Page 2588 - Politics
Karnataka readies for 5 by-elections on Saturday
A total of 54.5 lakh electorate, including 27.2 lakh men and 27.3 lakh women, will vote in 6,543 polling booths across 3 Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies of Karnataka, by-elections for which will take place tomorrow, a poll official said on Friday.
1984 anti-Sikh riots: SAD to agitate in Delhi; Cong calls it political gimmick
Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will Saturday stage a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in the national capital seeking justice for the families of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the party said. The ruling Congress in Punjab, however, described the proposed demonstration that will be led by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal as a "political gimmick". In a statement issued here, SAD's senior vice president and spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema said the protest will be held against the the massacre of Sikhs "orchestrated" by the Congress in New Delhi and other parts of the country between November 1 and 4 in 1984. "The protest will open the eyes of the Congress party to the reality that oppressors cannot muzzle the voice of truth," Cheema said. Lambasting Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar for calling it a "political gimmick", Cheema urged all party leaders and workers to participate in large numbers to give a befitting reply to the Lok Sabha MP. He also accused Jakhar of "rubbing .
Trump sanctions set to bite Iran, but what next?
Six months after President Donald Trump bolted from a nuclear deal on Iran, the US from Monday will try to strangle the country's economy with sweeping sanctions, but doubts abound on how effective the campaign will be. The United States has vowed to end all sales of Iranian oil, the country's crucial export, as well as international banking transactions, snapping back sanctions lifted by Trump's predecessor as US president, Barack Obama. But much has changed since the Obama administration targeted Iran's economy in 2012. Obama won broad, if at times begrudging, international support as he set a goal of bringing Iran to the table to end its nuclear program. Iran -- led by a more moderate president, Hassan Rouhani -- has according to UN inspectors abided by the 2015 agreement which is still supported by European powers and Russia and China, which all signed the nuclear deal. "This is not 2012 when the world was united behind sanctions against Iran. This is the Trump administration ...
BJP seeks annulment of Ramanagara bypoll after its candidate joins Cong
A day after the BJP candidate announced that he had withdrawn from Ramanagara assembly bypolls, the party on Friday petitioned the Election Commission requesting it to "annul" the November 3 election immediately as the poll process has been "vitiated". The BJP also demanded that leaders of Congress-JD(S) coalition, including Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, be booked under relevant provisions of law for allegedly acting in "collusion" to ensure that there is no contest. In a major embarrassment for the BJP, two days before the Ramanagara assembly bypoll, L Chandrashekhar, its candidate against Kumaraswamy's wife, quit the contest Thursday and returned to the Congress. With the BJP candidate withdrawing, Anita Kumaraswamy is expected to have smooth sailing. In its petition to the Commission, the BJP alleged that the developments are the "convergence of undue influence" practised by Chandrashekar, Congress' Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh, Anita Kumaraswamy and the chief minister. "Hence, .
Office of NSS opposing all women's entry into Sabarimala vandalised in Kerala
An office of caste-based outfit NSS, which is opposing the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple, was vandalised in Kerala early Friday, police said. The office situated in Nemom near Thiruvananthapuram was allegedly pelted with stones by miscreants, who destroyed its flag pole and broke the window panes of a memorial of saint-reformer Chattampi Swamy, located in front of the building, they said. A wreath with the name of Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G Sukumaran Nair on it was left behind by the miscreants, police said. Nair condemned the attack and also the minor incidents of stone pelting at a few other NSS offices elsewhere in the past few days. "We know very well about those who are behind these attacks. Don't play with NSS," he said in a statement. The attack on the NSS office, an outfit of the influential Nair community in the state, assumes significance in the wake of its strong opposition to the Left Democratic Front .
Narendra Modi launches fast-track loan access plan for small businesses
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a programme to approve loan requests of up to 10 million rupees ($138,000) for small- and medium-sized businesses within 59 minutes, as he tries to woo a large voting block ahead of a series of elections.
BJP challenging the Constitution on Sabarimala issue: CPI(M)
Accusing the BJP of challenging the Constitution on the Sabarimala issue, ruling CPI(M) Friday said people of Kerala would "isolate" the saffron party, which has launched an agitation against the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple. "BJP is trying to utilise Sabarimala for their political interests," CPI(M) state secretariat member P Rajeev said, a day after BJP and various Hindu outfits decided to intensify protests against the Left government's move to implement the apex court order. "They are challenging the Constitution and the apex court of the country. But the people of Kerala will isolate them", he said. BJP had yesterday alleged that the CPI(M), armed with the verdict, was trying to persuade its women cadres to visit the shrine to break its centuries' old customs when the temple doors open for the pilgrimage season commencing this month. BJP's state unit chief P S Sreedharan Pillai had also accused the state government .
Of illusion and illness: Parrikar photos fail to win perception battle for BJP
A steady stream of carefully choreographed activity, which included strategic release of photographs of the ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar chairing meetings, appear to have further queered the pitch in BJP's battle to manage the ongoing battle of perception to show that the government and its chief political executive are both in good health.
Merkel visiting Poland amid calls for WWII reparations
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting Warsaw amid calls by Polish officials that Germany pay Poland billions of dollars for damage inflicted by the Nazis during World War II. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki welcomed Merkel during a ceremony Friday ahead of discussions between the two governments. The talks come amid some strains between the two neighbouring states. Polish officials say Germany owes Poland up to USD 850 billion (743 billion euros) for the damage inflicted during World War II. Germany says Poland has no legal basis for the claims. Another key issue straining ties is Poland's vocal opposition to Nord Steam 2, a German-Russian gas pipeline project which Warsaw says will give Russia excessive control in Europe, hurting Poland and Ukraine in particular.
Kuki tribe remembers bravehearts of Anglo-Kuki war
To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of Anglo-Kuki war of 1917-19, the Kuki tribes of Manipur recently observed the centennial with the unveiling of a Monolith in Manipur's Churanchandpur district.The theme for the centennial ceremony was "war heroes who valiantly fought for Kuki rights and freedom".During the centenary commemoration, gun salutes were given as a mark of honour to the leaders who died while defending their ancestral land and freedom. Cultural items were also performed as part of the commemoration.The Kukis consider the day as one of the biggest uprisings by the tribe against the colonial power as in 1917, the British had demanded recruits to their Labour corps, but Kuki chiefs refused to join and instead declared war on the colonisers in 1917.Letzamang Haokip, Chairman of the Anglo Kuki War Celebration Committee, said, "It's not only important for the Kuki community, but it is important for the whole state of Manipur and some parts of other states including Burma ..
Dharamshala land irregularities: SC quashes FIR against Anurag Thakur, Dhumal
The Supreme Court on Friday quashed a First Information Report (FIR) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur, his father and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and others for alleged irregularities in granting land on lease for the Dharamshala cricket stadium.A bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Ajay Rastogi quashed the FIR registered against them while allowing their appeal against the Himachal Pradesh High Court order which had refused to quash the FIR.Apart from Thakur and Dhumal, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association had also challenged the High Court order refusing to quash the FIR.Thakur and others had earlier told the apex court that during the tenure of the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government in the state, based on a charge sheet prepared by the party, cases were lodged against Thakur, Dhumal and eight Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officers over alleged irregularities in grant of land on .
Illegal hoardings: HC issues notices to NCP, BJP, RPI and MNS
The Bombay High Court Friday issued notices to four political parties -- the NCP, BJP, RPI and the MNS -- asking them to explain why their workers put up illegal hoardings and banners on public roads. The office bearers of these political parties had last year filed undertakings in the high court assuring that their workers would not put up hoardings and banners on public roads and places without requisite permission from the authorities concerned. The undertakings were part of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Suswarajya Foundation raising the issue of large number of illegal hoardings and banners put up by political parties. The high court has in the past passed several orders holding that such illegal hoardings deface public roads and places and had directed civic bodies to take strict action in such cases. The court had then sought the political parties to submit undertakings. Following this, office bearers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bharatiya Janata ...
Kerala government creating trouble over Sabarimala: Congress
With the Sabarimala temple set to open for a day on Monday, the Congress on Friday accused the Kerala government of "creating trouble" over the temple issue.
BJP issues 1st list for MP, denies ticket to 3 ministers
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday issued its first list of 177 candidates for the single-phase November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections and dropped three ministers, including Urban Development Minister Maya Singh, from the list.
MP: Chouhan to fight polls, Cong's Nath, Scindia to sit it out
Among the chief minister aspirants from both the BJP and Congress in Madhya Pradesh, only incumbent CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan will contest Assembly polls scheduled for November 28. Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, both considered claimants to the coveted chair, are Lok Sabha MPs and are unlikely to contest the polls. State Congress unit president Nath is a nine-time MP from Chhindwara while the party's campaign committee chief Scindia represents Guna in the Lok Sabha. "So far, there is no chance of Scindia and Nath contesting Assembly polls," a Congress spokesperson told PTI. The ruling BJP stole a march on the Congress Friday by releasing its first list of 177 candidates for the Assembly polls, fielding CM Chouhan from Budhni seat. Budhni, in the state's Sehore district, is Chouhan's home turf and is close to his ancestral village Jait. He was first elected as MLA from Budhni in 1990 before becoming MP by winning a bypoll from the the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat in 1991 ...
Muslims in Kishtwar to join last rites of slain BJP leader
Muslim preachers in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Friday urged the community to participate in the cremation of slain Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anil Parihar and his brother.
US considering 'significant reduction exceptions' for nations to cut oil purchase from Iran
The US is considering "significant reduction exceptions" on a "case-by-case basis" for countries to bring down their oil purchase from Iran to zero ahead of the November 4 deadline set by the Trump administration, the State Department has said, amid reports that India may get a waiver. The US has told various countries, including India, to cut oil imports from the Persian Gulf nation to "zero" by November 6 or face sanctions. India, which is the second biggest purchaser of Iranian oil after China, is willing to restrict its monthly purchase to 1.25 million tonnes or 15 million tonnes in a year (300,000 barrels per day), down from 22.6 million tonnes (452,000 barrels per day) bought in 2017-18 financial year, sources in New Delhi said. In May, US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 landmark nuclear the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) terming it as disastrous". Under the Obama-era deal, involving five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ..
BJP releases 2nd list of candidates in Mizoram
The BJP Friday released its second list of candidates for 24 seats in the election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly on November 28. The BJP had released its first list of 13 candidates on October 20. The names of three other candidates will soon be announced, a senior leader of the state BJP unit said. The saffron party has so far fielded the largest number of six women candidates. The Zoram Pepole's Movement fielded two women candidates, while the ruling Congress announced Minister of State for Cooperation Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu as the lone woman nominee of the party. There is no woman aspirant in the Mizo National Front's 39 nominees.
Japanese journalist kidnapped in Syria defends going to warzone
A Japanese journalist held hostage in Syria for more than three years said the media must continue to take risks covering warzones to keep the world's attention focused on those caught up in conflicts. Jumpei Yasuda, 44, was kidnapped in Syria the same day he entered the country in June 2015, sparking a lengthy ordeal that he described as "hell". The freelance journalist has faced harsh criticism in some quarters of Japan for venturing into an active warzone. But he defended himself on Friday during his first press conference in Japan since his release last month. "When there are things like a violent conflict happening somewhere on earth, there is absolutely a need for journalists who will go there and see what is happening," he said. "You need information from third parties, not just information from governments." Syria's grinding civil war has cost over 360,000 lives since it broke out in 2011 and quickly became hugely dangerous for reporters with dozens kidnapped, some of them ...
Mizoram polls: Deadline for filing nominations is Nov 9
The Election Commission (EC) on Friday announced that November 9 will be the last date for filing nominations to contest the Assembly elections in Mizoram.The poll body further said scrutiny of nominations will take place on November 12."November 14 has been fixed as the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures and November 28 is the day on which poll shall, if necessary, be taken", it added.The EC also fixed 7 am to 4 pm as the hours during which the polling will take place.A total of 40 constituencies will go to polls in Mizoram. Results will be declared on December 11.The main contest will be between the Congress and the Mizo National Front-led Mizoram Democratic Alliance.Mizoram is the only state in the entire North-East where the Congress is in power presently. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has, however, been reiterating that they would make all efforts to remove the Congress from power.