In seniority in the BJP leadership team, V K Malhotra, who passed into the ages this week, was next only to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Nanaji Deshmukh, notes Sudhir Bisht.
The Centre recently released the first advance estimates of kharif crops that, barring tur dal, showed a dip in production due to uneven monsoon and other natural calamities including pest attacks in cotton. The first Advance Estimates, released a few weeks back, are usually initial projections on the crop size and, more often than not, are revised as more inputs come from the fields. But, the findings have rung alarm bells in several quarters. The Centre, along with many others, is confident that as more details come, the estimates will be revised upwards.
It was a unique celebration; there is no other instance where Harijans were feted to celebrate India's Independence, says Prakash Bhandari.
Several sculptures of gods and goddesses along with other structures related to Hindu motifs were seen in the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, said advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was appointed commissioner by a Varanasi court to survey the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex but was later removed for leaking the information.
The Hindu side had claimed in the lower court that a Shivling was found during the videographic survey.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has achieved a major breakthrough in the Bhanwari Devi case with the arrest of Kailash Jakhar, who is alleged to have disposed off her body.
'Both Mulayam Singh and Mayawati have done no work. Their MLAs disappear after the election and don't show up in five years. Now they are back, folding their hands and touching our feet, asking for our votes.' Jyoti Malhotra gauges the mood in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
A young delivery boy has married two sisters, one of them handicapped, in Lucknow with the blessings of his parents and those of the girls'.
A court in Hisar on Tuesday extended the police remand of Satlok Ashram head Rampal by six days in connection with fresh cases slapped against him.
"Centre and state will soon begin the process of giving reservation, following the Delhi High court order," Khattar told reporters in a joint press conference along with All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti chairperson Yashpal Malik.
Nehru decided to build The Ashok in New Delhi to host a UNESCO conference. For a prime minister focussed on India building with projects like the Bhakra-Nangal Dam, IITs and factories, "the hotel spoke of the gumption of the country at that time." Manavi Kapur traces the eventful journey of the hotel, which has now completed 60 years.
Incidents of arson, firing and vandalism were reported from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab as protesters agitated against the dilution of the SC/ST Act.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances