Category: Politics

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari said that no one is happy with their position and wants to do better, adding that politics is an instrument to bring about social & economic change.   While addressing a seminar on “Parliamentary System and People’s Expectations” in the Rajasthan Assembly, Gadkari was referring to the recent cycle of appointments of Chief Ministers. He said that when he was the BJP President he didn’t find anybody who wasn’t unhappy.   “The MLAs are sad as they could not become a minister.…

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a Bill to restore the medical admissions mechanism that existed in the state before the introduction of NEET. Earlier, the Opposition AIADMK, blamed the DMK government for several student suicides due to the unfulfilled promise of cancelling the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test.   The Bill allows for admissions to undergraduate courses in medicine, dentistry, Indian medicine and homoeopathy on the basis of class 12 marks, besides providing for 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation for the students of government schools in medical admission.   The Bill…

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Oscar Fernandes MP died at a private hospital on Monday afternoon. He was 80 and is survived by his wife and two children.   Expressing his grief over the demise of the veteran Congress leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter – “Saddened by the death of Rajya Sabha MP Shri Oscar Fernandes ji. In this sad hour, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and well-wishers. May his soul rest in peace.”   In his tweet, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi…

Ever since the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February, Myanmar has been in turmoil once again. In one of the worst ever violence, the National Unity Government (NUG) that was formed to resist the army’s Feb. 1 takeover, clashed with Myanmar’s ruling military, leaving at least 20 killed.   The NUG apparently called on Tuesday for a revolt against military rule, in its effort to coordinate groups fighting the army and convince soldiers and state officials to switch sides.   Clashes that erupted on Thursday continued till…

As part of a skill development mission, the Uttar Pradesh government is set to distribute one lakh tablets to skilled workers, in a bid to help them hone their skills and perform better.   The state government has also launched a ‘seva mitra’ service – an online portal that helps workers find employment – which is currently being trialed in a few districts. The portal is in addition to a call centre that serves the same purpose.   Skilled workers seeking a job can apply through this portal or they…

The Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has on Wednesday approved a nearly Rs 11,000 crore project of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to develop six new Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Indian Air Force.   The Committee has also cleared a nearly $3 billion deal for procuring 56 C-295MW transport aircraft for the IAF. The C-295MW transport aircraft will replace the ageing fleet of Avro 748 transport aircraft that first flew in 1961.   While the CCS decision on the C-295 was the budgetary…

All-India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the aim of his organisation is to defeat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2022 assembly election.   “The AIMIM is ready for talks on pre-poll alliance with the SP or BSP, but the dialogue would be over the share of the Muslim community in the power after the formation of the non-BJP government in Uttar Pradesh,” said Owaisi. He was launching the party’s election campaign in Rudauli town of Ayodhya on Tuesday.   He further went on to say that the…

In the wee hours of Sunday, Indian merchant shipping crew on-board MV Tampen came under attack by pirates off a port in Africa’s Western Coast. The vessel which was headed from Cameroon to Dubai was attacked in which two members received bullet injuries, while a third has been kidnapped.   The vessel had to drop anchor in the port limits of Owendo Anchorage, Gabon, owing to an issue with the propulsion system. The pirates, according to sources, had boarded the vessel at around 12:30 am on Sunday, following which the…

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) called for a Kisan Mahapanchayat to protest against the Centre’s three farm laws on Sunday in Muzaffarnagar. Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states showed up in strength.    “India is for sale, this is the government’s policy,” said Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait while addressing the mahapanchayat. “We have to stop the country from getting sold. Farmers should be saved, the country should be saved; business, employees and youth should be saved – this is the aim of the rally.”…

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee commented that he would hang himself if any central agency can prove his involvement in any illegal transaction.   The leader was speaking to reporters at the Kolkata airport on his way to New Delhi to attend a summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged coal scam case.   Banerjee accused the BJP of indulging in political vendetta after losing the state assembly elections.   “I reiterate what I had said in November at public meetings that if any central…