Page 2182 - Politics
Baghel sworn in as CM; Singh Deo, Sahu take oath as ministers
Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was Monday sworn in as the chief minister of Chhattisgarh. MLAs T S Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu, who were front-runners for the CM's post, were sworn in as ministers. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Baghel, 57, and the two during the swearing-in ceremony at the Balbeer Juneja Indoor Stadium here. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among the leaders from across the political spectrum who attended the event. Others present included AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his deputy Sachin Pilot, Puducherry CM V Narayansamy, MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav. Baghel's predecessor Raman Singh was also present. The Congress Sunday named Baghel, a five-time MLA from Patan, to head the state Congress ...
BJP demands Kamal Nath's sacking after 1984 anti-Sikh riots verdict
Hailing the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, the BJP Monday demanded the removal of Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister who they alleged was involved in the riots. The demand came on a day when Nath took oath as the state's 18th chief minister, while Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court. "The way Delhi High Court verdict has come indicting Sajjan Kumar, it is very clear that it is not an order against Sajjan Kumar but an order against the Congress party," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters here. "Look at the double face of the Congress party. Only today the Congress has made him (Kamal Nath) the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi should immediately remove him from his position," Patra added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader alleged that the Nanavati Commission, constituted by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to probe the riots, had named Nath with evidence. Patra also .
AAP welcomes conviction of Sajjan Kumar
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Monday welcomed the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, with party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying nobody involved in any riot should be allowed to escape no matter how powerful they are. The party also sought to take credit for setting up an SIT that probed the riots, and alleged BJP's "collusion" in delaying justice to the "genocide" victims "I welcome Delhi High Court verdict convicting Sajjan Kumar in 1984 riots case. It has been a very long n painful wait for innocent victims who were murdered by those in power. Nobody involved in any riot should be allowed to escape no matter how powerful the individual maybe," Kejriwal tweeted after the verdict. A statement from the AAP claimed that the accused in the riots were "actively aided and abetted" by all organs of the governance. "Nobody expected the Congress, which was then in power to do justice to riots victims and their families, all inquiry ..
Modi's handling of Kashmir hurting India: CPI-M
The Modi government's gross mishandling of the situation in the Kashmir Valley is hurting India, the CPI-M said on Monday, adding that the killing of unarmed protesters by security forces was "unacceptable".
Bangla main opposition alliance promises to safeguard rights of people if voted to power
Bangladesh's main opposition alliance unveiled its poll manifesto Monday, promising to safeguard the opinion and rights of people if it was voted to power in the December 30 general elections. The National Unity Front (NUF), a political alliance of opposition parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of imprisoned former prime minister Khaleda Zia, promised to ensure "peoples' ownership". "When the people no longer have control of the government, it is taken over by vested interests and various domestic and foreign groups... you have felt this in your bones," NUF convenor and eminent jurist Kamal Hossain said. The NUF, in line with the constitutional principle, would not only ensure peoples' ownership over the government but also the stake of defeated parties in the governance process, he said. "If we win the election and are given the responsibility, the Jatiya Oikya Front will govern for the welfare of all citizens. Our principles will be unity, integrity and lack of .
BJP moves privilege motion against Rahul over Rafale deal issue
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday moved a privilege motion against Congress party president Rahul Gandhi over the Rafale deal issue.The privilege motion was moved by BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Anurag Thakur, accusing Gandhi of breach of privilege under Rule 223 for his speech in the Lok Sabha in July this year during the no-confidence debate."We categorically assert that the price comparison given by Rahul Gandhi is a figment of imagination, incorrect and utter falsehood. It was an attempt to mislead the House. By uttering falsehood before the House, Rahul Gandhi is guilty of Breach of Privilege of Parliament," he said.Earlier today, two MPs, one each from Congress and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), gave adjournment motion notices in the Lok Sabha over the Rafale issue.CPI(M) MP Mohammed Salim and Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan gave adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, during the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament, over Rafale deal issue pertaining to the ..
On Rafale, Cong poses 11 questions to Prime Minister Modi
Congress party on Monday posed 11 questions on Rafale jet deal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking their answers or clarifications from him.These questions have been posed to Prime Minister Modi by Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala through his Twitter.Surjewala's first question pertains to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). "The Supreme Court decision in Rafale is based on CAG report, but CAG had not given any report, neither it was placed in Parliament nor in Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Why such a big fraud with the Supreme Court," Surjewala asked.In his second question, Surjewala, while referring to the agreement between Reliance and Dassault Aviation, said, "The top court's decision is based on the fact that Reliance had an agreement with Dassault since 2012. However, Reliance Defence Limited was formed on March 28 2015."In his third question, he alleged that the Apex Court's decision is based on the fact that former French ...
Dutch PM warns against copying Brexit 'chaos'
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned the Netherlands on Monday against emulating the "chaos" and division of Britain's decision to leave the European Union. "I compare the Netherlands to a fragile vase, held by its 17 million citizens," Rutte said in a full-page advert, printed in the popular daily tabloid Algemeen Dagblad. In order to preserve this 'vase', "compromises often have to be made in which difficult problems are solved in a sensible way," he said. But Rutte, who has been Dutch premier since 2010 and currently leads a shaky coalition government, said there are examples in society "where the vase has been dropped." "Look at Great Britain. There, its politicians and its people have forgotten what they've reached together," Rutte said. "Now they are caught up in chaos," he said. Rutte was the first stop on British Prime Minister Theresa May's unsuccessful tour to seek assurances for a Brexit deal from EU leaders last week. The Dutch premier was one of several leaders ...
3 BJP MPs move notice of breach of privilege against Rahul
As the BJP stepped up attack on Rahul Gandhi over the Rafale issue, three members of the ruling party in the Lok Sabha on Monday moved a notice of breach of privilege against the Congress president, alleging that he spoke "falsehood" and "misled the House" over the fighter aircraft deal in his speech during a debate in July. BJP MPs Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey and Sanjay Jaiswal have sought action against Gandhi over his speech during the debate on the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in Parliament's Monsoon Session. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its attack on Gandhi following the last week's Supreme Court verdict dismissing petitions seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal. The apex court had said there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 fighter jets from France. Gandhi has, however, stuck to his allegations of corruption in the purchase and demanded a probe by a Joint ...
Editors Guild asks Kerala to revoke directive imposing 'restrictions' on media
The Editors Guild of India has condemned a recent Kerala government directive which it said imposes "undue restrictions" on the media, and called for the order's revocation. A controversy erupted over the Kerala government issuing guidelines on media's interaction with the chief minister, cabinet ministers and celebrities within the Secretariat and other public places. According to the circular issued by Additional Chief Secretary Subrata Biswas, the chief minister and ministers would inform the Public Relations Department (PRD) in advance, if they are planning to interact with media at public venues. The Guild, in a statement, said that the circular issued by the Kerala state Home Department on November 15 is a "brazen attempt" at restraining the movement of media persons while they are discharging their professional duties. It urged the state government to revoke the circular without any delay. The circular prevents the media from approaching the chief minister, other ministers and .
Russian delegation heading to Davos after sanctioned oligarchs allowed in
The World Economic Forum said Monday that it had reached an agreement to allow sanctioned Russian tycoons to attend next month's Davos meeting, clearing Moscow to also send a full government delegation. Russia warned last month that it would not send a delegation to the luxury Swiss ski resort town to mingle with the global business elite in January if top Russian oligarchs facing US sanctions were kept out. The pressure appeared to work, with WEF announcing the sanctioned tycoons would now be welcome to attend the conference. "I am pleased that after discussions with all relevant parties, careful consideration of international legal frameworks and strong support from the Swiss government, we are able to host business and political leaders from all G20 countries," said Alois Zwinggi, WEF's head of compliance, in a statement sent to AFP Monday. He stressed that this was "essential", since to "address the pressing global challenges, we need all relevant parties at the Annual ...
BJP to protest across Bengal against govt's decision on 'rath yatra'
The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to take out rallies across West Bengal to protest against the Trinamool Congress government's decision to deny permission for its 'rath yatra'. As part of its protest programme, the party has organised a "ganatantra bachao (save democracy) andolan" in Arambagh area of Hooghly district on Monday. The BJP leaders have also threatened to organise a "civil disobedience" campaign in the state if they were stopped from holding the protest rallies. "We will take out rallies across Bengal to protest against the state government's decision. We will inform the masses about the undemocratic atmosphere prevailing in the state and the need for the 'save democracy' rally at this hour. "If we are stopped or denied permission to hold such rallies, then we will be forced to organise civil disobedience movement," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said at a press meet here. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani was also present at the meet. "It seems that the state ...
Bruised Lankan President Sirisena yet to bury the hatchet with triumphant PM Wickremesinghe
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who lost badly in his tussle for power with Ranil Wickremesinghe, is not ready to bury the hatchet with the triumphant Prime Minister, saying they do not see eye to eye on a number of issues, including on the release of LTTE political prisoners. 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 appointing ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place and also dissolving Parliament, some 20 months early. Sirisena was left with no other option following two separate decisions by the Supreme Court, which nullified his illegal moves. Addressing the members of his United National Front, Sirisena, 67, reiterated that he does not like Wickremesinghe, despite having to reappoint him as the Prime Minister, Colombo Gazette reported. He said that there were several issues ...
Security tightened for Sterlite plant amid reports of fresh
Security has been tightened around the Sterlite Copper plant here following information that attempts were on by some outfits to organise a major protest in the backdrop of the NGT setting aside a Tamil Nadu government order permanently closing it,officials said Monday. Besides, security was also strengthened in other parts of the district, including at the Collectorate here where a large number of police personnel had been posted, as a precautionary measure in view of the violent protests witnessed in May this year demanding closure of the plant. Thirteen people were killed in police firing on May 22-23 after the 99-day long protest by the locals against Sterlite turned violent and government properties came under attack. The proesters were demanding closure of the plant citing pollution concerns. While the Tamil Nadu government had on May 28 ordered permanent closure of the plant in the wake of the protests, the National Green Tribunal on Saturday set it aside, ...
Turkey grants citizenship to 72K Syrian refugees
The Turkish government has granted citizenship to a total of 72,000 Syrian refugees, Hurriyet daily reported on Monday.
NC demands inquiry into killing of seven civilians in Pulwama
The NC demanded Monday a time-bound inquiry into the killing of seven civilians at an encounter site in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district and urged the administration to put an end to use of lethal weapons for dealing with law and order situations. Incidents like these does not auger well for a democratic country, National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said. "I urge the Governor's administration to initiate an inquiry into the incident and depute a fact-finding team to the place where the gory incident took place," Sagar said. The civilians died on Saturday when security forces allegedly opened fire at a crowd that tried to storm the site of an encounter in which three militants and an army man were killed, police had said. Provincial president of the party Nasir Aslam Wani said the probe should be time-bound and the perpetrators be brought to book. "The incumbent administration must initiate a time-bound inquiry into the matter and bring the perpetrators to ...
Hours after taking charge, Kamal Nath clears farm loan waiver
Hours after taking oath of office Monday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath cleared the 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, Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary, Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development Department, issued an order in this regard. The order stated, "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." Addressing a public rally on June 7 at Pipliya Mandi in Mandsaur district, Gandhi had announced his party would waive farm loans within 10 of coming to power in the state. "Here Kamal Nath (MP Congress president) and Jyotiraditya Scindia (the state Congress poll campaign committee chairman) are sitting. The day the Congress comes to power in MP, count 10 days, I say with guarantee that ...
Rahul must apologise for "false" charges on Rafale: BJP MP
In a sharp attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi, BJP MP Poonam Mahajan Monday accused him of making a desperate bid to clean the Bofors scam's "stains" on his party and family by levelling "false" charges in the Rafale jet deal. She said Gandhi should apologise to the Supreme Court and the country's people over the "false allegations" he made pertaining to the French aircraft deal, or else the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing, will agitate outside the Congress' offices across the nation. "We are reaching out to people to let the countrymen know that there is an attempt on part of Gandhi to mislead the country and how by levelling false allegations, how the defence secrets are being exposed and how the Congress is politicising the issue," told reporters here. "According to us, Gandhi is trying to clean the Bofors scam's 'kalank' (stain) on his party and family...and while doing this there is a desperate attempt on his part to create political
As Vasundhara Raje loses power, Mamata Banerjee is now the only woman chief minister in India
Mamata Banerjee, who is being seen as a major centre in the country's political power-play ahead of next year's general elections, is now the only woman chief minister in India. The year started with three women chief ministers but after the recent elections, Banerjee is the only one to be in office. While, Vasundhara Raje Scindia lost power in Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir's Mehbooba Mufti resigned in June after ally BJP withdrew support from her government. "Each woman chief minister, including me has won elections and then lost. Once you have lost, you have to leave. I am happy that Mamata Banerjee represents all of us women at the moment as the chief minister of Bengal and of course as a part of the opposition, she will have a role in the upcoming elections," Sheila Dikshit, who was the longest serving chief minister of Delhi, serving from 1998 to 2013, told PTI. Banerjee, the eighth and current chief minister of West Bengal since 2011, is the first woman to hold the office. Known .
India announces USD 1.4 bn assistance to Maldives; both sides vow to deepen maritime ties
With Maldives reeling under mounting Chinese debt, India Monday announced a USD 1.4 billion financial assistance to the island nation and inked four pacts with it after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih held "successful" talks with an aim to reset ties. The two countries also agreed to remain mindful of each other's concerns and aspirations for the stability of the Indian Ocean region and not allow their respective territories to be used for any activity inimical to their interests. In his media statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Solih's victory in the presidential election in Maldives and assured him that India will always stand behind the island nation in its quest for peace and development. "India will always stand by you in your government's ambitious efforts to change the lives of the Maldivian people. For the social and economic development of Maldives, India will extend budget support, currency swap and lines of credit worth .