Page 1013 - Politics
Centre allowed Pulwama for Modi's victory: Farooq Abdullah
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah on Sunday alleged that the Central government knew about the Pulwama terror attack, but allowed it to happen so that Narendra Modi could win elections.
HIGHLIGHTS-WESTERN REGION AT 1645 HRS
Top stories from the western region at 1645 hrs. BOM 1 MP-RAIDS-CM AIDE Indore: The Income Tax department raids the residence and other premises of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Praveen Kakkad. ELN 51 MH-URMILA-COMPLAINT Mumbai: A BJP worker lodges a complaint with police accusing Bollywood actor and Congress' Lok Sabha candidate Urmila Matondkar of making anti-Hindu remarks. BES 4 MH-HC-CHIEF JUSTICE Mumbai: Justice Pradeep Nandrajog is sworn in as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. He was earlier Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
To empower VP Singh, had urged him to implement Mandal report: Lalu
After the formation of the National Front government in 1989, there was growing unease between the two power centres - Prime Minister VP Singh and his deputy Devi Lal - and as a solution Lalu Prasad Yadav advised Singh to implement the Mandal Commission report, the RJD boss writes in his memoir. "They (Singh and Lal) routinely issued contradictory statements, imperilling the sustainability of the government... "I began to worry that the growing unease between VP Singh and Devi Lal could lead to the fall of the National Front government, and in the process could endanger my government in Bihar," he says. Yadav then conceived a formula to save the VP Singh regime in August 1990. He sought an appointment with the prime minister and told him that he must take action against Lal or else his government will fall. "VP Singh had a sharp mind and good political instincts. He replied, 'Devi Lal ji is a leader of the Jats and the backwards. If I act against him, he might fan out in India, ...
HP CM asks Cabinet colleague who will he campaign for - son or BJP
Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Sunday asked his Cabinet colleague Anil Sharma to clarify whether he would quit the government to campaign for his son and Congress candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat or support the BJP candidate there. Thakur took the tough stand and sought explanations from Sharma, the state power minister, days after his father and former Union Telecom Minister Sukh Ram joined the Congress along with his grandson Aashray Sharma, who has been given a Congress ticket from Mandi. The chief minister sought Sharma's explanation while taking to reporters at Paonta on his way to electioneering in Uttarakhand. Thakur said his Cabinet colleague Sharma must clear the "political cloud" hovering over him on who would he campaign for -- his son or BJP candidate Ram Swaroop Sharma -- in Mandi. Sharma must decide at the earliest weather he would join the Congress to help his son in the ensuing election or campaign for the BJP candidate in Mandi, said the chief minister. He .
SAD fields ex-minister Gulzar Singh Ranike from Faridkot
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sunday announced that former minister Gulzar Singh Ranike will be its candidate from the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming polls. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the candidature of Ranike, who is currently the party's Scheduled Caste wing president, in a statement here. The announcement comes a day after the Congress declared that folk singer Mohd Sadique will be its candidate from Faridkot, a reserved seat. The Aam Aadmi Party has nominated sitting MP Sadhu Singh and the Punjabi Ekta Party has fielded Master Baldev Singh, who quit the AAP in January, from the seat. Ranike is a four time MLA from Attari (reserved) seat in Amritsar. He was a minister twice in the SAD-BJP government in 2007 and 2012. He lost to Congress candidate Tarsem Singh DC from Attari in the 2017 Assembly polls. The Akali Dal has so far announced candidates for seven seats. Out of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, the party will contest on 10 while its ally BJP will ...
Mamata allying with those who wish to break country: Modi
In a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday "speed-breaker Didi" has applied brakes on several central schemes, denying people of the benefits available in other parts of the country. Addressing a rally at Rash Mela ground here, he accused the chief minister of "allying with those who want to divide the nation and propagate the idea of two prime ministers" in the country. Last week, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has sought a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir, triggering angry reactions from the BJP leaders. "For vote bank politics, Didi now stands with the people who want to break India. She is supporting people who want two prime ministers in the country. Do you want two prime ministers - one for India and one for Kashmir," Modi said. Reminiscing the role played by Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookherjee in unifying India with Kashmir, he said, "Banerjee was trying to disrespect ..
Vote to Cong will strengthen terrorrism, naxalism and
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday alleged that a vote given to the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections would only strengthen terrorism, naxalism and separatist forces and obstruct development. Likewise, votes given to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Telangana would strengthen the hands of Asaduddin Owasi, heading the party's ally AIMIM and his brother,he said. In contrast, if voters chose BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they could be assured that the party led government would ensure the country's comprehensive development, prosperity and establish India as a superpower, he said. Addressing a public meeting at Peddapalli in support of BJP's candidate, S Kumar, Adityanath termed both the Congress and TRS as 'anti-nationals.' He alleged that both parties were supporting activities which are dangerous' to national security. "The recently released Congress manifesto certifies it while AIMIM is known for its anti-national ...
'Ab Hoga Nyay' is Congress slogan for LS polls
The Congress on Sunday unveiled its campaign slogan -- "Ab Hoga Nyay" (Now, there will be justice). It will feature in all its advertisements, posters, radio jingles, billboards and songs.
No decision yet on Priyanka contesting from Varanasi: Rajeev Shukla
Senior Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said on Sunday no decision had been taken yet about general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting the election against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi. Shukla claimed that under the leadership of Vadra, who is the party's incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Congress would do well in the Lok Sabha election and sweep the 2022 assembly election. On the recent speculation about Vadra contesting from Varanasi, Shukla told PTI: "In response to a question, she had made a comment which is unnecessarily being talked about now. No definite decision has been taken on her contesting the election.'' During campaigning at Rae Bareli a fortnight ago, Vadra had dropped a hint that she is not averse to taking on Modi in his own Lok Sabha constituency. "Shouldn't I fight from Varanasi?" Vadra had quipped when a party worker asked her to contest from Rae Bareli, the constituency of her mother and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi. Shukla said Vadra was
Political parties in J-K protest 2-day a week ban on civilian traffic
Mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday took out protest marches against the government's restrictions on movement of civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The government has ordered the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway for all kinds of civilian traffic from Udhampur to Baramulla every Sunday and Wednesday in order to facilitate movement of security forces for Lok Sabha election duty.It will remain effective till May 31. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has demanded the immediate roll back of the restrictions, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti termed the government's decision as "wrong". The decision came in the aftermath of the February 14 terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy on the highway in Pulwama district. Forty CRPF personnel were killed. On March 30, another attempt was made to target a CRPF convoy with a car bomb on the highway near Banihal in Ramban district. National Conference (NC) leaders led by ..
Some want to "finish" me off politically: Karna CM
Karnataka Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy Sunday said a section of people wanted to "finish him off politically" by defeating his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. Reflecting the widening cracks in the ruling coalition, Kumaraswamy said he was relying "only on the JD(S) MLAs, MLCs and the sitting member of parliament L R Shivarame Gowda (in Mandya)." Speaking to reporters in Udupi, the Chief Minister said he did not depend on the alliance partner, Congress in Mandya. "Some Congress leaders are working and some are not working (in Mandya), but I am not upset with that. There is a section out to finish me off by defeating Nikhil Kumaraswamy. However, they don't have the support of the local people there," Kumaraswamy alleged. He was responsing to a query about the squabbling among coalition partners--JDS and Congress. "I have eight MLAs (in Mandya Lok Sabha constituency), three MLCs and the sitting Lok Sabha member (L R Shivarame Gowda) are there..
Prince William goes undercover with British spies
Prince William has spent three weeks on undercover work placements with Britain's security and intelligence agencies to gain a first-hand understanding of the role they play in combatting terrorism. The 36-year-old second in line to Britain's throne described the experience of working with the MI5, MI6 and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) as a humbling one, while the GCHQ said the royal had worked exceptionally hard during his internship. "William worked exceptionally hard to embed himself in the team and comfortably held his own amongst some highly skilled analysts and operators. His Royal Highness asked some probing questions and demonstrated a real grasp of our mission," the head of counter-terrorism operations at GCHQ, an anonymous post, said in a statement. William, the Duke of Cambridge, undertook his workplace attachments last month and concluded his mission on Saturday. "Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the ...
Didi frustrated, petrified at defeat: Modi
The way West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was taking out her anger on him, her officials and the Election Commission, it showed she feared defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.
BJP fields Ahluwalia from Bengal's Bardhaman-Durgapur
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday announced it has fielded Union Minister S.S. Ahluwalia from the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha polls.
Cong, Left will stoop to any level to oust me: PM Modi
Hitting out at the Congress and the Left Front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday the opposition parties were hell-bent on removing him from power, even if that meant singing paeans to Pakistan. Addressing a rally in Udaipur, Modi said the people of Tripura has set a precedent for the entire country by ousting the Left Front government after 25 years. "Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has been trying its best to make inroads into Tripura, but people haven't allowed that. They tolerated the atrocities of the Left Front, waiting patiently for the BJP to rise. I thank the people of Tripura for believing in the BJP," he stated. Modi asserted that the opposition parties could stoop to any level to remove him from power. "The Congress and the Left are working together to oust Modi. They have stooped too low, singing paeans to Pakistan even when the NDA government was taking on the terrorists on the soil of the neighbouring country. "Am I not doing the right thing by .
Naveen Babu is tired, give BJP a chance to serve Odisha: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday called upon the electorate to give "rest" to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as he is "tired" and "lacks the will" to develop the state. Shah was addressing a rally here under Aska Lok Sabha segment in Odisha's Ganjam district where polling is slated to be held on April 18. "There has been no developmental work during Naveen Babu's tenure in 19 years. He is tired. Therefore, give BJP a chance to meet the aspirations of the people," Shah said promising that the BJP will take Odisha on the path of development. Alleging that the Odisha is being run by the officers, Shah said, "The next BJP government will end 'Babu-dom' in Odisha". He alleged that officers call the shots in the Naveen Patnaik government while the elected MLAs and MPs have no voice. The BJP national president also came down heavily on the BJD government alleging that it failed to reach the benefits of welfare schemes, launched by the Narendra Modi govenrment at the ...
Cong, regional parties in T'gana, AP have played with people's sentiments: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday attacked the Congress and the regional parties in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, alleging that they had "obstructed" development and played with the sentiments of the people. These parties have "promoted" dynastic and family politics, and made the life of the common man "miserable", he said. "In the past some years, in Andhra Pradesh it has been either the Congress or the regional parties that have been in power. They have duped the people in the name of development. They have promoted dynastic and family politics there and obstructed the developmental process," Adityanath told PTI in an interview here. "They have only given attractive slogans and made the life of the common man miserable. In Telangana, for the past five years there is a TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) government. This government is also walking on the path shown by the Congress. It is indulging in dynastic and family politics as well," he said. The Uttar Pradesh ...
Modi, Shah lead BJP's star campaigners list for Rajasthan
The BJP on Sunday announced a list 40 star campaigners for the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah, Bollywood actress Hema Malini, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj are among the star campaigners of the party. Other campaigners in the list include Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javadekar, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Arjun Ram Meghwal, C R Chaudhary, P P Chaudhary, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Rajasthan Chief Minister and party vice president Vasundhara Raje, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena besides several former ministers. Lok Sabha polls in the state are slated to be held in two phases. Thirteen seats will go to polls on April 29 in the first phase, voting for the remaining 12 seats will be on May 6.
Pakistani-origin ISIS bride wants to return to UK
A Pakistani-origin British woman who joined ISIS in Syria and attempted to recruit other Western girls to become so-called jihadi brides wants to return to the UK to live a "normal life". Tooba Gondal, who was born in France and grew up in the UK, has claimed that it was a "relief" to leave ISIS territory, where there had been food shortages and "constant bombing, sniping and bullets". The 25-year-old, being held in Ayn Issa camp in Syria with her two children, was caught by US-backed Kurdish forces as she tried to flee ISIS' last stronghold of Baghuz. "I feel British, but Britain refuses to take us. I know the British public are scared of us. They don't want to deal with us, but they must," she said in an interview from the camp with the Rojava Information Centre last week. "We are not threat to their society, we just want a normal life again," she said. Her London-based family broke their silence this weekend to urge the UK authorities to allow her and her children safe passage to ..
Cong aims to 'win hearts' with 'Ab Hoga Nyay' campaign; theme song by Javed Akhtar
The Congress on Sunday announced that its campaign slogan for the Lok Sabha polls will be 'Ab Hoga Nyay' while alleging that an atmosphere of 'anyay' (injustice) was prevailing in the country. The party's campaign will be centred around 'Nyay' and the word not only alludes to the Congress' proposed minimum guarantee scheme but encompasses justice to all sections of society, senior leader Anand Sharma said at a press conference. "There is a cry for justice in the country which has been denied to the poor," he said while emphasising that "the campaign will focus on winning hearts". Sharma said the party has followed the Election Commission guidelines and taken all necessary permissions for its publicity. The campaign's main theme song 'Main hi toh Hindustan hoon' has been penned by Javed Akhtar. While the campaign film has been directed by Nikkhil Advani and the cinematography is by Tushar Kanti Ray, the concept and script was provided by Anuja Chauhan, and the music was composed by ...