Page 1859 - Politics
Brazil's Bolsonaro uses Davos speech to appeal to big business
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Brazil's new right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro threw out the welcome mat for big business and foreign investors on Tuesday, telling a summit of CEOs in Davos that his government would make the country one of the top 50 in which to do business.
BJP leader accuses Mehbooba of playing communal card with an eye on election
Days after PDP president Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the nomadic Gujjar and Bakerwal communities were being "selectively targeted" in Jammu region, a senior BJP leader Tuesday accused her of playing "communal card" with an eye on the upcoming polls in the state. "We have been living in communal harmony for centuries and the PDP supremo must not try to disturb the prevailing peace in the region by playing dirty politics based upon communal and regional divide to gain votes," BJP's Scheduled Tribe Morcha president Choudhary Haroon told reporters here. Haroon, flanked by several Muslim leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), denied the claim of the former chief minister. On Sunday, Mehbooba had alleged that the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities were being "selectively targeted" in the Jammu region and warned that if the issue was not addressed by the Governor S P Malik-led administration, the consequences would be "dangerous".
Top US diplomat for Europe resigns
The top US diplomat for Europe is resigning after only 14 months on the job in a blow to Trump administration efforts to maintain trans-Atlantic unity. The State Department says Wess Mitchell will leave his post in mid-February. He is the assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasian affairs. The department's deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said Mitchell has been a "valued and effective leader" and a "good friend to our allies and partners in Europe". Mitchell's departure comes at a time of fractious relations between Washington and European capitals amid disagreements over trade, defence spending and the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Mitchell took up the job in October 2017 under former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after 12 years at a think tank focused on Central European issues.
Pompeo voices optimism for good outcome on U.S.-China trade
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced optimism on Tuesday for a good outcome in upcoming trade talks with China and said a superpower conflict between the two nations could be avoided.
Give us 23-plus seats from Bengal: Amit Shah tells rally
Launching a blistering attack on Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress government, BJP chief Amit Shah on Tuesday declared that his party would make the Citizenship Act (Amendment) bill, 2016, a major poll issue in West Bengal and appealed to the people to give more than 23 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state to the BJP.
Punjab CM decides to allot 1 lakh residential plots to homeless Dalit families
Seeking to meet the Congress' 2017 poll promise, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday announced allotment of one lakh plots of over 1,300 square ft each to homeless Dalit families in the state. Announcing his decision, the chief minister said in the first phase of the allotment, at least 10 plots of five 'marlas' each would be allotted to homeless scheduled caste families in each village, where land is available with the village panchayat. One marla is equal to over 272 square ft of land. Where the panchayat land is not available, the allotment would be done in the second phase after arranging the land, said an official press release quoting the chief minister. The statement said the Rural Development and Panchayat Department has been given the task to monitor the allotment process. Singh announced the decision during a review meeting of the government projects with deputy commissioners of various districts of the state. In the meeting, Singh also asked deputy commissioners ..
BJP bags 10 out of 13 seats declared in NC Hills council
The BJP has won 10 seats out of the 13 declared in North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council election, the Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) said Tuesday. The counting for the 28 constituencies of the Council began in the morning and results of 13 were declared till now. Out of that, the BJP won 10 and Independents bagged three, the ASEC said, adding that counting of the remaining constituencies are going on. The polling for the 28 seats of the 12th North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in Dima Hasao district took place on January 19 and over 75 per cent voter turnout was recorded.
All households to have electricity by March 31: Singh
The government aims to complete electrification of all households across the country well before the March 31 deadline, R K Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) and Renewable Energy, said on Tuesday.So far, nearly 192,000 households remain without access to electricity. Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Assam and Meghalaya are the last four states to finish electrification programme, he said.The minister said the government has revived nine stressed power assets of 11,400 megawatt capacity. Currently, a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is examining recommendations of the Cabinet Secretary panel to ease stressed units in the power sector.Singh said the final draft on tariff policy is ready and will soon be taken up by the Union Cabinet.In November 2015, the government launched Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY), an ambitious scheme to improve the financial health and operational efficiency of debt-ridden power distribution companies (discoms).The ...
Maharashtra Cabinet approves Rs 100 crore for Balasaheb Thackeray memorial; alliance set to get a boost
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 22 (ANI): In an apparent bid to check the growing bitterness among them despite being allies, BJP's Maharashtra government on Tuesday approved Rs 100 crore for the construction of proposed Balasaheb Thackeray memorial in the city.The decision to approve the funds was taken at the Cabinet meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis. ShivSena, which was founded by Balasaheb Thackeray, is an ally of the BJP in Maharashtra and a part of the state government as well. However, the relations between the two parties remain sour. Sharing details of the decision, Cabinet Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said: "Relations between BJP and Shiv Sena were always good and will remain so. There is a strong probability of forging an alliance as well.""Balasaheb Thackeray has always been a respectable and great leader. Hence the Cabinet has decided to construct a grand memorial in his memory, which will inspire the youths," added Mungantiwar.The memorial ...
EVM tampering claim kicks up a row; Delhi Police to investigate
The Delhi Police on Tuesday said it will investigate the claim made by a self-proclaimed hacker that the EVMs can be tampered with, as a political row erupted over the issue.Amid the claims by the so-called hacker, there were renewed calls by some Opposition parties for finding an alternative to the EVMs, including the return to the use of ballot papers, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls."Delhi Police have received a complaint from the Election Commission of India. The legal action is being taken under section 505 of IPC in the matter. Further, an investigation shall be conducted as per law," it said in a statement.Section 505 of IPC (Indian Penal Code) deals with public mischief aimed at creating fear or inciting the public to commit an offence.The police statement came after the Election Commission of India (ECI) requested it to lodge an FIR and investigate properly the claim made by one Syed Shuja on Monday in London during a hackathon which was attended by Congress leader Kapil ...
KCR violating Constitution by running 'a dysfunctional' government, says Congress
Congress party on Tuesday accused Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of violating the Constitution by running "a dysfunctional" government in the state.Telangana Congress unit spokesperson Dasoju Sravan said that even after 40 days of the formation of new government, there is no full-fledged Council of Ministers in the state.Speaking with ANI, Sravan said: "Telangana government is being run in a dictatorial manner by Chief Minister KCR. Non-formation of a full-fledged Cabinet is actually a Constitutional violation.""As per the Article 64(1A), the number of ministers including Chief Minister in the state shall not be less than 12. There is no Council of Ministers formed to advise the Governor," he alleged."By keeping quiet and turning a blind eye to the situation, Chief Minister KCR is not ensuring the implementation of the Constitution. Congress party wrote a letter to Governor to put up pressure on the TRS government to ensure that a full-fledged Cabinet is formed," he ...
No sitting MLAs, ministers to get party tickets for LS polls: AAP
The AAP will not give party tickets to its sitting MLAs and ministers for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, senior party leader Gopal Rai said Tuesday. Rai, who heads Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi unit, said that party candidates for the general elections in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana will be announced "well before" the notification of the polls. "We are not going to give tickets to sitting MLAs. Everyone is interested, but we will not give tickets to them," he told reporters when asked if AAP MLAs and ministers will be fielded in the polls. The AAP has already announced incharges on six of the seven Parliamentary seats in Delhi. The incharge on west Delhi seat is yet to be announced by the party. "We will declare the names of our candidates in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab much before the announcement of elections," he said. The AAP has decided to independently contest the Lok Sabha polls in the three states, rejecting the possibility of an alliance with the Congress.
Sukhbir accuses rebel Akali leader Brahmpura of conspiring with Punjab CM to split SAD
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday accused rebel Akali leader Ranjit Singh Brahmpura of conspiring with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to split the party. "Ranjit Singh Brahmpura had unleashed a conspiracy to split the party after a meeting with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and now the doors of the SAD were closed for him forever," Sukhbir Badal alleged. Taksali (old guard) leader Brahmpura, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Rattan Singh Ajnala had formed a new Akali Dal (Taksali) party after they rebelled against Sukhbir Badal's leadership. Addressing workers at a meeting here, Sukhbir Badal claimed that Brahmpura and other leaders even timed their protest against the SAD as per the directions of the Congress. The SAD president said Brahmpura's career was resurrected by party patron Parkash Singh Badal in 2014 when he was given a party ticket to contest the 2014 election after losing the 2012 assembly polls. "Brahmpura's word was a command for Badal sahab. He was the senior most
INLD seeks home ministry probe into cancellation of O P Chautala's parole
The INLD Tuesday sought a home ministry probe to unravel the "conspiracy" behind cancellation of party supremo Om Prakash Chautala's parole in the run up to the Jind bypoll. It alleged that Jannayak Janata Party (JPP) Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were behind the move. The JJP refuted the charges and said the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) was afraid of the party's popularity. Om Prakash Chautala, along with his elder son Ajay Chautala, is serving a 10-year jail term in a teachers' recruitment scam. "As part of a deep-rooted conspiracy Dushyant Chautala, Digvijay Chautala and Kejriwal got the furlough of (O P) Chautala cancelled," Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Haryana Assembly Abhay Singh Chautala said here. He demanded a probe by the home ministry to "unravel the conspiracy". The INLD will move court against the "injustice" meted out to Chautala, he added. Comparing his nephews Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala with Mughal ...
Disruptions being faced by world positive developments: Pompeo
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Tuesday said disruptions being faced by the world are positive developments even as he termed China's state-centred economic model as a threat. Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting here through a video link from Washington, he asked the world leaders to follow the economic blueprint of his administration, saying it has worked for the US and can work for their countries as well. Noting that new winds are blowing and it remains to be seen if they signal fair weather or foreshadow a storm, Pompeo said the disruption being witnessed is a positive development. "I would argue that this disruption is a positive development," he said. He noted that there are many threats ranging from North Korea's nuclear programmes to rounds of adventurism and China's state-centred economic model. The US is rebalancing its relationship with China and forming partnerships all around the world, he added. "In all these areas, we're making progress," he
PM slams Cong at NRI meet, says BJP govt put an end to chronic corruption
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday referred to former premier Rajiv Gandhi's remarks on corruption in the country to attack the Congress, saying the party that ruled for years did nothing to stop the "loot", while his government put an end to it and transferred about Rs 5,80,000 crore directly to the people under various schemes. Without naming Gandhi, he alluded to the former prime minister's remarks that only 15 paise of Re 1 reaches the masses and said Congress governments over the years did nothing to stop the "leakage". Addressing NRIs and Indian-origin people at the inauguration of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Modi described the diaspora as India's brand ambassadors and said they were the symbols of the country's capabilities. The government has changed the perception that India cannot change, he said in the presence of Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, External Affairs Minister Sushma ..
Withdraw comments or face criminal defamation charges: TMC to Amit Shah
The Trinamool Congress Tuesday threatened to file a criminal defamation case against BJP President Amit Shah if he did not withdraw his comments suggesting that TMC leaders collected "syndicate tax". During the 'Gantantra Bachao Yatra' in West Bengal, Shah said if the BJP came to power, it would ensure that the people of the state do not have to pay "syndicate tax". "Remove the TMC government from Bengal and we will stop cow smuggling and infiltration in Bengal. If lotus blooms in Bengal, then you won't have to pay syndicate tax to TMC leaders," he said. Reacting to this, TMC's chief spokesperson Derek O'Brien, in a statement posted on Twitter, said: Mr Amit Shah, Bengal is not UP where you are spreading hate and disharmony. There is peace and harmony here. And, if you do not withdraw your wild allegations on 'syndicate tax', we shall charge you with criminal defamation. The TMC leader said the speeches of BJP leaders were low on facts and were "in poor taste". He also alleged that ...
Smriti Irani to address BJP rally at Suri; nothing finalised
Union minister Smriti Irani will address a BJP rally at Suri in Birbhum district Wednesday, but nothing has been finalised about the other party meeting in Jhargram district to be held on the same day, BJP leaders said Tuesday. BJP president Amit Shah was scheduled to attend the rally at Jhargram but he returned to New Delhi on Tuesday evening because of his ill health and is unlikely to address the rally at Jhargram, they said. "Smriti Irani will address the rally at Suri tomorrow. Nothing has been decided as of now on which central leader will address the rally at Jhargram. Somebody will come," said Dilip Ghosh, state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party. State BJP sources said the party has decided to bring in several top leaders in West Bengal to address rallies at various parts of West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Shah attended a public meeting at Malda during the day, in which he said all Bengali refugees would be granted citizenship with the passage of .
No harm in spending contingency funds in KALIA scheme: BJD
Rejecting opposition allegations of Odisha Contigency Fund (OCF) misuse, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Tuesday claimed that there was no harm in using the money for the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (Kalia) Scheme. "The state government has launched KALIA scheme for the all-round development of farmers who are suffering from drought, debt burden and other difficulties. It will play a key role in the welfare of farmers," said BJD spokesperson Amar Patnaik. "The state government has withdrawn Rs 734.66 crore from OCF for implementation of Kalia scheme. The state government took the step as it was highly essential to eradicate the problems of the farmers," he said. Stating that the allegations of opposition are "baseless", Patnaik said: "The OCF was meant to be used during emergency and the state government did the same. It was done as per law." He alleged that the oppositions parties are targeting the state government with vested interest.
Centre wants to share profits but shifted burden of loss on Del govt: Kejriwal on Metro Ph IV
Facing allegation of "stonewalling" progress of Phase IV of Delhi Metro, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday lashed out at the Centre, saying if it was fair for it to share profits but shift the entire burden of losses on his government. Sources in Union government had on Monday claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party Government has "stonewalled" progress of Delhi Metro's Phase-IV project by imposing two conditions, leading to "substantial delay" and "inconvenience" to people. One condition is that the operating losses of the project should be borne equally by the Delhi government and the Centre. The other is that Delhi government will have no liabilities in external loans sought for the project. "I am surprised at this news. Centre n Del govt hold 50:50 equity in Del Metro. Now, centre says that profits will be shared 50:50 but all losses will be borne 100% by Del govt. Is this fair on people of Del? Del govt is only saying that losses shud also be borne 50:50(sic)," Kejriwal said in