Page 1684 - Politics
Cong didn't do enough for country: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Saturday hit out at Congress alleging that the rival party did not do anything significant for the country's development while it was in power."Rahul Baba's family ruled the country for 55 years but didn't take any significant steps to develop the country. On the other hand, Modi ji worked for 55 months and accomplished what he had promised," he said."Apart from the BJP and Narendra Modi, no one in India can make the country strong. We don't do vote bank politics. For us the safety of our citizens and the sovereignty of our country are paramount," he added.The BJP leader also asserted that in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, BJP will win in Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and Odisha.Shah reiterated that his political party is committed building Ram Temple on the birthplace of Lord Ram."NCP and Congress leaders must make it clear before the commencement of the election whether they are in favour of building Ram Temple in Ayodhya or not," he added.
China 'firmly opposes' Modi's Arunachal visit
China on Saturday "firmly opposed" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that it has never recognised the sensitive border state and the Indian leadership should refrain from any action that may "complicate the boundary question". Prime Minister Modi Saturday inaugurated and laid foundation stone of projects in Arunachal Pradesh worth over Rs 4,000 crore and said his government was giving a lot of importance to improve connectivity in the border state. Modi said his government was giving importance to improve the highway, railway, airway and power situation in Arunachal Pradesh, which was neglected by the previous governments. In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs reacted sharply to China's remarks, saying the state of Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral and inalienable part" of India. "Indian leaders visit Arunachal Pradesh from time to time, as they visit other parts of India. This consistent position has been conveyed to the Chinese side on several
Pompeo seeks to end Hungary's eastward drift on Europe trip
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is hoping to stall inroads of Russian and Chinese influence as he visits two of the European Union's most quarrelsome members, Hungary and Poland. The top US diplomat arrives Monday in Hungary and will also visit Slovakia and Poland, in each NATO ally highlighting Washington's role in the fall of communism 30 years ago. Poland, eager for a strong US relationship amid a resurgent Russia, is teaming up with Pompeo to hold a two-day conference on the Middle East, which has drawn limited interest as Europeans balk at President Donald Trump's hawkish line on Iran. Hungary has drawn especially deep concerns among Western powers as Prime Minister Viktor Orban shows growing authoritarianism, buddies up with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Western worries over Ukraine and willfully exercises Hungary's veto within the 28-member EU. A US official said Pompeo will raise concerns about Orban's support for the Russian-backed TurkStream gas pipeline, ...
Modi's Arunachal Pradesh visit would aggravate border dispute: China
China on Saturday opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and said such actions would "escalate" and "complicate" border dispute.
Thai Princess pulls out after King opposes her prime-ministerial bid
The Thai Raksa Chart party on Saturday withdrew the candidature of Princess Ubolratana for the Prime Minister's post of the country, hours after her brother, the King of Thailand, called her nomination inappropriate.
No one can question intention, honesty of Modi: Rajnath Singh
Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said no one can question the intention and honesty of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Not running for Lok Sabha polls: Congress leader
V.M. Sudheeran, a veteran Congress leader and former party President in Kerala, said on Saturday that he will not be running in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Congress accuses BJP national leadership of horse trading to destablise Karnataka government
Citing purported audio tape conversations allegedly involving former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, the Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka through corruption and horse trading and sought to link its national leadership - Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah - in the episode.
Notice sent to ECI to frame guidelines for social media sites
An NGO has sent a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding it frame guidelines to regulate the functioning of online social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.The legal notice by Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) states that if the Election Commission fails to act the matter will be taken to court.This development has come to light after CASC in its representation to the then Chief Election Commissioner O.P Rawat sought mandatory registration of WhatsApp groups formed by political parties or candidates with the Election Commission.Election Commission had come up with its first instructions for social media on 25 October 2013.
TDP to protest against Modi's visit to Andhra Pradesh tomorrow
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday gave a call to his workers to hold Gandhian protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on Sunday.While speaking to his party leaders through a teleconference, Naidu said: "Tomorrow is a dark day. Prime Minister Modi is coming to witness the injustice that was done to Andhra Pradesh by him. Modi is weakening the states and constitutional institutions. PMO's intervention in Rafael is disrespect to the nation. We will do peaceful Gandhian protests with yellow and black shirts and balloons."The Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) national president also accused YSR Congress party president Jagan Mohan Reddy of being in collusion with the Prime minister and said, "Opposition leader in the state Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy won't speak a word against Prime Minister Modi. This proves their collusion."On February 5, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and workers of Srikakulam district in Palasa protested against BJP ...
PM Modi declares 100% household electrification in Arunchal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared hundred per cent electrification of all households in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that New India will grow with full potential only when East India and the North East grow rapidly.Addressing a public rally here, Prime Minister Modi said: "I have repeatedly said that New India will only be able to grow with its full power, when East India, the North East will grow rapidly. Working on the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', we haven't let any funds scarcity or willpower come in the way of development of Arunachal and the North East in the last four-and-half years."Speaking on the full electrification of Arunachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister said: "I would like to congratulate the state and the Chief Minister that almost every household here now has electricity connection under 'Saubhagya' scheme. What Arunachal Pradesh achieved today will soon be achieved by the entire nation."Outlining the infrastructural development of the region, ..
BSP calls off alliance with INLD, forges ties with Saini's LSP
The Bahujan Samaj Party on Saturday called off its nearly nine-month-old alliance with Haryana's main opposition INLD and announced to forge ties with LSP, an outfit floated by rebel BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini. The development comes days after Om Prakash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) suffered a humiliating defeat in the Jind bypolls, with party candidate Umed Singh Redhu forfeiting his security deposit, amid the ongoing family feud in the Chautala family. "On the directions of BSP national president and former UP chief minister Mayawati, the BSP today ends alliance with the INLD and ties up with the Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP)," BSP Haryana incharge Meghraj told reporters here. Under the new arrangement, the BSP and the LSP will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and Haryana Assembly polls. In Haryana, the BSP will contest on eight and the LSP on two Lok Sabha seats, Meghraj said. He further said his party would contest on 35 seats and LSP would on 55 seats during ..
PM inaugurates & lays foundation of projects worth Rs 4,000 crore in Arunachal Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday inaugurated and laid foundation stone of projects in Arunachal Pradesh worth over Rs 4,000 crore and said his government was giving a lot of importance to improve connectivity in the sensitive border state. Addressing at function at IG Park here, he said his government was giving importance to improve the highway, railway, airway and power situation in Arunachal Pradesh, which was neglected by the previous governments. Terming the state "pride" of the country, Modi said it is the gateway of the nation as it guards the frontier. It is the duty of the government to develop the state at any cost, he said. "Arunachal is a symbol of faith for the country as it gives us strength. The people used to greet each other with 'Jai Hind' and I salute the people for their patriotism," the prime minister said adding, India will develop only if Arunachal and the entire northeast develops, he said. "In the past 55 months, I have paid several visits to Arunachal ...
BJP may rue the CBI's peremptory action in Kolkata (Column: Political Circus)
When the Marxists were striving to establish their hegemony in West Bengal, one of their favourite targets was the Central Reserve Police (CRP), which they castigated as the centre's "occupation" force.
Thai party to comply with royal order against princess PM candidacy: statement
A Thai political party will obey a command from the king blocking the candidacy of a princess for prime minister, it said in a statement Saturday, in a dramatic reversal only a day after putting her forward for the position. "Thai Raksa Chart party complies with the royal command", it said in a LINE message to reporters. The statement added that the party is ready to do its duty with respect to the "tradition and royal customs" under Thailand's constitutional monarchy. The announcement effectively invalidates Princess Ubolratana's unprecedented bid for prime minister in March elections and comes after an extraordinary rebuke of her candidacy by her younger brother Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Thai Raksa Chart announced the princess as their candidate Friday morning in a move that looked to rattle the status quo and threaten the ambitions of the junta that has ruled Thailand since it toppled the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra in a 2014 coup. But the Thai king torpedoed the bid
Afghan Government slams Russia for allowing UN blacklisted Taliban to attend Moscow talks
The Afghan government, which was not invited in last week's Moscow talks, slammed Russia for allowing the United Nations blacklisted Taliban members to take part in the talks."They (Taliban members who are on the UN blacklist) do not have the permission to freely travel, and they are on the terrorist groups' list in many countries. Russia allowed the members to enter the country despite them being on the UN's blacklist." MoFA spokesman Sebghat Ahmadi told TOLOnes on Friday.The ministry's remarks came days after the government lodged a complaint with the United Nations over a recent trip by members of the Taliban to Moscow."Individuals such as Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai and his fellows who visited Russia are sanctioned by the UN. We have shared with the UN Security Council's 1988's committee the visit of those Taliban members to Moscow who are sanctioned by the UN," added Ahamdi.The government has criticised the talks from the beginning, by saying that the talks hosted by Russia were ...
Andhra hires 2 trains to ferry people for Delhi protest
The Andhra Pradesh government has hired two special trains to ferry people to New Delhi for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's protest against the Centre on February 11, officials said here on Saturday.
Hard work still needed before Kim-Trump summit - US envoy
There was still some hard work to be done ahead of the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a Washington envoy said Saturday after three days of talks in Pyongyang. Stephen Biegun, the US Special Representative for North Korea, said preparatory talks had been productive, but more dialogue was needed ahead of the summit scheduled for Vietnam from February 27-28. Biegun on Saturday briefed South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on his Pyongyang visit, shortly after Trump revealed the summit would take place in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. "We have some hard work to do with the DPRK between now and then," Biegun told Kang, adding: "I'm confident that if both sides stay committed we can make real progress here." Trump announced Hanoi as the location on Twitter, hailing as "very productive" the preparatory talks between diplomats from the two countries. "I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim & advancing the cause of peace!" he ..
Venezuela's Maduro open to EU initiative, Guaido plans aid corridor
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro slammed the European Union (EU)-backed International Contact Group on Venezuela, but said he would be prepared to meet its representatives, while self-proclaimed interim head of state Juan Guaido said his supporters were ready to create a humanitarian corridor if the incumbent blocks international aid.
Nigerian rivals rally supporters as election campaign peaks
Nigeria's main presidential hopefuls court voters in two key cities on Saturday, as election campaigning reaches its climax with one week to go before the ballot. The commercial hub of Lagos in the southwest is expected to grind to a halt as President Muhammadu Buhari visits for a rally in front of tens of thousands of supporters. His main opposition rival, Atiku Abubakar, is also holding a "mega-rally" in the capital, Abuja. Both events are among the final stops on the campaign trail around Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory before voting begins next Saturday. Buhari, 76, wants a second, four-year term while Abubakar, 72, is hoping to finally secure the presidency after four previous attempts. A record 84,004,084 voters are registered this year -- up 18 percent from 2015, when Buhari became the first opposition candidate in Nigerian history to defeat a sitting president. Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, secured just under 54 percent of the ...