Page 2545 - Politics
Kewal Krishan Sharma assumes office as advisor to J&K governor
Kewal Krishan Sharma, who served as chief secretary of Delhi and Goa, on Thursday assumed office as fourth advisor to Governor Satya Pal Malik. The governor already has three advisors, including B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar and Khurshid Ahmad Ganai. Sharma, a 1983 batch AGMUT Cadre IAS officer, belongs to Billawar town of Kathua district. During his service career spanning around 30 years, he has held various positions. He was union secretary PWD in 2009 and was then promoted as principal secretary. Sharma also served as secretary of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) before his retirement. He has also served as advisor to the administrator of Chandigarh before being appointed as chief secretary of Goa on January 1, 2015 and then chief secretary of Delhi on March 3, 2015. Sharma is known to have played a key role in implementing flagship projects in Delhi in the areas of education and health.
Sitharaman, Jaitley explain Cabinet colleagues nuclear triad, currency swap with Japan
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Thursday briefed their Cabinet colleagues on the advantages of India achieving a 'nuclear triad' and the signing of a currency swap agreement with Japan, highly-placed sources in the government said. The brief took place here after the Cabinet meeting was over, they said. The ministers, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were briefed about how significant and advantageous the two issues are for India. The briefing would help ministers put forth the views of the government on the two issues in a comprehensive manner, the sources explained. Marking the country's nuclear triad, Indian nuclear submarine INS Arihant, or the "destroyer of enemies" has successfully completed its first deterrence patrol. Modi had described it as a fitting response to those who indulge in "nuclear blackmail". He had also made it clear that "Our nuclear arsenal are not a part of an aggressive policy, but it is an important means
MP polls: Man brings Rs 10,000 in coins to file nomination
A candidate from Indore-3 Assembly seat in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Thursday brought Rs 10,000 in one-rupee coins as security deposit to accompany his nomination papers. The state goes to polls on November 28 and counting of votes will take place on December 11. Returning Officer Shashwat Sharma had to deploy five office staff to count the coins brought by candidate Dipak Pawar. While it took them almost 90 minutes to count the coins, Pawar did not file his nomination papers Thursday, Sharma said, adding that Friday was the last day to do so. Pawar was given a receipt for the deposit which he will he will have attach along with his nomination papers, officials said explaining the process. Pawar, who claimed to be an advocate and leader of Swarnim Bharat Inquilab Party, said he was making his poll debut and Rs 10,000 in one-rupee coins comprised donations given by people who were keen to see him contest. "As I could not get notes by way of donations, I was left with no ..
NDPP urges expediting of peace process in Nagaland
The ruling alliance partner Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Nagaland Thursday urged the Centre and the Naga groups to expedite the peace process and find an early solution to the decades-old Naga political issue. The ten-point resolution adopted during the party's third general convention here demanded a negotiated political solution that is democratic, honourable and acceptable to the people to the issue. The convention was significant in that it was the first general meeting of the NDPP since it formed the government with the BJP in the state in March last. The NDPP extended support to the People's Democratic Alliance government in Nagaland to play the role of an active facilitator in the on-going peace process between the Centre and Naga political groups. Iterating support for integration of all continuous Naga areas under a single administrative unit, the NDPP upheld the desire of the Naga people to live together as one family. It called upon all .
Gauhati HC directs Assam govt to conduct NC Hills Council election by Feb 15
The Gauhati High Court Thursday directed the Assam government and the State Election Commission to complete the process of election of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council by February 15 next year. The direction came on a PIL by former chief executive member of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council Samarjit Haflongbar who said that the term of the council expired on June 3 but the state government extended it by six months by a notification dated May 31. The government had cited the engagement of most of the officers and staffs of NC Hills in the updating process of the National Register of Citizens as the ground for the extension. Haflongbar in his PIL challenged the extension notification and also sought a direction for holding early election of the council. A division bench comprising Chief Justice A S Bopanna and Justice Arup Kumar Goswami after hearing the PIL directed the state government and the State Election Commission to complete the process of election by February ...
Ker Minister faces black flag demo by IUML activists over
Kerala Local Administration Minister K T Jaleel, facing charges of nepotism, was shown black flags by IUML activists here Thursday over the issue, police said. The activists of the Muslim League, a partner of the opposition UDF, staged the blackflag demonstration against Jaleel when he was on his way to attend a function at a private college here. They were removed by the police later. The Muslim Youth League had on November 2 alleged Adeeb K T, a cousin of Jaleel, was appointed general manager in Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation, flouting rules, a charge denied by the minister. However, the Managing Director and Chairman of the Corporation A P Abdul Wahab came out in support of the minister, saying Adeep was appointed as only he was qualified. Fresh nepotism charges have also come up against the minister after former Haj Committee members alleged favouritism in appointments at the Karippur Haj House. Senior Congress leaders, including Oommen Chandy
Vijayvargiya says he did not seek ticket for his son
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said Thursday that he had nothing to do with the party's decision to field his son Akash Vijayvargiya from Indore-3 Assembly seat. Madhya Pradesh is going to the polls on November 28. Talking to reporters here, Vijayvargiya said, "Perhaps nobody will believe it, but I never asked our president Amit Shah to give ticket to my son. It was the party's decision. I welcome it." In its third list, the ruling BJP nominated 34-year-old Akash from Indore-3 constituency. Vijayvargiya also denied reports that he withdrew his claim for party ticket for his son's sake. "I have responsibilities of the organisation. So I did not show interest in contesting," he said, adding that he would not have been able to do justice to Indore voters as he is operating from Delhi, being the BJP in-charge for West Bengal. Kailash Vijayvargiya has been elected as MLA from Indore district for six times since 1990. He won the last two Assembly elections .
Naidu to visit France for Armistice of World War I centenary commemoration
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will be on a three-day visit to Paris starting Friday to represent India at the Armistice of World War I centenary commemoration, the Ministry of External Affairs said Thursday. Heads of state or government of over 50 countries and their representatives are expected to participate in the centenary activities, it said. On Sunday, the vice president will attend the ceremony to commemorate the armistice of World War I at Arc de Triomphe, presided over by French President Emmanuel Macron. During the visit, that comes at the invitation of the French government, Naidu will also address the Indian community on Friday and will inaugurate the Indian War Memorial at Villers Guislain on Saturday. "As part of the Armistice Centenary, the French government will also be hosting the Paris Peace Forum, which will take place in Paris from November 11-13. The Forum is envisioned as a recurring, annual event to promote governance solutions in five key areas: Peace and ...
Gandhi condoles death of CISF jawan, 4 civilians in C'garh Naxal attack
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday condoled the death of four civilians and a CISF jawan in an explosion carried out by suspected Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. Four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when suspected Naxals blew up a bus with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Dantewada district, four days ahead of the first phase of Assembly polls in the state, police said. Two personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were also injured in the explosion, the third Naxal attack in 15 days in the poll-bound state. "I am very much hurt by the news of the naxal attack in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. I express my deepest condolences over the death of a CISF jawan along with four civilians," Gandhi said in a Facebook post.
Sardar Patel would have solved Kashmir: Meghalaya Guv
Hailing India's first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Ballavbhai Patel's contribution to the country, Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy on Thursday said Patel would have solved the 'Kashmir dispute' had he become the country's first Prime Minister instead of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Taliban leader Baradar released at US request for political settlement in Afghanistan: Pak
Pakistan on Thursday said the Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was released from jail at the request of the US as part of efforts to pursue a political settlement in war-torn Afghanistan. "Baradar was released to provide impetus to the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. Pakistan will continue to pursue reconciliatory efforts to expedite and facilitate the process to our fullest ability," said Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal. Baradar's release was facilitated by Pakistan at the US request in order to move forward on the shared objective of pursuing a political settlement in Afghanistan, he said. The Taliban leader was in custody for the last many years after his capture by Pakistani authorities in a search operation. "This decision was taken following the visit of the US Special Envoy on Afghan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to the region and his meetings with Taliban representatives in Doha," Faisal ...
BJP launches Sabrimala yatra,Ker unit chief booked over speech
BJP Kerala President P S Sreedharan Pillai was booked on Thursady by the police for his speech in connection with Sabarimala protests on a day when the saffron party launched a "Rath Yatra" for "protecting" the Lord Ayyappa temple's traditions and rituals. The case was registered by police in Kozhikode on a complaint by journalist Shybin alleging that Pillai had instigated activists to protest over entry of menstrual age women into the hill shrine recently, police said. Reacting to it, Pillai, accused the CPI(M) and Congress of 'witch hunting' and trying to 'tarnish' his image. The development came even as the BJP-NDA embarked on a Rath yatra from Kasaragod to "protect" the traditions and rituals of the hill shrine at Sabarimala, which recently witnessed violent protests against the entry of women of in the 10-50 age group. BJP, which has been desperately trying to make its presence felt in the bi-polar political scenario of Kerala, has lent its support to the agitation .
EC rejects BJP's appeal to extend nomination deadline
The Election Commission of India (EC) on Thursday turned down the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) request for extending the last date for filing nominations for the Mizoram legislative assembly elections.The EC had set November 9 as the last date for filing nominations. However, the BJP had appealed for an extension, claiming that a number of their candidates could not file their nominations owing to the recent protests seeking the removal of the state's chief electoral officer S. B. Shashank.Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding Shashank's removal following the sacking of Principal Secretary (Home) L. Chuaungo.Chuaungo had been removed after Shashank brought the interference of the state in the ensuing assembly elections to the notice of the EC. He also mentioned Chuaungo's alleged involvement in the revision of the electoral rolls.The people of Mizoram have been protesting against Shashank, alleging that he is biased in ...
BJP minister Sartaj Singh to contest MP polls on Congress ticket
Former Madhya Pradesh Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sartaj Singh on Thursday joined the Congress.Singh will contest election from Hoshangabad assembly constituency on a Congress ticket.Singh has also served as a minister in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh cabinet and also represented Hoshangabad and Narsinghpur parliamentary constituency. However, he was shunted out of the cabinet in 2016 on the basis of the 75-plus age criteria and had been at odds with the BJP since then.The former Union minister wept openly after his name did not appear in the third list of BJP's candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.He was a two-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Seoni-Malwa seat in the state's Hoshangabad district.The BJP today released its third list of 32 candidates, leaving only six seats, in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh House, for which no names have been declared so far.Madhya Pradesh is slated to go to polls on November 28 for .
14 candidates in Cong's fifth list for MP polls
The Congress Party on Thursday released the fifth list of 14 candidates for the ensuing Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. The party has fielded former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Sartaj Singh from Hoshangabad constituency.Apart from Singh, Satyanarayan Patidar will be contesting from Neemuch, Vinay Kumar Saxena from Jabalpur North and Babu Jandel from Sheopur.The Congress had released the fourth list on Wednesday naming 29 candidates including the brother-in-law of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sanjay Singh Masani .The first list was released on November 3, which contained the name of 155 candidates, including 21 women, 21 Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates and 34 Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.
Kissinger urges US, China to improve ties
US former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on Thursday urged Washington and Beijing to resolve their differences as relations between the two countries soured in recent months amid a trade war and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
BJP betrayed thousands of mining workers: Goa Congress
State Congress president Girish Chodankar on Thursday accused the ruling BJP of cheating several thousand mine workers and others linked to ancillary businesses, amid reports of Centres' refusal to bring about an ordinance to circumvent a Supreme Court-imposed ban on mining in the coastal state.
Bangladesh parliamentary election on December 23
Bangladesh's Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said on Thursday that the country's 11th parliamentary election will be held on December 23.
Demonetisation a criminal financial scam: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday called the note ban a "cruel conspiracy" and a "criminal financial scam".
Vice president Naidu hosts PM Modi for Diwali lunch
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Thursday hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Diwali lunch. The two leaders discussed matters related to the development of the country during their interaction. "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met the Vice President over lunch at the Vice President's residence and greeted him on the occasion of Deepawali," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted. It said Naidu shared with the Prime Minister his impression of country's development gleaned from his visits within the country and abroad.