News for 'Panchayati Raj'

Swachch Bharat? Indian villagers still ignore water, sanitation, streetlights

Swachch Bharat? Indian villagers still ignore water, sanitation, streetlights

Rediff.com25 Jun 2015

Money allocated for rural India has increased, but expenditure of panchayats is not adequate and inconsistent

Nehruvian legacy being 'undermined' by those in power: Sonia

Nehruvian legacy being 'undermined' by those in power: Sonia

Rediff.com13 Nov 2018

It was Nehru who instilled a democratic culture in our country by his regard for democracy, she said.

BJP works for few rich, Congress thinks of poor: Rahul Gandhi

BJP works for few rich, Congress thinks of poor: Rahul Gandhi

Rediff.com6 Oct 2018

The Congress chief alleged that in the 2016 demonetisation exercise, black money became white, nobody went to jail and contrary to the BJP's promise, no one received Rs 15 lakh in their bank account.

'Rural spread poses significant danger'

'Rural spread poses significant danger'

Rediff.com18 May 2021

'There is a deep stigma or taboo attached to COVID-19 in rural areas.' 'People don't want to test because they fear social exclusion.' 'Even those who test positive may not reveal and not follow the quarantine protocol.'

Karpoori Thakur and the power of street politics

Karpoori Thakur and the power of street politics

Rediff.com23 Jan 2019

'Karpoori Thakur must be remembered by people today who are tired of witnessing fractious politics where corruption, bigotry, hatred and violence seems to have become distressingly recurrent,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Is Priyanka more than a show-stopper?

Is Priyanka more than a show-stopper?

Rediff.com7 Feb 2019

Can compassion, common courtesy or an 'emotional connect' win seats in the harsh realpolitik of UP, a state riddled with divisions of caste and religion, and confronted with a seemingly impregnable BSP-SP alliance? asks Sunil Sethi.

Women voters in Bihar are no longer a silent force

Women voters in Bihar are no longer a silent force

Rediff.com24 Nov 2020

This was the first major election in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Obviously, the women of Bihar were not intimidated by the pandemic and came out in large numbers to vote.

Shah gets Home, Rajnath Defence; Finance with Nirmala

Shah gets Home, Rajnath Defence; Finance with Nirmala

Rediff.com1 Jun 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will retain DoPT, Atomic Energy as well as all important policy issues and portfolios not allocated.

Nehru legacy undermined daily by those who rule us today: Sonia Gandhi

Nehru legacy undermined daily by those who rule us today: Sonia Gandhi

Rediff.com14 Nov 2018

The former Congress president said Jawaharlal Nehru, as India's first prime minister, "consolidated democracy and entrenched the basic values of India's polity -- values to which we are still proud to lay claim."

No tickets if Cong ministers do not reach out to people: Rahul

No tickets if Cong ministers do not reach out to people: Rahul

Rediff.com7 Nov 2013

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi warned his party's ministers in Jammu and Kashmir that they could be denied tickets in the next elections if they did not reach out to the people and address their grievances.

HC stays Centre's eviction notices to Cong MPs Soni, Selja

HC stays Centre's eviction notices to Cong MPs Soni, Selja

Rediff.com5 Jun 2015

The Delhi high court on Friday stayed the Centre's eviction notices to two Congress members of Parliament and ex- ministers, Ambika Soni and Kumari Selja.

Oops! Ministers who left PM Modi red-faced

Oops! Ministers who left PM Modi red-faced

Rediff.com26 May 2015

Ministers who were in the news for all the wrong reasons

'Modiji, please don't try our patience'

'Modiji, please don't try our patience'

Rediff.com16 Dec 2020

'If we are terrorists and Pakistanis and Khalistanis, why did your home minister talk to our core committee leaders?'

Portfolios allocated to ministers in Rajasthan; Gehlot keeps 9, Pilot 5

Portfolios allocated to ministers in Rajasthan; Gehlot keeps 9, Pilot 5

Rediff.com27 Dec 2018

Apart from the chief minister and deputy chief minister, 13 cabinet and 10 ministers of state were allocated portfolios.

Follow Sharif and quit: Rahul to Chhattisgarh CM on Panama Papers

Follow Sharif and quit: Rahul to Chhattisgarh CM on Panama Papers

Rediff.com29 Jul 2017

Rahul Gandhi also attacks Modi and RSS in Bastar.

Cyclone Fani leaves 12 dead; PM to visit Odisha

Cyclone Fani leaves 12 dead; PM to visit Odisha

Rediff.com4 May 2019

The extremely severe cyclonic storm, which made landfall at Puri on Friday, unleashed copious rain and windstorm that gusted up to 200 kmph, blowing away thatched roofs of houses, swamped towns and villages, before weakening and entering West Bengal

It's time to deliver on women's bill, say female MPs

It's time to deliver on women's bill, say female MPs

Rediff.com8 Mar 2016

While the Rajya Sabha had exactly six years ago passed the Women's Reservation Bill, the legislation has since been pending in Lok Sabha.

Rahul targets RSS, Narendra Modi again

Rahul targets RSS, Narendra Modi again

Rediff.com20 Mar 2014

Sharpening his attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused them of trying to usurp the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and recalled the Congress stalwart's description of the RSS as "a venomous organisation" which could "finish" the country.

Nirmala Sitharaman gets defence, Piyush Goyal gets railways

Nirmala Sitharaman gets defence, Piyush Goyal gets railways

Rediff.com3 Sep 2017

In the third reshuffle since coming to power, Prime Minister Modi raised the strength of his Council of Ministers from 73 to 76.

Modi's message in portfolios for new ministers

Modi's message in portfolios for new ministers

Rediff.com1 Jun 2019

He dropped those perceived to be non-performers or whose integrity came into question, and also where it was felt they needed to learn a lesson or two in humility.

Modi's reshuffle: Who's in, who's out

Modi's reshuffle: Who's in, who's out

Rediff.com2 Sep 2017

The theme of the reshuffle is to fulfill Modi's earlier promise of 'maximum governance, minimum government.' Some key ministries are likely to be merged.

Why the Haryana law is bad news for women candidates

Why the Haryana law is bad news for women candidates

Rediff.com18 Dec 2015

The argument that there is nothing wrong in barring illiterates from contesting elections is extremely flawed, when by the same yardstick many sitting MLAs and MPs would not be eligible to contest even panchayat polls, says Devanik Saha.

'Aiyar's remarks seditious, Sonia should apologise,' says BJP

'Aiyar's remarks seditious, Sonia should apologise,' says BJP

Rediff.com18 Nov 2015

Escalating its attack against Mani Shankar Aiyar, the BJP called his remarks "treasonous" and demanded an apology from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

'We underestimated the virus'

'We underestimated the virus'

Rediff.com18 May 2021

'By the time actual action began, it was already too late.' 'The virus was raging.'

Taming Phailin: India's best show in disaster management

Taming Phailin: India's best show in disaster management

Rediff.com14 Oct 2013

With better preparedness and efficient planning and execution, toll restricted to a low level. Lesson from 1999 cyclone helped.

Why Narayan Rane is so IMPORTANT for the BJP

Why Narayan Rane is so IMPORTANT for the BJP

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

The street-fighter attitude is what keeps Rane going even at 69. The expectation is -- at least in the BJP camp -- that he will be itching for a battle royale with the Shiv Sena in its bastions.

'Rahul Gandhi losing the perception battle, needs a media advisor'

'Rahul Gandhi losing the perception battle, needs a media advisor'

Rediff.com24 Jan 2014

Under constant attack from the press, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is being counselled by his well-wishers to appoint a personal media advisor to shore up his image in the run-up to the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Why did Modi meet Karunanidhi?

Why did Modi meet Karunanidhi?

Rediff.com17 Nov 2017

'The prime minister's advisers might have told him that going along with this AIADMK government will damage his image.'

Key takeaways from Modi's Cabinet reshuffle

Key takeaways from Modi's Cabinet reshuffle

Rediff.com12 Nov 2014

A K Bhattacharya deciphers Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first cabinet reshuffle.

C P Joshi: The man who has Rahul Gandhi's ear

C P Joshi: The man who has Rahul Gandhi's ear

Rediff.com26 Nov 2013

Dr C P Joshi, the rising star in the Congress party, explains his strategy for the Rajasthan poll.

Concerned over drought, PM pitches for mass campaign to save water

Concerned over drought, PM pitches for mass campaign to save water

Rediff.com24 Apr 2016

He also gave examples witnessed at various places, like changing of the crop pattern in view of scarce water and adoption of sprinklers, drip irrigation, water harvesting and water recharging methods.

Congress cannot be erased; BJP does politics of blood: Rahul

Congress cannot be erased; BJP does politics of blood: Rahul

Rediff.com23 Feb 2014

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has accused BJP of practicing "politics of blood" by pitting one religion against another and one caste against another to come to power at any cost, escalating the Congress attack against the opposition party.

How two ministers made tribals lose control over forests

How two ministers made tribals lose control over forests

Rediff.com7 Jan 2016

Nitin Gadkari and Prakash Javdekar lobbied Jual Oram to change process, that may now open a Pandora's box.

Losing Bihar's middle ground

Losing Bihar's middle ground

Rediff.com21 Jul 2017

Why are far right Hindu organisations growing in strength? Why is there a rising subscription to Neo-Wahabism, the Saudi Arabian version of contemporary Islam?

What India expects from its next President

What India expects from its next President

Rediff.com15 Jun 2017

'A President who is a living embodiment of high principles can tone up the entire national fabric,' says B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.

Exclusive! 'Land acquisition can't be stopped for all times to come'

Exclusive! 'Land acquisition can't be stopped for all times to come'

Rediff.com24 Feb 2015

'If I am angry, then I do not have the right to be in the Cabinet. Whatever I have done, I have ensured that farmers' interests are protected,' Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, who 'abstained' from a meeting with the President on the ordinance, tells Rashme Sehgal.

'Save Democracy' rally: Sonia, Rahul released after courting arrest

'Save Democracy' rally: Sonia, Rahul released after courting arrest

Rediff.com6 May 2016

A combative Congress president also hit out at the Centre saying it should not try to frighten them and that they 'would not allow democratic institutions to be weakened or destroyed'

Who are Modi's ministers with criminal cases against them?

Who are Modi's ministers with criminal cases against them?

Rediff.com1 Sep 2014

The second part of our series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministers with a criminal record.

Poll reforms should begin with the Election Commission

Poll reforms should begin with the Election Commission

Rediff.com31 Jan 2018

For successive governments the Election Commission remains a 'holy cow', where unhealthy precedents are allowed to be nurtured since Independence, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Seventh Pay Commission's biggest losers: The armed forces

Seventh Pay Commission's biggest losers: The armed forces

Rediff.com24 Nov 2015

The 7th CPC places the Indian Police Service (and, almost in passing, the Indian Forest Service) on a level with the Indian Administrative Service, leaving the military out in the cold.