Page 1660 - Politics
Hazarika's son upset over Citizenship bill but doesn't decline Bharat Ratna
Days after the Bharat Ratna was conferred posthumously on Assamese cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika, his son Tej Hazarika on Monday said that he does not reject the country's highest civillian honour but is unhappy how the NDA government plans to pass the "painfully unpopular" Citizenship bill which was against his father's beliefs and position.
Mukesh Ambani calls on DMK Chief
Billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani Monday called on DMK chief M K Stalin at his residence here. During the brief meeting, Ambani, who was accompanied by his wife Nita Ambani, extended his invitation for his son Akash's wedding, a party release said. According to media reports, Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta are set to tie the knot next month.
Pompeo warns Hungary not to let Russia divide West
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Hungary on Monday that Russia was seeking to divide the West, while his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto slammed criticism of Budapest's ties with Moscow as "enormous hypocrisy". Pompeo, on a visit to the most pro-Russia member of the European Union, said Hungary's dependence on Moscow's gas and its friendship with President Vladimir Putin amounted to a national security risk. "We must not let Putin drive wedges between friends in NATO," Pompeo told a joint news conference with Szijjarto. But the Hungarian foreign minister said Western criticism of Hungary's diplomacy was misguided as other European nations were also engaged in energy deals with Russia. "There is an enormous hypocrisy and political correctness in the European political arena," he said.
UK plans drone 'swarm squadrons' after Brexit
Britain on Monday announced plans for "swarm squadrons" of drones that could overwhelm enemy air defences as part of a series of plans to "enhance its lethality" after Brexit. In a hawkish speech in London, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said leaving the European Union was an opportunity for Britain "when we must strengthen our global presence". Williamson announced plans to invest 7 million pounds (8 million euros, USD 9 million) in the drones, saying he expected squadrons "capable of confusing and overwhelming enemy air defences" to be ready by the end of 2019. Williamson also said Britain would spend 65 million pounds in "offensive cyber", and bring two new naval vessels into service for operations from crisis support to conflict. Opposition parties criticised Williamson's rhetoric. "The idea that our membership of the European Union restricts us is the purest nonsense," Labour MP Chris Leslie said. "In fact the economic damage that Brexit threatens is what will most quickly ...
7 children among 16 killed in strike on IS Syria holdout: Monitor
US-led coalition air strikes on the last jihadist pocket in Syria on Monday killed 16 civilians, including at least seven children, a war monitor said. Eight women and one elderly man were also among the civilians killed while trying to flee towards the Iraqi border, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The coalition was not immediately available for comment, but has repeatedly said it does its utmost to avoid targeting civilians. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday announced the final push to expel hundreds of diehard jihadists from their last patch of territory in eastern Syria on the Iraq border. The SDF estimates that up to 600 IS fighters could still remain inside, most of them foreigners. Nineteen IS fighters were killed in clashes with the SDF on Monday, the monitor said. The Kurdish-led force lost nine fighters during battles with jihadists, the Observatory said. The SDF does not usually divulge ...
Brazil to open aid storage centre for Venezuela: Guaido envoys
Brazil has agreed to store tons of humanitarian aid at a centre near the border with Venezuela, envoys sent by opposition leader Juan Guaido said Monday after meetings with Brazilian officials. The centre, to be set up in Roraima state, would be the second on the Venezuelan border after one in Cucuta, Colombia, said Lester Toledo, the head of Guaido's aid distribution team. Guaido, who proclaimed himself Venezuela's interim president last month, is in a test of wills with the Venezuelan military and government of President Nicolas Maduro, which has blocked the aid from entering the country. Guaido's envoy to Brazil, Maria Teresa Belandria, said she had received assurances from Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo over the new aid centre. Toledo said "in coming days we will visit the state of Roraima to see where this storage center will be and from next week we will organize the arrival of this humanitarian aid." Several tons of medicine, food and basic items have been stocked ...
Apologise or face legal notice, Dushyant Chautala tells Abhay after his 'tickets sale charge'
As the feud in the Chautala family continued to play out in public, Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala on Monday asked his uncle Abhay Chautala to apologise or face legal notice after the senior INLD leader had accused his elder brother, Ajay Chautala, of selling party tickets in the 2014 assembly elections. "He (Abhay) has tried to defame Ajay Chautala. He should publicly apologise, otherwise a legal notice will be served on him," Dushyant, who is Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader, told reporters in Fatehabad in Haryana. Dushyant, the elder son of former MP Ajay Chautala, was asked to comment on allegations of selling of the party tickets made by Abhay against Ajay. Abhay had last week told reporters here that Ajay allegedly shook hands with many of INLD's opponents who belonged to different parties and entered into a quid-pro-quo arrangement with them by extending help to them in the 2014 assembly polls in return for the favour they extended to him to help his son, Dushyant Chautala, in ...
Small parties are with SP-BSP alliance, says Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that many small regional players were part of the SP-BSP alliance and all other parties should come together to oust BJP from power at the Centre in the coming Lok Sabha polls."In this alliance which we have with the BSP, you know that even the Congress is also there. We have given three seats to RLD. Nishad Party has also been included because we have jointly contested the elections in the past. Peace Party has also have supported us," said Yadav."In the coming days some parties will support us in the Lok Sabha while some parties will be with us in the Vidhan Sabha elections," said Yadav, while talking to reporters.In January, SP and BSP forged an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls posing a formidable challenge to the ruling BJP at the Centre. Among all states, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of 80 Lok Sabha seats, thus plays a crucial role in the government formation at the Centre.
Demanding mortal remains of Afzal, Maqbool is vote bank politics: MoS Jitendra Singh
After a PDP MP wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging for the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and JKLF leader Maqbool Bhat to be handed over to their families, Jitendra Singh, minister of state said that the demand was made with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and is "vote-bank" politics."These things should not be taken with seriousness. As the elections are approaching, the Kashmir centric parties compete among themselves. They look for opportunities to influence certain vote bank in certain constituencies," said Jitendra Singh. "But this time they are not going to succeed with their nefarious tactics as most of the voters are young voters and some of them are even born in the year 2000 and after. They very well understand such kind of politics and are never going to vote such people," said Singh. PDP Rajya Sabha MP Mir Mohammad Fayaz, on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging that the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict
President to unveil A B Vajpayee's life-size portrait in Parliament tomorrow
A life-size portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be unveiled by the President in Parliament House on Tuesday, an official said. President Ram Nath Kovind will unveil the portrait in the Central Hall of Parliament House in the presence of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ministers, and leaders of various parties are expected to mark their presence during the event, a parliament official said. Vajpayee became the Prime Minister for the first time in 1996 for 13 days, then for 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and then from 1999 to 2004. He passed away on August 16, 2018 at the age of 93 years after a prolonged illness.
AAP invites Rahul Gandhi for opposition rally
The AAP has invited Congress President Rahul Gandhi to attend its mega "Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao" rally in the national capital on Wednesday to corner the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, a senior party leader said. Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh told PTI that the Congress president is one of the invitees of the 'Tanashahi Hatao Loktantra Bachao' rally to be held on February 13 here. "Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin, Chandrababu Naidu are among other invited for the rally," he said. The AAP programme will be attended by all those who had participated in Banerjee's rally early this month in Kolkata, said Delhi AAP convener Gopal Rai. Sources said with just around two months before the polls, the rally will serve to bring the opposition leaders together in firming up a 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance)to challenge the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in the polls. There were talks
Loan waiver, Gujjar quota rock Rajasthan Assembly
The issues of farm loan waiver and reservation for the Gujjar community rocked the Rajasthan Assembly session, which began here on Monday.
Congress moves for disqualification of 4 rebel Karnataka legislators
The Congress on Monday asked Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar to disqualify its four rebel legislators for absenting themselves from the house in the ongoing Budget session in defiance of the party whip.
'Better late than never', says Kharge as Priyanka Gandhi begins her political innings
"Better late than never", is how Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday described the entry of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra into politics, as she began her maiden tour of Uttar Pradesh after she became the general secretary of the party. Priyanka was made in charge of Uttar Pradesh east by her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi last month. "The people expected her to come sooner. Der aaye durust aaye (better late than never). People are seeing her like (her grandmother and former prime minister) Indira Gandhi. She has a soft behaviour and she talks well and the people in the party see her as a big asset. "She will make Congress more powerful. If the country has to develop then it needs the leadership of both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi," Kharge told reporters at the venue of TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's fast in New Delhi. Priyanka made her debut in Uttar Pradesh's political arena as Congress general secretary with a grand road show on ..
Rahul to meet foreign envoys on Feb 15
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will interact with ambassadors and high commissioners from diplomatic missions stationed here this week. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said such a meeting was scheduled for Friday. Gandhi has invited ambassadors and high commissioners from the diplomatic missions for a lunch meeting on February 15 as part of his outreach to various sections ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, sources said. The Congress president had hosted envoys of about 40 countries for an Iftar party last year.
AP CM indulging in theatrics, lost credibility among people: Amit Shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Monday hit out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and accused him of indulging in theatrics as he has lost credibility among the people of Andhra Pradesh.
BJP launches 'Jan Adalat' campaign in Odisha
The opposition BJP Monday launched "Jan Adalat" programme in all the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies across Odisha. Jan Adalat (people's court) was held in three Lok Sabha segments of Berhampur, Puri and Kalahandi on the first day on Monday. Similar programmes are scheduled in all the Lok Sabha constituencies by February 17, said state BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty. Alleging that the 19-year-old BJD government in Odisha was "neck deep in corruption", Mohanty said the programme would highlight inefficiencies of the ruling party. A court atmosphere will be created where a renowned person will preside over as the judge. People attending the programme will speak out against the corruption of their representatives and the judge will deliver the judgement.
Pompeo says US 'not covering up' Khashoggi murder
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday denied Washington was "covering up" the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and promised further action. "America is not covering up for a murder," Pompeo told reporters in Budapest when asked about criticism by a senior Democrat. The remarks came after US President Donald Trump missed a deadline set by Congress to reply by Friday on whether Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of the Washington Post contributor. Pompeo said that Trump's administration was "working diligently" on its investigation. "The president has been very clear -- couldn't be more clear -- as we get additional information, we will continue to hold all of those responsible accountable," he said. Khashoggi, who lived in the United States, was strangled to death and dismembered in October after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to take care of paperwork for his marriage, according to officials. Trump said nothing on ...
MP Kakade meets NCP's Ajit Pawar, says CM unhappy with him
Stating that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is ignoring him at the behest of a couple of senior BJP leaders, Sanjay Kakade, who is a Rajya Sabha member and the party's associate member, Monday met NCP stalwart Ajit Pawar here, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Kakade, who has expressed his desire to contest from Pune Lok Sabha seat on multiple occasions, accused district guardian minister Girish Bapat and BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve of "ill-treating" him. "Entire Maharashtra knows how I was treated by Bapat and Danve, and how they talked ill about me to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," he told reporters. Kakade said the CM is like a brother to him, "but it seems that he is also not happy with me after listening about me from Bapat and Danve". "If a brother is listening to someone else and driving me out of house, I will have no option but to look for another home," he said. Kakade had hogged the headlines for predicting a dismal show by BJP in the
Modi boasted of '56-inch chest', but hollowness of his claims now coming out: Rahul
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he used to boast about his "56-inch chest", but the "hollowness" of his claims is now coming out in the open. Addressing Congress workers after a roadshow in Lucknow, where he was accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her first public event after entering active politics, Gandhi claimed Modi's body language has also changed now and the entire country has got to know about his "hollowness". "When Narendra Modiji came, he had said he has 56-inch chest, he wants to be a chowkidar (watchman) and he wants to be prime minister of the country. But now, one after another truth is coming out," Gandhi said, citing recent media reports on the alleged "parallel negotiations" done by the Prime Minister's Office in the Rafale deal and the alleged dilution of anti-corruption clause in the jet purchase agreement. "The hollowness that was inside him has now come out before the entire nation. The ...