New Delhi: Lok Sabha is likely to have a special session on May 13 to mark the 60th anniversary of its first sitting way back in 1952. President Pratibha Patil is expected to inaugurate the three-day celebrations where parliamentarians are expected to discuss issues like Millenium Development Goals and the Human Development Index. "It is the brainchild of Speaker Meira Kumar. She thought that issues which go beyond the daily...
10:21 PM, Jan 04, 2012
New Delhi: A BJP delegation is expected to call on President Prathiba Patil on Tuesday to register an official protest over the Lokpal Bill fiasco that took place in the Rajya Sabha on December 29. The high-level delegation will be led by senior BJP leader LK Advani and party President Nitin Gadkari. The party will also launch a week-long nationwide protest against the Congress over the Lokpal issue. Alleging that...
08:33 AM, Jan 03, 2012
New Delhi: The BJP on Friday indicated that it was unhappy with the way Rajya Sabha Chairperson Hamid Ansari had conducted himself during the last few minutes of the session on Thursday when the Lokpal Bill was being discussed but restrained itself due to respect for the high office. Vice President Ansari, who is ex-officio chairperson of the Upper House, had adjourned the Rajya Sabha stating there was total impasse...
06:58 AM, Dec 31, 2011
New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday gave her approval for tabling of the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said the President gave her approval from Hyderabad where she is on a ten-day visit. The President's approval was required for the measure since the Lok Sabha made some amendments to The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 before its passage. ...
12:48 PM, Dec 28, 2011
Mumbai: Expressing concern over over-commercialisation of media, President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday asked it to exercise freedom with "honesty, objectivity and conviction" to promote national goal and build public opinion. Patil also advised journalists to verify and double-check facts before airing a story. "The media is a powerful tool in a democracy and more so in India, which is the world's largest democracy. It can be a catalyst for positive...
01:49 AM, Dec 22, 2011
Mumbai: The Navy is all set to get younger, with over 80 new warships, including two aircraft-carriers and nuclear submarines each, scheduled to join its fleet. Due to the scheduled inductions in next couple of years, the average age of the fleet would come down making it a comparatively younger force, Navy Spokesperson, Cdr PVS Satish, said on the sidelines of President's Fleet Review (PFR) in Mumbai. "The present average...
10:25 PM, Dec 20, 2011
Mumbai: After flying in frontline Sukhoi jet and riding a battle tank, President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday set sail in a warship for the first time to review the mammoth naval fleet of the country. Sailing on-board INS Subhadra, a naval off shore patrol vessel guarded by the elite Marine commandos, the President reviewed a fleet of 81 ships and 44 aircraft as part of the 10th Presidential Fleet Review....
11:19 AM, Dec 20, 2011
Mumbai: President Pratibha Patil on Monday urged the Navy to strengthen itself and ensure regional peace as it is essential for India's increasing power and expanding interests. "India's growing national power and its expanding vital interests not only present an opportunity for us to strengthen our 'Blue Water' Navy but make it imperative to do so," she said during a banquet hosted in her honour by the Navy. "India's growing...
12:13 AM, Dec 20, 2011
Munabao: The Centre bent the rules for a Rajasthan minister, allowing him to board the train to Pakistan from Munabao station, which is used only for security checks and no boarding is allowed as per norms. Rajasthan Minister of state for minorities Amin Khan, who was dropped from the Gehlot cabinet for his remarks against President Pratibha Patil, now courts a new controversy. A month after being re-inducted as minister,...
12:09 PM, Dec 18, 2011
New Delhi: Under fire from Opposition over the delay in carrying out the death sentence of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, government on Tuesday put the onus on President Pratibha Patil saying a decision on the issue has to be taken by her. Using the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Parliament attack, BJP asked why government was not punishing those held guilty for the December 13, 2001 audacious strike....
09:14 PM, Dec 13, 2011
New Delhi: The mercy plea of decade-old Parliament attack case convict Mohd Afzal Guru was among 14 other such applications pending decision by President Pratibha Patil. Replying to an RTI query, the President Secretariat declined to disclose copies of correspondence and file notings related to Guru's clemency petition, saying they were "records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, secretaries and other officers". The President's office had received a total...
02:26 PM, Dec 13, 2011
New Delhi: Fifteen-year-old Sangita Bauri never feared her parents and society when she opposed her forcible marriage in a remote village in West Bengal but she trembled when she was honoured in New Delhi by President Pratibha Patil for her feat. Bauri along with two other young girls- Mukti Majhi, Sangita Bauri, Sunita Mahato, Afsana Khatun- met Patil on Wednesday after they were called by the President hearing the tale...
02:28 AM, Dec 08, 2011
New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil Sunday condoled the death of legendary actor Dev Anand, saying the film industry has lost a creative talent and a man who personified the spirit of graceful ageing with dignity. In her message, the president said: "Anand was a legendary film artiste as well as a producer, director and writer who adorned the Hindi cinema with great distinction. He delighted Hindi cinema fans with his...
05:15 PM, Dec 04, 2011
President's flight delayed due to technical snag Kolkata: A technical problem detected in the special aircraft of President Pratibha Patil as the IAF Boeing 737 was being readied for takeoff on Wednesday from the NSC Bose International airport in Kolkata delayed her departure to Pune. Airport sources said the pilot of the VVIP flight noticed signs of some problem in the cockpit panel while it was still at the tarmac....
12:23 PM, Nov 30, 2011
New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil and Vice-President Hamid Ansari have greeted the people on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, which is being celebrated on Thursday. "On the auspicious occasion of the birthday of Guru Nanak Devji, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens," Patil said in her message. "May all of us strive to practice the revered Guru's noble teachings in our daily lives...
08:18 AM, Nov 10, 2011
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear death row convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar's plea to convert his sentence into a life term. The Khalistani militant who had been sentenced to death for triggering the 1993 Delhi car bomb attack that killed 12 people, had filed a mercy petition before the President in January. President Pratibha Patil had rejected the mercy petition in May 2011. Bhullar's counsel had...
08:46 AM, Nov 09, 2011
New Delhi: The world celebrates Eid-ul-Zuha on Monday and While India's waking up to the festivities, President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Mamohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi greeted the nation on the occasion. "On the festive occasion of Eid-ul Zuha, I express my warm greetings and best wishes to all my fellow citizens and to my Muslim brothers and sisters, in particular," Patil said in her message. "May this unique festival...
07:47 AM, Nov 07, 2011
Bhubaneswar: Orissa has been renamed Odisha after President Pratibha Patil approved the State Assembly's 2008 resolution. The language Oriya will now be called Odia. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared a holiday on Saturday to mark this 'historic' date. "To celebrate this historic decision, Saturday will be a holiday for all schools, all colleges and all state government offices in Odisha," Patnaik said. Sweets were distributed among those present at...
07:32 AM, Nov 05, 2011
Lucknow: The security of women should be of prime concern for law-enforcing authorities as well as society, President Pratibha Patil said on Wednesday, terming self-protection "the best" and suggesting martial arts training for girls in educational institutions. "An issue of deep concern is the rising trend of crimes against women, in rural areas and in our cities. Families worry about the lack of security for women members of the family...
05:33 PM, Nov 02, 2011
New Delhi: The country fondly remembered former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 27th death anniversary on Monday with President Pratibha Patil leading the nation in paying rich tributes to the departed leader. Patil paid floral tributes at Shakti Sthal, the memorial of Gandhi, on Monday morning. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were also present on the occasion. Delhi...
12:55 PM, Oct 31, 2011
