Sharat Pradhan In Lucknow And Onkar Singh In New Delhi

Stories by Sharat Pradhan In Lucknow And Onkar Singh In New Delhi

'Assembly polls are the semi-finals before 2014 elections'

'Assembly polls are the semi-finals before 2014 elections'

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2011

With the announcement of the dates of the forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Goa and Uttrakhand, political parties have sharpened their attacks on their rivals in order to score a political advantage and attract voters to their fold. Bharatiya Janata party leader Rajnath Singh claimed that Congress party's presence in UP polls would be insignificant.

Swamy slams Team Anna for demanding Lokpal's authority over CBI

Swamy slams Team Anna for demanding Lokpal's authority over CBI

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2011

Janata Party chief Dr Subramanian Swamy slammed Team Anna on Thursday for 'insisting a new law to deal with corruption and bring the premier investigating agency under the Lokpal'. The government's Lokpal Bill is likely to be introduced in the Parliament on Thursday afternoon, which has already been opposed by Team Anna.

Russia expresses sadness over Bhagwad Gita row

Russia expresses sadness over Bhagwad Gita row

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2011

In the wake of an uproar over a move to ban Bhagwad Gita in Siberia, Russia has expressed sadness over the development, saying it is "inadmissible" that a holy scripture is taken to court.

Mayawati slams Centre for returning UP division proposal

Mayawati slams Centre for returning UP division proposal

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2011

Taking strong exception to the central government's decision to return the proposal for division of the state into four parts, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday flayed the United Progressive Alliance regime for what she termed as "total apathy" towards the issue.

Dense fog in Delhi disrupts rail, road, air traffic

Dense fog in Delhi disrupts rail, road, air traffic

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2011

Air, rail and road traffic was severely affected in New Delhi on Monday as dense fog reduced the visibility to almost zero. According to senior officials of the Indian Metrological Department, the disruption is likely to continue for a few more days. There is little hope of the weather improving and it is likely to hit traffic in Delhi and neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, officials said.

Mayawati woos Muslims, seeks fifth term as birthday gift

Mayawati woos Muslims, seeks fifth term as birthday gift

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2011

Favouring reservation for Muslims, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday said that 27 per cent Other Backward Class quota should be increased by making constitutional amendment to include backward Muslims in it. "The Bahujan Samaj Party government favours quota for Muslims. The Centre should amend the constitution and increase 27 per cent quota of OBCs to include muslims in it. Our party will support it," Mayawati said addressing a rally in Lucknow.

Mayawati goes all out to woo Muslims, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas

Mayawati goes all out to woo Muslims, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2011

After her attempts attract Brahmins and Dalits, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati is now all set to woo Muslims, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.

Maya issues 'white-paper' to give her govt a clean-chit

Maya issues 'white-paper' to give her govt a clean-chit

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2011

In a bid to give her own government a clean chit, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday released a white paper on the allegations of rampant corruption in her regime.

UP govt slaps Gangster's Act on arrested BSP MP

UP govt slaps Gangster's Act on arrested BSP MP

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2011

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday slapped the Gangster's Act on mafia don-turned-Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dhananjay Singh who was arrested last week in connection with a double-murder committed in 2010.

SP not projecting anyone as CM candidate, says Mulayam

SP not projecting anyone as CM candidate, says Mulayam

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2011

Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav told mediapersons in New Delhi on Wednesday that his party has not taken any decision about projecting someone as the chief ministerial candidate in the forthcoming elections of the UP assembly.

Mulayam Jr expels SP protestor at Rahul Gandhi meet

Mulayam Jr expels SP protestor at Rahul Gandhi meet

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2011

In line with his plan for a complete makeover of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, the party general secretary and son of chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Tuesday expelled a functionary for indulging in vandalism and showing black flags to Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi in Aligarh earlier in the day.

Maya sings Anna tune, wants PM, lower bureaucracy under Lokpal

Maya sings Anna tune, wants PM, lower bureaucracy under Lokpal

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2011

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has had a change of heart as far as Anna Hazare's campaign for the Jan Lokpal Bill is concerned. Singing the same tune as the anti-corruption crusader, Mayawati said on Tuesday that the prime minister, the Central Bureau of Investigation and all section of government employees should be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal.

Parliament attack could have been worse than 9/11: Advani

Parliament attack could have been worse than 9/11: Advani

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2011

Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs of December 13, 2001, terrorist attack on Parliament.

BSP MP arrested in double murder case in Lucknow

BSP MP arrested in double murder case in Lucknow

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2011

Don-turned-Bahujan Samaj Party member of Parliament Dhananjay Singh was arrested in Lucknow on Sunday evening in connection with his alleged involvement in a double murder case.

UP: Rahul continues to woo Muslims, meets law board chief

UP: Rahul continues to woo Muslims, meets law board chief

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2011

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Sunday called on All India Muslim Personal Law Board chief Maulana Rabe Nadwi, further indicating the party's intent to woo Muslims in view of the 2012 state assembly elections.

Rahul promises reservations to woo Muslims in UP

Rahul promises reservations to woo Muslims in UP

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2011

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Saturday assured the 20 crore-odd members of the Muslim community in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh that a new reservation policy would soon be in place for them. "We will keep our commitment of providing reservation to minorities in the state," Rahul told a gathering of party office-bearers at the UP Congress headquarters in Lucknow on Saturday evening. "We will do it soon," he declared amidst applause.

In or out of Lokpal: Lower bureaucracy speaks out

In or out of Lokpal: Lower bureaucracy speaks out

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2011

Rediff.com reporters spoke to employees of the lower bureaucracy to know what they think of all the commotion surrounding their inclusion in the Lokpal bill.

HC takes serious note of grabbing of army land in Lucknow

HC takes serious note of grabbing of army land in Lucknow

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2011

In what was described as an unprecedented move, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Thursday summoned Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Anoop Misra to make personal appearance in a public interest litigation alleging large scale grabbing of land earmarked and used as the Indian Army firing range in Lucknow.

Court allows Swamy to depose against Chidambaram in 2G case

Court allows Swamy to depose against Chidambaram in 2G case

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2011

A special Delhi court on Thursday allowed Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy to become a witness in his complaint against Home Minister P Chidambaram in the 2G case. The court also told Swamy to appear in the witness box on December 17 to give his statement. Swamy had sought the court's permission to examine witnesses, including senior Central Bureau of Investigation officials, to establish erstwhile finance minister and present Home Minister P Chidambaram's role.