Sharat Pradhan And Aditya Kalra

Stories by Sharat Pradhan And Aditya Kalra

Mayawati to get rid of criminal elements in BSP

Mayawati to get rid of criminal elements in BSP

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2010

The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday decided to get rid of all the criminal elements in the party by April 30.An announcement to this effect was reportedly made at a day-long meeting of the party's district chiefs and coordinators, addressed by party supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati's close confidant and minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui, on Friday.The party chief has resolved to rid the BSP of all criminal and anti-social elements in the party.

Rahul Gandhi steals the show in Ambedkarnagar

Rahul Gandhi steals the show in Ambedkarnagar

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2010

If sheer attendance at their respective rallies were to be the criterion, Rahul Gandhi clearly stole the show over the Bahujan Samaj Party in Ambedkarnagar.

Rahul sets stage for  Cong-BSP showdown in UP

Rahul sets stage for Cong-BSP showdown in UP

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2010

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, who was already seen as a potential threat to Mayawati's "dalit vote bank" is all set to have a showdown with the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party on April 14 , the birth anniversary of the party's key Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar in Ambedkarnagar

Naxal attack: 42 of 76 CRPF jawans hailed from UP

Naxal attack: 42 of 76 CRPF jawans hailed from UP

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2010

Of the 76 Central Reserve Police Force personnel who died in the Naxal attack in the Mukrana forests in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, 42 of them hailed from Uttar Pradesh.

Stung by criticism, Mayawati wakes up to RTE

Stung by criticism, Mayawati wakes up to RTE

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2010

Provoked by the scathing criticism from different quarters on her refusal to implement the Right to Education Act in the country's most populous and poorly literate state, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Monday suddenly seemed to rise to the occasion by claiming that she never meant to oppose education.

Special memorial force: Maya stumps UP Governor

Special memorial force: Maya stumps UP Governor

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2010

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday literally stumped state Governor B L Joshi for sitting pretty over a bill and ordinance for raising a new special protection force to guard the Rs 6000-crore memorials and parks dedicated to the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party's dalit icons

The Rahul effect: Maya suspends  22 govt officials

The Rahul effect: Maya suspends 22 govt officials

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2010

At least 22 Uttar Pradesh government officials have been suspended for their alleged bungling of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) funds.

Advani fuelled fire that razed Babri: IPS officer

Advani fuelled fire that razed Babri: IPS officer

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2010

A senior Indian Police Service officer deposed before a special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Friday as a prosecution witness in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case, in which L K Advani and other Sangh Parivar leaders have been accused of inciting violence.

BSP flashes photo of Sonia with money garland

BSP flashes photo of Sonia with money garland

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2010

In a sharp retort to the Congress party's tirade against the flaunting of a currency note garland by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati at a recent Bahujan Samaj Party rally in Lucknow, state Public Works Department minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui on Thursday fished out a photograph of Congress president Sonia Gandhi wearing a currency note garland.

Muslim body flays communal violence bill

Muslim body flays communal violence bill

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2010

"If the bill were to be taken up in its present form, it would fail to serve any purpose; it would seem that the government's objective was to further make lives of innocent citizens more difficult rather than providing any respite to them."

Mayawati sacks top aide over garland fiasco

Mayawati sacks top aide over garland fiasco

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2010

Peeved over the widespread criticism over the currency note garlands she was busy flaunting around, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Thursday gave marching orders to her close confidante Vijay Shankar Pandey, who was principal secretary (information and public relations).

US Ambassador bats for nuke liability bill

US Ambassador bats for nuke liability bill

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2010

Roemer also said that the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 would benefit both US and India."The passing of the bill by the Indian parliament would mean a win-win situation for both the countries", he said, while adding, "generating employment as well as giving India abundant clean energy." He said, "I am sure it is a very good story for both the countries."

Maya's garland was worth just Rs 21 lakh: BSP

Maya's garland was worth just Rs 21 lakh: BSP

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2010

Taking suo moto cognisance of the allegedly multi-crore currency note garland bestowed upon Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati at the party rally on Monday, the Income-Tax department issued notice to her, while her minister quoted the value of the garland at "just Rs. 21 lakh".

Maya refuses to meet touring US ambassador

Maya refuses to meet touring US ambassador

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2010

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has refused to give United States Ambassador Timothy J Roemer an appointment.

UP govt soft on ashram founder Kripaluji?

UP govt soft on ashram founder Kripaluji?

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2010

The Allahabad divisional commissioner's preliminary report, submitted to the state government on Saturday, was a clear indicator in that very direction. Even as Ajay Kumar Upadhaya, the divisional commissioner, has indicted the management of the spiritual ashram for the disaster, he has reportedly kept the ashram founder Kripaluji Maharaj out of the controversy.

UP: Crores for parks, nothing for stampede victims

UP: Crores for parks, nothing for stampede victims

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2010

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati may have spent thousands of crores from the state government's exchequer to fund the massive memorials, statues and parks paying tribute to her mentor Kashiram and herself, but she has no plans to offer any monetary compensation to the families of those killed in Thursday's stampede at an ashram in Pratapgarh.Most victims of the stampede, which claimed 63 lives, belonged to families living below the poverty line.

UP won't compensate stampede victims

UP won't compensate stampede victims

Rediff.com   5 Mar 2010

Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered monetary compensation of 2 lakh ruppes to each to the families of those who died in Thursday's stampede in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has no plans to offer any relief to them.

Stampede at free lunch in UP ashram kills 63

Stampede at free lunch in UP ashram kills 63

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2010

The tragedy occurred around noon when thousands of followers of swami Kripaluji Maharaj had made a beeline for his ashram in Mangarh village near Kunda town in Pratapgarh district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, about 180 km from Lucknow.

Bridge in Rae Bareli, inauguration in Lucknow

Bridge in Rae Bareli, inauguration in Lucknow

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2010

While Sonia had expressed her intention to inaugurate the bridge, for which Rs 30 crore was given out of the Central Road Fund at her personal behest, Mayawati got her Public Works Department minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui to go ahead with the inauguration, 100 km away from the site of the bridge, in state capital Lucknow itself, 24 hours ahead of schedule on Wednesday afternoon.

Another twist in Taj corridor case

Another twist in Taj corridor case

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2010

The was a lot of drama on Thursday at the court of acting chief justice Amitabh Lala at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. A battery of lawyers vehemently opposing an application for withdrawal of a Public Interest Litigation seeking prosecution of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for her alleged involvement in the Rs 175 crore Taj Heritage Corridor scam.