Bahuguna sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand

Congress MP Vijay Bahuguna was on Tuesday sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. The 65-year-old Mr. Bahuguna, son of late Congress leader Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, was the lone Minister to take the oath of office and secrecy at a brief ceremony at the Parade Ground in Dehra Dun.

Governor Margaret Alva administered the oath at the function which was attended by former Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari, central Congress observers Ghulam Nabi Azad, Birender Singh, party MP Satpal Maharaj, PCC chief Yashpal Arya, and Bahuguna’s sister Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

Irom Sharmila arrested, once again

Activist Irom Sharmila's mother cries as her daughter is being arrested from a protest venue, in Imphal.


Irom Sharmila, who has been on an indefinite fast for the past 11 years, was today re-arrested on the charge of attempt to suicide, only a day after she was released. 

She is gaining more public support in social networking sites.

Ms. Sharmila has been arrested, released and re-arrested for not eating over the last 11 years. She is being nasal fed forcibly at the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.

Every fortnight she is taken to the magistrate and as she refuses to break her fast, the court extends her judicial remand for another 15 days.

Ms. Sharmila is on fast demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Under Section 309 of the IPC, the maximum punishment for trying to commit suicide is one year. Therefore, she is released once every year, only to be re-arrested for continuing the fast.

Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs resigns

Union minister Harish Rawat, who lost in the race for Uttarakhand Chief Ministership, is said to have resigned from the Union government.

Mr. Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs, sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress sources said.

“We can only confirm that the resignation has been sent,” said a Congress leader close to Mr. Rawat.

The move comes after the Congress High Command overlooked his claims for the Chief Minister’s post which has gone to another MP Vijay Bahuguna.