Page 2192 - Politics
Loan waiver will be announced in first Cabinet meet: Baghel
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister-designate Bhupesh Baghel said Sunday that a loan waiver for farmers will be announced in the first meeting of the new state Cabinet. Baghel, who will be taking the oath of office Monday afternoon, also said that a Special Investigation Team will be constituted to probe the 2013 Jhiram Valley Naxal attack in which several senior Congress leaders were killed. "In the first Cabinet meeting, the loan waiver will be announced and an SIT will be constituted to probe the Jhiram valley incident," Baghel told reporters here. "Promises made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi to farmers will be our first priority. To probe the conspiracy behind the Jhiram valley incident will also be our priority," he said. "Our focus will be on the welfare of farmers, tribals, youth, women and small traders," he added. The Congress' manifesto had promised to waive the loans of farmers within 10 days of coming to power. It had also promised a bonus on paddy procurement and a minimum ..
Chennai: Sonia Gandhi unveils Karunanidhi's statue
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the statue of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) headquarters here on Sunday.The occasion assumed significance as a number of political leaders spread across different parties attended the event in a show of opposition unity. Apart from Sonia, Congress president Rahul Gandhi also attended the event.From the Opposition, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were present, apart from DMK leaders -- Karunanidhi's grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran and his son and daughter, MK Stalin and Kanimozhi.Actor-turned-politicians Shatrughan Sinha and Rajinikanth also graced the occasion.Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president and Chairman of India Cements N Srinivasan attended the event, as well as Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko.After unveiling the statue, the Gandhis ...
Modi halted Rae Bareli, Amethi's development: Congress
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi "Mr. Mislead", the Congress on Sunday accused him of halting development in the Nehru-Gandhi family's bastions -- Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, by stalling or shelving several mega projects.
Car bomb kills 8 people in Syria's Afrin: monitor
A car bomb killed at least eight people including four civilians near a pro-Turkey rebel post in the northern Syrian city of Afrin on Sunday, a British-based war monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was not clear who was behind the blast in the city, which was seized from Kurdish forces earlier this year. The explosion comes after the Turkish president on Wednesday threatened to launch a new offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. The Observatory said the car bombing wounded dozens, and the toll was likely to rise. "The car bomb exploded near a position of pro-Turkey fighters" in a market, killing four civilians and four fighters, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The city of Afrin was captured in March this year from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) by Turkish armed forces and Syrian rebels supported by Ankara. Turkey accuses the YPG of being "terrorists", but the Kurdish militia also form the backbone of a ..
Cong misinterpreted SC's judgment on Rafale deal: PP Choudhary
After the central government filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking correction in its judgement on the Rafale fighter jet deal, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice PP Choudhary on Sunday claimed that the Congress misinterpreted and misunderstood the apex court's ruling.Following the Supreme Court's order on Friday, the central government filed an application before the top court on Saturday seeking a correction in the order to make it clear that the pricing aspect, examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), has not been looked into by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as yet.The Congress demanded that the top court must immediately recall its judgement on Rafale deal case, claiming that the BJP-led central government has 'misled' the apex court while alleging that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has brought an embarrassment to the apex court.Choudhary told ANI: "See, the Congress has misinterpreted and misunderstood the ...
Will conduct SIT probe into 2013 Naxal attack: Chhattisgarh CM elect
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister-elect Bhupesh Bhagel on Sunday termed the Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack in 2013 as a "criminal political conspiracy", and said his cabinet will constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.In May 2013, Naxals ambushed a convoy transporting a number of Congress leaders. The attack had left at least 27 dead, including former chief minister Mahendra Karma and the party's state-unit chief Nand Kumar Patel."We have been saying from the start that the incident was a criminal political conspiracy. We will constitute an SIT and conduct an investigation into the incident," Bhagel said while addressing the media following a meeting with the Chhattisgarh Governor Anandiben Patel.Bhagel underscored that the issue of Naxalism in the state is a very serious problem, adding that his government will take firm action with the support of the people residing in Naxal-affected regions, to tackle the menace."The problem of Naxalism is very serious. Nobody can
Maldives seize $6.5 million from former president
Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen is under investigation for corruption, police said Sunday, after a court ordered accounts holding USD 6.5 million to be frozen. Yameen, who was defeated in a September election, was interviewed by police on the honeymoon islands on Saturday. He has been dogged by allegations that he received close to USD 1.5 million in illicit payments during his failed bid for re-election in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation. The country's monetary authority has lodged a police complaint about the alleged donations made into a private account held by Yameen in two suspicious tranches, local media reported. The former strongman president, who ruled the popular holiday islands with an iron fist, jailing or exiling his opponents, has denied the allegations. Yameen relied heavily on China for political and financial support in the nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims, troubling neighbouring India. Beijing has challenged New Delhi for regional influence, including in .
Army celebrates 'Vijay Diwas' in J-K
General Officer Commanding-in-chief, northern command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Sunday led his men and celebrated the 47th anniversary of Vijay Diwas, marking India's military victory over Pakistan in 1971 war. The celebration commemorated with a wreath-laying ceremony at 'Dhruva Shahid Smarak' by Lieutenant Gen Singh at Udhampur garrison with traditional enthusiasm, a defence spokesperson said. Each year December 16 is celebrated as 'Vijay Diwas' to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in 1971. The victory is unique and unparalled as it was on this day that 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered to the Indian Army eventuating in subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. On this occasion, the Army commander complimented the rank and file of northern command for their steadfastness, dedication and selflessness, the spokesperson said. He said the Army Commander exhorted all ranks to rededicate themselves in the service of the nation and confront new challenges with ...
Bhupesh Baghel is Chhattisgarh's new CM (Fourth Lead, Correcting para 2)
State Congress President Bhupesh Baghel was on Sunday named the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and he vowed in no time to cancel within 10 days bank loans taken by farmers -- a campaign promise that led to the BJP's rout in Assembly elections.
Akbaruddin Owaisi elected as AIMIM floor leader in Tel House
AIMIM leader and five-time MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi was Sunday elected as floor leader of the party in the Telangana Legislative Assembly. The executive committee of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Sunday met under the leadership of the party president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi at the party headquarters, Darussalam, here, and elected Akbaruddin as the floor leader, it said. Akbaruddin won the Chandrayangutta Assembly segment for the fifth consecutive time in the recently concluded assembly polls, results of which were announced on December 11. He remains undefeated in the AIMIM bastion since 1999. In the latest polls, the ruling TRS retained power by winning 88 of total 119 seats while the Congress won 19 seats and the AIMIM 7 seats.
Expelled SAD leaders launch new political outfit
Expelled Akali leaders launched their new political party Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) -- on Sunday. Member of Parliament from Khadoor Sahib Ranjit Singh Brahmpura will lead the newly floated outfit. The name of the new party was announced by the expelled leaders, after paying obeisance at Akal Takhat here, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs. Brahmpura was accompaniedby senior leaders Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Rattan Singh Ajnala, among others. Talking about the political agenda of the party, they told reporters that the new outfit would take up issues pertaining to Punjab's right over capital Chandigarh, and river water issues and other rights of inhabitants of Punjab. They said the new outfit will fight against the drug menace affecting the state. On December 2, the expelled SAD leaders said they would float a new political outfit based on the Akali Dal's old constitution, which was framed in 1920. They had accused SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal of distorting the old ...
Congress thinks it is above judiciary: Modi
Launching a blistering attack on the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the party has always thought it was above the judiciary.
Reiterate my commitment to building strong, united & vibrant Congress: Rahul
On a day Rahul Gandhi completed a year as Congress president, he reiterated his commitment to building a strong, united and a vibrant party. Gandhi, after being elected unopposed as the Congress chief, took over his new assignment on December 16 last year from his mother, Sonia Gandhi, at the party headquarters on Akbar Road here. "On the 1st anniversary of taking over as Congress President, I reiterate my commitment to building a strong, united and vibrant Congress party. "I am overwhelmed by the greetings and messages I've received today and thank each and every one of you for your affection and support," he posted on Twitter on Sunday.
Maldives President Solih arrives in India
Maldives' newly-elected President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, arrived in India for a three-day official visit.Solih was received by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri at the airport.Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "Fortifying close bonds of cooperation and friendship. President of #Maldives @ibusolih received by MoS @MoHUA_India @HardeepSPuri on arrival in Delhi - his first foreign visit after assuming office & within a month of visit of PM @narendramodi to Maldives. #NeighbourhoodFirst"This is the Maldivian leader's maiden visit to India after assuming the office of Prime Minister on November 17.Solih will be accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on December 17. He will then participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat.Later that day, the Maldives President is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, before holding delegation-level talks with Prime ...
PM Modi accuses Congress of distrusting Armed forces
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress of trusting the enemy's claims over the Indian Army's and weakening the forces including the Indian Air Force."The people of the party (Congress) that raises questions on surgical strikes, trust enemy's claims more than our Army, what can be expected of them?" said Prime Minister Modi while addressing a rally here."After the Kargil War, our Air Force was in need of modern aircraft. After the government of Atal ji, Congress ruled the country for 10 long years, but the Air Force did not become strong. They (Congress) basically wanted our forces to be weak," added the Prime Minister.Just days after the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities in Rafale aircraft deal, Prime Minister Modi accused the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress of spreading lies since forever."Such people feel that even the country's defence ministry is lying, the defence minister is also lying, officers ..
Sonia Gandhi unveils Karunanidhi's statue at DMK party office
The Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and former President of the Congress party Sonia Gandhi on Sunday unveiled the bronze statue of late DMK President M. Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu.
Cyber technology new weapon of anti-nationalists: Naidu
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said cyber technology is a big and new weapon of anti-nationalists, hence the security forces need new equipment and advanced technologies to deal with the threats.
Bengal BJP chief calls for President's rule in state as government stops Rath Yatra
The West Bengal BJP leadership on Sunday said the party would move the court against the state government's rejection of its application to hold a Rath Yatra here.
Modi government will come to power again in 2019 LS polls: Irani
Union minister Smriti Irani Sunday said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP will make "lotus bloom" and the party-led government will come to power again in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing the Delhi BJP's 'Mahila Hunkar Rally' here, Irani asked party's women workers to reach out to people at booth-level with the message of the Modi government's holistic development and women power seeking their support in the general election. "We all resolve that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we will make lotus bloom with the message of holistic development and women power and the BJP-led NDA government, which is dedicated towards development, is again formed (in 2019)," the Union textiles minister said. The 'Hunkar Rally' was organised by the women cell of the Delhi BJP at Ramlila Ground on the sixth anniversary of the 'Nirbhaya' gang rape case. It was attended by several leaders, including state party chief Manoj Tiwari. Speaking at the event, Tiwari hit .
Bhupesh Baghel to be the new chief minister of Chhattisgarh
Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was Sunday named the new chief minister of Chhattisgarh, ending the suspense after days of intense deliberations with top party leadership headed by president Rahul Gandhi. Congress central observer Mallikarjun Kharge made the announcement after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting here. . Baghel will take oath as the the chief minister at 5 pm on Monday, Kharge told media persons in the state capital. No other minister will be taking oath on that day, he said. The 57-year-old OBC leader, who steered the party to a stupendous victory with a two-thirds majority in Chhattisgarh pipped party colleagues T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant to the top post, as Congress chief Gandhi decided on his candidature to lead the state government. "It was a tough decision because all the four leaders worked equally for the party and they all are equal," Kharge said. After having discussions with the four aspirants, Gandhi decided to ...