Page 2784 - Politics
Pompeo, Abe pledge unified approach on North Korea
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday said that he would raise the issue of abductions as well as nuclear and missile concerns on behalf of Japan when he meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on Sunday.
Governor Malik tells militants: 'Like LTTE, you will achieve nothing'
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Saturday that there are around 225 militants active in the state, and that "they must realize their efforts will achieve nothing."
Govt using Swachh Bharat campaign for propaganda: Jairam Ramesh
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged Saturday the Swachh Bharat campaign was being used by the Narendra Modi-led government for propaganda and the scheme was a success only on hoardings and advertisements. The former minister of drinking water and sanitation, the nodal ministry for the campaign, said the focus of the cleanliness campaign has been the "celebration of missed targets, neglected issues and repeated lies." "Making false claims, misusing government machinery for propaganda and managing events and headlines are the hallmarks of the Modi style governance. Every year on October 2 and at every possible opportunity, ministers and BJP leaders line up for photo-ops with brooms in their hands and make grandiose claims about Swachch Bharat. "Swachh Bharat is a success only on hoardings and advertisements," Ramesh said in a statement titled 'Sach Bharat'. He also alleged there has been no progress on cleanliness and the toilets built have not been used. He claimed toilets were built
Rahul promises implementation of tribal rights bill in poll-bound states
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the BJP of giving a raw deal to tribal communities, farmers, Dalits and women while helping the rich. He promised to implement the tribal rights bill in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. The Congress president was speaking at a rally of tribals and farmers organised by the Adivasi Ekta Parishad in Morena in Madhya Pradesh. "Whenever the poor, tribals, farmers, Dalits and women came forward to seek land, forest rights and water, they were told the government does not have anything for them, but when the same was demanded by powerful rich persons, the present regime provides them land, mines and minerals readily," Gandhi said. Talking about the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, he said, "The tribal bill is not a gift, but right of the tribal people. The tribal people must have their rights over land, water and forests." The Act was a key piece of forest
In MP, Shah lists BJP's poll planks: development, security, infiltration
BJP president Amit Shah asked party workers in Madhya Pradesh Saturday to make development their main poll plank to take on the opposition, which, he said, will rake up issues of caste and religion. He said party workers should "set the election agenda" around the issues of security, infiltrators and national pride. The BJP-ruled state, where assembly elections will be held on November 28, recently witnessed resentment of upper castes against an amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Addressing the workers at Dussehra Maidan in Indore, Shah said, "We will talk about development in the coming elections, but they (opposition) will talk about caste and religion. "They have a habit of involving people in caste issues. This was done during the past assembly elections in Maharashtra and Gujarat," Shah said. "Development always wins against casteism," the BJP president said. Organisations representing upper caste communities staged protests in .
Alliance with Cong a 'democratic compulsion';Chandrababu Naidu
Justifying his party's alliance with Congress,TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu Saturday claimed it was a 'democratic compulsion' due to 'historic reasons' and was done after TRS spurned his offer for a tie up. Naidu also indicated that Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao poured cold water on his plans to emerge as a potent force in south India by aligning the TDP and TRS. The TDP tied up with Congress only after Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao spurned his offer for a tie-up, he said. "I proposed (to KCR) that we two should unite. Congress will be restricted to Karnataka. BJP and Congress have no place in Tamil Nadu. The two Telugu states will have the upper hand in south India if TDP and the TRS joined hands.He told me he will think it over and a week later turned down my offer," Naidu said. He was addressing a meeting of the Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party here this evening. A release from the TDP later gave a gist of what Naidu spoke .
Adopt do and die mantra to protect Arunachal's unique identity
Senior Congress leader in Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Tuki Saturday exhorted the Congress cadres to adopt do and die mantra to protect the unique identity of the state and its people. It is time to work out a strategy under the Congress to "wipe out" BJP from the state to protect its indigenous identity, he told a Congress meeting held here to discuss strategies for the 2019 Lok Sabha and state assembly poll. Assembly poll in the BJP-ruled north eastern state is due in 2019. "Our identity is under threat ... It is time to work out a foolproof strategy under the leadership of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Takam Sanjoy to wipe out BJP to protect the indigenous identity of this protected state and also for the all out development of the land-locked state," Tuki, the two-time chief minister said. Congress symbolizes sacrifice for the society, the state and nation, he said asked the party's frontal organizations like Arunachal Pradesh Mahila Congress, ...
Crores exchanged hands in appointment of VCs: TN Guv
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit Saturday alleged crores of rupees exchanged hands in the appointment of vice-chancellors to universities before he took over. Reacting to his remarks, the ruling AIADMK said it had no role to play in the appointments of vice-chancellors. In the "appointment of vice-chancellors...exchanging (of) money in crores, I could not believe that, then I decided things have to be changed," Purohit said at an event on education here. Purohit said people of Tamil Nadu will appreciate that "till date I have selected nine vice-chancellors, purely on merit, nobody can raise a finger (against him)...from vice-chancellor to the primary school teacher all appointment should be clearly on merit." The governor's remarks have virtually strengthened the opposition criticism against the AIADMK government on the appointment of vice-chancellors to state run varsities. Pattali Makkal Katchi had in February demanded a CBI probe into alleged corruption in ...
Himachal Youth Congress leader arrested over objectionable slogans on public walls
An office bearer of Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress was arrested here after some derogatory slogans against the prime minister were found on walls in the heart of the town, police said. State Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress Om Prakash Thakur was later released on bail, Sirmour Assistant Superintendent of Police Virender Singh Thakur told PTI on Satuday. An FIR was lodged under Section 124 A of IPC (sedition) and other offences against Om Prakash on Friday, following which he was arrested, sparking protests by the Youth Congress outfit which alleged that the police were acting under pressure from the ruling BJP. Sirmaur Superintendent of Police Rohit Malpani said that the sedition offence was later dropped from the FIR registered at Nahan police station against Om Prakash. However Section 426 of IPC (mischief) and relevant sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act have been added in the FIR, he added. Om Prakash wrote objectionable comments ...
Interpol demands China 'clarification' on missing police
Interpol demanded an official "clarification" from China on the whereabouts of its missing police chief Saturday, after reports said he was detained for questioning on arrival in his homeland. Beijing has remained silent over the mysterious disappearance of Meng Hongwei, who was last seen leaving for China in late September from the Interpol headquarters in Lyon, southeast France, a source close to the enquiry told AFP. His wife has since reported him missing. "Interpol has requested through official law enforcement channels clarification from China's authorities on the status of Interpol President Meng Hongwei," Jurgen Stock, the secretary-general of the international police body said in a statement. "Interpol's General Secretariat looks forward to an official response from China's authorities to address concerns over the President's well-being." It is the latest high-profile disappearance in China, where a number of top government officials, billionaire business magnates and even an
Have written to various CMs to stand against amendments proposed to Electricity Act: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday said he has written to his counterparts of different states seeking support to stall the proposed amendments by the BJP-led central government to the Electricity Act, 2003 in the Rajya Sabha. Addressing a public rally in northwest Delhi's Rohini, Kejriwal said that he will travel to different states from next week to meet respective chief ministers and convince them to stand together to stall the bill so that it is not passed before the Lok Sabha elections. "I have written to chief ministers of different states on the dangers of the proposed amendment and how it will break the back of the common man. I have urged them to stand against the proposed amendments," he said. Kejriwal said he would meet several chief ministers, including Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), N Chandra Babu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) and HD Kumaraswamy (Karnataka), for consensus against the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act. The AAP ...
Bypolls in three Ktka LS seats
Bypolls to three Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka will be held on November 3, Election Commission said Saturday. But there would be no byelections for five LS seats in Andhra Pradesh, rendered vacant due to resignation of MPs, as the term of the Lok Sabha is ending on June 3. As per law, no bypoll is required to fill vacancy arising within one year of end of term of the Lok Sabha. The bypolls will be held for Shimoga, Billari and Mandya seats for which counting will be held on November 6. The seats fell vacant after the MPs contested and won the recent assembly polls.
HC dismisses Tejashwi's plea challenging order to vacate govt bungalow
The Patna High Court Saturday dismissed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav's petition challenging the Bihar government's order to vacate the official bungalow allotted to him when he was the deputy chief minister. The bench of Justice Jyoti Saran dismissed Yadav's petition challenging the Building Construction Department's order, asking him to vacate the 5, Deshratna Marg bungalow, which was allotted to him when he was the deputy chief minister. Agreeing with the contention of the state government, the bench said the government quarter was earmarked for the deputy chief minister and hence, the petitioner had no right to ask for the allotment of the same quarter. The government quarter on 1, Polo Road, which was allotted to the petitioner was in accordance with the status of his leader of opposition post, the court said. Through his counsel Abhinav Srivastava, Yadav had sought quashing of the letter issued on September 20, 2017 by the Estate Officer of the Bihar Building .
J-K govt declares holiday on voting days
The Jammu and Kashmir government declared Saturday public holiday on the date of voting for the municipal polls across the state. The polls are scheduled to begin on October 8, followed by the second phase on October 10, third phase on October 13 and last phase on October 16. The counting of votes will be done on October 20. "Public holiday shall be observed within the limits of the respective Municipal Corporations/ Councils/ Committees on account of Municipal Elections 2018, on the date of polls under the Negotiable Instrument Act,1881," an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) said. It said the holiday on account of polls would be observed only in the areas where the polling is to be held. According to the order, special casual leave would be granted to the employees who have to go to other areas for exercising their right to franchise, for which they will demonstrate proof of voting on return.
Enhance security before holding panchayat elections next month: Cong
Jammu and Kashmir Congress president G A Mir Saturday asked the government to enhance security measures before holding panchayat elections in the state next month. Panchayat elections are scheduled in the state in nine phases between November 17 and December 11. "The candidates (fighting the four-phased urban local bodies polls beginning October 8) be given fool-proof security as they are facing threat (to their lives). The government should enhance security measures before holding elections to panchayats," Mir said, addressing an election meeting in Gujarnagar in Jammu. Accusing the BJP of spreading hate and communal divide in the society, he said the Congress has a secular and progressive agenda for the state, which strengthens the unity and integrity of all three regions Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. "During the UPA government at the Centre, the state had received liberal funding and witnessed remarkable development. But during the four-and-a-half-year rule of the BJP, the ...
Rajasthan to provide free electricity to farmers to increase their income
The Rajasthan government has launched a scheme to provide free electricity to farmers having general category connections, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said Saturday. Addressing a public rally on the culmination of her Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra, the chief minister said the scheme launched on Friday would help increase the income of farmers. "I want to announce that the government yesterday had started a scheme of free electricity for all farmers in rural areas having electricity connection in general category for specific limit," she said. Raje said the electricity infrastructure in the state was in bad shape when she came to power, adding that the government turned the situation around by infusing nearly Rs 40,000 crore. She said currently, domestic power was available for 20-22 hours a day. "We want the farmers to get free electricity to some extent so that they their income can increase," Raje said. She also announced that the state government was working on the Rs 37,000 crore ...
MP polls: Cong demands free, fair polls, BJP promises
As the Election Commission announced poll dates in five states, including Madhya Pradesh, the Congress demanded that the EC ensure "free and fair" polls while the BJP said that it had resolved to make the state a "prosperous" one. The Election Commission Saturday announced polls in five states, with voting in Madhya Pradesh slated for November 28. Counting of votes will take place on December 11 in MP along with Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana, the EC announced. "We welcome the announcement of polls in Madhya Pradesh on November 28. Now it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure that free and fair polls are conducted and model code of conduct is strictly followed," Kamal Nath, Madhya Pradesh Congress president and former union minister, said Saturday. "The BJP government remains in poll mode for entire five years and it has turned the state from developing to developed during the last 15 years. Now, the party will ensure that in the ...
'Filing of nominations for Raj Assembly polls to start on Nov 12'
Filing of nominations for the Rajasthan Assembly elections would start on November 12 and end on November 19, state Chief Election Commissioner Anand Kumar said Saturday, hours after the Election Commission of India announced the state will go to the polls on December 7. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat announced Saturday the dates for Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. While addressing a press conference after the announcement, the Rajasthan chief election commissioner said the Model Code of Conduct in the state has come into force with immediate effect. Counting of votes will be held on December 11, Kumar said. A total of 4,74,79,402 would exercise their franchise through VVPAT machines across Rajasthan, he said. The chief electoral officer said, "Of the 200 seats, 34 were reserved for SC and 25 for ST categories." He said Rajasthan's final electoral rolls published on Friday showed an increase of over 67.53 lakh voters ...
Cong plays vote bank politics, creates doubt and fear: PM
In a scathing attack Saturday on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accused it of practising vote bank politics, telling lies and creating doubt and fear in the minds of people. Modi made the charge here at a rally, where Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also announced free electricity up to a specific limit for farmers with general category power connections. The meeting ended just ahead of the Election Commission announcement in New Delhi of Assembly poll dates for Rajasthan and four other states. The EC's model code of conduct for political parties then kicked in. Modi said vote bank politics is not limited to elections now, but is destroying the entire system. The prime minister said parties which follow vote bank politics divide the bureaucracy when they come into power, appointing officials who fit into their scheme. They allocate the budget as per vote bank politics and therefore overall development does not happen, he said. The Congress has established
We will have a record victory in state polls: BJP
Welcoming the announcement of polling dates for five states, the BJP expressed confidence Saturday that it will register a "record victory" in the elections and retain power in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Senior BJP leader and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Bharatiya Janata Party will have a record victory on the basis of its hard work and development measures besides the performance of its governments in the three states. He also mocked his party's principal challenger, the Congress, saying it failed miserably in its efforts to forge an alliance against the BJP for the state polls. It is not in the Congress's DNA to create, maintain and sustain the "gathbandhan Dharma", Prasad said, adding that it is only for a family, a reference to the Gandhi dynasty. Lauding the performance of the party's three state governments, he said a new state like Chhattisgarh has become a "model of development" in the country. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were "bimaru" states ...