Page 2581 - Politics
Azad rakes up PM Modi's international trips
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, while terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most globally toured head of India", asked why the Prime Minister was unable to bring back any of the fugitive offenders to India despite his multiple overseas trips."The Prime Minister's international travel should ideally focus on security, economic stability and enhancing the global stature of India. But we want to ask what is the use of his global tours if he cannot even bring back at least one of the economic offenders who have absconded from India," Azad said at a press conference here on Saturday.He further claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had made false promises before 2014 elections, as a result of which people have lost faith in his government."Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a lot of false promises before elections. He had promised to bring back black money but instead, a lot of white money has gone out of India. A number of economic offenders have fled the country ...
Instead of statues, govt should focus on edu, health care: AAP
Days after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue, the tallest in the world, was unveiled in Gujarat, the AAP Saturday said instead of installing such statues, the government should focus on key issues like poverty alleviation, improving education and health care. Talking to PTI, national spokesman of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also wondered why there was a race among different states in the country to install giant statues of leaders and gods. "After the installation of the world's tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has proposed to build a 151-metre tall statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. A sudden competition is taking place in the country on the issue," he said. "Instead of installing such tall statues, the tax-payers' hard-earned money should be spent on ending poverty and unemployment, improving education and health care, which are major problems faced by the nation," he added. The AAP leader
BJP fields woman candidate against Akbaruddin Owaisi in
BJP has fielded Syed Shahezadi, a woman Muslim candidate, to take on All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen top leader Akbaruddin Owaisi from Chandrayangutta constituency in Hyderabad in the December 7 Assembly polls. Shahezadi was a leader of ABVP, BJP's students' wing, before making her electoral foray. Akbaruddin Owaisi, younger brother of party president Asaduddin Owaisi, is a political heavyweight. He has been elected to the Assembly in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. He was the floor leader of his party in the recently dissolved first Telangana Assembly. The BJP released its second list of 28 candidates Friday. BJP, which is going it alone in the elections to the 119-member assembly, earlier released its first list of 38 candidates on October 20.
RSS, seers strongly demand ordinance on Ram Temple: Ram Madhav
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and seers community have strongly demanded enactment of an ordinance for the construction of the Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.Responding to the statement of RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi that the Sangh will not hesitate, if necessary, to launch a 1992-like agitation for the Ram Temple, Madhav told ANI: "I cannot say anything about it but yes there is a strong demand from Sangh and sadhu-saints who are spearheading the movement for the ordinance route. The RSS has only articulated its sentiments. Nobody wants any kind of unnecessary confrontations."When specifically asked if the central government will bring an ordinance for the construction, Madhav said: "The option of an ordinance is always there. We had hope that the process of hearing in the Supreme Court will culminate soon but that doesn't seem to be happening. Unfortunately, it's a kind of ..
BJP workers killed in Kishtwar to disturb peace: Ram Madhav
The Bhartiya Janata Party General Secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday said that the killings of his party leaders in Jammu and Kashmir were carried out to perturb peace in the Kashmir Valley.The BJP State Secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar were shot dead by terrorists in Kishtwar on Thursday. Following the incident, a curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar even as police probe the matter."There was pressure on terrorists in the Jammu and Kashmir Valley. In order to rake up trouble, they (terrorists) aimed at peaceful areas. It is shocking. The perpetrators of this attack should not be spared and the authorities should catch hold of the culprits," Ram Madhav told ANI.In June, the BJP pulled out of a coalition with People's Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the three-year alliance had become "untenable" in the wake of increasing violence. Governor rule was imposed in the state thereafter."The government was not doing their bit. That is why we withdrew from ...
Save your seat before saving country: Ram Madhav hits out at Andhra CM
Taking a jibe at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for tilting towards the Congress party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday opined that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief should first save his seat before thinking about saving the country."First of all, Naidu talking about saving the country is a big thing. I believe that he must first try to save his own chair in the state. The current Andhra Pradesh government is unpopular and practices menaces like corruption. The TDP will surely loose upcoming 2019 elections," he told ANI.Naidu quit the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance in March after a prolonged dispute over government's refusal to grant "special category" status to Andhra Pradesh.The TDP leader, since then, has leaned on the Congress and other opposition parties.Madhav reiterated that by allying with the Congress, Naidu is destroying the legacy of his own party."This political outfit (TDP) was ...
A new chapter in the saga of the Ram temple (Column: Political Circus)
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the two "non-electables", to use Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's term, are among the Hindutva groups which are pushing for immediately starting the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
U.S. allows eight importers to keep buying Iran oil for now
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it will temporarily allow eight importers to keep buying Iranian oil when it re-imposes sanctions on Monday to try to force Iran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities.
Ram Temple construction next month: Ram Janambhoomi Nyas
As the clamour grew for an ordinance to build Ram Temple, the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas president Ram Vilas Vedanti on Saturday claimed that the temple construction will begin next month.Speaking to ANI, Vedanti, who is a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP), said a mosque will be built in Lucknow."Construction of Ram Temple will begin in December. Without an ordinance and on the basis of mutual agreement, Ram Temple will be constructed in Ayodhya and a masjid will be made in Lucknow," he said.Vedanti's statement comes a day after Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey claimed that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has a plan for the Ayodhya issue, which would be revealed around Diwali.Earlier on Friday, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that his organisation "will not hesitate to launch a 1992-like agitation for Ram Temple, if needed."We respect the Supreme Court and urge it to take into consideration sentiments of ...
Poverty alleviation in Pak amongst 15 MoUs signed with China
Pakistan and China on Saturday signed 15 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for cooperation in various.Imran Khan is on a maiden to China after taking over as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.The agreements between Khan and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang were signed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during delegation levels talks, reported Geo News.Amongst the various instruments signed, major agreements and MoUs were on poverty alleviation in Pakistan, strengthening cooperation in agriculture and industrial sectors and technical training.MoUs for cooperation in forestry, earth sciences and transfer of electronics, were also signed by the leaders of the two countries.An agreement, pertaining to Higher Education of Pakistan and Science Academy of China, and between the Chinese Academy of Science and Pakistan Metrological Department, was also signed.The two sides also inked a document on strategic-level talks between foreign ministers of two countries.Quoting .
Nizamabad BJP workers vandalise party's district headquarters
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Nizamabad vandalised the party's district headquarters a day after the party announced its second list of candidates for the Telangana assembly elections.The protesting BJP workers were identified as supporters of party state executive Dhanpal Suryanarayana Gupta, who was not given a ticket to contest assembly elections from Nizamabad constituency.The BJP had released the names of 28 candidates for Telangana on Friday. So far, the party has announced the names of 66 candidates out of 119 in Telangana.The Telangana Legislative Assembly Elections are scheduled to be held on December 7 to elect members from 119 constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.
India, other nations to benefit from U.S. waiver on Iran oil buys - minister
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and other leading oil buyers will benefit from the waiver the United States has granted them from Iran sanctions, the South Asian nation's oil minister said on Saturday.
Iran seeks European assurances as U.S. oil sanctions loom
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran called on Saturday for European assurances of support in the face of Washington's intent to reimpose sanctions on vital Iranian oil sales to force Tehran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities.
Turkey expects to know on Monday if has waiver for Iran sanctions
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said on Saturday that Turkey has received initial indications that it will be among eight countries to be granted a waiver from U.S. sanctions against Iran, but is awaiting clarification on Monday,
MP CM's kin joins Congress
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani on Saturday joined the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections in the central state.
Vice President Naidu reaches Zimbabwe, meets Indian community
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said Saturday India was keen to strengthen its relations with Zimbabwe and sharing expertise with African countries as he began the second leg of his three-nation Africa visit from here. The special Air India flight carrying Naidu landed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Friday night. Naidu arrived here from Botswana. Naidu, the first high-ranking Indian Government official to visit Zimbabwe in 21 years, was welcomed by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, acting Foreign Affairs Minister Cain Mathema and Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Rungsung Masakui. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had visited the African country in 1996. From the airport, Naidu proceeded to a reception organised by the local Indian community in Zimbabwe. Addressing the community members, Naidu said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government had embarked on an ambitious programme to develop India and cited projects like construction of airports and upgrading of ...
Iran inaugurates production line of indigenous fighter jet
State TV says Iran has inaugurated the production line of its domestically produced fighter jet a day after the Trump administration announced the reimposition of remaining US sanctions on Tehran to ramp up economic pressure on the Islamic Republic. Defence Minister Gen Amir Hatami said the production line highlights the capabilities of Iranian experts despite "sanctions by enemies." On Friday, the US announced the re-imposition of all sanctions on Iran starting Monday, covering Iran's shipping, financial and energy sectors. This is the second batch of sanctions the US has applied against Iran since the US withdrew from a landmark nuclear accord in May. Iran unveiled its Kowsar aircraft in August. Iran already has both US-made jet fighters and Russian-made Sukhoi aircraft in service.
Dominican Rep opens Beijing embassy after dropping Taiwan
The Dominican Republic has opened its embassy in Beijing, months after cutting ties with Taiwan amid a Chinese diplomatic offensive that aims to politically isolate the island it claims as its own territory. Speaking at a ceremony Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the Caribbean island nation's decision to switch diplomatic relations to Beijing "serves the fundamental interests of the Dominican people and completely conforms to the trend of the times." Also present was Dominican President Danilo Medina, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Both the Dominican Republic and El Salvador broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan earlier this year as Beijing steps-up up diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who has refused to endorse its stand that Taiwan is a part of China.
Sabarimala: BJP stirs religious cauldron while Congress stokes the fire (Comment)
My own experience of Sabarimala causes me to rub my eyes with disbelief at the spectacle of what poet Niaz Haider called "badsoorat siyasat", not quite the same as ugly politics. I owe my visit to Sabarimala in 1982 entirely to Bob Murari, the distinguished IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre who, along with his brothers, undertook the pilgrimage annually to wash off his sins.
Man who hosted lunch for Shah joins BJD
A man, who had hosted a lunch for BJP president Amit Shah during his visit to Ganjam district last year, joined the BJD. Naveen Swain of Hugulapeta, about 12 km from here, had served lunch to Shah and other senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram, during their visit to the village for a party programme on July 4 last year. Swain, along with BJP sarapanch Pradeep Kumar Malana and several of his supporters, joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in a meeting at the village Thursday. Local BJD MLA from Gopalpur and former minister Pradeep Panigrahy welcomed them. "We welcomed Naveen Swain and Malana to our party. The party's organisation will be strengthened in the panchayat with their entry into the BJD. We'll carry out more development work in the panchayat," said Panigrahy. "I decided to join the BJD because the party keeps its promise," said 36-year-old Swain, who came to limelight after hosting Shah in his dilapidated house. "My house was ...