Page 1823 - Politics
Journalists protest after some scribes 'not allowed' to enter R-Day parade venue in Srinagar
Journalists here Saturday staged a protest against Jammu and Kashmir government afterseveral scribes were allegedly not allowed to enter the venue of Republic Day function despite possessing valid accreditation passes. However, Governor's advisor K Vijay Kumar said in Jammu that the issue of some journalists not being permitted to cover the Republic Day function would be looked into. The mediapersons, carrying placards which read "journalism is not a crime", staged the protest at Residency Road here. They alleged some of their colleagues were denied entry to Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium -- the main venue for Republic Day celebrations even when they had been issued the accreditation passes by the concerned authorities. They also claimed that some of the accredited journalists were not even issued the passes. Kumar said the entire process of security clearance for issuance of passes to journalists shall be reviewed for better coordination in future. "It is learnt that today at ...
Vote judiciously to rid country of anti-democratic forces: Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday urged the people to vote judiciously to rid the nation of the "anti-democratic forces" which, he said, "were mercilessly destroying the Constitutional fabric of India".
Kashmir will once again be the 'paradise on earth': J&K Governor
The militancy-hit Kashmir valley would once again become "the paradise on earth" as was once described by Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said Saturday, greeting the people on 70th Republic Day after unfurling the tricolour here. I have no doubt that a day will come once again when Kashmir will be the same as what Emperor Jahangir had praised - a paradise on earth, said the governor. Emperor Jehangir had once said about Kashmir, "Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o, hameen ast-o, hameen ast! (If there is a paradise on earth; it is this, it is this, it is this)." And to restore the lost glory of the valley, Malik pinned his hopes on the support and contribution of people from all walks of life in making the state prosperous. While seeking the people's support in turning the state's fortune, Malik promised that his administration would continue to work on its mission good governance and mission delivering development till the state gets ...
TN CM greets Pranab Mukherjee on being conferred Bharat Ratna
: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Saturday extended his greetings to former President Pranab Mukherjee on being conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour. He said Mukherjee had worked selflessly for the welfare of the nation and held several significant ministerial portfolios. Mukherjee also served as the President and served the people of the country skillfully, he added. "I extend my hearty congratulations to you on being selected to receive the Bharat Ratna on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu," Palaniswami said in an official release. The former President along with Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika, were on Friday chosen for the Bharat Ratna. Mukherjee (83), who was also known as the quintessential Man Friday of the Congress, joins the elite club of former presidents Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Rajendra Prasad, Zakir Hussain, V V Giri and A P J Abdul Kalam, who had also been conferred the coveted ...
Priyanka may begin political innings with Kumbh holy dip
Notwithstanding charges of pursuing "soft Hindutva" hurled at the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi is likely to begin her formal political career with a holy dip at the Sangam at the Kumbh Mela on February 4.
Malaysia cancels China sponsored railway link project
The government of Malaysia on Saturday announced its decision to cancel a $20-billion railway link project that was being built and financed by China.
Four veterans of Netaji's INA take part in R-Day parade
Among the many firsts in this years Republic Day parade was participation by the Indian National army (INA) veterans who fought against the Allied power under Subhash Chandra Boses leadership.
South African President invites Rahul for visit
Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be visiting South Africa on the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa who was the chief guest at the 70th Republic Day parade here on Saturday.
Akhilesh welcomes Priyanka's political debut
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday welcomed the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as a Congress General Secretary.
Modi behaving like dictator, BJP trampling Constitution: Cong
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of behaving like a dictator, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan Saturday said the ruling BJP was trying to create social unrest for its political gains. Addressing party workers after unfurling the national flag at the Congress office here on the 70th Republic day, Chavan also alleged that the BJP was trampling upon the Constitution. He urged the party workers to unite and pull down the BJP-led government to save the Constitution. "The Congress government has to be brought in to safeguard the Constitution. Congress workers should get to work now to bring our party to power," he said. "PM Modi is behaving like a dictator. The ruling party is trying to create social unrest for political gains," the former Maharashtra chief minister added. Atrocities against Dalits, minorities have gone up, , considerably since the BJP government came to power, Chavan alleged. The party's 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' ended on Friday after traversing 6,500
Venezuela opposition leader cranks up pressure on Maduro
Venezuela's opposition leader has stepped up his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro, rejecting an offer of talks with the socialist leader and calling for a "major demonstration." National Assembly head Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself acting president during massive street rallies, said Friday that he wouldn't attend a "fake dialogue" on a crisis that has left 26 dead this week in clashes between anti-Maduro activists and security forces. After four years of economic pain that has left Venezuelans short of food and medicine and driven more than two million to flee the country -- which sits on the world's largest oil reserves -- the opposition found its voice this month in Guaido after Maduro was sworn in for a second presidential term following controversial elections. International pressure on the Maduro regime to agree to a new vote is also mounting. On Saturday at a UN Security Council meeting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will urge members to recognize Guaido as ...
Iran accuses France of 'destabilising' region
Iran has accused France of being a destabilising force in the region after its foreign minister threatened new sanctions against Tehran over its missile programme. "The Islamic republic has always called for the strengthening of peace and stability in the region," the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement released overnight Friday. As such Iran "considers the mass sales of sophisticated and offensive weapons by... France as a factor in destabilising the balance of the region," the statement said. It came after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday said Paris was ready to impose new sanctions on Tehran if talks on its missile programme and its regional influence fail to make progress. "We have begun a difficult dialogue with Iran... and unless progress is made we are ready to apply sanctions, firmly, and they know it," Le Drian said. Le Drian also demanded that Iran change its behaviour in the region, specifically regarding its military presence in Syria. The ...
Dutch ambassador to return to Pakistan after Wilders row: report
The Dutch ambassador to Pakistan is to return to Islamabad next month after receiving a death threat last year, reportedly from Islamists angry over anti-Islam tweets by far-right politician Geert Wilders, Dutch media said Saturday. Ardi Stoios-Braken "will fly back to Islamabad in early February," the daily tabloid Algemeen Dagblad reported. She was on leave in the Netherlands in late October last year when she received word "that a letter arrived at the embassy from Pakistani authorities." "The letter spoke of a 'specific threat' and was related to the Mohammed cartoon contest which had already been cancelled months before," the paper said. Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said in November that Stoios-Braken, a veteran diplomat, faced "threats" in Pakistan, apparently over "blasphemous depictions" by Wilders on Twitter. Wilders in August called off a planned Prophet Mohammed cartoon competition that stirred anger in Pakistan. Pakistan's interior ministry in October wrote a secret ...
Talk to striking TN employees, teachers: Opposition to CM
Opposition party leaders on Saturday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami to hold talks with the protesting state government employees and teachers rather than resorting to measures like arrests or appointing new teachers.
Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi meet South African prez
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday met South African president Cyril Ramaphosa here and are learnt to have discussed issues of mutual interest. Ramaphosa, who is in the national capital as the chief guest for the 70th Republic Day celebrations, discussed issues of mutual interest with Gandhi and also with Singh. The South African president, who is also the president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) also invited Gandhi to his country and he accepted. "President Ramaphosa invited Shri Rahul Gandhi to visit South Africa and the invitation was accepted and the details worked by the Foreign Affairs departments of the two parties," said senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, who also also present during the meeting. "President Ramaphosa lauded India's role in the fight against Apartheid. Both, the ANC president and Congress president Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two ...
ITBP personnel celebrate Republic Day in freezing Ladakh
At the height of 18,000 feet and minus 30-degree celsius, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) keeps the tricolour flying high on Republic Day in Ladakh."ITBP personnel celebrating #RepublicDay2019 at 18,000 feet and minus 30 degree Celsius somewhere in Ladakh," ITBP tweeted.This magnificent tableau of grit and patriotism was photographed in Ladakh as India celebrated the day on which its supreme law -- the Constitution -- came into effect on January 26, 1950.The ITBP is a specialised mountain force -- most of whose officers and men are trained mountaineers and skiers -- and guards the border from Ladakh's Karakoram Pass to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.India displayed its military might and rich cultural diversity during the dazzling 70th Republic Day parade in the Capital which for the first time saw veteran soldiers of the Indian National Army walking down the Rajpath.In Leh, Chief Executive Councillor Jamyang Tsering Namgyal unfurled the national flag at polo ground.Meanwhile, the ..
Greece nods for new name of Macedonia
Greece on Friday ratified the accord to officially change the name of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia, putting to ending long-drawn clashes between the two neighbouring states over the same issue.Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took to Twitter to say, "Today marks a historical day. Greece safeguards an important part of its history, the heritage of Ancient Greek Macedonia. Today, we write a new chapter in the history of the Balkans. Nationalist hatred, disputes and clashes are now replaced by friendship, peace and cooperation.""North Macedonia was born today. It will be a friend and an ally of Greece in its efforts for security, stability and mutual development in the region," the Prime Minister added.Statements by the Prime Minister came after the Greek Parliament passed the Macedonia name-change deal with a majority of 153 votes in favour of the deal, while the 146 legislators voting against the deal, out of a total 300-seats in the Parliament, Al Jazeera ...
BSF exchange sweets with Pakistani troops at Attari border on Republic Day
Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Saturday exchanged sweets with their Pakistani counterparts at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab on the occasion of the 70th Republic Day.The Border Security Force (BSF) also hoisted the tricolour at Attari and distributed sweets among themselves to celebrate the occasion.As a goodwill gesture, the BSF and Pakistani Rangers exchange pleasantries with each other every year on the national and religious festivals of the two countries, like Republic Day, Independence Day, Eid and Diwali, despite cross-border tensions.In 2018, BSF had refused to exchange greetings on Republic Day due to rising incidents of ceasefire violations and border tension.The tradition of exchanging sweets had briefly come to halt in 2016 in the wake of an attack on the Indian Army camp in Uri.
Happy that young people being given chance: Akhilesh Yadav on Priyanka Gandhi
'Happy that young people are being given chance' said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav while commenting on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's official appointment as General Secretary of Eastern UP Congress.Speaking to media after taking part in a republic day celebration here, Yadav said, "Young people are being given chance, Samajwadi Party is happy. I would like to congratulate Congress party and their President that they took a right decision."He also used this opportunity to corner the Central government on employment and other issues and said, "It is time to analyse that how many people got employment in these last four and half years. How many promises made from Red fort have been fulfilled? Has there been any improvement in the status of farmers? Over 90 per cent youth don't have jobs or employment. With implementation of GST, small traders and businesses have been destroyed. These are big question and both SP and BSP will fight on these issues."Speaking further on the CBI raids .
Congress protests IPS officer's transfer who searched CPI-M office
The sudden transfer of a woman IPS officer after she searched the CPI-M district office here to investigate a case came under fire on Saturday from the Congress.