Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday hinted at the beginning of a peace dialogue in Kashmir in the next few days, and reiterated the government’s offer of a dialogue with all sections of the people and all political parties and groups in the state. He also said the Centre had acknowledged that a political solution must be found to the state’s problems.

Persistent rainfall since Tuesday evening has left several areas in the national capital submerged, leading to huge traffic snarls and waterlogging at more than 100 places on Wednesday.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the landmark Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010, which aims to facilitate India’s global nuclear commerce.
The bill was necessary for the entry of big companies such as France’s nuclear giant Areva and America’s General Electric and Westinghouse, which were unwilling to d

India renewed its concern over Britain’s decision to impose a cap on immigration from non-European Union (EU) countries, including India, when visiting British immigration minister Damian Green held talks here on Wednesday with Overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi, minister of state of external affairs Preneet Kaur and minister of state of home affairs Mullapally Ramachandran.

Union home minister P. Chidambaram pointed out towards a “new phenomenon” which he called as “saffron terrorism”. The home minister warned that there has been no let up in attempts to radicalise the youth. “There is no let up in the attempts to radicalise young men and women in India. Besides, there is recently uncovered

The government introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha seeking more than double hike in salaries of MPs from `16,000 to `50,000 and doubling two of their key allowances to `40,000 each. The bill proposes to raise the daily allowance for members from `1,000 to `2,000 and the constituency and office expense allowances each from `20,000 to `40,000.

The government was unsure of consideration and passing of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill till 2.10 pm on Wednesday and even thought of dropping the bill after receiving “reports” of rethink in some non-UPA parties on supporting the piece of legislation in the Lok Sabha.

The mock Parliament session held in the Lok Sabha recently came under attack at an all-party meeting on Wednesday in which Speaker Meira Kumar virtually held that a minuscule minority of four per cent of members was holding the majority to ransom.

The 18 crucial amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill, 2010, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday are based largely on the amendments recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee on science and technology chaired by Dr T. Subbarami Reddy.

The bonhomie between Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is likely to be extended to Bihar elections as well, after the two leaders joined hands to build pressure on the government on the issue of salary hike for MPs.