Page 117 - Politics
'Non-Gandhi' can be Cong chief, but Gandhi family must remain active in party: Aiyar
Amid uncertainty over Rahul Gandhi continuing as Congress president, senior leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said Sunday that a 'non-Gandhi' can be party chief, but the Gandhi family must remain active within the organisation. The BJP's objective is to have a "Gandhi-mukt Congress" so as to have a "Congress-mukt Bharat", he claimed. It would be best that Rahul remains party chief, but at the same time, Rahul's own wishes must also be respected, Aiyar said. "I am sure we can survive if we have to without a Nehru-Gandhi as the titular head of the party, provided the Nehru-Gandhis remain active in the party and can help resolve a crisis in case serious differences arise," he told PTI in an interview. Aiyar said Rahul has given about a month to the party to find a replacement and there have been confabulations within the Congress over the issue with the feeling in the party overwhelmingly in favour of Rahul staying on. The former Union minister, however, emphasised that instead of speculating, ..
UK minister discusses regional tensions, nuclear deal in Iran
A minister from Britain's Foreign Office arrived in Tehran on Sunday and met with a top diplomat from Iran's foreign ministry amid escalating regional tensions, state-run IRIB news agency reported. Minister of State for the Middle East Andrew Murrison spoke with Kamal Kharazi, head of the Strategic Council of Foreign Relations at Iran's foreign ministry, on "bilateral ties, regional issues" and the 2015 nuclear deal, the agency said. Murrison is expected to meet deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later on Sunday. Murrison was to call for an "urgent de-escalation" and raise British concerns "about Iran's regional conduct and its threat to cease complying with the nuclear deal to which the UK remains fully committed," according to a statement by Britain's Foreign Office. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared after Iran on Thursday shot down a US drone. Iran said the drone violated its airspace -- a claim the US denies -- near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In ...
Ethiopian army chief, regional president killed in unrest: PM's office
Ethiopia's army chief was shot dead by his bodyguard just hours after an attempted coup in Amhara state left the regional president and another top adviser dead, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Sunday. Spokeswoman Billene Seyoum told journalists a "hit squad" led by Amhara's security chief Asaminew Tsige burst into a meeting on Saturday afternoon and shot regional president Ambachew Mekonnen and another top official. The men were "gravely injured in the attack and later died of their wounds," she said. "Several hours later in what seems like a co-ordinated attack, the chief of the staff of the national security forces Seare Mekonnen was killed in his home by his bodyguard." Also shot dead was a retired general who had been visiting him, Billene added. The bodyguard has been apprehended while Asaminew is still on the loose, sources said. Analysts said the incident showed the seriousness of the political crisis in Ethiopia, where efforts by Abiy to loosen the ...
Post-Balakot, Indian Navy hunted for Pakistani submarine for 21 days
New Delhi [India], Jun 23 (ANI): Soon after the Pulwama terror attack, India pulled out its Navy from an exercise and deployed a major part of its fleet, including nuclear and conventional submarines, close to Pakistani territorial waters.During the aggressive deployment of the naval assets by the Indian side, the Pakistanis were getting an impression that New Delhi might use its maritime force to avenge the killing of its 40 CRPF personnel in the suicide bombing by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).India was continuously keeping an eye on the movement of the Pakistani military but after Indian Air Force hit the Jaish terrorist factory in Balakot, one of the most advanced Pakistani Agosta-class submarines - PNS Saad - vanished from the Pakistani waters, a senior government source said.Having accounted for all other surface warships and all the submarines, the vanishing act done by the PNS Saad fitted with Air Independent Propulsion (a technology which allows the submarines to stay for a longer ..
Bolton warns Iran to not mistake US 'prudence' for 'weakness'
US National Security Advisor John Bolton warned Tehran on Sunday of misinterpreting as "weakness" President Donald Trump's last-minute cancellation of a retaliatory strike on Iran. "Neither Iran nor any other hostile actor should mistake US prudence and discretion for weakness," said Bolton ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. "Our military is rebuilt new and ready to go," he added, after Trump called off a planned attack on Iran in response to Tehran downing a US drone on Thursday.
Proud of our secular credentials: India on US Commission's report on religious tolerance
India on Sunday said that it is proud of the secular credentials that enable in uniting people belonging to diverse religions and cultures in the country.Rejecting the latest Report on International Religious Freedom published by the United States Department of State on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it sees "no locus standi for a foreign government" to pronounce on the state of its citizens' constitutionally protected rights."India is proud of its secular credentials, its status as the largest democracy and a pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to tolerance and inclusion," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, responding to media queries on the report."The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all its citizens, including its minority communities. It is widely acknowledged that India is a vibrant democracy where the Constitution provides protection of religious freedom, and where democratic governance and rule of law further ...
If water ferried to Chennai from Jolarpettai it will lead to massive protest in district: DMK MLA
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA and treasurer Durai Murugan on Sunday threatened to hold protests in the state if the water is ferried to Chennai from Vellore's Jolarpettai.Tamil Nadu government had, on Saturday, announced that it will ferry 10 MLD (million litres per day) of water to Chennai from Jolarpettai in Vellore district for six months."Massive protests will break out in the district if the government goes ahead with the plan," Murugan said.DMK leaders had, on Saturday, held state-wide protests in Tamil Nadu against the state government over the water scarcity in the state.
Coast Guard's new recruiting centre to be set up in Dehradun
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Rajendra Singh on Sunday announced the setting up of a new recruitment centre for the maritime force in Dehradun."The recruitment centre of Indian Coast Guard will benefit the youth of Uttarakhand who want to serve the country. Coast Guard will also impart training to State Disaster Response Force. We know that our state is very prone to disaster," Rawat told reporters here."The Coast Guard has also provided the assistance of Rs 25 crore for building and Rs 17 crore for land," he said.After the meeting, Rawat tweeted, "I am happy to announce that the permission has been approved for opening the recruitment centre of Indian Coast Guard in Dehradun. This is a big opportunity for the youth of Uttarakhand, Himachal, and Haryana. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh."DG Coast Guard Singh today given papers related to the recruiting centre in Dehradun."We have given papers
Day after FATF warning, Pak Army Chief claims 'doing best to wipe out terrorism'
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has claimed that the country is doing its best and utilising all available sources to eliminate terrorism from its soil, adding that Islamabad has been moving towards attaining sustainable peace and stability.Bajwa, while speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London on Friday, suggested that all countries should come forward and cooperate with each other in "wiping out terrorism" as it is a common enemy for all."We are doing our best, utilising all available sources to wipe out the enemies of peace and prosperity but it is fact that peace and stability in South Asia was dependent on the resolution of conflicts and disputes in the region", The Nation quoted Bajwa."We suggest to all countries especially our neighbouring nations that come forward and cooperate with each other in wiping out terrorism as it is a common enemy. We have suffered a lot in the past and would not like to be suffered in ...
Not dislodging anyone in Madhya Pradesh, says Shivraj Singh Chauhan
Madhya Pradesh former chief minister and BJP vice president Shivraj Singh Chauhan Sunday asserted his party is not dislodging anyone but it cannot do anything if the state government "falls due to infighting" within the Congress. Chauhan, who was here during the weekend to address the district-level and regional-level heads of BJP's membership drive, said this when he was asked whether the BJP will form government in Madhya Pradesh before the assembly elections are held. "Now, if the Congress (government) falls due to infighting in the party, then we cannot do anything. We are not dislodging anyone, but whatever is going on there (in MP) is not good," he told PTI in an interview. The 15-year power drought ended for the Congress in Madhya Pradesh in 2017 when it defeated the saffron party in the assembly poll. Calling himself a "staunch supporter" of 'One Nation, One Election', the senior BJP leader, who is heading the party's membership drive, said Lok Sabha polls should be held along
Phones, bags, car keys barred at Mayawati's strategy meet
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Sunday chaired a meeting of her party office bearers, members, legislators and parliamentarians to chalk out their strategy for upcoming by-elections to 11 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh.The attendees were asked to leave their bags, mobile phones, vehicle keys and any digital devices outside the meeting, which is underway at party headquarters in Lucknow.Wrapped in yellow chits safeguarded with rubber bands, phones, and car keys were stacked in drawers of tables placed outside the venue. Similarly, bags belonging to party members were marked with papers chits to denote owners.Senior officials and all members of parliament are present at the meeting along with state presidents from across the country.Senior leaders Sukhdev Rajbhar, Afzal Ansari, Surendra Bhadoria, Lalji Verma and Nakul Dubey were seen arriving for the meeting.Mayawati had recently announced her decision to fight the by-elections for 11 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh alone ...
Nehru turned down demand of independent inquiry in Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's death: JP Nadda
BJP Working president JP Nadda on Sunday hit out at the Congress party by raking up the issue of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's death saying that the former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru turned down the demand of an independent inquiry in the case."The whole country demanded an inquiry into Dr ShyamaPrasad Mukherjee's death, but Pandit Nehru did not order an inquiry. History is witness to this. Dr Mukherjee's sacrifice will never go in vain, BJP is committed to this cause," he said while speaking to media in New Delhi on the Syama Prasad Mookerjee's 66th Death Anniversary.Nadda along with Home Minister Amit Shah and scores of party cadre paid tribute to Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on his death anniversary at BJP Headquarters in the wee hours of Sunday.Dr Mukherjee was the founder of Bhartiya Jana Sangh in 1951 which later evolved into the BJP. The political party he formed was ideologically close to RSS and was considered proponent of Hindu nationalism.It is believed that the ...
Istanbul votes in test for Erdogan and Turkish democracy
Istanbul went back to the polls on Sunday in a re-run of the mayoral election that has become a test of Turkish democracy as well as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's continued popularity at a time of economic trouble. Election authorities annulled the first vote in March after Erdogan's party alleged corruption in a count that showed the ruling AKP's candidate had narrowly lost. Polling stations opened at 0500 GMT and the 10.5 million registered voters have until they close at 1400 GMT to elect the new mayor. Critics say Erdogan simply did not like the March 31 result, after a little-known former district mayor, 49-year-old Ekrem Imamoglu, snatched victory for the opposition by just 13,000 votes. The city of 15 million is Turkey's economic powerhouse and has been a crucial source of patronage for Islamic conservatives since Erdogan himself won the mayorship a quarter-century ago. But Imamoglu, of the secular Republican People's Party, has become a household name since being stripped ..
President Xi to attend G20 summit, set to meet Trump to end trade war
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the G-20 summit in Japan this week during which he would meet his US counterpart Donald Trump for key talks to clinch a deal to end the bruising trade war and to forestall moves by Washington to clamp tariffs on the remaining USD 300 billion of exports from China. Xi will attend the 14th Group of 20 (G-20) summit in Osaka, Japan from June 27 to 29, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a brief announcement here on Sunday. Ahead of their planned meeting, Trump and Xi held a detailed telephone talk on June 18 preparing ground to resolve differences impeding the deal to end the year long trade war between the world's two largest economies. Trump, who kicked off the trade war last year, is demanding China to reduce the massive trade deficit which climbed to over USD 539 billion last year. He is also insisting on China to workout verifiable measures for protection of intellectual ...
PM remembers Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee's passion for a united and strong India continues to inspire people. In a tweet to mark Mookerjee's 66thdeath anniversary, the prime minister said he was adevout patriot and proud nationalist. "Dr. Mookerjee devoted his life for India's unity and integrity. His passion for a strong and united India continues to inspire us and gives us strength to serve 130 crore Indians," Modi said. Mookerjee died in Jammu and Kashmir on this day in 1953 under mysterious circumstances.
Activists hold conference in Birmingham on Pakistan atrocities in PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan
Kashmiri political activists from all over Europe gathered here on Saturday to hold a conference on the atrocities committed by Pakistan on people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan.The conference, named "International Kashmir conference on Peace, Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism," also focused on the discussion of rampant destruction of land and resources in the region."Gilgit Baltistan is one of the most deprived areas in the world. Unfortunately, Pakistan has still not changed its policies. Even now, they are still using terrorism as a tool. The government of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir has no say in the Imran Khan-led government. Since the past three months, people are protesting against the diversion of Neelum-Jhelum Rivers. They are sitting continuously on strikes," Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, chairman at the United Kashmir Peoples' National Party (UKPNP), told ANI."The security agencies of Pakistan have arrested more than 30 volunteers and have also demolished ...
AP sources: US struck Iranian military computers this week
US military cyber forces launched a strike against Iranian military computer systems on Thursday as President Donald Trump backed away from plans for a more conventional military strike in response to Iran's downing of a US surveillance drone, US officials have said. Two officials told The Associated Press on Saturday that the strikes were conducted with approval from Trump. A third official confirmed the broad outlines of the strike. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the operation. The cyberattacks a contingency plan developed over weeks amid escalating tensions disabled Iranian computer systems that controlled its rocket and missile launchers, the officials said. Two of the officials said the attacks, which specifically targeted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps computer system, were provided as options after Iranian forces blew up two oil tankers earlier this month. The IRGC, which was designated a foreign ...
North Korea leader receives 'excellent' letter from Trump
President Donald Trump sent North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an "excellent" letter, the North's state-run news agency reported Sunday, quoting Kim as saying he would "seriously contemplate it." The White House declined to confirm that Trump had sent a letter to Kim. It comes as nuclear talks between the US and North Korea broke down after the failed summit between Kim and Trump in February in Vietnam. The US is demanding that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons entirely before international sanctions are lifted. North Korea is seeking a step-by-step approach in which moves toward denuclearization are matched by concessions from the US, notably a relaxation of the sanctions. Kim "said with satisfaction that the letter is of excellent content," Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency reported. "Appreciating the political judging faculty and extraordinary courage of President Trump, Kim Jong Un said that he would seriously contemplate the interesting content," the agency said, without .
Maneka, Varun Gandhi pay tribute to Sanjay Gandhi on his 39th death anniversary
Sanjay Gandhi was remembered on his 39th death anniversary with several party cadres including BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi, paying homage to the late leader at Shanti Vana on Sunday.Both Maneka (wife of late Sanjay Gandhi) and Varun (son of late Sanjay Gandhi) paid floral tribute at the memorial, amid recital of hymns from the religious texts.Sanjay Gandhi, a former MP died in an air crash in the year 1980 near Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi. He was flying a new aircraft of the Delhi Flying club, and, while performing an aerobatic manoeuvre over his office, lost control and crashed.The only passenger in the plane, Captain Subhash Saxena, also died in the crash.
US seeks big boosts in Palestinian infrastructure, education
The US Middle East economic plan unveiled Saturday promises major boosts to the Palestinian economy, with a goal of raising more than USD 50 billion in investment and creating one million jobs over 10 years. The initiative will be discussed at a conference in Bahrain that is being boycotted by the Palestinians, who believes President Donald Trump's pro-Israel administration is trying to buy them off and end their goal of an independent state. The plan calls for major investment to improve power generation, potable water supply and waste water treatment in the Palestinian territories, where basic services have been under increasing strain. In the impoverished Gaza Strip -- one of the most densely populated places on Earth and blockaded by Israel as the militant movement Hamas controls the territory -- the plan calls for USD 590 million in grants and low-interest loans to upgrade the main power plant, bringing reliable electricity for the first time in years and creating tens of ...