Page 245 - Politics
People brave heavy rain as they welcome Rahul to Wayanad
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad constituency in Kerala, arrived here on Friday afternoon as thousands gathered to welcome him, braving heavy rain.
Committed to defending people under attack by Modi: Rahul in Wayanad
In his first public appearance after the severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that his party is committed to defending the people under attack by the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."The current government and Mr Narendra Modi spread hatred in the country and the Congress party knows and understands that the only way to combat hatred is through love and affection," he said while addressing people in Nilambur on the first day of his three-day thanksgiving visit to his parliamentary constituency Wayanad,Gandhi, who had offered to resign from the Congress chief's post which was rejected by the Congress Working Committee, however, made no reference to the crisis in the party and gave no signs whether he would insist on his decision to quit."We're committed to defending space of opposition, defending weak people in this country, defending people who are under attack by Mr Modi's policies and Mr Modi himself. I look forward to .
Coordination meeting for proposed Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
A co-ordination meeting regarding the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathula was held here on Friday to discuss the preparedness of various state government departments and other agencies for smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage, officials said. Chairing the meeting, additional chief secretary S C Gupta directed the concerned departments and the agencies involved to work in coordination for the success of the yatra. He also enquired about the basic facilities and services in details like accommodations, uninterrupted power and water supply, transport, health and communications. The Sikkim Tourism and Civil Aviation Department Secretary T.T. Bhutia informed that this year 10 batches of 50 pilgrims each are scheduled for the yatra via Nathula. He said that from Gangtok the Kailash Manasaravor routes passes through scenic places like Tsangu Lake and through the vast landscape of Tibetan Plateau. The duration of the yatra would be 21 days including 3 days in New Delhi for ..
If Amit Shah said Art 370 would be scrapped, it'd become reality: Anurag Thakur
Union minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur Friday said Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, would be scrapped as his party president Amit Shah has promised so. Speaking to reporters here, Thakur said Friday, "If our party President (and now Union Home Minister Amit Shah) said that article 370 would be scrapped from Jammu and Kashmir, it would become a reality." Shah had promised during Lok Sabha election campaign that Article 370 would be scrapped if Narendra Modi is reelected as prime minister. Thakur, the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he has "failed on all fronts". Thakur termed the priorities of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur as his own for the state.
Free Ride Scheme: AAP to hold 1000 public meetings to get public feedback
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to hold 1000 public meetings all over Delhi to get public feedback on the scheme of free rides for women on the metro, DTC and cluster buses.The decision was taken in a meeting at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.The meeting was attended by all MLAs, councillors and office-bearers of the women's wing of the party. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, AAP Delhi Convenor and Minister Gopal Rai, Minister Imran Hussain among others.Addressing the media over the issue, Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said, "A meeting was convened on the issue of free rides to women scheme in metro, DTC and cluster buses today at the CM residence. It was decided in the meeting that the MLAs, councillors and women wing will hold meetings in their respective areas to get public feedback on the issue. A total of 1000 meetings would be held in the next 7 days. All MLAs, ...
Jagan's 5 deputy CMs move to reward communities' support
Creating a record of sorts, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will have five deputy chief ministers, said to be the highest-ever in any state in the country.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister writes to Jaishankar
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has sent a congratulatory letter to India's new External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and expressed his country's willingness to discuss all important issues between the two nations.
103 terrorist eliminated till now in Jammu and Kashmir this year
Stepping up pressure on terror groups, security forces have eliminated as many as 103 terrorists till now in Jammu and Kashmir this year, defence sources said on Friday.After the Pulwama attack in February this year, security forces have especially targeted the leadership of the terrorist groups in the valley. A total of 254 terrorists were eliminated last year.Around two weeks ago, Zakir Musa, an al-Qaeda terrorist was shot dead by the security forces. The hunt is now on for the Hizbul Commander Riyaz Naikoo.On the LOC too, the situation has been volatile with 1170 Ceasefire violations (CFVs) by Pakistan till June 6 this year. In, 2018, Pakistan violated ceasefire 1629 times.The army too has been giving a befitting reply to ceasefire violations by Pakistan.On April 24, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15 corps had said that 41 terrorists have been eliminated after the February 14 Pulwama attack.Noting that the security forces have targeted the Jaish leadership, the corps ...
Planning Commission was more effective, should be brought back: Mamata
Hours after declining the NITI Aayog's invitation to attend a meeting of its Governing Council to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the earlier Planning Commission was more effective and should be brought back."The same letter (informing about a meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog on June 15) was given to me earlier. Planning Commission was more effective than the NITI Aayog. It would have been more successful. Planning Commission should be brought back," Banerjee told reporters here."There is no opportunity to speak of a federal structure. There is no power, just show off. Planning Commission should be brought back," she said.Earlier in the day, Banerjee wrote a letter to the Prime Minister stating that NITI Aayog has no financial powers to support the state-run schemes and it is fruitless for her to attend the meeting.On June 15, the first meeting of the Niti Aayog's Governing Council will take place after Modi returned to
Indian Embassy in Saudi organises 'Gandhi cycle rally for peace'
A first of its kind 'Gandhi cycle rally for peace' was organised by the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Friday as part of the celebrations to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Over 150 participants from all walks of life, cultural and ethnic identities participated in the cycle rally organised in the Saudi capital Riyadh and remembered Mahatma Gandhi and relevance of his message of peace on the occasion, the Indian Embassy tweeted. The cyclists, which also included Saudi nationals, "participated with great enthusiasm in first of its kind event", it added. India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, flagged off the event and also participated in the rally, which was organised in association with the Diplomatic Quarter Authority and Saudi Cycling Federation. Addressing the participants, Sayeed stressed on the themes of mobility for healthy life style, peace, harmony, sustainable development and mutual respect which Mahatma Gandhi exemplified throughout his ..
Defection of MLAs: Cong holds protests in Telangana
A day after 12 party MLAs, constituting two-thirds of its strength in the Telangana assembly joined the TRS, Congress activists hit the streets in various parts of the state protesting against their defection. Demonstrations were held in Warangal, Karimnagar and other places with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao coming in for attack for 'encouraging' defections, reports received here said. A Congress release said a group of students of the Osmania University here took out a protest rally and performed symbolic "last rites" for the MLAs who switched over. Talking to reporters, TDP polit bureau member Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy said there should be a debate on the issue of such mergers across the country and also in Parliament. TRS MLC Satyavati Rathod, meanwhile, took exception to state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy's attack on the ruling party. "In Uttam Kumar Reddy's constituency, we got majority in parliament elections. Yesterday, we won five of the seven ...
Cabinet expansion in Maha soon, says CM Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday said there would be a cabinet expansion in the state but did give any time frame for the exercise. The monsoon session of the state legislature, scheduled to begin on June 17, will be the last in the state before it goes to polls later this year. "A cabinet expansion will happen," Fadnavis told reporters. Currently, there are 37 ministers including Fadnavis, and there is scope for five additional ministers. While the BJP has 16 cabinet ministers and seven in the rank of minister of state (MoS), the Shiv Sena has five ministers of cabinet rank and the lone MoS. Allies have a cabinet and minister of state each. He said Education Minister Vinod Tawde will hold additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs while Tourism Minister Jaykumar Raval will look after the Food and Civil Supplies ministry. Parliamentary Affairs and Food and Civil Supplies were portfolios held by Girish Bapat who became an MP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls .
"I have no personal animosity with Lt Governor": Narayanasamy
A day after accusing Lt Governor Kiran Bedi of "creating obstacles" to development works, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Friday he had no personal animosity towards Bedi and sought her cooperation. "My concern is to ensure speedy development of Puducherry and also undelayed implementation of schemes evolved by the government," Narayanasamy said. "The Lt Governor should extend her cooperation and act in tandem with the government," he told reporters after making a surprise visit to some government departments to ascertain whether the staff turned up punctually. Narayanasamy said there were instances of the government taking up its decisions with the Union Home Ministry to write off loans due from farmers, among others, after the Lt Governor took a "negative" stand. "How many times we should rush to Delhi and seek the nod of the Home Ministry. Even in posting peons in government departments we should go to Delhi after the file relating to the matter was returned .
Cab Sec Pradeep Kumar Sinha gets third extension, to remain on top post for 3 more months
Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha was on Friday given a three-month extension, according to an official order, making him the longest-serving bureaucrat in the post in the last seven decades. This is the third extension given to Sinha, whose tenure was increased by one-year each in 2017 and 2018. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved extension in service to Sinha for a further period of three months, beyond June 12, 2019, the Personnel Ministry order said. Sinha was appointed Cabinet Secretary, the top post in the country's bureaucracy, in May 2015, for a fixed two-year term which was extended twice earlier. With the latest extension, Sinha becomes the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary in the country's history. Before him, Y N Sukthankar was the Cabinet Secretary from May 14, 1953 to July 31, 1957. He later became Odisha Governor. N R Pillai was the first Cabinet Secretary and served from February 6, 1950 and to May 13, ...
Army man injured in landmine blast in J&K's Poonch district
An Army man was injured in a landmine blast along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Friday, officials said. The blast took place during routine patrolling of the area, when an explosive device blew up in Salotri Forward Area along the LoC, they said. The injured Army man was receiving treatment at a hospital, officials said.
Minorities were misguided against JDS in LS polls: Kumaraswamy
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday said the Muslim voters were influenced to vote against his party -- Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) -- by the BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections."The election is now over. The reason for the BJP winning 25 Lok Sabha seats in the election was that minorities were misguided. It was said that if you voted for the JDS, we will join the BJP," he said, while addressing a public meeting."They moblilised several people including retired government officials to spread these rumours. Due to this, maybe Muslim voters were influenced to vote against me," he added.While JDS retained only one seat, the BJP put up a stellar performance in the Lok Sabha polls held in Karnataka by winning 25 out of 28 seats that went to polls in the state. Numerically, this is one of the biggest victories for the BJP in a southern state.
Rahul mania grips Wayanad despite heavy rain
Braving heavy rains, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took out a roadshow in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency on Friday, thanking voters for electing him with a massive majority. Gandhi, who travelled in a special open vehicle along with state Congress leaders, criss-crossed through the narrow lanes of Kalikavu in the district and waved to the huge crowd. Thousands, including women and children, overcame the downpour to catch a glimpse of the leader who arrived in the high range constituency on a three-day tour for the ceremonial thanksgiving to the electorate. This is the first time that the AICC chief is visiting his constituency after he was voted to the Lok Sabha with a majority of about 4.31 lakh votes. Gandhi, who also contested from his pocket borough of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, had lost to Union Minister Smrithi Irani. A large number of people could be seen patiently waiting for hours for Gandhi on either side of the water-logged roads and on the terrace and balconies of nearby ...
JD(U) 'firmly' with the NDA; alliance intact: party general secy
The ruling JD(U) in Bihar Friday asserted that the NDA in the state was "intact", dismissing speculation of a rift within the alliance in the wake of the party's decision to "stay out" of the Narendra Modi government. The JD(U) is "firmly" in the alliance and speculation about instability are "baseless", the party's national general secretary Ram Chandra Prasad Singh told reporters in Bihar's Sheikhpura district. Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar had declined to be part of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre in protest against the "symbolic representation" of one ministerial berth offered to it, but refuted suggestions of any difference with its ally. Singh, who is the party's leader in the Rajya Sabha, said, "The NDA is intact. Speculation about any political instability are baseless. The JD(U) is firmly in the alliance." He was responding to queries about the conjecture, triggered by Kumar's stand and following developments like leaders of the opposition ...
Centre gives three month extension to cabinet secretary PK Sinha
The Centre on Monday extended the tenure of Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha by another three months.The 31st chief secretary of India, Sinha's tenure was coming to an end on June 12.This is Sinha's third extension till date after two extensions for a year each in 2017 and 2018.A 1977-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Sinha, was chosen by the Modi administration in 2015 for the post of Cabinet Secretary initially for two years.
Himachal CM invites Modi for global investors' summit
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and invited him for inaugurating the global investors' summit to held in the state in September.