Page 2632 - Politics
Khattar attacks Kejriwal, says stubble-burning in Delhi has increased
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said that the AAP government has failed to control stubble-burning as it has increased to 50 per cent in the national capital.
Rafale: NDA worked a better deal than UPA, says Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Saturday said that the BJP-led NDA government worked a better deal to buy Rafale fighter jets from France than the previous UPA dispensation. Opposition parties are reiterating their allegations against the deal with the hope that if they tell a lie a hundred times, people will eventually come to accept it to some extent, he said after inaugurating the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's national convention here. "I would like to tell the people of India that this deal was negotiated during the UPA rule too. The deal we have worked is a better deal. We signed it keeping national interest in view," he said. The planes that the NDA government has decided to buy are "battle-ready", he said. The opposition is asking us the price of nut and bolt of Rafale and risking national security "knowingly or unknowingly. What drama is it?" he said. The BJYM's convention, which concludes Sunday, is being attended by several national leaders, including Union ministers and .
Shah backs protesting Ayyappa devotees, slams Left govt over 'crackdown'
An "Emergency-like" situation prevails in Kerala with the state government "playing with fire" in quelling with "brutal force" protests by Ayyappa devotees over Sabarimala issue, BJP chief Amit Shah alleged Saturday, escalating his attack on the Left dispensation. In a hard-hitting speech after inaugurating the BJP district office in politically sensitive Kannur, which has often seen clashes between BJP-RSS and CPI(M), Shah alleged that the communist government is "conspiring against temples" and came out in support of Ayyappa devotees, who have been protesting against the implementation of the Supreme Court decision to allow entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine "An Emergency-like situation exists in Kerala," Shah alleged and accused the CPI(M)-led LDF government of "suppressing" the Ayyappa devotees' agitation. Listing court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on 'Jallikattu' (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in ...
Opposition parties should come together to defeat BJP: Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that opposition parties have political and ideological compulsions but they have to move forward on the basis of "what is right" to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Out of power, Rahul forced to remember soldiers: BJP
Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi after he attacked the government over the OROP issue, the BJP said Saturday the Congress chief has been forced to remember soldiers after being out of power for four and half years. Bharatiya Janata Party media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni said Gandhi was seen "standing with the corrupt" when the Congress-led government was in power between 2004 and 2014, but he did nothing for soldiers. "It is shameful that Gandhi is criticising the Modi government which implemented the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) scheme for soldiers while he himself did nothing for them. It is the new kind of low-level politics he has started," he said. Baluni said though Gandhi was the most powerful man in the 10 years of the UPA rule, he had never uttered a word for soldiers. The Gandhi family was in power for more than 40 years but executed no welfare measures for soldiers, he alleged. Rahul Gandhi told a group of ex-servicemen Saturday that a Congress-led government would ...
Jaipur Foot camp in Syria
A special camp will be organised in Syria to fit artificial limb 'Jaipur Foot' in people wounded in the civil war in the West Asian country. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), the parent body of 'Jaipur Foot', has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Syrian organisation Saint James the Mutilated (SJM) for the purpose. Under the MoU, signed on Thursday, BMVSS will hold a special camp in Syria with the support of India's Ministry of External Affairs and the Syrian Foreign Ministry. "SJM will be the facilitating the agency to provide all support for the successful holding of the camp in which in the first phase 500 amputees would be provided with 'Jaipur Foot'," a release from BMVSS said on Saturday. Mother Agnes, who heads SJM, said there are over one lakh persons -- military personnel as well as civilians -- who were wounded in the civil war in Syria and have been suffering for such a long time after losing their limbs. "The MoU would go a long way in ...
Rs 11 lakh unaccounted cash seized in Ballari LS segment
Unaccounted cash of Rs 11 lakh was Saturday seized by election flying squad personnel in poll-bound Ballari Lok Sabha constituency from a passenger travelling in a government bus. The seat fell vacant after BJP MP B Sriramulu resigned, following his victory in the assembly election from Molakalmuru constituency. BJP has fielded Sriramulu's sister J Shantha from the constituency while V S Ugrappa is the Congress-JD(S) coalition candidate. Acting on a tip-off, the squad led by election officerZaheer Abbas searched a passenger, a resident of Gangawathi in Hospet Taluk in Ballaridistrict. He was travelling from Davangere to Solapur. The passenger did not have any valid documents for the money, Zaheer Abbas said, adding that it was seized. It would be handed over once he produces valid documents, the officer said. Bypolls are being held on November 3 for three Lok Sabha constituencies, including Ballari, and two assembly segments in the state.
Haryana ready for simultaneous polls if EC decides so: Khattar
Haryana is ready for simultaneous elections to the Assembly and Lok Sabha if the Election Commission (EC) decides to do so, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Saturday and added he was in favour of such a move. Khattar underlined that it was the prerogative of the poll panel when and how to conduct elections. Addressing a press conference at the Haryana Bhawan here on the fourth anniversary of his government, Khattar said the BJP-led dispensation provided a "graft-free and transparent" administration. "We ensured that government jobs were given on merit, started a new transfer policy for all government employees whereby most of them were posted as per their preferences," he said. Listing the achievements of his government, Khattar said the pace of growth of the state would further expedite in the fifth year of his government's tenure. Replying to an question on simultaneous elections to state assemblies and Lok Sabha, Khattar said, "It is the prerogative of the poll panel when
Opposition's silence on stone-pelting deaths most unfortunate: BJP
The BJP on Saturday hit out at opposition parties for maintaining "complete silence" over the death of a soldier in a stone-pelting incident and said stone-pelters should be treated like terrorists are being dealt in the state. Sepoy Rajendra Singh (22) died at a hospital in Srinagar on Friday after he sustained head injuries during stone-pelting by a group of youths. Expressing concern over the death of the soldier, BJP national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna said, "The complete silence on part of the opposition parties over such inhuman incidents is most unfortunate and need to be condemned by one and all." "It is strange that the opposition parties are in a rat race to condemn the killing of those waging war against the nation and carrying weapons to unleash murder, damage to the public property and disturb the peace in the state and do not muster courage to speak even a single word of disapproval against such incidents and those responsible for them," he said. Khanna said the ..
We stand with Sabarimala devotees: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Saturday sharply criticised the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages inside Kerala's Sabarimala shrine and advised the state governments and courts to give only those orders, which can be followed.Addressing party workers here, Shah said, "I want to tell the state government and the court that they should give such orders, which can be followed. Such orders should not be made to break the faith of people. Article 14 is invoked but Article 25 and Article 26 allow me to live as per my religion, one fundamental right cannot override over the other fundamental right. Where there is a question of faith, BJP workers will firmly stand with devotees of Lord Ayappa."Terming the row over Sabarimala as a communist conspiracy, the BJP president also gave a stern warning to Kerala chief minister to stop suppression of Lord Ayappa devotees."I am warning Chief Minister and the communist government of Kerala to not suppress the .
Govt. can give Rs 30,000 cr to Ambani, can't implement OROP: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday held an interaction with ex-servicemen where a number of issues, including the Centre's One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme and the Rafale deal were discussed.Briefing press after the interaction, Rahul attacked the central government for failing to implement the OROP as per expectations of ex-servicemen. He further raked up the issue of Rafale deal and criticised the government for ignoring the welfare of former service personnel."During the discussion, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the wrong non-strategic approach of the government, the division that has been created there and the cost that is being paid by our soldiers came up. Rafale came up. These things are connected. The connection is that Anil Ambani can be given Rs 30,000 crore for doing nothing, but our soldiers can't be given OROP. This is the connection- Rs 30,000 crore is more than enough to solve the OROP problem," said the Gandhi scion.Continuing his analogy between OROP .
Loktantrik Morcha to contest all 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan
The Loktantrik Morcha, a seven-party alliance in Rajasthan, on Saturday announced that it will contest on all 200 seats in the upcoming state assembly and CPI(M) leader Amra Ram will be its chief ministerial candidate. The front was launched last month by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and consists of CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML), MCPI (United), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Janata Dal (Secular). "We will contest on all 200 seats and Amra Ram will be the Morcha's CM candidate," a spokesperson of the alliance said. "The alliance has been formed to give a new alternative to the people of Rajasthan," he added. All like-minded parties and leaders are welcome to join us, the spokesperson said. He said a 15-member core committee, which will have representation of all the seven parties, will be formed to decide on the seat-sharing arrangement. The Loktantrik Morcha members have a small presence in Rajasthan and have no member in the current legislative assembly. In 2013 assembly ...
Turkey hosts Syria summit with Russian, French, German leaders
The leaders of Russia, France and Germany arrived in Istanbul on Saturday for a four-nation summit aiming to find a lasting political solution to the Syrian civil war and salvage a fragile ceasefire in a rebel-held northwestern province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is hosting Russia's Vladimir Putin, France's Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks on the conflict, in which more than 360,000 people have been killed since 2011. The summit comes a day after seven civilians were killed by Syrian regime fire in the last major rebel-held bastion of Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the highest death toll since a ceasefire was reached there last month. Russia, which supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Turkey, which backs the rebels, agreed to create a buffer zone around Idlib, but violence has escalated dramatically leading up to the summit. Turkey and Russia have held previous talks with Iran on the Syrian
Help drought-affected, don't celebrate my birthday, Chavan to
Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan Saturday asked party workers to not celebrate his birthday Sunday and instead donate money for the party's relief programmes in solidarity with people affected by drought. Chavan, a former chief minister of the state, said the misery of people he had met as part of the Congress' 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' had "shocked" him. "Iunderstand that you wish to greet me on my birthday and join in celebrations. I am aware that annually you have celebrated my birthday in your own towns, districts and villages," he said while addressing a rally in his hometown Nanded as part of the yatra. "However, I am part of the Jan Sangharsh Yatra in Marathwada and am shocked and hurt by the misery of people. In solidarity with drought-affected farmers across Maharashtra, I will abstain from celebrating my birthday Sunday," he said. Lashing out at the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre and calling them "hopeless", Chavan asked Congress ..
Goa government finally admits Parrikar suffering from pancreatic cancer
Months after both the Goa BJP and the state administration refused to disclose Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's ailment, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday finally admitted he was suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Divergent views emerge from Grand Alliance top constituents in
A day after the ruling NDA in Bihar stole a march by outlining its seat-sharing formula, divergent views emerged Saturday from opposition Grand Alliance two main constituents--RJD and Congress-- about finalisation of their electoral understanding. BPCC working president Kaukab Qadri said a seat sharing formula for the Alliance will be finalized by the high commands of both Congress and RJD and that the exercise was likely to take place only after the dust settles down on the assembly elections in the five states. RJD MLA and spokesman Bhai Virendra, however, claimed that the Alliance which also includes former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhis HAM and may have an electoral understanding with the Left would come up with its seat-sharing formula by the end of November or the beginning of December. I do not know on what basis the RJD leader is making such a claim. I can only say that any such decision by the Congress high command will be taken on the basis of ...
Political developments in Sri Lanka 'mysterious'; triggering concerns among Tamils: DMK
The DMK Saturday said that the sudden regime change in Sri Lanka encompasses "several mysteries" and has triggered concerns among Tamil Nadu fishermen and Tamils in the island nation. Stalin, the leader of opposition in the assembly, said the return of Sri Lanka's former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the country's new prime minister has shocked Tamils across the world. "The changes that have occurred in the Sri Lankan government in a single night encompasses several mysteries and have threatened the Tamils there who are denied their rights," he alleged. Also, the developments have triggered concerns among Tamil Nadu fishermen, he said. Stalin cited the recent Delhi visits of Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe and media reports about Sirisena alleging that Indian intelligence agency RAW hatched a plot to assassinate him. Sirisena, however, later denied making such allegations. The background to Rajapaksa assuming office all of a sudden as Sri Lanka's premier, though he doesn't have a ...
Bengal Congress stages protest against Rafale deal
The West Bengal Congress unit Saturday staged a protest rally in the city against the Rafale fighter jet deal. The protest was organised by the South Kolkata Youth Congress and Mahila Congress unit at Bhawanipore area of the city. Carrying placards and postcards, Congress activits shouted slogans against the Modi government and demanded a proper investigation into the Rafale deal. Opposition parties, including Congress, allege that BJP government bought 36 Rafale fighter aircraft, built by Dassault Aviation of France at a much higher price than the one that was being negotiated for 126 aircraft by the previous UPA government.
Women teachers write 'Punjab Sarkar Murdabad' with henna on hands, demand regularisation of jobs
A group of women teachers in Patiala have got "Punjab Sarkar Murdabad" written on their hands with henna on the occasion of 'Karwa Chauth' as their protest for regularisation of their jobs without a pay cut entered its 21st day on Saturday. The teachers, under the banner of Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha, have been holding a sit-in protest at Patiala, the chief minister's constituency. "Karwa Chauth day is meant for long life and well being of husbands but today we are observing Karwa Chauth for the protection of our pay scales and job security," said Anu, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teacher. "This is our way to register protest against the Punjab government on Karwa Chauth," she said. The teachers are against the state government's decision to fix their monthly salary at Rs 15,000 during probation period for regularisation of their jobs. "How will we run our lives with a big salary cut? The government must withdraw its decision of giving Rs 15,000 per month to teachers who are going to be ...
LS polls: Cong & NCP reach 'consensus' on 38 seats in Maha
Opposition Congress and NCP have inched closer to stiching an alliance for next year's Lok Sabha polls as they have reached a consensus on 38 of the total 48 seats in Maharashtra and talks are on for the remaining ones, a Congress leader said Saturday. Earlier this week, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had reportedly said in Aurangabad that a consensus has been arrived at for 40 seats. Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan said, "Congress and NCP will contest elections together. Seat sharing talks are underway, but I would not like to reveal figures at this moment." Talking to PTI, another senior Congress leader, who is part of the seat sharing talks, said consensus has been worked out on about 38 seats, while discussion is underway for the remaining constituencies. "The consensus so far is on seats, where there is no dispute. The seat sharing formula will remain by and large the same. There could be a slight change, if necessary," he said. An NCP source said his party is ...