Sharat Pradhan

Stories by Sharat Pradhan

70 lakh pilgrims take dip at Kumbh's last 'shahi snan'

70 lakh pilgrims take dip at Kumbh's last 'shahi snan'

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2013

Over 70 lakh people took dip at the holy 'Sangam' on the last of the 'Shahi Snan' during the on-going Kumbh mela in Allahabad on Friday.

PIL seeks judicial probe into Kumbh stampede

PIL seeks judicial probe into Kumbh stampede

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2013

A public interest litigation was moved before the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court Tuesday, seeking a high-level judicial probe into Sunday's stampede at the Kumbh Mela that left 36 dead and 39 injured.

FIR against low-flying chopper, lensman shooting Kumbh

FIR against low-flying chopper, lensman shooting Kumbh

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2013

The Kumbh Mela police has registered a case against a foreign photographer and a helicopter company for taking photographs from a chopper which flew dangerously close to people at the Mela on Sunday, police said on Tuesday.

Akhilesh sends ministers, top officials to stampede site

Akhilesh sends ministers, top officials to stampede site

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2013

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has directed two ministers in his cabinet as well senior officials in his administration to visit Allahabad in the wake of a stampede at the city's police station. The tragic stampede has claimed the lives of 36 pilgrims who were on their way back after attending the Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad on Sunday night.

Kumbh Mela: Mismanagement triggered Allahabad stampede

Kumbh Mela: Mismanagement triggered Allahabad stampede

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2013

Authorities continue to pass the buck and even blame pilgrims in what clearly appears to be a case of inept handling of the situation by the police and railway officials, reports Sharat Pradhan

Allahabad stampede: Kumbh Mela in-charge Azam Khan quits

Allahabad stampede: Kumbh Mela in-charge Azam Khan quits

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2013

Hours after the Sunday night's tragic stampede in Allahabad, which claimed 36 lives and left 30 injured, Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minster Azam Khan stepped down as the chairman of the Kumbh Mela committee.

Security stepped up at Maha Kumbh after Afzal hanging

Security stepped up at Maha Kumbh after Afzal hanging

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2013

The hanging of Afzal Guru has prompted the Uttar Pradesh government to beef up security in and around the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, where nearly two crore people are expected to be converging over the next 24 hours to take a dip on what is considered the 'most auspicious' day of the 55-day-long festival that began on January 14.

With 12 new faces, Akhilesh expands UP cabinet to 59

With 12 new faces, Akhilesh expands UP cabinet to 59

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2013

In the first expansion of his ministry after coming to power, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday inducted 12 new ministers, including Vinod Kumar Singh who was dropped after he allegedly manhandled the Chief Medical Officer in Gonda.

UP CM remains mum over minister's obscene remarks

UP CM remains mum over minister's obscene remarks

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2013

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhikesh Yadav has been silent over his cabinet colleague Raja Ram Pandey's grossly obscene remarks about two women IAS officers.

Women's groups up in arms against anti-rape law

Women's groups up in arms against anti-rape law

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2013

Women's groups rose up in arms in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow on Saturday to mark their protest against the anti-rape ordinance being sent by the Union cabinet to President Pranab Mukherjee for approval.

Vishwaroopam released in UP amid mild protest

Vishwaroopam released in UP amid mild protest

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2013

Kamal Hasan's controversial film 'Vishwaroopam' was formally released in Luckow and other parts of Uttar Pradesh amid mild protests on Friday.

SP mulls banning 'Vishwaroopam' in UP, BJP cries foul

SP mulls banning 'Vishwaroopam' in UP, BJP cries foul

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2013

After facing a ban in Jayalalithaa's Tamil Nadu, Kamal Haasan's ambitious film Vishwaroopam may face a similar fate in Uttar Pradesh. "Before it is allowed to be screened, we will take a look at Vishwaroopam to find out what is objectionable in the film", Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav told media personnel in Allahabad Thursday.

Azam Khan wouldn't mind getting Taj Mahal demolished

Azam Khan wouldn't mind getting Taj Mahal demolished

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2013

Terming the money spent on building the Taj Mahal as "unjustified", Uttar Pradesh's Urban Development minister Azam Khan said that he would have led the mob had they decided to bring it down.

Two girls allege molestation by judge in UP's Gonda court

Two girls allege molestation by judge in UP's Gonda court

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2013

Two young girls were allegedly molested by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in the Gonda district of Easter Uttar Pradesh, about 120 kilometres from Lucknow.

Wish to be wrapped in BJP flag when I die: Kalyan Singh

Wish to be wrapped in BJP flag when I die: Kalyan Singh

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2013

A melodramatic event marked Kalyan Singh's formal return to the BJP as he merged his Rashtriya Kranti Party with the BJP, Sharat Pradhan reports

Stray dogs enter Kanpur zoo, kill 31 deer

Stray dogs enter Kanpur zoo, kill 31 deer

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2013

In an incident that exposed the shabby conditions of the Kanpur zoo, 31 deer including some endangered black bucks died in Kanpur zoo on Saturday night when a pack of dogs used cracks in the outer wall to barge into the deer enclosure and attack the antelopes.

After 8 years, juvenile court declares rapist as 'adult'

After 8 years, juvenile court declares rapist as 'adult'

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2013

Seven years after he got away with the gang-rape of a 13-year-old girl, the key accused, who claimed to be a minor, was on Monday, declared as a 'major' on the day the heinous crime was committed.

'Insensitive' Akhilesh skips slain jawan's funeral

'Insensitive' Akhilesh skips slain jawan's funeral

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2013

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has drawn much flak for not attending the funeral of the Indian soldier who was killed by the Pakistan army along the Line of Control, despite the fact that the soldier belonged to the state.

Mayawati slams Akhilesh for ignoring UP assembly speaker

Mayawati slams Akhilesh for ignoring UP assembly speaker

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2013

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Sunday lambasted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for ignoring the institution of the Speaker during the on-going 125th anniversary celebrations of the Uttar Pradesh State Legislature. Mayawati sought to draw Akhilesh's attention to the absence of any mention of the Legislative Assembly speaker or the chairperson of the UP State Legislative Council in a full-page advertisement that appeared in all major newspapers.