Page 1526 - Politics
NC president speaks to Rajnath Singh about tense situation in Kashmir Valley
Amid reports of panic stocking of essentials by Kashmir Valley residents, NC president Farooq Abdullah spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and asked him to take steps to reassure the people. He informed Singh about the tense situation in the Valley which has been further fuelled by speculations about possible developments, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said. "The president of @JKNC_ has spoken to Union Home Minister @rajnathsingh Sb to brief him about the sense of panic that is prevailing in the valley at the moment. He has requested the union government to step in with a statement & steps that reassure people," Omar Abdullah tweeted on Saturday night. "Dr Farooq Abdullah briefed @rajnathsingh Sb about the panic buying in the markets & the way petrol pumps have run dry and how speculation about possible developments has worsened an already tense situation," he tweeted. Residents of Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley went on a panic buying ...
Rohit Kansal new J&K government spokesman
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday designated Rohit Kansal as its official spokesman.
Brijbhushan elected as WFI president for third time
Brijbhushan Sharan Singh was on Sunday elected unopposed as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for a third time. Brijbhushan and all other office bearers were elected unopposed and will serve WFI for a three-year term, a statement from the national federation said. The elections were conducted by Returning Officer, Justice R B Misra, a retired judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. I D Nanavati has been elected as the senior vice president while V N Prasood will continue to be the secretary general and Satyapal Singh Deshwal the treasurer. Elected office bearers of WFI: President: Brijbhushan Sharan Singh Senior Vice President: I D Nanavati Secretary General: V N Prasood Treasurer: Satyapal Singh Deshwal, Vice President: Asit Kumar Saha, Hamza Bin Omer, N Phoni, N Khalo, R K Hooda, Bhola Nath Singh, Karan Bhushan Singh, B S Langde.
Modi launches PM-KISAN scheme, slams opposition
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday rolled out the ambitious PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi), a cash-transfer scheme, here in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and used the event to accuse the opposition of shedding crocodile tears for farmers.
PM launches Kisan scheme, over 1 crore farmers get 1st instalment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme transferring the first instalment of Rs 2,000 each to over one crore farmers. Launching the scheme from Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur, the prime minister said the first instalment of money under the scheme has been deposited in accounts of 1.01 crore farmers and those who didn't get it on Sunday will get it in due course. "This is your money and no one will be able to take it from you," he told the farmers. The prime minister said the scheme has been made foolproof so that no one can take away the right of the farmers. There is no role of middleman in this scheme, he said. In the interim Budget 2019-20, the central government had announced the PM-KISAN scheme under which Rs 6,000 per year will be given in three instalments to 12 crore small and marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to two hectares.
Pak's ex-diplomats urge govt to be prepared to deter any 'aggressive action'
Amidst heightened Indo-Pak tensions, Pakistan's three former foreign secretaries have urged their government to be prepared to deter any "aggressive action" by India after the deadly Pulwama terror attack while engaging in "robust diplomacy" to end the crisis peacefully. Days after the attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group that killed 40 CRPF soldiers on February 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said security forces have been given free hand to avenge the dastardly act. In a joint article published in Dawn newspaper on Sunday, former foreign secretaries Riaz Hussain Khokhar, Riaz Mohammad Khan and Inamul Haq urged the media, political leadership, intelligentsia and public opinion makers in the two countries to show "responsibility to exercise restraint and take measures to bring some equanimity to the troubled environment". Titled 'A time for restraint', the article started with asserting that "Tension between Pakistan and India is dangerously high" as Prime Minister .
Lok Sabha 2019: EC team to visit Jammu and Kashmir in March to assess ground situation
A team of the Election Commission of India (ECI) will tour the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the first week of March to assess the ground situation for holding the Lok Sabha in the state.The officials who will be in the state for two days (March 4 to March 5) are scheduled to meet seven national parties and three state parties at a hotel in Jammu. They will also hold a meeting with nodal officers, CS and DGP.The EC team includes Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena, DG (Expenditure) Dilip Sharma, ADG (SPS) Sheyphali B Sharan, Director Nikhil Kumar and Principal Secretary Standhope Yuhlung.
US will take action against Maduro's thugs: Pompeo
United States Secretary of the state Mike Pompeo on Saturday (local time) said that "will take action" against Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's "thugs" who are opposing the peaceful restoration of democracy in Venezuela.He also alleged Cuban agents of "directing attacks on the people of Venezuela on behalf of Maduro"."The U.S. will take action against those who oppose the peaceful restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Now is the time to act in support of the needs of the desperate Venezuelan people. We stand in solidarity with those continuing their struggle for freedom," tweeted Pompeo. 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.Condemning the attacks on locals, Pompeo further ...
Brij Bhushan Sharan elected as WFI President for third time
Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been elected third time unopposed as the President of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).Election of the Office Bearers and Executive Committee Members of WFI for the next years term (2019-2023) were held here at the Constitution Club of India on Sunday.Along with Brij Bhushan, I.D. Nanavati has been elected as the Senior Vice President, V.N. Prasood as the Secretary General and Satyapal Singh Deshwal as the Treasurer.For the post of Vice President, Asit Kumar Saha, Hamza Bin Omer, N. Phoni, N. Khalo, R.K. Hooda, Bhola Nath Singh, Karan Bhushan Singh and B.S. Landge has been elected.The elections were conducted by Returning Officer, Justice R.B. Misra, Retd. of Himachal Pradesh High Court.All Office Bearers and Members of the Executive Committee were elected unopposed.
No nuclear attack from Pakistan on India: Musharraf
Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has rejected the prospects of any nuclear attack from Pakistan on India even after the relations between the two nuclear countries have reached "dangerous level".He also said that if Pakistan will attack India with one atomic bomb then the neighbouring country could "finish us by attacking with 20 bombs", reported DawnAddressing the press conference in UAE on Friday, Musharraf said: "Indian and Pakistan relations have again reached a dangerous level. They will be no nuclear attack. If we would attack India with one atomic bomb, then the neighbouring country could finish us by attacking with 20 bombs. Then the only solution is that we should first attack them with 50 atom bombs so that they cannot hit us with 20 bombs. Are you ready to first launch an attack with 50 bombs."The former president's comment comes on the heels of Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama after a Pakistan-sponsored ...
Arvind Kejriwal targets Centre over issue of full statehood
BJP's opposition for statehood to Delhi is its confession that Modi Ji lied to the nation, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday while batting for a full statehood for the national capital.In a series of tweets, the Delhi Chief Minister said: "BJP's opposition to statehood for Delhi is its confession that Modi ji lied to the people of Delhi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. People of Delhi will respond to lies and decades of deceit appropriately now."The tweet comes a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief announced an indefinite fast which would commence from March 1."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 elect their own govt, be kept subservient to the Centre? No more injustice to be tolerated," Kejriwal tweeted further.Attacking the leaders of the ruling party who had pressed for similar demands, Kejriwal said: "Advani ji, as Home Minister, in August 2003 ...
PM Modi says his Sunday's "Mann-Ki_baat" is last episode before LS polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his monthly "Mann Ki Baat" radio broadcast on Sunday is the last episode before the general elections and expressed confidence that he will return to power to address it again in May."Elections are the biggest celebration of democracy. In the next two months, we will be busy in the hurly-burly of the general elections. I myself will also be a candidate during this election. In maintaining respect for healthy democratic traditions, the next episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' will be broadcast on the last Sunday of the month of May," he said."This means I shall take up our thoughts and ideas accumulated over the three months of March, April and entire May after the elections, with confidence anew," he said in the 53rd episode of the programme.The Prime Minister said, "With the power of your blessings, once again I shall begin this series of conversations through 'Mann Ki Baat' and shall keep doing 'Mann Ki Baat' with you for years. Once again, I thank all ..
India today stands vindicated globally because of contributions of PM Modi: MoS Jitendra Singh
One of the greatest contributions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that India today stands vindicated internationally so far as Pakistan and terrorism are concerned, said Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh here on Saturday.Responding to US President Donald Trump's recent statement over escalating tension between Indian and Pakistan due to ghastly Pulwama terror attack, Singh said: "I would not like to respond directly what has been said because that is for the Ministry of External Affairs and concerned agencies. However, one of the greatest contributions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that India today stands vindicated on the international arena.""In general I think what all of us must realize and appreciate is that ever since the Modi government came to power, even those countries of the world which were earlier totally not convinced or not amenable to India's point of view as far as Pakistan and fight against terrorism is concerned, are now ...
Pak parliamentarian meets PM Modi, EAM Sushma Swaraj
Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a Hindu parliamentarian from Pakistan, on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of an event here.Vankwani, a member of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was part of a foreign delegation which was invited to attend the Kumbh Mela by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).He also met Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh on the fringes of the event.Talking to ANI, Vankwani said, "I thank the Indian government for the warm welcome accorded to me. I met PM Modi, V K Singh and held discussions with Sushma ji. I assured that there is no Pakistani involvement in the Pulwama attack. We should move in a positive direction, we want peace.""Whether (Pakistan-based) JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammad) has claimed the responsibility for the attack for taking credit or is actually involved, is a matter of investigation. I can assure you that these days there is no such ...
Timing of launching welfare schemes should not be questioned: BJP
The BJP Sunday said the timing of government launching any welfare scheme should not be questioned as no time frame can be attached in advance to such measures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. BJP Kisan Morcha president and Bhadohi MP Virendra Singh Mast said, "It is wrong to say that the government is reminded of farmers during the election season only. There is no time frame decided in advance for taking any welfare step. The opposition parties have nothing to say." In an interview, Mast told PTI that a number of farmers welfare schemes were launched by the government in the past nearly five years. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh had termed the scheme, announced in the interim budget, as a mere "eyewash" and said it would not reach the genuine beneficiaries. President of Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit had also questioned the intention and the reach of ..
Modi confident of winning LS elections
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed confidence of winning the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and retaining power -- to continue his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme.
Army has resolved to wipe out terrorists: Modi
The Army has resolved to wipe out terrorists and their harbourers following the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday, asserting that the martyrdom of 40 CRPF soldiers will keep "inspiring us relentlessly to uproot the very base of terrorism". In his 53rd and last 'Mann ki Baat' broadcast before the Lok Sabha elections, Modi asked people to rally together to take on the challenge of terrorism facing the country by forgetting barriers of casteism, communalism, regionalism and other differences so that the steps against terror are firmer and more decisive. In an apparent reference to the killing of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, who the Army said were masterminds of the Pulwama attack, in an encounter, he said "retributive action was accomplished" within 100 hours of the incident. He also mentioned responses of families of deceased CRPF men and said that the story of every family of martyrs is full of inspiration. Paying tributes to security forces, Modi said he will ...
Modi praises Morarji for restoring SC's powers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised former Prime Minister Morarji Desai for helping to restore the powers of the Supreme Court.
Iran launches cruise missile from submarine during drill
Iran says it has launched a cruise missile from a submarine for the first time during an ongoing annual military drill in the Strait of Hormuz. The semi-official Fars news agency reported the launch on Sunday and released an image showing a green submarine on the surface of the water launching an orange missile. It says other submarines have the same capability. Iran frequently touts its military arsenal, much of which is manufactured locally because of international sanctions. The Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is a crucial bottleneck for global energy supplies, with about a third of all oil traded by sea passing through it. Tensions have risen since the US withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers and restored wide-ranging sanctions.
Regional parties to play greater role, BJP won't come back to power: TRS MP K Kavitha
TRS MP K Kavitha has said regional parties would play a greater role in the general elections and it was time for a federal front to come to power, as the BJP and the Congress "got ample opportunities but did not fulfil their promises". Interacting Saturday with the media at a programme -- 'meet the press' -- organised by the Press Club of Thiruvananthapuram, she said her party has had discussions with several regional parties and the BJP and the Congress need to be rooted out. "The two parties got ample opportunities and they have not fulfilled their promises. How can they ask for votes?" said Kavitha, daughter of TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minster K Chandrasekhar Rao. She said the fundamental agenda of the alliance of regional parties would be not to tie up either with the BJP or the Congress. "Regional parties will play a greater role in this election. While playing that role, we want to make sure that the BJP and the Congress are kept away from power. It's high time as we ...