Page 1687 - Politics
Issue clarification on claims by AAP on deletion of voters' names: BJP to poll panel
A BJP delegation led by Union minister Vijay Goel met the Chief Election Commissioner on Friday and requested him to issue clarification on "bogus claims" by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that names of 30 lakh voters in Delhi were deleted from electoral roll. The Election Commission should come out with a press statement to "expose" lies spread by the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, Goel said. "Kejriwal government is making bogus phone calls to voters on the pretext that their names have been deleted from the voter list. The Election Commission should issue a press release to expose the lies spread by Kejriwal," Goel said in a statement. The AAP has launched sustained attacks on the BJP alleging its hand behind the "deletion" of names of 30 lakh voters, particularly of Purvanchali, Muslims and Bania communities, since the assembly election in Delhi in 2015. BJP MPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Verma accompanied Goel.
Shah to address BJP workers in Goa
BJP president Amit Shah will be addressing booth-level workers of the party here Saturday. Goa BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar said that Shah will address some 30,000 booth-level workers of the BJP at the Sports Authority of Goa's stadium at Bambolim Saturday evening. The program is also likely to be attended by ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Kejriwal wants CBI raid of PMO over Rafale deal, AAP lodges police complaint against Modi
An "independent" CBI should raid the PMO, seize files and make arrests in connection with the Rafale fighter jet deal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Friday, as his party lodged a police complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh registered a complaint against Modi at North Avenue police station here after a report was published by The Hindu newspaper on the Rafale deal. "In the light of today's expose on Rafale, 'independent' CBI shud raid PMO, seize all the files related to Rafale and make arrests just like they raided my office and residence and Kolkatta police commissioner(sic)," Kejriwal tweeted. The report published by The Hindu claimed the Defence Ministry raised strong objections to "parallel discussions" conducted by the PMO or Prime Minister's Office during the negotiations over the Rs 59,000 crore Rafale deal between India and France. Singh maintained that his party was the first to flag Rafale deal "scam" as he cited a ...
Maduro rejects 'one-sided' international forum on Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday rejected a call by European and Latin American ministers to hold new presidential elections as soon as possible. Meeting in Uruguay on Thursday, the International Contact Group had called for "free, transparent and credible presidential elections" in crisis-wracked Venezuela "as soon as possible" to find a peaceful solution to the power struggle between Maduro and opposition chief Juan Guaido.
BSP likely to tie-up with rebel BJP MP's outfit in Haryana
The Haryana unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) indicated on Friday that the party could end its nearly 10-month-old alliance with the INLD and tie-up with a party floated by rebel BJP parliamentarian R K Saini. "A decision regarding our alliance with the INLD has been taken. A formal announcement will be made soon. We have decided to forge a tie-up with Mr Saini's party," state BSP president Prakash Bharti said. The development comes over a week after the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) suffered a humiliating defeat at the hustings in the Jind bypoll, which was won by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Saini, a rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Kurukshetra had last year floated the Loktantra Suraksha Party and the candidate fielded by him in the Jind by-election had put up a better performance than INLD's Umed Singh Redhu. The INLD party split last November amid the ongoing family feud in the Chautala family. "We have communicated our stand on alliance to Abhay Singh ...
SFDR successfully flight tested
The second indigenously developed "Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)" propulsion-based missile system was successfully flight tested in Odisha by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Friday. "The success of SFDR propulsion technology is a significant milestone and will pave the way for development of long-range air-to-air missiles in the country," a defence statement said. The ground booster, separation of ground booster and nozzle-less-booster performance were found satisfactory during the trial conducted in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore district, it said. The missile system was guided to high-altitude to simulate aircraft release conditions and subsequently nozzle-less-booster was ignited. The SFDR-based missile accelerated to achieve the ramjet Mach number successfully, the statement said. The trajectory was tracked by telemetry and radar stations till touchdown and all the mission objectives have been met. Defence Minister Nirmala ...
AAP govt alleges attack on CM's vehicle by BJP workers
The ruling AAP Friday alleged an attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official vehicle in Narela by BJP workers, a charge denied by the opposition party in Delhi. A blame game ensued with the BJP claiming its workers waved black flags at the chief minister for not expanding the metro line in rural pockets and "neglecting" development works in the area. A group of about 100 men tried to stop Kejriwal's car and attacked it with sticks at Narela in outer Delhi where he had gone to inaugurate development works in 25 unauthorised colonies, said a government statement. "(The) Delhi government strongly condemns the BJP attack on the chief minister's vehicle at Narela. The attack took place in (the) presence of police on the route cleared by area's deputy commissioner of police. This is the fifth such attack on the chief minister in the last three years," said a Delhi government statement. The AAP government alleged that the Delhi police "deliberately allowed" the attacks on Kejriwal ...
BJP leaders court arrest in Rajasthan
BJP activists across Rajasthan on Friday launched 'jail bharo' agitation at all party district headquarters protesting the delayed implementation of farm loan waiver by the ruling Congress government as promised in its election manifesto.
Citizenship Bill row: Protests greet Modi in Assam
All Assam Students Union (AASU) members shouted slogans against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and waved black flags at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived here Friday evening on a two-day visit to the Northeast. The prime minister witnessed the protests when he travelled to the Raj Bhavan here, where he will spend the night, from Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. A large number of AASU members were seen waving black flags to the prime minister and shouting slogans as his convoy crossed the gates of the Gauhati University at around 6.30 pm and a few minutes later as he crossed the premises of the AASU headquarters on M G Road. Slogans like 'Modi go back', 'Scrap Citizenship Amendment Bill', 'Joi Aai Asom (Glory to Mother Assam)' was heard. A large group of BJP supporters and ministers Sidhartha Bhattacharya(Education) and Pijush Hazarika (Health) were seen standing near the AASU protesters, waving placards and shouting slogans welcoming the prime ...
Delhi Financial Commissioner issues notice to Cong over its under-construction office
The court of Delhi Financial Commissioner has issued a notice to the Congress directing its representatives to appear before it after a petition alleged that the party was constructing its headquarters on Kotla Road here without environmental clearances. The appellate body has also issued notice to the Delhi government and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), asking them to appear before it on April 9. No immediate reaction was available from the Congress. Vikrant Tongad, an environmental conservative, said he filed a plea seeking to set aside the DPCC's July 16, 2018 order that stated the under-construction office complex of the party fell below 20,000 square meters and did not require consent under the provisions of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006. The notice was issued by the court of Financial Commissioner on February 1 to the Congress through its general secretary (administration). "Notice is hereby given that the case cited as subject has been fixed for .
LS polls:Congress' Telangana unit to hold meetings on Feb11,12
The Congress in Telangana would hold preliminary meetings on February 11 and 12 as part of preparationsfor the coming Lok Sabha elections. On February 11, meetings of the recently-appointed presidents of District Congress Committees, publicity committee, campaign committee and the coordination panel would be held, state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said in a release. The Pradesh Election Committee meeting would take place on February 12, he said. The party has asked aspirants for party tickets in the Lok Sabha elections to submit their applications from February 10, Congress sources said. Having suffered a drubbing in the recent Assembly elections, winning just 19 out of the 119 assembly segments, the party is keen on winning a substantial number of seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
BJP started process of forming alliances by supporting V P Singh government: Congress
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ridiculed the Opposition's attempt to forge a rainbow alliance, the Congress Friday claimed it was the BJP that started the process of forming alliances by extending support to the V P Singh government in 1989. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari asked the prime minister if the Atal Vihari Vajpayee dispensation was a 'Mahamilavat' government. "Vajpayee ji would be turning in his grave," he said while reacting to PM Modi's "mahamilavat" jibe at the Opposition. It was the BJP that started the process of forging alliances by extending support to the V P Singh government in 1989, he claimed. When the BJP-headed NDA had around 42 allies, did the prime minister think that he was heading a "Mahamilavat" government, Tewari asked. Modi in his speech in Parliament on Thursday took potshots at attempts to cobble a grand alliance of opposition parties to take on the BJP, saying people do not want a "mahamilavat" (highly adulterated) government as they have
Connected Chinese billionaire hits back at Australia ban
The Chinese businessman barred from Australia on suspicions he is part of a Communist Party influence campaign said he had been treated in a "grotesquely unfair manner" Friday and suggested his political donations could be returned. The long-term Sydney resident had been a prominent donor to Australia's two major parties before being effectively banned from the country Wednesday. In a statement Huang Xiangmo said the decision to cancel his residency visa was "based on unfounded speculations that are prejudiced and groundless." Huang led one of a series of "reunification councils" that advocate in support of Chinese Communist Party policies. Huang described the groups as being "local community organisations lawfully registered" without backing from foreign governments, and called on Australia's government to present evidence of wrongdoing. Australian intelligence agencies believe the groups are fronts for influence campaigns designed to skew Australian politics. China experts and ...
Modi has transformed from chaiwala to Rafalewala: Mamata
In a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday called him "Maddy babu", who has transformed from a "chaiwala (tea-seller) to Rafalewala", and said she supported the views of the Congress on the fighter jet deal. She also termed the Rafale deal "one of the biggest scam of the country". Banerjee's no-holds-barred attack on Modi came after the latter, at a rally in Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, accused her of trying to protect those involved in chit fund scams and warned neither the perpetrators nor those shielding them will be spared. Riled up over the prime minister's snide remarks over her holding a dharna against CBI action against the Kolkata police chief and allegation of prevalence of "syndicate raj" under TMC rule, Banerjee said, "The less we talk about this man (Modi) the better it is... Maddy babu is the master of corruption. He is the master of arrogance and is a shame for the country." "His standard
Govt committed to welfare of farmers, poor: Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said the state government was committed to the development of farmers and the poor. On the day, Gehlot distributed farm loan waiver certificates in Sanchore town of Jalore district. "It is our responsibility to serve the poorer section of society. The state government has taken various important decisions for public welfare and has fulfilled the promises it made," Gehlot said. The chief minister directed the officers to work for public welfare with a positive outlook. He said the government had decided to waive loans of upto 2 lakh. "The previous government had given only Rs 2,000 crore to cooperative institutions instead of Rs 8,000 crore. The Congress government will have to bear the burden of Rs 6,000 crore, but yet the government decided to waive loans," Gehlot said. Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, in a statement, said the BJP protest against farm loan waiver reflects frustration. He said the Congress had promised to waive ...
Tight security for Prime Minister Modi's February 10 visit
; Over 2,500 police personnel will provide tight security during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Perumanallur in Tirupur district, some 55 km from here on February 10. During his visit, Modi will lay the foundation stone for a 100-bedded ESIC Hospital and other welfare schemes. Two platforms are being erected, one for a state government function and another to address party workers from Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Karur, Namakkal and Nilgiris districts, police said. Work was also in progress to construct a helipad, they said. Checks are also being conducted at lodges in and around Tirupur to flush out any 'anti-socials,' police said.
PMO almost behaved like a middleman by having parallel negotiation on Rafale deal: Cong
The Congress launched a frontal attack on the Modi government on Monday, alleging the prime minister's office (PMO) "almost behaved like a middleman" by having "parallel negotiations" with the French government on the Rafale fighter jet deal. A note of the Defence Ministry and then defence minister Manohar Parrikar's remarks have "nailed the PMO to the wall" telling the most dynamic story of "maleficence and rot" at "the highest echelons" of the NDA government, said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari. "I have great respect for the august office of the PMO. But, I would regretfully say, the PMO almost behaved like a middleman in this defence transaction. They must answer to our direct charge," Tiwari told reporters. He also alleged that Parrikar "avoided responsibility" and "washed his hands off" when the concerns were expressed over the PMO's role in the negotiations. "Parrikar is a wise man. He knew that there is something rotten and stinking out here and tried to distance himself ..
RLSP removes Nagmani from national working president post
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) on Friday removed its leader Nagmani from the post of national working president for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities. The party also asked the former union minister to explain within three days as why his primary membership of the party should not be terminated. Nagmani, however, denied receiving any such letter from the RLSP and claimed he did not speak a single word against the party. Notably, Nagmani shared dais with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar twice within a week, probably the reason why party chief Upendra Kushwaha felt peeved and removed him from the post of the party's national working president. Keeping in mind your indulgence in anti-party activities, the national president has relieved you (Nagmani) of your responsibility with immediate effect. You should also explain within three days as why partys primary membership be not terminated, partys national general secretary Fazal Imam Mallik said in a letter ...
People's demands today more than their contribution: Bibek Debroy
Expectations of citizens today are disproportionate to what they contribute to the government coffers, as it collects just as much tax to GDP as the government used to in the time of Chandragupta Maurya, more than 2000 years back, Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy said here on Friday.
RBI, govt should address root causes of standoff: Y V Reddy
To take advantage of India's growing clout in the global space, the government and the central bank should address the root causes of recent "standoff" between them, former RBI Governor Y V Reddy said Friday. Tensions between the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the very recent past have been aired in public culminating in the resignation of Governor Urjit Patel, he said at Kale Memorial lecture here. R R Kale founded the renowned Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics in 1930. The stand-off between the government and the RBI was witnessed on various issues including sharing of the central bank's surplus, PCA framework and MSME lending. In October 2018, Reddy said, it was transpired that the government had sought the opinions of the RBI Governor under Section 7 of the RBI Act in order to give directions to the apex bank in public interest. "This is unprecedented and virtually meant that the channels of normal communication for reaching agreed position between ...