Page 1676 - Politics
Rahul Gandhi has 'Rafale phobia', says Ravi Shankar Prasad
The BJP Sunday took a swipe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against the Prime Minister on the Rafale deal, accusing him of playing with the country's security in the most "irresponsible manner". Dismissing Gandhi's allegations, Union Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said he was "lying shamelessly" on the fighter jet deal and has got "Rafale phobia". "Rahul Gandhi has Rafale phobia...The kind of language he is using against the Prime Minister does not behove him," Prasad told reporters here. Citing cases of alleged corruption involving members of the Gandhi family, Prasad said, "How many corruption charges were levelled against his father (Rajiv Gandhi) in the Bofors case?...What has been the corruption record of Indiraji (former prime minister), his grandmother? We have never used the kind of language he has used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi." The Union Minister for Law, Electronics and Information Technology charged the then Congress-led UPA .
VP urges political parties to agree on common agenda
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday urged all political parties to agree on a common agenda on vital issues relating to the nations progress and security, and suggested them to evolve a code of conduct for effective functioning of Parliament and legislatures.
Kejriwal, Mamata, Naidu to hold rally in Delhi next week
Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) and N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) will address a 'Remove Dictatorship, Save Democracy Rally' at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday, the AAP said on Sunday.
People happy with Modi, want him back as PM: Union Minister
: BJP will get full majority on its own in the forthcoming general elections, as the people were happy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and want to re-elect him to the top post, Union Minister of Law, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said Sunday. Speaking to reporters here, the Minister accused the proposed 'Mahagatbandhan' (grand alliance of opposition parties) of not having any programme; having the only agenda of 'Modi Hatao' (remove Modi). ''The people of India are very happy. They want to re-elect Modi in a decisive manner. India of 2019 is not the India of the 1990s where it had Prime Ministers from 40 days to 11 months,'' he said. With the leadership which Modi has shown, the people would place their trust fully in him, the Minister said. The people have seen the work, honesty and commitment of Modi, that of the BJP and NDA government, and they would win strong support from across the country, and the party would get 300-plus seats, he .
Next round of pre-summit talks between US and North Korea likely to take place next week
The United States and North Korea will be holding the second round of pre-summit talks next week in a third Asian nation, South Korea announced on Sunday.South Korean President Moon Jae-in will be holding discussions with his US counterpart Donald Trump over the latter's impending meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam on February 27 and 28. The talks are expected to take place over the phone, Yonhap News Agency has reported."We are going to announce details as soon as preparations are complete," Seoul's Presidential spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom has been quoted by the news agency, as mentioning.The second round of discussions over Vietnam meeting, however, comes after the US special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, visited Pyongyang recently. He held the first round of discussions with his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok-chol during his three-day visit to North Korea, which concluded on Friday."I heard Representative Biegun received a warm welcome in ...
Chinook choppers arrive in India, to be deployed in Chandigarh, Jorhat
The first batch of four Chinook helicopters arrived in the country and are to be deployed on both China and Pakistan borders where they would be used for rapid troop and equipment deployment on the frontiers.The first batch of four of these tandem-rotor planes were offloaded at the Mundra port of Gujarat to be deployed in Chandigarh, Defence officials said.The multirole choppers are likely to be inducted into the Air Force by late February or early March.Though the choppers were being negotiated for by the UPA government for a long time, the final clearance was given by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security."The CH-47F (I) Chinooks will be ferried to Chandigarh, where it will be formally inducted in the Indian Air Force later this year," Boeing said in a release.The CH-47F (I) Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter that will provide the Indian armed forces with unmatched strategic airlift capability across the full spectrum of combat and ...
We're keeping an eye on officials trying to be loyal to PM: Cong
The Congress on Sunday alleged that Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi was 'implicit' in the Rafale fighter jets deal, and launched a veiled attack stating that officials trying to show loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were being "watched." "Officials should know that elections come and go, sometimes we are in opposition and sometimes we are the ruling party. We will keep an eye on officials who are over enthusiastic and trying to show loyalty to Prime Minister. They should remember that the Constitution is bigger than anything," Congress leader Kapil Sibal said during a press conference here.Sibal asserted that CAG Mehrishi, who was the Finance Secretary at the time when the deal was inked, was saving the BJP-led NDA government in a bid to save himself."CAG is going to completely save the government in its report. The whole deal was materialized in the supervision of Rajiv Mehrishi who was the then Finance Secretary. When the negotiations started the ...
Protests across Andhra against Modi's visit
Protests were held across Andhra Pradesh on Sunday to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state.
Saudi Arabia says has 'nothing to do' with Bezos-AMI dispute
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia had "absolutely nothing to do" with the National Enquirer's reporting on an extramarital relationship involving Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, the kingdom's minister of state for foreign affairs said.
Naidu drags Modi's wife name for comments on son Lokesh
Taking exception to the Prime Minister addressing him as "father of Lokesh" at a rally in Guntur Sunday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched a counter-offensive by dragging Narendra Modi's wife into the row. "You have estranged your wife. Do you have any respect in the family system," Naidu asked Modi. The TDP president said he loved his family and respected it. He said the Prime Minister did not have a family or a son. "Since you have referred to my son, I am mentioning about your wife. People, do you know Narendra Modi has a wife? Her name is Jashodaben," Naidu told a public meeting at Vijayawada. The Chief Minister also continued his outburst at the Prime Minister, accusing him of ruining the country and all the systems. Naidu, who had earlier welcomed demonetisation when it was announced on November 8, 2016, now called it a "mad Tughlaq act". "They scrapped Rs 1000 currency note but brought in Rs 2000 note. How will corruption end," he ...
Oppn pursuing soft Hindutva our ideological win, no surprise if BJP bags all 80 UP seats: Keshav
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Sunday said he would not be surprised if the BJP bags all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, and asserted it was an "ideological victory" for the saffron party that opposition parties were "pursuing soft Hindutva". Hitting out at political rivals, Maurya said he was happy that Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whose party has been "consistently obstructing" the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, is now talking about his janeu (sacred thread) and chanting Om Namah Shivay. "And far as the Samajwadi Party is concerned, its founder Mulayam Singh Yadav had once ordered firing on innocent, unarmed and harmless Ram devotees (kar sevaks). And today, his son Akhilesh is coming to the Sangam and taking a dip (during Kumbh)," he told PTI in an interview. Maurya said even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has to say 'Jai Mata Di' in West Bengal. "And I feel the day is not far when you will hear (BSP chief) Mayawati chanting Jai Shri Ram," ..
Iran FM visits Lebanon, offers support for new government
Iran's foreign minister says his country is ready to cooperate with the new Lebanese government, offering support in all sectors. Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke to reporters Sunday at Beirut's airport shortly after his arrival in the Lebanese capital. The two-day visit comes days after the leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group urged Lebanon's government to accept anti-aircraft weapons from Iran, as well as electricity and medicine. Lebanon formed a new government last week after a nine-month vacuum that exacerbated the country's economic woes. Hezbollah has three ministers in the new government. Zarif congratulated Lebanese politicians and said Iran is ready to support the government in any way possible. He is scheduled to meet with the Lebanese president, prime minister and foreign minister during his visit.
Bolivia rejects Guaido's welcoming of US military intervention in Venezuela
Bolivia has rejected self-proclaimed President Juan Guaido's openness towards a US military intervention in Venezuela amid the ongoing political turmoil in the South American nation."We reject the statements by the self-proclaimed Juan Guaidó who welcomes a US military intervention in Venezuela. I wonder what the brother Presidents who recognised him have to say about such incitement to war in Latin America," Evo Morales Ayma, President of Bolivia, tweeted on Sunday.Ayma's statement comes close on the heels of Guaido refusing to completely eliminate the possibility of authorising the United States for a military intervention to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.On January 23, Guaido proclaimed himself to be the President of Venezuela, amid cheering protesters who supported Maduro's ouster.The United States immediately lent their support to Guaido, recognising him as the official interim President, a move which has since been backed by several Latin American and European ...
Defence corridors will create 3.5 lakh jobs in UP, Tamil Nadu, says Nirmala Sitharaman
The defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will generate 3.5 lakh jobs at their various stages of supply chain, said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday. "The two defence corridors are expected to generate 3.5 lakh jobs-2.5 lakh in Uttar Pradesh and one lakh in Tamil Nadu at various stages of the supply chain," said Sitharaman in a Facebook post.According to her, investments worth Rs 3,200 crore have already been announced for Tamil Nadu defence corridor, while a defence investors' cell has been set up to ensure speedy development of the corridor in Uttar Pradesh.Talking about improving ease of doing business in the country, she said: "India has made a significant jump of 65 places, from 142 in 2014 to 77 in 2018 in the global 'Ease of Doing Business' Rankings in the last four years."Defence Minister Sitharaman attributed India's improving business milieu to the 'mantra' of 'Reform, Perform and Transform.'"Make in India, the big-ticket policy launched by Prime ...
BJP workers stage protest against Kamal Nath-led govt, accuse Cong workers of 'hooliganism'
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) workers staged a protest on Sunday against the Kamal Nath-led Madhya Pradesh government citing rise of hooliganism and failed law and order in the state. "Madhya Pradesh used to a place of peace during BJP's rule. Congress supporters have started hooliganism now. It is a culture of Congress, people knew it. If the administration does not take action against them, BJP workers will fight against them on the streets." said an agitating BJP worker.The demonstrators were holding banners which read "A protest against the rising crime- killing, robbery, hooliganism and crime against women under Congress government."In January, two BJP workers were killed in the state. Following this, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had warned the Congress government in the state that if such incidents are not curbed, the BJP will "come out on the streets.
BJP offered me Rs 30 crore to resign, claims JD(S) MLA
Janata Dal (Secular) MLA K Srinivasa Gowda alleged that the BJP offered him Rs 30 crore to resign from the JD (S).Addressing media here, Gowda said that out of the aforesaid sum, BJP leaders paid Rs 5 crore as advance, which, he said, he accepted. "BJP's CN Ashwathnarayan, SR Vishwanath and CP Yogeshwara came to my home, offered Rs 30 crore and gave Rs 5 crore in advance. They wanted me to resign from JD(S). I told them I am loyal to the party and will never do it. I spoke to HD Kumaraswamy and told them to take back that money (Rs 5 crore)," said Gowda.On Saturday, the Congress had alleged that Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa had offered a total of around Rs 200 crore to 18 Congress MLAs in an attempt to destabilise the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the state.Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that Yeddyurappa offered Rs 10 crore per MLA and Rs 50 crore to the Speaker.Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy on Friday removed dissenting Congress MLA ..
Rahul Gandhi would exercise "extra-constitutional authority" on Manmohan govt: S M Krishna
S M Krishna, a senior minister in the previous UPA government, has spoken about how Rahul Gandhi would exercise "extra-constitutional authority" on the Manmohan Singh government despite not being even general secretary of the Congress.Krishna, who quit the Congress in 2017 and joined the BJP, said the environment for governance during the UPA government was not conducive because of the coalition.Krishna was the external affairs minister under Manmohan Singh from May 2009 till October 2012."Rahul Gandhi was then a nobody, not even a general secretary. He issued a diktat that those who turned 80 can't be a minister. When I heard that, I submitted my resignation and came to Bangalore," Krishna said on Saturday.Krishna also criticized Rahul Gandhi for once tearing an ordinance and said, "There were matters that were never brought to the notice of even the ministers. The Cabinet was in discussion over passing an ordinance. But Rahul Gandhi who was somewhere in public tore a copy of the ...
US: Republican thinks former vice President Biden can beat Trump
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christies on Saturday said that former United States vice president Joe Biden has the best chance of beating President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election."I think the one that the President would be most afraid of if he can stay in his lane is Biden. And the reason why Biden could go to Ohio and Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and Michigan and appeal to white working-class voters. And if he does that, he only has to peel off 7,000-10,000 votes in each one of those states, and he only has to win two of them," said Christies during HBO's Real Time with Bill Mahar.The Republican leader made these remarks while appearing on the HBO's Real Time with Bill Mahar show for the promotion of his recently launched book 'Let Me Speak'.According to a poll surveying 689 Democratic and independent voters conducted by USA Today and Suffolk University, Obama-era vice president Biden, 76, is now the most popular option to be the next presidential candidate for the
Delhi BJP reaches out to Dalit voters through community meals
Seeking a stronger connect with Dalit voters in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is holding 'Samrasta Bhoj' (social harmony feast) in the 12 reserved assembly constituencies spread across six parliamentary seats in Delhi. The SC Morcha of the Delhi unit of the party, that had successfully organised the 'Bhim Mahasangam' rally at Ramlila ground here last month, is reaching out to the Dalit voters in the 12 reserved assembly constituencies through the 'Samrasta Bhoj', said morcha president Mohanlal Gihara. The reserved assembly constituencies, including Trilokpuri, Kondli, Seemapuri, Gokalpur, Ambedkar Nagar and Deoli, among others, will be covered under the programme, seeking support for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, he said. These 12 constituencies fall under North East Delhi, New Delhi, East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi and West Delhi Lok Sabha seats. Delhi has a total of seven Lok Sabha seats. "We are holding these 'Samrasta Bhoj' programmes to reach out to ..
Parties indulge in blame game after hooch claims scores of lives in UP
The hooch tragedy that claimed scores of lives in Uttar Pradesh took a political hue on Sunday, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recalling the hands of Samajwadi Party in "such mischievous acts" and BSP chief Mayawati seeking a CBI probe into the matter. Adityanath, from his home turf Gorakhpur, warned of stern action against all those found involved in illicit liquor trade even if they were associated with any political party. "In the past too, such type of mischievous acts by SP leaders had come to fore. In Azamgarh, Hardoi, Kanpur and Barabanki, SP leaders were found to be involved in past hooch tragedies. We can't deny conspiracy this time too," Yogi told reporters Saturday night. Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government on Sunday over the deaths in the tragedy. He said, "The opposition has been notifying the government about such activities, but they did not act as some of its ...