Page 2673 - Politics
First list of Raj assembly poll candidates likely in Nov first week: state minister
The BJP is likely to release the first list of its candidates for the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections in the first week of November, state's Parliamentary Affair Minister Rajendra Rathore said Monday. The list would be released after a decision on the matter by the party's central election committee, he said. "The BJP believes in internal democracy. The party has taken suggestions of its workers. The decision on the candidates would be taken after considering all the suggestions," Rathore said on the concluding day of a 'Rai Shumari' (consultation) meet here on Monday. He said the feedbacks from the workers of 27 assembly seats of Jaipur and Jaipur dehat were taken on the third day of the meeting. He added that their suggestions would be sent to the party's central election committee for its consideration. The party had earlier taken feedbacks for 102 assembly seats at a consultation meet at Ranakpur in Pali district. The state assembly polls are due on December 7.
Sack Jaitley for colluding with Choksi: Cong alleges govt conniving with fraudsters
The Congress Monday accused the Modi government of conniving with fraudsters who had escaped the country and claimed "conflict of interest" to demand the sacking of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, saying his daughter and son-in-law, both lawyers, allegedly received a retainership of Rs 24 lakh from fugitive Mehul Choksi. Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged Jaitley's daughter was "on the payroll" of Choksi, the main accused in the multi-crore PNB fraud case. Separately, addressing a joint press conference with party colleagues Rajiv Satav and Sushmita Dev, Congress leader Sachin Pilot claimed that in the 44 months till January 2018, the Modi government witnessed an unprecedented 19,000 'bank fraud cases' involving Rs 90,000 crore. He said 23 fraudsters escaped India under the government's watch after duping the country of over Rs 53,000 crore. On Twitter, Gandhi alleged that Jaitley "sat on the file and allowed him (Choksi) to flee". The Congress chief claimed that the media had ...
Odisha government responsible for casualties in cyclone: Congress
Odisha Congress in-charge Jitendra Singh on Monday said the state government was solely responsible for the death of more than 70 people in cyclone Titli and the consequent deluge.
Sack Jaitley over bank frauds, collusion with fraudsters: Congress
Intensifying its attack on the Modi government over bank frauds, the Congress on Monday demanded sacking of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for "allowing" bank frauds to the tune of Rs 90,000 crore and "letting" fraudsters like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi to flee the country.
Delegation of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile calls on HP Governor
A delegation of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Monday called on Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat at Raj Bhavan here and expressed their gratitude to the government and people of India for being an amiable host to the Tibetan refugees. The delegation included the Members of the exiled Tibetan Parliament, Dawa Tsering, Jampal Tenzin, Tashi Dhondup and Samten Choedon. On the occasion, the Governor said that there has been a history of co-existence and cultural exchanges between Tibet and India. He expressed happiness that during the 60 years of exile, the residence of the religious leader Dalai Lama and the centre of Central Tibetan Administration has been set up in Himachal. The delegation also presented their five-point request letter to the Governor and apprised him of the deepening crisis inside Tibet, seeking his serious consideration. Tibet has received considerable global support in their freedom movement, but seek to garner more political backing and solidarity from ...
Govt. won't rename Shimla as Shyamala: Himachal CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Monday asserted that the state government is not considering the proposal to rename Shimla as Shyamala.He, however, confirmed that a suggestion in the connection was received by the Himachal government.Thakur told ANI, "Let me make it clear that the government is not considering a proposal to rename Shimla as Shymala. We had received a suggestion to rename Shimla and it is our duty to hear all suggestions."The Politics on the issue of changing the name of capital town Shimla to Shayamala had warmed up in the state after the health minister of state Vipin Singh Parmar and the chief Minister had given statements in this regard and later the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) had submitted a proposal to the state government through District Administration, Shimla.Historian Raja Basin commenting on the issue had said, "Shimla's identity is as Simla or Shimla and there is not even a single person mispronouncing it and misunderstanding it. There is
India,China sign first security cooperation agreement
India and China on Monday signed a first-ever agreement on security cooperation which will strengthen and consolidate assistance in counter-terrorism, organised crimes, drug control, human trafficking and exchange of information, marking a new beginning between the two countries.
India, China sign agreement on internal security cooperation
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday co-chaired the first India-China High-Level meeting on Bilateral Security Cooperation with State Councilor and Minister of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, Zhao Kezhi in Delhi.During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, including bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, and welcomed increased cooperation between India and China in the area of security cooperation.An Agreement on Security Cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs of India and the Ministry of Public Security of China was also signed by the two ministers. The Agreement will further strengthen and consolidate discussions and cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism, organized crimes, drug control and other such relevant areas.Zhao Kezhi is on a bilateral visit to India from October 21 - 25 during which he will also visit Mumbai.
UK might need to seek a short extension to Brexit transition - May
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday that London might ask for a short extension of a planned transition period to ease its exit from the European Union.
Modi responsible for minister's threat to Muslims: Owaisi
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday held Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for Union Minister Giriraj Singh's remarks threatening Muslims.
Kejriwal starts election campaign in Haryana
Aam Aadmi Party's national conveyor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday kicked off his party's election campaign for the 2019 general election with a public rally at Jhajjar in Haryana.
Mexico hopes to reach deal on steel with U.S., Canada soon - official
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican Deputy Economy Minister Rogelio Garza said on Monday that the government was very confident that it would soon reach a deal with the United States and Canada over steel tariffs.
Nasheed lauds poll results, says 'sun is again shining' on Maldives
Mohamed Nasheed, who is planning to return to Maldives on November 1, has hailed the outcome of the landmark election outcome with the exiled former president saying the "sun is again shining" on the strategically vital Indian Ocean island nation. Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president, also said there was a cold war brewing between India and China and Maldives can be a "solution" to it and to South Asia's security issues. In an address just before he left his base in London where he was in exile, the founder-member of the recently victorious Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in the country's presidential polls described India as a "friend" which can help solve a lot of issues for the beleaguered nation. "There is a cold war brewing between India and China. In my view, Maldives can be part of the solution in the region. An attempt to play one against the other would be silly and very outdated politics," said Nasheed at an event titled 'Defending ...
Cong fields Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla against CM Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh
The Congress has fielded former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla in the Rajnandgaon assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh against Chief Minister Raman Singh. In the second list released by the Congress for the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly election, the party declared its candidates for the remaining six constituencies. It earlier declared candidates for 12 seats. The first phase of assembly election in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 12 and the last date for filing of nominations is October 23. Shukla had quit the BJP a few years ago and joined the Congress. While Girwar Janghel will contest from the Khairagarh seat, Bhuneshwar Singh Baghel will contest from Dongargarh-SC seat and Daleshwar Sahu from the Dongargaon assembly constituency. The party has also fielded Channi Sahu from Khujji seat and Indra Shah Mandavi from Mohla-Manpur (ST) seat.
Rajnath holds talks with his Chinese counterpart; Rijiju part of delegation
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart on Monday held delegation-level talks which was also attended by union minister Kiren Rijiju, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, the border state over which India and China are locked in a territorial row. Rijiju was part of the Indian team led by Singh but his name later apparently did not figure for talks with the Chinese delegation, led by Zhao Kezhi, China's Minister of Public Security, said an official in the Ministry of Home Affairs privy to the development. The official did not want to be identified. However, as the restricted meeting between Singh and Zhao was in progress, a message was sent to Rijiju, who was at his residence, to reach North Block, which houses the Home Ministry and where the delegation-level talks was supposed to be held in minutes, the official said. After receiving the message, the junior home minister rushed to North Block and attended the delegation-level meeting between the two sides, where an ...
Indian Army asks Pak to take back bodies of intruders killed in Sunderbani sector
The Army on Monday warned Pakistan to restrain the terrorists operating from its soil, a day after killing two heavily-armed Pakistani "intruders" in a gunfight in Sunderbani sector of Jammu on Sunday, official sources said. They said the Army has also asked the Pakistan military to take back bodies of the two "intruders", who were wearing combat uniforms and believed to be members of Pakistani Border Action Team, they said. Two heavily armed Pakistani intruders and three Army soldiers were killed Sunday in the gunfight after the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC in Sunderbani sector. The sources said Pakistan Army has been informed, through established communication channels, to take possession of the bodies of the "hostile Pakistani nationals" and that a "stern warning" was also conveyed to military of the neighbouring country to restrain the terrorists operating from its soil. The incident on Sunday took place at around 1:20 PM. The sources said five to six Pakistani ...
Foreign Secretary Gokhale to brief parliamentary panel on Indo-Pak relations
Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale will brief a parliamentary panel on Indo-Pak relations later this week. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs headed by senior party leader Shashi Tharoor. The committee has called the foreign secretary to brief it on the relations between India and Pakistan in view of the new regime in the neighbouring country. Gokhale will brief the panel on October 26. This will be the panel's first meeting on the relations between the two Asian neighbours after cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan became Pakistan's Prime Minister. After the new regime assumed power in Pakistan, the panel members want to know and understand where the relations between the two countries stand and in which direction it is moving, sources in the committee said. Panel members are keen to have a comprehensive discussion on the relations between the two countries as it is important for national security, the sources
Petrol pumps strike: BJP slams AAP, Kejriwal over 'adamant behaviour'
Amid 400 petrol pumps strike in the national capital on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come down heavily on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his "adamant behaviour" for refusing to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel and petrol in the city. The one-day strike by petrol pumps along with linked CNG dispensing units will remain shut till 5 am on Tuesday."VAT has not been reduced yet in Delhi, so there is tension. AAP is responsible for all this chaos. People are forced to pay Rs 2.5 extra for getting petrol in Delhi. People are forced to take petrol from outside Delhi," state BJP leader Vijender Gupta told ANI."I condemn the adamant behaviour and decision of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. We want the AAP government to work for the benefit of the people. If they can't do so then I think Arvind Kejriwal should resign from his position," he added.Speaking to ANI, AAP leader Raghav Chadha defended the Delhi ...
Har roadways employees extend strike by 3 days as deadlock continues
Protesting for the last seven days against the state government's decision to hire 700 private buses for Haryana Roadways, the state transporter's employees extended their strike Monday by three days. The roadways employees extended the strike a day after their talks with the Haryana government failed Sunday with the protesters sticking to their demand for roll back of the government's decision to hire private buses, said a member of striking employees' union. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, however, ruled out Monday to roll back his government's decision to augment the state transporter's fleet to ease people's travels. The striking employees extended their stir fearing that hiring private buses was a part of the government's plan to privatise state road transport corporation. They also accused the government of trying to benefit some private transporters by hiring private buses for roadways, a charge which the chief minister refuted stoutly. Talking to reporters here on Monday, .
Congress demands Jaitley's resignation over alleged bank frauds
The Congress on Monday sought Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's resignation claiming his daughter Sonali and son-in-law Jaiyesh Bakshi, allegedly received a retainership of Rs 24 lakh from fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi.Congress leader Sachin Pilot, while addressing a press conference along with party colleagues Rajiv Satav and Sushmita Dev, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of conniving with fraudsters. He alleged, "Arun Jaitley, being Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, his daughter Sonali Jaitley and son-in-law Jaiyesh Bakshi proceeded to accept a retainership of Rs 24 lakh from Mehul Choksi's fraudster company Gitanjali Gems Ltd in December 2017."Attacking further, Pilot said: "On January 4, 2018, Mehul Choksi escaped India. On January 31, 2018, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lodged FIR against Mehul Choksi and others for bank frauds. A second FIR was lodged by CBI and against Mehul Choksi on February 15, 2018. The Enforcement ...