Page 306 - Politics
Nominees of BJP, AGP elected unopposed to two RS seats in Assam
One nominee each of the BJP and its ally AGP were Friday declared elected unopposed to two Rajya Sabha seats which will fall vacant when the tenure of former prime minister Manmohan Singh and another Congress member from Assam ends next month. Returning officer Amarendra Deka declared Kamakhya Prasad Tasa of the BJP and Birendra Prasad Baishya of the AGP elected unopposed after the time for withdrawal of nomination papers was over. The terms of Singh and another Congress MP Santius Kujur end on June 14. Polling for the two seats was scheduled for June 7. The opposition Congress and AIUDF had decided not to contest the Rajya Sabha polls as they do not have the required number of members in the state assembly to vote for their nominees, sources in the two parties said. The former prime minister has represented Assam in the Upper House for five terms since 1991 when then chief minister Hiteswar Saikia had offered his house on rent to him. Following his election, Singh was appointed ...
Modi swearing-in: NCP says government flouted protocol for Pawar
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday accused the NDA government of violating protocol, which compelled its chief Sharad Pawar to skip the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet.
Rahul to visit Wayanad on June 7, 8
Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be on a two-day visit to Wayanad, his new Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, from June 7 to 8. His Twitter account for Wayanad announced on Friday, "Congress President and newly elected Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Shri Rahul Gandhi will be in the constituency on 7th and 8th of June to thank the people for their love and support." Gandhi, who contested from two Lok Sabha constituencies this election, won from Wayanad but lost his traditional Amethi seat to Smriti Irani of the BJP. This is the first visit of Gandhi to his constituency after winning the Lok Sabha seat.
17th Lok Sabha: Govt makes temporary arrangement to accommodate 350 lawmakers
The government has made temporary arrangements to accommodate 350 MPs till the time they are allotted full-time official residences in Lutyens' Delhi, sources said Friday. Former MPs will have to vacate their respective bungalows within one month of dissolution of the previous Lok Sabha, according to rules. President Ram Nath Kovind had on May 25 dissolved the 16th Lok Sabha with immediate effect on the recommendation of the Union cabinet. The BJP-led NDA government started its second term as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers of his council took oath of office Thursday. "The government has made temporary arrangement for around 350 lawmakers till the time they are allotted full-time residence in Lutyens' Delhi," a source said. Newly-elected members of parliament will not stay in five-star hotels this year until they get permanent accommodation, the source said. In 2014, the government had faced flak after MPs were given temporary accommodation at premium city ...
Sadananda Gowda take charge of Chemicals, Fertilisers ministry; Harsimrat Badal of food processing
Sadananda Gowda, a senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Friday took charge of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers in the new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP from NDA ally-SAD, also assumed office of the Ministry of Food Processing. She held this ministry in the last government as well and was instrumental in bringing huge foreign direct investment in this sector and setting up of mega food parks. Gowda, the ex-chief minister of Karnataka, had the additional charge of chemicals and fertilisers ministry in the last government, following the demise of BJP stalwart and union minister Ananth Kumar. The challenge before Gowda would be to make India self-sufficient in urea production and cut import dependence. He is also expected to continue efforts of the previous government to provide medicines at an affordable rates.
200,000 pray at Jerusalem mosque after stabbing attack
More than 200,000 Muslims took part in the final Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of annexed east Jerusalem, as Israel heightened security following a Palestinian stabbing attack. The religious authority in charge of the compound, the third holiest site in Islam, said in total 260,000 worshippers took part in the lunchtime prayers. The prayers came only hours after a Palestinian teenager stabbed two Israelis inside the Old City before being shot dead by Israeli security. In a separate incident, another Palestinian teenager was shot dead by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank as he sought to sneak into Jerusalem, reportedly to pray at Al-Aqsa. In Jerusalem itself, a 19-year-old Palestinian stabbed one Israeli near the Damascus Gate and another near Jaffa Gate on the other side of the walled Old City, police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said. One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, he said. "Police ...
India, US, Japan and Australia for ASEAN-led architecture mechanism for Indo-Pacific
India, the US, Australia and Japan on Friday collectively came out in strong support of an ASEAN-led mechanism in the regional architecture for Indo-Pacific region. Senior officials of the four countries, at a meeting in Bangkok, also reaffirmed the commitment towards a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific Region based on shared values and principles, the External Affairs Ministry said. "The participants reiterated their strong support for ASEAN-Centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms in the regional architecture for the Indo-Pacific and in this regard welcomed the initiative of ASEAN towards a common vision for the Indo-Pacific," the MEA said. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners. In November 2017, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending "Quad" Coalition
Cabinet approves extension of PM-KISAN scheme to all farmers
Fulfilling its poll promise, the Modi 2.0 government approved a proposal to extend the benefit of Rs 6,000 per year under the PM-KISAN scheme to all farmers in the country. The decision was taken in the first Cabinet meeting of the new NDA government, which came back to power, winning over 350 seats. In its manifesto for 2019 general elections, the BJP had promised to extend the scheme to all farmers. A highly placed source said, "The Cabinet today approved extension of the PM-KISAN scheme to all farmers". The Rs 75,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Siddhi (PMKSS) was announced in the interim budget, under which the government decided to provide Rs 6,000 per year (in three equal installments) to an estimated 12 crore small and marginal farmers holding land up to 2 hectares. Already, 3.11 crore small farmers have so far received the first tranche of Rs 2,000 each under the PM-Kisan scheme and 2.75 crore peasants have got the second instalment as well, as per the official data.
Iran's president says stay focused on Palestine
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has sent a message to a summit of Muslim countries saying they need to remain focused on the Palestinian issue. In a letter published on the presidential website Friday, Rouhani said Muslim leaders should not let the occupation of Palestine be "marginalized" in the face of the Trump administration's forthcoming peace plan. Glimpses of the still undisclosed plan suggest it sidelines or ignores the longstanding goal of Palestinian independence. Rouhani, while complaining about not being invited to the summit, expressed his country's readiness to accompany and collaborate with all Muslim leaders to confront the so-called "Deal of the Century". Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, without naming any country, also condemned some Arab leaders for siding with Israel. The Deal of the Century is likely to include large-scale investment and infrastructure work in the Palestinian territories, much of it funded by wealthy Arab countries. Zarif's remarks ...
Next Parliament session from June 17
The budget session of Parliament is likely to be held from June 17 till July 26, in which regular budget will be presented, a senior official said on Friday. The dates of the session were discussed at the first cabinet meeting of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government which was sworn in on Thursday. The interim budget for the year 2019-20 was presented by then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on February 1, 2019.
It's govt of Modi & Shah only, senior leaders sidelined: NCP
The NCP Friday took a dig at the new NDA dispensation, saying it is a government of only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, while senior leaders like Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari stand "sidelined". NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik alleged that Modi and Shah do not want senior leaders to be part of the cabinet. Singh, new Defence minister, had led the Home Ministry in the previous Modi government. Gadkari will continue to hold the Minister for Road Transport and Highways. "Many senior leaders were not given Cabinet berths. Singh has been given Defence portfolio and sidelined. Same is the case with Gadkari ji," Malik told reporters. He claimed that some of the BJP leaders would call the previous Modi-led dispensation as the government of only "two-and-half" people, implying that other ministers had no say in its functioning. "Now, it is a government of only Modi and Shah. Others have no opportunity. They don't want seniors in the government, ...
New 'Sardar Patel' Amit Shah both hailed, taunted on Twitter
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared the decks for BJP President Amit Shah to become the new Home Minister of the country, messages warning stone pelters in Kashmir, terrorists, Maoists and the so-called "Tukde Tukde Gang" flooded Twitter, while others dubbed it a poor choice.
Sitharaman: India's first woman FM; looks to steer economy out of slowdown
Nirmala Sitharaman Friday broke the glass ceiling again as she became the first full-time woman Finance Minister, who will present Modi 2.0 government's maiden Budget that should look to take out the country from slowing growth, create jobs, attract investments and tackle banking sector woes. Sitharaman's first day in office was greeted by GDP growth rate slowing down to five-year low of 5.8 per cent in January-March quarter, slower than even China, and unemployment rate rising to 45 year high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18. Before she took charge of the Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, she drove to the official residence of her predecessor Arun Jaitley, who had opted out of the second term of Modi government on health grounds. Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet congratulated Sitharaman on her new role as Finance Minister. "As the first woman to helm this crucial portfolio full time, she's shattered the glass ceiling by all means". The two-time Rajya ..
Telecom, IT portfolios with Prasad to expedite Digital Village roll-outs: CSC CEO
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad getting back charge of telecommunications will help in expediting roll out of Digital Villages envisaged by the government, CSC e-Governance Services India Dinesh Tyagi said Friday. "Roll out of Digital Villages as announced by government will be expedited with minister (Prasad) getting back charge of communications. Earlier, the two departments were working in different formats," Tyagi told PTI. There are 3.9 lakh village level entrepreneurs (VLEs) that are running common service centres (CSCs) in rural areas across the country. VLEs provide government services in rural areas through CSCs like train ticket booking, passport application, birth certificate, registration for Ayushman scheme etc. In the interim budget, the government said that there are more than 3 lakh common service centres operating across the country delivering government services that are available digitally to people in rural areas and helping government create digital ...
Modi can now play decisive role in Kashmir: Mirwaiz
The overwhelming mandate to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given him an opportunity to play a decisive role in the resolution of the Kashmir issue, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday. Farooq expressed hope that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's offer of dialogue would be seriously considered by the new National Democratic Alliance government. "As the people of India overwhelmingly voted for Mr Modi and his party back into power, this mandate gives PM Modi the opportunity and the power to play a decisive role in the resolution of the long-pending Kashmir conflict," the separatist leader said. The mirwaiz was addressing the prayers at the Jama Masjid here on the occasion of 'Jumat-ul-Vida', the last Friday of Ramzan. "Pakistan PM Imran Khan's oft-repeated offer of dialogue on all issues between India and Pakistan, including on the Kashmir issue, should be seriously considered by the new dispensation in New Delhi as the way forward," Farooq said. The ...
Priyanka Gandhi slams UP govt over UPPSC paper leak reports
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Friday slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over reports of UPPSC paper leak, alleging that while the youth were being duped, it was looking after the interest of defaulters and commission agents. "The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) papers were given for printing to a defaulter. Some officials colluded with a defaulter and compromised the examination for commission and bribery," Gandhi, who is AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, alleged. "Youth are being duped right under the nose of the government, but UP government is busy looking after the interest of defaulters and commission agents," she said.
Ker CM congratulates PM Modi on assuming office again
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Friday congratulated Narendra Modi on assuming office of the Prime Minister for the secondtime. In a message to Modi, he said the Centre and states needed to cooperate and move forward for ensuring inclusive development of all, a press release from the Chief Minister's office said here. Modi, who led the NDA to a massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections, was sworn in Prime Minister for a second term Thursday. Other union ministers were also sworn in along with him. Vijayan also praised Minister of state for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, who hails from Kerala, on him assuming office Friday. The veteran CPI-M leader expressed hope Muraleedharan would extend his unstinted cooperation to the "collective efforts" in getting the state's requirements from the Centre. The senior Kerala BJP leader, elected to Rajya Sabha from Mahrashtra, is also MoS, Parliamentary Affairs. Vijayan had skipped the swearing-in ceremony of Modi and his ...
Holding post not important for me, says Rajyavardhan
Former minister and ex-Olympian Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Friday went live on Facebook and said, "I recall the reason why I have come into politics -- to do something for the nation irrespective of the fact whether I hold any post or not. These elections are a victory of nationalism over casteism."
US confident of very positive trajectory in ties with India under Modi2.0: Official
The Trump administration has exuded confidence that the US-India strategic relationship, which enjoys bipartisan support, will see a very positive trajectory during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term. Modi on Thursday took oath of office, heading a 58-member ministry. He led his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) towards a resounding victory, winning 303 seats in the 542-member Lok Sabha. "This is really a resilient partnership. It enjoys bipartisan support. It has the structures and it has the strategic commitment in place to take advantage of our leaders' vision. I anticipate a very positive trajectory moving forward," a senior State Department official said Thursday. As was evident in the tweets, statements and phone calls from the US President, Vice President and Secretary of State after the Indian elections, the US looks forward to working with Prime Minister Modi and his government in the second term, the official said. "We do expect that our strategic partnership will ...
Paswan takes charge as Food, Consumer Affairs Min; says ready with 100 days plan
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan Friday took charge as the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry for the second term in the Modi 2.0 government, saying his ministry is all ready with 100 days plan for implementation. Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs Danve Dadarao Raosaheb, BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh, also assumed his office along with Paswan here. Creation of buffer stock of 16 lakh tonnes of pulses and 50,000 tonnes of onion, exempting stock holding limits on contract farmers, finalising e-commerce guidelines, upgradation of consumer courts and BIS labs are some of the targets set for implementation in the next 100 days. The ministry has also identified filling up of five vacancies for economically weaker section in the consumer affairs department. Showering praise on Modi for winning a second term with a huge mandate, the LJP chief said, "Under his leadership, India will be a powerful nation in the world." Paswan (72 year), the president of LJP which is a