Page 1759 - Politics
Wickremesinghe proposes formation of national government in Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe-led government today sought the consent of the Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament to form a 'national government', a move seen as a step to get a majority in the 225-member House. Leader of the House, Lakshman Kiriella handed over a proposal to form a national government to the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's office. Wickremesinghe was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena in October last year and strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed the prime minister. The President also removed the members of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from the national unity government. Sirisena was forced to reappoint Wickremesinghe as the prime minister after Rajapaksa failed to prove his majority twice in Parliament. Since his reappointment in December last, the Wickremesinghe-led government has been functioning without the required majority of 113 in the 225-member House. Sirisena's move to dissolve Parliament to hold a snap parliamentary polls on January 5 was ...
No change in Delhi's share in Central taxes: AAP Government
Responding to the interim Budget presented in Parliament, the Delhi government on Friday said there has been no change in the parameters for the government of the national capital and that the Budget has not earmarked any funds for the local bodies.
Mehbooba, Omar and Mirwaiz on same page, demand opening of Kargil-Skardu route
For once the two mainstream rivals, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah on Friday found common cause with senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq demanding the opening of the Kargil-Skardu route.
Cong-JD(S) govt played significant role in getting Ravi Pujari
: The Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka played a leading role in getting underworld don Ravi Pujari arrested from Senegal, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said here Friday. He said the arrest of the don, wanted for many crimes in the state, was effected due to the 'sustained efforts' of Karnataka government officers, with the assistance of the central government and officials af the Indian Embassy at Senegal. Lauding the efforts of Indian Ambassador to Senegal, Rajeev Kumar,Kumaraswamy told reporters that the officer and his subordinates got in touch with the Prime Minister and interior minister of that country and briefed him about the activities of 'the most wanted gangster.' The chief minister said he was concerned over the extortion racket running in Karnataka, targetting builders and businessmen and had told Director General of Police Neelamani Raju and Additional Director General of Police (intelligence) to check the activities of Ravi Pujari. "Many .
Cong govt in MP increases honorarium of temple priests
The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh Friday hiked the honorarium of priests of Hindu temples, and also announced financial help to the shrines which offer shelter to cows. The move, an apparent bid to counter BJP's Hindutva politics, comes ahead of general elections. Around 25,000 priests serving at government-managed temples will get Rs 3,000 instead of Rs 1,000 per month with effect from January 1, said Spiritual Affairs Minister P C Sharma. Muslim clerics attached to the Madhya Pradesh Aukaf Board would also get the same hike, he said. "We are also going to provide financial help to the temples which have land attached to them for sheltering and rearing cows," he said. "The BJP did not care for Gau Mata (cow) during its 15 years' rule in Madhya Pradesh," the minister alleged. The Congress, in its manifesto for the November 2018 assembly polls in the state, had promised to hike the honorarium of priests, Sharma noted. The party had also promised to set up cow ...
Government to identify nomadic tribes for welfare: Finance Minister
The Finance Minister on Friday announced the forming of a commission to identify de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities for their welfare and devising "development programmes" for them.
Clear pending application for ration cards immediately: Delhi govt to food officers
The Delhi government Friday directed the Food and Civil Supplies department to clear pending applications for ration cards at the earliest, a statement stated. According to the government, the direction was given by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain in a meeting to review the issue and addition of beneficiaries in the existing ration cards in the city. It stated that during the meeting, the minister enquired about the pendency of applications for issuance of the ration cards and addition of beneficiaries. He was informed that many applications are pending since 2015 as well. Hussain was also informed that the Centre has set a target of 72.78 lakh beneficiaries in Delhi for coverage under the National Food Security Act, 2013. "The minister directed the departmental officers to immediately process the applications strictly as per the approved priority criteria. "He warned that any kind of collusion or connivance with the vested interest in issuance of the ration cards will .
US says to withdraw from INF missile treaty with Russia
The United States said Friday it was withdrawing from the landmark Cold War INF missile treaty with Russia, saying Moscow was in violation. Effective Saturday, "the United States will suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty and begin the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty, which will be completed in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers and associated equipment," President Donald Trump said in a statement.
WB Guv praises Mamata for coping with demonetisation, "hasty"
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Friday praised the Mamata Banerjee government for being able to cope with the challenges of demonetisation and "hasty" implementation of the GST "thrust upon" by the Centre. In his address to the Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session, Tripathi said state government never for once faltered from the track of the development process that encompassed every person from all walks of life. He also praised the government for keeping a "steady vigil" to ensure communal harmony, and said the overall atmosphere remained peaceful. "The state government was able to cope with the twin challenges of demonetisation and hasty enforcement of GST thrust upon by the central government," he said. He said there were attempts to disturb peace in the Darjeeling hills which were strongly dealt with. Tripathi said the state government was committed to safeguarding the democratic and federal structure of the Constitution. Noting that the ...
Opposition parties meet on EVM tampering
A host of opposition leaders, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, held a meeting here on Friday to chalk out a "joint strategy" on the issue of EVM tampering.
Modi to kickstart BJP's poll campaign in Bengal with rallies in North 24 Parganas, Durgapur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick start BJP's campaign in West Bengal on Saturday for the coming Lok Sabha election with rallies in the border district of North 24 Parganas and the industrial town of Durgapur, party sources said. The venues of both the rallies have political significance. Thakurnagar, which is one of the venues, is the hub of the sizeable Matua community, who originally hail from erstwhile East Pakistan and began migrating to West Bengal in the beginning of the 1950s mostly due to religious persecution. The rally venue is near the house of Matua matriarch Binapani Debi. Matuas with an estimated population of 30 lakh in West Bengal have influence in at least five Lok Sabha seats in North and South 24 Parganas districts. The BJP state unit is hopeful that Modi will speak on the Citizenship (Ammendment) Bill at Thakurnagar in the circumstances, party sources said adding that the BJP-aligned faction of All India Matua Mahasangha is organising the rally. The Durgapur .
Interim Budget of Modi government its "final jumla", disappointing for Delhi: Kejriwal
Terming the Union Budget the "final jumla" of the Narendra Modi government, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday said it has disappointed the city. The Centre Friday allocated Rs 1,112 crore for Delhi in the Union Budget, while keeping its share in central taxes and duties unchanged. Kejriwal rued the "stagnant" share of Delhi in central taxes and his party too alleged "step-motherly treatment" by the BJP government at the Centre. "Final jumla of Modi govt: it's interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially (sic)," Kejriwal wrote on Twitter. He also tweeted, "1. Invest heavily in edu n health 2. Increase min wages n enforce it 3. Give crop prices 1.5 times cost 4. One time farm loan waiver. This wud put money in pocket of poorest, create demand, give boost to economy n create jobs. None of it done in ...
NC expresses hope that PM will announce Kargil-Skardu road across LoC
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Friday expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the opening of Kargil-Skardu road across the Line of Control during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The former chief minster's remarks came in the backdrop of protest demonstrations held by people in Kargil on Friday, who demanded opening of the road. "1000s march in Kargil town in support of the demand to open the Kargil-Skardu road. @JKNC_ supports this genuine demand of the people of the area & hopes that @PMOIndia will announce this important CBM when he next visits J&K," Omar tweeted. The prime minister is scheduled to visit the state on Sunday. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also took to Twitter saying her party's 'self rule' plank not only envisaged opening of the Kargil-Skardu road but all traditional routes which connected Jammu and Kashmir to neighbouring areas. "PDP envisaged through #SelfRule not only opening of #KargilSkardu, but other routes too, to let ...
Priyanka Gandhi won't be a factor in LS polls in UP: Dinesh
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma Friday said Priyanka Gandhi's appointment as Congress general secretary for eastern UP will not be a factor in the coming Lok Sabha elections as she had unsuccessfully campaigned for the party in the last two parliamentary polls. The people of Uttar Pradesh will reject the "opportunist" SP-BSP alliance and BJP would increase its tally over that of the last Lok Sabha polls, he claimed. "Earlier in the two parliamentary polls Priyanka Gandhi had campaigned for the party, but it had not yielded any results. Our leaders Narendra Modiji, Amit Shahji and UP CM Yogiji will defeat the opposition in the next Lok Sabha polls," he said to questions. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had swept the polls in Uttar Pradesh by winning 71 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. Its alliance partner Apna Dal had also won two seats. "This time the BJP-led NDA will win at least 74 seats from UP this time. Our tally will increase by at least one seat," he
Opposition parties to approach EC on Monday over EVM issue
Opposition parties met here and decided to approach the Election Commission on Monday for redressal of their concerns over the use of EVMs in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, addressing the media after the meeting on Friday, said the issue of EVMs was discussed at length by the opposition leaders. "We have had a good meeting. All parties have agreed to discuss in detail three issues -- two central and one structural -- jobs, agriculture and attack on institutions. We are going to meet and find solutions to these problems," he said. "The election will be about jobs, agriculture, attack on institutions, and corruption by the prime minister in the Rafale deal," the Congress chief said. Asked about the budget being hailed as a "surgical strike", Gandhi said "surgical strike" will happen on the prime minister and his government on issues such as Rafale, jobs and demonetisation. He said opposition parties will meet election commission officials on Monday over ..
Centre gave nothing to AP even in its last budget: Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday accused the BJP-led central government of "betraying" his state by failing to fulfil the assurances made during its bifurcation and said the Interim Budget had nothing on offer for the state.He slammed the central government saying, "The Narendra Modi-led BJP government has betrayed Andhra Pradesh all these years".Citing the Interim Budget, he said that the central government has nothing in its bag for the state even in its last budget before the Lok Sabha polls.The ruling Telugu Desam Party observed Friday as Black Day as a mark of protest against the BJP-led central dispensation, alleging that the Centre had "betrayed" the state in all the five budgets."Nothing is assured to the state even in this last budget," said Chandrababu Naidu.He also took on BJP legislators in the state and said they were ineligible to be public representatives. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly took up the subject of AP Reorganization Act and the ...
Union Budget exercise in rhetoric with elections in mind: Left parties
Terming the Union Budget an "exercise in rhetoric" done with the general elections in mind, the Left parties alleged that the government has made promises which was not its to make. Hours after Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal gave his maiden Budget speech in Parliament, the CPI(M), in a statement, said it was a testimony to the BJP's "fear and desperation" about what that verdict of the people might be. "It has sought to use what is an interim budget to make promises that are not for it to make," the party said. "The Modi government has now become famous for suppressing and manipulating data and offering jumlas to the people. The interim Budget for 2019-20 is yet another exercise in the same vein. "The acting finance minister made tall claims during his speech about the record of the Modi government and promises of a rosy future for all Indians which was a cruel joke played on the suffering people of the country," the CPI(M) said. The Communist Party of India (CPI), in a separate
Not going back to ballot paper: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Friday ruled out going back to the ballot paper, a demand raised by many opposition parties who have questioned authenticity of the electronic voting machine (EVM). "We are not going back to the days of ballot paper. (The) EVMs have been in use in our country for more than two decades. And it has been a consistent policy of the ECI (Election Commission of India) for quite sometime and I think it will remain the same," Arora said. "Political parties have a right to make their feedback known and their apprehensions because they're the biggest stakeholders after the voters. But, we're not going to go back to ballot-paper days. We're not going to the days of ballot papers being snatched, muscle powers being used for that. Inordinate delays in counting," the chief election commissioner (CEC) said. He was interacting with the media after two days of deliberations with political parties and officials here over the upcoming general election. Election
Budget reflects PM Narendra Modi's 'close connect' with common man: MoS PMO Jitendra Singh
The Union Budget for 2019-20, announced Friday, reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "close connect" with common man, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh has said. He said this is a budget which could have only been conceived and visualised by a prime minister like Narendra Modi, who has lived through the hardship and constraints of the lower middle class. Singh said the relief provided to the salaried class by way of increasing the tax-exemption limit as well as the standard deduction limit will be universally welcomed by all sections of society across the country. He said the enhanced budget of Rs 3,00,000 crore for defence sector not only reflects the Modi government's respect for the defence personnel, but also the concern for states like Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast region which have witnessed security-related problems. Singh, who is also the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), is a Lok Sabha member from Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur ...
Amarinder trashes budget
Trashing the union budget presented on Friday as a "jumla budget" of the Modi government, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh described it as "a hogwash, with nothing for the farmers and youth, while putting more burden on the common man".