Page 162 - Politics
'Don't worry about your numbers, govt values your every word': Modi to opposition
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday assured the Opposition that their every word is "valuable" to the government irrespective of their "numbers", and asked it to actively speak in Parliament. On the first day of the Monsoon session, Modi also urged all MPs to be impartial in the House and address issues related to the larger interest of the nation. Underlining the importance of an active opposition in a democracy, the Prime Minister said he hopes the opposition "will speak actively and participate in House proceedings... I am hopeful that this session will be more productive." "The Opposition need not worry about their numbers. Whatever numbers opposition parties may have got from the people, for us their every word is valuable. All their feelings are valuable," Modi said addressing the media outside the Parliament before the start of the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha. He also said,"when we come to Parliament, we should forget 'paksh' (treasury) and 'vipaksh' (opposition) and
Tejashwi should be held for deserting parents after LS poll results: JDU
The Janata Dal-United (JDU) on Monday attacked Tejashwi Yadav for allegedly disappearing from the scene after the results of the Lok Sabha elections were announced and has demanded his arrest for deserting his parents under the newly revised Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act in the state.In a statement, JDU chief spokesperson Sanjay Singh said: "Tejashwi has deserted his mother and imprisoned father and has disappeared somewhere. From the day the Lok Sabha results were announced, he is not to be found anywhere. He has never given a thought to what will happen to his father and mother in his absence.""JDU demands the state government to act against Tejashwi according to the newly revised Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. JDU accuses Tejashwi of not caring about his mother and father," he said.Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has amended the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act in the state, which has provisions for ...
India makes commitment to shun 'blood diamonds'
India on Monday assured the global community that it would reject "blood diamonds" stained by even a single conflict, and would actively help in the evolution and transformation of the Kimberley Process transiting from "conflict diamonds" to "peace diamonds".
Heatwave toll in Bihar rises to 76
At least 76 people have died in three districts of Bihar, as a searing heatwave swept most parts of the state, prompting the government to order closure of academic activities in all schools till June 22, officials said on Monday. The Disaster Management Department said 33 people lost their lives in Aurangabad, 31 in Gaya and 12 in Nawada due to the heatwave. An official of the Bihar Education Project Council said the administration has ordered suspension of classes in all government and government-aided schools till June 22. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on Sunday announced Rs four lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of those killed. Major cities in the state, including Patna, Gaya and Bhagalpur, have been witnessing heatwave for the past couple of days. According to the MeT department here, the state capital had on June 15 recorded a maximum temperature of 45.8 degrees Celsius, the highest for June in 10 years. A heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature is recorded above ..
Iraq looking at options in case Gulf oil route cut: spokesman
Iraq is looking at contingency plans in case spiralling US-Iran tensions cut off its oil exports through the Gulf, a ministry spokesman said Monday, as observers warned a rupture would be "disastrous". The US has accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers last week in the Gulf of Oman, sparking concerns that global shipments through the key waterway could be threatened. Iraq, the second-largest oil producer among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is drawing up an action plan in case of further escalation, according to oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad. "There is no replacement for the southern port and our other alternatives are limited. It's a source of anxiety for the global oil market," Jihad told AFP on Monday. Lawmakers have also called for an emergency session with Iraq's ministers of oil, trade, planning and transport to "prepare to confront the possible dangers". A third of the world's seaborne oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a ...
TMC MLA Sunil Singh along with 12 councillors join BJP
Trinamool Congress MLA Sunil Singh along with 12 TMC councillors on Monday joined BJP in presence of BJP leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya and Mukul Roy here."TMC party members are joining BJP in large numbers. Mamata Banerjee has ruined West Bengal's peaceful ambience by propagating violence...That's why her party members are now leaving her side and joining our party," Vijayvargiya said.West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said, "The tension between BJP and TMC in West Bengal is escalating. TMC leaders started joining our party at the beginning of Lok Sabha polls and even during the elections. Since then many leaders have joined BJP."Along with MLA Sunil Singh from Nowpara, 12 TMC Councilors, four stage artists and as many doctors also joined BJP.
Jose Mani's election as Kerala Congress-Mani chief stayed
A court near here on Monday stayed the election of Jose K. Mani as the new Chairman of the Kerala Congress-Mani, the third-biggest constituent of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in the state.
17th Lok Sabha session begins, PM, Rahul Gandhi take oath
The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha commenced Monday with jubilant BJP members raising 'Jai Shri Ram and Bharat Mata ki Jai' slogans as several members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi took oath. As the Leader of the House, Modi was the first to take oath as member of the lower house Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah, Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari were among the promiment members who took oath. Addressing the media outside parliament before the commencement of Parliament session, Modi reached out to the opposition saying they need not "bother about their numbers" as their every word is "valuable" to the government. He urged all MPs to be impartial in the House and address issues related to the larger interest of the nation. "When we come to Parliament, we should forget 'paksh' (treasury) and 'vipaksh' (opposition). We should think about issues with a 'nishpaksh' ...
Delhi minister suggests amending rules to check 'arbitrary' sacking of staff by cooperative banks
The AAP government Monday suggested amending relevant rules of the Delhi Cooperative Societies Act, 2003, to check "arbitrary" sacking of employees by cooperative banks and thrift and credit societies. Delhi Cooperative Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam met officials at the office of Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Delhi, and discussed the matter with them. The minister suggested amending relevant rules of the Act to make the approval of the registrar of cooperative societies in the Delhi government mandatory for appointment and removal of staff by cooperative banks, they said. At present, the terms of recruitment and termination of services of employees are decided by the board of directors of cooperative banks. The officials cited the example of Delhi Nagrik Sehkari Bank and Jain Cooperative Bank, which "arbitrarily sacked a number of employees, without giving them any hearing". The minister suggested that service rules of cooperative banks and thrift and credit societies be sent to .
Goa: Pramod Sawant and others extend their greetings on Goa Revolution Day
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Governor Mridula Sinha and the leader of opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar extended their greetings to the locals on Monday on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day."The day marks the beginning of a revolution that strengthened and gave a definitive direction to Goa's Freedom Movement. The Goa Revolution Day is also an appropriate occasion to remember the supreme sacrifices of known and unknown freedom fighters who shed their blood for the freedom of Goa from colonial rule," Sawant said.The BJP Union Minister further added, "Let us join hands together on this day and strive hard to protect the hard-earned freedom and rededicate ourselves to achieve greater progress and prosperity by the state in all spheres of life."Mridula Sinha, who is currently serving as the Governor of Goa also acknowledged the occasion and remembered the slain jawans."The Goa Revolution, which is being commemorated annually on 18th June, has special significance for Goans as it was ..
Myanmar's hardline monks rail against Rohingya and Suu Kyi
Ultra-nationalist monks in Myanmar accepted a cash donation from the military on Monday while condemning Aung San Suu Kyi and her government for allowing Rohingya Muslims to enter the country "illegally". Hundreds of monks swathed in saffron and maroon robes filed early morning into a Yangon monastery for the annual meeting of the Buddha Dhamma Parahita Foundation. The group was known as Ma Ba Tha until a ban by the government and religious authorities in 2017 aimed at curbing its influence. Their hostility towards the Rohingya helped whip up public support for a brutal military crackdown nearly two years ago. Some 740,000 fled the country in violence branded as "genocide" by UN investigators. Despite the ban -- offline and on Facebook -- the group has continued to operate under its new name. Increasingly taking a radical stance against civilian leader Suu Kyi's government, the group has also sidled-up to the country's still-powerful military. Monks regularly appear at pro-army ...
Cong data analytics chief slams reports on dept's role in LS polls as 'mischievous'
Congress' data analytics chief Praveen Chakravarty Monday dismissed as "mischievous" and "defamatory" media reports on the department's role in the Lok Sabha polls. Chakravarty's remarks came after a media report claimed that he went incommunicado after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results. The report that talked about Chakravarty and his department's role in the lead up to the election results also claimed that Rahul Gandhi's own team fed his prime minister hopes right up to poll defeat. "A recent gossip column about the activities of data analytics department of the Congress party during the recently-concluded Lok Sabha election has been brought to my attention," Chakravarty said in a statement. "Every line in that column is a lie. Equally, other similar stories based entirely on unnamed sources, masquerading as investigative pieces, are plain rubbish. These are obviously mischievous, defamatory, patently absurd and sadly an utter disgrace to Indian journalism," he ...
BJP's Nisith Pramanik arrives in Parliament wearing feathered turban
BJP MP Nisith Pramanik chose to wear traditional attire for the swearing-in ceremony of the Lok Sabha MPs on Monday.While most of the ministers had worn plain white kurta pyjamas with varied waistcoats, Pramanik was seen wearing a feathered turban.Pramanik, who recently won from the constituency of Cooch Behar district said, "I belong to the Rajbongshi community and hence, I decided to resemble the same on the first day of the Lok Sabha session."The swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected MPs will be spread over two days.Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath today along with other Lok Sabha members including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. (ANI)He further added, "India is a diversified country. Despite that, we live in unity. Our traditions bind us together."Apart from Prmanik, Dr Ashok Kumar, the BJP MP from Madhubani district of Bihar also arrived at the Parliament wearing a stole and cap of Madhubani art in order to ...
Iran to breach uranium stockpile limit in 10 days: AEOI spokesperson
Iran on Monday said it will "drastically" increase the production of low-level enriched uranium after passing the limit of the stockpile permitted by the 2015 nuclear deal in 10 days, a move that is expected to heighten tension with the US.Quoting Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesperson for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation (AEOI), Al Jazeera reported that Tehran would reach the allowed 300 kilogram level of enriched uranium mandated by the deal on June 27."We will go further from that ceiling, not only that but we will also increase production drastically. After we pass the limit of 300 kg the pace and the speed of enriched uranium production at the lower rate will also increase," Kamalvandi said.Iran stopped complying with some elements of the nuclear agreement -- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in May, a year after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal.Under the deal, Iran had agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of ...
China rallies behind Hong Kong's embattled chief
China on Monday rallied behind Hong Kong's beleaguered chief executive, facing a growing clamour for her resignation over the controversial extradition bill.
TMC legislator, 16 councilors join BJP
A Trinamool Congress legislator and 15 councilors of the party in West Bengal joined the BJP here on Monday. Noapara MLA Sunil Singh, along with the 15 TMC councillors and another Congress councilor, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of general secretary and West Bengal incharge Kailash Vijayvargiya, and senior leader Mukul Roy. Sunil Singh is a relative of MP Arjun Singh, who switched over from the TMC to the BJP just ahead of the recent Lok Sabha polls and won the Barrackpore seat. Roy, once the second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said 10 legislators from various parties had joined the BJP so far. Leaders, including MLAs and MPs, from various parties in the state have been joining the saffron party for past several months. "The BJP has emerged as a strong player in West Bengal politics and is the first preference for those who want peace and development in the state," Vijayvargiya said. The BJP leader alleged that under the ...
CM and Yeddyurappa continue slugfest over JSW steel land sale
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa continued to lock horns Monday on the issue of sale of land to JSW steel, a day after the saffron party ended its round-the-clock sit-in since Friday protesting the sale. While Kumaraswamy asserted that his government was open for any discussion as he accused Yeddyurappa of receiving money from the firm in the past, the latter alleged the Chief Minister was indulging in "political circus." "BJP leaders held protest. I said Im ready to give time, come - to discuss on IMA fraud issue, on drought issue. Despite great difficulty the state government has managed thedrought situation and we have responded to the needs of the people," Kumaraswamy said. Speaking to reporters at Channapatna, he said even on JSW Steel issue anyone can come and discuss openly. "They (BJP) can speak for the sake of criticism, but Im not from such culture. I want to ask this same Yeddyurappa- from this same Jindal company he .
Mamata terms meeting with doctors 'positive', asks them to end impasse
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed the meeting with the striking junior doctors as "positive and productive" while the doctors said they were looking forward to withdraw the ongoing agitation following discussions with their colleagues at the hospitals.
LS official calls out Dharmendra Pradhan to take oath, says 'sorry' later
Lok Sabha Secretary General Snehlata Shrivastava made a faux pas on Monday by calling out the name of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to take oath as a member of the Lower House -- when he is a Rajya Sabha member.
Leader of Opposition status to Wadettiwar to be conditional?
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reportedly made the Congress' demand for Leader of Opposition status to party MLA Vijay Wadettiwar 'conditional'. Fadnavis Monday made it clear to Opposition leaders that Wadettiwar, who is group leader of the Congress in the Lower House, will get the LoP status only if Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar (NCP) announces election to the post of deputy chairman. The post has been lying vacant since the last one year after the term of Manikrao Thakre (Congress) came to end. At least two senior leaders of the Congress said the chief minister has made their demand for the Leader of Opposition (LoP) status for Wadettiwar conditional. The LoP enjoys the status of a Cabinet minister in Maharashtra. The catch in Fadnavis' 'offer' is that the post, which has tenure of six years, might go to an NDA nominee due to their strength in the Upper House if elections are held, a situation the NCP is trying to avoid, sources .