Page 2495 - Politics
If Rafale jets were used in Kargil war, casualties would've been less: Centre to SC
Had Rafale fighter jets been used during the Kargil war in 1999, the number of casualties would have been less, the Centre told the Supreme Court Wednesday while justifying the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. "Soldiers lost their lives in the Kargil war. Had Rafale been used during the war, it could have hit the hilltops from 60 kilometers away," Attorney General K K Venugopal told a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. He said that all due procedures were followed while entering into the inter-government agreement with France for acquisition of 36 Rafale jets, and all decisions were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council. "This is a sensitive area and a necessity of the country. Even the Air Force chief has been writing to us to enhance the capability of the force owing to depleting fleet of aircraft," the AG said while concluding his arguments during the day-long hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the Rafale deal. The CJI then said, "Mr. ...
NC leader bats for positioning 'Darbar' in Srinagar during winter, in Jammu during summer
A senior National Conference leader Wednesday strongly pitched for positioning the 'Darbar Move' offices in Srinagar during winter and in Jammu in the harsh summer months to provide respite to the people of both the provinces. "The administration is to be seen amid the people during the hour of need. Moving seat of power to another region during most testing times is like snatching the umbrella when it rains the most," NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana told reporters here. Under the existing practice of 'Darbar Move' introduced by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 and continued by elected governments post-Independence, the Civil Secretariat the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government -- and other move offices function in Srinagar for six months of summer and in Jammu for the remaining six months of the year. "An impression has taken deep roots in the minds of the people that both these components of public service are enjoying coziness of the warmth during winter in Jammu and cool .
201 candidates in fray for Nov 28 Mizoram Assembly election
A total of 201 candidates are in the fray for the Mizoram Assembly election after three nominees opted out of the contest on Wednesday, the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers, state election department officials said. According to the officials, 212 nomination papers were received till Friday, with eight nominees, including Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, contesting from two seats each. During scrutiny, all of the nomination papers were found to be valid. Three nominees withdrew their candidature Wednesday, they said. Those who withdrew nominations were Lalenkima Khiangte of People's Representation to Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) and Lallawmzuala Sailo of 'Zoramthar' who filed their papers from Aizawl East - II and N respectively. Lalmama, an Independent candidate in southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai West seat also withdrew his nomination. Election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly would be held on November 28. Lal Thanhawla has filed his nominations from his home turf
Prannoy Roy to publish book on Indian elections in 2019
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019, veteran journalist Prannoy Roy, along with Dorab Sopariwala, Editorial Adviser of NDTV, will be publishing "a definitive book" on elections in India.
Bangladesh Army delegation visits Trishakti Corps
A 20-member Bangladesh military delegation on Wednesday began a five-day visit to the Siliguri-headquartered Trishakti Corps of Indian Army, a defence ministry spokesperson said.
Lokayukta summons Goa CS over land scam complaint
Goa Lokayukta P.K. Mishra on Wednesday summoned state Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma to appear in person before the anti-corruption authority on November 23, over alleged corruption in the purchase of a tract of land admeasuring 1.83 lakh sq.mts. which belonged to a now former Congress MLA Subhash Shirodkar by the BJP-led coalition government for Rs 70 crore.
HC reservers orders on DMK petition, challenging G.O.
: The Madras High Court Wednesday reserved orders on a petition by the DMK, challenging a G.O., directing an enquiry Commission , set up to probe 'irregularities' in construction of the state secretariat during its regime, to hand over all documents to the DVAC. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption has been entrusted with the probe. Justice Pushpa Satyanarayana reserved orders after hearing senior counsel P Wilson, appearing on behalf of DMK President M K Stalin and Public Prosecutor A Natarajan. On August 3, Justice S M Subramaniam had directed the state government to suspend the Justice R Raghupathi Commission of Inquiry,go through its reports and hand over all related documents to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) for further proceedings. When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, the PP, referring to Wilson's submission that the government had not applied its mind while issuing the G.O., and had directed the Commision to hand ...
MP polls: Vijaywargiya's son-in-law withdraws from fray
BJP leader Kailash Vijaywargiya was Wednesday saved from embarrassment in run-up to November 28 assembly polls when his son-in-law Lalit Porwal withdrew his candidature from Indore 3 assembly seat against the party general secretary's son Akash on the last day. Akash Vijaywargiya (34) is contesting his maiden elections from the seat, which was won by BJP's Usha Thakur in 2013. Porwal's wife Sapna is the niece of Kailash Vijaywargiya, the BJP national general secretary, according to the family sources of Porwal. Vijaywargiya had performed "Kanya daan" of Sapna during her marriage, they said. When asked why he withdrew his nomination papers as an Independent nominee, Porwal (59) said he was under pressure to do so from senior leaders of the BJP as well as his relatives. "Moreover, I did not want that the Congress benefit from a contest between myself and Akash," Porwal told reporters. With Porwal's withdrawal, ten candidates including Akash now remained in the fray from ...
Abe willing to talk WWII peace treaty with Putin
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was willing to discuss a peace treaty with Russia -- two countries still technically at war with each other -- during a meeting with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The two leaders met face-to-face on the sidelines of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore. Both countries are seeking to try to end a thorny territorial row that has dogged relations since the end of World War II. The dispute between Russia and Japan centres on four islands in the strategically-located Kuril chain which the Soviet Union occupied at the end of the war in 1945 but are claimed by Japan. It has kept the two countries from signing a peace accord that would formally end their wartime hostilities. "We hope to discuss not only bilateral cooperation, including our economies... but also the issue of the peace treaty," Abe told Putin, according to a Russian translation of his words at the start of the meeting. "I am ready to give enough
People making accusations against Rafale deal are illiterate: VK Singh
In a veiled attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh on Wednesday said those who are levelling accusations over Rafale deal are 'illiterate'.Slamming critiques Singh said, "Those who are making accusations are illiterate. They don't have any knowledge about it. So it won't be right to further comment on it."Talking about the involvement of Reliance Group in the Rafale deal, Singh said that its (Reliance) officials have already spoken about it. "Now if you will keep on dragging the name again and again then I can't do anything," he said.Singh hit out at the Congress president, after latter while addressing a campaign rally for the second phase of assembly polls in Korba, Chhattisgarh cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the fighter jet deal.Also, the Supreme Court on Wednesday began the crucial hearing of the Rafale deal row. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, Justice S K Kaul, .
Congress' pro-Hindu stance a facade: BJP on Kamal Nath video
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying that the latter's pro-Hindu approach is a facade and that in reality, they hate the Hindu community and only appease the Muslims.The BJP's allegations came in the wake of a video on social media, wherein Congress Madhya Pradesh chief Kamal Nath can be seen telling a gathering of Muslims to bear with their (BJP's) pro-Hindu stance until the elections, following which the party will deal with them (the RSS and the BJP).Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "This video shows the true face of the Congress. Kamal Nath Ji is no small leader, he is their Madhya Pradesh chief. His words are also the Congress'. The video reveals the animosity the Congress harbours in their mind towards the RSS and the Hindus.""When they converse with Muslim people behind closed doors, they admit they are a Muslim party. Even Rahul Gandhi admitted to the same when he met with Muslim ...
Cong releases 2nd list of candidates for Telangana polls
The Congress Wednesday released its second list of 10 candidates for Telangana assembly elections. The party had released a list of 65 candidates on Monday night. According to it, state party chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy would contest from the Huzurnagar constituency. Elections to the Telangana assembly will be held on December 7, and the last date for filing of nominations is November 19. The Congress is seeking to upstage K Chandrashekar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the southern state. The Congress is seeking to have an electoral understanding with Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which walked out of the ruling NDA earlier this year after the Centre denied special status to Andhra Pradesh.
This is different war room and you go to your war rooms: SC after interaction with IAF officers
"This is a different kind of war room and you all can go to your war rooms", said the Supreme Court Wednesday after interacting with senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officers in the case pertaining to import of Rafale fighter jets from France. Top IAF officers -- Air Vice Marshall J Chalapati, Air Marshal Anil Khosla and Deputy Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal V R Chaudhari -- had to rush to the apex court at a short notice after a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that it wished to interact with IAF officers as the controversy over Rafale fighter jets deal concerns them. The issue has become a political battlefield with Congress levelling various allegations against the Modi government on the deal. The Supreme Court Wednesday commenced its crucial hearing on pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. "We are dealing with the requirements of the Air Force and would like to ask an Air Force officer. We want to hear from ..
Half-day for Delhi offices on Thursday
The Delhi government on Wednesday announced a half-day for its offices on Thursday on account of 'Phool Waalon Ki Sair' festival celebration.
Need to involve local leaders to raise awareness about govt's nutrition initiatives: Nadda
Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Wednesday stressed on the need for involving local leaders in addressing the challenges of under-nutrition in the country and sensitising them about the government's various initiatives in this regard. He said the health ministry has accorded high priority to address widespread under-nutrition in the country and has initiated several focused and targeted schemes for addressing the challenge in a convergence mode with the other ministries. "There is a need to involve local leaders and sensitise them towards nutrition initiatives of the government so that they can raise awareness about it among the people," Nadda said at the third meeting of the 'National Council on India's Nutrition Challenges'. Union Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi was present at the meeting. About the health ministry's schemes to address the undernutrition challenge, the minister said, "We have focussed on immunisation, detection and supplementation." Dr ...
Chautala family feud worsens, Abhay launches blistering attack against elder bro Ajay
In a no-holds-barred attack on his elder brother Ajay Singh Chautala amid a festering family feud, Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala Wednesday accused him and his two sons of playing into the hands of the BJP and the Congress to weaken the INLD. Abhay Chautala, 55, launched the attack in a news conference here in which he also announced the expulsion of Ajay Chautala from the INLD's primary membership over his alleged anti-party activities. Ajay Chautala's two sons - Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala too were expelled from the party earlier. Abhay Chautala attacked his elder brother for the first time. I want to ask: 'Have you ever heard Ajay Chautala or any of his family members uttering a single word against opponents Congress and BJP in recent weeks.' Their aim is not to oust the BJP or the Congress from power, but they are playing into their hands which want to weaken and break the INLD," he said. "But let me tell you every time an attempt has been made to ..
SC reserves order, says Rafale pricing can be discussed only if details made public
The Supreme Court said pricing details of Rafale jets could only be discussed after it decides on whether to make it public, and reserved its order on Wednesday on pleas seeking court-monitored probe in the multi-billion deal amidst the government's vehement opposition to the public disclosure. The observation by apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, came after the government refused to publicly divulge pricing details of the deal, saying it would give advantage to India's enemies. Hearing a bunch of pleas alleging criminality in Rafale deal and seeking court-monitored probe into it, the apex court asked wide-ranging questions from the government on issues including lack of sovereign guarantee from the French government, selection of Indian offset partner by the Dassault Aviation and need of entering into Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with France. The three-judge bench took note of submissions and counter arguments on pricing of the fighter jets with the ...
Draft Brexit deal 'devastating' for Scotland: Sturgeon
Scotland's pro-independence leader on Wednesday voiced her opposition to a draft Brexit agreement that would reportedly leave Northern Ireland in the European single market. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who wants Scotland to be allowed to remain in the single market and the customs union, said that the deal would give Northern Ireland an unfair advantage. Mainland Britain, including Scotland, would still have to leave the single market, according to British media reports. "That would be devastating for investment and jobs in Scotland," Sturgeon, who heads the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP), said in a video posted on her Twitter page. She said it would be "the worst of all possible worlds". But she added that the deal could still be voted down by the British parliament which could open the way for "better options" including single market membership for Britain as a whole. Ross Thomson, a Scottish MP from Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party, which is in opposition ..
Cong-JDS coalition expansion will happen within this month:
The much awaited expansion of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition cabinet in Karnataka will take place within this month, state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao said Wednesday. Pointing out that JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was out of town, Rao said, once he was back, the issue would be discussed with him. "It will be done this month itself," he told reporters here. Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K CVenugopal has already said it will happen, he pointed out. The cabinet expansion and appointment of MLAs as headsof boards and corporations that was to take place in Octoberwas put on the backburner by the Congress-JD(S) coalition, asthe schedule for November 3 bypolls to two assembly and threeparliamentary seats in the state was announced. Several MLAs, especially those from the Congress, who are aspirants for minister's post have been demanding that the expansion be taken up at the earliest. Moreover, according to sources close to
Government hoping resolution on liquidity in RBI's board meeting
The government hopes that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its board meeting on November 19 will address the liquidity crisis that initially triggered a tiff between the government and the central bank, sources said.