Page 2626 - Politics
Sinha cautions against falling for fake narratives on social media
Union Minister Jayant Sinha on Sunday cautioned people against falling for "untruths and fake narratives" on social media. Speaking at an event here, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation also emphasised that the government's policies on development and delivery are to benefit everyone as he flagged concerns about the "obstructionist nature" of the opposition. Responding to queries about alleged misuse of social media and whether having an own social media platform for the country could be a solution, Sinha said he was not sure that is the right remedy for "weaponisation of social media". "We have to think from a legal perspective ... other aspect of remedy is to educate people, educate voters, educate citizens so that they are not taken in by fake narratives and untruths that people peddle in the garb of actually being the truth," he noted. The minister also took a dig at the Opposition for their "obstructionist nature". "If every debate and every discussion in Parliament is ...
Shah's speech shows real hand behind Sabarimala violence: CPI(M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday claimed that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's speech challenging the Supreme Court order on the entry of women in the Sabarimala Temple exposed the reasons behind the violent protests."BJP President Amit Shah has challenged the Supreme Court order on the entry of women to the Sabarimala Temple and incited his party men to defy the verdict, in his speech in Kerala. In doing so, he has exposed the real hand behind the violent protests against women's entry into Sabarimala," the CPI (M) Politburo said in a statement.The party further said in its statement that such incitement has led to the "highly condemnable" arson attack on the ashram of Swamy Sandeepananda Giri.Indicating that Shah's speech reflected the contempt the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP have for the Constitution and the apex court, the politburo added: "That the ruling party President's blatant ridiculing of the Supreme Court judgement is in ...
PM Modi visits automation facility in Japan
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe visited the FANUC Industrial facility here during the Prime Minister's official two-day visit to the Asian nation.In a visit held after lunch on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi was briefed on the various robotic and automation capabilities of the Japanese company. Both the leaders also witnessed the assembling of a motor by a robot in 40 seconds at the facility, along with viewing several illustrations of the working of industrial robots.The leaders then headed towards Prime Minister Abe's private villa in the prefecture, where he hosted his Indian counterpart. Post this, the two leaders left for Tokyo by train.The Prime Ministers had earlier dined together at a hotel in Yamanashi with Mount Fuji in the backdrop.Prime Minister Modi had arrived in Japan for a two-day visit on October 27. The leaders are scheduled to hold the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit, during which wide-ranging talks on strengthening ...
PM Modi a scorpion sitting on 'shivling': Tharoor
Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Sunday, quoting an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi while likening him with a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'.Speaking about his book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister' at the Bengaluru Literature Festival, Tharoor asserted that the "personality cult of Prime Minister Modi has not gone down well with the RSS and has been a cause of frustration within its ranks".He elucidated, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi -- 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a shivling. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal' (slipper) either."Tharoor added, "If you try to touch the scorpion, you will be stung, but if you hit a shivling with the chappal, it undermines all the sacred tenets of the faith. That may well be an interesting clue to the .
PM Modi, President Kovind condole Madan Lal Khurana's demise
Expressing grief over the demise of former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the party in Delhi.In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi said Khurana worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure."Anguished by the passing away of Madan Lal Khurana Ji. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure. He distinguished himself as a hardworking and people-friendly administrator, both in the Delhi government and Centre," Prime Minister Modi tweeted."Madan Lal Khurana Ji will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the BJP in Delhi. He made unwavering efforts towards serving the post-partition refugees in Delhi. My thoughts and solidarity with his family and supporters," he added.President Ram Nath Kovind also ..
Sri Lanka Speaker recognises Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM
Amid the political uproar in the nation, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Sunday recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, three days after he was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena.Jayasuriya, in a letter addressed to Sirisena, requested the President to safeguard the rights and privileges of Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister until any other person emerges from within Parliament. "I have received a request to protect the rights and privileges of Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe until any other person emerges from within Parliament as having secured the confidence of Parliament," the letter, obtained by Colombo Page, read. Addressing the proroguing of Parliament till November 16, the Speaker wrote: "In this context continuing the prorogation of Parliament until 16th November will have serious and undesirable consequences for our country, and I kindly request you to reconsider same."Political turmoil erupted in Sri Lanka after Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday night and ...
80 ISIS jihadi brides on way back to UK: Report
Around 80 women suspected to be members of an all-female Islamic State terror cell are believed to be on their way back to the UK, many with children, after being detained in Syria following the collapse of the dreaded terror group. Two sisters from east London, a white convert daughter of a former British Army paratrooper and an IT graduate whose mother works in the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) are part of the alleged cell, which is linked to some of the world's most infamous terrorists, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times. "The vast majority of those returning to Britain from Syria are women and children," an unnamed UK security service official was quoted as saying. "The more concerning cases particularly the men have not been returning. But we will speak to everyone because they may have been involved in terrorist activity," the official said. One of the women has reportedly told relatives in Britain that as many as 80 British women and children ...
Congress banking on old, new faces to regain power in C'garh
The Congress is banking on a combination of new faces and old-timers in ticket distribution to end its 15-year wait to rule Chhattisgarh, which goes to polls next month. The opposition party late Saturday evening put out a list of candidates its third for 37 assembly seats going to polls in the second and last phase of voting on November 20. It has renominated 15 sitting MLAs and fielded 11 candidates, who had lost in 2013, besides giving tickets to 11 fresh faces. No sitting MLA was denied ticket in the third list. However, only three women figure in it. A Congress leader said the party is ensuring that representation is given to all sections of society. "It is a completely balanced list wherein the party has given representation to leaders belonging to all sections of society," head of the state Congress communication wing Shailesh Nitin Trivedi claimed. "The selection of candidates have been done on the basis of party's survey and performances of leaders," he said, adding it is a
Georgians choose new president directly for last time
Voters in Georgia are choosing a new president for the former Soviet republic on the Black Sea, the last time the president will be elected by direct ballot. Opinion polls ahead of Sunday's election suggested that none of the 25 candidates is likely to receive the absolute majority need for a first-round win. If no one wins 50 per cent support, a runoff between the top two candidates is to be held by December 1. After the new president's six-year term in completed, future presidents are to be chosen by a delegate system, part of constitutional changes that make the prime minister the most powerful political figure in Georgia. The president functions as head of state and commander in chief but is otherwise largely ceremonial. Incumbent Giorgi Margvelashvili is not running. The three top contenders are all former foreign ministers Salome Zurabishvili, Grigol Vashadze and David Bakradze -- who served during the presidency of now-exiled Mikheil Saakashvili. Zurabishvili was sacked in ...
DMK stops short of offering regret for article on Rajinikanth
Days after lashing out at Rajinikanth for his political aspirations, DMK's official organ "Murasoli" Sunday said its write-up targeting the actor had hurt some "good hearts" and advised its editorial team to be "cautious" in future. The mouthpiece of the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu had accused Rajinikanth of being a puppet in the hands of "some persons" and being supported by "communal" elements in a recent article. "It has been brought to (my) notice that an article on superstar Rajinikanth that appeared in Murasoli has hurt some good hearts. The editorial (team) has been advised to be cautious while publishing such write-ups," Murasoli editor S Selvam said in the Sunday edition of the paper. However, there was no elaboration on the points that had caused hurt or who were anguished by it. The daily, in effect, stopped short of offering a formal regret for the write-up. The article targeting Rajinikanth appeared in Murasoli on October 26. It was published in a question-answer .
Shah's Sabarimala remarks irresponsible & provocative, court should take cognisance: BSP
BSP president Mayawati Sunday condemned BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks on the Sabarimala verdict, saying the court should take cognisance of the "irresponsible and provocative statement". In a statement here, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo said that Shah's remarks showed "the democracy of the country is in danger". Addressing a gathering in Kerala's Kannur on Saturday, Shah listed court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on 'Jallikattu' (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in mosques, and said "impractical" directions should not be given by courts and they should pass orders that can be implemented. "The statement of the ruling party president is condemnable and irresponsible. Court should take cognisance. It shows the democracy of the country is in danger. Autonomous institutions such as CBI, CVC, ED and RBI are facing crisis due to wrong perspective of the government and ego," Mayawati said. "On this serious matter of ...
Cong slams Modi, Raman Singh govts over naxal violence
The Congress Sunday charged the Modi dispensation at the Centre and the Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh for failing to contain naxal violence, saying the chief minister has forfeited his right to continue in power. No immediate reaction was available from the Prime Minister's Office on the allegations levelled by Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi at a press conference here. Terming demonetisation as a "brain child" of Narendra Modi, Singhvi said the prime minister had claimed that the note ban exercise has effectively neutralised naxal and terror threats. He said the figures available suggest otherwise as more security personnel and civilians were killed in naxal violence after note ban. Raman Singh, he said, too had echoed similar sentiments. "But facts state otherwise," he said. Singhvi claimed that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had worsened and demonetisation did not help in any way to contain terror strikes. "Security personnel have become fodder to infirm policies
Higgins re-elected Irish President again
Michael D. Higgins was on Sunday re-elected as the Irish President after receiving 56 per cent of the election vote.
Mann ki Baat: PM Modi pays homage to Army soldiers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 49th Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, paid homage to Army soldiers and their families on the occasion of Infantry Day which was celebrated on Saturday. "My dear brothers and sisters, we celebrated 'Infantry Day' yesterday. I respectfully bow before all of them who are part of the Indian Armed Forces. I also salute the families of our soldiers," Prime Minister Modi said."This is the very day when the Indian forces landed in Kashmir and saved the Valley from the clutches of aggression. This incident too is directly related to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," he addedThe Prime Minister also mentioned an interview of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw as he saluted the jawans and their families on Infantry Day for displaying unparalleled courage."I was reading an old interview with the celebrated Army officer Sam Manekshaw. In that interview, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was reminiscing the times when he was a Colonel. Around this time in October 1947, military ...
UK needs Brexit deal to end austerity: Hammond
LONDON (Reuters) - British finance minister Philip Hammond said an end to his spending squeeze depended on the country getting a Brexit deal and he warned he would have to drop plans to boost public services without one.
India's standing in world forum enhanced after PM Modi came to power : Ram Madhav
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday asserted that India's standing in the world forums has become exponentially better after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.He said, "When our leaders now reach to the Unite Nations, the world leaders praise India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was a time when our ministers weren't even noticed at such international forums including the United Nations. Today, Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister (EAM) are noticed around the world."Madhav also berated former external affairs ministers while taking a dig at an incident in which the then EAM read Portuguese minister's speech at the United Nations."There was a time when our external affairs ministers were never noticed at international forums including UN. There were funny instances like that of once an Indian foreign minister reading the speech of foreign minister of another country," Madhav said.The incident that Ram Madhav recalled ...
India stands by Sri Lanka amid constitutional crisis
The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday asserted that India would continue to extend development assistance to the people of Sri Lanka amid an unprecedented constitutional crisis in the island nation.While responding to the queries regarding recent developments in Sri Lanka in a statement, MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected. We will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka."The statement comes after Sri Lanka found itself in a political turmoil after its President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday night replacing him with his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa following the collapse of the governing coalition between Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP).Terming his ouster "unconstitutional", Wickremesinghe had asserted that he still holds the .
Japanese PM Abe vows to be a "friend of India for life"
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sunday said he will be a "friend of India for life" as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi began two days of summit talks to further deepen the Japan-India strategic partnership. In a message published in Indian newspapers on the day Abe hosted Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, he recalled that the first Japanese prime minister to visit India was his grandfather Nobusuke Kishi in 1957. "At the time when Japan was not so wealthy, Prime Minister (Jawaharlal) Nehru introduced Prime Minister Kishi in front of thousands of people as the Japanese Prime Minister whom he respects," Abe noted. Following Prime Minister Kishi's visit to India in 1957, yen loans to the country began in 1958. Abe, who was elected prime minister for the first time in 2006, comes from a politically prominent family. "Engraving the history in my heart, I have devoted myself to nurturing this friendship with India," Abe said in his ...
SL President urged to protect Ranil's privileges
Amid a political crisis, Sri Lanka's Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Sunday requested President Maithripala Sirisena to ensure that ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's privileges were protected.
NDA will remain intact in Bihar: Chirag Paswan
Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan said Sunday that the BJP-led NDA would remain intact in Bihar as he expressed confidence that his party would get to contest "respectable number" of seats in the state. Paswan, son of LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan and the party's parliamentary board chief, had met Amit Shah on Thursday, a day before the BJP president's meeting with JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, in which they made the announcement that the two parties will fight on an equal number of seats. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sources told PTI that Shah has spoken to allies including Chirag Paswan and RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha as he works to announce a seat-sharing arrangement among the four partners -- including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) -- in a few days. The BJP chief spoke to Kushwaha as he stirred the political scene by meeting Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday. The LJP has reconciled to the prospect of fighting less than seven seats that it