Page 1810 - Politics
Anantkumar Hegde 'unfit' to be minister, deserves to be sacked: Rahul on controversial remarks
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde for his controversial remarks about a Congress leader's wife, saying he is "unfit" to be a Union minister and deserves to be sacked. Hegde on Sunday had reportedly said at a public event that any hand that touches a Hindu girl "should not exist". Criticised by Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao for his remarks, the Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship tweeted, "I shall definitely answer this guy @dineshgrao's queries, before which could he please reveal himself as to who he is along with his achievements? I only know him as a guy who ran behind a Muslim lady." Reacting to the reported remarks, Gandhi said, "This man is an embarrassment to every Indian. He's unfit to be a Union Minister and deserves to be sacked.
Country suffers from ODOMOS-overdose of only Modi only Shah: Omar Abdullah
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah targeted BJP president Amit Shah for his OROP jibe and said the country was suffering from too much "ODOMOS- overdose of only Modi only Shah". "While the rest of the country suffers from too much ODOMOS - overdose (of) only Modi only Shah," Abdullah tweeted Monday. During a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Una, Shah reportedly said the BJP government within a year delivered on its promise of One Rank One Pension (OROP) but the Congress gave 'Only Rahul Only Priyanka'." The BJP president during a rally in Himachal made the jibe days after induction of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi as the Congress general secretary for the eastern Uttar Pradesh.
BJP stages demonstrations against Cong govt's failure to implement farm loan waiver in Rajasthan
The BJP staged demonstrations in all district headquarters of Rajasthan on Monday, flaying the newly elected Congress government for failing to fulfil its promise of farm loan waiver. Senior party leaders led the demonstrations and handed over representations to district administration officials. "The Congress promised loan waiver for farmers within 10 days of government formation but nothing has happened on the ground. The party had also promised Rs 3,500 monthly allowance to unemployed youths and youths too are disappointed," BJP MLA Anita Bhadel told reporters in Ajmer. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Om Birla led the demonstration in Kota. Similar protests were held in other districts as well. Countering the BJP's charge, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the government has already announced the loan waiver and that the BJP was staging protests fearing its imminent defeat in the Lok Sabha election. "People gave mandate to Congress and the BJP is going to lose Lok Sabha elections as
Sri Lanka's elections body chief threatens to quit over provincial polls delay
Sri Lanka's Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya on Monday threatened to resign if the long-delayed provincial councils elections were not held before November 10. He said that six out of the nine provincial councils, the highest level of local government, were up to 16 months over due undermining democracy. The election watchdogs have criticised the government for the delay. Three more council terms are also to end soon. "If the election could not be held before November 10, I will resign from my position," Deshapriya told reporters here. He said he will remain within the elections commission, but not as the chairperson. His threat to resign means that he wants the provincial elections to be held before this year's presidential election, which must be declared by November and held before early January 2020. The delay is due to a legal snag when the electoral system reforms were introduced. Last year's February local council elections were held under the new hybrid system .
For Cong, OROP means 'only Rahul, only Priyanka': Amit Shah
For the Congress, OROP means 'only Rahul, only Priayanka', said BJP president Monday, giving a novel expansion to the acronym for 'one rank, one pension' scheme. The BJP president gave the sarcastic expansion to the acronym, while addressing a "BJP Panna Pramuk Sammelan" at Hamirpur, also known as "Martyrs' Land" owing to the large population of the district and adjoining areas working in the Army. The BJP president made the jibe days after induction of the party president Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi as the Congress general secretary for the eastern Uttar Pradesh. Thanking Himachal Pradesh voters for ensuring victory of BJP candidates on all four Lok Sabha seats in the state during the 2014 general elections, Shah said, "The Modi government implemented OROP for ex-servicemen in true sense." No one cared for soldiers for over 70 years, when the Modi government came to power, it implemented the OROP, he added. Addressing BJP workers ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shah ...
BJP MP Saroj Pandey stokes controversy, calls Rahul Gandhi a 'joker'
BJP MP Saroj Pandey on Monday landed herself in a controversy after she called Congress president Rahul Gandhi a 'joker.'Addressing the BJP's state executive committee meeting here, Pandey said: "The Congress party couldn't find a woman worker in so many years who could be made a general secretary?""What they found is a homely woman from Gandhi family. They call her an ace. So this means that they were playing with a joker till now," she added.Pandey further said that the Congress should also bring in Priyanka Gandhi's children in politics and appoint her husband (Robert Vadra) as the party's treasurer.On January 23, Priyanka Gandhi was appointed as Congress' general secretary and made in-charge of the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh for the coming Lok Sabha elections.It is worth mentioning that the Lok Sabha constituencies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath fall in eastern UP. Priyanka will take charge of her responsibility from the first ..
Theresa May urged to secure Brexit concessions
British Prime Minister Theresa May was being urged by members of her Conservative Party on Monday to secure changes to the Northern Irish backstop from the EU as part of her Brexit proposal, a day before lawmakers vote on several amendments to the plan.
Presidential standoff may worsen Venezuelans' misery
The US recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president is being touted by the Trump administration as the only way to restore the country's democracy. But as Elizabeth Pineda was stocking up on staples Sunday at a sidewalk market near a Caracas slum, she was bracing for things to get a lot worse, not better. A retired secretary, Pineda survives on a monthly pension of just 18,000 bolivars, or about $6. She supplements her income working as an astrologer, and although the stars have been telling her Venezuelans are on the road to ridding themselves of socialist President Nicolas Maduro, she doesn't expect him to go quickly or quietly. "The government is going to strangle us even more with their bad decisions and shamelessness," Pineda said while sharing a bowl of beef soup with two friends, none of whom can afford the $1.50 meal on their own. Economists agree that the longer the standoff between the US-backed Guaido and Maduro drags on, the more regular ...
Rahul promises minimum income guarantee to poor if Cong returns to power
Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced Monday that his party would ensure minimum income guarantee for every poor in the country if it returns to power after the Lok Sabha polls due in April-May. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP of trying to create two Indias -- "one of the Rafale scam, Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi and the other of the poor farmers". Gandhi made the remarks at the 'Kisaan Abhaar Sammelan' held here to express gratitude to Chhattisgarh's people, particularly farmers, for voting the party to power in the state after a gap of 15 years. "The Congress has decided to take a historic decision... The Congress-led government is going to give minimum income guarantee. This means, each poor person in India will have minimum income. This means there will be no hungry, poor people in India," Gandhi said. He also distributed loan waiver certificates to some of the beneficiary farmers during the function. Chhattisgarh ...
NY lawmakers to ease statute of limitations for molestation
A bill extending the statute of limitations on child molestation to give victims more time to seek justice is expected to easily pass the New York legislature. The Senate and Assembly plan to vote Monday on the Child Victims Act, which would give victims more time to seek criminal charges or sue their abusers. It would also create a one-year window for victims to file lawsuits now barred by the statute of limitations. The bill has passed the Assembly before but was blocked by Senate Republicans. Democrats now control the Senate and say passing the act is a top priority. The Catholic Church had been a major opponent to the bill but dropped its opposition last week after the legislation was rewritten to treat public and private schools the same.
Cong's OROP is Only Rahul Only Priyanka: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Monday hit out at the Congress saying that the party's only OROP is "only Rahul only Priyanka".He said, "When BJP government was formed, within one year Modi ji delivered on his promise of One Rank One Pension (OROP). Modi ji gave OROP to our jawans, while Congress' OROP is Only Rahul and Only Priyanka. They have only given one rank one pension to Rahul and Priyanka".Sharpening his attack at the Rahul Gandhi-led party, he asserted that it is only during the regime of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur that people feel that the government is of their own. Otherwise, during the Congress rule, it used to be only about the royal family, he added."They (Congress) ruled for 55 years, but it is our government which has to eradicate poverty. So what were their four generations doing? If the people of this devbhoomi give Modi ji five more years, he will not only eradicate poverty from the state but will also remove it from the entire nation", he said.Shah also launched a ..
Republic Day parade: Tripura bags best tableau award
With the theme 'Empowering Rural Economy the Gandhian Way', Tripura bagged the best state tableau in this year's Republic Day parade.The second position was bagged by Jammu and Kashmir while the state of Punjab was placed in the third spot.The awards were presented to the winners by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a function here on Monday.In the Department category, the prize was jointly shared by CISF and ICAR. Moreover, Navy Children's School Chanakyapuri, Delhi was adjudged as the best performing school while the Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya Kishan Ganj, Delhi, was given the consolation prize.The CPWD was given a special prize for the floral decoration in the national capital.Tripura's Information and Cultural Affairs Deputy Director Bhaskar Das Gupta said, "It was a test for the best" and the state through its tableau depicted the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi towards the rural economy.He said the Charkha, weavers and the Swachh Bharat tuned song was a tribute to the ...
Pakistan to resume talks with India only after elections: Minister
Pakistan will try to resume peace talks with India only after election results are out as it is "useless" to talk to New Delhi because no big decisions are expected from the present Indian government, a senior minister has said. Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of Information of Pakistan, said that the time is not right to hold a dialogue as the Indian leaders are preparing for the upcoming general elections, Gulf News reported. "It is useless to talk to them (India) now unless there is some stability. We will move forward once the new government is formed after the elections," he said. "We have delayed our efforts to hold talks with India because we do not expect any big decision from the present Indian leadership," he said. He said the Pakistan government would respect any Indian leader and the party elected by the Indian people. When asked which Indian leader will suit Pakistan more when it comes to peace talks Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi , the minister said it does not matter for ...
68.74% voting in Rajasthan by-election till 3 p.m.
A total of 68.74 per cent of votes were cast on Monday in the Ramgarh Assembly constituency in Rajasthan till 3 p.m., officials said.
Cong stares at threat of losing Opposition status in Odisha Assembly
With two back-to-back resignations of legislators, the Congress is facing the threat of losing its status as the main opposition party in the Odisha Assembly. The party currently has 13 members in the 147-member House, two less than the required strength. According to rules, a party needs to have at least 10 per cent of the total seats in the House to be considered as the main opposition. Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das, who joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on January 24 after quitting the Congress, formally resigned from the Assembly on Monday. Speaker PK Amat has accepted his resignation. "As I have joined the BJD, I have no moral rights to continue as a Congress MLA," Das told reporters. Last week, Sundergarh MLA Jogesh Singh had also resigned from the Assembly, after being suspended from the Congress for alleged anti-party activities. In November last year, Koraput MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria had also resigned as a Congress MLA. Around the same time, George Tirkey, the lone ...
Reconsider order reversing previous govt's decision exempting women from paying stamp duty: BJP to Malik
Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP Monday urged Governor Satya Pal Malik to reconsider the Finance Department's notification reversing the previous government's "historic decision" of exempting women from paying stamp duty on registration of land. The statement comes days after former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said Malik's move to reverse the previous government's decision, exempting women from paying stamp duty on property registration, had negated her efforts towards women empowerment. The PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir collapsed last year when the saffron party pulled out from the coalition government in June, a month after the Mehbooa-led government passed the major decision to abolish stamp duty on the properties being registered in the name of women members of the family. In a statement here, former minister and BJP spokesperson Priya Sethi said the decision to abolish stamp duty was done with the sole aim of giving women a defence against violence .
Protests against Modi in TN reflect nation's mood: AP CM
Protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Tamil Nadu reflected the "mood of the nation", Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said Monday. The Tamilians protested with black flags and balloons, against the neglect of the state that suffered damages in cyclone 'Gaja', Naidu told his party leaders during a tele-conference here, warning Modi would face much severe protests in Andhra Pradesh. "The protests in Madurai reflected the mood of the nation against the BJP. Compared to Tamil Nadu, the Centre did grave injustice to AP," Naidu said. "Modi and (Amit) Shah will face much severe protests and opposition if they visit AP," he asserted. He said there was every need to save the country and also fight for the rights of the states. "We should work with the sole objective of defeating the BJP," he told the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) rank and file. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) cadres, led by party founder Vaiko had on Sunday staged a protest
EC wants officers who have served 3 years in a posting shunted out
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission (EC) has directed the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all states and Union Territories to transfer all the officers who have completed three years in a posting or are serving in their home district.
Security forces launch search operation in border areas of Poonch
Security forces launched a search operation in border areas in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district following reports about suspicious movement of people on Monday, officials said. The operation in the areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar belt was going on till last reports came in, they said. Further details were awaited, they added.
Ramgarh bypoll: 68.73 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm
A voter turnout of 68.73 per cent was registered till 3 pm Monday in the ongoing bypoll for the Rajasthan's Ramgarh assembly constituency. The voting percentage till 3 pm is 68.73, said an Election Commission official, adding the voting began at 8 am. There are 278 polling booths set up for the election in Ramgarh and more than 2,500 policemen have been deployed on the election duty. Nine magistrates are also monitoring the election in the constituency.