Sharat Pradhan And Mukhtar Ahmad

Stories by Sharat Pradhan And Mukhtar Ahmad

Kashmir: Five LeT militants killed in encounter

Kashmir: Five LeT militants killed in encounter

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2012

Five militants of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba outfit were killed in a day-long encounter near apple-rich north Kashmir's Sopore town on Tuesday.

Mayawati's bill has sown the seeds for a caste divide

Mayawati's bill has sown the seeds for a caste divide

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2012

Its passage, argues Sharat Pradhan, will only give rise to more bitterness and sharper social conflict, overcoming which might be easier said than done.

Watch: Quota bill protestors fling shoes at Sonia posters

Watch: Quota bill protestors fling shoes at Sonia posters

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2012

Raising the pitch against the quota bill, thousands of Uttar Pradesh government employees on Monday marched down the streets of Lucknow, expressing their ire against Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. The agitators blamed them for pushing the constitutional amendment bill in the Parliament for introducing reservation in promotions in all government jobs.

'Cong is blackmailing Mulayam on promotions quota bill'

'Cong is blackmailing Mulayam on promotions quota bill'

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2012

The Samajwadi Party on Sunday pointedly accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government of attempting to 'blackmail' party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav , who had earlier threatened to withdraw his party's support to the ruling coalition.

Six Indian soldiers killed in Siachen avalanche

Six Indian soldiers killed in Siachen avalanche

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2012

Six Indian soldiers were killed and one went missing in an avalanche in the Siachen Glacier area on Sunday. The avalanche struck an army post at Hanief sector in Turtuk, Siachen on Sunday at 6.15 am.

Army guns down two terrorists in north Kashmir

Army guns down two terrorists in north Kashmir

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2012

Army troops gunned down one terrorist of Lashkar-e-Tayiba outfit in a fierce gunfight in the forest area of Cherhar near north Kashmir Sopore town on Thursday afternoon.

SC order leaves Mulayam and son high and dry

SC order leaves Mulayam and son high and dry

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2012

The refusal of the apex court to concede an appeal by Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his clan for reprieve in the disproportionate assets case has left the entire family high and dry.

Is Akhilesh govt trying to shield corrupt officials?

Is Akhilesh govt trying to shield corrupt officials?

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2012

The Allahabad high court recently pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government over non-compliance of its stern order for the removal of two top officials of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority. But the state administration is still dilly-dallying over the issue. Undue influence wielded by a NOIDA industrialist was stated to be the main reason behind Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's reluctance in removing the two officials.

Amar Singh behind protests at Azam Khan show in Rampur?

Amar Singh behind protests at Azam Khan show in Rampur?

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2012

Discredited and ousted Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh was understood to be behind the protest demonstrations at a function organised by Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Minorities Welfare Minister Azam Khan on his home-ground, Rampur on Monday.

Kashmir shuts down after JKLF strike call

Kashmir shuts down after JKLF strike call

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2012

Normal life in Kashmir was disrupted on Monday with shops and business establishments remaining closed in many places due to a strike called by separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Rs 135 crore to spruce up area around Taj Mahal!

Rs 135 crore to spruce up area around Taj Mahal!

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2012

The Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh government has drawn up a comprehensive plan for the beautification of areas around the Taj Mahal monument in Agra. The plan was finalised at a meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Javed Usmani in Lucknow on Saturday.

PIL seeks reopening of Taj corridor case against Mayawati

PIL seeks reopening of Taj corridor case against Mayawati

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2012

A public interest litigation was moved before the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court on Monday seeking the re-opening of the Taj Corridor case against former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati in which the court had in November 2012 refused to intervene on the plea that the special CBI court had let her off on "technical grounds " in 2007.

PMO terms allegations of Vadra-DLF nexus as false

PMO terms allegations of Vadra-DLF nexus as false

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2012

The Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday sought to dismiss the alleged nexus between realty giant DLF and Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra as 'false'. An affidavit filed by PMO Joint Secretary Dheeraj Gupta before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court termed as "false, vexatious and based on hearsay" the allegations about DLF having extended undue favours to Robert Vadra.

Parts of Srinagar under curfew after communal violence

Parts of Srinagar under curfew after communal violence

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2012

An indefinite curfew was imposed in major parts of Srinagar on Wednesday evening. Clashes between members of the Sunni and Shia communities in the old city area of Zadibal on Wednesday afternoon prompted the authorities to impose curfew in areas under nine police stations.

UP police rules out honour killing in Hakim murder case

UP police rules out honour killing in Hakim murder case

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2012

Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday flatly ruled out the 'honour killing' angle behind the brutal killing of 29-year-old Abdul Hakim, who was killed in Adoli village of Bulandshahr district on November 22.

Uproar in UP assembly; Akhilesh under attack

Uproar in UP assembly; Akhilesh under attack

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2012

The Uttar Pradesh assembly was paralysed on the opening day of the winter session on Monday, when Bahujan Samaj Party members trained its guns on the Samajwadi Party government headed by Akhilesh Yadav.

The full Ponty: A rivetting story of naked greed

The full Ponty: A rivetting story of naked greed

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2012

How did a smalltimer from the interiors of Uttar Pradesh come to head a multi-crore business empire with interests spanning liquor trade to paper mills and real estate? Sharat Pradhan unravels the Ponty Chadha saga that outdoes any Bollywood potboiler

Srinagar under curfew to prevent Muharram procession

Srinagar under curfew to prevent Muharram procession

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2012

Authorities imposed strict security restrictions in certain areas of Srinagar on Friday to foil a Muharram procession.

SP, BSP to facilitate a smooth sail for UPA in Parl

SP, BSP to facilitate a smooth sail for UPA in Parl

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2012

Political observers say that neither Mulayam Singh Yadav nor Mayawati have any intention of toppling the UPA government, as neither stand to gain from it. Sharat Pradhan reports

UP: HC to decide on govt's Rs 9000 cr food contract

UP: HC to decide on govt's Rs 9000 cr food contract

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2012

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court will on Tuesday decide the fate of a Rs 9000-crore contract doled out by the Akhjilesh Yadav government to companies run by controversial liquor don Ponty Chaddha, for supply of 'readymade' nutritious food to poor children in government schools and to pregnant women in rural areas of the state.