Mulayam may skip UPA dinner hosted by PM tonight New Delhi: Distancing himself from the UPA's falling fortunes, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav may skip the dinner which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will host on Wednesday for its allies and supporting parties, according to sources.

An invite has also gone to the BSP's Maywawati. However, sources say she may skip the dinner too, but the key aide Satish Mishra will be attending. Both SP and BSP support the UPA from the outside. The government's run in office has been marked by several scams, political drama and hectic parlays with allies.

Manmohan Singh will present the last Report Card of UPA-II in which he is expected to list the positives such as Direct Benefit Transfer and FDI in retail in a bid to boost the sagging morale of Congressmen with elections less than a year away. Battered by series of scams and the recent sacking of Cabinet Ministers PK Bansal and Ashwani Kumar, the Prime Minister's task to present a positive picture is not easy.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and leaders of UPA constituents will be present at a dinner in which Singh will present the Report Card on the fourth anniversary of UPA-II. Sonia is expected to showcase her backing for the Prime Minister in the backdrop of reports that the two had sharp differences, which has been denied by the party....more    
10:08 AM, May 22, 2013

US, India ask the world to shut out terror sanctuaries Washington: The United States and India on Tuesday asked the international community to take effective steps towards eliminating sanctuaries and infrastructure that support terrorism. After talks between visiting Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, a joint communique said the two countries also agreed to enhance bilateral co-operation to combat terror financing and currency counterfeiting. The communique, issued after Napolitano and Shinde co-chaired...  
12:30 AM, May 22, 2013

Li's visit: Chinese embassy, hotel turn into fortresses
by IANS
New Delhi: The Chinese embassy was on Sunday turned into a fortress as Premier Li Keqiang arrived on a state visit while a tight security ring was thrown around the Taj Palace Hotel where he is staying. Delhi Police have deployed more personnel and shut down certain roads, including those near the Chinese embassy, as a precautionary measure. All the inner roads leading to the hotel have been barricaded and...  
05:43 AM, May 20, 2013

CRPF red flags Home Ministry on Ambani VIP security New Delhi: The CRPF, which recently took over the duties of guarding RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani, has raised concerns in ensuring a 'fool proof' Z category security to the business tycoon in the absence of local logistical support to its squad. The para-military force has written to the Union Home ministry alerting it about possible limitations its personnel may face in the event of an attack on Ambani who has...  
02:02 PM, May 19, 2013

PM to present Report Card of UPA-II on May 22 New Delhi: With the image of his government in tatters, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will present the last Report Card of UPA-II on May 22 in which he is expected to list the positives such as Direct Benefit Transfer and FDI in retail in a bid to boost the sagging morale of Congressmen with elections less than a year away. Battered by series of scams and the recent sacking of...  
12:58 PM, May 19, 2013

ILO calls for secured working atmosphere for women New Delhi: Director General of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Guy Ryder on Saturday expressed concern over recent cases of crime against women and stressed on the need to ensure a climate where women can work with respect, security and equality. "Sadly, recent crimes against women have renewed our awareness of the need to act and to ensure that women in India and everywhere else are able to live and work...  
02:08 AM, May 19, 2013

Cong for special Parliament session if there is unanimity
by IANS
New Delhi: Holding the opposition's "disruptionary tactics" responsible for not allowing passage of the Food Security and Land Acquisition Bills in Parliament's Budget Session, the Congress on Saturday expressed its willingness for a special session if the other parties were agreed. Congress spokesperson PC Chacko also said that the party will take "disruptionary tactics" of the opposition to the people, alleging they had displayed "least inclination" towards passing pro-people legislations...  
11:22 PM, May 18, 2013

Emulate Chhattisgarh Food Act, BJP tells Congress New Delhi: The BJP on Friday hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that the Opposition was responsible for the UPA's failure to pass the Food Security Bill, saying the UPA government should emulate the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act. The Bharatiya Janata Party said the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act covers a higher proportion of the population and provides foodgrain at a cheaper cost. "If the Congress...  
04:12 AM, May 18, 2013

Food Security Bill a half-hearted attempt: BJP New Delhi: BJP on Friday made clear its reservation over the Food Security Bill being keenly pushed by the government, saying it is a "half-hearted attempt", and hit back at Rahul Gandhi for saying opposition was stalling it. Till now BJP had said it was disrupting Parliament in the second phase of the Budget session due to more pressing matter of resignation of two Union ministers - PK Bansal and...  
10:11 PM, May 17, 2013

Cong top brass discusses way ahead on Food Security Bill New Delhi: Congress top brass, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi, on Friday deliberated on the way ahead on the issue of Food Security Bill. All options were considered, was the response of party sources who said no decision has been taken about the future course of action on the ambitious legislation as also on the Land Acquisition Bill. Food Minister KV Thomas was specially invited...  
09:28 PM, May 17, 2013

Relative arrested for shooting man over family dispute
by IANS
New Delhi: A 28-year-old man was shot dead by a relative following an argument, police said on Thursday. The relative and his two sons have been arrested. "Rajeev Kumar, a private security guard, was shot dead by three of his relatives, identified as Than Singh, 47, and his two sons Dheeraj, 23 and Rajkumar, 20, near Shakarpur police station (in east Delhi) late on Wednesday night," said a police officer....  
04:59 AM, May 17, 2013

Govt considering all options to push Food bill: Ramesh New Delhi: "Special session is an option, monsoon session is an option, ordinance is an option - what is not an option is the non-passage of these two bills," Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said while talking about the government's plan of getting its ambitious food and land bills through. Ramesh preferred that the bills should be passed "the democratic way" through debate in Parliament while ordinances should be the...  
03:32 PM, May 14, 2013

Jharkhand: Two Maoists killed in encounter Jamshedpur: At least two Maoists were killed and three jawans got injured in an encounter between the ultras and the security forces in a forest in Seraikela-Kharswan district in Jharkhand, police said on Tuesday. Earlier police had said one Maoist was killed and two jawans were injured in the encounter on Monday. "At least two Maoists were killed while three jawans suffered injury in the encounter that lasted over one...  
02:21 PM, May 14, 2013

Govt mulling Special Parl Session to pass crucial bills New Delhi: With the crucial Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bill still pending, sources say the government is mulling a Special Session of Parliament to get the bills passed. Reports also say the government is looking at the option of introducing an ordinance instead too. But the government had earlier denied any such move. Sources say that the Food Ministry is opposed to bringing an ordinance. The government may...  
11:14 AM, May 14, 2013

Pakistan: 4 killed, 58 injured in suicide attack in Quetta Islamabad: A suicide attacker blew himself up near the official residence of the provincial police chief in Quetta city of southwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing four persons and injuring about 58 others. The bomber detonated his explosive vest near the home of Balochistan Police chief Mushtaq Sukhera late this evening. Four persons were killed instantly. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors said several of them were...  
01:03 AM, May 13, 2013

Have arranged security for polls, Taliban real opposition: Pak minister

Pakistan will vote on Saturday to decide who is next leader amidst threats of terror and violence. ...
08:47 AM, May 11, 2013

West Bengal for social security scheme for investors
by IANS
Kolkata: West Bengal is planning to start a social security scheme for depositors and investors to ensure proper return of public money following the Saradha chit fund mess, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata on Wednesday. "In the wake of growing financial insecurity, we are thinking of a social security scheme. It will ensure proper safety of public money and ensure safe and proper return. We will shortly put...  
05:20 AM, May 09, 2013

UPA committed to food security bill, says PM
by IANS
New Delhi: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is committed to enacting the Food Security Bill after considering all opinions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday. "The Food Security Bill is a very important legislation for the government. The UPA is committed to make this law after considering all opinions," he told reporters here. Corruption, he said, was a major issue in the country and all sections of society...  
04:59 PM, May 08, 2013

Opposition should let Parliament function: Cong MP Sandeep Dikshit

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said important bills such as Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bill needed to be passed in Parliament. ...
07:25 PM, May 07, 2013

Sonia, Kamal Nath meet PM as Parliament remains stalled New Delhi: 1:00 pm: As the Lok Sabha resumed, uproar continued in the House with BJP MPs demanding Manmohan Singh's resignation. The Lok Sabha has now been adjourned for the day and the Food Security Bill may again be taken up on Wednesday. 12:40 pm: The Congress Core Group is meeting in Parliament to chalk out a strategy to end Parliament deadlock. 12:17 pm: Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Parliamentary...  
11:21 AM, May 07, 2013