Page 2446 - Politics
BJP day-dreaming if it feels other parties scared of Modi's popularity: TRS
Looking to regain power in Telangana, the ruling TRS leader K T Rama Rao said on Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity is "on the decline" and the BJP leaders are "living in a fool's paradise" if they feel other parties are scared of the 'Modi factor'. He also took on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying it was ironical for him to talk about dynasty in accusing that all benefits from creation of Telangana as a separate state were cornered by "one family" (of the chief minister). "But for his surname, I don't know what else makes him the leader of the Congress party", said Rama Rao, son of caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. In poll-bound Telangana, BJP president Amit Shah and other senior leaders of the party have repeatedly charged the TRS government of opting to go in for early elections fearing Modi's popularity. The BJP leaders have argued that if Telangana elections were to be held as scheduled along with that for Lok Sabha next year, it would have given a ...
KCR behaves like'naya nawab': Khushbu
Describing Telangana Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as "Naya Nawab" (new king), Congress spokesperson Khushbu Sundar Tuesday alleged that he 'failed' to deliver what he promised during previous assembly elections. The star campaigner for Congress in Telangana, also claimed that atrocities against women in the state have gone up during the current regime. "The promises made by Rao have gone to the dustbin. The only woman who benefited from his rule was his daughter Kavitha and the only beneficiaries of his administration were his family members. KCR is like naya nawab, who came to power the first time.. He is not behaving like a CM ( Chief Minister).. He is a Commission Man," she alleged. The actor-turned-politician also lashed out at Rao for 'failing' to make a dalit Chief Minister of the state as promised. Listing the poll promises of the Congress, Khushbu said the party assures interest free loan of up to Rs 10 lakh to Self-Help Groups. She also said her
BJP will form govt in MP on back of Chouhan's appeal, organisational strength: Sahasrabuddhe
The BJP Tuesday dismissed the Congress' bid to woo Hindu voters in Madhya Pradesh as a "gimmickry" that will not "hoodwink" people, asserting that it will come back to power on the back of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's appeal and its organisational strength. BJP vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, who is its in-charge for the poll-bound state, said the party will come close to its "ambitious" target of winning 200 seats in the 230-member assembly. The party had won 165 seats, its highest ever, in 2013 and many opinion polls now have suggested that the opposition Congress is putting up a strong fight. Sahasrabuddhe, however, told reporters that development works of the state government besides Chouhan's connect with the masses and the party's strong organisational machinery will propel it to fourth straight term at the helm. Asked about the Congress' bid to woo Hindu voters by promising to build cow sheds and also building the path which lord Ram is believed to have taken ...
Brexit poses risk to German economy, warns Scholz
BERLIN (Reuters) - Finance Minister Olaf Scholz warned on Tuesday that the German economy faces several risks, including the effect of Britain's divorce from the European Union, so caution was warranted for the coming years.
China slams Dalai Lama for 'separatist activities'
China on Tuesday hit out at the Dalai Lama who is on a visit to Japan, saying that countries should not facilitate the Tibetan spiritual leader's "separatist activities". On the Dalai Lama's reported comments that China and Tibet should co-exist and prosper together, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said here that the Tibet issue is an internal matter of Beijing. "As for the Dalai Lama's speech, it is not up to me to answer this question. I can tell you that the 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile and he is engaged in separatist activities," he said. "We hope the relevant parties will not provide facilitation for his separatist activities," he said. China insists Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, but many Tibetans claim they were essentially independent for most of that time. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland. The Dalai Lama is on a 10-day teaching tour of Japan. China ...
Sushma says not contesting 2019 polls on health grounds
Citing health reasons, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was once touted as a prime ministerial candidate in the BJP, on Tuesday said she has decided not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Congress moves EC over 'BJP's malpractices' in Chhattisgarh polls
The Congress on Tuesday approached the Election Commission alleging that Chhattisgarh's ruling BJP was involved in malpractices like the unauthorised possession of EVMs by a state official and distribution of cash by a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.
Sangh parivar exploiting Sabarimala issue for political gains:Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday lashed out at the BJP and right-wing outfits, accusing them of exploiting the Sabarimala issue for their "political gains" and trying to 'capture' and take control of the Lord Ayyappa shrine. In hard-hitting remarks amid the continuing protests over the issue of entry of women in menstrual age into the shrine, he alleged the Sangh Parivar's agenda was to create trouble by sending "kar sevaks" to take control of the temple and make the pilgrims the "scapegoats". Addressing a press conference here, he also defended the arrest of 69 people from the temple complex on Sunday night and slammed the Congress for opposing implementation of the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the hill-top shrine. He alleged the RSS and Congress "have become one" on the Sabarimala issue. His comments came on a day when BJP President Amit Shah slammed the LDF government's handling of the situation in Sabarimala as ...
Congress cheated farmers in loan waiver schemes: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed the Congress governments for repeatedly "cheating farmers" by making "fake promises" on their loan waiver schemes and transferring the money to their cronies who were not eligible for the benefit.
India, Vietnam reiterate importance of peaceful Indo-Pacific
India and Vietnam reiterated the importance of building a peaceful Indo-Pacific region during a meeting between President Ram Nath Kovind and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong here on Tuesday.
Owaisi hurls bribe charge, Cong candidate rejects allegation
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that the Congress candidate in Nirmal constituency in poll-bound Telangana attempted to bribe him by offering Rs 25 lakh to cancel his rally in support of the TRS in the town, a charge denied by the latter. Addressing a public meeting organised by his party in Nirmal on Monday night, Owaisi alleged that A Maheshwar Reddy called a MIM leader on phone and offered to pay Rs 25 lakh as bribe to stop him from holding the meeting. He also claimed to have recorded the conversation. Rejecting the charge, Reddy termed it as baseless and false and said he would quit politics if Owaisi proved it. MIM, which is on friendly terms with the TRS, has not fielded its candidate in Nirmal Assembly seat, and organised the meeting in support of the ruling party candidate though there was no formal electoral tie-up between the two parties for the December 7 Assembly elections. The MIM is contesting eight seats -- all in Hyderabad -- while the TRS is going it ...
Retd Prof in pursuit of alternative political vision in T'gana
The Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) chief M Kodandaram, has a point to prove in the state elections that mobilising people for an agenda is key to gain in polls, and not financial resources. The retired Osmania University Political Science Professor, who led the Telangana Joint Action Committee (T-JAC) formed in 2009 with the goal of achieving a separate Telangana State, founded TJS earlier this year. An umbrella organisation of different pro-Telangana political and non-political groups, T-JAC had spearheaded the statehood movement. Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. TJS is part of the Congress-led "Prajakutami" (People's alliance) that also comprises the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) seeking to dislodge the TRS government. The TJS has been allotted eight constituencies as part of the seat-sharing deal for the December seven elections to the 119-member Telangana Assembly. Kodandaram agreed with the view in some quarters that
Think before scrapping FTA, China tells Maldives
China on Tuesday said it hoped the Maldives will think before scraping the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with it after an influential leader of the island nation said his country will pull out of it as the deal was blindly pro-Beijing.
Amethi, a monument to Rahul's failure: UP minister
Terming Amethi a monument to Rahul Gandhi's failure, Uttar Pradesh Minister Shrikant Sharma Tuesday asked how could the Congress president promise growth of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan when he has failed in developing his own constituency in 15 years. "Rahul is answerable for the darkness in his constituency. The person who could not develop Amethi in 15 years, what can he promise for Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and MP?" the UP energy minister asked. "Amethi is a monument to the Congress' failure. Rahul should answer why 5,000 villages are still without electricity there. Over 1.15 lakh houses are without power. He has been Amethi's MP for the past 15 years and his party was in power at the Centre for 10 years. What you have done there is known to all," he told PTI. "Before challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate, Rahul should tell us as to why he could not remove darkness of his own area," he said in an interview. Sharma said there is development in all the ..
Pak summons US diplomat, lodges protest over Trump's remarks
Pakistan summoned a senior US diplomat here Tuesday and lodged a strong protest over President Donald Trump's "baseless allegations" on Osama bin Laden, saying it was a "closed chapter of history" and could seriously undermine bilateral ties. Trump on Sunday, and in follow up tweets, defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to late Al Qaeda chief bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad. "We give Pakistan USD 1.3 billion a year. ... (Laden] lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them USD 1.3 billion a year -- which we don't give them anymore, by the way, I ended it because they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us," the President told Fox News. "The Foreign Secretary (Tehmina Janjua) called in the United States charge d'affaires Paul Jones to register a strong protest on the unwarranted ..
Is fear of CBI delaying formation of 'maha gathbandhan', asks Shivpal Yadav
The Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), a newly floated political outfit, Tuesday suggested that opposition parties were delaying the formation of a "maha gathbandhan" due to the fear of the CBI. "Why are they delaying the formation of the maha gathbandhan. Who do they fear? Are they afraid of the CBI," the party's founder, Shivpal Yadav, posed at a press conference here. His remarks came a day after Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu announced in Kolkata, following a meeting with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, that a planned conclave of opposition parties for November 22 has been postponed. Responding to a question, he ruled out the possibility of tying up with the BJP, either in the Lok Sabha or assembly elections. "I had earlier said that they (non-BJP parties) should call me, talk to me. We want 50 per cent of the seats. To remove the BJP from power, we are with them (anti-BJP forces) and will remain with them, but we want 50 per cent seats. Include us," he
India attaches highest priority to expanding cooperation: Foreign secy to Bhutanese leaders
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale was on a three-day visit to Bhutan from Sunday, during which he told the Bhutanese leaders that India attaches the highest priority to further expand its cooperation with Thimphu. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides discussed a plethora of bilateral, regional and other issues of mutual interests during Gokhale's visit. Besides holding talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Sonam Tshong, the foreign secretary called on Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering and Foreign Minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji, it said. Tshering became prime minister last month after his party came out victorious in the general elections in Bhutan. Gokhale's trip was the first high-level visit to Bhutan from India after the elections in the Himalayan nation. Gokhale also had an audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. "In his interactions, the foreign secretary conveyed that India attaches the highest priority
Let bygones be bygones; All's well in party and family: Lakshman Singh
Congress leader Lakshman Singh, who has often ruffled the feathers of senior party leaders in Madhya Pradesh with what he calls his "witty" remarks, has said he respects them and is now a "dedicated soldier" of his party to ensure its victory in the assembly polls. The five-time MP and two-time MLA from the state said all issues have also been resolved with his elder brother and former chief minister Digvijay Singh and they are "one" now. The 63-year-old leader, who is pitted against BJP's sitting MLA Mamta Meena in the assembly election for this seat, also said he apologises to Kamal Nath, about whom he had said that making the former union minister the party's state unit chief was like "playing HMV record in the age of bluetooth technology". He supported the party's decision not to project a chief ministerial candidate for the November 28 elections for 230 assembly seats of the state and said what matters the most was that people want to end the BJP's 15-year rule. The Congress ...
Sushma Swaraj to not contest in 2019 LS polls
External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) senior leader Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday announced that she will not contest next year's Lok Sabha elections.Speaking at a BJP press conference on Tuesday, Swaraj said that while it is the party that decides on such things, she, on her part, has made up her mind not to contest the 2019 general elections.Swaraj, who has been a Member of Parliament for several years, has, in the past, also held the position of Delhi's Chief Minister from October 13 to December 3, 1998. In fact, she was Delhi's first woman chief minister.She has also been Informational and Broadcasting Minister in the Centre, spokesperson of the BJP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. During the last two Lok Sabha polls in 2009 and 2014, Swaraj had contested and won from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.
China hopes new Maldives govt will not pull out of FTA
China has said it has a "firm and clear cut will" to maintain good ties with the Maldives as it played down reports of a pro-India tilt by the new Maldivian government and hoped that Male would make the "right choice" and not pull out of a free trade deal with Beijing. Warily watching the political transition in the Maldives following the electoral defeat of the pro-Beijing President Abdullah Yameen by a pro-India Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, China is set to redraw its strategy for the strategic archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean located in India's backyard. The new Maldivian government fired its first salvo on Monday when former president Mohamed Nasheed, who headed the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said that the new Solih-led government would pull out of the "lopsided" free trade agreement (FTA) with China signed by Yameen. Reacting to Nasheed's remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Monday that the FTA is based on friendly and equal consultations ..