Page 564 - Politics
Accord on Sudan's new ruling body: Protest movement
Sudan's protest leaders said Monday that agreement has been reached with the country's military rulers on the makeup of a new "sovereign council" to run the country. "At today's meeting we agreed on the structure of the sovereign council which will include military and civilian representatives," Taha Osman, a spokesman for the protest movement, told AFP. Asked to elaborate, he said: "Tomorrow's discussions will revolve around the composition of the council.
Haftar's Libya offensive threatens international peace: EU
Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar's offensive against Tripoli represents a threat to international peace, the EU warned Monday. The bloc called for all sides in the Libyan conflict to put down their arms and to commit to UN talks, though the month-long assault on the capital shows little sign of ending. EU foreign ministers had earlier held talks on the crisis, which deepened dramatically last month when Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) holds the east of the country, launched a bid to seize Tripoli, seat of the UN-recognised government. "The LNA military attack on Tripoli and the subsequent escalation in and around the capital constitutes a threat to international peace and security and further threatens the stability of Libya," EU members said in a statement. "Furthermore, it enhances the risk of increased terrorist threat across the country." The statement, issued after EU ministers met the UN-recognised prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, also voiced concern about the "impact on
BJD praises BJP govt at Centre for its support to tackle Fani
The Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha on Monday praised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for its support to tackle cyclone Fani that killed at least 64 people and rendered over five lakh families homeless. The ruling BJD, which all along during campaigning for the Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls accused the BJP of "ignoring" the interest of Odisha, was now all praise for the Central government. "At the outset. I would like to thank the Union Government for the support rendered to the state of Odisha to effectively manage the extremely severe cyclone Fani and its aftermath," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendrea Modi while seeking five lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for the cyclone-hit state. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) also thanked Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for sanctioning 1,000 kilolitre of kerosene for distribution among the cyclone affected people. Pradhan made the sanction a ..
Sri Lankan Prez leaves for China to attend conference on Asian Civilizations
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena left for China on Monday in a move that has surprised both political and diplomatic circles over its urgency at a time when the island nation is witnessing communal violence following the deadly Easter Sunday suicide bombings. President Sirisena, who is heading a 27-member delegation, will attend the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing, local media reported. The conference - to be held from May 15 to 22 - will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who would deliver a keynote speech. During his three-day visit, President Sirisena will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi on Tuesday. More than 2,000 government officials and representatives of various circles from 47 Asian countries and other countries outside the region will attend the opening ceremony and forums. Sirisena's visit comes just three weeks after the ISIS suicide attack on three churches and three luxury hotels in the island nation that left more than 250 dead
Youth, women created pro-BJP 'wave' in polls: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said youth and women turned out to vote in full force in this election and that created a "wave" from every home in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
NDA partners doubt BJP will get majority on its own
Key Bharatiya Janata Party allies have taken to a cautious path, saying the NDA will form the next government but the BJP, unlike in 2014, will not be able to win a parliamentary majority on its own.
Kamal Haasan stirs row over Godse; BJP says assassin different from terrorist
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has said independent India's first "extremist was a Hindu"-- Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi, stoking a controversy with the BJP on Monday asserting that an "assassin" is very different from a terrorist. The BJP also accused the Makkal Needhi Maiyam founder of indulging in "divisive politics" and following the Congress and Communists in showing Hindus "in a bad light to appease minorities". Addressing an election campaign in Tamil Nadu's Aravakurichi on Sunday night, Haasan said he was one of those "proud Indians" who desires an India of equality and where the "three colours in the tricolour remained intact", in an obvious reference to different faiths. "I am not saying this because this is a Muslim dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. Independent India's first extremist was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it (extremism, apparently) starts," he said. Haasan said he was a "self-assumed great-grandson" of ...
Guj: Cong attacks BJP over fracas at Dalit wedding processions
The Gujarat Congress Monday accused the BJP government in the state of failing to ensure the safety of Dalits after some of their marriage processions were targeted by members of other communities. Senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia also alleged that the BJP was encouraging elements who were resorting to such acts against the Dalits. "The entire village should come together to celebrate and be part of marriage celebrations or such happy occasions. The police and the state government should take strong action against those who oppose this. But from what we have witnessed in Gujarat, the ruling BJP encourages such elements who work against Dalits," Modhwadia claimed. "The state government has failed to take concrete action against those attacking Dalits and dividing society. The world is looking at (Prime Minister) Modi's Gujarat model. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah owe an answer to the people of the country as to why the state government failed to take action," he ...
Navy Chief holds talks with chief of US naval operations
Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba Monday held extensive talks with Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral John Michael Richardson on ways to further deepen cooperation between navies of the two countries. Admiral Richardson is on a three-day visit to India which began on Sunday. "Major issues discussed included operations and exercises, training interactions, information exchange, capacity building and capability enhancement," the Indian Navy said. It said Admiral Richardson's visit is intended to consolidate bilateral naval relations between India and the US and also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation. The US naval official also interacted with Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa among others.
Raj Thackeray mocks Modi over 'cloud cover' remark
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi' 'cloud cover' theory on the Balakot air strike, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray said the whole world was laughing at India.
LS polls: 25 seats have shown particular trend, most of the times
Of the 543 seats up for grabs in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, at least 25 are special in a certain sense.
Milind Deora censured by EC for speech
The Election Commission on Monday censured Congress leader Milind Deora for his reported remarks exhorting the Jain community to vote against a party. The EC said that Deora, Congress candidate from South Mumbai, violated the provisions of the model code in his Zaveri Bazaar speech on April 2. "The Commission, after considering his reply found it violative of para 1 and para 3 of MCC and therefore Commission censured him and warned him to be more careful in future," the EC said. Earlier, he was served with a show cause notice for his reported remarks that Jains should teach that particular party a lesson for allegedly cooking meat near a temple.
Modi & Amarinder didn't fulfil even a single promise: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who started campaigning for the AAP candidates in Punjab on Monday, was greeted with black flags by a group of protesters in Sangrur district. Kejriwal commenced his poll campaign in favour of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Bhagwant Mann in Sangrur and took out a roadshow from Khanauri to Barnala. In Khanauri, a group of protesters showed black flags to the AAP chief for allegedly defaming Punjab over the drugs menace. "He (Kejriwal) had defamed Punjab over the drugs issue. And then tendered an unconditional apology to Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia (over the issue)," one of the protesters said, adding that the Delhi chief minister should have sought an apology from the people of the state. Meanwhile, Kejriwal alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had not fulfilled even a single poll promise made to the people. He accused them of cheating the people who reposed faith on them. The AAP leader accused Singh
CBI carries out searches at 22 locations in 250 crore scholarship scam
The CBI carried out searches at 22 locations Monday after registering a case in connection with alleged irregularities in distribution of scholarships worth Rs 250 crore to disadvantaged students by the Himachal Pradesh government from 2013-2017, officials said. The move comes six days before all the four parliamentary constituencies in the state go to polls. The searches were conducted at 22 educational institutions in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, the sources said. Teams of CBI officials swooped down at the premises of these institutions in Una, Karnal, Mohali, Nawanshahr, Ambala, Shimla, Sirmour, Solan, Bilaspur, Chamba, Gurdaspur, Kangra among others, they said. The educational institutions searched by the agency had allegedly received pre-matric and post-matric scholarship from the government but all the funds were not received by the intended beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBC) and minority .
ECI gives conditional nod for Andhra cabinet meet
The Election Commission of India finally gave its nod to Andhra Pradesh for holding cabinet meeting on Tuesday, subject to condition that any new decision will require permission of the poll body before implementation.
Modi's media interview triggers new questions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interview to News Nation may have already caused enough embarrassment to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters, but the fact-checking website Alt News now suggests the PM had prior knowledge of questions to be asked.
Rs 1 mn fine on Nepal journos for 'damaging reputation', says govt's new bill in Parliament
The Nepal government has come under severe criticism from media groups and the Opposition after it registered in Parliament a bill which, according to experts, seeks to impose a fine of up to Rs 1 million on journalists if they were found guilty of "damaging someone's reputation". Nepal Media Society (NMS), an umbrella body of publishers and broadcasters, demanded the bill's immediate withdrawal. The government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on May 9 registered the Media Council Bill in Parliament for constituting the Nepal Media Council (NMC), which has provisions to impose a fine up to Rs 1 million on media outlets, editors, publishers and journalists if they were found "guilty of damaging someone's reputation". The Section 18, Sub-section (2) of the bill stipulates that the NMC can order the erring parties to pay compensation if the content in media outlets damages the reputation of the affected party, according to experts. Section 17 proposes punishment for violating the ...
'Namdaar, you should be ashamed', Modi tells Rahul on 1984 riots
Stepping up his offensive over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi should be "ashamed" of himself. and sought to know whether Sam Pitroda was admonished for his "hua toh hua" remarks. Replying to a reporter's question on the 1984 riots, Pitroda, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi and head of the Overseas Congress had last week said "Hua to hua..." Pitroda later said his words have been twisted. Modi renewed his attack after Rahul Gandhirebuked his party's overseas unit chief Pitroda at a rally in Khanna and Hoshiarpur earlier in the day, saying he should be "ashamed" for his "totally wrong" remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and should apologise to the country. The Prime Ministerwas addressing a poll rally in Bathinda from where union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is seeking re-election. Polling to 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on May 19. Lashing out at the main opposition party, Modi said Congress is struggling .
KCR meets Stalin, bid for federal front appears a non-starter
Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrashekhar Rao's bid to rope in DMK in his proposed alternative front appeared to be a non-starter with the Dravidian party chief M K Stalin urging the Telangana Chief Minister to extend TRS's support to the Congress. Continuing his efforts to bring together regional parties, Rao called on Stalin at his residence here and discussed with him his proposal for a federal front, DMK sources said. In the meeting that went beyond an hour, Stalin conveyed to Rao that his party was in a pre-poll alliance with the Congress and he had also pitched the name of Rahul Gandhi for the office of the Prime Minister. "Thalaivar (Stalin) urged Rao to extend Telangana Rashtra Samiti's support for a Congress-led government at the Centre," DMK sources told PTI. Rao, who had days ago called on his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan, exuded confidence in the deliberations that regional parties would emerge as a powerful force with a significant number of ...
TN Minister says Kamal's tongue should be cut
Tamil Nadu Minister for Milk and Dairy Development K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji on Monday said actor-politician Kamal Haasan's tongue should be chopped for saying the first terrorist of independent India was a Hindu.