Page 2693 - Politics
SAD seeks CBI probe into purchase of farm machinery by govt
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Friday demanded a CBI probe into the purchase of machinery for managing paddy straw by the Congress government, alleging that the farm equipment had been purchased at nearly "double" the market rate. In a statement issued here, he alleged that a "big fraud had been perpetrated in the name of purchasing machinery" like rotavators, ploughs and choppers to prevent stubble burning. "This means the government functionaries have teamed up with private players to jack up the machinery rates and then offer subsidy on the same to farmers who want to purchase them. Despite large scale complaints, the government is silent on this issue and is not ordering any inquiry into this colossal fraud," Badal alleged. Asserting that even cooperative societies were being "browbeaten" into purchasing the costly machinery, the SAD leader said the victim was the farmer who was supposed to be given cheap equipment to manage paddy straw by the central ...
Ajit Jogi won't contest Chhattisgarh assembly elections
Former chief minister of Chhattisgarh and Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) chief Ajit Jogi will not contest the upcoming state assembly elections. He will instead campaign for the alliance parties.On September 20, JCC alliance partner Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati at a press conference nominated Jogi as the chief ministerial candidate. Around eight months back, Jogi too had reportedly said that he would contest from the Rajanandgaon seat against incumbent Chief Minister Raman Singh.However, Jogi's son Amit on Friday told media, "Janta Congress Chhattisgarh chief Ajit Jogi won't contest assembly elections. Being a star campaigner of the coalition between Janta Congress Chhattisgarh, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI), he has 90 constituencies to campaign. There is no time for him."The JCC on Sunday announced an alliance with the CPI in order to strengthen their foothold in the Naxal-hit Bastar region. On September 20, Mayawati also announced ...
Iran gets February deadline to fix terror financing: watchdog
A global financial watchdog on Friday warned Iran to clamp down on terrorism financing by February or face a deeper squeeze on its sanctions-hit economy. The Islamic republic, already hurt by a resumption of US sanctions over its past nuclear programme, this month approved one bill to help meet demands imposed by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF). FATF, following a meeting at its Paris headquarters this week, welcomed the legislation and extended a suspension of counter-measures that has allowed Iran to escape further isolation from international finance. But nine of the 10 "action plan" items needed to remove Iran from an FATF blacklist have yet to be adopted by Tehran, according to Marshall Billingslea, the US assistant treasury secretary for terrorist financing. "In our plenary, here in Paris, we expressed our disappointment that the majority of the action plan remains outstanding," said Billingslea, who currently chairs the FATF, told a news conference. "We ...
Manmohan, Rahul and Sonia attend Dussehra celebrations
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Friday participated in the Dussehra celebrations here and fired arrows to set the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna ablaze. The burning of the giant effigies, signifying the triumph of good over evil, was organised at the Red Fort ground here by the Shri Nav Dharmik Leela Committee. Singh, Rahul and Sonia also applied 'Tilak' on the forehead of participants playing the role of Ram, Sita and Lakshman at the stage. Police made elaborate arrangements for the event and slight disruption of traffic was observed.
On Kabul's request, Pak temporarily closes border points
Pakistan on Friday temporarily closed its major border points with Afghanistan on the request of Kabul for smooth conduct of upcoming Parliamentary elections in the country.The elections will be held in Afghanistan on Saturday."On a request by the government of Afghanistan it has been decided to keep the friendship gates on Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing points at Chaman and Torkham closed on October 19 and 20, 2018 (Friday and Saturday). The decision has been taken to support Afghanistan in smooth conduct of upcoming Parliamentary elections in the country," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said."Both the crossing points will remain closed for all kinds of traffic except emergency cases," the spokesperson added.
PM Modi congratulates DNT president on Bhutan election victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Lotay Tshering, president of the Bhutanese political party - Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) for winning National Assembly elections.In a telephonic conversation, Prime Minister Modi extended good wishes to Tshering on his party's victory in the third general election in Bhutan and his own election to the National Assembly. The tiny Himalayan nation went to polls earlier on Thursday.Prime Minister Modi welcomed the successful conduct of general elections and also conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further strengthening the unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, which is based on shared interests and values, utmost trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding.Recalling the ongoing Golden Jubilee celebrations of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's commitment to work with the new Bhutanese government in its efforts for socio-economic transformation, based .
Bombay HC directs Maha govt to not arrest activist Anand Teltumbde
The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to not arrest civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde, till October 26, in connection with the case registered against him for alleged Maoist links.Teltumbde had moved the Bombay High Court earlier this month requesting to quash the case filed against him, arguing that he is falsely implicated in it.On August 28, the Pune Police had raided the homes of several civil rights activists, including Teltumbde's residence in Goa and claimed to have found documents which established his links with Maoists. The raids were conducted in connection with Bhima-Koregaon violence that erupted in Pune in January this year during an event organised to mark 200 years of the Bhima Koregaon battle.Following the raid, the police also detained five activists Vara Vara Rao, Sudha Bhardwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, and Gautam Navlakha and put them under house arrest for their alleged involvement in the violence that claimed life of one
Lawmakers have toppled governments by escaping from washroom: BJP leader
Justifying his swift shift earlier this week from Congress to BJP, MLA Dayanand Sopte on Friday said that state legislators are known to switch parties and topple governments by "slipping out of washrooms at the slightest notice."
Congress accuses PM of lying about number of houses built during UPA
Congress leader Ashok Chavan Friday refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that the UPA government built only 25 lakh houses in its last four years, against 1.25 crore houses built by the present NDA government. The UPA government built almost 25 lakh houses per year between 2004 and 2013, Chavan, president of the Maharashtra unit of Congress, said in a statement. Speaking in the temple town of Shirdi in Maharashtra Friday, Modi claimed that the previous government built 25 lakh houses for the poor in the last four years of its rule, while the present NDA government has constructed 1.25 crore houses in four years. The Congress-led government was not serious about poverty alleviation, the prime minister alleged. Chavan accused Modi of lying and misleading people. "Nobody can compete with Modi when it comes to speaking untruth. Devotees of Saibaba such as me are sad that the prime minister speaks lies even in Saibaba's Shirdi," the former Maharashtra chief minister said. "Under ...
Merkel calls for free trade as EU, Asia meet
German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a rallying call for free trade Friday as EU and Asian leaders met to unite in defiance of US President Donald Trump's "America first" approach. As disputes fester with Washington, the EU wants to use the 12th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to build support for the global trading system, as well as the fight against climate change. More than 50 senior figures from Asia and Europe gathered in Brussels for the two-day meet, including the prime ministers of China, Japan and Russia. The leaders are expected to voice their backing for the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which Trump has accused of treating the US unfairly. The mercurial US president has relentlessly pursued a confrontational trade policy, including imposing harsh tariffs on steel and aluminium, and on USD 250 billion in annual imports from China. Merkel, the head of Europe's biggest economy which Trump has targeted for criticism, rejected the idea that trade deals must be ...
Pakistan closes border crossings ahead of Afghan polls
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the country has temporarily closed its major border points with Afghanistan on a request by the neighbouring country for the security of its parliamentary elections to be held on Saturday.
British relatives of Nazi victims seek German passport as Brexit looms
British descendants of refugees who fled Nazi Germany, including many Jewish families, are racing to have their German nationality restored so they can remain EU citizens after Brexit, official data showed Friday. The number of Brits applying for German passports using a special legal provision that aims to make amends for Nazi-era persecutions, known as article 116-2, has soared nearly 40-fold since Britain voted to leave the bloc in June 2016. Germany received just 43 such passport requests in 2015, but that jumped to 684 in 2016 -- nearly all of them submitted after the Brexit referendum. Last year, the number leapt to 1,667 requests, according to figures released by the German interior ministry in response to a parliamentary question. Under article 116-2 of the German constitution, former Germans who lost their citizenship on "political, racial or religious grounds" between the day Adolf Hitler became chancellor on January 30, 1933 and Germany's surrender on May 8, 1945, can ask ..
ND Tiwari was a great administrator: Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday visited the residence of former Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand chief minister ND Tiwari, who passed away on Thursday, and offered his last respects.Calling Tiwari a "great administrator", Singh recalled how he once blessed and appreciated him over his maiden speech in 1977."Apart from being a great administrator, ND Tiwari was a popular and wise leader. People used to feel delighted (anand) while talking to him. When I was chosen for the first time for the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (assembly) in 1977, at the age of 26, he was the leader of the opposition at that time. I still remember how he blessed and appreciated me on my maiden speech at that time. I cannot forget that moment. His demise is a big loss for all of us," Singh told the media.Besides him, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel .
Pakistan's Engro says 'no obligation' to renegotiate LNG contract
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani conglomerate Engro Corp Ltd said on Friday it had "no obligation" to renegotiate a contract with the government for imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), a day after the new petroleum minister said it would seek new terms.
PM greets Lotay Tshering for winning Bhutan elections
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday congratulated Lotay Tshering, president of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa for his party winning the Bhutan elections and reiterated India's commitment to work with the new governmentfor socio-economic transformation in that country. Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party won 30 of 47 national assembly seats in the third general election in Bhutan. The PM also congratulated Tshering for his own election to the National Assembly, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said. During his telephonic conversation, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the successful conduct of general elections, which is an important milestone for consolidation of democracy in Bhutan. Modi conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further strengthening unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, which is based on shared interests and values, utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding. Recalling the ongoing golden jubilee celebrations of diplomatic relations between the ..
Comoros govt offers Anjouan rebels weapons amnesty: documents
Comoros President Azali Assoumani offered rebels on Anjouan island an amnesty to surrender weapons, aiming to end a week of violence between security forces and insurgent fighters, according to documents seen Friday. "(Assoumani) is willing to offer immunity to any civilian who surrenders their weapon to military authorities," said the deal signed by the central government and the opposition-controlled Anjouan administration.
VP Naidu calls for global convention on terrorism at ASEM summit
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Friday termed terror as a major threat to peace and stability and called for an early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the ASEM Summit here. Naidu was addressing the plenary and retreat session at the summit. The vice president had inaugurated the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit with the theme "Global Partners for Global Challenges" on Thursday. Naidu stated that India valued ASEM as a platform that brings together the leadership of Asia and Europe to exchange views and address global challenges. Terming terrorism as a major threat to peace and stability, he called for an early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism while stressing that peace is the prerequisite for progress and it cannot be achieved without combatting terrorism. He said criminal misappropriation of public assets by economic offenders was posing a threat to the integrity of financial systems. He also ...
BJP demands resignation of TDP MP Ramesh
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) GVL Narasimha Rao on Friday demanded the resignation of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP CM Ramesh after his homes and offices were raided by Income Tax officials last week.The BJP leader also slammed Ramesh for alleging that the raid was a clear-cut case of political vendetta by the BJP led government at the Centre."About a week ago the IT raids took place in offices and houses of TDP MP CM Ramesh. He claimed his innocence and alleged that it was a political vendetta by BJP led Centre. But, the findings proved his tax evasions and financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 100 crore," Rao said."Ramesh should resign as Rajya Sabha MP. We demand TDP to force him to resign. He is a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as well. TDP should replace him. Otherwise, I will complain to Parliament Ethics Committee."On October 12, IT raids were conducted at multiple locations, including the office of a company owned by the TDP MP.
Swami Paripoornananda joins BJP
The founder of Hindu Vahini and seer from Sree Peetham in Andhra Pradesh, Swami Paripoornananda joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of party president Amit Shah on Friday.Paripoornananda said that he joined the party as a 'Karamyogi'. "It is a proud feeling that I will be a part of a party which is represented by the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Ram Madhav. I have joined BJP to serve the people of this nation," the seer told reporters.Shah welcomed Paripoornananda in the party and said that "his inclusion in the BJP will help the party, particularly, in Telangana and Karnataka in a big way.""It is a great delight. We welcome Swami Paripoornananda in the BJP. He has established himself in the Andhra Pradesh, Telangana through his social and religious work. Until now, Swamiji's blessings were with us, and, from now, he himself will be a part of the BJP. I am confident that Swamiji's inclusion will help BJP, particularly, in Telangana and ...
Facebook hires British ex-deputy PM as global affairs head
British former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, a leading anti-Brexit advocate, said on Friday he would be starting a job at Facebook, as the US giant faces up to regulatory pressures. "I am delighted to be joining Facebook. After almost 20 years in European and British politics, this is an exciting new adventure for me," Clegg wrote on his Facebook page. Clegg said Facebook was "at the heart of some of the most complex and difficult questions we face" such as "privacy of the individual", "integrity of our democratic process", and "the balance between free speech and prohibited content". The Press Association news agency and the Financial Times said Clegg would be Facebook's new head of global affairs and communications and would move to California in January. The 51-year-old is also a former European Commission trade negotiator and member of the European Parliament. Clegg used to be head of the Liberal Democrats, a small opposition party, but was voted out of parliament in a 2017 ...