Page 1701 - Politics
Separatists call for protests in Kashmir on Saturday
Separatists have called for protests in Kashmir on Saturday and Monday to mark the death anniversaries of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and demand for return of their mortal remains. Guru was hanged on February 9, 2013 and buried inside Tihar Jail following his conviction in the Parliament attack case. Bhat was also hanged and buried inside Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984 for killing an intelligence officer. While calling for shutdown and protests on Saturday and Monday, joint resistance leadership (JRL) said it will send a memorandum to UN Secretary General to seek his intervention for the return of mortal remains of Guru and Bhat for a proper burial in Kashmir. JRL is an amalgamation of both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF which have been spearheading the separatists agenda in Kashmir.
A grand alliance govt can work, contends Gowda citing his
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday rejected claims of BJP leaders that a "grand alliance government" will create chaos and said the multi-party dispensation led by him had proved it can work well. Speaking in Lok Sabha during a debate on motion of thanks to President's address, the 85-year-old JD(S) leader, who was visibly emotional, said he spent 57 years in public life in state politics as well at the national level and this was his last speech. Recalling his days as the prime minister, Gowda, who led a coalition government for ten months between 1996-97, said he was not keen to occupy the chair since the issues involved in running a multi-party dispensation. He said his name came only after the then Prime Minister V P Singh and CPM leader and the then West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu declined to accept the post. Listing out measures undertaken by his government in several areas, Gowda said after the World Bank declined to extend assistance for not .
Rahul calls Modi 'darpok', dares him to 5 min debate on Rafale and national security
Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday described him as a "darpok" (coward) and dared him to a five minute face-to-face debate on issues such as Rafale and national security. Addressing his party's minority department convention here, Gandhi also alleged that the RSS was trying to capture the institutions of the country and asserted that his party's governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh will remove the organisation's loyalists from the system. In his speech covering a range of topics, an aggressive Gandhi slammed Modi for his China policy, saying the prime minister flew to the country and held a summit without an agenda while Beijing sent its army to Doklam. Modi folded his hands before China, the Congress chief said, adding that China realised within two months that "leave alone 56 inches, he doesn't even have a four-inch chest". "I know his (Modi) character after fighting him for five years...I say to ..
MNM to face LS polls by itself: Kamal Haasan
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan Thursday said his Makkal Needhi Maiam would contest all the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu on its own in the coming Lok Sabha polls, indicating a shift in its policy to forge alliances. "we are trying to serve good for the people with clean hands. We are trying to keep our hands clean by not allying with any of the Dravidian parties," the 64-year-old Haasan told reporters here. Asked whether his party would contest all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and one in neighbouring Puducherry, he said, "yes, we have taken such a decision". Haasan had earlier announced that his party would contest the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with like-minded parties. To a query on his two-day meeting with the district assembly constituency and area in-charges in Pollachi near Coimbatore, he said discussions centred around the areas that need to be focused ahead of the polls. Amid fanfare, Kamal Haasan had in February last year launched his political party.
Is it crime to contest elections, Hardik asks in online poll
A day after he expressed desire to contest the coming Lok Sabha election, Patidar leader Hardik Patel Thursday launched an online poll, asking people if it is a "crime" to enter electoral politics. During the Patidar quota agitation, Hardik had stated time and again that he would not contest elections. "I expect a true answer to a question, though I am yet to decide (whether) to fight elections, but is it a crime to fight polls for farmers and youth?" he asked in a Facebook poll. The social media site offers users the facility to create opinion polls. By 5 pm, 12,700 people had responded, 69 per cent of them saying contesting polls is not a crime. On Wednesday, Hardik had said he wanted to fight Lok Sabha elections, but was yet to decide if he will enter the electoral fray by joining any party. According Congress sources, the party has offered him Lok Sabha ticket from Mehasana or Amreli. Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi had welcomed Hardik's statement Wednesday. "He is
Disgruntled Cong MLAs play hardball, skip assembly session for
Playing hardball, disgruntled Congress MLAs skipped the assembly session for the second day Thursday, even as the BJP blocked proceedings of the House, claiming the ruling coalition has lost majority. Anxiety-gripped Congress has convened a legislature party (CLP) meeting Friday ahead of budget presentation and warned its MLAs that absence would invite action under the Anti-Defection Law. Opposition BJP continued its protest against the Congress-JD(S) coalition government from the Well of the assembly for the second consecutive day, forcing the speaker to adjourn the House without transacting any business. "Nine MLAs from the ruling side have not signed the assembly attendance register today," official sources said. Though a couple of legislators had given prior intimation about inability to attend, absence of legislators allegedly in touch with the BJP to switch sides, continued to be a cause of worry for the ruling coalition leaders. Four MLAs- Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh G
Priyanka Gandhi attends her first official meeting
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday discussed the party's strategy for the Lok Sabha polls with AICC general secretaries and in-charges of various states at a meeting here that was attended by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The spotlight at the meeting was on Priyanka Gandhi, who took charge as AICC general secretary in-charge of the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East on Wednesday, as she arrived at the party headquarters and headed straight for the meeting. Sources said the party's overall strategy for the Lok Sabha polls and booth-level organisation were discussed during the meet. At the meeting, Priyanka was seated next to Jyotiraditya Scindia, who also took charge on Wednesday as AICC general secretary in-charge UP West. Priyanka Gandhi has been allotted an office adjacent to that of her brother's at the party headquarters. Rahul Gandhi has also called a meeting of state chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders on Saturday in the national capital, to review ...
Sena MP rues BJP's stepmotherly treatment, calls for introspection
Accusing the BJP of giving it a stepmotherly treatment, the Shiv Sena on Thursday said though it was a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), it was not sure whether it will continue in the future.
No new industry in WB as long as Mamata Banerjee in power: Chouhan
BJP national vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan Thursday hit out at the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal and said no new industry would come to the state as long as she helmed it. "The Trinamool Congress has imposed the Trinamool Tolabaji Tax (Triple T) in West Bengal. Will any industry come?" Chouhan told a press conference here echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words at his Durgapur rally on Februray 2. In local parlance, 'tolabaji' is roughly understood as an act of organised extortion. "Add to the triple T the fourth T - that is terror by Mamata Banerjee (government)," he said. He took a swipe at the Banerjee government's slogan of 'Bengal means business' for the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), whose fifth edition commenced Thursday, saying "What kind of business is she talking about?" Chouhan said the West Bengal government has already held four BGBS and he has been told that promises of investing Rs 10 lakh crore had been made by the industry captains. ...
Alliance move to reciprocate 'respect' shown by other parties
The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Thursday said its move to forge alliances for Lok Sabha polls was a reciprocation of the 'respect' shown by other parties towards it. The AIADMK continued to enjoy the same level of clout among the people as it had under the leadership of late chief minister Jayalalithaa, senior party leader and Minister D Jayakumar told reporters here. He was responding to a question on the party's intention to form an alliance this time though it had faced the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on its own. The K Palaniswami government's performance was based on the directions laid down by Jayalalithaa. It had addressed issues such as drought while welfare schemes were being implemented for the poor, he said. "AIADMK is now enjoying the same clout that it had when Amma was alive. It has not gone down even a bit," Jayakumar, state Fisheries Minister, said. "But, even if we are strong, we accommodate other parties respecting them as they come to us out of respect ...
Prabhjot Singh, wanted by Punjab police, extradited from UAE
The Indian government has got Prabhjot Singh -- wanted in two cases by Punjab police -- extradited from the UAE, CBI officials said on Thursday.
Cong attacks govt in LS, says it is weakening constitutional
The Congress on Thursday launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha, accusing him of taking decisions without consulting ministers and his government of weakening constitutional bodies. Participating in the debate in Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President's address, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also said the present regime is "full of hatred", hence it deliberately ignores the contribution of previous governments in building India. "He (PM) knows what we have done.Still he asks what have you done in the last 60 years ... he wants to mislead the new generation to believe that it is only his government which has done things for the country," he said. Modi was seen smiling when Kharge made these remarks. Kharge said the government has also weakened constitutional bodies, but did not elaborate on his remarks. "Where is the growth. Where is employment if these are the GDP figures," Kharge said. The PM is expected to reply to the debate in .
Virbhadra's son to look after Cong affairs in HP CM's home district
The Himachal Pradesh Congress has asked former chief minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh to look after party affairs in CM Jai Ram Thakur's home district Mandi. Former minister and Congress state vice president Gangu Ram Musafir has also been asked to take charge of the party affairs in Mandi alongwith Vikramaditya Singh, who has recently been appointed as the state general secretary, HP Congress president Kuldeep Singh Rathore said. Allocating duties to various office bearers, Rathore said that another state Congress general secretary Rajneesh Kimta will look after organisation and administration of the party, whereas state secretary Hari Krishan Himral will be his political secretary. While Rathore kept media, frontal organisations with himself, state vice president Mohinder Chauhan has been asked to be in charge of social media and shakti project. Besides, state Congress general secretary Sunil Sharma and vice president Ram Lal Thakur will look after Kangra. Raghuvir .
Britain and EU agree to hold further Brexit talks
European Union leader Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday to hold further talks on Britain's withdrawal from the bloc, after what they described as a "robust" meeting. EU negotiator Michel Barnier will meet Britain's Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay on Monday in Strasbourg and May and Juncker themselves will get back together before the end of February, a spokesman said. In a joint statement issued after May met Juncker at EU headquarters in Brussels, the pair confirmed that the European Commission president had warned the British premier that the Brexit withdrawal deal cannot be renegotiated. But he "expressed his openness to add wording" to a parallel political declaration laying out ambitions for future EU-UK ties if London wants to seek a "more ambitious" closer relationship after Brexit. May, however, urged that the withdrawal agreement itself be changed, and reminded Juncker that the British parliament had mandated her to seek "a legally binding ...
UP Budget welfare-oriented, not populist, says CM Adityanath
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday described the Uttar Pradesh Budget, presented weeks ahead of the upcoming general elections, as development-oriented. "The budget should be lok kalyankari (welfare-oriented) than lok lubhawan (populist), the chief minister told reporters. Asked if presenting a development-oriented Budget reflected the government's "over-confidence" in an election year, Adityanath said, "There is no need for anyone to worry." The Budget should be the one which should strengthen the poor's right to lead an honourable life, he added. Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal Thursday presented a Rs 4.79 lakh crore budget for 2019-20 in the state assembly. The latest budget estimate is 12 per cent higher than that of the 2018-19 budget of Rs 4,28,384.52 crore. The 2019-20 budget includes new schemes worth Rs 21,212.95 crore. "This Budget is the biggest budget in the history of Uttar Pradesh and is aimed at realising the 'sab ke saath; sab ka vikas' motto of ...
Rahul Gandhi says Modi a coward, can't stand debate
In a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday dared him for a debate on Rafale fighter jet deal and other issues, saying the Prime Minister was so "scared" that he would not hold on to it even for five minutes.
France says 'unacceptable' that Italy deputy PM met 'yellow vests'
The French foreign ministry on Wednesday denounced as "unacceptable" a meeting between Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio and France's "yellow vest" anti-government protesters. "This new provocation is unacceptable between neighbouring countries and partners at the heart of the European Union," a ministry spokesman said in a statement a day after Di Maio met the protesters on French soil. "Mr Di Maio, who has governmental responsibilities, should ensure that he does not impair with its repeated interferences our bilateral relations, in the interest of both France and Italy," the spokesman said. Di Maio, head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), announced Tuesday he had met near Paris with yellow vest leader Christophe Chalencon and candidates on a yellow vest list for European Parliament elections in May, led by Ingrid Levavasseur. He invited them and other yellow vests to a follow-up meeting in Rome, claiming on Twitter that "the wind of change has crossed the
Cong walks out of Himachal assembly
The opposition Congress walked out of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly during Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur's reply to the Governor's address on the fourth day of the ongoing budget session on Thursday. The opposition Congress MLAs staged the walkout, raising the slogan 'chhor machaye shor' (thief is making noise). Unperturbed, the chief minister continued his reply. The CM said the opposition members had been given adequate time for expressing their views on the Governor's address. If they were not satisfied with his reply, they could have raised questions but the walk out was not a welcome step in a democratic set-up, he said. Earlier, the chief minister said, "Jan Manch Programme was one of the most successful programmes so far launched in Himachal Pradesh by any state government." Thakur said as many as 26,700 problems of the public had been solved in 106 Jan Manch Programmes (JMPs) held so far in 65 Assembly constituencies. He said, "The opposition raised several adverse questions ..
At AICC meet, Priyanka seated away from Rahul
Newly appointed AICC General Secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi, was on Thursday allotted a seat away from Congress President Rahul Gandhi during an important party meet here.
Mamata is today's Rani Jhansi, won't kowtow to Centre: TMC
The Trinamool Congress on Thursday called its leader Mamata Banerjee as "today's Jhansi ki Rani" and warned the BJP government that like the brave queen, the TMC chief will not be cowed down by "attacks" as the people were with her party. Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address in Lok Sabha, TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi drew a parallel between the central government and the pre-independence British regime, alleging that both have used threats and intimidation to quell opposition. "Recently a movie called Manikarnika was released.... We are reminded of Queen of Jhansi.... Who was Rani Jhansi? She was an ordinary women whom people chose that she should guard Jhansi," he said. "In Bengal also there is Rani Jhansi whose name is Mamata Banerjee. Mamata Banerjee said that 'sar kata sakte haen lekin sar jhuka sakte nahin' (we are ready to be beheaded but will not kowtow). She is today's Rani Jhansi who is an ordinary women and not a queen," .