Page 2802 - Politics
'Maha govt needs willpower not 'mortgaging' of state to build
The Maharashtra government need not "mortgage the state" but should show willpower to construct the memorial of B R Ambedkar in Mumbai, the NCP said Thursday in response to a statement made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis a day before. NCP state unit president Jayant Patil also said that Maharashtra has a capacity to build 10 memorials of the Dalit icon. "However, the present regime has pushed the state's economy into a precarious condition," he said. Fadnavis had said at a function in Thane Wednesday that he would not hesitate "mortgaging" the state, if needed, for the construction of the memorial at Indu Mills land in central Mumbai. In a statement, Patil said it did not behove the chief minister to speak the language of mortgaging the state. "This state is committed to the ideology of Ambedkar. Therefore, there is no need to mortgage the state, but to show willpower to build the memorial", he said. The state government has already announced that the memorial, ...
Oppn unity not falling apart with Mayawati's decision: Gowda
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati's decision not to align with the Congress in the upcoming assembly polls should not be seen as the falling apart of the Opposition unity, Janata Dal (Secular) chief H D Deve Gowda said on Thursday. The former prime minister asserted that there was still time to form a grand alliance to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party in the general elections, due next year, and warned against jumping to any conclusion because of Mayawati's decision. On Wednesday, the BSP chief announced that her party would contest the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh assembly elections either on its own or in an alliance with regional parties, but not with the Congress. She had earlier formed an alliance with Ajit Jogi's party to fight the elections in Chhattisgarh. The Dalit leader's decision to fight alone was seen as snub to the Congress, as well as a major setback on efforts to make a grand alliance against the BJP. When asked if the Opposition's unity is falling apart after ...
GTB hospital reservation: HC issues notice to Delhi Govt
The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking stay on a Government circular that excludes non-Delhi patients from taking treatment at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital from October 1 and onwards.The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Rajendra Menon rebuked advocate Ramesh Singh, appearing for the Delhi Government and asked as on what grounds did the Government issued such an order "which deprives people of their right to life under articles 14,19, 21 of the Indian constitution.""If other states also start doing it, there would be chaos in the country. Take it back or we would stay it. It cannot be allowed to stay even for a moment", Menon told the lawyer.Advocate Ashok Agarwal, who appeared for the petitioner had told the court that the impugned order is "shocking, barbaric, and against humanity and it is liable to be stayed by the court."The court has granted three days to the government to ..
EAM Swaraj receives Russian President Putin
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj received Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.Putin is on a two-day state visit to attend the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit which is scheduled to start on Friday.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 Narendra 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 oil.Following an exchange of agreements and press statements, Putin will arrive at the ITC Maurya Hotel, where the India-Russia Business Summit is scheduled to take place at around 3.30 pm. He is also scheduled to interact with a group of talented children.Putin will then meet his Indian counterpart President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.The Russian President will emplane for his return to Russia at around .
NATO, UK and Netherlands lash out against Russian cyber attacks
The United Kingdom, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and The Netherlands lashed out against Russia on Thursday regarding alleged cyber attacks that the nations have traced back to the nation's military intelligence agency, GRU. The latest cyber attack was prevented by the Dutch Defence Ministry in April this year, following which the four Russian intelligence agents involved were immediately suspended.The Dutch Defence Ministry held a press conference on Thursday to reveal the suspension of the four Russian intelligence agents on April 13 over the cyber attack on the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Dutch Minister of Defence, Ank Bijleveld, called the attempt "brazen" and "worrying" according to CNN.Meanwhile, the UK, in a press release, "exposed a campaign" by GRU while stating that the Russian military intelligence service was behind "indiscriminate and reckless cyber attacks targeting political institutions, businesses, media and sport".The .
Paris bomb plot claims cloud Iran president's hopes of EU help
French accusations that Iran was behind a foiled bomb plot near Paris could not have come at a worse time for its moderate president and his hopes of EU support against crippling new US sanctions. Tuesday's allegations are a blow to President Hassan Rouhani, and hit just as European governments are working on a mechanism to allow Iran to continue to reap the economic benefits of compliance with a landmark 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by US President Donald Trump in May. "Such allegations, whether true or not, at this moment of time will serve only to harm both Rouhani's government and the Iranian nation, and political moderation in Iran in general," said Saeed Leylaz, a lecturer at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University. The European parties to the nuclear agreement - Britain, France and Germany - have made no secret of their anger at the unilateral move by Trump and his administration to withdraw and seek to enforce renewed US sanctions internationally. Iran was quick to deny the French .
Haryana cuts fuel rates by Rs 2.50/L; Punjab to take call on Friday
The BJP government in Haryana Thursday announced a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices while the Punjab government has called a meeting Friday to assess the implications of the Centre's suggestions on slashing fuel prices. The announcement of both the governments came after the Centre announced a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in fuel prices. Haryana Finance and Excise and Taxation minister Captain Abhimanyu said the state government has reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre to pass on a total relief of about Rs 5 per litre to consumers. "Considering an appeal of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Haryana government has decided to cut petrol and fuel prices by Rs 2.50 per litre," Abhimanyu said while addressing media here. "We will reduce VAT on fuel which will come into effect from midnight," he further said. "We have made an assessment that the price of diesel will reach Rs 71 per litre and petrol at Rs 79 a litre, said Abhimanyu. "With this price cut, ...
JD(S), Cong holds talks on cabinet expansion
The JD(S) and its coalition partner Congress held talks in the national capital on Thursday to finalise the names for cabinet expansion in Karnataka. The discussions were held between former prime minister and JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda and state Congress incharge K C Venugopal here. After the meeting, Gowda said, "We discussed about filling up the vacant posts. The Congress High Command will decide (on the cabinet expansion) after taking Siddaramaiah and the deputy chief minister into confidence." Siddaramaiah heads coordination committee of the coalition government in Karnataka. The much-awaited expansion of the H D Kumaraswamy ministry in Karnataka is likely to take place next week and aspirants from Congress have already started lobbying for ministerial berths. This would be the second expansion of the cabinet since the coalition came to power in May in a post-poll tie-up between the Congress and JD(S). In the earlier exercise on June 6, Kumaraswamy had inducted 25 ministers, taking
Putin arrives in India for summit with Modi
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived here Thursday on a two-day visit to hold the annual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "Long standing and time-tested friendship. Upon his arrival in India for the #IndiaRussia Annual Bilateral Summit, @KremlinRussia_E Vladimir Putin was warmly received by EAM @SushmaSwaraj #DruzbaDosti," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. The 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit will take place here on Friday during which Modi and Putin are expected to review bilateral defence cooperation in the wake of the US sanctions against Russian defence majors. The two leaders are also likely to deliberate on key regional and global issues, including US sanctions on import of Iranian crude oil. The focus during the visit will be on the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system agreement, with a top Kremlin aide
Bring oil back to 2014 prices, Congress dares Modi
As the Centre on Thursday announced a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices, the Congress dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the fuel prices back to the 2014 level, instead of throwing a "pittance of one or two rupees" at the public.
TN CM indicates action against Karunaas for seeking removal of
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Thursday indicated independent MLA S Karunaas, elected on the AIADMK symbol, might face action for seeking the removal of Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal. His reaction came a day after Karunaas, supporting ousted AIADMK leader TTTV Dhinakaran, Wednesday sent a notice seeking removal of Dhanapal for allegedly acting in a biased and partisan manner. "You know pretty well what will happen if a no-confidence motion is brought against the Speaker after winning on the (AIADMK's) Two Leaves symbol... you in media know what the law says," Palaniswami said when reporters sought his response to Karunaas' notice against the Speaker. Though Palaniswami, also AIADMK Joint Coordinator, did not elaborate, there were reports that the move by Karunaas to seek the Speaker's removal could be seen as an act of revolt against the ruling party and hence he can attract disciplinary action. Actor-turned-politician Karunaas, who heads a caste outfit ...
No further cut in fuel prices, says Karna CM
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday Thursday ruled out any further cut in fuel prices as it had already done it a fortnight ago. The state government had slashed the petrol and diesel prices by Rs two per litre on September 17 in view of the public outcry against spiralling fuel prices. Kumaraswamy's reaction came when reporters asked him whether the government was contemplating further reduction in fuel prices in the wake of the Centre announcing a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices. "It is almost a month ever since we reduced the fuel prices in Karnataka by Rs two (per litre). We must appreciate that the central government finally reduced the fuel prices by Rs 2.5 (per litre) realising the burden on the citizens," he said. Reacting to the centre's fuel price cut, former prime minister H D Deve gowda and JD(S) supremo told reporters in Delhi that the centre took a cue from Karnataka to slash fuel prices. The Congress in Karnataka too welcomed
Darbar Move: J-K Secretariat to close on Oct 26 in Srinagar
The Civil Secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, will close here on October 26 and reopen in winter capital Jammu on November 5 as part of the biannual 'Darbar Move', a practice started by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872. "The Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices will close in Srinagar on October 26 and reopen at Jammu on November 5," an official spokesperson said. The Civil Secretariat and other 'Darbar Move' offices function in Srinagar for six months of summer and in Jammu for the remaining six months of the year. The practice was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh 145 years ago to escape the extreme heat of Jammu during summers and biting cold of winters in Srinagar. However, the practice was continued by elected governments post-Independence in order to provide access to people of both the regions-- by turns -- to the seat of power in the state. The state government spends crores of rupees every year to shift voluminous records between the two capital cities .
Senate reviews FBI report on Trump's Supreme Court nominee
The US Senate on Thursday began reviewing the FBI's report on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as the White House indicated that nothing "sufficient" had been found to corroborate allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Dy CM remains non-committal on reducing tax on petrol & diesel
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi Thursday remained non-committal on whether the state government would reduce tax on petrol and diesel in view of the Centre's appeal in this regard. The central government announced a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices after it reduced excise duty by Rs 1.50 a litre and asked oil companies to absorb another Re 1. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also asked state governments to follow suit by cutting a sales tax or VAT by a similar amount. "We (Bihar govt) have not received any letter asking state government to reduce the tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel. The state government will take a decision after going through the letter once we receive it. So far, we have not got any such letter," Modi told reporters here in his official chamber. "After going through the letter which will enable us to know as the prices of petrol and diesel have been cut on which count and by what amount. We will make calculations and weigh .
Tripura cuts VAT; petrol, diesel cheaper by Rs 5
In line with the Central government's decision to reduce petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2.5 per litre, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Tripura government on Thursday also cut taxes on petrol and diesel by Rs 2.5 per litre, an official said.
US rejects Pakistan's plea to facilitate talks with India: Qureshi
The US has rejected Pakistan's plea to facilitate talks with India and pressed for the bilateral engagement between the two South Asian neighbours, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said. Pakistan wants the US to facilitate talks with India as the two nations are not engaging bilaterally, the top Pakistani diplomat told a Washington audience Wednesday. "When we asked the US, to play facilitating role...Why do we ask? Simply because we are not engaging bilaterally. And that bilateral disengagement isa distraction," Qureshi said in response to a question at the US Institute of Peace, a US Congress-funded top American think-tank. "We want to focus, we want to move on the western side of the border, which we are not being able to because we have to watch our back from eastern side (of the border with India). That is not a healthy situation to be in," he said. "Now can you (United States) facilitate (the talks)? The answer from them is no. They wanted bilaterally. But there is no ..
BJP's dig at Congress over 'sting' on Khalistani separatists
The Bharatiya Janata Party alleged Thursday that a "mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) of "break India" forces, including Khalistani separatists, is being formed and the Congress is a part of it. "Pakistan is the most important component of the 'mahagathbandhan', along with the Congress," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed. He cited a purported sting on three Khalistani secessionists to claim that they have been running down India and lauding countries such as China. This is something Congress president Rahul Gandhi also does, he added. Gandhi has been claiming that freedom and jobs are not there in India and that minorities are harassed here, Patra alleged. These separatists see Pakistan as an ally, he said and referred to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's praise of the welcome he received in the neighbouring country to draw a parallel. At a press conference, the ruling party also played a video showing the comments of these separatists and those of some opposition leaders, ...
Indian, Pakistani troops exchange heavy fire at Poonch
Indian and Pakistani troops on Thursday exchanged heavy fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir's Poonch district.
JD(U) to test poll water in upcoming Mizoram election
Janata Dal (United) of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would test poll water for the first time in Northeastern state of Mizoram where election has to take place by later part of this year. The party would contest the coming election to the 40-member Mizoram legislature to be held by the later part of this year, Secretary General and spokesperson of the JD(U) K C Tyagi said Thursday in a press statement. Later, talking to PTI over phone, Tyagi said decision regarding number of seats the party would contest in Mizoram and whether it would go alone or forge alliance with parties would be decided later. Tyagi said that a delegation of the JD (U) led by him is scheduled to visit Aizawl in the coming days. The JD(U) early this year had fielded candidates on 13 seats in Nagaland and won one seat. The lone JD(U) MLA along with an Independent had played a crucial role in formation of NDPP-BJP coalition ministry led by Neiphiu Rio in Nagaland which had together bagged 29 seats,