Page 1162 - Politics
Anti-satellite missile test not directed at any country, No intention of entering arms race: India
India "successfully" carried out an anti-satellite missile test to verify its capability to safeguard space assets and it was not directed against any country, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The ministry also said India has no intention of entering into an arms race in outer space and it has been maintaining that space must be used only for peaceful purposes. "The test is not directed against any country. India's space capabilities do not threaten any country and nor are they directed against anyone," the MEA said in a 10-point explainer on the anti-satellite missile test. In a televised address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday announced that India shot down a satellite in space with a missile, catapulting the country into an elite club of space powers alongside the US, Russia and China. In 2007, China had carried out an anti-satellite missile test. Experts and former scientists said though India had the capability by 2012 to carry out similar test, political ...
Priyanka delights Congress worker with video chat
It was all dust and scorching heat for a Congress worker on Wednesday afternoon before party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra obliged him with an unexpected gesture -- she joined him and his friend in a video chat on his mobile phone.
2 Cong men booked for pasting anti-BJP stickers inside trains
The Railway Protection Force has booked two Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders for pasting stickers with the slogan "chowkidar chor hai" inside passengers coaches at Indore railway station. An RPF official identified the two as Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) secretary Vivek Khandelwal and city Congress Committee spokesperson Girish Joshi. The two were booked under relevant sections of the Railway Act, he said, adding that the RPF had video footage of the stickers being pasted. The stickers have images of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along side a depiction of the Rafale fighter jet as well as the offending slogan. The stickers have the images and names of Khandelwal and Joshi as well. While the BJP uses the "chowkidar" tag to describe Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fight against corruption and his hands-on style of governance, the opposition Congress, which alleges graft in the Rafale fighter jet ...
For global and regional peace, India should be strong: PM to Mission Shakti scientists
The forces which work for peace and goodwill must remain ever-powerful to achieve it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday. Soon after his address to the nation earlier in the day to announce a successful anti-satellite missile test, he interacted with scientists involved in 'Mission Shakti' via video conference, a statement from the prime minister's office said. He told the scientists that the successful test firing of anti-satellite missile is in line with the government's 'Make in India' initiative and the scientists involved in the project have proved that India can achieve any goal. "The prime minister said that India follows the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world is one family. He, however, also emphasised that the forces which work for peace and goodwill must remain ever-powerful for the achievement of peace," the statement read. Congratulating the scientists on their success, the PM said the entire nation is proud of the scientists for achieving what they .
BJP relying on caste factors in ticket distribution: Analysts
The BJP appears to have kept the caste factor in mind while picking candidates which will help it reach its "target" of 74 seats from Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections. Of the total 80 seats in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party has so far declared 61 candidates, with the Brahmins getting the most nominations, followed closely by backward communities and the Dalits. Fifteen seats have been allotted to Brahmins, 14 to backward community leaders, 13 to Dalits, 10 to Kshatriyas, four Jats, two Gurjars and one each to Vaishya, Parsi and Bhumihar castes, said party leaders. But the party claimed caste was not taken into account. "Our party does not believe in caste politics. The tickets are given considering winnability and local factors. All aspects are being taken into account before declaration of tickets by the party leadership," a senior BJP leader told PTI. "If you go through the BJP list, it will be seen that the party has taken minimum risk in ticket distribution. Seats ..
Balakot attack: Farooq Abdullah accuses BJP of doing 'drama'
Slamming the BJP, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that its leaders staged a drama of attack on Jaish-e-Mohammad camp in Pakistan's Balakot."BJP government has changed three RBI Governors and they created drama of attack on Pakistan and claimed 300 people were killed, but no one got killed. Only some trees were damaged. Thank God, the (IAF) pilot returned back safely," Abdullah said while addressing a gathering here."We have atomic bombs. Pakistan too has it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi does only drama to show country... India is not for only one religion, it is for all religions. We have more than 22 crore Muslims in our country," he added.Abdullah went on to allege that "Ram Madhav came with money and gave some supporters here to create RSS on Kashmir."The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and former Union Minister further advised Modi to follow former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ideology to make "better relations with Pakistan".
Pak PM's comments about Afghanistan 'misinterpreted'
In a bid to de-escalate increasing diplomatic tensions, Pakistan on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments regarding Afghanistan were reported out of context in the media, according to Pakistan's Foreign Office.This comes a day after Afghanistan lodged a strong protest with Pakistan by summoning the country's Deputy Ambassador "with respect to the recent irresponsible remarks" by Khan. Following this, Afghanistan also recalled its ambassador from Pakistan "for further discussions on the matter."Quoting Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal, Geo News reported that Khan referred to Pakistan's model, where elections are held under an interim government. Faisal added that Khan's comments should not be "misinterpreted to imply interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs."The spokesperson further stated that the Pakistani Prime Minister had taken a "personal interest" in facilitating the political reconciliation process in Afghanistan, and wanted to ...
MGP to take on BJP in both Lok Sabha seats in Goa
Hours after two of its MLAs decided to cast their lot with the ally BJP, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) announced Wednesday that it would contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa. MGP president Dipak Dhavalikar said the party's another MLA, Sudin Dhavalikar, will contest from South Goa while former MLA Naresh Sawal will contest from North Goa. The BJP has already announced that both its sitting MPs in Goa will be renominated -- Union minister Shripad Naik from North Goa and Narendra Sawaikar from South Goa. Earlier in the day, two of the three MGP MLAs - Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar - merged the legislature party with the BJP, saying they were unhappy over Dipak Dhavalikar's conduct. Dipak Dhavalikar, meanwhile, also said that the MGP will also contest Assembly by-elections in Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa. While Dhavalikar has already announced that he would be contesting from Shiroda, he said the party had asked local units to suggest candidates for ...
Mamata promises probe into demonetisation, to bring back plan
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee Wednesday promised to conduct an investigation into demonetisation and revive the Planning Commission if the opposition alliance comes to power after the Lok Sabha elections. Releasing the party's manifesto, Banerjee said the 100 days' work scheme would be increased to 200 days and the wages would also be doubled under it. "We would conduct a probe into the decision of demonetisation and bring back the Planning Commission. The NITI Aayog is of no use," she said. "We would review the present GST. If it is really helping people, we would keep it," she said. Banerjee took exception to appointment of former BSF director general K K Sharma as special police observer for West Bengal and Jharkhand during the Lok Sabha elections. "How can a retired police officer look after the deployment of serving police personnel? During his tenure as the DG, he has attended an RSS program and that too in uniform," she .
Hum kisi se kam nahi: Prime Minister to scientists involved in testing of A-SAT missile
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 .
Secretive group claims raid on N. Korean embassy
A secretive group committed to ousting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has claimed its role in a raid last month at the North Korean Embassy in Spain.
UK MPs take charge of Parliament for historic Brexit debate
In a parliamentary first for the UK, MPs will take charge of the House of Commons business on Wednesday for a historic debate on the kind of Brexit that could command a majority to try and find a solution to the current deadlock over Britain's exit from the EU. In a major blow to Prime Minister Theresa May's authority, MPs voted through the debate earlier this week to seize control of the business of the House away from the government and set a new precedent in order to weigh up alternatives to her twice-defeated EU divorce bill through a set of "indicative" non-binding votes. May has vehemently declined to commit herself to backing any option thrown up as a result of such a vote as it could prove "undeliverable". "I must confess that I am sceptical about such a process of indicative votes. When we have tried this kind of thing in the past, it has produced contradictory outcomes or no outcome at all... No government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing ...
Oppn parties accuse PM Modi of 'playing politics' over ASAT missile test
Opposition leaders on Wednesday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of indulging on threatrics and playing politics over scientists' achievements following his address to the nation announcing successful test of an anti-satellite missile, while some parties complained to the Election Commission alleging violation of the model code. Congress President Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi wishing him "happy World Theatre Day" even as he congratulated the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). "Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day," he said on Twitter. Other Congress leaders credited successive governments led by their party for the achievement. "The UPA government had initiated the ASAT program which has reached fruition today. I congratulate our space scientists and the visionary leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh," senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel tweeted. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata ...
Bihar's star campaigners not in Lok Sabha poll fray (Dangal 2019)
They are Bihar's seasoned politicians, popular faces, star campaigners and real vote catchers of their parties, who are not contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
Nyay scheme has scared BJP, PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, here on Wednesday, the 'Nyay' income guarantee scheme would be a surgical strike on poverty and its announcement has ensured the BJP's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.
MGP hits out at BJP, likely to contest LS polls
Still smarting from the departure of two party MLAs who joined Goa's ruling BJP on Wednesday, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) President Dipak Dhavalikar said the outfit was considering fielding candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as well as all the three Assembly bypolls.
China reacts guardedly to India's ASAT missile test; hopes nations will uphold peace in space
China on Wednesday reacted guardedly to India's anti-satellite missile test and expressed hope that all countries will uphold peace and tranquillity in the outer space. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India successfully test-fired an anti-satellite missile by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers. The test makes India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to acquire the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a written response to a question on India successfully test-firing an anti-satellite missile, said: "We have noticed reports and hope that each country will uphold peace and tranquillity in outer space". China conducted such a test in January 2007 when its anti-satellite missile destroyed a defunct weather satellite. Prime Minister Modi said in New Delhi that the action was not directed ...
IAF station chief meets J-K Guv
Air Commodore Ajay Singh Pathania, the Air Officer Commanding, Jammu, met Governor Satya Pal Malik at Raj Bhavan here Wednesday, officials said. He briefed the Governor about various important matters relating to activities of the Jammu Air Force Station. The Governor lauded Indian Air Force's prompt and valuable support to the civilian population whenever it is called for the relief and rescue operations, the officials added.
Congress will increase representation of OBCs: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that his party has decided to soon increase the representation of people from Other Backward Class (OBC) and give them a chance to becomes MLAs and MPs."The Congress party has decided to soon increase the representation of OBCs in the party and also give them a chance to become MLAs and MPs. At present, there are two (OBC) Chief Ministers of Congress. In future, you will see more people from this caste in Congress," he said, addressing a national convention of AICC OBC department here.The Gandhi scion also promised that if voted to power, the party will allow the youth to start their own venture without taking prior permission from the departments concerned."Lakhs of youth seek financial help to start a business but fail to get it. We cannot accept this. We believe everyone should get 'NYAY'. So, if voted to power, we will allow the youth across the country to start their own business without taking any permission from the government. .
Goa Dy CM Sudin Dhavalikar was indulging in anti -alliance activities: Pramod Sawant
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar was indulging in anti -alliance activities and so was dropped from the cabinet.Sawant told ANI, "He was conducting activities against the alliance, we had requested Sudin's brother Deepak to not contest in Shiroda by-poll but he is not ready to listen, so we took the decision."Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Dhavalikar was dropped from the Goa cabinet about a week after being sworn-in to the post.Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recommended the sacking of Dhavalikar from the cabinet, which was accepted by Governor Mridula Sinha.Soon after being dropped from the cabinet, Dhavalikar said that "splitting MGP at midnight is the biggest dacoity done by Chowkidars"."I will not respond to any questions, but what I have in my mind I will speak. Today I am free. MGP is a party of the people. At night, the chowkidars have committed dacoity on MGP which has shocked the people of Goa. People of Goa .