Page 1669 - Politics
Do not politicise CBI's ponzi scam probe, Kunal urges parties
Former Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh, an accused in the Saradha chit fund cases, Monday urged political parties not to politicise the CBI probe into the ponzi scam. In a Facebook post on Monday morning, Ghosh also said the CBI should have questioned Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar long ago. Ghosh, along with Kumar, is presently in Shillong for questioning by the CBI in the Saradha chit fund scam. "I request all political parties not to politicise the matter. The steps that are being taken now for the sake of investigation should have been taken long back - during the time of investigation by the SIT set up by the West Bengal government. Unfortunately, it did not happen. However, better late than never," he wrote. As far as the investigation is concerned, Ghosh said, a lot of precious time has been lost as neither the CBI nor the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has not taken these steps earlier. "Neither the CBI nor any other investigating agency is above criticism. But ..
Priyanaka's UP visit as general secretary fills Congress workers with joy, enthusiasm
As Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's cavalcade rolled through the streets of Lucknow, the capital of politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, Congress workers showered rose petals and threw marigold garlands at her, celebrating the much-awaited political debut. Priyanka Gandhi, accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in-charge of the state's western region Jyotiraditya Scindia, waved and smiled. Immediately after the 25-km journey began, supporters began taking vantage points through the route to click photographs for posterity. Congress workers had been busy making arrangements for the roadshow since early morning. They were seen distributing food packets, tea and water to passers by. Patriotic songs were played on loudspeakers, elevating the mood of supporters. Some posters showed Priyanka Gandhi as Goddess Durga on a lion. "Maa Durga ka roop behen Priyankaji (Sister Priyanka is Maa Durga's incarnation)," read a poster. Another highlighted her resemblance with her grandmother Indira ...
Uproar in UP Assembly over hooch tragedy; opposition demands CM's resignation
Alleging "laxity" on part of the government over the hooch tragedy, opposition members Monday created ruckus in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and demanded resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, leading to adjournment of the House during Question Hour. As soon as the House met for the day, opposition members tried to raise the matter, with SP and BSP MLAs trooping into the Well of the House and raising anti-government slogans. Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the government has taken stern action in the matter and those involved in the tragedy, that struck Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts last week, will not be spared. The opposition members also raised slogans "CM istifa do" (CM should resign). Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit repeatedly urged the opposition members to go to their seats. But when they did not relent, the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes. The state government on Sunday night announced a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) ...
Uproar in Raj Assembly over farm loan waiver, quota to Gujjar community
The Rajasthan Assembly was adjourned for an hour on the first day of its Budget Session on Monday amid uproar by the opposition demanding farm loan waiver and reservation for Gujjar community. During the Zero Hour, legislators of the BSP and the CPIM demanded that the government recommend the Centre to provide Gujjar community 5 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutes. Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria raised the issue of farm loan waiver in the assembly, saying the Congress government deceived farmers of the state by luring them to waive-off loans within 10 days after coming to power. "The state government should give details of the loan it has waived," Kataria said. To this, state urban development minister Shanti Dhariwal said the BJP had not specified the number of farmers in the state and its burden on the government while announcing farm loan waiver of up to Rs 50,000. Objecting to the minister's comment, BJP legislators trooped into the well ...
Akhilesh extends support to Naidu's fast
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Monday extended support to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's day-long hunger strike in New Delhi. "We all are with Chandrababu Naidu, who is sitting on day long hunger strike in New Delhi," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said in a tweet. He also posted pictures of his party MP Dharmendra Yadav and others with Naidu, trying to underline his party's support. Naidu began his fast in the national capital demanding the Centre grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh and fulfil all the promises made before its bifurcation in 2014.
Kumaraswamy announces SIT probe into audio clip row
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Monday announced a comprehensive SIT probe to "bring out the truth" after an audio clip he released showed state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa in a purported conversation to lure a JD (S) MLA. Kumaraswamy made the announcement in the state assembly after Speaker Ramesh Kumar suggested a special investigation team probe the episode to "establish the truth" as his name has also been dragged into the row. "Constitute an SIT to establish the truth. Give me relief in 15 days," a visibly anguished Kumar said, urging Kumaraswamy, after all members said the speaker was known for his integrity and dignity of his office should be protected. Kumaraswamy said he was also "pained" at the charge against the speaker and accepted his suggestion to form an SIT. "I seek your permission to form the SIT for a comprehensive probe to bring out the truth," he told the speaker. BJP members said the probe should be limited to the charge against the speaker as otherwise ...
Modi behaves like Pakistan PM to subvert federal structure: Kejriwal
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "world famous liar", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused him of behaving like a Pakistani Prime Minister to subvert India's federal structure.
SC to hear Zakia Jafri's plea against clean chit to Modi in Guj riots in July
The Supreme Court Monday said it will hear in July a plea of Zakia Jafri, challenging the SIT's clean chit to the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Godhra riots. A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar listed the matter for hearing in the month of July. Zakia, the wife of ex-MP Ehsan Jafri who was one of the 68 killed in Ahmedabad's Gulberg society, has challenged the Gujarat High Court's October 5, 2017 order rejecting her plea against the SIT's decision. On February 8, 2012, the SIT filed a closure report, giving a clean chit to Modi and 63 others, including senior government officials, saying there was "no prosecutable evidence" against them.
Rajya Sabha disrupted for sixth day
Rajya Sabha proceedings were washed out for the sixth day in a row amid uproar by opposition over various issues including special status for Andhra Pradesh. As the House met on Monday morning, Congress and TDP members trooped into the Well seeking to raise various issues. Two bills were introduced before Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House till 2 pm. When the House met again in the afternoon, TDP members trooped into the Well raising the issue of delay in giving special status to Andhra Pradesh while other opposition members too were on their feet. TMC and Congress members also went into the Well while other opposition members started raising slogans against the government. Deputy Chairman Harivansh tried to pacify the members saying that the Chairman did not receive any notice regarding the issues being raised by them and therefore a discussion on them cannot be allowed. He asked the members to go back to their seats so that the discussion on Motion of Thanks
Syria pullout likely to begin in weeks: US commander
The withdrawal of US troops from Syria will likely begin within weeks, the Pentagon commander in charge of American forces in the Middle East has said.
Refugee footballer will not be extradited to Bahrain: prosecutor
Refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi will not be sent back to Bahrain after Thailand dropped extradition proceedings against him on the Gulf State's request, a prosecutor said Monday. Araibi, a former Bahraini national youth team player, was granted refugee status in Australia after fleeing charges in the oil-rich kingdom connected to Arab Spring protests. But was stopped in Thailand in November attempting to go on his honeymoon. Since then, he has been detained in a Bangkok prison pending a court ruling over the extradition request from the Bahraini government -- a move the footballer has pleaded against as he fears torture if returned. Monday brought a stunning about-turn from the Bahraini government, which withdrew the extradition request, said Chatchom Akapin, Director-General of the International Affairs Department at the prosecutor's office. "We have been informed that Bahrain wants to withdraw the (extradition) request.... if they don't want him, we have no reason to keep him ..
Modi has lied, lost credibility: Congress on Andhra
Accusing Narendra Modi of lying about the Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Prime Minister is left with no credibility.
Ktka horse trading issue echoes in LS; Union minister Gowda
The issue of alleged horse trading in Karnataka echoed in Lok Sabha on Monday as the Congress cited a purported audio clip of B S Yeddyurappa to accuse the BJP of trying to lure ruling coalition MLAs, a charge firmly rejected by Union Minister Sadananda Gowda. Congress members, including Sonia Gandhi, staged a walkout from the House over the issue but returned a few minutes later. During the Zero Hour, Congress leader in the House Mallikarjun Kharge levelled allegations of horse trading against the BJP leadership and also mentioned Yeddyurappa's purported audio clip in which he is allegedly seeking to win over an MLA of the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition in the state. About the situation in Karnataka, Kharge, who is an MP from the state, claimed that there are references that the Speaker of the state assembly and even a judge "could be managed". BJP members from the state, including Sadananda Gowda, objected to Kharge's remarks. Former prime minister and JD(S) leader H
LS adjourned briefly following protests by TDP members
The proceedings in Lok Sabha were adjourned for about 30 minutes Monday following slogan shouting by TDP members who were demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. Immediately after Congress member Veerappa Moily finished his speech during a discussion on the interim budget, TDP members who had trooped into the Well started raising slogans like "We want justice". Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan urged the members to go to their seats. "This is not fair. Please go to your seat," she said. As the sloganeering continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour. Earlier in the day also, the House was adjourned for nearly 50 minutes.
Priyanka logs on to Twitter, garners massive response
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday joined Twitter and garnered a massive response with tens of thousands following her on the social media platform within hours. Her logging on to Twitter with the account @priyankagandhi came on the day of her maiden visit to Uttar Pradesh as an AICC general secretary. "Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is now on Twitter. You may follow her at @priyankagandhi," a tweet from the Congress' official Twitter handle said. She didn't post a tweet, but followed seven people, including her brother and party chief Rahul Gandhi as well as party leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ahmed Patel and the Congress's official account. Over 45,000 people followed her within hours of her joining the microblogging site. Priyanka Gandhi (47) and Scindia (48) took charge as AICC general secretary UP east and UP west respectively last week. The Congress seems to have learnt its lessons from 2014, and has been ...
US sails 2 warships close to disputed island chain in South China Sea
The US sailed two warships close to the disputed islands in the South China Sea on Monday to challenge China's excessive maritime claim, according to a media report which said the move is certain to draw the ire of Beijing. The guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Preble sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Spratly Islands as part of what the US Navy calls a "freedom of navigation operation," CNN reported. The move likely to anger Beijing at a time when the US and China ton are locked in a trade war and are negotiating a deal ahead of a March 1 deadline when US tariffs on USD 200 billion worth of Chinese imports are expected to increase to 25 per cent from 10 per cent. The Spratly Islands are a disputed group of islands, islets and cays and more than 100 reefs, sometimes grouped in submerged old atolls, in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines, Malaysia, and southern Vietnam. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though ...
'Political obituary' of Rahul Gandhi written today: Akali Dal leader
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader said on Monday that Congress President Rahul Gandhi's "political obituary" had been written with the launch of his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra into active politics.
Naidu's daylong fast becomes centre-stage for opposition support
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's daylong fast demanding special status for his state on Monday became a rallying point for various opposition leaders who visited the protest venue to back him and attack the Central government. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Congress chairperson Farooq Abdullah, NCP's Majeed Memon, Trinamool Congress' Derek O' Brien, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav were among those who met the TDP chief to express their support. The TDP president is demanding that the Centre fulfil promises made during Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014 and alleges that Modi was not following 'raj dharma' by denying the state special status. "The prime minister has stolen from the people from Andhra Pradesh and he has given that money to Anil Ambani. That is the fact of the matter," Gandhi alleged at the protest venue Andhra Bhavan in an apparent reference to the Rafale fighter jet deal with France. The government and ..
UK's May rejects pivot towards Brexit customs union compromise
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May has rejected the idea of targeting a customs union with the European Union, pouring cold water on hopes from some that she could shift her Brexit policy to win over the opposition Labour Party.
Cow important part of India's tradition and culture: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said cow has been an important part of India's tradition and culture and his government has taken several steps to improve the health of cattle. Speaking at an event here, Modi said cow has been a vital element of the rural economy. "We cannot repay the debt of cow's (gau mata) milk. Cow is an important element of India's tradition and culture," Modi said. He stressed his government has taken several steps to improve the health of cattle and started the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. In the Union Budget, Modi said, his government has also taken a decision to establish 'Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog' with an allocation of Rs 500 crore.