UP Minister slaps, punches SP cadre
lucknow: A Minister in the Samajwadi Party Government of Uttar Pradesh first slapped a party worker, who complained of hooliganism, and then punched him at a meeting in Varanasi. Surendra Patel, State Minister for Public Works Department (PWD), on Monday evening slapped the party worker in full public view. He first tried to gag him and then slapped him, following it up with a punch. Patel, who is the Junior Minister and a close associate of PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, warned the worker, following which he apologised with folded hands. It was caught on television cameras. This is not the first time that Surendra Patel has lost his cool. The minister also beat up some people on Dec 29 last year during a blanket distribution function organised by the party.
DMK nominee files papers for RS polls
Chennai: DMK nominee Tiruchy N Siva on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections. Accompanied by party treasurer MK Stalin and senior leaders, including Duraimurugan, the two-time Rajya Sabha MP filed his nomination papers before returning officer AMP Jamaludeen at the Secretariat here. The terms of six Rajya Sabha MPs, two each from the Congress and DMK, one from AIADMK and CPM will end by April 2, 2014. The Election Commission has announced that polling will be held on February 7, 2014, if necessary.
Paswan leaves alliance decision to Congress
Patna: Amid reports of Congress' dilemma over choosing between the RJD and the JD(U) as ally in Bihar for the general elections, lJP chief Ramvilas Paswan on Tuesday said his party has left the decision to the Congress. "lJP has left the decision on alliance to the Congress and will go with it wherever it goes," Paswan told reporters making his party's stand clear. On a question about whether he would side with lalu Prasad's RJD or Nitish Kumar's JD(U), he said, "I have left this to the Congress." Paswan has suggested Congress to take a decision by January-end.
Six militants held in Central Kashmir
Srinagar: Six militants have been arrested in central Kashmir's Budgam district in separate operations during the past two weeks, police said on Tuesday. The militants, identified as Rafiq Ahmad, Javed Ahmad, Muzaffar Ahmad, Mohammad Yaseen, Altaf Mir and Bilal Ahmad Rather, were arrested in the district during the last two weeks in separate operations, police said. Some of these militants could have been involved in the killing of the station head officer (SHO) Chadoora on December 2 last year, police sources said. They said the militants were planning to carry out attacks at vital installations around Budgam and Chadoora towns of district.