Page 79 - Politics

Gandhi family 'most corrupt' in Indian politics, says BJP's Gaurav Bhatia

The BJP on Tuesday dubbed the Gandhi family as "kattar paapi parivaar" and the "most corrupt family in Indian politics" as it cited the Rajasthan High Court's rejection of Robert Vadra's plea to quash a money laundering probe against him. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should break their "silence" on corruption and money-laundering allegations against Vadra, who is married to Rahul's sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, when their party was in power in Haryana and Rajasthan and at the Centre as well. The Congress has often claimed that the corruption charges against Vadra are politically motivated. The Rajasthan High Court had last week rejected a petition seeking the quashing of an Enforcement Directorate investigation into the purchase of land in Bikaner by a company (Skylight Hospitality), linked to Vadra and his mother, through alleged shady means. "This is a 'kattar paapi parivaar' (extremely immoral family) of India. Its on

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan meets PM Modi to discuss the ESZ issue

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's official residence in New Delhi, an official source said. The Chief Minister's Office shared photographs of the meeting which is being held in the wake of farmers and residents of areas close to forested parts of the southern state protesting against implementation of the one-kilometre eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) in those places. Other than photographs of the meeting, no other details were released by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). An official source on Monday had said that the ESZ issue was likely to be discussed during the meeting. Besides that, the delay in getting the Central government's clearance for the semi-high speed rail project SilverLine, connecting Kasaragod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south, and the financial crisis that has gripped the state during the time of COVID-19 pandemic may also be topics of discussion, the source had said. The state govern

Nepal's former TV anchor Lamichhane becomes Deputy PM, Home minister

Rabi Lamichhane, a former TV anchor whose newly-launched party won a surprisingly huge mandate in the November 20 elections, on Monday joined Nepal's new government led by former Maoist rebel chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda as the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Lamichhane's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which was formed just months ago, won 20 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives and is the third largest party among the ruling alliance. Speaking to the media after the meeting of the ruling coalition at the Parliament building in Naya Baneshwor on Monday, he said that he decided to join the new government after a common agreement was made among the ruling alliance members to form a mechanism empowered to investigate corruption issues. He said that all the ruling parties have agreed on this matter. Lamichhane joined the office at Singh Durbar shortly after taking the oath of office and secrecy at the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas. Lamichhane also said t

Nepali Congress ready to share PM's post by rotation: NC Spokesperson Mahat

Mahat is a multi-time minister and presently a member of parliament

Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' takes oath as Nepal's new prime minister

Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" was on Monday sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal for a third time, a day after President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed him as the new premier. The 68-year-old former guerrilla leader was appointed as the country's new prime minister after he submitted a letter to the president showing the support of 169 members in the 275-member House of Representatives. Prachanda took the oath of office and secrecy from President Bhandari at an official ceremony at Shital Niwas. Born in Dhikurpokhari of Kaski district near Pokhara on December 11, 1954, Prachanda remained underground for almost 13 years. He joined mainstream politics when the CPN-Maoist adopted peaceful politics, ending a decade-long armed insurgency. He led the decade-long armed struggle from 1996 to 2006 that ultimately ended with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006. The Nepali Congress is the largest party with 89 seats in the House of Representatives while CPN-U

Walk for an India where no one lives in fear, says Rahul Gandhi on BJY

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre and said that Bharat Jodo Yatra is a "walk for an India where no one lives in fear"

Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Kherli Lala on last day of Haryana leg

The Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by party leader leader Rahul Gandhi, resumed on Friday from Kherli Lala in Sohna on the third and last day of its Haryana leg in the first phase. Senior Congress leaders from the state have been part of the foot march that entered Nuh in Haryana from Rajasthan on Wednesday. Braving the morning chill, among those who walked along with Gandhi were former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and senior leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kumari Selja. The yatra will pass through Faridabad district, including Pakhal village, Pali Chowk and Gopal Garden, during the day. After entering Nuh on Wednesday, Gandhi had targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting that while the Congress gives voice to farmers and labourers, another ideology benefits only a select few. The former Congress chief had also slammed the ruling party over inflation and unemployment. On Thursday, Gandhi said the government is coming up with "excuses" to stop th

Zelenskyy urges US Congress to help Ukraine turn the corner in war

"If your Patriots stop the Russian terror against our cities, it will let Ukrainian patriots work to the full to defend our freedom," said Zelenskyy

Delhi CM Kejriwal should stop BJY over Covid scare: Swami Chakrapani

Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, National President of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, has asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the wake of Covid scare

'Chronology Samajhiye': Congress' jibe at govt over PM's Covid meeting

"Understand the chronology," the Congress said on Thursday as it pointed out that the health minister wrote to Rahul Gandhi over Covid concerns and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reviewing the virus-related situation just days before the Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Delhi. The Congress' jibe came just hours before Prime Minister Modi was set to review the situation related to COVID-19 in the country at a high-level meeting Thursday afternoon. "4 cases of Omicron sub-variant driving Chinese surge were reported in Gujarat and Odisha in July, September & November," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter. "Health Minister writes a letter to Rahul Gandhi yesterday. PM is reviewing situation today. Bharat Jodo Yatra will enter Delhi day after. Ab Aap Chronology Samjhiye(now, understand the chronology)," he said. Accusing the government of selectively picking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra over Covid concerns, the Congress on Wednesday had pointed to ...

Maharashtra's Oppn leaders have lost mental balance: Karnataka CM Bommai

The statements being made by the opposition leaders in Maharashtra gives an impression that they have lost their mental balance, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said

Why just Bharat Jodo Yatra, asks Congress after Mandaviya's letter to Rahul

Accusing the government of selectively picking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress on Wednesday said the BJP was taking out yatras in Karnataka and Rajasthan and asked if Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had sent letters to their organisers too. The poser from Congress leader Pawan Khera came after the minister on Tuesday wrote to former party president Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to consider suspending the Bharat Jodo Yatra if Covid protocols could not be followed. Khera, who pointed to the lack of restrictions in public transport, also asked the government to announce Covid protocols and said the party would follow them. "We are wondering why a similar letter was not sent to the president of BJP in Rajasthan Satish Punia who is carrying out a Janakrosh Yatra there. We understand there is not much of a response to that Janakrosh Yatra, there are no people there," Khera told reporters. "We also understand that there is a huge response across the count

Today's fight between interests of few and raising people's voice: Rahul

As the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' entered Haryana on Wednesday, party leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP, saying the fight today is between two ideologies--one which benefits a select few, while the "other is the voice of the people, farmers and labourers". The Yatra crossed over to Haryana from Rajasthan. Addressing a gathering in this Haryana district, Gandhi said the fight between the two ideologies in the country was not a new one and has been going on for thousands of years. On the BJP leaders questioning his cross-country foot march, Gandhi said they ask what is the need to walk from Kanyakumari. "I am opening a shop of love in the market of hate through the Bharat Jodo Yatra. When these people go out to spread hatred in this country, people of our ideology go out to spread love and affection," he said. "This is not a new fight, do not think that this fight is of today or of the 21st century, this fight is thousands of years-old... one ideology which gives benefits to .

Uddhav joined hands with Congress, NCP for power: Maharashtra BJP chief

Maharashtra BJP State President Chandrashekar Bawankule said that Uddhav Thackeray joined hands with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party due to his lust for power

Didn't intend to insult anyone, says Ajay Rai about remarks on Smriti Irani

Following an uproar over his Latka-Jhatka comment about Union Minister Smriti Irani, Congress leader Ajay Rai clarified that he had no intention of insulting anyone

BJP will cross 350 seats in 2024 polls: National Gen Secy Dushyant Gautam

BJP's National General Secretary, Dushyant Kumar Gautam has said that his party will win more than 350 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election

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Maha council adjourned over land allotment decision by Shinde as minister

Maharashtra Legislative Council proceedings were adjourned for the day on Tuesday after arguments between members of the opposition and ruling parties over the issue of a decision taken by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde when he was a minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government of allotment of land meant for slum dwellers to private persons. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the House that their government does not give costly plots at lower rates to anyone. When Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve was making a statement over the issue, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil objected to it and asked Council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe to give another time slot to the LoP to raise the issue. On December 14, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court was informed by amicus curie (appointed by court to assist) advocate Anand Parchure that Shinde during his tenure as the urban development minist

Delhi L-G cannot pass such orders, says AAP on direction to pay Rs 97 cr

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has no power to pass orders directing the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the party for "political advertisements". Addressing a press conference here, AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj termed the LG's direction a "new love letter". "The BJP is flustered that we have become a national party and wrested power from it in the MCD. LG sahab is doing everything in accordance with the BJP's directions and that is troubling the people of Delhi. The more worried Delhi's people are, the happier the BJP gets," Bhardwaj claimed. He further said that the LG's directions would not stand in the eyes of law. "The Delhi LG has no such power. He cannot issue such directions. These won't stand in front of the law. Other state governments also issue advertisements. The BJP's various state governments issued advertisements that have been published here. We want to ask when will the Rs 22,000 crore spent on the .

Piyush Goyal demands apology from Mallikarjun Kharge over Rajasthan speech

Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha, Piyush Goyal demanded an apology from Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition, on his speech made in Rajasthan's Alwar