dharmendra Kumar -- were receiving treatment at the Sadar Hospital in Sasaram, the SP said adding, their condition is stated to be out of danger.

The situation was brought under control using mild force and entry was allowed in a disciplined manner.

Dehri-On-Sone is around 80 km from state capital Patna. BMP-2 is located here. BMP-1 is in Danapur on the outskirt of Patna.

The incident happened on the fifth day of the recruitment drive which will continue till January 18.

The drive was not affected by the incident and physical test continued as per schedule. The test went ahead as the incident happened at the gate and not in the ground, said Col. Rajiv Kumar, under whom the recruitment drive is underway.

More than 5,000 registrations are done everyday district-wise out of which nearly 4,500 aspirants turn up for the rally. Today was the turn of applicants from Gaya district.&nbsp;

The incident took place around 3 AM when thousands of aspirants, impatient as they waited outside in the cold, tried to gatecrash the BMP (Bihar Military Police) ground through the police lines to take the physical test for the job of a jawan

A stampede broke out during an army recruitment drive at Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar's Rohtas district in the early hours today, killing an aspirant and injuring four others, police said. The incident took place around 3 AM when thousands of aspirants, impatient as they waited outside in the cold, tried to gatecrash the BMP (Bihar Military Police) ground through the police lines to take the physical test for the job of a jawan, Rohtas Superintendent of Police M S Dhillon said. The deceased has been identified as Mukesh Kumar, who hailed from Gaya district, the SP said. Kumar was among the five people who were injured in the stampede, Dhillon said, adding, he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. The four other injured -- Vimlesh Kumar, Devbrat Kumar Shyamnandan Kumar Verma and Dharmendra Kumar -- were receiving treatment at the Sadar Hospital in Sasaram, the SP said adding, their condition is stated to be out of danger. The situation was brought under control using mild force and entry was allowed in a disciplined manner. Dehri-On-Sone is around 80 km from state capital Patna. BMP-2 is located here. BMP-1 is in Danapur on the outskirt of Patna. The incident happened on the fifth day of the recruitment drive which will continue till January 18. The drive was not affected by the incident and physical test continued as per schedule. The test went ahead as the incident happened at the gate and not in the ground, said Col. Rajiv Kumar, under whom the recruitment drive is underway. More than 5,000 registrations are done everyday district-wise out of which nearly 4,500 aspirants turn up for the rally. Today was the turn of applicants from Gaya district.

Stampede during army recruitment drive in Bihar; 1 dead, 4 injured

In a bizarre incident, a man was forced to marry a girl at gunpoint after her family reportedly kidnapped him in Bihar.&nbsp;

Twenty-nine-year-old Vinod Kumar, an engineer, had come to the city to attend a wedding when he was picked up by a mutual friend and taken to a remote area where he was beaten up.&nbsp;

A video clip of the marriage has gone viral. The clip shows Kumar being forced to marry the girl while he cries in denial and resists.&nbsp;

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Bihar: Engineer allegedly forced to get married at gunpoint in Patna&#39;s Pandarak, kept crying. (2.1.18) <a href="https://t.co/8ce1JwHYAP">pic.twitter.com/8ce1JwHYAP</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/949605333500026880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He can be seen dressed as a groom beside the bride and her relatives, who continued to convince him.&nbsp;

Upon Kumar&#39;s refusal to marry the girl, one of the relatives said: &quot;We are only performing your wedding, not hanging you.&quot;

According to media reports, Vinod told the media that one of the bride&#39;s relatives pointed the gun at him and even beat him up.&nbsp;

The steel engineer said he was then held captive overnight before getting across a message to his brother who called the police.

The police reportedly told the boy&rsquo;s family to lodge an abduction case at Mokama, Patna, because the alleged abduction took place there.

Ever since the incident, Vinod&rsquo;s family has been getting threat calls asking him to accept the girl forcing them to seek police protection.

His allegations are being investigated by the police.

29-year-old Vinod Kumar, an engineer, had come to the city to attend a wedding when he was picked up by a mutual friend and taken to a remote area where he was beaten up by the girls relatives

In a bizarre incident, a man was forced to marry a girl at gunpoint after her family reportedly kidnapped him in Bihar. Twenty-nine-year-old Vinod Kumar, an engineer, had come to the city to attend a wedding when he was picked up by a mutual friend and taken to a remote area where he was beaten up. A video clip of the marriage has gone viral. The clip shows Kumar being forced to marry the girl while he cries in denial and resists. Bihar: Engineer allegedly forced to get married at gunpoint in Patna's Pandarak, kept crying. (2.1.18) pic.twitter.com/8ce1JwHYAP — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2018 × He can be seen dressed as a groom beside the bride and her relatives, who continued to convince him. Upon Kumar's refusal to marry the girl, one of the relatives said: "We are only performing your wedding, not hanging you." According to media reports, Vinod told the media that one of the bride's relatives pointed the gun at him and even beat him up. The steel engineer said he was then held captive overnight before getting across a message to his brother who called the police. The police reportedly told the boy’s family to lodge an abduction case at Mokama, Patna, because the alleged abduction took place there. Ever since the incident, Vinod’s family has been getting threat calls asking him to accept the girl forcing them to seek police protection. His allegations are being investigated by the police.

Watch: Man forced to marry girl at gunpoint in Bihar

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and 15 others were on Saturday sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail in a fodder scam case by a court in Ranchi.

Speaking on the verdict, Lalu&#39;s son and former Deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav said they will appeal against the sentence in the High court and will also apply for a bail.&nbsp;

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The judiciary performed its duty. We will go to the High Court after studying the sentence and apply for a bail: Tejashwi Yadav, RJD on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FodderScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FodderScam</a> <a href="https://t.co/17zxjyTQ2d">pic.twitter.com/17zxjyTQ2d</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/949595108684447744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On the other hand, the elder son Tej Pratap Yadav said, &quot;We are confident that he (Lalu Yadav) will get the bail. We have full faith in the judiciary&quot;.

As per the judgement,&nbsp;none of the convicts will be granted bail from the Ranchi Court. They will have to move to the High Court.

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We are confident that he (Lalu Yadav) will get bail. We have full faith on judiciary. We are not going to be cowed down: Tej Pratap Yadav <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FodderScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FodderScam</a> <a href="https://t.co/WHG1VFsKam">pic.twitter.com/WHG1VFsKam</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/949598047121502209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Lalu, earlier, appealed to the court for minimum punishment and pleaded to announce the&nbsp;sentence keeping in view his age and health.

The quantum of sentence was announced in the fodder scam case of more than Rs 89 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994.

&nbsp;

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister claims that he will appeal to the High Court to counter the judgement.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and 15 others were on Saturday sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail in a fodder scam case by a court in Ranchi. Speaking on the verdict, Lalu's son and former Deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav said they will appeal against the sentence in the High court and will also apply for a bail. The judiciary performed its duty. We will go to the High Court after studying the sentence and apply for a bail: Tejashwi Yadav, RJD on #FodderScam pic.twitter.com/17zxjyTQ2d — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2018 × On the other hand, the elder son Tej Pratap Yadav said, "We are confident that he (Lalu Yadav) will get the bail. We have full faith in the judiciary". As per the judgement, none of the convicts will be granted bail from the Ranchi Court. They will have to move to the High Court. We are confident that he (Lalu Yadav) will get bail. We have full faith on judiciary. We are not going to be cowed down: Tej Pratap Yadav #FodderScam pic.twitter.com/WHG1VFsKam — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2018 × Lalu, earlier, appealed to the court for minimum punishment and pleaded to announce the sentence keeping in view his age and health. The quantum of sentence was announced in the fodder scam case of more than Rs 89 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994.

'Will go to High Court and apply for bail,' says Tejashwi Yadav on Lalu's verdict

The fate of former <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-court-to-pronounce-verdict-in-fodder-scam-case-against-lalu-prasad-on-saturday-27495">Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav along</a> with 21 others will be decided today by a special CBI court in the 1996 fodder scam case.

Lalu, along with his<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/centre-withdraws-lalu-prasads-z-security-cover-25271"> son Tejaswi Yadav arrived in Ranchi </a>on Friday, ahead of the verdict while expressing the hope that the court will give him a &quot;clean chit&quot; in the case.

&quot;We trust and respect the judiciary. We will not let BJP&#39;s conspiracies work,&quot;&nbsp;he told reporters.

The case relates to the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of Rs. 95 lakh from the Deoghar treasury, more than Rs 900&nbsp;crores was reportedly syphoned off from the Chaibasa treasury when&nbsp;Lalu was chief minister of Bihar in the 90s.

The other accused in the case include former Bihar minister Vidya Sagar Nishad, former Public Accounts Committee chairmen Jagdish Sharma and Dhruv Bhagat. A chargesheet was filed against 38 persons in 1997.

Eleven of them died and three turned approvers while two other accused confessed to their crime and were convicted in 2006-07.

The accused are facing charges under IPC sections 120B, 409, 418, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477 (A), 201 and 511 and under Prevention of Corruption Act section 13 (1) D read with 13 (2). 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
RJD chief has already been convicted and sentenced to five years of imprisonment in one of the five fodder scam cases. The former Bihar chief minister faces three other fodder scam cases.

The other accused in the case include former Bihar minister Vidya Sagar Nishad, former Public Accounts Committee chairmen Jagdish Sharma and Dhruv Bhagat.

The fate of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav along with 21 others will be decided today by a special CBI court in the 1996 fodder scam case. Lalu, along with his son Tejaswi Yadav arrived in Ranchi on Friday, ahead of the verdict while expressing the hope that the court will give him a "clean chit" in the case. "We trust and respect the judiciary. We will not let BJP's conspiracies work," he told reporters. The case relates to the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of Rs. 95 lakh from the Deoghar treasury, more than Rs 900 crores was reportedly syphoned off from the Chaibasa treasury when Lalu was chief minister of Bihar in the 90s. The other accused in the case include former Bihar minister Vidya Sagar Nishad, former Public Accounts Committee chairmen Jagdish Sharma and Dhruv Bhagat. A chargesheet was filed against 38 persons in 1997. Eleven of them died and three turned approvers while two other accused confessed to their crime and were convicted in 2006-07. The accused are facing charges under IPC sections 120B, 409, 418, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477 (A), 201 and 511 and under Prevention of Corruption Act section 13 (1) D read with 13 (2). RJD chief has already been convicted and sentenced to five years of imprisonment in one of the five fodder scam cases. The former Bihar chief minister faces three other fodder scam cases.

D-Day for Lalu Prasad Yadav: CBI court set to deliver verdict in fodder case today

Over a thousand supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal were detained today for trying to enforce a shutdown in Bihar to protest against the sand-mining policy of the Nitish Kumar-led government.

A top police officer said protesters tried to disrupt road traffic in the morning and forced vendors to close their shops in several districts.

In the state capital, the bandh evoked mixed response as many commercial establishments remained open but downed shutters for brief periods during visits by RJD supporters.

&quot;A total of 1,734 persons were held across the state for disrupting public order, while trying to enforce the bandh,&quot; Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) S K Singhal told reporters.

He said 18 FIRs have been lodged at various police stations in the districts in connection with the incidents reported during the day.

Senior RJD leaders, including MLAs Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and Bhola Yadav, were detained at the Dak Bungalow Road crossing when they were staging a demonstration in a tractor, police said.

They were taken to the Kotwali police station nearby and let off a couple of hours later after they signed bonds, they said.

The RJD leaders have been accusing the state government of putting stringent restrictions on sand mining.

The Opposition party claimed that construction activities have come to a standstill in the state and thousands of workers have been rendered jobless due to the restrictions.

The party had, however, kept the Patna City and the bypass area out of the bandh purview to avoid causing inconvenience to Sikh pilgrims, who had converged in the area to attend the &quot;Shukrana&quot; (thanksgiving) ceremony as part of the 350th Prakash Parv (birth anniversary) celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh.

Despite pleas by the top RJD leaders to allow free movement of emergency services during the bandh, ambulances were seen stranded in traffic jams here.

The bandh supporters blocked road traffic in Begusarai, Aurangabad, Samastipur and Siwan. In Maner, in the outskirts of Patna, led by MLA Bhai Virendra RJD members burnt tyres on the highway, disrupting movement of vehicles on the busy Patna-Ara road for several hours.

The bandh drew flak from the JD(U)-BJP government.

State minister and BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav said, &quot;The behaviour of RJD activists reminded everybody of the lawlessness that prevail in the state whenever the party has been in power.&quot;

JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar accused the RJD of being &quot;in cahoots with the sand-mining mafia&quot; and questioned the rationale behind calling a bandh &quot;despite an announcement made by the Chief Secretary yesterday that sand mining will continue, for the time being, as per old provisions&quot;.

RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, however, said the chief secretary&#39;s announcement was just an eyewash.

&quot;The Patna High Court had categorically directed the state government, after staying its policy, to allow sand mining as per unamended provisions,&quot; he said.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad remained conspicuous by his absence at the demonstrations staged by his party.&nbsp;

Over a thousand supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal were detained today for trying to enforce a shutdown in Bihar to protest against the sand-mining policy of the Nitish Kumar-led government

Over a thousand supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal were detained today for trying to enforce a shutdown in Bihar to protest against the sand-mining policy of the Nitish Kumar-led government. A top police officer said protesters tried to disrupt road traffic in the morning and forced vendors to close their shops in several districts. In the state capital, the bandh evoked mixed response as many commercial establishments remained open but downed shutters for brief periods during visits by RJD supporters. "A total of 1,734 persons were held across the state for disrupting public order, while trying to enforce the bandh," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) S K Singhal told reporters. He said 18 FIRs have been lodged at various police stations in the districts in connection with the incidents reported during the day. Senior RJD leaders, including MLAs Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and Bhola Yadav, were detained at the Dak Bungalow Road crossing when they were staging a demonstration in a tractor, police said. They were taken to the Kotwali police station nearby and let off a couple of hours later after they signed bonds, they said. The RJD leaders have been accusing the state government of putting stringent restrictions on sand mining. The Opposition party claimed that construction activities have come to a standstill in the state and thousands of workers have been rendered jobless due to the restrictions. The party had, however, kept the Patna City and the bypass area out of the bandh purview to avoid causing inconvenience to Sikh pilgrims, who had converged in the area to attend the "Shukrana" (thanksgiving) ceremony as part of the 350th Prakash Parv (birth anniversary) celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh. Despite pleas by the top RJD leaders to allow free movement of emergency services during the bandh, ambulances were seen stranded in traffic jams here. The bandh supporters blocked road traffic in Begusarai, Aurangabad, Samastipur and Siwan. In Maner, in the outskirts of Patna, led by MLA Bhai Virendra RJD members burnt tyres on the highway, disrupting movement of vehicles on the busy Patna-Ara road for several hours. The bandh drew flak from the JD(U)-BJP government. State minister and BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav said, "The behaviour of RJD activists reminded everybody of the lawlessness that prevail in the state whenever the party has been in power." JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar accused the RJD of being "in cahoots with the sand-mining mafia" and questioned the rationale behind calling a bandh "despite an announcement made by the Chief Secretary yesterday that sand mining will continue, for the time being, as per old provisions". RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, however, said the chief secretary's announcement was just an eyewash. "The Patna High Court had categorically directed the state government, after staying its policy, to allow sand mining as per unamended provisions," he said. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad remained conspicuous by his absence at the demonstrations staged by his party.

Bihar bandh: Normal life hit, over 1,000 RJD supporters held

The Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Mr Raghubar Das and his counterpart in Bihar, Mr Nitish Kumar were confident that the Maoist movement in Bihar has been brought under control. However, both have been proven to be wrong. Just after midnight today, a group of armed Moist insurgents killed one deputy head of village committee and abducted two staff of the Indian Railways, including an ASM. The irony is that this incident happened at Masudan Railway station which is just 164kms away from the heart of Bihar&#39;s capital city, Patna.

&nbsp;

There is a purpose in selecting the place and the action. They want to convey the message that they can reach anywhere, anytime and even in the proximity of the capital, spreading terror and insecurity in the minds of people.

&nbsp;

It is a matter of concern. Indeed, it is a matter of serious concern.

&nbsp;

Bihar and Jharkhand are important transit points for Maoists. It connects two important strongholds of the red corridor, the Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh and Junglemahal in West Bengal and, hence, carries very high value for the Maoist movement. The entire leadership of the Maoist movement emphasises on controlling this corridor at all costs or else their movement will split and die.

&nbsp;

But what compelled Maoist to kill innocent civilians, burn the railway station and abduct the staff?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The answer lies in the recent developments in Bihar, Dandakaranya (Chhattisgarh) and Jharkhand. Over last three years, Bihar and Jharkhand Police have been cracking down on the Maoists in the bordering areas of the two states. So far, they have recovered a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and incendiary literature.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Also, their ideologue and member of Polit Bureau, Kobad Ghandy was re-arrested by Police. As the Central Police Forces are cracking down on the Maoist leadership and their ideology, while the civil administration is making inroads in the rural and underdeveloped areas, they are constantly losing moral ground among the local population. The poor tribal and villagers who used to help Maoist movement selflessly, are now getting away from them because they have understood the reality of the movement.

&nbsp;

A few years back, any shutdown declared by the Maoists used to be totally successful because of a whole-hearted local support. But things have changed now, and Maoists have no option but to undertake forceful measures to make their shutdown successful.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The recent incident of Lakhisarai reflects the highest level of frustration among the Maoist leadership. They demanded that the railway traffic on this route would be stopped till their shutdown is over. In his letter issued to the common public, some Suraj who claimed to be the secretary of Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee says, &quot;Join for protests on 18th and 19th December and follow the total Shutdown on 20th December 2017.&quot;

&nbsp;

The message is clear. The movement which earlier claimed to be the movement of public has already turned into a terrorist movement. Not for the people but for their own prestige, money and power.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

In choosing soft targets, the Maoists are showing vulnerability in their once stronghold.

The Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Mr Raghubar Das and his counterpart in Bihar, Mr Nitish Kumar were confident that the Maoist movement in Bihar has been brought under control. However, both have been proven to be wrong. Just after midnight today, a group of armed Moist insurgents killed one deputy head of village committee and abducted two staff of the Indian Railways, including an ASM. The irony is that this incident happened at Masudan Railway station which is just 164kms away from the heart of Bihar's capital city, Patna. There is a purpose in selecting the place and the action. They want to convey the message that they can reach anywhere, anytime and even in the proximity of the capital, spreading terror and insecurity in the minds of people. It is a matter of concern. Indeed, it is a matter of serious concern. Bihar and Jharkhand are important transit points for Maoists. It connects two important strongholds of the red corridor, the Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh and Junglemahal in West Bengal and, hence, carries very high value for the Maoist movement. The entire leadership of the Maoist movement emphasises on controlling this corridor at all costs or else their movement will split and die. But what compelled Maoist to kill innocent civilians, burn the railway station and abduct the staff? The answer lies in the recent developments in Bihar, Dandakaranya (Chhattisgarh) and Jharkhand. Over last three years, Bihar and Jharkhand Police have been cracking down on the Maoists in the bordering areas of the two states. So far, they have recovered a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and incendiary literature. Also, their ideologue and member of Polit Bureau, Kobad Ghandy was re-arrested by Police. As the Central Police Forces are cracking down on the Maoist leadership and their ideology, while the civil administration is making inroads in the rural and underdeveloped areas, they are constantly losing moral ground among the local population. The poor tribal and villagers who used to help Maoist movement selflessly, are now getting away from them because they have understood the reality of the movement. A few years back, any shutdown declared by the Maoists used to be totally successful because of a whole-hearted local support. But things have changed now, and Maoists have no option but to undertake forceful measures to make their shutdown successful. The recent incident of Lakhisarai reflects the highest level of frustration among the Maoist leadership. They demanded that the railway traffic on this route would be stopped till their shutdown is over. In his letter issued to the common public, some Suraj who claimed to be the secretary of Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee says, "Join for protests on 18th and 19th December and follow the total Shutdown on 20th December 2017." The message is clear. The movement which earlier claimed to be the movement of public has already turned into a terrorist movement. Not for the people but for their own prestige, money and power. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Why Maoists chose soft targets to prove their dominance

I like sleeping outside, right underneath the bamboo rooftop on the balcony, falling asleep to Bihar&rsquo;s heavy rain and the wind rustling the coconut trees nearby. My eyes get heavy to the unpredictable rhythmic of the rain hitting our gravel dirt road. Without any walls, the sunrise busts in at 5:03 in the morning, making a scene, warming my cold nose, blinding me awake, telling me it&rsquo;s time to wake up. It is the most relaxing and beautiful sight I&rsquo;ve ever woken up to. I still wiggle out of my sleeping bag, step off my cot and lean over the balcony to soak in its red-orange warmth before sneaking back for a couple more hours of sleep.

When I first arrived at eArthshala, <a href="http://www.projectpotential.org/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Project Potential</a>&rsquo;s campus, and I climbed the stairs to what is now my favourite spot, the bamboo rooftop balcony, I was hesitant because I imagined rain soaking through. I even tried to look for signs of water on the ground to prove my point but couldn&rsquo;t find any. I brushed it off, perhaps it hadn&rsquo;t rained for a few days? Eventually, I asked someone, wouldn&rsquo;t the rain slip through and soak whoever is up here? The answer was no, but I&rsquo;m not sure I actually believed them. I&rsquo;ve come to realise that bamboo is versatile. You can eat it, you can wear it and you can build a home with it, not to mention countless other things. And yet, I believed it to be both fragile and archaic.

I had to wonder &ndash; did the problem exist with natural materials such as bamboo and even mud, or was it merely a problem of the modern mind? The common misconception of bamboo or mud &ndash; natural materials used for construction &ndash; is that they are not as strong as cement and steel. However, these traditional structures are what we should rely on, as we face issues that human beings have yet to experience to this magnitude: A rapidly deteriorating planet, overpopulation, countless environmental issues, natural disasters and globally destructive wars.

As I marvel at the beauty of Project Potential&rsquo;s bamboo roof, I have to wonder: How can we begin to build on today&rsquo;s issues without damaging our environment further? How will we mass produce construction materials for places such as Aleppo, Syria, that desperately need them? How can we build sturdy homes with locally-sourced materials that can also withstand cyclones and earthquakes? How we decide to build for those that can not afford &lsquo;modern materials,&rsquo; or what materials we decide to use will nonetheless have an impact on our Earth.

In some &lsquo;developing&rsquo; countries like India and some &lsquo;developed&rsquo; countries like the United States, children and adults are conditioned to believe that mud houses are temporary, while brick and cement are permanent in nature; this is a fundamentally flawed argument, as natural materials like mud and lime plaster, when used appropriately, only strengthen over time (as demonstrated by mud structures built centuries ago and still standing). Withstanding time seems reasonable but structures made from earthen materials can also be used to rebuild for the next earthquake. In the face of natural disasters, these organic materials can still hold up. I myself was doubtful, thinking about the natural disasters that plagued our world in 2017, from heavy flooding in Bangladesh and Nepal to earthquakes in Mexico. It is indeed possible to build a structure &ndash; a home &ndash; with sustainable materials designed to meet not only contemporary needs but more specifically withstand earthquakes, flooding and other disasters.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/esmeralda-pic-4-250x333-20171213083645.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Example of a bamboo house in a nearby village. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

However, it is important to point out that these organic homes aren&rsquo;t the only ones to withstand natural disasters. Thanks to modern technology, we have created shock absorbers and techniques that can save thousands of lives in a city, and allow skyscrapers to shake but still survive. Although this technology exists, it is quite costly and largely inaccessible and arguably an unnecessary development in some areas, not to mention irrelevant in certain parts of the world. Why not get back to the basics?

I am not advocating that we all tear down our buildings and move into earthen houses; mud and bamboo will not be the answer for everything and everywhere. However, I ask that we open our minds and view these materials as an intentional choice, instead of as poverty. That perhaps ideas of development and the right to development be open to debate so that locations that were robbed of resources, can view all their options with untainted societal pressures. Let&rsquo;s instead tear down stereotypes and build a humanity of intentionality. Let&rsquo;s stop teaching our children that mud houses are &lsquo;kachcha&rsquo; (wrong) and cement houses are &lsquo;pakka&rsquo; (right)&nbsp;because it will only harm us in the name of progress.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/esmeralda-pic-5-680x510-20171213083803.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Architects visiting Project Potential&rsquo;s site and local houses to view how locals use bamboo, and how to assist us in thinking about our construction goals. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Building our homes with intentionality, be it from organic material, or traditional processes, to the values we hope to encourage visitors to think about, is what Project Potential is doing right here in rural Bihar, close to the borders of Nepal and West Bengal. In March 2016, Project Potential sought to create an alternative learning environment for local youth so that they can explore new notions of self, community, and environment that would ultimately lead to meaningful employment.

It was with this goal in mind that we purchased a 15-acre campus through which we hoped youth will be exposed to skills required to make a sustainable living. We aim to frame eco-toilets, bamboo, mud construction and solar panels in a new way. We hope that these will create an 18- degree transformation through which youth will define their own values and interests (not by societal standards), and accordingly learn skills that they can use to sustain themselves, their communities, and the environment.

We see our campus &mdash; e???????? (eArthshala) from English earth and Hindi arth, which means both &lsquo;economy&rsquo; and &lsquo;meaning&rsquo; &mdash; as a gathering space for such learning. e???????? is meant to serve as a kind of &lsquo;ashram&rsquo; for our programs. In other words, through its design, practices and culture, the campus will be a space which inspires us toward better versions of ourselves and a better future, even if the core focus for the gathering is educational.

We strive to have positive effects on the local economy and be a catalyst for local development through everything we do, including construction. Together, our youth and campus would contribute to the image building of Bihar, and in turn, they could leverage the positive change in perception. Thus, our honest intent to bring in this transformation must be reflected in our spaces and design language.

Project Potential isn&rsquo;t just trying to tackle the youth unemployment crisis in Bihar; it also wants to understand how our organisation&rsquo;s presence makes a difference. From analysing the way in which we decide to engage youth, to the language we use to engage the community, to how we place ourselves within the community.

Ultimately, we desire to utilise the community&rsquo;s economy and natural materials that will protect the community and empower the people to create sustainable living. Bamboo can offer us shelter, food, clothing, a good fire, clean air; let us view it in the light, instead of poverty. Everything we need is right here.

This <a href="http://aif.org/mud-and-bamboo-houses-are-proving-our-stereotypes-of-poverty-wrong/" rel="nofollow">article</a> was originally published on&nbsp;29/ 11/ 2017 on <a href="http://aif.org/" rel="nofollow">American India Foundation</a>

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

It is indeed possible to build a structure ? a home ? with sustainable materials designed to meet not only contemporary needs but more specifically withstand earthquakes, flooding and other disasters.

I like sleeping outside, right underneath the bamboo rooftop on the balcony, falling asleep to Bihar’s heavy rain and the wind rustling the coconut trees nearby. My eyes get heavy to the unpredictable rhythmic of the rain hitting our gravel dirt road. Without any walls, the sunrise busts in at 5:03 in the morning, making a scene, warming my cold nose, blinding me awake, telling me it’s time to wake up. It is the most relaxing and beautiful sight I’ve ever woken up to. I still wiggle out of my sleeping bag, step off my cot and lean over the balcony to soak in its red-orange warmth before sneaking back for a couple more hours of sleep. When I first arrived at eArthshala, Project Potential’s campus, and I climbed the stairs to what is now my favourite spot, the bamboo rooftop balcony, I was hesitant because I imagined rain soaking through. I even tried to look for signs of water on the ground to prove my point but couldn’t find any. I brushed it off, perhaps it hadn’t rained for a few days? Eventually, I asked someone, wouldn’t the rain slip through and soak whoever is up here? The answer was no, but I’m not sure I actually believed them. I’ve come to realise that bamboo is versatile. You can eat it, you can wear it and you can build a home with it, not to mention countless other things. And yet, I believed it to be both fragile and archaic. I had to wonder – did the problem exist with natural materials such as bamboo and even mud, or was it merely a problem of the modern mind? The common misconception of bamboo or mud – natural materials used for construction – is that they are not as strong as cement and steel. However, these traditional structures are what we should rely on, as we face issues that human beings have yet to experience to this magnitude: A rapidly deteriorating planet, overpopulation, countless environmental issues, natural disasters and globally destructive wars. As I marvel at the beauty of Project Potential’s bamboo roof, I have to wonder: How can we begin to build on today’s issues without damaging our environment further? How will we mass produce construction materials for places such as Aleppo, Syria, that desperately need them? How can we build sturdy homes with locally-sourced materials that can also withstand cyclones and earthquakes? How we decide to build for those that can not afford ‘modern materials,’ or what materials we decide to use will nonetheless have an impact on our Earth. In some ‘developing’ countries like India and some ‘developed’ countries like the United States, children and adults are conditioned to believe that mud houses are temporary, while brick and cement are permanent in nature; this is a fundamentally flawed argument, as natural materials like mud and lime plaster, when used appropriately, only strengthen over time (as demonstrated by mud structures built centuries ago and still standing). Withstanding time seems reasonable but structures made from earthen materials can also be used to rebuild for the next earthquake. In the face of natural disasters, these organic materials can still hold up. I myself was doubtful, thinking about the natural disasters that plagued our world in 2017, from heavy flooding in Bangladesh and Nepal to earthquakes in Mexico. It is indeed possible to build a structure – a home – with sustainable materials designed to meet not only contemporary needs but more specifically withstand earthquakes, flooding and other disasters. Example of a bamboo house in a nearby village. (Others) × However, it is important to point out that these organic homes aren’t the only ones to withstand natural disasters. Thanks to modern technology, we have created shock absorbers and techniques that can save thousands of lives in a city, and allow skyscrapers to shake but still survive. Although this technology exists, it is quite costly and largely inaccessible and arguably an unnecessary development in some areas, not to mention irrelevant in certain parts of the world. Why not get back to the basics? I am not advocating that we all tear down our buildings and move into earthen houses; mud and bamboo will not be the answer for everything and everywhere. However, I ask that we open our minds and view these materials as an intentional choice, instead of as poverty. That perhaps ideas of development and the right to development be open to debate so that locations that were robbed of resources, can view all their options with untainted societal pressures. Let’s instead tear down stereotypes and build a humanity of intentionality. Let’s stop teaching our children that mud houses are ‘kachcha’ (wrong) and cement houses are ‘pakka’ (right) because it will only harm us in the name of progress. Architects visiting Project Potential’s site and local houses to view how locals use bamboo, and how to assist us in thinking about our construction goals. (Others) × Building our homes with intentionality, be it from organic material, or traditional processes, to the values we hope to encourage visitors to think about, is what Project Potential is doing right here in rural Bihar, close to the borders of Nepal and West Bengal. In March 2016, Project Potential sought to create an alternative learning environment for local youth so that they can explore new notions of self, community, and environment that would ultimately lead to meaningful employment. It was with this goal in mind that we purchased a 15-acre campus through which we hoped youth will be exposed to skills required to make a sustainable living. We aim to frame eco-toilets, bamboo, mud construction and solar panels in a new way. We hope that these will create an 18- degree transformation through which youth will define their own values and interests (not by societal standards), and accordingly learn skills that they can use to sustain themselves, their communities, and the environment. We see our campus — e???????? (eArthshala) from English earth and Hindi arth, which means both ‘economy’ and ‘meaning’ — as a gathering space for such learning. e???????? is meant to serve as a kind of ‘ashram’ for our programs. In other words, through its design, practices and culture, the campus will be a space which inspires us toward better versions of ourselves and a better future, even if the core focus for the gathering is educational. We strive to have positive effects on the local economy and be a catalyst for local development through everything we do, including construction. Together, our youth and campus would contribute to the image building of Bihar, and in turn, they could leverage the positive change in perception. Thus, our honest intent to bring in this transformation must be reflected in our spaces and design language. Project Potential isn’t just trying to tackle the youth unemployment crisis in Bihar; it also wants to understand how our organisation’s presence makes a difference. From analysing the way in which we decide to engage youth, to the language we use to engage the community, to how we place ourselves within the community. Ultimately, we desire to utilise the community’s economy and natural materials that will protect the community and empower the people to create sustainable living. Bamboo can offer us shelter, food, clothing, a good fire, clean air; let us view it in the light, instead of poverty. Everything we need is right here. This article was originally published on 29/ 11/ 2017 on American India Foundation (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Mud and bamboo houses are not signs of poverty

The Delhi High Court today will hear the plea filed by former JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav in connection with his disqualification from Rajya Sabha.&nbsp;

The plea&nbsp;demanding urgent hearing&nbsp;seeks immediate termination of his &quot;disqualification from Rajya Sabha&quot;.

Sharad Yadav&#39;s counsel demanded an urgent hearing into the matter citing&nbsp;that the Winter session of Parliament was approaching and he will not be able to participate in it if the order is not suspended. He also demanded an interim stay into&nbsp;the matter.&nbsp;

The plea for an urgent hearing of the matter was filed by Sharad Yadav&#39;s&nbsp;Advocate Nizam Pasha and&nbsp;was put before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar.

The plea says that Yadav was not given any chance by Rajya Sabha chairman before the order was passed against him.&nbsp; 
 
On the other hand, the counsel for the leader of JD(U) in the house, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh has opposed to the urgent listing of the matter.

Sharad Yadav was disqualified from the party by Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu due to Anti-Defection Law on December 4.

His disqualification came after Yadav joined hands with the opposition and attended a rally of the opposition party in Patna.

Yadav teamed up with the opposition after JD(U) president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar broke out from the Grand Alliance and joined up with BJP.

The chairman then disqualified Sharad Yadav along with another party leader citing that the two senior leaders had&nbsp;&quot;voluntarily given up&quot; their membership by defying the party&#39;s directives and attending events of opposition parties.&nbsp;

 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

Sharad Yadav was disqualified from the party by Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu due to Anti-Defection Law on December 4

The Delhi High Court today will hear the plea filed by former JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav in connection with his disqualification from Rajya Sabha. The plea demanding urgent hearing seeks immediate termination of his "disqualification from Rajya Sabha". Sharad Yadav's counsel demanded an urgent hearing into the matter citing that the Winter session of Parliament was approaching and he will not be able to participate in it if the order is not suspended. He also demanded an interim stay into the matter. The plea for an urgent hearing of the matter was filed by Sharad Yadav's Advocate Nizam Pasha and was put before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar. The plea says that Yadav was not given any chance by Rajya Sabha chairman before the order was passed against him. On the other hand, the counsel for the leader of JD(U) in the house, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh has opposed to the urgent listing of the matter. Sharad Yadav was disqualified from the party by Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu due to Anti-Defection Law on December 4. His disqualification came after Yadav joined hands with the opposition and attended a rally of the opposition party in Patna. Yadav teamed up with the opposition after JD(U) president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar broke out from the Grand Alliance and joined up with BJP. The chairman then disqualified Sharad Yadav along with another party leader citing that the two senior leaders had "voluntarily given up" their membership by defying the party's directives and attending events of opposition parties.

Delhi High Court to hear Sharad Yadav's plea in Rajya Sabha disqualification case

The Enforcement Directorate questioned <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-didnt-even-have-a-mooch-17856" target="_blank">Tejashwi Yadav</a>, son of RJD chief Lalu Yadav, for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/enforcement-directorate-summons-tejashwi-yadav-on-november-13-23432" target="_blank">nine hours on Monday</a>.

ED&#39;s questioning was in connection with money laundering probe in the railway hotels allotment corruption case.&nbsp;

This was the&nbsp;second time when ED questioned the former Deputy chief minister of Bihar.&nbsp;

The previous questioning was conducted on October 10.&nbsp;

Tejashwi&#39;s latest appearance before the ED came after he was issued a fresh summon by the law enforcement agency.

Before this, he had&nbsp;skipped four appearances.

The agency had registered a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cbi-files-case-against-lalu-yadav-wife-rabri-and-son-tejaswi-in-irctc-tender-irregularity-17689" target="_blank">case against the Yadav family</a> and others under the provision of the prevention of money laundering act.&nbsp;

Tejashwi&#39;s mother and former chief minister of Bihar Rabri Devi had skipped the ED summon six times.&nbsp;

The CBI had registered an FIR against Lalu Prasad Yadav in&nbsp;July.&nbsp;

The FIR lodged by the CBI against Lalu Yadav stated that there were irregularities in awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of the BNR hotels in Ranchi and Pune during his tenure as the railway minister from 2004-2009.&nbsp;

The CBI alleged that the tender process was manipulated and changed&nbsp;by Lalu to help private company.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

This was the?second time when ED questioned the former Deputy chief minister of Bihar

The Enforcement Directorate questioned Tejashwi Yadav, son of RJD chief Lalu Yadav, for nine hours on Monday. ED's questioning was in connection with money laundering probe in the railway hotels allotment corruption case. This was the second time when ED questioned the former Deputy chief minister of Bihar. The previous questioning was conducted on October 10. Tejashwi's latest appearance before the ED came after he was issued a fresh summon by the law enforcement agency. Before this, he had skipped four appearances. The agency had registered a case against the Yadav family and others under the provision of the prevention of money laundering act. Tejashwi's mother and former chief minister of Bihar Rabri Devi had skipped the ED summon six times. The CBI had registered an FIR against Lalu Prasad Yadav in July. The FIR lodged by the CBI against Lalu Yadav stated that there were irregularities in awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of the BNR hotels in Ranchi and Pune during his tenure as the railway minister from 2004-2009. The CBI alleged that the tender process was manipulated and changed by Lalu to help private company.

Enforcement Directorate questions Tejashwi Yadav for nine hours

President Ram Nath Kovind is on a one day tour to Bihar.

This will be his&nbsp;first trip to the state after assuming office earlier this year.

He will commence his visit by paying tributes to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, at his statue at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Golambar in Patna.

The former Governor of Bihar will also launch the Bihar Krishi Road Map 2017-2022 at Samrat Ashok Convention Centre in the capital city.

Later in the day, he will pay tributes to freedom fighter Jayprakash Narayan at his statue at the Jayprakash Golambar.

He will leave for Delhi on the same day.&nbsp;

The former Governor of Bihar will also launch the Bihar Krishi Road Map 2017-2022 at Samrat Ashok Convention Centre in the capital city

President Ram Nath Kovind is on a one day tour to Bihar. This will be his first trip to the state after assuming office earlier this year. He will commence his visit by paying tributes to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, at his statue at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Golambar in Patna. The former Governor of Bihar will also launch the Bihar Krishi Road Map 2017-2022 at Samrat Ashok Convention Centre in the capital city. Later in the day, he will pay tributes to freedom fighter Jayprakash Narayan at his statue at the Jayprakash Golambar. He will leave for Delhi on the same day.

President Kovind visits Bihar, to launch farmer roadmap

A British couple was attacked Tuesday in Bihar.&nbsp;

The couple were camping on the banks of the Ganga in Pandarak in Patna district.&nbsp;

The couple said they were attacked by two men with sticks, that the men misbehaved with&nbsp;them, and tried to rob them.&nbsp;

The couple said they&nbsp;&quot;somehow crossed the river&quot; and reached the police.&nbsp;

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The 2 came with weapons &amp; sticks, misbehaved &amp; tried to loot us. We somehow crossed the river &amp; sought help from police: Matthew <a href="https://t.co/MV8YlRCfxW">pic.twitter.com/MV8YlRCfxW</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/927748549579698177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Patna SSP said the men were arrested within two hours.&nbsp;

&quot;It will be seen that such incidents do not recur,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

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The men were arrested within 2 hours. A speedy trial will be done and it will be seen that such incidents do not recur: SSP Patna <a href="https://t.co/BAjtqxYKq0">pic.twitter.com/BAjtqxYKq0</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/927748855281598464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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This is the third attack on foreign tourists in the past few weeks.&nbsp;

A German tourist was attacked at&nbsp;Robertsganj railway station last Saturday by a railway employee. The employee has since accused the German -- Holger Eric -- of attacking him first.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/german-tourist-assaulted-in-up-days-after-attack-on-swiss-couple-23531" target="_blank">Also read: Days after attack on Swiss couple, German tourist assaulted in UP</a>

And on October 22, a Swiss couple was attacked in Fatehpur Sikri.

The attack was so vicious that it left him Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, with&nbsp;a fractured skull, a clot in his brain, a hearing impairment, a broken arm, and multiple bruises.&nbsp;

When his girlfriend, Marie Droz, also 24, intervened, she too was attacked.&nbsp;

She ended up with a broken arm.&nbsp;

Their attackers turned out to be minors.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sushma-swaraj-steps-in-after-swiss-couple-brutally-attacked-in-fatehpur-sikri-22931" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Swiss couple attacked in Fatehpur Sikri: Police arrest one person; Opposition slams UP govt</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/attacks-on-foreign-tourists-raise-questions-on-indian-ethos-22979" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Attacks on Swiss couple raise questions on Indian ethics</a>

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The couple said they were attacked by two men with sticks, that the men misbehaved with?them, and tried to rob them

A British couple was attacked Tuesday in Bihar. The couple were camping on the banks of the Ganga in Pandarak in Patna district. The couple said they were attacked by two men with sticks, that the men misbehaved with them, and tried to rob them. The couple said they "somehow crossed the river" and reached the police. The 2 came with weapons & sticks, misbehaved & tried to loot us. We somehow crossed the river & sought help from police: Matthew pic.twitter.com/MV8YlRCfxW — ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017 × The Patna SSP said the men were arrested within two hours. "It will be seen that such incidents do not recur," he added. The men were arrested within 2 hours. A speedy trial will be done and it will be seen that such incidents do not recur: SSP Patna pic.twitter.com/BAjtqxYKq0 — ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017 × This is the third attack on foreign tourists in the past few weeks. A German tourist was attacked at Robertsganj railway station last Saturday by a railway employee. The employee has since accused the German -- Holger Eric -- of attacking him first. Also read: Days after attack on Swiss couple, German tourist assaulted in UP And on October 22, a Swiss couple was attacked in Fatehpur Sikri. The attack was so vicious that it left him Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, with a fractured skull, a clot in his brain, a hearing impairment, a broken arm, and multiple bruises. When his girlfriend, Marie Droz, also 24, intervened, she too was attacked. She ended up with a broken arm. Their attackers turned out to be minors. Also read: Swiss couple attacked in Fatehpur Sikri: Police arrest one person; Opposition slams UP govt Also read: Attacks on Swiss couple raise questions on Indian ethics

Now, British couple attacked in Bihar

There are no surprises here. A report released by the women and child development ministry has declared Goa as the safest state for women and Delhi as one of the most unsafe places.&nbsp;

The findings of the first-ever gender vulnerability index (GVI) are expected to help identify the challenges women across India face in various states in terms of education, health, poverty and protection against violence. The findings are supposed to help policymakers in chalking out a plan to safeguard the fairer gender.&nbsp; 
 
Goa is at the top position, followed by Kerala, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. States, where women are most vulnerable, are Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and Delhi.&nbsp; 
 
According to the report, Goa&#39;s GVI is 0.656, more than the national average of 0.5314. The index scores are on a scale of zero to one. The closer the score is to one, the better the performance. Kerala&#39;s GVI stands at 0.634 and at the bottom of the table is Bihar with a GVI of 0.410.&nbsp; 
 
Delhi ranks at 28 with a GVI score of 0.436 due to its infamous track record in the field of education and protection. Jharkhand ranks at 27, ahead of Delhi with GVI score of 0.450 while UP&#39;s GVI score is 0.434. The study was based on 170 indicators including the Census 2011.&nbsp; 
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Goa is the safest state for women; Bihar, Delhi are not

There are no surprises here. A report released by the women and child development ministry has declared Goa as the safest state for women and Delhi as one of the most unsafe places. The findings of the first-ever gender vulnerability index (GVI) are expected to help identify the challenges women across India face in various states in terms of education, health, poverty and protection against violence. The findings are supposed to help policymakers in chalking out a plan to safeguard the fairer gender. Goa is at the top position, followed by Kerala, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. States, where women are most vulnerable, are Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and Delhi. According to the report, Goa's GVI is 0.656, more than the national average of 0.5314. The index scores are on a scale of zero to one. The closer the score is to one, the better the performance. Kerala's GVI stands at 0.634 and at the bottom of the table is Bihar with a GVI of 0.410. Delhi ranks at 28 with a GVI score of 0.436 due to its infamous track record in the field of education and protection. Jharkhand ranks at 27, ahead of Delhi with GVI score of 0.450 while UP's GVI score is 0.434. The study was based on 170 indicators including the Census 2011.

Five people have died after consuming illicit liquor in Bihar&#39;s Rohtas district.

ANI reported that the condition of four others is critical.&nbsp;

The Rohtas Station House Officer (SHO) was suspended after the deaths.&nbsp;

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Bihar: 5 dead in Rohtas&#39; Danwar after consuming illicit liquor, 4 others critical.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/924120704756334592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> 5 dead after consuming illicit liquor: Rohtas SHO suspended <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bihar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bihar</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/924133407847694336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Bihar was declared a dry&nbsp;state in 2016 by chief minister Nitish Kumar.

The Rohtas SHO was suspended after the deaths

Five people have died after consuming illicit liquor in Bihar's Rohtas district. ANI reported that the condition of four others is critical. The Rohtas Station House Officer (SHO) was suspended after the deaths. Bihar: 5 dead in Rohtas' Danwar after consuming illicit liquor, 4 others critical. — ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2017 × #UPDATE 5 dead after consuming illicit liquor: Rohtas SHO suspended #Bihar — ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2017 × Bihar was declared a dry state in 2016 by chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Liquor banned in Bihar; 5 dead after consuming illicit liquor, 4 critical

Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, who were yesterday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2008-aarushi-murder-case-timeline-22357">acquitted by the Allahabad High Court of the charge of murdering their daughter </a>and domestic help Hemraj are likely to be released from a prison in Ghaziabad at 4 pm today, their lawyer said.

The couple will be released once the prison authorities receive the court order, the jailer confirmed.

&quot;We have not received the court order as yet. We will release them once we get it,&quot; Dasna Jail Superintendent Dadhiram Maurya told reporters here.

&quot;I think release orders will be received by jail superintendent by afternoon and the Talwars will be released by 4 pm,&quot;&nbsp;the Talwars&#39; lawyer, Tanveer A Mir told ANI.

The couple have been serving life imprisonment in Dasna jail since 2013, after they were held guilty of murdering their daughter by a CBI court.

The jailer told PTI there were two methods to complete the process of releasing a prisoner from jail.

&quot;Either the Allahabad High Court sends its order copy directly to jail authorities or it is sent through the CBI court concerned which awarded them life sentence,&quot; he said.

The Allahabad High Court had yesterday acquitted the Talwars of the 2008 sensational murder <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aarushi-talwar-murder-case-what-allahabad-hc-said-while-acquitting-talwars-22342">on the grounds that neither the circumstances nor the evidence </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aarushi-talwar-murder-case-what-allahabad-hc-said-while-acquitting-talwars-22342">was</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aarushi-talwar-murder-case-what-allahabad-hc-said-while-acquitting-talwars-22342"> enough</a> to hold them guilty.

The verdict ends, at least for now, the nine-year ordeal of the Noida couple who were sentenced to life by a Ghaziabad CBI court on November 28, 2013.

With the acquittal, the central question in the bizarre mystery resurfaces - <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-judgement-leaves-twitter-clueless-users-ask-who-killed-aarushi-22348">who killed the 14-year-old teenager and the 45-year-old</a>&nbsp;domestic help.

&quot;There is a strong possibility that (the) incident was caused by some outsider,&quot; a bench comprising justices B K Narayana and A K Mishra had said, upholding the Talwars&#39; appeal against the CBI court verdict.&nbsp; 
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Chhath Pooja, an eco-friendly festival that highlights the enduring and devotional capabilities of women

Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, who were yesterday acquitted by the Allahabad High Court of the charge of murdering their daughter and domestic help Hemraj are likely to be released from a prison in Ghaziabad at 4 pm today, their lawyer said. The couple will be released once the prison authorities receive the court order, the jailer confirmed. "We have not received the court order as yet. We will release them once we get it," Dasna Jail Superintendent Dadhiram Maurya told reporters here. "I think release orders will be received by jail superintendent by afternoon and the Talwars will be released by 4 pm," the Talwars' lawyer, Tanveer A Mir told ANI. The couple have been serving life imprisonment in Dasna jail since 2013, after they were held guilty of murdering their daughter by a CBI court. The jailer told PTI there were two methods to complete the process of releasing a prisoner from jail. "Either the Allahabad High Court sends its order copy directly to jail authorities or it is sent through the CBI court concerned which awarded them life sentence," he said. The Allahabad High Court had yesterday acquitted the Talwars of the 2008 sensational murder on the grounds that neither the circumstances nor the evidence was enough to hold them guilty. The verdict ends, at least for now, the nine-year ordeal of the Noida couple who were sentenced to life by a Ghaziabad CBI court on November 28, 2013. With the acquittal, the central question in the bizarre mystery resurfaces - who killed the 14-year-old teenager and the 45-year-old domestic help. "There is a strong possibility that (the) incident was caused by some outsider," a bench comprising justices B K Narayana and A K Mishra had said, upholding the Talwars' appeal against the CBI court verdict.

Chhath, an all-women festival of the sun

A teacher of a private school in Bihar has been arrested, ANI reported, for indulging in &quot;unnatural sex&quot;&nbsp;with students.

The crime is reported to have been undertaken inside the school premises.&nbsp;

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Supaul (Bihar): Teacher of a private school arrested for indulging in unnatural sex with students inside the school premises, says Police. <a href="https://t.co/8ol2qQBRcm">pic.twitter.com/8ol2qQBRcm</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/915943969850146817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The incident has added to the list of increasing crimes against school students in the recent past.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Also read:&nbsp;Delhi: School sweeper arrested for allegedly molesting six-year-old

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/india-are-school-bypassing-basic-safety-norms-4838" target="_blank">&nbsp;India: Are school bypassing basic safety norms?</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/new-delhi-five-year-old-raped-by-peon-inside-school-premises-accused-arrested-4843" target="_blank">New Delhi: Five-year-old raped by peon inside school premises; accused arrested</a>

The incident has been reported to happen inside the school premises in Supaul, Bihar

A teacher of a private school in Bihar has been arrested, ANI reported, for indulging in "unnatural sex" with students. The crime is reported to have been undertaken inside the school premises. Supaul (Bihar): Teacher of a private school arrested for indulging in unnatural sex with students inside the school premises, says Police. pic.twitter.com/8ol2qQBRcm — ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 × The incident has added to the list of increasing crimes against school students in the recent past. Also read: Delhi: School sweeper arrested for allegedly molesting six-year-old Also read: India: Are school bypassing basic safety norms? Also read: New Delhi: Five-year-old raped by peon inside school premises; accused arrested

School teacher arrested for indulging in unnatural sex with students

President Ram Nath Kovind appointed five new governors on Saturday with Brig&nbsp;(Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) taking over as governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

Banwarilal Purohit was appointed governor of Tamil Nadu, and Satya Pal Malik as governor of Bihar.

Professor Jagdish Mukhi was appointed governor of Assam, and Ganga Prasad governor of Meghalaya.&nbsp;

In addition, Admiral (Retd) DK Joshi was made lieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.&nbsp;

In addition, Admiral (Retd) DK Joshi was made LG of Andaman and Nicobar

President Ram Nath Kovind appointed five new governors on Saturday with Brig (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) taking over as governor of Arunachal Pradesh. Banwarilal Purohit was appointed governor of Tamil Nadu, and Satya Pal Malik as governor of Bihar. Professor Jagdish Mukhi was appointed governor of Assam, and Ganga Prasad governor of Meghalaya. In addition, Admiral (Retd) DK Joshi was made lieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Five states get new governors

Former Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Choudhary who was sacked by party president Sonia Gandhi said he expected an honourable exit.

However, he said that he did not deserve the kind of insult that was inflicted upon him through his expulsion.&nbsp;

Choudhary was ousted from the Congress because he was planning&nbsp;a split in the Bihar Congress party, media reports said.

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Party ke nirnay ka swagat karte hain lekin...:Ashok Choudhary,who was relieved from the post of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief y&#39;day
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912890181581189121">September 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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...jis tarah se humein apmanit karke nikala gaya hum woh deserve nahi karte: Ashok Choudhary, frmr Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912890526965301248">September 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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He added that though he was not willing to quit from the party at this stage, he would have to because the insult was not acceptable.&nbsp;

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Abhi humara party chorrne ka koi irada nahi hai lekin yeh bhi manzoor nahi hai: Ashok Choudhary, frmr Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912890802745077761">September 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Claiming himself to be a &quot;committed Congressman&quot; he said he expected an honourable&nbsp;exit from the party post.&nbsp;

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As a committed Congressman, I expected an honorable exit from the party post: Ashok Choudhary, former Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief <a href="https://t.co/EXgMLowUwm">pic.twitter.com/EXgMLowUwm</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912918607335710721">September 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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VP Kaukab Quadri has been given the responsibility till new chief of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee is appointed. &nbsp;

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Ashok Choudhary relieved;VP Kaukab Quadri to take charge of responsibilities till new chief of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee is announced
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912693796088963072">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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A full-time Bihar Congress State Committee president will be elected after organisational elections in November.&nbsp;

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Former Bihar pradesh Congress committee chief Ashok Choudhary was sacked by party president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday

Former Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Choudhary who was sacked by party president Sonia Gandhi said he expected an honourable exit. However, he said that he did not deserve the kind of insult that was inflicted upon him through his expulsion. Choudhary was ousted from the Congress because he was planning a split in the Bihar Congress party, media reports said. Party ke nirnay ka swagat karte hain lekin...:Ashok Choudhary,who was relieved from the post of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief y'day — ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2017 × ...jis tarah se humein apmanit karke nikala gaya hum woh deserve nahi karte: Ashok Choudhary, frmr Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief — ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2017 × He added that though he was not willing to quit from the party at this stage, he would have to because the insult was not acceptable. Abhi humara party chorrne ka koi irada nahi hai lekin yeh bhi manzoor nahi hai: Ashok Choudhary, frmr Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief — ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2017 × Claiming himself to be a "committed Congressman" he said he expected an honourable exit from the party post. As a committed Congressman, I expected an honorable exit from the party post: Ashok Choudhary, former Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief pic.twitter.com/EXgMLowUwm — ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2017 × VP Kaukab Quadri has been given the responsibility till new chief of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee is appointed. Ashok Choudhary relieved;VP Kaukab Quadri to take charge of responsibilities till new chief of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee is announced — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017 × A full-time Bihar Congress State Committee president will be elected after organisational elections in November.

Did not deserve insult: Ashok Choudhary after expulsion from Congress

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in connection with the ongoing Railway hotel tender case.

The CBI has summoned Lalu on September 11, while son Tejashwi has to be present before the court on September 12.

Earlier on July 27, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav and his family over the railway hotel tender case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), earlier on July 5, had registered a case against the then railway minister Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, his son Tejashwi Yadav, Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, Vijay Kochar and Vinay Kochar, both directors of Messer`s Sujata Hotel Private Limited, Messer`s Delight Marketing Private Limited, P.K. Goel, the then Managing Directors, IRCTC and unknown others.

They were booked under Section 120 B read with Section 420 of IPC and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)d prevention of corruption act 1988 in connection with the case.

The case was registered after preliminary inquiry.The CBI had said the basic allegation in the FIR lodged against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, was that a conspiracy was hatched in the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels in Ranchi and Puri.The CBI alleged that the tender process was rigged, manipulated and the conditions were tweak to help the private party.&nbsp;

The CBI has summoned Lalu on September 11, while son Tejashwi has to be present before the court on September 12

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in connection with the ongoing Railway hotel tender case. The CBI has summoned Lalu on September 11, while son Tejashwi has to be present before the court on September 12. Earlier on July 27, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav and his family over the railway hotel tender case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), earlier on July 5, had registered a case against the then railway minister Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, his son Tejashwi Yadav, Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, Vijay Kochar and Vinay Kochar, both directors of Messer`s Sujata Hotel Private Limited, Messer`s Delight Marketing Private Limited, P.K. Goel, the then Managing Directors, IRCTC and unknown others. They were booked under Section 120 B read with Section 420 of IPC and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)d prevention of corruption act 1988 in connection with the case. The case was registered after preliminary inquiry.The CBI had said the basic allegation in the FIR lodged against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, was that a conspiracy was hatched in the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels in Ranchi and Puri.The CBI alleged that the tender process was rigged, manipulated and the conditions were tweak to help the private party.

Railway hotel tender case: Lalu Prasad Yadav, son Tejashwi summoned by CBI

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the state will give assistance of Rs five crore each to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-flood-toll-reaches-253-126-crore-affected-19260">flood-hit Bihar</a> and Assam. 
&quot;A large number of people are affected by floods in Bihar and Assam. Jharkhand is with the people of these two states at this hour. Jharkhand will give assistance of Rs five crore to each of the two states,? an official release said quoting Das. 
The people of Jharkhand are with the people of Bihar and Assam, he said. 
Jharkhand had been part of Bihar part and the people of Jharkhand are in that state. People from Jharkhand have also gone to Assam for employment, he said. 
Das said that it is the duty of everyone to help during distress and the basic mantra of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s Team India is also this. At this hour of distress all the people and states should help the affected states.

Jharkhand will give assistance of Rs five crore to each of the two states

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the state will give assistance of Rs five crore each to flood-hit Bihar and Assam. "A large number of people are affected by floods in Bihar and Assam. Jharkhand is with the people of these two states at this hour. Jharkhand will give assistance of Rs five crore to each of the two states,? an official release said quoting Das. The people of Jharkhand are with the people of Bihar and Assam, he said. Jharkhand had been part of Bihar part and the people of Jharkhand are in that state. People from Jharkhand have also gone to Assam for employment, he said. Das said that it is the duty of everyone to help during distress and the basic mantra of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s Team India is also this. At this hour of distress all the people and states should help the affected states.

Jharkhand's CM Raghubar Das to help flood-hit states, Assam and Bihar

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