The opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday appealed President Pratibha Patil to use 'the mercy option in favor of Parliament attack convict, Afzal Guru in view of the political and humanitarian situation prevailing in the state'.
Slamming Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for his comment that political parties in Andhra Pradesh should first make up their mind on Telangana issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday demanded that the Centre should conduct a referendum in the region.
62-year-old Sampath will take over as CEC after incumbent S Y Quraishi demits office on June 10.
Patriotic fervour gripped Indians across the world today as they enthusiastically celebrated the country's 64th Independence Day by unfurling the tricolour and organising a series of cultural events and festivities.
Facing impeachment on charges of corruption and judicial misconduct, Sikkim high court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran resigned on Friday from the post.
Issue came up for discussions between President Lee Myung-bak and visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil.
President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday condemned the terror attacks in Mumbai. The President condoled the loss of lives in the blasts, a Rashtrapati Bhawan statement said. "The President wishes speedy recovery to those injured in the incident in Mumbai," it added.
A Bharatiya Janata Party delegation led by party chief Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday met President Pratibha Patil demanding an inquiry into the alleged corruption, abuse of power and worsening law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Mayawati's rule.
The government on Thursday committed itself to continue financial sector reforms by easing foreign investment policy, recapitalising state-owned banks and establishing a regulator for the pension sector.
The government on Thursday said it would expeditiously clear pending proposals in the infrastructure sector under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode while making regulations, governing this area, investment friendly.
10 broad areas of priority" for the United Progressive Alliance government in the next five years were outlined by President Pratibha Patil in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday
Sixteen mercy petitions have been disposed of during the last three-and-a-half years, which is more than any such period earlier, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
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Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has petitioned President Pratibha Patil to appoint a new Commission of Inquiry to probe the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in 2002 riots.
Stung by controversies, President Pratibha Patil on Friday announced her decision to forego the accommodation allotted to her as post-retirement home in Pune.
I do not agree with Parpola's unproven 'decipherment' of Indus script with the premise that old Tamil was the underlying language. It is simply a belief system and not premised on evidence of the corpus of inscriptions and the underlying cultural foundations of the civilization of 4,000 years ago, says Indologist Dr S Kalyanaraman.
"Mercy petition filed by Tabassum, wife of the Parliament House attack convict Afzal Guru, should be rejected. Nature of the crime committed is heinous and he deserves no mercy," a ministry note said. Guru was awarded the death sentence by a Delhi court on December 18, 2002 after being convicted of conspiracy to attack Parliament on December 13, 2001, waging war against the country and murder.
Noted Gandhian writer and Padmashree awardee Giriraj Kishore, who was distressed over the auction of memorabilia associated with Mahatma Gandhi, on Wednesday wrote to President Pratibha Patil wanting to return the award.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday said it will hold peaceful protests across the country against the crackdown on Baba Ramdev's agitation and meet President Pratibha Patil to demand convening of a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue.
With assembly polls in Gujarat scheduled next year, the Congress on Friday opened a new front against Chief Minister Narendra Modi by petitioning President Pratibha Patil for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged corruption of Rs 1 lakh crore during his tenure.
President Pratibha Patil has rejected the Delhi Lokayukta's recommendation to sack Delhi's Public Works Department Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan for his alleged involvement in protecting a leading resort in a tax evasion case.
With the recent ganging up of regional parties on common issues, the coming Presidential election appears set to go down to the wire unless the ruling United Progressive Alliance manages to evolve a consensus on the successor to incumbent Pratibha Patil.
The home ministry will examine on merit the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, sentenced to death for assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, and it will be submitted to President Pratibha Patil for a final decision.
Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy was on Tuesday elevated to Cabinet rank to take over as Union railway minister replacing Dinesh Trivedi, who was forced to resign after Congress caved in to Mamata Banerjee's pressure.
According high priority to infrastructure development, the government will award projects for construction of at least 7,000 km of roads this year, President Pratibha Patil said.
The government on Monday said there will be no compromise on nuclear safety or livelihood of any section of society in India's pursuit of atomic power, a statement that comes against the backdrop of anti-nuclear protests in Kudankulam and Jaitapur.
The government on Sunday rejected Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami's recommendation for removal of Navin Chawla as Election Commissioner, paving the way for his appointment to the key constitutional post. A Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said President Pratibha Patil has accepted the government recommendation for rejection of the CEC's report against Chawla and arrived at a "considered opinion".
Two Army Majors were on Friday decorated with the country's second highest peace-time gallantry medal Kirti Chakra, including one posthumously, for their bravery during counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the midst of continued stand-off between the government and civil society activists on the proposed Lokpal bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday met President Pratibha Patil and briefed her about the efforts being made to resolve the issue.
The government may come into confrontation with the Election Commission over its attempt to curb the latter's immense authority to almost take over all administration powers through the Model Code of Conduct during the elections.
"I am right", Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami said on Sunday, unfazed by the sharp criticism to his recommendation for the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla for "partisan" functioning.
The Election Commission is unlikely to press further against Law Minister Salman Khurshid after he expressed regret over his comments which were seen as "defiance" of the poll body and led to complaint against him to President Pratibha Patil.
Former telecom minister and Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam Member of Parliament A Raja is set to approach the Central Bureau of Investigation court to seek permission to attend the Budget Session of Parliament.On Wednesday, Raja received a letter from President Pratibha Patil convening the Lok Sabha from March 12, 2012.
President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday unfurled a national flag being touted as the tallest in the country at famous holy Brahamsarovar area of Kurukshetra.
The Union Budget delayed because of elections in five states will now be presented on March 16, four days after Parliament will begin its Budget session.
Jame Abraham, Bonnie Wells Wilson Distinguished Professor and Eminent Scholar in Breast Cancer Research at West Virginia University, joined the leagues of actor Amitabh Bachchan and Carnatic musician M Balamurali Krishna when he received the Vaidya Bhooshanam award from Indian President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi.
President Pratibha Patil has approved the conferment of Padma Awards 2012. This year the president has approved 109 awards including one duo case (counted as one) and 14 in the category of foreigners/non-resident Indians/ Persons of India Origin/ posthumous. These comprise five Padma Vibhushan, 27 Padma Bhushan and 77 Padma Shri Awards. There are 19 ladies among the awardees.
President Pratibha Patil has approved the conferment of Padma Awards-2012. This year the President has approved 109 awards including one duo case (counted as one) and 14 in the category of foreigners/ non-resident Indians/ Persons of Indian Origin/Posthumous. These comprise five Padma Vibhushan, 27 Padma Bhushan and 77 Padma Shri Awards. There are 19 women among the awardees.
Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, she said commencement of train services in the Kashmir Valley from Qazigund to Baramulla demonstrates the government's commitment to development of all corners of our country.
Addressing Parliament on the first day of Budget session, President Pratibha Patil said steps have already been initiated for negotiations to enter into agreements for the exchange of information with major jurisdictions.