Page 2180 - Politics
BJP playing divisive game in Assam: Tarun Gogoi
Veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Monday accused the BJP of "playing a divisive game" in Assam and said as per the Assam Accord the names of every Indian whose name was in the voter list should be in the National Register of Citizens (NRC). He said as per the accord the cut-off date to be eligible for Indian citizenship was March 24, 1971 but many of whose name did not figure in the citizens register in Assam came before that period. Gogoi, the former chief minister of Assam, said of the 40 lakh persons whose names did not figure in the complete draft of NRC published on July 30 more than 30 lakh were Hindus and a large number were Bengalis. Accusing the ruling BJP of playing "a divisive game of pitting Hindus, Muslims, Assamese and Bengalis against each other" in Assam, Gogoi told reporters, "The way they have prepared, (the NRC draft list) they are depriving genuine Indians citizenship." Asserting that the Congress will return to power in the 2021 assembly election in his ...
Rahul stands 'exposed' after SC verdict on Rafale: Shekhawat
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Monday sought Congress president Rahul Gandhi's resignation from the party post, saying he stands "exposed" after the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal. Shekhawat alleged Gandhi "knowingly" spread "lies" to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over the multi-crore Rafale deal in which the Congress has alleged irregularities. The SC had last week said there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France, and dismissed all the petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal. "Gandhi knowingly spread lies about Rafale deal to tarnish the image of the Modi government. It was a politically motivated conspiracy which has been now exposed following the SC verdict," the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare told reporters here. He said the apex court's verdict on Rafale has proved no irregularities
Centre recommends President's rule in JK after December 19
The Centre is learnt to have recommended imposition of President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir after the expiry of six-months of Governor's rule on December 19. The decision has been taken after Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik sent a report to the central government recommending imposition of President's rule in the state, officials said on Monday. The Union cabinet has cleared the proposal to impose President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir from December 19, an official privy to the development said. A communication from the governor's office was sent to the Union Home Ministry which moved the Union cabinet with the proposal for its nod. Now, President Ram Nath Kovind will issue a proclamation declaring that the powers of the Legislature of the state shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament, another official said. The state plunged into a political crisis in June this year after the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government was reduced to minority following ...
Britain's Labour heaps pressure on PM by calling for no confidence vote
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's main opposition Labour Party will call for a no confidence vote in Theresa May on Monday, a largely symbolic move to step up pressure on a prime minister facing deadlock in parliament over her Brexit deal.
AIFB to fight to oust BJP, keeps all post-poll options open
The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) Monday said it would leave no stones unturned to ensure the defeat of the BJP government at the Centre in the next election and has decided to keep "all post-poll options" open to achieve that objective. The AIFB has taken up the resolutions at its 18th Party Congress organised here between December 12 and 16. "Our main objective will be to oust the anti-people (Narendra) Modi government. We will fight to strengthen the Left unity in the country," AIFB general secretary Debabrata Biswas told a press conference. The party Congress has decided to develop a political platform against fascism, communalism, corruption and all sort of divisive political tendencies," Biswas said. When asked whether the AIFB is open to a situation like 2004, when Left parties decided to provide outside support to the Congress to keep the BJP at bay, Biswas said, "None can say what situation will evolve after elections. But we are open to all options as our main .
Vasundhara greets Scindia, Cong leaders,
BJP leader and outgoing chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday greeted Congress leaders and newly appointed CM Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot at their oath ceremony here. She also affectionately met her nephew and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and the warm gesture caught the attention of the guests and people around. Raje shared stage with the leaders of various political parties and shook hands with Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Riots after Indira Gandhi's assassination were state-sponsored: AAP
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which erupted after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, were state-sponsored, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday."The Congress party used state machinery for the massacre of Sikhs in 1984," alleged AAP's spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj during media interaction here, while hailing the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for his involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case."The delay in justice is due to the apathy on part of the successive governments at the Centre and in the city-state for which Congress and BJP are responsible," he said."The charge-sheet in the case was filed in 2010. There is no delay on the part of the court but on the part of the governments. Even during the regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1998 to 2004, nothing happened," Bhardwaj added."Sajjan Kumar was then a Member of Parliament (MP). He provoked and incited the mob against innocent Sikhs. As many as 2,733 Sikhs were killed for which the Congress abused the ..
NDA has misled Supreme Court on Rafale deal: Dr Tanwar
Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Dr Ashok Tanwar on Monday accused the NDA's Central government of allegedly misleading the Supreme Court on Rafale deal."NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a false affidavit in the Supreme Court on Rafale deal. To cover up their corruption, Prime Minister Modi and his ministers are holding press conferences but no effort of the BJP will befool the people any longer," said Dr Tanwar in a statement."The Modi government itself has provided a proof of their falsehood by requesting the Supreme Court to revise the verdict on Rafale deal case. Lies remain alive whether repeated a hundred times," he said.Dr Tanwar said the results of recently held Assembly elections in five states have shown the real picture to the BJP. He expressed confidence that with the blessings of the people of the country Congress party will come to power at the Centre and in Haryana too under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.
Is Rahul Gandhi worried that there is no graft charge against BJP govt after 5 yrs: UP minister
Attacking the Congress over the Rafale deal, Uttar Pradesh minister Sidharth Nath Singh asked party chief Rahul Gandhi if he was worried that there was no charge of corruption against the BJP government even after five years in power at the Centre. Addressing a press conference here in the circuit house, Singh claimed Congress the 'kamdar' was honest, while the 'naamdar' was a thief. He claimed the Gandhis were on bail in connection with the National Herald case. Singh said a petition to dismiss the case, submitted by the Gandhis, was turned down and they were still accused in the case. Singh asked Rahul Gandhi if he was worried as there has not been a single case of corruption under Modi government unlike previous dispensations. He alleged that former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's name had cropped up in the 'jeep scandal', the oil scam case was under former PM Indira Gandhi, the Bofors case was under Rajiv Gandhi's government and AgustaWestland chopper scam during the UPA ...
TRS seeks action against four party MLCs
The ruling TRS in Telangana Monday urged Legislative Council Chairman K Swamy Goud to take action as per rules against four party MLCs who allegedly indulged in anti-party activities. TRS Whip Palla Rajeswara Reddy petitioned the Chairman that party MLCs Konda Murali, Bhupati Reddy, Yadava Reddy and Ramulu Naik quit the party ahead of the December seven Assembly elections, TRS sources said. The MLCs indulged in defection, the TRS leader said, seeking action against them as per rules, the source added.
Lankan PM Wickremesinghe to register new political alliance to contest future polls
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was recently reinstated as the premier by President Maithripala Sirisena, said Monday he would register a new political alliance 'National Democratic Front' (NDF) to contest future elections. Addressing his first rally of United National Party (UNP) supporters after his re-appointment, Wickremesinghe said that Parliament can vote with two-thirds to hold elections. "We are currently working on forming the National Democratic Front (NDF) to face the next election," he said. "We are ready to hold elections constitutionally," Wickremesinghe said. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said abolishing the executive Presidency and bringing about a political solution will be part of the agenda of his new Government. An embarrassed Sirisena, whose controversial actions plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political turmoil for nearly two months, reinstated Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister on Sunday, after sacking him on October 26 and ...
PDP protests at J&K secretariat against civilian killings
The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday protested at the Jammu and Kashmir secretariat here against the killing of seven civilians two days ago. PDP MLC Firdous Tak led the protest, accompanied by former party MLAs Aijaz Ahmad Mir and Yawar Mir, besides over half-a-dozen other activists who were carrying placards that read: "save Kashmir and stop killing innocent Kashmiris". They protesters chanted slogans while marching through the corridor up to the office of Governor Satya Pal Malik. Seven civilians had died on Saturday when the security forces opened fire at a mob who were protesting the killing of three militants in an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. "We staged the protest inside the secretariat to seek an end to the unabated civilian killings in the Kashmir," Tak told reporters outside the civil secretariat. "Our only aim behind the protest was to wake up the state and the central governments as innocent civilian killings are taking place in Kashmir on a daily ...
Fraud claims as Kremlin candidate wins vote re-run
A Kremlin-backed candidate has won a key governorship election in Russia's Far East but critics denounced the vote as a fraud after a popular opposition figure was not allowed to run. An electoral crisis erupted in the Far Eastern region of Primorsky Krai in September when opposition protests and claims of widespread irregularities in favour of a candidate backed by President Vladimir Putin forced officials to order a re-run of the vote. During the new gubernatorial poll held on Sunday, acting governor Oleg Kozhemyako -- backed by the Kremlin -- took 61.88 per cent of the vote, final results showed. His closest rival, Andrei Andreichenko of the nationalist LDPR party, took 25 per cent. It was the first time in modern Russia an election was re-run after protests over vote-rigging allegations. A popular opposition candidate, the Communist Party's Andrei Ishchenko, who had accused a ruling party representative endorsed by Putin of "stealing" his victory in the initial election, was not ..
President on four-day visit to Hyderabad from Dec 21
President Ram Nath Kovind would arrive in Hyderabad on December 21 for his four-day customary southern sojourn. Kovind would stay at Rashtrapati Nilayam in the city, one of the Presidential Retreats, from December 21 to 24, according to an official release Monday. Telangana government Chief Secretary S K Joshi held a meeting with officials on Monday on the preparations for the President's visit, it said. Kovind would arrive at Hakimpet Air Force station here at 5 PM on December 21, it said. The President will attend a programme at Karimnagar on December 22. He will host a 'At Home' at the Rashtrapati Nilayam on December 23. Kovind would return to Delhi on December 24, the release said. It is customary for the President to visit Rashtrapati Nilayam and stay there at least once a year and conduct official business from there. Located at Bolarum, Rashtrapati Nilayam building was taken over from the Nizam of Hyderabad after India attained independence and handed over to the .
Bhupesh Baghel takes oath as Chhattisgarh CM
Bhupesh Baghel took oath as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh on Monday at Raipur in the presence of Governor Anandiben Patel.Baghel is Chhattisgarh's third chief minister and the Congress party's second chief minister in the state.Meanwhile, Congress leaders TS Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu took oath as ministers in the new cabinet.Present on the occasion were former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Motilal Vora, PL Punia, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Yadav of Loktantrik Janata Dal party, Babulal Marandi , Rajbabbar , Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu , Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, among others.Congress had won 68 seats in the 90 member state Legislative Assembly to form the government by ousting the Raman Singh-led BJP government which was in power for over 10 years.Baghel is a Kurmi leader ...
Kamal Nath waives of farm loans worth Rs 2 lakh
Madhya Pradesh Chief Kamal Nath on Monday waived off farm loans of Rs 2 lakh as promised at the time of elections, shortly after he took oath as the chief minister.While addressing the media here, the chief minister said, "After joining this post, the first file I have signed is of farm loan waiver of Rs 2 lakh each, as I had promised to the farmers."Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, too, appreciated the move and tweeted " CM, Madhya Pradesh, waives farm loans. 1 done. 2 to go."Meanwhile, Nath emphasised that providing employment to the youth of the state would be another priority of the new government."Our schemes of providing incentives of investment will only be imposed after 70 per cent people from Madhya Pradesh get employment. People from other states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh come here and local people do not get jobs. I have signed file for this too," he said.The nine-time Chhindwara Lok Sabha MP was sworn in as the 18th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh today. He was administered .
Politics of lies is in DNA of Congress: Bhupendra Yadav
BJP national General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav Monday came down heavily on the Congress alleging that politics of lies is in its DNA. The "lies" on Rafale deal which were spread by Congress president Rahul Gandhi were aimed at weakening national security and breaking the morale of the soldiers, Yadav claimed. "Politics of lies is in the DNA of the Congress. The lies it spread on Rafale deal was ripped apart by the verdict of the Supreme court," Yadav told a press conference. "Lies don't have feet and they cannot stand once the truth comes out," the Rajya Sabha MP said. A decision was taken to purchse Rafale fighter jets after the Kargil war, "but the UPA government kept it in the cold storage for 10 years in cold storage", he said. After the Narendra Modi government decided to purchase the aircraft, the Congress raised question, Yadav said adding that the Supreme Court looked into all the documents in this regard and said it was the right decision by the government, ...
HC bans online sale of medicines till govt notifies rules
The Madras High Court Monday banned online sale of medicines till the Union Health Ministry and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation notified the proposed Drugs and Cosmetics Amendment Rules, 2018 in the gazette at the earliest by January 31. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana directed online pharmacy traders to obtain licenses as per the prescribed rules that are going to be notified within a duration of two months. On the request made by the counsel for online traders, the judge directed the authorities concerned not to give effect to the order till December 20. The judge passed the order on a petition moved by the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Organisation, which sought banning online sale of medicines. Recently, the court reserved its verdict on the plea. Justice Sathyanarayana, who disposed of the petition Monday, noted that though there was a statute, regulatory rules were yet to be notified, in the wake of advancement of technology. "Unless the legislation keeps pace .
Rahul should apologise for 'misleading' nation on Rafale deal: Nadda
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi should apologise for "misleading" the people on the Rafale fighter jet deal, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda said Monday. Talking to media persons here, Nadda said, "The apex court in its order on the Rafale deal had made it clear that the Congress, especially Rahul Gandhi, had misled the nation on the issue." Three points on the Rafale deal had been raised in the petitions filed before Supreme Court -- need for the deal, its process and offset partners, he said, adding that the SC made it clear Rafale deal was required for national interest, due process was adopted in its execution and the Indian government had no role in selecting the offset partner. Terming the Congress' negative campaign on the Rafale deal as a classic case of misinformation and disinformation, Nadda said the campaign was motivated by political ...
BJP gives privilege notice against Rahul on Rafale
The BJP on Monday gave notices of privilege motion against Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha over the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal.