Page 2791 - Politics
ULB polls: Cong will emerge victorious in all three regions of J-K, says Mir
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress (JKPCC) Chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir Friday saidCongress will win comfortably in urban local bodies (ULB) elections as it has strong base in the state. Addressing a series of election meetings here, he appealed the people to vote in favour of Congress candidates for the better and equitable development, peace and prosperity in the state. "Congress will win comfortably in ongoing ULB elections, as it has strong base inall three regions of the state, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. BJP and PDP have weaken the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI) and were dividing the state in the name of religion, region, caste & community," he said. The JKPCC chief alleged Modi government was trying to divert the attention of people from the real issues of corruption, blackmoney, failure on demonetization, failure in providing 2 crores jobs per year, disoriented GST, unprecedented hike in prices of all items, the atmosphere of hatred and division in the country, increasing ...
BSP may come on board for 2019 Lok Sabha election: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Friday said BSP chief Mayawati's decision not to have an alliance with his party in Madhya Pradesh will not impact its poll prospects in the state even as he suggested that the BSP may come on board for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati announced early this week that her party would not forge an alliance with the Congress "at any cost" for the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, dealing a blow to the opposition's efforts to stitch a united front against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "The alliance in the state and the alliance in the centre are different and I think Mayawatiji has sort of indicated that...I don't see the BSP alliance impacting us much in Madhya Pradesh. It would have been a good thing to have them, but I think we will win the election in Madhya Pradesh, in Chhattisgarh. I think, in the national election, the parties will come together, particularly in ..
Pol steadiness prerequisite for economic stability: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday accused the BJP government at the Centre of "ruining" the Indian economy and said political steadiness cannot be achieved unless economic stability returns. Banerjee also lashed out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), 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 said addressing a press conference at the TMC headquarters 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 at the Brigade Parade Grounds on January 19 next year to oust
India, Russia for promoting trade in local currencies
India and Russia Friday expressed their support to promoting bilateral trade in national currencies and pledged to increase economic cooperation through joint ventures in different sectors. The two sides also noted that the two-way investment will increase to USD 30 billion by 2025. Efforts would be made to further increase and diversify the trade, a joint statement issued after the 19th India-Russia annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin said while observing that bilateral trade in 2017 increased by more than 20 per cent. "The (two) sides expressed their support to promoting bilateral trade in national currencies," the statement said. India and Russia, it added, "reviewed the progress on the achievement of the goal to increase two-way investment to USD 30 billion by the year 2025 and noted with satisfaction that both countries were on the way to achieving this target." Both the countries agreed to explore opportunities for joint ...
Panneerselvam approached me for rapprochement; Dhinakaran
In an apparent attempt to drive a wedge between AIADMK leaders K Palaniswami and O Paneerselvam, ousted party leader T T V Dhinakaran Friday claimed that the Deputy Chief Minister approached him for a rapprochement. Panneerselvam flatly denied Dhinakaran's claims that he wanted to dethrone Palaniswami and take over as Chief Minister, saying he was a three time Chief Minister and that he was content with being one. He did admit he met Dhinakaran last July as claimed by the latter, but only with the hope that the AMMK leader would have been a 'reformed' man. "He (Panneerselvam) wanted to meet me to oust the Chief Minister," Dhinakaran told reporters a day after his close aide and one of the disqualified MLAs Thanga Tamilselvan made a similar claim during a TV debate. The timing of Dhinakaran's salvo assumes significance amid reports that Panneerselvam was sulking over allegedly being made to play second fiddle to Palaniswami, a charge denied by the AIADMK Coordinator and ..
Administration in Goa has 'totally collapsed' because of CM's
Goa Deputy Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo said Friday that the state administration has "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. "We all are praying for the chief minister's well-being and that he should get well soon. Goans are praying for him," Lobo told reporters here. At the same time, the BJP leader added, "the administration has totally collapsed due to absence of the chief minister." He said the qualified youth are waiting for the government to provide them job opportunities. "No employment has been created for the last two years," Lobo said. Lobo said the issue of mining resumption is also hanging fire despite the fact that the BJP is in power both at the Centre and in Goa. The Supreme Court had in February this year quashed all 88 mining ...
Steps taken to make War Museum 'world-class': Himachal min
Himachal Pradesh minister Kishan Kapoor Friday said steps were being taken to make the Rs 9.85 crore worth 'War Museum' in the state "world-class". The museum was inaugurated by former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, but it is yet to be thrown open to public. "The leaders of the previous government were in a hurry to fix their names on the inauguration plaques of this museum before the state assembly election. The museum should not have been inaugurated without its completion," Kapoor said. The state food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister was presiding over a meeting organised here to discuss the progress of the museum and the necessary steps required to make it world-class. He asked the officers concerned to accelerate the process of procuring material from various commands of the Army to be displayed at the museum. Kapoor instructed Brigadier (Retd) S K Verma, Director, Sainik Welfare Department, to speed up the work in this direction. The minister said the War Museum ...
Handicraft exporters raise Iran shipments' issues with Govt
Representatives from the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) met Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan Friday and took up issues faced by exporters to Iran including difficulties in claiming duty drawback and GST refund. R K Passi, Vice Chairman, EPCH, and Rakesh Kumar, ED, EPCH, met Wadhawan and sought the Commerce Ministry's intervention to resolve the problems being faced in exports to Iran due to sanctions imposed by the United States. A statement issued by EPCH said Directorate General of Foreign Trade Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi was also present in the meeting. According to Kumar, exporters shipping to Iran are facing problems as banks are refusing to accept the shipping documents for clearance of GR form to RBI resulting no BRC is being released to the exporter. "In the absence of BRC, the exporter is unable to claim the benefit like MEIS/duty drawback and GST refund," he said. Kumar claimed that in respect of earlier Exports to Iran, all payments were received in Euro from
Togadia plans Lucknow-Ayodhya march to press for Ram temple
Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia Friday said he would lead a march from Lucknow to Ayodhya from October 21 if the Centre failed to bring an ordinance to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Accusing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of "betrayal", he said the BJP sought votes in the name of Ram temple, but forgot about the issue after coming to power. "The BJP grew close to power on the promise of Ram temple. They demanded votes in the name of Ram temple," the former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader told reporters. "The BJP promised that when they will have a full majority in Parliament they will bring in a law to build temple (in Ayodhya)," he added. Togadia further said Hindus were hurt as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier promised it will take legislative route for building a Ram temple in Ayodhya if it gets a majority in Parliament, but even after four-and-a-half years it has done nothing. "In the last four-and-a-half years, when Hindu organisations, leaders
Vladimir Putin leaves for Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was on a two-day state visit to India, left for Moscow on Friday evening.Putin visited India to attend the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit. During his visit, India and Russia signed several agreements on Friday including the much-awaited agreement for the purchase of five S-400 Triumph air defence missile systems.The two sides also signed a civil nuclear agreement that will pave way for new nuclear power projects of Russian design in India, and collaboration in third countries.India and Russia also signed eight agreements that ranged from space cooperation to nuclear and transport sector. Russia expressed its support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Chandrababu Naidu, KCR, Omar Abdullah to be present in Mamata's anti-BJP rally
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced the formation of a "publicity campaign committee" for her party's mega anti-BJP rally to be held here on January 19 and said several top opposition leaders from across the country have already confirmed their presence in the rally.
Mamata wonders how funds already distributed to Durga Puja committees will be taken back
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday wondered how the funds already distributed to Durga Puja committees would be taken back, after the Calcutta High Court asked her government to put on hold the allocation of money till Tuesday. On September 10, Banerjee declared that Rs 10,000 would be given to each of the 28,000 Puja committees across West Bengal 3,000 in Kolkata and 25,000 in other parts, costing the state government an amount of Rs 28 crore. In an interim order, the high court earlier Friday asked the state government if there is any guideline, since a huge amount is involved, and stayed the distribution of funds till Tuesday. "We have full respect for the court. But we have already given the money (to Puja committees). How will we take the money back," she told reporters at a press conference. The state BJP leadership welcomed the high court order, and said the state government is indulging in "dole politics" to win Hindu votes ahead of Lok Sabha elections. "We ...
VHP sets 'deadline', demands ordinance for Ram temple in Parliament
Upping the ante for the construction of a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the VHP Friday said it was fighting a "final battle" and set a "deadline" for the BJP-led central government to bring an ordinance for it in Parliament by the end of the year. At a day-long meeting here, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) high-powered committee, headed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the acting chief of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, passed a resolution, demanding an ordinance in Parliament that would pave the way for the construction of a grand Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. After the meeting, the seers also met President Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a copy of the resolution to him, while requesting him to ask the government to fulfil their demand. Addressing a press conference, VHP's international working president Alok Kumar set the "deadline" for the government to bring the ordinance in Parliament by the year-end. "This is the final battle for the construction of a Ram temple in ...
After petrol, Maharashtra cuts diesel rates
A day after slashing VAT on petrol in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced a reduction in diesel prices by Rs.4.06/litre.
Russia-India relationship marked by trust, respect: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia shares a special relationship with India that is marked by mutual respect, trust and a constructive dialogue"It is a great pleasure to be here in India with our friends. India is our good friend, and we share a special relationship with this country. We call it a special privileged strategic partnership, marked by mutual respect, trust and a constructive dialogue. A number of joint projects are underway in industrial cooperation, space, aviation, nuclear and oil and gas industries, and military technical cooperation," Putin said in his statement before media on Friday after the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He added that this visit was preceded by serious preparations by Russian ministries, agencies and businesses, and a solid package of bilateral documents was approved. This included strides in the energy, nuclear and space sectors, as well as investment and banking."Political
Japan closely monitoring situation with cyberattack accusations against Russia
Japan is closely following developments regarding with West's accusations against Russia of organising cyberattacks on government institutions and international organizations, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Friday."By now we have not received any reports saying that (Japanese) government organisations and important infrastructure facilities experienced (external) influence. However, we cannot ignore malicious cyber activity, which has caused damage in many countries undermining the foundations of democracy. Our country is still in close cooperation with the international community and is closely monitoring the situation. At the same time, we want to make efforts to develop a free and secure cyberspace, where individuality (is respected)," Suga said at a press conference.At the same time, Suga, answering a correspondent's question about cyberattacks and Russia's involvement in them, did not say the word "Russia" even once.On Thursday, the authorities of the ...
HC issues notice to Centre, Delhi Govt over online pharmacy
The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the central government, Delhi government and various online pharmacy companies regarding the sale of medicines online, contrary to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Rules, the Pharmacy Act and the Rules.The court was hearing a petition that stated that the Government needs to make the policy clear regarding online pharmacy. The court agreed with the submission of the counsel of SCDA and observed that the matter requires consideration.The matter has now been listed for hearing on February 25, 2019.The petition highlights that the online pharmacies are being run and managed without any sanction of law. It has also been mentioned that the online pharmacies are being run in violation of the Government's Foreign Direct Investment Policy.The plea also placed specific instances where the scheduled and prescription drugs have been supplied by online pharmacy stores without a prescription or even on fake prescriptions.
Andhra CM chalks out agenda for Finance Commission meeting
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday discussed with the state's senior bureaucrats the issues to be mentioned before the 15th Finance Commission.A delegation of the 15th Finance Commission headed by Nand Kishore Singh, former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and former Central Revenue Secretary will be reaching Amaravati on October 11 to hear the arguments and take up the pleas of the state government on financial devolution.The Chief Minister asked the officials to make it clear to the Finance Commission that Andhra Pradesh has been made a "political victim" for the political gains of the central government. He also suggested that officials should effectively explain the losses the state incurred and the problems it is facing due to an unscientific bifurcation."Niti Aayog became a dummy, Planning Commission is dismantled, National Development Council meetings are not being held, now there is no forum for raising the issues of states. In this wake, meeting .
Trump 'very proud' after Senate sets vote on Kavanaugh nomination
President Donald Trump said Friday he is "very proud" that the Senate has cleared the way to hold a vote on Brett Kavanaugh, his controversial nominee to the Supreme Court. "Very proud of the U.S. Senate for voting 'YES' to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh!" Trump said in a tweet. Kavanaugh's once near-certain confirmation to the lifelong appointment on the constitutional court is on a knife-edge after bitter debate over sexual assault allegations dating to his school and university days. On Friday the Senate voted along party lines to remove the last obstacle to holding a decisive vote this weekend.
NC demands high-level probe into killing of party workers in Srinagar
The National Conference (NC) demanded on Friday a high-level probe into the killing of two party workers here in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Two NC workers were killed and an office bearer was injured after terrorists fired at them in the Karfali area of the city Friday. The deceased were identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Wani and Nazir Ahmed Bhat. The injured, Shakeel Ahmad, was a Halqa president of the National Conference. Gram panchayats are known as Halqa in Kashmir. Expressing anguish, NC president Farooq Abdullah denounced the attack as heinous and despicable and demanded a thorough investigation into it. "We demand a high level, time-bound and impartial probe into the incident. The guilty must not be spared," he said. Party vice-president Omar Abdullah termed the attack an act of terrorism and a "ploy to stifle our voice". Omar said the security situation had gone out of the hands of the Governor's Administration. "The incumbent administration had already removed ...