Page 1872 - Politics
Punjab Assembly Speaker serves notice to Khaira
Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana K P Singh Monday served a notice to Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira for his disqualification from the state assembly. Khaira has been given 15 days to file his reply as to why action under the provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution should not be initiated against him, a spokesman said. "The Vidhan Sabha has issued a notice to Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira for disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India," he said. The notice was given to Khaira following petitions filed by Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema and Harsimran Singh, a resident of Bholath. "In their respective petitions, they made references to the Speaker for Khaira's disqualification," the spokesman said. In case Khaira failed to give a reply within 15 days, it will be presumed that he has nothing to say in this regard, the spokesman added. In his petition to the Speaker, Cheema had said that Khaira had voluntarily given up the membership of the
Germany bans Iranian airline from its airspace after U.S. pressure
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has revoked the licence of an Iranian airline because it has been transporting military equipment and personnel to Syria and other Middle East war zones, the foreign ministry said on Monday, after heavy U.S. pressure on Berlin to act.
BJP asks EC to derecognise AAP, seize its symbol
Accusing the AAP and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of dividing the society on caste lines and spreading mispropaganda, the BJP on Monday approached the Election Commission (EC) and demanded derecognisition of the party.
Israel PM says will block 'Iranian aggression' after Syria strikes
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday Israel would not allow "Iranian aggression", after its military struck what it called Iranian targets in Syria in response to missile fire. "Yesterday evening, the air force struck a strong blow against Iranian targets in Syria after Iran fired a missile from there toward Israel," Netanyahu said at an inauguration ceremony for a new airport in southern Israel. "We do not allow such acts of aggression to pass by. We are acting against Iran and against the Syrian forces who are tools of Iranian aggression." Israel struck what it said were facilities belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force early Monday in response to a missile attack it blamed on Iran. The surface-to-surface missile, fired towards the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Sunday and intercepted by air defences, followed an alleged Israeli strike in southern Syria. The chain of events sparked concerns of an escalation, after a monitor reported 11 fighters killed .
#BurnTheTricolor, a malicious campaign by Sikhs for Justice
New York [United States], Jan 21 (ANI): Sikhs for Justice, a US-based pro-Khalistani organisation has once again been exposed for its malicious anti-India campaign after it recently launched '#BurnTheTricolor' drive in the West.Several amateur videos have gone viral on social media in which the organisation is seen using children for its anti-India propaganda.In a video posted on social media, a girl is seen saying: "Sikhs For Justice calls out to burn the Tricolor to protest against Republic Day. Referendum2020 is the only solution". The girl along with other children then shouted pro-Khalistan slogans and burnt the tricolor.According to sources, Sikhs for Justice is trying to have a gathering of few hundred Sikhs to create law and order situation during the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 in Canada, UK and the United States.Separatist Sikh organization, Sikhs For Justice, claims that it is an international advocacy group working for Punjab Independence Referendum 2020 for ...
Federal employees set up GoFundMe campaigns amidst shutdown
Amidst the US government shutdown, federal employees and their supporters have been setting up GoFundMe campaigns to get help with expenses. Now, the crowdfunding site has decided to launch its own campaign to help the workers.GoFundMe has launched Government Shutdown Direct Relief Fund to help the government employees affected by the partial shutdown, Cnet reported.The campaign has already garnered USD 87,680 of its USD 125,000 goal. Author and speaker Deepak Chopra has collaborated with GoFundMe for the campaign.Donations to the campaign will go to several non-profits that offer direct assistance to the government workers who have been forced to work without pay.The shutdown started in December because the House and Senate couldn't come to an agreement over funding President Donald Trump's USD 5 billion border wall. This has led to over 4,20,000 government staff reportedly working without pay.
May to present 'Plan B' on Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday will disclose a 'Plan B' on Brexit, after the Parliamentarians, last week, voted against her proposed deal for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.Al Jazeera reported that the Prime Minister held meetings with a few members of the opposition party last week, but was in no mood to compromise on her proposal.On Monday's proposal to proceed with the deal, May will focus on important issues related to Brexit, including the Irish backstop.Last week, May's Brexit deal was voted down by the MPs at the House of Commons by a resounding majority of 230. The deal was voted down by 432 votes to 202, the worst defeat for any sitting government in the UK. Around 118 Conservative Party MPs voted against the withdrawal agreement.For long, May has been pushing for the Brexit deal to be accepted by the UK Parliament. She has repeatedly stated that "this is a Brexit that delivers.
United India Rally was anti-Modi agenda: Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asserted that the United India Rally which was led by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had a two-fold strategy- negative anti-Modi agenda and combine as many political groups together so as to take the best advantage of the electoral arithmetic."Every General Election has its own script. The script is dictated by the prevailing political environment in the country. The nature of the political battle for 2019 is unfolding itself. India's opposition has a two-fold strategy, firstly, negative anti-Modi agenda and secondly, to combine as many political groups together so as to take the best advantage of the electoral arithmetic," Jaitley wrote in his blog.Hitting out at the TMC's rally in Kolkata, he alleged that negativism was the flavour."The Kolkata rally organised by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee was significant. On the surface, it was an anti-Modi rally. It indeed was. More significantly it was also a non-Rahul Gandhi rally. The opposition .
Threat call at Kejriwal's residence
The Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday informed the Delhi Police that a call was received at the Kejriwal's residence from an unknown number claiming that a person named Bholu from Vikas Puri can attack the Aam Aadmi Party leader.No further details about the caller could be recovered as there is no caller ID installed, police said.The Delhi Police have started investigating the matter. Further details are awaited.
R-Day order neither wrong nor new, I stand by it: J-K Governor
A day after an order was issued for Jammu and Kashmir government employees to be present at Republic Day celebrations, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday asserted that the order is not something new or incorrect and it has been issued every year."This order is not wrong and I stand by that. And this is not a new thing. Every year, similar orders have been issued to government employees. There is no motive in imposing nationalism," Malik told ANI.The order, dated January 15, stated that it is necessary for all government officials to attend Republic Day celebrations, failing which would amount to negligence of duty."It is the duty of every government servant to attend the Republic Day function which marks an important turning point in the history of the nation," according to the order.The Jammu and Kashmir government also directed all top officials to ensure attendance of employees in their respective departments at the function."All Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, ...
NDA likely to hold massive rally at Patna in March
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the NDA is likely to hold a massive rally at Patna in the first week of March.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar while addressing a press-conference here on Monday indicated that NDA may hold a rally at Patna in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate."I have also heard that NDA may hold a rally here in Patna in which Prime minister is also expected to participate," said Kumar.Meanwhile, Congress is holding a massive "Jan Akansha rally" at Patna's Gandhi Maiden on February 3 in which Congress president Rahul Gandhi will participate and host the allies.All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday organised an anti-BJP rally in Kolkata which was attended by the leaders of nearly 20 opposition parties.Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu among others attended the rally.
CLP met to thwart BJP's attempt to destabilise Cong-JD(S) govt: Dinesh Gundu Rao
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Monday said that the MLAs had gathered here to thwart an attempt of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to destabilise the HD Kumaraswamy-led state government."All the MLAs are going back to their constituencies. We had come here to fight the attempt by BJP to destabilise this government. We are very confident that our government is safe, secure and strong," Rao told media.The CLP meeting was called for a day after two Congress MLAs, Anand Singh and JN Ganesh, had a "minor fight".However, Congress leader Zameer Ahmed said that the two leaders had minor differences after a discussion between the "two friends".Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had said on Saturday that the party would issue a show-cause notice to MLAs who did not attend the CLP meeting held in Bengaluru on Friday, asking for an explanation from them."First, we will issue a show-cause notice asking ..
'Yagam' won't fulfill KCR's PM dream: Congress
Religious rituals like 'Yagam' will not fulfill Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's dream of becoming the Prime Minister of the country, said former minister and Congress leader Shashidhar Reddy on Monday. Talking to ANI, Reddy said that if KCR thinks that he would become the Prime Minister of the country by performing a 'Yagam,' then his dream will remain unfulfilled. "Yagam will not help either KCR to become the Prime Minister or his federal front," he said.Reddy alleged that KCR's bid to form a federal front was an attempt to help the BJP. "Only two leaders have joined his federal front-Jagan Mohan Reddy and Asaduddin Owaisi. These parties are with the BJP," said Reddy.A five-day long 'Sahasra Chandi Yagam' commenced at the Chief Minister's farmhouse in Yerravalli village of Siddipet district on Monday.TRS leader Abid Rasool Khan, in response to the comments of the Congress party, said that 'Chandi Yagam' was a personal matter for KCR."It should not be connected
Germany sanctions Iran airline over regime links
- Germany said Monday it had banned Iranian airline Mahan Air from its airports, in an escalation of sanctions adopted by the European Union against Tehran over attacks on opponents in the bloc. The move was necessary to protect Germany's "foreign and security policy interests", foreign ministry spokesman Christofer Burger told reporters at a regular Berlin press conference. Officials at the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) sent Tehran-based Mahan Air a notification "ordering the immediate suspension of its authorisation to operate passenger flights from and to Germany" from Monday, a transport ministry spokeswoman added. Mahan, Iran's second-largest carrier after Iran Air, flies four services a week between Tehran and the German cities of Duesseldorf and Munich. It was blacklisted by the US in 2011, as Washington said the carrier was providing technical and material support to an elite unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards known as the Quds Force. The US treasury has threatened sanctions .
Cambodia's Hun Sen meets Xi Jinping on Beijing visit
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing that reinforces ties between China and its closest ally in Southeast Asia. Hun Sen also is to meet Premier Li Keqiang and other leaders during his four-day visit, which started Monday. Cambodia has grown increasingly close to China in recent years as Hun Sen's government has become estranged from the United States, which is critical of his long-running authoritarian rule. China is Cambodia's most important political and economic ally, providing millions of dollars in aid and investment, writing off debts and granting the country tariff-free status for hundreds of items. Cambodia in turn has done Beijing's diplomatic bidding in the region, especially regarding China's claims to most of the South China Sea.
AP CM asks Bihar to send technical team to check fish quality
After Bihar banned sale of Andhra fish over quality concerns, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday requested his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar to send a technical team to look into the issue and restore the trade between the two states. The Bihar government has imposed a ban for 15 days in Patna after it found formalin, a known carcinogen, in some of the consignments brought from Andhra Pradesh. Formalin is used to preserve fish. In a letter written to the Bihar Chief Minister, Naidu informed that the state government has conducted surprise raids and tested samples but could not find formalin in any fish products. The AP State Fish Farmers Association has denied alleged use of formalin to preserve the fish. Acquaculture farmers and traders have said this could be an attempt to disturb trade between the two states, he added. In this backdrop, Naidu requested the Bihar CM to "depute a technical team from Bihar state for quality check" and take initiative against the persons ...
Modi opened doors of development for northeast: Tripura CM
Tripura attained statehood in 1972, but development projects took off in the state only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Biplab Deb said Monday. In his address on the occasion of 47th Statehood Day here, Deb said Tripura was elevated to the status of a full- fledged state from Union Territory on January 21, 1972, but little was done to develop the place. "When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, he opened the doors of development for the entire northeast, including Tripura. The state entered the broad gauge railway map of the country in 2016 after Modi assumed power," he said. Five superfast trains - Rajdhani Express, Tripura Sundari Express, Kanchanjunga Express, Deoghar Express and Humsafar Express -have been launched from Tripura since 2014. The CM also said the state would soon get a new waterway - joining Gomati here with Meghna in Bangladesh. "A new river port would be built at Sonamura subdivision of Sipahijala so that ships can carry ...
'Mahagatbandhan' exposes opposition's fear of BJP: Rajnath
Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to retain power in 2019, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the opposition's attempt to forge a 'mahagatbandhan' (grand alliance) shows how other parties fear the BJP.
Modi's words, body language show fear for grand alliance: Patel
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said Monday Narendra Modi's recent remarks about the Opposition's grand alliance and his body language proved that the prime minister was "afraid" of its unity. "As you have noticed, the PM has now started talking about the 'maha gathbandhan' in his speeches. It shows that the alliance has injected some kind of fear in his mind. Even his body language proves he is now scared of Opposition unity," Patel told reporters here Monday. Modi had on Sunday dismissed the grand alliance as an alliance of "corruption, negativity and instability", saying while those parties have "money power", the Bharatiya Janata Party has "people's power". On Saturday, leaders of 22 parties had come together for a mega rally in Kolkata and declared to fight unitedly in the upcoming general election to oust the Modi government, which had "passed its expiry date". Addressing Congress workers here Monday, Patel said the BJP's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls was imminent, as all ...
SC refuses to hear PIL seeking to restrain parties from fielding candidates with criminal record
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking a direction to the Election Commission to restrain political parties from fielding candidates with criminal antecedents in polls. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, however, allowed BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who is the petitioner, to give a representation to the poll panel in this regard. "We are not inclined to entertain this petition. However, it will be open to the petitioner to approach the Election Commission by giving a representation," the bench, which also comprised Justice Sanjiv Khanna, said. Upadhyay, in his plea, had sought a direction to the poll panel "to restrict political parties to setup candidates with criminal antecedents in serious offences". The plea said the cause of action had arisen on October 10, 2018 when the EC, while issuing notification for assembly elections in five states, did not amend the Election Symbol Order 1968 and the Model Code of Conduct to restrict ...