Page 1529 - Politics
Army conducts flag marches in violence-hit Itanagar
On request from the Arunachal Pradesh government, the Army moved swiftly to the areas of Itanagar, affected by violence over the permanent resident certificate (PRC) issue since Friday.
Cong indulging in cheap poll gimmicks on Ram temple: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday accused the Congress of indulging in cheap election gimmicks by raising Ram temple issue and asked its party president Rahul Gandhi to clear his stand on the matter.
Parrikar admitted to hospital: CMO
Amid reports of his health condition worsening, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been admitted to the top government hospital for a gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement, here on Saturday.
Number of fighter jets needed by Air Force changes from time to time: Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Saturday the number of fighter jets required by the Air Force changes from time to time, and the situation was different in 2001 when India decided to purchase 126 aircraft. One of the questions raised by the Congress about the Rafale deal is why the Narendra Modi government decided to buy only 36 aircraft instead of 126 as planned originally. Sitharaman was answering queries after delivering a lecture on 'India's National Security and Importance of Rafale Deal' here. Asked about the number of fighter jets required by the Air Force, she said, "When the decision of procurement of 126 fighter jets was arrived at in 2001, the requirement of the Air Force was higher. Now after 20 years the situation has changed." "Now you have UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles or drones), so in a situation of war are we required to send a trained pilot in a fighter plane inside the enemy borders? So requirements change from time to time. "In the UPA deal, they were ...
J-K admin orders rationing of fuel, cites shortage of stocks due to persistent closure of highway
As panic-gripped people queued outside petrol pumps across Kashmir, the administration on Saturday ordered rationing of fuel, citing low stocks due to persistent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway. "The divisional administration in Kashmir has stated that rationing of fuel in the division has been ordered because of shortage of stocks having resulted from persistent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway," an official spokesperson said. The statement came after long queues were seen at petrol pumps across the Kashmir Valley as panic-gripped people started filling their vehicles with fuel and also stocking up essentials. The administration said the efforts were underway to replenish the stocks at the earliest and the rationing order would be withdrawn as soon as the stocks are received. The divisional administration asked the general public not to heed the rumours suggesting other motives and sought their cooperation, the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Department of Food, Civil ...
Sudan's Bashir names new PM as protest leaders dismiss emergency
President Omar al-Bashir named a new prime minister Saturday as he pressed on with a shake-up at the top, even as protest leaders dismissed his move to impose a state of emergency across Sudan to quell nationwide demonstrations. Bashir's three-decade rule has been rocked by two months of protests that a deadly crackdown has failed to suppress. On Friday, he imposed a nationwide state of emergency and dissolved the federal and provincial governments. In a televised speech to the nation, the veteran leader pledged to form a government of technocrats to address Sudan's chronic economic woes, which have been the driving force behind the protests. On Saturday, Bashir sacked his vice president and long-time ally Bakri Hassan Saleh, replacing him with Defence Minister General Awad Ibnouf. In a separate decree, he appointed Mohamed Tahir Ela, former governor of the agricultural state of Jazeera, as prime minister. But protest organisers and their supporters in the political opposition ...
Modi govt succeeds in isolating Pak post Pulwama terror attack: Shahnawaz
BJP national spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain on Saturday asserted that India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, has succeeded in isolating Pakistan globally in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack. Addressing a press conference here, Hussain also sought to dismiss allegations of the Congress that Modi continued shooting for a film till even three hours after news of the Pulwama terror strike came in. "Videos of Rahul Gandhi taking to the dance floor at a function in Gujarat after the Pulwama terror attack have also gone viral. People are watching everything. Those casting aspersions on the prime minister will have to pay the price in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls," Hussain said. The former Union minister claimed, "Under Modi's leadership, India has succeeded in getting Pakistan isolated globally for abetting terror. Soon, it will experience total financial blockade". It is unfortunate that even in such a scenario, the Congress is playing politics with baseless ...
Nigeria: 16 killed in election violence
Sixteen people were killed on Saturday in electoral violence across Nigeria during presidential and parliamentary elections, a network of civil society organisations said. The Situation Room umbrella group of pro-democracy groups, which is monitoring the vote, said on Twitter that "16 deaths have been recorded across 8 states". Violence recorded included "disruption of voting, ballot boxes and papers set ablaze by political thugs in Lagos", it added, without giving further details. Electoral violence has marred previous votes in Africa's most populous country and is relatively low compared to other years. Most voting took place without incident. Analysts SBM Intelligence said 233 people were killed in 67 incidents of election-related violence from last October to Friday -- an average of two people per day. In the southern state of Rivers, unknown gunmen shot dead a former local government leader and his brother in the Andoni area, police said. Both were members of President Muhammadu .
Rahul promises martyr status for paramilitary personnel
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said here on Saturday paramilitary personnel killed in the line of duty will be granted the "martyrs" status if the Congress comes to power.
People in Kashmir Valley on panic buying spree amid rumours over Article 35A
People in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley went in for panic buying of fuel and food items on Saturday as rumours of the Centre being likely to favour abrogation of the Constitution's Article 35A, giving special rights on the state's people, spread through the day.
Curfew in Itanagar, 1 killed in violence over PRC row, 50 IIFF delegates evacuated
Curfew was imposed here on Saturday as mobs protesting against the government move to grant permanent residency certificates (PRCs) to non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe communities of Namsai and Changlang districts went on a rampage, indulging in arson and stone pelting.
If PM sends out clear message, 'environment of hatred' will subside: Rahul Gandhi
If Prime Minister Narendra Modi sends out a "clear message" that India and its people are one, the "environment of hatred" in the country will automatically subside, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said. Gandhi said this during an event here in response to a question from a PhD scholar, who alleged that there was an "environment of hatred" in the country and asked Gandhi how his the Congress government would tackle the situation, if it comes to power. "A message is given by a prime minister. What the PM says, feels is transmitted to the system. So, this environment of hatred that is there, if a prime minister sends a clear message that 'India is one' and its 'people are one', then that situation will subside on its own," Gandhi said. He emphasised that India a "country of love and amity". "It is naturally so. It is not a country of hatred. So, If the leadership sends direction, it (anger and hatred) will automatically dissolve," Gandhi said. He also asked the students ...
Shetti calls party meeting to decide on alliance with oppn
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) leader Raju Shetti has called a meeting of the party's executive committee on February 28 to take a final call on alliance with opposition parties for the coming polls. SSS leaders including Shetti, the MP from Hatkanangale, and Ravikant Tupkar held a five-hour-long meeting in Kolhapur Saturday. Sources said they also discussed if the party should contest the elections without any alliance, as the Congress, NCP and other opposition parties have not given any proposal to the SSS yet. "We have called a state executive meeting on February 28 in Pune. In the meeting it will be decided whether to go with the opposition alliance or to go solo," Shetti told reporters. According to the sources, the SSS is firm on fielding candidates from Hatkanagale, Buldhana and Wardha. While Shetti will contest from Hatkanangle, the party is planning to field Tupkar and former Union minister Subodh Mohite from Buldhana and Wardha, respectively. Before the ..
Modi warns against harassment of Kashmiris, says every citizen's duty to protect them
Sending a strong message against the harassment of Kashmiris after the Pulwama terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is the duty of every Indian to protect people from the Valley. India's fight is against terrorists and not against the Kashmiris, he said here at a rally where he vowed again to settle the score with Pakistan. Have faith in the army and the Modi government, he said. Modi accused Imran Khan of not living up to the assertion he made after becoming Pakistan's prime minister, and also indirectly charged the Congress-led government in 2008 of not acting against that country after the Mumbai terror attack. It is the job of every Indian in every corner of the country to ensure the safety of people from my Kashmir, he said, in an apparent reference to reports of harassment and in some cases physical assault of Kashmiris living outside their state. The prime minister referred to the mood of veer ras (bravery and heroism) in the country after the Pulwama attack, .
Hold no animosity towards PM Modi, so had hugged him: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday said he held "no animosity" towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the hug he gave him in Parliament last July. Gandhi said he hugged the prime minister, despite Modi criticising his family in the House. The Congress chief referred to the incident, which had created a flutter last year, in response to a question during an interaction with university students here. "You (Modi) may have anger and hatred toward me, but it is not in my heart. I have love," Gandhi said. "In reality, I hold no animosity towards him," the Congress chief said. He also took a veiled dig at the prime minister, claiming that after the hug, "Modi felt how someone showed love to me (Modi)?" Gandhi went on to extol the virtues of hugs, and urged the youth to try it with those classmates who harbour any grudge or feeling of animosity towards them. "Try it, it is magic," he said. He also recalled an incident after his grandmother Indira Gandhi's death to emphasise the ...
TS Singh Deo appointed temporary incharge of Odisha Cong
Congress president Rahul Gandhi appointed TS Singh Deo as the temporary incharge of Odisha, a statement said Saturday. However, Union minister Jitendra Singh will continue as the incharge of the state, which is going to the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls simultaneously, it said. Deo, considered the main architect of the Congress' victory in Chattisgarh, is also the health minister in the Bhupesh Baghel Cabinet in the state.
T'gana govt to provide Rs 10,000 financial aid to farmers on
The Telangana government would provide Rs 10,000 as financial assistance to farmers on its own and the Centre's Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme would be an additional benefit to them, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said Saturday. "Hundred per cent it (Kisan Samman Nidhi) is additional. It is not concerned with the money we give. It comes to them (farmers) additionally. We don't want to use it (Kisan Samman Nidhi). Responding to a query by Congress member Sabita Indra Reddy, Rao said the money that was coming under the Central scheme was limited and very low and was an additional amount to farmers. "We will definite give our Rs 10,000," he said during his reply to the debate on the state budget. In the budget presented on Friday, the state government proposed to increase the investment support to farmers under its "Rythu Bandhu" scheme from Rs 4,000 per acre per crop season to Rs 5,000 per acre per crop. The total support in a year will be Rs 10,000 per acre. On farm loan .
Naga students demand political solution, hold rally
Scores of students belonging to the Naga Students Union Delhi (NSUD) held a protest rally here on Saturday demanding "immediate" political solution to the two-decade-old Naga peace talks. They demanded a logical conclusion, which was "honourable" and "acceptable" to the Naga people.
In a first, India to attend OIC meeting
In a significant development, India has been invited to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the first time, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj scheduled to address its council of ministers meet in UAE next month as the "guest of honour".
Rajnath urges peace in Arunachal Pradesh in PRC row
In the wake of the ongoing protests in some parts of Arunachal Pradesh against the proposal to grant permanent resident certificates (PRC) to six tribal communities, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday appealed the people to remain calm and maintain peace.