Page 8 - Politics

Bandra station stampede latest example of India's crumbling infra: Rahul

Hitting out at the BJP, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said Sunday's stampede at Mumbai's Bandra railway station was the latest example of India's crumbling infrastructure. He also asserted that inaugurations and publicity were acceptable only when the foundation behind them was about working for public good. Nine people were injured in a stampede amid a rush to board a Gorakhpur-bound train at the Bandra station on Sunday, local civic and disaster control officials said. The Western Railway, meanwhile, said in a statement that two persons were injured. In view of the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals, a large number of people planning to go to their native places had reached the Bandra Terminus station where several passengers rushed to board the unreserved train when it was being brought on a platform, sources said. Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X, "Inaugurations and publicity are acceptable only when the foundation behind them is about working for pub

Japan's ruling party braces for blow to comfortable majority in lower house

The results could weaken Ishiba's grip on power, possibly leading Japan into political uncertainty, though a change of government was not expected

Madhabi Puri Buch skips House panel meet; hearing deferred amid protests

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members of the PAC challenged the postponement of the meeting

Jharkhand Assembly polls: Congress releases list of 21 candidates

Voting in Jharkhand will be held in two phases - November 13 and 20, and counting is scheduled on November 23

BNP criticises Bangladesh interim govt for not announcing elections date

Rizvi criticised the interim government for talking about reforms without a definite date for their completion

I'm back, says Omar Abdullah as he takes charge as J&K Chief Minister

5 ministers take oath, including Deputy CM from Jammu region and 1 Independent

'Crown of thorns': Farooq Abdullah after son Omar takes oath as J&K CM

It is a crown of thorns and may Allah help him fulfil the hopes of people, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday after his son Omar Abdullah took oath as the first chief minister of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a cue from his grandfather, Zahir Abdullah, Omar Abdullah's son, said the new government's first priority is restoration of statehood. The state is full of challenges and I hope this government will do what it had promised in the election manifesto It is a crown of thorns and may (almighty) Allah succeed him (Omar) and he fulfils the people's hope. This is my message, Farooq Abdullah told reporters after the oath-taking ceremony at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). After statehood, our true struggle (for restoration of) Article 370 will start. Article 370 will always be our priority, Zahir Abdullah added. Omar Abdullah heads the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Articl

MVA releases 'traitors' booklet against Shinde govt: Here's what it said

Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) released 'Gaddarancha Panchnama' booklet accusing Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra govt of betrayal, corruption, and more

Why life of one soldier is not same as another: Rahul questions Agnipath

After the death of two Agniveers in Nashik during training, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on why the life of one soldier is more valuable than the other. He asked why the families of the two soldiers, who died as 'Agniveers' would not get the same pension and benefits as other martyred soldiers and said that he would keep fighting against this "injustice". "The death of two Agniveers - Gohil Vishwaraj Singh and Saifat Sheet - during training in Nashik is very tragic. My deepest condolences to their families. "This incident once again raises serious questions on the Agniveer scheme, which the BJP government has failed to answer. Will the families of Gohil and Saifat receive timely compensation that is equivalent to the compensation for any other martyred soldier?" Gandhi asked in a post in Hindi on X. "Why will the families of Agniveers not get the benefits of pension and other ...

All is well, had another event: Ajit Pawar on leaving cabinet meet early

"I had to leave early to attend a scheduled programme at Ahmedpur in Marathwada region," the NCP chief said. "All the cabinet decisions taken yesterday have my approval," he added

British PM Starmer's chief of staff resigns over reports about salary

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff quit on Sunday, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role risked becoming a distraction to the government. Sue Gray's resignation came after recent reports about tensions between her and Starmer's chief adviser Morgan McSweeney, and that she was earning more than the prime minister. The BBC has reported that Gray's annual salary was 170,000 pounds ($223,000), about 3,000 pounds more than Starmer is paid. Gray said she accepted a new role as Starmer's envoy for the regions and nations. McSweeney will replace her as chief of staff at Downing Street. Throughout my career, my first interest has always been public service, Gray said in a statement. However, in recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government's vital work of change." Gray, a former senior civil servant, became a household name in Britain in 2022, when she led investigations

CM Revanth Reddy says KCR used Telangana agitation as 'protective shield'

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy took a veiled attack on BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday, alleging that the former used the statehood agitation as a "protective shield" which got him people's respect though it is not the case anymore. Speaking at an event here where he handed over appointment letters to new recruits in different government departments, Reddy, without taking Rao's name, said people respected the former CM for the sake of the statehood movement. "He feels that people respected him because of his greatness. But, it was due to Telangana agitation, the sacrifices of unemployed youth. Now that the veil is out, he is not to be seen in public. His children are on the roads and speaking as they wish," Reddy said. While government recruitment was deferred for years together, the state government has filled up 30,000 job vacancies in 90 days after assuming office, he said. Referring to the opposition BRS and the BJP attacking the government's Musi river ..

Champai Soren hospitalised following blood sugar-related complications

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren was hospitalised following blood sugar-related complications, an official said on Sunday. He was admitted to the Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur around 9 pm on Saturday. He was admitted to the hospital after his blood sugar dipped and he felt dizzy, a close aide of the former CM said. Tata Main Hospital GM Dr Sudhir Rai told PTI that Soren's condition was stable and improving. Soren, 67, joined the BJP in August, alleging "disrespect" and "humiliation" in the JMM. He was appointed the chief minister on February 2, following Hemant Soren's resignation and subsequent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. He left the post on July 3, clearing the way for Hemant Soren's return to the chair after being granted bail.

How did the exit polls fare last time for Haryana & J-K elections? Find out

In Haryana, while the 2014 exit polls were mostly accurate in predicting the BJP's victory, they were significantly off in 2019 when many forecast a decisive win for the BJP

AAP supremo Kejriwal to address second 'Janta ki Adalat' rally on Oct 6

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will address his second 'Janta Ki Adalat' rally at north Delhi's Chhatrasal stadium on Sunday, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters on Friday, Singh expressed hope that the people of Delhi will give a massive mandate to the AAP in the upcoming assembly polls, as a "certificate of Kejriwal's honesty". He said that the AAP national convenor will address the rally at Chhatrasal Stadium in Model Town. On September 15, Kejriwal announced his decision to resign from the CM's post, saying that he needed to go to the "peoples' court", just two days after being released from Tihar jail where he spent over five months in connection with the excise policy case. The AAP supremo also said that he would return to the top post after getting a "certificate of honesty" from Delhiites in the assembly polls due in February. Singh said that the BJP's intention to "finish the Aam Aadmi Party and Kejriwal"

UK PM Starmer suffers first leadership setback as party MP Duffield resigns

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suffered his first setback since taking charge at 10 Downing Street in July after one of his members of Parliament resigned from the Labour Party, delivering a scathing attack on his leadership. Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury in Kent, will now sit in the House of Commons as an Independent after her resignation letter published in The Sunday Times' attacked the Labour leader's cruel and unnecessary policies amid an ongoing expensive free gifts row. Duffield claimed there were many "last straws" that led to her decision to resign, but her main reason to step down this weekend is over the government's programme of unpopular policies. They are cruel and unnecessary and affect hundreds of thousands of our poorest, most vulnerable constituents. This is not what I was elected to do. It is not even wise politics, and it certainly is not the politics of service', writes Duffield in her resignation letter. The MP goes on to state that she has no ...

Punjab BJP rejects reports of Sunil Jakhar quitting as state unit chief

The Punjab BJP on Friday asserted that Sunil Jakhar was leading the party in the state, dismissing as "totally baseless" speculation that he had resigned from his post. Though the 70-year-old Jakhar himself was not responding to calls, his close aide Sanjeev Trikha told PTI that there was nothing like this. A media report had claimed that Jakhar has quit as the Punjab unit chief. Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sarin dismissed it as "totally baseless and false". He said Jakhar is leading the party's state unit. On Jakhar staying away from Thursday's meeting of the party's membership drive, Sarin said it was not important for the state unit chief to be present in every meeting. Referring to reports of his resignation as the Punjab BJP chief, Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said on X, "Mr @sunilkjakhar, All the best, where next ?" Jakhar was appointed as the Punjab BJP chief in July 2023, succeeding BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma. He had joined the BJP

Explained: Who is Jhumpa Lahiri, why did she refuse Isamu Noguchi award?

The New York-based museum, which was found by Japanese American designer and sculptor, recently told employees not to wear clothes expressing political messages, or slogans

From demolition to campaign, bulldozers become party tool to pull crowds

Once just an innocuous piece of construction equipment and today a symbol of state power and politics, bulldozers are visible everywhere as campaigning hots up in Nuh. Not as a demolition tool but festooned, prettied up and embraced by all parties. Young people sitting on dozer blades, dancing and showering petals on crowds gathered on the narrow streets below are a common sight. Bulldozers may have earned a bad name but clearly not in this Haryana constituency, counted among the most backward in the country, where they are being used to further the festive election mood. The scene was very different just over a year ago when five people were killed in communal violence in the Muslim dominated constituency. The violence later spread to adjoining Gurugram where a cleric was killed in an attack on a mosque. Following the violence, the BJP-led Haryana government went on a demolition drive in Nuh, drawing allegations of "ethnic cleansing". Then chief minister M L Khattar stoutly denied

Mexico's most popular president retiring, here's what he will leave behind

Many Mexicans will feel a deep sense of loss when folksy, charismatic, nationalistic President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador leaves office on September 30 and that's no surprise. Lopez Obrador himself has spent an inordinate amount of time talking about his own legacy and his place in history over his six-year term, something he brings up at almost every one of his marathonic daily 7 a.m. media briefings. But what legacy will the rumpled, grinning Lopez Obrador leave behind? It is perhaps the main question for a man who is obsessed with history, and one thing appears clear: he has changed the way politics is done in Mexico, perhaps forever. Unlike decades of reserved and distant presidents, Lopez Obrador has built a deep personal connection with many Mexicans. He has stripped the office of the thousands of presidential guards, limousines and walled compounds that once characterised it, saying you can't have a rich government with poor people. He is a politician who evokes ...