Porngate: 3 BJP ministers quit, Oppn steps up attack

Congress and JDS members seek suspension and disqualification of the three from the House and their immediate arrest

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55% turnout in incident-free first phase of UP polls

Polling for the first phase of high- voltage Uttar Pradesh assembly elections today recorded a moderate 55 per cent turnout on an incident-free day after a sluggish start due to rain, with Mayawati’s ruling BSP facing a tough challenge from Congress, BJP and SP. After an initial lull, polling picked up quickly after midday as the weather cleared with over 55 per cent of the 1.7 crore-strong electorate, which included 70 lakh women, exercising its franchise, state election officials said. Polling was held in 55 constituencies spread over 10 districts — Sitapur, Barabanki, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar and Basti amidst tight security arrangements. The candidates include 796 men, 65 women and one eunuch.

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HC raps Modi govt for ‘inaction’ during post-Godhra riots

In a major blow to the Narendra Modi government, the Gujarat High Court today censured it for “inaction and negligence” during the 2002 post-Godhra riots, holding that this had resulted in an “anarchic” situation. Passing strictures against the state government, the court said, “Gujarat Government’s inadequate response and inaction (to contain the riots) resulted in an anarchic situation which continued unabated for days on”. A division Bench of acting chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala made these observations, while ordering compensation for over 500 religious structures damaged in the state during that period.

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Maldives President wants to meet Manmohan

India has pledged support to new Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed who spoke with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on telephone today and sought a meeting with him, a day after the dramatic regime change in the archipelago nation. “Waheed spoke to Manmohan Singh to reaffirm the close ties between the two countries. (He) said he looked forward to an early opportunity of meeting the prime minister,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted. The telephonic conversation comes after Manmohan Singh wrote to Waheed, assuring him of India’s continued support to the Indian Ocean nation. India was committed to working with the Maldives for the “security and prosperity” of both the countries, Manmohan Singh said in his felicitation letter to Waheed.

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President exhorts youths to help in nation building

President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil today called on the Indian youth to help the nation in overcoming challenges standing in the way of development of the country. “We have to focus our human resources on the nation building as it is the talent and work of our people that will shape the future trajectory of becoming a good and strong nation”, the President said while addressing the new graduates during the convocation in the Kurukshetra University here today. On the occasion, degrees of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa were conferred on Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The degrees were conferred by Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia, who is also the Kurukshetra University's Vice Chancellor.

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Age row: Army chief places additional documents before SC

Ahead of Friday’s hearing on the age row, Army Chief Gen V K Singh today placed before the Supreme Court additional documents to support his case for restoring his date of birth as May 10, 1951. The documents filed by Gen Singh relates to the Army Rules on Commissioning of officers, his lawyer said. The fresh documents have been filed two days ahead of the February 10 hearing on the petition filed by Gen Singh seeking to set aside two orders rejecting his plea. The apex court on February 3 had given an option to the government to “withdraw” its December 30, 2011 order rejecting his statutory complaint, saying it “appears to be vitiated”.

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Maldives President wants to meet Manmohan

India has pledged support to new Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed who spoke with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on telephone today and sought a meeting with him, a day after the dramatic regime change in the archipelago nation. “Waheed spoke to Manmohan Singh to reaffirm the close ties between the two countries. (He) said he looked forward to an early opportunity of meeting the prime minister,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted. The telephonic conversation comes after Manmohan Singh wrote to Waheed, assuring him of India’s continued support to the Indian Ocean nation. India was committed to working with the Maldives for the “security and prosperity” of both the countries, Manmohan Singh said in his felicitation letter to Waheed.

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