Maoists Trigger Landmine Blast Killed 8 Cops In Jharkhand

By Sucheta Dule | Ranchi

DEVELOPING STORY Eight persons - six polling officials and two policemen - were killed and seven others injured in a landmine blast when suspected Maoists blew up their vehicle in the district, a senior police officer said here. Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said a landmine was triggered when they were returning from poll duty.

The blast occurred near Asnajore in Shikaripara Assembly segment while the polling officials were returning, Inspector General of Police, Anurag Gupta said. He said police reinforcement was rushed to the area for combing operations. 

A Peep Inside Chhattisgarh's 'No Vote Zone' In Elections'14

By Mithilesh Mishra | Raipur

SPECIAL REPORT According to data collected during last year's Assembly polls, 15 polling booths across villages which fall under the Konta Assembly constituency recorded zero polling percentage. Time, they say, flies. But in Chintalnar, ever since the Salwa Judum movement began in 2005, it first froze and then turned backwards.

Situated in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, Chintalnar has no roads, no hospitals, no electricity, no administration. But the village, which hit the headlines after one of the bloodiest Maoist attacks claimed 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men and a policeman in 2010, is a cause of envy for its nearby villages which have the dubious distinction of polling zero votes for more than a decade now.

New Telengana: Vote For Development Or Out Of Gratitude?

By M H Ahssan | INNLIVE

SPECIAL REPORT Perhaps, it far is more difficult to predict the poll outcome in the yet-to-be established state of Telengana, which goes to polls on April 30th, than in the Seemandhra region. In the residual state of Andhra Pradesh, it is a straight fight, a week later, between the TDP-BJP combine and the YSR Congress, with the other contenders, like the Jai Samaikandhra party of former chief minister, N. Kiran kumar Reddy, and his parent-party, the Congress, being also-rans.

The Big Story: Are Indian Christians Against Narendra Modi

By Devisri Pandya | INNLIVE

The media has conveniently forgotten it, even as the left-liberals were confused on whether to support overtly the reverend so-and-so, the principal of a Jesuit institution in Mumbai, who had sent an email to his students, warning against “communal forces coming to power.”

Implicit in this email is the underlying message: don’t vote for the BJP and don’t make Mr. Narendra Modi, the PM. The BJP made the right noises, condemning the email. I, for one, welcome the reverend’s statement. Why, because he had the guts to say openly what the clergy—most of them, at any rate—have been doing slyly, away from the glare of publicity.

Maoists Release Poll Manifesto, Demand New Constitution

By Newscop | INNLIVE

TOP STORY The outlawed CPI (Maoist) has for the first time released a ‘short-term vision’ document or ‘poll manifesto’ urging people to shun the ‘pseudo-democratic system’ and demanded a revamp of the Constitution of India.

In a first, CPI (Maoist) has released an ‘election manifesto’, a copy of which is in possession of this correspondent, asking the people of the country to choose between the ‘pseudo-democratic system’ prevailing in the country and ‘real democracy’ promised by the banned outfit.

Although the outfit has given a call to boycott the 16th General Elections across the country, the manifesto says, “Exercise your franchise if you support the pseudo-democratic system.”

Maoists Appear Divided Over Tactics During Elections 2014

By Chandan Rai (Guest Writer)

The outlawed CPI (Maoist) appears, which has given a call for boycotting the 16 th Lok Sabha polls, appear to be divided regarding their tactics vis-à-vis the largest democratic exercise worldwide.

If the recent activities of the banned Left Wing Extremist outfit CPI (Maoist) are any indications, they seem to be split over their modus operandi during the 16th Lok Sabha elections. While they have given a poll boycott call in a number of their pocket areas in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, the Red rebels have decided to urge the people to opt for the NOTA (none of the above) option in various areas.

In Focus: Should Gurgaon Elections Be Countermanded?

By Vivek Sharma (Guest Writer)

ELECTION SCENARIO If elections have been called the ‘dance of Indian democracy’, the number staged in Mewat recently could well be one of the most vulgar yet. Evidently, the Executive has done the tango with the choreographers. The question now is: will the dance break records at the box-office or will it crash? 

Last week Mewat demonstrated at the hustings how a people could just swindle through the half-shut eyes of the world’s largest democratic state without so much as a by-your-leave. Beyond the squeaky clean Nirvachan Sadan on Ashoka Road, one wonders how the supra-institution of the electoral process, the Election Commission of India, plants its feet in Indian muddy waters.

A Parallel Conversation: Martyrs, Rebels And Peasants

By Mithilesh Mishra | INNLIVE

SPECIAL REPORT The amicable relationship some villagers have with the Maoists, panchayat institutions, as well as large NGOs operating in the vicinity of the villages seems an unusual co-existence in Jharkhand.

It was a weekday when I got a call from Manohar* (name changed), an invite to attend a shahaadat diwas in Chotanagpur region the next day. Two months back, Manohar had helped us get in touch with the CPI(Maoist) for an interview. As he said, shahadat diwas was a day to commemorate martyrdom. I was unsure if it was the rebels' leaders' lives the ceremony was meant to recount, but had little opportunity to ask till I was on the road with him the next day.

Elections 2014 - Phase II: Polling Begins In 91 Lok Sabha Seats Spread Across 11 States And 3 Union Territories

INNLIVE Election Teams

Voting begins in Delhi 
Voting is being held for seven Lok Sabha seats in the country's capital, seen as test of Aam Aadmi Party's perceived erosion of support base, BJP's claim of 'Modi wave' and assertion by Congress that it was regaining lost ground after drubbing in last assembly polls.

Seriously, Chandrababu Naidu Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai?

By Likha Veer | INNLIVE

Chandrababu Naidu has been maha miffed with the BJP from the day that the saffron party admitted his sister–in–law Purandeswari into their fold. A union minister and MP from Visakhapatnam Purandeswari found her political career at grave risk after her government granted Telangana. Worried she ran to her brother Balakrishna to convince Naidu to allow her in the TDP. 

After all, the party was founded by her father! But Naidu with equal antipathy for her husband and she was unwilling to relent. Probably he would have if she had persisted but in the meanwhile BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu jumped into the scene. “Join us,” he sent news to the minister, “We will give you the Visakhapatnam or Vijayawada seat, which ever you want.” Purandeswari was ready. 

Netas' Sons, Daughters Contesting Above 50 Seat In India

By M H Ahssan | INNLIVE

ELECTIONS 2014 At least 50 parliamentary constituencies will be contested by 'sons and daughters' of politicians. From President Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijit to Rahul and Varun Gandhi, at least 50 parliamentary constituencies will be contested by ‘sons and daughters’ of politicians of various parties during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Of these, a majority of candidates have been fielded from the ruling Congress party.

Abhijit Mukherjee, a sitting MP, is contesting on a Congress ticket from his present Jangipur (West Bengal) constituency while Rahul Gandhi and Varun Gandhi are fighting from Amethi and Pilibhit constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, respectively.

Shocking: Indian Army Facing Acute Ammunition Crunch!

By Rashmi Nandan | INNLIVE

EXCLUSIVE The Indian army which is the world’s second largest standing unit, comprising 1.18 million soldiers, by the number of fighting troops is not in a very good shape at present. Army won’t be able to sustain a full-fledged war for more than 20 days.

India’s Army lacks adequate amount of ammunition, tanks, air defence, artillery units and even soldiers. However, Army sources are not ready to acknowledge the revealtion.

As per nomral standards followed in the Army, war wastages reserves (WWR) should be in place keeping in mind 40 days of strong war fighting. Additionally, the duration for the ammunition possessing short-shelf life is three weeks.

Chinks In The Armour: Red Tapism Rules The Roost; Only 800 Helmets Saving Lives Of 85,000 Jawans In India

By Rashmi Nandan | INNLIVE

It’s no secret that the Maoist insurgency is taking control of most of the Indian tribal land, although slowly, steadily of course.

Despite the country’s prime minister and home ministry promising full-proof solution to the problem many times in the past many years, there is nothing in sight anywhere close for a man with head firmly placed on his shoulders.

The jaws of the demon named “Maoist rebellion” is leisurely eating the lives of the personnel from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), without anyone even taking a notice – “would be happy to be proved wrong.”

How Reliance Retail Beat Big Bazaar,Trent To Profitability?

By M H Ahssan | INNLIVE

SPECIAL REPORT Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail is poised to perform a rare feat in India's notoriously complex retail market by finally turning a profit. The time and cost involved, however, could put off global and local rivals from even trying to copy it.

It took Reliance Retail, part of Ambani's conglomerate Reliance Industries, seven years of losses, bruising trial-and-error and over $1 billion (Rs. 6,100 crore at 1 dollar=61 rupees) in investments to find a formula that works for India, the world's fifth largest retail market and one of its fastest growing.

Will 'Telangana' Gamble Pay Off For The Congress Party?

By Likha Veer | INNLIVE

SPECIAL REPORT The Congress finally manages to ram the Telangana Bill through. But will the gamble pay off. For all those who fought for Telangana, a 45-year-old struggle has finally borne fruit. More than 900 families had lost a loved one to self-immolation in the name of the cause and each one of them know that the new state could have been formed under better circumstances. 

Everyone wishes that their demand for a separate state had been addressed on its own merit as opposed to what the Congress has pulled off — a cynical move with an eye on elections, delivered with an utter lack of grace.

Opinion: With Telangana – Divide and Rule Policy Adopted?

By Sri Sri Ravishankar (Guest Writer)

India is a phenomenon – the largest democracy on Earth, with a plethora of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. It is simply a miracle that It still exists united, unlike the former Yugoslavian and Soviet countries. 

Though our forefathers had wisely divided the nation on linguistic basis for ease of administration and communication, the huge population and distances have forced many states to be further divided. One such crisis in the current scenario is Telangana. The situation of Telangana is very peculiar unlike Uttarakhand. 

Telangana: Birth Of A New State And Death Of Many Things

By Newscop | INNLIVE

ANALYSIS When labour pangs become insufferable, doctors suggest a Caesarean section. The baby is extracted out of the womb. Doctors in India are often accused of forcing Caesarean section on a mother, to earn a quick buck, and deny the child a natural birth, besides putting the mother at risk. 

The birth of India's 29th state is a case of precisely that. The time of Telangana's birth had come. The pain was at its peak. But spindoctors did not allow Telangana a natural birth. What happened in Lok Sabha was inevitable; the way it happened was totally avoidable.

Telangana Shame: Voice Vote Violation Of Parliament Rule

By Likha Veer | INNLIVE

OPEN EDITORIAL Many are describing the government's decision to pass the Telangana bill by a voice vote and black out the telecast of the proceedings  as the death of democracy. Particularly controversial is the Lok Sabha speaker's decision to move ahead with a voice vote — instead of the division vote as demanded by the opposing voices. 

"A voice vote can only be held with the consent of all the members in the house," says Subhash C Kashyap, a former Secretary General of the Indian Parliament and a honorary advisor to the government of India on legal issues. "Even if one member doesn't give his or her consent in favour of a voice vote, then the house cannot proceed with a voice vote but it has to go for a division vote," says the veteran parliament expert.

When 'Telangana' Separated With Andhra Pradesh State?

By M H Ahssan | INNLIVE

ANALYSIS Fifty-eight years after the unification of Telangana and Andhra region, the Lok Sabha separated them by dividing the state of Andhra Pradesh. After blacking out the live coverage of the Telangana debate on Lok Sabha TV, the Hower House voted for Telangana state in a controversial voice vote. Interestingly, both Congress and BJP joined hands to divide Andhra Pradesh. Only the TMC and JDU staged a walkout calling it a murder of democracy.

According to experts the Congress which is staring at a rout in most parts of the country is likely to win big in Telangana which has 17 Lok Sabha and 119 Assembly seats. The Congress is expected to be decimated in Seemandhra region.

Naxal Corridor Becomes Suicide Zone For Security Forces

By Mithilesh Mishra | Raipur

India's Red Corridor has turned into a suicide zone for our security personnel fighting Maoists of central and south-central India. Death can surprise our soldiers any time as rebels in the Red zone are inducting experts to carry out explosions in the most innovative ways. The terrain of the area itself poses extreme danger as the rebels manage to operate from deep inside the jungles.

Rebels in the Red zone are killing more soldiers than are dying in all insurgency-hit areas put together. A soldier fighting Maoists deep inside the jungles of central and south-central India is far more likely to be killed than his uniformed brothers taking on militants in Jammu and Kashmir or insurgents in the North-East.