Page 1899 - Politics
Democratic outcry over Trump's obstruction allegation
US Democratic leaders have reacted with fury and demanded an investigation following a news report that claimed President Donald Trump directed his former attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about a potential real-estate development in Moscow in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
BJP's Rajesh Kalia elected Chandigarh Mayor
BJP's Rajesh Kalia was Friday elected as the new mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. Kalia trounced rebel BJP candidate Satish Kainth, who contested as an Independent, by a margin of five votes, officials said. Of the total 27 votes, Kalia polled 16 while Kainth got 11, they added. Congress nominee Sheela Devi withdrew her nomination before the start of the election. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the majority in the House with 20 votes while Congress has four councillors. There is one vote each of a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate and an Independent, while Chandigarh BJP MP Kirron Kher has the voting right the as ex-officio member of the House. In order to be elected as Mayor, a nominee needs 14 votes of municipal corporation councilors. SAD candidate Hardip Singh was elected as the senior deputy Mayor of the Chandigarh MC defeating Congress' Gurbax Rawat. Singh polled 20 votes while Rawat got 7, official said. The post of deputy Mayor too was bagged by the BJP ..
Cong MLAs being "terrorised" as part of BJP's toppling bid,
Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to "take control" of his party MLAs in Karnataka by using CBI, ED and Income Tax to "terrorise" them in the BJP's alleged bid to topple the state government. "They are trying multiple things such as threatening our MLAs by carrying out CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax raids. Modi is attempting to take control over our MLAs," Kharge alleged while addressing Congress workers at a ceremony where H K Patil took over as KPCC campaign committee chief. Kharge, the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, reminded BJP leaders that Congress workers were "strong and stubborn" and they would not yield to any pressure. He spoke about an incident to underline 'Operation Lotus', an alleged BJP attempt to topple the coalition government, Kharge said he, Modi, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, and senior BJP leader L K Advani had assembled on
Cong running malicious campaign on Rafale deal, has abandoned national interest: BJP
The BJP on Friday alleged that the Congress was running a "malicious campaign" against the government on the Rafale deal and has "abandoned" nation interest for its false propaganda. Rejecting the Congress' charges against the government, BJP leader and Union minister Smriti Irani told reporters that the opposition party's "malicious campaign has been exposed" as she noted the Supreme Court verdict on the matter and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's over 90-minute reply in Parliament. She was responding to a question about the allegations of corruption levelled by the Congress against the Modi government. In an apparent dig at Congress leaders, including its president Rahul Gandhi and senior leader P Chidambaram- who targeted the government Friday, Irani said those who are on bail are running a false propaganda. "The Congress game of running a malicious campaign on this issue and abandoning national interest for their own politics has been exposed," she said. The Congress has been
RJD MPs used indecent, unparliamentary language against me: Ram Vilas Paswan
Lok Janshakti Party president and BJP ally Ram Vilas Paswan Friday accused RJD MPs Misa Bharti and Manoj Jha of using "indecent and unparliamentary" language against him during a debate in Parliament on the bill for reservation for the general category poor. "After I supported the bill, RJD MPs Misha Bharti and Manoj Jha used indecent and unparliamentary language against me during the debate in Rajya Sabha on January 9," Paswan said in a tweet. There was no immediate response from either of the two MPs of the Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal. Misa Bharti is the daughter of Lalu Prasad. Paswan also sought to corner the Congress, saying it on one hand supports the 10 per cent quota for the general category poor while on the other it has joined hands with RJD, which has vehemently opposed it. He also took a dig at the RJD, saying it is riding two horses at once by joining hands with the Congress in Bihar and with the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh. "People have to decide in the ...
Haryana: Independent MLA Jai Parkash extends support to Surjewala in Jind bypoll
Independent legislator Jai Parkash Friday extended his support to Congress nominee Randeep Surjewala for the January 28 Jind assembly by-election in Haryana. Jai Parkash, a former Congress parliamentarian from Hisar and former union minister, made the announcement after meeting senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel at his residence here. Sources said Jai Parkash is likely to return to the Congress fold before the assembly election in Haryana, due in October this year. They said he is likely to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi on January 22 or 23. "I have decided to campaign for Congress nominee Surjewala for the Jind bypoll. I will be campaigning from tomorrow for him in Jind," Jai Parkash, who has a sizeable following in his native place Jind, told PTI. He had quit the Congress before the 2014 assembly elections and contested as an Independent from Kalayat constituency. Surjewala, a sitting legislator from Kaithal, was made the Congress nominee for the January 28 Jind by-election, ..
Qureshi raises Kashmir issue during talks with UNGA president
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Friday raised the Kashmir issue during his meeting with the visiting UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espionosa. Espionosa arrived in Islamabad on her first official trip to the Asia-Pacific region since assuming office in September last year. She met Qureshi in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the two sides also held talks on different issues. Qureshi said that he discussed the regional and international issues. including Kashmir with the UNGA chief and "apprised her of Pakistan's grave concern over the gross human rights violations" in Kashmir. He called for implementing the UN Security Council's resolutions on Kashmir in letter and spirit to resolve this longstanding issue. Qureshi alleged that India was continuously violating the ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) and urged the international community to help resolve the issue. He said Pakistan agreed with the UNGA president that a strong and vibrant UN .
3 new airbases to be equipped with HAL-manufactured aircraft
The Government has sanctioned setting up of three new air bases for the Navy in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities, which will be equipped with HAL-manufactured Dornier aircraft.Two air bases will be in Gujarat while one will be in Tamil Nadu."Government of India has sanctioned this week, three new Naval Air Squadrons to be setup in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu," Navy spokesperson Captain DK Sharma said.The officer said the Centre has also sanctioned manpower towards manning additional aircraft in existing Dornier Surveillance Squadrons in Kerala and Andaman Islands.The contract for procurement of 12 Dornier aircraft was signed with HAL (Kanpur) on December 29, 2016 with delivery commencing in January 2019.This is a substantial contract for the indigenous HAL-built Maritime Surveillance version of the Dornier 228 aircraft.The new Dornier 228 aircraft being delivered under this contract are fitted with improved 'state of the art' sensors and equipment ..
People will answer, remove PM Modi's govt: Deve Gowda
Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Friday said that "people of the country will answer to remove Modi government" in the coming Lok Sabha elections.He said that all regional parties are banding together to overthrow the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and lauded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for taking the initiative in that direction."Mamata Banerjee has taken the lead to bring all the parties together and also she is working very hard to throw this government at the national level and bring a secular government. I have watched the struggle Mamata has gone through for this historic decision, the people of this country will respond," Deve Gowda told the media after arriving at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.The former Prime Minister further said that the BJP are making "reckless allegations" against Mamata Banerjee to discredit her, adding that those efforts will not help them stop the opposition
Federal parties capable of forming stable government in consultation with Congress: Deve Gowda
Former Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Friday claimed that the federal parties, coming together to form an anti-BJP alliance, will be able to form a stable government at the Centre and said the new government has to be formed in consultation with Congress.
Entire nation united to defeat BJP: Deve Gowda
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda Friday said the entire nation was united to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre. He praised West Bengal chief minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee and termed her efforts to make way for a secular government in the country as "historic". "Mamata is a great leader. She is hard working and such people are required in politics," Gowda said on his arrival here ahead of Saturday's mega opposition rally. "Her decision to make way for formation of a secular government is historic", he added. The president of the Janata Dal (Secular) later met Banerjee. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar too lauded Banerjee's efforts to bring all opposition parties on one platform. "Mamata has taken the initiative to bring all political parties together," Pawar said. "BJP is spreading canards across the country. There should be an end to it," he added. The TMC chief also called on Pawar at a city hotel where he was ...
RRTS project can't be at Delhi government's mercy: SC
The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)-- a corridor between Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut-- is "absolutely necessary" and cannot be at the "mercy" of the Delhi government, the Supreme Court said Friday. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta said the project was "essential" for people of Delhi as it would help in de-congesting the roads of the national capital and curbing pollution. The top court was told that the estimated cost of the project was Rs 31,902 crore and the Delhi government's share was Rs 1,138 crore, which it wants the Centre to pay as it has no funds. Of the 82.15 kilometre long corridor, Delhi will have a 13 kilometre section with stations at Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar. Advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the apex court as an amicus curiae in the air pollution matter, told the bench that the "stalemate" continues as the Delhi government wants the Centre to pay their share. "RRTS is one of the most important projects. This project will ..
EC may announce Lok Sabha polls schedule in March first week: Sources
The schedule for Lok Sabha elections is likely to be announced in the first week of March, sources indicated on Friday. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3. The Election Commission is in the process of deciding the number of phases and the months in which polling would be held, they said. An EC spokesperson, however, said, "No decision has been taken as yet on the date when the elections would be announced." The charting of the phases would depend on the availability of security forces and other requirements, the sources said, adding the announcement of the mega exercise is likely to be made in first week of March. There is a possibility that the EC may go by precedent and hold assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh along with the Lok Sabha polls. Since the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has been dissolved, the EC is bound to hold fresh polls there within six months. It was dissolved in November 2018 and the upper limit ends in May. The ...
Cong to seek explanation from 4 absentee MLAs
Congress will issue notices to four MLAs seeking explanation from them for their absence at the Congress Legislature Party meeting here Friday, CLP leader Siddaramaiah said. Briefing reporters after the CLP meet, Siddaramaiah said after receiving the replies from the absentee lawmakers, the issue would be discussed with the party high command and state leaders before deciding on the next step. Four dissidents skipped the CLP meet that was called as a show of strength in a counter to an alleged bid by the BJP to topple the coalition government in Karnataka. The absentee MLAs were: Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped as minister in the recent cabinet rejig and is said to be extremely unhappy over it, B Nagendra, Umesh Jadhav and Mahesh Kumatahalli. Siddaramaiah said Jadhav had written saying he would not be able to attend the meet as he was unwell, while Nagendra had spoken to AICC general secretary K C Venugopal conveying his inability to attend because of a court case. The
10 pc EWS quota decision not linked to elections: Goyal
Senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal Friday said the decision to grant 10 per cent reservation to the economically poor in general category was not taken keeping in mind elections as it was under consideration for long a time. He also expressed confidence that the BJP would once again form the government at the Centre and the country will witness "more achhe din" after that. "Our government does not work keeping elections in mind. We take decisions that are beneficial for the country at large...This (10 per cent EWS quota) has been under discussion since a long time," the railway minister said. He said that they realised that while the issues of social backwardness and educational backwardness were addressed, there was a large section evidently left out. "Sections from different religions and communities were not able to get a better deal for education and job opportunities. Therefore, we thought of making some constitutional amendments," the BJP leader told reporters. In a major move ahead
Former Arunachal CM Apang to float new party
Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, who quit the BJP after a four-year association earlier this week, Friday said he will form a new political party. Asserting that he will not join any other party, Apang said, "I will float a new party." The 69-year-old leader arrived here to attend Saturday's mega opposition rally at the invitation of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. He praised Banerjee as a 'great leader' and expressed support for her initiative to defeat the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Apang has been the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for 22 years in two stints - from January 1980 to January 1999 and again from August 2003 to April 2007. Apang resigned from the saffron party in a letter sent to party president Amit Shah on Tuesday. He had left the Congress and joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 general election.
Smriti Irani dares Rahul to repeat 'anti-India' slogan
Days after Congress leader Kapil Sibal questioned the need for a sedition law, Union Minister Smriti Irani dared his party President Rahul Gandhi to repeat the slogan 'Bharat tere tukde honge" in public.
'Fake voters': Mumbai Congress seeks probe into electoral rolls
The Mumbai Congress on Friday demanded a probe into an alleged 'fake voters' scam, urging the election authorities to investigate it to weed out bogus names from electoral rolls.
Key accused in YSR Cong chief attack case produced in NIA court.
J Srinivas Rao, the key accused in the attack on YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy was produced Friday in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Vijayawada.Last week, the court had handed over the custody of Rao to the NIA for seven days.During interrogations, the NIA had taken him to the Vishakapatanam national airport where the attack took place before escorting him to Hyderabad for further questioning.The attack on Reddy, the leader of the opposition party in Andhra Pradesh was attacked at the airport on October 25 last year and caused a political stir in the state.YSRCP had moved the Hyderabad High Court, accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of orchestrating the attack on the YSRCP's chief.Making the matter worse, the police also alleged that Reddy refused to corporate in the police investigation.Following political allegations, the Andhra Pradesh High Court asked the NIA to take over the investigation of the case from the state ...
Pocharam Srinivas Reddy unanimously elected as Telangana Assembly Speaker
Six-time Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy has been Friday unanimously elected Speaker of the newly constituted state assembly in Telangana.Reddy was formally declared elected as the Speaker by pro-tem speaker Mumtaz Ahmed. Reddy's name was proposed by TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and was supported by all the opposition parties in the House.Referred fondly by the Chief Minister as 'Laxmi Putrudu' or the son of goddess, Reddy won as MLA from the Banswada assembly constituency for six times.Pocharam has served as the first minister for agricultural in Telangana. He also served a minister in the cabinet of N Chandrababu Naidu in undivided Andhra Pradesh. After quitting the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2011, he joined the TRS, which was then fighting for separate statehood for Telangana.Reddy also played a key role in the implementation of several farmer-welfare schemes under KCR's last government.