Page 1725 - Politics
Hold assembly elections before LS polls in J&K: JKNPP
The JKNPP Tuesday demanded that assembly elections be held before the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saying any delay in the state polls will amount to "subversion of democracy". The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party also appealed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take a decision about holding assembly elections in the state without any further delay. "With the state earlier remaining under Governor's rule for six months followed by President's rule, it would be wholly unjustified and unconstitutional to plan further extension of central rule after May 21," JKNPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here. He claimed rumours were doing rounds in the political circles that assembly elections in the state might be held after the parliamentary polls by extending the President's Rule. Singh said even the Supreme Court had ruled that if the legislative assembly of a state is prematurely dissolved, then fresh elections should be held ...
Targeting farmers on basis of landholding won't benefit large rural population: Expert
Targeting farmers on the basis of landholding is unlikely to benefit a large section of the rural population in India and will create fiscal burden without solving the actual problem, an expert at an American think-tank has said. Responding to questions on the government's budgetary proposal to provide direct financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per annum to about 120 million small and marginal farmers and that of minimum income guarantee announced by opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Anit Mukherjee described them as a political gimmick before the elections. "There is some evidence that targeting on the basis of landholding would not benefit a large section of the rural population who are equally if not more in distress. This might even backfire politically if the government is seen to be favouring the already well-off farmers," Mukherjee, a policy fellow at the Center for Global Development think-tank, told PTI in an interview. Well known for his works on issues of governance, public
Party has no desire to remove Lamba: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said it has no desire to remove its MLA Alka Lamba.
Bedlam in UP Assembly, paper balls thrown at Governor
The first day of the Budget Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly began on a stormy note on Tuesday as the opposition created a ruckus during Governor Ram Naik's address.
Gehlot meets PM
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here Tuesday, the Prime Minister's Office said. "The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri @ashokgehlot51 met PM @narendramodi," @PMO India tweeted. Gehlot had taken oath as the chief minister of Rajasthan in December last year after Congress emerged victorious in the assembly polls. On Monday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath had also met the prime minister.
Adityanath to travel to Bengal by road from Jharkhand to address Purulia rally
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to travel to West Bengal's Purulia district by road from Bokaro in BJP-ruled Jharkhand to address a party rally on Tuesday. "Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is going to Ranchi in Jharkhand by flight. He will then proceed to Bokaro in a chopper from where he is likely to take road route to Purulia in West Bengal," an aide of the chief minister told PTI here on Tuesday. The BJP had on Monday said Adityanath's proposed rally in Bankura district scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government was was "dilly-dallying" on giving permission for the landing of his helicopter. However, his Purulia rally will take place as per schedule, BJP's West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh had said. In an early morning tweet, Adityanath said, "It saddens me that Gurudev Tagore's Karmabhoomi, our Bengal today is suffering from anarchy and misrule of Mamata Banerjee government. Now is the time that West Bengal is ...
Govt plans to launch ease of doing agri-biz index
The government plans to launch an index to rank states on the basis of ease of doing agri-business, Parliament was informed Tuesday. Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala replied in affirmative when asked if the government was planning to launch such an index. "To ensure that reform agenda of the government is implemented by the desired pace by all states/UTs, a need is felt to develop a competitive spirit between the states. "Keeping this in mind, to rank the states through an index -- ease of doing agri-business -- a concept note along with parameters for developing an index has been circulated to all states and union territories inviting their views," he said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. Rupala said the parameters in the proposed index would comprise increase in production, productivity and price realisation as well as decline in input cost and risk mitigation. The proposed index will help in fostering agriculture among states by promoting a competitive spirit, he
UP Budget Session: Oppn members create uproar, hurl paper balls during Guv's speech
Opposition members hurled paper balls towards the podium and raised slogans as Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik addressed a joint sitting of the state legislature on the Budget Session's first day on Tuesday. In his about 55-minute speech, the governor highlighted the welfare and development schemes of the state government, and also justified the renaming of Allahabad and Faizabad districts, saying, "my government has restored their cultural names." Opposition members, including those from the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress, started raising slogans against the government and shouted 'rajyapal wapas Jao (Governor Go Back)' as soon as Naik began addressing the state legislature. SP members hurled paper balls at the podium, but Naik continued to address the House, with staff using cardboard files to deflect the paper balls. Speaking to reporters at the Central Hall of the House, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condemned the behaviour of the opposition .
CBI-Mamata row: Rajya Sabha proceedings washed out again
Rajya Sabha proceedings were Tuesday washed out for the second day in a row amid protests by opposition parties, including TMC, SP and Congress, over alleged misuse of the CBI in West Bengal. As soon as the House resumed proceedings in the afternoon, members of the TMC, SP and Congress trooped into the well raising slogans like "Save Constitution, Save Nation". Deputy Chairman Harivansh said opposition members can raise issues under laid down rules and procedures of the House and they should allow discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. He said there is no limit on the scope of discussion on an issue under rules. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel said there was no morality in protesting in Parliament as the Supreme Court order on the issue has already come. When the opposition did not relent, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for the day. Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned amid protests. Besides TMC members, Congress members .
Twitter bots were very active during 2018 US midterms: Study
Thousands of bots originating in Russia and Iran - besides those created in the US -- were active during the 2018 November midterm elections, claims a study.
Pak violates ceasefire in Poonch, targets army camp with rocket launchers
Pakistani troops Tuesday violated ceasefire in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir by firing two rounds of rocket launchers towards an Army camp along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Krishna Ghati sector, an army officer said. Indian troops did not retaliate to the "deliberate provocation" to avoid civilian casualties across the border, said the officer, asking not to be named. He said the rockets aimed at the army camp in Jhulas area of the Krishna Ghati sector were fired around 10.30 am but did not cause any damage. "The firing of rockets was a deliberate attempt to instigate strong reaction from the Indian Army since Pakistan is observing Kashmir solidarity day. There was a possibility of civilian casualties in view of the public rallies across the border," he said. The latest ceasefire violation ended several days of lull in the firing from across the border. Since the beginning of the new year, Pakistani troops have been regularly violating the ceasefire especially along the ...
Odisha Assembly adjourned twice amid pandemonium by oppn MLAs
The second day of the Odisha Assembly's Budget session was adjourned twice before lunch Tuesday amid pandemonium by opposition members, who sought a discussion on farmers' income and chit fund scams. The day began with an obituary reference to former minister Harihar Karan, who passed away on Monday, following which the opposition Congress and BJP members rushed to the Well of the House, shouting slogans against the BJD government. The Congress MLAs requested the Speaker to cancel the Question Hour to allow a discussion on issues faced by farmers, while the BJP members, in black aprons, demanded a debate on status of chit fund scam probe in the state. The saffron party legislators alleged that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was backing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her fight against the CBI as it wants to protect the offenders of ponzi scams. Unable to run the proceedings, Speaker P K Amat adjourned the House, first for one hour till 11.40 am and later
Politically enfeebled Trump to address nation amid disarray in administration (Analysis)
A politically enfeebled President Donald Trump will face the nation on Tuesday night with his State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress that was put on hold by his Democratic Party adversaries in a budget war where he lost the first round.
Pakistan Army targets Indian posts on LoC
Pakistani troops fired rockets on Indian Army positions on Tuesday on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
Option of going with SP-BSP open: BJP ally SBSP
Putting its ally BJP in Uttar Pradesh on notice, the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party has said the option of going with the SP-BSP alliance in the general elections was open to the party. SBSP chief and senior cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has been making sharp statements against the BJP and had recently threatened to walk out of the National Democratic Alliance. "In case there is no headway with the BJP, the option of going along with SP-BSP alliance (in the coming Lok Sabha elections) is open to us," the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief said. The minister for backward classes welfare and department of disabled people development was speaking to reporters at his residence here on Monday night. To a question as to whether he had talks with leaders of either of the two parties - the SP and the BSP - Rajbhar said that he had not met anyone on this issue so far. On the developments in Kolkata, Rajbhar came out in support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and ...
Taliban takes centre stage as Kabul cut out of peace talks
President Ashraf Ghani is being pushed to the sidelines as the Taliban ignores his overtures for peace and negotiates instead with his friends, and enemies, over the future of Afghanistan. From Doha to Moscow, the insurgents are meeting an array of envoys with competing interests in Afghanistan, from the United States eager to withdraw their troops to political leaders in Kabul jostling for power. Experts say regional powers -- including US foes Iran and Russia -- are angling for an audience with the Taliban, who are already outlining their vision for Islamic rule once foreign troops leave. The elephant in the room is Ghani, whose US-backed administration has not been invited to the table, despite a failed year-long effort to spark a dialogue with the Taliban. "The sad irony is that Afghanistan's government is in danger of getting written out of the script of its own peace process," analyst Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, told AFP. Ghani's allies in Washington
SP MLAs are goons: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came down heavily on MLAs from opposition parties for causing ruckus inside the Legislative Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session on Tuesday and termed the Samajwadi Party (SP) members as "goons".The Budget Session was stormy as MLAs from opposition parties including SP, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress vehemently protested against the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state.Paper balls were reportedly thrown at Governor Ram Naik while he was addressing the joint sitting of both the houses of the bicameral state legislature."The conduct of the legislators of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress is undemocratic and unconstitutional. Such behaviour and conduct weakens the democracy and undermine its institutions," said the Chief Minister. "Members of Samajwadi Party have done 'gunda-gardi' inside the house. They have thrown paper balls at the Governor while he was addressing the House. The SP is a party of
Hazare on Day 7 of hunger strike, loses over 5 kg weight
Social activist Anna Hazare whose ongoing indefinite hunger strike enters the seventh day on Tuesday has lost over 5 kilograms and is in a critical condition, doctors attending to him said. "Annaji has lost 5.5 kg weight till now. He is in critical condition. We have informed him. The ketone bodies in his urine are 3+ and sugar level is also reduced. We have advised him to call off the strike as soon as possible," Dr.Dhananjay Pote said. Hazare went on a hunger strike from January 30 demanding the setting up of a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states.The 81-year-old has refused to take saline or ORS offered by the doctors, said Dr Pote who pointed out that if Hazare continues with the hunger strike, it may do irreversible damage to his kidney and brain."Today, the entire village will not cook food and we will sit here. The agriculture minister is coming today to discuss the demands of Annaji. Our village will go for self-immolation if Annaji's demands were not fulfilled. His .
Virbhadra's son is Gen Secy in revamped Himachal Cong
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Tuesday formed a jumbo state Congress committee in Himachal Pradesh which includes 15 vice presidents, 18 general secretaries and 68 secretaries. Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya has been appointed as a general secretary in the rejigged committee in the hill state. Virbhadra and his wife Pratibha, a former MP, have been made permanent invitees to the Himachal Congress committee. Gandhi also gave his approval to appoint 17 new district Congress chiefs under the new President of Himachal Pradesh PCC Kuldeep Singh Rathore. Gandhi also set up an an 11-member executive committee that includes former PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. Besides, 14 senior, leaders including former union minister Anand Sharma, from the state have been made as permanent invitees. Gandhi has already appointed Virbhadra Singh as he chairman of the campaign committee of the state for the Lok Sabha polls. Among
LS disrupted over Bengal
The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice on Tuesday in the pre-lunch session following disruptions over the alleged misuse of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against political opponents.