Page 2212 - Politics
Kamal Nath to take oath on Dec 17
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath will be sworn-in as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on December 17 after Governor Anandiben Patel handed him a letter of appointment for the top post.
Khashoggi killing: US Senate passes resolution condemning Saudi Crown Prince
The US Senate has passed a resolution blaming and condemning Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, ratcheting up pressure on President Donald Trump who has aligned himself with the Saudi kingdom in the aftermath of the ghastly killing.
Pilot supporters want him as Rajasthan CM
Supporters of state Congress President Sachin Pilot on Friday took to the streets demanding that he be named as Rajasthan's next Chief Minister.
Lanka President to appoint new prime minister by Monday: Report
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has said he will choose a new Prime Minister and Cabinet by Monday, but vowed never to reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose ouster sparked an unprecedented political crisis in the country. His remarks came after Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Thursday unanimously ruled that the dissolution of Parliament by Sirisena was "illegal". After the verdict, a special meeting of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was held at the Presidential Secretariat last night chaired by Sirisena. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as the prime minister by Sirisena after sacking Wickremesinghe, also attended the meeting, Colombo Page reported. The president at the meeting said that he would accept the verdict of the Supreme Court on the dissolution of parliament, but he will never rule again with Wickremesinghe. Sirisena said that he decided to dissolve Parliament to prevent destruction of the country by the Wickremesinghe-led United National Party (UNP), ...
Gehlot likely to be Rajasthan CM: Sources
Ashok Gehlot is likely to be the Congress' pick for Rajasthan chief minister, sources said Friday, after party president Rahul Gandhi appeared to have successfully brokered peace between the veteran leader and his younger colleague Sachin Pilot following several rounds of discussions. "The united colours of Rajasthan," Gandhi said in a tweet along with a photograph in which the three leaders were seen in a jovial mood. Sources said Gehlot's name is likely to be announced as the party's pick for the post in the evening. Gandhi has met the two leaders separately thrice since Thursday and is learnt to have decided the chief ministerial face in the state. There have been hectic discussions between top party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on the selection of chief ministers for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Senior party leaders K C Venugopal, Avinash Pande and Jitendra Singh were also present during the meeting Friday.
Rahul hints Rajasthan CM issue settled
In a sign that the leadership question in Rajasthan has been settled, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday posted his photograph with Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, both contenders for the Chief Minister's post, as party sources hinted that Gehlot could be the party's choice for the top post.
C'garh polls: BJP wins just one seat in Sahu-dominated areas
In the recently-concluded Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, the BJP suffered a huge setback in the constituencies that have a significant population of the Sahu community, a dominant OBC community in the state. The Congress' "attractive" promises like farm loan waiver, bonus against paddy procurement, apparently prompted this agrarian community to vote in favour of the party. Although the BJP had fielded 14 candidates belonging to the community, all of them, barring one, bit the dust. Ranjana Dipendra Sahu is the only BJP candidate from the community, who emerged as the winner. A newcomer, she wrested Dhamtari seat from Congress' sitting MLA Gurumukh Singh Hora. Prominent among other Sahu community candidates from the saffron party who lost the polls are senior leader Chandrashekhar Sahu (Abhanpur constituency) and sitting MLAs Ashok Sahu (Kawardha) and Tokhan Sahu (Lormi). Kashiram Ram Sahu (Kota), Megharam Sahu (Shakti), Kailash Sahu (Jaijaipur), Monika Sahu (Khallari),
Romania rejects request by Turkey to extradite journalist
A Romanian court has rejected a request by Turkey to extradite a Turkish journalist it accuses of terrorism. Turkey wants to try Kamil Demirkaya for links to Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric blamed by Turkey for orchestrating a failed coup in 2016. The Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, which is not final, on Friday after 15 minutes' deliberation. Reasons will be published later. Demirkaya was detained in Romania on Dec 5 after Turkey petitioned to extradite him "for being a member of criminal, terrorist group." Demirkaya denies allegations of terrorism. He said he opposed the request because "justice doesn't function in Turkey." The Zaman Romania newspaper where Demirkaya works says the extradition was ordered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The case is delicate for Romania, which takes over the EU's rotating presidency on Jan 1.
Crucial decisions always take time: Gehlot
"Crucial decisions always take time," Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said on Friday, commenting on why the name of Rajasthan Chief Minister had not been announced yet.
Turkey targets military over alleged Gulen links
Turkish authorities on Friday ordered the arrest of over 200 military personnel in new raids against suspects linked to the attempted coup in 2016, state media reported. The Istanbul public prosecutor ordered arrest warrants for 219 soldiers on active duty including four colonels and five lieutenant colonels, state news agency Anadolu said. Istanbul police launched an operation to capture the suspects on Friday morning. They are believed to have ties to the group led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, a former ally turned foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ankara accuses Gulen of being behind the failed coup but he strongly denies any links. In Ankara, the capital's public prosecutor issued arrest warrants on Friday for 48 people, mainly working in the arms industry, also over alleged links to Gulen. Turkey refers to the group as the "Fethullah Terrorist Organisation" but followers insist they have peaceful goals of promoting Islam and secular education. Over 50,000 ...
Govt not planning to replace take-home rations with packaged nutrients: WCD
The government is not planning to replace the existing take-home rations and supplementary nutrition to packaged nutrients at anganwadis, the Lok Sabha was told Friday. Minister of State for Women and Child Development Ministry Virendra Kumar, in response to a question whether the government is planning to provide packaged nutrients to replace the existing take-home ration, said "no". He also said the government is not implementing a pilot project for conditional cash scheme in lieu of take-home rations and hot cooked meals provided at anganwadis. However, according to WCD officials, the National Nutrition Council last month recommended that direct cash transfer scheme should be launched on a pilot basis in two districts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Kumar also said anganwadi services under the umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme is implemented in all districts across the country. "Total number of beneficiaries who have availed the services as on June 30, 2018 are .
Shivraj congratulates Kamal Nath, urges him to continue with BJP's welfare schemes
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday congratulated his successor Kamal Nath and urged him to continue with the schemes he implemented for the welfare of the people during his tenure.Speaking to media, Chouhan said, "I would like to congratulate Kamal Nath Ji and convey my best wishes to him. I hope he will fulfil all the promises he has made and continue with the schemes we had implemented."Nath will take oath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on December 17, at Lal Parade ground in capital city Bhopal.The statement from Singh came days after he quit the workplace after the Rahul Gandhi led-Congress emerged as the largest party in the state winning 114 seats in the Assembly Elections.However, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) extended their support to the party. BSP has won 2 seats and SP 1 seat, taking the total for Congress to 117, crossing the majority mark of 116.
Ashok Gehlot to be named Rajasthan chief minister, say sources
Ashok Gehlot is going to be announced as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan, said sources.The official announcement could be made any time later today.Following elaborate deliberations, the Congress decided to name Gehlot as the Chief Minister.Rajasthan PCC president Sachin Pilot was also seen as a close contender for the post.The result of the Assembly elections for Rajasthan was announced on Dec 11. Of the 199 seats that went for elections, Congress won 99 constituencies and BJP 73 only.The 67-year-old leader is the third time chief minister of the state. He was chief minister in 1998-2003 and 2008-2013.Gehlot belongs to the Mali community.He has been the General Secretary of the party, the third-in-command after party president Rahul Gandhi and treasurer Ahmed Patel.Along with the administrative part, Gehlot will have to consolidate the voter base further for the upcoming General elections in 2019.
Trump's inaugural committee probed over illegal foreign donations
US President Donald Trump's 2017 inaugural committee is currently being investigated by federal prosecutors for possible financial abuses related to foreign donations raised for his inauguration, the media reported.
Amit Shah asks Rahul to apologize on Rafale jet issue
BJP President Amit Shah on Friday demanded that Congress President Rahul Gandhi should apologize to the nation for his "brazen lies" accusing the government and the Prime Minister of corruption in the Rafale jet deal with France and said he should also disclose the source of information for his attacks.
Kamal Nath to be sworn in on Dec 17
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on December 17.
Rafale rocks LS, House adjourned for the day
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday amid protests both by the opposition and the treasury benches as there was a ruckus over the Rafale fighter jet deal with the Congress demanding a JPC probe and the BJP seeking an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the wake of a Supreme Court decision.
Senate rebukes Trump, Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi, Yemen war
In back-to-back votes against Saudi Arabia, the Senate delivered an unusual rebuke of President Donald Trump's response to the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and signaled new skepticism from Capitol Hill toward the longtime Middle East ally. Although the resolutions are largely symbolic because it's unclear if they will be considered by the House passage Thursday showed senators seeking to assert oversight of Trump administration foreign policy and the relationship with Saudi Arabia. It also marked the collapse of the Trump administration's effort in the Senate to contain fallout from the gruesome killing. One measure recommended that the US end its assistance to Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen. The other put the blame for the death of Khashoggi squarely on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Both had been vigorously opposed by the Trump administration, threated with potential presidential veto, and top brass was on Capitol Hill ahead of voting to prevent further action ..
The process takes time, says Gehlot on Rajasthan CM face
As suspense looms over who would be the Rajasthan chief minister, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot stated that "making decisions in such matters takes time as observers go to states for discussions."Retorting to BJP's remarks over the delay caused in the appointment of chief ministers, Gehlot pointed out that "the BJP itself took seven days to choose chief minister when emerged victorious in Uttar Pradesh.""In Maharashtra too, the BJP took nine days to choose the head of the state," he added.In Rajasthan, the party has two prominent contenders for the chief ministerial post, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.On the one hand, Pilot has been heading the Rajasthan Congress for past four-five years and has delivered with satisfaction. On the other hand, Gehlot who held the chief ministerial post twice earlier remains popular among the public.On December 11, the Congress bagged as many as 99 seats out in the 200-member assembly. The party's ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) managed to win one ...
Rahul owes an apology for misleading public on Rafale: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Friday said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi must issue an apology soon for misleading public on the Rafale fighter jet deal."Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation for misleading people. What was the source of information on the basis of which he made such big allegations?" said the 54-year-old BJP chief while addressing a press conference here on Friday.Shah further said, By trying to stop the procedure to buy the aircraft, Rahul Gandhi put the security of the country in danger. I would like to ask Rahul Gandhi to present the source of your information into the Rafale deal, on the basis of which you have levied such allegations," he added.The Rafale jet deal controversy has been on the boil over the last few months. The Congress and other opposition parties have been alleging irregularities in the high-profile deal. The fighter jet is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft, which security analysts believe can be a ...