Page 2471 - Politics
CPI(M) accuses RSS-BJP of running political project in Kerala in the name of Sabarimala devotees
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday accused the RSS and BJP of running a "political project" in the name of Sabarimala devotees and "unleashing" violence to serve their interests. Amid a stand-off over the entry of menstrual age women into the shrine, thousands of pilgrims offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Saturday, the first day of Malayalam month of 'Vrischikom', even as a 12-hour hartal called by right-wing Hindu outfits hit Kerala. Yechury alleged that the actions of RSS-BJP were "anti-Hindu devotees" as they were preventing them from praying in the temple. There was no immediate reaction from Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh(RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) on allegations by the CPI(M) which heads the ruling Left Democratic Front alliance in Kerala. "What is happening in Kerala today is a political project of the RSS-BJP in the name of Sabarimala devotees. They are misusing Sabrimala devotees for their political agenda," Yechury alleged ..
Finland summons Russian ambassador over GPS blocking claims
Finland has summoned Russia's ambassador to answer allegations that Moscow was behind the jamming of GPS signals in Lapland during recent NATO exercises, the foreign ministry in Helsinki confirmed Saturday. Ambassador Pavel Kuznetsov "has been invited to the ministry on Monday to discuss the GPS issue," spokeswoman Hanna Paivarinta told AFP. Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila has said the jamming of GPS satellite signals in the Arctic region had put civil aviation at risk. The jamming coincided with Trident Juncture 18, NATO's biggest military exercises since the end of the Cold War, held several hundred kilometres (miles) from Norway's border with Russia from October 25 to November 7. Prior to the manoeuvres, Russia had vowed to "retaliate", calling the exercises "anti-Russian". On Thursday, Finland said it stood behind Norway's assessment that Russian ground forces in the Kola peninsula, close to the border with Norway and Finland, were responsible for jamming the signals. "The ...
Anti-IS coalition raids kill 43 in east Syria: Monitor
Air strikes by the US-led coalition Saturday killed 43 people, mostly civilians, in a holdout of the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, a Britain-based monitor said. Seventeen children were among 36 IS family members killed in Abu Husn village of Deir Ezzor province near the Iraqi border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Another seven victims had not yet been identified as either civilians or IS fighters, it said. The US-led coalition has been backing a Kurdish-Arab alliance called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting to expel the jihadists from the pocket around Abu Husn. "It's the highest death toll in coalition air strikes since the SDF launched its attack against the IS pocket" in September, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The coalition has repeatedly said it does its utmost to prevent civilian casualties. "The avoidance of civilian casualties is our highest priority when conducting strikes against legitimate military targets with precision ...
Ready to fight terrorism on Pakistan soil: Iran
The Iranian Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that the country's security forces are ready for anti-terror operations on Pakistani territory.
TJS announces 4 candidates for December 7 assembly elections
: The Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), a partner in the "grand alliance" (comprising Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS), Saturday announced four candidates for the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana. The four nominees include Kapilavai Dileep Kumar (Malkajgari in Hyderabad), Janardhan Reddy (Medak), Chindam Raj Kumar (Dubbak) and Bhavani Reddy (Siddipet). The party is expected to contest eight seats as part of the alliance. The total number of assembly segments is 119. TJS said in a media release that other details would be announced Sunday. November 19 is the last date for filing nominations. TJS is headed by M Kodandaram, who was the Chairman of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC). The JAC was in the forefront of the separate Telangana agitation. It comprised several political parties, including TRS and various people's organisations. However, differences cropped up between Kodandaram and the TRS after the latter assumed power in separate Telangana in 2014.
Congress an ATM that dispenses false promises: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah launched a broadside against the Congress Saturday, terming the party an "ATM" that dispensed "false promises", instead of development, when problems were inserted in it. Addressing a rally here ahead of the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh polls, Shah accused the Congress of not doing anything for the state (part of Madhya Pradesh earlier) during its 55-year rule. He also lavished praise on the incumbent Raman Singh government for turning Chhattisgarh into a developed state from a "bimaru" (ailing or backward) one. "The Congress is known for making false promises. I say this several times, the Congress is such an ATM that if you insert a problem in it, you do not get development in response, but false promises," Shah told the gathering. The BJP chief ridiculed the leaders of the Congress, including its president Rahul Gandhi, for "daydreaming" that the opposition party would form government in the state. He alleged that the people of Chhattisgarh did
RLSP defers decision on continuing in NDA, gives ultimatum
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha did not reveal his cards on Saturday over the party's continuance in the National Democratic Alliance, serving an ultimatum to the BJP to conclude seat-sharing talks by November 30. Briefing the media after its much-publicised state executive meeting that was expected to be marked by a major announcement, Kushwaha said the offer made to the RLSP was not respectable and, hence, unanimously rejected at the meeting. "I have met BJP national general secretary incharge Bhupendra Yadav twice in the recent past and made it clear to him that the offer was not respectable and, hence, not acceptable. I also sought an appointment with BJP president Amit Shah twice, but the same did not materialise. Though, I was told over phone that the talks on seat-sharing were not final," Kushwaha told reporters. The Union minister, however, declined to divulge the number of seats that were offered to his party, saying it would not be proper to disclose
Modi attends swearing-in ceremony of new Maldives President
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the swearing-in ceremony of new Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih here.
Congress names Ponnala Lakshmaiah in 3rd list for Telangana polls
The Congress on Saturday released its 3rd list of 13 candidates for the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls, fielding party veteran and former Andhra Pradesh Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah.
BJP is seeking political gains from Sabarimala: Kadakampally
Travancore Devaswom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS for announcing indefinite strike by the right-wing activists from Sunday to protest against the arrest of Hindu leader K P Sasikala. "BJP is seeking political gains from Sabarimala," he said.While addressing a press conference here, Surendran said, "BJP and RSS are becoming an organization for troubling the people. The people of Kerala can clearly see that who is trying to defeat Sabarimala and politicize it. The BJP has been atrocious to the people by announcing a strike all of a sudden from Sunday."He further said, "They are all part of a conspiracy to turn Sabarimala into a war zone by gathering the people to create law and order problem. What is the point of camping there?"Many people are stranded without drinking water as the members of the BJP and its affiliates have blocked the vehicles of Ayyappa devotees and others.Speaking about the arrest of ...
Rajasthan polls: Congress releases second list of 32 candidates
The Congress party has released its second list of 32 candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly elections.According to the second list, Congress has fielded former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from Jhalrapatan Assembly seat. Raje is a three-time MLA from Jhalrapatan constituency.Singh was in BJP before joining the Congress party in September. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "I'm honoured that Rahul Gandhi Ji and Congress Central Election Committee thought it useful for me to contest. I'm touched by responsibility shown towards me. I accept the responsibility and will run a fair campaign."The Congress released its first list of 152 candidates for the Rajasthan assembly elections on Friday. The list includes the names of Sachin Pilot, the leader of Opposition in the state, and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot.After detailed deliberations at the party's Central Election Committee, it was decided that .
Congress expels Spardha Chaudhary for six years
The Congress on Saturday expelled Spardha Chaudhary from the party for six years, for indulging in anti-party activities.The decision came after Chaudhary's supporters, earlier in the day, protested outside party president Rahul Gandhi's residence in Delhi as she was denied a ticket to contest for the forthcoming assembly elections from Rajasthan's Phulera.She has accused Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot of sidelining her and accepting money in the ticket distribution.The party has fielded Vidyadhar Choudhary from the Phulera assembly constituency.The Congress party today released the second list of 32 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections.Till now the party has announced names of 184 candidates for 200 assembly constituencies in Rajasthan. The last date for filing of nominations is November 19.
Haryana government stopped me from visiting dispensary: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana of preventing him from visiting a dispensary in Assandh assembly constituency of the state.
UP Dy CM, other ministers participate in bike rally
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and other ministers participated in a motorcycle rally organised by the BJP to propagate the work done by both central and state governments ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Party workers from different polling booths gathered at Jhulelal Vatika for the motorcycle rally. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had organised a "Kamal Sandesh Yatra" across UP to garner support for the general elections. President of BJP's Lucknow mahanagar (city) unit Mukesh Sharma rode a motorcycle, while the deputy chief minister was the pillion rider. "In the past four-and-half years, the developmental work done by the prime minister has been exemplary. The opposition is indulging in negative politics. It cannot speak on development. The Centre has worked extensively to improve the conditions of farmers," Sharma told reporters here. When asked to comment on the prices of petrol and diesel, he said, "The current prices of petrol and diesel are lesser than ..
PM Modi arrives in Maldives
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Maldives on Saturday evening to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. This is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago.The swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected President of Maldives would take place at National Stadium in Male in the evening.Prime Minister Modi will also separately meet with the 54-year-old leader after the official ceremony, before departing for India later in the evening.Yesterday, in his departure statement, the Prime Minister congratulated Solih for his victory in the Maldivian presidential elections in September and added that the recent polls in the island nation "represent the collective aspirations of the people of the Republic of the Maldives for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future"."India and Maldives share a strong partnership rooted in history, strong bonds between our peoples, and their shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. My ...
In Chhattisgarh, Rahul dares Modi to speak up on Rafale, promises farm loan waiver
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the Rafale "scam" and assured poll-bound Chhattisgarh of completely waiving off farm loans if his party comes to power in the state.
PM Modi attends Maldives President Solih's swearing-in ceremony
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldives President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in September. During the swearing-in ceremony of Solih, Modi was sitting beside former Maldivian presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga also attended the ceremony. Modi interacted with leaders from the Maldives and other parts of the world during the oath taking ceremony. Solih, 54, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, had surprisingly emerged victorious over incumbent president Yameen in the election held on September 23. On arrival in the Maldivian capital, Prime Minister Modi was given a red carpet welcome and was received by Maldives Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed. This is Modi's first visit to the Maldives as prime minister. The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Indian Ocean island nation was by ...
Congress to take up Parrikar's health, constitutional crisis in Goa in Parliament
The Congress will raise the issue of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's continuance in power and the impending "constitutional crisis" in BJP-ruled Goa in Parliament, party's national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Saturday.
BJP 'rath-yatra' in Bengal rescheduled
One of the three BJP-sponsored 'rath-yatras' due in West Bengal next month has been rescheduled as party president Amit Shah, who is supposed to kick off the rallies, will be busy in the Telengana poll campaign, a state BJP leader said on Saturday.
On campaign trail with 'Mama': Home-cooked food, nap in chopper and multiple rallies
Eyeing a return to power, Madhya Pradesh's longest-serving Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is not leaving any part of this large state uncovered while campaigning for the assembly elections and on his way, he carries home-cooked food and manages with small naps inside his chopper in between rallies. Responding to chants of 'Mama, Mama' - his popular moniker -- by children, Chouhan tells them their 'mama' (maternal uncle) would take care of them, while in rallies he never misses any chance to take a dig at leaders of the Congress, which is trying hard in these elections to return to power. "Jab Tak Rahega Diggi (former Congress CM Digvijay Singh) tab Tak jalegi dibbi," Chouhan said during his campaign trail on Saturday, referring to the Congress rule till 2003 and alleging that the people felt at that time that they would have to manage with kerosene lamps as long as Digvijay Singh was in power. The BJP is banking on Chouhan's image for returning to power in the state for the ...