Page 2485 - Politics
India, Morocco sign three key agreements
India and Morocco signed three major agreements, including in the areas of legal and judicial cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, during the course of Moroccan Minister of Justice Mohamed Auajjar's ongoing visit to India.
Khattar govt acting against Hooda with 'feeling of revenge': Cong
Amid reports that the Haryana governor has given sanction to prosecute former state chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a land allotment case, the Congress Friday alleged that the Khattar government was indulging in "poisonous politics". The Congress's attack came following reports that Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya last week gave sanction to prosecute Hooda in the case involving allotment of a plot of land to Associated Journals Limited, which owns English daily National Herald. Responding to questions on the issue, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that with the "feeling of revenge", the Khattar government has been conspiring against Hooda, but they should know that their "conspiracies and poisonous politics" will never succeed. Hooda has reiterated that he was a victim of "political vendetta". The case of cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy, registered by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau against Hooda and AJL for alleged irregularities in ...
Opportunistic stand of BJP, Cong on Sabrimala issue whipping up communal polarisation: Yechury
CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday accused the BJP and the Congress of "duplicity" on the Sabarimala issue, saying their "opportunistic" stand was only whipping up communal polarisation. The CPM leader also alleged that by boycotting an all-party meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, the two parties have shown that they do want a solution to the issue. "They want to topple the (state) government ... that is the sense," he told reporters here. He said it is the constitutional obligation of any state government to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court. "There was no stay on the entry of women today.The state government has to implement the verdict. The meeting was convened as part of the government's desire to find a solution," he said. The stand-off over the entry of women of menstruating age to the temple continued Thursday, as consensus eluded a crucial all-party meeting called to resolve the issue. At the meeting, the Kerala ...
Delhi BJP to write to Union home minister for probe into Kejriwal's Dubai trip
The BJP's city unit will write to the Home Ministry seeking an investigation into the recent visit of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Dubai, the party said in a statement Thursday. The BJP had earlier alleged that Kejriwal travelled to Dubai with a "hidden agenda". The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had, however, dismissed the charge as "outlandish". Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana Thursday said, "I will soon write a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh for an investigation into Kejriwal's Dubai visit." Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari questioned Kejriwal's silence on his Dubai trip. "Why the chief minister, who tweets to make public information about his visit to cinema in Delhi, about his illness and treatment in Bangalore, is not answering the questions on this tour?" Tiwari said in a statement. AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha had earlier said Kejriwal had gone "abroad" to attend a family function of his IIT batchmate.
Sri Lanka: UNP holds protest against political crisis
Members and supporters of United National Party (UNP) on Thursday took to streets in protest as the political and constitutional turmoil grew in Sri Lanka.Supporters of former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe protested against his ouster and demanding restoration of the democracy in the country.Former Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister Harsha de Silva tweeted, "Massive crowds at protest rally at Lipton Circus. @MaithripalaS please note that we have power both inside and outside the House. #FakePM better listen to the people and respect democracy. You have no confidence in the Legislature. Go for God's sake Go! #CoupLK"Addressing the rally at Lipton Circus in Town Hall, Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka requested the government to hold both the General Election and the Presidential Election together.Daily Mirror Sri Lanka quoted Ranawaka as saying, "We would defeat both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa will be defeated by more than .
Sabarimala all-party meet fails; Govt firm on implementing SC verdict
An all-party meeting Thursday failed to end the deadlock over the Supreme Court verdict that lifted the ban on entry for women of menstrual age to Sabarimala temple which was wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket on the eve of its opening for the two-month long annual pilgrim season. Amid fears of fresh protests against the verdict, officials said prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of four or more people would be in force in Sabarimala in Kerala from midnight Thursday for a week. The temple opens Friday evening, for the third time since the apex court verdict on September 28 allowed women of all age group to offer prayers at the hilltop Lord Ayyappa temple though none could do so following stiff resistance from devotees and activists, opposing any change in the temple traditions. At the meeting Thursday, the Kerala government took a firm stand it would implement the verdict, prompting the opposition to walk out in protest. The government also put forward
Koregaon-Bhima chargesheet: Activists conspired to kill PM, topple government
The Pune Police filed its first chargesheet against 10 prime accused in the Koregaon-Bhima caste riots case of January 1 2018, charging them, among others, with conspiring to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi and overthrow the democratically elected government with violent means.
Opposition prime ministerial candidate to be decided after elections: Yechury
The CPI-M on Thursday said the issue of the Prime Minister among the non-BJP parties would be decided after the general election.
BJP's Ladakh MP resigns from party, Lok Sabha on "health grounds"
BJP MP Thupstan Chhewang, who represents Ladakh in the Lok Sabha, has resigned from the House and also the party, its Jammu and Kashmir unit president Ravinder Raina said Thursday. Chhewang, 71, has resigned to pursue a "spiritual life" and had also been suffering from health issues, Raina told PTI, insisting that his resignation is on personal grounds. The Ladakha MP in his letter written on Wednesday said he was resigning from the party's primary membership on "health grounds" with immediate effect. He was also quitting as an MP, he added. Chhewang, who was serving his second term in the Lower House, could not be reached for comments. Raina said the MP had been insisting for over a year that he wanted to quit politics and pursue a spiritual life. He also had health issues, the state party chief said.
Pak govt constitutes panel to review legal status of disputed Gilgit-Baltistan region
The Pakistan government on Thursday constituted a committee to review the legal status of the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which India considers a part of Jammu and Kashmir. Known as the Northern Areas, Pakistan plans to announce Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province, a move that is being vehemently opposed by India. The Pakistan government's move to constitute a 10-member committee came in the wake of an instruction of a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in October to review the legal status of the region to bring it at par with other provinces of Pakistan. The apex court's direction followed the recommendations of a special panel set up by the then Nawaz Sharif government for constitutional and administrative reforms in the territory. A member of the bench wondered if India has given special status to Jammu and Kashmir by amending Article 370 of its Constitution, why Pakistan could not grant provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan. The
'Must advise women to not enter Sabarimala'
Shashi Verma, a member of the Pandalam Royal family, on Thursday stated that because the Kerala government cannot legally restrict the entry of women of menstruating age inside the premises of Sabrimala Temple, other measures like advising women to not enter the temple will have to be resorted to.His comments came after a meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan. Addressing the media following the meeting, Verma said, "We must ensure that women during periods don't come to the temple. Since SC order is there, the government can't do anything directly or legally. So, CM is saying you can advise them not to come."Verma further stated that their stance of not lifting the ban on the entry of women into the Lord Ayappa shrine has not changed, adding that they did not favour the government's proposal to open the sanctum sanctorum on separate days specifically for the entry of women aged between 10 to 50.Vijayan had, earlier in the day, called for an all-party meeting to discuss .
US: Kevin McCarthy elected as Minority Leader of the House
Representative Kevin McCarthy of the Republican party was elected as the minority leader of the House on Wednesday.McCarty will succeed Paul Ryan whose term ends in January 2019, reported CNN.McCarthy won with the vote count of 159-43 after facing a fierce battle against his rival Representative Jim Jordan.As Ryan's term comes to an end, McCarthy is now number 2 House Republican and had long been viewed as a strong contender for minority leader in the new Congress.He will hold the highest-ranking Republican leadership post with Republicans in the minority after losing control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.Earlier in April this year, Ryan had announced that he would not seek re-election and had endorsed McCarthy to be his successor."We will work with anybody across that aisle if they are there to work to move America forward. But let me be very clear, if their agenda is simply investigations, impeachment, and not focused on the hardworking American public, we
Winter session of Odisha assembly begins Friday, likey to be
The winter session of Odisha assembly beginning Friday is likely to be a stormy with the ruling BJD ready to raise the long standing demand for special category status to the state and the opposition the farmers' issue. The winter session will have 23 working days and conclude on December 15. It assumes significance as it will precede the 2019 general election and the state assembly poll in which the chief minister is likely to seek return to power for the fifth consecutive term. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also the president of the ruling BJD, told reporters Thursday, "The ruling party will raise issues concerning Odisha's long standing demand for special category status and fuel price rise. "We are ready to reply all the issues to be raised by the opposition," he said when asked. The oppostion Congress and BJP have on the other hand decided to raise farmers issues as the main agenda in the assembly as the government prevented farmers to hold a convention in
CPI(M) demands SC-monitored SIT probe into Rafale deal
The CPI(M) Thursday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the Rafale deal, claiming that "new facts" are coming out on the "irregularities" in clinching of the agreement. The CPI(M)'s attack came a day after the government told the Supreme Court that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. In the Rafale deal, the most "sensational" thing is the government's own admission in the apex court that there was no sovereign guarantee from the French government, but only a letter of comfort, which is not legally enforceable to ensure the delivery of this high value contract, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters. On the price of the aircraft, the government stated in March 2018 that the cost of the basic aircraft is Rs 670 crores per plane, Yechury said. But, in September 2016, the government had pointed out that it was Rs 60,000 crore for 36 aircraft, including all modifications, making it
INLD MLAs forcibly kept in HP resort: Digvijay
The son of expelled leader Ajay Singh Chautala alleged Thursday that several INLD legislators were being forcibly kept in a Himachal Pradesh resort by the rival camp members to prevent them from attending the party's upcoming executive meeting. "I have information that several party MLAs have been taken to a resort near Parwanoo (Solan district) in HP. They are being forcibly kept there. Ten rooms have been rented to accommodate them," Digvijay Singh said. Asked who had taken the INLD legislators to the resort, Digvijay said, "Everyone knows who wants to prevent them from attending the meeting in Jind (Haryana) called by Dr Ajay Singh Chautala." He claimed that 80 per cent of party MLAs were with Ajay Singh. "They (rival camp) may use force to hold them for a day or two, but soon, things will be clear on which side they stand." The rival camp, led by Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala, vehemently denied the charge. "There is no truth in these allegations. I also came to know ...
Punjab BJP asks CM Amarinder Singh to declare 'fiscal emergency' "
The BJP's Punjab unit on Thursday asked Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to declare 'fiscal emergency' in the state, while alleging that no development work had been carried since the Congress came to power in the state. "The Congress government in Punjab has almost completed two years of its tenure. During this period, a number of new taxes have been imposed on public. Despite this, no development work is visible anywhere in the state," Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik told reporters here. "The government employees are not getting their salaries on time. The state government is fooling the people on one pretext or the other. "Thus in such conditions either Chief Minister Amarinder Singh should declare financial emergency or quit, he said said. Malik who is a Rajya Sabha MP, also demanded report card from the government on its works in the last two years.
JK govt amends GP Fund rules, allows withdrawals for pilgrimage
Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday ordered amendment of General Provident (GP) Fund rules to incorporate more heads for non-refundable withdrawal by the employees. One-time GP Fund withdrawal shall now also include expenditure on account of training of technical nature or higher studies of children within and outside the state and expenditure on account of pilgrimage within and outside the country, which by religion of the subscriber is obligatory upon himself or herself or a member of his family, an official spokesman said quoting a notification issued by the principal secretary, finance, Navin K Choudhary here. Earlier, such withdrawal was only allowed for building or acquiring house for his or her residence including the cost of the site or reconstructing or making additions or alterations or repairs to a house owned or acquired by a subscriber repaying and outstanding amount on account of loan including the loans under government housing schemes and for marriage of a son or ...
Govt acting with 'revenge', 'malice' against National Herald: Cong
Accusing the government of acting with "revenge" and "malice" against the National Herald newspaper, the Congress Thursday said it will fight the government with the same zeal and spirit as it fought the "oppressive" British and thwart efforts to "silence" the voice of the newspaper. The remarks came on a day the Delhi High Court gave a breather to the Congress-owned National Herald to maintain status quo till November 22, after it challenged the Centre's order to vacate its premises in the national capital by November 15. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government is "blinded by revenge" in targeting the National Herald, the newspaper founded by Jawaharlal Nehru and other freedom fighters to take on the British. "Suffocating autocracy and malice drives chain of malicious actions against National Herald and its parent company, AJL. The more prime minister Modi faces ire of the people and stares at defeat in the five election-going states, the more vengeful .
US cannot afford truculent child president: John Kerry
US former Secretary of State Joh Kerry tore into President Donald Trump on Thursday for skipping a visit to a military cemetery in France, calling him a "truculent child".
National Herald: Court adjourns hearing, orders to maintain status quo
Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered complete status quo to be maintained on all government actions against Herald House till November 22, the next date of hearing, in the matter related to eviction of National Herald from its present premises at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi.The plea against the eviction order was filed by Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), owner of National Herald newspaper, challenging the Centre's decision, which had cancelled its lease and ordered it to vacate the Herald House on grounds of violation of lease clauses.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta gave assurance to the Delhi HighCourt that no action, no eviction (physical or notional), no possession or re-entry by the Government shall take place against Herald House while the Delhi High Court is seized of the matter.The Delhi High Court on Thursday was hearing the plea of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the firm that owns National Herald newspaper, challenging the Centre's decision which cancelled its lease and