Page 1173 - Politics
CPI(M) cadres targeting BJP, RSS workers in Kerala: Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday alleged that cadres of Communist Party of India (Marxist) are targeting the workers of BJP and RSS in Kerala.While talking to media here, Sitharaman said, "In Kerala, one issue which BJP will definitely take up is the terrible inheritance of violence. The kind of total chaotic situation which prevails here. Is this democracy? The friends of the ruling party of Kerala should stand up and ask whether this is kind of an environment for political parties to function fearlessly?"She added, "Why don't they investigate if it is BJP which is perpetrating violence? Haven't instances of dreadful horrific violence come up perpetrated against the RSS workers and the BJP workers in Kerala which goes uncontrolled? CPI(M) cadres function alongside police like they did when they were in West Bengal, and which unfortunately even Mamata Banerjee, inherited incidentally. Prove that violence is being done by us."Besides slamming the CPI(M), Sitharaman .
First Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu flags off
First Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu (8485m) comprising five Officers, two JCOs and eleven OR was flagged off by Director General Military Training on Tuesday.In furtherance of the objective of summiting all challenging peaks above 8000M, Indian Army is launching its maiden expedition to Mt Makalu in Mar-May 2019.Mt Makalu is considered amongst the most dangerous peaks and summiting the peak is considered extremely challenging due to inclement weather conditions and freezing temperatures. The peak will test the climbers for technical acumen, mental and physical courage and their determination to reach atop Mt Makalu according to an Army spokesperson.The team has trained hard for last six months as part of the preparation to fulfil the daunting task assigned to them by successfully conducting an expedition to Mt Kamet and winter training including the summit of Mt Bhanoti in 2018.The team will embark for the challenging mission from New Delhi and will set up six ...
Khalilzad on 7-country trip for Afghan peace process
In a renewed effort to restore peace in strife-torn Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad has embarked on a visit to seven-country, beginning March 25.Khalilzad, who is the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, will conclude his visit on April 10.Apart from Afghanistan, Khalilzad will be visiting the UK, Belgium, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Qatar.The visits are a part of the "overall effort" to facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations.In Kabul, the Special Representative will hold consultations with the Afghan government (among others) about the status of US talks with the Taliban, according to the US Department of State.He will also encourage efforts to form an inclusive negotiating team and discuss the next steps in intra-Afghan discussions and negotiations.The Special Representative will meet other countries regarding the status of peace talks, to coordinate sustained commitment by the international .
Afghanistan recalls ambassador from Pak over Imran Khan's 'reckless' statements
Afghanistan on Tuesday recalled its ambassador from Pakistan over Prime Minister Imran Khan's "irresponsible" and "reckless" statements.Khan recently remarked that an interim government should be put in place in Afghanistan to facilitate peace talks with the Taliban as the current government creates "obstruction", according to TOLOnews."Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, summoned the Deputy Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan with respect to the recent irresponsible remarks of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan," Sibghatullah Ahmadi, the Spokesperson of Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on twitter."Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its grave objection on Pakistani PM's recent reckless statements about the peace process and establishment of an interim government, deemed such statements an obvious example of Pakistan's interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of ...
Gaza ceasefire holds but Netanyahu issues warning
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he was prepared for further military action in Gaza after cutting short a Washington visit and returning to Israel following a shaky ceasefire announced by Hamas. After Hamas said Egypt had brokered a truce late Monday aimed at ending a severe escalation, further exchanges of fire occurred throughout the night before calm again returned at around 6:00 am (0400 GMT). Gaza and Israeli cities near the Palestinian enclave remained quiet throughout the day. UN envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov told the United Nations Security Council that a "fragile calm" had returned but the situation remained "extremely tense." There were no deaths on either side, but seven Israelis and seven Palestinians were wounded in the flare-up at a highly sensitive time ahead of Israel's April 9 elections. Speaking via satellite link to pro-Israel lobby AIPAC's annual conference after returning from Washington, where he met US President Donald Trump, ...
NDA can get 70 plus seats in UP: Ramdas Athawale
Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday expressed hope that the NDA could win 70 plus seats in Uttar Pradesh in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.Athawale, whose party is a part of the NDA, said that people still have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi."People have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That is why NDA can get 70 plus seats in Uttar Pradesh...BJP can win up to 300 seats, while NDA can bag 370-380 seats," he said."The SP-BSP alliance will not get major benefits. We have given tickets to the people from all castes. Our fight will be against the SP-BSP," he said.Seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will be held between April 11 and May 19. Results will be declared on May 23.
Nominations of IPFT leader, 4 others rejected
Nominations of five candidates, including one from the IPFT, were cancelled in Tripura for different reasons on Tuesday, an official said.
Lok Sabha polls: EC appoints special observers for eight states
The Election Commission (EC) Tuesday appointed four special observers, two retired IRS and two IPS officer, to spearhead its efforts to check the abuse of black money and illegal inducements to voters and monitor deployment of security forces in select sensitive states during the Lok Sabha polls. The poll-body appointed Gopal Mukherjee as special expenditure observer for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and D D Goel for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Mukherjee, a 1980-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) retired as Member (Investigations) in the Central Board of Direct Taxes, while Goel, a 1982-batch officer of the same service, superannuated as Director General of I-T (Investigations). The Election Commission also appointed former BSF chief and retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer K K Sharma as the special central police observer for the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand. Mrinal Kanti Das, a 1977-batch IPS officer of Manipur-Tripura candre, has
Rahul, Priyanka visit temples only during polls: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying they visit temples only during elections. Addressing a huge rally in Ghatlodiya area under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Adityanath also criticised the Congress over its announcement to alleviate poverty. BJP president Amit Shah is the party candidate from Gandhinagar seat, which was earlier represented by the party patriarch L K Advani. "They (Rahul and Priyanka, who is the AICC general secretary of eastern Uttar Pradesh) go to temples only during elections. They do not have time to visit holy sites if elections are not around," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. Adityanath was apparently referring to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's recently concluded Ganga Yatra from Prayagraj to Varanasi during which she visited several temples. Rahul Gandhi has also visited temples during campaigning in various assembly elections. "The ...
EU endorses Afghan role in peace talks with Taliban
The European Union's top diplomat on Tuesday said the bloc was ready to stand a guarantor of peace efforts to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, and added the process should be led by the Afghan government.
Kashmiri Pandit organisation to go by Centre's decision on opening of Shardha Peeth corridor
An organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits Tuesday welcomed the reported decision by the Pakistan government to open Shardha Peeth for Hindu pilgrims from India and said it will go by the Centre's response to it. The All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) has been demanding reopening of the ancient temple of Shardha Mata located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "The organisation has decided to take a cautious stand over the reported decision by the Pakistan government to open Shardha Peeth temple for Hindus on the pattern of the Kartarpur Sahab Corridor. We will go by the decision of Government of India in order to protect national interest," APMCC national spokesman King C Bharati said. APMCC chairman Vinod Pandit chaired a meeting here which was convened to discuss the Pakistan government's decision to open the ancient temple for Hindu pilgrims from India. "While our organisation has been fighting for more than 16 years for the reopening of Shardha Peeth, we do ...
Would not have entered Pakistan if IAF had Rafale: Rajnath
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said there would have been no need for the IAF to enter the Pakistani airspace to hit the Balakot terror camp if it had Rafale aircraft. Addressing a rally in northeast Delhi's Yamuna Vihar, he said the "miracle" would have been possible from Indian territory. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the results would have been different if India had Rafale fighter jets, as he attacked the Congress for its tirade against his government over the aircraft deal. "During the UPA government's tenure, the Indian Army would hoist a white flag whenever the Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire at the border. During my tenure as home minister, I gave orders that if Pakistan fires one bullet, then you fire as much as you can," Singh said. Responding to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's jibe 'chowkidar chor hai' against Modi, the senior BJP leader said the prime minister was "pure and the only cure" for all problems of the country. Gandhi has often .
Mehbooba Mufti promises to lift ban on JKLF, JeI
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said she would get the ban on Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and the local Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) lifted if voted to power.
6-time MLA joins Congress in Rajasthan
In the presence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Bharatiya Vahini Party chief Ghanshyam Tiwari joined the party on Tuesday.
Consulted 'big economists' including Rahuram Rajan over minimum income scheme: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said his party consulted "big economists" including former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan before it came up with the idea of minimum guaranteed income to the poorest 20 per cent households in the country. Addressing a meeting of his party workers at the Ramlila ground here, Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to transfer Rs 15 lakh to every bank account but did not keep the promise. "We thought it was a good idea...Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. But the promise was not fulfilled by Modi. We started our work six months back to make such a thing reality," he said. He went on to say that his party consulted "all big economists, without telling anyone, without giving any speeches" on the Nyuntam Aay Yojana or Nyay. "We were engaged in this work for six months. Take the list of all big economists of the world, we consulted them...Raghuram Rajan...one by one," he said. "First thing, we came to know was that there should be a minimum income ...
Varun Gandhi thanks PM, party chief for declaring him BJP candidate from Pilibhit
BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah for declaring him the party's candidate from Pilibhit, which has traditionally been his mother Maneka Gandhi's Lok Sabha seat, and said that he had a "familial bond" with the place. The BJP announced candidates for 39 more seats for the Lok Sabha polls and swapped constituencies of the mother and son, putting to rest all speculation over Varun's fate. Maneka Gandhi will fight from Sultanpur which he had won in 2014. "I would like to thank the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon'ble BJP President Shri @AmitShah Ji for reposing their faith in me. I'm honoured to be returning to Pilibhit with which I have a familial bond and hope to make it a meaningful, issue-based election," tweeted Varun hours after the list was announced. It is believed that Maneka Gandhi had asked the BJP leadership to field her son from Pilibhit, from where she has won a number of times and which is .
Narsi Reddy elected to council, defeats sitting MLC
Alugubelli Narsi Reddy was on Tuesday elected to the Telangana Legislative Council from Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Teachers' constituency. Counting of votes in the election held on March 22 was taken up Tuesday. Reddy belongs to Telangana State United Teachers Federation (TS-UTF), supported by the Left parties. The defeat of sitting MLC Poola Ravinder, reportedly backed by ruling TRS, in the election is seen as a setback to the party.
Experts from India, China hold track II dialogue with an eye on broadening overall engagement
A group of strategic affairs experts and academics from India and China held a high-level track-II dialogue here with a broader aim to expand overall engagement between the two Asian giants including in defence and security spheres. In the deliberations on March 25-26, the experts examined India-China relations in a changing global context, explored ways to further boost economic engagement and reviewed the search for a boundary settlement and management of borders, the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) said in a release. The ICS and China Center for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, coordinated the dialogue. "These candid talks were assessed to be productive and forward-looking by both sides," said ICS. It said the discussion also focused on enlargement of India-China cooperation in defence and security domains and reviewed the growing role of the two countries in the world. The Indian delegation was led by Shivshankar Menon, former National Security Adviser and Special ...
Algeria army chief demands Bouteflika be declared unfit to rule
Algeria's army chief called Tuesday for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to be declared unfit to govern, following weeks of mass protests demanding the ailing leader step down. The move would potentially clear the way for elections to be organised in the coming months unless the president recovers. "It is necessary, even imperative, to adopt a solution to get out of the crisis which responds to the legitimate demands of the Algerian people, and which guarantees the respect of the provisions of the constitution and safeguards the sovereignty of the state," General Ahmed Gaid Salah said in a televised speech. The armed forces chief of staff, considered loyal to Bouteflika, added that the solution "is in article 102" of the constitution, under which parliament could declare the president unable to perform his duties due to serious illness. The 82-year-old leader uses a wheelchair and has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. Bouteflika said last month he would run for
After snub, Gautam Gambhir in Delhi BJP's fresh list of 31 probable candidates
The BJP's Delhi unit has prepared a fresh list of 31 probable candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital, and has included the name of former cricketer Gautam Gambhir in it. An earlier list of 21 probable candidates shortlisted by the election committee of the state BJP was turned down by the party's top leadership, which sought "more representative" nominations for final selection of candidates for the seats in the national capital. "Ten more names have been added to the new list and the earlier names have been retained. It will be sent to the national leadership very soon," said a top leader of BJP's Delhi unit. The name of Gambhir who joined BJP days ago was missing in the first list. His name has been doing rounds for the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat, which is currently held by Meenakshi Lekhi. Besides Gambhir, names of state leaders Ravinder Gupta and Satish Upadhyay have also been added to the list of probables for the New Delhi seat. Mohan Lal Gihara, Yogender