A Correspondent In Washington, DC

Stories by A Correspondent In Washington, DC

In letter to Krishna, Kalam slams Amartya Sen

In letter to Krishna, Kalam slams Amartya Sen

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2012

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam's letter, which he sent to Foreign Minister S M Krishna in last July, has now come into public domain, slamming Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen for forcing him out of his brainchild project of the Nalanda University in Bihar as its first visitor.

IB to take charge of Pranab Mukherjee's security

IB to take charge of Pranab Mukherjee's security

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2012

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's security is being beefed up after the ruling party announced his name as their candidate for the Presidential polls. There will now be a heavy security at his house and the traffic flow will not be restricted for one month.

Prez poll drama: Congress silence intriguing, dangerous

Prez poll drama: Congress silence intriguing, dangerous

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2012

The Congress silence comes at a high cost, notes a Rediff Correspondent.

Drama over Prez polls opens box of conspiracy theories

Drama over Prez polls opens box of conspiracy theories

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2012

Was a Mumbai tycoon behind Wednesday's political drama? A Rediff Correspondent discusses the conspiracy theories making the rounds.

Centre to consider President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh?

Centre to consider President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh?

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2012

Andhra Pradesh may go for a brief spell of President's rule with the Kiran Kumar Reddy government facing internal crisis with 25 to 30 MLAs planning to join YSR Congress headed by Jaganmohan Reddy.

Move over Mukul, DMK may get railway ministry

Move over Mukul, DMK may get railway ministry

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2012

The Dravida Munettra Kazhagam is hopeful of getting the railway portfolio in the next reshuffle, say our sources in Delhi. Buzz is that the DMK had specifically asked for railways even in 2004, which did not happen.

Sonia wants Karuna in Delhi during prez polls

Sonia wants Karuna in Delhi during prez polls

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2012

United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi wants Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam M Karunanidhi to be present when the Congress nominee for the Presidential Polls presents his/her nomination papers on June 16 to Returning Officer V K Aghnihotri in Parliament House, say sources in New Delhi.

Goa convention to focus on Hindutva-related issues

Goa convention to focus on Hindutva-related issues

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2012

Right-wing organisations are holding a five-day conference at Ramnathi, Goa -- headquarters of the Sanatan Sanstha -- from June 10 to June 14 to draw up a timetable for the "formation of a Hindu nation and protection of Hindutva and Hindu organisations". Sanatan Sanstha had hit headlines in October 2009 for its links with Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, after the death of two people in a scooter bomb blast at Margao on the eve of Diwali.

More trouble for ex-Army Chief Gen V K Singh

More trouble for ex-Army Chief Gen V K Singh

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2012

The just retired Army Chief General V K Singh may find himself embroiled in inquiries into some of his bold acts while in the service.

Parasaran not to continue as addl solicitor general

Parasaran not to continue as addl solicitor general

Rediff.com   30 May 2012

Upset since appointment of Rohinton Nariman as the solicitor general of India last July from outside the hierarchy, Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran has turned down the government's offer to renew his contract.

CWC not for deciding presidential candidate

CWC not for deciding presidential candidate

Rediff.com   29 May 2012

Congress chief spokesman and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi on Tuesday scoffed at media reports that the Congress Working Committee meeting called on June 4 will decide the party's presidential candidate.

Cauvery panel meet ends without compromise formula

Cauvery panel meet ends without compromise formula

Rediff.com   28 May 2012

The Cauvery monitoring committee, headed by Water Resources Secy DV Singh, met on Monday morning.

Bengal MPs, MLAs lobby for Pranab as prez, to meet Sonia

Bengal MPs, MLAs lobby for Pranab as prez, to meet Sonia

Rediff.com   26 May 2012

Notwithstanding the ruling Congress remaining undecided on who should be its presidential candidate, Congress members of Parliament and members of Legislative Assembly have come out in open demanding the post for Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Swamy wants to make PC co-accused in Aircel-Maxis case

Swamy wants to make PC co-accused in Aircel-Maxis case

Rediff.com   26 May 2012

Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy has sought permission from the Central Bureau of Investigation Special Court dealing with 2G scandal cases to file a petition seeking to include Union Home Minister P Chidambaram as a co-accused in the Aircel-Maxis case.

Upset Advani may skip Mumbai rally, return to Delhi

Upset Advani may skip Mumbai rally, return to Delhi

Rediff.com   24 May 2012

Advani is unhappy with the manner in which the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has dominated the show behind the scene to insist on Nitin Gadkari setting a second tenure as the party president.

Task force on national security submits report to PM

Task force on national security submits report to PM

Rediff.com   23 May 2012

The task force headed by former cabinet secretary Naresh Chandra has made an assessment of the security scenario facing the country and has made recommendations to the government.

Home secretary heads to Pakistan for talks

Home secretary heads to Pakistan for talks

Rediff.com   23 May 2012

The Indian delegation consists of the director of Intelligence Bureau, director-general of the National Investigation Agency and other concerned officials. The broad agenda of the talks would focus on terrorism, fugitives from Indian law, narcotics and humanitarian issues such as of Indian fishermen and civilians in Pakistan jails

Why are video sites blocked? Blame 'Dangerous Ishhq'!

Why are video sites blocked? Blame 'Dangerous Ishhq'!

Rediff.com   10 May 2012

Why are video sites blocked? Blame 'Dangerous Ishhq'!

Gujarat encounter killings: NHRC to hold open hearing

Gujarat encounter killings: NHRC to hold open hearing

Rediff.com   7 May 2012

In the first of its kind, an open public hearing into the encounter killings will be held in Gujarat on May 14-15 by the National Human Rights Commission.

Celebrations of 60 years of Parliament on May 13

Celebrations of 60 years of Parliament on May 13

Rediff.com   5 May 2012

Nonagenarian Rajya Sabha member Rishant Keising of Manipur and Resham Lal Jangde, 87, of Chhattisgarh will have the proud honour to be felicitated by President Pratibha Patil at the celebrations of Parliament's 60 years on May 13, for being the only live members of the first Lok Sabha constituted in 1952.