Category: Politics

The steering group of the Right to Food Campaign on Wednesday expressed its “shock” at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement asking the Supreme Court not to interfere with policy and said it showed how “completely anti-poor” the government was.

In a press release here, the Campaign — a conglomeration of rights and civil society groups — said that when, under the Constitution, people had the Right to Life as well as the right to approach courts, “the statement showed that the head of the Executive, does not want the Fundamental Right of the people …

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has called on Labor MPs to build on the future and not dwell on the past at the party’s first caucus meeting since being returned to power.

But she faced a call from the rank and file for Labor to be more respectful of Westminster traditions, in a clear criticism of the way in which Kevin Rudd was dumped as leader.

Addressing the caucus at Parliament House in Canberra today, Ms Gillard delivered her report card on the outcome of the August 21 election, saying Labor had picked up some messages during …

Curfew was lifted on Thursday from all parts of the Kashmir Valley on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.

“Curfew has been lifted from all parts of Srinagar city, and Anatnag and Bijbehara towns in south Kashmir in view of Eid-ul-Fitr,” a police official told PTI.

Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday or Saturday, depending on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city on Tuesday and in Anantnag and Bijbehara towns on Wednesday after violent protests broke out in these areas over the killing …

Urging party workers and leaders to ignore criticism levelled with an ulterior motive by Opposition leaders, DMK president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday exuded confidence that the party would see through the implementation of the Kalaignar Housing Scheme by coming back to power after the next elections.

Any apprehension on the continuity of the six-year project, the implementation of which has just commenced, was unwarranted.

“We are certain to come to power again. I hope to be alive till all the 21 lakh enumerated beneficiaries are provided with concrete houses. Have I let any …

TREASURER Wayne Swan today said the mining tax would not be on the tax summit’s agenda next year because the Government was in the process of designing the measure and preparing legislation for parliamentary approval.

“But I am involving all members of the Parliament, including the Independents, in the discussion,” he told ABC Radio.

Mr Swan said Labor was committed to the tax, and a panel chaired by former BHP Billiton chairman Don Argus was looking at it in greater depth.

“Tony Windsor and the Independents will have views about the design of that tax which they …

Curfew was clamped in parts of Srinagar in the wee hours of Tuesday as violence erupted last night after security forces allegedly opened fire on a stone-pelting mob.

Curfew was clamped in eight police station areas — Rainawari, Maharajgunj, Safakadal, Khanyar and Nowhatta in old city, and Maisuma, Batamaloo and Kralkhud in civil lines — in view of the violent protests and stone pelting incidents in many parts of the city late in the night, police sources said.

Earlier, District Magistrate Srinagar Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo told PTI that restrictions on the movement of the people …

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday staked claim to form a government in Jharkhand under the former Chief Minister, Arjun Munda. In Ranchi, party leaders presented to Governor M.O.H. Farook a list of 45 MLAs ready to give unconditional support to the new government.

PTI, quoting sources in the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, said the Governor had sent a report to the Union government asking for the revocation of President’s rule.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari — now in Moscow — virtually ordered legislature party leader Raghuvar Das to make way for Mr. Munda and Mr. …

A day after AIADMK MPs met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh complaining about ruling DMK’s “lackadaisical approach” towards security of their leader Ms. Jayalalithaa, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday said she was being given “adequate security” following death threats to her.

“Sometimes, threats by way of letters are issued even to the Chief Minister, Union Home Minister and other leaders. Probe is undertaken in such issues and proper action taken,” the government said in media advertisements as the AIADMK stepped up pressure on the issue of Ms. …

THE Northern Territory Labor Government is calling on the three federal country Independents to back the Gillard government for the sake of indigenous Australians.

NT Minister for indigenous policy Malarndirri McCarthy on Tuesday urged Bob Katter, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott to look at the achievements made under a federal Labor government in indigenous affairs.

“Julia Gillard is the prime minister that will deliver better outcomes for indigenous Australians,” Ms McCarthy said.

The three country Independents are expected to announce today which of the two major parties they will support to form a minority federal government (2pm …

The Indian Navy on Sunday successfully neutralised a pirate boat in the Gulf of Aden.

INS Delhi, on anti-piracy mission in the region since July this year, was escorting 12 merchant vessels, including ‘Jag Ratan’, an Indian Flag Merchant Vessel.

At about 1215 hours, some 180 km north of the Somali Coast, in the International Recommended Transit Corridor, a boat was detected approaching the formation at high speed.

INS Delhi repeatedly called the boat on Mercantile Marine Radio, but the vessel did not respond, a Defence Ministry release said.

Aerial cover

Sensing that it might pose a risk to ships …