Page 2623 - Politics
Two Pakistani nationals nabbed by BSF in Pb
Two Pakistani nationals were nabbed by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel here on Sunday, sources said. Siraj Ahmed (31) and Mumtaz Khan (38) were caught from an area near the Border Out Post (BOP) in Ferozepur Sector on Sunday evening, BSF sources said. At around 6.30 pm, the jawans deputed near a border pillar in the area observed some suspicious movement from the Pakistani side, they said. Later, the troops spotted the two Pakistani nationals approaching towards the Indian territory and both were apprehended. Two Pakistani army personnel identification cards, four photographs, a smart phone and some Pakistani currency was recovered from Ahmed, they said. The sources added that the real identity of the duo and the purpose behind their attempt to venture into the Indian territory was being ascertained.
Czech PM calls US threat to drop nuclear treaty 'bad news'
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Sunday expressed surprise at a US threat to withdraw from a Cold War-era nuclear treaty with Russia, calling the development "bad news". "For us it's a completely new matter and it's definitely a bad news if that is the case," Babis told reporters at a joint news conference with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in Prague on Sunday. An ex-communist state, the Czech Republic became a US NATO ally when it joined the Western defence alliance in 1999. "We are getting back somehow into Cold War times," Babis added, echoing concerns expressed by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that the move could lead to a new arms race. President Donald Trump said Monday the United States was ready to build up its nuclear arsenal after announcing it was abandoning a Cold War-era nuclear treaty, as Russia warned the withdrawal could cripple global security. Trump sparked concern globally last weekend by saying he wanted to jettison the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range ...
Germany to deport journalist who protested Erdogan
Germany plans to deport a Turkish journalist who wore a shirt calling for press freedom at a joint appearance by Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, media reported Sunday. Adil Yigit, 60, told news agency DPA he was notified Friday that he must leave the country by January or be deported. "The two things have to be related, there's no other possible explanation," Yigit said. The journalist, who says he has lived in Germany for 36 years, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "freedom for journalists in Turkey" at a Berlin press conference by the two leaders in September. He was escorted from the chancellor's office by security guards while Erdogan looked on. "At chancellery press conferences, we do things the same way as in the Bundestag (parliament): no demonstrations or declarations of political causes," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert later tweeted after widespread public criticism. Yigit writes a column for left-wing German newspaper Taz and publishes
AAP leader Raghav Chadha launches his LS poll campaign
AAP leader Raghav Chadha, who is the party's candidate from South Delhi Lok Sabha seat, kickstarted his poll campaign Sunday. Accompanied by senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, party MLAs and councillors, Chadha undertook Uttar Bhartiya Swabhiman Yatra in protest of the recent attacks on North Indians in Gujarat. The motorcycle rally covered seven assembly seats of South Delhi. Chadha is the AAP's Lok Sabha incharge of South Delhi constituency. It is understood that Lok Sabha incharges will be declared as party candidates from the respective seats. Besides Chadha, the AAP has announced Atishi Marlena (East Delhi), Dilip Pandey (Northwest Delhi), Brijesh Goyal (New Delhi), Pankaj Gupta (Chandani Chowk) and Ghugan Singh (Northwest Delhi) as Lok Sabha incharges.
Dhivakaran welcomes move to invite disqualified MLAs to join
V Dhivakaran, estranged brother of ousted AIADMK leader VK Sasikala, Sunday welcomed the move by theAIADMK top leadership asking its 18 disqualified MLAs to revert to the ruling party. Blaming his jailed sister Sasikala Natarajan for the 'confusion' in theparty, Anna Dravidar Kazhagamfounder and president, Dhivakaran said had an efficient person been appointed to lead AIADMK, thecurrent situation would not have arisen. He was referring to the appointment of Sasikala as the interim general secretary of the AIADMK after the demise of party Supremo J Jayalalithaa in December 2016. Sasikala is currently serving a prison term in a disproportionate assets case in a Bengaluru jail. He, however maintained that he would not join AIADMK as the party was facing various problems. Dhivakaran also said his nephew and AMMK leader Dhinakaran should not create panic among the people and instead be prepared to face the elections (for the 18 Assembly segments) Dhinakaran had Saturday said .
Don't scare us, Vijayan ticks off Amit Shah
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday mocked at BJP President Amit Shah, saying his "strength" wont be enough to pull down the Kerala government led by the CPI-M.
Tharoor wades into fresh controversy with scorpion metaphor
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stoked a fresh controversy Sunday claiming that an unnamed RSS leader had compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling" and terming it as an extraordinarily striking metaphor. As his comments at the Bangalore Literature Festival drew condemnation, including from union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the MP tweeted saying the remarks were not made by him and were in the public domain for six years. In a stinging condemnation, Prasad, a senior BJP leader, alleged that Tharoor had disrespected Lord Shiva and sought an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi. In his speech at the festival, Tharoor said "...There is an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist which I quote, in which they express their frustration with their inability to curb Mr Modi. "The man says Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivaling. You cannot remove him with a hand and you cannot hit it ...
High-level meeting reviews security arrangements for 'Darbar Move' in Jammu
K Vijay Kumar, Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security arrangements in connection with 'Darbar Move' here. Among others, the meeting at the police headquarters was attended by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, Inspector General of Police, Jammu, S D Singh Jamwal, an official spokesman said. He said other senior officers from police, Army, CRPF, BSF and civil administration also attended the meeting. During the meeting, the advisor was informed about the arrangements being made in the winter capital to ensure smooth functioning of the state government from here, the spokesman said. The civil secretariat -- seat of Jammu and Kashmir government -- Raj Bhavan and other move offices closed in Srinagar on October 26 and are scheduled to reopen in Jammu on November 5 as part of the bi-annual darbar move under which the ...
Meghalaya govt asked to pay compensation to deceased labourers
The Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay Rs 2 lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of five labourers who died of electrocution in North Garo Hills district in July this year. The Commission also directed the government to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the other five seriously injured persons. The payments should be made within two months, the Commission said in an interim order. The Commission has taken suo motu action of a July 26 news report of an accident that had taken place the previous evening at Maniganj village in North Garo Hills. Five labourers were killed and five others injured when the road-construction machine they were moving on the road came in contact with an overhead high-tension wire. The Commission also pulled up the Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation for its failure to regularly check and maintain the 11 KV high transmission line from Agia to Mendipathar. "The executive engineers ...
Hope democratic values would be respected: India on political turmoil in Sri Lanka
India Sunday said it was closely following the political developments in Sri Lanka and hoped that democratic values and constitutional process would be respected in the island nation. In fast paced political developments, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament Saturday, a day aftersacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. However, parliament's speaker Sunday refused to endorse Wickremesinghe's sacking as the prime minister, even as Sirisena asserted that the appointment of Rajapaksa was in strict accordance with the Constitution. "India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and constitutional process will be respected," External Affairs Ministry Spokeperson Raveesh Kumar said. He said India will continue to extend its developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka. India has been ...
AASU warns Centre over minorities
Organisations such as the All Assam Students Union and the Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha have opposed the Centre's move to authorise 16 Collectors across seven northeastern states to register as Indian citizens minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
TRS attacked Cong-TDP alliance to divert people's attention:
Telangana Congress Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy Sunday said the ruling TRS should speak about the achievements of its government in the last four years than diverting people's attention through criticism on Congress-TDP alliance. Alleging that the people questioned Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders during election campaign, he said the TRS attacked the Congress-TDP alliance to divert their attention. "To divert their attention, TRS leaders, including KCR (TRS president and Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao), are targeting the alliance between Congress and TDP," Reddy said, addressing a gathering at the Congress headquarters here. The TRS leaders criticised the Congress-TDP alliance for the December 7 Legislative Assembly polls as both parties had been bitter rivals for decades. The Congress leader attacked the TRS for allegedly failing to fulfil its promises and letting down people on various fronts. TDP has allied with Congress, CPI and TJS to form a ...
Khashoggi case: US Defence Sec calls for transparent investigations
United States Defence Secretary James Mattis met Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and called for a transparent investigation into Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death while condemning the incident."We discussed it. You know the same thing we talked about, the need for transparency, full and complete investigation," Mattis said while mentioning that the leaders had met at a conference in Bahrain on Saturday.Speaking to traveling reporters, Mattis further said, "(There was) full agreement from foreign minister Jubeir, no reservations at all, he said we need to know what happened and it was very collaborative, in agreement," according to Al Jazeera.Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb, who had confirmed Khashoggi's death, is traveling to Turkey to hold talks with investigators working on the slain journalist's case.His visit comes as Turkey demands the extradition of 18 Saudi suspects who have been arrested by the kingdom in relation to the Khashoggi
Had this been Pakistan, Tharoor would've been silenced: Giriraj Singh
Condemning the remark made by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh on Sunday said Tharoor would have been silenced if he had made the remark in Pakistan."Had Tharoor been in Pakistan, he would have been made to shut his mouth. He has not only insulted the Prime Minister, but crores of Hindus and followers of Lord Shiva in this country. How can Rahul Gandhi claim to be a follower of Lord Shiva when his party man can say such a thing? He should come out and apologise on behalf of Tharoor. The Congress has crossed all limits now," Singh told ANI.Accusing the Congress of practicing politics of "division and hatred," senior BJP leader Anil Vij added, "It (Tharoor's remark) is extremely condemnable. The Congress party is strategically imparting a politics of division and hatred. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi claims to be a devout follower of Lord Shiva, on the other hand, ...
1.5 lakh benefited under PMJAY scheme so far: Nadda
Union Health Minister J P Nadda Sunday said 1.5 lakh people have already benefited under the Centre's mega PMJAY health insurance scheme and Rs 150 crore claims paid so far since the initiative was launched on September 23. Addressing the national convention of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), BJP's youth wing, here, he said the world was studying the flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi government, aimed at providing a coverage of Rs five lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10 crore poor families. During his recent visit to Kazakhstan, he was asked about the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (PMJAY), Nada said. "1.5 lakh people have benefitted from Ayushman Bharat and bills worth Rs 200 crore were raised out of which Rs 150 crore had already been paid," he said. The scheme was cashless and transparent. "The world is studying this. Rs 10,000 crore has to be spent in one year... then only we can save 40 per cent population from higher medical treatment ...
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh police officers meet
Senior police officials of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh held a meeting here on Sunday ahead of the assembly polls in the neighbouring state to be held on November 12 and 20. DIG (Palamau) Vipul Shukla said the meeting was held in view of keeping a vigil on naxalites ahead of the elections in Chhatisgarh, which shares its border with Jharkhand's Garwha and Latehar districts. Measures such as joint operation and keeping vigil along the border were among the matters discussed during the nearly 3 hour long meeting, sources said.
Opposition alliance has neither leader nor policy: Amit Shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said that the grand alliance of the opposition parties neither has a leader nor a policy and its only agenda is to remove Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Over 3.10 lakh farmers killed themselves due to wrong
Hindutva leader Pravin Togadia Sunday claimed over 3.10 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the country, which he said is the fallout of the "wrong policies" of the last 25 years. Speaking to reporters here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, where assembly elections are scheduled to be held on November 28, Togadia appealed to ruling parties to start waiving loans of farmers in their respective states. He also asked farmers to not elect leaders who neglect their demands. "Over 3.10 lakh farmers have committed suicide due to indebtedness in the country which is a result of poor policies being adopted in the last 25 years," he said. Togadia said the farmers in the country wanted implementation of the report of the Swaminathan Commission and waiver of crop loan, apart from granting the MSP (Minimum Support Price) at one-and-a-half times the cost of production." He said no political party has kept its promise of implementing the commission report leaving farmers unhappy. In ...
IS repels US-backed forces from east Syria holdout: monitor
The Islamic State group has ousted a US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab forces from its holdout in eastern Syria, killing dozens of fighters, a monitoring group said Sunday. A Syrian Democratic Forces commander, asking not to be named, confirmed the SDF retreat from the Hajin pocket near the Iraqi border seven weeks into an offensive. The SDF, who are backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, launched its campaign to retake the IS holdout on September 10. But they have faced a fierce fightback from the jihadists, including under the cover of sandstorms, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. "In counterattacks since Friday to Sunday dawn, IS has taken back all positions to which the SDF had advanced inside the Hajin pocket," the monitoring group's chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The Observatory reported 72 SDF fighters killed, as IS took advantage of the storm that hampered coalition air cover and dispatched suicide bombers as part of their fightback. The .
Congress demands Raman Singh's resignation after Maoist attack
The Congress on Sunday demanded the resignation of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, saying that the government had no moral right to rule as it was not able to protect the security forces from terrorists and Maoists.