Page 1569 - Politics
Nepal party demands reinstatement of Hindu state
A right-wing political party in Nepal has demanded the government reinstate the country as a Hindu state. Nepal was declared a secular state in 2008 after the success of the people's movement of 2006 that saw the abolition of monarchy. Rastriya Prajatantra Party, led by former deputy premier Kamal Thapa, in a memorandum handed to Prime Minister K P Oli demanded that Nepal should be declared a Hindu state with complete religious freedom by revoking the provision of secularism. The party sent the memorandum to the Prime Minister through Khotang District Administration Office on Tuesday. The party also demanded a referendum on whether to continue with federalism or not. Hinduism is the largest religion of Nepal.
Seat-sharing talks between Cong, NCP still on: Vikhe Patil
Seat-sharing talks between the Congress and the NCP are still on in Maharashtra, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said on Wednesday. Discussions were still continuing over five to six Lok Sabha seats, including Ahmednagar, the senior Congress leader told PTI. "There is a chance of change in the seat-sharing arrangement, including for Ahmednagar," Vikhe Patil said. Notably, his son Sujay Vikhe Patil had in December last year said he will contest the election from Ahmednagar even if the Congress does not nominate him from there. However, the senior Congress leader had downplayed the remarks, saying he was confident that his son will remain in the Congress and contest the Lok Sabha poll on party's ticket. Ahmednagar in central Maharashtra and six to seven other seats have been a bone of contention between the NCP and the Congress, which have decided to form an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The NCP has been contesting the ...
Democrats warn Trump may rush nuclear transfer to Saudis
US lawmakers said Tuesday they were probing whether President Donald Trump is rushing to sell sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia to please corporate supporters who stand to profit handsomely. The House of Representatives committee in charge of investigations, led by the rival Democratic Party since last month, said that "multiple whistleblowers" warned of conflicts of interest "that could implicate federal criminal statutes." Representative Elijah Cummings, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, asked the White House to turn over documents including those related to a meeting two months into Trump's tenure between his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Saudi Arabia's powerful Mohammed bin Salman, who shortly afterward became crown prince. An initial report by the committee said that "strong private commercial interests have been pressing aggressively" to transfer sensitive technology to Saudi Arabia. "These commercial entities stand to reap billions of dollars .
President Trump in "no rush" to denuclearise Korean peninsula
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said he is in "no rush" to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, irrespective of the fact that the agenda was always on top of the table for the US."I'd just like to see, ultimately, denuclearisation of North Korea," Trump said while addressing media at the White House, adding that he has "no pressing time schedule.""As long as there's not testing, I'm in no rush.""If there's testing, that's another deal. I hope that very positive things are going to happen," Yonhap News Agency quoted Trump, as saying.The US President's remarks come ahead of the second summit between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, slated to be held on February 27 and 28 in Vietnam.During the first Summit which was held at Singapore's Sentosa Island, Trump and Kim had agreed on a spectrum of issues, the most prominent being the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.However, the US and North Korea reached an impasse regarding sanctions ...
France envoy rejects corruption charges in Rafale deal, says aircraft will arrive in 6 months
Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler on Wednesday rejected charges of corruption in the multi-billion USD Rafale jet deal and said the "very good" aircraft is expected to join the Indian Air Force within six months.Speaking to ANI in Bengaluru, he said, "I do not see any scandal. What I see is a very good aircraft which has been purchased by Government of India. The aircraft will probably come here (Bengaluru) first and will join the Indian Air Force within six months."The Narendra Modi government had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in 2016 for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets.The fighter jet is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, which security analysts believe can be a 'game-changer' for India's defence system.Attacking the Modi government, the Congress and other opposition parties have alleged that there was corruption in the high-profile deal and Reliance Defence, owned by industrial Anil Ambani, had been signed as the offset ...
Saudi Crown Prince hails ties with India
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed-bin Salman on Wednesday hailed ties with India and affirmed that India and Saudi Arabia together will create good things for the betterment of the two nations."Today we want to be sure that this relationship is maintained and improved for the sake of both countries. And with the leadership of the President and the Prime Minister, I am sure we can create good things for Saudi Arabia and India," the Saudi Crown Prince said."The relationship between India and Saudi Arabia goes more than 2000 years of history. We know Indian people as friends," he added.The remarks by the Saudi Crown Prince came after he was given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.The Saudi Crown Prince arrived in India late on Tuesday evening, where he was warmly received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport.The Prime Minister and MBS, as the Saudi Crown Prince is also known, will hold bilateral talks tomorrow, during which terrorism is ...
Renowned Hindi writer Namwar Singh mourned
Leaders from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday condoled the demise of renowned Hindi author and critic Namwar Singh.
Trump nominates successor to one-time head of Russia probe
The Trump administration announced Tuesday it was nominating a successor to deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, a move that confirms the departure of the Justice Department official who until recently oversaw the Russia probe. Rosenstein will be replaced by Jeffrey Rosen, the current deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation, President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. The decision is subject to confirmation in the Senate. US media had previously reported Rosenstein planned to resign mid-March. His departure was widely expected following the confirmation of new Attorney General Bill Barr last week. Rosenstein was responsible for the May 2017 naming of Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate allegations that Russia interfered in the last presidential election and that the Trump campaign colluded in that effort. Mueller was appointed after Trump abruptly fired FBI director James Comey that same month. Rosenstein's then boss, Jeff Sessions, who was ...
Kejriwal asks PM Modi to grant full statehood to Delhi
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant full statehood status to Delhi, an issue that the ruling AAP is expected to raise in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in an emphatic manner. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Tuesday said it will hold a door-to-door campaign to tell people how the BJP had done them "injustice" on the issue. Reacting to the PM's greetings to the people of Arunachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day on Twitter, Kejriwal tweeted, Sir. Delhi is also waiting for its statehood day. U had promised to the people of Delhi that you wud grant full statehood to Delhi. Kindly do it sir. People of Delhi have faced injustice for 70 years now. According to its strategy for the general election, the AAP will distribute the BJP's manifestoes for previous elections, including that of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, in which, it said, the saffron party had supported the demand for full statehood to Delhi. The BJP's Delhi unit, however, said the ...
Ex-sarpanch held for objectionable remarks on Pulwama attack
A former village head in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra has been arrested for allegedly making objectionable comments over the Pulwama terror attack, police said on Wednesday. A candle march was taken out on Monday evening in Vispur village, located around 30 km from here, to protest against perpetrators of the attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed in Pulwana district of Jammu and Kashmir last week, Belwadi police station's inspector Rajendra Padwal said. During the march, Vispur's former sarpanch Sayyad Jabbar Amir allegedly made some statements against the Indian government, the official said. The other participants immediately criticised his remarks following which Amir ran away from there, he said. Later, some locals filed a police complaint based on which Amir was arrested on Tuesday night and booked under Indian Penal Code Section 153-B (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration), Padwal said. A probe was underway in the case, he ...
Saudi Crown Prince receives ceremonial welcome
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is on his first state visit to India, on Wednesday received a ceremonial welcome by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here.
Rahul, Priyanka no match to Modi's leadership: Sena
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's "development book" has improved much since 2014 and he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's support, but they cannot be compared with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the Shiv Sena said on Wednesday. The remarks by the Uddhav Thackeray-led party came two days after it sealed a pre-poll alliance with the BJP after years of bickering and criticism of its policies and leaders. Responding to opposition criticism of the seat-sharing pact, the Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', said questions on tie-up are less in the minds of people but much more among political opponents as these "insects" will be crushed due to the alliance. Referring to Modi's stewardship, it said, "Rahul Gandhi's book of development has improved much since 2014 and he has Priyanka's help. However, they can't be compared with Modi's leadership." Asserting that the party is not helpless for power, the editorial said there are several questions - like why did it .
Trying to put JeM chief Masood Azhar on UN sanctions list: France envoy to India
Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler on Wednesday said that his country is "pushing" to put Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar on the UN sanctions list.This will be the second time that France will put forth its proposal at the United Nations.In 2017, France, supported by the United States and the United Kingdom, had moved a proposal at the UN Sanctions Committee 1267 to get Azhar declared as a "global terrorist", but it was blocked by China."We are very much pushing in that direction. It has been two years that we are trying to put him on the UN sanctions list," Ziegler told ANI at the five-day Aero India 2019 show which began here today.India's attempts to list Azhar at the UN Security Council have been repeatedly blocked by China at the behest of Pakistan.JeM had claimed responsibility for the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.
'To earn a livelihood with respect', thousands of Kashmiri youth apply to join Army
A week after Pulwama terror attack, thousands of Kashmiri youth swarmed the army recruitment rally in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir to apply for the 111 post.At least 2,500 young men in the state on Tuesday took part in Army recruitment rally held in Gantamulla area the district.Tariq Aziz, an army aspirant told ANI that Kashmiri youth will chose the Army to earn a livelihood of respect and serve the nation."We are happy and thankful to Army that they are providing us an opportunity to serve our country. Due to financial issues, we cannot go out of Kashmir for work, hence, they (Army) is giving us an opportunity to work. The Army behaves very well with people of Kashmir. It is very sad that some youth are distracted and are choosing the wrong path. I would like to appeal youth of Kashmir to shun violence and chose the right path. The Kashmiri youth who understand things will chose the Army, to serve the nation," Aziz said.Another aspirant thanked the Indian Army for giving .
Guterres calls for calming tension; Islamabad envoy meets UN leaders
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for de-escalating the tense situation in the subcontinent following the terrorist attack in Pulwama that killed 40 Indian security personnel.
UN human rights chief wants Pulwama attackers brought to justice
UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michele Bachelet has called for bringing those responsible for the Pulwama terrorist attack that killed 40 CRPF troopers, to justice.
UN asks for escorts for military observers in Kashmir after Pakistan flag incident
The UN has asked the Indian government for additional escorts for its military observers in Kashmir after one of its vehicles was stopped by a group of protesters in Jammu, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
U.S. wants pledge for stable Chinese yuan as talks resume - report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is seeking to secure a pledge from China it will not devalue its yuan as part of an agreement intended to end the countries' trade war, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Britain to strip IS teen of citizenship: lawyer
Britain will strip citizenship from a UK teenager who joined the Islamic State group in Syria but now wants to return home with her newborn baby, a lawyer for her family said Tuesday. Shamima Begum's fate has stirred controversy since she and two friends fled London to join the terror network four years ago when she was aged just 15. The case points to a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to allow jihadists and IS sympathisers home to face prosecution or barring them over security concerns as the so-called "caliphate" crumbles. A lawyer for her family, Tasnime Akunjee, said on Twitter that they were "very disappointed with the Home Office's intention to have an order made depriving Shamima of her citizenship," and that they were considering "all legal avenues". ITV News reported that the Home Office has sent a letter to Begum's mother, received Tuesday, notifying the family of the decision which it said the teen had the right to appeal. Britain's Home Office .
Trump describes Pulwama attack as 'horrible', State Dept asks Pak to punish those responsible
US President Donald Trump has described as "horrible" the deadly terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pulwama, as his administration offered full support to India to combat terrorism and asked Islamabad to punish anyone responsible for the "heinous act". The suicide attack on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir has left 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel dead and led to escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. Trump told reporters at the Oval Office of White House that it would be "wonderful" if the two South Asia neighbours get along. "I have watched. I have got a lot of reports on it. We will have comment (on it) at an appropriate time. It would be wonderful if they (India and Pakistan) get along," Trump said in response to a question. "That (the terrorist attack) was a horrible situation. We are getting reports. We will have a statement to put out," Trump said. At a separate news conference, the State Department said the US has been in close ...