India

Agra, Sep 12: Under fire over communal violence in the party-ruled Uttar Pradesh, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today rejected any parallel with 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat and promised "justice" for victims and "strict action" against the guilty. Congress and RLD have alleged that a Gujarat is being sought to be played out in UP while attacking both SP and BJP over the communal flare-up. "There

Agra, Sep 12: Amidst controversy over absence of SP's Muslim face Mohd Azam Khan from its national executive meet, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today sought to mollify him, saying Khan can never be upset with him. But, earlier in the day, party's National General Secretary Ramgopal Yadav had said that either Khan should have attended the meet or resigned. "Azam Khan can never be upset with me

Agra, Sep 12: Hardening its stand against senior UP Minister Mohammad Azam Khan who skipped the party national executive meeting, Samajwadi Party today said either he should have attended the meet or resigned. SP national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav said the absence of Khan, the Muslim face of the Samajwadi Party, was not felt at the meeting yesterday. "It is a national executive meeting and

New Delhi, Sep 12: BJP stalwart L K Advani has dug in his heels. He refused to drop his opposition to Narendra Modi as the party's prime ministerial nominee, leaving party president Rajnath Singh with little choice but to push on regardless of the veteran's objections. This will undoubtedly cast a shadow of controversy over Modi's anointment and show up BJP as a divided house. The BJP president on

Lucknow, Sep 12: While the situation in riot-torn Muzaffarnagar may be returning to normal, panic-stricken people continue to flee their homes in villages and from several adjoining districts. Though the administration as well as a few good samaritans have been trying their best to persuade the people not to leave their homes, their efforts remain unsuccessful, reports say. According to police

Muzaffarnagar/Lucknow, Sep 11: With the situation showing improvement, curfew was relaxed for five hours on Wednesday in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar while Baghpat witnessed a communal clash, leaving a constable injured. District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said the situation in Muzaffarnagar was under control and no untoward incident was reported during the day. "Curfew was relaxed relaxed from 12

Udaipur, Sep 11: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the opposition of creating hurdles for the Food Security Bill till it was eventually passed by Parliament. Addressing a tribal and farmers rally here in Rajasthan, Gandhi said the opposition was creating obstacles whenever the Congress-led UPA government tried to bring welfare measures. The rally at Salumber came a day

New Delhi, Sep 11: India's leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom has issued a fatwa, saying "photography is unlawful and a sin", even though Saudi Arabia allows photographers inside the holy city of Mecca and live telecast of 'namaz' is beamed on Islamic channels across the world. Mufti Abdul Qasim Nomani, Mohtamim (Vice-Chancellor) of Darul Uloom Deoband, told PTI on phone, "Photography is un

New Delhi, Sep 11: A fast track court, which has convicted four persons in the December 16 gangrape-cum-murder case, on Wednesday fixed September 13 for pronouncing the quantum of sentence to be awarded to them. Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna reserved the order on punishment after hearing arguments of the prosecution, which sought death penalty for the four, and the defence lawyers. The

New Delhi, Sep 11: Death penalty was sought Wednesday by the prosecution for the four men who were convicted for the Dec 16 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern here. Additional Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan sought death penalty for the attackers, saying they only deserve "death sentence" for the brutal crime. Defence counsel, however, vehemently opposed the death penalty