Congress, BJP bag one seat each in Himachal
By IANS,
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday bagged one seat and the opposition Congress one in the assembly by-elections held last week.
Congress candidate Sujan Singh Pathania won the Jawali seat by 5,249 votes, whereas the BJP's Khushi Ram Balnatah won from Rohru by a margin of 8,473 votes, state chief electoral officer Anil Khachi told IANS.
Pathania got 25,168 votes while his nearest rival Baldev Raj Chaudhary of the BJP polled 19,919 votes in Jawali.
BJP mum over Gadkari as next party president
By IANS,
New Delhi : Speculation continued over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Maharashtra unit chief Nitin Gadkari, whose name has been thrown up as the surprise choice of the party's next president, even as senior leaders refused to either confirm or deny this.
"I can't say anything right now. I am neither confirming it nor denying it. No final decision has been taken as yet," said a BJP spokesperson, who wished not to be named, deepening the media buzz.
Jharkhand parties explore alliance possibilities
By IANS,
Ranchi: Fearing a hung assembly, Jharkhand's political parties have begun to woo fresh allies in order to form a new government.
Most political pundits believe that no single party or pre-poll alliance is likely to get a majority in the 81-member legislature.
So even as they take on one another in the ongoing assembly elections, whose fifth and final phase will be held Friday with vote count to follow Dec 23, the parties say they are open to new post-poll formations.
Noisy protests from Andhra MPs stall Lok Sabha
By IANS,
New Delhi : Noisy protests for and against the division of Andhra Pradesh Thursday forced repeated disruptions of the Lok Sabha that saw 28 business papers tabled in a span of just 15 minutes amid the chaos before the house was adjourned for the day.
Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Karia Munda was forced to adjourn the house for the day as the MPs from Andhra Pradesh representing the two sides of the debate on a separate state of Telangana continually disrupted the proceedings in the pre- and post-lunch sessions.
Nitin Gadkari takes over a BJP low on morale
By Arun Anand, IANS,
New Delhi: Nitin Gadkari has just been handed a crown of thorns. As he takes charge of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the 52-year-old finds himself in a post that has failed more than one veteran in the past.
Although Gadkari - the outgoing president of Maharashtra BJP - succeeds Rajnath Singh, who never managed to have national clout, the BJP presidency has been in the hands of such political leaders as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.
PM praises Meira Kumar’s ‘iron fist, velvet voice’
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday heaped praise on Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, saying she had an "iron fist beneath a velvet voice".
"I am pleased that the speaker facing these challenges ... is a very distinguished woman, Meira Kumar, who sheathes the proverbial iron fist beneath a velvet voice," he told the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) here.
Meira Kumar, 64, was elected unopposed as the first woman speaker of the Lok Sabha in June last year.
Prices will come down soon, PM tells Rahul Gandhi
By IANS,
Bhopal : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday that he had discussed the "serious issue" of prices with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who assured him that the government's efforts would "soon bear fruit" and prices would come down.
Describing price rise as a serious issue, Rahul Gandhi said: "I have already discussed the matter with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and he has assured that the continuous efforts being made by his government would help curb the prices as soon as possible."
Congress debates Muraleedharan’s return – again
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : As a crucial meeting of the Congress takes place here Wednesday, the topic, yet again, is whether 91-year-old former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran's son K. Muraleedharan should be readmitted to the party.
The meeting has been called after Karunakaran in a space of two months wrote his second letter to state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala, requesting him that the party discuss the re-entry of his son.
Ahead of the meeting, Chennithala called on the veteran at his residence here and was closeted with him for more than half an hour.
Uproar in Bihar assembly over multi-crore excise scam
By IANS,
Patna : The opposition created an uproar in the Bihar assembly Tuesday over the demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the multi-crore excise scam.
The opposition, on the second day of the month-long budget session of the Bihar assembly, raised slogans for a CBI probe into the scam that forced assembly speaker Udai Narayan Choudhry to adjourn the state assembly till noon.
Some opposition members neared the speker's podium and raised slogans against the state government led by Nitish Kumar.
JD-U stands divided over quota bill
By IANS,
New Delhi : The divide in the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) over the women's quota bill came to the fore Tuesday with party members in the Rajya Sabha supporting the legislation against the stand of party president Sharad Yadav.
JD-U member Shivanand Tiwari said during the debate in the house on the bill that the party supported the legislation that seeks to reserve 33 percent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
"We support the bill," he said.
Rajya Sabha will not sit March 17, 18
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha would not meet Wednesday and Thursday and was likely to be adjourned Tuesday itself for a recess till April 12.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan said a meeting of leaders of various political parties had decided that the house will not meet on March 17 and 18.
The Rajya Sabha was scheduled to go into recess from March 16 but the house decided earlier this month to extend the sittings by two days to discuss private member bills and other government business.
We stand with government against Maoists, affirms BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday said that it offered full support to the government in its fight against the Maoists, after 73 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were massacred by the Left-wing rebels in the forests of Chhattisgarh.
At a press conference here, BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it was not a time for debate or discussion, but that his party fully supported the government, which should immediately strike hard against the Maoist terror in a "fight to the finish".
Congress stays away from Tharoor row
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Congress Tuesday stayed clear of the Indian Premier League (IPL) row involving Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor even as his boss S.M. Krishna met party president Sonia Gandhi, apparently over the controversy.
As the row appeared to be snowballing into a major controversy with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding Tharoor be sacked and causing embarrassment for the ruling Congress, Krishna met Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence here around 4 p.m.
Lapang meets Meghalaya governor as Congress faces rebellion
By IANS,
Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang Wednesday met Governor R.S. Mooshahary for the second time in nine days amid growing demand for his ouster among Congress legislators.
"Yes, I met the governor this (Wednesday) morning and there is nothing to say now," Lapang told IANS.
An aide of chief minister claimed that Lapang's meeting with Mooshahary was to effect a reshuffle in the 12-member cabinet to placate Congress rebels.
Digvijay should raise issues at party forum: Congress
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Thursday objected to its senior leader Digvijay Singh's remarks, in an article, against Home Minister P. Chidambaram' "rigid" stance on tackling Maoist guerrillas, and advised him that the party was an appropriate forum to raise such issues democratically.
"The Congress is a democratic organisation. There may be differences of opinion on one particular issue, but these should be raised only in party forums," Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters in Parliament House.
Bouquets, brickbats greet Tharoor on Kerala visit
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram: Waving cricket bats, hundreds of Congress activists gave a roaring welcome to former minister of state for external affairs Shahshi Tharoor as he arrived here Saturday on his first visit to his home state after quitting over the IPL row.
But a smaller group of protesters allied to the Communist Party of India (CPI) held posters of the Congress MP and his friend Sunanda Pushkar, whose links to the Indian Premier League (IPL) Kochi franchise triggered the controversy that has turned into the country's worst sports crisis.
Government committed to privacy: Chidambaram
By IANS,
New Delhi: The government is committed to privacy and is prepared to strengthen safeguards regarding phone tapping, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Thursday.
He also said the government was examining a proposal to bring under "a ministry" the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), a highly specialised technical intelligence gathering agency.
Munde, Yadav trio meet Pranab on caste-based census
By IANS,
New Delhi : Amidst a clamour from all political parties for a caste-based census, prominent OBC (other backward classes) leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Friday met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the issue.
Course correction will rejuvenate CPI-M: Buddhadeb
By IANS,
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will be rejuvenated after the ongoing rectification campaign, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddahdeb Bhattacharjee said here Sunday.
"Only the communists can carry out such campaigns in the party. The party has suffered because of some (non-communist) trends (among party members). We are identifying these," Bhattacharjee, who is also a member of the party politburo, told media persons.
Jagan supporters, Telangana activists call for shutdowns
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh will see two shut downs Saturday, one by supporters of Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy over his detention Friday and another to condemn the death of a Telangana activist.
The shutdown by Reddy's supporters has been called in Kadapa district over their leader being taken into preventive custody while he was on his way to a rally in Warangal in the Telangana regions.
Mulayam’s brother, son framed me, alleges Amar Singh
By IANS,
New Delhi : Expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh Sunday alleged that party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's brother and son played a key role in framing him in the Rs.500-crore money laundering case Uttar Pradesh Police filed against him last year.
In the latest post on his blog, Amar Singh said he had been provided evidence about the "conspiracy" against him by some of the conspirators.
Delhi government’s removing hoardings undemocratic: MCD
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Sunday accused state Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit of having acted in an "undemocratic" manner by allegedly removing the hoardings put up by the BJP against the increased power tariff.
"Through these hoardings we were spreading general awareness on issues concerning the people. The government has in a single day illegally pulled down all the hoardings put up at 30 different sites," MCD house leader Subhash Arya told IANS.
Mayawati calls for capturing power in Delhi
By IANS,
Lucknow: Delhi appears to be the next target of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati, who Friday called for capturing power in the national capital.
Addressing a meeting of her party activists from Delhi and Uttarakhand at her official residence here, Mayawati said that millions of people from Uttar Pradesh have moved to Delhi in search of employment, but alleged they continue to receive step-motherly treatment at the hands of successive governments.
Karnataka’s response sought on plea against military memorial
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday sought the Karnataka government's response on a petition challenging the proposed National Military Memorial to come up at Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park in Bangalore.
Issuing the notice, returnable in four weeks, the vacation bench of Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice A.K. Patnaik, however, declined to order status quo.
I work ‘without break’ for Bihar, says Nitish
By IANS,
Patna: Bihar has recorded a high growth rate but a lot is still to be done, according to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who said that he worked "every day without a break" for the state's development.
"I have been working every day without a break, thinking often of the philosophy of aharnish seva (uninterrupted work through day and night)," Nitish Kumar wrote on his blog Saturday.
Three Congress supporters injured in clash with CPI-M activists
By IANS,
Kolkata : Three Congress supporters were injured when Communist Party of India-Marxists (CPI-M) activists allegedly hurled crude bombs and set their houses on fire following a dispute over agricultural land in West Bengal's Burdwan district Monday, police said.
Police said, the trouble started Saturday when the owner of 2.5 bighas of land in Pulsona village, Mojam Seikh, who stays outside the village, came back and saw that a sharecropper, Seikh Selim, had been cultivating the land without his knowledge.
Premature to say more politicians involved in Assam scam: CBI
By IANS,
Guwahati/Shillong: The CBI Wednesday said it was too premature to claim involvement of more politicians in the multimillion rupee financial scam involving swindling of government funds in Assam’s North Cachar Hills district.
"The investigation is on in full-swing. It’s too premature to say whether there are other politicians involved in the case," a senior Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official told IANS in Meghalaya state capital Shillong.
Samajwadi Party seeks CBI probe into Allahabad blast
By IANS,
Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) Saturday demanded a federal probe into the Allahabad blast and accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of "implicating" party leaders in the incident which left one dead and five injured, including a minister.
Senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav here Saturday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the case and said: "Owing to her political rivalry, she (Mayawati) is falsely implicating SP leaders in the case."
US treats India and Pakistan the same : BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi: Citing the $500 million aid given to Pakistan by the US, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday rued that the US treats India and Pakistan the same despite the latter's "proven links" to terror outfits.
Mayawati tells MPs to raise price rise issue in house
By IANS,
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday urged party MPs to raise issues related to price rise and ill-treatment of Bhopal gas tragedy victims in the coming monsoon session of parliament.
Addressing a specially convened meeting of party MPs here, she said: "Faulty policies of the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government are responsible for the unprecedented rise in inflation, which has led to acute economic oppression of the common man."
Samajwadi Party leader shot dead in Uttar Pradesh
By IANS,
Lucknow : Samajwadi Party leader Anil Yadav, who was also the manager of a college, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district, police said Friday.
Yadav, 34, was shot dead late Thursday while he was returning home after meeting some of his friends on the outskirts of the district.
"Though we are yet to ascertain the motive behind the crime, it appears the incident could be the fallout of political rivalry," police inspector Ranjeet Rai told reporters in Ghazipur, some 250 km from Lucknow.
Commonwealth Games linked to country’s prestige: Congress leaders
By IANS,
New Delhi : A day after Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar slammed the Commonwealth Games, many of his party colleagues frowned at the remarks, saying the showpiece event involved the country's prestige and the focus should be on its success.
"There is no time to criticise and point fingers. India's prestige is involved. India's face should be saved. We should make all endeavours to make it (the Games) successful," Congress MP Rajiv Shukla told IANS.
With about two months left for the Oct 3-14 Games, Shukla said there was no point in pinpointing loopholes.
Monsoon session: It is raining losses in parliament
By Sarwar Kashani, IANS,
New Delhi : The government spends Rs.7.65 crore for each day of a parliament session, and with the first five days of the ongoing monsoon session being washed away due to unending opposition protests over rising prices, this translates into a loss of Rs.38.2 crore ($8.5 million) for Indian the taxpayer, to go by official figures.
Consider this:
TDP, Mukherjee apologise after angry words
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha Wednesday saw both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee apologise following angry exchanges over disruption of the house by TDP MPs over the disputed Babhali barrage on the Godavari river.
Earlier in the day, the house witnessed an unpleasant scene when it reassembled at 11.30 a.m. after an adjournment following protests by the TDP and the Shiv Sena over the Babhali barrage at the centre of a controversy between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Rahul Gandhi pays surprise visit to Gujarat’s Anand
By IANS,
Gandhinagar : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday caught everyone by surprise when he visited the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)headquartered at the milk town of Anand in Gujarat.
Gandhi reached IRMA around 11 a.m. and was inside the institute, which is promoted by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), till about 5.30 p.m. before leaving for New Delhi, IRMA sources told IANS.
Tight security was deployed at the main entrance of the institute and the visit was out of bounds for the media.
Ruckus in Delhi assembly over irregularities in CWG
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi assembly witnessed a ruckus on the opening day of the monsoon session Tuesday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members protested over alleged financial irregularities in projects related to the Commonwealth Games.
As soon as the house met, some BJP members started beating plates with spoons, demanding adjournment of question hour to discuss irregularities in Games-related projects.
With the commotion continuing in the house, Speaker Yoganand Shastri asked marshals to evict the protesting members from the house.
BJP not fielding Muslim candidates in Godhra for ‘political reasons’
By TCN Special Correspondent,
CPI (M)’s independent MLA Manjalamkuzhi Ali resigns from Kerala Assembly
By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Sonia, Mayawati meet over lunch with PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday met United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the second time in as many days at a launch hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Kerala’s LDF meet turns stormy
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) meeting turned out to be a stormy affair Wednesday as leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) locked horns over the government's anti-encroachment drive in the hill station of Munnar.
Pratibha Patil files nomination as BJP launches vicious attack
By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil, the candidate of India's ruling coalition, Saturday filed her nomination papers for the July 19 presidential election in which she is pitted against Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned her moral right to hold the country's highest office.
High court defers hearing on plea against Patil
By IANS
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Monday deferred till Sep 24 the hearing of a petition asking the Election Commission to cancel the nomination papers of United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) presidential nominee Pratibha Patil.
Dasmunsi’s remark on Dutt sentencing personal: Congress
By IANS
New Delhi : The ruling Congress party Wednesday distanced itself from Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi's remarks on actor Sanjay Dutt's sentencing in the 1993 Mumbai bombings even as the minister reasserted his sentiments over the verdict.
"The minister was expressing a personal opinion and there is absolutely nothing wrong in it," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.
New Delhi : The ruling Congress party Wednesday distanced itself from Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi's remarks on actor Sanjay Dutt's sentencing in the 1993 Mumbai bombings even as the minister reasserted his sentiments over the verdict.
"The minister was expressing a personal opinion and there is absolutely nothing wrong in it," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.
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.
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.
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.
Do not operationalise n-deal for six months: Karat
By IANS
New Delhi : A day after West Bengal's communist Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya openly spoke in favour of nuclear power, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Tuesday asked the government not to operationalise the India-US nuclear deal for at least six months.
"Do not operationalise the deal for at least six months. The government should wait for the outcome of a discussion in parliament before taking any decision in this matter," Karat said while addressing a party rally against the nuclear here.
BJP leaders clam up on leadership issue
By Rajeev Khanna, IANS
Bhopal : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders chose to keep mum Saturday on the leadership controversy dogging the party for the last several days. After the flurry of comments by party leaders on the first day of the party's national executive meet, everyone clammed up on the issue on day two.
Perhaps it was due to way the issue made headlines in the media or due to an instruction from the party leadership, but everyone went into silent on the matter.
Day of rallies in Bangalore
By IANS
Bangalore : It was a day of rallies and traffic jams in Bangalore's central business district Saturday.
Hundreds of Christians led by former top cop and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP H.T. Sangliana marched to Raj Bhavan, the governor's residence, protesting what they called increasing attacks on their community in Karnataka.
A large number of Hindus under the banner of Hindu Sena held a march nearby at the same time opposing conversion activities by Christian missionaries in the state.
Rajasthan government braces up to face Gujjars
Jaipur, Sep 28 (IANS) The Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan has started to put in place contingency plans to maintain law and order on Oct 2 when Gujjars start their "jail bharo aandolan" in support of their demand to classify them as a scheduled tribe.
The chief minister is holding meetings with the home secretary, director general of police and other senior state government officials to identify temporary prisons where the Gujjars can be housed after they are arrested, official sources have told IANS.
The government estimates around 200,000 people will court arrest on Oct 2.
JD-S exploits BJP’s eagerness for power in south
By V.S. Karnic, IANS
Bangalore : The biggest roadblock to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) desire to install its first chief minister in southern India is none other than former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
Exploiting BJP's keenness to come to power in the south, its ruling partner Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) has deftly played its cards using every opportunity to dominate if it gives up the chief minister's post to BJP Oct 3.
UPA government defends Karunanidhi against Supreme Court
By IANS
New Delhi : The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government Monday strongly backed ally and beleaguered Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, under attack from the Supreme Court for violating its order banning a shutdown in the state.
As pressure mounted on the chief minister - who Monday launched a fast along with several cabinet ministers in Tamil Nadu where life came to a virtual standstill as the DMK demanded completion of the Sethusamudram shipping canal - support came in the form of union Information Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.
Don’t proceed with n-deal, CPI-M warns UPA
By IANS
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday again warned the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government against proceeding with the India-US nuclear deal till it was discussed in the winter session of parliament.
"Our politburo has been authorised by the central committee to see that the UPA government does not proceed with the nuclear deal. This is a unanimous decision," CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters at the conclusion of the party's three-day central committee meeting here.
JD-S-BJP break-up shifts focus to Raj Bhavan
By IANS
Bangalore : With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday deciding to pull out of its alliance with the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in Karnataka, the focus has shifted to the Raj Bhavan. Governor Rameshwar Thakur has now to decide whether to sack the H.D. Kumaraswamy government or allow the chief minister to prove his majority on the floor of the house.
Rameshwar Thakur, formerly a Congress leader, took over as governor in August when indications were there that the JD-S-BJP coalition government, which came to power 20 months back, was hurtling towards collapse.
Dirty charges pepper Karnataka divorce
By IANS
Bangalore : Caste-dominated Karnataka politics is set to hit its nadir as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) severed its ties with the ruling coalition partner Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) Saturday, leading to charges and counter-charges.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of JD-S, who refused to honour his word to vacate his seat for BJP on Oct 3 as agreed 20 months back, Saturday launched a campaign to discredit Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa of BJP.
"Yediyurappa wanted to join JD-S and he was satisfied with a ministership," he told Kannada TV channels.
Congress core group meets to discuss nuclear deal
By IANS
New Delhi : Senior Congress leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi, met late Monday night to discuss the Indo-US nuclear deal and the Left parties' objections to it, and are believed to have decided to go ahead with talks with the UN atomic agency.
Mayawati to expand council of ministers
By IANS
Lucknow : Eight new faces are likely to be inducted into Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's council of ministers Wednesday evening.
A reshuffle is also being speculated along with the expansion.
"The expansion is to take place at 5 p.m. at the Raj Bhavan where Governor T.V. Rajeshwar will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new incumbents," according to an official spokesman.
PM upset with allies, Left’s another ‘no’ to talks with IAEA
By IANS
New Delhi : Indian communists Monday rejected the government's desperate pleas for a compromise to save the Indo-US nuclear deal but agreed to meet again Nov 16 for a final decision, even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh openly voiced disappointment with his allies for not standing by him.
Kumaraswamy tells BJP to keep off its agenda
By IANS
Bangalore : Former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) Saturday told the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to keep off its "agenda" if it wanted their proposed alliance government in the state to last long.
"If the BJP follows its agenda, then we are free to decide our course of action," Kumaraswamy told a local TV channel within hours of submitting to Governor Rameshwar Thakur a letter extending support to a BJP-led government in the state.
BJP, JD-S efforts face hurdles from Congress, Prakash
By IANS
Bangalore : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) Monday paraded 126 supporting legislators in front of Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur to convince him to invite the combine to form a new ministry, but a rebel JD-S leader and the Congress tried to block their moves.
Hours before the legislators' parade, senior JD-S leader and former home minister M.P. Prakash met Thakur and urged him to reject their claim as his party's support to the BJP was "illegal and invalid".
Shutdown hits normal life Kerala on 51st formation day
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : A shutdown called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday to protest the alleged callous attitude of the central government towards railway development in Kerala affected normal business on the occasion of the state's 51st formation day.
Justifying the call for a shutdown on the day of President Pratibha Patil's visit to the state, BJP's state unit president P.K. Krishnadas Wednesday said his party had announced plans for the shutdown a month ago.
Karnataka crisis not discussed at CCPA meeting
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) but did not discuss the crisis in Karnataka, indicating that a decision on revocation of President's rule in the state may take a little longer.
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said a pointed "No" in reply to a question on whether Karnataka came up for discussion at the CCPA.
Global disaster reduction meet in Delhi
By IANS
New Delhi : At least 48 countries will participate in a two-day conference on disaster risk reduction starting here Wednesday.
"The second Asian Ministerial Conference on disaster risk reduction will begin in the capital from Nov 7. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the two-day conference, while Congress president Sonia Gandhi will deliver the keynote address," said U.N. Panjiar, secretary for border management in the home ministry.
Fresh violence in Nandigram, CPI-M takes on governor
By IANS
Kolkata : Fresh gun battles erupted in West Bengal's troubled Nandigram area Saturday leaving one person dead and several injured even as the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) flayed Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi over his statement blaming the government for the situation.
A photojournalist covering the violence told IANS that a middle-aged villager, Sheikh Rizaul, was killed in the firefight.
Few voters brave the snow on Himachal poll day
By IANS
Shimla : Voting for the first phase of assembly elections began at a slow pace in Himachal Pradesh's three tribal seats of Bharmaur, Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur Wednesday.
Few voters could be seen trudging to vote as temperatures in many areas fell below freezing.
Voting which began at 8 a.m. will close at 5 p.m. and is expected to gain momentum around noon.
Voting in the three seats is being held five weeks before the rest of the state as these areas tend to get snowbound early in winter.
Andhra speaker ‘walks out’ of assembly
By IANS
Hyderabad : In a rare show of protest against unruly members, Andhra Pradesh Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy Wednesday walked out of the assembly and said he was adjourning proceedings until all parties assured him cooperation in running the house.
Suresh Reddy, who is known for his tactful handling of difficult situations, lost his temper when members of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) rushed towards the podium to voice their protest against their deputy leader T. Devender Goud being told to cut his speech short.
BJP promises cooperation for strict anti-terror law
By IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday offered full cooperation to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government if it brings in legislation on the lines of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) to curb increasing terrorist activities in the country.
BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi described Friday's bombings in Uttar Pradesh, which claimed 13 lives, as part of a "design to vitiate the atmosphere of communal harmony in the country".
Bhajan Lal’s party will not last: Congress
By IANS
New Delhi : The Congress Sunday greeted with disdain former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal's decision to quit the party and launch his own outfit, predicting bleak future for him.
"Anybody who knows political history of India knows what happens to the people who leave their mother party - Congress," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
"Those who do not learn lessons from history are condemned to repeat the fatal mistakes."
I regret criticising the Congress: Karunakaran
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Veteran Kerala politician K. Karunakaran Monday said he regrets having criticised the Congress and wants to return to the party fold.
Addressing hundreds of workers of the former Democratic Indira Congress-Karunakaran (DIC-K) -- that was formed in 2005 after splitting from the Congress and has merged with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) -- Karunakaran said he had been wrong in leaving the Congress.
Advani votes in Gujarat
By IANS
Ahmedabad : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani cast his vote in Shahpur constituency of Ahmedabad amidst chaos emanating from a faulty Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the polling station.
The crowds became restive since the EVM was non functional from the very beginning of the polling. The machine started working after it was rectified. Advani cast his vote at around 8.35 a.m.
Modi, Advani booked for poll code violation
By IANS
Ahmedabad : The Ahmedabad police have registered a case against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani for violation of the model code of conduct during the assembly elections last week.
According to police sources, the two leaders had made claims about their party's victory Sunday, the day of the second phase of polling, before mediapersons within 100 metres of polling booths - which amounts to a violation of the model code of conduct.
Ballia gives Mayawati’s social engineering a jolt
By Sharat Pradhan, IANS
Lucknow : The rout of the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Brahmin nominee against the Samajwadi Party rival in the Ballia Lok Sabha by-poll has given a severe jolt to the much hyped "social engineering" that put BSP chief Mayawati in power in India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh last year.
Brahmins, who live in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh compared to other states, gave Mayawati's essentially Dalit outfit a boost in the May 2006 assembly elections, helping the BSP to ride to power on its own strength.
Poll preparations begin in three northeastern states
By IANS
Agartala : Preparations for holding assembly elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland are in full swing, with the Election Commission due to announce the poll schedule soon, it was announced here Thursday.
Election machineries of the three states in association with the Election Commission are making all arrangements to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner in February, Deputy Election Commissioner R. Balakrishnan said.
Amarinder Singh gets interim bail in graft case
By IANS
Ludhiana : Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh was Thursday given interim bail in the multi-million Ludhiana city centre corruption case.
District court in this industrial city also gave the interim relief till Jan 22 to Amarinder Singh's son Raninder Singh, son-in-law Raminder Singh and his former local bodies minister Jagjit Singh and a few others in the graft case.
Punjab police had made elaborate security arrangement inside the court complex and especially around the courtroom in view of presence of the VIPs.
Jharkhand welcomes centre’s decision on delimitation
By IANS
Ranchi : Jharkhand government has welcomed the union cabinet's decision not to implement Delimitation Commission of India's (DCI) recommendation to reduce the number of tribal seats in the assembly and parliamentary constituencies of the state.
The union cabinet Thursday decided not to implement the DCI recommendations for five states, including Jharkhand. The DCI had proposed that the number of seats reserved for schedule tribes in the state assembly be reduced from 28 to 21. It also wanted to reduce the number of reserved Lok Sabha seats by one.
Andhra district shuts down against TRS attack on minister
By IANS
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh's Medak district shut down Thursday on a call from the ruling Congress party to protest the attack on a state minister by activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), who are agitating for a separate state.
Buses of the state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) went off the roads and shops and business establishments remained closed as Congress workers enforced the strike.
Kerala loses stalwart politician Baby John
By IANS
Kollam (Kerala) : Former Kerala minister and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader Baby John passed away here Tuesday morning. He was 87.
The veteran leader, who died of his respiratory ailments at a private hospital here, is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
John began his political career as a member of the Congress and was a minister under five different chief ministers - C. Achutha Menon, K. Karunakaran, A.K. Antony, P.K. Vasudevan Nair and E.K. Nayanar.
Shivraj Patil asks Maharashtra to protect the vulnerable
By IANS
New Delhi : Four days after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) targeted north Indians in Mumbai, damaging taxis and vandalising theatres, Home Minister Shivraj Patil Wednesday stepped in to ask the state government to provide protection to the "vulnerable".
In a statement, Patil directed the state authorities to also ensure that no individual or group of persons was intimidated, attacked or their properties targeted and damaged.
Poll officials discuss revision of voters’ lists
By IANS
New Delhi : Chief electoral officers (CEO) of all states reviewed poll preparations and revision of electoral rolls at a meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswamy called here Thursday.
Election Commission sources said the CEOs discussed the revision of electoral rolls in the states. Gopalaswamy has shown his concern over faulty preparations of electoral rolls and failure in revising them from time to time.
Afzal was detained, not arrested in 2001: BJP
By IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday stoutly denied Congress charges that Afzal Guru, the main accused in the Dec 13, 2001, terror attack on the Indian parliament, was arrested two days before the attack and let off when the party was in power.
Replying to the Congress charge, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said here: "In 2001, he was once again rounded up for interrogation by the Jammu and Kashmir police but not formally arrested."
No fresh mandate needed for Indo-US nuclear deal: Cong
By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : Congress sought to dismiss CPI(M) demand that the party should seek a fresh mandate if it wanted to forge a strategic alliance with America and go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal.
"Congress believes no fresh mandate is needed," AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
Amid Mumbai trouble, Deshmukh busy with son’s wedding
By IANS
New Delhi/Mumbai : As Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was arrested Wednesday on charges of fuelling hatred among ethnic groups, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was busy with his son's wedding preparations in far away Latur.
Although Mumbai remained largely calm even as additional paramilitary forces were rushed to the city, a section of Congress leaders voiced unhappiness over the absence of Deshmukh from the city.
Opposition-led shutdown affects life in Kerala
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Most shops and businesses in Kerala remained closed and public transport vehicles remained off roads Tuesday as the state observed a 12-hour dawn to dusk shutdown called by the Congress-led opposition.
The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) called for the shutdown on the eve of the state assembly's budget session to protest price rise amongst other demands.
Decision on Sethusamudram affidavit likely Thursday
By IANS
New Delhi : The government is likely to take the final decision Thursday on the affidavit to be filed in the Supreme Court on the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said Wednesday.
"The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) will take views of everyone (in the United Progressive Alliance) and harmonise them. Everybody had not read the affidavit and they were given more time. The final decision will be taken tomorrow," Soni told reporters on the sidelines of an official function here.
Bhattacharjee wants houses built for not-so-rich
By IANS
Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Wednesday harped on water harvesting facilities in all new buildings while urging real estate companies to build homes for the not-so-rich as well.
Inaugurating east India's largest real estate exhibition "Realty Expo 2008" at the Science City grounds here, he said: "There should be both water harvesting and solar energy tapping facilities in the new buildings."
Some projects in the new township of Rajarhat here have already come up with such initiatives, he said.
Sonia Gandhi praises PM for farm loan waiver
By IANS
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for waiving off farmers' loans to the tune of Rs.600 billion, saying the decision will bring smiles to the faces of the beneficiaries.
Gandhi, while giving away the Stree Shakti Puraskar awards here, said: "If a farmer commits suicide, the entire family is destroyed and it is the women who suffer most. Therefore, I thank and express gratitude to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the relief given to 40 million farmers."
Mamata art wows Maneka
By IANS
New Delhi : Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee is known to many as a fighter. But her colleague in the Lok Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Maneka Gandhi, has discovered the finer side of the feisty Banerjee - her beautiful sketches.
Sonia to address farmers’ rally in Maharashtra
By IANS
New Delhi : With the Congress competing with its allies to claim credit for the Rs.600 billion farm loan waiver, party president Sonia Gandhi will address a series of farmer rallies in Maharashtra Monday.
She is expected to address public rallies in Osmanabad in Marathwada region and Sangli in western Maharashtra.
Lhasa crackdown echoes in parliament
By IANS
New Delhi : The crackdown by China against protesters in Tibetan capital Lhasa echoed in parliament Monday with the government being asked to make a statement on how it intended to react to the developments.
"The government response has been weak-kneed," former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha declared while raising the issue during zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house.
"We are all for good relations with China but I would humbly suggest that good relations do not mean that we surrender (our rights to make our views known)," he maintained.
Gujarat BJP legislator booked under Arms Act
Vadodara, March 23 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Madhubhai Shrivastava is in trouble again. The lawmaker from Vadodara in Gujarat, who was accused by Best Bakery case key witness Zahira Sheikh of intimidating her, has been booked under the Arms Act.
City police inspector R.B. Lashkari registered the case late Saturday night against Shrivastava, who is also chairman of the Baroda Dairy.
Maharashtra assembly sends poll official to jail
By IANS
Mumbai : In an unprecedented action, the Maharashtra legislative assembly Thursday sent the state's Chief Election Commissioner Nand Lal to jail for two days for bringing impediments in the working of its privileges committee.
Shortly after the order, Nand Lal was picked up by the police from his office in south Mumbai and taken to the Arthur Road Jail.
BJP blames UPA policies for spiralling inflation
By IANS
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday blamed the policies of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for the current spiralling inflation.
"A series of steps were taken which remain unexplained but have damaged the morale of Indian farmers," BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told newsmen.
He asked the government to take parliament into confidence over this.
"It is now too well-known that sub-standard wheat was imported at higher prices from outside whereas the Indian farmers were paid less during the course of procurement," he said.
Three phased polls in Karnataka from May 10
By IANS
New Delhi : Elections to pick a new 224-member Karnataka assembly will be held May 10, 16 and 22, the Election Commission announced here Wednesday.
Counting of votes will take place May 25, said Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalasami.
Scindia hogs limelight at swearing-in ceremony
By IANS
New Delhi : Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, young MP and scion of former royal family, hogged the limelight at the swearing-in ceremony Sunday of seven new faces in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's council of ministers.
He was the first to reach the Ashoka Hall at Rashtrapati Bhawan. A visibly elated Scindia interacted with everyone and freely mingled with the mediapersons present.
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Suspended Orissa assembly woman marshal sues newspaper
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : A suspended woman marshal of the Orissa legislative assembly, who accused the house speaker of sexual harassment last month, Wednesday filed a Rs.50 million defamation suit against an Oriya newspaper for publishing an allegedly objectionable report.
Gayatri Panda filed a suit against Pabitra Mohan Samantaray, editor of Oriya daily Paryabeskyak and its printer and publisher Budhadev Mohapatra, in the Court of Civil Judge (senior division), Bhubaneswar, her lawyer Arup Chand told IANS.
Government must justify its existence: CPI
By IANS,
New Delhi : Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Gurudas Das Gupta Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for its failure to rein in inflation.
"Manmohan Singh government must justify its existence. It seems there is no government in place. Things have been left to market forces," said Das Gupta, initiating a discussion in the Lok Sabha on rising prices.
"The government is out of place," he said.
BJP for subsidised food grains to poor
By IANS,
Bhopal : The Bharatiya Janata Party Saturday called upon the central government to provide subsidised food grains to the poor across the country since the 'have nots' are reeling from ever increasing prices of essential commodities.
Addressing a huge gathering on the launch of the Mukhya Mantri Annapurna Yojana (Chief Minister's subsidised food scheme), senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said that it was a boon for the poor families and the other states as well as the central government should introduce this scheme in the entire country by amending the constitution.
NTR’s son Balakrishna ready to contest electionst
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao's son and popular Telugu film actor N. Balakrishna is ready to contest next year's elections as a candidate of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
He has already agreed to campaign for the party, led by his brother-in-law and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Shutdown in Kerala town following arrest of RSS men
By IANS,
Kannur (Kerala) : The Thalassery assembly constituency in Kerala's Kannur district observed a shutdown Monday in response to a call by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to protest the arrest of three activists Saturday.
The three RSS activists were held in connection with the murder Jan 26 of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) member Jijesh.
The dawn-to-dusk shutdown was peaceful except for an incident where BJP-RSS supporters smashed the windscreen of a car, police said.
Left denies Manmohan government go-ahead on IAEA pact
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Indian government's much sought after nuclear deal with the US remained in limbo after its Left allies Tuesday refused to give it the green signal to go the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to finalise an India-specific safeguards agreement.
Congress MP asked to explain allegations
By IANS,
Jammu : The Congress party Tuesday demanded from its MP Madan Lal Sharma an explanation about his "false and unwarranted" remarks that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had been asked to pardon Jammu and Kashmir Speaker Tara Chand and former state party unit chief Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed for their alleged involvement in a sex scandal.
The Congress high command refused to accept Sharma's verbal denial that he had not mentioned the name of Sonia Gandhi, and asked him to give in writing what he had said and the context in which he had spoken.
West Bengal minister flays Gurung
By IANS,
Kolkata : West Bengal minister Ashok Bhattacharya Thursday called Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung "incompetent" after the latter vowed to work for a Darjeeling state come what may.
Urban Development, Municipal and Hill Affairs Minister Bhattacharya criticised the way Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) president Gurung attacked him and the West Bengal government.
"GJM is exploiting the emotions of the Gorkha community to achieve political power," the minister told IANS. "As for Bimal Gurung, he is an incompetent leader and knows nothing.
PM’s package for Kashmiri Hindus won’t work, says Farooq
By IANS,
Jammu : Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has challenged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's vision and package for the return of Kashmiri Hindus to their homes in the valley.
"It cannot happen, whatever be the package, unless there is a resolution of Kashmir crisis," Abdullah told a gathering of prominent citizens, most of them Kashmiri Pandits or Hindus, in Jammu late Friday evening.
The Prime Minister's package, he said, would not work. "That is for sure."
Sangma family to battle it out in Meghalaya by-poll
By IANS,
Tura (Meghalaya) : The by-election for the Tura parliamentary seat in the northeastern state of Meghalaya scheduled for Thursday is turning out to be some sort of a family affair for nine-time MP and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma.
The ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate is Agatha Kongkal Sangma, the youngest daughter of the veteran parliamentarian, while Boston Marak, contesting as an independent, is the son of Sangma's elder brother.
Karnataka in kitty, BJP rejoices in south India
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Now that it is set to form a government in south India for the first time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident the victory in Karnataka will help it spread its base in the adjoining states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
BJP stalwarts in the three states where the party remains weak say the stunning election win Sunday in Karnataka was the best thing to have happened to them.
The rejoicing is at its height in Andhra Pradesh, where the BJP has decided to contest all 294 assembly and 42 Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 elections.
Bodies await autopsy, Gujjar agitation spreads
By Sahil Makkar, IANS
Bayana (Rajasthan) : The decaying bodies of 37 Gujjars, who died last week, are still lying at four places awaiting autopsy and cremation on the sixth day Wednesday of the largely rural community's agitation for affirmative action. Life also remained crippled in several towns across this western Indian state of Rajasthan with highways and roads blocked.
Yeddyurappa, Karnataka chief minister-elect, once saw no future in BJP
By V.S. Karnic, IANS,
Bangalore : B.S. Yeddyurappa, who will become the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) first chief minister in Karnataka and south India Friday, had thought of quitting the party after the 2004 assembly polls because he saw no future in it for himself.
A few months after the 2004 polls, Yeddyurappa met H.D. Kumaraswamy, son of Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) president and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, to explore the possibility of joining that party.
BJP welcomes fatwa against terrorism
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday welcomed the Islamic seminary Dar-ul-Uloom's fatwa (edict) terming participation in terror activities as un-Islamic.
“I welcome the recent fatwa issued by one of the most prestigious religious centres of the Muslim community Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband, which stated that the killing of innocent citizens by terrorists is an un-Islamic act,” party president Rajnath Singh said in his presidential address at the BJP national executive here.
Kerala shuts down to protest fuel price hikes
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Educational institutions in Kerala were closed and public transport was hit by Thursday's state-wide shutdown called by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protest the hike in fuel prices.
"We had no option but to protest in this manner because several of our suggestions were being continuously ignored by the Manmohan Singh government," said Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP Paniyan Ravindran.
Hurriyat factions get together to protest land allotment
By IANS,
Srinagar : After nearly five years, the two estranged factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference in Jammu and Kashmir will chalk out a common `resistance programme' against a controversial allotment of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) by the state government.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, the chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, would call on Syed Ali Geelani, the hardline separatist leader and chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat group, Thursday to chalk out a common 'resistance programme' against the allotment of forest land to SASB.
UPA-Left meet ends, showdown averted
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's ruling coalition and its Left allies Wednesday averted a showdown by ending a key meeting over the India-US nuclear deal saying they will meet again "in due course".
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee read out a brief statement at the end of talks between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the four Left parties that support Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government.
Textbook controversy heats up in Kerala
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : The Congress party in Kerala Saturday decided to strengthen agitation against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of the state over a controversial Class 7 textbook.
The Congress, which is on a campaign demanding withdrawal of the social science book, would organise a series of meetings across the state against teaching from the book, state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here.
Left says PM forcing them to end support to government
By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian Communist leaders Monday said they had no option but to withdraw their support to the government after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed to go ahead with the India-US nuclear deal.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and its three Left allies, which had asked the government to clarify by Monday its stand on the deal, will meet Tuesday morning to decide their next move.
Left withdrawal was expected: Kerala Congress chief
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : The Congress party in Kerala Tuesday said it wouldn't be surprised if the Left parties now teamed up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after having withdrawn support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Terming the withdrawal of support by the Left as "expected", state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here: "Don't we know these Left (parties) better than anyone else? And don't be surprised if the Left decides to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)."
We have the numbers, IAEA only after trust vote: government
New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) The government Thursday expressed the confidence that it has the numbers to prove its majority in parliament and reiterated it will face a floor test before finalising the India-specific safeguard agreement with the IAEA.
Talking to reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said: “It was unfortunate that Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat accused the government of hiding things from the people.”
No deceit over n-deal, says Congress, as BJP and Left see red
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's ruling Congress party Thursday dismissed allegations of deceit over the India-US nuclear deal as the Left kept up its strident attack and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately prove his parliamentary majority.
Without joining hands, the BJP and Left parties separately denounced the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for taking the text of the India-specific safeguards agreement to the IAEA while denying it to people within the country.
Maharashtra BJP chief faces tough fight in state council poll
By Shyam Pandharipande, IANS,
Nagpur : For the first time in 30 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing an uphill task in the Maharashtra legislative council election from the graduates' constituency here with state unit president Nitin Gadkari locked in a tough contest against Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-supported Baban Taywade, reckoned as a strong candidate.
PM confident of trust vote, upbeat about n-deal
By IANS,
New Delhi : As the clock ticks away for the trust vote set for July 22, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday expressed confidence about winning it and said the nuclear deal would “in no way impinge” on India's strategic programme nor compromise the country's foreign policy.
"People of India understand the significance of the nuclear deal. The nuclear deal will in no way impinge on India's strategic programme," Manmohan Singh told senior editors from the electronic media at a breakfast meeting at his 7 Race Course residence.
Mumbai business community pledges support to UPA
By IANS,
Mumbai : Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC), a leading industry forum that represents nearly 250,000 businesses in the western region, Wednesday extended its full support to the Manmohan Singh government, which is seeking vote of confidence in parliament July 22 over the Indo-US nuclear deal.
In a letter sent to the prime minister, IMC said the Mumbai business community would stand by the government's efforts to clinch the nuclear deal.
UPA renames airport after his father, Left woos Ajit too
By IANS,
New Delhi : With three Lok Sabha MPs in his Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), it was Ajit Singh's day to be wooed Thursday with the government deciding to rename an airport after his father, the late former prime minister Charan Singh, and the Left trying equally hard to win him over.
A cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took the decision to rename the Amausi airport in the Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow after Charan Singh in an apparent attempt to win the support of the RLD chief, whose three MPs could be vital in the trust vote on July 22.
Suspend nuclear deal, says Mayawati
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati Monday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to make the India-US nuclear deal a “prestige” issue and said the next government should finalise it.
Mayawati, who has virtually taken over the role of the principal opposition rallying point for smaller political formations opposing Manmohan Singh's government in the trust vote, also claimed that the deal was a step to make India a slave of the US.
Let not fear guide us, Rahul tells MPs
By IANS,
New Delhi : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday urged the members of parliament not to allow fear to lead them as he said energy security was vital in eradicating poverty from India.
Participating in the debate over the trust motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said nuclear energy was essential to make a country a leading world power.
Tackling inflation government’s first priority: PM
By IANS,
New Delhi : In a passionate speech which he was not allowed to deliver in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intended to state that tackling inflation and revitalising the farm sector were two of his government's top priorities.
"My priorities are tackling the imported inflation caused by steep increase in oil prices," says the text of the prime minister's speech which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's request after opposition members disrupted proceedings.
BJP expels eight Lok Sabha MPs
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday expelled eight of its Lok Sabha MPs for either cross-voting or abstaining during the confidence vote in parliament Tuesday.
The expelled MPs are Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Somabhai Patel, K. Manjunath and H.T. Sangliana (for cross-voting), as also Manorama Madhwaraj, Chandrabhan Singh, Harising Rathod and Babubhai Katara (for abstaining), BJP president Rajnath Singh announced at a press conference here.
Bangalore blasts due to government’s soft approach: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday condemned the serial bomb blasts in the IT capital of Bangalore and blamed the central government's "soft approach" towards terrorism for the incident.
Party president Rajnath Singh and BJP parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra, in separate statements, condemned the blasts that have left one person dead and six injured.
"This is a condemnable act and if the government keeps compromising national security for vote bank politics, the terrorists will be emboldened," Malhotra said.
‘Terror attacks timed to deflect attention from politics’
By IANS,
Mumbai : Terror attacks are being carried out to divert people's attention from "a serious issue", like how communal riots took place in the past, a group of intellectuals from progressive, Dalit and backward class groups said here Monday.
Under an umbrella organisation called Awami Bharat, the groups emphasised that the politics of communal riots had now been replaced by the politics of terror.
They stressed that terror strikes should be analysed in a political context.
Koda unperturbed by Soren lobbying for chief ministership
By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda Wednesday said he was not perturbed by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren lobbying with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government as the chief minister's post was not a "permanent" one.
"The chief minister's post is not a permanent post for anyone. People select anyone for the post for a certain period of time. The post of chief minister should be respected by everyone".
Asked about JMM's move to install Soren as chief minister, he said: "There is a political process and I am not perturbed with the development.
NDA, JVM for Koda’s dismissal, fresh elections in Jharkhand
By IANS,
Ranchi : A delegation of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) Monday met Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi and demanded the dismissal of the Madhu Koda government and fresh elections in the state. The governor has summoned Koda Monday afternoon.
Land must be returned to Singur farmers, says Mamata
By IANS,
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Tuesday told industry representatives here that the 400 acres of farmlands acquired for the Tata Motors small car factory project in Singur had to be returned to the farmers.
"We are not against industrialisation in the state, but we want the state government to give back 400 acres of land to the unwilling farmers," she told representatives of chambers of commerce.
Left strike gets poor response in Himachal
By IANS,
Shimla : The 24-hour shutdown Wednesday called by Left trade unions against the central government's policies evoked a poor response in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Himachal Pradesh.
Markets, business establishments, schools and colleges were open across the state. Inspector General of Police S.R. Mardi said the situation was peaceful.
Jayalalitha elected AIADMK general secretary again
By IANS,
Chennai : Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha was unanimously elected general secretary of the AIADMK for a record sixth term here Wednesday as her supporters welcomed the announcement by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.
Speaking to journalists after being elected, Jayalalitha felt there was no immediate need to move a motion of no-confidence against the DMK government.
"While I may look at the possibility later, personally I feel that there is no need to do so since this government has already lost the confidence of the people," Jayalalitha said.
BJP ready to go it alone in Maharashtra
By IANS
Nagpur : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit leadership Friday asked its cadres to be prepared to fight the next Maharashtra assembly elections on their own strength.
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.
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.
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.
N-deal crisis eases as government moves on committee
By IANS
New Delhi : The political stand-off over the India-US civilian nuclear deal is likely to ease with the government preparing to set up a committee to address Left concerns, but the communists made it clear Wednesday that this should be accompanied by a freeze on nuclear negotiations.
The ruling Congress leaders, who have held discussions with the four Left parties in the last two days, discussed modalities of the mechanism with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday.
Blast rocks Srinagar ahead of Sonia’s arrival
By IANS
Srinagar : A powerful blast rocked the old city of Srinagar Monday, hours before Congress president Sonia Gandhi was scheduled to arrive here, injuring five women personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Police said separatist guerrillas detonated a pre-planted improvised explosive device (IED) near the high-security Srinagar Central Jail at Kathidarwaza, seven km from city centre Lal Chowk, as a CRPF vehicle carrying troopers passed the area.
Congress has succumbed to US pressure: Advani
By Sanjay Sharma, IANS
Bhopal : Accusing the Congress of having "succumbed to the US pressure to make India accept the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)", senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani said here Sunday that his party favoured nuclear energy without compromising on the nuclear weapons option.
When a necklace becomes a pain in the neck
By Jaideep Sarin
Chandigarh, Sep 29 (IANS) What started as a move to have a ceremonial necklace for the mayor of Chandigarh has turned out to be a pain in the neck for the municipal corporation here with local councillors striking a completely discordant note over the issue.
The move by nominated councillor Kuldip Singh Chandpuri - a retired army brigadier and Maha Vir Chakra recipient on whose heroics the Bollywood blockbuster 'Border' was made nearly a decade back - was shot down Friday by elected councillors who termed the idea as "unnecessary and wasteful".
CPI-M has taken unanimous decision on n-deal: Basu
By IANS
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) central committee meeting has taken a unanimous decision on the India-US nuclear deal, party patriarch Jyoti Basu said Monday while refusing to spell out the decision.
"We have taken a unanimous decision on the nuclear deal. There is no difference of opinion on the issue," he said on the concluding day of the three-day central committee meeting of the party here.
JD-S braces for early polls in Karnataka
By IANS
New Delhi : The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) Saturday seemed ready to face any eventuality in Karnataka, including possible early elections, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was withdrawing support to its coalition with JD-S.