Political News – Newsletter for February 14, 2011

Orissa budget session begins on stormy note

BHUBANESWAR – The budget session of the Orissa assembly began on a stormy note here Monday with opposition members raising anti-government slogans for alleged irregularities in purchase of pulses for the mid-day meal scheme in schools and nutrition programme for women.

Opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members created ruckus and started shouting slogans …. Original article  : Orissa budget session begins on stormy note.

India welcomes South Sudan referendum

NEW DELHI – India Monday welcomed the results of the January referendum in which southern Sudan voted for independence.

India welcomes the successful conclusion of the referendum held in southern Sudan in which its people have voted overwhelmingly for a separate state of South Sudan in a credible and peaceful manner, said a press release … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : India welcomes South Sudan referendum.

PDP takes out ‘resolution’ rally

JAMMU – Jammu and Kashmir’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party Monday took out what it called a resolution rally here seeking an earlier solution to the more than six-decade old Kashmir crisis.

The party workers marched along the rain-drenched streets of Jammu as part of its campaign to seek an early solution to the … Read more : PDP takes out ‘resolution’ rally.

Kerala assembly turns unruly over PM’s visit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – There were acrimonious scenes in the Kerala assembly Monday after ruling party legislators alleged that the governor, chief minister and other ministers had been treated badly during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s three-day visit to the state.

The treasury benches after a nearly one-hour verbal duel passed a resolution condemning the way the state …. Source  : Kerala assembly turns unruly over PM’s visit.

Mumbai youth enjoy Valentine’s Day as MNS, Sena lie low

MUMBAI – Youngsters in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra celebrated Valentine’s Day by openly exchanging flowers and gifts and headed out for some fun at multiplexes and malls as the right-wing Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) lay low.

Dressed in their V-Day best, young boys and girls made a beeline for restaurants, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mumbai youth enjoy Valentine’s Day as MNS, Sena lie low.

Mudslinging begins with eye to Assam polls

GUWAHATI – The pitch is getting sharper and the allegations dirtier. With assembly elections due in Assam this year, political parties are busy slinging mud at each other even as real issues affecting the common man are nowhere to be found at rallies and speeches.

I don’t know if AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) leader Prafulla …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mudslinging begins with eye to Assam polls.

Shutdown cripples life in Darjeeling for sixth day

DARJEELING – Normal life was paralysed in West Bengal’s Darjeeling Hills Monday for the sixth day due to an indefinite shutdown called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) protesting the death of three party activists in police firing, police said.

“The shutdown was total in three subdivisions – Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong – of the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Shutdown cripples life in Darjeeling for sixth day.

30 percent polling in Chhattisgarh by-election

RAIPUR – Voting was underway Monday for Chhattisgarh’s Sanjari-Balod assembly by-election and an estimated 30 percent polling was recorded by noon, election officials said.

Polling began at 8 a.m. amid tight security and was peaceful at all 187 booths except one in Gurur area where voting was disrupted for about 10 minutes following tension between …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Being arrogant will not help US: Pakistani daily

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is “in a fix” due to the mystery surrounding the diplomatic status of Raymond Davis who shot dead two men in Lahore — but the United States, too, is in a soup, said a Pakistani daily, since “being arrogant will not help the US, instead it will only increase the anti-American sentiment …. Source article  : Being arrogant will not help US: Pakistani daily.

400 Kashmir political activists lose security cover

JAMMU – The Jammu and Kashmir government has removed the security cover of around 400 activists of major parties following a review of their security needs against the backdrop of declining militancy and diminishing threats, an official said Monday.

The government decision late Sunday has affected almost all parties, including the ruling National Conference, its …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 400 Kashmir political activists lose security cover.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi faces disciplinary action

ISLAMABAD – Shah Mahmood Qureshi faces “serious disciplinary action”, Pakistan’s ruling PPP said here after the former foreign minister disclosed that the US had “forced” him to confirm diplomatic immunity for Raymond Davis, who shot dead two people in Lahore.

Fauzia Wahab, information secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party, said the former foreign minister has … Read more : Shah Mahmood Qureshi faces disciplinary action.

Yemeni police clash with anti-government protesters

SANA’A – Yemeni police clashed with over 3,000 anti-government protesters marching toward the presidential palace in Sana’a.

Police intervened Sunday as around 3,000 people calling for the fall of President Ali Abdullah Saleh began marching towards the palace.
Police and Republican Guard troops used batons to disperse the protesters, who were mainly students, and arrested …. Read the original article  : Yemeni police clash with anti-government protesters.

Scandals from past jolt Kerala opposition (Letter from Kerala)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Kerala’s opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, has got a rude jolt as old scandals have come back to haunt it, causing much agony after its superlative comeback in the local bodies polls last year.

Four old cases in which top opposition leaders are alleged to be involved have resurfaced [..] Read the original article: here.

Polling underway for Chhattisgarh assembly seat

RAIPUR – Voting was underway Monday for Chhattisgarh’s Sanjari-Balod assembly by-election as voters, including women in large numbers, lined up outside polling centres in rural areas early morning.

Voting began at 8 a.m. amid tight security at all 187 polling booths with extra forces deployed at 27 sensitive and six hyper-sensitive booths. Initial reports …. Original article  : Polling underway for Chhattisgarh assembly seat.

Mubarak still in Egypt, says PM

CAIRO – Hosni Mubarak, who stepped down Friday as Egypt’s president, is still in the country’s Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has said.

“Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq announced Sunday that former president Hosni Mubarak is in Sharm el-Sheikh up to now,” Xinhua quoted official MENA news agency as saying. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Mubarak still in Egypt, says PM.

West Bengal’s Left Front woos Muslims, women

KOLKATA – Faced with arguably its toughest political test in the coming assembly polls, West Bengal’s ruling Left Front Sunday wooed two crucial segments of voters – Muslims and women – during a rally held here to kick off its campaign.

With the day marking the centenary of famed Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the …. Source article  : West Bengal’s Left Front woos Muslims, women.

Egypt’s military rulers dissolve parliament, suspend constitution (Roundup)

Cairo, Feb 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Egypt’s military leadership Sunday dissolved both the upper and lower houses of the parliament and suspended the constitution.

Earlier Sunday, scuffles broke out between Egyptian soldiers and protesters at Cairo’s Tahrir Square after the military tried to remove activists from the epicentre of Egypt’s uprising, eyewitnesses said.
The military … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Egypt’s military rulers dissolve parliament, suspend constitution (Roundup).

Karunanidhi denies getting letter from Ratan Tata

CHENNAI – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi Sunday denied receiving a letter from industrialist Ratan Tata, delivered by corporate lobbyist Niira Radia in 2007.

Responding to the charge of AIADMK chief J.Jayalalithaa that Radia had hand-delivered a letter to him, Karunanidhi, in a statement issued here, said: “I have not received … Original article on : Karunanidhi denies getting letter from Ratan Tata.

Congress panel consults partymen on seat sharing with DMK

CHENNAI – A five-member Congress panel, set up to discuss sharing of seats with ally DMK, Sunday started hearing the views of its parliament and assembly members on the constituencies it should contest from in the ensuing Tamil Nadu assembly polls.

The panel comprising Tamil Nadu Congress chief K.V.Thankabalu, union ministers P. Chidambaram and G.K.Vasan, …. Source  : Congress panel consults partymen on seat sharing with DMK.

Shourie to appear before CBI over 2G scam (Roundup)

NEW DELHI – Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Shourie, who was communications minister during the NDA rule, will Feb 21 appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that has deepened its probe into the 2G spectrum scam, to answer queries about the telecom policy initiated since 2001.

“Shourie will appear before the …. Source article  : Shourie to appear before CBI over 2G scam (Roundup).