Page 299 - Politics
BS Yeddyurappa slams Priyank Kharge over his 'Home Ministry' jibe
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday slammed Chittapur Congress MLA Priyank Kharge for taking a jibe at Amit Shah's appointment as Home Minister saying, "he is speaking nonsense without any base."He also claimed that because of Priyank, his father and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge lost over 1 lakh votes in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.Earlier in the day, Priyank Kharge took to Twitter and wrote, "Now that we have a new Home Minister, I think it is better to rename the Ministry of Home Affairs as Ministry of Providing Clean Chits."Priyank, who is a Minister for Social Welfare in the Karnataka Government and son of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, attacked Shah a day after the latter was allotted Ministry of Home Affairs in the Narendra Modi Cabinet.
First cabinet decision shows willingness of govt to deliver: Raman Singh
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday praised the new Modi government for extending the Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi scheme to all farmers, saying it shows the willingness of the government to implement its poll promises at the earliest."As soon as the cabinet was formed, the new government spurned into actions to delivers on its promises that it made during the campaigning. I was amazed. This shows the willingness of the government and how fast the government is working. The government did not waste a single day and took the first cabinet decision to help farmers," he told ANI."Now, with this action, around 15 crore farmers will be benefitted three crore more than earlier," he added.During the first cabinet meeting, the government on Friday announced an extension of the benefit of PM KISHAN scheme to all farmers across the country, totalling the beneficiaries of the scheme to 14.5 crore.The scheme was earlier restricted to only small and marginal farmers who owned
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang congratulates Jaishankar
Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi has congratulated S Jaishankar on his appointment as India's External Affairs Minister and praised his positive contributions to the development of bilateral ties and expressed readiness to work with him to achieve new progress in China-India relations. Nearly 16 months after he retired as India's foreign secretary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed Jaishankar, 64, as the External Affairs Minister on Friday, a surprise move aimed at adding further strategic heft to the government's foreign policy. "We congratulate Mr Jaishankar on his appointment as foreign minister of India," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Friday night. It said Wang has sent a congratulatory message to him. As foreign secretary of India and ambassador to China, Jaishankar has made positive contributions to the development of China-India relations, the release said. "China is ready to work with India to implement the consensus reached .
Modi 2.0 Cabinet: Have southern states been given a raw deal?
As the new Narendra Modi dispensation began its second innings in Delhi, a perception took shape in southern India that the region, particularly Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, has been given a raw deal in ministerial berth allocations. Karnataka has been given three Union ministerial berths in addition to Finance portfolio for Nirmala Sitharaman, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from that state, while one minister each hail from Kerala and Telangana. Tamil Nadu, which boasted of as many as nine ministers in the UPA-II government in 2009, did not get any representation in Modi 2.0 government. While the BJP drew a blank this time, its ally AIADMK managed to win one (Theni) seat and the rest (37 Lok Sabha constituencies) went to the kitty of the DMK-Congress combine. DMK chief M K Stalin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "slighted" Tamil Nadu by not appointing anyone from the state in the cabinet, since he was "angered" that people did not elect even a single MP from his party. Congress's TN .
Guaido renews call for Maduro to step down after Norway talks
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido renewed calls for President Nicolas Maduro to resign on Friday while campaigning in the birthplace of former leader Hugo Chavez, following inconclusive talks in Norway to end the country's crisis. Guaido -- who is backed by the United States and is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries -- has been leading a push to oust leftist firebrand Maduro, who has presided over a crumbling economy after succeeding Chavez in 2013. During a brief speech before a handful of followers in the small town of Sabaneta, Guaido called for a "large mobilization" of protesters to rally against the government over shortages of gasoline and prolonged blackouts in the country. "The real solution is, without a doubt, to leave once and for all and let us live in peace," he said of Maduro. Sabaneta has been turned into a shrine for the hugely popular Chavez, who mixed a larger-than-life personality with a man-of-the-people style and generously-funded ...
Calling Hyd terror-safe will harm business, investment: TRS on Kishan Reddy's statement
Calling Hyderabad a terror-safe zone sends out a wrong message, said Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) on Saturday."The statements given by the newly appointed Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy, categorizing Hyderabad as a safe zone for terror sends a very wrong signal to investors and businesses which are planning to invest in the state," TRS leader Abid Rasool Khan told ANI.This comes after G Kishan Reddy, who was recently appointed as the Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, said that Hyderabad city had become a safe zone for terrorists and the Centre would take appropriate action."Wherever in the county a terrorist incident happens, its roots are in Hyderabad," Reddy had said adding that people from Myanmar and Bangladesh were staying in the Old City illegally and the union home ministry will take an action.Reacting further to the newly appointed minister's remarks, Khan said, "We have nothing against government taking action against terrorist. I can assure everybody .
Rahul Gandhi thanks 'fighter' voters, Congress workers
Affirming that Congress' ideological battle with the BJP will continue, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday thanked voters and Congress workers for supporting the party in the elections and termed them as fighters working to safeguard constitutional values in the country."Every Congress member must remember that each one of you is fighting for the Constitution, for every person in India irrespective of the colour of his skin or belief," Rahul was quoted as saying by party spokesperson Rajdeep Singh Surjewala.Surjewala tweeted, "Shri Rahul Gandhi thanked voters and Congress workers (at Congress Parliamentary Party meet)."Rahul's statement comes amid his firm resolution to quit as party president after Congress' debacle in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.He later congratulated his mother Sonia Gandhi on being elected as the leader of Congress parliamentary party."Congratulations to Smt Sonia Gandhi on being elected Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. Under her leadership, the ...
Rajasthan CM rejects resignation of Minister Kataria
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday rejected the resignation of state Minister Lal Chand Kataria who had resigned a few days back taking moral responsibility for the Congress party's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections in his constituency by over one lakh votes.
Mumbai: NCP leaders meet to review Lok Sabha debacle
A meeting of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is underway. Party president Sharad Pawar is chairing the meeting in Mumbai.The emergency meeting has been called to look into shortcomings behind the massive defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra. Besides, the political quarter is also expected to chalk out the strategy for Maharashtra Assembly elections that are due later this year.It should be noted that Pawar on Friday had met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and discussed not only about the upcoming polls but also the drought situation in Maharashtra.The two parties won just six out of 48 seats at stake in the state in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections - four seats had gone to the NCP and two to the Congress.
Amit Shah takes charge as Home Minister
New entrant to the North Block, Amit Shah on Saturday took charge as Home Minister in the Modi government.nd Rai, who have been named the Ministers of State in the Home Ministry, were with him. The ministers of state presented bouquets and shawl to Shah. The two ministers also took charge of their office later.Inducted into the government, Shah will be part of the elite group of ministers in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) comprising the four ministers of Home, Defence, Finance and External Affairs besides the Prime Minister.Referred to as 'Chanakya' of modern-day politics for his organisational abilities that were marked by series of successes in the elections as BJP president, Shah's entry into the North Block gets a profile commensurate with challenges like terrorism, Maoist violence and the problems in Kashmir.Replacing another heavyweight Rajnath Singh in the ministry, the BJP president will have to address issues like scrapping the special status of Kashmir under ...
Under Sonia's leadership, Congress will prove a strong opposition: Rahul
After UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), party President Rahul Gandhi said under her leadership the Congress will prove to be a strong opposition.
S N Patro elected as Odisha assembly speaker
Ruling BJD heavyweight Surjya Narayan Patro was unanimously elected as the speaker of the 16th Odisha Assembly Saturday. The seven-time legislator's name was proposed by Leader of the House and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and seconded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister B K Arukha. There was no other candidate for the post of speaker, Protem Speaker Amar Prasad Satpathy said. After 70-year-old Patro's name was announced as the Speaker, he was escorted to the Speaker's podium by the chief minister and senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra. "I congratulate the new speaker," Patnaik said. Mishra said, "We hope the new speaker will function above political considerations and give protection to the opposition to further strengthen democracy." "I am happy that the House elected me to the post of the speaker unanimosuly. I thank the leader of the house and chief minister, and all the MLAs for their cooperation," said Patro, who became the 22nd speaker of the Odisha ...
Andhra CM likely to expand cabinet on June 8
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to expand his cabinet on June 8.
Turkey, Russia face conflicts over Syria's push into Idlib
Ankara and Moscow are again facing an escalation of violence in Syria's last rebel-held territory, a development that puts their cooperation to the test even as they support opposing sides in the eight-year war that has devastated Syria. An all-out offensive by Syrian government forces to capture Idlib in northwestern Syria from insurgents could unleash an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, for the area is home to 3 million people. Turkey, which is already hosting more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees, is facing strong pressure from Syria, Iran and Russia to deliver on its pledge to control the armed rebel factions in Idlib. But Turkey also needs Russia to rein in Syrian President Bashar Assad to prevent a massive outflow of refugees and to keep Turkish soldiers on the ground safe. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin "have an incentive to cooperate and ensure that nobody's interests are totally trampled," says Aaron Stein, the director of the ...
Rajasthan CM rejects resignation of Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has rejected the resignation of Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria, who had offered to quit following the poor results of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Kataria met the chief minister at the latter's residence Friday evening and reiterated his desire to resign, but Gehlot rejected it, sources said. "The CM rejected the resignation and asked him to continue and play role in delivering good governance," a CMO source said. On Sunday last, the minister had announced his desire to resign and a purported resignation letter was circulated on social media. However, the chief minister's office and the Raj Bhavan had refused having received any such letter.
Satish Chandra Verma appointed new Advocate General of C'garh
The Chhattisgarh government has appointed Satish Chandra Verma as the new Advocate General of the state, replacing Kanak Tiwari from the post. The appointment was made late Friday night. Before the order of Verma's appointment was issued by the government, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had said Friday evening that Tiwari had resigned from the post and his resignation had been accepted. However, Tiwari maintained that he had not tendered his resignation. Before being appointed as the new AG, Verma was the Additional Advocate General of the state. Tiwari had been appointed as the Advocate General after the then A G Jugal Kishore Gilda resigned from the post following the formation of Congress government in the state in December last year. "In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 165 of the constitution of India, the Governor of Chhattisgarh is pleased to appoint Satish Chandra Verma, Additional Advocate General, Chhattisgarh as Advocate General, ...
'Tank man' photographer urges China to open up on Tiananmen
The American photographer who shot the iconic image of a man standing in front of tanks at the 1989 Tiananmen protests says it's time for the Chinese government to come clean about the bloody events of 30 years ago. Jeff Widener was an Associated Press photo editor based in Bangkok when he was called in to help cover a growing student-led pro-democracy movement centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The day after the military crushed the protests on June 3-4, Widener took the shot of an unknown man holding shopping bags facing a row of tanks. The photo of "tank man" became one of the most famous images of defiance of the 20th century. In an interview, Widener said he doesn't understand why China's leaders won't admit to errors made and reveal the truth behind the crackdown. "The United States and European countries have made mistakes throughout history and they've reconciled those problems," Widener told AP. "I think it's time for China to move forward and just come clean on what ...
Better to name MHA as Ministry of Providing Clean Chits: K'taka Min Priyank Kharge
Launching an attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday suggested renaming the Ministry of Home Affairs as "Ministry of Providing Clean Chits".Priyank, who is a Minister for Social Welfare in the Karnataka Government and son of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, attacked Shah a day after the latter was allotted Ministry of Home Affairs in the Narendra Modi Cabinet."Now that we have a new Home Minister, I think it is better to rename the Ministry of Home Affairs as Ministry of Providing Clean Chits," Priyank tweeted.Replacing another political heavyweight Rajnath Singh in the ministry, Shah makes his debut at the Centre being given the crucial Home Ministry, a portfolio he has handled as a state minister in Gujarat under Modi.Called 'Chanakya' for his organisational abilities, marked by a series of successes in elections as BJP president, Shah's entry into the north block gets a profile commensurate with challenges like terrorism, Maoists ...
Cong MLA Jaykumar Gore meets Girish Mahajan amid speculations of joining BJP
Congress MLA Jaykumar Gore on Friday met state Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan here.Gore was accompanied by BJP MP Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar to the meeting.The meeting came amid speculations of Gore joining the BJP.However, Gore's office cleared that the meeting was not in connection with him joining BJP.Congress was wiped out in the state in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections and could only win one seat while its ally NCP won four out of 48 seats.
K'taka: BJP leaders instruct Yeddyurappa not to destabilise Congress-JDS govt
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday said that the leaders of his political quarter have instructed him not to make any move which can destabilise the coalition government in Karnataka. He also informed media that Congress' Siddaramaiah is plotting to get some legislators to defect."I have just returned from Delhi. Our leaders have instructed me not to take any move that will scuttle the government in the state. I believe that Siddaramaiah is sending some of his MLAs to me and is trying to take political leverage. We will remain silent for the time being. They may fight with each other and anything can happen. We have been clearly informed not to disturb or made attempts to topple the government," he said while speaking to ANI in Bengaluru.Yeddyurappa was in the national capital to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After attending the function at Rashtrapati Bhawan, he held talks with the senior leaders of the party.The JDS-Congress coalition, .