Page 1815 - Politics
BJP worried over Priyanka Gandhi's entry into politics: Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Sunday said that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are worried over Priyanka Gandhi's entry into politics. "BJP is getting upset over her entry, that's why they are making various statements. It's our personal matter, don't know why their stomach is aching," Kamal Nath told media here.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whose entry into politics was a guessing game for several years, formally made her foray, with the Congress appointing her General Secretary in-charge of crucial Uttar Pradesh state's eastern part.When asked about the farmer loan waiver cases, Kamal Nath said: "There were fake loans that were given in the name of farmers. This corruption has been going on for many years. We will do a criminal investigation on this matter. We have received information from various districts. The numbers I feel will go up to Rs 1000 crore.
Pakistani officials arrive in India to inspect Indus Water Treaty
A delegation of Pakistani officials arrived here on Sunday to attend a general tour of inspection of India's hydroelectric projects on Chenab River, under the Permanent Indus Commission, which is slated to take place between January 28 to 31.Pakistan's Indus Commissioner, Syed Mohammad Mehar Ali Shah and Indian Indus Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena, along with their respective advisers will undertake this tour in Chenab basin of Jammu and Kashmir.This tour is an obligation imposed on both the countries by the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan. Under the Treaty, both the Commissioners are mandated to inspect sites and works on both the sides of Indus basin in a block of five years.Since the signing of the Treaty, a total of 118 such tours on both sides have been undertaken by the Commission. The last tours of the Commission in Pakistan and India were held in July 2013 and September 2014 respectively. So far, no tour could be held in the current five years block ...
'Chocolate face' remark for actors, not Priyanka: Vijayvargiya
Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has sought to clarify that his "chocolate face" remark -- an oblique reference to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi -- was meant for actors and not her.
Pawan Kalyan announces two more candidates of Jana Sena
Actor politician Pawan Kalyan on Sunday announced two more candidates of his Jana Sena party for the ensuing elections to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
Eight civilians killed in Yemen displaced centre bombing
Eight civilians were killed and 30 others wounded in a "shocking" bomb attack against a centre for displaced people in Yemen, the UN said Sunday. The bombing hit the centre in the Haradh district in the northwestern province of Hajja on Saturday, according to the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lisa Grande. She did not name the party behind the attack. "Any attack on a civilian site is unconscionable and a clear violation of international humanitarian law," Grande said in a statement. "An attack like this cannot be justified -- ever." The centre is in an area under government control in Hajja, but the Huthi rebels control other parts of the province. The Iran-backed Huthis have battled a pro-government military coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, for control of the impoverished country for four years, triggering what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Both parties are accused of failing to protect civilians. The Saudi-led alliance, which controls Yemeni
Israeli Cabinet approves medical marijuana exports
Israel has given final approval to a law permitting the export of medical marijuana, a move the government expects will catapult investment in local industry and agriculture. The Cabinet's decision Sunday came a month after the Israeli parliament unanimously approved the decision, making Israel the third country in the world, after the Netherlands and Canada, to allow export of medical cannabis products. Israel is home to dozens of companies active in the medical marijuana industry, and approved companies will be able to export to countries where it is legal. The law has been in the works for years, but had long been stymied by concerns from security agencies over marijuana leaking to the black market. Lawmakers eventually compromised to grant Israeli police oversight of the industry.
Malaysia stripped of world para swim event over Israel stance
Malaysia has been stripped of the right to host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships for threatening to refuse to allow Israeli athletes to take part, the International Paralympic Committee said on Sunday. The decision was taken after the Malaysian authorities "failed to provide the necessary guarantees that Israeli Para swimmers could participate, free from discrimination, and safely in the Championships," the IPC said in a statement. IPC President Andrew Parsons said: "When a host country excludes athletes from a particular nation, for political reasons, then we have absolutely no alternative but to look for a new Championships host. "All World Championships must be open to all eligible athletes and nations to compete safely and free from discrimination." The championships, a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, were due to take place in Kuching on July 29-August 4. Parsons said that in September 2017, the IPC received assurances that all eligible athletes and ...
Israel recognises Venezuela opposition leader as president
Israel on Sunday officially recognised Venezuela's National Assembly chief Juan Guaido as president, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, following close ally Washington in endorsing the opposition leader. Netanyahu announced in an online video that Israel was joining the United States, Canada and a host of South American countries "in recognising the new leadership in Venezuela". Guaido proclaimed himself acting president of Venezuela on Wednesday during a mass opposition rally against leader Nicolas Maduro. Since then, the United States, Canada and many South American countries including Brazil and Colombia have backed his self-proclamation. Maduro rejected demands by European countries to call elections within eight days in an interview broadcast on Sunday. Nations including France, Britain, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany warned they would recognise Guaido as president unless there are snap polls. The US has pressed all countries to "stand with the forces of freedom" in ...
Gorakhpur's Cong unit wants Priyanka to fight LS poll from here
The Gorakhpur's Congress unit Sunday raised a demand for fielding Priyanka Gandhi from here, depicting her as a modern "Jhansi ki Rani". The district unit of the party raised the demand in two posters that came up in the stronghold of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who represented Gorakhpur between 1998 and 2017 in the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Lok Sabha. In the first poster, the Congress party workers demanded that Priyanka Gandhi be made the Congress candidate from Gorakhpur for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The poster also mentioned defeat of the BJP candidate from Gorakhpur seat in the 2017 bypoll, held after it was vacated by Adityanath to become the UP chief minister. The poster carries the slogan 'Gorakhpur ki yahi pukar, Priyanak Gandhi Sansad is baar'. In the second poster, Priyanka Gandhi is depicted as Queen of Jhansi, riding a white horse. The poster carries slogans like "Chaaro taraf baj raha danka, Bahan Priyanka - Bahan Priyanka and "Desh ki ab yahi ...
'Deve Gowda most welcome to contest from my constituency'
Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda Sunday said former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was 'most welcome' to contest from his Bangalore North parliamentary constituency in the coming Lok Sabha polls, as he expressed confidence that he would succeed, if given an opportunity. "Most welcome...till now I was contesting against small people. I entered parliament for the first time after defeating Veerappa Moily (former union minister)," Gowda said in response to a question from reporters about Gowda contesting from Bangalore North constituency. I wish to contest against Deve Gowda once. if God gives me an opportunity I will contest and will succeed." Sadananda Gowda is the sitting Member of Parliament from Bangalore North. Meanwhile, Deve Gowda, in response to a question on whether he would contest from that constituency, Sunday said, "why (discuss about it) now itself..." The former Prime Minister had in March said he would not be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, ..
UDF implicated scientist in espionage case as some leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday slammed the opposition Congress led UDF in Kerala for implicating former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in an espionage case, saying they did so "as some party leaders wanted to settle political scores." The Prime Minister said it was an "honour" for his government to have got the opportunity to confer the Padma Bhushan to Nambi Narayanan,who was implicated in a false case. Training his guns on the UDF, the prime minister said they had implicated Narayanan in the ISRO espionage case as some UDF leaders wanted to settle certain political scores. "A few years ago, a hard working and patriotic ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan was implicated in a false case just because a few UDF leaders wanted to settle political scores", he said. "Imagine, for their own politics,they damaged the national interest. It is an honour that our government had the opportunity of conferring the Padama award on Nambi Narayanan. We value each and every person who is
BJP to organise demonstration against Cong govt in Rajasthan on Monday
The BJP will organise a state-level demonstration on Monday against the Congress government for allegedly not fulfilling its promise of loan waiver and giving allowance to unemployed youths. BJP state general secretary Bhajan Lal Sharma said the Congress had promised to waive all farm loans within 10 days of the government formation but no loan has been waived so far. He alleged that the promise of giving allowance of Rs 3,500 per month to unemployment youths has also not been fulfilled. "The party will be holding a state-level demonstration and protest tomorrow to raise these issues," he said. However, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told reporters in Banswara that there is no substance in BJP's allegations. "People rejected the BJP in elections because it had got a huge mandate in the 2013 election but the former Vasundhara Raje government disappointed people," he claimed.
Israel recognises Venezuela opposition leader as president: Netanyahu
Israel on Sunday officially recognised Venezuela's National Assembly chief Juan Guaido as president, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, following close ally Washington in endorsing the opposition leader. Netanyahu announced in an online video that Israel was joining the United States, Canada and a host of South American countries "in recognising the new leadership in Venezuela".
Left govt disrespecting all aspects of Kerala's culture: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday again raked up the Sabarimala temple issue and said the communist government in the state has been disrespecting all aspects of Kerala's culture. He also lambasted both the congress and Communists for having no regard for women's empowerment, best exemplified by their opposition to the NDA government's efforts to end triple talaq. "Let me tell you, neither Congress nor the communists have any concern for women's empowerment.If they did,they would not have opposed the NDA government's effort to end triple talaq. India has had many women Chief Ministers, but is there any communist chief minister?," he asked. On the Sabarimala issue, Modi alleged that the cultural ethos of the state was under attack from the Communist government. "Unfortunately today, the cultural ethos of Kerala is under attack. And this attack is being made by the party governing the state. The issue of the Sabarimala temple caught the attention of the entire ...
Maduro rejects European demands for new election: CNN Turk interview
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro rejected demands by European countries to call elections within eight days in an interview broadcast on Sunday, insisting that his country was "not tied" to Europe. "They should withdraw this ultimatum. No one can give us an ultimatum," Maduro told CNN Turk in an interview dubbed into Turkish from Spanish. "Venezuela is not tied to Europe. This is complete insolence," Maduro added, as he described the European countries' actions as a "mistake". European powers including France, Netherlands and Germany on Saturday warned they would recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as president unless Maduro calls elections within eight days. The United Kingdom and Spain had also given a similar ultimatum. National Assembly chief Guaido proclaimed himself acting president of Venezuela on Wednesday during a mass opposition rally against Maduro. Since then, the United States, Canada and many South American countries including Brazil and Colombia have backed Guaido's
France warns against 'exorbitant' payoff for ex-Renault boss Ghosn
PARIS (Reuters) - France's finance minister said on Sunday a severance package for former Renault chief Carlos Ghosn, forced to resign in a financial scandal, should not be "exorbitant" and that the French state would follow the matter closely.
Kejriwal ruined Delhi, claims BJP's Vijay Goel
Union minister Vijay Goel on Sunday alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had ruined the national capital and the AAP government was the worst ever in Delhi. Goel started a mass movement against Kejriwal's alleged "misrule and false promises" made to the people of Delhi. According to a statement, Goel along with Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari and other leaders launched the movement by raising slogans like "Kejriwal Bhagao Delhi Bachao". "Goel expressed concern over Delhi's worsening situation and said that Kejriwal has ruined Delhi. His government is the worst government ever in the history of Delhi," the statement read. Tiwari handed over a 'gada' (mace) to Goel, saying that it was a symbol of unity and a memento against "corrupt" Kejriwal and his government who were dividing society on caste lines. He claimed that Delhi had become the most polluted city in the world and huge traffic jams had severely affected the life of its citizens. "The Kejriwal government has not ..
Students burn effigy of PM Oli to protest against medical bill
Nepal Students Union, the youth body affiliated to main opposition party Nepali Congress, on Sunday burnt effigy of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli here to protest against clearance of the National Medical Education Bill by the ruling party in the parliament. The students staged a black flag demonstration against PM Oli as soon as he landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport in the national capital after attending the 49th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Despite the police intervention the agitating students torched the effigy amid chanting slogans against the government and PM Oli. The student activists were protesting against the communist government's act to endorse the National Medical Education Bill. The youth body alleged that the bill was endorsed by the ruling party without addressing the demands of agitating senior surgeon Dr Govinda K C, who has been staging fast unto-death for the past 20 days demanding sweeping reforms in the country's .
Manipur to hold all-party meet on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren has convened an all-party meeting on Monday on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Pak team arrives in India, to visit Chenab basin in J-K
A Pakistani delegation arrived in India on Sunday to visit the Chenab river basin in Jammu and Kashmir for inspection, as mandated under the Indus Water Treaty, sources said. Pakistan's Indus Commissioner Syed Mohammad Mehar Ali Shah arrived in Amritsar along with his two advisers, sources said. "This tour is an obligation imposed on both the countries by the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan. Under the treaty, both the commissioners are mandated to inspect sites and works on both the sides of Indus basin in a block of five years," a senior official said. Since signing of the treaty, a total of 118 such tours on both the sides have been undertaken. The last tours of the commission in Pakistan and India were held in July 2013 and September 2014, respectively. No tour could be held in the current five years block, which ends in March 2020. This tour will be followed by a visit of India's Indus Commissioner to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the official ...