Month: March 2019

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Priyanka Gandhi insulted Hindus in Ayodhya trip, says Yogi Adityanath

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday accused Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi of insulting Hindus by not going to the makeshift Ram Temple during her visit to Ayodhya.

Addressing a rally at the Bisadah village in Dadri area, he said: “Priyanka Gandhi Vadra insulted Hindus by saying that she did not visit Ram Janmabhoomi as the matter was in court.

“Three members of her family are on bail. I want to ask Srimati Vadra does she meet them or not?”

Adityanath was referring to her mother and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi being out on bail in the National Herald case and her husband Robert Vadra out on bail in a money laundering case.

His remarks came two days after Priyanka Gandhi, during her visit to the temple town of Ayodhya, said she won’t be visiting the Ram Janmabhoomi site as the matter was subjudice.

The Congress leader had taken out a 15-km-long massive road show in the city before offering prayers at Hanumangarhi temple there.

Adityanath also slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for calling the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit chief “Masood Azharji”, saying: “Rahul gives respect to terrorists by calling them Masood Azharji, while on the other hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifts terrorists with bullets and bombs.”

He said when India conducted strikes on Pakistan, each and every citizen bowed down to the brave soldiers but the Opposition demanded proof.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Stage set for Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal’s Vizag rally

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In yet another show of opposition unity, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu along with his West Bengal and Delhi counterparts, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal respectively, will address an election rally here on Sunday as part of their campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the coming Lok Sabha polls.

The three-hour rally will commence at around 5.30 pm at the Indira Priyadarshini Municipal Stadium in this port town.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal will campaign for Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) at the mega rally.

Banerjee arrived here in the afternoon while Kejriwal is to reach by the evening.

After the rally, the three Chief Ministers will remain in Visakhapatnam to discuss the national scenario and work out strategies in the coming days.

The move is part of simultaneous Assembly and Parliamentary polls which will take place in Andhra Pradesh in the first phase on April 11.

Five years ago in the same location, Naidu along with Modi and film actor Pawan Kalyan had addressed a joint rally seeking mandate for the TDP rule in the state and formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government at the Centre in the 2014 Lo Sabha elections.

Naidu had pulled his TDP out of the NDA in March 2018 alleging injustice being meted out to the state by the Modi government.

Since then, he has been in the forefront of the proposed Grand Alliance (mahagathbandhan), trying to get together all opposition parties, including the Congress.

Naidu, who orchestrated a big rally against the Modi government in Delhi, has lined up all his allies for his campaign in Andhra Pradesh against Modi at the Centre and YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh.

Though many other leaders from the proposed Grand Alliance including Janata Dal-Secular President H.D. Deve Gowda, DMK chief M.K. Stalin, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdulla were invited to the rally, but were unable to attend, a TDP leader familiar with the development said.

Kejriwal and Abdullah had already addressed a few meetings in the state.

Gowda is expected to join the campaign for the TDP next week and more leaders from non-BJP parties are expected to canvass in support of TDP candidates in next few days.

Visakhapatnam is a very important constituency like Hyderabad as it is a cosmopolitan city with a large number of people from West Bengal, Odisha and northeastern states settling there for education, employment and business activities.

“We are fighting against Modi government because it did not give special status to Andhra Pradesh despite its promises. There are other many issues on which the TDP was cheated,” Lanka Dinakar, TDP national spokesperson, told IANS.

He said that a joint campaign by Banerjee and Kejriwal would really help garner votes in favour of the TDP.

The Congress, however, is staying away from the Visakhapatnam rally because the party is fighting the elections independently in all the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Mamata Banerjee tells opposition to set aside differences

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday urged opposition forces to set aside their “petty differences” and join hands to oust the Narendra Modi regime from the Centre.

Banerjee is slated to address a mega rally along with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu in Visakhapatnam on Sunday evening.

“There have been a number of United India rallies. However, this time we have been invited by (Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu on behalf of the TDP. I am going to Visakhapatnam to express my solidarity. We will hold a meeting there in the evening and come back to Kolkata tomorrow,” Banerjee said at the airport here before leaving for Visakhapatnam.

“I am always optimistic about people’s alliance. An autocratic rule is going on in the country. There is massive intolerance and people do not have freedom of speech. Democracy is under attack. So I think everyone should put aside their petty differences and come together to vote against the Modi government.”

She also alleged that all the major institutes in the country were being controlled by the BJP government, while disinvestments in the public sector organisations are making employees suffer.

“The public sector organisations are suffering because of disinvestment. Many workers are not getting their salary. Be it farmers or labourers, everyone’s life is in danger. The freedom of people in the country is under threat,” the Trinamool Congress supremo added.

Both Banerjee and Naidu have repeatedly advocated the coming together of opposition political outfits against the Modi regime in the coming general elections.

Naidu had participated in the January 19 mega opposition rally organised by Banerjee in Kolkata. A month later, he again visited the Chief Minister to express solidarity when she held a ‘dharna’ (sit-in) against the CBI’s attempt to question the then city police commissioner Rajeev Kumar.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy quits Congress, to join BJP

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In yet another setback to the Congress in Telangana, its senior leader and former MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy on Sunday resigned from the party and announced his decision to join the BJP.

In his resignation letter sent to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Sudhakar Reddy, a former secretary of AICC, said, “Unfortunately the traditions and values of Congress party have changed contrary to its principles. Money influence has increased during allocation of tickets in Telangana Assembly elections in 2018, MLC elections and also coming Lok Sabha elections.”

“It is shocking to find that crores of rupees is being sought for allocation of tickets.

This kind of commercialisation of ticket allocation in Indian National Congress forced me to consider leaving the party and I am tendering my resignation,” Reddy said.

Referring to the air strikes carried out by IAF in Pakistan, Reddy said he was annoyed with the attitude of Congress and its prominent leaders as their stand on the issue of terrorism and national security had been “inconsistent”.

Reddy further said he would meet BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday evening and join the party.

He told PTI that he wanted to work under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the larger interest of the nation.

“I am confident Modiji will again become the Prime Minister. Being a worker of BJP I will concentrate on strengthening the party. I am not joining the party seeking any post,” Reddy, whose MLC term ended on March 29, said.

Recently, senior Congress leader and former Minister D K Aruna had quit the Congress and joined the BJP and was the party’s contesting candidate from Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha seat

The Congress is the main opposition in Telangana, where it had won 19 seats in the December 7 assembly elections.

The Congress is in a turmoil as 10 MLAs have announced their decision to quit the party since the beginning of this month and join the TRS, which now appears to have the momentum ahead of the April 11 Lok Sabha poll.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Farm loan waiver for ryots if Congress voted to power, says Rahul Gandhi in Andhra Pradesh

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi Sunday promised farm loan waiver for ryots in Andhra Pradesh if the party is voted to power in the coming elections.

The ‘revolutionary’ Nyay, the party’s proposed income guarantee scheme, will change the face of India and wipe out poverty from the country forever, he said addressing a public rally here.

Both the Parliamentary polls and Assembly elections are scheduled in Andhra Pradesh on April 11, and the Congress is going it alone in the hustings.

Pointing out that the Congress governments in Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh waived farm loans soon after it stormed to power in those states last year, Gandhi said he was making a similar assurance in this southern state also.

“There were recently elections in North India and in the three states we promised farm loan waiver within 10 days if we came to power. And I am proud to say that within two days, we waived all farm loans in the three states.”

“And I want to commit the same here in Andhra Pradesh. If you vote for a Congress government (apparently both at the Centre and state), we will waive all farm loans,” he said.

On his party’s proposed Nyay income guarantee scheme, he said the Congress will identify the poorest sections of the population and provide them Rs 72,000 per year.

There would be no discrimination of beneficiaries, including on caste and regional lines, he said, asserting that 25 crore people will benefit from the proposed initiative.

It was a “revolutionary idea” not done by any country in the world, he said, adding it will “change the face of India.”

It was “an idea that will wipe out poverty from this country forever and we have given the scheme the name Nyay as it is going to bring justice to millions of people,” Gandhi said.

There are 25 Parliamentary seats and 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Saudi economy expands in fourth-quarter on boost from crude; non-oil growth slows

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Saudi Arabia’s economy grew in the fourth quarter of last year at its fastest rate since early 2016 due to an expansion in the oil sector, while non-oil growth was sluggish, statistics agency data showed on Sunday.

Fourth-quarter gross domestic product grew by 3.59 percent from a year earlier. In the third quarter, annual growth was 2.5 percent.

“The oil sector led the recovery in the final quarter, reflecting stronger production, particularly at the beginning of the quarter,” said Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.

The Saudi economy has suffered in recent years because of low oil prices and austerity measures aimed at reducing a huge budget deficit.

In 2017, the economy shrank for the first time since the global financial crisis almost a decade earlier.

The data on Sunday showed how the kingdom’s economic recovery is still heavily reliant on oil output.

While the oil sector grew by almost 6 percent year on year, growth in the non-oil sector – key for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy – was 1.8 percent, down from 2.1 percent in the third quarter of last year.

“We expect the headline growth figure to moderate in 2019 as Saudi implements oil production cuts,” Malik said.

Saudi Arabia’s economy grew by 2.21 percent in 2018, government data showed in January, without breaking down fourth-quarter figures.

Last week, state-owned Saudi Aramco announced it had agreed to buy a majority stake in Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF), for $69.1 billion.

The deal could boost economic growth as the sovereign fund gains more firepower to proceed with its plans to create jobs and diversify the largest Arab economy beyond oil exports.

Dubai-based Arqaam Capital said in a research note on Sunday the acquisition is expected to boost credit growth, “as corporate activity on increased award momentum continues to improve particularly towards the end of the year and potentially on loans from Aramco to fund the purchase of SABIC”.

Malik said economic growth in 2019 would be impacted by how the PIF implements investments.

“Our assumption is that the SABIC sale will boost PIF’s investments in the second half of the year,” she said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Airlines responsible for their financial performance; govt can’t interfere in day-to-day operations: Suresh Prabhu

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Efficient operations and financial performance are individual responsibilities of carriers, and the government cannot interfere in their day-to-day operations, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said amid Jet Airways crisis and turbulent times of the domestic airlines industry.

In view of intense competition, rising costs, shortage of pilots and grounding of planes hurting many domestic carriers, the minister also said the government has been constantly responding to industry conditions and cited measures taken, including a reduction in central excise duty on jet fuel to 11 percent from 14 percent.

Cash-strapped Jet Airways has been forced to ground planes, cancel flights and delay payments, including salaries to pilots, while Air India continues to grapple with financial woes. On March 25, the board of ailing Jet Airways cleared a debt resolution plan whereby lenders would take control of the carrier.

Against this backdrop, Prabhu said that each airline prepares its own business plan on the basis of its own market assessment and financial resources.

“Based on its business plan, the efficient operations and financial performance are the responsibilities of each individual airline and its shareholders.

“However, the government has constantly been responding to industry conditions and undertaking specific measures to facilitate and enable growth of the sector,” he told PTI.

In written replies to PTI queries, Prabhu said the airline industry is a dynamic industry which requires continuous adjustment according to global and domestic needs.

“It is our endeavour to support the industry, however, as stated we cannot interfere in day to-day operations of the airlines,” he noted.

About Air India, the minister said a revival plan has been prepared for the national carrier that focuses on various aspects, including a comprehensive financial package and transferring non-core debt and assets to a special purpose vehicle.

The revival plan also focuses on a higher level of operational efficiency by strengthening management and implementing best practice business processes and robust organisational and governance reforms, he added.

Debt-laden Air India is staying afloat on taxpayers’ money and an effort for its strategic disinvestment did not take off in May 2018.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: “Will contest against PM Narendra Modi from Varanasi,” says sacked BSF soldier

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A Border Security Force soldier who was dismissed from service in 2017 after he posted a video online complaining about the food served to the troop said he would take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

“I will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi constituency as an independent candidate,” Tej Bahadur Yadav told reporters in Rewari, Haryana on Friday.

Yadav said he wanted to contest the elections to eliminate corruption in the armed forces. “I had raised the issue of corruption but I was sacked. My first objective will be to strengthen and eliminate corruption in the forces,” he said.

Yadav had uploaded a video on social media in 2017, complaining that poor quality food was being served to troops in the icy, mountainous region along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was later dismissed on charges of indiscipline.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: India needs chowkidars, not dynasts, says PM Modi in his address at Talkatora Stadium

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Upping his ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign, prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed about 5,000 people who have pledged their support to the campaign.

In his address at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, Modi slammed the opposition for mocking ‘chowkidars’ (watchmen). He said that India needed ‘chowkidars’ and not ‘dynasts’. “Chowkidar is not about a uniform, it is about spirit,” he said.

Expressing his confidence, Modi said that people will give him the opportunity to serve the country again.

“I had said my effort would be not to allow the public money to be clawed in. As a watchman, I will discharge my responsibility,” he added.

On the Balakot air strikes, he said he took the decision as he thought that “the game” should be played from where terrorism is being remote-controlled.

He added that Pakistan was in a fix because if it acknowledges the air strikes, it will have to accept that there was a terror camp there.

“They have been saying that there are no terror camps. Now they have to hide it. They are not allowing anybody to go there. We’ve been told Balakot area is being reconstructed by Pakistan to show that a school is being run there so that people can be taken there and shown that no terror camp existed there,” he said.

Those abusing Modi on Balakot air strikes are helping Pakistan with their statements, he said.

The event was beamed across the country at 500 places where gatherings of BJP workers, professionals, watchmen, traders, farmers among others interacted with him through video-conferencing.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow