Page 133 - Politics
India rejects Pak report claim on talks, says take verifiable action against terrorism
India on Thursday dismissed as "fake news" a Pakistani media report claiming New Delhi is ready for talks with Islamabad, saying there is no change in its position that Pakistan must first take "verifiable" and "irreversible" action against terrorism for resumption of dialogue. Rejecting the report, the Ministry of External Affairs said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made no reference to talks in their response to congratulatory messages from their Pakistani counterparts. A report in the Express Tribune on Thursday claimed that Modi and Jaishankar responded to Islamabad's renewed call for dialogue by conveying New Delhi's desire to engage with all countries, including Pakistan, for the prosperity of the region. Responding to the queries regarding the replies to congratulatory messages by Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "As per the ...
PM hosts dinner for MPs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday hosted a dinner for members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at a state-run five-star hotel. The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry had sent out invites to all members of both the Houses -- over 750 MPs. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, various leaders of the ruling NDA, DMK's Kanimozhi, AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and three of four TDP Rajya Sabha members who joined the BJP -- Y S Chowdary, C M Ramesh and T G Venkatesh -- among others attended the dinner at hotel Ashok. Sources said the dinner was hosted so that the prime minister and other members of the union council of ministers could meet all MPs from both the houses in an informal atmosphere. During the all-party meet on Sunday, ahead of the start of the Parliament session, Modi had told leaders that political differences can be kept aside to discuss issues related to public interest.
Petition against RS election: Ahmed Patel cross-examined
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel was Thursday cross-examined in the Gujarat High Court by the lawyer of BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput who has challenged Patel's election to the Rajya Sabha in 2017. Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, who appeared for Rajput in his personal capacity as lawyer, grilled Patel for two hours before Justice Bela Trivedi. The cross-examination, which remained incomplete, would continue on Friday. Among other things, Jain asked Patel when did he become the treasurer of the Congress and what was his role. The senior politician replied that his job as the treasurer was to manage party funds. The lawyer further asked Patel as to who paid the hotel bills during his stay at the time of election. Patel said the state Congress footed the bill and he later paid back the money. Patel took exception to Jain adding "you being a senior Congress leader" as a prelude to his questions, saying he had appeared in the court as "Ahmed Mohhamed Patel" and not as a ...
Indian Navy launches Operation Sankalp in Gulf of Oman
Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman on Thursday to reassure Indian flagged vessels transiting through the area following the recent maritime incidents in the region.INS Chennai and INS Sunayna have been deployed in the region to undertake maritime security operations. In addition, aerial surveillance in the area is also being done by IN aircraft.The Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region of the Indian Navy is also keeping a close watch on the movement of ships in the Gulf region.The operation has been launched in the wake of escalating tension in the Gulf of Oman, where two oil tankers were attacked last week. The incident has since heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. It remains unclear who was responsible for the attacks but the United States has put the blame on Iran, which, in turn, has denied the allegations.
4 TDP MPs join BJP, submit proposal of merger of party to RS chairman
In a boost to the BJP, four of the six TDP MPs in the Rajya Sabha joined the party on Thursday and sought merger of the TDP Legislature Party with it in the Upper House. In a day of fast-paced developments, the four MPs led by their Rajya Sabha leader Y S Chowdary- long seen a trusted aide of Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu- passed a resolution to this effect, followed by a nod to the proposal by BJP president Amit Shah. The breakaway TDP faction, which includes C M Ramesh, Garikapati Mohan Rao and T G Venkatesh besides Chowdary, and BJP leaders, including its working president J P Nadda, met Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and urging him to approve the merger. The development is a big blow to Chandrababu Naidu, coming close on the heels of his party's humiliating defeat in the recent Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister is vacationing in Europe as the fresh crisis hit his party. He spoke to his party leaders over phone as they ...
Yoga Day: PM to lead celebrations in Ranchi; Union ministers to take part in other events
Top government functionaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior BJP leaders will attend International Yoga Day events across the country on Friday. While the prime minister will lead the nation in celebrating the occasion by participating in a mega event in Ranchi, Shah will be in Rohtak and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the national capital. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working president J P Nadda will perform yoga, along with other party leaders and workers, at a park opposite the headquarters of the saffron party on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Marg here. Besides, newly-elected Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will participate in an event to be held on the premises of the Parliament House complex, officials said on Thursday. In Delhi, a host of events have been planned to mark the day celebrated globally on June 21. All necessary arrangements were being made at the Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, amid tight ...
Mastermind of Sudan protest raid identified: general
A top Sudanese general said Thursday that the mastermind behind a deadly crackdown on protesters has been identified, but refused to name him saying it would impact a probe into the raid. Crowds of protesters were violently dispersed on June 3 by men in military uniforms, shooting and beating demonstrators who had participated in a weeks-long sit-in outside the army headquarters. Protesters and witnesses allege that the crackdown was carried out by members of the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, whose commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo is the deputy chief of the country's ruling military council. But Dagalo, widely known as Himeidti, said on Thursday that an investigation into the crackdown has so far led to the identity of the man who planned the raid. "We have identified the man responsible" for dispersing the protest camp, Dagalo said without naming the individual, adding "there's no need to impact the investigation". "Whoever it is, whether from regular forces or a civilian,
Union ministers criticise Rahul Gandhi for using phone during prez speech
Several BJP leaders and ministers criticised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for looking at his mobile phone during President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of Parliament here on Thursday.Terming it as "unfortunate", Union Minister Giriraj Singh called Gandhi a "non-serious" leader. "He is a tall leader of a party.The President was presenting a roadmap about the country's progress in the next five years. It is extremely unfortunate that a leader who calls himself a serious leader but is not serious," he said."Nothing can be more unfortunate than his using a mobile phone and does not pay heed to what the president was saying," Singh said.Minister of State of Sports Kiren Rijiju also criticised the Congress president and said, "Rahul Gandhi keeps playing with his phone. He should practice yoga to focus on himself."Minister of State for Environment Babul Supiyo said that Gandhi has no interest even in own his party and he may have found "something more important" that ...
Dutch PM says Mahathir MH17 comment 'sows confusion'
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday slammed his Malaysian counterpart for creating "confusion" by criticising a decision to charge four people over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Mahathir Mohamad had called the move by Dutch-led investigators to charge three Russians and a Ukrainian with murder for the 2014 disaster "ridiculous" and "politically motivated" against Moscow. "I can imagine that relatives must be very disappointed about it and also that it sows confusion," Rutte told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels when asked about Mahathir's remarks. Rutte said the Dutch foreign ministry would contact the Malaysian government about Mahathir's comments, adding that he wanted "to await the results of this first before making further statements". The Boeing 777 was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was blown apart by a missile over part of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed rebels on July 17, 2014. All 298 people on board were killed, ..
Four municipal officials suspended over NRI businessman's
The Kerala government Thursday suspended four officers of Anthoor Municipality in Kannur in connection with the suicide of an NRI businessman, whose new auditorium was not granted ownership certificate by authorities. The 49-year-old Nigeria-returned businessman, Sajan Parayil, who had spent about Rs 16 crore for the auditorium, had hanged himself at his home Tuesday, after the municipality refused to grant the certificate for his dream project. The suicide created a furore in the Kerala assembly Wednesday, with the opposition UDF staging a walkout. "We have suspended four officials of the municipality after finding certain lapses on their part. Municipal secretary M K Gireesh, Engineer K Kalesh and first grade overseer Augustin and overseer B Sudheer are the officials who have been suspended," Local Self Government minister A C Moideen told media here. The state government was with the investors and would resolve issues with regard to any construction rules, the ...
I want all issues raised in AP Reorganisation Act to be implemented asap : TDP MP YS Chowdary
TDP Rajya Sabha M P Y S Chowdary, who changed sides to join BJP along with three other colleagues on Thursday, said that he wants all issues raised in Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act to be implemented as early as possible.TDP MPs of Rajya Sabha- YS Chowdary, CM Ramesh, TG Venkatesh, joined BJP in presence of BJP Working President JP Nadda. TDP Rajya Sabha MP GM Rao will formally join later as he is unwell.At a press conference at the BJP headquarters to welcome the M P's, Chowdary said: "We have joined to work for the nation and particularly for the state of Andhra Pradesh. We want to emphasize on all issues raised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act to be implemented as early as possible. I have joined since this is the best platform to work for the development of Andhra Pradesh and we want to work in coordination rather than confrontation.""They all were thinking about joining BJP since long. All of them are ground leaders and their joining BJP will strengthen the base of ..
US adds Saudi Arabia, Cuba to blacklist on human trafficking
The United States on Thursday added Saudi Arabia and Cuba to its blacklist of countries that are not doing enough to fight human trafficking, a designation that could bring sanctions. In an annual report, the State Department faulted ally Saudi Arabia for rampant violations among foreign labourers and accused adversary Cuba of trafficking through its program of sending doctors overseas. Countries that remained on Tier 3, the lowest ranking in the report, included China, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela. "If you don't stand up to trafficking, America will stand up to you," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said as he presented the report alongside Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser. A Tier 3 designation means that the United States can restrict assistance or withdraw support for the country at the International Monetary Fund or other global development bodies. Pompeo said that the United States last year took actions against 22 countries due to the human ...
Delhi BJP MP claims receiving online threat for raising 'mushrooming' of mosques issue
West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma Thursday claimed that he has received threat over raising the issue of construction of mosques on government lands and roadsides in the city. In a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, the parliamentarian said he received threat on Twitter and urged him to look into it. "I have been receiving threat of facing dire consequences if I continue to pursue the case, on my Twitter handle by Er. Shadab Chohan, National President Meemsena, and also spokesperson of RLD," Verma wrote to the Police Commissioner. The BJP MP said he had written a letter to Lt Governor Anil Baijal on June 17 regarding "mushrooming" of mosques on vacant government land, roads and secluded places and requested him to constitute a committee to conduct a survey. Verma has claimed that there were around 100 such mosques across the city, including 20 in his constituency that were located on government land and roadsides causing problems of traffic and "inconvenience" to the ...
AP govt completes handover of secretariat buildings to
: Decks were cleared for the Telangana government to go ahead with the construction of new Secretariat as Andhra Pradesh Thursday completed handing over all the four blocks which were under its control to the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led government. The Andhra Pradesh government was allotted four blocks in the secretariat complex here after bifurcation of the state in 2014, as Hyderabad was since made a common capital for both the states for 10 years. Earlier this month, Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan issued an order re-allotting the buildings and bungalows under the Andhra Pradesh government's custody to Telangana. The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday handed over 'K' and North 'H' blocks to its Telangana counterpart. Rao, on June 18, had said a new secretariat would be constructed replacing the existing one. He had said foundation stone for the new office complex would be laid on June 27. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, soon
North Korea's Kim meets China's Xi, says awaiting US actions
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, meeting in Pyongyang with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Thursday that his country is waiting for a desired response in stalled nuclear talks with the United States. "North Korea would like to remain patient, but it hopes the relevant party will meet halfway with North Korea to explore resolution plans that accommodate each other's reasonable concerns," he said, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Xi's trip to North Korea, the first by a Chinese president in 14 years, raises the possibility that China could help break a monthslong impasse in talks between the US and North Korea over the North's nuclear weapons. Describing the issue as "highly complex and sensitive," Xi said his government is willing to play a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "The international community expects the US and North Korea to continue to talk and achieve results," he said, according to CCTV. The summit comes as both countries ...
India's vote against NGO not linked with Palestinian cause: MEA
India's vote in the UN's ECOSOC against a Palestinian NGO should not in any way be construed as a vote against the Palestinian cause, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday. In a rare move, India on June 6 voted in favour of Israel in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to deny the Palestinian non-governmental organisation 'Shahed' the observer status, after Israel said the organisation did not disclose its ties with Hamas. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the vote should not be in any way be construed as a vote against the Palestinian cause. "We voted in favour of a proposal which was submitted by Israel at the Economic and Social Council of the UN for further scrutiny by the committee on NGOs. The proposal was submitted by Israel based on information that the NGO allegedly has close contacts with terrorist organisations," he said. Kumar said the vote was is in line with India's position on greater scrutiny by the NGO committee of the consultive status .
Hamas rejects Bahrain conference that 'normalises' Israel ties
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said Thursday his Palestinian movement rejected next week's US-sponsored Middle East economic conference in Bahrain as it would amount to Arab "normalisation" of ties with Israel. In a rare briefing with international journalists, Haniya also accused Israel of failing to abide by agreements meant to ensure calm in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. "We clearly express our rejection and non-acceptance of any Arab or Islamic country holding such a conference, which constitutes normalisation with the occupation," Haniya said, referring to Israel. US President Donald Trump's administration organised the conference, which is to be held on June 25 and 26 in Manama for the unveiling of the economic component of a US Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has been drafting the long-awaited plan, but it has been rejected in advance by the Palestinians, who accuse the Trump administration of pro-Israel bias. The political part of the conference
Putin says use of US force against Iran would be 'disaster'
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said any use of force by the US against Iran would lead to disaster as tensions escalate between Washington and Tehran. "The US says it does not rule out the use of force... This would be a disaster for the region," Putin said during an annual televised phone-in with screened questions posed by Russian viewers. "It would lead to a surge in violence and an increase in the number of refugees," he said, adding that the consequences of intervention would be "difficult to calculate". Moscow has backed Tehran in its stand off with the United States since Washington pulled out of an international 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran last year. Putin repeated Russia's insistence that sanctions against Iran are "unreasonable". The comment comes at a time of growing antagonism between Iran and the US following two waves of still unexplained attacks on Gulf shipping, which Washington has blamed on Tehran. Iran has denied any involvement and hinted that ...
India's vote at ECOSOC should not be construed as being against Palestinian cause
India on Thursday said that voting in favour of Israel's decision that objected to granting consultative status to a Palestinian group at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) should not be construed as being against the Palestinian cause."Our vote in favour of the proposal is in line with India's position on greater scrutiny by the NGO Committee of the consultative status applications for possible terrorist linkages and to screen the NGO applications with the sanctions list of the UN Security Council before granting them ECOSOC status," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday."India's vote on June 6 should not in any way be construed as a vote against the Palestinian cause," Kumar added.On June 6, India voted in favour of Israel in the ECOSOC denying providing an observer status to the Palestinian non-governmental organisation 'Shahed', especially after the Jewish nation stressed that the organisation had not disclosed its ties with Hamas.The ...
BJP attempting to weaken TDP: N Chandrababu Naidu
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday condemned BJP's "attempts at weakening" the party in the wake of four of his party's MPs deciding to merge themselves with the BJP.Reacting to the development in the national capital, he said that he was deliberating with senior party leaders on the issue."We condemn the attempts of the BJP in weakening TDP. The crisis is not new to the party," the former Chief Minister told ANI over the phone.He said: "We fought with the BJP in interests of AP and only for the special category status for the state. We sacrificed central ministerial posts for the special status."Naidu said that the party leaders should not worry about the development. "Leaders and cadre have nothing to be nervous about," he said.In a blow to the TDP after its decimation in the recent elections, four of its six Rajya Sabha MPs from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana merged themselves with the BJP here on Thursday.Accompanied by BJP working president J P Nadda and Leader of the House .