J&K: Opposition disrupts assembly proceeding for second consecutive day
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : It was free for all in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for third consecutive days with opposition and ruling coalition members trading charges against each other.
The Assembly was adjourned for the day after Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party MLAs created ruckus over the suspension of one their colleague and National Conference took umbrage to the allegations of Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Karra that party was adopting double standards.
J&K: BJP leader Prof. Hari Om retires from active politics
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : The sudden announcement of resignation from active politics by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) vice president and spokesman Prof Hari Om has taken everybody by surprise while the ruling Congress has heaved a sigh of relief with this decision of the BJP's hardcore loyalist and fiery writer.
Indo-US Nuke Deal In Line of Fire
By Syed Ali Mujtaba, TwoCircles.net
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a traitor who has betrayed the nation by continuous bluffing on the Indo-US nuclear deal. Had an American President done that he would have been removed, if it were in China they would have settled it with one bullet in his head." These comments are made by the NDA convener and opposition leader George Fernandes.
Fernandes comments have sparked off a fierce debate in the country, whether Indo-US nuclear deal is in India's interest or it undermines the national sovereignty.
Government draws flak over Indian envoy’s remark; parliament in foment
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government was mired in deeper trouble Tuesday over the contentious Indo-US nuclear deal when angry MPs took it to task over the reported remarks of its envoy in Washington who had questioned their wisdom in rejecting what he termed an "unprecedented" agreement.
The resultant parliamentary furore gave communists and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party MPs yet another handle to attack the government which is fighting not only to save the painstakingly negotiated deal but also the very survival of its coalition.
Parliament stalled over Ronen Sen remarks; apology doesn’t satisfy MPs
By IANS
New Delhi : India's envoy in Washington Ronen Sen apologised unconditionally and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee intervened on his behalf Tuesday but agitated MPs stalled proceedings in both houses of parliament demanding the envoy's recall for his remarks on the India-US civil nuclear deal.
On its part, the ruling Congress indicated it was committed to the nuclear deal while party sources said they were prepared to face an "inevitable" withdrawal of support from Left allies.
Two Kerala Ministers in trouble
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Two Kerala ministers facing corruption and criminal charges appear to be in trouble, with the state's Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan looking into the cases.
Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla is facing corruption charges regarding transfer of a plot of land, while Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi's name has cropped up in a rape and murder case.
We don’t want midterm polls: Biman Bose
By IANS
Kolkata : West Bengal Left Front chairman and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Biman Bose Tuesday discounted the possibility of a midterm general election, saying his party had only sought a discussion on the Indo-US nuclear deal in the parliament.
Abdul Bari Siddiqui re-elected RJD’s Bihar chief
By TwoCirclesnet staff reporter
Patna: Abdul Bari Siddiqui was elected as sate president of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) third time without any contest. It is announced by Guldanand Singh, returning officer of RJD organizational election, in the meeting of RJD state council.
Speaker Chatterjee’s ‘soft’ corner for children
By IANS
New Delhi : Nobody knew that Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, famous for ticking off noisy MPs, has a soft corner for children. That is why his decision to open a children's corner in the parliament library building came as a surprise to many.
On Tuesday, away from the confusion and confabulations over a looming political crisis, Chatterjee inaugurated a corner in the library building complete with comics, short story books, children's fiction and video games.
Government to go ahead with nuclear deal despite Left threats
By IANS
New Delhi : India's ruling Congress Tuesday indicated that it was committed to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal while party sources said they were prepared to face an "inevitable" withdrawal of support from Left allies.
Sen apologises, says “headless chicken” reference was to media
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : India's ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen Tuesday apologised for remarks alluding to critics of the India-US civil nuclear deal as "headless chicken", but said the "tactless" reference was to "some of my media friends" and not parliamentarians.
In a message to Rediff India Abroad, which had carried an interview with him that caused an uproar in the Indian parliament Tuesday, Sen said he "had an off-the-record conversation with the correspondent giving some assessments" on the deal.
Recall Indian ambassador: Karat
By IANS
Hyderabad : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday demanded that Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen be recalled for his reported remarks about critics of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
CPI-M general secretary Pakash Karat told newsmen here that if the United Progressive Alliance government at New Delhi has any self-respect it should immediately recall the ambassador.
Central government refuses to rename Belgaum as Belagavi
By IANS
Bangalore : The central government has said no to Karnataka's proposal to rename Belgaum as Belagavi, apparently bowing to opposition from neighbouring Maharashtra.
Maharashtra still stakes claim to Belgaum city and part of Belgaum district as a large number of people there speak Marathi.
Recently, Karnataka sought the centre's approval to change the spelling of 12 places in the state, including Bangalore, to conform to the way the names are pronounced in Kannada, the language of the state.
Parliament gets contradictory figures on missing children
By IANS
New Delhi : Contradictory figures were presented in parliament Tuesday on the number of missing children in India, with one statement putting this at 3,916 and another saying the figure for the national capital territory (NCT) of Delhi alone was 7,028 during 2006.
The first figure was contained in a written reply by Minister of State for Home Manikrao Gavit and was based on statistics complied by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Khundroo not an issue to score political points: Azad
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Describing Khundroo ammunition depot incident as a human tragedy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today warned against drawing political mileage out of it.
The chief minister called for invoking the spirit of post-2005 earthquake when government, opposition and people at large joined hands to meet the calamity.
Ruckus in J&K assembly as JKNPP MLA, RDD minister level counter allegations
Speaker suspends Harsh Dev for whole session
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party MLA and former minister Harsh Dev Singh was today suspended by the Speaker Legislative Assembly Tara Chand for alleged mis-behaviour with Minister for Rural Development and Cong MLA Reasi Jugal Kishore Sharma here.
The Panthers Party MLAs Balwant Singh Mankotia, Faqir Nath and Yashpal Kundal boycotted the proceedings of the house in protest against the decision of the Speaker.
J&K State Assembly adjourned amid uproar, commotion
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was adjourned for three hours following noisy scenes over the issue of discussion on Khundru Army depot blasts, ST status to Paharis and Talwara migrants.
The House, which met here today, for the second day witnessed noisy scene and uproar by the opposition members forcing the speaker Tara Chand to adjourn the House.
Rameshwar Thakur sworn in as Karnataka governor
By IANS
Bangalore : Rameshwar Thakur was Tuesday sworn in as the 16th governor of Karnataka at a simple ceremony held in the glasshouse of the Raj Bhavan here.
The oath of office was administered by Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph.
The 80-year-old Thakur, who was Orissa governor till he was shifted to Karnataka, took the oath in English.
Ronen Sen remarks stall parliament; apology doesn’t satisfy MPs
By IANS
New Delhi : An unqualified apology by India's envoy to the US Ronen Sen and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's intervention on his behalf Tuesday failed to cut any ice with agitated MPs, who stalled proceedings in both houses of parliament demanding the envoy's recall.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day and the Rajya Sabha, which met briefly at 2 p.m. after an adjournment in the pre-lunch session, was again adjourned for two hours.
Crisis on, but Gandhi leaves for Johannesburg
By IANS
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi flew Tuesday for South Africa for four days even as a political crisis sparked by the Left's objections to the Indo-US nuclear deal intensified.
Gandhi, invited by South Africa's Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka during her trip to India last year, is also scheduled to visit Cape Town and Pretoria, where she would be holding talks with President Thabo Mbeki.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson is expected to call on former South African president Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg.
Vajpayee admitted to hospital
By IANS
New Delhi : Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 83, was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here Tuesday after complaining of giddiness.
Doctors said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader's condition was stable.
"Vajpayeeji complained of giddiness and was feeling drowsy. He was admitted to our institute in the afternoon. He has been referred to the cardio thoracic and neuroscience centre," said Shakti Gupta, professor in charge of media.
Strike by tribals affects life in Jharkhand
By IANS
Ranchi : Shops, schools and arterial roads were closed in many parts of Jharkhand Tuesday as the daylong strike called to protest the delimitation panel's recommendation to reduce the number of reserved seats for tribals in the assembly and Lok Sabha came into effect.
Roads were deserted, ATMs closed and attendance thin in most government offices as the dawn to dusk strike called by tribal organisations against the Delimitation Commission of India's (DCI) recommendation began.
India ‘well poised’ on nuclear deal: Sibal
By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian government is "well poised" on the civil nuclear deal with the US and it will not face any obstacles in its implementation, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said Tuesday.
"The government is well poised and the deal would get through," Sibal told reporters on the sidelines of a marketing summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.
Lok Sabha adjourned twice over Indian envoy’s comments
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice Tuesday after protests against Indian envoy Ronen Sen's reported remarks in the US dubbing critics of the India-US nuclear deal as "headless chicken".
As soon as the house met, opposition and Left MPs were on their feet denouncing Sen's reported statement posted on a US-based news website.
They were not satisfied with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement that Sen's comments were "totally unwarranted and unacceptable".
Lok Sabha adjourned over Indian envoy’s comments
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned for 15 minutes Tuesday following protests against Indian envoy Ronen Sen's reported remarks in the US dubbing critics of the Indo-US nuclear deal as "headless chicken".
As soon as the house met, opposition and Left MPs were on their feet denouncing Sen's reported statement published in a US-based news website.
They were not satisfied even with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's explanation that Sen's comments were "totally unwarranted and unacceptable".
Abe address to parliament comes 7 years after Putin
By IANS
New Delhi : It will be after seven years that a foreign head of state or government will address the Indian parliament when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addresses a joint session of both houses Wednesday - a unique gesture highlighting growing ties between the two countries.
In a way, India is returning the Japanese gesture of facilitating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address the Diet, the Japanese parliament, during his visit to Tokyo last year.
Abe comes here Tuesday on a three-day visit.
Congress’ Mega TV begins trial transmission
By IANS
Chennai : Mega TV, a Tamil television channel set up by Congress leader K.V. Thangabalu, began its trial transmission Monday on the birth anniversary of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will officially inaugurate the channel in a few weeks, a press note from the management said here.
The 24-hour channel will telecast news and entertainment programmes. It is among the four new channels that are under launch in Tamil Nadu this month.
Uma Bharti raises tempo to ‘save’ Ram Setu
By IANS
Chennai : Bharatiya Jan Shakti party leader Uma Bharti Monday dared the Tamil Nadu government to arrest her "on any charge they deem fit" for participating in a movement to save the mythological Ram Setu (bridge) from being "destroyed" to make way for a proposed canal between India and Sri Lanka.
"I am in Chennai today and will undertake a trip to Rameshwaram tomorrow (Tuesday). If the Tamil Nadu government thinks it has a case against me, let them go ahead and arrest me on any charges they deem fit," Bharti said during an interaction with journalists here.
Communists harden stand on n-deal, ready for poll
By IANS
New Delhi : Indian communists Monday warned the government not to proceed with further discussions over the contentious Indo-US nuclear deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with one leader threatening to force a snap poll if this was not heeded.
Apex court reserves ruling on Goa MLAs’ plea
By IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Monday reserved its verdict on the plea of two Goa legislators challenging their temporary disqualification by the state assembly speaker, allegedly to save the Congress-led coalition government.
A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from the counsel of the two disqualified Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislators Pandurang Dhavilkar and his brother Ramkishan Dhavilkar as well those of counsel for Speaker Pratapsinh Rane and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
‘N-deal will not be implemented before December 2008’
By IANS
New Delhi : With the Left parties hardening their stand against the civilian nuclear deal, a senior minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government tried to allay their concerns by saying the deal will not be operationalised before December 2008.
"A meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled on September 27 and on the sidelines of this meeting, India specific safeguards might be taken up," said Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal.
Nuclear energy of vital national interest: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Emphasising the importance of nuclear energy to India's long-term economic development, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday urged all political parties to "appreciate the vital national interest" in pursuing a sound strategy to achieve energy security for the nation.
Left says stop further steps on nuclear deal – now
By IANS
New Delhi : India's communist parties hardened their stand on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal Monday saying the government should put an immediate end to any further negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the four Left parties, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja said the government "should not proceed further with the agreement" in view of the opposition in parliament to the deal.
Karunanidhi woos Congress, visits party’s state headquarters
By IANS
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Monday made a serious attempt to downplay the differences between his DMK party and its main ally Congress that are threatening to bring down the 14-month-old government.
"Let us take a pledge to the effect that we will continue to walk along the same path and not change our ways," Karunanidhi said, during his maiden visit to Satyamurthi Bhavan, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee headquarters, to unveil a portrait of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 63rd birth anniversary Monday.
PM to intervene in Kerala-Tamil Nadu railway row: Lalu
By IANS
New Delhi : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Monday bowed to angry protests by Kerala MPs against bifurcation of the state's Palakkad railway division to create a new one for neighbouring Tamil Nadu by announcing that such a move would take place only after discussions with the state.
Responding to a calling attention motion moved by Kerala MPs, the railway minister said he would ask Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call a meeting between Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and his Tamil Nadu counterpart M. Karunanidhi to find an amicable solution.
Government under fire from NDA, Left over Quattrocchi
By IANS
New Delhi : After the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Left and the NDA launched another pincer attack on the government Monday when they alleged in parliament that "deliberate inaction" had led to Bofors payoff accused Ottavio Quattrocchi being released from Argentina.
`I will be CM’ship candidate for upcoming elections’ : Farooq Abdullah
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : Singing the song of recently released Bollywood Movie `Chak De , National Conference chief patron Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that he would be the party's chief ministership candidate for the upcoming assembly elections.
Clearing many doubts the flamboyant NC leader told media persons, on the sidelines of photo exhibition organised by Jammu based photojournalists on eve of world photography Day, that he is certainly going to contest the next assembly elections in the state as the party candidate for chief ministership post.
Nation observes Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary
By IANS
New Delhi : President Pratibha Patil Monday led the nation in paying homage to late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 63rd birth anniversary at a function also attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The day started with the customary all religion prayers at his memorial Vir Bhumi, near Rajghat.
The late prime minister's family - wife Sonia and children Rahul and Priyanka - as well as cabinet ministers were there to pay tribute.
No possibility of interim election: Basu
By IANS
Kolkata : Left Front patriarch Jyoti Basu Monday ruled out the possibility of an interim election as a fallout of the discord with the Manmohan Singh government over the Indo-US nuclear agreement.
"There is no possibility of an interim election. We would discuss the issue in parliament before the Lok Sabha speaker under a provision which does not entail voting," Basu said after attending a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretariat meeting here.
Andhra’s Raj Bhavan readies for Tiwari
By IANS
Hyderabad : Former Uttarakhand chief minister N.D. Tiwari will take charge as Andhra Pradesh governor in a couple of days, official sources said here.
Tiwari was Sunday named governor of the Congress-ruled state. Sources at the Raj Bhavan, the governor's official residence, said Tiwari would assume office in a day or two.
The state has been without a full-time governor for 19 months since Sushil Kumar Shinde resigned in January 2006 to become the central power minister.
India needs new paradigm on energy security: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : With the India-US civilian nuclear deal coming under a shadow, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday emphasised that the country needed a new paradigm on energy security and urged all political parities to recognise this vital aspect.
"I urge all political parties to appreciate the vital national interest of pursuing a sound energy security strategy," the prime minister said while laying the foundation stone for the Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhavan in south Delhi.
Text of PM’s speech on energy security
By IANS
New Delhi : Following is the text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech at an event here to lay the foundation stone for a new building in the memory of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 63rd birth anniversary.
"Respected chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance Smt. Sonia Gandhiji, my colleagues Shri Murli Deora, Shri Dinsha Patel, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Tejinder Khanna, Chief Minister of Delhi Smt Shiela Dikshit.
NDA, UNPA want parliamentary panel to assess N-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) Monday rejected the government's offer of an experts' group to study the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement and instead suggested a joint parliamentary panel to assess the pact.
The two opposition groupings issued separate statements asking for a joint panel of the two houses of parliament to go into the whole deal and evaluate the deal's advantages and damages.
UPA government committed to developing nuclear energy: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Emphasising the critical importance of energy security as India's economy spirals, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said his government was committed to the development of nuclear energy.
"From a long-term perspective, nuclear energy and solar energy can play an important role in addressing our energy security needs. Our government is committed to the development of nuclear energy," the prime minister said while inaugurating the Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhavan in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj.
BJP asks cadre to prepare for snap polls
New Delhi/Bangalore, Aug 19 (IANS) Sensing an opportunity in the impasse between the government and its Left supporters over the India-US civil nuclear deal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday asked its workers to prepare for snap polls.
"The top BJP leadership met and deliberated on the current political situation. It came to the conclusion that mid-term polls are inevitable and round the corner," party vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in New Delhi.
India heading for mid-term polls: BJP
New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) The country is heading for mid-term polls, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) predicted Sunday, as it smelt an opportunity in the political impasse between the government and its Left supporters over the India-US nuclear deal.
"The top BJP leadership met and deliberated on the current political situation. It came to the conclusion that mid-term polls are inevitable and round the corner," party vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
Chhattisgarh’s new power unit stops, Congress cries foul
Raipur, Aug 19 (IANS) A mega power plant inaugurated in Chhattisgarh and touted as a major step to make the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state power-cut free, stopped functioning within three hours of activation.
The opposition Congress alleges the plant was opened in haste in order to divert attention from the dissidence plaguing the BJP.
BJP president Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 250-MW plant at Korba, 220 km from here on Friday. Chief Minister Raman Singh said the plant would help Chhattisgarh become self-sufficient in power supply.
Chhattisgarh’s new power unit stops, Congress cries foul
Raipur, Aug 19 (IANS) A mega power plant inaugurated in Chhattisgarh and touted as a major step to make the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state power-cut free, stopped functioning within three hours of activation.
The opposition Congress alleges the plant was opened in haste in order to divert attention from the dissidence plaguing the BJP.
BJP president Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 250-MW plant at Korba, 220 km from here on Friday. Chief Minister Raman Singh said the plant would help Chhattisgarh become self-sufficient in power supply.
Efforts on to resolve India’s political crisis
New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Crisis managers were at work Sunday to find a way to resolve the political deadlock over the India-US nuclear deal as the Left parties appeared ready to give Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government time to work out a mechanism to address their concerns.
Senior Left leader Sitaram Yechury Sunday met Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee who, along with senior leaders A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel, is trying to hammer out a compromise formula.
Left willing to give time as Congress discusses options
New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) The Left parties Sunday appeared to be prepared to give the government time to work out a mechanism to address their concerns over the contentious Indo-US civil nuclear deal even as senior Congress leaders went into a huddle to thrash out ways out of the present political crisis.
Senior Left leader Sitaram Yechury Sunday met Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee who, along with senior leaders, A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel, are trying to hammer out a compromise formula.
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.
Madhya Pradesh CM faces income tax probe
By IANS
Bhopal : The income tax department is set to examine the opposition charge that there was corruption in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's purchase of four trucks in the name of his wife. The trucks were leased out to a company.
"We have received complaints against the chief minister and will examine the facts," Chief Income Tax Commissioner M.K. Moghe said at an interaction at the Central Press Club here Saturday evening.
Government in a bind after Communist hard talk on N-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : The Congress-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was Saturday faced with its worst political crisis in three years after communist leaders warned it of "serious consequences" if it went ahead in implementing the civil nuclear agreement with the United States.
The Left parties, however, stopped short of withdrawing support to the ruling coalition, and kept open some elbow-room for a compromise by putting the onus on the government to take a final decision on the nuclear deal after taking their core concerns and objections into account.
Government on the edge after communist warning
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was Saturday faced with the worst political crisis in three years after communist leader Prakash Karat warned there would be "serious consequences" for the Congress-led government and the country if it went ahead with the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement.
N-deal: Government mulling strategy to placate Left
By IANS
New Delhi : The government Saturday began informal consultations to persuade the Left parties to tone down their opposition to the India-US civil nuclear deal, minutes after the Left allies warned it of "serious consequences" if it went ahead with the next steps to operationalise the deal.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and discussed with him the finer details of the 123 civil nuclear cooperation bilateral pact to buffer the government against critics of the deal.
Congress in Andhra reviews preparedness for mid-term polls
By IANS
Hyderabad : The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh Saturday reviewed the party's preparedness to face the eventuality of mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha in the wake of the Left's tough posture over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held a joint meeting to discuss the issue here.
The Congress central leadership has reportedly sounded the state unit about the developments at the central government against the backdrop of the Left parties stance on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
Karat warns of ‘serious consequences’ over Indo-US nuke deal
By IANS
New Delhi : Communist leader Prakash Karat Saturday warned there would be "serious consequences" for the Congress-led government and the country if it went ahead with the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement.
Addressing journalists after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary said he and his colleague Sitaram Yechury had conveyed to them the Left's strong reservations over the nuclear deal.
Kashmir Pandits launch separate political party in J&K
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu: Displaced Kashmiri Pandits today announced launch of new political party in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Named as Jammu and Kashmir National Democratic Front, the political party has specially been launched to highlight the long pending demands of Kashmiri Pandit community on the political arena, working president of the party A K Dewani said in a press conference, here today.
Left adamant over India-US nuclear deal, come what may
By IANS
New Delhi : Left leaders Saturday held a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi while adamantly refusing to moderate their opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Left sources made it clear that Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat had decreed that the leftwing bloc led by his party would not accept the nuclear deal in the present form.
"We are firm," Karat told his colleagues in the CPI-M politburo, which ended a two-day meeting here.
Raman Singh’s detractors fail to get Rajnath’s attention
By IANS
Raipur : About a dozen Chhattisgarh legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who are detractors of Chief Minister Raman Singh failed to get the attention of party president Rajnath Singh during his two-day visit to the state that ended Saturday.
"Raman Singh was well aware that dissidents are making serious efforts to again complain against his style of functioning. That's why he was with Rajnath Singh each minute the party president spent in Chhattisgarh," a party source told IANS.
Clarify doubts, evaluate Hyde Act, Karat tells government
By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian government should clarify "all the doubts" regarding the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement and evaluate the Hyde Act, communist leader Prakash Karat has said.
In a signed editorial in "People's Democracy", the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Karat also said that the agreement "will bind India to the US in a manner that will seriously impair an independent foreign policy and our strategic autonomy".
Apex court detects poll panel’s constitutional error
By Rana Ajit, IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court says the Election Commission committed a constitutional error when it hiked the number of reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes in Uttarakhand from two to three in 2001 for reasons other than tribal population.
The Supreme Court, which detected the lapse, has warned the poll panel against "going beyond the mandate of the constitution".
BJP leaders wished me death: Manmohan Singh
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said he had the "courage of conviction" to do what he was doing but regretted the attitude of parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that even wished him death.
The prime minister made the stunning revelation in an interview published in India Today. The interview was however conducted over two months ago.
Nuclear deal continues to rock parliament, debate on Monday
By IANS
New Delhi : Political differences over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal continued to rock parliamentary proceedings Friday with ruling alliance MPs staging voluble protests leading to adjournments of proceedings over a senior opposition leader's virulent attack against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
In the din, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee rejected the opposition's demand for a debate on the nuclear deal under a rule that entails voting, suggesting that parliament had "no competence" to decide on operationalisation of an agreement with a foreign country.
Kamat uses old ruling to sermonise to Supreme Court
By Rana Ajit, IANS
New Delhi : Petitioners normally plead, pray or even argue. But rarely do they sermonise to the Supreme Court using its own rulings as Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has done in his application on the issue of the disqualification of two legislators.
Seeking dismissal of the petition by two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) legislators and a direction that they should approach the high court before approaching the apex court, Kamat has virtually ended up preaching to the country's top judges.
Relationship with UPA to continue: Karat
By IANS
New Delhi : Uncertainty over the stability of the Manmohan Singh government appeared to have ended Friday as Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat indicated that the Left would continue to support the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
As the CPI-M politburo began a two-day meeting to discuss the Left strategy in the wake of its objection to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Karat said: "The honeymoon may be over but the relationship can continue."
Relationship with UPA to continue: Karat
By IANS
New Delhi : Uncertainty over the stability of the Manmohan Singh government appeared to have ended Friday as Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat indicated that the Left would continue to support the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
As the CPI-M politburo began a two-day meeting to discuss the Left strategy in the wake of its objection to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Karat said: "The honeymoon may be over but the relationship can continue."
Relationship with UPA to continue: Karat
IANS
New Delhi : Uncertainty over the stability of the Manmohan Singh government appeared to have ended Friday as Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat indicated that the Left would continue to support the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
As the CPI-M politburo began a two-day meeting to discuss the Left strategy in the wake of its objection to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Karat said: "The honeymoon may be over but the relationship can continue."
Parliament adjourned after furore over Fernandes remark
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned Friday after the ruling coalition members protested against a reported remark by opposition leader George Fernandes derogatory of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Raising the issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said Fernandes was quoted as saying in an English daily that "if it were China, they would have settled it with one bullet in his (Manmohan Singh's) head" - over the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Congress gets a new party president in Goa
By IANS
Panaji : Goa's ruling Congress got a new party president after narrowly weathering a toppling bit that hit it a fortnight ago, marked by defections and counter-defections.
Ex-speaker of the Goa assembly and former Curtorim legislator Francisco Sardinha is the new man in the state Congress president's slot. He has been a lawmaker since 1980 but lost the June 2007 elections. Sardinha replaces Ponda legislator Ravi Naik.
Government faces right-left pincer on nuclear deal
By IANS
New Delhi : India's Communist parties Thursday differed on withdrawing support to the government over the India-US civil nuclear deal, but a right-left pincer seemed to be emerging with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh renegotiate the pact or quit.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) seemed to be softening its stance on withdrawing support even as the Communist Party of India (CPI) hardened its position.
BJP to PM: Renegotiate n-deal or quit
By IANS
New Delhi : The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday termed the Indo-US nuclear deal as humiliating for India and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to either renegotiate it or quit.
BJP vice president and former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha described the Hyde Act governing the 123 agreement between the two countries as a document of "humiliation" and warned that it was aimed at forcing New Delhi to cap, roll back and eventually eliminate its nuclear weapons programme.
India free to test, not bound by Hyde Act: Pranab
By IANS
New Delhi : With the Left allies and a hostile opposition upping the ante over the India-US nuclear pact, the government Thursday said it was not bound by the Hyde Act of the US, that contains certain "extraneous and prescriptive" provisions, and the country retains its "sovereign right to test".
"Whatever stated in Hyde Act is not binding on us. How they (US) deal with it is their problem," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters in Parliament House.
Don’t hype India’s cricket win, warns Lalu
By IANS
New Delhi : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has warned that the media hype over India's Test series win over England may lead to overconfidence in the team and the performance may go down.
"In ko ziyada mat sarahiyae nahi toh phir harne langen ge (Don't hype India's victory too much, otherwise they will again start losing)," Lalu told IANS in his inimitable style.
Nuclear testing India’s sovereign right: Pranab
By IANS
New Delhi : India asserted Thursday it retained the sovereign right to test nuclear weapons, even as both houses of parliament were adjourned for the day with opposition MPs alleging that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had misled the house on the India-US civilian nuclear deal.
"A decision to undertake a future nuclear test would be India's sovereign decision, resting solely with the government of India," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement in the Lok Sabha.
PM or Pranab to make statement on nuclear testing
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will make a statement in parliament later Thursday on India's right to continue weapons' tests once the civilian nuclear deal with the US comes into force.
"They will decide who makes the statement," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters as he emerged from an hour-long meeting with Mukherjee in Parliament House Thursday.
PM or Pranab to make statement on nuclear testing
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will make a statement in parliament later Thursday on India's right to continue weapons' tests once the civilian nuclear deal with the US comes into force.
"They will decide who makes the statement," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters as he emerged from an hour-long meeting with Mukherjee in Parliament House Thursday.
Parliament adjourned over nuclear deal again
By IANS
New Delhi : Opposition and Left MPs forced the adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Thursday as they disrupted proceedings, alleging that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had misled the house on the India-US nuclear agreement.
While the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice - first for half an hour at 11 a.m. and later till 2 p.m. - due to disruptions by members of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) and the Left, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for an hour.
Both houses of parliament adjourned over N-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned Thursday as MPs belonging to opposition parties and the Left disrupted proceedings, alleging that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had misled the house on the India-US nuclear agreement.
While the Lok Sabha was adjourned for half an hour at 11 a.m. due to disruptions by members of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) and the Left, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for an hour.
In time of floods, Karnataka lawmakers on China jaunt
By V.S. Karnic, IANS
Bangalore, Aug 16 (IANS) At a time when floods have ravaged large parts of Karnataka, nearly half of its 300 legislators are set to go to China for almost 10 days for a 'study tour'.
This will perhaps be the first time that so many legislators from a single state of one country will be in another country at the same time. The cost to the state government is officially pegged at little over Rs.150,000 per legislator.
Patriotic fervour marks I Day in Karnataka
By IANS
Bangalore : A festive mood gripped India's IT capital Wednesday as thousands of people including women and children attired in colourful clothes thronged celebrations for India's Independence Day.
All across Karnataka, the national anthem, the national song and other patriotic songs rent the air and the tricolour was unfurled. No untoward incident was reported except in Mysore where police nabbed a youth when he rushed into the parade ground with a knife, a police official told IANS.
Rajasthan to get Narmada, says Raje
By IANS
Jodhpur : Rajasthan has plans to bring in the Narmada in order to overcome a severe water crisis plaguing the state, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced Wednesday.
"Plans are afoot to bring the Narmada water to parts of the state soon," the chief minister said at her Independence Day speech in Jodhpur. "By 2008 we plan to provide sweet water in Barmer."
She admitted that there was a serious shortage of drinking water in Rajasthan.
Punjab launches populist ‘atta-dal’ scheme on I Day
By IANS
Ludhiana/Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday launched the much-awaited 'atta-dal' (wheat and pulses) scheme for the poor during Independence Day celebrations in Ludhiana.
In his address to the people after unfurling the national flag, Badal said in another announcement that land along rivers and rivulets being sowed and maintained by people would be transferred in their names. Over 42,000 acres had been identified for the purpose.
YSR promises 20-point plan to develop state
By IANS
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Wednesday used the occasion of the country's 60th Independence Day to announce a 20 point programme for the overall development of his state.
The chief minister, who unfurled the national flag and reviewed an impressive parade at the main official function here, reiterated his government's commitment to eradicate poverty through the 20-point plan in his address.
Flood ravaged Bihar observes solemn I-Day
By IANS
Patna : With 15 million people displaced and at least 200 dead in floods, it was a solemn Independence Day in Bihar Wednesday, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took care to focus on the disaster in his address to the people as he promised to look for a permanent solution.
With a Maoist threat to disrupt the celebrations looming large, the chief minister hoisted the national flag at the historic Gandhi Maidan here at an event attended by hundreds of people, notwithstanding several areas in the city being waterlogged due to the rains.
Patnaik stresses on economic development in I-Day speech
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Top IT companies setting up shop and the government's plan to provide drinking water to 10,000 villages were some of the points highlighted by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday during his Independence Day address.
Hoisting the tricolour at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg here, Patnaik paid tribute to the leaders who had sacrificed their life for the nation and said the country has progressed in various fields as had Orissa.
The 60 days to Aug 15, 1947
By Joydeep Gupta, IANS
New Delhi : This is an account of the last 60 days leading to India's independence on Aug 15, 1947:
June 15:
Historic session of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in New Delhi accepts the June 3 plan to partition British India into the dominions of India and Pakistan. The socialists oppose partition.
Another resolution, saying free India will not recognise the independence of princely states, is adopted unanimously.
Do not divide people, PM tells political parties
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday urged Indian political parties as well as political and social leaders not to divide people "along narrow, sectarian lines".
Making the appeal from the Red Fort on India's 60th independence day, the prime minister said: "We fritter away our time on petty issues and pointless personal differences. I urge all political parties, all political and social leaders to resist the temptation to divide people along narrow, sectarian lines.
Myriad of hues surround Red Fort celebrations
By IANS
New Delhi : Be it the enthusiastic and vocal 'Jai Hind' of school children or the smiles on people's faces as the national flag flapped in the breeze, the spirit of India's 60th anniversary of independence was captured in a myriad of hues Wednesday.
On a bright and chirpy morning, thousands of spectators - including diplomats and schoolchildren - gathered at the historic Red Fort here to mark the main official celebrations.
India determined to crush extremism, terrorism: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Saying those who preached hatred and communalism had no place in Indian society, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday that his government was determined to crush extremism and terrorism.
"Those who profess hatred and extremism, those who spread the virus of communalism and those who believe in violence and terrorism have no place in our society," he said in a speech from the Red Fort on the country's 60th independence day.
Text of Indian PM’s Independence Day address
By IANS
New Delhi : Following is a free rendering of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Hindi on the occasion of Independence Day here Wednesday:
My dear countrymen, brothers, sisters and dear children
Today we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Independence. My greetings to you all on this day of national celebration!
Today we take special pride in saluting our beloved tricolour. Let us recall with pride the great sacrifice of our freedom fighters, whose undying love for India secured us our freedom.
Highlights of PM’s I-Day speech
By IANS
New Delhi : Following are the highlights of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address on India's 60th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort here Wednesday:
- India is on the move - poverty eradication is now a feasible goal
- Time for a revolution in modern education
- Widening access to education a key goal
- Farmers welfare core of all concerns; need to bridge rural-urban divide
- Industrialization most effective means to create new employment opportunities
PM assures renewed focus on social sectors
By IANS
New Delhi : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday promised renewed governmental thrust in areas like health, education, sanitation and agriculture.
Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the old quarters of the city, the prime minister said the emphasis of his government in the coming years would be on agriculture and the uplift of the unprivileged.
"I'm touring a few states to personally review the agricultural situation across the country," he said in the speech, his fourth on Independence Day since he took office in May 2004.
Education sector being politicised in Kerala: Chandy
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's leader of opposition Oommen Chandy Tuesday said that the attempts by the V.S. Achuthanandan government to give more powers to the local bodies over the state's government schools would be opposed at all costs.
The general education department presently controls the schools.
"Of late the Left government has begun steps to give more powers to local bodies like village councils and municipal corporations to even interfere in the day to day administration of all government and aided schools in the state," Chandy told reporters.
PM’s meeting with Karat fails to break impasse over n-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Tuesday failed to break the impasse over the India-US civil nuclear agreement as the Left parties again rejected the pact saying it would impact on India's foreign policy.
Manmohan Singh met Karat over breakfast and "specifically allayed Left's fears of India's foreign policy being in any way influenced by the Indo-US nuclear cooperation pact".
Flip-flop Goa legislators desert BJP-led front
By Faraz Ahmad, IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party has been left in the lurch as three legislators in Goa who had deserted the Congress-led ruling coalition in support of the BJP-led alliance have changed their minds.
The party has been forced to quietly and meekly withdraw its demand to pull down the nine-week-old Congress-led coalition government of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
Three legislators who had deserted the ruling coalition July 27 and joined the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) returned to their fold Monday.
Fire damages Lok Sabha deputy speaker’s room
By IANS
New Delhi : A suspected short-circuit caused a minor fire in the parliament house complex here Tuesday, damaging Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal's room.
The fire was extinguished in about 10 minutes, officials said.
Atwal was not in the room, number 1A, on the ground floor of the complex when the fire broke out at around 3.45 p.m.
Speaker promises ‘minimum discipline’ in house
By IANS
New Delhi : Expressing "great sorrow" over the "unbecoming conduct" of some MPs while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was making a statement on the India-US civilian nuclear deal in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has said that "minimum discipline" would be enforced in the house in future.
"I wish to refer with great sorrow and concern to what happened yesterday in this chamber, which we call the Temple of Democracy," Chatterjee said in a statement he read out before the commencement of business Tuesday.
Lok Sabha adjourned over Kerala MPs’ protests
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned for 20 minutes Tuesday after MPs from Kerala disrupted proceedings over the move to bifurcate the state's Palakkad railway division.
The MPs, who staged a sit in protest at the main entrance of parliament house before the proceedings commenced, wanted to raise the issue after the house met at 11 a.m. They wanted question hour to be dispensed with.
Gear up for elections, Sonia Gandhi tells Congress
By IANS
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday asked party members to gear up for forthcoming assembly elections even as she condemned the disruptions in parliament during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
Addressing Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) members at a meeting in the parliament house, Gandhi laid out strategies for assembly elections scheduled to be held late this year and in 2008.
Conducting nuclear tests in future will be a sovereign decision: Indian PM
By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : The Indo-US nuclear agreement does not in any way inhibit, restrict or curtail "our" strategic autonomy or capabilities, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in the Lok Sabha (Parliament) Monday.
The agreement does not in any way affect India's right to undertake future nuclear tests, if it is necessary in country's national interest, Singh said in a suo motu statement.
Nuke deal: Left not to back BJP move in parliament
By IANS
New Delhi : After two days of verbally jousting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the India-US civil nuclear deal, the Left was silent in the Lok Sabha Monday and has also decided against backing the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue in parliament.
BJP leader L.K. Advani tried to draw in the Left to supporting its move for a vote on the issue when it is discussed in parliament on Tuesday and Thursday, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
Court dismisses petition of former Arunachal chief minister
By IANS
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Monday dismissed a petition of former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister P.K. Thungan challenging the court's jurisdiction to hear a case filed against him for alleged corruption in a Nagaland irrigation project.
Thungan, who was also a minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao cabinet, had sought the direction of the court to quash the charges against him saying that the case should have been filed in Nagaland as the alleged cause of action was in the north-eastern state.
Congress’ Jacob in Bangalore, speculations on tie-up with JD-S
By IANS
Bangalore : Senior Congress leader M.M. Jacob, who is in charge of Karnataka, arrived here Monday, fuelling speculations of a tie-up with Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) that is to hand over chief ministership to coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in little over a month.
The Congress, however, officially said that Jacob's visit was to assess the party's readiness for the polls to the urban local bodies to be held next month.
"He is here in connection with local body polls," Congress spokesperson V.S. Ugrappa told IANS.
PM’s statement on nuke deal white lies, half-truths: BJP
By IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday termed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in parliament on the Indo-US nuclear deal as "a bundle of the same untruths, half-truths and pure white lies that the prime minister has been dishing out to the people day in and day out".
BJP vice president Yashwant Sinha, accompanied by former union minister Arun Shourie, told newspersons soon after the prime minister's statement in both houses of parliament that "the prime minister is clearly misleading the nation when he makes assertions to the country".
Left MPs silent in parliament during opposition din
By IANS
New Delhi : After two days of verbal duels with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, the Left MPs were silent in the Lok Sabha Monday, indicating the Left's willingness not to blow up the issue for the time being in the parliament.
However, in order to register their apprehensions and reservations over the nuclear agreement, the MPs from the four Left parties walked out of both houses of parliament while Manmohan Singh was at the end of his statement on the deal.
Kerala’s Kairali TV not party channel: CPI-M
By IANS
Kozhikode/Thiruvananthapuram : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday said Kairali TV channel, which had been drawn into the growing factionalism in the party's Kerala unit, was not a "party channel".
"We support that channel and apart from that there is nothing that we have in it. We have made this clear many times before also," CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters in Kozhikode.
The CPI-M here is deeply divided between factions loyal to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Vijayan.
Shekhawat moves out of Vice President’s residence
By IANS
New Delhi : Former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Monday shifted into Rajasthan House in the capital as the bungalow allotted to him is being renovated.
His shift enables his successor Mohammad Hamid Ansari to move into the Vice President's residence. Ansari is currently staying at Haryana Bhavan.
Shekhawat resigned from the vice president's post soon after losing the presidential elections to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Devisingh Patil last month.
Amidst uproar in parliament, PM defends nuke deal
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday stoutly defended the India-US civilian nuclear deal amidst an uproar in parliament, even as the Left parties that support his government walked out in protest, saying his statement did not satisfy them.
Goa speaker refuses to accept apex court notice
By IANS
New Delhi : Goa assembly Speaker Pratapsingh Rane Monday refused to accept the Supreme Court's notice on the petitions by the two legislators who were controversially disqualified by him last month.
While refusing to accept the court notice issued Aug 6 and challenging the Supreme Court's jurisdiction, Rane, however, filed an affidavit before the bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan to deny the allegations made by the petitioners.
Delhi’s BJP, BSP councillors in fisticuffs
By IANS
New Delhi : Not to be outdone by parliamentarians and legislators, councillors in the Indian capital Monday exchanged blows plunging the Town Hall into turmoil.
Angry over not being allowed to express their views during routine discussions, councillors of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) rushed towards Mayor Aarti Mehra. Councillors of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to this, leading to a physical confrontation.
BSP's Satpal and BJP's Ramesh Chauhan got into a physical fight and many members from both sides soon joined them.
PM-Left ties set to worsen in days ahead
By Liz Mathew, IANS
New Delhi : The already strained relations between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Left may worsen in the remaining two years of the government when the PM will have to brave the Left onslaught while pushing through his reforms agenda as well as the nitty-gritty of making the Indo-US nuclear deal operational.
According to sources in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the government has to cross several more hurdles to make the Indo-US civil nuclear deal a reality.
Jharkhand BJP legislator dead
By IANS
Ranchi : Jharkhand's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Upendra Nath Das died here Monday after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 56.
Das had been admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Ranchi where he passed away. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
He represented the Simeria assembly constituency of Chatra district. He first became a legislator on a Janata Party ticket in 1977 and was later elected for three terms on a BJP ticket. He was associated with the Sangh Parivar for a long time.
PM defends n-deal, opposition cries foul
By IANS
New Delhi : Defending the India-US civil nuclear pact in the face of a hostile opposition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday assured parliament that it was a "good deal for India and the world" that will provide the country much-needed energy security without compromising on its strategic autonomy or independent foreign policy.
Excerpts from PM’s statement on n-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : Following are excerpts from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in the Lok Sabha Monday on the civilian nuclear energy cooperation with the United States:
I rise to inform this august House that the Government of India has reached agreement with the Government of the United States of America on the text of the bilateral Agreement on Cooperation for Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
Chhattisgarh BJP dissidents want to meet Rajnath
By IANS
Raipur : A group of dissident legislators of Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have sought an appointment with the party's national president Rajnath Singh who will be here this week.
Some 20-22 of the BJP's 53 MLAs in the 90-member assembly rebelled against Chief Minister Raman Singh last month.
Seven of them had rushed to Delhi, managed to meet Rajanth Singh and sought replacement of Raman Singh accusing him of surrendering before bureaucrats and ignoring the party's dedicated cadres.
Opposition drowns out PM’s statement on n-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : A belligerent opposition drowned out much of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on the India-US nuclear deal in the Lok Sabha Monday, moving Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to remark in exasperation that they should be "ashamed" of themselves.
"What are you doing? I don't understand this. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" Chatterjee asked as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party members advanced to the speaker's podium and raised slogans, even as the prime minister soldiered on with his 28-minute address.
I have redeemed my pledge, it’s a good deal: PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Amid strident chants of "sell out", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday assured parliament that the India-US civil nuclear pact is a "good deal for India and the world" that has neither compromised New Delhi's strategic programme nor impacted its independent foreign policy.
Lok Sabha adjourned after PM’s statement on n-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the third time Monday after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement on the India-US civilian nuclear deal with opposition members shouting slogans throughout his 28-minute address.
Opposition MPs advanced to the speaker's podium as soon as the house re-assembled after the lunch recess and shouted slogans demanding the cancellation of the nuclear deal.
N-deal good for India, PM tells parliament amid din
By IANS
New Delhi : Amid strident cries of a sell out by a section of the opposition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday assured parliament that the India-US civil nuclear pact is a "good deal for India and the world" and that it has not compromised India's strategic and national interests.
Chhattisgarh BJP dissidents want to meet Rajnath
By IANS
Raipur : A group of dissident legislators of Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have sought an appointment with the party's national president Rajnath Singh who will be here this week.
Some 20-22 of the BJP's 53 MLAs in the 90-member assembly rebelled against Chief Minister Raman Singh last month.
Seven of them had rushed to Delhi, managed to meet Rajanth Singh and sought replacement of Raman Singh accusing him of surrendering before bureaucrats and ignoring the party's dedicated cadres.
PM concerned over disruptions in Rajya Sabha
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.
PM to speak on nuclear deal after Lok Sabha uproar
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice Monday following uproar over the India-US civilian nuclear deal, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set to make a statement on the issue when the house meets at 2 p.m.
After the prime minister's statement, the house will discuss the flood situation in Bihar, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee announced as he adjourned the house for a second time Monday.
Lok Sabha adjourned over nuclear deal
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned for half hour Monday after members of the opposition United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) created an uproar over the India-US civilian nuclear deal.
As the house met, MPs of the Samajwadi Party ran towards the speaker's podium shouting "Nuclear deal should be dropped" and "Bush ki gulami nahin chalegi" (Subservience to Bush will not be allowed).
BSP to repeat an Uttar Pradesh in Madhya Pradesh
By IANS
Bhopal : Buoyed by its success in Uttar Pradesh, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) wants to forge a similar political experiment in Madhya Pradesh when it goes to the polls next year.
This would involve bringing together the upper castes as well as Dalits and others under one roof to form a solid vote bank, BSP veterans in Madhya Pradesh say with confidence.
The BSP now has only two legislators in the state's 230-seat assembly. Its attempt is to grow in a big way in Madhya Pradesh.
Left parties to meet Monday on nuke deal
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi : The Left parties will meet Monday to strategise their stance in parliament on the India-US civilian nuclear deal, even as they said it was for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to "protect his government".
"It is his (prime minister's) government and it is for him to protect his government and not our responsibility. He has to decide if he has to run his government," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said, reiterating the Left's rejection of the nuclear deal.
Mulayam breaks silence, flays Maya’s farm policy
By IANS
Lucknow : Breaking his prolonged silence since his defeat in the April-May assembly elections, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav Sunday termed as "anti-farmer" his successor Mayawati's agricultural policy that favours contract farming.
"The new policy favouring the entry of private players in agriculture will eventually spell doom for the poor farmer who is bound to lose all his land holding," Yadav said of the policy announced 10 days ago.
Sonia launches broad gauge link to Rameswaram
By IANS
Madurai : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday evening flagged off the Chennai-Rameswaram Sethu Express, inaugurating rail services on the newly laid 114-km broad gauge line from Manamadurai to the temple town on the east coast.
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad accompanied Gandhi to Madurai. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was also present on the occasion.
It is up to PM to protect government: Karat
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Hitting out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for daring the Left to withdraw support over the India-US civilian nuclear deal, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said Sunday that it was for the prime minister to "protect his government".
Reiterating the Left's rejection of the nuclear deal, Karat said the next step by the communists, who give outside support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, would be decided soon.
Sonia to launch Congress-backed TV channel
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Congress president Sonia Gandhi will officially launch the Congress-supported Malayalam TV channel - Jai Hind TV - on Friday from New Delhi, a party official said.
Speaking to reporters here Sunday, Congress spokesperson M.M. Hassan said the event would be attended by leading party personalities from the state, including central ministers A.K. Antony and Vayalar Ravi.
Nehru’s memorable dawn of independence speech
By IANS
New Delhi : The following is the historic 'tryst with destiny' speech Jawaharlal Nehru gave in the midnight hours of Aug 14, 1947, announcing the dawn of India's freedom to the world:
Political reforms a must for coalitions to succeed: Bimal Jalan
By IANS
New Delhi : Stating that India faces a crisis of governance, leading economist Bimal Jalan has called for wide-ranging political reforms if coalition governments are to become viable and stable.
Jalan has also demanded a review of the division of political powers between the central and state governments, with New Delhi having a greater say on security matters and states getting more powers in economic and financial areas.
PM confident of resolving n-deal differences with Left
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said he was confident of resolving differences with Left parties over the India-US civil nuclear deal even as the Left leaders reiterated their "reservations" saying that the deal "was not acceptable to the majority in parliament".
BJP keeps alive suspense over ties with Sena
By IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday kept up the suspense over its ties with the Shiv Sena a day after the latter made peace with it.
"Wait for a while, you will see when we decide whether we (BJP and Shiv Sena) will contest (next elections) together," BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde told reporters.
PM conciliatory to communists after harsh words
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who dared the Left allies to withdraw their support, was in conciliation mode Saturday evening, saying he was confident of resolving the differences with them over the India-US nuclear deal.
Speaking hours after his unprecedented tongue-lashing of the Left created a mini storm, Manmohan Singh said he was committed to the promises he had made to parliament and to the Left on the issue.
Left, right target n-deal though PM talks tough
By IANS
New Delhi : Unfazed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tough talk on the India-US nuclear deal, the Left parties Saturday resolutely stuck to their opposition to the pact even as the Bharatiya Janata Party dared them to vote against the agreement in parliament.
"The prime minister and the government must realise that this agreement is not acceptable to the majority in parliament," said Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), in a statement.
BJP dares Left to react to PM’s challenge
By IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday asked the Left parties to react to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's comments daring them to withdraw support to the government following their differences over the India-US nuclear deal.
"Will they (the Left parties) now bite? If they really believe that the 123 agreement is not in India's national interest they should vote against it (in parliament) in the larger national interest," BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
He was referring to Manmohan Singh's interview to the Kolkata-based Telegraph.
More discussions with Left on N-deal soon: Pranab
By IANS
New Delhi : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Saturday said the government would hold further talks with the Left on the India-US nuclear deal.
"We have already held discussions with them (Left leaders). We will hold more discussions with them," Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a lecture on India-Africa relations.
He was responding to a question on whether the government was confident of getting the Left's support for the nuclear deal.
He did not say when the next round of discussions with Left would take place.
Kumaraswamy refuses to sack ministers for default
By IANS
Bangalore : Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has declined to sack two of his ministers for not filing in time a statement of their assets with the state's anti-corruption body.
N. Santosh Hegde, chief of Lok Ayukta, the anti-corruption body, had suggested to Kumaraswamy that he should sack Youth Affairs Minister Alkod Hanumanthappa and Agriculture Marketing Minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur for violating rules regarding submission of details of their assets and liabilities.
Call the Left’s bluff, Premji says
By IANS
New Delhi : It is time for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call the Left's bluff, Wipro chief Azim Premji says, while describing the Left-ruled West Bengal government as "progressive".
Taking part in a debate here Friday evening, Premji responded to a comment that the Left would continue to influence the coalition government.
Candid PM dares Left to withdraw support
By IANS
New Delhi : In unusually strong words, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has dared the Left to withdraw support to his government over the India-US nuclear deal, insisting that the deal cannot be renegotiated.
"I told them that it is not possible to renegotiate the deal. It is a honourable deal, the cabinet has approved it, we cannot go back on it. I told them to do whatever they want to do, if they want to withdraw support, so be it..." Manmohan Singh told the Kolkata-based Telegraph newspaper.
Karnataka CM to appear in film
By R.G. Vijayasarathy, IANS
Bangalore : Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is all set to make a brief appearance in the forthcoming Kannada film "Preethi Eke Bhoomi Melidhe" to talk about love.
Police officer Subhash Bharani and former underworld functionary Mutthappa Rai will also be seen with Kumaraswamy in the film. Two religious heads with large followings will also join them.
Parliament to discuss Indo-US nuclear deal Aug 14, 16
By IANS
New Delhi : Parliament will discuss the India-US civilian nuclear deal Aug 14 and 16 as the government wants a debate on it at the earliest, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said Friday.
"The government has nothing to hide and is ready to discuss the issue. We want to discuss the issue as early as possible," he told reporters.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a statement in the house Aug 13.
Left threatens ‘consequences’ if nuke deal is signed
By IANS
New Delhi : The Left parties Friday termed India's deepening strategic ties with the US and its civilian nuclear agreement with Washington as a "national tragedy" and warned of "serious consequences" if New Delhi went ahead with the deal.
"This government is surviving on the Left parties' support and it is a national tragedy that it is going into a partnership of strategic alliance with the imperialist powers," Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta said.
Shahabuddin throws a two-hour tantrum at station
By IANS
New Delhi : Jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammed Shahabuddin threw a two-hour tantrum at the railway station when he arrived from Bihar Friday and insisted on going to a hotel to "freshen up" before going to parliament to vote for the vice president.
Shahabuddin stuck to his guns for two hours and was finally allowed to use the restroom at the New Delhi railway station, where he took a shower, shaved and changed clothes before heading to parliament.
Lalu steals show as MPs mingle during vice presidential poll
By IANS
New Delhi : It was a time for leg-pulling, cracking jokes and mingling as MPs Friday flocked to Room No. 62 of Parliament House here to cast their votes for electing India's 12th vice president.
The MPs of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were understandably the happiest lot as their candidate Hamid Ansari, former diplomat and academic who is also supported by the Left, was the sure winner.
As politicians from across the spectrum interacted, what was striking was the camaraderie between them and the total lack of any animosity.
CPI-M likely to crack the whip in Kerala
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Rocked by corruptions scandals and with factionalism at its peak in the Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the ongoing party meetings may see the top brass crack the whip to rein in erring members.
Party general secretary Prakash Karat, senior politburo members S. Ramachandran Pillai and Umanath attended the state secretariat meeting Thursday and are said to have asserted that certain actions had to be taken to keep the party intact in Kerala, irrespective of the strength of rival factions.
Lok Sabha adjourns after mourning MPs who died
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned Friday after obituary references to two sitting and five former MPs.
The sitting MPs who had passed away since the last session of parliament were former prime minister Chandra Shekhar and Ajit Kumar Singh.
The house also mourned the deaths of former members Sahib Singh Verma, Krishna Chander Halder, Chandrajit Yadav, P. Nagaratnam and Bharat Singh Chauhan.
Voting begins for India’s 12th vice president
By IANS
New Delhi : Voting for India's 12th vice president got underway at parliament house Friday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh among the first to cast his ballot.
The electoral exercise began at 10 a.m. and the prime minister arrived about 10 minutes later to put in his vote for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Hamid Ansari.
The prime minister did not speak to the press as he came out of Room 62 in parliament house where the elections are being held, but held up his hand in a victory sign.