Page 125 - Politics
PM Modi to raise issues of energy security, terrorism at G20 meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend G20 summit being held at Osaka in Japan from June 28 to 29 and is likely to raise the issues of energy security, countering terrorism and return of economic fugitives.He will also attend an informal meeting of the BRICS leaders and have bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 summit."Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 14th G20 summit in Osaka, Japan from June 28 to 29. The summit will also be attended by heads of state/government of 18 Member countries, EU and other invited countries and international organisations," an External Affairs Ministry statement said.The summit is centered around the theme "Human centered future society" and will adopt a declaration.The statement said the issues of importance for India at G20 includes energy security, financial stability, disaster resilient infrastructure, reformed multilateralism, WTO reforms, countering terrorism, the return of economic fugitives, food security, ...
Sisodia requests 100% finding from Centre for Centrally Sponsored Schemes in UTs
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia on Thursday requested government that the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) should be funded 100 per cent by the Centre for Union Territories (UTs) with and without legislature.The request was made by Sisodia during the meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.A press note from the office of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated, "I request to Centre that all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes would be funded 100 per cent by Centre in all the UTs with and without legislature."The release states, "The Deputy Chief Minister also requested to increase the Normal Central assistance to at least Rs 1500 crore in the current year revised Budget."The releases said, "Local bodies of Delhi should be given grants of at least Rs 1,150 crore in the Regula Union Budget 2019-20."The release further said that Sisodia also requested with Centre for Special Grant for running Fast Track Courts in Delhi.
RS poll: Ahmed Patel denies he had hand in issuance of whip
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel denied before the Gujarat High Court Friday that he made his party issue a whip during the 2017 Rajya Sabha election to threaten the MLAs who might have voted against him. Patel was cross-examined for the second consecutive day by the lawyer of BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput, who has challenged Patel's election. Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, who is appearing for Rajput in his capacity as private lawyer, alleged that the whip issued by the Congress before the election was nothing short of a threat to party MLAs. Referring to the July 25, 2017 meeting of Gujarat Congress MLAs, Jain asked Patel whether he knew that some legislators might vote against him. Patel said state party leaders did apprise him of the possibility after the meeting. The Congress leader also said that the whip asking MLAs to vote for him was issued by Legislative Party leader Mohansinh Rathva before he had reached the meeting's venue. Patel replied "no idea" when Jain
Fake encounter: SAD, PEP flay Punjab govt for 'recommending' pardon to ex-cops
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Punjab Ekta Party (PEP) Friday slammed the Congress-led state government for "recommending" pardon to four former policemen, serving life imprisonment in a 1993 fake encounter case. The four policemen were sentenced to life imprisonment by a special CBI court in Patiala in 2014 for killing Ludhiana resident Harjit Singh in a fake encounter in 1993. The then Uttar Pradesh Superintendent of Police, Ravinder Kumar; UP Inspector Brij Lal Verma; UP Constable Onkar Singh; and Punjab Police Inspector Harinder Singh were awarded life imprisonment. A copy of the orders was provided by PEP chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira to the media here on Friday. Seeking reversal of the pardon granted to them, Khaira said his party would move the Punjab and Haryana High Court against it. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said a party delegation would approach Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the reversal of the decision. Criticising the Amarinder Singh-led government, the SAD ...
Nepali Congress seeks PM Oli's resignation for tabling "wrong" bills in Parliament
Nepal's main opposition party Nepali Congress Friday sought Prime Minister K P Oli's resignation on moral ground, saying he should take responsibility for tabling "wrong" bills, including the controversial Guthi Bill, in Parliament. The K P Sharma Oli-led Communist Party government tabled the Guthi Bill in Parliament last week to amend the Guthi Act and nationalise both public and private guthis or trusts and regulate all religious sites under a powerful commission. Fearing that the government's move could jeopardise Sanatan Hindu tradition, the ethnic Newar community staged week-long protests demanding scrapping of the bill. Following intense protests, the Nepal government Tuesday withdrew the controversial bill from Parliament, but the protestors are demanding scrapping of the bill. Thousands of protestors - including Guthiyars or trustees, cultural experts, social activists, civil society leaders and people from Newar communities - participated in the rally organised at Maitighar ..
Trump says US military was 'cocked and loaded' to retaliate against Iran after spy drone downing
President Donald Trump Friday said the US military was "cocked and loaded" to retaliate against Iran after it downed an American spy drone, but he changed his mind 10 minutes before the planned strikes on three Iranian targets after being told that 150 people could die. The late reversal was first reported by the New York Times on Thursday night after President Trump tweeted: "Iran made a very big mistake!" The newspaper said the operation had been "in its early stages" when President Trump called off the US military action against Tehran. On Friday, Trump confirmed the report and tweeted: "10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone". "I am in no hurry," Trump said. He said he had called off strikes after being told that 150 people would die. The attacks on three Iranian sites were planned in response to the shooting down of a US unmanned drone this week. Iran said Thursday that its elite Revolutionary Guard shot down an RQ-4 Global
Delhi CM seeks Centre's cooperation for Yamuna flood plains water storage project
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday sought the Central government's cooperation for the natural storage of water in the Yamuna River floodplains.A press note from Kejriwal's office said, "The appeal was made by the Delhi Chief Minister in his call-on meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House today morning."As per the press release, Kejriwal said that since Delhi faces an acute water shortage, particularly in summer months, this project once implemented will ensure that storage of water during a single Monsoon, will be sufficient to meet Delhi's water requirements for two years."The Chief Minister appealed for the cooperation of the Centre for the implementation of this ambitious water storage project, which has been recommended by several expert groups, including a study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi," the release saidThe release further said, "In his meeting, Kejriwal congratulated the Prime Minister for having led his party to ..
UDF MP introduces bill to preserve Sabarimala rituals
Newly sworn-in UDF MP from Kerala N K Premachandran Friday introduced a private member bill to preserve the rituals, customs and religious practices of Sabarimala Sreedharma Sastha Temple as it existed on September 1, 2018. Through the Sabarimala Sreedharma Sastha Temple (Special Provisions) Bill, he sought that "any change in the rituals should be as per the customary practices". Speaking to PTI, the United Democratic Front (UDF) MP said "the bill has now become the property of the House". "The customs and rituals have to be preserved and status quo as existing on September 1, 2018 should be maintained," he said. Earlier speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Premchandran said the BJP is trying to tackle the Sabarimala issue "politically". He said BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi gave a submission in the Zero Hour that considering Ayyappa devotees as a separate denomination, there should be a conclusive set of laws. "Quite naturally, knowing that the private member bill would be taken ..
Rajya Sabha approves TDP MPs' move to join BJP; Andhra party cries foul
A day after they announced merging their Legislature Party in Rajya Sabha with the BJP, the Upper House Friday recognised four TDP MPs as BJP members, giving a boost to the saffron party's strength in the Upper House of Parliament. The remaining five Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs -- three from Lok Sabha and two from Rajya Sabha -- Friday met Rajya Saba chairman M Venkaiah Naidu demanding disqualification of the four members who joined the BJP. Sources said the Rajya Sabha Chairman has taken cognisance of the developments relating to the legislature parties of TDP and BJP which happened under sections 4 of the Anti-Defection Law, which is a deemed provision. They added that further to the chairman taking cognisance of this development, the Rajya Sabha secretariat has updated the position regarding the strength of the BJP and the TDP in the Upper House. Their seats, however, are yet to be changed in the Rajya Sabha, as they continued to sit on their old seats on Friday. The BJP now has a
Horse trading now bedrock of BJP's so-called 'expansion': Surjewala
In the wake of four Telugu Desam Party MPs switching sides to BJP, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday asserted that the BJP's conduct is denigrating constitution."Indian National Congress strongly questions the 'Culture of Defection' systematically being cultivated by the BJP. Horse trading is now the bedrock of BJP's so-called 'expansion'. This reprehensible phenomenon, sans any ideological moorings, is the murder of Constitution & Democracy," Surjewala tweeted.The Congress in-charge of communication also shared an official statement in his tweet."Defections are founded upon threats, coercion, money power, muscle power and enticements," read the statement.BJP "engineered defection among the Rajya Sabha MP's belonging to the TDP in an attempt to manufacture a majority in Rajya Sabha" in an "illegal and unconstitutional manner," it asserted.Surjewala also drew examples from West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa Karnataka, Gujarat, ..
Naidu puts on brave face after 4 TDP RS members switch to BJP
: Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu sought to put on a brave face after four of his party Rajya Sabha members switched over to BJP, but the saffron party and ruling YSR Congress pushed the opposition party into a defensive position Friday. The YSRC in Andhra Pradesh launched a frontal attack on the TDP, saying the crossover of four MPs to the BJP was part of Chandrababu Naidus "desperate attempts" to befriend the national party once again. "Fearing that he will have to spend the rest of his life in jail when his unbridled corruption gets exposed,Chandrababu is desperately longing for a rapprochement with the BJP. He is getting the route cleared by sending the Rajya Sabha members first," YSRC Parliamentary Party leader V Vijayasai Reddy alleged. "Through these MPs, he is seeking to broker a compromise with the BJP leadership and escape from the cases," Reddy said in a tweet. The BJP, on the other hand, asserted that Chandrababu Naidu had no right to talk about ...
Sena MLC accuses former Maha minister of shielding official
Senior Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab Friday said former Maharashtra minister for social justice Rajkumar Badole was shielding an official who had not initiated any action on corruption charges against caste verification committee members. Badole was dropped in the recent expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet and was replaced by Suresh Khade. Parab, leader of the Shiv Sena in the Legislative Council, said, "Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has given assurance in the last session of the House of suspending officials facing corruption charges. I had raised this issue through three calling attention motions in last couple of years but no action has been initiated so far." "Despite my repeated requests, no action has been initiated. Atul Sonawane, who used to work with then minister for the same department 'managed' to delay the implementation of the decision. The minister is also behind it and there should be a thorough investigation in this matter," Parab ...
When someone insults army, we pray good sense prevails upon him: Rajnath on Rahul's 'New India' tweet
Defence Minister Rajnath on Friday criticised Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has courted controversy by sharing the pictures of Army's dog squad doing yoga along with their trainers, with a sarcastic jibe -- New India -- on the top of his post."With due respect to you, Rahul Gandhi Ji, these are proud members of the Indian Army and they contribute to the safety of our nation. When someone repeatedly insults our Army, then we pray that good sense prevails upon him," Singh tweeted.Hitting out at Gandhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Congress party has mocked the Yoga Day and "insulted" the forces."Congress stands for negativity. Today, their negativity was seen in their clear support to the medieval practice of Triple Talaq. Now, they mock Yoga Day and insult our forces (yet again!) Hoping the spirit of positivity will prevail. It can help overcome the toughest challenges," he tweeted.Taking a dig at Gandhi, actor and BJP leader Paresh Rawal tweeted: "Yes it's a NEW INDIA
Iran denies receiving Trump warning of US attack
Iran denied Friday a report that President Donald Trump warned of an imminent attack by the United States, in retaliation for the Islamic republic shooting down a US drone. "America did not send any message through Oman for Iran," said Keyvan Khosravi, spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council. "There is no truth in that," he added, quoted by state television. Khosravi's denial follows a foreign media report which, citing Iranian officials, said Oman relayed a message from Trump overnight warning of an imminent US attack unless the Islamic republic agreed to negotiate. Iran and the United States have no diplomatic relations and Oman has in the past served as an intermediary between the two countries. Trump said Friday the US was "cocked & loaded to retaliate" the previous night by striking three sites, but that he stopped the attack just 10 minutes before they were carried out. Washington argues its surveillance drone was above international waters when it was shot ...
Trump says he called off Iran strikes expected to kill 150
US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he called off planned strikes on Iran because the expected death toll of 150 people would not have been a "proportionate" response to Tehran shooting down an American drone. The downing of the drone -- which Iran insists violated its airspace, a claim Washington denies -- has seen tensions between the two countries spike further after a series of attacks on tankers the US has blamed on Tehran. Under pressure to respond to the high-stakes incident near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the US was "cocked & loaded to retaliate" on Thursday night by hitting "3 different sites," but that he scrapped the strikes just 10 minutes before they were carried out. "I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General," the president tweeted, saying he concluded it would not have been "proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone." "I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go," he wrote. The .
Trump says US military was 'cocked and loaded' to retaliate against Iran
President Donald Trump Friday said the US military was "cocked and loaded" to retaliate against Iran after it downed an American spy drone, but he changed his mind 10 minutes before the planned strikes on three Iranian targets after being told that 150 people could die. The late reversal was first reported by the New York Times on Thursday night after President Trump tweeted: "Iran made a very big mistake!" The newspaper said the operation had been "in its early stages" when President Trump called off the US military action against Tehran. On Friday, Trump confirmed the report and tweeted: "10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone". "I am in no hurry," Trump said. He said he had called off strikes after being told that 150 people would die. The attacks on three Iranian sites were planned in response to the shooting down of a US unmanned drone this week. Iran said Thursday that its elite Revolutionary Guard shot down an RQ-4 Global
Bihar BJP MPs to donate Rs 25 lakh each for treatment of encephalitis patients
All 17 BJP Lok Sabha MPs from Bihar have decided to donate Rs 25 lakh each for better medical facilities and treatment to encephalitis-affected children, sources said on Friday.The decision was taken during the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday night."All BJP MPs will sanction Rs 25 lakh each from their respective MP Local Area Development Fund (MPLADF) to build pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the state," they said.Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has already sanctioned the fund to build a PICU at Sadar Hospital in his parliamentary constituency -- Ujiarpur.Rai has written to District Magistrate (DM) Chandrashekhar Singh asking him to ensure speedy treatment of the children.BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, who represents Paschim Champaran, has been given the task to coordinate with other MPs.BJP parliamentarians will arrange necessary resources and medicines from their funds for treatment of children affected with AES, which is also ..
Chairman of RS has no authority to approve merger of parties: Jayadev Galla
Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party leader Jayadev Galla on Friday said the Rajya Sabah Chairman does not have the authority to approve mergers of parties, remarks that came after dissident TDP MPs claimed they have merged their Legislature Party with BJP."We understand that the merger of political parties is possible only at the organizational level and not at the legislative level. TDP and BJP have not merged at the organizational level. Schedule 10, Para 4(2) is applicable only to determine disqualification, post-merger of parties. The Chairman of Rajya Sabha has no authority to approve the merger of parties," he told ANI after a delegation of five TDP MPs met Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Friday.Four rebel TDP Rajya Sabha MPs, Y S Chowdary, CM Ramesh, TG Venkatesh, and GM Rao--on Friday claimed to have passed a resolution to merge Legislature Party of TDP with BJP and later joined BJP.Galla said that they had tried explaining to the Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman the ...
Horse trading is bedrock of BJP's expansion: Congress
In a statement, party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the BJP should provide an answer to people over defections from various parties and the process "is murder of the Constitution and democracy".He said the BJP not only wants 'one nation, one election' but "one party" also and "its political conduct to engineer defections from opposition parties is denigrating the Constitution".He said the BJP must realise that people have given it more responsibility to uphold constitutional norms and ethos."Its conduct has been simply the opposite. Latest instance is the illegal and unconstitutional manner in which it engineered defections among the Rajya Sabha MPs belonging to the TDP in an attempt to manufacture majority in Rajya Sabha. Congress questions the culture of defections systematically being cultivated by the BJP," he said.The Congress leader said that defections "were based on threats, coercion, money power, muscle power and enticements"."Horse trading is now the bedrock of BJP's ..
Arvind Kejriwal meets PM, invites him to visit 'mohalla clinics', schools in Delhi
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invited him to visit 'mohalla clinics and schools' in Delhi while asserting that he would examine the possibility of integrating the Centre's Ayushman Bharat programme with his government's health scheme in the national capital. Kejriwal, who has been a vocal critic of Modi, also assured the prime minister of full cooperation, changing his stand less than a month after the BJP registered a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Since the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in 2015, there have been several confrontations between the Centre and Kejriwal. The AAP national convener, his ministers and party leaders have often accused the Modi government of creating hurdles for the AAP-led Delhi government. The meeting in Parliament House was the first since the general election results were announced on May 23. "Assured full cooperation of Del (Delhi) govt. (government) To develop Delhi, capital city of India, it is