Page 1853 - Politics
Cabinet decides to strengthen NE autonomous councils
Aiming to woo the tribal population in the Northeast ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the NDA government on Wednesday decided to grant more power and funds to 10 autonomous councils in the region. The Union Cabinet approved "landmark" constitutional amendments to increase the powers of the autonomous councils in the Sixth Schedule areas of the Northeast. The Finance Commission will be mandated to recommend devolution of financial resources to them, an official statement said. The amendment also provides for transfer of additional 30 subjects including departments of Public Works, Forests, Public Health Engineering, Health and Family Welfare, Urban Development and Food and Civil Supply to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council in Assam. "The cabinet approves landmark amendment to Article 280 and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The most important part of these amendments is that these will significantly improve the financial resources
Xi likely to visit India before general elections: Report
Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit India for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before this year's general elections and as early as February, a media report suggested on Wednesday.
Puducherry CM hails Priyanka's appointment
Ruling Congress in the union territory Wednesday celebrated the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as party general secretary with chief minister V Narayanasamy hailing it and saying the party would stage a comeback in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Narayanasamy distributed sweets to the public while party workers and leaders of different wings gathered at the Pradesh Congress Committee office here and welcomed the announcement by Congress president Rahul Gandhi appointing his sister as the General Secretary of the party for Uttar Pradesh (East). "The party workers are extremely grateful to the AICC leader for the appointment... Priyanka has swung into politics which is a good augury and the party would stage a comeback in the Lok Sabha polls and Rahul Gandhi would be the Prime Minister," Narayanasamy told reporters. He claimed that Priyanka Gandhi's entry was sending shock waves to the BJP and it would face a big defeat in the coming polls. PCC President and PWD ...
: Following are the highlights
: Following are the highlights from the southern region at 18.30 hrs I MDS2 TN-GIM-SITHARAMAN Chennai: Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman terms the NDA government's 2017 rollout of the goods and services tax (GST) as the 'biggest reform' taken up as part of a 'systemic reform' and pitches India as a bright spot for investors. MDS5 TN-DEF-LD SITHARAMAN Chennai: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says the government is focussing on promoting domestic defence production to build capacities for catering to the need of the armed forces. I MDS10 TN-NIRMALA-PRIYANKA Chennai: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman takes potshots at the Congress appointing Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, saying it is a step that takes forward dynastic politics. I LGM1 TN-HC-JAYA-MEMORIAL Chennai: The Madras High Court says former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa cannot be termed a convict in a disproportionate assets case and dismisses a petition against the ..
Cong to contest both assembly and LS elections alone in AP
: The Congress Wednesday asserted that it would contest the upcoming elections in Andhra Pradesh, both to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha, on its own and not have any alliance with the ruling Telugu Desam Party. "We will contest all 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats alone. The TDP allied with us only at the national level, so we will have no truck (with it) in the state," AICC general secretary and former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy maintained. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the PCC office-bearers here, Chandy said they would meet again on January 31 to discuss about the poll preparations. The state Congress decided to undertake a bus yatra in all 13 districts in February, he said. Chandy welcomed the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as AICC general secretary, in charge of Uttar Pradesh. "An intelligent and daring leader like Priyanka is essential in national politics. The country also wishes that Rahul Gandhi becomes the Prime Minister," .
Priyanka's persona merited a more wider role in Cong: Prasad
Taking a dig at the Congress for appointing Priyanka Gandhi as its general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad Wednesday said her persona merited a "more wider role" in the organisation. "Priyanka ji has become the general secretary, my good luck to her. Since the party is a family concern, these kind of postings are nothing unusual, except to say with a caveat why has she been given the limited role of eastern UP? Perhaps her persona merited a more wider role," he said. The law minister was responding to questions at a briefing of decisions taken by the Union cabinet. He added that the appointments made by the Congress reflected the outlook of the party. Later, interacting with reporters after the briefing, Prasad said it was a case of a brother (Congress president Rahul Gandhi) appointing his sister to a party position. Gandhi family scion Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally entered politics Wednesday with the Congress ...
Opposition joining hands to save themselves, stop Modi's development: Irani
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday claimed that the opposition leaders, who have no connection with the country's development or people's welfare, came together at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's mega opposition rally in Kolkata last week out of fear.
Priyanka to work hard to give UP Congress CM: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said his sister Priyanka Gandhi, appointed General Secretary of the party in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, will now ensure that a Congress Chief Minister gets to rule Uttar Pradesh.
Priyanka's appointment no challenge to us: UP BJP chief
Uttar Pradesh BJP said Wednesday the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as the Congress in-charge of eastern UP did not pose even a one per cent challenge, dismissing it as a reflection of the party's dependence on a single family. UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey called her appointment as the Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East the party's internal matter. But, he added, it indicated that the Congress is yet to come out from the family syndrome. Sonia has now roped in her daughter, he said referring to the UPA chairperson. Nothing will materialise from this. Priyanka is not even a one per cent challenge," he told reporters here. "In UP, the Congress has lost its contact with the people completely, he said, adding that Priyanka Gandhi's induction will only add some glamour. He said the opposition party was now trying every possible experiment to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from coming back to power in the next Lok Sabha elections. But this will only make people ...
UK citizens in Germany take on dual citizenship
With the UK's departure from the EU looming and the terms of Brexit still uncertain, some British citizens living in Germany have opted to take on their adopted homeland's nationality, the media reported on Wednesday.
BJP, Sena come together for Thackeray memorial; Oppn dubs it 'poll ploy'
Amid constant bickering with ruling partner BJP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at an event here on Wednesday, though the Opposition dismissed it as a "poll ploy". Fadnavis also tweeted pictures of him and Uddhav participating in rituals marking the the start of construction of a memorial for Sena founder Bal Thackeray. On Bal Thackeray's 93rd birth anniversary, the two leaders jointly offered prayers to Lord Ganesha and performed 'vaastu pujan' at the memorial site at Shivaji Park in Dadar area. Until now, the Sena had been targeting the BJP, its ally at the Centre and in Maharashtra, over issues such as the Rafale aircraft deal, Ram temple, farm crisis, rising fuel prices, etc. The two parties have also spoken of going it alone in the Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to laud Bal Thackeray's intellect and oratory skills. "Remembering the courageous ...
Why is NDA govt afraid of facing JPC into Rafale deal; D Raja
CPI leader D Raja Wednesday reiterated his party's demand for a JPC probe into the Rafale deal, asking why the NDA government was 'afraid' of facing the Joint Parliamentary Committe if there was no wrongdoing in the Indo-French pact. The CPI National Secretary urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "tell the truth," on the matter. "Neither the Defence Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) nor the External Affairs Minister (Sushma Swaraj) was involved when the deal was clinched. It was the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister alone who took the decision and decided the deal," he said. "JPC is a parliamentary instrument and Parliament is supreme in our democracy. If there is nothing (wrong) they can very well accept JPC. Why are they afraid of it," he told PTI. Raja's remarks came in response to Sitharaman once again ruling out a JPC probe into the Rafale deal Wednesday. On the demand for a JPC probe into the Rafale deal while speaking to reporters here Wednesday, Sitharaman had said .
Cong in Kerala welcomes Priyanka's appointment as AICC GS
The Congress in Kerala Wednesday welcomed the party's decision appointing Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh East, but said it should have come earlier. "Priyanka Gandhi is a person with public acceptance. For a long time the Congress workers had been wanting that she should come into the leadership role," Congress' state president Mullapally Ramachandran told reporters here. "The decision has been delayed. It should have come earlier," he said. Welcoming the decision, Opposition leader in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said Priyanka's appointment as AICC general secretary will further stregthen the party. The joint leadership of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka will give a new energy and enthusiasm to all congress workers, he said in a statement here With regard to Lok Sabha polls, Ramachandran said an understanding has almost been reached on candidates of the Congress-led UDF who will be trying their luck in the 20 ..
Rajasthan CM Gehlot welcomes Priyanka's entry into politics
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday welcomed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's entry into politics, saying it will strengthen the Congress and party president Rahul Gandhi's agenda for the country. "It used to be discussed in media, common people and among workers that when will Priyanka Gandhi come into politics. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appointed her. Congress will be strengthened by this," Gehlot told reporters. "This will also strengthen the agenda of Rahul Gandhi for the country, for ending Modi rule and for sending fascist powers back home," he said. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally entered politics on Wednesday with the Congress appointing her general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East.
Kumaraswamy welcomes Priyanka's formal entry into politics
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday welcomed the formal entry of Priyanka Gandhi into active politics. Kumaraswamy, whose party JDS has formed a coalition government with the Congress, congratulated Priyanka Gandhi on her appointment as AICC general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh (East). "I congratulate Ms Priyanka Gandhi for her new role in the @INCIndia as AICC general secretary in charge of the Uttar Pradesh(East). I welcome her decision to join active politics," Kumaraswamy tweeted. In a statement, Karnataka Congress working president Eshwar Khandre said the party has grown stronger with the appointment of Priyanka as Congress general secretary. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara too greeted Priyanka on her appointment.
Could Priyanka become the X factor of 2019 poll battle: Mehbooba
Welcoming Priyanka Gandhi Vadra into politics, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday wondered if the Gandhi family scion would become the X factor of the upcoming national elections. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said Priyanka brings with her the grace of the Gandhi-Nehru lineage and her immense personal charm. "Welcome Priyanka Gandhi to the rough and tumble of politics. She brings with her the grace of Gandhi Nehru lineage and her immense personal charm. Wish her the best. Could she become the Xfactor of 2019 poll battle?" Mehbooba tweeted. The state unit of the Congress also hailed the induction of Priyanka as AICC general secretary. Its chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir said, "It is very significant and timely decision taken by Congress president. The induction of Priyanka Gandhi will have a good impact on national politics, besides boosting the moral of the party cadres." Priyanka formally entered politics on Wednesday with the Congress appointing her general secretary for Uttar .
Murli Manohar Joshi to seek re-election from Kanpur
Former BJP President Murli Manohar Joshi, 85, is readying to again contest the Lok Sabha election from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Assault case filed against Karnataka Congress MLA
A case of assault has been registered against Karnataka Congress legislator J.N. Ganesh for his alleged attack on party MLA Anand Singh on Sunday, police said on Wednesday.
Scotland Yard chief warns of Brexit-related terror threat
Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism chief, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, has warned that the "febrile" atmosphere around Brexit could be enhancing the risk posed by far-right terrorism in the UK. The UK is due to leave the 28-member European Union (EU) on March 29. However, the government of Prime Minister Theresa May is facing massive resistance from her own Conservative Party MPs as well as the opposition Labour Party over her Brexit deal. "We saw a spike in hate crime after the referendum (in June 2016), that's never really receded. So there's always a possibility people are being radicalised by the kind of febrile atmosphere we've got at the moment," Basu told BBC on Tuesday at the launch of a new film aimed at encouraging people to report their suspicions about all forms of terrorism. "We want people to report anything that we think is going to lead to violent confrontation and people need to calm down and understand that we are paying very close attention to that and we will ..
Priyanka's appointment is dynastic politics: Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Wednesday took potshots at the Congress appointing Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, saying it was a step that took forward dynastic politics. "It was an appointment based on family," which showed that dynastic politics has gone two steps forward," she told reporters here when asked about the matter. Although there were a multitude of party workers, the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi demonstrated that Congress party gave importance to one family, she said.