India

Jaipur, October 1: In an attempt to save itself from embarrassment, the Rajasthan government has clarified that a circular purportedly banning all state government employees from participating in any programme of the BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or any other Sangh affiliates, is fake. The circular, which appears to have been timed with a three-day RSS camp in Jaipur scheduled to take

Mumbai, October 1: A non-existing company owned by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Sancheti bagged irrigation projects worth Rs 1,350 crore in Maharashtra in 2007-08. The firm, Shakti Kumar M Sancheti Ltd, was renamed SMS Infrastructure in November 2005. Yet, Sancheti was awarded contracts by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) under the name of the old company. "Once the name of a

Coimbatore, October 1: It was a defining moment for Coimbatore's dalits when several of them entered the 120-year-old Mariamman temple at Kalapatti for the first time on Sunday with the support of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) and CPM activists. Located 5km away from Coimbatore airport, the temple had been out of bounds for dalits until now. Around 2,000 families from the

New Delhi, September 30: Maintaining strong opposition to entering politics as it is “full of dirt”, Anna Hazare on Sunday claimed that he did not get answers from the Arvind Kejriwal-led group on questions raised by him on how to organise a political alternative. Mr. Hazare, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday morning and met activists to chalk out the next course of action on an apolitical anti

New Delhi, September 30: India is considering a proposal to expand its Customs Overseas Intelligence Network across Asia for checking cross-border illegal trade and blackmoney besides gathering information on commercial frauds. A proposal in this regard is under consideration of the Ministry of External Affairs, sources said. The network, which functions under the Directorate of Revenue

Hyderabad, September 30: A confrontation between students of Osmania University and the police on Sunday morning raised tension levels in the State capital, which is all set to witness the Telangana March called by Telangana Joint Action Committee and supported by various parties and organisations to press for bifurcation of the state. Tension gripped the sunny Sunday morning in Hyderabad as

New Delhi, September 30: The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for 2011 will be awarded to well-known lyricist, poet and writer Gulzar. "The 27th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2011 will be awarded to Gulzar for his yeoman work in promoting and preserving the spirit of national integration in the country," said Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, who is member

Mumbai, September 30: Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday said that resignation of his deputy Ajit Pawar from the state ministry will not affect the Congress-NCP ties. "I met Sharad Pawar, Ajit and Praful Patel last night to discuss the issue. The government will work effectively and there will be proper co-ordination in the government and between both the parties. Congress

New Delhi, September 30: While anticipating that elections may be held earlier than scheduled, BJP has been trying to soften its "hardline Hindutva" image in what appears to be a move to blunt the hostility of Muslims, and reassure its existing allies while reaching out to new partners. The three-day session of BJP's national executive saw both party president Nitin Gadkari and veteran leader LK

Kolkata, September 29: The Grant Thornton Global Dynamism Index indicates that India is the fifth best country in the world for dynamic growing businesses. According to the index, India sits ahead of Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey, Singapore, Colombia, Russia and only trails Argentina, China., Uruguay and Chile. "The ratings go well beyond basic GDP data," said Vishesh Chandiok, national managing