Page 1768 - Politics
Jind bypoll results prove Cong can't defeat BJP in Haryana: Kejriwal
The results of the Jind bypoll have proved that the Congress cannot defeat the BJP in Haryana and only a "new political alternative" can throw the saffron party out of power in the state, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Thursday. The Aam Aadmi Party is also gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls in Haryana. "The results of the Jind bypoll has proved that Congress cannot defeat BJP in Haryana. Only a new political alternative can throw BJP out," he tweeted in Hindi. Meanwhile, talking to reporters here, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra thanked the people of Jind for voting for the development agenda of the Modi government. Patra alleged that the Congress, which fielded Randeep Singh Surjewala, an MLA from Kaithal, had made personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the election campaign, but the people of the state rejected such politics. The BJP's candidate Krishan Middha won the seat with a margin of 12,935 votes over his nearest rival Digvijay Singh Chautala .
Pak invites India to visit Indus basin on its side: Official
Pakistan has invited India to undertake a visit to the Indus basin on its side as mandated under the Indus Waters Treaty, a senior official of the Water Resources Ministry said Thursday. The invitation was extended after the Pakistani delegation led by its Indus commissioner concluded a four-day site visit to the Chenab basin on the Indian side on Thursday. Pakistani Indus Commissioner Syed Mohammad Mehar Ali Shah and Indian Commissioner PK Saxena, along with advisers, visited the under-construction Indian hydropower projects in Chenab basin, namely Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Ratle (850 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW). The delegation also visited under operation Baglihar hydroelectric project (900 MW). "The Pakistani commissioner extended invitation to his counterpart to undertake a visit of the Indus basin on Pakistani side. The visit of the Indian commissioner and his advisers shall be undertaken in Pakistan at a mutually convenient date to be decided between the two commissioners," the ...
Central leaders thronging poll-bound Odisha
With Odisha facing general and assembly elections simultaneously this year, the central leaders of various political parties are descending on the state to hit the campaign trail.
Verma reiterates stand; tells MHA he superannuated on Jan 10
Former CBI director Alok Verma, who defied a government order asking him to join as chief of Fire Services on Thursday, has told the home ministry that he superannuated from the post of CBI director on January 10, officials said. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had directed Verma to take charge as director general of the Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards on Thursday. Verma immediately responded to the letter from MHA dated January 30, reiterating his position that he had already retired from the service on July 31, 2017 and was serving the tenure of director CBI. In his response to R S Vaidya, Deputy Secretary in the home ministry, Verma said his date of birth from the official records is July 14, 1957 which implies that date of superannuation was July 31, 2017. "The undersigned has already crossed the age of 61 years and continued to serve even after his superannuation date as Director, CBI which is a tenure post for a period of two years," Verma wrote in a letter ...
Expelled Odisha leader Jena questions Rahul Gandhi over Congress state unit chief
Expelled Congress leader Srikant Jena on Thursday said he respects the party's chief Rahul Gandhi, but asked why was he allowing a corrupt person to head Odisha unit of the party despite "many cases" against him. "I have also told Rahul Gandhi as to how he is fighting against corruption across the country minus Odisha where PCC president (Niranjan Patnaik) is linked to mine mafia," Jena claimed. There was no immediate reaction from Patnaik or the Congress party on Jena's allegations. Jena said he would tour across the state to talk about the mining scam. The mining scam relates to alleged corruption in extraction of iron ore and manganese in the state for which the then UPA government in 2008-09 had set up a commission to probe. Jena, a former union minister, was addressing a meeting of 'Samajik Nyaya Abhijan', promoted by him. He had hosted Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at the public meeting at Bhubaneswar. On being expelled from Congress on January 19, Jena had said he would .
PM has told opposition that interim budget will be presented: Azad
The Opposition Thursday made it clear to the government at an all-party meeting here that it will not allow passage of any contentious bills in the Budget Session of Parliament that started with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of both the houses. The opposition parties have said they will await the response of the government on whether it would take up the contentious bills during the brief Budget Session and are in a "wait and watch" mode on how the government moved forward in taking the opposition together. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to the opposition parties during the all-party meeting in Parliament Library building that his government will present an interim budget, much to the relief of many among the opposition who feared that government will present a "full-fledged" budget Friday. Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the prime minister informed the Opposition that there will be an interim budget. The Congress and other ...
Jind victory could make BJP advance Assembly polls in Haryana
The victory in the Jind by-poll has come as a big boost for the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana and may give confidence to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to advance the Assembly elections in the state to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.
Antony condoles Fernandes' death
Senior Congress leader A.K Antony on Thursday paid rich tributes to George Fernandes, one of his predecessors in the Defence Ministry.
BJP wins Jind bypoll amid EVM row; Congress, INLD bite dust (Fifth Lead)
Firming up its grip on state politics just ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Haryana's ruling BJP won the Jind Assembly seat by-election in a multi-cornered contest on Thursday by 12,930 votes even as questions were raised about mismatch of serial numbers of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Pak Minister told Mirwaiz Kashmir row can't be solved unless India, Pakistan come close (IANS Interview)
Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq says his telephone conversation with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was their first contact from the Imran Khan administration at the "political and leadership level" and they told him that Kashmir issue cannot be solved unless India and Pakistan come close to each other.
Best way to pay tribute to Gandhi is to introspect whether we are following his values: Venkaiah
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu Thursday said the best way to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi is to sincerely introspect whether we are following his values and principles. Speaking at a function to unveil Gandhi's 'Grand Wall Mural' here, he said Gandhi belonged to the nation and not any political party. "Sometimes we find competition, Gandhi is ours, what do you have to do with him? Gandhiji belonged to the nation, not any political party. If you are a real follower of Mahatma Gandhi, then follow Gandhian ways. Then one can appreciate that you are a real Gandhian," he said. He also claimed the Congress disregarded Mahatma Gandhi's "advice" to disband the party after independence was attained. "I would like to remind you of two advices Mahatma Gandhi had given. One was a political advice. I don't want to dwell on that. He said after attainment of freedom disband the Congress. "The Congress was a platform of all people coming together to fight for the independence of the country. So ...
Terror safe havens need to be eliminated for enduring peace in Afghanistan: India
India on Thursday said terror safe havens and sanctuaries need to be eliminated for enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, at a media briefing, also said that for an "inclusive political settlement" in Afghanistan, it is important that the presidential elections there take place as per schedule this year. "We are very closely following the developments related to the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan which have been undertaken by different stakeholders. India supports efforts which can achieve an inclusive political settlement," he said. "We will participate in all formats of talks which could bring about peace and security in that region," Kumar said. Asked if an official representation will be sent to talks on Afghanistan where the Taliban is also present, he said it is a decision that needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis. For enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan terror safe havens and ...
'Merit, winnability' factors during seat-sharing talks: Cong
The Congress' Karnataka chief Dinesh Gundu Rao Thursday said "merit and winnability" would be the criteria during seat-sharing talks for Lok Sabha polls. His statement comes amid mounting pressure from the partys local leadership not to cede four major constituencies in the old Mysuru region to the JD(S), its coalition partner. The Karnataka PCC chief also signalled possible delay in seat-sharing discussions with the JD(S). The Congress will hold its general body meeting on February 6, he said. "..assembly session is also there (from Feb 6), then we have joint legislature party meeting of JD(S) and Congress MLAs, after all this seat-sharing discussion will start," Rao said in response to a question from reporters. Earlier, Rao had said seat-sharing talks would be held in the first week of February. Congress leaders from Mandya, Hassan, Mysuru, Tumkuru met Rao, Congress Legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and other leaders to discuss
India strongly takes up with UK allowing a conference on Kashmir in London
India Thursday said it has "very strongly" taken up with the UK the issue of a conference on Kashmir being allowed to be hosted in London which is scheduled to be addressed by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India was expecting the British government to address its concerns on the issue, adding the conference is "very clearly" intended to undermine unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. It is learnt that the conference will be held inside the British Parliament complex on February 4. "We have taken it up with the UK very strongly. We hope that they will understand our objections to the proposed conference and take appropriate action," Kumar said replying to a question on the issue during a media briefing. He said the UK was aware about India's sensitivities in the matter. "As a friendly country and as a strategic partner, we hope that the government of United Kingdom will address our concerns ...
Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P. new Western Naval Command chief
Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P. on Thursday took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command here. He succeeds Vice Admiral Girish Luthra upon his retirement.
J-K leaders want youths get killed to keep Delhi under pressure: Guv Malik
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Thursday courted a fresh controversy by accusing the state's political leaders of wanting to get "youths killed" to "blackmail" Delhi and keep it "under pressure". Addressing a Kissan Mela here in Akhnoor, the governor also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to give everything that the people of Kashmir demand under the Constitution as he has love and respect for the people of the state. "The leaders of Jammu and Kashmir want the youths get killed so that they keep New Delhi under pressure," Maliksaid while addressing the Kissan Mela. "This misconception was cleared by me during the municipal and panchayat polls, and conveyed a message that New Delhi is not to come under pressure. New Delhi will not come under pressure of blackmail now. If bullets will be fired, no bouquets will be send from here," he said. Malik said by killing militants in Kashmir no solution can be found and asked them to return to their mainstream. "I am not for ..
BJP in panic & desperation as Opposition unites: Yechury
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said there was growing panic and sense of desperation in the BJP because of opposition parties uniting in major states and allies leaving the NDA. In an article in the forthcoming edition of the Peoples Democracy, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Yechury said a divided Opposition in 2014 ensured that the BJP could have its own majority in the Lok Sabha, despite 69 per cent of the electorate voting against the saffron party. "But now with the state level understandings emerging in the major states that send a large number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, this possibility does not appear to work in 2019. This is the first reason for the panic that is growing in the BJP camp," Yechury said. The CPI(M) leader said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, there were 42 parties that supported the Bharatiya Janata Party and many joining the National Democratic Alliance. "But of those who were part of the NDA and who ..
After Tharoor's tweet, BJP says Congress insulting Hinduism
The BJP on Thursday accused the Congress of insulting Hinduism as part of its "designed conspiracy to demean" the culture of India and warned Rahul Gandhi against it. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra attacked the Congress after Shashi Tharoor said on Twitter that "Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva" ideology is "dividing" the country. "This "Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva" ideology is dividing our country. We need unity, not uniformity," Tharoor tweeted. Reacting to it, Patra said, "Today, Tharoor's tweet is very objectionable. We consider his comments as of the Congress party because he is blue-eyed boy of Rahul Gandhi. The Congress always endorses what Shashi Tharoor says." He said that people know the Congress' real face and will give them a befitting reply. The BJP had attacked the Congress MP on Wednesday as well, following his tweet that took apparent dig at its leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after they took a dip at 'Sangam'. "This is not accidental misadventure ...
Don't push for contentious bills: Oppn to govt at all-party meet
With the government set to push for the passage of the contentious citizenship and triple talaq bills in Parliament's budget session, the Opposition Thursday made it clear that it will not allow so and asked the ruling dispensation to take up only "non-controversial" legislations. In an all-party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put to rest speculation about the likelihood of the government presenting a full budget, saying only an interim budget will be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters. In a separate discussion with key members of the ruling BJP and its allies, Modi asked them to present the government's achievements and views emphatically in and outside Parliament, a leader, who attended the meeting, said. Apparently referring to opposition parties, Modi said lies were being spread outside against the government and they should be exposed, the leader added. An official statement quoting the prime minister's remarks at the ...
Congress wins in Ramgarh, takes Rajasthan tally to 100
The Congress on Thursday comfortably won the Ramgarh Assembly seat in Rajasthan, taking its own tally in the 200-member house to 100 and improving its numbers in the House where several non-BJP MLAs support it.