Page 2639 - Politics
India, Myanmar agree to act against insurgent groups operating within their territories
As part of security cooperation between them, India and Myanmar decided to take action against the insurgent groups operating within their territories.At the end of their two-day National Level Meeting on Friday, the two countries also agreed for a security cooperation along with international border and to facilitate movement of people and trade across the international border.Both sides also agreed to cooperate in preventing smuggling of wildlife and narcotic drugs and to strengthen cooperation on international border management including construction of subsidiary pillars to better demarcate the border.The Indian delegation was led by Rajiv Gauba, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Myanmar delegation was led by Major General Aung Thu, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs. The Myanmar delegation also called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.In another meeting, the two country discussed progress of India-Mayanmar transport connectivity projects during the meeting ..
Belgium's purchase of US F-35 jets 'against European interests': Macron
Belgium's decision to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets instead of a rival European aircraft "strategically goes against European interests," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. Belgium announced on Thursday it will purchase Lockheed Martin's stealth jets in a multi-billion-euro deal to replace its ageing fleet of F-16s in a blow to rival French aircraft maker Rafale. "I regret this choice. This wasn't just the Rafale offer, it was also the Eurofighter, a real European offer," Macron told reporters in Bratislava. "The decision is linked to a Belgian procedure, to the political constraints of the country, but strategically goes against European interests." He said: "Europe must develop a real capacity for a European defence industry, in all the countries that believe in this venture." The F-35 ran against a bid from the Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by a European consortium that also comprises Italy's Finmeccanica and Airbus. The Belgian government said it would buy 34 ...
CBI feud: Congress protests nationwide against govt, alleges attempts to 'cage the CBI'
Taking to the streets, the Congress on Friday took out nationwide protest marches to CBI offices accusing the government of trying to 'cage the CBI', as the party president Rahul Gandhi, along with several others, courted arrest and alleged "every institution was being ruined" in the country. While Gandhi led hundreds of Congress workers and leaders on their protest march here, he was also joined by leaders from some other opposition parties as well, including from the CPI, Trinamool Congress and Loktantrik Janata Dal. Similar marches were taken out by the Congress in Patna, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh and Hyderabad, among other cities. While police briefly detained the protesters at several places and released them later, there were no report of any violence. In Chandigarh, police said they had to use water cannons against the agitators and also suspend traffic for some time around the area of protest. Traffic was impacted for some ...
Govt, Cong welcome SC order on CBI Chief case; Rahul leads protest against Verma's removal
The Congress and the BJP Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's order for a time-bound vigilance inquiry against CBI Director Alok Verma, days after the government sent him and his second-in-command Rakesh Asthana on forced leave after their infighting escalated. While hailing the Supreme Court order, the Congress ramped up its pressure on the government with party chief Rahul Gandhi leading a massive opposition protest in the capital against what he called "illegal" removal of the CBI director and demanding Verma's reinstatement. Gandhi and scores of Congress leaders courted arrest following the protest march which was joined by several opposition leaders including Loktantrik Janata Dal's Sharad Yadav, CPI's D Raja and TMC's Nadimul Haque. The Congress organised the protests across the country to demand reinstatement of Verma, who along with Asthana, was sent on forced leave two days ago after their worsening feud sparked a serious crisis in the country's premier probe agency. Hearing .
Shivpal Yadav's party is BJP's B-team: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday suggested the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL), launched recently by his estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, is the B-team of the ruling BJP. "Samajwadi Party's direct fight is only with the BJP and not with any A, B, C, D, E, F, G team of the BJP," he said when asked if his party will take any action against Shivpal Yadav for floating a new party while he is still a member of the SP. Asked if his party will demand Shivpal Yadav's disqualification from the state assembly, Akhilesh Yadav said the SP did not have any such plans. Shivpal Yadav announced his new party on Tuesday, weeks after he launched his front, Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM). Earlier, he had said his front will contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, barring the one from which his elder brother and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest the polls.
Team from Google calls on TN minister
: A team from technology giant Google called on Tamil Nadu minister of information technology M Manikandan and government officials at the Secretariat Friday. The meeting follows the minister's visit to the United States to invite Google to take part in the second edition of the global investors meet (GIM) scheduled for January 2019, an official press release here said. The first edition of the meet was held in 2015 when Tamil Nadu signed pacts with companies attracting investment of Rs 2.42 lakh crore.
Meghalaya Court acquits former Bangladesh minister of trespassing
A lower court in Meghalaya on Friday acquitted former Bangladesh Minister Salahuddin Ahmed who was arrested three years ago for trespassing into India.
Hry Roadways strike continues, other depts show solidarity
The HaryanaRoadways employees continued their strike Friday, even as hundreds of employees from various state government departments expressed solidarity with them and went on a day's mass casual leave. The employees affiliated to Sarv Karamchari Sangh in Haryana and other trade unions went on a mass casual leaveon Friday. Roadways union leaders claimed that these employees alsojoined the transport workers at dharna at various places in the state. "Nearly two lakh employees went on mass casual leave as a result of which work in various government departments was badly hit. Among the departments where work was affected included the School Education Department, the Power Department,municipalties, the PWD (B&R), the Public Health Department and the Rural Development and Panchayats Department. "A large number of employees from the Tourism Department, besides Boards and Corporations also went on mass casual leave. However, emergency and essential services were attended by the employees
NDA govt trying to "finish off" AP, alleges CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Friday expressed apprehension that places of worship in Andhra Pradesh would be attacked in coming days as part of the BJP-led NDA government's conspiracy to "finish off" the state due to "personal vengeance" against him. A day after he accused the Centre of trying to destabilise his government, he alleged that "goondas" either from Bihar or other states would be brought to Andhra Pradesh to create law and order problem. CBI inquiry would be ordered and "we will not be allowed to move" in an attempt to prevent the Telugu Desam Party from retaining power in assembly polls, Naidu charged. He also accused the Centre of seeking to turn Hindus against his government by "whipping up sentiments." BJP termed the remarks "ludicrous" and said it exposed Naidu's "rabid paranoia." Hours after the attack on YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy Thursday, Naidu had targeted the Centre and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, accusing both .
BJP, JD(U) to fight equal number of LS seats in Bihar
BJP president Amit Shah announced Friday that his party and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) will contest equal number of Lok Sabha seats in the state, in what is being seen as a big boost to Kumar who had been insisting on a parity with the saffron party. Joined by Kumar, Shah told reporters that an announcement on the number of seats both parties, besides two other allies -- Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP and Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP -- will contest in 2019, will be announced in two-three days. The announcement followed a meeting Kumar had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence earlier in the day. It marks a climbdown by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had contested 30 of the state's 40 seats in the 2014 general elections and won 22, while its two other then allies, LJP and RLSP, had won six and two seats respectively out of seven and three they had fought. Sources in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the BJP and its partners, said the ..
J-K Durbar Move: Civil Secretariat closes in Srinagar, will reopen in Jammu on Nov 5
Civil Secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, closed here Friday and will reopen in winter capital Jammu on November 5 as part of the biannual 'Darbar Move', a practice started by the then Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872. "Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices closed in Srinagar today (Friday) and will now reopen in Jammu on November 5," an official spokesman said. The civil secretariat and other Darbar Move offices function in Srinagar for six months of summer and in Jammu for the remaining six months of the year. The practice was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh 145 years ago to escape the extreme heat of summers in Jammu and biting cold of winters in Srinagar. However, the practice was continued by elected governments post-independence in order to provide access to people of both the regions -- by turns -- to the seat of power in the state. The state government spends crores of rupees every year to shift voluminous records between the two capital cities twice .
BJP damaging established institutions: Akhilesh on CBI issue
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Friday charged the ruling BJP-led NDA regime at the Centre of damaging the established institutions of the country. The SP chief was reacting to the ongoing turmoil in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which has forced the Centre to divest the premier investigative agency's Director Alok Verma of his powers and send him on leave. "No government or party should play around with institutions. If you do so, who will the people believe in?," said the SP chief as he attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. "The BJP is the biggest contributor in bringing institutions to an end... The banking system has been destroyed... (But) this is a bigger threat," he added. Akhilesh alleged that the CBI was used as a tool to intimidate and threaten state governments and local leaders but now, the agency's credibility was at stake. "A question mark has been raised on every institution of the country and .
Attack on Jagan Reddy a 'drama' by Centre: Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday termed the attack on YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport as "drama" played on the direction of the central government.Naidu also lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre for not allocating funds for the development of the state. "While our government is developing the state with our own resources, they are creating obstacles everywhere and are hampering development. There has been a prolonged friction between the centre-state relations," he said.The Andhra Chief Minister also hit out at the central government for all the sudden raids that recently took place. Naidu alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is practising oppressive methods and is trying to threaten them with Income Tax raids."Never in the past have so many raids taken place. These developments are a result of conspiracy to create tension in the investors," he said.He also accused the ...
Ex-SC judge to supervise CVC probe against Alok Verma (Roundup)
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Central Vigilance Commission to complete its probe into bribery allegations against CBI Director Alok Verma under the supervision of a retired apex court judge Justice A K Patnaik in two weeks while restraining interim chief M. Nageshwar Rao from taking any policy or major decisions during the period.
Israel says Netanyahu made rare visit to Oman
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare visit to Oman, an Arab state with which Israel has no diplomatic ties, and met with its leader Sultan Qaboos, the premier's office said Friday. The two discussed "ways to advance the Mideast peace process and other issues of shared interest", it said in a statement released after the premier returned from the first such visit since 1996.
US Consul General meets Sonowal;discusses issues of mutual
US Consul General Patti Hoffman and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday discussed a wide spectrum of issues concerning mutual interests of America and Assam. The duo discussed about mutual interests in the sectors like tourism, education, connectivity and bio-diversity. Hailing Assams prolific tea industry, immense tourism potential and bio-diversity, the US Consul General who called on Sonowal here, said that there are immense investment possibilities in these sectors. Hoffman stated that she would impress upon the US investors to invest in the sectors like tourism and hospitality industry, organic farming, Information Technology etc. where the scope of mutual reciprocity can be used to harness mutual benefits. The US Consul General hailed the state governments role in improving the security scenario in the state and assured to increase mutual reciprocity programme with Assam. Chief Minister Sonowal apprised Hoffman about the State governments ventures in ...
Economic offenders will be brought back: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that all economic offenders who have fled the country will be brought back. "All those who have fled with the country's money will have to come back. All of their wealth will be seized... an ordinance for the same has been drafted," he said. "Nationalisation of banks was brought by late prime minister Indira Gandhi. I think more than nationalisation, it should be simplification of banks," he said at the centenary year celebrations of Northern Railway Multi-State Cooperative Bank Limited here. The Union minister termed transaction in banks as the lubricant of economy which keeps it moving. He also termed the Indian Railways as the lifeline of the country. In a brief interaction with mediapersons on the sidelines of the programme, he said the Congress is bereft of any issue in the interest of the people and is, therefore, raising insignificant issues. To a question on Congress' protest outside CBI offices, he said, "The matter on which ...
Congress leader says no complaint against #MeToo accused Minister
The controversy over a senior Punjab cabinet Minister sending indecent messages to a senior woman IAS officer has taken a new turn, with a woman leader of the ruling Congress in Punjab claiming that no complaint has been made against the Minister.
J-K Cong demands time bound probe into insurance scam
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee Friday demanded a time bound high-level probe to book the culprits involved in "bungling" in Reliance General Insurance policy. The JKPCC welcomed Governor Satya Pal Malik's decision to immediately cancel the contract in view of the gross corruption. Malik Thursday cancelled the state government's tie up with Reliance General Insurance for providing the group mediclaim health insurance policy to employees as there was "some bungling" in it. The decision comes after the mandatory Reliance insurance for the state government employees and pensioners had sparked a row. JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma told reporters here the Congress demanded a time bound high-level probe to book the culprits involved in the bungling in the insurance policy and immediate arrest of those guilty involved in another big deal of Rs 100 crore in the construction of a dam, as stated by the governor. Since the governor has himself confirmed that huge ...
In 3 AM tweet, Trump says CNN criticism on current spate of bombs is 'funny'
US President Donald Trump on Friday lashed out at CNN for blaming him for the current spate of bombs being sent to present and former high-ranking officials including his predecessor Barack Obama, saying it is "funny" how he is being criticised by the cable news network and others. The President, who has been at loggerheads with several mainstream media outlets including CNN, ABC News, The New York Times and The Washington Post, has quite often described them as "fake media". So far, law enforcement agencies have detected eight explosives-laden suspicious packages sent to high-level current and former officials including Obama, former vice president Joe Biden and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. The FBI is investigating the case. Most of these explosives are crude pipe bombs coming in a similar kind of yellow packages with a return address of Florida. One of these packets went to CNN office in New York. Friday morning another suspicious packages was found addressed to ...