India

Narendra Modi is a polarising figure, evoking visceral reactions across the political spectrum. Critics call him a dictator while supporters believe he could make India an Asian superpower. Reuters spoke to Modi at his official Gandhinagar residence in a rare interview, the first since he was appointed head of the BJP’s election campaign in June. Here are edited excerpts from the interview. The

New Delhi, Jul 12: The Congress will not declare Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate in the Lok Sabha elections, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh hinted on Friday while dismissing suggestions that BJP's projection of Narendra Modi is a challenge to it. He also did not say whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could be a candidate for the top post once again if the party wins next

New Delhi, Jul 12: Oil minister M Veerappa Moily on Thursday unequivocally ruled out any rethink — including putting a cap on price — in the government on the decision to usher in a new pricing regime that is expected to double the cost of domestic gas from April. Moily said the new price arrived through the formula would apply uniformly to all gas producers, implying Reliance Industries (RIL)

Chennai, Jul 11: India's atomic regulator Thursday gave its nod to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) for commencement of controlled nuclear fission process, a step towards power generation from a nuclear reactor. "Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has granted Clearance for 'First Approach to Criticality (FAC) of Unit-l of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project( KNPP) as the next major

New Delhi, Jul 11: A Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), trying the minor accused in the December 16 brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl, today reserved its judgement for July 25. The Board presided by principal magistrate Geetanjali Goel reserved the verdict after counsel for the accused and the prosecution submitted their clarifications. The juvenile accused in the case is being tried

Bangalore, Jul 11: Acting swiftly on reports of a mysterious disease with dengue-like symptoms, the State Health Department has asked all the City hospitals to send samples to be tested at the National Institute of Virology. Test results are expected to identify the ailment that has already claimed several lives, most of them children. Dhanya Kumar, Director, Department of Health and Family

New Delhi, Jul 10: China has proposed freezing of infrastructure development along the border under a new pact but it is set to be rejected by India which is in the process of building infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). China has made the proposal as part of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) which is under negotiation between the two countries, highly-placed

Bodh Gaya, Jul 10: The Centre will examine the issue of handing over security of religious places like Bodh Gaya to CISF, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said today. Addressing a press conference here after visiting the Mahabodhi Temple along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has pleaded for CISF takeover of the temple complex for better security

New Delhi, Jul 10: The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down as ultra vires a provision of the Representation of the People Act which protects convicted lawmakers against disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal against their conviction in the higher courts. "The only question is about the vires of section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and we hold that it is ultra

Kasargod, Jul 10: Normal life was today disrupted in Kerala due to the dawn-to-dusk 12-hour hartal called by CPI-M led LDF to demand resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the solar scam issue. Except for a few private vehicles and two-wheelers, other modes of transport were off the road while shops, including hotels remained closed. Passengers, who arrived at railway stations and