Page 2350 - Politics

Israel in first Syria strikes since air defence upgrade

Israeli bombs have hit several positions south of Damascus, its first such strikes since Syrian air defences were upgraded following the accidental downing of a Russian plane in September. Damascus claimed its air defence systems shot down all "hostile targets" late Thursday. Israel did not confirm carrying out raids but denied any losses. According to the Syria Observatory for Human Rights, the strikes hit two positions in the south of Damascus province, including an area believed to be an Iranian weapons depot near the capital. "Israeli forces bombarded for an hour," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. Two missiles hit Kisweh, where he said there are "weapons depots belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah (militant group) as well as Iranian forces". Another missile hit the area of Harfa, where there is a Syrian military base, the Britain-based monitor said. In Kisweh, "the depots that were targeted are used to temporarily store rockets until they are taken somewhere else," Abdel ..

Owaisi calls Ghulam Nabi Azad a 'Ghulam' of Congress

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi launched a scathing attack on former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, calling him a 'Ghulam' (Slave) of the Congress party."I want to tell Ghulam Nabi Azad that there is a difference between him and me in implementing and talking about issues. But your problem is, while your name is Ghulam Nabi, you have been serving as a Ghulam (slave) to the Congress party your entire lifetime," he said on Thursday.Owaisi, while addressing a rally in Vikarabad district of poll-bound Telangana, further said that during Azad's 45 years in politics, he only fought once for an Assembly seat when he was the Chief Minister. "After that, he fought and won the parliamentary elections in Maharashtra's Washim. Then he fought three elections and he kept on losing in every election," he added.The legislative assembly election in Telangana is scheduled to be held on December 7, while counting of votes ...

Congress' central leadership cleared Kartarpur visit, says Sidhu

Congress leader and Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday said he went to Pakistan for the Kartarpur Corridor groundbreaking ceremony with the consent of his party's central leadership, even as Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh asked him to reconsider his decision."At least 20 Congress leaders asked me to go. The Central leadership of the party asked me to go. Punjab Cabinet Minister is like my father, I told him that I had already promised them (Pakistan) that I will go," Sidhu said in an exclusive interview with ANI.The Punjab Minister also tried to clear the controversy surrounding him being photographed with pro-Khalistani leader Gopal Chawla. Sidhu said that he got his picture clicked with 20,000 people whom he does know and thus commenting on the issue would be incorrect.The cricketer-turned-politician, who was earlier with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), criticised his previous party for what he termed as a flip-flop on Kartarpur Corridor."When I ...

Congress calls PM 'polarising master'

The leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Friday, launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by calling him a 'polarising master' who is capable of spinning any issue into a religious one.Kharge also added that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was 'duping' people by making fake promises."He (Prime Minister) promised that he will bring back the black money from outside the country, has he brought? he promised, he will give 15 lakh rupees to a common man, has he given? He promised to construct so many houses, did he construct? Did he provide promised MSP (Maximum Retail Price) to farmers?," Kharge said while speaking to the reporters.He also quashed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi's (TRS) criticism of Congress and said, on the contrary, it's a strong party."The BJP has worked for big businessmen, and TRS has worked for themselves. The mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) will win the elections," he added.The assembly elections in ...

India retaliates suitably to Pak's unprovoked firing: BSF Chief

Rajni Kant Misra, the chief of Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday stated that their policy is to give a befitting reply to Pakistan's unprovoked firing.Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Misra said that in the past few months "the BSF personnel faced several misadventures from across the border but retaliated suitably during the incidents. The force had also surgically targeted the post of Pakistan resulting in losses."Misra further stated that the 53 years of the BSF's journey is "a glorious saga" and assured that his forces will continue to protect the country's border with enthusiasm. The BSF chief, who took charge in September, also said that BSF jawans have been provided with all technological advancement and modern weaponry.He also touched upon the issue of cross-border smuggling and claimed that BSF has caught as many as 58,000 people red-handed in the past few months. "We are quite successful in curbing the menace of smuggling in India. Our forces have caught ...

Now, 'Dhangars' in Maharashtra on warpath for quotas

A day after the Maharashtra government passed a bill providing for education and government job reservations to the Marathas, hundreds of members of the "Dhangar" (shepherd) community took to streets demanding similar quotas, here on Friday.

Fulfill farmers' demands or they'd 'wreak havoc ' in 2019 polls: Kejriwal to Modi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over farmers' issues and alleged that he had "stabbed them in their back" by not fulfulling the promises made to them. The AAP supremo joined several leaders from the opposition parties 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. Kejriwal in his address at the venue, 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 also made lot of promises to farmers in last elections (2014), but it has not fulfilled those promises. And, by not implementing the Swaminathan Commission report, Modi ji has stabbed the farmers in their back ('kisano ke peeth mey chhura bhonka hai')," he alleged. The AAP leader said the Union government should implement the report in five months, ...

Delhi HC tells ED: No coercive action against TDP MP

In an interim relief to former Union Minister and TDP MP Y.S. Chowdary, the Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to take coercive steps against him in a case related to alleged financial irregularities.

Raja Bhaiya floats new party to 'fight for equality'

Raghuraj Pratap Singh, the controversial politician who had opposed the "draconian" provisions of the SC/ST Act, Friday floated a new party which he said will fight for "equality" among all castes. The six-time independent legislator, also known as Raja Bhaiya, said though he would be labelled anti-Dalit, he is only talking about equality. On completion of his 25 years in politics, Singh organised a rally at Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan in Lucknow to announce his new party. The former Uttar Pradesh minister, who now represents Kunda Assembly constituency, said the Election Commission has been approached for registration of his new party. He has previously said the new party's name will have 'Jansatta' (people's power) as its prefix. At the rally, Singh said governments over the years have made the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 "complex" despite the Supreme Court on March 20 providing safeguards against arrests under the law. A bill overturning ..

State govts must implement central schemes to boost agri sector: Badal on farmers' protest

The Centre has taken a number of initiatives, including sharp increase in MSP, for enhancing farmers' income and it is now for the state governments to implement these schemes, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Friday. The minister, who was replying to a query on farmers rally in the national capital, also blamed the Congress party for the farm distress. Around 35,000 farmers from across the country converged in the national capital Friday to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce. "The plight of the farmers today has not been created in the last four years. They have been created by the party which has been in power in the last 70 years for most of the time... "Over the last four years the Narendra Modi led-government has taken a number of initiatives to transform this sector," Badal told reporters here on the sidelines of a CII event on food processing sector. The minister said that one of the big steps was .

Yoga is India's gift to the world: PM Modi

Yoga is India's gift to the world for health and peace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday as he highlighted the benefits of the ancient Indian practice for overall wellbeing. Addressing participants at a yoga event, Prime Minister Modi, who is in Argentia's capital to attend the G-20 summit, said the practice connects everyone to happiness. "I arrived here just a few hours ago after travelling over 15,000 kilometers in more than 24 hours. And because of your love and enthusiasm, I did not feel at all that I am outside India," he said in Hindi. Praising the organisers of the "Yoga for Peace" event, he said it was hard to think of a better name. "Yoga keeps both your body and mind healthy. It strengthens your body and keeps your mind at peace," Modi, who is here to attend the G20 Summit, said. The prime minister said if the mind is at peace, there would be peace in family, society, country and the world as well. "Yoga is India's gift to the world for health, wellness and ...

Congress can never be nucleus of coalition: Jaitley

Terming the opposition's efforts to forge a grand alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as a failure, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday slammed the Congress, saying it can only be the "tail" of any alliance, but never the "nucleus".

TN notifies Lokayukta rules; inquiries to be held 'in-camera'

The Tamil Nadu government has notified rules under the Lokayukta Act which provide for inquiries to be held in-camera, and preclude disclosure of the identities of the complainant and public functionary, drawing criticism from the opposition which wants the provisions scrapped. The proceedings also cannot be disclosed to public or the press. The new rules have come in for sharp criticism from the DMK which said they would would facilitate corruption. The main opposition party demanded that these rules be struck down. After the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Lokayukta Bill in July, the opposition had dubbed it as "toothless". "Every inquiry shall be conducted in private and in particular the identity of the complainant and of the public functionary affected by the inquiry shall not be disclosed to the public or the press or published in any manner whether before, during or after the inquiry," Section 26 of the rules says. The rules notified in a state government's ...

Beijing lashes out at US for South China Sea sail-by

China on Friday scolded the United States for sending naval vessels close to disputed islands in the South China Sea where Beijing has built military installations. The US and its allies have in recent times sent planes and warships to the area for "freedom of navigation" operations, intended as a signal to Beijing of their right under international law to pass through the waters claimed by China. The USS Chancellorsville guided missile destroyer on Monday entered waters off the Paracel Islands, known as Xisha in Chinese, said People's Liberation Army Southern Theatre spokesman Li Huamin in a statement. Aircraft and warships were scrambled, sending out warnings for the American vessel to leave the area. "We urge the US to strengthen the management of its vessels and aircraft that pass by Chinese territory to prevent unexpected events," Li said. China has also lodged a diplomatic complaint with the US, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing, calling

Modi wants to destroy unauthorized colonies: Satyendar

A day after the Centre allowed the CBI to prosecute him, Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to raze down unauthorized colonies and render people homeless.

Ceiling on party expenditure in campaigning will see 'light of day': outgoing CEC

A ceiling on party expenditure in campaigning, for which the Election Commission (EC) has been pressing political parties and the government, will see "the light of day in time to come", says Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat. Rawat, who demits office on Saturday, said his "only regret" as head of the poll panel is that the EC was unable to recommend to the Law Ministry a fresh "legal framework" in tune with the changing times vis-a-vis the use of money and social media. Sunil Arora will take over as the new chief election commissioner on Sunday. Responding to a question on transparency in funding of political parties, Rawat told PTI in an interview that it is "a long-term reform". "... all political party meeting in August (this year) had recommended that there should be a ceiling on party expenditure and commensurately there should be transparency in funding. I think it will see the light of day in time to come," he said. Almost all parties agreed to a cap on expenditure, he ...

Farmers march in Delhi for loan waiver, higher crop prices

Thousands of farmers from across the country on Friday marched from Ramlila Maidan to Parliament Street in the heart of the capital seeking loan waiver and higher crop prices and warning political parties not to ignore farmers' plight.

Naidu has made NTR's grand-daughter a 'scapegoat': TRS leader

Andhra Pradesh Chief MinisterN Chandrababu Naidu made Nandamuri Suhasini who is contesting from Kukatpally constituency on a TDP ticket a 'scapegoat' by fielding her from a 'losing' segment, Telangana caretaker IT and Industries minister K T Rama Rao has alleged. Speaking at a roadshow at Kukatpally on Thursday, the TRS leader lashed out at Telugu Desam Party and its chief Naidu, questioning as to why Naidu's son and AP Minister N Lokesh was not asked to contest the seat. Suhasini is the daughter of former Rajya Sabha MP N Hari Krishna and grand-daughter of TDP founder and former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh NT Rama Rao. "If Chandrababu Naidu really loves the Nandamuri family, why didn't he appoint Suhasini as a Minister in Andhra Pradesh, like he appointed Lokesh? If Chandrababu Naidu really wants to strengthen TDP in Telangana, he could have made Lokesh contest from Kukatpally. But he did not, because he knows Kukatpally is a losing seat," the TRS leader .

Modi, Prince Salman agree to set up mechanism to scale up Saudi Arabia's investments in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have decided to set up a mechanism at the leadership level to scale up the oil-rich kingdom's investments in energy, infrastructure and defence sectors in India as they met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit here. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to further boost economic, cultural and energy ties. "It was a cordial and warm meeting," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said after the meeting in Argentina's capital. Prince Salman spoke of India as an important partner. There was specific discussion on How Saudi Arabia can enhance its investments across number of sector in two to three years, he said. Prince Salman said that Saudi Arabia will be finalising an initial investment into the National Infrastructure Fund. He also referred to the future prospects for investment in the technology sector, the agriculture sector and energy sectors, Gokhale said. "Two leaders have agreed that we will now set up

Gehlot accused Raje of stalling public welfare schemes in Raj

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot accused Friday Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of stalling various public welfare schemes announced by the previous Congress government. Addressing election rallies in Bharatpur and Deeg cities in the state, Gehlot said the Raje government might have stalled Congress's schemes but they should understand that people suffer due to this. He said the Congress will not stall any BJP announced schemes after coming to power. "You (Raje) were given huge majority by the people of the state. Now, people were asking what was their fault and why injustice was done. You should have completed works in time. I did not stall any scheme of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Vasundhara Raje," Gehlot said. He also hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, saying that promises of ache din and employment to youths of Rajasthan were unfulfilled.