Give us our daily subsidy & milk petrol - Political cry gifts excuse for hike

New Delhi, Sept. 16: A firestorm of protests that greeted the fuel price hike has shown how petrol has become nobody’s baby and those who clamour for subsidies are providing a justification for pushing up its price.

The Centre, under attack from allies such as the Trinamul Congress and the Opposition like the Left, said it had nothing to do with the price hike as it was decided by the oil companies that enjoy the right after decontrol.

“So far as petrol price is concerned, petrol has been deregulated. It is the oil marketing companies’ review,” finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

Rally: HC stands up for kids after school hours

The Telegraph report that highlighted how children’s rights were being trampled

Calcutta, Sept. 16: Calcutta High Court today advised the Bengal government to introduce legislation to ban the participation of minors in political processions and gatherings.

“The government has decided to ban students’ participation in political rallies during school hours. But what about Saturdays and Sundays when most of the schools are closed? Will they be allowed to take part in such rallies on those days? Rather, the state should come up with a legislation prohibiting minors’ participation in political rallies,” the division bench of Chief Justice J.N. Patel and Justice A. K. Roy suggested today.

Logitech releases iPad accessories

Logitech has unveiled its brand new line of tablet accessories with the launch of two new iPad accessories, the Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2 and the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad.

The Keyboard Case for the iPad 2 will use Bluetooth wireless technology in tandem with USB connectivity.

France ban on Muslim street prayers comes into effect

Paris:  A ban on praying in French streets came into effect on Friday, with thousands of the nation's Muslim faithful being moved to temporary alternative spaces for their day of prayer.

From Paris to Marseille, Friday's midday prayers will be led from disused barracks or other temporary buildings, after the question of Islam's visibility became a political issue under right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Fighter plane crashes at air show; 3 dead, over 70 injured

Reno, Nevada:  A vintage World War II-era fighter plane plunged into the grandstands Friday during a popular annual air show, killing at least three people and injuring roughly 75 and creating a horrific scene strewn with body parts and smoking debris.

Serb mother claims son, nephew are human magnets

Gornji Milanovac (Serbia):  Two small boys from a central Serbian town are able to attract metal objects, acting much like human magnets, according to their mother.

It's a claim that is raising doubts among some experts.

Jaya Prada defends Amar Singh, takes swipe at Bachchans

New Delhi:  Amar Singh's close confidante, actress and MP Jaya Prada on Thursday warned that many will be in trouble if truth is revealed by the former Samajwadi Party leader, who is an accused in the cash-for-votes scandal.

With eye on Narendra Modi, Maharashtra appeals to top industrialists

Mumbai:  It appears that the Government wants to ride the wave of fortune by roping in Fortune 500 companies to preserve the top spot for Maharashtra in the manufacturing and production segment.
 
Daunted by the aggressive policies its counterparts (read Gujarat and Delhi) are pursuing to attract industrial investment, the state has made an overture to top-notch industrialists -- namely the Tatas, Ambanis, Mahindras and Birlas -- seeking their aid in strengthening its strategy to draw investment.

General VK Singh's age controversy: Army contradicts ministry

New Delhi:  The controversy over Army chief General VK Singh's age has deepened with the Defense Ministry and the Indian Army holding on to their positions.

General Singh has consistently maintained that he was born in 1951 as against 1950 as maintained by the Ministry of Defense. Army records however reflect both dates. General Singh has also filed a formal complaint with the ministry saying that while the government can decide his tenure as chief of Army, his year of birth cannot be changed. 

Kerala Temple's Vault B will not be opened for now

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court has said that for now, the only unopened vault of Kerala's Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple will remain closed. However, the court made it clear that this is not because of local superstition that warns of bad luck if the vault is forced open. The court also said it has not given any weight to a recent ritual performed - the 'Devaprasnam - which priests describe as an astrological referendum that also asked that Vault B remain off-limits. 

Rain lashes Delhi again

New Delhi:  Delhi was rained out again on Thursday with heavy showers in the morning and traffic jams being reported from several places in the city. The met department forecast more rain in the day. 

Petrol price hike was decision of oil marketing firms: Pranab

New Delhi:  Amid resentment over the sharp hike in petrol prices, the Government today distanced itself from
the decision saying the call was taken by oil marketing firms.

Prime Minister: Cross-border terrorism being reactivated

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday described the recent Mumbai and Delhi blasts as a "grave reminder" of the great challenge that terrorists posed to India's national security.

Addressing the all-India conference of director generals and inspector generals of police here, Singh said the national security situation continued to be "uncertain". (Read Full Text of PM's Speech Here)

BJP slams govt over fuel price hike, threatens protest

New Delhi:  The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today joined the growing chorus of political outrage over the latest hike in fuel prices.

Slamming the government over move, the BJP - the main opposition party - threatened to take to the streets to protest against the hike, saying it would force the government for a rollback in prices.

I was seen as a villain during Anna's fast: Agnivesh

Thiruvananthapuram:  Social activist Swamy Agnivesh today regretted being seen as a "villain" for voicing differences on the manner in which anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's fast was carried out in its concluding phase.

Bangalore's Tomatina festival cancelled

Bangalore:  Karnataka chief minister Sadananda Gowda has instructed police in Bangalore and Mysore not to give permission for the Tomatina festival (organised by a private firm) scheduled for this Sunday. The festival involves participants hurling tomatoes at each other.

Nationwide protests against fuel price hike; BJP, allies demand rollback

New Delhi:  The Rs 3 hike in petrol that kicked in at midnight provoked political and public outrage today. An immediate consequence was that the government deferred indefinitely a meeting of ministers that was to consider making cooking gas more expensive for the average household.

Modi for PM? Advani quotes US report on his blog

New Delhi:  Amid speculation that BJP leader L K Advani is undertaking his yatra to be in the fray for the next Lok Sabha polls, the senior leader on Friday endorsed a US Congressional report that says Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi may be the next prime ministerial candidate of the party.

Narendra Modi on politics, poetry and Rahul Gandhi as PM

This interview is from Society magazine; its views do not necessarily reflect those of NDTV.
Meeting Narendra Modi was like meeting multiple personalities at one time. I have always perceived Modi as a man of steel having gone through fire. The constant picking and media barbs have not left him embittered. This could be attributed to his strong and courageous personality and being centred in spirituality.

Rahul Gandhi meets PM following protests against petrol price hike

New Delhi:  Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today as the government grappled with the situation arising out of protests against the petrol price hike and demands from UPA allies like Trinamool Congress, DMK and NCP for a rollback.

Congress response to communalism in Gujarat "muted": Mani Shankar Aiyar

New Delhi:  Ruing that his party is giving a "muted response" to the challenge of communalism in Narendra Modi-ruled Gujarat, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar today said the communal contagion has also "infected" his own party men in the state.