Page 1903 - Politics
Govt 'wronged' country on Rafale, Cong reiterates demand for JPC probe: Chidambaram
The Congress Friday raked up the issue of Rafale jet deal, accusing the government of compromising national security and paying more for the combat aircraft. Addressing a press conference here, senior party leader P Chidambaram alleged that the government has "wronged" the country in two ways -- it compromised national security and paid Rs 186 crore more per plane. "There is no doubt any longer that Rafale aircraft deal deserves to be examined thoroughly by a joint parliamentary committee. Congress reiterates its demand for constitution of a JPC," he said, citing a newspaper report that claimed the Modi government's decision to buy 36 jets, instead of 126 planned earlier, jack up the price of each aircraft. He alleged that the "windfall" to French firm Dassault Aviation was a "deliberate decision" and is highly questionable.
UP govt nod to quota for poor among upper castes
The Uttar Pradesh government Friday approved 10 per cent reservation for economically backward among upper castes in jobs and educational institutions. The nod was given at a meeting here of the state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, senior cabinet minister and UP government spokesperson Shrikant Sharma told mediapersons. The Constitution (124 Amendment) Bill, 2019, providing for 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to the economically weaker sections in the general category was passed by Parliament in its recently concluded winter session. President Ram Nath Kovind has since given his assent to the bill.
US discusses potential missile defence cooperation with India :Pentagon
The Trump administration has discussed a potential missile defence cooperation with India as part of its effort to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership, the Pentagon has said, asserting that New Delhi is a "key element" in America's Indo-Pacific strategy. The Pentagon's announcement in the 81-page 'Missile Defense Review' report released by President Donald Trump gains significance in view of India placing a USD 5 billion order to purchase S-400 air defense system from Russia, for which the US has publicly expressed its displeasure. Noting that the threats posed by offensive missile capabilities are no longer limited to a few regions around the world, the Pentagon in its report said there were now a number of States in South Asia that are developing an advanced and diverse range of ballistic and cruise missile capabilities. "Within this context, the United States has discussed potential missile defense cooperation with India. This is a natural outgrowth of India's status as a ...
Ram temple will only be built under Congress regime: Harish Rawat
Former Uttrakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat on Thursday claimed that the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be built only under the Rahul Gandhi led party's regime."The people in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) always disrespect dignity; those who destroy dignity cannot be devotees of Lord Ram. We are the ones who establish dignity, respect the constitution. When Congress comes into power only then will the Ram temple be built," Rawat told reporters here.Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) mocked the BJP-led government at the Centre for the delay in the construction of the temple in Ayodhya and said the temple will now be built in 2025.RSS General Secretary Bhaiyaji Joshi had on Thursday said that after the construction of the Ram temple in 2025, the country would start developing rapidly .The RSS believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government at the Centre would not take needed steps towards the construction of the temple even if they win the
Rahul extends support to TMC-led rally, hopes to send 'powerful message' of unity
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who will be skipping the anti-BJP rally in Kolkata on Saturday, wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee extending support to the TMC-led event.In a letter to the TMC Chief, Rahul said: "We commend the great people of Bengal who have historically been at the forefront of defending our ideals. I extend my support to Mamata Di on this show of unity and hope that we send a powerful message of a united India together.""Across India, there are powerful forces afoot. Forces that are fanned by the anger and disappointment of hundreds of millions of Indians who have seen through the false promises and lies peddled by the Modi Government. These forces are moved by the hope of a new tomorrow; a tomorrow filled with the idea of an India in which the voice of every man, woman and child will be heard and respected no matter what their religion, economic status or region," he noted.Rahul went on to write: "The .
RLD chief Ajit Singh, Jayant Chaudhary to participate in Mamata's mega opposition rally
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh and vice president Jayant Chaudhary will participate in West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's mega opposition rally in Kolkata on January 19.Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy will be leaving for the rally today.The rally is seen as a show of strength by opposition parties before the Lok Sabha elections as politicos from non-BJP parties are all set to attend it.It is also seen as an attempt to channelise efforts towards dethroning the current BJP-ruled Centre in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.A senior TMC leader told ANI that former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav would address the gathering, expected to be attended by lakhs of people.The top TMC leader also confirmed that Congress will be represented by its senior party leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi as party president Rahul Gandhi ..
DMK leader files PIL against reservation on economic criteria
DMK leader and Member of Parliament R.S. Bharathi on Friday filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Madras High Court challenging reservation on the basis of economic criteria.
Ram Temple in Ayodhya should be constructed by 2025: RSS leader
Mounting pressure on the Modi government, the RSS on Friday pitched for the immediate construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying it should be built by 2025.
Rahul writes to Mamata, hopes show of opposition unity will send strong message
After deciding to skip the mega rally of the TMC in Kolkata on Saturday, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday sent a message to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extending his support to the event hoping that the "show of unity" will send a powerful message of "a united India together" for ideas that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were intent on destroying.
Goa Governor's veiled attack on Manmohan
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Friday launched a veiled attack on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying some leaders are "foisted into position by others" and that "there are only certain compulsions" whether they deliver or not.
LS polls: No alliance with Cong, AAP to contest all seats in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana
The AAP on Friday said it will not go for an alliance with the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, accusing the Grand Old Party of being "arrogant", and added that it will field candidates on all the parliamentary constituencies of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. Senior AAP leader and the party's Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said the decision came in the wake of the recent statements of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit, opposing an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). "In the interest of the country, we were ready to drink the poison of the Congress, but the statements show that the Congress is still seeped in its arrogance. The AAP will contest all the Lok Sabha seats in the three states on its own," Rai said. He added that the names of the candidates for the Lok Sabha polls will soon be announced by the party.
Vietnam 'willing' to host Trump-Kim summit: report
Vietnam's premier has said his country is willing to host a much-anticipated second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. One of North Korea's top generals Kim Yong Chol is expected to meet with Trump at the White House on Friday to hash out details of a second meeting with Kim, including a potential venue. The second round of talks follow a historic summit in Singapore last year and are aimed at denuclearisation and ending decades of enmity between the two nations. Vietnam has cropped up in the swirl of rumours and conjecture over a possible site for the meeting, with the capital Hanoi or the coastal city of Danang seemingly the most likely bases for the summit. On Thursday Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he would be open to hosting it. "We don't know the final decision. However, if it happens here we will do our best to facilitate the meeting," he said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. "Vietnam has cooperated well with the US in ...
Rajasthan Assembly adjourned briefly over farm loan waiver issue
The Rajasthan Assembly was adjourned for half an hour on Friday following an uproar in the House as the opposition BJP sought clarity from the ruling Congress over the farm loan waiver order. On December 19 last year, two days after being sworn in, the Congress government in Rajasthan waived short-term crop loans from cooperative banks and loans of up to Rs 2 lakh taken by farmers from other banks. In the run up to the assembly elections, the Congress had promised to waive the farm loans in Rajasthan within 10 days of coming to power. Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria dubbed the state government's loan waiver order as "handicapped" and claimed it was creating confusion among the farmers. Kataria asked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to specify how many farmers had benefitted from the loan waiver and how much money had been deposited in their bank accounts so far. "What was the purpose of bringing out a 'handicapped' order? It should be clarified how much money was deposited in the .
UK PM to skip Davos over Brexit uncertainty
British Prime Minister Theresa May will not attend this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to focus on resolving the Brexit crisis following the House of Commons' overwhelming rejection of her plan earlier this week.
Sonia, Rahul to visit their Lok Sabha constituencies on January 23-24: Cong leader
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 January 23-24, a party leader said Friday. During his two-day visit, the Congress president is expected to take part in several party programmes and a meeting of the district vigilance and monitoring committee, Amethi district Congress spokesman Anil Singh 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, Singh said. 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, Singh added.
Srinivasa Reddy elected Telangana Assembly Speaker
Senior TRS MLA Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy was Friday unanimously elected Speaker of the Telangana Assembly. Reddy's unanimous election was announced by Pro Tem Speaker Mumtaz Ahmad Khan in the House. Reddy's nomination was the only one to be filed Thursday. His candidature was proposed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, main opposition Congress MLA Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and others. After Reddy's election was announced, he was conducted to the chair by Rao, state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy and others. Reddy, born in 1949, was elected to the assembly six times. He served as Agriculture minister in the previous TRS government. The first session of the assembly after the December 7 polls began Thursday. The Governor would address the joint session of the assembly and the legislative council tomorrow.
Congress asks its 'disgruntled' MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi to attend crucial CLP meeting
Congress CLP leader Siddaramaiah has asked Karnataka Forest and Environment Minister Satish Jarkiholi to call up his brother and disgruntled MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi and tell him to attend the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting to be held later on Friday.Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi is believed to be upset with his party after he was dropped from the Karnataka cabinet on December 22. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly trying to woo him in order to topple the Karnataka government. The BJP is reportedly working on him to mobilise other disgruntled MLAs from the Congress who lost the Cabinet berth like him to bring down the incumbent Congress-JD(S) coalition government and form its own government.Speaking to media, Siddaramaiah said: "I spoke to Satish Jarkiholi to call up Ramesh Jarkiholi and ask him to attend the CLP meet. I am not ordering them. It is a BJP's allegation. (B.S.) Yeddyurappa was Chief Minister and has been alleging against me of poaching. Does he have any
DMK moves Madras HC challenging 10% reservation Bill
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) organising secretary RS Bharathi on Friday filed a writ petition in Madras High Court challenging recent constitutional amendment for granting 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections of society.DMK had voted against the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Parliament demanding that it should be sent to a select committee for further scrutiny.The Lok Sabha on January 8 passed the Bill to grant 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs to economically-weaker individuals belonging to the general category, across religions.The reservation is meant for economically-weaker individuals whose annual earning is below Rs. 8 lakh and who possess less than 5 acres of agriculture land.There were 323 votes in favour of the Bill and three against it.The Bill was introduced in the House by Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot.
Trump announces intent to appoint Indian-American to advisory committee
US President Donald Trump has announced his intent to appoint prominent Indian-American financial expert Prem Parameswaran to a key presidential advisory committee, the White House has said. Parameswaran, 50, is the only Indian-American among the 12 members the president intends to appoint to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Based in New York, Parameswaran is the Group Chief Financial Officer and president of Eros International's North America operations. Trump also announced his intent to designate Elaine L Chao to be Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the White House said in a statement on Thursday. Other members the president intends to appoint to the panel are Michelle Park as co-chair, Paul Hsu as co-chair; Jennifer Carnahan, David B Cohen, Grace Y Lee, George Leing, Jan-Ie Low, Herman Martir, Amata Coleman Radewagen, Sean D Reyes and Chiling Tong, it said. Former US President Barack Obama .
BJP not responsible for 'confusion' in Cong-JD(S) coalition, says Yeddyurappa
Ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting here, Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa on Friday said it was the Grand Old Party's responsibility to keep its flock together and his party had nothing to do with the "confusion" in the ruling coalition in the southern state. He also said the allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to poach Congress MLAs were "far from the truth". "It is far from the truth that we are causing confusion in the Congress-JD(S) coalition. We 104 people (BJP MLAs) are together and one. Our only intention is to win 20 Lok Sabha seats (in Karnataka) and we are making preparations for it," Yeddyurappa said. Speaking to reporters here, the former Karnataka chief minister said, "Unnecessarily...(allegations are being levelled against the BJP), what do we have to do with their CLP meeting? It is their responsibility to keep their flock together, if they (MLAs) have gone away. Our responsibility is to keep our 104 MLAs together." Asked ..