Page 2610 - Politics
Kannada outfit against "enforcing" Malayalam inKasaragod
Activists of a Kannada outfit will "picket" Parliament House in New Delhi on November 28 against the Kerala governments "attempts to close down Kannada schools and enforce Malayalam language" in Kasaragod district bordering Karnataka. KarnatakaNavanirmana Sene (KNS) president Bhimashankar Patil told reporters here Tuesday that 1,000 activists would participate in the picketing programme. He said the organisation is against "enforcing" Malayalam language in Kasaragod, where a majority of the population speak Kannada and are closely associated with Dakshina Kannada district. Patil also wanted the Dakshina Kannada district administration to invite representatives from Kasaragod district to the 'Kannada Rajyotsava' celebrations. Kasaragod isclose to DK and many writers from the district havecontributed to Kannada language and literature, he said. Kannada Sahitya Parishat former president Harikrishna Punaroor and Karavali foundation president Shivaram Kasaragod were also ...
BJP slams Rahul Gandhi for attack on Modi
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi Tuesday said Rahul Gandhi's criticism against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over an apparent RBI-Centre rift, reflects Congress party's grounding, "which is fast eroding in national politics." Gandhi on Monday said it was nice to see RBI Governor Urjit Patel "finally defending" the central bank from Modi. "Since the Congress is not getting any chance to expose Modi government on corruption issues, it is picking up subjects concerning government agencies. This shows Congress' grounding, which is fast eroding in national politics," Trivedi told reporters here. Gandhi also had said it was not too late for the RBI governor to stand in defense of the Reserve Bank of India, after reports said there was a rift between Patel And 'Team Modi'. Responding to Gandhi's charges, Trivedi denied there was any rift between RBI and the central government. Deputy RBI governor Viral Acharya had stirred a hornet's nest recently by pitching for "effective ...
Cong hits back at Jaitley over criticism of RBI
The Congress on Tuesday accused the government of "destroying" institutions in the country by "assaulting their autonomy" as it hit out at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over his criticism of the RBI and demanded that he apologise. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma accused Jaitley of "interfering" in the functioning of the Reserve Bank of India and alleged that the government was seeking to take charge of the country's monetary policy, a domain of the RBI. There was no immediate comment from Jaitley or the government on the Congress' charges. "We demand from this government to desist from destroying another autonomous institution, to retract their steps, engage in dialogue and consultations rather than seeking to justify what is patently wrong and unjustified," he told reporters. The Congress leader expressed surprise at the sharp attack of the Finance Minister on the RBI and its performance. "The central bank is independent and autonomous. It is in the interest of the Indian economy
'Regional parties cannot make someone PM without Cong support'
: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda Tuesday said regional parties alone cannot make someone Prime Minister without Congress backing and expressed "complete support" for Rahul Gandhi to be made Prime Minister after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In these polls, regional parties alone cannot make someone the Prime Minister without the support of the Congress, whose decision would be final, he said. "In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, no regional parties in the country can make someone Prime Minister, leaving aside Rahul Gandhi. But Congress' decision will be the final," Gowda said. Speaking to reporters in Ballari, he said "I'm saying directly. My complete support is for Rahul Gandhi to be made the Prime Minister." Gowda's comments comes over a week after senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said Congress has never stated "officially" that Rahul Gandhi should be the Prime Minister if an opposition alliance formed the next government. He had insisted the Congress' focus was on ...
JK guv meets Rajnath; discusses Kashmir situation
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Tuesday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed about the prevailing situation in the state where panchayat elections are to be held, officials said. During the 30-minute meeting, the governor briefed the home minister on the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley, which has witnessed several terror attacks on security personnel in the recent past. The governor apprised the home minister about the situation in the Kashmir valley as well as in the border areas, a Home Ministry official said. Panchayat polls will be held in Jammu and Kashmir in nine phases beginning November 17. Elections to the state's urban local bodies were held recently in four phases between October 8 and October 16. Malik, who is at the helm of affairs as Jammu and Kashmir is currently under Governor's rule, also briefed Singh about the elections to the urban local bodies and the upcoming panchayat polls. Both the elections have been boycotted by the state's .
Netanyahu says mediation can help to prevent Gaza collapse: report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he welcomes mediation from the United Nations and Egypt to prevent a humanitarian collapse in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported Tuesday. Netanyahu made the comments in a briefing to local journalists on Monday, various Israeli newspapers reported. Egypt and UN officials have been seeking a long-term truce between Israel and Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, with Qatar providing humanitarian assistance. Security sources in Gaza said a 13-member Egyptian delegation was in the strip on Tuesday to meet with Hamas officials, the latest in a series of such visits. Months of unrest along the Gaza border have led to fears of a fourth war since 2008 between Israel and Palestinian militants in the blockaded enclave. "We are working to prevent forces getting into Israel to harm our soldiers and communities," Netanyahu said, quoted by Haaretz newspaper. "On the other hand, we're working to prevent a humanitarian crisis, ...
Issue notification naming Jharsuguda Airport as Veer Surendra
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue a notification naming the Jharsuguda Airport as 'Veer Surendra Sai' Airport. He also urged the prime minister to instruct Air India for operation of flight from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi via Jharsuguda. "I would request that Union Government may immediately bring out the notification naming Jharsuguda Airport as Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda," Patnaik wrote to Modi. Modi on September 22 had dedicated the Jharsuguda Airport to the nation and flagged off the UDAN flight from the airport. "Your goodself had also announced the naming of Jharsuguda Airport as Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda as a befitting tribute to the well known freedom fighter and legendary son of the soil. However, notification to this effect has not been issued by the Government of India," Patnaik mentioned in the letter. Patnaik also drew the Prime Minister's notice that Air Odisha has suddenly ...
China should 'know its place', not be 'overbearing', says son of iconic leader Deng Xiaoping
China should "keep a sober mind" and "know its place", said an influential son of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the architect of modern China, indicating increasing concerns in the country over President Xi Jinping's ambitious foreign policy and military assertiveness. The remarks by Deng Pufang, the eldest son of Deng Xiaoping, are seen as a counter-argument to President Xi's assertive foreign policy and focus on military expansion. "We must seek truth from fact, keep a sober mind and know our own place," said 74-year-old Deng in a recent speech that was obtained by the South China Morning Post. We should neither be overbearing or belittle ourselves," he said. Deng urged China to embrace a cooperative and win-win international environment. International uncertainties are on a rise. We should stick to the direction of peace and development, and try to earn a cooperative and win-win international environment, he said in an apparent reference to the current trade war with US amid
Unveiling of Statue of Unity a "BJP event": Gujarat Congress
The Gujarat Congress Tuesday said unveiling of the Statue of Unity Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "BJP programme" and the party has organised its own event to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The main opposition party said none of its leaders will take part in the statue dedication ceremony. The Statue of Unity, touted as the world's tallest statue and dedicated to Patel, will be unveiled on October 31 by Modi at a grand ceremony in Kevadia, Narmada district. The unveiling ceremony is being organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the first home minister of independent India. The Congress said a lecture programme will be organised at Bhaikaka Bhavan here to pay tributes to Patel and also to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (whose death anniversary falls on October 31). The lecture will be delivered by former vice chancellor of the Bhavnagar University Vidyut Joshi. All important state Congress leaders, including its .
Senior UN official meets Lankan Speaker amid political turmoil
A senior UN official Tuesday met Speaker of Sri Lanka's parliament Karu Jayasuriya to convey UN chief Antonio Guterres' message for the need to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions in the country, amid ongoing political crisis. Spokesman for the Secretary General Stephane Dujarric told reporters here on Monday that Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer had met Jayasuriya. Dujarric said Singer stressed on the Secretary-General's "message for the need to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process, uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety and security of all Sri Lankans". Sri Lanka, a Buddhist-majority nation in the Indian Ocean, was plunged into chaos on Friday when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister in a surprise move. He also suspended Parliament in an apparent bid to shore up support for newly-appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Sirisena is under increasing political and ...
Kushwaha meets Paswan, discusses seat-sharing formula for Bihar
RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha met Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan Tuesday and both the leaders are believed to have deliberated on the seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP in Bihar for the Lok Sabha elections. The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader met Paswan at the latter's residence and held deliberations. Earlier in the day, Kushwaha met BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav and said he was ready to follow BJP president Amit Shah's call asking allies to "sacrifice" their number of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. His meeting with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav last week had sparked speculation over his future course of action. He said Tuesday he wanted a "respectable" number of seats to fight in the state. Kushwaha made it clear that a final seat-sharing deal has not been clinched yet but dropped hints to suggest he may remain part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), LJP and RLSP had contested 30, seven and three seats of the 40 ..
Govt staffers on two-day strike in support of roadways employees
To express solidarity with agitating state roadways workers, government staffers across various departments began a two-day strike Tuesday, the employees' unions said. The employees' union leaders said their strike had affected normal life heavily, a claim which was later rebuffed by the state government. The Haryana Roadways employees have been protesting for the last 15 days against the state government's decision to run 700 private buses. On Monday, they extended their strike till November 2. "To express solidarity with them (roadways workers) as many as 2 lakh employees from various departments have gone on a two-day strike starting today," said Subhash Lamba, general secretary of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, an apex body of the state government employees. He claimed employees of various state departments, boards, corporations, municipalities and panchayat raj institutions have gone on strike, "badly affecting work". Lamba said the worst-hit government department was the ...
Trump declining India's invitation for Republic Day a diplomatic faux pas: Congress
The Congress on Tuesday described US President Donald Trump declining India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebration as a diplomatic faux pas saying that it was an avoidable embarrassment for the country.
Nitish blackmailed BJP, gave Kushwaha a raw deal: RJD
The opposition RJD in Bihar on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of "blackmailing" the BJP to secure a seat-sharing deal favourable to his JD(U) while denying "adequate" representation to Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP - an NDA constituent in the state. RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary made the statement reacting to a press conference in New Delhi by Kushwaha, wherein the RLSP chief had expressed his readiness to make "sacrifice" in the Lok Sabha polls but expressed his displeasure over his party not getting a ministerial berth in the Nitish Kumar goverrnment. "We fully back Upendra Kushwaha's concern over his party not getting a ministerial berth in Bihar government despite the NDA being in power and his party being its constituent for over four years", Tiwary told PTI. "Kumar fought tooth and nail to secure a respectable share of seats for his JD(U) by blackmailing the BJP with the help of Prashant Kishor, whom he has made his party's ...
Maharashtra development has taken backseat under BJP: Congress
Opposition parties said Tuesday Maharashtra has lagged on development front under the four- year-old BJP-led government and also accused it of fomenting social unrest in the state for political gains. While the Congress said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's government had taken the state backward by two decades, the NCP hit out at the BJP-led dispensation over its handling of the Maratha reservation agitation and violence at Koregaon-Bhima village in Pune district The BJP-led government will complete four years in office Wednesday. State Congress vice-president and spokesman Ratnakar Mahajan said over the four years only Fadnavis's political clout had grown since no one in the BJP dared to speak against him for fear of inviting the wrath of the party leadership. "It is true that there is a perception that Fadnavis is the only leader of party (the BJP) in the state and his political clout had grown since there was no opposition to him. But, nobody dared to speak for ...
Jodhpur IG transferred on EC directive
Jodhpur range DIG H G Raghvendra Suhasa, who was also officiating as the Jodhpur IG, was removed from his post on Tuesday on the directions of the Rajasthan election department. According to an order by the state department of personnel, Suhasa was put on awaited posting order (APO), following directions of state Chief Electoral Office. IPS officer Sanjeev Kumar Narjari, who was posted as IG, police headquarters (PHQ), Jaipur, was transferred Jodhpur as the range IG, the order said.
Colombo rocked by mass protest rally against Lanka PM's sacking
Angry protests rocked Sri Lanka's capital as thousands of demonstrators gathered on Tuesday for a mass rally organised by ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's party against what it said was a "coup" by President Maithripala Sirisena, even as the opposing sides were engaged in efforts to secure their numbers in Parliament to end the country's political crisis. "Sirisena has broken his promise and taken executive powers into his hands. He has sidelined parliamentary power," UNP leader Wickremesinghe said, addressing the crowd. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) demanded that Parliament be convened immediately and democracy restored. The ousted premier alleged that President Maithripala Sirisena had assumed he would get his way. However, he said the UNP and its partners in the United National Front will not give up and will continue to push for Parliament to convene immediately. The UNP claimed about 100,000 people thronged the rally, though police sources estimated the
Centre contemplating to bring petrol, diesel under GST: Athawale
The Narendra Modi government is contemplating to bring petrol and diesel under the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST), Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said here on Tuesday. "We have done so much work, but there is some problem pertaining to petrol and diesel prices. The issue persists even though the prices have fallen a bit. But the Centre is contemplating to bring petrol and diesel under the ambit of GST," the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said at a news conference here. "If petrol and diesel are brought under GST, it will help bring down their prices by Rs 20-30, which will provide relief to people of this country including the middle class and common masses," he added. Athawale said the states should also cut the taxes on petrol and diesel to provide some relief to people. In the past, the opposition parties have demanded that petroleum products be brought under GST. Asked about the Congress pointing fingers at the Modi government over the Rafale jet
Khashoggi's fiancee calls on Trump to prevent 'cover-up'
The Turkish fiancee of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi has called on US President Donald Trump and other leaders to ensure that his death in Istanbul is not covered up, while Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor on Tuesday visited the Saudi Consulate where officials from his government killed the writer. Speaking at a memorial in London on Monday, Hatice Cengiz expressed disappointment in the "leadership of many countries." Singling out Trump, she urged him to "help reveal the truth and ensure justice be served." "He should not pave the way for a cover-up of my fiance's murder. Let's not let money taint our conscience and compromise our values," she said. Cengiz also told the memorial that she wishes she had entered the consulate instead of Khashoggi. She said in reference to an alleged Saudi hit squad sent to kill the columnist for The Washington Post: "If only I knew that would be the last time I would see my Jamal, his smile, hear his laughter, I would have stood in front of that ...
Talks on, no decision yet on seat sharing: Kushwaha
Amidst reports that his party was offered two seats to contest in the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar, Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha announced his party RLSP's first list of 66 candidates for the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, a move which is seen as a pressure tactic to bargain for more seats in Bihar.