National News

HYDERABAD: Traders in the pilgrim town of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district Saturday observed a shutdown to protest the alleged irregularities committed by  the Sathya Sai Central Trust members.

NEW DELHI: Condemning the steep hike in the price of diesel, kerosene and domestic cooking gas effected by the Union Government Friday night, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Saturday said the hike will have a cascading effect on the prices of all essential commodities including food, vegetables and transport.

NEW DELHI: Congress General Secretary Mr Digvijay Singh, who stoked a controversy last year by calling Mr P Chidambaram as “intellectually arrogant”, now feels the Home Minister has “changed quite a lot now”.

JAMMU: The stage is all set for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage in Kashmir from June 29, with gathering of ascetics and pilgrims here in the run-up to the yatra’s official beginning.

NEW DELHI:  In a steep hike, the government on Friday increased diesel price by Rs3 per litre, domestic LPG by Rs50 per cylinder and kerosene by Rs2 per litre and slashed customs and excise duties on crude oil and products, sacrificing Rs 49,000 crore in revenues.

RALEGAN SIDDHI: Taking strong exception to Mr Bal Thackeray’s allegation that his anti-corruption agitation was funded by corporates, social activist Mr Anna Hazare has challenged the Shiv Sena chief to prove the charges against him.

MUMBAI: A rare celestial spectacle awaits skygazers Monday when a newly-found asteroid - 2011-MD - will pass between 10,000-12,000 km above earth, a scientist said Friday. It will be visited in India.

NEW DELHI: Tihar Jail, the country’s largest prison, will soon boast of a blanket manufacturing unit to cater to the growing demand for it with the number of inmates increasing everyday and VIP prisoners demanding more.

BHOPAL: Congress leader, Mr Digvijay Singh Thursday denied that Mr Anna Hazare would be given a treatment similar to yoga guru Ramdev if he goes on fast unto death from August 16 on the Lokpal issue.

NEW DELHI: Faced with a staggering 2.5 crore pending cases in courts, government Thursday approved a proposal to fast track disposal of cases to reduce the period of pendency from the present up to 15 years, to three.