Amarinder’s son Raninder trailing in Punjab
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh's son Raninder Singh was trailing in the Samana assembly seat in Patiala district of Punjab.
Security up along Tamil Nadu coast
By IANS,
Chennai : Security has been beefed up along Tamil Nadu's 650-km coastline stretching from here to Rameshwaram following intelligence inputs that LTTE chief V. Prabhakaran may attempt to cross over from Sri Lanka, police said Sunday.
The intelligence inputs indicated possibilities of the beleaguered Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Prabhakaran crossing over to Tamil Nadu amid a smokescreen of alleged assaults on local fishermen by Indian naval personnel in Rameshwaram, 600 km south of here.
AAP hits out at HRD ministry over Teachers’ Day issue
New Delhi: The AAP Tuesday criticised the human resource development (HRD) ministry over the Teachers' Day address by Prime Minister Narendra, terming the controversy...
Foreigners’ names on voter roll will be deleted: Kamat
By IANS,
Panaji: Names of foreigners on the electoral rolls in Goa will be deleted as soon as possible, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat told the state assembly Wednesday.
Kamat was speaking at a discussion on electoral issues during the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly.
"I will ask the chief electoral officer to delete all the names of foreigners on the voting roll," Kamat said in response to a question from Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) legislator Francis D'Souza.
Jaswant Singh to file papers for vice president Friday
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh will Friday file his nomination for the vice presidential election, party sources said.
Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid booked under UAPA, supporters say ‘activism not a...
By Nazish Hussain, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Former Jawahar Lal Nehru (JNU) student leader and United Against Hate (UAH) activist Umar Khalid was arrested on Sunday...
Shutdown in Delhi unsuccessful, says Dikshit
By IANS,
New Delhi : Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Thursday described the opposition called 'Bharat Bandh' - a nation-wide shutdown - over petrol price hike in Delhi as total failure.
Andhra chief minister to expand cabinet on May 25
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Thursday said he would expand his cabinet May 25 but ruled out appointing a deputy chief minister.
YSR, who took oath as the chief minister for the second consecutive term Wednesday evening, said he would induct ministers in his cabinet May 25 and promised to give proper representation to all regions.
He was speaking at a meet-the-press programme organised by Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists.
B.P. Baishya new IWF president
By IANS,
New Delhi: B.P. Baishya and Sahadev Yadav were Sunday unanimously elected president and secretary, respectively, of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
Baishya is a member of parliament and chairman of the North-Eastern Commission of the Indian Olympic Association.
Representatives of all the 33 IWF affiliates also elected Naresh Sharma of Delhi as the treasurer.
Sydney Olympics bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari and K.C. Baba were unanimously elected as vice-presidents in the polls conducted in the presence of Indian Olympics Association observer Mukesh Kumar.
Campus democracy should not be controlled by political parties: Speakers
By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
सुप्रीम कोर्ट के आदेश के बाद अब अपने वकील से मिल सकेंगे गिरफ्तार...
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर। Twocircles.net
सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने शुक्रवार को केरल के पत्रकार सिद्दीक कप्पन के मामले की सुनवाई करते हुए सॉलिसिटर जनरल तुषार मेहता के आवेदन...
Karat wants governors’ role redefined
By IANS,
Madurai (Tamil Nadu) : In a veiled criticism of West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Wednesday said he favoured "redefining" the role of governors.
Reacting to a specific question on a remark by CPI-M's Biman Bose, who is convenor of West Bengal's ruling Left Front, demanding abrogation of the centrally appointed gubernatorial post, Karat said: "We have always said that the governor's post needs to be redefined. Shortly, this will be taken up by us with the centre-state relationship panel."
Physically challenged man first member of Chiranjeevi’s party
By IANS,
Hyderabad : A physically challenged man has become the first member of Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's political party.
The actor, who is set to formally launch the party at temple town of Tirupati Aug 26, announced Thursday he was admitting K. Balakrishna, a physically challenged man, as the first member of the party.
A day before his 53rd birthday, Chiranjeevi made this announcement before reporters at his party office here and welcomed more people who joined his party.
National interest demands UPA, NDA forge common stand on N-deal
By K. Subrahmanyam, IANS,
Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Brajesh Mishra has risen above parochial considerations and come out strongly in favour of the India-US nuclear deal. Initially he was opposed to the deal on two considerations. The first is whether India's strategic programme would be capped short of its assessed requirement. Secondly will India be able to conduct a nuclear test if it became necessary.
Modi is bookies’ top bet for PM
Mumbai : BJP leader Narendra Modi continues to attract huge bets and has emerged as the top contender for the next prime minister.
Just two...
Congress failed to tackle northeast insurgency: Karat
By IANS
Agartala : Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Sunday accused the Congress party of failing to tackle militancy in the northeast.
"The Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government at the Centre imposed president's rule in Nagaland on the plea that extremism was on the rise. But in Tripura the Congress entered into an electoral alliance with a tribal based party, which is an overgound organisation of a banned militant outfit," Karat said while addressing an election rally of the ruling Left Front here.
Opposition, ruling MPs play truant during budget debate
By IANS,
New Delhi : When the Lok Sabha Friday debated the budget for the fiscal 2010-11, the house presented a near empty look at many points of time.
It was the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) first that made an issue of empty seats in the treasury benches during the debate.
Some BJP MPs alleged this "showed the government's casual approach to parliament".
Senior BJP leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha was the first to raise the issue. He was joined by other party MPs, including Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj.
Andhra speaker accepts resignations of two TDP members
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh assembly Speaker N. Manohar Saturday accepted resignations of two lawmakers, both rebels of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Jayalalithaa sacks Malaisamy from AIADMK
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Thursday expelled former Rajya Sabha MP K. Malaisamy from the AIADMK, a day after he said the...
Kashmiri advocacy group demands poll postponement
New Delhi : Arguing that the people of Kashmir were still recovering from the aftermath of the Sep 7 floods, a Kashmir-based advocacy group...
Loss in Delhi bad for Parivar, not the BJP
By Saeed Naqvi,
In politics, sometimes normalcy looks abnormal. That the Bharatiya Janata Party should be with its back to the wall in the Delhi battle is abnormal for those who have not yet recovered from the awesomeness of Narendra Modi’s victory in May 2014.
Rajya Sabha adjourned after opposition ruckus
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day Tuesday as opposition members continued demanding a discussion on price rise under rules which provide for voting.
Northeast in the age of coalition politics: The touchstone of Meghalaya
By Sanjoy Hazarika, IANS,
The new council of ministers, with a predominance of Congress representatives, shows a fascinating compromise that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi as well as their chief aides, not least Rahul Gandhi, have manoeuvred. And nowhere is the delicate, difficult and thankless task of coalition building seen best as in the case of little Meghalaya where both members of parliament have found a place.
Poll panel asked why not register Shiv Sena Hindustan
By INAS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Tuesday issued a notice to the Election Commission (EC) asking it why a political party named Shiv Sena Hindustan cannot be registered with it.
Justice S. Ravindra Bhat asked the Election Commission why the registration of the Punjab-based political party was refused.
The court was hearing a petition by the party, which alleged the poll panel had rejected its plea for registration in gross misuse of its discretionary powers.
Angry Congress to contest 37 seats in Bihar
New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Deciding to go it alone in Bihar, the Congress Saturday said it would contest 37 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
The decision comes days after a jolt from its allies Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) which unilaterally decided to stitch up a pre-poll tie-up in Bihar and contest 37 seats between themselves.
"They (RJD and LJP) took the decision unilaterally to share the seats, leaving just three to us," senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde told reporters here.
Jyoti Basu’s successes and failures
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Jyoti Basu's life encompasses the entire period of the Left's rise and fall in India.
When he first became a legislator in the West Bengal assembly in the late 1940s, there were only two of them in the house. His death six decades later has taken place at a time when the ideology itself is dying out not only in India, but worldwide.
No politics involved in helping Maoist-affected states: Moily
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : The centre is helping Maoist-affected states in every possible way, union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said here Monday, adding that the UPA government did not "dabble in politics" on such a serious issue.
Speaking in Bhubaneswar, Moily said: "We are not dabbling in politics on a grave issue like Naxalism (Maoism)."
"We are extending all help to state governments - whether it is deploying central forces or giving monetary help, the centre is ready to provide all help to deal with the Naxal menace," he added.
Advani hits out at PM over spectrum row
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging that he was ignorant of the happenings in his cabinet.
Redistribution of land must for ensuring food security: Bardhan
By IANS,
Kolkata: Averring that redistribution of land and land reforms were a must for ensuring food security, the Communist Party of India (CPI) Monday demanded that the central government adopt a universal Public Distribution System and not a targeted one.
Claiming that the land of peasants, particularly fertile land, should not be acquired for industrialisation, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said the Leftists would launch a struggle to ensure that proper measures for food security were implemented by the central government.
मुस्लिम परिवार के ख़िलाफ़ झूठी ख़बर प्रकाशित करने का कड़ा विरोध
By अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
नई दिल्ली: हिंदी के प्रमुख अख़बार दैनिक भास्कर के कई संस्करणों में प्रकाशित एक ख़बर का सोशल मीडिया पर कड़ा...
Why women’s safety not in poll campaign, ask activists
New Delhi : Rights practitioners, lawyers and thought leaders Wednesday asked why was women's safety not of pivotal concern in the ongoing elections, and...
कानपुर में सच दिखाने पर तीन पत्रकारों के विरुद्ध दर्ज हुए मुक़दमें
स्टाफ़ रिपोर्टर।Twocircles.net
उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस पर एफआईआर दर्ज कर पत्रकारों का उत्पीड़न किया जाने एक औऱ आरोप लगा है। यह मामला उत्तर प्रदेश के कानपुर...
Revelations of US spying on BJP disconcerting: India
New Delhi : India Tuesday strongly reacted to revelations that the then opposition BJP was among the political parties across the world which a...
Government discriminates against our states: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday accused the Congress-led central government of discriminating against BJP-ruled states.
Muslim seminaries cautioned about Naik long before Dhaka attack
New Delhi : While controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik enjoys a huge fan following, the dangers emanating from what he was speaking was understood...
Sonia launches poll campaign in Gujarat
By IANS
Vaghasi (Anand) : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday launched her party's election campaign in Gujarat with a call to the people to vote for change.
"I seek in all humility your hands of cooperation for new Gujarat, where people can walk without fear and injustice, where there is a spirit of humanity and there is no corruption," she said addressing a well-attended Mahila Samman Sammelan here, 60 km from Ahmedabad.
Modi to lay foundation stone for Varanasi gas system
Lucknow : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for an ambitious 'city gas system' in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on...
24 more file nominations in West Bengal
By IANS,
Kolkata : A total of 24 candidates including Congress state unit's working president Subrata Mukherjee filed their papers Friday on the second day of the nomination process for 14 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, polling for which will be held in the first phase.
Mukherjee is contesting from Bankura, where his rival from Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Basudeb Acharia filed his candidature Thursday.
Pappu Yadav cries foul in Tihar Olympics
By Sahil Makkar, IANS
New Delhi : Jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Pappu Yadav, who seems to bounce back into limelight every now and then, has now given the Tihar Jail staff another nightmare by alleging cheating during the ongoing 'Olympics' for prisoners.
In a letter to B.K. Gupta, jail director general of police (DGP), Yadav has accused the jail administration of manipulating rules and regulations to keep his team out of the cricket tournament. Yadav is the cricket coach of jail number three where he is currently lodged.
Arjun Singh ‘shocked’ at denial of party ticket to his children
By IANS,
New Delhi : Senior Congress leader and Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh Monday vented his deep disappointment over his son and daughter being denied the party ticket, saying he was shocked at what the party had given him in return for his loyalty.
In an interview to NDTV, Singh said the Congress party did not differentiate between "honour and humiliation".
Asked whether he felt slighted, the senior Congress leader said: "Slighted is a word that does not appeal to me... I'm shocked by what is in store for loyalty."
President’s rule imposed in Jharkhand
By IANS,
New Delhi : President's rule was imposed in Jharkhand Tuesday, two days after Shibu Soren stepped down as chief minister and none of the three major political parties in the state showing willingness to form an alternate government.
The cabinet committee on political affairs chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Tuesday morning to approve the imposition of president's rule and put the legislative assembly in suspended animation, official sources said.
Congress, Trinamool supporters killed in Bengal
By IANS,
Kolkata : A Trinamool Congress zonal committee member and a Congress supporter have been killed in two separate incidents in West Bengal, police said Friday.
Rajen Mahato, a popular leader in Maoist-hit Balarampur area of Purulia district was shot dead late Thursday.
"He was also a member of the Kerua-Ghatbera zonal committee. When he was returning home he was shot dead by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists at Kerua More," Purulia Trinamool Congress president Santiram Mahato said.
However, police suspect Rajen was killed by Maoist rebels.
Left reissues warning to government on n-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : The Left parties Monday said the ruling coalition would have to choose between the Indo-US nuclear pact and the government, a warning prompted by President Pratibha Patil's assertion in parliament that she hoped the deal would "become possible".
"The government will have to suffer if they breach the commitment of not going ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member M.K. Pandhe told reporters outside the party headquarters.
Government prepared for CBI probe into Dadri lynching: Rajnath
New Delhi : Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said anyone seeking to disturb communal amity will not be spared and the government was...
Governor asks Shibu Soren not to transfer bureaucrats
By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Governor M.O.H. Farook has asked the Shibu Soren government not to effect large-scale transfers and postings of bureaucrats, or top- level appointments at a time when the state is facing political uncertainty.
The governor Wednesday summoned Chief Secretary A.K. Singh and communicated this to him. The chief secretary then wrote a letter to the chief minister's office (CMO) conveying the governor's displeasure.
NCP sacks Maharashtra minister after daughter gets BJP ticket
Mumbai : The NCP Wednesday sacked a Maharashtra cabinet minister after his daughter joined the BJP and was given a ticket for the Nandurbar...
All UPA partners to support Soren in assembly by-poll
By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) head Shibu Soren is the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) choice for the Tamar assembly by-election on Dec 29 with none of the alliance partners putting up candidates.
The decision was taken at a meeting of state UPA leaders Wednesday night. Soren will file his nomination papers on Friday.
Mirwaiz calls officer’s lynching ‘brutal act’
Srinagar, (IANS): Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Friday condemned the lynching of a senior police officer here as a "brutal act".
"Deeply disturbed...
Rebel BJP MP joins Congress
By IANS,
New Delhi : A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Maharashtra, Hari Singh Rathore, Friday formally joined the Congress party.
Rathore, who represents Yavatmal constituency in Maharashtra, had supported the Congress in July 22 trust vote on the India-US civil nuclear deal.
“We are happy to announce the decision of BJP MP Hari Singh Rathore to join the Congress,” Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters. Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernanades was also present on the occasion.
‘Congress will disintegrate without Nehru-Gandhi family’
New Delhi : Congress Working Committee member Anil Shastri Sunday said the party would "disintegrate" without the Nehru-Gandhi family leading it.
"Without the 'family' leading...
Congress biggest force fighting against RSS: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party was the biggest force that fought the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and its...
Jaya demands minister’s ouster for rail protest
By IANS
Chennai : AIADMK leader J. Jayalalitha Monday called for the ouster of Tamil Nadu's Agricultural Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam for participating in a "violent agitation" to demand the creation of a railway division in the state.
Shibu moves to Delhi for show of strength
By IANS,
Ranchi : Eyeing the post of Jharkhand chief minister, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren Wednesday went to Delhi to convince United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leaders that he had the numbers to replace Madhu Koda.
"In New Delhi, I will meet the UPA leaders. I have the numbers. It is just a formality to form the next government," Soren told reporters before leaving for New Delhi.
Soren claims support of 45 legislators in the 82-member assembly.
JMM sources said he will try to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and prove his numbers.
Congress wins in Sawai Madhopur, BJP wants recount
By IANS,
Jaipur : Congress candidate and union minister Namonarain Meena defeated Gujjar leader K.S. Bainsla of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a margin of 317 votes in Rajasthan's Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat Sunday but the BJP asked for recounting of votes, a poll official said.
Counting in the constituency was stopped Saturday after one of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) developed a snag. When the counting was conducted again Sunday, Meena was found to have won by 317 votes.
BJP spreading communal violence, says Kejriwal
New Delhi : AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday accused the BJP of spreading communal violence in Delhi and said his party would bring together...
Sajad Lone denies sending supporters to Modi’s rally
Srinagar : Sajad Lone, People's Conference leader and a candidate in the state assembly elections, Monday denied Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's charge that he...
Moily rebuts Jagan claim he’s got nod for rally
By IANS,
New Delhi : Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Tuesday claimed that the Congress leadership had given the "go ahead" for his controversial rally in Andhra Pradesh in memory of his father, the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. But hours later, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily denied any such permission was given.
The Kadapa MP, known as Jagan, defied the party diktat and went ahead with his rally in the volatile Telangana region last week, triggering violence that necessitated his being taken into protective custody May 28.
Stop model’s bare all plan, BJP leader tells police
By IANS,
Mumbai : Model Poonam Pandey's plan to strip if India beat Sri Lanka Saturday has angered the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) women's wing which has sought police action against her.
Pratibha Patil and 11 predecessors at Rashtrapati Bhavan
By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Patil will be inaugurated president Wednesday and hold the 13th term at the high office in India's 60-year post-independent history. Rajendra Prasad held the first two terms at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Following is the list of the presidents and their tenures:
Rajendra Prasad (Jan 26, 1952 - May 13, 1962)
S. Radhakrishnan (May 13, 1962 - May 13, 1967)
Zakir Hussain (May 13, 1967 - May 3, 1969)
V.V. Giri (Aug 24, 1969 - Aug 24, 1974)
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (Aug 24, 1974 - Feb 11, 1977)
Congress leaders cancel engagements following YSR’s death
By IANS,
New Delhi : Many Congress leaders Thursday cancelled their official engagements following the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash.
Mourning the death of YSR, as the 60-year-old chief minister was popularly known, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma cancelled the cultural programme and dinner for the WTO Ministerial meeting as "a mark of respect to the departed soul".
Forty trade ministers from overseas and top officials of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) were expected to attend the dinner Thursday night.
300 file nominations for 10 Haryana seats
Chandigarh: A total of 300 candidates have filed nomination papers for 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, officials said here Saturday.
The filing of nomination...
Haryana Congress leaders hit back at Amarinder Singh
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Days after former Punjab chief minister and senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh criticised his own party's government in neighbouring Haryana for the construction of an "illegal" canal, Congress leaders in Haryana have hit back.
Modi bats for federal structure for India’s progress
Burnpur (West Bengal) : Observing that strained centre-state ties have long hindered India's progress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said only 'Team India'...
AAP questions appointment of Nadda, Giriraj Singh
Ghaziabad : The Aam Aadmi Party Monday questioned the appointment of J.P. Nadda and Giriraj Singh to the union council of ministers.
Addressing a press...
Police detain people protesting against arrests of activists in Hyderabad
Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net
A peaceful protest against the arrests of revolutionary writer Vara Vara Rao of Hyderabad and other activists across the nation was interrupted...
Congress set for third straight term in Assam
By IANS,
Guwahati : The Congress party was Friday set for a third consecutive term in Assam with the opposition almost routed.
Keep your promise, don’t change land act: Tribal leaders to PM
Ranchi : Tribal leaders of Jharkhand have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to keep his promise of not changing the land act in...
Arundhati Roy must withdraw remarks on Gandhi: Kerala minister
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala Saturday said that Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy should apologise for calling Mahatma Gandhi a casteist.
"She should...
अमरोहा की क़ातिल शबनम की दया याचिका खारिज,अब लगेगी फांसी
आकिल हुसैन। Twocircles.net
देश में आज़ादी के बाद पहली बार किसी महिला को फांसी देने की तैयारी चल रही है, और यह तैयारी चल रही...
91 candidates with criminal cases in Delhi polls: study
By IANS,
New Delhi : As many as 91 candidates with pending criminal cases will be contesting the Delhi assembly polls this time, says a study conducted by Delhi Election Watch (DEW).
“There are 91 candidates, who have pending criminal cases against them, who are contesting assembly elections this time,” Anil Bairwal of DEW said at a press conference here.
DEW is part of a nationwide campaign called National Election Watch (NEW), which is a group of NGOs across the country.
Breakdown of law, order in Tripura: Congress
By IANS,
Agartala: There is a complete breakdown of law and order in Tripura, leader of opposition and Congressman Ratan Lal Nath said Saturday, adding that party chief Sonia Gandhi has also voiced concern on the issue.
Nath said he along with Tripura Congress president Surajit Datta met Gandhi in New Delhi earlier this week and submitted a detailed report on "crime, unabated corruption and misrule of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front government in Tripura".
LTTE tops opposition agenda in Tamil Nadu assembly
By IANS
Chennai : Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK Wednesday talked of completing the Sethusamudram shipping canal project and investments, but the opposition AIADMK would have none of it and began the assembly's winter session here with a walkout on the government's failure to curb the Tamil Tigers.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was on top of the opposition agenda. But ignoring the opposition, the DMK government talked of completing the shipping canal, investments, infrastructure and a welfare board for the transgender community.
Mayawati orders release of 4,000 prisoners
By IANS
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government Sunday decided to set free about 4,000 prisoners and under-trials with immediate effect to mark the anniversary of Chief Minister Mayawati's election to the office for the first time 12 years ago.
Sporting fraternity endorses footballer Prasun Banerjee in polls
Kolkata: A host of sporting icons including the likes of legendary footballer P.K. Banerjee and Hockey Olympian Gurbux Singh Saturday extended support to former...
BJP to decide on opposition leader: RSS
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sunday said it would support the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) every decision if Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani steps down.
"Whatever decision is to be taken (on who should be the next opposition leader) has to be taken by L.K. Advani himself and the party. The Sangh will have no specific views on this issue," RSS leader Ram Madhav told reporters here.
Three top RSS leaders -- Madan Das Devi, Suresh Soni and Bhaiyyaji Joshi -- met Advani earlier Sunday.
Achuthanandan refuses to join Vijayan’s rally
By IANS,
Kochi : Differences within the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the main party in Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front, surfaced once again when Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Monday said he would not participate in a statewide march led by fellow Marxist leader Pinarayi Vijayan.
"No, No, I have said what I have to say to the party leadership and I don't have to share that with the media," Achuthanandan said here when reporters repeatedly asked him if he would take part in the march.
Shiv Sainiks protest at BCCI office in Mumbai
Mumbai: A group of Shiv Sainiks on Monday morning protested at BCCI president Shashank Manohar's office here against his move to hold talks with...
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill not applicable to Nagaland: CM
Kohima, Jan 20 (IANS) Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 is not applicable to Nagaland as the...
India, Africa cannot be excluded from security council: Sushma
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said India and Africa can no longer be excluded from the permanent membership of the...
Rahul holds road show in Rajasthan
Alwar : Amid beating of drums, showering of flower petals, bursting of crackers and shouting of slogans, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday held...
‘Stage-managed’ minority affairs
By IANS,
New Delhi : The entire nation got to know about the tiff between the Samajwadi Party's (SP) Amar Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) S.S. Ahluwalia in the Rajya Sabha over raising 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans. But was there more to it than meets the eye?
Amar Singh rushed towards the BJP member and pushed him. Following this, Ahluwalia, a Sikh, was heard asking the SP leader why he was targeting a member of one minority community to protect another.
Amar Singh, who later apologised for his behaviour, said he was against any religious slogans being raised in the house.
Congress demands Modi’s ouster after Patan gang rape
By IANS
Ahmedabad : The Congress party Monday demanded Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's resignation following the gang rape of a college student in Patan town, and also a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case.
A Congress team comprising of Krishna Tirath and Prabha Thakur visited Patan, about 130 km from here, and met the victim.
The girl, a first-year student of the Primary Teachers Training College, had Feb 4 alleged that six of her teachers had raped her 14 times in the past six months.
Congress-NCP alliance urged to field 38 Muslims in Maharashtra
By IANS,
Mumbai : The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has urged the ruling alliance of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to field at least 38 Muslims for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly elections, expected to be held in October.
State president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Engineer Nazar M. Mad'oo told reporters here Wednesday that since the state had an approximate 13 percent Muslim population, the ruling alliance must give tickets to Muslims to contest on at least 38 seats.
Eating mutton on Oct 2 may land Jharkhand MP in court
By IANS
Ranchi : Members of both the ruling and opposition parties have threatened to move court if Jharkhand Transport Minister Enos Ekka is not sacked as he allegedly ate mutton during a feast to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti.
Gandhi Jyanti is celebrated as International Non-Violence Day and the sale of meat and poultry on Oct 2 is officially banned in India. Enos Ekka is in the eye of a storm as he participated in a feast where mutton was served in his home district of Simdega on Oct 2.
Third Front leaders to meet Kalam on re-election
By IANS
New Delhi : Leaders of regional parties who have formed the United New Progressive Alliance (UNPA) are slated to meet President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam here Wednesday afternoon to formally request him to stand for re-election.
My son not a rocket to be launched, says Raj Thackeray
Mumbai : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray Friday rubbished reports that his son would join politics with the party's student wing serving as...
No-nonsense Mayawati has her party MP arrested, suspended
By IANS
Lucknow : The punishment was swift. The method unconventional. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister invited her party MP Uma Kant Yadav to her residence only to have him arrested and removed from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for going on a rampage in his hometown Azamgarh.
Parliament session to begin June 1
By IANS,
New Delhi : The first session of the 15th Lok Sabha will begin June 1. The decision was taken Saturday at the first meeting of the cabinet that was sworn in Friday.
The cabinet, which met at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence here, decided that the newly elected members of the Lok Sabha would be sworn in June 1 and 2. The speaker of the house will be elected June 3.
President Pratibha Patil will address the joint session of parliament June 4. There will be a debate on the president's adress and motion of thanks June 5, 8 and 9.
Hectic parleys on as BJP deliberates on cabinet formation
New Delhi:Hectic meetings went on in the BJP camp Monday, as prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi held talks with party leaders over his cabinet...
Telecom equipment import curbs not China-specific: Sharma
By IANS,
New Delhi: Curbs on the import of telecom equipment are part of a broader policy decision and not directed against any country such as China, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said Monday.
"We are not targeting any country. The decision is not China-specific. We do what is in the interest of India," Sharma told reporters here when asked about the recent restrictions on import of Chinese telecom equipment to India.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a conference organised by the Tea Research Association of India.
Trade unions’ strike may hit essential services on Wednesday
New Delhi: Essential services, including transport and banking are likely to be affected on Wednesday with 10 central trade unions going on a nationwide...
Maoists are not terrorists, says Digvijay Singh
By IANS,
New Delhi: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh says that Maoist activities are criminal and totally unacceptable but the Left guerrillas should not be called "terrorists".
"No one can defend their criminal activities... but they are not terrorists.. they are those people who have committed acts of crime which have to be dealt with firmly and decisively. But at the same time, you cannot equate them with cross-border terrorists," Singh said on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.
TV’s ‘Breaking news’ culture should end: Kerala speaker
Thiruvananthapuram : The growing "Breaking News" culture in the broadcast media should end as it is impacting the society, Kerala assembly Speaker N. Sakthan...
Ramdev is a fake baba: Congress
By IANS,
Bangalore: The Congress Sunday attacked yoga guru Baba Ramdev as a "dhongi (fake)" and sought an explanation on how he acquired Rs.1,100 crore to run his trusts.
Modi must and should resign, says Trinamool
New Delhi : With his self-imposed 50-day deadline ending on Friday, the Trinamool Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to own up responsibility for...
BJP threatens stir against 15 percent quota for Muslims
By IANS,
Bangalore: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday threatened to launch a mass agitation if the central government implemented the Ranganath Mishra Commission report which recommended 15 percent reservation for Muslims in education and government employment.
"We will launch a massive agitation if the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government implements the commission's recommendations as it would deprive the other backward classes (OBCs) of reservation in jobs and educational institutions," BJP president Nitin Gadkari said here.
Women Power? Watch out for Jaya, Maya and Mamata in LS Poll 2014
By Syed Ali Mujtaba,
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa Jayaram, ex Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati and the Chief Ministers of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee are three key figures to watch out for the Lok Sabha election 2014.
ABVP, Bajrang Dal ‘purify’ statue garlanded by JNU leader Kanhaiya
Patna : A group of ABVP and Bajrang Dal activists in Bihar's Begusarai district washed the statue of renowned poet Dinkar with 'gangajal' on...
Another bandit queen takes aim at parliament
By Sharat Pradhan
IANS
Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) : She used to be an outlaw and like the slain Phoolan Devi, whom she calls her icon, former dacoit Seema Parihar too is seeking to enter the Indian parliament.
India votes again as UPA leadership tussle continues
By IANS,
New Delhi : More than 100 million people voted all over India in round two of one of the country's most intensely fought parliamentary elections even as the Congress and its allies traded barbs over the leadership of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left remaining bitterly anti-Congress.
An estimated 55 percent of the 194 million electorate - of the country's total 714 million voters - exercised their franchise in 140 constituencies in 12 states, from Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the south.
This BSP candidate rides bullock cart to visit voters
By IANS,
Lucknow : At a time when politicians hire helicopters and SUVs for election campaigns, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Lok Sabha candidate in Uttar Pradesh goes about on a bullock cart and pedal-rickshaw for canvassing.
Gauri Shankar, the BSP Lok Sabha nominee for the Etawah constituency, says bullock cart and pedal-rickshaw are the modes of transport "used by common people", who elect members to parliament.
15 per cent turnout in the first three hours of polling
By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Nearly 15 per cent turnout was recorded in the first three hours of polling for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in eight states and union territories, barring Jammu and Kashmir where it began on a dull note.
A petrol bomb was hurled at a polling booth on the outskirts of Srinagar two hours ahead of polling but no one was injured. Minor skirmishes were reported in Punjab and Haryana while polling elsewhere, including in the seven seats in Delhi, was by and large peaceful.
Opposition cries foul over runner-up BJP’s bid to form governments in Goa, Manipur
New Delhi/Panaji, (IANS): The BJP's bid to form governments in Goa and Manipur despite being a runner-up in both states, by cobbling up a...
Eyes on Lucknow as SP war enters last round on year end
By Mohit Dubey
Lucknow : Following hectic political activity on Friday, the last day of 2016 is set for another round of frenzied politics...
Poll panel notifies first phase of elections in Karnataka
By IANS,
Bangalore : The Election Commission Saturday set the poll process in Karnataka rolling by notifying the first phase April 23 in 17 Lok Sabha constituencies across the state, an official said.
The remaining 11 of the 28 parliamentary constituencies in the state will go to polls April 30.
"We have received the gazette notification from Election Commission principal secretary Shangara Ram, informing us about the poll process in 17 parliamentary constituencies in the state on April 23," a state Election Commission official told IANS here.
Demand to recall Washington envoy intensifies
By IANS
New Delhi : Angry MPs paralysed parliament Wednesday morning for the second day, vociferously demanding the recall of ambassador Ronen Sen from Washington for his attack on critics of the India-US civilian nuclear deal.
While both houses resumed their normal functioning in the post-lunch session, considerable time was lost early on as Left MPs joined those from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other parties to demand action against Sen, who is considered one of the architects of the path-breaking nuclear agreement.
Record polling in Kerala by-election
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : A record 85.6 percent of the electorate voted Saturday in the Piravom assembly constituency in Kerala, officials said.
‘BJP will strive to retain power in Madhya Pradesh’
By IANS,
Bhopal : Newly elected Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Prabhat Jha Sunday said the party would strive to retain power in the state for the third time in a row but parried questions on the return of Uma Bharati to the fold.
"I will strive hard to make sure that the BJP returns to power next time also," Jha said Sunday while addressing his first ever press conference after being elected state BJP president Saturday.
The BJP has been in power for two consecutive terms in 2004 and 2009.
Nuke deal: What does Indian Muslims say – deal or no deal?
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
As fall of India’s Union government looks a matter of days on the issue of Indo-US nuclear deal, the political parties are exploiting the issue the way most suitable for their political future. Some political parties like CPI (M), BSP and SP have taken upon themselves to speak on behalf of the Indian Muslims when it comes to the nuke deal. But what do Indian Muslims think about the deal themselves? TwoCircles.net contacted some of them in India and abroad to get their opinion.
‘This is our home from generations:’ residents of Haldwani on eviction orders
Haldwani residents, majority of whom are Muslim, have challenged the Uttarakhand High Court's eviction order in the Supreme Court, which will hear the plea...
Congress legislator quits Karnataka assembly
By IANS,
Bangalore: Congress legislator S.V. Ramachandra quit the party and the Karnataka assembly, reducing its strength in the house to 72 and sparking a fresh war of words in the state.
Dual currency idea not a poll stunt, says Sayeed
By IANS,
Jammu : The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed lashed out at National Conference and other political rivals for giving a twist to his statement on using currency of both Pakistan and India in Jammu and Kashmir.
He reiterated that his proposal was for both sides of Kashmir and it would benefit the people on the two sides of the Line of Control, as did the opening of Srinagar-Muzzaffrabad and Poonch-Rawlakote roads by connecting the two parts of Kashmir.
Terrorists will be punished by god: Modi
By IANS,
Gandhinagar : Law will not spare terrorists and they will be punished by the god, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the people of the state on the eve of the Independence Day, and assured them that his government will not tolerate extremism.
"The threat of terrorism is looming over the mankind. It poses great challenges for the mankind. We have remained successful in curbing terror attacks for the last six years but cowards have backstabbed us, they have targeted hospitals, taking lives of innocent people," Modi said.
Democracy under attack by communal, repressive forces: Sonia
New Delhi, (IANS): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday expressed concern over attacks on democracy by the "communal and repressive forces" in the country.
"When we...
No evidence against Manmohan Singh in coal case: CBI
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday told a special court that there is no prima facie evidence against former prime...
Swamy threatens to sue Karunanidhi for ‘phone-tapping’
By IANS
Chennai : Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy Saturday threatened to sue Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for allegedly ordering illegal tapping of phones of opposition leaders and also claimed Rs.10 million in damages.
A section of the media here has been repeatedly making such allegations. PMK leader G.K. Mani, an ally of the ruling DMK, levelled the same charges on the chief minister in the assembly Thursday.
Karunanidhi has denied any wrongdoing and termed the reports as "mischievous".
High turnout in Tripura assembly by-elections
Agartala : Despite inclement weather, over 83 percent of the 92,146 voters on Saturday cast their vote in the by-elections to two assembly constituencies...
Rahul Gandhi to visit Nagaland
By IANS,
New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is going to Nagaland Thursday to campaign for the Feb 23 assembly election, a party leader said.