Page 2586 - Politics
Maldivian Parliament elects new Speaker
The Maldives Parliament has voted to elect Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim as the new Parliament Speaker, the media reported.
Former Congress MP Premchand Guddu joins BJP
In a jolt to the Congress, former MP from Madhya Pradesh Premchand Guddu on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here in the presence of union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawarchand Gehlot.
Ram temple should be built at the earliest, even if legislation is required: Vijay Goel
Joining the chorus for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Union Minister Vijay Goel said Friday it should be done at the earliest even if a legislation is required. Goel, the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, said a campaign, 'Ek Diya, Ram ke Naam', for the construction of the Ram temple would be launched on Saturday. Under the campaign, BJP workers will light a lamp at their homes dedicated to Lord Ram. Goel appealed to people to light a lamp dedicated to Lord Ram this Diwali, the festival of lights. "It is a wish of crores of people that Ram temple should be constructed. The temple should be built at the earliest through any way, be it constitutional or legislation or court or through dialogue between all the parties. The temple should be constructed," Goel told PTI. Goel's demand for early construction of the Ram temple came just a day after his party MP Rakesh Sinha had announced that he would bring a private member's bill on this issue in Parliament's ..
Shivraj Chouhan calling himself pro-farmer is farcical: Congress
The Congress on Friday took potshot at Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan alleging that the leader's claim to be 'pro-farmer' is nothing but farcical.Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Every time I come here, I get to hear that Shivraj Chouhan calls himself pro-farmer for his work for the farmers in the state. He keeps on blowing his own trumpet for the so-called works he has done for the farmers in the state yet the state continues to suffer from severe agrarian crisis. His claim is nothing but farce," Surjewala said while addressing a press conference here.Surjewala alleged that the data based on which the Madhya Pradesh government won the Krishi Karman Award earlier this year in March is also manipulated."The farmers' conditions have exposed the state government. It is the government of liars. The UPA government introduced the award in 2010 to improve the standard of farming and crop production across the country. The ...
MP govt provided inflated agri data to get award: Congress
The Congress accused the BJP government in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Friday of furnishing inflated figures of agricultural production to get the Union Government's 'Krishi Karman Award'. The BJP dismissed the allegation, calling the opposition party's claim as a mere jugglery of data. "Madhya Pradesh got the Krishi Karman Award five times....False data were furnished to the Centre to get this award," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said at a press conference here. The state government told the Centre that agricultural production in Madhya Pradesh in financial year 2012-13 was 287 lakh tonnes, but in the data furnished next year (2013-14), the production for 2012-13 was shown as 234 lakh tonnes, he claimed. Such discrepancy was seen in later years too, Surjewala added. The Krishi Karman Award was instituted in 2010-11 by the Congress-led UPA government to encourage agricultural production growth, he said. The Congress leader however parried the question when
Khashoggi's body was dissolved in acid: Erdogan adviser
The body of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "dissolved" in acid after it was dismembered at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.
Lanka: Rajapaksa poaches Tamil MP ahead of crucial trust vote on Nov 7
In a boost for newly-appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a lawmaker from the main Tamil party defected to the premier's side and was made a minister on Friday even as President Maithripala Sirisena agreed to summon Parliament on November 7 for a floor test to end the political turmoil. Rajapaksa claims he now has enough numbers to prove his majority and at least five of ousted premier Ranil Wickremasinghe's men have defected to his side. The current suspension of Parliament is seen as key to Rajapaksa negotiating for enough defections. Rajapaksa was further bolstered by the defection of TNA MP S Vilenthiriyan from the eastern district of Batticaloa, who was made the deputy minister of eastern development. Wickremasinghe's United National Party said they have handed over a motion of no confidence against new Prime Minister Rajapaksa. Senior UNP member Lakshman Kiriella said Secretary General of Parliament was informed of the motion. The Rajapaksa-Sirisena combine has
BJP issues show cause notice to Ramesh Bidhuri for alleged assault on partymen
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari Friday issued a show cause notice to party MP Ramesh Bidhuri in connection with alleged thrashing and misbehaviour with party workers during a 'Run for Unity' event on October 31. Bidhuri, the BJP MP from South Delhi, and his supporters were accused of "assaulting and misbehaving" with party worker Chandan Chaudhary and others during the event held at Sangam Vihar in his constituency to commemorate 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. "An allegation of misbehaviour and assault on partymen has been levelled against you and your family members and supporters. Show cause as to why action should not be taken against you over the serious allegations," Tiwari said in the notice. Bidhuri has been given 10 days time to give his version of the incident. Latching onto the incident, both the Congress and AAP have hit out at the BJP alleging "insult and attack" on Purvanchalis in the party. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, leading activists of ...
INLD expels great-grandsons of Devi Lal, including MP
Taking strong action on recent developments within the party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Friday expelled Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and his younger brother Digvijay Chautala.
Cong, NCP find difficulty in reaching consensus on 8 LS seats
The Congress and the NCP are finding it difficult to have an understanding on contesting eight out of 48 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra, even after reaching a consensus on distribution of other seats among the two parties and their other allies, according to sources. Leaders of the Congress and the NCP met here Friday to iron out differences on 8 constituencies but put off the matter till after Diwali on November 7. The two parties said a few days back that they had reached consensus on 40 seats at stake in next year's polls. The eight Lok Sabha seats, over which the differences persist, are Pune, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Jalna, Raver, Jalgaon, Yavatmal and Shirdi. According to a source, the NCP wants to contest from the Pune seat, with demands in the party that its chief Sharad Pawar should enter the fray from there. But, traditionally, the Congress has been contesting the Pune seat. Last time, the BJP had won the seat. Pawar, the former union minister and ...
PM will not survive Rafale probe, says Rahul alleging Dassault paid kickbacks to Ambani firm
Firing a fresh salvo, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Friday alleged that French company Dassault Aviation paid Rs 284 crore as "first instalment of kickbacks" to Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be able to survive a probe in the Rafale jet deal. He claimed that the prime minister was spending "sleepless nights" fearing action against him if a probe was conducted into the Rafale deal and that CBI chief Alok Verma was "removed" as he wanted to investigate the deal. Gandhi, however, gave no evidence or documents to substantiate his allegations. Reliance Group rejected Gandhi's charges as false and said Ambani and his company are being continuously dragged into a political battle in view of upcoming polls. "The Congress Party has today once again resorted to blatant lies and distorted facts to mount an unwarranted campaign of calumny and falsehoods against the Reliance Group and its Chairman Mr Anil Ambani personally," the group alleged a
BJP makes oblique attack on Cong over Tinsukia killing
The ruling BJP in Assam Friday indirectly blamed the Congress for the killing of five people in Tinsukia district, saying the incident was a result of the opposition party continuously making provocative statements on sensitive issues such as the NRC and the Citizenship Bill. Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass also criticised a section of media for broadcasting provocative statements uninterruptedly, thereby vitiating the atmosphere. Dass asked the Assam government to set up a judicial probe into incident on Thursday night, when five people, including three of a family, from a linguistic minority community were killed by gunmen. Police suspect the gunmen belonged to the ULFA (Independent) faction as they were dressed in battle fatigue, but the outfit has denied its involvement in the attack. Asked about his own party MLA Shiladitya Dev making provocative statements on communally and linguistically sensitive matters, Dass said he has been asked twice to refrain from making such ...
Cong seeks Guv's intervention to curb rising crimes in UP
Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Raj Babbar Friday wrote to Governor Ram Naik urging him to play an active role in helping the government effectively control law and order in the state. In a letter to the Governor, Babbar alleged that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had been ineffective in fighting crime and that incidents of loot, murder and rape were on the rise. "The people of Uttar Pradesh are feeling insecure in the prevailing atmosphere," the Congress chief said in the letter. "It is an irony that despite Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holding the home department portfolio, he is unable to check incidents from taking place," he added. Babbar said those who have the responsibility to ensure a fear-free and crime-free atmosphere in the state have been proven ineffective. The administration is merely watching in silence instead of making sure that the people of the state feel safe and secure, he said, asking the Governor to issue necessary directives to the government in ..
Gogoi demands CBI probe into Assam killings
Veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Friday demanded a CBI enquiry into the killing of five persons by unidentified gunmen at Dhola in Tinsukia district. Addressing a press conference here, the former chief minister said the Assam government has totally failed on the law and order front and a fear psychosis has gripped the entire state. There is doubt over the state government's capability to nab the culprits, he said. "We demand a CBI enquiry into the incident. We doubt whether the government will be able to nab the culprits," he said. "Who is responsible for it? Is it the ULFA(I) or somebody else?" he asked. Condemning Thursday's incident strongly, Gogoi demanded that the perpetrators should be apprehended and brought to book without any delay. "The current government is equally to be blamed for what happened. It has failed to protect the lives of innocent people and this clearly points to the failure of law and order. People of Assam are living in fear and ...
Non-bailable warrants against Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin
A special NIA court has issued non-bailable warrants against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin for their involvement in terror funding activities, officials said Friday. "NIA approached the special NIA court for issuing non-bailable warrants against the above accused for their active involvement in terror funding for creating unrest in the Kashmir valley and other parts of India," NIA's spokesperson said here. The two mobilised Pakistan-trained terrorists and pushed them into India in connivance with secessionist and separatist leaders for waging war against India with the nefarious design of seceding Jammu and Kashmir from India, the agency said. The NIA has already filed charge sheet in the instant case on January 18 against 12 accused people including Saeed and Salahuddin. The probe agency had filed the 12,794-page charge sheet against Saeed and Salahuddin for conspiring to wage war against the government (Section 121 of .
Sitharaman bats for women enrollment in Indian Navy
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged Chief of Indian Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, to push for enrollment of women sailors in the Indian Navy.Sitharaman, who participated in the bi-annual Naval Commanders' Conference here, was briefed by top naval commanders on various issues.According to sources, Lanba confirmed that the decision to include women sailors was on the agenda of the conference.The three-day conference, which aimed at outlining the maritime vision of the government, saw the top brass of the Navy brainstorming on the themes of 'Optimisation' and 'Emerging Technologies'.Apart from new ideas and technologies, the commanders also deliberated on the operation preparedness, combat readiness of units and optimisation of resources in which manpower plays a pivotal role.The discussions were also held over 'Indian Naval Indigenisation Plan 2015-30', including induction of aircraft carrier, ships, nuclear-powered submarines, conventional submarines, ...
U.S. expected to give eight countries Iran sanctions waivers: sources
WASHINGTON/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The United States is expected to spare eight countries from U.S. sanctions because they have significantly cut imports of Iranian oil, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Goa BJP leaders meet Shah in Delhi, push for restart of mining
A delegation of BJP leaders from Goa Friday met party president Amit Shah and Union Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in New Delhi and pushed for early resumption of iron ore mining in the coastal state. Two BJP Members of Parliament Vinay Tendulkar (Rajya Sabha) and Narendra Sawaikar (Lok Sabha MP from South Goa) - along with Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant met Shah in Delhi. "We had a meeting with our national president for almost 20 minutes during which the issue of resumption of mining was discussed," Sawant told PTI talking over the phone from the national capital. A Group of Ministers is looking into Goa's mining issue. Sawant, quoting Shah, said he has requested the members of the group to take up the issue during the next session of Parliament. The delegation also met Tomar and demanded resumption of mining activity, a key source of revenue for the government and also livelihood for lakhs of people in the tourist state. The mining industry in ...
Pawan Kalyan slams TDP-Cong tie-up
Actor and Jana Sena party president Pawan Kalyan Friday slammed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababdu Naidu for allying with the Congress, terming it as "politics of convenience" and said it has "killed the Telugu self-respect." The coming together of the Telugu Desam Party and Congress was not even for benefit of TDP or AP, he claimed. "In fact, the TDP-Congress alliance has caused a sense of deep hurt' and killed the Telugu self-respect. It is not even for the benefit of the TDP or Andhra Pradesh," Kalyan said. He said he differed with his own brother, former Union Minister K Chiranjeevi, when the latter joined the Congress only to protect the state's interests. "We have to safeguard our self-respect. Our stand should, hence, be in a measured manner," he added. Aiming to forge an anti-BJP front ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Naidu Thursday met heads of several opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi, and termed his party's alliance with the Congress a ...
TJS leader meets Rahul, seeks 17 seats
Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) leader M. Kodandaram on Friday called on Congress President Rahul Gandhi and demanded 17 seats for the party in next month's Assembly elections in Telangana.