Page 1446 - Politics
SC to hear petitions seeking review of Rafale judgement on Mar 6
The Supreme Court will on March 6 hear review petitions over its earlier verdict on the Rafale deal. The court, in its verdict, had refused to order a probe into the deal on the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph will hear the review petitions.On February 26, in an unusual course of action, the apex court decided to hear the review pleas in open court. According to the normal course of the court, the review petitions are usually heard in chambers.In its December 14 order, the Supreme Court had dismissed petitions seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Rafale deal signed two years back, alleging irregularities and corruption in the pact.The court had said that it does not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favouritism to any party by the Government of India. The deal was announced .
Intermediaries not needed in resolving 'conflict' with Pak: Indian Ambassador to Russia
Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Varma stated that no intermediaries were needed in resolving the "conflict" between India and Pakistan, adding that New Delhi is "always" ready for dialogue with Islamabad in an atmosphere free of terrorism."I want to emphasize that we did not receive a formal offer of mediation. And even if we do, we will not accept it. So far, no country has offered to mediate in resolving the conflict. And it is not a question of mediation, but whether Pakistan takes action that will create an atmosphere for the continuation of the dialogue. First of all, it must be actions against terrorist groups that are based on their territory," Varma told Russian state media, RIA Novosti.The Indian Envoy refuted the notion that Pakistan's withdrawal of support to terrorism is a precondition for the start of negotiations between New Delhi and Islamabad."No, it is not a precondition. This creates a necessary atmosphere so that we can negotiate with Pakistan. India's ...
Suspicious movement detected in Shopian
Sentry at Dachoo camp of 44 Rashtriya Rifles noticed suspicious movement and fired shots in the air on Saturday.This comes as tensions between India and Pakistan have heightened following the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama, and cross-border firing that ensued subsequently on various posts along the Line of Control (LoC).A search operation is underway in the area.Earlier this week, two terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), including one from Pakistan, were killed in an encounter that took place between terrorists and security forces.The encounter had come a day after India carried out air strikes at a JeM camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Elections not for bringing 'princes' to power, but to uplift poor: Amit Shah
BJP President Amit Shah, in an indirect but stinging attack on the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi, said elections were not conducted to place "any family's prince on a throne" but for benefit of the country's 50 crore poor families.
Shinawatra parties rally across Thailand as crucial court ruling looms
Parties aligned with Thailand's powerful Shinawatra clan staged major rallies Saturday ahead of a court ruling that could deal a gut punch to their prospects in national elections later this month. Public gatherings were taking place across the country -- including in the Chiang Mai hometown of divisive billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Shinawatra-linked Pheu Thai party members addressed throngs of supporters in a stadium in Chiang Mai as the sun went down, promising development and incentives for entrepreneurs in the northern city. Thaksin, who lives in self-exile to avoid jail in Thailand, is adored by rice farmers and large sections of urban working-class voters for his pro-poor policies and steering of the economy. But he is despised by the royalist elite, whose allies have failed to beat him at the polls since 2001 and instead have relied on coups and court rulings to topple Shinawatra-backed governments. Thousands of people also massed in Bangkok's historic centre late .
DR Congo president pledges amnesty for political prisoners
Recently elected DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi pledged Saturday to pardon political prisoners and said he would work for the return of those who had fled abroad for political reasons. "To consolidate democratic progress in our country, I have decided to make the easing of tensions a major goal during the first 100 days" of his mandate, Tshisekedi told Congolese officials during a ceremony. "Within 10 days I am going to grant a presidential pardon in favour of political prisoners who have been convicted by a final court judgement," he said. The president added that he would have the justice minister order the conditional release of those held for expressing their rights, especially during political rallies held ahead of elections on December 30. "Along the same lines, I am going to work hard to create the conditions for a rapid return of compatriots who are now abroad for political reasons, so they may exercise their activities within the rule of law and republican institutions,"
Strengthening country & its borders should be priority: Owaisi
Slamming the BJP over its 'mera booth sabse mazbooth' programme, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Saturday said strengthening the country and its borders should be the priority. "BJP says 'mera booth-sabse mazboot' (my polling booth the strongest), but I say 'meri sarhad mazboot tho mera desh mazboot' (My country is strong if my borders are strong)," he said, addressing a gathering at AIMIM headquarters here on his party's 61st anniversary. Under the BJP's 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had interacted with about a crore BJP workers, volunteers and others through the "world's largest video conference" on Thursday. Pointing out that the polling booths would exist and the country would remain strong only if the borders were secure, he said, "This (BJP's campaign) is opposite.. How can this go on?..." Hailing the safe return of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman who was captured by Pakistan following an aerial duel between the ...
PM owes answer on action taken for intelligence failure: Owaisi
MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell the country as to what action he took over the intelligence failure which led to the February 14 terror attack at Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF troopers.
Ready to support Pak to fight terrorism on its soil: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Saturday said the country was ready to extend support to Pakistan to deal with the menace of terrorism on the neighbour's soil. "Not only India, many other countries are hit by terrorism today but I want to tell you...have confidence...this will not go on forever...the prime minister has taken a decision that a decisive battle should be launched for its (terrorism) end and it has already begun," he said. Singh was on a visit here to lay the foundation stone of the Group Centre of CRPF in Chakia Tehsil to be built at the cost of Rs 850 crore. The facility will have residential houses, schools, hospitals, recruitment and training centres. "If Pakistan thinks it does not have the strength to deal with terrorism, it can seek the help of its neighbouring country India. "Pakistan will either have to wipe out terrorism from its soil on its own or else such a situation will be created that terror bases will be wiped out from Pakistan and no power will be ..
CPI not to accept anything less than 3-4 LS seats in grand
The Bihar unit of CPI on Saturday told Mahagathbandhan leaders that it will not accept anything less than three-four Lok Sabha seats under the seat-sharing formula for the upcoming general elections in the state. It also stressed that the seat distribution process should be worked out within a week. CPIs Bihar unit secretary, Satya Narain Singh said categorically that the party will fight Begusarai seat, irrespective of whether or not it forms part of the mahagathbandhan comprising RJD, Congress, RLSP, HAM(S), Mukesh Sahni Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP). Bihar has a total 40 Lok Sabha seats. Singh said that the party has already taken a decision to field Kanhaiya Kumar,the former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president, from the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat. We are of the view that there should be alliance among left democratic secular forces in order to defeat the BJP which is trying its level best to harp on the peoples sentiments in the aftermath of Pulwama ...
There could be strategic reasons behind AAP declaring candidates on 6 LS seats in Delhi: Cong
There could be "strategic reasons" behind the Aam Aadmi Party announcing its candidates on six Lok Sabha seats in Delhi even though it spoke about an alliance to defeat the BJP, the Congress said Saturday. It was the AAP's theory that an alliance with the Congress will help in defeating the BJP in the general elections, but now they have declared candidates on six seats in Delhi, Congress general secretary and the party's in-charge for Delhi PC Chacko said. "If that theory has vanished now. There could be strategic reasons to announce candidates in Delhi while talking about the need for an alliance with the Congress to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls," he told PTI. The AAP's city convener Gopal Rai declared names of six candidates from Delhi having seven Lok Sabha seats. The candidate on West Delhi seat will be announced soon, he said. Rai claimed that the AAP took the decision to declare its candidates after it was communicated, first by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and ...
Not in race for PM, but want to make one: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that he was not in the race to become prime minister but wanted to make one. Uttar Pradesh has always given the country a prime minister and anybody wishing to be so has to come to the state,like Narendra Modi did, he said. Speaking at the India Today Conclave here, the former chief minister also played down the remarks of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav wishing Modi in Lok Sabha that he comes back as the prime minister again. "I do not wish to become the prime minister, I am not in the race, but I want to make one...We know how to make a PM," he said. "We will be glad if someone from Uttar Pradesh becomes the prime minister," he said when asked if he wanted BSP supremo Mayawati to become PM. Akhilesh claimed that the Congress was part of the 'mahagathbandhan (grand alliance)' in Uttar Pradesh, but could not give an answer on how the SP and the Congress were contesting the Lok Sabha polls alone and against each. It is not the ...
Goa carnival festivities begin
The carnival festivities kicked off in Goa with a colourfully-decorated float parade passing through the state capital on Saturday evening.
Modi to launch Kalashnikov unit in Amethi on Sunday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will unveil an Indo-Russian ordnance factory that will produce the iconic Kalashnikov rifles, it was announced on Saturday.
NDAs Sankalp rally for taking resolve to make new India:
The Sunday NDA rally which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aimed at taking a resolve to make a new and secure India under the leadership of Modi, BJP General Secretary Bhupendra Yadsv said Saturday. The ruling coalition's Sankalp rally at Gandhi Maidan will be also addressed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ramvilas Paswan. The three tall leaders of the NDA would blow the bugle for the upcoming LoK Sabha polls in the politically important Bihar having a total of 40 Parliamentary seats. Yadav, who is BJP's Bihar in-charge, claimed that Saturdays public meeting would be the biggest so far at the huge Gandhi Maidan in terms of presence of people. Tomorrows NDAs Sankalp rally is being organized to take a resolve to make a new, strong, prosperous, safe and secured India We are proud of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan who returned to India yesterday (from Pakistan). We thank government and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ...
US accused of firing white phosphorus munitions in Syria
Syria on Saturday accused the US-led coalition of firing white phosphorus munitions on an Islamic State (IS) held area in the country, the media reported.
People of J&K united in favour of Article 35A: Azad
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday voiced support for Article 35A that gives special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. "The people of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir are united in favour of continuation of the constitutional provision.... Don't make it an issue of one region or Hindu versus Muslims. All the three regions are united," Azad told reporters here. The people are aware that given the situation in Kashmir, nobody from outside is going to settle in the Valley, the former chief minister said, when asked about the voices of concern over attempts to abrogate Article 35A. The provision, which was incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear soon a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the article. "The abrogation of the article will bring more harm to Jammu and Ladakh as people are ready to buy .
Govt 'obilged' to answer charge of intelligence failure in Pulwama attack: Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said the government is obliged to answer charges made in a media report that there was intelligence failure in the Pulwama terror attack as the incident and subsequent events are too serious to be ignored or forgotten. He quoted a report in 'The Week' and asked what happened to the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) that was to be set up in Delhi and in the state capitals. "The WEEK magazine, in the issue dated March 3 has, after accessing intelligence reports, stated that 'the Pulwama attack was an intelligence failure'. "What happened to the MAC set up in Delhi and in State capitals? "Government is obliged to answer the charge by the WEEK and to explain the role of MAC. Pulwama and the subsequent events are too serious to be ignored or forgotten after a few days," Chidambaram said on Twitter.
Assets of Sonia, Rahul, Maneka and Mulayam grew manifold in 10 years: Report
Assets of most politicians, representing various Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha constituencies, have grown manifold between 2004 and 2019, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.
IAF defends the country, but Modi stole its money to give it to Anil Ambani: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying while the Indian Air Force (IAF) was defending the country, Modi stole Rs 30,000 crore from the force and put it in businessman Anil Ambani's pocket. He asked chowkidars (watchemen) not to get worried over the slogan "chowkidar chor hain" as the country knows that "it is meant for Prime Minister Narendra Modi". Speaking at the party's Parivartan Ulgulan Maha Rally at the Morahbadi Ground here with leaders of the Mahagathbandhan, Gandhi reiterated that Rs 30,000 crore was "wrongfully" given to Anil Ambani in the purchase of Rafale fighter planes. Ulgulan is the term used for the movement of justice and independence launched by legendary tribal fighter Birsa Munda against the British in the 19th century. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and state's former deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi and Rashtriya ...