Page 2360 - Politics
Gehlot accuses BJP of misleading people by 'jumlas'
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP Thursday of governing and misleading people by 'jumlas' (rhetoric). Gehlot launched the attack at the BJP at a poll rally in Rajasthan ahead of the state assembly elections. "The BJP government had promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh in everyone's bank account and bring black money. It was a 'jumla' and they are master in that. No one got the money," Gehlot said. He accused Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of not taking plight of people in the last five years. He alleged that the BJP government stalled and delayed various public welfare schemes, including a petroleum refinery in Pachpadra, the Banswara-Dungarpur rail route, Jaipur metro and irrigation projects in Hadoti region.
West Bengal Assembly pays homage to veteran leaders
The West Bengal Assembly on Thursday paid homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, and former Leader of the Opposition in the state, Pankaj Banerjee. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who shared a cordial relationship with the three politicians, especially Vajpayee, is currently on an administrative tour to the districts and was not present in the Assembly. Mamata Banerjee was the railway minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, State ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya, Firhad Hakim, and BJP's state president Dilip Ghosh were among those who paid homage to the departed leaders. Ghosh recalled his first meeting with Vajpayee during a party rally in Mumbai and how the former PM had handled a situation with his wit. Vajpayee passed away in August this year at the age of 93. He was the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete his five-year term. Satgachia MLA Sonali Guha recollected meeting Somnath Chatterjee, .
Rio de Janeiro governor arrested on corruption charges: Media
The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Fernando Pezao, was arrested Thursday over allegations he received bribes as part of the sprawling "Car Wash" graft probe, according to Brazilian media. The Globo News television channel showed live footage of federal police at the residence of the governor, who was having breakfast at the time and remains in his home in custody. Pezao is accused of taking bribes when he was vice governor under Sergio Cabral, who is currently in prison after being sentenced to a cumulative 180 years for corruption. The police also raided the Guanabara Palace, headquarters of Rio de Janeiro's government, searching for documents. The Superior Court of Justice issued the arrest warrant based on the confession of Carlos Miranda, a former Cabral associate, who cooperated in exchange for a sentence reduction. According to Miranda's testimony Pezao would have received a monthly payment of 150,000 reais (USD 40,000) as well as end-of-the-year bonuses of up to one million ..
EU offers 'unprecedented' partnership with Britain
If Britain sticks to the Brexit deal it negotiated, the European Union is ready to offer it an "unprecedented partnership", the bloc's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Thursday. Prime Minister Theresa May met EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday to agree terms on Britain's March 29 departure from the Union, but is now struggling to sell it to her own parliament. Some in London still hope to negotiate better trading arrangements, similar to or improvements on the accords between Brussels and Canada, Switzerland or Norway. But Barnier, echoing language already deployed by EU Commission president Jean-Claude Junker and May herself at Sunday's summit, said: "The deal on the table is the only one, the best possible." Instead of renegotiating the exit agreement, he said, Britain and the Union should now focus on building an ambitious future relationship which would be closer and better than a mere free trade pact. Addressing to the European Parliament, Barnier said the future relationship ..
Modi, KCR diluted tribal rights law: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of "diluting the Tribal Rights Act to the detriment of forest dwellers. Addressing an election meeting at Bhoopalpally in the tribal belt of Telangana, he promised reservations in government jobs and admissions to state-run educational institutions for Scheduled Tribe candidates proportionate to their population in the state. "Prime Minister Modi weakened Adivasi Bill (Tribal Bill) at the centre and KCR diluted it at the state. As soon as we form our government in Telangana we will ensure that you (tribals) get back your land. We have mentioned this in our manifesto also. "We will give reservations too that will be proportionate to your population," Gandhi told the rally. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed in 2006 when the UPA was in power. It is variously referred to as ...
Turkey changes US embassy street name to Malcolm X
Turkey on Thursday changed the name of the street on which the new US embassy will be located after the American black Muslim civil rights campaigner Malcolm X, an AFP correspondent said. The new American embassy is still being built in Cukurambar district in Ankara on what was formerly called 1478 street. Construction contractors BL Harbert have said the new complex is expected to be finished by 2020. The renaming comes after the Ankara city council decision last month to change the name to Malcolm X Street. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised the late campaigner's daughters that the name of Malcolm X would "live on" in the Turkish capital. Municipality workers changed the signs of the street on Thursday morning, the correspondent said, as frenetic activity continued on the site. Malcolm X, one of the most influential African Americans in history, was an outspoken Muslim advocate of the rights of blacks and remains a hero today to many blacks and followers of ...
CM Kumaraswamy appeals his party workers to end protests
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday appealed to his party workers to withdraw protests against TV5, a regional news channel of Karnataka.A story was allegedly aired by the channel on Wednesday claiming that Kumaraswamy will step down from his position on health grounds."I respect the freedom of expression of the media in Indian democracy. I am not ill as telecasted in the media. The blessings of God, my parents and the good wishes of the people of the state are the protection shield for me. My priority is to work for the people. Hence, I appeal to the party workers not to be upset with such reports and to withdraw their protests immediately," he said in a statement."The news on some TV news channels that I'm resigning because of illness is far from the truth, and all the material being broadcast is unfounded," read Kumaraswamy's tweet.Besides, Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Wednesday went on to further clarify that the Chief Minister will not resign and rejecting the reports
CBI Case: SC hears arguments challenging Alok Verma's ouster, next hearing on Dec 5
The Supreme Court lead bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi and also comprising of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K. M. Joseph, on Thursday resumed hearing of the case challenging the validity of CBI Director Alok Verma's ouster.CBI Director Alok Verma had filed a petition challenging the decision of the Central government to send him on leave. CBI Director Alok Verma is being represented by senior lawyer Fali S Nariman. Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the largest opposition- Indian National Congress has also challenged the order and is being represented by Kapil Sibal.In this crucial case, senior lawyer Fali S Nariman, appearing for Alok Verma, started the argument and submitted to the Apex Court three-judge bench that he had already filed the reply to the (Central Vigilance Committee) CVC inquiry report.He also submitted to the bench that the CBI Director should have a minimum period irrespective of his superannuation adding that the director's transfer should ..
Illegal migrants will be expelled 'one by one': Shah
BJP chief Amit Shah Thursday hit out at the Congress over illegal migrants from Bangladesh and said his government will try to expel them from the country one by one. Addressing a public meeting ahead of the December 7 assembly elections in Rajasthan, he asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to clarify whether infiltrators should be allowed to remain. The Bharatiya Janata Party president said the Congress cannot develop or secure the country. During the 10 years of the previous Congress government's rule at Centre, there was no control on infiltration, he said at the meeting in Karauli district. "Vote for Vasundhara Raje in 2018 in Rajasthan and for Narendra Modi in 2019, Shah said. I assure you that BJP government will work to throw out each and every intruder from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Assam to Gujarat one by one," he added. He highlighted the surgical strike conducted by the Army in Pakistan-held territory across the Line of Control. He said the BJP governments at the Centre ..
India, China to hold joint military exercises from Dec 10
The militaries of China and India would hold a joint 14-day drill from December 10 in southwest China's Chengdu city to improve their capabilities in fighting terrorism and promote mutual understanding, the Defence Ministry said here Thursday. Each side will send 100 troops to take part in the 7th India and China joint military exercises - 'Hand in Hand' - which will focuss on counter-terrorism operations, Defence Ministry spokesman Col Ren Guoqiang told a media briefing. 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 strained relations between the two sides later improved resulting in an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Chinese city of Wuhan in April this year. "The two sides are preparing for the exercises now. The drill will promote understanding between the two militaries and improving their capabilities in ...
Italy seeking only marginal cut to 2019 deficit target - Salvini
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday said the government was not looking to cut its 2019 deficit target by more than 0.2 of a percentage point of gross domestic product (GDP).
UAE downplays fuel shortage concern, says it has strongly stood with India to cover deficit
The UAE on Wednesday downplayed India's concerns about rising fuel prices and possible oil shortage after the six-month US relief to stop import of Iranian oil by New Delhi ends, saying the emirate and Saudi Arabia have stood very strongly with India to cover the deficit in the past. Amid protest against a proposed refinery in Maharashtra involving India, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the Gulf nation's envoy to India Ahmed Albanna said the state government will allocate land in coming weeks. In a media briefing this week, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will raise the issue of volatility in global oil prices at the G20 Summit in Argentina. Responding to a question on whether there will be a demand-supply mismatch, especially after the six-months relief given by the US to cut down oil imports from Iran ends, the envoy said fuel prices are determined by demand by different markets globally. India is one of the seven countries that have been given a waiver ..
India's 'no' to talks with Pakistan is self-defeatist: CPI-M
The Modi government's refusal to have talks with Pakistan betrays its "contradictory and self-defeating stand" vis-a-vis Islamabad and is dictated "by its communal agenda within the country", the CPI-M has said.
Senators send rebuke to Saudis, Trump over Khashoggi killing
Defying President Donald Trump, senators sent a strong signal that they want to punish Saudi Arabia for its role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. By a bipartisan 63-37 vote, the Senate opted to move forward with legislation calling for an end to U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The vote on Wednesday was a rebuke not only to Saudi Arabia but also to Trump's administration, which has made clear it does not want to torpedo the long-standing U.S. relationship with Riyadh over the killing. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis both came to Capitol Hill to urgently lobby against the resolution, which would call for an end to U.S. military assistance for the conflict that human rights advocates say is wreaking havoc on Yemen and subjecting civilians to indiscriminate bombing. The vote showed a significant number of Republicans were willing to break with Trump to express their deep dissatisfaction with Saudi Arabia and with the US ...
Turkey to pay for Russian S-400s in rubles or lira: Erdogan
Turkey will pay in rubles or lira, rather than dollars, for its major order of Russian S-400 missile defence systems that has troubled Ankara's Western allies, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. Erdogan said the final currency composition had yet to be agreed but confirmed he expected the deliveries of the systems to take place in 2019. His comments came a day after Putin said that Russia was cutting its dependency on dollars in international trade due to increasingly tough US sanctions. Turkey is also looking to do the same after the lira plunged in value on financial markets over the summer, although it has recovered in the last month. "We always had this principle -- that we would do this deal using local money," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul before leaving for the G20 summit in Argentina where he is expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "So in the end we agreed that it would either be in rubles or Turkish lira," he said. But he added: ...
Farmers from across the country gather in Delhi for mega agitation
Thousands of farmers from across the nation are headed to the Ramlila ground here to press their demands for higher crop prices and farm loan waivers, among others.
Lanka Parliament bars Rajapaksa from using state funds
Sri Lankan Parliament Thursday overwhelmingly passed a motion to suspend the expenditure of the Prime Minister's Office, dealing a major blow to strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa who was appointed premier by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move that plunged the country into a constitutional crisis. The motion was passed with 123 lawmakers voting in favour of the motion and none opposing it in the 225-member House as Rajapaksa's supporters boycotted the session. "Such a motion cannot be presented by the Opposition. It must be presented only by a government minister," SB Dissanayake, a member of Sirisena's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party, said. Observers opine that the passing of the motion, stripping prime minister's secretary from spending money from the state account, was yet another indication that Rajapaksa lacked simple majority of 113 in the House to continue as the premier. The motion, which was approved, read, "Parliament resolves that from November ...
India hopes for early resumption of dialogue between Palestine, Israel
Expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India hopes for an early resumption of dialogue between Palestine and Israel for moving towards a comprehensive and negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, Modi said, "I wish to convey India's strong support for the Palestinian cause and to express our solidarity with the Palestinian people in their efforts to establish a sovereign, independent and united State of Palestine co-existing peaceful with the State of Israel. He said as the Day is marked, we hope for an early resumption of dialogue between Palestine and Israel for moving towards a comprehensive and negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Modi underscored that historical ties between India and Palestine have further strengthened in recent years, adding that his visit to Ramallah in February this
UK signs post-Brexit open skies aviation treaty with US
The UK on Thursday announced that it has signed a bilateral deal with the US that will allow uninterrupted air services after Brexit.
Irrigation scam: ACB affidavit naming Ajit Pawar 'politically
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Thursday dubbed as "politically motivated" the ACB's affidavit claiming major lapses on part of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and others in the alleged multi-crore irrigation scam. NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik questioned why the probe was lingering for four years "while it could have been completed in a year", and accused the government of using it "as a tool" against the party. "It is a politically motivated move. We will definitely keep our position before court, and the court will decide, as dada (Pawar) has already said," Malik added. Pawar had yesterday declined to comment on the issue, saying the matter was sub-judice and that the response would be filed in court. Besides questioning the time taken to complete the probe, Malik sought to know why the contracts concerned have not been cancelled yet "if at all there was any corruption". He also sought to know why payments were still being made to the contractors, ...