Page 42 - Politics

PM spells out dos and don'ts for ministerial colleagues during G20 meet

Modi spoke on the issues during his interaction with the Union Council of Ministers in which he laid down the dos and don'ts to be observed by them during the upcoming G20 summit

Spell out Parl session's agenda, not keep country in dark: 'INDIA' bloc

Opposition parties of the INDIA alliance on Tuesday demanded that the government maintain transparency and not keep the country in the dark on the agenda of the special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22, even as they called for early passage of the women's reservation bill. Sources said former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for early passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming session as the same has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha. At a meeting, the opposition parties decided to move together in the upcoming session and also raise the Adani issue. They also decided to hold the first INDIA parties' joint public rally in Madhya Pradesh and the next meeting in Bhopal. The leaders of several opposition parties, who attended the dinner meeting hosted by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence here, also discussed the strategy to be adopted during the upcoming session. Kharge said the Narendra Modi ...

Around 76% votes turnover till 5 pm in West Bengal's Dhupguri assembly

Around 76 per cent of 2.6 lakh eligible voters exercised their franchise in the by-election to the Dhupguri assembly seat in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district till 5 pm on Tuesday, an official said. Two BJP leaders including an MLA, who are not residents of the constituency, were found in a party office. One of them, the BJP district president, had to leave as he could not show any document allowing him entry into Dhupguri during the voting. "Till 5 pm, 75.82 per cent of votes were cast. Tight security measures are in place and there is an adequate number of forces, the Election Commission official told PTI. All the booths are manned by central paramilitary forces, and the casting of votes will continue till 6.30 pm, he said. Meanwhile, Falakata BJP MLA Dipak Barman and district party president Bapi Goswami were present at an election office in the constituency though they are not residents of Dhupguri. As per the rules, outsiders are not permitted to enter the constituency during

Cong focuses on minority appeasement, Modi govt on welfare of tribals: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the Congress of resorting to minority appeasement and said the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in contrast focuses on the welfare of tribals, Dalits, the poor and backward classes. Shah also expressed confidence that his party will win more than 150 seats in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, which are due in November this year. He was addressing a public rally during a function organised to flag off the BJP's Jan Ashirwad Yatra', a mass-contact programme, in Mandla of Mahakaushal region. Quoting former PM Manmohan Singh's statement that minorities must have the first claim on resources, Shah said the Congress was too much into appeasement of minorities but the situation changed when Modi became the PM in 2014. After becoming PM, Modi said that his government would work for the welfare of tribals, Dalits, the poor and backward classes who have the right to resources, Shah said. Now, you have to choose between

Will BJP rename Bharat if INDIA bloc rechristens itself 'BHARAT': Kejriwal

Amid a controversy over G20 dinner invites purportedly sent on behalf of the 'President of Bharat', Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday asked a "flustered" BJP whether it would change the name of Bharat if the opposition alliance INDIA rechristens itself Bharat. The Congress on Tuesday alleged that an invite sent by the Narendra Modi government for a G20 dinner refers to the President as "President of Bharat" and not India. "There is no official information about it but I have heard rumours. Why is this happening? Some parties have come together to form the INDIA bloc. If INDIA alliance changes its name to Bharat, will they rename Bharat?" Kejriwal said at a press conference. "This is treason." Kejriwal said the BJP was so disturbed by the opposition alliance that when it was first announced it tried to divert people's attention from it with its 'One nation, One election' proposal. On another controversy DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin triggered with his remarks on Sanata

Bring Bengal's workers back: CM Mamata Banerjee to builders, investors

The proposed Bengal Silicon Valley Tech Hub in New Town, Kolkata, is also expected to attract investment of Rs 30,000 crore

Idea of 'one nation, one election' attack on Indian Union: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the idea of "one nation, one election" is an attack on the Indian Union and all its states. In a post on X, Gandhi said, "INDIA, that is Bharat, is a Union of States." "The idea of 'one nation, one election' is an attack on the Union and all its States," Gandhi said. Gandhi's attack comes after the government set up a high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind on the possibility of holding simultaneous elections. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has already declined to be part of the committee. He has also lamented the exclusion of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge from the committee. The government has included in the committee Ghulam Nabi Azad, the former leader of the opposition, instead of Kharge. The government on Saturday notified the eight-member committee to examine and make recommendations at the earliest on the issue of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha,

After 20 yrs, left inches towards pre-poll pact with Congress in Telangana

After a gap of 20 years, the CPI and CPM in Telangana are now inching towards a per-poll alliance with the Congress in the state for the upcoming Assembly polls. The development comes days after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS announced the candidates list of 115 seats out of the total 119, dashing the hopes of the Left parties that were looking to form a pre poll alliance with the ruling party. The communist parties supported the BRS candidate in the Munugode by-election held in November last year. After his party's victory, Rao thanked the CPI and CPM for the association, and said the friendship will continue, in order to keep the surging BJP at bay. Assembly polls in Telangana are scheduled to be held towards the end of the calendar year. According to CPM Telangana secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, the party has received a call from Manikrao Thakare Congress' Telangana in-charge for discussion on the subject. However, a formal round of talks is yet to take place. Th

Sonia Gandhi admitted to hospital in Delhi due to fever, condition stable

Currently, Sonia Gandhi is under doctors' observation and is currently stable, sources said

Assam govt to introduce bill in state assembly to ban polygamy: CM Sarma

"We will finalize the Bill in the next 45 days. I think I will be able to introduce the Bill in the assembly in December this year", said Himanta Biswa Sarma, CM, Assam

CM Dhami interacts with public, seeks votes ahead of Bageshwar bypoll

Addressing the roadshow, the CM said, "I have no doubt that we will win with more votes than we did last time."

BJP has assured us of fair deal in govt, LS elections: Praful Patel

Praful Patel, a senior leader of the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, on Saturday said the BJP has assured his party a fair deal in the government as well as in the coming Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections. The Ajit Pawar faction joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state in July this year. There was no dispute in the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP alliance, Patel said at a press conference here. The Bharatiya Janata Party has assured that "justice will be done to the NCP in the government as well as in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections," said the former Union minister. As to the next round of the expansion of the Eknath Shinde cabinet and appointment of district guardian ministers, Patel said discussions were on. On Friday's meeting of the Opposition's INDIA alliance (of which the Sharad Pawar-led rival NCP faction is a part) in Mumbai, Patel said it was only a "photo opportunity event" and they could not even agree on the grouping's logo or a ..

Punjab CM Mann announces hiring of new 586 'patwaris' amid agitation

Amid the agitation by 'patwaris' to press for their demands, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Saturday announced to hire 586 new 'patwaris' (revenue officials) on vacant posts, asserting that people will not be allowed to be harassed. In a video message, CM Mann also said 741 undertraining patwaris will be assigned their jobs in circles where posts are vacant. He further said there are 710 such posts where appointment letters are yet to be issued because of pending police verification. He said the home department has been directed to complete the process of police verification so that appointment letters to 710 candidates, who have already passed their exams, be given. With these steps, a total of 2,037 circles where posts of 'patwaris' are lying vacant will be filled, the chief minister said. The 'patwaris' began the agitation on Friday, saying they were boycotting "additional" work they are expected to carry out. A union leader said the officials have stopped work allotted t

Shanmugaratnam joins list of Indian-origin leaders dominating politics

With Tharman Shanmugaratnam winning Singapore's presidential election, he joins a long list of Indian-origin leaders who are dominating politics at important world capitals. Shanmugaratnam, 66, received 70.4 per cent of the votes in the presidential election held on Friday. "Singaporeans have chosen Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be our next president by a decisive margin," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said as he congratulated Tharman on Saturday. He is among several leaders of Indian heritage who have ascended to the highest echelon of public service globally. His victory signifies the rising influence of Indians across the globe. In the US, the growing influence of the Indian-American community can be seen in the success of Kamala Harris, who became the first woman and the first coloured Vice President of the country. She was a senator for California from 2017 to 2021. Harris, a Democrat, also served as the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017. She was born to India

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Opposition leaders question Centre's 'one nation, one election' move

Opposition leaders on Friday slammed the government's move to set up a committee to study feasibility of "one nation, one election", alleging it would pose a threat to the federal structure of the country. CPI leader D Raja said Prime Minister Narendra Modi always talks about India being mother of democracy and then how can the government take a unilateral decision without discussing with other political parties. Priyanka Kakkar of the Aam Aadmi Party said this shows the "panic" in the ruling party after they saw the unity of opposition parties under INDIA bloc. "First they reduced LPG prices by Rs 200 and now the panic is so much that they are thinking of amending the Constitution. They have realised that they are not winning the upcoming elections. "Also, can this move take care of inflation or high prices of petrol and diesel. Our Constitution was framed after a lot of discussion and what they want to do poses a threat to federalism," Kakkar told PTI. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader San

Mary Kom writes to Shah for protection of Kom villages in Manipur

Boxing star M C Mary Kom has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure "security forces prevent both warring groups from intrusion to Kom villages in Manipur." In a letter to Shah on Thursday she said the Kom community is an indigenous tribe of Manipur and one of the smallest among the minorities. "We are all dispersed between the two rivalling communities... there are always speculations and doubts against my community from both sides, and are caught in the middle of all problems... due to weak internal administration and tiny size as a community among the minority tribes, we have not been able to stand against any forces that intrude into our jurisdiction. "We seek the help of the security forces to prevent both warring groups from intrusion into Kom villages," the Padma Vibhushan awardee said. The former Rajya Sabha member requested all the deployed members of the Indian Army, Paramilitary, and state forces to be impartial in carrying out their ...

'INDIA' bloc meet: Logo unveiling, charting out roadmap for polls on table

Unveiling of the INDIA bloc's logo, charting out a roadmap and evolving a structure for cooperation among the alliance partners to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be on the agenda of the third meeting of the opposition parties to be held in Mumbai on Friday. The third meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliance is scheduled to start at 10.30 am at Grand Hyatt Hotel here. As many as 63 representatives from 28 political parties are taking part in the meeting. During the conclave, discussion on formulating a common minimum programme and forming a coordination committee of the principal opposition parties is also likely. Ahead of the meeting, the opposition bloc's logo is expected to be unveiled, while after the deliberations get over, a press conference will be held in the afternoon to give information about what decisions were taken during the conclave. Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said talks will be held on the ...

Hope PM will allow discussion on China: Owaisi on special session of parl

"We hope the PM will allow a discussion on China," AIMIM president and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi said after the Centre called for a "special session of Parliament" from September 18 to 22. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief also demanded that ISRO scientists and World Champion Neeraj Chopra should be invited to the Parliament and honoured."We had been demanding a special session from the beginning because China has encroached upon 2000 square km of India's land. China is not giving up Depsang and Demchok. When they call a special session, we hope the PM will allow a discussion on China. Secondly, the Rohini Commission has given its report. So, we demand that the Modi Govt bring a Bill in the Special Session so that the 50 per cent reservation limit can be breached," Owaisi told ANI on Thursday."Thirdly, we demand that ISRO scientists and Neeraj Chopra be invited to the Parliament and honoured. Fourthly, the speculation whether there will be a One Nation, One ...

'INDIA' bloc aims to promote interests of some families: BJP slams oppn

The BJP on Thursday slammed the opposition INDIA bloc as a "selfish alliance" aimed at promoting and protecting the interests of families at the helm of its member parties. With 28 opposition parties meeting in Mumbai to give concrete shape to their agenda against the BJP, the ruling party's spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress' "missile" will never launch as it has no fuel. The BJP's Chandrayaan will successfully land for a third time in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as it is fuelled by development, he told reporters, drawing an analogy with the country's historic lunar exploration mission. "The CMP (common minimum programme) being discussed in the INDIA alliance is, in fact, all about having "corruption's maximum profit" as all these parties together represent scams worth over Rs 20 lakh crore," he alleged. Their other aim is to deliver a blow to the stable and pro-development dispensation running under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, he added. Patra said the ...