West Bengal hit by strike against fuel price hike
By IANS,
Kolkata: Normal life was badly hit in West Bengal as buses, taxis and autorickshaws went off the roads Saturday in response to a public transport strike called by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) against the fuel price hike.
Despite being a holiday for government employees, commuters were inconvenienced as a handful of taxis and autorickshaws that plied made a killing by charging exorbitant fares.
Ferry services on various rivers across the state also did not operate.
Thackeray slams petrol price hike
By IANS,
Mumbai : Slamming the central government for the hike in petrol prices, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Friday said liqour was now cheaper than petrol in Maharashtra.
Rituals, sweets and mass weddings mark Jayalalitha’s birthday
By IANS
Chennai : Special worships were held in over 100 temples, free food was served to the poor, mass marriages were conducted and AIADMK cadre distributed sweets in Tamil Nadu to mark the 60th birthday of J. Jayalalitha Sunday.
People queued up at the AIADMK chief's residence in Poes Garden here to greet her. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L.K. Advani, Narendra Modi and Ravishankar Prasad called her to wish Jayalalitha, strengthening rumours of an imminent alliance between the two parties for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Salman living example of secularism: Kabir Khan
Kochi: Filmmaker Kabir Khan on Monday said he chose to work with superstar Salman Khan in "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" because of his secular leaning and...
Modi lying to farmers; his government anti-farmer: Mayawati
Lucknow : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lying to farmers and dubbed his government "anti-farmer".
"Modi...
Poll panel note created confusion: Jayalalitha
By IANS
Chennai : AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha said a note by the Election Commission created confusion among MPs and legislators of her party, who voted in the president election Thursday despite her earlier announcement that they would abstain.
Except for Jayalalitha herself, all 59 MLAs of her party in Tamil Nadu, along with six of its ally, Vaiko's MDMK, voted in the election to choose India's 13th president.
‘SC order is indirect advice to drop tainted ministers’
New Delhi : The Congress Wednesday said the Supreme Court's order saying that people in conflict with law should not be made ministers was...
Suresh Prabhu, a one-man think tank from Sena (Profile)
Mumbai : There was a time when Shiv Sena patriarch, the late Bal Thackeray, would consult an intelligent chartered accountant-cum-lawyer for independent views on...
Reserved thoughts on reservation
By Panchendra Kumar Naik for TwoCircles.net
India is facing acute political and moral disorders – flared recently by Hardik Patel led agitation for the reservation...
Buta Singh’s son sent to police custody till Aug 5
By IANS,
Mumbai: Former union minister Buta Singh's son Sarabjot alias Sweety Singh, who was arrested for allegedly accepting Rs.1 crore bribe, was Friday night sent to police custody till Aug 5 by a city court.
Sarabjot Singh was placed under arrest by the anti-corruption wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the case.
Along with Singh, his three associates - Anoop Bedi, Madan Solanki and Dukhsingh Chauhan - were presented before Sessions Judge S.P.H. Nagarkar and remanded to police custody till Aug 5.
Nearly two-third voters cast ballots in Mizoram
Aizawl: Nearly two-thirds of the voters cast their ballots Friday for the lone Lok Sabha seat and in a by-poll for an assembly segment...
भोपाल : ‘एनकाउंटर नहीं, ठंडे दिमाग से सरकार ने करवाई हत्या’
TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
लखनऊ : भोपाल के केन्द्रीय कारागार से प्रतिबंधित संगठन सिमी (स्टूडेंट्स इस्लामिक मूवमेंट ऑफ इंडिया) से कथित रूप से जुड़े आठ युवकों...
Modi assures full support to AMU
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thurday assured full financial support to the Aligarh Muslim University, a statement said.
The prime minister made...
RSS meet in Bangalore, expansion plans on agenda
Bangalore : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will chalk out plans to expand its activities across India at its annual meeting beginning here Friday.
Clarifying...
CPI joins chorus alleging scandal in spectrum auction
By IANS,
Chennai : The Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary D. Raja Friday echoed charges made against union IT Minister A. Raja by fellow Left leaders about graft in the auction of radio frequency to mobile operators.
"The central government's losses in the spectrum deal is said to be huge, running into thousands of crores (billions) of rupees. The allegations of private entrepreneurs having improperly profited from the auction needs to be impartially probed," Raja said.
Madras HC asking rapists to settle matter ‘unethical’: Legal experts
By Amiya Kumar Kushwaha
New Delhi: Terming the recently delivered order of the Madras High Court that directed the rapist to mediate with the victim...
Can a Muslim ever become CM of Uttar Pradesh?
By TCN News
With an emphatic win of Samajwadi Party (SP) in the cow belt, veteran socialist Mulayam Singh Yadav is sitting pretty making all out efforts for his son to take over.
Advani backed n-deal? No way, says BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Tuesday that its prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani had never given his quiet backing to the India-US nuclear deal.
Commenting on a news report that quoted sources in the prime minister's office (PMO) as saying that Advani told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he was unable to convince his colleagues to support the deal.
BJP spokesperson Ravishakar Prasad said: "The reports are baseless. If the PM has the guts, he should make his officials speak on the record on this issue."
Tamil Nadu results: An assessment from Muslims perspective
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
Decision on complaint against Andhra police chief likely Sunday
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The Election Commission may take a decision Sunday on the Andhra Pradesh opposition parties' complaint against the state police chief, who allegedly violated the model code of conduct by praising the Congress government.
The commission was yet to go through the complaint against Director General of Police (DGP) S.S.P. Yadav, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswami told a news conference here Friday evening.
"We are reaching Delhi tomorrow and, may be, we will take a decision day after tomorrow," he said.
Polling for Rajasthan assembly begins
By IANS,
Jaipur : Polling to elect a 200-seat Rajasthan assembly began Thursday morning amid tight vigil by policemen following heightened security concerns in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.
"The voting began at 8 a.m. at 42,212 polling stations spread across the state. We have made elaborate security arrangements for peaceful polls," an election official here told IANS.
Over 8,400 polling stations have been declared sensitive and security has been beefed up in these areas.
Congress assigns key states to central ministers
By IANS
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday appointed three central ministers as chiefs of the party units in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir amid reports that the ruling party prefers early general elections.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi has been named president of the West Bengal Congress unit, while Water Resource Minister Saifuddin Soz will take charge of the party affairs in Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi congratulates Jayalalithaa on becoming CM
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa on assuming office.
"PM @narendramodi congratulates Jayalalithaa ji on taking...
14th phase of Kashmir panchayat polls ends
By IANS,
Srinagar: The 14th phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat elections ended Monday afternoon in eight panchayat blocks across the state.
Quota for women must respect social divide, say some MPs
By Rajeev Ranjan Roy, IANS,
New Delhi : The purpose of reserving seats for women in legislatures will be defeated if these are not earmarked for different social strata, say supporters of reservation along caste lines.
In support of their argument, they say there are only 11 woman Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) members in parliament now although the total seats reserved for these two groups is 120 and 79 respectively.
Amit Jogi toils with tribals – for career’s sake
By Sujeet Kumar, IANS
Raipur : Amit Jogi, the controversial 29-year-old son of Congress leader Ajit Jogi, has settled for a month in an extremely backward village of Chhattisgarh with fishermen and tribals to "experience the difficulties of the common man".
His stay in Tala village has been kept secret here as it is considered part of his move to prepare for a career in public life - in the footsteps of his father, who is a former chief minister.
EC must ban Kalraj, Adityanath from campaigning: Samajwadi Party
Lucknow : The Samajwadi Party Tuesday petitioned the Election Commission to ban BJP parliamentarian Yogi Adityanath and union minister Kalraj Mishra from campaigning in...
Advani meets Yashwant Sinha in jail
Ranchi : Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani Tuesday met former union minister and party leader Yashwant Sinha in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh jail.
State BJP president Rabindra...
Pawar urges Congress to declare national-level pre-poll alliances
By IANS,
Nashik (Maharashtra) : Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Sunday urged the Congress to take a lead in declaring national-level, pre-poll alliances with its partners.
"As a big party, the Congress should come out with the pre-poll alliance and alliance partners should get a chance to contest from constituencies in which they are strong," he said, addressing the party's crucial state-level convention here.
Madhya Pradesh’s Gond party splits fourth time in two years
By IANS,
Bhopal : The Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), launched in 1991 to revive the Gond identity as a unified voice, has split again - for the fourth time in two years, with former legislator Manmohan Shah Batti announcing a new political outfit, Gondwana Party of India (GPI).
Having announced the launch of the new outfit on Republic Day at Chhindwara, Batti, however, refused to divulge the reasons behind taking such a step.
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.
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.
Is Telangana bill a money bill?
By IANS,
New Delhi : The government is seeking legal opinion to know if the Telangana bill needs to be treated as a money bill,...
Congress factions may reconcile in Jammu and Kashmir
By IANS,
Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir's Congress unit is finally set to end its internecine war.
Rahul Gandhi put the spotlight, now Sulabh warms up Shashikala’s life
By IANS,
Sonkhas (Maharashtra) : Congress MP Rahul Gandhi put the spotlight on their lives. And Maharashtra's struggling farm women Kalawati and Shashikala have been basking in the glow ever since -- with Sulabh International chief Bindeshwar Pathak first helping Kalawati and now Vidarbha's other valiant farm hand Shashikala by giving her Rs.200,000.
BJP plans sit-in over central government’s ‘failure’
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley will stage a sit-in here Wednesday over the alleged failure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government which completed one year in office Saturday.
Shrikant Sharma, convenor of the media cell of BJP, said the two leaders will address the protest gathering at 11.30 a.m. on the government's "failure" on issues like price rise, corruption, terrorism, Maoist violence and unemployment.
Jaitley is leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Swaraj is leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Chhattisgarh BJP wooing tribals in violence-hit Bastar
By IANS,
Raipur : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh is making determined efforts to win back tribals to the party in the run-up to the assembly elections due in 2013.
AAP slams BJP for appointing Yeddyurappa as vice president
New Delhi: The AAP Saturday said that BJP has completely compromised with corruption and criminalisation of politics by appointing former Karnataka chief minister B.S....
Election Commission team to visit Bihar
By IANS,
Patna : A three-member Election Commission team will visit Bihar Sunday to oversee preparations for the October-November assembly polls in the state, an official said here.
People voted for good governance: Himachal CM
By IANS,
Shimla : The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh, which won three of the four Lok Sabha seats in the hill state Saturday, attributed its victory to good governance and its development plank.
Expressing happiness over BJP's performance in the state, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told IANS: "This is BJP's victory. I want to thank our supporters and all the voters. We are going to work harder to live up to their expectations."
He said the verdict had proved that there was no anti-incumbency.
Kerala HC dismisses BJP’s petition against Tharoor
Kochi : The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by BJP Thiruvananthapuram district president S. Suresh challenging the election of Shashi...
हाथरस कांड में जयंत चौधरी को पड़ी लाठियों के जवाब में मुजफ्फरनगर में महापंचायत,...
मुजफ्फरनगर से Twocircles.net के लिए मोहम्मद वसीम की रिपोर्ट
मुजफ्फरनगर की यह महापंचायत हाथरस में रालोद महासचिव जयंत चैधरी पर लाठीचार्ज होने के विरोध में...
Muraleedharan meets Congress leaders in Delhi to push for re-entry
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: K. Muraleedharan, the son of former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran, met Congress leaders, including party general secretary in charge of Kerala Mohsina Kidwai and Defence Minister A.K. Antony in the national capital to push his case for re-entry into the party, which could take some time.
Mohsina Kidwai told reporters in Delhi that Muraleedharan's re-entry will not happen all of a sudden.
Ruckus in Lok Sabha as Tharoor says democracy betrayed
By IANS:
New Delhi, July 18: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a ruckus when senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor held the ruling party responsible...
Uttar Pradesh official asked to explain failure to bring Ansari
By IANS,
New Delhi: A city court Monday sought the response of Uttar Pradesh prison authorities over the failure to bring independent legislator Mukhtar Ansari before it.
Additional Sessions Judge Madhu Jain took a serious view of the Uttar Pradesh officials' failure to bring Ansari, facing charges in a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), before the court on the previous hearing of the case.
The state's Inspector General (Jails) has been asked for his response by Dec 14.
LJP leaders blame poll debacle on alliance with RJD
By IANS,
Patna : A section of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Monday blamed the pre-poll alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.
The LJP held a workers meeting here to review the party's performance in the elections.
Failing to win even a single seat in Bihar, the 2009 election has been the worst for the LJP since its formation in 2000 by Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan.
Former MP and senior LJP leader Surajbhan Singh urged party chief Paswan not to join hands with former railway miniser Lalu Prasad's RJD.
Orissa legislators demand ten-fold hike in allowances
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Orissa legislators Monday demanded a ten-fold hike in allowances keeping in view of the "soaring cost" of living and implementation of Sixth Pay Commission's recommendations for the state employees. Legislators currently get Rs.5,000 in allowances.
"Our demand is reasonable. The allowances of the legislators' allowances should be hiked substantially as the cost (of living) has gone up manifold in recent days," says Pradip Maharathi, a legislator of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
SP suspends legislator for anti-party activities
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday suspended its legislator Rampal Yadav for allegedly working against the party interests.
Announcing the suspension,...
AAP fields Lal Bahadur Shastri’s grandson in Delhi
New Delhi : The Aam Aadmi Party Wednesday announced its third list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls, fielding former Indian prime...
Poll results to inspire Congress in Andhra Pradesh
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh is jubilant over the party's victory in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram and hopes that the results would inspire it to retain power in the state that goes to polls in March-April next year.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, state party president D. Srinivas and other top leaders met at Gandhi Bhavan, the party headquarters, to discuss the results of elections in five states.
Miffed with ruling alliance, ex-PDP MP Tariq Karra joins Congress
New Delhi, (IANS): Five months after he quit Jammu and Kashmir's ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), Tariq Hameed Karra on Saturday joined the Congress....
Good sense has prevailed on government: CPI leader
By IANS,
New Delhi : Communist Party of India leader D. Raja said Monday that the impasse in parliament over the modalities of discussing the price rise had ended as good sense had prevailed on the government on the seriousness of the issue.
"Good sense has prevailed on the government. It admits that price rise is an issue of major concern not only to political parties but is agitating people as well," Raja told IANS.
"The opposition parties are also reasonable," he said.
Chiranjeevi loses from Palacole, wins Tirupati
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Telugu superstar and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president K. Chiranjeevi lost the assembly elections from one constituency but was elected from the other.
Chiranjeevi, whose party failed to make its mark in the elections, lost from Palacole in his native West Godavari district in coastal Andhra. He was defeated by B. Usha Rani of the Congress by over 5,000 votes.
Chiru, as he is popularly known among his fans, won Tirupati seat in Chittoor district in Rayalaseema region. He defeated B. Karunakar Reddy of the Congress by over 10,800 votes.
Kalyan’s party promises nominations for youth
By IANS,
Lucknow : Rajvir Singh, son of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, Thursday said their newly formed Jan Kranti Party (JKP) would not discriminate against any religion while distributing tickets and would nominate youths as candidates.
Rajvir, who at the time of launching the party had categorically said his party would follow the Hindutva ideology, told reporters here, "In terms of ticket distribution, our party will not practice discrimination against any religion."
Khattar stakes claim for first BJP government in Haryana
Chandigarh : The BJP Tuesday staked its claim to form the next government in Haryana.
A letter from the party was submitted to Haryana Governor...
Attacks on north Indians in Mumbai a dangerous trend: Amar Singh
By IANS,
Bhopal : Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh Tuesday termed as a dangerous trend the recent attacks on north Indians in Mumbai by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers.
Talking to reporters, Singh said that what was happening in Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra at the instance of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS was even more dangerous than the communal divide.
Thackeray was Tuesday arrested in Mumbai for inciting the attacks.
BJP says Mahasweta sought ticket for daughter, writer denies it
Kolkata : BJP's West Bengal unit president Rahul Sinha Monday claimed eminent author Mahasweta Devi had approached him after the Trinamool Congress refused to...
‘अत्याचारी’ पुलिस के कारण बिजनौर के पेदा गांव से मुसलमानों का पलायन
आस मुहम्मद कैफ़, TwoCircles.net
बिजनौर : यूपी के बिजनौर ज़िले का पेदा गांव फिर से ख़बरों में है. यहां के मुसलमानों ने पुलिसिया अत्याचार की वजह...
Three graft cases filed against Yeddyurappa
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Lokayukta police has filed three graft cases against former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for allegedly freeing from government control prime land...
And now, the great Indian election tour
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : A British public relations firm is offering to fly out Britons to India for an experience of the world's largest - and most colourful - electoral exercise.
Saffron Chase, a London-based agency, has had queries from some 40 people - keen to experience the sights and sounds of an Indian general election - since making an impromptu offer during a pre-poll briefing last week.
India, US to deepen counter-terrorism collaboration
Washington: India and the US have agreed to deepen their already close collaboration on counter-terrorism, particularly the threat posed by Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba...
Spare the universities, please!
By Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam,
Over the last few months it has become quite evident that the NDA government at the Centre is hostile to...
Sweet budget being prepared: BJP
New Delhi : Even as the government said "bitter medicine" is needed for reviving the economy, the BJP Wednesday said the budget would be...
Congress has admitted 1984 riots guilt: Akali Dal
By IANS,
Chandigarh : The Congress move to drop Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar as its Lok Sabha poll candidates over their alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots Thursday drew sharp reactions from leaders in Punjab, the only Sikh majority state in India.
Ruling Akali Dal president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the "much belated cancellation of tickets of butchers of thousands of Sikhs was direct acceptance of guilt by (the) Congress of their active role in organising the riots".
33rd day of lockdown paralyzes life in Kashmir
Srinagar : Authorities continued curfew and restrictions in Kashmir Valley on Wednesday for the 33rd consecutive day as separatists did not relent on shutdown...
I’m considering BJP’s privilege notice: Speaker
By IANS,
New Delhi : Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said Tuesday that she has received the privilege notice by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Victory celebrations by Congress in Mizoram, MNF routed
By IANS,
Aizawl : Victory celebrations by the Congress erupted in Mizoram Monday, with the opposition party all set to form the next government and the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) literally routed as votes cast to elect the 40-member state legislature were counted.
According to latest trends and results available, the Congress won 18 seats and was leading in four seats, while the MNF and the other major regional conglomeration United Democratic Alliance (UDA) failed to make an impact in the vote held Tuesday.
Mayawati releases book on birthday, targets Congress
By IANS,
Lucknow : On her 54th birthday Friday, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) boss and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati released the fifth volume of her book detailing her political struggles. In it, Mayawati has claimed she would have become prime minister but for the "ganging up by Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party".
The BSP chief released the book, titled "Mere Sangharshmay Jeevan Evam BSP Movement ka Safarnam", at her official residence here.
Prepare Lokpal legislation, CPI-M says
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday urged the government to ready a draft of the Lokpal legislation to enable the party to give its views.
Would be a usual business to present budget: Mani
Thiruvananthapuram : Dismissing threats from Left opposition and BJP, Kerala Finance Minister K.M. Mani said on Wednesday that it would be a usual business...
No dispute with Nitish Kumar over candidates: Sharad Yadav
Patna : There is no dispute with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, said JD-U chief...
Amit Shah slams Mamata over Burdwan blast, Trinamool says flop show
Burdwan : Lashing out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Saradha chit fund scam and the Burdwan blast, BJP president Amit Shah Tuesday called for uprooting the Trinamool Congress for jeopardising national security for the sake of vote bank.
Masjid Khaja in Hyderabad was 6th mosque in state demolished since 2014, says Muslim...
Masjid Khaja Mahmood in Hyderabad was demolished amid heavy police presence. After protests by residents and Muslim leaders, the the mosque will be constructed...
Election commissioners begin two-day Bihar visit
By IANS,
Patna : A three-member Election Commission team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami, Friday began a two-day visit of Bihar to assess poll preparedness in the state.
The team that also comprises Election Commissioners Navin Chawla and S.Y. Quraishi will meet senior bureaucrats and leaders of major political parties to gauge whether the state is ready for the elections that begin next month.
Election results send different messages to parties
By IANS,
New Delhi : The by-election results Wednesday spread across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa have different messages for political parties preparing for the 2009 general elections, with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) the clear winner and the Congress yet to get its act together.
If there is one party that can clearly bask in satisfaction, it is Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's BSP that has swept all five by-elections - two Lok Sabha and three assembly - in the state.
Six lakh unemployed youth registered in Kashmir: Government
By IANS,
Jammu : There are about six lakh unemployed youth registered in Jammu and Kashmir, the state assembly was told Thursday.
Banana, balloon, kite, letterbox catch voters eye, but few takers
By IANS,
New Delhi : Black and white poll symbols like candle, banana, balloon, kite, letter box, cupboard, cylinder, torch and cricketer were up for grabs at the polling booths here, but found few takers.
Standing in queue waiting to vote, people giggled over these polls symbols.
"I will vote for kite, because kite flying has been my passion since childhood," Anil Sharma said jokingly to his friends at a polling booth in west Delhi.
Sharma's friend Vikas Kaushal replied: "Your mind's bulb is fused, I guess you should vote for torch."
Medical test paper leak: SC order on June 15
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will pronounce on June 15 its order on a batch of petitions seeking re-conduct of All India Pre Medical...
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."
We will prove Godse’s connection with RSS in court: Congress
New Delhi : The Congress on Tuesday asserted that it will prove in court the connection Mahatma Gandhi's assassin had with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak...
No problems with more offshore casinos in Goa: Congress
By IANS,
Panaji : The Congress' Goa unit does not have a problem in opening up the state's coast to several more offshore casinos, as long as the vessels are berthed in the Arabian Sea, a party spokesperson Thursday said.
Addressing a press conference, party spokesman Vishnu Wagh said that the Congress was for the offshore casino industry, as long as the common man was not affected.
Previous government in Himachal blamed for financial mess
Shimla : Facing criticism from the main opposition BJP, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh Thursday said it was ensuring equal and balanced development...
I was misquoted, Modi tells panel
By IANS
Ahmedabad : Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday evening sent his reply to the Election Commission's notice, saying he was misquoted in media reports of his speech allegedly justifying an extra-judicial killing, even as he demanded a notice against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters here that the party has replied to the poll panel.
प्रेम कुमार हैं बीजेपी के सीएम पद के उम्मीदवार!!
अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
पटना: बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव में बीजेपी ने भले ही चुनावी अभियान की डोर पीएम मोदी ने ही संभाल रखी हो. भले...
Goa leader’s ‘LPG cylinders theory’ on Congress communalism
Panaji: Even as the debate between communalism and secularism gathers steam ahead of the general election, a Catholic legislator in Goa Friday showed his...
Modi copying Obama, says Amarinder
Chandigarh : Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "trying to copy" US President Barack Obama in most things that he does, Congress deputy leader in...
Rahul blames Mayawati for Amethi’s darkness, keeps mum on Joshi
By IANS,
Lucknow : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Friday held Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati responsible for the poor power supply in his parliamentary constituency of Amethi, while remaining silent over remarks against the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo that have landed his party's state chief in jail on charges of denigrating Dalits.
Attempted attack on Kejriwal in Lucknow
By IANS,
Lucknow : An unindentified man tried to attack Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal as he arrived at the venue of an event here Tuesday, witnesses said.
Protests continue in Bengal against Tapas Paul
Kolkata : West Bengal continued to be rocked by protests over Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul's hate speech, as students and youth wings of...
Shoe hurled at Rahul Gandhi
Lucknow : A protestor hurled a shoe at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi during his road show in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh on...
Tharoor, his Twitter – and the humourless Indian political discourse
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
In the realm of bogus controversies what India's junior Foreign Minister Shashi Tharoor is in the midst of is laughably unserious. Someone needs to flush the sanctimony that clogs India's political discourse.
PM to discuss Kashmir situation with state leaders
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will review the violence-hit situation in Kashmir Valley and the ways to restore normalcy there when he meets the leaders of political parties of Jammu and Kashmir here Tuesday, official sources said.
The meeting will be held at the residence of Manmohan Singh - 7, Race Course Road - at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
"The meeting will be a follow-up of the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on July 11," a state government official told IANS.
Telangana issue again rocks Rajya Sabha
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Telangana issue briefly rocked the Rajya Sabha Thursday with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members objecting to Home Minister P. Chidambaram making a statement on the creation of a separate state without taking the house into confidence.
BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu raised the issue as soon as the house assembled saying, "The home minister was in the house yesterday (Wednesday) and he should have taken the house into confidence instead he made a statement outside."
Congress emerging as single largest party in Rajasthan
By IANS,
Jaipur : The Congress is emerging as the single largest party in Rajasthan bagging 96 seats in the 200-member state assembly as counting of votes polled Dec 4 in the elections was in progress Monday.
Of the 198 seats filled so far, the Congress had won 96, and the BJP 77 while others had scraped 20.
The Congress candidates declared elected included former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, leader of opposition Hemaram Chaudhary, Brijendra Ola, son of former union minister Sis Ram Ola, and Bollywood actor and former state minister Bina Kak, among others.
India has got a ‘weak PM’ in Modi: AAP
New Delhi : Launching a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, the AAP on Tuesday said the nation had got "a weak" Prime Minister...
Parliament skips knotty bills for the week as sesion resumes
By IANS,
New Delhi: As parliament resumed its normal functioning Monday after a week of disruptions, the government played safe by not listing the controversial civil nuclear liability bill and the women's reservation bill for discussion this week.
Both bills are a litmus test for the government as the women's reservation bill has some of its own allies against the measure while the nuclear liability bill is being resisted by the major opposition parties.
Munde asked for water before falling unconsciousness
New Delhi : Union Minister and senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde asked for water and to be rushed to the hospital before he fell...
Don’t celebrate my birthday, says Modi
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday appealed to people that his birthday should not be celebrated, and instead they should help the...
Kejriwal does yoga during naturopathy treatment
Bengaluru : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, undergoing naturopathy treatment at a private institute here, is also practising yogic kriya and pranayama as part...
Chandigarh seat: Two heroines and a ‘villain’
By Jaideep Sarin,
Chandigarh : Two dimpled beauties from Bollywood will be taking on the controversial and four-time Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal here in...
BJP using CBI as a pawn to settle scores: Trinamool
Kolkata : Facing the heat over the alleged involvement of its leaders in the Saradha scam, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Wednesday accused the...
Mehbooba’s fate to be decided as vote count begins in Kashmir
Srinagar : Counting of votes began on Saturday morning for south Kashmir's Anantnag assembly constituency where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is one of the...
CPI-M conclave to work out plan to strengthen party
By Mohammed Shafeeq,
Visakhapatnam : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will chalk out a strategy to rebuild and strengthen the party besides electing a...
Where is environment in Bengal poll campaign, ask green activists
By Sabyasachi Roy, IANS,
Come clear on funding scam: Javadekar to AAP
New Delhi : Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Tuesday the AAP needed to come clear as to why it accepted funds from "dubious...
Haji Hussain Ansari becomes first Muslim minister of Jharkhand
By Manzar Bilal,TwoCircles.net,
Ranchi: Haji Hussain Ansari, chairman of Jharkhand Haj Committee and an experienced politician, has been inducted in the cabinet of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition government of Jharkhand. Ansari is the first Muslim to become minister in the state after it was constituted in 1995.
Advani to skip PM’s dinner
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday decided not to attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a farewell for Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, party sources said.
"He is not going for the dinner tonight," said a close aide of Advani, not wishing to be identified.
The top leadership of the Left parties including Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Praksh Karat and poliburo member Sitaram Yechury and Forward Bloc national secretary G. Devarajan were not attending the dinner either.
The India that Narendra Modi inherits
By Amit Kapoor,
India is looking forward to the tenure of its 14th Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, with the expectation that he would take the country out of the muddle and disorder that is driven by deeply ingrained thoughts and beliefs. We, as Indians would have to fight battles of the mind to overcome the challenges we face.
Maharashtra ‘capital of paid news’, says EC Brahma
Mumbai : Election Commissioner H.S. Brahma Friday termed Maharashtra the "capital of paid news", and urged the media to put an end to this...
Varun Gandhi meets RSS leaders
By IANS,
Lucknow : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi, who courted controversy with his alleged hate speeches during the run-up to the recent Lok Sabha elections, Wednesday held a closed-door meeting here with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders, party sources said.
The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the demand by a section of the party to make him the BJP's Uttar Pradesh president.
CPI-M wants speaker to quit, Chatterjee unwilling
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), determined to oust Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government over the India-US nuclear deal, is in a spot, thanks to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's refusal to quit his post, party sources say.
Although the CPI-M has hinted amply that Chatterjee should quit the speaker's post after the Left withdrew its legislative support to the Congress-led government, Chatterjee is no mood to give up the post, the sources said.
However, the CPI-M has been maintaining that the decision was left to Chatterjee himself.
Centre wants social security for more northeast people
Guwahati : The central government wants social security schemes like EPF and ESIC to cover more and more people in the northeastern region,...
Over dozen arrested as opposition tries to enforce Kerala shutdown
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Over a dozen members of the state's opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) led by the Congress were arrested Thursday as the statewide shutdown to demand the prosecution of state CPI-M general secretary Pinarayi Vijayan turned violent.
The opposition had called the shutdown to protest the state government's decision against prosecution of Vijayan. The Central Bureau of Investigation had sought permission to prosecute the leader of Kerala's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in a corruption case.
UP sets up judicial commission to probe Varanasi stampede
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday constituted a one-man judicial commission of Allahabad High Court Justice Rajmani Chauhan (retd) to probe the...
Rajapakse’s son meets Rahul Gandhi
By M.R. Narayan Swamy
New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's elder son Namal has returned home after a brief visit to India during which he had a meeting with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
Rajapakse, heading a delegation of his NGO Tharunyata Hetak (Future for Youth), spent over 30 minutes with Gandhi on the evening of Aug 14, sources who interacted with the Sri Lankan youth told IANS.
"Meeting Rahul Gandhi was the main attraction of his visit," said one source. "It was one of the main events. He wanted to meet a young leader of India and so he met Gandhi.
Security tightened near Ajit Singh’s bungalow
New Delhi : Delhi Police Tuesday tightened security in central Delhi in view of expected protests over order to RLD leader Ajit Singh to...
Jaswant Singh still in coma
New Delhi : Former union minister and former Bharatiya Janta Party leader Jaswant Singh is still in coma and on ventilator support on the...
Tamil Muslim group urges DMK to vote against government
By IANS,
Chennai : A prominent Tamil Muslim group, which supports the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, has urged it to vote against the government during the confidence motion in parliament July 22. The DMK is a part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the centre.
Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) president M.H. Jawahirullah in his letter Thursday to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi asked him to direct the DMK Lok Sabha members to support the Left parties during the confidence motion, in opposition to the government.
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