In an effort to stop misinformation campaign being unleashed by the Maoists, terrorist outfits and unfriendly neighbouring countries, the government has increased its public contact programmes in Maoist-infested districts, Jammu and Kashmir, Northeastern states and other inaccessible parts of the country. Official sources stated that the people contact programme, being partnered by the ministry of home affairs and the Union information and broadcasting also aims to help create awareness regarding government policies and initiatives. The programmes were initiated after an inter-ministerial discussion with the MHA. The home ministry is understood to have sought the help of the I&B ministry in reaching out to the people.
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SC questions TN govt’s authority to ban film
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, Jan. 13
The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the Tamil Nadu government under which authority it imposed the ban on the film Dam999 as the states have no such power after the censor board had cleared a movie for universal exhibition.
However, a bench of Justices A.K. Ganguly and J.S. Khehar declined to pass an interim order for lifting of the six-month ban imposed by the state government without knowing its stand and gave it 10 days time to submit a reply affidavit.
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Indian diplomacy has to work harder: mathai
Age Correspondent
NEW DELHI, JAN. 13
Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai has said Indian diplomacy will have to work “much harder than it has in the past” to help the country manage the transitions. “Indian diplomacy, I think, will have to work much harder than it was in the past to help our country manage the transitions... When the world is moving away from the particular phase of globalisation to a much more dangerous years,” he said after launching a book titled Diplomacy — Indian Style, authored by former ambassador K.P. Fabian. Mr Mathai said the evolution of India’s independent foreign policy is not in continuation from its imperial past. He said Chanakya, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise called “Arthasastra” is the talking point in diplomatic reasoning in the book.
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Public service fraud: houses of 73 raided
Age CORRESPONDENTS
Chennai, Jan. 13
A day after Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) chairperson R. Sellamuthu put in his papers, the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) raided on Friday houses of 73 candidates/recruits suspected of having paid money to clear examinations conducted by the commission for hiring. “At least 15 (raided) premises belonged to candidates who appeared for the examination for assistant veterinary surgeons and the remaining were of those who took Group-2 services examinations. Half of them have already got ‘postings’, while others have ‘cleared’ interviews,” DVAC sources said. A large number of incriminating documents were seized.