Page 2223 - Politics
Cong's Mohd Akbar records highest victory margin in C'garh
Senior Congress leader Mohammad Akbar won by the highest margin of 59,284 votes against his BJP rival in the just concluded Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. He also got the highest 1,36,320 votes, as compared to the remaining candidates in the fray in the state polls, as per the EC data. Akbar, a former state minister and All India Congress Committee (AICC) member, defeated BJP's Ashok Sahu, who got 77,066 votes, in Kawardha seat. Interestingly, he had suffered defeat at the hands of Sahu in the 2013 state polls. Akbar had in the past been elected from Birendra Nagar seatin 2003 and Pandariya in 2008. As per the EC data, five other Congress candidates - Amitesh Shukla, Dwarikadhish Yadav, Kuwarsingh Nishad, Kismat Lal Nand and Uttari Ganpat Jangde - won their seats by a margin of over 50,000 votes inthe just concluded state polls. Shukla wrested the Rajim seat from BJP's Santosh Upadhyay by 58,132 votes while Yadav wonthe Khallari seat against BJP's Monika Sahu by 56,978 ...
NOTA votes exceeded victory margin in 12 Rajasthan seats
In 12 Assembly seats in Rajasthan, NOTA (None of the Above) garnered more votes than the margin by which candidates won the election, affecting both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Lok Sabha adjourns after Opposition protests
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Thursday following protests by opposition members on various issues including the Rafale deal, Cauvery river water, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya among others.The Congress party raised the issue of Rafale while the Shiv Sena demanded the construction of the Ram temple. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs staged protests in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament demanding Special Category status for Andhra Pradesh.TDP MP Naramalli Sivaprasad was dressed up as a magician during the protest. He had earlier also dressed up as a schoolboy, Narad Muni, Adolf Hitler and others.Gurdaspur (Punjab) Congress MP Sunil Jakhar who moved an adjournment motion notice today in Lok Sabha over Rafale Deal, wore a yellow vest to express solidarity with workers of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).Following the adjournment, a meeting of (BAC) Business Advisory Committee was held in Parliament and discussions were held on price rise, agrarian distress and
Akali Dal against Kamal Nath becoming as MP CM
Akali Dal leader and Delhi MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday said Sikhs would hold nation-wide protests if Congress leader Kamal Nath became the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Sirsa alleged Kamal Nath had a role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
UK PM Theresa May wins confidence vote over Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May won a crucial vote of confidence in her leadership of the ruling Conservative Party over the controversial Brexit deal, after she placated rebel lawmakers by agreeing that she will not lead the party into the next general election in 2022. Though she won the backing of her party to stay on as prime minister, more than a third of Conservative MPs voted against her, underscoring the uphill battle she faces in getting her Brexit deal through Parliament. In the secret vote held Wednesday night, May secured 63 per cent votes with 200 in favour of her and 117 against, out of a total of 317 of her Conservative Party MPs. May, who has been prime minister since the UK voted to leave the 28-member European Union in June, 2016, is now immune from a leadership challenge for at least a year. The vote of confidence was triggered by 48 of her MPs angry at her Brexit policy, which they say betrays the 2016 referendum result. "Whilst I am grateful for the support, a .
BJP activists attacking houses of Cong supporters : TPCC chief
Opposition Congress in Tripura Thursday alleged that ruling BJP activists had attacked the houses of the party's supporters after the Congress' win in three states in the just concluded assembly elections. President of Tripura PCC, Birajit Sinha alleged inaction by the police despite lodging an FIR police and remained mere spectator. BJP, he said, was frightened by the assembly poll results of five states which went to poll recently and they were seeing the "spectre of defeat" in the coming general elections to be held next year. Congress has won in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. He alleged that BJP activists attacked the house of Ratan Das, who had contested and lost from Badharghat constituency in the February assembly poll in the state here. "BJP supporters and activists started attacking the Congress supporters just after the election results were announced on Tuesday last. "They damaged our party offices and attacked the Congress activists in different .
SC poser to J&K govt on resettlement law
The Supreme Court, which is hearing a plea challenging the validity of the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir Resettlement Act of 1982, sought to know Thursday as to how many people who migrated from the state have applied for returning from Pakistan. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the state government's counsel to take instruction on the issue and posted the matter for further hearing on January 22. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the state, told the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, that he will seek instruction from the competent authority and give the details about the migrants and their descendants who may have applied for returning under the law. The apex court wanted to know how many migrants and their descendants have applied and whether applications for return have been made by permanent residents -- persons who are being given special rights and privileges under the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. The top court was apprised ..
Deve Gowda extends support to mining dependents in Goa
JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda Thursday extended his support to mining dependents from Goa who are protesting in New Delhi and said if necessary, he will try to take up their issues in Parliament and also with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Deve Gowda met protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi where the Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF), an umbrella organisation of mining dependents, presented him a memorandum of their demands. Mining, which used to be one of the two major sources of revenue in Goa, the other being tourism, came to a halt in March this year after the Supreme Court quashed renewal of 88 mining leases. Around a thousand people under the banner of GMPF have been protesting in Delhi since Tuesday, demanding an amendment to the mining law during the ongoing winter session of Parliament to enable resumption of mining activity. Deve Gowda assured the protesters that he will go through the memorandum. "If necessary, I will take up the issue in Parliament in the form of a ...
Palestinian shoots dead two Israelis in West Bank: army
A Palestinian shot dead two Israelis and wounded at least two others at a bus stop in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the army said. "A Palestinian opened fire at a bus stop killing 2 Israelis, severely injuring 1 & injuring others at Asaf Junction, north of Jerusalem," the Israeli military said on its Twitter account. An army spokesperson was unable to confirm reports that the assailant targeted Israeli soldiers.
UN pushes Yemen rivals for truce at Sweden talks
UN chief Antonio Guterres led his mediators Thursday in a last-minute push for a truce in the Yemen war as rebels and the government wrangled over a key port and airport. International pressure is mounting to halt the fighting between the Iran-linked Huthis and the government of Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, backed by Saudi Arabia and its military allies. The conflict has triggered what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with 14 million Yemenis now at the brink of mass starvation. The warring parties have been in the rural Swedish village of Rimbo for UN-brokered talks, now in their seventh day, working for an agreement on key issues including a cessation of hostilities in Hodeida port, the main entry point for imported food and aid. A source inside the talks said mediators remained "positive" although there was "disagreement on the points of the proposals". Sources in both delegations said no agreement had been reached Thursday morning on both Hodeida and Sanaa airport, ...
'Seriously' considering running for presidency in 2020: Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, has said that she was "seriously" considering running for the White House in 2020. This is for the first time that the four-time Democratic lawmaker in the US house of Representatives from Hawaii has indicated that she may run for the presidency. "I'm seriously considering it," Gabbard, 37, told MSNBC News on Wednesday in response to a question on her presidential aspirations. If she announced her candidature, she would be the first Hindu ever to be running for the presidency in the United states. And if elected in 2020, she could be the youngest ever and first woman to be elected as the US president. "I'm concerned about the direction of our country. I'm thinking through it very carefully," Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran, said in response to a question on her presidential run. Before challenging President Donald Trump in the November 2020 elections, she would have to fight it against her own Democratic party colleagues in ...
Security tightened ahead of announcement of next Rajasthan CM's name
Security was tightened here Thursday ahead of the announcement of the name of the next Rajasthan chief minister as the supporters of both Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot had started gathering near their residences since morning. A large number of supporters are present at the civil lines residence of Gehlot, while Pilot's supporters are also present near his house in Jalupura. "Security arrangements have been tightened looking at the large number of supports at both the places. Additional policemen have been deployed to keep things under control," Additional Commission of Jaipur Police Nitindeep Bluggan told PTI. Apart from their residences, the party members and leaders are also present at the PCC office at Sansarchandra road and waiting for the clearance from the party high command over the name of the chief minister. Many Gurjar community members and supporters of Pilot had assembled near the PCC office Wednesday when the ...
Kerala Assembly session ends, minor scuffle between members
The 14-day session of the Kerala Assembly ended Thursday on a tumultuous note with ruling LDF members protesting the "communal wall" remark made by an Opposition MLA against the proposed "Wall of Women" initiative, resulting in a minor scuffle between members. The scuffle, which ended after intervention of senior MLAs, broke out while Opposition legislators were staging a walkout after denial of permission for an adjournment motion on the "Wall of Women." The "Wall of Women" would be formed under the aegis of the state government on January 1 from the northern district of Kasargod to the southern most district of Thiruvananthapuram to demonstrate the secular and progressive mindset of the state. While seeking permission for adjournment motion, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MLA M K Muneer termed the government initiative of the "Wall of Women" a "communal wall" triggering heated protests from ruling LDF members. However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said history would throw ...
Taxi permits to two-wheelers by states legal: Govt
Issuance of taxi permits for all kinds of vehicles including two-wheelers by states is not only legal but would also ease traffic jams, Parliament was informed Thursday. "Under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 the states may issue permits for taxi under section 72 and 73. Therefore it is legal for the states to issue taxi permits for all kinds of vehicles including two wheelers," Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh L Mandaviya told Lok Sabha. He was replying in written to a query whether the bike taxis have been made legal in 14 states. "The government is in favour of shared mobility which will help in reducing pressure on city and ease traffic jams," the Minister said adding that the state governments are competent to frame regulations for enabling bike taxis. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by Lok Sabha proposes to strengthen public transport and shared mobility and has given more powers to states in this regard. Road Transport and Highways Minister
Sheikh Hasina's fight against Islamic terror might help her keep power in Bangladesh
Siliguri [India], Dec 13 (ANI): Apart from the noticeable socio-economic growth track, what is favourable for Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's comeback is her government's "zero-tolerance" policy to counter violent extremism. She has also positioned the Awami League as a secular nationalist party, emphasising on its prosecution and execution of hardline Jamaat-e-Islami leaders who were found guilty of war crimes during the Liberation war in 1971.The government's main focus had been on a "quick-fix" strategy to curb terrorism, they say, until the attack on the popular Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's upmarket Gulshan neighbourhood on July 1, 2016, which led to the massacre of more than 20 hostages, most of them foreigners. It is termed as one of the deadliest attacks in Bangladesh's history. This, after a series of killings of secular bloggers, writers, publishers, cultural activists and politicians since 2013, that led many to believe that Bangladesh was losing its war against
We must protect secular character of India: Farooq Abdullah
India's secular character must be protected, said former J&K chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday.Responding to the controversial remark by Meghalaya High Court's Justice S R Sen that 'India should've declared itself a Hindu' country, Abdullah said: "We must protect the secular character of India.""We are a secular nation. Our forefathers made it a secular nation, and we must protect the secular character of this nation. It's a question of unity in diversity. It is a diversity that we must strengthen," he added.While disposing of the plea of a litigant who was denied a domicile certificate by Meghalaya government, Justice Sen on Monday said, "Since the partition of the subcontinent, during Independence, was done on the basis of religion, Pakistan declared that it was an Islamic country... India should also have been declared a Hindu country.
Election results setback for Modi, Shah: CPI-M
The results of Assembly elections in the Hindi heartland are a setback for the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, the CPI-M has said, warning that the BJP may be tempted now to whip up more communal frenzy.
"Wheel of justice yet to turn against Kamal Nath": H S Phoolka
Aam Aadmi Party leader and Supreme Court lawyer H S Phoolka Thursday claimed there was "strong" evidence of Congress leader Kamal Nath's involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and said the wheel of justice was yet to turn against him. Nath has emerged as the front runner for the post of Madhya Pradesh chief minister. "There's ample amount of evidence against Kamal Nath and the wheel of justice is yet to turn against him. Now, it is up to (Congress President) Rahul Gandhi to decide whether he wants a man who was involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh," Phoolka told PTI. The senior advocate, who has been representing victims of the riots in court cases, had earlier this year said that instead of punishing leaders involved in the anti-Sikh riots, the Congress had elevated and promoted them. "They were made ministers and given plum posts," he had said. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Singh Bagga claimed the Congress is aware of Nath's ...
BJP's wrong policies led to severe farm crisis in Maha: Chavan
Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan Thursday blamed the "wrong policies" of the BJP-led government for a "severe" farm crisis in the state, and called for a grand alliance of like-minded parties to dislodge the saffron party. He said Maharashtra has witnessed the highest number of farmers suicides. "Farmers consumed poison, hanged themselves and even lit their own pyres. This has never happened earlier, which reflects the gravity of the situation. But the government is not even ready to recognise this," Chavan told PTI. The former Maharashtra chief minister added that the Congress was very clear that loan waiver was a short-term proposal, which needed to be implemented if required. Chavan added that long-term policies for minimum support price (MSP), input cost of fertilisers, seeds, crop insurance, climatic conditions have been worked out by the party in the states, which went to polls recently, and the assurances will be implemented in Maharashtra as well. "What ...
Parrikar's sons offer prayers on his birthday
Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's sons celebrated his 63rd birthday on Thursday by offering prayers at a popular temple here.