Page 234 - Politics

TRS makes clean sweep in Telangana Zilla Parishad polls

Continuing its victory spree, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Saturday made a clean sweep of elections for the posts of Zilla Parishad chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

State sponsorship of terrorism biggest threat world facing today: PM Modi in Maldives

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that state sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat the humanity is facing today as he urged the world leaders to unite for combating the menace. Addressing the Maldivian Parliament, the Majlis, Modi said that relations between India and Maldives are older than history. "Today I want to emphasise that every Indian was with you for the strengthening of democracy in the Maldives," he said. Terrorism is not just a threat for a country but to the entire civilization, he said. "The world community has organised conventions and meetings on global challenges like the climate change, now it should also come together on the issue of terrorism. It is time for a global conference on terrorism," Modi said. He said that terrorists neither have banks nor note printing machines or factory of arms. Yet they never lack in money and weapons. "Where do they find all this? Who gives them these facilities?" he asked. "It is ..

J&K people need to make rational choice in assembly election: Farooq

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Saturday that the people of Jammu and Kashmir need to make a rational choice in the assembly election for the greater interest of the state. "Forces that are inimical to the interests of the state will use all possible means to influence the process of the election," Abdullah said. The former chief minister said the people of the state "audaciously dispirited" the resolve of such forces in the Lok Sabha election. "We have won the first battle, but the biggest battle is ahead of us. We should not let complacency overwhelm us. "The state is facing a perilous situation in the wake of the numerous attacks on its identity and unity. But, by not letting the demon of disunity divide us, we can take such forces head-on," Abdullah said. He was addressing a gathering of devotees at the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Kiyanvi Naqshbandi on his 124th Urs at the Baba Nagri Kangan in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. Abdullah said the need of ...

Sudan protesters call for civil disobedience to push army

Pro-democracy protest leaders on Saturday called on Sudanese to take part in acts of civil disobedience in a bid to pressure the military to hand over power after the deadly break-up of their main sit-in in the capital of Khartoum earlier this week. The call came a day after Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met separately with the ruling generals and the protest leaders in an effort to revive talks that were almost dead after the dispersal of the sit-in outside the military's headquarters on Monday. The Sudan Doctors' Central Committee, one of the protest groups, said at least 113 people have been killed and more than 500 wounded since Monday. It said more than 40 bodies have been pulled from the Nile River in Khartoum and taken away by security forces since the violence erupted. The Sudanese Professionals' Association, which spearheaded protests that led the army to oust President Omar al-Bashir, said it accepted Ahmed as a mediator to resume negotiations with the military ...

3 BJP workers, 1 TMC activist killed in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district

At least four persons were allegedly killed and three others severely injured in clashes that broke out between the TMC and the BJP in Nazat area in North 24 Parganas district on Saturday night, sources in both the parties claimed. Although police declined to comment on the deaths, they said a huge contingent has been rushed to the spot to control the situation. Sources in the TMC and the BJP claimed that the clashes broke out over removing flags of the saffron party in the area. State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said three of his party workers -- Sukanta Mondal, Pradip Mondal and Shankar Mondal -- were shot dead when they stopped TMC supporters from "throwing away" their party flags. "We have received bodies of three of our workers. We have heard that two more have also died but are yet to receive the bodies. They tried to throw away our party flags and posters and when we protested, our workers were shot from point blank range," Basu said. Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy said ...

PM Modi, Prez Solih inaugurate coastal surveillance radar system built by India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday jointly inaugurated the coastal surveillance radar system built by India as the two leaders held wide-ranging talks to bolster their bilateral cooperation in key areas like defence and maritime security. The inauguration assumes significance as China views the Maldives as key to its Maritime Silk Road project in the Indian Ocean as it has already acquired Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. The Costal Surveillance Radar is the primary sensor for Integrated Costal Surveillance System. The Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems (CSRS) programme contributes in creating a network of information to maritime domain awareness in the strategic Indian Ocean region. According to defence officials, India has an older version of these radars in Seychelles, Mauritious and Sri Lanka. Modi arrived in the Indian Ocean archipelago on Saturday on his first foreign visit after re-election as Prime ...

J&K chief secy reviews arrangements for Amarnath Yatra

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam on Saturday asked the police and administration to put all arrangements in place before June 25 for the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra next month, an official said. Subrahmanyam reviewed the arrangements at a meeting, which was attended by the director general of police and other senior officers, the spokesperson said. The chief secretary reviewed the facilities for the safe, smooth and secure movement of pilgrims, especially along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and Baltal and Chandanwari route, the official said. Subrahmanyam directed the divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to monitor the arrangements at transit camps, particularly in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, and in the base camps in Baltal and Chandanwari. The chief secretary asked the Jammu divisional commissioner to work out a plan for transit camps, especially between Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal stretch, in the event of a blockade of the national

Modi invokes 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwaas' to stress on Maldives' importance

Extending his government's motto to the neighbourhood for the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invoked "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwaas" to stress on the high importance that India attaches to its relationship with Maldives, a Muslim-majority country. Addressing the Maldivian Parliament, Modi said "neighbourhood first" is his government's policy to realise the vision for an inclusive and sustainable development in the South Asian region. "My government's motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwaas' (Together with all, for development of all and with trust of all) is not only for India, it is for the whole world, especially our neighbourhood. This motto is the basis of our (India's) foreign policy," he said. "Neighbourhood first is also our policy and the significance of Maldives in it (foreign policy) is quite natural," the prime minister said. Modi, who made Maldives his first overseas destination after being elected to power for the second term, ..

UK Conservative leadership contenders acknowledge past sins

British Environment Secretary Michael Gove has admitted using cocaine on "several occasions" two decades ago, as Conservative Party leadership hopefuls rush to admit past sins and avoid any surprises during what is expected to be a heated contest. Gove is the latest candidate in the race to replace Prime Minister Theresa May to acknowledge using banned substances. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Times he drank a "cannabis lassi" while backpacking in India in his youth. International Development Secretary Rory Stewart told the Telegraph he smoked opium at a wedding in Iran 15 years ago. Rival Dominic Raab, who previously admitted smoking cannabis as a student, told the BBC he admired Gove's honesty. He says he won't criticise anyone for "holding their hand up and saying 'I got that wrong.

TRS sweeps ZPP poll in Telangana

: The ruling TRS in Telangana Saturday scored a spectacular victory in the rural local body polls, bagging the post of chairpersons in all 32 Zilla Praja Parishads (ZPPs). The indirect election to the posts of ZPP chairpersons and vice-chairpersons was held on Saturday. The ZPP chairpersons are elected by the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) members. The indirect election of Mandal Praja Parishad (MPP) Chairperson and others was held Friday. The TRS bagged 3,548 of the total of 5,817 MPTCs in the rural local body polls (to elect Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency- MPTCs and ZPTC members) held last month. Congress and BJP won 1,392 and 208 respectively. TRS has won 449 of the total 538 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs). Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao congratulated the MPTC, ZPTC members and Mandal Parishad and Zilla Parishad leaders who emerged victorious in the rural local body elections and thanked TRS party activists responsible ...

Karnataka cabinet expansion on June 12 for 2nd time

The year-old Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka would be expanded for the second time on June 12, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Saturday.

Police officer hurt in clash between BJP workers, police

Amid ransacking of vehicles and pelting of stones, one police officer and two civic volunteers were injured in a clash between workers of Bharatiya Janata Party and police in West Bengal's South Dinajpur district, after cops allegedly stopped a rally of the saffron party.

Prashant Kishor meeting with Mamata nothing to do with JD-U: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United President Nitish Kumar broke his silence on Saturday over his party vice president and election strategist Prashant Kishor meeting West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, saying it has nothing to do with the JD-U.

BJP winning as many seats as predicted by Shah hints at 'EVM scam': Delhi minister

Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam Saturday alleged that the BJP winning as many seats as predicted by its president Amit Shah hinted at an "EVM scam". Gautam was speaking at a protest organised by the Samvidhan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti against what it called "rigging" of electronic voting machines in the recent Lok Sabha election. "The media had said BJP wount not get more than 150 seats and NDA would not get more than 200 seats. The fact that BJP got the same number of seats as predicted by Amit Shah hints at an EVM scam. It is a matter of shame," the AAP minister alleged. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won over 350 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP alone won 303 seats. "There is an atmosphere of fear but still you are raising the issue of EVM scam. There is always a first time when a voice is raised against a crime...," Gautam said. "There was a media report that there were discrepancies in the number of votes polled in 373 seats. The Election ...

JD(U) has nothing to do with Prashant Kishor's activities in WB: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Saturday distanced his party from Prashant Kishor's decision to offer services as a poll strategist to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the JD(U) has nothing to do with it. "Kishor's activities in West Bengal are not in his capacity as a JD(U) leader," the JD(U) chief said, adding Kishore has been in touch with various parties as head of an organisation that advises them on their poll strategies. His remarks came after the decision vy Kishor, a JD(U) vice president, to work with Banerjee's Trinamool Congress for the 2021 assembly polls raised eyebrows. The TMC is locked in a fierce electoral battle with the BJP, an ally of Nitish Kumar's JD(U). Though Kumar evaded a direct reply on whether the JD(U) will seek an explanation, he expressed hope that Kishor will be able to answers all the questions on Sunday when the party's national executive meet. "Kishor joined our party in September last year and we assigned him an important role. ..

State sponsorship of terrorism biggest threat world facing today: Modi

Terrorism is not just a threat for a country but to the entire civilization, PM Modi said at Maldives

In a first, ferry service to connect India and Maldives

India and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to launch a ferry service connecting the two countries as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih emphasised the need to improve connectivity. The two leaders have directed officials to expeditiously work towards starting a regular passenger-cum-cargo ferry service between Kerala's Kochi and the Maldivian capital Male via Kulhudhuffushi atoll. The initiative, which is expected to boost tourism, was announced during Modi's two-day state visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago. The distance between Kochi and Male is about 700 kms, and between Kochi and Kulhudhuffushi atoll is 500 kms. Addressing the Maldivian Parliament, Modi said: "I am particularly happy that we have agreed upon a ferry service between the two countries". A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the two sides for the establishment of passenger and cargo services by sea. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that the ferry service was ...

Karnataka cabinet rejig will only flame rebellion: Yeddyurappa

The Karnataka BJP Chief B S Yeddyurappa Saturday predicted that Congress-JD(S) government's exercise to quell the growing dissent within the coalition through cabinet rejig on June 12 would only flame rebellion. "There is information that one or two independent MLAs will be made ministers in the government. If they are made ministers, it will only add fuel to the fire. Those MLAs aspiring for ministerial berths will turn against the government," Yeddyurappa told reporters in Koppal, commenting on the proposed cabinet expansion. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy announced that the cabinet expansion would take place on June 12. Kumaraswamy made the announcement in a tweet after meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala, which comes after weeks of consultations between him and Congress leaders amid coalition worries compounded by the Lok Sabha poll rout. The measure is seen as an exercise to douse dissidence among the MLAs of the coalition government, especially among

IAF organises special concert to commemorate birth centenary of Arjan Singh

Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday organised a special Air Force Band concert to commemorate the birth centenary of the Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh at the Mahatma Mandir Complex here on Saturday.Arjan Singh is an icon of the Indian military history and the best remembered for providing excellent leadership to a young IAF during the 1965 war.It is said that when he was asked by the then Defence Minister to provide air support to the ground forces, Singh promptly replied that he would get his forces ready in an hour. IAF attacked the invading Pakistani forces within an hour.The Marshal of the Air Force flew 60 different types of aircraft from pre World War II era biplanes to the more contemporary fighters like Gnats and Vampires. Singh also played a pivotal role in transforming and modernising the IAF.He served as the Chief of Air Staff from August 1964 to July 1969. Even after retirement, he continued to serve in various positions including India's Ambassador to several

Maldives government confers 'Rule of Nishan Izzudheen' on Modi

The Maldives government on Saturday conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi its highest honour for foreign dignitaries -- 'Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen'. Modi received the award at a ceremony held at the President's office in Male.