Page 1625 - Politics
Theresa May suffers defeat in Valentine's Day Brexit rebellion
It was being dubbed as the Valentine's Day revolt as British Prime Minister Theresa May faced the prospect of another parliamentary bruising during a Brexit vote in the House of Commons on Thursday evening. She lost the indicative motion in the House of Commons, with 303 MPs voting against it and 258 for it. Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn immediately called on Theresa May who was not in the Commons chamber for the vote to "admit her Brexit strategy has failed". British MPs began debating the future course for Britain exit plans from the European Union (EU) in the Commons, with a vote on the government motion sealing yet another parliamentary defeat for the British PM over Brexit. Hard Brexit MPs had threatened to vote against or abstain in order to defeat the motion, which they feel indicates a no-deal Brexit is being taken off the table as a negotiating tactic with Brussels. They chose to abstain during the Thursday evening vote, making this Theresa May's tenth defeat in a .
Mamata's pre-poll understanding will not work: Biman Bose
CPI(M) politburo member and Left Front chairman Biman Bose Thursday said the idea of pre-poll understanding as mooted by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee will not work. He also rejected the claim of Banerjee, also West Bengal chief minister, that a common minimum programme will be set for the alliance of opposition parties. Top opposition leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Banerjee Wednesday agreed in New Delhi to work together to prepare a common minimum programme. "I want to make it clear that there will be no pre-poll understanding. There can be no common minimum programme in a pre-poll alliance," Bose told reporters. Bose said the CPI(M) and the Left Front would try to maximise anti-BJP votes at the national level and for that purpose may get into understanding with some regional parties. "As for West Bengal, our tactical line is that we have to maximise our votes against the BJP and the TMC in the Lok Sabha elections," said Bose. Earlier,
J-K attack: Condemnation pours in; countries across globe vow to fight terror
Countries from across the globe condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district with nations such as the US, Russia and France asserting that they stand with India in combating the menace of terrorism. At least 39 CRPF personnel were killed on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded. The US condemned the terror attack and said it stands alongside India in defeating terrorism. "The US Mission in India strongly condemns today's terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims," US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster tweeted. Russia, while condemning the terror attack, stressed the need to combat such "inhuman acts" with decisive and collective response without any double standards. "We denounce terrorism in all its forms and ...
More Brexit humiliation for May as parliament defeats her again
LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers defeated Prime Minister Theresa May in a symbolic vote over her Brexit strategy on Thursday, undermining her pledge to European Union leaders that she can get the unpopular divorce deal approved if they grant her concessions.
UN chief condemns Pulwama terror attack, calls for those behind the attack to be brought to justice
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres "strongly" condemned the terror attack against security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, perpetrated by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, calling for those behind the attack to be brought to justice. In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's three decades of militancy, a Jaish suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district, killing at least 39 personnel and leaving many critically wounded. "We strongly condemn today's attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district and express our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the Government and people of India," Guterres's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the daily press briefing here Thursday. Responding to a question by PTI on the terror attack, Dujarric said, "We of course wish a speedy recovery to those injured and call for those behind the attack to be brought to ...
US lawmakers condemn terror attack in J-K's Pulwama
Top American lawmakers on Thursday rallied behind India in the immediate aftermath of the gruesome terrorist attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district and said the Washington stands alongside New Delhi in "confronting terror and defeating it". In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's three decades of militancy, a Jaish suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district, killing at least 39 personnel and leaving many critically wounded. "I condemn today's terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir. I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. The United States stands alongside India in confronting terror and defeating it," Senator Jack Reed said in a tweet. Another Senator Kevin Thomas tweeted, "I strongly condemn this cowardly terrorist attack which targeted Indian soldiers in Kashmir. My thoughts and prayers to the families of the soldiers." More than 2,500 Central ...
CPM terms Delhi meeting of Opposition leaders a "show-off"
Dubbing Wednesday's meeting of major anti-BJP parties in Delhi as a "show-off", West Bengal Left Front chairman and CPI-M politburo member Biman Bose on Thursday said there was neither any scope for an all-India pre-poll pact, nor could there be a common minimum programme (CMP) before the Lok Sabha elections.
Cong MLA uses derogatory word for BJP leaders at Rahul's rally
Congress MLA and tribal leader Mangal Gavit used a derogatory word for BJP leaders in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a rally here Thursday. Gavit, who represents Dang in the Assembly, made the remarks in his speech before Gandhi addressed the gathering in Valsad district of Gujarat. "This BJP government is trying to snatch the land from tribals in the name of various projects such as Bharatmala (road connectivity project). Why all such projects pass only through tribal belts? I am warning these BJP people....," he said, using a profane term. After the rally, Gavit said he regretted it. "My remark was not aimed at any particular leader. I realised later that I should not have used that word. It was just a spontaneous outburst," the MLA told PTI.
Top U.S. trade envoys to meet China's Xi, no decision on deadline extension
WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The Trump administration's top two negotiators in trade talks with China will meet on Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but there has been no decision to extend a March 1 U.S. deadline for a deal, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Thursday.
CCS to meet on Friday morning, to discuss security situation in J&K
The Cabinet Committee on Security will meet on Friday morning to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack that killed at least 43 troopers and left the security establishment stunned.
India resolves to fight terror after Pakistan-backed JeM attack in J&K
India, while condemning in the strongest terms the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday perpetrated by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF troopers, said it is determined to fight the menace of terrorism.
Pulwama terror attack: Russia calls for decisive action against 'inhuman acts'
Russia condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday and stressed the need to combat such "inhuman acts" with a decisive and collective response, without any double standards. At least 39 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and many injured in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the recent years on Thursday, when a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into their bus in Pulwama. The Russian embassy condemned in the strongest terms the horrific terror attack, which claimed the precious lives of CRPF personnel and left numerous people injured, a statement said. "We denounce terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterate the need to combat these inhuman acts with decisive and collective response without any double standards," it said. The embassy conveyed its condolences to the grieving families and wished a speedy recovery of those injured.
Cong has more or less ruled out alliance with AAP: Kejriwal
The Congress had "more or less" ruled out an alliance with the AAP in the upcoming general election, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday, adding that his party was "eager" on such a pre-poll tie-up in the national capital to avoid a three-cornered contest that could help the BJP. His comments came a day after he attended a meeting with opposition leaders, including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. Responding to a question on an alliance with the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo said the former had "more or less" ruled it out. "We are deeply concerned about the country. We have seen how the circumstances have changed in the last five years. Communal harmony has been damaged, demonetisation has rendered lakhs of people jobless, institutions have been destroyed and people have been lynched. That is why we are eager (for an alliance)," he said. Sources said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu had also ..
Kerala CM condemns Pulwama terror attack
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the terror attack in Pulwama on Thursday in which 39 CRPF personnel have lost their lives. In a statement, Vijayan said, "We join in mourning with the families of those soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The Union government must take necessary steps to ensure peace in Kashmir," he said.
Terrorists will pay for it: Ahir on attack on CRPF convoy
Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said Thursday that the attack on CRPF jawans in Pulwama was a cowardly act, and its perpetrators will pay for it. Speaking to the media at Pandharkawda in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, Ahir condemned the attack and said, "CRPF jawans are bravely fighting militants there (in Kashmir), and knowing this, this cowardly attack was carried out (by terrorists). "The people of this country will not forget the sacrifice of the jawans martyred in the attack....The government will not remain silent....we see it as a challenge and they (the perpetrators) will have to pay for it," the minister said. "The jawans will avenge the death of their colleagues," he added. The attack, claiming at least 39 lives, took place when over 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave, were travelling in a convoy of 78 vehicles in Awantipora in south Kashmir.
Pak continuing activities despite being asked to mend ways:
BJP President Amit Shah Thursday expressed grief over the death of at least 39 CRPF personnel in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and said Pakistan was continuing its activities despite India carrying out surgical strikes and asking it to mend its ways. "An unfortunate incident has happened in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan-based terrorists attacked our security forces," he said in address at an intellectuals meet here. "We had reminded Pakistan through the surgical strikes to mend its ways but it continues doing its activities," he said. He was referring to India's September 29, 2016 surgical strike across the Line of Control as a response to a terrorist attack on an Indian Army base in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir earlier that month. Nineteen Indian soldiers had died in the attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists then. Paying tributes to the martyred CRPF personnel, the BJP chief said the entire nation stood like a rock with their bereaved families. At least 39 Central
Cong Telangana unit's brain-storming session from Feb 15
The Congress' Telangana unit would conduct a brain-storming session for three days from February 15 to discuss the party's strategy for thecoming Lok Sabha elections and toevolve a plan of action. State Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said parliamentary constituency-wise meetings would be held at a private hotel at Gachibowli in the city. Sitting and former MPs, MLAs, MLCs, PCC office-bearers, District Congress Committee presidents, block and mandal presidents, among other leaders, would attend the closed-door meetings of their respective Lok Sabha constituencies. On an average, there will be representation of at least 10 senior leaders from each assembly constituency in the meeting, Congress sources said. There will be discussion on six parliamentary constituencies eachon February15 and 16, while strategy for remaining five constituencies would be chalked out on February 17. On February 15, a meeting would be held with leaders from Adilabad, Peddapalli, ...
Ambedkar says he has announced 12 candidates, won't negotiate
Even as the Congress is trying to persuade him to join an anti-BJP coalition, Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkarsaid Thursday that he had announced candidates for 12 Lok Sabha seats, which were "non- negotiable". The Congress and NCP have said they are ready to give four seats to Ambedkar, leader of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM). However, Ambedkar told PTI that he has announced candidates for Buldhana, Nanded, Yavatmal, Madha, Amravati, Latur, Satara, Sangli,Baramati, Pune, Hathkanagale and Nashik. These seats were "non-negotiable", he said. Interestingly, the Dalit leader, grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, has not announced his own candidature from Akola, a Lok Sabha seat he had earlier represented. Sources said that Congress and NCP were trying hard to woo Ambedkar and put the announcement of the details of their (NCP-Congress) seat-sharing on hold so as to accommodate him. State Congress president Ashok Chavan told PTI that Ambedkar has been offered four seats against his ...
CWC to meet in Ahmedabad on Feb 26
The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the partys highest decision-making body will meet on February 26 in Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state Gujarat to chalk out and finalise the roadmap for the Lok Sabha elections.
Theresa May prepares for Valentine's Day Brexit rebellion
It is being dubbed the Valentine's Day revolt as British Prime Minister Theresa May faces the prospect of another parliamentary bruising during a Brexit vote in the House of Commons on Thursday evening. British MPs began debating the future course for Britain exit plans from the European Union (EU) in the Commons, with a vote on the government motion set for later in the day. However, hard Brexit MPs threatened to vote against or abstain in order to defeat the motion, which they feel indicates a no-deal Brexit is being taken off the table as a negotiating tactic with Brussels. "It makes sense that we keep no deal on the table, because we know the history of the EU that they do make concessions at the last moment. We need to hold our nerve," said Shailesh Vara, who had resigned as a minister in May's Cabinet last year in protest over her Brexit policy. The government's motion is an indicative rather than a binding vote on Parliament, effectively reiterating support "for the approach to