Page 1002 - Politics
BJP copy pasted its 2014 manifesto and changed all previous deadlines: Cong
In a scathing criticism of the BJP manifesto, the Congress on Monday said the ruling party has "simply copy pasted" its 2014 poll document and changed all previous deadlines. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said the BJP should have come out with a 'maafinama' (letter of apology) instead of a manifesto. In a series of tweets, Patel said the difference between the BJP's manifesto and that of the Congress can be seen from the cover page itself. "Our's has a crowd of people, and BJP manifesto has face of just one man. Instead of a manifesto BJP should have come out with a 'maafinama'," the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said. "For its 2019 manifesto, BJP has simply copy pasted its 2014 manifesto & changed all previous deadlines from 2019 to 2022,2032,2047,2097. Luckily they didn't shift any deadlines to the next century," he wrote on the microblogging site. Patel also hit out at the BJP leaders for not taking any questions after releasing the manifesto and compared that with Congress ...
LS polls: BJP manifesto promises 'New India', commitment towards national security
Terrorism, national security, soldier welfare, Article 370 related to Jammu Kashmir, combating infiltration were some of the key issues that Bharatiya Janata Party highlighted in its manifesto released on Monday for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.Terming the manifesto as a vision document for the "New India", the manifesto promised to create growth opportunities for the people of India as the BJP sought continuity for the sake of stability.The party that has been highlighting crackdowns on the terror groups by the way of surgical and air strikes in Pakistan, and putting the separatist elements under tight leash, stated in its manifesto that it will "firmly continue" the policy of 'Zero Tolerance' against terrorism and extremism and will continue to follow the policy of "giving a free hand to our security forces in combating terrorism."In order the strengthen the armed forces, the BJP claims to speed up the purchases of outstanding defense related equipments and weapons. "In order to ...
BJP releases manifesto, promises to build Ram temple; PM says nationalism 'our inspiration'
Eyeing to retain power, the BJP made a plethora of poll promises on Monday, including expeditious construction of Ram temple, firmly dealing with terrorism, doubling farmers' income in the next three years, making India the third-largest economy globally by 2030, and scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 45-page manifesto titled "Sankalpit Bharat, Sashakt Bharat" in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah and other top leaders of the party, including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, three days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. In the manifesto, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also resolved to annul Article 35A of the Constitution, which says no outsider can own property in Jammu and Kashmir. On the economic front, the party said it aspired to make India the third-largest economy of the world by 2030, adding, "This implies that we commit to make India a USD 5 trillion economy by
Apna Dal fields Pakauri Lal Kol from Robertsganj Lok Sabha seat
Apna Dal has fielded former Lok Sabha MP Pakauri Lal Kol from Robertsganj parliamentary constituency in Sonbhadra, the party announced on Saturday.Kol will be the joint candidate of the National Democratic Alliance candidate from the seat.Apna Dal faction led by Union Minister Anupriya Patel is in a coalition with Bharatiya Janata Party and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh. The party is contesting two parliamentary seats, Robertsganj and Mirzapur, in the eastern part of the state as per the poll pact with the BJP.Earlier, only party president Anupriya Patel's candidacy from Mirzapur Lok Sabha constituency was announced. The second seat was to be decided after due consultation with the alliance partners.Apna Dal had won Mirzapur and Pratapgarh Lok Sabha constituencies in the last General elections.
NYAY at the core of Congress campaign: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the concept of "NYAY" is at the core of its campaign for the Lok Sabha polls and builds on the promises the party has made to the people. The Congress on Sunday announced 'Ab Hoga Nyay' as its battle cry for the Lok Sabha polls and launched a campaign centred around the theme of 'justice', while alluding to the party's proposed minimum income scheme and the 'anyay' (injustice) "prevailing under the BJP rule". "Our national, cross platform, multimedia campaign is now LIVE. With the concept of NYAY at its core, this campaign builds on the promises we've made to the people of India in our manifesto," Gandhi tweeted, urging people to share the campaign video. The campaign's theme song 'Main hi toh Hindustan hoon' has been penned by Javed Akhtar, while the campaign film has been directed by Nikkhil Advani. The themes covered in the campaign include the 'NYAY' scheme, poverty eradication, jobs for youth, farmers, women's reservation, simplified
Vice Admiral Bimal Verma moves Armed Forces Tribunal after being superseded for Naval Chief post
Vice Admiral Bimal Verma on Monday moved the Armed Forces Tribunal against his supersession and appointment of Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Chief of Indian Navy.In his petition, the Vice Admiral has challenged the government's move to ignore seniority and appoint his junior as the next chief of Navy.Vice Admiral Karambir Singh will take over as the new Navy Chief after Admiral Sunil Lanba will complete his three-year term on May 31 this year.Singh will supersede Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, who is the senior most in terms of length of service.Vice Admiral Karambir Singh Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C) East will be the first helicopter pilot of Indian Navy to become Chief Naval Staff."The Government has appointed Vice Admiral Karanbir Singh, Eastern Naval Commander as the next Chief of Naval Staff in place of Admiral Sunil Lanba who vacates the office on 31 May 2019," Defence Ministry spokesperson Col Aman Anand earlier said.This was the second time, including the ..
We tried our best to deliver on promises made in 2014 polls: Rajnath Singh
Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at Centre has tried its best to deliver on the promises the BJP made in its manifesto for the last national elections."Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our government has tried its best to fulfil the promises made in the party manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections," Singh said at the party's manifesto launch event at party headquarters here.Speaking on BJP's promise for Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he said: "As far as Ram Mandir is concerned, we reiterate the promise made in the last elections. We will weigh all our option and try that the Ram Mandir is built as soon as possible in a harmonious environment."He took a swipe at previous governments for not fulfilling the promises that were made in their poll manifestos."India would have become a rich and the most powerful country in the world had our leaders even partially fulfilled what they promised in elections," Singh .
White House signals 'never' on tax returns
Democrats will "never" see President Donald Trump's tax returns, said White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, as a new front opened in the confrontation between the administration and Congress. Mulvaney accused Democrats of engaging in a "political stunt" and wanting "attention" after the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Richard Neal, asked the IRS to provide six years of Trump's personal tax returns and the returns for some of his businesses. "That is not going to happen and they know it," Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday." Asked whether he believe Democrats would ever view the president's returns, Mulvaney replied: "Oh no, never. Nor should they." Last week, Massachusetts Democrat Neal, one of only three congressional officials authorized to request tax returns, requested Trump's personal and business returns in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig. He asked for returns covering 2013 through 2018. He also asked for the documents in seven days, setting an ..
Assam 1st phase polls heading for straight contest
Assam's five Lok Sabha constituencies, which are all set to open the battle of the ballots in the state on Thursday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, are likely to see a straight contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress.
Omar questions rationale behind closing Jammu-Srinagar NH
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Monday questioned the rationale behind closing the Jammu-Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway for civilian traffic on Sundays and Wednesday if security force convoys could ply on the same road on other days of the week as well. The former chief minister posted a video on his Twitter handle showing a long convoy of security forces moving on the highway on Monday while civilian traffic also plied side by side. "Here's another full strength convoy. I'm simply trying to highlight the point that the architects of the highway closure have made no application of mind. Somehow this convoy on the highway is safe today but it wouldn't have been yesterday (Sunday) & won't be on Wednesday," he tweeted. "If it is safe for SF convoys to move on Monday WITHOUT closing the highway to civilian traffic, why is it not safe on Wednesdays & Sundays? Nothing proves the mindlessness of the order more than army movement on 'unsafe' days. This road is part of ...
Unlike other parties, BJP releases 'Sankalp Patra' not 'Ghoshna Patra': Swaraj
Lauding the BJP's manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, External Affairs Minister and senior party leader Sushma Swaraj on Monday said the saffron party was the only one to come up with a "Sankalp Patra", while others came up with "Ghoshna Patra". Speaking at the party's manifesto release programme, she said, "It is not just announcements that the document has made, but pledges that the party has made to itself to deliver to the people," adding that the country would believe the BJP as its government had done a lot more than it had promised in 2014. Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Swaraj said he was honoured with five major prestigious awards in the last five years by different countries, including Saudi Arabia. She added that India's prestige had touched new heights under Modi's leadership and that it was visible when Pakistan threatened to boycott the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting if India was invited and 56 of the 57 participating .
BJP releases manifesto; promises to build Ram temple, announces slew of welfare schemes
Eyeing another stint in power, the BJP on Monday made a string of promises, including expeditious construction of a Ram temple, a firm hand in dealing with terrorism and doubling farmers income in the next three years. The party also promised to make India the third largest economy globally by 2030 and scrap Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir if it comes back to power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the manifesto, titled 'Sankalpit Bharat, Sashakt Bharat' (Determined India, Empowered India), in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah and other top leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. In the manifesto, the BJP also resolved to annul Article 35 A of the Constitution which says no outsider can own property in Jammu and Kashmir. On the economic front, the BJP said it aspired to make India the third largest economy of the world by 2030. "This implies that we commit to make India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025 and USD 10 trillion ...
India must try to be developed nation by 2047: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that India should aspire to be a developed country by 2047, the 100th anniversary of its Independence, and added that a BJP-led government will lay the foundation for this in the next five years.
Will throw Modi out of power and politics, Mamata thunders
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he needs to be thrown out of both the chair but politics for the betterment of the country. Modi did not have time to look after the farmers and the middle-class, as he was busy touring the globe for 4.5 years of his five-year term, Banerjee told a rally here. When elections are knocking at the door, Modi is threatening everybody and blabbering lies, Banerjee alleged claiming that he would get the first prize if there was a competition of telling lies. "In this election, people would stick a leucoplast on his lips so that he is not able to tell lies. For the sake of the country he should not only be ousted from his chair (PM post) but also ousted from politics," she said. Hitting out at the prime minister's comment on Sunday at Coochbehar district that Banerjee and the TMC of suffering from fear psychosis of Modi, Banerjee warned him not to threaten her as it will be the ...
Shah may meet Advani, Joshi on Monday
BJP president Amit Shah may meet party veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi on Monday, days after the party dropped both leaders as its Lok Sabha candidates. The BJP has replaced Advani, who represented Gandhinagar for many years, with Shah as its candidate from the constituency in Gujarat. Joshi has been replaced with Satyadev Pachauri in Kanpur. Joshi issued a statement, saying the party told him it would not nominate him as the BJP candidate from Kanpur. While Advani has not said anything about being dropped from the party's list of Lok Sabha candidates, he wrote a blog asserting his party never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-national". Shah is likely to meet both leaders on the day the party released its manifesto.
Akhilesh will ditch Mayawati after May 23: UP Dy CM
Seeking to drive a wedge into their anti-BJP alliance, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday said BSP supremo Mayawati would be "ditched" by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav after May 23, the day of the Lok Sabha poll results, "and then, only the BJP will support her". "The Samajwadi Party has never given due honour to Dalits. In 1995, when Mayawati was attacked at the State Guest House here by SP leaders on the directions of Mulayam Singh Yadav, the BJP had saved her. Now, his (Mulayam's) son Akhilesh will dump her after May 23 and the BJP will support her," Maurya told PTI in an interview at his residence here. "Whenever Mayawati is in crisis, the BJP supports her and will continue to do so in the future too," he said. Asserting that the BJP is pro-Dalits, Maurya said, "At Kumbh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of sanitary workers to give them due honour. Our party leaders are always there for Dalits." On the Congress's prospects in the upcoming ...
PM Modi's note in BJP manifesto highlights work done, party seeks continuity for stability
Seeking re-election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the covering note of the BJP manifesto has highlighted the work done by his government in the last five years and indicated his party's plan for the next five years.The BJP manifesto, termed as "Sankalp Patra", promises to create growth opportunities and development, besides improved safety and security net as the party sought continuity for stability."Your vote in 2014 for a strong and decisive government enabled us to fill some of the biggest shortcomings of five decades of dynastic rule in a short span of just five years. Now that these short comings have been successfully addressed, imagine the pace at which we can work in the times to come," the Prime Minister said in the party document released on Monday."The next five years are crucial because in 2022, we mark the 75th anniversary of our Independence. Generations of great women and men laid down their lives so that we could breathe the air of freedom. It is our sacred duty to
Guj: 14 BJP, 11 Cong LS poll nominees undergraduates
Out of the 52 candidates fielded by main contenders BJP and Congress in Gujarat, 25 are not even graduates, while in one seat the most qualified nominee, a doctor, is pitted against a Class 5 dropout. As per details furnished by candidates in their nomination forms, BJP's Surendranagar seat nominee Mahendra Munjpara holds a doctorate degree in general medicine while his main rival, Congress' Soma Patel, dropped out of school after Class 5. Munjpara is contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time, while Patel is a three-term MP, who also won the 2017 state Assembly election from Limbdi. Out of the 25 non-graduates, 14 have been nominated by the BJP and 11 by the Congress. Among these 25, four of the Congress and one of the BJP did not complete their matriculation. BJP's sitting MP Kirit Solanki, who is again contesting from Ahmedabad (West) seat, its Valsad seat nominee K C Patel and Congress' Bardoli seat candidate Tushar Chaudhary hold MBBS degrees. Two candidates,
Nationalism is BJP's inspiration, party will make India developed by 2047: Modi on manifesto launch
Asserting that nationalism is his party's inspiration and inclusion and good governance its mantra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the BJP's manifesto aims to make India a developed nation by 2047, 100 years after independence. The party's 'Sankalp Patra" has 75 definitive time-bound targets for the country, Modi said after launching the party's manifesto three days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections beginning on April 11. "We want people to hold us accountable. Hence, we have set out 75 goals to achieve by 2022," he said. He said the party's 'Sankalp Patra' is a "multi-layer and multi-dimensional" document that addresses the expectations and aspirations of all sections of the society. Modi said BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' aims to make India a developed nation by 2047, on completion of 100 years of Independence. "Our aim to change India from a developing country to a developed country. We want to fight poverty rather than sit inside air conditioned rooms. Nationalism is our ...
Afghanistan faces massive revenue loss due to Pakistan airspace closure
The Civil Aviation Authority of Afghanistan on Monday said that the country has suffered an estimated revenue loss of around USD eight million in more than a month pertaining to closure of Pakistan's airspace.Pakistan had closed its airspace late in February amid escalating tensions with India following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which around 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. The airspace was, however, opened to some flights but it is yet to be opened for Afghan flights en route to India.Due to the closure, Afghan airlines that have been using Iran's route for Kabul-New Delhi flights has increased the costs as well as the time by two times. But the airlines have continued to incur losses in revenues, Tolo News reported.Mohammad Qasim Wafaeezada, Chairman of Afghan Civil Aviation Authority, said that there were six air routes through Pakistan's airspace between Kabul and New Delhi.More than 250 flights crossed Afghanistan's airspace towards Pakistan on a daily basis .