New Delhi, Apr. 21: Veteran socialist leader and erstwhile president of the Janata Dal (United), George Fernandes, has complained bitterly about the incumbent party leadership for sidelining him and preventing him from voicing concerns about issues pertaining to Bihar in particular, and the nation overall.

Latur (Maharashtra), Apr 21: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday assured that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is dedicated towards the fight against terrorism and the repetition of the Mumbai-style terror attacks would be prevented at all costs.

Addressing his first election rally in Maharashtra, Singh said, "We want to avoid recurrence of 26/11 type attack at any cost... we also want that no religion or community is subjected to unnecessary harassment on the issue."

Madrid, Apr 21: President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday said India will seek to promote ties with Spain in all fields, including political, trade and investment, cooperation in mutually beneficial areas like renewable energy, agriculture and tourism.

In response to the welcome remarks by President of Congress, here, Patil said that bilateral relations between India and Spain have always been cordial and have gained momentum in recent years.

Naroda Patiya (Gujarat), Apr 21: After a series of shoe attacks on politicians in the past few days, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi created a stir when he addressed an election rally here surrounded by a protective net.

The authorities are taking extra care to protect Modi, so a protective net was put on the stage to safeguard the Gujarat Chief Minister.

The shoe hurling bug has bit the people after an Iraqi journalist hurled shoe at the former US President George W. Bush.

New Delhi/Chennai, Apr. 21: Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, said Tuesday that the Indian Government is carefully monitoring the emerging situation in Sri Lanka, and was well aware and concerned about the plight of civilian Tamils in the island nation.

He, however, said that Prabhakaran is a proclaimed offender and the LTTE is a terrorist outfit and it should be treated on par with such other organisations,"

New Delhi, Apr 21: Vice President Hamid Ansari here today said that the concept of civil service and notions of its role and responsibilities has evolved over time.

"Independent India inherited from the British period a comprehensive civil service structure and established practices. Its utility for ensuring national unity and good administration in the country was recognized by Sardar Patel, and accepted by the Constituent Assembly and incorporated in the Constitution," he said.