Hours after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M K Stalin invited Makkal Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam to meet party chief Karunanidhi, the breakaway group of the Vijayakant-led party today extended unconditional support to them.

The Makkal DMDK was founded yesterday by expelled functionaries of the DMDK, who supported an alliance with the DMK opposing the party's tie-up with People's Welfare Front.

Yesterday, after Makkal DMDK top leader V C Chandrakumar said that his outfit members would call on DMK leadership if they were invited, Stalin today said that party chief Karunanidhi was ready to meet them.

Following this, Makkal DMDK functionaries led by Chandrakumar called on both Stalin and Karunanidhi. Later, speaking to reporters, Chandrakumar said that they offered unconditional support to DMK.

"We did not make any demand that we should be given a specified number of seats. Makkal DMDK is extending unconditional support to the DMK," he said.

"We would like to fight polls and for that purpose, whatever may be the number of seats that we may be given, we are ready to work with DMK and we have extended our unconditional support," he said.

Chandrakumar was the propaganda secretary of the DMDK before he was expelled from the party and he was also the party whip in the outgoing assembly.

Along with others, he had revolted the decision to tie-up with the PWF and had also alleged that DMDK founder Vijayakant's wife Premalatha was calling the shots vis-a-vis in party, a charge stoutly denied by her.

Breaking an age-old convention, a few women were on Monday allowed to enter the inner sanctum of the historical Mahalaxmi temple in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district.

In the wake of Bombay high court's ruling that women cannot be stopped from entering the religious places and subsequent decision by trustees of Shani temple at Shingnapur to allow women to enter its core area notwithstanding the ancient taboo, some women's organisations here had made similar demand for the Mahalaxmi temple.

Though the temple was always open to men and women alike, women were not allowed inside the inner sanctum (gabhara) of the temple.

Inspector Anil Deshmukh of Juna Rajwada police station said that police on Monday held a meeting with representatives of various organisations, the Paschim Maharashtra Devsthan Samiti (which manages this and various other temples in western Maharashtra) and the temple priests.

After the Samiti as well as the priests said that they were not opposed to women entering the inner sanctum, eight women went into the sanctum and performed a puja, the police officer said.

Accordin to reports, the Election Commission has directed the police to lodge an FIR against Assam CM Tarun Gogoi. 

Three female militants linked with outlawed Pakistani Taliban and involved in facilitating terror attacks in Punjab province were arrested today along with suicide jackets and hand grenades.

And a sneak peek at what Kate's wearing at the dinner hosted by the British Embassy in New Delhi. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed grief on the loss of lives caused by falling of an electric cable in Assam's Tinsukia district and asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take suitable steps. Singh immediately talked to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who apprised him of the situation. "PM @narendramodi expressed grief on the loss of lives caused by falling of an electric cable in Assam's Tinsukia district," PMO tweeted. "PM prays that those injured recover quickly. PM spoke to Home Minister @BJPRajnathSingh ji on the situation," the PMO said in another tweet.


At least 11 people were killed and 20 others were seriously injured when a high voltage wire hit by bullets fell on demonstrators as police fired in the air to disperse them at Pangeree in upper Assam today. Police said the incident took place when a large number of protestors armed with matchets and sticks pelted stones at Pangeree Police Station in Tinsukia district and tried to gherao it demanding that those arrested in connection with the killing of two persons in the area three days ago be handed over to them.


They threw stones and broke glass panes of the police station. Police then fired in the air to control the mob and the bullets hit an overhead high tension electric wire causing it to fall on the demonstrators.

New Delhi: Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton pay homage at the Gandhi memorial. 

Asserting that it would decide on the right of women to enter the historic Sabarimala shrine on the basis of constitutional principles and not by the prevalent customary practices, the Supreme Court today said "gender justice is endangered".


"We will now only be guided by the rationale under the Constitution. The gravity of this petition is that gender justice is endangered," a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.


"Can you deny a woman her right to climb the Mount Everest? The reasons banning anything must be common for all and on the bedrock of the Constitution," the bench, also comprising justices V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph, said.


The court was hearing a PIL, filed by Indian Young Lawyers' Association (IYLA), seeking entry of women in the Sabarimala temple.


At the outset of the two-hour-long hearing, it asked the counsel, supporting the ban, about constitutional principles which support the restraining order of the temple board.


"We will like to understand as to what right they have to forbid a woman from entering the temple, a public place," the bench said, visibly unimpressed with the arguments that the practice has been observed for centuries and much before the Constitution came into being.


The bench said it would examine the question as to whether a public religious place can pass such an order and "whether such a prohibition is permissible under the Constitution".


The customary practices cannot override constitutional values, it said. "Anyone can worship the God or Goddess structured into idols. I believe in God and want to bow my head, can you say, don't come," it asked the counsel representing the Devaswom Board. Referring to the prevalent Hindu protocol, the bench said the mother has to be greeted ahead of father, 'Kul Guru' (teacher of the clan) and 'Kul Purohit' (priest of the clan) and hence, women should not be prohibited from entering the temples.

Kolkata and large parts of South Bengal are reeling under heatwave conditions with day temperature soaring to 45.1 degrees Celsius in Bankura, the highest in the country's plains today, with the Met Department forecasting no respite in the next few days. Bankura district, where people braved the sweltering heat to cast their votes since early morning in the second part of polling for the first phase of the state Assembly elections, recorded the highest temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius during the day, which was eight degrees above average, topping the day's temperature chart recorded over the plains in the country, according to the MeT department. In Kolkata, the day temperature stood at 40.5 degrees, five degrees above normal, while the lowest temperature was 28.3 degrees, three notches higher than average.


Asansol and Burdwan recorded 43 deg C and 42.5 deg C respectively, according to MeT department sources.

Noted cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle is still clueless about the reasons for his ouster from the IPL panel but hoped that players' complaint has nothing to do with his removal.


"I still don't know why I am not doing the IPL. I haven't been told. I can accept the fact that people don't like me. But I genuinely hope it isn't because cricketers have complained about what I have to say," posted Bhogle on his Facebook page.


Speculation is rife that some Indian cricketers have complained against Bhogle to the BCCI for his comments on air but the exact reason for his last minute sacking from the IPL commentators' panel is not yet known.


"I tell every young cricketer who cares to listen that we will never agree on everything but I will always desire that they do well; that I cannot stop them from scoring a run, or taking a wicket or holding a catch.


"Doing that is their job, telling the story of what they did, or didn't, is mine. Our paths will be strewn with admiration and disagreement. It is the nature of the job whether you are a university level cricketer or among the best there has been. And, for heaven's sake, my greatest criticism is that I don't do enough of it," he wrote further.


There has been an outpour of support on social media for Bhogle, who has more than 3.5 million Twitter followers.


Also read: Why the hell was Harsha Bhogle axed?!

At least 12 killed by suicide bomber targeting recruits in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, officials say.

Rajeev Masand @RajeevMasand  Is this the WORST photoshop job ever? #Sultan

Ace fashion designer Anita Dongre says she was "surprised" to see Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wearing one of her creations on the first day of her India trip. The royal couple are on their maiden trip to the country and Kate opted for a long printed tunic on her visit to a charity event at The Oval Maidan in Mumbai yesterday.


"I was surprised. Her team had contacted us before, but I never knew she has chosen one of my outfits. Watching her pictures wearing my creation was a really proud moment for me," Anita said.


The Mughal-prints inspired tunic was from the Mumbai-based designer's latest Spring/Summer collection titled "Love Notes," which she showcased at the recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week. Anita felt the royal took her design to another level, and carried it off beautifully.


"There was something special when she wore the dress. She carried it off beautifully. She wore it for a long time from afternoon till early evening and managed to look fresh throughout," she said.


Kate teamed her tunic with Mint Velvet wedges in mink colour while keeping the rest of the look simple and summery. Anita said her designs have elegance and feminine touch and Kate perfectly personified it.


"I have always admired her and loved the way she dresses. She is elegant and feminine and that's what my designs show. She has a strong sense of style and whatever she will be wearing is going to be perfect. Her looks are always a hit and never a miss," Anita said.


The designer said she would love to create a bespoke design for Kate. "I would like to see her in all my designs but I would love to create a bespoke outfit for her someday," she said.

And William and Kate in a sombre moment at India Gate. 

On day 2 of William and Kate's India visit, the Duke and Duchess paid homage at the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi. Following this will be a visit to Raj Ghat, the site where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated and a a party in honour of the British queen's birthday at the residence of the British High Commissioner.

The royals began a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan on Sunday, beginning with Mumbai. So far the pair have visited the historic Banganga water tank in Mumbai and enjoyed a game of cricket with none other than Sachin Tendulkar, attending a party graced by Bollywood's who's wo and charity events.

Just in: Eleven dead, 20 hurt after high voltage cable hit by police firing snaps. 

The first tranche of 5 lakh litres of water being carried by a train is stuck at Sangurli station, approximately 150 km from Latur, say reports. 

Buoyed by expectations of a good monsoon this year, the BSE Sensex regained the 25,000-mark today by rebounding 348 points to snap its two-day losing run, as investors widened their bets in bank and IT sectors in the last two hours of the session.

At least 5 killed in bomb blast at a restaurant in Somalia.

Mercedes hit-and-run case: The Class 12 student who had allegedly run over a 32-year-old man with his father's Mercedes in north Delhi's Civil Lines last week, has been sent to a two-day police custody. The accused surrendered to the police on Sunday and had been sent to a juvenile justice home.  He was sent to police custody after he was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board today.


A special investigative team probing the hit-and-run case found that the teenager was driving the vehicle on all four instances in the past eight months when the car was fined for traffic violations .


Investigating officers said they seized evidence in two cases to show that the teenager was speeding -- a challan copy of March 3 with the name of the teen, caught on Rajpura Road for speeding; the statement of a man who was involved in an accident with the teen on February 16.


The man, police said, identified the teenager as speeding causing the accident on the day. The team asked the traffic police for a certified copy of the challan in the four cases as well as the car's challan history of the last two years.


Pic: A video grab of the moment the victim was hit by the car.

Three suicide bombers carried out explosions in a village in Russia's Stavropol region on Monday.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar today released the teaser poster of "Sachin: A Billion Dreams", his upcoming biopic. Sachin, 42, is making his acting debut with the movie, which has been directed by award-winning British director James Erskine.

Meanwhile, three cars with gunny bags full of explosives have been found near the Kollam temple in Kerala, reports NDTV. The bomb disposal squad is at the spot and has cordoned off the area.  The police says the nature of the explosives is not know as yet. Developing story.


And in a related story, this is the woman (pictured), who had in a sense, warned of the Kollam fire. She said that just before the accident, a part of her house was damaged due to fireworks and she had then complained to temple officials. "I also wrote to the collector. Some temple officials then came after our appeal, and they said they will look into matter but no action was taken," says Pankajakshi. 


In fact it was on the basis of this woman's complaint that the district administration had denied permission to the Puttingal Devi temple authorities to conduct the fireworks display.


She has claimed that her family was threatened and told to withdraw the plea given to the collector.


Pankajakshi said that on Saturday, her son-in-law, Prakash, was asked to recall the petition to the district collector as that complaint had led to the ban of the fireworks show.


Pic: Empty fire cracker shells inside the compound of the temple.

Hearing on women's entry at the Sabarimala temple: SC Judge Justice Dipak Misra questions, "Can any tradition override constitutional provisions? We would like to see previous judgements which uphold ban on entry of women in any temple"

Another male bastion to fall?

Dwaraka-Sharda Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati has held the worship of the "unworthy" Shirdi Sai Baba by his followers responsible for a drought-like situation in Maharashtra.

The seer, who is known for his bitter opposition to Hindus worshipping Shirdi's Sai Baba, has made this remark on Sunday during a fortnight-long visit to Haridwar.

According to the Dwaraka seer, worshipping Sai Baba, a 'fakir', as if he were a god was 'inauspicious'.

"Calamity strikes where those unworthy of worship are worshipped," the Shankaracharya was quoted as saying in a report by Times of India.

In support of his claim, the Shankaracharya also quoted scriptures to emphasise that "such places suffer drought, flood, death or fear"

Maharashtra is facing all of these, he concluded.

The 94-year-old seer also expressed his opinion on the Shani temple row and said that women should not have entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Shani Shingnapur temple as "it will bring bad luck to them".

"Shani is a planet of sins. Worshipping him will lead to a rise in crime against women," he added.

Women entered Shani temple inner sanctum, due to this, incidents of rapes will increase further, Shankaracharya Swaroopanand was quoted as saying by ANI.

And in Kerala, the Thiruvambadi Devaswom Board President says the fireworks will now take place on April 15 and 17 and safety measures have been taken. The board said the fireworks festivities cannot be cancelled since it was an age-old tradition.

Amid growing clamour for ban on temple fireworks display in Kerala in wake of Kollam temple tragedy, the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages about 1,255 temples in Kerala, said it was not for a complete ban on such displays.

Prayar Goapalakrishnan, president of TDB, said the board was against banning the pyrotechnics during temple festivals as they are part of rituals.

But it should be as per the restrictions of government and court orders with sufficient safety measures, he said.

In various temples fireworks display is part of temple rituals and we cannot ban it, he said.

The board has issued an urgent circular to all temples under it, directing that the fireworks display be carried out only in compliance with rules and regulations.

Board member Ajay Tharayil, however, said he was in favour of a total ban on major fireworks.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said on Sunday that the government could impose regulations on the display of fireworks, but cannot ban them.

In the name of rituals and traditions, we have limitations. We can regulate them (display of fireworks) but not ban them, he said.

Three suicide bombers carry out explosions in Russia's Stavropol region, says Interfax (Source: Reuters)

VS Jayakumar is the Secretary of the Travancore Devaswom Board and a former executive officer at the Sabarimala shrine. His brother VS Sivakumar is Kerala's health and Dewasom minister. Most temples in Kerala are managed by Dewasoms, and the Travancore Dewasom Board is perhaps the most influential.

In this exclusive interview, Jayakumar tells Shobha Warrier/ Rediff.com about Sunday morning's horrific tragedy at the Puttingal temple near Kollam, Kerala, which claimed over a hundred lives.
Read more

Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh votes in Dispur for the final phase of the Assam Assembly polls. Dr Singh said voters of Assam will reward the Congress for the good work done in the last 15 years.

Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge, arrived at The Social -- a cafe and collaborative work space -- where they met with some of Mumbai's budding business talent and were given a chance to try out some of their new ideas. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel who was at the social said Kate spoke to several entrepreneurs including a person wielding a dosa-making machine.

At one stand, the couple tried their hand at Braille and typed the word 'George'. Prince George is their first born.

Dressed in a demure white dress, Kate made a big impression at the event, as did William. The prince also launched the Tech Rocketship Awards, which aims to find some of India's best and brightest talent in technology start-ups.

Last night, the Duke and Duchess were at a star-studded gathering which saw the who's who of Bollywood in attendance. Take a look.


Photograph: Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff

In an unfortunate event, three Indian students in Uzhgorod Medical College in Ukraine were stabbed by three Ukraine nationals on 10 April, say the Ministry of External Affairs. Pranav Shaindilya and Ankur Singh died while Indrajeet Chauhan is recuperating. Based on his statement the Ukraine police have apprehended the accused, says the MEA.

This comes after an incident last month where an Indian medical student, who was in a coma at a trauma centre after being attacked by local goons in Russian city of Kazan, died.


Pic: The Uzhgorod Medical College in Ukraine

It may take a while, but dreams do come true, Boman Kohinoor will tell you. The owner of Mumbai's iconic Britannia & Co. restaurant finally met the British Royal family on Sunday, fulfilling the 93-year-old fan's long-held fantasy. Kohinoor was invited by Prince William and Kate Middleton for an out-of-schedule meeting at The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai. Read more

Drought situation: First batch of 10 railway wagons with 5 lakh litres of water left from Miraj junction railway station for Latur.

Assam CM Tarun Gogoi holds press meet, Election Commission terms it violation of Model Code of Conduct.

Cartoonist Satish Acharya on the censor board giving Jungle Book a U/A rating for being "too scary for kids".

Sporadic incidents of violence occurred as around 20 per cent electorate cast their vote in the initial hours during polling in 31 Assembly seats in West Bengal today. The turnout in seats spread over three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Burdwan districts in the second part of the first phase was was 19.95 per cent till 9 am, election officials said.

Voting began at 7 am with a large number of people turning up to avoid the scorching sun as day time temperatures are crossing 40 degree Celsius. Five-time CPI-M MLA from Narayangarh and Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra was among the early voters. Two bags containing bombs were found near booth number 35 in Jamuria by the police.

The Trimbakeshwar Temple authorities have gone back on their April 3 resolution wherein they decided to ban entry of men too into the core worship area at the famous Lord Shiva shrine here.

A meeting of the Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust held yesterday cancelled its earlier resolution restricting entry of males into the 'garbhgriha' (sanctum sanctorum), Nivrutti Nagare, one of trustees and Chief Officer of Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council said today.


The Trust revoked its decision of April 3 owing to pressure from locals, Nagare, who presided over the meeting of the trustees said. The meeting did not decide anything on the centuries old ban on women's entry into the core area, he said.


However, according to a ruling by the Bombay HC, if men are allowed into the inner sanctum, women would be allowed as well.


Another bastion bites the dust...

Voting underway for the second part of the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal: 39.69% voter turnout recorded till 11 am. 

Puttingal temple fire tragedy: Death toll rises to 109 with 383 people injured, confirms Kerala CMO.

Lawyer files an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the Bombay High Court's order on the ground of legal lacunae in the Salman Khan hit-and-run case. The Chief Justice of India asked the petitioner to approach the bench which is hearing Maharashtra Govt's appeal against Salman's acquittal in the case.

The first train transporting water to drought-hit Marathwada will reach Latur later today. A railway official said the 50-wagon train, which can carry 2.75 lakh litres of water, reached Miraj on Sunday afternoon.

The wagons, which are used to transport fuel and oil, were steam-cleaned to remove traces of these substances.

Marathwada is reeling under a severe drought with most of its dams drying up and providing residents drinking water is proving to be a challenge. Currently, villages in the area get water once every 10-12 days.

The Sangli district administration is working day and night to complete the 2,700-metre supply line to bring water from the railways' filter house to the railway yard. The work, at a cost of Rs 1.84 crore, started on Saturday morning. "We need at least four to six days to complete the pipeline. At present, we are filling the wagons as a trial run. After it, we can regularise the water supply in the next four to six days," collector Shekhar Gaikwad said.

In the four-hour long fireworks display, a sunflower (sooryakanthi) blossom was the most awaited item - the way colours would unravel in the open sky resembling a sunflower field in full bloom. But in the early hours of Sunday, as the display headed to a climax, the 'sunflower' was to provide a deadly turn to the events.


According to eyewitnesses, a mini-van loaded with gunpowder was parked close to the storehouse containing explosives and it blew up when sparks from the sunflower firecracker fell on it. The storehouse caught fire immediately and the concrete structure exploded hurling concrete shards all over the area.


Minutes before the explosion happened, crackers had started falling randomly. "Usually the cracker is loaded with the pipe being kept in an erect position. This creates the desired direction at the time of burst and the cracker won't fly off misdirected.


In this case, there was a hurried manner in which the cracker was loaded as it was done in the last phase and the pipe was in a slanted position," said Vinod, a local resident who is very knowledgeable in these matters. Vinod suffered an injury on his head after being hit by a heavy object from behind.

The Class 12 student who had allegedly run over a 32-year-old man with his father's Mercedes in north Delhi's Civil Lines last week, surrendered to the police on Sunday and was sent to a juvenile justice home.  He will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on Monday.


The teen turned 18 years old on Friday -- four days after the accident. He was said to be behind the wheels of the car, which, going at speed of 80 km an hour, hit marketing consultant Siddharth Sharma. In CCTV footage, the young man was seen flung 10 foot into the air -- there was no sign of the driver trying to swerve or slow down.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton are attending the Young Entrepreneurs Event at The Social in Mumbai today.

A CPI(M) agent was allegedly beaten up by Trinamool Congress workers and obstructed from entering a polling booth, while bombs were found in two bags near another booth in Jamuria assembly constituency in Burdwan district where polling is underway today. 

From Roshneesh Kmaneck/Rediff.com: All trains on the Western line are running 25-30 minutes late. This has caused overcrowding on the platforms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took stock of the Kollam temple inferno in Kerala today, has sought for a detailed report from the state administration as to how the fire broke out and caused damage to life and property on such a large scale, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda said.

Five people have been detained in connection with the deadly inferno at the Puttingal temple in Kollam district in Kerala killing at least 105 people.

Five people were injured after a clash broke out between the CPI-M and the TMC workers in Jamuria, located in Bardhaman district of West Bengal, where polling is currently underway for the second part of the assembly polls.

The second and final phase of Assam Assembly elections began at 7 AM today amid tight security to decide the fate of 525 candidates in 61 of the 126 constituencies with ruling Congress, BJP-AGP-BPF alliance and AIUDF locked in a keen contest.  An electorate of 1,04,35,271, comprising 53,91,204 males, 50,44,051 females and 22 others, will exercise their franchise in 12,699 polling stations to decide the fate of 477 male and 48 female candidates in Lower and Central Assam. More than 50,000 polling personnel have been deployed with security tightened across the constituencies, particularly those in four Bodoland Territorial Area Districts where NDFB-S militants are active and in Goalpara district which recently witnessed a bomb blast.  Security has been also stepped up in minority dominated constituencies. A strict vigil is being maintained along the Indo-Bangla border in Dhubri district and Indo-Bhutan border in Baksa district.