Other parties are sending feelers, says Jayalalithaa
By IANS,
Chennai : AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday said that though there were feelers from many parties, she would wait till the election results were out before planning her next move. She also accused DMK supporters of casting 'bogus votes' at a polling station and called for deployment of paramilitary forces.
"There are feelers from many places. I am not responding to them now. Everything depends on the election results. If the results are as expected then I will go to Delhi," the former Tamil Nadu chief minister told reporters here after casting her vote.
Sabarimala temple must let in all women: Tharoor
Thiruvananthapuram : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said the Sabarimala temple must open its doors to women of all age groups.
This contradicted the...
Not right to link every death with Vyapam, says Chouhan
Bhopal: It is not at all right to link every death with Vyapam, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday, the...
Firozabad verdict against me: Akhilesh Yadav
By IANS,
Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh) : An upset Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, the son of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Thursday said his wife Dimple's defeat in the Lok Sabha by-election here was a verdict against him.
"The verdict is against me. I had won the seat earlier," Akhilesh Yadav said at a press conference with his wife next to him.
Dimple Yadav was defeated by the Congress' Raj Babbar, who had left the Samajwadi Party, by more than 85,000 votes.
Poonam Mahajan meets Raj Thackeray, denies rift with BJP
By IANS,
Mumbai : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth wing leader Poonam Mahajan-Rao, daughter of late Pramod Mahajan, Friday met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, then said there was "nothing political" about the meeting.
After the meeting, Poonam denied rumours that she was quitting the BJP and joining the MNS.
"I continue to remain in the BJP," she said.
Mahajan was hopeful of securing the BJP ticket from Mumbai North-East constituency in the ensuring Lok Sabha polls but the nomination was given to Kirit Somaiya.
Court notice over BSP MP’s disqualification
By IANS,
New Delhi : Delhi High Court Monday issued notices to the central government, Rajya Sabha chairman, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati after Isam Singh challenged his disqualification as member of the upper house.
The BSP MP was disqualified by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari July 4 after the privileges committee of the house sent him a report on May 22.
Singh, elected as a BSP member, was expelled from the party on Sep 3, 2006. He, however, floated Bahujan Kranti Party even before he could be formally declared an unattached member.
BSP declares first list of Lok Sabha candidates in Gujarat
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has come out with its first list of 18 candidates from Gujarat for the Lok Sabha elections.
"As already announced the BSP would be fielding candidates from all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat. The rest of the names of the candidates would be announced early next week," BSP's Gujarat unit in-charge Pyaarelal Jatav said Saturday.
Replaced as UP party chief by Shivpal, Akhilesh divests uncle of plum portfolios
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) seemed to plunge into a major crisis on Tuesday night as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav withdrew...
Mamata admitted to Kolkata nursing home
By IANS,
Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday was admitted to a private nursing home in the city with breathing problems.
350 Maharashtra AAP activists join Swaraj Abhiyan
Pune/Mumbai : Accusing Arvind Kejriwal of 'murdering democracy' in the Aam Aadmi Party, around 350 party activists and leaders joined the Swaraj Abhiyan, floated...
After verbal fireworks, Jaitley, Amarinder greet each other
Chandigarh : They have been at war with each other. But when the rival contenders in Amritsar came face to face Sunday, Arun Jaitley...
2 years of India’s #MeToo movement and its outcomes: Realities of power or patriarchy
The outcomes of India’s #MeToo movement after more than two years of its passage appear to be the harsh reality of the power dynamics...
“Firaaq” is a personal response to the Gujarat carnage: Nandita Das
By TwoCircles.net special correspondent
Prices falling, economy improving in NDA rule: BJP
New Delhi : The BJP Friday said the country's economy was continuously gaining strength under the Narendra Modi government and the annual wholesale inflation...
Rahul Gandhi promises more industrial training centres in constituency
By IANS,
Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh) : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday promised the residents of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh that more industrial training centres would be opened to enable the educated youth to get jobs.
On the last day of his visit to the Amethi and Sultanpur constituency, the Congress MP inaugurated the newly-constructed Narendra Pratap Singh Industrial Institute in Chandpur Saidapatti village of Sultanpur.
Students, teachers associations seek removal of Hyderabad varsity VC
New Delhi : Students' and teachers' associations here on Monday sought immediate removal and arrest of University of Hyderabad (UoH) Vice Chancellor P. Appa...
Bihar legislator’s murder: Charges framed against teacher
By IANS,
Patna: A CBI court Friday framed charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Rupam Pathak, a school teacher accused of stabbing a BJP legislator to death in January.
Three FTII alumni to return National Awards
Pune: Three prominent FTII alumni on Wednesday decided to return their National Awards in protest against what they termed "an atmosphere of intolerance" in...
Kerala’s LDF finalises seat sharing plan, JD-S walks out
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) Thursday finalised a seat sharing plan while a miffed ally Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) walked out of the meeting on being denied the Kozhikode seat.
LDF convener Vaikom Viswam told reporters that the Kozhikode seat has been taken over by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
Pressure mounts to exclude non-Manipuris from civic poll
Imphal : Pressure is mounting on the Manipur government to exclude non-Manipuris from participation in the June 2 Imphal Municipal Council elections.
The demand to...
PDP issues 11-Point Proposal to BJP over Govt Formation in Jammu and Kashmir
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
Srinagar: The repercussions of recent drubbing of BJP in Delhi Polls can be seen over government formation in jammu and Kashmir.Taking advantage of the recent debacle of BJP, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued fresh eleven-point demands for government formation. BJP won 25 of 37 seats of Jammu division while PDP got 28 seats in the Kashmir valley in recently concluded Assembly Elections resulting in the complete polarization of the two regions of the state with divergent interests for the two parties. Both the parties are reluctant to enter in any kind of alliance before mutually consenting on the common terms.The fragmented mandate by people has already delayed government formation since 23rd December 2014. Presently, State is under Governor Rule.
Gujarat minister accused of bribery
By IANS,
Gandhinagar: Gujarat's Fisheries and Port Minister Purushottam Solanki is in the eye of a storm following a case filed in the high court seeking directions to the state government for action against him on bribery charges.
The high court single judge bench presided over by Justice Akhil Kureshi Wednesday issued notice to the government seeking clarity on its stand in the matter. The notice is returnable in three weeks.
Congress to boycott Jharkhand foundation day ceremony
By IANS
Ranchi : The Congress, a key ally of the Madhu Koda government in Jharkhand, has decided to boycott the state's foundation day ceremony to protest against what it calls the worsening law and order situation.
"We will stay away from the state function. Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken will be in Ranchi Nov 15 and he will submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Madhu Koda and give him a timeframe to improve the state's scenario," Pradeep Balmuchu, state Congress president, said here Monday.
BJP asks Rahul: Explain your merits to be Congress VP
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Friday sought to know from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi the merits on which his...
‘Left, farmers’ movement ignore distinction between peasants, labourers
Interview with Gita Ramaswamy, author of “Land, Guns, Caste, Woman—The Memoir of a Lapsed Revolutionary”
Aatika S | TwoCircles.net
In this interview, the author talks...
Amit Shah to become BJP president this week?
New Delhi: Amit Shah, a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, may be named the next BJP president by the end of this...
Lok Sabha condoles death of MPs, Hillary, Baba Amte
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha Monday condoled the death of Shiv Sena MP Prakash Paranjpe, mountaineer Edmund Hillary and social activist Baba Amte.
Condoling the death of Paranjpe, who represented Thane since 1996 and died on Feb 20 in Mumbai, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the Shiv Sena leader was an active politician and a social worker.
Delhi government orders probe into transport scam
New Delhi: The Delhi government on Tuesday ordered a probe into the alleged Rs.100 crore transport scam that took place during the previous Sheila...
N-deal panel to discuss Hyde Act implications
By IANS
New Delhi : The joint United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left panel on the India-US nuclear deal held its first meeting Tuesday with the government identifying the issues that need to be discussed. These include the implications of the Hyde Act and the 123 agreement on the country's foreign policy and nuclear programme.
Monsoon justice for Modi’s Gujarat
The Gujarat verdict sets a forbidding precedent and administers a much needed dose of justice to the body politic
By Aijaz Zaka Syed
ABVP derides ‘anti-nationalism’ in JU, threatens to chop Leftists’ legs
Kolkata : Deriding left-leaning students for turning Jadavpur University into a "hub of anti-national activities", the RSS students' wing ABVP on Monday took out...
Antony meets Karunakaran, expresses happiness at his return
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Defence Minister A.K. Antony Tuesday welcomed veteran Kerala leader K. Karunakaran's return to the Congress, saying both would work together to strengthen the party in the state.
Antony met Karunakaran, who was given the green signal to return to the party by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Dec 30, at a closed-door meeting at the latter's residence here Tuesday.
Yediyurappa: a staunch RSS activist to chief minister
By V.S. Karnic, IANS,
Bangalore : Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa, who seems set to take over as the Karnataka chief minister following his party's historic electoral win, began his political career as an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of 23 years.
Yediyurappa became the BJP's first chief minister in Karnataka and in the south in November last year at the head of a shaky coalition with the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S). But his stint lasted just a week, from Nov 12 to Nov 19. The JD-S withdrew support. He resigned Nov 19.
Yogendra Yadav calls show cause notice ‘a joke’
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel leader Yogendra Yadav on Saturday called the show-cause notice served to him by his party "a joke".
"It's...
National Conference leader shot at in Srinagar
By IANS,
Srinagar: A leader of Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference (NC) was injured Friday in a guerrilla attack in Srinagar, police said.
Centre’s notification in Kejriwal-Jung tussle leaves legal eagles divided
New Delhi : The Centre's notification placing bureaucrats under the Lt. Governor's administrative control has further intensified the turf war between Delhi Chief Minister...
Goa’s ‘drug-prone’ beach villages under surveillance: Parrikar
Panaji : The "drug-prone" beach villages of Goa are being kept under surveillance "to create a strong deterrent impact against the drug activities" there,...
Rajasthan polling ends, around 50 percent turnout expected
By IANS,
Jaipur : Polling for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan ended Thursday evening with stray incidents of violence reported from parts of the state. One man was killed in police firing on a mob trying to capture a booth, officials said. The overall turnout was expected to be around 50 percent.
"Some incidents of stone pelting and booth capturing have been reported. Final figures will only be available after three hours or so but we expect that around 50 percent of over 36 million voters had cast their votes till 5 p.m.," an Election Commission official told IANS.
Tamil Nadu assembly demands truce, talks in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Chennai : The Tamil Nadu assembly Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution urging India to press for talks between the Tamil Tigers and Colombo and also an immediate truce in the island nation.
In his concluding remarks after a debate over the resolution, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi to act on the feelings expressed in the house and take steps to "translate the Tamil quest for a ceasefire into reality".
Popular Front of India distributes scholarship to 28 students in Mumbai
By TCN News,
Mumbai: In order to help financially weak students to continue higher education, Popular Front of India (PFI) distributed scholarships to 28 students...
याकूब क़ुरैशी के 51 करोड़
By सिद्धान्त मोहन, TwoCircles.net,
वाराणसी/ मेरठ: पेरिस के एक व्यंग्यात्मक साप्ताहिक अखबार शार्ली एब्दो पर आतंकवादी ताकतों ने हमला किया. हमला होने के बाद गुजरात के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री और भारतीय गणराज्य के प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी ने इस घटना के बाद कड़ा ऐतराज़ जताया. चूंकि देश की सत्ता पर ऐसी पार्टी क़ाबिज़ है, जिसपर बहुत पहले से ही सम्प्रदायवादी क्लेशों को बढ़ावा देने का आरोप लगाया जाता रहा है, इसलिए सत्ताधारी पार्टी और उसकी कृपा से कृतार्थ हुए समाचार चैनलों के लिए यह ज़रूरी था कि वे शार्ली एब्दो पर हुए हमले को जो चाहे वह रूप दे सकें.
Hyderabad High Court chief justice meets CJI, protest continues
New Delhi/Hyderabad : Acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana's common high court, Justice Dilip Bhosale on Saturday met Chief Justice T.S. Thakur...
President Patil urged to intervene on Gujarat anti-terror law
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : The Gujarat assembly Friday adopted a resolution urging President Pratibha Patil to intervene with the central government to hasten the process of turning the long-pending anti-terror legislation Gujcoc bill into an act.
Moving the resolution, Home Minister Amit Shah said that since Gujarat was a coastal state terrorist organisations were taking advantage and threatening the state.
Rane threatens to resign over land to Videocon
By IANS,
Mumbai : A major business proposal cleared by the Maharashtra government has created a logjam between two political rivals - Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his bete noire Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, who has threatened to quit.
Rane Tuesday launched another attack on Deshmukh over the allotment of a 100-hectare plot of land in Navi Mumbai to the electronics giant, Videocon Group, at a cost of Rs.3 billion.
Anna Hazare hurt by Congress’ RSS remark: Kejriwal
By IANS,
New Delhi : Gandhian Anna Hazare is "hurt" by the Congress terming him the face of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), civil rights activist Arvind Kejriwal said here Tuesday.
Campaign for Jharkhand by-election ends
By IANS,
Ranchi : The campaign for the by-election in Jharkhand's Tamar constituency, from where Chief Minister Shibu Soren is seeking election, ended Saturday.
There are 15 candidates for Monday's election. Soren's key rivals are Basundhara Munda of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Raja Peter of Jharkhand Party.
Soren has to get elected to the state assembly before Feb 27. He became chief minister Aug 27 and he needs to become a legislator within six months.
Congress, NCP announce alliance for Maharashtra polls
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) late Tuesday formally announced they will contest the Oct 13 Maharashtra assembly polls together.
The Congress and the NCP will contest 174 and 114 seats respectively, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, state Congress president Manikrao Thakre and NCP leader Praful Patel told mediapersons at the Congress headquarters here.
The two parties will start announcing lists of their candidates from Thursday.
DMK complains against housing board staff’s Coimbatore deputation
Chennai: The DMK Friday complained to the Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer against the deputation of TNHB officials to Coimbatore to expedite the handing...
Jailed RJD MP to vote in trust motion
By IANS,
Patna : Jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammed Shahabuddin will be able to vote in the crucial trust motion in parliament next week after the Patna High Court Wednesday granted him permission to do so.
Shahabuddin moved the court last week for permission to participate in the trust vote of July 22.
Shahabuddin, arrested in New Delhi in 2005, is lodged in Siwan jail in Bihar.
The RJD leader was convicted for the first time in March 2007 for his role in an attack on a Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML) office in Siwan in 1998.
DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran to vote for UPA
By IANS,
Chennai : Reversing his decision to abstain during Tuesday's vote in parliament, Dayanidhi Maran of the DMK Sunday said he would follow the party diktat and vote for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"As a loyal soldier of the DMK, I will vote for the victory of UPA and the continuance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government," Maran told a crowded press conference at his south Chennai residence.
But cheered by a huge gathering that egged him to form a new party, Maran blew hot and cold at the DMK leadership.
Indian ethos, not Hindu ethos
By Usama Khalidi
One of the most vicious phrases the Hindutva ideologues employed during their debates over many years was “Hindu ethos”, at once setting Hindus apart from the Muslims, conjuring up all kinds of negative images of the Muslim “other”, seeking a presumed unity of views with the audiences. After five weeks of soul-searching since the drubbing it received in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP issued a statement again invoking Hindu ethos, albeit a more inclusive one. Its national leaders declared in a resolution adopted June 21st:
UPA government misusing CBI: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : Accusing the government of misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a political tool, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs Thursday staged a sit-in in Parliament House premises.
Senior leaders of the NDA, including L.K. Advani, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and other MPs of the BJP and other NDA constituents attended the protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue on the Parliament House premises.
Confusion over two Rajya Sabha TDP MPs’ vote on FDI
By IANS,
New Delhi : Confusion prevailed over two Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs voting for the motion against foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail in the Rajya Sabha Friday.
New book questions Amar Singh’s $5mn donation to Clinton Foundation
Washington : With Hillary's presidential campaign under media scanner, a US newspaper has reported that her family foundation received $5 million donation from an...
Tapes of Modi’s speech in Bengal sent to EC
Kolkata : A report and tapes of the speech delivered by BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in West Bengal where he raised questions...
Karia Munda is deputy speaker of Lok Sabha
By IANS,
New Delhi : Tribal leader Karia Munda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was unanimously elected as the deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha Monday.
The motion for the election of deputy speaker was moved by Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani.
BJP president Rajnath Singh seconded Advani's motion. Leader of House Pranab Mukherjee moved another motion to the same effect while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal seconded it.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated Munda for his "wealth of experience".
Samajwadi Party, CPI-ML slam union budget
Lucknow : The Samajwadi Party and the CPI-ML Saturday slammed the union budget, saying it had disappointed the common man.
Samajwadi Party spokesman and cabinet...
No harassment of Muslims in anti-terror campaign: Mayawati
By IANS,
Lucknow : As investigations into the recent terrorist attacks across the country zero in on several youngsters from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Mayawati Sunday vowed to prevent the harassment of common Muslims in the name of combating terrorism.
“I wish to reassure all Muslims that no one will be allowed to target common Muslims in the name of the terrorist hunt," Mayawati said at a press conference at her official residence here.
तीस्ता सीतलवाड़ गिरफ्तार, पूर्व आईपीएस संजीव भट्ट पर एक और केस दर्ज
आकिल हुसैन। Twocircles.net
देश की जानी-मानी समाजिक कार्यकर्ता तीस्ता सीतलवाड़ को गुजरात एटीएस ने 2002 के गुजरात दंगों के मामले में गिरफ्तार किया है। इसके...
No compromise in rape case over wedlock: SC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that there can be no compromise in a rape case in the name of promising wedlock.
An...
Meghalaya BJP legislator to quit over party’s Hindutva stand
By IANS,
Shillong : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in for a major setback in Meghalaya with its lone legislator all set to quit the party over its alleged communal credentials.
"I am from a Christian state and hence cannot continue to be with the BJP that still has Hindutva and construction of the Ram temple as its main agenda," A.L. Hek, legislator from Pynthorumkhrah assembly constituency in East Khasi Hills, told IANS.
The veteran BJP leader is now contemplating joining the Congress party.
"I am open to embracing a secular party," Hek said.
Women MPs, MLAs too have criminal records
By Kavita Bajeli-Datt,IANS,
New Delhi : Guess what? Kerala, Bihar and Chhattisgarh are the states with the highest percentage of women legislators with criminal records while Assam, Jharkhand and Rajasthan are some of the cleanest, says a study.
On the whole, about 13 percent of women legislators in states and 14 percent of women MPs in the 14th Lok Sabha had criminal records, says the study by PRS Legislative Research based on affidavits filed by candidates with the Election Commission up to 2007.
12-hour shutdown in Nandigram, one farmer killed
By IANS
Nandigram : Life was badly hit here Monday during a 12-hour shutdown called by a group opposed to government takeover of farm land after a police assault on protestors even as a farmer was killed in a clash.
The Trinamool Congress backed Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) organised the protest to denounce the police use of batons a day earlier that injured about 35 people.
A farmer, Bapan Patra, 35, was also killed Sunday in firing between the BUPC and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters.
Nandigram : Life was badly hit here Monday during a 12-hour shutdown called by a group opposed to government takeover of farm land after a police assault on protestors even as a farmer was killed in a clash.
The Trinamool Congress backed Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) organised the protest to denounce the police use of batons a day earlier that injured about 35 people.
A farmer, Bapan Patra, 35, was also killed Sunday in firing between the BUPC and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters.
Drop charges against Bangladesh editors: Human Rights Watch
New York: Bangladeshi authorities should immediately withdraw all criminal charges filed against the editors of the Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the country’s leading...
Ministers highlight schemes, Bollywood stars social themes at anniversary bash
New Delhi : Union ministers showcased their achievements and leading names from Bollywood, including Amitabh Bachchan, espoused social causes at the "Ek Nayi Subah"...
Arrested Trinamool MP Srinjoy Bose hospitalised
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Srinjoy Bose, arrested by the CBI in connection with the multi-crore rupee Saradha scam, was Monday admitted...
Outsiders dominate Jharkhand Rajya Sabha members
By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand may have been carved out to promote the local population, but the state is largely represented by outsiders in the Rajya Sabha.
Of the six Rajya Sabha MPs, four are from outside the state.
While two Rajya Sabha MPs each are from the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one belongs to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and another is an independent.
Congress MP Mabel Rebello and BJP's S.S. Ahluwalia are outsiders. JMM's K.D. Singh is a Chandigarh-based industrialist who has said that he wants to set up hospitals in Ranchi and Dumka.
Godfathers of Intolerance
Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam
There is a parliamentary ritual, a customary courtesy of the government represented by the parliamentary affairs minister made right...
No bribery during 2008 trust vote, says PM
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated Wednesday that no bribes were paid to anyone to win the 2008 trust vote in parliament.
India’s education crisis of its own making
By Amit Dasgupta
A recent report tabled in parliament that over 100,000 schools in India have just one teacher is an alarming wake-up call...
India, South Korea to expand defence, security cooperation: Modi
Seoul : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India and South Korea have agreed to expand their defence and security cooperation and...
Pink autos launched for women in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad : The Ghaziabad police on Tuesday launched pink auto-rickshaws exclusively for women passengers to ensure their safety at night.
Flagging off the service, Ghaziabad...
‘Bhagwat’s Mother Teresa comment to justify forced reconversion’
Kolkata : Condemning RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comment on Mother Teresa, a forum of minorities organisations in West Bengal Saturday said the leader's "malicious"...
Dalit Muslim leaders urge Baba Ramdev to lead their fight
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Sacrifices necessary for separate Telangana: senior Congressman
By IANS
Hyderabad : A day after the failure of talks with Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy over the issue of separate statehood to the Telangana region, senior Congress leader G. Venkatswamy said the separate state could be achieved only through sacrifices.
The Congress party's deputy leader in Lok Sabha said a separate Telangana could not be achieved through talks and hinted that a movement similar to the one witnessed in 1969 was required.
BJP rejects Star News survey predicting Congress win in Delhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday rejected a survey conducted by Star News and A.C. Nielsen that predicted a third chance for the Sheila Dikshit led Congress-government in the Nov 29 assembly elections.
"We are fighting these elections on ground realities and common man issues. When elections are fought at the grassroots level, their results are totally different from what the surveys show," Delhi BJP media spokesperson Ashok Aggarwal said.
PMO declines information on people meeting Modi
New Delhi : The Prime Minister's Office has refused to reveal to an RTI applicant the information about people who had sought an appointment...
Onus of error-free voter list on parties: Election Commission
By IANS
Bangalore : The responsibility of ensuring error-free voters' list in Karnataka for the coming assembly polls will rest on political parties, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami said Thursday.
"Political parties will have to take the responsibility of preparing an error-free voter list for a free and fair election. They will be given two separate electoral lists Feb 7 to verify the authenticity of voters' names," Gopalaswami told reporters here at the state secretariat.
Chief parliamentary secretary in Himachal resigns, again
Shimla : Rajesh Dharmani, a chief parliamentary secretary in Himachal Pradesh, quit Saturday for the second time since assuming charge, party leaders said.
Dharmani earlier...
Kashmir killings trigger panic among ex-militants
By Sheikh Qayoom
Srinagar: Panic stricken former militants and sympathizers of separatists have started migrating out of Kashmir's Sopore town following the killings of former...
Chiranjeevi’s party gets symbol — finally
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi and the Lok Satta party of former bureaucrat Jaiprakash Narayan got a major relief Friday following the Supreme Court fiat to the Election Commission to allot them common election symbols.
Chiranjeevi thanked the apex court for its order, directing the poll panel to allot "rail engine" as the symbol for PRP.
"We had full faith in judiciary and were sure of getting justice," Chiranjeevi told reporters while campaigning in West Goadavari district in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Lok Sabha elections: For Patna Muslims security a major issue
By Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,
We do not hope anything from political parties for it is useless. Yes, we will vote for a party which assures to provide adequate security to the Muslim community from organized violence. Given the scenario of the country it will be better for us to vote for UPA at least to keep L K Advani away from being prime minister of India” says Muhammad Saleem, a fruit seller in Patna.
No permanent friends or enemies in politics: PM
By IANS,
On Board PM's Special Aircraft : There are no permanent allies in politics and no permanent enemies either, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday.
Potato prices generate heat in Rajya Sabha
By IANS,
New Delhi : The falling prices of potatoes generated much heat in the Rajya Sabha Friday with the opposition saying not enough was being done to protect the interests of farmers and the government saying it was ready to assist the states if they asked for help.
Mamata alleges plan to kill her; she’s stirring trouble, says Left
By IANS,
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Wednesday accused the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) of hatching a conspiracy to kill her, while the ruling Left Front said she was just trying to create fresh trouble in West Bengal's Lalgarh region where she addressed tribals.
Banerjee attended the funeral of three tribals who died in a clash with CPI-M supporters Monday and told the people that the government did not want her to stand by them.
Assam governor acting as RSS-BJP activist: CM
Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said he will write to the president, prime minister and the union home ministry about...
Mamata to begin fresh protests against CPI-M
By IANS,
Kolkata : The Trinamool Congress will begin a series of fresh protests in West Bengal from November to protest against the alleged inaction of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led state government in tackling major political issues like Nandigram and Singur.
Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee Saturday told reporters here that her party would hold rallies after Diwali against the administrative failure in sanctioning compensation to families of missing villagers in Nandigram and giving back land taken from farmers in Singur.
TDP threatens to take back auctioned government lands
By IANS
Hyderabad : Setting aside their differences for a time being, the opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh Sunday came together to stage 'maha dharna' (mega sit-in) against auction of government lands, and warned both the government and bidders of serious consequences.
The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) warned the successful bidders that if the party came to power in the next year's elections, it would take back the auctioned lands.
BJP, opposition hold parleys on Presidential election
New Delhi, (IANS): The ruling and the opposition parties on Wednesday got going on the presidential election with the three-member BJP committee poised to...
Advani, Modi, virtual Vajpayee to campaign for assembly polls
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is banking on the troika of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, veteran leader L.K. Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to capture votes in the Oct 13 assembly elections in three states.
Vajpayee, 84, has not been well for a while and did not contest the April-May Lok Sabha elections. So the party will use the audio CDs and cassettes of his recorded speeches and poems for campaigning in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh.
Why urgency to stay Shahabuddin bail now, SC asks Bihar government
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Monday mocked the avowed seriousness of the Bihar government in pursuing its petition challenging a Patna High...
BSP MP moves bail application in rape case
New Delhi: BSP MP Dhananjay Singh Saturday moved bail application after the woman who accused him of raping her, denied the charge in a...
Ahead of polls, it is defection season once again
By M.R. Narayan Swamy,
New Delhi : With the Lok Sabha battle set to kick-start in less than a month, disgruntled politicians across the country...
NDA protest against price rise disrupts parliament
By IANS,
New Delhi : Both houses of parliament were adjourned Thursday when National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs disrupted proceedings over price rice and inflation.
The NDA partners, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, walked into the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha at 11.55 a.m. shouting slogans against rising food prices.
They gathered near the chair's podium in the two houses and shouted slogans like "UPA sarkar hai hai" (UPA government, Down! Down!), "Mahngai ko rok na paaye who sarkar nikkammi hai" (the government that cannot control prices is worthless).
Andhra minister to stand by allegations made against colleague
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh faced more embrassment Wednesday with a minister reiterating serious charges of corruption levelled against his cabinet colleague despite a ministerial committee giving the latter a clean chit.
Animal Husbandry Minister G. Surya Rao created a storm last week by alleging that Panchayat Raj Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy had taken a bribe of Rs.70 million from those involved in illegal quarrying of sand.
Manmohan, Advani, Rahul, Modi – who will be next PM?
By Darshan Desai, IANS,
New Delhi : With election drums sounding on the horizon, India's two prinicipal political formations have begun debating their prime ministerial candidates, with closed door talk weighing their vote-drawing qualities and ability to lead their parties and alliances to victory in what by all accounts should be a pretty close contest.
97-year-old is all set to vote again
By Vishal Gulati,
Kalpa (Himachal Pradesh) : He has voted in every election since India became independent. And, at age 97, Shyam Saran Negi is...
Congress confident of retaining power in Maharashtra
By IANS,
New Delhi: Undeterred by opinion polls that predict a hung assembly after Tuesday's Maharashtra assembly polls, the Congress Monday said the party is confident of forming the government with its ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
"We are confident of forming the government in Maharashtra with NCP and the performance of Congress would be much better this time. We are hopeful of reaching three digits," Mohan Prakash, Congress secretary, told reporters here.
Prakash said the performance of coalition partner NCP "would also be satisfactory".
Bengal blast: Congress MP asks Rajnath for NIA probe
Kolkata : A Congress MP from West Bengal on Wednesday accused the Mamata Banerjee administration of 'misleading' the people about the cracker factory blast...
Mamta launches digitised ration cards in Bengal
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched digitised ration cards in the state, estimated to benefit more than five crore people.
"Today,...
Bihar cabinet expanded, some JD-U leaders unhappy
Patna : Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Monday expanded his ministry by inducting 14 new members in the council of ministers. Some Janata...
A housing scam that undid Ashok Chavan
By IANS,
Mumbai: A housing scam that sent Ashok Chavan packing as the Maharashtra chief minister has been linked to politicians from other political parties as well.
It’s now Facebook, Twitter, Youtube for candidates in local polls
By Gaurav Sharma, IANS,
Maoist outfit expels leader for contesting polls
By IANS,
Patna : An outlawed Maoist outfit has expelled one of its senior leaders in Bihar for contesting the Lok Sabha elections, defying the group's poll boycott call.
Ranjan Yadav alias Dinkar-ji, a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh special area committee of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was expelled for contesting from Chatra constituency in neighbouring Jharkhand, a statement issued by the outfit said Sunday.
Yadav is contesting as an independent from Chatra, which is one of the worst hit by Maoist insurgency.
ABVP’s rally against ‘anti-nationalism’ in Jadavpur varsity
Kolkata : Deriding left-leaning students for turning Jadavpur University into a "hub of anti-national activities", the RSS students' wing ABVP on Monday took out...
Cabinet will decide fate of land bill: Jaitley
New Delhi: Prevented by a near-united opposition from tabling the bill on fair compensation towards land acquired for development, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on...
True meaning of the Coalgate Judgement
By Jaspal Singh,
Few days ago the Supreme Court of India delivered a judgement in the case that has come to be known as Coalgate....
BJP slams Akhilesh Yadav for jibe at Hema Malini
Lucknow : The BJP Monday said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was trivializing communal clashes and conversions in the state. It also objected...
Punjab poll violence injures many
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Violence in various parts of Punjab Monday left several people injured as voting for 87 municipal councils and eight nagar panchayats ended.
Three people were injured in Samana town, 50 km from here, and another two in Rajpura town in Patiala district, 40 km away, in clashes between activists of the ruling Akali Dal and the Congress.
At Sunam town in Sangrur district, masked men tried to capture a polling booth, leading to a clash. Rival parties resorted to gun fire at Jagraon town, 45 km from Ludhiana.
Once prime minister, Deve Gowda now battles irrelevance
By V.S. Karnic, IANS,
Bangalore : The Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in Karnataka has become all the more sweet as the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) that took it for a ride last year has been decimated in the assembly poll.
From claiming that it will be a kingmaker again, the JD-S headed by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda now has to battle against being rendered irrelevant in state politics by the BJP and the Congress.
Lapang of Congress takes oath as Meghalaya chief minister
By IANS
Shillong : D.D. Lapang was Monday night sworn in as Meghalaya chief minister after Governor S.S. Sidhu ignored a coalition's claim and invited the Congress to form the government.
Governor S.S. Sidhu administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lapang and asked him to prove his majority in floor of the 60-member legislature within 10 days.
The move came despite a combine of assorted parties claiming support of 33 legislators. The Congress has 25 MLAs.
Amnesty International urges Chhattisgarh authorities to protect Adivasis protesting against private companies
By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter
Raigarh: Amnesty International India on Sunday, January 14 said that the local authorities in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, should respect and protect the...
AIADMK legislator Chendur Pandian dead
Chennai: Ruling AIADMK legislator and former minister P. Chendur Pandian died here on Saturday after a prolonged illness, the party said.
He was 65 and...
AAP condemns killing over beef in Greater Noida
New Delhi : Condemning the killing of a man for allegedly eating beef in a village in Greater Noida, the AAP on Thursday appealed...
Welfare Party demands Modi’s resignation over alleged fake votes in Varanasi
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Welfare Party of India has demanded the resignation of Prime Minster Narendra Modi in the wake of the stunning revelation that the Election Commission has traced 3,11,057 fake voters who did cast their votes in Varanasi in the recently held Lok Sabha election.
In Maharashtra politics, beggars become choosers!
Mumbai : From begging for single-digit seats, smaller parties in Maharashtra have become most sought after following the break-up of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.
For...
BSP legislator joins Samajwadi Party
Lucknow : The sitting legislator from Fatehpur, Ayodhya Prasad Pal, joined the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.
A Samajwadi Party spokesman...
2016 Haj pilgrimage schedule released in UP
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee has released the schedule for annual Haj pilgrimage for 2016, an official said on Wednesday.
According to the...
From shock to support, netizens war over Varun Gandhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Some say "it's a shame", others hail him as a "one man army".
Cyberworld is flooded with extreme reactions to Varun Gandhi's allegedly communal speeches in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, with people expressing anger as well as support for the young Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate.
Barely hours TV channels aired parts of the inflammatory and anti-Muslim hate speeches that were attributed to him, the video was uploaded on the popular public viewing forum, YouTube, inviting thousands of hits overnight and a flood of comments.
AIMIM names six candidates for Bihar polls
Patna: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has decided to contest six seats in the Bihar assembly elections.
Party chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday announced...
Jharkhand to hold panchayat polls before June 30
By IANS,
Ranchi : The Jharkhand cabinet Friday decided to hold panchayat polls in the state before June 30 and reserve 50 percent posts of village council heads for women.
"The Jharkhand cabinet has decided to hold panchayat polls before June 30. The state government will send recommendations to the state election commission to hold the panchayat polls before June 30," A.K. Singh, chief secretary of Jharkhand, told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
He said: "The cabinet also decided to reserve 50 percent seats of Mukhiya and Sarpanch in panchayats for women."
Extreme elements may have dented BJP’s image: Jaswant Singh
By IANS,
New Delhi: Calling for an "ideological distillation of thought" in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior party leader Jaswant Singh has said "extreme elements" associated with the party may have dented its image resulting in the poll debacle.
In an interview to NDTV news channel, he said: "There is a need for ideological distillation of thought. The BJP has to be a current party. It can't be a party of yesterday. I think there's lack of clarity on what Hindutva means."
Trinamool Congress to fight it out alone in Tripura
By IANS,
Agartala : Despite a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress will contest alone the Lok Sabha elections in Tripura.
The Trinamool Congress Wednesday said it has finalised its candidates for the two Lok Sabha constituencies in the Left ruled state.
"Congress leaders in Tripura ignored our party and that's why with the approval of our party chief Mamata Banerjee we have fielded candidates in the two parliamentary constituencies," said Dulal Das, the Trinamool Congress state president.
Congress, NCP to boycott Goa Zilla Panchayat polls
Panaji : The upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections, due in March, have run into rough weather with the two main opposition parties now vowing to...
Bal Thackeray saved Modi when he was Gujarat CM, says Uddhav
Mumbai : In a scathing attack on former ally BJP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray Saturday blamed it for the alliance's break-up while claiming...
Koda in New Delhi to discuss crisis with UPA
By IANS,
Ranchi : The political crisis in Jharkhand moved to the national capital for a resolution Friday with Chief Minister Madhu Koda leaving for New Delhi to meet leaders of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) -- and aspirant to the post Shibu Soren already camping in the city.
"I am hopeful that the UPA leaders will understand my point of view. I have worked for the development of the state," Koda told reporters before leaving for New Delhi on a special plane with Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi.
"There is no need to change the leadership in the state," Marandi added.
Sub inspector in Maharashtra booked for Dalit woman’s rape
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Nagpur: A Dalit woman has filed a rape complaint against a police sub-inspector (SI) alleging he sexually exploited her for...
Government playing sugarcane politics: Mayawati
By IANS,
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has accused the central government of "deliberately delaying" the decision to withdraw the ordinance on sugarcane pricing in order to gain political mileage.
In a statement issued on her behalf, BSP state president Swami Prasad Maurya late Friday, said the central government deliberately delayed the decision on withdrawing the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), which was the root of all the trouble that culminated in a sugarcane growers' demonstration in New Delhi Thursday.