Page 141 - Politics
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 ...
DMK to hold protests in TN on June 22 over water crisis
The DMK Wednesday said it would hold protests on June 22 across Tamil Nadu to urge the AIADMK government to take steps on a war footing to address the acute water crisis in parts of the State. Hitting out at the State government on the water issue for what it called "negligence," and "administrative failure," the DMK said the demonstration is to "condemn," and urge it to address the water shortage. DMK alleged people across Tamil Nadu were affected by the drinking water scarcity. The party headquarters, in a release, asked its district secretaries to stage protests in all district headquarters with the support of the general public. With borewells and wells going dry in parts of Tamil Nadu, the demand for water has gone up manifold here prompting people to depend on private water tanker operators for their needs. The DMK, which is the principal opposition in Tamil Nadu, alleged that several restaurants were shut and schools reeled under the impact of water shortage ...
Bihar children deaths a national horror story; Centre, state govts responsible: Cong
The Congress on Wednesday described the deaths of children in Bihar due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome as a "national horror story" and demanded accountability from the Centre and the state government. Addressing a press conference here, party spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi accused the two governments of being "insensitive" and unprepared for tackling such an outbreak. "It is a national tragedy, it is a national horror story and the perpetrators of this horror story are the Centre and the state government," he said. "We demand accountability from both the State and the Centre," he said, while attacking Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and his predecessor J P Nadda. Gogoi said Nadda should concede that promises made by him as health minister have not been fulfilled. The Congress leader also demanded coordination between the Centre and the state governments to deal with the situation. "What is happening today in Muzaffarpur is a national horror, the national tragedy. The Congress Party ...
Telangana CM calls on Guv
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Wednesday called on Governor ESL Narasimhan at the Raj Bhavan. Rao met the governor after the Telangana Rashtra Samithi's state committee meeting. The Governor was invited for the inauguration of Kaleswaram irrigation project, official sources said. The Chief Ministers of AP and Maharashtra have already been invited for the inaguration of the project on June 21. The government's decision to construct new Secretariat and legislature buildings in the city and other issues are also understood to have been discussed during the meeting with the governor, the sources said. A meeting of Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in the presence of the Governor, is likely to be held on July 3 to discuss pending issues between the two states, the sources added.
Seers demand Ram temple in Ayodhya, repeal of Art 370
Several Hindu seers Wednesday renewed the demand for building a Ram temple in Ayodhya and abolishing Article 370 of the Constitution, saying it is the time for Modi government to honour people's mandate to it. The seers raised the demand during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Marg Darshak Mandal meeting. The seers attending the meeting expressed satisfaction at the Lok Sabha poll verdict. They said the poll outcome symbolised the victory of nationalism, Hindutva and development over the politics of dynasty, casteism, appeasement and corruption. Addressing the meeting,VHP president V S Kokje spoke at length on Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution and said the poll outcome was a reflection of people's overwhelming support for some important decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his last tenure. It is time for the Modi government now to honour the mandate given to it by the people, he added. Talking to reporters later, Parmanand ji Maharaj of Akhand Paramdham Ashram said ...
Cong, many opposition parties skip all-party meet on simultaneous polls
Opposed to the idea of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, several opposition parties, including the Congress, on Wednesday skipped an all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of 'one nation, one election'. Those joining the Congress in not attending the meeting included the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the DMK, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Trinamool Congress. Sources said the NDA constituent Shiv Sena did not attend the meeting as it was the party's foundation day. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who was invited at the meeting, wrote back to the government expressing his inability to attend. He also wrote a note to the government, the contents of which were not known. The Congress took the decision of staying away from the meeting after consultations with other parties on the issue. The party had convened a meeting of all opposition leaders Wednesday morning to discuss the issue but it was cancelled
BJP workers protest over induction of TMC MLA into party
A day after Trinamool Congress MLA Biswajit Das switched over to the BJP, saffron party workers of his assembly constituency protested Wednesday and demanded his removal from the party claiming that he used to torture them. Das, two-time MLA of Bangaon Uttar, is the newest MLA of the TMC to switch sides. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Tuesday along with 12 councillors. BJP workers carrying party flags and posters hit the streets of Bangaon on Wednesday demanding immediate removal of Das from the party. "What is use of fighting the TMC if those TMC leaders who had once tortured our workers join the party as the winds of change are blowing in the state. These opportunists will ruin our party's image," a local BJP leader said. When contacted, local BJP MP Santanu Thakur said he will look into the matter. Earlier, joining of TMC MLA Manirul Islam to the BJP had elicited similar reaction from party workers of Birbhum district late last month leaving the .
169 newly recruited IAS officers to work as assistant secretaries in central govt depts
A total of 169 newly recruited IAS officers were on Wednesday posted as assistant secretaries in different central government departments for three months, beginning July 1. The posting is part of a unique initiative started by the central government to groom bureaucrats at the Centre before they move out to their respective state cadres. All officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) are allotted cadres which could either be a state or group of states. The officers are supposed to start their career in their respective cadre states. As per rules, IAS officers are eligible to come on central deputation only after completing nine years of service at their respective cadres. A total of 169 IAS officers of 2017 batch will be on central deputation for 13 weeks from July 1, 2019 to September 27, 2019, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. These officers will be designated as assistant secretaries during the period and will be attached to departments allotted to them, it ...
Foundation for party offices to be laid on June 24: TRS
The ruling TRS in Telangana would lay the foundation stone for construction of its party offices in 32 districts in the State on June 24. The construction of party offices would be completed by Dasara during October and they are planned to be inaugurated on the day of the festival, TRS MLC Palla Rajeshwara Reddy told reporters. The TRS state committee, which met here Wednesday, allocated Rs 19.20 crore for construction of party offices in 32 district headquarters, he said. During the meeting, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said people had given a massive mandate for the TRS in the assembly and local body polls and the party should be further strengthened, TRS sources said The party's state committee, under the leadership of KCR, decided to construct the 32 district offices from its own funds which have been sanctioned, Reddy said. TRS leaders, workers and its public representatives would participate in the 'Bhumi Puja' to be ...
Punjab delegation meets Sikhs in Meghalaya, assures full support
A four-member delegation from Punjab met members of the Sikh community in Meghalaya after reports emerged that they have been told to leave the state by the authorities there. The delegation assured full support of the Punjab government to them. The delegation is scheduled to meet Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday, an official release stated here. The delegation, led by Punjab minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, included MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa and MLAs Kulbir Singh Zira and Kuldeep Singh Vaid. "The Punjab government will take all possible steps to bring the current dispute to an amicable settlement," said Randhawa, adding that the "infringement" of the civil rights of the Sikhs who lived in Shillong for over 200 years would not be allowed at any cost. An official release quoting Randhawa said that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was fully seized of the matter and was personally in touch with his counterpart in Meghalaya on this issue. Randhawa appreciated Sangma .
PM to set up panel to look into simultaneous polls, says Rajnath after all-party meet
A committee for giving "time-bound" suggestions on the issue of 'one nation, one election' will be set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced Wednesday after a meeting of chiefs of political parties. In a bid to build a consensus on holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, Modi convened the meeting of presidents of all political parties for which 40 were invited. 21 parties attended the meeting while three shared their views on the subject in writing. Addressing media persons after the meeting, Singh, who moderated the gathering, said most parties supported the 'one nation, one election' idea. However, Left parties such as the CPI and the CPI-M had "difference of opinion" on how the exercise of joint elections will be held and that they were "not opposed (to the idea)", he said. Among the notable absentees were Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, BSP supremo Mayawati,
Hear everyone out, Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urges LS Speaker
Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Wednesday urged newly elected House Speaker Om Birla to be impartial and give enough opportunities to the opposition to raise matters of public concerns. Chowdhury, who was appointed to the post on Tuesday, decried raising of religious slogans in the House during oath-taking of members on Tuesday, saying there was a need to strengthen the social fabric of the society. Reciting a stanza, Chowdhury said, "When a Muslim cleric will see Lord Ram in a mosque and when a Hindu priest will see Allah in a temple, then the world will change. (Jab Mullah ko Masjid main Ram Nazar aaye, Jab Pujari ko Mandir main Rahman Nazar aaye, Duniya ki surat badal jayegi, jab insan ko insan main insan nazar aaye)." "Intention of our party is very clear. We believe in debate, dissent and decisions. But we should get an opportunity. Your responsibility in Parliament is to protect this right," he said in his congratulatory remarks to ...
Cong out of power as Nehru, Indira's heirs did not honour yoga: Ramdev
Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi performed yoga in private and their heirs did not honour it which is why power has eluded them as those who do yoga are "directly blessed by god", Ramdev Wednesday said. He also expressed confidence that "big work" will be done on issues such as Article 370 and triple talaq under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ramdev, who will be attending an International Yoga Day event in Maharashtra's Nanded on June 21, which will be attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was talking to reporters. Modi is the first prime minister who performs yoga among people, he said, adding that all central ministers, chief ministers, MPs and MLAs of the BJP perform yoga. "This has given 'gaurav' (prestige) to it. Isse pehle luke chhupe yog karte the Indira Gandhi ji aur Nehru ji (earlier, prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Nehru performed yoga secretly)," Ramdev said. "But their (Nehru-Gandhi family's) subsequent generations perhaps did not honour yoga. .
Pilgrims travelling to Amarnath are safe, assures J-K Governor
Satyapal Malik, the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir stated that pilgrims going to the Amarnath yatra are safe despite the recent attacks, here on Wednesday."The pilgrims travelling the Amarnath yatra will be safe, even after the recent attacks that have conspired," said Malik."The current ground situation is good and has improved given where things were at," he added.The governor recalled a phone call by a Jammu and Kashmir tourist. Calling from the tourist destination in the state, Gulmarg, the tourist told the governor that "15 to 20,000 tourists have come to this spot and the police have had to stop the incoming tourists.""I completely believe that the perpetrators are under immense pressure by the power to do something to compensate for the disintegration of the ten-year-old establishment of terrorism. In this regard, they commit to one or two incidents. The initiative always lies in the hand of the one doing the deed not the one opposing it, but I guarantee you that we will stop ...
Govt proposes no registration charges for electric vehicles
The government Wednesday proposed to waive registration charges for electric vehicles to boost adoption of environment-friendly vehicles. The proposal comes at a time when the country plans high penetration of such vehicles by 2030. Issuing the draft notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, the road transport and highways ministry said battery-operated vehicles "shall be exempted from the payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of new registration mark". The exemption will apply to all category of vehicles, including two-wheelers. The ministry has issued the draft notification for amendments in CMVR where the amendments in Rule 81 are proposed for such waiver. The amendments will be done in exercise of the powers conferred on the central government under various sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Comments from stakeholders have been sought in a month. "The said draft rules shall be taken into ...
Reduce term of J&K assembly to five years, demands BJP
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP Wednesday demanded that the term of the state assembly should be reduced from six to five years, saying the state must have laws similar to those enacted by Parliament for the entire country. "Like other states, J&K is also an integral part of India. Hence, it should have laws similar to those enacted by the Parliament for the entire country," BJP spokesperson Balbir Ram Rattan said. Lashing out at the National Conference (NC), Rattan said people should understand the "dubious role" of the party on the issue. The BJP spokesperson said the NC should explain the advantages of keeping the six-year term. Rattan said the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution under which the term of Parliament and state assemblies was increased to six years by the then Indira Gandhi government at the Centre was immediately adopted by the then NC government led by Sheikh Abdullah in the state. The same Amendment, when reversed by the Morarji Desai government in 1977, ...
Goa set to import tar from West Asian countries
Union Road Transport ministry has approved the Goa government's plan to import tar from West Asian countries in the wake of its shortage in local markets, State PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar said here Wednesday. He said Goa annually requires 4.5 lakh tonnes of tar which is used to repair roads across the length and breadth of the coastal state. According to the minister, many internal roads could not be repaired last year due to scarcity of tar in the markets of Mumbai and Mangalore. "We told Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari that apart from the shortage, the quality of tar in the markets of Mumbai and Mangalore is found to be poor. Gadkari approved our demand to import tar from the Middle East countries," Pauskar said. He said tenders would be issued for the import. "The tar would be brought to the Mormugao Port Trust in Vasco and stored at a particular place for disbursal," he said.
Modi to constitute committee on 'One Nation, One Election' idea
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.Briefing the media after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Modi would constitute the committee after consultations."The Prime Minister told the meeting that it is not a government agenda, it is a national agenda. We want to move forward on the issue in consultations with political parties," Singh said.The Defence Minister conceded that there was a difference of opinion which the government would respect.He said the majority of the parties present at the meeting supported the proposal and the difference of opinion was expressed in the form of apprehension as to how the idea could be implemented.Asked about the absence
Cyclone effect: Guj govt not to hold school enrolment drive
The Gujarat government will not organise 'Shala Praveshotsav', an annual drive aimed at promoting enrolment in schools, this year, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said here Wednesday. In order to increase the enrolment in schools, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the drive in 2003 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. Since then, the drive is being conducted every year by the state government. Earlier this month, the state government had announced that the programme will be held on June 13 and 14 in rural areas and June 15 in urban areas across Gujarat. However, the drive was postponed for an indefinite period in view of cyclone Vayu's advancement towards Gujarat on June 13, Chudasama said. "As cyclone Vayu was advancing towards Gujarat, we had earlier postponed the Shala Praveshotsav. But now, we have decided not to organise it this year. The decision was taken in today's cabinet meeting," he told reporters. "It has been 17 days since the schools
AP starts handing over buildings in Hyderabad to Telangana
: The Andhra Pradesh government Wednesday started handing over buildings in the Secretariat here to the Telangana dispensation in line with a recent order by the governor of both the states. The Andhra Pradesh government was allotted the buildings in four blocks at the secretariat complex after bifurcation of the state in 2014, as Hyderabad was since made common capital for both the states for 10 years. Earlier this month, the Governor of both the states ESL Narasimhan issued an order re-allotting the buildings and bungalows under the Andhra Pradesh governments custody to Telangana. In pursuance of the orders, the possession of the 'K' block and North 'H' block of Andhra Pradesh secretariat at Hyderabad was handed over to administration department of the Telangana government, an official communique said. When contacted, a senior Telangana government official said the remaining buildings are expected to be handed over on June 20. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar ..