Page 1651 - Politics
With PM on stage, Azad says Vajpayee never undermined progress made by previous govts
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he remembered Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying the BJP patriarch neither had anger against the opposition nor did he undermine the progress made by the country since Independence. Speaking at a function held at the Central Hall of Parliament to unveil a life-size portrait of Vajpayee, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said the former prime minister will always be remembered for his speeches. "He always opposed his rival parties, but never had anger against them," Azad said at the event where, besides Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar were present on the dias. Members of both Houses attended the event where President Kovind unveiled the life-size portrait of the former prime minister. The BJP, especially Modi, has been attacking the Congress and questioning the performance of its ...
Bangladesh summons Pak envoy over insulting remarks against Bangabandhu
Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned Pakistan's acting high commissioner here to lodge a strong protest against insulting remarks posted on a Pakistani government website against Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A note verbale was issued by the foreign ministry to acting high commissioner Shah Faisal Kakar. "We summoned him (envoy) and handed him a strongly worded protest note, expressing our discontent over the issue," director general of the foreign ministry's South Asia wing Tareque Muhammad told newsmen. He said the foreign ministry found some derogatory remarks about Bangabandhu at the comments sections of a government website which "could have been barred by the concerned Pakistan authority". He did not elaborate on the content published but another official familiar with the development said the derogatory comments appeared on the website of defence.pk, which is run by the Pakistani government. Pakistan's envoy evaded questions over the issue while coming out ..
LS MP's car enters Parliament House complex from wrong side, creates security scare
A Lok Sabha member's car entered the Parliament House complex from the wrong side on Tuesday, creating a security scare. The automatic 'spike' barricade got activated, damaging the car's bumper, Parliament security officials said. The MP was not inside the car. The driver was being questioned, they said. The car, which tried to enter the high security complex from Vijay Chowk side, used an exit gate to gain entry, the officials said. The quick reaction team of central reserve police immediately deployed an armoured vehicle as per laid down security procedure.
Jharkhand govt bans Popular Front of India
The Jharkhand government Tuesday banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) in the state to curb its anti-national activities and for keeping links with terror outfits like ISIS, a government notification said. According to the government notification the PFI is banned with immediate effect under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1908. The notification says that becoming a member of PFI, giving donation or keeping literature of its extremist policy or publishing them is illegal. The decision to ban PFI has been taken after a review that its activities have increased and is dangerous to the state and the nation and it has the power to disrupt peace, communal harmony and secular structure, an official said. The PFI has been involved in spreading social division, anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans, links with ISIS and JMB. There are several cases against the PFI in the state at different places for indulging in violent activities and anti-national slogans. Earlier, the ...
Kejriwal, Mamata, Naidu to hold rally in Delhi on Wednesday
Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) and N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) will address a 'Remove Dictatorship, Save Democracy Rally' at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday, the AAP said on Tuesday.
Former Bihar Congress president joins Nitish Kumars JD(U)
Former Bihar Congress president Ram Jatan Sinha on Tuesday joined the ruling Janata Dal (United) and lavished praise on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who heads the party. After joining the JD(U) at an auditorium in presence of top leaders like national vice president Prashant Kishor and state unit chief Vashishth Narayan Singh, Sinha was felicitated at the party office by Kumar. Sinha is not an ordinary leader and his joining our party will have immense consequences, Kumar told reporters on the occasion. Today, we see doors of political parties are closed on talented young people, which is regrettable. Our party, however, is different as it is not controlled by a family. And, therefore, there is hardly any social segment which is not duly represented in the JD(U), the Chief Minister said. Earlier, at the party function in Bapu Sabhagar auditorium, Sinha had said Nitish Kumar is a leader who thinks of Bihars development all the time. And the state has prospered under his .
Ram temple construction not an election issue, says BJP VP
A senior BJP leader Tuesday said the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was not an election issue and claimed his party would ensure it is built. Speaking to reporters here, BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha also said since the issue was being heard in the Supreme Court, it could not be brought up in Parliament. "Construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya is not an election issue. The demand for the construction of the temple was coming from the bottom of the country's heart. The issue would linger on till the temple is built," Jha said Tuesday. "The BJP will get the Ram Temple constructed at Ayodhya. As the Ram Temple issue is being heard in the Supreme Court, the matter can't be brought in Parliament," he claimed, adding that there should be no politicking over it. Taking a swipe at opposition parties, Jha said, "Will political parties like the Samajwadi Party and BSP get the temple built? Congress president Rahul Gandhi should clear his stance whether his party can get .
India, Maldives to implement liberalised visa regime
India and Maldives on Tuesday exchanged diplomatic notes for the implementation of a visa facilitation agreement to boost people to people contacts between the two countries. The agreement was signed during Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih's visit to India in December within a month after taking charge of the high office. The visit was seen as an effort by his government to repair ties with India which came under severe strain during the presidentship of Abdulla Yameen, who was known to be close to China. During Yameen's rule there were several diplomatic issues with many Indians being reportedly denied visas. The exchange of diplomatic notes follows signature on the Agreement by the President after the Union Cabinet's approval. The Agreement will be effective from March 11, 2019 after all formalities including information being provided to all Immigration Offices, Border points and Customs Authorities have been completed. This Agreement provides a very liberal visa regime for ...
Opposition misbehaved with Governor: Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday accused legislators of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Lok Insaaf Party of misbehaving during the Governor's address on the opening day of the Budget Session. As the Governor read out his address, the SAD and LIP staged vociferous walkout on separate issues. "The opposition walkout was a clear case of 'badtameezi' (misbehaviour) with the head of the state", the chief minister told reporters outside the House after the Governor's address. Earlier, when Governor V P Singh Badnore commenced his address, Akali MLAs led by Parminder Singh Dhindsa stood up and spoke against the government over issues such as farmers' suicides and "non-fulfilment" of poll promises. Later, they staged a walkout. Lok Insaaf party MLAs Simarjeet Singh Bains and his brother Balwinder Singh Bains protested the Governor's speech in English and then walked out of the House. "The problem with the opposition was that it had no issues to raise in the House and were thus trying
Chhattisgarh govt renames 5 schemes; BJP calls it vindictive
The new Congress government in Chhattisgarh has renamed five schemes that the previous BJP government had named after Jan Sangh leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Condemning the decision, the BJP, the main opposition party in the state, Tuesday created an uproar in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly over rechristening the schemes, terming the move as "political vindictiveness". The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Swavlamban Yojna has been renamed Rajiv Gandhi Swavlamban Yojna, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Sarvasamaj Manglik Bhavan Yojna has been renamed Dr B R Ambedkar Sarvasamaj Manglik Bhavan Yojna, and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya LED Path Prakash Yojna has been renamed Indira Priyadarshini LED Path Prakash Yojna. Similarly, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ajivika Kendra (livelihood centre) Yojna is now Rajiv Gandhi Ajivika Kendra Yojna, and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Shuddh Peyjal (clean drinking water) Yojna has been renamed Indira Priyadarshini Shudhh Peyjal Yojna, as per a ...
India to purchase 72,000 assault rifles from US firm
India on Tuesday signed an agreement with US-based defence firm Sig Sauer for procuring 72,400 assault rifles, at a total cost of Rs 647 crore, through the fast track mode.
Tripura minister seen touching colleague inappropriately in video, both deny 'mishandling'
A video purportedly showing Tripura minister Manoj Kanti Deb touching a woman minister's waist during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's programme here last week has gone viral on social media. The video also showed that the woman minister, Shantana Chakma, trying to move away Deb's hand. However, both the ministers, who belong to the BJP, have denied allegations by the opposition CPI-M that Chakma was "mishandled". Chakma, who is the state social welfare minister, told reporters on Tuesday that the incident was being "blown out of proportion by the opposition". "I did not find any ill motive in the action of Manoj Kanti Deb. He was trying to get a better view of the PM's inauguration ceremony and trying to go to the front. The CPI(M) is trying to politicize the issue for political gain," she said. "I will file defamation case against the CPI(M) leaders who are spreading canards against me," she told a press conference. Modi had visited Tripura on Saturday. He had inaugurated a statue of .
India, Pak youth could play a role in transforming quality of bilateral ties: Pak envoy
Youth of the two countries could play a role in transforming the quality of the Indo-Pak relations, Pakistan's envoy said here Tuesday, and urged them to be the "ambassadors of peace". High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood made the remarks during an interaction at the embassy, with a delegation of over 30 students, pursuing post-graduate degree programme in political leadership and government at Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT), Pune. Mahmood particularly stressed the role that the youth in India and Pakistan could play in "transforming the quality of bilateral relations". "He urged them to be the 'ambassadors of Pakistan-India peace' as they go forth in life and pursue their professional careers in diverse fields," the embassy said in a statement. Commenting on the historical evolution of Indo-Pak relations, Mahmood stressed on the importance of "changing the conflictual pattern of the past to a cooperative pattern in the future," the statement said. He also stressed on the ...
Citizenship Bill: Mamata supports Bhupen Hazarika's son
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday came out in support of Assamese singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika's son on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and said the Narendra Modi government should "understand and respect" the sentiments of the people of the north-east. Her comments came in the backdrop of Hazarika's son Tez saying his father's name and words were being invoked and celebrated publicly (by the Centre) even as plans were afoot to pass the "painfully unpopular" Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. In a Facebook post on Monday, Tez had described the proposed legislation as "undermining" the "documented position" of Hazarika, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna -- the country's highest civilian award -- posthumously by the Modi government last month. "We (Trinamool Congress) have opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and demanded that it should be withdrawn. "Why do citizens of this country need to prove their citizenship again? Those who have come to this country after ...
55 swine flu deaths in Gujarat till Feb 10 this year: State govt to HC
As many as 1,431 cases of swine flu have been reported from across Gujarat between January 1 and February 10 this year, with 55 patients dying due to the H1N1 virus, the state government told the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday. In 2018, 2,164 cases were reported in the state and 97 persons had died, the government told the division bench of Acting Chief Justice A S Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav. The bench was hearing a PIL filed by advocate K R Koshti, seeking a direction to the state government to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease. The government told the court that it is taking several measures to tackle the disease and had put in place infrastructure like nine laboratories for free of charge diagnosis and had approved eight private laboratories to conduct tests. The state government also told the court that apart from setting up and approving 17 laboratories equipped to test swine flu cases, it had also set up 489 isolation wards, which can be scaled up to ...
Himachal Assembly role model for other states: CM Thakur
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Tuesday said the Himachal Pradesh Assembly is the first-ever high-tech paperless Assembly implementing e-Vidhan system and a role model to other state Assemblies to follow this practice. Thakur said this while addressing the participants of the 34th International Training Programme in Legislative Drafting and Officers of Lok Sabha here. The Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, Lok Sabha, is organising this training programme under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation, in which about 43 representatives from 27 countries are participating. The chief minister said that the initiatives made by the state Vidhan Sabha is appreciable in saving huge expenses of the government on paper and unnecessary plying of vehicles during Assembly session. The implementation of e-Constituency Management will prove a pragmatic step towards empowerment of members of legislatures using information technology. The CM said such workshops and programmes go a long .
Imphal women defy curfew to protest against Citizenship Bill
Defying curfew, hundreds of women vendors on Tuesday continued their sit-in protest here demanding withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. This forced the authorities to partially block internet service in the state.
Andhra CM seeks President's intervention for 'justice'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday sought the intervention of President Ram Nath Kovind to ensure justice to the state through a resolution of the state's post-bifurcation issues.
SI partially burnt trying to stop protesters from torching UP CM's effigy
A police sub-inspector suffered partial burns Tuesday when he was trying to take away the effigy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that was set on fire by Samajwadi Party workers here, officials said. SI Kuldeep posted with Civil Lines police station suffered injuries during confrontation with the protesters in front of the the district collectorate in the evening, police said. According to Superintendent of Police (City) Ankit Mittal, some SP activists, who were agitating against the state government, started to burn the chief minister's effigy. As SI Kuldeep tried to take the effigy away from them, his uniform caught fire leaving injuries to his leg, the SP (City) said. Kuldeep was admitted to Deendayal Upadhyay Government Hospital, he said. So far, no police action has been taken against any protester, Mittal said.
Modi will come back to power, says his brother
The BJP will get more than 300 seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections and Narendra Modi will get another term as Prime Minister, his brother Prahlad Modi said here Tuesday. "I am confident that the next general elections will be a repeat of 2014. BJP will get more than 300 seats and Narendra Modi another term as Prime Minister," Prahlad Modi, who is in the city to visit temples and religious centres, told reporters at the airport here. He said the NDA-led Modi government at the Centre had been successful in implementing various development works throughout the country in the last four and a half years. To a question, he said Priyanka Gandhis entry into politics would not do any magic for Congress in the polls. On the grand alliance of Opposition parties, he said such coalitions had proved to be a failure in the past.