Page 2 - Politics

Omar Abdullah calls for J-K statehood restoration to empower elected govt

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday hoped for an early restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, saying it would give more powers to the elected government and enable it to fulfil the promises made to the people during last year's assembly elections. Talking to reporters in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, Abdullah said he had expected the Centre to fulfil the promise of statehood restoration made to the people of the Union territory from the floor of Parliament and the Supreme Court, but since that has not happened, he would continue pressing for it. "We are hoping for more powers and that is why we are stressing on the (restoration of) statehood, because that is a promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and that promise should be fulfilled," Abdullah told reporters in Kulgam district in south Kashmir. "Only the Centre and the BJP can state the reasons for keeping Jammu and Kashmir without statehood. But, we will not stop trying (to make efforts)," he added. Asked

Major cabinet rejig in Gujarat today: 22 ministers expected to take oath

Gujarat Cabinet rejig: The Cabinet overhaul is likely to introduce additional ministerial positions, and balance caste and regional dynamics

Print, TV advertising volumes on PM Narendra Modi's 75th birthday

On television, government political and social ads conveying wishes accounted for nearly 28 hours of airtime across over 90 channels

Japan's ruling party faces crisis as far-right Sanseito gains influence

Sanseito warned of a "silent invasion" of foreigners, and leader Sohei Kamiya used a derogatory term for ethnic Koreans at a rally, later issuing an immediate apology

Japan sees rise in anti-foreigner sentiment amid population crisis

Outside a train station near Tokyo, hundreds of people cheer as Sohei Kamiya, head of the surging nationalist party Sanseito, criticises Japan's rapidly growing foreign population. As opponents, separated by uniformed police and bodyguards, accuse him of racism, Kamiya shouts back, saying he is only talking common sense. Sanseito, while still a minor party, made big gains in July's parliamentary election, and Kamiya's Japanese First platform of anti-globalism, anti-immigration and anti-liberalism is gaining broader traction ahead of a ruling party vote Saturday that will choose the likely next prime minister. Anti-immigrant policies, which allow populists to vent their dissatisfaction on easy targets, are appealing to more Japanese as they struggle with dwindling salaries, rising prices and bleak future outlooks. Many Japanese are frustrated by these problems, though we are too reserved to speak out. Mr. Kamiya is spelling them all out for us, said Kenzo Hagiya, a retiree in the ..

US government shuts down: Why did it happen and who gets hit the hardest? | Trump | US news

The US has officially entered a government shutdown, the first in over six years.

PM Modi condoles Vijay Kumar Malhotra's death, calls him party's pillar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his grief at the death of veteran BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who died at the age 93, and lauded his contribution to public life. Malhotra was one of the early stalwarts of the Delhi BJP, serving as the Leader of Opposition in the assembly and was also projected as the party's chief ministerial face in 2008 in an election in which the Congress under Sheila Dikshit maintained its winning streak. Modi said on X, "Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra Ji distinguished himself as an outstanding leader, who had a very good understanding of people's issues. He played a vital role in strengthening our Party in Delhi." He added, "He is also remembered for his Parliamentary interventions. Pained by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti." A five-time MP and two-time MLA from Delhi, Malhotra had defeated Congress candidate Manmohan Singh from South Delhi in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls. Singh went on to become prime ministe

India must put policy first, politics later to realise its AI Ambition

The country must institutionalise the technology with the sobriety that once anchored Aadhaar and implementation of GST

Not loyalty to party, but love for country must guide choice: Oppn VP pick

In a fervent appeal to MPs ahead of the vice presidential polls, Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy on Sunday exhorted them to not let party loyalty guide their choice and asserted that by entrusting him with this office, they would be ensuring that the Rajya Sabha stands as a true temple of democracy. In a video message, Reddy told the MPs that he seeks their support not for himself but for the "values that define us as a sovereign democratic republic". In this election, there is no party whip, and the ballot is secret. It is not loyalty to any political party, but love for the country that must guide your choice. Each one of you carry the moral responsibility to preserve the conscience, the soul of our beloved nation, Reddy said in his over 12-minute-long video message for members of Parliament. By entrusting me with this office, you will be choosing to defend parliamentary traditions, to restore dignity to debate, and to ensure that the Rajya Sabha stands as a true temple of

If PM Narendra Modi can plan Bihar tour, why not visit flood-hit Punjab?

Punjab reels from floods as political fault lines deepen - Sikh leadership rifts, BJP's Punjab strategy, and separatist propaganda fuel alienation

'One who fools people well can be the best leader,' quips Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that politics often rewards those who can fool people, while stressing honesty and values in life

Have debt, but spending on capital creation: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

We have a debt but we are spending on capital creation, not revenue expenditure, said Goa CM Pramod Sawant

Anand Sharma resigns as chairman of Congress's foreign affairs department

Veteran Congress leader Anand Sharma resigned as the chairman of the party's foreign affairs department on Sunday to help in its reconstitution and enable bringing in younger leaders. The former Union minister led the department for around a decade as the National Committee of Department of Foreign Affairs was last constituted in 2018. "As I have conveyed earlier both to CP and Chairperson CPP, in my considered view, the committee needs to be reconstituted to bring in younger leaders of potential and promise. That will ensure continuity in its functioning. "Expressing my gratitude to the party leadership for having entrusted me with this responsibility, I am submitting my resignation as Chairman DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to facilitate its reconstitution," Sharma said in his resignation letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Sharma, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body in the party, has been the Congress's .

Historian and former BS columnist Rajat Kanta Ray passes away in Kolkata

He taught in Presidency College for more than 30 years and in 2005 then governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi went to the college to attend his class

Amit Shah now longest-serving HM; PM Modi says it is just the start

"It is just the beginning," the PM said, adding that there is a long way to go for Shah, which led some MPs to speculate the implications of Modi's statement

Could a Chandra Shekhar acolyte become India's next Vice President?

If elevated as Vice-President on September 9, Harivansh's career - shaped by his idol, former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar - will acquire a new trajectory

World understands power, India needs to be strong and wealthy: RSS chief

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that the world understands power and therefore, India has to become strong and also wealthy from an economic point of view. Bhagwat said that India no longer has to be the "golden bird" and it was time for it to become "a lion". "It is necessary because the world understands power. So Bharat should become strong. It also has to become wealthy from an economic perspective," he said, while speaking at the national education conference, 'Gyan Sabha', organised by the RSS-linked Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas here. Bhagwat also said that Bharat, a proper noun, should not be translated as its identity is respected "because it is Bharat". "Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India is Bharat'. That is true. But Bharat is Bharat. That is why, while talking, writing and speaking, be it personal or public, we should keep Bharat as Bharat. "Bharat must remain Bharat. The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose

Don't know the actual reason behind Dhankhar's resignation: Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says he has no information about Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation and urges the former Vice-President to explain the reason

Rajya Sabha secy general is returning officer for vice presidential poll

In a step forward towards holding the election to appoint the 17th vice president of India, the Election Commission on Friday appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody as the returning officer for the poll. The election was necessitated after Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation as vice president on Monday evening, citing health issues. His term was to end on August 10, 2027. In a statement, the Election Commission (EC) said that in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha, it has appointed Mody as the returning officer for the vice presidential election, 2025. The EC has also appointed Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as assistant returning officers during the course of the election. The poll authority, in consultation with the central government, appoints a returning officer, who will have his or her office in the national capital

Kerala's veteran communist leader V S Achuthanandan dies at 101

V S Achuthanandan, former Kerala CM and senior CPI(M) leader, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram at 101. Known for his commitment to social justice, he left a lasting impact on Kerala politics