Page 1575 - Politics
Piyush Goyal visits ailing DMDK chief amid speculations of pre-poll alliance
Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal met Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) chief 'Captain' Vijayakanth on Tuesday amid reports of a possible pre-poll alliance.Goyal, however, told media that his visit to Vijayakanth's residence had nothing to do with alliance but a "personal human relationship"."Everything in life is not about alliance and politics, there are some personal human relationships also. I was very keen to meet Captain, who is an old friend," he said.Goyal added, "Prime Minister Modi and my party president Amit Shah ji wanted me to convey best wishes for good health and long life on behalf of the party. We pray for his long life and good health for serving the people of Tamil Nadu," Goyal said."Today's visit is for wishing him good health and long life," he added.Vijayakanth was undergoing treatment in the United States for over three months on account of illness and recently returned to Chennai.Ever since his return, there have been speculations of a possible pre-poll
US: Bernie Sanders announces to run for 2020 Presidential race
Bernie Sanders, Vermont Senator, on Tuesday announced that he entering the 2020 presidential race.It will be his second consecutive bid for the Democratic nomination after losing to Hillary Clinton in 2016, reported CNN.The Vermont Senator made the announcement during an interview with Vermont Public Radio.The latest entrant into the 2020 race, Bernie Sanders was born three months before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Sanders would be 79 making him the oldest person by far, to ever win a first term as president if he wins the elections.Incumbent President Donald Trump was 70, former president Ronald Reagan was 69 and former president William Henry Harrison Sr was 68.According to CNN, Sanders is among the most popular politicians among Democratic voters and his policy agenda comprises of multiple progressive proposals including expansion of health care, broadening of the social safety net and making higher education free.
Pulwama attack: Deceased CRPF personnel's wife given job, aid by Kerala govt
The Kerala government on Tuesday decided to give a permanent job to the wife of CRPF personnel V V Vasantha Kumar who lost his life in the Pulwama terror attack. The late personnel's wife is currently working as an assistant at the Government Veterinary University Pookode, Wayanad.The government further extended support to Kumar's family by giving Rs 25 lakh aid - out of which Rs 15 lakh will be given to the wife, while a sum of Rs 10 lakh will be given to the late personnel's mother.Adding to this, the government will also bear the cost of educating the deceased personnel's children, along with building a new house for the family.The late 35-year-old was one among the 40 CRPF personnel who lost their lives after a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative attacked their convoy in Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, on February 14.There have been wide condemnations of the ghastly attack, with the world community showing its support to India in its fight against terrorism.
US Senator Sanders launches second presidential bid
US Senator Bernie Sanders announced on Tuesday he is again running for President in 2020 and vowed to finish what he started in his last race for the White House.
New CBDT Chairman P C Mody to retain charge as Member (Investigation)
New Delhi [India], Feb 19 (ANI): Pramod Chandra Mody, who took over as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on February 15, will keep the crucial charge of Member (Investigation), according to an official order issued on Tuesday.His predecessor Sushil Chandra had also retained the same position.Meanwhile, Neena Kumar has been given additional charge of Member (Administration). She is currently Member (Revenue).Aditya Vikram, the seniormost Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer in CBDT Board, is serving as Member (Income Tax and Computerisation).Two other members - Akhilesh Ranjan and P K Das - are Member (Legislation) and Member (Audit and Judicial), respectively. Currently, the CBDT board has four members. There are two vacancies and more than a dozen senior officers have applied.However, their appointments are likely to be done after the formation of a new government after general elections.
Digvijaya Singh stopped me from forming govt in Goa: Faleiro
Former Goa Chief Minister and Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro on Tuesday alleged that he was not allowed by senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh to form the government after the 2017 state Assembly elections."After the last assembly elections, Digvijaya Singh didn't allow me to hand over the letter to the Governor for the formation of the government. As a protest, I resigned from Pradesh Congress Committee and have refused to take the position of the Leader of the Opposition," Faleiro said.The Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the last Goa election with 17 seats. However, the BJP staked claim to form the government.
Japan extends support to Juan Guaido
Japan has joined a growing list of countries who have extended support to Venezuela's National Assembly President Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself to be the President of the Latin American nation in January.Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono made the announcement on Tuesday and said that the decision was made after many in the international community raised concerns about the legitimacy of Venezuela's Presidential election last year.Tokyo had repeatedly asked the Venezuelan government, headed by embattled President Nicolas Maduro, to carry out elections but to no avail, reports NHK World.The United States was first to extend support to Guaido and later also called on the international community to side with Guaido against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. Moreover, Washington has also sent humanitarian aid to Venezuela, which is currently being blocked by the Maduro-led government.European countries like Spain, UK, the Netherlands had earlier issued an ultimatum to Maduro to ...
Manohar Parrikar to continue as CM till he is alive: Michael Lobo
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar health condition keeps fluctuating due to pancreatic cancer but he will continue in office as long as he is alive, Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly and ruling BJP MLA Michael Lobo said on Tuesday."Manohar Parrikar will continue in office as long as he is alive, however, his health condition keeps fluctuating due to pancreatic cancer," Lobo told ANI.Lobo, who participated in an event organised to spread awareness about the prevention of child abuse and rape, Lobo said: "As long as Parrikar is running the state, even in his ill-health, the current BJP-led alliance government will continue to exist.""He (Parrikar) will not leave the chair and he will continue working for the people of Goa," he added.For long, the Congress has been demanding that it should be allowed to form the government in the state, claiming that Parrikar's prolonged illness and inability to attend office was taking a toll on administration and governance."Chief ...
Pak PM Imran Khan is only a sycophant of military: Ram Dev
Yoga guru Ramdev on Tuesday said that India should stand united against Pakistan to combat terrorism. "India should stand united against Pakistan to combat terrorism. Every political party should believe in the power of fraternity. Then only India will receive its right to self-determination," Ramdev told the media at Raipur in Chhattisgarh. In the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel and was spearheaded by Jaish-e-Mohammad, India received worldwide support to fight against terrorism.Reacting to Pakistan PM Imran Khan's statement, where he asked India to provide "actionable evidence" about Pakistani links to the February 14 attack, Ramdev said, "Pakistan PM Imran Khan is only a sycophant of military and his country has no democracy."On Tuesday, in a televised address to the nation, Imran Khan asked India to provide "actionable evidence" about Pakistani links to the February 14 attack, in South Kashmir, promising that his government will ...
Pak PM making lame excuse on Pulwama: India
India on Tuesday dubbed as a lame excuse of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement that he would take action if "actionable intelligence" is provided about links of Pulwama attack to his country and asked him to stop misleading the international community.Hours after Khan's televised address, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the Pakistani Prime Minister has "ignored claims" made by Jaish-e-Mohammad, which is based in Pakistan, as well as by the terrorist, who perpetrated Pulwama heinous crime."Disclaiming any link between the terrorist attack and Pakistan is an oft-repeated excuse by Pakistan. The Pakistani Prime Minister has ignored claims made by the Jaish-e-Mohammad, as well as by the terrorist, who perpetrated this heinous crime. It is a well-known fact that Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leader Masood Azhar are based in Pakistan. These should be sufficient proof for Pakistan to take action," Kumar told ANI exclusively. "The Prime Minister of ...
Pulwama attack: US expresses grief, calls on Pak to act against terror organisations
United States ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Tuesday condoled the Pulwama terror attack that claimed lives of 40 CRPF personnel on February 14 and called on Pakistan to act against the terror organisations operating in the country.Speaking at a press conference here, Kenneth Juster also extended his condolences to the Indian Air Force pilot who died after two aircraft of the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team crashed at the Yelahanka airbase here.Twenty-eight U.S. companies are participating in Aero India, 19 of which are exhibiting in the USA Partnership Pavilion, organised for the fifth consecutive edition by Kallman Worldwide, Juster announced.The envoy also hailed the US-India relationship stating that last year Indian armed forces conducted more defence exercises with the US than any other armed forces in the world.He further elaborated on the visit of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the US.Juster, also announced that India, US and Japan will hold the 'Malabar trilateral ..
Just a formality for their own benefit: Narayan Rane on BJP-Shiv Sena alliance
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Narayan Rane on Tuesday hit out at the Shiv Sena and BJP's alliance in Maharashtra ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and said that it is just a "formality," which is for their own benefit and not the people."I had said this in the past that Shiv Sena and BJP alliance will happen. But there was no excitement on the faces of BJP and Shiv Sena leaders. What has happened to the decision of Uddhav Thackeray to go solo? Both parties criticised each other at all level. This alliance is not for the people of Maharashtra, it's for their own benefit. This alliance is just a formality and nothing else," Rane told media here.However, Rane said that he will not resign from his MP post in Rajya Sabha."I am not a member of BJP. I will send them letter when I will announce my own party's manifesto. My target is Shiv Sena and will give candidates against them. I will contest the election. I don't want to be part of the Opposition's grand alliance. I .
MK Stalin slams PMK for aligning with AIADMK
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Tuesday criticised Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) S. Ramadoss for joining hands with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.The BJP, AIADMK and PMK have decided to contest Lok Sabha elections together in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.Speaking on the issue, Stalin said: "AIADMK and PMK formed an alliance and agreed on seven seats of Los Sabha. PMK chief Ramadoss had criticised them for corruption. In fact, he has even brought out a book on the corrupt practices of Jayalalithaa, present Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (Edappadi K. Palaniswami) and Deputy Chief Minister (O. Panneerselvam). Is he not ashamed of this?"Earlier today, during a press conference it was announced that the BJP will contest on five out of the 39 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry.Speaking to media here after holding talks with the BJP, AIADMK leader and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam
JeM chief already sitting in Pak, what proof Imran Khan wants: Capt Amarinder Singh
Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is already sitting in Pakistan, and what proof does Imran Khan want, said Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday."What more proof does he want? JeM chief Masood Azhar is sitting there. Will they accept when we show them bodies of the terrorists killed by our forces? So what kind of a statement is this? The whole world knows the truth," he said while speaking to media persons.Chief Minister Singh, who was responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement seeking "actionable evidence" about Islamabad's links to Pulwama terror attack, said: "If even one of our jawans is martyred, we should kill two of theirs (Pakistan). This is the only language they will understand. We've already said that whatever steps the government takes, we will support."Shortly after Imran Khan's statement, Amarinder Singh took to his Twitter handle and wrote: "Dear @ImranKhanPTI you have Jaish chief Masood Azhar sitting in Bahawalpur & ...
Nobody has been given clean chit in 2017 Mandsaur firing case: MP Home Minister
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bala Bachchan on Tuesday stated that nobody has been given a clean chit in the 2017 Mandsaur firing case and the Congress-led state government might order a high-level investigation into it."We are analysing report on the incident in Mandsaur where farmers were fired at. If we are not satisfied, we will order another high-level investigation. Action will be taken against whoever is found guilty. Nobody has been given a clean chit," Bachchan told media here.The Congress party had attacked BJP relentlessly over the issue while campaigning for assembly polls which took place late last year.The party reportedly, however, had taken a u-turn in the state assembly on Monday when Bachchan said that police opened fire in Mandsaur "following standard procedure norms, in self-defence".Bachchan gave the Mandsaur statement in reply to queries raised by Congress MLA Harsh Vijay Gahlot."The police firing, in the absence of an executive magistrate, at the Bahi Chaupati on
Tamil Nadu: BJP, AIADMK reach LS poll pact; PMK to support alliance
The BJP and AIADMK on Tuesday stitched a deal to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls together in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, a day after the BJP reached a seat-sharing pact with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra for the general elections.Under the agreement, the BJP will contest five out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and put up its candidate for the lone Lower House seat in Puducherry. The AIADMK is also holding alliance talks with the DMDK led by Vijayakanth and the number of seats it will contest will be known after that. In yet another understanding, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by S Ramadoss, will support the AIADMK-BJP front in the state in the general elections.Speaking to media here after holding talks with the BJP, AIADMK leader and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the BJP-All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alliance will be a winning one."For the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK and BJP have agreed to form a mega alliance. This alliance .
Russia's Putin, Saudi King ready to continue energy cooperation - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in a telephone conversation, voiced their support for continued coordination on the global energy markets, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
Imran Khan's demand for actionable intelligence on Pulwama a lame excuse: India
India on Tuesday rejected as "false allegation" Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's insinuation that India's response to the Pulwama terror attack would be determined by the coming Lok Sabha elections and demanded "credible and visible action" against the perpetrators of the attack.
DPIIT to hold meeting with startups on Mar 1 on ways to increase flow of funds
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will hold consultations with startups on March 1 here to discuss ways to augment flow of funds to new businesses, a top government official said Tuesday. DPIIT Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said still there are several things which need to be looked upon for strengthening the startup ecosystem in the country. "We would discuss how to augment more flow of fund into startups and if there are any regulations or laws that need to be changed to augment that flow. We would like to talk that," he told reporters here. There is a concept of accredited investors in some countries and "we also need to work on that," he said. "We are also going to see how angel investments can be incentivised in the country. Many countries are providing tax and other incentives to angel investments into startups," he said. The department will consider measures related to these issues, he said.
India rejects Imran's response to Pulwama attack; calls Pak nerve centre of terrorism
India Tuesday rubbished Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments on the ghastly Pulwama attack, saying disclaiming Pakistan's link with terrorist attacks is an oft-repeated excuse by the "nerve centre" of terrorism. India's seven-point hard hitting response came hours after Khan said he would act against the perpetrators of the Pulwama attack if India shares "actionable intelligence", but warned against any retaliatory action. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was not surprised that Khan refused to acknowledge the attack on India's security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism, adding his offer to investigate the attack if provided proof is a "lame excuse". "Disclaiming any link between the terrorist attack and Pakistan is an oft-repeated excuse by Pakistan. The Pakistani Prime Minister has ignored claims made by the Jaish-e-Mohammad, as well as by the terrorist, who perpetrated this heinous crime," the MEA said. "It is a well-known fact that Jaish-e-Mohammad