Page 151 - Politics
PM Modi's 'One Nation, One Election' idea faces opposition
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with political parties on the 'One Nation, One Election' idea, the Congress-led UPA and the Trinamool Congress have opposed the concept.Newly appointed leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Ahir Ranjan Choudhary told reporters after a meeting of the UPA chaired by Sonia Gandhi that the parties were opposed to the idea in principle.Since some issues are to be sorted out, the UPA will meet again on Wednesday morning to discuss the issue further and take a common stand at the meeting called by Modi in the evening, said Chaudhary.DMK, the second largest party in the UPA, and other Congress allies like NCP, IUML attended the meeting.Prominent leaders who attended the meeting included UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, K Suresh, all from the Congress party, TR Baalu, Kanimozhi of DMK, Supriya Sule of NCP, Farooq Abdullah of NC, Thirumaavalan Thol (VCK), NK Premachandran ( RSP), PK Kunhalikutty (IUML), and ...
Om Birla all set to be chosen unanimously 17th LS Speaker
NDA candidate Om Birla is all set to be chosen unanimously as the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha with the Congress-led UPA also desiring to back his candidature at the election on Wednesday.With no opposition, the election of Birla, a two-time BJP member from Kota in Rajasthan, is expected to be a smooth affair but it will be a break with the past 10 years when women held the post from 2009. In 2009, Meira Kumar became the first woman to be elected to the post during the regime of UPA-2 while the NDA followed the suit by nominating Sumitra Mahajan in 2014.The BJP nominated 56-year-old Birla, who was also a Member of Assembly in Rajasthan for three terms and was a parliamentary secretary in the government of Vasundhara Raje between 2003-08 has the support of 10 parties including BJD and YSRCP which are not part of the NDA.The BJP on its own has 303 MPs and the NDA has 352. BJD has 12 while YSRCP has 22 members in Parliament. In all, the ruling combine has the support of 386 members in ..
BJP's surprise pick Om Birla all set to become LS Speaker
The BJP's surprise pick --Om Birla-- is all set to become next Lok Sabha Speaker after his candidature on Tuesday was backed by all NDA allies as also by the YSR Congress Party, the Biju Janata Dal and key opposition parties, including the Congress. A notice was given to the Lok Sabha Secretariat by the BJP, proposing the name of Birla, a two-time MP from Kota-Bundi seat in Rajasthan, for the Speaker's post and bringing a motion for his election, which will be held on Wednesday. As per sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed 57 year old Birla's name for the post. The Rajasthan leader is considered to be close to both Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Birla's surprise nomination is seen by many in the BJP as a message from the top leadership that the party will promote leaders who keep a low-profile and work at the ground-level. BJD, YSRCP, JDU, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, National People's Party, Mizo National Front, Lok Janshakti Party, AIADMK and Apna Dal have given the notice to ..
External Affairs Minister Jaishanker to get Manoj Sinha's Tughlak Road residence
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to be allotted former Union minister Manoj Sinha's Tughlak Road residence, sources said. Sinha, who was telecom minister in the previous Narendra Modi government, lost the Lok Sabha election from eastern Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur constituency. Sources also said that first-time minister Pratap Sarangi has been allotted the 10, Pandit Pant Marg bungalow, which was given to former BJP MP Hukamdev Narayan Yadav, near the Delhi BJP office. Sarangi, an MP from Odisha's Balasore, is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' may move to 27, Safdarjung Road bungalow, which was allotted to Congress leader Jyotirditya Scindia who lost the Lok Sabha election. "External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been allotted the 12, Tuglak Road residence in central Delhi, while the HRD minister has ...
Meghalaya to seek support of Finance Ministry for hosting
The Meghalaya government will soon seek the support of the Union Finance Ministry for hosting the National Games in the state in 2022. Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a function held here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that during his recent visit to New Delhi, he had a brief discussion with the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the matter. "She (Nirmala) had asked us to come and meet her with all the detail budgeting and costing which is ready and will be going very soon to meet the Finance minister and I hope we will be getting the support of the ministry also," he said. The chief minister said that the meeting held with the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju was very positive as he has assured to fully support the state government. "When I told him (Rijiju) about the National Games which he obviously knew about it, he told me one thing that this is not just your game this is my ...
LS day-2: Owaisi counter BJP MPs slogan-by-slogan
The second day of the 17th Lok Sabha was brought into sharp focus by slogans raised during the oath-taking ceremony of the new lawmakers.
'CM mourns death of HP rifleman in terror attack in J&K
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Tuesday expressed grief over the death of Army Rifleman Anil Kumar Jaswal. A resident of village Saroh under Bangana tehsil in Una district of Himachal Pradesh, Anil Kumar made the supreme sacrifice during a terror attack in Anantnag of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, said an official spokesperson. In his message to the bereaved family members, Thakur said he prayed to the Almighty for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members. Thakur said the state government would provide all possible help to the next of kin of the martyred soldier.
IMA ponzhi scheme fraud; SIT writes to CBI to seek Interpol
The Special Investigation Team probing the alleged IMA Jewels ponzi scheme fraud has asked CBI to seek Interpol's help to trace the owner Mohammed Mansoor Khan, who has reportedly fled to Dubai, leaving thousands of investors in the lurch. "Yes, we have asked for a red corner notice against Mansoor Khan," SIT chief and DIG Ravikanthe Gowda told PTI. The SIT also gave details of the findings from the raids at the office of IMA Jewels and his third divorced wife Tabassum Bano. It said in a press release that it found Rs 33 crore worth jewels, precious gems and documents. During the raid at IMA Jewels' showroom at Jayanagar here, SIT seized 43 kg gold worth Rs 13 crore, 5,864 carat of diamond worth Rs 17.6 crore, 520 kg of silver worth Rs 1.5 crore and precious gems worth Rs 1.5 crore, it said. The SIT found 1.5 kg of gold, 1.5 kg silver and Rs 2.69 lakh cash from Tabassum's house inShivajinagar, it said. The probe team said it has identified 26 immovable properties, ...
Govt assures IOA and IOC that eligible athletes will be allowed to participate in Intl events
In a major development, the government Tuesday gave a written guarantee to the IOA and IOC that all eligible athletes will be allowed to participate in events held in the country. The government's decision comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had decided to "suspend all discussions" with India regarding hosting of global sporting events after Pakistani shooters were not issued visas for the World Cup held here in February this year. The Olympic committee had also revoked the Olympic qualification status for two quota places in the 25m rapid fire event from the New Delhi World Cup due to denial of visas to the Pakistani shooters in the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The IOC had then said that it will not allow India to organise Olympic-related events in the future, unless written assurances are obtained from the government. In a written communication to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra, Union ...
India ready to host athletes from all countries: Government
After issues with hosting a few international sporting events in recent times, Union Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya has written to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief Narinder Batra, saying that they are looking forward to co-operating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on hosting future international sporting events. The letter was also marked to IOC chief Thomas Bach.
Better if CM's son and nephew remain "backstage" now: Datta
Amid reports that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son was likely to be made JD(S) youth wing chief, party's campaign committee President Y S V Datta Tuesday said it will be good if Nikhil Kumaraswamy andhis cousin Prajwal Revanna remain "backstage" for some days. "In my personal opinion, already Nikhil and Prajwal have shown their glow, it will be good if they remain backstage for same days," Datta told reporters in response to a question. The senior JD(S) leader's comment is being seen as an opposition to any move to bring members of party patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's family to prominent posts, at a time when the regional party was being targeted for indulging in "family politics", sources said. Nikhil and Prajwal are the third generation from the Gowdafamily to be into politics. Prajwal is the son of Gowda's elder son and PWD minister H D Revanna. While Nikhil and Deve Gowda had lost from Mandya and Tumkur seats during the recent Lok sabha ...
Nepal govt withdraws controversial Guthi Bill following intense protests
The Nepal government Tuesday withdrew a controversial bill that sought to nationalise private and public trusts meant for running the cultural activities and temple affairs following a week-long intense protests by the ethnic Newar community which feared that it could jeopardise Sanatan Hindu tradition. The K P Sharma Oli-led Communist Party government had tabled the Guthi Bill in Parliament last week to amend the Guthi Act and nationalise both public and private guthis or trusts and regulate all religious sites under a powerful commission. Speaking at a hurriedly called press conference on Tuesday, Minister for Land Management and Cooperatives Padma Kumari Aryal said the government has decided to withdraw the bill, which was registered in the upper house of Parliament last week. The ethnic Newar community members had called a massive protest rally in Kathmandu on Wednesday, demanding withdrawal of the bill, which they claimed had provisions in favour of land mafias and could ...
Electricity rates to increase by 25% in UP under BJP rule: Manish Sisodia
Taking a jibe at BJP, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that electricity rates are likely to increase by 25 per cent in Uttar Pradesh under BJP's rule.While quoting a news report at a press conference on Tuesday, Sisodia said that Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has recommended a hike in electricity in the state.Launching a scathing attack on the Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari who has been constantly accusing Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi Government of failing to address power outages and water crisis in Delhi, Sisodia said, "BJP's people who protest in Delhi against fixed charges and tariffs are themselves planning to increase electricity charges in the states where they are in power.""Stop troubling UP people and reduce electricity rates there also", he added.Comparing electricity rates in Delhi and UP, the AAP leader said, "Delhi Government charges 1 rupee per unit for up to 200 units of electricity, while in UP you are charged Rs 4.90 per unit for 150 ...
Iran says CIA spy network dismantled as regional tensions ratchet up
Iran said Tuesday it had dismantled a US spy network, after Washington announced it would deploy 1,000 more troops to the Middle East and as key powers expressed concerns about regional tensions. Tehran's announcement came a day after it said its uranium stockpile will on June 27 surpass a limit agreed in the 2015 nuclear deal, a multilateral agreement Washington unilaterally abandoned in May last year. Tensions between Tehran and the US have escalated ever since, with Washington bolstering its military presence in the region, reimposing sanctions and blacklisting Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. "Following clues in the American intelligence services, we recently found the new recruits Americans had hired and dismantled a new network," Iran's state news agency IRNA said, quoting an intelligence ministry official. It said some members of the alleged CIA network had been arrested and handed over to the judiciary, while others still required "additional ...
Xi's North Korea visit has nothing to do with US: China
China on Tuesday dismissed the view that President Xi Jinping's North Korea visit this week was a signal to the US that Beijing could use its sway over Pyongyang as "leverage" in dealing with the US amid their escalating trade war.
Sonia chairs meet of UPA leaders, allies on session strategy
United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday chaired a meeting of leaders of constituent parties and other allies to discuss their floor plan during the Budget Session.
No proposal so far from Delhi govt to construct houses under PMAY (U): Housing Ministry
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Tuesday alleged that the AAP government has not sent any proposal under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to construct houses in Delhi. Responding to the ministry's accusation, a Delhi government spokesperson said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation has its own housing scheme - Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana - and a survey for the same is currently underway. The development may become another flashpoint between the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation and the BJP-led central government. The ministry is mandated to implement PMAY (U), a flagship programme of the Modi government. The ministry provides financial assistance to those constructing houses under the Mission. "In Union Territory of Delhi, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has been given the responsibility to conduct a survey to assess the demand of houses in the city. "But, the Delhi government has so far not sent any proposal under PMAY (U) to the Union ...
No disgruntlement in Cong post cabinet expansion; KPCC chief
: Ruling out discontent in the Congress after the recent cabinet expansion, the party state unit chief Dinesh Gundu Rao Tuesday said loyalty would be the main criterion in the ministry reshuffle that is on the cards. Rao said no one had expressed disgruntlement after the cabinet was expanded last week with the induction of two Independent MLAs and added that the party would not accept 'blackmailing' by anyone to get a ministerial berth. He also said that he has already sought action from the high command against senior party legislator Roshan Baigfor his outburst against the state leadership. Baig's alleged links with IMA jewels, allegedly involved in a financial fraud, duping thousands of investors, would be brought to the notice of central leadership, Rao told reporters here. "Who has expressed disgruntlement? No one has done so. We have already said- we have done cabinet expansion, when the reshuffle happens,those who are loyal to the Congress will get an opportunity ..
Cong's Chavan says Maha budget one of 'deficit and leak'
Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan Tuesday labelled the state government's 2019-20 budget as one of "deficit and leak", claiming it gave no relief to farmers or deprived communities. Chavan, a former chief minister of the state, termed the budget announcements as "poll gimmicks". Assembly polls in the state are scheduled for September-October. Opposition parties, earlier in the day, alleged that budgetary provisions were "leaked" on Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar's official Twitter handle even before he read them out in the House. "The state's revenue deficit has gone up. Besides, the budget got leaked for the first time in the state's history. Therefore, this one is a budget of deficit and leak," Chavan said in a statement, adding it was the third year in a row that the government had presented a deficit budget. Chavan said revenue deficit was Rs 15,000 crore last year, which had jumped to Rs 20,292 crore now. "The budget highlights lack of planning on part of .
Mamata says 'No' to 'One Nation, One Election' meeting on June 19
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that she would not be able to attend the Centre's meeting called to discuss the issue of 'One Nation, One Election.'In her letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, she said: "Response on such a sensitive and serious subject like 'One Country and One Election' in such a short time would not do justice to the subject it deserves."She said that the matter required consultations with the Constitutional experts, election experts, and all the party members."Instead of doing the matter hurriedly, I would like to request you to kindly circulate a white paper on the subject to all political parties inviting their views by providing adequate time.""If you only do so, we will be able to give concrete suggestions on this important subject," the letter further read.Moreover, talking about the Aspirational Districts Programme, Banerjee said: "We have recently conveyed our views to NITI Aayog during its meeting, stating that we are not ..