Sharat Pradhan

Stories by Sharat Pradhan

Why Rahul Gandhi does not impress the BJP

Why Rahul Gandhi does not impress the BJP

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2011

Rahul Gandhi may be seen as the party's key charismatic leader, but the Bhartiya Janata Party does not consider him as any potent political force.

Use UP as launch pad for power: Gadkari

Use UP as launch pad for power: Gadkari

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2011

Bhartiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari on Friday called upon partymen to use Uttar Pradesh as the launch pad for regaining power at the Centre.

Mayawati announces new land acquisition

Mayawati announces new land acquisition

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2011

Having taken enough onslaughts from different opposition parties for forcibly acquiring huge chunks of agricultural land for industrial and commercial purposes, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Thursday sought to score a point by wooing farmers through a new land acquisition policy, framed after a dialogue with farmers.

Maya and team BSP protest petrol price hike in UP

Maya and team BSP protest petrol price hike in UP

Rediff.com   31 May 2011

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday staged a statewide protest against the steep hike in petrol prices announced by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance-l government.

Maya scraps land acquisition near Varanasi

Maya scraps land acquisition near Varanasi

Rediff.com   31 May 2011

This follows a seven-day sustained campaign by farmers against the acquisition of 121 hectares of land in Katesar village in the district, about 325 km from Lucknow for building 'New Kashi' city as a parallel to Varanasi.

BJP alleges Maya's Rs 5,000 cr land scam in Noida

BJP alleges Maya's Rs 5,000 cr land scam in Noida

Rediff.com   30 May 2011

The Uttar Pradesh wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party will call on state Governor B L Joshi on June 1 to demand a 'high-level enquiry' against the Mayawati government in connection with what they alleged was a 'Rs 5,000 crore land scam in Greater Noida.'

Delhi HC blast: 1 held in Ghaziabad, hunt on

Delhi HC blast: 1 held in Ghaziabad, hunt on

Rediff.com   27 May 2011

A key suspect in this week's blast in Delhi was arrested in Ghaziabad, during a joint operation carried out by the Delhi police and Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad, Friday.

Red alert sounded in UP after Delhi HC blast

Red alert sounded in UP after Delhi HC blast

Rediff.com   25 May 2011

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday sounded a state wide red-alert in the wake of the low intensity blast near the High Court in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon.

The 'dead' rise against corrupt UP govt officials

The 'dead' rise against corrupt UP govt officials

Rediff.com   25 May 2011

After having succeeded in bringing back at least 33 'dead' persons back to life, the Association of the 'Dead' is all set to raise its voice against rampant corruption in land revenue offices of Uttar Pradesh, where a few extra bucks could render anyone 'dead' in official records. Getting that rectified was indeed, an ordeal.

Dust storm claims 21 more lives in UP

Dust storm claims 21 more lives in UP

Rediff.com   23 May 2011

A dust storm accompanied by high velocity winds, that lashed parts of Uttar Pradesh late Sunday evening, has left 19 dead, taking the state's toll on account of thunder, storm and lightning to 63, officials stated on Monday.

Sack NCW chairperson, says incensed UP govt

Sack NCW chairperson, says incensed UP govt

Rediff.com   21 May 2011

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday demanded the immediate removal of National Women's Commission chief Yasmeen Abrar. The demand came in the wake of Abrar's allegations that women were disrobed and paraded naked by the UP police in Bhatta Paraul village of Greater Noida. Bhatta Paraul has been in the eye of a storm since the villagers clashed with the police to demand better compensation for the land acquired by the state government.

Thunderstorms create havoc in UP, kill 42

Thunderstorms create havoc in UP, kill 42

Rediff.com   21 May 2011

Deadly thunderstorms and lightning struck parts of Uttar Pradesh early on Saturday morning, killing 42 people and leaving 50 injured.Strong winds lashed parts of eastern and central UP at approximately 5 am, uprooting trees, bringing down lamp-posts and knocking down hoardings. In some areas, the thunderstorms were followed by a brief but heavy downpour too.Strong winds lashed state capital Lucknow, but no casualties were reported there.

HC issues notice to UP govt on Bhatta Parsaul

HC issues notice to UP govt on Bhatta Parsaul

Rediff.com   20 May 2011

Taking serious note of the allegations about atrocities on farmers in Bhatta Parsaul village in greater Noida, the Allahabad High Court on Friday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking a reply within the next 30 days.

Probe money laundering charges against Amar: HC

Probe money laundering charges against Amar: HC

Rediff.com   20 May 2011

The Allahabad high court on Friday directed the Enforcement Directorate to investigate charges of money laundering against Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Amar Singh, saying that the matter needed a thorough probe as it had "national ramifications". The court gave the direction while dismissing a petition filed by the former Samajwadi Party general secretary, who had challenged an FIR lodged in Kanpur nearly two years ago.

Bhatta Parsaul: Mayawati hits back at Sonia, Rahul

Bhatta Parsaul: Mayawati hits back at Sonia, Rahul

Rediff.com   19 May 2011

Stung by the frontal attack launched by the top Congress leadership against her, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has hit out at both Congress President Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul.

Rahul's allegations ridiculous and false: UP govt

Rahul's allegations ridiculous and false: UP govt

Rediff.com   17 May 2011

The Uttar Pradesh government is all set to challenge Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to prove his allegations about women being raped and 74 people being burnt alive in Bhatta Parsaul village of Greater Noida. To refute Rahul's charges, he raised several vital questions -- "How is it that not one villager talked about killings and rape until Rahul Gandhi surfaced in Bhatta Parsaul? After all, so many journalists have visited the area days before Rahul did."

BSP MLA gets life term for student's murder

BSP MLA gets life term for student's murder

Rediff.com   17 May 2011

Bahujan Samaj Party Member of Legislative Assembly and former Uttar Pradesh minister Anand Sen was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the abduction and murder of a young girl in Faizabad nearly three years ago.Sen's driver Vijay and a close friend Seema Azad were also awarded life imprisonment for being involved in the murder. The sentence was announced by a special trial court presided by Judge Matambar Singh.

UP land row: Maya flays Rahul for 'bunch of lies'

UP land row: Maya flays Rahul for 'bunch of lies'

Rediff.com   16 May 2011

Reacting sharply to Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's sweeping allegations about 'rape' and 'mass murder' of farmers in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday termed it as a 'bunch of lies.'

Tikait was strongest voice for farmers in N India

Tikait was strongest voice for farmers in N India

Rediff.com   15 May 2011

Popular farmers' leader and founder president of Bhartiya Kisan Union Mahendra Sigh Tikait, who died of bone cancer on Sunday morning in Muzaffarnagar, had led over a dozen major movements in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, fighting for the cause of farmers.

Digvijay's allegations are baseless, hits out BSP

Digvijay's allegations are baseless, hits out BSP

Rediff.com   13 May 2011

The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party has strongly refuted All India Congress Committee general secretary Digvijay Singh's sweeping allegations about massacre of farmers by the Uttar Pradesh police in Greater Noida's BhattaParsaul village, where a violent clash had ensued between cops and protesting local farmers earlier this month.