Page 1662 - Politics
Jaitley's naxal barb: Chg CM recalls Jhiram Valley killings
A day after Union minister Arun Jaitley stated that Congress had aligned with Maoists in recent Chhattisgarh elections, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel hit back Monday, asking whether the BJP forgot the 2013 pre-poll "supari killings" of Congress leaders by ultras in Jhiram Valley of the state. Baghel also dismissed Jaitley's allegations as absurd and baseless. In the post titled 'Institutions Under Attack - The Latest Fabrication', Jaitley said it is time to protect the country as well as its institutions from 'institution wreckers'. "The Congress aligned with the Maoist in the recent Chhattisgarh elections. Rahul Gandhi stood shoulder to shoulder with the 'Tukde Tukde' gang at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Congress was in the forefront of defending the urban naxals in court," he stated. Slamming Jaitley, Baghel termed him as a "blog mantri" and recalled the 2013 Jhiram Valley incident in which top leaders of the Chhattisgarh Congress were killed by ...
6 states apprise SC of steps taken to appoint Lokayukta
The Supreme Court Monday took on record the steps taken by six states -- Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram, West Bengal and Nagaland -- for appointing anti-graft ombudsman, Lokayukta. All the six states apprised a bench headed by the Chief Justice through affidavits about the progress made by them. Nagaland Government, which on October 31 last gave an undertaking before the apex court that it would appoint the state Lokayukta within three months, said former high court judge, Justice Uma Nath Singh has already started functioning as the state's Lokayukta. Taking on record the submission, the bench, also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna, asked Nagaland Government to inform it within three months about the action taken by the Lokayukta. The apex court, which was hearing a petition filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay for appointment of Lokayukta in every state, granted search committee for Tamil Nadu government three months to complete shortlisting of the persons for ...
AP CM breaks his daylong fast
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Monday ended his daylong fast with water offered by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. Naidu started his fast in the morning at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan here, demanding the Centre grant special category status to his state and fulfil the promises made before its bifurcation in 2014. A number of Opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, extended their support to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief.
Uproar in Rajasthan Assembly over farm loan waiver, quota to Gujjar community
Noisy scenes were witnessed on Monday in Rajasthan Assembly as Opposition created uproar over farm loan waiver issue and five per cent reservation to Gujjars, prompting Speaker to adjourn the House twice. Amid uproar, Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Amendment Bill, 2019 and Rajasthan Municipality Amendment Bill, 2019 were passed in the House by voice vote. The bills were tabled to scrap educational qualification for contesting panchayat and municipal elections that previous BJP government had introduced. The previous Vasundhara Raje-led government had introduced education criterion in 2015 which required a candidate to pass class 10 for contesting zila parishad, panchayat samiti and municipal elections. For contesting elections for Sarpanch of a panchayat in scheduled and other than scheduled areas, it was mandatory to pass class 5 and 8, respectively. Later, the House was adjourned till February 13. As soon as the Zero Hour started, opposition BJP legislators raised the issue of farm loan ..
Naidu's daylong fast for special status for AP becomes rallying point for opposition unity
Bringing his battle for special status for his state to the national capital, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Monday went on a daylong fast that became a rallying point for opposition unity for the second time in less than a month to fight the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut also made a surprise appearance at Naidu's 'Dharma Porata Deeksha' (day-long protest for justice) that began at 8 am. Raut said he came to attend the event as a representative of the Shiv Sena, amid strains with senior ally BJP. Naidu ended his fast at 8.20 pm, accepting a glass of juice from JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and TMC leader Derek O' Brien were among other opposition leaders who visited Andhra Bhavan to express their solidarity with Naidu, the supremo of ...
US pressurising Arab states to stop aid to Palestine: Minister
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki on Monday said that the US was exerting pressure on Arab states to stop financial aid to Palestine.
Pak SC sets one-month deadline to complete inquiry against army officers in Asghar Khan Case
Pakistan's top court on Monday set a one-month deadline for the completion of any inquiry against Pakistan Army officers who allegedly distributed millions of rupees among politicians and public figures to manipulate the 1990 elections. A three-member bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the implementation of court's decision given in 2012 in the Asghar Khan Case, which was initially launched in mid-1990s. During the hearing, Justice Ahmed asked why court martial proceedings were not initiated against the army officers. Attorney General Mansoor Ali Khan responded that no actionable evidence was found against anyone. The judge reprimanded the defence ministry for its failure to take action and ordered it to investigate the army officers in four weeks and file a reply. The order by the court came after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted its report in the court on February 9 and also sought its help to further probe the matter. In its report, the FIA highlighted ...
Citizenship bill: Security tightened ahead of Mizoram protests
Security has been tightened in view of the 'Black Day' protests scheduled to be observed by the civil societies in Mizoram Tuesday against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill, a senior police officer said. Security has been beefed up in Aizawl and over 50 big towns and villages across the state for the protest rallies to be organised under the aegis of the NGO Coordination Committee - the umbrella organisation of major civil societies and students' bodies. NGO Coordination Committee leaders said that 'black day' would be observed in view of the Centre's intention of passing the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955 during the week in the Rajya Sabha. The leaders said that stir would be intensified if the Rajya Sabha passes the amendment Bill. The Bill has created a furore in Mizoram and kicked up a storm in the northeast. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 and has been awaiting the Rajya Sabha nod. Indigenous people of the region are afraid
Previous govts used Jind just as platform to hold rallies: Khattar
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday alleged that previous governments in the state had neglected Jind and used it just as a platform to hold political rallies as he asserted that his government will leave "no stone unturned" to develop the district. During his visit, Khattar inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 12 development projects worth about Rs 46.30 crore in the district considered as political heartland of Haryana. "Previous governments in the state used Jind district just as a platform to hold political rallies and never paid attention towards its development. As a result of this, it lagged way behind in terms of development," he told reporters here. Contrary to this, he said, the BJP government during the last four years has carried out several development work in Jind. He said the state government got the work started for the construction of Regional Centre of Horticulture University. Besides, the work for the construction of Jind bypass has almost .
Trinamool terms Interim Budget 'vote-oriented'
The Trinamool Congress on Monday termed the interim Budget 2019-20 as "vote-oriented" and questioned the Narendra Modi government's track record on providing jobs, alleging that unemployment is at an all-time high in the last 45 years.
BJP govt's economic policies pushing HP towards bankruptcy: Cong leader
The economic policies of the BJP government are pushing Himachal Pradesh towards bankruptcy, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mukesh Agnihotri said in the state assembly on Monday. Starting the discussion on the state budget, which was presented in the House on Saturday, Agnihotri said instead of making economic policies to increase the revenue, the government planned to borrow Rs 5,069 in the next financial year, even when there was already a debt of Rs 5,000 in 2018-19. Defending his government, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said borrowing money was a compulsion. "Your (Congress) government also used to take loans. We are also compelled to borrow money but we have borrowed less than your government," he said. Agnihotri in turn accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of not providing adequate funds to the erstwhile Congress government. "The Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government was forced to borrow money as the Centre was not providing adequate funds to it. But now the BJP is in ...
Rajnath axes meeting with NE CMs on Citizenship Bill
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday cancelled his meeting with Chief Ministers of Northeastern states to discuss the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which is likely to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
If Lokpal implemented, PM would be accused No. 1: Veerappa Moily
The government is not implementing the Lokpal Bill only to protect Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who "perhaps" would be the "number one accused" in Rafale fighter jets deal, the Congress said on Monday.
Saudi crown prince's personal amenities, security team reach Pakistan ahead of state visit
Personal amenities of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have reached Islamabad, ahead of his two-day trip to Pakistan during which investment deals worth billions of dollars are expected to be signed between the two decades-old allies, according to a media report on Monday. The powerful heir to the oil-rich kingdom is expected to arrive in Pakistan this week, but the exact date of his arrival has not been disclosed due to security reasons. The crown prince's belongings, including his exercise equipment and furniture, reached Islamabad in five trucks, the Dawn News reported quoting Saudi Embassy sources. His security team and Saudi media representatives also arrived in the capital ahead of his visit. This will be the first visit of Mohammed as the crown prince. He had earlier visited Pakistan as defence minister at the start of the Yemen conflict. While the prince himself is expected to stay at the Prime Minister House, two of the top hotels in Islamabad have been booked fully for
Rafale: Opposition steps up attack; Congress says Modi would be 'Accused No.1'
Stepping up its attack on the government over the Rafale deal, Congress on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have been the "number one accused" if the long-awaited anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal had been in place and even his "broad shoulders" cannot bear the "bullets of corruption". The attack came from Congress and other opposition parties at multiple platforms, including inside Parliament, at a day-long fast by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu seeking a special status for his state and during a Lucknow roadshow by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The CPI(M) asked the Supreme Court to revisit its earlier ruling on the Rafale matter and sought a high-level probe to get to bottom of what it described as a "scam", while BSP supremo Mayawati accused the government of ignoring national security for the sake of 'chowkidar' (watchman), a barb often used by the Opposition for the prime minister. While the BJP leaders continued to ...
Fresh tender for Jalore Fort ropeway
A fresh tender issued recently by the Rajasthan government for ropeway at the Jalore Fort will open next month, School Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara told the state legislative assembly Monday. He was replying to a question in the House on behalf of Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh. BJP legislator Jogeshwar Garg had raised the question whether the government intends to make available facilities like ropeway at the Jalore Fort for the convenience of tourists. Dotasara said a tender for ropeway was issued on August 13, 2018, but not a single firm applied for the project. He said a fresh tender has been issued by the government on January 30, 2019, which will open on March 5, 2019. Dotasara said Rs 700 lakh had been earmarked for the project on June 28, 2017.
Rafsanjani's daughter urges Iran to separate religion, politics
The daughter of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Monday called for a separation of religion and politics in Iran and criticized a lack of freedom and repression under the current regime.
Priyanka's 'roadshow' draws eyeballs, but tough road ahead (News Analysis)
On her first public outing after making the political debut as Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday may have succeeded in drawing enough eye balls in the roadshow here but the road ahead may be arduous and bumpy.
DMK slams Modi for giving a 'go by' to Tamil, national anthems
DMK president M K Stalin Monday alleged that the practice of playing Tamil and national anthems at government events was not followed in recent State functions in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated. Playing 'Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu,' (invocation song to mother Tamil) at the start and singing the national anthem after the conclusion of programmes at government events has been a long followed practice, he said. "When Modi visited Madurai and Tirupur such a practice was not followed and it is a matter of anguish," the DMK chief said here addressing a function. On January 27, Modi laid stone for AIIMS at Madurai and he inaugurated Chennai Metro Rail's last leg besides laying the foundation stone for other projects in Tirupur on Sunday. Referring to the Prime Minsiter addressing people as brothers and sisters in Tamil ('Sahodara, sahodarigaley,') at a BJP rally (immediately after the State functions) and his citation of Tamil classic 'Thirukkural,' the DMK chief said
Interim Budget the 'election manifesto' of BJP, says AIADMK
Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK, which is being wooed by the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, on Monday criticized the Narendra Modi government on various fronts including demonetization, GST, unemployment and farm distress.