Tuesday, June 30, 2009

LIC's Jeevan Sathi Plus launched

Senior officials of the Life Insurance Coropration of India (LIC), Patna branch, kick start the Jeevan Sathi Plus scheme in Patna on June 29, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

LIC's Jeevan Sathi Plus: A joint plan with market linked growth
Husband and wife covered in a single policy.
Single and regular premium payment options.
Premium waiver benefit on death of Principal Life Assured under Regular premium option policies.




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Vishwakarma Samaj seeks justice

Activists of Vishwakarma Samaj stage demonstration in Patna on June 29, 2009 to press their demands.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

LJP and CPI-ML(L) activists join Congress


Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Anil Kumar Sharma announces the formal induction of CPI-ML (L) and Lok Janashakti Party activists into the Congress Party in Patna on June 29, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

A large number of members of Lok Janshakti Party and several activists of CPI-ML(L) of Bihar's Arwal district took the primary membership of Congress at a function in Patna on Monday.

State Congress chief Anil Kumar Sharma said several activists of CPI-ML(L) led by Arjun Paswan had resigned from the primary membership of the party and joined the Congress.
Hundreds of LJP activists of Arwal district led by Parsuram Tiwari too joined the Congress at its state headquarters in Patna, he said.

LJP high-power committee meeting

Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) high power commitee holds its meeting in Patna on June 29, 2009 to chalk out plans to regain lost grounds.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


Homeguard jawans stage demonstration

Homeguard jawans stage demonstration in Patna on June 29, 2009 to press their long-pending demands of wage revision.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Chndragupta Institute of Management students on hunger strike

Students of Chandragupta Institute of Management stage a day-long dharna and hunger strike in Patna on June 29, 2009 demanding removal of its director.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Debananda Konwar sworn in as Bihar Governor



Debananda Konwar (right) being sworn in as new Governor of Bihar by Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court Shiva Kirti Singh in Patna on June 29, 2009.
Bottom: Governor Debananda Konwar felicitates Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after the ceremony.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui.

Debananda Konwar, 63, was on Monday sworn-inas new Governor of Bihar. Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court Shiva Kirti Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Konwar at a simple function at Raj Bhavan in Patna.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, besides a host of state ministers, judges, Chief Secretary R J M Pillai, Director General of Police D N Gautam attended the ceremony.

State Legislative Council Chairman Arun Kumar and Assembly Speaker Udai Narain Choudhary, were also present at the function.
Konwar, whose appointment as the Governor of Bihar was notified by Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 24, succeeded R L Bhatia whose tenure ended last week.
Konwar, a four-time MLA from Assam, was Finance Minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led ministry. Soon after taking the oath, the Governor and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had a breakfast meeeting for about ten minutes before the latter proceeded to the State Assembly.
The Chief minister had welcomed Konwar's appointment saying it would further bolster the old bond between Assam and Bihar.

National Unity Run


National Unity and Youth Harmony Run, organised by Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya, being flagged off in Ptana on Sunday (June, 28, 2009).
Bottom: Residents of Patna take part in the Unity Run.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Monday, June 29, 2009

Dony Polo School win T20 Challenger Trophy

Dony Polo School boys pose for a group photograph with Bihar Cricket Association secretary Ajay Narain Sharama and other distinguished guests after winning the T20 Challenger Trophy cricket tournament in Patna on June 28, 2009.
In the final, Dony Polo School beat YAC by 24 runs.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
http://www.bahtiganga.com

U-16 cricket camp concludes

Players pose for a group photo graph at the end of the 15-day long Under-16 Summer Camp, organized by the Patna District Cricket Association in Patna on June 28, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
http://www.biharsports.blogspot.com

Bihar's new water policy in the offing

Bihar’s Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) minister Ashwini Chaubey talking to media on new water policy in Patna on June 28, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


New water policy in the offing

Bihar’s PHED minister Ashwini Chaubey said the state government would soon come out with its water policy with a view to promote water conservation and its efficient use.

"Bihar government will soon come out with its water policy soon to tackle the scarcity of potable water...I have made some recommendations to the Centre to tackle with the problems of potable water. These recommendations will also form part of the proposed water policy," he said in Patna after returning from Singapore where he attended the International Water Week.

He said water harvesting would be given utmost importance and it would be made a mandatory provision in the Apartment Act and the state government was considering incentives like reducing holding tax to give a fillip to it.

Choubey said he had suggested the setting up of a ground water regulatory authority to check harnessing of ground water. Besides, there should be a coordination committee to encourage the use of surface water, instead of ground water so that it could be conserved.
There is need to create awareness among the people that potable water is precious and scarce, he said.

Rains bring much-needed relief


Pre-monsoon showers on Sunday (June 28, 2009) brought much needed relief to residents of Patna, reeling under heat wave conditions and delayed monsoon.
Patna experienced moderate rains to end a long dry spell in Bihar, where the monsoon was due for June 11.
The Meteorological Department, however, said the showers were not monsoon rains. The Southwest Monsoon, which is running behind schedule, is likely to advance to more areas of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa and West Bengal & Sikkim as well as some parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and East Uttar Pradesh during next two three days.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

New Bihar Governor Debananda Konwar arrives in Patna





New Bihar Governor Debananda Konwar upon his arrival at Jayaprakash Narayan International airport in Patna on June 28, 2009 by a service flight from New Delhi.
From top: Wife of Bihar's new Governor Debananda Konwar
New Governor Debananda Konwar
New Governor being accorded guard of honour.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomes new Governor by offering a bouquet.
Konwar was accorded warm welcome at the airport. He was received by state Legislative Council Chairman Arun Kumar, Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary, besides Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and a host of state ministers.

State chief secretary R J M Pillai and director general of police D N Gautam were also present.Konwar, a four-time MLA from Assam, was finance minister in the last term of Tarun Gogoi-led ministry. Welcoming Konwar's appointment, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said it would further bolster the old bond of relations between Assam and Bihar.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

http://www.bahtiganga.com/

Cheat arrested

Patna Kotwali Police on Sunday (June 28, 2009) arrested a cheat Mohammad Anwar Khan, near Mahavir Mandir (Lord Hanuman Temple) and seized 30 bundles of papers including currency notes from him.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

National Hawkers Federation meeting

Members of National Hawkers Federation hold its meeting at Janashakti Bhawan in Patna on June 28, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Telefilm on abortion

Bihar Legislative Council chairman Arun Kumar inaugurating a telefilm "Ashim" for public viewing in Patna on June 28, 2009. The telefilm is based on the social menace abortion.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


Creating writing competition

Students participating in a creating writing competition to commemorate the month of World Environment Day in Patna on June 28, 2009.
The creating writing competition was jointly organised by American Corner and We Aim High (WAH).
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Patna Municipal Corporation Board meeting

Ward councilor Gopal Prasad makes his point during discussion on Patna Municipal Corporation Board Budget at Corporation Board meeting in Patna on June 27, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Panr mound declared of 3rd millennium BC

Archaeological remains of Panr mound being displayed at KP Jaiswal Research Institute in Patna on June 27, 2009. The Panr mound is situated at Pandavsthan in Samstipur district of Bihar. The mound has been declared of 3rd millennium BC by the scientists of Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

LJP demands reservation for EBC in all Central Government departments

Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) president and former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and other leaders are being felicitated at the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) meet in Patna on June 27, 2009.

Addressing the meeting Paswan said Extremely Backward Classes should be given reservation in all departments of central government and Legislature. He also demanded that a National EBC Commission be constituted.
He gave an ultimatum to the state government to implement the report of Extremely Backward Commission within a month otherwise, the LJP workers would launch state-wide “Jail Bharo Abhiyan” on July 28.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Bihar bids farewell to Governor RL Bhatia




Outgoing Bihar Governor RL Bhatia is being given ceremonial send off at the state hanger of the Patna airport on June 28, 2009.

Governor Bhatia was presented a guard of honour in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his cabinet colleagues, top bureaucrats and senior policemen. Bhatia left for Delhi on Saturday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar presented a bouquet to Bhatia and lauded his efforts in reforming the higher education in the state.
Bhaita is replaced by former Assam Minister Debanand Konwar as Governor of Bihar.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


Painting competition for disabled children

Disabled children participate in a painting competition, organised by Samarpan in Patna on June 27, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Dalit-Mahadalit Mahadharna

Activists of Dalit-Mahadalit Alpshankhyak Kalyan Morcha stage dharna in Patna on June 27, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


Saturday, June 27, 2009

National Unity and Youth Harmony Run

Rajyogini Dadi BK Nirmal Pushpa (left) talks to the media on June 26, 2009 on the National Unity and Youth Harmony Run to be organised by Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya in Patna on Sunday (June, 28, 2009).
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Shahjanand's death anniversary


Patna Sahib MP and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shatrughan Sinha offering floral tributes to Swami Shahjanand on the latter's 59 death anniversary in Patna on June 26, 2009.
Speaking on the occasion Sahtrughan Sinha said Swami Shahjanand was the voice of Bihar farmers and agricultural labourers. His whole life was dedicated to cause of farmers and the farming community.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Monsoon session begins in Bihar legislature

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar offers a bouquet to Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) speaker Uday Narain Choudhary on the opening day of the monsoon session of the Bihar Assembly in Patna on June 26, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Unorganised sector workers conference

A speaker addressing a meeting of unorganised sector workers in Patna on June 25, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui


Health workers on dharna

Public health workers of Bihar stage dhara to press their long-pending 37-point demands in Patna on June 25, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Friday, June 26, 2009

Lawyers strike work


Lawyers come out of the Patna High court deserting their work in Patna on June 25, 2009.

Lawyers of Bihar went on state-wide two-day strike to protest the recent murders of three of their colleagues by unidentified gunmen.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Ram Vilas Paswan sits on dharna


Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) chief and fomer Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan along with his party workers sits on a dharna in Patna on June 25, 2009 to highlight the alleged failures of Nitish Kumar government in Bihar.
Paswan charged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with deliberately trying to divide dalit community for their votes and threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if the state government continued to ''discriminate'' against the community.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Book on “Bharat Me Dalit Andolan” released

Former Rajya Sabha member Gandhi Azad releases a book on “Bharat Me Dalit Andolan” written by Dr K Narain. The function was organized by Patna University Intellectual Forum in Patna on June 24, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui





Bihar Government recommends CBI probe into engineer's death

The agitation by thousands of government engineers to protest against alleged murder of the engineer of the Road Construction department (RCD), Yogendra Pandey, continued for third consecutive day on Wednesday (June 24, 2009) affecting the construction work.

Photo shows striking engineers are on a dharna at Vishweshwaraiah Bhawan in Patna on June 24, 2009.

Meanhwile, Bihar Government has directed the state Home department to recommend to the Centre a CBI probe into alleged murder of an executive engineer.
Yogendra Pandey, the executive engineer of Sitamarhi Road Division died on June 18 after falling from the collectorate building. Even though a suicide note was recovered from him, his family members claimed that he was pushed from top of the building.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Pre-Monsoon arrangements meet

Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi reviewing the pre-Monsoon arrangements with the officials of Urban Development and Housing Department, Road Construction Department, Energy Department and Patna Municipal Corporation in Patna on June 24, 2009.
photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Need for grant of special status to Bihar

Bihar Governor RL Bhatia (centre), Digvijay Singh, MP (left) and former Bihar Chief Minister Dr Jagannath Mishra (right) at a seminar on "Need for grant of special status to Bihar" in Patna on June 24, 2009. The seminar was organised by Human Rights Protection Forum" to celebrate the 73rd birthday of Dr Jagannath Mishra.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

State-level meet of stakeholders from different red light areas of Bihar

Participants at a State-level meet of stakeholders from different red light areas of Bihar, organised by Mahila Development Centre in Patna on June 24, 2009. The two-day meet discussed the growing menace of human trafficking in Bihar.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

PU staff gherao vice-chancellor


Patna University employees stormed into the vice-chancellor's office on June 24, 2009 and gheraoed V-C Profesoor Shyam Lal in his chamber in support of their demands for payment of arrear and other dues.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui