Page 2394 - Politics

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.

Bridge between nations that have so much in common: VP on Kartarpur Corridor

Acknowledging the common origin shared by India and Pakistan, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said the opening of the Kartarpur corridor is a bridge between two countries that have "so much in common.""This is a bridge between two countries that have so much in common. It opens new doors, a path that opens new possibilities," the Vice President said while addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the corridor.He also stated that the demand for setting up the corridor is over two decade old."It has been our long pending demand that Indian Sikh sisters and brothers should be able to visit Kartarpur site with ease. The demand for setting up the corridor has been raised for nearly two decades or more. This dream which was pending for long has got fulfilled today. This occasion has been made possible by Government of India's decision to build a corridor from Dera Baba Nanak-Karatarpur Sahib road to the international corridor on our side," Venkaiah Naidu .

Don't forget I am soldier myself: Capt Amarinder to Pak Army Chief

In a stern message to Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said that Pakistan Army would never be allowed to enter India and vitiate the atmosphere."Don't forget I am myself a soldier and even senior to your (Pakistan's) former President General Pervez Musharraf. We will never allow you to enter India and vitiate the atmosphere," said Captain Amarinder Singh.The Punjab Chief Minister, who was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Kartarpur corridor, said, "I would like to ask Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa something. As a soldier, which Army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side?""Which Army teaches to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardness. I am warning you (Bajwa) that we are also Punjabis. You will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere," further added Chief Minister Amarinder.Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who also

Kartarpur corridor: Foundation stone replaced amid row over credit

A massive political slug-fest was played out on Monday in full public view, shoving protocol to the side in the presence of Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, as political leaders from opposing sides in Punjab bared it at what was meant to be solemn celebration related to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor project.

Poll machinery ready for free and fair elections: Mizoram CEO

The election machinery is fully prepared to conduct free and fair polls to the 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashish Kundra said Monday. Speaking to reporters here, Kundra said he was "perfectly satisfied" with the arrangements. The Congress has been in power in Mizoram since 2008 and is eyeing a third consecutive term. In the 2013 elections, the Congress had won 34 seats, while the MNF got five and the Mizoram People's Conference one. This time, both Congress and MNF are contesting all the 40 constituencies this time, while the BJP is fighting in 39 seats. Kundra said 209 candidates are in the fray for the November 28 polls and the fate of the candidates would be decided by 7,70,395 voters which included 3,94,897 women. "Preparations have been made for facilitating differently-abled people with ramps and wheelchairs," he said. Kundra said preparations have been made for 12,026 Brus lodged in six relief camps of Tripura ..

BJP leader Vijender Gupta, rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra marshalled out of Delhi Assembly

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra were marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly Monday as both legislators were adamant to have discussions on their respective issues in the House and refused to comply with the Speaker's orders. Mishra was marshalled out of the House minutes after Delhi Assembly's special session commenced, when he tried to raise the issues of strike by contractual employees of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and "illegal Bangladeshis" living in the national capital. BJP leader Gupta faced a similar action when he continued to disrupt Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain's speech on a government's resolution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of the Delhi government. Despite repeated warnings, Gupta objected to the minister's speech. When he did not relent, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel ordered the BJP MLA to be marshalled out of the House. During his speech, Jain slammed the BJP-led central government and the police over the recent .

Rahul Gandhi, TDP chief Naidu to participate in election rally

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of other alliance parties for the Telangana Assembly elections will participate in a joint rally at Khammam on November 28, a Congress leader said. The Congress, TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) have formed the "grand alliance" for the December 7 polls. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee's (TPCC) campaign panel chairman M Bhatti Vikramarka told reporters at Khammam Monday that CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy and TJS president M Kodandaram were being invited for the public meeting in which Naidu and Gandhi would participate. Describing the meeting as "historic", TDP leader Nama Nageswara Rao said a message would go out to the country from the meeting. Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, had met Gandhi earlier this month as part of efforts to put together an anti-BJP front. They are also expected to participate in road shows during the campaign for the elections. Gandhi and UPA ...

U.S. tax reform is not sustainable: German finmin

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's tax reforms are not sustainable and will result in tax increases, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Monday.

Cong won't allow those conspiring to destroy Constitution to succeed: Rahul

Those conspiring to destroy the Constitution should know they neither have the capacity to do so nor will the Congress allow them to do anything, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on Constitution Day Monday. The colours of the Constitution are "engrained in every part of us", Gandhi said on Twitter. "The Constitution of India is the hallmark of both our struggle and existence. It is our philosophy. It is our pride... "Let those who conspire to annihilate it, know that neither do they have the capacity to do so, nor will the Congress party and I ever allow them to do so," he said in a tweet in Hindi. The Congress has accused the BJP in the past of "destroying" the Constitution, a charge denied by the ruling party. Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26 to commemorate the Constitution being adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. It came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Amarinder warns Pakistan, vows to protect Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday vowed to protect Punjab and its people from terror unleashed by Pakistan, warning Islamabad of "serious consequences" if it did not end the violence perpetrated against India.

Rahul promises farm loan waiver, jobs to youth in Rajasthan

Going all out to woo farmers and youth in poll-bound Rajasthan, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Monday promised to waive farm loans in ten days if voted to power in the state and said the Congress chief minister will work for 18 hours a day to help youth get jobs. Speaking at an election rally in Jaisalmer district's Pokhran constituency, he described Congress workers as 'sher' and 'babbar sher' and said they have to fight on booths but with gentleness unlike RSS or BJP workers. "You (people) are going to make Congress party's government in the state. Within ten days of government formation, Congress will waive farmers' loan in the state, he said. Gandhi said he had made the same promise in Punjab and Karnataka elections and Congress governments there have waived farmers' loan. You may call and ask any farmer in Punjab and Karnataka and check whether their loans have been waived or not by the Congress party. I do not make false promises. Whatever I, Sachin Pilot or Ashok Gehlot are ..

Afghan presidential election may be postponed: officials

Afghanistan's embattled election organisers are considering delaying April's presidential ballot by three months, officials said Monday, as they struggle to tally votes cast in the recent legislative poll and resolve thousands of complaints. The remarks come as the United States spearheads international efforts to engage the Taliban in peace talks to end the 17-year war that some had feared could be derailed by the April 20 presidential vote, which is expected to fiercely contested. The ballot could be pushed back to July 13, spokesmen for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) told reporters. "There are legal and technical issues that should be addressed properly (if the vote is to be delayed)," ECC spokesman Ali Reza Rohani said. "We have to see if the proposed new date of July 13 is practical and whether we have to hold four elections at once." Presidential, provincial council and district council elections are scheduled to take ...

AAP govt in Delhi did much more than what Modi did in Gujarat in 12 years: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday claimed the AAP government in the national capital did "much more" than what Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in Gujarat in the last 12 years. Kejriwal made the remarks on the sixth foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party. Congratulating party workers and supporters, he said the AAP's political revolution against corruption and communalism is going on despite obstacles. "The people of Delhi are proud of their honest chief minister. I want to ask the people of the country if they feel the same about their prime minister," Kejriwal said. He hit out the BJP-led NDA government over alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal and Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi fleeing the country. Targeting the Gujarat model of development, the Delhi chief minister said, "I challenge... the AAP government in Delhi did much more than he (Narendra Modi) did in Gujarat in 12 years," he said. "The AAP's political journey began on this day six years ago. The ...

Congress turned MP into 'bimaru' state: Shivraj Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday sharpened his attack at the Congress, saying that the state became economically weak, "bimaru (sick)", when the party was in power.Addressing a campaign rally here, Chouhan said that Congress is angry with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) because of the developmental and welfare work undertaken by his government in the last 15 years since it came to power."Of the 70 years since we achieved independence, Congress was in power for 54 years. What did Congress do during that time? During their rule, they destroyed Madhya Pradesh. They turned Madhya Pradesh into a bimaru state. We are now in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years," Chouhan said.Bimaru is an acronym that came up in the mid-1980s and was used to refer to the poor economic conditions of four states, namely Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.Taking a jibe at the Congress over its poll promise of waiving loans for the farmers, Chouhan said: ...

India will always be a 'special friend': Maldives' Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, who is on a maiden official visit to India, on Monday described India as a "special friend" of the Maldives."India is largest contributor for decades of our development. China contributes largest tourist arrivals and has been generous in assistance. We will not compare friends but we have friends and special friends. India will always be a special friend," Shahid said in an exclusive interview with ANI.Shahid, who arrived in India on November 24, spoke on the Maldives maintaining a balance in relations between India and China, saying, "Our policies would not be like that we would have an excellent relationship with our closest neighbour with our good friend India and also our development partner China. We would want to have a substantial relationship with these countries who generously contributed to the development of Maldives."He said that his country wants to have a substantial relationship with India and China, while launching a ...

Pressure on Macron after gas price protests inflamed Paris

The pressure is on French President Emmanuel Macron after a second weekend of sometimes violent protests over rising fuel taxes that reached the heart of Paris. Scattered protests continued Monday as drivers blocked roads from the Pyrenees to Brittany. Macron promised to explain on Tuesday his plans for weaning France off fossil fuels, the reason for the small tax hikes. The protests are a major challenge for Macron, drawing disparate demonstrators with no clear leader or mission. Tense clashes Saturday reached Paris' high-end Champs-Elysees. A local protest leader in Toulouse, Benjamin Cauchy, said Monday on BFM television that the movement is at a turning point and the next step will hinge on what Macron has to say. Cauchy said protesters should respect the media, after journalists were attacked, chased or threatened while covering Saturday's events.

PM accuses Congress of not doing enough for farmers, rural India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress party of not doing enough for the development of rural areas and farmers during their rule. Addressing a campaign rally here, he said, "The previous Congress government could have implemented better MSP and crop insurance scheme, but they could not see beyond chair." "Four generations of Congress family ruled this country for 55 years but electricity, water, roads, toilets never reached villages," the prime minister said. Modi assured the people at his rally that his government will ensure that every Indian has a house by 2022, when the country celebrates the 75th Independence Day. He also repeated his charge that casteism is in Congress's mindset.

Cong leaders ashamed of saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', claims Shah

Congress leaders are ashamed of saying "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah claimed Monday. Addressing a rally in Kukshi area of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, he also asked the opposition party to give details of its performance when it was in power, before asking the BJP to give a report of its four-and-a-half year governance. "I happened to know an incident from Rajasthan where a Congress worker wanted to give the slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', but he was interrupted and made to say 'Sonia Gandhi Ki Jai'," Shah claimed. "This shows what is more important to a Congress leader... They are ashamed of giving out such slogans," Shah added. Continuing his attack against the Congress leadership, he said, "Rahul baba (Congress chief) asks us to give a report of our four-and-a-half year's of performance. He and his family have been in power for four-and-a-half generations. They should be the first one to talk about their performances." Lauding the development ...

Italy may cut deficit target to appease EU partners

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's governing coalition may reduce next year's budget deficit target to as low as 2 percent of gross domestic product to avoid a disciplinary procedure from Brussels, two government sources said on Monday.

Uma lauds Shiv Sena, says BJP doesn't have patent on Ram temple

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti said that her party does not have a patent on the Ram temple while calling for all parties to come together to build the temple in Ayodhya.Speaking to reporters, Bharti commended Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for visiting Ayodhya and pressing for the construction of the temple."Yes, I appreciate Uddhav Thackeray for his effort. BJP doesn't have a patent on Ram temple, Lord Ram belongs to everyone. I appeal to everyone including Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Akali Dal, Asaduddin Owaisi, Azam Khan and others to come forward and support the construction of the temple," the BJP leader said.Thackeray, who was on a visit to Ayodhya over the weekend, reiterated his demand for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and asked the BJP-led central government not to play with the sentiments of the Hindus.At a mega event, Thackeray added that the BJP should apologise and tell people that the Ram temple issue is their 'chunavi ...