Page 1170 - Politics
Algerian army chief demands removal of President
In a new day of ongoing protests, the Algerian army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah demanded the removal of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been seriously ill since 2013, an official statement said on Tuesday.
'MGP-Congress were planning coup to topple BJP-led coalition'
Maharastrwadi Gomantak Party leaders were planning a coup along with the Congress MLAs to pull down the BJP-led coalition government last week, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, one of the two MLAs who split the MGP and merged into the BJP early on Wednesday, said.
Goa: 2 MGP MLAs split from party, merge legislative wing with BJP
Two of the three MGP MLAs in Goa early Wednesday merged their party's legislative wing with the BJP, which now has 14 legislators in the 36-member state assembly. Legislators Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar gave a letter to merge the MGP legislature party with the BJP to officiating Goa Assembly Speaker Michael Lobo at 1:45 am. However, Sudin Dhavalikar, the third Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA, has not signed the letter. While Ajgaonkar is tourism minister, Dhavalikar is a deputy chief minister in the BJP-led state government in Goa. As two out of the three MLAs have merged the legislative wing, they are saved from inviting anti-defection law, which makes it mandatory that two-third of the strength should agree for merger. The legislators broke away from the MGP and formed a group, MGP (two) on Tuesday. They have now merged the legislative unit with the BJP. Lobo confirmed that he received the letter at 1:45 am from both the MLAs for merging their legislature party ...
Goa Dy-CM Dhavalikar likely to be dropped from Cabinet, Pawaskar to replace him: Official
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is expected to drop his deputy and MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar from the Cabinet later Wednesday, a senior official said. Dhavalikar is likely to be replaced by MLA Dipak Pawaskar, who along with legislator and Goa tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar broke away from the MGP and merged its legislative wing with the BJP early Wednesday. The official from the Chief Minister's office said Dhavalikar is expected to be dropped from the Cabinet. Sources close to the chief minister also said Dhavalikar would be dropped from the cabinet during the day. The BJP has called for an emergency meeting of its MLAs and office bearers at its head office in Panaji on Wednesday during which the merger of MGP MLAs into the party would be discussed, they said. During the meeting, it will be decided to drop Dhavalikar and replace him with Pawaskar in the cabinet, the sources said. Dhavalikar was designated as deputy chief minister along with Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, .
Goa: 2 MGP MLAs split, merge legislative wing with BJP
Two of the three MGP MLAs in Goa early Wednesday merged their party's legislative wing with the BJP, which now has 14 legislators in the 36-member state assembly. Legislators Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar gave a letter to merge the MGP legislature party with the BJP to officiating Goa Assembly Speaker Michael Lobo at 1:45 am. However, Sudin Dhavalikar, the third Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA, has not signed the letter. While Ajgaonkar is tourism minister, Dhavalikar is the transport minister in the BJP-led state government in Goa. As two out of the three MLAs have merged the legislative wing, they are saved from inviting anti-defection law, which makes it mandatory that two-third of the strength should agree for merger. The legislators broke away from the MGP and formed a group, MGP (two) on Tuesday. They have now merged the legislative unit with the BJP. Lobo confirmed that he received the letter at 1:45 am from both the MLAs for merging their legislature party with
Goa: Two of three MGP MLAs split from party, merge legislature wing with BJP
Two out of the three MGP MLAs in Goa Wednesday merged their party's legislature wing with the BJP. Legislators Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar gave the letter for merging the MGP legislature party to officiating Goa Assembly Speaker Michael Lobo. Sudin Dhavalikar, the third Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) legislator, has not signed the letter. As two out of the three MLAs have merged the legislature wing, they are saved from inviting anti-defection law, which makes it mandatory that two-third of the strength should agree for merger. Lobo told PTI that he received the letter at 1:45 am from Ajgaonkar and Pawaskar for merging the MGP with the BJP. In absence of a full-time speaker, due to the resignation of Pramod Sawant who was sworn in as chief minister, Lobo is officiating on the chair. With the support of the two MLAs, the BJP's numbers in the 36-seat Goa assembly has gone up to 14. Both the MLAs have signed the letter merging the MGP legislature wing with the BJP, Lobo ...
Two MGP MLAs merged into BJP: Goa Deputy Speaker
In a late but politically significant development, two out of the three Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislators early on Wednesday, merged the legislative unit of the regional party into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said.
Pompeo reduces funding to OAS following its advocacy for abortion
US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Tuesday (local time) announced that he is cutting off funding to the Organisation of American States (OAS) after it advocated for abortion."The institutions of the OAS should be focused on addressing crises in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, not advancing the pro-abortion cause," the Washington Post quoted Pompeo as saying."The American people should rest assured that this administration and this State Department and our USAID will do all we can to safeguard taxpayer dollars and protect and respect the sanctity of life around the globe," he added.Pompeo has reduced the funding to OAS by $210,000. Reportedly, nine senators sent him a letter pointing out that two OAS organs- the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission of Women- are campaigning for legalised abortions across America.Taking cognisance, Pompeo ordered complete enforcement of a 1981 law, that prohibits the use of US funds to lobby against or for ...
House fails to override Trump veto on southern border emergency
US President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexico border survived a critical vote in the House on Tuesday, as Democrats failed to muster the necessary two-thirds majority to override his veto, the media reported.
25 candidates in fray in Jammu; 14 file nominations in Udhampur
Nominations papers of 12 candidates have been rejected in the Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency after scrutiny of the documents here on Tuesday, an official said. Returning Officer Ramesh Kumar said 25 contestants in the fray now after rejection of the nomination. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is Thursday. The polling will be held on April 11. In Udhampur constituency, 10 candidates filed their nominations on the last date on Tuesday, officials said. Those who filed their nominations include Harsh Dev Singh of the National Panthers Party and nine Independents, taking the total to 14 nominations. Sitting MP Jitendra Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress, T R Bhagat of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Independent candidate Mohammad Ayub had filed their nominations earlier. The scrutiny of papers will be held on Wednesday and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is Friday. The polling will be held on April 18.
Having nose like grandmother does not ensure power: Union minister
Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday courted controversy when he hit out at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying that having identical features like former prime minister Indira Gandhi did not ensure that one gets power. "It is being talked about in the Congress that she (Priyanka) has the nose like her grandmother (Indira)," Mandaviya said. "If you get power by having a nose like your grandmother, then won't there be a president in every household in China?" the BJP leader asked at the party's 'Vijay Sankalp' rally at Anand in Gujarat. Many leaders of Congress had openly said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reminded them of her late grandmother. Vadra, who is the Congress's incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, had reportedly said she was often likened with Indira Gandhi because people loved the former prime minister. Last month, BJP MP Harish Dwivedi had also made personal comments on Vadra. Dwivedi had said Vadra wears "jeans and top" in Delhi and "saree and sindoor ..
Unspent MPLADS for Bengal stands at Rs 124.27 crore
Out of total Rs 928.09 crore available under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) with the district authorities in West Bengal, Rs 803.76 crore has so far been spent while unspent balance till date is to the tune of Rs 124.27 crore during the current 16th Lok Sabha tenure, according to official data.
US lawmakers challenge Pentagon diversion of USD 1 bn for border wall
A Democrat-led congressional committee challenged Tuesday the Pentagon's plan to divert USD 1 billion to support President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. Less than one day after acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan authorized moving the USD 1 billion from existing Defense Department projects to border construction, the House Armed Services Committee said this move was not permitted. It was the newest challenge to Trump's February 15 declaration of a "national emergency" at the border in order to obtain more than USD 5 billion to build a frontier wall to keep out illegal immigrants and drug smugglers, after Congress denied him the funds. The Defense Department "is attempting to circumvent Congress and the American people's opposition to using taxpayer money for the construction of an unnecessary wall, and the military is paying the cost," said committee chairman Adam Smith. "This needs to stop.... The Administration should stop using our service members .
What is your relation with Ishrat Jahan? Adityanath asks Rahul
Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath Tuesday criticised the previous UPA government over its way to tackle terrorism and asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi what was his "relation with Ishrat Jahan", who was killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat Police in 2004. Addressing a huge rally in Ghatlodiya area under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, he also alleged that Gandhi had told the US ambassador that people of India are a "bigger threat" to the country than Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group. "What is your relation with Ishrat Jahan, a terrorist? When Rahul Gandhi met the US ambassador, he told him that the people of India, and not Jaish-e-Mohammad, are a bigger threat to our country," alleged Adityanath. Attacking Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he said, "They (Rahul and Priyanka) go to temples only during elections. They do not have time to visit holy sites if elections are not around." "When they learned that over 24 crore people took part in Kumbh mela (held in ..
India's image improved under Modi: Union minister
Union minister Harsh Vardhan claimed on Tuesday that the country's image had improved at the international level under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp Sabha' (victory pledge meeting) in east Delhi and Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituencies. Vardhan said Modi's is a "divine gift" for whom service to the nation is "paramount and the principle of Antyodaya is given highest priority". "The speciality of the Modi government is that he not framed the schemes, but also implemented them resulting in benefit to the poor and the backward people," he said in east Delhi. Vardhan said the BJP stood for nationalism and the Modi government is also working accordingly. "This is the reason why the nationalism is gaining strength and the image of the country at the international level has also improved. There was a time when the US would refuse visa, but today it gives us a red-carpet welcome," he said while at a gathering in Chandni Chowk.
AAP steps up campaigning as uncertainty over alliance looms
As the uncertainty over an alliance with the Congress continued, the Aam Aadmi Party stepped up its campaigning with plans to rope in 1.5 lakh volunteers for the Lok Sabha election. Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said one central war room, where all campaigning would be closely monitored, would be set up. Seven war rooms will be established in all the Lok Sabha constituency offices that would be reporting to the central office. "Seven observers would also be deployed with one observer in each constituency. There would also be an emergency feedback team with 14 people who would carry the inspection of the campaigning rallies," Rai said. He said for on-ground monitoring, 560 teams would be deployed and a total engagement of 1.5 lakh people would be seen. The AAP has been seeking an alliance with the Congress in Delhi but the grand old party has not made its stand clear on the possible tie-up, following which the AAP declared all its seven candidates for the upcoming polls an started ...
BJP hopeful of better result in J&K: Madhav
The BJP hopes to perform better in Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls than it did in the 2014 parliamentary elections, party's national general secretary Ram Madhav said here on Tuesday. He exuded confidence that the BJP will win all the three seats in Jammu and Ladakh. The BJP is hopeful of getting a result better than what it got in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Madhav told reporters after a meeting with senior party leaders, including party candidates from the three seats in the valley, during which election preparations were reviewed. He hit out at the National Conference-Congress alliance in the state and dubbed its seat-sharing pact as a "drama". "This drama that is going on that they are in alliance in Jammu, but fighting in Kashmir. They are trying various types of exercises against Modi and the BJP, let them do it. We will win two seats in Jammu and one in Ladakh and will try our best in Kashmir so that our candidates go forward," he said. "We .
Congress names three more Lok Sabha candidates
The Congress on Tuesday declared three more Lok Sabha candidates from Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
US principal ally, but Italy 'independent': Minister
Rome, March 26 (IANS/AKI) Italy views America as its chief ally, but is "an independent country" that will seize new trade opportunities like the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road infrastructure project with China, Industry and Welfare minister Luigi Di Maio said on Tuesday as he began a three-day US visit.
Nation needs a 'strong' leader like Modi: Himachal CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Tuesday the country needed a "strong" leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi to continue with the development. "Today, the country needs a strong leadership, which only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can give. During the last five years in his leadership, the country has emerged as a world power and it is the demand of the time that the momentum of development be continued by repeating the government in the Centre," Thakur said in Kangra district. Thakur said Modi had speeded up the development of Himachal and it was necessary in the interest of the state that he should be given an opportunity to take over the reins of the country again. For this, the chief minister said, the BJP needed to win all the four parliamentary seats in the state.