Page 1811 - Politics
RJD will take part in Congress Bihar rally: Tejashwi
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said his party will take part in Congress President Rahul Gandhi's February 3 rally in Patna.
Sonia, Rahul, on private visit to Goa, go to beach restaurant
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Sunday visited a beach restaurant in Goa. The two leaders are in the coastal state since Saturday on what Congress leaders have said is a "private visit" and does not include meeting party functionaries. Writing about the visit by the two leaders to a beach shack restaurant, Rachna Fernandes, a local resident, said on a social media platform, "awed by his charm and modesty". Fernandes, in her Facebook post, said she was at a seafood restaurant in Betul in south Goa Sunday when she saw the two leaders Sunday afternoon. The dentist has also posted a picture of the Congress president, donning a blue T-shirt, there on her Facebook account. The Congress president is scheduled to address a farmers rally in Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh Monday afternoon.
NCP targets BJP, Cong attacks Gadkari over minister's remarks
A day after Union minister Nitin Gadkari said leaders who fail to fulfil promises get "beaten up" by people, the NCP said his remarks reflected voices within the BJP against "failure" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while a Congress leader accused Gadkari of "lying". NCP's national spokesperson Nawab Malik on Monday claimed that Gadkari, the Lok Sabha member from Nagpur, was also trying to establish himself as an alternative to Modi "as the BJP was going to lose" the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "The way Gadkariji has become outspoken after the Assembly polls in the three states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh), it indicates there will be no Modi and BJP government after the polls," Malik said. NCP's ally Congress had last month emerged victorious in the elections in these three Hindi heartland states, dislodging the BJP from power there. "Somewhere, voice is being raised within the BJP over Modi's failure. Since the BJP is going to lose, he (Gadkari) is trying .
Rahul Gandhi fit to be PM: BJP ally
Om Prakash Rajbhar, a BJP ally and an Uttar Pradesh Minister, on Monday said that he found Congress President Rahul Gandhi fit to be the Prime Minister.
UNSC grants sanctions exemption for inter-Korean project at DMZ
The UN Security Council has granted a sanctions exemption for an inter-Korean project at the Arrowhead Ridge in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).The project will carry out excavations at the DMZ, under last year's military accord between North Korea and South Korea which aims at reducing tensions, preventing accidental clashes and building trust, reports Yonhap News Agency.The consensus for the exemption was reached during a working-group meeting, through video conferencing, between South Korea and the USA on January 17.The inter-Korean military accord, signed in 2018, includes a set of confidence-building measures which encompass setting up buffer zones and disarming the Joint Security Area amongst other things.The latest development comes amid renewed resolve from North Korea and USA's side to improve relations and work towards the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.The second US-North Korea summit, between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, ...
C'garh police set up team to probe 'fixing' in Antagarh bypoll
The Chhattisgarh Police have set up a four-member team to probe the alleged fixing of Antagarh Assembly bypoll held in 2014 during the previous BJP regime in the state, a senior official said here on Monday. The team has been constituted under the supervision of Inspector General (IG) of Police, Raipur Range, the official added. "Complaints pertaining to 'Antagarh tape row' related to withdrawal of Congress candidate during the by-election held for Antagarh Assembly constituency in 2014 were pending for investigation in Raipur and Kanker districts," said an order issued by state Director General of Police (DGP) D M Awasthi. The probe team comprises Raipur Superintendent of Police Neethu Kamal, Raipur Deputy Superintendent of Police Abhishek Maheshwari, Raipur's Telibandha police station house officer Inspector Naresh Patel and Cyber Cell, Police Headquarters, Sub-Inspector Raipur Vikram Dhruv, it said. They will investigate the aforesaid complaints under the supervision of IG, Raipur .
Rusal shares soar, aluminium falls as U.S. lifts sanctions
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Sunday lifted sanctions on the core empire of Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, including aluminium giant Rusal and its parent En+, despite a Democrat-led push to maintain them.
Kerala CM lashes out at disrespect shown towards politicians
Politicians' should be shown adequate respect, but it does not happen all the time, an angry Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on the floor of the House on Monday.
Karnataka CM offers to quit if Congress can't control MLAs
An exasperated Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday offered to quit if the coalition partner Congress could not control its MLAs from criticizing his style of functioning.
Pakistan willing to resume talks with India after polls: Minister
Pakistan is willing to resume peace talks with New Delhi after the 2019 general election in India with whoever takes power, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said.
US democracy under attack like never before, says Kamala Harris as she kicks off 2020 presidential campaign
Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris has launched her 2020 presidential bid on Sunday with a scathing criticism of President Donald Trump's policies, saying that the US is at an "inflection point" in the history due to the attack on democracy like never before. Harris, 54, who was elected to the Senate in 2016, announced her run for presidency last week. She has been voted on top of the list of Democratic leaders aspiring to defeat Trump in the November 2020 election. Harris, the second African-American woman elected to the US senate, has drawn comparisons to Barack Obama since early in her political career. "We are at an inflection point in the history of our nation. We are here because the American dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before," she said. When we have leaders who bully and attack a free press and undermine our democratic institutions, that's not our America, she said, without mentioning Trump's name. She criticised "the ...
BJP MLA files police complaint against Kejriwal for 'misleading' phone calls to voters by AAP
BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa has lodged a complaint with police against Aam Aadmi Party convener and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that phone calls were being made to voters of his Rajouri Garden constituency claiming their names had been deleted from electoral rolls by the BJP. Sirsa alleged the AAP was "misleading" voters in his constituency through "propaganda" that their names were deleted because of the BJP but re-listed because of "sincere efforts" of Kejriwal. In his complaint filed at Tilak Nagar police station on Sunday, the BJP MLA cited names of two voters who received such calls. "It is a conspiracy to defame me by false representation before voters of my constituency to lower my image before them that their MLA is weak and not capable to protect their fundamental right to vote," Sirsa said in his complaint. Last week, a delegation of the BJP's Delhi unit led by its president Manoj Tiwari had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission seeking action ...
Rafale tapes authentic, gave Parrikar power over Modi: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that Goa Chief Minister possessed "explosive Rafale secrets" which gave him power over Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Not advisable to speak against wishes of party high command: Kharge on Congress-JD(S) turbulence
Amid the ongoing political turbulence in Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka, senior Congress party leader Mallikarjun Kharge has advised his party MLAs "not to speak against the wishes of the party high command"."They (Karnataka Congress MLAs) should not react openly to the media. We have all come together to fight BJP-RSS. It is not advisable for any member to speak against wishes of the party high command. Such incidents will create confusion in the coalition," Kharge told ANI.His statement comes hours after Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy told ANI that he is ready to step down after Congress MLAs reportedly said, "Siddaramaiah is their leader"."Congress MLAs say Siddaramaiah is their leader; Congress leaders have to watch all that issues, I am not the concerned person for it. If they want to continue with it, I am ready to step down. They are crossing the line. Congress leaders must control their MLAs," Kumaraswamy said.Earlier, Congress legislators ST Somashekar and MTB Nagaraj in
India, Kyrgyzstan agree to improve relations in trade
Kyrgyzstan Foreign Minister Aidarbekov Chingiz Azamatovich on Monday called on Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and talked about boosting bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.Azamatovich is on an official five-day visit to India from January 27."The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kyrgyz Republic, Mr Aidarbekov Chingiz Azamatovich, called on me, in New Delhi today. We had fruitful discussions and agreed upon improving our relations in trade & investment, tourism, education and agriculture sectors, among others," Naidu's official Twitter account updated on Monday..
Kabul govt key to peace talks, US says, after Taliban progress
Afghanistan said on Monday it has been reassured by Washington that progress in talks with the Taliban remains geared towards facilitating peace negotiations with the government in Kabul. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Afghanistan late Sunday to update officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, on six days of talks with Taliban representatives in Qatar. Both the US and the Taliban have cited "progress" as hopes rise that the unprecedented length of the negotiations could mean a deal paving the way to Afghan peace talks may be in sight, although sticking points remain. But Afghan authorities have previously complained of being excluded from the discussions, and warned that any deal between the US and the Taliban would require Kabul's endorsement. "The US insisted in their talks with the Taliban that the only solution for lasting peace in Afghanistan is intra-Afghan talks," Khalilzad said, according to a statement released by the presidential palace in Kabul. "My role is
Ex-Starbucks chief considers running for President
Former Starbucks chief Howard Schultz has expressed interest in running for US President as a "centrist" independent candidate, "outside the two-party system"."I am seriously thinking of running for President. I will run as a centrist independent outside the two-party system," Schultz said on Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes".He also accused both the Democrats and the Republicans for indulging in "revenge politics" every single day. Schultz also took a jibe at the incumbent US President Donald Trump during the show."We're living at a most fragile time. Not only the fact that this President is not qualified to be the President but the fact that both parties are consistently not doing what's necessary on behalf of the American people and are engaged, every single day, in revenge politics," the former Starbucks chief said.Media reports are hailing Schultz's decision, stating his self-funded independent campaign had the "potential to reshape dynamics of the race," The Washington Post ...
EC writes to Chief Secys, CEO ahead of LS Polls
The Election Commission has written to the chief secretaries and chief electoral officers of all states and union territories regarding the transfer or posting of officers in view of the 2019 general elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim."The Commission has been following a consistent policy that officers directly connected with the conduct of elections in an election going State/UT are not posted in their home districts or places where they have served for considerably long period," the letter said."It shall also be ensured that no DEO/RO/ARO/ Police inspectors/Sub-inspector or above is posted back or allowed to continue in the AC /district where he/she was posted during the General/Rve elections held in the Assembly prior to 31 May, 2017," it added.Arrangements have begun for the General Elections due this year, for which political parties have started pitch campaigning.
Rafale deal: Rahul demands action against Parrikar
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday demanded action on ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for allegedly being in possession of files related to the Rafale deal.Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "30 days since the Goa Audio Tapes on RAFALE were released. No FIR or enquiry ordered. No action against the Minister either! It's obvious that the tapes are authentic & that Goa CM, Parrikar, is in possession of explosive RAFALE secrets, that give him power over the PM."The Congress party, earlier this month, had released an audio clip claiming that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar possessed all files related to the deal.Congress party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala claimed that Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was speaking in it to another person about the deal.In the audio, Rane, as claimed by Congress, divulged that Parrikar, who was the Defence Minister when the Rafale deal was signed in 2016 between India and France, had "all files related to the deal in his ...
Goa audio tapes authentic, Parrikar in possession of 'explosive' Rafale secrets: Rahul
Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the "Goa audio tapes", cited by the Congress to attack the Centre on the Rafale issue, were authentic and the state's Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is in possession of "explosive secrets" that give him power over Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi's sharp attack came days after the Congress cited an audio tape in which Goa minister Vishwajit Rane was purportedly heard telling an unidentified person that Parrikar has Rafale files, due to which, he has managed to continue in the chair. Tagging a media report in which Rane was quoted as saying after the row erupted in the first week of January that the tapes were "doctored", the Congress chief tweeted: "30 days since the Goa Audio Tapes on RAFALE were released. No FIR or enquiry ordered. No action against the Minister either!" "It's obvious that the tapes are authentic & that Goa CM, Parrikar, is in possession of explosive Rafale secrets, that give him power over the PM," Gandhi said. A war of .