Condemning the ban imposed on 'burqa' in France, Muslim leaders and clerics on Thursday said the "undemocratic" move violates basic human rights and appealed to the government to raise the issue with the European nation.

Rattled by dissension in his own ranks for his praise for Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, noted Gandhian and a member of the joint Lokpal drafting committee Anna Hazare on Wednesday issued a statement cautioning that there are elements, which want to create “schisms” and “discord” in the movement against corruption and appealed for unity.

Using the occasion of B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a swipe at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not voting in the just concluded Assembly elections in Assam.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, a known fighter against communalism and corruption, gives full credit to the RTI Act brought by the Manmohan Singh government for more exposes on corruption. He feels that the Lokpal Bill alone would not be able to check graft and new variety of measures, especially the five-point plan unveiled by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for transparency in governance.

The Pipraich byelections in Uttar Pradesh are fast turning into an “oust BSP” campaign and are also preparing the ground for a fresh realignment of political forces in the state.

Expressing shock at volleyball player Arunima Sinha being thrown out of a train in Bareilly, BJP on Thursday alleged that both railway minister Mamata Banerjee and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati should be held responsible for the incident.

After a long wait, the Congress on Wednesday nominated Mr Ajay Singh, son of late party veteran Arjun Singh, as the Congress Legislature Party leader in Madhya Pradesh. The post remained vacant for over six months since the death of Jamuna Devi.

Union minister Sharad Pawar’s name has cropped up in a statement corporate lobbyist Niira Radia has made to CBI in the 2G scam in which she has claimed without evidence that he was controlling the controversial DB Realty group, whose telecom company Swan has been charge sheeted in the case.

The ministry of defence (MoD) has not yet accorded its permission to the Indian Army to abandon the current promotions policy of segregating top Army officers (major generals and lieutenant-generals) into staff and command streams, defence sources have said.

The Supreme Court will hear on Friday the bail plea of civil rights activist Binayak Sen, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of sedition and links with Naxalites.