Page 2602 - Politics
JNU facing severe water crisis
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been facing an acute shortage of water supply for six days, with hundreds of students struggling to get enough of it to drink and meet their sanitation needs.
Will appoint Lokayukta within three months: Nagaland tells SC
The Nagaland government on Wednesday gave an undertaking before the Supreme Court that it would appoint the state Lokayukta within three months. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which was hearing a PIL seeking appointment of an anti-graft ombudsman in every state, took note of the affidavit of the Nagaland chief secretary that the ombudsman under the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017 would be selected and appointed within three months. "Further, it has been stated by the Chief Secretary that the state of Nagaland undertakes to ensure that the appointments to the office of the Lokayukta will be completed within three months from today," the bench, also comprising justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph, noted in its order. In view of the statements made in the affidavit, "we leave it to the authority concerned to effect necessary amendments and to complete the process of appointment in the office of Lokayukta within the time undertaken that is three months from today," it ...
NDA govt hell-bent on destroying autonomous institutions:AMIM
With the Union government invoking for the first time a clause of the RBI Act, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi Wednesday alleged that the BJP-led NDA government was "hell-bent on destroying" all autonomous institutions in the country. Without acknowledging the notices sent to RBI under Section 7 of the RBI Act, the finance ministry in a statement said autonomy was "essential" but its functioning must be guided by public interest and needs of the economy. "If the RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigns, then it will be definitely called the government's unwanted, unnecessary interference in the independence of the central bank," the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader said. "If the (RBI) Governor steps down...it will be very bad news. It will send a wrong message to the international business community and it will have a grave impact on the Indian economy as well. Because never before has Section 7 of the RBI Act been used in our country's ...
Terrorism cannot be wiped out by killing militants: Malik
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Wednesday said terrorism in Kashmir cannot be wiped out by killing militants but by bringing them back to the mainstream. Talking of Pakistan's role in fanning terrorism in the state, the governor said the neighbouring country wants Jammuand Kashmir to remain disturbed, but its designs keep failing as they did recently during the recent municipal polls. "Terrorism cannot be wiped out by killing militants. More of them will keep joining terror groups. They will keep attacking police and security forces which will, in turn, fire bullets, not bouquets. And they will die in the process," he said. "We do not want them to die. We want them to leave the gun culture and come back to the mainstream," he added. Malik made the remarks while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a Power Department function. "Our aim is not to hunt them down but to eradicate terrorism. We want the people in the Valley to understand that nothing is to be achieved from ..
US retreats step-by-step on oil sanctions: Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday said that the US officials have retreated from their earlier stance to cut down Iran's oil exports to zero.
'Run for unity' organised across Jammu region
Hundreds of people, including senior police officers and politicians, Wednesday took part in the 'Run for Unity' to commemorate the 143rd birth anniversary of country's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel across this region, officials said. Inspector General of Police, Jammu, S D Singh Jamwal led the enthusiastic youth from Gulshan ground here, while senior superintendents of police were at the forefront at respective district headquarters, they said. "Apart from promoting unity of the nation, the run for peace was also being organised with a motive to engage the youth in positive activities and keep them away from drugs," Jamwal said. State unit of the BJP also organised the 'Run for Unity' in the city and paid rich tributes to the late leader. BJP state president Ravinder Raina led the run from Satwari Chowk to Prem Nath Dogra Chowk, which was attended by former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta and other senior leaders of the party. Addressing the party workers, Raina ..
BJP may hurt people's religious freedom, Cong says in Christian-majority Mizoram
The ruling Congress in Mizoram Wednesday urged people of the Christian-dominated state to support the party in the assembly election next month, alleging that the entry of BJP might hurt their religious freedom. Countering the charge, the BJP said it was a propaganda of the Congress to tarnish the image of the party. "The Congress should win with a comfortable margin as a fractured mandate would pave way for the BJP to go for a post-poll alliance with the Mizo National Front (MNF)," state Congress spokesperson Lallianchhunga said. "The BJP can cause damage to the soul, spirit and body of the Christians in Mizoram," Lallianchhunga, also the party's media cell chairperson, said in a statement. People should support the Congress, church leaders and civil societies in protecting the state from such dangers and for protecting religious freedom, he said. Mizoram is the only state in the northeastern region under the Congress which is in power since 2008. The election to the 40-member ...
Govt trying to damage every institution in country by interfering in their autonomy: Opposition
Amid a tussle between the government and the RBI, opposition parties on Wednesday accused the NDA regime of trying to damage every institution in the country by interfering in their autonomy and alleged the central bank was being forced to "open bank funding" to defaulting corporates. While the Congress asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to spell out the "overriding emergency" to make the government "take recourse ostensibly" to a never-used provision of the RBI Act for issuing directions to the central bank, the party chief Rahul Gandhi said "the systematic destruction of India's institutions is nothing short of treason". Without directly mentioning the RBI, Gandhi said, "Ironic that a statue of Sardar Patel is being inaugurated, but every institution he helped build is being smashed." The Opposition attack followed the government citing a never-used-before power of issuing directions to the RBI, amid mounting differences between the finance ministry and the RBI over the central ...
On Sardar Patel's anniversary, Rahul accuses Modi government of treason
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have unveiled the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel but his government has been smashing his legacy, and added that "destruction of institutions" is "nothing short of treason".
SAD asks Punjab govt to hike state-advised price for sugarcane
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday asked the Congress-led Punjab government to immediately hike state-advised price (SAP) for sugarcane to Rs 360 per quintal. The party alleged that the state government was "hell bent" upon driving sugarcane farmers to suicide by refusing to come to their aid in the time of dire crisis. In a statement here, the SAD president said it was shocking that the government had not announced the SAP for this year as was the standard practice during the 10-year tenure of the SAD-BJP government. He said the SAD-BJP government used to not only ensure remunerative price to sugarcane growers but also offset the loss suffered by private mills due to increased SAP vis-a-vis the fair and remunerative price (FRP) fixed by the central government. He said the SAD-BJP government had given an additional SAP amount of Rs 50 per quintal in 2015-16. "Private sugar mills were also facilitated soft loans of Rs 200 crore during the SAD-BJP tenure with .
"CPI, TJS should rethink,come out of proposed grand alliance'
: CPI and TJS should rethink and come out of the proposed Congress led grand alliance in Telangana to counter the ruling TRS for the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana and join Bahujan Left Front to contest the polls, the state unit of the CPI(M) said Wednesday. Congress, TDP and CPI announced the formation of a pre poll grand alliance with Congress last month. Later, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) led by M Kodandaram, and other smaller parties expressed interest in joining forces with the alliance, which is yet to be formalised. The CPI(M) is contesting under the umbrella of the Bahujan Left Front (BLF). "There are no similarities between the policies of TJS and CPI and those of Congress and TDP. There is no point in TJS and CPI going along with the grand alliance. They should better rethink and come and join us," CPI(M) state secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram told reporters here Wednesday. "We request CPI and Kodandaram sir to join us...we can work together for ...
Oppn parties question why no bigger statue for Mahatma Gandhi
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's tallest statue to celebrate Vallabhbhai Patel, opposition parties Wednesday questioned the BJP as to why there was no bigger statue for Mahatma Gandhi and also accused the ruling party of trying to "hijack" the legacy of Independence heroes like Sardar Patel. Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi, saying it is "ironic" that a statue of Sardar Patel is being inaugurated, but every institution he helped build is being destgroyed while BSP chief Mayawati demanded an apology from the BJP and the RSS who flayed her over the statues of Dalit leaders her government had installed in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi also alleged that the "systematic destruction" of India's institutions is nothing short of "treason". Modi after unveiling the 182-metre structure in his home state of Gujarat on Patel's 143rd birth anniversary addressed the criticism of the decision to build the monument, questioning whether any crime had been committed ..
NDA govt should stop interfering in RBI's functioning:CPI-M
The CPI-M Wednesday accused the BJP-led NDA government of "destroying" institutions in the country and demanded that government stop "interfering" in the Reserve Bank of India's functioning. CPI-(M) also flayed the Centre for the current state of affairs in the countrys premier investigative agency--CBI. "NDA government is hell-bent upon destroying every institution of India.The latest example is CBI. The Prime Minister himself intervened and removed officials," CPI(M) politburo member B V Raghavulu told reporters here. The Left leader alleged that the independence of RBI is now being destroyed because of the NDA government. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statements show that they have scant respect for autonomous institutions, Raghavulu said. "That's why the continuation of NDA government further will destroy our democracy and destroy ourinstitutions and it will lead to fascistic method of functioning in future," he said. "Thats why CPI-M demands immediate removal of ..
Modi government can't handle its own appointees: Yechury
Taking a dig at the RBI-government rift that came out in the open, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said the Modi government could not even handle its "own appointees" besides other crucial matters.
J-K: SAC approves honorarium for sarpanchs, panchs
The Jammu and Kashmir State Administrative Council (SAC) Wednesday approved honorarium for sarpanchs and panchs to be elected in the ensuing panchayat election. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, an official spokesman said. To compensate sarpanchs and panchs for the onerous responsibilities to be discharged by them under the new Panchayati Raj System being put in place in the state, the SAC decided to pay them honorarium as a token of encouragement, he said. The spokesman said the sarpanchs will be paid a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500 and the panchs Rs 1,000. The meeting was attended by advisors to governor B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai and Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, he said. Panchayat election would be held in the state between November 17 and December 11 in nine phases on non-party basis. Around 4,500 panchayat halqas in over 35,000 panchayat constituencies will be elected by over 58 lakh electors.
What is the overriding emergency, asks Cong on govt citing never-used clause of RBI Act
The Congress on Wednesday asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to spell out the emergency which is making the government "take recourse ostensibly" to the never-used Section 7 of the RBI Act. The provision empowers the government to issue directions to the Reserve Bank of India after consultation with the RBI Governor on issues that it considers serious and of public interest. This section has never been invoked before. Slamming the government over the issue, the Congress alleged that the BJP dispensation is "hiding facts" about the economy and is "desperate". Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari alleged that the NDA-BJP government is hell-bent upon "destroying" every institution on which India stands. "We have seen this in case of CBI and now the prime minister and the finance minister have trained their guns on the RBI," he alleged. "We would like to ask the finance minister what is the overriding emergency which is making this government take recourse ostensibly to Section 7 of RBI ..
There are issues in uniting Cong& JDS workers, says Gowda
: With just three days left for by-polls in Karnataka, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda Wednesday conceded there are issues over unitingCongress and JD(S) workers at the grass root level, consideredas arch rivals, in some constituencies. "In Mandya there is not much harmony (among workersof both parties), because we took a decision in just one or two weeks (to go for by-polls together)," Gowda said. Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, the JD(S)supremo said "still to an extent at the grass root level,there are issues with regard to uniting workers. I'm nothiding anything from you," he said. Congress legislature party leaderSiddaramaiah had also recently spoken about "initial hitches" betweenworkers of both parties. By-polls for three Lok Sabha constituencies-Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya and two assembly segments- Ramanagara and Jamkhandi, will take place on November 3. The counting of votes will be on November 6. The Congress and JD(S), the ruling coalition ...
2,000 migrants perished in Mediterranean this year: UN
Rome, Oct 31 (IANS/AKI) A total of 1,987 migrants drowned while crossing the Mediterranean this year and over two-thirds died in waters between North Africa and Sicily despite a sharp fall in arrivals to Italy, the UN migration agency said.
Youth Congress mocks Maha govt on fourth anniversary in office
The Youth Congress in Maharashtra Wednesday mocked the BJP-led government on completion of four years in office by performing various Yoga postures which they named after raging issues like Rafale deal. The protests titled "Nishedhasan" were held in various parts of the state to highlight the "betrayal" of the people by the Central and state governments, a senior leader said. Targetting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Congress members named the "asanas" (Yoga poses) after controversial "Rafale deal" which the party claims is a "scam" in the purchase of fighter jets from France, and issues like "lack of jobs" and "unfulfilled promises". "The Central and state governments of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) seem to understand only the language of Yoga, thus we protested by doing 'Nishedhasan' across various districts in Maharashtra," said state Youth Congress president Satyajeet Tambe. He accused the state government of ...
Those engaged in corruption are defaming Kashmiris: Malik
Governor Satya Pal Malik Wednesday hit out at those who blame him for "defaming Kashmiris" by talking about "corruption", saying those engaged in corruption are the ones defaming the people of the state. "If any political leader says I am defaming Kashmiris by talking about corruption in Kashmir, it is wrong," Malik told reporters at Raj Bhawan here. " Rather, those engaged in corruption in the state are defaming Kashmiris," he asserted. Malik made the remarks in response to a query over some state political leaders' statements that the governor was defaming Kashmiris by talking on news channels about "huge corruption" in the state. The governor has been facing insinuations that his anti-graft remarks while taking stringent measures against the malady are defaming Kashmiris. Malik recently cancelled over 550 political appointments in J&K Bank and struck down a government deal with the Anil Ambani-led Reliance General Insurance for mandatory health insurance of government employees