Page 1675 - Politics
No agenda, no answers: PM slams opposition alliance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the opposition alliance, questioning why they were combining against him when they claim his government was a failure.
Modi to hold 2 rallies in MP; BJP says it's start of campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick-start BJP's Lok Sabha campaign in Madhya Pradesh with rallies on February 15 and 16, the party said here Sunday. State BJP chief Rakesh Singh said Modi would address a public meeting at Hoshangabad on February 15 and at Dhar on February 16. "The BJP will start its campaign in the state for coming Lok Sabha polls with these two rallies," he said, though the elections are yet to be announced. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had addressed a farmers' gathering in Bhopal Friday. The BJP lost power in Madhya Pradesh to the Congress after 15 years in a closely contested Assembly election last November. There are 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state. In 2014, the BJP had won 27 seats while the Congress managed to win only two. The Congress won by-election to the Ratlam Lok Sabha seat in 2015, increasing its tally by one.
BJP, Cong heavyweights on whirlwind tour of Odisha
With the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls drawing closer, heavyweights of both BJP and Congress are all set to increase the frequency of their visits to Odisha. Both the parties are focussing on Odisha where Assembly election is likely to be held along with Lok Sabha polls in April-May this year. After his back-to-back Odisha visits, BJP president Amit Shah is scheduled to address a rally at Sambalpur on February 15, a party leader said. Shah will have a meeting with the booth level organisers of four Lok Sabha constituencies of Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Sundargarh. About 60,000 booth level organisers will attend the meeting, according to state BJP chief Basant Panda. This will be Shahs third visit to Odisha this year and the second in 12 days. His last visit to Odisha was on February 3 when he addressed a meeting of BJP's ST Morcha at Puri. Earlier, he had visited Cuttack district and addressed a public meeting at Kulia in Salipur block on January 29. On .
Cong asks CAG Rajiv Mehrishi to recuse himself from audit of Rafale deal, cites conflict of interest
Alleging conflict of interest, the Congress on Sunday requested Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi to recuse himself from auditing the deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter aircraft as he, as the then finance secretary, was part of the negotiations. The opposition party also said that it would be improper on the part of Mehrishi to present the report in Parliament. The CAG report on the controversial deal is likely to be tabled in Parliament on Monday. In a press statement, the Congress has alleged that the government compromised "national interest" and "national security" in the purchase of the 36 aircraft and said the CAG has a constitutional and statutory duty to undertake a forensic audit of all defence contracts, including the Rafale deal. "It is an act of gross impropriety for you to deal with the audit of the 36 Rafale aircraft deal on account of patent conflict of interest...You are constitutionally, legally and morally disentitled to either conduct an audit or .
Ex-MLA resigns from PDP
Former MLA Mohammad Shafi Sunday resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir citing personal reasons. "I hereby tender my resignation from the basic membership of the PDP for personal reasons," Shafi said in a letter to party president Mehbooba Mufti. He had won the 2008 assembly elections on the PDP ticket but lost to National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in 2014 elections.
Nagmani resigns, accuses Kushwaha of "selling" party tickets
RLSP leader Nagmani, who was sacked from the post of national executive president two days back, resigned Sunday from the primary membership accusing party chief Upendra Kushwaha of "selling" Lok Sabha tickets. "I am announcing my resignation in front of journalists since the RLSP did not observe the courtesy of providing me with a copy of the letter removing me from the top post, the contents of which I came to learn only through the media," Nagmani told reporters here. Nagmani was sacked from the post of national executive president for indulging in anti-party activities. "The party had held that my presence at functions attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was tantamount to indiscipline. Both such functions were held in the memory of my father Jagdeo Prasad, who is extolled by our Kushwaha community as an icon. Can I be accused of anti-party activities in such a backdrop," Nagmani asked. The former Union minister in Atal Behari Vajpayee's government also alleged ...
At Dubai summit, IMF chief warns Britain on Brexit challenge
The head of the International Monetary Fund warned Sunday that the British exit from the European Union means it "will never be as good as it is now" for the country's economy. Christine Lagarde spoke at the World Government Summit in Dubai, which also saw Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri make an own investment pitch for his small country, now struggling through a major economic crisis as one of the world's most-indebted nations. The clubby annual event brings world leaders together at a luxury hotel in Dubai for motivational talks littered with business buzzwords. But this year's summit comes amid a worldwide turn toward populism and away from globalization. Lagarde didn't hesitate to criticize Britain's upcoming departure from the EU, known as "Brexit." Britain is due to leave the European Union on March 29. UK businesses fear a possible "no-deal" Brexit with the EU will cause economic chaos by imposing tariffs, customs and other barriers between Britain and mainland Europe. "I'm
Rafale deal audit report by CAG to be another cover-up: Congress
A day before submission of the audit report on military procurement, including the Rafale jet deal, by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to the President, the Congress on Sunday citing a "conflict of interest" said the exercise is a cover-up of the "scam".
Social justice is an article of faith for NDA: Modi
Kicking off his campaign for the next Lok Sabha elections in the southern states here on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on the opposition parties.
Ladakh division: Massive rally in Kargil for rotational divisional headquarters
Thousands of people Sunday marched the streets of Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir against the administration's decision to permanently post the divisional commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) offices for the newly created Ladakh division in Leh town. The people of Kargil are demanding that divisional commissioner and IGP offices function on rotational basis -- in Kargil during summers and in Leh during winters. The procession was taken out under the banner of two influential religious organisations -- Islamic school and Khumani Memorial Trust -- and ended peacefully after a delegation met the deputy commissioner and submitted a memorandum to highlight their demands, officials said. They said the people from all walks of life, including politicians, religious leaders and social workers, participated in the rally which started from Islamia school chowk at 10.30 am and concluded at Baroo after marching the streets of the town for nearly four hours. Urging the Governor .
Spain's right, far-right protest against PM over Catalonia
Tens of thousands of people waving Spanish flags joined a rally on Sunday in Madrid called by right-wing and far-right parties against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over his negotiations with Catalan separatists. Under the shadow of a huge Spanish flag that flies above the central Colon Square, the demonstrators waved their own smaller red and yellow versions of the same banner and held signs reading "Stop Sanchez. Elections now!". Municipal police estimated some 45,000 people had taken part in the protest, which comes just two days before the high-profile trial of Catalan separatist leaders opens in Madrid under the national and foreign spotlight. The rally was called by centre-right Ciudadanos, the conservative Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox, which has only recently burst onto Spain's political scene, as well as a handful of smaller far-right groups. They are angered by Sanchez's decision to take a more conciliatory tone with pro-independence parties, whose votes are crucial to
Rahul-Priyanka combine game changer for Cong in LS polls; country needs young team: Pitroda
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will complement Congress president Rahul Gandhi's efforts in winning over young voters and the brother-sister combine will be a game changer for the party in the Lok Sabha polls as the country needs a young team, technocrat-turned-politician Sam Pitroda said Sunday. He said the Rahul-Priyanka duo will make a "great team" along with many other young leaders active in the party, including Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Milind Deora, as people who can take the country forward, rather than keeping it hung up on history and religion. Pitroda, the Indian Overseas Congress chief and a long-time friend of the Gandhi family, also said Rahul Gandhi has learnt a lot from the 2014 elections and is much more "mature, stronger, wiser", and ready to take on the job of Prime Minister. In an interview with PTI from Chicago, he said India needs a young person with a new inclusive vision of the future, focus on employment, and new opportunities for all, to lead. "India ...
Army will stage no coup: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said an army coup would never happen in India apparently referring to alleged planting of false stories that the army under the then chief V K Singh had planned such a move in 2011-12. "Few days ago, the nation showed its utter disgust at a story of how a top UPA Minister kept pushing a narrative that our army will do a coup. Every Indian knows that our army can do no such thing, but look at the Congress attitude," Modi said addressing a public rally here. The Prime Minister's comments come days after Union minister and former Army chief V K Singh said he had written to Modi seeking a probe into the alleged planting of false stories about an attempted coup during the UPA-II government in 2012. Singh had said "Indian Army loves the country and can never go against it." Modi also mentioned about the government fulfilling the four decades old demand for One Rank One Pension, and said "Congress also leaves no opportunity to belittle our ..
Russia warns against dismantling of arms control system
The dismantling of arms control system by the United States might cause unpredictable consequences, Vasily Nebenzya, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said on Saturday.
Not invited for Modi's programmes on central projects, says
: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Sunday said he has not received an invite for the Prime Minister's official programme in Hubballi-Dharwad and accused the Modi government of indulging in "petty politics". "Today's Narendra Modi's programmes, till now no officials have come to invite me," he told reporters before the Prime Minister arrived at Hubballi. Speaking to reporters here, he pointed out that for railway projects, the state government shares 50 per cent of theamount, along with land. "We need not say anything to point at the Prime Minister'spetty behaviour... We don't have any objection to them doing their party event, but the government programme that he (PM) is attending, despite having projects that has state government's assistance.... They don't have basic courtesy to invite. They are indulging in cheap politics," he added. Modi's Sunday programmes include laying the foundation for the IIT Dharwad building and gas pipeline project, among others, ...
Priyanka's appointment to have no bearing on LS polls: Sushil Modi
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday said the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East will have no impact on the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls. The senior BJP leader also asserted that the achievements during 55 months of the Narendra Modi government have "far outweighed" those in 55 years of the Congress rule. "People have faith in Narendra Modi who has brought about a major change in their lives by providing 14 crore gas connections among poor women, electrifying villages and providing toilets to more than 95 per cent households," Sushil Modi told reporters here in reply to a question. On Priyanka Gandhi's entry into active politics, he said it will have "no impact" as people are going to vote for a stable and strong government. They don't want a government like the one headed by Deve Gowda or IK Gujral at the Centre. "These elections will be 55 years of Congress rule versus 55 months of Narendra Modi government ...
Kashmir mainstream politicians sing the song of Pakistan when out of power: Jitendra Singh hits out at Mehbooba Mufti
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday hit out at PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti by saying that the mainstream politicians of Kashmir 'sing the song of Pakistan' when they are out of power, but swear by India when in power.Taking to Twitter, Singh, who is the Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), attacked former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for praising Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan while criticising the governance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India."Indeed, how times change! Kashmir mainstream politicians sing the song of Pakistan when they are out of power, but swear by India when in power. Remember, #Farooqabdullah, as CM, frequently advocated the bombing of terror camps in Pak occupied Kashmir," Singh tweeted..
Karnataka Cong chief lashes out at PM
Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches BJP's campaign in Karnataka for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress Sunday questioned the saffron party over its alleged bid to topple the coalition government is the state. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a rally at Hubballi in northern part of the state later this evening. Speaking to reporters here, Pradesh Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao posed a few questions to Modi and demanded answers from him. "Your (PM's) popular slogan has been, 'Na khaoonaga, na khaane doonga' (I will neither indulge in corruption, nor let others indulge in it). Then how did you let horse-trading and bribing of MLAs by your party leaders take place in Karnataka? Are you willing to take any unethical action in order to attain power?" he questioned. "How do you justify statements of your party leader (B S) Yeddyurappa in an audio clip that surfaced, where Yeddyurappa offered money to MLAs to switch sides and spoke about your illegitimate control .
World Government Summit begins in Dubai
The seventh session of the World Government Summit kicked off here on Sunday with the participation of over 4,000 delegates from 140 countries.
Ready for any probe; Yeddyurappa about audio tape on toppling
: Accusing Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of indulging in 'third grade' politics, Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa Sunday said he was ready for any inquiry into an audio clip about his alleged bid to destabilise the coalition government in the state. The audio tape war is set to play out in the assembly on Monday, with Yeddyurappa saying that his party would raise the matter about an audio tape in which Kumaraswamy is heard purportedly discussing cash-for-seat with supporters of an MLC seat aspirant, which had stirred a controversy in 2014. "The Chief Minister is doing third grade politics. He is indulging in blackmail, conspiracy. The Chief Minister had himself sent the MLA's son (Sharan Gouda) to the guest house whereI was staying at around 12:30 in the night and made him speak to me. They have kept the part of discussion (in the tape) that they needed as record, leaving the rest," Yeddyurappa said. Pointing out that the Chief Minister had himselfclaimed that he had .