Page 1631 - Politics
Will fight 20 seats on our own if things do not work out:
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Thursday reiterated his demand for a respectable share of seats within grand alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll and said his Hindustani Awam Morcha would contest 20 out of a total 40 parliamentary seats in the state on its own if denied its due. Manjhi, who had earlier this week stated that he would not agree to a seat-sharing formula that gave a less number to HAM compared with former union minister Upendra Kushwahas RLSP, also cryptically said that he personally saw the Congress as a major player but the prevailing sentiment in my party is that we have a support base in Bihar that is greater than that of the national party. A meeting of HAM district unit presidents was held here and it was unanimously decided that we would not agree to any formula wherein we were given a number that was less than what any of the late entrants might get, Manjhi told reporters here. Manjhi had left the BJP-led NDA in February last year ..
No unilateral US pullout from Afghanistan: Shanahan
Washington will not unilaterally withdraw from Afghanistan, the Pentagon chief said Thursday, as NATO said the Kabul government must be urgently brought into US peace talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the country's 17-year war. Acting defence secretary Patrick Shanahan said any decision to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan would be taken in coordination with NATO, which runs a training and support mission in the war-torn country. The United States is leading a push for peace talks with the Taliban, seeking a breakthrough in the grinding conflict, with the Islamists announcing Wednesday a fresh round of meetings in Islamabad. But NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned against any more delay in involving the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani in the process, saying that without it lasting peace would not be possible. President Donald Trump wants to end US involvement in Afghanistan, where 14,000 American troops are still deployed -- raising Afghan fears
Pulwama terror attack: Terrorists will be given unforgettable lesson for their heinous act, says Jaitley.
Union minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday reacted sharply to the terror attack in Pulwama and said that terrorists will be taught an "unforgettable lesson" for the heinous act.At least 12 CRPF personnel were killed in the explosion in Awantipora area of Kashmir this afternoon, in one of the deadliest terror attacks on security forces in the valley in over a decade.The minister without portfolio took to Twitter and said, "Attack on CRPF in #Pulwama, J&K is a cowardice & condemnable act of terrorists. Nation salutes martyred soldiers and we all stand united with families of martyrs. We pray for speedy recovery of the injured. Terrorists will be given unforgettable lesson for their heinous act."The attack took place at around 3.15 pm when CRPF convoy was moving from Jammu to Srinagar, they said. The convoy comprised around 70 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling, according to Home Ministry sources in Delhi.The toll is likely to go up, the sources said.This might be .
AAP keen on alliance with Cong in Delhi: Mamata
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is keen on an alliance with the Congress in Delhi for the upcoming parliamentary polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday. It was now up to the Congress to reciprocate, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief added. "Arvind Kejriwal wants an alliance with the Congress in Delhi," she told reporters here. Banerjee further said the AAP supremo had struggled hard to become the chief minister of Delhi and that he was continuing to struggle. "What will Arvind do? He has gone through so much. He wants to go with the Congress, what I understood during last night's meeting. Let the Congress decide, but the AAP has agreed is what I heard," the TMC chief reiterated, adding that she could not comment on whether the alliance would finally materialise. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal said the Congress had "more or less" declined to have an alliance in Delhi for the general election. He also said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would benefit in a ...
Sacrifices of our security personnel won't go in vain, says PM after Pulwama attack
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday termed the attack on CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama as despicable and asserted that the sacrifices of security personnel will not go in vain. He also spoke with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top officials in the wake of the attack which left 30 CRPF personnel dead. "Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain," he tweeted. He said the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of those personnel killed in the attack. He also wished for the speedy recovery of those injured. "Spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh Ji and other top officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack in Pulwama," he said. At least 30 CRPF personnel were killed in Pulwama district when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in. This is one of the ..
Thai court to hear EC plea as Thaksin-linked party nominates princess for polls
Thailand's Constitutional Court on Thursday agreed to hear an Election Commission petition seeking to dissolve a political party for nominating Princess Ubolratana Mahidol as candidate for the post of the Prime Minister in the upcoming polls.
Centre satisfied with SC order on who should control administrative services in Delhi: Officials
The Centre is satisfied with the Supreme Court order on the contentious issue of who should control administrative services in the national capital, but has reservation on the decision that the Delhi government will have the right to appoint public prosecutors, officials said. A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday gave a split verdict on the contentious issue of who should control administrative services but appeared to agree that the Centre has the final word. In view of the differences, Justice A K Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan referred the matter to a larger bench of the apex court. "We are satisfied with the Supreme Court order on the matter of services as well as control over the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The only concern for us is appointment of public prosecutors as there have been instances when the public prosecutors have opposed Delhi Police in court leading to embarrassing situation," a home ministry official said. Both the judges of the Supreme Court ...
AAP govt should sort out differences instead of fighting with authorities: Dikshit
Delhi being a Union Territory does not enjoy "unlimited powers" and the AAP government should resolve its differences with authorities instead of fighting with them, former chief minister Sheila Dikshit said Thursday. Dikshit's remark came after a Supreme Court verdict over the division of powers between the Centre and the elected city government. The former Delhi chief minister said the Congress government faced problems over governance issues but it never allowed such things to become a talking point and suggested the ruling AAP to reconcile differences instead of resorting to "fights" with authorities. "Delhi is a UT and the Constitution specifies its powers. It does not have unlimited powers. The office of the lieutenant governor, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the government of India also look after several things. "If they (the Delhi government) want to change this situation they should approach them (the Centre) explaining difficulties faced by them. It cannot be rectified ...
UK's May fights to avoid another defeat on Brexit strategy
British Prime Minister Theresa May was scrambling Thursday to avoid another defeat on her Brexit plans amid opposition from members of her own party who claim she is moving in the wrong direction in efforts to overcome the impasse blocking a deal. Hard-line pro-Brexit lawmakers in May's Conservative Party said a motion to be voted on in Parliament later effectively rules out the threat of Britain leaving the European Union without an agreement on departure terms and future relations, a move they say undermines Britain's bargaining position. "Conservative MPs (members of Parliament) really ought not to be associated with anything, express or implied, which seems to take 'no deal' off the table," said Brexit-backing Conservative lawmaker Steve Baker in a tweet. Baker and other Brexiteers are threatening to rebel against the government, or abstain, in a vote intended to buy the government more time to seek changes from the EU to a Brexit divorce agreement. International Trade Secretary ..
Guj farmers meet Rahul, seek inclusion of demands in manifesto
A delegation of farmers Thursday met Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in Valsad and sought the inclusion of their demands, including the resolution of land acquisition related issues of Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, in his party's manifesto. The Gandhi scion assured the farmers that his party will look into their request. The farmers, under the banner of Gujarat Khedut Samaj, met Gandhi after he addressed a rally here and gave a memorandum of 24 demands to the Congress chief. Farmers have been protesting against the acquisition of land for the Bullet train and other government projects in the state. They are seeking to resolve the issues of land acquisition and environment for the Bullet train project, Vadodara-Mumbai expressway, dedicated freight corridor and industrial corridor projects. "Gandhi asked the delegation to brief the party's manifesto committee about their demands. He assured them that the party will try to include them in its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha ...
Swedish defence major Saab to participate in Aero India 2019
Swedish defence major Saab on Thursday announced that it will participate in the Aero India 2019, which is going to take place in Bengaluru from February 20 to 24. "SAAB will attend the Aero India show...Saab will present a wide portfolio of products and systems from the air, land and sea domains," the company said in its press statement. Aero India 2019 comes as the Indian Air Force evaluates new fighters for its future airpower needs. We are displaying the Gripen E mission simulator which clearly demonstrates how Gripen, the most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft in the world, maximises operational effect in the future battlespace," said Mats Palmberg, Vice President, Industrial Partnerships, Saab, and Head of Gripen India Campaign. "We are also proud to present a full scale Gripen E along with the game-changing Meteor and the precision attack Taurus KEPD missiles, Palmberg added. Aero India is organised by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.
LG should not differ routinely with Council of Ministers, says SC
The Lieutenant Governor should not differ routinely with the decision of Council of Ministers and the difference of opinion should be based on cogent and strong reasons, the Supreme Court said Thursday. Giving a split verdict on the contentious issue of who should control administrative services in a case pertaining to long-running conflict between the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the AAP government in the national capital, the top court said that LG is empowered to form its opinion 'on any matter' which may be different from the decision taken by the ministers. "Any matter does not mean each and 'every matter' or 'every trifling matter' but only those rare and exceptional matters where the difference is so fundamental to the governance of the Union Territory that it deserved to be escalated to the President," said a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan. The top court, however, said there may be contingencies where LG and his ministers may differ and in such ...
Bad weather forces PM to cancel Rudrapur trip
Inclement weather on Thursday forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel his rally at Rudrapur in Udhamsingh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, a top BJP leader said.
BJP will register big win in LS polls: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday expressed confidence of a big win for the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls and said there will be MPs from Kerala. Addressing a public meeting at Pathanamthitta district in south Kerala, which was the centre of the Sabarimala protests, he said BJP workers were facing a "lot of challenges" in the state. Attacking the ruling left government in the state, he alleged it was against devotees. "As of now, lakhs of people are there for Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh. Our government is trying to do everything for the devotees. But the Kerala government is not with the believers. The state government here is trying to destroy the faith of the believers," he said. Adityanath said the country has made rapid progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We all know that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the country has made big strides," he told the gathering. Earlier, he attended a meeting of the party's booth ...
Shah says terror attack in Pulwama an 'act of cowardice'
BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday termed the terror attack that killed 30 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district as an "act of cowardice" and asserted that security forces will defeat those involved in terrorist activities. "Pained beyond words by the terror attack on our soldiers in Pulwama (J&K). It is an act of cowardice. My deepest condolences are with the families of our soldiers who have lost their lives. Our forces will remain firm against such acts of terror and defeat them," he said in a tweet. At least 30 CRPF personnel were killed in Pulwama when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in, one of the worst terror strikes in the state in recent years, officials said.
68-year-old woman kisses Rahul on Valentine's Day in Gujarat
It was a Valentine's Day of sorts for a 68-year-old Parsi woman, a Congress activist, who was part of a group of enthusiastic women party workers and who went to garland Congress president Rahul Gandhi on stage ahead of a public meeting.
Mulayam's words on Modi lack meaning as he hardly remembers anything: Rabri Devi
A day after veteran Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior RJD leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Thursday downplayed the episode by saying Yadav's words have no meaning as he hardly remembers anything.
Modi condemns 'dastardly attack' on CRPF in Kashmir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condemned the "dastardly attack" on the CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district which left at least 30 troopers dead.
Congress-DMK is an alliance of corruption and dynastic politics: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Thursday termed the DMK-Congress alliance as an alliance for corruption to create wealth for their families.
Pence criticizes US' allies at Warsaw summit on Iran
US Vice President Mike Pence has rebuked Washington's European allies over their efforts to shield their businesses from American sanctions on Iran.