Page 1524 - Politics
Japan's Okinawa 'votes against' controversial US base move: exit polls
Voters on the Japanese island of Okinawa have rejected the relocation of a controversial US military base, according to exit polls from a non-binding referendum cited by local media Sunday. It was not immediately clear whether sufficient numbers of opponents had turned out to meet the threshold required for Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki to "respect" the result of the symbolic referendum. For this to happen, one quarter of the eligible electorate -- or around 290,000 people -- had to vote for one of the three options: for or against relocation or a third choice of "neither." In any case, the vote is non-binding on the central government and turnout appeared to be hovering around 50 per cent, raising questions about what effect the referendum will have. The central government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has vowed to press on with moving the base and the relocation is also backed by Washington. The ballot asked residents whether they supported a plan to reclaim land at a remote coastal
Kejriwal will discharge CM's duties from venue of hunger strike: Gopal Rai
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who will sit on an indefinite hunger strike from March 1 demanding full statehood for Delhi, will discharge his duties as chief minister from the venue of his fast, senior party leader Gopal Rai said Sunday. He said the party is evaluating three to four probable venues for the hunger strike and will announce the final pick in the next two days. According to party sources, the Ramlila ground, chief minister's residence and Jantar Mantar are being considered as the venues for the hunger strike. Delhi has been divided into 560 zones and three committees have been formed at central, Vidhan Sabha and zonal level. The venue of the chief minister's indefinite fast will be the control room from where instructions will be sent out, the Delhi minister said. "The hunger strike will start on March 1 at 10 am and the chief minister will be joined by all party Lok Sabha incharges, ministers, MLAs and councillors. "From March 1 to 9, as many as 560 'nyay ...
Jayalalithaa's role in Tamil Nadu's development indelible: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday paid tributes to former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on her 71st birth anniversary, recalling her contributions towards development of the state. "Tributes to Jayalalithaa Ji on her birth anniversary. Her contribution towards the development of Tamil Nadu will be remembered for generations," he tweeted. Describing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader as a "fine administrator and compassionate leader", Modi said her welfare measures had "benefitted countless poor people". On her demise in December, 2016, the union cabinet had passed a resolution hailing her as a people's leader. Such resolutions are passed on death of prominent leaders.
Pak general flattered Musharraf to get his support for Kargil war: Journalist
Some Pakistani generals who planned the 1999 Kargil war against India flattered the then army chief Pervez Musharraf that he was more daring than his predecessors to execute this venture, according to a Pakistani journalist. Nasim Zehra, the author of a book titled 'From Kargil to the Coup: Events that shook Pakistan', said this during a discussion on her book at the Lahore Literary Festival held here on Saturday. The discussed was moderated by British journalist Owen Bennet Jones. Narrating the conversations between General Musharraf and other three generals involved in the Kargil planning, Zehra said: "'If the Kargil operation was so simple why it was not carried out before,' asked Musharraf. One general replied 'no one was more daring than you and only you can execute it.' The three generals also said their neck were on the line in this operation." "Those who planned the Kargil operation committed a big blunder at the planning stage thinking that India would not respond. But that ..
Vadra talks of playing 'larger role' in serving people, BJP takes Cong's PM candidate dig
Robert Vadra on Sunday said he may play "a larger role in serving the people" after the ongoing cases against him are over, sparking speculation that he could join politics as the BJP threw "Congress's prime ministerial candidate" barb at him. The Congress played down the suggestion that Vadra, the brother-in-law of party president Rahul Gandhi, wanted to join politics, saying he has long been associated with NGOs and worked for the society, and that it is everyone's duty to use their qualities to serve the people. "Will he need Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) permission to do work related to people?" Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference when asked about Vadra's "hint" that he may join politics. Such hints are for the media to draw, Khera added. In a Facebook post, Vadra wrote about years and months he spent campaigning and working in different parts of the country, mainly in Uttar Pradesh, and claimed that it gave him a feeling to do more for the ...
Delhi govt to raise MSP for wheat, paddy crops
The Delhi government has finalised a mechanism to raise the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and paddy crops based on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee report, officials said on Sunday. Development Minister Gopal Rai has directed his department to prepare a cabinet note for the implementation of the scheme, under the 'Mukhyamantri Kisan Mitra Yojna', launched by the government for the welfare of the farmers of Delhi, they said. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has conceptualised the implementation the Swaminathan Committee report recommendations, which propose that MSP should be at least 50 per cent more than the weighted average cost of production for the benefit of the farmers, they said. Based on all relevant factors, the MSP for Delhi for wheat and paddy crops has been decided after considering the higher production cost in the national capital as compared to other states, they added. An Agriculture Conference was convened under the ...
Tampering Article 370, Article 35A will render Treaty of Accession null & void: Mehbooba
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said any tinkering with Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution, which provide special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will render null and void the state's Instrument of Accession with India. "Article 370 is the constitutional connection between J&K & Indian Union. Instrument of accession is contingent on Article 370 which is inextricably linked to Article 35A. Any tampering will render Treaty of Accession null & void," Mehbooba said in a series of tweets. She said Kashmir Valley is rife with speculation about the status of Article 35A. "Before taking a decision, GoI (Government of India) must consider that J&K was the only Muslim-majority state that chose a secular India over Pak during partition," she added. Mehbooba cautioned that Kashmiris should not be blamed for the developments if the special provision was scrapped. "Those frothing at the mouth & calling for its removal shouldn't blame Kashmiris for the developments .
Russia to deploy military police on Syria-Turkey' border
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday said that the government is considering deploying military police in the buffer zone that is currently being created on the border between Syria and Turkey.The demilitarised buffer zone was announced last year to separate government forces from rebel fighters in Syria's Idlib province."It envisages an agreement on cooperation in eradicating the terrorist threat on the common border, including an opportunity for the Turkish side to carry out operations in certain border areas on the Syrian territory," TASS quoted Lavrov as saying.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is trying to regain control over the last province in the rebel hands-Idlib province. Turkey has deployed military troops in the different location of Idlib.The buffer zone will provide a breathing space for Syria and Turkey."Right now, the final format of this buffer zone is undergoing adjustments with the participation of the military, and, naturally, with regard to the stance .
Full statehood not possible: Sheila Dikshit on Kejriwal's protest
Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit on Sunday said that full statehood for Delhi, a demand made by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, would not be possible to implement immediately as Parliament is currently not in session and statehood can only be created through an act of the Constitution.Dixit, a three-time chief minister of Delhi, also questioned the intention of Kejriwal behind his decision to hold indefinite fast for full statehood for the capital.Speaking to ANI, Dixit said, "I don't understand how is he planning to receive full statehood for Delhi. The full statehood is created by the act of Constitution and now there is no time to change the Constitution. You have chosen a time when Parliament is not in session. What are his intentions?"."It is not possible to achieve the full statehood at this point of time. Is he going to sit on fast forever," asked Dixit.On Saturday, Kejriwal had announced in the Delhi Assembly his intention to sit on an indefinite fast from March 1.The ...
Going on indefinite hunger strike as no option is left: Kejriwal on statehood issue
A day after announcing his decision to sit on an indefinite hunger strike from March 1 for full statehood to Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday said it was the last option before him. The BJP has termed Kejriwal's move a "drama before elections", and alleged that the ruling AAP has nothing to show to the people as its achievements to seek votes in the Lok Sabha polls. In a series of tweets, Kejriwal accused the BJP government at the Centre of "snatching" the AAP government's powers in the last four years. "In the last four years, the Modi government, through its orders, kept snatching the Delhi government's powers. It caused obstruction in every work of Delhiites. We tried everything - pleaded with them, staged dharna, went to court. With no option left, we are going on a hunger strike," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "Yes, Delhi is India's national capital, so let the Centre keep entire NDMC area under its complete control. How can rest of Delhi, in which Delhiites ...
Congress govt has "pushed" Puducherry backward: AIADMK
The Opposition AIADMK Sunday flayed the Narayanasamy led Congress government in Puducherry for "pushing the Union Territory backward" in developmental activities. Addressing the celebration of 71st birth anniversary of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa here, the AIADMK legislature wing leader A Anbalagan said, "the Congress has failed to deliver on promises it made to the people during the 2016 elections." "It is indeed mind boggling that the Chief Minister who could not put in efficient administration had resorted to dharna for six days from February 13 outside Raj Nivas," he said. Anbalagan alleged that the dharna was a "political drama" staged by the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues to cover up the failure of the government. Narayanasamy had staged a dharna outside Raj Nivas for six days against what he said was Bedi's reluctance to approve his welfare schemes and administrative orders. Taking strong exception to the delay in convening Puducherry
Modi launches PM-KISAN scheme, over 1 cr farmers get 1st instalment of Rs 2000
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme transferring the first instalment of Rs 2,000 each to over one crore farmers, as he slammed the opposition alleging they "remember farmers once in 10 years -- just before elections". Initiating the electronic transfer of Rs 2,000 each, he said the first instalment of money under the scheme has been deposited in accounts of 1.01 crore farmers and those who have been left out will get it soon. "The first instalment of money under the scheme has been deposited in the bank accounts of the farmers directly...those who have been left out will get it soon," Modi told the gathering at the Fertiliser Corporation of India ground here. The Prime Minister also interacted with a select group of farmers, representing different states, through video-conferencing and took a swipe at his political rivals. "They remember farmers once in 10 years -- just before elections. They get fever of loan
Bid by 'enemies' to sabotage missiles foiled: Iran Guards
The Revolutionary Guards on Sunday accused "enemies" of Iran of trying to sabotage the country's missiles so that they would "explode mid-air" but said the bid was foiled. "They tried as best as they could to sabotage a small part which we import so that our missiles would not reach their target and explode mid-air," Fars news agency reported, quoting the Guards' aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh. "But they couldn't do a damn thing because we had seen this coming from the start and had reinforced this sector," he added, accusing Iran's "enemies" of sabotage without naming any specific country. Iran reined in most of its nuclear programme under a landmark 2015 deal with major powers in return for sanctions relief, but has continued to develop its ballistic missile technology. Earlier this month the New York Times reported that the US administration of President Donald Trump was pushing a secret programme aimed at sabotaging Iranian rockets and missiles. It said Washington was ...
Maha govt shouldn't take populist decisions in session: Oppn
The opposition parties demanded Sunday that the BJP-led Maharashtra government should not announce "populist" or policy decisions in the interim budget session of the state legislature which starts from Monday. Speaking to reporters here, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil also said that opposition parties would be boycotting the customary tea party on the eve of the session. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde, his fellow NCP leader Jayant Patil and People's Republican Party leader Jogendra Kawade were also present at the press conference. Munde said it being an interim budget session before the Lok Sabha elections, he hoped the government will not make any "populist announcement" unlike those made in the Budget presented by Union finance minister Piyush Goyal, or take any policy decision. He alleged that at least 11 ministers in the state cabinet are facing corruption charges. "We have lost confidence in this ...
Maduro severs diplomatic ties with Columbia
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday (local time) severed diplomatic relations with Colombia in the wake of the violence along the two countries' border.He also pledged to stop the supplies from coming into the country and called it a coup attempt by the opposition with the help of the United States and Columbia. "My patience has run out. I can't continue to tolerate the aggressions against Venezuela that are being carried out by the Colombian government. We are severing diplomatic relations with Colombia," CNN quoted Maduro as saying. Maduro made these remark while addressing a rally in Caracas. Recently, violence broke out between locals and Venezuela's security forces along the Columbian borders, which is still backing Maduro. At least five people were killed in clashes with the security forces on Saturday. At least 285 people were hurt after the Venezuelan National Guard fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protestors, reported CNN.Various trucks carrying supplies were .
Yogi Adityanth hits out at Opposition parties in Gorakhpur, says they promoted terrorism
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday attacked the opposition saying that during their regime, 'the country's security was under stake'. "We all know that 55 months ago, India was ruled by a government which had no credibility and there was a lot of distrust in the milieu. All corrupt governments had also promoted terrorism and Naxalite movements. During their reign, the country's security was under stake," said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister here in Gorakhpur. Speaking at the launch of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also lauded the Prime Minister for winning the Seoul Peace Prize. "We would like to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi as after gaining the respect of the world as 'champion of the earth', he was honoured with Seoul peace prize last week," Yogi added."Today is the launch of the biggest farmer's scheme, which has come in after 70 years of India's independence. PM Modi has decided to pioneer the ...
Anyone politisicing PM-KISAN scheme will face farmers' wrath: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna and warned that anyone politicising the scheme will face the wrath of farmers."I warn those state governments who are looking to play politics with the scheme, if you indulge in this then curse of the farmers will destroy your politics. I appeal to farmers, don't be misled by anyone," he said addressing a rally here.The scheme, announced in the interim budget presented in Lok Sabha on February 1, will provide Rs 6,000 per year to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares. The amount will be given in three installments of Rs 2,000 each.Attacking the Mahagathbandhan being formed by Congress and other parties ahead of the general elections, the Prime Minister said, "'Mahamilavti' logon ke moonh utre huye the Parliament mein jab scheme batayi gyi."The amount will be transferred directly to the bank account of the beneficiaries through Direct ...
PM-KISAN scheme, an insult to farmers: Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati on Sunday mocked the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM-KISAN) saying that the 'scheme is an insult' to the farmers."Rs 500 a month to poor farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is an insult of farmers. Farmers believe in their labour and want the remunerative price of their produce but BJP mentality to give them little monetary help is atrocious and arrogant. BJP has failed to fulfil their promise," tweeted, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.This comes a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the scheme at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh by transferring the first instalment of the scheme to selected beneficiaries.PM-KISAN scheme, announced in the interim Budget, released earlier this month will provide Rs 6,000 per year to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares. The amount will be given in three installments of Rs 2,000 each.Calling this scheme a political stunt, ..
'Upset' over UP BJP Prez's behaviour, Apna Dal calls meeting of national and state leaders
Amidst tension in ties with the BJP, Apna Dal (S), has called a meeting of all its state and national leaders in Lucknow on February 28.Apna Dal (S) national president Ashish Kumar said, "We will decide our action plan for the upcoming general election of 2019 in the meeting." He complained that the behaviour of UP BJP president with allies is not appropriate."We placed a request in front of the national leaders of BJP for a change in his behaviour or changing dyanamics. We gave them time till February 20 to interfere in the matter and come up with a solution. Unfortunately, they failed to do so," he said.The party is keeping all the options open. He claimed that Apna Dal played a very important role in consolidating the Dalit section of the society in favour of the alliance.Ashish further alleged that their demands regarding the Dalit reservation in the government sector have not been addressed until now."There is a section of state BJP which doesn't want us to stay within the ...
J-K Governor reviews security situation in backdrop of Pulwama and upcoming LS polls
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik called an informal meeting of State Administrative Council to review the current situation in the state particularly in the backdrop of Pulwama terror attack and in the wake of upcoming Lok Sabha elections.In the informal meeting of the State Administrative Council, the Governor was apprised of the security scenario in Kashmir valley and Jammu and also briefed about the gradual induction of central forces for election purposes.About 100 companies of Central Forces are being inducted into the State at the moment, however, this is still less than the actual additional forces required and thus more forces would be inducted in the coming weeks.The Governor appealed to the people that the induction of forces should be seen only in the context of conducting elections and should not be attributed to any other cause.He appealed to the people not to believe in rumours of any extreme nature which are circulating widely in some quarters and to remain ...