Page 2594 - Politics
Guv should send report to President on UP's 'dismal' law and order situation: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday urged Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik to send a report to President Ram Nath Kovind about the "dismal law and order situation" in the state. Yadav alleged that the women and girls in the state are not safe while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is busy in politics of hatred and vendetta. "It is unfortunate that the Governor has maintained silence even in the wake of deteriorating law and order situation. He needs to immediately send a report on the dismal law and order situation of the state to the President in keeping with his constitutional duties," the SP president said in a press release. "It seems that actual 'Ram rajya' has been established under the BJP chief minister (Yogi Adityanath)...people belonging to the BJP and (Rashtriya Swayamsewak) Sangh are ruling the police stations," he said. Citing recent cases of crime in the state, Yadav said when people in Uttar Pradesh venture out of their homes, they do not ...
Pakistan on boil as radical Islamists protest against acquittal of Christian woman in blasphemy case
Hundreds of radical Islamists poured onto the streets and blocked major roads across Pakistan as they held protests for the second day on Thursday against the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy, defying Prime Minister Imran Khan's stern warning. The government said that negotiations were being held with the protestors to convince them to disperse peacefully. Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi told the National Assembly that negotiations were underway with the agitators to resolve the matter amicably. "The nation will soon hear good news in this regard.We do not want use of force against the protestors, he said. Asia Bibi, 47, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement. The apex court's judgement, which was pronounced Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with protestors led by
AAP to contest on all LS seats in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana: Rai
The Aam Aadmi Party will independently contest on all Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab but field candidates only in selected seats in other states, senior party leader Gopal Rai said Thursday. Rai, the party's Delhi convener, asserted the Congress was not a "serious player" in Delhi for the parliamentary polls and the AAP will win in a direct fight with the BJP. "The AAP will contest independently on all the Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. In other states we will contest on selected seats where our organisational strength and local situations suit us," he told reporters here. He said there were no chances of a 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) coming into being before the elections in 2019 and the BJP could be defeated only through state-specific strategies. "In the current scenario, the Congress is not a serious player in Delhi for the 2019 parliamentary polls and there are no chances of its revival in the future," he said. Unless the BJP resorts to some ...
Assam rural polls to be complete by December 15: SEC
The Assam State Election Commission on Thursday said it would complete the panchayat polls in the state by December 15. The decision was taken keeping in view the constitutional mandate and orders of the Gauhati High Court in this regard, a release issued by the commission said here. The state election commission also held discussions with the Education Department and requested the authorities to hold school and college examinations after December 15 for smooth conduct of the rural polls, the release added.
Russia imposes sanctions on 322 Ukrainian individuals, 68 entities
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on Thursday introducing special economic measures against 322 Ukrainian citizens and 68 companies amid a prolonged row between Moscow and Kiev.
China accused of increasing repression of activists cooperating with UN
Chinese Human Right Defenders (CHRD) on Thursday alleged that China's government has become more aggressive in the last four years in reprisals against activists and organizations that cooperated with the UN in the country and abroad.
Owaisi questions Naidu's credentials in forming united front
MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Thursday questioned the credentials of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in taking the initiative for an opposition alliance to take on the NDA, saying he was a supporter of BJP till recently and during the 2002 "Gujarat pogrom". Naidu's TDP was part of the Narendra Modi government when the deaths of research scholar Rohith Vemula, Mohammed Akhlaq (lynching victim) and others happened, he said. "@ncbn supported BJP when Gujrat Pogrom happened in 2002, was part of @PMOIndia cabinet while Akhlaq, pahlu khan, Rohit,JUNAID, Aleemuddin where murdered,during his tenure as CM erstwhile AP many communal riots happened, AZIZ & AZAM killed in encounter NOW Saviour of Secularism WAH," Owaisi tweeted. Naidu, who quit the NDA in March this year over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, has been in talks with leaders of non-BJP parties to put up a united fight against the saffron party. On Thursday, he met .
Always for uniting secular, democratic forces to take on BJP in 2019: Reddy
Welcoming TDP (Telegu Desham Party) supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's move to unite the opposition parties to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the CPI Thursday said uniting secular, democratic forces is of utmost importance in the country today. "We welcome Naidu's move. We agree with his opinions to defeat the BJP. We are always in favour of uniting the opposition to take on BJP. What is most important for the country in the current situation is to unite all secular and democratic political forces," CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said. Naidu met Congress president Rahul Gandhi here Thursday and discussed a grand alliance for the Lok Sabha polls next year. Earlier, Naidu also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in the national capital. The TDP has allied with the Congress, the CPI and the TJS to form a "grand alliance" for the December 7 Legislative Assembly polls in Telangana.
Pak rejects India's protests over CPEC bus service
Pakistan on Thursday rejected protests by India against a bus service between Pakistan and China passing though PoK under the ambitious CPEC project. According to reports, the new bus service will be launched between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on November 3. "We reject the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) purported protest and statement regarding bus service through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said. India on Wednesday said it had lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan over a proposed bus service between the two countries through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said the bus service will be a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Kumar said it has been India's consistent and well-known position that the "so-called China-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by the ...
Rahul writes to PM Modi seeking air connectivity for Kota
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to launch air travel services in Kota, Rajasthan.In a letter to the Prime Minister dated October 25, the Gandhi scion reiterated the fact that 1.5 lakh students across India study in numerous coaching centres and face inconvenience due to the absence of such facility.Gandhi suggested Prime Minister Modi to upgrade the present infrastructure of airways in the city."While the Airport Authority of India operates an airport at Kota, it is not equipped to handle large commercial aircraft. The need of the hour is to either upgrade the existing airport or construct a new airport to handle commercial flights. Let us bring Vikas (development) to the enterprising people of Kota," the Congress chief said.
Feeling 'neglected', BJP's L Chandrashekhar backs out of contest 2 days before by-poll
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate L Chandrashekhar, who had filed his nomination from Ramanagara assembly constituency, withdrew his candidature ahead of the by-elections slated to be held on November 3.Chandrashekhar stated that he was being neglected by senior party leaders and pinned the blame of retiring from the contest on the BJP top brass."On joining BJP, I called up many senior leaders but nobody responded to me. I was feeling neglected. I belonged to Congress and I will return to my party," L Chandrashekhar told media after withdrawing his candidature.Reacting to the charge, BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa said that it is a charade played by JDS and Congress. "We didn't have any support in Ramnagar. The Janata Dal-Secular candidate from the Ramangara is Anita Kumaraswamy, who is the spouse of HD Kumaraswamy. The (Congress and JDS) have played strategy and games. This shows the illicit power of money of the two brothers," alleged the senior leader.Hitting back at the ...
Chinese premier meets US lawmakers amid tensions
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a visiting delegation of seven US Republican lawmakers on Thursday that he hoped their two countries can meet "halfway" amid friction over trade, security and other issues. Relations between Washington and Beijing have grown tense since US President Donald Trump activated new tariffs on roughly half of Chinese imports this summer while Beijing fired back with tariffs on most US products. Some of the US lawmakers attending the meeting with Li in China's leadership compound have expressed concern over Trump's trade tactics. "Over the past four decades, the China-US relationship has had its share of ups and downs, but, generally speaking, it has been moving forward all along," Li told the US delegation. "We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality," Li said. The working relationship between the two capitals has been further tested recently by a speech by US Vice ...
Governor administration on 'mission' to change state laws: NC
The National Conference Thursday accused Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration of being on a "mission" to change state laws which are the domain of a democratically elected government. "We are dismayed over the relentless attacks on the autonomous institutions in the state," NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said in a statement. Sagar alleged that the governor administration has "embarked on a mission" to change the existing state laws which should have been the exclusive domain of a democratically elected government. "Legally speaking, state governor has the power to change state laws but he has no popular mandate to make far reaching changes in our institutions. The recent SAC decision approving the amendments in JK Municipal Act is a case in point where unlike earlier elections to the post of mayor will be done through a secret ballot," he said. The Jammu and Kashmir government has amended Municipal Laws, paving way for election of mayors of Srinagar and
BJP to step up protests, CM warns of action against those
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday cautioned against alleged attempts by some people with vested interests to create "communal divide" in the state police force, even as BJP and various Hindu outfits decided to intensify protests against the left government on the Sabarimala women entry issue. Addressing police personnel at a function here to mark the formation day of state police, he said certain people were trying to attack and isolate efficient officials in the force in the name of religion and caste. Vijayan was apparently referring to the cyber attack against senior IPS officers, Manoj Abraham and S Sreejith, who had coordinated security arrangements in and around Sabarimala as part of implementing the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa Temple. "Certain people with vested interests are trying to create communal divide in the police force. The government is viewing such attempts with utmost seriousness and ...
BJP MP Rakesh Sinha to bring pvt member's bill for Ram temple, asks Oppn if they will support it
Amid a growing chorus from saffron outfits for an ordinance on construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, BJP MP Rakesh Sinha on Thursday said he will bring a private member's bill in this regard and asked opposition leaders including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi whether they will support it. Sinha said the onus is now on the opposition leaders and he is asking a clear-cut question as now is the time to separate truth from lies. In a series of tweets, he asked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu whether they will support his bill for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "Will Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Lalu Prasad Yadav support private member bill on Ayodhya? They frequently ask the date (of Ram temple construction) from RSS and BJP, now onus is on them to answer," he tweeted. Sinha said the Ram temple issue is not a priority for the Supreme Court and ..
India has no extra-territorial ambitions, wants peace: Army chief
Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday said that India has had no "extra-territorial ambitions", but was committed to 'uphold and strengthen" peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
LJP to contest on all 200 seats in Rajasthan if talks with BJP fails
The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will contest on all 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan in the upcoming polls if talks of alliance on 15 seats with the BJP fail to yield any result, a party leader said Thursday. The party wants to ally with the BJP on 15 seats. The matter was discussed with the state BJP president Madan Lal Saini but the talks did not yield any result,LJP state president Suraj Kumar Burhadia said at a press conference here. He said Saini had assured them to take up the issue with party leaders in New Delhi. Burhadia said the state unit had also urged party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to discuss the matter with the BJP high command. The party would contest on all 200 seats if a consensus can't be reached with the BJP, he said.
Cong, BJP failed in Haryana; AAP brought revolutionary changes in Delhi: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said while the Congress, INLD and the BJP regimes had failed to perform in Haryana, his AAP government had brought "revolutionary" changes in the national capital. Speaking here on the state's foundation day, being celebrated as 'Haryana Diwas', Kejriwal said every section of the society in the state was unhappy with the Congress, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who have ruled the state for over 50 years now. "Today is November 1 which is observed as 'Haryana Divas'... 52 years have passed since the formation of Haryana but still the requirements and expectations of people remain unfulfilled," the Delhi chief minister told the media. He said every section of the society in Haryana was unhappy with the political parties which have been in power in the state for over 50 years. "Farmers are unhappy as they are not getting compensation for their damaged crops, they are not getting remunerative prices ...
'Uddhav's Ayodhya visit reminder to PM Modi of Ram temple construction'
Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray is going to Ayodhya to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed.Raut also informed that all preparations have been made for Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya on November 25. "All preparations have been done for Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya on November 25. He is going there to remind Modi ji and the BJP government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed," Raut told ANI."It will take 1000 years if we wait for court's verdict on Ram Temple," he added.On October 29, the apex court adjourned the hearing of the Ayodhya title suit case until January 2019.The apex court had adjourned the matter, which challenged the Allahabad High Court verdict of 2010 that ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya should be divided into three parts for each party - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lala.The Babri Masjid in .
India, Botswana agree to act tough on terror
India and Botswana on Thursday strongly condemned against terrorism and agreed to take determined and credible steps to eradicate the global menace.The vice presidents of both the countries "unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed the importance of international efforts to prevent and fight the scourge of terrorism", according to an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.The two leaders witnessed the signing of the agreement on the exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports.During the bilateral talks, both leaders acknowledged the historical, friendly and warm relations between the two countries and held extensive discussions on bilateral, multilateral and issues of mutual interest. They also reiterated their common desire to further strengthen economic, commercial, technical, educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries.Botswana Vice President Slumber Tsogwane appreciated India's ...