Page 15 - National Politics

CBIC issues SoP to check use of freebies to lure voters during elections

The CBIC has come out with detailed instructions for tax officers to implement the directions of the Election Commission with regard to the use of freebies, illicit cash, liquor and drugs to lure voters, and asked them to share information with other enforcement agencies. The GST and Customs officials will also be required to monitor the distribution of coupon-based or free fuel or cash for alluring prospective voters under the new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP). The officials would also monitor fuel consumption by candidates and parties and keep a tab on expenditure on food, hotels, parties, tent house etc. The GST officers would keep an extensive check on restaurant/eateries, marriage hall/ farm houses/ slaughter house/ meat house in the poll-bound area, said a detailed SoP issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The GST and Customs officials would also set up "flying squads and static surveillance teams" for the effective conduct of road and transit

Rahul Gandhi running 'mall of hatred', not 'mohabbat ki dukan': Nadda

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi's slogan of 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan' (shop of love), Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda on Monday claimed the Congress leader was actually running a "mega mall of hatred". Nadda accused Gandhi and other Congress leaders of spewing hate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a rally in Godhra town of Panchmahal district following the completion of nine years of the Modi government, Nadda also accused the opposition parties of turning into "family-centric parties" which were not concerned about the welfare of citizens. "The Congress people get upset whenever Modiji receives accolades at the global stage. While trying to oppose our PM, Congress leaders have started opposing our country," he said. "Rahul Gandhi went all the way to Britain to say that democracy is in danger. It was his grandmother (former prime minister Indira Gandhi) who had imposed Emergency in the country in 1975 and imprisoned 1.5 lakh people, and now he is talking about ...

Decision to be taken after 2-3 meetings: Chirag Paswan on alliance with NDA

In the Bihar assembly elections 2020, the LJP managed only 5.66 per cent vote share winning a single seat. The lone MLA who won under the LJP symbol soon switched sides with the JD(U)

Tipra Motha chief Debbarma quits politics, says want to work for the people

Earlier, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma had said that he will quit politics after the February 16 Tripura assembly elections and will never seek votes as "Bubagra" (king)

Opposition parties to discuss Centre's ordinance on June 23 in Patna

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced that all opposition parties will discuss the ordinance imposed by the Central government in an upcoming meeting

LIVE: Mamata Banerjee questions death figures in Balasore train crash

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We compelled Sharad Pawar to stay on as NCP chief, says Jayant Patil

Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil on Friday said all party leaders compelled Sharad Pawar to withdraw his decision to step down as party chief, telling him that he must continue working for the country and the state. Patil also took to Twitter to appeal to the cadres to distribute sugar across the state. "Honourable Sharad Pawar has announced his decision to withdraw his resignation and there is a very happy atmosphere among workers and people across the state. I appeal to workers across the state to celebrate this joy by distributing sugar in every village and every nook and corner," he tweeted. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Patil said Pawar's announcement of May 2 had come as a shock to all of them, but lakhs of party workers urged him to withdraw his decision. "Today, Pawar withdrew his decision and decided to work ahead, and we are all happy about the decision," he said. Asked what prompted the NCP chief to withdraw his decision after three days, Patil said there was deman

Fight against corruption to continue however big an alliance they form: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Wednesday that his government's action against corruption has made some people angry but he will not turn back in this fight against graft and nepotism, however big an alliance his rivals form against him. Those angry and making noise want to "destroy" the honest system his government has created in the last nine years, Modi said in his address at a Republic TV programme, but they will not succeed in their "conspiracies" because their fight is not with him but against the common people. His remarks came amid a renewed push in the opposition ranks to join hands against the ruling BJP in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress and a host of regional parties have accused his government of using probe agencies to target their leaders and also of "weakening" democratic institutions. Modi said his government's use of technology has weeded out leakage in government schemes and other expenditures to the tunes of tens of thousands of cror

Fraught transition: BJP decided to replace 23 MLAs in Karnataka elections

A decision that has put local leaders in a tough spot

Rajeev Bindal appointed Himachal BJP president, replacing Suresh Kashyap

The BJP on Sunday appointed its seasoned leader Rajeev Bindal as its Himachal Pradesh state unit president, replacing Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kumar Kashyap. Bindal, who hails from Solan, has been a minister and assembly speaker and is seen as a solid and dynamic organisational leader. He headed the BJP state unit earlier as well. An MLA for several terms, Bindal lost the assembly poll this time with the party failing to open its account in Solan district. The BJP suffered defeat in the assembly polls in the state in November last year as the Congress came back to power. The party is now gearing up for the Shimla Municipal Corporation polls slated for May 2. In other appointments, the BJP has made Siddharthan and Pawan Rana as its general secretary (organisation) in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi units respectively. Both leaders will be swapping their places. Talking to reporters in Shimla, Kashyap said he had requested the party leadership to relieve him of the charge of Himachal Pradesh

Karnataka tired of 40% commission, wants 100% commitment: Shashi Tharoor

Former union minister Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said people in Karnataka were tired of "40 per cent commission" and wanted "100 per cent commitment" that the Congress party would give if it were voted to power in the upcoming Assembly election. He also said that the Congress was prepared to tackle the "serious deficiencies" in state-level and urban-level governance in Bengaluru and the entire state of Karnataka. I think the people in this state are tired of the 40 per cent commission. What they want is 100 per cent commitment and that's what we will give 100 per cent commitment to the well-being of the people of Karnataka, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said at a press conference here. In poll-bound Karnataka where the Assembly election is just a month away, the Congress has been accusing the BJP-led state government of collecting 40 per cent commission from contractors, unaided private schools and even some religious institutions on the grants that they receive from the ...

MP govt appoints chairmen of 3 development authorities ahead of state polls

Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls due this year-end, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has appointed chairmen of three development authorities in the state. As per an order issued on Wednesday night, Rajesh Yadav has been appointed chairman of Dewas Development Authority, Pitamber Topnani as chairman of the Katni Development Authority and Dilip Shah as chairman of the Singrauli Development Authority, an official said on Thursday. Their tenure will be effective from the date of assuming charge and continue till further orders, the official added.

Cleanliness drives, bike rally to mark BJP's 43rd foundation day in Gujarat

Week-long celebrations, including cleanliness and plantation drives, bike rallies, group meals, medical camps, have been organised in Gujarat to mark BJP's 43rd foundation day on Thursday (April 6).

People still aware of 'dark days' of Siddaramaiah's govt: BJP leader

BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh on Wednesday hit out at former CM Siddaramaiah, terming his tenure as the "most corrupt, indecisive and Hindu-hating government"

Rahul Gandhi disqualification: Kharge accuses Centre of double standards

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the Centre of double standards, saying while it disqualified Rahul Gandhi with lightning speed, a Gujarat MP who was convicted in a criminal case did not face the same action. Kharge was referring to the BJP's Amreli MP Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadia, who was awarded a three-year jail term by a court. Kachhadia's conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court. Gandhi was convicted by a lower court in Gujarat's Surat and sentenced to prison for two years on March 23 for a speech in which he linked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's last name with two fugitive businessmen, remarking how the "thieves" shared the same last name. A day later, he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha. Kharge said the Gujarat MP was allowed to attend the Parliament but a person who speaks the truth has been kept out of Parliament. "The height of the Modi government's hypocrisy and double standards -- a BJP MP from Gujarat is awarded a ...

Apologise for anti-Savarkar remarks: Nitin Gadkari tells Rahul Gandhi

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his critical remarks on late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and said no one has the right to insult him. Gandhi should realise that he insulted the Hindutva icon due to some misunderstanding, Gadkari said addressing a gathering organised as part of the 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' at Shankar Nagar in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Tuesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the former Congress president should show a big heart and tender an apology for his "crime". "Who has given him the right to insult Savarkar? No one will tolerate insult of Savarkar," Gadkari maintained. Gadkari, speaking in a lighter vein, thanked Gandhi for giving the BJP an opportunity to make the country's youth aware about Savarkar's life and message through the yatra. The former Congress chief has constantly targeted Savarkar by raking up the issue of his mercy plea. His latest attack came last month following his ...

LS adjourned in seconds amid ruckus over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

Along with Congress members, MPs belonging to the DMK, NCP, the Left and BRS also wore black

'Lahiri's law': A mathematical analysis of social divisions

Ashok Lahiri's book is a collection of thoughtful observations on India's economic journey since 1947, spiced up with views on our society and its politics

Congress endgame

Plenary weakens prospects of a united front

Political parties creating 'cradle-to-grave' welfare state: Varun Gandhi

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Wednesday said political parties have encouraged an entitlement mentality and created a "cradle-to-grave" welfare state by offering freebies. Gandhi, who has been voicing concern about various governance issues, said there is a need to have a conversation about widespread abuse of public funds by offering freebies. Making such promises is an insult to voters, when many such promises are simply left unfulfilled or partially so, Gandhi told PTI while talking about his latest book "The Indian Metropolis" which discusses challenges that Indian cities face. "All political parties offer freebies now and through it an entitlement mentality has been encouraged, creating a cradle-to-grave welfare state," he said. However, he added that not every scheme or manifesto promise is a freebie free food at schools, for students, as offered under the Mid-Day Meal scheme should not be classified as a freebie, given that it helps improve the health of our children. He further