Page 2199 - Politics
Reach out to people on Central schemes:PM tells TN BJP workers
In the run-up to next year's Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday told BJP workers in Tamil Nadu it was their duty to create awareness about the Centre's welfare schemes and hold meetings as well so that benefits of such initiatives reached more people. "The BJP believes in sabka saath sabka vikas," he said in an interaction with party workers from Tamil Nadu via video conferencing from New Delhi. "Imagine the kind of contribution we can make if we get a chance to serve people of Tamil Nadu," he said. "It is the duty of karyakartas to create awareness on these (central government schemes) and also enrol more people in these schemes and make them partners in the development journey," the prime minister added. No government at the Centre has done so much for Tamil Nadu as the BJP has done, he said. "From health to housing and from skill to sanitation, lives of people are being improved across all sectors," Modi said. Citing examples, the prime minister ...
Seven civilians among 11 killed in encounter, protest in Kashmir
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. The Army laid siege around an isolated house in the middle of an orchard following an intelligence input about the presence of the militants. After the initial contact with the militants, the security forces completed the operation in 90 minutes, killing all three. The soldiers were taken by surprise as people started marching towards the encounter site from all directions with some of them trying to seize their weapons, police said. A police spokesman said while the operation was going on, security forces had to resort to firing at the crowd that came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site". Those injured in the firing .
Rafale verdict: Govt moves SC seeking correction in para on PAC examination
A day after the Supreme Court verdict in the Rafale fighter deal case, the government on Saturday filed an application before it, seeking a correction in the order to make it clear that the pricing aspect, examined by the CAG, has not been looked into by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as yet.The Union of India (UOI) sought urgent correction in the wording of a particular paragraph in the order "in the interests of justice and in the facts and circumstances of the case", while noting that "the observations in the judgement have resulted in a controversy."In its application, accessed by the ANI, the union government pointed out that error in two sentences appears to have occurred, perhaps, on account of a misinterpretation of a couple of sentences in a note handed over to the Apex Court in a sealed cover.The government clarified that it had only submitted a "description of procedure" by the CAG, which the Supreme Court appears to have mistaken "is" for "has been".The ...
PM Modi to visit UP tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a day-long visit to Uttar Pradesh to inaugurate multiple projects in the state.Prime Minister Modi will inspect the Modern Coach Factory at Rae Bareli. At a public meeting, he will flag off the 900th coach, and a Humsafar rake of the Factory. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering.The Prime Minister will then proceed to Prayagraj, where he will inaugurate a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre for the Kumbh Mela. He will perform Ganga Pujan, and visit the Swachh Kumbh exhibition. Prime Minister Modi will also visit the 'Akshayvat' in the city.According to an official statement, Prime Minister Modi will next visit Andawa, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects. The Prime Minister will also address a gathering there.Prime Minister will inaugurate a new terminal at Bamrauli airport in Prayagraj before returning to New Delhi.
SC verdict on Rafale deal based on factual-bloomers: Kapil Sibal
The Supreme Court verdict on Rafale fighter jet deal is based on 'factual-bloomers,' former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said on Saturday.He also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA's Central government, stating that "Centre has submitted wrong facts to the apex court and Attorney General should be held responsible for it."The apex court on Friday dismissed all the petitions seeking probe into the Rafale deal stating that it was "satisfied" with the Central government's decision-making process.Addressing a press conference, Sibal said that the Attorney General should be called before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). "Government is responsible for giving wrong facts to the Supreme Court. I think the Attorney General should be called before the PAC to and get these issues clarified.""Why they made these assertions before the court through an affidavit and why such affidavit was filed which didn't reflect true facts? The facts filed in the affidavit .
Wang Yi visit to give boost to India-China relations
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from December 21 to 24 to hold the first-ever meeting of India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj.The meeting will be focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the two Asian nations.In November, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had met in Chengdu for the 21st round of Special Representatives' talks between India and China where they agreed to look for "fair solution" to the border issues.The two sides focused on intensifying efforts to achieve a fair and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.
Pakistan, China, Afghanistan ink MoU on anti-terrorism cooperation
Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on counter-terrorism cooperation during the second trilateral ministerial dialogue here.The trilateral talks are being held in the Afghan capital to discuss the peace process, apart from bolstering anti-terrorism and economic cooperation. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is in Kabul for a day-long visit, signed the agreement along with his Chinese and Afghan counterparts, Wang Yi and Salahuddin Rabbani respectively, Geo News reported.The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani.During the trilateral dialogue, Qureshi said that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China should come together to combat terrorism and achieve peace in the region. He also underlined the need for strengthening regional cooperation in various sectors."Better border management between Pakistan and Afghanistan and intelligence sharing will be greatly beneficial for both the countries. ..
Rajapaksha accuses UNP for delaying elections, destroying Lankan economy
Shortly after the disputed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha resigned from his post, he targeted Ranil Wickeremsinghe-led United National Party (UNP) for delaying the general elections to stay in power. He also accused Wickeremsinghe's government of destroying the Lankan economy by borrowing heavily from external sources.The controversial leader who hung to the seat despite suffering defeats in the no-confidence motion brought by UNP MP in the Lankan Parliament in a public address said that the confrontation is now directly between his party and "a group of political parties" that have continuously "engaged in various subterfuges" to avoid facing elections."Elections to provincial councils have been delayed by more than one year and three months, but no one has an inkling of when those long overdue elections will be held. The people have now been deprived of the general election that had already been declared," Rajapaksha said.He added that the new Constitution will also ...
CPI(M) files intervention plea in pending SLP in SC challenging Article 370
The CPI(M) has filed an intervention plea in the pending Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of Article 370 of the Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The intervention plea is filed through advocate-on-record Resmitha R Chandran. Senior advocate P V Surendranath will argue the matter in the apex court for the party. "The party is of the unequivocal opinion that Article 370 shall in no circumstance be annulled, modified or repealed. The party opposes the relief sought in the Special Leave Petition," CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami said in a statement. "The special status guaranteed to the State of Jammu Kashmir under the Constitution of India which has assumed the permanent feature of the Constitution requires protection as any alteration would be against the policy of federalism envisaged by the framers of the Constitution," he said. Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India in unique circumstances and it ..
Goa BJP leaders meet to discuss 2019 LS polls agenda
Office bearers of Goa Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had a meeting on Saturday with the newly-appointed state organising secretary Satish Dhond and discussed the party's preparedness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Centre's CAG, PAC claim in SC on Rafale deal wrong: Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar Saturday termed as "absolutely wrong" the Union government's claim in the Supreme Court that a Comptroller and Auditor General report on the Rafale deal had been examined by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. Speaking to media channels in Pune, he noted that the apex court's decision on the Rafale purchase was based on the information provided to it by the Centre. The court had on Friday dismissed all the petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale deal stating that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. It had said the material placed before it showed that the Centre did not disclose in Parliament the pricing details of the Rafale fighter jet, but revealed it to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). It said the CAG report was even examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. "The material placed before us shows
BJP leads, Congress finishes second in Assam rural polls
While the ruling BJP in Assam has won a majority of the seats in the panchayat polls, its alliance partner, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has secured the third position while the Congress finished second.
No need of JPC on Rafale after apex court verdict: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that his party has given up its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal after Supreme Court verdict in the matter.
Govt lied to SC on Rafale; committed contempt of court, perjury: Cong
The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and committed contempt of court and perjury. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the multi-billion dollar deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets. It said there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. Speaking to mediapersons here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the basis of the court ruling was a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which has not been seen by anyone, nor has it been shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The apex court said it was ill-equipped to conduct judicial review of issues related to pricing, and this has been the Congress' stand. Hence, the party is demanding a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), .
Raise doubts on Rafale deal in SC: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that any "doubts" over the Rafale aircraft deal should be raised in that court, a stance contrary to the Congress demand for a JPC probe of the defence agreement. The remark comes a day after the Supreme Court dismissed the pleas challenging the deal to buy 36 Rafale fighters from France. The court said there was no reason to "really doubt the decision-making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. But the Congress has insisted that the apex court did not go into the pricing and technical aspects of the aircraft and only a joint parliamentary committee can probe whether there was any irregularity in the deal. "The decision on Rafale deal has been given by the Supreme Court. Doubts, if any, should be taken up in the Supreme Court as it is supreme in the eyes of people," Yadav told reporters in Lucknow. The Samajwadi Party had previously demanded a JPC probe of the deal. Asked about the change in the party's stance, Yadav ...
Vedanta's Sterlite Copper hails NGT order allowing resuming Tuticorin unit operations
Sterlite Copper, a subsidiary of Vedanta Ltd, Saturday welcomed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order allowing the company to resume operations at its unit at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. In May, the company had to close its smelter plant in Tamil Nadu following a state government order. The company had challenged the order in the NGT. The state government had ordered permanent closure of the company's copper unit after 13 people, among protesters demanding its shutdown on environmental concerns, were killed in police firing. On Saturday's NGT order, Sterlite Copper CEO P Ramnath said, "We welcome the order given by the National Green Tribunal on allowing us to resume operations of our copper smelter at Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin)." The NGT set aside the Tamil Nadu government order for closure of the copper unit at Tuticorin, which was at the centre of massive protests over alleged pollution, saying it was "non sustainable" and "unjustified". A bench headed by NGT Chairperson A .
People will get rid of BJD, make a new Odisha: Pradhan
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday called for the ouster of BJD from power in Odisha, dubbing the present dispensation as "corrupt and inefficient" which has failed to deliver good governance. "It is time to change the government in Odisha as the BJD regime has failed to provide good governance during its 19-year rule," Pradhan said while addressing a public meeting at Bhismagiri under Digaphandi Assembly constituency in Ganjam, the home district of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Kick-starting the BJP's campaign for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections next year, the Union minister took part in the party's ongoing Jana Paramarsha Yatra' (people contact programme) in the village and said People have made up their mind to defeat BJD and to make a new Odisha. Hitting out at the Naveen Patnaik-led government, Pradhan said youths are forced to move out of the state in search of jobs as the government has failed to provide them means of livelihood. The ...
Australia recognises West Jerusalem as Israeli capital
Australia on Saturday officially recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel after a period of consultations at home and abroad, prompting criticism from Palestine against the move.
Congress MLC D'Souza wants to contest LS poll
Congress member in the Karnataka Legislative Council Ivan D'Souza Saturdayexpressed his desire to contest the Lok Sabha elections fromDakshina Kannada constituency. Addressing reporters here, D'Souza said he is an aspirant for a ticket in the coming Lok Sabha polls fromDK constituency and is confident of winning if the party high command gave him the chance. He said had already approached the partyleadership and apprised them of the situation in theconstituency. Voters belonging to the minority community are the deciding factor in thesegment and there is nothing wrong in seeking a ticket for himself, he added. Asked about former Union minister B Janardhana Poojaryexpressing willingness to contest if given a chance, D'Souza said the veteran leader also had the right to seek a ticketadding he would work for him if the party decided in his favour.
TN to appeal against NGT order to reopen Sterlite Copper
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Saturday said the state government will go for an appeal against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to reopen Vedanta Ltd's copper smelter plant, Sterlite Copper, in Tuticorin.