No action against MPs for not disclosing assets: Activist
By IANS,
New Delhi: Four months after a right to information (RTI) plea revealed that 70 Lok Sabha members had not declared their assets to the speaker, the authorities have yet to take any action, a transparency law activist said Tuesday.
The information was disclosed Feb 24 in a reply to the RTI application filed by Subhash Chandra Agrawal, who has now approached Speaker Meira Kumar requesting her to take action against the MPs.
BJP will decide if Modi, Varun will campaign: Gadkari
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Friday said his party will take its own decision whether Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha member Varun Gandhi will participate in the campaign for the coming Bihar assembly polls.
"We have the right to decide which all leaders of the BJP should campaign in Bihar. We will decide it at the appropriate time and implement it," Gadkari told IANS.
Rosaiah appointed Southern Zonal Council’s vice chief
By IANS,
Hyderabad: The central government has nominated Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah as the vice chairman of the Southern Zonal Council, which comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry.
Rosaiah, who succeeds Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, thanked the central government for the gesture, said a statement from the chief minister's office here Tuesday.
Conspiracy theories galore as protest in Kerala assembly continues
By IANS,
Bangalore : The 24-hour sit-in by Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) legislators in the Karnataka assembly for the fourth day Thursday, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into illegal mining, is turning out to be a gold mine to weave conspiracy theories.
The theories floating around in the state stem from the apparent sudden change in the Congress-JD-S stand Monday.
Yeddyurappa disapproves of Reddys’ Bellary show
By IANS,
Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Friday opposed the 'padayatra' (march) the Reddy brothers and their loyalist, Health Minister B. Sriramulu have started in their stronghold Bellary to counter the opposition's campaign against illegal mining.
"Personally I am opposed to it," Yeddyurappa told reporters, referring to the padyatra the Reddy brothers and Sriramlu launched in Bellary, about 320 km from here, Thursday to whip up support for themselves in the district where the main opposition Congress plans a huge rally Aug 9.
Is Telangana bill a money bill?
By IANS,
New Delhi : The government is seeking legal opinion to know if the Telangana bill needs to be treated as a money bill,...
Telangana drowns in wild celebrations
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Telangana erupted in joy Friday, hours after the Rajya Sabha approved a bill for separate statehood to the region.
Political parties and...
AAP warns Goans against fake party members
By IANS,
Panaji : The Aam Aadmi Party state-unit has cautioned people against possible fraudsters in Goa, who are seeking donations in the name of...
EC seeks support of media in curbing paid news
New Delhi : The Election Commission has sought the support of media houses to ensure that the coming Lok Sabha polls remain free of...
Tug of war in Himachal Congress over ticket
Shimla : A tug of war is on in the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh over the party's candidate from the Hamirpur seat, the...
Congress, Manpreet Badal’s party tie-up in Punjab
Chandigarh : Punjab's main opposition Congress and the Manpreet Badal-led People's Party of Punjab (PPP) Tuesday announced their alliance for the April 30 election...
High-profile candidates face off in six Rajasthan constituencies
Jaipur : At least half a dozen parliamentary constituencies in Rajasthan are the centre of attention as they will see a fight among veteran...
CPI-M announces second list for Telangana
Hyderabad: The CPI-M Tuesday announced candidates for 12 assembly seats in Telangana.
The second list announced by the party includes four Muslims.
With this, the Communist...
Congress, NCP threaten to ban Ramdev in Maharashtra
Mumbai: The Congress and NCP Saturday strongly protested against Baba Ramdev's comments on Rahul Gandhi, with both parties threatening to ban the yoga guru...
Congress dismisses exit polls
New Delhi : The Congress Tuesday dismissed the exit polls which predicted the party's worst defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, saying the pollsters...
Chandy condoles Munde’s death
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Tuesday condoled the death of Union Minister Gopinath Munde in a car accident in Delhi early Tuesday.
In...
President’s address is high on BJP’s rhetoric: SDPI
By TCN News,
Bhopal: The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI) has termed the President’s joint address to Parliament which spelled out the BJP’s Narendra Modi led NDA Government’s agenda of priorities as high on rhetoric. It is up to the government to prove that the plans are rather done than promised. The address is more or less a compilation of election slogans and the BJP election manifesto and the party is bound to implement them.
Why was terrorism not included in NIC agenda, asks Modi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Monday said the central government was indulging in "vote bank politics and nothing more" when it did not include terrorism in the agenda of the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting.
"It is unfortunate that terrorism was not included on the agenda of the NIC meeting. This is vote bank politics and nothing more," Modi told reporters after his presentation before the NIC.
Amar Singh compares Raj Thackeray to Hitler
By IANS,
New Delhi : Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh Friday called Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray a "Hitler" for orchestrating attacks on north Indians.
Releasing the list of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Amar Singh said: "What Raj Thackeray has been doing is what Hitler did in Germany."
"Both Hitler and Raj Thackeray are mentally ill persons," said the Rajya Sabha MP. "This is terrorism. This can be destructive to the integrity of India."
Congress to field 32 legislators for Delhi polls
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress party Wednesday announced its first list of 48 candidates for the Delhi assembly elections Nov 29, clearing the names of 32 legislators. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will contest from the New Delhi constituency.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Vijay Jolly for this seat.
‘Emergency booths to come up in case of Pakistani firing’
By IANS,
Jammu : Emergency polling booths would be set up for about 30 polling stations in two assembly segments of Jammu and Kashmir, which are close to the Line of Control, "if there is any incident of firing from across" the border, an official said Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioner of Poonch district Mohammad Afzal Bhat said there were about 30 polling stations in Mendhar and Poonch-Havelli constituencies that "are close to LoC and hence within the firing range".
BJP MP resigns alleging Rajasthan poll tickets were sold
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Bharatpur in Rajasthan Vishwendra Singh resigned Thursday alleging that big money had changed hands in distribution of party tickets for the state assembly elections.
In a press release issued from Delhi, Singh asserted: "The party tickets were virtually sold for huge money, at the cost of sincere party workers. The party's central leadership was aware of all this, but it remained a mute spectator."
Chhattisgarh poll: Congress brings graft charges against BJP
By IANS,
Raipur : The opposition Congress in Chhattisgarh Saturday brought out a long chargesheet alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had "crossed all limits of corruption" and there was "complete misrule" in the state.
The first phase of polling for 39 seats in Chhattisgarh concluded Friday. Voting for the other 51 constituencies will be held Nov 20.
The chargesheet titled "BJP's five year rule - a black chapter" mainly focuses on Chief Minister Raman Singh and his 13-member council of ministers.
VHP to launch campaign to protest Malegaon blast arrests
By IANS,
Mumbai : The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Saturday said it would launch a campaign to counter what it termed as the government’s conspiracy against ‘sadhus, sadhvis and sena’ (mendicants and military) and to express solidarity with those arrested for the Malegaon blast.
VHP joint secretary V. Abdeo said here that besides sit-in and demonstrations across the country, the VHP activists would send SMSes and e-mails abroad too to air solidarity with the people nabbed for their suspected involvement in the Sep 29 Malegaon blast that killed six.
Heavy poll turnout pushes Kashmir separatists into a corner
By Sarwar Kashani, IANS,
Srinagar : Where do the unexpectedly high voting percentages in the first two phases of elections in Jammu and Kashmir leave the separatist leadership that had called for a boycott?
That question could get increasingly important for separatists in the Kashmir valley if the next few phases of the assembly elections go the way of the first two.
Polling in Madhya Pradesh begins on dull note
By IANS,
Bhopal : Polling in the 230 assembly constituencies of Madhya Pradesh got off to a sluggish start Thursday as many voters remained in their homes due to the chilly weather.
Polling began at 8 a.m. amid tight security. Poll officials said they expected voting to pick up by noon.
The election will decide the fate of 3,179 candidates, including 1,374 independents.
Pictorial warning on tobacco items not during UPA tenure: Ramadoss
By Prashant K. Nanda, IANS,
Chennai : Admitting defeat in ensuring pictorial health warnings on packets of cigarettes and other tobacco products, India's Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Saturday said the decision has been deferred by at least six months -- by when the current United Progressive Alliance government would have finished its term.
Earlier the pictorial health warnings were supposed to come into force by Dec 1 (Monday) but following deferment of the decision, they can only be expected to come by June next year.
Mumbai assault an attack on idea of India: Rahul Gandhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : The terrorist assault on Mumbai was an attack on the "idea of India" and the freedom of its people, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi told parliament Thursday.
“The terrorist attack on Mumbai was an attack on the whole nation. It was an attack on the idea of India. It was an attack on all of us, it was an attack on the freedom of our people,” Gandhi told the Lok Sabha while participating in a debate on the Nov 26 terrorist strike.
Voices of dissent over AGP-BJP seat sharing
By IANS,
Guwahati : Voices of dissent are coming thick and fast even as top leaders of the Assam's main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) publicly maintain that the seat-sharing agreement between the two parties to fight the parliamentary elections is smooth.
There is a bitter tug-of-war going on between the AGP and BJP for at least two parliamentary seats with both parties keen to field candidates.
Mayawati flays UPA move to stall quotas in top IIT, IIM posts
By IANS,
Lucknow : Opposing the central government's move to withdraw the reservation facility for higher positions in select elite educational institutions, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stall a related bill, proposed to be tabled before parliament Thursday.
TDP, Left demand probe against Andhra Pradesh chief minister
By IANS,
New Delhi : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Left Friday demanded a probe against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy for alleged complicity in Rs.70 billion fraud at Satyam Computers.
"He has abused and misused his power. Reddy has violated as many as six acts with the scam," N. Chandrababu Naidu, TDP chief, told reporters.
Sitaram Yechury, politburo member of Communist Party of India-Marxist and A.B. Bardhan, general secretary of Communist Party of India, also joined the call for a probe against Reddy.
Church group asks people to vote for secular parties
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI), a prominent church group in the country, Friday asked the people to vote for secular parties and candidates in the upcoming general elections.
"Be true to the letter and spirit of the preamble and the provisions of the constitution of India without any sectarian or party persuasion," a CBCI release here said.
Samajwadi Party workers booked for violating poll code
By IANS,
Lucknow : The secretary of the Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh unit and about 60 of his supporters have been booked for taking out a procession in violation of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls, police said Monday.
The case against Amzad Saleem and his supporters was filed Sunday when they took out a procession in Bareilly district without the permission of the jurisdictional police inspector, said Deputy Superintendent of Police A.K. Singh.
MNS to contest 12 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra
By IANS,
Mumbai : The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has decided to contest 12 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, party chief Raj Thackeray announced here Monday.
Thackeray said the party will field candidates in Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Thane and all six seats in Mumbai.
Among the candidates are his sister-in-law Shalini Thackeray, who is contesting from Mumbai North-West constituency.
Would have run roller over Varun: Lalu Prasad
By IANS,
Patna : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Monday said that had he been the country's home minister he would have run a "roller" over Varun Gandhi for his hate speeches against Muslims and bothered about the consequences later.
Speaking at an election rally in Kishanganj in Bihar, Lalu Prasad said: "If I were the country's home minister, and if Varun had said this (inflammatory speeches), then I would have run a roller over his chest, and thought about the consequences later."
Gujarat’s development formula across India if NDA wins: Modi promises
By IANS,
Ranchi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Monday said that the Gujarat development formula would be implemented in the country if the party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is voted to power at the centre.
Modi, who addressed four election rallies in favour of party candidates in Jharkhand, enumerated the work done by him in Gujarat and assured that the same development plank would be implemented in the country if the NDA wins.
Sparks fly in Tamil Nadu over Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Monday did a dramatic U-turn saying the Tamil Tigers were indeed a terrorist group, inviting the charge of being "the number one traitor to the Tamil race" from friend-turned-foe Vaiko.
A day after he reportedly declared that Velupillai Prabhakaran, founder leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was not a terrorist, Karunanidhi claimed that he had been misquoted in the media.
UPA to decide on PM after elections, says Lalu Prasad
By IANS,
Patna : The Congress may be projecting Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister but United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partner Lalu Prasad Tuesday said the grouping's prime ministerial candidate would be decided only after the elections in consultation with constituent parties.
"UPA is a confederation of secular parties and does not belong only to the Congress. We will sit together (after the elections) to chalk out a common minimum programme and in consultation with all our partners select the next PM," Lalu Prasad, head of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, told reporters here.
Vote against CPI-M, Lalgarh tribal body tells voters
By IANS,
Kolkata : An influential tribal body in West Bengal's troubled Lalgarh village block Thursday urged people to vote against the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the Lok Sabha polls.
Spelling out the stand of the tribal body Peoples' Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), its leader Chhattadhar Mahato said people could support any party other than the CPI-M. Lalgarh is a Maoist insurgency affected area in West Midnapore district.
BJP fighting polls on false issues: PM
By IANS,
Jalalabad (Punjab) : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for making "directionless allegations" on the Congress party and accused it of lying on issues concerning farmers in the country.
14.5 percent voting in Srinagar
By IANS,
Srinagar : Voting in the prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir began on a dull note but picked up as the day warmed, recording a 14.5 percent turnout by 2 p.m. Thursday.
The two assembly constituencies of Kangan and Charar-e-Sharief recorded 39 percent and 36 percent voting, respectively, in the first seven hours, topping the 15 assembly segments in this Lok Sabha constituency.
Trinamool to support UPA government, no conditions: Mamata
By IANS,
Kolkata: A triumphant Trinamool Congress Monday passed a resolution informing President Pratibha Patil of its support to a Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre and said their backing was unconditional.
The resolution was passed at a meeting of the Trinamool parliamentary party in which all the 19 newly elected Lok Sabha MPs, including its chief Mamata Banerjee, were present.
The meeting also unanimously elected Banerjee as its parliamentary party leader and Sultan Ahmed and Govinda Naskar as deputy leaders.
Trinamool team visits trouble-torn Lalgarh
By IANS,
Lalgarh (West Bengal) : A Trinamool Congress team, including two union ministers, reached here Tuesday to get a first hand idea of the situation after security forces were deployed to flush out Maoist rebels from this trouble-torn belt in West Midnapore district.
Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy, Minister of State for Rural Development Sisir Adhikari and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Partha Chattopadhyay were part of the delegation.
"We have not faced any obstruction so far," Chattopadhyay said over phone from Lalgarh.
Jaswant episode demonstrates BJP’s lack of evolution
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
It is tempting to describe Jaswant Singh's unceremonious expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a glaring example of the culture of intolerance of independence of thought that runs through India's political class. In reality, it is merely one political party's inability to define itself.
Telangana JAC rules out postponing strike
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) Monday ruled out postponing the proposed indefinite mass strike from Sep 6 to press the demand for a separate Telangana state.
Opposition slams Mayawati’s move for reservation to Muslims
By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
NCP legislator jailed six months for assault
By IANS,
Panaji: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco was Wednesday jailed for six months after a court rejected his bail application in an assault case.
Rajya Sabha clears research academy bill
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed a bill that will pave the way for setting up an academy for innovative research in the field of science and technology.
Left demands probe into farmer suicides
By IANS,
Kolkata : West Bengal opposition leader Surya Kanta Mishra Monday demanded a probe into the farmer suicides in the state and compensation to the families of such farmers.
Sanjiv Bhatt is the witness of the ‘gory’ tale of Gujarat, not an accused!
Bhatt seeks beefed-up security cover as he feels heightened threats to his life
By Sayema Sahar,
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.
Early Himachal poll catches politicians unawares
By Baldev S. Chauhan, IANS
Shimla : Political parties in Himachal Pradesh, particularly the ruling Congress, have been taken by surprise over the announcement of assembly elections -- over three months before they were due.
With the poll code coming into effect from Wednesday, the announcement has put paid to the ruling party's hopes of announcing sops to woo voters.
Rahul Gandhi inspects Congress headquarters
New Delhi, (IANS) Known for his professionalism and eye for detail, newly appointed Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Monday visited the party headquarters to inspect the condition of the offices and see first-hand how it functions.
Rahul, who is general secretary in charge of the youth wing of the ruling party, reached the office around 1.40 p.m. and spent almost two hours going through the offices of the Mahila Congress and the Seva Dal.
He also supervised the construction work going on in the AICC complex, which is being readied for the new general secretary.
PM disappointed with allies over N-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday expressed disappointment with his allies for not fully standing by him when he came under attack from the Left over the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The prime minister bared his heart at a meeting of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), including top leaders of the major Congress allies, at his residence, informed sources told IANS.
"The prime minister voiced his disappointment to Lalu Prasad, Sharad Pawar and T.R. Baalu over their public statements against the nuclear deal," the source said.
Indian govt must clear Iran sanctions issue – Indian Communist Patry
By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : Maintaining that Washington was seeking Indian companies comply with its sanctions against Iran, the CPI(M) Friday asked the UPA government to make it clear that these "unilateral" actions would not be taken by India.
The government "must break its silence and speak out against the US stance towards Iran. (It) should clearly state that such sanctions will not be applied by India," the party Politburo said in a statement here.
Mid-life crisis hits Karnataka politics but state moves ahead
By V.S. Karnic
Bangalore, Nov 5 (IANS) Karnataka turned 51 on Nov 1 with the state politics and administration in a state of paralysis. But all other aspects of life are on track, some even on fast track.
Unperturbed by the mid-life crisis that has hit the state's political parties and placed the administration in a limbo, Airbus president and chief executive Thomas Enders and Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers were in the IT hub announcing major plans for India and its IT capital Bangalore.
Left’s N-deal stand flexible, but no blank cheque: CPI
By IANS
New Delhi : The Left has taken a "flexible stand" on the India-US nuclear deal to let the government discuss the issue with the international nuclear watchdog but it has not given a "blank cheque" to the Manmohan Singh government, said a senior communist leader.
"We have taken a flexible stand and allowed the government to hold discussions on the safeguard agreement (with the International Atomic Energy Agency). But we have not given a blank cheque," Gurudas Dasgupta, leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the Lok Sabha, told reporters here.
JD-S keeps coalition partner BJP on tenterhooks
By IANS
Bangalore : The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) Sunday kept its Karnataka coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) guessing on whether it will support it in Monday's trust vote in the state assembly.
On the eve of the trust vote, JD-S leaders and legislators began a series of meetings among themselves to sort out differences in the party and mount pressure on the BJP to sign the Memorandum of Understanding -- involving a decisive role for the JD-S in running the coalition -- before the trust vote.
We can’t give BJP a blank cheque: JD-S
By IANS
New Delhi : As the Karnataka government looked set to fall only a week after the BJP saw its first chief minister in the south being sworn in, the rhetoric escalated in the capital with the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) saying it could not give its coalition partner a "blank cheque".
Nandigram spells end of communism in India: Advani
By IANS
New Delhi : The violence in Nandigram in Marxist-ruled West Bengal "will end communism in India", Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani predicted Tuesday.
Addressing the first meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party in Parliament House Tuesday, Advani predicted the demise of communism in India very soon just as the communists went out of power in Europe in the 1980s.
Ahead of polls, Raman Singh wants to ensure food for poor
by IANS
Raipur : With an eye to next year's state assembly elections, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Tuesday asked the state's district collectors to tone up the public distribution system (PDS).
Presiding over a collectors' conference here Tuesday, Singh instructed 16 collectors to take measures to strengthen the PDS system in all the 146 blocks to help below-poverty-line families (BPL) get timely food grains at cheaper rates.
Congress criticises Badal’s model school plans
By IANS
Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's ambitious plan to open large number of 'adarsh' (model) schools across the state has received flak from the opposition Congress party.
The Congress Wednesday demanded that Badal, instead of wasting nearly Rs.10 billion of public money to fulfill his dream since 1979, should rather concentrate on providing half of that amount to put the 19,000 existing schools in the state in proper shape.
Parliament to debate nuclear deal Wednesday
By IANS
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha will discuss the Indo-US nuclear deal Wednesday, the Business Advisory Committee of the Indian parliament's lower house decided Monday.
After the Lok Sabha, the deal is also likely to be discussed in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house) later this week or early next week, said sources in the parliamentary affairs ministry.
The impasse between the government and the opposition on the civilian nuclear deal led to the stalling of Parliament throughout the monsoon session.
Modi dragging president’s office in elections: Chidambaram
Ahmedabad, Dec 14 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister was dragging the office of the president into the electoral politics by raising the issue of the pending decision on the handing of Afzal Guru, convicted for the 2001 attack on parliament, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said here Friday.
Chidambaram said that a number of mercy petitions were pending before the president's office, including that of those responsible for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Polling ends in Himachal
By IANS
Shimla : Polling for the second and final phase of the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections ended Wednesday evening.
The main contest is between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
More than a million voters in 65 assembly constituencies participated in the voting amid chill in the air.
The polling was largely peaceful but for a solitary incident in Kangra district's Sulah constituency where the BJP candidate Vipin Parmar was beaten up by some miscreants.
The counting of votes takes place on Dec 28.
CPI-M workers torch rivals’ houses in Nandigram
By IANS
Kolkata : Members of the ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) have allegedly torched houses of members of anti-land acquisition group Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) Thursday at trouble-torn Nandigram in West Bengal's East Midnapore district.
After yearlong hostility in Nandigram, about 150 km from here, guns had fallen silent since mid-November 2007 after the CPI-M cadres regained control of the area which witnessed unprecedented violence over a proposed special economic zone (SEZ), including a chemical hub.
Ashok Bhatt is new speaker of Gujarat assembly
By IANS
Gandhinagar : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashok Bhatt was Friday elected speaker of the 12th Gujarat assembly and was given a talking to by the opposition Congress on the need for neutrality and impartiality in the house.
Bhatt, former health minister, was the only nominee for the post. Minister of State for Home Amit Shah proposed his name and Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil seconded him.
Cricketers’ auction a national shame: Sharad Yadav
By IANS
New Delhi : Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav Thursday described the auctioning of cricket players by the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a national shame.
Speaking to reporters here, Yadav said: "It was a day of national shame when cricketers were put on auction for sale by big money of the country. It was a gross violation of human dignity and shameless demonstration of money power."
Basu wants to quit CPI-M politburo
By IANS
Kolkata : Veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Jyoti Basu Friday reiterated his desire to quit the party's politburo on grounds of ill health.
"I have written to CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat expressing my desire to quit from the politburo due to my ill health," Basu told reporters here.
"I have informed my party it would not be possible for me to attend the politburo in Delhi Feb 25 and 26," he added.
The 94-year-old party patriarch, however, said it was up to his party to take a decision on it.
Upset with rail budget, Orissa protestors hold up trains
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Train services across Orissa were disrupted for three hours Wednesday by workers of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Kalinga Sena, who said that the railway budget had neglected the state.
Hundreds of activists, including members of the BJP Yuva Morcha - the youth wing of the party - staged protests across the state and sat on railway lines, preventing the movement of trains, M.D. Sahu, an official of the south eastern railway, told IANS.
Budget a recipe for disaster: Yashwant Sinha
By IANS
New Delhi : Former finance minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha Saturday termed the union budget 2008-09 as "a recipe for long-term economic disaster".
"This is a 100 percent political budget. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram announced a loan waiver of Rs.60,000 crore (Rs.600 billion) for farmers but has not stated where this money will come from," Sinha said during a presentation on the budget at the BJP headquarters here.
UPA meet on women’s reservation bill after March 20
By IANS
New Delhi : The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will try to evolve a consensus among its partners to bring a bill that guarantees 33 percent seats for women in parliament and state assemblies.
The UPA will convene a meeting of its allies on the issue after March 20 when parliament takes inter-session break, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
"Parliament will be dispersing March 20 for the inter-session recess. Soon after that I will hold this meeting," Manmohan Singh said.
Apex court refuses to advance Meghalaya trust vote date
By IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to advance the date set by Meghalaya Governor S.S. Sidhu for the new Congress government to prove its majority on the floor of the state assembly.
Congress leader D.D. Lapang was Monday sworn-in as chief minister even after a combine of parties led by P.A. Sangma, a former Lok Sabha speaker and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), claimed the support of 31 members in the 60-seat legislature.
The governor had given 10 days to Lapang to prove his majority support. The Congress has 25 legislators.
UPA, Left buy time, defer decision on n-deal
By IANS
New Delhi : In an obvious bid to buy time, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and its Left allies deferred a decision on whether to go ahead with the contentious Indo-US nuclear deal and their joint panel Monday decided to meet again in April.
Opposition takes Orissa speaker issue to governor
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Leaders from opposition parties Friday met Orissa Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare and submitted a memorandum over the alleged sexual harassment of a lady employee by Speaker Maheswar Mohanty.
"Maheswar Mohanty has no right to stay as speaker," the Leader of Opposition in the assembly and former chief minister J.B. Patnaik who led the delegation told media persons after submitting the memorandum.
"He should resign," said Patnaik. "We sought intervention of the governor into the matter.
NDA alleges discrimination against states it rules
By IANS
New Delhi : The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Saturday accused the Congress-led central government of discriminating against states its member parties rule.
fter a meeting of the NDA chief ministers and other leaders of the alliance at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani here, NDA coordinator Sushma Swaraj came up with a 10-point charter of "discrimination".
She said the charter was drawn up on the basis of complaints from the NDA chief ministers.
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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Seven Ministers inducted into Indian Cabinet
By APP
New Delhi : The Indian Cabinet was expanded on Sunday when seven Ministers took oath of office.
M S Gill, Jyotiraditya Scindia, former Chief Election Commissioner, Jitin Prasada, V Narayanasamy, Rameshwar Oraon and Santosh Bagrodia and RJD MP Raghunath Jha were among the new Ministers who took oath.
M S Gill, who was elected to Rajya Sabha from Punjab on a Congress ticket, has been made Minister of State with independent charge.
Film chamber criticised for suspending Karnataka members
By IANS
Bangalore : Former president of South India Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) and veteran film producer K.C.N. Chandrashekhar Monday criticised the suspension of all Karnataka members from the chamber for protesting Tamil Nadu's water project and termed the action "illegal".
The 180 members from the state were suspended last week during the height of agitation in Karnataka over Tamil Nadu's plans for a water supply project at Hogenakkal waterfall on the border of the two states.
People want money even to do their duty: Chatterjee
By IANS,
New Delhi : Proceedings of question hour in the Lok Sabha Wednesday were low key with the notable exception of Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's witty comments and remarks.
When an MP said a separate budget discussion was needed for issuing more funds under certain heads, Chatterjee said: "We don't have enough time for the current discussion and you want a separate budget discussion?"
Lalu seeks court permission to go abroad
By IANS,
Patna : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has requested a special court to release his passport and grant him permission to travel abroad on an official visit in May, official sources close to him said here Wednesday.
Lalu Prasad, an accused in a multi-million rupee fodder scam, filed a petition at the designated court of the Central Bureau of Investigation in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. He sought his passport and permission of the court to go on a weeklong official visit to Singapore and Malaysia from May 12.
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.
Venugopal reinstated; Ramadoss says not a setback
By IANS,
New Delhi : Ousted All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director P. Venugopal got a major boost Thursday after the Supreme Court reinstated him, almost six months after he was removed following a bitter turf war with Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.
The decision of the apex court, which termed "malafide and unconstitutional" the central government law fixing the retirement age of the AIIMS director at 65, triggered a call for Ramadoss' ouster by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the AIIMS resident doctors, who support Venugopal.
Don’t worry and take care, Sonia tells Jaipur blast survivors
By Kavita Bajeli-Datt, IANS,
Jaipur : "Kahan lagi hai? Kuch dekha tha kya," (Where does it hurt? Did you see anything?) Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked a badly hurt 50-year-old Roshan Lal Sharma, one of the survivors of the terror bomb blasts here that have killed at least 61 people and injured 216.
When Sharma's 45-year-old wife Vimla Devi, overcome with emotion, bent down to touch Gandhi's feet, Gandhi said: "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
PM ‘waiting for the finals’ on his government’s popularity
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is “waiting for the finals” to find out the popularity of his government that completed four years Thursday.
“Waiting for the finals,” he quipped when reporters asked him how he rates his government.
Talking on the sidelines of an anniversary dinner hosted by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at his 7, Race Course Road residence, Manmohan Singh listed “an accountable government” as its single most achievement of the four years.
Gujjars gather to block rail tracks in Rajasthan
By IANS,
Jaipur : Agitating members of the Gujjar community in Rajasthan gathered in Bharatpur district Friday to block railway tracks to press their demand for tribal status to facilitate better education and job opportunities even as police fortified the area.
The Gujjar Sangharsh Aarakshan Samiti, which is spearheading the campaign for tribal status, had given a call for a 'rail roko andolan' (stop rail agitation) at Dhumaria station near Bayana, about 170 km from here. Dumaria station falls on the important Delhi-Mumbai rail link.
BJP chief takes dig at Montek on inflation
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Sunday criticised Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia for advising against sacrificing development to contain inflation.`
Referring to the soaring inflation rate, which touched a new high of 8.1 percent for the week ended May 17, Singh told the party's national executive meeting here that the Congress-led government was making "peculiar and painful" statements instead of containing rising prices.
Sonia forms four-member committee to revitalise Congress
By IANS,
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday constituted a four-member committee to formulate a strategy for strengthening the organisation and to prepare the party for the upcoming assembly elections and 2009 general elections.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K Antony, senior party leader Ahmed Patel and Janardhan Dwivedi are the members of the committee.
“Thackerays came to Mumbai in search of livelihood”
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Mumbai: Thackerays came to Mumbai two generations ago for jobs, and so have no right to assault those coming in search of livelihood in the city, says an article published in the June issue of the Nationalist Congress Party’s mouthpiece Rashtravadi.
UPA-Left decide to meet again after renewed deadlock
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's ruling coalition and its Left allies Wednesday said they would pursue efforts to end their flaming row over the India-US nuclear deal and meet again "in due course".
After about 100 minutes of talks at External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's residence, leaders of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and its Left allies declared that an expected showdown had been averted.
Mukherjee read out a brief statement after the ninth UPA-Left nuclear committee meeting.
If Left backs out, BJP will press for trust vote: Rajnath
By IANS,
New Delhi/Kanpur : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday indicated it could press for a no-confidence motion in parliament against the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) if the Left parties withdraw support over differences on the India-US civil nuclear deal.
"If the Left withdraws its support from the government, then we would press for the government to prove its majority on the floor of the house," BJP chief Rajnath Singh said in Kanpur.
Shutdown cripples life in Chhattisgarh
By IANS,
Raipur : Life in Chhattisgarh was severely hit Thursday as the shutdown called by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) against the cancellation of land allotment to the Amarnath shrine board in Jammu and Kashmir came into effect.
Thousands of bus and train commuters were stranded in various parts the state as baton-wielding supporters of the VHP and BJP enforced the strike from early morning in all the 18 districts. The capital Raipur was the worst hit.
BJP to continue agitation till Amarnath land is returned
By IANS,
Jammu : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Saturday said his party would continue its agitation against the revocation of land transfer to the Amarnath shrine management, even as a shutdown and protests continued for the sixth consecutive day.
Singh, who arrived here in the afternoon, took stock of the situation arising out of the cancellation of the govenrment order on land transfer and mass protests that have rocked the Jammu region this week.
Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam to contest Lok Sabha election
By TwoCircles.net reporter,
Tiruchirapalli: Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) will make formal inauguration of the Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (MMK), its newly-floated political party, at the party's state conference at Chennai after the rainy season.
Addressing a press conference here on 6th July TMMK president M H Jawahirullah announced it and said efforts were on to register the MMK with the Election Commission. He further said the party would contest in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
India Left Front Bags US Nuke Deal
By Prensa Latina,
New Delhi : Given the insistence of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to further the nuclear agreement with the United States, Left Front (LF) organizations decided today to withdraw support.
The decision was made in a meeting of the four LF parties: the Communist Marxist Party of India (CPI-M), Communist Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward Block (FB).
Judeo dares Ajit Jogi to challenge him
By IANS,
Raipur : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firebrand Dilip Singh Judeo Monday dared Congress leader and Chhattisgarh former chief minister Ajit Jogi to take him on rather than challenging Chief Minister Raman Singh.
Referring to Jogi's pledge to contest assembly polls in November against Raman Singh, Judeo told reporters here: "I can't comment on his challenge against Raman Singh but he (Jogi) should show guts to challenge me."
Judeo, a BJP Rajya Sabha member and a former central minister, said: "I will give a befitting reply to (Jogi) if he dares to challenge me."
Pranab opts out, Anand Sharma to attend ARF meet
By IANS,
New Delhi : With a trust vote looming in parliament next week, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also a leading political manager of the ruling coalition, has decided to send junior minister Anand Sharma to Singapore to attend a ministerial meeting of the Asean Regional Forum.
Mukherjee was slated to attend the crucial ARF meeting in Singapore July 21-24. But with the government battling for survival after the Left parties withdrew their support last week, he decided to send Sharma for it, official sources said.
Trust vote debate will be for 16 hours
By IANS,
New Delhi : The debate on the trust vote will be held for 16 hours, an all party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee just before the house met decided Monday.
On Monday, the discussion would begin at 11 a.m. and go on till 1 p.m. before breaking for lunch. After that, the house would meet again at 2 p.m. and continue till late at night. It is expected that the debate will go on for six hours Tuesday before the trust vote that will decide the fate of the Manmohan Singh government.
BJP demands Lalu’s removal, probe into sting
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order an inquiry and remove Railways Minister Lalu Prasad after a television news channel purportedly showed him misusing his official position to acquire land for his family and relatives.
“Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh doesn't have the capability to remove Lalu Prasad, we still demand a thorough inquiry and resignation of the railways minister,” BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.
Left asks DMK to join third front
By IANS,
Dindigul (Tamil Nadu) : Days after announcing withdrawal of support to the ruling DMK, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday exhorted Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to join the proposed third front.
"Political equations have undergone a sea change after 2004 and therefore Chief Minister Karunanidhi should weigh his political options more carefully," state CPI-M secretary N. Varadarajan told reporters in the city, 400 km south of Chennai.
Advani to flag off Madhya Pradesh chief minister’s rally
By IANS,
Bhopal : L.K. Advani, the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will flag off Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's public rally Thursday aimed at launching the party's election campaign in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.
BJP state President Narendra Singh Tomar, who inspected the venue of the public meeting at Ujjain Wednesday, said: "The state polls are due in November this year. Several works related to development and public welfare were done in past four-and-a-half years regime of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh."
Confusion over CPI-M politburo censuring Bhattacharjee
By IANS,
New Delhi/Kolkata : Was West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee censured by the CPI-M politburo for his anti-strike remarks? On Friday, confusion reigned with some leaders in West Bengal saying that he had been "publicly censured" but their counterparts in New Delhi claiming that Bhattacharjee would face a strong reprimand only at the next meeting of the politburo.
"The report (that Bhattacharjee was censured by the politburo) is baseless," said senior CPI-M leader S. Ramachandra Pillai.
Congress stages walkout from Himachal assembly
By IANS,
Shimla : The Congress Thursday staged a walkout from the Himachal Pradesh assembly, demanding restoration of the state administrative tribunal that was scrapped by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
Debating on the bill introduced by the government in the house Tuesday regarding the transfer of pending tribunal cases to other courts, former chief minister Virbhadra Singh said the administrative tribunal had been abolished by the government solely on political lines.
Court reserves order on Amarinder’s plea
By IANS,
Chandigarh : A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday reserved its order on a petition filed by former chief minister Amarinder Singh, seeking a stay on the state legislative assembly's decision to expel him from its membership.
Justices A.K. Goel and Ajay Tewari, constituting the bench, announced that they were reserving the order on the petition after hearing lawyers Friday.
The same bench Thursday refused to stay the Punjab assembly order expelling the senior Congress leader, saying it was not an urgent matter. The matter was postponed till Friday.
BJP, Congress have failed to serve common man: Uma Bharti
By IANS,
Bhopal : Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress had failed to serve the common man, Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party president Uma Bharti said here Monday.
Addressing a huge Suraj Sankalp rally at the historic Lal Parade ground, she said Madhya Pradesh had become a haven for activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
Sukhbir Badal wants Modi to stop drugs inflow into Punjab
Chandigarh : Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned about the acute drug problem in Punjab in his 'Mann ki Baat' programme on...
Expectations from Mamata’s budget: Muslims want education, homes
By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,