Page 229 - Politics
J&K Governor conducts aerial survey of Amarnath Yatra routes
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday undertook an aerial survey of the twin tracks of Baltal and Pahalgam leading to the Amarnath Cave shrine.
Issue white paper on Goa finances: Cong to BJP-led state govt
The Goa Congress Sunday demanded a white paper on the coastal state's financial condition against the backdrop of the BJP-led government deciding to sell bonds worth Rs 100 crore. Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar said the decision by the Pramod Sawant government showed that the state's financial condition was poor. "We demand that the state government immediately release a white paper on the financial situation of Goa. The BJP has been boasting about abundant help from the Centre but in reality has to borrow to tide over financial constraints," he said. Chodankar pointed out that Goa already had a debt of Rs 16,000 crore. Speaking on the issue of formalin in fish being imported into the state, he said the state government should thoroughly check it to ensure people are not affected. He claimed his party was receiving information that fish laced with formalin, a potential carcinogenic chemical, was making its way into the state's markets.
Hundreds of Pandits left for Kheer Bhawani in Kashmir
Amid tight security arrangements, hundreds of displaced Kashmiri Pandit devotees left Jammu for Kashmir to take part in the annual Mata Kheer Bhawani mela, which is one of the biggest religious function of the displaced community, on Monday. Housing the shrine of Ragnya Devi, a revered goddess of Kashmiri Pandits, the Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulmulla village in north Kashmir's Ganderbal district is the holiest religious destination for the KPs. Walking barefoot, the devotees carried rose petals and offered tribute to the goddess as men took a dip in the stream close to the shrine. Over 60,000 to 70,000 displaced pandits from various parts of India and abroad are expected to visit five famous temples in the Kashmir valley during Kheer Bhawani fair starting on Zeasht Astami, which falls on June 10 this year. More than 100 buses carrying pilgrims to Kheer Bhawani (Ksheer Bhawani) was flagged off by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sajeev Verma, Relief Commissioner T K Bhat and All Party ...
BJP, Trinamool delegations visit tense Sandeshkhali in Bengal
A BJP delegation, led by the party's state President Dilip Ghosh on Sunday visited the troubled Sandeshkhali area in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district where at least three persons were killed in a clash between the saffron outfit and the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Land deal: Cong-JDS coalition received kickbacks, alleges Yeddyurappa
The BJP in Karnataka Sunday alleged that the Congress-JDS coalition has received "kickbacks" for selling 3,667 acres of land, having rich deposits of iron ore, to JSW steel company in Ballari district. The comments by Karnataka BJP Chief B S Yeddyurappa have come a day after chairman and managing director of the steel giant, Sajjan Jindal said that the company never does anything "illegal" or "disadvantage" the people of the state. "We will be holding a three-day protest in Bengaluru against government's decision to sell 3,667 acres of land to Jindal at Rs 1.22 lakh per acre," Yeddyurappa told reporters in Yadgir. "If the decision is not taken back and if the need arises, we have decided to hold a state-wide protest also," added the veteran Bharataiya Janata Party leader. Asked whether any kickback was received by the coalition government, he said, "If not, why will they do it? After the Lok Sabha elections the first thing they did in the cabinet meeting was giving away over 3,600 ...
Odisha CM leaves for New Delhi
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday embarked on a week-long visit to New Delhi during which he is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss a host of important issues with him. Patnaik is expected to meet the prime minister on June 11 and discuss among other things the onging restoration works in the areas ravaged by cyclone Fani that made a landfall in Puri on May 3, officials said. The need for adequate central assistance to deal with natural calamities is expected to be emphasised during the discussion in view of Odisha's vulnerability to such disasters, they said. The chief minister is also likely to meet President Ram Nath Kovind on the same day. Patnaik is scheduled to attend the fifth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on June 15, they said. During his stay in the national capital, Patnaik is also likely to meet several union ministers to discuss a number of central government schemes. The Central government's flagship health ...
Kerala CM flags concerns over high airfares; aviation min to look into issue
Civil aviation ministry will look into steep rise in airfares for domestic and international flights to and from Kerala during festival seasons. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Sunday held discussions with Union Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola here on various issues, including airfares, increasing flights and further developing aviation infrastructure in the state. During the meeting here, the chief minister raised the issue of spike in air ticket prices during festival seasons such as Onam, Christmas and Eid. He also sought more flight services by Air India and budget carriers to Kerala. Kharola said the ministry would look into the issue of high airfares. A meeting of airlines to discuss the issue would be convened, according to a release issued by the Kerala government. The state government will also convene a meeting of stakeholders at the end of July to discuss ways for development of airports as well as ensure latest facilities. According to the release, ...
PM arrives in Tirupati to worship Lord Venkateswara
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday evening arrived in the temple town of Tirupati to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara, atop the sacred Tirumala Hills. Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy and others received the prime minister at the Tirupati airport at Renigunta after he landed from Colombo. The prime minister later went to the Electronics Park in Renigunta to address a thanksgiving meeting organised by the BJP. Modi will proceed to Tirumala Hills later in the evening and worship Lord Venkateswara. He is scheduled to depart for New Delhi at 8.15 PM.
Congress will fight upcoming Assembly elections unitedly, says Hooda
The Congress party will fight the coming Assembly polls in Haryana unitedly, said former Chief Minister and party veteran from the state Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday.Talking to ANI about the meeting he held with his supporters comprising former MPs and MLAs here, Hooda said: "Two resolutions were passed in the meeting -- one requesting Rahul Gandhi to not resign from the party president's post and second - the party should fight unitedly the upcoming Assembly elections.""The results of the Lok Sabha elections were also discussed in the meeting. The need for organising a meeting of the party leaders was felt after dissatisfaction and infighting broke out between party leaders in Haryana," he said.The internal bickering, which had been brewing within the party for long, came out in the open at the Congress war room when the party's state president Ashok Tanwar had a verbal spat with senior leaders after MLA Jaitirath Dahiya wrote to Rahul Gandhi against him.It is worth mentioning ...
Modi arrives in Tirupati to offer prayers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday arrived here on a brief visit to offer prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara.
Sudan's protesters launch general strike after crackdown
Shops were closed and streets were empty across Sudan on Sunday, the first day of a general strike called for by protest leaders demanding the resignation of the ruling military council. The Sudanese Professionals Association had called on people to stay home starting on Sunday, the first day of the work week, in protest at the deadly crackdown last week, when security forces violently dispersed the group's main sit-in outside the military headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. The protesters say more than 100 people have been killed since the crackdown began last Monday. The protesters hope that by bringing daily life to a halt they can force the military to hand over power to civilians. The military overthrew President Omar al-Bashir in April after four months of mass rallies but has refused demonstrators' demands for an immediate move to civilian rule, instead pushing for a transitional power-sharing arrangement. An Associated Press journalist saw heavy deployment of troops from ...
Centre sends advisory to West Bengal govt, expresses "deep concern" over continuing violence
The Centre Sunday expressed "deep concern" over continuing violence in West Bengal, saying the "unabated violence" even after the Lok Sabha polls appears to be a failure on part of the state government. In an advisory to the West Bengal government, the Ministry of Home Affairs also asked it to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility. "The unabated violence over the past weeks appears to be a failure on the part of the law enforcement machinery of the state to maintain the rule of law and inspire confidence among people," the advisory said. The central government expressed "deep concern" over continuing violence in West Bengal even after the general elections, an MHA official said. It was "strongly advised" to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility, the advisory said. "It is also requested to take strict action against officials found delinquent in discharge of their duty," it said. According to the MHA, the ...
UK foreign minister says EU willing to renegotiate Brexit deal
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, a contender to replace Theresa May as prime minister, said Sunday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had indicated the EU was willing to renegotiate the Brexit divorce deal. Hunt, one of nearly a dozen Conservatives vying to succeed May after she resigned as party leader Friday, said he spoke with Merkel at this week's D-Day commemorations and was convinced changing May's agreement was possible. "She said that of course with a new British prime minister we would want to look at any solutions you have," he told Sky News. "I'm absolutely clear that if we take the right approach to this, the Europeans would be willing to negotiate on the package." Hunt did not specify if he was referring to the legally-binding withdrawal agreement which the EU has repeatedly insisted cannot be re-opened, or to the accompanying political declaration on future relations. Brussels has said the declaration could be revisited if Britain makes a substantive change in ...
Another AIADMK MLA joins chorus for 'single leader' to steer party
In yet another indication that all is not well in the ruling AIADMK, a party MLA on Sunday backed its Madurai-based veteran V V Rajan Chellappa's pitch for a single leader to steer the outfit and asserted that anyone trying to divide the outfit for "family" would be viewed as another "Sasikala." "My appeal is for a unitary leadership and it should be strong and unselfish," R T Ramachandran, a senior AIADMK functionary representing Kunnam Assembly segment, is seen saying in a video clip that was made available to the media. While Ramachandran was unavailable for comments, an AIADMK spokesperson said such opinions should be aired only in the appropriate party fora. Expressing opinions in the open only provide fodder to the opposition, he said. The MLA said party founder M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa were "selfless and treated only the party as their family" and "avoided" their respective families while nurturing and guarding the outfit. "Whoever tries to threaten or divide the ...
Massive protest in Hong Kong against China extradition bill
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to protest against the recently proposed extradition rules by the government that would allow criminal suspects in the city to be sent to mainland China for trial.In what could be the biggest march in the city in the past 15 years, demonstrators gathered in central Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon, waving placards and chanting, "Hong Kong, never give up!," reports CNN.On April 3, Hong Kong had proposed a controversial extradition bill, which, critics believe, will leave anyone on Hong Kong soil vulnerable to being grabbed by the Chinese authorities for political reasons or inadvertent business offences.They further reason that the newly framed extradition plan would dissolve the rights and legal protections, which were guaranteed under the city's handover from British colonial rule to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.Similar protests were observed on Sunday in many Australian cities as well. Hong Kong political group Demosisto said .
US envoy's annexation comments show 'extremist' approach: Palestinian leaders
Palestinian leaders say a US envoy's comments on Israel having the right to annex at least parts of the occupied West Bank show "extremists" are involved in White House policy on the issue. In a statement late Saturday in response to US ambassador to Israel David Friedman's comments in a New York Times interview, a Palestinian government spokesman said some leading US policy on the issue were "extremists" lacking in "political maturity." The Palestinian foreign ministry said it was looking into filing a complaint with the International Criminal Court on the issue. Palestine Liberation Organisation secretary general Saeb Erekat on Twitter called Friedman an "extreme ambassador of the settlers." "Their vision is about annexation of occupied territory, a war crime under international law," he said. Erekat also renewed a Palestinian call for countries to boycott a June 25-26 conference in Bahrain to discuss economic aspects of a peace deal the White House has been working on. In the ...
Senior BJP leader Umesh Aggrawal dies
Senior BJP leader Umesh Aggrawal passed away here Sunday after a prolonged illness. Aggrawal breathed his last at his Subhash Nagar residence here at around 3.30 am, state BJP media chief Devendra Bhasin said. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed grief at the party leader's demise. Aggrawal was the former city (Mahanagar) president of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
French Minister Lemoyne to reach India on Monday
French Minister of State for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Baptiste Lemoyne will visit India on Monday to do the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in August.
Snap elections called in Moldova
Snap parliamentary elections are due to take place in Moldova on September 6, Prime Minister Pavel Filip, who, according to the Constitutional Court, holds office of President on an interim basis, announced on Sunday.
Integration of Brahmos missiles into Sukhoi jets fast-tracked
In a strategically significant move, the government has decided to fast-track integration of Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets under a closely-guarded project. Official sources said the decision to speed up implementation of the "strategic" project was taken nearly six weeks after the Balakot air strikes and subsequent Pakistani retaliation. State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and the BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL), an Indo-Russia joint venture, are implementing the project. Considering IAF's requirement, both HAL and BAPL were directed to expedite implementation of the project so that it can be completed much before the scheduled deadline of December 2020, sources said. The Brahmos, the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, coupled with the superlative performance of the Sukhoi aircraft will give the IAF a strategic reach and will allow it to dominate the ocean and the battle fields in the region, according to an ...