New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) As disruptions rocked the last week of Parliament’s Monsoon’s session, Government today singled out Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi for stalling the House, saying not many of its leaders favoured it and accused them of using the row over Sushma Swaraj as a “pretext” to stop passage of the GST bill.

With Congress continuing to disrupt both the Houses seeking the resignation of Swaraj and two BJP chief ministers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ripped into its top leadership for its “stubbornness” and alleged that they wanted India’s growth story to suffer by obstructing the GST bill’s passage.

Citing a meeting called by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today to break the logjam, Jaitley said Congress was the only party which opposed any debate and insisted that the House would not run while most opposition parties were for it to function.

“The assessment in the government is that there are not many in even Congress pushing this logic that House should not run. Only their top two leaders… have been stubborn on it.

(They say) Parliament should not function, legislations should not be passed. If there is harm to the country, to the system let it be,” the Leader of the Rajya Sabha told reporters.

Attacking Sonia Gandhi, Jaitley said her policies, which “inflicted” on the then UPA government, were “directly responsible” for slowing down the economy. Even when the UPA was in power, economic growth had ceased to be a priority for Congress, he said.

On the GST bill, he said, Congress was “completely isolated”.

“Its best endeavour is that since it won’t be able to stop the GST it is definitely trying to delay.”

Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s charge that Lalit Modi had paid money to External Affairs Minister Swaraj’s family and she should disclose the transactions, Jaitley said anybody can make such “unfounded” allegations. .

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) In order to check smuggling of narcotics, the Finance Ministry has increased monetary rewards given to informers and government officers for giving tip off leading to its seizure.

There has been six-fold increase in reward for giving intelligence resulting in seizure of cocaine (Rs 2.4 lakh per kg) and heroin (Rs 1.2 lakh per kg), as per the new ‘guidelines for grant of reward to informers and government servants, 2015’ issued by the Finance Ministry.

Whereas for opium, informers and officers can get reward of upto Rs 6,000 per kilogram. Earlier, the limit was Rs 220 per kilogram. The reward on seizure of cocaine has been increased to Rs 2.4 lakh from Rs 40,000 and for helping in seizure of one kilogram of heroin, the reward would be Rs 1.2 lakh as against Rs 20,000 given earlier.

For seizure of ganja, the reward would be Rs 600.

Earlier, the limit was Rs 80 per kg. For hashish also, the reward has been increased to Rs 2,000 per kg from Rs 400, it said.

Advance rewards on seizure of opium and other narcotic drugs have, however, been discontinued.

Government servants working in other departments or agencies like police, BSF and Coast Guard, etc, may also be considered for sanction of reward in respect of cases of seizures of contraband goods.

However, only officers of these departments who hold rank equivalent to the Additional Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise or lower level officials, will be considered eligible for rewards. Earlier, the officers upto the level of Deputy Commissioner were being considered for the reward.

For giving inputs leading to seizure of Mandrax tablets, the reward has been increased to Rs 2,000 per kilogram from Rs 500. .

Deogarh (Jharkhand), Aug 10 (PTI) At least 11 people, including a woman, were killed and over 30 injured today in a stampede near a temple in the district where thousands of devotees had lined up before dawn for special prayers during the auspicious Shravan month.

“Ten men and a woman died in the stampede as the devotees tried to jump queue at around 4 AM,” Deputy Commissioner of Police, Deogarh, Amit Kumar said.

The incident took place near the Baidyanath temple at Belabagan More in Deogarh, about 350 kilometres from state capital Ranchi.

All the injured were being treated at a nearby hospital, Civil Surgeon Diwakar Kamath said.

Today is the second Monday of the auspicious Shravan month when Degoarh is generally teeming with tens of thousands of devotees who flock to temples. Devotees of Lord Shiva offer special prayers at temples on Mondays during this period.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Raghubar Das expressed grief over the loss of lives.

“Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede in Jharkhand. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief,” the PM said on twitter.

Modi spoke to Das who apprised him about the incident.

The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs two lakh to the kin of those killedin the incident.

The injured would be given Rs 50,000, an official statement said.

A high-level committee headed by state Home Secretary N N Pandey will probe the incident.

Pandey, Additional Director General of Police S N Pradhan and other officials were supervising the relief operation, the statement said.

“At about at 4 AM, a rumour spread that the temple doors were being opened. Some of the waiting devotees tried to jump queue which led to the stampede,” Pradhan said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said additional forces were being sent to the state for crowd control.

“There is a huge rush of devotees. They asked for additional forces. So I have told the Home Secretary to send Rapid Action Force there,” he said.

BJP MP from Godda Nishikant Dubey said steps will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

“Infected with a latent virus such as herpes, HPV, EBV, CMV, or HCV? The CBCD recommends taking Gene-Eden-VIR or Novirin.” – Greg Bennett, CBCD

Garlic is a superfood that contains an ingredient effective against viruses and bacteria. That ingredient is called allicin. “British researchers gave 146 people either a placebo or a garlic extract for 12 weeks; the garlic takers were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold. Other studies suggest that garlic lovers who chow more than six cloves a week have a 30 percent lower rate of colorectal cancer and a 50 percent lower rate of stomach cancer.” (1) In another study, Dr. Shetty and colleagues wrote that “Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) has been used as medicine since ancient times and has long been known to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.” (2) Dr. Goncagul concurred, writing that “It’s also known that garlic is a wonderful plant having the properties of empowering immune system, anti-tumour and antioxidant effects.” (3) In addition to eating garlic, the CBCD recommends taking Gene-Eden-VIR or Novirin against latent viruses.

Click to learn more about latent virus symptoms.

The formula of Novirin was tested by Hanan Polansky and Edan Itzkovitz from the CBCD in two clinical studies that followed FDA guidelines. The studies showed that the Novirin formula is effective against a broad range of latent viruses. The clinical studies were published in the peer reviewed, medical journal Pharmacology & Pharmacy, the first, in a special edition on Advances in Antiviral Drugs. Study authors wrote that, “individuals infected with (a latent virus) … reported a safe decrease in their symptoms following treatment…” (4) The study authors also wrote that, “we observed a statistically significant decrease in the severity, duration, and frequency of symptoms.” (4)

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Gene-Eden-VIR and Novirin are natural antiviral dietary supplements. Their formula contains five natural ingredients: Selenium, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Quercetin, Cinnamomum Extract, and Licorice Extract. The first ingredient is a trace element, and the other four are plant extracts. Each ingredient and its dose was chosen through a scientific approach. Scientists at polyDNA, the company that invented and patented the formula, scanned thousands of scientific and medical papers published in various medical and scientific journals, and identified the safest and most effective natural ingredients against latent viruses. To date, Gene-Eden-VIR and Novirin are the only natural antiviral products on the market with published clinical studies that support their claims.

Note: Novirin shares the same formula as Gene-Eden-VIR. The difference between the two is that Novirin has higher quality and more expensive ingredients.

If you choose to use garlic in your food, you should note that “You can increase the health benefits you receive from garlic by letting it sit after you’ve chopped it or crushed it. If you give your chopped/crushed garlic time to sit before changing its temperature (through cooking) or its pH (through the addition of acidic food like lemon juice), it will give the alliinase enzymes in garlic an opportunity to work on behalf of your health. For example, in the absence of chopping or crushing, research has shown that just 60 seconds of immediate microwaving will cause garlic to lose some of its cancer-protective properties. Immediate boiling of whole, intact garlic will also lower these properties, as will immediate addition of a very low-acid ingredient like lemon juice.” (5)

“We believe in a comprehensive, positive blend of natural and Western medicines. It’s clear that garlic has many health benefits, including immune system boosting properties. In addition to eating garlic, we recommend taking Gene-Eden-VIR or Novirin.” – Greg Bennett, CBCD

All orders of Gene-Eden-VIR and Novirin are completely confidential, and no information is shared or sold to any third party. Privacy is assured.

References:

(1) AMANDA MACMILLAN + TAMARA SCHRYVER, R.D. “9 Foods To Boost The Immune System” Published APRIL 9, 2015 – rodalesorganiclife.com

(2) Shetty S, Thomas B, Shetty V, Bhandary R, Shetty RM.”An in-vitro evaluation of the efficacy of garlic extract as an antimicrobial agent on periodontal pathogens: A microbiological study” Ayu. 2013 Oct;34(4):445-51.

(3) Goncagul G1, Ayaz E. “Antimicrobial effect of garlic (Allium sativum).” Recent Pat Antiinfect Drug Discov. 2010 Jan;5(1):91-3.

(4) Polansky, H. Itzkovitz, E. Gene-Eden-VIR Is Antiviral: Results of a Post Marketing Clinical Study. Published in September 2013. http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=36101

Lee Hee-ho, the widow of late South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, has flown to North Korea, saying she hoped the rare trip would help ease cross-border tensions.

The 5-8 August visit is ostensibly humanitarian in nature but there has been much speculation about a possible meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, who personally approved the trip.

“I hope that this trip will offer a window for more dialogue, exchange and co-operation,” Lee was quoted as saying by her spokesman at a Seoul airport.

“I am going to Pyongyang with hopes that Koreans can … heal the wounds and pain of the past 70 years of division.”

What if you get to know there is a temple that guarantees you wish-fulfillment? You may be surprised to know that such a temple does exist. Situated in Gulbarga, Karnataka, there is a Hanuman temple which is famous by the name ‘Koranti Guarantee Temple’.

Sign up with astroYogi.com here and know about more such interesting facts about Indian astrology and spirituality.

It is believed that if you visit this temple with utmost faith and pray with all your heart, your prayers will be heard and that’s a guarantee. This temple was built in 1957. It got this name because of the medical college situated nearby. The students from that college used to throng the temple and got their wishes fulfilled. That is how others also came to know about the significance of Koranti temple and it eventually got named as ‘Koranti Guarantee Temple’. According to one of the temple priests, if you visit Koranti temple and chant Hanuman Chalisa for half an hour to one hour, Lord Hanuman pays heed to your prayers and you can see the results soon.

APJ Abdul Kalam has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of Indians in a manner few other public figures have in recent memory. In death he achieved the kind of acclaim in people’s hearts that politicians covet but may never come close to attaining.

In material terms, the “People’s President”, it now transpires, owned precious little, save his 2,500 books, a wrist watch, six shirts, four trousers, three suits and a pair of shoes. Kalam did not own any property nor a fridge, TV, car or an air conditioner. This for a man who spent over five decades in public service, including his stint as President of the Republic.

He did not die in penury, but neither did he live a life of luxury. He survived on the royalty from his books – he authored four of them – and his pension. The exact amount of his life savings is not known. “It wasn’t much to write home about,” said Sheridan, his secretary for over two decades.

After he demitted office, the government allotted him a bungalow at 10 Rajaji Marg. The two-storey house lies desolate today but tales of his integrity are still alive. He was firm about not receiving any personal gifts and ensured that all personal gifts were duly tabulated and sent to the government’s toshakhana.

“He would never accept a gift, save a book, and whenever somebody brought him a packed gift and tried to pass it off as a book, he insisted on examining what was inside. Anything other than the book was politely returned,” says his former media advisor SM Khan.

Kalam’s love for technology is well known and he kept himself abreast of the latest developments mainly through radio. “He did not have a television set in his living quarters. He got his news either from radio or newspapers. The only TV set at his Rajaji Marg residence was used by his staff,” Khan said.

Khan recalled how the former President revered his elder brother, who is 99 years old. Kalam held his elder brother APJ Marakia in great esteem and was full of plans to celebrate his brother’s 100th birthday next year. “One of the things that gave him (Kalam) immense joy was when he helped his brother get access to 24-hour power supply by installing a solar panel at their ancestral home,” says Sheridan, adding, “President Kalam would always call him (his brother) before leaving or returning from an important lecture assignment. He had called him the day before leaving for Shillong.”

“The lives of great men remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.” Former president APJ Abdul Kalam wasn’t around when Wordsworth wrote these lines. Had both the men belonged to the same age then these lines would have surely been written for Kalam.

Siliguri, July 29: Around 1,000 traders today agreed to give land on either side of NH31 at Bagdogra for the laying of an international highway after they were assured of compensation under the central act.

The land acquisition is needed for the Asian Highway II, a 13,177km road that would connect Indonesia with China.

In north Bengal, a 37km-long stretch of the highway will pass through Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, connecting Panitanki (on the India-Nepal border) with Fulbari (on the India-Bangladesh boundary).

Another proposed international road, Asian Highway 48, will also pass through north Bengal.

The 90km highway will start from Jaigaon (on the India-Bhutan border) and end at Changrabandha (on India-Bangladesh border).

This morning, north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb held a meeting with members of the Bagdogra Byabsayee Samiti and elaborated on the plan to compensate and rehabilitate them

The Darjeeling district administration said the state public works department would invoke National Highway Act, 1956, to take over the land required for the two Asian highways and the state government wouldn’t have to pay a single rupee for the acquisition.

“As the land is acquired as per the NH Act of 1956, the compensation will have to be worked out according to the 2013 central Act (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013). The land losers would get compensation as per the central act of 2013, that is two or four times the value of their plots, depending on the location. As Bagdogra is a rural area, the traders are likely to get compensation four times the value of their plots,” said a source in the district administration.

“The Centre will pay the entire compensation. No money would flow out of the state exchequer to compensate the people. Altogether, it is easy to obtain assent from the people,” added the source.

The state doesn’t accept the 2013 Act.

Deb said: “We require land on both sides of NH31 in Bagdogra for the proposed Asian Highway II. Today, we held a meeting with local businessmen and assured them of proper compensation and rehabilitation. There is a three-acre government plot near the airport where we will build a market complex and rehabilitate all businessmen who will have to vacate their plots for the Asian Highway II.”

The minister told the business community that the two international highways would boost the economy of north Bengal, especially places like Bagdogra.

The traders’ body has around 4,000 members and 1,000 of them will be affected by the land acquisition.

“The minister has spoken in detail about the compensation and rehabilitation plan. The minister said the construction of the market complex to accommodate the affected businessmen would commence by October,” said Subir Roy, the general secretary of the Bagdogra Byabsayee Samiti.

The shops and business establishments that are likely to be removed are along a 4km stretch of the highway.

Sources said the market complex would be constructed by the north Bengal development department.

NH31 has two lanes now and it has to be widened to four lanes for the Asian Highway I

Beijing, Jul 30 (AFP) Britain has denied Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei a six-month visa, he cited an embassy official as saying today, restricting him to a three-week trip on the grounds he did not declare a criminal conviction in his application.

China’s best known contemporary artist abroad, Ai was detained for 81 days in 2011.

His company was fined USD 2.4 million the following year after losing a civil legal battle against tax authorities, proceedings widely seen as a reprisal for his outspoken criticism of the ruling Communist party.

Ai posted a letter on Instagram apparently from the visa section of the British Embassy in Beijing that stated it was “a matter of public record that you have previously received a criminal conviction in China, and you have not declared this,” adding he had “exceptionally” been granted a visa for his stated travel dates.

Any future application he made should be completed “as accurately as possible”, the letter said, warning him that he faced a 10-year ban if he did not comply.

Ai said in a separate Instagram post he had “never been charged or convicted of a crime”.

The artist added he had attempted to clarify the situation with British authorities “over several telephone conversations, but the representatives insisted on the accuracy of their sources and refused to admit any misjudgment”.

Ai also posted a picture of his British visa, marked “Leave to enter outside the rules”.

“This decision is a denial of Ai Weiwei’s rights as an ordinary citizen,” he added.

The visa he was granted would ensure that Ai can attend a show of his work at London’s Royal Academy of Arts in September, when his absence would have generated negative headlines.

But it means he will not be in Britain when China’s President Xi Jinping pays a high-profile state visit in October.

In a statement, Britain’s Home Office said visa applications were considered “on their individual merits and in line with the relevant legislation”, adding: “Mr Ai has been granted a visa for the full duration of his requested dates of travel.”

Authorities confiscated Ai’s passport after his 2011 detention, apparently attempting to limit his international influence, but police returned the document earlier this month.

Ai said last week that Germany — where his six year old son lives — had granted him a four year multiple entry visa.

Ai and his legal team said the tax case was rife with violations of legal procedure, and rights groups such as Britain’s Amnesty International suggested it was politically driven and showed China’s “deep insecurity.”

Britain’s governing Conservative party has sought to improve relations with China after leader David Cameron angered Beijing by meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Since then London has made a number of moves which have bought it back into Beijing’s good graces, including joining the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, unlike the US or Japan.