Page 2451 - Politics
Indian must keep faith in its liberal values: Dr Manmohan Singh
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that India must keep faith in its liberal values enshrined in its Constitution. "For India which is a successful and vibrant democracy, there is an even greater responsibility to keep faith in liberal values enshrined in its Constitution and more importantly, ingrained in the sensibilities of its people," Dr Singh said."We must not fall prey to the argument that India's development requires a restriction of the freedoms of its people and a concept of nationhood which demands a contrived unity rather than embrace the reality of India's diversity," he added. He was speaking after receiving the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2017 from former Chief Justice of India Justice Tirath Singh Thakur at Jawahar Bhawan here.He said that the defining characteristic of the present age is globalization propelled by advances in information and communication technologies, which has led to the emergence of a set of ...
Exasperated executives back May's Brexit, decry political psychodrama
LONDON (Reuters) - Embattled prime minister Theresa May's Brexit sales pitch won plaudits from the British business community on Monday, but executives said the political drama surrounding her survival was proving a damaging distraction.
Gujarat to study Maha OBC panel report on Marathas: Rupani
Amid the ongoing stir in Gujarat for granting reservation to the Patidars under the OBC category, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Monday said his government would study the report on Maratha reservation submitted by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission. Rupani's comments came hours after Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel demanded a survey of his community's status by the Gujarat OBC Commission. Asked about his stand on Patidar reservation, Rupani said his government has also sought details of the approval given by the Maharashtra Cabinet to the recommendations of the OBC commission of the neighbouring state. "Maharashtra government, its Cabinet, has granted their approval (to the report). Further details are yet to come out. "We have sought all those details (from the Maharashtra government)," he told reporters in Bhuj town of Kutch district when asked about his government's stand on granting reservation to the Patidars. "We have also sought the report on Maratha .
Cong questions Gujarat govt's choice of mobile service provider for officials
The Congress Monday questioned the Gujarat government's choice of private telecom company for services for official numbers, saying it paid Rs 2.4 crore more to a private player when the same services were available at a cheaper rate from state-run BSNL. Speaking to reporters here, Congress national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil sought to know if the government would recover this "additional" sum from the private mobile company. Referring to the private telecom's selection for providing mobile services for official numbers, he claimed that though BSNL was offering cheaper tariffs, the BJP government chose a private operator and paid it "700 per cent more towards bill payment". He said the General Administration Department (GAD) has paid Rs 20 lakh more per month between October 2017 to October 2018 (total Rs 2.4 crore in a year) towards mobile bills of around 2,000 numbers allotted to senior government functionaries and state ministers. "The government's own company BSNL, a central ...
Shah targets opposition, says it is gripped by 'Modi phobia'
BJP chief Amit Shah Monday trained his guns at the saffron party's political rivals, saying they were suffering from "Narendra Modi phobia", and sought votes for the ruling party to throw "infiltrators" out of the country. Addressing a series of rallies ahead of the November 28 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, where campaigning has picked up momentum, Shah said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was raising a hue and cry over the issue of identification of "infiltrators" in Assam, but ignoring the rights of martyrs. Speaking at Narsinghpur, he asked the Congress to give an account of what did the four generations of the Nehru-Gandhi family do when they ruled the country. "The opposition is suffering from Narendra Modi phobia. They just want to get rid of Modi from the prime minister's post, while we want to get rid of poverty, insecurity and air pollution among others," Shah said. He lauded the Centre for the Army's surgical strikes on terror launchpads across the Line of Control (LoC) .
Amarinder blames Pakistan; Punjab, Centre wake up to 'terror' call after Amritsar grenade attack (Roundup)
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said the Amritsar grenade attack on a prayer meeting of the Nirankari sect seemingly carried "Pakistan's signature", with initial investigations indicating that the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani Army Ordinance factory.
Opposition to meet before winter session of Parliament, chalk out next move: Naidu
The much talked about meeting of parties opposed to the BJP to strategise against the saffron party in the next Lok Sabha elections has been postponed and may now be held after the current Assembly elections and before the start of the winter session of Parliament, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee said after a meeting between them here.
India must lead in reviving internationalism, handle its diversity: Manmohan Singh
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said Monday that India must lead in reviving internationalism and stay ahead in the globalised world by handling its diversity and having an innate cosmopolitan temperament. In an apparent criticism of the present government, he said India's success is its pluralist democracy, which celebrates diversity rather than equate unity with monochromatic dispensations, and the more narrowly the country seeks to define its identity the less capacity it will have in dealing with a globalising world. Singh was speaking after receiving the prestigious Indira Gandhi prize for peace, disarmament and development for the year 2017, which was presented to him by former Chief Justice of India Justice (retd) T S Thakur, in presence of former president Pranab Mukherjee and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Former vice president M Hamid Ansari and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, besides a host of former chief ministers, Union ministers and dignitaries were present among ..
Bedi asks Narayansamy to withdraw 'standing order'
Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi Monday asked Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to withdraw his 'standing order' cancelling a circular of the Finance Secretary on expenditure management, saying it was not in conformity with the Union Territories Act. A day after the order was issued, Bedi in a press statement here said the circular of the Finance Secretary was well within the four corners of the statutory rules and cannot, therefore, be overridden by a standing order of the Chief Minister. The circular issued in August had restricted delegation of the financial powers to subordinate authorities to contingent and miscellaneous expenditures only. Apparrently irked by the order, Narayanasamy had Sunday issued the standing order, describing the restriction as "mischievous and grossly illegal and saying it was issued 'without approval of the Chief Minister who is in-charge of the Finance portfolio.' He had termedthe circular as 'null and void'. Bedi, who has been at ...
Shah cites 'viral' video to target Congress
Citing a "viral" video, BJP president Amit Shah claimed Monday a Congress candidate in the Rajasthan Assembly polls "stopped" a party worker from chanting "Bharat mata ki jai" and instead asked him to raise slogans for former party president Sonia Gandhi. He attacked the Congress at public meetings in Madhya Pradesh, claiming the incident showed that the party had no other concern except for promoting one family. Shah claimed a viral video showed that a Congress candidate in the Rajasthan Assembly polls "stopped" a party worker from chanting "Bharat mata ki jai" and instead asked him to raise slogans for Sonia Gandhi. "The Congress should be ashamed. What is your priority? What is in your heart? You have no right to eat grains of this earth if a slogan hailing mother India does not inspire you to do something for the country. This shows the ugly mindset of the Congress," Shah said. He alleged this showed the Congress had a become a "private limited company" of the Nehru-Gandhi family .
Centre stopped funding in 8 schemes in Odisha: state minister
The BJP led NDA government at the Centre has stopped funding at least eight schemes in Odisha since 2015-16 and changed funding pattern of several other centrally sponsored schemes (CSS). This was claimed by state Finance Minister S B Behera while replying to a question in the assembly on Monday. The schemes for which funds have been totally stopped included the National e-Governance Action Plan, the Backward Region Grant Fund, Modernisation of Police Force, and the Scheme for Setting up of 6000 Model Schools at Block Level, Behera said. The state government has to bear more burden as the Centre changed the funding pattern of many CSS into 60:40 ratio, the finance minister said. As per the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission, the funding pattern for State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) should be 90:10. However, the Centre continued to keep the ratio at 75:25 till implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST), he said. The recommendations of the 14th Finance .
Russian firm emerges as lowest bidder for Army's short-range air defence missile systems: sources
Russian defence major Rosoboronexport is understood to have emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army's tender for procurement of a batch of short-range air defence missile systems, official sources said Monday. The other contenders for the deal were Swedish firm SAAB and French military firm MBDA. The sources said all laid down procedures were followed in the bidding process and an official announcement on the lowest bidder is expected in the next few days. Rosoboronexport has emerged as L1 (lowest bidder), said a senior military official. The Indian Army plans to procure hundreds of short range air defence missiles as part of its efforts to enhance its overall strike capability. If Rososboronexport is awarded the contract, it will be one of the mega contracts to be won by Russia after the S-400 air defence deal. In October, India and Russia finalised the S-400 air defence missile system deal for the Air Force. Air Force chief B S Dhanoa had last month said procurement of S-400
BJP to win 350 LS seats, says Khattar at KMP inauguration event
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar claimed Monday that the BJP would again form government at the Centre by winning 350 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He said the party will sweep all 10 parliamentary seats in Haryana under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The BJP would win 350 Lok Sabha seats... and all the 10 Lok Sabha seats from Haryana," Khattar said. Addressing a public meeting at Sultanpur village in this district, Khattar said Modi's 11th visit to Haryana after the NDA came to power at the Centre in 2014 reflects his "deep association" with the people of the state. Last month, the prime minister had unveiled a 64-foot-tall statue of peasant leader Sir Chhotu Ram at his native village Sampla in Haryana's Rohtak district. On Monday, Modi inaugurated the 83-km Kundli-Manesar stretch of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway, also known as western peripheral expressway. He also inaugurated the Escorts Mujesar-Raja Nahar Singh (Ballabhgarh) section .
SAfrica graft probe at risk of subversion: minister
A respected South African minister and anti-graft campaigner on Monday warned an official probe into widespread state corruption risks being subverted by those who illicitly enriched themselves. Pravin Gordhan, the minister of state-owned companies, issued the warning as he gave evidence to a judge-led inquiry into alleged corruption that tainted former president Jacob Zuma's time in office. The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, which previously backed Gordhan, protested outside the Johannesburg-based inquiry accusing him of being "corrupt", an "enabler" of corruption and Zuma's "biggest defender". "Those who have engaged... in malfeasances, (will) engage in the politics of distraction," said Gordhan. Gordhan was finance minister before he was abruptly fired by Zuma in March 2017. He estimated that around 100 billion rand (USD 7 billion) may have been stolen through corrupt government tenders. He said he was "an unwitting member of an executive... which was lied ..
Naidu making futile attempts to unite opposition: BJP
The BJP said Monday that TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu is making futile attempts to build an alliance of opposition parties as many of them are resisting his efforts to grab a central role for himself and to project Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the leader of such a grouping. BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimhra Rao also took a dig at Naidu after he 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. The meeting will eventually be shelved given the competing interests of the proposed partners and Congress's negative image, he said in a statement. "Whatever may be Naidu's political compulsions for his desperate actions, there is no credible alternative leader or party to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the BJP in national politics today. Naidu is making futile attempts at alliance building," the Rajya Sabha member said. The postponement of the opposition ...
Telangana set for hectic campaign
With the close of nominations for the December 7 Telangana assembly elections Monday, the stage is set for hectic electioneering in coming days. The TRS and BJP are going it alone in the December 7 elections to the 119-member assembly while the main opposition Congress heading a "grand alliance" is contesting in 94 seats. As per seat the sharing, TDP had been alloted 14 seats, Telangana Jana Samiti 8 and CPI 3 by the Congress. However, it is understood that candidates of the alliance partners have filed nominations in the segments alloted to the allies. A final picture of the contest would be clear only after the withdrawal of nominations on November 22. TJS president M Kodandaram Monday expressed confidence that the confusion with regard to seat adjustments would be resolved soon. On the campaign front, TRS president and Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao launched his fresh round of campaigning by addressing two rallies Monday. Rao, who had launched the party's .
Rajasthan BJP leader quits party to contest on Shiv Sena ticket
A BJP leader in Rajasthan has resigned his membership to join the Shiv Sena, an ally of the saffron party at the Centre and in Maharashtra, and contest the December 7 assembly election on its ticket. He filed his nomination on Monday. Shri Krishan Gupta, a prominent face in Alwar district, was in the race to get a BJP ticket to contest from Alwar (Urban) constituency. The BJP, which last week released its list of candidates for the region, has fielded Sanjay Sharma from the seat instead of sitting MLA Banwari Lal. In a departure from tradition, the BJP fielded a non-Vaishya from Alwar city, which has a sizeable voting-age population from the community. "The Vaishya community has been neglected at the time of ticket distribution. However, two Brahmins have been given tickets despite the community having fewer voters than Vaishyas in the district. Ticket has been given without considering surveys conducted by the party and other agencies," Gupta claimed to PTI and confirmed he has quit .
Ambedkar wants Centre to extend Maha quota limit to 70%
Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh president Prakash Ambedkar Monday demandedthat the Centre pass a bill allowing the Maharashtra government to extend the current reservation limit to 70 per cent to accommodate the Maratha community. Ambedkar's demand came a day after the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-headed state government announced a new category called 'Socially and Educationally Backward Class' (SEBC) to grant quota to Marathas. The government is yet to announce the quantum of quota for the politically strong community, which comprises more than 30 per cent of the state's population. Ambedkar said the Maharashtra government didn't have the right to provide reservation beyond 50 per centlimit set by the Supreme Court without the Centre's nod. "The state government will not only have to consult the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) but also hasto justify the Gaikward commission report of terming Marathas as asocially backward class because the earlier report of ...
Indira is remembered for her fierce commitment to India: Sonia Gandhi
Former Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday said that Indira Gandhi was still remembered for her "indomitable courage" and "fierce commitment" to India."Indira Gandhi is still remembered for indomitable courage and her fierce commitment to India. Our country is founded on unity, not uniformity, rooted in inclusion, not exclusion, and sustained by harmony, not hate," said Sonia, daughter-in-law of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while speaking at the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development which was awarded this year to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Remembering her untimely death, Sonia proclaimed that Indira laid down her life in defense of national integration and secularism and said that she gave new hope to the aspirations of the weaker sections of the society. Sonia, also the chairperson of Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, credited Indira for her role in the space programme, Green Revolution .
Farmers stage protest in Bengaluru, seek full loan waiver
Hundreds of farmers from across the state Monday staged a protest here on a host of issues andset a fortnight long deadline for the government to fulfil their demands, including complete loan waiver. Farmers' have given the government a memorandum containing about 40 demands, and have expressed hope that the Chief Minister and his cabinet would look in to it and take an appropriate decision. Their charter of demands include full loan waiver, minimum support price for crops and relief measures for drought hit areas. Farmers also expressed anguish over Chief Minister Kumaraswamy's reported comments against a woman farmer from Belagavi on Sunday, and sought an apology. Agitating farmers who had threatened to lay a siege to Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, were stopped by the police at the Freedom Park. Despite farmers' demand that Kumaraswamy should meet and hear them, the government sent co-operation minister BandeppaKashempur to talk to agitating ryots. "Government .