Page 111 - Politics
Mayawati says BSP will fight all polls alone, gets flak from SP
BSP president Mayawati on Monday declared her party in the future will contest all elections "small and big" on its own, signalling the end of the much discussed Bahujan Samaj Party-Samajwadi Party alliance forged for the Lok Sabha polls. Hours after Mayawati announced her plans of going solo in future elections in a series of tweets, a senior SP leader accused her of "weakening" the fight for social justice. Her announcement came a day after she held a meeting with party workers to review the BSP's performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls. "Everyone is aware that forgetting everything of the past as also the anti-BSP and anti-Dalit decisions like reservation in promotions and bad law and order during the SP rule in 2012-2017, BSP adhered to the 'gathbandhan dharma' with the Samajwadi Party in the interest of the country," she tweeted in Hindi. "But the SP's attitude after the elections has forced the BSP to think, will it be possible to defeat the BJP in the future? This is not ...
'PM Modi very big salesman, Cong failed to market product'
The BJP came back to power as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "very big salesman" while the Congress failed to market its product in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Monday. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Chowdhury launched a scathing attack on the government and Prime Minister Modi, with the Chair ordering expunging of some of his comments, considered unparliamentary. "Our Prime Minister is a very big salesman.We (Congress) have been unable to sell our product, that is why we lost(Lok Sabha elections)," he said. Taking a swipe at Union minister Pratap Sarangi, who had initiated the discussion, he said Sarangi crossed limits in his praise of Modi, inviting sharp reactions from the treasury benches as they referred to "India is Indira, Indira is India" remarks made by Congress leaders when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. Chowdhury said his party does not to criticise the .
DMK chief Stalin accuses TN govt of inability to tackle water crisis
DMK president MK Stalin on Monday lashed out at the AIADMK government over its "inability" to tackle the water crisis that has engulfed Tamil Nadu this summer."The situation in Tamil Nadu is 'we have a pot, but where is the water'. We are protesting here against the incapable government of Tamil Nadu. The prevailing situation in the state has not reached the ears of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy," he said.Addressing a gathering during the protest, Stalin said, "The situation is the same all over the state. There is a shortage of funds. Now factories in the state are also facing a shortage of water."Targeting the state government, the DMK chief cited pujas and yagna being performed by the ministers for rain while criticising their inability to foresee the water crisis."The ministers are performing pujas for rain. I am not here to argue whether the ministers should perform pujas or not. The state government failed to foresee the situation. The ministers are not performing the ...
Mehbooba welcomes Hurriyat's readiness to talk
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Monday welcomed the Hurriyat Conference willingness to hold talks with the Centre saying it was 'better late than never'. "Dair aye durust aye (better late than never). The underlying purpose of the PDP-BJP alliance was to facilitate dialogue between the GoI & all stakeholders. Tried my best to make it happen in my tenure as CM but relieved that Hurriyat has finally softened their stand," former Chief Minister Mehbooba said in a tweet. She was referring to Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's call for a tripartite talk between the Kashmiri leadership, New Delhi and Islamabad for resolution of all issues, including Kashmir. Besides touching on the need for a dialogue during his Friday sermons at Jamia Masjid, the Mirwaiz in his Eid-ul Fitr sermon earlier this month had sought confidence building measures between India and Pakistan that could facilitate the revival of talks between the two countries. Governor Satya Pal Malik, while ...
Vietnam jails US citizen for 'state overthrow' attempt
A US citizen was sentenced Monday to 12 years in Vietnamese prison for "attempting to overthrow the state", a lawyer and state media said, as the one-party country squeezes dissent. Vietnamese-American Michael Nguyen was detained in July last year while travelling in the country with two activists, who were also arrested. The trio were accused of setting up a group to prepare armed protest and the occupation of official "headquarters" in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, according to state-run news site VnExpress. Nguyen was convicted during a half-day trial in a Ho Chi Minh City court, given 12 years and ordered to leave the country after completing his sentence, a lawyer for one of the group said. The two activists arrested with him, Tran Long Phi and Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, were jailed for eight years and ten years respectively for the same charge. "The sentence for the defendants is too harsh," lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng said. State media also reported that police are looking for another ...
Talks must be held with Hurriyat leaders: Farooq Abdullah
Two days after Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said that Hurriyat leaders were ready for talks with the Central government, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday asserted that talks must be held."The Governor says Hurriyat has agreed to talks. Then, talks should be held with them," Abdullah told the media persons.Contending that situation in Jammu and Kashmir is changing, Governor Malik had on June 22 said that separatist Hurriyat Conference leaders were ready for talks with the Centre."The ones who turned back Ram Vilas Paswan from their door, they are now ready for talks. The stone pelting after 'namaz' is almost over. We do not like it when a youngster dies," Malik had said at a function."But when a bullet is fired, bullets will be fired in retaliation. That is the reality and this change in stance by them is a welcome sign," Malik had further added.He had also acknowledged Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for his statement in which
Govt working to bring back 40 artefacts from abroad
The government is working on bringing back 40 artefacts from abroad, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. During the Question Hour, Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said in the last five years, the government brought back 33 artefacts. The minister said of the 40 artefacts that are to be brought back, 16 are from Singapore and Australia each. He said there are 39,000 registered artefacts in the country and this is a continuous process. DMK MP Kanimozhi said her state Tamil Nadu has a rich collection of artefacts, especially idols in temples, and asked whether the government is taking steps to register them. Does the government have any records of these artefacts, she asked. Responding to the question raised by Kanimozhi, the minister said temples come under trusts and the state government is in a better position to take data from them. Referring to 40 artefacts that are being brought back, Patel said 32 are from Tamil Nadu. He said there is no data ...
Tamil Nadu: Namaz offered and fast observed for rains
Special namaz is being offered and fasts are being observed by numerous devotees in Madurai for rains on Monday.This comes in the wake of the heatwave causing acute water crisis in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.While some chose to pray, DMK President MK Stalin and party workers held a protest against the Tamil Nadu government over the acute water crisis in Chennai by carrying empty plastic pots in their hands."The pots are here, but where is the water. The ruling government should solve the water crisis in the state. It has done nothing to resolve the issue," Stalin said.Meanwhile, DMK MP from Sriperumbudur, TR Baalu has given a notice in the Lok Sabha today over the water scarcity issue in the state.Tamil Nadu is reeling under acute water crisis stress for the past several months as Chennai's Porur lake, one of the main sources of water has reached its lowest level.The water scarcity has caused many schools and hotels to shut down and leaving many surviving on very little ...
Pak planes did not cross LoC during Feb 27 dogfight: Air Chief Dhanoa
Air Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa on Monday said Pakistan Air Force planes did not cross the Line of Control (LoC) during the February 27 dogfight in the aftermath of the Balakot air strike, a military objective which India achieved."Pakistan did not come into our airspace. Our objective was to strike terror camps. Their objective was to target army places. None of them crossed the border. We achieved our military objective. None of them crossed the Line of Control into our territory," he said.He reiterated that the outcome of the February 27 confrontation would have been different if the IAF had the Rafale jets.Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa was speaking at a press meet after the Indian Air Force at its Gwalior airbase recreated the Tiger Hill attack and displayed aircraft used during the 'Operation Vijay' to commemorate 20 years of the Kargil conflict.The first of the 36 Rafale aircraft India is buying from France is expected to be handed over to the IAF in September this year.Replying to ..
Coalition proved costly for both Cong, JDS: KH Muniyappa
Congress leader KH Muniyappa has blamed Janata Dal- Secular (JDS) for the Congress-JDS coalition's rout in the Lok Sabha elections, asserting that stitching an alliance with HD Deve Gowda's party cost dearer, amidst deep fissures in the ruling front in Karnataka.In a clear sign of simmering political differences between the two sides, Muniyappa also said that Congress will contest alone in the local body elections next year."Coalition has not just proved costly to Congress but also for JDS. We saw someone like HD Deve Gowda lose. We have to make amendments for the future. We will run the coalition government. But, we will contest the local body elections independently," he told reporters here on Sunday.On June 21, Deve Gowda, the national president of the JDS, claimed that mid-term elections would "no doubt" be held in in the state."There is no doubt that there will be mid-term polls. They (Congress) said they will support us for five years but look at their behaviour now. Our people .
Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill introduced in LS
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bill proposes the voluntary use of Aadhaar as an identity proof for opening bank accounts as well as procuring mobile phone connections.Also, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will table the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which proposes to give reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to those living within 10 km of the International Border in Jammu on a par with people living along the Line of Control in Kashmir.On the first day of the Lok Sabha session on June 21, the Modi government, in its second tenure, introduced the controversial triple talaq Bill, amidst stiff opposition from Congress and Muslim Majlis after a division was pressed opposing the tabling of the measure.The Parliament's Budget Session, which began on June 17, will continue till July 26. The Economic Survey will be presented on July 4 followed by the Union .
Sarangi initiates debate on President's address, targets Cong
BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress in Lok Sabha, saying the verdict of 2019 general elections shows that people do not like "dynasty".He went on to ask why opposition parties were so hesitant in accepting the good work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Initiating the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's Address, Sarangi, a first-time MP from Balasore in Odisha, asked if those who do not accept Vande Mataram have a right to live in the country."Do those who do not accept Vande Mataram have a right to live in the country? The country will never accept tukde-tukde gang. The country is with the prime minister," he said.In his maiden speech, delivered largely in Hindi but intermingled with Sanskrit, Bangla, Odiya, and English, Sarangi said the BJP-led NDA had won the confidence of all sections of people and the government was being run with their involvement.He said the Lok Sabha election verdict was unprecedented and historic
S Jaishankar formally joins BJP
Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar formally joined the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the presence of the party's Working President JP Nadda at the Parliament House here on Monday.Jaishankar came as a surprise addition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union Cabinet. The 1977-batch IFS officer and Padma Shri awardee served as the Foreign Secretary for three years, from 2015 until his retirement in 2018, under the Modi-led NDA government.Jaishankar is regarded as a close aide of Prime Minister Modi and was also hailed as his 'crisis manager' in matters of foreign affairs.After retiring from the Indian Foreign Services in January 2018, Jaishankar was hired by Tata Group as the president of its global corporate affairs. The Padma Shri awardee is also known as the Indian government's key strategist for China and the US.In 2008, he was a member of the team which negotiated the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal under the UPA government headed by then-Prime Minister Manmohan ...
GoM appointed for construction of new T'gana secretariat,
The Telangana Cabinet has appointed a Group of Ministers headed by Road and Buildings Minister V Prashanth Reddy on the construction of new secretariat and Assembly complex here, official sources said Monday. Prohibition and Excise Minister Srinivas Goud and Welfare Minister Koppula Eshwar are the other members. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will be laying the foundation stone for both the complexes on June 27. Barring a couple of occasions, it was almost four years since KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, a believer of Vaastu, visited the present secretariat. "The GoM will examine various building plans, consult experts and come out with a blueprint on how to execute the projects. The appointment of the committee was taken at the recent cabinet meeting. The new secretariat will be fully Vaastu compliant," sources told PTI. KCR recently said the new secretariat will come up in the existing one which will be demolished. He, however, said that it is being ..
Bill on Jammu and Kashmir reservation in LS
People living along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir will get benefits of reservation in direct recruitment, promotion and admission in professional courses on par with those living along the Actual Line of Control (ALoC), according to a bill introduced in the Lok Sabha Monday. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, will replace an ordinance issued by the previous government. The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on behalf of Home Minister Amit Shah who was present in the House. Some members from the opposition wanted to oppose introduction of the bill but Speaker Om Birla rejected their demand, saying they had not followed the procedure for doing so. The bill seeks to provide relief to people living in areas adjoining the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. They can now avail benefits of reservation in direct recruitment, promotion and admission in different professional courses. The Bill once ...
RBI deputy guv resignation: Cong raises RBI independence issue
The Congress Monday wondered whether Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Viral Acharya's "abrupt decision" to resign could have anything to do with his stance on reaffirming the RBI's independence from the Modi government. In a surprise move, Acharya has resigned from his position at the central bank merely six months ahead of the scheduled end of his three-year term, citing personal reasons. This is the second high-profile exit from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the last seven months. Earlier in December 2018, Governor Urjit Patel had resigned nearly nine months before the end of his scheduled term. "RBI Governor, Viral Acharya's resignation comes just six months before his tenure was due to end; could his abrupt decision have anything to do with his stance on reaffirming the RBI's independence from the current government," the Congress said on its official Twitter handle.
Mayawati blames SP's post-poll conduct, breaks ties with party
Blaming the post-poll conduct of the Samajwadi Party (SP), the BSP chief Mayawati on Monday announced breaking the alliance with SP in all future elections, marking the end of a brief coming together of the two in the Lok Sabha elections.Making a terse announcement in a tweet, she referred to the bitter past between the two parties, an apparent reference to the Guest House incident in the mid-90s when Mayawati was attacked by SP men, she said she had forgotten old issues and concerns before tying up for the recent Lok Sabha polls."However, the conduct of SP after the Lok Sabha elections forces BSP to think whether it is possible to defeat the BJP by joining hands with the SP. It is not possible. Hence in the interest of the party and the movement, the BSP in future would contest every big and small election on its own," Mayawati said in the tweet.The latest development came a day after Mayawati chaired a meeting with her party office bearers, members, legislators and parliamentarians .
TN Assembly may take up DMK resolution seeking Speaker's removal on July 1
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal Monday indicated that the DMK's resolution seeking his removal might be taken up on July 1 during the ensuing session of the House. The opposition party had moved the resolution on April 30 against the Speaker, after he served notices to three pro-Dhinakaran AIADMK MLAs for alleged anti-party activities earlier that day. On Monday, Dhanapal chaired a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee that discussed among others the duration of the session that gets underway from June 28. On DMK's resolution against him, the Speaker said according to the House rules it should be taken up on July 1. "The agenda (in this connection) will be released on July 1," he said without elaborating. Though the session will start on Friday, June 28, the House is expected to adjourn after paying obituary reference to DMK MLA K Rathamani of Vikravandi Assembly constituency, who died a fortnight ago. The M K Stalin-led opposition party had moved against the Speaker after
Cong made us realise importance of strong leadership: Sarangi
The Congress made us realise the importance of strong leadership as policy paralysis was a "new norm" during the ten-year rule of the party with the "accidental prime minister" at the helm, Union minister Chandra Sarangi said Monday. Initiating the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Sarangi said he is grateful to Narendra Modi for making a man like him, who hails from a humble background, a minister. Taking on the Congress, Sarangi said ten years of the Congress-led UPA government was that of "misrule" and "full of corruption". "Policy paralysis was a new norm during those ten years. And it was Congress which made us realise the importance of strong leadership," he said. Without naming former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said even the Congress prime minister was an "accidental Prime Minister." Emphasising that both Modi and his government are committed to the welfare of the poor and downtrodden, Sarangi said by 2022 every poor person will have a
Governments must regulate social networks: Facebook's Clegg
Governments must regulate social networks and not the companies themselves, Facebook's head of global affairs and a former deputy prime minister of the UK said in an interview Monday. "It's not for private companies, however big or small, to come up with those rules. It is for democratic politicians in the democratic world to do so," Clegg told the BBC. Clegg, the former leader of UK political party the Liberal Democrats, said there was a "pressing need" for new "rules of the road" on issues including data privacy and election rules. At the same time, companies such as Facebook should play a "mature role" in advocating regulation, he told the BBC. Britain has said it will make social media bosses personally liable for harmful content and shut down offending platforms under a "world-leading" government plan. Coming in for heavy criticism over the past year, Facebook has instituted changes, particularly on privacy and the transparency of political campaign ads. Facebook chief Mark ...