Page 1373 - Politics
Ex-president seeks international help on Burundi peace accord
Former Burundi president Pierre Buyoya, the subject of a government arrest warrant, has urged the international community to intervene over what he termed breaches of the country's peace accord. The warrant against him was one such violation of the Arusha agreement of 2000 that ended a brutal civil war in Burundi, Buyoya claimed in a letter to the pact's guarantors. It also amounted to "a hindrance to the process of national reconciliation," he warned in the letter seen by AFP on Saturday and authenticated by an African diplomat. The document, dated March 1, was addressed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who mediated the peace deal and supervised it, as well as fellow guarantors South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, the UN, African Union and the European Union. In November, Burundi issued an international arrest warrant against Buyoya, 11 former senior officials and five civilians close to him over the 1993 killing of the country's first democratically-elected leader, Melchior ..
Tripura CM completes 1 year in office, says govt working to
Asserting that the Tripura government is working toward fulfilling the poll pledges made before last year's Assembly elections, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said Saturday that steps are being taken to create jobs for youth and combat drug menace. At a press meet here on the completion of one year of his government, Deb said the BJP-IPFT dispensation has provided benefits of 7th Central Pay Commission to the state government employees and raised social security pensions to Rs 1,000 per month, as promised in the BJP's vision document. The CM also asserted that budgetary provisions have been made to distribute smart phones among youths. "There is a notion that job means only government jobs. But jobs could also mean an opportunity to earn money. We are trying to create platforms for entrepreneurs. In the past one year, the government has trained nearly four thousand people for self-employment," he stated. Deb also claimed that more than 1,400 positions were created in ..
Lok Sabha polls may be announced on Monday/Tuesday
The Election Commission (EC) is expected to announce the schedule for 2019 general elections early next week.
Naidu taunts Jagan, says "KCR is YSRC President"
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu Saturday mocked arch rival YSR Congress, saying his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao ran the YSRC and asked people to choose between him and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader, "who rubbed salt to the bifurcation wounds." Apparently changing tack over seeking to forge ties with TRS last year, Naidu said he had months ago sought an alliance between his party and TRS only for "resolution of problems" related to bifurcation between the two Telugu states. In October 2018, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister had pitched for a tie-up between the TDP and TRS so that they could emerge as a "potent force" in South India. Speaking to reporters, Naidu said the ensuing elections in Andhra Pradesh would be "KCR (TRS chief) versus TDP" and not "Jaganmohan Reddy (YSR Congress president) versus TDP." Seeking to juxtapose Reddy, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, with Rao, Naidu alleged that the latter, the Chief Minister of ...
Won't allow BJP to turn J-K into theatre of war for electoral gains: Mehbooba
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday alleged that there were attempts to "intimidate" the people of Kashmir following the Pulwama terror strike, and said her party will not allow the BJP to turn Jammu and Kashmir into a "theatre of war for electoral gains". At a meeting of PDP's top leadership here to discuss the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, she also said banning Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) was "undemocratic, unconstitutional and an attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims" all across. "Repressive measures and iron fist approach are being rigorously implemented with common masses threatened, intimated and harassed by the government at large. "The PDP will remain in the forefront to oppose any such move. The policies being adopted by the central leadership towards the state are turning the already crisis-ridden region into a veritable inferno," Mufti said. She also hit out at the BJP government at the Centre, saying, "Kashmiri students outside Jammu and ...
Raj Thackeray predicts 'Pulwama-like' attack before LS polls
Linking Pathankot and Pulwama terror attacks to elections, MNS chief Raj Thackeray Saturday said another "Pulwama like strike" could occur in near future in a bid to win polls. He also slammed as "insult to jawans" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that presence of Rafale jets could have added to more firepower to the February 26 raids by Air Force on a terrorist camp in Pakistan's Balakot. Thackeray was addressing party workers on the 13th Foundation Day of the MNS. In the February 14 Pulwama attack, the worst in the Valley so far, 40 troopers of the CRPF were killed when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a bus in the paramilitary force's convoy. Thackeray also alleged that the warnings issued by intelligence agencies prior to the Pulwama attack were ignored. "40 jawans were martyred in the Pulwama attack. Should we still not ask questions? In December, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval had met his Pakistani counterpart in ...
Oppn parties hold dharna for Khandu's ouster
Opposition parties in Arunachal Pradesh Saturday staged a dharna demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu over his "inept handling" of the Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) issue that claimed three lives last month. The protesters also demanded resignations of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, holding them responsible for the violence that unfolded in the state capital on February 23 and 24. The opposition parties including Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Janata Dal (Secular) and Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) under the aegis of All Party Coordination Committee staged the dharna at 'O' Point Tinali near the Raj Bhawan. The protesters had submitted a memorandum to Governor B D Mishra on Wednesday requesting him to use his constitutional powers to remove Khandu and others for their alleged failure to control the law and order situation on February 24. The committee had set a deadline of ...
AJKPC welcomes Guv's decision to hold BDC polls, says it will empower people at grass-roots level
All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), an organisation representing panchs and sarpanchs,Saturday welcomed the Governor administration's decision to hold elections for constitution of Block Development Councils (BDCs), saying it would go a long way in empowering the people at grass-roots level. The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik on Friday, gave the approval, after issuance of necessary notification in this behalf in consultation with state chief electoral officer and as per dates to be announced by him. The objective of constituting block development council is to establish second tier of Panchayati Raj Institutions for implementation and monitoring of several centrally sponsored schemes and other projects transferred to halqa Panchayats, an official spokesperson had said. "We express our gratitude to the central government and the Governor's administration for giving their consent to hold BDC elections
No age bar for BJP candidates, Advani, Joshi likely to contest LS polls
There would be no bar of 75 years for BJP leaders willing to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the party's top decision-making body - the parliamentary board - decided at its marathon meeting on Friday night.
Rahul meets environmental activists, seeks their support for Cong in LS polls
Congress president Rahul Gandhi held a series of meetings on Saturday with environmental activists, representatives of fishing community and mining industry here and agreed to work together for the state and the country.While assuring all support to them in addressing their concerns, Rahul sought their support for the Congress party in the coming Lok Sabha elections.Rahul had arrived here on Friday to address a booth-level convention of Congress workers at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections.Addressing them, Gandhi asserted that the probe into the "missing" Rafale files should begin with the role of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who had claimed that the files related to the deal were in his possession.
Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Human chain organised in TN seeking early release of convicts
Various Tamil organizations across the state took part in a human chain on Saturday seeking early release of seven individuals convicted for their involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Participants across the state sought early release of the seven convicts who have been in jail for 28 years now.After the Supreme Court last year allowed the Tamil Nadu state government to take a decision on the release of the convicts, the state Cabinet passed a resolution recommending the Governor of Tamil Nadu Banwarilal Purohit to release the seven convicts by provoking Article 161 of the Constitution.However, the Governor has not made any decision on the recommendation of the state cabinet so far.On February 23, Nalini Sriharan, a convict, had written a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami appealing to use the current political opportunity to release her and six others.In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil .
Cong leader resigns over his party seeking proof of IAF's Balakot airstrike
Bihar Congress leader and party spokesperson Vinod Sharma on Saturday resigned from the party, claiming that he was perturbed over the way his party asked for the proof of IAF's Balakot airstrike.Speaking to ANI, Sharma said: "I am resigning from all the posts and the Congress' primary membership. I am disappointed over the Congress' demand for proof of IAF air strike at JeM terror camp in Pakistan. I am unhappy with this stand of the party."Congress leaders had raised questions over the source of BJP president Amit Shah's claim of 250 terrorists having been killed in the air strike at Balakot.Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge last week had said the BJP leaders should share the information that they have."We should not politicise the air strike. As Rahul Gandhi said, for the national security, we should support each and every action of our armed forces. We should stand united in these situations," he said."But if someone is doing politics and wants to take credit for the ...
YSRCP, TRS resorted to mega conspiracy: Chandrababu Naidu on data theft
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday alleged that the YSR Congress and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) resorted to a mega conspiracy by stealing the data belonging to his party cadre."The conspiracy began with the lodging of a complaint to Chief Election Commissioner of India by parliamentarian Vijayasai Reddy on February 19. His complaint was accompanied with the plan of action of YSR Congress party to move further on the data theft case," Naidu said while speaking to media here."The Telangana police should have informed the Andhra Police for further action. Questioning the action instead it foisted case on the Andhra Pradesh government in reverse. Telangana Police terrorised the employees of IT company resulting in great loss of TDP data," he added.Terming the data theft as a "planned conspiracy" Naidu said, "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), TRS and YSR Congress parties are resorting to attack on Telugu Desam party by ...
As a goodwill gesture, BSF hands over Pak national to Pakistan Rangers
As a goodwill gesture, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday handed over a Pakistani national to the Pakistan Rangers at about 3The Pakistani national was apprehended on Friday by the BSF while he crossed the international border (IB) in Ramgarh area of Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir."The BSF released the Pakistani national healthy and sound. Pakistan Rangers were also appreciating the humane approach of the Border Security Force," said the BSF PRO in a statement.The move comes as a positive development as tension between India and Pakistan heightened following February 14 terror attack on the convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama in south Kashmir in which 40 security personnel were killed and five others were injured.In retaliation to Pulwama terror attack, Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out air strikes at a JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan on February 26, eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, according to India's Foreign Secretary Vijay ...
'Cong will implement minimum income gurantee scheme if voted
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Saturday said the party would implement the minimum income guarantee scheme and deposit money in bank accounts of all the poor in the country if voted to power after the Lok Sabha polls. "We have taken a decision that Congress party will give Guaranteed minimum income to every poor person in India. After the 2019 polls, the Government of India will fix minimum income. It will not be below any of the income levels (Below Poverty Line) of people," he said. People will get money under the scheme if their income was less than the Minimum Income (fixed), irrespective of whoever they are, whichever state they lived in or religion they followed and whatever language they spoke, he said. "We will not leave even a single person. We will search for people whose income is less than the Minimum Income, we will deposit money in their accounts, the congress chief said. Gandhi was addressing a meeting of Congress functionaries where he kick started the partys .
Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J-K's Rajouri
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Saturday, a defence spokesperson said. At about 6.00 pm, Pakistani Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms in Sunderbani sector, he said. The spokesperson said the Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively. There was no report of any casualty on the Indian side, he said. A special police officer escaped with splinter injuries when a mortar shell exploded at Gondria village in Shahpur sector which, along with nearby Kerni sector in Poonch district, witnessed heavy artillery and small arms firing from across the border Friday evening. There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan after India's preemptive air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot on February 26 following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Four civilians, including three members of a ..
Air strikes exposed Pakistan's nuclear bluff: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here on Saturday India has "exposed" Pakistan's "nuclear bluff" by carrying out air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp at Balakot on February 26.
Expect Pulwama-like strike during polls: Raj Thackeray
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray on Saturday claimed another "Pulwama-like attack would be organised within a couple of months", at the height of the Lok Sabha elections.
Cong leader quits over party's demand for air strike proof
In what could be seen as a jolt to Bihar Congress ahead of the parliamentary election, senior leader and spokesman Binod Sharma resigned on Saturday, contending that the party should not have demanded evidence of Balakot air strike. In a letter addressed to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Sharma said the party high command has hurt the sentiments of ground-level workers and the common people by raising questions over the "pre-emptive" strike on the terror camps in Balakot, days after the Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy. The senior leader also said that he wrote to Gandhi several times in the last one month, apprising him of the sensibilities of the party workers in the state, but his requests were not entertained. Terming the repeated demands for proof of air strike as "shameful and childish", he said, "I am resigning from the Congress with a heavy heart after serving it for 30 years. The party high command has hurt sentiments by breaking the Army's morale, while ...
BJP uses politics for empowerment of nation: Rajnath Singh
BJP is not into politics to gain power, but for the empowerment of the nation,Union Home minister Rajnath Singh said here Saturday. The opposition Congress, on the other hand, was pursuing politics only to regain power at the Centre by forging a coalition of variousparties, he said, addressing an intellectualsmeeting organised by the BJP's district unit. "Their (Congress) efforts are not going to yield any result andNarendra Modi will become Prime Minister again," he said. The union minister said the BJP's policy was justice for all and appeasement of none and added that the nation needs a strong government, not anunstable coalition. He said that as the fastest growing economy, the country was set to become one of the top three super powers in the world. Various schemes launched by the Union government had improvedthe lot of common man in the last five years, he said. The Swachh Bharat mission introduced by the governmentwas a success and 98.8 per cent of families now ..