Page 2280 - Politics
PM using probe agencies for political vendetta: Cong
Stepping up its attack on the BJP-led government over ED raids against Robert Vadra's associates, the Congress Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using probe agencies for "political vendetta" and to "besmirch" the names of people living with dignity. After the Congress's attack, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, dubbing Vadra the "fountainhead of corruption". Party spokesperson Sambit Patra lashed out at the Congress, saying it showed that Vadra was only a conduit and the "final track probably leads to the family". Senior Congress leaders Kapil Sibal, Ahmed Patel and Randeep Surjewala held a press conference in the evening at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here, hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids against Vadra's associates for the second day. The raids against three persons linked to Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, had started Friday. Official sources said the action was taken on the basis .
2019 elections will be about 'strong' or 'helpless' govt: Amit Shah
Terming any grand alliance between various opposition parties as a 'sham,' BJP chief Amit Shah Saturday said in the next parliamentary elections people will have to decide whether they want 'strong' or the 'helpless' government. Shah said the proposed grand alliance may not have any impact in various states barring Uttar Pradesh where it could pose some challenge for the party, but he is hopeful for further improving its performance and is aiming for more than 51 per cent vote in the state. Most of the regional parties are unlikely to have any impact on the electoral outcomes outside their respective states, Shah said while asserting that politics is also about chemistry. "Politics is not physics where two plus two becomes four, it is chemistry. The grand alliance is nothing but a sham. Perhaps only in Uttar Pradesh the grand alliance between SP and BSP could pose some challenge for the party. The BJP had got more than 40 per cent vote share in the state and will fight for more than ..
Goa Cong in poll mode, to launch mass contact programme in Jan
The Congressin Goa has started preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with a state -wide mass contact programme slated to be launched early next month, a senior party functionary said Saturday. The coastal state has two Lok Sabha seats - South Goa and North Goa - and both are currently held by the ruling BJP. The main opposition party will launch 'Jan Sampark Abhiyaan' from January 5 during which its workers will meet people across the state and apprise them about the "failures" of the BJP-led governments in Goa and at the Centre, said All- India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary A Chellakumar. The party is already mid-way through its 'Jan Akrosh Abhiyaan', launched last week to demand "restoration" of governance in the state in the wake of ill-health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Chellakumar was addressing a press conference after a party meeting attended by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee and Congress Legislature Party members. The meeting ...
Pakistan's President House opens doors to public
The Pakistani government on Saturday opened the highly secure palatial President House for the general public as part of its plans to allow public access to state buildings. Officially called as Aiwan-e-Sadar, the historical building is located at the foot of the Margalla Hills on the Constitution Avenue in the high-security Red Zone of the national capital. The white squarish building represents a modern step pyramid architectural style and is flanked by the Prime Minister House on the one side and the Parliament building on the other. President House spokesman Tahir Khushnood said the general public were allowed to enter the building from 9 am to 4 pm by showing the national identity card at the entrance. The opening of the iconic building was in line with the election promise of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to open key state buildings for public use if voted to power. Under this policy, the Governor Houses in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar have already been opened for .
200 arrested as 'yellow jacket' protests continue in France
At least 200 people were on Saturday arrested, with the police resorting to firing hundreds of tear gas shells to disperse crowds during the ongoing fourth week of protests across France against President Emmanuel Macron-led government.Thousands of protestors, most of who were dressed in 'gilets jaunes,' the yellow fluorescent vests that have symbolised the movement, gathered at the Champs-Elysees at around 11 am (local time) and chanted "Down with Macron" and "Calm down police," CNN quoted French police as saying.A number of France's monuments, including the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, remained closed today as authorities anticipated a repeat of last week's violence, deploying over 8,000 policemen in the French capital to maintain order.Police held 481 people for questioning and arrested 211 arrests as of 11 am (local time), Prime Minister Eduardo Philippe confirmed."We have to change the Republic. People here are starving. Some people earn just 500 Euros a month you can't afford ..
Yogi supporting accused involved in lynching of Bulandshahr cop: Congress
The Congress party on Saturday accused Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh BJP government of supporting those who were allegedly involved in the "mob lynching" of Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh in Bulandshahr.Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that such a serious issue should be raised by the opposition parties in the Winter Session of the Parliament beginning from December 12.Speaking to ANI, Kharge said, "The incident of mob lynching of a police Inspector took place in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr town and the government is supporting the people involved in the act. The atmosphere that Chief Minister Adityanath has created by giving wrong statements is affecting the entire country. Such matters will be raised by us in the Parliament."Bulandshahr Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Krishna Bahadur Singh and two other police officials have been transferred in connection with the incident so far.The name of Army personnel also figured in the list of accused in ..
J-K guv constitutes high-level panel to address employees' grievances
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik ordered Saturday constitution of a high-level 'Service Grievance Committee' to take cognizance of service-related grievances of government employees. The committee will be headed by Advisor to Governor Kewal Kumar Sharma, an official spokesman said. He said the members of the committee include principal secretary to the governor Umang Narula, principal secretary of planning development Rohit Kansal,principal secretary (after being relieved as Chief Electoral Officer) Shaleen Kabra and commissioner secretary of general administration department Hilal Ahmad Parray. The committee will hear the grievances on service-related matters of the government employees and take appropriate action on the merits of each case, the spokesman said.
Large number of cases pending against politicians matter of grave concern: Naidu
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Saturday expressed grave concern over a large number of criminal cases pending against politicians and said these should be fast-tracked. At the launch of two volumes of select speeches of President Ram Nath Kovind here, Naidu also said there has been a "steady decline" in the quality of public discourse over the last few years and appealed to political parties to evolve a consensus on the code of conduct for their members. "We must ensure that cases against politicians should be fast-tracked. It is indeed a matter of grave concern that there are nearly 4,000 cases pending against politicians. Special courts should be constituted and the process should be expedited," he said. Corrective action is required to make our system even better than what it is today - that is essential for strengthening democracy, he added. The Supreme Court was on Tuesday informed that there were 4,122 criminal cases pending, some for over three decades, against present and ...
Trump nominates Gen Mark Milley as next Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
US President Donald Trump on Saturday nominated General Mark Milley as his next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's top military advisor. If confirmed by the Senate, Gen Milley would replace General Joe Dunford who is scheduled to retire next summer. Milley currently is Chief of Staff of the Army. "I am pleased to announce my nomination of four-star General Mark Milley, Chief of Staff of the United States Army as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing General Joe Dunford, who will be retiring," Trump said in a tweet. Milley has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to our country! Date of transition to be determined," Trump said ahead of the Army-Navy football game later in the day, which he is scheduled to attend.
Both Congress, BJP say they will win in Rajasthan
Exit polls have given a clear edge to the Congress in the Rajasthan Assembly election, but the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says it is still confident of retaining power in the state.
Vadra 'fountainhead of corruption': BJP
Dubbing Robert Vadra as "fountainhead of corruption", the BJP Saturday lashed out at the Congress after it attacked the Modi government over raids against people linked to the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, alleging it shows he is a only a conduit and "final track probably leads to the family". BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress used to call Vadra a private citizen after his name cropped up in corruption cases but now the whole party stands behind him. "It implies that he is only a conduit and the final track probably leads to the family," he said, targeting the Gandhi family. He also defended investigation agency raids, claiming that independent institutions are working in tandem with the Constitution under the Modi government and that law is taking its own course. "The Congress feels corruption was its birthright and it had some kind of immunity from the law of the land just because they belonged to 'first family'... Under the Modi government, those who are corrupt are ...
Dream for Jharkhand yet to be fulfilled: Das
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Saturday said the dream for which the tribal state was created 18 years ago was yet to be fulfilled and political leaders had become rich in the first 14 years due to coalition politics in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government run by Das in Jharkhand will complete four years on December 28. By then, all households in the state would be electrified, the chief minister said during an interaction with the people of Samsera village in Pakur district of Santhal Pargana. Solar power will be provided to the households and villages located atop hills or in remote areas, he said, adding that electricity will be provided round the clock by May, 2019. "For 14 years, coalition politics ruled during which the leaders became rich while the people fell behind.... The dream for which Jharkhand was created is yet to be fulfilled," an official release quoted Das as saying. "We can speed up development through peace and harmony. No anti-national ...
Rupani invites Modi to inaugurate Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2019
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Saturday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the biennial global investor summit organised by the state government that is expected to see participation from more than 100 countries. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019 will be held from January 18-20 in the state capital Gandhinagar. Rupani met Modi at his residence in New Delhi along with senior state government officials to apprise him about the preparations for the ninth edition of the biennial summit, said an official press release. "Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today visited New Delhi and invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate Vibrant Summit 2019. "In a meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence, the chief minister and senior secretaries of the Government of Gujarat briefed Prime Minister about the preparations for upcoming Vibrant Summit," it said. The Centre has lent support to the state government to make the three-day summit a success, the ...
Bangladesh election: EC rejects jailed ex-premier Zia's plea to contest polls
Bangladesh's election commission today rejected jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia's plea challenging the cancellation of her nomination, virtually ending her hopes of contesting the upcoming general election. "The commission rejected her petition by 4-1 votes...the CEC (chief election commissioner) and three other commissioners were on one side while one of the commissioners was in favour of her candidature," an EC spokesman said. The Bangladesh High Court had earlier issued an order disqualifying 73-year-old Zia, now serving a 10-year prison term in two corruption cases, from contesting the December 30 polls saying people jailed for more than two years with their appeals pending in court cannot fight elections. The opposition BNP leader has been in prison since February when a lower court sentenced her to a five-year term in the first of the two graft cases. Zia had filed nomination papers from three constituencies, two in northwestern Bogra and one in southeastern Feni. The ..
PM using probe agencies for 'political vendettas': Cong
The Congress hit out at the government on Saturday over ED raids against Robert Vadra's associates, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using probe agencies for "political vendettas" and to "besmirch" the names of people living with dignity. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal made the charge at a press conference here during which senior party colleague Ahmed Patel and Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala were also present. "People are being harassed, held practically under arrest in their houses, raided without any notice. Is this the kind of change Modiji advocated for in 2014 elections," Sibal asked. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches against three persons linked to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra Friday. "The PM is using these agencies for political vendettas and to besmirch names of people who are living with dignity," Sibal alleged.
Encounter underway in Srinagar's Mujgund area
An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Mujgund area on the city's outskirts on Saturday.Police said that terrorists fired upon security forces when they were conducting searches after cordoning off the area following inputs that some terrorists were hiding there.The encounter is currently going on between the personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and terrorists. Further details are currently awaited.The latest encounter comes after two terrorists were killed in an encounter in Khrew area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district last week.
ED in possession of documents about Vadra's foreign properties
The documents found during raids conducted at the premises of close associates of Robert Vadra by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) suggest that he has properties in London and India, sources in the investigative agency claimed on Saturday.ED officials on Friday carried out searches in Delhi and Bengaluru at the premises of close associates of Vadra, the son-in-law of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.ED sources, who refused to come on record, claimed that the documents found at these premises showed that Vadra, a businessman, has properties abroad, besides in India.The ED sources said on Friday that the investigating agency has "evidence" that the persons raided had received money in their bank accounts from defence suppliers.Vadra's lawyer Suman Khaitan has said that the ED conducted raids at the behest of the central government to "plant evidence" against the businessman to divert attention from the probable loss of recently-held Legislative Assembly elections.In a statement posted by ...
IAF conducts combined guided firing of surface-to-air missiles
In a first-of-its-kind exercise code-named CROSS BOW-18, the Indian Air Force successfully conducted combined guided weapons firing of Surface-to-Air Missiles from the Air Force Station at Suryalanka in Andhra Pradesh. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, along with senior IAF officers, witnessed the exercise at Suryalanka for two days on Friday and Saturday. A defence release here said CROSS BOW-18 saw the successful firing of four different classes of missiles like Akash, Spyder, OSA-AK-M and IGLA. "The exercise was carried out on December 5, 7 and 8 during day and night in an integrated networked environment," the release said. Interacting with the Air Force Station personnel and the missile combat crew, the Air Chief Marshal lauded their efforts towards successful conduct of the exercise. Exercise CROSS BOW-18 was yet another major milestone achieved by the IAF, Dhanoa said, adding that it would help improve the combat skills of the missile ...
Shah to address Delhi BJP's mega rally at Ramleela Ground in Jan
The "Bhim Mahasangam Vijay Sankalp Rally" of the Delhi BJP will be addressed by the party's national president Amit Shah at the Ramleela Ground here on January 6 next year. A squad of 70 bikers was pressed into service by Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Manoj Tiwari Saturday for collecting rice and pulses from all the Assembly segments of the national capital for the "samarsata khichdi" that will be cooked at the rally. Tiwarisaid2.80 lakh "samarsata" (harmony) cards, seeking support to the rally, were also sent to people across Delhi. He added that besides the "Bhim Mahasangam Vijay Sankalp Rally", the saffron party also had plans to take out a "Mahila Hunkar Rally" on December 16 and a "Yuva Sankalp Rally" on January 20 next year.
Ambedkar alleges EVM manipulation in Bhandara-Gondiya bypoll
Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar Saturday alleged that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were manipulated in the May 28 Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha bypolls in Maharashtra. NCP candidate Madhukar Kukde had defeated Hemant Patle of the BJP in the bypoll by 48,097 votes, the result of which was declared on May 31. The bypoll was necessitated due to the resignation of sitting BJP MP Nana Patole. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Ambedkar said the polling percentage (in the Bhandara-Gondiya bypoll) stood at 38.5 at 5pm, however, at 6pm, it rose up to 53.5. "According to the Election Commission, a maximum of only 101 people can vote. However, here, 140 people were seen to have voted. How is this possible?" he asked. "This happened because EVMs were possibly manipulated. The EC should conduct an investigation in the phenomenal rise in polling percentage," Ambedkar said. When asked about an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha and ...