Page 2751 - Politics
Lower retirement age will create of thousands of jobs: Salvini
Rome, Oct 11 (IANS/AKI) The populist government's plan to lower the retirement age in Italy will create "tens of thousands" of new jobs, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Thursday.
Several Goa Ministers to meet ailing CM in Delhi
Several Goa Cabinet Ministers will on Friday meet ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at AIIMS in New Delhi, during which allocation of additional portfolios to Ministers was expected, a BJP leader said on Thursday.
Rafale deal: Modi is corrupt, says Rahul, BJP rejects charges (Roundup)
Turning up the heat on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday called him "corrupt" and asked him to quit following revelations that inclusion of an Indian private defence partner was an "imperative and obligatory" condition for awarding the contract.
Gandhi lying on Rafale, comes from family of "middlemen": BJP
Rejecting Rahul Gandhi's allegation of corruption against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale deal, the BJP on Thursday accused the Congress chief of "lying through his teeth shamelessly" and indulging in "politics of misinformation" to build his political career. Repeatedly calling Gandhi a "clown prince", the BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra at a press conference also alleged the Congress leader comes from "a family of middlemen" and his his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was "officially a middleman" in a defence deal. The Gandhi family had made money from every defence deal till 2014, Patra alleged, claiming that Rahul Gandhi has not been able to come out of that mindset. Patra was talking to journalists hours after the Congress president addressed a press conference where he demanded an investigation into prime minister Modi's role in the Rafale deal, alleging that he was a "corrupt man" who helped Anil Ambani pocket Rs 30,000 crore in the purchase of 36 ...
Lone BSP minister in Cong-JDS coalition in Karnataka quits
: The lone BSP Minister in the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka N Mahesh today quit his position citing personal reasons, but said he would continue to support the ruling coalition. Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation toChief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, the minister for primary andsecondary education said he quit to focus more on his assembly constituency Kollegal and to strengthen his party ahead of Lok Sabha elections. "There had been a campaign against me in my constituency that I have camped in Bengaluru and was not focusing on Kollegal. Also, there was a need to strengthen the party base ahead of the Lok Sabha elections," said Mahesh. Mahesh vowed to continue his support to the coalition government and said he would campaign for the JD(S)during the bypolls for three Lok Sabha and two assembly seats on November 3. "I do not have any grouse against anybody in the government. As a minister I did my best and toured across the state. This ...
Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi demands probe against PM, calls him 'corrupt person'
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday demanded an investigation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his role in the Rafale deal, alleging that he was a "corrupt man" who helped Anil Ambani pocket Rs 30,000 crore in the purchase of 36 aircraft. He also described Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's ongoing three-day visit to France as part of a "great cover-up". Gandhi's allegations came a day after a report in French publication that said Dassault Aviation, 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 deal. The government has been insisting it had no role in Dassault's choice of Reliance Defence. "The reality is that the prime minister is corrupt. The prime minister of India is a corrupt person, but he came to power on the promise of fighting corruption," Gandhi said at a press conference. "... in the Rafale contract. the prime minister has indulged in clear cut corruption and there ...
Cong's Purvanchal Morcha protests outside Gujarat Bhawan over attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants
Activists of the Delhi Congress' Purvanchal Morcha Thursday protested outside the Gujarat Bhawan here against attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants in the state. Senior Delhi Congress leader and former MP Mahabal Mishra slammed the BJP-led Gujarat government, accusing it of playing "divisive" politics. "It is very sad that the BJP, which has always played divisive and regional politics, is fanning sentiments against people from the Purvanchal region in Gujarat, resulting in forced migration of thousands of people working in the state," Mishra said during the protest. Shivji Singh, president of the Delhi Poorvanchal Congress, alleged the BJP government in the state is instigating locals against Purvanchalis there.
BJP names fresh face for Mandya constituency
Karnataka BJP Thursday named a fresh face, a retired Commercial Tax officer from the Vokkaliga community, as its candidate for the November 3 Lok Sabha bypolls in Mandya constituency. The party is expected to pick its candidate forthe Ramanagara assembly seat in a couple of days. "Dr Siddaramaiah, Retired Additional Commissioner, Commercial Tax has joined the BJP. He will be our candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency," state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa told reporters in Shivamogga. He said Siddaramaiah hails from the Vokkaliga communityand his family has a political background, as his father BDoddabore Gowda had got elected to the assembly from Srirangapatnaand Mandya constituencies. Interestingly, the announcement of Siddaramaiah's nameas the BJP candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency camesoon after he joined the party in Bengaluru Thursday. BJP expects Siddaramaiah's Vokkaliga background to help its prospects in Mandya, the region dominated by the community, .
Dip in AIADMK's membership,CM hopeful of taking tally to all
There is a dip of about 40 lakh members for the ruling AIADMK as the count fell from 1.5 crore during late J Jayalalithaa's tenure as party chief to 1,10,41,600 now, a recent membership enrolment drive has revealed. Chief Minister and party co-coordinator K Palaniswami, however, said in about six months 50 lakh more members -including new members and renewals- will be added taking the membership count beyond 1.5 crore. The AIADMK held its membership enrolment drive, aimed at renewal of membership and enrolling new members, between March 1 to May 31 this year, the first such exercise after the death of former party supremo Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016. Those who had submitted their renewal/new membership aplications during the stipuated period were given membership cards at the AIADMK headquarters Thursday. Party coordinator and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, Palaniswami, party presidium chairman E Madusudanan and other senior leaders participated. "In a short
Lebanon newspaper goes blank to protest political crisis
Lebanon's oldest newspaper An-Nahar went out to newsstands completely blank on Thursday to protest a political deadlock and economic woes in the tiny Mediterranean country. Despite more than five months of wrangling, premier-designate Saad Hariri has been unable to form a new government, putting a precious USD 11-billion aid package at risk. An-Nahar, which was founded in 1933, published eight blank pages in print and linkless white boxes on its main page online, posting headlines but no news items. "People are tired and An-Nahar is tired of writing up your pretexts and repeated empty promises," editor-in-chief Nayla al-Tueni said at a press conference in Beirut. "God knows how long we will wait to see" a decision on a cabinet line-up, she said. A new government would be able to sign off on billions of dollars in aid pledged at a conference in April, notably to help boost the country's ailing infrastructure. But political parties in the small multi-confessional country have been ...
BJP expels three party workers from Samba
The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit on Thursday expelled three more workers for "anti-party" activities, officials said. They were expelled from the primary membership of the party for filing their nomination for the Urban Local Body (ULB) polls as independent candidates against BJP's official nominees and campaigning in favour of an independent candidate, a BJP spokesperson said. Samba district secretary Ankush Mahajan, district president SC morcha K C Bhagat and senior party leader Sonal Sharma were expelled for anti-party activities, he said. The party had expelled six workers on October 6, citing the same reason.
Akbar under #MeToo cloud: Irani says 'the gentleman in question' should respond
Amid allegations of sexual harassment against former editor and Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday said the "gentleman in question would be in a better position to answer."
Egypt's 2011 uprising wrong medicine for wrong diagnosis: Sisi
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Thursday that the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak was the "wrong medicine for the wrong diagnosis", the media reported.
Saudi Arabia faces 'serious consequences' if Khashoggi claims true: UK
Britain's foreign secretary on Thursday warned that Saudi Arabia faces "serious consequences" if the suspicions of Turkish officials that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul turn out to be true. "People who have long thought of themselves as Saudi's friends are saying this is a very, very serious matter. "If these allegations are true, there will be serious consequences because our friendships and our partnerships are based on shared values," Jeremy Hunt told AFP. "We are extremely worried," he said. Hunt said he had spoken to Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and had told him "how very, very concerned the United Kingdom is". Britain is a close ally and trade partner of Saudi Arabia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Saudi Arabia to release footage of Khashoggi and President Donald Trump has demanded answers over his fate, as the kingdom faces growing pressure to provide a convincing explanation for his ...
Arunachal government terms strike by CoSAAP as 'illegal'
The Arunachal Pradesh government has termed the two-day pen and tool down strike called by employees under the banner of Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal (CoSAAP) as 'illegal', officials said Thursday. The state government in an order on Wednesday termed the strike as 'illegal and said stern action would be taken against employees taking part in the strike, the official said. "Any government employee taking part in the pen/tool down strike shall be in gross contravention with CCS (Conduct) Rules, and such employees will be liable for disciplinary proceedings under CCS (CCA) Rules and other relevant Act/Rules," the government order said. The Cabinet has recently decided to grant the House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Tough Location Allowance (TLA) despite the 'precarious' financial condition of the state, it said. "The decisions were taken by the state cabinet keeping very sympathetic view towards the members of the Confederation in spite of the fact that .
No CAATSA pressure on Indo-Russia def deals; will soon ink pacts on frigates, Kalashnikovs: Envoy
US sanctions will not be an impediment to Indo-Russia defence deals, and New Delhi and Moscow could soon sign agreements on frigates and Kalashnikov assault rifles, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev said Thursday. Describing the recently-inked USD 5.4 billion S-400 missile defence system deal as the "largest contract" in the history of Indo-Russia ties, he said it was one of the "speediest" agreements to be signed between the two countries and there were no protracted negotiations. The implementation of the contract, signed during President Vladimir Putin's visit from October 4-5, would start in 2020 and would last for five years, he said. "In the coming months, you can expect more deals. Talks are on, this is the normal process. We hope that within two-three months... We could soon have a deal on frigates, it is very much on the agenda of the two sides, and we could soon have a deal on the Kalashnikov assault rifles," the envoy told a select group of journalists ...
Jharkhand Ex-CM Madhu Koda's legislator wife joins Congress
Geeta Koda, a sitting member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly and wife of former state Chief Minister Madhu Koda, on Thursday joined the Congress in New Delhi.
Lebanese paper prints blank issue to protest gridlock
Lebanon's leading newspaper has printed a blank issue to protest long-running political gridlock and the failure to form a government five months after elections. Nayla Tueni, editor-in-chief of An-Nahar daily, says "we are ringing the alarm bells" with Thursday's edition of the paper, which consists of eight blank pages. She told a press conference at the paper's Beirut headquarters that the move was an expression of exasperation. She called out politicians' inability to form a government or address issues like pollution and economic stagnation, saying: "This is not just the media crying out, this is the cry of a country." The sectarian power-sharing system established after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war has entrenched long-ruling elites and makes it difficult to form a government or agree on major policies.
Sabarimala: BJYM march turns violent; LDF govt to counter Sangh protest
With protests over the Sabarimala issue intensifying, police Thursday used water canons and tear gas shells to disperse Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists, who tried to barge into the official residence of Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran here. Chanting the 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' mantra, the right-wing activists marched to the minister's house, protesting the CPI(M)-led LDF government's stand over the issue and tried to break the barricades put up by police. As the situation went out of control, police first used water cannon and then burst tear gas shells to disperse the unruly crowd. Later, the agitators squatted on the road and held a protest meeting against the Left government's decision to implement the Supreme Court order, permitting women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala. The sit-in dharna by activists of the 'Save Sabarimala Forum' and 'Adivasi Samrakshana Samithi', demanding steps to protect the tradition and ...
Maldives court to hear election challenge on Sunday
The Maldives Supreme Court Thursday announced it would examine President Abdulla Yameen's challenge against his shock defeat at last month's election and fixed a hearing for Sunday. "The Supreme Court has decided to accept the constitutional dispute filed by President Yameen and it would be heard," the court said on Twitter. It later said a hearing will be held on Sunday at 1:00 pm (0800 GMT). Yameen, whose main political rivals were either in jail or in exile, was unexpectedly beaten in the September 23 election by unity opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, with 58.4 per cent of the vote. The court announced the hearing date after meeting with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation's chief elections commissioner Ahmed Shareef. Shareef told reporters in the capital Male that Yameen had called for an annulment of the results and a fresh election. The United States and the European Union had threatened sanctions if the vote was not free and fair and if Yameen, 59, did not accept the