Page 2349 - Politics
Not just industrialists', farmers' loan should also be waived: Rahul targets PM Modi
Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the agrarian crisis, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the former should not only waive the debts or loans of industrialists but also of farmers.Addressing a farmers' protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Gandhi said, "If the loans of industrialists can be waived, then the debt of farmers must be waived as well. I assure the farmers of India, we are with you, don't feel afraid. Your strength has made this country.""If 3.5 lakh crore debts of 15 people can be waived, then the loans of farmers can also be waived. Farmers of the nations are not asking for any favour or free gift but are only demanding their right due," he added.The Congress chief further accused the Prime Minister of making hollow promises and said, "Prime Minister Modi had promised that Maximum Sailing Price (MSP) will be increased, Prime Minister promised bonus but look at the situation right now, empty speeches are being given and nothing ..
US conducts 'freedom of navigation' exercise in South China Sea
The US Navy has stated that the United States undertook a 'freedom of navigation' exercise near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, by dispatching its Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Chancellorsville."USS Chancellorsville sailed near the Paracel Islands to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law," Nathan Christensen, the spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet stated.Even though a Chinese vessel trailed the US cruiser, the South China Morning Post reported that all exchanges were professional and safe. A formal diplomatic protest has been lodged by China ever since.The disputed waters have overlapping territorial claims on it, with China, the Philippines, Vietnam (amongst others) all staking a claim on the sea.
BJP, PM Modi chanting 'Ram Ram' for elections: Yechury
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over Ram temple controversy, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday said that whenever the elections are around the corner the BJP starts chanting "Ram Ram".Addressing a gathering of farmers at the Jantar Mantar, here, Yechury said, "BJP, Prime Minister Modi and RSS have only one weapon in hand that is Ram Temple. As the elections are approaching, they have started chanting 'Ram Ram'."Yechury also compared Prime Minister Modi and BJP president Amit Shah with the Kauravas in the Mahabharat and said, "There were a hundred Kauravas but do you know any of the names other than two? Duryodhan and Dushasan. Same way BJP claims they have crores in their party, but people know just two - Modi, Shah. We, the opposition, on the other hand, are like Pandavas who when together are like a fist."Furthermore, Yechury claimed that the people of the ...
India-ASEAN InnoTech Summit here, organised by FICCI
Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, today called upon the scientific community in India and ASEAN member states to intensify collaborative research in science, technology and innovation to address the economic and societal challenges being faced by the two regions.Addressing the first India-ASEAN InnoTech Summit here, organised by FICCI in association with the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr. Vardhan said, "The time now is for simple solutions for complex problems through innovation."Under the ASEAN-India Innovation Platform, 400 technologies are ready to be commercialised in ASEAN member states, he said and called upon the scientific community to pool and share technologies through the platform.India, he said, has a lot to offer to the ASEAN countries. New age technologies were being nurtured at the 38 laboratories of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, he said and ...
Assam govt to undertake campaign to encourage startups
The Assam government will collaborate with the StartUp India team to undertake an outreach campaign in educational institutions, aimed at motivating youths to take up entrepreneurship. As a part of the 'StartUp Yatra', state government officials will visit these institutions and deliberate on issues related to entrepreneurship and startup, an Assam Industries and Commerce Department release said on Friday. The experts will listen to the students and youths, and give space to their ideas in the broader plan of startup ventures, the release said.
Vadra accuses government of foul play ahead of Rajasthan polls
Congress President Rahul Gandhis brother-in-law Robert Vadra on Friday accused the government of foul play in the run up to the December 7 Rajasthan polls, calling their attempts "desperate, blatantly political and vindictive tactics".
KCR loses cool, snaps at voter when queried about 12% quota for Muslims
TRS leader and Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao lost his cool and asked a man to remain silent when he raised a question on the proposed 12 per cent reservation for Muslims during an election meeting in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. During the meeting Thursday, the man asked Rao about the status of the proposed quota which was passed by the State Assembly and sent to the Centre for approval. "What are you talking? Sit silent. What about 12 per cent? Why are you in hurry? Tere baap ko bolunga na (I will tell your father). Are you doing tamasha," Rao asked. In his election speeches, Rao had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not clearing the proposed reservation for Muslims. Later, during the course of his speech, Rao dubbed the man a 'sanyasi' and said there was a need to increase reservation for tribals and Muslim minorities. Reacting to KCRs comments, Congress' Telangana unit tweeted "Drunk with power, KCR acts like a dictator. Mr KCR, you are ...
In poll battle for Rajasthan, BJP fights Rajput woes
In the poll battle for Rajasthan where the ruling BJP is pitted against its arch-rival Congress, the saffron party has got another task at hand -- keeping their traditional vote bank of Rajputs intact. Over the last few years, some Rajput groups have gone to the extent of forming anti-BJP fronts, including some against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. However, the BJP leaders are confident that the Rajputs will once again vote for the party. Rajputs form 12 per cent of Rajasthan's total population and play a decisive role in at least 30 seats of the 200-member assembly. Almost every seat in the state has a sizeable portion of Rajput voters. In Jodhpur region, there are some seats where the BJP is facing challenge from some Rajput leaders. In Jodhpur's Arsia constituency, independent Rajput candidate Mahendra Singh Bhati is fighting against the BJP. In Phalodi seat of the district, the BJP has fielded Pabba Ram Bishnoi, but independent Rajput candidate Kumbh Singh Patwat is also in the .
Cong accuses Raje govt of promoting crony capitalism in power sector
The Congress on Friday accused Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of promoting crony capitalism by helping three private electricity companies to profiteer at the cost of state exchequer. Addressing a press conference, Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala claimed that people of Rajasthan have suffered a "loss of Rs 6,670 crore due to purchase of electricity at 100 per cent above the contracted rates". "The BJP government's motto appears to be let private electricity companies profiteer, let people and exchequer suffer, Surjewala alleged while citing RTI replies. He alleged that a "culture of crony capitalism" was being perpetuated, propagated and promoted by Vasundhara Raje government. The Rajasthan government purchased power from a company "at a higher than power purchase agreement (PPA) rate between 2013-14 and 2017-18, thus, paying Rs 5406.50 crore more" and "an excess amount of Rs 1376.50 crore" to another company, he alleged.
BJP using ED and IT dept as 'dirty tricks department': Cong
The Congress has refuted a newspaper report and the allegations by BJP chief Amit Shah that Robert Vadra made money out of a dubious land deal. Countering the allegations, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the BJP was using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department as a "dirty tricks department'. At an election rally earlier today, referring to a report carried by the Indian Express newspaper, Shah alleged that the Nehru-Gandhi family's son-in-law had received commissions after a loan of thousands of crores of rupees was sanctioned to a big company. "Neither the country nor the people of Rajasthan will get swayed by this baseless, conspiring and misleading news," Surjewala told reporters here Friday. He said the BJP was planting fake and bogus news and misusing the agencies for the last five years. "The BJP will not succeed in misusing the pages of a mainstream newspaper and distracting the attention of the people ahead of the elections," he said.
Rahul Gandhi to address poll meetings in Rajasthan tomorrow
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be in Rajasthan as a part of electioneering on Saturday. Congress state spokesperson Satyendra Singh Raghav said the Congress chief will address youths in Udaipur and then address public meetings in Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Hanumangarh. He said that Congress national general secretary Ashok Gehlot and party's Rajasthan chief Sachin Pilot would be present with the party chief. As per the schedule, Gandhi will address poll meeting in Udaipur at 9 am then in Bhilwara at 11 am followed by meetings in Chittorgarh and Hanumangarh. PTI AG.
Rahul promises to cancel farmers' loans
In the presence of prominent opposition leaders, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday pledged the entire opposition's solidarity with farmers and declared that "farm loans will be waived off even if it required changing the Prime Minister".
Rahul will maintain record of getting out at zero in Rajasthan: Union minister
Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday said the Congress president will maintain his record of returning to pavilion without scoring even in Rajasthan. The BJP leader said his party is confident of winning the state assembly elections and it was benefitting from the "infighting" within the Congress for chief ministerial post. Talking to PTI on his campaign trail in Pokhran, Shekhawat said, "Muttiah Muralitharan (former Sri Lankan bowler) used to get out at zero after batting at number ten but Rahul Gandhi scores nothing even after playing as an opener." "He (Gandhi) will get out at zero in Rajasthan as well. He will maintain his record here," the minister said drawing a cricket analogy. Shekhawat said the BJP is confident that it will win the state elections and its situation is improving everyday. Claiming that the the Congress president's election rallies in state have been "ineffective", Shekhawat said, "Rahul Gandhi will lose the Rajasthan
If Pak wants to stay together with India, they have to develop as a secular state: Army chief
Amidst peace overtures from Islamabad, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said Friday Pakistan cannot stay together with India as long as it is an Islamic state and if they are willing to become secular, then there is an opportunity. While Rawat has expressed concerns over cross-border terror emanating from Pakistan, this is probably for the first time, he has talked about religious character of the neighbouring country apparently responsible for strained Indo-Pak ties. "If they (Pakistan) have to stay together with India, then they have to develop as a secular state," Gen Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy here. "See this staying together, staying separate, ispe Pakistan ko apni andruni halat dekhni hogi. Pakistan ne apne state ko Islamic state bana diya hai. Hum log secular state hai (Pakistan has to look at its internal situation. They are an Islamic state, we (India) are a secular state)," he said. Gen .
Parrikar to meet BJP legislators amid resignation demands
Amid demands of his resignation, ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to meet the ruling BJP legislators at his private residence on Saturday, party sources said on Friday.
China denounces US warship in South China Sea
Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday denounced a US warship sailing in the South China Sea earlier this week and said it undermined the country's sovereignty.
Modi government betrayed farmers: Kejriwal
The Modi government has stabbed farmers in the back by telling the Supreme Court that it cannot implement recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission which the BJP promised to do so in 2014, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday.
Trump decries scrutiny of 'very legal' real estate business
US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his innocence in connection with a Moscow real estate deal that has reportedly been a focus of a probe into whether his 2016 presidential campaign conspired with Russian operatives. Trump's tweets came one day after his ex-lawyer pleaded guilty to lying to Congress over the ultimately shelved Trump Tower deal in a bid to limit the Russia investigation. "Oh, I get it! I am a very good developer, happily living my life, when I see our Country going in the wrong direction (to put it mildly)," Trump tweeted from the G20 summit in Argentina. "Against all odds, I decide to run for President & continue to run my business-very legal & very cool, talked about it on the campaign trail," he said. "Lightly looked at doing a building somewhere in Russia," the Republican leader continued. "Put up zero money, zero guarantees and didn't do the project. Witch Hunt!" Michael Cohen, who once famously said he would take a bullet for the Republican ...
Probe ordered into functioning of JKPCCL
Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered setting up of a panel to probe the functioning of J&K Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCCL) including alleged diversion of funds and irregularities in appointments. The Governor's Administration accorded sanction to the constitution of a fact-finding committee to look into the working of JKPCCL, officials said Friday. According to the order issued by the General administrative department (GAD), the committee shall be headed by Principal Secretary, planning, development & monitoring department. Its members are Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) and Commissioner Secretary (revenue) while managing director JKPCCL is its member secretary. The mandate of the Committee is to look into manner of awarding contracts to contractors, tendering procedures, diversion of funds from one project to another leading to a large number of incomplete projects, irregularities in appointments at various levels, functioning and huge time and cost ...
Sri Lankan Parliament votes to cut finances to ministries
A majority of Sri Lankan legislators on Friday voted in favour of a parliamentary motion to halt finances to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Cabinet and junior ministers, a day after Parliament passed a motion to cut finances to the Prime Minister's office.