Page 340 - Politics
Myanmar issues warrant against radical Buddhist monk
The Myanmar police have issued an arrest warrant against Wirathu, an ultra-nationalist Buddhist monk known for his anti-Muslim stance.
Galla Jayadev to be TDP parliamentary party leader
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday nominated Galla Jayadev as the leader of the TDP parliamentary party.
Kejriwal wishes Jaitley speedy recovery, healthy life
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wished Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley a speedy recovery and healthy life.Kejriwal's response came hours after Jaitley, the BJP floor leader in Rajya Sabha, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he should be kept out of the new Cabinet on health grounds.''Wish @arunjaitley ji speedy recovery and a healthy life. I have known him since many years and despite political differences, I have always found him to be affectionate and warm," the chief minister tweeted.In his letter, Jaitley, who is close to the Prime Minister, said, "I am writing to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonable time for myself, my treatment and my health and, therefore, not be a part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new government."The 66-year-old BJP leader, who was absent from Friday's Cabinet meeting, said he would "undertake any work informally to support the government or the party".Jaitley, owing .
Rahul's day out with Pidi
Pidi is back in news. Seems like he is the only companion Congress President Rahul Gandhi seeks to enjoy some "me" time with ever since the party has been in a monumental crisis following its massive defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Iran rejects 'laughable' Bolton ship attack accusation
Iran strongly rejected an accusation by US National Security Advisor John Bolton Wednesday that it was "almost certainly" behind May 12 attacks on four ships off the United Arab Emirates. "Making such laughable claims... is not strange" coming from the US, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement on its official website. "Mr Bolton and other warmongers and chaos seekers should know that the strategic patience, high vigilance and complete defensive readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran... will prevent the fulfilment of their evil desires for chaos in the region," Mousavi added. Bolton made his accusation that the four ships were hit by "naval mines almost certainly from Iran" while in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi to discuss what he says is the threat from Tehran. "There's no doubt in anybody's mind in Washington who's responsible for this," Bolton said in a clear reference to Iran. The accusation comes amid a US military buildup in the Gulf and on the eve of ...
Rahul Gandhi should not resign: Kumaraswamy
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is of the view that Congress President Rahul Gandhi should not resign from his post.Speaking to media after a meeting with Congress and JD(S) leaders here on Wednesday, he said, "I will meet him (Rahul) tomorrow and speak to him. He should not resign."The Congress-JD(S) alliance fared poorly in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka. Both parties managed to win just one seat each, while BJP bagged 25 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state.Following Congress' drubbing in the recently held polls, Gandhi, during a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on May 25, offered to step down from the post of party president. However, the offer was "unanimously rejected" by the leaders present at the meeting.A resolution was adopted at the meeting for a complete introspection to be done on the reasons for the electoral debacle. In addition, the CWC authorised Gandhi to make changes in the party and restructure at every level."The
Comparing Tripura with J&K not justified, says CM
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has said the comparison of Tripura with Jammu & Kashmir was unjustified, and his government followed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traditions of the party governments in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Chandrababu Naidu elected as TDLP leader
TDP president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was unanimously elected as the leader of the Telugu Desam Legislature Party (TDLP) here on Wednesday. A meeting of the TDLP, attended by the newly-elected MLAs and MPs of the party, was held at Naidu's residence. The TDP, which ruled the state from June 2014, faced a rout at the hands of the YSR Congress Party in the just-concluded election to the state Assembly, winning just 23 of the 175 seats. In the Lok Sabha polls too, the Naidu-led party suffered a drubbing, bagging only three of the state's 28 seats. The TDP chief held a meeting with the 23 newly-elected MLAs and the three MPs, besides senior leaders of the party. Since the election results were declared on May 23, there was speculation in party circles that Naidu would make way for another leader to lead the TDLP. At the TDLP meeting, however, the lawmakers elected him unanimously, according to party sources. "Only Chandrababu should be the TDLP leader.
Former envoy to India is China's new Vice Foreign Minister
Former Chinese envoy to India Luo Zhaohui is China's new Vice Foreign Minister, replacing Kong Xuanyou who has been dispatched as the Ambassador to Japan.
Arun Jaitley: Modi's 'precious diamond', original Chanakya was a master at working levers of power
Health seems to have paused, if not ended, a superb four-decade-long political career of articulate, suave and super strategist Arun Jaitley -- regarded by some as Narendra Modi's original 'Chanakya', his chief trouble-shooter since 2002 when the Gujarat riots hung over the then chief minister like a dark cloud. A day before the Modi 2.0 government is to be sworn in, Jaitley, 66, on Wednesday cited health issues to ask the prime minister - who has aptly described him as "a precious diamond" - to let him stay out of the Cabinet. Knowing well how to work the levers of power, he was Modi's go-to man in New Delhi since the late 1990s and over the years graduated from being the legal brain warding-off court trouble in the aftermath of the 2002 riots to being his chief swordsman, input provider and sounding board. With his multifaceted experience and acumen, Jaitley was the man for the Modi government in its first term from 2014 to 2019. Be it portraying of the government's achievements or
BJP didn't open account in Kerala, no leader will join the party: Ramesh Chennithala
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala asserted that despite several attempts BJP was not able to even open its account in Kerala in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections and that no important leader will join the saffron party in the state."From Kerala, no important leader or worker will join BJP. They tried their level best; Amit Shah visited Kerala 27 times but they were not able to open their account and in 13 places they even lost their deposit," said Chennithala.Speaking on the comments made by former Congress MLA AP Abdullahkutty, Chennithala said, "On Tuesday, the PCC executive leadership has decided to call for an explanation on CA Abdullahkutty's comment on PM Modi. We won't accept his remarks as it is clearly an anti-party line. Let's wait for his reply and then according to the party constitution, we will take suitable action after receiving his explanation.""It is an acceptance of Narendra Modi's developmental agenda. The secret behind his popularity is (that) he has ...
BJP's bid to 'poach' lawmakers shows its insecurity: NCP
With the BJP reportedly wooing some opposition MLAs to its fold, the NCP Wednesday attributed the said attempts to the ruling party's doubts over its own Lok Sabha poll show and "insecurity" ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil told PTI that the BJP does not think the lead NDA took in 225 Assembly segments in the state during the just concluded Lok Sabha polls was "genuine" and hence, "poaching attempts" were being made. He asserted the NCP lawmakers have full faith in party president Sharad Pawar's leadership and that none of them will switch over to the BJP. In the recently held Lok Sabha polls, the BJP got 23 seats in the state, which sends 48 members to the Lower House. Its ally Shiv Sena clinched 18 constituencies, while the NCP won only four seats. Besides, the Congress, the AIMIM and an Independent could get only one seat each. The Maharashtra Assembly polls are due in the second- half of this year. "Why are you trying to .
Punjab CM urges PM Modi to ask Pakistan to probe Sikh heritage property destruction
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pressurise the Pakistan government to undertake a thorough probe into the destruction of the centuries-old Guru Nanak Palace in Narowal.Not only that, but he has also offered to get the property rebuilt by his government if the Centre is able to secure Islamabad's permission for the same.Drawing his attention to the destruction of the Sikh heritage property located in Pakistan's Punjab, the Chief Minister penned down a letter the Prime Minister, requesting him to "take up with the Government of Pakistan to probe the wanton destruction of the property in question and to bring to justice all the guilty persons associated with this unfortunate act."Calling for urgent steps to restore the remaining structure through scientific conservation and restoration, the Punjab Chief Minister has also sought to impress upon the Government of Pakistan to preserve all such monuments that have an ...
Mamata turns down Modi's swearing-in invite (3rd Lead)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that she will not attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in on Thursday, alleging the BJP was using the ceremony "to score political points".
Pressure Pak for probe into demolition of Guru Nanak Palace, Amarinder urges Modi
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pressure the Pakistan government to undertake a thorough probe into the reported demolition of centuries-old Guru Nanak Palace. The palace in Pakistan's Punjab province has been partially demolished by vandals, who also sold its precious windows and doors, a media report said Monday. The chief minister has also offered to get the property rebuilt by his government if the Centre is able to secure Islamabad's permission for it. In a letter to the prime minister, Singh asked Modi to seek a probe by Pakistan into the "wanton destruction" of the property and bring to justice those involved. The chief minister called for urgent steps to restore the remaining structure through scientific conservation. He requested to impress upon the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government to preserve all such monuments associated with Sikh heritage in an institutionalised manner so that such incidents do not recur. In a press ...
6 TMC MLAs, ex-MPs likely to switch sides soon, claim BJP sources
Six legislators of the Trinamool Congress are likely to switch sides in a few days along with a few former MPs of the party, BJP sources claimed Wednesday. "Six TMC MLAs are likely to join us soon. Many more councillors of various municipalities are also in line. Just wait and watch," a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity. The leader said not just MLAs, a few former MPs of Trinamool Congress, are also in touch with the party and have expressed their desire to join BJP in its "fight against misrule of the TMC". Of the six MLAs, four are from south Bengal and two from north Bengal, he said. Three MLAs, including BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, and over 50 councillors, most of them from the Trinamool Congress, joined the saffron party on Tuesday as it works to consolidate its position in the state following impressive show in the Lok Sabha polls. In a stunning performance, the BJP won 18 Lok Sabha seats in the state, only four less than TMC's 22. The MLAs who ...
Elected to LS, Shah, Prasad cease to be RS members
Having been elected to the Lok Sabha, BJP leaders Amit Shah and Ravi Shankar Prasad and DMK leader Kanimozhi ceased to be members of the Upper House of Parliament from May 23, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said on Wednesday.
Post swearing-in, Modi has packed international schedule
Post his swearing-in on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a tight schedule from June till August as he will be on foreign tours holding bilaterals back to back beginning Maldives, Bishkek and Osaka and in between even finding time for Budget deliberations in New Delhi.
China's ambassador to India elevated as vice foreign minister
Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui, who played a crucial role in normalising ties between India and China following the Doklam standoff in 2017, has been elevated as vice minister of foreign affairs. Announcing Luo's appointment as the vice foreign minister, China's State Council or the Central Cabinet said Kong Xuanyou, who is the vice foreign minister, has been posted as the ambassador to Japan. Meanwhile, speculation is rife here that China plans to appoint veteran diplomat Sun Weidong as the next ambassador to India. Sun who specialised in China and South Asia-related issues for a long time, served as the ambassador to Pakistan till recently. He is currently the director general of planning department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The Indian ambassador to China, Vikram Misri hosted a lunch for Sun and his team at his residence on May 24. The official announcement about his appointment is expected shortly. Luo's predecessor Le Yucheng was also made vice minister of
Former Cong MP Hanumantha Rao urges Rahul to continue as party
Amid reports that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is insistent on stepping down from his post in the wake of party's rout in Lok Sabha polls, former MP V Hanumantha Rao Wednesday urged him to continue to lead the party in times of difficulty. Rao, a senior Congress leader who had served as PCC president in undivided Andhra Pradesh, also said Gandhi should listen to all sections of partymen to know the views of all. "I feel it is not justified for our leader Rahul Gandhi to say that 'I cannot continue, you have someone else' (as president) due to the pain of losing recent Lok Sabha elections," Rao told reporters here. He recalled that the Congress lost in 1977 but bounced back to power in 1980. Citing the example of TRS in Telangana, Rao, known to be a loyalist of Nehru-Gandhi family, said change is inevitable. TRS had swept the Telangana Assembly polls held in December last year, but it received unexpected results in Lok Sabha polls, he said. Amid expectations of a clean