Page 517 - Politics
10 govt employees suspended for absenteeism in Rajouri
Ten government officials in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district were suspended on Friday for alleged absenteeism, officials said. As many as 47 institutions were inspected during recent surprise inspections in Rajouri, they said. Against the strength of 478 officials posted in these institutions, 309 were were found present, 17 absent and 50 others on leave, officials said. Four other were shown on deputation, they said. Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri Mohammad Aijaz Asad, under whose directive the checks were made, placed ten employees under suspension, they said. Seven contractual employees who were absent have been directed to explain their position, along with reasons why their contracts should not be terminated, officials said. The DC added no laxity would be allowed in the maintenance of discipline and punctuality in government offices.
Panaji bypoll: Bottles flung at BJP candidate's car
Hours after BJP Panaji bypoll candidate Siddharth Kunkolienkar's car was attacked, the opposition Congress refuted allegations that its workers could be behind the incident. Kunkolienkar filed a complaint with Panaji police station in the early hours of Friday after two unidentified youth threw bottles on his car. "In the light of cowardly attack, I request my @BJP4India karyakartas and people of Panaji to remain united and calm. We will not get disturbed by such acts of #Goondagiri. Let us stay focused and work hard to ensure a @BJP4India win in Panaji with a historic margin," he tweeted Friday morning. Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said his party had nothing to with the incident and, in a sarcastic vein, asked the state government to provide Kunkolienkar a security detail of "100 guards and five escort vehicles". The bypoll is slated for May 19.
Swaraj meets Afghan High Peace Council secy, discusses peace process
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday met Afghanistan's High Peace Council Secretary Umer Daudzai, who briefed her on the outcome of the recently held 'Loya Jirga' or peace meeting in Kabul. A historic "loya jirga" peace summit in Kabul was held earlier this month with delegates from across Afghanistan demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and President Ashraf Ghani saying he was conditionally prepared to implement the call. The 'loya jirga' or grand assembly saw about 3,200 religious and tribal leaders, politicians and representatives try to find a breakthrough in Afghanistan's gruelling conflict. Daudzai, who is also President Ghani's special envoy, also met Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. "EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Foreign Secretary met Afghanistan's High Peace Council Secretary & President Ghani's Special Envoy @Umerdaudzai2 ,who briefed the Indian leadership on the outcome of the recently held Loya Jirga. India expressed its support for sustainable peace .
Pragya's candidature was 'satyagrah' against 'saffron terror': Shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Friday defended the candidature of party's Lok Sabha nominee from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur as 'satyagrah' against the fake case of saffron terror, saying after her reply to the show-cause notice, the party would take appropriate action.
Indian Navy successfully test-fires MRSAM missile
The Indian Navy has successfully test-fired a Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM), achieving a significant milestone to enhance its anti-air warfare capability, the defence ministry said Friday. The test-firing of the missile was undertaken on the western seaboard by Indian naval ships Kochi and Chennai. "The Indian Navy achieved a significant milestone in enhancing its anti air warfare capability with the maiden cooperative engagement firing of the MRSAM," the defence ministry said in a statement. The test-firing of the missile was carried out jointly by the Indian Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries. The DRDO has jointly developed the missile in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries. The MRSAM has been manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited. "These surface to air missiles are fitted onboard the Kolkata class destroyers and would also be fitted on all future major warships of the Indian Navy," the ministry ...
'Showing up is half the battle': Rahul Gandhi on PM's first PC appearance
The Congress on Friday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking any question in his first appearance at a press conference, with party president Rahul Gandhi saying "showing up is half the battle". The Congress charge against Modi and Amit Shah was led by Gandhi after the PM showed up on the dais for a scheduled press conference by the BJP chief, who gave a report card on the performance of the NDA government as well as party's extensive electioneering. "Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference! Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer a couple of questions. Well done," Gandhi tweeted. In his opening remarks during the presser, Modi asserted the BJP will come back to power with a full majority on its own, but refused to take any questions, citing party discipline. Gandhi said it is "very impressive" to see the PM address his first press conference a few days before the Lok Sabha election results are out. "The PM's first press ..
Naidu calls EC pro-government, wants action against Pragya
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday accused the Election Commission of being pro-government and demanded action against BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Thakur for "insulting" Mahatma Gandhi.
Congress switches to Mahatma Gandhi's image on twitter profile
A day after BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur kicked up a major row by describing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "deshbhakt" (patriot), the Congress on Friday changed its Twitter handle profile picture with an image of Mahatma Gandhi.
Cong-JDS govt's fall imminent after LS polls:Yeddyurappa
Describing the Congress-JDS coalition dispensation in Karnataka as a hub of infighting and confusion, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa Friday expressed doubts over the government's continuation after the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP leader made the remark in Hubballi when asked about the Twitter war between chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge becoming the chief minister. Kumaraswamy's remark that Kharge should have been offered the top post long ago had triggered a twitter debate between him and Siddaramaiah, who is also the ruling coalition coordination committee chief. In response to Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah had suggested that Kumaraswamys elder brother H D Revanna too was quite capable to lead the state as chief minister. Yeddyurappa said, "Congress and JD(S) have become a hub of squabbling. What will people be thinking when Siddaramaiah says Revanna should be the chief minister and then ...
Victory of 'Nyay' certain on May 23: Priyanka
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said her party did not allow the BJP to divert the focus in elections from issues of employment and farming as she asserted that the victory of 'Nyay' was certain on May 23. Campaigning in the bitterly fought marathon Lok Sabha elections, spread over 38 days, drew to a close Friday evening as top leaders made a final push in the seventh and concluding phase for the remaining 59 seats. "Dear friends, 60 days of spirited election campaign for 'one person one vote' or political equality was made possible because of your love," Priyanka said. "Despite BJP's efforts, we did not allow the elections to be diverted from issues of employment, farming, and income. On the 23rd (May), the victory of 'Nyay' (justice) and people's voice is certain," said the AICC general secretary, in-charge Uttar Pradesh (East). The Congress' proposed Nyuntam Aay Yojana (Nyay) promises up to Rs 72,000 a year to 20 per cent of India's poorest families if ...
BJP's ideology same as that of Godse, says Chavan
Targetting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statement that he will not forgive BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur for calling Nathuram Godse a "patriot", Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan Friday said the definition of "patriotism" was different for the ruling party. "Its definition is different from the rest. Modi and Amit Shah might have distanced themselves from her comments but the fact is Godse's ideology and BJP's ideology are the same," Chavan alleged. Welcoming the ordinance on the SEBC quota for Maratha students in post-graduate medical and dental courses, approved by the Maharashtra cabinet on Friday, Chavan said the move should have been made earlier. He lambasted the Devendra Fadnavis government for using the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls, in force since March 10, as an excuse to not come up with drought- relief measures.
Modi's election campaign involved 1.5 lakh km of air travel, 142 rallies: Shah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew 1.5 lakh km and addressed 142 public rallies during the most extensive campaign for a Lok Sabha election since Independence, BJP president Amit Shah said Friday. Addressing a press conference here with the PM by his side, Shah praised Modi for braving scorching temperatures which went up to 46 degrees Celsius. "Since Independence, the most hardworking, extensive election campaign was this one and Modi's outreach was unprecedented," Shah said. There is hardly any part of the country Modi did not visit during the election campaign between February and May, he said. The dates for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections were announced on March 10. "On 28 March 2019, the campaign started from Meerut. PM Modi addressed 142 public rallies, held four roadshows and, according to conservative estimates, he directly addressed about 1.5 crore people in these rallies. Modi's campaign involved air travel of around 1.5 lakh km," he said. Shah also said, that he himself .
Russia to pay 2.7 mln in Greenpeace ship settlement
The Netherlands and Russia on Friday settled a long-running dispute over the seizure of Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise ship during an oil drilling protest in 2013, with Moscow expected to pay 2.7 million euros (USD 3 million) in compensation. The settlement, reached after the Dutch dragged Moscow to various courts following the incident, was reached after talks between Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "The Russian Federation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands... have come to a full and final settlement of any and all mutual claims" arising from the incident, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a joint statement with Russia. Russian commandos seized the Dutch-flagged ship in September 2013 and detained 30 Greenpeace activists and journalists on board after a protest at an offshore oil rig owned by Russian state oil giant Gazprom. The Dutch government then started several arbitration procedures and in 2017 the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration
Maha Cong meet on May 20 to choose new CLP leader
The Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will meet on May 20 to choose its new leader after the resignation of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil as CLP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, state unit chief Ashok Chavan said Friday. Addressing a press conference, Chavan said AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge will be present at the meeting. Vikhe Patil had quit after his son Sujay joined the BJP when the NCP refused to the leave Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat for ally Congress. Chavan also said candidates have been asked to submit campaign reports, hoping that these would come in by May 20.
PM Modi at his first press conference diverts questions to Shah, asserts BJP will be back in power
Addressing his first press conference after coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on the last day of campaigning Friday that the BJP will come back to power with a full majority, but refused to take any questions, citing party discipline. In a surprised move, Modi showed up on the dais at the BJP headquarters here for a scheduled press conference by party president Amit Shah, who gave a detailed report card on the performance of the NDA government as well as BJP's extensive electioneering. After his opening remarks, Modi diverted questions by journalists, saying he will not answer because the press conference is being addressed by Shah, and in BJP's system, discipline has to be followed. "We are disciplined soldiers of the party. The party president is everything for us," Modi said. In his remarks, Modi said,"the election has been amazing (shandar). Elections were held in a positive spirit. A government with full majority will come back after remaining in ...
Nepali journalists protest against proposed media bill in Kathmandu
Over 250 Nepali journalists on Friday staged a sit-in protest outside the Parliament here demanding the withdrawal of the proposed Media Council Bill that aims to curtail press freedom by imposing strict penalty on media outlets. Nepal has proposed the new media bill aimed at imposing a hefty fine of up to Rs 1 million on media outlets found guilty of damaging anyone's reputation, raising alarm among journalists who say the government seeks to punish the press in the name of regulation. The new Media Council bill aims to replace the existing Press Council Act and will have more authority to issue hefty fines and give the government more say in the hiring and firing of the council members. The journalists protested under the banner of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) against the proposed bill and warned of escalating the agitation if the bill was not rolled-back. Senior journalists, including FNJ President Govinda Acharya and other human right activists, said that there was a ...
BJP has made stand clear on Pragya's Godse remark: Chouhan
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Friday said the BJP has already made its stand clear on its Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur terming Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot". Thakur had made the comment while talking to the media in MP's Agar Malwa district on Thursday against the backdrop of actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan referring to Godse as a "Hindu extremist". "On this matter, the BJP has already made its stand clear," Chouhan said, and refused to talk on the subject further. When his reaction was sought on MP BJP chief Rakesh Singh's decision to suspend the primary membership of Anil Saumitra, a BJP state spokesperson for a controversial Facebook post on Mahatma Gandhi, Chouhan said that BJP has already made it stand clear on it. In a Facebook post on Thursday night, Saumitra has said, "He (Mahatma) was the father of the nation, but of Pakistan, there were millions of sons like him in India some worthy
Campaigning ends for final phase of polling in Jharkhand
Campaigning for the fourth phase of polling in Jharkhand, the seventh and final phase in the country, ended on Friday evening.
Modi is an actor, says Priyanka; compares him to Asrani in Sholay
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Friday dubbed Narendra Modi an "actor" and said Amitabh Bachchan would have been a better choice for the prime minister's post. In another Bollywood reference, she likened Modi to Asrani's character in Bachchan-starrer Sholay. "Prime Minister Modi is not a leader, he is an actor. It would have been better if Amitabh Bachchan was made the prime minister," she said at an election meeting at the end of her roadshow in Mirzapur. In Gorakhpur, she asked the crowd, Have you seen the Sholay' movie and Asrani's role in it? He used to always say 'angrezon ke zamane mein' (in the time of the British). And in the same way Modi ji talks about Jawaharlal's work, Indira Gandhi's work and Rajiv Gandhi's work. Why doesn't he talk about his work in the last five years? she said. "The aim of the BJP is to grab power. Modi has been unable to fulfil the promises made during the last general election, she said in Mirzapur. The Congress on the contrary does .
US' Israel-Palestinian peace plan a surrender act: Minister
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki has called the anticipated US plan for ending the Israel-Palestinian conflict an unacceptable "surrender act".