Page 2393 - Politics
Amarinder hits out at Pak, its Army chief at Kartarpur corridor event
Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh Monday hit out at Pakistan and its army chief for promotingterror activities in the state and killing of Indian soldiers, warning the Imran Khan led dispensation ofserious consequences if it did not put an end to the violence perpetrated against India. While thanking Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating India's move on developing the Kartarpur corridor, Singh, a former army officer, asked Khan to rein in his army and bring an immediate end to terror against Indian armed forces and citizens. Reiterating his stand of not going to Pakistan for ground breaking ceremony of the corridor there on November 28, Amarinder Singh said how could he go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed everyday. Where I thank Prime Minister of Pakistan (for Kartarpur Corridor), I want to say something to his Chief of army staff (Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa). I have been in the army and he (Pakistan army chief) General Bajwa is ...
Oppn stalls House; demands tabling of reports on quota for Marathas, Dhangars
Proceedings of the Maharashtra Assembly were paralysed on Monday following demands by the opposition for tabling reports recommending quota for the Maratha and Dhangar (shepherd) communities in the state. The Lower House witnessed five adjournments before it was adjourned for the day as the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) members remained adamant on their demand and stalled the proceedings. Amid the din, the Chair rushed through the day's agenda of passing some bills and supplementary demands. The opposition members were on their feet, demanding tabling of the State Backward Class Commission's report on the Maratha quota issue and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' (TISS) report on quota for the Dhangar community. Earlier, when Speaker Haribhau Bagde called for the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil asked why the government was "running away" from a debate in the House on the State Backward Class Commission's recommendations over the ...
PM to address two election rallies in Telangana
The BJP's campaign for next month's Assembly elections in Telangana is set to gather further momentum with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to address two election rallies in the state on Tuesday.
Sidhu's decision to visit Pakistan his 'way of thinking': Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Monday his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to visit Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor was "his way of thinking" but he could not think of doing that when Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by them. Sidhu, a cabinet minister in Punjab, on Sunday accepted Pakistan's invitation to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, while Singh declined the invite, citing continuous terrorist attacks in his state. As a man who has served the Indian Army, Singh said, he could not tolerate the killing of innocent Indians by Pakistani security forces and hence cannot visit the neighbouring country. On Sidhu's decision to go to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony there, Singh told reporters after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Gurdaspur, that it was "his way of thinking". On the central government's decision to send its ministers to Pakistan for the ceremony, ..
Modi interfering with court proceedings is dangerous: Yechury
After weakening the Election Commission, CBI, CVC and other Constitutional bodies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now interfering with court proceedings which is extremely dangerous, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said on Monday.
General denies leading Burkina Faso coup
A general denied leading a deadly 2015 coup attempt in the West African state of Burkina Faso, in his first trial testimony on Monday. "I neither ordered, nor planned, nor organised, nor executed what some people are calling a coup d'etat on September 16, 2015," Gilbert Diendere told a military court in the capital Ouagadougou. Diendere was formerly head of the elite regiment guarding former president Blaise Compaore. Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising in 2014. He had ruled for 27 years after himself taking power in a coup. The general has been on trial since February over an attempted coup against the transition leadership that took over after Compaore was driven from power. The violence left 14 people dead and 270 injured. Diendere is charged with treason, murder and threatening state security. He appeared in court in a red beret and military fatigues to make his first statements in the trial. "I just faced up to a given situation on the advice of mediators and by agreement ..
Telangana polls: KTR says 'Mahakutami' failed coalition of rivals; BJP 'non-existent' in state
Confident of sweeping Telangana polls under his father and interim chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's leadership, TRS leader K T Rama Rao has said the BJP is "non-existent" in the state and the alliance formed by other opposition parties, 'Mahakutami', is a "coalition of rivals" that has already failed. Acknowledging that Congress was the main rival for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samity (TRS) in the assembly polls, Rao alleged the grand old party has become a "proxy" for Chandra Babu Naidu's Telegu Desam Party (TDP) in these polls. In an interview to PTI, Rao also took on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and rejected criticism that the TRS has also become a dynasty party and its government was being run as a family enterprise. "We all have come through ranks. We have come through agitation. We participated in the agitation. If people are electing us as legislators, why should anybody have a problem. "I fought eight long years in Telangana movement before becoming a legislator. I want ..
Tunisia protests planned over visit by Saudi crown prince
Tunisian unions and civil society groups called for protests on Monday against a planned visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Tunisia's presidency has said the de facto Saudi ruler will visit the North African nation for several hours on Tuesday as part of a regional tour, without providing details on the programme. A demonstration is planned for Monday at 5 pm (1600 GMT) in the centre of Tunis, organised by the National Union of Tunisian Journalists and several NGOs and civil society organisations. Other protests -- organised by student bodies -- are planned for Tuesday morning in Tunis and the city of Sfax. Saudi Arabia has faced intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate on October 2. He was reportedly dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation, but CIA analysis leaked to the US media pointed the finger at Prince Mohammed. "No to the desecration .
US announces fresh USD 5 million reward for information on 26/11 perpetrators
The US has announced a fresh reward of up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who was involved in the planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack, as it specifically asked Pakistan to uphold its obligations to implement the sanctions against those responsible for the act of terror. The Trump administration announced the new reward (of over Rs 35 crore) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10 Pakistan-based LeT terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India's financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans. "The US Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a reward of up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack," the State Department said in a statement on Sunday. "Key members of this heinous plot remain at ..
Holiday declared for schools, offices for Hockey World Cup
The Odisha government has declared holiday for schools and educational institutions on Tuesday for the inaugural event of the Mens Hockey World Cup 2018. A communication from the Chief Ministers Office said that schools and educational institutions in Bhubaneswar will remain closed on November 27, while educational institutions across the state will remain functional till 1.30 pm. All government offices in the state, including those in Bhubaneswar, will also function till 1.30 pm, it said. This apart, all educational institutions and government offices in Cuttack will function till 1.30 pm on November 28 which will host the inaugural event on that date, the notification further read. Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met the captains of all 16 participating teams here on Monday and attended a photo session with them at Mukteshwar Temple.
Russia accuses Ukraine of 'dangerous methods' in Kerch Strait
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday accused Kiev of "dangerous" moves in the Kerch Strait after a confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian navy ships. Lavrov said Ukraine had violated international norms with "dangerous methods that created threats and risks for the normal movement of ships in the area". On Sunday, Russia boarded and seized three Ukrainian ships in the strait off Moscow-annexed Crimea, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov. Ukraine has demanded the release of its sailors and more sanctions against Moscow. Lavrov called the incident a "clear provocation" by Kiev and accused the European Union of "blind support" for Ukraine. "We call on Kiev's Western sponsors to calm those who are trying to earn political points on military hysteria," he said, implying the incident was planned ahead of Ukraine's presidential election next year. The confrontation at sea has raised fears of a wider military escalation and the UN Security ...
MP polls: Parties eye snatching family turfs in battle of nerves
With the Madhya Pradesh elections indicating a possible nail-biting finish, arch-rivals BJP and Congress are leaving no stone unturned in their intense campaign to storm the traditional bastions and family pocket-boroughs of each other. All major 'home seats' are witnessing door-to-door visits by their respective leaders, be it seasoned Congress politicians like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh or the BJP stalwarts like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Kailash Vijayvargiya. Multiple leaders, party workers and common voters told PTI that the big-shots are indulging in unprecedented electioneering in their so-called 'safe seats', leaving nothing to chance for rivals. "The state is witnessing an intense political battle and the contest is too close to call. While it is not easy for the BJP to manage a comfortable win after 15 years of anti-incumbency, it is a do or die situation for Congress to get back to power," a senior Congress leader said. "Even bastions are not being ...
'BJP, Congress anti-Dalit, trying to abolish reservation system': Mayawati
BSP supremo Mayawati alleged on Monday that the BJP and the Congress were anti-Dalit parties and were trying to 'abolish' the reservation system. Mayawati made the remarks while addressing an election rally in support of a BSP candidate in the Amber constituency of Jaipur. B R Ambedkar fought for reservation for the deprived section of society, but the BJP and the Congress are now working against it, she alleged. Both the parties disrespect Dalits, and they are now trying to abolish the reservation system, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged. She claimed no government at the Centre accomplished anything "remarkable" in terms of welfare of the poor, Dalits, religious minorities, tribal people since independence. Mayawati said her party gave tickets to all sections of society proportionately for the December-7 assembly elections. The BSP has fielded Navin Pilania, the sitting MLA, from the Amber constituency. In the 2013 assembly elections, Pilania won the Amber seat on the .
China, India made constructive proposals for early solution to border dispute: Geng
China and India made some "constructive, operable and forward looking" suggestions during the just concluded 21st round of border talks to move forward to achieve an early solution to the dispute and to maintain peace and tranquillity at the borders, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi - the designated Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries - held the border talks at Dujiangyan near Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province on November 24. Official statements, issued by both sides at the end of talks last Saturday, spoke of advancing the dialogue process to find a solution the border issue. A statement issued by the Indian Embassy here said both sides resolved to "intensify" their efforts to achieve a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable" solution to the vexed boundary question at an early date. A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement also said "both sides will continue to advance the ...
PM Modi accuses Cong of ignoring tribal community
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an election rally here on Monday, accused the Congress of ignoring the tribal community. "The Congress party ignored the tribal community, who was demanding a separate ministry, minister and budget. But the Congress was never concerned," he said."Our tribal people used to demand development policies but in vain. It was only when Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji became the Prime Minister of the country, a dedicated ministry for tribal affairs was created," said Prime Minister Modi, who is on a whirlwind tour of Rajasthan, where the assembly election is scheduled to take place on December 7.Stating that the tribal community made sacrifices during the freedom struggle and contributed to the nation-building immensely, the Prime Minister said that the history knew about this, but not the Congress."Tribal community has existed for thousands of years. Did they not make sacrifices during freedom struggle? Did they not contribute to the development of the .
SC refuses to entertain fresh plea against Article 370
The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a fresh petition on Article 370, which gives special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the issues raised in it were already part of the pending pleas. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Ajay Rastogi asked the petitioner to file an application for impleadment in the pending matters. During the brief hearing, the bench asked the petitioner as to why he wanted to increase the number of petitions on the issue. "We have heard the petitioner. The issues raised in the petition are part of the petitions pending," said the bench. The petition filed by advocate Vijay Mishra and Sandeep Lamba has sought a declaration that Article 370 of the Constitution had lapsed with the dissolution of constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on January 26, 1957 and it cannot be treated as mandatory for exercise of powers of the President. The plea has also sought that the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir be declared as .
J-K JD(U) president, several others meet Governor Malik
State president of Janta Dal (United) G M Shaheen Monday called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and discussed various issues related to equitable development and promotion of public welfare in the state, an official spokesman said. Shaheen met Malik at the Raj Bhavan here and shared his views on the socio-political scenario in the state, he said. The official said the governor appreciated Shaheen's views and discussed the vital importance of electing representatives to the urban local bodies and panchayats for establishing grass root-level democratic institutions. He said two delegations and a member of state legislative council (MLC) also met the governor at the Raj Bhavan. BJP MLC Surinder Ambardar shared his views with the governor about ensuring equitable development of the state and certain matters relating to the Kashmiri migrants, the spokesperson said. Appreciating Ambardar's initiatives at the ground level, Malik advised him to spread awareness about the ...
Stop rowing in two boats: Chirag Paswan tells Upendra Kushwaha
The Lok Janshakti Party on Monday slammed RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha for using "pressure tactics" to finalise a seat-sharing arrangement between NDA partners in Bihar by November 30 and cautioned the Union minister against "rowing in two boats". In one of the strongest criticisms of Kushwaha, LJP parliamentary board chairman Chirag Paswan also disapproved of the RLSP chief's frequent outbursts against Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar. He said Kushwaha should make up his mind whether he wishes to continue in NDA or not, possibly referring to the RLSP chief's meeting with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav last month. "By setting a deadline and taking a stand that you will not talk to anybody except the prime minister, you are taking recourse to pressure tactics. Besides, he keeps on speaking against the chief minister. You cannot go on speaking against NDA constituents while being a part of the coalition. It is like rowing in two boats," Paswan said. Kushwaha has said the ...
'No Cong candidate wants Rahul's meeting in his constituency'
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday claimed that Rahul Gandhi's election meeting in any constituency was the guarantee of Congress candidate's defeat. "Wherever Rahul Gandhi will go, the party candidate will face defeat. No candidate wants Rahul Gandhi's meeting in his constituency. Rahul means guarantee of defeat, the UP CM said in an election rally in Churu district's Ratangarh constituency. "Nothing can be expected from Congress. The party lacks leadership and Congress leaders say this, not me or anyone else, he said. Adityanath said that BJP governments be it in Centre or states have accelerated growth and pushed development. "There cannot be any alternative to development and good governance, which the BJP governments have delivered. A widespread change is visible in Uttar Pradesh while Raje government in Rajasthan has also done good work, 3.5 lakh youths were given government jobs and several other works were also done for the development of the state, he ...
Congress preached "patriotism" in 2008, now asks for proof of surgical strikes: Modi
Invoking the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday criticised the Congress for teaching "patriotism" to opposition parties then, and now asking the NDA government to provide proof for the 2016 surgical strikes.