Page 1919 - Politics
Meghalaya CM-led delegation to meet PM to express 'unhappiness' over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will lead a delegation, including members from the BJP, to New Delhi on Thursday to air its opposition against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, a senior state minister said Wednesday. The delegation will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to express their "unhappiness" over the Bill, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters here after a cabinet meeting. He said the team will comprise all the members of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), which include the BJP, NCP and some regional parties. "We are leaving tomorrow and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to lodge our unhappiness with the intention of the Central government for passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill," Tynsong said. The state cabinet had passed a resolution to oppose the Bill last year. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha
Kovind has discontinued inviting Delhi MLAs for Republic Day reception: AAP (Lead, with correction)
The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday complained that its MLAs have not been invited for the at-home hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind since he took over in 2017.
Pelosi writes to Trump, urges him to reschedule his State of the Union address
In an unprecedented move, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday urged President Donald Trump to reschedule his annual State of the Union address slated for January 29, citing security concerns triggered by the ongoing government shutdown which has "hamstrung" the critical departments. Pelosi in a letter to Trump suggested that the State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress be delayed until government re-opens. The current partial government shutdown, now into its 25th day, has rendered more than 800,000 federal employees without work, crippling the functioning of several key wings of the government including Security and State department. The longest-ever government shutdown is a result of the bitter political divided over birder security issue as the Democrats who now enjoy majority in the House have refused to approve a legislation approving USD 5.7 billion in federal funding to construct a wall across the US-Mexico border. Trump insists that ...
PM-headed panel likely to meet on Jan 24 to appoint new CBI Director: Sources
The high-powered Selection Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet on January 24 to appoint the new CBI director succeeding Alok Verma whose ouster has triggered a major political row. Besides Modi, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and the Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge are other members of the panel. Kharge had demanded that the panel meeting be convened at the earliest to appoint a new director of CBI as the agency cannot be run by an interim director, whose appointment he termed as illegal. IPS officer M Nageswara Rao was named as the interim director of the CBI following Verma's removal. The sources said the government had proposed the meeting on January 21 earlier while Kharge wanted the meeting on January 24 or 25. After mutual consultations, the sources said, the government has finalised January 24 as the date for the meeting to select the new CBI Director, after Kharge is reported to have given his go-ahead for the date. The ...
India lodges protest with Pak over ceasefire violations in Sunderbani
India on Wednesday lodged strong protests with Pakistan for violating ceasefire in Naushera and Sunderbani sectors in Jammu and Kashmir by summoning an official from the Pakistan High Commission here.Two Army personnel were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion that took place near the LoC in Naushera and Sunderbani sectors of Jammu and Kashmir on January 11. An Army officer and a soldier, who got grievously injured, succumbed to their injuries in a hospital while undergoing treatment.A press statement released by India's Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said: "Pakistan High Commission official was summoned today and a strong protest was lodged at the death of an innocent civilian in unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan forces on January 11, 2019, in Sunderbani sector.""Our strong concerns were also shared at continued unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and the International Boundary. We also protested Pakistan's ...
'Democrats are a Party of open borders and crime': Trump
President Donald Trump on Wednesday termed the Democrats in the House as "a Party of open borders and crime" while reiterating his demand over funding a wall at the southern US-Mexico border.The US President took to Twitter saying, "There are now 77 major or significant Walls built around the world, with 45 countries planning or building Walls. Over 800 miles of Walls have been built in Europe since only 2015. They have all been recognized as close to 100 per cent successful. Stop the crime at our Southern Border!""It is becoming more and more obvious that the Radical Democrats are a Party of open borders and crime. They want nothing to do with the major Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border. #2020!"The comments from the US President came when the partial shutdown in the US government, triggered by a lack of consensus between the lawmakers and the US President on the border wall funding which was one of Trump's electoral promises, reached its 26th day, without any clear signs of .
BJP will win 74 seats in Uttar Pradesh, says Union Minister JP Nadda
The BJP will win 74 out of a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in the coming General Elections, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda said here on Wednesday."BJP is all poised to win 74 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh," said Nadda while talking to media persons here. "SP and BSP have joined hands as they are scared of the strength of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The alliance will have no impact on the BJP's performance in the Lok Sabha elections," said Nadda, also in-charge of the party's UP affairs."SB and BSP have recognised Prime Minister Modi's strength. They don't have any agenda. Their agenda is to remove PM Modi," he said, adding the people of Uttar Pradesh and the country as a whole will shower their blessings on the BJP again.Talking about allegations of false promise against Prime Minister Modi, Nadda said: "Our numbers are clear. We are ready to back our performance in any debate with the statistics. The life and political ideology of SP and BSP ...
India lodges strong protest with Pak over death of civilian in unprovoked firing in Kashmir
India on Wednesday summoned an official of the Pakistan High Commission and lodged a strong protest over the death of an "innocent civilian in unprovoked ceasefire violation" by Pakistani forces on January 11 in Sunderbani area of Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of External Affairs said India also protested Pakistan's continued support to infiltration of terrorists into India, including supporting cover fire provided by Pakistan forces. "Pakistan High Commission official was summoned today and a strong protest was lodged at the death of an innocent civilian in unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan forces on 11 January 2019 in Sunderbani Sector," the MEA said. It further said, "Our strong concerns were also shared at continued unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and the International Boundary." A civilian was killed in unprovoked firing by Pakistani forces on January 11. The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of 2,936 ceasefire violations .
karnataka political drama continues (Roundup)
The political drama over alleged "Operation Lotus" to destabilise the Karnataka government continued on Wednesday with the Congress preparing for an apparent show of strength by calling a meeting of its legislators on January 18 while the BJP kept up suspense with its shepherded MLAs remaining locked up in a luxury resort in Gurugram near the national capital.
BJP accuses Mehbooba Mufti of pursuing 'soft-separatism' to win polls
A day after former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti dubbed local militants as "sons of the soil", senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta accused her of pursuing "soft-separatism" to win "communal sympathy" ahead of the upcoming state assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Gupta, the deputy chief minister in Mufti's Cabinet, also blamed the National Conference and Congress for the turmoil in the valley, alleging that the three parties are supporting anti-national elements to polarise voters. It is the former chief minister's frustration that she has started speaking the language of separatists, the BJP leader said, adding the BJP government at the Centre is ready for dialogue with anyone who is ready to hold talks as per the Constitution of India. Mufti described Tuesday the local militants as "sons of the soil", saying that the Centre should initiate dialogue with the militant leadership to end the "gun culture". Gupta also lashed out at his former Cabinet boss, saying Mufti has "humiliated the
Over 9-lakh bogus voters registered in Mumbai, claims Congress
The Mumbai Congress on Wednesday made a sensational claim that around 9 lakh bogus voters may have sneaked into the city's electoral rolls as preparations peak for the 2019 general elections.
TRS working prez bowled over by snow-capped Omar's residence
A picture of snow-capped house of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar has bowled over ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K T Rama Rao, who Wednesday expressed his wish to have a residence there. Abdullah responded by inviting Rao, son of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, to stay in his house any time he wanted. "If only there was a wish-granting factory, Id have one right there; somewhere closer," Rama Rao replied, responding to a picture of Abdullah's house and its surroundings covered in snow in the twitter. Abdullah tweeted back: "Treat mine as yours and stay any time you like." In response, the former Telangana Minister said:"Hey, I am gonna take that offer rather seriously Omar Saab." The bonhomie between the two leaders of regional parties incidentally comes at a time when Chandrasekhar Rao is involved in efforts to launch a federal front of non-Congress non-BJP parties. Kashmir valley, including ...
Concerned BJP top brass counsels Gadkari to be restrained
Concerned by the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's recent tongue-in-cheek comments, which were seen as criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP President Amit Shah, the top brass of the saffron party is understood to have counselled him to observe restraint in making public comments.
Kovind has discontinued inviting Delhi MLAs for Republic Day reception: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday complained that its MLAs have not been invited for the at-home hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind since he took over in 2017.
Karnataka poll: BJP spent over Rs 122 cr for campaign, Rs 84 cr for media and publicity
The BJP has spent over Rs 122 crore to contest assembly elections in Karnataka, with more than Rs 84 crore used for media and publicity, according to the expenditure details submitted by the party to the Election Commission. The party incurred an expenditure of another Rs 14 crore for contesting similar polls in three northeast states. It recently submitted 'election expenditure statements' for polls in four states and said it has spent Rs 122.68 crore during the Karnataka polls that took place in May last year. The JDS-Congress coalition formed government in the state after the polls. Out of the total funds, more than Rs 84 crore was spent on advertisements in print and electronic media, bulk SMSes, cable, websites and general party propaganda, the BJP said in its report to the EC. This was followed by expenditure of over RS 16 crore for travel of its star campaigners in the state, the report said. The party also sent to the commission a similar report of expenses, made by its ...
Parliament to meet from January 31, interim budget on Feb 1
Parliament will meet from January 31 to February 13 for the Budget session with interim budget to be presented on February 1, it was officially announced on Wednesday.
Malaysia says won't host any more events with Israel
Malaysia's foreign minister said Wednesday the Muslim-majority country will not host any more events involving Israel, as he reiterated that swimmers from the Jewish state were barred from a forthcoming competition. Malaysia is one of several predominantly Muslim states that have no formal diplomatic ties with Israel, with entry to the country on an Israeli passport forbidden. Last week Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Israeli swimmers would not be allowed in for a tournament later this year in eastern Sarawak state, which will serve as a qualifying event for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Despite a plea from the International Paralympic Committee to find a solution to the row, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah doubled down on Malaysia's opposition to the Jewish state. The cabinet has decided that "Malaysia will not host any event which has Israel participation or representation," he said. "This is a decision by the government to demonstrate our tough stance over the issue of ...
No talks with Pakistan for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Sushma Swaraj
Citing terror and border firing, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday ruled out possibility of inviting people from Pakistan for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2019 due in Varanasi between January 21 and 23.
'Hidden political agenda behind raising Kodanad issue now'
: Union Minister for State and BJP leader Pon. Radhakrishnan Wednesday alleged that there is a hidden political agenda behind raising the Kodanad estate issue now, months before the Lok Sabha elections. "I think there is mystery regarding the Kodanadu issue. But it was not talked about all these days. What is the necessity to talk about it now? Who is behind raising the Kodanadumystery issue now?. A big plot is being woven behind the kodanadu mystery. There is a hidden political agendaand ulterior motive behind it," he alleged. The issue pertains to a former magazine editor Samuel Mathew releasing a 16-minute video clip in Delhi on January 11, alleging that Chief Minister K Palaniswami had links to a break-in at Kodanad estate in 2017. Palaniswami had refuted the allegations and said that those who were unable to take on AIADMK politically were resorting to such cheap acts He had also asserted that a probe would expose their identity. DMK had urged Governor Banwarilal ...
In battleground Bengal, Modi & Shah's rallies to counter Mamata's mega Opposition show
The BJP will kick-start its election campaign in West Bengal with a series of rallies beginning with a public meeting by party chief Amit Shah on January 20, a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's mega show featuring prominent Opposition leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend a rally at the Brigade Parade Ground here on February 8, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Ghosh said. The announcement comes a day after the Supreme Court had put the BJP's proposed "rath yatras" on hold, but allowed the saffron party to hold public meetings. "We will start organising our month-long public rallies from January 20. Amit Shah will address the first rally on January 20 in Malda," Ghosh said. On January 21, Shah will address two rallies in Suri in Birbhum district and Jhargram. The next day, he will address rallies at Krishnanagar in Nadia district and Jaynagar in South 24 Parganas district. The rallies in various parts of the state will continue till ..