Page 1677 - Politics
Quit Cong, UPA due to Rahul Gandhi's interference: Former Union Minister SM Krishna
Former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Saturday alleged that he had to quit the Manmohan Singh-led government and the Congress party due to constant interference by Rahul Gandhi.The former Congressman who is now in the BJP alleged that the Gandhi scion 'issued diktats without holding any post neither parliament nor governance'.Speaking at an event here, the BJP leader said, "I was external affairs minister for 3.5 years and Manmohan Singh had no say over that portfolio. Rahul Gandhi was then a nobody, not even a general secretary. He issued diktat that those who turned 80 can't be a minister. When I heard that, I submitted my resignation and came to Bangalore."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 ordinance to bits. This is what they call ..
BJP's Mukul Roy, 3 others named in FIR for TMC MLA's killing;
The killing of Trinamool Congress MLA Satyajit Biswas drew sharp reactions from the ruling party and opposition BJP as a police complaint named saffron party leader Mukul Roy alleging his involvement in the incident. Roy, a former TMC general secretary who joined the BJP last year following differences with party supremo Mamata Banerjee, denied the allegation, claiming that Biswas was a "victim" of the TMC's internal feud. Amid allegations that there was no security cover despite the presence of the MLA and a minister at the venue of a Saraswati Puja where the incident occurred, the officer in-charge of local Hanskhali police station and the personal security officer of Biswas were suspended. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against the OC and the PSO, who was reportedly on leave on Saturday, police said. Roy is among the four persons against whom an FIR has been lodged in connection with the killing of Biswas, police said. An officer of the West Bengal ...
Cong ignored nation's security, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday lashed out at the Congress, saying it ignored the nation's security during its tenure and alleged it was associated with several scams in the defence sector. "From the seas to the skies, the Congress has several scams associated with the defence and in the process the party did not allow the modernisation of defence forces for long years that they were in power," Modi said addressing a party rally at Perumanallur, about 13 km from here. Asserting the NDA's work culture was different from that of previous governments, he said "those who had got opportunity to rule the nation for years did not bother about India's defence sector. For them, this sector was only about brokering deals and helping their own set of friends." Modi said the NDA government had a different approach to national security and that it was the country's dream to be self-sufficient in defence production and ensure "our forces have all possible support they require in ..
'Chowkidar' giving Andhra CM sleepless nights: Modi
In a blistering attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he was having sleepless nights as the Centre was seeking an accounting of every rupee given to the state.
AMMK leaders join AIADMK
Organising secretary of TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK Chinnadurai, along with his 100 supporters, joined the AIADMK in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami here Sunday. Palaniswami was on his way to Tirupur to participate in a function wherein Prime Minister Narendra Modi is laying the foundation for various welfare schemes for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu. Chinnadurai, along with six other office-bearers and workers, met Palaniswami at the airport here and he welcomed them to the AIADMK fold, party sources said.
Seoul: US, NKorea officials to meet in Asia ahead of summit
The United States and North Korea will meet again this month in an unidentified Asian country ahead of their leaders' planned second summit in Vietnam in late February, South Korean officials said Sunday. The US special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, visited Pyongyang last week to work out details of the February 27-28 summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After being briefed by Biegun about his discussions in North Korea, South Korea's presidential office said that the US and North Korea used Biegun's trip as a chance to explain what concrete steps they want from each other. South Korea's national security adviser Chung Eui-yong, who met Biegun, reported that US-North Korea diplomacy "is working well," presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. He said a follow-up US-North Korea meeting ahead of the summit will take place in a third country in Asia in the week that begins February 17. In Pyongyang, Biegun and Kim Hyok Chol, North .
Chandrababu Naidu a master in backstabbing: Modi
Launching a scathing attack on Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called him a master in backstabbing and destroying the dreams of people of the state."He is senior in forging new alliances. He is scared of losing the elections. He is a master having backstabbed his own father-in-law (N T Rama Rao). He is senior in destroying the dreams of Andhra Pradesh people. What has happened to Chandrababu Naidu? Why does he keep pointing out that he is my senior?" Modi said addressing a public meeting titled "Praja Chaitanya Sabha" here. Invoking the history of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), he said that the Chief Minister had diluted the anti-Congress politics of its founder N T Rama Rao."The leader of the TDP who should have worked for Congress-free India is now supporting the Congress party. He has never been able to win a second election and is afraid of losing badly in polls. He is attempting to stabilise his son in politics. He is creating own
MDMK chief Vaiko holds protest against PM Modi's visit
Anxious moments prevailed for a while Sunday when a woman raised pro-Narendra Modi slogans when MDMK chief Vaiko-led a protest demonstration here against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day. While Vaiko hit out at Modi for contiuously "betraying" the interests of Tamil Nadu, a woman, believed to be a BJP office-bearer, sneaked into the protest venue, raised slogans and posed a question to him. Vaiko,who was addressing the cadres from an open truck, asked them to maintain calm and police whisked her away even as frenzied party cadres holding black flags tried to gherao her. The MDMK chief targeted Modi for allegedly betraying Tamil Nadu on lifeline issues, including the Cauvery and for not visiting the State immediately after cyclone Gaja last November. Vaiko had held a smiliar protest demonstration against Modi on January 27 when he visited Madurai to lay the1 foundation stone for the AIIMS hospital.
Naidu has failed to use Central funds in appropriate way:PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, saying he has made a "U-turn" on promises of development by not using central funds in an appropriate way and failing to develop the state. "Our government gave to Andhra Pradesh much more than what was mentioned in special status. CM of Andhra Pradesh acknowledged this package but took a U-turn as they failed to use the funds in the appropriate way and were not able to develop the state," Modi said, addressing a public rally. Modi lashed out at Naidu for aligning with the Congress, saying the former chief minister N T Rama Rao (NTR) had launched the party to make Andhra Pradesh "congress-mukt" after he was a victim of its 'arrogance.' The Prime Minister said Naidu had been saying he was his senior and he had no problems with it. "He keeps reminding me he is senior. There is no debate in this. I have never shown any disrespect to you since ...
Now cut-out war between BJP, Trinamool in Bengal
Below a large cut-out of BJP President Amit Shah in Kolkata's northern suburb Baranagar lies a board reading "courtesy Baranagar Trinamool Congress". At first glance, the scenario may seem a welcome exception in a state where clashes between the BJP-ruled Centre and the Trinamool Congress-run state government are reaching a flashpoint ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
New Zealand to ban smoking in cars with children
The New Zealand government said on Sunday that it will ban smoking in cars with children.
Pakistan PM leaves for global summit in Dubai
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday left for a day-long visit to Dubai where he will participate in a global summit, the Foreign Office announced.
Centre committed to resolve Goa mining crisis: Shripad Naik
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has briefed the Union Cabinet about the mining crisis in Goa and asserted the need to resolve the issue on priority, Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik said on Sunday. A delegation of mining dependents and MPs from Goa had last Wednesday met Modi in New Delhi over their demand for resumption of the iron ore extraction operations in the coastal state. "After the delegation of Goa leaders and mining dependents met the prime minister, he chaired a Cabinet meeting where he briefed the members about the mining issue and asserted that we need to find a solution to it," Naik told reporters on the sidelines of a government event near Panaji. The mining operations, a key source of revenue to the government, came to a standstill in March last year following a Supreme Court order which quashed 88 mining leases. The BJP-led state government has requested the Centre to amend the existing mining laws during the ongoing session of Parliament so that leases ..
Modi rattled by opposition alliance, UP will seal his fate: Neeraj Shekhar (IANS Interview)
The entry of Priyanka Gandhi into active politics will not impact the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP has been rattled because of the coming together of the two parties, says Neeraj Shekhar, a Samajwadi Party MP.
US, N Korea to continue summit talks next week: Seoul
The United States and North Korea will hold further talks next week to prepare for a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un later this month, Seoul said Sunday. The news comes a day after Stephen Biegun, the US Special Representative for North Korea, said more dialogue was needed ahead of the summit scheduled in Vietnam. "North Korea and the US have agreed to continue negotiations in a third country in Asia during the week of February 17," Seoul's presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told reporters. He did not provide further details. Biegun travelled to Pyongyang earlier this month for three days of preparatory meetings with North Korean officials, with the State Department saying the talks focused on Trump and Kim's "commitments of complete denuclearisation, transforming US-DPRK relations and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula". Trump and Kim are due to meet in Hanoi from February 27 to 28 following their landmark first summit in Singapore last ..
'Trump executive order could ban Chinese equipment-makers in US'
US President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order next week, banning American carriers from using equipment from Chinese technology players, the media reported on Sunday.
Five terrorists killed in J-K encounter
Security forces on Sunday gunned down five terrorists and seized a big cache of arms and ammunition from them following an encounter in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.The gunfight between the terrorists and security forces broke out early this morning in the in Kellam Devsar area in south Kashmir, Army sources said.The identities and affiliation of the terrorists are yet to be ascertained.The police have also requested citizens to not to venture inside the encounter zone citing the possibility of stray explosive materials.Following the encounter locals have resorted to stone pelting in which four CRPF officials have been injured, official sources said.Two terrorists from militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 1.
Modi slams Naidu, says he has failed to use Central funds
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, saying he has made a "U-turn" on promises of development to the state and only trying to replicate NDA government's schemes. "Our government gave to Andhra Pradesh much more than what was mentioned in special status. CM of Andhra Pradesh acknowledged this package but took a U-turn as they failed to use the funds in the appropriate way and were not able to develop the state," Modi said, addressing a public rally. Modi lashed out at Naidu for aligning with the Congress, saying the former chief minister NT Ramarao (NTR) had launched the party to make Andhra Pradesh "congress-mukt" after he was a victim of its 'arrogance.' Naidu was indeed a senior to him, but only in losing elections, switching alliances and ditching his father-in-law NT Rama Rao, Modi said at a public rally here. "He keeps reminding me he is senior. There is no debate in ...
Gujjars continue dharna on rail tacks; three trains cancelled, one diverted
Gujjar community members continued their sit-in protest on rail tracks in Rajasthan's Swai Madhopur district for the third day on Sunday to press for their quota demand, forcing authorities to cancel three trains and divert one. The blockade by Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti chief Kirori Singh Bainsla and his supporters began Friday evening and has forced the West Central Railway (CWR) to divert, cancel or partially terminate nearly 200 trains in the last two days. A state government delegation, including Tourism minister Vishvendra Singh and senior IAS officer Neeraj K Pawan, Saturday met Bainsla and his supporters to hold talks, but no agreement could be reached. Bainsla said the community will continue their protest demanding 5 per cent reservation to the Gujjars, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and Gadaria communities in government jobs and educational institutions, as promised by the government in its election manifesto. "We will continue the dharna on the rail tracks. No ..
Priyanka wears jeans in Delhi, but dons saree, sindoor in UP: BJP's Harish Dwivedi
Weeks after Priyanka Gandhi's formal entry into politics, BJP parliamentarian Harish Dwivedi on Saturday took a dig at the Congress leader while invoking her choice of dresses in a demeaning way.Upon being asked about the possible impact of Priyanka Gandhi's entry into active politics ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Dwivedi told media persons here, "For me or the BJP, Priyanka Gandhi is not an issue. If Rahul Gandhi is a failure, Priyanka is also a failure. Everyone knows that when Priyanka Gandhi is in Delhi she wears jeans and top but dons saree and sindoor when she comes to the constituencies."This is not the first time that BJP leaders have courted controversy with their remarks on Priyanka Gandhi.On January 30, Surendra Singh, BJP MLA from Rohaniya constituency of Uttar Pradesh dubbed the Congress president "Raavan" and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra "Surpanakha" - the demons from Hindu epic Ramayana."We all know that before Ram and Ravan fought in Lanka, Ravan ...