Page 51 - Politics

BJP unable to deliver on promises, its actions affecting politics: Waghmare

Former NCP Rajya Sabha member Janardan Waghmare on Sunday criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for not being able to deliver on its promises to the people in the past nine years. He said the BJP's actions had caused divisions in society and led to politics devoid of ideology and morality. "We continuously talk about democracy but it is in danger at present. Indian politics has taken an undesirable turn. Morality is necessary along with ideology but, unfortunately, today's politics has neither," he told PTI. "Power is being used to divide religions, communities, which is against the tenets of the Constitution. The Constitution is based on secularism but its base is being destroyed," he said in an apparent swipe at the BJP. The BJP had promised 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' but has not been able to deliver, and was also playing politics with state-Centre relations by appointing governors who were working as "agents" of the party, he alleged. "Maharashtra's politics is worst ...

Ahead of Cabinet reshuffle, a look at Modi govt's past ministerial rejigs

With 3 Hindi heartland states due for elections this year, PM may revamp key ministries and also repatriate ministers to the party to prepare for 2024

Centre placing publicity funds of ministries under CBC: Congress slams govt

The Congress on Thursday accused the Modi government of usurping 40 percent funds allocated to various ministries by Parliament for publicity and handing the same to the Central Bureau of Communications, asking whether it was not misappropriation. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that by doing so the government has undermined the sanctity of the Budget voted by Parliament. He also dubbed the Central government as "Central(ised) propaganda machine under PM Modi". Parliament votes budgets for all departments and ministries of the Government of India and each programme/scheme has a distinct budget head, he noted. Ramesh said in an unprecedented move, the Ministry of Finance on May 19 ordered that 40 percent of the funds voted by Parliament for 'Advertising and Publicity' in various departments or ministries should be placed at the disposal of the Central Bureau of Communications (CBC) in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Sharing the Finance Ministry's orde

Bombay HC refuses NCP leader Nawab Malik's bail plea on medical grounds

The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to grant bail on medical grounds to NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in connection with a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Malik was arrested in February 2022 by the ED in the case allegedly linked to activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is in judicial custody and currently undergoing treatment in a private hospital here. Malik had sought bail from the HC on medical grounds, saying he was suffering from a chronic kidney disease apart from various other ailments. He also sought bail on merits. A single bench of Justice Anuja Prabhudessai rejected Malik's plea seeking bail on medical grounds. The court said it would hear his plea seeking bail on merits after two weeks. Malik's counsel Amit Desai had argued his client's health was deteriorating since the last eight months and he was in stage 2 to stage 3 of a chroni

Thailand's prime minister, who seized power in a 2014 coup, quits politics

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who served almost nine years in office after seizing power in a 2014 military coup, said Tuesday that he is leaving politics. His announcement came after the political party for which he served as a prime minister candidate this year finished fifth in May's general election, capturing just 36 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. Prayuth, 69, a former army commander, made the announcement on the Facebook page of Ruam Thai Sang Chart, or the United Thai Nation Party. He had been their nominee to return as prime minister. "I would like to announce my retirement from politics by resigning as a member of United Thai Nation," Prayuth wrote. "I'd like to ask the party leader, executives and members to continue their political activities with a strong ideology of protecting the institutions, the nation, the religion and the monarchy, and take care of the Thai people." Parliament on Thursday is due to select a new prime minister. The

Here's how AI is making politics easier, cheaper, and more dangerous

Those visuals in the Republican National Committee's ad aren't real, and the scenarios are pretty obviously fictional. But thanks to the handiwork of artificial intelligence, the images look like real

BJP workers stage protest against Thackeray over taint jibe at Fadnavis

Bharatiya Janata Party workers on Tuesday protested here against Uddhav Thackeray over his taint remark for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief retract his comment. The BJP workers staged a demonstration at Variety Square in the morning where they raised slogans against Thackeray. BJP's Nagpur chief Pravin Datke said Thackeray has not only insulted their senior leader Fadnavis but also denigrated the people of the city. Addressing Shiv Sena (UBT) workers here on Monday, the home turf of Fadnavis, Thackeray said the BJP leader was a taint on Nagpur as he had aligned with the NCP despite asserting that he would never do so. Playing an old audio clip of Fadnavis stating that he would never join hands with the NCP, Thackeray said the BJP leader's no means yes. Datke said Thackeray had done injustice with Vidarbha and Nagpur during his two-and-half-year stint as the Maharashtra chief minister. He also alleged that Thackeray ..

Congress leaders deliberate on post-NCP split situation in Maharashtra

Senior Congress leaders from Maharashtra on Tuesday held a meeting with the party leadership here to discuss the political situation in the state in the wake of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. The Congress has now emerged as the largest opposition party in Maharashtra and has staked claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. The deliberations come after a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar switched over to join hands with the NDA. Congress leaders are discussing the aftermath of the NCP split and how it will affect the party's prospects in the state ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi were present during the meeting at the AICC headquarters here. AICC in-charge for Maharashtra H K Patil and PCC chief Nana Patole were also present at the meet, besides senior party leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan. The NCP, founded by Sharad P

WB Panchayat elections: Counting begins at 696 booths after re-polling

All counting venues will be manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents

Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar meet CM Eknath Shinde at Varsha

Earlier, on Monday, Union Minister of State for Social Justice, Ramdas Athawale met state minister Chhagan Bhujbal

SC extends Satyendar Jain's bail till July 24 in money laundering case

The Supreme Court on Monday extended till July 24 the interim bail granted to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds in a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate. A bench of justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh directed senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, to submit the medical reports to Additional Solicitor General S V Raju. During the brief hearing, Singhvi submitted that three hospitals have recommended surgery for Jain. The top court on May 26 had granted interim bail to Jain for six weeks on medical grounds, saying a citizen has a right to receive treatment of his choice in a private hospital at his own expense. The ED had arrested Jain on May 30 last year on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him. The agency had arrested Jain in the aftermath of a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was granted regular bail by the trial court on

The political impact of Rahul Gandhi's legal woes

Going to jail is a rite of passage for politicians, and they tend to emerge stronger if the punishment is seen to be unfair

Those facing graft charges declared clean after joining BJP: Sanjay Raut

"This is a conspiracy by the BJP. They are breaking other parties. They bring in members of other parties and put them in the BJP'swashing machine to wash off the taint of corruption'' said Raut

Shaping political alliances

Opposition unity has suffered a setback

Manipur govt to provide security to farmers doing agricultural work: Police

The Manipur government will provide security to farmers engaged in agricultural work in the ethnic strife-hit state, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference at Police Headquarters here, Inspector General of Police I K Muivah said as the planting period of the agriculture season is very short, the police will provide security to farmers engaged in agriculture work. The IGP said the state had recently reduced the number of security personnel deployed on VIP duty and will utilise them in providing security to farmers doing agricultural activities. However, the farmers should contact the Superintendent of Police of their respective district before heading out for their work, the IGP said. No farmers should go out for farming if they don't have any security cover, he said. The IGP said 822 security personnel will be deployed in providing security to farmers in Imphal West district, 290 in Imphal East, 236 in Bishnupur, 147 in Thoubal, 204 in Kakching, 20

All political parties condemn panchayat poll related deaths in West Bengal

Cutting across ideological lines, all parties in West Bengal on Saturday condemned the killing of nine people in various parts of the state as voting for the panchayat elections is underway. The opposition BJP and CPI(M) alleged that the State Election Commission (SEC) did not deploy the central forces as per the orders of the Calcutta High Court. The ruling TMC, which lost five of its supporters to poll violence, questioned the absence of central forces that have been brought in for the elections. "Shocking incidents are being reported since last night. BJP, CPI(M) and Congress had colluded, demanding central forces. Where are they deployed? TMC workers are being murdered. Where are the central forces?" state minister Sashi Panja asked. "There is rampant usage of arms and the ruling Trinamool Congress is behind all these incidents. They had planned it well in advance to create disturbances on the polling day and loot votes. But I am happy to see that in some places, people have pu

AP Guv, CM pay tributes to Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on his birth anniversary

Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy paid rich tributes to former CM Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on his 74th birth anniversary, which is observed as Rythu Dinotsavam' (Farmer's Day), on Saturday. The Governor said Rajasekhar Reddy had endeared himself to the masses by introducing several pro-poor welfare schemes and made notable reforms in the agricultural sector. Y S Rajasekhar Reddy will always be remembered for his invaluable contribution for the welfare of the people and development of the state, tweeted Nazeer. Remembering his father, Jagan Mohan Reddy noted that he always strove for improving the living standards of people and ensured that everybody stayed happy. These endeavours have cemented your place in people's hearts. Your inspiration always leads me in achieving these goals, tweeted Jagan Mohan Reddy. Further, the Chief Minister said that Rajasekhar Reddy's birth anniversary is a festival for everyone. Rajasekhar Reddy was born on

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi arrives in New Delhi, to meet officials

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi arrived in the national capital on Friday late night.According to Raj Bhavan sources, Tamil Nadu Governor is likely to meet officials in the Capital.The visit to Delhi comes on the heels of his continuing war of words with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over the order sacking jailed DMK minister Senthil Balaji from the state cabinet.The dismissal order, however, was later put on hold at the behest of the governor.Balaji was dismissed by Governor Ravi from the council of minister following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam.Earlier, on Thursday Tamil Nadu Law Minister Thiru S Regupathy engaged in a war of words with the Tamil Nadu Governor alleging that the latter was shielding the Opposition leaders from corruption charges.Tamil Nadu Law Minister wrote to Governor Ravi seeking prosecution of former AIADMK ministers while alleging that the latter was shielding the Opposition leaders from ...

Rahul Gandhi's chronic habit to abuse, defame others: Ravi Shankar Prasad

The BJP on Friday welcomed the Gujarat High Court's decision rejecting Rahul Gandhi's plea to stay his conviction in a defamation case and said it is the Congress leader's "chronic habit" to abuse and defame others. Addressing a press conference here, BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad noted that the Congress leader refused to apologise for his 'Modi surname' jibe and displayed "irresponsible arrogance". If he behaves like this and defames people and institutions, the law with catch up with him, he said. The law has caught up with him, he added. Prasad noted that there are seven-eight defamation cases against the former Congress president. It has become a chronic habit of Gandhi to abuse and defame eminent people and organisations, the BJP leader said, noting that he has also been accused of insulting a great patriot such as Veer Savarkar and the Hindutva organisation RSS. It is his arrogance that he believes he is above the law as he is from the Gandhi fami

Congress worker killed in West Bengal's Murshidabad ahead of rural polls

A Congress worker was allegedly beaten to death by unidentified people in West Bengal's Murshidabad district ahead of the panchayat polls in the state, police said on Friday. The incident took place in the Raninagar area, hours before Governor C V Ananda Bose reached the district to visit violence-hit areas there, a senior officer said. Arabindo Mondal (45), who was a Congress member, died after he was beaten up by unidentified people, the officer said. The house of the deceased was allegedly attacked on Thursday night, leading to a clash between two groups, he said. "The person was declared brought dead to a hospital in Islampur. We are investigating the matter. No one has been arrested," the officer said. Heavy police deployment was made in the area to maintain law and order, he added. The panchayat elections in the state will be held on Saturday. Around 5.67 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the three-tier panchayat system, comprising zilla parishad, .