Page 2516 - Politics
Ajay Chautala invites MPs, MLAs for meeting on Nov 17 in Jind
INLD Secretary General Ajay Singh Chautala invited former MPs, MLAs and other office bearers Monday for a meeting in Jind on November 17. Chautala sent a letter, which does not mention any agenda of the meeting and states that "an invitation is hereby given for the Haryana State Body meeting of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD)". "All the state body office bearers/members, special invitees, executive members, sitting and former MPs and MLAs, presidents of the district units, state presidents and district conveners of all the Cells of the party and its bodies may kindly make it convenient to attend the State Body general meeting," wrote Chautala, who is also a former MP. The letter, inviting various party functionaries for the Jind meet, comes in the midst of a widening rift in the Chautala family. When asked if any important decision was likely to be taken by him in the meeting on November 17, Chautala told reporters in Delhi on Monday that "all colleagues will sit and decide". In an
Owaisi attacks BJP over manifesto promise in Telangana
The Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to formally release its Telangana election manifesto but All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday jumped the gun by reacting to reports about BJP's promise in the manifesto of distributing cows across the state."BJP in its manifesto for Telangana elections 2018 promises to distribute 1 lakh cows in the state. Will they give one to me also? I promise I will keep it with the utmost respect, but the question is will they give? It is not a laughing matter, just think about it," the AIMIM Chief said.This comes ahead of the assembly elections in the state slated to take place on December 7.
Rafale jet deal: Centre submits decision-making process before SC
The union government on Monday submitted details of its decision-making process in the Rafale aircraft deal to the Supreme Court. In its affidavit, the government said that all the requisite steps as per the requirement of Defence Procurement Procedure 2013 were followed while procuring the fighter planes.The Centre stated that unnecessary controversy is being sought to be created regarding the selection of Reliance Defence deal and added that the rules laid down by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government were only being followed by the present National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government.The Centre added that all requisite steps like preparation of Services Qualitative Requirements, approval of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), technical evaluation and acceptance of technically qualified platform were duly followed during the procurement of the fighter planes.The government said that as per defence offset guidelines, the foreign original equipment manufacturer is free .
Captain denies any role in summoning of Badals in sacrilege case
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday made it clear that his government had no role in the summoning of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and actor Akshay Kumar by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2015 sacrilege and police firing incidents."The SIT is an independent entity and is functioning without any government interference," he said in response to a question while addressing the media after inaugurating the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Sangrur in Punjab. "My government's job was to form the SIT as per the unanimous decision of the Vidhan Sabha, which it has done, and now the onus of investigation is on the SIT," said the Chief Minister.In response to another question, the Chief Minister reiterated his government's commitment to ensuring that every single grain of the farmers is lifted from the grain markets. He had already written to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and
ECI asks for 2 more candidates for Mizoram CEO's replacement
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday asked Mizoram government to send two more names for the post of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Mizoram Chief Secretary had nominated three names - Lalhmingthanga, H Lalengmawia and K Lalthawmmawia, on Sunday.There has been no decision regarding the removal of incumbent CEO SB Shashank. The ECI will only appoint someone as CEO if he or she is capable of conducting a 'free, fair and peaceful election', an official of the apex poll body had earlier said.Meanwhile, Shashank will also be meeting top ECI officials for briefing them on the poll preparedness in the state."The Commission will again be meeting SB Shashank to know what exactly the level is of preparedness and what should be done in Mizoram because the new incumbent will have very little time to deliver polls in the hill state," said the official."It will be crucial to know the important inputs that should be given to the new person if he or she is appointed the next ...
AGP to contest panchayat polls alone
The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a BJP ally, on Monday said it will contest the coming panchayat polls in Assam on its own.
Modi government planning demonetisation part-2 by dipping into RBI reserves: Congress
The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of planning a 'demonetisation part-2' by forcing the central bank to part with a large chunk of its reserves.
Lankan parties move SC against Parliament dissolution by Prez Sirisena
Sri Lanka's major political parties and an election commission member on Monday dragged President Maithripala Sirisena to the Supreme Court, challenging his controversial move of dissolving Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end. Sirisena dissolved Parliament on November 9 and announced snap polls to be held on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House to prove the premiership of 72-year-old Mahinda Rajapaksa, whom he has appointed prime minister after abruptly sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe on October 26. Rajapaksa needed the support of minimum 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove his majority. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP), the main opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the leftist JVP or the People's Liberation Front (PLF) were among the 10 groups that filed the fundamental rights petitions in the apex court, seeking declaration of the president's action as illegal, officials ...
EAS, ASEAN meet, RCEP on Modi's Singapore visit agenda
The East Asia Summit, an ASEAN-India informal meet, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and a bilateral meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda during his two-day visit to Singapore this week. Prime Minister Modi will reach Singapore on November 14 morning for his 36-hour visit to the city-state and his first engagement after arrival will be to deliver the keynote address at the Singapore Fintech Summit, Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs, said during a media briefing here. "This time we are looking to launch the platform APIX. The ASEAN countries have put together their financial institutions on one platform. The prime minister would be launching that link with the Indian financial institutions," she said. In the evening, he would attend the second Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit. "Leaders of the 16 negotiating countries would be there. At this summit, they would ...
BJP will run country-wide campaign to identify infiltrators if voted to power in 2019: Shah
The BJP on Monday hit out at the Congress over its stand on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and said that if voted to power in 2019 it shall run a country-wide campaign to implement NRC to identify and send back the infiltrators.
PM slams Rahul, Sonia for questioning note ban; need no certificate from those on bail
Hitting out at Rahul and Sonia Gandhi for questioning him on demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said he did not need a "certificate of honesty" from the "mother-son duo" who are out on bail. In a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress, its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, Modi also said the party's "politics begins and ends with one family". Addressing a poll rally in Bilaspur ahead of the second and final phase polling in Chattisgarh on November 20, the prime minister made a strong pitch for development, saying its pace under the Congress' watch was "far slow" than that during the BJP's rule. Singling out the Gandhis for "seeking account of demonetisation", Modi asked "whether the mother-son duo who are out on bail for financial irregularities would give him certificate of honesty". "They want an account of demonetisation. It was due to the demonetisation that fake companies were identified. And because of that you had to seek bail. Why do you forget that
Prabhu leading delegation for RCEP meet in Singapore
Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu is leading a delegation for the meeting for trade ministers of RCEP member countries, which are negotiating a mega trade deal, in Singapore, beginning Monday. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a pact that aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights. Trade Ministers of the 16-member RCEP are meeting in Singapore to continue to efforts to resolve the issues which are hindering the conclusion of the negotiations. The chief negotiators had recently concluded the 24th round of meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, last month, the commerce ministry said in a statement. The RCEP members include 10 ASEAN members Brunei Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam and their 6 free trade agreement partners India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. India already has a free trade ...
Delhi government offices, schools to shut on Tuesday
All Delhi government offices and educational institutions will remain closed on account of Chhat puja on Tuesday, it was announced on Monday.
HC seeks report from TN govt on swine flu, dengue deaths
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court Monday ordered the Tamil Nadu government to submit a report on the number of deaths caused by swine flu and dengue by November 20. Issuing the notice to the state Health Secretary, a bench of Justice K K Sasisdharan and Justice P D Audikesavalu also sought details about the number of people affected by the two viral fevers caused by mosquitoes and contagious infection and the steps taken by the government to contain them. The judgeswere hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by social worker Ramesh seeking a direction to the government to take steps on a war-footing to contain the spread of the fevers. He said fevers such as swine flu, dengue and chikungunyawere spreading in the State, and several people have died. Among others, he sought setting up of special wards in government hospitals to treat patients affected by the fevers and ensuring adequate stock of needed medicines. Deaths of people suffering from .
Rajasthan leader joins BJP in Raje's presence
Abhinesh Maharshi, a Rajasthan leader who has been in the Congress and the BSP, joined the BJP on Monday in the presence of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Union minister Prakash Javadekar. Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Maharshi enjoys some influence in the Churu region and his joining the party will help it in the assembly polls. "He has done a lot of hard work in his region and I am confident he will be a good addition to the party," Rajasthan Chief Minister Raje told reporters. Maharshi, who had fought the 2014 Lok Sabha election on the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket from Churu and came second, put his faith in the BJP's leadership, saying it has the "vision" to take the state and the country forward. Javadekar said he was earlier in the Congress but good people feel "suffocated" in the party. The Union minister, who is the BJP's in-charge for the Rajasthan polls, said the party's second list for the assembly elections, due on December 7, will be out ...
Raj polls: 16 candidates file papers on first day of nominations
A total of 23 nominations were filed on Monday by 16 candidates, including BJP's Srichand Kriplani and Kalu Lal Gurjar from Nimbahera and Mandal assembly constituencies respectively. BJP dissident and senior leader Ghanshyam Tiwari also filed nomination from Sanganer constituency today, which was the first day of filing nominations. All three leaders are sitting MLAs from their respective constituencies. Tiwari has been representing Sanganer Assembly constituency since 2003. He has been a six-time legislator and has held education minister portfolio in the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government. We will field 70 to 80 candidates and contest election with third front on all 200 seats. We would announce candidates in a couple of days, Tiwari said after filing his papers. Srichand Kriplani is the urban housing and development minister and Gurjar is BJP's chief whip. Last date of filing nomination is November 19 and polls are due in the state on December 7.
A day with the leader: Raman Singh cracks jokes, takes feedback and goes on with electioneering
A plough-carrying farmer needs an ox, not an 'elephant', Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said on Monday, taking a jibe at the newly-formed opposition alliance between Ajit Jogi and Mayawati, evoking guffaw from his supporters greeting him with monikers like 'Doctor Saheb', 'Mobile Wale Baba' and the most-famous one, 'Chaur Wale Baba'. As voting got underway across 18 constituencies in the state where he has already ruled for a record 15 years and is making a strong pitch for another five-year term, Singh embarked on yet another busy day of election campaign with public meetings across several constituencies, while taking feedback and holding review meetings whenever time permitted. While his own constituency Rajnandgaon voted in the first phase on Monday, the voting will take place in the remaining 72 assembly seats on December 20 in the second phase. The counting of votes will take place on December 11, along with that for assembly elections in four other states -- ...
No role in SIT summons to Badals, actor Akshay Kumar
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Monday his government had no role in the summoning of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, former deputy CM and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and actor Akshay Kumar by the Special Investigation Team probing the 2015 sacrilege and police firing.
PM Modi, Raje betrayed jobless youths: Congress
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala Monday accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Rajasthan of "betraying" the jobless youths of the country and the state. The Congress chief spokesperson also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered the labour department to stop releasing employment figures to "cover its failures". "After coming to power, the BJP government at the Centre promised to generate two crore jobs annually in the country, while in Rajasthan, 15 lakh jobs were promised in five years," Surjewala said at a press conference here in the poll-bound state. But the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments betrayed jobless youngsters. People of the country and the state are feeling deceived and cheated, Surjewala said. The Congress leader further said that in Rajasthan, which goes to polls on December 7, the unemployment rate was double that of the national average and the state ranked fourth in the unemployment index. "The prime minister asks youths to fry ...
JD(U)'s attempts to poach RLSP MLAs would harm NDA: Kushwaha
Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) president Upendra Kushwaha said on Monday that attempts by the ruling JD(U) to poach his MLAs could "harm the NDA" in Bihar and sought intervention of the BJP in the matter. Kushwaha, who is known to have ruffled feathers in the NDA camp recently for meeting Loktantrik Janata Dal founder Sharad Yadav in New Delhi, also took a dig at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying his clout wasn't dependent on just one or two MLAs. "I will not suffer any political damage if Nitish Kumar's JD(U) succeeds in its plans. I am not one whose political clout depends on the support of one or two MLAs," Kushwaha said in reply to queries about reports that two legislators of his party - Lalan Paswan and Sudhanshu Shekhar - might switch over to the ruling party. The speculations were triggered following Shekhar's meeting with JD-U vice president Prashant Kishor on Sunday. Kushwaha came out with a couple of angry tweets soon after, calling Kumar "adept" in