Page 1718 - Politics
Internet services snapped in parts of Srinagar to stop separatists address Kashmir conference in UK
Mobile internet services were snapped for five hours in parts of the city Tuesday to prevent separatist leaders from addressing the 'International Conference on Kashmir' in London through video conferencing, officials said. The services were snapped within two-kilometre radius of the residences of Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq in Hyderpora and Nigeen areas of the city, respectively, they said. The services were restored at 10 pm, the officials said. The International Conference on Kashmir was held inside the British Parliament Tuesday. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed the conference. India had on Thursday said it has "very strongly" taken up with the UK the issue of a conference on Kashmir in London. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said India was expecting the British government to address its concerns on the issue, adding the conference is "very clearly" intended to undermine unity, sovereignty and ...
Mamata says police commissioner not on dharna with her
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday described as "blatant lie" the Union Home Ministry charge that Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar participated in her dharna, and said the officer never went up to the dais of her three-day sit-in. Banerjee slammed the Centre for asking West Bengal government to initiate proceedings against Kumar for indiscipline and violation of service rules, and termed the act a "political vendetta". "Why is the central government so scared? Has Rajeev become their nightmare? I do not know what is going on. He never joined the dharna. Absolutely blatant lie," Banerjee told reporters after calling off her demonstration on the third day this evening. Earlier during the day, the Union Home Ministry, which is the cadre controlling authority of the Indian Police Service officers in the country, asked the West Bengal chief secretary to initiate the process against Kumar. The ministry said that as per information received by it, Kumar sat on a ...
AAP MLAs to meet RWAs over CCTV installation
Aam Aadmi Party legislators will soon meet resident welfare associations (RWAs) across the city for the much-awaited CCTV camera installation to select locations for these cameras, party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said on Tuesday.
Disappointed with what's happening in Mumbai Cong, says Deora
Senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP Milind Deora Tuesday said he was "disappointed" with what was happening in the party's Mumbai unit. Deora also said that he would reconsider fighting the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls and wouldn't want to be in politics if the current situation prevailed. In a series of tweets, Deora said Mumbai Congress cannot become a cricket pitch for sectarian politics with leaders pitted against each other. He said he did not intend to discuss internal party affairs in public, but remarks made in a recent interview had forced him to repeat his strong commitment towards the need for Mumbai Congress to remain a symbol of the city's diversity. Deora said in a city like Mumbai, which is the economic and cultural capital, there was need to bring people together. "I am disappointed with what's happening and the party is aware of my stance on fighting the Lok Sabha elections. However, I have full faith in our central leadership and its ...
Make optimum use of MGNREGA funds for state's green drive:CM
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Tuesday instructed officials to make optimum use of the funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for the state governments green drive Telangana Ku Haritha Haram and for constructing crematoriums in the villages. Rao said, in addition to making use of MGNREGA funds, the funds allocated in the budget, the constituency development funds of MPs and MLAs together should be used for village development programmes, according to a release from his office. A separate release from the CMs office said the Government has decided to upgrade the posts of secondary grade language pandits and PETs (Physical Education Teachers) as School Assistants Posts.
Rebel BJP leader applies for ECI registration for his recently floated group
Rebel BJP leader and former minister Choudhary Lal Singh Tuesday said his recently floated 'Dogra Savabhiman Sangathan' (DSS) has applied for registration with the election commission of India (ECI) to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. "We are expecting to get the registration in the next couple of days and we will fight both the Lok Sabha seats from Jammu division as well as the assembly polls with a sole motive to end discrimination with Jammu region and restore the pride of Dogra's," Singh said. On July 22, Singh had announced the launch of his "apolitical" group and released its 25-point vision document and flag at a function to mark the 100 days of his campaign for a CBI probe into the Kathua rape and murder case which rattled the entire nation in January last year. The body of an eight-year-old girl from a nomadic tribe was recovered in Kathua district on January 17, 2018, a week after she went missing from the forest area while grazing .
MP Congress bats for Priyadarshini Scindia for LS polls
After the high-profile entry of Priyanka Gandhi in active politics, the Congress may soon have another woman leader -- Priyadarshini, the wife of party's parliamentarian Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Shameful that Mamata protecting corrupt officer from CBI: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday termed as "shameful" his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee's attempt to protect Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar from the ongoing CBI probe into the Saradha ponzi scam and hailed the Supreme Court verdict directing him to appear before the central agency.
'Insulting' farmers will cost Modi govt: Cong's farmers' unit chief
The Congress' farmers' unit president Nana Patole Tuesday alleged that by promising Rs 17 a day to farmers in the Union Budget, the government has added salt to their injuries. The All India Kisan Congress chairman, addressing a press conference here, said a farmer's family cannot even afford tea with the amount announced for them. At the conference, some farmers displayed cheques of Rs 17, which they said they would send to the prime minister as part of their protest. Patole said by paying Rs 17 a day to farmers, the government had added salt to the their wounds and would have to pay for it. Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in the Interim Budget, announced that farmers will be provided Rs 6,000 per year in three installments under a central government scheme. This translates into Rs 16.44 daily.
B'desh FM to visit India on Wed in his maiden foreign trip
Bangladesh's newly-appointed Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will travel to New Delhi on Wednesday in his maiden overseas trip during which he will attend the 5th India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting and held talks with top leaders. Momen, who will lead a high-level delegation, said on Tuesday that during his visit he would seek increased Indian support to resolve the Rohingya crisis. "I am visiting India on my first foreign trip to honour our great neighbour, the world's greatest democracy...among other things I want to consult with my counterpart about the early resolution of the Rohingya crisis as it may affect the regional stability," the minister told PTI. Momen said he expected enhanced Indian support in resolving the crisis as "it is likely to appear as an issue for the regional security". Bangladesh has said it gave makeshift refuge to over one million Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian ground as they fled Myanmar to evade a brutal military crackdown but .
SL: PM Wickremesinghe to establish new political alliance soon
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the new political alliance National Democratic Front (NDF) led by the United National Party (UNP) will be set up within the next two weeks.Colombo Page quoted Wickremesinghe as saying that other political parties can also join the alliance in future.While speaking at a ceremony held to handover 266 houses under the 2nd phase of the 'Siyapath Sevana' Housing Scheme in Dematagoda on Tuesday, the Lankan Prime Minister rubbished his opponent's claim stating that he has no intention of dividing the country."My opponents are accusing me of trying to divide the country. I will never divide this country," Wickremesinghe said.He also underscored that certain groups are spreading false rumours claiming that the government is trying to divide the country claiming because they are envious of the development projects carried out by the UNP led government.Stating that he is committed to rebuilding the country by paying back the existing ...
Cong MLC invites Rahul to contest from Khammam in LS polls
A Congress MLC in Telangana Tuesday invited party chief Rahul Gandhi to contest from the Khammam Lok Sabha constituency in the state in the coming parliamentary elections. The invitation from P Sudhakar Reddy came during a meeting of Congress leaders from Telangana with Gandhi in Delhi to discuss the partys performance--it won only 19 seats among the 119--in the recent assembly polls and preparations for Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to PTI, Reddy said he pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also contested from two seats in the 2014 general elections. Meanwhile, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy told reporters in Delhi that Gandhi has told them to gear up for the Lok Sabha elections, though the party lost in the Assembly polls, with an effective plan of action.
Too little too late? No-deal Brexit planning shakes service suppliers
LONDON (Reuters) - From Britain's hospitals and schools to its prisons and armed forces, firms supplying essential public services have been asked by the government to outline plans for a no-deal Brexit.
Government committed to completing NRC on time: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the government was committed to completing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process within the stipulated time, ensuring "neither any Indian nationals name will be excluded nor any foreigners name included in the final NRC".
Demanding PM's statement, Trinamool walks out of Lok Sabha
Trinamool Congress on Tuesday walked out of the Lok Sabha after its demand for a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on alleged misuse of CBI was not met.
Oppn parties should debate on the basis of performance:Gadkari
Alleging that the opposition parties who are talking about unity are united only in opposing BJP, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Tuesday said they should debate on the basis of manifesto and performance. "That's why the opposition parties who are talking about unity, they are talking about unity only in opposing BJP and Modiji...., why you don't debate on the basis of manifesto and performance," he said, addressing a meeting of BJP functionaries here. "What work we are going to do (for people), what work you are going to do, what we have done, what you have done, the history of 70 years... is in front us. Why you don't come forward? Our programme is to work for the welfare of village, poor and worker and farmer. Definitely discuss that," he said. He alleged that efforts would be repeatedly made to change the agenda of elections from development to casteism and communalism and false propaganda. The BJP's effort is to seek votes for the NDA government on the basis of what it
Rahul shares video of his interaction with students on Twitter
Congress president Rahul Gandhi put out a video on Tuesday of his interaction with students over the weekend and told them that he would incorporate the issues raised by them in his party's poll manifesto. "I met a group of really interesting students from all over India, for dinner a few days ago. I learnt a lot from the wonderful exchange of ideas & perspectives. Here's a short video with the highlights of our interaction," he wrote on Twitter. Gandhi uploaded a video of his interaction with the students on the microblogging website, using "#ApniBaatRahulKeSaath", a new initiative launched by him on social media platforms and described the conversation as the first-of-its-kind. "I am Rahul Gandhi and I am president of the Congress party and I am a member of Parliament from Amethi. I thought I will have a chat with some young people and get a sense of what they are thinking," he is heard telling the students in the video as he introduces himself to them. "We are building our ...
Mamata Banerjee ends 'Save the Constitution dharna'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday ended her 'Save the Constitutuion dharna,' which she had started on Sunday night after the CBI's attempt to arrest Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.Addressing a gathering here, Chief Minister Banerjee said: "This Save the Constitution dharna is a victory for the Constitution and democracy. So let us end it today. When we started this dharna only after consulting all political parties and after that they extended their full support."She said that she would take her fight against the Central government to Delhi next week."Next we will do a programme in Delhi. I can go on with the 'dharna' but now that we have got justice from one pillar of democracy, that is, judiciary I announce to end the 'dharna.' The Supreme Court gave a positive judgment today," she said."This 'dharna' was to save our democracy, Constitution, IAS-IPS officers, agencies, civil servants. This 'dharna' is a victory for the people, democracy and the ...
Two and a half men are destroying nation, alleges Akhilesh Yadav
Two and a half men are destroying the nation, said former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and SP president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday in an open letter to the people, citing developments in West Bengal."Two and a half men, and a media that has been corrupted by their sycophantic portrayal, are destroying our nation and everything it stands for," he said in the letter, but nowhere cleared who the 'two and a half men' were. "Today the attack on the state of Bengal is not only an attack on the values and tenets of the Constitution but also an attack on the dreams of our founding fathers. In fact, all of the founding fathers stood in direct opposition to the views espoused by the BJP and their ideological forefathers, the RSS," said Yadav in the letter, which he shared on his Twitter account.Asserting that developments in Bengal are a cause of concern for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation, the Samajwadi Party chief said: "The country's sovereignty and natural resources
Trade union and yellow vest protests rattle Paris
Protests called by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) rattled the French capital of Paris on Tuesday, as demonstrators demanded a 20 per cent increase in minimum wage, amongst other things.Yellow vest protesters, who have continuously agitated for 12 straight weeks now, joined the protests, according to Sputnik.Apart from the increase in minimum wages, protesters are also demanding equal pay for both men and women, tax reform, development of public services and fair environmental reforms.Demonstrators told Sputnik that most demands put forth by the union and the yellow vest protesters matched, leading to the joint rally.Scores of people have lost their lives in the yellow vest protests due to clashes between law enforcement officials and the agitators.French President Emmanuel Macron has launched a string of initiatives aimed at bringing the protests to an end, including scrapping the slated fuel price hike. Furthermore, he also announced a minimum wage hike of 100 euros per ...