Page 223 - Politics
Former Pondy CM R V Janakiraman dead
Senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and former Chief Minister of Puducherry R V Janakiraman died at a private hospital here Monday due to age-related ailments. He was 79. Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, Speaker V P Sivakolundhu, DMK's south wing convenor R Siva, MLA,and its north wing convenor S P Sivakumar and leaders of different political parties were among those who paid their respects to the departed leader. The Chief Minister told newsmen later that the funeral of the departed leader would be held with State honours. The last rites of the leader would be held in his native village of Alathur in neighbouring Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu tomorrow, family sources said. Janakiraman was elected from Nellithope segment here for five consecutive terms from 1985. He was Chief Minister of Puducherry between 1996 and 2000 and was heading the DMK-Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) coalition government. He had served as Leader of the opposition, whip of the DMK and ...
Madhya Pradesh: CM Kamal Nath takes oath as MLA
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Monday took oath as MLA after getting elected from Chhindwara Assembly seat in a bypoll held along with the April-May Lok Sabha polls. Nath, who took over as chief minister in December last year following the Congress' win in the Assembly elections, was at the time a Lok Sabha MP from Chhindwara. Vidhan Sabha Speaker NP Prajapati administered the oath to Nath in the Assembly Hall. As per rules, Nath had to get elected to the MP Assembly within six months of being appointed chief minister. He had defeated the BJP's Vivek Sahul by a margin of 25,800 votes in the Assembly bypoll, necessitated after Congress MLA Deepak Saxena quit the MP House to make way for the chief minister. After taking oath as MLA, he said his government's first priority would be agriculture and the aim would be to make farmers self-sufficient and debt-free. Employment for youth would be another focus area, he said. He accused the earlier BJP government for the ..
Home Minister told about Bengal violence: Governor
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Monday said that he had informed Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation in the state amid continuing violence following the Lok Sabha elections.
Governor meets Modi, Shah amid Bengal violence
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah amid the violence in the state following the Lok Sabha elections.
Iran-linked bomb case in UK kept 'hidden': report
Radicals linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement were found to be stockpiling bomb-making ingredients in London in 2015 in a case that was kept "hidden from the public", the Daily Telegraph reported on Monday. Following a tip-off from a foreign government, British police and the MI5 intelligence service discovered thousands of disposable ice packs containing three tonnes of ammonium nitrate, the report said, citing security sources. One man was arrested in a series of four raids in northwest London but he was later released without charge after what the paper said was a "covert intelligence operation" that was not aimed at seeking criminal prosecution. The paper said that the decision not to inform the public about the discovery, which came shortly after the Iran nuclear deal was concluded, would "raise eyebrows". The paper said then prime minister David Cameron and interior minister Theresa May were informed but MPs who were debating whether to ban Hezbollah in Britain were ...
Apprised PM, HM on situation in West Bengal: Governor
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi Monday said he has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about the prevailing situation in the state, where post poll violence has claimed nearly a dozen life so far. This is for the first time Tripathi met the prime minister and the home minister after the Lok Sabha elections. "I have apprised the prime minister and the home minister about the situation in West Bengal. I can't disclose details," he told reporters here after meeting Shah. Asked about the possibility of imposition of President's rule in West Bengal, he said there was no such discussion during his meetings. The governor's visit to the national capital came amidst a verbal war between the Centre and the West Bengal government on the issue of post-poll violence in the state. On Sunday, in an advisory, the Home Ministry had expressed "deep concern" over continuing violence in West Bengal, saying the "unabated violence" even after the Lok Sabha polls ...
Will not compromise with principles, alliance with BJP to continue: Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that Janata Dal (United) (JDU) will never compromise on its principles and asserted that there was no bad blood with BJP over his party not joining the governernment at the Centre."We will never compromise with our core values and principles, during or before elections. Our focus is on developing Bihar. We are focused on helping the nation through developing our state. After elections the pace of work will increase as many leaders who were engaged in campaigning during elections will resume work," Kumar said at a press conference here.On being asked about the status of the coalition with BJP, Kumar said though JDU was not in the government in the Centre. Yet there was no bad blood between the two partners and the support for the state will continue unhindered."Bihar's interests will be protected. We have already talked about this. Our not getting a seat (at the Centre) will not hamper the process to bring the state out of backwardness. .
No rift with BJP, all well in NDA: Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that there was no rift between the JD-U and its ally BJP, adding that all was well in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state.
West Bengal governor meets PM
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday amid incidents of political violence in the state over which the Home Ministry has issued an advisory to the state government. Tripathi told reporters before the meeting that it was a courtesy call as he had not called on the prime minister since he took over for a second term. The state's ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP have been trading charges over political violence in the state, with the TMC terming the MHA advisory as a conspiracy against its dispensation.
Iran won't talk missiles, only nuke deal as officials visit
Iran's Foreign Ministry says nothing else but the country's landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers will be discussed during high-stakes diplomacy meetings in Tehran this week. Iranian state television quotes spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, as saying that visiting "European officials are not in a position to comment on Iran's issues beyond the nuclear deal." The remarks came after German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called Iran's ballistic missile program problematic during a visit Sunday to the United Arab Emirates. Maas is now in Iran amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. The tensions recently soared over America deploying an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf over a still-unexplained threat it perceives from Tehran. After Maas, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will arrive on Wednesday in Iran.
EC declines to share details on violations of model code of conduct by PM, others
The Election Commission has declined to share details on alleged poll code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other politicians during the Lok Sabha election campaign and subsequent clean chits given to them, saying compilation of the information would disproportionately divert its resources. In a reply to an RTI query, the poll body also declined to provide a copy of file noting of dissent notes given by one of the two Election Commissioners while deciding on the cases of violations of the model code of conduct by the prime minister. "It is informed that that complaints of violation of model code of conduct are dealt in the concerned territorial sections. The information sought by you is not available in the compiled form and compilation of the same will disproportionately divert the resources. In this regard you may refer to Section 7 (9) of the RTI Act, 2005," the Election Commission said in its reply to the RTI query filed by this journalist. The referred section says .
Pakistan announces five-year visa for US citizens
Pakistan has decided to grant five-year, multiple-entry visas to American nationals after the US in March reduced visa validity for Pakistanis from five years to one year. In a note sent late last month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here advised Pakistani diplomatic missions in the US to follow the new policy while issuing visas to American nationals. "The five-year visa will benefit the investors and tourists of both countries. The visa policy is according to Prime Minister Imran Khan's vision to improve tourism and business," a Foreign Office official told The Express Tribune. "It may be reciprocated by the US," said the official, who wished not to be named. The US had long demanded this change in Pakistan's visa policy and recently changed its own policy when Pakistan did not respond. The US on March 5 reduced visa validity for Pakistani citizens from five years to one year. It also announced not to allow journalists and media persons to stay in the country for over three months
France reaffirms support to India in fighting terrorism, terror financing
France stands alongside India in the fight against terrorism and terror financing, said French Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, during his official visit to New Delhi on Monday.Speaking on the recent designation of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, the French Minister told ANI, "The fight against terrorism is our priority. France stands alongside India in this fight and I think we must address different things - cybersecurity, for example, is crucial (so is) the fight against financing terrorism as I mentioned previously.It's an everyday fight and I can say that we (India-France) have a strong relation in that field," he added.India and France worked closely to get Azhar designated, especially after the Pulwama terror attack which killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. A JeM operative rammed into a CRPF convoy in an explosive-laden vehicle, leading to the death of the Indian personnel.Following this ...
Telangana Congress leader calls off fast over merger row
Telangana Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was on indefinite fast since June 8 over "undemocratic" merger of 12 Congress MLAs with the ruling TRS, called off the protest after he was forcibly shifted to a hospital.
Modi's August visit key to strengthening bilateral ties, says French Minister
French Minister of State for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean Baptiste Lemoyne, on Monday opined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in August this year will be crucial in strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.Speaking to ANI, Lemoyne, who is in India to lay the groundwork of Modi's visit to France to attend the G7 summit in Biarritz, said French President Emmanuel Macron was "happy" to invite the Indian Prime Minister."President Macron and Prime Minister Modi have a strong relationship personally and that is why he was happy to invite Modi to join the G7 leaders meeting at the end of August," he said."India could provide a very interesting experience for the work that will be done in terms of numeric. Modi's participation will be preceded by bilateral visit; that could be a very important moment in the relations," the French Minister added.During Lemoyne's stint in India, he is scheduled to call on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "On behalf of the .
West Bengal Governor to meet PM, Amit Shah
Amid unabated post-election violence in West Bengal, its Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi arrived here on Monday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
WB Gov Keshari Nath Tripathi to meet PM Modi today
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in the wake of political violence in the state during and after the recent elections in the state."I have asked time from the Prime Minister for courtesy meeting six days ago. He has given time on June 10. Meanwhile, an incident took place on June 8. I will inform him but mainly this is a courtesy meeting," Tripathi told reporters here before leaving from Bangla Guest House.When asked about the purpose of the meeting, he said, I could not personally congratulate him on the day of swearing-in on May 30. I will congratulate him today."Tripathi further informed that he will give whatever information he had about the violence to the Prime Minister."I will give him the information I have. I have not talked to the Home Minister yet," he said.This "courtesy" meeting came after a day Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued an advisory to the West Bengal government expressing "deep concern" over the death
Navjot Singh Sidhu meets Rahul Gandhi
Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is involved in a tiff with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, met party Congress President Rahul Gandhi here on Monday when senior leaders Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Ahmed Patel were also present."Met the Congress President, handed him my letter, apprised him of the situation !" Sidhu tweeted after the meeting without disclosing the contents of the letter he had given to Rahul.This comes in the wake of Amarinder Singh on Thursday on Thursday stripping Navjot Singh Sidhu of the portfolios of Local Government and Tourism and Culture from him and giving him Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources ministry.The chief minister's action after after Sidhu skipped a Cabinet Meeting and launched a veiled attack on Singh by saying he has been singled out publicly for his ministry's alleged failure that led to Congress losses in urban areas and that he could not be taken for granted.Singh and Sidhu have been at loggerheads since his controversial ..
Sanjay Raut to meet Yogi Adityanath ahead of Thackeray's Ayodhya visit
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut will meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday evening ahead of his party supremo Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya.Earlier, Shiv Sena Communications had tweeted, "Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Saheb Thackeray will offer obeisance to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on June 16. The MPs of Shiv Sena too will be accompanying him for darshan of Lord Shri Ram."Thackeray last visited Ayodhya in November 2018 and had asked the Central government to announce a date for the construction of Ram temple. He had promised full support if an ordinance was brought for the purpose."We want the date when a temple will be made. First, tell us when you will make the temple, then we can talk about other things," he had said.During his last visit, Thackeray had offered prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla shrine in Ayodhya.
Australia's public broadcaster weighs legal action after police raid
Australia's public broadcaster is considering legal action to demand the return of documents seized in a police raid, its chairwoman said Monday, ahead of a meeting with the prime minister over a crackdown on whistleblower leaks. The Sydney headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) was raided by federal police on Wednesday, the second high-profile raid on journalists in 24 hours. It targeted executives and journalists involved in a two-year-old investigative report where the ABC obtained documents showing Australian special forces had killed innocent men and children in Afghanistan. ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose said her organisation had consulted with lawyers over what options they had, but had yet to brief anyone. "At this point, we're really assessing the allegations to see what actions can be taken and we want to make sure that we're in the strongest available position to defend ourselves and also our journalists," Buttrose told ABC radio. The Australian ...