Page 1670 - Politics
Sena takes jibe at BJP's claim of winning 43 LS seats in Maha
The Shiv Sena on Monday mocked the BJP's claim that it would win 43 out of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the upcoming general polls, dubbing it "far-fetched" and "bereft of reality". The Sena claimed the situation was grim in the state and wondered how could the BJP think of winning so many seats when the party-ruled state was staring at a slew of problems and the alliance talks with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party were still hanging fire. On Saturday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve had claimed that their party would win 43 seats, one more than in 2014, in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Maharashtra accounts for the second highest number of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the country after Uttar Pradesh, which has 80. The Shiv Sena, which is currently a constituent of the NDA at the Centre and the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, had last year announced to go solo in all future elections. However, the BJP has time and again expressed ...
Priyanka begins roadshow in Lucknow with Rahul, Scindia
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched her roadshow here on Monday on her first visit after becoming the General Secretary in charge of East Uttar Pradesh along with her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Priyanka makes political debut in UP
Marking her political debut ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi arrived at the Lucknow airport Monday afternoon to a rousing reception by party leaders and workers. Accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in-charge of the western region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, a beaming Priyanka Gandhi waved at partymen jostling for a glimpse of her. As her 'rath' rolled on, it was a selfie galore with enthusiastic partymen taking vantage positions to click prized photographs for posterity. When the trio embarked on a roughly 25-km-long roadshow through major thoroughfares of the state capital, rose petals were sprinkled and marigold garlands showered at their cavalcade. A day before her maiden visit to the state as Congress general secretary in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi said she hopes to start a "new kind of politics" in which everyone will be a stakeholder.
We must develop industry's capacity to adapt to standards" - Commerce Secretary
The Conclave, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, Government of India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), the Export Inspection Council (EIC) and Centre for Research in International Trade (CRIT), is a first of its kind national level conclave in Mumbai, after having a series of national-level Standards Conclaves in New Delhi.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joins Twitter
Congress general secretary for East Uttar Pradesh region Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has joined Twitter, the party announced on Monday."Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is now on Twitter. You may follow her at @priyankagandhi" read a tweet posted from the Congress' official handle.Priyanka, whose formal entry into politics has been a matter of speculation for several years, was given the charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, a state which always plays a key role in the formation of the central government as 80 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats are at stake there.She was formally ushered into the party fold on January 23 on "a mission" to transform its fortunes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due in a few months.The 47-year-old daughter of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister of Congress president Rahul Gandhi has, time and again, campaigned for her mother and brother in Rae Bareli and Amethi Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh.The decision to induct Priyanka was taken days after Samajwadi Party and
Indian, Pakistani troops trade fire on LoC
Indian and Pakistani armies on Monday traded fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
Thai junta chief decries coup conjecture as 'fake news'
Thailand's junta chief on Monday dismissed rumours of an impending coup as "fake news", as speculation ricocheted across a kingdom unsettled by the ill-fated political union between a princess and a party allied to the powerful Shinawatra clan. Conjecture has coursed through Thailand since Friday when the Thai Raksa Chart party proposed Princess Ubolratana, King Maha Vajiralongkorn's elder sister, as a candidate for premier after the March 24 election. Hours later, a royal command from the king appeared to put a pin in her unprecedented political aspirations. It said the monarchy was above politics and described his sister's candidacy as "highly inappropriate". The slapdown by an unassailable monarch - protected by some of the world's harshest royal defamation laws - who has never addressed the public in such strong terms, set off a chain reaction. A chastened Thai Raksa Chart, a key pillar in the election strategy of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, swiftly agreed to ...
PM stole from Andhra Pradesh and gave it to Anil Ambani: Rahul Gandhi
Expressing support for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's daylong fast, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stolen from the people of the state and given the money to industrialist Anil Ambani. The TDP president's fast, demanding that the Centre fulfil promises made during Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014 and alleging that the prime minister was not following 'raj dharma' by denying the state special status, became a rallying point for various opposition leaders who gathered at the venue to back him. "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 said at Andhra Bhavan in an apparent reference to the Rafale fighter jet deal with France. The government and Ambani have rejected Gandhi's allegations of corruption in the deal. "Mr Narendra Modi, wherever he goes, he goes to Andhra Pradesh, he lies about special status. He
Acting US Defence Secretary makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan
Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan arrived in Afghanistan on Monday on an unannounced visit.
Rahul renews Rafale attack, says PM 'opened door' for Ambani
Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday over a media report which claimed the government waived anti-corruption clauses in the Rafale deal, alleging he "opened the door" to allow Anil Ambani to "steal" Rs 30,000 crore from the Air Force. Gandhi's scathing attack came after a report in The Hindu claimed the Rafale deal between India and Franceinvolved "major and unprecedented" concessions from the Indian government, with critical provisions for anti-corruption penalties and making payments through an escrow account dropped days before the signing of the inter-governmental agreement (IGA). "NoMo anti corruption clause. The Chowkidar himself opened the door to allow Anil Ambani to steal 30,000 Cr. from the IAF," Gandhi tweeted tagging the report. The government, as well as Ambani, have strongly refuted allegations of any wrongdoing in the fighter jet agreement with France. Last week, the Congress president had demanded answers to questions raised ..
US, Russia and Blackwater mercenaries plot different futures for Afghanistan (Comment)
Two parallel peace processes on Afghanistan are underway. In Doha, Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghanistan, has held extensive round of talks with Taliban leaders, spread over several days last month. The authorship of this process is, quite jealously, America's. But on February 5 and 6, Taliban and other Afghan political groups also met in Moscow. A roadmap for the future, titled the Moscow Declaration, was announced. Among its nine points is one which also suggests coordination with the Doha process - there is no jealous guarding of ownership of the peace process here. Anyone interested in peace is the joint author. The Declaration was immediately rubbished by the Presidential Palace in Kabul. "Moscow declaration will not have impact on the peace process in Afghanistan," said palace spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri.
BJP should run from workers' contributions, not donations from money bags: Shah
Pitching for "purity" in poll funding, BJP president Amit Shah on Monday said the party must run with contributions from its workers and not on donations of "money bags, builders, contractors and those with black money". Addressing a party event to mark the 51st death anniversary of its ideological guide Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Shah said the BJP should take up the responsibility of guiding other parties on the path of probity. Two workers from each booth in the country should contribute Rs 1,000 through the NaMo app, he said. "BJP workers should say with pride that we run this party from our money and no industrialist, contractor, money bag or builder can run it," Shah said. He, however, added that as party president he cannot say the BJP can fund all its organisational and election expenses from its workers' contributions. "This is not possible today," he said. "If means are not pure, then our goals cannot be attained in a good way. If the party has to be kept pure... If the party ...
PM Modi facilitates loot, removed anti-corruption clause from Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has facilitated loot in Rafale deal as according to a media report he had removed the anti-corruption clause from the controversial fighter jet deal."Every Defence deal has an anti-corruption clause. The Hindu has reported that the Prime Minister removed the anti-corruption clause. It is clear that the Prime Minister facilitated loot," Rahul told media here.Rahul, who attended Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's day-long hunger strike against the central government, said that Prime Minister Modi has got no credibility left."I stand with the people of Andhra Pradesh. What kind of a Prime Minister is he? He did not fulfil the commitment made to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Mr Modi tells a lie wherever he goes. He has got no credibility left," Rahul said.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on Monday, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "inefficient and unfit to ...
UP Minister labels Congress' Lucknow road show as 'Chor show'
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sidharth Nath Singh on Monday said the people of Lucknow will come to see the faces of those who looted the nation in today's "chor show". "They are calling this roadshow but the BJP sees this as 'Chor machaye shor'. Gandhi-Vadra family is out on bail. They can't hold roadshow but a 'Chor show'. People of Uttar Pradesh, especially Lucknow, will come to see corrupt faces of those who looted Rs 12 Lakh crores of this nation," Singh told ANI.Congress' general secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West Jyotiraditya Scindia will conduct a road show in Lucknow. Congress President Rahul Gandhi will also accompany Priyanka and Scindia.A day ahead of her first maiden visit as Congress' eastern UP general secratary, Priyanka had said: "I am coming to Lucknow tomorrow and I wish that together we will begin a new politics and you be a part of it. Youth, women and marginalised, everyone's voices will be heard. Let's
PM Modi praises NGO's efforts towards eradicating hunger
Ahead of arriving in Vrindavan to serve meal to underprivileged schoolchildren, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday praised the efforts of an NGO towards eradicating hunger from the country. "I will be in Vrindavan today for a unique programme- to mark the serving of the 3rd billionth meal by the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Congratulations to all those associated with this mission. Their efforts towards eradicating hunger are exemplary," he tweeted. The prime minister will also unveil a ceremonial plaque at the event to mark the serving of "3rd billionth meal" by Akshaya Patra Foundation at Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir campus in this holy city. A massive stage has been erected at the venue and beautifully decked up. "The prime minister will serve food to about 20 schoolchildren from underprivileged background in the campus, marking the three billionth meal offered by Akshaya Patra," Naveena Neerada Dasa, the head of strategic communications in ISKCON, said. Funded by International ...
Modi has no credibility left: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the Prime Minister over the issue of Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh saying Narendra Modi has "no credibility" left.
Rafale deal: Modi govt followed UPA's policy on inter-governmental agreements
New Delhi [India], Feb 11 (ANI): At a time when the Narendra Modi government is under attack over the Rafale deal, it is emerging that the policy for signing inter-governmental agreements without "classically" following the Standard Operating Procedure or Standard Contract Document was laid down by the previous Congress-led UPA government in 2013.The Indian negotiating team, which firmed up the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from French company Dassault through an inter-governmental agreement, followed that policy of the UPA government, top official sources said here on Monday.In 2013, the UPA government came up with a new policy which allows the Defence Ministry to not follow the laid down rules and sign inter-governmental agreements with friendly foreign countries as per mutually agreed provisions between both sides."There may be occasions when procurements would have to be done from friendly foreign countries which may be necessitated due to geo-strategic ...
President Kovind to unveil Vajpayee's portrait in Parliament tomorrow
President Ram Nath Kovind will unveil a life-size portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Central Hall of Parliament House on Tuesday.Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ministers, and leaders of various parties are expected to mark their presence during the event, official sources said.Vajpayee, a towering BJP leader, was the Prime Minister thrice - first for 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and then from 1999 to 2004.Born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP veteran passed away on August 16, 2018, after a prolonged illness.The decision to install the portrait of the Bharat Ratna was taken on December 18 at a meeting of Parliament's Portrait Committee chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.The meeting, which was attended by Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, BJD's B Mahtab, TMC's Sudip Bondopadhyay, TRS' Jithendra Reddy, Shiv Sena's Ananth Geete and BJP's ...
LS adjourned till noon on alleged horse trading issue in KTK
The proceedings of Lok Sabha were adjourned for nearly 50 minutes on Monday when opposition members trooped into the well raising slogans on alleged horse trading in Karnataka and other issues. As soon as the Question Hour was taken up, K C Venugopal (Cong) alleged that BJP has started "operation Lotus" in Karnataka and were trying to bribe MLAs to switch sides. He alleged that names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah were taken during attempts to bribe a JD (S) MLA. BJP members shouted back at Venugopal refuting his allegations. Soon, Congress members rushed to the Well raising slogans and holding placards denouncing "horse trading". They were joined by TDP MPs. Members from the Trinamool Congress joined other opposition members in the well and shouted slogans. But the issue on which they were protesting could not be heard in the din. Around 11.10 am, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till noon.
Rafale deal unravelling faster than govt thought: Cong
The Congress on Monday said the Rafale deal is "unravelling" faster than the government thought, with issues such as "parallel negotiations" by the PMO and changes in the standard defence procurement procedure coming to the fore. The opposition party's attack on the government came after a report in The Hindu newspaper claimed that the deal between India and France involved "major and unprecedented" concessions from the Indian government, with critical provisions for anti-corruption penalties and making payments through an escrow account dropped days before the signing of the inter-governmental agreement (IGA). Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram said the Rafale deal is unravelling faster than the government thought. "First, it was the loading of the India Specific Enhancement costs on 36 aircraft instead of 126 aircraft giving a bonanza to Dassault. Then it was the revelation that 'parallel negotiations' were being carried on by PMO undermining the ...