Page 2800 - Politics
Cong MLA Alpesh Thakor, supporters detained in Patan
Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor and others were detained by police in Gujarat's Patan district Thursday as they staged a protest demanding farm loan waiver and water for the farmers of his constituency, Radhanpur. Earlier, speaking at a rally in Radhanpur town of the district, Thakor gave one week's time to the BJP government to declare his constituency as 'scarcity-hit'. Radhanpur Assembly seat comprises tehsils of Radhanpur, Santalpur and Sami. "We detained Thakor and 93 others including his supporters for holding protest on Radhanpur highway. All of them were released later," said Deputy Superintendent of Police R P Zala. Thakor accused the BJP government of ignoring the plight of farmers in his constituency, claiming that though most parts of Patan had received scanty rain this time, these three tehsils were not declared as scarcity-hit. "If these three tehsils are not declared as scarcity-hit in one week, farmers along with their kids and cattle will march towards ...
Pence asks Google to end development of its 'Dragonfly' App
US Vice President Mike Pence Thursday asked Google to immediately end development of its "Dragonfly" app that would make it easier to track someone's internet searches, saying it will strengthen Communist Party censorship and compromise the privacy of Chinese customers. Indicating a new policy of the Trump administration to blunt the Chinese global aggressiveness, Pence said that more business leaders are now thinking twice before entering the Chinese market "if it means turning over their intellectual property or abetting Beijing's oppression." "But more must follow suit," he said. "For example, Google should immediately end development of the 'Dragonfly' app that will strengthen Communist Party censorship and compromise the privacy of Chinese customers," Pence added. In a major policy speech at the Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank, Pence said that more journalists are reporting the truth without fear or favour, and digging deep to find where China is interfering in ...
Fuel rate cut grossly insufficient: Shiv Sena
The Shiv Sena Thursday joined the Opposition to condemn the "meagre" reduction in prices of petrol and diesel by the BJP-led governments at Centre and in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale said the decision was taken by the government fearing "wrath" of common people who are suffering due to escalating fuel prices. The state government announced the decision to reduce price of petrol by Rs 2.50 per litre, soon after the Centre announced cut in the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre. As per the state government, the reduction will give consumers in the state a relief to the tune of Rs 5 a litre. "The decision to cut down prices of petrol and diesel by the Centre and Maharashtra governments has been taken fearing the wrath of people. This reduction is meagre," Shewale said in a statement. Shewale said prices of petrol should be minimum in Mumbai given that crude oil is being treated in the financial capital which is home ot a number of refineries. Sena ..
Cong remembers Ambedkar in elections, disrespects him later: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Thursday said the Congress remembers B R Ambedkar only at the time of elections and "disrespects" him after coming to power. At a convention of Scheduled Castes in Bikaner, he also said the country's security comes first and no illegal immigrant should remain in India. He said the BJP initiated a number of measures for the uplift of Dalits, but the Congress did not do so. Atrocities against Dalits decreased under the Vasundhara Raje government in the state, he claimed. Shah said the BJP is not the party of one particular caste or community but a party of all and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Targeting Rahul Gandhi, Shah said four generations of the Congress chief's family ruled the country, but Dalits, tribals and backward people were not given justice. The nation's security comes first and no illegal immigrants should remain in India, he said. The BJP chief welcomed the government's decision to reduce petrol ..
BJP supporters clash with NSUI, Left groups waving black flags to Smriti Irani
A clash broke out on the outskirts of Gopalganj town in Bihar on Thursday between BJP supporters and activists of the Congress' student wing NSUI, a pro-upper castes outfit and some Left groups who waved black flags as the cavalcade of Union minister Smriti Irani passed by, police sources said. Irani was on her way to address a 'Yuva Sankalp Sammelan' in Gopalganj's Minz stadium. While NSUI and Left activists were holding separate demonstrations in protest against the policies of the Narendra Modi government, those owing allegiance to 'Savarna Morcha' were agitating against the SC/ST Act and reservations for Dalits, tribals and OBCs. The clash resulted in disruption of movement of the cavalcade for some time before the clashing activists were dispersed, police said. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident, they said. Irani, who was flanked by the state BJP leaders like health minister Mangal Pandey and BJYM state president and MLA Nitin Nabin, went on to attend the ..
Declare Goa a sick state: Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Thursday that Goa should be declared "a mentally and physically sick state" because of the "sickness of several ministers" and infighting in the government. "There are many states in the country, like Bihar, which want themselves to be declared as a sick state due to financial conditions so that they can get (Centre's) help," Raut said, speaking to reporters here. "But the case of Goa is different. It should be declared a mentally and physically sick state due to the sickness of several ministers and growing differences within the coalition government led by Manohar Parrikar," the Sena leader said. Parrikar has been hospitalised in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment. The political situation in Goa has become unstable for the last few months as Parrikar has been out of the state most of the time for medical treatment, Raut said. "Even some ministers fell sick. And when they were dropped, they began complaining that they have been with the ...
Shah pats government for fuel price cuts
BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday said that the Centre's decision to cut petrol/diesel prices by Rs 2.5 per litre yet again proved that the BJP-led government is "sensitive and concerned about challenges faced by people".
China wants different American President: Mike Pence
China wants a "different American President" and is using more "proactive and coercive" methods to interfere in America's domestic policies and politics, US Vice President Mike Pence alleged Thursday. In an unusual and aggressive speech against China, Pence alleged that the Chinese Communist Party was rewarding or coercing American businesses, movie studios, universities, think tanks, scholars, journalists and local, state and federal officials. "Beijing is employing a whole-of-government approach to advance its influence and benefit its interests. It's employing this power in more proactive and coercive ways to interfere in the domestic policies and politics of the United States," Pence said in a major policy speech on China. "Worst of all, China has initiated an unprecedented effort to influence American public opinion, the 2018 elections, and the environment leading into the 2020 presidential elections...To put it bluntly, President Trump's leadership is working; and China wants a .
Saudi Arabia agrees to invest in new oil refinery in Pakistan's Gwadar
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Aramco has agreed in principle to invest in a new oil refinery in Pakistan's Chinese-funded, deepwater port of Gwadar, the Pakistani petroleum minister said on Thursday.
Putin arrives in India for annual bilateral summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived here on Thursday for the annual India-Russia bilateral summit that he will hold with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Every infiltrator will be identified, deported: Shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday said the NDA government has begun the process of sending back illegal refugees to their native countries.
Congress assures people not to repeat past mistakes
Opposition Congress Thursday assured the people of the state not to "repeat its past mistakes" for which the party has been kept out of power since 2000. The assurance to the people was given by OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik while addressing public meetings in Balasore district during the day one of the party's Jan Sampark and Jagaran Yatra. Admitting that there were some "mistakes" on the part of Congress during its rule in 1980s and from 1995-2000, Patnaik said: "The people have therefore kept us out of power. But we promise not to repeat this in future." While coming down heavily on the BJD government in the state and the NDA government at the Centre, the OPCC president alleged that Chief Naveen Patnaik has dragged the state many years back in these 18 years of his rule. The OPCC chief said he and other Congress leaders have come down to interact with the common man, to know their problems directly from their mouth and to establish a strong bonding. The team led by
PM Modi welcomes Russian President to India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to India and said that he is looking forward to the deliberations, which will "further enhance India-Russia friendship"."Welcome to India, President Putin. Looking forward to our deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship. @KremlinRussia_E," Prime Minister Modi tweeted alongside a few photographs of himself with the Russian President.The Prime Minister also tweeted the same in the Russian language.Putin is on a two-day state visit to India to attend the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit, which is scheduled to start on October 5.The signing of a deal for Russia's S-400 Triumf air defence system is the key feature of the visit.On October 5, the Russian President will hold delegation level talks with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House at around 11.30 am. The two are slated to discuss a number of key regional and global topics, including the US sanctions on Iran ...
FBI found "no hint of misconduct" by Kavanaugh: top Republican senator
A top Republican Senator said Thursday that the FBI found "no hint of misconduct" by Brett Kavanaugh that he sexually abused women three decades ago, signalling that US President Donald Trump's nominee may soon become a judge of the Supreme Court. Last week Professor Christine Blasey Ford testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee that Kavanaugh, 53, and another man had assaulted her when they were teenagers in the 1980s. After Ford's dramatic testimony, the Senate panel approved Judge Kavanaugh's nomination but asked for the FBI to conduct further inquiry before the full Senate voted on his appointment to America's top court. The FBI submitted the confidential report to the Senate committee and soon Senator Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the new FBI investigation into Kavanaugh found nothing to corroborate sexual assault allegations against him. "This investigation found no hint of misconduct," Senator Grassley said in a statement. "There's ...
Putin arrives in India: Modi hosts private dinner ahead of official summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived here Thursday for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after which Russia and India are expected to sign the S-400 air defence system deal and a number of other pacts in key sectors such as space and energy. Putin, who was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on his arrival, went straight to Modi's official Lok Kalyan Marg residence where the two leaders had a one-on-one meeting. Later, Modi hosted a private dinner for the visiting dignitary. The dinner meeting comes a day ahead of the 19th India-Russia annual summit during which the two leaders will hold comprehensive discussions on wide-ranging bilateral, regional and international issues, including US sanctions against Moscow and counter-terrorism cooperation. The Russian President is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov among others ...
Govt's Naga talks interlocutor R N Ravi appointed Dy NSA
R N Ravi, the government interlocutor for talks with Naga insurgents, was Thursday appointed Deputy National Security Advisor, according to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry. Ravi is the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved redesignating Ravi as the Deputy National Security Advisor (Internal Affairs) and as interlocutor of the government in Nagaland instead of chairman, JIC, the order said. Ravi, a 1976-batch Indian Police Service officer (retired) of the Kerala cadre, was in August this year given an extension as the government's representative for the ongoing talks with Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM). Ravi retired as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau in 2012. He was in charge of the Northeast desk at the IB. He was appointed as the chairman of the JIC, which works under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), .
After Mayawati rules out alliance, BSP readies 2nd list in MP
A Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader said here Thursday that it has finalised the second list of 45 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. BSP supremo Mayawati Wednesday had ruled out a tie-up with the Congress in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. "We have finalised the second list of 45 candidates for MP elections. It will be announced shortly," a senior BSP leader told PTI here on condition of anonymity. The party's Madhya Pradesh in-charge R K Rajbhar will visit Bhopal Friday, he said. "We are going to fight all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh with all our might. Behenji's (Mayawati's) words are final for us," Rajbhar told PTI over phone from Uttar Pradesh. The BSP had announced its first list of 22 candidates in September. Speaking about the failed alliance talks with the Mayawati-led party, state Congress chief Kamal Nath said Thursday that the BSP sought 50 seats where it had secured as little as 1,000, 2,000 or 5,000 votes in the last polls. It was ...
Govt indifferent to commuter's woes due to RSRTC strike: Pilot
Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot Thursday said nearly ten lakh commuters were facing hardships due to the ongoing strike by Rajasthan roadways employees yet the state government was not bothered to resolve the matter. The strike by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) staff over various demands, including implementation of seventh pay panel recommendations began on September 17 and entered its 18th day on Thursday. "Public is suffering just because of the insensitivity of the government which is not bothered to resolve the issue of (RSRTC) employees," Pilot said. "Ahead of the PM's visit, the state government has formed a committee of ministers to hold dialogues with the agitating employees but such committees were formed earlier too yet the government failed to resolve the issue, he added. Pilot was speaking at the site of the roadways employees' agitation at Sindhi Camp bus stand. He further assured the protesters that the Congress will include their demands ..
Bhushan, Shourie approach CBI Director for probe in Rafale deal, submit complaint
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan and former Union minister Arun Shourie met CBI Director Alok Verma on Thursday, demanding a probe into alleged corruption in the Rafale aircraft deal and offset contract. Along with a "detailed" complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Bhushan and Shourie submitted documents buttressing their argument for the need of probe. Alleging that the offset contract for Rafale aircraft was actually a commission to an Anil Ambani-led Reliance group subsidiary, they asked CBI Director Alok Verma to take government's permission to initiate a probe in accordance with the law. French company Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale, had chosen Reliance Defence as its partner to fulfil offset obligations of the deal. Rejecting allegations of corruption, the government has been maintaining it did not have any role in selection of the offset partner by Dassault. India had inked an inter-governmental agreement with France in September last year for procurement of 36 ...
Reduction in oil prices shows BJP-run govts' commitment to people's welfare
BJP president Amit Shah said Thursday the decisions by the Centre and his party-ruled states to reduce petrol and diesel prices by a total of Rs 5 a litre show their sensitivity and commitment towards people's welfare. The Bharatiya Janata Party chief said in a statement that "popular" Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a "pro-people" decision by effecting a cut of Rs 2.50 in oil prices and state governments run by his party followed suit to provide people an effective relief of Rs 5. "This shows the sensitivity of BJP-ruled states and the Modi-led government to the people's welfare and commitment to work for them," he said. "BJP-ruled states are with the prime minister in this initiative and are always eager to provide any possible relief to the common man," he added. Shah cited a host of other central government's decisions, including hike in minimum support prices of Rabi and Kharif crops and a scheme to provide health insurance to the poor, to assert that it has taken one step ...