Page 2743 - Politics
Even Cong leaders accept that more Rahul speaks the more BJP
BJP national General Secretary Arun Singh Friday claimed that even the Congress leaders accept that more their president Rahul Gandhi speaks the saffron party benefits that more. Making a scathing attack at the Congress chief, he alleged that Rahul Gandhi was speaking "lies" about Rafale deal. The Congress leaders want that it is good if Rahul Gandhi does not speak. The more Rahul Gandhi speaks the more benefit the BJP gets, the BJPs national General Secretary told reporters here. Rahul Gandhi is repeatedly lying (on Rafale issue) to make it truth but he wont be successful in it. The Congress leadership is directionless, policy-less, besides being bad in its intension, Singh, a politician from Uttar Pradesh, said. Singh alleged that Rahul was speaking lies about Rafael deal, but he never tells who is the weapon broker, Sanjay Bhandari? What is his relation with him?" He said that the 125 crore people of the country have confidence on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ...
Spiritual leaders lambast govt for ignoring GD Agarwal's death
Spiritual leaders across the country have blamed the government for turning a deaf ear to the demands of environmentalist Professor GD Agarwal who died on Thursday."We are extremely pained by the death of the great saint. Before going on the hunger strike he wrote a letter to the Prime Minister but the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) did not pay heed. He didn't want his death to be misused for anyone's political gains. Neither the party in power nor the opposition did anything," Swami Jitendra Nand of Ganga Mahasabha told ANI.Refuting the government's claim of approving 80 per cent demands of Agarwal, he said, "Swami Sanand (GD Agarwal) had four main demands including Ganga be named as the national river and enactment of the National River Act. Though the government passed the Act, they made many amendments in it. He wanted a 'Ganga Bhakt Parishad'. He asked the government to stop construction of dams on Ganga until further orders but instead of doing that they issued a gazette ...
Japanese PM Abe to visit China for talks with President Xi
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pay a three-day visit to China from October 25, the first by a Japanese leader in seven years, the two countries announced Friday, signalling warming of ties between the arch rivals. In May this year, Li Keqiang became the first Chinese premier to make an official visit to Japan in eight years to defuse the bilateral tensions. Beijing and Tokyo made simultaneous announcements about Prime Minister Abe's visit which is taking place in the midst of heightening trade, military and political tensions between China and the US. China and Japan have had uneasy ties since the World War II over the invasion of Japanese Army and its alleged large scale atrocities. In recent years, navies and aircCHINA-JAPANraft of both China and Japan have had close encounters at the disputed islands in the East China Sea. The steady cooling down of tensions in its immediate neighbourhood - first with India with an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President .
BJP chief seeks to play down claims of party coming to power
Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa Friday sought to play down claims by some party colleagues that the Congress-JDS government's days were numbered and BJP would come to power, saying there was no meaning to such comments and his party would function as an opposition. The party would react to the situation whenever there is political change, he told reporters in Shivamogga. "If our BJP leaders have spoken this way, there is no meaning to it. We are in the opposition and will work as an opposition," he said in response to a question. "If for any reason the government falls, let's think about it then. According to me, indulging in any kind of speculation before that is not right. Let's work as an opposition for as many days as we get... if there is any kind of political changes, let's see it then." Yeddyurappa's comments comes a day after senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok claimed that BJP would form the government in the state and he was in touch ..
"Women scribes not so innocent to be misused"
In a statement that could possibly stir up a controversy, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Madhya Pradesh women wing chief Lata Ketkar said that she does not consider women journalists so "innocent" that they could be misused by anyone.This statement comes in the wake of recent allegations of sexual misconduct against Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar during his time as a journalist.However, Ketkar also said that she welcomed the Me Too movement as it gave strength to women if they felt they had been harassed.According to a source, senior ministers, in off-record conversations, have indicated that Akbar will have to step down once he returns to India. However, a consensus has reportedly not been achieved among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members on whether an MoS can be ousted merely on the basis of allegations.Akbar has come under the scanner after several of his former women colleagues accused him of sexual misconduct when he held senior editorial positions in a ...
We will not be cowed down by IT raids: Andhra minister
Andhra Pradesh Information and Technology Minister Nara Lokesh on Friday said that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will not be cowed down by the Income Tax (IT) department's raids on his party leaders.Accusing the central government of muscle flexing by conducting raids, Lokesh tweeted: "The Centre has begun intimidation politics with IT raids on party leaders Mastan Rao garu, Sujana garu and now CM Ramesh garu. TDP leaders are being unduly targeted for raising voice against the Centre for breaking every promise made during bifurcation."Lokesh further emphasised, "We will not be cowed down by this! It will only make our resolve stronger."The IT department conducted raids and searches at multiple premises linked to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader CM Ramesh on Friday.IT sources said nearly 60 officials conducted raids at several houses situated in Kadapa and also at an office of a company owned by Ramesh's relatives.Raids were also conducted at Rithwik Projects Pvt. Ltd, the company promoted ..
President Kovind hails RTI Act
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday stressed on the importance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, saying that it has contributed to the strengthening of the country's democracy.Speaking at the 13th Annual Convention at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra here, the President marked the 13th anniversary of the Act, highlighting its contribution towards transparency in governance."Free flow of information is the essence of democracy, and for the people of a free-spirited nation, information is power. People have a right to know how they are being governed, how public money is being spent, how public and national resources are being deployed, how public services are being delivered, and how public works and welfare programmes are being carried out," the President said.However, President Kovind warned against the misuse of the Act for personal reasons and, saying, "We must be cautious against fringe cases that try to use the RTI mechanism to settle personal scores. Especially in an age when ..
Lockheed Martin holds first Aerospace and Defence start-up supplier conference
Lockheed Martin on Friday hosted an Aerospace and Defence (A&D) Start-up Supplier Conference in Bengaluru, with nine start-ups and six university teams in attendance for the very first time.Tier 1 Lockheed Martin suppliers interacted with aerospace and defence start-ups, government officials, and university students to discuss global partnership opportunities and India Innovation Growth Program (IIGP) initiatives."This conference has been a wonderful forum for relevant IIGP start-ups to interact with Aerospace and Defence Tier 1 suppliers to create market access opportunities", said Vivek Lall, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, adding, "Strengthening public-private partnerships in India is a key priority for us."The October 12 event featured a panel discussion - "Ecosystem Support for Aerospace & Defence Start-ups in India"- and a display of Indian university team projects. Representatives from industry, as well as Department of
Rafale row: Goyal calls Rahul a 'serial liar'
Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal on Friday called Congress president Rahul Gandhi a 'serial liar' and said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dassault Aviation, Éric Trappier has 'categorically' mentioned that Dassault themselves chose their offset partner for the Rafale deal.Goyal, while addressing reporters here, said, "The CEO of Dassault Aviation has categorically confirmed that since the implementation of offset was an obligation under the Indian regulation also drafted during the UPA, they chose themselves the partners to implement the offsets. Their discussions and contracts are persisting since 2012.""Congress lied in the Parliament too where Rahul Gandhi said he personally met French President and asked him about the secrecy of Rafale deal. It only shows the hollowness of knowledge that he does not know that secrecy pact was done in 2008 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," he added.Attacking the previous United Progressive Alliance government, he said, "The ...
Amid controversy, Hamid Ansari to release 'The Sarkari Mussalman'
Former Vice President Hamid Ansari will release "The Sarkari Mussalman" by Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah (retd) on Saturday at the India International Centre here.
US reviewing India's decisions over import of Iranian oil, Russian air defence system: State Dept
The US is reviewing "very carefully" India's decision to continue buying Iranian oil and purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, a top official has said, terming it "not helpful", days after President Donald Trump observed that New Delhi would soon find out if it faced punitive measures. The US is trying to cut off all oil imports from Iran to zero by November 4 following Trump's decision in May to pull out of the 2015 multilateral deal that eased global sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's suspected nuclear programmes and malign activities. Responding to questions on reports that India will continue to purchase oil from Iran after November 4, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said this was "not helpful". India's Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said that two state refiners have placed orders for importing crude oil from Iran in November. "Overall with regard to those sanctions that will take effect on November 4th - and you're referring to the oil ..
Mulayam shares stage with Shivpal at Lohia's death anniversary event
Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav Friday shared the stage with brother Shivpal Yadav, who has recently formed the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM), at a programme organised on the death anniversary of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia. Last month, Mulayam had appeared at an SP rally in the national capital, along with his son and party president Akhilesh Yadav. Addressing the gathering at Friday's programme, Mulayam highlighted Lohia's ideologies and urged the youth to follow his path and "fight against wrongdoings". "Lohiaji taught us that if an elder brother does anything wrong, he should also be protested," he said. Shivpal later told the media that he had the "blessings" of his elder brother Mulayam. "It is our responsibility to carry forward Lohia's ideologies. When netaji (Mulayam) is with us, we will bring in a new revolution and change in the country," he said, adding that he would not go for any "pact" with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar ...
Saudi delegation in Turkey for talks on missing journalist
A Saudi delegation has arrived in Turkey for talks on missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, officials said on Friday, with Riyadh and Ankara sharply at odds over how he disappeared last week from the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. As the controversy intensified, the Washington Post reported Turkey had recordings made from inside the building that allegedly proved their claims Khashoggi had been tortured and killed at the consulate. His case risks hurting not just fragile Turkish-Saudi relations but also damaging the image of the kingdom and its ties to the West as powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promotes a reform drive. Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor Khashoggi vanished on October 2 after entering the consulate to obtain documents ahead of his upcoming marriage. Turkish government sources say police believe he was killed but Riyadh denies that. The Saudi delegation, whose composition was not immediately clear, is expected to meet with Turkish officials at the .
Rahul Gandhi enquires about Parrikar's health
Congress president Rahul Gandhi enquired about the health of ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar during a meeting Friday in New Delhi with a senior party leader from the state, and wished him a speedy recovery. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar met Gandhi in New Delhi Friday. Parrikar (62) is admitted in the All-India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in New Delhi since mid-September. "Party chief Rahul Gandhi inquired about the health of Parrikar during my meeting with him," Chodankar told PTI over the phone from the national capital. He said Gandhi wished the BJP chief minister a speedy recovery. Chodankar said his meeting with Gandhi was a courtesy visit during which they discussed organisational matters. "He told me to be with party workers and connect to the people of the state," the GPCC president said. The Congress is the main opposition party in Goa, where it emerged as the single largest political formation after polls in ..
It is for prime minister to take a call on Akbar: Swamy
Describing the #MeToo movement as a "good development", Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy Friday said it was for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a call on the fate of Union minister M J Akbar, who has been accused by multiple women of sexual harassment. "Since the prime minister has appointed him, it is the prime minister's call. I won't make a public statement on this. It is his (Modi's) call," Swamy said. The Rajya Sabha member, however, added that allegations being levelled against Akbar date back to a time when he was an editor and before he became a minister. "Whether to make him pay for it with his ministership, only the prime minister can decide. He is in charge of all the ministers, and he has to fix accountability," Swamy said. Supporting the #MeToo movement, which has encouraged countless women to share their stories of sexual harassment from men, he said he saw it as a good development. There can be a few cases of somebody being deliberately framed, but that .
Information is power, free flow the essence of democracy: President
Emphasizing that information is power, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that free flow of information is the essence of democracy and that people have the right to know how they are being governed.
SC dismisses pleas of Kamal Nath, Pilot on draft voters list format
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed petitions of senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot seeking draft electoral rolls in searchable text format in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan saying they were not entitled to it as per the Election Manual. The top court said that it is for the ECI to decide about the format in which the draft electoral roll is to be published. Nath and Pilot in their plea sought direction to the Election Commission for publication of voter list in searchable text format and its supply to the political parties in the same format for ensuring the electoral list to be fair and proper, having all the eligible voters and excluding the duplicate, fake or incorrect voters. A bench of justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said that clause 11.2.2.2 of the Election Manual uses the expression "text mode" and the draft electoral roll in that mode, has been supplied to the petitioner (Kamal Nath). "The clause nowhere says that the draft electoral roll has .
Shah targets Congress over obscene CD episode in Chhattisgarh
BJP president Amit Shah targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Friday, asking if he was dreaming of forming a government in Chhattisgarh under the leadership of a man who had "put to shame" women by allegedly making a fake obscene CD. Shah also accused Gandhi of supporting "urban Naxals" and asserted that his party will not tolerate the activities of anti-national elements and put them behind bars. "Rahul Baba, are you dreaming of forming government in Chhattisgarh under the leadership of a person who has put to shame all the women in Chhattisgarh by preparing a fake CD?" the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief asked. He was apparently referring to Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, an accused in a case involving the circulation of a "sex CD" purportedly featuring a state BJP minister. The "sex CD" episode had rocked Chhattisgarh last year and Baghel was named as one of the five accused in the case. The Congress leader has been accused of circulating the CD, which the minister ..
India calls for counter-terror cooperation, connectivity among SCO members
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called for cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts and enhanced connectivity between member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Expelled Mizoram Cong leader Lalzirliana gives up assembly
Former Mizoram home minister R. Lalzirliana Friday submitted his resignation as a legislator as part of his intention to join opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) in the poll-bound North-Eastern state. He submitted his resignation letter to state assembly secretary S.R. Zokhuma in the absence of Speaker Hiphei, who is on a tour to southern Mizoram. Mizoram will go to vote on November 28. Politically it would be interested to watch if Congress manages to hold power in the only state under its rule in the North-East at present. Lalzirliana, second-in-command in the Congress government headed by chief minister Lal Thanhawla and also vice president of the state PCC had resigned from the council of ministers on September 14 after he was served a show cause notice by the party disciplinary action committee on September six. He was expelled from the party for an indefinite period on September 17 after which he announced his intention to join the opposition Mizo National Front ...