Page 2779 - Politics
Sachin Pilot attacks Raje govt, says time to wipe out dictatorial, arrogant govt
Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot hit out at Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government Sunday, saying it was time to wipe out the "dictatorial, arrogant government that considers people as its slaves". The chief minister could not find time for the people after coming into power and announced free electricity to farmers just a few hours before election announcement in the state, he claimed addressing Kisan Sammelan Sunday in Bharatpur district's Pahari town. "The chief minister could not find time to see the plight of people during her tenure and is now doling out offers to woo farmers. The BJP government considers people as its slaves and it was time to wipe out the dictatorial and arrogant government," Pilot alleged. Taking a dig at Raje, he said she has to run a state and give out contracts for roads, mines, liquor so how could she find time to address the issues of people. With the Model Code of Conduct in effect, time is now in favour of people to take a decision, he added. Pilot ..
'Booth Chalo' campaign: Rajnath reaches booth in Lucknow
Union Home Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh Sunday reached a polling booth in the state capital under the 'Booth Chalo' campaign run by the Bharatiya Janata Party. President of BJP's Lucknow mahanagar (city) unit Mukesh Sharma said Singh reached polling booth-97 (Sindhunagar) located in Mahanagar Inter College polling station in Lucknow Cantonment assembly constituency. Singh also got the Form-6 filled in by people who want to enrol themselves as voter and those whose names were not in the voters list, Sharma said, adding that the Union minister also facilitated online membership for the party. Meanwhile, members of booth committee of booth number-273 met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and briefed him about the party's campaign, general secretary of BJP's Lucknow mahanagar (city) unit Pushkar Shukla said.
Netanyahu to meet with Putin after downing of Russian plane
Israel's prime minister says he will meet Russia's president for the first time since the downing of a Russian warplane by Syrian forces reacting to an Israeli air raid last month. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying to ease tensions with Russia since the incident. Russia blamed Israel for the shootdown and responded by supplying Syria with sophisticated S-300 air defense systems. Speaking to his Cabinet Sunday, Netanyahu said he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and would soon travel to Moscow for face-to-face talks. He said he had stressed the importance of military coordination with Russia, while also saying Israel "will act at all times to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence" in Syria. Israel frequently carries out airstrikes against Iran and its allies in Syria.
Kim, Pompeo agree to 2nd US-North Korea summit 'at earliest date'
Kim Jong Un has agreed to hold a second summit with US President Donald Trump as soon as possible, Seoul said Sunday, after Washington's top diplomat held "productive" talks on denuclearisation with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Kim on Sunday morning for around two hours of talks followed by a lunch in the North's capital, before flying to Seoul on a whirlwind diplomatic visit to the region. Pompeo said "he agreed with Chairman Kim to hold the second US-North Korea summit at the earliest date possible," South Korea's presidential office said in a statement, although no specific time or location has yet been agreed. Pompeo and Kim also discussed "denuclearisation steps that will be taken by North Korea and the issue of attendance by the US government," as well as "corresponding measures" to be taken by the US, the statement said. The visit was Pompeo's fourth to North Korea. US President Donald Trump met Kim in Singapore in June for ...
Sakshi Maharaj challenges Rahul to contest elections from Unnao
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP), Sakshi Maharaj has thrown an open challenge to Congress president Rahul Gandhi asking him to contest elections from his constituency in Unnao.Maharaj further said that he would leave politics if Gandhi wins from his constituency. He also asked the Congress president to leave the country and go to Italy if he loses the polls.Stepping up his attack, the BJP MP said that Gandhi scion would not become an MP from anywhere.Maharaj also asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will return to power with more seats than 2014 in the upcoming general elections.
President Kovind reaches Tajikistan
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday reached Tajikistan on a three-day visit to the Central Asian nation.President Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind were received at Dushanbe International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Zokirzoda Mahmadtoir and First Deputy Foreign Minister, Nizomiddin Zohidi amongst other dignitaries.During his visit, the President is scheduled to meet his Tajik counterpart Emamoli Rahmon. He will also be visiting the Tajik National University to deliver an address on 'Countering Radicalisation: Challenges in Modern Societies', according to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs. He will also address the members of the Indian Diaspora in Tajikistan.The President will pay his respects and offer floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore by visiting their memorials in Dushanbe.Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Subhash Bhamre and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Shamsher Singh Manhas are also part of the ...
Wanted to make Gujarat like South Korea when I was CM: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that when he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the first time in 2001, he wanted to turn the state into South Korea.While inaugurating the Uttarakhand Investors Summit in Dehradun, Prime Minister Modi said, "Our states have more power than many countries in the world. Compared to many small countries, our states have more potential. I still remember when I became the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the first time on October 7, 2001, I didn't know what the government is, as I lacked experience. I was completely new. So, one journalist came to me and asked such questions so that I give answers which will not allow my journey (as Chief Minister of Gujarat) to take off."He added, "I was asked who I see as my idol for development in Gujarat. Usually, when people are asked this, they say, 'I want to make it like America or like England.' But I gave a different answer to him. I said that I want to make it (Gujarat) like South Korea. The ...
Tensions peak ahead of municipal polls in Valley
Amid tight security and heightened tensions ahead of the start of staggered municipal polls in the Kashmir Valley, suspense mounted on Sunday on voter participation amid militant threats to both candidates and voters.
Will unite Opposition to make Mayawati PM: Om Prakash Chautala
INLD president Om Prakash Chautala on Sunday said his party will work towards bringing the opposition parties together to make BSP supremo Mayawati the next prime minister after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Out on a two-week parole, the former Haryana chief minister was addressing a rally organised here to mark the 105th birth anniversary of senior Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader and his father Devi Lal. Om Prakash Chautala is serving a 10-year jail term in a teachers' recruitment scam. "..we will work towards uniting the Opposition so that Mayawati becomes the next Prime Minister," he told the gathering. Om Prakash Chautala said Lal had a dream that the countrymen should have enough food, shelter, good education and access to affordable health. "Today, he is not amongst us but we have to follow his ideals and work towards realising his dreams," he said. The INLD president's son and senior party leader Abhay Singh Chautala also addressed the rally. Abhay Singh Chautala urged the ...
Cameroon votes in presidential polls as conflict rages
Cameroonians are voting in crunch presidential polls on Sunday, with octogenarian leader Paul Biya seeking a seventh term against a backdrop of unprecedented violence in the country's English-speaking regions. The vote follows a last-minute opposition unity bid to dislodge the 85-year-old incumbent, one of Africa's longest-serving rulers. Two leading opponents have formed the first electoral union since 1992, but talks between the array of other opposition parties to create a "super-coalition" to deny Biya another seven years were apparently fruitless. In the Bastos public school in the capital Yaounde, where Biya will later cast his vote, voting was brisk throughout the morning. "I feel proud," said Patrick, 38, an airport worker after voting. "I want the next president to consolidate what we have achieved in Cameroon. I want the elections to pass off peacefully, that's my only hope for the polls." Voters in the queue were surrounded by a heavy security presence including members of .
Plea in SC seeking implementation of HC order on sending kids of bureaucrats to govt schools
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging that the Uttar Pradesh government has failed to implement the 2015 order of the Allahabad High Court asking it to ensure that public servants, including top bureaucrats, send wards to state-run primary schools. The appeal has challenged the Allahabad High Court's recent order refusing to initiate contempt proceedings against the state government for not complying with the earlier judgement that had directed that kids of government servants, local bodies' representatives, judicial officers, who receive perks and salary from the state exchequer, should study in schools run by the Uttar Pradesh Board. The plea, filed by advocate Shiv Kumar Tripathi, said non-implementation of the high court's directions was affecting the interest of the children as the primary schools run by the Basic Education Board of Uttar Pradesh were the victims of "mal-administration and rampant corruption". "The interest of the common man is suffering for ...
Telangana set for 2-month long campaign
With the announcement of schedule for the Telangana assembly elections, the state is set to witness an intense campaign by the political parties spanning two months. Polling would take place for the 119-member assembly on December 7 in Telangana, along with Rajasthan, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission Saturday. The political scene has already hotted up in the state with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the opposition Congress engaged in a bitter war of words in the last several days. TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has gone for early polls by dissolving the assembly last month ahead of its term, has been targeting the proposed Congress-led alliance comprising TDP, CPI and others, seeking to invoke the Telangana sentiment. In a blistering attack on the grand alliance, he sought to know should the self-respect of Telangana be handed over to 'Andhraites' again. "Should we handover the ...
KCR would join hands with BJP in coming LS polls: RC Khuntia
AICC Telangana Incharge R C Khuntia Sunday alleged that caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao would join hands with the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls next year and has entered into a tie-up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a Padyatra in Musheerabad Assembly segment here, Khuntia questioned KCR, as Rao is popularly known as, over the early dissolution of the Legislative Assembly in the state. Assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year. However, the assembly was dissolved earlier last month as per a recommendation of the state cabinet, which necessitated elections ahead of the schedule. Hefurther hit out at Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief for "not fulfilling" his promise of providing 12 per cent reservation in jobs and education to Muslims and enhancement of quota for Scheduled Tribes. The AICC general secretary in charge of Telangana affairs, Khuntiaalsoclaimed that the ...
Union minister Goel slams Delhi govt for not reducing VAT on petrol, diesel
Union minister Vijay Goel Sunday slammed the Delhi government for not reducing value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel, and took out a bullock cart rally in protest. The rally started at the Red Fort and concluded at Sadar Bazar. People participating in the rally walked along side the minister's cart holding placards and raising slogans in his support. "The Delhi government gives advise to the central government on price reduction. But, it (Delhi government) does not do anything. The BJP-ruled states have reduced VAT," Goel said. He said the Modi government cares for the people while the Kejriwal government "wants to kill people". "There are so many other issues I can talk about. Delhi is faced with the problems of traffic jams, pollution, mismanagement in government schools. The Kejriwal government should resign. They do not deserve to be here," Goel said, while riding on the bullock cart. On Saturday, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ...
ULB polls: Many J&K locals "clueless" about voting schedule, candidates
The first phase of urban local body (ULB) polls begin in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, but many here are "clueless" about the exercise with most of them complaining about not knowing their candidates or even when to vote. Shoaib Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar from an uptown locality, said people in his ward do not know who the candidates are this time. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is going to vote in the first phase. "Ask anyone here if they know who the candidates are. Everyone will tell you, they have no idea. There is too much secrecy, Ahmad, who works in a private company, said. He alleged the government was only interested in "showing" that an election was held, but not with the conduct of the polls in a proper manner. A police official said the prevailing situation in Kashmir does not allow candidates to campaign openly as there is a threat to their lives. While separatists have called for a boycott of the polls, militants have threatened to target persons taking part ..
TRCF appeals to J-K admin to postpone livestock census
A tribal organisation in Jammu and Kashmir has appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to postpone the livestock census in view of the bi-annual migration of Gujjars and Bakarwals -- the main animal rearing communities in the state. The 20th livestock census was started by the Centre across the country on October 1 to collect breed-wise details that will help in framing policies for breed improvement. "We appeal to the government to postpone the enumeration process of livestock census in the state as the tribes are under bi-annual migration to plan areas along with livestock," Tribal Research Cultural Foundation (TRCF) founder and noted researcher Javaid Rahi said. He said the administration should wait till the tribes return in the mid of next month. The Gujjars and Bakarwals are presently under migration from mountains of north-western Himalaya to plain areas of the state. "The tribals will be back to plain areas from November 15 onwards after completing their downward ...
Centre slashed fuel price in view of elections
The Congress on Sunday gave the central government's decision to cut fuel prices an election colour saying that it was done in the light of ensuing assembly polls.Addressing the media, Congress leader Pawan Khera also questioned the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for not bringing petrol and diesel under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) ambit."Why the government is not bringing the fuel under GST. The election dates of five states were to be announced so they reduced the price by Rs 2.50 (per litre). Now again the price is increasing," Khera said.Further hitting out at the ruling dispensation, the Congress leader claimed that in the past four-and-a-half years Modi government has done nothing.On October 4, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a cut of Rs 2.50 per litre on both petrol and diesel prices, and urged the state governments to reduce fuel by the same amount.On October 6, the Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the election schedule .
J&K ULB polls: Mirwaiz put under house arrest
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was Sunday placed under house arrest ahead of the first phase of urban local body (ULB) polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections to ULBs in the state will start from Monday and be held in four phases. On October 2, police took Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik into preventive custody. Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani continues to be under house detention. Under #HouseArrest! Peculiar Democraticprocess of elections gearing up as huge deployment of forces,PSAs, incarcerations,house arrests,raids, Curbs,internet bans gather momentum! "Not to mention the unknown contestants and amused public! What mockery of democracy is at display! (sic) Mirwaiz tweeted. The three separatist leaders under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) have called for boycott of the polls beginning tomorrow.
Cong will take Vasundhara Raje's schemes forward: Gehlot
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that Congress will go to polls on development plank and if voted to power it would continue with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje-led government's schemes rather than bringing them to an end.Speaking to ANI, Gehlot said the party will focus on development done during its previous rules in the poll-bound state and highlight the failure of the state during its campaigning."People are angry with Vasundhara ji. She not only cheated the people but has betrayed them. The public had given the government a huge majority. But, corruption has increased manifold. Congress will surely come to power. If we come to power, we promise the people of Rajasthan that we will not end any scheme started by Vasundhara ji. We will take them forward. For development, it is our progressive thought to work in the interest of people without wasting time," he said.Gehlot, who is also the chairman of the state's Election Coordination Committee, said that ...
Irani attacks Odisha government for depriving people of Central schemes
Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday took a jibe at Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik alleging that he is not letting people of the state avail benefits of the Central schemes.