Two Bajrangis arrested for threatening VHP leader Vedanti
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Lucknow: Two Bajrang Dal activists have been arrested for threatening senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ram Vilas Vedanti.
Vedanti who is an important leader of VHP since 1984 was threatened on August 30th on his mobile phone. UP police tracked that threatening call to Katra, a small town in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh.
Two peoples arrested for making the threatening call are Ramesh Tiwari who is the city president of Bajrang Dal and Pawan Pandey of Hindu Yuva Vahini.
Mayawati gives conditional nod for Bundelkhand
By IANS
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday agreed to the creation of a seprate state of Bundelkhand, provided the central government initiated the process.
While addressing the state assembly here, the chief minister said: "Creation of a state is a central subject, so once the central government moots the proposal, we will be the first ones to ratify it."
She observed: "Our party has always been in favour of smaller states because we feel that these are better administered."
Muslim spiritual heads meet Home Minister, to visit Kashmir for peace efforts
By TCN News
A delegation of heads of eminent Khanqahs and Dargahs led by the...
75 percent of newly elected MPs are graduates
New Delhi: Seventy-five percent of the people elected in the general election have at least a graduation degree, whereas 10 percent are matriculates, according...
Samajwadi Party legislator booked under Gangster Act
By IANS,
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh police Moday booked Samajwadi Party legislator, Sultan Beg, under the Gangster Act for allegedly running a truck-lifters' gang, police said Monday.
Beg is the legislator from Kanwar assembly constituency in Bareilly district, some 200 km from Lucknow.
"An FIR was filed against Beg Jan 17 for running the truck-lifters' gang. Since then, seven days have passed, but he has not surrendered. Therefore, we have booked him under the Gangster Act," Bareilly Superintendent of Police (Rural) Vijay Gautam told reporters Monday .
Congress played politics over Bihar floods: Nitish Kumar
By IANS,
Patna : Hitting out at the Congress, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key ally of the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Monday accused the party of playing politics over last year's devastating floods in the state.
"The centre had given immediate relief of Rs.1,000 crore (Rs.10 billion) when the Kosi floods devastated Bihar. Later, the central government sent a letter that you (Bihar) have enough money for the relief work so now return the Rs.1,000 crore," Kumar told reporters here.
Kashmir: Claims of probe on Hyderpora encounter leave police, families of slain, political parties...
The claims of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Jammu Kashmir Police ordered to probe the controversial Hyderpora encounter, have been dismissed by...
Himachal budget session starts Tuesday
By IANS
Shimla : The budget session of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly begins Tuesday.
It will be the first budget session of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which swept to power a little over two months ago.
There will be 23 sittings in all and the budget will be presented by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal March 7. It will be passed March 27, a spokesman of the state legislative assembly said Monday.
There will be an eight-day recess March 15-23.
Goa drug mafia will be probed, says BJP MP
By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar,
Panaji : Goa's drug mafia may have a reason to be cautious. Re-elected North Goa BJP MP Shripad Naik will insist that...
Telangana CM congratulates Sania Mirza
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday congratulated Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on winning her maiden women's doubles title at a...
JD-U president Sharad Yadav files nomination papers
Patna : Janata Dal-United (JD-U) president Sharad Yadav Friday filed his nomination papers from Madhepura in Bihar.
Sharad Yadav, the sitting MP, will be seeking...
Kapil Sibal rides a solar rickshaw to campaign
By IANS,
New Delhi : Union Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, who is also the sitting MP of the Chandni Chowk constituency, Monday took a break from car rides and instead chose to campaign on the soleckshaw - a different kind of rickshaw - attracting the attention of many.
Kicking off his campaign at 8 a.m., Sibal took the driver's seat and rode the rickshaw for a few minutes before taking the passenger's seat and campaigning through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk for nearly an hour.
Sydney murder: Sushma Swaraj speaks to Australian counterpart
New Delhi/Sydney : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday took up with her Australian counterpart the murder of an Indian IT consultant in...
27 फ़रवरी को पूरे बिहार में जलाया जाएगा मोदी सरकार का पुतला
TwoCircles.net News Desk
पटना : ‘जेएनयू को बंद व बदनाम करने के लिए कन्हैया को मोहरा बनाकर जान से मारने की योजना से मोदी सरकार...
Owaisi opposes taking UP man’s lynching issue to UN
Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday opposed Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's move to take the lynching of a Muslim man over rumours...
Mizoram poll deferred
Aizawl:The election to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram has been deferred to April 11 due to a three-day shutdown and poll boycott...
Apex court notice to CBI on Nandigram firing
By IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Thursday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a West Bengal government petition challenging the Calcutta High Court ruling against it for the March 14 police firing in Nandigram.
The notice was issued by a bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and comprising Justices R.V. Ravindran and J.M. Panjal.
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...
बिहार में पर्दानशीं मतदाताओं पर है विशेष नज़र
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
पश्चिम चम्पारण : बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव में फ़र्जी मतदान रोकने के लिए निर्वाचन आयोग की पर्दानशीं मतदाताओं पर विशेष नज़र है....
Nehru messed up Kashmir issue: Subramanian Swamy
New Delhi : BJP leader Subramanian Swamy Monday accused India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru of being "short-sighted" and "contributing immensely" to the Kashmir...
In case of tie, I would have supported government: Somnath
By IANS,
Kolkata : Citing constitutional norms, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Sunday said he would have voted for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre in case of a tie during the July trust motion.
"As per constitutional guidelines, in case of a tie, the Speaker has to vote in favour of the government. I would also have done so, as per the norms," Chatterjee said in an interview aired on a Bengali television channel here Sunday.
JDU calls for unified opposition in Parliament to logistics deal
New Delhi : The Janta Dal United (JD-U) on Wednesday condemned the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) between India...
Need to reduce crude dependence: Gadkari
Mathura : There was an urgent need to reduce dependence on crude and promote bio-diesel and ethanol which could boost India's rural economy, union...
Day’s political events in quotes
By IANS,
New Delhi : The day's political events in quotes:
BJP President L.K. Advani: "This government has no right to continue in office now. Let the country decide afresh."
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on seat-sharing in Uttar Pradesh: “We have to make adjustments desirable for Samajwadi Party and Congress. We would like to align with all secular forces to keep the communal, fascist forces out… There is no quid pro quo with Samajwadi Party.”
Haryana’s splintered opposition – and confident Congress
By Jaideep Sarin, IANS,
Ambala (Haryana) : Thanks to a divided and demoralized opposition, Haryana's ruling Congress is confident of retaining power in the Oct 13 assembly elections and break a nearly four-decade jinx.
As the election day draws close, Congress leaders are upbeat. The last time a party returned to power in Haryana after ruling it for five years was in 1972.
Vote for development: Modi in Jharkhand
Ranchi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday asked the people of Jharkhand to vote for development in the state.
"Enough politics has been done in...
Krishna, Chidambaram not on same page on Pakistan: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday charged Home Minister P. Chidambaram and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna with "not being on the same page" on the government's policy towards Pakistan.
The party also hit out at Krishna for ticking off Home Secretary G.K.Pillai, saying he had only stated the facts in his remarks about the involvement of Pakistan's ISI spy agency in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Lokpal debate in first part of budget session: Bansal
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Lokpal bill will be taken up for debate in the first half of the budget session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
Panneerselvam may be sworn in Monday
Chennai : AIADMK legislature party leader O. Panneerselvam is expected to be sworn in the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu Monday, said Raj...
‘Probe graft charges immediately as CWG officials may flee’
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Samajwadi Party (SP) Monday said the government should immediately probe the alleged corruption in the Commonwealth Games organisation as the officials involved in the wrongdoings could flee the country after the event.
"The probe should be done immediately. It is possible that the people involved would try to escape," SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said while participating in the debate in the Lok Sabha on the situation arising out of the delay in preparing for the Oct 3-14 mega event.
Pachauri’s resignation from PM’s climate panel accepted
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accepted the resignation of noted environmentalist R.K. Pachauri from the PM's Council on Climate Change.
Pachauri, who...
Azam vs. Bukhari
By TCN Special Correspondent
Quotes:
Bukhari: I am not dying for any post and I have raised issues related to Muslims only. I still stand for upliftment of Muslims.
India to provide $2 bn to Bangladesh, 22 agreements inked
Dhaka : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India will provide Bangladesh a Line of Credit worth $2 billion as he held talks...
Jayanthi praises Ramesh
By IANS,
New Delhi : Praising her predecessor, new Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan said Thursday that Jairam Ramesh had handled the ministry well.
Bye bye Smriti Irani, says Kanhaiya
New Delhi : JNU student leader Kanhaiyar Kumar on Wednesday welcomed the exit of Smriti Irani from the HRD Ministry but said this was...
Coast Guard aircraft with three aboard missing
Chennai: An Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft with three crew members aboard has gone missing, a senior official said on Tuesday. He added that...
Badal terms central government farm loan waiver a `big fraud’
By IANS
Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Monday termed the central government's Rs.600 billion ($15 billion) loan waiver for the farmers, announced in the national budget, a "huge fraud on innocent and poor farmers of the country".
The loan waiver scheme was nothing more than "partial debt default readjustment scheme", Badal said, adding that the scheme was a cruel joke on the farmers and only a gimmick by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government with an eye to next year's general election. He was talking to media persons here Monday.
Rattled Lalu, Paswan dismiss Rahul’s praise for Nitish
By IANS,
New Delhi: Rattled by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's open overtures to Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, UPA partner leaders Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan Tuesday voiced their unhappiness over the move.
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi lauding Nitish Kumar for the developmental work done in the state, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad made no attempt to hide his ire. He told reporters: "Nitish koi achha kaam nahi kiya hai (Nitish has not done any good work)."
Congress entitled to Leader of Opposition post in LS: Sonia
New Delhi : Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Monday said her party was the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha and hence was...
Unfortunate that Trinamool abstained from vote: Left
By IANS,
Kolkata: West Bengal's ruling Left Front Tuesday criticised Trinamool Congress' decision to abstain from the voting process for the women's quota bill in the Rajya Sabha and termed its stand as "unfortunate".
"It's extremely unfortunate that Trinamool Congress has decided to abstain from the voting to the women's quota bill today (Tuesday) in the Rajya Sabha," state Left Front chairman Biman Bose said at a press conference here.
BJP terms petro hike ‘economic terror’
By IANS,
New Delhi : The hike in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices announced by the government was "unleashing of economic terror on the nation", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Wednesday.
"The decision of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by the prime minister (Manmohan Singh), to jack up the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas is shocking. The UPA government has unleashed economic terror on the nation. Today’s decision defies all economic logic," said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
Cold vibes between Modi, Akhilesh for all to see
Varanasi : While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Friday flew down to Varanasi to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his maiden visit...
Prakash Jha to contest LS poll from Bettiah in Bihar
By IANS,
Bhopal : Film producer Prakash Jha, who is here shooting his film 'Rajneeti', Tuesday said he would contest the Lok Sabha elections from Bettiah constituency in West Champaran district of Bihar.
Talking to reporters, Jha said this time he would not contest as an independent candidate but in all probability for some political party.
"I contested the previous Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate but now I will be in fray as a candidate of some political party," he said.
Name in two voters’ lists is punishable: poll panel
By IANS
Shimla : Having your name in more than one voters' list can land you in jail for up to a year along with a fine, the Election Commission warned Saturday, reacting to complaints of dual registration.
Following complaints from Bharmaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur where election took place Nov 14 that some voters had their names in more than one assembly segment, state Election Commission official Manisha Nanda appealed to voters to check their names on electoral lists.
India-Saudi ties growing stronger: Envoy
New Delhi: India-Saudi Arabia ties are going strong and their bilateral energy cooperation is at a high level, the kingdom's envoy, Saud bin Mohammed...
Modi versus Maharashtra’s ‘Gang Of Four’
By Quaid Najmi ,
Mumbai: On paper, it is a clear five-way contest for power in Maharashtra. But scratch the surface, and it looks like...
AAP names 35 Lok Sabha candidates
New Delhi: The AAP Friday named 35 more people contesting the Lok Sabha polls, fielding former BJP leader Kanubhai Kalasariya from Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
The...
Opposition urges Election Commission to act against YSR
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The alliance of opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh Friday urged the Election Commission to take strong action against Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for allegedly "stoking regional feelings".
The four-party alliance led by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) submitted a memorandum to state's Chief Electoral Officer I.V. Subba Rao demanding action against the chief minister for stating that people from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions would become foreigners if a separate Telangana state is carved out.
No government until BJP assures on Mufti’s vision: Mehbooba
Srinagar : PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday told her party's core group that she was not averse to forming the government in Jammu...
Over 400 artistes condemn attacks on writers
New Delhi: Over 400 Indian artistes on Tuesday condemned the attacks on writers in India and expressed concern over the alarming rise in intolerance...
BJP leader J.P. Mathur dead
By IANS
New Delhi : Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president J.P. Mathur died here early Saturday of a protracted terminal illness. He was 86.
Mathur, who was a bachelor, was also a former member of the Rajya Sabha.
He used to live in the bachelors' quarters next to the BJP headquarters at 9, Ashoka Road, since the BJP shot into prominence in the late 1980s.
His body was kept in state at the party office and there was a steady stream of BJP members and leaders who arrived to pay their homage Saturday morning.
Violence rears its head in Nandigram again
By IANS,
Kolkata : A day after the violence-free panchayat polls in Nangdigram, the West Bengal area Monday reported fresh clashes as five Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists were allegedly beaten up by Trinamool Congress supporters. The two sides reportedly also exchanged gun-fire.
"There were minor political clashes in some parts of Nandigram. But the situation is under control. There is no need to panic," state Inspector General (law and order) Raj Kanojia told IANS Monday.
Vaiko’s ‘bloodbath’ remark exposes fissures in Third Front
By IANS,
Chennai : MDMK leader Vaiko's warning of a "bloodbath" in Tamil Nadu over the Sri Lankan Tamil tangle has brought out fissures in the AIADMK-led Third Front with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) demanding an explanation from him.
N. Varadarajan, state secretary of the CPI-M, said Friday in a statement: "Vaiko's reported remarks are not acceptable to us. He should clarify his statement."
Meanwhile, Vaiko has termed the state government's move to charge him with sedition for his remarks in support of the Tamil Tigers' chief as "politically motivated".
Hold Kashmir local elections quickly, says PM
By IANS,
Anantnag : Jammu and Kashmir needs to hold its local bodies elections quickly to bring in people in development planning, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday.
"I would urge that the elections to local bodies be held quickly," the prime minister told a public rally before inaugurating a train service linking the southern and northern parts of the state.
He said local elections "will increase the people's participation in the processes of development".
Assembly polls were held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2008 and the Lok Sabha elections this year.
Omar removes official for misbehaving with sarpanch
By IANS,
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ordered the removal of a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) after he allegedly misbehaved with a newly-elected sarpanch.
Be transparent on casino sealing, poll official tells Goa
By IANS,
Panaji : The chief electoral officer in Goa Wednesday asked the state government to behave in a transparent manner over the controversial and much publicised sealing and de-sealing of offshore casino vessels and avoid "undue haste" in its actions.
Goa's Chief Electoral Officer Ajit Srivastava has directed the environment secretary to personally monitor the offshore casino issue "to ensure that all principles of natural justice are followed in processing all such cases".
India’s ancient values important amid intolerance: President
New Delhi : Underlining that pluralism and multi-culturalism were at the core of India's psyche, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said the world was...
BJP should not depend too much on JD-U: Prasad
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad Saturday warned the party that excessive dependence on its ally in Bihar, Janata Dal-United (JD-U), could affect its fortunes.
At the party's two-day national execitue meeting that started here Saturday, Prasad voiced his concern during discussions over the party performance in various states.
Cheered by thousands, Modi sets out to file nomination
By Gaurav Sharma,
Varanasi : The Hindu holy city Thursday became a sea of saffron as BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi set out to...
Rajya Sabha adjourned due to ruckus over NRC in Assam
New Delhi, July 30 (IANS): The Rajya Sabha was adjourned briefly on Monday after the opposition created pandemonium over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in...
JD-U slams government’s decision to do away with railway budget
New Delhi : The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Wednesday criticised the central government's move to merge the railway budget with the general budget and...
Hindus will avenge NSA against Varun through votes: Singhal
By IANS,
Lucknow : Hindus will avenge slapping of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi while exercising their franchise, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Ashok Singhal said Tuesday.
"Hindus will revenge the injustice of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati against Varun while casting their votes during the Lok Sabha polls," Singhal told reporters here.
He said if Mayawati continued to adopt harsh stand against the BJP's Pilibhit nominee, she would not be able to remain in politics for too long.
Kiran Bedi will make better CM: Shanti Bhushan
New Delhi : Days before the Delhi elections, AAP founding member Shanti Bhushan Thursday said making Kiran Bedi the BJP's chief ministerial candidate was...
Delhi government asks DJB for action plan against corruption
New Delhi : Acting on the directions of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Water Minister Kapil Mishra on Saturday held a meeting of Delhi...
Congress asks Kerala leaders to maintain discipline
By IANS,
New Delhi : Taking serious note of the unseemly public squabbles amongst its leaders in Kerala, the Congress Thursday warned that "discipline in the party should be maintained at all costs" and the focus should be on winning the assembly elections next year.
The intervention came a few days after state Congress leaders, including leader of opposition Oommen Chandy and union Minister of State for Home Mullapally Ramachandran, publicly endorsed senior party leader P.C. Chacko's criticism against party's state unit chief Ramesh Chennithala.
Kashmir HC quashes Masrat Alam’s detention under PSA
Srinagar : The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday quashed the detention of hardline separatist leader Masrat Alam under the Public Safety...
BJD heading for landslide win in Orissa
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was far ahead of its rivals - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress - as counting of votes for the state's 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats was underway Saturday. The BJD has won two assembly seats and BJP one so far, poll officials said.
The BJD has won the Mahanga and Hindol assembly seats, and the BJP the Sambhalpur seat, according to results declared by noon.
BJD candidates were leading in 101 assembly constituencies. The Congress and the BJP were ahead in 30 and 10 respectively.
Mukherjee third president to address Kerala assembly
By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : When President Pranab Mukherjee addressed the Kerala assembly Tuesday, he became only the third president to do so.
Congress, allies welcome NSG waiver, opposition hits out
By IANS,
New Delhi : While the Congress party and its allies rejoiced over getting the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) waiver in Vienna Saturday, the opposition, including the Left, went all out to criticise the development.
SP, Congress tell their nominees to pull out from alliance seats
Lucknow, (IANS): Facing trouble from their candidates who are now refusing to withdraw from the polls, the Congress and the SP on Tuesday cracked...
PM congratulates successful UPSC candidates
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the candidates who cleared the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams.
“Congrats to all...
Jaitley blames UPA appointees for censor board row
New Delhi : Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday hit out against Censor Board chairperson Leela Samson who quit citing corruption and the...
Mob thrashes Muslim man at Ghaziabad court
By IANS:
Ghaziabad, July 24: A 25-year-old Muslim man was allegedly beaten up by a group of people at a Ghaziabad court where he had...
Mumbai LS elections: Urdu newspapers, Ulama and advertisements
By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Rajiv Gandhi’s would-be assassin to enter poll fray in Punja
By Jaideep Sarin, IANS,
Chandigarh : As a 24-year-old, he hogged national headlines as the would-be assassin of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Delhi's Rajghat, the memorial of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. But nearly 25 years after that incident, Karamjit Singh wants to fight with the ballot rather than the bullet.
Now a practicing lawyer in Sunam town in Punjab's Sangrur district, 180 km from here, Karamjit Singh says that he will file his nomination for the Patiala Lok Sabha seat next month.
Bihar opposition protests lack of salaries to teachers
By IANS,
Patna : Opposition legislators Friday staged a noisy protest against the Bihar government's failure to pay salaries to 2.5 lakh primary school teachers for months.
Mamata flays Modi for destroying federalism, growing ‘saffronisation’
Kolkata : Lashing out at the central government for "destroying federalism and pushing the states to destruction", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on...
Public authorities, be proactive in giving information: PM
By IANS,
New Delhi : Emphasising that the benefits of the Right to Information Act were now reaching common citizens, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday called for more "proactive disclosures" of information and urged public authorities to remove "procedural bottlenecks".
Cyclist on runway as Mulayam’s plane lands
By IANS,
Lucknow : Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had a narrow escape Sunday morning when a cyclist suddenly appeared on the runway just as his plane was landing at the Saifai aerodrome in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district.
Mulayam Singh, who was on his way from Delhi to Lucknow, had made a brief stopover at Saefai, about 250 km from here. He described the incident as a "serious security lapse", which he attributed to the Mayawati administration.
BJP will get stronger under Amit Shah: Modi
New Delhi: The election of Amit Shah as the BJP's new president will help the party to expand its influence and become stronger, Prime...
‘Advani should have brought back black money of BJP leaders’
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Tuesday said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani should have brought back the black money of his own party leaders stashed in various banks abroad during his party's rule.
Mayawati was addressing a poll rally here, two days after Advani asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to raise at the G-20 summit the issue of Indian money stashed in foreign banks.
Nitish Katara’s mother to host TV show
By IANS,
New Delhi : Neelam Katara, mother of slain Nitish Katara, an MBA graduate, is to host a show "Mother India" on news channel India TV from Monday onwards, said a statement from the channel.
Neelam Katara's son Nitish Katara was abducted and murdered by politician D.P. Yadav's son Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav for having intimate relations with Vikas Yadav's sister Bharti.
Neelam Katara will now be taking up cases through the show for women who have been oppressed and subjected to injustice, the release said.
Mayawati re-elected BSP president
Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati was Saturday unanimously re-elected Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president at the two-day national executive meeting of the...
Mayawati backtracks on special force to guard memorials
By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday withdrew a bill as well as a parallel ordinance for raising a special security force for her dream project - memorials and statues of Dalit icons, inluding herself - in Lucknow and Noida.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the state cabinet here.
Congress’ Kerala leaders meet Sonia to settle group rivalries
By IANS,
New Delhi : Kerala's Congress state unit president Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Oommen Chandy Wednesday met party president Sonia Gandhi to settle differences over the appointment of the party's state youth wing chief.
Chandy strongly opposed the removal of his supporter T. Siddique as the state Youth Congress president to appoint Liju, who was handpicked by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi through a talent search programme.
Karunakaran’s death a great loss: Congress
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Thursday condoled the death of veteran leader K. Karunakaran as a "great loss" and described him as "one of the tallest" leaders of the party.
Renewed demand for action against Maharashtra top cop
By IANS,
Nagpur : Opposition legislators in the Maharashtra assembly Saturday gunned for state director general of police A.N. Roy again - this time over a court directive to register an FIR (First Information Report) against him. They stalled proceedings of the house and forced an adjournment.
Abusaleh Shariff explodes the myth of Muslims doing better under Modi rule
Final part of the 2-part series on Gujarat's development
By Faraz Ahmad
TRS chief waiting for PM’s statement on Telangana
By IANS,
Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao Saturday said he was waiting for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on the formation of Telangana and warned the Congress that it would have to pay a heavy price if it backtracked on its commitment on the issue.
With the Dec 9 announcement of the centre on initiating the process for formation of Telangana triggering protests in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh and plunging the state into a political crisis, the prime minister is expected to make a statement.
Mayawati to launch campaign from Kerala
By IANS,
Lucknow : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati will launch her party's election campaign from Kerala and will hold a series of public rallies till May 11.
"My campaign starts from tomorrow (Saturday) and I will hold a series of public meetings in all corners of the country till May 11 without missing a single day," Mayawati told reporters here.
Mayawati named candidates for all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh and said her party would contest in all 20 seats in Kerala.
Polling ends for round four of elections
By IANS,
New Delhi : India entered the last lap of Election 2009 Thursday with polling ending for the fourth of the five-phase elections.
It was a largely peaceful election across eight states, except for West Bengal where three people were killed.
The exercise began at 7 a.m. and concluded at 5 p.m. in the 85 Lok Sabha constituencies where 1,315 candidates were in the fray, including External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh.
Omar Abdullah to be chief minister for six years, deputy from Jammu
By IANS,
New Delhi : A meeting of Jammu and Kashmir coalition partners, the National Conference (NC) and the Congress, Friday decided there would be no rotation of the chief minister's post between the two parties in the state and the NC's Omar Abdullah will head the government for the full six-year term.
"There will not be any rotational chief ministership and there will be a deputy chief minister from the Jammu region," Omar Abdullah, who is also NC's president, told reporters.
Congress sources disclosed the deputy chief minister would be from their party.
Chandy most ‘liked’ Congress leader on Facebook
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, with over half-a-million "likes" on his Facebook page, is now the most "liked" Congress leader on the...
CPI-M Bengal headquarters readies for last salute to Basu
By IANS,
Kolkata: Red flags and portraits of Marxist veteran Jyoti Basu adorn the road leading to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)'s state headquarters here which is getting ready to bid him the last 'Lal Salaam' (Red Salute) Tuesday.
A large portrait of Basu, the last surviving member of the party's founding politburo, was kept at the entrance of the party headquarters Muzaffar Ahmed Bhavan to enable dignitaries and commoners pouring in from different parts of the state and country, to pay their floral tributes to the departed leader.
Government will not tolerate attacks on minorities: PM
By IANS,
Aizawl : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated Tuesday his government would not tolerate attacks on religious and other minorities and do every thing possible to ensure that perpetrators of such hate crimes are dealt with severely.
"We firmly believe that our country can progress when all minority groups in the country feel safe and secure and the benefits of progress and development reach them," Manmohan Singh said at a rally here ahead of state elections on Saturday.
Political ideology and interpretation of history
By Ram Puniyani,
Our sub-continent, which has a common past, shares its history. There are diverse ways of looking at the same history by groups belonging to different political ideologies.
With the change of government in Delhi, the leading institutions are having a major policy shift – including organisations such as Indian Council of Historical Research, National Council for Education, Research and Training among others – as they have got heads whose qualification is not excellence in their respective disciplines but their proximity to the ideology of the ruling dispensation.
AAP won’t accept donations from Goa mining firms
Panaji : Donations and contributions from private mining companies are taboo for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa, a party leader said Wednesday.
The...
Congress questions CAG’s credibility on coal report
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Monday attacked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), India's official auditor, by questioning the credibility of its report on the coal blocks allocation.
Left Front unity in Kerala has disintegrated: Congress
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala's opposition Left Democratic Front, led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), has disintegrated and there are three factions in its...
‘Delhi Police may arrest 2 more AAP MLAs’
New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashutosh attacked the Delhi Police on Thursday, saying said two more party MLAs might be arrested.
"Delhi...
BJP fails to find candidates for a Gujarat municipality
Ahmedabad: In an embarrassing situation for the ruling BJP in Gujarat, less than a fortnight to the two-phase local government polls, the party has...
Maharashtra top cop gets notice on Pragnya’s torture claim
By IANS,
New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to Maharashtra's director general of police and the chief secretary over the alleged torture of Malegaon bomb blast accused Sadhvi Pragnya Thakur, an official said Tuesday.
The NHRC's move has come after a complaint was filed alleging that Thakur was being harassed by the state's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Thakur filed an affidavit in a Nashik court Nov 17, claiming the ATS was torturing her and violating her human rights.
Omar congratulates PDP for Sonwar victory
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday congratulated PDP's Mohammad Ashraf Mir after he defeated Abdullah in the Sonwar assembly seat.
"Congratulations...
AIADMK leads in Tamil Nadu
Chennai : The AIADMK Friday established early leads in 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu, based on the counting of postal ballots.
In Kanyakumari,...
Judicial remand for former Uttar Pradesh minister
By IANS,
Lucknow : A city court Wednesday remanded disgraced former Uttar Pradesh minister Jamuna Nishad, who allegedly led a mob attack that killed a policeman, in 14 days of judicial custody.
Nishad was arrested Tuesday, three days after he led a protesting mob that killed a police constable leading to his own ouster from the government.
"He was produced in front of the CJM (chief judicial magistrate) Wednesday and was immediately sent to the Deoria district jail," a police source said.
Man seeks public toilet in lieu of his vote, booked
Allahabad: An AAP worker who rode a donkey in this Uttar Pradesh city to demand a public toilet in lieu of his vote was...
BJP, PDP discuss Jammu and Kashmir government formation
Srinagar : Talks between the BJP and the PDP for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to continue Friday, party sources said.
BJP...
Hamid will be UPA vice presidential candidate
By IANS
New Delhi : The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has decided to field National Commission for Minorities Chairman and retired diplomat Syed Hamid Ansari as its candidate for the vice presidential election.
A consensus on his name was announced by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the UPA.
His name was proposed by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), that supports the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
J&K high court disposes off beef ban petition
Srinagar: A three-judge bench of the Jammu and Kashmir high court on Friday vacated the Jammu division bench order on beef ban and also...
Congress dares BJP to name CM candidate in Haryana
By Jaideep Sarin,
Chandigarh : In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP named Narendra Modi its prime ministerial candidate and asked...
Rahul has no understanding of India, says Kumar Vishwas
By IANS,
New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas, who is preparing to contest against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in the Lok...
I will work for Congress unity: V.C. Shukla
By IANS
Raipur : Vidya Charan Shukla, former union minister who rejoined the Congress for the fourth time last month, said Saturday that he would work for the party's unity and to take it to power in Chhattisgarh.
Talking to reporters here for the first time since rejoining the party, the veteran leader said: "I will work for Congress unity and will soon conduct a state-wide tour with other party leaders to create an atmosphere in favour of the Congress to win the assembly polls next year."
Sweet budget being prepared: BJP
New Delhi : Even as the government said "bitter medicine" is needed for reviving the economy, the BJP Wednesday said the budget would be...
‘Our prayers have been answered:’ Haldwani residents after Supreme Court stays HC eviction order
The Supreme Court Thursday stayed Uttarakhand high court's order for evictions in Haldwani that threatened to displace more than 50,000 people, most of whom...
Poor functioning of ST panel irks parliamentary committee
By IANS,
New Delhi : A parliamentary committee has called for urgent corrective measures to streamline the functioning of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) that deals with issues related to STs.
"Keeping in view the enormous functions that have been assigned to the NCST, there is a need to further strengthen the NCST," said the parliamentary committee on the welfare of scheduled castes and tribes in its report tabled in the Lok Sabha Thursday.
Senior Congress leader quits Maharashtra council, attacks Alva
By IANS
Mumbai : Senior Congress leader in Maharashtra Col. Sudhir Sawant quit as legislative council member Saturday, charging AICC general secretary Margaret Alva with working for "vested interests" and intemperate behaviour.
In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Sawant pointed out that the state was hit by bomb blasts, floods, farmers' suicides and power crisis, but "the response of the party is lackadaisical."
Paes, Sania enter US Open finals, Bopanna out
New York: Indian tennis aces Leander Paes and Sania Mirza lived up to their billing by entering the finals of their respective categories at...
Modi congratulates Islamic scholar on peace award
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated noted Islamic scholar and peace activist Maulana Wahiduddin Khan on being conferred the Sayyidina...
Kejriwal wants Amit Shah probed over ‘hidden wealth’
New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday demanded a probe against BJP President Amit Shah following allegations that he may have...
Congress-Trinamool could give tough fight to Left Front
By Soudhriti Bhabani, IANS,
Kolkata : With the Congress and the Trinamool Congress finalising a seat-sharing pact in West Bengal to take on the ruling Left Front, who will catch the voter in the Lok Sabha polls is anybody's guess.
Even political analysts differ on the chances of the two fronts for the 42 Lok Sabha seats from the state.
"The battle in West Bengal is extremely polarised. So if the opposition forces form an alliance perfectly, they are likely to do well," political analyst Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury told IANS.