Page 2415 - Politics
Thai leader to discuss lifting of politics ban with parties
The head of Thailand's military government has invited representatives of political parties contesting next year's promised elections to discuss the planned lifting of a ban on political activity that has been in force since the army seized power more than four years ago. The site of the Dec 7 meeting called by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is Bangkok's Royal Thai Army Club, where the May 2014 coup led by Prayuth was announced. The junta that took over declared a nationwide ban on political gatherings of more than five people as one of many measures to suppress opponents of military rule. Prayuth said Friday the planned meeting is necessary to make clear rules for the polls, which he confirmed were still tentatively scheduled for Feb 24.
Pope taps experts, women for group to prepare abuse summit
Pope Francis has named the Vatican's top sex abuse investigator, a close US ally and lay women working at the Vatican to an organizing committee preparing for a high-stakes summit in February on abuse prevention. Notably absent from the lineup announced Friday was Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley, who heads the pope's sex abuse advisory commission. The organising committee includes Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, for a decade the Vatican's sex crimes prosecutor, Francis appointee Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias, a member of Francis' key cardinal advisers, and a member of O'Malley's commission, German Jesuit the Rev. Hans Zollner. Francis summoned leaders of the world's 130 bishops' conferences to the Vatican Feb. 21-24 after the abuse scandal erupted again in his native South America and the US.
Centre should accept Cong's demand of join parl panel probe in Rafale deal: Anand Sharma
The NDA government should accept the demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Rafale deal, Congress leader Anand Sharma said Friday. He also alleged that corruption, especially in BJP-ruled states, was thriving, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance of bringing 'acche din' (good days). The BJP should accept Congress's demand of getting the Rafale deal probed by a joint parliamentary panel, Sharma said at a press conference here in poll-bound Rajasthan. "If there is no mistake and dishonesty of large-scale, then the BJP should accept the Congress demand of getting the matter probed by a joint parliamentary committee," he said. The government has vehemently denied all the charges made by the Congress in the Rafale issue. "The prime minister had assured that he would not allow anybody to take bribes (na Khaunga, na Khane dunga) and promised 'acche din'. But neither has happened," Sharma said. People have been kept waiting for 'good days', even as corruption ...
US urging allies to shun Huawei: WSJ
The US is trying to persuade wireless companies and internet providers in allied countries to shun equipment made by Chinese telecom giant Huawei, citing cyber security risks, a media report said Friday. The lobbying campaign, also targeting government officials, is taking place in allied countries where Huawei equipment is widely in use such as Germany, Italy and Japan, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the situation. The US is also mulling more financial aid for telecoms development in countries that avoid using Chinese-made equipment, some of these people say, according to the Journal. Huawei -- one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment and services providers -- has been under scrutiny in some countries, including the United States and Australia, over its alleged close links to Beijing. Huawei has long refuted accusations of security risks and links to the Chinese state intelligence services. One US worry is over the use of Chinese telecom
ITEC programme vital for promoting human development resources in Nepal: Envoy
The Indian envoy in Nepal has said that the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has played an important role in the development of human resources in the Himalayan country. During an event on Thursday to mark the ITEC Day, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said senior Nepalese government officials are trained at premier Indian institutions under the programme. Training courses under the programme are available in various fields, including engineering, information technology, journalism, banking, and remote sensing. Dozens of Nepali experts are pursuing M. Tech and P.G. Diploma courses in irrigation water management and water resources development at the Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee. Till date, 1,353 participants have attended training courses under the programme. Nearly 150 ITEC alumni and senior officials of the Nepal government attended the event, where Nepal's Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Giriraj Mani Pokharel, ...
Congress misgoverned from Panchayat to Parliament: Amit Shah in MP
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Friday continued to undermine the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, accusing them of misgovernance "from Panchayat to Parliament" for 55 years in the state.Addressing a campaign rally, Shah stated that like dominoes, the incumbent Congress governments kept falling in a number of states around the 2014 general elections, when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was elected in the Centre."First Maharashtra, then Haryana, then Jharkhand, Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, people everywhere recognised who will actually work for them and they ousted the corrupt Congress," Shah said.He further stated "They have ruled here from Panchayat to Parliament for 55 years, was there ever electricity, water in your homes? They had no concern whatsoever for eh tribal people. Water and electricity in your homes have been connected by the BJP."Shah said that unlike Congress, the BJP-led ..
India, Pak Army hold Brigade Commander-level meeting at Poonch-Rawalkote crossing point
A Brigade Commander-level flag meeting was held between the Indian Army and Pakistan Army at Poonch-Rawalkote Crossing Point on Friday.It focused on augmenting confidence-building measures, maintaining peace along the Line of Control (LoC) and prevention of infiltration from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).The Indian Army delegation was led by Brigadier VS Sekhon while the Pakistan Army delegation was led by Brigadier Qaiser.The flag meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. It ended with both sides assuring to adhere to the norms of the 2003 Ceasefire agreement and the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) level talks of May 29, 2018, and work towards improving the situation along the LoC.
PDP, NC joined hands to stall the entry of third regional party in state: Lone
People's Conference (PC) Sajjad Lone on Friday said the coming together of PDP, NC and Congress in Jammu and Kashmir was an "opportunistic alliance" to stall the entry of a third regional party headed by him.
Congress demands EC probe into BJP becoming top TV advertiser
With the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data revealing the BJP to be the number one on television in the run-up to Assembly elections, the Congress on Friday demanded that the Election Commission take cognisance of the data and asses the impact of BJP's advertisement spending on the ongoing polls in five states.
Krishnankutty to replace Mathew T Thomas in Kerala Ministry: JD(S)
Janata Dal (Secular), a key partner in the ruling LDF in Kerala, Friday decided to replace its nominee and Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas with senior MLA K Krishnankutty in the state dispensation. The decision in this regard was announced by the JD(S) national secretary general Danish Ali in Bengaluru. The party, headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, has three MLAs in the Kerala assembly. Senior JD(S) leaders from the state including Krishnankutty and C K Nanu, the other MLA, met Gowda and held discussions in Bengaluru in the morning. However, Thomas kept away from the crucial meet, citing inconvenience. The two factions led by Thomas and Krishnankutty have been at loggerheads for quite some time over the party's lone ministerial berth in the CPI(M)-led LDF government. Announcing the decision, Ali told reporters that Thomas has been informed about the party's new stand. He also lavished praise on the incumbent minister, saying Thomas was "one of the best performing
AAP to start political campaign in Haryana on Saturday
The Aam Aadmi Party, which will contest both the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly elections in Haryana, will start its campaign in the state on Saturday with a public rally in Gurugram.
BJP's Karna unit slams Kumaraswamy on cabinet expansion, farm
Hitting out at Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy for delaying expansion of the Congress-JD(S) coalition cabinet, Karnataka BJP Friday accused him of "misgovernance" and asked when the state would see some governance. Addressing the Chief Minister as "Kumaranna", as he ispopularly called, the opposition party has put four questionsto him, including the one on loan waiver. "In the mercy of Congress the unholy alliance headedby CM Kumarswamy completes 6 months," Karnataka BJP said in atweet. It said "In these 184 days of misgovernance CM has failed to expand his cabinet. His greed to hold on to portfolios has crippled entire administration #NijaHeliKumaranna (speak the truth Kumaranna) when will we see some governance." The saffron party in another tweet, along with cabinetexpansion, has also questioned the Chief Minister about farmloan waiver, funds to drought-hit taluks and discussion on common minimum programme. "#NijaHeliKumaranna - When will you waive farmers loans? - ..
Ceasefire violations: India, Pak armies hold flag meeting on LoC
The Indian and Pakistan armies Friday held a brigade commander level meeting at a border crossing in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector to adhere to ceasefire, a defence official said. The flag meeting comes in the wake of several ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army in the past over one month, during which five Indian security personnel were killed and seven others injured. The Indian delegation was led by Brigadier V S Sekhon and Brigadier Qaiser led the Pakistani side. They met at the Poonch-Rawlakote Crossing Point on the Line of Control (LoC), Public Relation Officer (PRO), Defence, Jammu, Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand, said. The delegation had discussions on augmenting confidence building measures, maintaining peace along the LoC and preventing infiltration from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said. The meeting came on a day when security forces shot dead six Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants during an encounter in a forested area in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag ...
Telangana candidate distributes slippers, asks voters to hit him if he fails to deliver
Ahead of assembly elections in Telangana, the state is witnessing some renowned politicians wooing voters with appealing promises.Amidst all this, Akula Hanumanth, an independent candidate from Korutla constituency of Jagtial district, has grabbed the attention of voters with his out-of-the-box campaigning style.While doing a door-to-door campaign for elections, Hanumanth has been distributing slippers and a signed slip to citizens, asking them to hit him with the same if he doesn't fulfill their expectations after winning."If I fail to bring development in my constituency then voters hold a right to publicly hit me with slippers," Hanumanth said while canvassing.Elections in Telangana are scheduled for December 7.Hanumanth's smart campaigning trick has caught the attention of Korutla, but one has to wait to see if this approach would help him to win the seat.Notably, Korutla is an important seat, currently represented by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi's MLA K Vidyasagar Rao.
BJP slams Raj Babbar for mocking PM Modi's mother's age
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday slammed Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar for comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother's age with the devalued rate of the Indian rupee.Rupani said that the comments show the Congress leaders mentality and that his party is stooping low below its dignity."Congress is stooping low, below its dignity and making nasty comments. One should maintain dignity in politics. I condemn this. Comparing Rupee versus Dollar to the age of Prime Minister Modi mother shows his (Raj Babbar) mentality," he stated, while also demanding an apology for the remarks.Another BJP leader, Subramanian Swamy launched an attack against Babbar and said that "it is the worst thing one can do in Hindu religion, maybe it is alright in Italian religion."On the contrary, Congress leader Hanumantha Rao backed Babbar and asked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to detail the development work carried out during ..
India, Pakistan armies hold flag meeting at LoC
The Indian and Pakistani armies on Friday held a Brigadier level flag meeting at the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.
Chandrababu Naidu is anti-Telangana, says BJP leader
BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao Friday attacked TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu calling him anti-Telangana while also slamming the Congress-TDP coalition for the December 7 state polls. The BJP leader alleged Naidu's 'influence' in any manner in Telangana is going to hurt the state's development. "In 2014 itself, the BJP understood the way he (Chandrababu) was functioning that he is working against Telangana...we have suffered because of that and immediately we have distanced unilaterally and came out of that partnership," Rao told reporters here. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had an alliance with the BJP during 2014 elections in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Attacking the Congress-TDP alliance, Rao said, "Definitely, it will have serious implications and negative consequences for Telangana and its people. The BJP wants Chandrababu Naidu-mukt Telangana...we have become free from his influence...and we want to retain it. We will ...
Caste major factor in Rajasthan polls
Both the BJP and the Congress kept the caste arithmetic in mind while announcing their candidates for the Rajasthan assembly polls, fielding same-caste nominees against each other in at least 31 constituencies. The two parties have fielded 33 candidates each belonging to the Jat community for the December 7 polls. The ruling BJP has fielded 26 Rajputs and the Congress 15 from the community. Altogether, over 60 candidates from the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste categories are in the fray. Besides giving prominence to Brahmin, Vaishya, Other Backward Classes and SC/STs, the opposition Congress has fielded 15 Muslim candidates against only one by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the 200-seat House. On the 31 seats where both the Congress and the BJP have fielded candidates belonging to the same caste, there is a direct contest between 15 candidates belonging to the Jat community. Brahmins are pitted against Brahmins on seven seats, Rajputs fight each other on four, and Gurjars and ...
Rahul Gandhi slams Modi govt for not doing enough for farmers and poor
Tearing into the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, Congress president Rahul Gandhi government accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of remaining silent over his government's failure to do anything substantial for farmers and the poor in the past four-and-half years.Speaking at the rally here, the Gandhi scion reiterated his point claiming that the Prime Minister did not respond to his question as to why the central government did not waive-off loans of poor farmers."In Madhya Pradesh, there is no scarcity of funds. The government could have easily provided relief to the farmers. I have personally questioned Modi ji on why he doesn't waive off farmers' loans when he waived off loans worth Rs 3,50,000 crore of corporate tycoons. He remained silent. Not only that, state chief minister's family members too ran away with a large sum of money. This country is not formed by a person or a political party, the country is formed by its people, its farmers and its small ...
Vijay Kumar Dev appointed as Delhi Chief Secretary
Vijay Kumar Dev, the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the national capital.The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the order appointing the 1987-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre."With the approval of the competent authority, it has been decided to appoint Shri Vijay Kumar Dev, IAS (AGMUT: 1987) as Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi with effect from the date of joining till further orders," read the MHA order, issued on Friday.Dev succeeds Anshu Prakash who was transferred last week to the Department of Telecommunications as the Additional Secretary.Prakash, in February, had alleged that some MLAs of Aam Aadmi Party assaulted him, resulting in a standoff between the bureaucrats and the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.