Page 56 - Politics

Classic example of indigestion: Nadda slams Cong on Nehru Library renaming

BJP president JP Nadda on Friday slammed the Congress over its remarks on the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, saying its inability to accept that there are leaders beyond "one dynasty" is a classic example of "political indigestion". The government renaming the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society (NMML) here as the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society has drawn sharp reaction from the Congress that called it a "petty act" while asserting that legacies do not get erased by renaming buildings. Reacting to the renaming of the NMML, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said this shows the "low mentality and dictatorial attitude" of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as they can never reduce the huge contribution of Nehru, whom he described as the architect of modern India. In a series of tweets, Nadda said, "Classic example of political indigestion -- the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have

Youth Congress to organise convention in Bengaluru on July 10 for members

The Indian Youth Congress will organise a programme in Bengaluru from July 10 to 12, which is likely to be attended by more than 3,000 of its office bearers from across the country, an official said on Friday. "Today every section of the society is troubled. The list of promises made by the Modi government to the people of the country is long. However, the public is suffering. That's why Indian Youth Congress is going to start a nationwide campaign 'Behtar Bharat Ki Buniyaad ' youth convention for 2024," IYC national president Srinivas B V said while holding a press conference here. He said the program is going to be the biggest organisational youth convention programme of the Indian Youth Congress. National in-charge of IYC and All India Congress Committee (AICC) joint secretary Krishna Allavaru said the programme will be a conference of 'Mann Ki Baat' of the youth of the country. "Through this conference we will listen to the youth of the country, understand and then work for the

JP Nadda hauls up BJP MPs for not taking interest in party programmes

BJP national president J. P. Nadda has hauled up party MPs for not showing interest in party programmes

Focus on work, do not let media set agenda: Fadnavis at legislators' meet

After a war of words between the BJP and ally Shiv Sena over a newspaper advertisement, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cautioned on Friday against deviating from the agenda of nation building. Fadnavis was speaking at the inauguration of the first National Legislators Conference organised by the MIT-School of Governance and attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, presiding officers of assemblies and nearly 2,000 legislators from across the country. "I have seen that often the media decides the agenda for us. We are so desperate to appear in the media that we forget our own agenda," he said amid a row over the newspaper advertisement that projected Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a more popular leader in the state than his deputy. Fadnavis urged the legislators attending the conference not to deviate from the agenda of law making and contributing to the progress of the nation. He said democracy took root in India centuries ago and continues to thrive even today

Trump's prosecution threat follows years of attacking democratic traditions

As Donald Trump became the first former president to face federal charges, he and his supporters went through a familiar routine of mounting a victimhood defense in the face of unprecedented allegations of wrongdoing. But this time, the stakes are higher. Trump upped the level of his claims and threats as he faces the potential of years in prison if convicted on 37 charges of obstruction, illegal retention of defense information and other violations. Hours after pleading not guilty, Trump claimed he is being targeted by the special prosecutor, who is nonpartisan, for political reasons and vowed to retaliate against President Joe Biden if he is elected president in 2024. There was an unwritten rule to not prosecute former presidents and political rivals, Trump told supporters in a speech at his golf club in New Jersey. I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of America, Joe Biden, and go after the Biden crime family. The vow is

NMML renamed Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, Nehru dropped

The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society housed in Teen Murti Bhavan premises here has been renamed as Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, prompting sharp reactions from the Congress. Teen Murti Bhavan served as the official residence of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society (NMML), it was resolved to change its name, the Culture Ministry said on Friday. The meeting was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice president of the Society, it said. In his address at the meeting, Singh "welcomed the proposal for change in name", since in its new form the institution exhibits the contributions of all prime ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi and their responses to various challenges faced by them, the statement said. Describing prime ministers as an institution and comparing the journey of various prime ministers to the varied colours of a rainbow, Singh ...

Govt should set up department of peace if it believes in democracy: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the BJP-led Centre should set up a department of peace and non-violence just like his government has done if it truly believes in democracy and the Constitution. Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of winning elections in the name of religion, Gehlot said ensuring poll victories in this manner is easy and not an act of bravery. He reiterated that the situation in the country is alarming and that democracy is under threat. Speaking at the "Rajasthan Gandhi Darshan Sammelan" programme here, Gehlot alleged that the BJP had put forward Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and yoga guru Ramdev in a movement against the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre on issues such as Lokpal and added that there is no talk about issues such as Lokpal, 2G spectrum or the coal scam today. "Today, the question is what is the state of democracy in this country? It is not known in which direction the countr

Democrats and Republicans share core values but still distrust each other

Americans on the right and the left have a lot more in common than they might think including their strong distrust of each other. A survey published on Wednesday finds that when asked about core values including fairness, compassion and personal responsibility, about nine in 10 Democrats and Republicans agreed they were very or extremely important. Yet only about a third of either group said they believed the same was true for the opposing party. The results of the survey, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago and the nonprofit group Starts With Us, reveal a stark truth at the source of the polarization that has a powerful grip on American politics: While most Americans agree on the core principles underlying American democracy, they no longer recognise that the other side also holds those values. This is a hidden opportunity for Americans to reestablish a sense of shared values, said Tom Fishman, chief executive at Starts With Us, a nonpartisan organisation that works to

Cong slams govt over RBI policy change to settle loans of wilful defaulters

Congress on Wednesday slammed the Centre after RBI brought in a policy that allows banks to settle loans of accounts classified as "wilful defaulters" by entering into compromise settlements

Naga-Meitei stance on 'Manipur integration' triggers debate on unity, peace

In a major development, the Nagas of Manipur and the majority Meitei community have resolved to strive for maintaining territorial integrity of the violence-hit state

AAP condemns TN minister Senthil's arrest, calls it 'political vendetta'

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday condemned the arrest of Tamil Nadu's Electricity Minister, V. Senthil Balaji, and termed the action as 'political vendetta'.

WH press secretary violated rules against politics on job: Watchdog

Since taking on the role of White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre has become known for frequently dodging questions by citing the Hatch Act. The law bars civil servants from politicking during their day jobs, and Jean-Pierre uses it to deflect reporters' questions involving campaigns. But apparently she wasn't careful enough. The Office of Special Counsel, a government agency that enforces the Hatch Act, said in a recent letter that Jean-Pierre violated the law before last year's midterm elections. Her offence: Making frequent references to "MAGA Republicans" during White House briefings. According to a letter from the Office of Special Counsel, Jean-Pierre "made those references to generate opposition to Republican candidates" and "accordingly, making the references constituted political activity". The letter was posted online by The Washington Post. It was first reported by NBC News. Penalties for Hatch Act violations are uncommon, and the office did not recommend any

Rahul takes a truck ride from Washington DC to New York to speak to drivers

In the video posted by him on YouTube, Rahul Gandhi can be seen discussing how American truck drivers earn fair wages and work in a system that is focused on the 'driver's comfort'

BJP promotes implementation of welfare schemes, targets Cong for corruption

BJP, which has been promoting achievements of Modi govt for 9 years, has once again targeted Cong. It claimed that the Modi government has implemented various welfare schemes during the last 9 years

2024 LS polls: Opposition strategists will need to agree on a common agenda

Opposition strategists will need to agree on a common agenda for the 2024 polls and iron out rough spots over areas where regional parties and the Congress contest for the same turf

Five states will go to the polls in 2023-24 ahead of the general elections

What are the political equations, the challenges, and the threats?

Kejriwal moves Gujarat HC seeking review of its order on PM Modi's degree

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached Gujarat High Court seeking a review of its recent order setting aside the Central Information Commission's directive to the Gujarat University to provide information on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degree to the AAP national convener. One of the key contentions raised by Kejriwal is that contrary to Gujarat University's claim that Modi's degree is available online, no such degree is available on the university's website. Following a brief hearing on Friday, Justice Biren Vaishnav admitted Kejriwal's review petition and kept it for further hearing on June 30. The HC issued a rule to the Gujarat University, Central government and former Chief Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu. In March, Justice Vaishnav had allowed Gujarat University's appeal against the CIC order and had also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Kejriwal. In April 2016, then CIC Acharyulu had directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide ...

UP rid of all corruption in recruitment process in 6 years: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said his government in its six years eliminated "corruption, disorder and anarchy" from the recruitment process. The CM made the remark at an event where he handed over appointment letters to 7,182 ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife) selected through the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission. "We have not accepted rigging, disorder, anarchy and corruption in any selection process within the last six years," he said. Be it the several state commissions or the Basic Education Council, recruitment process everywhere is now transparent, an official release quoting the CM said. Congratulating all selected ANMs, he urged them to discharge their duties honestly. "Instead of protesting, you trusted the government and after the process of selection, waited for the decision of the Supreme Court to come in your favour," he said. "People tried to obstruct the selection process, but we have attacked their unethical action

Israeli troops fire tear gas to disperse protesters along Lebanon border

Israeli soldiers fired tear gas to disperse scores of protesters who pelted the troops with stones along the border with Lebanon Friday, leaving some Lebanese demonstrators and troops suffering breathing problems. The tension on the edge of the Lebanese border village of Kfar Chouba began earlier this week over the Israeli military digging in the area that Lebanon claims. On Wednesday, a Lebanese villager tried to stop an Israeli bulldozer from digging a trench along the border. Once the villager's legs were covered with sand as the bulldozer moved ahead, U.N. peacekeepers jumped in and convinced the driver to move back. Videos of the elderly man with his legs stuck in the sand dune went viral on social media. Israel ended an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon when its troops withdrew from the area in May 2000. Friday's protest took place on the edge of Kfar Chouba hills, which Beirut says is Lebanese land occupied by Israel. Kfar Chouba hills and the nearby Chebaa Farms, ar

BJP attacks Rahul over 'mohabbat ki dukaan' pitch, says his shop is of lies

Senior BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna has attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "mohabbat ki dukaan" pitch, saying his shop is only of lies. In a speech at an event in the US earlier this week, Gandhi had referred to his slogan made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, during which he had said "nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan kholenge" (in the market of hate, shops of love will be opened). He had also criticised the BJP, saying that "India has understood that it cannot go forward with the type of hatred that the BJP is spreading in society". On Thursday evening, Khanna said here that "whatever Rahul (Gandhi) ji is speaking on foreign soil, I think that nothing could be more dirty, bad and wrong than this". He also cited that "when we (the BJP) were in the Opposition, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was our leader, the then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao had sent Atal ji in a delegation abroad. At that time, Atal ji had praised the government on foreign soil". On Gandhi's "mohab