SONIA GANDHI

INDIA

Provide relief to flood affected areas: Sonia to Uttarakhand, HP CMs

June 18, 2013, 6:56 pm | CNN-IBN INDIA

New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday directed the chief ministers of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to provide immediate relief to the flood affected areas of their states. The Congress President also spoke to Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde about the situation. In Uttarakhand, 58 people have lost their lives and close to 60,000 tourists and pilgrims are stranded at various locations due to floods and landslides. The worst hit is Uttarkashi where another bridge has been washed away and 70 homes have been destroyed. Heavy rains have been creating havoc in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, causing massive landslides.

INDIA

Provide relief to flood affected areas: Sonia to Uttarakhand, HP CMs

June 18, 2013, 6:56 pm | CNN-IBN INDIA

New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday directed the chief ministers of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to provide immediate relief to the flood affected areas of their states. The Congress President also spoke to Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde about the situation. In Uttarakhand, 58 people have lost their lives and close to 60,000 tourists and pilgrims are stranded at various locations due to floods and landslides. The worst hit is Uttarkashi where another bridge has been washed away and 70 homes have been destroyed. Heavy rains have been creating havoc in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, causing massive landslides.

POLITICS

Will sweep the floor if Sonia tells me to: Chhattisgarh Cong chief

June 18, 2013, 8:50 am | CNN-IBN POLITICS

Raipur: There's something that could prove embarrassing for Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Newly appointed Chhattisgarh Congress chief Charan Das Mahant has claimed that he is ready to sweep the floor his party office if ordered to do so by Sonia Gandhi. "I always do whatever is ordered by my party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. If Sonia Gandhi orders me to sweep Congress office in Chhattisgarh, I will do so, their order is supreme," Charan Das said. Charan Das was made the party chief in Chhattisgarh on Sunday as the Congress announced a reshuffle within the party.

INDIA

Will sweep the floor if Sonia tells me to: Chhattisgarh Cong chief

June 18, 2013, 8:50 am | CNN-IBN INDIA

Raipur: There's something that could prove embarrassing for Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Newly appointed Chhattisgarh Congress chief Charan Das Mahant has claimed that he is ready to sweep the floor his party office if ordered to do so by Sonia Gandhi. "I always do whatever is ordered by my party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. If Sonia Gandhi orders me to sweep Congress office in Chhattisgarh, I will do so, their order is supreme," Charan Das said. Charan Das was made the party chief in Chhattisgarh on Sunday as the Congress announced a reshuffle within the party.

POLITICS

Cabinet reshuffle will not improve governance: AK Bhattacharya

June 17, 2013, 5:45 pm | IBNLive.com POLITICS

As the UPA readies itself for the poll year, the Cabinet reshuffle is expected to be the last for the current term. What does it indicate about Congress' strategy for the general elections? Business Standard's editor AK Bhattacharya joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue. Q. How much of this reshuffle infuse their cadres leading into the 2014 elections?...do the names doing the rounds have more credibility on their performance to deliver and hence would send out a good signal to it's electorate?..or is it more about accommodating some big names? Asked by: JK A. You have answered your question at the end. It is largely to accommodate some names that had to be given

POLITICS

UPA Cabinet reshuffle: List of new ministers

June 17, 2013, 6:00 pm | IBNLive.com POLITICS

New Delhi: A new set of Cabinet ministers were sworn in on Monday evening at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. This is possibly the last reshuffle before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Mallikarjun Kharge was made the Railways Minister as eight more were inducted with veterans Sis Ram Ola and Oscar Fernandes making a comeback. List of new ministers: CABINET MINISTERS - Sis Ram Ola gets Labour and Employment portfolio - Oscar Fernandes gets Road and Highways Ministry -Dr Girija Vyas gets Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry - Dr Kavuru Sambasiva Rao gets Textiles Ministry MINISTERS OF STATE - Dr EM Sudarsana Natchiappan gets Commerce and Industries Ministry - Among new Ministers of State, Manikrao

POLITICS

Congress growing under Rahul Gandhi while NDA shrinking: Ajay Maken

June 17, 2013, 5:06 pm | CNN-IBN POLITICS

New Delhi: A day after the Congress announced its new working committee members, senior party leader and the new face of the Congress media wing Ajay Maken claimed that the party is growing under Rahul Gandhi while the NDA is shrinking. In a press conference, Ajay Maken said in today's age of communication, accessibility is one of the most important aspects. In the backdrop of JD(U)-BJP split in Bihar, Ajay Maken said that the Congress is always open to allying with secular parties. He further said that the Congress is keeping a close eye on Bihar situation and the party will play a major role in Bihar in the near future. Talking about the new working committee

POLITICS

Sis Ram Ola, Girija Vyas likely to be sworn in as Cabinet ministers

June 17, 2013, 1:53 pm | CNN-IBN POLITICS

New Delhi: A new set of Cabinet ministers will be sworn in at 5:30 pm on Monday evening at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. This is possibly the last reshuffle before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Four new Cabinet ministers will be sworn in, they are likely to be Sis Ram Ola, Oscar Fernandes, Girija Vyas and KS Rao. Manikrao Gavit, Santosh Chowdhury, JD Seelam, EMS Natchiappan are likely to be sworn in as Ministers of State. The exit of the DMK and the TMC, as well as the resignations of Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ashwani Kumar over the Railway bribery case and coalgate scandals has forced the Congress to make changes in the Cabinet portfolios. Minister Mallikarjun

POLITICS

Cabinet reshuffle today, likely to be the last before 2014 LS polls

June 17, 2013, 9:03 am | CNN-IBN POLITICS

New Delhi: A day after the Congress party revamped its organisation, it is now likely that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will reshuffle the Cabinet on Monday. The swearing in for the new set of Cabinet Ministers is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Monday at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is possibly the last such change before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The exit of the DMK and the TMC, as well as the resignations of Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ashwani Kumar over the Railway bribery case and coalgate scandals has forced the Congress to make changes in the Cabinet portfolios. Minister Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to be shifted to the Railways. CP

INDIA

Sheila Dikshit meets Congress President Sonia Gandhi

June 17, 2013, 1:12 am | Press Trust of India INDIA

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi and discussed issues relating to preparation for upcoming assembly election, in which Congress will seek to retain power for fourth consecutive terms. Dikshit's meeting with Gandhi came before AICC announced a major organisational reshuffle, in which Shakeel Ahmed has been made AICC in-charge of Delhi. Another prominent Congress leader from Delhi Ajay Maken has been made General Secretary of AICC. Assembly poll in Delhi is scheduled for November. Sources said Dikshit briefed Gandhi about a number of initiatives been taken by her government to provide relief to those living in 1,639 unauthorised colonies in the city. She also informed the Congress President about measures

POLITICS

Sheila Dikshit meets Congress President Sonia Gandhi

June 17, 2013, 1:12 am | Press Trust of India POLITICS

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi and discussed issues relating to preparation for upcoming assembly election, in which Congress will seek to retain power for fourth consecutive terms. Dikshit's meeting with Gandhi came before AICC announced a major organisational reshuffle, in which Shakeel Ahmed has been made AICC in-charge of Delhi. Another prominent Congress leader from Delhi Ajay Maken has been made General Secretary of AICC. Assembly poll in Delhi is scheduled for November. Sources said Dikshit briefed Gandhi about a number of initiatives been taken by her government to provide relief to those living in 1,639 unauthorised colonies in the city. She also informed the Congress President about measures

IBN SOUTH

Cauvery issue: Centre to take all efforts to make Karnataka release water

June 15, 2013, 5:35 pm | Press Trust of India IBN SOUTH

Chennai: The Centre would take all efforts to make Karnataka release their share of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy said on Saturday. "It is the policy and intention of the Central government to make Karnataka to release their share of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and we will take all efforts towards this purpose," he told reporters here. His remarks come in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu government's decision on Friday to file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka over the latter's refusal to release Cauvery water, besides seeking a direction to set up two regulatory bodies to implement the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's

INDIA

PM, Sonia to launch rail link to Kashmir on June 25

June 15, 2013, 2:57 am | Press Trust of India INDIA

New Delhi: The much-awaited railway section linking Kashmir valley with rest of the country will be launched on June 25 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi jointly flag off the first train. The 18-km-long section between Banihal in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir will provide an all-weather surface link to the valley which often gets snapped due to snowfall during winters. The section, which includes an 11-km-long tunnel, will reduce the distance from 35 km to 18 kms. It has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1,691 crore. Train service is already operational within Kashmir valley between Qazigund and Baramulla in north Kashmir. "The mandatory inspection of the track by Commissioner of Railway Safety

INDIA

Omar happy over Shinde's remarks on AFSPA revocation

June 13, 2013, 1:06 am | INDIA

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed happiness over what he called the central government's acknowledgement that the "controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has to be lifted from Jammu and Kashmir". Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said the state government was in touch with the centre regarding the revocation of the AFSPA. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said recently that all the stakeholders in Kashmir and the northeast would be taken on board before taking a final decision on the revocation of the act. The AFSPA gives sweeping powers to the Army and the paramilitary in troubled states for arrest,

POLITICS

Omar happy over Shinde's remarks on AFSPA revocation

June 13, 2013, 1:06 am | POLITICS

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed happiness over what he called the central government's acknowledgement that the "controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has to be lifted from Jammu and Kashmir". Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said the state government was in touch with the centre regarding the revocation of the AFSPA. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said recently that all the stakeholders in Kashmir and the northeast would be taken on board before taking a final decision on the revocation of the act. The AFSPA gives sweeping powers to the Army and the paramilitary in troubled states for arrest,