Page 2811 - Politics
Sooner or later Russia, US will be able to restore relations: Putin
Sooner or later, Russia and the United States will be able to completely restore relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday at the Russian Energy Week."We will work, this is one of the world's largest powers, a leader in many ways, our natural partner in a variety of activities, including international security, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the fight against terrorism, the fight against climate change... We believe that sooner or later there will come a time when we can restore relations in a full-fledged format," Putin said.He expressed hope for the end of "obscurantism" around Russia's alleged meddling in the US elections. "I want the obscurantism around Russia's alleged interference in the US election campaign to end. So that at last the US elites calm down and figure out relations between each other, so that a balance, a certain balance between common sense and national interests is restored there, just like in the oil market," Putin said at a .
Digvijaya refuses to take blame for Mayawati's Congress snub
As BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday ruled out an alliance with the Congress for the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said he stood by his comments that she was under the Centres pressure not to ally with his party.
Harsimrat seeks PM's intervention on Chandigarh's cadre issue
Union Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the issue of changes being made to the 60:40 ratio of drawing staff and officers for Chandigarh, from Punjab and Haryana respectively.
Goa Speaker disallows Congress MLAs' motion for his removal
Goa Speaker Pramod Sawant on Wednesday disallowed a notice submitted by 16 Congress MLAs to seek permission to move a motion for his removal from office on the ground that it was not in sync with house procedures and constitutional provisions.
Ready to face mid-term assembly polls if Goa govt is
At a time the Congress has raised questions over stability of the Goa government, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, one of the constituents of the BJP-led dispensation, Wednesday said the party was ready to face mid-term polls in case the government is "dissolved". MGP leader and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar also said politics is an unpredictable field. "The MGP is ready to face mid-term assembly elections in case of dissolution of the government. We will not be affected whether the government is dissolved or not. But, the people got us elected for the tenure of five years (in 2017) and we want to complete our term," the minister told reporters here. With three MLAs, the MGP is one of the constituents of the BJP-led government. The others being the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Independent MLAs. The opposition Congress, which has 16 MLAs in the House of 40, had demanded a floor test claiming that all is not well among the allies of the BJP in view of Chief Minister ...
Will release Rs 500 cr within 2 days to civic bodies: Delhi govt to SC
The Delhi government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it would release Rs 500 crore within two days to civic bodies, which will help resolve the crisis that has arisen due to the ongoing strike by sanitation workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) over regular payment of salaries and regularisation of workers. A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, appearing for the Centre and Delhi Lieutenant Governor, as to whether they could also release similar amount to "tide over the present crisis". The bench made it clear that the offer by the Delhi government to release the amount, and if the Central government or the Delhi Lieutenant Governor also make a similar offer, would be without any prejudice to the rights and contentions of either of the parties. "It is common knowledge that sanitation workers are abstaining from work in East Delhi. As a result of this, there is a huge ...
Coalition is not in Congress' DNA: BJP
The BJP on Wednesday took a jibe at the Congress after BSP chief Mayawati ruled out an alliance with it for the Assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh with it, saying coalition was not a part of Congress' DNA.
Blaming "stubborn" Cong, Mayawati says BSP will go it alone in Raj, MP polls
In a setback to Opposition unity ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BSP chief Mayawati said Wednesday her party will not enter into a tie-up with the Congress for the upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh. The BSP chief said even though Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi appeared in favour of an alliance, there were other "senior leaders" who worked to foil any possibility of an understanding. "The Congress is under the wrong impression that it can match all the tactics of BJP...If the BJP faces just the Congress, it can easily form the government. Still the Congress does not seem prepared for an honest alliance between opposition parties" Mayawati said. The BSP chief claimed that the people of the three states going to polls later this year were not in favour of the BJP returning to power but due to the Congress' "stubborn attitude", her party had to strike an alliance with a regional party in Chhattisgarh. Mayawati has announced an alliance .
Second referendum would be 'politicians vote', says UK PM
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of a second Brexit referendum, saying the second referendum would be a "politicians' vote".
Cong should be magnanimous: Akhilesh
Urging the Congress to show magnanimity, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said on Wednesday that any delay in this regard might prompt other parties to declare their candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. His comments come hours after Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati 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. Speaking to reporters here, Yadav said, "I am saying even today that the Congress should show its large-heartedness, and it should contest elections by taking along all the political parties who have similar thoughts and ideology." "If there is any delay, then there is a possibility that other parties may declare their candidates. After this, they (Congress) will be levelling allegations that they colluded with the BJP," Yadav said. But, Yadav added, he knows one thing that the BSP does not take any decision due to fear of
No Modi wave in country today: Tharoor
Claiming that there is "no Modi-wave today" in the country, former Union minister Shashi Tharoor said Wednesday the BJP will "be lucky to win 10 seats" in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, if the Congress, SP and BSP come together. The Congress MP from Thiruvanathapuram termed the 2019 polls as "a battle for India's democratic soul" and said his party would certainly bring the opposition parties on a single platform "though it is not simple and easy". "In 2014, Modi's party (along with allies) bagged 73 (Lok Sabha) seats out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh," Tharoor told reporters during an interactive session at Nalsar near here. "But had you added the votes of the three principal opposition parties - the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, the BJP, at the peak of Modi's wave, would have lost 49 of these seats," he added. "But there is no Modi wave today in the country. You can be sure if these three parties campaign together, do not divide the vote, and ..
Saudi journalist missing after visiting consulate in Istanbul
A prominent Saudi journalist known as one of the country's most outspoken critic has gone missing after visiting its consulate in Turkey, raising concerns about his safety.
Building coalition not in Congress's DNA: BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party took a swipe at the Congress Wednesday after BSP supremo Mayawati called off alliance talks with the opposition party, with its leader Ravi Shankar Prasad saying forging a coalition was not in its DNA and it only gives importance to the Gandhi family. "With whom the Congress allies is entirely their business, but in light of concerns and pain of Mayawati, I can only say that coalition is not a part of the Congress DNA. They only give importance to the family," Prasad told reporters. The Bahujan Samaj Party leader has said her party will contest assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh either on its own or in alliance with regional parties but not with the Congress. She accused the Congress of trying to "finish" the BSP, saying the grand old party was more interested in destroying her party than dislodging the BJP. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav also took a dig at the opposition over its unity efforts. "Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in ...
B'desh anti-graft agency to probe corruption charges against ex-chief justice Sinha
Bangladesh's top anti-corruption agency said Wednesday it would investigate into alleged corruption charges against former top judge Surendra Kumar Sinha - the first Hindu Chief Justice of the country - as a court referred a case against him to the independent statutory body. Sinha, 67, has alleged that he was forced to resign because he opposed the "undemocratic" and "authoritarian" regime. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has refuted Sinha's allegations and charged him with corruption. He now lives in the US where he is said to have sought asylum. "Investigations will be launched into the allegation as the case (against Sinha) was referred to us," Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmud told a media briefing here, days after renegade BNP leader and former minister Nazmul Huda filed a case alleging that Sinha had demanded bribes from him. Mahmud said the ACC would analyse as well if the matter was within its purview "but since a court referred it to us, it ...
AAP forms 22-member committee for taking decisions on Punjab issues
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab Wednesday announced formation of a 22-member committee, comprising MLAs, two MPs and party leaders, for "independently" taking decisions in connection with state issues. "The AAP has formed a 22-member core committee. All the decisions related to Punjab be it in connection with fighting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, shortlisting candidates for elections, holding dharnas etc will be taken by this core committee," Sangrur MP and the party's senior leader Bhagwant Mann said. The committee will be headed by Budhlada MLA Budh Ram. The committee was formed in the wake of eight dissident MLAs fighting for autonomy for the Punjab unit of the party. Mann said if any MLA from the rebel group of Sukhpal Khaira intends to become the member of the core committee, he is welcome to join the panel. The decision of forming the core committee was announced a day after AAP MLAs met party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi. Mann said the core committee was formed
Govt asks Karmapa to return to India from US
The government has asked Tibetan spiritual leader Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who is in the United States, to return to India as desired by his followers, officials said Wednesday. The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also decided to allot a piece of land to the Karmapa in Delhi to construct his monastery. The government has asked the Karmapa to return to India as his followers want him to stay in the country, an official privy to the development said. However, the official said, the Tibetan spiritual leader is believed to be reluctant to return to India as he wants unrestricted movement within the country as well as abroad. Currently, he is allowed to travel anywhere in India, except the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, but he has to take the permission of authorities for his travel due to objections raised by the intelligence agencies. The Karmapa is upset that he has to take permission every time he wants to go anywhere, unlike the Dalai Lama, .
'Voting for Congress means strengthening enemies and traitors'
Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ravinder Raina on Wednesday said that voting for Congress would imply strengthening the enemies and traitors of the nation.Recalling a remark by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, which was supported by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Raina alleged that Congress leaders are in nexus with Pakistani terrorists."Ghulam Nabi Azad made baseless allegations against Army operating in Kashmir and Lashkar-e-Taiba 's Hafiz Saeed applauded him. It means Congress leaders are in nexus with Pak terrorists and anti-national forces. The nation won't forgive them. Voting for Cong means strengthening enemies and traitors," the state BJP chief told ANI.Earlier in June, Azad had reportedly said in a television interview that the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir was killing more civilians than terrorists during military operations in the state.Subsequently, the LeT had issued a statement saying, "We have been of the same opinion as to the ones ...
Turkish court sentences 3 journalists to life imprisonment
Three Turkish journalists accused of being involved in the failed 2016 coup were sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday by a regional court in Istanbul.
French Interior Minister quits in fresh blow to Macron
French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb resigned on Wednesday in a fresh blow to President Emmanuel Macron who was forced to replace two of his most popular ministers weeks ago.
BJP ally delivers grim warning over law and order situation in Bihar
BJP ally and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha Wednesday created a flutter in the ruling alliance as he cited recent cases of kidnapping and murder in Bihar to wonder if the option of "Nota" (none of the above) will get a majority of votes in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Kushwaha, who heads the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), tweeted, "Hope it does not happen that Nota crosses the majority mark in the next elections in Bihar." His sarcastic tweet came after the body of a bank manager was recovered from forests in a Jharkhand district. He was kidnapped from Nalanda last week. Kushwaha also referred to the killing of a businessman kidnapped from Muzaffarpur district of the state. His body was recovered yesterday. He has often expressed concern over law and order situation in the state where another BJP ally JD(U), led by Nitish Kumar, is in power. The relations between the two BJP allies have been far from cordial, prompting the speculation whether Kushwaha may join the anti-BJP ..