Page 2631 - Politics
Institutions being destroyed for political interest: Andhra CM on CBI row
Reacting on the recent controversy surrounding the developments in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that institutions are being destroyed for political interests."For any position like CBI Director, it is a two-year term that too selected by Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and the Chief Justice of India or his nominee. How can you create forward centers within CBI? Institutions are being destroyed for personal gain and political interest," he told ANI.The Chief Minister had previously opined that CBI Director Alok Verma was removed to cover up investigation being done in the Rafale scam. "This development clearly establishes the Modi government's link to the Rafale scam," he added.Naidu had also claimed that institutions meant for protecting the citizens had been made powerless."An unfortunate scenario in the country where a deemed premier agency like CBI's integrity & sanctity is in question. Institutions meant ...
Global community urged to reject Israel's racist law
Palestinian ambassador to India, Adnan Abu Alhaija, on Saturday called upon the international community to reject and condemn Israel's racist law that denies the connection of Palestinians to their historic homeland.
Political compulsions to bring non-BJP parties to fight NDA in 2019: TDP chief
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu Saturday expressed confidence that "political compulsions" will bring together all non-BJP parties to fight the NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Naidu, who met string of opposition leaders in the national capital Saturday, also said he will play the role of a "facilitator" in helping evolve a credible alternative. "It is only (because of) political compulsion and in the overall interest of the nation, parties will join together. Some may not join before elections, some of them may join after elections," he told reporters here. Some political parties are "afraid" to join today because of the pressure from the BJP, he said, adding he may even have to meet some leaders because of "democratic compulsions". Asserting that someone will act as a catalyst to form an alternative front, he said already leaders like TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal are making efforts towards that direction. He .
Iran denies holding talks with US
The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday denied that its diplomats are holding talks with the US on the existing issues between Tehran and Washington.
Remarks an 'attack' on SC, constitution, judicial system:CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Saturday slammedBJP president Amit Shah for his remarks on the Sabarimala women entry issue, saying it was an 'attack' on the Supreme Court, Constitution and the country's judicial system. The chief minister was reacting to the BJP chief's attack against his government over implementation of the apex court verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple. "Shah's assertion that courts must only pronounce verdicts which can be carried out, conveys the message that fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution are not meant to be implemented," Vijayan said. Speaking at Kannur after inaugurating the BJP's district office, Shah had also warned that BJP workers would not hesitate to pull down the state government if it continues to "suppress" the agitation of Ayyappa devotees. Shah, who threatened to oust the LDF government, must remember that the government did not come to power at the mercy of BJP, but .
Om Prakash Rajbhar flays BJP, says he will not toe its line
Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party president and senior minister in the Uttar Pradesh government Om Prakash Rajbhar Saturday expressed dissatisfaction with the BJP dispensation, claiming whenever he talks about the poor, "they bring in the Hindu-Muslim issue". Threatening to resign as minister, he said his "heart is broken. Should I fight for the poor or become a slave of the BJP?" "I have come here to fight for the poor and not to toe the line of the BJP. I am not here to taste power," he said addressing the "ghulami chodo, samaj jodo" rally to mark the 16th foundation day of the party. "They haven't even given us a party office. I had come prepared to resign today from this platform itself," Rajbhar said. The leader had earlier expressed unhappiness over rebel Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav being allotted a government bungalow. Rajbhar, who has often criticised the BJP government, said, "My heart is broken. The BJP doesn't want to give me a share in governance. Whenever I ...
Ready to face bypolls any time: TN CM
: Buoyed by the recent Madras High Court verdict upholding disqualification of the 18 MLAs,ruling AIADMK Saturday said it is ready to face the bypolls to the Tamil Nadu assembly any time, once the Election Commission announces the dates. Replying to a specific question on the preparedness of AIADMK to contest the by-polls, including to constituencies of these MLAs, Chief Minister K Palaniswami told reporters here that the party was ready to face the byelections any time. In an apparent reference to sidelined leader T T V Dhinakaran, he said 'betrayers' and 'enemies' had been given a befitting lesson by the Madras High Court. In a huge relief to the AIADMK government, the court had Thursday upheld the disqualification of the 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs loyal to Dhinakaran by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly last year. The MLAs were disqualified on September 18 last year by Speaker P Dhanapal under the anti-defection law after they met the Governor and expressed loss of ...
20 CPI(M) supporters injured as mob attacks party rally
At least 20 CPI(M) supporters were injured when a mob attacked a rally taken out by the party in South Tripura district Saturday, police said. The CPI(M) activists took out a rally demanding a probe into the Rafale deal when a mob attacked them, the police said. Superintendent of Police, Jai Singh Meena said that a rally was organized by CPI(M) supporters at Belonia town, about 110 km from here this morning, which came under attack from about 25 people. "The police immediately rushed to the spot and the attackers fled the spot...," the SP said. The CPI(M) alleged that 'hooligans' of ruling BJP attacked the rally. "Those who attacked our rally were all hooligans of BJP. The police were present when we were attacked," CPI(M) Belonia sub-division secretary, Tapas Dutta said, adding that a complaint has been at the local police station. He claimed that CPI(M) South Tripura district secretary, Basudeb Majumder, executive member of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District ...
Bengal Congress holds rally against Rafale deal, demands probe
Protesting against the Centre's role in the Rafale fighter jet deal, the West Bengal unit of the Congress held a rally in the city on Saturday.
Senior PDP leader among two dozen activists join BJP in Jammu
Over two dozen activists, including a senior leader of the PDP and former zonal education officer (ZEO), Saturday joined the BJP here, a party spokesman said. The new entrants, some of whom contested the recently held municipal polls as independent candidates, were welcomed into the party fold by state BJP president Ravinder Raina, the spokesman said. He said those who joined the party included PDP district vice president Chaman Lal Angral, member of state advisory board for welfare and development of scheduled castes Umesh Kumar and former ZEO Kuldeep Raina. Angral and Kumar were accompanied by 22 activists, the spokesman said. Welcoming them into the party fold, Raina expressed hope that their joining would strengthen the party at grass-root level. "These leaders are impressed by the good governance, nationalist ideology and public welfare policies practised by the BJP," Raina said.
If voted to power, Cong will fulfill OROP commitments: Rahul Gandhi
A Congress-led government would fulfill all the commitments the party had made on the 'one rank, one pension' issue, Rahul Gandhi told a group of ex-servicemen on Saturday. The Congress chief made the remark at a press interaction, after a 30-minute-long meet with retired defence personnel at the AICC headquarters here, during which the Rafale deal issue and the Kashmir situation also came up. Gandhi told the ex-servicemen, after the press meet, that if his party is voted to power in the 2019 parliamentary election, it will "fulfill all the commitments", the Congress had made on the OROP issue. The ex-servicemen told me that OROP has not been implemented, and they also discussed other issues, he said. "These issues are related. That they (the government) have Rs 30,000 crore to give to Anil Ambani but our soldiers can't be given OROP. This is the connection," Gandhi told reporters. "And, the amount of Rs 30,000 crore was more than enough to solve the OROP issue," he said. The Congress
Parties entering into alliance with Congress may be forced to start #MeToo campaign
Taking a jibe at the Congress party, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday warned that any political outfit entering into an alliance with the Congress party could get 'ditched'.He said that as a result, the united Opposition might also be forced to launch a #MeToo campaign against the Congress.Addressing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers, Rajnath asserted that all the political parties across India were scared of the BJP. "A majority of Opposition parties are scared of the BJP's rising popularity. They are forming a huge alliance (to challenge us). But they do not have any particular agenda. They have just one aim -stopping Modi."Criticising the parties entering into an alliance with the Congress, he said, "I want to remind the Opposition that no one can save those which are joining the Congress. Later, all the opposition parties which have joined hands with Congress will get betrayed and will be forced to start a #MeToo campaign," he added.Rajnath's comments have ..
Ramdev, Morari Bapu laud Centre's move to omit processing fee on spiritual content
Yog Guru Ramdev and spiritual leader Morari Bapu on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of State Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for waiving off processing fees on account of live telecast of devotional, spiritual or yoga events.Speaking to ANI, Ramdev said, "We want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on behalf of the saint community for waiving off the taxes imposed by the government on devotional channels."Echoing similar sentiments, Morari Bapu, too, thanked the Prime Minister for the initiative.Earlier, Spokesperson of Patanjali Ayurved Limited, SK Tijarawala, said that ahead of Kumbh Mela and Assembly elections, the Centre has decided to waive off the taxes imposed by the government on devotional channels."Thanks to Hon'ble @narendramodi @AmitShah @Ra_THORe for taking a righteous decision! Just before Kumbh and elections, the Union ...
Twitter 'deeply sorry' for failing to act on threatening tweets
Twitter has apologised for failing to act on threatening tweets made by Cesar Sayoc who is suspected of sending improvised explosive devices to Democratic leaders and critics of US President Donald Trump.
Northern Command celebrates Infantry Day
The Indian Army's Northern Command, headquartered at Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, celebrated the 72nd Infantry Day on Saturday.
CBI row: Congress accuses Modi of hatching nefarious conspiracy to remove Verma
The Congress on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his office, CVC K.V. Chowdary and the DoPT of hatching a "nefarious conspiracy" to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his duties fearing investigation into the Rafale deal.
Germany, France, Turkey, Russia meet on Syria conflict
The leaders of Germany, France, Turkey and Russia will meet here on Saturday to discuss possible ways of putting an end to the conflict in Syria and ensuring a ceasefire in the province of Idlib remained in place.
Congress playing with national security with Rafale charges: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday slammed the Congress, saying that the party was playing with national security by levelling false allegations about the Rafale deal.
IS kills 41 US-backed fighters in eastern Syria: monitor
The Islamic State group has killed 41 US-backed fighters in Syria battling to oust the jihadists from their eastern holdout of Hajin on the Iraqi border, a war monitor said Saturday. IS late Friday used suicide bombers as part of a counter-attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the US-led coalition against the jihadists, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights.
Centre removed CBI director to prevent probe into Rafale deal: Bhushan
Supreme Court lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan Saturday alleged that the Centre divested CBI Director Alok Verma of his duties to prevent him from investigating the multi-billion dollar Rafale deal. He also welcomed the apex court's directions to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to complete an inquiry into the corruption allegations against Verma within two weeks. The government removed Verma overnight as it was worried about him ordering an investigation into the Rafale deal, Bhushan told reporters here. Bhushan, along with former BJP minister Yashwant Singh and senior journalist Arun Shourie had submitted a written complaint to the CBI alleging corruption in the Rafale deal. "Verma had become independent as he had a fixed two-year tenure. The government turned nervous when the CBI director met us after we submitted a complaint to him in connection with the Rafale deal," Bhushan claimed. He asked why the government is not ordering a Joint Parliamentary Committee or CBI ...