New Delhi: The UPA II is attempting to dispel the perception of gloom amid scams and controversies as it completes four years in office. In his report to the people, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured that those involved in corruption will be punished and there will be 8 per cent growth if the UPA returns to power.
The photo op was there, but the spirit seemed to be missing. It was a truncated and in many ways a defeated UPA, which was meeting for the last time. The Samajwadi Party skipped the meet, though the Bahujan Samaj Party was present.
Under attack from the Opposition, both UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi firmly backed the Prime Minister. Sonia Gandhi said the government was firmly in support of the PM, who, she said, had withstood "the unrelenting hostility" with dignity. She also attacked the BJP for its "obstructionist approach" and not allowing Parliament to function.
"We are disappointed that Parliament is not allowed to function. We are unable to fulfil our duties due to the obstructionist approach of the Opposition. There has to be a calculative approach to control the spread of innuendos and misinformation," she said. She also said that the government had the greatest respect for the PM who was carrying out his responsibilities "with greatest dignity in the face of unrelenting hostility". ...
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09:05 AM, May 23, 2013
New Delhi: As the UPA II completes four years and is set to release its report card at its celebration dinner on Wednesday evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party has questioned as to what is the celebration for. Attacking the UPA government over a range of issues, the BJP said the UPA government has failed on all fronts. BJP leader Sushma Swaraj began by attacking the UPA over the lack of...
12:06 PM, May 22, 2013
Sources said on Monday that a section within the Congress wanted Manmohan Singh replaced as PM before Parliament's monsoon session. ...
10:57 PM, May 13, 2013
Sources said on Monday that a section within the Congress wanted Manmohan Singh replaced as PM before Parliament's monsoon session. ...
09:19 PM, May 13, 2013
New Delhi: A section within the Congress party is keen on replacing Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, sources said on Monday. According to the sources, the leaders want Singh replaced before the monsoon session of Parliament. While there is no consensus yet on the alternative name, sources said that Defence Minister AK Antony and Finance Minister P Chidambaram could be considered. Meanwhile, a few leaders are in favour of...
06:13 PM, May 13, 2013
New Delhi: After losing his job, it seems that former railway minister Pawan Bansal is not happy with the media's role in the Railways bribery and cash-for-jobs scam. When some reporters asked Bansal about his family and the role played by his relatives in the Railways bribery and cash-for-jobs scam, the former minister was very livid. Bansal claimed that he had no business relations with his nephew Vijay Singla who...
11:40 AM, May 13, 2013
New Delhi: Attorney General GE Vahanvati, who was under scanner for trying to influence CBI's coal scam status report, will continue in his position. Government sources on Saturday confirm there will be no action against the top law officer. Meanwhile, sacked Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Saturday came out in his defence saying he resigned only to avoid any unnecessary controversy claiming that his conscience still remains clear. He also...
06:47 PM, May 11, 2013
New Delhi: It seems that the government is distancing itself from sacked Law Minister Ashwani Kumar. Sources say that the government had prepared a statement to defend Ashwani Kumar after he resigned, however, it did not release that statement. Sources say the statement said, "Ashwani resigned because of perception and his resignation should not be seen as corruption. He has not been indicted by the Supreme Court in any way."...
12:59 PM, May 11, 2013
New Delhi: Sacked Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Saturday came out in his defence saying he resigned only to avoid any unnecessary controversy claiming that his conscience still remains clear. "I tendered my resignation to put an end to unnecessary controversy in a matter pending before the Supreme Court. My conscience remains clear and I believe I will remain vindicated," Ashwani Kumar said. He also said that his resignation was...
12:49 PM, May 11, 2013
New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was forced to sack Ashwani Kumar as Law Minister and Pawan Kumar Bansal as Railway Minister, the Congress party has given full credit to party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi for taking action against the tainted ministers. "Congress President and Rahul Gandhi never tolerate corruption and that is why they took the resignation of the two ministers," Congress...
12:06 PM, May 11, 2013
New Delhi: BJP on Friday stepped up its pressure on the government by demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the resignations of Railway Minister and Law Minister, saying the "consequences should follow." "Now, there is no logic in the Prime Minister's continuance. Having decided to drop the Law Minister who was protecting the Prime Minister, then the consequences should follow. The consequence is that the Prime Minister...
11:26 PM, May 10, 2013
New Delhi: Pawan Kumar Bansal on Friday evening resigned as Railway Minister following allegations of corrupt practices by his close relatives and aides. Sources say that Bansal resigned after Congress President Sonia Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and asked him to force the Railway Minister to put in his papers. Bansal has already sent his resignation to the Prime Minister. Mallikarjun Kharge, a senior Congress leader from Karnataka, is...
06:08 PM, May 10, 2013
New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court came down heavily on the government and the Central Bureau of Investigation for sharing the coal scam probe report, Attorney General GE Vahanvati met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday. Law Minister Ashwani Kumar had also reached the PMO to meet Manmohan Singh but he was not given an appointment. Vahanvati, Ashwani Kumar and the two officials of the PMO and the...
01:57 PM, May 09, 2013
New Delhi: As pressure builds on the Prime Minister to sack the Law Minister following the Supreme Court's observation on the affidavit filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the coal scam, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani has hit out at Manmohan Singh alleging he is defending Ashwani Kumar to save himself. "Having decided to brazenly defend its two ministers, more particularly its...
11:29 AM, May 09, 2013
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, while examining the affidavit submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with coal scam, on Wednesday came down heavily on the government and the investigating agency for the probe mess and gave the Centre time till July 3 to file an affidavit before it on steps to make the agency autonomous. The apex court took a very strong stand and called the...
09:03 PM, May 08, 2013
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a four-point directive to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the government during its observations on the CBI affidavit on the coal scam probe. First: The apex court asked the Centre to come out with a law before July 10 to insulate the CBI from external influence and intrusion. Second: The CBI chief to ensure no access to any person, including...
05:26 PM, May 08, 2013
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) not to share details of its investigations into the coal scam with anybody. The apex court said that the CBI Director will be held directly responsible for it. "The report will not be shared with law officers or any minister concerned," the SC said. CBI Director Ranjit Sinha told CNN-IBN that the court orders will be...
04:55 PM, May 08, 2013
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, while examining the affidavit submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with coal scam, on Wednesday took a very strong stand and called the investigating agency a "caged parrot speaking in its master's voice". While seeking an undertaking from the government that the CBI would be made independent, the three-judge bench headed by Justice RM Lodha, also added that giving unbridled powers...
02:53 PM, May 08, 2013
New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday sharpened its attack on the UPA government demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the 2G spectrum scam and coalgate. Even as the Opposition appeared divided over seeking PM's resignation, for the Congress these are worrying times. The passage of crucial bills in the Budget Session including the Finance Bill are at stake if the deadlock persists. The NDA is upping the...
09:40 PM, Apr 23, 2013
Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma has fired a fresh salvo against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Beni has now said that the SP won't get more than four seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. ...
09:30 AM, Mar 30, 2013
