Liz Mathew

Atal Bihari Vajpayee dead: A brief look at Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s close associates in the party and government, and where they are now.

Vajpayee was one of those rarest of rare politicians who would exude warmth. You get angry at him, his policies, the position of his party – but the moment you stand before him, it melts away

PM Modi praises Vajpayee’s Kashmir line, no bullets, no abuse; focuses on women

In his eight-page letter to commission chairman Justice B S Chouhan, Shah argued that one election would check expenditure and ensure that the nation is not in “election mode” throughout the year.

At a time when we look for personalities who rise over partisan views and party affiliations at the constitutional posts, the demise of Somnath Chatterjee, the 14th Speaker of Lok Sabha, is a grave loss.

Announcing the changes approved Thursday by the Cabinet, Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government did not want “anyone to misuse the law while ensuring that justice is done”.

Crucial for the election are the votes of the nine members from BJD, which BJP leaders said would be cast for the NDA candidate.

Pointing out that the government was quick in bringing the legislation to strengthen the law to prevent atrocities against Dalits, Modi told party MPs during BJP Parliamentary Party meeting that the ongoing Monsoon Session will be remembered for steps taken by his government for social justice. 

Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s reluctance to respond to her allegation — that evidence got destroyed in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case — provoked Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan.

The passage of the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017, making NCBC a panel with full powers to safeguard rights and interests of the OBCs, could give a fillip to the BJP’s attempts to posture itself as a party that stands for backward communities.

BJP General Secretary and in-charge of the party’s affairs in the northeast, Ram Madhav told The Indian Express said that though NRC had the word ‘national’ in its name, its mandate was only for Assam only as of now.

Amit Shah asked the Congress and TMC to spell their stand on Assam's draft National Register of Citizens,

PM Modi, who was felicitated by MPs and ministers for the win in no-trust motion, is learnt to have said that opposition parties are now trying to “save their skin” by raising “unnecessary issues” against the BJP-led NDA government.

“If the final draft (of the National Register of Citizens) in Assam found 40 lakh illegal residents, the number could run into crores in West Bengal. In Assam, the Supreme Court has monitored it. This can be done in West Bengal too,” Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

To TMC’s Saugata Roy, who asked whether the HRD Ministry will reconsider the decision with regard to Jio Institute, Prakash Javadekar said it has “nothing to do with the government”

Sonowal also said that there should not be any insecurity or fear among people because “the entire NRC is being carried out in an impartial, transparent and meticulous manner, and would continue to remain the same”.

The government of India has already said that before taking any steps on the Bill, the people of Assam would be taken into confidence, said CM Sarbananda Sonowal.

The National Commission for Women (NCW), submitting a report on the two sex scandals in churches in Kerala, has recommended the government should abolish confessions in churches as “they come in the way of security and safety of women.”

Rijiju said he has visited the flood-hit areas and appreciated efforts taken by the district administration.