Page 2461 - Politics
Today's situation worse than Emergency: Arun Shourie
Former Union minister Arun Shourie Sunday said ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a "great sense of remorse" for imposing Emergency, but the situation today is "graver" than it was in 1975-77. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's juggernaut can be stopped in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if the entire Opposition unites and follows the principle of one candidate against the BJP in every seat. The journalist-turned-politician was addressing a session on 'Danger within the Judicial System' at Tata Literature Festival here. "In 1975 (Emergency) there was much better defined opponent. Today there is widespread opponent. I can tell you this, the difference between Gandhi and Narendra Modi is that Gandhi had a great sense of remorse about what she had done," he said. "Today, there is no remorse. In Gandhi's case I feel, in spite of the fact that she put 1,75,000 people in jail, there was a sense of limit...isse aage nahi jana hai (not beyond this point). But today there is no sense of limit," .
Topless Femen activists disrupt rally of Franco fans in Madrid
Bare-breasted protestors from the feminist activist group Femen on Sunday disrupted a rally of some 200 people in Madrid to mark the anniversary of the death of the country's former dictator Francisco Franco. Police said nearly 200 Franco supporters had gathered in the Plaza de Oriente where he addressed the throngs during his 1939-75 military dictatorship. Many bore flags, umbrellas and ties with the colours of the Franco-era Falangist party. Three women interrupted the rally, their torsos daubed with the words "legal fascism" and "national shame", before being arrested by police. Some in the crowd reacted angrily, trying to assault the women. The pro-Franco event came as the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez draws up plans to exhume the dictator's body from the Valley of the Fallen basilica just outside Madrid. The family of the late dictator, who died on November 20, 1975, wants his remains placed in the family crypt at Madrid's La Almudena Cathedral. Sanchez wants to move the .
Rahul Gandhi condemns Amritsar attack
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday condemned the attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar and condoled the deaths of those who were killed in the explosion. Three persons were killed and 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar earlier on Sunday. "I am very pained by the news about the attack in Amritsar. It cannot be condemned enough. I convey my deep condolences to the families of the deceased," he said in Facebook post in Hindi. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also condemned the attack and asked people to stay calm. "Strongly condemn the blast in Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar. Deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. Urge and appeal, the people to stay calm and maintain peace. Forces of terror shall never succeed in their nefarious designs," he said on Twitter.
Despite losses, Trump insists his party won 'historic' victory
Even with late US election results strongly favouring opposition Democrats, US President Donald Trump has again declared "a tremendous victory" and said it would have been even greater had his name been on the ballot. "We had a tremendous set of victories," Trump told "Fox News Sunday" journalist Chris Wallace in an interview recorded Friday. Democrats have picked up at least 36 seats in the House of Representatives -- possibly as many as 40 -- giving them an overall majority, with notable strength in some of the Midwestern states that were key to Trump's 2016 election. When Republicans lost 30 seats in 2006, Republican President George Bush declared it a "thumping." Asked about that on Fox, Trump replied, "I won the Senate and that's historic too" for a president's party in a midterm election. "It's almost never happened." Republicans have secured at least 52 seats in the 100-member Senate. An unexpectedly tight race in normally Republican Mississippi is headed to a run-off. Trump ...
Karnataka farmers protest government apathy over support price for sugarcane
Hundreds of farmers, including the womenfolk, on Sunday staged a protests here against the state government's alleged indifference over ensuring minimum support price for sugarcane and in getting their arrears released from the mill owners.
Macron, Merkel seek common approaches to Trump, euro
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel consulted Sunday on migration, fixing the euro currency, Europe's defense, taxing digital companies and other issues as the two leaders looked to preserve their influence abroad while their authority flags at home. Macron, who came to Berlin to take part in Germany's national remembrance day for the victims of war and dictatorship, urged European government to seize more responsibility for their own fate, especially regarding defense. Macron said that the French-German alliance "is invested with this obligation not to allow the world to slide into chaos, and to accompany it on the road of peace." He said that Europe can't play its role "if it doesn't take more responsibility for its defense and security and is content to play a secondary role on the international scene." The two biggest countries in Europe can be a powerful force, but their leaders at the moment are hampered by falling domestic support. Macron has ...
Saudi king hosts Iraq's new president
Saudi King Salman welcomed Iraq's new President Barham Saleh Sunday on his first official visit to the kingdom, amid a warming of ties between the Arab neighbours after years of strain. The king hosted a lunch and "discussed regional developments" with Saleh, the official Saudi Press Agency said, after the Iraqi leader's arrival in Riyadh following a visit to Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran. Saleh, a 58-year-old moderate Kurd elected to the largely ceremonial role last month, was on an overnight visit at the invitation of the Saudi monarch, an Iraqi official said. Separately, Iraq's Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim, who is part of Saleh's delegation, held talks in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, officials said. Ties between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iraq have been looking up in recent months, after years of tense relations. After former dictator Saddam Hussein's August 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Riyadh severed relations with Baghdad and closed ..
Media need to ask questions to those in power: Mukherjee
With the people in power reaching audience directly, the media needs to ask them questions, former president Pranab Mukherjee said Sunday, asserting it is fundamental for the preservation of the nation and a truly democratic society. He was delivering the keynote address on the "Role of Media in Indian Democracy" after unveiling the masthead of "The Morning Standard", a daily launched by New Indian Express Group. There is a need to be sensitive to the trait of communal narratives, Mukherjee said. He also described fake news as "the greatest menace we face today", saying all it took was a morphed picture, a bogus tweet or a photoshopped statement to create social, political and communal hatred. It is important for journalists to be aware of their power to influence the minds of citizens and they should maintain high ethical and professional standards for this purpose, he added. Stressing on the need for the media to be sensitive towards minorities, Mukherjee said the bedrock of Indian .
Will present separate budget for Agriculture if BJP comes to
Senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatraya Sunday said the party would present a separate budget for Agriculture, if it comes to power in Telangana after the coming assembly elections. Referring to the proposals in the yet-to-be released election manifesto of the BJP, the Secunderabad MP said the party would give priority to irrigation and inter-linking of rivers in the state. Freebicycles will be provided to school students and scooters to college students, he told reporters here. The former union minister also promised jobs to one person in the family of Telangana martyrs, and to set up Drivers' Welfare Board, driving schools in each district besides free breakfast to NREGS workers. "Subsidy on subsidised sheep units would be enhanced to Rs 50,000 from the existing Rs 20,000 given per unit," he said. Telangana is going to polls on December 7. OnN Chandrababu Naidu government's move to withdraw the "general consent" accorded to the CBI to conduct probe in that state, ...
Trump says he is doing a great job as US President
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he is doing a great job and gave himself 'A plus' for successfully running the country. "I think I am doing a great job. We have the best economy we have ever had," Trump told Fox News in an interview aired on Sunday. "I would give myself, I would - look, I hate to do it, but I will do it, I would give myself an A+, is that enough? Can I go higher than that?" he said. Responding to a question in a wide-ranging interview the US President said, "We are doing really well. We would have been at war with North Korea if, let's say, that administration continued forward". On North Korea, he also said that before leaving the office, his predecessor Barack Obama had advised him that the North Korea was one of the top challenges for the country. Trump said Obama had offered him some important guidance in the White House shortly after his 2016 election. "I think North Korea's been very tough because you know we were very close. When I took that over -- ...
Oppn calls CM, Uddhav 'Thugs of Maharashtra'; CM says don't
The Congress on Sunday termed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray as "Thugs of Maharashtra", while Fadnavis advised the opposition not to behave like "Gangs of Wasseypur". The ruling party and opposition indulged in sparring on the eve of state legislature's winter session. "Fadnavis and Thackeray are behaving like Thugs of Maharashtra," Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said at a joint press conference of Congress and NCP. Like the recently released film "Thugs of Hindostan", which has not fared well at box office, the BJP and Sena will flop in coming elections, the Congress leader said. "Whether it is farm loan waiver or reservations, this government is involved in thuggery in everything. People will defeat these thugs," said Vikhe-Patil. The opposition also boycotted customary pre-session tea party organised by the government. "The state is facing a drought worse than that of 1972. We demand that Rs
Pondy CM dubs Fin Secy's circular on expenditure management as
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Sunday issued a 'standing order' to all secretaries and heads of all departments not to abide by a circular issued by the Finance department of the territorial government on expenditure management. Dubbing the "restriction" of delegation of powers to contingent and miscellaneous expendituresas "mischievous and grossly illegal," Narayanasamy in his standing order said it was issued 'without approval of the Chief Minister who is in-charge of the Finance portfolio.' The official had stated in the circular that the 'delegation or re-delegation of powers to subordinate authorities' done according to the government order issued in December 2014 is dealing with contingent expenditure and miscellaneous expenditure only,' he said. The circular "nefariously omits other delegation of powers mentioned in the government order of December 2014 which covers re-delegation of powers of Lieutenant Governor to secretaries to government, heads of ...
Rajasthan polls: BJP releases fourth list of 24 candidates
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released the fourth list of 24 candidates for the upcoming Rajasthan polls.The names were announced by Union Minister and party leader JP Nadda following a meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee.The candidates for Deedwana, Kekri, Khinvsar, Karauli, Behror and Kotputli seats are yet to be named.Earlier on Saturday, the BJP released the third list of 8 candidates.Ramkishor Saini, who joined BJP on Friday was given ticket from Bandikui seat while the party fielded Asha Meena from Sawai Madhopur, who replaced Diya Kumari, an MLA and member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur.The 200-Rajasthan Assembly will go to polls on December 7 and the counting of votes will be held on December 11.
Shiv Sena coins new slogan ahead of Uddhav Thackery's Ayodhya visit
Days before Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya, Shiv Sena has come up with a new slogan endorsing 'construction of temple before the formation of government'.The new Shiv Sena slogan coined in the Hindi language reads, 'Har Hindu Ki Yahi Pukar, Pehle Mandir Fir Sarkaar' which roughly translates to 'Every Hindu has same demand, construction of Temple before the formation of Government'.Upset with the delay in the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on October 18 announced that he would visit the city in Uttar Pradesh on November 25.Sharing details of his visit, Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut a few days back said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray is going to Ayodhya to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed.Raut also informed that all preparations have been made for Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya on November 25. "All preparations have been done
US spent almost $ 6 trillion on wars since 9/11
In the wake of September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, the United States has spent over US $ 5.9 trillion on wars abroad that have resulted in the deaths of an estimated 500,000 people.Sputnik, while referring to 'Costs of War,' a research published this month, by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in the Rhode Island, reported that approximately 370,000 people have died directly from violence related to US wars, while many more have died from malnutrition and devastated infrastructure.An estimated 250,000 civilians have died in American-led wars and over 10.1 million people have been displaced. In addition, 6,900 US military personnel, 7,800 US military contractors and over 110,000 enemy fighters have been killed in US-led wars since 9/11, Sputnik reported.However, the figures mentioned above do not count more than a half million deaths reported to have taken place in the Syrian war, especially after the US ...
Goa RTI Forum supports member's fast unto death demanding CM's resignation
The Goa RTI Forum on Sunday extended its support to its member Rajan Ghate, who is on a fast till death demanding the resignation of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Rajasthan polls: BJP MLA quits after being denied ticket
Miffed over being denied a ticket by the BJP for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections, Ramgarh MLA Gyan Deo Ahuja quit the party Sunday and announced he will contest the polls as an independent candidate. Since last Sunday, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of candidates for the December 7 polls, several party MLAs, including a state minister, have resigned. The party has so far declared 170 out of total 200 candidates in three lists. "My name was dropped by the party without taking me into confidence. I was not even told about the reason why my name was dropped. After pressure from my supporters and family members, I resigned from the party. I will now contest the elections from Sanganer seat," Ahuja said. "I had demanded a ticket from Sanganer after the other candidate was given the ticket from Ramgarh but the party did not fulfil my demand. Therefore, I decided to contest as an independent candidate," he said. Ahuja said he had sent his resignation .
Turkey warns companies against energy exploration with Greek Cypriot govt
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey warned energy companies on Sunday against working with the Greek Cypriot government in carrying out exploratory drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, saying such activities could damage regional stability.
Formulating rules, regulations for White House reporters: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that his administration is formulating "rules and regulations" for the White House reporters. In an interview to Fox News, Trump called CNN reporter Jim Acosta "unbelievably rude" to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee. Acosta, the Chief White House Correspondent of CNN, was recently denied entry into the White House complex after his press pass was suspended following an altercation he had with the president during a news conference. A federal US court later ordered the White House to immediately reinstate the press credentials of Acosta. Trump in the interview aired on Sunday admitted that he occasionally likes calling on the CNN reporter. "Actually I like to do it, but in many cases I don't," Trump said. "I think one of the things we'll do is maybe turn the camera off that faces them because then they don't have any air time, although I'll probably be sued for that and maybe, you know, win or lose it, who knows," Trump said. Calling ..
Have been briefed on Khashoggi tapes but advised not to listen it : Trump
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he has been fully briefed on an audio recording related to the brutal killing of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but was advised against listening to those "suffering" tapes. Khashoggi, 59, who wrote for The Washington Post, was killed last month inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul where he had gone to collect papers related to his marriage. Turkish investigators say they have audio recording of his killings, which it has shared with key partners including the US. In an interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News, which was aired on Sunday, Trump for the first time acknowledged that he has been briefed on the audio recording of the Khashoggi's murder. Trump said he hasn't listened to it, as he was advised not to hear the "suffering tape", according to the news channel. A day earlier, Trump spoke with the CIA chief on the agency's assessment of the killing of Khashoggi. He expects a full report on it by Tuesday. In the interview,