Page 2 - Politics News

Education must not become privilege for a few, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that India needs an education system that reflects the rich diversity of the country and should not become a "privilege for a few", saying it is the very foundation of freedom. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, also said India needs to build an alternative manufacturing system and a partnership with the US or Peru could be the way forward. In an interaction with students at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and the University of Chile, the Congress leader held an "insightful dialogue" focused on education, democracy and geopolitics. "India needs to build an alternative manufacturing system that thrives in a democratic setup. Thus, a partnership with Peru or the US could be the way forward," the Congress quoted Gandhi on its official X handle, while sharing a video of his conversation with students in South America. "When it comes to education, it begins with curiosity and the freedom to think openly and ask questions witho

French PM Sebastien Lecornu races against the clock to form government

Just two days after being reappointed, Lecornu must present a draft budget bill to cabinet and parliament on Monday

France's re-appointed PM Lecornu calls for calm amid political chaos

France's newly re-appointed prime minister acknowledged Saturday that there weren't a lot of candidates for his job and that he might not last long in the post given the country's deep political divides. Sebastien Lecornu, renamed by President Emmanuel Macron late Friday after a week of political chaos, called for calm and for the support of political parties to produce a budget for the European Union's No. 2 economy before looming deadlines. His appointment is seen as Macron's last chance to reinvigorate his second term, which runs until 2027. His centrist camp lacks a majority in the National Assembly and he is facing increasing criticism even within its ranks. But rivals from far right to far left slammed Macron's decision to rename Lecornu, France's fourth prime minister in barely a year. France is struggling with mounting economic challenges and ballooning debt, and the political crisis is aggravating its troubles and raising alarm across the European Union. I don't think the

Wholesale attack on democracy in India: Rahul Gandhi at Colombia university

Claiming that there is a "wholesale attack on the democratic system" in India currently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said allowing different traditions to thrive is important for the country, as "we cannot do what China does, which is to suppress people and run an authoritarian system". Speaking at the EIA University in Medellin, Colombia, Gandhi said India has a much more complex system as compared with China and India's strengths are very different from that of the neighbouring country. India also has a very old spiritual tradition and a thought system with profound ideas that are useful in today's world, he said, adding that there is a lot that the country can offer in terms of tradition and the way of thinking. "I am very optimistic about India, but at the same time, there are fault lines within the Indian structure, there are risks that India has to overcome. The single-biggest risk is the attack on democracy that is taking place in India," the leader of opposition in the

Karur stampede: Vijay's rally tragedy puts star power under the spotlight

Vijay's political gatherings have been drawing huge crowds in recent months. But immediately after the tragedy, the actor took a special flight back to Chennai

Stampede at TVK chief Vijay's rally: Several feared dead in Karur

Several people fainted during the rush at the venue and were immediately taken to nearby hospitals in ambulances.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed concern over the incident

President Paudel appoints five new ministers in Nepal, oath on Sep 22

Nepal Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday extended her cabinet strength to nine by inducting five new ministers in the interim government. Following Karki's recommendation, President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Anil Kumar Sinha, Mahavir Pun, Sangita Kaushal Mishra, Jagadish Kharel and Madan Pariyar as the new ministers, according to sources at the President's Office. The swearing-in ceremony of these ministers will be held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday. Sinha will be given the portfolio of Industry and Commerce; Pun will be given Education, Science and Technology; Mishra will be getting Health & Population; Kharel will be the minister for Information and Communication, while Pariyar the minister for Agriculture, sources said. With this, the cabinet now has nine ministers, including the Prime Minister who has kept several important portfolios with her. Karki, 73, became prime minister on September 12, ending days of political uncertainty after the ouster of Prime Minister

The fleeting fantasy of a monarch who would return to save Nepal

That turned out to be a brief royalist dream. It is a former chief justice, Sushil Karki who now leads Nepal after last week's protests and arson attacks

Amit Khare appointed Secretary to Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan

The government on Sunday appointed former bureaucrat Amit Khare as Secretary to the new Vice President C P Radhakrishnan. Khare has been serving as Advisor to the Prime Minister since October 12, 2021, handling matters related to the social sector in the Prime Minister's Office. He was also part of the core team that formulated and implemented the National Education Policy, 2020. His appointment will be for a period of three years from the date he assumes charge. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Amit Khare, IAS (Retd.), 1985 batch, Jharkhand Cadre, as Secretary to the Vice-President of India," an official order said. According to the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Khare's appointment will be on a contract basis, in the rank and pay of Secretary, for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge of the post. Khare has also held several key positions in the central and state governments during his .

TN Governor, Stalin, Palaniswami congratulate C P Radhakrishnan

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday extended their greetings to C P Radhakrishnan, who was elected as the 15th Vice President of India. Radhakrishnan won the vice presidential election by bagging 452 votes, while Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy polled 300 votes. Heartiest Congratulations to Radhakrishnan from the people of Tamil Nadu on his election as Vice President of India, Ravi said. "His leadership would further advance the Prime Minister's ongoing initiatives to preserve, promote and glorify Tamil langtuage, culture and heritage," the Governor said in an official release. Chief Minister Stalin said, "I warmly congratulate C P Radhakrishnan on his election as the Vice President of India and hope that he will discharge his duties with steadfast resolve to the constitutional framework and the democratic ideals of our nation." "I also commend Opposition Candidate B Sudershan Reddy for his ...

Congress top brass strategises with Bihar leaders for Assembly polls

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi deliberated with party leaders from Bihar here on Tuesday amid ongoing seat-sharing talks among "mahagathbandhan" allies ahead of the Assembly polls in the state. Besides Kharge and Gandhi, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram, AICC in-charge of the state Krishna Allavaru, party treasurer Ajay Maken, MPs Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Ranjeet Ranjan, Tariq Anwar and Mohammed Javed, as well as Independent MP from Purnea Pappu Yadav, participated in the meeting at the Congress president's residence here. The feedback from the Voter Adhikar Yatra, seat sharing among allies and the party's strategy for the Bihar polls were deliberated upon, sources said. The deliberations came days after INDIA bloc leaders in the state attended a meeting hosted by Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav, who heads the coordination committee for the opposition coalition. Talk

Trade should not be done under pressure: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

He urged the people to embrace 'swadeshi' by buying locally-manufactured products and said international trade should take place voluntarily and not under pressure

Centre to send bills on removal of PM, CMs with serious charges to panel

The government is set to refer its three big-ticket anti-corruption draft laws that also have provisions for the removal of a prime minister and chief ministers arrested on serious criminal charges, to the joint committee of both Houses of Parliament. Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce the three draft laws -- The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill; The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill; and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He will also move a motion to refer the three bills to a joint committee of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha with a provision for submission of its report on the first day of the last week of the next session of Parliament. Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw is also scheduled to introduce the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bill seeks to prohibit online money gaming or its advertisements, and prescribes .

NDA announces CP Radhakrishnan as candidate for Vice Presidential election

Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post, citing health reasons and the need to follow medical advice, on July 21

Naveen Patnaik hospitalised in Odisha due to dehydration, condition stable

BJD leader Naveen Patnaik, aged 78, was hospitalised in Bhubaneswar for age-related health issues. A bulletin on his health is expected from the hospital soon

Suvendu Adhikari claims 1.25 cr illegal voters in Bengal, TMC dares proof

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday claimed that there are 1.25 crore illegal immigrants in the voters' list of West Bengal, and all of them will be sent back following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the rolls. Addressing a programme in Tamluk in Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari maintained that Hindus who migrated due to religious persecution need not be worried about the exercise. "If around 50 lakh names were excluded in Bihar, Bengal could have as many as 1.25 crore such names. All Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in West Bengal will be pushed back after the SIR," he said. "No one will be able to save the chief minister this time. All the looting and corruption will come to an end. The instances of false voting will reduce. Those who used to cast false votes will be weeded out," he added. Adhikari "warned" government officers to act with integrity, and said district-level officers who fail to do so will be in trouble. The ruling TMC rejected his comments as ...

Samajwadi Party misused power to occupy office space for ₹115: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday rapped the Samajwadi Party for "fraudulently occupying" office space for a paltry Rs 115 in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit, underlining a "clear misuse of political power". A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi told senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the political party, that it was not a case of fraudulent allotment but a case of "fraudulent occupation using muscle power and misusing power". The top court was acting on the party's plea against Nagarpalika Parishad of Pilibhit's eviction order. Dave argued despite paying rent for the office space, the municipal authorities were adamant to evict his client. He said a suit seeking injunction on the eviction order had been filed. "You are a political party. You misused official position and political power to occupy the space. When action comes, you start remembering everything. Have you ever heard of office space in a municipal area for Rs 115 rent. This is a clear case of abuse of power

Nitish may stay as Bihar CM, but should step down as JD(U) chief: Kushwaha

Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, who had quit the JD(U) two years ago, on Sunday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should give up the reins of the party, which has new hope in the supreme leader's son Nishant. Kushwaha, who has now floated his outfit Rashtriya Lok Morcha, came up with a post on his X handle, extending birthday greetings to his former mentor's son. Learnt from social media that it is the birthday of Nishant, the son of big brother (bade bhai), respectable Nitish Kumar. On this occasion, heartiest greetings to Nishant, the new hope of JD(U). May God always keep him happy and healthy, said the Rajya Sabha MP. I take this opportunity to make a humble request to Shri Nitish Kumar ji that it is no longer feasible for him to run both the government as well as the party, said Kushwaha, who has been in and out of the JD(U) at least thrice. The NDA partner, however, made it clear that he was not suggesting that the 75-year-old, whom the coalition has declared as

PK's long walk: JSP targets 243 seats, aims to tilt Bihar's political order

Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has emerged from a grassroots movement. For the Bihar Assembly polls, Kishor has announced that the party will contest all 243 seats in the state

Who is Anita Anand, Mark Carney's pick for Canada's foreign minister?

Born to Indian immigrant parents, Anand was a lawyer and law professor for over 20 years before entering politics