Page 1713 - Politics
Maharashtra educationist's daughter named Sweden PMO advisor
Nila Vikhe Patil, a person of Indian descent, has been named political advisor in the Swedish Prime Minister's Office. Patil, 32, daughter of leading educationist Ashok Vikhe Patil, would be working with Stefan Lofven, the Social Democrat leader who was last month elected as Swedish prime minister, leading a Social Democrat-Green Party coalition. "Nila has been appointed as the Political Advisor to the Prime Ministers Office in charge of Finance and will handle taxes, budgets, financial markets and housing," her father told PTI. She has also been elected to the City Council of the Stockholm Municipal Corporation. Also a Political Advisor in the PMO during the previous government, Nila has been active member of the Green Party and is a member of the Election Committee of the Stockholm Green Party, he said. Born in Sweden, Nila spent early years in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and is the granddaughter of former Union Minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and niece of Radhakrishna ...
Pak's anti-graft body arrests Punjab govt's senior minister
Pakistan's anti-graft body on Wednesday arrested Punjab government's powerful senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income. The arrest has come as a jolt for Prime Minister Imran Khan who is already facing barrage of criticism for running the province of over 100 million people through his 'puppet' Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. "We have arrested Punjab senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income and he will be presented before an accountability court in Lahore on Thursday," National Accountability Bureau spokesperson Nawazish Ali Asim said in a statement. The NAB has been probing Aleem Khan in multiple inquiries, including his offshore company Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd, owning assets beyond his known sources of income and his two housing societies - Park View housing society and River Age Housing Society in Lahore - for the last one year or so. Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan
LS polls:Cong yet to decide on tie-up with TDP in Telangana
The Congress is yet to take a call on whether to join hands with the TDP in Telangana for the coming Lok Sabha elections or fight alone, a key party functionary said Wednesday. Senior Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee leaders, along with newly-elected MLAs, met the party President Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Tuesday and discussed with him reasons for the outfit's defeat in the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls. "Rahul discussed the performance of the party in Assembly election and how to work unitedly to get more Lok Sabha seats in Telangana," AICC in-charge of Telangana, R C Khuntia told PTI. On whether the Congress would have an alliance with TDP, the CPI and TJS for the Lok Sabha elections due by May, like it did in the Assembly poll, or go it alone, he said: "That has not been decided." Sources said a section in the Congress is opposed to a tie-up with the TDP (Telugu Desam Party) led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti ...
Yogi govt got rid of goons, mafia in UP: Shah
: BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday claimed the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh has dramatically improved after the Yogi Adityanath government took over. Earlier, policemen were afraid of goons, Shah said in an apparent dig at the previous Samajwadi Party government. The state has now been rid of goons and the land mafia, he told booth-level Bharatiya Janata Party workers ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Shah said nobody believed him when he said last time that the BJP will win 70 of the 80 parliamentary seats in the state. He praised party workers for making that possible in the 2014 elections. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP now faces a challenge from the recently formed Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance.
Shivraj's Murshidabad rally cancelled as WB govt didn't allow landing his chopper: BJP
The West Bengal BJP Wednesday said it has cancelled the rally of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Murshidabad district as the district administration denied permission to land his chopper. Chouhan, a BJP national vice-president, was scheduled to attend two rallies Wednesday - one at Baharampur in Murshidabad district and the other at Kharagpur in West Midnapore district. "We have decided to cancel the rally today as we were not given permission to land the chopper at Baharampur in Murshidabad district. He will be attending the rally at Kharagpur today," BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu said. It has been decided that Chouhan will now attend the rally at Kharagpur and will go there by road from the Kolkata airport, Basu said. Accusing the state administration of indulging in "vendetta politics", Basu said the TMC cannot stop the "march of the BJP by denying permission to land choppers." "Earlier also permission for landing of choppers had been ...
UP govt says it doesn't have scheme to allot land to legislators
Owing to shortage of landbank, the Uttar Pradesh government does not have any scheme to allot land to legislators, the state assembly was informed Wednesday. Housing minister Suresh Pasi made the remarks during the Question Hour in the state assembly. He was replying to BSP member Mohammad Aslam Raini, who sought to know from the government whether it will allot land to legislators. "The question does not arise... Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Board and development authorities do not have land banks," Pasi said. Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chowdhury also asked the government to consider the demand and provide lands to the legislators in the state capital. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the priority of the government is to provide land to poor and homeless and it is not considering such demand. Chowdhury said "legislators too are poor and the demand is genuine" and requested Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit to look into it. The Speaker later said the matter .
Politics of Congress and BJP driven by Hindutva: Mehbooba Mufti
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said it was difficult to differentiate between the Congress and the BJP as the politics of both parties was driven by Hindutva. "The Yogi government (Uttar Pradesh) withdrew cases against accused in Muzaffarabad riots. The Madhya Pradesh government slapped PSA (NSA) against three accused of cow slaughter. From UP to MP, political lines are getting blurred and it is difficult to differentiate between the Congress and the BJP. Hindutva drives the real politics in modern India," Mehbooba said in a tweet. She was commenting on the decision of the Congress government in MP to invoke National Security Act against three persons accused in a cow slaughter case and the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh recommending withdrawal of 38 criminal cases against 100 accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013.
Goa mining dependents, MPs meet PM Modi in Delhi
A delegation of mining dependents and MPs from Goa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday over their demand for resumption of the iron ore extraction operations in the coastal state. Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, Goa BJP chief and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, South Goa Lok Sabha member Narendra Sawaikar and representatives of Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF) made a presentation before the prime minister over issues plaguing the industry. GPMF president Puti Gaonkar later said the pime minister heard them and assured to look into the matter. "I tried to convince him that a solution to the mining crisis can be found legally," he said. Gaonkar claimed that an amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act could revive the mining leases till 2037. When contacted, Union minister Shripad Naik said the meeting was satisfactory and he was hopeful that the Centre would be able to provide a ...
Pakistan's former PM Gilani stopped from going abroad
Former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was stopped from leaving Pakistan after his name was found to be on a no-fly list, the media reported.
Unfortunate that PM Modi doesn't have poster with wife despite being married: Sanjay Singh
Congress leader Sanjay Singh on Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he, unfortunately, does not have a single poster of himself along with his wife Jashodaben Modi, despite being married."It is unfortunate for Modi ji that despite being married, he does not have a single poster of himself along with his wife. Robert Vadra is Priyanka's husband, hope this relationship lasts for long. Their names have been dragged in various things but the BJP has not been able to prove it," Singh told reporters here.He made the comments after posters came up outside the AICC office featuring Congress president Rahul Gandhi along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has recently been inducted as the party's general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, and her husband Robert Vadra late on Tuesday. The posters were later taken down by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).The posters came a day after Priyanka returned to the national capital following her trip abroad. Soon after her ...
US envoy in North Korea for nuclear talks
The US envoy for North Korea arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday for talks with his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok-chol, paving the way for a second leadership summit.
SDF launches digital campaign, targets first-time voters
The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which has been in power since 1994, has launched a new digital campaign targeting first-time voters and urging them to vote for Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
US Senator registered for bar as 'American Indian'
US Senator and prospective Democratic candidate for President Elizabeth Warren listed her race as "American Indian" on a State Bar of Texas registration card in 1986, the media reported.
Air India CMD Kharola appointed Civil Aviation Secretary
Pradeep Singh Kharola, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India, was appointed the new Civil Aviation Secretary on Wednesday.
BJP leaders disrupt Karnataka Governor's address
The 10-day Budget session of the Karnataka legislature began on a stormy note on Wednesday with BJP legislators disrupting Governor Vajubhai Vala's address to the joint sitting.
Oppn members stage walkout from UP assembly over sugarcane dues issue
Opposition Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress Wednesday staged a walkout from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, alleging that the state government was not serious about paying dues of sugarcane farmers. The matter on nonpayment of sugarcane dues was raised during the Question Hour by Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu and other members of the opposition. Minister for Sugar Industries and Cane Development Suresh Rana said a total payment of Rs 6,054 crore of various crushing seasons was pending. "For 2017-18 crushing season, 97 per cent payment has been made and Rs 1,053 crore is left. Our government is committed for the farmers' interest and has made record payment of Rs 34,411 crore till date in 2017-18 after formation of the Yogi Adityanath government in the state," the minister said. Giving figures, he said in 2014-15 a payment of Rs 20,623 crore was made while in 2015-16, Rs 18,003 crore was paid, in 2016-17 a Rs 25,338 was paid. Under the present government maximum ...
President, PM condole demise of BJD MP Ladu Kishore Swain
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the demise of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP from Aska, Ladu Kishore Swain.Swain passed away at the age of 71 on Tuesday night. He was admitted to Apollo hospital here on Tuesday due to kidney ailments."Sad to hear of the passing of Ladu Kishore Swain, MP (LS) from Aska, Odisha. He contributed immensely to society in various roles. My condolences to his family, constituents and colleagues," said President Kovind.Prime Minister Modi said that Swain's work towards rural development was noteworthy."Anguished by the passing away of Lok Sabha MP from Aska, Odisha, Shri Ladu Kishore Swain. He will be remembered for his rich service to society. His work towards rural development was noteworthy. Spoke to his son Nachiketa and expressed condolences," the Prime Minister tweeted.Besides them, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also paid homage to Swain and tweeted, "Shocked to hear the demise of Ladu Kishore
Work permit mandatory for Indian workers in Nepal
Nepal government has made it mandatory for Indian citizens who come to work in Nepal's industries and other institutions to possess necessary work permits.Nepal's department of labour and occupational safety on Wednesday has ordered all its labour offices throughout the country to finalise the actual number of Indian workers working in different sectors in the country."While inspecting the institutions the number of Indian workers would be updated and if they don't have a work permit then inform the institution to take the work permit is directed hereby," the letter signed by Prashant Shah, department's Industry Inspector states.Untill now, as part of special ties between India and Nepal, no permit is required for Indian nationals working in Nepal and vice versa. The government's move could be considered as a part of its efforts to secure the open border that Nepal shares with India.Last month, the Nepal Rastra Bank banned the circulation of Indian currency notes of Rs 200, Rs 500 ...
CBI working as 'parrot' under BJP: Manoj Jha
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha on Wednesday took a jibe at the CBI, saying it was not an autonomous agency anymore and termed it as a parrot working under the directions of the BJP."We have seen that at 2.30 am, some decision has come, where some officer has been transferred suddenly. This is the result of nuisance created by government policies, like how we saw Alok Verma ji (who was shunted out as the CBI Director) and CBI vs CBI. It is not an autonomous agency anymore, it is now a parrot working under BJP's instructions," Jha told ANI outside Parliament.A full-blown face-off between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government and the Centre erupted after a CBI team moved to arrest Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Sunday night. The central investigative agency officials were denied entry to the top cop's residence and were detained briefly too.Escalating her confrontation with the Centre, Banerjee started her 'Save the Constitution' dharna on ...
NDMC removes posters featuring Rahul-Priyanka-Robert outside AICC headquarters
Posters outside the AICC office featuring Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with newly inducted party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra were today taken down by the NDMC.Vadra's photograph was featured along with the two Gandhi siblings in the posters which had "Kattar soch nahi yuva josh" (No extremist thinking but youthful thinking) written on top and along with the tag line of "Jan Jan ki hai Pukar, Rahul Ji Priyank Ji abki baar" (The public wants Rahul and Priyanka this time).The posters that came up outside the Congress Party's headquarters office at Akbar Road here late on Tuesday were removed by workers of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Wedesday morning. BJP leader Sambit Patra said the posters that had come up were of criminals. "Posters of two criminals have been put in front of Congress office. Both of them are out on bail; Criminal no.1 Rahul Gandhi in connection with National Herald case and criminal number two Robert ...