Political News – Newsletter for January 22, 2011

Bangalore Bandh Gets Effective

BANGALORE, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The BJP party workers in Bangalore have gone down to streets in order too make the Bangalore Bandh more effective. The protest by the BJP workers began at KR Puram on Friday. At about 9:30 p.m the bandh started taking a bitter turn, when several BJP workers got down on …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Bangalore Bandh Gets Effective.

Haryana has five lakh new voters

CHANDIGARH – Haryana has added close to five lakh new voters to its electoral lists, taking the total number to some 13 lakh, an official said Saturday.

As per the final voter list published Jan 5, the number of voters have increased by 491,443 in the state.
“Now there are 13,249,421 voters in Haryana. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Haryana has five lakh new voters.

BJP asks Omar to participate in Lal Chowk flag-hoisting

CHANDIGARH – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said it had the right to hoist the national flag anywhere in the country, with party MP Anurag Thakur even asking Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to join in the party’s plan to unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar Jan 26.

“We are living …. Read the original article  : BJP asks Omar to participate in Lal Chowk flag-hoisting.

Pakistan on the brink of economic collapse, says PML-Q

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has said the country was “at the brink of economic collapse” and that a turnaround was not possible unless peace comes to Karachi.

PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and general secretary Mushahid Hussain Sayed, addressing a press conference in Karachi Friday, said they had handed over to the …. Original article  : Pakistan on the brink of economic collapse, says PML-Q.

Karnataka shutdown over Yeddyurappa prosecution turns violent

BANGALORE – Buses were burnt, stones were pelted and shops were attacked across Karnataka to enforce a shutdown called by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday to protest Governor H.R. Bhardwaj’s sanction for Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s prosecution on corruption charges.

Hundreds of people were stranded at bus terminals and rail stations …. Read the original article  : Karnataka shutdown over Yeddyurappa prosecution turns violent.

Chidambaram says BJP’s Karnataka shutdown call is unacceptable

BANGALORE – Slamming Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its shutdown call in Karnataka to protest against Governor HR Bhardwaj’s sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said it is not correct and is totally unacceptable.

In a statement issued here, Chidambaram said: “It is not the first time that … Read more : Chidambaram says BJP’s Karnataka shutdown call is unacceptable.

India asks Haiti politicos to exercise restraint

UNITED NATIONS – India has called upon all political actors in earthquake-hit Haiti to exercise restraint and avoid actions that cause violence and distract focus from the urgently needed reconstruction and rehabilitation work.

“We think that concerted reconstruction and rehabilitation work demands stable political and administrative conditions,” India’s permanent representative to UN Hardeep Singh Puri … Read more : India asks Haiti politicos to exercise restraint.

Iraq war victims’ relatives shout, “it’s too late” as Blair regrets loss of lives

LONDON – Relatives of people who lost their lives in the Iraq war expressed anger at former British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the Chilcot Inquiry proceedings as he regretted the loss because of his decision to back the US in invading the oil-rich country.

The angry relatives reportedly shouted saying, “It’s too late” after … Read more >>>.

Pope’s ‘message to Berlusconi’: ‘Officials must rediscover moral roots’

LONDON – With Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi getting embroiled deeper in sex scandals, the Pope has said that ‘public officials need to rediscover spiritual and moral roots’.

In a remark, which may have been aimed at Italy’s beleaguered prime minister, Pope Benedict XVI told an audience of police officers that public officials must “rediscover their … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pope’s ‘message to Berlusconi’: ‘Officials must rediscover moral roots’.

Karnataka shuts down over Yeddyurappa’s prosecution

BANGALORE – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a statewide shutdown in Karnataka today to protest against Governor HR Bhardwaj’s sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.

BJP has ruled out Yeddyurappa’s resignation in the wake of the Governor’s action.

Majority of shops and business establishments across the state remaining closed while schools … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Karnataka shuts down over Yeddyurappa’s prosecution.

Chidambaram backs Bhardwaj on Yeddyurappa’s prosecution

NEW DELHI – Home Minister P. Chidambaram Saturday supported Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj’s decision to allow the filing of criminal cases and prosecute Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on corruption charges.

The home minister stated that the central government had taken note of the developments in Karnataka and said it was not a unique case when …. Original source  : Chidambaram backs Bhardwaj on Yeddyurappa’s prosecution.

Man wins race, crowned Nepal’s new ‘PM’

KATHMANDU – More than six months after Nepal’s prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned and warring political parties failed to name his successor even after 16 rounds of elections, the republic has got a mock “prime minister” – chosen after he won a race!

Harendra Bhatt defeated 54 competitors to lift the title of the … Read more >>.

Berlusconi’s 14 ‘bunga bunga’ girls evicted from luxury ‘Dolls House’ flats

LONDON – Fourteen women who were regulars at Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s infamous ‘bunga bunga’ sex parties have been evicted from their homes.

The women, who were given the apartments by the 74-year-old Prime Minister, were thrown out after the residents association complained they ‘lowered the tone,’ reports the Daily Mail.

The gates complex on the … Read more >>.

Make flag-hoisting at Srinagar all-party event: Gadkari

BEIJING – BJP president Nitin Gadkari has justified the BJP Yuva Morcha Kashmir Yatra to hoist the national flag in Srinagar and appealed to the Congress party as well as the National Conference to join his party and make it an all-party event.

He said the BJP’s Muslim workers in Jammu & Kashmir were supporting … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Make flag-hoisting at Srinagar all-party event: Gadkari.

Tepid changes made cabinet reshuffle a non-event (Comment)

Although a cabinet reshuffle usually arouses more hope than what it fulfils, it is still awaited with eager anticipation because of the promise of a new beginning. This time, however, the exercise has been a disappointment because of the tepid nature of the changes.

If the expectations were high earlier, the reason was the …. Source article  : Tepid changes made cabinet reshuffle a non-event (Comment).

Iran, world powers resume nuclear talks in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Iran and six world powers held the first of two days of talks on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme in Istanbul, with both sides hoping a positive approach could make headway in the stand-off.

Iran’s National Security Council, of which Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeid Jalili is the secretary general, said the talks had …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Iran, world powers resume nuclear talks in Istanbul.

President Honors Outstanding Science, Math, Engineering Mentors

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

President Obama today named 11 individuals and 4 organizations as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.  … Read more >>.

Remarks by the President on the Economy in Schenectady, New York

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

General Electric Plant …. Original article  : Remarks by the President on the Economy in Schenectady, New York.

Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs aboard Air Force One en route Schenectady, New York

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

11:55 A.M. EST

     MR. GIBBS:  What’s going on?
 
     Q    Can you confirm this story the President warned Hu Jintao that if China didn’t step up … Original article on : Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs aboard Air Force One en route Schenectady, New York.

Yeddyurappa says Bhardwaj not giving copy of sanction order

BANGALORE – Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa late Friday said Governor H.R. Bhardwaj had refused to provide him with a copy of the order allowing his prosecution over corruption charges but had released it to the media.

In a letter to Bhardwaj, released to the media, Yeddyurappa said he had deputed a senior officer who met … Original article on : Yeddyurappa says Bhardwaj not giving copy of sanction order.