Page 352 - Politics
BJP lashes out at AAP govt over water crisis in Delhi; DJB meeting put off after commotion
A Delhi Jal Board meeting was deferred after BJP members vociferously protested over the AAP government's alleged failure to deal with the "worsening" water crisis in the city. BJP leaders on the board had asked some "tough questions" to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who heads the DJB, during its meeting on Monday, the saffron party's councillor from Sadar Bazar, Jai Prakash, told PTI Tuesday. The meeting plunged into commotion and Kejriwal left soon after. The board will meet again at 11 am on Wednesday, DJB sources said. Several areas in the national capital every summer face water crisis. "It's peak summer and the government has no plan to tackle the worsening water crisis in areas such as Kirari, Sangam Vihar, Chandni Chowk and localities across the Yamuna river. They (AAP government) have been saying these areas will get water but nothing has happened so far," Prakash said. "At a meeting held earlier, we had also brought to their notice leakages in drinking water pipelines at .
No truck with Ambedkar or MNS for Maharashtra polls: Congress
The Congress in Maharashtra Tuesday ruled out any pre-poll alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Agadhi (VBA) or the Raj Thackeray-led MNS for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. After the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena's impressive showing in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, opposition leaders, including those from the Congress-NCP combine, held a meeting here to discuss their strategy for the assembly polls scheduled later this year. The Congress-NCP combine received a severe drubbing in Maharashtra in the recent general elections, bagging just five of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. State Congress president Ashok Chavan along with party leader Vijay Waddetiwar, NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Samajwadi Party's Abu Asim Azmi, PWP leaders Ganpatrao Deshmukh and Jayant Patil, Jogendra Kawade of the People's Republican Party (PRP), CPI and CPM leaders from Maharashtra met at the residence of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council ..
Rahul's offer to resign suicidal: Lalu Prasad
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Tuesday termed Congress president Rahul Gandhi's offer to resign as suicidal and said it would amount to "falling into the BJP's trap". Gandhi's offer to step down as Congress president would not only be suicidal for his party but for all the social and political forces battling against the Sangh Parivar, Prasad said in an analysis of the Lok Sabha poll results, published in an English daily, the link of which he shared on his Twitter handle. Any new president of the Congress would be considered as a puppet of Rahul and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the perception would continue till the next general election, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president said. The moment someone outside the Gandhi-Nehru family replaced Rahul Gandhi, the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah brigade would paint the new leader as a "puppet" remote-controlled by him and his mother Sonia Gandhi, he said. Why should Rahul Gandhi give such an opportunity to his political detractors, Prasad ...
Spurious liquor claims 12 lives in UP; 'political conspiracy' angle to be probed
At least 12 people died and around 40 others were taken ill after consuming spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, officials said on Tuesday. The incident prompted the Adityanath government to order a high-level probe to look into all angles, including the possibility of a "political conspiracy". Four members of a family are said to be among those who died in the incident that took place on Monday night. Heads rolled after the incident with authorities suspending 10 excise and two police officials. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for each of the deceased and ordered a high-level probe to look into all angles, including political conspiracy and submit a report within 48 hours, UP government spokesperson and cabinet minister Siddhart Nath Singh said. Locals belonging to Raniganj and adjoining villages consumed liquor purchased from a shop in Ramnagar area on Monday night and were rushed to Ramnagar Community Health Centre (CHC) after ...
No decision on any meeting between Modi and Pak PM on sidelines of SCO summit in Bishkek
India's policy of not having talks with Pakistan unless it stops cross border terrorism remains unchanged and no decision has been taken yet on any meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek next month, official sources said. India has not been engaging with Pakistan since early 2016 following a terror attack on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in January that year, maintaining that talks and terror cannot go together. Modi is attending the annual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kyrgyztan's capital Bishkek on June 13-14. Khan is also scheduled to participate in the annual meet of the China-dominated grouping. Government sources said no decision has been taken on any meeting between Modi and Khan on the sidelines of the SCO summit. "A decision on the issue will be taken by the new government," said a source. In a reflection of India's reluctance to engage with Pakistan, ..
TDP will play role of constructive opposition: Chandrababu Naidu
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday said his party will play the role of a constructive opposition and extend co-operation to the new YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh. In his first public appearance after his party faced a humiliating defeat in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state, Naidu said the TDP will watch the performance of the new government for some time. "A new government is coming in. We have to give it some time. They promised certain things; let them fulfil those promises," the outgoing chief minister said. The TDP will function as a constructive opposition and cooperate with the new government, Naidu added. He was addressing party workers at the state TDP office in Guntur on the occasion of the birth anniversary of party founder and legendary Telugu actor N T Rama Rao. Paying glowing tributes to NTR, Naidu pointed out that 39.2 per cent of people had voted for the TDP in the recent general elections. "We have to serve those ...
US walks out of UN arms control body in Venezuela protest
The United States on Tuesday walked out of the UN's Conference on Disarmament as Venezuela assumed the body's rotating presidency, with Washington's envoy insisting he would not endure sessions led by "a rogue state." "What you have going on inside there right now is a diatribe of propaganda," the US ambassador to the conference, Robert Wood, told reporters outside the council's chamber in Geneva. "Whatever is discussed in there, whatever is decided, has absolutely no legitimacy because it is an illegitimate regime presiding over that body," he added, referring to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Wood walked out immediately after Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Jorge Valero, began addressing the conference to begin his presidency. The US along with more than 50 other states have recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as acting president. "A representative of Juan Guaido, the interim president, should be in this body, should be
3 MLAs, 50 councillors from Bengal join BJP
Three MLAs from West Bengal, including Trinamool Congress-turned-BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, along with more than 50 councillors on Tuesday joined the BJP here.
Parties engage in blame game over post-result Tripura violence
Political leaders in Tripura engaged in a bitter spat Tuesday over the clashes that broke out in the state since the announcement of poll results on May 23, with the Congress pointing fingers at the BJP and the saffron party shifting the blame to the CPI(M). Two persons were killed and several injured in the clashes that broke out in West Tripura and other parts of the state following the announcement of general election results. The BJP claimed that the two victims were activists of the party, but the police said it had no information about their political affiliations. Lambasting the saffron party, the Congress Tuesday claimed that its workers were attacked and intimidated by the BJP activists following the announcement of results on May 23. The BJP has bagged the two parliamentary seats in the state by a comfortable margin. Addressing a press meet here, senior Congress leader Subal Bhowmik sought the resignation of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb over the "prevailing ..
Yeddyurappa seeks dissolution of KTKA assembly and fresh polls
BJP's Karnataka chief B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday said it would be "better" if the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition in the State dissolves the assembly and goes for fresh polls. The former chief minister also ruled out the possibility of any BJP MLA switching sides to the Congress or the JD(S). "In 177 assembly constituencies (out of 224) we are in number one place, we have won 25 Lok sabha constituencies (out of 28), better if they dissolve the assembly and go for fresh elections...we will welcome (if they take that decision)," Yeddyurappa said. Speaking to reporters here, he asserted not even a single MLA from the Bharatiya Janata Party will go to the Congress or the Janata Dal (Secular) as being claimed by those parties. "I'm not bothered....it is impossible, they (Congress and JDS) are saying such thing to create confusion," he added. The Congress-JD(S) alliance having faced a rout in the Lok Sabha polls with both parties managed to win only one seat each, and growing discontent within
N. Korea must legalise markets to prevent rights abuses: UN
North Korea must create a legal framework for traders buying and selling basic necessities such as food and clothing to tackle rights violations in the country, the UN's human rights body said Tuesday. Campaign groups estimate around three-quarters of North Korea's population depends on private market activity to survive since the collapse of the public distribution system -- a state rations network -- in the mid-1990s. But despite being widespread, market activity remains a "legal grey area" in the North and a "source of further human rights violations", said the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). "In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, people face both a failed public distribution system and an insecure informal sector where they are exposed to prosecution and corruption," it said in a report, using the country's official name. The OHCHR document -- based on interviews with 214 North Koreans -- said Pyongyang had failed to legalise people's efforts
Confusion over functioning of bureaucracy in Puducherry, L-G Kiran Bedi tells SC
Puducherry LG Kiran Bedi told the Supreme Court Tuesday that confusion was prevailing over the functioning of bureaucracy due to the Madras High Court order on the issue of administrative control in the Union Territory. Bedi has moved the apex court challenging the Madras High Court verdict which held that Puducherry Lieutenant Governor (LG) "cannot interfere" in the day-to-day affairs of the UT's elected government. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Aniruddha Bose said it will hear the plea next week. At the outset, counsel appearing for Bedi told the bench that "there was confusion prevailing over the functioning of bureaucracy in the Union Territory since the Madras High Court verdict". On May 10, the apex court on pleas of Centre and Bedi had sought response from Congress MLA K Laksminarayanan, on whose plea the high court had passed the verdict on April 30. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, had told the bench that the high court verdict ...
DMK chief Stalin urges Rahul not to quit
DMK chief M K Stalin Tuesday requested Congress president Rahul Gandhi not to step down from his post, saying he has won the hearts of the people though his party lost the general election. Amid reports that Gandhi was firm on quitting, Stalin spoke to the Congress top leader over phone and "appealed to him to give up the idea of resigning as party president", the DMK said here. Though the Congress party has suffered defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, "you have won the hearts of the people", Stalin told Gandhi, the party said. Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi greeted Stalin for the resounding victory of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. Stalin will participate in the swearing-in ceremony of YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy as Andhra Pradesh chief minister on May 30, the party added. The DMK-led front in Tamil Nadu won 37 of the 38 Lok Sabha seats. The election in the Vellore parliamentary constituency was cancelled by the EC citing abuse of money power.
Bangladesh police on alert after blast claimed by Islamic State
Bangladesh has put its police force on alert after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bomb blast that targeted security forces here. A woman police officer and two others were injured when a powerful bomb went off near a police pick-up van in the capital's Malibagh intersection on Sunday night. Islamic State claimed responsibility, with its propaganda wing Amaq saying the IS militants targeted the police vehicle with an "explosive device". Bangladesh police spokesperson Sohel Rana, however, said that no connection between the IS and the attack has been ascertained yet. "The bomb attack is currently being investigated," he said in a statement adding, The matter of Islamic State's claim of responsibility (for the blast) has come to sight. But no connection between IS and the attack has been ascertained yet, he said. All units of Bangladesh Police have been directed to take cautionary measures following the bomb blast. The government has consistently ruled out the presence of
Prohibition again imposed in Mizoram after four years
Prohibition was again imposed in Mizoram after four years as the state government notified the prohibition act on Tuesday, a senior official said. The Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Bill, 2019 was passed by the state Assembly on March 20 this year and Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi has given his assent to the bill. Excise and Narcotics department, Commissioner, Ngurchungnunga Sailo told PTI that the notification was issued by the state Law and Judicial department and published in the state government official gazette. The prohibition law could not be notified earlier as the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office, following instructions from the Election Commission of India prohibited notification and enforcement of the dry law till the end of election process on May 27 as the model code of conduct was in place. The state government had earlier announced that the notification would be issued on April one. While retail wine shops and bonded warehouses were already closed due .
Tasa, Baishya file papers for 2 RS seats in Assam
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Birendra Prasad Baishya on Tuesday filed nominations for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam, which will fall vacant on June 14.
Ajit Pawar owns up responsibility for son's defeat in LS polls
Senior Maharashtra NCP leader Ajit Pawar Tuesday owned up the responsibility for his son Parth's defeat form Maval Lok Sabha constituency in the debut contest. Shiv Sena's Shrirang Barne defeated Parth from the constituency that covers parts of Pune and Raigad districts by a margin of 215913 votes. Analysing the outcome, the former Deputy Chief Minister said the people had made up their minds to see Narendra Modi as prime minister again. "People have given their mandate, we accept it and as Ajit Pawar I am responsible for it," he told reporters when asked about Parth's defeat. He made the remarks after attending the meeting of the constituents of the grand alliance in Maharashtra to discuss the poll results and the way forward. The meeting was attended by leaders of the Congress, Left, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Samajwadi Party and other parties, besides the NCP. Pawar said the Opposition parties should move on now and take steps to see how the Maharashtra Assembly ..
Two more Raj Cong leaders air disappointment over poll results, PCC secretary bats for Pilot
The crisis in Rajasthan Congress after the debacle in the Lok Sabha polls deepened Tuesday with two more leaders voicing their disappointment despite an advisory from the party against making public statements. Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Sushil Asopa said the state unit chief Sachin Pilot should have been made chief minister instead of Ashok Gehlot. Jaipur former mayor Jyoti Khandelwal, who was also the Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha polls, blamed poor booth management for her own defeat and sought a detailed analysis. In Delhi Tuesday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi met Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot separately. The Congress failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan despite a winning the assembly elections there just months back. In a Facebook post PCC secretary Sushil Asopa batted for Pilot. Wherever you go in Rajasthan, you hear one voice - Congress. The results of the Lok Sabha elections would have been ...
This is just first phase, says BJP as 2 TMC MLAs, over 50 councillors join party
In a major setback to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), two MLAs, including BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu, and over 50 councillors from West Bengal joined the BJP here on Tuesday.An MLA from CPM also joined the party today.Senior party leaders, including West Bengal party in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya and Mukul Roy, were present at the party headquarters for the occasion."Like the elections were held in seven phases in West Bengal, joinings in BJP will also happen in seven phases. Today was just the first phase," Vijayvargiya asserted.Before the announcement, he had said that "such joinings will continue in future as well".Earlier in the day Mukul Roy, once a confidant of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said that the people of West Bengal have made their minds to support the BJP.Roy's son Subhrangshu, the MLA from Bijpur constituency, was suspended from the TMC for six years for anti-party activities.The development comes days after BJP broke into the TMC citadel ...
U'khand BJP credits Modi for party's landslide victory in LS polls
Pradesh BJP president Ajay Bhatt, under whose leadership the party retained the five Lok Sabha seats of Uttarakhand, Tuesday credited the BJP's landslide victory everywhere in the country to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ever growing popularity. Bhatt, who was accorded a grand welcome by BJP workers as he arrived here for the first time after the party's big win, said the five MPs from the state will follow Modi's advice of never letting arrogance get the better of them and not losing touch with people. "I am sure all the five MPs from the state will work in accordance with the advice of Modi," he told reporters, referring to Modi's recommendation for MPs to keep away from the VIP culture. He also said the BJP MPs from Uttarakhand would try to remove the misgivings created among the minorities about the party. When asked to comment on his own victory from Nainital where he had defeated Congress heavyweight Harish Rawat by over three lakh votes, he said he was hardly prepared as his ..