Advani not in favour of projecting Modi as BJP's PM candidate: Sources

New Delhi: The rift within the BJP is out in the open with senior leader LK Advani not in favour of projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate for the next general elections, according to sources.

Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti have also taken positions against Modi's elevation while Yashwant Sinha and Shivraj Singh Chauhan have hailed Advani as the tallest leader within BJP and fit for the PM post.

Dalit memorial scam: Akhilesh says UP govt will follow the law

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has said that the state government will do everything possible under the law in the Dalit Memorial scam case in which close aides of BSP chief Mayawati have been indicted.

While Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta NK Mehrotra had said that there is no evidence against Mayawati in the Dalit Memorial scam, he had recommended that the money should be recovered from former ministers Nasimuddin Siddiqui and Babu Singh Kushwaha.

Want the anti-match-fixing law to come in Monsoon Session: Kapil Sibal

Law Minister Kapil Sibal has signalled that the government is looking at bringing about a national legislation to curb match-fixing in all sports.

PM files affidavit correcting age to 80 in RS poll papers

Guwahati: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress Rajya Sabha candidate from Assam, has filed a fresh affidavit correcting his age to 80 prior to scrutiny of the nominations on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister submitted the fresh affidavit two days ago correcting his age to 80 from 82 as given earlier in his nomination papers for the May 30 election, Assembly sources said today.

Narendra Modi attends his first BJP Parliamentary Board meet

New Delhi: Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, a social media enthusiast, attended his first BJP Parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday. In his typical tech-savvy manner, Modi spoke on the importance of social media and how to harness it for the elections.

Modi pitched for the forthcoming BJP national executive as the platform to delineate the failures of the UPA government and firm up the party's strategy for the 2014 elections.

SC slams Gujarat's vidya sahayak scheme

Gujarat: The Supreme Court on Monday severely criticised the Gujarat government of Chief Minister Narendra Modi over its Vidya Sahayak scheme. The court came down heavily on the Modi government on the recruitment process of vidya sahayaks in government primary schools.

In a stinging criticism a bench of justices BS Chauhan and Dipak Misra asked the Gujarat government to explain why full time teachers were not being recruited even after the Right to Education Act. Calling vidya sahayak as Shikha shatrus (enemies of education), the court asked the Modi government to reply by Wednesday. The court also asked the government to explain why vidya sahayaks were being paid just Rs 2,500.

There should be a law to make fixing a criminal offence: Kapil Sibal

New Delhi: Law Minister Kapil Sibal will meet law officers on Tuesday to discuss enacting a new law to check match-fixing in sports. Sibal has called for fixing to be made a criminal offence.

"We will work with the Sports Ministry to introduce a law that makes match-fixing a criminal offence. We decided to put up a case for opinion by the A-G and if he clears that, anti-match fixing legislature can be drafted," Sibal said.

CPM MLA murder: Pappu Yadav released after acquittal

Patna: Four days after the court acquitted former RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on charges of killing CPI-M leader Ajit Sarkar, he was formally released from jail here on Tuesday, police officials said.

Citing lack of evidence, the Patna High Court on last Friday acquitted Yadav in the case related to Sarkar's murder.

Modi meets Advani ahead of BJP Parliamentary board meeting

New Delhi: Ahead of BJP's Parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi met senior party leader LK Advani in the national capital. Modi, who was inducted into the BJP's Parliamentary board in March this year, will attend his first board meeting on Tuesday.

The board is likely to clear the agenda for the two-party national executive slated to be held in Goa in the second week of June. The party will also review preparations for the 2014 elections.

Congress leaders pay homage to Rajiv Gandhi

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on Tuesday was remembered on his 22nd death anniversary with leaders paying homage at his memorial here.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the late leader's wife and Congress President Sonia Gandhi offered flowers at his memorial 'Vir Bhumi' here.