Page 1879 - Politics
Opposition leaders didn't question me on Rahul: Stalin
DMK President M.K. Stalin on Sunday said opposition leaders who participated in the anti-BJP meet in Kolkata on Saturday did not question him for announcing Congress President Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate.
Sonia, Rahul to visit their Lok Sabha constituencies on Jan 23-24
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are likely to visit their respective parliamentary constituencies Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh on 23-24 January, a party leader said Sunday. During his two-day visit, the Congress chief is expected to take part in several party programmes and a meeting of the district vigilance and monitoring committee, the leader said. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also expected to attend the district vigilance and monitoring committee meeting in her constituency Rae Bareli, the leader added. The Gandhis will arrive at the Fursatganj airport on January 23, from where they will leave for their respective constituencies. They will depart for Delhi on January 24.
Gujjars, Bakerwals being selectively targeted in Jammu: Mehbooba
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti alleged on Sunday that the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities were being "selectively targeted" in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and warned that if the issue was not addressed by the Governor S P Malik-led administration, the consequences would be "dangerous". "Unfortunately, under the governor's nose, there is selective targeting of Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and the governor's administration is not taking note of it," Mehbooba told a press conference here. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said she had raised the matter with the governor after some houses of Gujjars and Bakerwals were "selectively" served eviction notices in the name of encroachment, immediately after the PDP-BJP government in the state collapsed in June last year. "The governor gave me an assurance that those (houses) will not be touched, especially in the winter months. (But) they are being harassed in the name of encroachment and also in the name of bovine ...
Trump offers protection to 7 lakh undocumented immigrants in exchange of border wall funding, but Democrats reject it as "non-starter"
US President Donald Trump has launched a new "compromise" plan to end a prolonged and crippling government shutdown by offering protection from deportations for some 700,000 undocumented immigrants in exchange for a whopping USD 5.7 billion for constructing a controversial wall on the US-Mexico border. The Democrats, however, rejected the deal as a "non-starter" and called on Trump to open the federal government departments that have been shut for nearly a month before negotiations on immigration could start. Trump, who made his offer during a televised speech from the White House, offered that he would give protection for some 700,000 young people brought to the country illegally as children -- also known as 'Dreamers' -- and also extend it to some 300,000 with temporary protected status after fleeing countries affected by natural disasters or violence. The president also called for USD 800 million in "urgent humanitarian assistance" and USD 805 million for drug detection technology .
Turkish employee of US Consulate indicted for espionage
Turkish prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for a local employee of the United States consulate in Istanbul accused of attempting to overthrow the government and espionage. A 78-page indictment against Turkish national Metin Topuz, jailed since October 2017, said Topuz was in "very intense contact" with police officers who led a 2013 anti-corruption investigation that implicated top government officials. The Turkish government accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for attempting a coup with that investigation and labelled his network a terror group. Gulen is also blamed for the 2016 failed coup but he denies the accusations. A judge will decide whether the case will proceed to trial. Topuz's arrest led to the suspension of bilateral visa services for more than two months.
Russians protest Kuril islands handover to Japan
Hundreds of Russians protested against a feared giveaway of strategic islands to Japan on Sunday, two days before a key summit between the countries' leaders in Moscow. Between 300 and 500 people gathered on Suvorovskaya Square, just outside Moscow city centre, for an authorised rally called by several nationalist politicians, opposed to any move to cede any of the four islands claimed by Tokyo. The Soviet army claimed four islands, the so-called south Kurils, in the closing days of World War II. The dispute over their sovereignty prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty, a situation President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to rectify last year. Abe is set to hold talks on the issue with Putin on Tuesday, following a meeting last week between foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and Taro Kono. Moscow has said the islands' sovereignty is not a bargaining chip and the Kurils will remain Russian territory, but many people distrust official rhetoric and ...
Cries of help are of those wanting freedom from tyranny: Rahul on Modi's 'bachao' jibe
Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday over his "bachao, bachao" swipe at the Opposition, saying the cries of help were of people "begging" to be freed from "your tyranny and incompetence". Gandhi's attack came a day after Modi, taking a dig at the Opposition rally organised by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, said the BJP had only one MLA in West Bengal, "but still they are so afraid of us, because we follow the path of truth, that they have gathered parties from across the country and are crying 'bachao , bachao, bachao' (save us)". "Your Highness, The cries for help are the cries of millions of unemployed youth; of farmers in distress; of oppressed Dalits & Adivasis; of persecuted minorities; of small businessmen in ruin; begging to be freed from your tyranny & incompetence. In 100 days they will be free," Gandhi said in a tweet. On a day when several opposition parties came together on a common platform in ...
Nine TN fishing boats brought back from Sri Lanka
As many as nine out of 45 boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen that were under the custody of the Sri Lankan government for the past few years, were brought here Sunday. "... 9 boats released in the first batch have reached Rameswaram.. they were towed by 9 boats..," Benitto, one of the boat owners said. The nine boats were part of 45 vessels that were identified by a nine-member team comprising officials and fishermen from the state, which had gone to the island nation for repatriating the boats. The Sri Lankan government had ordered the release of the boats recently. The team led by Fisheries Additional Director, Varghese is camping in Jaffna. A local fishermen association leader Anandanbavu said, "several vital parts in the boats were removed.. it would cost Rs 5 to 6 lakh for restoration." He urged the central and the state governments to offer financial assistance to the fishermen.
BJP not against early Assembly elections in J&K: Ram Madhav
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday dismissed reports that his party was opposing early Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Study and expedite defence production proposals: Sitharaman to Tamil Nadu govt
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked the Tamil Nadu government Sunday to form a committee to review and clear various investment plans for production of defence equipments expeditiously. Addressing a meeting for the launch of various projects in Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor, which she inaugurated Sunday, Sitharaman said under offset policy the central government was willing to buy locally-produced defence equipments. Under India's offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities. She said "offset obligations" were being misunderstood and misinterpreted In Tamil Nadu and elsewhere. The objective of the policy was to open up defence sector for private participation, and make equipments in India and also export them. It is a strategic partnership with Indian companies and it is for leveraging the domestic market as ...
Oppn alliance leaders are 'dealers' facing graft cases: BJP
The BJP Sunday alleged the leaders who attended the mega opposition rally in Kolkata were "dealers" facing corruption cases and all of them aspired to become the prime minister. In a scathing attack on the proposed grand alliance, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described it as a brigade promoting corruption, dynasty, appeasement and casteism. It is not about 'Mahagatbandhan' (grand alliance) and they have made a mockery of the Prime Minister's chair as they all want to sit on it, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said. Referring to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's rally on Saturday, Patra said the battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections had begun. The irony is, the battle is between confusion and clarity. The BJP has both leadership as well as achievements to showcase while the so called opposition alliance has nothing but a dais of confusion from the rooftop of which they are shouting, he said. The opposition did not have any leader or .
Karna turmoil: Cong MLA injured in 'brawl', notices sent to 4
In an ugly turn in the ongoing power game in Karnataka, a Congress MLA was injured in an alleged brawl with a colleague lawmaker at a resort even as the party issued notices to its four legislators who skipped a crucial CLP meeting amid BJP's alleged poaching attempt. Anand Singh was hospitalised after he and J N Ganesh, both from Ballari district, had a heated argument and came to blows late last night at the resort where the party MLAs are herded together, Congress sources said Sunday. In its notices to four MLAs on Sunday, the party sought to know why action should not be taken against them under the anti-defection law for not attending the Friday's Congress Legislature Party Meeting that was a show of strength against BJP's alleged bid to dislodge the ruling coalition. Singh has "a black eye and suffered blunt injuries," according to sources at the private hospital where he is undergoing treatment. He had also complained of uneasiness in the chest but was now in the .
Opposition to participate in R-Day events can't be accepted, says BJP's Ram Madhav amid row over govt order
Amid row over an order making attendance mandatory at Republic Day events for state government employees, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav Sunday said any opposition to attend the functions cannot be accepted as it is a matter of pride for every citizen. The Jammu and Kashmir administration made it mandatory for government employees to attend Republic Day functions at Srinagar and Jammu and has warned that any failure will be "construed as dereliction of duty and disobedience of government instructions". "It is a matter of pride for every Indian. We all have to participate in the Republic day parade," the senior BJP leader said, while replying to a question on political parties reportedly criticising the order. Hitting out at political leaders from the Valley, he said, "When in power, they say something and when out of power, they pander to separatist sentiments. Such leaders exist in valley-based parties and this is an open secret and the whole country knows about it." He added, "If .
Cabinet Secretary-led search panel did not short-list 2 serving information commissioners for CIC post: Documents
The search committee for selection of Chief Information Commissioner did not short-list two senior Information Commissioners who had applied for the position and brought in four others who did not show interest in the post, documents made public by the government show. The search committee led by the Cabinet Secretary had finalised five names to be put before the selection panel, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. The six-member search committee was headed by the Cabinet Secretary and included the Secretaries of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Expenditure Department, Information and Broadcasting Department, and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister. The Director of the Institute of Economic Growth was the independent member. Interestingly, the Secretary of the Department of Expenditure declared that he had applied for the post of Information Commissioner but ...
BJP ticks off Stalin for not echoing "Rahul for PM" at TMC
The BJP Sunday said DMK president M K Stalin could not reiterate his 'Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for Prime Minister pitch' in the Opposition rally at Kolkata and it showed that he has diverged from his avowed stand. Stalin, however, said he continued to be firm in his stand of "Rahul for PM." "Stalin said Rahul Gandhi will be the PM candidate in Chennai. He could not say so at Kolkata," BJP Tamil Nadu unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan said here adding such contradictions outlined the contours of the Opposition front. Later, speaking to reporters in Madurai, the BJP leader said, "had Stalin been consistent in his stand why did not he say that he proposed Rahul Gandhi for the post Prime Minister at the mega Kolkatta rally attended by over 20 parties." Apparently blaming Stalin for diverging from his previous stand of supporting Rahul Gandhi for the post of Prime Minister she said, such deviation showed "his hesitancy and obstacles." Unlike the undercurrent of ...
Opposition mega show failed to represent Muslim interest: Azam Khan
The recent TMC-led mega opposition rally in Kolkata where Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav had participated did not adequately represent the interests of the Muslim minority, senior party leader Azam Khan has said."The representation of the second biggest population or the Muslim minority was merely namesake. Only one leader from Kashmir and another from Assam attended the rally. Muslims are worried about their representation," Khan said while addressing reporters here.The Samajawadi Party leader also slammed Opposition leaders for failing to talk about issues that could help the country progess and were merely resorting to political discourses."The rally failed to deliver the message that should have been delivered. Only political issues were taken up and there was no discussion on where to take the nation in future and in which direction," Khan said.
Upper caste quota has given sleepless nights to Opposition: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday rejected allegations that the government decision to provide 10 per cent reservation in education and jobs for the economically weaker sections in the general category was politically motivated with an eye on upper caste vote in the Lok Sabha polls.
Need to have decentralised system for implementing policies: Bimal Jalan
Amid controversies over the independence of various institutions in the country under the present Central government, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Bimal Jalan on Sunday said there should be a decentralised system in terms of implementing policies.
Cong must be large-hearted for allies, best equipped to lead alliance against BJP: Tejashwi
The Congress is "best equipped" to lead the opposition's charge against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said Sunday, asserting that the grand old party will have to handle its leadership role with "large-heartedness" and accommodate regional parties. Yadav also hailed the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in Uttar Pradesh and emphasised that his "courtesy call" meetings with Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati post the tie-up should not be construed as a "pressure tactic" aimed at the Congress. In an exclusive interview to PTI, the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader said since Congress is India's oldest and and currently the second-biggest political party having a pan-India presence, it is in a very strong position to win maximum number of seats among the opposition parties. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, among the prospective opposition grand alliance parties, the Congress had won 44 seats, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 34, the Samajwadi ...
Ahead of Republic Day, Section 144 imposed in UP's Kasganj town
In the backdrop of the violence that erupted last year during a 'Tiranga Yatra' on the Republic Day, the District Administration has invoked Section 144 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) across the town, which prohibits the assembly of five or more people, holding meetings or carrying weapons.The District Administration has also beefed up the security arrangements by deploying additional forces across the town. The administration and the police personnel also conducted a flag march on Sunday to instill the sense of confidence among the people."Last year on January 26, a procession was organised with the permission of the district administration during which the violence erupted and one person lost his life. This year also, the same organisation had asked for permission to take out the Tiranga Yatra, but the permission was not given," said RP Singh, District Magistrate, Kasganj.The officials said that Kasganj has been divided into two zones, eight sectors and 50 sensitive points, ...