Page 2748 - Politics
Swaraj holds talks with Afghanistan's Chief Executive
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Thursday met Afghanistan's Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah here and the two leaders held wide-ranging talks on the issues of mutual and regional interests. The two leaders met on the sidelines of a two-day conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Council of Heads of Government (CHG). "Taking stock of India-Afghanistan strategic partnership. Continuing the high level exchanges with Afghanistan at every opportunity, EAM @SushmaSwaraj met Chief Executive of Afghanistan @afgexecutive Dr Abdullah...," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Earlier in the day, Swaraj met her Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin and the two leaders discussed stepping up close bilateral ties in development assistance, science and technology, health, defence and security. Swaraj arrived in Tajik capital Dushanbe Thursday to attend the SCO's CHG, which is expected to focus on boosting cooperation in fighting terrorism, ...
USTR to Congress: U.S. wants to open trade talks with EU, UK, Japan, Philippines
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told members of Congress this week that the United States wants to open trade talks with the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan and the Philippines, but did not give any indication of when the administration will give formal notice.
Prez to visit HP later this month
President Ram Nath Kovind will be on two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh later this month, an official spokesperson said here Thursday. As per the schedule of his proposed visit, Kovind will be in Kangra on October 29 and Shimla on October 20, he said. Kovind will confer degrees to the students of Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) Tanda in Kangra in its first convocation function on October 29, he said, adding he would give away degrees to the students of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in Shimla on October 30 in its 24th convocation function. A meeting was held here today under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shrikant Baldi to make necessary arrangements for his proposed visit. Baldi directed the officers of district administration, Municipal Corporation and all concerned departments to make all necessary arrangements. GAD Secretary R N Batta, DGP S R Mardi, Principal Secretary R D Dhiman, senior army officers .
AAP legislator Phoolka to quit Punjab assembly
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and legislator H.S. Phoolka said on Thursday that he will resign from the Punjab assembly on Friday.
Khandu calls for more synergy among state govt, BJP workers
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday solicited whole-hearted support from the BJP workers so that the state government can function efficiently. Addressing the BJP state executive meeting at Pasighat in East Siang district, Khandu said the state government in the last two years has been able to come out with several reforms only because of support from the party. He appealed for more cohesion among party workers and the government so that the fruits of development schemes percolate to the last man, a party release said. The chief minister said that the state executive meeting, held once every three months, is to build efficient teamwork between the party and the government. He said government policies and programmes wont be successful unless the government functionaries and party members put their collective efforts. He appealed the party workers to make people aware about the important govt schemes and flagship programmes and volunteer for the ...
Rafale deal: Rahul demands probe against PM; BJP accuses Cong chief of lying
A report by a French publication on selection of Indian partner in the Rafale deal triggered a fresh round of fierce attack and counter-attack between the Congress and the BJP with Rahul Gandhi alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "corrupt" and demanding a probe into his role in the jet procurement. Strongly countering Gandhi's charges, the BJP accused the Congress chief of "lying through his teeth shamelessly" and indulging in "politics of misinformation" to build his political career. Calling him a "clown prince", the BJP alleged that the Congress president belonged to a "family of middlemen" with his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi being "officially a middleman" in a defence deal. The political offensive came a day after some reports, citing French publication Mediapart, said an internal document of Dassault Aviation showed that the manufacturer of Rafale had to choose Ambani's firm Reliance Defence as its offset partner in India as a trade-off for getting the ...
HC seeks Gujarat's reply on PIL on attack on migrants
The Gujarat High Court on Thursday asked the state to file an affidavit on a public interest litigation plea that sought action against those involved in attacks on migrant workers and those who failed to protect them.
'Maha will buy power from Central grid and pvt cos to make up
The ruling BJP in Maharashtra Thursday said the government will purchase power from Central grid as well as private companies to make up for the shortage which is to the tune of 3500 MW. The BJP also claimed the duration of power load-shedding in the state used to be 14 hours per day under the erstwhile Congress-led UPA government, of which the NCP was a constituent. Earlier in the day, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said the state was reeling under power shortfall of "3000 MW" and appealed to the government to declare the exact quantum of shortage. He had claimed the rural areas were facing power cuts every day because the coal supply meant for the state is being "diverted" to poll-bound Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Hitting back at the NCP, State unit BJP spokesperson Vishwas Pathak, who is also a consultant to state power minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, said the current shortage is to the tune of 3,500 MW. "The state is purchasing power from Central ...
Jaitley hails formalization of economy
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday stated that government resources are going to expand, owing in large to the formalization of the economy through a number of government initiatives.Addressing the 29th Accountants General Conference, organised by the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Jaitley said, "Government resources in this country are going to expand, and they are going to expand at a much faster pace. There is no question of them being static or narrowing down. The reasons for this are clear - the economy is increasingly becoming formalised."The Union Finance Minister said that the formalization of the economy "has been accelerated by a large number of recent steps that we took," adding that various factors including, strict compliance, rationalisation of tax structures, lowering the lowest slab, etc, have contributed towards a 15 - 20 per cent increase in tax collection every year."Four years ago when we assumed office, the figure that used .
EAM Swaraj meets with Afghan CEO
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Thursday met Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah in Dushanbe.Swaraj is in Dushanbe to participate in the two-day 17th Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.Swaraj also met Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin on Thursday.This will be the second CHG meeting since India became a full member of SCO in June last year. Swaraj had also attended the last year's meeting at Sochi.Swaraj is attending the SCO CHG meeting and shall participate in the restricted as well as extended formats.The meeting is a forum that enables India to engage with SCO member countries and Observer states of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. It is the first major meeting since Kyrgyzstan took over as chair of the organisation.
PM Modi condoles G. D. Agarwal's death
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed his condolences over the death of environmentalist and a stout activist for the River Ganga, G. D. Agarwal.Taking to his official Twitter handle, Prime Minister Modi said, "Saddened by the demise of Shri GD Agarwal Ji. His passion towards learning, education, saving the environment, particularly Ganga cleaning will always be remembered. My condolences."Earlier today, the Congress hit out at the Prime Minister Modi-led central government over Agarwal's death, alleging that it did not do enough under the 'Namai Gange Programme' and also ignored Agarwal's indefinite-fast."Is it not true that Ganga is more polluted in Varanasi today than it was in 2014? Is it not true that Ganga has become 334 times more polluted in BJP ruled states of Bihar and UP today as compared to 2014? Is it not true that in Namami Gange in which 22,000 crore rupees were to be sanctioned, not even one-fourth has been spent. Is Namai Gange also a jumla for Modi ...
Need to spread awareness about tribal icons: Governor
Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu Thursday said the Centre and the state government have begun works to protect tribal culture, tradition and spreading awareness about tribal icons so that the generations next will be able to know about them. Speaking after the laying of foundation stone for renovation, protection and museum of old Birsa Munda Jail here, Murmu said that Birsa Munda and others had launched struggle against the British rule and "Birsa Munda has been given the status of Bhagavan." An official release quoting the governor said that the Centre and the state governments began works to protect tribal culture, tradition and spreading awareness about tribal icons so that the generations next will be able to know about them. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that our forefathers had sacrificed to get freedom. "We cannot repay their debt. But by building memorials and museums we can make efforts in taking their thoughts to the people. And ..
US to evaluate Pak's bailout request on merit
The US will evaluate on merit a bailout package sought by Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund, the State Department said Thursday. "We understand that Pakistan has formally requested assistance from the IMF. As we do in all cases, we will examine closely all aspects, including Pakistan's debt position, in evaluating any loan program," a State Department Spokesperson told PTI. The spokesperson was responding to a question on the request made by Pakistan for a USD 8 bailout package. The spokesperson's comments came on a day when Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar met with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde in Nusa Dua, Indonesia and formally sought a bailout from the global lender. The US has the greatest influence in the IMF's decision-making process. In July, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had indicated that the US will review the bailout package in view of the massive Chinese debt on Pakistan. "Make no mistake. We will be watching what the IMF does," Pompeo ...
Flanked by Akhilesh & Yashwant, Shatrughan attacks govt on Rafale deal
Dissident BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha Thursday said people want answers from the government on the Rafale deal and "ignoring" the questions being raised over the agreement would not do. His remarks come amid relentless opposition attack on the government over the deal. Addressing a gathering here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, who gave the clarion call of 'Sampoorna Kranti' (complete revolution), Sinha asked why PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was "sidelined" in favour of a private firm as an offset Indian partner of Dassault Aviation for manufacturing the fighter aircraft. "The public want an answer on the Rafale deal. You have to speak up, and mere ignoring it will not do. Why was HAL which had the experience of manufacturing MiGs and Sukhoi sidelined and a 10-day-old company with (virtually) zero balance and zero experience was given the job," the BJP MP said, flanked by former party leader Yashwant Sinha and Samajwadi Party president ...
Trump says he could do 'a lot more' on China trade: Fox
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Thursday there was much more he could do that would hurt China's economy further, showing no signs of backing off an escalating trade war with Beijing.
Indian Naval ship and patrol aircraft reach Indonesia
Indian Naval Ship Kulish and a maritime patrol aircraft entered Belwan harbour, Indonesia, for the opening ceremony of the 32nd edition of India-Indonesia coordinated patrol, Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.
Shiv Sena demands sacking of Akbar over #MeToo charges
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Shiv Sena Thursday demanded the removal of Union minister M J Akbar, who has been accused by several women journalists of sexually harassment. The saffron party also said the charges against Akbar needed to be investigated thoroughly. "As far as I know, there are five to six women professionals who have openly narrated how they were sexually attacked by M J Akbar. The details are worrisome and serious. Hence, I demand that he should be removed from his post immediately," Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently talks about 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao'. Hence, in order to maintain his own image, Modi should remove Akbar from his post," she added. "Let there be a proper investigation into the accusations against him. If Akbar comes out clean, he can be reinstated in the cabinet," the Sena MLC said. The legislator also took a dig at the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, saying it was not doing its job ...
MeToo: Women sharing their ordeals shouldn't be shamed, says Smriti Irani
Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani on Thursday evaded question on alleged harassment charges levelled against Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar."The gentleman concerned would be in a better position to speak on this issue. I appreciate that the media are accosting his female colleagues, but I think, it is for the gentleman concerned to issue a statement and not for me," Irani told reporters.She also took to the occasion to laud the women who have come out in open and shared their ordeal against harassment."I have said time and again on this particular issue that women who have been speaking out should not be shamed. Anybody speaking out should in no way be victimised or mocked. That is my only appeal to everybody who is witnessing this surge of an outpouring of emotions and anger on the internet and offline," she added.Akbar has come under fire after a woman journalist Priya Ramani claimed on Twitter that in the article which she had written for Vogue India in 2017
Cong corners BJP over death of environmentalist GD Agarwal
Congress on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government alleging that it did not do enough under 'Namai Gange Programme' and also ignored the indefinite-fast of environmentalist GD Agarwal.Earlier in the day, former IIT Kanpur faculty member and environmental activist GD Agarwal, who was on an indefinite fast demanding the government to clean river Ganga, passed away after suffering a heart attack in AIIMS Rishikesh.Agarwal, 86, was on fast since June 22 and had also given up drinking water on Wednesday. Before his death, he wrote a letter alleging that the Haridwar administration officials forcibly shifted him from his protest site to AIIMS.Expressing grief over the death of environmental activist, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Ganga's Ma's soul must be crying out today. The real son of Ganga GD Agarwal, the Gandhian and environmentalist died today after keeping an indefinite fast of over 100 days. His fast was aimed at drawing the ...
CoSAAP strike illegal, anti-development & against public
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Thursday termed the strike by Confederation of Services Association of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) as "illegal, anti-development and against public interest". The CoSAAP which has been demanding the 7th Central pay commission allowance in toto, along with other service benefits called for a two-day pen and tool down strike from Thursday to protest non-fulfilment of their demands by the state government. The chief minister said the state government will not succumb to any pressure tactics by CoSAAP. "Few individual under the banner of CoSAAP are misusing their position for their own benefits and are misleading the entire employee community. In fact the majority of the employees does not approve such kind of pressure tactics," Khandu told a public meeting at Pasighat in East Siang district. He said the Team Arunachal government will not succumb to any intimidation and arm twisting tactics, an official release said. "The BJP ...