Goa BJP opposes offshore casinos, wants matka gambling legalised
By IANS,
Panaji : After consistently campaigning for the closure of offshore casinos on moral grounds, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday demanded the immediate regularisation of matka, an illegal but popular form of gambling in Goa.
Speaking during the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly, former agriculture minister Dayanand Mandrekar said that if gambling in casinos for the rich was legal, then the poor too should be allowed to indulge legally in matka gambling.
BJP condemns SP, RJD for tearing up women’s bill
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday slammed the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) for tearing up the women's reservation bill that was moved in the Rajya Sabha Monday amid acrimony.
"The BJP has resolved to have 33 percent reservation for women in parliament. We back the government and we demand that they manage the floor properly to ensure that it is discussed and passed," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.
Muslims no tool for votes, says Modi
Kozhikode : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stressed the need for creating an alternate politics as advocated by Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya...
BJP to project chief ministerial candidate in Orissa
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will project a chief ministerial candidate in Orissa in the upcoming assembly polls, a party official said here Saturday. Assembly polls in Orissa will be held together with the Lok Sabha polls.
"Our central leadership is going to announce the name of the chief ministerial candidate," M.A. Kharabela Swain, deputy chief whip of BJP in the Lok Sabha, told IANS.
"I cannot tell you the name but you will come to know about it soon," Swain said.
Kerala CPI-M names ministers, trouble breaks out in CPI
Thiruvananthapuram : The CPI-M ministers in Kerala Chief Minister-designate Pinarayi Vijayan's cabinet ministers were named without much problem, but the process was more difficult...
Congressional briefing highlights issue of prisoners of conscience, intimidation of human rights defenders in...
During the briefing, eminent activists and lawyers raised awareness about the draconian laws India uses to imprison and intimidate civilians.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Congressional...
Will Modi change equations in Tamil Nadu politics?
By R. Rajagopalan,
The war of words between AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and BJP's prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi may impact...
Stop violence against opposition: Tripura CM
By IANS,
Agartala : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar Friday asked the police and civil administration to stop the post-poll violence in the northeastern state.
Government has taken cognizance of spying report: BJP
New Delhi : The government has taken cognizance of the reports of the US spying over the BJP and it should not happen again,...
No objection to forming Telangana state, says Sonia
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday said her party has no objection to carving out a separate state of Telangana, but stopped short of making any commitment on the issue.
Addressing two public meetings as part of the party's campaign in the backward Telangana region, she said the Congress would take up the issue on priority.
Hinduism is not just a faith, says Pranab
New Delhi : Hinduism is not just a faith, President Pranab Mukherjee said Monday, as he received a copy of the "Encyclopaedia of Hinduism"...
Activist Shabnam Hashmi says manhandled by BJP ‘goons’
New Delhi: Social activist Shabnam Hashmi Monday claimed she was surrounded, threatened and manhandled by "goons" of the BJP who even threatened to rape...
Security stepped up for Sonia’s Meghalaya visit
By IANS,
Shillong: Tight security arrangements have been put in place ahead of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's visit to Meghalaya Friday.
A Special Protection Group (SPG) team has landed here in the city to oversee the security scenario, Meghalaya Director General of Police S.B. Kakati told IANS.
Sonia, who is also the UPA chairperson, is visiting the state to inaugurate the much awaited North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), the first super-speciality hospital in the state.
Shiv Sena-BJP finalise seat-sharing deal for Maharashtra polls
By IANS,
Mumbai : The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday arrived at a seat-sharing understanding for the Oct 13 elections to the Maharashtra assembly, it was announced here.
As per the agreed formula, Shiv Sena will contest 169 of the 288 assembly seats and BJP the other 119, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde told reporters.
In the 2004 elections, the Sena had contested 171 and the BJP 117. The alliance had jointly bagged 119 seats, compared to the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) tally of 139.
‘Advani has raised black money issue to alert his people’
By IANS,
Bhopal : Congress leader and former union minister Anil Shastri Monday claimed that by raising the issue of black money stacked in foreign banks, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial aspirant L.K. Advani has alerted his own people so that they can shift their money from these banks.
Andhra ministers meet amid dissidence
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Amid reports of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy facing growing dissidence within the cabinet, meetings continued among the ministers.
Mining leases: BJP-ruled Goa takes on party’s manifesto
By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar,
Panaji : The first serious threat to the manifesto that swept the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power in the April-May Lok...
NHRC notice to defence ministry over ammunition stockpile
New Delhi : The NHRC has issued notice to the defence ministry over the safety risk posed to the general public due to army...
Delhi Congress continues protest over power, water crisis
New Delhi : The Congress Friday continued to protest against power outages and water scarcity in Delhi and staged a demonstration here outside the...
Bookies score bull’s eye in national predictions, but not Mumbai
By Quaid Najmi, IANS,
Mumbai : Bookies and punters scored a bull's eye in the all-India election results outcome, but their calculations went awry in Mumbai where they suffered losses amounting to nearly Rs.500 crore (Rs.5 billion), sources in the industry said here Sunday.
In Mumbai, the bookies and bettors failed in their assessment of the outcome in three seats and on candidates belonging to the saffron combine of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena, a bookie revealed Sunday morning.
These are:
Najeeb Ahmed’s disappearance: Delhi HC adjourns hearing till May 11
New Delhi (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) missing student Najeeb Ahmed's case till May...
Sixth round of Kashmir polling ends — 63 percent vote
By IANS,
Srinagar/Jammu : The sixth and penultimate round of balloting to pick a new assembly in Jammu and Kashmir ended peacefully Wednesday with about 63 percent of the electorate turning out to vote despite winter chill and threats from separatist groups.
The authorities said the 10-hour exercise went off without trouble in Anantnag and Kulgam districts in the Kashmir Valley and in the districts of Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar in Jammu region. Stray protests against the elections were reported in both regions, however.
Why did BJP withdraw support, asks junior Soren
By IANS,
Ranchi : Hemant Soren, son of Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, Monday wondered why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew support to the state government after pledging it in writing.
"I am unable to understand why the BJP withdrew support from the Shibu Soren government. We were given time till May 25 to tender the resignation of Shibu Soren," Hemant Soren told reporters Monday night.
"The JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) does not fear to face elections. We will disclose our move to save the government after two days," he added.
Lalu, Paswan skip cabinet meeting but stay within UPA
By IANS,
New Delhi/Kolkata : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan will skip a meeting of the union cabinet called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Friday evening. However, Paswan clarified that he was staying away because of a prior commitment in Kolkata and that his Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) would remain within the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Fresh violence rocks Khejuri in West Bengal
By IANS,
Kolkata: Fresh violence erupted in West Bengal's East Midnapore district Thursday as a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) office and two communist leaders' homes were ransacked, allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters, police said.
"We've got reports that a party office and the houses of two CPI-M leaders were ransacked by a group of villagers at Kamarda area near Khejuri. We've arrested altogether 14 people (today) in connection with the incident," East Midnapore police chief Pallav Kanti Ghosh told IANS.
Advani meets Sudarshan, other RSS leaders
By IANS,
Nagpur : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani held a prolonged meeting with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K.Sudarshan at the RSS headquarters here Sunday.
Advani, who stayed overnight in the city after addressing a paddy growers' rally at Shendurwafa nearby Saturday, had his lunch at the RSS headquarters besides a leisurely interaction with top functionaries of the organisation. Those he met with included Sar-karyavahak (general secretary) Mohan Bhagwat and his three deputies Suresh Soni, Bhaiyyaji Joshi and Madandas Devi besides the Sangh chief.
शाहीन बाग़ में बुर्के में वीडियो बनाते पकड़ी गई गुंजा कपूर, पीएम मोदी ट्वीटर...
यूसुफ़ अंसारी, Twocircles.net
दिल्ली के शाहीन बाग़ में नागरिकता संशोधन कानून के ख़िलाफ़ डेढ़ महीने से ज़्यादा समय से लगातार चल रहे विरोध प्रदर्शन में...
Apex court lets Tamil Nadu withdraw case against Jayalalitha
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Friday allowed the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw a corruption case involving alleged acquisition of two hotels in a London suburb by former chief minister J. Jayalalitha in 1994 at a cost of Rs.248 crore/Rs.2.48 billion.
A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice H.S. Bedi and Justice P. Sathasivam allowed the Tamil Nadu government's plea to withdraw the case involving acquisition of two London hotels in violation of country's laws, including monetary ones, currently pending at a special anti-corruption court in Bangalore.
President, PM mourn Surjeet death
By IANS,
New Delhi : President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mourned the death after prolonged illness of Communist veteran Harkishan Singh Surjeet Friday afternoon.
While the president's office sent a condolence message, the prime minister described the late leader as a "great patriot".
Manmohan Singh, who reached Colombo Friday to attend the SAARC summit, said the Marxist veteran was a "friend, guide and supporter".
AAP’s win reflects in Odisha assembly
Bhubaneswar : The thumping victory of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi assembly election was reflected in the Odisha assembly Tuesday as the...
Free Hyderabad students, sack vice-chancellor: CPI-M
New Delhi : The CPI-M on Wednesday demanded the release of Hyderabad Central University students and the dismissal of Vice Chancellor Appa Rao whose...
Lok Sabha poll a litmus test for Khanduri
By IANS,
Dehradun : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled hill state of Uttarakhand, which goes to the polls Wednesday to elect five representatives to the Lok Sabha, is in the grip of a strong anti-incumbency factor with a large section of the voters unhappy with Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri's "undemocratic" ways.
Two years back, when the retired army general was installed in the top chair, it was seen as the best thing that could have happened to the hill state. Now, however, he is being blamed for all the problems that Uttarakhand is facing.
67 legislators suspended after Bihar assembly bedlam
By IANS,
Patna: A legislator hurled a slipper at the speaker and a woman legislator broke flowerpots in the Bihar assembly complex Wednesday as opposition members vociferously demanded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's resignation for alleged financial irregularities. At least 67 members were suspended after day two of the bedlam in the house.
Challenge to Gujarat CM as Patidars on warpath
Ahmedabad: Keeping their promise, the agitating Patidar community on Tuesday swamped the city in a 10-km long revolution rally demanding caste reservations, posing a...
Maharashtra scraps urban land ceiling law
By IANS
Nagpur/Mumbai : The Maharashtra government Thursday scrapped a law that regulates holding of urban land, a move that is likely to free large tracts of prime land in India's financial capital Mumbai and other cities.
Authorities hope the scrapping of the three-decade-old law, the Urban Land Ceiling Regulation Act (Ulcra), will reign in the burgeoning real estate prices and make housing more affordable for millions of middleclass families.
CPI-M’s rectification process to continue till June
By IANS,
Kolkata : Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Saturday said the party's ongoing rectification drive aimed at strengthening the organisation and eliminating its shortcomings will continue till June.
"All CPI-M politburo members have already submitted notes on the politburo's and their own critical appraisals. Now the central committee members are doing the same. Then the same model will be followed by the state committee," he said.
Mithun attacks BJP for trying to cut into Trinamool votes
Kolkata : Veteran actor and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mithun Chakraborty Friday accused the BJP of trying to cut into the votes of...
Assam votes Monday – in five constituencies
Guwahati: Five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam will go to the polls Monday, marking the first phase of India's staggered national elections whose results...
Doctors’ group asks Centre to clarify on their demands
New Delhi : The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) in Delhi on Friday gave the union health ministry time till July 9 to...
Slain SP’s family demands jobs, Badal to meet families
Chandigarh : The family of Superintendent of Police Baljit Singh, who died in the terror attack in Gurdaspur in Punjab, on Tuesday demanded...
Delhi tomb was converted to temple, confirms official
By Nikhil M. Babu
New Delhi (IANS): A Delhi government inquiry report has confirmed the controversial "conversion" of a Pathan Era tomb to temple in...
Bond market’s take on Indian election outcome
By Vatsal Srivastava,
As the world's largest democracy braces itself for the results of the ongoing general elections, due May 16, Indian equities already seem...
President, vice-president, PM condole Munde’s death
New Delhi : Senior political leaders expressed shock and grief at the sudden demise of Union Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde, who died in...
Don’t release juvenile rapist for now: DCW to JJB
New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Sunday wrote to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) requesting it not to go ahead with...
How to use an EVM, in vintage Lalu style
By IANS,
Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad is not just asking people to vote for him during his campaigns, he is also giving lessons on how to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in his trademark rustic style with loads of humour thrown in.
Lalu Prasad has been teaching people how to use the EVM correctly during each of his election meetings in Bihar's Patliputra constituency where he is contesting from.
Samajwadi Party leader shot dead
By IANS,
Agra : Shammi Kohli, a Samajwadi Party leader here, was shot dead overnight in a bus going to Lucknow by men who escaped into the dark, police said Tuesday.
Kashmir newspapers not to print over government ‘propaganda’
Srinagar : No newspaper will come out here on Wednesday after Srinagar-based editors and publishers on Tuesday decided not to go to print in...
कोच आबिद अली के नमाज पढ़ने से आहत हुए हिंदूवादी संगठन,दे दी तहरीर
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
उत्तर प्रदेश के पीलीभीत में हिंदूवादी संगठनों ने हाकी कोच आबिद अली पर स्टेडियम में नमाज़ अदा करने का आरोप लगाते...
Government vans to sell pulses at fair price in Delhi
New Delhi : Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday flagged off mobile vans for selling pulses at...
Impact of Left-sponsored shutdown partial in Jharkhand
By IANS,
Ranchi : Normal life was partially affected in Jharkhand due to the nation-wide shutdown called by trade unions affiliated to the Left parties.
In Ranchi, activists of the Communist Party of India (CPI) were forcing shopkeepers to shut down shops and attendances in government offices were marginal. The most affected districts were Dhanbad and Bokaro where Left unions have a strong presence.
चंपारण की पूर्व विधायक रश्मि वर्मा पर हमले-धमकियों की कहानी झूठी
अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
पटना: राजनीतिज्ञों द्वारा चुनाव जीतने के लिए कुछ भी किया जाना कोई नयी घटना नहीं है. चाहे वह बूथ लूटना हो...
‘Equal participation in solar projects can empower women’
By Sahana Ghosh
Kolkata : Women in Indian villages can challenge patriarchy and discriminating gender roles if their participation in solar electricity projects, from planning,...
India to bring comprehensive climate legislation: Javadekar
New Delhi : India will bring a comprehensive climate legislation to ensure clean environment in the country, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Monday.
"I am...
AAP to approach higher court against Kejriwal’s detention
New Delhi : The AAP Thursday said it will approach a higher court against the magistrate's decision to send its leader Arvind Kejriwal to...
‘Old fears’ of cultural polarisation rising in Goa
By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar,
Panaji : While apologizing for his "India is already a Hindu Nation" and "I am a Christian-Hindu" comments, Goa Deputy Chief Minister...
बिहार चुनाव: महागठबंधन की गर्जना
अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
पटना: लोकतंत्र में भीड़ बहुत कुछ कहती है. सियासी पार्टियां जनसैलाब को अपनी ताक़त के तौर पर प्रचारित करती आई हैं....
Age triumphs over youth in Manmohan’s new ministry
By IANS,
New Delhi : Despite the presence of a large numbers of young MPs to choose from, only seven of those below 40 have found a place in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's council of ministers that is dominated by party veterans.
Agatha Sangma, 28-year-old daughter of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma, is the youngest member of the new ministry.
A lawyer by profession, she hopes to get the rural development ministry when the portfolios are announced after the swearing-in ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan Thursday morning.
Third phase of Bihar elections – Factfile
By IANS,
New Delhi : The third of the six phases of the month-long elections to the Bihar state assembly is to be held Thursday. The following is a factfile for the third phase:
Advani clarified Ram controversy
Ram of Dashrath, as a pious Hindu god,
May be wandering in history's dark maze;
But Ram of my make- as my party's icon,
Is a fact,and born in full public gaze.
I,with my estranged Uma,on Decem.6,1992,
Gave him birth with thunderous bang;
To display him, we razed the maternity home,
All heard 'Ram Lala''Ram Lala'that we sang.
To celebrate the event,we massacred Muslims,
And nourished the newborn with their blood;
We hoped him to defend us through the ages,
And stand as a wall agaist opponents' flood.
As an infant, my Ram was full of vigour,
Facing rebellion, JD-S dissolves Kerala unit
By IANS,
New Delhi : Facing the challenge of factionalism and rebellion, the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) Sunday dissolved its Kerala unit and appointed a new executive committee in its place.
"In the larger interest of the party's state unity and discipline, the PAC (political affairs committee) unanimously resolved to dissolve the Kerala unit of the party headed by M.P. Veerendrakumar for actions violative of party discipline and constitution," said Kunwar Danish Ali, national general secretary of the party.
Sonia in New York on Oct 2 for Non-Violence Day
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : India's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be in New York for two days next month in connection with the UN observing Oct 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, as International Day of Non-Violence.
The day before, on Oct 1, Gandhi will also attend a reception hosted in her honour by the Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC) at Manhattan's Marriott hotel.
Keeravani urges public to vote
Chennai : Southern composer M.M. Keeravani posted a voting "suprabhatham" video Wednesday while assembly polls were underway in Telangana to encourage city dwellers to...
Pawan Kalyan may join hands with BJP
Hyderabad : Popular Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan, who floated a political party last week, is likely to have an electoral alliance with Bharatiya Janata...
Congress candidate in Madhya Pradesh arrested
By IANS,
Bhopal : A Congress candidate in Madhya Pradesh was arrested Monday for organising an election meeting at a government building allegedly without seeking permission from the authorities in violation of the model code of conduct.
Former minister Bala Bachchan, who is contesting from the Khargone parliamentary constituency, was arrested in Khandwa district, divisional police officer Rajiv Kumar Mishra said.
"Bachchan has been booked for addressing a poll meeting at an anganwadi (child care) centre April 1 night without the prior permission of the administration.
Shibu Soren’s daughter-in-law surrenders in court
By IANS,
Ranchi : Sita Soren, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator and daughter-in-law of party chief Shibu Soren, surrendered in a court here Tuesday following...
Pawar watches from afar as BJD-NCP-Left launch joint front
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Sharad Pawar did not attend in person but his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key constituent of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), joined the joint poll campaign launched here Friday by Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Left parties.
A day after the Congress said that it would be better if Pawar did not share a platform with those opposed to it, the NCP chief chose to address the rally over the phone.
Filing of nomination papers starts in Himachal
By IANS
Shimla : The filing of nomination papers for the second phase of polling for assembly elections began Friday in Himachal Pradesh.
Manisha Nanda, the state's chief electoral officer, said: "Candidates will be able to file their nomination papers from Nov 23 to Nov 30."
The last date of scrutiny will be Dec 1, and withdrawals will take place till Dec 3. Polling will take place for the 65 assembly seats on Dec 19. The votes will be counted on Dec 28.
CPI-M keeps options open for post-poll alliance with Congress
By IANS,
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday kept its options open on a post-poll alliance with the Congress, saying the party would take a decision if such a situation arose after the Lok Sabha elections.
"I cannot say anything now on this. I can only comment on it when we'll have to take a decision to form the government at the centre," CPI-M politburo member Biman Bose told reporters here at the residence of veteran communist leader Jyoti Basu.
Rahul blames media for Dalit tag to his village visits
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : The media had thrust a Dalit "frame" on his visits to poor districts of the country, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said here Wednesday while stressing that he did not believe in the caste system and only saw people as human beings.
"I see myself going to a human being's house. I don't see it as a Dalit or an upper caste or lower caste house. As far as I am concerned, I am going to the poor man's house whether a Dalit or minority," Gandhi said at a press conference here.
BJP, VHP nationwide shutdown affects trains, highways
By IANS,
New Delhi : Several highways across the country were blocked and some trains were stopped Thursday as BJP and VHP workers took to the streets in support of their shutdown to protest revocation of the land allotment to the Amarnath shrine board in Jammu and Kashmir.
While there were reports of several trains being blocked in Agra, the Delhi-Amritsar highway was blocked by Bharatiya Janata Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers. Traffic between the Indian capital and the suburb of Noida was also impacted with the protesters blocking the DND flyover.
3 CPI (M) workers arrested for NDF activist’s murder
By Abdul Basith MA, TwoCircles.net,
Third Front healthy option, says Patnaik
By IANS,
New Delhi: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday said that a Third Front before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls was a very healthy option but it was still "early" to explore the idea.
CBI probe against Yeddyurappa from Tuesday
By IANS,
Ranchi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may Tuesday start probing corruption charges against former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, a CBI official said Saturday.
Rajya Sabha adjourned over Tharoor IPL row
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha was adjourned Friday over the opposition demanding a debate on the IPL row involving Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.
As soon as the house assembled at 11 a.m., the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members S.S. Ahluwalia and Ravi Shankar Prasad were on their feet demanding a debate on the issue.
They were joined by MPs from the Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
The demand continued despite Chairman Hamid Ansari pleading that question hour be allowed to proceed.
Phone tapping stalls parliament, government denies wrongdoing
By IANS,
New Delhi : After rising prices and cricket, reports that the phones of senior politicians were being tapped took centrestage in parliament Monday with an unrelenting opposition demanding a parliamentary probe and stalling both houses in spite of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreeing to make a statement.
BJP, Modi behind Manjhi splitting JD-U: Nitish
Patna : Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has accused the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for backing and helping Chief Minister Jitan...
A BJP MP gives support to Hazare – in writing
By IANS,
Agra : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Agra city has given his complete and unqualified support to the Jan Lokpal bill of Team Anna, that too in writing.
Arvind Panagariya appointed vice chairman of NITI Aayog
New Delhi : Economist Arvind Panagariya has been appointed vice chairman of the newly-constituted National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.
Economist Bibek Debroy and...
Sonia condemns attack on Afghan parliament
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday condemned the terror attack on Afghan parliament, calling it a "heinous attempt by fundamentalists to subvert...
Former Maharashtra inspector held for activist’s murder
New Delhi : The CBI on Wednesday arrested a former inspector of Maharashtra Police Crime Branch in its ongoing probe into the murder of...
Mamata must stop Modi from changing land acquisition act: Patkar
Kolkata : Social activist Medha Patkar Friday said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must "stop" changes in the land acquisition act, slated to...
“Adivasis lost a great servant,” tribal rights activist Father Stan remembered
Stanislaus Lourduswamy, popularly known as Stan Swamy, was an Indian Roman Catholic priest, a member of the Jesuit order, and a tribal rights activist...
Sonia, Rahul, Advani to hit campaign trail in Bengal
Kolkata : Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party vice president Rahul Gandhi, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and party president Rajnath Singh will hit the...
Court refuses to quash sedition charges against Hardik
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday turned down a petition to quash sedition charges against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel.
Continuing...
Congress flays BJP over Advani comment
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Congress Wednesday said there was "upheaval" in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- after its leader L.K. Advani indicated he was not keen to be the prime minister.
Opposition seeks PM’s clarification on Headley saga
By IANS,
New Delhi : Left and BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha Thursday sought a clarification from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the cooperation being provided by the US in unravelling the alleged involvement of Pakistan American David Coleman Headley in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
"I am sure the government will respond at the appropriate time," Chairman Hamid Ansari ruled as the prime minister who was present in the house gently nodded his head.
Kejriwal’s family attends final assembly session
By IANS,
New Delhi : The last day of a tumultuous session of the Delhi assembly saw the maiden visit by the family of Arvind...
Shibu Soren – popular politician despite corruption, murder taints
By Nityanand Shukla, IANS,
Ranchi : He is a politician to the core, known as a champion of the poor and hugely popular despite being dogged by bribery allegations. Shibu Soren, who became Jharkhand's chief minister for the third time Wednesday, will also face two murder cases not long after getting the top post in the state.
Popularly known as 'Guruji', the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief took to politics after battling for years moneylenders who exploited members of his poor and largely impoverished tribal community.
CBI should probe attack on Joshi’s house: Sriprakash Jaiswal
BY IANS,
Lucknow: Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal Saturday charged police in Lucknow with conniving with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers in the attack on Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi's house after her arrest for remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the incident.
Kisan rally not comeback platform for Rahul: Congress
Kolkata : Declining to term it as a comeback platform for a 'rejuvenated' Rahul Gandhi, the Congress on Friday said its Sunday's rally is...
I am as old as Ficci, says Advani
By IANS
New Delhi : Being an octogenarian is not a matter of concern for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader L.K. Advani, who laughed it off at a function here Friday.
"It is nice to know that Ficci (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) was formed in 1927. Even I was born the same year. So when I came to know that Ficci is also 80 years old, it was a pleasant coincidence," Advani said while addressing the chamber at its annual general meeting.
Kejriwal asks BJP to quit Delhi civic corporations
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the AAP would turn the cash-strapped municipal corporations into profit-making entities if the ruling...
Nawaz Sharif congratulates Modi
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Friday congratulated BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for winning the Indian general election.
Sharif telephoned Modi and...
Rahul Gandhi on two-day Tamil Nadu visit
By IANS,
Chennai : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Wednesday urged Tamil Nadu Youth Congress members to start working at the panchayat level and capture power at the local bodies.
Congress, BJP spar over heckling of CMs at Modi events
New Delhi : The Congress and the BJP Thursday sparred over heckling faced by chief ministers at official functions addressed by Prime Minister Narendra...
Hyderabad: A pocket borough of MIM
By Mohammed Shafeeq,
Hyderabad : This is one parliamentary constituency which is immune to any wave sweeping the country or Andhra Pradesh and it is the only Lok Sabha seat where the mainstream political parties don't take the fight seriously.
Neha Dixit wins Red Cross award for writing on women raped during 2013 Muzaffarnagar...
By TwoCircles.nets Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Freelance Journalist Neha Dixit has won the prestigious international Committee of the Red Cross award for her story 'Shadow...
Government agrees to discuss price rise in parliament
By IANS,
New Delhi : Accepting the persistent opposition demand, the government has agreed to a discussion in parliament on price rise Wednesday.
Congress member compares Hollande, Indira Gandhi’s emergency
Panaji : Congress Working Committee member and state Congress president Luizinho Faleiro has compared former prime minister Indira Gandhi's decision to impose emergency to...
Tamil Nadu leaders condole Chandra Shekhar’s death
By IANS
Chennai : Political leaders in Tamil Nadu Sunday condoled the death of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, saying it was a "mammoth loss to the nation".
Lok Sabha passes bill to amend Citizenship Act
New Delhi/Jammu : The Lok Sabha Monday passed a bill that allows the central government to notify that Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card-holders...
Alliance with DMK strong: PM
By IANS,
Chennai : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi here, Monday said that ties with the DMK were "strong and cordial".
Tackle Pakistan first, campaigning can wait: Sena to Modi
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena has blamed BJP's Maharashtra leadership for "playing with national security" over the India-Pakistan border skirmishes, saying Prime Minister "Narendra Modi...
45 ministers likely in Narendra Modi cabinet
New Delhi : Narendra Modi was Monday set to take oath of office as India's 14th prime minister along with 45 ministers, including key...
Congress, Samajwadi Party slam Jayalalithaa
By IANS,
Mumbai : The Maharashtra Congress minority cell and the Samajwadi Party Thursday slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for her government's decision...
Kerala political clashes toll seven, Congress for central forces
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram/Kannur : The Congress party in Kerala Saturday demanded that central forces be called to restore calm in Kannur district, where clashes between the cadres of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have claimed seven lives so far.
Amar Singh warns Congress against insulting Samajwadi Party leaders
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Samajwadi Party Saturday accused the Congress of insulting its leaders and warned the latter against creating further tension between the parties, which are ruling allies at the centre.
Party general secretary Amar Singh told reporters here that Congress leaders Digvijay Singh and Satyavrat Chaturvedi were violating the basic principles of a political alliance and had misbehaved with Samajwadi Party leaders, including president Mulayam Singh Yadav and himself.
Ex IPS officer wants votes, not salutes, from cops
Thiruvananthapuram : Those days when his mere entry into a police station would trigger a symphony of salutes are long gone. But 44-year-old Ajith...
Bengal BJP chief calls ‘molested’ Jadavpur students ‘shameless’
Kolkata : West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Saturday stirred a controversy, as he dubbing as "shameless" a section of Jadavur University female...
AAP can’t rule like anarchists: BJP
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday welcomed a High Court decision that the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) government cannot supersede...
Now, Congress leader calls Karnataka regime ‘idiot government’
By IANS,
Bangalore: After former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's "bloody b..." invective against Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, a Congress leader Tuesday added his bit to name-calling in state politics by terming the Bharatiya Janata Party regime (BJP) an "idiot government".
Siddaramaiah, leader of opposition in the assembly, remarked upon Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Energy Minister K.S. Eshwarappa watching the Aamir Khan film "3 idiots" on Sunday, hours after Gowda's infamous outburst against Yeddyurappa.
Jayalalithaa asks PM to respect Tamil sentiments
By IANS,
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Tuesday expressed surprise at the central government's declaration that India would continue to train Sri Lankan defence personnel.
Kerala governor asks opposition to behave, Left MLAs walk out
Thiruvananthapuram : The Left opposition on Friday walked out of the Kerala assembly ahead of Governor P. Sathasivam's customary address, but not before the...
Formation of Ulama Council was a blunder: Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan
By Salman Sultan, TwoCircles.net Special Correspondent,
Court frames charges in Amar Singh phone tapping case
By IANS,
New Delhi : A city court Saturday framed charges against four people for alleged forgery and cheating and for tapping the phone of former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh in 2005.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja charged Bhupinder Singh, Vijay, Kuldeep Singh and Anurag Singh under sections 420 (cheating), 471 (forgery) and 120B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court also found them prima facie guilty of offences under the Indian Telegraph Act. Recording of the statements of witnesses in the case will start July 19.
Mulayam, Mamata to meet at Pawar’s, Kejriwal may join
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet NCP leader Sharad Pawar here after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Samajwadi...
Congress hesitant in protecting rights of minorities: CPI(M)
Education, employment are major source of frustration among Muslim youths
By Andalib Akhter, TwoCircles.net
West Bengal: 57 Muslim candidates for 54 seats in Phase 1
By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Pawar busy, no seat-sharing talks with Congress slated
By IANS,
New Delhi : Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Monday said he was not meeting any Congress leader Monday and Tuesday to discuss seat-sharing for Maharashtra elections even as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi flew off to the state to start her campaigning.
"I am not scheduled to meet anybody (Congress leader) today or tomorrow knowing fully well about my commitments," Pawar told reporters when asked about seat-sharing talks in Maharashtra.
Congress distances itself from Antulay’s Karkare remarks
By IANS,
New Delhi : The ruling Congress Wednesday distanced itself from Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay controversial remarks on slain Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare, suggesting he was a "victim of terrorism plus something" and that his killing Nov 26 during the Mumbai terror attacks could be linked to his probe into the Malegaon blasts.
"The Congress certainly does not subscribe to his remarks or with his formulation," party spokesman Abhishek Manu Sanghvi told reporters hours after Antulay made his remarks.
Tripura CPI-M leader, who committed suicide, cremated
Agartala : The body of veteran CPI-M leader and five-time legislator Sunil Kumar Chowdhury, who committed suicide on Sunday, has been cremated with full...
आईयूएमएल केरल प्रमुख पनक्कड़ सैयद हैदर अली शिहाब थंगल सुपुर्दे खाक
जिब्रानउद्दीन।Twocircles.net
रविवार को इंडियन यूनियन मुस्लिम लीग (आईयूएमएल) के केरल प्रमुख पनक्कड़ सैय्यद हैदर अली शिहाब थंगल का रविवार को निधन हो गया। 74 वर्षीय...
Gujarat Congress to highlight BJP’s failures in Lok Sabha polls
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : The Congress party in Gujarat, during its campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, will highlight the failures of the Narendra Modi-led government, a senior leader said.
A core committee of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) comprising senior leaders met Sunday evening and formulated a plan to identify and publicise various failures of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), especially in the rural areas of the state.
How Crimes in India Go Unreported: A Closer Look at Systemic Gaps in NCRB...
Anushka Kogta, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: A 16-month-old infant was found injured by her family, 800 meters away from their home near Delhi’s Tughlaq Lane, in February...
Kalam’s polite ‘no’ to second term
By IANS
New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Wednesday virtually rejected a plea to contest for a second five-year term, saying he will not fight the presidential poll unless all political parties backed him.
Deploy paramilitary forces in hills for polls: Trinamool
Kolkata: Taken aback by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's decision to support a BJP candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool...
Congress demands special force in Darjeeling
By IANS,
Kolkata : The Congress party Saturday demanded a special force in West Bengal's hill district of Darjeeling, alleging that Bharatiya Janata Party supporters were threatening its activists ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
"We want special forces to be deployed in Darjeeling which will maintain law and order," state Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya said at a press conference here.