Page 2172 - Politics
Previous govts did not do enough on infrastructure front: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said his government is concentrating on transport and infrastructure development, areas which he claimed, did not get adequate attention during previous administrations. He said the metro rail project got a boost during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government (1998-2004) and had it been in power for some more time, the rapid mass transport scenario would have changed for better in the country's cities. Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the phase 3 of Pune Metro, Modi said his government's thinking is different than that of opposition parties. "Unki soch, unko mubarak (let them be happy with their thinking). Our government's aim is to strive for balanced development which reaches the last person in the society," said the prime minister. "Previous governments did not pay attention to transportation and infrastructure development the way they should have done," said Modi, who was in Maharashtra on a day- long visit to lay the ...
BJP, opposition parties slam Kamal Nath for remarks on UP, Bihar migrants
The BJP and its ally JD(U) slammed Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath for his comments linking youth of his state being deprived of jobs to migrants coming from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with even opposition parties like the SP and the Congress ally RJD expressing their disapproval. As his remarks made soon after he took oath of office Monday snowballed into a political row, Congress president Rahul Gandhi told reporters he will look into the matter and offer a reply later. Nath had said in Bhopal, "Lot of industries are set up in which people from other states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, come to work. I do not want to criticise them, but the youth of Madhya Pradesh are deprived (of jobs)." Highlighting Nath's own "outsider" background, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya took a dig at him wondering whether whatever he has said should be implemented in politics as well. The BJP leader said the Congress leader was born in Kanpur, studied in West Bangal and has now become
Assam PCC hits out at Adityanath for demanding apology from
Assam PCC on Tuesday criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for demanding an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi for allegedly spreading lies about BJP's role in the Rafale Deal. Yogi Adityanath has "no moral right" to seek an apology from Gandhi when his leader Narendra Modi has favoured his friend Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Limited by giving it the Rafale fighter jet contract and denied PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited of "its right", APCC spokesperson Prodyut Bordoloi told reporters here. The BJP government has a "tradition of lying" and by lying to the SC it has once again proved that it has no respect for institutions, whether it be the highest court of the land, RBI, CBI or CEC, the APCC spokesperson said. "The APCC would like to point out that the BJP government's foundation is based on lies - they have been lying to the people of the country since coming to power and now they have been caught lying to the Supreme Court as well", he
Nepal Parliament to commence next week
Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has called for the third session of the Parliament from next week. The winter session of the Federal Parliament of Nepal will begin at 4 pm on December 26, after it was adjourned on September 27.A letter from the President's Office calling for the commencement of the Parliament has been registered at the Parliament Secretariat and preparations for the meeting on the slated date has started The notice calling for the parliamentary meeting will be formally released on Wednesday.The deadline to pass and revise existing laws that contradict the new Constitution of Nepal, promulgated in 2015, falls on March 4, 2019. The Parliament will have to modify as many as 174 Acts out of 339.Out of the 174 Acts, 36 new laws are to be formulated. Additionally, eight bills are awaiting approval in the Parliament since it was adjourned three months ago.
Ban on Indian currency notes worries traders, locals in Nepal
Traders and locals are worried over the decision of Nepal government to ban the use of high denomination Indian currency notes of Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 in the country.They claim the decision will not only affect the tourism sector in Nepal but would also have a negative impact on the exchange of goods and services between the two nations.Srichand Gupta, president of Indo-Nepal Maitri Sangh, said that the decision to ban Indian currencies above Rs 100 denomination will hugely impact trade and business activities between the countries and urged his government to drop the decision.The decision to ban high-end Indian notes was taken at a Cabinet meeting on December 10 following which a notice was issued asking the Nepalese citizens not to keep or transact in those Indian bank notes. Now Nepali citizens are allowed only to carry or transact using Rs 100 denomination Indian currency."Many products are imported from abroad, including India for sale in Nepal. This will be affected as a .
Brexit: Parliament rejects No-Confidence against Theresa May
The British government on Tuesday rejected the no-confidence motion tabled by the Leader of Opposition Jeremy Corbyn against Prime Minister Theresa May.The motion was passed in the British Parliament on Monday after May pushed back the date of the parliamentary vote on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement to the week of January 14, reported CNN.Speaking at the House of Commons, where the parliamentarians were set to vote on the Brexit agreement on December 11, May defended her decision saying that she would lose the vote "by a significant margin" and would now hold talks with the EU leaders to discuss the matter.Reacting to this, Corbyn tweeted: "It is unacceptable for the country to wait another month before Parliament has the chance to vote on Theresa May's botched deal. Therefore, I have tabled a motion of no confidence in the PM this evening, so Parliament can take back control".In the House of Commons, Corbyn asserted that the motion was based on the Prime Minister's "failure to allow
Calcutta HC asks BJP for tentative Rath Yatra dates
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party to give three tentative dates for 'Rath Yatra'.The bench further asked the state government's advocate to provide video footage of the meeting that was held on December 13 between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the state government.Hearing in the matter is slated to continue tomorrow.On Sunday, the West Bengal government denied permission to the BJP to hold a Rath Yatra in the state.In a letter to West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, the Mamata Banerjee-led state government said that the areas proposed to be covered during the Yatra are turning into "communally sensitive pockets"."Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the Yatra will be turned into propaganda," the letter further noted.The state government also claimed that the Yatra may trigger communal violence in several districts due to the participation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal,
PM unveils projects worth Rs 33000 crore relating to housing and urban development in Maharashtra
PM reiterates Union Government's vision of "Housing For All" by 2022
'Threats issued to Muslim community in VHP's Dharam Sabha in Jammu' : Naeem Akhtar
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tuesday condemned the "hateful language and threats" issued to the Muslim community during the 'Dharam Sabha' organized by VHP and RSS at Jammu and accused the BJP of trying to reap electoral gains by such events. The Vishva Hindu Parishad Sunday organised a 'Dharam Sabha' in Jammu where a top Hindu religious leader called for a legislation to be passed during the ongoing winter session of Parliament for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "By promoting such hatred and negativity, the BJP has once again established that it can never again be trusted as a party of governance in a composite state like Jammu and Kashmir and that it has blocked its entry into the power structure of the state for ever," former minister and PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said in a statement. PDP and BJP were coalition partners in the state government from 1 March 2015 to 19 June 2018 when the latter pulled out and withdrew support to the Mehbooba Mufti-led ...
Cong 'manufacture lies' on Rafale even after SC verdict: BJP
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra Tuesday accused the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi of "manufacturing lies" on the Rafale deal even after the Supreme Court dismissed pleas seeking a probe into alleged irregularities. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also sought to know why the procurement of the fighter jets was delayed back when the Congress was in power despite the fact that the aircrafts were much required by the defence forces. "This is the question that India asks the Congress party. For ten years, the Congress party sat on the deal... They did nothing," Patra said at a press conference here. It might be because the Congress was probably used to "middle men", "corrupt means" and "graft money" and that's why they could not reach a conclusion, he alleged. "This was a government-to-government deal during the era of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the BJP spokesperson said. Patra, however, expressed confidence that after the apex court judgment, "not an iota of doubt" ...
Putin says open to third nations joining nuclear treaty
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Tuesday he was open to the idea of other countries joining a key Cold War treaty limiting mid-range nuclear arms or to starting talks on a new agreement. The president spoke after Washington this month said it would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF) within 60 days if Russia did not dismantle missiles that the US claims breach the deal. At a defence ministry meeting, Putin repeated accusations that Washington had itself violated the bilateral treaty and suggested other countries join the US-Russia agreement in a bid to salvage it. Signed in 1987 by then US president Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the treaty puts no restrictions on other major military actors like China. "Yes, indeed there are certain difficulties with this treaty," Putin said. "Other countries possessing short- and intermediate-range missiles are not party to it. "But what prevents (us) from starting talks on their accession to the existing
MP Cong govt's farm loan waiver a hasty move, says ex-minister
Former Madhya Pradesh finance minister Jayant Malaiya Tuesday said newly-anointed Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced the farm loan waiver in a "haste" and without planning, as he is under "pressure" to keep the poll promise. The BJP leader also said the "short term" loan waiver is primarily being given to the farmers for the purchase of seeds and fertilisers. Hours after he was administered the oath of office by Governor Anandiben Patel on Monday, Nath cleared a proposal of waiving farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh as promised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi ahead of assembly polls. After Nath signed the relevant file, the Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development department issued an order in this regard. Speaking to reporters, Malaiya also dismissed the Congress' charge that erstwhile BJP government was responsible for the "fiscal mess" in Madhya Pradesh. "Kamal Nathji has announced the loan waiver hurriedly under pressure, as Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had maintained
Trump accuses Facebook, Twitter, Google of Democrat bias
US President Donald Trump took a swipe Tuesday at tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google, accusing them of being biased in favor of opposition Democrats. "Facebook, Twitter and Google are so biased toward the Dems it is ridiculous!" Trump tweeted. "Twitter, in fact, has made it much more difficult for people to join @realDonaldTrump. They have removed many names & greatly slowed the level and speed of increase. They have acknowledged-done NOTHING!" Trump's tirade follows a detailed US Senate report on Russian troll farms that disrupted the 2016 US presidential election via social media.
Dry Christmas, New Year's in Mizoram as Zoramthanga takes steps for total prohibition
Christmas and New Year's celebrations in Mizoram would happen without alcohol as Zoramthanga government Tuesday decided to declare dry days from Friday to January 14 and shut all liquor shops operated by state agencies. Zoramthanga's MNF, which stormed to power in the state, promised total prohibition ahead of the polls. However, as a new legislation would require time, the new government decided to declare dry days in the christian-majority state. The decision was made in the first meeting of the council of ministers, Zoramthanga told reporters. "Efforts would be made to legislate prohibition law by early next year," he added. Total prohibition was imposed in the state on February 20, 1997 by the then Congress government. However, it was lifted in early 2015. Following this, wine shops were opened in the state from March 16, 2015. In the run up to the November 28 assembly polls, alcohol emerged as a major political issue. While the Congress was against total prohibition, the MNF ...
1,800 SSB personnel to move to IB for special ops
Around 1,800 non-combat personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border, will be moved to the Intelligence Bureau in a month, officials said on Tuesday. The move is part of the Centre's plan to bolster the Intelligence Bureau's presence at the borders, the officials said. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General S S Deswal said the proposal to use trained men and women in the central intelligence set up has seen the light of the day after many years and these personnel of the "civil wing" will be deployed to "gather intelligence" under the command of the IB. "The civil wing (of the SSB) is professionally-competent in intelligence-gathering, and their task and capability was matching with the IB and the government has decided to transfer them to the IB. The process has already started and, in next one month, a total of 1,800 people will be transferred to the IB," Deswal said, while talking to reporters on the occasion of the paramilitary
India Posts to honour personalities not given due place in history: Sinha
The Department of Posts will honour all important people who have not been given their due place in history by issuing commemorative postal stamps in their names, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said Tuesday. "Our government has made an effort that people who have not been given due importance but have contributed significantly in building nation should be honoured by India Posts by issuing postage stamp. In this series, a postal stamp has been issued on Shri Rajkumar Shukla," Sinha said after releasing commemorative stamp on Shukla. Shukla is associated with Champaran Satyagraha and is said to have persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to visit Champaran to fight for farmers in the region. In early 1900 period, farmers in Champaran were forced to produce indigo under the British rule and sell at a price determined by the government. Sinha said Shukla persuaded Gandhi to fight against the plight of farmers, which is known as Champaran Satyagraha in history. Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay ...
Rajnath calls for patience on Ram temple in Ayodhya; Gadkari for mutual consent
As Hindutva organisations mount pressure on the Centre for a law to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, two senior union ministers--Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari--Tuesday called for patience and favoured the construction at the disputed site through mutual consent. Gadkari also asserted that the demand for the Ram temple is not a "communal or religious" issue while Rajnath Singh, the union home minister, counselled patience when some party's MP's wanted to know the government's stand at the meeting of the BJP parliamentary party. Hindutva organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh(RSS), have in the last few months intensified their demand for an early construction of the temple, with many of them, including the Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, pitching for a law to facilitate this. Though the BJP has agreed with the sentiments of these organisations, it has so far not come out in support of a law. BJP MP and RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha last month suggested he would soon introduce .
Arvind Kejriwal's bribery remarks: HC asks EC for model code of conduct
The Delhi High Court Tuesday asked the Election Commission to place before it the model code of conduct (MCC), which EC claims was violated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by his bribery remarks during the Goa Assembly election campaign. Justice Yogesh Khanna said he wants to see the MCC which according to the EC was violated by Kejriwal and hence an order of censure, and later a direction for lodging an FIR, was issued against him by the poll panel in January last year. The court asked EC to place the MCC before it by the next date of hearing on January 17. Kejriwal's lawyers, during the hearing, sought that till the matter is before the court, the EC be asked not to take any action against him, especially in view of commencement of poll campaigning in Haryana in January. The court, however, refused to grant any interim relief to the chief minister, saying it wants to see the model code of conduct first. The court was hearing an application moved by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ...
Hafiz Saeed pens column in Pakistani newspaper as 'contributing writer'
Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed has donned the hat of a column writer for a leading Urdu newspaper, stirring a debate among journalists as to how the media house allowed the head of a banned terror group to write on the Kashmir issue and the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Saeed was declared a global terrorist by the US and the UN after the 2008 Mumbai attack and was put under house arrest in November 2008 but freed by a court some months later. He carries a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for his role in terror activities. 'Illegal aggression of India on East Pakistan... Why Pakistan is avoiding advocating for Kashmiri people' written by "Professor Hafiz Mohammad Saeed" appeared in Daily Dunya (an Urdu publication of Dunya media group of Mian Amer Mahmood) on Sunday. The article carries a picture of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and some young men holding guns in Dhaka. Allowing the head of a banned terror group to contribute for a known media house has stirred
TMC says no pre-poll alliance with Cong, post-poll option open
Senior Trinamool Congress leader and minister Subrata Mukherjee Tuesday ruled out any possibility of pre-poll alliance with the Congress but kept all "post-poll" options open. "Right now we will do whatever is needed to defeat the BJP. We will fight it alone. After the Lok Sabha results are announced we will decide our next course of action after discussing with everybody," Mukherjee told reporters. Reacting to his statement, Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan of the Congress wondered who has asked the TMC to ally with the party. "Did we ask them to ally with us. We want to fight alone in Bengal. Alligning with the TMC has always been a disaster. It is the TMC which has tried to wipe out the Congress from West Bengal," Mannan said. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had announced in July that that the party would contest the 42 Lok Sabha seats of the state alone. The TMC, however, attended several opposition meetings that has taken place in New Delhi. But the party has also ...