Page 2605 - Politics
N. Korea preparing for nuclear inspection: Seoul
North Korea is apparently preparing for a possible visit by international inspectors to verify the shutdown of its nuclear test site, Seoul's spy agency said on Wednesday during a parliamentary audit.
Will open box of sweets only after AAP govt's formal announcement: Puri on delayed Metro Phase-IV
"We will open a box of sweets only when a formal announcement for the Metro Phase-4 project is made," Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Wednesday soon after Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot assured people that it would be approved in the next cabinet meeting. At the flagging-off ceremony of the Shiv Vihar-Trilokpuri section of Delhi Metro's Pink Line, Gahlot said that he has directed the transport commissioner to put up the file of Phase-4 in the Delhi Cabinet immediately and hoped that in the next cabinet meeting, the "good news" will officially be conveyed to Delhiites. The 104-km-long Metro Phase-4 project was estimated to be completed by 2021 after Delhi government's in-principle approval to it in February 2016. But the Delhi Cabinet is yet to take a final decision on it. Puri told reporters that one year back, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had assured him that he would give his nod for Metro Phase-4 soon. "At today's event also, they (Delhi government) assured ...
Why not bigger statue of Mahatma Gandhi, asks CPI
On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled an imposing 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the world's tallest, veteran Communist leader Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy demanded to know why a bigger statue of Mahatma Gandhi was not built by the BJP. He said while there was no objection over the monument built for Patel, what was surprising was why a bigger statue for the father of the nation, who was also born in Gujarat, was not thought of. "They (BJP) do not like his (Gandhi's) secularism, that is why they have not taken up (build his statue). Instead, they have gone for Patel, who had rightist ideas," the CPI general secretary alleged. Reddy also charged the BJP with trying to "appropriate" the legacy of Patel. "We have no objection to Sardar Patel's statue. With all due respect to him (Patel), we feel Mahatma Gandhi is the tallest leader of Indian politics...Indian people...he is the father of the nation," he told PTI. "Mahatma Gandhi's statue should have been ...
Modi's boat of corruption will sink: Congress
The Congress on Wednesday targeted the Narendra Modi government over the Rafale deal saying its "boat of corruption" will sink after the Supreme Court asked for details of pricing and told the Centre to go public on the selection process of the Indian offset partner.
'Congressman' Patel had no tolerance for communalism: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday paid rich tribute to "Congressman" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 143rd birth anniversary and said he was a man of "steel will" and had "no tolerance for bigotry or communalism".
Modi, Manmohan, Sonia, Rahul pay tributes to Indira Gandhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor Manmohan Singh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were among those who paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 34th death anniversary on Wednesday.
Supreme Court gives government 10 days to reveal details of Rafale jet deal
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the government 10 days to disclose the details of an $8.7-billion military jet deal with France's Dassault Aviation to former ministers and an activist who say the information should be in the public domain.
Union ministers participate in 'Run for Unity' on Patel's birth anniversary
Several Union ministers participated in the 'Run for Unity' across the country Wednesday to mark the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of the country's first Home Minister in Gujarat. At a special function held in the national capital, President Ram Nath Kovind and others paid floral tributes at Patel's statue on his birth anniversary, which is observed as 'Rashtriya Ekta Divas'. The ruling BJP has described Patel as the man who thwarted efforts to disintegrate India. Had Sardar Patel not united the country, we would need visas to see lions or pay homage at Somnath or view the Charminar in Hyderabad, the prime minister said while unveiling Patel's statue, the tallest in the world at 182 metres, in Kevadiya. Several party leaders, including Modi, have accused the Congress of "ignoring" the efforts of Patel, B R Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose in the freedom struggle and creation of post-independence India. The ...
Mattis says Asian countries concerned about 'massive piling' of Chinese debt
US Defence Secretary James Mattis has said that countries in Asia and Indo-Pacific region want America's engagement because they are worried about the "massive piling" of Chinese debt, describing the country as one of the three threats to the world today. The US would cooperate with China where it can and confront where it must like the freedom of navigation in international waters, he said at the US Institute of Peace (USIP). "I just got back from Singapore, met with ASEAN, two weeks ago, where we are welcome, where many nations, in private, will tell us why they need us engaged out there because they're concerned about what China is doing and the piling of massive debt...," Mattis said Tuesday. "And then you see what happened in Sri Lanka, where they lost sovereignty over their own harbour. One of those issues, I'll be talking, obviously, with my counterpart about here in Washington, shortly," he said in response to a question on China, which he described as one of the three threats
Supreme Court gives govt 10 days to reveal details of military jet deal
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the government 10 days to disclose the details of an $8.7-billion military jet deal with France's Dassault Aviation to former ministers and an activist who say the information should be in the public domain.
Campaigning gathers steam in poll-bound Mizoram
The campaigning for the November 28 Mizoram Assembly elections is on in full swing, though the notification for polling to the 40-member House is yet to be issued. The stakes are high this time as Mizoram is the only north-eastern state which has a Congress government and the BJP, which is upbeat after ousting the CPI(M) from Tripura, is keen on making inroads in the Christian-dominated state. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, his cabinet colleagues and top Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee leaders have already hit the campaign trail, and so has former CM Zoramthanga of the main opposition, the MNF - part of the BJP-headed NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance). With major political parties announcing the names of almost all candidates, party leaders, star campaigners and workers are carrying out door-to-door canvassing under the watchful eyes of the Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), which has been formed by different churches and NGOs for electoral reformation. The MPF, which had ...
Autonomy for RBI vital: Government
Amid a public spat between the RBI and the government, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday that the autonomy for the central bank "is an essential and accepted governance requirement".
Autonomy of RBI essential, nurtured by govt: FinMin
Amid reports of its mounting tension with the RBI, the Finance Ministry Wednesday said the government has "nurtured and respected" autonomy of the central bank and has been holding extensive consultations with it on many issues. "The autonomy for the central bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement. Government of India has nurtured and respected this," it said in a statement. Both the government and RBI, in their functioning, have to be guided by public interest and the requirement of the Indian economy, it said. "For the purpose, extensive consultations on several issues take place between the government and the RBI from time to time." The statement however did not mention of the government citing the never-before-used power of issuing directions to RBI Governor to seek a resolution to differences with the central bank. The government has sent at least three letters on different issues under Section 7 (1) of the Reserve Bank of ...
CPI(M), Cong aim to counter Amit Shah's Bengal rath yatras
In a bid to counter BJP chief Amit Shah's 'rath yatras' in Bengal ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls, opposition Congress and the CPI(M) have decided to take up mass contact programmes and 'padayatras' (foot marches) in the state. The ruling TMC, however, refused to attach any importance to either Shah's rath yatras or events organised by the opposition, saying people of the state were firmly with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP, which is trying to make inroads in Bengal, stood second to the Trinamool Congress in the local body polls held recently. The saffron party has emerged as the principle challenger to TMC, leaving its two traditional rivals -- the Congress and CPI(M) -- fuming. The state Congress, on its part, has decided to launch 'Jan Samparak Abhiyan' (mass contact) programme across the state, as part of a nationwide initiative, likely from the end of next month, party sources said. The CPI(M) leadership under the banner of its farmer wing - Kisan Sabha - has ...
TRS leaders help shaving, bathing voters in poll-bound Telangana
As Telangana assembly elections are inching closer, leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters in the state.TRS leader and former Speaker of the now-dissolved assembly Madhusudhana Chary was found shaving a person at a barber shop in Bhupalpalle from where he is seeking re-election.Another candidate of the party, Chinta Prabhakar, was seen cooking for the public in a house in Sangareddy town as part of the party's door-to-door campaign.Mahbubnagar candidate Srinivas Goud was seen knitting clothes on a sewing machine and taking part in construction activities with labourers, while former legislator from Bodhan Shakeel Ahmed was seen feeding voters while seeking re-election from the same seat.Meanwhile, another party leader Koram Kanakaiah from Yellandu constituency was seen helping a person take bath by pouring water on his head with a mug.The election to the 119-member assembly is scheduled to be held on December 7. The counting ..
Finance ministry says RBI autonomy 'essential'
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Finance ministry said on Wednesday the autonomy of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was "essential", in an attempt to dampen a spat between the government and the central bank.
Tributes paid to 'Iron Lady' on her 34th death anniversary
The nation remembered former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 34th death anniversary Wednesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor Manmohan Singh, former president Pranab Mukherjee and several other leaders paying tributes to her. "Tributes to our former Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary," Modi said in a tweet. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, party president Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh were the first to pay floral tributes to the late prime minister at her memorial, Shakti Sthal. Later, Sonia, Rahul, Singh along with Mukherjee and former vice president Hamid Ansari attended a prayer meeting at the Indira Gandhi Memorial at 1 Akbar Road here. Many former Union ministers, senior Congress leaders and Members of Parliament were also present. "Remembering Dadi (Grandmother) today with a deep sense of happiness. She taught me so much and gave me unending love. She gave so much of herself to her people. I am very proud of her," Rahul said .
Naxal attack: C'garh CM holds meeting, orders tough action
A day after the Maoist attack in Dantewada district which claimed four lives, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Wednesday convened an emergency meeting of officials and asked them to intensify operations against the ultras. Singh held the meeting with senior bureaucrats and police officials at his official residence, where he reviewed the law and order situation. He directed them to intensify operations against the naxals, a government public relation official told PTI. Maoists on Tuesday attacked a police patrol party accompanying a three-member team of national broadcaster Doordarshan for election related coverage, near Nilawaya village under Aranapur police station limits of Dantewada at around 11 am. Two policemen- Sub Inspector Rudra Pratap Singh, assistant constable Manglu and the cameraman of Doordarshan Achyutanand Sahu were killed on the spot. Of the two injured policemen, an assistant constable Rakesh Kaushal died here at a private hospital on Wednesday
Chidambaram slams Centre for reportedly referring to never-used clause in RBI Act
Slamming the government for reportedly referring to a never-used clause of the RBI Act directing the central bank to implement its wishes, former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday alleged that the BJP dispensation is "hiding facts" about the economy and is desperate. The senior Congress leader said that the governments he was a part of in the past had never used Section 7 of the Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934, under which a direct order can be issued by the government to the central bank to carry out its wishes in "public interest". "If, as reported, Government has invoked Section 7 of the RBI Act and issued unprecedented 'directions' to the RBI, I am afraid there will be more bad news today. "We did not invoke Section 7 in 1991 or 1997 or 2008 or 2013. What is the need to invoke the provision now? It shows that government is hiding facts about the economy and is desperate (sic)," he said in a series of tweets. According to a media report, the government has ...
Shiv Vihar-Trilokpuri section of Delhi Metro inaugurated
The Shiv Vihar-Trilokpuri section of Delhi Metro's Pink Line was flagged off on Wednesday by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.The 17.86 kilometre-long elevated section, which is now operational, comprises of 15 elevated stations, namely Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake, East Vinod Nagar-Mayur Vihar-II , Mandawali-West Vinod Nagar, I.P. Extension, Anand Vihar ISBT, Karkardooma, Karkardooma Court, Krishna Nagar, East Azad Nagar, Welcome, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar.The main highlight of the section is the presence of three interchange stations - Anand Vihar (with Blue Line), Karkardooma (with Blue Line) and Welcome (with Red Line).After the opening of this section, the Delhi Metro network is now 313.86 kilometres long.