Page 2462 - Politics
Joint planning among Army, Navy, IAF key to win any war in shortest possible time: Dhanoa
Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa has strongly pitched for institutionalised structure for joint planning among the Indian Air Force, Navy and Army so that the country wins any war in future in the "shortest possible" time. The IAF chief said all the three services will have to adopt a coherent approach to effectively deal with all possible security threats facing the country, asserting that his force strongly stands for "jointness". "No single service can win the war solely on its own inherent organic capabilities given the variety of threats which nations are capable of inflicting upon each other," he said. "Thus, it is imperative that the three services promote joint planning and exploit the strengths of sister services to help win a war in the shortest possible time. India by itself is one theatre," he told PTI in an interview. There have been deliberations within the government and the three forces on whether India should go for integrated theatre commands where all the manpower and .
Pakistan doesn't do 'a damn thing' for US: Trump
President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan, saying the country does not do "a damn thing" for the US and its government had helped Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hide near its garrison city. Referring to Laden and his former compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Trump in an interview to Fox News said, "You know, living think of this living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion, I don't know, I've seen nicer." The compound was demolished shortly after US Naval Special Warfare Development Group forces, in a daring helicopter raid, killed Laden there in 2011. "But living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there," he added. "And 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,
TMC workers attacked my convoy, BJP leaders injured: Dilip Ghosh
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed on Sunday his convoy was attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters in Dankuni area in Hooghly district, a charge rubbished by the ruling party. Ghosh alleged his convoy was targeted after he and other state BJP leaders were returning from a rally at Moshat in the district. TMC Hooghly district president Tapan Dasgupta denied any role of party supporters in the incident. "The BJP is enacting a drama once again," Dasgupta said. Some BJP leaders, including Birbhum MP Joy Banerjee, were injured in the attack, Ghosh said. "Today (Sunday), there was a massive rally in the area. Local TMC leaders got afraid due to the huge turnout and attacked our convoy. Several of our workers have been injured," he claimed. The BJP Hooghly district leadership said it will lodge a police complaint against the incident. In recent months, there have been several attacks on Ghosh's convoy in different parts of the state. Hooghly SP Sukesh Jain could not be reached .
Uneasy calm at Sabarimala, BJP observes protests, block vehicles
An uneasy calm prevailed at Sabarimala Sunday, the second day of the two month-long pilgrimage season, even as Kerala witnessed protests against the arrest of state BJP general secretary K Surendran while he was on his way to the hill-top temple. All eyes will be on the Supreme Court again with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the shrine, deciding to file a petition in the court Monday seeking more time to implement the apex court's September 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine. The court twice declined to stay the verdict this week. So far, no women in the 10-50 age group have sought police protection for the 6-km trek to Lord Ayyappa temple to offer prayers though over 500-odd young women have made online bookings for darshan. As a political slugfest continues, BJP workers blocked traffic on the national highways for over an hour across the state protesting against the arrest and remand of Surendran. In Vatakara, a KSRTC bus was ...
MP Polls: Congress accuses PM Modi of violating MCC
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee on Sunday wrote to the Election Commission alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) while campaigning for the forthcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara.The letter stated that the prime minister while addressing a rally in Chhindwara lied when he said, "that state Congress president Kamal Nath was seen in a video making a statement that the party will give tickets to goons, all it needs is a candidate who can win."The party has termed the remark made by the prime minister as a lie and asked the polling body to take action for spreading the lie.Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi targeted the Congress party, saying that they have mastered the skill of lying and bluffing.Prime Minister Modi referred to a video surfaced on the social media in which he said a Congress leader of Madhya Pradesh is caught saying that for winning the polls, "they are ready to take support from goons and those who ..
Prez Kovind interacts with local leaders in Da Nang
President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday evening interacted with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee led by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang.President Kovind, on an invitation from Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, along with First Lady of India Savita Kovind, arrived at the Da Nang International Airport on Sunday afternoon.They were received by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang, Huynh C Tho, Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang city and Dao Viet Trung, Chairman of the President's Office.The Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi took to its official Twitter handle, saying, "Received a warm welcome on my arrival in Da Nang, Vietnam. This is my first visit to Southeast Asia as President of India. India and Vietnam share close and cordial relations. I look forward to strengthening our bilateral ties"The President will be in Vietnam from November 18 to November 21. Here, India will be looking forward to high-level ...
Raman Singh mocks Rahul, says he lost 26 elections since 2013
While addressing a rally in poll-bound Chhattisgarh on Sunday, Chief Minister Raman Singh came down heavily on the Congress president Rahul Gandhi saying that he had lost 26 elections out of 28 conducted since 2013 in the country.While addressing a rally in Kargikalan at Kota Tehsil in Bilaspur district of the State, Singh said, "Since 2013, 28 elections have taken place in the country, out of which he (Rahul Gandhi) has lost 26 of them."He added, "The Congress party tries to copy the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but they forget that even for copying one would needs brains."Attacking the Congress party, he said, "My friends from Congress are lying and spreading rumors, they want to remove me from the Chief Minister's post, their whole and the sole target is to come to power. They kept on ranting Gareebi Hatao (Eradicate Poverty), but what they did made the poor even poorer."He further said that the Congress tries to portray itself as the well-wishers of the farmers but on the ...
HP CM accuses previous Cong govt of making false promises
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday accused the previous Congress government of making false promises to people of the state. He alleged that the previous dispensation in the state laid foundation stones of several projects without a single penny of budgetary provisions. "For the present government, it is an uphill task to fulfill those promises as it requires huge budgetary provisions," the chief minister said. Thakur alleged that the Congress government did not care about the development of the state instead it remained busy fighting corruption charges faced by its head. He also exuded confidence that his party will emerge victorious in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The chief minister said his government has made all-round development of the state as its top priority and has received over Rs 9,000 crore from the Centre for different projects.
Goa RTI activist wants Parrikar to quit, starts hunger strike
Goa-based RTI activist Rajan Ghate has launched an indefinite hunger strike to press for resignation of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar with his agitation getting support from the Congress and other parties. Ghate began his fast Friday at historic Azad Maidan here. Several political leaders visited Ghate at the fast site Sunday to express their support to him. "I am on hunger strike for the sake of people of Goa who have been facing no-governance for the last nine months due to health condition of Parrikar," Ghate told reporters. He said Parrikar should step down owing to his health condition to facilitate smooth functioning of administration in the BJP-ruled state. Ghate said his hunger strike will continue till the demand is met. The activist received support from various political parties and NGOs. Leaders of the Congress, the Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), the Shiv Sena along with NGOs like Savera Sunday met Ghate. Talking to reporters after meeting Ghate, Congress .
Rahul Gandhi condemns Amritsar blast, expresses condolence
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday expressed condolences to the families of the people killed in the grenade attack at the Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar's Rajasansi village.Taking to his Facebook page, the Congress president said that "I am very hurt by the news of the attack in Amritsar. The incident is condemnable. I express my sympathy to the families of the deceased."At least three people were killed and 20 were left injured in the bombing that took place in the afternoon today. IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar confirmed that two individuals had lobbed a hand grenade in the religious congregation, where around 250 people were present.The state's Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the kin of the deceased and free treatment for those injured.
May warns rebels removing her as leader won't make Brexit easier
Defiant British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday warned her Conservative Party rebel MPs that overthrowing her as leader would only make negotiation process with the European Union tough over the future of Britain's relationship with the bloc after Brexit. Britain is facing a political crisis after this week's announcement about the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the 28-member European Union. Two Cabinet ministers and several junior government members have quit the May Cabinet and some of her party MPs have submitted letters of no-confidence. May could face a no-confidence vote if at least 15 per cent of her party lawmakers - meaning 48 MPs - submit letters saying she has lost their support. According to reports, the party's influential 1922 Committee is edging closer to the 48-MP mark that is needed to trigger a leadership contest. But May vowed to fight on for what she believes is the best deal possible. "Politics is a tough business and I've been in it for a long time," she ..
PPP accuses Pak govt of not disclosing law over ISI's functioning
Opposition Pakistan People's Party accused the defence ministry of refusing to tell the Senate that under which law the country's powerful intelligence agency Inter-Seevices Intelligence (ISI) was functioning. PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar speaking at "Pakistan: The Way Forward" in the 4th International Faiz Festival at Alhamra Arts Council here on Saturday said politics of resistance was being diminished because of "aliens (a reference to military establishment) and weakness of politicians". "When the Senate asked under which law the ISI was functioning it was told that 'it is secret and sensitive' and couldn't be shared with it (Senate)," Babar said. He said the time had gone when there would have been a 'direct attack' on democracy in the form of martial law. Left wing politician and former head of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Afrasiab Khattak has said the country was in crisis under he leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
EC's inquiry into 'deletion' of names from voters list 'farcical': AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sunday alleged that the Election Commission's inquiry into the alleged deletion of names from the voters' list was "farcical". AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha reiterated the party's charge that more than 10 lakh names have been deleted "illegally" from electoral rolls. He said the party is exploring possible remedies, including legal option. No immediate reaction was available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi. The AAP had earlier alleged that names of voters were deleted by lower-level officers in collusion with the BJP. An AAP delegation led by party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had recently met with Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat in this regard. The EC had ordered a door-to-door survey in Harikesh Nagar and Lal Kuan of Tughlaqabad Assembly segment. Eleven teams carried out the exercise from November 16 to 18, Chadha said. "The Election Commission's investigation was a joke, a farcical exercise as ..
SAD, AAP attack Cong govt over Amritsar attack
The SAD and the AAP Sunday attacked the Congress-led Punjab government over the grenade attack in Amritsar and alleged that there was a "complete breakdown" of the law and order in the state. Three persons were killed and 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade attack at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar earlier on Sunday. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the law and order situation in Punjab had "deteriorated" immediately after the Congress came to power. He alleged that the Congress government was "encouraging" elements whose sole aim was to disturb Punjab's hard-won peace. Unfortunately the present Congress government thinks politics weigh over peace, Sukhbir Singh Badal said in a statement here. "It is this thought which took Punjab into a dark era earlier. The present government needs to eschew this policy permanently for lasting peace in the state," he said. The SAD chief ..
Sushil Modi 'camp follower', should say something on Srijan scam: Kushwaha
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwaha made a sharp attack on Sunday apparently against BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi by calling him a "pichhlaggu" (camp follower) of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Without naming Modi, Kushwaha in a series of tweets said some people are "publicity hungry, opportunist and pro-power by nature". He describe Modi as a "loudspeaker" and "blood-sucking mosquito" which spreads diseases around it. Kushwaha's remarks could deepen the differences within the National Democratic Alliance, which is struggling to find a seat-sharing arrangement for the 2019 general election. The RLSP chief has said the number of seats offered to his party was "not respectable" and the matter should be resolved by November 30. On Saturday, shortly after Kushwaha set the deadline, Modi in a tweet responded to him, saying the NDA will "not be browbeaten" and seats will be allotted based on "ground realities". The JD(U) and the BJP last month announced they will contest ..
Roads, power, water no issues in MP election: Jaitley
Roads, power and water are no longer poll issues in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh this time unlike in 2003, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here Sunday. He was addressing a 'Prabuddhjan Sammelan' (intellectuals' meet) organised by the BJP, which was attended by doctors, lawyers, businessmen and other professionals. "Sadak, bijli, pani (roads, power, water) are no more issues in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled on November 28," Jaitley said. "The Assembly elections of 2003 (when the Congress was in power) were fought on three issues, roads, power and water. The condition of roads was very poor then and I was advised by partymen to travel from one district to another by helicopter or train and not by road," he said. The Union minister said that in fifteen years, the BJP government in the state had improved the quality of roads and strengthened road connectivity, power and water supply. In agriculture sector, Madhya Pradesh had replaced Punjab and become the "foodgrain bowl" of .
Netanyahu welcomes US vote against UN Golan resolution
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday welcomed a US decision to vote for the first time against an annual UN resolution condemning Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights. "I would like to thank President (Donald) Trump and Ambassador (Nikki) Haley on this important and just vote that is completely in keeping with my policy," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting. "Israel will always remain on the Golan Heights, and the Golan Heights will always remain in our hands." The United States voted against the United Nations resolution on Friday, dropping its practise of abstaining. The non-binding text was adopted in a General Assembly committee by a vote of 151 to 2, with the US and Israel the only two countries opposing the measure. Fourteen countries abstained. Haley called the resolution "useless" and "plainly biased against Israel", citing concerns about Iran's military role in Syria to oppose the measure. The vote continues US practise under Trump of adopting firmly ..
Congress is ATM of false promises, lacks 'neta' or 'neeti': Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Sunday termed the Congress an "ATM" of false promises, which had no leader or ideology. Addressing a rally at Waidhan in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh ahead of the November 28 state Assembly polls, he also took a swipe at the opposition party for failing to announce the name of its chief ministerial candidate. "The Congress is an ATM from which false promises and announcements come out, but no solution to any problem emerges," Shah said. "(Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi, Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh are talking about the party forming government in Madhya Pradesh, but they have failed to decide on its leader," he added. "They have forgotten the Congress's rule, when they turned the state into a Bimaru (backward) one, devoid of any infrastructure," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief said. During the Congress rule, the budget of Madhya Pradesh was Rs 21,600 crore, while chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan transformed the state into a developed one and .
Congress says Kesri belonged to OBC, targets Modi
The Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday after he claimed that its former president Sitaram Kesri came from "a Dalit and exploited community", saying Kesri belonged to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and was not a Dalit. "Kesri was a Bania OBC from Bihar and not a Dalit. However, when has the PM allowed facts or truth to stand in the way?" Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari tweeted, tagging a news report on Modi's speech in Chhattisgarh. He said Kesri was treated with "due respect" by one and all. "As someone who was involved with his legal matters between 1996-1998, I can say it on authority," he said. Modi, in an election speech in Chhattisgarh, claimed Sunday the Congress had thrown out its then president Kesri to install UPA chairperspm Sonia Gandhi in his place. "The country knows how he was locked in a bathroom and then, thrown out of office and on the footpath to facilitate the entry of Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," the prime minister ...
Congress, its 'naamdar' hurling abuses at me: Modi
Peeved at Congress president Rahul Gandhi's repeated "chowkidar chor hai" jibe at him on the the Rafale issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the "naamdaar" (dynast) and his party were hurling all kinds of abuses at him. Modi targeted Gandhi without naming him and said he did not like that the government has plugged the leaks in various welfare schemes and weeded out bogus beneficiaries. "We put a check on Rs 90,000-crore annual rip-off in fake names in welfare schemes after implementation of Aadhaar-based identification. The 'naamdaar' did not like this," he said at a rally in Chinndwara, the home turf of state Congress chief Kamal Nath. "He (Gandhi) is in pain. He is in trouble. What all is he saying? He is hurling all type of abuses from all dictionaries, (be it) Hindi, English... at me," the prime minister said. The opposition party has attacked others as well, he said. "The Congress people are hurling abuses at chaiwalas, pakodawalas, chowkidars, surgical strike, Army ..