Sharat Pradhan And Aditya Kalra

Stories by Sharat Pradhan And Aditya Kalra

Her only son came back in a coffin from Pune

Her only son came back in a coffin from Pune

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2010

Lucknow resident Nidhi Saxena, 55, had been waiting for her son Abhishek to return from Pune, where he was studying in the final year of engineering.On Wednesday, Saxena's only son returned home encased in a coffin. Abhishek was one of the ten victims who were killed in the blast at Pune's German Bakery on February 13. Saxena, who had been widowed in 1994, had brought up Abhishek single-handedly.

HC blasts UP govt for 'land encroachment'

HC blasts UP govt for 'land encroachment'

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2010

Taking a very serious note of alleged defiance of court's orders by the Uttar Pradesh government, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court on Thursday even went to the extent of suggesting that there was breakdown of Constitutional machinery in the state.

UP cracks down on Maoists, top leaders held

UP cracks down on Maoists, top leaders held

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2010

The Uttar Pradesh police on Monday claimed to have made a major breakthrough in its anti-Maoist tirade after the arrest of 10 alleged Naxals from different parts of the state over the last 24 hours.

UP: Profs in the dock for Dalit student's suicide

UP: Profs in the dock for Dalit student's suicide

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2010

The Lucknow police has slapped the Atrocities against Dalit Act against two professors of the Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University in Lucknow for allegedly driving a final year MBBS student to commit suicide.Sushil Kumar Chaudhary, 26, ended his life by consuming poison in his rented accommodation in LDA colony, where his body was discovered on Sunday.

Memorials won't cost further, claims Maya

Memorials won't cost further, claims Maya

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2010

As if Rs 6,000 crores already spent was not enough, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday told the state assembly that all the memorials and statues erected by her in Lucknow and in Noida would not put any further drain on the state exchequer.

Maya seeks special force to guard her memorials

Maya seeks special force to guard her memorials

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2010

Raising of a dedicated special security force to guard Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's dream projects -- memorials and statues -- will cost the state exchequer a whopping sum of Rs 53 crores, besides a recurring annual drain of Rs 10 crores on the state exchequer.

Mayawati seeks Sharad Pawar's ouster

Mayawati seeks Sharad Pawar's ouster

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2010

Blaming Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for the unprecedented rise in price of food and other essential commodities, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday demanded his immediate removal from the post.

Mulayam's show stuns Maya; paralyses Lucknow

Mulayam's show stuns Maya; paralyses Lucknow

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2010

The Uttar Pradesh police have arrested Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was leading a protest in Lucknow against price rise.The police also baton charged the Samajwadi supporters, who had turned up in large numbers to accompany their chief.

For Mulayam, Amar Singh is now 'history'

For Mulayam, Amar Singh is now 'history'

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2010

Terming his one-time blue-eyed party general secretary Amar Singh as a part of history, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday made it clear that the disgruntled leader's exit will have no bearing on his party.Reacting to a barrage of queries related to Amar's resignation at a press conference in Lucknow, a visibly relaxed Mulayam said, "Why do you talk about the past; I don't believe in looking back. Think about what is lying ahead and not history."

Mayawati's Rs 7,300 crore birthday gift for UP

Mayawati's Rs 7,300 crore birthday gift for UP

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2010

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati celebrated her 54th birthday on Friday, but without the trademark pomp, splendour and ostentatious celebrations. Instead, the CM surprised many by announcing welfare programmes for the poor and development schemes worth over Rs 7,300 crore for the state.Her earlier birthdays were celebrated as arthik sahyog diwas (fund raising day) when her partymen allegedly indulged in blatant extortion.

Sp chief, Amar Singh to meet at Saifai festival

Sp chief, Amar Singh to meet at Saifai festival

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2010

"Amar Singh will be chairing the closing session of the Saifai festival," Mulayam told reporters on Monday, shortly after inaugurating the 14-day cultural event at Saifai in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh.

RSS chief denies role in Gadkari's elevation

RSS chief denies role in Gadkari's elevation

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2010

Addressing a large gathering of RSS at the organisation's local headquarters in Lucknow on Sunday, Bhagwat said, "RSS never indulges in political activity, so where was the question of my playing a role in the appointment of BJP chief."

Was Mulayam's son behind Amar's exit?

Was Mulayam's son behind Amar's exit?

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2010

Notwithstanding former Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh's claims that his "illness" had forced to step down, party sources said it was a deliberate sideline by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Yadav that prompted Singh to withdraw in anger.

It is a conspiracy: Tiwari on sex scam allegations

It is a conspiracy: Tiwari on sex scam allegations

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2009

In spite of his inglorious exit from the Andhra Pradesh Raj Bhavan, in the wake of a sex scandal, veteran Congressman and former governor Narain Datt Tiwari appeared to be in a combative mood.Tiwari, 86, who was allegedly filmed in a 'compromising position' with three women, returned to Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.Hundreds of Tiwari's supporters gathered at the Lucknow airport to welcome him with flowers and garlands.

Reliance Power plant in Rosa starts generation

Reliance Power plant in Rosa starts generation

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2009

It was clearly the beginning of a new era for the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group to start generation at what was not only their first, but also North India's first private sector thermal power plant in Rosa village on the outskirts of Shahjahanpur town in Uttar Pradesh.

Dalai Lama's queries leave doctors baffled

Dalai Lama's queries leave doctors baffled

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2009

Hundreds of medical experts were at their wit's end when Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama asked them point blank, "Do you give your patients true happiness?"

Mayawati sacks top party leader for loose talk

Mayawati sacks top party leader for loose talk

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2009

Siddiqui's exit came within hours of the publication of his interview in the English daily Indian Express -- bearing the headline 'Mayawati comes, speaks, goes, there's no discussion' -- where he had sought to brand Mayawati as a despot.

Mayawati backs demand for Harit Pradesh

Mayawati backs demand for Harit Pradesh

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2009

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday jumped on the bandwagon demanding the creation of smaller states, declaring that carving Harit Pradesh and Bundelkhand from parts of UP was a 'feasible' idea.In the wake of the Centre's decision to create Telangana by dividing Andhra Pradesh, the UP CM said that her party will back the demand for the creation of smaller states."We back the demand for Harit Pradesh. Smaller states can be better administered," she said.

'Rahul Gandhi violated all security norms'

'Rahul Gandhi violated all security norms'

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2009

Contradicting Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's claim that he always believed in strictly adhering to all security norms and rules, the district magistrate of Sitapur has pointedly accused him of violating all security procedures.

'There are many more capable people for PM's post'

'There are many more capable people for PM's post'

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2009

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi sought to make it loud and clear in Lucknow on Tuesday that the country's prime ministership was not his cup of tea, and that he was totally focused on rejuvenation of the Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India across the country.