Page 1727 - Politics
EVM most 'vulnerable' device, says N Chandrababu Naidu
New Delhi [India], Feb 5 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is the most vulnerable device as anyone who wants to manage votes can easily tamper it.Talking to ANI, Naidu said, "I am the first person who supports and promotes new innovation, technology and deregulation of the telecommunication sector. EVM is the most vulnerable device as anyone who wants to manage it, they can manage it easily. Most of the developed countries, including Singapore, went for paper ballots, then why not India?""When you're in the opposition, you may say many things but my stand on EVM has been always consistent. I am always opposing EVMs," the Andhra Pradesh chief minister added on Monday night. Opposition parties led by Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had on Monday visited the Election Commission and requested the poll body to make mandatory the count of half of the votes of all EVMs through paper trails.Talking to media after visiting ..
Denied permission to hold rally in Murshidabad in West Bengal: Shahnawaz Hussain
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday said the TMC-led government in West Bengal has denied the party permission for a rally in Murshidabad and alleged that there is complete lawlessness in the state. Hussain said he will still go to Murshidabad and is already on the way. Last week, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was denied permission to hold a rally in the state, which is witnessing a political slugfest between the ruling TMC and the BJP. "I have been told that the district administration has not given permission to hold a rally in Murshidabad, which was scheduled for today. The party had sought permission and had informed the local administration in advance," Hussain told PTI. The Mamata Banerjee-led government in the state and BJP are at loggerheads after the CBI tried to question Kolkata's police commissioner in connection with chit fund scams. Banerjee has been on a 'dharna' since Sunday night over the CBI's attempts to interrogate the police chief.
LS adjourned till noon amid uproar over CBI row
The proceedings of Lok Sabha were adjourned for nearly 45 minutes on Tuesday morning amid noisy protests by Trinamool Congress members over the CBI versus Kolkata Police issue. A peeved Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said, "You do not have faith in CBI. You do not have faith in Supreme Court ... this is not done ... the case is being heard by the SC. Let Parliament do its function. Let all institutions perform their (respective) roles," she said while adjourning the proceedings till noon. As soon as the House took up Question Hour, agitated TMC members rushed to the Well raising slogans against the prime minister and the CBI. Members from Congress, TRS, SP, RJD also entered the Well but did not raise slogans. Interestingly, when the TMC members were shouting slogans, their fellow member and former Union minister Dinesh Trivedi was asking a supplementary question on agriculture. On Monday too, TMC members had disrupted proceedings over the CBI issue.
Sena targets Modi govt over WB govt-CBI face-off
The Shiv Sena Tuesday attacked the Modi government over the face-off between the West Bengal government and the CBI, alleging that it was "orchestrated" for political gains in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', said what was happening in Kolkata was a "threat to democracy". West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been on a sit-in protest since Sunday against the CBI's bid to question Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in chit fund scam cases, declaring that her agitation to save the "Constitution and country" will go on and she was ready to face the consequences. The Sena said the Centre could have acted against the Kolkata Police chief two months back and the CBI should have carried proper summons before visiting his house to question him. "No one involved in the Saradha chit fund scam should be spared, but how does the CBI look at the 'cheat India' matter which has been going on for the last four-and-a-half years,"
Trump to call for unity in State of the Union address
US President Donald Trump will touch on the issues like immigration, national security and trade and call for unity in a divided Congress in his annual State of the Union address as he begins the second half of his first term in office. The annual State of the Union address is the keynote prime time speech by the president to the Congress in which he sets out his legislative agenda and national priorities for the next year and highlights his achievements to the American people. The speech will be Trump's third to a Joint Session of Congress his initial appearance on February 28, 2017 was weeks after his inauguration and not considered a formal State of the Union. Contrary to his tweets and his frequent lashing out against the opposition Democratic leadership, Trump intends to portray a picture of national unity in resolving the challenges being faced by the country, officials familiar with preparations for the State of the Union Address said Monday. The president and the Democrats had
No TA/DA for Army Officials :Defence Ministry rues dearth of funds
Citing a dearth of funds, the Defence Ministry has announced that it will no longer process advances and claims of Army officials with respect to travelling and dearness allowance (TA/DA)."Due to insufficient funds available under temporary and permanent duty heads of Army officers, no TA/DA advances and claims can be processed till receipt of sufficient funds under the relevant heads," said a statement from principal controller of defence accounts PCDA (officers).However, the facility of Leave Travel Allowance (LTC) will continue.The defence accounts controller also informed that if queries by officers are not settled through regular correspondence with the respective sections, they may address their complaint to the SAO (Tech) Complaint Cell Officer.The Union government while presenting the interim budget in Parliament at the beginning of the month claimed that the defence budget for the first time touched the figure of Rs 3.05 crore as the government hiked it by Rs 19,873 crore ...
Courts, RBI, Niti Aayog, CBI have lost their prestige in past few years: Shiv Sena
In another attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, Shiv Sena on Tuesday said that with the Centre taking control of various institutions in the county, the courts, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Niti Aayog and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have all lost their prestige in the past few years.Their statement comes amidst West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's 'Save the Constitution' dharna, which began on Sunday, over the unprecedented face-off with the Centre over CBI versus state police issue."The political war happening in West Bengal is a sign of new anarchy... Courts, Reserve Bank of India, Niti Aayog and CBI have all lost their prestige in the past few years. The plight of these institutions has become similar to that of a caged parrot. How can you trust them? CBI has been half dead since last few years," reads the latest piece in Hindi in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana'.Banerjee started her sit-in protest on Sunday after the CBI attempted to ...
Yogi to travel by road from Jharkhand to address rally in WB's Purulia
Having been denied permission to land his chopper in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will on Tuesday touch down in Jharkhand's Bokaro and then travel to West Bengal's Purulia district by road to address a public rally.The chief minister will leave for Purulia after the adjournment of the Vidhan Sabha session today. He is slated to address the rally at around 3:30 pm.Yogi was scheduled to address two rallies in West Bengal on February 3, one in North Dinajpur district's Raiganj and the other in South Dinajpur district's Balurghat. However, the TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee declined permission for Yogi's chopper to land for both rallies without any prior notice. Later in the day, Yogi addressed the rally in Raiganj via telephone and accused Banerjee of carrying out"shameful" activities.The BJP has condemned Banerjee over the obstacles faced by the party in conducting rallies and other events in the state, while also criticising her government for the ...
US special envoy to meet North Korean counterpart to set stage for 2nd Trump-Kim talks
US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will visit Pyongyang on Wednesday (February 6) and meet his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol to discuss the second meeting between the leaders of the two countries.During the meeting, Biegun and Kim are expected to discuss the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which is scheduled to be held at the end of this month, and "advance further progress on the commitments" made by the two leaders during their first meeting in Singapore last June, according to a statement by US State Department."US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will travel to Pyongyang on February 6 for meetings with his DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) counterpart Kim Hyok Chol to prepare for the President's second summit with Chairman Kim and advance further progress on the commitments the President and Chairman Kim made in Singapore: complete denuclearisation, transforming ...
UP Assembly budget session to begin today
Legislators of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are set to stage a protest in the Vidhan Bhavan premises in Lucknow just ahead of the Budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly beginning on Tuesday.The Budget session will kickstart with the joint sitting of both the houses-the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council - here at 11 am with Governor Ram Naik addressing the joint sitting.Chief Minister Adityanath led BJP government will present the budget for the year 2019-20 on February 7. Subsequently, the discussion on Budget will take place on four days beginning February 12. The house will discuss the Governor's address on February 6- 8 and on February 11. In the backdrop of forthcoming Lok Sabha polls the SP-BSP allied together to pose a formidable threat to the ruling BJP in the state and centre.The Budget Session commencing today is expected to be stormy as the BJP led State government is presenting its budget for the year 2019-20 ahead of the Lok-Sabha ...
People of India will shut the doors on BJP: Chandrababu Naidu
New Delhi [India], Feb 5 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the people of India will shut the doors on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.Naidu was reacting to Amit Shah's statement made on Monday, where the BJP president termed the TDP supremo a "U-turn Chief Minister" and that he will not be allowed to join the NDA alliance again.Naidu told ANI in an interview: "We all know how Amit Shah was five years back. As he has got a big position, he is thinking he has become so powerful. Who asked him to open that door (to join NDA)? Did I ask him or beg him? He is talking all rubbish?""After the general elections, the people of India will close the doors for the BJP," the TDP chief stated.On Monday, Shah, addressing a rally in Andhra Pradesh, had said: "I am sure once the counting for 2019 elections is over and the NDA government comes to power again, Chandrababu Naidu will make all the efforts to join the NDA back. Let me tell ...
India and Monaco need to deepen cooperation to develop and adopt hi-end technologies to address the growing environmental concerns: Suresh Prabhu
Addressing the 'India Monaco Business Forum' organized by FICCI, in the presence of HSHAlbert II, Prince of Monaco and the accompanying delegation, Mr Prabhu said that India and Monaco can jointly work together in developing technologies to mitigate environmental concerns. He also invited Monaco industries to invest in the Indian services sector which are expected to contribute $3 trillion to India's GDP once it is a USD 5 trillion economy in the next 5-6 years' time.
Mamata's dharna enters third day; Kejriwal, Naidu likely to visit protest site today
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sit-in against the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief in connection with chit fund scams continued for the third day on Tuesday. Banerjee sat on a "Save India" dharna in front of Metro Cinema in the heart of the city on Sunday night insisting that the latest CBI action was tantamount to stifling the spirit of "Constitution and federalism" in the country. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu are expected to visit the dharna site at Metro Channel on Tuesday, sources said. Prominent leaders like DMK's Kanimozhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav visited the dharna venue on Monday to express solidarity with the firebrand Bengal leader. The dharna site, titled "satyagraha mancha", has been devoid of any political colour.The chief minister has been discharging her official duties, including signing of papers, from the dais. Sources close to Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress ...
Andhra CM to visit Kolkata meet Mamata
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday will visit Kolkata to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and express his solidarity.
Pashtuns support freedom of Baloch from Pakistan
In a pre-emptive strike to stop the Pashtuns from backing the Baloch cause of freedom from Pakistan, the Pakistani security forces heckled, harassed and arrested a group of Pashtun leaders, when they were going to attend the funeral of Arman Loni.A local Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region.It is pertinent to mention here that this is not the only incident which sheds light on Pakistan's brutality that uses military high-handedness to keep control over the people and the resources of the region.This incident has sparked a widespread rage on social media as well. People are demanding authorities to bring the culprits to justice.Pakistan has also been carrying out a similar oppressive agenda against ethnic Pashtuns. Islamabad leadership, which largely works at the commands of army Generals sitting in Rawalpindi, has been committing .
Agreement reached to keep US troops in S. Korea
The US and South Korea have reached a preliminary agreement of keeping nearly 30,000 troops in Seoul, State Department officials said here, alleviating fears that President Donald Trump could move to withdraw American troops from the country.
13 arrested in Lahore for violating kite flying ban
At least 13 people were arrested in Lahore for defying the Pakistan government's ban on kite flying, police said.
BJP, Amit Shah 'most corrupt' in India: N Chandrababu Naidu
The BJP and its president Amit Shah, are most corrupt in India, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged on Monday.Talking to ANI, Naidu said, "The BJP is blaming others for corruption. However, the party and its president Amit Shah are most corrupt in India. It's under their rule that leaders like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi escaped after looting the banks of our country. They are even responsible for the Rafale (deal)."Continuing his tirade against the saffron party, Naidu said: "The BJP is in power. It cannot blame others for every mistake. The BJP is stating that the opposition parties are against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are not against Modi, we are against his policies and behaviour."He said, "The economy has collapsed, independent institutions are being misused and the country is under threat."Earlier, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief had stated that while court cases against the BJP members and their associates are being withdrawn, new cases are ...
Pak dual side: Holds anti-India Kashmir conference in London, army cracks down Kashmiris in PoK
Pakistan, once again, displayed its holier than thou attitude as on one hand, Islamabad is holding an anti-India Kashmir conference in the House of Commons in London and on the other hand, the armed forces of the nation are cracking down on the Kashmiri people in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan. Massive protests are taking place in parts of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan, as Islamabad continues to ill-treat political prisoners.Baba Jan, a leading political activist from Gilgit Baltistan, who has been languishing in prison for more than eight years due to trumped-up charges, has been denied adequate healthcare despite his deteriorating health.Protesters including his followers, friends and relatives in Hunza valley In Gilgit demanded his immediate release and transfer to a better medical facility. A woman protester in Hunza said, "I met him yesterday and found that he was suffering from unbearable pain. He also told me that he was prescribed mere painkillers. ...
Yogi Adityanath to address rally in West Bengal's Purulia district today
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be addressing a public in Purulia district of West Bengal on Tuesday. Yogi Adityanath, who was denied permission by the West Bengal government to land his chopper in South Dinajpur district on Sunday, will this time take the road route to enter the state.The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is scheduled to fly to Jharkhand on Tuesday and from there he will travel to Purlia by road.After being denied permission to land his chopper on Sunday, Adityanath addressed the "Gantantra Bachao" (Save Democracy) rally in South Dinjapur through a telephone call.In his address that was broadcast using an audio link, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Sunday slammed Mamata Banerjee and said her Trinamool Congress government in the state "can suppress people but cannot suppress their voices.""Mamata ji must accept that one should not misuse the administration in a democracy. The manner in which the administration in West Bengal is functioning should not .