Page 1763 - Politics
Opposition members protest amid Budget presentation
The nearly 100-minute presentation of the NDA government's final Budget Friday intermittently witnessed noisy protests from opposition members and a spirited reaction from Treasury benches regularly thumping their desks. Presenting his first Budget, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal faced protests even before he began his speech as some Congress members shouted that the Budget has already been "leaked". They also sought to raise concerns over reports about the unemployment rate. At times, some Left members too were seen protesting at their seats. Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, alleged that proposals of the interim budget were leaked to the media even before the document was presented in the House. Some members held placards of news reports about unemployment figures. TDP members raised slogans demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. When Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in his budget speech, said the government aims to double the income of ...
Women will surround Trump at State of the Union address
Pelosi behind and above. Female immigrants, gazing down from the balcony. A black woman who ran a close race for governor of Georgia, rebutting. When President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union address under divided government on Tuesday, he'll be surrounded by these and other living reminders of the 2018 elections that delivered Democrats the House majority and a record number of women to Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will sit just over his shoulder on the dais, on-camera, looking out at the assembled lawmakers, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and diplomats. Seated in front of Trump will be a record number of women House members, most Democrats and some dressed in easy-to-spot white. And in the gallery overhead? Two former employees of Trump's New Jersey golf club, women and immigrants, who have spoken out about its hiring practices. Afterward, Stacey Abrams will become the first black woman to deliver the Democratic rebuttal. "I hope she does a good ..
SC issues notice to interim CBI Director Nageshwar Rao
The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to interim CBI Director M Nageshwar Rao after hearing a petition filed by DSP AK Bassi, challenging his transfer to Port Blair.On October 24, Bassi was issued orders for a transfer to the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, hours after Rao was made the Interim Director of CBI following the government's decision to send the then-Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave in the wake of their fights. Verma, who resumed his post on January 9 after being reinstated by the Supreme Court, had immediately annulled Bassi's transfer.However, on January 11, Verma was transferred out of CBI on the directions of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-chaired high powered Selection Committee and Rao was again made the Interim Director. Subsequently, Bassi was again transferred to Port Blair. Bassi had moved the apex court on January 21 to challenge his transfer.In his petition, Bassi said that he fears the transfer is the "first .
US expected to announce US pull out from INF Treaty
The United States is expected to announce the suspension of its participation in the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia on Friday.Quoting sources, CNN reported that the decision comes after high-ranking officials from the US Department of State, including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, put forth that the US would exit from the treaty if Russia failed to comply with the accord until February 2.The United States and Russia had, on Thursday, held a meeting in Beijing on the sidelines of the P5 conference, where the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov slammed the US for holding a "tough" and "ultimatum-like" position with regard to the arms control treaty."Unfortunately, there is no progress. The US position remains rather tough and ultimatum-like. We told the US side that it is impossible to hold dialogue in the conditions of attempted blackmailing of Russia," Ryabkov said.Experts believe that the suspension of the INF Treaty will trigger ..
Defence stocks in demand
Shares of six defence equipment companies rose by 0.19% to 2.33% at 12:08 IST on BSE after the government allocated Rs 3 lakh crore for defence budget.
TMC reaching out to disgruntled leaders to thwart BJP's poaching bid: Party leaders
The Trinamool Congress leadership has been reaching out to its disgruntled leaders to thwart any poaching bid by rival BJP ahead of the general elections, TMC leaders said. However, opposition parties in West Bengal, including the BJP and Congress, have alleged that it was the TMC that poached elected representatives. Besides, the TMC has also taken a tough stand to curb infighting in the party. The infighting had left many party workers unhappy, they said. BJP president Amit Shah last year had set a target of winning at least 22 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal and the party has been pulling out all stops to achieve the target.The BJP has just two seats in the state. With the target in mind, the state BJP leadership has been wooing TMC leaders and workers at various levels into the party.For the TMC, the biggest jolt came when its sitting MP from Bishnupur Lok Sabha seat in Bankura, Soumitra Khan, switched over to the BJP recently. The defections from the TMC had resulted in .
Oppn parties allege leak of budget proposals
Opposition parties in Lok Sabha on Friday protested alleging "leak" of budget proposals to the media before being presented in the House. Soon after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took her seat, members from opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, alleged that proposals of the interim budget were leaked to the media even before the document was presented in the House. Some members held placards of news reports about unemployment figures. TDP members raised slogans demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. When Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in his budget speech, said that the government aims to double the income of farmers, opposition members jeered. Members from the Treasury benches thumped desks to drown the protests by the opposition.
Trump hopes for deal with China, end trade war
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism regarding the possibility of reaching an ambitious agreement with China to stop the ongoing trade war between the two nations, after a round of negotiations which brought "advances".
6 cr LPG connections given under Ujjwala, mostly to women: Goyal
Over 6 crore free cooking gas connections have been provided under the government's Ujjwala Yojana scheme aimed at providing LPG to poor households, the Centre announced on Friday.
Trump-Pelosi rift over wall funding widens
An ongoing rift between US President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the construction of a wall along the Mexican border appeared to have widened even as negotiators worked to strike a deal ahead of a looming deadline.
SC asks Centre why regular CBI director hasn't been appointed
The Supreme Court Friday asked the Centre why it has not appointed a regular CBI director and said it was "averse" to the appointment of an interim chief for the agency for a long period. A bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and Naveen Sinha said the post of CBI director was sensitive and the government should have appointed a regular director by now. Attorney General K K Venugopal told the court that a high-powered committee headed by the prime minister will hold a meeting Friday to select a new CBI director. He also told the court that the Centre had taken the approval of the high-powered committee before appointing IPS officer M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director. Taking account of the attorney general's submissions that the committee will hold a meeting on Friday, the apex court posted the matter for hearing on February 6. The bench was hearing a petition of NGO Common Cause challenging the appointment of Rao as interim CBI Director.
Farmers to get Rs 6,000/yr in 3 installments under Centre funded scheme: FM
Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said farmers will be provided Rs 6,000 per year in three installments under a scheme to be fully funded by the central government. Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal sought to address some of the distress that the farm sector has been facing. He said the government will provide Rs 6,000 per year to farmers "in three installments" and it will be "fully funded by the central government". Allocation to MNREGA has been hiked to Rs 60,000 crore for 2019-20, said Goyal, who stepped in as interim finance minister after Arun Jaitley had to fly to New York for medical treatment. He further said the government had spent Rs 1.7 lakh crore to supply food grains at cheaper price to poor in 2018-19 as against Rs 92,000 crore in 2013-14.
Shiv Sena questions decision to bring Maha CM under Lokayukta's ambit
The Shiv Sena on Friday asked how a Lokayukta, appointed by the chief minister, will investigate his or her boss. The party's remarks, which were made in its editorial mouthpiece 'Saamana', come in the backdrop of the Maharashtra cabinet's decision to bring the chief minister's office under the jurisdiction of the anti-corruption ombudsman. The decision was welcomed by social activist Anna Hazare, who began a hunger strike on Wednesday to press his demand for appointment of Lokpal at the Centre and passage of the Lokayukta Act in states. The Shiv Sena, an ally of the ruling BJP, claimed that an ombudsman who could end corruption was yet to be born. "Now the chief minister is also under the scope of (probe by Lokayukta). But the question is how will the Lokayukta, appointed by the chief minister, probe his or her boss?" it asked. The party mouthpiece said contesting and winning polls required "huge money". Horse-trading happens during polls and the person who occupies the chief ...
TDP protests against Centre over special status to Andhra
Ahead of the interim budget presentation, the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday staged a protest against the BJP-led central government for not granting the special category status to the state of Andhra Pradesh.Dressed in black as a mark of protest, the TDP gathered outside the Parliament and shouted slogans, "we want justice," and "Modi ko hatao, desh ko bachao (remove Modi, save the country)"."From day one, we have been demanding for the special status for Andhra Pradesh. It is there in the bifurcation document, but till today they have not fulfilled it. That is why we are protesting," TDP MP T Narasimhan told ANI.The TDP had also held protests during the Winter Session of Parliament in December last year to press for their demands. The demand to bring Andhra Pradesh under the Special Category gained momentum after the region split into two states. Telangana, which is India's youngest state, was carved out of Andhra in 2014. Andhra Pradesh's capital Hyderabad, also a rising IT ..
Budget will reflect PM's mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas': Narendra Singh Tomar
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' will be reflected in the Interim Budget."The BJP-led government has presented the Budget four times before this in which there were many provisions keeping in mind the poor, youth and development. 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' has been our government's mantra and it will reflect in the Budget," Tomar told ANI here.Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who examined the final copy of the Interim Budget document on Thursday evening, will present the Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am.Goyal was appointed interim Finance Minister on January 23 with Arun Jaitley undergoing treatment in the United States.The Interim Budget, also known as a vote on account, will seek the Parliament's nod for meeting the expenditure for the first six months of new fiscal-2019-20. A full-fledged Budget will be presented in Parliament once the new Central government is formed .
Cabinet approves interim Budget 2019-20
The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved the interim Budget for 2019-20.
Trump calls wall negotiations with Democrats 'waste of time'
US President Donald Trump has slammed border security negotiations with the US Congress as a "waste of time," indicating that he would probably declare an emergency, when the stop-gap measure expires on February 15, to build the fence on the US-Mexico border."I've set the table. I've set the stage for doing what I'm going to do," Trump told The New York Times in an interview.He further lambasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - again - on Thursday (local time)."I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly by doing what she's doing and, ultimately, I think I've set the table very nicely," the US President said.A stalemate between the US Congress and Trump had triggered the longest-ever partial government shutdown, which came to a temporary halt for three weeks on January 25 after being in place for a 35-day period.The impasse was caused by a disagreement between the two on USD five billion funding for the construction of the wall on the United States' southern border with Mexico.
Union Cabinet approves interim Budget 2019-20
The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the interim Budget 2019-20 on Friday. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who given charge of the Finance Ministry owing to Arun Jaitley's illness, will present the Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am.In addition to Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh arrived at the Parliament, among others. The Interim Budget, also known as a vote on account, will seek the Parliament's nod for meeting the expenditure for the first six months of new fiscal-2019-20.A full-fledged Budget will be presented in Parliament once the new Central government is formed after the General Elections, due in March-April.
Five-Star lawmakers decry European Parliament's recognition of Guaido
Rome, Feb 1 (IANS/AKI) Senators from Italy's ruling grassroots Five-Star Movement have deplored a vote by the European Parliament recognizing Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, calling the move "dangerous" and "a political act".
Last 5 budgets have been for farmers, this too will be for them: Radha Mohan Singh
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Friday asserted that the last five budgets of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government have been dedicated to the farmers and this budget shall also be no different.Speaking to ANI Singh said: "The last five budgets have been dedicated to the farmers, the government's sixth budget will also be for the farmers, it will empower them."This budget is Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government's sixth and last financial exercise, which will seek Parliament's nod for spending for six months of the new financial year till the formation of the new government at the Centre.The new Central government, likely to get elected after the General elections by May, is expected to present a full-fledged budget in July, which will be preceded by the tabling of Economic Survey.As per the standard practice, a vote-on-account or approval for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in an election