Page 1275 - Politics
We played important role in reducing Indo-Pak tensions: UAE envoy
The UAE on Monday said its played an important role in reducing the recent Indo-Pak tensions by giving "words of wisdom" to the leadership in both countries for sorting out differences in a peaceful manner. Ambassador Ahmed Al Banna, however, clarified that the United Arab Emirates did not mediate between the two countries and that the aim of its efforts was to decrease the tensions which had spiralled in the wake of the air strike by Indian jets at a JeM terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan, post Pulwama terror attack. Referring to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and deputy commander of the armed forces Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan's telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan at the peak of tensions between the two neighbours, the UAE envoy, while speaking at an interaction at IIT-Delhi, said,"We played an important role in reducing the (Indo-Pak) tensions that took place." "On the day there was a huge escalation, there was a phone call from .
Mirwaiz says willing to be questioned by NIA in Srinagar
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq did not appear before the NIA in New Delhi on Monday for questioning in connection with a terror funding case and said he was willing to be quizzed here as he fears for his security in the national capital. The Mirwaiz, who is one of the religious heads of Muslims in the Kashmir Valley, again wrote to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), saying he had no knowledge of the case mentioned by the agency in its summon served on him on Saturday. The NIA had issued a summon to the Mirwaiz to appear before the agency headquarters in the national capital on Monday in a case related to funding of terror and separatists organisations in the Kashmir Valley. Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, on Monday again skipped a date with the National Investigation Agency, carrying a probe into a terror funding case, and said that he was willing to be quizzed here as he fears for his security in the national ...
China's fighter jets to take part in Pakistan's National Day parade
The J-10 fighter jets of the Chinese air force will participate in Pakistan's National Day parade on March 23, state-media reported Monday. The J-10 fighter jets of the People's Liberation Army Air Force's Bayi Aerobatic Team arrived in Pakistan on Saturday in preparation for a flight performance there, Global Times reported. Contingents from countries including China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey will participate in the parade, with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad being the guest of honour, the report said. Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of International Relations, told the daily that China sending fighter jets to celebrate Pakistan Day is symbolic of the friendship between the two countries noting that Pakistan is an "all-weather friend" of China. Recently China announced plans to upgrade the JF-17 fighter jet being jointly produced by both the countries. In addition to the J-10's flight performance, Chinese analysts expect .
Petition filed in HC challenging extension of 77th and 103rd amendments to J&K
A petition was Monday filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court challenging the extension of 77th and 103rd amendments of the Indian Constitution to the state through a presidential order earlier this month. Advocates Mohammad Ashraf Bhat and Adil Asimi filed the petition on the grounds that the Constitution of India cannot be applied to Jammu and Kashmir in the absence of a council of ministers. They pleaded that as the state was under the President's Rule since December last year, there could be no consultation and concurrence of the state government which has to act on the advice of the council of ministers. "There was hardly any need to apply 77th and 103rd constitutional amendment to the State. Similarly, there was no emergent situation to issue J&K Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The timing of these amendments especially when the State was in war-like situation, makes the entire exercise suspect," the petition reads. "It appears that the Constitution (Application to
Cliffhanger election looms as record number of Thais turn out for early voting
More than 2.2 million Thais turned out for early voting - almost 90 per cent of those registered - for Thailand's hotly anticipated national election, as the junta's main opposition predicted a cliffhanger to the first poll in eight years. The 2011 election had a 55 per cent turnout for advanced voting, bringing about 1.4 million early to the ballot box. But enthusiasm is soaring from a public starved of democratic processes since a 2014 coup ousted then-premier Yingluck Shinawatra - reflecting in the country's high number of early voters on Sunday. "There was an 86.98 per cent turnout" among the 2.6 million early voters registered, Ittiporn Boonpracong, chairman of the Election Commission, said Monday. Many voting centers had "more than 90 percent turnout", he added. Since the junta's takeover in 2014, leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha has repeatedly postponed elections, seeding resentment among a public weary of crackdowns on dissent and political debate. With election day looming, voter ...
Guj Cong complaints to EC over poll-related meet at CM's house
The Gujarat Congress Monday alleged the BJP has violated the model code of conduct by holding a meeting of the party's State Parliamentary Board at Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's official residence, prompting the poll panel to order a probe. The main opposition party lodged a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission (EC). However, the BJP rejected the Congress's charge. On receiving the complaint, sent by the Congress through fax, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Murali Krishna ordered an inquiry into the matter. "We have received the complaint. We will conduct an inquiry into the issue," Krishna told PTI. In its complaint, the Congress alleged the CM's official residence in Gandhinagar is a government property and no political activity is permitted from a government premises when the model code of conduct is in force. Polling for all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on April 23. The model code of conduct came into force .
142 percent jump in assets of 153 MPs - 2009 to 2014
The average assets of 153 MPs who were re-elected in 2014 grew by 142 percent, averaging Rs 13.32 crore per MP, with Shatrughan Sinha, Pinaki Mishra and Supriya Sule sharing the top honours.
Modi, Ambani will go to jail if docs of parallel negotiations
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and businessman Anil Ambani would land in jail if the documents of parallel negotiations with the French government by the PMO become part of an inquiry into the Rafale deal. "If the documents become part of inquiry, Modi and Ambani would go to jail. Why is he not having an inquiry? That's why this campaign 'Chowkidar Chor Hai'...," Gandhi said during an interactive programme with entrepreneurs here. He was replying to a question by a participant who wanted to know why was "everybody going around saying 'Chowkidar Chor Hai'." Gandhi claimed that the Rafale aircraft was supposed to be bought from French company Dassault at Rs 526 crore for which eight years of negotiations happened during UPA rule. However, when the new government took over, the prime minister himself held parallel negotiations, he claimed, adding, instead of paying Rs 526 crore for each aircraft, the government agreed to pay Rs ..
Amarinder ridicules PM Modi's 'Chowkidar' campaign
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday mocked Prime Minister's "Main Bhi Chowkidar" campaign describing it as a 'jumla' (rhetoric) which will not solve any problem of the people of the country. The BJP has intensified its "Main bhi chowkidar" (I too am watchman) campaign with Modi and other party leaders, including its president Amit Shah prefixing the word chowkidar to their names in their Twitter profile. Modi's Twitter account profile identified him as "chowkidar Narendra Modi" as did other BJP leaders in a coordinated campaign against Gandhi's sustained "Chowkidar Chor Hai" jibe at the prime minister over the Rafale deal. "Such slogans do not help fill the stomachs of our poor people, they do not give jobs to our youth," Amarinder Singh said in an informal chat with mediapersons here. He was interacting on the sidelines after a meeting with MLAs, zone in-charges and heads of frontal organizations of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) from Patiala here ahead of ..
UAE played important role in reducing Indo-Pak tensions: Gulf nation's envoy
The UAE played an important role in reducing the recent tensions between India and Pakistan by giving "words of wisdom" on sorting out differences in a peaceful manner, the Gulf nation's ambassador here said Monday. Ambassador Ahmed Al Banna, however, clarified that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) did not mediate between the two countries and that the aim of its efforts was to decrease the tensions which had spiralled in the wake of the air strike by Indian jets at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan, following the Pulwama terror attack. The UAE envoy, while speaking at an interaction at IIT-Delhi, also referred to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and deputy commander of the armed forces Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan's telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan amid escalating tensions. "We played an important role in reducing the (Indo-Pak) tensions that took place. On the day there was a huge escalation, there was a phone ...
Congress is rowing a direction-less boat: BJP mocks Priyanka's Ganga yatra
The BJP on Monday took a swipe at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's 'Ganga yatra' and said the latter is "rowing a direction-less boat".Congress star campaigner Priyanka, kicked-off three-day party campaign for the national polls today. She took a boat from Sangam to Arail ghat. The campaign which was launched from Prayagraj will end in Varanasi."She is rowing an aim-less and directional-less boat, which is destined to drown as the promises they have made will never be fulfilled. I hope she remembers us as she rows through it because the holy water would never have been this clean if it were not for BJP," said Trivedi while talking to media personnel.Reacting on Priyanka's remarks that the country and the constitution are in danger, he said: "If the Congress is so concerned about corruption, they should first introspect. The family who has been accused of corruption since time forgotten is now talking about how the country is in danger because of it. They are the epitome of
Enough evidence against Mirwaiz, others in terror funding case: NIA
Letterheads of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jammat-ud-Dawa, Hizbul Mujahideen and other terrorist organisations are among various "significant evidences" that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) says are enough to book top separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in its ongoing probe in the J&K terror funding case.
Congress not serious about Delhi: AAP leader
Insisting that it was too late for an alliance in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday said it had waited long "enough" for the Congress and now there was no question of taking back its candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.
Patnaik revokes expulsion order on Prafulla Ghadai
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday revoked the expulsion order on veteran politician Prafulla Ghadai, ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections next month. Ghadai was expelled from the BJD in September 2014 for allegedly issuing a statement against party president Patnaik. He has represented the Sukinda assembly seat five terms since 1990, and has been the finance minister in the Patnaik government. He was also dropped from the ministry by Patnaik in August 2012, and denied a ticket to seek re-election from the Sukinda Assembly seat in 2014. His son Pritiranjan Ghadai, was instead, given a BJD ticket, and won in the 2014 elections from the Sukinda segment.
Modi govt consistently introduced much needed 2nd generation reforms: Jaitley
The Narendra Modi government "systematically and consistently" introduced the much needed second generation reforms, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Monday as he highlighted several "game-changing decisions" taken over the last five years. The senior BJP leader highlighted taxation reforms, measures to curb black money, enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, demonetisation, steps to check inflation, promoting cooperative federalism, roll out of Ayushman Bharat scheme, social sector investment and infrastructure development as the government's game-changing decisions. "Five year is not a long period in the life of a nation. It can, however, be a turning point in its direction for progress," he said and added the year 1991 was an important watershed in Indian history. Continuing his 'Agenda 2019' series of blogs, Jaitley said the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao was confronted with an economic crisis. The economic situation compelled reforms. "Many in the Congress party ...
Three dead in Dutch shooting: Utrecht mayor
Three people were killed and nine injured in a shooting in the Dutch city of Utrecht, the mayor said Monday, adding that authorities were working on the basis of it being a terror attack. "At this stage, we can confirm three deaths and nine wounded, three of them seriously," Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen said in a video statement on Twitter.
Two Cong MLAs urge Rahul to contest from Wayanad in Kerala
With the Congress unable to finalise its candidate for Wayanad in Kerala allegedly due to pressure from factions, two party MLAs have urged AICC chief Rahul Gandhi to contest from the Lok Sabha constituency. Of the 16 of the 20 seats in the state in which the Congress will be contesting, candidates for 12 seats have been declared, but names of those who would be trying their luck from Wayanad, Vadakara, Alappuzha and Attingal are yet to be finalised. According to party sources, consensus has been reached on the candidates for Alappuzha and Attingal, but not for Wayanad and Vatakara. "Rahul Gandhi should contest from Wayanad. The concept of India will be strengthened if the next Prime Minister of the country represents South India. Kerala is a fertile land for the idea of neo-politics put forward by Rahul," Thrithala MLA V T Balram wrote in his Facebook post. It was supported by Azhikode MLA K M Shaji, who said Kerala is the best place for "the commander of the political
Two years of Yogi government a 'curse' for people: Akhilesh
The two years of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh have been like a "curse" for the people who are disappointed as the dispensation "failed" on all fronts, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed Monday. He alleged that the BJP government had not met any of its promises and it only tried to take credit of the works initiated by the previous SP government. "The present government could not implement any of its schemes in two years. It only tried to take credit of works initiated by the SP government. However, the people know the reality and the BJP stands exposed in front of them," he claimed. "The BJP government will be completing two years in the state tomorrow. This period has been like a curse for the people of the state who are disappointed and demoralised due to the government which failed on all fronts," Yadav alleged. The former chief minister said the law and order situation was becoming worse in the state and incidents of murder, loot, abduction and rape ...
Five complaints against the BJP and the AAP for organising gatherings without permission: Officials
Five complaints have been made against the BJP and the AAP for organising gatherings to burn manifestos without permission, officials from the Chief Electoral Office of Delhi said on Monday. They said seven cases have also been registered against political parties for defacement of public property. According to officials, five cases of defacement of property are against political parties while two are against others, officials said. Four cases of defacement are against the Aam Aadmi Party while one is against the Congress, officials said. Out of five complaints of model code of conduct violation, two are against the Bharatiya Janata Party and three are against AAP. "There were only Daily Diary (DD) entries made on the complaints against the parties that they organised gatherings to burn manifestos without permission. "While DD entries against the BJP were made in New Delhi and Central police districts, the three DD entries against the AAP were made in central police district," ...
'Possible deaths' in Dutch shooting: PM
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said people may have died in a shooting in the city of Utrecht being treated as a possible terror attack, adding that the Netherlands would "never give way to intolerance". Rutte told a brief press conference in The Hague with the country's justice minister that there were "several wounded and possible deaths" in the incident. Photographs had earlier shown one body lying under a sheet at the scene.