News for 'vika'

Shajahanpur's mosques are covered up for 'Juta Maar Holi'

Shajahanpur's mosques are covered up for 'Juta Maar Holi'

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

Shahjahanpur is preparing for its unique 'Laat Saheb' Holi procession, a tradition where revellers hurl footwear at a man impersonating a British Lord. Security has been heightened, mosques covered, and preventive measures taken to ensure a peaceful celebration.

Budget proposes Rs 10,000 cr investment in biopharma over next 5 years

Budget proposes Rs 10,000 cr investment in biopharma over next 5 years

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed Rs 10,000 crore investment in the biopharma sector over the next five years, a move which would give a boost to the country's pharmaceuticals industry.

Four of family among 6 killed in wild elephants' attack in Jharkhand

Four of family among 6 killed in wild elephants' attack in Jharkhand

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

Six people, including four members of a family, were trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in Hazaribag district, Jharkhand. The elephants had been roaming the area for days, and villagers were warned, but attempts to flee proved fatal. Compensation has been initiated for the victims' families.

SC quashes caste-based violence charges against VYAPAM scam whistleblower

SC quashes caste-based violence charges against VYAPAM scam whistleblower

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has quashed charges of caste-based violence against Anand Rai, a whistleblower in the Madhya Pradesh VYAPAM examination scam, overturning a high court order.

Maha scraps 5% Muslim quota in jobs, education; Oppn slams move

Maha scraps 5% Muslim quota in jobs, education; Oppn slams move

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

The previous Congress-NCP government had issued an ordinance to grant a 16 per cent quota to Marathas and five per cent to Muslims.

What Sushma Seth, 89, Is Doing These Days

What Sushma Seth, 89, Is Doing These Days

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

'Despite acting in some 100 films and television plays, people still remember the daadi of Hum Log.'

Mahayuti landslide in Maha zilla parishad polls; BJP leads charge

Mahayuti landslide in Maha zilla parishad polls; BJP leads charge

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

The BJP and Shiv Sena are leading in the early trends of the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls in Maharashtra. Counting began on Monday morning for elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis.

Single On Valentine's Day? Must Watch These Films

Single On Valentine's Day? Must Watch These Films

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Deepa Gahlot picks 10 must-watch movies about singles and the consciously uncoupled.

Biker dies after falling into 15-feet-deep pit dug by DJB in Delhi

Biker dies after falling into 15-feet-deep pit dug by DJB in Delhi

Rediff.com6 Feb 2026

This incident comes weeks after the death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, who drowned after his car fell into a waterlogged pit near a construction site in Noida Sector 150 on the intervening night of January 16 and 17.

SC prders police to ensure lawyer appears in defamation case

SC prders police to ensure lawyer appears in defamation case

Rediff.com6 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi police commissioner to ensure the appearance of lawyer Mukut Nath Verma, who is accused of making defamatory allegations against Supreme Court judges and members of the SCBA election committee. The court has previously issued bailable warrants against Verma, but police have been unable to locate him.

Ba***ds of Bollywood: Sameer Wankhede allowed to sue makers in Mumbai

Ba***ds of Bollywood: Sameer Wankhede allowed to sue makers in Mumbai

Rediff.com3 Feb 2026

The Delhi High Court has permitted IRS officer Sameer Wankhede to move a court in Mumbai with his defamation lawsuit against Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment over the web series "The Ba***ds of Bollywood."

10 Horror Movies On OTT: Friday The 13th Special!

10 Horror Movies On OTT: Friday The 13th Special!

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

Deepa Gahlot picks 10 Bollywood horror flicks to mark Friday the 13th.

Shinde-Uddhav Senas join hands against BJP in Maha ZP poll

Shinde-Uddhav Senas join hands against BJP in Maha ZP poll

Rediff.com6 Feb 2026

In a surprising turn, rival Shiv Sena factions led by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray have joined forces with NCP factions to contest local elections in Maharashtra's Barshi taluka, setting aside political differences.

Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27

Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27

'We Are A Secular Party': I.S.L.A.M. Party Leader

'We Are A Secular Party': I.S.L.A.M. Party Leader

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

'Of course, we are secular. Three of our Hindu brothers have won seats from our party. Tell me where AIMIM has managed that.'

Citizenship complaint politically motivated: Sonia Gandhi's counsel

Citizenship complaint politically motivated: Sonia Gandhi's counsel

Rediff.com7 Feb 2026

Sonia Gandhi's counsel argued in a Delhi court that a complaint alleging she was included in the electoral roll before acquiring Indian citizenship was politically motivated.

Kamra, Andhare to face privileges committee over Shinde remarks

Kamra, Andhare to face privileges committee over Shinde remarks

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

Maharashtra legislative council's privileges committee has summoned comedian Kunal Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare for a hearing over alleged insulting remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The hearing has been rescheduled to February 17 after both expressed their inability to attend the initial date.

Sharad Pawar's NCP 'in touch' with BJP in Sangli, Akola

Sharad Pawar's NCP 'in touch' with BJP in Sangli, Akola

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

As the Bharatiya Janata Party is falling short of a majority in the municipal corporations of Sangli and Akola in Maharashtra and needs the support of other parties or elected members, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar has emerged as one of the decisive factors with three seats in its kitty in each civic body.

Rupee Logs 7-Year Best Day...

Rupee Logs 7-Year Best Day...

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

The rupee, which was the worst performing Asian currency in 2025 and also in January, was the best performing Asian currency on Tuesday.

'I Don't Want To Let Down The Economy...'

'I Don't Want To Let Down The Economy...'

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

'This Budget has a one-year agenda, which you can call the sprint, and the marathon is towards Viksit Bharat.'

Nirmala Sitharaman: 'Focus Of Budget Was To Keep Stable Growth Going'

Nirmala Sitharaman: 'Focus Of Budget Was To Keep Stable Growth Going'

Rediff.com6 Feb 2026

'We kept this Budget on a larger plank, rather than on one incident, however serious.'

Maha civic results may trigger MVA churn as Cong pulls ahead

Maha civic results may trigger MVA churn as Cong pulls ahead

Rediff.com18 Jan 2026

With the Congress coming third overall and having done much better than Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP-SP, its allies in Maha Vikas Aghadi, political analysts said it will force a rethink as far as coordination, seat-sharing and leadership are concerned ahead of the 2029 assembly polls.

Cong, BJP both stake claim to Chandrapur mayor's post

Cong, BJP both stake claim to Chandrapur mayor's post

Rediff.com20 Jan 2026

Following a hung result in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation elections, both the Congress and BJP are claiming they will secure the Mayor's position. Congress emerged as the single largest party, but the BJP claims to have support from Congress corporators.

Will two NCP factions merge after Ajit Pawar's death?

Will two NCP factions merge after Ajit Pawar's death?

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

The talks about the reunification had already started when Ajit Pawar was alive. In fact, the two parties even contested the civic polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together.

Nirmala Sitharaman: 'Prime Minister Modi Does Not Tolerate Gaming Of The System'

Nirmala Sitharaman: 'Prime Minister Modi Does Not Tolerate Gaming Of The System'

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

'Grassroots-level corruption, which disrupts the last-mile work, cannot be ignored in your enthusiasm and drive to get going to complete the project.' 'Like it was in MGNREGA, in some states, it is the case with the Jal Jeevan mission.' 'The last minute levels of corruption can ruin the intent of the project itself.' 'When you see that people can game a particular well-intended and well-crafted project, you need to correct that.'

Ambernath election: HC terms NCP's side-switching as 'globe-trotting'

Ambernath election: HC terms NCP's side-switching as 'globe-trotting'

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

The Bombay High Court criticized the shifting allegiances of NCP members in the Ambernath Municipal Council, referring to it as "globe-trotting," while addressing orders related to alliances within the civic body.

'NCP Workers Make Ajit Pawar THE Ajit Pawar'

'NCP Workers Make Ajit Pawar THE Ajit Pawar'

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Ajit Pawar granted Rediff an interview in Baramati at 6 am. Why? 'To be a successful politician one needs to sleep less, and I never sleep for more than 4 hours' Ajit Pawar told Syed Firdaus Ashraf as Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff captured the encounter on his camera.

Fragmented opposition hands BJP its first shot at BMC

Fragmented opposition hands BJP its first shot at BMC

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

Multi-cornered contests, deep divisions within the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, reflected in the Congress and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray fighting separately and lack of a robust plan among its rivals helped the Bharatiya Janata Party in Mumbai polls as it looks poised to rule India's richest civic body for the first time.

What Happens To NCP After Ajit Pawar's Death?

What Happens To NCP After Ajit Pawar's Death?

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

With Ajit Pawar's passing, the 40 MLAs who remain will now have to decide whether they want to continue in Mahayuti in the company of the BJP and Shiv Sena -- or return to the Sharad Pawar fold.

Union Budget 2026: Sitharaman tries to cover all bases, leaves out markets

Union Budget 2026: Sitharaman tries to cover all bases, leaves out markets

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Budget 2026 sticks to fiscal discipline, shuns populist measures despite five key state elections coming up, but ends up rattling stock markets with a higher transaction tax on derivatives trading.

Pune civic polls: Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule share stage

Pune civic polls: Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule share stage

Rediff.com10 Jan 2026

The Nationalist Congress Party, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar, headed by his uncle Sharad Pawar, on Saturday released a joint manifesto for the upcoming elections to the Pune municipal corporation.

Fadnavis fumes as local BJP units tie up with Congress, AIMIM

Fadnavis fumes as local BJP units tie up with Congress, AIMIM

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

The Bharatiya Janata Party has entered into post-poll alliances with rivals Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in some municipal councils in Maharashtra, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday rejected the tie-ups and warned of action against party leaders involved.

Thackerays or BJP+Sena? Counting begins for Maha civic polls

Thackerays or BJP+Sena? Counting begins for Maha civic polls

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

Counting of votes has begun in the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections, with a focus on the Mumbai battle between the BJP-led alliance and the Thackeray factions.

Maha votes in civic body polls, all eyes on Mumbai

Maha votes in civic body polls, all eyes on Mumbai

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

Polling for 2,869 seats spread across 893 wards in these municipal corporations began amid tight security at 7.30 am and will conclude at 5.30 pm. A total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates.

Republic Day parade to see next-gen Army officers leading contingents

Republic Day parade to see next-gen Army officers leading contingents

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

Army officers share their experiences and details about the contingents and displays that will be part of the Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path.

New twist in Ambernath: Now, Sena-NCP unite to keep BJP out

New twist in Ambernath: Now, Sena-NCP unite to keep BJP out

Rediff.com9 Jan 2026

Shiv Sena and NCP form an alliance with an independent member to stake claim to rule the Ambernath Municipal Council, keeping the BJP away from power.

BMC results: Congress reduced to marginal force

BMC results: Congress reduced to marginal force

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

The Congress party experienced a significant decline in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, winning a mere 15 seats out of 227. Analysts attribute the poor performance to strategic missteps, infighting, and a failure to connect with voters amidst linguistic and religious polarization.

Ranji Trophy: Siraj picks four-fer for Hyderabad against Chhattisgarh

Ranji Trophy: Siraj picks four-fer for Hyderabad against Chhattisgarh

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Mohammed Siraj returned 17-3-56-4 to help Hyderabad bowl Chhattisgarh out for 283 on Day 1 of their Group D Ranji Trophy contest, in Hyderabad, on Thursday.

Ranji Trophy: MP trounce Maharashtra, enter quarters

Ranji Trophy: MP trounce Maharashtra, enter quarters

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Ranji Trophy: MP enter quarterfinals; Saurashtra on brink of qualification

Congress suspends 12 councillors for tieup with BJP in Maharashtra

Congress suspends 12 councillors for tieup with BJP in Maharashtra

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

The Congress party has suspended 12 newly-elected councillors in Maharashtra's Ambernath Municipal Council and its block president for forming an alliance with the BJP after recent civic polls. The BJP, along with the Congress and NCP, secured a majority in the council, despite Shiv Sena being the single largest party.