Page 1740 - Politics
Trump plans to keep troops in Iraq to monitor Iran
US President Donald Trump is planning to keep American troops in Iraq to monitor and maintain pressure on neighbouring Iran.
Former PM Deve Gowda backs Mamata
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has said the massive standoff between the Centre and the West Bengal government over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief in connection with chit fund scams, reminded him of the Emergency days. The JD(S) patriarch sympathised with the Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee and said he was shocked to learn about the CBI rushing to arrest the Kolkata Police Commissioner and the subsequent developments. Banerjee heads the TMC, a key member of the 'Mahagathbandhan', the grand alliance, in which the JD(S) is also an active partner. "I am shocked to learn about the CBI rushing to arrest the Police Commissioner and subsequent developments in West Bengal. The country has faced similar kind of unconstitutional methods during the Emergency. Situation in WB is similar to that of the Emergency days. #SaveDemocracy," the JD(S) national president tweeted. The Congress' Karnataka unit too extended its support toeing the party line. It dubbed ..
Maldives: Indian Coast Guard successfully evacuates critically ill infant
Indian Coast Guard pilots have successfully carried out the evacuation of a critically ill infant in Gan Islands in the Maldives on Monday. The infant was taken to Male for emergency specialist treatment.Indian ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Dhruv choppers are in the Maldives to help locals.Last month, Maldives' Defence Minister Mariyam Ahmed Didi had undertaken a three-day visit to India, during which she spoke about increasing ties."I do not think there is anything to worry for the Indian government as our both governments share the same values... Of course, China is an important development partner but our engagement with the Chinese in that sense, in the defence sector, would be very limited in the future," Didi said.On the coastal surveillance radar installation in the Maldives, the Minister said the process had started during the regime of President Abdulla Yameen but was stalled as the ties between the two countries "had soured".
Now, BJP poster depicts Priyanka Gandhi as Mahishasura
Priyanka Gandhi, who is all set to take charge as Congress' general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh today, has been portrayed as Mahishasura in a poster put up in Barabanki in the name of BJP leader Priyanka Singh Rawat.In the poster, Priyanka Gandhi can be seen as the demon Mahishasura while BJP's Priyanka Rawat has been portrayed as Goddess Durga, who slays the asura.Asked about the poster, Priyanka Rawat told ANI, "I have learnt of this only from you. I was unaware of this. I will see who has done it."Interestingly, the posters emerged days after the Bihar Congress disowned posters depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Mahishasura.The posters, which were allegedly put up by Congress supporters, depicted Priyanka Gandhi as Goddess Durga.
Mahila Congress to lodge complaint on 'malicious' online campaign against Priyanka Gandhi
The Congress' Mahila wing will on Monday file a complaint at the BKC Cyber Crime Police Station here for a 'malicious' online campaign against newly-appointed general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. "As we are witnessing that the entry of Priyanka Gandhi in politics has led to BJP leaders making misogynistic comments but since past few days a derogatory thread against her physical appearance is being unleashed into social media which is completely unacceptable," read a statement from the Mahila Congress.Last month, Priyanka was appointed as Congress party's general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh, an important battleground in general elections.Since then, she has been targeted by several leaders of the BJP.Surendra Singh a BJP legislator, had last week called Congress president Rahul Gandhi as "Raavan" and Priyanka as "Surpanakha"- the demons from Hindu epic Ramayana.
CBI-police showdown: CBI to knock SC doors; Kejriwal, Tejashwi to visit Mamata
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav are slated to visit West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on her "Save the Constitution" dharna for nearly twelve hours amid the ongoing faceoff between the Kolkata Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).Meanwhile, the investigative agency is set to approach the Supreme Court on the matter, alleging "non-cooperation" by Kolkata Police.Also, a high-level delegation comprising Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Rajya Sabha MP Bhupender Yadav, national vice president of BJP S. S. Ahluwalia, and Anil Baluni are slated to visit the Election Commission over the midnight drama that unfolded in West Bengal. A full-blown showdown between the West Bengal government and the Centre erupted as a CBI team moved to arrest Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. The CBI team was unceremoniously denied entry to Kolkata Police chief's residence and then ...
Pashtun Council Canada holds protest to condemn killing of prominent activist by Pak
The Pashtun Council Canada on Sunday held protests in Mississauga to condemn the killing of Arman Lonri, a prominent member of the Pashtun movement, and other Pashtun activists by the Pakistan state agency.Speaking to the media, a member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement said, "We have gathered here to express our anger over the killing of human rights activist Arman Lonri, a prominent leader and member of our movement, along with the injustice done to thousands of Pashtuns by the Pakistani state apparatus, who continue to arrest people and put them in private jails, not even in state jails."Pashtun Tahafuz Movement started a year ago, whereby a number of young individuals gathered together to demand the release of the missing people (those detained by the Pakistan government), including their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, the party member noted."But instead of listening to their demands and grievances, the Pakistan government started killing and imprisoning the leaders of the
Kolkata Police-CBI face-off: Mamata's sit-in continues
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sit-in over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police commissioner in connection with chit fund scams continued on Monday. Banerjee, who sat on the dharna around 8.30 pm Sunday to protest against "the attack on constitutional norms", was seen speaking to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders at the protest site on Monday morning. An all-out war broke out between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government on Sunday, with the feisty West Bengal leader beginning the sit-in protest in front of Metro Cinema over the issue. Some road restrictions have been imposed in the Metro Cinema area in the heart of the city where the sit-in is being held. The TMC supremo had said she would not attend the assembly, where the state budget would be placed by Finance Minister Amit Mitra, on Monday. Prior to that, a cabinet meeting would be held inside a makeshift room set up behind the stage. TMC sources said Banerjee was scheduled to attend a meeting of the
CBI-Kolkata Police showdown: BJP to address press conference today
The Bharatiya Janata Party will address a press conference on Tuesday over the ongoing tussle between the Central Bureau of Investigation and state Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, said Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Babul Supriyo.Speaking to ANI here, Babul said"Rajiv has earlier headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the CBI has the proof that he had tampered electronic and paper evidence in the chit fund scam. All papers state that Rajeev has been absconding and not cooperating with the CBI. The CBI has a right to conduct surprise raids because warrant may breach secrecy," he added. The Union Minister earlier took the Twitter and wrote, "The desperation & fear of the TMC & Mamata Banerjee are clearly visible in this decision. The state govt is trying 2 blocks every programme of BJP, be it a rally, yatra or the landing of Yogi Adityanath Ji's chopper. This shows the undemocratic attitude of the government.""President's Rule should be imposed on West ...
S Korea pushes for 4th Moon-Kim summit to escalate denuclearisation
Amid reports regarding the upcoming meet between the United States and North Korea, South Korean officials have initiated the process to fix a fourth summit between North and South Korea over denuclearisation of the entire Korean peninsula.The date and venue of the summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un would be scheduled after the forthcoming US-North Korea summit."It will likely be held after the second North Korea-U.S. summit, but it will certainly help move the denuclearization process forward if held," Yonhap news agency quoted a South Korean official, as saying.The official added that the Moon-Kim summit would most probably take place in Seoul, which makes Kim the first leader to visit South Korea after decades since the end of the Korean War in the 1950s.During the inter-Korean summit in April last year, Kim had agreed to visit Seoul for any meeting between the two Koreas.In a letter to Moon, Kim had reaffirmed his willingness to ..
Will quit politics the day PM Modi retires: Smriti Irani
Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani on Sunday said that she would stay in politics for long, however, she will quit politics the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hang his boots.Speaking at the Words Count Festival here in a discussion titled 'Scripting Her Story, From Star to Star Campaigner', Irani said"People have started presuming that Modi ji won't be there for long, but I can assure you that he is going to stay here for many years," Irani said when asked whether the BJP will come in power once again in 2019.The Union Minister further said that whether she would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Amethi against Congress president Rahul Gandhi or not, will be decided by BJP president Amit Shah, adding that "People were not able to recognise me in Amethi in 2014 but now they know who I am." Irani fought against Rahul in the 2014 general elections from Amethi. Talking about the menace of trolling on social media platforms, Irani asserted that she had been trolled not .
Cong issues a three-line whip to Rajya Sabha MPs
The Congress issued a three-line whip to all its Members of Parliament (MPs) in Rajya Sabha, asking them to be present in the House from Monday to Friday owing to discussions on the interim budget presented recently, among other key issues. This comes a day after Congress' chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia issued a three-line whip for all Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House on all days this week in the wake of "crucial discussions" during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.The Budget Session of Parliament, which commenced on January 31, will continue till February 13, spread across 10 sittings.It will be the last session before the General elections which are due before May.
Maduro refuses ultimatum call for free elections in Venezuela
Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has refused to accept an ultimatum from European countries calling for free elections, saying that "international politics cannot base itself on ultimatums".
Trump refuses to make Mueller report public
US President Donald Trump has refused to commit to making Special Counsel Robert Mueller's final report public.
US sends additional 3,750 soldiers to border with Mexico
The US Department of Defence on Sunday announced they will send an additional 3,750 soldiers to the border with Mexico for three months, during which time they will build some 240 meters of fence and provide logistical support to the US Border Patrol agents.
Will continue Satyagraha till country is saved: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who began a sit-in protest over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief in connection with chit fund scams, said Monday she will continue her "Satyagraha" till the country and its Constitution are "saved". The Chief Minister skipped meals and remained awake the entire night on a makeshift dais here along with some senior ministers and party members. "This is a Satyagraha and I'll continue till the country is saved," Banerjee told reporters who accompanied her at the place of dharna. She said she was getting calls from politicians, including former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamalnath, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani. Asked if any of the leaders would arrive in the city to meet her, Banerjee said, "I've no idea about that. If someone wants to come, we will welcome them. This fight is not by my party. It is for my ...
CBI has got to do its job or not: Sitharaman asks Opposition
Taking a dig at the Opposition, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that when the Central Bureau of Investigation does its job, the opposition parties call it a political vendetta and when it doesn't, they call it a caged parrot.Addressing a press conference here on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, the Defence Minister said, "The CBI has got to do its job or not? When CBI does its job, the opposition parties call it a political vendetta, when it doesn't, they call it a caged parrot. Let them make up their (Opposition) minds."Targeting the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for hampering the CBI investigation in chit fund scam involving state police commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Sitharaman stated that the Opposition needs to make up its mind about CBI and its operations. A full-blown face-off between West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee government and the Centre erupted as a CBI team moved to arrest Kumar on Sunday, which in turn were unceremoniously denied entry to ...
Maduro rejects European ultimatum on elections
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has flatly rejected a call by European countries to call snap elections after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the Latin American country's interim leader. Maduro said in an interview on Sunday with Spanish television station Sexta that he would not "cave in to pressure" from those calling for his departure. "They are trying to corner us with ultimatums to force us into an extreme situation of confrontation," Maduro said. Seven EU states had given Maduro a Sunday deadline to call snap presidential elections or see them recognize Guaido as interim president. Guaido, already recognised by the United States, Canada, Australia and several Latin American countries, said Sunday he would lobby the European Union for badly-needed humanitarian aid to a nation wracked by economic crisis. "We are going to exercise our powers to deal with the crisis, restore democracy and achieve freedom," the 35-year-old National Assembly leader said on ...
Will continue Satyagraha till country is saved: Mamta Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who began a sit-in protest over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief in connection with chit fund scams, said Monday she will continue her "Satyagraha" till the country and its Constitution are "saved". The Chief Minister skipped meals and remained awake the entire night on a makeshift dais here along with some senior ministers and party members. "This is a Satyagraha and I'll continue till the country is saved," Banerjee told reporters who accompanied her at the place of dharna. She said she was getting calls from politicians, including former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamalnath, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani. Asked if any of the leaders would arrive in the city to meet her, Banerjee said, "I've no idea about that. If someone wants to come, we will welcome them. This fight is not by my party. It is for my ...
UK home secretary dismisses speculation of snap general election in June
UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid has dismissed newspaper speculation of a snap general election in June, saying that "last thing we want is an election, the people will never forgive us."