Page 2437 - Politics
Congress is like 'Barat' without a groom: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh took a jibe at the Congress on Wednesday by equating the party with a procession of marriage without the groom."More precisely, the Congress party is like a 'Barat' without a groom," Singh said at a press conference in poll bound Madhya Pradesh, adding that the party is leaderless and lacks command structure.Comparing the Congress with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Singh asserted that contrary to his party that declares its prime ministerial candidate as well as chief ministerial candidates ahead of elections, the Congress lacks the courage to come up to the BJP's level.Rubbishing the idea of having any sort of alliance with other political parties, the Home Minister expressed confidence that the BJP will return to power in all the three poll bound states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan with clear majority.Claiming that local Congress leaders in the state of Madhya Pradesh are often seen projecting themselves as chief ministerial ...
EU unveils strategy paper for ramping up ties with India
The European Union Wednesday unveiled a 'strategy paper' outlining the broad roadmap for stepping up cooperation with India in a range of key sectors, including trade, investment, defence and security, innovation, and on dealing with various global challenges. Releasing the paper, European Union's Ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski said the two sides are also going to have military cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. He said India and the EU are significantly deepening their counter-cooperation to effectively deal with the challenge of terrorism in the region. "India is on the top of the agenda of the EU in the field of external relations," Kozlowski told reporters. On the stalled negotiations for the India-EU free trade agreement, he said both sides are actively engaged on the issue. The strategy paper provides a broad overview of the EU's plan to expand ties with India in several key sectors for the next two decades.
Maldives decides to rejoin Commonwealth
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has told his new cabinet that the Maldives will be a part of the Commonwealth of Nations again after it pulled out in 2016, the President's Office said on Wednesday.
India, Vietnam to step up defence cooperation, oil exploration
India and Vietnam have decided to step up defence cooperation and oil exploration to boost their bilateral ties as they reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation, over-flight and unimpeded economic activities in the South China Sea, amid China flexing its muscles in the Indo-Pacific region. The two countries, during the state visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Vietnam, shared the view that defence and security cooperation has become an important pillar of the comprehensive strategic partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. They welcomed the sustained mutual visits by each other's naval/coast guard vessels, particularly in 2018 and in the years to come. Kovind and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong agreed to effectively implement the Joint Vision Statement on VietnamIndia Defence Cooperation for the period of 2015-2020. They agreed to step up cooperation in human resources training, and promote collaboration between the Army, Air ...
BJP wins 5 mayoral seats, 34 chairman, president posts in Uttarakhand civic polls
The BJP has won five of the seven mayoral seats and 34 of the 84 chairman and president posts in the Uttarakhand civic polls, while Independents sprang a surprise by grabbing 23 posts. The Congress won 25 of the chairman and president posts in the state's civic bodies and the BSP won one post, according to information released by the state election commission here Wednesday morning. Results for one post is yet to be declared, it said. The civic body poll was a high-stake battle for the ruling BJP that was looking to match its own impressive showing in the Uttarakhand elections last year when it had won 57 out of 70 assembly seats. It was also significant for the Congress that has been struggling to stage a comeback after its defeat in the assembly polls. The BJP won five of the seven mayoral seats, including Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kashipur, Rudrapur and Haldwani, while the Congress won Haridwar and Kotdwar, the commission said. Voting was held for 84 urban local bodies, including seven .
Raje neglected Jodhpur as it is my hometown: Gehlot
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot Wednesday apologised to the people of Jodhpur for lack of development and said it was neglected by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje as he hails from the district. He appealed to the people to teach Raje a lesson. "She (Raje) did not do any development work in the entire Marwar region, especially in Jodhpur, because I belong to Jodhpur. I tender my apology for being the reason for this neglect," the former Rajasthan chief minister said. Speaking about the rebellion within the Congress over ticket distribution for the December 7 assembly polls, Gehlot said the party will be able to placate the rebels. "We call upon all the rebels to withdraw their nominations in favour of the party as well as the country," he said. He assured that deserving workers will be given place in the party and government after the election. New and young candidates have been given tickets by the Congress keeping in mind the party's future, he added. "These young ...
Won't 'abandon' Saudi over Khashoggi killing: Trump
US President Donald Trump has defended his decision not to hold Saudi rulers accountable in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying maintaining strategic ties with the kingdom and keeping the global oil prices down were in the best interests of America. The death of Khashoggi, a onetime insider turned critic of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and a resident of the US, has spurred a wave of international anger against Saudi Arabia and its rulers. The US last week imposed sanctions on 17 individuals of Saudi Arabia for serious human rights abuse resulting from their roles in the killing of Khashoggi at the kingdom's Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. "Because it's America first to me," Trump told reporters, adding that despite Khashoggi's murder, the US will remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia to ensure its interests as well as those of Israel and all other partners in the region. "It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism ..
BJP wins five of seven Mayor seats in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won five of the seven Mayor seats in the state. The Congress won two.
Interpol picks S.Korea's Kim as president over Russian rival
Interpol announced Wednesday that Kim Jong-yang of South Korea had been chosen as its new president, beating a Russian official whose candidacy had unnerved Western nations. The US-backed Kim, acting president of the global police body, was picked at a meeting of delegates from member nations in Dubai to replace Meng Hongwei, who went missing in his native China in September. Beijing later said Meng resigned after being charged with accepting bribes. There had been growing calls within Western nations for Interpol to reject Russian candidate Alexander Prokopchuk -- a Russian interior ministry official and current Interpol vice president -- over fears Moscow could abuse the role to target political opponents. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threw his weight behind Kim, who will serve out Meng's term until 2020. "We encourage all nations and organisations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with integrity. We believe Mr Kim will be
Union Minister travels to Pamba, gets into war of words with police
Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who was on his way to the Sabarimala Temple, Wednesday engaged in a brief war of words with the police here over restrictions on private vehicles heading to Pamba, the last entry point to the Lord Ayyappa shrine. Though IPS officer Yatish Chandra said the minister could travel in his official vehicle, Radhakrishnan preferred to proceed to Pamba from here in a state-run KSRTC bus as a mark of protest against the restrictions imposed by state authorities causing difficulties to pilgrims. Radhakrishnan, the Minister of State for Shipping and Finance, arrived at the base camp here, located about 20 km from Sabarimala, a day after the visit of opposition Congress-led UDF MLAs and BJP MPs to take stock of facilities offered to devotees. After reviewing facilities, the minister asked the Chandra, why only KSRTC vehicles were being allowed till Pamba and asked them to allow private vehicles also. "You (police) are unnecessarily harassing devotees. Why only ..
I am fighting a devil in Budhni: Arun Yadav
Locked in a pitched electoral battle against Madhya Pradesh's three-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Congress candidate Arun Yadav has said he is fighting a "devil" in Budhni and accused him of cheating people of his constituency and of the entire state by perpetrating "maximum atrocities". Yadav, the former state president of his party, said there was no second thought that the Congress is fighting a big battle in the state to regain power after sitting out for 15 long years, but he has full faith in winning against Chouhan. The ruling BJP leaders have dismissed the claims made by Congress leaders that there have not been enough development in Budhni, known as the chief minister's bastion. The saffron party have countered the Congress's allegations by saying that the state has seen maximum development during the last 15 years, as against what was done during the Congress rule before that. BJP leaders have said that Yadav has been made a 'sacrificial lamb'. Earlier, Chouhan .
US Senate wants fresh probe in Khashoggi murder
The US President has termed CIA's conclusion in the Jamal Khashoggi murder as "not definitive", prompting a Senate Committee to ask Donald Trump for a fresh probe to determine within four months whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had any role in the killing.
Rahul Gandhi "best PM material" : Veerappa Moily
As efforts to forge an anti- BJP front gather momentum, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said Wednesday his party's president Rahul Gandhi is the "best material" to become the prime minister. Moily said TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu was "doing well" to unite opposition parties. The former Karnataka chief minister, on the campaign trail in Telangana, also said the Congress was gaining ground at the national level, while the BJP-led NDA was losing partners. "I don't want to say that.... the question is that ultimately he (Rahul Gandhi) is the best material for the prime minister," he told PTI when asked whether the proposed anti-BJP coalition will project Gandhi as its leader. Quoting Naidu as having said that the Congress is the "mentor" in the larger context of unity among opposition parties, Moily noted, "That's how things are shaping up". The former union minister said there will be a consolidation of opposition parties against the .
Konda Vishweshwar Reddy to join Congress
A day after Lok Sabha member Konda Vishweshwar Reddy quit the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) citing 'disppointment' at various levels, AICC in-charge of Telangana, R C Khuntia Wednesday said he would join the Congress. Reddy met Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi today and expressed his desire to join the party, Khuntia told PTI. Reddy would formally join the party on November 23 at a Congress campaign rally at Medchal in the presence of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he said. The TRS Lok Sabha member from Karimnagar, B Vinod Kumar said, "It's unfortunate that Vishveshwar took that decision (to quit TRS). "I don't think so," Kumar, the deputy floor leader of TRS in Lok Sabha, told PTI when asked if Reddy's decision would have an impact on TRS prospects in the December seven Assembly elections in Telangana. In a setback to the TRS ahead of the Assembly polls, Reddy had quit the party Tuesday. In a letter to the TRS president and caretaker ..
Lankan economy on brink of 'anarchy' due to Prez Sirsena sacking PM: ousted Finance Min
Sri Lanka's current political crisis due to President Maithripala Sirsena's "irresponsible" action of sacking prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has left the country on the brink of an "economic anarchy" never experienced before, the ousted finance minister said. On October 26, Sirisena, in a controversial action, sacked Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, plunging the island nation into political chaos. Wickremesinghe has demanded a floor test to prove his majority. Sirisena's party did not cooperate with parliamentary Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to hold the floor test. Ousted finance minister Mangala Samaraweera said: "As a result of these actions, Sri Lanka is on the brink of an economic anarchy and chaos as never experienced before". "The cavalier and irresponsible actions of the president starting on October 26th based on personal animosities and precipitating a series of illegal acts, places at risk Sri Lanka's ability to meet its immediate debt
Interpol to choose president from Russia, US backed candidates
Interpol is to vote for its new president Wednesday, with the US backing a South Korean candidate who Moscow says is part of a last-minute effort to scuttle a Russian frontrunner's chances. Delegates from Interpol member nations are meeting in Dubai to replace Meng Hongwei, who went missing in his native China in September. Beijing later said Meng resigned after being charged with accepting bribes. The vote takes place Wednesday morning with the winner expected to be announced shortly after. The two leading candidates pit a US-backed South Korean against a Russian official who remains the favourite but has unnerved Western nations and some of Moscow's neighbours. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threw his weight behind Kim Jong-yang, currently the acting president of the global police body. "We encourage all nations and organisations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with integrity. We believe Mr Kim will be just that," Pompeo ..
Trump defends daughter, says Ivanka's personal emails had no classified info
US President Donald Trump has defended his daughter Ivanka Trump who is being criticised for using her private email for official purposes in a possible violation of federal record-keeping laws, saying the mails did not contain classified information and have not been deleted. President Trump, in the run-up to the US Presidential election in 2016, had slammed former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for using a private email server during her term as the top US diplomat. The Washington Post on Tuesday reported that Trump's daughter Ivanka, in her capacity as the presidential advisor, sent hundreds of emails about government business from a personal email account last year to White House aides, Cabinet members and her assistant. This was in violation of public records rules, the daily alleged. Trump said that these emails were not classified like those of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. "Just so you understand, early on and for a little period of time, Ivanka did some ...
Odisha House passes resolution seeking 33 pc reservation for women in state assemblies, Parliament
The Odisha Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative assemblies and Parliament. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was passed by a voice vote after a debate in the House on Tuesday night. The members of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supported the resolution. While moving the resolution, Patnaik had termed the proposal as "historic". The resolution was passed ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, which begins on December 11. The Women's Reservation Bill is pending in the parliament. Currently, the 147-member state assembly has 12 women MLAs. Government chief whip Amar Prasad Satpathy said Odisha is ahead of the rest of the states as far as women empowerment is concerned. The BJD's women lawmakers, including Pramila Mallick and Raseswari Panigrahi, lauded Partnaik's initiative. Participating in the debate, BJP legislature party leader K V ...
BJP, Cong bet on turncoats in Rajasthan
The ruling BJP and the Congress in Rajasthan have fielded 11 turncoats for the December 7 Assembly polls, hoping that the "parachute" candidates will shine for them in the elections. Voices of dissent are being heard from both parties and sidelined party leaders are quick to cross over to get a chance to contest. The ruling BJP alone has fielded seven defectors, including six from the Congress and one from the BSP. BJP nominees Mahesh Pratap Singh from Nathdawara, Ram Kishor Saini from Bandikui, Mamta Sharma from Pipalda, Kalpna Singh from Ladpura, Rajendra Bhamu from Jhunjhunu and Ashok Sharma from Rajkhera are the leaders who crossed over to the saffron brigade from the Congress. Another defector from the BSP, Abhinesh Mehrishi, replaced sitting BJP minister Rajkumar Rinwa from Ratangarh seat. Not to be left behind, the Congress has given tickets to at least four turncoats to test electoral waters. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who had in August stated that he will make sure that
Divided Taiwan to vote in key test for ruling party
When Taiwan goes to the polls Saturday in local elections, it will not only be a test for President Tsai Ing-wen's embattled government but a crucial vote on divisive issues that could rile China. The ballot includes an unprecedented 10 referendums, one of which calls for Taiwan to change the name it uses at sports events, a proposal that has already angered Beijing. Also on the ballot are pro- and anti-gay rights referendums, reflecting tension between conservative and liberal groups as the government drags its heels to implement a Constitutional Court decision that legalised gay marriage over a year ago. The island-wide vote on November 24 covers seats from village level upwards, with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) currently controlling 13 of the 22 cities and counties that will elect new chiefs, including four of the six key mayoral battlegrounds. But opinion polls tip the party to lose ground as resentment grows over a stagnant economy and reforms that have included