Page 1515 - Politics
Congress-run WhatsApp group has 'Pakis': Lekhi
A WhatsApp political group formed and administered by the Congress has five 'Pakis' as members who also deride Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday.
Dialogue only way to resolve Indo-Pak tensions: Farooq
Dialogue is the only way to resolve tensions between India and Pakistan, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said Monday, asserting that Islamabad should make strong efforts to end militancy on its soil. "There are attempts to create war hysteria. You should pray to God to save us from war. There have been four wars, but nothing was achieved except loss of lives," Abdullah said while addressing party functionaries, workers and delegates at the NC headquarters here. "The only way out is through dialogue and Pakistan should try to end the militancy and it should do so strongly," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said. "If it does not do so, then that country will be labelled as a terror state which will bring miseries to its people." The Srinagar parliamentarian expressed happiness over Pakistan MP Rajesh Kumar Vankwani meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "I am happy that (Pakistan Prime Minister) Imran Khan had sent his .
Kerala CM, cabinet colleagues call on SNDP strongman Natesan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday made a surprise visit to the residence of Vellapally Natesan, General Secretary of the powerful Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, the socio-cultural body of the Hindu Ezhava community.
Facebook senior officials to appear before parliamentary panel on March 6
Senior officials of Facebook will appear on March 6 before a parliamentary panel to outline the specific measures undertaken to ensure safety of users on its platform after being summoned by the committee, sources said. The development assumes significance amid concerns being raised over any possible misuse of social media tools to interfere in the upcoming elections. Sources told PTI that Joel Kaplan (Vice President - Global Public Policy) will represent Facebook as well as its group companies - WhatsApp and Instagram. Facebook India VP and Managing Director Ajit Mohan and Ankhi Das (Director Public, Policy and Programs India) will represent Facebook India, they said. Facebook, however, did not comment on who would attend the meeting but said it is "deeply committed to India and to safeguarding our users and their rights on our family of apps". "We deeply appreciate the opportunity to answer questions from the honourable parliamentary committee and to outline the specific steps we ...
HC pulls up Delhi govt for delay in appointment of notaries
The Delhi High Court pulled up the AAP government on Monday for delaying the appointment of notaries, saying the people were suffering as a result as they were not able to avail of facilities for which notarised affidavits were required. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao directed the Delhi government to notify the notaries who have been approved for appointment within 10 days, failing which coercive action would be taken by the court against the officials concerned. "Appointment of notaries being delayed, due to which the public is suffering as they are unable to avail of the facilities available to them and are being adversely affected. "It is directed that within 10 days, the approved appointments be notified, else coercive action will be taken by this court," the bench said and listed the matter for further hearing on March 14. The court direction came on a plea claiming that after the expiry of the tenure of the notaries in December 2016, no steps were ...
J-K GUV attends wreath-laying ceremony of DSP killed in gunfight with terrorists
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and Union minister Jitendra Singh Monday attended the wreath-laying ceremony held here to pay homage to DSP Aman Kumar Thakur, who lost his life in a gunfight with terrorists in Kulgam district. Senior politicians from different parties and civil society members also turned up for the ceremony and paid floral tributes to the officer whose body was flown from Srinagar to Jammu for last rites. The DSP and a soldier were killed in an encounter with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists during a search and cordon operation at Turigam village in Kulgam district of south Kashmir Sunday. Three terrorists were also killed in the gunfight. The governor laid a wreath on the officer's body which was later taken to his home on the outskirts of Jammu for last rites. Union minister Jitendra Singh and Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Nirmal Singh also paid tributes to the officer. Several Army, CRPF and other senior police officers paid ...
Pleas challenging constitutional validity of Article 35A listed in SC from Feb 26-28, hearing unlikely
A bunch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A relating to the special rights and privileges enjoyed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, is listed in the Supreme Court's Weekly cause list for hearing between February 26 and February 28. The state, however, had sought postponement of the case citing the absence of elected government there.The Weekly cause list on apex court website shows the matters are listed from February 26-28, but the chances of the hearing are less as Jammu and Kashmir had already moved a letter before the court for an adjournment of the case.The matters are in the Weekly cause list for the last two weeks but have not come up for hearing.Article 35A disallows people from residing in Jammu and Kashmir, buying or owning immovable property in the state, settle permanently, or get state government jobs.In August 2018, the top court deferred the hearing of the petitions till January.The Jammu and Kashmir's standing counsel Shoeb Alam had ...
Common Minimum Programme: Left parties to skip Opposition's Feb 27 meet
The crucial meeting of opposition parties over the Common Minimum Programme - a collective strategy to fight the BJP across the country in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, will not see participation from the left parties.The meeting will be organised in Parliament House Annexe Extension building.On February 13, leaders of six major opposition parties including the Congress held a meeting after which it was announced that there will be a pre-poll alliance and a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for the upcoming general elections.The meet was attended by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party Chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, NCP president Sharad Pawar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and others.
Defence Minister, three services chiefs meet defence attaches
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three services chiefs on Monday met the country's defence attaches deployed across the globe.The two-day meeting is taking place at a time when India is trying to diplomatically isolate Pakistan over its direct support to terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed for carrying out attacks against India."The two-day conclave started today where the Defence Minister and the three services chiefs addressed the defence attaches today," Defence sources said.In the talks given by the Defence Minister and the services chiefs, officers were asked to further the brand India and Make in India.India has 44 defence attaches of the rank of Colonels and Brigadier-rank officer's from the three services who look after defence ties in their respective country of posting.The first day of the conclave also saw the officers posted abroad ask questions from the Defence Minister and other senior dignitaries on diplomacy.
Rijiju calls for talks with all stakeholders for peace in Arunachal
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to immediately initiate dialogue process with all stakeholders to restore peace in the northeastern state which has witnessed sustained violence over the move to grant permanent resident certificates to six communities living in the state.
Fiddling with J&K's special status will have serious consequences: Omar Abdullah
Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Article 35A, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday said any fiddling with Jammu and Kashmir's special status would have serious and far-reaching consequences in the state. Addressing party functionaries, workers and delegates at the NC headquarters here, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister warned that the situation in the state would become much worse than the one in Arunachal Pradesh if the rights under Article 35A and Article 370 of the Constitution were fiddled with. "They threaten us every day with (Article) 35A. I want to tell the Centre that see the situation in Arunachal Pradesh, where there is no militancy, no stone-pelting. A peaceful state like Arunachal Pradesh is also up in flames. The people there have hit the roads in order to save their permanent resident status. "That I believe should act as an eye-opener for those who are inimical to Article 370, Article 35A. Any misadventure in fiddling with the .
Russia: US asks for advice on North Korea talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the United States has asked Moscow's advice in dealing with North Korea before a summit between President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader. Trump and Kim Jong Un are expected to meet on Wednesday and Thursday in Vietnam's capital. Their first meeting last summer ended without substantive agreements on North Korea's nuclear disarmament. Lavrov, who is also visiting Vietnam this week, said in comments carried by Russian news agencies on Monday that Russia believes that the US ought to offer Pyongyang "security guarantees" for the disarmament deal to succeed. He also mentioned that "the U.S. is even asking our advice, our views on this or that scenario of" how the summit in Hanoi could pan out.
EU, Germany ask Pakistan, India to 'sort out difference'
The European Union and Germany on Monday called on Pakistan and India "to sort out differences" through dialogues.Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi talked over the phone with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, reports Radio Pakistan."The European Union's policy has always been to promote a dialogue between Pakistan and India to sort out differences," said Mogherini who is also a European Union Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy.Indicating that action against Pakistan-sponsored terror organisations should be taken, Mogherini said: "There is a need for continue addressing terrorism including clear and sustained actions targeting not only all United Nations-listed transnational terrorist groups but also individuals claiming responsibility for such attacks."India and Pakistan relations in the past few weeks have reached new low after the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed after a Pakistan-sponsored JeM terrorist rammed IED-laden
Denied CM post thrice because I am a Dalit: Karnataka Dy CM
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said he was denied the chief minister's post thrice as he belonged to the Dalit community."PK Basavalingappa and KH Ranganath missed the chief ministerial post. Mallikarjun Kharge also couldn't become the CM. I missed it thrice. Somehow, I was made the deputy CM," Parameshwara said at an event in Davangere on Sunday," he said."Dalits are being discriminated at the government level too. Even though the reservation is facilitated, there has been injustice in promotions," he added.Parameshwara's statement comes at a time the coalition government in Karnataka is facing trouble over dissatisfaction from the Congress, over conceding the CM's post to JD(S) leader and chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Vadra joker of Rahul-Priyanka led circus: Naqvi
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday called businessman Robert Vadra a "Joker".Mocking the possibility of Vardra joining active politics, Naqvi told ANI, " In this circus-led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, entry of a joker was obvious. Now the Joker is about to make an entry."Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has hinted at joining politics, a month after his wife Priyanka Gandhi made her debut into active politics and was appointed a general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East in the party.Following the reports of Vadra joining politics, posters welcoming him to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls appeared in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad city."Robert Vadra Ji, you are welcome to contest the election from the Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency," the posters read. The 49-year-old businessman is currently under the Enforcement Directorate's scanner for his alleged involvement in various land scams and money laundering cases.
Assure people that government will never take up PRC matter: Pema Khandu
In the backdrop of violence over the permanent resident certificate (PRC) issue, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the government will never take up the matter of PRC even in the future.He said that he has clarified the same through the social media and media platforms on the night of February 22."I want to assure the people of Arunachal Pradesh that government will never take up the PRC matter even in future also," said Khandu."PRC matter has ended now and I request people to not to protest and sit on 'dharna'," he added."Order of the government by its Chief Secretary clearly states that we will not take up PRC matter," Khandu stated.On incidents of violence in the state over PRC, the Chief Minister said: "We feel that there is somebody's hands behind these incidents. Arunachal Pradesh is otherwise a peaceful state.""I've given directives that a detailed investigation is essential. Government stand over PRC is clear, in spite of that there were incidents of ...
Oppn targets Maha govt for Brahma Kumari talk in Vidhan Bhavan
Describing the Vidhan Bhavan as a 'temple of democracy', opposition legislators Monday opposed the BJP-led government's plan to hold a talk by a member of Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual organisation predominantly led and managed by women, in the legislature building. Brahma Kumari Shivani, member of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, is scheduled to deliver a 'motivational speech' at the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan here on Tuesday, a senior minister said. Senior state BJP leader and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said it is a "motivational speech" and should be seen in a positive manner. NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal sought to know what was the purpose of such a speech. "If it is a religious function, then you will have to allow other religions to hold similar functions as well," he said. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Imtiaz Jaleel said Vidhan Bhavan is a "temple of democracy" and should not be used for ..
BSP to contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar
In what may be seen as a blow to the disjointed anti-NDA front in Bihar, the Bahujan Samaj Party has decided to contest all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, a senior party functionary said on Monday. According to BSP state in-charge Lalji Medhkar, party supremo Mayawati has convened a meeting of all potential candidates and other office-bearers in the national capital later this week. Behenji has instructed us to start preparations for all the Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Detailed instructions are expected at the meeting in New Delhi on February 28, Medhkar told PTI. The development comes at a time when the Mahagathbandhan, comprising RJD, Congress and an assortment of smaller parties is yet to finalize a seat-sharing formula more than two months after NDA did the same. Although Medhkar did not elaborate much on the instructions received from Mayawati and any reasoning offered for the same, her decision could be seen as a snub to the Congress which she has been cross .
AAP writes to Delhi Congress, BJP over statehood
The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday wrote to Delhi Congress President Sheila Dikshit and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari asking for their stand on full statehood to Delhi, the party said.
More parties may join AIADMK alliance
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said here on Monday many political parties are likely to be part of electoral alliance with the AIADMK.