Page 140 - Politics

US says no conditions to talks with North Korea

The US pointman on North Korea said Wednesday there were no preconditions to resuming talks with Pyongyang but urged greater action on denuclearization. A week after President Donald Trump said he received a new "beautiful letter" from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, US special representative Stephen Biegun said that Pyongyang's promises to give up nuclear weapons lay at the heart of warming relations. "We can't make enough progress without meaningful and verifiable steps on denuclearization," Biegun said at the Atlantic Council think tank. "It's absolutely at the core of this. It's what produced this moment to begin with," he said. But Biegun said that nuclear progress was not a condition for resuming talks, amid a standstill in diplomacy since a February summit between Kim and Trump -- the second between the two leaders after their historic first meeting in Singapore a year ago. "That is not a condition, and let me say that it will be met with equal vigor on our part to address in

Ahmed Patel to be examined in Guj HC on election petn

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel will be Thursday examined as a witness in the Gujarat High Court which is hearing a petition challenging his election to the Rajya Sabha from the state in 2017. Patel will be cross-examined by the lawyers of BJP leader Balvantsinh Rajput, his rival in the election. The court had earlier rejected Patel's application seeking more time and ordered him to remain present on June 20. Rajput filed the election petition after he was defeated in the Rajya Sabha election held on August 8, 2017. A former Congress MLA who switched over to the BJP, Rajput has accused Patel of bribing MLAs for getting votes. Further, he has sought to quash the Election Commission's order invalidating the votes cast by two rebel Congress MLAs in his favour. He has also sought invalidation of votes of two Congress MLAs which were counted and which went to Patel. The EC's decision to invalidate the votes of then rebel Congress MLAs Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavji Patel ...

Our friendship with BJP isn't drama, drama was what happened in UP: Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said the coalition"Our friendship with BJP is not a drama, I think no other party has this kind of friendship. The drama was what happened in Uttar Pradesh, as soon as the election ended the coalition between Mayawati and Akhilesh too came to an end. On the other hand, whatever differences we had with the BJP were sorted out when Amit Shahji visited Matoshri," Thackeray said addressing party workers here.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders from both the parties were also present at the event held on the occasion of 53rd foundation day of the Shiv Sena.Thackeray said, "We will now run together, there is no opposition now. Our alliance is strong, but there is a need to be cautious. I have said in Ayodhya that the Ram Mandir will be constructed in the Narendra Modi government."Thackeray added that since a decision with BJP has been reached regarding the Chief Minister post in the state there are no worries now."We ..

People across Bengal demand return of "cut money" from TMC

A day after TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee directed party leaders to give back the money if they had taken any bribe from beneficiaries of government schemes, elected representatives faced public ire in various parts of the state Wednesday with the people demanding return of the "cut money". Angry people gheraoed TMC leaders and elected representatives of panchayats and municipalities in the districts of Birbhum, Malda, Purulia and Bankura. They demanded that the Trinamool Congress leaders return the money allegedly taken from them to provide them benefits from various schemes of the government. "They (TMC leaders) should return the money they have taken from us. These are government schemes for us. These are our rights. Why should we give cut money to avail benefits of those schemes?" said a protestor at Ilambazar in Birbhum district. The protestor, along with others, was in a sit-in demonstration outside the residence of a local TMC leader. A similar incident took place ..

Body of martyr Anil Jaiswal cremated with full state honour

Body of martyr Anil Jaiswal was cremated with full state honour at his village on Wednesday with a large number of people attending the last rites of the soldier.Rifleman Anil Kumar Jaiswal was martyred in a Counter Terrorist Operation conducted in Marahom village of Anantnag District in which two terrorists were killed.The body of the slain jawan was brought to Chandigarh by a helicopter from where it was taken to Una by road.The whole village reverberated with chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Pakistan Murdabad as soon as the body reached the village wrapped in tricolours.The slain soldier's family and the whole village gathered to pay their final respect to the slain jawan.Army and police personnel gave the Guard of Honour to the slain jawan and handed over the body to his father.Cabinet minister in state government Virender Kanwar, Badsar MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, former Vidhan Sabha deputy Speaker Ramnath Sharma and other government and Army officials also attended the ...

Ahead of polls, Fadnavis attends Sena's foundation day event

Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday became the first serving chief minister of Maharashtra from outside the Shiv Sena to attend the Uddhav Thackeray-led party's foundation day function. Fadnavis' presence at the event was significant as it indicated his continuing good equation with Thackeray, especially when state elections are around the corner. Thackeray had last week extended a personal invitation to Fadnavis to attend the Sena's 53rd foundation day function. Addressing the gathering, Fadnavis said he was feeling at home because both the parties worked for the saffron flag. Terming Uddhav as his elder brother, Fadnavis said there were some differences between the BJP and Sena, the "oldest and longest-running allies", but now the differences were forgotten. "Now the tiger and the lion have once again come together and no need to tell you who will rule the jungle," he said, claiming that the BJP-Sena alliance will win a thumping victory in the coming assembly elections in ...

East Delhi mayor visits Ghazipur slaughterhouse

East Delhi Mayor Anju Wednesday visited the Ghazipur slaughterhouse and instructed officials to ensure standard procedures are strictly followed, officials said. She was accompanied by the director of veterinary department, Om Prakash, and other senior officer of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). Anju also held a meeting with senior officials of the slaughterhouse, the EDMC said in a statement. During the meeting, officers apprised the mayor of the functioning of the slaughterhouse. She was informed that all necessary standards are being followed. The mayor instructed officials to ensure standard procedures are strictly followed, the EDMC said.

Cong, AAP ignoring 'mushrooming' mosques on govt land for vote bank politics: BJP MP

A day after claiming that mosques were "mushrooming" on roads and government land in the national capital, West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma Wednesday accused the Congress and AAP of ignoring the issue for vote bank politics. Asserting that he possessed evidence of encroachment, the parliamentarian claimed that nearly 100 mosques existed on government land or on roadsides in the city. Congress and AAP leaders hit back at the BJP accusing it of "communalising" the issue for political gains in the Delhi Assembly polls, scheduled to be held in early 2020. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that law and order, and land issues in the national capital are under the purview of the Centre, where the BJP is in power. "People have elected them (BJP MPs) for law and order, and land... They use people as vote bank and thereafter, they don't speak to them for five years. You can also see the law-and-order situation in Delhi," Sisodia said in a press conference. Verma on ...

Newly elected LS Speaker Om Birla meets VP Venkaiah Naidu

Newly elected Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at his residence on Wednesday.VP Naidu congratulated Birla on his election and presented a bouquet to him upon his arrival, followed by a meeting.Earlier today, after being unanimously elected as Lok Sabha Speaker, he said he would perform his duties without bias and not take any sides.Talking to reporters, he said his appointment to the post came with its own fair share of responsibilities which he would try to fulfill in the days to come."Will have to take forward everyone together while keeping the integrity of the House intact, it is very important to do so and that is what I will try to do in the days ahead," Birla said.He assured parties that he would work in an "unbiased" fashion without taking any sides while serving in the Lok Sabha.

Had a great meeting, multiple issues were discussed: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the meeting with the party presidents of various political parties was 'great.'In a tweet, PM Modi expressed that he had a great meeting with presidents of political parties and multiple issues of national importance were discussed.PM Modi's tweet read: "Had a great meeting with Presidents of various political parties. Multiple issues of national importance were discussed. I thank the various leaders for their informed suggestions."Claiming that a majority of political parties was in favour of "One Nation, One Election" idea, the government today announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will constitute a committee to study the feasibility of the concept after a meeting of parties from which main Opposition Congress and major parties kept away.Main Opposition Congress, DMK, TMC, TDP, JD (S), SP and BSP did not attend the meeting, while Chief Ministers of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha participated in it as did leaders of left parties,

US Army recovers finger prints from Japanese oil tanker attacked in Oman

The US Navy on Wednesday said it has collected biometric information including fingerprints from the body of one of two oil tankers that were attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week.Displaying the fragments of limpet mines that the US Navy said had been used to attack the Japanese-owned 'Kokuka Courageous' tanker, near the UAE port of Fujairah today, Comander Sean Kido from the Naval Forces Central Command said that the devices bore a "striking resemblance" to the Iranian ones, The New York Post reported."The limpet mine that was used in the attack is distinguishable and also strikingly bearing a resemblance to Iranian mines that have already been publicly displayed in Iranian military parades," Kido said.The Commander also showed small fragments alleged to have been removed from the Japanese-owned 'Kokuka Courageous' tanker.In addition, a magnet purportedly left by a team from Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) was also displayed during the media briefing.The US military had ...

LS Speaker meets President, Vice President

After being elected as Lok Sabha Speaker on Wednesday, Om Birla called on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. Birla went to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet Kovind and later met Naidu at his residence, officials said, describing both the meetings as courtesy calls. The President's office tweeted a photograph of Kovind and Birla. Naidu's office also tweeted a photograph. "I am confident that having wide experience in public life, Shri Birla would strive towards strengthening Parliamentary democracy in the country by upholding the best Parliamentary practices and traditions," Naidu tweeted. Birla, a two-time MP from Kota in Rajasthan was earlier in the day unanimously elected as Lok Sabha Speaker.

Narada Sting Operation: CBI summons whistleblower Mathew Samuel for questioning

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday summoned Mathew Samuel, the whistleblower in the Narada sting operation case, to appear before it for questioning on June 24.Samuel, who is the editor and managing director of Narada news portal had, in 2016, broadcast a sting video on his news portal. The video came to the fore just before the commencement of the state Assembly elections.In the sting video, a number of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including MPs and ministers, were allegedly seen taking money on camera.Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the money trail in connection with the case.Several legislators and TMC leaders have been quizzed by the probe agencies so far.On June 2 this year, ED had issued summons to Shreya Pandey, daughter of State Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pandey, and estranged wife of former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee -- Ratna Chatterjee -- for questioning in the case.

Nirmala Sitharaman holds preparatory meeting for upcoming G20 summit

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday held a preparatory meeting for the upcoming G20 summit slated to be held in Osaka and Japan on June 28 and 29.Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das attended the meeting.Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Das said: "It was a Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting. We reviewed the current state of the economy, the overall macro-economic situation and global development."The RBI Governor further said that various budget-related suggestions and proposals were also discussed."Regulators and concerned secretaries of the government were present during the meeting," said Das.

AAP moves Delhi Speaker, seeks disqualification of 2 rebel MLAs

The AAP Wednesday approached Delhi Assembly speaker, seeking disqualification of its two rebel MLAs who joined the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls, party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said. The two MLAs - Anil Bajpayee and Devinder Sehrawat - have been openly critical of the party and they joined the BJP before the Lok Sabha polls. Bharadwaj confirmed that a petition has been moved against these rebel MLAs, seeking their disqualification from the assembly.

Bengal Speaker asks MLAs to stick to rules after Jai Shri Ram slogans raised

The West Bengal Speaker Wednesday asked legislators not to use any word not mentioned in the assembly rule book in the wake of chanting of slogans like "Jai Shri Ram" or "Jai Hind" by BJP members but the saffron party said it won't stop from doing so. The issue was raised at an all-party meeting held under the tutelage of Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay at his chamber, Trinamool Congress minister of Parliamentary Affairs Partha Chatterjee told reporters. "It was decided at today's meeting that no such words which are not there in the rules and regulations of the House will be allowed during the proceedings in the upcoming extended budget session starting Friday," Chatterjee said. "Every representative has been asked to abide by the rules and regulations of the House," the TMC leader said. Earlier in the day, during the swearing-in ceremony of eight newly-elected MLAs in the recently-held bypolls, BJP MLA from Habibpur, Joyel Murmu, chanted "Jai Shri Ram" after taking oath. Speaker ...

Showcause notice to Cong MLA for remarks against leadership

The Congress in Telangana has issued a show cause notice to party MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy for his critical remarks against the party and its leadership, and sought an explanation from him within 10 days. The notice, dated June 17, issued by the party's disciplinary action committee was released to the media here Wednesday. It recalled that Rajagopal Reddy was served a show cause notice in September last year for using "unparliamentary and filthy language" against AICC general secretary (in-charge of Telangana), state congress president and others. The committee said disciplinary action would be initiated against Reddy if he fails to submit his explanation within 10 days. Taking serious note of Rajagopal Reddy's comments, the disciplinary action committee Monday reported the matter to the high command. Rajagopal Reddy, the MLA from Munugode near Nalgonda, had earlier hinted that he might join the BJP. "The Congress is in a difficult position, not only in ...

Will run House impartially and by taking everyone along: LS Speaker

Newly elected Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said he will run the House in an impartial manner by taking everyone along, while asserting that the chair should not be biased. Addressing the House after being unanimously elected as the speaker, Birla assured the members that he will preside over the proceedings in accordance with rules and regulations, and "safeguard the interests of the members irrespective of the strength of their parties in the House". The speaker assured the Lok Sabha members that he will remain fair and unbiased. "I will strive to provide equal opportunities to each and every member irrespective of their political affiliation or size of their respective parties," Birla said. The speaker further said, "Will work by taking everyone together, gaining everyone's trust. To maintain the dignity of the constitutional post, the speaker should be unbiased, and must also appear unbiased in conduct." Everyone should be heard and the government should respond to them,

AAP govt to float fresh tender for installing CCTV in buses

The Delhi government will float fresh tender for equipping its buses with CCTV cameras, GPS and panic button, officials said Wednesday. The decision was taken by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot during a meeting with officials on Wednesday, a senior official said. Two previous tenders in this regard have failed, he said. "The specifications of the accessories were discussed in the meeting and it was decided that each bus will be provided with 10 panic buttons," he said. Emphasising on women safety in public transport buses, the AAP government plans to equip them with CCTV cameras, panic buttons and geo-positioning system connected with a control room for quick action in case of any untoward incident.

AAP govt 'stalling' the PM Awas Yojna in Delhi: BJP

The Delhi BJP Wednesday accused the AAP government of "stalling" the PM Awas Yojna (PMAY) in the national capital out of "political ill will" and coming out with its own scheme without having any norms or budget for it. Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta charged that the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna, as a "substitute" for the PM Awas Yojna (PMAY), was "cheating" the poor people in the city. A Delhi government spokesperson said under the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna, 18,000 residential units are to be distributed to beneficiaries for which a survey was being undertaken. "Under the PMAY, the seed money is just Rs one lakh, which is inadequate. Our scheme is better than it and 18,000 houses are to be distributed among beneficiaries after the survey," he said. Gupta, however, claimed that the AAP government has no document outlining the scheme. "It has neither allocated any budget for it nor has set norms for it," he alleged. The Kejriwal government has no scheme for housing ...