Page 3 - Politics

Today's political atmosphere not favourable for Indian democracy: Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday expressed concern over the current political scenario in the country, saying today's political atmosphere is not favourable for Indian democracy and social health. Speaking at 'Sneh Milan Samaroh' organised by the Rajasthan Pragatisheel Manch at the Constitution Club in Jaipur, Dhankhar said the intensity and tone of political exchanges today were detrimental to the democratic and social fabric of the nation. The vice president said he does not come under pressure and does not pressure anyone. "The environment and temperature of politics today are neither suitable for our democracy nor in tune with our ancient civilisational values. Political rivals are not enemies. Enemies may exist across borders but there should be none within the country," the vice president said. He called for greater decorum in legislative conduct, cautioning that public disenchantment with the conduct of lawmakers inside legislatures could erode faith in democratic .

How Kerala is charting path to become 1st extreme-poverty-free Indian state

State on track to becoming the first in India to achieve the goal through local-level surveys, community and tailored micro plans

Telangana's growing debt raises questions over fiscal sustainability

Experts say the state's economy is grappling with hidden debt, rising welfare costs, and lack of transparency

Congress slams govt over US travel advisory, calls it diplomatic failure

Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate expressed concern over the US State Department's Level 2 advisory, which specifically warns women against travelling alone in India

11 years of Modi govt: Infra revolution boosting 'ease of living', says PM

"It's been 11 years of infrastructure revolution with outstanding infrastructure being added that has enhanced India's growth trajectory," Modi said on X

India saw rapid changes across sectors in 11 years: PM Narendra Modi

The NDA marks its 11th anniversary by releasing a comprehensive booklet covering India's progress under PM Modi across security, economy, social justice, and infrastructure

Kamal Haasan's dual role: DMK views one RS seat as small price to pay

Haasan is a self-proclaimed atheist but on most other political issues, he has been flexible

Unease around Akash Anand's political journey natural, says Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati on Monday said it was "natural" that there was some unease regarding the "ups and downs" of party leader Akash Anand's political journey and his recent appointment as the chief national coordinator of the party. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president cautioned against rival parties that align with the Congress, BJP and the Samajwadi Party, saying her party was the only true Ambedkarite party. In a post on social media platform X, Mayawati said, BSP is the only true Ambedkarite party committed to the welfare of the Bahujan community. It has a tradition of taking action in the party interest and taking them back if they show remorse." "It is natural for some people to feel uneasy about the ups and downs in Shri Akash Anand's political journey and his appointment as the party's chief national coordinator, she added. Mayawati's remarks come amid internal reshuffling within the BSP. A month after he was brought back into the party fold, Anand was appointed as the chi

Rename Churchgate station after Ahilyabai, demands Dhangar community leader

A Dhangar community leader on Saturday demanded that the Churchgate railway station in south Mumbai be renamed after Ahilyabai Holkar, the revered queen of the Maratha-ruled Malwa kingdom. Talking to reporters here, Dhangar leader Prakash Shendage also launched a sharp attack on the BJP over its alleged failure to deliver on the promise of granting the Scheduled Tribes (ST) status to his community. Dhangar, a shepherd community in the state, is currently in the Nomadic Tribes (NT) list. Its members have been demanding reservation benefits under the ST quota for the past several years. Talking about the demand for renaming Churchgate station, Shendage asked, "There is neither any church nor any gate here, so why retain the name Churchgate?" "An intersection close to it has already been named after Ahilyabai Holkar. Now it is time the station also carries her legacy," he said. Attacking the ruling BJP, he said the party has failed to fulfil the promise of granting reservation to ...

K Kavitha alleges BRS-BJP deal, hints at KTR betrayal during jail time

Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC Kavitha accuses insiders of conspiring to merge BRS with BJP; calls KCR 'god surrounded by devils' and questions brother KTR's silence on key issues

BJP to hold training camp for MP leaders to boost public communication

The BJP will organise a training camp for its leaders in Bhopal to enhance their communication skills and avoid goof-ups in public, a move the party sought to delink from controversies surrounding two ministers over their remarks on Col Sophia Qureshi and the armed forces. The state BJP claimed the training initiative was pre-planned and a routine intra-party affair. "It has nothing to do with recent statements of BJP leaders. Such events are held routinely, and nothing more should be read into it," MP BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi told PTI. The schedule of the training camp, which will be organised in June, will be out shortly, he said. The BJP faced criticism after state Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah purportedly termed Colonel Sofia Quereshi, the face of media briefings on Operation Sindoor, a 'sister of terrorists', during his public speech. The controversial remarks not only invited wide-scale condemnation from various sections of society and the Opposition, but also le

France expels Algerian diplomats in tit-for-tat decision as feud deepens

France said Wednesday it will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algeria's decision to do the same, escalating a diplomatic standoff. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement it had summoned Algerian officials to inform them of the decision, describing it as strict reciprocity after 15 French officials were expelled from Algiers on Sunday. France did not say how many Algerians holding diplomatic passports had been expelled. It called on Algerian authorities to demonstrate responsibility and to return to a demanding and constructive dialogue that had been initiated by our authorities, in the interest of both countries. The measures are the latest sign of deteriorating relations between France and Algeria. They go against a 2013 deal allowing individuals with diplomatic passports to travel between the countries without needing visas. Algeria said it expelled French officials on Sunday because France had broken procedures, including in how it assigned new .

Delhi Assembly likely to meet for two-day special session on May 13-14

A special two-day session of Delhi Assembly is likely to be held around mid-May to discuss various public issues and to pass a Bill to regulate the fees charged by private schools in the capital, the ruling BJP said on Sunday. A BJP legislative party meeting was held at the Secretariat to discuss the preparations for the upcoming Assembly session, which was attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Cabinet ministers and BJP MLAs, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood told reporters. "The likely dates for the Assembly session are May 13-14, although the Cabinet is yet to take a final call on it," a BJP MLA said after the meeting. The Delhi Cabinet on April 29 approved a draft Bill to regulate fees at all private schools in the capital, with Chief Minister Gupta saying that a special session of the Assembly will be convened to pass the Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill, 2025. The Bill recommends steep penalties as well as cancellation of ...

Senthil Balaji, Ponmudy resign as TN ministers; Thangaraj makes comeback

Tamil Nadu Ministers V Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy have resigned from the M K Stalin-led state cabinet and the Governor has accepted the same, the Raj Bhavan said on Sunday. Governor R N Ravi has approved Chief Minister Stalin's recommendation to accept their resignation, a Raj Bhavan communique said. Senthil Balaji, facing ED probe, had been asked by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to make a choice "between post and freedom" as it warned him of cancelling bail if he did not step down as minister. Ponmudy had courted a major controversy over his Shaivite-Vaishnavite remarks made in the context of a sex worker, drawing widespread criticism, even as the Madras High Court later initiated proceedings on its own on the matter. Though he had been removed from a key party post, there were demands from opposition parties and other quarters, for his ouster from the cabinet. Transport Minister S S Sivasankar will handle Electricity portfolio, held by Senthil Balaji. Further, Housing Ministe

What A S Dulat said about Kashmir, threats a day before Pahalgam attack

Dulat feels that Bangladesh needs to be watched, and recalls a Kashmiri leader telling him that in creating Bangladesh, India helped create another Muslim nation, and that one day, they would unite

Grassroots governance: Development requires strong panchayats at the core

Panchayats are the closest tier of governance to the people. Unlike top-down models, a panchayat-led approach allows for contextual strategies that take into account multiple local factors

Trade policy reforms urged as India, US eye deal before tariff deadline

India should consider broader trade liberalisation

With Bihar Assembly elections nearing, NDA is likely to appoint a convenor

Naidu was the convenor of the NDA from 2013 to 2018, when the Telugu Desam Party, which he still leads, had exited the alliance

Hayek's Bastards: Far Right's love-hate relationship with globalisation

The economic ideas that are predicated on such a worldview are inevitably ruthless and cutthroat

States put up united front in fight for a higher share in divisible pie

Most governments, including those run by BJP, want the 16th Finance Commission to increase their share to 45-50 per cent from 41 per cent