News for 'backward communities'

Ajit Jogi: The politician who never gave up

Ajit Jogi: The politician who never gave up

Rediff.com29 May 2020

The first chief minister of Chhattisgarh, was known in the political circles as someone who never gave up despite defeats, controversies and debilitating health issues.

Infrastructure growth quintessential to boost economy: Survey

Infrastructure growth quintessential to boost economy: Survey

Rediff.com29 Jan 2021

Terming investment in infrastructure "quintessential" to boost growth, the Economic Survey on Friday said post unlocking of the economy, infra sectors are poised for growth and construction of roads is expected to return to the high pace attained before COVID-19. The infrastructure sector will be the key to overall economic growth and macroeconomic stability, the Survey said emphasising that the year after the crisis (2021-22) will require sustained and calibrated measures to facilitate the process of economic recovery and enable the economy to get back on its long-term growth trajectory. "Basic infrastructure facilities in the country provide the foundation of growth. In the absence of adequate infrastructure, the economy operates at a suboptimal level and remains distant from its potential and frontier growth trajectory.

Maya stokes Jat reservation fire in West UP

Maya stokes Jat reservation fire in West UP

Rediff.com22 Feb 2012

Virtually stroking the fire on the suddenly hyped issue of reservation to the Jat community, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Wednesday blamed the Congress-led central government for its continued dilly-dallying.

Unemployment rises across religions, social groups

Unemployment rises across religions, social groups

Rediff.com22 Feb 2019

The problem of unemployment is spread across the economy.

New Lokpal Bill tabled; MPs flay 'undue haste'

New Lokpal Bill tabled; MPs flay 'undue haste'

Rediff.com22 Dec 2011

The new Lokpal Bill was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal in Lok Sabha on Thursday after an hour-long acrimonious debate among members of various political parties.

'We are in the driver's seat in Maharashtra'

'We are in the driver's seat in Maharashtra'

Rediff.com3 Oct 2019

'The Congress-NCP is a declining force while we are a rising force.'

In Haryana, Khattar's problems stretch beyond farmers' protest

In Haryana, Khattar's problems stretch beyond farmers' protest

Rediff.com2 Aug 2021

Apart from the second pandemic upsurge in Haryana which devastated its cities and villages, in most districts panchayats stopped inviting BJP-JJP leaders to social gatherings, while a few announced a boycott.

Mamata announces sops for minorities in Bengal

Mamata announces sops for minorities in Bengal

Rediff.com14 Mar 2012

Announcing sops for minorities ahead of the panchayat elections next year in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that her government has ordered a survey for ensuring job reservation for Muslims and would also bring a bill for 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats.

BJP Dalit MP Savitribai Phule quits, says party playing divisive politics

BJP Dalit MP Savitribai Phule quits, says party playing divisive politics

Rediff.com6 Dec 2018

"Desh ke chowikdar ki pehredari mein, sansadhono ki chori karai ja rahi hai (the country's resources are being looted under the watch of the country's gateman)," she said in a derisive reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'Not just under BJP, Muslims have been feeling alienated since 1947'

'Not just under BJP, Muslims have been feeling alienated since 1947'

Rediff.com24 May 2015

Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla has rejected the contention that Muslims are feeling insecure under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led regime and said the community has felt alienated since Independence because of the policies of successive Congress governments.

Poor Marathas should get reservation: Shiv Sena

Poor Marathas should get reservation: Shiv Sena

Rediff.com19 Sep 2008

The Shiv Sena on Friday came out in support of the demand that the Maratha community be included in the Other Backward Classes category. The Marathas are considered to be the 'ruling caste' of the state, yet a demand for inclusion in OBCs has been gaining strength of late.

Haryana Cabinet clears Jat reservation bill

Haryana Cabinet clears Jat reservation bill

Rediff.com28 Mar 2016

The draft bill on reservation to Jats and four other castes was cleared at a Cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

'Nothing in 12th Five Year Plan for upliftment of Muslims'

'Nothing in 12th Five Year Plan for upliftment of Muslims'

Rediff.com12 Dec 2011

Several Muslim members of Parliament on Monday complained to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the 12th Five-Year Plan had nothing concrete in it to uplift the Muslim community. They claimed that the plan made a mockery of the prime minister's vows of "inclusive" development.

Was offered Rs 1 crore to join BJP, claims Hardik Patel's aide

Was offered Rs 1 crore to join BJP, claims Hardik Patel's aide

Rediff.com23 Oct 2017

Narendra Patel also showed bundles of cash that he said were handed over to him, at a late-night press conference on Sunday.

Hardik Patel reveals his national ambitions

Hardik Patel reveals his national ambitions

Rediff.com8 Sep 2015

The Patel quota agitation leader formed the Patel Navnirman Sena bringing together the Patels, Kurmis and Gujjars.

Haryana bans Internet, SMS following Jat protests

Haryana bans Internet, SMS following Jat protests

Rediff.com19 Feb 2016

Internet and mobile SMS services have been suspended indefinitely by authorities in Rohtak district in the wake of protests by Jat community.

Transgenders category in UPSC exam only after SC clarifies: HC told

Transgenders category in UPSC exam only after SC clarifies: HC told

Rediff.com17 Jun 2015

The govt said that once the apex court clarifies the issue, then it can frame rules for the benefit of transgenders.

Sadhvi Jyoti: The BJP minister who abused during a speech

Sadhvi Jyoti: The BJP minister who abused during a speech

Rediff.com2 Dec 2014

On Tuesday, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti kicked up a storm when she used expletives during a campaign speech in Delhi. While campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party, she called the electorate to choose between Ramzadon and h********n.

Will Yogi's citadel re-elect BJP?

Will Yogi's citadel re-elect BJP?

Rediff.com8 May 2019

Ravi Kishan, the BJP's candidate, is an outsider. The BSP-SP candidate is from the powerful Nishad community. Yogi faces a tough task in ensuring that the Gorakhpur seat, which he represented from 1998 to 2017, stays with the BJP.

Amid AMU row, BJP MP calls Jinnah a 'maha purush'

Amid AMU row, BJP MP calls Jinnah a 'maha purush'

Rediff.com11 May 2018

Savitri Bai Phule said a 'mahapurush' like Jinnah should be installed with respect... Jinnah is respected from the times of freedom struggle... His portrait is installed in the Lok Sabha... His name should be taken with respect."

Special: Dark patches mar Bihar's growth story

Special: Dark patches mar Bihar's growth story

Rediff.com31 Aug 2011

Bihar's development is not uniformly sweeping over the state. There are less visible aspects of the state's society and polity is which this wave bypasses.

Modi visits Akshardham temple, reaches out to Patels

Modi visits Akshardham temple, reaches out to Patels

Rediff.com2 Nov 2017

Modi did not speak much about politics but made a reference to the agitation by the Patels for quotas.

'Rajputs feel their rights are being snatched'

'Rajputs feel their rights are being snatched'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2018

'The Rajputs feel they are being left behind.'

Mayawati slams Centre over Jat protests

Mayawati slams Centre over Jat protests

Rediff.com19 Mar 2011

Barely 24 hours after the Allahabad high court expressed serious concern about her government's inaction to resolve the two-week old agitation by the Jat community seeking inclusion among backward castes, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has chosen to blame the Centre for the spiraling protests.Mayawati sought to take credit for removing the agitators from the railway tracks in parts of western UP, where services had been completely disrupted.

PM who advised to sell pakoda had to finally give quota: Shiv Sena

PM who advised to sell pakoda had to finally give quota: Shiv Sena

Rediff.com10 Jan 2019

'When those in power fail on the twin fronts of employment and poverty, they have to play the reservation card'

'There is no feeling of honour involved in these killings'

'There is no feeling of honour involved in these killings'

Rediff.com22 Mar 2016

'Most of those involved in these honour killings are the people who belong to the class that feels left out.' 'The high development index in a way is perpetuating conditions that result in social tension.' 'The only solution to the problem is politicise inter-caste marriages.'

Is Narendra Modi really an OBC?

Is Narendra Modi really an OBC?

Rediff.com5 Jun 2014

It is unusual to see Narendra Modi highlight his OBC status -- something he has never done in his long political career. Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com examines Modi's compulsions for bringing his caste to the foreground

FREEZE! Animals on the Prowl

FREEZE! Animals on the Prowl

Rediff.com9 Sep 2021

Take a look at some of the jaw-dropping images.

Yogi Adityanath drives BJP Hindutva campaign in eastern UP

Yogi Adityanath drives BJP Hindutva campaign in eastern UP

Rediff.com2 Mar 2017

The fifth-term Lok Sabha member is the mascot of the party's Hindutva-wrapped agenda of development as the BJP makes a final push in its bid to capture power in the state

'CM told PMO he would not be available'

'CM told PMO he would not be available'

Rediff.com15 Dec 2015

'Why do they talk about Narendra Modi insulting Oommen Chandy when he himself informed the PMO that he would not be available? Why did he write to Delhi that he was preoccupied on the 15th? After that, he should not make such noise about the function.'

RLSP chief Kushwaha resigns as minister, quits NDA

RLSP chief Kushwaha resigns as minister, quits NDA

Rediff.com10 Dec 2018

He accused Modi of reducing the cabinet to a 'rubber stamp', 'betraying' backward classes and giving Bihar only 'jumlas'.

Man took injured father to hospital on bike, sporting 'tilak'

Man took injured father to hospital on bike, sporting 'tilak'

Rediff.com27 Feb 2020

Sahil, 26, a resident of north Gonda area, says his father, Parvez Alam, 50, ran a garage and was trying to pacify people from both communities to not engage in violence.

Restore services disrupted by Jats: HC to UP govt

Restore services disrupted by Jats: HC to UP govt

Rediff.com18 Mar 2011

The ten-day agitation by the Jat community in Uttar Pradesh demanding their inclusion in the list of Other Backward Castes in government job quota received a setback on Friday with the Allahabad high court asking the Maywati administration to get into action.

'Centre should come out with a special Act for Sabarimala'

'Centre should come out with a special Act for Sabarimala'

Rediff.com31 Oct 2018

'Hindu unity is possible without any external forces playing any role if their faith is questioned.'

An arrest that bled India but gave BJP political heft

An arrest that bled India but gave BJP political heft

Rediff.com9 Nov 2019

The events that unfolded after Advani's arrest not only benefited the BJP, whose political clout grew exponentially, but also catapulted Lalu to the forefront of the anti-saffron camp.

'He will live on in the hearts and minds of lakhs of devotees'

'He will live on in the hearts and minds of lakhs of devotees'

Rediff.com28 Feb 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders condoled the death of the seer.

'Won't implement CAA if it affects even 1 in J'khand'

'Won't implement CAA if it affects even 1 in J'khand'

Rediff.com24 Dec 2019

'We will do a holistic review of the entire act and the policy at the state level and I need to be convinced that not a single Jharkhandi is uprooted from his or her home due to this law'

'Hyderabad Muslims oppose Telangana creation'

'Hyderabad Muslims oppose Telangana creation'

Rediff.com6 Jan 2011

Muslims in Hyderabad, who constitute 41 per cent of the population in the metropolis, do not want a separate state of Telangana to be created, the Srikrishna panel said noting that they would feel more secure in the larger state of united Andhra Pradesh.

Former BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya joins BJP

Former BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya joins BJP

Rediff.com8 Aug 2016

The four-time MLA and OBC leader joined the saffron party in presence of Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah.

Vikas Dubey encounter breathes new life into Opposition in UP

Vikas Dubey encounter breathes new life into Opposition in UP

Rediff.com27 Jul 2020

cution' of the Brahmins in the regime of Adityanath, a Rajput, accused of pandering to his caste's interests. Radhika Ramaseshan reports.