Page 2275 - Politics
Flemish nationalists quit Belgian government: Minister
Belgium's Flemish nationalist party said on Sunday it will quit the ruling coalition, leaving Prime Minister Charles Michel as the head of a minority government after a row over a UN migration pact. Interior Minister Jan Jambon of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) confirmed on Sunday that he and the party's other ministers would step down. "It's clear," he told national broadcaster RTBF, following hours of uncertainty. The decision means Michel will lead a minority government for the five months before parliamentary elections scheduled for late May. He will now have to appoint ministers to replace those held by the N-VA -- which had been the largest of the coalition's four parties -- including the interior, finance, defence and migration portfolios. In power for four years, the coalition has often been riven over the N-VA's anti-migration positions. Party leader Bart De Wever issued an ultimatum to Michel on Saturday night, suggesting the N-VA would leave the coalition if the prime ...
DMK leader A Raja booked for making derogatory remarks against TN CM
A case has been registered against DMK leader and former Union minister A Raja for allegedly making derogatory remarks and levelling allegations of corruption against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his cabinet colleagues during a protest in September. According to local police, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by an AIADMK functionary on December 7. Raja has been charged with "criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace" under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the officer said. "Raja took part in the protest held on September 18. The complainant has accused Raja of making derogatory remarks against TN CM and cabinet ministers besides levelling unfounded corruption allegations," the officer said. On September 18, the opposition DMK staged state-wide protests against the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, with party chief MK Stalin leading the charge in Salem. Besides Stalin, his son Udhayanidhi, sister ...
Maldives applies to rejoin Commonwealth: president's office
The Maldives has applied to rejoin the Commonwealth, reversing a policy of isolation under autocratic leader Abdulla Yameen who suffered a shock defeat in September. His successor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, wrote to the 53-member bloc on Friday seeking readmission two years after Yameen pulled the atoll nation out of it, the president's office said Sunday. Yameen withdrew the Maldives, an archipelago of 340,000 Sunni Muslims, from the Commonwealth after it mounted pressure on him to protect human rights and ensure the rule of law amid a ferocious crackdown on dissent. Solih's office said the new president's administration believed in the values of the bloc, which consists mainly of former territories and colonies of the British empire. "The Maldives' interest in re-joining the Commonwealth stems from a deep conviction that the values and principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter are more vital than ever," the president's office said in a statement. The 54-year-old took office last
INLD commits 50 pc quota for Haryana youths in private sector
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Sunday committed to providing 50 per cent reservation for Haryana youths in the state's private sector jobs."Jassi Petwar, president of the youth wing of INLD, put forth a resolution that committed the party to provide 50 per cent reservation in jobs in the private sector to the youth of Haryana," said a statement issued to the media after the State Working Committee (SWC) meeting held here."The meeting discussed the fate of unemployed youth in the state. While the government has miserably failed in providing jobs to the youth of Haryana, the private sector gives most of its well-paid jobs to the people from other states. The irony is that today Haryana is ahead of Punjab in per capita income and yet the benefits of this achievement do not come to the youth of Haryana," said Petwar.During the SWC meeting, the party leadership also assigned duties to the senior party leaders and workers for the elections of Mayor. Addressing the meeting, Leader of ...
K'taka legislature session begins Monday; Opposition to corner Cong-JD(S) govt over agrarian issues
The winter session of the Karnataka legislature, set to begin here from Monday, is likely to be a stormy affair with the opposition BJP expected to corner the government over a host of issues, including farmer suicides and alleged lack of clarity and delay in the implementation of the farm loan waiver. Coalition worries within the ruling Congress-JDS alliance and disgruntlement over the delay in the cabinet expansion may also cast a shadow over the session. The saffron party has already announced a large-scale protest meet in Belagavi, likely to be attended by over one lakh farmers, during the session to corner the government on agrarian issues. With 100 taluks in 24 districts of Karnataka being declared drought-hit, BJP leaders are likely to take on the state government over relief and mitigation measures. "The chief minister has confined himself to Old Mysuru region... We will raise farmers issues both inside and outside the House. Tomorrow, we are gathering more than one lakh ...
Qatar emir to skip Saudi-hosted summit with Gulf rivals
Qatar said its emir will skip a summit Sunday of Arab Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia, which has spearheaded a boycott of the small but energy-flush neighbour and sparked a major regional diplomatic row. Riyadh is hosting the annual gathering as crises brew over the 18-month-old dispute with Doha, the war in Yemen and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. The regional powerhouse had invited Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to attend the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council talks, but the foreign ministry in Doha said he will not go. Instead Qatar will be represented by the minister of state for foreign affairs, Sultan al-Muraikhi, it said. Saudi Arabia, along with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, severed diplomatic ties with Doha in 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and fostering close ties with their regional rival Iran. Doha -- which announced this month it was quitting the Saudi-dominated OPEC oil cartel -- denies
Bahrain criticises Qatar emir for not attending Gulf Arab summit
RIYADH (Reuters) - Bahrain's foreign minister criticized Qatar's emir on Sunday for not attending a Gulf Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, an absence that suggests a rift between Doha and three Gulf Arab states is unlikely to be resolved soon.
Delhi: Stalin wishes Sonia on her 72nd birthday
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin and other senior party members on Sunday met Sonia Gandhi here and extended their greetings to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson on her 72nd birthday.Other senior DMK party leaders-Kanimozhi, RS Bharathi, TR Baalu and A Raja were also present at the occasion.Stalin invited Sonia and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, for the inauguration ceremony of former DMK president M Karunanidhi's statue.The statue of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will be inaugurated in Chennai on December 16."Shri Stalin and senior members of the DMK, visited Sonia Ji in Delhi today, to wish her on her birthday. We had a warm and cordial meeting and discussed a range of issues. I look forward to continuing our dialogue and to strengthening our alliance, that has stood the test of time," Rahul tweeted.
Hizbul terrorist who lured youth to join militancy held in J-K
A wanted Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist, Reyaz Ahmed was arrested on Sunday, a statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Police said.Reyaz, a close associate of HM terrorist Mohd Amin, used to influence the youth to join militancy. He was also wanted in connection with a case under the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), the criminal code of the state of Jammu and Kashmir as the Indian Penal Code is not applicable under the Article 370 of the constitution.Reyaz was facing a number of charges, including section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against government of India) and 121-A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121), among others.The statement added that while two individuals had already been arrested in connection with the case, which was registered on July 1, 2018, proceedings had been "withheld for the want of the arrest of" Reyaz and Tohseef Gundana.Reyaz was also involved in a case registered under the Arms .
No Brexit can lead to fresh polls: May tells MPs
With two days to go until the crucial Brexit vote, British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday warned MPs they will face "uncharted waters" if they rejected her deal, saying their actions could lead to a general election, as there was a "very real risk of no Brexit".
Pass resolution in Assembly in support of Women's Reservation Bill: Rahul to Punjab CM
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has written to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, urging his government in the state to pass a resolution calling on the Centre to pass the Women's Reservation Bill. Gandhi has written the letter, seeking passage of a resolution urging the central government to pass the bill, to the chief ministers of those states where the Congress is in power. In his letter to the Punjab CM, Gandhi noted that the Rajya Sabha passed the 108th constitutional amendment bill in 2010, but it lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014. "The Congress and several parties have called on the prime minister to ensure the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill and pledged their support. "While the opponents of the bill have cast doubts on the ability of women to affect change, the leadership role taken by women after the 73rd and 73th constitutional amendments have proved the detractors wrong," he said in his letter. The bill seeks to reserve one-third of all
Hope reflection of 2019 LS polls will not affect smooth running of Parliament: Goel
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel Sunday hoped that all the political parties would cooperate with the government and the "reflection" of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would not affect the smooth running of Parliament during the upcoming winter session. Goel said he had assured the leaders of all parties that the government was ready to discuss any issue during the session. His remarks came ahead of Parliament's winter session that commences on Tuesday. "I am hopeful of a smooth running of the session. I hope the reflection of the 2019 election will not be there and all the parties will cooperate with us. I have spoken with the leaders of all the parties, especially in the Rajya Sabha, seeking their cooperation," Goel told PTI. He said all the leaders had assured him of their cooperation. "We hope that the important bills in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are passed. There are three important ordinances also on triple talaq, the Indian Medical Council and companies ...
Expelled INLD MP launches new party in Haryana
Expelled INLD leader and sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from Hisar Dushyant Chautala on Sunday launched the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) from a rally in Jind town in Haryana.
Factionalism a thing of past, unity our strength in MP polls: Congress leader Scindia
Asserting that factionalism in the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress party is a "thing of the past", senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said Sunday the entire state leadership worked as a "united front" during the assembly polls in a bid to dislodge the BJP government. Scindia, who spearheaded an energetic and spirited campaign for the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, said there is an "uprising for change" in the state. "During my campaign, I covered over 115 constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. There is an omnipotent energy -- it is an uprising for change," he told PTI in an interview. Some exit polls have given an edge to the Congress to form a government in the state after remaining in opposition for 15 years, while others have predicted a close finish for the grand old party and the ruling BJP. Counting of votes for the November 28 elections to 230 assembly seats in the state will take place on December 11. "We will get a clear majority from the people of Madhya Pradesh," Scindia said ..
BJD MPs to raise special category status for Odisha in
The Biju Janata Dal MPs will raise the demand of special category status for Odisha and a number of other issues during the winter session of Parliament which is scheduled to start from December 11, a senior party leader said Sunday. The BJD Parliamentary party meeting presided over by party chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chalked out the strategy to be adopted by the regional party MPs during the winter session of Parliament. "The party will demand special status for Odisha in both the Houses of the Parliament," said BJD spokesman and MP Pratap Deb after the meeting held at Naveen Niwas here Sunday. Deb said the BJD was opposed to the Centre's stand that the special category status could not be accorded to any state as per the recommendation of the Niti Ayog. "The norms can be changed as the state deserved to get the special category status," Deb said. The BJD leader said the party MPs will raise several other issues including 33 per cent reservations ...
Swaraj India will not be part of any 'mahagathbandhan' of Oppn parties in 2019: Yogendra Yadav
Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said on Sunday that his party will not be part of any 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of opposition parties for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Yadav along with other Swaraj India leaders launched the party's campaign 'Rashtra Nirman Ke Liye Lok Abhiyan' and held a press briefing here. "We are not going to be part of any mahagathbandhan for the 2019 elections. Power is not the aim of our politics. We want to teach a lesson to those who have been spoilt by power," Yadav said. Swaraj India favours replacing the current ruling party at the Centre but it doesn't mean all other parties could be supported without due consideration, he said. The politician, who spearheaded a massive farmers' protest at the Ramlila Maidan here recently, prophesied that the result of the 2019 polls will be similar to the election held after the Emergency in which the Indira Gandhi regime was uprooted. He said that farmers' issues have finally arrived at the national platform .
UK's May: 'Uncharted waters' if lawmakers reject Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May is warning lawmakers they could take Britain into "uncharted waters" and trigger a general election if they reject her Brexit deal in a crucial parliamentary vote this week. May is fighting to save her unpopular Brexit plan and her job ahead of a showdown in Parliament planned for Tuesday, when lawmakers are widely expected to reject the Brexit divorce deal she struck with the European Union. Her Downing Street office insisted that the vote will go ahead amid speculation the government may be forced to delay it. In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, May said rejecting her deal would "mean grave uncertainty for the nation with a very real risk of no Brexit or leaving the European Union with no deal.
'RJ Assembly Polls: Less voting percentage despite star campaigners
Rajasthan witnessed over one per cent lower voter turnout in Friday's assembly poll as compared to the previous assembly election despite marathon election rallies by star campaigners of both the BJP and the Congress. As per the Chief Election Office, voter turnout in 2018 assembly election was recorded at 74.12 per cent compared to 75.23 per cent in 2013 despite its efforts to create awareness among voters through various means. The department was expecting a surge in voter turnout this election considering a rise of 20 lakh new youth voters in state electoral rolls. Rajasthan Chief Election Officer (CEO) had said he had expected a better poll percentage. Top campaigners including Prime Minister Narendra and Congress president Rahul Gandhi had addressed 12 and 9 public meetings respectively in Rajasthan where assembly elections to 199 of the 200 seats were held on December 7. Contrary to the sea of crowd in the rallies, voting percentage in the respective areas was less. After Prime .
Support demand for divisional status to Ladakh: BJP
Backing the creation of a separate division for Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP has urged Governor Satya Pal Malik not to "succumb to the blackmailing tactics" of the valley-centric parties on the issue. "Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are three distinct geographical entities and are referred to as the three regions of the state," Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state spokesperson Anil Gupta said in a statement here. "Hence, the demand of granting a divisional status to Ladakh is fully justified and BJP supports and endorses the demand," he added. The BJP requests the Governor not to give in or succumb to the "blackmailing tactics" of the valley-centric parties, Gupta said. On December 7, People's Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had warned of an agitation if the state administration, headed by Malik, accorded divisional status to Ladakh region, while ignoring Pir Panjal and Chenab valley of Jammu region. "There are reports that the governor's .
RLSP MP backs Kushwaha in stance against NDA leadership
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party MP, Ram Kumar Sharma, on Sunday backed party chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwahas aggressive stance against the NDA leadership, saying there was no point in continuing in a coalition, if the party was not getting its due. Sharma has been, in the recent past, disapproving of Kushwahas tough posturing against the leadership of the NDA, especially Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar. Talking to reporters in his Lok Sabha constituency of Sitamarhi, Sharma said "one should not remain in a coalition where one is not getting ones due, not being treated with respect." He was responding to a query about the recently held open convention of the RLSP in East Champaran where Kushwaha had launched the sharpest-ever attack on the BJP, alleging that the party was raking up the Ram Temple issue for electoral gains and its central leadership was being guided by elements in Bihar unit who had "ganged up" against him at the behest of ...