Page 2348 - Politics
Rawat demands assistance of 4570 crore for Mahakumbh
Uttarakhand government Friday demanded a special one-time assistance of Rs 4570 crore from the Centreto organise the 2021 Mahakumbh fair. The demand was made by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat who called on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi Friday. Pointing out that around 15 crore people were likely to gather for the great religious congregation at Haridwar, the chief minister asked for a one-time special assistance of Rs 4570 crore for the event, an official release here said. All preparations for the fair including construction of roads and the ghats have to be completed by October 2020, Rawat said. The forthcoming Mahakumbh fair will be held on the banks of the Ganga from January to April 2021.
BJP receives setback in Odisha with two leaders quitting
Former Union minister and Odisha MLA Dilip Roy and senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra resigned from the party Friday, dealing a blow to the saffron party ahead of the 2019 elections. Besides sending a joint resignation letter to BJP president Amit Shah, Roy, who represents Rourkela constituency in the Odisha Assembly, also resigned as legislator. Roy, once considered by many as the foster son of former chief minister Biju Patnaik, said he called on Assembly Speaker Pradip Amat Friday morning and tendered his resignation from the membership of the House. The Speaker said he has accepted the resignation. The development has sparked speculation that the two may stage a come back to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), of which both were founding members. While Mohapatra was expelled from the BJD in 2000, Roy was thrown out two years later. Roy is yet to spell his future political move. He, however, said that he has decided not to contest the 2019 Odisha Assembly election from ...
Opposition displays unity at mega farmers rally (Roundup)
A massive farmers rally in the national capital on Friday turned into a show of opposition unity with leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accusing the Modi government of plunging the country into an acute agrarian crisis and backed demands for a complete loan waiver and higher crop prices.
Rahul Gandhi sent me to Pakistan: Sidhu
Amid the raging row over his Pakistan visit, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu said Friday it was Congress president Rahul Gandhi who sent him there for attending the foundation laying ceremony of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. Sidhu's visit had riled Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who said on record he tried to dissuade Sidhu, a member of his cabinet, following a grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar that left three people dead, but he paid no heed. Singh had blamed Pakistan's ISI for the attack. "Rahul Gandhi is my captain. It is he who sent me to Pakistan," Sidhu told a press conference here when asked about Amarinder Singh's disapproval of his Pakistan trip. Sidhu said 50-100 Congress leaders patted him on his back for the visit. The Congress leader, however, described the Punjab chief minister as a "father figure" to him.
NDA bullying, threatening opposition-ruled states: Kharge
The NDA government has adopted an attitude of "bullying and threatening" towards opposition-ruled states, senior Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge alleged Friday. He claimed that the government's attitude towards them has not been "correct." "They threaten and bully everyone. Whether it is West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, whoever, where their party is not there, they threaten them. If you don't come with me, I will do this," the leader of Congress party in the Lok Sabha said at a press conference here. The NDA government was interfering in the functioning of autonomous institutions like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Kharge alleged, adding that democracy and the Constitution in the country need to be safeguarded. "I know this because I, myself, am in CVC committee," Kharge said, pointing out that he was a member of different committees to select heads of organisations like CBI in his capacity as the
Bribery remarks: Kejriwal moves HC seeking stay of EC orders
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal moved the Delhi High Court Friday, seeking a stay of two Election Commission (EC) orders by which the poll panel had censured him and later ordered lodging of an FIR against him for his bribery remarks during campaigning for the Goa Assembly election. The plea was listed before Justice Yogesh Khanna, but could not be taken up as the judge was not available, and was put up for hearing on December 18. In his application, filed through advocates Rishikesh Kumar and Mohammad Irshad, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor has claimed that the two EC orders of January 21, 2017 and January 29, 2017 were "arbitrary and whimsical" and curtailed his "fundamental right of freedom of speech". The application for an interim stay was filed in the main petition, in which Kejriwal has sought setting aside of the two orders of the poll panel. In the main matter, the court had on July 30 closed the EC's right to reply to the petition, saying it had failed to file its ...
US, Mexico, Canada sign new USMCA trade deal
The leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada on Friday signed a new trade deal replacing the old NAFTA in a triumph for President Donald Trump who insisted on what he said were better conditions for US workers. "This is a model agreement that changes the trade landscape forever," Trump said at the signing ceremony in Buenos Aires, on the sidelines of a summit between the leaders of the G20 countries.
Iran cannot 'wait forever' for EU path to skirt US sanctions
Iran said Friday the European Union must be given more time to set up a trade mechanism meant to circumvent reimposed US sanctions on Tehran, but warned it could not "wait forever". Brussels is working on a payment system to continue trade and business ties with Iran after the US ditched a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran earlier this year and reintroduced a raft of sanctions on the country. "Europe's efforts for implementing a financial mechanism are continuing despite mounting US pressure," Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told the official IRNA news agency. "We believe that Europe must be given more time ... they have so far been unable to introduce operational measures, but we are not supposed to wait forever," he added. The US sanctions aim to cut off Iran's banks from international finance and significantly reduce its oil exports. The EU hopes its "special purpose vehicle" (SPV) announced in September will keep the nuclear deal alive and pursuade Tehran to ...
Jaitley should explain BJP's attempt to form govt in J-K through 'proxies and defectors': Omar
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Friday said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley should explain BJP's attempt to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir through "proxies and defectors" rather than commenting on the NC's seriousness to support the PDP in government formation. "Jaitley Sb would be well advised to explain his party's attempt to form a government with proxies & defectors rather than waxing eloquent about things he knows nothing about. That's provided anyone has the courage to ask him questions that aren't tee'd up ready for him to hit (sic)," Omar said in a tweet. The former chief minister of the state was responding to Jaitley's interview to a private TV news channel in which he alleged that NC and PDP were never interested in forming a serious government. "After spending years exploiting sentiment in Jammu by promising to 'end Kashmir's hegemony' as they put it, they took 26 MLAs & committed them to a valley based party with ONLY 2 MLAs," Omar said. The ..
We stand united with farmers; they're asking for their due, not free gift: Rahul
Leaders of opposition parties stand united with farmers in ensuring their good future, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said and called for a farm loan waiver, asserting that peasants are asking for what is due to them and not a "free gift". The Congress supremo joined several leaders from the opposition parties, including AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, veteran politicians Sharad Yadav and Sitaram Yechury at Jantar Mantar here where thousands of farmers from across the country have gathered to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce. "The farmers of India are not asking for a free gift, they are only asking for their rights and what is due to them. The prime minister said he will provide remunerative prices to farmers, bonus and increased MSP, but the situation today is you pay for insurance and it goes into the pocket of Anil Ambani. Farmers cannot even decide which company's insurance to buy," he said. "The ..
Calcutta HC refuses to stay mayoral election
The Calcutta High Court Friday refused to stay the scheduled election of West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim as the mayor of the city. Hakim has been chosen as the mayor designate of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) by councillors of the ruling Trinamool Congress following Sovan Chatterjee's resignation from the post on a direction by party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. An opposition CPI(M) councillor had moved the high court, challenging Hakim's scheduled election on the ground that he was not an elected councillor from any of the wards of the KMC. Refusing to pass any interim stay, Justice Debangshu Basak directed the state and the KMC to file affidavits in opposition to the petition of CPI(M) councillor Bilkis Begum. The petitioner was directed to file her affidavit in reply within another week. The matter would be taken up for further hearing on December 17, the court directed. The petitioner challenged the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill, .
Chandrababu has never won election on his own: Bandaru Dattatreya
Launching a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Secunderabad MP Bandaru Dattatreya on Friday said that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president has never won a single election on his ownDattatreya added that the TDP supremo cannot contest any election without an alliance.Recalling the previous elections which Naidu contested, Dattatreya accused him of backstabbing NT Rama Rao to come to power."Later he won elections in alliance with the Vajpayee-led BJP. In 2014, he needed Narendra Modi's support for winning," he added.Sharpening his offensive against the TDP president, Dattatreya said that Naidu indulged in malpractices while making land allocations."They grabbed the land of the poor at nominal rates and sold to IT companies at higher prices," he said.On Rahul Gandhi's repeated attacks over the Rafale row, the BJP leader dismissed the Congress president's allegation as "utter lie".The assembly elections in
Amit Shah attacks Robert Vadra, says he gets commission for approving loans
With high-voltage electioneering in poll-bound states, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah fired a fresh salvo at the Congress by brigning in businessman and Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra into the picture.Addressing a public gathering at Karwasra at Nagaur district in Rajasthan on Friday, Shah stated that "a renowned company received a loan of thousands of crores and its commission reached Nehru family's son-in-law."Criticizing Vadra for his involvement in land scam cases, Shah said, "Today the front page of Indian Express says that a renowned company got a loan of thousands of crores and its commission reached Nehru family's son-in-law (Robert Vadra) with which he bought 150 hectares of land for less price and sold it at a higher rate. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi if he can answer now?"Notably, the Enforcement Directorate on Friday summoned Robert Vadra in the Bikaner land deal case.Shah continued his attack against Congress, saying, "Rahul baba NPA cases are mounting
Congress calls Vadra's ED summon politically motivated
Reacting to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning Robert Vadra following a media report about a company, which got relief from tax panel had given loans to Vadra's firm, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Friday said that such issues are being brought up around the time of elections in the country."As election approaches, such things will be brought up in Parliament. But law should take its own course. It's a new trend to defame someone. Things are played on media, even when probe is underway and there is no evidence," Patel told reporters here.Responding sharply to a media report about the company that gave loans to his firm got relief from tax panel, Vadra earlier on Friday said that it is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Plan B to drag his name into controversies to distract public attention from its misgovernance.Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, underlined that it is part of the BJP's strategy to drag his name whenever they find ...
K'taka minister spikes reports of MLAs shifting to Mumbai ahead of assembly session
Karnataka Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi Friday denied reports that some disgruntled Congress MLAs loyal to him had planned to shift to Mumbai ahead of the December 10 assembly session. He alleged that attempts were being made by some "self proclaimed influential party leaders" to damage his image. "I have been here at my home since the last two days, there is a propaganda going on about Mumbai, you (media) think about it," Jarkiholi told reporters here. "I won't say much. I feel that this is the work of self proclaimed influential Congress leaders to damage my name," he added. Conceding that he had some differences with the party, Jarkiholi clarified that the issues were resolved after mediation by former chief minister Siddaramaiah and senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge. "I don't know why leaving everything, the media friends are doing this in the name of Ramesh Jarkiholi... Kindly close this (matter)... Everything is resolved. You can see whether I'm in Mumbai or Bengaluru," he .
Fulfil farmers' demands or they'd 'wreak havoc ' in 2019 polls: Kejriwal to Modi
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "stabbed farmers in the back" by not fulfilling the promises made to them and warned him that they would "wreak havoc" in 2019 general elections if those promises are not kept. The AAP chief joined several leaders from opposition parties at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where thousands of farmers from across the country have gathered to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce. In his address at the venue, Kejriwal claimed that the Centre had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying it would not implement the M S Swaminathan Commission report. "The government had made a number of promises to farmers in the last election (2014), but it has not fulfilled those promises. By not implementing the Swaminathan Commission report, Modi ji has stabbed the farmers in the back ('kisano ke peeth mey chhura bhonka hai')," he alleged. He said the Union government .
Raja Bhaiyya launches 'Jansatta', to fight for farmers
Independent legislator from Kunda Raguraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiyya on Friday launched his political party 'Jansatta' and vowed to fight for the rights of farmers, youths and the poor.
HC quashes TN govt order transferring idol theft cases to CBI
The Madras High Court Friday quashed a Tamil Nadu government order transferring the investigation of idol theft cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A special bench of Justice R Mahadevan and Justice P D Audikesavulu, constituted to hear petitions related to idol thefts, held that the GO was "colourable, unreasonable and arbitrary". It also ordered appointment of Inspector General Pon Manickavel, who superannuated Friday, as a special officer to investigate the present and future cases of the Idol Wing for a period of one year. The state government had issued a government order Thursday appointing Additional Director General of Police Abhay Kumar Singh to succeed Pon Manickavel. The court had on August 8 stayed the August 1 government order on petitions filed by advocate Elephant Rajendran and social activist Traffic Ramaswamy, seeking to quash the order transferring the case. Taking a serious view of the theft of antique idols, the court had in July last year directed .
J&K to have bus ports in two regions
Kashmir and Jammu regions of the state is set to get 'bus ports', modern bus stands equipped with a host of facilities, with the Transport department calling for submission of proposals for the projects. Principal Secretary, Transport department, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon convened a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here to discuss the development of bus ports in Kashmir and Jammu divisions and called for submission of proposals and identification of land, officials said Friday. Dr Samoon said as per the guidelines of the government of India, 15 acres of land is required for the purpose. The state government has to provide clearly demarcated and encumbrance-free land and submit a proposal to executing agency NHIDCL, he said. The officer added that the government of India would provide 40 per cent of the funding required and the rest would be raised by the state on public-private partnership (PPP) basis. Dr Samoon said the bus ports would have basic infrastructure for bus-bays, ...
Pakistan must develop as secular state for talks with India: Army chief
Amidst the bonhomie over the Kartarpur corridor, Army chief Bipin Rawat on Friday made some political comments saying Pakistan has turned into an "Islamic State" and should become a secular state if India and Pakistan have to "stay together".