Page 304 - Politics
CPP to meet on Saturday, likely to elect leader
Newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs of the Congress will meet for the first time on Saturday and are likely to elect the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP). The CPP is currently chaired by Sonia Gandhi and all 52 Lok Sabha MPs will be present at the meeting, besides its members in the Rajya Sabha, sources said. The meeting will be held in the central hall of Parliament and MPs will also chalk out its strategy for the upcoming session of Parliament, they said. In its first meeting after the constitution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the Congress MPs are also likely to elect their leader in the Lower House, the sources said. They said this will be the first official meeting that Congress president Rahul Gandhi will attend after the meeting of the party's working committee held on May 25, where he offered to quit as Congress chief. The CWC has already rejected his offer to resign and unanimously passed a resolution authorising him to bring structural changes in the party at all levels in .
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi congratulates Jaishankar
Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi on Friday congratulated S Jaishankar on his appointment as India's External Affairs Minister and praised his positive contributions to the development of bilateral ties. "We congratulate Mr Jaishankar on his appointment as foreign minister of India," a late-night press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. It said Wang has sent a congratulatory message to him. As foreign secretary of India and ambassador to China, he has made positive contributions to the development of China-India relations, it said. "China is ready to work with India to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and promote new progress in China-India relations and pragmatic cooperation in various fields to bring more benefits to the people of both countries," the press release said. Jaishankar was India's envoy in China from 2009-13. He was India's foreign secretary from 2015-2018. A 1977-batch IFS officer, Jaishankar played a .
Modi says first cabinet of new govt took path-breaking decisions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the newly-sworn in government took four major decisions related to farmers' and traders welfare in the first meeting of the Union Cabinet. The BJP had promised these measures in its election manifesto. "Glad that path-breaking decisions were taken in the cabinet, the first in this tenure. Hardworking farmers and industrious traders will benefit greatly due to these decisions," Modi tweeted after the meeting of the cabinet. He said the decisions will enhance dignity and empowerment of several Indians. "People first, people always," he wrote. The government Friday decided to extend the PM-KISAN scheme to all 14.5 crore farmers in the country costing Rs 87,000 crore a year and also announced over Rs 10,000 crore pension scheme for five crore farmers, thereby fulfilling the BJP's poll promise. Meanwhile, in his first day in office on Friday, the prime minister offered floral tribute to the idols of Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhai Patel in his South ...
N-deterrence helped de-escalate tensions during Pulwama crisis: Pak official
Nuclear deterrence led to the de-escalation of tensions during the post-Pulwama military stand-off between India and Pakistan, a senior official associated with Pakistan's nuclear programme said here Friday. Brigadier Zahir Kazmi, Director General Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs at Strategic Plans Division (SPD) told journalists that the stated purpose of deterrence was to close space for war and bring states to the negotiating table. "Stability actually means peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the subcontinent... nuclear deterrence should be a factor of stability between Pakistan and Hindustan," The Express Tribune quoted him as saying during a media interaction with senior Pakistani officials dealing with strategic affairs. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror ...
Modi sets off flurry of diplomatic activities
A day after taking oath as the Prime Minister for the second consecutive term, Narendra Modi engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activities with terrorism becoming the focus of his discussion with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks.The Prime Minister held separate meetings with Sirisena, besides his counterparts -- Lotay Tshering of Bhutan, KP Sharma Oli of Nepal and Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius and Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh, who attended the oath-taking ceremony.Over a month after the deadly terror attacks claimed more than 250 lives in Sri Lanka, Sirisena called upon all countries across the world to come together to fight and defeat the menace of terrorism."Terrorism takes place in many forms all over the world. Some countries have domestic terrorists. Political and religious extremists organise extreme activities all over the world. No matter how international terrorism takes place, it affects all," he told reporters here.The ..
In New Modi govt, 51 ministers are crorepatis, 22 face criminal cases: ADR
Of the 56 ministers who took oath on Thursday and are part of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, 51 are crorepatis and 22 have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). It said eight ministers have declared their educational qualification to be between 10th and 12th standard, while 47 are graduates. One minister holds a diploma. The ADR released the findings after analysing affidavits of 56 of the 58 ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from the 17th Lok Sabha and the current Rajya Sabha. The details of Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, who is the minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar were not analysed as they are not members of Parliament currently. Of the 56 ministers analysed, 22 (39 per cent) have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 16 (29 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases, ...
Speaker Nancy Pelosi remains cautious on impeachment talk
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi still isn't ready to impeach President Donald Trump. Even after special counsel Robert Mueller essentially called on Congress to pick up where his investigation left off, Pelosi isn't budging. Scores of her Democratic lawmakers do want to start impeachment proceedings. Outside groups say it's time. But Pelosi is carrying on as she has since taking the speaker's gavel in January, promising the House will methodically pursue its investigations of Trump -- wherever they lead. This is Pelosi's balancing act: toggling between mounting pressure from other Democrats and her own political instincts. She's sticking with her plans for a more measured, "ironclad" investigation that makes it clear to Americans the choices ahead. It's uncharted territory for the speaker, and this Congress, with both high risks and possible rewards ahead of the 2020 election. Trump declared his own challenge on Thursday. He called impeachment a "dirty, filthy, disgusting word" and said ...
Defence Ministry, services ready detailed presentation for Rajnath Singh
"A detailed presentation is ready for the new Defence Minister who is likely to take over tomorrow. The three services have listed their operational roles along with their requirements," Defence Ministry officials said here.The three services and the Indian Coast Guard are the four forces under the Defence Ministry along with a large civilian force working in the ordnance factories and the public sector units and shipyards spread across the country.The three services chiefs are expected to call on the Defence Minister tomorrow.Rajnath Singh will get able support from Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, who got an extension in service tenure from the government.The Defence Secretary was supposed to retire today but now his tenure has been extended by three months.The three services have major requirements of funds for modernisation as they have a long wish list.The IAF needs 114 modern fighters and a higher number of Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems for keeping an eye on ...
Jagan Mohan Reddy reviews administrative work
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday held a review meeting on mid-day meal scheme at the CM camp office today.Representatives of Akshaya Patra Foundation and officials of school education department attended the meeting. Jagan noted that this is a primary meeting, and asked the officials to come up with full-fledged plans by next meeting.Jagan will be holding department-wise review meetings from Saturday. On June 1, review meeting will be held with the higher officials of finance and revenue departments. On June 3, review meeting of education and water resources departments will be held. Agriculture & allied sectors and Housing will be reviewed on June 4. Review on AP CRDA will be held on June 6.The new chief minister will step into the secretariat on June 8.Meanwhile, the process of transfer of officials continued for the second day on Friday. The government has transferred Law Secretary Venkata Ramana, and gave charge to Additional Secretary Venkateswara
GFP not pulling out of BJP-led Goa govt: Sardesai
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) Friday sought to scotch speculations that it would pull out of the BJP-led dispensation in the state and join hands with the Congress to form an alternative government. Talking to reporters here, GFP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai said the media reports about speculations that his party was pulling out of the state government were completely wrong. "Speculations keep newspapers alive. I keep my words and I don't do things by hiding them," Sardesai said reacting to the reports that his party would withdraw from the Pramod Sawant-led dispensation. The GFP, which had supported the Manohar Parrikar-led government, continues to support the BJP dispensation post Parrikar's death. "I am a member of the NDA. If the NDA tells me that I am made CM then I will come and tell you," he told reporters. On being asked whether he had been approached by the Congress to form a government in the state, Sardesai said, "I am approached by everybody.
Mamata asks TMC leaders to recapture offices 'occupied' by BJP
Setting the stage for escalation of the fight with the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday asked the party leaders to recapture TMC offices allegedly "occupied" by the saffron party as early as possible. The TMC chief, who held an extended core committee meeting of the party, appointed her brother Kartik Banerjee and state minister Bratya Basu as the president and chairman respectively of the party's frontal 'Jai Hind Bahini'. TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar was appointed the chairman of 'Banga Janani Bahini', another frontal organisation. The two organisations, which she had launched on Thursday, will "counter the growth" of the RSS in the state. The TMC supremo also hit out at a section of the party leaders who had "surrendered" to the lure of money given by the BJP and termed them as "traitors". "We have been told to recapture the party offices which had been occupied by the BJP workers after the Lok Sabha polls as early as possible," a senior party leader said ...
Kashmiri Pandits to congregate in Valley for Jyeshtha Ashtami
Kashmiri Pandits from across the globe will be congregating in the Valley to celebrate Jyeshtha Ashtami at Mata Kheer Bhawani temple, beginning June 8. Members of the community will undertake a 'yatra' to the shrine, according to an official statement released by the organisers of the religious procession. "Kashmiri Pandits and the Muslim fraternity in the (Kashmir) Valley are seeing this yatra as a step towards the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland. "Efforts are being made by the Governor's office and the state administration is helping build the confidence among the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community," the statement said. The state administration has this year also made the necessary arrangements for travel and accommodation, it said. Jyestha Ashtami is celebrated at the shrine of Khir Bhawani in Tullamula, Jammu and Kashmir in honour of their patron goddess Ragnya Devi. Pilgrims come from all over to assemble at the shrine, offer prayers and worship at the foot of the ...
Beijing warns US not to underestimate Chinese military
Beijing warned Friday that the US should not underestimate China's military as the top defence officials from both countries met on the sidelines of a security forum. As Beijing and Washington vie for influence in a region hosting potential flashpoints such as the South China Sea, Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait, acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan met Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe for 20 minutes Friday. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said they "reached some consensus" on issues of common concern, adding that Wei "particularly emphasised the Taiwan issue". China sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides having being ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949. Beijing is regularly angered by US warships transiting through the Taiwan Strait, which it considers its territorial waters. "He (Defence minister Wei) pointed out that the US has recently had a series of negative words and ...
Parliament session from June 17, Budget on July 5
The first session of the newly-elected Lok Sabha has been convened from June 17 to July 26 and the new government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present its first Budget on July 5, in which it is expected to provide an insight about the programmes to be undertaken in the second term.
More MPs from Bengal to be inducted in union ministry: BJP
Sensing anger among the party's rank and file over the fact that only two of the 18 West Bengal MPs got ministerial berths, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh Friday said more parliamentarians will be made ministers in future. Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy, one of the key figures in the party's stellar performance in the Lok Sabha polls in Bengal, too exuded confidence that more MPs from West Bengal will be inducted in the Union ministry and asked the party workers to wait for some time. "Two MPs have been inducted (in the union council of ministers) and several others will also be made ministers in future. It is a continuous process," Ghosh said. Two BJP MPs from the state were sworn-in as ministers of state in New Delhi on Thursday. While Babul Supriyo was given the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, first time MP Debasree Chaudhuri got the ministry of women and child development. Supriyo, a play-back singer turned politician, had served as MoS in the previous government
Amid report of N Korea purge, there are reasons for caution
A South Korean newspaper reported Friday that North Korea executed a senior envoy involved in nuclear negotiations with the US as well as four other high-level officials. But as ever with North Korea, a country that closely guards its secrets, there are reasons to be cautious about the purported purge. While North Korea hasn't used its propaganda services to comment, the report in the conservative Chosun Ilbo daily could be true. North Korea has previously executed scapegoats to atone for high-profile political flops, and the most recent summit between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump ended in failure, leaving Kim embarrassed on the world stage. But it's important to note that both South Korean media and the government in Seoul have a history of reporting scoops about the inner workings of North Korea that turn out to be wrong. Supposedly executed officials have later appeared trotting alongside Kim on state TV. Friday's report is based on a single, unidentified "source ..
New Andhra CM goes for major shake-up in administration
A day after taking oath as the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has gone for a major shake-up in the administration, shunting out the police chief and four Secretaries in the Chief Minister's Office.
Ukraine ex-president elected party chief ahead of polls
Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko retained control over his political party on Friday as the former president and his allies seek to win back support two months before a crucial parliamentary vote. Last month the pro-Western politician suffered a crushing defeat in presidential elections to comedian Volodymyr Zelensky amid popular anger over the country's separatist war in the east, corruption and poverty. Poroshenko's party has since launched a major re-branding effort to recover from his ballot box defeat ahead of the snap polls set for July 21. Last week the party -- called Petro Poroshenko's Bloc Solidarity -- announced it was changing its name to European Solidarity. Poroshenko was elected leader of the renamed party on Friday. "I am very grateful to you for electing me head of the European Solidarity party," Poroshenko said minutes after the unanimous vote that was broadcast live by a private Ukrainian channel. The party -- seen as Poroshenko's political vehicle -- was previously led ..
Bilwal accuses Pak govt of targeting Opposition, judiciary
Pakistan's Opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday accused the government of targeting everyone from judges to parliamentarians through "underhand tactics" after Parliament witnessed a raucous as two lawmakers were arrested for allegedly inciting an attack on a military check post. Parliament witnessed unruly scenes lawmakers clashed with each other over the foul language used against Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar. The trouble during the National Assembly session began after minister of state for parliamentary affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan, labelled Wazir and Dawar as "agents of Afghan intelligence" and said they should be expelled from Parliament. Wazir and Dawar are are accused of inciting local people to attack the Kharqamar military check post in North Waziristan district on Sunday which resulted in the killing of at least three civilians. Bilawal, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), stood up to record protest against Khan's remarks.
Delhi Cong hosts Iftar, Sheila Dikshit says party cares for all
The Congress is a party that takes care of all sections of society, its Delhi unit president Sheila Dikshit said at an Iftar hosted by the party on Friday. Scores of men and women besides party leaders attended the Iftar hosted by the Delhi Congress at its office on DDU Marg. "Its great to have you all here and there should be more such occasions. Congress respects and cares for all in the society," Dikshit said extending her Eid greetings in advance to those present at the event. Though the Congress failed to open its account in Delhi in the Lok Sabha polls, the party saw its vote share increase. It also managed to leave behind the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) in terms of vote share in majority of the assembly segments in the seven parliamentary constituencies here. The minorities voted in favour of Congress candidates which was evident by its votes in Okhla, Seelampur, Chandni Chowk, Ballimaran, Matia Mahal and Mustafabad assembly segments, which were more than the votes of AAP candidates.