Page 2778 - Politics
DMK flays EC for not announcing bypolls in TN
DMK chief M K Stalin Sunday flayed the Election Commission for not announcing byelections to two Tamil Nadu assembly constituencies citing monsoon as the reason and said it was not a 'justifiable' decision. Expressing 'surprise' at the EC's decision, he said by-elections had been held in the state in the past during the North East Monsoon season, between October-December. The bypoll for RK Nagar constituency, held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of late chief minister Jayalalithaa, was conducted only during the monsoon season in December last year, he pointed out. The Election Commission while announcing poll schedule for five states and byelections in Karnataka Saturday had said Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan had written a letter asking the commission not to announce the poll dates as there was forecast of cyclones and rains in the state. "The EC putting off bypolls citing a letter by the state Chief Secretary and the monsoon does not appear to be
Saudi Arabia denies journalist was killed at consulate in Turkey
Saudi Arabia on Sunday denied reports that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who went missing earlier this week, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, as reported by several international media.
Pompeo meets Moon upon arrival in South Korea
United States' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House upon his arrival in Seoul on Sunday.He held a meeting with Moon and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha at the Blue House, where he thanked the South Korean government for its role in negotiations for North Korean denuclearisation, reports Yonhap News Agency."Arrived in #Seoul to brief President @moonriver365 and FM Kang on my meetings in #DPRK with Chairman Kim. I look forward to working closely with our #ROK friends and allies to ensure progress on inter-Korean relations is in lockstep with progress on denuclearisation," Pompeo tweeted.Pompeo arrived in South Korea after meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.Heather Nauert, the US State Department Spokesperson tweeted, "After trip to #DPRK @SecPompeo lands in #ROK to meet with @moonriver365 , describes conversations with Chairman Kim as good and productive, says "There will be many steps along the way & we took one .
Israel PM, Russia President to meet over Syria
The Israeli Prime Minister on Sunday announced he had agreed to meet Russia's President in a bid to reduce tension between both countries over the situation in Syria.
Give PM Modi another chance in 2019: Bihar Dy CM
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday urged the people to give Prime Minister Narendra Modi "another chance" in the general elections next year. Speaking at a gathering of the extremely backward class in Khutauna block here, Sushil Modi said, "You (the people) should give Narendra Modi another chance as prime minister in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and defeat the RJD-Congress conspiracy to bring down the NDA government." Both RJD and the Congress did not give reservation to EBCs in the panchayat polls, the deputy CM said at the Vishal Ati Pichhra Samagam organised by the party's EBC cell. He claimed the section was "ill-treated" during the RJD's near 15-year-long rule in the state. "It was the BJP-JD(U) combine which gave 20 per cent reservation to EBCs in the rural polls, after coming to power in November 2005," the deputy CM was quoted as saying in a release. The Narendra Modi government has given constitutional status to the OBC commission on the lines of the SC and .
Cong will insist on JPC probe into Rafale deal: Anand Sharma
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma Sunday alleged the Rafale fighter jet deal was the "biggest defence purchase scam" of the century and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was directly answerable. He also said the Congress would press the Comptroller and Auditor General to scrutinise the deal. This is the biggest defence purchase scam of the century. The Prime Minister is directly answerable. He talks on every subject on earth. But he goes on maun vrat when we ask him on Rafale....the Prime Minister himself is complicit, Sharma alleged at a press conference here. Referring to a delegation of the Congress, including himself, meeting the CAG over the Rafale deal and the party taking up the issue with the Central Vigilance Commission, he said once the auditor's report was received, Congress would insist on a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into it. This was required to fix "accountability of the government and the Prime Minister over the deal," Sharma, the deputy ...
Prez Kovind arrives in Tajikistan for wide-ranging talks
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday arrived in Tajikistan on a three-day state visit during which he will hold talks with the country's top leadership to strengthen India's ties with the Central Asian country. The President and First lady Savita Kovind were welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Zokirzoda Mahmadtoir and First Deputy Foreign Minister Nizomiddin Zohidi upon their arrival at the Dushanbe International Airport, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet. This is Kovind's first visit to Central Asia. During his visit from October 7-9, he will meet his Tajik counterpart Emamoli Rahmon and speaker of Parliament Shukurjon Zuhurov. Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda will also call on Kovind, the MEA said Saturday in New Delhi. Kovind will visit the Tajik National University where he will deliver an address on 'Countering Radicalisation: Challenges in Modern Societies'. He will also address the Indian diaspora. The President will pay his ...
IAF to celebrate its 86th anniversary on Monday
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will celebrate its 86th anniversary on Monday, highlighting the "untiring efforts and supreme sacrifices" made by its personnel, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
Student thrashed: ABVP's reaction natural, says BJP MP
Hours after a student was thrashed allegedly by the activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Sunday in Jharkhand's Giridih district for questioning the central government, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Ravindra Kumar Ray termed the action of the activists "natural reaction."Reacting on the incident, Ray, who was present at the event said, "It was a college seminar, he should not have given a political statement. If some boys have reacted, it was natural. There was no violence. All programmes are not meant for politics." Ray is MP from Koderma constituency in Jharkhand.On Sunday, the student named PK Suman asked the youths to ponder upon the promises fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he came to power in 2014. On this, a group of ABVP activists allegedly attacked him."I just said that Prime Minister Modi came to power with many promises but the youth must think how many of them have been fulfilled. On this, some ABVP students ...
Kejriwal writes to BJP CMs over Electricity Act amendments
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to all Chief Ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states regarding the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003 and asked them to talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.In the letter, Kejriwal said, "I am aware that you all are from BJP/NDA and it would be difficult to you to speak against the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003. I request you all to meet the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) personally and tell him that the amendments would make electricity unaffordable for the poor as well as the middle class. The people will face consequences."The letter has been sent to Chief Ministers including Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh), Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam), Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), Manohar Parrikar (Goa), Vijay Rupani (Gujarat), Manohar Lal (Haryana), Jairam Thakur (Himachal Pradesh), Raghubar Das (Jharkhand), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), .
Polls in five states will mark beginning of end for BJP: Cong leader Manish Tewari
Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari claimed Sunday the elections in five states scheduled between November and December would mark the beginning of the end for the BJP rule at the Centre. He also rejected the claims that the Congress' efforts to form a grand alliance to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the next general elections had failed, saying it was too early to rush to the conclusion. "The upcoming polls in five states will mark the beginning of the end of the BJP rule at the Centre," Tewari told reporters here on the sidelines of a party function. Replying to another question, he said the results in the five states would pave the way for the formation of the grand alliance at the Centre. He said the state-level arrangements would not have any impact over the general elections. "The priorities of the parties are entirely different when it comes to state and parliamentary elections," he said. Tewari alleged the Narendra Modi-led government had spelt "doom
Cong, BJP surprised at LS bypolls in Karna; CM's wife to
The Election Commission's decision to hold byelections to three Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka on November 3 has come as a surprise to most political parties who questioned the necessity for the exercise in view of the general elections due early next year. Pointing to the short term of about five months those elected in the bypoll would have, Congress and BJP said the Lok Sbaha elections would be held within five months. Election Commission had yesterday announced bypolls to Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya and Ramanagara and Jamkhandi assembly constituencies will take place on November 3. The counting of votes will be on November 6. The by-elections had been necessitated after BJPs B S Yeddyurappa (Shivamogga) and B Sriramalu (Ballari), and C S Puttaraju of JD(S) (Mandya) resigned as MPs on their election to the assembly in May last. Bypolls to Jamkhandi assembly seat was necessitated following the death of Congress MLA Siddu Nyamagouda, while Ramanagara fell vacant as ...
Former BJD MP joins JMM
Former BJD MP from Mayurbhanj Laxman Tudu on Sunday said he joined Jharhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in Ranchi after resigning from the ruling BJD. Tudu said he joined the JMM in presence of party president Sibu Soren, leader of opposition in Jharkhand assembly Hemant Soren and other senior leaders. Tudu, who was Lok Sabha member from Mayurbhanj from 2009 to 2014, told PTI that he resigned from BJD on Saturday as he felt that the party, named after Biju Patnaik, had deviated from the ideals of the legendary leader. A three-time district president of BJD, Tudu was denied BJD ticket for the 2014 election. Tudu said he decided to join JMM keeping the interest of the tribal people in the state and to ensure balanced development.
Anger among farmers brewing, BJP govt will see protest in Jan: Cong leader
The recent farmer agitation may have ended but their anger is brewing and there will be another such protest against the BJP-led central government in January, a senior Congress leader has claimed. On October 2, a large number of farmers attempted to enter the national capital from Uttar Pradesh to seek better prices and concessions, but were halted by police that fired water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. National president of the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress Nana Patole said farmers across the country are planning another agitation early next year to press their demands, including loan waiver. The BJP has only given false promises and has betrayed farmers. The party has not fulfilled any of their promises, Patole, a farmer leader from Maharashtra's Vidharba region and a former BJP MP, said. The BJP government quelled the farmer agitation at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border by using force against protesting farmers and giving them false assurances. They .
Anybody found guilty by SIT won't be spared: Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Sunday said anyone found guilty by the Special Investigation Team, probing the sacrilege incidents and police firing cases, would not be spared. He also called upon people to wipe out the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from both, the state and national politics by voting the Congress to power on all the 13 seats in Punjab in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a well-attended gathering here at Lambi, the home turf of Badals, Amarinder Singh accused former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of lying about not having any knowledge about the police firing in Faridkot that took place in the wake of the Bargari sacrilege case back in 2015. How could the chief minister of the state not know about such an important development, Amarinder Singh asked, pointing out that the then Director General of Police (DGP) had spoken to Badal as well as the Inspector General of the state before using force. If, despite this, Badal did not know about the incident he should
Cong focuses on winning seats, does not cut vote shares: Maken
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken on Sunday said his party does not cut into vote share of others but focuses on winning seats. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had on Saturday claimed that his party was the only alternative in Delhi and that cast in favour of the Congress would "strengthen the BJP". Addressing a 'Hunkar Rally' at Ghonda in the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday, Maken said, "Congress is not a 'vote katua' but a 'seat katua' party." He also sought an enquiry into "wide-spread corruption" under the garb of "illegal" sealing across the national capital and said criminal cases should be filed against those responsible. At the rally, three resolutions presented by former Congress MLA Bisham Sharma condemning the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party and holding them responsible for the "illegal" sealing, were passed unanimously. Congress leaders demanded a notification immediately to provide relief to the people from sealing. Party leader .
Surge of inductees into BJP, says Mukul Roy
Several people from other parties, a large number of them from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), have been joining the BJP, senior leader Mukul Roy said on Sunday. After inducting two local TMC and Congress leaders into the BJP along with over 1,300 followers at the party's state headquarters here, Roy said, "Almost everyday, activists from other parties are coming to the fold of the BJP. There is an upsurge in people coming to BJP to fight the misrule of TMC". Roy said that the new recruits have given a major organisational boost to the party for the Maheshtala Assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas district and the BJP will be able to fight the TMC in every booth of the segment in the next polls.
Rajapaksa asks Sirisena to cut ties with ruling coalition
Sri Lanka's former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked President Maithripala Sirisensa to cut ties with the current ruling coalition, amid reports that the two leaders could form an alliance. Sirisena met the former president on Wednesday night, sources said. The media speculated that Sirisena may form a caretaker government with the support of Rajapaksa's new political party. Rajapaksa is expected to be anointed the leader of the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) soon, political sources said. Sirisena, the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the leader of the United National Party (UNP) are currently in a national unity government arrangement since 2015. "It is time that the SLFP stop propping up government," Rajapaksa told reporters, adding that "We will not join in any alliance with UNP as a partner". Sirisena, according to the media had reportedly told Rajapaksa that it was difficult to work with Wickremesinghe as prime minister. In
Rahul Gandhi doesn't know difference between paddy and wheat:
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Sunday refused to comment on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's statement that farmers in BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan were in distress. Ridiculing Gandhi, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture said that it would "not be appropriate" to comment on the statement of a person "who doesn't know the difference between wheat and paddy crops". Shekhawat was replying to a query on Gandhi's allegation about agrarian distress in several parts of the country. "I am a farmer, an agriculturists' leader and their representative in the Central government. So I know the condition of the agricultural sector better," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. "It would not be appropriate to comment on the statements of a person who doesn't know the difference between wheat and paddy crops, who doesn't know the difference between a lamb and the offspring of a goat," the minister added. The minister ...
It is for Centre, Ker govt to take call on Sabarimala issue:
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma Sunday defended the stand of party's Kerala unit seeking a review of the Supreme Court judgement allowing women of all ages to enter the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala and urged the central and state governments to take a call on the issue. "They (state unit leaders) are the best judges to connect with the local tradition, historical practices and sentiments to ensure there is a balance," he told reporters here. His comments come amid protests in the state against the CPIM-led LDF government's decision not to seek review of the apex court order and the state Congress and BJP expressing support to the cause of the Hindu faithful. "There is a debate which is on and that debate should conclude in a healthy manner eventually. This is the essence of democracy," Sharma, here for a party meeting, said. Replying to a question, he said it was for the central and the state governments to decide on filing a review plea in the Supreme Court. ...