Rallying behind Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, at the receiving end over her statement on the killing of Maoist leader “Azad”, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee made it clear on Sunday that “there was nothing wrong” with her statement.

Two persons, including a juvenile, have been arrested by the police in connection with the murder of a woman in Shalimar Bagh area of northwest Delhi on July 16.
The police arrested Arjun Pandit, 22, and a juvenile for murdering Anita Gupta, a resident of AN Block in Shalimar Bagh.

Pakistan on Thursday declined India’s offer to send $5 million in aid to Pakistani flood victims, saying it “appreciated India’s gesture, but can’t take aid now”.

More than half of West Bengal is reeling under drought even as the state government on Monday declared 11 districts as drought-hit. Meanwhile, after declaring half of Jharkhand’s 24 districts as drought affected a fortnight ago, governor M.O.H. Farook on Monday declared the entire state as drought-hit following a recommendation from his advisory council in the face of growing demands from the state’s political parties.

Railway minister and Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee suffered minor “chest injuries” after her convoy was hit by a lorry while she was returing to Kolkata from her Lalgarh rally on Monday evening. Doctors advised her complete rest, so she will not be able to attend Parliament for some days.

The government put its best foot forward in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to counter the Opposition’s allegations regarding corruption in preparations for the forthcoming Common-wealth Games, but Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh sprang yet another surprise by demanding that Mr Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Games organising committee, should resign “if his name figures in a CBI inquiry”.

The latest person to figure in the Commonwealth Games controversy is the joint secretary of the Air India Sports Control Board, Mr Ramesh Nambiar. Investigating agencies are now looking at whether Mr Nambiar, known for his proximity to the CWG Organising Committee head, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, had any hand in fixing deals with the London-based AM Films and Melbourne-based company Sports Management and Marketing (SMAM) in connection with Queen’s Baton Relay and sponsorship

The Centre on Tuesday informed the Parliament that it is in the process of framing fresh safety regulations, in the wake of the Mangalore air disaster which claimed 158 lives. Government also assured that safety will not be compromised on account of financial distress of airlines.

The government was roundly criticised by both its friends and foes in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday when the House began discussion on a motion to discuss the impact of rising prices on the common man.

Talking tough, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday made it clear that restraint cannot be one-sided. Mr Abdullah, who briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the situation in the Valley, said the cycle of violence must stop, only then could one reopen channels.