Page 2494 - Politics
Poll process at 14,000 booths in MP to be webcast: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) O P Rawat said Wednesday that proceedings at 14,000 polling booths in Madhya Pradesh will be 'webcast'. Webcasting refers to live broadcasting through the Internet. The measure was being taken as part of efforts to ensure free and fair elections, he said. Talking to reporters here at the end of his two-day tour of Madhya Pradesh where Assembly elections will be held on November 28, Rawat said the Election Commission has made arrangements to webcast polling process at 14,000 booths. During the visit, Rawat held meetings in Indore and Bhopal to review poll preparations, and also met representatives of political parties. CEC said some political parties suggested that recounting should be conducted by default if the victory margin is less than one thousand. They also demanded installation of CCTV cameras at all polling booths so that persons who vote for more than once can be identified, he said. To a question about deployment of government ..
AIADMK's TV channel 'News J' launched to take on rivals
The ruling AIADMK's Tamil TV channel "News J" was launched Wednesday, to take on propaganda against it by rivals in the wake of "JAYA TV", which used to be the channel for the party cadre, siding with ousted leader T T V Dhinakaran. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam launched the mouthpiece of AIADMK here, two months after the logo, wbesite and app for News J were unveiled. Palaniswami said News J would toe the ideals set out by Dravidian icon C N Annadurai and late Chief Ministers M G Ramachandran, AIADMK founder, and J Jayalalithaa and telecast "true news." AIADMK was prompted to launch a TV channel of its own to take on propaganda against it by rivals since Jaya TV began backing Jayalalithaa's aide V K Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran after her demise. Also, 'Dr Namadhu MGR,' a Tamil daily launched by Jayalalithaa in 1988, is under the control of the Dhinakaran camp led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. This prompted the ...
Maha for redevelopment of Mumbai slums
With an eye on elections due next year, the Maharashtra government Wednesday proposed redevelopment of various slum pockets in the mega city. Speaking at a meeting to discuss slum redevelopment, State Housing Minister Prakash Mehta said slums at Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Shantisagar police residence and Kamraj Nagar in suburban Mumbai would be redeveloped. He said the area covered by Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar slum in suburban Ghatkopar and Kamraj Nagar slum is 155 acres. "The issue of redevelopment of these slums is pending for many years. In 2007, the issue was raised by then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh of Congress in the Assembly. At that time, he assured that the development will be done through a township," Mehta said. The minister said the redevelopment process was delayed due to a report submitted by officers. "Now, this temporary deferment is removed and a decision has been taken to develop these slums through a township," he said. The minister directed the ...
Farmers to stage another protest in Mumbai
Eight months after thousands of farmers marched to Mumbai, another massive protest of farmers has been planned in the country's financial capital next week. Lok Sangharsh Morcha, an organisation representing farmers and labourers, announced Wednesday that an indefinite sit-in will be staged at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai from November 22. It will be led by water conservation activist Rajendra Singh and Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav, it said. In March this year, thousands of farmers had walked all the way from Nashik in north Maharashtra to Mumbai to demand loan waiver and implementation of the Forest Rights Act, among other things. "Farmers across Maharashtra are reeling under insensitive and anti-farmer policies of the state government and therefore we have no option but to strike the government with farmers' unity," general secretary of the Morcha, Pratibha Shinde, said at a press conference. Protesters' demands include time-bound implementation of Forest Rights ..
Another BJP MLA joins Congress in Rajasthan
Giving a major jolt to the ruling party in Rajasthan, Habibur Rehman, a BJP MLA from Nagaur, joined the Congress on Wednesday.
T'gana polls: K Chandrasekhar Rao files nomination from Gajwel
Telangana's caretaker Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao filed his nomination papers for the Gajwel Assembly constituency on Wednesday. Rao visited Lord Balaji temple at Konaipally village in Siddipet district and offered prayers before filing his nomination before the returning officer. The Congress has pitted Vanteru Pratap Reddy against him. Reddy had contested against Rao unsuccessfully in the 2014 Assembly elections on a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ticket. Later he joined the Congress. "I took Swamy's (Lord Balaji) blessings before starting the Telangana movement. I always enter the battlefield (elections) with the blessings of the Swamy and you (people). The biggest battle I won is achieving Telangana statehood. With your and Swamy's blessings we are going to win 100 seats (in the upcoming Assembly polls)," Rao said. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief was accompanied by his nephew and caretaker Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, who is contesting from the .
Rahul slams PM over Rafale deal; says country can't be run by one man
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be exposed if an inquiry was conducted into the Rafale fighter jets deal. Addressing a poll rally at Bhilai in Chhattisgarh's Durg district, he also said the country could not be run by one man or one party, but the "arrogant" prime minister did not understand this. Gandhi targeted both Modi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh over alleged scams under the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rule. "Modiji snatched the contract of the Rafale fighter jets from the State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and gave it to (industrialist) Anil Ambani. Under the UPA deal, 126 aircraft were to be purchased and the cost of each was Rs 526 crore. "Modi went to France with his delegation comprising Anil Ambani and struck a deal to purchase the aircraft for Rs 1,600 crore apiece," he said. "The deal has been given to Anil Ambani, who formed a (defence) company just a few days ago. Ambani has never made an ...
Agitation for removal of Kolasib DC, later withdrawn
A large number of agitators demonstrated before the office of the deputy commissioner (DC) of Kolasib on the Mizoram-Assam border Wednesday demanding his removal for allegedly enrolling 218 new Bru voters without conducting hearing and physical verification. This is the second instance of people demonstrating against a poll official in the northeastern state. The protest and picketing was, however, called off in the evening by Kolasib unit of All NGO Coordination Committee, the apex body of civil societies and student bodies of the state spearheading the agitation, after a stay order by the Aizawl bench of the Gauhati High Court and holding talks with MKHC. Mizoram police said the agitators held demonstrations in front of the office of the DC, Arun T, since morning though he did not attend office. They were demanding that the DC leave Kolasib immediately. The deputy commissioner of a district is also its election officer for the assembly poll. Polling for the 40-member Mizoram ...
Cong protest outside Manoj Tiwari's office over remarks against Sonia, Rahul
Scores of Congress workers staged a protest outside the office of Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari in his Northeast Delhi parliamentary constituency on Wednesday over his alleged remarks against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The protesters raised slogans against Tiwari and demanded his apology for the remarks made at a campaign rally in Chhattisgarh on Sunday. Leading the protest in Yamuna Vihar, former Congress MLA Bhisham Sharma said Tiwari's statement was "highly condemnable" and it also "insulted" Purvanchali women who observe Chhath fast. In the election rally, Tiwari took a swipe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi and reportedly said had Sonia Gandhi observed Chhath, she would have had an intelligent son. "Tiwari's remark against Sonia Gandhi was not only highly condemnable, but also an insult to the lakhs of Poorvanchali women in Delhi, who celebrate Chhat Puja," Sharma said. Tiwari has no moral right to continue as the president of the Delhi
India should quit RCEP: SJM
On the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attending the RCEP summit, the RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) said the proposed agreement is "not in the interest" of the people of India and the country should quit it. "We...urge the government and, in particular, Honourable Prime Minister to refrain from making any commitments on RCEP in this ministerial. In fact it is time India takes a bold but clear decision to quit RCEP as it has nothing to give to our country," co-convener of SJM Ashwani Mahajan said in a letter to Modi. He said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement presents a major threat and not a major opportunity for India. "SJM believes that the RCEP is not in the interest of the people of India. There is no sector, no constituency, or no region in India that will benefit from RCEP," Mahajan said in the letter. Earlier today, speaking at the RCEP summit in Singapore, Modi called for an early conclusion of the multi-nation RCEP ...
No sovereign guarantee, but 'letter of comfort' given by France on Rafale deal: Govt to SC
The government told the Supreme Court Wednesday that no "sovereign guarantee" was given by the French government on the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The French government has however given a 'letter of comfort' to India which would be good enough 'governmental guarantee', Attorney General K K Venugopal told a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. "There is no sovereign guarantee but there is a letter of comfort from France dated September 25, 2015 which says that if there is any exigencies, it would be taken care of by them (France)," Venugopal told the bench. The issue of lack of sovereign guarantee was flagged by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has filed a petition in the apex court along with former BJP veterans Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation in the alleged criminality in the Rafale deal. Bhushan claimed before the court that the Union Law Ministry had flagged two issues -- ...
SAD leaders disassociate from Ajnalas
SAD leaders in Amritsar said Wednesday they have severed ties with expelled party leaders Rattan Singh Ajnala and his son Amarbir Singh Bony for allegedly betraying the party. The father-son duo were expelled from the primary membership of SAD on Sunday for indulging in "anti-party" activities, the Shiromani Akali Dal said. In a joint statement, several SAD leaders, including SGPC executive committee member Amreek Singh Vishoa, SGPC member Kuldeep Singh Tera, accused the Ajnalas of betraying the party. They said SAD patron and former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal have given the Ajnalas "huge favours" "The Ajnala family returned all these favours with an opportunistic act of betrayal and ingratitude," they added.
BJP slams Rahul, calls his temple visits 'fancy dress hindutava'
The BJP on Wednesday slammed Congress for allegedly spreading "hatred" against the RSS and the "Hindus", and described its President Rahul Gandhi's temple visits as "fancy dress hindutava".
BJP, Trinamool governments misusing public money: Congress MP Gogoi
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday accused the BJP and Trinamool Congress of misusing public money for party events and advertisement campaigns and described Congress as the only alternative in the 2019 elections.
Rupee payment mechanism to bolster India's trade with Iran: TPCI
The rupee payment mechanism will help bolster India's trade with Iran, notwithstanding the sanctions imposed by the US on the Western Asian nation, the Trade Promotion Council of India said Wednesday. "Trade in rupee through Vostro account of UCO Bank could retain the current trade and may even get a boost if India eyes this opportunity judiciously and uses the trade gap to focus on exporting products that Iran requires, some of which it was importing from other countries who have not entered into a Vostro-like deal with Iran and who have fallen to the pressure to restrict their trade with Iran," TPCI said in a statement. TPCI is a body supported by the Ministry of Commerce. The bold steps taken by India with respect to Iran and Russia will not only boost India's image as a neutral player in world trade. Trading in rupee can well be a new route of trade, outside dependence on the US dollar," TPCI Chairman Mohit Singla said. India found a way of coming out of dollar payment and paying .
'Baloch Martyrs Day' observed by Baloch activists
Baloch activists held rallies and seminars all over the world to observe the 'Baloch Martyrs Day' on Tuesday.In London, the Baloch National Movement organised a seminar to pay tributes to the activists killed by Pakistan's army and secret services agencies.In Busan city of South Korea, a protest rally was organized by the Baloch National Movement and Baloch Students Organisation, Azad, on the eve of the Baloch Martyrs Day.The protesters chanted slogans against Pakistan army's brutalities in Balochistan.The Baloch nation has been commemorating November 13 as 'National Remembrance Day - Baloch Martyrs Day' for past few years.This day's significance goes back to November 13, 1839, when the British forces attacked Balochistan and killed Baloch ruler Mir Mehrab Khan Baloch and his comrades.The British then occupied and divided Balochistan into three parts by drawing arbitrary Gold Smith and Durand Lines which the Baloch nation never accepted as international borders and continued their ...
SL: Letter to Sirsena to seal Rajapaksa's ousting
After the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka interfered with the government on Tuesday by issuing an interim order staying the proclamation issued by President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve the country's Parliament, Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has decided to send Sirisena a copy of a letter signed by 122 Members of the Parliament which will deem the recent appointment of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Cabinet of ministers is 'unconstitutional'.Sri Lanka has been undergoing a political crisis after President Sirisena sacked former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with the current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26.Following which, the judiciary had to come out in defense of democracy and against the autocratic forces by passing a no-confidence motion today in the Sri Lankan Parliament motion against the government of the newly-sworn Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, with a majority of 122 members.The U.S. Ambassador to Sri ..
PM May defends Brexit deal agreed with EU; says it delivers on people's vote
Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday defended the Brexit deal agreed with the European Union ahead of a major showdown with her Cabinet ministers, saying the agreement would give the UK control of borders, laws and money and also protect business and jobs. Downing Street has said that the UK and the EU have agreed an initial draft agreement on the negotiating terms for Britain's exit, the so-called divorce settlement, from the economic bloc by March next year. As the UK's withdrawal agreement with the European Union (EU) enters a crucial stage, Prime Minister May now has the tough task of convincing her deeply divided Cabinet that the agreement is the best possible outcome for Britain. Addressing a raucous House of Commons during her weekly Prime Ministers' Questions (PMQs) ahead of the crunch meeting at Downing Street, May told MPs that the deal agreed with the EU delivers on the British public's vote in favour of Brexit in the 2016 referendum. "What we have been negotiating is a .
State Cong's views will prevail while deciding poll strategy :
Gaurav Googi, the AICC in-charge for West Bengal Wednesday said the views of the state Congress unit will previal while deciding on the poll strategy for the state in the coming Lok Sabha election. He criticised the TMC-led government in the state and the BJP government at the Centre for not being interested in the developmental work for the masses and being busy in "spending crores of rupees on adverstisements". He said the main thrust by Congress is to strenghten the organisation in the state and it will be decided by the state unit whether it wants to forge an alliance with some other party or want to go alone in Bengal. "I am not authorised to speak on the issue. Only AICC leadership can comment on it. I can just say that nothing will be done by bypassing the views of the state unit," Gogoi told reporters here. The Congress unit in West Bengal is in favour of fighting the coming Lok Sabha election "alone" in the state despite the party forging alliances with ...
SC hearing in Rafale case sees trading of charges between govt, petitioners
Charges and counter charges flew thick and fast during the high-voltage hearing in the Supreme Court Wednesday on the pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal. The proceedings saw trading of charges between the Centre and the petitioners, who questioned the authority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in inking the pact with France to import Rafale fighter jets. The arguments before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi were made two days after the government had told the apex court that it had "completely followed" Defence Procurement Procedure laid out in 2013 and approval of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) was secured before the deal was inked with France. Activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who along with former BJP veterans Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie has filed a plea in the matter, alleged that there was a "gross violation" of procedure in the deal which warranted a CBI investigation. Questioning the inking of Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) ...