Page 1061 - Politics
Remains of Israeli soldier missing since 1982 Lebanon war returned
Israel announced Wednesday that the remains of a soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon war had been returned to the country, bringing to a close a highly sensitive case for Israelis. Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel had been missing since what is known as the Battle of Sultan Yacoub, said Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus. "It is one of the most moving moments in all my years at the head of the country," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address from his Jerusalem office. "This operation is the result of major diplomatic efforts that we will speak about one day." Israel's military declined to provide details on how the remains were retrieved, including where they were found. Baumel was born in the United States in 1960, but immigrated to Israel. Conricus called the recovery, labelled "Operation Bittersweet Song", a "special and moving moment". "His body is in Israel. The body has been identified," he said, adding that DNA evidence had been used in ...
Brexit crisis: Second Conservative minister resigns
Signalling all is not well in UK Prime Minister Theresa May's Cabinet, second Conservative minister Chris Heaton-Harris quit on Wednesday (local time) after May's decision to hold talks with the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.Chris Heaton-Harris had served as an Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union since last year."After much contemplation, I have decided to leave Theresa May's Government. I'm grateful to the PM for giving me the opportunity to serve the UK and I will continue to represent my constituents as the MP for Daventry," tweeted Chris Heaton-Harris..
What is Congress' policy on terrorism, Chouhan asks
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday asked the Congress to clarify its stand on terrorism, saying its poll promises suggested that it was on the side of terrorists. He also targeted the Congress over brief removal of security from the RSS office in Bhopal after it came to power. "Incidents of stone pelting have declined in Kashmir and terrorism has been controlled. This was possible because of the strong action against terrorism by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government," the BJP leader said at a press conference here. "But look at Congress' point of view. In Madhya Pradesh it withdrew security from the office of RSS. We (BJP) have withdrawn security of terrorists (acted against them) but it removed security of RSS office," he said. "They are promising to repeal the sedition law to avoid taking action against those who raise slogans of 'Bharat tere tukde honge' (India, you will break up)," he said. "Similarly, by promising to dilute ..
Sedition law: Congress poll promise gets BJP's goat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday slammed the Congress promise in its manifesto to wind up the sedition law, saying the party was encouraging anti-national sentiments and strengthening the hands of secessionists.
Time to oust 'facist' Modi government: Stalin
Dubbing the Narendra Modi government as 'fascist', leaders of the DMK-led "Secular Progressive Front" in Tamil Nadu Wednesday said the time has come to oust it to save the nation and the people. Addressing an election rally in this industrial city, they claimed the Goods Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation had broken the backbone of the country's economy and leading to closure of small industries in the state, rendering thousands of workers jobless. Canvassing for the CPIM candidate in Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat, going to polls on April 18, DMK president M K Stalin reiterated his 'facist' charge against the Modi government and described the elections as a tool to oust it. "The time has come for throwing out the facist Modi government and the save the people," Stalin said. He asserted the front had not been formed for any gain but on the basis of ideology of various political parties who fought against the policies of both the Centre and the AIADMK government. "The ...
Dutch MPs want citizens' rights separated if no-deal Brexit
Dutch lawmakers have voted in favour of a motion to petition Brussels to ringfence the rights of British and European Union citizens in case of a no-deal Brexit, a parliamentary official said Wednesday. "The motion was accepted with a majority of 97 votes," in the 150-seat Lower House late Tuesday, Dutch parliamentary spokesman Leon van Schie told AFP. The motion tabled by progressive D66 lawmaker Kees Verhoeven and the Christian Democrats' Pieter Omtzigt aims to lobby the European Union to separate the issue of rights of British and EU citizens in case of a hard Brexit, deadlined for April 12. Currently British expatriates' rights are being dealt with on a country-by-country basis within the EU, including by the Netherlands, the lawmakers said. At the same time, EU citizens' rights will be "at the mercy of the British authorities in case of a no-deal Brexit," they added in their motion. As the spectre of a disorderly departure from the EU grew, the lawmakers said "we are of the ...
Electoral bonds introduced to bring accountability, transparency in conducting elections: Centre tells SC
The Centre on Wednesday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court saying electoral bonds is a positive step in the right direction to ensure "accountability and transparency" in conducting elections, adding that these bonds were introduced to deal with the menace of corruption in elections.With regard to a question on the impact of electoral bonds on transparency, the Finance Ministry said the bonds have been introduced as a pioneer step in bringing electoral reforms, to ensure that the spirit of transparency and accountability in political funding is maintained.Last week, the poll panel had filed an affidavit and said that it had informed the Ministry of Law and Justice that changes in the law allowing electoral bonds would have "serious repercussions" on the transparency of funding to political parties.From the changes in law, any donation received by a political party through an electoral bond has been taken out from the ambit of reporting, and it would be difficult to ascertain .
Congress manifesto is planning document of Pakistan's conspiracy: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday termed the Congress party manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls as the "planning document of Pakistan's conspiracy."Prime Minister Modi, who was addressing an election rally here, said: "The Congress party released its manifesto on Tuesday. That document is nothing but evidence of how they plan to play with the national security. Their manifesto is the planning document of Pakistan's conspiracy. That document will break the morale of our army personnel."Accusing the Congress of confusing the country, Prime Minister Modi said: "Do you remember surgical strike? The way in which we went to terrorists' house to kill them? Some people sitting in AC rooms in Delhi are saying that the country is forgetting what happened in Balakot.""For us, it is always country first and the party next. However, it is true the country has functioned in the opposite direction for decades wherein terrorists were saved."Sharpening his attack on Rahul Gandhi led party, Prime
Congress names five more LS candidates in Gujarat
The Congress on Wednesday declared another list of five candidates for the Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat.
Ex-servicemen to get lateral entry into civil service: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that qualified ex-servicemen will be given lateral entry into civil service if Congress is voted to power and the central paramilitary forces will also be opened up to them.
EC seeks clarification from BJP LS nominee after TV channel sting on 15 MPs from different parties
The Election Commission has sought a clarification from a BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Maharashtra, after his purported remarks in a Hindi TV news channel sting video about poll expenses. Wardha district collector Vivek Bhimanwar, who is also the returning officer, sought the clarification over the TV sting from Ramdas Tadas, who is pitted against Charulata Tokas of Congress, an official said on Wednesday after the sting was aired on the TV channel. The sting was done by the newly-launched Hindi news channel 'TV9 Bharatvarsh' which recorded responses from 18 MPs, of whom 15 MPs, it claimed, allegedly admitted to using poll malpractices. The MPs from different states belonged to the BJP, Congress, AAP, LJP, SP, RJD, Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) and Jan Adhikar Party(JAP). In Mumbai, Deputy Election Officer Shirish Mohod said the election authorities have taken cognisance of the sting operation and given necessary directives to the Wardha collector. In the sting video, Tadas, a sitting MP, .
NATO chief says not seeking 'new Cold War' with Russia
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that the alliance was not seeking a new "Cold War" with Russia on its 70th anniversary but called for greater efforts at deterrence. "We do not want a new arms race. We do not want a new Cold War. But we must not be naive," Stoltenberg said in an address to the US Congress during NATO celebrations in Washington. Stoltenberg said the 29-nation alliance needed to prepare for the end of the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the United States is exiting as it says a Russian system is in violation. "We do not want to isolate Russia. We strive for better relationship with Russia," Stoltenberg said. "But even with a better relationship, we still need to manage a difficult one," he said.
Flop hero portraying a person who has proved to be zero: Congress on PM biopic
The Congress Wednesday said it has complained to the Election Commission about the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic ahead of the polls, saying it was an example of absolute desperation and is based on a "flop person" who has proved to be a "zero". Questioning the timing of its release, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it should be ascertained whether black money was used for producing the film. "We have said that the Election Commission should take note of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It is a bogus film of a flop hero, a flop producer and is made on a flop person who has proved to be a zero," he told reporters. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said, "What Vivek Oberoi is saying, he should go and tell the Election Commission which has already issued a notice to him on our representation." "This is another example of absolute desperation. We have led three delegations to the Election Commission in one week," he said. The Congress .
Centre to gain more from GST than states: Y V Reddy
Former Reserve Bank Governor Y V Reddy said Wednesday that the Union government would gain more from GST than the states in the longer run. During an interaction with students at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad here, Reddy also opined that "trust deficit" has increased with regard to administration of the Goods and Services Tax. Reddy, who has also served as chairman of the fourteenth finance commission, was here to launch his book "Indian Fiscal Federalism", co-authored by G R Reddy. "My sense about the GST is that Centre will gain more than the states," said Reddy to a question by Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh, one of the invitees at the book launch. "The way GST has been implemented, it does not command trust of the states....The trust deficit has increased in regard to the administration of the GST," said Reddy. On relevance and importance of the finance commission, Reddy said the problem is outside the commission. "Everyone is trying to find problems .
Rahul to file nomination from Wayanad Thursday; Arrives in Ker
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, will file his nomination around 11.30 AM on Thursday, senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala said. Senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnik said Gandhi's sister and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would accompany him to Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi arrived here Wednesday night to a tumultuous welcome by hundreds of party workers. Priyanka, who came separately, reached here shortly before her brother arrived. A large number of young party workers holding Congress and ally Indian Union Muslim League flags were seen lustily cheering as Rahul Gandhi came out of the airport. He waved at them. The Congress chief was received by Chennithala, Oommen Chandy, Mullappally Ramachandran, IUML leaders P K Kunhalikutty and E T Muhammed basheer and others. Later he
Not afraid of threats: NCP on Modi's 'sleep in Tihar' jibe
The NCP Wednesday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "its leaders were unable to sleep" jibe. NCP's national spokesperson Nawab Malik said the prime minister "threatened to put opposition leaders in jail", but the Sharad Pawar-led party was not afraid of "hollow threats". Without naming any NCP leader, Modi said at a poll rally at Gondia in eastern Maharashtra Wednesday evening that they "were unable to sleep" these days. "What's the reason? Because their 'sleep' is inside Delhi's Tihar jail. They are afraid that the one who is inside may reveal something. They are worried. And that day is not far when everything will come out in the open," Modi said, without elaborating. Retorting, Malik said, "The prime minister threatened to put opposition leaders in jail during the rally. This means Modi is sensing the BJP's imminent defeat in Lok Sabha polls. "We are not afraid of such hollow threats," Malik added.
High Court stays school fee hike, Sisodia expresses happiness
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed interim hike in fees by private schools in the national capital till April 8.The decision by the two-judge bench comprising Justice S Murlidhar and Justice IS Mehta came on the plea filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, challenging the earlier order of the single judge bench of the High Court.Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia expressed his happiness over the decision. In a series of tweets, Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, said the AAP government was aware of the parents' concerns. "It will not allow private schools to collect fees arbitrarily," he said."Big relief for the parents! As per the request made by Delhi government, double bench of the High Court has stayed the order by single bench regarding fees. Private schools will not be able to collect the fees they increased recently," the Deputy Chief Minister said."In its audit, the Delhi government found that most of the schools wanting to increase their fees were ...
Closing Jammu-Srinagar highway proof of Modi's failure: Omar Abdullah
NC leader Omar Abdullah Wednesday termed the decision to close Jammu-Srinagar national highway for civilian traffic a proof of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's failure to manage the internal security of Jammu and Kashmir. "Another 1st for the Modi government after the 1st ever delayed assembly election now this shocker - never before in 30 years has the national highway ever been closed for civilian traffic like this," the National Conference vice-president tweeted. "It's a glaring admission of failure to manage the internal security of J&K," he said. The former J-K chief minister was reacting to a government order banning the movement of civilian vehicles on the 300-km long highway on Sundays and Wednesdays between 4 am and 5 pm to ensure safe passage of security forces' vehicles. The restrictions will remain in force till May 31. "Patients will not be able to reach hospitals, students will be deprived access to schools, employees won't be able to reach work and the list goes on ...
Irani to launch her poll campaign in Amethi on Thursday
With just a week to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to begin, Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani, who is contesting against Congress President Rahul Gandhi, will address a public meeting in Amethi on Thursday.
Panchayat member shot by militants in J&K's Kulgam
A Panchayat member was on Wednesday shot and critically injured by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, police said.