Page 2788 - Politics

Cong raps PM for 'arm twisting' J&K govt staff to buy Reliance health cover

The scheme has been made mandatory for all state government employees

More BJP MLAs will express displeasure after Maha cabinet

Disgruntled BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh Saturday said that more public representatives from the ruling party will come out and express "displeasure" on the "deteriorating situation" in Maharashtra once the state government announces a cabinet expansion. Deshmukh, who represents Katol constituency in Nagpur district and had tendered his resignation from the BJP and as MLA earlier this week, told reporters Saturday that the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker had not accepted it so far. "I suspect it is being delayed to avoid Katol bypoll being held along with Assembly elections in four states of the country," Deshmukh alleged. He also said that he will be writing to other BJP legislators in Maharashtra and apprise them of the state's deteriorating situation. "If the people are disappointed, so are the public representatives and more (BJP) legislators will come out and express displeasure once the cabinet expansion is announced," claimed Deshmukh. Deshmukh also said that

Pompeo eyes progress over Trump-Kim summit on Asia trip

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped to accelerate a second summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump as he kicked off an Asian trip Saturday that will feature a meeting with North Korea's leader. Pompeo arrived in Tokyo on the first leg of a tour that will take him to Pyongyang for a fourth time as the contours of a possibly historic US-North Korea deal take shape. Speaking on the plane on the way from the United States, Pompeo said his aim was to "develop sufficient trust" between the historic foes to inch towards peace. "Then we are also going to set up the next summit," said Pompeo. However, he played down expectations for a major breakthrough, saying: "I doubt we will get it nailed but begin to develop options for both location and timing for when Chairman Kim will meet with the president again." "Maybe we will get further than that." In June, Trump met Kim in Singapore in the first-ever summit between the countries. No sitting US president has visited North Korea, ..

Didn't shift presser for PM Modi's rally: EC

Facing criticism from political parties over allegedly deferring its press conference to suit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Ajmer, Rajasthan, sources in Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday said that it was done to facilitate the journalists and poll body officers, who complained of their inability to attend the press conference at a very short span of time."It wasn't deliberately done to accommodate a political rally; we got numerous calls from journalists and polls officials after we announced at 10 a.m that a presser will be held at 12.30 p.m," said the ECI source.The presser was earlier scheduled to take place at 12.30 pm, but was postponed to 3:00 pm, following which several opposition leaders took to Twitter to question the ECI's independence and targeted it for allegedly towing to government's line."3 Facts- Draw your own conclusions.1. ECI announces a PC at 12.30 today to announce elction dates to the 5 states.2. PM Modi is addressing a rally in Ajmer, ...

Goa BJP expresses unhappiness over Dy Speaker Lobo's outburst

The Goa BJP Saturday expressed unhappiness at the outburst of senior party leader and Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly Michael Lobo. Lobo Friday said the state administration had "totally collapsed" because of the absence of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and people were praying for his early recovery. Parrikar is admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi since September 15 for a pancreatic ailment. Lobo said the qualified youth of the coastal state were waiting for the government to provide them with job opportunities, adding that no employment was created in Goa in the last two years. "Lobo should not have gone public with such a statement against the party. He is a disciplined leader of the party. If he feels that he is facing any injustice from us, he should have spoken to us," Goa BJP general secretary Sadanand Tanavade told PTI Saturday. He pointed out that Lobo was with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for 11 years, which included two .

Shah launches BJP mass contact campaign in poll-bound MP's Malwa-Nimad region

BJP president Amit Shah Saturday formally launched the party's mass contact campaign in the Malwa-Nimad region of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. Shah launched the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' from the Rajwada area and sought support from the people for his party in the upcoming polls. He garlanded a statue of Ahilyabai Holkar, a former queen of the kingdom of Malwa, in front of the historic Rajwada Palace of the erstwhile Holkar dynasty. Shah also offered prayers at a Mahalaxmi temple located in the vicinity. The BJP chief launched the campaign from a famous 'paan shop' in Rajwada and its owner offered a 'paan' to Shah. Standing on the footboard of his vehicle, Shah greeted the people gathered in the area and then travelled from Rajwada Palace to Krishnapura Chhatri, covering a distance of about half-a-kilometer. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is the BJP MP from Indore, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior party leaders accompanied Shah. The mass contact programme ...

Have 'waited long' for Cong, will 'consult' GGP, BSP for MP polls: Akhilesh

The Samajwadi Party (SP) Saturday said it has "waited too long" for the Congress and will now "consult" the BSP and the Gondwana Gantantra Party for the Madhya Pradesh polls. The SP's move comes days after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati parted ways with the Congress, alleging that the Rahul Gandhi-led party was adopting a stubborn attitude and it was out to finish her party. "We have waited too long for the Congress. How much longer should we wait? We will now consult the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), with which we had an alliance, and the BSP for the coming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh," SP president Akhilesh Yadav said here. Yadav had asked the Congress to show large- heartedness for the upcoming elections as any delay will prompt smaller parties to declare their candidates.

Shehbaz Sharif arrest: Nawaz accuses PTI of 'worst victimisation'

Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif termed the "ridiculous" arrest of his brother Shehbaz Sharif as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's "worst victimisation."This comes after Shehbaz was arrested on Friday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan's anti-corruption body, for his alleged involvement in the Rs.14 billion (Pakistani Rupee) Ashiana Housing Scheme scam.Shehbaz was summoned by the court for his involvement in the allegedly corrupt Saaf Pani Company, the erstwhile Punjab government's flagship programme aimed at providing access to safe drinking water in rural areas of the province."Shehbaz, being the chief minister of Punjab, (had) set an example of public service with honesty. His services were acknowledged by the people, foreign governments and international organisations," Nawaz was quoted by Geo News, as saying.Nawaz also asked the Imran Khan-led government to not "cover up its incompetence through such acts."Shehbaz was arrested on ...

Pompeo in Japan to discuss North Korea en route to Pyongyang

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Tokyo on Saturday for talks with Japanese officials ahead of his trip to North Korea. Pompeo is under pressure to make progress on convincing North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons as President Donald Trump seeks to meet with leader Kim Jong Un for a second time after their June summit in Singapore. Pompeo will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Kono later Saturday to discuss their North Korea policies before heading to Pyongyang on Sunday. Tokyo is the first stop of his three-day East Asia tour, which also takes him to South Korea and China. In Beijing, Pompeo will face tensions over trade and accusations of election interference. In contrast, Pompeo's meetings with Abe and Kono should be more relaxed. They planned to touch base and deepen cooperation on their effort to achieve North Korea's denuclearisation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Friday, though he did not ...

New Allahabad University Students Union office bearers sworn in

After a bout of violence, the newly-elected office bearers of the Allahabad University Students Union were sworn in on Saturday amid tight police presence, officials said.

Congress questions EC's independence

The Congress on Saturday questioned the independence of the Election Commission (EC) after it changed the timing of a press conference to announce the schedule of Assembly polls in five states saying it was done to accommodate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was to address an election rally in Ajmer in the poll-bound Rajasthan.

Grand alliance tried, tested, failed idea: Jaitley

Tearing into the Congress and other opposition parties, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday called the proposed grand alliance an anarchic combination, the likes of which were "tried, tested and failed" in India.

Political steadiness cannot be achieved without economic stability: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Centre of "ruining" the country's economy and said political steadiness cannot be achieved without economic stability. She also lashed out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Friday, claiming it was behaving "more like a political party" in the state. "The entire Indian economy is in a dangerous condition. It has to change to save our country. If there is no economic stability, there can't be any political stability. This government should go," Banerjee told reporters at a press conference here. Blaming the Centre for high fuel prices, she said the Union government should first roll back the Rs 10 cess it levies on petrol and diesel before asking the states to cut taxes. Banerjee said many like-minded and prominent leaders from across the country have evinced interest in participating in her 'Federal Front' rally in Kolkata on January 19 next year to oust the BJP from the Centre. "Several top leaders have confirmed that .

US sanctions waiver intended to 'wean' countries like India off Russian equipment: White House

The US presidential waiver on weapons deal with sanctions-hit Russia is intended to "wean" countries like India off the Russian equipment, the White House has said as New Delhi inked a USD 5 billion deal to purchase S-400 Triumf air defence system from Moscow. The mega deal was sealed in New Delhi on Friday during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a guarded reaction, the US said Friday its intent to slap sanctions against Russia was not aimed at imposing damage to the military capabilities of its "allies or partners," shortly after India concluded the deal for purchase of S-400 missile defence system from Russia. The S-400 missile defence system would give India's defence a cutting-edge security against any missile attack by its enemies. "The (CAATSA presidential) waiver is narrow, intended to wean countries off Russian equipment and allow for things such as spare parts for previously-purchased equipment," a White

Violence in Allahabad University over student union poll results

The University of Allahabad witnessed violence on Friday after the results of the student union elections were declared.The incident, which took place at Holland Hall hostel, saw clashes between student leaders, and protesters setting ablaze hostel rooms. Furniture, documents, and clothes were gutted in the fire.Fire tenders and police personnel were immediately pressed into action to douse the flames and restore normalcy.The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) suffered a major jolt in the elections as Samajwadi Party's student wing Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha (SCS) and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) won major posts.SP's Uday Prakash Yadav was elected as the President of the student union, while Avaneesh Yadav was chosen as the Vice President.

ACB conducting raids at six locations in Karnataka

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is conducting raids at six locations of two government officials in Karnataka's Belagavi and Bagalkot cities in connection with disproportionate assets cases.Raids are underway at three locations belonging to Chandragouda B. Patil, Assistant Conservator of Forests in Belagavi's Khanpur Division.In Bagalkot, raids are underway at three locations belonging to Chidanand B Minchinal, an Assistant Executive Engineer in the Drinking Water Department of Bagalkot division.Further details in the matter are awaited.

S Korean President calls for peace, reunification with N Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in reiterated his desire for establishing long-lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and subsequent reunification with North Korea.Speaking at the Korean Day ceremony here on Friday, President Moon said that he dreams of a united nation where Korean citizens living abroad can visit overland by car and train. He stressed that both South and North Korea are moving beyond confrontation and national division towards tranquility. "A dream of the South and the North becoming one in lasting peace. A dream of you and your children visiting your home country by car and train. A dream of (us) prospering throughout the entire world beyond the Korean Peninsula. These are the dreams that I want to make sure to realise," Yonhap News Agency quoted the South Korean President, as saying.President Moon underlined that the two Koreas agreed to celebrate next year's 100th anniversaries of the nationwide pro-independence uprising against Japan's colonial rule together and ..

UK seeks 'urgent explanation' as Hong Kong bans journalist

Hong Kong's decision to effectively blacklist a senior Financial Times journalist required an "urgent explanation", the UK said Saturday, as foreign governments sounded the alarm over eroding freedoms in the former British colony. Victor Mallet, the FT's Asia news editor and a British national, earned the ire of authorities for hosting a speech by Andy Chan, the leader of a tiny pro-independence political party. Chan attacked China as an empire trying to "annex" and "destroy" Hong Kong in a strident speech at the city's Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC), where Mallet serves as vice president. China's foreign ministry had requested the club to pull the talk, but the FCC refused, arguing that all sides of a debate should be heard. Rival protesters picketed the lunchtime event and the city's former leader Leung Chun-ying called for the club to be evicted from its government-owned premises. The FT said Friday that immigration authorities in Hong Kong had declined to renew Mallet's visa, .

Pichai met Pentagon officials over AI drone project 'Maven': Report

Facing President Donald Trump administration's ire over its censored Chine Search engine project, Google CEO Sundar Pichai met Pentagon officials during his trip to Washington last week and probably discussed the controversial project "Project Maven", the media reported.

CAATSA sanctions waiver intended to wean countries off Russian equipment: WH

After India formally signs the mega USD 5.4 billion S-400 missile defence deal with Russia, which places it in the bracket of a potential American sanction, the Trump administration said the presidential waiver granted by the Congress in this regard is narrow and intended to wean countries off Russian equipment. "The (CAATSA presidential) waiver is narrow, intended to wean countries off Russian equipment and allow for things such as spare parts for previously-purchased equipment," a White House National Security Council Spokesperson told PTI Friday, a day after India entered into an agreement to purchase state of the art S-400 missile defense system. The S-400 missile defence system would give India's defence a cutting-edge security against any missile attack by its enemies. "India lives in a very turbulent and nuclear-powered region. S-400 provides that assurance and is compatible with its current platform. Friends understand that these discussions with Russia started several years ..