Activist criticises politicians for supporting khaps
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) A woman activist Wednesday criticised politicians who directly or indirectly support the diktats of khap panchayats against same gotra marriages.

Speaking on 'honour killings' during a lecture at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) here, Jagmati Sangwan, president of the Haryana unit of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), said politicians should refrain from supporting the khaps.

Targeting leaders like former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and MP Naveen Jindal, she ... Read More

Restrictions in Kashmir to prevent separatist protests
Srinagar, July 28 (IANS) Restrictions were again imposed in Srinagar and other towns in the Kashmir Valley Wednesday to prevent separatist sit-ins and protests, authorities said.

Separatist Hurriyat group leader Syed Ali Geelani has asked people to protest alleged human rights violations by the security forces in Kashmir.

“Areas in the old city and some parts of uptown Srinagar have been placed under restrictions to prevent violence by anti-social elements. Restrictions have also been imposed in ... Read More

Haryana's grassroots democracy scores many firsts
By Jaideep Sarin

Kurukshetra (Haryana), July 28 (IANS) When nearly 68,000 elected representatives, including 24,800 women, from Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) stood up in this Haryana town to take their oath, it was the first time such a huge congregation had gathered to be part of India's grand experiment in democratic devolution.

And Haryana's panchayat polls this year had many other firsts too.

To start with, the elections saw the highest number of candidates entering the fray ... Read More

Pawar takes backseat as opposition demands adjournment motion on price rise
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday took a backseat as MPs debated whether the Lok Sabha should allow adjournment motions, which entail voting, moved by the opposition over the rising food prices.

Pawar, whose ministry has a major role to play in arresting the rising prices, was not present in the first leg of the debate that began soon after the house proceedings started at 11 a.m.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ... Read More

CBI quizzes Amit Shah in Ahmedabad jail
Ahmedabad, July 28 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Wednesday began questioning former Gujarat minister Amit Shah here in connection with the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout.

"The CBI has begun questioning Amit Shah," an official said. The questioning was done at the Sabarmati Jail.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's close aide Shah was arrested here Tuesday after he surfaced at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) press conference in Gandhinagar. He ... Read More

Chhattisgarh tense as Maoist 'Martyrs Week' begins
Raipur, July 28 (IANS) Security was heightened as a 'Martyrs' Week' called by the Maoists began Wednesday in their Bastar stronghold in Chhattisgarh amid fears of attacks in the region.

"Security has always been in top gear in the entire 40,000 sq km in the Bastar region, but it has been further scaled up in view of the martyrs week as the rebels will try their best to damage government property and terrorize civilians," T.J. Longkumer, ... Read More

High court notice to Varun Gandhi in defamation case
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi in a defamation case filed by his uncle V.M. Singh.

Gandhi was asked by Justice Aruna Sureesh to file his reply by July 30.

Gandhi and Singh were pitted against each other in the 2009 general elections in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. Singh, who was among the wealthiest candidates in the election, is a first cousin ... Read More

Speaker allows debate on adjournment motion
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Wednesday allowed MPs to debate on whether the house should allow the adjournment notices, which entail voting, moved by opposition members over the rising prices of essential commodities. An adjournment motion is seen as an instrument of censure against the government's policies.

After a brief commotion and protests by a united opposition, Meira Kumar said she was allowing the members who had given her adjournment notices ... Read More

Tripura provides more power to tribal council
Agartala, July 28 (IANS) Tripura has decided to hand over seven more departments to the tribal autonomous district council as part of efforts to provide more autonomy to tribals, a minister said here Wednesday.

"Earlier we had given five departments to the TTAADC (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council). Now we have decided to give seven more to the autonomous body," Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma told reporters.

"The Left Front government has been committed ... Read More

Speaker's decision unfortunate: BJP
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday termed as “unfortunate� Speaker Meira Kumar's decision against allowing an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on the price rise, saying the verdict will cause disappointment to the common man.

“This is an unfortunate decision. The common man was hoping that he will get some relief (from the price rise). This decision will cause him a setback and is a disappointment,� senior BJP ... Read More

Left MPs to hold sit-in at Parliament House Thursday
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) MPs from Left parties would demonstrate against increasing prices at the main gate of Parliament House Thursday.

"We will continue our agitation both inside and outside parliament. We will hold a dharna (sit in) at the main gate of Parliament House tomorrow (Thursday)," Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Das Gupta said Wednesday.

Left leaders also criticised Speaker Meira Kumar for not allowing the adjournment motion in Lok Sabha over ... Read More

Kamat misled Pawar about evidence against me: Pacheco
Panaji, July 28 (IANS) Declaring that he would resign if the charges against him in a murder case were proven, former Goa minister Miccky Pacheco Wednesday blamed Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for misleading NCP chief Sharad Pawar about the "clinching evidence" against him.

The former tourism minister and Nationalist Congress Party legislator, who was arrested in connection with the suspicious death of his 28-year-old alleged girlfriend on July 8, was subsequently released and attended the monsoon ... Read More

Mulayam and I not afraid of CBI: Lalu
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Wednesday said he and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav are not afraid of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

Lalu Prasad, while participating in the discussion on the admissibility of the adjournment motion on price rise in the Lok Sabha, reminded both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership not to threaten him and Mulayam Singh Yadav in the name ... Read More

500 Maoist attacks, 350 people killed in three months
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Maoist rebels have carried out at least 500 attacks killing nearly 350 people in nine states in the last three months, with Chhattisgarh recording the highest number of such strikes, parliament was told Wednesday.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken told the Rajya Sabha that 140 violent incidents were reported from Chhattisgarh, 111 from Jharkhand, 88 from West Bengal, 78 from Bihar and 43 in Orissa.

At least 20 ... Read More

ULFA militant, aide held in Meghalaya
Shillong, July 28 (IANS) A militant of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and an aide of the group were arrested in separate incidents Wednesday by Border Security Force (BSF) troopers along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, officials said.

“Columbus M. Marak, a hardcore ULFA, was detained from Hathimara village while trying to infiltrate into India from Bangladesh,� BSF spokesman Ravi Gandhi said.

In a separate incident, an aide of the outfit, Golzim A. ... Read More

Punish officials for proxy attendance in panchayats: Panel
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Taking serious note of instances of panchayats being run by spouses or close relatives of elected women representatives (EWRs), a parliamentary panel has recommended departmental action against government officials allowing proxy attendance in meetings of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

The Standing Committee on Rural Development, in its report tabled in the Lok Sabha Wednesday on The Constitution (One Hundred and Tenth Amendment) Bill, 2009' relating to Panchayati Raj ministry, said ... Read More

Violence will not solve problems, Abdullah tells people
Srinagar, July 28 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday said violence had not provided an answer to problems in the past nor would it do so in future and stressed that shutdowns the state has seen in the last month would only cause public inconvenience and hamper children's education.

"When effective democratic means are available to register protests and put one's viewpoint across, there is no reason for perpetrating violence and putting general ... Read More

Need to control Hindu terror groups: Yechury
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Warning against the growing network of Hindutva terror groups, Communist party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury Wednesday said the government and security agencies must take firm action against such groups.

“The government will have to take firm action against these groups which are promoting Hindutva terror,� Yechury said on the sidelines of a symposium on Hindutva terror groups organised by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust here.

Talking about the alleged links ... Read More

Uttar Pradesh official's remark raises political storm
Lucknow, July 28 (IANS) Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday demanded action against a district magistrate (DM) who allegedly made some controversial remarks during a meeting to review a housing scheme for poor.

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and Allahabad District Magistrate Sanjay Prasad allegedly discussed the number of votes the state's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party would win by executing the housing scheme during a meeting attended by senior government officials.

The Congress, the Bharatiya Janata ... Read More