Page 2283 - Politics

BJP legislative party meeting in Dharamshala Sunday

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will preside over a BJP legislative party meeting Sunday in Dharamshala ahead of the winter session of the state assembly. The winter session will commence on December 10. Himachal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said the chief minister will preside over the meeting and urged all the cabinet ministers to be present.

Gen Rawat dismisses DS Hooda's 'surgical strikes' remark as 'individual's perception'

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday dismissed as "individual person's perception" the remarks made by former Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General (retired) DS Hooda that there were over hype about the 2016 surgical strikes carried out in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK).Hooda, who had overseen the surgical strikes conducted across the Line of Control (LoC) on the night of September 28-29, 2016, has triggered a major controversy by saying that constant maintenance of hype around the military operations was unwarranted.Attending an event in Chandigarh on Friday, he said in response to a question that "in hindsight, it would have been better had we done it (surgical strikes) secretly."Asked about the remarks made by Hooda, General Rawat told ANI on Saturday: "These are individual person's perception. So let's not comment on them."The Army Chief noted that Hooda was "one of the main persons involved in the conduct of these operations. So, I respect his words very much."Hooda, .

Iran's Rouhani: US sanctions are 'economic terrorism'

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said US sanctions were "economic terrorism", as he sought to foster a united front from visiting regional officials on Saturday. Washington has reimposed an oil embargo and other damaging sanctions on Iran since pulling out in May from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers. "America's unjust and illegal sanctions against the honourable nation of Iran have targeted our nation in a clear instance of terrorism," Rouhani said in a televised speech. He was speaking at a conference on terrorism and regional cooperation attended by parliament speakers from Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey. "We are facing an all-out assault which is not only threatening our independence and identity but also is bent on breaking our longstanding ties," he added. Rouhani drew parallels with the sanctions and other pressure faced by the countries attending the conference. "When they put pressure on China's trade, we are all harmed... By ...

Imran tacitly acknowledges that 26/11 originated from Pakistani soil

Pakistan wants "something done about the bombers of Mumbai", its Prime Minister Imran Khan has said while tacitly acknowledging that the attack of November 2008 originated from the Pakistani soil.Khan, who has spoken about Pakistan taking two steps for peace for every step taken by India, said his government wants to prosecute those involved in the "act of terror" as it is in "Islamabad's interest to resolve the matter.The Pakistan Prime Minister said he has asked for the status of the case which is being heard in an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan.On November 26, 2008, 10 heavily-armed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists sailed into Mumbai and attacked multiple places in the city, including the iconic Taj Hotel.In the coordinated attacks which shook the entire world, 166 people were killed and 300 injured."We also want something done about the bombers of Mumbai. I have asked our government to find out the status of the case. Resolving that case is in our interest because it was an act .

J-K panchayat polls: Jammu records highest voter turnout till 10 am

Jammu district on Saturday recorded the highest voter turnout of 29.8 per cent while Samba was second in the list with 29.7 per cent till 10 am in the eighth phase of the panchayat elections.Despite the frosty cold weather, terror threats and boycott call by the two major political outfits of the region -- the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party -- voters came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.The voter turnout recorded in other areas of the state are as follows: Rajouri 29 per cent, Kathua 27.4 per cent, Reasi 18.4 per cent, Baramulla 14.8 per cent, Kupwara 9.3 per cent. However, the voting percentage was abysmally low in Srinagar (4.8 per cent), Bandipora (3.5 per cent) and Budgam (2.6 per cent).As many as 43 Sarpanchs and 681 Panchs have been elected unopposed in today's polling. Elections for the rest 331 Sarpanch and 2007 Panch seats are taking place with 6304 candidates in the fray. For smooth voting, the state election commission has set up 2083 .

Canadian parliamentary committee wants government to 'investigate, prosecute' extremists posing threat to India

A high-level parliamentary committee in Canada has asked the government to take action against extremists within its borders who are posing a threat to India's security.

Yogi most incompetent CM, only expert at communal polarisation: Samajwadi Party

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Saturday called Yogi Adityanath the "most incompetent Chief Minister" and accused him of only trying to fan communal passions in Uttar Pradesh.

Mueller files new papers in court on Russian investigations

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has filed a new set of papers in court that may increase the legal woes of US President Donald Trump in connection with the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible contacts between the Trump's presidential campaign and Moscow. While the court papers does not answer the central question of whether Trump or his associates conspired with the Russians, the documents suggest that the president's legal woes are far from over and reveal a previously unreported contact from a Russian to Trump's inner circle during the campaign, according to a report in the Washington Post. The Court papers directly implicated Trump in plans to buy women's silence as far back as 2014 and offering new evidence of Russian efforts to forge a political alliance with Trump before he became the president - disclosures that show the deepening political and legal morass enveloping the administration, said the report. In his filings before a US federal court in ...

TDP to contest Lok Sabha, Assembly polls in Odisha

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has decided to contest the Lok Sabha and the Odisha Assembly elections in the BJD ruled-state next year. TDP's Odisha in-charge Rajesh Putra told reporters in Koraput that the TDP will field candidates in 52 Assembly constituencies and five Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. He said the TDP would like to focus in the southern region of the state where Telugu language is being spoken by the people. The districts where the TDP would field its candidates have been identified as Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam and Nabarngpur. Stating that the TDP has a stronghold in these districts, Putra said the party leadership feels that the dense population of Telugu people in these areas might be beneficial to the party. The TDP candidates are likely to contest from Koraput, Nabarangpur, Berhampur and Aska constituencies, he said, adding that another parliamentary constituency will be decided

ED raids Congress worker Jagdish Sharma's residence, detains him for questioning

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted a raid at the residence of Congress worker Jagdish Sharma.Sharma, who is believed to be a close aide of businessman Robert Vadra, has also been taken to the ED office for questioning."Robert Vadra is being framed. Modi government wants to trap Robert Vadra. Searches are on at my residence. What will they get when there is nothing. They are taking me to ED office for questioning," Sharma told ANI.On Friday, the ED conducted raids at the premises of some close associates of Vadra, son-in-law of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for allegedly receiving money from defence suppliers, according to sources in the investigating agency. The raids were conducted at three places in Delhi and Bengaluru, the ED sources said.While Vadra's advocate Suman Khaitan cried foul, ED sources said the investigating agency has "evidence" that the persons being raided had received money in their bank accounts from defence suppliers.Khaitan claimed that the ED

Goa: Cong attacks BJP over 'governance failure'

The Congress in Goa has renewed its attack on the ruling BJP and reiterated its demand for a floor test, a day after exit polls predicted good showing by the Congress in some of the five states where assembly polls were held recently. Goa Congress unit president Girish Chodankar also said the ruling party's act of "usurping" power in Goa in 2017 seems to have worked against it nationally. He attacked state Governor Mridula Sinha for "allowing" ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to continue in office. "The unfruitful attempts by Governor Mridula Sinha to allow ailing CM Manohar Parrikar will fetch no gain for the BJP. On the contrary, the Goa fiasco has contributed to the loss of the BJP nationally," Chodankar told reporters when asked about the prediction made by the exit polls. Counting of votes for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will be done on December 11. Chodankar said the electoral outcome would serve as a "warning" for the BJP ..

Exclusive: Brazil's Bolsonaro brokering deal to end trucker, farmer feud

BRASÍLIA (Reuters) - Brazil's next government is working to strike a deal between farmers and truckers over minimum freight prices by revising the policy, rather than throwing it out as many have demanded, the country's future infrastructure minister said on Friday.

Voting for panchayat polls underway in J-K

Voting for the penultimate phase of the nine-phased Panchayat polls is underway Saturday at over 2,600 polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir. Polling began at 8 am at 2,633 polling stations - 550 in Kashmir division and 2083 in Jammu division, officials said. They said 361 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive with 171 in Kashmir division and 190 in Jammu division. The officials said 6,304 candidates are in the fray for 331 Sarpanch and 2007 Panch seats in this phase, while 43 Sarpanchs and 681 Panchs have been elected unopposed. An electorate of 515121 have the right to exercise their franchise for Sarpanch constituencies and 419775 for Panch constituencies, they said. The officials said all arrangements, including security related, have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the polls. At the end of seven phases of the Panchayat Polls, an overall voter turnout of 73.8 per cent has been recorded across the state, with a poll percentage of 44.4 per cent in the .

Voting underway for 8th phase of J&K panchayat polls

Voting was underway on Saturday for the eighth phase of the panchayat polls across Jammu and Kashmir amid tight security.

Defence min's 5-day US tour concludes

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday concluded her five-day visit to the United States, which officials said was aimed at "accelerating the momentum" of India-US defence ties -- from enhancing India's naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean region, to increasing the footprint of American companies in Make in India programme, and substantially increasing bilateral defence trade. While no announcements were made with regard to shifting of F-16 production base to India or deals in armed drones, officials privy to the high-level talks said US is leaning way forward in meeting India's needs and aspirations in the defence sector and is taking steps that would help it achieve its strategic goals. There is a "mutual desire to move positively and quickly" in defence relationship, Sitharaman told media persons at the Pentagon on Monday, which was also her only media interaction during this US visit. In the last one month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi first met Vice President Mike Pence and

J-K panchayat polls: Voting for eighth phase begins

Voting for the eight phase of panchayat elections has begun across the state amidst heightened security. Polling is scheduled to end at 2 PM today.While 43 sarpanch and 681 panch have been elected unopposed, polling will take place for 331 sarpanch and 2007 panch seats, with 6304 candidates in the fray. An electorate of 5,15,121 will be voting for sarpanch constituencies and 4,19,775 for panch constituencies.In this phase, 2633 polling stations have been set up - 550 in Kashmir division and 2083 in Jammu division. Of these, 361 have been categorised as 'hypersensitive', including 171 in Kashmir division and 190 in Jammu division.As per the Election Commission, Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) have been ensured in all the polling stations for facilitating the voters. Security arrangements have also been made including the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).In the seventh phase of polling, an overall voter turnout of 75.3 per cent was recorded in the state, with Jammu ...

Robert Vadra's advocate cries foul over ED raid, terms it 'political vendetta'

Tavrej, the advocate of businessman Robert Vadra's Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, has cried foul over the "illegal" raid conducted by officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging that they harassed the employees of the firm in South Delhi's Sukhdev Vihar.Showing the premises of the ransacked office, Tavrej, while speaking to ANI, said: "They (ED) entered by breaking the doors (of the office) and kept employees locked for 13 to 14 hours. They have completely ransacked the office. They took away the CCTV cameras, broke tiles in the kitchen and took laptops and other things from the cupboard."Furthermore, he alleged that ED officials did not reveal their identity to employees or inform the company about the raid."They were here since around 10 am yesterday (Friday) and harassing our employees. They did not even tell employees that they are from the ED. Around 14 people were there in the end. They left at around 3 am after which the employees were released. They are harassing

Military Literature Festival 2018 begins in Chandigarh

The three-day Military Literature Festival (MLF) 2018, kick-started on Friday in Chandigarh. The festival is a joint initiative of military historian and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore.Open to one and all sans entry fee, MLF 2018 aims to offer an opportunity for the younger generation to get acquainted with India's glorious military heritage, while also bringing a host of cultural activities, food cuisines and competitions to the public.Besides, marshal dances, weapons display, medallion gallery, artists' corner, cultural activities and exhibitions, food and cuisine, book fair, children's Saragarhi Samvadh are amongst other activities to reverberate the minds of participants and visitors with tales of India's soldiers during the three-day event.Retired lieutenant-general DS Hooda, who was present at the event, told ANI: "People should know the history and the literature associated with their country's military. These kind of ...

Nigerian President rejects electoral reform bill

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to give his assent to the country's electoral amendment bill for the third consecutive time, asserting that introducing a new legislation before the general elections could cause confusion and uncertainty.Buhari was quoted by Anadolu News Agency as saying, "I am declining assent to the bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general election which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process. Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process."With the general elections just two months away, the Nigerian President underlined that he would sign the bill to overhaul the country's electoral laws if the lawmakers add a clause mentioning that it would be ...

As protests rages in France, Macron remains invisible

As anti-government protests rage through France and Paris locks down, fearing new riots, the man whose presidency has unleashed the anger is nowhere to be seen. French President Emmanuel Macron has stayed out of the public eye all week, leaving his unpopular government to try to calm the nation. In response, "Macron, resign!" has become the main slogan of the "yellow vest" demonstrators. The protesters' anger has been directed at the French leader, who they feel has been the "president of the rich" and is out-of-touch with ordinary people. Macron's pro-business reforms have aimed to make the French economy more competitive globally, but French workers see the changes as brutal and weakening their rights. Macron, whose popularity plummeted in recent months, is also widely seen as arrogant, which comes out when he tells an unemployed man he can find a job if he "crosses the street," or advising a retiree not to complain. The 40-year-old leader mostly spent the week holding closed-door ..