Page 2401 - Politics
T'gana polls: KCR afraid of 'Razakars party' AIMIM: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Sunday hit out at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for not taking action against AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in connection with a hate speech. Akbaruddin, MLA from Chandrayangutta in the dissolved state Assembly, was arrested by Nirmal police in January 2013 for allegedly using inflammatory and derogatory language against a community during his public speeches in Nirmal and Nizamabad in December 2012. He was subsequently released on bail. Shah also claimed that KCR was afraid of the AIMIM, which he described as a 'Razakars party". The Razakars were an armed militia of the Hyderabad Nizamate who tried to brutally put down a revolt by peasants opposed to the Nizam's decision to not merge with India following Independence. Addressing a rally here on Sunday, Shah said: "This is the land (Nirmal) where Akbaruddin Owaisi gave a speech. He insulted Hindu gods. There was also a case against him. But this TRS government failed to take further ...
26/11 attack: Nikam blames Pak for delay in trial against
Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who appeared as special public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, on Sunday blamed the Pakistan government for delay in the trial against masterminds of the attack. On the eve of 10th anniversary of the terror attack, he accused the neighbouring country of providing patronage to those accused in the case. On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists had sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks, killing 166 people and injuring over 300. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was awarded death sentence by a court. Dubbing LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as the "real terrorists" behind the attack in Mumbai in 2008, Nikam said the authorities in Pakistan should make efforts for cancellation of the bail granted to them. "Still, a decade after the terror attack, there's little to show that Pakistan has acted .
Pradhan slams Congress over 'fake' National Herald article, files complaint
Hitting out at the Congress party over the article published in the National Herald, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said that that the Congress party was spreading lies as it was scared of defeat in the ensuing Madhya Pradesh assembly polls.His comments come days after the media house published an audio clip of an alleged conversation between BJP candidate from Vidisha constituency Mukesh Tandon and state-unit chief Rakesh Singh, where the former allegedly said that he had to incur huge expenses to attract crowds for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies in Madhya Pradesh as the people do not want to listen to him anymore.Pradhan labelled the article as "fake" and added that the BJP had filed an official complaint in this regard with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state. "Cyber Cell is conducting an inquiry in this regard," Pradhan said."Congress mouthpiece National Herald printed the conversation on Saturday. The website has published the audio tape. It is ...
No talks for 'Ram Temple' at disputed land in Ayodhya: Shivpal Yadav
Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Sunday said that there should no talks for the construction of Ram temple Mandir at the disputed land in Ayodhya.Speaking to the media here, Singh said, "In my opinion, there should be no talks of constructing the temple at the disputed land. We have seen the amount of damage that has been done because of this. We were defamed worldwide for not maintaining peace. People will not fall prey to this Mandir-Masjid gimmick again."Hitting out at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government, PSP leader alleged that the BJP was not focusing on real issues and development. "There is no point in changing names of places and installing statues. There has been no development. Roads continue to be in a bad shape. Corruption is at its peak. People have not been given jobs. I think these things should be the government's priority," added Yadav.The issue of Ram temple construction got a major push when one of the ...
SAD to participate in ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor on November 26
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday announced that the party leadership and workers would take part in the ground-breaking ceremony of the proposed corridor to Shri Kartarpur Sahib on the Indian soil while singing hymns of Gurbani on November 26.In a statement here, the senior vice president and spokesperson of the SAD Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said that this is an auspicious occasion for everybody who believes in the way to god shown by our great Guru Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji as a long-standing demand of the Sikh community has been fulfilled due to a bold initiative taken by the NDA government at the Centre. He said that this historical moment will be graced by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and some of the union ministers as well.Dr Cheema added that the entire SAD leadership under the leadership of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal would reach Shri Durbar Sahib, Dera Baba Nanak in the morning at 8 am. After listening to 'Shabads' from the holy Gurbani, a prayer of gratitude will .
EU leaders approve Brexit deal
The leaders of the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) on Sunday endorsed the United Kingdom's withdrawal agreement from the bloc.The approval of the deal came after European Council president Donald Tusk broke the news and took to his Twitter handle and wrote, "EU27 has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future EU-UK relations."The EU leaders gave consensus to the pact at a special summit held in Brussels, the seat of the EU, after negotiations which lasted nearly an hour, CNN reported.British Prime Minister Theresa May, who prepared the Brexit deal, had shown complete support for the draft agreement and reiterated time and again that the pact serves UK's national interest.With the EU leaders' endorsement of the deal, the Brexit agreement is now slated to go to the UK Parliament for a vote next month, where many opposition MPs, including those from May's Conservative Party, are expected to vote against the deal, owing to various disagreements.On ...
If voted to power, Cong will probe KCR's 'wrongdoings': Singhvi
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Sunday said if his party is voted to power in Telangana, it will launch a probe into the "wrongdoings" of the state's caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and dubbed his family as "thugs". He said four Ks -- KCR, as Rao is populary known, his son and minister K T Rama Rao, daughter and parliamentarian K Kavitha and 'kutumb' (family) -- had "robbed" the four crore people of Telangana. Singhvi said KCR's recent remarks that he will sleep at home if his party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), loses the December 7 assembly elections showed that he was convinced of his defeat. "But let me submit to the chief minister and his senior ministers, including members of his family, that when the new government is formed in a few days, it will not allow you to sleep so easily," he said. "We will seek answers, accounts and accountability of all the wrongdoings and misuse (of power)," the Congress leader warned. Singhvi said the KCR ...
Locals block Batote-Kishtwar national highway, hold protests over killing of retired Army officer
Angry locals blocked the Batote-Kishtwar National Highway at Thathri area Sunday over the death of a retired Army officer, demanding arrest of the accused, officials said. Retired Army officer Mohd Hafiz (60) was killed and several others were injured in a clash between two groups at a polling booth in Doda district during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat elections on Saturday, police said. "After post-mortem of the deceased, the villagers joined by locals at Thathri refused to take the body to his native village Joura for last rites. They kept the body on the highway demanding assurance from the district magistrate," Thathri SDM Mohd Anwar Banday said. The protesters sought the district administration's intervention into the matter and assurance from the Doda deputy commissioner to immediately set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to nail down the culprits. They also demanded a government job for the kin of the deceased. The SDM said he tried to pacify the ...
President, PM condole death of Congress leader and former Minister Jaffer Sharief
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders expressed grief over the demise of former Union Minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief, who passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru following a heart attack on Sunday.
Congress condoles death of party leaders, Sharief
The Congress condoled Sunday the demise of party leaders Ambareesh and C K Jaffer Sharief while noting it was a day of tragedy for the party. Actor-turned politician Ambareesh passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday while Sharief breathed his last this morning at a hospital in Karnataka's capital. "It is a day of tragedy for the Congress party, with another senior, loved & respected member of our family in Karnataka, Shri Jaffer Sharief Ji, passing away today. My condolences to his family, friends & supporters in their time of grief," Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet. He remembered Ambareesh as a "famous son" of Karnataka whose work as an actor and a politician won him a huge following across the country. "In the passing of Ambareesh Ji, the Congress family has lost a valuable member. He was a famous son of Karnataka, whose work as an actor and in politics, won him a huge following both in the state and across India. My condolences to his ...
Shah attacks KCR, says only BJP can ensure Telangana's development
Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah Sunday accused the Telangana government led by K Chandrashekar Rao of "failing" to keep its promises, and claimed that only the BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can ensure the state's development. He also hit out at Rao for advancing the state polls, claiming that the chief minister did so as he was scared of the "Modi wave". Addressing a public meeting at Parkal in Warangal district, Shah appealed to people to vote for the BJP in Telangana polls scheduled on December 7, in order to take the state forward. He said KCR (as Rao is popularly known) failed to fulfil his promise of appointing a Dalit chief minister, and sought to know if Rao would now announce a Dalit as the chief ministerial candidate. Shah also hit out at All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's claim that his party would be the "kingmaker" after the state election. "Do you want a government which is dependent on Owaisi and .
Sri Lanka president vows never to reappoint ousted premier
President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday reignited the political crisis that has crippled Sri Lanka's government for more than a month, vowing never to reappoint arch-rival Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister. Wickremesinghe's party has a majority in parliament and Sirisena's bid to bring back the country's former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse has already failed. But Sirisena choked back tears in a meeting with foreign correspondents as he accused Wickremesinghe, who he sacked on October 26, of being "highly corrupt". "Even if the UNP has the majority I told them not to bring Ranil Wickremesinghe before me, I will not make him prime minister," he said, referring to Wickremesinghe's United National Party.
EU leaders approve 'tragic' Brexit deal
European Union leaders on Sunday approved a historic Brexit deal, holding out hopes of close future ties even as one declared Britain's withdrawal after four decades a "tragedy". The 27 leaders of the bloc met without Prime Minister Theresa May to endorse the agreement, which sets the stage for Britain exit from the bloc on March 29. "EU27 has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future EU-UK relations," European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted, as the leaders waited for May to join them. Arriving for a special summit in Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the bloc's executive arm, said it was a "sad day". "To see a country like Great Britain...leave the EU is not a moment of joy nor of celebration, it's a sad moment and it's a tragedy," he said. Michel Barnier, the former French foreign minister who negotiated the deal on behalf of the bloc, added: "We will remain allies, partners and friends." May, who arrived in ..
Shivpal Yadav meets UP Governor over VHP public meeting in Ayodhya
As devotees poured in Ayodhya on Sunday to attend the VHP's 'Dharam Sabha', Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) (PSP) chief Shivpal Singh Yadav submitted a memorandum to Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik urging him to maintain law and order in the state. The Vishva Hindu Group (VHP), a right-wing group, has called for a public meeting in Ayodhya to press for the construction of a Ram temple in the holy town which is considered to be Lord Ram's birthplace. The organisers have claimed that more than 3 lakh devotees are likely to arrive for the meeting. "We met the governor and handed over a memorandum to him asking him to look into the build-up in the past couple of days with thousands of people reaching Ayodhya, where prohibitory orders are already in force," Yadav told reporters. The PSP leader, accompanied by his party workers, walked to the Raj Bhavan here from his party office. Yadav said he urged the governor to ensure that the law and order is maintained at all costs so that a ...
Brexit gets EU nod
The European Union on Sunday approved the UK's withdrawal agreement from the EU, its chief official Donald Tusk announced in Belgium leaving it upon the UK Parliament to consent to the deal fecilitating Britains departure from the union.
Yemen's al-Dhaher district in Saada liberated from Houthis
The Yemeni army has liberated the al-Dhaher district here from the Houthi militia, as the armed forces head towards the Hidan directorate, which is another rebel stronghold.The army's media centre said that the forces, along with the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, liberated the al-Malahit front and the strategic Maran triangle as well. A government building complex has also been freed by the armed forces to take complete charge of the district from armed rebels."Following the continuation of advancements in the eastern direction of the Directorate of al-Malahit, our armed forces were able to liberate a major factory, while in the northern side, a number of strategic sites were controlled, including command posts, that represented the most important reinforcements of the Houthi coup militias," Al Arabiya stated while quoting military sources.The Arab-led coalition's aircrafts targeted numerous Houthi supplementaries throughout the district in Saada, as fighting continued for the second ...
Shiv Sena can't hijack Ram temple issue: BJP MLA
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Surendra Singh on Sunday said that the Shiv Sena could not hijack the Ram temple issue.Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "How can the Shiv Sena hijack the Ram Mandir issue? The people who thrash north Indians, those who don't even have the mentality to serve humanity, how will they serve Lord Ram."Singh's statement coincides with the mega event being organised by the Shiv Sena in Ayodhya to press for the construction of a Lord Ram temple here. It is also worth mentioning that Shiv Sena is the BJP's ally in Maharashtra government.Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who reached Ayodhya on Saturday for a two-day visit, asked the BJP-led Central government not to play with the sentiments of the Hindus.After offering prayer at the Ram Lalla temple, the Shiv Sena chief addressed the media and said, "If the matter has to be resolved by the Supreme Court, then it should not be made a poll issue during the election campaign. BJP should not play ...
Baba Saheb gave millions the right to dignified life: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on the golden jubilee of his "Mann Ki Baat" a day ahead of the Constitution Day, on Sunday said that the architect of Indian constitution Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar gave millions of Indians the right to dignified life.Ahead of Dr Ambedkar's 'Mahaparinirvan Diwas' on December 6, PM Modi reiterated the words of Bharat Ratna, saying, "The democratic values are not imported to India from outside and we must defend our hard-fought freedom through the last drop of blood."PM Modi said that the balance between the rights and duties in the life of citizens will take the country forward. "If we respect the rights of others, our rights will automatically be protected. Similarly, if we fulfill the duties enshrined in the Constitution, our rights will automatically be protected," said Narendra Modi. "Both rights and duties have been discussed at length in our constitution," he added."While remembering the Constituent Assembly we can never forget ..
EU leaders to sign off 'tragic' Brexit deal
European Union leaders met Sunday to approve a historic Brexit deal, with one declaring Britain's withdrawal a "tragedy", but holding out hope of close future ties. Arriving for a special summit in Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the bloc's executive arm, said it was a "sad day". "To see a country like Great Britain... leave the EU is not a moment of joy nor of celebration, it's a sad moment and it's a tragedy," he said. Michel Barnier, the former French foreign minister who negotiated the deal on behalf of the bloc, added: "We will remain allies, partners and friends." The leaders of the 27 EU states will approve the agreement before being joined by British Prime Minister Theresa May in a highly symbolic moment. Forged during 17 months of tough negotiations, the deal covers financial matters, citizens' rights, Northern Ireland and a transition phase, and sets out hopes for future security and trade ties. But it is not the final stage, as the House
Veteran Congressman and former Union minister Sharief passes away
Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister C K Jaffer Sharief passed away Sunday at a private hospital here following a cardiac arrest, doctors said. He was 85. Sharief was hospitalised after he collapsed while getting into his car for attending the Friday namaz. Family sources said Sharief was not keeping well for quite some time. He is survived by two daughters. Hospital sources said Sharief died of cardiac arrest. "One of @INCIndia's senior most leaders, many times MP and one of India's most successful Railway minister, Karnataka's very own son Sri CK Jaffer Shareef has passed away," Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao tweeted. Congress MLA and Sharief's family friend N A Harris told PTI that the doctors had planned to implant pacemaker in his heart Sunday but he died before he could be brought to the operation table. Born on November 3, 1933 at Challakere in Chitradurga, Sharief had an illustrious political career spanning 50 years. Launching his