A Correspondent In Washington, DC

Stories by A Correspondent In Washington, DC

'Inviting Mulayam to join govt may result in more trouble'

'Inviting Mulayam to join govt may result in more trouble'

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2012

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's talk of early Lok Sabha polls to his party cadres shocked Congress leaders engaged in backroom talks for the last two weeks to rope in his party to join the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre for giving it a stability to carry on till 2014.

Who will head the govt during PM's South Korea visit?

Who will head the govt during PM's South Korea visit?

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2012

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has not chosen any of the top ministers in his Cabinet to head the government during his visit to South Korea between March 24 and March 27. "The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs may decide on issues of national urgency. The CCPA will, in the prime minister's absence, be presided over by the senior-most minister," says a 'Secret/Most Urgent' note sent out by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth to nine senior ministers.

Adarsh scam: Bombay HC satisfied with probe, says CBI

Adarsh scam: Bombay HC satisfied with probe, says CBI

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2012

After being rapped for 'sloppy investigations' in the Adarsh society scam case, the Central Bureau of Investigation finally seems to have got its act together. After several high profile arrests, the CBI joint director has now informed that the "Bombay high court is satisfied with the investigations so far."

Is Cong desperate to clean up the Bengal mess?

Is Cong desperate to clean up the Bengal mess?

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2012

The Congress was in a tizzy trying to clean up its own mess in West Bengal, worried that it will have to get its own candidate defeated in West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha elections, or else face Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee rocking the United Progressive Alliance government's boat.

7 manufacturing zones identified in India, Maha gets 2

7 manufacturing zones identified in India, Maha gets 2

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2012

NIMZ is conceptualised as integrated industrial townships with all-important elements to help the growth of infrastructure, clean and energy efficient technology, simplified business regulations and the necessary social and institutional infrastructure.

NIA creates template to interrogate terror funding suspects

NIA creates template to interrogate terror funding suspects

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2012

The National Investigation Agency has prepared a template for interrogation of suspects of terror funding, which has been circulated to the concerned authorities in all states and Union territories.

Sri Lanka war crimes: DMK to withdraw five Union ministers

Sri Lanka war crimes: DMK to withdraw five Union ministers

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2012

The Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam is all set to withdraw its five Union ministers from the United Progressive Alliance-2 by the weekend to express solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. The step is expected to be taken to put UPA-2 on notice if India voted in favour of Sri Lanka in Geneva where the United Nations Human Rights Council is currently in session.

Mid-term polls haunt MPs

Mid-term polls haunt MPs

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2012

The Congress is trying to douse the fear of the mid-term polls gripping members of Parliament who discussed it cutting across party lines in Parliament on Monday after the traditional Presidential address to a joint session of the two Houses in the first sitting of the calendar year.

Israel car bomb: Protests against scribe's arrest in Delhi

Israel car bomb: Protests against scribe's arrest in Delhi

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2012

Journalists in New Delhi on Friday rose in unison against the arrest of a senior Urdu Journalist in the capital three days ago on the charge of allegedly playing a supportive role in the bomb blast in the Israeli embassy staffer's car here last month.

Music director Ravi passes away

Music director Ravi passes away

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2012

Legendary composer Ravi Shankar Sharma, popularly known as Ravi, passed away on Wednesday evening at the age of 86.

BJP's performance in assembly polls positive sign for 2014

BJP's performance in assembly polls positive sign for 2014

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2012

BJP president Nitin Gadkari attributed the stunning victory of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh to polarisation of votes

RSS slams media's 'false propaganda' against Bhagwat

RSS slams media's 'false propaganda' against Bhagwat

Rediff.com   5 Mar 2012

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has condemned a "totally false and baseless propaganda" by certain media organisations that the Supreme Court pulled up its chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday during the hearing of a case in connection with the Malegaon blasts. "During the hearing in the Supreme Court, there was not even a mention of Bhagwat's name," RSS publicity chief Manmohan Vaidya said in a statement.

PMO seeks clarity on status of CEC's pet project

PMO seeks clarity on status of CEC's pet project

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2012

The Prime Minister's Office has sought clarity on a Rs 57-crore project of Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi to establish an India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management at Dwarka in New Delhi as the Cabinet note did not contain comments from various union ministries.

Withdrawal of CBI case against Mulayam, verdict reserved

Withdrawal of CBI case against Mulayam, verdict reserved

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2012

A city court has reserved judgment for Saturday 2 pm on a criminal complaint against withdrawal of a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged "benami" properties held by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh in the name of his two sons and daughter-in-law, Dimple, wife of MP son Akhilesh.

How Chidambaram plans to trifurcate state police

How Chidambaram plans to trifurcate state police

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2012

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday called for the trifurcation of police in states by creating separate cadres for investigation and prosecution, besides one for the law and order handling.

Normal life not to be hit in Tuesday's bandh

Normal life not to be hit in Tuesday's bandh

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2012

Mumbai's Azad Maidan will be to be the venue for mass meetings and demonstrations for those participating in the nationwide general strike called by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions on Tuesday.

44 IAS officers of 92 batch empanelled as joint secretaries

44 IAS officers of 92 batch empanelled as joint secretaries

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2012

Goa Governor's secretary Rajeev Verma, Rajasthan chief minister's secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's private secretary Vimlendra Sharan are among 44 lucky Inidian Administrative Service officers of the 1992 batch empanelled for appointment as joint secretaries or equivalent posts at the Centre.

Election code on govt's 'agenda': Clash with EC?

Election code on govt's 'agenda': Clash with EC?

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2012

The government may come into confrontation with the Election Commission over its attempt to curb the latter's immense authority to almost take over all administration powers through the Model Code of Conduct during the elections.

READ: Jayalalithaa's letter to PM opposing NCTC

READ: Jayalalithaa's letter to PM opposing NCTC

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2012

In a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has opposed the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, expressing concern that provisions of the anti-terror organisation "smack of a tendency to abrogate power with no attendant responsibility".

In Mumbai, get up and vote! Here's why

In Mumbai, get up and vote! Here's why

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2012

The polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the biggest civic body in the country, is underway. And in the 227-seat Mumbai corporation, the election is a fiercely fought affair.