AP Speaker Disqualifies 15 MLAs, Govt Falls In Minority

By Ramesh Reddy / Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker on Saturday disqualified 15 members of legislative assembly belonging to the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for violating party whips. Speaker N. Manohar, who heard the petitions moved by the two parties during the last few weeks, announced his decision on Saturday evening. Nine of those disqualified belong to the Congress while six others are members of the TDP.

The two parties had sought their members disqualification for violating party whips during the voting on no-confidence motion moved by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) against the government in the assembly in March. The legislators, who have switched loyalties to YSR Congress party, supported the no-trust motion.

BJP Refuses To Spell Out Modi's Role In 2014 Polls

By Kajol Singh / New Delhi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi seems to have split the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) down the middle over his proposed role in the 2014 elections with his angry supporters coming out on the streets and protesting outside party stalwart LK Advani's house even as the main opposition's chief Rajnath Singh offered a compromise formula to bridge the divide by suggesting Modi's name as the Lok Sabha elections' poll campaign convenor.

After Nano, Tata's New 'Nana' To Hit India In December 2013

By Adhura Ranjan / Mumbai

Now each one can fly. No, that’s not a new slogan from some plane ticket booking website, but a promise by the reputed Tata Group, which has announced their latest plans to launch Nana – the people’s helicopter. Nana will cost around 10 Lakh rupees and will be specially manufactured for the Indian middle class that desires to have safer and quicker means of transport at an affordable cost.

Saturday Tadka: Salman Khan To Host 'Bigg Boss-7' Again?

By Niloufer Khan / Mumbai

Salman Khan has apparently given his nod for the seventh season of his reality show. May also get a hefty hike on his already amazing fee. If rumours are to be believed, Salman Khan will once again be the face of Bigg Boss. After initial buzz suggested that the upcoming season had been offered to Salman’s bete noire Shah Rukh Khan, sources from the production house say Sallu has already signed on the dotted line. 

Sources also say Salman has apparently been given a considerable fee hike. While the actor was said to be apparently earning R 2.5 crore per episode in the previous season, he is now allegedly said to receive a whopping amount of R 3 crore per appearance.

An insider says, “Salman’s three-season deal had lapsed after the last season. The channel had approached him as well as SRK for the next season. They wanted to keep their options open. But looks like now Salman has come on board.”

'Mumbai Hockey Team Squeezes Into Train Pantry'

By Pushkar Amte / Mumbai

If you wondered why Indian hockey is in the doldrums, this might be a clue the Mumbai Under-19 hockey team had to squat near toilets, sleep in the train pantry, as they did not get reserved tickets while returning from the national championship.

India’s cherished Olympic aspirations for hockey are likely to remain a pipe dream, if the treatment meted to the Under-19 Mumbai National Team for the sport is anything to go by. Returning on Friday after a gruelling stint at the Junior National Championships in Sonepat, Haryana, 15 players were forced to travel with unreserved tickets, as the Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) had not booked their berths on the train.

Flat Buyers' Need For A Robust Legal System In India

By M H Ahssan / Hyderabad

With both the Competition Commission of India (CCI) as well as the Consumer Forums adjudicating upon consumer issues, the major problem is that innocent buyers are confused about the forum that they should be approaching for redressal of the grievances. Here are some landmark judgements in real estate.

The real estate market for residential apartments is not regulated in India and buyers and investors in residential projects are suffering heavily at the hands of builders. Innocent buyers are made to sign on the dotted line of 'Flat Buyer Agreements' without getting a chance to negotiate the terms and conditions which invariably favour builders. The difficulties faced by customers are discussed below: The handing over of the possession of the apartments/flats is inordinately delayed by the builders. 

India Too Snooping Into Social Media, Telephone Calls?

By Sarah Williams / London

Global Rights Organisation Human Rights Watch Expresses Doubts Over Intent Of Country’s Central Monitoring System. Indians could soon see a repeat of the US scandal of the National Security Agency snooping into phone conversations and social networking accounts, play out in domestic shores. 
    
A leading global rights organisation has serious doubts over the intent of India’s Central Monitoring System (CMS) and has asked the government to enact clear laws to ensure that increased surveillance of phones and the Internet does not undermine rights to privacy and free expression. 

Will Modi’s Rise, Advani’s Sulking, Force A Split In BJP?

By Kajol Singh / Delhi

Will Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi‘s rapid ascent up the BJP ranks, which could be formalised at the national executive meeting of the party in Goa, lead to a split in the party?

Senior BJP leader LK Advani’s no-show on Friday's Goa meeting, which was attributed to a stomach infection, has set off speculation that the Bhishma Pitamah of the party is less than pleased with the party’s excessive eagerness to anoint Modi as the party candidate for the 2014 election.  Some argue that Goa could witness a deepening of the crisis within the party, and perhaps even lead to a formal split.