Assembly Elections: Congress accepts defeat in Delhi, MP, Rajastha
Congress on Sunday accepted defeat in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, saying it was disappointed with the poll outcome. "The results in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are disappointing.... We concede that we have lost there," party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said when asked about the trends. He, however, dismissed suggestions that the performance of BJP in the Assembly polls was an indication that the party could sweep the Lok Sabha elections next...

Don't blame Rahul Gandhi for Cong reverses: Jayanthi Natarajan
Do not blame Rahul Gandhi for the Congress reverses in the Assembly polls, Union Minister Jayanthi Natarajan suggested today maintaining that it was a "collective failure" and the party will introspect. "Congress is not a one man show. ...It is a collective defeat and collective failure," the Congress leader said dismissing suggestions that the Congress Vice President was to be blamed for the poor...

BJP wins MP, Raj, Cheap Wedding Dresses, AAP magic in Delhi, suspense in C'garh
 In elections seen as a "semi final" before the 2014 Lok Sabha battle, the BJP retained Madhya Pradesh and ousted the Congress in Rajasthan. The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) stunning show in Delhi pushed the Congress to a humiliating third spot, with the BJP looking set to take power despite lacking a clear majority. The Congress and the cheap wedding dresses were in a cliffhanger neck and neck race in Chhattisgarh. A humbled Congress, which had pitted its vice...

Posters demand Thiruvanchoor’s resignation
Posters demanding the resignation of Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan were seen pasted on the premises of the KPCC office here on Friday morning. The posters read: “Thiruvanchoor should stop his alliance with the Marxist party and that the worthless Minister should resign.” (sic) The posters have appeared on the giant hoardings which were near the gate of the KPCC office

PM on Modi: I take my opponents very seriously
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday disagreed with those in the Congress who were dismissive of the challenge posed by Narendra Modi but asserted that the party would approach the 2014 Lok Sabha polls with self-confidence, irrespective of the results of the just concluded elections in five states. "As it is an organised party, we cannot underestimate the power of Opposition to unsettle the ship of the state. Therefore, I am one of those who take very seriously our...

Charge sheet filed against Biju and Shalu
Police have filed a charge sheet stating that Biju Radhakrishnan and Shalu Menon had laundered Rs1 crore in the solar scam case. The special investigation team filed the charged sheet at Thiruvananthapuram Judicial first class magistrate court. They have added Shalu Menon's mother Kala Devi as an accused in the charge sheet. They have also accused her of protecting Biju even when he was being investigated in the solar scam case. Identity theft, deceitfulness, plotting are some...

Thiruvanchoor must resign: Muraleedharan
K Muraleedharan MLA said that  Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan must  resign from his current position. He said that the Chief Minister must take over as the  Home Minister as otherwise the party would face  serious repercussions in the forthcoming Lok Sabha  elections. He also added that Thiruvanchoor should be given  some other department and that the DGP's claims have  tainted the Home Ministry.

Dalai Lama sorry he missed meeting Nelson Mandela in 2011
Two years ago, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama called off a trip to South Africa as it was "inconvenient" for that country's government to grant him a visa and missed a chance to meet Nelson Mandela again. After cancelling his trip in October 2011, the Dalai Lama, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, had said: "I am very sad and very much (hoped) to see Nelson Mandela, who is now very old. So now I doubt whether I can have another occasion to meet...

Nelson Mandela — Global statesman and peace icon
The government on Friday announced a five-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Nelson Mandela. A decision to this effect was taken at a special meeting of the Union Cabinet, which condoled the death of the anti-apartheid icon. "Mandela was the tallest leader of not only his generation but possibly this entire paradigm. The role that he personally played in dismantling the apartheid is something exemplary," information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said...

5-day state mourning in India as a mark of respect to Nelson Mandela
The government on Friday announced a five-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Nelson Mandela. A decision to this effect was taken at a special meeting of the Union Cabinet, which condoled the death of the anti-apartheid icon. "Mandela was the tallest leader of not only his generation but possibly this entire paradigm. The role that he personally played in dismantling the apartheid is something exemplary," information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said...

Delhi Polls: Confident of results, says Arvind Kejriwal
Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said he was "confident of the results" after casting his vote in New Delhi assembly constituency. "I am very confident of the results. It will not be my victory but that of the people," said Kejriwal. AAP leader Manish Sisodia too cast his vote in Patparganj.

Communal Violence Bill a recipe for disaster, Narendra Modi to PM
Questioning the timing of bringing the Communal Violence Bill, Narendra Modi on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, describing the proposed legislation as "ill-conceived, poorly drafted and a recipe for disaster". Terming the bill as an attempt to encroach upon the domain of states, the BJP's PM candidate sought wider consultations among various stakeholders, such as state governments, political parties, police and security agencies, before making any move on...

Government seeks consensus on important legislation: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday that the government aims to get broad consensus on all matters of legislative importance. “It will be our effort to get broad-based consensus on all matters which are of great legislative importance,” the prime minister said in response to a question about BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s opposition to the bill against communal violence. Talking to the reporters before the winter session of parliament began,...

More proof show T P murder accused used phones in jail
More evidences have come up, which corroborated the allegations that the under trials in the T P Chandrasekharan murder case had used mobile phones inside the jail itself. Police have located the tower of the mobile phone network nearer to Kozhikode jail. Police have got the information that Kodi Suni and his gang had used 11 SIM cards on different occasions. The probe has revealed that the four mobile phone numbers used by the murderers of RMP Leader T P Chandrasekharan were under the...

Troops pullout can resolve Siachen issue: Pakistan
Pakistan thursday said the Siachen issue can be resolved through bilateral withdrawal of troops, a media report said. Siachen Glacier in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir is known as the highest battlefield in the world where Indian and Pakistani troops are stationed round the year to protect their respective positions. During a weekly briefing here, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the Siachen issue could be resolved through bilateral withdrawal of...

Omar challenges Modi to debate on Art 370 'anytime, anywhere'
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today threw a challenge to BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, saying he was ready for a debate on Article 370 "anytime, anywhere". "If they want a debate on Article 370 with me, let them tell me where and when they want to talk about it. Even if they want to hold the debate in Ahmedabad, we are ready for the debate anytime," Omar said at public rally in Jammu. He was reacting to the Gujarat chief...

Delhi votes today in triangular contest to seal fate of Cong, BJP and AAP
Seeking a fourth consecutive term in office, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit faces an acid test Wednesday when Delhi votes for a new Assembly. Over four lakh of the 1.2 crore voters will be going to the booths for the first time. Dikshit and her Congress party are up against not just traditional rival BJP but also the untested Aam Aadmi Party. It is the entry of this third party that has queered the pitch in Delhi with many wondering whether the AAP will just be a spoiler or win some...

Sheila Dikshit attacks Narendra Modi on last day of campaigning
Dikshit said the Congress government would not have been elected had it destroyed the city - a charge often made by opposition parties. On the last day of her political campaigning for the Delhi assembly polls, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Monday criticised the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for "misleading people by telling lies". Without referring to Modi directly, the three-time chief minister said: "I have answers to all the claims...

HC raps Vigilance approach in Salim Raj land grab case
 Kerala High Court on Friday criticised the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for taking the court order lightly regarding the questioning of Salim Raj in the land grab cases. The court also asked the state to find out who were the police officials deployed in Alappuzha  region during 2005,  who were allegedly involved in a crime committed by Saritha S. Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan. Justice Harun ul Rashid passed the order on a plea alleging another fraud committed...

Thiruvanchoor must be removed as Home Minister: Sudhakaran
Alleging that Congress party workers were "disappointed" with the Home Department, senior leader K Sudhakaran, MP, Tuesday demanded the removal of Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as Home Minister. Speaking to reporters here, Sudhakaran alleged that Thiruvanchoor should correct his "mistakes" and if he was not prepared to do that, Congress party and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should take a decision to remove him from the post. He alleged that the murder cases of...

Bangalore blasts accused Abdul Nasser Madani shifted to private hospital
Complying with the Supreme Court directive, Karnataka government on Tuesday shifted jailed Kerala-based PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, a key accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case, to a private hospital here for treatment. The apex court on November 18 directed the Karnataka government to shift Madani to Manipal Hospital, subject to the hospital agreeing to take him as a patient for treatment. Ever since his arrest in August 2010 in connection with the Bangalore bomb blast...

Preparations completed for fair, peaceful polls: Delhi EC
 Delhi Election Commission today said it was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair and peaceful election to the 70-member state assembly tomorrow. "We have completed all the preparations to conduct free and fair election on December 4 in safe environment," said Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev. A total of 1.19 crore electorates, including over 4.05 lakh first time voters, will be eligible to exercise their franchise tomorrow for 70 assembly constituencies of...

Kerala Faced Power Shortage of 300 MW During Peak Hours
The state faced a shortage of 300 MW during peak evening hours on Sunday even though the KSEB managed to obtain 250 MW each from the Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project (RGCCPP), Kayamkulam, and the Power Exchange to make up for the shortage in supply caused by the shut-down of the Moolamattam power station in Idukki. “The state also received well below its quota of central share on Sunday also due to the labour strike in the Mahanadi coal fields in Orissa,” KSEB...

Correct Flaws in Kasturirangan Report: Chandy
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the Kasturirangan panel report on the Western Ghats should be amended, correcting procedural lapses and giving practical exemptions to places considering the ground realities there.       Inaugurating a seminar on "Kasturirangan Report: An Evaluation", organised by the Kerala Wildlife Department and Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) here, he said conservation initiatives should be...

Tarun Tejpal's potency test positive
 Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal, arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman journalist, on Monday underwent a potency test which came out positive. Officials at Goa Medical College, where he was brought for the potency test that is mandatory in sexual assault cases, said that the examination fetched positive result. 50-year-old Tejpal was subjected to various other tests, including blood test, at the college's forensic department near here. He was...

Chennithala slams handling of TP murder case
KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala on Monday slammed the Home Ministry over the 'casual handling' of the accused in the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T P Chandrasekharan murder case. “The recent developments should be seen with utmost seriousness. The Home Ministry could have handled the case in a bit more careful way,” said Ramesh Chennithala. “It is the responsibility of the government to make sure that the killers of the RMP leader is brought to...

TP Chandrashekaran murder accused active on Facebook from jail
 Accused in the TP Chandrashekaran murder case, who are in the Kozhikode District Jail, have been found sharing posts and uploading their pictures on Facebook. The most active among the seven-member gang arrested for hacking Chandrashekaran on May 4, 2012, are second accused Kirmani Manoj and fifth accused Mohammed Shafi. The last post shared by Manoj was on Sunday at 1.12 pm. The pictures in Manoj's Facebook profile allegedly inside the jail premises show that the accused are...

Ministry for juveniles in heinous crimes to be tried as adults
In a significant move, Women and Child Development Ministry has proposed that juveniles above 16 years of age involved in heinous crimes like murder or gang rape should be tried as adults under the Indian Penal Code. The proposal is part of a draft note being prepared by the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry for Cabinet nod, sources said here. "The proposal is expected to be finalised in next few days," they added.   The proposal is significant...

Metro-North train derailed in New York City
A Metro-North train derailed in New York City Sunday morning, killing four people on board and scattering rail cars near the water's edge, authorities said. The southbound diesel train on the Hudson line derailed about 100 yards from the Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx at about 7:30 a.m.         Three of the dead were thrown out of the train as it "came off the track and was twisting and turning," New York Fire Department Chief Edward...

Anti-rape law will ensure action on perpetrators: Meira Kumar
The newly introduced stringent anti-rape legislation will serve as a deterrent to perpetrators of crimes against women and invite action against them, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Sunday said. "Last December, we introduced a Bill for violence issues related to women...and this very stringent law will now ensure that offenders will know that their acts could and will invite action on them," Kumar said. The Lok Sabha Speaker was talking to reporters on the sidelines of...