Page 2179 - Politics
Army Commander visits hinterland formations in Kashmir
Army Commander, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Monday visited the Line of Control (LoC) and hinterland formations in Kashmir. The Army Commander visited forward posts along the LoC in Kupwara and Baramulla sectors, an army official said. He said Lt Gen Singh also visited the hinterland formations in south Kashmir. The army commander complimented troops for their unwavering dedication, selfless devotion and high morale, the official said.
President Kovind meets Maldivian counterpart Ibrahim Solih
President Ram Nath Kovind met his Maldivian counterpart Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Monday.The meeting comes shortly after Solih held talks with Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Earlier in the day, Solih paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. In the evening, Solih, along with Prime Minister Modi, enjoyed a beautiful rendition of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav Jan To' performed by Maldivian singers Mohamed Shahid and Mariyam Wahida.Solih also met with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj to discuss bilateral ties between the two South Asian countries.India on Monday announced financial assistance of USD 1.4 billion to the Maldives, which Prime Minister Modi said would enhance "trust and friend" between the two nations.On December 18, Solih will undertake a visit to Agra and then emplane for the Maldives.
PM candidate will be decided post elections: Yechury
Communist Party of India-M (CPI-M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the name of the prime minister candidate will be decided only after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.Yechury's remark comes a day after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M K Stalin proposed the name of Rahul Gandhi as the next prime minister."It (proposing Rahul Gandhi's name) was only Stalin's opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, we learn from our country's history. A formation that forms an alternative government at the centre comes into existence only post-election," Yechury told media here.Stalin, while addressing a public rally on Sunday in Chennai, had proposed the Congress president's name as the prime minister candidate."From the soil of Tamil Nadu, I propose the name of Rahul Gandhi for the prime ministerial candidate. I propose we will install a new Prime Minister in Delhi. He has got the ability to defeat the fascist Modi government," he had said.Soon after this, CPI leader D Raja said a ...
First day first show: Kamal Nath clears farm loan waiver in MP
Hours after taking charge Monday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath cleared a proposal for waiving farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh, fulfilling a promise made by the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls that is widely believed to have tilted the scales its favour. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had promised a farm loan waiver within 10 days of his party coming to power in the state, where it ended the 15-year-long BJP rule. Addressing reporters at the state secretariat after taking charge as new chief minister, Nath said, "After taking oath, I have cleared the first file related to writing off loans up to Rs two lakh." After Nath signed the relevant file, Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary, Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development Department, issued an order in this regard. "The Madhya Pradesh government has taken a decision to write off short-term crop loan of eligible farmers up to the limit of Rs two lakh, as on March 31, 2018, from nationalised and cooperative banks," the ...
PM congratulates Baghel, Kamal Nath
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday congratulated Bhupesh Baghel and Kamal Nath after they took over as the chief ministers of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh respectively. The Congress wrested the two states from the BJP in the just-concluded assembly polls. The party had also wrested Rajasthan from the Bharatiya Janata Party. "I congratulate Shri @Bhupesh_Baghel Ji on being sworn-in as Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and wish him the very best in serving the people of the state," the PM tweeted. In another tweet, the Prime Minister greeted Kamal Nath as he began his innings as the Madhya Pradesh chief minister. "Best wishes for the tenure," Modi posted.
Will support BSP & non-Cong, non-BJP parties: Bhim Army chief
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad said Monday his outfit would support parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party in the upcoming general election. "We will not allow the Congress and the BJP rule alternatively (in the country)... The third front will rise and we will strengthen the Bahujan movement. We will also make the BSP go back to 'Bahujan hitaya' from 'Sarvjan hitaya'," Azad, who is also known as Ravan, said at the 'Agenda Aaj Tak' event here. Asked about which party the Bhim Army would support in the 2019 parliamentary polls, Azad said, "There are the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh, Tejashwi (Yadav's) party (RJD) in Bihar, (and) Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). I will find others in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh." The Dalit leader said he would unite the Bahujan parties in the run up to the Lok Sabha election and remove the Narendra Modi government from power at the Centre. The Bhim Army chief denied that he was causing any "split" in the Dalit politics .
India ready to work with Maldives on strengthening maritime security: President
India stands ready to work with Maldives to strengthen maritime security and help expedite inclusion of its Indian Ocean neighbour in the Commonwealth again, President Ram Nath Kovind said Monday. Welcoming newly-elected Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Kovind said along with strengthening bilateral relations, both countries must also enhance partnership on global issues. "Climate change needs urgent attention and action. We are deeply concerned of its impact, and especially so on Maldives and other small island states that are most vulnerable to it," he said. The president said India is honoured that Solih has chosen to visit the country on his first State Visit and that too, within a month of assuming office. Later, speaking at the banquet hosted in the honour of Solih in Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening, Kovind said peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region is a shared responsibility of both countries. "India accords the highest importance to its relations with ...
Zambia parliamentary delegation meets RS chairman Naidu
A Parliamentary delegation from Zambia headed by the speaker of its National Assembly called on Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in Parliament House on Monday and discussed issues of bilateral interests, an official statement said. The two sides focussed on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of health, education, capacity building, energy and infrastructure. Vice President Naidu also stressed the need for combating terror, the statement said. Welcoming the delegation, led by Zambia's National Assembly speaker Justice Patrick Matibini, Naidu said the two countries share historically warm and friendly relations based on common values such as commitment to democracy, liberty, equality and rule of law. Recalling the visit of Zambian President in April this year, Naidu said the visit has given a fresh impetus to the bilateral relations. Welcoming Zambia as a member of the International Solar Alliance, Naidu expressed the hope for an early ratification .
Sajjan Kumar's conviction dampens Cong celebrations
On a day when Congress formed governments in three states, the party's celebrations were dampened due to the court verdict against its leader Sajjan Kumar in an anti-Sikh riots case as the BJP and the Akali Dal mounted an attack on the new Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, alleging his name too had cropped up in the violence. The Congress put up a show of opposition unity, with top leaders of various parties joining Rahul Gandhi at each of the oath-taking functions in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. However, the Delhi High Court verdict sentencing Kumar for life eclipsed the celebrations. The conviction came 34 years after the riots that followed the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi and TV channels aired the news about Sajjan Kumar and subsequent reactions to it throughout the day. Congress leaders were busy fending off attacks from the BJP and other parties. Union Minister Arun Jaitley dubbed Kumar a "symbol" of the anti-Sikh "genocide" and .
CLP meet to take place tomorrow amid discontent within party
: The Congress Legislature Party meeting will take place at the 'Suvarna Vidhana Soudha' here on Tuesday amid simmering discontent within the party on a host of issues, including the much awaited cabinet expansion, party sources said. The Suvarna Vidhana Soudha is modelled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat at Bengaluru. The meeting is also expected to discuss issues related to alleged discrimination faced by party MLAs under the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, they said. Recently many local party leaders and MLAs had petitioned the state leadership about the 'discrimination' meted out to them under the coalition government and the style of functioning of some JD(S) Ministers, including Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's brother and PWD Minister, H D Revanna. However, Kumaraswamy will not attend the CLP meeting tomorrow. Earlier, Siddaramaiah had said that the Chief Minister would be attending the meeting to hear the concerns of Congress MLAs. The meeting ...
Will Rafale issues go unexamined, Chidambaram asks Jaitley
A day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ruled out a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal saying the Supreme Court verdict in the case is a "clean chit" to the Modi government, his predecessor P. Chidambaram on Monday wondered if the issues not decided by the apex court will go "unexamined".
BJP declares Rs 1,027-crore income in FY18: Report
The BJP has declared total income of Rs 1,027 crore and expenditure of Rs 758 crore (74 per cent) during financial year 2017-18, while the Congress has not yet submitted its audited reports to the Election Commission (EC), as per a report issued on Monday.
Alternative secular govt to be formed at Centre post 2019 LS polls: Yechury
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Monday claimed that a secular, alternative government will be formed at the Centre after the general elections in 2019. Addressing a press conference, he said the party was working on the unity of secular forces at the state level to defeat the BJP alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. "In order to defeat the BJP, our efforts for unifying secular forces will take different shapes in different states. Post election we will decide on the formation of new government. Like 1996, 1998 and 2004, post the 2019 poll, an alternative front will come and there will be a secular government," claimed Yechury. Reacting to DMK leader MK Stalin's support to Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial face of the opposition, he said, "We have always maintained that we have learnt from our country's history. Formation of an alternative government at the Centre is possible post election." The central committee of the CPI(M), which met here Saturday and Sunday, has ...
Bengal govt bats for common facility center for kids garments
In a bid to boost the garment industry in the state, the West Bengal government would assist in the creation of a common facility centre for kids clothing, Finance Minister Amit Mitra said on Monday. Kids garments hold a lot of potential in the developed markets like the USA, Mitra said at a West Bengal Garments Manufacturers and Dealers Association (WBGMDA) meet here. The minister urged the association to explore the developed countries rather than restricting itself to only a few markets. A meeting with the association and government officials will soon be held to draw the broad contours for the common facility centre, he said. The state government is likely to fund setting up of the centre that would have focus on testing, design, branding and technological interventions. The garment industry is a major employment generator in the state and once infrastructure for the sector improves, job opportunities will increase further, officials said. The WBGMDA estimates around .
Brexit: Chaotic exit, referendum or last-minute deal?
LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom's exit from the European Union has been plunged into disarray by Prime Minister Theresa May's failure to find a divorce deal the British parliament will approve.
Congress, Rahul Gandhi spreading lies on Rafale deal; Fadnavis
: Accusing the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies on the Rafale fighter jet deal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Monday demanded an apology from the main opposition party and its chief to the country and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that for the last few months, the Congress and Rahul Gandhi kept on spreading lies over the deal and misled the people of the country and also maligned the country internationally. He said they should reveal the source of information for their charges on the fighter jet dealwhen the Narendra Modi government purchased the aircraft in a transparent manner. "We want to ask Rahul Gandhi the reasons for abruptly stopping the acquisition process, which was completed in 2012. Was it stopped for any mediator? Rahul Gandhi has to answer the country on it and also on who gave him the false information through which he spread the lies. Is this information given by ...
Rahul should resign for spreading lies on Rafale deal: BJP
The BJP Monday demanded Rahul Gandhi's resignation as Congress president for spreading lies against the Union government on the Rafale fighter jet deal. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also accused the Congress of rejecting the verdict given by Supreme Court that seemingly gave a clean chit to the Narendra Modi-led government on the alleged scam "BJP demands resignation of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. What the Congress party and its president told the people was nothing but a bunch of lies," BJP's Jammu and Kashmir in-charge, Avinash Rai Khanna told reporters here. Khanna said despite the apex court's verdict on the matter, the Congress was indulging in a "vicious" campaign. "Congress is running away from a healthy discussion on the topic and only resorting to baseless allegations. Congress has rejected the verdict given by the Supreme Court," he said. "The Congress party's president has been misguiding and misleading the people of the country purely on the basis of inaccurate, .
Cong takes reins in three Hindi heartland states of Raj, MP, Chhattisgarh
Three Congress chief ministers on Monday took oath of office in three previously BJP-ruled Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh with most of the opposition leaders present in the swearing-in ceremonies that also turned into a show of unity against the saffron party. Ashok Gehlot was the first one to administered oath as Rajasthan Chief Minister by Governor Kalyan Singh at the historic Albert Hall in Jaipur while state party chief Sachin Pilot was appointed as his deputy. However, the swearing-in of 72-year old Kamal Nath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh was held in the shadow of protests over his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which his party colleague Sajjan Kumar was convicted and given a lifer. Nath has denied any role in the violence and the Nanavati Commission, which probed the 1984 riots, also gave him the benefit of doubt. Before the ceremony, an all-religion prayer meet was also organised. Immediately after taking over, Nath ...
Chidambaram questions those advocating military approach in J&K over civilian deaths
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Monday questioned those advocating a muscular policy and military approach in Jammu and Kashmir over the death of seven civilians after an encounter between security forces and Hizbul Mujahideen militants. "Seven civilians, including five teenagers, were killed in J&K. What did they die for? Will those who advocate a muscular, militaristic approach to J&K, please answer the question," he asked on Twitter. The former Union home minister has been attacking the NDA government on its Kashmir policy, accusing it of adopting a muscular approach in the state that will not work. The seven civilians died Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an Army man were killed, police said. The militants killed included Army deserter Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, who belonged to Simoo village where the gunfight took place.
Amidst opposition bonhomie, Congress CMs in Hindi heartland sworn-in (Roundup)
Congress veterans Ashok Gehlot, Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel were on Monday sworn in as new Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, ending BJPs rule in the Hindi heartland.