Page 2794 - Politics
Juncker defends Iran n-deal despite US sanctions
The EU should remain strong on its commitment to the Iran nuclear deal and not be swayed by a change in policy from the US, the head of the European Commission said on Friday.
Ignoring 'non-participation' of pol parties in JK local polls bad for state's democracy: Tarigami
Senior CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA M Y Tarigami Friday warned that "ignoring" the non-participation of major political parties in the upcoming local body polls in Jammu and Kashmir would have "serious implications" for the future of the state's democratic process. "The ongoing electoral process in the state, particularly in the Valley, can be an eye-opener. There can be no two opinions regarding devolution of powers to the grass-root level and building of institutions for better governance, but participation of people is the pre-requisite for this process to be meaningful, which is not being witnessed as of now," he told reporters here. "Ignoring non-participation of people and political parties in this process will have serious implications for the future of democratic process in the state," the Left leader said. The legislator from south Kashmir's Kulgam said the government "imposed" the local body elections on the people of Jammu and Kashmir at a time "when the situation was not ..
JUD's MML party not to contest October 14 by-polls
After its poor performance in the July 25 polls, Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jammat-ud-Dawah (JuD) will not contest in the October 14 by-polls and instead prepare for the next election to the local bodies, said a media report Friday. The Milli Muslim League (MML), the political face of the JuD, failed to win even a single national or provincial assembly seat in the general elections. Over 280 MML candidates polled just over 70,000 votes. "The MML has decided to not take part in the by-elections and would instead prepare for the next local bodies elections, which is a much bigger task and the party would require thousands of candidates," MML president Saifullah Khalid told the Dawn newspaper. Khalid said that the MML will now focus on its registration with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). "The party feels that the decision on its registration -- pending with the Islamabad High Court will be coming shortly. The last hearing generated some hope for the MML ...
PM Modi to address rally in Ajmer on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Ajmer in Rajasthan on Saturday, marking the conclusion of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's state-wide yatra ahead of assembly elections in the state. Earlier, Modi was scheduled to visit Brahma temple in Pushkar town but now he will only attend the Ajmer rally. Raje, BJP state president Madan Lal Saini and other leaders reviewed on Friday the preparations for the rally to be held at Kayad Vishram Sthali on the outskirts of Ajmer where party leaders claimed nearly three lakh people would come. "This will be a historic rally of the prime minister which will be participated by a large number of people," Onkar Singh Lakhawat, the chairman of Rajasthan Heritage Preservation and Promotion Authority, said. He said the party workers were "fully geared up and filled with enthusiasm" for the rally. The rally marks the completion of Raje's 'Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra' which she had begun from Rajsamand's Charbhujanath temple. Ajmer District ...
India quietly seals missile deal with Russia despite U.S. warning
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India agreed a deal with Russia to buy S-400 surface to air missile systems on Friday, the two sides said, as New Delhi disregarded U.S. warnings that such a purchase could trigger sanctions under U.S. law.
Centre denies plans to implement NRC in Tripura
The central government on Friday denied reports of implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state of Tripura and termed them "absolutely incorrect and mischievous.""News reports have appeared to the effect that a delegation of Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), after a meeting with Union Home Minister (Rajnath Singh), has claimed that NRC is likely to be implemented in Tripura. These reports are absolutely incorrect and mischievous," according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)."No assurance of any kind was given by Union Home Minister regarding implementation of NRC in the State of Tripura. It is categorically asserted that no decision has been taken on the issue of NRC in Tripura," MHA further added.A delegation of INPT led by its president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl met Rajnath Singh on Thursday demanding implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state of Tripura.After the meeting, Hrangkhawl told ANI: "There is a large ...
Imprisoned Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov ends hunger strike
Imprisoned Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence in Russia on a terrorism conviction, ended his hunger strike after 145 days.Sentsov went on a hunger strike on May 14, demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners currently serving their sentences in Russia.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Valery Maksimenko, the deputy director of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) unveiled the news, saying, "Yes, he stopped his hunger strike. Moscow's best nutritionists have prepared a special diet for him to come out of the hunger strike.""Our doctors, our specialists persuaded him, and he chose life," Maksimenko added, referring to prison doctors.However, the Russian authorities have ignored his demands.During the strike, Sentsov's health was severely deteriorated, and he suffered from cardiac insufficiency, as well as liver and kidney diseases.Many filmmakers and actors like Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, Volker Schlondorff and Wim ...
India, Russia slam cross-border terror; call for action without 'double standards'
India and Russia Friday condemned cross-border terrorism and providing safe havens to terrorists as they called for a "decisive" response to the menace of international terrorism without any "double standards". India has been accusing Pakistan of indulging in cross-border terrorism and giving support to groups operating from its soil to target neighbouring countries. In a joint statement issued after the 19th India-Russia annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed to "converge their efforts" to eradicate terrorist networks, their sources of financing, arms and fighters' supply channels, to counter terrorist ideology, propaganda and recruitment. The strong statement denouncing cross-border terrorism assumes significance in the wake of India's long-standing ally Russia warming up to Pakistan recently. "The sides denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterated the need to combat international ...
India-Russia call for decisive, collective response to terrorism
India and Russia on Friday called upon all countries to work towards lessening global tensions and promoting the ideals of tolerance, cooperation, transparency and openness in inter-state relations.In a joint statement issued after their 19th Annual Bilateral Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin called for putting a lid to terror funding and support. Denouncing terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the two sides reiterated the need to combat international terrorism with decisive and collective response without any double standards.In the joint statement, termed as 'India-Russia: an Enduring Partnership in a Changing World', the two sides agreed to converge their efforts to eradicate terrorist networks, sources of financing, arms and fighters supply channels, to counter terrorist ideology, propaganda and recruitment."The two sides condemned all kinds of state support to terrorists including cross border terrorism and providing safe havens ..
No decision yet on fuel price cut in Punjab
The Congress government in Punjab Friday deferred its decision on reduction of fuel prices, an official spokesman said here. "No decision on reduction of fuel prices in Punjab yet...Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh directs finance and excise/taxation departments to make a detailed comparative analysis of fuel prices in Punjab vis-a-vis other states," the spokesman said. The chief minister has reconvened a meeting with state government officials in the national capital on Monday on the issue, he said. The Friday's meeting with officials from excise, taxation and finance department was to assess the implications and impact of the centre's suggestion to states on reduction of fuel prices, but it has been deferred till Monday. Any decision on revising fuel prices will be taken after the meeting on Monday, officials said. Amarinder also spoke to Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Thursday and asked him to make a presentation on the fuel price issue, officials said. The ...
India-Russia have found ways to settle payment issues: Russian Deputy PM
Russia on Friday said that it has found ways to settle payment issues, including those in defence industry cooperation, with India."Yes, the ways of the settlement of this problem have been found," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov told reporters when asked if the parties had managed to resolve payment problems.Borisov added that Russia and India would focus on carrying out payments with the use of national currencies, taking sanctions pressure into account. According to him, Russia and India almost ready to sign a number of contracts in defence industry.In September, Borisov said that the two countries are determined to increase the number of transactions in national currencies and that the ruble's share in bilateral transactions totaled 20 per cent at the moment.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 19th Annual Summit betwene the two countries.
Bring petrol, diesel under GST: Rahul to PM
Congress president Rahul Gandhi appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to bring petrol and diesel under the purview of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), saying the people were distressed over their skyrocketing prices. The Congress earlier said that the rise in petrol and diesel prices were due to "excessive taxes" imposed by the central and state governments. Gandhi's fresh push for bringing petrol and diesel under the purview of GST came a day after the Centre effected a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in their prices. The Centre cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 1.50 per litre and asked oil firms to absorb Re 1 a litre of prices. "Respected Modi ji, the common man is very distressed over skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel. Kindly bring petrol and diesel under the purview of GST," he tweeted in Hindi. The Congress chief has been attacking the government over high petrol and diesel prices and his party has accused the ruling dispensation of earning Rs 13 lakh crore ..
Modi invites Russia to set up defence industrial park in India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday invited Russia to set up a dedicated defence industrial park in India as he looked to expand ties with New Delhi's traditional ally. Speaking at a business meeting where visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin was also present, Modi said the trade between the two nations has risen 20 per cent in 2017-18. Stating that India is the most open economy in respect to FDI, he invited Russians to set up a dedicated defence industrial park in the country and take the traditional relationship forward. "We are committed to building a new India. We have to do this as early as possible," he said. Listing vast business opportunities in India, he said India is modernising its ports under Sagarmala project, building metro rail projects in 50 cities, expanding rail and road network and modernising airports.
HC asks WB govt to put distribution funds among Puja committees on hold
The Calcutta High Court Friday directed the West Bengal government to put on hold the distribution of funds on account of Durga Puja till Tuesday. In an interim stay order, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Debasish Kar Gupta and Justice Shampa Sarkar asked the state government if there is any guideline, since a huge amount is involved. The interim stay came after advocate Sourabh Dutta filed a PIL challenging the programme. On September 10, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that Rs 10,000 would be given to each of the 28,000 puja committees across the state - 3,000 in the city and 25,000 in the districts, costing the government an amount of Rs 28 crore. Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya stated that such distribution of money among puja committees is 'unconstitutional', since it is not admissible on religious ground. Opposing the prayer, state Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted that the fund was for the purpose of the state ...
MLA's brother killed, two injured in accident
: One person was killed and two others injured when the car in which they were travelling collided with a lorry at nearby Thamarassery Friday, police said. The deceased, Abdul Gafoor (43), is the brother of Karat Razak, Koduvally MLA. The injured have been hospitalised. Razak is an independent supporting the ruling CPI-M Left Democratic Front.
Rahul tears into Modi, hopes of a BSP-Congress truck (Roundup)
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday tore into the Narendra Modi government for "waging war on Indians" and imposing a "suffocating ideology" on them. Exuding confidence of trucking with Mayawati-led BSP for the next Lok Sabha polls, he also expressed his willingness to become the Prime Minister.
Dhinakaran claims OPS wanted to meet him to oust CM, AIADMK rejects charge
AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran claimed Friday Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam wanted to meet him in September in a bid to "oust" Chief Minister K Palaniswami but the ruling AIADMK rejected it and hit back accusing him of trying to create confusion in the party. Dhinakaran, who has been vowing to unseat Palaniswami since he was sidelined last year, also said Panneerselvam offered to make him the chief minister. The AIADMK rubbished the claims, with Electricity Minister P Thangamani coming up with a counter charge saying Dhinakaran recently offered to merge his Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and a spokesperson accusing the sidelined leader of making such comments to keep his flock together. Dhinakaran said Panneerselvam had met him in July last year and sent a word through a common friend that he wanted to meet him again in September-end this year. However, he refused to meet him in September, said Dhinakaran, nephew of ousted
India to buy 9 million barrels of Iranian oil in November: industry source
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will buy 9 million barrels of Iranian oil in November, an industry source told Reuters, indicating that the world's third biggest oil importer would continue to buy crude from the Islamic republic despite U.S. sanctions coming into force on Nov. 4.
Intervene personally to secure Indian fishermen's release: Palaniswami to Modi
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene personally to secure the release of six fishermen held by the Iranian Coast Guard for over a month.
Odisha BJP wants Modi to contest from Puri
The Odisha unit of the BJP on Friday said it wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from Puri Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections. BJP state president Basant Panda said the party will place its proposal for making Modi the party's candidate from Puri before the parliamentary board of the party. "The parliamentary board will take the final decision in this regard," Panda told reporters here. Though the BJP did not fare well in the 2014 Lok Sabha election in Puri, the party's state leadership believe that Modi's candidature will change the political situation in the state's coastal belt, considered the stronghold of the ruling BJD headed by Naveen Patnaik. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP nominee Ashok Sahu finished third by securing 20.76 per cent votes against Pinaki Mishra of the BJD who bagged 50.33 per cent votes. Mishra won the seat while Congress candidate Suchamita Mohanty was in the second place. Of the seven assembly segments under Puri Lok Sabha constituency, only