Page 1752 - Politics
Cong leader Kharge tried to manipulate CBI chief's selection criteria: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a member of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel, tried to "manipulate" the criteria for selection of CBI chief with the ulterior motive of accommodating some of his preferred officers, Union Minister Jitendra Singh claimed Saturday. He also hit out at Kharge for "giving his own version" of the panel's deliberations to the media. "Kharge tried to manipulate the objective criteria, based on independent and impartial assessment, to select CBI Director...He wanted to include some officers of his preference in the short-list of candidates," Singh, the Union Minister of State for Personnel, told PTI. Former Madhya Pradesh Police chief Rishi Kumar Shukla was on Saturday appointed the chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a fixed tenure of two years, according to a Personnel Ministry order. Shukla, a 1983-batch IPS officer, has been appointed in place of Alok Kumar Verma, who was removed from the post of CBI Director on ...
Mamata government hindering Central projects: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flayed the Mamata Banerjee government, accusing it of hindering close to 24 infrastructure development projects worth Rs 90 thousand crore in Bengal and claimed that the people of the state will bring "the change" by uprooting the current regime.
2019 polls will be face-off between nationalist and 'anti-Bharat' forces : Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has termed the upcoming general elections in the country as a face-off between good governance and nationalist forces on one side and anti-Bharat forces on the other."In the 2019 elections on one side forces are working for nationalism, development and good governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi while on the other side there are forces that are trying to loot, breach the country's security, are anti-Bharat and those who divide people on the basis of caste," Yogi Adityanath said.The Chief Minister was addressing a rally of booth-level workers in which BJP president Amit Shah was also present, the UP chief minister said the mission of BJP in the coming elections was to win over 74 seats in the state."In 2014 we got 73 seats in Uttar Pradesh, our aim in 2019 elections is to get 74 plus seats," Yogi Adityanath said.He said that the BJP booth level workers were devoted to "Mera Booth, Sabse Majboot" and soon every family in the region ...
Congress working to promote only one family: BJP chief
Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah on Saturday lashed out at the Congress and alleged that it was a party working for a single family while the government run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working for Army jawans, poor, farmers, women and the youth.
Interim Budget was just a 'trailer', more to follow after polls: PM
The financial support of Rs 6000 to each of the marginal farmers, which will involve a total outlay of Rs 75,000 crore, is not a one-time affair but will be given every year annually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday and contrasted it with the previous UPA government's one-time loan waiver of Rs 70,000 crore.Addressing rallies in Thakurnagar and Durgapur in West Bengal, he said provisions in the interim Budget, including tax exemption on the income of up to Rs 5 lakh, was just a "trailer" and more will follow in the main budget after the Lok Sabha polls, if his government returns to power. "What is 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' is evident in this (interim budget 2019). It has something for every section of the society," PM Modi said."In the interim Budget, individuals with up to 5 lakh taxable income have been exempted from the tax. This is just the trailer. There is more to follow. This move is going to benefit around 3 crore individuals of the middle class," he said."This ..
Guaido determined to implement democracy in Venezuela, while Maduro clings to power
Self-proclaimed interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaido on Saturday said that he will "steer the country to democracy" from the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in the South American nation. "Governability, stability, the lowest social impact possible, attend to the current humanitarian emergency, reactivate the economy to create jobs for citizens and steer Venezuela towards democracy," Guaido told Al Jazeera.According to reports, President Nicolas Maduro has been ignoring the call of the international community to seek re-elections as well as mediate talks with the opposition over the political turmoil in the country."The opposition has been willing to negotiate. We have tried everything. We have voted, we have abstained. We have gone on hunger strikes. We have protested and they have killed us," Guaido said."The cessation of the regime, a transition government and free elections, everything within that framework can be discussed," Guaido added.The opposition leader, who
Iran announces successful test of long-range cruise missile
Iran announced the "successful test" of a new cruise missile with a range of over 1,350 kilometres on Saturday, coinciding with celebrations for the country's 1979 Islamic revolution. "The test of the Hoveizeh cruise missile was carried out successfully at a range of 1,200 kilometres and accurately hit the set target," Defence Minister Amir Hatami said, quoted on state television which broadcast footage of its launch. "It can be ready in the shortest possible time and flies at a very low altitude," he said. Hatami described the Hoveizeh as the "long arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran" in defending itself. It is part of the Soumar group of cruise missile, first unveiled in 2015 with a range of 700 kilometres, according to the minister. The Hoveizeh unveiling was part of an arms exhibition titled "40 years of defensive achievements" held in Tehran. Friday marked the beginning of 10 days of celebrations of the Islamic revolution that ousted the pro-Western shah. Iran has voluntarily ...
Coalition govt yet to start talks on LS seats: Siddaramaiah
: The ruling Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka has not yet begun discussions on seat sharing for the coming Lok Sabha polls, former Chief Minister Siddramaiah said Saturday. Speaking to reporters at the airport here on his way to attend a programme at Manjanady, he said it was quite natural for many aspirants to seek seats in their region of influence and winning chance would be the criterion while choosing candidates. He said leaders of both parties would sit together and formulate guidelines for seat sharing. Siddaramaiah ridiculed BJPs criticism that the state has two chief ministers at present, saying the BJP had three chief ministers during their tenure and still could not complete their term. Several of their leaders had criminal cases filed against them during the period, he said.
Farmers protest at Delhi's doorstep, end stir with warning to return
Hundreds of farmers, seeking enhanced compensation for their land acquired before 2013 in Uttar Pradesh, staged a protest at Delhi-Noida border on Saturday but ended it after a written assurance from officials that their concerns would be taken up with the state government. The farmers under Kisan Uday Abhiyan, led by Manveer Teotia, were protesting at the Delhi-Noida-Direct flyway, a crucial route connecting UP and Delhi, which was briefly shut on Friday evening owing to their protest. The farmers, numbering around 500 from Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Aligarh and Meerut, were not allowed entry to central Delhi after which they stayed put at the DND junction in the cold weather until Saturday afternoon. Many of them were women from villages, with their heads covered. They had their hands raised and tied with a piece of cloth in a symbolic gesture expressing "helplessness". "We have tied our hands, if the police or the administration wants to take any action, they can do it and we ..
Border Personnel Meeting between armies of China and India held in Eastern Ladakh sector
A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between the armies of China and India was held in Eastern Ladakh sector on the occasion of 'Chinese Spring Festival' on Saturday, a defence spokesman said. "The meeting was conducted at Chinese BPM Huts at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD Meeting Points of Eastern Ladakh. The Indian delegation was led by Brig V K Purohit and Col S S Lamba and the Chinese delegation by Senior Colonel Bai Min and Colonel Song Zhang Li," the spokesman said. He said the meeting commenced with saluting the national flags by the delegation members. "This was followed by the ceremonial address comprising exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks. The address reflected the mutual desire for maintaining and improving relations at the functional level at the border," he said. The spokesman said a cultural programme, showcasing Chinese culture and traditions, was also organised. "The delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The delegations ..
Top Army commander visits Leh ahead of PM's visit
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Saturday visited the headquarters of Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps where he was briefed about the operational readiness being maintained in Ladakh sector, a defence spokesperson said. The visit of the top Army commander to Leh comes just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to the region. Modi will visit Jammu, Srinagar and Leh on Sunday to inaugurate several development projects on Sunday. On Lt Gen Singh's arrival in Leh, he was briefed by General Officer Commanding of Fire and Fury Corps Lt Gen Y K Joshi on the operational readiness being maintained in the Ladakh sector, the spokesperson said. The Army commander appreciated the high standard of professionalism being displayed by all ranks of the corps, he said.
Left to organize rally Sunday to show strength before Lok
The CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal will organize a rally here on Sunday to give a call to oust Trinamool Congress in the state and the BJP at the Centre. The rally of the Left Front at Brigade Parade grounds on February 3 comes 15 days after Mamata Banerjee headed TMC's had organised mega opposition parties rally at the same venue on January 19 last. Though there were more than two dozen leaders of 22 opposition parties, the Left parties had kept a distance from the TMC rally. "We will give the call to oust TMC in Bengal and the BJP at the Centre. The people of this country are fed up with the Modi government, they want a change," CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra said. The CPI(M)-led front is pulling all stops to ensure that the February 3 rally turns out to be a massive success. The event is also seen as an attempt by the Left to regain its lost ground in West Bengal. The Left Front comprises of 10 parties including CPI(M), RSP, CPI and Forward ...
'NDA forced not to pursue Citizenship Bill due to JD (U) opposition'
JD (U) General Secretary and party in-charge for the Northeast, Afaque Ahmed Khan, on Saturday said that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) is forced not to pursue the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 due to strong opposition raised by his party.
No provision for Metro Ph-IV in Budget; stepmotherly treatment to Delhi: AAP govt
The AAP dispensation Saturday accused the Centre of meting out "stepmotherly treatment" to Delhi in the Budget, claiming that the Narendra Modi government has made "no provision" for the metro's Ph-IV project. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said AAP MPs will raise this issue in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, in what could trigger a fresh tussle between the Centre and the Arvind Kejriwal-led government. There was no immediate reaction from the Union government. "Lot of noise was earlier made by the ministry (Housing and Urban Affairs) about the Delhi Metro Phase-IV project, but when we saw the Budget, it was a surprise for us. The Phase-IV work, which needed funds, has been neglected in it," Sisodia alleged. The Delhi Metro has been given a grant of Rs 414.70 crore in the Budget 2019-20 as against Rs 50 crore in the last fiscal. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal shared the details while presenting the Interim Budget in ...
Sisodia slams Centre over Delhi Metro Phase IV funds
Delhi Finance Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday slammed the Central government for not allocating any funds for the Metro Phase IV project in the city.
BJP's win in Lok Sabha polls must to hoist party flag from Kashmir to Kanyakumari: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said that the upcoming General election is very important for the party because if it fails to win elections it would not be able to hoist its flag from Kashmir to Kanyakumari."2019 elections are important for BJP because we have to win Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Till the time we form our government in 2019, BJP will not be able to hoist its flag from Kanyakumari to Kashmir," said Shah while addressing a rally of BJP workers ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections here."In West Bengal, BJP workers are being murdered. But BJP karyakartas have hoisted the party's saffron flag in the state also. These elections are important not only for the BJP but for the country also," Shah added.He said that after the BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh, migration has stopped in western Uttar Pradesh including Kairana. "Those who were living here since centuries were forced to migrate. Some of them migrated to ...
Interim budget an 'explosion of jumlas': AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said that the BJP government's interim Budget is nothing but an 'explosion of jumlas', asking why did they present this "trailer" budget when they were sleeping through their five-year term. "They (BJP) were sleeping throughout their five-year term, now when their term is ending, they are saying that the budget is a trailer? This is just an explosion of 'jumlas'. Who will believe that a government, who didn't do anything for five years, will announce so many schemes and get everything done in three months?"He said that they are implementing every policy which they opposed when they were in the opposition."This is the government which was opposed to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), now they have brought in 100 per cent FDI in the retail sector, they have brought in FDI in the Defence sector. They were opposed to GST, now they have implemented GST; they protested against petrol, diesel prices; whatever they previously opposed, they implemented the ..
2019 elections in between nationalist and 'anti-Bharat' forces : Yogi Adityanath
Addressing a rally of BJP workers ahead of the Lok Sabha elections here on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said the upcoming general elections in the country will be a face-off between good governance and nationalist forces on one side and anti-Bharat forces on the other." In the 2019 elections on one side there are forces working for nationalism, development and good governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi while on the other side there are forces that are trying to loot, breach the country's security, are anti-Bharat and those who divide people on the basis of caste," said Yogi Adityanath.Addressing a rally of booth-level workers in which BJP president Amit Shah was also present, the UP chief minister said the mission of BJP in the coming elections was to win over 74 seats in the state."In 2014 we got 73 seats in Uttar Pradesh, our aim in 2019 elections is to get 74 plus seats," Yogi Adityanath said.He said that the BJP booth level workers were ...
Wives of ex-Kashmiri militants want to return to Pakistan
Pakistani wives of former Kashmiri militants who came here under the State government's rehab policy on Saturday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they be given travel documents to go back to Pakistan.
Tripura CM slams NE parties for opposing citizenship bill
Slamming political parties of the North East for opposing the citizenship bill, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has said infiltration is a problem for the nation and the bill is meant to address the issue. Deb, while speaking to reporters on Friday night, said the political parties of the northeastern region is giving the impression that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has been prepared for the region alone, which is not true. The parties of the region are deliberately misleading the people to serve their own interests, he alleged. "The way some political parties in the northeastern region have been agitating against the bill, it appears that it has been prepared and passed in the Lok Sabha only for northeast India. "We need to understand that the bill was introduced in the Parliament, keeping in mind the interests of the whole country," Deb told reporters at the Civil Secretariat here. He also said that every individual or political party has the right to