India creates 29th state

HYDERABAD: After decades of struggle and suicides by hundreds of youths over the years, Telangana will emerge as the 29th state of India, with the Congress Working Committee endorsing the decision to bifurcate the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

The demand for a separate Telangana state has been going on for the past five decades, and has seen two phases of violent agitations — in 1969 and now in the past few years. According to Telangana protagonists, at least 600 youths and students had committed suicide for the cause in the past three years alone.

Bandh in Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra against Telangana formation

Normal life was disrupted in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions on Wednesday as a shutdown began in the two regions against the decision of the Congress and the UPA to create Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh.

Educational institutions, commercial establishments remained closed and the services of state-run Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were suspended in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts such as Kadapa, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Krishna.

Telangana effect: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha calls indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling

Darjeeling: Hours after the UPA and the Congress Working Committee endorsed statehood for Telangana, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) announced an indefinite strike in the Darjeeling Hills from Saturday to press for its Gorkhaland demand.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung resigned as chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration - an autonomous and elected hill development council which the party has been running for a year.

Telangana: CWC meeting tomorrow, D-Day likely for Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: In what could be D-Day for Andhra Pradesh, the Congress has finally called for the meeting of its highest policy making body, the Congress working committee (CWC) on Tuesday evening. In a morning of swift developments on Monday, the Congress also decided to advance the meeting of the UPA coordination committee from Wednesday to Tuesday.

Now, Farooq Abdullah says you can fill your stomach for rupee 1

NEW DELHI: After Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar and Rajya Sabha MP Rasheed Masood's claim of 'super cheap' food available on the streets of India, another minister is of the view that one can have a filling meal for just Re 1.

Union minister of new and renewable energy and National Conference party leader Farooq Abdullah said that one can fill his stomach for just Re 1.

High Court notice to Sajjan Kumar on CBI's plea against acquittal

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on an appeal of the CBI challenging his acquittal in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case relating to the killing of five Sikhs by a mob.

A bench of justices G S Sistani and G P Mittal asked the Congress leader to file his response to the petition of the probe agency and fixed the matter for further hearing on August 27.

Besides CBI, victims' family members Jagdish and Nirpreet Kaur had also challenged the trial court order in the case and their plea would be taken up on August 27 by the same bench.

Anti-Sikh riots: Delhi HC issues notice to Sajjan Kumar, CBI

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea of kin of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims, challenging his acquittal in a case.

A division bench of Justice GS Sistani and Justice GP Mittal has sought response from both SDajjan Kumar and the CBI by Aug 27.
Filing the appeal, Jagdish Kaur and Nirpreet Kaur, who had lost their relatives in the riots, sought the trial court's April 30 judgment in the case be set aside.