Page 2500 - Politics
India, US discuss free Indo-Pacific, cooperation in defence, trade
India and the US on Wednesday discussed their roles in a free Indo-Pacific region and cooperation in defence and trade sectors during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit here.
Challenges galore as new Sabarimala season is set to begin (News Analysis)
It could well be the first time in the history of the Lord Ayyappa Sabarimala temple that the nearly-two-month-long festival season is opening amidst such grave uncertainty.
China closely monitoring crisis in Sri Lanka
China on Wednesday said it was closely following the escalating political crisis in Sri Lanka and hoped that the political parties could solve it by themselves.
Rajasthan BJP MP joins Congress
The BJP on Wednesday suffered a jolt in Rajastahn as one of its MPs, Harish Meena, joined the Congress ahead of the assembly elections on December 7.
Congress releases second list for Telangana Assembly polls
Congress Wednesday released its second list of 10 candidates for the December seven Assembly elections in Telangana. The names in the list are: Ramesh Rathod (Khanapur-ST), Jajala Surendar (Yellareddy), Adluri Laxman Kumar (Dharmapuri-SC), KK Mahendar Reddy (Sircilla), Kichannagari Laxma Reddy (Medchal), Dr Sravan Dasoju (Khairatabad), P Vishnuvardhan Reddy (Jubilee Hills), C Pratap Reddy (Shadnagar), Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy (Bhupalpalle) and Kandala Upender Reddy (Palair). Congress had earlier released its first list of 65 candidates. The party is leading the "grand alliance" of opposition parties for the polls. The alliance comprises Congress, TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS). The total number of seats is 119. Congress had earlier said it would leave 25 seats to its allies -- TDP (14), TJS (8) and CPI (3). The process of filing nominations began Monday with the Election Commission issuing a notification in this regard.
Congress encouraged corruption, naxalism: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Wednesday accused Congress of "encouraging corruption, naxalism, terrorismand misrule" during its rule in the country. Addressing a campaign rally for the second phase of Assembly polls here, Adityanath also accused Congress of "insulting martyrdom" of security forces engaged in anti-naxal operations by terming Maoists as "revolutionaries". "Congress has done nothing except divide the society on the basis of caste, region, religion and language, he said. During its 55-year rule in the country, Congress always encouraged poverty, misrule, terrorism, naxalism and corruption, he said. Without naming UP Congress chief Raj Babbar, Adityanath said, "a leader of UP Congress had termed naxals as revolutionaries which is an insult to the martyrdom of security forces fighting Maoists". Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP with a slogan of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas has launched public welfare schemes for the inclusive
PM Modi meets Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in Singapore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison held talks Wednesday and discussed ways to further deepen the bilateral ties, including in areas of trade, defence and security. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit here, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. "PM Narendra Modi met with PM of Australia Scott Morrison on the margins of East Asia Summit in Singapore. Both leaders had a good discussion on deepening ties in trade and investment, defence and security and other areas of bilateral cooperation," Kumar said. "A fruitful meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Scott Morrison in Singapore earlier today," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet. Modi began his two-day visit to Singapore Wednesday by delivering his keynote address at the prestigious Fintech Festival. He became the first head of government to address the world's largest event on financial technology. The prime minister also held ...
Asean, China discuss code of conduct for South China Sea
The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Wednesday discussed a proposed code of conduct for trade through the South China Sea.
Sri Lanka's Parliament passes no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka's Parliament on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who was installed by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, a day after the Supreme Court overturned the presidential decree to dissolve Parliament and hold snap polls. The Parliament on Wednesday met for the first time since October 26, when President Sirisena sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, installed Rajapaksa in his place and suspended the Parliament plunging the island nation into a constitutional crisis. Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that a majority of the 225-member assembly supported the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa, the former strongman. "According to the voice, I recognise that the government has no majority," Jayasuriya announced in the House as Rajapaksa supporters protested. He gave the ruling after the no-confidence motion was taken for a vote. The Speaker calculated the votes based on the voices he heard as ...
Campaigning picks up pace for U'khand civic polls
Campaigning by political parties is gaining momentum in Uttarakhand where civic bodies elections are scheduled for Sunday, as prominent leaders address one poll meeting after another to canvass for their parties' official nominees. Campaign vehicles of parties, loaded with posters, banners and their symbols are driving through the streets of the state to drum up support for candidates. Slogans penetrate the air every time a poll vehicle speeds through a sleepy neighbourhood in town. Candidates are also conducting door-to-door campaigns to connect with people in different pockets. While Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Pradesh BJP president Ajay Bhatt are currently spearheading the party's poll campaign, the next couple of days will see Bhojpuri film star and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari hitting the campaign trail in Uttarakhand. The chief minister has already campaigned for the party's mayoral candidates in Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Kotdwar, besides holding ...
Ahead of second phase of C'garh polls, Rahul Gandhi accuses PM of corruption
Continuing his tirade against Narendra Modi ahead of the second phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of indulging in corruption to help his 'influential friends'."In 4.5 years, loans worth Rs 3,50,000 were waived off for 15 most influential people, but not for the farmers," alleged Rahul Gandhi.In an attempt to woo farmers, the Gandhi scion promised that if voted to power in the state, the party will waive off farmers' loan apart from issuing new bonuses, along with releasing those due from the last two years.Raising the issue of land acquisition, Gandhi alleged that due compensation is not given to farmers."Your land is snatched away and appropriate compensation is not given. In Uttar Pradesh's Bhatta Parsaul there was a farmer agitation. I went there and joined them. The result of that action was 2013 Land Acquisition Act. Four times the market rate as compensation and mandatory consent of the farmers were the features," ...
Telangana polls: Congress releases second list of 10 candidates
The Congress party on Wednesday released its second list of 10 candidates for the upcoming Telangana Legislative Assembly elections.According to the list, Ramesh Rathod, a Schedule Tribe candidate is contesting from Khanapur seat, Jajala Surendar from Yellareddy, Adluri Laxman Kumar, a Schedule Caste candidate from Dharmapuri, K K Mahendar Reddy from Sircilla, Kichannagari Laxma Reddy from Medchal.Sravan Dasoju has been nominated for Khairatabad seat, P Vishnuvardhan Reddy for Jubliee Hills, C Pratap Reddy for Shadnagar, Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy for Bhupalpalle and Kandala Upender Reddy for Palair constituency.On Monday, the Congress had released its first list of 65 candidates for the state assembly elections that included prominent names like state party chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is contesting from the Huzurnagar constituency and former state cabinet minister Nama Nageswara Rao who is nominated for Khammam seat.The state will go to polls on December 7, while the results will
Congress names 10 more in Telangana 2nd list
The main opposition Congress in Telangana on Wednesday released its second list of 10 candidates for the state assembly polls on December 7, re-nominating seven candidates who had lost in 2014.
PM Modi holds bilateral meeting with US VP Pence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with the United States Vice President Michael R Pence here on Thursday.During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi said that India and the US share the same fundamental values and the two countries should join hands to achieve world peace."India and the United States share the same fundamental values. India has always believed that the world is one family and the first condition for that to happen is peace. You must have noted that India has always contributed in a big way for world peace and India's role is a pro-active one. We would like to work together for world peace, world progress, global economic progress and poverty alleviation which is important for our values," Prime Minister Modi asserted.The Prime Minister also reiterated that there was a great opportunity for the US in India in making defence equipment and setting up defence industry.Conveying his regards to US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Modi ...
Rafale Case: Shourie questions Reliance role, CJI asks for Air Force's opinion
A Bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices UU Lalit and KM Joseph are hearing a batch of petitions seeking a probe into the alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal.After the arguments of one of the petitioner advocate ML Sharma, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh's counsel and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, it was former Union Minister Arun Shourie who made his submissions in the case.Shourie argued to the Supreme Court that the Dassault company with its immense experience could not have chosen Reliance as its partner in the deal."Dassault which was established in 1929 could not have given the contract to Reliance that had no experience. The deal helped Dassault tide over its severe financial crisis, so they will support whatever the government will say," he argued.He further questioned why the government is not disclosing pricing details of the deal. "It's public money why the pricing can't be disclosed?"Referring to an alleged remark of Goa Chief ...
Rahul Gandhi promises 'people's govt' in Chhattisgarh
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday promised to install a "people's government" in Chhattisgarh and accused the ruling BJP of destroying the state in its 15-year rule. Addressing a rally for the second phase of polling in the state, Gandhi said it was among the richest in the country in terms of water, forest, mines and minerals. "But, people have remained poor due to the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government," he charged. Invoking his family ties with the state, the Congress chief said the relationship was of love and not politics. He claimed that lands of locals in this part of the tribal-dominated state were taken away to set up industries. But when the units were not set up, the lands were not returned to the people. "The Congress will install a people's government in the state which will empower farmers, small and medium businesses and provide employment to the youth," Gandhi said. He said if the Congress came to power in the state, it would ...
China hopes for political stability in Lanka after PM Rajapaksa's defeat in trust vote
A concerned China today expressed hope that Sri Lanka, where it has made huge investments, would see the return of stability as pro-Beijing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was voted out by a no-confidence motion in Parliament. Asked about the Sri Lankan Parliament passing a resolution of no-confidence against Rajapaksa after the nation's Supreme Court issued a stay order against President Maithripala Sirisena's order to dissolve the national legislature, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here that Beijing is closely following the evolving situation in Sri Lanka. "China is a traditional friendly neighbour of Sri Lanka. We are closely following the situation unfolding there," she said. "We hope Sri Lanka will see stability and we believe that parties have the wisdom and capability to deal with the situation," she said. China has high stakes in Sri Lanka since it invested over USD eight billion in the island, including the Hambantota port and the Colombo port ...
Indian-American Neomi Rao to replace Kavanaugh on DC Circuit: Trump
Prominent Indian-American lawyer Neomi Rao has been nominated by US President Donald Trump to fill Justice Brett Kavanaugh's seat on the powerful DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump during Diwali celebrations on Tuesday at the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House announced the nomination of the 45-year-old regulatory czar for the DC Circuit which is considered next to the US Supreme Court. And, if confirmed by the Senate, Rao, who is currently administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), would be the second Indian-American judge in this powerful court after judge Sree Srinivasan, who was appointed during the previous Obama regime. "She is going to be fantastic. Great person," Trump said on his nominee. Rao would fill the seat vacated by Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh, who served on the appeals court for 12 years. A formal announcement on her nomination is expected to be made by the White House on Wednesday. "I just nominated Rao to be on the DC circuit ...
Sri Lankan Parliament passes no-trust vote against Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka's Parliament on Wednesday passed a motion of no-confidence against new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his controversially appointed government, a day after the Supreme Court stayed a presidential decree dissolving the legislature.
Harish Meena joining Cong will have no impact in Rajasthan polls: BJP MP
Rajasthan BJP leader Kirori Lal Meena said Wednesday MP Harish Chandra Meena's joining the Congress will have no impact on tribal votes in Dausa and its nearby regions in the state polls next month. Elections to the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on December 7. Harish Meena, BJP's Dausa MP, joined the Congress in Delhi in the presence of former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot and AICC's state in-charge Avinash Pande on Wednesday. There will be no impact. People know who is an opportunist and an opportunist can go anywhere, Kirorilal Meena, a Rajya Sabha MP, said. Harish Meena, a former IPS officer and Rajasthan DGP, had joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Congress leader and Sapotara MLA Ramesh Meena, said though his party had given a lot to the family of Namonain Meena, his brother Harish Meena joined the BJP in 2014. Harish Meena has returned home, said the deputy leader of opposition in the state ...