Page 2496 - Politics
Congress biggest hurdle in way of Ram Temple, alleges UP CM
The Congress is the biggest obstacle in the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath alleged at an election rally in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. Speaking at Sakri in Bilaspur district, Adityanath said he renamed Faizabad to Ayodhya so that people across the world would know the place by the name of Lord Ram. He was campaigning for BJP candidate from Takhatpur, Harshita Pandey, ahead of the second phase of polls in the state on November 20. The Congress has fielded Rashmi Singh from the seat. "Chhattisgarh is the place of the family of Lord Ram's mother. We have renamed a janpad (district) of UP to Ayodhya so that people from across the country and world know the place by the name of Lord Ram," he said. "Would this (renaming) have been possible had Congress been in power? Would it have been possible to hold a Dipotsav programme in Ayodhya during Diwali, if Congress had been in power?" the BJP leader asked. "Had Congress government been in power
CISF to take over security of Jammu, Srinagar, Leh airports
The security of all three highly sensitive airports in Jammu and Kashmir will be taken over by the CISF, which guards major airports in the country, possibly from January 1 next year, officials said Wednesday. The decision to deploy personnel of the Central Industry Security Force (CISF) at Jammu and Srinagar airports, in place of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and at the Leh airport, replacing the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), was taken at a high-level meeting between the Ministries of Home Affairs, Civil Aviation and security agencies recently. "It has been decided to deploy the CISF at Jammu, Srinagar and Leh airports on the same terms and conditions which are in force for deployment of the CISF at other airports," according to an official communication. A CISF official said a security audit of all three airports will be carried out by a multi-agency team before the deployment of its personnel. "In all probability, the CISF will take over the security of the three ...
Race for Cong CM candidate hots up as Gehlot, Pilot to contest Raj assembly polls
Rajasthan's former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state Congress president Sachin Pilot on Wednesday declared that they both will contest the December 7 assembly election, firing up the race for the chief minister's post in the state where the party is seeking to wrest power from the BJP. Sources said the leadership contest in Rajasthan Congress will now intensify with both main contenders throwing their hat in the ring. Gehlot and Pilot, however, dismissed suggestions that there was any infighting among the state leaders and asserted that they will unitedly take on the BJP. The two leaders ended the speculation over whether they will contest the polls at a joint press conference here at the Congress headquarters, where the party announced the joining of BJP MP Harish Chandra Meena from Dausa in Rajasthan. While Gehlot is a sitting MLA from Sardarpura in Jodhpur district, Pilot has never contested the state assembly polls. "The talk about division within the Congress is a conspiracy .
Separatist leader Andrabi chargesheeted for waging war against India
The NIA on Wednesday filed chargesheet against Aasiya Andrabi -- chief of the banned Dukhtaran-e-Millat, a separatist organisation, and her associates Sofi Fehmeeda and Naheeda Nasreen accusing them of waging war against the state and delivering hate speeches in Jammu and Kashmir.
TN Guv, leaders pay tributes to Nehru on birth anniversary
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam Wednesday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 129th birth anniversary. Purohit, Panneerselvam and other ministers paid floral tributes at the portrait of Nehru at Guindy here, an official release said. The Congress' state president S Thirunavukkarasar and other leaders paid tributes to Nehru at the party office here.
Chautala expels son Ajay from INLD for 'anti-party activities'
INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala on Wednesday expelled his elder son Ajay Singh Chautala, accusing him of "anti-party activities." Ajay was also removed as the secretary general of the party.
Left, Cong mull no confidence against WB govt
The Left Front and Congress are mulling a joint no confidence motion against the TMC government in West Bengal in the comming session of the assembly, sources in the two parties said on Wednesday. The no confidence motion will be brought against the "misrule" and "lawless situation" in the state, according to them. The assembly session will begin from November 16 and continue till November 29. "We are jointly planning to bring a no confidence motion against the state government. Democracy has ceased to exist in Bengal and unemployment is on a rise in the state. Misrule by TMC has led to a lawless situation in the state," Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan said at a press conference. He was joined by Left Front legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty. After the assembly session begins on November 16, the Left and the Congress will submit the no confidence motion under rule 185, Mannan said adding "We hope that the motion will be accepted by the speaker". When ...
Police admission of fresh ULFA recruitment proves govt failed
With police officers admitting that youths were once again joining the outlawed ULFA(I), it has been proved that the BJP-led government in the state has failed to protect the interest of the state, opposition leader in Assam assembly Debabrata Saikia said Wednesday. Police officers have recently admitted that growing public sentiment against the Centre's move to amend the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has given a "fresh lease of life" to ULFA (Independent) that has started recruiting youths again, Saikia said in a statement. The police officers included state DGP (Special Branch), Tinsukia superintendent of police and others, the senior Congress leader said. "The admission by senior police officials is nothing short of a confirmation of the Sarbananda Sonowal-led Assam government's failure to protect Assam's interests and its tendency to betray people," he said. ULFA's popularity had gradually waned during the past decade-and-a-half when the Congress was in power ...
Vibrant Gujarat roadshows begin Friday
Gujarat government will hold six roadshows in the country starting from New Delhi, in the run-up to the Vibrant Gujarat 2019 Summit to be held in January next year, an official said Wednesday. The first roadshow will be held on November 16 in Delhi, which will be addressed by chief minister Vijay Rupani. The state government has already held 24 roadshows around the world in the run-up to the biannual event. "After organising roadshows in 24 countries, we will have curtain raiser event for the 2019 summit in New Delhi on the 16th. Chief minister Vijay Rupani will be present at the event," Industrial Extension Bureau (INDEXTb) managing director RK Beniwal said. The other roadshows will be organised in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata, he added. Beniwal said that the three-day Vibrant Gujarat 2019 Summit will be different as it will also focus on trade and services, other than investment. He further said that the state government is also focused on bringing ...
SC reserves order on Rafale, no sovereign guarantee by French government backing the deal
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on four petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into 36 Rafale fighter jet deal with French firm Dassault Aviation even as the government admitted that there was no sovereign guarantee by the French government backing the deal.
Winter session to begin Dec 11, triple talaq atop government agenda
The winter session of Parliament will begin on December 11, after conclusion of voting in the Assembly elections in five states on December 8, and conclude on January 8 next year.
Israeli Defence Minister resigns over Gaza truce
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman announced his resignation on Wednesday, citing disagreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over accepting a ceasefire with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip, after two days of intense airstrikes and rocket fire.
119 candidates file nominations in Rajasthan
Poll authorities received a total of 145 nominations from 119 candidates in Rajasthan on Wednesday, including Rastriya Loktantrik Party (RLTP) convener Hanuman Beniwal. Many Congress hopefuls have also filed their nominations even though the party was yet to announce its list of candidates. So far, 152 candidates have filed 192 sets of nominations, Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer Anand Kumar said. Seventeen candidates filed 24 nominations on Tuesday and 16 candidates filed 23 nominations on Monday. The last date for filing of nominations is November 19. RLTP convener Beniwal filed his nomination from Khinvsar assembly constituency of Nagaur district after addressing a public meeting. In his speech, he targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He said BJP district executive member Noor Mohammad Gauri and Merta municipality's former chairman Anil Thanvi joined his RLTP after quitting the BJP. Assembly election in Rajasthan will be held on December 7.
Citizenship Bill spurring Assam youth to take up arms: Congress
The Congress on Wednesday said that the admission by the Assam's police brass that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 was spurring the youth to take up arms proved the BJP government's failure to protect the state's interest.
PM Modi calls for early conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted the need for an early conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement through multilateral and bilateral talks among the member countries.
Japan serious about boosting connectivity in India's north-east: Hiramatsu
Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu on Wednesday said that Japan is serious about boosting connectivity in India's north-eastern states by building roads and bridges.
Sri Lanka Parliament passes no-confidence vote against Rajapaksa
Sri Lankan Parliament on Wednesday approved a no-confidence motion against new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his controversially appointed government, a day after the Supreme Court stayed a presidential decree dissolving the legislature.
Israeli Defence Minister quits over Gaza crisis
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, announced his resignation on Wednesday over the government's decision to call for a ceasefire, mediated by Egypt. Liberman mentioned that his resignation came weeks after continued disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the course of actions undertaken to deal with the ongoing tensions between Israel and Gaza.On the other hand, the ceasefire that was announced by Hamas on Tuesday continued for Wednesday, however, no official confirmation was made to this effect by Israel, reported the Washington Post.Speculations are rife that Liberman's departure from the Netanyahu government would be followed by fresh elections in the country.Meanwhile, the Israelis staying on the southern part of the country and who have become the target of more than 400 rockets fired by militants in the Gaza Strip on Monday, protested against the Israeli government's move of negotiating the ongoing crisis with a ceasefire. they termed it as governments
'Panchayat elections: JK Govt announces holiday in poll-bound areas'
Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday announced public holidays on voting days in various poll-bound areas of the state, undergoing nine-phase panchayat elections from November 17, an official said. The polling days for various areas in the state for the panchayat elections respectively fall on November 17, 20, 24, 27 and 29 and December 1, 4, 8 and 11. Public holiday shall be observed within the limits of the respective CD-blocks of concerned districts on account of the panchayat elections, on the date of polls under the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881," a government spokesperson said. Quoting from an order from the General Administration Department, he said the holidays on account of panchayat polls would be observed only in the areas where the polling is to be held. According to the order, special casual leave would be granted to the employees who have to go to other areas for exercising their right to franchise, for which they will demonstrate proof of voting on return.
Israeli Defence Minister resigns; accuses Netanyahu of surrendering before Hamas
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned Wednesday and called for early elections, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "capitulating to terror" and surrendering before the Islamist group Hamas over a Gaza ceasefire agreement. Over 460 rockets and mortar shells were fired at southern Israel in 25 hours on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Israeli army. The Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted over 100 of them. Most of the rest landed in open fields, but dozens landed inside Israeli cities and towns, killing one person, injuring dozens more, and causing significant property damage. In response, the Israeli military targeted approximately 160 sites in the Gaza Strip connected to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups, including four facilities that the army designated as "key strategic assets". As news of a ceasefire between the Israeli government and Hamas -- which controls the Gaza Strip -- broke, Liberman's office put out a statement saying ..