How AAP plans to target Bihar, UP for 2014 LS polls

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party gets ready to be sworn in to form the government in Delhi, the party workers have their energies equally focused on the upcoming Lok Sabha Election in 2014. Keeping the same in mind, the party seems to have completed a recce of the a handful of states in central and northern India. Having taken stock of the poll issues in these states, the party is mostly likely to now focus exclusively on the Bimaru states - the ones reeling under poverty, caste violence, corruption and administrative failure. "In Bihar, we found that people are very eager to join the party. Not only are they prospective voters, they are even willing to work as grassroots cadres," said a party insider who has been overseeing the support mobilization process in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Arvind Kejriwal. AFP. 

According to experts too, states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh - crippled by a combination of issues like unemployment, communal unrest and a declining standards of living - are ideal for the AAP as it tries expanding its base. "People in Bihar have and UP have only seen corruption and muscle-flexing by political leaders. AAP will come as a breath of fresh air to these people who have the BJP, RJD, SP or BSP as options," says Hari Vash and senior journalist, political analyst and editor of a national daily. AAP seems to have zeroed in on the most economically and socially deprived section of voters in the said states. "In Bihar, we will be focusing on 14,000 villages where the population is less that 200. Hardly any development has taken place in theses villages. We will try take them along in our stride," says the AAP source. 

The party also has its sights set on the the tribal belt in the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh. "The district convenor in Sonbhadra is a tribal himself," he adds. AAP insiders admit that their party would have already created a stronger support base in these areas had the recognized leaders like Kejriwal himself got a chance to campaign. However, they are busy making amends and a campaign will kick off soon. "Sanjay Singh and Pankaj Gupta, two of our national leaders will head a committee to set up a strategy for the sates in the upcoming election. And very soon the leaders will start travelling in these states outside Delhi," said Yogendra Yadav of AAP. 

Even though AAP has declared that it is yet to finalise a strategy for the general elections, the party seems to have started making inroads and an impact already. For instance, in Bihar, RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad recently created a stir when he said that his party will not give a ticket to one of its ally's candidates as she is the wife of a muscleman. "This incident definitely shows that the political discourse is changing. And the political parties are also stressing on the clean politics factor," says SK Tyagi of JD(U), who claims that the AAP effect will barely dent their vote-bank. "Bihar is not Delhi. There are caste dynamics and communal issues that need to be considered. It will be difficult for AAP to repeat what they did in Delhi, in Bihar," he said.

Source : FP

Bihar: Slipper thrown at Nitish Kumar at public function in Begusarai

'Sankalp Rally' is planned by the JDU to make a commitment before people to continue the fight for winning special category status for the state.

"Both (RJD and Congress) are equally responsible for 'badhali' (bad condition) of Bihar for 15 years," he said, slamming the two parties for their efforts to form alliance for the next Lok Sabha polls.

"Efforts are (being) made to revive the ties to bring back those dark days of poor law and order and misgovernance," he said.

Nitish said after assuming power for the first time in November 25, 2005, he had worked day and night to bring the state back on track in the past eight years.

"Rule of law has been established and people no longer fear to go out of home even late in night. Development work has been taken up," he said, asking people if they would like to return to "the bad days of the past".

'Sankalp Rally' is third in the series of 12 such rallies planned by the JDU to make a commitment before people to continue the fight for winning special category status for the state and not allowing communal forces to triumph.

Making a scathing attack at his rival and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, he said the fanfare with which he returned to Patna from Ranchi prison after bail in a fodder scam case made it seem like he had gone to jail for participating in some "freedom movement".

A slipper was thrown at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public function in Begusarai on Sunday. The slipper missed the chief minister.

Nitish was speaking at the Janata Dal United's 'Sankalp Rally' and said the two old partners (Congress, RJD) were coming together again to bring back the "dark" days of poor law and order and misgovernance.

"Who does not know that RJD and Congress shared power in those days when people feared to venture out of home after sunset to avoid getting kidnapped?" Nitish said.

Source: IBN

Lalu’s ‘coalition of the discredited’ could challenge BJP, Nitish in Bihar

Lalu Prasad Yadav had only just stepped out of the gates of Ranchi’s Birsa Munda jail when he took aim at Narendra Modi and the BJP. The RJD supremo, granted bail by the Supreme Court pending his appeal against a lower court order convicting him in the Fodder Scam case, promised to “unite all secular parties…to strengthen secular forces…(so that) Narendra Modi, RSS and BJP would not be able to fulfil their dreams.”

His target though was not Narendra Modi. It was Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The JD(U) chief, Lalu’s one time colleague turned arch rival, has been claiming the secular mantle in Bihar since he broke his 17 year long alliance with the BJP over the Prime Ministerial candidature of Narendra Modi.

Lalu Prasad Yadav. PTI In Bihar’s fractured polity, secularism is a catch phrase to win the votes of the minority Muslim population, which at around 17 percent of the state’s population is a significant vote bank. Without the Muslim vote to add to his Yadav base, Lalu is a marginal player in Bihar. Having broken away from the BJP (and its upper caste and urban pockets vote), Nitish too might end up a marginal player should he fail to garner a big majority of the Muslim vote. Only one of Lalu or Nitish will end up a serious contender to a Modi-led BJP in the next Lok Sabha election. The sight of Lalu, the original anti-BJP crusader who had arrested LK Advani in 1990, walking out of jail (with the sympathy factor tailing him) would have displeased no one more than Nitish Kumar.

Lalu's release is obviously good news for his RJD which was routed in 2009 and would have found the going difficult in 2014 without its charismatic leader. It is also good news for the Congress, which now has two potential allies in a crucial state — RJD and JD(U). In the circumstances, it can hope to strike a good bargain. The Congress’s core vote, around 10 percent of the total (which could rise in the event of a religiously polarised campaign) could be an important addition for both Lalu and Nitish. Of course, there are perils of allying with Congress. The UPA is a widely discredited Government held responsible for rampant inflation and corruption. Nitish Kumar, who prides himself on a good governance record in Bihar, would lose considerable sheen should he form an opportunistic alliance with the Congress. Lalu, on the other hand, would have no such compulsions. Like UPA 2, Lalu is only remembered for bad governance and corruption during his party’s fifteen-year-reign in Bihar between 1990 and 2005. Still, a RJD-Congress-LJP (Paswan’s outfit) ‘coalition of the discredited’ could form a potent force by getting its caste and religious arithmetic right.

It would give the BJP a run for its money and would almost certainly hand Nitish an adverse outcome. The threat of losing the entire Muslim vote to a RJD-Congress alliance may yet force Nitish to woo the Congress. That would be good news for BJP as the Muslim vote may get split between Lalu and a JD(U)-Congress alliance. It would also destroy Nitish’s reputation as an able and honest administrator. Whatever the outcome, Bihar is heading into its most interesting and uncertain election in decades. After two reasonably successful term sin Government, Nitish Kumar ought to have been in pole position. But the Modi factor and the Lalu wildcard have left him in an uneasy spot. The Congress, which by itself would not be a player in Bihar, may find itself in the rather attractive position of being wooed by two regional satraps. Add to this combustible mix the fact that Narendra Modi’s Prime Ministerial hopes may well depend on the Bihar outcome. The stakes are high. Expect some serious manipulative politics ahead.

Source: FP

Lalu walks out of jail, says will fight communal forces

Lalu also lashed out Anna Hazare saying he was trying to create a structure above the judiciary.

The apex court had on Friday granted bail to the RJD chief in the fodder scam case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from the Chaibasa Treasury during his tenure as chief minister. However, he couldn't be released on Friday as the order didn't reach the special CBI court that had to issue the necessary release orders.

Lalu had earlier got bail in four other fodder scam cases, in which he was concurrently in judicial custody after he was convicted by a special CBI court in a fodder scam case on September 30, he said.

He was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 25 lakh on October 3. During jail custody, Lalu appeared before different CBI courts through video conferencing in four other fodder cases for alleged fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 97 lakh from Deogarh Treasury, Rs 3.97 crore from Dumka Treasury, Rs 36 crore from Chaibasa Treasury and Rs 184 crore from the Doranda Treasury.

(With additional information from PTI)

Source: IBN

Lalu Prasad granted bail by SC in fodder scam case

In a huge respite to Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief in connection with the fodder scam case.

December 13 was fixed as the date for hearing the bail plea of the former Bihar chief minister by a two-judge bench of the apex court.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi had issued notice to the CBI after senior counsel Ram Jethmalani told the court that 44 people were convicted in the case, of whom 37 have already been granted bail and bail applications of six others are under consideration.

Lalu's lawyer also said that the RJD chief had already spent enough time in jail and was not in a position to influence the investigation as the probe was already over.

Lalu, moved the apex court challenging the order of the Jharkhand high court which had dismissed his bail plea.

Lalu, another former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra and 43 others were on September 30, convicted by a special CBI court in the fodder scam case involving fraudulent withdrawal of 37.7 crore rupees from Chaibasa Treasury during the RJD regime.

He has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha after being convicted in the case and banned from contesting elections for six years.

The fodder scam involved the siphoning of funds from the Bihar government treasury. The alleged theft spanned over several years, and many Bihar state government administrative and elected officials across multiple administrations were allegedly engaged in it.

The fodder scam was unearthed in Bihar in 1996 when Lalu was chief minister.

Source: TOI

Bihar Police have no proof against six ‘terrorists’

In the first week of November, Bihar Police arrested over a dozen people accusing them of being a part of an illegal fund transfer racket involving Pakistan that was suspected to be case of "terror funding". Media reports from Patna, quoting police sources, said that the accused could be linked to ISI and Indian Mujahideen (IM) and could have even funded Patna blasts. There was even speculation on "Hindu terror" as four of the accused were Hindus.

A month after investigations, Bihar Police is yet get any evidence linking the accused to any terror outfit or even the fund transfers to any act of terror. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is investigating two blast cases in Bihar, has not even bothered to question the accused in custody.

The Central security establishment, including the home ministry, is unhappy with the way Bihar Police has handled the case, which looks more of illegal fund transfers rather than a suspected case of terror funding.

A senior home ministry official said, "They have made some claims which are thin on evidence. The case should have been handled more cautiously and in a better way."

A senior security establishment officer added, "As yet we have not found any link of the accused to terror funding. The funds have largely come from Saudi Arabia and certain Gulf countries. Much of the money has gone to certain mosques and madarsas. It would be wrong to call them terror funding unless someone can establish that from these madarsas the money has gone to certain terror outfit. The accused have been paid commission for the transactions and are completely unaware of the use the money is being put to. Such transactions from the Gulf are common. Suspicion of the police was raised only because of telephone calls to Pakistan."

NIA, which also has a dedicated terror-funding cell, has not touched the case even though Bihar Police has claimed that it conducted the operation on an "NIA tip-off". A senior NIA officer said, "We have nothing to do with this operation. We will look into it as and when a terror angle emerges. As of now we are not aware of any such thing."

On November 9, Lakhisarai police in Bihar arrested four youths, identified as Gopal Kumar Goyal, Pawan Kumar, Vikash Kumar and Ganesh Kumar, for being part of this alleged racket. Days later they arrested a Muslim couple, Ayesha Bano and her husband Zubair, from Mangalore charging them along with Mohammad Faiyaz and Mohammad Kismet Ansari alias Dawood Ansari, who are on the run, of being the racket's kingpins.

Police recovered dozens of ATM cards, passbooks and SIM cards from the accused and claimed that they were in constant touch with one Ibrahim Khan in Pakistan. Police also found evidence of over Rs 1.5 crore transacted through the accounts held by the accused in the past few months alone. Most of the accused, including the Mangalore couple, are poor, said sources.

Though Bihar Police has officially maintained that it has not got any evidence linking the accused to terror outfits, Bihar DGP Abhayanand was quoted in the media as saying "terror funding" in the case could not be ruled out. Media reports quoting police sources have repeatedly mentioned " ISI-links" and "IM funding" in context of the case.

Source: TOI

Nitish Kumar's Bihar to have road ambulances for emergency care of potholes

Bihar is all set to introduce a novel concept - ambulances to fix its roads. The first of these unique vehicles will hit the roads on January 14.

During its first term between 2005-10, the Nitish Kumar government was synonymous with improving the law and order situation, better health facilities and above all - good roads.

But many roads in the state have now fallen into disrepair - important highways like the ones connecting Patna to Aurangabad - are full of potholes.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is now in-charge of the roads department, has kicked off an ambitious 2500-crore programme to repair over nine thousand kilometres of state highways and village roads by May.

Mr Kumar also announced that 76 'road ambulances' will work round the clock to attend to complaints of people. Soon people in the state will be able to contact a 24 hours call centre and ask for these 'ambulances' to fix their roads.

These vehicles will be equipped with all materials to fix potholes. They will be fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) and will be tracked from a central control room being set up in Patna. They will be owned and run by private contractors but the government will control the design and operations of these 'ambulances.'

Pratyay Amrit, the state's Road construction secretary says Bihar is perhaps the first state to have such a large fleet of these vehicles. "The first ambulance will be available after January 14 and we hope the entire fleet of 76 is on the road by March 15," Mr Amrit said.

Source: NDTV

Homosexuality an offence, says Supreme Court

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) In a jolt to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenders, the Supreme Court Wednesday held that consensual sex between adults of the same gender is an offence.

Setting aside the Delhi High Court verdict of 2009, the apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhayay said that there was no constitutional room for change in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

Section 377 of IPC holds that sexual relationship against the order of the nature is an offence.

The Delhi High Court by its, now set aside, verdict had decriminalised the sexual relationship between adults of the same gender under Section 377.

Restoring back Section 377 under the statute book, the court referring to the Attorney General said that government could, if it so desired, amend the law.

The apex court verdict upholding Section 377 came 21 months after it had reserved its verdict in March 2012.

One killed by Nitish's convoy in Muzaffarpur

Muzaffarpur, Dec 9: A man, Shambhu Yadav, was mowed down by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's convoy in Muzaffarpur. Sources say that the car was escorting the Chief Minister on his way back from Motihari. Eye-witnesses claim that the car didn't even stop after running over the man.  

The man was taken to Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The Chief Minister was returning to Patna by road after addressing a rally by JD(U) called the 'Sankalp Rally' at the East Champaran district. Local villagers are said to have blocked the road in protest. 

Source: OneIndia News

Big winners and losers in Delhi: AAP loses 15 seats by less than 5,000 votes

Delhi has never seen an election like the 2013 one in which some of the most famous faces of Delhi have been humbled by unknown candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal has proved his might by defeating the most powerful Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit by more than 26,000 votes in New Delhi constituency.

At least 15 AAP candidates have lost their seats by less than 5,000 votes depriving the party of creating history by coming to power. Out of 15 candidates, many AAP candidates have lost their seats by less than 2000-3000 votes.

The longest serving elected representative in Delhi, Chaudhury Prem Singh also lost his Ambedkar Nagar seat after almost 60 years. He had won his first election in mid-1950s. He came third in his bastion which has been won by AAP's Ashok Kumar.

The longest serving elected representative in Delhi, Chaudhury Prem Singh lost his Ambedkar Nagar seat after almost 60 years.

Former Speaker and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Subhash Chopra lost from Kalkaji. Senior ministers in the Sheila Dikshit government Raj Kumar Chauhan from Mangol Puri, Dr. Yoganand Shastri from Mehrauli, Rama Kant Goswami from Rajinder Nagar, Dr. Kiran Walia from Malaviya Nagar have lost, sending shock waves across the Congress.

Two young Congress candidates with the National Students Union of India (NSUI) background Ragini Nayak from Janakpuri and Amrita Dhawan from Tilak Nagar have also lost.

One of the best known faces of the AAP and former television journalist Shazia Ilmi lost RK Puram seat by a mere 318 votes. Her brother Rashid Ilmi, who had contested against Shazia got just 99 votes.

BJP's chief ministerial candidate Dr. Harsh Vardhan won by over 43,000 votes in Krishna Nagar. Ministers in the Sheila government Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar and Haroon Yousuf from Ballimaran have managed to win after a tough fight.

Senior MLA and former deputy speaker Shoib Iqbal retained his Matia Mahal seat for the 5th straight term. This time he contested on the JDU ticket.

The lone Independent candidate who managed to win is Rambir Shokeen from Mundka. Since the BJP does not have a clear majority in the Assembly, he is likely to hit the jackpot. Journalist-turned-AAP leader Manish Sisodia won from Patparganj. Anil Kumar Jha of the BJP has won by the biggest margin of over 49,000 votes in Kirari.

Source: IBN

Maoists threaten to kill Sushil Modi, Bihar BJP leaders

Maoists have put up posters in Jharkhand's Latehar district, threatening to kill top Bihar BJP leaders, including former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Modi along with party colleague and former minister Giriraj Singh have been advocating strong police action against Maoists in Bihar. The two leaders have alleged the Nitish Kumar government is soft on the Maoists who have recently carried out attacks in Bihar.

"We have recovered the posters that threaten to target Modi, Giriraj, Rajya Sabha MP C P Thakur and other BJP leaders," Latehar SP Michael S Raj said on Thursday. The posters have urged people not to come under the influence of these leaders because they are "fascists".

Police have sounded an alert in the district. "We have communicated to Bihar police," said additional SP Manish Kumar Bharti.

Police said the posters read, "Sampradayeek aur fascist party Bhajapa tatha khunkhar pratikriyawadiyo ke chakkar me na padey. Aam admi se anurodh hai ki samanti pratikriyawadi Sushil Kumar Modi, Giriraj Singh, C P Thakur and other leaders ko maar girayein (Do not get influenced by communal and fascist BJP. Common people are requested to kill feudal reactionaries Sushil, Giriraj, Thakur and other leaders)."

Latehar is close to Chatra district in Jharkhand where Maoists from Bihar allegedly take shelter. "It could be a possibility that the posters were meant to be used in Bihar, but the banned outfit's men inadvertently brought and pasted them here," a police officer said.

Three such posters and two banners were recovered from two different places on Wednesday. One poster said CPI(Maoist) has opened a recruitment cell each in all panchayats. "The posters invited schoolchildren to join the party," said the police officer.

Two Maoist posters were recovered from Deoghar district on Thursday. Police said the posters condemned police action against the Maoists and asked people to support their cause.

Source: TOI

Bihar launched birth registration campaign

Little girl plays with the globe on the table of the school principal....she is oblivious to the discussion her father is having with the principal about birth registration certificate.

The father is clueless of the registration process, its benefits and utility. Her face lights up when the principal turns to her and asks; 'what is your name.....timidly she responds'...Meena!

Meena like the millions of children in Bihar, are yet to get their birth registered. The directorate of Economics and Statistics under the department of Planning and Development, Bihar on Tuesday launched a birth registration campaign for 28 days. The campaign will be on for almost a month (until 31 December 2013).

The birth registration campaign is a state led unique initiative inaugurated by the chief minister Nitish Kumar. The campaign will cover all enrolled children in the rural primary and upper primary schools to have their birth registered. Altogether there are 71,000 schools in the state which will promote the birth registration campaign for a month, said a senior Bihar government official.

Unicef has technically supported the campaign design and products to stimulate demand and promote maximum coverage for birth registration. Dr Yameen Mazumder, chief of field office, UNICEF Bihar informed that the "birth registration campaign will go a long way in realizing the right of identity of children in Bihar".

Source: TOI

French Ambassador begins three-day visit to Bihar

The French Ambassador to India, Francois Richier, is on a three-day visit to Bihar from December 2. Looking to increase Indo-French participation in education, science and culture, the French Ambassador to India, Francois Richier, has made over 26 trips to 14 different cities across India since January this year.

Ambassador Richier will be in Bihar till December 4. From touring the site of the upcoming Nalanda International University with the university vice chancellor, Gopa Sabharwal, to meeting with students and faculty members at the National Institute of Technology in Patna, the Ambassador is hopeful that his meetings and interactions particularly in the field of academics will help increase Indian student and researcher numbers in France.

"We already have over 2,600 Indians studying in France and are keen to attract more such talent in the future and strengthen Indo-France partnerships in the field of education and research. Paris was voted as the world's best student city second year in a row by QS last month. So there are certainly plenty of excellent opportunities, support and facilities available for Indian academics and students in France," says Ambassador Richier, who will also be meeting with Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar during his trip to discuss areas of economic and political cooperation.

The French Ambassador will also engage with the cultural and academic community in Patna and exchange with scientific research institutes like the National Institute of Technology based in Patna on December 4.

Despite a packed schedule, the ambassador has set aside some time for sightseeing and will be visiting the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya along with representatives of the Mahavira society that preserves this world heritage site.


Source: IT

BJP MLA adopts three gangrape survivors in Bihar

BJP MLA from Hajipur in Bihar Nityanand Rai in an unprecedented move has adopted three gangrape survivors and promised to bear their educational and medical expenses for life. The victims who belong to the backward class were sexually assaulted by local youths in September this year. Perhaps this is the first case in the state where a lawmaker has taken such a step. These rape victims are from Kajbati village falling under Bidupur block of Vaishali. All the three were sexually assaulted in broad day light triggering massive public outburst. Rai's effort has come as a ray of hope for these rape survivors who have promised to take care of the survivors educational and medical expenses for life. Speaking exclusively to Headlines Today-Aaj Tak, Rai said, "I have adopted three rape victims. I will bear expenses for their education and medical needs. I want to see them stand on their own feet. They are poor girls and they have been raped. My intention is to take good care of them after the trauma they have faced."

The rape survivors and their families have welcomed the support from the political quarter and demanded speedy arrest of the accused who are still absconding after the incident. One of the rape survivors Rita (name changed) spoke to Headlines Today-Aaj Tak and narrated her ordeal. She said, "The accused raped me and threatened me not to speak about this incident to anyone or else they would eliminate me and my family." Her parent said, "We are glad that the lawmaker will be taking care of my daughters from now on, we want the accused to be arrested at the earliest."

However, Rai's efforts has raised many a eyebrows in the ruling JD-U with leaders questioning the real intention of the lawmaker. Minister in Nitish Kumar govt, Ramai Ram said, "Why has he adopted the rape survivors has to be found out. We need to know what is his motive behind this. May be there is a political motive behind adopting the rape survivors."

Rai, on the other hand, slammed the Nitish Kumar administration for deteriorating law & order situation in the state because of which there has been spurt in cases of rapes. He also dismissed Ramai Ram's charges that his intentions were political behind rehabilitating the girls. Rai said, "The government only gives a small compensation when such incidents happen but such compensation are peanuts. I have taken a pledge to take care of them. There is no politics in this."

According to Bihar government's own reports, almost 900 rape cases have already been reported till September this year in comparison to 927 in 2012 and 934 in 2011. This is a clear indication on the rising trend of crime in Nitish's regime and politics is also being played over rape survivors for electoral gains ahead of 2014.

Source: IT

French Ambassador begins 3-day visit to Bihar

The French Ambassador to India, Francois Richier, has embarked on a three-day visit to Bihar starting today, the Embassy has said in a press statement.

This trip is part of a series of travels throughout India to expand the scope of Indo-French cooperation and develop joint, forward-looking projects in various fields, notably economic exchanges, education, science and culture.

The statement adds that the envoy will travel to Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna and Sonepur, to interact with various interest groups and eminent personalities in the State.

On December 3, Ambassador Richier will meet with the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to discuss potential areas of cooperation while the following day the Envoy will have a meeting with various members of the Bihar business community in Patna. Until now, only a few French companies have started to engage with Bihar.

On December 3, the Ambassador will meet Gopa Sabharwal, Vice Chancellor, International University, Nalanda, and tour this site which has been the brainchild of India’s foremost economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

The French Ambassador will also engage with the cultural and academic community in Patna and exchange with scientific research institutes like the National Institute of Technology based in Patna on December 4.

NIT faculty and students have demonstrated outstanding ability and aptitude for research in areas in which France has developed fundamental research, strong expertise and high-end technology.

Source: BL