Page 2611 - Politics
R'than poll manifesto will be ready by mid-Nov: Cong leader
The Congress' election manifesto in Rajasthan would be ready by the second week of November and suggestions from the public are being sought, a senior party leader said Tuesday. "The Congress manifesto will be a public manifesto. We are seeking opinion from the public. We will also seek people's suggestions on digital platform before finalising the manifesto," Harish Chaudhary, chairman of the party manifesto committee, told reporters. "The manifesto will be prepared in the second week of November," the former MP said, adding that farmer issues would be prominently covered in it. Asked about Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal announcing a new party ahead of the December-7 assembly elections, Chaudhary said everyone have the right to form a party in a democracy. "But the people of the state have made their mind to vote for the Congress in the elections.
TN ministers to take part in Patel statue inaugural
Tamil Nadu ministers K Pandiarajan and 'Kadambur' Raju would take part in the unveiling of the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat Wednesday. Being built at a cost of Rs 2,389 crore at Sadhu Bet island on Narmada river, the statue is set to be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Patel's birth anniversary. Chief Minister K Palaniswami has assigned Information and publicity minister Raju and Minister for Tamil official language and culture, K Pandiarajan, to take part in the event, an official release Tuesday said. A fortnight ago, Gujarat government representatives had met Palaniswami and extended a formal invitation for the inauguration. Gujarat Tribal Development and Tourism Minister Ganpat Vasava along with party MP Kirit Solani, handed over the invitation to the chief minister at the Secretariat. The 'Statue of Unity' dedicated to Patel, India's first Home Minister, is touted to be the tallest in the world at 182 metres.
People are feeling betrayed by PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "failed" to keep his electoral promise of ushering in "acche din" (good days) and people are feeling "betrayed" now. Canvassing for the Congress in Dhar in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi also accused the prime minister of helping only select industrialists while neglecting farmers, tribals and youth of the country. Gandhi said the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to create two types of Hindustan -- one for the rich and another for the poor. "On the contrary, the Congress believes in one Hindustan where if loan of rich people is waived similarly the debt of farmers will also be waived," he said. The state BJP unit, however, said Gandhi was levelling "false and fabricated" allegations as the Modi government has done a lot for youth of the country by facilitating setting up of new factories and start-ups, while a number of schemes have been launched to help the poor and tribals. In his ...
Rahul Gandhi uttering 'lies' over irrigation projects: TRS
TRS leader and Telangana minister K T Rama Rao Tuesday took exception to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's recent criticism of the state government over various issues, including irrigation projects, accusing him of uttering lies. Rao, son of TRS president and Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said the Congress president uttered "lies" about the cost of Kaleswaram irrigation project and others during his visit to Telangana on October 20. "Rahul Gandhi came to Kamareddy. He said big things. He said I will not speak false things. All that he spoke was lies. He said your Chief Minister is spending Rs one lakh crore for Kaleswaram. That is the first lie. Kaleswaram expenditure was Rs 80,000 crore," he said. Rama Rao was addressing a campaign meeting in Yellareddy assembly constituency for the December 7 assembly elections in the state. Gandhi had alleged that Chief Minister Rao insulted B R Ambedkar by changing the name of the project named after him and ...
New party wants 'BJP-Congress mukt Rajasthan'
The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), formed by Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal, wants a "BJP-Congress mukt Rajasthan".
AIADMK has not extended any invitation to Dhinakaran to
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Tuesday said the party has not extended any invitation to sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran to return to the ruling party fold but only to those who had gone "off track." Referring to the party extending an olive branch to 18 disqualified party MLAS, the AIADMK joint coordinator said some people were "lured away" with an intention to "break" the ruling party. "Some persons went off track and we have invited them to return. We have not extended invitation to T T V Dhinakaran because he is not a member of AIADMK," he told reporters here. After labelling them as betrayers, the AIADMK had Saturday extended an olive branch to the 18 disqualified MLAs, asking them to jump on to the ruling party bandwagon and flayed Dhinakaran, leader of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, for "misleading" them. "We invite you with love and affection to join again the massive people's movement nurtured by Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi ...
CPI slams BJP, RSS on Sabarimala issue
The CPI Tuesday hit out at the BJP and the RSS over the Sabarimala issue, accusing them of launching a "war" against women and motherhood. CPI national secretary D Raja slammed BJP chief Amit Shah's statement threatening to "pull down" the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan over the issue. Addressing reporters here, he alleged that while the BJP and other saffron units had charged the CPI (M) government in Kerala with having "launched a war against Hindus," it was the Sangh outfits that were actually targeting women in the guise of Ayyappa devotees. He said it was the Supreme Court which had ruled in favour of entry of women of all age groups into the shrine and that it "is not a CPI (M) verdict". "Boycott of women (at Sabarimala) has come to an end. The BJP, RSS and VHP are creating violence in the name of devotees. The BJP and the RSS have launched a war against women and motherhood," he alleged. On Shah's recent remark that BJP workers "would not hesitate to pull down the ...
Cong protests outside CBI office in Bengal
The Congress staged a protest outside the CBI office in West Bengal on Tuesday over the ongoing power tussle in the probe agency and accused the Centre of converting it into a "political tool" against the Opposition. Carrying placards against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the protesters gathered outside the office in Salt Lake town, neighbouring Kolkata, and shouted slogans: "Gali gali mein shor hain, desh ka chowkidar chor hain" (People in every lane are shouting that the country's watchman is a thief). One of the protesters was seen carrying a placard depicting the Central Bureau of Investigation in a cage. State Congress president Somen Mitra said the decision to send CBI director Alok Verma on leave and subsequent transfer of several officials would lead to the common people losing faith on the premier investigating agency. "The CBI is handling two important cases related to Bengal -- the Saradha chit-fund scam case and the Narada scam. If there is a chaos in the CBI, it will help
UK PM May denies good-news budget signals an early election
British Prime Minister Theresa May says this week's austerity-easing budget does not signal an impending election. Treasury chief Philip Hammond announced boosts to public spending and an income tax cut for millions on Monday, in the first significant loosening of purse strings in eight years. May said Tuesday that the budget signals that "austerity is coming to an end." But she denied it was meant to pave the way for a snap election in the coming months. Britain's next general election is not due until 2022, but speculation is growing that May could call one early, soon after the country leaves the European Union on March 29. Speaking in Oslo, Norway, May said "we are not preparing for another general election. That would not be in the national interest.
China pledges RMB 150 million assistance to Nepal Army
China has pledged to provide assistance of RMB 150 million to the Nepalese Army over a period of five years for humanitarian and disaster relief equipment. The Chinese assistance - equivalent to Nepalese Rs 2.5 billion - was announced during Nepal Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokhrel's visit to China. Pokhrel returned to Kathmandu on Tuesday on conclusion of his week-long visit. During the visit, Pokhrel and Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect. With the latest aid, China's financial support to the Nepalese Army has increased by 50 per cent. Pokhrel held separate meetings with Chinese counterpart Wei and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China Gen Xu Qiliang. Last year, China had extended RMB 100 million for humanitarian and disaster relief equipment to Nepal's Army. China has hiked defence assistance to the Nepalese Army in recent years. Pokhrel also attended the eighth Beijing Xiangshan ..
Sidhu attacks Sukhbir, alleges SAD chief reneges on offer to resign
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, accusing him of reneging on his offer to quit his party's post. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has become adept at belting out packs of lies and has reneged on resigning as is evident from his statement that he is ready to resign if the party wills it so, said Sidhu in a statement here. Sidhu's statement came afterSukhbir Singh Badal Sunday said the SAD was nobody's personal fiefdom and he was ready to quit his post the moment his party wishes so. Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu had been the targets of attack by the Akali Dal which had sought Sidhu's dismissal and lodging of an FIR against his wife for Amritsar train tragedy which left about 60 people dead and scores injured. Describing the revolt by Taksali (traditional Akalis) leaders as unprecedented, Sidhu said Taksali leaders such as Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sewa Singh Sekhwan (all
Mulayam leaves SP workers wondering who to work for in LS polls - Akhilesh or Shivpal
Amid the festering family feud, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav Tuesday visited offices of both his party, now headed by his son Akhilesh Yadav and the newly-floated rebel outfit of his brother Shivpal Yadav, leaving his party workers wondering where his sympathies lie. Coming barely a month after his second son Prateek Yadav's wife Aparna Yadav openly expressed her support to uncle Shivpal Yadav, the SP patriarch's visit to both the outfits during the day compounded the confusion of party workers in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "We have been left wondering with whom Netaji's (Mulayam) sympathies lie and which party to work for," said a veteran party worker, requesting anonymity. Mulayam Singh Yadav first reached the office of his brother's fledgling party, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) at 6, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, where he exchanged pleasantries with him and where he was even requested to don the mantle of the new outfit's president. And then he drove
Foundation for country's largest dry dock laid by Gadkari,Ker
: The foundation for the country's largest dry dock at Cochin Shipyard was laid by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here Tuesday. The dry dock, being constructed at a cost of Rs 1,799 crore, would give an impetus to "Make in India" initiative under Sagarmala and raise India's share in global shipbuilding market to two per cent from 0.66 at present, officials said. Speaking at a function on the occasion, the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways said the government has no plans to privatise CSL and other profit making Public Sector Units in the country. Officials said the Dry Dock would be 310 metres long, 75 metres wide and have a depth of 13 metres. The commercial ship building industry in India is worth Rs 3,200 crore and focuses primarily on small-medium sized offshore vessels and cargo/bulk carriers. At present, Cochin Shipyard has two dry docks, one predominantly used for ship building of size 255m x 43 x 9m .
PDP leader Madani reaches Kerala to visit ailing mother
Peoples Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts, who was granted permission by a court to visit his ailing mother in Kerala, arrived here Tuesday. The 52-year-old leader was granted special permission by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) trial court in Bengaluru. Madani, who is on bail, is not permitted to leave Bengaluru without court permission. The wheelchair-bound Madani was welcomed by a large number of party workers and members of his family at the airport. He later visited his mother, admitted to a private hospital at Sasthamkotta in Kollam district. Meanwhile, a group of PDP activists staged a protest in front of the Secretariat here demanding that the state governments intervente to ensure justice for their leader. Madani would leave for Bengalure on November 4, party leader Poonthura Siraj said.
TN to consult all stakeholders on modified 2-hr cracker slot
The Tamil Nadu government said it would consult stakeholders regarding the Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday of allowing the state to pick a two-hour slot for bursting firecrackers on Diwali. The apex court modified its earlier order of fixing an 8-10 pm slot for bursting crackers on Diwali, saying the time would be changed in southern states like Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, but not exceed the two-hour duration. Diwali falls on November 6 in the state. "The order has come just now. The government will decide accordingly after consulting all (stakeholders)," Chief Minister K Palaniswami told reporters in Madurai. Senior police officials told PTI that the modalities would be decided shortly and the apex court order would be implemented. They, however, declined to divulge information on the ways in which the order would be carried out. Chennai-based environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman welcomed the apex court order on the two-hour slot, but said its enforcement and awareness were the ...
MPs debate national holidays for Diwali, Eid in UK
British MPs have made a renewed attempt to raise the profile of a long-standing campaign for declaring the festivals of Diwali and Eid public holidays in the UK with a debate in the House of Commons complex. The debate on Monday was in response to e-petitions on the Parliament's official website calling for such a move, with the petition for Eid attracting over 46,500 signatures and the one in favour a Diwali holiday attracting over 11,700 signatures. "It is fair to say that the petitions are essentially about the same issue: establishing public holidays for religious occasions," said Scottish National Party (SNP) MP and member of the Parliament's Petitions Committee Martyn Day, as he opened the debate at Westminster Hall. "The Muslim and Hindu faiths are the second and third largest religions in the UK, the first being the Christian faith, which has public holidays during its major religious festivals at Easter and Christmas... The celebration of festivals is very important to ...
Sri Lankan Speaker urges Sirisena to convene Parliament
Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya on Tuesday urged President Maithripala Sirisena to convene Parliament immediately to resolve the political crisis in the country.
Will work to make Narendra Modi prime minister again: Kushwaha
Union minister and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha Tuesday said he was ready to follow BJP president Amit Shah's call asking allies to "sacrifice" their number of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar but asked why his party was not made a partner in the Nitish Kumar-led government. The Rashtriya Lok Samta Party chief, whose meeting with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav last week sparked speculation over his future course of action, said he wanted a "respectable" number of seats to fight in the state. Kushwaha, who met BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav, 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. "I have said it that it is in the interest of the country that Narendra Modi is elected prime minister for another term. I will be working for this," the minister of state for HRD told reporters. However, his differences with Janata Dal (United) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came ..
700 more Eklavya schools by 2022: Oram
Union minister Jual Oram on Tuesday said the government is planning to start 700 more Eklavya Model Residential school (EMRS) across the country by 2022. EMRS is a central scheme of model residential schools for tribals (Scheduled Tribes) across the country which was launched in 2000. Tribal Affairs Minister Oram, who was in the steel city to participate in the two-day national-level EMRS music competition organized by the East Singhbhum district administration at Tata Auditorium here, said the purpose was to bridge the competence gap between the tribal youths and others in all fields including higher studies and competitive examinations. Addressing the gathering as chief guest on the occasion, Oram said currently there are 182 Eklavya schools operating in the country and the government has plans to start 700 more by 2022. The schools would be opened in blocks where tribal population was over 20,000, he said adding that 80 per cent of blocks in Jharkhand would come ...
AAP announces five candidates for 2019 Lok Sabha polls; Khaira group upset
The Aam Aadmi Party Tuesday announced names of five candidates in Punjab for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with dissident leader of the party Sukhpal Singh Khaira expressing "surprise" over the decision and claimed that the AAP was "heading towards complete crash in Punjab" The announcements were made by party's core committee chairman Budh Ram, who was accompanied by party's chief spokesperson for Punjab unit Baljinder Kaur here. The decision by the AAP is likely to adversely affect the peace talks with rebel group. Khaira, who is leading eight dissident AAP MLAs, expressed "surprise" over the party's move. "The way you are taking unilateral decisions, you are heading towards complete crash in Punjab and complete marginalisation of party. It is going to be very difficult to save the deposits even by star candidates on any seat," he claimed. "We are surprised over this announcement and they have pushed all the unity talks under the carpet. They behaved arrogantly," Khaira ...