CID to probe Karnataka ex-minister for rape charges
By IANS,
Bangalore : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Monday said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will probe the rape charges against Haratalu Halappa, who quit as food and civil supplies minister Sunday after media reports about the alleged incident.
"I have decided to order a CID inquiry. Let the truth come out," Yeddyurappa told reporters here.
The opposition Congress asserted that only a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will bring out the truth and took out rallies at several places in the state.
Rahul backs n-deal, says ‘all’ young MPs do so too
By Rajat Rai, IANS,
Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) : All young MPs, including those in the opposition, were in favour of the India-US civil nuclear deal, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said here Wednesday while declaring his "100 percent" support for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the pact.
"All young Lok Sabha members even from the opposition, for instance the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), are crystal clear that the nuclear deal is in the country's interest," Gandhi told reporters during a visit to his constituency.
CPI-M headquarters attacked; BJP, RSS workers arrested
By IANS
New Delhi/Kannur : The turf war between the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala reached the national capital Sunday as a 250-strong mob attacked the CPI-M headquarters in New Delhi, injuring 10 Left activists and eight policemen.
Bengal experiencing near dictatorship: Activist Shabnam Hashmi
Kolkata: Describing BJP leader Narendra Modi as the biggest threat to secularism in India, noted social activist Shabnam Hashmi Saturday also charged the the...
Delhi government official suspended for model code violation
By IANS,
New Delhi : A day before the capital goes to polls, a Delhi government official on election duty was suspended for violating the model code of conduct set by the Election Commission Wednesday.
Bhupesh Chaudhary, a lower division clerk posted in the Sadar Bazar area, was suspended for supporting a political party while on poll duty, said a statement issued by the Election Commission.
"All officers involved in the election have to abide by the model code of conduct - that includes remaining neutral during the election process," said a poll official.
Voting picks up slightly in Kashmir’s Anantnag
Anantnag : With electors coming out in many areas of Anantnag in the afternoon to exercise their franchise, the poll percentage in this Jammu...
Peon and fisherwoman among winners in Mumbai
By IANS,
Mumbai : A peon, a fisherwoman and a resident of the Dharavi slum township are among the winners in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
BJP seeks release of Sri Lankan ex-army chief
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday demanded the release of Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who was arrested for allegedly conspiring to topple the government.
BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said in a statement: "As the world's largest democracy we cannot approve of this, particularly when it is happening so close to us.
"We call upon President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure the safety and well-being of the opposition leader and request his release immediately."
‘Seeking Israeli help to reduce farmer suicides ignores core issue’
Mumbai: A farmers NGO on Saturday criticized Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' recent initiative of seeking help from Israel to help "reduce" farmland suicides...
Rajya Sabha passes street vendors bill, three others
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed four bills, including the street vendors protection bill, without debate following a broad consensus in...
Government to simplify adoption process: Maneka Gandhi
New Delhi : India is in the process of revising the guidelines for adopting children to simplify the process, Women and Child Development Minister...
No place for violence in democracy: Sibal
New Delhi : Criticising clashes between AAP and BJP workers at the latter's office here Wednesday, Congress leader and Law Minister Kapil Sibal has...
Congress’s focus only on leader of opposition post: Jaitley
Kolkata : Taking a jibe at the Congress, union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday said the party's entire politics was now centred around getting...
Will Sukh Ram factor muddy Congress’ waters in Himachal?
By Vishal Gulati, IANS,
Shimla : Will the conviction of former union minister Sukh Ram in a corruption case affect the election prospects of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh? The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) feels it will matter in the Lok Sabha polls, but the Congress does not think so.
The hill state has four Lok Sabha seats - Shimla (Scheduled Caste), Kangra, Mandi and Hamirpur - and the polls will be held May 13.
Varun Gandhi denies reports of joining ‘Bigg Boss’
By IANS,
Mumbai : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi Monday termed media reports linking him with a television reality show as "an attempt to misuse his name to garner publicity".
In a statement issued through his spokesperson here this evening, Gandhi denied that he was joining reality show "Bigg Boss" and said he had nothing to do with any reality show on any private channel.
Jayalalithaa calls up Mamata, thanks her
Kolkata : AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa Friday called up Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and thanked her for saying that she was open to...
Despite Vigilance case, Minister’s personnel staff goes nasty
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : The repeated assertions of chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad about providing a corruption free, accountable and transparent government, notwithstanding, the ministers and their private staff is neck deep into corruption charges with senior and junior officers becoming the milching cows.
PDP, BJP reach agreement, Mufti to be J&K CM
Jammu:PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister after his party reached an agreement for forming a government with...
Buddha votes for nuclear energy
By IANS
Kolkata : Nuclear energy is important to meet India's growing power requirement, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said Monday.
"It's a controversial issue but it's true that we just can't avoid the importance of nuclear energy in India. We should switch on to alternative energy resources to fulfil the demands," Bhattacharya said at the National Council meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.
Emphasising on generation of green power, he said the West Bengal government was slowly progressing on this front.
Note ban is a Modi-made disaster for India: Congress leader Kharge
By Fakir Balaji
Bengaluru : Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge has termed demonetisation as a "Modi-made disaster" for the country, which reels under its impact...
Sukhbir Badal to return to Punjab government sans fanfare
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Less than 40 days after he was forced to resign as deputy chief minister, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal is all set to be re-inducted into the Punjab government headed by his father Parkash Singh Badal Monday.
But compared to the millions of rupees spent on his first swearing-in at Amritsar in January this year, the oath-taking ceremony for Badal junior this time will be a quieter affair as he will be sworn-in by Punjab Governor S.F. Rodrigues at the Raj Bhawan here.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar files nomination papers
Patna : Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Wednesday filed her nomination papers for the Lok Sabha polls from Sasaram constituency in Bihar, officials said.
"I...
Plea seeks removal of ‘Kejriwal Sarkar’ ads
New Delhi : A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking immediate withdrawal of advertisements by the Delhi government that...
PRP rebel legislator appears before Andhra speaker
By IANS,
Hyderabad: Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) rebel legislator Shoba Nagi Reddy Monday met Andhra Pradesh assembly Speaker N. Manohar to give her reply to the disqualification notice.
ग़ालिब की दिल्ली का दंगल
By सिद्धांत मोहन, TwoCircles.net,
नई दिल्ली: किरण बेदी एसयूवी की छत पर खड़े होकर लोगों को स्याही से रंगी ऊँगली और विजय चिन्ह दिखा रही हैं. वे चारों दशरथ पुत्रों की तरह भरत-मिलाप के बाद आठों दिशाओं को अपने दर्शन मुहैया करा रही है. एसयूवी के सबसे करीब एबीपी न्यूज़ का संवाददाता है, लिहाज़न एबीपी न्यूज़ का माइक कमोबेश सभी न्यूज़ चैनलों के फ्रेम में दिख रहा है. पीछे से किसी कैमरामैन के चिल्लाने की आवाज़ आती है, ‘अरे, माइकवाले’. इसके साथ माइक नीचे आ जाता है और सभी को सुलभ दर्शन होने लगते हैं. कार के बोनट से सरकते हुए किरण बेदी नीचे उतरती हैं, सारे माइक धकेलते हुए कार की अगली सीट पर आ बैठती हैं, तभी फ़िर से एबीपी न्यूज़ का कैमरा ड्राईवर की खिड़की से घुसता है, और संवाददाता कहता है – ‘मैडम, दो सवाल हैं बस’. मैडम ध्यान नहीं देती हैं, तभी इंडिया न्यूज़ का माइक फ्रेम में दिखता है और एबीपी का कैमरामैन चीख उठता है – ‘अबे, इंडिया न्यूज़’.
Life limps back to normalcy in flood-hit Chennai
Chennai : Life in flood-hit Chennai was slowly limping back to normalcy on Monday, with shops opening up and a massive clean up initiated...
Writer returns award, says Dalit suffering won’t end
Ahmedabad : Gujarati writer Amrutlal Makwana has returned a state award he got to protest against the beating of some Dalit youths in the...
CPI-M meet on president poll Thursday
By IANS,
Agartala : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo will meet in New Delhi Thursday to decide its stand on the July 19 presidential election, party sources said here.
Ram Vilas Paswan campaigns for son Chirag
Patna: LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan has taken personal charge of his son Chirag's campaign in Jamui parliamentary seat as it has become a...
Abdul Jabbar, the voice of Bhopal Gas tragedy victims, is no more
By Anuj Srivastava, TwoCircles.net
Abdul Jabbar, 62, who struggled for over three decades to bring justice to the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy, passed...
Prafulla Mahanta in a spot over migrants
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS,
Guwahati : Former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is in a spot with charges levelled against him that as then leader of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), he rejected late prime minister Indira Gandhi's offer of 1967 as the cut-off year for expulsion of Bangladeshi migrants and later agreed to 1971 as the base year.
Rs.38 crore seized as Andhra witnesses record money flow
Hyderabad : It's raining cash in Andhra Pradesh as the politicians in the southern state have broken all previous records of using money power...
‘Insecurity has gripped people due to terrorism, inflation’
By IANS,
Bhopal : A feeling of insecurity has gripped the people of the country due to increasing terrorism and inflation, L.K. Advani, top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said Thursday even as Congress workers tried to show black flags to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Advani flagged off the 'Jan Ashirvad Yatra' of Chouhan from the temple town of Ujjain. It has the theme of 'Surakshit Ghar, Vikasit Pradesh' (Safe house, developed state).
Chandy meets Bishop over liquor policy
Kozhikode (Kerala): Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Saturday said that the meeting with Thamarassery Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil over the state government's new liquor policy...
We have evidence of bribing: Karat
By IANS,
New Delhi : Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat said Tuesday the Left parties had the "evidence, including the date, time and other records" of the alleged bribing of three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs to abstain from the trust vote.
He said barring the Left parties, all the allies of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) had been offered money. "We have the evidence, including the date, time and other records."
"This is a mockery of parliament... The Lok Sabha should immediately take action against this," Karat said.
It will be ‘haar haar Modi’ May 16, says Congress
New Delhi : The Congress Thursday issued a point-by-point rebuttal of BJP leader Narendra Modi's accusations against the party at a rally in Jammu...
After Owaisi, Tauquir Raza ready to play spoiler for grand alliance in Bihar polls
By Abhay Kumar for TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Days after the entry of Asaduddin Owaisi led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) into Bihar polls, Barelvi cleric and...
Karnataka: Controversy after Hindu groups object to conversion of house into mosque in Belagavi
The Muslim leaders maintain that the property in question belongs to the Waqf board.
Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net
NEW DELHI — After a private house was...
Gadkari includes Dalit in BJP agenda, promises new energy
By Brajendra Nath Singh, IANS,
Indore : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday began a three-day meeting of its national leadership, with new president Nitin Gadkari asserting that the party was not weak and unveiling a new agenda that includes Dalit welfare.
Accepting that there were some deficiencies and weaknesses in the party that led to its defeat in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Gadkari said in a speech at the inaugural of the national executive: "We need not feel that we are weak. We are ruling in nine states and have more than 100 MPs and 1,000 MLAs."
60 percent polling in Andhra Pradesh by-elections
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Sixty percent polling was recorded Thursday in by-elections to four Lok Sabha and 18 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh in a battle dubbed as a referendum on the Telangana issue.
Barring minor incidents, the polling passed off peacefully. The constituencies were spread over 10 districts.
Among the Lok Sabha constituencies, Adilabad recorded the highest polling at 60 percent. The turnout was 56 percent in Warangal, 54 percent in Hanamkonda and 51 percent in Karimnagar.
Political tweets are from people active in politics
Washington : People who post political posts or tweets online are often involved in politics in their normal life too, says a research.
It means...
K.K. Sharma to be Delhi’s new chief secretary
New Delhi : The home ministry on Monday approved the name of K.K. Sharma as Delhi's next chief secretary, official sources said.
"K.K. Sharma's name...
Seemandhra people will reject Congress, say expelled MPs
By IANS,
New Delhi/Hyderabad : Six MPs from Seemandhra, who were expelled from Congress Tuesday, said the party will have to pay a heavy price...
Abducted Jharkhand official untraced, BJP questions swap plan
By IANS,
Ranchi : While the Jharkhand official abducted by Maoists a week ago remined untraced, the Bharatiya Janata Party - which is a ruling alliance partner - and the opposition Congress Friday questioned the state government's move to initiate the release of 14 jailed rebels in exchange for his release.
Jailed politicians make a beeline for BSP
By IANS,
Lucknow : Two powerful criminal-turned-politicians from eastern Uttar Pradesh Saturday joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) following parleys with state Public Works Department Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui in Allahabad and Mau jails.
Atiq Ahmed, the suspended Samajwadi Party MP from Phulpur, and Mukhtar Ansari, an independent legislator from Mau district, joined the party after meetings with Siddiqui a close confidant of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.
Dalit politics beyond BSP
By Vanya Mehta, TwoCircles.net,
In Maharashtra, the galvanization of political power on the basis of empowerment of scheduled castes has taken a backseat due to fractionalization. Though this is a well known phenomena, the BSP is attempting to capitalize on the failure of other Dalit-issue-based parties like the Republican Party of India(RPI), a product of the Scheduled Castes Federation founded by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, which is now in shambles with over 50 different splintered groups.
‘Carabeef’ to return on Kerala House menu
New Delhi: The popular 'carabeef' (buffalo meat) dish will be back on the menu of Kerala House here from Wednesday.
Kerala House officials took it...
Political instability once again for Jharkhand, JMM emerges key
By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Wednesday slipped into more political uncertainty with a messy, fractured verdict that saw both the Congress and the BJP led alliances jockey for power as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was pitchforked into the role of kingmaker in the 81-member assembly.
The staggered election threw up no clear victor and paved the way for more political jostling before government could be formed.
The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliances were virtually neck-and-neck and the JMM followed close behind, making a hung assembly inevitable.
Modi, BJP draw flak in Assam over Land Swap Deal with B’desh
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: Reacting strongly over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement over the Land Swap Deal with Bangladesh, political parties and other organizations in the state have termed the Prime Minister nothing short of ‘enemy of Assam’.
BJP wins Betul; it is due to our good work, says Chouhan
By IANS,
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday won the Betul Lok Sabha by-election, a victory that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed to the good work done by his government in its four-year rule.
The BJP won the by-election by a margin of over 35,000 votes. The party's Hemant Khandelwal bagged 300,674 votes, while his Congress rival Sukhdev Panse managed 265,234 votes in the by-election held Saturday.
Muslims at bottom of higher education ladder, alongside backward tribes
By Charu Bahri
Despite almost trebling in the decade ending 2010 -- from 5.2 per cent to 13.8 percent -- the rate of Muslim enrolment...
Police file case against Madhya Pradesh opposition leader
By IANS
Bhopal : A police case has been registered against Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh assembly Jamuna Devi for allegedly using fraud to get her daughter admitted to a medical course and getting her a lecturer's job at a medical college.
The case was registered Wednesday on a complaint filed by Ram Singh Marawi of Harsud in Khandwa district six months ago.
Congress will fight injustice to Dalits, tribals, says Rahul
Mhow (Madhya Pradesh): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the NDA government over "centralisation" of power and de-recognition of a student group...
Rahul Gandhi has given direction: Congress
By IANS,
New Delhi : A day after Rahul Gandhi shared his views with industry leaders on development, the Congress Friday said he has given a direction to progress.
Defying winter chill, boycott calls, 110 years old Bakhti Begum voted for new dawn...
By Reyaz Ahmed, NAK,
Lolab, Kupwara : Trudging towards polling station a 110-year-old Bakhti Begum of Khantpora Kupwara, was confident that her vote will help usher in change and help in assuring employment unemployed youth stood in queue at a polling station in Lolab constituency of Kupawra district.
Sajjad Lone votes in ancestral town
By IANS,
Baramulla : Sajjad Gani Lone, who is fighting elections for this Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday voted in his ancestral town of Handwara.
People's Conference chairman Sajjad and his mother came to the government girls' higher secondary school in Handwara around 9 a.m. and cast their vote. Handwara is the ancestral town of Sajjad's family and his father, the slain separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone.
"My participation in the elections is a change of strategy. I am confident the people will vote for me," Sajjad said after casting his vote.
Kashmir governor’s address to legislature disrupted
By IANS,
Jammu : There was chaos on the first day of the Jammu and Kashmir legislature's budget session Monday as opposition members disrupted Governor...
Dikshit votes – with Sonia Gandhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit voted in the Lok Sabha elections Thursday and urged everyone "to go out and vote" too.
The chief minister, one of the most successful Congress politicians, came to the Nirman Bhawan polling station in the heart of the city along with party president Sonia Gandhi.
"Here is the responsibility to go out and vote. I guess the young are very enthusiastic to vote here," Dikshit said after voting. Accompanying them was the New Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Ajay Maken.
26/11 victims not given entire compensation, alleges BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday alleged that the victims of last year's Mumbai terrorist attacks have not received full compensation from the government and were facing harassment and red-tape in getting their grievances redressed.
"Out of 475 victims, not a single victim has got all the compensation and relief from the government. Inspite of struggle, victims are facing harassment and red tape," said a statement released here by the party's Maharashtra unit.
Azam Khan dares Election Commission again
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Mohd Azam Khan Thursday again targeted the Election Commission, daring it to cancel his membership of...
BJP, JMM in face-off over grant to Jharkhand madrasas
By IANS,
Ranchi : A face-off between two ministers here over grant to madrasas in Jharkhand has strained the relations between two key ruling alliance partners in the state.
Rahul Gandhi attends his first Congress core group meeting
By IANS,
New Delhi: In an indication of the growing clout of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, he attend a meeting of the Congress core group here Friday.
Shifting sands of loyalty for Jharkhand’s independents
By Nityanand Shukla, IANS,
Ranchi : Since March 2005, Jharkhand has seen three governments and is on the verge of getting its fourth. And independent legislator Kamlesh Singh who has been minister in all is getting ready to be sworn in again after throwing in his lot with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren.
Sonia urges rebels to work for party
By IANS,
New Delhi : As Maharshtra, Harayana and Arunachal Pradesh go to the polls Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appealed to rebels in the party to set aside personal ambitions and work for the larger interests of the organisation.
"More often than not, our internal differences have prevented us from translating the substantial goodwill we enjoy amongst the people into an electoral advantage for ourselves," Gandhi said in a letter to the party workers in the latest issue of party mouthpiece Sandesh.
Rahul Gandhi discusses Congress’ future challenges
By IANS
New Delhi : Rahul Gandhi, the newly inducted general secretary of the Congress, held a brainstorming session with 12 party leaders Thursday morning in the first meeting of a committee on the future challenges before the party.
Party spokesperson M. Veerappa Moily said that preliminary discussions were held during the two-hour meeting of the committee that was constituted Monday as part of the All India Congress Committee reshuffle.
A participant at the meeting disclosed that the economic, social and political issues were taken up for informal discussions.
Election Commission bans exit, opinion polls
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Election Commission Tuesday banned the publication or telecast of opinion or exit polls 48 hours before the last hour of polling in single-phase balloting.
In cases of multi-phase elections or elections announced simultaneously for different states, the poll panel banned the publication of exit and opinion polls in the period starting 48 hours before the close of first day of voting till the end of last day of balloting.
MIM to field candidates from all regions of Maharashtra in the upcoming assembly elections
By A. Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Hyderabad based political party Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) has decided to fight Maharashtra assembly elections due in October, for...
Akhilesh orders 24×7 power supply for Varanasi
Lucknow : Bowing to public pressure and demands of the BJP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Monday ordered 24x7 power supply for Varanasi,...
Modi presiding over hate campaign: CPI-M
New Delhi: BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is presiding over a hate campaign but "camouflaging it with talk of development and effective government",...
MIM completes 50 years in Andhra Pradesh Assembly
By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
CPI-M calls for radical electoral reforms
New Delhi : The CPI-M Wednesday called for radical electoral reforms, saying the BJP was winning legislative majorities with just a third or less...
Goa legislator’s chair breaks during assembly sitting
By IANS,
Panaji : The Goa assembly witnessed an unusual disruption during the budget session sitting Tuesday when a legislator almost fell off as his chair gave way under his weight.
Rs 17.5 Crore allocated for minority scheme remains untouched in Maharashtra
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Mumbai : In a startling revelation it has came to the fore that Maharashtra state government has not utilized a single...
Anti-incumbency, corruption help Congress to win in Mizoram
By IANS,
Aizawl : A strong anti-incumbency factor and an aggressive campaign by the Congress party highlighting corruption charges against the Mizo National Front (MNF) government was instrumental in helping the party to make a clean sweep of the assembly elections in Mizoram.
"This is a verdict for change and a big snub to the 10-year-old misrule and corruption of the MNF government," Lalthanhawla, the Congress chief ministerial candidate, told IANS.
"We are committed to providing a stable government with our focus on development and well being of the people."
No coercive steps against Umar Khalid till Friday, HC tells JNU
By IANS:
New Delhi, July 19:The Delhi High Court on Thursday restrained the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) from taking any coercive steps against the student-activist Umar Khalid...
Chhattisgarh government is corrupt, anti-development: Rahul Gandhi
By IANS,
Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) : Charging up the election atmosphere in Chhattisgarh, Congress general secretary and MP Rahul Gandhi Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state of being "corrupt and anti-development".
Addressing a rally at Jagdalpur, district headquarters of Bastar, Gandhi said: "The Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) central government is providing Rs.8,000 crore (80 billion) to Chhattisgarh for various schemes but the money is not reaching the people because of rampant corruption in the government."
Ballia gives Mayawati’s social engineering a jolt
By Sharat Pradhan, IANS
Lucknow : The rout of the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Brahmin nominee against the Samajwadi Party rival in the Ballia Lok Sabha by-poll has given a severe jolt to the much hyped "social engineering" that put BSP chief Mayawati in power in India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh last year.
Brahmins, who live in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh compared to other states, gave Mayawati's essentially Dalit outfit a boost in the May 2006 assembly elections, helping the BSP to ride to power on its own strength.
Sambhaji Bhagat: An Ambedkarite voice behind the movie ‘Court’
By Yogesh Maitreya, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Film promotions, and interactions with the media, at least in India, sees the movie’s producers and directors discuss...
‘Criminals attended Kerala home minister’s reception’
By IANS,
Kozhikode : The Kerala unit of the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tuesday alleged that a businessmen embroiled in a controversial land deal had hosted the reception of the marriage of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son last week.
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president, K. Surendran, said here that businessman Savy Mano Mathew, who is involved in the controversial Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) land deal, had hosted the April 12 wedding reception of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son.
Congress on comeback trail in Uttar Pradesh, wins 21 seats
By IANS,
Lucknow : The Congress made a surprise comeback in Uttar Pradesh, winning 21 seats, while the Samajwadi Party won 23, and the state's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) bagged 20 seats as the Lok Sabha elections results were declared Saturday.
The Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh managed four seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BSP) 10 seats. Rebel BJP leader Kalyan Singh who contested as an independent won. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Singh won in the two constituencies he contested.
Azam’s remarks attempt to hide state government’s failures: BJP
New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday rubbished Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's claims that mafia don Dawood Ibrahim was present at Prime Minister Narendra...
Even as artistes begin peace initiatives, centre declares Assam ‘disturbed area’
By A Ghiasuddin, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: For cartoonist duo Sunder Mohan Murmu and Amrith Basumatary, it’s time to use their art work to unite the...
Jubilation at Patil’s in-laws’ village
By IANS
Sikar (Rajasthan) : It was jubilation time in Choti Losal village here Saturday as people danced to music played by a DJ in celebration of the almost foregone victory of daughter-in-law Pratibha Patil in the presidential poll.
Much before the result was declared officially for the July 19 poll, the hometown of Pratibha Devisingh Patil's in-laws erupted in joy.
Death of Fathima Latheef a blatant case of discrimination and Islamophobia, say students
By Daisy K, TwoCircles.net
Just five months after Dr. Payal Tadvi, a medical student at Nair Hospital in Mumbai was driven to suicide due to...
All eyes on President Pratibha Patil Wednesday
By IANS,
New Delhi : President Pratibha Patil was Wednesday at the centre of the gathering political storm with Left parties scheduled to visit her with letters withdrawing their support to the Congress-led government, followed by the Samajwadi Party that will call on her with an assurance of backing it.
Assam polls: 15 percent polling in first two hours
Guwahati : Over 15 percent of polling was recorded in the first two hours in the second phase of voting for 61 constituencies in...
Digvijay Singh supports caste-based census
By IANS,
New Delhi: Noting that caste is a reality in India, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh Thursday supported a caste-based census, the demand for which has been made by the opposition in parliament, with some members from the treasury benches also supporting this.
At the same time, he said there should be a debate on whether there can be a census on the basis of economic status.
"There should be a debate on the issue among the people, including the political class," Digvijay Singh told IANS.
Ashok Choudhary new chief of Congress in Bihar
By IANS,
Patna : Ashok Choudhary was Sunday named the new president of Congress's Bihar unit.
Choudhary, who is in his mid-40s, replaces Choudhary Mahboob Ali Kaiser.
Taslima’s troubles and Nandigram
Public Statement by
Forum For The Protection of Free Speech and Expression
At a time when India is projecting itself on the world's stage as a modern democracy, while it hosts international literary festivals and book fairs, the Government of India, most mainstream political parties and their armed squads are mounting a concerted assault on peoples' right to Free Speech.
Four JD-U state presidents rebel against Nitish
New Delhi : Spelling fresh trouble for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, four state chiefs of his Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Friday termed as...
Two top performers in last Lok Sabha bite poll dust
By IANS,
Chennai : One asked 1,200 questions in parliament and another would give a yearly report of his performance to voters. But all this did not cut much ice with the electorate as S.K. Kharventhan and M. Ramadass both lost the Lok Sabha polls.
Kharventhan contesting from Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu lost to AIADMK's C. Sivasamy by over 8,000 votes while in Puducherry incumbent Ramadass lost to V. Narayanasamy of the Congress by over 91,000 votes.
TDP leader quits as legislator to join Telangana cabinet
Hyderabad : Former Andhra Pradesh minister T. Srinivas Yadav Tuesday resigned from Telangana state legislative assembly and also from Telugu Desam Party (TDP), ahead...
Post-Bihar, government to face assertive Opposition in parliament’s winter session
New Delhi : Parliament's month-long winter session starting Thursday is likely to see a more assertive opposition taking on the government on a range...
Uproar after Gujarat frees all 11 lifers in Bilkis Bano gangrape case
On January 21, 2008, a special CBI court in Mumbai had sentenced all 11 accused to life imprisonment.
Muhammad Raafi | TwoCircles.net
NEW DELHI — As Prime Minister...
Bengal election commission: Inept chief or paper tiger?
By Anurag Dey,
Kolkata : He is being accused of 'failing miserably' and is being dubbed 'spineless' by opposition parties in West Bengal. Many are...
Why police were lax in Assam, asks CPI-M
New Delhi : The CPI-M on Friday demanded to know why police were lax in Assam's Kokrajhar district - where terrorists killed 13 people...
Polls June 27 for six Tamil Nadu Rajya Sabha seats
By IANS,
Chennai: Elections for the six Rajya Sabha seats that fall vacant this July in Tamil Nadu will be held June 27, the Election Commission said Tuesday.
A Bill to tackle identity based discrimination in educational institutions
By TCN News:
A National Convention ‘Towards Zero Discrimination in School Education’ was jointly organized by Swadhikar-National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ-NCDHR), Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI) and...
Left Fronts ups the ante against power tariff hike in Bengal
Kolkata: Slamming the Mamata Banerjee government for the steep hike in power tariff in West Bengal, the Left Front on Thursday asserted it will...
What did Congress do for farmers in 55 years, asks BJP
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday wondered what the Congress did for the welfare of farmers during its 55 years of...
Infighting in Bihar’s ruling JD-U deepens
By IANS,
Patna : Infighting in Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has deepened with state party chief Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh publicly raising the banner of revolt against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "autocratic style" of runing the party and the government.
"There is no democracy in the party. Every decision is taken in an autocratic style. But I simply stand for certain principles like democracy in the party," Lalan Singh said soon after he arrived in Patna Saturday amid a strong rumour that he had offered to quit.
Election campaign stress can be a killer, warn experts
By Azera Rahman, IANS,
New Delhi : When Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Puran Chand Yogi died of suspected suicide here Sunday, his close aides speculated it could be because of his stressful life. Their fears are not unfounded as experts warn that the hectic schedule of politicians at election time can indeed be a killer.
"My father was stressed and depressed due to the election campaign since the past few days. Although we were sure he would win a fourth time around, he was still very tense," Yogi's son Rajiv said.
BJP, SP to win equal number of seats in UP polls: Survey
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh appear to be in a neck-and-neck...
Home ministry not a new portfolio for Chidambaram
By IANS,
New Delhi : Palaniappan Chidambaram, who was named India's home minister Sunday, has had prior experience with the portfolio when he was minister of state for internal security in Rajiv Gandhi's government between 1986 and 1989.
The 63-year-old lawyer-politician, who has merely shifted to another office down the Byzantine corridors of North Block that houses both the finance and home ministries, was the country's finance minister since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government took power May 22, 2004.
BJP MPs voice concern over note ban to leadership
By Brajendra Nath Singh
New Delhi : With no end to the queues in sight at banks and ATMs, BJP MPs and office bearers...
Daughters of Ulema protest, ask, ‘Why are you snatching away our share of happiness...
Aas Mohammed Kaif, Twocircles.net
Deoband: Thousands of women took to streets on Tuesday to protest against CAA ( Citizenship Amendment Act) and NRC ( National Registry...
Kejriwal may lead ‘parliament gherao’ against land bill
New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal might lead a march to parliament against the controversial land acquisition bill, the party said here...
Manjhi’s son detained with Rs 4.65 lakh
Patna: Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's son Parween was on Sunday detained with Rs.4.65 lakh in cash in Jehanabad district, police said.
"Parween...
63 percent polling in Karnataka
By IANS,
Bangalore : More than 63 percent of over 11 million eligible voters exercised their franchise Friday in 66 constituencies in 10 districts of Karnataka in the second phase of elections to the 224-member state assembly, state election officials said at the end of balloting.
Overall the voting percentage is 63.3, state chief electoral officer M.N. Vidyashankar told reporters here Friday evening.
Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts on the west coast reported 68 percent voting in the face of a call from the Maoists to boycott the elections, he said.
Nitish Kumar unhappy with 14th Finance Commission recommendations
Patna : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the 14th Finance Commission's recommendations accepted by the Narendra Modi government with reference...
Who paid for Advani’s book launch, asks Uma Bharati
By IANS,
Bhopal : Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for lavish spending on a function held to mark the launch of L.K. Advani's autobiography's Hindi edition, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Bharatiya Janshakti (BJS) president Uma Bharati Tuesday asked who paid for it.
Sitting on a day-long fast at the busy Roshanpura square in the state capital against alleged corruption in the BJP-ruled government, Bharati told reporters that even the people sitting on high positions were neck-deep in corruption.
Rajasthan offers Gujjars state-level sops
By IANS
Jaipur : In an attempt to pacify the agitating Gujjars, the Rajasthan government plans to give the community reservation under de-notified tribals category, which will entitle them to state-level job and education facilities.
"The draft letter to give reservation to Gujjars under de-notified Schedule Tribes category has already been made and this letter on special reservation is slated to be sent to the union government on Tuesday", sources in the state government told IANS here Monday.
Delhi government invokes ESMA, doctors’ strike continues
New Delhi : The Delhi government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against striking doctors who refused to join duty even...
Family of Kashmiri man arrested for 2000 Red Fort attacks claim their son is...
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
Srinagar: On Wednesday, January 10, the Delhi Police and Gujarat ATS arrested a Kashmiri man, said to be in his 30s,...
Trinamool MP’s rape remark: Congress walks out of Bengal assembly
Kolkata : The Congress Tuesday walked out of the West Bengal assembly demanding action against Trinamool MP Tapas Paul over his rape remark.
"He (Paul)...
Bansal blames opposition for parliament’s disruption
By IANS,
New Delhi : Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal blamed the opposition for the disruption of parliament Tuesday.
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...
Modi to visit UAE Aug 16-17 in first PM visit in 34 years
New Delhi/Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit the United Arab Emirates on August 16-17, in the first visit by an Indian...
Every day is ‘good governance day’, not just ‘Bada Din’: Mamata
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday rubbished the Narendra Modi government's decision to observe Dec 25 as 'Good governance day', saying "every...
Polling slow in Uttar Pradesh, 7.5 percent turnout in first two hours
By IANS,
Lucknow : Polling in 15 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha constituencies was slow in the third of India's five-phase parliamentary elections Thursday, with only an average 7.5 percent voter turnout recorded in the first two hours.
"The lowest turnout was reported from Mohanlalganj (rural Lucknow) where only five percent of the voters came out to exercise their right to franchise, while the highest turnout was reported in Sitapur and Misrikh where 10 percent polling was reported between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.," a senior election official told IANS here.