Page 2267 - Politics
Businessman Vijay Mallya should be extradited from UK to India
LONDON (Reuters) - Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya should be extradited from Britain to India to face fraud charges resulting from the collapse of his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, a London court ruled on Monday.
All-party meet: Oppn for JPC on Rafale; PM says govt ready to discuss imp national issues
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told an all-party meet that the government was ready to discuss all issues of national importance in the Winter session of Parliament as the Congress asserted that the opposition will press for a JPC probe into the Rafale jet deal. NDA ally Shiv Sena also pitched for a law on construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya during the meeting, attended by floor leaders of various political parties from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and convened by the government a day ahead of the Winter session. Asserting that government is always receptive to the issues raised by parties, the Prime Minister said the government and the opposition have to cooperate with each other so that Parliament functions smoothly which is in public interest. Briefing reporters on the nearly two-hour long meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said all parties were in favour of a productive session and the government is always ready to discuss any issue as permitted
Govt appreciates Urjit Patel's service as RBI Governor, says Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Monday appreciated the service rendered by RBI Governor Urjit Patel saying it was a pleasure to deal with him and has benefitted from his scholarship. Patel Monday resigned as RBI Governor, nearly 9 months ahead of his three-year tenure was to come to an end. "The Government acknowledges with deep sense of appreciation the services rendered by Dr Urjit Patel to this country both in his capacity as the Governor and the Deputy Governor of the RBI. It was a pleasure for me to deal with him and benefit from his scholarship," Jaitley tweeted. "I wish Dr Patel all the very best and many more years of public service," he said.
People will give clear message: Rahul on poll results of 5 states
A day before the results of the assembly elections in five states, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday said people will give a "clear message" and exuded confidence that the BJP will be ousted in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He attacked the BJP government over the issue of unemployment and farmers' dues, saying the Modi dispensation considered farmers a "liability". "You will see, the elections (in five states) have taken place recently, India will give its message and will give it clearly," the Congress leader said here. Gandhi was delivering an address after the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) announced the re-launch of Hindi newspaper 'Navjivan'. A commemorative publication to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was also released on the occasion. "Main issues are jobs and dues of farmers," he said, adding, "anger is rising in the country". "The reason for this is that the Centre is not able to give jobs to youth. And this is the central challenge before ...
Omar rules out pre-poll alliance for Assembly elections in J-K
NC leader Omar Abdullah Monday ruled out a pre-poll alliance with any party for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, saying his party had joined hands with the PDP and Congress to "save the state". The PDP had on November 21 staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival National Conference (NC) and the Congress. This was followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 MLAs from other parties. After these developments, Governor Satyapal Malik abruptly dissolved the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on the night of November 21. "We will fight the (assembly) election on our own When we talk about forming the next government on our own, then there is no scope of leaving any seat for any one, even as I know they are eyeing some seats," Abdullah said Monday while addressing a function at party headquarters here. Defending his party's decision to join hands with the PDP and Congress to stake claim for the formation ...
RBI Governor's "forced" exit blot on India's monetary and banking system: Cong
The Congress Monday dubbed RBI Governor Urjit Patel's resignation as a "blot" on India's monetary and banking system, alleging that he was forced to quit. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that NDA government "denigrated" another institution and that his exit was the result of attempts to stifle RBI's independence. Patel, who had a run in with the government over autonomy of the central bank, Monday resigned from his post. In a brief statement, Patel said he has decided to step down with immediate effect. He, however, did not specify the reason for the decision. "The manner in which the RBI governor has been forced to quit is a blot on India's monetary and banking system. BJP government has unleashed a defacto financial emergency. The country's reputation and credibility is now at stake," senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said.
Two RLSP MLAs oppose Kushwaha decision to quit NDA
Hours after Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader Upendra Kushwaha on Monday quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and resigned as a Minister in the Modi government, his party is a divided house.
Disgruntled Baig holds meeting with Mehbooba
The attempts of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to mollify disgruntled Lok Sabha member of the party Muzaffar Hussain Baig bore fruit on Monday as the two leaders jointly chaired a meeting of the party here. "Senior leaders of the party today (Monday) met under the chairmanship of party President @MehboobaMufti and Muzzafar Hussain Beigh Sahab," the PDP said on its Twitter handle soon after the meeting. The development comes amidst rebellion in the PDP with three former MLAs having quit and rumours of many more leaders likely to desert the party ahead of the fresh assembly elections. The polls have been necessitated due to dissolution of the lower house of the state legislature by Governor Satya pal Malik on November 21. Besides Imran Ansari and his uncle Abid Ansari, former finance minister Haseeb Drabu have resigned from the PDP following the dissolution of the assembly. Speculations were rife that Baig, whose wife Safina Baig is the president of women's wing of the PDP, might quit the
Treat 'People's Front' as single entity: Cong to Telangana Governor
On the eve of Telangana Assembly results, the Congress-led 'People's Front' on Monday told Governor ESL Narasimhan that it should be treated as a single entity in the event of no party getting a clear majority. "In the event of a situation where the governor has to invite the single largest entity to form government, we said this is our pre-poll alliance and these are the papers and documents.... We have to be treated as a single entity," State Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy told reporters. "We submitted them (documents) to Governor Narasimhan," he said, and cited the Supreme Court verdicts that pre-poll alliance be treated as a single entity. Reddy was flanked by leaders of Congress allies -- TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS). The Congress has taken the stand as apparently it is keen that in case of a hung assembly, rival Telangana Rashtra Samith (TRS) is not invited to form a government first if its gets less seats than the Front, even though it may be the single ...
Armenian PM wins snap vote by landslide
Armenia's acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has won a landslide victory in snap parliamentary elections, results showed Monday, cementing his authority months after sweeping to power in a peaceful revolution. Pashinyan, a 43-year-old former journalist, has pledged to root out endemic corruption and address widespread poverty in the impoverished, landlocked ex-Soviet republic of three million people. With all votes counted, the bloc led by Pashinyan's Civil Contract party had taken 70.43 per cent of the vote, the central election commission said. The Prosperous Armenia party led by influential oligarch and former arm wrestler Gagik Tsarukyan came a distant second with 8.27 per cent. Pashinyan hailed his victory on Monday morning, thanking the "mighty people" of Armenia. "I am proud of you... Let's be courageous," he wrote on Facebook. He became prime minister in May after spearheading weeks of peaceful anti-government rallies that ousted veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian. But efforts .
RBI Governor Urjit Patel steps down
(Reuters) - The Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel resigned on Monday citing "personal reasons", a statement issued by the RBI said.
Russia denies involved in France's 'Yellow vest' protests
The Kremlin on Monday denied involvement in the "yellow vest" protests that have rocked France, after reports that Russia-linked social media accounts are waging a campaign to encourage unrest. Britain's The Times reported Saturday that hundreds of accounts linked to Russia have "sought to amplify" the protests. They had posted photographs purporting to show injured protesters, the newspaper reported, but which were in fact taken at other events, citing analysis from a cybersecurity company. French authorities have launched checks into the reports, sources told AFP on Sunday, but officials have said that it is too early to comment on the allegations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday that Russia "considers all that is happening exclusively the domestic affairs of France. "We have not interfered and we don't plan to interfere in the domestic affairs of any country including France," he said. Reports to the contrary were "nothing but slander", he added. The US ..
SC seeks Centre's reply about 'Leader of Opposition' on panel for statutory bodies
The Supreme Court Monday sought response from the Centre on a plea that the leader of the single largest opposition party be treated as the Leader of the Opposition and be included in high-level committees involved in the appointment of heads of statutory bodies like CBI, CVC, CIC and Lokpal. The apex court issued notice to the Centre and the four statutory bodies on the PIL seeking direction that wherever the appointing committee includes the Leader of the Opposition, the same may be read as to mean the leader of the single largest opposition party in that House. The top court also sought response from the Centre on the plea by 'Youth for Equality' NGO, seeking the quashing of section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act which provides a blanket protection to all public servants regardless of status from enquiry in graft cases. The NGO contended that the amendment by which section 17A has been incorporated was discriminatory, manifestly arbitrary and ultra vires of Articles 14 and
PMO PRO Jagdish Thakkar passes away, PM Modi meets his family
Veteran journalist and Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jagdish Thakkar passed away here at AIIMS on Monday. He was 70 years old. Thakkar is survived by his wife and a son.Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his condolences over the demise of Thakkar. "Extremely saddened by the demise of Shri Jagdish Thakkar, the PRO in the PMO. Jagdishbhai was a veteran journalist and I had the pleasure of working with him for years, both in Gujarat and in Delhi," the Prime Minister tweeted.Remembering Thakkar for his simplicity and warm-hearted nature, PM Modi posted another tweet, "Several journalists would have regularly interacted with Jagdishbhai over the years. We have lost a wonderful person, who loved his work and did it with utmost diligence."Hours after his death, the Prime Minister met the deceased's family and expressed his condolences.Thakkar, an Information Department Officer from Gujarat, was appointed as the Prime Minister's PRO ..
Much-watched Assembly poll results in 5 states to be out tomorrow
The much-watched Assembly election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, dubbed as the semi-finals before next year's Lok Sabha polls, will be declared on Tuesday.Much is at stake for the BJP, which is ruling in three of the five states and wants to retain these, at least, amidst the hopes of the Congress to dislodge the saffron party.The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years and has been ruling Rajasthan for the last five years.Other two states where the elections were held were Telangana and Mizoram.Elections to the Assemblies in these states were held in phases from November 12 to December 17.Going by a number of exit polls, it appears that BJP may not have a smooth sailing in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.If the Congress actually manages to defeat the BJP in these three states, it will give a boost to the opposition camp ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due by May next year.However, if the BJP retains ..
Omar dares BJP to reveal CM face for forthcoming J&K polls
National Conference (NC) leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asked the BJP to reveal the name of its chief minister candidate for the upcoming state elections."Today I challenge BJP to clearly say who will be their chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming elections because the saffron party has cheated the people of Jammu twice. People of Jammu deserve to know whom the BJP will make CM if they give 25-26 MLAs to BJP," Abdullah said at a press conference.Criticising the BJP for doing injustice to the people of the state, and postponing Assembly elections, Omar said, "I don't think the people of Jammu are ready to be deceived once again. That is why the BJP is escaping from elections."NC leader also took a potshot at the former alliance between the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the BJP, which fell apart on June 19. "North pole and south pole joined hands and promised to bring peace, progress, and development in the state. But by breaking the alliance, BJP ..
UK can unilaterally cancel Brexit, rules EU top court
The UK can unilaterally cancel its withdrawal from the EU without the permission of the other 27 bloc members, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Monday, a day ahead of a crucial vote in the country's lower house of Parliament on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan.
EU welcomes India's increasing global role
The EU on Monday welcomed Inddia's increasing role and responsibility on the global stage through its "ambitious foreign policy" and fast growing economy.
Kerala Assembly disrupted over Sabarimala
With the Kerala government extending prohibitory orders in Sabarimala until Wednesday, the Congress-led UDF on Monday disrupted Assembly proceedings for the sixth consecutive day.
Separatists urge UN Secy-Gen to take steps to resolve Kashmir issue
Separatists on Monday urged the United Nations Secretary-General to take steps to resolve the Kashmir issue. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, alleged human rights violations in the Valley. They said a commission should be established to end the cycles of violence and "ensure accountability" as the conflict has consumed many lives in Jammu and Kashmir. In the letter to Guterres on the international human rights day, they criticised the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives special powers to security forces in 'disturbed' areas.