India

New Delhi, August 9: A CBI inquiry into the Assam violence has been initiated and the Army put on alert, the government told the Rajya Sabha today as the opposition alleged that the region was not safe because of ‘vote-bank politics being indulged by the ruling Congress’. Replying to a debate on the issue of violence in Assam that has so far claimed 74 lives, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said

New Delhi, August 9: After repeated adjournments in Rajya Sabha and turmoil in Lok Sabha, Government today agreed to members' demand for bringing a Constitution amendment bill for reservation in promotion of SCs and STs in state jobs. Minister of State for PMO V Narayansamy informed the Upper House that a bill will be brought in this regard on August 22 after an all-party meeting, which will

New Delhi, August 9: Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde was on Thursday forced to eat his words and apologize in the Rajya Sabha after he made certain remarks about SP member Jaya Bachchan triggering an uproar. Shinde was replying to a short duration debate on Assam violence and Bachchan, an actress, expressed unhappiness saying the minister was not responding to specific queries raised by members.

New Delhi, August 9: The fight for the Lokpal bill was not yet over and the government would have to give the legislation to the citizens of India, Baba Ramdev said Thursday as he began his agitation against corruption and black money. Addressing thousands of supporters at the Ramlila Maidan here, Ramdev said: "The fight for Lokpal is not over. A strong Lokpal will have to be given to the people

New Delhi, August 9: It's raining sops for the poor. The government is making treatment of people below the poverty line suffering from mental disorders and diabetes free at government or public super speciality hospitals like AIIMS. In the maiden endorsement of India's swelling burden of patients suffering from mental disorders, the ministry has included it under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)

New Delhi, August 9: The Ministry of Defence is investigating the possibility that crucial and expensive equipment bought from the US includes defective Chinese parts. Defence Minister A K Antony today told the Rajya Sabha that the"Government is verifying reports" about this. A US Senate investigation has concluded that between 2009 and 2010, 1800 incidents were detected in which more than a

New Delhi, August 8: In an unprecedented scene in the Lok Sabha, an angry Sonia Gandhi goaded Congress MPs to shout slogans after BJP leader LK Advani called UPA II illegitimate and accused the government of indulging in horsetrading to win votes in the House. Soon after, Congress leaders broke into an uproar in the house, protesting against Adavni's statement even as Sonia was seen making

New Delhi, August 8: As the month-long monsoon session of Parliament got underway on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government is prepared to discuss any issue in accordance with rules and hoped the opposition would cooperate in tackling legislative business before the two Houses. “Our government is prepared to discuss any issue in accordance with the rules and procedure,” he told

New Delhi, August 8: The INS Arihant, India's indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine which is capable of carrying nuclear missiles "will be going for sea-trials soon," Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters today in New Delhi. The submarine is now the in last stage of testing. Sources have told NDTV that barring any major set-backs, the INS Arihant should be able join the

New Delhi, August 8: In what could turn out to be its calling card for the 2014 general elections, the government is finalizing a Rs 7,000 crore scheme to give one mobile phone to every family living below the poverty line. Sources in the PMO said the scheme—Har Hath Mein Phone—expected to be announced by PM Manmohan Singh on August 15, will not only aim to give away mobiles to around six million