Page 101 - Politics
Resignation of RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya raised in LS
Raising the issue of resignation of RBI's Deputy Governor Viral Acharya, Kerala Congress (M) MP Thomas Chazhikadan Tuesday alleged prominent economists are unable to work with the government as its policies are not in interest of the people. Participating in the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Lok Sabha, Chazhikadan said both GST and demonetisation undertaken by the government are "utter failures" and have impacted the economy severly. On the resignation of Acharya, Chazhikadan said a number of renowned economists have resigned as government policies were not in favour of the people of India. He also referred to the resignation of Urjit Patel as RBI governor and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, among others. Acharya, who took over as the youngest deputy governor on January 20, 2017 had a three-year tenure, but resigned a few weeks ago due to "unavoidable personal circumstances". Earlier participating in the debate, BJP's MP from Assam ..
Terror, H-1B, Iran oil to top agenda of Jaishankar-Pompeo meet
Terrorism, H1B visas, trade and the situation arising out of US sanctions on buying oil from Iran, will be among a host of issues on the table when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar holds talks with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo on Wednesday. The US Secretary of State's visit starting Tuesday night is the first high-level visit from any country following the Lok Sabha polls. The two leaders will hold talks on Wednesday -- their first meeting after Jaishankar assumed office last month. Pompeo's visit comes ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, which will be held in Osaka, Japan from June 28-29. During his visit, Pompeo will also have a working lunch with Jaishankar and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will meet Indian and US businesses in a round table format and deliver a policy speech at the India International Centre. Jaishankar, while speaking about the visit in Gandhinagar, said
DMK calls Tamil Nadu government most corrupt; dubs AIADMK slave of BJP
Launching a scathing attack on the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, the DMK on Tuesday called it the "most corrupt" government in the country and said it was a "slave" of the BJP, triggering protests from the treasury benches.Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran accused the AIADMK government of "complacency" in dealing with the water crisis in Chennai and other places in Tamil Nadu."Your alliance in Tamil Nadu is complacent. They are not worried. The most corrupt government is functioning in Tamil Nadu. It is not worried about resolving the problems of the state. They are only interested in making money," he said.The BJP members countered Maran's attack, saying that he cannot use offensive expressions against a state government in Lok Sabha.Raising a point of order, BJP's Nishikant Dubey said: "The member is using the word corrupt against the AIADMK government. This is Parliament. You can't do it here."But Maran .
Maha CM asks cops to probe online threat to Cong leader
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday said he will issue directives to the cyber cell of Mumbai police to probe the online abuse and threat to Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant for posting a sarcastic tweet criticising the state government. The issue of threats to Sawant was raised in the Maharashtra Assembly by Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, who said Sawant, being party spokesman and general secretary, had posted a tweet critical of the government. He was performing the role of opposition, Wadettiwar said. "Threats, abusive language on social media is a cause of concern. The need of the hour is to remove the ambiguity in the existing laws. Abusive trolls may be from any party, action will be taken," Fadnavis said.
India calls for de-escalation of tensions between US, Iran
India on Wednesday called on Iran and the United States to de-escalate their tensions, amid strained bilateral ties between them, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday."India is concerned about the situation because of the huge diaspora (living in the region). India wants the situation to de-escalate and will urge Iran and US to de-escalate," they said.On June 20, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) downed an "intruding American spy drone" -- RQ-4 Global Hawk -- after it violated Iranian airspace over the southern coastal province of Hormozgan. The US has labelled it as an "unprovoked attack," claiming that the drone was flying over international waters when it was attacked.In the wake of the incident, several carriers both in India and abroad have decided to avoid flying over Iranian airspace and re-route their flights in view of the rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.On Monday, US President Donald Trump said that he is imposing economic sanctions on Iran's ...
Moscow says downed US drone was in Iranian airspace
The US drone shot down by Tehran last week was in Iranian airspace, the head of Russia's Security Council said Tuesday, despite US claims to the contrary. "I have information from the defence ministry of the Russian Federation that this drone was in Iranian airspace," Russian news agencies quoted Nikolai Patrushev as telling reporters in Jerusalem. Patrushev was in Jerusalem for talks with US and Israeli officials, as tensions run high after Iran shot down the US spy drone on June 19 and US President Donald Trump considered, then cancelled, a retaliatory strike. Iran insists the drone violated Iranian airspace near the Strait of Hormuz, but the Pentagon denies it entered Iranian territory.
Egypt arrests 8, including ex-lawmaker, for plotting riots
Egypt says police have arrested at least eight people, including a former lawmaker and key secular activists in the country's 2011 uprising, for their alleged ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. The Interior Ministry said on Tuesday the arrest of Zyad el-Elaimy, the former lawmaker, was part of a raid that targeted at least 19 businesses and economic entities linked to the Brotherhood. The ministry says economist Omar el-Shenety and journalists Hossam Monis and Hisam Fouad were also arrested. It says the detained were collaborating with wanted Brotherhood members in Turkey to plot violence and riots on the anniversary of the June 30 mass protests that led to the military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi from power. Morsi collapsed and died in a Cairo courtroom last week.
Turkey court lifts house arrest on US consulate staffer
A Turkish court on Tuesday lifted the house arrest of a US consulate staffer charged with terrorism offences, just days before President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to meet US counterpart Donald Trump, an embassy official told AFP. Mete Canturk is one of three consulate staffers arrested for links to a group accused of an attempted coup in 2016. Canturk, a Turkish citizen, still faces trial and is barred from leaving the country, with his next hearing set for October 2. US charge d'affaires Jeffrey Hovenier welcomed the decision to release him from house arrest. "We continue to see no evidence to support the charges brought against him and we reiterate our call for this process as well as other processes involving our unjustly detained staff to be resolve quickly, transparently and fairly," said Hovenier. Relations between Ankara and Washington have been strained over several issues, including Turkey's purchase of a Russian missile defence system and US support for a Kurdish militia ..
PM Modi to hold 10 bilateral meetings on G-20 sidelines
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold 10 bilateral meetings, including the ones with France, Japan, Indonesia, US, and Turkey, on the sidelines of G-20 Summit in Japan.He will also be meeting leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa (BRICS) and Russia-India-China (RIC).Modi will attend the G20 summit being held at Osaka from June 28 to 29 and is likely to raise the issues of energy security, countering terrorism and return of economic fugitives.The summit is centred around the theme "Human-Centred Future Society" and will adopt a declaration.According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the issues of importance for India at G20 includes energy security, financial stability, disaster resilient infrastructure, reformed multilateralism, WTO reforms, countering terrorism, the return of economic fugitives, food security, the democratisation of technologies and portable social security schemes.During the summit, the world leaders will discuss free trade and economic .
'US has concerns over S-400 missile but appreciative of India's requirements'
The US has some concerns over India procuring the S-400 missile defence system from Russia but is appreciative of New Delhi's requirements and is expected to take a view based on political-strategic assessment and the provisions of the American law, diplomatic sources said here on Tuesday.The deal is expected to figure in talks between the visiting US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and the Indian leadership. Pompeo will arrive here on tonight on a three-day visit. This will be the first high-level engagement between India and the US after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return to power for the second consecutive term.There have been suggestions from the US side that India should look for alternatives to the S-400 missile system and transactions with Russia risk triggering CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).The sources said Washington was appreciative of India's requirements and the US administration has the flexibility to give waivers.They said their ...
Priyanka Gandhi's revamp plan in UP
New Delhi (India), June 25 (ANI): After her party's drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is working on a plan to put the house in order in Uttar Pradesh.Priyanka, who is in-charge of eastern UP, has put a team in place after taking feedback from the secretaries attached to her.A source in the party said that she has taken a slew of measures which will be evident in the next few weeks. "The dissolution of District Congress Committees (DCC) is part of the plan to revamp the party," the source said.A team has been formed in each district to find out suitable leader for the new DCCs, the source added.The Congress leader is said to be upset with party activists working as the proxies of senior leaders. She plans to remove them in order to pave the way to induct new energetic leaders in the organisation."All such people will be removed, fresh blood will be inducted in the organisation. The team will find out potential people who are committed
Proposal to make Hindi compulsory in UG courses can affect unity of country: CPI(M)
The efforts of the UGC to "push" Hindi as a compulsory subject in undergraduate courses will stir up a hornets' nest among other linguistic groups and affect the unity of the country, the CPI (M) said. Following representations to make Hindi compulsory, the University Grants Commission (UGC) in July last year had written to varsities to explore the feasibility of inclusion of the language in their undergraduate programmes. Demanding that the UGC withdraw the "circular", the Left party said even previous attempts to "impose" Hindi were thwarted. "The politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is deeply concerned at the effort by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to push Hindi as a compulsory subject in all undergraduate courses across India," a statement issued by the Left party said. It is "strange" that a circular in this regard has been issued in the background of the widespread protest in the country against the imposition of Hindi as part of the draft National ...
Maha to issue GR against illegal pathology labs
The Maharashtra government would issue a resolution (GR) to take action against illegal pathology laboratories in a week, the Legislative Assembly was told Tuesday. Raising the issue of illegal laboratories through a calling attention notice, Sunil Prabhu (Shiv Sena) said nearly 8000 such facilities are currently functioning across the state. He said the government has failed to take action against these illegal laboratories despite directions from the Supreme Court. Prabhu said the government has not even signed a GR despite signing it a year ago. He also said the government did not even have the exact number of legal laboratories operating in the state. To this, Minister of State for Medical Education Ravindra Chavan said the GR would be issued before the end of the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature--July 2.
NCP holds 'begging' protest to clear water dues of ministers
The youth wing of the NCP Tuesday staged a novel protest here by begging money to "foot the pending water bills" of official residences of chief minister and other ministers in Maharashtra. Members of the NCP youth wing's Mumbai unit staged the "bheek maango" (begging) protest outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus here, after media reports claimed that bungalows of the chief minister and some other ministers were in the civic body's list of water bill defaulters. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), dues worth Rs 7.44 lakh were pending against the connection provided at the chief minister's bungalow Varsha. NCP youth wing's working president Suraj Chavan said, "The BMC cuts water supply when common citizens fail to pay bills for a month or two. But the bill of the chief minister's bungalow has been pending for several months. To help clear the bill, our youth wing staged the bheek mango protest." Chavan also said that in case the BMC ...
Erdogan says 'no backtrack' on Russia missile deal
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that NATO-member Turkey would take delivery of Russia's S-400 missile defence system in July - a deal that has created tensions with the United States. "The issue of S-400 is an issue directly related to our sovereignty and we will not backtrack from that," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "God willing, the delivery of the S-400 will start next month," he said. "In order to meet its security needs, Turkey... does not need to get permission, let alone bow to pressure." Erdogan has vowed to use his good relations with US counterpart Donald Trump to defuse tensions when they meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan later this week. The US has given Turkey a deadline of July 31 to drop the purchase of the S-400 system, or face sanctions and removal from the United States' F-35 fighter jet programme. Turkey has plans to buy 100 F-35s, and has lucrative contracts to build parts of the jet. Relations with Washington have ...
Ashok Gehlot, Vasundhara Raje, others pay tribute to Madan Lal Saini
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday paid last respects to Rajasthan BJP President, Madan Lal Saini, at BJP office here.Several other leaders including former CM Vasundhara Raje, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and others also paid tribute to the 75-year-old Rajya Sabha MP, who breathed his last at AIIMS in New Delhi on Monday evening.As a mark of respect to late Rajasthan BJP chief, the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh along with many other leaders condoled Saini's death.The last rites of the veteran BJP leader will be performed in Rajasthan's Sikar later today.
Union Minister Puri faces flak from opposition in Lok Sabha
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Tuesday faced flak from the opposition in Lok Sabha after he left his seat and stepped away from his seat even before a motion moved by him was adopted by the House.Puri moved a motion for election of two members to the Rajghat Samadhi Committee and left his seat. As he was moving towards the lobby before the motion was adopted, Congress member Manish Tewari pointed it out and raised objections.Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla noticed it and called Puri but he was seen talking to some of the BJP members in the House. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal rushed towards Puri and asked him to take his seat.Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present in the House, was seen saying something to Puri when he returned to his seat.Later clarifying his position, Puri said: "I was not leaving the House. I just stepped (away) to speak to one of the members as he had some issues."The opposition members again ...
SC refuses to entertain Congress leader's plea against separate RS by-polls in Gujarat
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea of a Gujarat Congress leader against the Election Commission's decision to hold separate by-polls for two vacant Rajya Sabha seats in the state.A vacation bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai said petitioner Pareshbhai Dhanani may file an election petition before the Gujarat High court challenging the EC's decision after the polls.The court refused to interfere in the poll process for the Upper House of Parliament, saying that the notification for the election has already been issued.According to the petition filed through advocate Varun Chopra, the "lack of appropriate decision" by the EC despite several representations and exhortations by Dhanani demonstrated "a complete absence of justice".Dhanani, the Leader of the Opposition in Gujarat Assembly, had sought the court's direction to the poll watchdog to expeditiously hold simultaneous elections for the Rajya Sabha vacancies in accordance with the provisions of the ...
TTV Dhinakaran's close aide on way out
Amid speculations that senior AMMK leader Thangatamilselvan was planning to jump ship, party founder TTV Dhinakaran Tuesday announced his once trusted lieutenant would be sacked. The development came a day after an audio clip in which Thangatamilselvan, Propaganda Secretary of AMMK, purportedly criticised Dhinakaran in strong words, went viral. Speculations have been rife that the two were not on good terms following the party's drubbing in the April 18 Lok Sabha polls where it drew a blank and Thangatamilselvan, who himself lost from Theni constituency, was eyeing to quit the party. Speaking to reporters here Tuesday after consulting senior party colleagues, Dhinakaran said he had earlier reprimanded Thangatamilselvan, a former MLA, after he received "some complaints" against him. "I had earlier warned him he may be replaced as propaganda secretary...I have no fear or hesitation in removing anyone. In the coming weeks, we will release the list of senior office-bearers ..
China calls for 'calm' as US-Iran tensions rise
China on Tuesday urged "calm and restraint" as tensions between the US and Iran escalate following US President Donald Trump's new sanctions on Iran. "We believe that blindly applying maximum pressure will not help solve the problem," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a press briefing in Beijing. "Facts have proved that these measures have had the opposite effect and aggravated regional unrest," he added. Relations between Washington and Tehran have rapidly deteriorated over the past few weeks, after the US accused Iran of being behind a series of attacks on ships in sensitive Gulf waters -- claims hotly denied by Tehran. On Monday, Trump further raised the stakes in an escalating regional standoff by imposing sanctions against Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military chiefs. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman denounced the sanctions as "the permanent closure of the path to diplomacy" with the Trump administration. "We hope that the parties ...