Page 2357 - Politics
G-20 Summit: PM Modi arrives in Buenos Aires
Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down at the Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport today to attend the 13th G-20 summit amongst other high-level meetings scheduled to be held on the summit's sidelines.He is slated to attend the Yoga for Peace Event at the La Rural Fairgrounds in a few hours from now, after which he will be heading out to hold a meeting with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.Prime Minister Modi has a string of high-level bilateral and multilateral meetings lined up during this short trip from November 29 to December 1.Apart from attending the 13th G-20 Summit, he is scheduled to hold a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.He shall also be calling on Xi Jinping, the President of China, according to Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale."I look forward to meeting leaders from other G-20 countries to review the work of G-20 in the last ten years of its existence and chart the ways
Suu Kyi stresses on boosting Nepal-Myanmar trade
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday stressed on boosting bilateral trade between Nepal and her country. Addressing a gathering at the opening day of the 'Nepal Chamber Expo-2018' here, she invited Nepalese entrepreneurs to invest in Myanmar and said the country has created a safe and favourable environment for foreign investors. "Nepal and Myanmar need to increase their economic activities, business and people to people contact," Suu Kyi said. There is enough room for better cooperation and collaboration between the two countries to increase the volume of bilateral trade between them which currently stands at just USD 3.86 million, she said. Besides Myanmar, industries from several other countries, including India and China, showcased their products in the expo being organised by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce. Suu Kyi also said countries in the South-Asian sub-region can cooperate in the areas of trade, tourism, technology, human resources, agriculture and fisheries .
Cong has proclivity of peddling soft Hindutva, compromising on communalism: Yechury
Attacking the Congress, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Thursday alleged it had a proclivity for peddling "soft Hindutva" and compromising with communalism and said religion should be separated from politics. Speaking at a press briefing at the Indian Womens Press Club (IWPC) he tore into the government's demonetisation decision and said 'notebandi' would spell doom for the BJP, just like 'nasbandi' or vasectomy campaign did for then prime minister Indira Gandhi. When asked about Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's temple visit and the party's recent manifesto which promises Gaushalas in each Gram Sabha if the party came to power in Madhya Pradesh, he said, "We have always maintained the Congress has this proclivity for soft Hindutva and compromising with communalism." "This has been the history of the Congress and we have always protested against it. When the secular, democratic character of our Constitution is to be upheld, religion should be separated from our government and ...
74.85 per cent voting in MP Assembly polls
Madhya Pradesh registered a record 74.85 per cent turn-out in Wednesday's Assembly polls, according to the revised data issued by the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday. The EC has also recommended re-polling at a booth in Anuppur constituency, said the state's Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao. On Wednesday, after the polling ended, the poll body had said that 74.61 per cent of voters exercised their franchise as per the preliminary estimate. "We have got revised data and observers are still scrutinising it. So there may be some minor change in the next couple of days. According to the revised data, MP saw a turn-out of 74.85 per cent, or around 3.77 crore voters," Rao told the reporters Thursday. The total number of eligible voters was 5.04 crore. As much as 75.72 per cent male and 73.86 per cent of female voters exercised their franchise, he said. In 2013 Assembly polls, 72.13 per cent voting was registered. Rao said at a booth in Mogdi in Anuppur segment, there was a ...
PM Modi arrives in Argentina for G20 summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires to attend the 13th G-20 summit where he will discuss ways to meet the new and upcoming challenges of the coming decade with other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump. On the sidelines of the two-day summit, Modi, Trump and Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe will hold a trilateral meeting amidst China flexing its muscles in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. The trilateral, which would be an expansion of the bilateral meeting between Trump and Abe, is part of the series of meetings the US president would have on the sidelines of the G-20 summit on November 30 and December 1. Modi will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the event, the Ministry of External Affairs had said on the eve of his departure. He will be in Buenos Aires from November 29 to December 1. Modi will also meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Argentinian ...
Centre defends divesting Verma of his charge, says it is appointing authority
The Centre on Thursday defended its decision to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his charge, saying the action was necessary to restore the confidence of people in the investigating agency that was getting dented over trading of graft charges between the top two -- Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana.
US, Indian air forces to hold joint exercise
Air forces of the United States and India are scheduled to participate in a 12-day joint exercise 'Cope India 2019' at two air force stations in West Bengal next month, the US Consulate said here Thursday. The exercise will be held from December 3 to 14 at Air Station Kalaikunda and Air Station Arjan Singh (Panagarh). The exercise showcases efforts and commitment of the two nations to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, a communique from the US Consulate said. The Cope India exercise is being held after a gap of eight years, with the last one having taken place in 2010. "Exercise CI19 is a long-standing bilateral US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)-sponsored Field Training Exercise (FTX), conducted with the Indian Air Force (IAF), focused on enhancing US-Indian mutual cooperation and building on existing capabilities, aircrew tactics and force employment," the communique said. "We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to fly and train with our Indian Air Force counterparts ...
CPI(M) dares Mamata to stop BJP's December 'rath yatra'
The CPI(M) Thursday dared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to prove her "anti-BJP credentials" by stalling the saffron party's proposed 'rath yatra' in the state next month. CPI(M) politburo member and state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra alleged that the proposed rath yatra is actually "vote yatra" which is being organised to polarise the people of the state on communal lines. "Both TMC and BJP are engaged in a mock fight to fool the masses. If she (Mamata Banerjee) has the guts, let her stop the rath yatra and arrest them as Lalu Prasad Yadav did in Bihar (during L K Advani's rath yatra in 1990)," Mishra said while addressing a farmers' rally in Kolkata. In 1990, Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then chief minister of Bihar, had arrested BJP leader L K Advani at Samastipur during the latter's rath yatra to Ayodhya. The BJP, which has set a target of winning 22 seats in West Bengal, is scheduled to start three rath yatras in Bengal beginning December 7 from Coochbehar ...
BJP accuses Cong of copying manifesto for Raj Assembly polls
The BJP accused the Congress Thursday of copying its manifesto for the Rajasthan Assembly polls scheduled to be held on December 7. While talking to reporters here, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said most of the public welfare issues in the Congress's manifesto were already raised by the BJP. The Congress in its election manifesto released Thursday made promises like loan waiver to farmers, free education to girls and women, unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 to educated youth and pension to elderly farmers, among others. "The Congress has released its manifesto four days after the BJP did so. But surprisingly, no mind was applied by the Congress in drafting it, which contained most of the issues mentioned by the BJP in its manifesto," Shekhawat claimed. He said the Congress has misled the people by producing a "tampered version" of the BJP's announcements ahead of the elections. Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also slammed the Congress, saying the party was deceiving
Chandrababu returns to his 'brainchild' Cyberabad to prove a point
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, credited for developing the IT sector in Hyderabad, returned to the tech hub, this time to campaign for his Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
No military solution to Ukraine-Russia sea clash: Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said there is "no military solution" to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged NATO to deploy warships to a sea shared by the two nations following a naval confrontation in waters off Crimea.
Speaker Jayasuriya meets President Sirisena in a bid to end impasse
Sri Lanka's Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Thursday met President Maithripala Sirisena and apprised him about the negative impact of ongoing policy crisis on the country's currency, foreign investments and arrival of tourists. Jayasuriya's meeting with the President is being seen as attempt to end the impasse that the island nation is facing since the sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by Sirisena and appointment of strongman Mahinda Rajapaksha as the country's premier over a month ago. The island nation is witnessing a political crisis since Sirisena's controversial move to sack Wickeremesinghe and install Rajapaksa as the prime minister in his place on October 26. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court overturned Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls. Jayasuriya, in a statement released after his meeting with Sirisena, said that he pointed ..
Tender for 1,000 e-buses to be floated next year: DTC MD
The tender for procurement of 1,000 e-buses by the Delhi government is expected to be floated around January next year, DTC Managing Director Manoj Kumar said Thursday. Speaking at a seminar on 'Transforming Urban Mobility in India and Role of Electric Vehicles' held at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he noted the buses will roll down the roads of Delhi around June 2019. The trial run of two e-buses is currently being conducted by the transport department of the AAP-led Delhi government. The government has appointed the Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System (DIMTS) as a consultant for procurement of e-buses. A report will be submitted by the DIMTS to the government, most likely in December, after which the process of floating tender will take place, a senior government official said.
Pondy CM takes on Bedi for returning file on grants to pvt
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Thursday slammed Lt Governor Kiran Bedi for 'directing' his government to slash grants to aided schools in the Union Territory in a phased manner, saying she has no authority and the move would affect the institutions. Speaking to reporters here, he said Bedi had returned the file sent by his government for approval of grants to privately-managed aided schools and that "such a sudden stand on the part of the Lt governor causes embarrassment." "Lt Governor has no authority to question the pattern of grants and has also no right to interfere and direct slashing of grants in a phased manner as done now," he said. Narayanasamy, who has locked horns with Bedi over various issues, claimed that the practice of granting funds to aided schools has been in vogue since 1957 to enable the private managements to meet their commitments, including paying salaries to serving teachers and pension to retired staff. Calling the Lt Governor's ...
Doctors, lawyer, artists extend support to protesting farmers in national capital
Doctors, lawyers, professors, artists all came out in large numbers Thursday to support thousands of farmers from across the country who have converged at the Ramlila Maidan here for a two-day protest. Around 600-700 volunteers of solidarity group Nation For Farmers marched with the protesters from four assembly points Bijwasan, Majnu Ka Tila, Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar towards Ramlila Maidan. The volunteers comprise lawyers, doctors, educationists, etc. They have mobilised support for the farmers' march under a campaign called 'Dilli Chalo'. "We have had a good turnout of our volunteers who have come from different parts of the country. Our volunteers marched along with the farmers from the four points. We have also set up a health camp at Ramlila Maidan for the farmers," Janhavi, a volunteer with the group, said. The organisation is bearing the expenses for the protesting farmers' basic needs, including food, water and other things. Volunteers were serving 'puri-subzi' and tea at
TNA ask Lanka Prez to reinstate sacked PM Wickremesinghe as Rajapaksha failed to prove majority
Sri Lanka's main Tamil party TNA on Thursday demanded President Maithripala Sirisena to reinstate sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Mahinda Rajapaksa, appointed as premier by him on October 26, has failed to to prove his majority. The island nation is witnessing a political crisis since Sirisena's controversial move to sack Wickeremesinghe and install Rajapaksa as the prime minister in his place on October 26. In a letter to Sirisena, signed by 14 of TNA's 16 legislators, the party said that Rajapaksa, who was appointed as prime minister by Sirisena on October 26, had not been able to prove his majority although one month has lapsed since then. "Therefore, the TNA will support the restoration of the government headed by Wickremesinghe's UNP that existed prior to October 26," the letter said. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court overturned Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and
India, China militaries should work hand in hand, says Chinese defence ministry
The militaries of China and India should "work hand in hand" for the benefit of people of the two countries, the Chinese defence ministry said Thursday, as the armies of the two countries are all set to resume joint military exercises next month after a gap of a year following the Doklam standoff. The 7th India and China joint military exercises, 'Hand in Hand', focussing on counter-terrorism operations will be held in southwest China's Chengdu city from December 10 to December 23, Defence Ministry spokesman Col Ren Guoqiang told a media briefing here. Each side will send 100 troops to take part in the 14-day drill, he said. The exercises will be held after a gap of one year as both the sides were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam in the Sikkim sector of the border in 2017. "The two sides are preparing for the exercises now. The drill will promote understanding between the two militaries and improving their capabilities in fighting terrorism," Col Ren said. "True to its name - ...
Shelter home rape cases: Opposition lawmakers march to Raj Bhawan
Alleging non-serious attitude of the Nitish Kumar government towards Muzaffarpur shelter home rape cases and deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar, opposition lawmakers led by Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday marched to the Raj Bhawan and met Governor Lalji Tondon.
Mamata urges people to change govt at Centre in LS polls
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday called for bringing a change in the government at the Centre in the Lok Sabha polls and alleged that the BJP dispensation has caused hardships to the people of the country. Banerjee said her party will contest elections in states neighbouring West Bengal such as Jharkhand and Assam to protect the people from alleged attacks by the BJP. The TMC supremo, who is organising a mega rally of opposition parties at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on January 19, urged the people to change the government in Delhi in the general elections. "We gave the slogan for defeating the BJP in the Lok Sabha poll. You should also raise the slogan 'badal do' (change it)", Banerjee said. She claimed that the Modi government has failed to solve the unemployment problem and the common people are not getting loan from banks. "The people are fed up with the Modi government. They are saying enough is enough", she said. Banerjee had stated on Wednesday that .
Post-2019 polls Opposition will throw up a leader: Yechury
Remaining non-committal on the opposition face for the prime minister's post in the 2019 elections, the CPI(M) said state-specific alliances will be formed to take on the BJP and that post-poll developments would throw up a leader.