Politics

Sonia Used Rahul for Damage Control on Controversial Ordinance, Says LK Advani

Bharatiya Janata Party veteran L K Advani credited President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday for the withdrawal of the controversial ordinance on convicted legislators and slammed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for 'rubbing off the authority' of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Oct 4, 2013

India, Belgium agree to deepen economic ties in critical areas

Brussels, Oct 04 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee, met Belgium Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo, in Brussels on Friday during his six-day visit to Europe, and signed an agreement to deepen economic ties in critical areas of infrastructure, nuclear energy, Information Technology and higher education. Mukherjee arrived in Brussels with an aim to enhance educational and cultural exchange between the two countries. In a rare gesture, King Philippe of Belgium received Mukherjee at the airport on Wednesday, when he began his first leg of the tour from Belgium. This is significant at a time when India is trying to attract more investments in infrastructure to deal with its weak external sector situation.

Oct 4, 2013

BJP doesn't want Rahul Gandhi to get credit for the ordinance: Congress

New Delhi, Oct 04 (ANI): Even as veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani wrote in his blog that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had used party Vice President, Rahul Gandhi to save the party from embarrassment over the ordinance on lawmakers after knowing President Pranab Mukherjee's mind, Congress leader Rashid Alvi, said that the BJP doesn't want Rahul Gandhi to get credit for the ordinance.

Oct 4, 2013

'Hurt' Pallam Raju quits as HRD Minister over Telangana

New Delhi, Oct 04 (ANI): Deeply hurt Union Minister for Human Resources Development Pallam Raju on Friday said that he would be tendering his resignation over the Union Cabinet's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, a decision he said was taken rather in haste.

Oct 4, 2013

Formation of Telangana triggers protest; four cabinet ministers quit

Vishakhapatnam/Hyderabad/ New Delhi, Oct 04 (ANI): The formation of the new state of Telangana from the unified state of Andhra Pradesh has prompted four Union Cabinet Ministers to resign and triggered protests by certain groups. Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi has resigned from his post in protest against the Union Cabinet's approval of the formation of a separate Telangana state. Three other Union Ministers MM Pallam Raju, KS Rao and Surya Prakash Reddy have also offered to resign. Meanwhile, TDP leader, Chandrababu Naidu, said that people were unhappy with the decision and were protesting but the government has taken a unanimous decision without paying heed to the issues of the people.

Oct 4, 2013

Jammu and Kashmir Infiltration: What's the use of talks with inefficient Pak govt, asks BJP

New Delhi, Oct 04 (ANI): After the Indian Army on Friday morning foiled an infiltration bid in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha asked the government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh what is the significance of talks with the Pakistan government who is inefficient in tackling terrorists and its army itself. He further said that the attacks were on even when PM was to visit Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and the talk should have been avoided.

Oct 4, 2013

Telangana Row: Jaganmohan Reddy to go on indefinite fast from Saturday

Hyderabad, Oct 4 (ANI): YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday said that he would go on an indefinite fast from Saturday to protest centre's decision to bifurcate Andha Pradesh. Reddy demanded the resignation of Seemandhra MPs and ministers, and requested them to join the protest for United Andhra Pradesh.

Oct 4, 2013

No going back on Telangana: Digvijay Singh

Indore, Oct 04 (ANI): Even as at least six central ministers from Seemandhra region have resigned to protest against the Union Cabinet's decision to create a separate Telangana state from the existing state of Andhra Pradesh, AICC general-secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday said that TDP and YSR Congress had earlier agreed for formation of Telangana and now are changing their words but the government cant take back the decision.

Oct 4, 2013

Telangana: Jagan to Go on 'Fast unto Death' over Cabinet Nod

After calling for a 72-hour shutdown, YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy will go on an 'indefinite fast' on Saturday in support of the 'United Andhra' cause.

Oct 4, 2013

Residents face brunt of cross-border shelling in Kashmir

Chowkibal, Oct 04 (ANI): Locals in Kashmir on Friday said that they were facing the brunt of cross-border shelling as military fought the biggest group of infiltrators in Kashmir trying to cross from Pakistan in years. Some 30 to 40 heavily armed fighters have crossed the Line of Control dividing Kashmir between the rival nations in the Keran sector and are holed up for the past nine days in thick forests in the area. A resident, Abdul Rashid Mir, expressed his ire over the ongoing gun battle which has added to their woes. Another resident, Omar Rashid Lone, called for peace in the province and said that talks can resolve the long-pending Kashmir issue.

Oct 4, 2013

Pranab not Rahul saved Cong's face, blogs Advani; BJP defends same

Allahabad, Oct 04 (ANI): Even as veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani wrote in his blog that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had used party Vice President, Rahul Gandhi to save the party from embarrassment over the ordinance on lawmakers after knowing President Pranab Mukherjee's mind, the BJP on Friday defended the same.

Oct 4, 2013

Rage of sentiments and emotions over Telangana is normal: Shinde

New Delhi, Oct 04 (ANI): Even as the Union Cabinet gave an approval for the formation of a separate Telangana state, Home Minister, Sushilkumar Shinde on Friday said that rage of sentiments and emotions over the issue was normal.

Oct 4, 2013

Suspect killed after car chase, shots fired at U.S. Capitol

Washington DC, Oct 04 (ANI): A female suspect who triggered lengthy car chase by the police from the White House to Capitol Hill on Thursday afternoon was struck by gunfire and pronounced dead, local police chief confirmed. Police said the black car that the suspect was driving struck a White House security barrier at first and then triggered the car chase and gunshots. The female suspect was struck by the gunfire and pronounced dead, said DC Metropolitan Chief Cathy Lanier. US Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine confirmed a one-year-old child was in the car at the time of the incident. The child was said to be in good condition.

Oct 4, 2013

Rahul stands by his sentiments on Ordinance, admits words chosen were wrong

New Delhi, Oct 4 (ANI): Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi admitted that the words he used to describe the government's Ordinance on convicted lawmakers were probably inappropriate, but emphasized that his sentiments were right. He told the mediapersons that his mother and Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi had told him that the words he used were strong and therefore he regretted his words but stood by his sentiments. Rahul said this while on his two-day visit to Gujarat which started on Thursday. Rahul's 'nonsense' remark on September 27 over the Ordinance on convicted politicians brought a huge criticism from the opposition who said that Gandhi had not only insulted his own party but also the prime minister of the country.

Oct 4, 2013

TRS chief K T Rama Rao welcomes Cabinet's nod to Telangana

Hyderabad, Oct 03 (ANI): Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K T Rama Rao welcomed the Union Cabinet's approval on the formation of Telangana from the existing state of Andhra Pradesh, and said that there is no problem in having two Telugu speaking states in the country. Earlier, the Union Cabinet approved the formation of Telangana from the existing state of Andhra Pradesh and that Hyderabad would be the joint capital for the next ten years.

Oct 4, 2013