Declare Bihar floods as national calamity: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday demanded the floods in Bihar, the worst in the recent history of the country, be declared a national calamity and the central government should bear the burden of the relief and rehabilitation operations in the state.
"I spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning (Wednesday) and expressed concern over the flood-induced situation," senior BJP leader L.K. Advani said.
"I urge the central government to assist the state government in every possible way in dealing with this extraordinary natural disaster, he said.
Samajwadi Party does a somersault, backs Pranab
By IANS,
New Delhi : In less than 48 hours, the Samajwadi Party Friday did a U-turn on its support to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as the country's president, now backing him wholeheartedly.
Advani meets RSS chief
By IANS,
New Delhi : Amid speculation of a possible leadership change in the crisis-hit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), veteran party leader L.K. Advani Saturday met Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of its ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
RSS sources confirmed that Advani had reached the organisation's office to meet Bhagwat, but declined to divulge the agenda of the meeting.
I will quit Monday, says Soren after UPA ultimatum
By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren Sunday said he would resign Monday as his allies in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) served an ultimatum in the wake of his defeat in an election he needed to win.
Soren told reporters here he would resign Monday. "We stand by our position to get our party legislator anointed as next chief minister," said the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief.
Kejriwal chose Perfect Victory over Perfect Party
By M.R. Narayan Swamy ,
From the happenings of recent weeks, it will be tempting to deduce that Arvind Kejriwal is a Stalinist who, like...
Thane legislator to go on hunger strike again
By IANS,
Thane (Maharashtra): Independent legislator from Maharashtra's Vasai town Vivek Pandit Tuesday threatened to launch another indefinite hunger strike Wednesday to press for de-linking of 18 villages from the local civic agency, an aide said.
Pandit with 89 other activists, who are at present in judicial custody for last Saturday's blockade of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway, will Wednesday go on the hunger strike - second since March - on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, said D. Dabre.
About five mn people vote in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal: About five million people voted in nine Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh Thursday in largely peaceful polling, an official said.
An Election Commission...
Munda to join Modi’s fast
By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda Sunday said he will join his Gujarat counterpart's Narendra Modi's fast Monday.
It’s ‘nationalists vs separatists’ in Jammu and Kashmir: Advani
By IANS,
Raipur : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader L.K. Advani Tuesday openly supported Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti and said the protests in Jammu and Kashmir were of "nationalists versus separatists".
Addressing a party rally in this Chhattisgarh capital, Advani said: "(Separatist) Hurriyat leaders and Peoples Democratic Party (Kashmir's mainstream political outfit) are staging protests in the valley holding Pakistani flags, while the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (Jammu demonstrators) with Indian tri-colour."
New J&K chief secretary appointed
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday appointed Brij Raj Sharma as the new chief secretary, ending the administrative inertia that hit the...
Lok Sabha adjourned over railway order on name boards
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned abruptly Thursday after MPs protested over an alleged Indian Railways order that all name boards on trains, including those of destination, would be only in English and Hindi and, in the case of trains from Tamil Nadu, in Tamil.
The house was adjourned at 12.25 p.m. till 1 p.m. after MPs belonging to various parties objected to the alleged railway order.
Welfare Party of India criticises amendment of NIA and UAPA
TCN News
National President of Welfare Party of India, Dr SQR Ilyas strongly objected to the recently passed NIA Amendment Bill and UAPA Amendment Bill...
बिहार चुनाव : तेजस्वी को ‘मीरान हैदर’ पर खामोशी का नुकसान होगा !
उमर शब्बीर,Twocircles.net के लिए
बिहार में राजनीतिक बदलाव के साथ सामाजिक बदलाव होते रहे हैं । इन बदलावों का सबसे बड़ा कारक धार्मिक और जातीय...
Talks fail, Jammu agitation to continue
By IANS,
Jammu : Hopes of an end to violent protests in Jammu were dashed when talks here Saturday between an all-party national delegation and the group spearheading the agitation demanding land for the Amarnath shrine board failed. While the protesters announced they would continue their agitation, the government said it would work on a solution acceptable to all sides.
Rs.411 crore supplementary budget in Jharkhand
By IANS,
Ranchi : The Jharkhand government Friday presented a Rs.411 crore first supplementary budget in the state assembly.
‘नीट’ में ओबीसी आरक्षण को लेकर भीम आर्मी का प्रदर्शन
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
देशभर में मेडिकल परीक्षा नीट में अन्य पिछड़ा वर्ग का आरक्षण खत्म करे जाने का मुद्दा अब गरमाता जा रहा हैं। राजनैतिक...
“Farmer resistance will not shut down,” at Ghazipur border, farmer’s stand firm, vow to...
After many attempts to scare and malign farmers following Republic Day violence, the farmers stationed at Ghazipur border stand tall and affirm to continue...
No regrets about not meeting Mayawati, says US envoy
By IANS,
Lucknow : US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer Wednesday said he had no regrets about not being able to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who told the diplomat she was preoccupied with pre-fixed political engagements.
"President Barrack Obama has particularly instructed me to meet the common Indians, which I managed to do in this famous and beautiful city of Lucknow. My purpose is not to meet a particular individual or politician," Roemer told reporters shortly before his departure from here.
Priyanka dubs Modi’s ‘budhiya-gudiya’ remarks ridiculous
By IANS,
Shrawasti/Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh) : Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Sunday continued to target the Congress, calling it a "gudiya" (doll) now, but Priyanka Gandhi termed his remarks so ridiculous as not worth responding to.
Modi last week was taunting the Congress as a "125-year-old budhiya (old hag)" but Sunday changed it to "gudiya".
Will Sukh Ram factor muddy Congress’ waters in Himachal?
By Vishal Gulati, IANS,
Shimla : Will the conviction of former union minister Sukh Ram in a corruption case affect the election prospects of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh? The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) feels it will matter in the Lok Sabha polls, but the Congress does not think so.
The hill state has four Lok Sabha seats - Shimla (Scheduled Caste), Kangra, Mandi and Hamirpur - and the polls will be held May 13.
योगी सरकार ने लगाया ‘सबका साथ, सबका विकास’ के नारे को पलीता, उन्नाव में...
आस मोहम्मद कैफ़। TwoCircles.net
लखनऊ।
लखनऊ से सटे हुए उन्नाव ज़िले में शासकीय अधिवक्तों (सरकारी वकीलों) की नियुक्ति को लेकर सियासी बवाल मच गया है। कड़े...
मेरठ में ढाई साल के शादान की दरिंदगी से हत्या, कुकर्म की आशंका
आस मोहम्मद कैफ, TwoCircles.net
मेरठ: कोतवाली के इमलियान मोहल्ले से बुधवार को ढाई साल के बच्चे का अपहरण कर उसका कत्ल कर दिया गया. बच्चे...
Meghalaya assembly session set to be stormy
Shillong : The winter session of the Meghalaya assembly, starting Friday, is set to be stormy with the combined opposition Meghalaya People's Front (MPF)...
Netaji kin approach NCPCR against Trinamool’s Sugata Bose
Kolkata: A section of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's family has approached the country's apex child rights body complaining against Trinamool Congress candidate from West...
Congress alleges vendetta against workers in Punjab
Chandigarh: Punjab's opposition Congress Wednesday urged Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal to intervene in the "political vendetta" allegedly unleashed on its workers by activists...
Congress assures smooth functioning; no softening on land ordinance
New Delhi : Anticipating a stormy session in view of six ordinances that await parliament's nod, the Narendra Modi government Sunday reached out to...
Sukhbir Badal gets back job in father’s government
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Having remained out of power for about 40 days, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was Monday sworn in as deputy chief minister in the Punjab government headed by his father, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Badal junior was administered the oath of office and secrecy as deputy chief minister by Punjab Governor S.F. Rodrigues at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhawan here.
Congress launches campaign for by-polls in Uttar Pradesh
By IANS,
Malihabad (Lucknow): The Congress party Sunday started its campaign for by-polls to be held in six assembly constituencies Aug 18 with a rally by party national general secretary Digvijay Singh in this Uttar Pradesh town.
Addressing an impressive roadside rally, Singh drew much applause when he sought to issue a warning to Chief Minister Mayawati, "Tum guroor mein nahin rahna; janata ke vote pa kar satta mein aayee ho, aur janata ke vote se hi tum jaogi," (Don't be too proud; it was the people's vote that brought you to power and the same vote will drive you out).
Chaotic session over, parliament adjourned sine die
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) Parliament was adjourned sine die Thursday, five days ahead of schedule, after a budget session during which disorder reigned supreme and crucial debates could not be held due to abrupt adjournments and constant interruptions.
Although both houses of parliament were scheduled to be adjourned on May 22, disruptions over various issues led to its early adjournment.
Parliament met on April 26, after a month long recess, passed the union budget without a debate and the finance bill after discussing demands for grants of some ministries.
Jammu and Kashmir hikes legislators’ salary, pension
By IANS,
Jammu : The Jammu and Kashmir assembly Monday passed by a voice vote bills hiking the salary of legislators by 20 percent and their pension by 25 percent.
Court considers complaint against Smriti Irani
New Delhi : A court here on Wednesday took cognizance of a complaint against Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani for allegedly misrepresenting facts...
Religious leaders oppose land acquisition in Karnataka
By IANS,
Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is now facing heat from religious leaders against his government's ambitious land acquisition plans for industry and infrastructure.
‘PM was emotional when Tharoor offered to quit’
By IANS,
New Delhi : When Shashi Tharoor went to meet him and offered to quit Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared emotional and told him he believed he was clean, but he had no choice in the face of an unrelenting opposition that was determined to embarrass the government and hold up important legislative business, sources said here.
"The prime minister was emotional when he offered to resign. He has a personal liking for Tharoor," sources with access to the former minister of state for external affairs said.
Youth Congress membership set to touch half million in Kerala
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : The membership of the Youth Congress is all set to touch the half million-mark in Kerala, a Congress legislator said Sunday.
Congress legislator P.C. Vishnunadh, who will contest for the post of Youth Congress president in the elections to be held in August, told IANS that initial indications are that the total number of Youth Congress members in the state will touch half a million.
"We can't make a comparison to the past because such a membership drive has never taken place," Vishnunadh said.
Two Days ‘National Convention of Muslim Women’ begins in New Delhi
By TCN News,
New Delhi: A two days National Convention of Muslim Women with the title ‘Sadak Se Sansad Tak’ has started in New Delhi...
Kerry congratulates Sushma, discusses re-energising ties
New Delhi : US Secretary of State John Kerry called up External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to congratulate her on ministerial posting and discussed...
Alcohol excise scam money funding terror outfits: BJP
By IANS,
Panaji : Goa opposition leader Manohar Parrikar Thursday alleged that illicit liquor worth crores of rupees was being smuggled from here to states bordering Pakistan and the money used to fund terror outfits in the neighbouring country.
Claiming that there is a nexus between those involved in the multi-crore rupee alcohol scam and terror outfits, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, while speaking during the budget session of the assembly, sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention in the issue.
Two CPI-M supporters killed in West Bengal
By IANS,
Kolkata : Two activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) were killed Tuesday when they were attacked by armed assailants in West Bengal's Midnapore West district, police said.
Another activist of the CPI-M was injured in the incident that took place in the Salboni area.
The CPI-M alleged that the attackers were Maoists, who had abducted five of their associates Monday morning.
The armed assailants attacked and killed Shakti Sen and Hambir Mandi, and critically injured another CPI-M worker Ranjit Singha, police said.
Amar Singh does U-turn, won’t quit Samajwadi Party
By IANS,
Lucknow : Hours after he publicly threatened to quit the Samajwadi Party owing to his ego clash with senior party leader Azam Khan, Amar Singh took a U-turn, claiming he had been misunderstood.
Differences within the Samajwadi Party flared up Tuesday, when general secretary Amar Singh dared party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to choose between him and party leader Azam Khan and said he was prepared to walk out of the organisation.
NDA would do everything to oust UPA government, says BJP President
By NNN-PTI,
Bhopal : BJP President Rajnath Singh said that NDA would do everything to oust the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.
He, however, made it clear that BJP would not "adopt unfair means" in this regard and requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resign and seek fresh mandate.
"NDA will attempt that UPA Government did not win the confidence vote. But we will not adopt unfair means in this regard," he told reporters here.
Bar foreign educational institutions: CPI-M
By IANS,
New Delhi : The CPI-M Friday asked the government not to allow foreign educational institutions into India.
What are the Issues in the Lok Sabha Elections 2014?
By Syed Ali Mujtaba,
The Parliamentary elections are a mandate to govern India. The issues in these elections are common to all the Indians and are of national importance. The expectation of the common man is to know the difference in policy prescription that the political parties have on the issue concerning the nation. They want to know the unique ideas political parties have on all such common issues and how different are they from their rivals in its solutions.
GDP expected to grow 7-7.5 percent, mid-year analysis
New Delhi : India's economy is expected to register a GDP growth in the range of seven and 7.5 percent in 2015-16, the mid-year...
BJP’s regret to Muslims: Too little too late?
By T.R. Ramachandran,
It has taken no less than 12 years for the top BJP leadership to come down a few notches from its...
Rahul applauds functioning of Kerala Congress
Thiruvananthapuram : Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday applauded the working of the party in Kerala and said that this is going to be...
IPL, Lok Sabha dates clash; political parties say polls a bigger pull
By IANS,
New Delhi : This year, the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket carnival dates will clash with the five-phase general elections. But political parties say while Indians are known to be cricket crazy, the glitz of the IPL would not take away from the pull of the elections.
Politicians preparing for the mega elections, in which 714 million people will be eligible to vote, say the IPL will lose out to the polls. Both are beginning around the same time in April and ending in May.
BJP mum on Sinha’s critical remarks on party leadership
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday declined to comment on its leader Yashwant Sinha's latest criticism of the party leadership.
"I don't want to react on this issue," BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told IANS in reply to a question about Sinha's remarks during an interview to news channel NDTV in which he expressed dissatisfaction with the party leadership for not seriously analysing the reasons for its defeat in the April-May Lok Sabha elections.
Naroda Patiya riot case: Guj HC bench refuses to give preference to Kodnani’s appeal,...
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Ahmedabad: A division bench of Gujarat High Court that has begun the final hearing in the Naroda Patiya cross...
BJP is exactly opposite to what Bedi stands for: Arvind Kejriwal
By Gaurav Sharma and M.R. Narayan Swamy,
New Delhi : AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has said he sees an inherent contradiction between what Kiran Bedi, BJP's presumptive chief ministerial candidate, was known to have stood for and the values and principles of the party she now represents.
BJP woos Jaya, praises her stand on Ram Sethu
By Rajeev Khanna, IANS
Bhopal : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday gave indications of firming up its ties with the AIADMK with party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad praising AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha for her stand on the Ram Sethu controversy.
In an interaction with the media, Prasad said: "Very soon you will come to know about our new allies in the south." He did not specify Jayalalitha's name.
No takers for film on Communist leader P. Krishna Pillai
Alappuzha (Kerala) : Anil V. Nagendran, a lawyer by profession, spent more than eight years to make "Vasanthathinte Kanalvazhikalil", a film on legendary Communist...
Kejriwal will take on Modi in Varanasi: Manish Sisodia
By Gaurav Sharma and Alok Singh,
New Delhi : The AAP has almost decided to pit former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal against Narendra Modi...
Haryana Jat agitation: Parkash Singh panel blasts administration, police
Chandigarh : The Parkash Singh Committee report on the large-scale violence during the Jat agitation for reservation in February, has blasted the civil and...
Patnaik stakes claim to form government in Odisha
Bhubaneswar : BJD president Naveen Patnaik Monday met Odisha Governor S.C. Jamir here and formally staked claim to form his government in the state,...
Rajya Sabha passes bill to regulate foreign funds
By IANS,
New Delhi : A bill seeking to frame stricter regulations for foreign contributions in form of gifts, funds and other forms to individuals and organisations in social fields was passed by the Rajya Sabha Thursday.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2006, aims to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies. It also seeks to prohibit acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to the national interest.
Politicians now realize we too matter, say sex workers
By Azera Rahman, IANS,
New Delhi : They have been largely ignored and stigmatised. But with an important tool, the voter's ID, the sex worker community is feeling empowered.
Now candidates for the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat in Delhi are doing all they can to woo this important vote bank.
Unlike in the last general elections, when only 300 sex workers here had voter IDs, this time 1,500 of them are registered in the electoral roll.
Families brave heat n’ dust for candidates in UP polls
By Mohit Dubey,
Lucknow : Not just candidates, their families too are braving the sweltering summer heat as they hit the campaign trail to seek...
Rahul, Modi to address rallies in Himachal
By IANS,
Shimla: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi will address election rallies in Himachal Pradesh Monday - the last day of the campaigning.
"Rahul will address three election rallies in Hamirpur and Mandi constituencies tomorrow. This is his first visit to the state (during the elections)," state Congress chief Kaul Singh Thakur told IANS.
Gandhi will address rallies at Una, Rehan and Kullu towns. After the rallies, Rahul Gandhi will stay in Mandi town for a day.
Jayalalithaa thanks Modi for Mullaperiyar Dam panel
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the union cabinet's decision to set up the supervisory...
Writer returns award, says Dalit suffering won’t end
Ahmedabad : Gujarati writer Amrutlal Makwana has returned a state award he got to protest against the beating of some Dalit youths in the...
EC starts groundwork for Tripura assembly polls
By IANS,
Agartala : The Election Commission (EC) Wednesday began preparations for the assembly elections in the country's lone Left-ruled state, Tripura.
मुज़फ़्फ़रनगर हिंसा में सरकार ने अपने ‘राजधर्म’ का पालन क्यों नहीं किया?
TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
लखनऊ : मुज़फ़्फ़रनगर साम्प्रदायिक हिंसा की चौथी बरसी पर बुधवार को उत्तर प्रदेश के लखनऊ शहर में स्थित यूपी प्रेस क्लब में...
Uttar Pradesh all set for ‘mini elections’
By IANS,
Lucknow : After the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh is all set to witness another political battle, as byelections will have to be held in 10 assembly constituencies where seven sitting legislators were elected to parliament while the other three resigned to contest.
The two prominent winners among the legislators include senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lalji Tandon and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Grandson tries to recreate NTR’s charisma for TDP
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Junior NTR, a popular Telugu film actor and grandson of Telugu matinee idol and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, revived memories of his grandfather as he launched the campaign of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the state.
Junior NTR held road shows in Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra, drawing huge crowds. The late NTR had launched the party 26 years ago.
Nurture the student in you, Modi tells BHU scholars
Varanasi: One must keep alive and nurture the 'student' in oneself as a vital impulse to attaining one's life's goals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi...
Good governance, able leadership helped Left win in Tripura
By Sujit Chakraborty ,
Agartala: Despite the Left parties' devastating defeat in West Bengal, the CPI-M, a dominant partner of the Left Front, held on...
Sabarinathan sworn-in as Kerala legislator
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader K.A. Sabarinathan was sworn-in as a legislator of the Kerala legislative assembly on Wednesday.
In the results for the Aruvikara by-election announced...
N-deal in national interest, even Vajpayee supports it: Digvijay
By IANS,
Lucknow : The India-US nuclear deal was more important than saving the government, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said here Thursday, adding that even former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was fully in favour of the deal.
"The nuclear deal is most important for us and it will only help the country in becoming a global power," Singh, Congress general secretary and the party's Uttar Pradesh affairs in-charge, told reporters.
Plea admitted against Lalu’s acquittal in corruption case
By IANS
Patna : The Patna High Court Thursday admitted a petition filed by the Bihar government challenging the acquittal of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and his wife, former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, in a 1998 corruption case of amassing wealth disproportionate to their income.
On Sep 24, the court will hear the petition challenging the acquittal of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi in connection with the disproportionate assets case, a court official said.
RSS says Muslim Rashtriya Manch is independent group
New Delhi : The RSS on Thursday distanced itself from the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), which has been organising Iftar parties across India, saying...
Soldiers’ families can’t expect government help: Gen V.K. Singh
Gurgaon : Minister of State for External Affairs and former army chief V.K. Singh said on Wednesday that soldiers must take care of the...
Name industrialists going with Mamata to Singapore: CPI-M
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist Sunday asked West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress to spell out the names of industrialists accompanying Chief Minister...
Tripura Congress, CPI-M trade charges of wooing militants
By IANS,
Agartala: With assembly polls in Tripura drawing closer, the ruling Left Front and opposition Congress are accusing each other of using militants to sway votes.
TDP MLA arrested in cash-for-vote scam
Hyderabad : The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Telangana on Monday arrested TDP legislator Sandra Venkata Veeraiah in the cash-for-vote case.
The Telugu Desam party (TDP)...
Case against Congress MP booked for violation of poll conduct
By IANS,
Lucknow : Bijendra Singh, the Congress MP from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, has been charged with violation of model code of conduct for using vehicles with hooters during campaign and organising public meetings without the permission of the administration, the police said Thursday.
"A case was registered against Bijendra Singh Wednesday night," Inspector Jaspal Singh Pawar told IANS by phone.
Singh is also the Congress nominee from Aligarh, which is 300 km from here.
Singh had used the vehicles fitted with hooters during his election campaign on March 24 and 28.
Protest against SNDP’s communal remark on compensation given to dead driver’s kin
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kozhikode: Auto drivers in Kerala organised protest marches on Sunday evening and burnt effigies against attempt by Hindutva groups to...
UMF backtracks after supporting ‘Modi Bhakt’ for Lok Sabha
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: United Muslim Forum of Andhra Pradesh, an umbrella group of religious leaders, has backtracked from its controversial decision to support Lok Satta party chief Jayparakash Narayan from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat.
Party should reach out to people: Sonia
By IANS,
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday said it was the duty of party workers to reach out to those affected by heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other states.
USCIRF urges Biden to raise India’s Human Rights abuse, persecution of Muslims with Indian...
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called upon US President Joe Biden to raise India's human rights situation and persecution of...
Mayawati seeks ban on Amit Shah’s poll campaigning
Lucknow : Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati Monday said BJP general secretary Amit Shah's remarks that Azamgarh was a haven for terrorist were "baseless",...
Police official denies raiding Amar Singh’s Kolkata home
By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh police sub-inspector K.K. Dwivedi Wednesday denied Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's claim that he had raided party leader Amar Singh's residence in Kolkata.
Mulayam Singh had Tuesday alleged that Dwivedi had raided Amar Singh's house. He had also released a video CD that showed K.K. Dwivedi claiming that he was being pressurised to file cases against Amar Singh and Amitabh Bachchan.
Dwivedi told IANS that although he had gone to Kolkata, he had not conducted any raid. He also alleged that the CD released by Mulayam Singh was fake.
PM reiterates commitment for quotas for women
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday reiterated his government's commitment to providing reservations for women in local bodies, state legislatures and parliament.
Interview with Maulana Tahir Madani of Ulama Council
Interview by Kashif-ul-Huda, transcribed by Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Gautam Ghosh plans documentary on Mamata Banerjee
By IANS,
Kolkata: National award winning director Gautam Ghosh will make a documentary on the life and struggle of Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister-elect Mamata Banerjee.
CPI-M disowns Pandhe’s Muslim remark on n-deal
By IANS,
New Delhi : After coming under severe criticism, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Wednesday distanced itself from party leader M.K. Pandhe's warning of a “Muslim backlash” if the Samajwadi Party reversed its stand and backed the India-US nuclear deal.
“The remarks made by M.K. Pandhe, member, politburo of the CPI-M, on the nuclear deal issue on June 23 are not the views of the party,” said CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat in a terse statement here.
Congress MP ‘attacked’ in Delhi
By IANS
New Delhi : Two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly made an attempt to attack Congress MP Krishna Tirath while she was travelling in her car here late Wednesday night, police said. She escaped unhurt.
Police initially said Tirath had been shot at.
Homage paid to Rajiv Gandhi in Tamil Nadu
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah Wednesday paid floral tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 23rd death anniversary.
He also administered...
Rail minister Gowda reads at bullet speed!
New Delhi : Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who Tuesday announced a bullet train in his maiden budget, read his speech at a fast...
JD-S to join ministry only after trust vote
By IANS
Bangalore/New Delhi : The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led ministry in Karnataka only on Nov 21, two days after Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa seeks the trust vote in the assembly.
"All the 18 JD-S nominees (for the ministerial posts), including the deputy chief ministerial one, will take oath on Nov 21," state JD-S president Merajuddin Patel told reporters after a meeting of party legislators in Bangalore.
The JD-S is organising a party rally soon after its nominees are sworn in.
Tamil Nadu in flux, political actors face uncertainty
By Venkatachari Jagannathan,
Chennai : The year 2014 could be described as one of rapid change for Tamil Nadu - most of it owing to...
UP Muslim MLAs in fray for wakf board posts
By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Four MLAs filed their nominations in the elections for the membership of Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Waqfs (SCBW) on Monday. The list includes Riyaz Ahmed and Imran Masood from Samajwadi Party (SP) and Farhat Hasan and Mujtaba Siddiqui from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Polling for the SCBW elections will be held on Tuesday here in Lucknow.
Only two Bihar BJP legislators return gifts
Patna : Bihar BJP leaders' criticism of state government departments giving expensive gifts to legislators has put them in an awkward situation with only...
Session may be extended for Lok Sabha
New Delhi : An extension of the sittings of Lok Sabha in the ongoing session is possible, government sources said on Tuesday.
A senior minister...
FDI win is rejection of politics of BJP: Kamal Nath
By IANS,
New Delhi : The government Friday termed its winning of the FDI vote in the Rajya Sabha as a "rejection of the politics of the BJP".
Uma Bharati’s party offers Pragya election ticket
By IANS,
Bhopal : Uma Bharati's Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) party Thursday announced it was ready to offer an election ticket to Hindu activist Pragya Singh Thakur, currently arrested for her alleged role in the bomb blasts in Gujarat and Maharashtra last month.
BJS national secretary Inder Prajapati told reporters in Indore his party would not mind fielding Thakur from any seat of her choice in Madhya Pradesh.
Last minute lobbying on to become Chhattisgarh minister
By IANS,
Raipur : About a dozen newly-elected legislators of Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have stepped up last minute efforts to be part of the cabinet, which is to be sworn in Monday, though they are unlikely to become ministers.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will administer oath of office Dec 22 to BJP's new team here at Police Parade ground. The BJP retained power in the 90-member assembly polls in the mineral rich state by bagging 50 seats.
AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested in sexual harassment case
New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Amanatullah Khan was on Wednesday arrested after a sexual harassment complaint by his brother-in-law's wife, police...
Ram Mandir not an issue in UP polls: Rajnath
New Delhi : The BJP will not contest the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections next year on the Ram Mandir plank as it is not...
Day 35 of demonetisation: Banks, ATMs still crowded
New Delhi : Banks and ATMs on Wednesday continued to be crowded with long queues even after 35 days of the ban on high...
Karnataka cabinet decides on assembly session from June 2
By IANS,
Bangalore : Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party government, struggling to ward off its possible dismissal, Monday decided to convene the state assembly's session from June 2.
BJP retains hold in Karnataka, Congress slips
By IANS,
Bangalore : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday retained its stronghold in Karnataka by winning 19 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, one more than what it had secured in the 2004 general elections.
A brief analysis of the results, declared by the election authorities here after the counting of votes were completed in all constituencies by 5 p.m., show that the Congress suffered a setback by managing to win six as against the eight it had in the previous elections.
Jharkhand BJP to hold protests over price rise July 7
By IANS,
Ranchi : The main opposition Bharatiya Jananta Party (BJP) in Jharkhand Monday said it would hold demonstrations across the state July 7 to protest the rising prices of essential commodities.
"We have decided to launch an agitation against price rise. On July 7, our party members will demonstrate in all 212 blocks of the state in front of the Block Development Office," state BJP president P.N. Singh to IANS.
The decision was taken at the party's two-day executive committee meet that concluded Sunday.
BJP, AJSU forge poll alliance in Jharkhand
New Delhi : The BJP and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) have forged an alliance for the forthcoming assembly polls in Jharkhand.
Bharatiya Janata...
Don’t sabotage Malegaon case: CPI-M
New Delhi: The CPI-M on Friday said it was "a matter of deep concern" that there were attempts to sabotage the prosecution of those...
Police, anti-poll protesters clash in north Kashmir
By IANS,
Srinagar : Police and a group of people protesting against the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir clashed in north Kashmir's Bandipora town Monday afternoon when polling was in progress in the constituency.
“A small group of protesters came out in the town to dissuade voters from casting their votes. We have taken cognizance of the matter and the anti-poll protesters have been chased away,” Sheikh Junaid, superintendent of police in Bandipora district, told IANS.
I would like to finish my Rajya Sabha term: Jaya Bachchan
By IANS,
Mumbai : Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan said Wednesday that she had no plans to quit the party and would like to finish her term in the Rajya Sabha "gracefully".
"I have spoken with my family and I would like to continue in the Rajya Sabha. I have six more months to go and I want to finish it gracefully. I can't leave the party as well because I want to finish my term," Bachchan told NDTV, a day after her close friend Amar Singh was sacked from the primary membership of the SP.
Maharashtra assembly session starts Tuesday
By IANS,
Nagpur: The Maharashtra assembly's winter session starts here Tuesday.
However, there is uncertainty over the duration of the session - normally a fortnight long - in view of the Dec 18 elections to the state Legislative Council from 12 local self-government constituencies.
Last year's winter session - traditionally held in Nagpur - was a subdued affair as it came days after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The annual budget session was a truncated one on account of the election code of conduct enforced for the Lok Sabha elections in April-May.
Criminalisation of politics: Meghalaya lawmakers demand NIA probe
Shillong : Opposition legislators in Meghalaya Tuesday demanded a probe by the NIA into politicians hobnobbing with militants, even as Chief Minister Mukul Sangma...
Justice Roopanwal to head panel probing Rohit Vemula suicide
New Delhi : The HRD ministry on Thursday appointed former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar Roopanwal to head the one-man judicial commission...
RSS worker shot dead in Kandhamal
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : An activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was Wednesday shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Orissa's communally sensitive Kandhamal district, the police said.
"Three people came on a motorcycle and shot dead Dhanu Pradhan at Kumarigaon village," an official of the Brahmanigaon police station told IANS.
Pradhan was a contractor and a known RSS activist in the area.
"A police team has been rushed to the village for further investigation," the official added.
Gujarat Adivasis object to Govt’s “misuse” of tribal development funds for Ram temple visit...
Neglecting Adivasi deities, rituals and culture, the Gujarat government announced an aid of Rs. 5000 to tribals for a trip to the Ram temple...
Rajasthan BJP suspends Gujjar legislator
By IANS
Jaipur : Rajasthan's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled a Gujjar legislator for participating in rallies demanding Scheduled Tribe status for the community and speaking against the Vasundhara Raje government.
BJP national president Rajnath Singh was consulted before the decision was taken to expel Prahlad Gunjal, who had been suspended two months ago along with another legislator, Attar Singh Bhadana.
No US pressure against Russian nuclear deal: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday that there was no pressure on India against signing an agreement with Russia on the supply of four additional nuclear reactors for a facility in Tamil Nadu.
"This is false propaganda," a combative Manmohan Singh said, while intervening in a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the India-US civilian nuclear deal.
The response came after Bharatiya Janata Party (MP) Yashwant Sinha charged that the deal for the Russian reactors was not signed during the prime minister's visit to Moscow last month due to US pressure.
Dismiss Mayawati’s government, get my support: Mulayam Singh
By IANS,
Lucknow : Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Thursday said he will support the party that will dismiss Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati's "unconstitutional" government in Uttar Pradesh.
"Whichever party will dismiss the unconstitutional government in Uttar Pradesh, we will support them," Mulayam Singh told reporters after casting his vote at a polling both in his constituency Mainpuri.
No need to amend RTI Act, says Sonia; PM thinks otherwise
By IANS,
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who played a key role in the enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, thinks it is "changing people's lives" and that it does not require any changes. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, however, thinks that some issues cannot be resolved without amending the act.
CWC meeting Monday to discuss Congress’ worst poll performance
New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet Monday to take stock of the party's worst Lok Sabha performance and chart the road...
Youth Congress leader shot dead in Rajasthan
By IANS,
Bikaner : President of the Bikaner unit of Youth Congress Ramkishan Siyag, 35, was shot dead by four men here Thursday morning, police said.
Fasting Congress legislator to boycott assembly session
By IANS
Ranchi : Jharkhand Congress legislator Neil Tirkey, who has been on an indefinite fast since Tuesday to protest state Rural Development Minister Enos Ekka's remarks about the party, Saturday said that he would boycott the budget session of the assembly.
"At a personal level, I have withdrawn support to the Madhu Koda government. I will boycott the budget session of the assembly," Tirkey, who began his fast at the Simdega district administration office, told reporters here.
BJP hoardings in Patna name Rajnath the party chief!
Patna : A day ahead of BJP president Amit Shah's rally here, big hoardings put up by the BJP named union Home Minister Rajnath...
Government fully prepared to face opposition in parliament: PM
By Ranjana Narayan, IANS,
Rahul cites defaulting industrialists to back farm loan waiver
By Fakir Balaji, IANS
Nanjungudu (Karnataka) : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has justified the loan waiver to farmers citing industrialists who are let off with no questions asked when they default on billions of rupees taken from banks.
"I have been often asked of late why farmers were being favoured with a loan waiver. In response, I say that when large industrialists default, why the same question is not raised," Gandhi said late Tuesday at an interactive session with rural youths in this bustling town, about 40 km from Mysore.
‘Laxmanananda not a VHP leader as projected in media’
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal Monday said Swami Laxmanananda, whose murder triggered the Kandhamal riots in 2008, was not a VHP leader as projected in the media.
"Laxmanananda was not a VHP leader as it is often written in the media," Singhal said here.
"He was a sant (ascetic). A sant is a sant and he can't be a member of any party. He was working for the welfare of the Hindus," he said.
He also lashed out at the centre and the state government for allowing an 11-member European Union team to visit the riot-hit Kandhamal.
Seek CBI probe into Narada sting for truth: Shah to Mamata
Kolkata : Virtually throwing a challenge to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday said she should seek a...
AIMPLB must stop fooling people over Triple Talaq
By Sheikh Khurshid Alam for Twocircles.net
“Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense,...
97-year-old man’s appeal to vote a hit online
By Vishal Gulati ,
Shimla: Just short of being 100 years old, a mountain man's appeal to the nation to vote has 10 times the...