At a time when Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has given individual tax payers a major benefit, President Pratibha Patil's salary and allowances have come down by half.
Terming the recent Maoist strike on a paramilitary camp in West Bengal as a 'cowardly' act, President Pratibha Patil on Monday made it clear that such 'senseless violence' would strengthen the government's resolve to tackle it with 'added vigour.'
Ahead of the foreign secretary- level talks, India said on Monday that it was ready to explore a "meaningful" relationship with Pakistan if it seriously addressed the threat of terrorism and stops terror acts against this country.
President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, music director A R Rahman and noted lyricist Gulzar on Sunday watched the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire at the Rashtrapati Bhavan auditorium in New Delhi. Oscar awardee Resul Pookuty and Vikas Swarup, on whose novel Q and A the movie is based, also attended the screening. According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson, the two-hour-long special screening was exclusively organised for the President.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had a brief meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on salient features of the Budget.
Rejecting suggestions by President Pratibha Patil to modify Gujarat Control of Organised Crime bill, the Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party's government on Tuesday re-introduced the bill which was passed by the state assembly.
The Congress on Tuesday downplayed the claim that President Pratibha Patil was behind the government's ambitious farm loan waiver scheme, saying inputs for it had come from diverse quarters. Party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi was commenting on a remark by Christy Fernandes, the President's Secretary, that Patil had advised the government to initiate appropriate mechanism by which the plight of the farmers could be addressed.
The order by Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Ashok Amankar, in quasi-judicial authority, came on a petition by one Kishore Bansod, who had claimed that the Shekhawat clan had allegedly got their names included in the land title.
Gujarat Congress president Siddarth Patel and state assembly leader Shaktisinh Gohil on Wednesday led a delegation of party Members of Legislative Assembly and state leaders to President Pratibha Patil to seek her 'constitutional intervention' in the state to restore democracy, peace and law and order.
A delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party Members of Parliament and senior leaders met President Pratibha Patil on Thursday and submitted a memorandum and crores of signatures as part of its campaign against "abject failure of the UPA government" to control price rise.
The Union Cabinet and its committees have been given a new 'mantra' by President Pratibha Patil and asked to clear every proposal only after ensuring that it meets the requisites of equity or inclusiveness, innovation and public accountability.The Cabinet Secretariat has shot out a 'secret' demi official letter to all secretaries in the government, citing the President's diktat.
A farmer has accused President Pratibha Patil's husband Devisingh Shekhawat and five of her relatives of land grabbing. Kishor Madhavrao Bansod from Chandrapur (Khallar) village filed a petition before the court of Sub-Divisional Officer accusing Patil's kin of making illegal changes in land record.
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday recommended the lifting of President's Rule in Jharkhand to pave the way for the formation of a new government there on Wednesday.The home ministry's note was placed before the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who approved it, official sources said.The Cabinet recommendation will now go to President Pratibha Patil who will issue orders for lifting of the central rule imposed on January 19 this year.
President Pratibha Patil on Sunday accepted the resignation of Governor of Andhra Pradesh N D Tiwari and asked the Chattisgarh Governor to discharge the duties till further arrangements are made.
The Centre has sought a detailed report from the Andhra Pradesh government in the wake of a sting operation purportedly showing state Governor N D Tiwari in a compromising position with three women. Home ministry sources said that state Chief Secretary Ramakant Reddy has been asked to send a detailed report about the allegations made against the governor. The sting operation was telecast on Friday by the ABN Andhra Jyothi channel.
If the the Amendment Bill to the Land Acquisition Act and the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill are enacted, it will not only help in better implementation of infrastructure and industrial projects, but also safeguard the interests of the farmers. That is because both the Bills contain clear guidelines to be followed while acquiring land, like the compensation package and the quantum of land to be acquired.
The United Progressive Alliance government on Thursday declared that it will pursue a policy of 'zero-tolerance' towards terrorism from whatever source it originates and seek to reshape its relationship with Pakistan, which should confront terror groups inimical to India. Outlining ten broad areas of priority for the next five years, President Patil, in her address to the jt session of Parliament, said that security and preservation of communal harmony will be among those.
Outlining its coordinated action on the energy front, the government on Thursday said it would strive to added at least 13,000 mega watt of power generating capacity each year through a mix of nuclear, hydel, coal and renewable sources.
India on Wednesday said it will seek to 'reshape' ties with Pakistan depending on its sincerity in acting against terror groups operating from its soil. "My government will seek to reshape our relationship with Pakistan depending on the sincerity of Pakistan's actions to confront groups who launch terrorist attacks against India from its territory," President Pratibha Patil said in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament.
Expecting the economy to slow down in the current fiscal amid global recession, President Pratibha Patil on Thursday said the new government will focus on adversely-affected sectors like infrastructure, exports, SMEs, and housing to restore the growth momentum.
The Indian Navy and other stakeholders in the maritime domain are playing a pro-active role to avoid a recurrence of 26/11 type terror attacks, President Pratibha Patil said on Wednesday.
In view of growing urbanisation in the country, President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday called upon policy makers to follow "systematic urban planning and proper urban governance."
President Pratibha Patil has commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence given to eight murder convicts in two separate cases.
President Pratibha Patil on Sunday termed distressful the recent incidents of 'violence and intolerance' in the country and called upon all Indians to try to overcome obstacles and work relentlessly towards building a progressive and compassionate country.
The recent helicopter incident in which President Pratibha Patil had a narrow escape was enough for the Supreme Court to pooh-pooh government's suggestion for airlifting victims of disasters to safety.
The emails were sent from the ID black.monolith@gmail.com, hurled various allegations against Patil and also threatened her with dire consequences, official sources said.
Sania Mirza's scheduled meeting with President Pratibha Patil was called off after the tennis ace was rendered indisposed.
With Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on a sticky wicket in the wake of corruption charges, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on Tuesday said he would give his assessment on the political crisis in the state to President Pratibha Patil as and when necessary.
On his first official visit to India, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday met leaders across the political spectrum and discussed issues of bilateral interest. Prachanda called on President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari.
There were some awkward moments before the departure of President Pratibha Patil from Beijing to the central Chinese city of Luoyang on Saturday when a member of her entourage, Rashtriya Janata Dal Member of Parliament Raghuvansh Prasad, did not turn up at the airport on time, making her wait for nearly 20 minutes.Though the scheduled departure was slated for 9 am local time, the President arrived at the airport at 8.50 am for the last farewell formalities.
India has sought China's support for its bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council during a meeting between President Pratibha Patil and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Bejing. Patil, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on a six-day visit to China, was welcomed warmly by Wen at the Purple Light Pavilion.
President Pratibha Patil discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest and situation in the region with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday.
Leaders of the Left front, Bahujan Samaj Party, Telugu Desam Party and other parties on Tuesday met President Pratibha Patil to demand immediate convening of the monsoon session of Parliament, accusing the government of 'concealing' information regarding the Indo-United States nuclear deal.They charged the ruling coalition with subverting the Constitution by deciding to do away with the monsoon session and convening a combined session.
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the nation on Saturday in mourning the loss of lives in the Mangalore plane crash. As a mark of respect to the deceased, the government cancelled all functions to celebrate the first anniversary of the second term of the United Progressive Alliance government today. Dr Singh announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 each to those injured in the crash.
Sports Minister M S Gill on Thursday flayed the 'casualness' of India's cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh for skipping the Padma Shri awards function and said the Ministry would soon issue a circular to ensure sportspersons treat national awards with utmost respect. Dhoni and Harbhajan were conspicuous by their absence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremony, where they were expected to receive the award from President Pratibha Patil.
Leader of Opposition L K Advani on Sunday turned 83 with President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being among the first to wish him on the occasion.
The President, who is the first Indian head of state to visit United Kingdom in last 20 years, said the British experience of public-private partnership and public sector capacity building would be especially useful to India.
The Mumbai terror attack was discussed during the State Banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth in the honour of President Pratibha Patil, with the British monarch paying tributes to the 'courage and steadfastness' shown by the Indian people, in the face of the appalling incident."We are mindful that in a month's time, India will mark the anniversary of the appalling terrorist attacks on Mumbai, in which so many Indians were killed," the Queen said during the Banquet.
"I am confident that Indians living overseas will join in the endeavour to contribute to India's growth. As members of the Indian diaspora, you know better than others the challenges and opportunities that a resurgent India represents," Patil, who is the first Indian Head of State to visit the UK in the last 20 years, said.
Meghalaya, which witnessed a controversial confidence vote in the Assembly, was today brought under the Central rule and the state assembly put under suspended animation.
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