Vice-president Hamid Ansari on Wednesday urged the younger generation of the country to be aware of the past history, culture and literature of their land and people to be good citizens. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Tripura State Museum in a new location, he said people without knowledge of their past are like trees without roots.
The museum was first established in 1970 in a small building and now has been relocated in the sprawling Ujjayanta Palace, the seat of the former kings of Tripura. Dr Ansari said the magnificence of the building itself speaks about the rich heritage of the land that even got mention in the Mahabharata and inscriptions of Ashoka. Dr Hansari and CM Manik Sarkar recalled the close relation of Tripura kings with Tagore.
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Centre for consensus on riot bill: Rahman
age correspondent
Lucknow, Sept. 25
Union minister for minorities affairs K. Rahman Khan said on Wednesday that the government would try and build consensus among the various political parties and get the Anti-Riot Bill passed in Parliament.
The minister told reporters in Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday that the Union government wanted to pass the bill after evolving a consensus among all political parties.
The minister said that the issue was also discussed in the National Integration Council meeting in Delhi recently.
The minister explained that the proposed bill lays down measures for prevention of acts leading to communal violence, enhances quantum of punishment and makes provisions for speedy investigation and trial of offences through special courts.
It also proposes institutional arrangements for relief and rehabilitation measures for the victims, besides granting special powers to the Centre in certain cases.
Mr Khan said his ministry would give a relief package to riot-affected victims, which would include houses Indira Awas Yojna and loan without interest up to `5 lakh for their rehabilitation.
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BSF, CRPF get Virat, Gauti to boost morale
age correspondent
new delhi, Sept. 25
The government wants to rope in popular public figures not only to only create awareness on social issues, but also give a morale boost to their security forces deployed on the border and counter-insurgency duties. Cricketer Virat Kohli was recently appointed as the first brand ambassador of the Border Security Force. Following closely, the CRPF too wants to rope in cricketer Gautam Gambhir as the brand ambassador for the country’s largest paramilitary force. This is not all. The Union home ministry has for some time been toying with the idea of appointing a brand ambassador to spread the message of zero tolerance on crime against women and honour killings. The idea has not seen the light of the day yet.
However, Kohli’s appointment comes as the first in any Central force in the country.