Page 2536 - Politics
TL polls:CPI unhappy with 3 seats given by Cong, to contest 5
Expressing dissatisfaction over the Congress "unilaterally" announcing that it will give three seats to CPI in the coming Assembly polls in Telangana, the left party Friday said it has decided to contest five seats. A meeting of the CPI state executive here expressed disappointment over the "unilateral" announcement made by Congress Thursday, a party release said. The CPI, a partner in the grand alliance" of opposition parties for the assembly election, expressed unhappiness on being given three seats, describing it as an "injustice" towards the party. The alliance comprises the Congress, Telugu Desam Party, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS). Congress Thursday said the party has decided to leave 25 seats -- 14 to Telugu Desam Party, eight to Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and three to CPI. "We (alliance partners) had discussed that an approach of give and take should be there (in the alliance). There should be respectable arrangements. What happpened now is against ...
Omandurar estate irregularities: HC orders status quo till Nov 22
The Madras High Court Friday ordered status quo till November 22 on the matter of alleged irregularities in the construction of the new assembly and state secretariat on Omandurar government estate during DMK rule. The division bench, comprising Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad, gave the directive on a plea from senior advocate P Wilson, who submitted that the interim order, originally granted on October 12 would expire Friday. The bench was passing further interim orders on appeals from DMK chief M K Stalin and treasurer Durai Murugan to set aside the order of Justice S M Subramaniam, who had ordered winding up of the Reghupathy Commission of enquiry and directed it to hand over the records to the state government. The judge had then directed the government to go through the documents and institute criminal proceedings only if it found a prima facie case. Wilson contended that the state government had simply forwarded the documents to the directorate of vigilance and ...
Capital no constraint to spur J-K's socio-economic growth: CS
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam Friday made it clear that capital would not be a constraint to transform the state's developmental landscape, as the Centre is liberal in devolution of resources. He said the central government is more than willing to walk extra-mile in making available adequate resources to Jammu and Kashmir for developmental initiatives to spur the state's socio-economic growth. "Just focus on improving operational efficiency of spending and timely submission of utilisation certificates, you will see seamless flow of funds for development," he said at a joint meeting of senior officers of the central and the state governments. The central government officers who were present at the meeting included Additional Secretary at the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (J&K) Gyanesh Kumar and Joint Secretary at the HRD Ministry Maneesh Garg, among others. In the meeting, they discussed PMDP projects, advancement of education system in the state through ...
TRS to handover forms about candidature to nominees on Nov 11
The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Telangana would hand over the authorised forms about candidature to its nominees in the coming assembly polls on November 11. TRS president and caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will hand over the "B forms" to candidates on November 11, party sources said Friday. TRS had announced candidates for 105 seats (out of the total 119) on September 6 when the assembly was dissolved prematurely. The Gazette notification for the election would be issued on November 12, while November 19 is the last date for nominations.
Leadership change required looking at Goa CM's health: Naik
Union Minister Shripad Naik Friday said a change in leadership in Goa is a "requirement" "today or tomorrow" considering the health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Parrikar has been undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment for several months now and arrived in the state on October 14 post hospitalisation at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. "We will have to have a change in leadership either today or tomorrow. It is a requirement. You all know that the chief ministers health is not well but still he is working under such circumstances," the Union AYUSH minister said on the sidelines of a press conference here to announce International Yoga Day. While there has been periodic talk about a change in leadership in the state, the BJP has consistently ruled it out.
Naidu visits DMK chief Stalin to bolster anti-BJP front bid
: Asserting that he was not the face of the anti-BJP front which he is trying to forge, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Nadu Friday said the question of who would lead the alliance would be taken up later. Naidu, after visiting DMK president M K Stalin as part of his efforts to cobble up a front against the saffron party, lauded the Dravidian party leader as being better than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Asked by reporters if he was the face of the alliance, Naidu said "No, I am not the face of this alliance. You have to understand that. I am very clear I am not an aspirant, I am only a facilitator... I will bring everybody together. we will decide and take things forward." On who would lead the alliance,he said there were so many leaders. "Even Stalinji is better than Narendra Modiji...there are strong leaders...we will work that out and decide." While Rahul Gandhi led Congress has a pan Indian presence, Naidu described regional leaders, including himself, .
Indian Army, Chinese PLA agrre to maintain peace
The Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen friendship, maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control, an official statement stated.
Andhra Pradesh cabinet expansion on Sunday
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will expand his cabinet on Sunday.
Norway to suspend defence gear exports to Saudi Arabia
Norway's foreign minister says the country will suspend issuing new licenses to export defence-related equipment to Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide told Norwegian news agency NTB on Friday that the move was temporary until "a comprehensive assessment of recent developments in Saudi Arabia and the region and the unsettling situation in Yemen" is completed. NTB said exports of defence-related equipment so-called B-material in 2017 to Saudi Arabia was worth 41 million kroner (USD 4.9 billion), a massive increase from 2016 when it was 23,000 kroner (USD 2,750).
UK minister quits over 'terrible mistake' of looming Brexit deal
Britain's transport minister Jo Johnson on Friday resigned from Prime Minister Theresa May's government in opposition to a looming Brexit deal and called for a second referendum on leaving the EU. "It has become increasingly clear to me that the withdrawal agreement, which is being finalised... even as I write, will be a terrible mistake," he wrote in a stinging resignation statement. Johnson -- who had backed staying in the EU in the 2016 referendum -- is the younger brother of Boris Johnson, who spearheaded the pro-Brexit campaign and quit as foreign secretary in July over May's Brexit blueprint.
EC team has agreed to remove Mizoram CEO: NGO coordination committee chief
An Election Commission team, held discussions with government officials and members of a apex body for civil societies in Mizoram here Friday and agreed to remove state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S B Shashank, a civil society leader said. The four-member EC team, headed by Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain, did not speak to the press. Chief Secretary Arvind Ray and the joint CEO were not allowed inside the hall where the meeting was held. The EC team held discussions with two additional CEOs, Home Secretary Lalrinliana Fanai, leaders of the NGO Coordination Committee - apex body of the civil societies. It was a closed door meeting and the team left the venue without making any comments. Committee chairman Vanlalruata said the EC team agreed to the body's demand to remove Shashank as CEO of Mizoram immediately. The team also agreed to stick to the commitment made by the poll panel in April 2014 that Bru voters who are staying in Tripura would exercise their franchise in ...
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu arrives in France
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, who is on a three-day official visit to France arrived here on Friday.Vice President Naidu and his wife, M. Usha Naidu were received at the airport by Ambassador of India to France Vinay Mohan Kwatra.The Vice President will address the Indian diaspora in Paris today.He is scheduled to inaugurate the Indian Armed Forces Memorial at Villers Guislan on November 10, according to Raveesh Kumar, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).On November 11, Vice President Naidu will also attend the Paris Peace Forum being held to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice of World War 1 at Arc de Triomphe."Being received by the Ambassador of India to France, Shri Vinay Mohan Kwatra and others, on my arrival, in Paris, France today. I am here to participate in the #ParisPeaceForum and also inaugurate Indian War Memorial. #VPinFrance @Indian_Embassy," the Vice President tweeted.The centenary ceremony will be presided over by French President Emmanuel
Rupani calls on Shah to greet him on Gujarati New Year
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Friday met BJP president Amit Shah at the latter's residence here and greeted him on the occasion of the Gujarati New Year, party office-bearers said. Shah is here to celebrate Diwali and the Gujarati New Year (which started on November 8) with his family. "The chief minister visited Amitbhai Shah to greet him on the occasion of (Gujarati) New Year," party spokesperson Harsad Patel said. Shah has avoided any public engagements during his stay here during Diwali.
US's Bolton says more sanctions likely on Iran
US National Security Advisor John Bolton said Thursday that more sanctions were possible on Iran just days after a new round of measures touted as the most punishing ever on Tehran entered into force. Bolton said two rounds of unilateral US sanctions introduced by President Donald Trump in August and most recently on Monday had had a "quite significant" effect on the Iranian economy and the country's actions abroad. "I think that you're going to see even more sanctions coming into play over time and much tighter enforcement of the sanctions," Bolton told reporters in Paris. Asked what would be the target of the sanctions, he replied, "There are other things we can do in the terrorism and counterterrorism area." The International Monetary Fund forecasts that the sanctions will cause Iran's economy to contract 1.5 per cent this year and 3.6 per cent next year - pain that Trump has boasted about. "We've seen indications that it has affected their belligerent activity in Iraq, Syria and ..
Congress flays demonetisation on 2nd anniversary
Hundreds of Delhi Congress workers marched to the Reserve Bank of India office here on Friday on the occasion of the second anniversary of demonetisation, denouncing the great note-change exercise as "ill-fated" and "destructive" to the economy and the people of the country.
Moscow hosts peace conference on Afghanistan; India attends at 'non-official level'
India Friday attended in a "non-official" capacity a conference on bringing back peace in Afghanistan, which was hosted by Russia and participated by the Taliban as well as representatives from several countries including Pakistan, China and Iran. Hours after the multi-lateral conference began in Moscow, India made it clear that its participation was in sync with its Afghan policy and asserted that attending the meeting was not talking to the Taliban at all. In his opening remarks at the conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia and the countries of the region will continue to do everything possible to launch dialogue between Afghan government and the Taliban, which is banned in Russia. "We are determined to make every possible effort to facilitate the opening of a new page in the history of Afghanistan," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Tass news agency. Lavrov said the conference was "aimed at building an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue in order to ...
Modi's 'urban Naxals' attack is to hide failure in tackling left-wing extremism, Cong hits back
The Congress Friday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "urban Naxals" attack on it, saying he is staring at defeat in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and is resorting to this to hide his "abject failure" and "weak-kneed" approach towards fighting Naxalism. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also attacked him while quoting his pro-Naxal comments made as Gujarat Chief minister. He also quoted Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh over his remarks made in 2015 that Naxals are "sons of the soil" and would be welcomed back in the mainstream as children. He also said that the Congress had lost its entire leadership in Naxal attacks ahead of last assembly elections. "Staring at defeat in Chhattisgarh/MP, a frustrated PM seeks to hide his abject failure and weak-kneed approach to fighting Naxalism, which he claimed to finish post Demonetisation. Post Demo, 1030 Naxal incidents till February 2018 and 114 jawans martyred (sic)," Surjewala said on Twitter. Taking a ...
Congress releases 'People's Manifesto' for Chhattisgarh polls
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday released party's manifesto for Chhattisgarh assembly elections.In the manifesto, named as "People's Manifesto", the Congress has promised immediate loan waivers within 10 days of being voted to power. The party has also promised better healthcare facilities and a safer society for women in Chhattisgarh.Addressing the media after releasing the manifesto, the Congress president said, "This is not Congress' Manifesto, it's People's Manifesto. Whatever we have mentioned in the manifesto is what people want from us. This manifesto is Congress party's commitment. I appeal to people to give an opportunity this time to the Congress; we will surely fulfill all the commitments promised to you. Whoever becomes the Chief Minister of the Congress party in Chhattisgarh is going to be accountable to deliver this document. That is the philosophy we are following."The assembly elections in the state will be held in two phases on November 12 and November 20. ..
Taliban at talks table in Moscow: India says its role in line with its policy
India on Friday said its participation, albeit at a non-official level, at a meeting on peace process in Afghanistan in Moscow, where the Taliban are also in attendance, is in line with New Delhi's policy towards the strife-torn South Asian nation.
RLSP has gained strength, needs more than 3 seats: Kushwaha
Claiming that the RLSP has gained significantly in strength in Bihar, Union minister Upendra Kushwaha Friday demanded that his party be allotted more than three seats in the state by the NDA to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats. Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party had contested and won three seats in the 2014 general election. "My party had contested three Lok Sabha seats in 2014 but now this party's strength and base have increased... Our party should be given more than three seats after making a neutral assessment of its strength," Kushwaha told reporters at his party office in Patna. Kushwaha, the Union minister of state for human resource development, said there is little doubt the RLSP has gained strength but how much could be a matter of debate. Replying to a query, Kushwaha admitted that he had raised the demand for more number of seats with BJP general secretary and Bihar in-charge Bhupendra Yadav. If need be, he added, he would also speak to .