Page 557 - Politics
UGC warns students against taking admission in institutions in Pakistan occupied Kashmir
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has warned students against taking admission in unapproved institutions in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). "Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The educational institutions including universities, medical colleges, technical institutions situated in PoJK are neither established by the Indian government nor recognised by statutory authorities including UGC, AICTE and Medical Council of India," UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain said in an advisory. "The students are therefore cautioned and advised against taking admission in college, university or technical institution in any territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan, including the so called AJK (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and Gilgit Baltistan which are currently not recognised in India," he added. Pakistan occupied Kashmir is that part of Jammu and Kashmir state of India which Pakistan had invaded in 1947. It has been divided into two parts called Azad Jammu ...
Spain pulls its frigate from US military build-up in Gulf
Spain has recalled a frigate accompanying a US aircraft carrier to the Middle East because of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, the defence ministry said Tuesday. "For the moment the frigate Mendez Nunez has left the combat group of the USS Abraham Lincoln," a ministry spokesman told AFP, confirming a report in the Spanish daily El Pais. "It's a temporary withdrawal, decided by Defence Minister Margarita Robles, as long as the American aircraft carrier is in this zone," the spokesman added. He said the Spanish frigate had joined the aircraft carrier's strike group for a military exercise. "No possible confrontation or warlike action is envisaged (by Spain) and it is for this reason that the participation is suspended for the moment," he added. On May 5, the United States announced it was deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the Middle East in response to a "credible threat" from Iran. Last Friday, the Pentagon announced the ...
Amit Shah holds road show in Kolkata
In a show of strength ahead of the final phase of polls, BJP national President Amit Shah Tuesday held a road show in the city in support of the party's candidates. The rally started at around 4.30 p m from Esplande area in central Kolkata to Swami Vivekananda's house in north Kolkata. Shah stood atop a decorated truck along with BJP's Kolkata north and Kolkata south candidates Rahul Sinha and Chandra Kumar Bose respectively and was seen waving at the crowds which had gathered on both sides of the road. Tableaux highlighting the culture of various parts of the state and country were seen moving ahead of the convoy. Waving party flags, BJP supporters were heard shouting slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Narendra Modi Zindabad' and 'Amit Shah Zindabad'. People dressed as Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman were also seen in the rally.
Priyanka's HP visit cancelled due to bad weather
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's proposed visit to Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday was cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather.
AIADMK wants EC to impose poll campaign ban on Dhinakaran
The AIADMK Tuesday appealed to the Election Commission to bar AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran from campaigning for allegedly making personal attacks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam. Calling it a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the ruling party also accused Dhinakaran of criticising Supreme Court and Madras High Court judgments, which the party said, amounted to contempt. "During his campaign in Sulur assembly constituency yesterday, TTV Dhinakaran made personal attacks against TN CM and his deputy that violates election rules and procedures set by the EC," the AIADMK said in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo. Dhinakaran, the AIADMK claimed, has also criticised judgments of the apex court and High Court pertaining to Tamil Nadu with a motive to garner votes for his candidate. The AMMK general secretary was misleading the public by disseminating false information, the letter alleged and urged the CEO ..
Thai king endorses junta-appointed senators
Scores of junta loyalists were endorsed as members of Thailand's 250-strong senate on Tuesday, packing the upper house with allies likely to vote for coup leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha's return as civilian premier after a highly disputed poll. The full list, which included the junta leader's brother and scores of military officers, was appointed by junta number two Prawit Wongsuwan, endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and published in palace mouthpiece The Royal Gazette. Army Chief Apirat Kongsompong and National Police Chief Jakthip Chaijinda are now senators, as expected, thanks to a controversial military-scripted constitution adopted in 2017. But Prawit also selected some 100 serving and retiring military and police officers -- making up 40 percent of the senate. He also picked more than 50 members of the rubber-stamp National Legislative Assembly (NLA), and 15 ministers to be elevated to the senate. Well-known family names of the junta's top-ranking officials and allies are on the ...
Sushma Swaraj holds talks with Iranian Foreign Minister
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Tuesday held "constructive" discussions with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on all bilateral issues of mutual interests. The talks by the two foreign ministers came 12 days after the US ended six-month-long exemptions from sanctions to India and seven other countries to buy oil from Iran. It is learnt that the issue figured in the talks. "EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister @JZarif held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. After the exemptions expired on May 2, India said it will deal with the issue based on three factors -- the country's energy security, commercial consideration and economic interests. In May last year, the US had brought back sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal which was struck in 2015. The US had told India ...
Modi makes emotional appeal to Kashi voters
Striking an emotional chord with voters of the temple town, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday described himself as a 'Kashi-vaasi' and sought their blessings to pave the way for his election to Lok Sabha for a second term from the seat. Terming Kashi his guiding spirit, the prime minister said his bond with the holy city was very strong as he had come here several times in the past five years, and added that it is believed that if a person comes here even once, he becomes an inseparable part of the city. The prime minister had come here last time on April 26 to file his nomination papers. Modi held a massive roadshow during which he said that he will come to the people again to thank them once the result of the elections was out, implying that he might not come here to campaign. In 2014, Modi won the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, defeating Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal by a huge margin of 3.37 lakh votes. Modi had polled 5,16,593 votes, about half the total votes, while ...
Rahul good leader, will reach consensus on PM candidate after tallying results: Chandrababu Naidu
TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has termed Rahul Gandhi a "good leader who has concerns for the nation" and asserted that unlike 1996, non-BJP parties won't commit the mistake of keeping the Congress out if such an alliance forms a government at the Centre. In an interview to PTI on the sidelines of a poll meeting in East Midnapore district's Haldia in support of TMC candidates, he claimed the BJP is on its way out, and batted for a coalition government saying, "It's better to have checks and balances." On the contentious issue of prime ministerial candidate of a non-BJP front, Naidu, who has been rallying regional parties to form such a coalition, said the constituents "will reach a consensus after tallying the number of seats each party gets". He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become desperate on realising that he is losing the Lok Sabha elections. "There is anti-incumbency. PM Modi tried his best, but he has no achievement. Because of that, he started talking about ..
HC seeks AAP govt's stand on PIL for state human rights commission in Delhi
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the AAP government's stand on a PIL seeking setting up of a state human rights commission in the national capital. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani issued notice to the Delhi government and sought its reply to the plea by September 7, the next date of hearing. The petition by Abhijit Mishra, a financial economist, has contended that the Delhi government has neither issued any notification nor made any efforts to set up a State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) here as prescribed under the Protection of Human Rights Act of 1993. In his plea, filed through advocate Payal Bahl, Mishra has alleged that by not setting up a SHRC, indicates the "failure" of the government to "protect and upholding the human rights, respect, dignity" of the people. The petition has claimed that there is no system in place to address the complaints of human rights violation raised by citizens of the national capital.
Priyanka taunts Modi over cloud cover remark
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Tuesday mocked Narendra Modi for suggesting that cloud cover helped IAF planes evade Pakistani radars during the Balakot air strike, saying the truth about the prime minister is now on the people's radar. Addressing a rally here, the Congress general secretary accused Modi of indulging only in propaganda and making big promises, while projecting that no development took place in the past 70 years. Priyanka Gandhi referred to a recent interview by Modi in which he said there was cloud cover over Balakot when the air strikes were being planned. Modi reportedly said he felt that the crowd cover will help Indian Air Force planes evade Pakistani radars. The truth about him has now come on the people's radar, Priyanka Gandhi said at the rally in support of Congress candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. She accused Modi of not keeping his promise of creating two crore new jobs. She claimed 12,000 farmers committed suicide during the last five years and .
Congress is arrogant, says Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the Congress of arrogance and said it attempted to erase the name of B.R. Ambedkar from history and insulted party veteran Jagjivan Ram.
Congress legislator attacked in Rae Bareli
Congress MLA Aditi Singh was attacked by unidentified men while she was on her way to the district panchayat office where voting was taking place on a no-confidence motion against Panchayat head Avadesh Singh.
Congress arrogant , the nation is saying ab bahut hua : Modi
Lambasting the Congress over Sam Pitrodas hua to hua comment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday charged that the remark was a reflection on the partys arrogance with which it has been shrugging off its misdeeds while it was in power. The three words hua to hua (whatever happened, happened) uttered by the guru (Pitroda) of the Naamdaar (Rahul Gandhi) in front of TV cameras sum up their attitude. This is the way they have brazened it out whenever their regimes have been discredited on account of corruption scandals, Modi told an election rally in Sasaram. The nation is fed up and crying out ab bahut hua (now, enough is enough)", he said. The people are fed up with the dynasty politics of Congress, their corruption and arrogance. "The message on May 23 when counting of votes is scheduled, will be loud and clear, Modi said evoking chants of phir ek baar Modi sarkaar from the crowds. In an obvious dig at Lalu Prasads RJD, he said the arrogance of the Congress was on ..
Army seeks defence ministry's intervention for supply of better ammunition
The Army has sought immediate intervention of the Defence Ministry to check rising cases of accidents involving battle tanks, artillery and air defence guns due to "poor quality" of ammunition being supplied to it by the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), official sources said. They said the Army has specifically raised the issue with Secretary (Defence Production) Ajay Kumar, saying poor quality of ammunition has been causing damage to a range of key weapons of the Army in the past few years, they said. Following the Army's request, the defence ministry examined the issue and found that OFB has not been pro-active in improving quality of the ammunition to contain accidents caused by faulty ammunition, the sources said. The OFB operates 41 ordnance factories across the country and functions under the department of defence production of the ministry of defence. When contacted, the OFB said it supplies ammunition to Indian Army after through inspection by its Quality Control ...
Modi insulted my family but I won't insult his: Rahul Gandhi
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi insulted his father and grandmother during campaigning but he would not do the same to the latter's parents. Addressing a rally ahead of the fourth and last phase of Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi also said Modi should stop talking about "clouds and mangoes" and tell people about issues which matter. Gandhi also said the Congress would defeat the prime minister "with love". "Modi ji talks with hatred. He insults my father, grandmother, great grandfather. But I will never in my life speak about his family, his mother and father. I will die, but will never insult his mother and father. "This is because I am not a RSS or BJP man, but belong to the Congress. I will return him love if hatred is thrown at me...We will defeat Modi ji with love, hugging you," he said. The Congress president was apparently referring to the prime minister's statements made in two interviews: to a news channel and ...
PM greets South African president on being re-elected
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday congratulated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election, saying the relationship between the two countries will continue to grow deeper and stronger. Ramaphosa's African National Congress retained power in South Africa last week winning 57.5 per cent of the votes. "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to President @CyrilRamaphosa on his re-election. India and South Africa are close partners with many shared values and common interests. I am confident that our relationship will continue to grow deeper and stronger," Modi tweeted.
Let's fight hard on ideology, not use hatred and violence: Rahul
Pushing for a new language in politics, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the fight on issues can be brutal but hatred and violence should not be used against each other. Gandhi's message for leaders and political parties came on a day Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar was back in the news with an article justifying his "neech" jibe against Narendra Modi, and also calling him the most "foul-mouthed" prime minister the country has seen. "I'm pushing for a new language in politics. Let's fight each other brutally on issues. Let's fight hard on ideology. But...Let's not use hatred and violence against each other," Gandhi tweeted. It's bad for the country, he said. His remarks come after an acrimonious exchange between political parties and leaders throughout the election campaign.
Will BJP make a dent in JMM bastion in Jharkhand?
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to hold a rally at Deoghar in the Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand on Wednesday, the question being asked is whether the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts pay in making a dent in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) bastion.
I have lived my life for poor: Prime Minister Modi
Mounting attack on the opposition leaders for their rags to riches stories, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he has lived his life for the poor people of the country."I have lived my life for the poor people of the country. The opposition leaders were initially poor but have amassed properties worth crores. Since when so much salary was given that one became the owner of billions," he asked while addressing an election rally here.In an apparent reference to subaltern leaders and their political outfits like Lalu Prasad Yadav led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Prime Minister Modi said that they believed that some caste groups were their slaves and they would vote as per their wishes."They believe that some caste groups are their slaves and they will do whatever is ordered by these leaders. However, they forget that we are Indian first when it comes to the interests of the country," he said.Prime Minister Modi said: "It is these leaders who get votes in the name of the ...