Page 2580 - Politics
Tariq Anwar urges former Congress leaders to return to party
Tariq Anwar, who made a comeback to the Congress after nearly two decades, Saturday urged those who had left the party to return and fight in ousting the BJP from the Centre and Nitish Kumar government in Bihar. Anwar joined the Congress last week in Delhi after quitting the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in which he was a national general secretary. In a press conference at the Congress's Bihar headquarters here, he said his decision to part ways with the NCP was "painful" and made it clear that he had joined the Congress without any conditions. "The Congress has given me a lot and I have served in probably all crucial capacities except that of national president," Anwar said in his first visit to his home state after rejoining the party. He quit the party on September 28 following differences with Pawar's stand on the Rafale issue. The NCP chief, speaking to a television channel in September had said people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi ...
MP CM's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh joins Congress
In a major jolt to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani joined the Congress party on Saturday.Singh joined the Congress in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Kamal Nath and campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia.Masani is the real brother of Chouhan's wife Sadhna Singh.His shifting of loyalty came a day after BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) released the first list of 177 candidates for the upcoming state assembly elections.Addressing a press conference after joining the Congress, Masani said: "13 years are enough (in the BJP). Now, Madhya Pradesh doesn't need Shivraj, it needs Kamal Nath."Disillusioned with the election list, he further said: "The tickets were distributed to sons and daughters of big leaders. The BJP is indulging in dynasty politics."The state assembly strength is 230 and voters will exercise their franchise on November 28.Chouhan will be ...
Burst fireworks within set timings, says Karnataka govt
: Karnataka government Saturday saidfire-crackers can only be burst between 8 pm and 10 pm during Diwali in line with the ruling of theSupreme Court. In an official press release, the government said it has asked all the departments, primarily the police department, to ensure adherence to the specified time for bursting the fire-crackers. The release said the department of information and public relations and the district administration to holdprogrammes in educational institutions to create awarness on the ill-effects of fire-crackers. It further said the pollution control board has been asked tomonitor bursting of fire-crackers which cause smoke and noise pollution. On October 23, the Supreme Court had orderedbursting of the fire-crackers on Diwali only from 8 pm to 10 pm, but on October 30 the apex court modified the order, saying the authorities in the states were at liberty to change the timings with the duration not exceeding two hours a day.
Haryana Roadways back on roads; public transport system normalise
The public transport system in Haryana returned to normal Saturday as the protesting Roadways employees called off their 17-day strike and buses started plying across the state from 10 am. "We have started running the Haryana roadways buses across the state from 10 am," Haryana Roadways employees' coordination committee member Balwan Singh said. Despite the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) being in force, the Roadways employees had been on strike since October 16 against the government's move to induct 700 private buses, which they alleged was a move towards privatisation of the department to benefit a few chosen ones. Even as the government held unsuccessful parleys with the striking employees twice, they have been invited for a fresh round of talks on November 12, Singh said. The strike cost the state a loss of about Rs 40 crore, officials said. Meanwhile, the state government has revoked the suspension and termination of around 300 employees of the department, they ...
Ghani to seek re-election in Afghan presidential poll: official
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will seek re-election in 2019, his office announced Saturday, as potential rivals begin jockeying for the country's top job ahead of the ballot. Ghani, who was elected in a fraud-tainted poll in 2014 that was only resolved in a US-brokered power-sharing deal, is expected to present himself to war-weary voters as the candidate who can end the 17-year conflict. The 69-year-old acerbic academic, who has a reputation for shouting at subordinates and micromanaging the unity government, will try to capitalise on renewed US-led efforts to engage the Taliban in peace talks, which are showing tentative signs of bearing fruit. "I can confirm that President Ghani is seeking re-election next year," presidential palace spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi told AFP. Ghani, who chose the widely feared ethnic Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum as his first running mate in the 2014 election, has not yet announced who he will pick this time round. It also is not certain who will
Congress moves SC in CBI Director's support
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking direction against the sending CBI Director Alok Verma on a forced leave, calling it 'completely illegal, arbitrary, punitive, without jurisdiction.'Speaking to ANI, Kharge said, "I have filed a petition before the Supreme Court, requesting them to quash the order of Centre because it is illegal. They should have called a meeting of the three-member committee of the leader of the opposition, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India. Without a meeting, without committee's consent, they overnight asked him (CBI Director) to go on leave indefinitely."He further added, "This a violation of Central Bureau of Investigation Act. Central Vigilance Commission also violated rules by asking him to go on leave. Therefore we thought when violation is there it is clear-cut Prime Minister's Office's direct involvement in autonomous bodies. So I have challenged that have filed the petition. ...
Little fragile, but alright: Lt Gen AK Bhatt on Kashmir situation
While internet services have been suspended and curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar in Jammu region, situation is a "little fragile, but alright" in Kashmir, said Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, General Officer Commanding of Indian Army's 15 corps."Overall situation is a little fragile, but alright. I wouldn't like to talk about Kishtwar, but in Kashmir, the overall situation is under control. We are neutralising terrorists which is our main aim," Bhatt told media here."Matter of recruitment (in terror outfits) of local youth has been persistent since the last one-two years, but in the last two months, we have seen a slight drop in it. We believe that youth of Kashmir will follow the right path and there will be even lesser recruitment," he added.Bharatiya Janata Party state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother were killed by terrorists in Kishtwar on Thursday. Thereafter, curfew was imposed in the region.
Asia Bibi's lawyer leaves Pakistan citing threats to life
The lawyer of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was acquitted of blasphemy charges after eight years on death row, left the country on Saturday, saying his life was under threat.
BJP fields Muslim woman candidate against Akbaruddin Owaisi
BJP has fielded Syed Shahezadi, a young Muslim woman, as its candidate from Chandrayangutta constituency in Hyderabad, to take on AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in the December 7 state assembly election. A novice in electoral politics, Shahezadi, who was a leader of ABVP, student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, hails from Adilabad in Telangana. Shahezadi, who completed post-graduation in political science from Osmania University in Hyderabad, alleged there has been no improvement in the condition of common people in Chandrayangutta and other parts of old city of Hyderabad though All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has been elected for the past two decades. She said she can work for people's welfare by implementing central government schemes. "I am asking what did he (Owaisi) do for you (people)? What change has come in your lives? What about your children's education and how many of them are employed? How many have become engineers and doctors," she told PTI. A ...
Cannot certify if Ahtesham Bilal has become terrorist: UP DGP
A day after social media posts claimed that a Kashmiri student has joined a terror group in the Valley, the Uttar Pradesh Police said that they cannot ascertain if the video showing him as a part of Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) is fake and has become a terrorist.Nineteen-year-old Ahtesham Bilal Sofi is a first-year graduation student at Sharda University in Greater Noida. A resident of downtown Srinagar, Sofi reportedly went missing on October 28 after he left the varsity with official permission to visit Delhi."19-year-old Ahtesham Bilal is a student of the Sharda University. In October, he went to Srinagar. Later, a video surfaced showing him as a part of Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir(ISJK). We cannot certify if the video is fake or morphed, and if he has become a terrorist," Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh said at a press conference here.Singh informed that the matter would be further investigated by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, adding ...
Divesting CBI director of powers 'illegal', 'arbitrary', Kharge tells SC
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday told the Supreme Court that divesting CBI director Alok Verma of his statutory powers and functions is "completely illegal and arbitrary". In an interlocutory application filed in the pending petition, Kharge, who is also a member of the three-member selection committee which appoints the CBI director, said, "As a concerned stakeholder he brings to the attention of the court the brazen and illegal actions" of the political executive in interfering with the independent functioning of the CBI director. The selection committee comprises the prime minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the leader of the opposition party / the single largest opposition party. "The entire action of the central vigilance commission (CVC) vide its order October 23 and the DOPT vide order October 23 seeking to divest CBI director Alok Verma of his statutory powers and functions is completely illegal, arbitrary, punitive and without jurisdiction...," Kharge ...
Pacific archipelago to vote on independence from France
Voters in New Caledonia are deciding whether the French territory in the South Pacific should break free from the European country that claimed it in the mid-19th century. A referendum being held on Sunday marks a milestone in the process of the archipelago's decolonisation and will help define New Caledonia's future as an independent country or as a continuing extension of France. More than 174,000 registered voters are invited to answer the question: "Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?" Observers expect a majority to favour remaining a part of France, based on opinion polls and previous election results. Polling stations open at 8 am (10 pm Saturday in mainland France, 9 pm GMT) and close 10 hours later. Results are expected later Sunday. New Caledonia, a cluster of islands, is home to about 270,000 people. They include the native Kanaks, who represent about 40 per cent of the population, people of European descent (about 27 per cent) and ...
Voter turnout in Karnataka bye-elections till 3 pm
The Bellary parliamentary constituency witnessed 47 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm, while Shimoga and Mandya constituencies recorded 41.49 per cent and 37.7 per cent respectively.Legislative assembly constituencies Jamakhandi and Ramanagara witnessed a voter turnout of 58.82 per cent and 54.76 per cent respectively till 3 pm.The bye-elections which began at 7 am in three Lok Sabha and two assembly seats in the state is being seen as a litmus test for the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition in the state.Both alliance partners have fielded joint candidates in all the seats. The JD(S) is contesting the Mandya and Shimoga Lok Sabha seats and the Ramanagara assembly constituency, while the Congress has put up candidates in the Bellary Lok Sabha seat and Jamakhandi assembly seat.In Ramanagara, the JD (S) has fielded Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha Kumaraswamy. The bye-poll was necessitated after Kumaraswamy, who contested on two seats - Channapatna and Ramanagara
Twitter removed thousands of accounts discouraging US vote participation
Twitter has deleted thousands of automated accounts, many posing as Democrats, that were posting tweets encouraging US voters to sit out Tuesday's crucial midterm elections, according to media reports. The reports cited a Twitter statement Friday as saying the social media company had "removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion -- a violation of our policies." CNN said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had alerted Twitter to the accounts, which were removed in late September and early October. "For the election this year we have established open lines of communication and direct, easy escalation paths for state election officials, DHS, and campaign organisations from both major parties," the statement said. Twitter said it appeared the account network was run out of the United States, but did not provide details on how the accounts worked. For months, Twitter has sought to eliminate automated and bogus accounts ..
Russia to host Afghanistan talks on Nov 9
Russia on Saturday said it will host international talks on Afghanistan on November 9, with representatives of both the Afghan government and the Taliban, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Moscow said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban have agreed to send delegations to the conference. "It will be the first time that a delegation of the Political Office of the Taliban Movement in Doha will take part in international talks (at) such a level," the foreign ministry's statement said. It added that Moscow had also invited representatives from the US as well as India, Iran, China, Pakistan and five former Soviet republics in Central Asia to take part. "The Russian side reaffirms its position that there is no alternative to a political settlement in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," the statement said. Ghani -- who took office in 2014 as US-led NATO combat troops withdrew from Afghanistan -- announced Saturday that he will seek re-election in 2019. He is expected to ...
Trump has 'disgraced' US prestige: Iran's Khamenei
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that President Donald Trump has "disgraced" US prestige and would be the ultimate loser from renewing sanctions on the Islamic republic. "This new US president... has disgraced the remnant of America's prestige and that of liberal democracy. America's hard power, that is to say their economic and military power, is declining too," he said on his Persian Twitter account, quoting a speech in Tehran. A defiant Khamenei dismissed the renewed US sanctions -- including an oil embargo -- that take effect on Monday. "The challenge between the US and Iran has lasted for 40 years so far and the US has made various efforts against us: military, economic and media warfare," he said. "There's a key fact here: in this 40-year challenge, the defeated is the US and the victorious is the Islamic republic." Trump announced in May he was withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposing sanctions, sparking outrage among world powers who say .
Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan to fight panchayat polls in J-K
Senior BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh Saturday said his newly floated Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan would fight the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat polls to be held in nine-phases from November 17. "The Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan is taking part in the Panchayat elections which are being held on non-party basis. After the polls, you will see our Sangathan will have the highest number of sarpanches in the state," the legislator from Basholi Assembly segment of Kathua district told reporters here. The former minister had floated DSS in July to mark 100 days of his agitation to press for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the January rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district. Though he had said that the group will be apolitical in nature, its 21-point vision document showed a clear political agenda. The document focused on various issues including rotational chief ministers, separate public service commissions and service selection boards, promotion of Dogra art,
Political space for mainstream parties has shrunk in Kashmir: Omar
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has said people in the Valley are losing their appetite for the mainstream parties whose political space has "shrunk" due to the worsening of the situation in the state. Speaking at a book-launch event here last night, Omar said Jammu and Kashmir needed more than just the words repeated from the ramparts of the Red Fort, in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Mainstream political space in the Valley has shrunk, but that is something that ebbs and flows. It's not constant. The space between separatists and mainstream comes and goes," he said. "The mood on the streets is very raw.. It is as if the govt is unwilling and unable to accept that the state needs more than just the words from the ramparts of the Red Fort," Omar said. He said people of the Valley had seen a "glimmer of hope" last year when the Prime Minister on the Independence Day talked about the need to embrace the people of Kashmir rather than use ...
US allowing India to keep buying Iranian oil upholds consuming nations' interest: Pradhan
The US decision to let India keep buying oil from Iran after reimposition of sanctions on the Persian Gulf nation is a reassertion that interests of consuming nations can not be ignored, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Saturday. The US administration has allowed India and other seven countries to keep importing oil from Iran, despite its reimposition of crippling sanctions on the Persian Gulf nation from November 5. "Hon'ble Prime Minister's forceful campaign has been that you can't ignore interests of consuming countries. Understanding geo-political situation, India has been able to get its way. The US has given waiver to some countries including India," Pradhan told reporters on the sidelines of an agreement signing event between CSC e-Governance Services and oil marketing companies - BPCL, India Oil and HPCL. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that the US would temporarily allow eight countries to continue buying Iranian oil even after enforcing its sanctions on ...
Modi's foreign trips don't help bring black money back: Azad
The Congress Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign trips had failed to create an environment that would help bring back black money stashed abroad or fugitives from the law. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Modi government had failed to extradite those who allegedly committed scams and fled with public money. A prime minister does not travel abroad on a fun trip but he represents his country, and creates influence which should benefit his country in times of disputes or need, he told reporters here. But in the last four and a half years, the PM could not create enough influence to bring back those like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and others, he added. During the last Lok Sabha elections, Modi had promised to bring back black money, which did not happen, the MP said. Instead, the tax payer's money was taken away and he could not stop it from happening, he said. Azad said CBI director Alok Verma was recently sent on leave as the agency was about .