Page 1775 - Politics

Parrikar using illness to gain sympathy: Congress

The Goa unit of the Congress on Thursday accused ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of using his illness to gain sympathy.

Congress wins Ramgarh election, touches 100 tally in Rajasthan

The Congress on Thursday won the Ramgarh Assembly seat in Rajasthan, taking its tally in the 200-member house to 100.

Europe launches sanctions-busting Iran payment vehicle

Britain, France and Germany will launch a special payment mechanism Thursday that the EU hopes will help save the Iran nuclear deal by bypassing US sanctions, European sources told AFP. The entity, to be registered in France with German governance and finance from all three countries, will allow Iran to trade with EU companies despite Washington reimposing sanctions after President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 accord. The three countries -- the European signatories to the landmark deal that curbed Tehran's nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief -- are expected to issue a joint communique launching the project, which has been in preparation for months. While the new institution, called INSTEX -- short for Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges -- is a project of the three governments, it will receive the formal endorsement of all 28 EU members. The announcement may come on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Bucharest. Washington has warned the EU ..

Sultan Abdullah sworn in as new Malaysian King

Pahang's Sultan Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah was sworn in on Thursday as the 16th King of Malaysia after his predecessor, Sultan Muhammad V, abdicated the throne earlier this month.

Second Trump-Kim summit to occur someplace in Asia: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the second meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-in will take place "someplace in Asia".

Army Chief meets Parrikar, enquires about his health

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday met Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the state Assembly complex here and enquired about his health. Rawat described it as a courtesy visit. "I have come here to enquire about the health of Parrikar. It was just a courtesy visit," Rawat said after meeting the chief minister, who is also a former defence minister. Parrikar, 63, has been suffering from a pancreatic ailment. He has been attending the ongoing budget session of the state Assembly. The chief minister presented the state budget in the House on Wednesday and said, "I am presenting the budget in josh. The josh that is too high, very high, and fully in hosh". Congress president Rahul Gandhi had also met Parrikar in the Assembly complex on Tuesday and enquired about his health. Last week, veteran BJP leader L K Advani had also met the ailing chief minister.

We will win Lok Sabha, Assembly elections in Haryana: Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Thursday that people in Haryana will vote for the BJP and the party will win all 10 Lok Sabha seats as well as Assembly elections this year.

Pakistan rejects India's objection on Qureshi's call to Mirwaiz

Pakistan's Foreign Office has rejected objection raised by India over Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's telephone call to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Don't let Ram temple issue go the Kashmir way: Shiv Sena

Pitching for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Shiv Sena on Thursday said the issue should not become as complicated as the Kashmir matter, which is still awaiting resolution. It also wondered why Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders were not holding the prime minister and other BJP leaders accountable for the delay in temple construction, instead of targeting judges hearing the case. "The construction of Ram temple should not become as complicated as that of Jammu and Kashmir, where no solution is in sight in near future," the Sena said in an editorial in its party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. The BJP should stop pointing fingers at the Congress for halting the temple construction, it said. Facing growing pressure to move swiftly on the Ram temple issue, the Modi government had on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to return the "non-disputed" surplus land acquired around the disputed structure in Ayodhya to a Hindu trust and other original owners. Commenting on ..

Cong's Zubair wins Ramgarh poll in Rajasthan, defeats BJP rival by over 12,000 votes

The ruling Congress in Rajasthan Thursday touched the halfway mark in the 200-member state assembly with its candidate Shafia Zubair defeating her BJP rival by a margin of over 12,000 votes in the Ramgarh poll. Zubair secured 44.77 per cent votes against BJP candidate Sukhwant Singh's 38.20 per cent, according to officials of the state election department. With the results of the Ramgarh assembly poll, Congress now has 100 MLAs in the House and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has one MLA. The BJP has 73 members in the Rajasthan assembly. The Congress candidate won the seat by defeating her nearest rival of the BJP with a margin of 12,228 votes, department officials said. A total of 20 candidates contested the January 28 election. The remaining 18 candidates, including Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Jagat Singh- got their security forfeited. Jagat Singh is the son of former union minister Natwar Singh. The number of None Of The Above (NOTA) votes polled was 241, including one ...

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

The Lok Sabha was on Thursday adjourned for the day soon after President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

Rafale will enhance IAF's capability, says President Kovind

India is set to boost its defence capabilities with induction of the Rafale fighter aircraft in the coming months and compromising with security needs is not in the interest of the country, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Thursday in his address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha."Compromising with security needs is not in the interest of the present and future of the country. New deals in the last year, purchase of defence equipment, raised the morale of the defence. After decades, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will use the ultramodern Rafale aircraft in the coming months and strengthen itself," he said.The statement from the President comes at a time when the Rafale jet deal controversy is on the boil.The Congress and other opposition parties have been alleging irregularities in the high-profile deal. The fighter jet is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, which security analysts believe can be a 'game-changer' for India's defence system.President ...

President calls note ban important step against black money, corruption

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that the 2016 demonetization was "an important step" in tackling black money and corruption in the country.

Modi govt working for 'New India'; has infused hope in people: Prez

Presenting a virtual report card of the Modi government's tenure, President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday highlighted its various development works and commitment to social justice, as he asserted it has worked to build a "New India" after assuming power in 2014 when the nation was passing through "uncertain times". In his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the beginning of the Budget Session, Kovind also referred to the contentious Rafale deal, saying that the Indian Air Force will welcome the ultra-modern fighter aircraft in the coming months to strengthen its strike capability after a gap of many decades. The President's address, which reflects the government's view, assumes significance as it comes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May. The 10 per cent reservation for the general category poor, the triple talaq legislation and the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill also figured in his over an hour-long speech at Parliament's central hall in the

Rafale jets to soon join IAF fleet, improve its strike capability: Prez

The Indian Air Force is preparing to welcome the new generation ultra-modern Rafale fighter aircraft in its fleet to strengthen its strike capabilities, President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday said. The government has been facing attack from the opposition over the multi-crore aircraft deal. Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session, he said neglecting the country's defence needs, even for a moment, will prove detrimental to the present and future of the country. He said the new agreements relating to the defence sector signed last year, the purchase of new defence equipment and indigenous production under the 'Make in India' initiative have all helped in boosting the morale of defence forces and in increasing the country's military self-reliance. "After a gap of many decades, the Indian Air Force is preparing to welcome, in the coming months, its new generation ultra-modern fighter aircraft Rafale and strengthen its strike capability," he said. The ...

BJP leads in Jind by-election, Surjewala at 3rd spot

Haryana's ruling BJP surged ahead in the vote count in the Jind Assembly seat by-election by over 10,000 votes on Thursday after six rounds of counting.

Pak rejects India's objections to Qureshi-Mirwaiz telephonic conversation

The Pakistani and Kashmiri leadership has always been communicating and there is nothing new in Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's telephonic conversation with separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar, the Foreign Office has said as it rejected India's objections. India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale Wednesday summoned Pakistan's envoy Sohail Mahmood and categorically told him that Qureshi's telephonic conversation with Mirwaiz was a "brazen attempt" to subvert India's unity and violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a late evening statement, said the Pakistan High Commissioner was "cautioned" that persistence of such behaviour by Pakistan will have "implications". It said Gokhale conveyed to the Pakistani envoy that the "deplorable act" has violated all norms for the conduct of international relations even by Pakistan's own standards and that Qureshi's actions are tantamount to direct interference in the internal affairs of its ...

The Gandhi-Casey talks: The Mahatma's little-known Australian interlocutor

Richard Gardiner Casey is well known in Australia as one of its most eminent postwar statesmen. He served as its External Affairs Minister from 1951-60, forging Australia's foreign policy and later, at the end of his career, as its Governor-General. Little is known, however, about his role as Governor of Bengal from 1944-46. Indeed the announcement of his appointment in January 1944 was unexpected, for no Australian had been appointed to such high office in India.

Resentment is generated against those not taking interest in discussions in Parliament:PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday urged all lawmakers to utilise the Budget Session for having debates with an open mind and said resentment is generated in society against those who do not take interest in discussions in Parliament. Speaking outside Parliament before the start of the session, the prime minister said there is an awareness among the people in the country and all citizens watch proceedings closely. "All small incidents reach the common man...due to this, those who do not have interest in discussions, resentment is generated against them," Modi said. The prime minister hoped that all lawmakers will keep these public sentiments in mind to utilise the Budget session by taking part in discussions, put forward their views, benefit Parliament, and benefit the government. He urged lawmakers to make full use of the work that has to be transacted in the session. "I also know that now when all lawmakers have to go to their respective constituencies, so whatever positive ...

Rahul's meeting with Parrikar a "political gimmick": Sardesai

Goa minister Vijai Sardesai on Thursday said the goodwill earned by Congress president Rahul Gandhi after calling on ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was "nullified" by certain statements made by him post the meeting. Sardesai said Gandhi's gesture was nullified due to his "political gimmick", which was unfortunate, and that the Congress president's "utterances later made him look small". Hours after meeting Parrikar, who has been suffering from a pancreatic ailment, at the Goa Assembly complex in Panaji Tuesday, Gandhi said in Kochi that the former defence minister told him he had nothing to do with the 'new' Rafale fighter jet deal. Sardesai said they had earlier appreciated Gandhi's move to meet Parrikar as a good gesture. "But after that the statements he gave indicated it was a political move," the town and country planning minister told reporters here. "I myself had appreciated Gandhi's visit.It looked to be a magnanimousgesture but now it appears there was a