Page 1045 - Politics
Britain's May ever more isolated in Brexit endgame
Prime Minister Theresa May's cuts an increasingly lonely figure after her decision this week to turn to opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to break the Brexit deadlock sparked a torrent of criticism from Conservatives. The beleaguered leader wrote to Tory MPs on Wednesday to insist that several dozen Tories' stubborn resistance to her EU divorce deal had left her with little choice but to look to Labour for support. Britain is set to crash out of the European Union at the end of next week if it has not passed May's withdrawal agreement or found a viable alternative plan. "This is the only way to deliver the smooth, orderly Brexit that we promised," May said in her letter, in which she also reneged on previous pledges to leave without a deal if necessary. The outreach to veteran leftist Corbyn, a reviled figure among British Conservatives and right-wingers who label him a Marxist, has drawn fury from eurosceptics in her party. Corbyn wants to maintain closer ties with the EU than May ...
Tough sanctions won't convince N Korea to give up nukes: S Korea's negotiator
South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon on Thursday asserted that strong and tough sanctions imposed on North Korea will not cajole the communist nation to give up its nuclear weapons and to believe in the same would be an "illusion"."Sanctions are a means to deter North Korea from making bad decisions, but sanctions themselves cannot fundamentally resolve our problem," Lee, who is the special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, said at a conference here."North Korea persisted in its nuclear development through decades of sanctions and pressure. To believe that stronger sanctions and more pressure would make North Korea suddenly give up its entire nuclear program is an illusion," Yonhap News Agency quoted the top South Korean negotiator as saying.Lee's remarks assume significance ahead of the meeting between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump slated to be held on April 11 in Washington DC.It would also be the first ..
MP: Cong announces Ram Niwas Rawat as candidate from Morena
Congress on Thursday announced Ram Niwas Rawat as its candidate from Morena Parliamentary constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections."The central election committee of the Congress has approved the candidature of Ram Niwas Rawat as the Congress candidate to contest the ensuing general elections to the Lok Sabha from Morena parliamentary constituency of Madhya Pradesh,'' read a statement by Congress General secretary Mukul Wasnik.Earlier on March 23, BJP had announced that Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will be contesting from Madhya Pradesh's Morena.In Madhya Pradesh, the polls will be conducted in four phases on April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. Morena parliamentary constituency will go to polls in third phase on May 12.The seven-phase of 17th Lok Sabha elections in the country are slated to begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Nishad Party allies with BJP, Akhilesh calls it 'loss-making' deal
In a boost for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, the Nishad Party Thursday announced an alliance with it and Praveen Nishad, who won the Gorakphur Lok Sabha bypoll last year on an SP ticket, joined the saffron party. Hours later, Samajwadi Party president Yadav termed it a ghaate wala sauda, or loss-making deal, for the BJP and also alleged that money had changed hands. Praveen Nishad, whose father Sanjay Nishad is the head of the Nishad Party, won from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's home turf after the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party joined hands there to take on the BJP. Akhilesh Yadav said by inducting Praveen Nishad the BJP was entering into a loss-making deal, not realising that the people in Gorakhpur had voted for the SP-BSP alliance and not for the candidate. In a series of tweets in Hindi, Yadav also mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party for not coming out yet with its manifesto, asking if it planned to release it only when the polls are over. Will the prime minister's
Mayawati attacks BJP, Cong
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati accused the BJP-led central government on Thursday of failing on all fronts and claimed that people from all sections, including the poor and traders, were unhappy with its governance in the last five years. Addressing a rally here in support of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and BSP candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Telangana, she said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not fulfilled its promises made ahead of the last general election and was again coming out with new assurances. She also attacked the Congress, saying it too did not fulfil its earlier assurances and was now coming out with "tempting promises" such as the promise to eradicate poverty. "Under the BJP regime, people all over the country are unhappy. People from all sections, be it the poor, farmers, unemployed, small traders-- all are unhappy. Not only the SC/ST and OBC communities, but the poor from the upper castes and religious minorities are also unhappy," ...
Naidu biggest opportunist in country: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Thursday dubbed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as the biggest opportunist in the entire country, saying he changes colours whenever it suits him.
US, allies warn against military offensive in Libya
The United States and its allies called Thursday for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in Libya and warned any military action would have consequences after strongman Khalifa Haftar ordered forces to advance on Tripoli. "Our governments oppose any military action in Libya and will hold accountable any Libyan faction that precipitates further civil conflict," said a joint statement by the United States, France, Britain, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. The governments said they were "deeply concerned" by fighting near Gharyan, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Tripoli, and "urge all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions." "At this sensitive moment in Libya's transition, military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos," they said. "We strongly believe that there is no military solution to the Libya conflict." Haftar's self-styled Libyan Nation Army has amassed around Gharyan and, in an audio message, he said the time had ..
Amid Trump's veto threat, House passes resolution to end US military aid to Yemen war
The United States House of Representatives on Thursday passed a resolution to end military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The resolution passed 247-175 in the House.According to The Hill, this was the first time since the War Powers Act was passed in 1973 that both chambers of Congress passed a resolution using that law.This can also be viewed as the result of a years-long effort pushed in recent months by senators' fury at Saudi Arabia over the killing of US-based dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.The bill's future now lies in the hands of US President Donald Trump who is likely to issue the second veto of his presidency for this resolution.Following the killing of Khashoggi last year in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, the resolution for withdrawing US military forces in or "affecting" Yemen unless they are fighting al Qaeda, gained considerable momentum.The White House had also issued a statement threatening to veto the resolution and asserting that it raises "serious ..
AP: ACB Director Shankha Brata Bagchi given additional charge of Director General
Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Shankha Brata Bagchi has been given the full additional charge of the Director General of the bureau with immediate effect.Bagchi will succeed RP Thakur."Anti Corruption Bureau of Andhra Pradesh Director Shankha Brata Bagchi is placed in full additional charge of the post of Director General, Anti Corruption Bureau, Andhra Pradesh with immediate effect duly relieving RP Thakur from the full additional charge, until further orders," the state government said.After the decision by the state government, Thakur was called by the Election Commission of India to New Delhi.It is worth mentioning that the main opposition party in the state, YSR Congress Party was asking for relieving Thakur from the DGP's post during the elections, alleging he was favouring the ruling Telugu Desam Party.
BJP ousts Choudhary Lal Singh as party member
The BJP said Thursday that former minister Choudhary Lal Singh was no longer a member of the party for violating party discipline, said BJP's chief spokesperson in the state Sunil Sethi. Lal Singh had distanced himself from the BJP last year when he floated his outfit 'Dogra Swabhiman Sanghthan' (DSS). He filed his nomination papers from both Jammu and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies against official BJP candidates Jugal Kishore Sharma and Jitendra Singh, respectively. "The BJP has taken decision on gross indiscipline by Ch Lal Singh by confirming that he cease to be member of party the day he filed forms to contest from two parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and refused to withdraw nominations on the scheduled date for that," Sethi said. He said earlier, the Dogra Swabhiman Sanghthan was declared by Lal Singh as a non-political organisation so no action was taken in the past. "Any vote in favour of Lal Singh will be considered a vote against the BJP and (Narendra) Modiji," ..
Did not call those saying 'Modi's Army' traitors in interview to BBC: VK Singh
Union minister V K Singh was in the midst of a controversy on Thursday over his reported "Modi ki army" comment to a foreign media outlet, even though he denied making the remark. BBC India reported that BJP leader Singh had said in an interview to it that "anybody who calls Indian Army Modi's army is a traitor". Singh, however, strongly denied making the comment, saying the reporter concerned did a "cut-paste job", and took to Twitter to ask the media house as to "how much money did he get" for doing so. BBC India released a full video of its conversation with Singh on its Twitter handle to bolster its claim and said the Minister of State for External Affairs had even used the word "presstitute" for it. Congress leader Ahmed Patel also tweeted, saying, "Gen VK Singh is right, those insulting the Indian Army by calling them the soldiers of an individual or "Modi ji ki Sena" are traitors. I hope BJP takes suitable action against these anti-nationals." Singh was asked about certain ...
Pompeo warns France against new tax on digital giants
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday warned France to drop plans for a tax on digital giants such as Facebook and Apple, saying it would hurt American business. The top US diplomat raised his objections as he met French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Washington during 70th anniversary celebrations for the NATO alliance. "Secretary Pompeo urged France not to approve a digital services tax, which would negatively impact large US technology firms and the French citizens who use them," the State Department said in a statement. France last month unveiled draft legislation to set a three percent tax on digital advertising, the sale of personal data and other revenue from any technology company that earns more than 750 million euros (USD 841 million) worldwide each year. The effort comes amid rising public outrage at the minimal tax paid by some of the world's richest firms which base operations in jurisdictions that charge low rates. France has led the effort after a ...
Congress fields 8 Patidars, BJP 6 for Lok Sabha polls
With the filing of nominations for the Gujarat's 26 Lok Sabha seats coming to a close on Thursday, the opposition Congress has doubled its Patidar nominees on the back of its improved performance in the 2017 Assembly elections, while the ruling BJP has fielded only one more than five in the 2014 parliamentary polls.
India retaliates firing by Pakistan troops on LoC
The Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
Modi Kolkata rally: Parties get busy in nitpicking
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally at the Brigade Parade Ground here, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday ridiculed its turnout, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had used European-made hangars to ensure that no aerial pictures of the crowd could be taken.
In touch with US over Iranian oil waiver: MEA
The government on Thursday said that it is in touch with the United States over exemption for buying oil from Iran to see that its energy needs are taken care of beyond May 4 this year when the US waiver ends.
Arunachal Cong releases manifesto, promises incentive for
The opposition Congress in Arunachal Pradesh Thursday released the party's manifesto promising inclusive growth and development besides special incentives to unemployed educated youths. The manifesto pledges to provide employment assurance allowances for graduates to the tune of Rs 5000 per month to be routed through district employment exchanges. The party also promised to implement schemes for capacity building, vocational training, grants and allowances to the unemployed youth based on local resources and availability of funds. "The party will pursue a policy for peaceful resolution of longstanding insurgency problems in three districts - Tirap, Changlang and Longding - by working out a suitable rehabilitation package with the the central government," state Congress president Takam Sanjoy said. Releasing the manifesto here, Sanjoy said the state government and the Centre need to jointly work out a rehabilitation package so that the youth of the state, who have gone ..
Never saw political opponents as anti-national: Advani
In an implicit criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, party veteran L.K. Advani on Thursday said the BJP never regarded the political opponents as "enemies" but only viewed them as "adversaries".
BJP never regarded those disagreeing with it as 'anti-nationals', 'enemies': Advani
Veteran BJP leader L K Advani said Thursday that his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-nationals" or "enemies" but only as adversaries, remarks which come at a time when top BJP leaders have used anti-national barbs against political rivals on the issue of national security. Advani, who has been replaced by party president Amit Shah in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, wrote a blog titled 'Nation First, Party Next, Self Last' ahead of the party's foundation day on April 6, in which he said, "The essence of the Indian democracy is respect for diversity and freedom of expression." In the blog, written almost five years after he posted the last piece on its web page, the 91-year-old leader said, "Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our 'enemies', but only as our adversaries." "Similarly, in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as .
Former Congress MLA Abdul Sattar meets Fadnavis
Former Congress MLA Abdul Sattar, whois contesting the Lok Sabha election from Aurangabad in Maharashtra as an independent candidate, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis late Wednesday night, a BJP source said. State BJP president Raosaheb Danve took Sattar to meet Fadnavis, the source claimed. Shiv Sena's Chandrakant Khaire is the candidate of the Sena-BJP alliance in Aurangabad. The saffron alliance is hoping that Sattar may split the sizable Muslim vote, which will help Khaire, the source said. A Shiv Sena leader said that Khaire, a four-time MP, may face the anti-incumbency factor. "He will face astrong fight from All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Imtiyaz Jalil with the support of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi led by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar," the Sena source said. The Congress has given ticket to Subhash Jhambad, who is expected to garner the support of the trader community, he said.