Page 1704 - Politics
Government studying Kanhaiya Kumar's charge sheet: Kejriwal
A day after the court slammed the Delhi government for sitting on a file seeking clearance to prosecute former student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others in a sedition case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the government is working on it.
Nitish could become PM for not opposing 13-point roster: Tejashwi
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday taunted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying he could become the Prime Minister for not speaking against Central government's 13-point roster to end reservation for SC/ST and OBCs.
Bangladesh FM calls on Modi; both sides vow to strengthen ties
Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen on Thursday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who reaffirmed India's commitment to work with the neighbouring country in building on the momentum in ties during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's fresh term in office. Abdul Momen's India trip is the first high-level visit from Bangladesh since Prime Minister Hasina's landslide victory in the parliamentary election last December. During the meeting, Abdul Momen briefed Modi on the recent developments in the bilateral relationship, a statement said. Prime Minister Modi said India-Bangladesh relations have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years. He reaffirmed India's commitment to work with Bangladesh to build on this momentum during the new term in office of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Modi congratulated Abdul Momen on his appointment as the foreign minister, and appreciated his gesture of selecting India as the destination for his first foreign visit.
Bike ambulances launched for east Delhi on pilot basis
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday launched bike-ambulance services for east Delhi on a pilot basis, saying it would provide quick pre-hospital response in congested areas. Talking to reporters after flagging off 16 bike ambulances outside the Delhi Secretariat here, Kejriwal said it was a big step taken by the Aam Aadmi Party government for the people. The chief minister said four-wheeler ambulances had to face difficulty in entering narrow lanes. "If there's a medical emergency in narrow bylanes, bike ambulance can go there and immediately provide its service to patients." The AAP chief said the number of bike ambulances would be increased in the coming days. "This is a big step in the health sector. Everybody knows that the Delhi government is doing good works in education and health sectors," Kejriwal said, adding that it would also be good for traffic point of view.
SC verdict on powers of Delhi government likely next week
The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging a Delhi High Court order that the Lt. Governor is the administrator of the national capital.
Sonia Gandhi appreciates Gadkari's performance
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Thursday led the Congress in Lok Sabha in appreciating Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari for the "wonderful" work he has been doing in improving the country's infrastructure. During the Question Hour, the House took up two questions related to Gadkari's ministry in which he gave detailed description of the works being executed and works being undertaken for expanding the country's network. "I must say here that all MPs, cutting across political affiliations, have been appreciating me for the work being done by my ministry in their respective constituencies," he said. As Gadkari completed the answers amidst thumping of desks by ruling BJP members, saffron party member from Madhya Pradesh Ganesh Singh stood up and told Speaker Sumitra Mahajan that the House should appreciate the "wonderful" works being carried out by the Union Road Transport Minister. At this, Sonia Gandhi, who all through was patiently listening to Gadkari and often seen ..
Japan's Abe vows to resolve territorial dispute with Russia
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Thursday to take a "step-by-step" approach in resolving a territorial dispute with Russia left over from World War II. Abe told a rally of former residents of four islands seized by Russia in the war's final days and their supporters Thursday that settling the conflict over what Japan calls its "northern territories" was difficult but necessary. "It is not easy to resolve this task remaining over 73 years since the war. Yet, we need to tackle this," Abe said. "Keeping in mind your sentiments toward the Northern Territory, we are determined to take a step-by-step approach toward resolving the territorial issue," he said. Regaining the islands north of Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido has been a priority for Abe and his conservative base. For seven decades, the dispute has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from signing a peace treaty. In November, Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to accelerate negotiations based on a 1956 Soviet ..
Priyanka will draw crowds but not win votes for Cong: TRS
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will draw crowds but not win votes for the Congress as today's electorate back parties which deliver and are not swayed by "charisma," said the Telangana Rashtra Samiti Thursday. "Those days have gone when people with super-charisma come and sway the voters because voters today are educated, especially the youth who are making an impact," spokesperson for the ruling party in Telangana, Abid Rasool Khan, said. "They (voters) are towards parties which promise and deliver," Khan told PTI. The "classic case" in this context is the TRS which swept the recent Assembly and Panchayat polls in the state because of good governance and delivery on promises, and there was no "charisma", he claimed. Priyanka took charge as AICC general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East on Wednesday, a fortnight after her formal induction into the Congress party. "Her (Priyanka's) entry or entry in comparison with any film star or celebrity is only to draw the crowd, but ..
Congress walks out of Himachal Assembly over highways
The opposition Congress on Thursday staged a walkout from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, saying that the state's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had failed to get Rs 65,000 crore for 70 national highways sanctioned from the Centre.
Room for leap forward in Indo-Pak trade in absence of violence: Bisaria
There is room for a leap forward in trade between India and Pakistan in an atmosphere free of distrust and violence, India's High Commissioner here has said, insisting that humanitarian and trade exchanges between the two countries must continue despite "roadblocks". India follows a neighbourhood first policy to engage for mutual benefit with its neighbours and thus its relationship with Pakistan is of key importance, High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria wrote in an article for Diplomatic News Agency (DNA) and Centreline journal, which is a sister publication of DNA. "It is uniquely challenging. Both countries share deep historical, cultural, linguistic, religious and ethnic bonds. They face similar economic challenges", he said. Bisaria said despite "roadblocks", humanitarian and trade exchanges between the two countries must continue. The Indo-Pak ties strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists in 2016 and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The .
Phase I of loan-waiver starts in R'than
The Rajasthan government on Thursday started conducting camps at all the district headquarters for waiving off loans of farmers. Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot inaugurated the camp at Sirsi road here and gave certificates to the farmers. Similar camps were also started in other districts in which loan-waiver certificates will be given to the farmers. "Congress president (Rahul Gandhi) had promised the loan-waiver to farmers and the decision of loan waiver was taken within two days of the government's formation. We are executing this, which shows that Congress does what it says," Pilot said at the function. He accused the former Bharatiya Janata Party government of neglecting the interests of the farmers. Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria said the camps were being held in every district from Thursday and certificates to farmers were being issued. The entire loan taken by farmers from cooperative banks and land development banks will be waived off in the first phase. The ...
Billionaire's ban seen as pushback against Chinese foreign influence ops
Australia's decision to ban a well-connected Chinese businessman for his political activity is being seen as a potential watershed moment, the start of pushback against Beijing's long-running operations to buy influence overseas. In less than a decade, Huang Xiangmo went from a new arrival in Australia to hosting swanky waterside parties with political elites, to finally being kicked out of the country and declared persona non grata -- as a result of his alleged links to China's Communist Party. The 49-year-old Guangdong native is currently believed to be in Hong Kong, after the same officials he long courted and bankrolled revoked his residency, denied him citizenship and prevented him from returning to his multi-million-dollar Sydney mansion. Experts say his case -- which has prompted a furore in Australia over foreign donations to political parties -- is a signal that Canberra is ready to curb China's ambitious operations to influence foreign political elites. "It's a very ...
K'taka Assembly adjourned for the day amid BJP protests
The Karnataka Assembly was adjourned for the day Thursday as BJP MLAs disrupted proceedings for the second day alleging that the Congress-JD(S) coalition government lacked majority. The nine Congress MLAs, who had skipped the legislature sitting Wednesday, were not present in the House on Thursday as well. A chaotic scene greeted Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar as he entered, with the BJP MLAs in the Well of the House. Before Kumar could take his seat and start the proceedings, the BJP MLAs raised slogans like, 'Go backCM, Go back CM', 'Step Down CM, Step Down CM', 'Down down government without majority' and 'No unity, no majority'. The agitating MLAs did not pay heed to the speaker's request that the BJP members resume their seats, prompting him to adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes. When the House met again, the BJP continued with its protest, forcing the Speaker to adjourn proceedings till 12.30 p.m Friday when Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's government will table the ..
US approves sale of two missile defence systems for Air India One
The US has agreed to sell two state-of-the-art missile defence systems to Air India One for an estimated cost of USD 190 million, a move that will enhance the security of planes flying the prime minister and the president. According to the Pentagon, the sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the US by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship. The Trump administration approved purchase of the two systems known as Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS) for an estimated cost of USD 190 million, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a notification to the Congress on Wednesday. The US decision came after the Indian Government recently made request for LAIRCM SPS, given the high-level threat to the prime minister and the president. The defence systems, which would bring security of Air India One at par with that of Air Force One, would be installed in two Boeing 777 Head-of- State ...
BJD has close ties with Congress: Dharmendra Pradhan
Odisha's ruling BJD has close ties with the Congress which had always neglected the state, a senior BJP leader said on Thursday, hitting back at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remote controls Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Lashing out at the Congress, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Gandhi's family had ruled India for over four decades and his party was in power in Odisha for long but still did nothing for the state. "The people of Odisha already know how the Congress has neglected Odisha and are aware of the true character of the Congress party," he said. Pradhan alleged that the Biju Janata Dal has close ties with the Congress and raised questions on "links" between Patnaik, Gandhi and Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the VVIP chopper deal now under arrest in India. The BJP leader said Michel had lobbied for the Eurofighter, a fighter aircraft that competed with Rafale for India's bid to purchase fighter jets. A BJD MP's .
SC for now refuses 'pressure cooker' symbol to Dhinakaran-led AMMK
The Supreme Court Thursday refused to grant the 'pressure cooker' symbol for now to the T T V Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). The Delhi High Court had on March 9 last year directed the Election Commission (EC) to allot a common symbol, preferably that of a 'pressure cooker', and a name to the then AIADMK (Amma) faction led by Dhinakaran. A bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi said if the high court does not dispose of the pending case regarding allocation of symbol within four weeks then the EC may proceed as per the March 9, 2018 order. The bench said if polls to vacant seats in Tamil Nadu are announced within four weeks then the EC may allocate the symbol to Dhinakarn's party in a week as per the high court order. The top court also vacated its earlier order of abeyance on the high court's order, which was issued after the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami-led AIADMK faction had moved the apex court. The high court's order was passed on an ..
Tulsi Gabbard: Assad isn't enemy of US
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu US Congresswoman and Democratic presidential candidate, has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of using chemical weapons to attack civilians in his country's years-long civil war, is not the enemy of the US.
SC for now refuses 'pressure cooker' symbol to AMMK leader Dhinakaran
The Supreme Court Thursday refused to grant the 'pressure cooker' symbol for now to the T T V Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). The Delhi High Court had on March 9 last year directed the Election Commission (EC) to allot a common symbol, preferably that of a 'pressure cooker', and a name to the then AIADMK (Amma) faction led by Dhinakaran. A bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi said if the high court does not dispose of the pending case regarding allocation of symbol within four weeks then EC may proceed as per the March 9, 2018 order. The bench said if polls to vacant seats in Tamil Nadu are announced within four weeks then EC may allocate the symbol to Dhinakarn's party in a week, as per the high court order. The top court also vacated its earlier order of abeyance on the high court's order which was issued after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami-led faction had moved the apex court. The high court's order was passed on an application by ...
Europeans, Latin Americans to meet on Venezuela crisis
An international meeting to negotiate a solution to the Venezuelan crisis was set to open Thursday in Montevideo as President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido sparred over allowing humanitarian aid into the crisis-wracked country. The European Union, eight other European countries and five Latin American nations were scheduled to meet in the Uruguayan capital with the goal of creating conditions for a peaceful political process, according to a European diplomatic source. The initiative, originally launched by Mexico and Uruguay as a "neutral countries" conference on Venezuela, has evolved into a meeting of a "Contact Group" launched by the EU in late January, and joined by Costa Rica, Bolivia and Ecuador. On Wednesday, Maduro -- having rejected an EU ultimatum on organizing snap presidential elections -- welcomed the meeting and expressed support for "all steps and initiatives to facilitate dialogue". But Guaido, who on January 23 declared himself Venezuela's interim ..
CPI flays both Mamata, Centre over Kolkata developments
The CPI has criticised both the Centre and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the developments following CBI's attempt to question Kolkata Police commissioner in a chit fund scam and demanded a transparent inquiry into the Ponzi schemes. A day after Banerjee ended her three-day dharna in Kolkata protesting the CBI's action, CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy Wednesday accused her of trying to convert the issue into a crisis involving Centre-state relations. He said both the action and reaction were not good for democracy. Hitting out at the NDA government, he alleged cases had been filed before the elections against leaders, including Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati, former JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar. The Central government should stop using CBI and the Enforcement Directorate against political opponents, he told reporters here. Reddy alleged BJP's political opponents, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his ...