Trust vote day: equity markets in the green in early trade
By IANS,
Mumbai : Hours before the crucial trust vote in parliament that will decide the fate of India's ruling United Progressive Alliance , equity markets - often seen as a barometer of investor confidence in the government - opened in the green and stayed there in initial trade.
The 30-share benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, opened with a gain of 12.40 points at 13,837.64. Ten minutes into trading, it had risen to 13,942.68 points, a gain of 92.64 points or 0.67 percent from its closing figure Monday.
BJP leaders court arrest in Tamil Nadu
By IANS,
Chennai : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L. Ganesan and S. Thirunavukkarasar were among many party workers arrested Wednesday for blocking traffic at the main arterial road of the city here to protest the Jammu and Kashmir government's order cancelling land allotment to the Amarnath Shrine board.
The protest was organised at Anna Road by the state unit of BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. All the arrested party workers were released later, the police said.
Jagan dominates day two of national motorcycle racing
By IANS,
Chennai: TVS Racing's K. Jagan delivered a double, despite a 10-second penalty for a jump start, in the first round of the MRF-FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship here Sunday.
BJP banking on division of anti-Modi votes in UP
By Soroor Ahmed, TwoCircles.net,
Whether it is a wave or no wave the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to perform better in Uttar Pradesh than in Bihar, or maybe even in the home state of its prime ministerial candidate, Gujarat.
‘मेरा जुर्म बस यह था कि मैंने पाकिस्तानी लड़की से प्यार किया’
TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
लखनऊ : ‘उस वक्त जब मैं 18 साल का था और मैं टीवी मैकेनिक का काम करता था. मेरा बस जुर्म यह...
Facing cadre anger, CPI-M to hold state committee meet
Kolkata: Against the backdrop of an unprecedented resentment among workers against the party leadership following a string of electoral setbacks, the CPI-M will begin...
Documents leak: GMR Energy official called for questioning
New Delhi : In its ongoing probe into the leak of government documents from the coal, power and petroleum ministries, Delhi Police on Monday...
BJP MLAs thrash independent MLA in J&K assembly
Srinagar: Two ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs thrashed independent MLA Engineer Rashid in the state assembly on Thursday for hosting a beef party...
No place for Vajpayee, Advani, Joshi in BJP’s top decision-making body
New Delhi : In a move marking the end of the era of stalwarts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi,...
Congress distances itself from Digvijaya Singh on Batla House
New Delhi : The Congress on Wednesday distanced itself from party general secretary Digvijaya Singh's statement that the 2008 Batla House gunfight was a...
AAP twin rallies to test support base in Delhi
New Delhi : The Aam Aadmi Party will hold two rallies - one for auto rickshaw drivers Thursday and the other Aug 3 -...
Opposition asks Assam government to quit over killings
By IANS,
Guwahati : Opposition parties in Assam Sunday asked the Congress-led state government to resign over the killing of over 20 people in a tribal-dominated district and sought New Delhi's intervention.
A meeting of eight parties here reviewed the situation in the southern district of North Cachar Hills where a rag-tag rebel group, "Dima Halam Daogah" (Jewel Garlossa faction) or Black Widows went on a killing spree last week.
US NRI groups hail Manmohan government’s trust vote win
By Parveen Chopra, IANS,
New York : Indian American community leaders Tuesday wholeheartedly welcomed the news of the Manmohan Singh government winning the parliamentary confidence motion, terming it as an endorsement for the India-US nuclear deal.
Azad’s Khush-aal JK, nowhere in sight
By INS
Despite initial hiccups and lack of support from New Delhi and coalition partners, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s performance as Chief minister has been rated as 50 per cent of what he could have delivered during a Survey by INS team.
Congress has the numbers in Himachal: Virbhadra
By IANS,
Shimla : The Congress party Thursday claimed it has the numbers for a majority in the Himachal Pradesh assembly and form the next government in the state.
Concern for farmers as land bill being changed: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: It is a matter of concern for farmers that the land bill is being changed, said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi while...
Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan: Muslims for composite Indian nationalism
By Ram Puniyani
As per the recent communiqué from Chief Minister of Haryana M.L. Khattar’s, the Government of Haryana has decided to change the name...
Ajit Singh loses to ex-Mumbai police chief
Lucknow : Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh lost the Lok Sabha election Friday from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh to BJP's Satyapal Singh, a former...
My father was not complicit in Babri Masjid demolition: PV Narsimha Rao’s son
By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net
Seafood exporters want separate fisheries ministry
By IANS,
Kochi : A seafood exporters' lobby in Kerala has urged the government to create a separate ministry for fisheries and wants K.V. Thomas, a Congress party parliamentarian from the state, to head it.
"This would be beneficial not only for us, but also for the five million people who are dependent on the industry including the fishing community," said Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) president Anwar Hashim.
"If the industry gets a separate minister, it will help things move faster," Hashim told IANS.
34 cancelled trains to be restored from Monday
New Delhi: Thirty-four trains that were cancelled or were running at lower frequencies due to fog in north India will be restored from Monday,...
Apex court asks Mayawati why her plot was not acquired
By Rana Ajit, IANS,
New Delhi : The Supreme Court has sought Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's stand on a lawsuit by a resident of the state's Badalpur village, who alleges that while his plot was acquired by the government, the plot owned by Mayawati in the same village was exempted.
A bench of Justice H.S. Bedi and Justice J.M. Panchal sought Mayawati's stand, issuing notice to her in her personal capacity and not as chief minister. Notices were issued early this month to Mayawati's father Prabhu Dayal and brother Anand as well.
India to host grand global meet on federalism
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS
New Delhi : From heads of state and government to experts and activists, around 1,000 people from the world will take part in an international conference on federalism here next week.
Conference leaders say the Nov 5-7 meet - the fourth in a series organised by the Canada-based Forum of Federations - will provide a platform for exchanges of ideas that can prove useful to countries in turmoil such as Sri Lanka.
Sikh group urges Sharif for corridor to shrine
Amritsar : A Sikh group urged Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to announce during his visit to India Monday the creation of a four-km...
Amar Singh’s Samajwadi days over?
By IANS,
Lucknow : Disgruntled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh, who recently resigned from all party posts, seems to be heading for troubled waters amid a growing demand for his ouster from the party.
"There is no valid reason for Amar Singh to continue in Samajwadi Party. Apparently, he does not want to lose his Rajya Sabha membership, otherwise he should have marched away himself," said senior SP leader and former minister Ambika Chaudhary.
BJP wants all-party Jharkhand team to visit Assam
By IANS
Ranchi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday urged the Jharkhand assembly speaker to constitute an all-party delegation to visit Assam to take stock of the situation there after a protest rally by tribals turned violent last month.
"We have asked Speaker Aalamgir Aalam to constitute a team of all political parties that will visit Assam and take stock of the situation," said Arjun Munda, former chief minister and BJP leader.
CPI wins Simeria by-election in Jharkhand
By IANS
Ranchi : The Communist Party of India (CPI) Thursday won the Simeria assembly by-election in Jharkhand by over 7,000 votes.
CPI candidate Ram Chandra Ram got 30,700 votes, defeating Jharkhand Vikas Morcha -Democratic (JVM-Democratic) candidate Jai Prakash Bhokta. The Congress finished third and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came fourth.
It is a big day for the CPI, which has got its first legislator in the Jharkhand assembly.
Seemandhra shuts down to protest passing of Telangana bill
By IANS,
Hyderabad: Normal life in Rayalaseema and coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh came to a halt Wednesday on a shutdown call by YSR Congress...
Sudheendra Kulkarni joins advisory panel in Mamata’s ministry
By IANS,
New Delhi : Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strategist Sudheendra Kulkarni has been appointed member of an advisory committee in the railway ministry, three days after he snapped his ties with the party.
Denying reports that he had joined the Trinamool Congress headed by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kulkarni said he had been appointed on a "committee in the ministry of railways that has been constituted to advise the minister on how to innovatively usher in reforms in the railways".
Jharkhand legislators against fresh polls
By IANS,
Ranchi : Legislators from various parties in Jharkhand do not favour mid-term polls or the continuation of president's rule imposed June 1 after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren resigned as chief minister.
Around eight Congress legislators are currently in New Delhi, trying to convince the central leaders to initiate the process of forming a government in the state.
"No legislator wants election in the state," Congress legislative party leader Rajendra Prasad Singh told reporters Saturday.
Media, anti-Marxist forces behind rift reports: Balakrishnan
By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Newly-elected Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member from Kerala Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Friday said that the media and anti-Marxist forces were responsible for projecting factionalism in the Kerala unit of the party.
Speaking to reporters, he said the party cadres were misled by reports of factionalism but now realised the truth.
Balakrishnan was elected to the politburo at the CPI-M Congress, which concluded in Coimbatore on Thursday.
Four HNLC, ULFA-I rebels arrested in Meghalaya
Shillong : Four rebels of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and the United Liberation Front of Asom - Independent (ULFA-I), were arrested late...
No truck with BJP, other options open: Omar
By IANS,
Srinagar : National Conference chief Omar Abdullah Sunday ruled out any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as Jammu and Kashmir appeared to be heading for another hung legislative assembly.
"There is no question of aligning with parties that tried to divide the state on communal lines," Abdullah told reporters.
Asked if he meant no alliance with the BJP, Abdullah said: "I am not signalling but clearly saying that the National Conference cannot join hands with the BJP."
The National Conference president has won the Ganderbal constituency.
Indian ports’ capacity to be doubled in five years: Gadkari
Mumbai : Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari Monday announced an ambitious plan to double the capacity of 12 major Indian ports from the current...
Money from Tamil relief fund may be diverted to LTTE, says Formar Tamil Nadu...
By NNN-PTI,
Chennai, India : Money from a relief fund set up by the Tamil Nadu state government to help Tamils suffering due to the conflict in Sri Lanka might be diverted to the banned LTTE, AIADMK leader Jayalalilthaa alleged.
"Since Chief Minister Karunanidhi himself is a sympathiser of LTTE, the people of Tamil Nadu state feel that the funds collected might reach the banned outfit," she said in a statement here.
Jayalalithaa also urged the people not to get carried away by the state government's move to set up the Sri Lankan Tamil Relief Fund.
Why Muslims are a punching bag
By Bobby Naqvi
The Indian Right has always used Muslims as a stepping stone to power in Delhi and elsewhere since the 1930s. Almost every...
Advani congratulates Manmohan Singh
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani Saturday spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and congratulated him on the surprise victory for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the national elections.
During the brief conversation, Manmohan Singh thanked Advani, who was prime ministerial candidate for the opposition National Democratic Alliance, and sought both his support and constructive criticism in running the government, an official in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.
BJP eyeing fresh Delhi polls in February?
By Rahul Vaishanvi,
New Delhi : As confusion prevails over government formation in the national capital, the Delhi unit of the BJP is gearing up...
Nothing wrong in burning flags, sloganeering in J-K: Pappu Yadav
Patna : Controversial Bihar leader Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on Monday said there was nothing wrong in burning of the Indian flag in...
Bengal opposition ridicules Mamata after Ramlila show
Kolkata : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress was ridiculed Wednesday by the opposition after its disappointing public rally in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.
After days of...
Sonia Gandhi to visit Rajasthan on Friday
Jaipur : Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to visit Rajasthan on March 20 and meet farmers affected by rain and hailstorm, state party...
One killed while making bombs at BJP leader house in West Bengal
By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net
Kolkata: One man killed and another was seriously injured as a result of a heavy explosion at an apartment owned by...
Congress refuses to say if satisfied with Mamata as minister
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Congress party Monday sidestepped questions on whether Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee would be removed after the train accident in West Bengal, the second major one in the state in less than two months, in which at least 61 people were killed.
Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed, asked by reporters, if the party was satisfied with the performance of Banerjee, gave an evasive answer, "It is not a question of being satisfied or not."
"It is very difficult to comment without an enquiry," Ahmed said.
Derecognise Shiv Sena, MNS: lawyer petitions poll panel
By IANS,
New Delhi : A Supreme Court lawyer Tuesday petitioned the Election Commission for de-recognition of the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for unleashing a "reign of terror" in the garb of espousing the concerns of Marathis.
Expressing concern over their activities in Maharashtra, petitioner Brijesh Kalappa said the two parties have "unleashed a reign of terror under the guise of espousing the case of the 'Marathi manoos' and protecting the national interest by making shrill noises regarding Pakistan in general and Muslims in particular".
BJP confident of Modi becoming PM, hold flurry of meetings
New Delhi/Ahmedabad : BJP president Rajnath Singh Wednesday said Narendra Modi will "definitely" be the next prime minister, as top party leaders held a...
Lok Sabha adjourned after JD-U leaders protest
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Lok Sabha was adjourned for about 20 minutes Tuesday after Janata Dal-United (JD-U) members entered the well of the house' alleging that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had taken back the funds allocated to Bihar and Orissa governments for rehabilitation work. The government denied the charge.
DMDK demands action against those indulging in violence
Chennai : Actor-turned-politician A. Vijaykant-led DMDK Wednesday demanded action against those who indulged in violence in Tamil Nadu following the conviction of former chief...
Focus on UPA’s flagship programmes in interim budget
By IANS,
New Delhi : The rural development ministry got an allocation of Rs.822.02 billion in the interim budget Monday with a special focus on...
How Tamil filmmaker Pa Ranjith is bringing marginalised into the mainstream
The brain behind several hit films in Tamil, Pa Ranjith is forcing us to confront caste in all its complexities.
Smitha R | TwoCircles.net
NEW DELHI...
BJP plateauing even in its strongholds: Advani
By IANS,
New Delhi : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Sunday expressed concern that the party was "plateauing" even in its strongholds, while stressing on the need to expand its base in several other big states and strengthening the organisation.
"It is a matter of concern that our party seems to be plateauing in some states, which are our strongholds, and have actually suffered big reversals in some others," Advani said in his concluding remarks at the party's two-day national executive here.
Speaker happy at consensus on price rise discussion
By IANS,
New Delhi : Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Thursday said she was very happy that political parties had reached a consensus on holding a discussion on rising prices.
At a meeting of all political parties convened by the speaker Wednesday, it was agreed that the discussion would be held under rule 193, under which voting is not required and which the government is insisting on. The opposition's demand was that there should be an adjournment motion on price rise.
Poll panel seeks report on Varun Gandhi’s remarks
By IANS,
Lucknow : The Election Commission Sunday sought a report from the administration after Varun Gandhi, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pilibhit, made allegedly communal remarks at a rally.
"We have been asked (by the Election Commission) to submit a report in the next three days," Pilibhit sub-divisional magistrate Zameel Alam told IANS by telephone.
Election Commission guidelines for poll conduct
By IANS,
Kolkata : Some guidelines set by the Election Commission for parties and candidates:
- No party or candidate shall include in any activity during elections which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred, cause tension between castes and communities.
- Parties and candidates should refrain from character assassination or criticism of all aspects of private life which are not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of any particular political party.
- There should be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.
Media deriving pleasure in reporting on beef ban: Parrikar
Panaji, (IANS): Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the media was deriving pleasure in reporting controversial statements on the beef ban.
Parrikar also...
Governmenat must make clear final stand on n-deal: Yechury
By IANS
Chennai : Communist leader Sitaram Yechury Friday said the Manmohan Singh government should "make clear" its "final position" on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Yechury, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader, told the media here that the Left parties were "expecting" the government to give the final word on the deal on Oct 22, when the ruling United Progressive Alliance(UPA)-Left panel meets again for talks.
‘Modi regime fascist, must be dethroned at any cost’
By IANS:
Kolkata, July 18: Terming the Narendra Modi regime at the centre as a "fascist power" that is destroying the country's economy and creating...
Richest candidates in Kerala are from AIADMK
New Delhi : The main fight in Kerala may be between the Congress-led UDF and the Left, but two of the three richest candidates...
MP Cong promises to establish separate cell to implement
Sachchar panel recommendations for minorities
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: In the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Congress party has promised to establish a separate cell for the effective implementation of Sachchar Committee recommendations for minorities. While those graduating from Madarsas would be employed in government and other schools to teach Urdu and Arabic at the primary level.
Court questions Karnataka’s move to celebrate Tipu Jayanti
Bengaluru : Observing that erstwhile Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan was not a freedom fighter, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday questioned the state government's...
Maharashtra: Hindutva rally calls for economic boycott of Muslims
Several leaders addressed the rally and made speeches against alleged ‘love jihad’ and ‘land jihad’ in the state.
TCN Special Correspondent | TwoCircles.net
MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA)...
Lalu’s ‘Chak de’ line came from his daughter
By IANS
New Delhi : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has received applauds for his "populist" railway budget and also his trademark one-liners in his budget speech Tuesday. But sources close to him said his hit "Chak de" comment was contributed by his daughter.
According to the sources, the railway minister has not even watched last year's mega hit Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Chak De! India". It was his daughter Ragini who asked him to use the popular phrase in his budget speech.
President’s speech to focus on social sector, economy
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's full cabinet met for the first time Saturday and finalised the president's address to parliament that is expected to focus on the Congress-led government's moves to strengthen welfare schemes and boost the economy.
"The meeting discussed the president's speech to parliament. No other decision was taken," Jairam Ramesh, the new minister of state for environment and forests, told IANS as he emerged from the meeting at the prime minister's Race Course Road house.
Political parties in UP support cross-border surgical strikes
Lucknow : Political parties in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday extended their support to the surgical strikes by the Indian Army on terrorist launchpads...
R-Day celebrations: Kejriwal not invited, wants to attend
New Delhi : The chief ministerial candidate of the AAP and former Delhi chief minister Saturday said he has not been invited to attend...
Cafés in Kashmir’s Smaller Towns: Crucial Hubs for Social Interaction and Community Engagement
Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: At 3 p.m., a steady stream of young girls begins to filter into Taste of Tibet, a café nestled...
BJP, Congress admit coalitions are to stay
By IANS,
New Delhi : A day after India's parliamentary election schedule was announced, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday admitted they needed allies to win.
"We are confident the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) will come into power with full majority," said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP's vice-president and election strategist.
He, however, conceded that a coalition government was a reality in the present scenario.
"The scene after the election results is still unclear and no single party can form a government without alliances," Naqvi added.
Mukherjee ‘sets record straight’, says IAEA text confidential
By IANS,
New Delhi : Refuting the Left's allegation that the government violated its commitment to share the IAEA safeguards pact text with them, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday clarified it was a confidential record and the communists should have joined the government to get access to it.
बनारस में अनिश्चित कांग्रेस चलेगी धर्म की राह पर
सिद्धांत मोहन, TwoCircles.net
वाराणसी : सालों तक धर्म की राजनीति से दूर रहने वाली कांग्रेस पार्टी इस विधानसभा चुनाव में धर्म और गंगा के मुद्दे...
BJP forces Rajya Sabha adjournment on Telangana issue
By IANS,
New Delhi : Saying that the condition of fasting Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader K. Chandrasekhara Rao was "very, very serious", BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabhya Wednesday vociferously demanded a statement on the issue from the government and shouted slogans, forcing adjournment of the house.
The issue rocked the house for 20 minutes and Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who was present throughout, sat silent through the proceedings.
MP Cabinet expanded, four ministers added
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Four ministers were added to the Bharatiya Janata Party ruled Madhya Pradesh Government here on Thursday evening when Governor Dr. Balram Jakhar administered oath of office and secrecy to them.
People in Maharashtra will punish Congress, NCP: Modi
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said people of Maharashtra are ready to "punish" the Congress-NCP alliance in the state.
"Amazing atmosphere at...
BJP cautious on Soren voting with Congress
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday reacted cautiously to reports that Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren had voted alongside the ruling United Progressive Alliance against cut motions against demands for grants of various ministries in the Lok Sabha .
"If it is true, we will take note of it," a senior party leader said.
Soren, whose Jharkhand Mukti Morcha shares power with the BJP in Jharkhand, is yet to get elected to the state assembly. The norms provide that a minister has to get elected to the legislature within six months of his appointment.
Shiv Sena got Rs.5 bn to oppose Jaitapur: Narayan Rane
By IANS,
Mumbai: Industry Minister Narayan Rane Thursday alleged that the opposition Shiv Sena had got funding of Rs.5 billion to stall the 9,900-MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project.
Voting begins in 89 constituencies in Karnataka
By IANS,
Bangalore : Voting began Saturday in 89 constituencies in 11 southern districts of Karnataka in the first of the three-phase elections to the 224-member state assembly whose outcome has assumed national importance as it could be a pointer to the timing of parliamentary polls.
Around 17.3 million voters, including 8.4 million women, are eligible to pick their representatives from over 950 candidates. There are 17 women contestants.
Speaker recommends probe against three others linked to cash-for-vote
By IANS,
New Delhi : A day after a parliamentary panel gave a clean chit to Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Congress leader Ahmad Patel on allegations they had sought to buy votes ahead of the July 22 trust vote in parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Tuesday recommended that the role of three others linked to the scam be probed.
Fix responsibility for Liberhan report leak: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : Attacking the government over "leakage" of the Liberhan Commission report, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday demanded that responsibility should be fixed for the "lapse" and a joint parliamentary panel should probe into it.
Party president Rajnath Singh, speaking to reporters outside parliament, said: "The home minister should take moral responsibility for the leakage. The lapse should be probed and its report given to parliament before the conclusion of the winter session."
Sonia Gandhi stable after hospitalisation
By IANS
New Delhi : Sonia Gandhi, Congress party president and chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), was in stable condition after being admitted early Tuesday to a hospital here after complaining of chest congestion and breathing problems.
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital chairman B.K. Rao said: "Mrs. Sonia Gandhi came to our hospital with cough and a light breathing problem. She has a chest infection."
Rao added that her condition is now stable.
Poor Bihar’s ministers spent Rs.47 lakh on petrol
By IANS,
Patna : Fourteen ministers in Bihar, one of India's poorest and most economically backward states, spent a whopping Rs.47.34 lakh on petrol in about 19 months, a querry under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed.
The details of expenses by 14 ministers were made public Saturday by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
"Ministers used fuel with the money provided by the poor people of the state - all in the name of development without any honest move," state RJD president Abdul Bari Siddiqui told IANS.
BJP misusing armed forces for Hindutva ends: CPI-M
New Delhi : The government is projecting the armed forces in Hindutva terms and this "should be a matter of serious concern for every...
Chhattisgarh assembly session to be stormy
By IANS,
Raipur : The final session of the present Chhattisgarh state assembly beginning Monday will be stormy with the opposition Congress set to grill the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for alleged corruption and collapse of the law and order machinery.
Congress sources say party MLAs will seize the opportunity to expose BJP on its alleged corruption in various infrastructure development projects and "a total breakdown" of law and order in the state since the saffron party came to power in December 2003.
No repoll in Kolkata civic elections, says SEC
Kolkata : The West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced there would not be repoll in any booth following the Kolkata Municipal...
Over 1.3 crore people to vote in Delhi assembly polls
New Delhi : Over 1.3 crore people are eligible to vote in the upcoming polls to the Delhi assembly, the Election Commission said here...
Gadkari elected unopposed as BJP president
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitin Gadkari was elected unopposed as the party's national president for a term of three years here Tuesday.
He was announced winner by the party's general secretary Thawarchand Gehlot after the organisational elections held here Tuesday.
"A total of 18 nominations were received from 18 states - all in favour of Gadkari. He had filed the nomination papers in December," said a party functionary.
BSP organises protests against price rise
By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which kept away from Monday's all-India shutdown, staged state-wide protests Tuesday against price rise, a spokesman said.
BSP activists staged demonstrations and held public meeting all over the sprawling state but the event was peaceful and caused no disruption to others, the spokesman said.
According to BSP, the party focussed on what it said was the inefficiency of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in containing inflation.
Opponents plan to slice up Modi’s Varanasi pie
By Mohit Dubey,
Varanasi : Far from the high-decibel campaigning and 24x7 politicking that are setting the stage for the most interesting contest of the...
Bhajan Lal disqualified from assembly seat
By IANS
Chandigarh : Former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal was Tuesday disqualified from the Adampur assembly seat in Haryana under the Anti Defection Law.
Speaker Raghubir Singh Kadian passed the order. Bhajan Lal was elected from the seat in February 2005.
Will Modi make it as the first low caste PM?
By Saeed Naqvi, IANS,
Should Narendra Modi actually be crowned the prime minister in May, the post-Mandal social justice political platform will finally have prevailed...
नवादा के कझिया गांव में सामंतों ने लगाया महादलितों के घरों में आग, वाम...
TwoCircles.net News Desk
पटना : नवादा ज़िले के अकबरपुर प्रखंड अन्तर्गत कझिया गाँव में वर्षों से बसे लगभग एक सौ महादलितों के घर में सामंती...
Go vote, say campaigns, but are people listening?
By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Bangalore : This election perhaps stands apart for the number of campaigns urging millions of reluctant, often lazy, Indians to walk that extra mile to the polling booth. But many voters say they are not impressed.
"Where are the right leaders to vote for?" retorts Radhika Sharma, a 22-year-old college student in Bangalore. "Most seasoned politicians fail to impress us as they are only good at rhetoric and not interested in public service," she told IANS.
Delhi will vote for AAP again: Kejriwal
Bangalore : Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday said his AAP will be voted back in power in Delhi.
Speaking at a rally here,...
Tamil Nadu town painted red and black as DMK women’s meet begins
By IANS,
Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) : The DMK's two-day women's meet got underway at this sea-side town of Tamil Nadu Saturday with the usual pomp, show and grandeur associated with the party's events.
Cuddalore town, 400 km from state capital Chennai, was awash with red and black, the party colours of the ruling DMK. The whole town was decorated with high arches and with large cutouts of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
The event kicked off with the party flag being unfurled by senior party leader Vasanthy Ganesan in the presence of Karunanidhi and the women of his family.
Mindsets need to change: Foreigners on Clean India mission
By Rupesh Dutta ,
New Delhi:Mindsets need to change if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission to make the country...
Government stands by its commitments for Jammu & Kashmir: Jaitley
New Delhi : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said the government stood by its commitment for the "equitable development" of the three regions...
TDP’s ‘Muslim declaration’ has placed the community on cloud nine
10% quota in job and education; 8% quota in assembly; Rs 2500Cr in annual budget
By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
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.
अभी चंद्रशेखर ‘टाइम ‘में आये हैं….उनका टाइम तो आगे आएगा !
भीम आर्मी सुप्रीमो चंद्रशेखर आज़ाद को मशहूर पत्रिका 'टाइम ' में दुनिया मे 100 उदीयमान नेताओं में शामिल किया गया है जिसकी ख़ूब चर्चा...
‘We want justice,’ says family of slain vegetable seller from Rajasthan
Muhammad Saleem was a 55-year-old vegetable seller who was killed after a mob allegedly attacked him in Beawar, Rajasthan. The police has ruled out...
Bye-polls for 27 seats in eight states on June 12
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Election Commission Tuesday announced bye-polls for 27 seats in eight states to be held June 12.
Counting will be on June 15, a statement said here.
Kerala seeks PM’s intervention on Mullaperiyar dam
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Friday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and rein in Tamil Nadu in the matter of construction of a new Mullaperiyar dam.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the present dam built under an agreement signed in 1886 between the then maharaja of Travancore and the British administration.
Recently Union Minister Jairam Ramesh had given the nod for conducting a survey at Mullaperiyar for a new dam which has been the demand of Kerala.
Agricultural growth doubled under UPA government: PM
By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said India's agriculture sector grew at 4.7 percent in the last three years, nearly double the growth registered during the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
"In the last three years, we have achieved growth rate in agriculture of 4.7 percent," said the prime minister after releasing a book, "Fast Forward", a collection of speeches and interventions of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.
Advani hints he may not be PM candidate in 2014
By IANS,
Nagpur: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Wednesday indicated he may not be the party's prime ministerial candidate in the next general elections.
Americans attacking Sikhs thinking they’re Muslims: Daily
By Arun Kumar
Washington : As police investigate an attack on a Sikh man in California as a hate crime, a media report said violence...
UP assembly session begins amid bedlam
Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh assembly on the first day of its monsoon session on Monday plunged into pandemonium over poor law and order...
BSP leaders protest park wall demolition in UP’s Lucknow
Lucknow: BSP leaders and workers on Thursday held a sit-in in the state capital to protest against the demolition of a wall of Ambedkar...
Raj Thackeray targets Shiv Sena, Congress; supports Modi
Pune: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray Monday launched his Lok Sabha campaign in his inimitable style, with attacks on the Shiv Sena, Congress...
Madhya Pradesh poll body cracks whip, warns officials
By IANS,
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Election Commission Monday warned of strict action against officials if they do not follow the model code of conduct after reports that chairpersons and other nominated members of various corporations were using official vehicles to campaign.
"It has been brought to the notice of the commission that the official vehicles provided to the different autonomous body chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and commissioners are being misused," Chief Electoral officer J.S. Mathur said.
India can’t tackle terror with mere talks: Togadia
Ahmedabad : India cannot tackle terrorism through mere talks with Pakistan, VHP's international president Pravin Togadia said on Monday, asserting that if extremists managed...
BJP sees positive government signals on n-liability bill
By IANS,
New Delhi : A report on the contentious civil nuclear liability bill is set to be tabled in parliament Wednesday as a parliamentary panel agreed to a three-fold increase in the compensation cap to Rs.1,500 crore and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) indicated it was "positive" about accepting this.
CPI-M, Congress both hopeful of victory in Tripura
By IANS
Agartala : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front as well as the main opposition Congress-led alliance are optimistic of forming the next government in Tripura after a large turnout in Saturday's polling.
"We shall win more than 41 seats in the 60-member house and our vote share would increase substantially," said Gautam Das, CPI-M spokesman.
He, however, blamed the Election Commission for "conducting the polling in a sluggish manner and high handedness of a section of central paramilitary forces".
A Gujarat polling station for one voter!
By IANS,
New Delhi : There will be one polling station in Gujarat for just one voter!
Many fans, but few cadres for Azhar
By IANS,
New Delhi : There was a long chain of cars and motorbikes parked outside a hall in Moradabad town in Uttar Pradesh. But unless one peeked inside, there was nothing to hint that the man at the centre of all this attention was cricket star-turned-politician Mohammed Azharuddin!
Azharuddin is the Congress candidate from Moradabad, but there were no party banners outside the hall. Two cars carried small party flags. Inside too, there was just one poster put up by the party workers of Moradabad district.
HC flags Delhi government on beef consumption
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Delhi government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking quashing...
Shutdown hits normal life in Andhra Pradesh
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The day-long shutdown in Andhra Pradesh called by opposition parties to protest the steep hike in fuel prices affected normal life Friday, with transport services being paralysed and businesses forced to down shutters.
The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) had called the state-wide strike.
Engage Modi but be on guard: former Pakistani diplomat
Islamabad : It is good to engage a Narendra Modi-led India but Islamabad must remain on guard vis-a-vis New Delhi, a former Pakistani ambassador...
Peace in country can be attained only through mutual love, brotherhood: Religious leaders in...
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Vice President Salim Engineer with other religious leaders formed a united front ‘Dharmik Jan Morcha’ in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to promote peace...
कांटे की टक्कर में उलझी फुलवारीशरीफ की तक़दीर
अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
पटना के अनिसाबाद से आप जैसे ही आगे बढ़ते हैं. फुलवारीशरीफ़ विधानसभा का क्षेत्र शुरू हो जाता है. फुलवारीशरीफ़ का एक...
UPA changing horses mid-stream?
By IANS,
New Delhi : Winter is in the air, so is a cabinet reshuffle. The murmur in the corridors of power is that some cabinet ministers may be given new berths and replacements could possibly be sought for key but unhappy ally DMK.
The reshuffle is expected before the winter session of parliament beginning Nov 19. Unlike UPA-1. which was smooth-sailing for the important southern partner, some key DMK ministers are having a tough time now and not enjoying the space and freedom they had in their previous avatar.
Congress fields Shekhar Suman against Shatrughan Sinha
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress party Monday announced the candidature of television star Shekhar Suman against Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Patna Sahib constituency in Bihar.
"He (Shekhar Suman) will be contesting from Patna Sahib. His joining the Congress will strengthen the party in the state," Bihar Congress Committee chief Anil Sharma said while announcing Suman's candidature at the party office here.
50 injured in police, protestors clash in Patna
Patna : At least 50 people, including 12 police officers, were injured here on Friday afternoon when police in a bid to disperse...
No direct link of Kanhaiya with anti-India slogans: DM’s report
New Delhi : "No direct link" has been found between Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and anti-India sloganeering at the...
Governor holds key to government formation in Meghalaya
By IANS
Shillong : Amid uncertainty over government formation in the northeastern state of Meghalaya with the Congress and a hastily patched up coalition staking claims Saturday, the focus shifted to Governor S.S. Sidhu.
The governor was said to be holding consultations with legal experts on the claims made by both combinations. Sources said he was likely to take a decision either later Saturday or Sunday.
The Congress party and a hurriedly formed alliance, named the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), Saturday staked claim to form the next government.