Page 2504 - Politics
PM Modi meets Twitter CEO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Twitter co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey here. The two held discussions about steps, which can be taken by the micro-blogging platform in order to ramp up their engagements with the government in order to curb fake news and other objectionable contents. Dorsey also reportedly discussed Twitter's investment plans in India with Prime Minister Modi.Prime Minister Modi took to his Twitter handle to express his delight following the meeting. "Delighted to meet you @jack! Happy to see the passion with which you're leading @Twitter. I enjoy being on this medium, where I've made great friends and see everyday the creativity of people," the Prime Minister tweeted.Meanwhile, Dorsey thanked the Prime Minister for his time and his ideas for Twitter."Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi for having us today. I enjoyed our conversation about the importance of global conversation. Also: thanks for the ideas for Twitter!" the Dorsey ...
Woman arrested carrying ammunition on Srinagar outskirts
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday arrested a female over-ground worker (OGW) carrying ammunition including grenades and live rounds.The woman was arrested during a search operation at a check-point in Lawaypora area on the outskirts of Srinagar city.A case has been registered under relevant sections of law and a probe has been initiated in the matter.Earlier in the day, a heavily-armed terrorist was killed by the Indian Army on Tuesday in the Aknoor Sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The forces recovered five pistols, 10 pistol magazines, 60 bullets of the pistol, one AK assault Rifle, two AK Rifle magazines with 234 rounds of ammunition, fifteen hand grenades and twelve fuzes for IEDs.The timely intercept of the intrusion of the terrorists with the cache of arms, ammunition and other warlike stores has thwarted any possible untoward incident, planned by the terrorist during the scheduled elections in the state.The Indian Army is carrying out relentless and robust anti-infiltration ...
Nehruvian legacy being 'undermined', we must honour him by safeguarding democracy: Sonia
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Nehruvian legacy was being "undermined" by those presently in power who have "contempt" for the country's first prime minister for all that he did to build an India which they want to change for the "worse". Speaking at an event to relaunch Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's book 'Nehru: The Invention of India', the former Congress president said Jawaharlal Nehru, as India's first prime minister, "consolidated democracy and entrenched the basic values of India's polity -- values to which we are still proud to lay claim." "What are these values. Shashi Tharoor summarises them as the core pillars of Nehruvianism -- democratic institutional building, staunch pan-Indian secularism, socialist economics and foreign policy of non-alignment. These values were integral to a vision of Indianness that is fundamentally being challenged today," she said on the eve of Nehru's birth anniversary. But, that vision remains at the core of "our ...
US lawmakers return to work, spending showdown ahead
US lawmakers returned to work Tuesday for the first time since contentious midterm election campaigns, with Congress facing a spending showdown and Democrats eager to protect special prosecutor Robert Mueller's Russia probe. Also on Capitol Hill will be the newly elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives, including the two Democrats who flipped Republican-held Senate seats, as they attend orientation sessions ahead of their swearing in next January. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Nevada's Jacky Rosen, both of whom ousted incumbent Republicans in their races, met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday morning. On the Republican side, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was scheduled to meet his party's three new members Wednesday. Democrats reclaimed the House from Republicans in last Tuesday's election, but President Donald Trump's party retained control of the Senate. The changes take effect on January 3, 2019. One potentially controversial arrival on Capitol ..
Discontent surface over Cong, TDP candidates list in Telangana
Discontent surfaced over the first list of candidates announced by Congress and TDP for the coming Telangana assembly polls with aspirants who failed to get the berth crying foul and supporters of some staging protests Tuesday. Former PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who had also served as a minister in Congress governments till 2014, rushed to Delhi as his name was not part of the first list. Congress declared its first list of 65 nominees late on Monday. Bikshapati Yadav, former MLA from Serilingampalli seat Hyderabad, was disappointed as his constituency had been alloted to the TDP, a partner in the Congress-led alliance. Saying that he has already conducted a 'padayatra' in the constituency, he wondered whether this was the recognition one gets for having worked for the party. "Is this the result the party gives for having served it?" he asked talking to reporters here. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had earlier talked about not giving tickets to those "who land in .
Rafale dogfight: Congress trashes Modi's defence, Jaitley hits back (Roundup)
The political dogfight over the Rafale deal on Tuesday escalated with the Congress trashing the Modi government and French defence major Dassault Aviations defence of the deal while the ruling BJP hit back accusing the grand old party of creating a controversy around sensitive defence requirements.
Why PM is mum on corruption chages against Raman Singh: Rahul
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asked Tuesday why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on charges of corruption against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and his family. Addressing a rally in Kharsia Assembly constituency in Raigarh district in the poll-bound state, Gandhi claimed the prime minister did not speak about corruption anymore. "In civil supply scam of Rs 36,000 crore, names of Raman Singh and his wife surfaced. Rs 5,000 chit fund scam took place under the protection of the Raman Singh government," he alleged. "His (Singh's) son Abhishek Singh was named in Panama papers scandal, but no action was taken in any of these cases," the Congress chief alleged. "Prime minister Modi used to speak about corruption in his speeches earlier, but why he does not speak about the corruption of Raman Singh and his family? Why Raman Singh too is silent over corruption," he asked. The ruling BJP has denied the allegations of corruption against the chief minister and his family. Gandhi ...
Syrian Kurds ally with SDF, resume fighting against ISIS
In an attempt to drive out the Islamic State (ISIS) militants from its last remaining strongholds, the Syrian Kurdish forces have resumed the fight in an alliance with the Syrian Arab fighters, together known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).The resumption of the fight from the side of Kurdish forces came after a frontline footage of the recent intense fight between the ISIS and the Turkish forces was released by the CNN media, filmed by Brazilian photographer Gabriel Chaim. They launched a joint intense fight for the town of Sousa in late October.Contentions between the Turkish military and the Syrian Kurds often delayed the final operations against ISIS. But the SDF said in its recent statement said that the operations have finally resumed after "positive calls from our allies to de-escalate and focus the efforts on defeating ISIS, as it would contribute to the stabilization of the area and the benefit of all parties" CNN reported.The US has long been mediating between Ankara ..
PM Modi leaves for Singapore to attend ASEAN Summit on Nov 14, 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for Singapore on Tuesday night to attend 13th ASEAN Summit at the invitation of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong. Singapore is the current Chair of ASEAN."I will be visiting Singapore on 14-15 November, to participate in the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits," PM Narendra Modi said in his departure statement prior to his Singapore visit. "In addition, I would also participate in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Leaders' (RCEP) Meeting" he added."My participation in these meetings symbolizes our continued commitment to strengthening our engagement with ASEAN Member States and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. I am looking forward to my interactions with other ASEAN and East Asia Summit Leaders," said the Prime Minister."On 14 November, I will have the honour to be the first Head of Government to deliver the Keynote Address at the Singapore Fintech Festival. As the world's largest event on financial technology, the ...
NC leader advocates for truth and reconciliation commission in J&K
A senior leader of National Conference Tuesday advocated for a truth and reconciliation commission to restore peace in the state. "National Conference is committed to press for truth and reconciliation commission to ascertain reasons behind the three-decade-long strife and insurgency here," additional general secretary of the party Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal said, addressing a series of meetings during his two-day visit to Rajouri district. Criticising Governor Satya Pal Malik, Kamaal said the governor should emulate the likes of B K Nehru, L K Jha, K V Krishna Rao, G C Saxena and concentrate on running the government effectively. "The worst fact is that two of the governor's advisors are from non-state cadre with powers and authority of a cabinet minister which goes against the Jammu and Kashmir constitution," Kamaal claimed. On the day, the NC leader, who is the brother of party president Farooq Abdullah, paid obeisance at the mausoleum of 17th century saint Baba Gulam Shah Badshah at ...
CNN sues President Trump, his White House aides over barring of reporter
CNN Tuesday said it has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and several of his top aides, seeking the immediate restoration of the network's correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass to the White House which was suspended following a testy exchange with the US president. During a White House press conference last Wednesday, Acosta challenged Trump's use of the word "invasion" to describe a migrant caravan heading to the US from Central America. When Acosta tried to ask a question about the Russia investigation into alleged interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump told him repeatedly "that's enough" and "put down the mic". Hours after the encounter, seen across the world, the White House, in an unprecedented move, suspended Acosta's press pass, known as a Secret Service "hard pass." White House Press secretary Sarah Huckerbee Sanders said access was removed because he had put "his hands on a young woman". Acosta has denied the allegations. White House insisted that its ...
I enjoy being on this medium: PM to Twitter CEO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday told Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey who called on him here that he enjoys being on the micro-blogging website and has made "great friends" on it. The prime minister later tweeted that he was delighted to meet Dorsey. "Happy to see the passion with which you're leading @Twitter. I enjoy being on this medium, where I've made great friends and see everyday the creativity of people," the prime minister said. Thanking Modi for the meeting, Twitter CEO tweeted, "I enjoyed our conversation about the importance of global conversation.
BJP rebel Sameeksha Gupta quits party, says will contest poll
Former Gwalior mayor and BJP leader Sameeksha Gupta announced Tuesday that she has quit the party and will be contesting the November 28 Assembly election in Madhya Pradesh. Gupta's announcement came even as senior BJP leaders including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan are cajoling party rebels to opt out of the electoral race. Gupta, who was mayor from 2009 to 2015, has already filed the nomination from Gwalior (South) as an independent. Three-time MLA Narayan Singh Kushwaha is contesting the election on BJP ticket from the seat. Gupta alleged that the BJP had forsaken the ideology of Deendayal Upadhyay and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and embraced dynastic politics. "Dedicated party workers are being ignored. So I have resigned from the party," she said. The deadline for withdrawal of nomination for the polls will end Wednesday.
Dassault CEO's comments on Rafale deal manufactured lies: Congress
The raging political row over the Rafale deal escalated further on Tuesday with the Congress dismissing as "manufactured lies" claims by the CEO of French plane maker Dassault Aviation that there was no wrong-doing in the contract and Rahul Gandhi firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over it. Hitting back at Gandhi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Congress chief's failed politics is compelling him to resort to "falsehood" and "petty hair-splitting" to make the sensitive Rafale purchase defence deal controversial. His Cabinet colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad told PTI that Trappier's claims have in fact "exposed all the lies" of Gandhi whose behaviour, he alleged, had become increasingly irresponsible and oblivious to India's security needs. Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Randeep Surjewala joined Gandhi in accusing the government of a "cover-up", hours after Dassault CEO Eric Trappier rebutted the party's allegations. Congress chief spokesperson Surjewala said the
CPM joins hands with DMK for TN elections
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) will contest the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu in alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).After meeting DMK president MK Stalin at his residence here, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said, "We have decided today that in Tamil Nadu, we will be with the DMK in the forthcoming elections. We are together on the issue of saving the unity, integrity and harmony of the people of India and the country's Constitutional institutions."He added, "All the secular-minded parties should come together. We have a common objective. Alliances will take place at the state level. CPM will be with DMK at the state level."The Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) were the parties that had contested the previous Assembly elections as part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. In fact, all these parties had contested the previous Lok Sabha elections together as well but for 2019 the equation is yet to be .
Centre's affidavit on Rafale conceals more than it reveals: Congress
Trashing the Centre's defence of the Rafale deal made before the Supreme Court, the Congress on Tuesday said the decision to buy the French jets was made in violation of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) and the process was structured subsequently to legitimise it.
Ajay Chautala hits out at his detractors in the party
Pitted against his younger brother Abhay Chautala in a power struggle within the INLD, its secretary general Ajay Chautala Tuesday hit out at his detractors for dubbing a party meet, convened by him, as "unconstitutional". Ajay Chautala wrote Monday a letter inviting the INLD's sitting and former MPs and MLAs, besides other office bearers for a state executive meet in Jind on November 17. Reacting to Ajay Chautala's plans to convene the meet, Indian National Lok Dal spokesperson Praveen Attrey has questioned his authority to call it. As per the party constitution, only national president (Om Prakash Chautala) or state president (Ashok Arora) or someone authorised by them has the right to call a meeting of the state executive," he said. Ajay Chautala, however, has not been authorised to calling a party meeting and therefore, it is unconstitutional, he added. INLD MP Charanjit Singh Rori too has decided to stay away from the November 17 meeting, describing it as unauthorised". The ...
U'khand govt saved crores by re-estimating project costs: CM
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat Tuesday saidthe state government has savedcrores of rupees byre-estimating exaggerated approximations of project costs. "We have had the costs of various projects re-estimated and restrained the tendency of submitting exaggerated estimates. This has enabled the state government to save crores of rupees," Rawat said, addressing an election meeting here. Citing examples, Rawat said Rs 19 crore was savedin the construction of a flyover on Dehradun-Haridwar NationalHighway and Rs 11 crore in the construction of a tunnel on Dehradun-Saharanpur National Highway. The chief minister, who wascampaigning for BJP nominee Pushpa Paswan for the forthcoming civic body polls, spoke on the state government's policy of zero tolerance to corruption, saying more than 50 people involved in graft cases were put behind bars in recent months. The chief minister said the state government had more than doubled the budgetary allocation for civic bodies.
JK: Madhav asks BJP councillors to show result on ground on development front
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Tuesday assured the newly elected party councillors from Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) of "free-flow" of central funds for development works and asked them to have zero tolerance for corruption. The BJP leader met the councillors at the party headquarters and said despite boycott of urban local bodies elections by some parties, the BJP's efforts have yielded result and the elections have opened the gateway for central funds to the state for development projects. The free flow of funds will start an era of unprecedented development in the state, Madhav said. He advised the councillors to work with dedication and asked them to have zero tolerance for corruption.This is an opportunity... your efforts must yield result on the ground with unparallel development in Jammu, he said. Madhav asked the councillors to study the BJP-governed corporations and committees where the party has tasted consecutive victories. Earlier in the day, Madhav along with ...
Falsehood no substitute for Rahul's failed politics: Jaitley on Rafale row
After Rahul Gandhi's barbs on the NDA's Rafale deal, faulting the government for making changes in it without consultation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hit back saying the Congress President was trying to create a controversy around India's sensitive defence requirements to compensate for his "failed politics".