Page 1161 - Politics
Giriraj Singh to contest from Begusarai: Amit Shah
Union Minister Giriraj Singh will contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Begusarai parliamentary constituency in Bihar and not from Nawada, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah announced on Wednesday.
Spoke to Adavaniji, really sad over how he and Joshiji has
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday criticised BJP for its "ill treatment" towards party veterans L K Adavani and Murli Manohar Moshi and said it is "really sad" to see the way the party is treating its founding members. "Today I spoke to Adavaniji in the morning. I enquired about his health. He said he felt good that I had called him. "It is really sad to see the way BJP is treating its founding members. I don't want to say much more as it is the internal matter of their party," Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo said. Advani and Joshi have been denied ticket by BJP to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in their states. In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign, Banerjee said she has immense respect for real chowkidars and not for political chowkidars who are trying to derive "political mileage" out of it. She also criticised Modi for trying to derive "political mileage" out of the ...
EU suspends naval patrols in Libya migrant operation
The EU announced Wednesday it will suspend ship patrols that have rescued tens of thousands of migrants since 2015 in the Mediterranean and brought them to Italy, after deep resistance by populist-led Rome. European Union diplomats agreed that the operation would be officially extended six months beyond its March 31 expiry date, but no longer deploy ships and instead rely on air missions and coordination with Libya. "Member States have decided to extend the mandate of Operation Sophia for six months with a temporary suspension of its naval assets while member states continue working on a solution related to disembarkation," an EU official said in a statement. The EU has credited the mission with having stopped smugglers taking migrants on dangerous sea crossings, but anger in Italy effectively put an end to rescue operations through Sophia a year ago. The anti-migration government that took power in Rome last year has insisted it should not have to carry the burden of dealing with ...
Algeria's ruling coalition party calls for president to quit
Algeria's ruling coalition party on Wednesday called for the resignation of ailing, 82-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose long rule has prompted weeks of mass street protests in the country. The RND party's secretary general and former prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia said in a written statement it "recommends" Bouteflika's resignation to facilitate the transition of power. "In order to avoid any institutional vacuum, the president must urgently appoint a new government," he said. Ouyahia expressed "gratitude" to Bouteflika for "all he given Algeria." The move came one day after Algeria's powerful army chief called for starting the constitutional process to have Bouteflika declared unfit for office, possibly paving the way for the president's ouster after 20 years in power. Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah said Tuesday "the only guarantee for political stability" is to empower the Constitutional Council to determine if the president is too ill to do his job, and to ask lawmakers to ...
MGP MLA Pawaskar to be inducted into Goa government
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will be inducting former MGP MLA Dipak Pawaskar, who has merged the legislative wing of the party with the BJP, into the state cabinet at 11.30 pm Wednesday, a senior official said. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Raj Bhavan where Governor Mridula Sinha will administer oath to Pawaskar, a senior government official told PTI. The swearing-in was scheduled to be held in the morning, but could not take place as Sinha was in New Delhi. "The governor has cut short her Delhi trip and would be arriving in the evening to administer oath," the official said. Pawaskar and another Maharahstrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Manohar Ajgaonkar merged the legislature wing of the party with the BJP in the early hours of Wednesday. The MGP is now left with only one MLA -- Sudin Dhavalikar -- after the split. Dhavalikar, who was the deputy chief minister, was dropped from the cabinet after the early morning developments. Pawaskar is the first-time MLA who ...
Nepal to hold 2-day summit to woo more investment
Investors from around 40 countries, including India and China, will gather here for a two-day investment summit this week, Nepal's Finance Minister Yuvraj Khatiwada said on Wednesday. The Nepal Investment Summit is being organised in Kathmandu on March 29 to 30 with a view to attract more investment in the landlocked country. Over 500 people, including Nepal's development partners, representatives from Kathmandu-based diplomatic agencies, high-level government officials, Non-Resident Nepalese and domestic and international investors, are expected to attend the summit to be inaugurated by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, he said. "The government has made all preparations for the event which is expected to attract investors from 40 countries across the world," Khatiwada said. During the summit, 77 projects in the hydropower, agriculture, industry, tourism, transportation, urban infrastructure, education and health sectors would be presented by the companies of public and private ...
NDA govt betrayed TN in last 5 years,alleges Udayanidhi
Tamil Nadu was betrayed in all aspects by the BJP-led central government during its five-year-rule, Udayanidhi Stalin, son of DMK president M K Stalin, alleged Wednesday. Seeking votes for former Telecom minister and DMK Nilgiris cndidate, A Raja here and nearby Coonoor, Udayanidhi claimed the Centre had given a paltry fund for Tamil Nadu, parts of which were affected by different cyclonic storms, including Gaja cyclone last year. Efforts would be taken to convert the premises of the now closed Hindustan Photo Films into a medical college for the benefit of the district people, he said. Udayanidhi also claimed that Tamil Nadu was witnessing an "anti-Modi" and "pro-Stalin" wave. Seeking votes for the DMK's Pollachi candidate Shanmugasundaram on Tuesday, he alleged about 10 crore people were rendered jobless due to the GST and people of Tamil Nadu will not forget the girl student, Anitha, who had committed suicide for not being able to get medical seat due to the National
Owaisi hails scientists on Mission Shakti; attacks PM
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to appropriate DRDO's success in demonstration of anti-satellite missile capability. Owaisi said he was expecting more, like tangible action against Pakistan. "DRDO's success today is testimony to what this nation's scientists achieve against immense odds. My congratulations to them!," the Hyderabad MP said in a tweet. "Now, @PMOIndia after all build up, you were just trying to appropriate DRDO's success? We were expecting something more: like tangible action against Pak," he said. Modi on Wednesday announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space superpowers.
A-SAT test: Praise pours in, Congress says UPA initiated
Politicians across party lines on Wednesday congratulated the DRDO and space scientists for making India "a space superpower" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that anti-satellite missile A-SAT successfully targeted a live satellite on low earth orbit, even as they criticised the government for taking credit and violating the election model code of conduct.
16th LS passed 240 bills, had 312 sittings: Report
The outgoing Lok Sabha passed 240 of the 273 bills introduced during its term. While 10 bills were withdrawn, 23 bills remained pending, said election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Wednesday.
Trump says Mueller report summary couldn't have been better
An exuberant President Donald Trump took a victory lap on Capitol Hill, emboldened by the end of the special counsel's Russia probe, even as Democrats pressed insistently for Robert Mueller's full report and Justice Department officials said more information could be released in "weeks, not months." Trump strode into a high-spirited gathering of Senate Republicans on Tuesday, flanked by party leaders, saying the attorney general's weekend summary of Mueller's report "could not have been better." GOP senators applauded his arrival, and he celebrated what he called his "clean bill of health." But challenges are ahead for both the Republicans and the Democrats who hope to deny Trump re-election next year. Both parties are readjusting their aims and strategies in the post-probe landscape , pivoting to health care and other issues that are more important for many voters, even with Mueller's full findings still unknown. At House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's own closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday,
ASAT indicator of political will backing scientists: Tawde
The anti-satellite (ASAT) missile capability demonstration Wednesday was an indicator of the political will backing the country's scientists, Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde said. In a morning television address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers. "There has been international pressure on the government against carrying out research and tests on critical issues such as anti-satellite missiles. The Modi government has shown its political will by standing firmly behind the scientists," Tawde claimed. He alleged that work on the ASAT had slowed down under the previous government due to international pressure before it got revived and picked up speed after 2014 under PM Modi. Queried on PM Modi's televised address, Tawde said such critical achievements .
Posters in Amethi question Priyanka's 'absence'
Ahead of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's visit to her brother and party president Rahul Gandhi's constituency, a row broke out Wednesday over some posters questioning her absence from the family bastion. The posters, spotted near the Musafirkhana bus stand, carried a sketch of Priyanka Gandhi and the picture of a leader from the Samajwadi Party's student wing. "Kya khoob thagti ho, kyun paanch saal baad hi Amethi mein dikhti ho (Why do you fool us and show up in Amethi only after five years)," one poster said. It said she should give an account for the past 60 years. Another poster suggested that she wore saris just to influence voters. Just hours after the posters appeared, Jaisingh Pratap Singh -- the SP student wing leader whose picture the posters carried -- complained to the district authorities, demanding an inquiry. "This poster has been put up as an act of political vendetta by some mischievous elements misusing my picture, he said in a letter handed over to
Kerala Janapaksham to take decision on supporting BJP-led NDA
A decision on the Kerala Janapaksham, which supported protests by Hindu outfits over the Sabarimala issue, cooperating with the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls would be taken in four days, party founder and MLA, P C George said Wednesday. George said the state committee of the Janapaksham had discussed the issue of cooperating with the NDA in the elections after the Congress leadership did not respond to his demand that his party be made a partner of the United Democratic Front (UDF). "The national leadership of the BJP has contacted me. A decision on my party extending support to the NDA candidates in the elections will be taken in four days," George, who represents Poonjar constituency in the Kerala Assembly, told PTI over phone. He said the matter was not discussed with the state leadership of the BJP or NDA. The Janapaksham chairman claimed his party had decided not to contest the Lok Sabha polls following assurances by state Congress leaders, including Oommen ...
PM's message on his impending announcement triggered suspense
No sooner did Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday informed about his address to the nation than speculations went rife on the social media and television channels in Tamil Nadu on what it could be. Minutes after Modi tweeted: "I would be addressing the nation at around 11:45 AM - 12.00 noon with an important message. Do watch the address on television, radio or social media," Tamil television channels flashed it on their screens and discussions began. Journalists based in the national capital were asked by Tamil channel anchors on what kind of an announcement could be expected from the Prime Minister since Model Code of Conduct was in force and the country fully geared up for Parliamentary elections. Quoting sources and practices followed during polls, journalists said since Modi's address was scheduled to be covered by national broadcaster Doordarashan as well, it could only be "official," rather than anything to do with politics. No key policy decisions should be ...
Will take legal action against Congress' conspiracy-driven election campaign: Sitharaman
A day after a videotape as part of its sting operation on demonetisation was played out by opposition parties, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday hit out at the Congress and said the BJP will initiate legal action against the "conspiracy-driven election campaign" of the Congress."I would like to state here, BJP is taking legal advice. We are taking every possible advice so that institutions and individuals who are part of this conspiracy to defame BJP, we will take them to the court. We will take action on them legally. We are not going to let this story down," Sitharaman told media at a press conference here."Congress did a sting operation and made it public on Tuesday, through TNN World, a website-based news portal. This was the same website which showed live Kapil Sibal's press conference on EVM, in January. This website was registered in December 2018," Sitharaman added.The minister further claimed a Romanian is the director of the website."Exposure on ...
PM Modi to "Mission Shakti" scientists: You have shown "hum bhi kisi se kam nahin"
Buoyed by the successful testing of Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday saidThe Prime Minister made this comment during an interaction through video-conference with the team of scientists and engineers involved in the development and testing of the Anti-Satellite weapons."Congratulations to you all. Your hard work paid off," Prime Minister said."If someone who does not think ill about anyone becomes powerless, then those who think ill will keep breeding evils. That is why someone who does not think ill for others must be powerful," Prime Minister told the scientists and engineers.He also termed the successful development of the weapon as an example of "Make-in-India".India on Wednesday announced successful testing of its anti-satellite missile by shooting down its own decommissioned satellite in the Low Earth Orbit.Making the announcement about the test, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India's feat is only for its own defence needs and not .
Brexit: MPs prepare to vote in bid to end impasse
British MPs are preparing to vote for their preferred Brexit option, with Prime Minister Theresa May due to meet Tory backbenchers in an effort to win them over to her deal.
Pakistan must 'deliver outcomes': US
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told Pakistan that it must "deliver outcomes" to build confidence and trust between the two countries, the State Department has said. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said this when asked about the recent remarks by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in which he identified Pakistan's nuclear proliferation as the third top national security concern for the US. "The secretary (of State Pompeo) has emphasised the need (for Pakistan) to deliver outcomes and to build confidence and trust between our two nations and we do want to see a prosperous Pakistan that contributes positively towards regional stability and security," Palladino told reporters on Tuesday at his biweekly news conference. Palladino was answering a question on the recent remarks by Pompeo in which he identified Pakistan's nuclear proliferation as the third top national security concerns for the US. "Nuclear proliferation is one of the very first national security ...
Delhi CM congratulates DRDO for successful demonstration of anti-satellite missile capability
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the scientific community after India successfully demonstrated its anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite. "Congratulations once again to DRDO & entire scientific community in achieving yet another milestone by successfully testing ASAT technology," Kejriwal tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers. India is only the fourth country to acquire such a specialised and modern capability after the US, Russia and China.