Page 1377 - Politics
IUML fields 2 sitting Lok Sabha members
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second biggest ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Kerala, on Saturday announced its decision to field sitting MPs from two seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
AIADMK says Modi is our daddy
From the days of asking who is better - Gujarat's Modi or Tamil Nadu's Lady - the relationship between AIADMK and the BJP has evolved to the extent that a State Minister on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the daddy for his party cadres.
On N Korea, Trump clings to 'all or nothing' strategy
In Hanoi, Donald Trump overturned the widely held assumption he would be willing to settle for an interim agreement on North Korea's denuclearisation. But despite the breakdown of the summit and the atmosphere of skepticism that now abounds, the US president seems determined to stick with his "all or nothing" approach, betting on his personal "chemistry" with Kim Jong Un to save the day. Trump insisted Friday his relationship with Kim "remains good" even as his aides attempted to paper over the collapse of the high-stakes second summit which concluded last week without even a modest deal on reducing Pyongyang's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. "Nobody in the administration advocates a step-by-step approach," a senior State Department official told reporters this week. In other words, Washington wants what administration officials have called a "big deal" - "the complete elimination of their weapons of mass destruction program," the State Department official said. In .
Naya Pakistan should demonstrate Naya action on terror: India
Pakistan will be judged not by words but on basis of the action it takes to dismantle terror infrastructure on its soil, India said Saturday, asserting that its non-military strike on the JeM terrorist training camp in Balakot achieved its desired objective. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said if Pakistan claims to be a 'naya Pakistan' (New Pakistan) with a 'nayi soch' (new thinking), then it should demonstrate 'naya' action (new action) against terror groups operating with impunity from its soil. The MEA's comments came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he will not allow Pakistani soil to be used for terror directed at other countries. Khan has been saying that a 'Naya Pakistan' is embarking on a new journey under his leadership. Kumar said Pakistan has been making identical statements after separate terror attacks and now Islamabad will have to take up the concrete action the international community expected it to take and must rein in terror .
Rupani to expand cabinet, Cong turncoat likely to be minister
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani will expand his cabinet on Saturday and may induct three members including a Congress turncoat, Jawahar Chavda, official sources said. The other two likely to become ministers are Yogesh Patel, the BJP MLA from Manjalpur in Vadodara district and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, the legislator from Jamnagar West, also a former Congress leader. "Yes it is true that cabinet expansion will take place today and three ministers will be inducted," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Bharat Pandya confirmed. Talking to PTI, Patel said apart from him, Chavda and Jadeja will also take oath as ministers. A seven-time MLA from Manjalpur, Patel had expressed dissatisfaction against the BJP government over several issues including lack of representation from Vadodara region in the Rupani cabinet. Chavda, a four-time lawmaker from Manavadar constituency and a prominent leader of OBC Ahir community, had Friday resigned as MLA. He had also quit the Congress and joined ..
DMK wants action against TN CM for misuse of Secretariat
The DMK on Saturday urged Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit to take legal action against Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and others for using the State Secretariat for political purposes.
Right time to abolish Sri Lanka's presidential system of governance: JVP
Sri Lanka's communist party JVP Saturday said the time was right to bring in the 20th amendment to the Constitution to abolish the all-powerful executive presidential system of governance. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the main mover of the motion seeking abolishing of presidency, held a series of discussions with the main opposition leader and Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek his support to bring in the 20th amendment to abolish the executive presidency. "He (Rajapaksa) was for the idea of abolishing it," senior JVP leader Bimal Ratnayake said. He claimed that all current leaders Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesimghe were afraid of facing another presidential election. "All of them know they can't win it. So they all will support it," Ratnayake said. He said it was an opportune time to abolish the executive presidency which has been in existence since 1978. Rajapaksa, who is constitutionally barred ...
Exclusion of Benazir Bhutto's name from women's day ads to be probed
The Pakistan government will launch a probe into the exclusion of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's name from its advertisements for International Womens Day highlighting the contribution of Pakistani women in diverse fields, the media reported on Saturday.
Congress dilemma: Neither Ekla Chalo, nor whole heartedly in coalition (Comment)
By announcing her own candidature from Rae Bareli, has Sonia Gandhi grounded Priyanka Gandhi quite as abruptly as she had taken off? Or, is it a function of post Pulwama demoralization that is causing the leadership to scale down aspirations? Is the Robert Vadra investigation beginning to tell?
Congress party has become 'PVR flop show': Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Ahead of elections, political leaders seem to be coming up with unique names to target opponents.Union Minister of Minority Affairs and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday termed the Congress as a 'PVR ka pita show' (a flop movie by PVR). "Congress party has become 'PVR ka pita show', PVR means- Priyanka, Vadra (Robert Vadra) and Rahul," Naqvi said. PVR is a leading multiplex chain.The statement from Naqvi came after several Congress leaders slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not doing enough for the development of the country and fanning corruption after coming to power in 2014.The Union Minister further vented anger over the Opposition and asserted that the public should be made aware that Congress spreads lies. "So in this (PVR) show daily some baseless stories from the fake and fabricated fixers are being played.""Therefore, unfortunately for them, they (Congress) play a lot in this show but nobody listens to them. They are exposed. When they wake up in the morning, .
Brazil's Bolsonaro to visit Trump this month
US President Donald Trump will host his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro on March 19, the White House has said, the first meeting between the two rightwing leaders who have lavished praise on each other. The visit was announced by Brazil's foreign ministry last month but a firm date had not been finalized. Bolsonaro, who entered office in January, has vowed to forge close ties with Washington after over a decade of leftist rule in Brazil, and has been dubbed "South America's Trump." "President Trump and President Bolsonaro will discuss how to build a more prosperous, secure, and democratic Western Hemisphere," the White House said on Friday. "The leaders of the Hemisphere's two largest economies will also discuss opportunities for defense cooperation, pro-growth trade policies, combatting transnational crime, and restoring democracy in Venezuela. "Finally, they will talk about the major role that the United States and Brazil are playing in the effort to provide humanitarian ...
Indian High Commissioner back in Islamabad, to articulate India's expectation from Pak more directly
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria reached Islamabad on Saturday and will resume office soon, sources told ANI.Bisaria, who had been recalled to New Delhi for consultations last month following the Pulwama terror attack, will articulate India's expectations from Pakistan with emphasis and more directly, sources added.The Indian High Commissioner will also engage on urgent issues not only with Pakistan but with diplomats of other countries in Islamabad.Bisaria who had been recalled to New Delhi last month returned to Islamabad upon the completion of consultations in India.Meanwhile, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood, is also expected to reach New Delhi on Saturday. Pakistan too had recalled Mahmood to Islamabad for consultations on February 18.Tensions have been high between the two neighbours following the Pulwama attack for which Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility.
Will give clean government, people believe my party: Bhaichung Bhutia (IANS Interview)
Unfazed by recent desertions from his fledgling party, football icon-turned-politician Bhaichung Bhutia exudes confidence that the Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) would give a "new" and "clean" government if voted to power in the Himalayan state.
Why doesn't the Congress mention economic reforms? (Column: Political Circus)
Since there is a dreary sameness about the speeches of both Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, the commencement of the elections will provide most people with the opportunity to not only vote for their favourite candidates, but also a respite from the political boasts and accusations.
Pakistani drone crosses Rajasthan border: BSF
A Pakistani drone attempting to enter Indian territory across the Rajasthan border went back following its detection by the Border Security Forces (BSF), who tried to shoot it down, the BSF said.
Ex-Kerala Minister V.J. Thankappan dead
Senior CPI-M leader and former Kerala Minister V.J. Thankappan passed away on Saturday near here, according to his family. He was 84.
J&K guv's grievance cell disposes over 52,000 complaints in nearly 9 months
Over 52,000 complaints were disposed of by the Jammu and Kashmir governor's grievance cell since last June when the state came under governor's rule after the fall of the PDP-BJP government. A total of received 52,452 complaints and grievances were received since June 20, 2018, of which 52,009 such cases were dealt with or forwarded to the quarters concerned for timely redressal, an official said on Saturday. The rest of 443 complaints or grievances are under process, the spokesperson said. On the directions of Governor Satya Pal Malik, the official said, all the four advisers to the governor had been regularly meeting and hearing the grievances and regularly reviewing the redressals.
SPO injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in Pooch, J-K
A Special Police Officer (SPO) was injured in shelling by Pakistani troops in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, officials said.Pakistani Rangers had at around 1800 hours initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation by heavy shelling with artillery and firing of small arms along Line of Control (LoC) in Shahpur and Kerni sectors.Indian army had retaliated strongly and effectively.
US military official says diplomatic 'quad' is ongoing
An American military official says that the US, Australia, India and Japan continue to have regular diplomatic meetings to "coordinate our respective visions of and efforts in the Indo-Pacific region." Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col Dave Eastburn made the comments late Friday in Washington to clarify that the US-backed diplomatic grouping often referred to as the quad would continue. They came after Adm. Phil Davidson, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, suggested in Singapore on Thursday that a loose security grouping of the four countries could be shelved for now. Eastburn said Davidson "was referring to a formal, regular meeting of military leaders from the four countries" and not other regular diplomatic consultations. He said such diplomatic meetings have been held three times since November 2017 and would continue.
White House communications director resigns, to join Trump re-election campaign
Bill Shine, the White House communications director and deputy chief of staff, has stepped down to join President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign as a senior adviser.