Page 137 - Politics

CII-TN urges CM to come out with exclusive policy for MSMEs

: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has requested Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami to release a separate policy for the micro, small and medium enterprises. A team, led by CII Tamil Nadu state council chairman S Chandramohan, called on Palaniswami at the Secretariat, recently and congratulated him on the measures taken by his government to boost the industrial climate of the state. During the brief interaction, the team thanked him for bringing out an exclusive policy for defence and aerospace industries, a press release said Thursday. "The CII team also made a request to the Chief Minister to come out with an exclusive policy for MSMEs," it said. The trade body apprised Palaniswami on those initiatives taken by it like ease of doing business, district development, primary education, job creation among others. The CII urged Palaniswami to expedite also the plan to set up a new greenfield airport here and also enhance air connectivity in tier-II cities. It .

Duty-bound to protect people of all communities: Meghalaya govt to delegation from Punjab

The Meghalaya government assured a Punjab government delegation on Thursday that it was "duty-bound" to protect the people of all communities living in the state. Meghalaya Home Minister James P K Sangma gave this assurance to a four-member delegation from the northern state, Punjab MP Jasbir Singh Gill told mediapersons here. The MP is part of the delegation sent by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to meet representatives of the Meghalaya government and the settlers from the northern state in the Punjabi Lane area here to instil a sense of confidence among them. The delegation arrived here on Wednesday to take stock of the situation after the settlers were served notices by the state authorities to prove ownership of their land. Some newspapers had reported last week that an outlawed organisation had issued a threat to the settlers of the Punjabi Lane area. "There was some kind of a threat. The settlers told us about their fear. They have received some threats from an outlawed ..

BYJM activists burn effigy of SP MP for refusing to chant 'Vande Mataram'

Members of the BJP's youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Thursday burnt an effigy of newly elected MP from Sambhal, Shafiqur Rahman Barq, for refusing to chant 'Vande Mataram' after taking oath as a member of the Lok Sabha. After reading out his oath in the House on Tuesday, the Samajwadi Party MP had refused to chant 'Vande Mataram', saying "it's against Islam". His statement drew protests from members of the treasury benches who demanded an apology from him. BJYM activists burnt Barq's effigy at Fawwara Chowk in Chandausi area here. District unit chief of BJYM, Vishal Chauhan, said, "Shafiqur Rahman Barq while taking oath in the Lok Sabha had opposed 'Vande Mataram', saying it is against Shariat. This shows his anti-India mindset. We would request the Government of India to disqualify him as MP." He alleged that the Sambhal MP is trying to incite Muslims by making such statements. "Former president APJ Abdul Kalam never opposed Vande Mataram," Chauhan said, adding that .

130 fighters killed in 48 hours in northwest Syria: monitor

Fighting raged in northwest Syria on Thursday with clashes between regime forces and jihadist-led fighters killing 130 combatants in two days, a war monitor said. The Idlib region, home to some three million people, is supposed to be protected by a months-old international truce deal, but it has come under increased bombardment by the regime and its Russian ally since late April. On the southwestern edges of the jihadist-run enclave, bombardment and fierce fighting since Tuesday have killed 89 anti-regime fighters and left 41 dead on the government side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. This included at least 14 anti-regime fighters and 21 pro-government forces killed early Thursday, it said. The fighting has centred around the village of Tal Meleh in the north of Hama province, according to the Britain-based monitoring group. "The clashes are ongoing," with both regime and Russian war planes pounding the area, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. On Wednesday, 17 ...

AAP govt fully prepared to deal with dengue and chikungunya cases: Arvind Kejriwal

Ahead of the monsoon season, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said the AAP government is fully prepared to deal with dengue and chikungunya cases. Kejriwal chaired a meeting of all the departments to review the preparedness to tackle the situation emerging during the monsoons, which is expected to reach Delhi in the first week of July. "Rainy season is coming. During these days, there are cases of dengue and chikungunya. God may keep your family healthy. "Delhi government is completely prepared to deal with it. Today, I reviewed (preparations) in a meeting of all departments..." Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. According to the chief minister, there were 15,000 cases of dengue in 2015, but in 2018, it was 2,700. The AAP government will try to bring down this number further this year, he said. At least 13 dengue cases have been reported in Delhi so far this year, according to a municipal report released on June 10. During the monsoon season, Delhiites also have to face ...

Xi meets North Korea's Kim ahead of Trump talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pyongyang on Thursday on a historic visit to burnish an uneasy alliance, with the two men each facing challenges of their own with US President Donald Trump. Xi is the first Chinese president to visit North Korea in 14 years, after relations between the Cold War era allies deteriorated over Pyongyang's nuclear provocations and Beijing's subsequent backing of UN sanctions. But as he embarked on a flurry of diplomacy last year, Kim ensured that Xi -- the leader of his country's key diplomatic supporter and main provider of trade and aid -- was the first head of state he met. The North Korean has now visited his older ally four times in China and Pyongyang has been increasingly keen for Xi to reciprocate, while according to diplomats Beijing has been biding its time to see how nuclear talks between Kim and Trump play out. But Beijing's own trade negotiations with Washington hit a wall last month and some analysts ..

Simultaneous polls need of the hour: President Kovind

Noting that frequent elections in various parts of the country have impacted the pace and continuity of development, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday urged parliamentarians to seriously consider the "development-oriented" proposal of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies. His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a brain storming session with heads of 21 political parties on holding simultaneous polls. After the meeting, the prime minister announced setting up a committee to give time-bound suggestions on various issues related to the proposal of 'one nation, one election'. Addressing the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind said, " 'One Nation Simultaneous Elections' is the need of the hour, which would facilitate accelerated development, thereby benefiting our countrymen. With such a system in place, all political parties, according to their respective ideologies, will be able to better utilise their .

Turkey says it will ensure Morsi's death is not forgotten

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country is determined to ensure that the "drama" surrounding former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi's death is not forgotten. Erdogan made the comments during a meeting with a group of foreign journalists on Thursday, a day after he claimed that Morsi didn't die of natural causes but was killed. He said: "In the same way that we didn't allow the murder of the late Jamal Khashoggi to be forgotten we will never allow Morsi's drama to be forgotten." Erdogan was referring to the Saudi journalist who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. The Turkish leader, who is a fierce critic of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, added that he believed that the United Nations would take up "Morsi's suspicious death.

Ahead of meeting with Trump, Xi makes maiden visit to North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on Thursday for a historic two-day visit aimed at strengthening "strategic communication and exchanges" between the two countries.The trip marks the first time a Chinese President is visiting Pyongyang in 14 years, and only the second time a world leader will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in his country, reported The New York Times.The visit has come ahead of Xi's scheduled meeting with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in the Japanese city of Osaka later this month.Xi arrived in Pyongyang accompanied by his wife and several key aides, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, top diplomat Yang Jiechi, and key economic adviser He Lifeng, reported CNN.North Korea is believed to have sought a visit from the Chinese President for quite some time. Kim had invited Xi to Pyongyang back in March 2018, during his first trip to Beijing."What's remarkable is how long it's been for Xi to make this trip ...

Whole world stands with India on terrorism, Azhar listing testimony of it: Kovind

The whole world stands with India on the issue of terrorism and the designation of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN is a major testimony to this, President Ram Nath Kovind said Thursday, asserting that "new India" is rapidly moving towards occupying its rightful place in the international community. Kovind, in his customary address to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, also said India will host the G-20 Summit in 2022. Today, India has acquired a new image and our relations with other countries have become stronger, the President said. He highlighted that the world community enthusiastically supported India's proposal to declare June 21 as the 'International Day of Yoga' by the United Nations. At present, several programmes associated with International Day of Yoga are being organized with great enthusiasm in various countries, of which the most important events will be held on June 21. The world community supports India's position on various ...

Mandate for Modi govt to continue with development agenda:Prez

President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said a "very clear mandate" for the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha polls was for continuing uninterrupted the development journey that it started in 2014, as he listed the government's achievements and goals. In an hour-long address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Kovind said national security was paramount for the government as he touched on surgical strikes and air strikes on Pakistan-based terror camps. He also underlined the government's resolve to remove "social evils" of triple talaq and 'nikah halala' and promised to intensify its crackdown on corruption. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and MPs of both Houses in attendance, the President said the Lok Sabha polls had enhanced the credibility of Indian democracy as a record number of people- 61 crore- voted, including the highest share of women. Kovind, in his speech, which is prepared by the government of the day, said empowering ..

Mission to eliminate corruption will be implemented with greater zeal: Prez

The mission to eliminate corruption from public life and government services will be implemented with greater zeal, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Thursday, suggesting harsher steps may be on anvil to check graft. He said the government will make the zero tolerance policy against corruption more comprehensive and effective. Addressing both the Houses of the Parliament, Kovind said good governance reduces corruption, enhances self-respect of the citizens and enables them to optimally utilize their talents and capabilities. "The mission to eliminate corruption from public life and government services will be implemented with greater zeal," the president said. Towards this objective, minimum government - maximum governance will be further emphasised, he said. "In addition, use of technology will be maximised to reduce human interface. Appointment of Lokpal will also promote transparency," Kovind said. The assertion assumes significance as the government has been taking bold steps to .

Malaysian PM criticises 'ridiculous' charges over MH17

Malaysia's prime minister on Thursday criticised the "ridiculous" decision to charge three Russians and a Ukrainian with murder over the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. International investigators charged the men on Wednesday, the first people to face justice over the tragedy five years ago in which 298 people were killed. The Boeing 777 was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it was hit by a missile over part of eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian rebels. "We are very unhappy because from the very beginning it became a political issue on how to accuse Russia of wrong-doing," Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters in administrative capital Putrajaya. "It is a ridiculous thing," he added. "As far as we are concerned we want proof of guilt. So far there is no proof. Only hearsay." The Malaysian foreign ministry said in an earlier statement that it "appreciates" the announcement by the Dutch-led investigation team. But it added that ...

Turkish court hands down life sentences in coup trial

Turkey's state-run news agency says a court in Ankara has sentenced several people accused of being the ringleaders of the 2016 failed military coup to life terms in prison. Anadolu Agency says those sentenced on Thursday include Akin Ozturk, a former air force commander and Ali Yazici, who was President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's military aide. The sentences are still being handed down. The suspects were on trial on charges of crimes against the state, leading an armed terror group, attempting to assassinate the president and the deaths of 249 people. The trial is considered the main one among several underway in Turkey in relation to the coup attempt that the government says was carried out by followers of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. The cleric denies involvement.

Prez address tabled in Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha

President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of Parliament was laid in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Both Houses were convened after the president's address. In Rajya Sabha, as soon as the House assembled, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asked new members to take oath. Two new members--Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa (BJP) took oath as members of the House. Naidu informed the House that Thawar Chand Gehlot will be Leader of the House. Thereafter the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha laid the president's address on the table of the House. Naidu introduced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the House and asked him to introduced his new Council of Ministers to the Rajya Sabha. It is a customary practise for the prime minister to introduce the council of ministers after a new government takes over or if there is a reshuffle or expansion of the Union Cabinet. The prime minster read out names and portfolios of ministers who stood up and ...

Govt making efforts to ensure safe environment in JK: Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said the central government is making all efforts to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In his address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, Kovind said the government is also committed to take all necessary steps for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. "My government is making efforts with complete dedication to provide a safe and peaceful environment for residents of Jammu and Kashmir. "The recently concluded peaceful elections to local bodies and to Lok Sabha have bolstered our efforts," he said in his customary address after the formation of the 17th Lok Sabha. Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President's rule and schedule for the assembly elections is expected to be announced after the Amarnath Yatra, which will come to an end in mid-August.

J-K govt launches outreach programme, bureaucrats to spend time in villages

The Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday launched its ambitious outreach programme, 'Back to the Village', as part of which bureaucrats will spend the next 36 hours in different panchayats, gathering feedback from people on development of their areas, an official spokesperson said. The eight-day programme, from June 20-27, is being organised across all Panchayats of the state, he said. Under the 'Back to the Village' programme, government officers will be spending two days and one night in different panchayats, the spokesperson said. During their stay, they will hold meetings with elected 'panches' and 'sarpanches', hold 'gram' (village) and 'mahila sabhas' (women assemblies) in addition to other grassroots level interactions, he said. "The basic objective of this programme is to move governance from its seat of operation to the doorsteps of the people in villages," a senior government official said. Elaborating the objective of the programme, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam had .

Siliguri: BJP, TMC claim body of 'party worker', allege the other party killed him

BJP Yuva Morcha workers took out a protest, on Wednesday, against the alleged killing of a 30-year-old man, who is now being claimed by both parties as their cadre.According to BJP members, Ananda Paul was a worker of the BJP Yuva Morcha and was killed by party workers of TMC. The TMC, on the other hand, is claiming that Ananda was a TMC supporter and was killed by BJP members.Ananda belonged to Velakpora in Tufanganj in Cooch Behar district. A case has been registered in Kotwali police station.In the recently concluded polls marred by violence in West Bengal, BJP made deep inroads into the Trinamool Congress territory winning 18 Lok Sabha seats and limited the TMC to 22 seats as against 34 it had won in the 2014 general elections.

100 fighters killed in 48 hours in northwest Syria: monitor

Fighting raged in northwest Syria on Thursday as clashes between regime forces and jihadist-led fighters killed more than 100 combatants in two days, a war monitor said. The Idlib region, home to some three million people, is supposed to be protected by a months-old international truce deal, but it has come under increased bombardment by the regime and its Russian ally since late April. On the southwestern edges of the jihadist-run enclave, strikes and fierce fighting since Tuesday killed 75 anti-regime fighters and left 29 dead on the government side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. This included at least 14 anti-regime fighters and 19 pro-government forces killed early Thursday, it said. The fighting has centred around Tal Meleh in the north of Hama province, according to the Britain-based monitoring group. "The clashes are ongoing," with both regime and Russian war planes pounding the area, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. On Wednesday, 16 civilians were ...

Promotion of culture will boost India's 'Thought Leadership': Kovind

Efforts of the Narendra Modi government in promoting the culture of the country will boost India's 'Thought Leadership' in the world, President Ram Nath Kovind said Thursday, addressing the joint sitting of the two House of parliament. Addressing the newly elected MPs, Kovind spoke about how India will emerge as a formidable soft power. "Due to the efforts of my government, India's philosophy, culture and achievements have got a distinct recognition at the global stage. This year, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which is being celebrated world over, will provide a fillip to India's 'Thought Leadership'. Similarly, programmes related to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji, will help spread the light of India's spiritual wisdom throughout the world," he said. He further said that with rapid urbanisation, development of urban infrastructure in cities and suburbs will pave the way for economic progress and enhance employment opportunities. "My government is ...