Page 2493 - Politics
Cricketer Shahid Afridi proposes to free PoK; says Pak can't even manage its 4 provinces
Pakistan's former cricketer Shahid Afridi has proposed that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir should be given "independence", saying the country does not want the region as it cannot even manage its four provinces. In a viral video of his address to students in London, Afridi, also known as "Boom Boom", is heard saying that Pakistan is not interested in Kashmir and since the country is against giving it to India, the region should be given independence. "I say Pakistan doesn't want Kashmir. Don't give it to India either. Let Kashmir be independent. At least humanity will be alive. Let people not die," he said. "Pakistan doesn't want Kashmir. It can't even manage its four provinces. The big thing is insaaniyat (humanity). People who are dying there, it is painful. Any death, be it from any community, is painful," Afridi said. He was heavily criticised on social media and TV channels for his remark which deviated from the state policy of Pakistan on Kashmir. Renowned news anchor Hamid Mir ...
Yogi among BJP leaders to ride bikes for support for party
Senior BJP office-bearers, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will be riding bikes across the state to mobilise support from each of the 80 parliamentary constituencies from Saturday, an official spokesman said on Wednesday.
French govt spokesman slams Trump's lack of 'common decency'
A French government spokesman on Wednesday accused US President Donald Trump of a lack of "common decency" for attacking his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Twitter on the third anniversary of a jihadist massacre in Paris. Asked to react to Trump's tweets mocking Macron's low poll numbers and lashing his defence proposals, spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told reporters: "Yesterday was November 13 when we commemorate the murder of 130 citizens three years ago in Paris and Saint-Denis. So I will reply in English: 'common decency' would have been the appropriate thing." His reaction was the strongest yet by the French government to Trump's astonishing attack on Macron, which came two days after he was the French leader's guest at World War I centenary commemorations in Paris. Apparently irked at Macron's criticism of nationalists in his Armistice Day address, Trump tweeted that Macron had a "very low approval rating" and said the French leader was "just trying to get onto another ...
UN lifts sanctions on Eritrea
The UN Security Council on Wednesday lifted sanctions on Eritrea following a landmark peace deal with Ethiopia and a thaw with Djibouti that have buoyed hopes for positive change in the Horn of Africa. The council unanimously adopted a British-drafted resolution lifting the arms embargo, all travels bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions against Eritrea. Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace deal in July that ended two decades of hostility and led to friendlier relations with Djibouti, shoring up prospects for stability in the Horn of Africa. The resolution calls on Eritrea and Djibouti to continue efforts to settle a 2008 border dispute and asks Asmara to release information concerning Djiboutian soldiers missing in clashes a decade ago. At France's request, the council will hear a report every six months on Eritrea's efforts to normalize relations with Djibouti, where France, the United States and China all have military bases. The council slapped sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 for .
German-Turkish singer sentenced on terror charge
Turkey's state-run news agency says a court has sentenced a German singer of Turkish descent to six years and three months in prison for membership of an armed terror group. Anadolu Agency says the court in Edirne, northwest Turkey, on Wednesday convicted Saide Inac who is better known as Hozan Cane of membership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. She was expected to appeal her conviction. Cane was arrested in Edirne ahead of elections in June on a campaign bus belonging to a pro-Kurdish party. During her trial, the singer denied being a member of the PKK or a sympathizer of the group, Anadolu reported. Germany's Foreign Ministry says it is providing her with consular assistance and is in close contact with Turkish authorities.
Fox News to support CNN in legal battle against Trump, White House
After the American broadcaster CNN on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the United States President Donald Trump and White House associates over revoking the press card of its chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta, another news channel Fox News today came up to its support in the legal battle.Fox News President Jay Wallace in an official statement on Wednesday said, "Fox News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter's press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court," reported Suptnik."Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponised. While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the president and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people," Fox News President further added in his statement.The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C, on November 13, sought to an immediate restoration ..
Rahul a confused person, can't run government: Chouhan
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday took a potshot at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, labeling him as "a confused person" and questioning his ability to lead the nation.Addressing an election rally here, Chouhan said, "Rahul Baba doesn't even know whether onion grows in the field. He is confused. He says that my son's name cropped up in Panama Papers case. We are mere farmers. We don't even know what Panama is. When I asked for proof, he apologized, saying that he was confused. Can confused people like him run a government?"He also came down heavily on the Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh unit chief Kamal Nath for his comments regarding women candidates, saying that his party did not hand out tickets to women just for the sake of fulfilling a quota or for decoration."This is India. You need to understand Indian culture, where mothers, daughters, sisters are kept at a very high pedestal. In this country, which respects women, you compared them to ...
Goa chief secretary summoned by Lokayukta in land deal, says
Goa Lokayukta Wednesday directed state Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma to appear in person on November 23 in connection with a complaint alleging a "suspicious land deal" worth Rs 70 crore involving a former Congress MLA who recently joined the ruling BJP. Social activist and lawyer Aires Rodrigues has filed a complaint before Goa Lokayukta P K Misra alleging the state government had signed a "suspicious land deal" worth Rs 70 crore with former Congress MLA Subhash Shirodkar. Shirodkar has denied the allegations. Lokayukta officials were not available for comments. Shirodkar and his Congress colleague Dayanand Sopte who represent Shiroda and Mandrem assembly constituencies, respectively, recently switched over to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). "Acting on my complaint, the Lokayukta has directed the chief secretary to remain present on November 23 and to bring all the records pertaining to the controversial land acquisition," the activist said. Rodrigues said, "the ...
Congress will never come to power under Rahul's leadership: Yogi
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that the Congress would never come to power at the Centre or in the state under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.Yogi, who was campaigning for the BJP candidate Ajay Chandrakar in Kurud Vidhan Sabha seat in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, said that voting was on Tuesday (November 20). "Tuesday is the day of Bajrangbali. So I appeal to all on this day that after reciting Hanuman Chalisa, first cast the vote and then have food," he said.Targeting the Congress party president Rahul Gandhi, Yogi said that the leaders of the Congress party themselves are questioning the leadership of Rahul as there was no victory under his leadership so far. "Every time they fought the elections, they had to face the defeat," he said.Taking a dig at the Congress, Adityanath said, "One who is not a devotee of Ram is of no use.' He further alleged that Congress always did the politics of caste. "Congress party ruled for more than 55 years and ...
Cong alleges irregularities in MP e-tendering
The Congress Wednesday alleged a "Rs 8,935.61-crore scam" in allotment of e-tendering contracts under the BJP's watch in Madhya Pradesh, which is going to polls on November 28. Announcing that the Congress would probe the "irregularities" if voted to power, the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the estimate of the scam could go up to "Rs 50,000 crore" after investigation. For its part, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) said the matter was being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the state police. Surjewala claimed the Congress had in its possession documents pertaining to the alleged irregularities. "We have documents of the e-tendering scam in which private companies were given contracts worth Rs 8,935.61 crore for various schemes of irrigation and other departments. Prima facie, the scam began in 2014," Surjewala told reporters here. He alleged that the incumbent BJP government had hired a private company to develop an e-tendering software, which he ...
Hungary confirms asylum request from fugitive former Macedonian PM
Hungary confirmed Wednesday that it has received a request for political asylum from fugitive former Macedonia prime minister Nikola Gruevski, a day after he said on Facebook that he had fled a prison sentence for abuse of power. Budapest said it will consider the application from Gruevski, who dominated Macedonia for nearly a decade until 2016, in a move likely to enrage Skopje, which has issued an international warrant for the former premier's arrest after he failed to show up for his two-year jail term. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office confirmed that Gruevski "has submitted an asylum request" and had declared that he intends to "submit a request for refugee status in Hungary". "Given that he was prime minister of his country for 10 years, for security reasons the Hungarian authorities have allowed Mr. Gruevski to have his asylum request submitted and heard at the headquarters of the Immigration and Asylum Office in Budapest," it added. Budapest declined to reveal details of ...
Parrikar is stable, recovering: official
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's condition is stable and he is recovering, a government official said here Wednesday. There was speculation on social media that Parrikar's condition was deteriorating. Parrikar, 62, is recuperating at his private residence near here since he was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. He has been suffering from a pancreatic ailment. "Posts on social media about his health are rumours. He is stable and recovering," a senior official in the Chief Minister's Office told PTI.
Was trying to wary people of BJP's disruptive tactics: Kamal Nath on his viral video
Congress' Madhya Pradesh chief Kamal Nath on Wednesday issued clarification over his video, saying that he only told the Muslim clerics to maintain communal harmony till the November 28 elections, warning them to stay wary of efforts from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to disrupt the same.Controversy was sparked in the poll-bound state when the BJP shared a video of Kamal Nath speaking with a gathering of Muslim clerics, telling them to bear with the RSS' tactics till the election-day, following which the Congress will "deal with them."The BJP cornered the Congress over the video, alleging that the latter's pro-Hindu stance is a facade and that the Congress "divide and rule" via appeasement politics.Addressing a press conference, Kamal Nath said, "I saw the viral video, what have I said in the video? I told them to maintain communal unity and harmony until the 28th because through the RSS, the BJP will try to confuse and provoke them. I said
China needs to make policy changes to avoid cold-war situation: Pence
If China wants to avoid a cold-war scenario anytime in the future then it needs to make massive changes in its economic, military and political activities as demanded by the States, said Vice President of the United States Mike Pence.In an interview to The Washington Post, Pence said that United States President Donald Trump is also ready to make fresh trade deals with China but only if the country is ready for such policy changes.Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping are going to meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit to be held on November 30. This meeting may prove to be a good opportunity for China, if not the last. But everything depends on the country whether it wants to avoid a cold-war situation any time soon or not, Pence further added."I think much of that will depend on Argentina," Pence was quoted, having said in the interview."The president's attitude is, we want to make sure they know where we stand, what we are prepared to do, so they can come to Argentina with concrete
Former BJP MLA Habibur Rahman joins Congress
In a major setback to the ruling party ahead of assembly elections in Rajasthan, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Habibur Rahman on Wednesday joined the Congress party.The former leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party was inducted into the Congress party in the party's Jaipur office by the local leaders of the state. On Monday, Rahman had sent his resignation to the state BJP chief Madan Lal Saini.The sudden exit of Rahman from the BJP comes a day after the saffron party announced the first list of candidates for the ensuing assembly polls in Rajasthan. The party's decision to field Mohan Ram Chaudhary from Nagaur is said to be the immediate reason for Rahman's resignation from the BJP.In its first list, the Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded 25 new faces and 85 sitting MLAs for the assembly polls. The names were announced by Union Minister and senior leader Jay Prakash Nadda. As per the list, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will contest from Jhalrapatan ...
Rafale probe will expose PM Modi, Anil Ambani: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that the complicity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chairman of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Anil Ambani in Rafale deal would prove if the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducts a probe into the fighter jet deal.Addressing an election rally for the second phase of Chhattisgarh assembly polls, Rahul alleged that Prime Minister Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre was procuring each Rafale aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalized by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.Gandhi has repeatedly accused the NDA government of ousting HAL as Rafale's offset partner and choosing Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Limited to save the company's debt-ridden chairperson and his business."CBI Director Alok Verma started an investigation into the Rafale deal. The Prime Minister removed him at 2 am. The day the investigation of Rafael deal begins, two .
BJP releases 2nd list of candidates for Rajasthan polls, drops 3 Ministers
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday released the second list of 31 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan assembly polls, dropping three of its incumbent Ministers in the state.
Telangana Assembly polls: TJS says it will contest for 12 seats
In another jolt to the 'Mahakutami' (Grand Alliance) of opposition parties in Telangana, TJS on Wednesday announced that it will contest in 12 constituencies in the next month's assembly elections.
Cong, TDP release second list; seat-sharing talks still on
Congress and TDP, partners in the "grand alliance" for the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana, Wednesday released their respective second list of candidates even as the combine was yet to thrash out issues over seat-sharing among the partners. Besides the two parties, the alliance comprises Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), which is insisting on contesting 12 seats as against the eight alloted, and CPI. The second list of Congress comprised 10 nominees. With this, the total number of candidates declared by the party so far has gone up to 75. TDP named two candidates in its second list, in addition to the nine announced earlier. The total number of assembly seats in the state is 119 and Congress had earlier said it would leave 25 seats to the partners -- 14 to TDP, eight to TJS and three to CPI. Leaders of the TJS, however, Wednesday told reporters here that the party would contest in 12 segments. On Wednesday, CPI announced nominees for the three seats it would ...
'Prakash Ambedkar will be part of Cong-led alliance in Maha'
Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar would be part of the the Congress-led alliance for the next year's Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Maharashtra, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan announced Wednesday. He also clarified that the Congress won't share dais with Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) which has tied up with the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) of Ambedkar, grandson of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, for future polls. "Bhartiya Republic Party Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar would be part of the Congress-led alliance for Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Maharashtra, but AIMIM would not share dais with our alliance," the former chief minister told reporters in Kolhapur in western Maharashtra. Ambedkar has been insisting on joining hands with the Congress provided it snaps ties with the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). On the other hand, a section of Congress is of the view to prepare itself for all the ..