NEW DELHI: Parliament today expressed alarm at the fear psychosis that has gripped people from Northeast in some other parts of the country, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warning stern action against those behind the "most reprehensible" act of creating insecurity.Both Houses of Parliament showed solidarity with the people of North East, with Rajya Sabha adopting a resolution demanding...

NEW DELHI: To check spread of rumors which has led to exodus of north eastern people from certain states, government banned from today bulk SMSes and MMSes for 15 days across the country."We have banned bulk SMSes and MMSes for 15 days," Union Home Secretary R K Singh told PTI.The decision was taken after reports of widespread circulation of...

NEW DELHI: Expressing solidarity with people of North East, Rajya Sabha today passed a resolution seeking investigation against those creating panic, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying those responsible be brought to book."The House expresses its serious concern at the feeling of persecution of our brothers and sisters of the North Eastern states, who are leaving various cities and...

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said an official probe into the "rumored racial discrimination" which led to the exodus of NE youths, including those from Meghalaya, from southern states and Maharashtra is needed to end the crisis."Rumors of this magnitude need a thorough investigation," Mukul said, adding there are possibilities of involvement of vested groups so as...

NEW DELHI: A bill, which seeks to give IIITs administrative autonomy and enables setting up of 20 more such insititutes, was approved by the government today.The Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Bill, 2012 is set to be introduced during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, official sources said.Once enacted, the legislation, cleared by the Union Cabinet, will confer...

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today expressed grief over the killing of 56-year-old Dalbir Singh of Milwaukee in US, who was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on Wednesday.Badal asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the matter with US administration to curb such incidents of brutal violence and ensure safety and security of minorities in...

NEW DELHI: Government's move to give more power to commodity markets regulator FMC appears to be headed for trouble with Trinamool Congress opposing it during a meeting of the Union Cabinet today.Trinamool Congress sources said that objection by party leader and Railway Minister Mukul Roy to the measure at the Cabinet meeting led to deferment of the proposed Forward...

NEW DELHI: India's star tennis player Sania Mirza, whose career has been plagued by several injuries of late, has now decided to completely shift her focus on playing doubles only.The 26-year-old Sania, who could not win a medal at the just concluded London Olympics, said she still enjoyed playing singles but the time has come for her to concentrate...

CHENNAI: Union minister Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was undergoing treatment for a serious liver ailment, died at a city hospital today.The end came early this afternoon a week after Deshmukh, 67, the Science and Technology Minister, was hospitalized here in a critical condition, even as attempts were being made to find a donor for his liver transplant.An attempt to...