SP hits back at Sonia for writing to PM over suspension of Durga

The Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government hit back at UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for asking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal by the state government. The party asked where was Sonia when IAS officer Ashok Khemka was being victimised for speaking against her son-in-law Robert Vadra in Haryana.

Sonia Gandhi in her letter to the Prime Minister had said, "There is a widespread concern because the officer in the course of her public duties was seen to be standing up to vested interests engaging in illegal activity. We must ensure that the officer is not unfairly treated."

Telangana decision renews Gorkhaland demand, Mamata hits out at UPA

Darjeeling: Sixty-five years in the making, the country is now one step closer to getting a new state of Telangana. The Congress Working Committee on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution for the creation of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, with Hyderabad as a joint capital for 10 years.

The question now is whether the Congress's decision on Telangana have a snowball effect considering that there are movements in other parts of India for separate states as well. The biggest among them is the demand for a Gorkhaland to be carved out of West Bengal.

With the government giving the approval for the formation of Telangana, the demand for Gorkhaland has renewed. Gorkhaland activists are holding a 72-hour bandh during which angry street protests were witnessed in the region on Tuesday.


Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Chief Bimal Gurung has resigned as the head of the Gorkha territorial administration. The Morcha will be calling for an indefinite bandh in the hills from Saturday onwards. "I am resigning from the post of the chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration because it wasn't allowed to fuction properly and there was a lot of government interference," Gurung said.

Targeting the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee again alleged it was trying to interfere in the affairs of the state through its agencies and reiterated that there was a conspiracy to dismiss her government, which was running well.

She wrote on her Facebook page, "Telangana cannot be compared with Darjeeling. When everything is settled, why Delhi is insisting to disrupt peaceful situation and play with fire? It is reported that Delhi has directed the GTA persons to go in for a separatist movement. Darjeeling is a part and parcel of our state. We are united and we will remain united. Any conspiracy hatched by a political party and Union Government will be defeated by the people of Darjeeling and West Bengal."

Meanwhile, there is also the demand for a separate state of Vidarbha from Maharashtra. There is also a call for splitting a part of Uttar Pradesh into Harit Pradesh and Bundelkhand. There are other movements, too, such as the demand for a Kodagu from Karnataka. 

Hyderabad joint capital as AP to be split into Telangana, Seemandhra

New Delhi: The 65-year-old dream has finally become a reality and Telangana is all set to be 29th state of India. The ruling Congress reluctantly agrees to create a new state of Telangana by dividing India's 4th largest state Andhra Pradesh. After years of uncertainty and political maneuvering, Telangana is just a few steps closer to reality.

 "It is resolved to request the Central government to make steps in accordance with the Constitution to form a separate state of Telangana ......within a definite timeframe," said a resolution of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy-making body of the party, after over an hour-long meeting.

  Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, "The problems the people of Seemandhra will face by having a common capital with Telangana have been kept in mind while taking this decision. We will keep all these issues in mind when the time comes to draw up the legislation required for a separate state."


The Congress which is accused of fast forwarding Telangana keeping the Lok Sabha elections in mind tried to take all credit and hog all the limelight. Earlier on Tuesday, the UPA partners met to formally endorse the division of Andhra Pradesh. It was followed by a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting chaired by Sonia Gandhi. The hour-long meeting gave its green signal to a new state.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which has been in the forefront of Telangana movement, welcomed the decision, but it was very cautious. However, TRS supporters broke into celebration as soon as the news of Congress giving the green signal for Telangana came out.

TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao said that his party is fine with Hyderabad being the joint capital. "Certainly I am happy; it's wishes of the people. Now bill has to be finally passed. We are happy. Fine with Hyderabad as joint capital of both state," Rao said.

The announcement was received with a sense of loss by the people and politicians of Seemandhra and some parts of Andhra Pradesh also witnessed sporadic protests. The Bill proposing Telanagna may not be introduced in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The 10 districts of Telangana region will be a part of the new state and Hyderabad will be a joint capital with Seemandhra for the next 10 years. The 10 districts in Telangana are Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Nalgonda, Hyderabad, Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy, Medak, Nizamabad. The 13 districts of Seemandhra are Srikakulum, Vizianagaram, Vishakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Cuddapah, Chittoor, Ananthapur, Kurnool. Out of 42 Lok Sabha seats and 294 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradehs, Telangana is likely to have 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 Assembly seats.
The Congress has also assured Seemandhra that its concerns will be addressed.

But, the real concern is Seemandhra's reluctance to cede state capital Hyderabad to Telangana. The TRS which had earlier promised to merge the party with the Congress is also miffed by the attitude of the Congress and eagerness to claim all the credit.

Hyderabad falls within the geographical boundaries of Telangana and Seeemandhra will face a very peculiar situation as it capital will be far away from its boundaries.

TRS leader KT Ramarao said that it is impractical to keep Hyderabad as capital of Andhra Pradesh as will not have geographical connect with the rest of state after Telangana's creation. "The CWC clearing Telangana is a welcome decision. We will wait for the Bill to be passed in Parliament. Hyderabad can be an interim capital," said Rao.

The Congress Working Committee unanimously passed a resolution for creation of Telangana state. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy left for Hyderabad soon after the Congress Working Committee decision in favour of Telangana.

Cell Guru's review of Galaxy Tab 3 (310) and the Galaxy Tab 3 (311)

The much awaited Galaxy Tab 3 of Samsung has been launched. Cell Guru team reviews the two versions of the tablet -- the Galaxy Tab 3 (310) and the Galaxy Tab 3 (311). Find out what is special about this latest launch and the difference between the two versions of the tablet on Cell Guru.

Class 7 students discover asteroid, get international recognition

Most of the class seven students have a lot in their plate - homework, friends and video games but for Shourya Chambial and Gaurav Pati, students of Amity International School in Delhi, priorities are a little different. At the age of 12, both the boys have made an international mark.

They discovered an asteroid in June, 2012 that has now been recognised by the International Space Community. The asteroid has been named 2013 LS28 for the time being. It all started in May, 2013 when the boys attended an astronomy seminar along with their physics teacher.

Pune: Manufacturing firm's CEO booked for sexually assaulting daughter

A sexual assault case has been registered against a CEO in Pune by none other than his 19-year-old daughter. The Koregaon Park police booked the 45-year-old CEO of a manufacturing company for allegedly sexually assaulting his daughter for three years and also forcing her to accompany his boss to get a promotion.

Not just that, the girl was also allegedly molested by her grandfather and beaten and locked up by her grandmother and her father's friend when she protested. The girl is now with her mother, who lives separately, while the suspects are absconding.

Watch: I'm no one to judge gays, lesbians, says Pope Francis

Pope Francis seems to be reaching out to gays and lesbians, including gay priests saying he is no one to judge them. "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis asked.