Page 44 - Politics

Cong slams those unable to digest contribution of Nehru in setting up Isro

The Congress on Sunday hit out at those "unable to digest the contribution" of Jawaharlal Nehru that led to the setting up of ISRO and asserted that the India's first prime minister used to encourage the scientific approach. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said, "Nehru used to promote scientific approach. Those who are unable to digest his contribution in the setting up of ISRO should listen to his speech on the foundation day of TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)." Ramesh also shared a video from Nehru's speech at the event. "Unlike the person who gave knowledge about the science of clouds providing a shield from radar, he (Nehru) did not just talk big but took big decisions," Ramesh said in an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress and the BJP have been engaged in a war of words over Nehru and other Congress prime ministers' contribution to India's space programme with the opposition party ...

Manipur tribal organisations oppose convening of assembly session on Aug 29

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) have denounced the convening of the Manipur Assembly session on August 29 saying the present situation is not conducive for Kuki-Zo MLAs to attend. In a joint statement on Sunday, both the organisations said considering the complete breakdown of law and order and the failure of the state government in protecting the lives of the common people and officials, convening the session "is devoid of logic and rationality." The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday had decided to hold a one-day session on Tuesday. "Since the outbreak of the current ethnic violence in May, Imphal valley has witnessed the lynching of more than a hundred innocent people and destruction of thousands of houses. Even the lives and properties of ministers and MLAs were not spared," the joint statement said. "If the state government is really concerned about bringing back normalcy, it should

K'taka govt's 100 days: CM reiterates commitment to fulfil poll promises

As the Congress government in Karnataka completed 100 days, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday sought people's cooperation to lead the "chariot of development" along with the execution of the five election guarantees. Riding on its pre-poll guarantees, the Congress swept to power winning 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly as it dislodged the ruling BJP. The saffron party secured only 66 seats while the JD(S) came a distant third with 19. "Our government has completed 100 days of coming to power today. In the last Assembly elections, the voters of the state placed their trust and confidence in us and our candidates won in 135 seats and allowed the formation of a secure government with full majority. We are making good use of this opportunity given to people and making sincere efforts to fulfil their expectations," Siddaramaiah said in a social media post. The Chief Minister said along with the implementation of guarantees and executing development projects, his government is ...

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin lashes out at BJP over CAG report

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday lashed out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre citing the Comptroller and Auditor General Report. Flaying the Narendra Modi government, he sought to know what moral right the Prime Minister had to speak about corruption in the wake of CAG findings. "I want to know what moral right does the Prime Minister have to talk about corruption. The Comptroller and Auditor General Report has identified corruption in central government-run schemes," Stalin said at the wedding of CPI leader M Selvaraj near here on Sunday. "CAG operates under the Central government and it prepares a report every year on the performance of the government, it studies the income and expenditure of the government and then submits a report. That is the work of CAG. Today, the CAG says it is corrupt rule at the centre with several irregularities in government-run schemes. We are not saying this. Not even the Opposition parties, it is the CAG which has said,"

AAP making strong organisation in Bihar like other states: Sandeep Pathak

He also said that further strategies for the general elections will be discussed in the next meeting of the Opposition's alliance in Mumbai

Some parties that attended NDA meet in touch with 'INDIA' bloc: Congress

Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma on Sunday claimed four to five parties among the 38 that had attended the meeting of BJP-led NDA are in touch with the INDIA alliance and some of them will join the opposition bloc in the coming days. He also said some very important decisions will be taken at the upcoming meeting of the INDIA group, scheduled to be held in Mumbai on September 1. "At least 4 to 5 political parties which were among the 38 parties that attended the NDA meeting addressed by PM Modi are in touch with the INDIA alliance. Some of them are expected to join the opposition bloc very soon while some before (2024) elections," Sharma told a press conference here. The meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was held in Delhi last month and was attended by at least 38 parties. Sharma avoided direct reply to a query on whether Congress will lead the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. "Considering the current situation in the country, it is not important who w

Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October: Brother Shehbaz

Pakistan's former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that his brother and former premier Nawaz Sharif will return to the country in October and ahead of general elections. Nawaz Sharif, 73, has been living in self-imposed exile in the UK since November 2019. He was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018. He was serving a seven-year imprisonment at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case before he was allowed to proceed to London in 2019 on "medical grounds". The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo will return to Pakistan in October, Shehbaz told media persons in London, the Dawn newspaper reported. We held consultations with the senior leadership of the party, and we have decided that our quaid [leader] Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October, Shehbaz said, alongside his older brother. Earlier this month, former prime minister Shehbaz, 71, said that his elder brother Nawaz would return to Pakis

Why is PM Modi running behind Chinese prez for talks: AIMIM's Owaisi

AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday attacked the BJP saying the ruling party should answer why PM Narendra Modi is "running behind the Chinese president for talks". He said there should be a special session of parliament to discuss, among others, the alleged loss of land on India's border with China. "It was leaked that China wanted to talk. Officially, MEA should have given a statement after the talks of PM Modi and XI Jinping that these talks were held. Chinese Foreign Ministry says that PM wanted to have talks. Later, foreign secretary says something else," he told reporters here. He said he would like to ask the BJP as to why the PM is "running behind Chinese president for talks". "Why is the PM keeping the country in the dark on what is happening on Ladakh border?," Owaisi asked. "What is the reason why the Modi government is putting pressure on our brave military that some solution be accepted," he further asked. Saying that our brave military has be

Will raise issues of people of Ladakh in Parliament: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday vowed to raise in Parliament the issues of the people of Ladakh as he alleged that their "political voice" was being suppressed and the promises of the central government on employment had turned out to be "false". Gandhi has been touring the Union Territory of Ladakh for the past week. "I went to every corner of Ladakh and talked to the youth, mothers and sisters and the poor. There are other leaders who only talk about their 'Mann Ki Baat'. I want to listen to your 'Mann Ki Baat'," the former Congress leader said in an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio broadcast. "China has snatched away thousands of kilometers of India's land. The prime minister is lying by denying this and every person in Ladakh knows this," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. He said the main issues of Ladakh are that the political voice of the people here is being "suppressed", all the promises of the government on employment have turned out

Rahul Gandhi prone to making baseless, absurd comments: BJP's Trivedi

The BJP on Friday rejected Rahul Gandhi's charge that China has encroached on Indian territory as baseless and absurd, as it asserted that it is the opposition party which has committed "historic, unpardonable crime" in dealings with Beijing. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi quoted from selected works of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to say that his government had sent over 3,500 tonnes of rice in 1952 for the consumption of the Chinese Army which was "starving". He also asked the Congress to release its reported agreement with the Chinese Communist Party when the UPA was in power. Addressing a press conference, he alleged that the decision to send rice for the Chinese Army when India's relations with China had started getting strained was not a mistake but a "historic and unpardonable" crime. Gandhi has a habit of making baseless and absurd comments about China, he said, adding that the former Congress president makes remarks on India, its people and the RSS in a similar

West Bengal govt should implement AB-PMJAY at ground level: Mandaviya

The West Bengal government should implement the central medical insurance scheme AB-PMJAY at the ground level for the benefit of people, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday. The central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to providing quality healthcare services to all citizens of the state, Mandaviya said during his visit to West Bengal. The minister reviewed various programmes delivering health services in the state, including the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). "The state government should implement Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme at the ground level for benefit to the people of West Bengal. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that the health services in the state are of the highest quality," he said. During his visit, he reviewed Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, National TB Elimination Programme, the status of funds released under the National Health Mission (NHM

Special court extends DMK minister Senthil Balaji's remand till Monday

A Special Court trying cases relating to MPs and MLAs of Tamil Nadu on Friday extended the remand of DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till August 28, 2023. Special Judge Sivakumar, before whom Balaji was produced through video conferencing by the jail authorities, extended the minister's remand to judicial custody till Monday. Directing the jail authorities to produce Senthil Balaji physically before the court, the judge posted to August 28, further hearing of the case. After several rounds of litigation before the courts up to the level of Supreme Court, the Enforcement Directorate had on August 7 taken custody of Balaji for five days and after the completion of the period, it had produced him before Principal Sessions Judge S Alli, who remanded him to judicial custody till August 25. The ED had also filed a charge sheet running to about 3,000 pages before the PSJ on the same day. The PSJ had on August 14 taken the charge sheet on file

INDIA alliance logo to be unveiled at coalition's meet in Mumbai next week

There is a possibility that new political parties, especially from northeast India, will take part in the two-day gathering, said the Rajya Sabha MP

Narco-finance, terror discussed at high-level meet chaired by Amit Shah

Internal security, terrorism, narco-finance and cyber security were some of the key subjects discussed at a high-level security conference chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah here on Thursday. The two-day conference, attended by top security officers, also discussed emerging national security challenges. On the first day of the conference, deliberations were held on various subjects of national security, including trends in terror, narco-financing in India, use of forensic science in investigation, social challenges, emergency preparedness for nuclear and radiological exigencies and cyber security framework, officials said. Inaugurating the conference, Shah said the central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to ensuring a safe and secure nation by strengthening all aspects of national security mechanism. The home minister reiterated the government's commitment to tackle the menace of drug trafficking, besides other issues related to

Manipur CM, cabinet minister leave for Delhi; likely to meet Amit Shah

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with a few of his cabinet colleagues went to New Delhi on Thursday, officials said. During the visit to the national capital, Singh is expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the situation in his state, where ethnic clashes broke out in May, they said. Singh and his colleagues went to Delhi in a chartered flight, and are likely to return to the state at night, they added. Among those accompanying the CM are state ministers Govindas Konthoujam and Sapam Ranjan, officials said.

MP Cabinet expansion on cards, 3 to 4 new members likely to get in

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to expand his cabinet soon, a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Thursday, an exercise planned just months ahead of assembly polls. Three to four new members are likely to be inducted in the cabinet of Chouhan, whose current term in office started in March 2020, said the BJP leader. The names of ex-ministers Rajendra Shukla -- a Brahmin leader and the MLA from Rewa in the Vindh region and Gaurishankar Bisen -- the legislator from Balaghat in the Mahakoshal region who is chairman of the MP Backward Class Commission, have almost been finalised for induction in the cabinet, he said. Deliberations are on between Chouhan and senior party functionaries over the induction of Rahul Singh Lodhi and former MP minister Jalam Singh --- both from the OBC community who make up more than 45 per cent of Madhya Pradesh's population, said the BJP leader. Lodhi, a first-time MLA from Khargapur in Tikamgarh .

Donald Trump seems inescapable but many Republicans embrace his absence

Donald Trump's decision to skip the first Republican debate may hurt television ratings and put more pressure on the eight contenders who will be on stage. But plenty of rank-and-file conservatives said they were eager to see their options without the former president dominating the conversation. People are just so focused on the circus, said Melissa Watford, a 53-year-old Republican from suburban Atlanta. He's just a distraction. Distraction, distraction, distraction. Watford's husband, Jack, said he would still consider supporting Trump if he wins the nomination, but he described the former president as clickbait and expressed relief that he is yielding the stage Wednesday in Milwaukee. When he's out of the picture, the 61-year-old said, you can actually hear other candidates, actually listen to them. The Watfords represent a notable share of Republican primary voters who, regardless of their feelings about Trump, want the party to wrestle with its identity and choices rather tha

IAS officer Tekam joins BJP, likely to contest from Keshkal seat in C'gargh

IAS officer Neelkanth Tekam who recently resigned from service joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday and is likely to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Chhattisgarh. Tekam joined the party in the presence of the BJP's state in-charge Om Mathur, state unit chief Arun Sao, former chief minister Raman Singh and other senior leaders during a party workers' convention in Keshkal town in Kondagaon district. Tekam, a state-cadre officer who was elevated to the Indian Administrative Service in 2008, had served as Kondagaon collector in the past, and is likely to contest from Keshkal assembly seat in the district. He was the director of treasury and accounts when he applied for voluntary retirement. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) accepted his resignation on August 17. Asked whether he was going to contest from Keshkal, Tekam told PTI, "If it happens, its impact will be seen in all 12 seats of Bastar as I have worked in all the places of the region. "The

Govt's submission to SC on plea challenging caste survey exposes BJP: JD(U)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) on Monday alleged that BJP's "anti-poor, anti-OBC, anti-reservations" stance stood "exposed" with the Centre's submission before the Supreme Court on a petition challenging the state's caste survey. JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', while citing the submission of Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, also pointed out that "former Attorney General" had appeared as the petitioners' counsel before the Apex Court. "The BJP seeks to project a pro-OBC face for electoral gains. Its boast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi being an ati pichhra (extremely backward class) is a part of this strategy. But its character has been anti-poor, anti-OBC and anti-reservations", Lalan said. "The BJP has always claimed that it is in support of the caste survey, which as the chief minister says, would benefit not just the OBCs but also all sections of the society, including the economically weaker sections. But it has tried to put hurdles befor

Kharge's CWC: Average age 61 yrs, 66% from SCs, OBCs, women, minorities

The average age in the newly-formed 84-member Congress Working Committee under party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is 61 years, with the eldest member being former prime minister Manmohan Singh at 90. The youngest in the CWC is 31-year-old Neeraj Kundan, who is an ex-officio member of the body as the president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the students' wing of the party. The Congress has failed to fulfil its promise of having 50 per cent of people below the age of 50 years made in its Udaipur declaration but has maintained 66.6 per cent reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women as promised during its Raipur plenary session. An analysis of the decision-making body of the Congress party reveals that it has 12 members of the Scheduled Castes, four from Scheduled Tribes, 16 from other backward classes, nine among minorities and 15 women, besides 43 general category people. There are 21 'youth' members around the age of 50 years like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachi