SRINAGAR: Both the Srinagar-Jammu highway and the Baramulla-Banihal rail service in Jammu and Kashmir remained shut for the second day on Thursday, authorities said.

LUCKNOW: Amethi had never been a problem area either for Congress or party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. But there were signs of changing times on Wednesday when the Gandhi scion was shown black flags by the volunteers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during a visit to his constituency. Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Jan Kalyan Samiti also joined the protest

BHOPAL: Rahul Gandhi on Monday stressed on women's empowerment, pushing for the women's reservation bill. The Congress vice-president, in charge of the party's campaign for the 2014 polls, said India cannot become a superpower until women occupy leadership positions.

LUCKNOW: Under criticism for their European "study tour", UP legislators cut short the junket by three days and will return home on Tuesday. The 17-member delegation was scheduled to return on January 24.

DEHRADUN: Only a few months are left for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra to begin. But Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency for the ministry of external affairs-organized yatra, is still undecided about the route that the yatris will take through Uttarakhand this year. The main route of the pilgrimage — which is scheduled to begin from June 8 this year - was badly affected during the flash floods last year leading to the yatra being called off. Repair work in this area is progressing at a slow pace and it is unclear whether the route would be ready before the yatra commences.

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister once described Left-wing extremism as the biggest threat to internal security, but on Friday, as he reflected on his two terms in office, he glossed over the issue, both in his opening remarks and while fielding media queries on diverse subjects. Interestingly, the issue of terrorism too failed to find a cursory mention during his nearly 75-minute-long interaction with the press, while the Jammu and Kashmir problem was referred to only in the context of Indo-Pakistan relations.

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court (HC) has banned cutting of green mango trees in the state.

HYDERABAD: Indira Park which has been a venue for several pro-Telangana protests witnessed pro-Samaikyandhra chants by hundreds of Seemandhra activists and government employees as four of the six MPs from the region began a fast here on Friday. The Seemandhra MPs began the hunger strike on a day when the state Assembly resumed its winter session to debate the AP Reorganisation Bill 2013. MPs Harsha Kumar and Lagadapati Rajagopal began the fast. In the afternoon, their two colleagues, Sabbam Hari and Rayapati joined them

NEW DELHI: Determined to spread its wings, the AAP has stepped up fund collection and is urging supporters to donate Rs 2,014 - marking the year when the Lok Sabha election will be held.

HYDERABAD: A shutdown is being observed Friday in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions of Andhra Pradesh to oppose bifurcation of the state.