Page 1742 - Politics
After Mirwaiz, Pakistan foreign minister calls Geelani
Despite India taking a strong exception to his earlier telephonic conversation with senior separatist leader, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Pakistan foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi rang up hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani on Sunday.
Glaring example of Modi-Shah destroying institutions: Andhra CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday condemned the happenings in Kolkata, terming it a glaring example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah destroying the institutions.
Indian kidnapped in Ukraine found
An Indian kidnapped in Ukraine has returned safely to his home there after India took up the matter at the highest level with the Ukrainian government. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had on Saturday assured all help after a woman urged her and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help find Indian national Anuj Goel. Responding to the request, Swaraj had tweeted, "I have spoken to the Indian Ambassador in Ukraine. We have taken this up at the highest level with the Government of Ukraine. Please rest assured that we will spare no effort." The brother of Anuj Goel Sunday tweeted, "@SushmaSwaraj Thanks a lot mam because of ur kind intervention my brother has reached safely home in Ukraine.
Kejriwal extends support to Mamata
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday extended support to his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee as she began a sit-in in Kolkata in protest against the Central government.
Unprecedented confrontation: Mamata resorts to sit-in after CBI-police face-off (Roundup)
In an unprecedented confrontation between the Narendra Modi-led Central and West Bengal governments, chief Minister Mamata Banerjee began a sit-in on Sunday here accusing the Centre of trying to run a parallel administration in states, saying there is a "constitutional break-down" after an ugly face-off between the CBI and the state police.
CBI action in Kolkata 'mala fide' and 'assault': Cong
The Congress on Sunday said the CBI action in Kolkata is clearly "mala fide" and an "assault" on the federal polity, which has come within 48 hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah's public "threat" to him. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the antipathy of Modi and Shah towards West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is "visceral". He alleged that the BJP and the prime minister are desperate to create a controversy in the state for "cheap publicity and divisiveness" to get some space in 2019 elections. He claimed the Modi government has ensured a non-functional and non-productive Parliament session going by such assaults on the federal polity on a Sunday evening. Singhvi also called for opposition unity after this action, which he described as "political vendetta" and an "assault on federalism". "Kolkata CBI action clearly mala fide. Done within 48 hours of Modi, Shah rally threat to commissioner of police; done on Sunday on mere section 160 notice ...
UP BJP chief hits out at Mamata govt for not letting Adityanath's chopper land
UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey Sunday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying she may be able to stop her UP counterpart Yogi Adityanath's chopper to land in the state, but she cannot stop the "wave of defeat" approaching her. UP CM Adityanath was scheduled to address two "Ganatantra Bacaho Rallies" at Balurghat in South Dinajpur and Raiganj in North Dinajpur districts respectively, but the West Bengal government denied permission to land his chopper in the state, forcing him to address the rallies telephonically. "The way the CPI-M's politics of appeasement and atrocity came to an end in West Bengal, the time for Mamata Banerjee's political fortress to crumble too has come. She has already started hearing the approach of defeat," said Pandey here in a statement. The UP BJP chief said, "Atrocity is being committed on Hindus (in West Bengal), while her government has become blind, deaf and mute." "But, Bengal, has already taken a pledge to free itself from the ..
Will contest election from Mumbai South Central: Athawale
Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale has once again asserted that he will contest the Lok Sabha election from the Mumbai South Central constituency. The seat is currently represented by Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale. Athawale has expressed his intention to stand from the seat earlier too. Addressing a rally here Sunday, Athawale, whose Republican Party of India (A) is part of the NDA, said the Sena president Uddhav Thackeray should show magnanimity and leave the seat for him. "To fulfil (Shiv Sena founder) late Balasaheb Thackeray's dream, both of us should be together," he said, referring to Thackeray's call for unity of 'Shiv Shakti' (the Sena) and 'Bhim Shakti' (followers of Dr B R Ambedkar). Athawale, currently a Rajya Sabha member, also said he fully supports prime minister Narendra Modi.
Flights connecting Guwahati to Bangkok, Dhaka from March
Highlighting the geographical advantages of Assam in South East Asia, the state's Act East Policy Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary Sunday said direct flight from Guwahati to Dhaka and Bangkok will begin from next month. During a panel discussion in the ongoing 2nd ASEAN-India Youth Summit here, Patowary said that there are several geographical and historical advantages of Assam as far as connectivity with South East Asia is concerned. "Under the UDAN scheme, flights are expected to start between Guwahati and Dhaka and Bangkok within the month of March this year. The LGBI Airport in Guwahati is being upgraded with the construction of a new terminal," he added. In terms of roadways, the Asian Trilateral Highway, the Dhola-Sadia bridge and the Bogibeel bridge will give a big fillip to the connectivity scenario of the region, the minister said. "The physical proximity of ASEAN countries to Guwahati is less than the major metropolitan cities of India. There has been ..
Kolkata Police-CBI face-off: Mamata hits the streets, says Modi-Shah attempting coup
An all-out war broke out between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government on Sunday, with the feisty West Bengal leader beginning a sit-in protest at a city landmark over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief in connection with chit fund scams, insisting it stifled the spirit of "Constitution and federalism". In a dramatic showdown with the Modi government, a furious Banerjee, wrapped in a brown woollen shawl, began a sit-in right in front of the Metro Cinema to protest "insults" she faced at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, hours after a CBI team that had gone to question Kumar was detained in a rare face-off between the police establishments of the Centre and the state. Banerjee, one of the prime movers behind the effort to cobble together an anti-BJP alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, claimed the CBI knocked on the doors of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar without a search warrant. Banerjee asked all opposition ...
Opposition leaders called up to extend support, says Mamata
Amid the stand-off between the West Bengal government and the CBI, Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee Sunday said several leaders of opposition parties have called her up to extend their support and solidarity towards her "fight to protect the constitution". "Leaders of various opposition parties including Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Chandrababu Naidu, Omar Abdullah, Ahmed Patel, M K Stalin had called me to extend their solidarity and support," she said at the venue of her sit-in demonstration. In an unprecedented development, a number of CBI officers, who had gone to question Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with chit fund scam cases, were bundled into police jeeps, whisked to a police station and briefly detained on Sunday, officials said. Amid escalating tension between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Centre, Loudon Street in central Kolkata witnessed a virtual showdown between the state police and the CBI. Alleging the CBI ...
Eager to build partnership with Sri Lanka: US
The US is eager to build its partnership with Sri Lanka, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday as he greeted people of the island nation on the eve of its National Day. Lanka celebrates its National Day on February 4 to commemorate its internal political independence from British rule on that day in 1948. "The United States remains eager to build on our partnership with Sri Lanka and advance shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region based on our common democratic values," Pompeo said in a message. Lanka's democratic institutions and constitutional processes have ensured the country's continued advancement, he said, adding that the US look forward to work "together to further deepen ties between our nations, promote shared prosperity and secure a stable and peaceful future".
Ex-Union minister V Kishore Chandra Deo resigns from primary membership of Cong
Former Union Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo resigned from the primary membership of the Congress alleging that the party is in a state of "comatose" in Andhra Pradesh and no steps have been taken by the party last four years for its revival. In his two-line letter to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Deo said that he is resigning from the primary membership of the party. Deo, a veteran Congressman has been a member of the party for the last 45 years and was recently appointed the chairman of the newly formed All India Adivasi Congress, the tribal wing of the party. He has been the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs in 2011 and was the Congress' a key leader in Andhra Pradesh. "The party is in 'comatose' in Andhra Pradesh and no steps have been taken by the party leadership in the last four years to revive the party in the state. My concerns and suggestions to the party leadership have not even been read, what to talk of those being implemented," he told PTI. He said it was a difficult ..
Patnaik govt needs to be thrown out of power: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Sunday asked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to step down, dubbing the BJD government a "fused transformer" which failed to develop the mineral-rich state and pull people out of poverty in 19 years of its rule. Shah's attack on BJD was in sharp contrast to the BJP central leadership's apparent bid to keep the Naveen Patnaik-led party in good humour after its poll debacle in three Hindi-speaking states. It was often alleged by parties, including the Congress, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah had adopted a soft approach towards Patnaik in the hope of getting BJD's support after general elections, if necessary. Shah, however, silenced the critics and accused the BJD government of ignoring the state's development, neglecting tribals and Dalits and refusing to accept the Centre's Ayushman Bharat medical insurance programme which would have helped the poor draw benefits. The BJP president was addressing the valedictory session of the two-day national ..
Cong issues whip to MPs to be present at LS
The Congress has issued a whip to all its members in the Lok Sabha for their compulsory presence in the Lower House throughout the week from Monday. According to sources, the Congress has asked all its party MPs in the Lok Sabha to be present during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address and the discussion on the interim budget. Congress' chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has asked the members to be present from Monday to Friday this week. "All members of Congress party in the Lok Sabha are requested to kindly remain present in the House from 11 AM onwards till the adjournment of the House on February 4,5,6,7 and 8, 2019, without fail and support the party stand. This may be treated as most urgent," the three-line whip to Congress members said. The Congress party wants that all its members be present during the two key discussions to be held during the week.
Modi-Shah trying to organise coup in Bengal: Mamata
After the CBI made an unsuccessful bid to question the Kolkata Police commissioner in chit fund scam cases Sunday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Centre and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah of trying to organise a coup in the state. Alleging the CBI action was "politically vindictive" and an attack on constitutional norms, Banerjee later began a dharna at Esplanade. Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar, West Bengal DG Virendra and ADG (law and order) Anuj Sharma were at the dharna site. "We had come here to protect the Constitution under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee," a TMC leader said. Earlier in front of the residence of Kumar, Banerjee also alleged that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was directing the CBI to harass political opponents, as per orders of the prime minister. "I feel ashamed to talk to such a prime minister who has blood on his hands," she said. "Narendra Modi and Amit Shah ...
Tulsi Gabbard officially launches 2020 US presidential campaign
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, officially launched her presidential campaign from her home state Hawaii on Sunday, promising to bend "the arc of history away from war and toward peace". Taking a dig at America's foreign policy establishment in her campaign announcement, the four-time Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives from Hawaii blamed politicians in "ivory towers" for US' involvement in costly armed conflicts abroad. "We must stand against powerful politicians from both parties who sit in ivory towers thinking up new wars to wage and new places for people to die. Wasting trillions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of lives, undermining our economy and security, and destroying our middle class," Gabbard said. "These powerful politicians dishonor the sacrifices made by every one of our service members, and their families - they are the ones who pay the price for these wars," she said. Asserting that the foreign policy is depleting US' ..
Modi is 'king of jungle', says Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Sunday that none of the opposition leaders who have come together against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a national stature. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "the king of jungle" while they ruled only in their own turfs, he said. "The proposed alliance against Modi does not even have a prime ministerial candidate. There will be one PM every day. These people have got together for power. They have no programme or intention to do something for the country," Fadnavis said at an event organised by the BJP Yuva Morcha. Leaders like DMK's M K Stalin, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, NCP chief Sharad Pawar or West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee are leaders only in their own states, he said. "Modi attracts lakhs of people wherever he goes. Kutta-billi (dogs and cats) rule (only) their own areas. Modi is the king of jungle," Fadnavis said. If a "helpless" government was elected in coming polls, development will ..
Not more than 25K attended Rahul's flop show: Sushil Nodi
The ruling JD(U)-BJP combine in Bihar on Sunday belittled the rally addressed here by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying it was a "flop show" that could not attract more than 25,000 people. "Congress could not muster more than 25k in Rahul rally. Half of the crowd was brought by Bahubali Anant Singh otherwise it would have been converted into a nukkad sabha, Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted. Anant Singh, who is an independent MLA from Mokama, has expressed his desire to contest Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket although he is yet to be inducted into the party. The muscleman politician had, nevertheless, taken it upon himself to participate actively in the preparations for the rally held at the Gandhi Maidan here, which was the first to be addressed by the Congress president in the state ever since he took over the reins of the party in December, 2017. Modi also took potshots at Gandhi for sharing the stage with RJD heir ..
Alarming rise of communal incidents in TMC regime: Rajnath
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday attacked the TMC government over the law and order situation in West Bengal and claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was now giving less time to the state as her eyes are fixed on forming a 'Mahagathbandhan'. Alleging that communal incidents have risen "alarmingly" since the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, he claimed West Bengal is the only state besides Jammu and Kashmir where police personnel are being attacked. With the patronisation of "goondaism, what happened to sonar Bangla (golden Bengal), where presently neither maa, manush nor maati appear to be safe anymore", he claimed. "Maa-maati-manush" (mother-land-human) is the slogan of the ruling Trinamool Congress. He claimed that Bengal has now become the front-runner among the most economically backward states in India and in violent incidents. Singh claimed there had been an alarming rise in communal incidents in West Bengal in four years. "The numbers of communal incidents in ..