Page 2 - Indian Politics

J-K polls: Clear fight between Gandhi-Abdullah families and BJP, says Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said there is a clear fight between the Congress-National Conference alliance and the BJP one wanting to bring back Article 370, and the other committed to stopping it. He said voting in favour of BJP candidate Shugan Parihar is not only for development and progress but also to pay tribute to martyrs, including her father. "This election in Jammu and Kashmir is clearly between two forces. On one side are the National Conference and the Congress, and on the other side is the BJP. It is a contest between the BJP and the Gandhi-Abdullah families. Both have clear agendas," Shah told a public rally here. He said the BJP follows the ideology of Prem Nath Dogra - "One Constitution, one flag, and one Prime Minister," affirming that Jammu and Kashmir is an inseparable part of India, and "no one can reverse that".

No one should retire in politics, should serve till last breath: Kharge

There is no retirement in politics, said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday as the 82-year-old encouraged politicians to work till their last breath in the service of the people and the country. Speaking at the launch of senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde's memoir, "Five Decades in Politics", written with journalist author Rasheed Kidwai, here in the capital, Kharge said the 83-year-old leader shouldn't see himself as a retired man as he still has a crucial role to play in strengthening the Congress party and spreading its ideology to the masses. "You are 82-83 only.. Look at Morarji Desai. I believe no one should retire in politics. Those who have faith in their ideology, want to serve the nation, want to serve their community, then you have to work till your last breath and awaken the people of your country," Kharge said. Morarji Desai became India's oldest prime minister at the age of 81 in 1977. Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, clarified

SC says no demolitions just for being accused; pan-India guidelines coming

The Supreme Court, taking a strong stand against 'bulldozer action', raised concerns about the use of house demolitions as a form of punishment

BJP office-bearers to meet on Aug 17 for upcoming membership drive launch

The BJP's national office-bearers are expected to meet on August 17 to finalise the launch of the party's membership drive, which will culminate with the election of a new party president. Besides those holding an office in the BJP's organisational team at the national level, the meeting will also be attended by sate party presidents and general secretaries in charge of the party's organisation in different states. There has long been a buzz that the ruling party may appoint a 'working president' before a president is formally elected as the membership drive required to be completed for the election to take place may stretch over six months. With incumbent president J P Nadda joining the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government as a Cabinet minister, he is expected to be replaced as per the party's convention of 'one person one post'. However, unlike 2019, when Nadda had emerged as the obvious successor to Home Minister Amit Shah at the helm of the party after he did not join th

Made contribution to diplomacy: Leaders condole Natwar Singh's demise

Congress leaders on Sunday condoled former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh's demise with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge hailing his profound contribution to India's diplomacy and external affairs. Singh passed away on Saturday night after a prolonged illness, family sources said. He was 93. He breathed his last at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram near Delhi, where he had been admitted for the past couple of weeks, they said. "Our deepest condolences on the passing away of Former Union Minister, Shri K. Natwar Singh ji. An acclaimed intellectual and a Padma Bhushan recipient, he made a profound contribution to India's diplomacy and external affairs," Kharge said in a post on X. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends and followers," he said. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "A hugely engaging political personality. A distinguished foreign service officer. A cultured man of letters and noted author with a few classics to his credit. A .

Former EAM K Natwar Singh: A man who wore many hats and spoke his mind

K Natwar Singh wore many hats as he straddled the worlds of diplomacy, politics and writing but what remained consistent across decades was his sharp-wit and plainspeaking. The former Congress leader had a love-hate relationship with the party as while he had a great equation with the likes of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, he had a fallout with Sonia Gandhi after allegations were levelled against him when he was part of the UPA-I Cabinet. Singh passed away on Saturday night after a prolonged illness, family sources said. He was 93. He breathed his last at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram near Delhi, where he had been admitted for the past couple of weeks, they said. Singh was born in 1931 in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. He was a career diplomat, who brought a wealth of experience in diplomacy to his political career, and also a prolific author on subjects ranging from the life of a maharaja to nuances of foreign affairs. Singh was selected into the Indian

Retiring judges must take time before joining politics: CJI DY Chandrachud

In an interview with a Hindi daily, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud also addressed the criticism of long court holidays and poor infrastructure of district courts in the country

Rahul flags 'hollow' Budget promises; demands ignored, say regional parties

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav wondered whether the Budget had anything for UP.

Drought-like conditions spur crop loan distribution in Chhattisgarh

The government is ensuring the distribution of short-term loans to the maximum number of farmers across the state

Honda two-wheeler share increases after on-board norms compliance

Sales gap with Hero narrows to 45,000 units in June

Goa lessons for BJP

If the party doesn't want to slip any further, it might want to take a page out of the state's former chief minister Manohar Parrikar's book

Truth can be expunged in Modi's world, but not in reality: Rahul Gandhi

A defiant Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said truth can be expunged in the world of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but not in reality, hours after significant parts of his Lok Sabha speech were deleted by the chair. "Whatever I had to say, I have said and that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want, but the truth will prevail," Gandhi told reporters in Parliament complex. The Congress leader was responding to questions on certain remarks he made during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in the Lok Sabha on Monday. "Truth can be expunged in the world of Modi ji, but in reality truth cannot be expunged," Gandhi said. In his first speech as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi had launched a no-holds-barred attack on the BJP, accusing the leaders of the ruling party of dividing people on communal lines. Gandhi's remarks drew massive protests from the treasury benches and a rare intervention from the prime minister, who slammed the Cong

Goa CM demands apology after Rahul's dig at BJP calling them 'not Hindus'

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Lok Sabha and crores of Hindus all over the world for his comments on the community. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) also condemned Gandhi's remarks, claiming he had "attempted to portray Hindus as violent." Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, took a swipe at the ruling BJP in the House on Monday, saying those who call themselves Hindus are engaged in "violence and hate" round the clock. "All religions and all our great men talk about non-violence and fearlessness, but those who call themselves Hindus only talk about violence, hatred and falsehood....Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (You are not Hindus)," he said. After Gandhi's comments, Goa CM Sawant termed the Congress as arrogant. "This is INC's Nafarat ki Dukan! Calling Hindus 'Hinsak' is a brazen insult, disrespect towards Hindus. LoP @RahulGandhi must apologise, to the the House and Crores of Hindus all over the world," Sawant s

Parliament highlights: Both Houses laud Indian cricket team's T20 World Cup win

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha news: Catch all the news updates related to the developments in the Parliament here

LS set for first Speaker seat contest since 1976; NDA fields Om Birla

The INDIA bloc, in turn, pointed to the convention that the Opposition should be given the post of Deputy Speaker

After consecutive defeats, footballer Bhaichung Bhutia quits politics

Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia on Tuesday announced that he was quitting politics, following his defeat in the recently held assembly elections in Sikkim. Bhaichung, the vice president of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), lost to SKM's Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia in the Barfung seat, which marked his sixth electoral defeat. He joined politics in 2014 when the ruling TMC in West Bengal named him as its candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat. In 2018, he took the plunge into the political arena of his state by forming the Hamro Sikkim Party. Last year, he merged his party with the Pawan Chamling-led SDF. "Firstly, I would like to congratulate Mr PS Tamang and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) for winning the assembly elections. The people of Sikkim have given them a resounding mandate and I hope the SKM govt will work to fulfil their promises and take Sikkim to greater heights across all sectors," he said in a statement. "After the 2024 election results, I have had the ...

Sparks fly after Elon Musk's EVM post, Chandrasekhar offers 'tutorial'

BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar termed Musk's post a "sweeping generalisation" and offered to "run a tutorial" for the Tesla chief on how India ensures its indigenously manufactured EVMs are hacking proof

Back to 'political' economy

Does anyone expect these markers to improve now under a climate of more politics and less economy? Or will we just muddle along as we have done in the past?

India's competitive politics and outcomes

Fund managers and market analysts must stop fretting about 'big bang' reforms

LS elections outcome set to shift balance of parliamentary panels

By the end of the 17th Lok Sabha, Members of Parliament (MPs) of the BJP headed 16 of the 24 department-related standing committees