Political News – Newsletter for December 29, 2010

Amar Singh: left to fighting for lost causes?

LUCKNOW – Ousted Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh, who for years remained the last word in Mulayam Singh Yadav’s party, appears to be fighting a losing battle as he seeks an independent political identity after a year that saw his ouster from the party whose public face he once was.

Having made his way into the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Amar Singh: left to fighting for lost causes?.

PM discusses Telangana with senior ministers

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday convened a meeting of senior ministers to discuss the issue of a separate state of Telangana that has led to sharp political divisions in Andhra Pradesh.

Official sources said the hour-long meeting, attended by Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : PM discusses Telangana with senior ministers.

Manmohan Singh presides over Cabinet review meeting on Telangana

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday, was presiding over an emergency meeting of the Union Cabinet to review the Telangana state issue and security in Andhra Pradesh ahead of the submission of the Srikrishna Committee report.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K Antony were …. Original source  : Manmohan Singh presides over Cabinet review meeting on Telangana.

No communication gap between Pakistan, India on outstanding issues: Gilani

MUSCAT – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has denied any communication gap with India on resolving Kashmir and other outstanding issues, but asked New Delhi not to hold the dialogue process hostage to the 2008 Mumbai terror incident.

“This impression should be dispelled that there is lack of communication between Pakistan and India,” the Daily …. Source  : No communication gap between Pakistan, India on outstanding issues: Gilani.

Gujjars continue stir despite government’s intervention

JAIPUR – The Gujjar community’s agitation for five percent reservation continued unabated Wednesday despite the Rajasthan government clarifying that it would hold back four percent of the jobs, in addition to the one percent already being given to them, till a final court decision.

In a bid to pacify the community, the government announced late …. Source  : Gujjars continue stir despite government’s intervention.

Political turmoil in Pakistan may hurt American interests in region: US media

WASHINGTON – The current political turmoil in Pakistan may hurt American interests if the PPP-led coalition government crumbles and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif comes back to power, the US media reported.

The Washington Post noted that instability of the Zardari government could also hamper US efforts to convince Pakistan to take more action against extremists … Original source on Gaea Times at : Political turmoil in Pakistan may hurt American interests in region: US media.

‘Refudiate’ just a typo, Palin now says

WASHINGTON – Former US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who hit the headlines after coining a word “refudiate” on Twitter, has now claimed that the word was just a simple typing error.

“I pressed an ‘F’ instead of a ‘P’ and people freaked out,” she said on a recent episode of her reality show “Sarah … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘Refudiate’ just a typo, Palin now says.

New head of government in Belarus

MINSK – Belarus’ authoritarian president Aleksander Lukashenko Tuesday appointed a long-time subordinate as his new head of government, the Belapan news agency reported.

Mikhail Myasnikovych, 60, until Tuesday had headed Belarus’ National Academy of Sciences.
He had previously served as Lukashenko’s head of the Presidential Administration.
Lukashenko Dec 19 won a re-election to a fourth …. Read the original article  : New head of government in Belarus.

Jethmalani ready to fight Binakay’s case, BJP steers clear

NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani Tuesday said he was ready to appear for jailed human rights activist Binayak Sen against the party’s government in Chhattisgarh. The BJP steered clear and said it was a professional matter concerning Jethmalani.

Jethmalani has a profession to himself…If it is about …. Read the original article  : Jethmalani ready to fight Binakay’s case, BJP steers clear.

Opposition attacks BJD over disrespect to tricolour

BHUBANESWAR – The opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday demanded action against the alleged disrespect to the national flag during a function of Orissa’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, several of his ministerial colleagues and other party leaders were present at BJD’s foundation day function here …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A crore votes at stake, Trinamool, CPI-M, Congress, BJP share dais

KOLKATA – The compulsions of vote bank politics presented a rare sight here Tuesday when leaders of West Bengal’s arch-rivals Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Trinamool Congress, as also of the Congress and the BJP, shared the dais at a rally organised by a group of Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes.

This, when …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Congress downplays Digvijay Singh’s remarks about Karkare

NEW DELHI – The Congress Tuesday downplayed party general secretary Digvijay Singh’s remarks about former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare being a form of God for Muslims, saying he must have used a proverbial expression.

No human being can be compared to God in any religion. He must have used it as a proverb,” Congress …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Congress downplays Digvijay Singh’s remarks about Karkare.

I respect governor, will clear misunderstanding: Yeddyurappa

SHIMOGA – Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Tuesday sought to assuage an angry Governor H.R. Bhardwaj, saying that he respected him and would regularly brief him to prevent any misunderstanding.

“I have a lot of respect for the governor. He is experienced and elder to me. I will take guidance from him,” Yeddyurappa, who had …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Srikrishna report by Dec 31; cases spiked, MPs end fast (Roundup)

HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI – A report on the contentious issue of statehood for Telangana will be presented by its Dec 31 deadline, it was announced Tuesday, as a beleaguered Andhra Pradesh government bowed to demands from nine fasting Congress MPs and spiked all cases filed during protests for and against a separate state.

“The report …. Original article  : Srikrishna report by Dec 31; cases spiked, MPs end fast (Roundup).

Srikrishna report by Dec 31; cases spiked, MPs end fast (Roundup)

HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI – A report on the contentious issue of statehood for Telangana will be presented by its Dec 31 deadline, it was announced Tuesday, as a beleaguered Andhra Pradesh government bowed to demands from nine fasting Congress MPs and spiked all cases filed during protests for and against a separate state.

“The report … Read more : Srikrishna report by Dec 31; cases spiked, MPs end fast (Roundup).

Will probe BJP link to Gujjar agitation: Gehlot

JAIPUR – Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Tuesday said he would like to probe the involvement of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in the Gujjar agitation in the state.

Gujjars are agitating in the state since Dec 20 demanding 5 percent reservation in government jobs.
While talking to reporters at the state Congress headquarters here, … Read more »»».

Sack Reddys for tax evasion, Congress urges governor

BANGALORE – The Congress in Karnataka Tuesday demanded the sacking of ministers and mining barons, the Reddy brothers, and their associate for allegedly evading huge income tax payments.

State Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, his brother and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy and their associate Health Minister B. Sriramulu have evaded paying around …. Source article  : Sack Reddys for tax evasion, Congress urges governor.

Reassess green clearance to Jaitapur n-plant, says BJP

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday appealed to the central government to reassess the environmental clearance given to the proposed Jaitapur nuclear plant in Maharashtra.

“We suggest that all efforts should be made to address the concerns of local fishermen about fishing and livelihood in Jaitapur. The government should reassess …. Read the original article  : Reassess green clearance to Jaitapur n-plant, says BJP.

Telangana MPs end fast as government withdraws cases (Second Lead)

HYDERABAD – Congress MPs from the Telangana region Tuesday ended their hunger strike after the Andhra Pradesh government agreed to withdraw all criminal cases filed during widespread agitation for a separate Telangana state.

The nine Congress parliamentarians broke their fast after state Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy handed over a written assurance from the … Read : Telangana MPs end fast as government withdraws cases (Second Lead).

Srikrishna report by Dec 31, Andhra to withdraw all cases

NEW DELHI – Amid fears of violence in Andhra Pradesh, Justice B.N. Srikrishna, who heads the panel for examining the contentious issue of statehood for Telangana, Tuesday said the committee will present the report by the Dec 31 deadline, even as the Andhra Pradesh government withdrew all criminal cases filed during protests for a separate … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Srikrishna report by Dec 31, Andhra to withdraw all cases.