Page 2765 - Politics
Modi is 'chowkidar' but whom is he serving: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he projected himself as a 'chowkidar' but never specified as to whom he was serving.
Rajnath calls for new technology, global cooperation for aviation security
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asked the security agencies to adopt new technology and seek global coordination to ensure safety of the nation's aviation industry.
NCP Lok Sabha member calls on Maharashtra CM, other ministers
Amid reports about opposition to his candidature for the 2019 polls, NCP MP Udayanraje Bhosale Tuesday called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and some other ministers and stressed the meetings were "related to works" in his Lok Sabha constituency Satara. The meetings took place in the backdrop of media reports hinting at there being an opposition to Bhosale's candidature for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had recently met party leaders from different constituencies in view of the upcoming elections. "I met the chief minister over various works. We discussed works in my constituency," Bhosale told reporters after the meeting with Fadnavis at the state secretariat. Asked about the media reports, Bhosale admitted "several people" were against his candidature. "Efforts are on to thwart (defeat) me. Let's see what happens in the polls. I will contest the elections, only if the people want so. Because people only ...
Cong yet to finalise candidates for Mizoram assembly poll
The ruling Congress in Mizoram is yet to finalise its list of candidates for the November 28 assembly poll in the state despite its announcement that the names would be announced Thursday. Mizoram is the only Congress-ruled state in the north east. Sports Minister and member of the MPCC nomination committee, Zodintluanga said Tuesday that the names of the candidates would be finalised soon and announced on Thursday. The list of Congress contestants for the poll is slated to be announced on the day at the Congress Bhavan here in the presence of AICC general secretary in-charge of north east Luizinho Faleiro, a senior leader of the Mizoram PCC said. He said that the party's top leadership wants to axe some legislators who are either too old or did not have the chance to win, while at the same time take care to ensure that those left out were not too many so as to form a rebel lobby. Congress had been dealt a blow with the resignation of home minister R Lalzirliana in the ..
Sirsa thanks Swaraj for issuing visas to Indians stuck in Dubai
DSGMC secretary and Delhi MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for issuing visas to 23 Indians stuck in Dubai. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had apprised the minister that 23 Indians were "trapped" by travel agents and they were stuck in the Gulf nation, he said. Sirsa claimed to have "received information from the Indian embassy in Dubai that visa stamping of most of these Indian workers have been done". He said he learnt about the plight of the men through a video that went viral on social media. "They were lodged in jails and their passports were with the company that had hired them. The Indian embassy acted swiftly and got their passports released from the company and issued them visas, thus enabling them to return home," the BJP MLA added.
BJP did nothing for Rajasthan in last 5 years: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit out at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Tuesday saying her government came to power five years ago yet it failed to uplift the poor of the state.Addressing a rally in the poll-bound Rajasthan, Gandhi said: "When the UPA government was in power, we gave MNREGA, waived off Rs 70,000 debt of farmers, brought in the Tribal Bill, gave food to students in school, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot provided free medicines to people. But, in the last four-and-half years, tell me what is it that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vasundhara Raje have done for you?"Giving a political speech ahead of the state assembly elections, scheduled on December 7, Gandhi scion said: "It is just a month before Rajasthan goes to polls. The Chief Minister now announces that she will give free electricity to the people of the state. My question is, what made you wait for so long? Your Prime Minister even announced that he will give 15 lakh rupees to every bank ...
Tamil Nadu: Court refuses to remand veteran journalist Nakkeeran Gopal
A Magistrate court on Tuesday refused to remand veteran journalist Nakkeeran Gopal to judicial custody. Gopal was detained at the Chennai airport.Gopal, who is the editor of a Tamil bi-weekly magazine 'Nakkeeran', was arrested by the Chennai Police over a complaint filed by Governor Banwarilal Purohit's office over his publication's reportage on the Nirmala Devi case.Reportedly, the magazine run by Gopal featured pictures of Purohit and Nirmala Devi, an accused in the Madurai Kamaraj University sex scandal."It's a victory. It's a slap on the Raj Bhavan. It's also for spineless Tamil Nadu government which acted upon the Governor's wish. The court has passed a right judgement," Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko, who was also detained by the police, told reporters.Gopal's arrest also invited criticism from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and leader of opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly MK Stalin who slammed both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ...
Centre working towards welfare of farmers: PM
Unveiling a 64-foot-tall statue of Sir Chhotu Ram on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the central government is making all efforts for the welfare of farmers, taking a cue from the peasant leader."Sir Chhotu Ram was one of those social reformers in the country who played an important role in the formation of India. He made certain laws for the benefit of farmers which are relevant even today. Just like him, the central government is constantly working towards the welfare of the farmers," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing a rally here."Everyone has the right to know about the person who did so much for the country. It is hard to understand why a personality like him was restricted to just one area. This did not affect the stature of Chaudhry sahab, but many generations have got deprived of taking a lesson from his life," the Prime Minister added while eulogising Sir Chhotu Ram.Sir Chhotu Ram "always opposed the mindset of the Indian society towards girl child," said ..
PM stresses strong India-Canada relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed onthe importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation between India and Canada in diverse spheres. He made these remarks when Canada's leader of the opposition Andrew Scheer called on him here. "Happy to meet Hon. @AndrewScheer, Canada's Leader of the Opposition. Stressed the significance of strong India-Canada relations ... ," Modi tweeted. According to an official statement, the PM noted that the relationship between the two countries was elevated to strategic partnership during his visit to Canada in 2015. Modi also stressed on the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse spheres. Scheer shared his perspective on further developing friendly relations between the two countries. Scheer is in Indiafrom October 7 to 13.
Alliance not a priority, will strive to strengthen Congress: Mitra
West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Somen Mitra Tuesday said the party is not thinking of any sort of alliance in the state before the next Lok Sabha election as the issue is not a "priority" in the present situation. He said his aim is to strengthen the organisation ahead of next Lok Sabha poll. "My aim is to strengthen the party organisation. Our party president Rahul Gandhi has asked us to focus on it," Mitra said when asked on the issue of alliance with ruling TMC in the next Lok Sabha polls. Asked whether the party would go with the Left Front in Bengal, he said "We are not thinking about any sort of alliance presently ... It is not a priority in the present situation." To questions on whether Congress would attend TMC's proposed opposition rally at Brigade parade ground in January, Mitra said "Mamata Banerjee has invited Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi for the rally. If the party high command asks for our opinion then we will give it". The veteran Congressman Tuesday appealed to ..
US envoy, Qureshi agree to cooperate on Afghanistan
The US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and the Pakistan Foreign Minister on Tuesday agreed to cooperate for peace in Afghanistan, days after the former visited Kabul in a bid to restart talks with the Taliban to end the war.
Venezuela faces calls for probe after opposition activist dies in custody
Venezuela faced calls internationally Tuesday for a "transparent investigation" into the death in custody of an opposition member who the government said threw himself from a 10th floor window of the headquarters of the state intelligence services. Fernando Alban, a Caracas city council member accused of taking part in a failed drone attack on President Nicolas Maduro, was in pretrial detention Monday at the time of his death, which the government presented as a suicide. Attorney General Tarek William Saab said on state television that Alban, who had been arrested on Friday, asked to go to the restroom and threw himself from a window. The death sparked expressions of concern by the United Nations and the European Union, both of which called for a probe. The Maduro government has "an obligation to ensure (Alban's) safety, personal integrity and dignity," a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, told reporters. "We are concerned about news of his ...
US special envoy holds talks on Afghanistan with Pak officials
Senior US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad on Tuesday held talks with Pakistani officials here to help bring the Taliban into negotiations in order to end the over 17-year war in Afghanistan. Khalilzad, who is the US Special Representative for Afghan reconciliation, arrived from Afghanistan where he had discussions with the top leadership over the issue of peace in the war-torn country. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal said in a series of tweets that Khalilzad held delegation-level talks with senior officials led by Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua. Khalilzad also met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and discussed various bilateral and regional issues with focus on the Afghanistan unrest. Faisal said that Qureshi "reiterated Pakistan's efforts for achieving peace in Afghanistan". The foreign minister said Pakistan will continue to play its role for a political solution to the Afghan conflict. He said Pakistan welcomes US efforts for peace in ...
B'desh beefs up security ahead of Aug 21 grenade attack judgment
Bangladesh today beefed up security across the country ahead of a special court ruling on Wednesday in a decade old grenade attack case in which opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia's fugitive son and her presumed political heir Tarique Rahman is the prime accused. "Anarchy in any form will not be allowed...law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been asked to enforce a strict vigil," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told PTI ahead of the ruling. He, however, said that the authorities feared no specific security threat as "the verdict expected to be delivered against some identified criminals tomorrow" for the attack that killed 24 people and injured nearly 500 others. A Dhaka police spokesman said some 4,000 security personnel have been deployed in the national capital to maintain law and order. On August 21, 2004, a series of grenade explosions during an Awami League rally at the Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka killed 24 people and injured nearly 500 others including party chief Sheikh
Cong to declare candidates list for Mizoram on Thursday: MPCC
The ruling Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) announced Tuesday that names of candidates for the November 28 assembly election would be declared on Thursday. Sports Minister and member of the MPCC nomination committee Zodintluanga said that the names of the candidates would soon be finalised and announced on Thursday (October 11). The candidates list would be made public in the presence of AICC general secretary in charge of North-Eest Luizinho Faleiro. Mizoram is the only state under Congress at present and hence it would be important to see wether they manage to hold the fort or not. Meanwhile, sources in the ruling party said that massive tussle has been going inside the party over selection of candidates in the election to the 40-member state legislature to be held on November 28. One leader said that the party top leadership wanted to axe some legislators who were too old or did not chance to win while taking great care to ensure that those left out would ..
CPM to launch protest against mega projects from October 10
The CPI(M) would Wednesday onwards lay siege to government offices in adjoining Thane and Palghar districts over a slew of demands, including scrapping of the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. Besides the bullet train project, the party and some other organisations are also opposing the constructions of Mumbai-Vadodara and Mumbai-Nagpur express highways and river- linking programmes, which they claimed, would destroy local farmers and their livelihood. The rail and road projects would pass through the two districts. The party would press for addressing local concerns related to water supply, employment, education, health, pension, electricity, houses and roads, said a joint statement issued by CPI(M) leaders Ashok Dhawale and Barkya Mangat. Dhawale said the party men would continue to lay siege of government offices till the demands are met. "From October 10, which is observed every year as Martyrs' Day and as the death anniversary of the legendary leader ..
Nikki Haley resigns as US Ambassador to UN
Nikki Haley, the Indian-American US Ambassador to the United Nations, resigned Tuesday, according to multiple US media reports. President Donald Trump has accepted 46-year-old Haley's resignation as UN ambassador, Fox News reported. The reason behind her resignation was not clear. Haley was the senior most Indian-American official in the Trump administration. The former governor of South Carolina was confirmed as UN Ambassador four days after Trump was inaugurated in January 2017. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted that President Trump and Ambassador Haley will meet in the Oval Office Tuesday morning.
Indian rupee has slipped into coma: Yashwant Sinha
Former Finance Minister and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said here on Tuesday that the economic turmoil in the country had sent the Indian rupee into a coma.
PM-designate asks Iraqis to apply online for cabinet
Iraq's prime minister designate Adel Abdel Mahdi launched a website on Tuesday to allow candidates to apply for a ministerial position online as he struggles to form a government. The unprecedented measure comes as Abdel Mahdi, a former Iraqi vice president, battles to overcome sharp party political differences and forge a viable governing coalition. Abdel Mahdi was named prime minister on October 2 and, under the terms of the constitution, has until November 1 to form his government. The new website gives would-be candidates a three-day opportunity -- from Tuesday morning until Thursday afternoon -- to register online for a ministerial post. Applicants must register their personal data, indicate their political orientation and state whether they belong to any political party, according to the terms of registration found online. Both men and women may apply. Applicants must have a university degree or equivalent qualification -- a mandatory requirement for joining the ...
Rahul Gandhi to address 'Maha Sankalp' rally in Bikaner on Wednesday
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a 'Maha Sankalp' rally here at the Medical College Ground on Wednesday, a party leader said. Gandhi will reach the Nal airport in Bikaner at 2 pm and then he will start his tour of Bikaner division from the Guru Jambheshwar Dham in Mukam, Congress leader Dr B D Kalla said. He will also participate in a road show from the Nal airport to the Medical College Ground. It is to be noted that the Congress had to face massive drubbing in Bikaner division in the last Assembly polls. The party won only three seats out of the 23 Assembly seats of Bikaner division. In Bikaner district, the party was restricted to only two seats out of the seven Assembly seats. In Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts, the Congress had lost all the 11 Assembly seats. In Churu division, the party could retain its fort in Sardarshahar.