Page 1302 - Politics
BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi joins BJP
Odisha MP Balabhadra Majhi, who quit the BJD earlier this week, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday. The Nabarangpur MP quit the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, saying that he was ignored by the party. BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed Majhi into the party fold and said the latter had worked a lot for his constituency. Majhi also met BJP president Amit Shah.
Fmr min joins YSRC hours after being named TDP candidate
Hours after being named as the party candidate for the Nellore (Rural) Assembly seat, former minister Aadala Prabhakar Reddy shocked the ruling TDP by switching over to the opposition YSR Congress on Saturday. Reddy joined the YSRC in the presence of party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. "I regret not having joined YSRC all these days. My aim is to make Jagan the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh," Reddy said on the occasion. Reddy remained incommunicado since Thursday night when his candidature for the Nellore (Rural) seat was announced along with 125 others, by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He was supposed to join the YSRC on Friday itself, but the tragedy in Jagan's family delayed the event. The YSRC chief's uncle Y S Vivekananda Reddy was on Friday found dead under suspicious circumstances at his home in Pulivendula town in Kadapa district. Following preliminary probe, the police said that the former state minister and former MP, who was the brother of late former chief minister Y .
Kartarpur: Amarinder sceptical of Pakistan's intent
Making it clear that he does not trust Pakistan's intent behind opening the Kartarpur Corridor, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said that Pakistan's "agenda is nefarious and political, and aimed at exploiting the sentiments of the Sikhs".
BJP to miss 'star campaigner' Parrikar during polls in Goa
Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was among the leaders that spearheaded the BJP's poll campaign since 1994 in the state, is likely to stay away from the heat and dust of electioneering for Lok Sabha polls this time. Parrikar's contribution to the party's victory in Lok Sabha and assembly elections over the years is even recognised by rivals who claim his absence will impact BJP's performance in the state, but party leaders have dismissed such doubts saying they are working under his guidance. One of the first BJP MLAs from the state, Parrikar went on to become the chief minister four times since 2000. Ahead of the 2017 assembly polls, Parrikar, who was then the defence minister, had criss-crossed the entire state, promising continuation of the developmental works the BJP government initiated and sought a clear mandate, stressing political stability was essential to steer the state to progress. The 63-year-old IIT graduate-turned-politician, who is known for his ...
Rahul meets families of those martyred in J&K
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met the family members of three martyrs who died in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
B C Khanduri's son joins Congress
Senior BJP leader Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri's son Manish Khanduri joined the Congress on Saturday at a rally here in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi. Welcoming the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader's son, Gandhi said him joining the Congress will strengthen the party. Speculation is rife that the Congress might field Manish Khanduri from Pauri, a Lok Sabha seat held by his father. Former Uttarakhand chief minister B C Khanduri was removed last year as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on defence. The Congress had latched on to the removal of the former army general from the committee to attack the BJP. At the rally, Rahul asked the audience why the son of a man who had served the armed forces and the BJP for years joined hands with the Congress. "Why is Manish Khanduri here? Do you know his father Khanduri ji was the chairman of the parliamentary committee on defence," he said. "Despite dedicating his life to the army, the patriot was ...
Yemen rebels warn they could target Riyadh, Abu Dhabi
Yemen's Huthi rebels warned on Saturday they could launch attacks against the capitals of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who lead a military coalition against them. The threat came as the United Nations was trying to salvage a truce deal in Yemen, seen as crucial to diplomatic efforts to end the country's four-year war. "We have aerial photographs and coordinates of dozens of headquarters, facilities and military bases of the enemy," rebel military spokesman Yahya Saree said in comments carried by the rebels' Al-Masirah channel. "The legitimate targets of our forces extend to the capital of Saudi Arabia and to the emirate of Abu Dhabi," capital of the UAE, he said. "We have manufactured advanced generations of attack aircraft, and new systems will soon be functional." The Iran-linked Huthi rebels have targeted Saudi border towns and Riyadh with ballistic missiles and also claimed drone attacks on the airports of Abu Dhabi and Dubai during the course of the conflict Saudi ..
Ayushman Bharat not for common man, actually a 'lifesaver' for private insurance firms: Cong
The Congress launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, alleging that his government's flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat is not for common man but actually a "lifesaver" for private insurance companies and hospitals. Asserting that the government's claims about the success of the scheme are "fake and false", senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said beneficiaries can avail treatment costing only up to Rs 50,000 under this scheme on the premium of Rs 1,100 paid by the government. It is "not Rs 5 lakh promised by Modi, he has exaggerated it 10 times," the Congress leader alleged. "The claim that 'Modicare' has provided each household insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh is a huge fraud," he claimed. He further said that 11 crore people across the country are already covered under respective health insurance schemes of various states and the Centre's Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). RSBY was started by the Congress-led UPA government, he ...
India slams 'Referendum 2020', says it 'tantamounts to separatism'
India on Saturday slammed the so-called 'Referendum 2020' proposed to be held by some pro-Khalistan elements in a few countries, like UK and Canada, and said it has conveyed its objections over the move to the nations concerned, as it "tantamounts to separatism".The separatist Sikh organization, Sikhs For Justice, claims that it is an international advocacy group working for Punjab Independence Referendum 2020 for Sikhs' right to self-determination.However, the outfit is allegedly backed and financed by Pakistan's spy agency, the ISI."So-called referendum to be held by citizens who are not Indians and are citizens of other countries, it is inappropriate. Their citizens talking about referendum tantamount to separatism," said sources.Asserting that 'Referendum 2020' is related to only overseas Sikh community, "India has conveyed to those countries that it's a very minuscule part of Sikh community, an overwhelming majority of Sikhs are peace-loving and are focused on jobs and ...
Modi removed BC Khanduri from parliamentary committee for asking questions on national security: Rahul
As Manish Khanduri joined the Congress here on Saturday, party President Rahul Gandhi rubbed it in by saying the new entrant's father B C Khanduri had not been given his due by the BJP and had been removed from the chairmanship of a Parliamentary Committee for asking questions on national security.Addressing a rally here in Uttarakhand, Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that he was busy filming in Jim Corbett Park when the nation was mourning the death of 40 CRPF personnel in the ghastly Pulwama terror attack on February 14.Gandhi spoke about the contribution of the people of Uttarakhand towards the country's security by serving in the armed forces and paramilitary forces.In this context, he spoke about B C Khanduri, a native of Uttarakhand who retired from the Army as Major General before joining the BJP."He (BC Khanduri) gave all his life to Army. But when he asked a question on national security in Parliament and spoke the truth that the government is not
Congress media team members eyeing for Lok Sabha tickets
Many members of Congress media team wish to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, and hence have staked their claims for the tickets. Senior Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari wants to contest from Chandigarh, the home-turf of former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.In 2014, Bansal lost to BJP's Kirron Kher in Chandigarh, but this time he is getting tough competition from Tiwari in securing the party ticket, and also Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of cricketer-turned-politician and Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.In 2009, Tiwari got elected from Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat, and held important ministerial positions in then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led UPA government at the Centre but expressed his inability to contest the last Lok Sabha polls, citing some health reasons. The party shifted Ravneet Singh Bittu to Ludhiana who triumphed against all odds.Tom Vadakkan, a senior party leader and veteran of the party's media management team, recently left the Congress to join the BJP. ..
Maduro vows to protect Venezuela's 'key' infrastructure
Still in the throes of a political crisis, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has vowed to make "powerful changes" in the national government's working, to protect the "strategically important key infrastructure" of the Latin American nation.Asking his ministers to "rule together with the people," Maduro said: "Soon, I will announce new powerful changes in ways of the national government's work.""I would like to inform you about the creation and launch of the new structure to protect the strategically important key infrastructure of Venezuela," Sputnik quoted him as saying during a speech at the Presidential Palace here.He decried the blackout - which Venezuela recently faced - as a "cyberattack against the Venezuelan electric energy system", calling it a "terror act" by the US government against the Venezuelan people.Last week, 22 out of 23 states in Venezuela experienced a total blackout when the Guri dam was "sabotaged", according to national electricity supplier Corpoelec. Maduro
Sushma Swaraj to visit Maldives tomorrow to hold delegation level meetings
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be on an official state visit to the Maldives from March 17 to 18.The External Affairs Minister will be visiting the South Asian island nation on the invitation of Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid. She will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and other senior officials.According to a MEA press release, Swaraj will hold a bilateral meeting with Shahid during the visit.She is also scheduled to attend delegation-level meetings with Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, National Planning and Infrastructure Minister Mohamed Aslam, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Aishath Nahula, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Yumna Maumoon, Environment Minister Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan and Economic Development Minister Fayyaz Ismail."The Ministers will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discuss the future programme of action," read the press ...
Grand Alliance announcement after Holi: JMM
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Executive President Hemant Soren on Saturday met Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the national capital and said an announcement on a Grand Alliance in the state will be made after Holi.
EC official holds review meetings on WB's poll preparedness
Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain Saturday held a series of meetings with leaders of political parties, election and state officials to review poll preparedness and take stock of the ground situation in West Bengal ahead of the general elections. Jain was in the city after a BJP delegation comprising senior leaders Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad and J P Nadda on Wednesday urged the Election Commission to declare West Bengal a "super-sensitive" state to ensure free and fair polls. After meeting Jain, Secretary General of the ruling Trinamool Congress, Partha Chatterjee, told reporters that the BJP had taken recourse to "dishonest tactics" to suggest to the EC that peace was hampered in West Bengal. Chatterjee said that his party had apprised the EC that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) adopted the "ploy" to shield its own weakness and the saffron party's demand was nothing short of an insult to the state. Beginning April 11, West Bengal will see polling in seven phases .
Haridwar Mayor violates Model Code of Conduct, gets notice
The city Mayor Anita Sharma has been charged with violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by displaying her name on an e-rickshaw without taking permission from the competent authorities.She has been served with a notice by Jagdish Lal, Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for the local Assembly, seeking an explanation from her in this regard. The notice states that the Mayor violated the Model Code of Conduct by putting up a board containing her name on an e-rickshaw on which she travelled across the city on Thursday without taking any permission.According to notice, the e-rickshaw on which she travelled across the city on Thursday also had some boards carrying remarks about other political parties, which was informed by the zonal magistrate of the Vidhan Sabha constituency.Mayor has been asked to respond to the notice till 11 am on March 18 in written with evidence in support of her argument to the office of ARO. "In case Mayor fails to respond, then she will be liable for action ...
Dissident group responsible for raid on Madrid's N.Korea embassy: report
A shadowy dissident group dedicated to overthrowing Kim Jong Un was behind a raid on Madrid's North Korean embassy last month, the Washington Post has reported, offering the latest explanation for the mysterious event. Ten men burst into the diplomatic mission on February 22, roughing up employees before making off with documents and computers in two embassy vehicles they later abandoned, just days before a high-stakes nuclear summit between North Korean leader Kim and US President Donald Trump that ultimately failed to reach an accord. Speculation over the identity and motive of the assailants has swirled in the Spanish media, with a report in the El Pais daily this week citing the country's intelligence agency as saying at least two of them were linked to the CIA. The Post however reported Friday that the operation was carried out by a group called the "Cheollima Civil Defence" (CCD), a secretive organisation committed to overthrowing the Kim dynasty. Quoting people it said were ...
Desertion of MLAs setback for Cong ahead of LS polls in T'gana
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress in Telangana is facing a crisis of sorts with as many as six MLAs announcing their decision to leave the party to join the ruling TRS. Congress, which was part of a front comprising the TDP CPI and Telananga Jana Samithi, had won just 19 seats in the elections to the 119 member assembly in December last year. However, two MLAs -- Atram Sakku and Rega Kantha Rao -- quit the party and announced their decision to join the TRS in the first week of this month. This was followed by two more party MLAs leaving the party. This came as a major setback to the Congress in the election scheduled for March 12 to fill five vacancies in the Legislative Council (in MLAs quota). Congress had fielded one candidate in the Council election. The TRS had put up four nominees of its own and left one seat to its ally AIMIM of Asaduddin Owaisi in the poll. Crying foul, state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy had accused the TRS of encouraging ...
Thousands of Albanian protesters call for govt to step down
Albanian opposition supporters are holding a protest against the government which they accuse of being corrupt and linked to organised crime. Thousands of supporters of the center-right Democratic Party-led opposition have gathered on Saturday in front of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama's office to demand his resignation. The opposition, whose lawmakers have relinquished their seats in parliament, declines to dialogue with Rama, asking for a transitory Cabinet without him to prepare early elections. The United States and European Union have warned the opposition against using or inciting violence and to sit down for talks. Recent rallies have turned violent, with police deploying tear gas. Albania hopes to get the EU's approval in June on launching membership negotiations.
NIA summons to Mirwaiz: Don't make this matter of prestige, says NC
The National Conference (NC) Saturday asked the Centre not to make it a point of prestige to summon moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to New Delhi. Party general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said that the separatist leader should be questioned in the Valley. "Government should not make it a point of prestige to summon him (Mirwaiz) to New Delhi. He has already affirmed in his response that he is willing to cooperate," Sagar said while addressing a gathering in Shahar-e-Khas locality of Srinagar. "Keeping in view socio-religious disposition, he should be questioned here in Srinagar only," he added. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had Thursday issued fresh summons to Mirwaiz to appear for questioning at the probe agency headquarters in New Delhi on March 18 in connection with a terror financing case. Sagar said the position of Mirwaiz is of immense socio-religious importance and the "injudicious approach of humiliation and intimidation will hurt the ...