Page 1033 - Politics
Congress names candidates for 4 Odisha Assembly seats
The Congress on Friday announced candidates for four Assembly seats in Odisha for the upcoming elections.
No blanket ban on civilian movement on highway
The Jammu and Kashmir government's decision to bar civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway for two days in a week will not apply to bonafide and emergency movement of civilians, a top official said on Friday.
Amit Shah criss-crosses NE,seeks to pin down Rahul on Omar's
BJP president Amit Shah Friday asked Rahul Gandhi to clear stand on Omar Abdullah's separate Prime Minister in Kashmir demand,and lauding Balakot airstrikes asserted Gandhi may have the policy to talk to terrorists,Modi government's principle is to reply with cannon balls if attacked by bullet and answer bricks with rocks. Addressing election rallies in Arunachal Pradesh,Manipur and Assam,Shah hailed NRC as a major step taken by Modi government to drive out illegal migrants and praised Modi government for bringing peace and development in the Northeast. Making NC chief's PM in Kashmir comment a major poll issue,the BJP president said though Modi will return to power, but in any case they were in opposition and they go ahead with Abdullah's proposal "we will put our lives at stake" and not allow it "at any cost." Attacking Congress for raising doubts over Balakot airstrikes,Shah said after Prime Minister directed Air Force to enter Pakistan and destroy terrorists camps to
Delhi HC declines interim relief against AP govt schemes ahead of polls
The Delhi High Court Friday declined to pass any interim order to put on hold Andhra Pradesh government's move to disburse monetary benefits under a welfare scheme for women till the elections in the state are over. Justice Yogesh Khanna issued notice to the Election Commission and Andhra Pradesh government on a plea by an organisation alleging that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led dispensation was attempting to influence voters through various schemes, including giving monetary benefits, ahead of polls. The court declined to grant any interim relief to the organisation, Jana Chaitanya Vedika, noting that a similar petition was pending in the Andhra Pradesh High Court which has also declined any interim relief. However, the state government's counsel did not have a copy of the order passed by the high court and sought time to file it. The court listed the matter for further hearing on April 15. "The petitioner is not entitled to any interim relief in view of the above," the court ...
Erdogan accuses US, Europe of 'meddling' after Turkey vote
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday accused the US and Europe of "meddling" in Turkey's affairs after statements from Western allies following his ruling party's challenge to local election results. Erdogan and his AKP suffered an upset in Sunday's ballot when results showed the party lost the capital Ankara and was narrowly defeated in Istanbul, the country's largest city and economic hub. While the United States has called on Turkey to accept the results, the European Union urged Ankara to allow elected officials to "exercise their mandate freely". But Erdogan rejected the remarks and told the US and Europe to "know your place". "America and Europe are... meddling in Turkey's internal affairs," Erdogan said in his first direct remarks to journalists since Monday. "Turkey gave a democracy lesson to the whole world," he added. US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said "free and fair elections are essential for any democracy, and this means acceptance of legitimate ...
PM Modi "afraid" of Congress poll manifesto, says Stalin
DMK president M K Stalin Friday said Congress toed his party's stand on autonomy of states by assuring in its manifesto that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) would be scrapped. Training his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin alleged that the top BJP leader was making false poll promises since he was rattled by the Congress party's manifesto. The AIADMK regime did not "stop" NEET's implementation in the state and still has claimed in its manifesto that it was for exempting Tamil Nadu students from the exam, he said. The top DMK leader, addressing a poll rally here, said the AIADMK's assurance on NEET was to deceive the people. "The Congress party in its manifesto has assured that NEET will be dispensed with and made it clear that only state governments had rights on this matter," he said, seeking votes for Congress candidate S Jothimani from Karur Lok Sabha seat. "I am happy and proud that Rahul Gandhi has seconded Kalaignar's (late patriarch M ...
Sri Lanka budget passes
Sri Lanka's budget for 2019 was approved Friday after the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe foiled a joint attempt from President Maithripala Sirisena and main opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to defeat it in the 225-member assembly. The budget was passed with 119 MPs voting in favour and 74 against it. The third reading of the government budget was approved, sending the Opposition camp into disarray. The Tamil National Alliance and the Ceylon Worker's Congress voted for the budget with the United National Party. The Joint Opposition and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna voted against it, while Sri Lanka Freedom Party members were absent during the vote. The Rajapaksa camp stated that voting against the government today in the third reading would be crucial to the future of merger talks. "We expect concrete action from SLFP members (Sirisena men) to defeat the budget," said G L Peiris, the Rajapaksa faction spokesman. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna had attempted to ...
Manipur: NIA arrests man in terror funding case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a man for raising funds for proscribed terror outfit Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, officials said here on Friday.The accused has been identified as 44-year-old Khehoshe, a resident of Nagaland."Khehoshe was held in connection with a two-year-old case. In April 2017, a sum of Rs 18,47,667 was seized from Shelly Sumi in Senapati district of Manipur and a case was registered at Senapati Police Station, which was later taken over by the NIA," police said.During investigation and searches conducted in the house of accused, the NIA seized an amount of Rs 27,90,550 associated with terror funding.Khehoshe assisted in raising and parking of funds for proscribed terrorist organization Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang for terrorist activities, police said.Khehoshe was produced before the Duty Magistrate in Guwahati and he will be soon produced before the Special NIA court in Imphal.Further investigation .
EC issues showcause notice to Meghalaya minister
The Election Commission has issued a showcause notice to Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister and BJP leader Alexander Hek for using a government vehicle while campaigning for his party candidate Sanbor Shullai, an official said on Friday.
Civil society groups urge political parties to cap expenditure, EC to monitor social media
Civil society groups Friday appealed to political parties to cap their election expenditure and urged the Election Commission to ensure that Facebook and other such digital platforms are not used for profiling or to spread hate speech during elections. A call for action was given at an event where civil society groups like Common Cause, Internet freedom Foundation, Association For Democratic Reforms former public servants and former election commissioner S Y Quraishi urged EC to monitor the expenditure by political parties, and not just by candidates, on online campaigns. Quraishi highlighted the "disastrous consequences" of social media and how it "creates havoc". "As far as EC is concerned, social media is also a (form of) media. What applies to the media has to apply to it. You have to account for the money spent on media, including social media. You are accountable for content and ads have to be pre-approved, that should also apply to social media. But how far it will apply to ..
Police personnel attacked in JK's Budgam, constable briefly held hostage
Police personnel deputed to execute an arrest warrant came under attack by a mob in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district Friday and a constable was briefly held hostage, an official spokesperson said. Personnel from the Beerwah police station were tasked to execute the non-bailable arrest warrant issued by a court under section 512 of the CrPC against accused Tariq Malik, a resident of the Waragam area of Budgam in central Kashmir, a police spokesman said. He said the police party came under attack soon after reaching the village. The constable, who was held hostage by the mob, was eventually let go, the official said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the law and an investigation initiated, he added.
Right to silence does not belong to PM aspirant: Jaitley attacks Rahul on chopper scam
BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Friday questioned Congress president Rahul Gandhi's "silence" on the Enforcement Directorate charge sheet in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers case, saying right to silence belongs to an accused but not to a prime ministerial aspirant. Addressing a press conference, Jaitley said the Congress should answer as to who were referred to as "RG", "AP" and "FAM" in documents cited by the ED and added that Swiss police had also seized papers carrying similar initials in its raids in connection with the case in 2013. "It could not be merely a coincidence," he said, arguing that for the Congress to keep mum or "abusing" investigation agencies such as the CBI and the ED will not do. The Congress said the ED charge sheet filed before a Delhi court on Thursday was a "cheap election stunt" to divert people's attention from the "imminent defeat" of the Modi government in the polls. Claiming that oral evidence corroborates what was found in diaries, Jaitley said the probe ...
Priyanka urges people to be serious about politics
With hundreds of activists holding Congress flags and shouting "Chowkidar Chor Hai", Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Friday urged people to get "serious about politics" as it was a serious issue.
BJP trying to bring 'legitimate money' to fund politics: Piyush Goyal
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said the BJP was trying to bring "legitimate money" to fund politics and it has decided to accept donations through bonds and cheques only, while for smaller amounts under Rs 2000 also, it is insisting on digital payment. Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industries event titled,'India 5.0: India@75 and Beyond', Goyalsaid that at the outset of 2014, India was a" fragile 5 economy," having double digit inflation and was in a "serious crisis" which BJP inherited. "This election, significant amount of money for all parties is coming through bond process. We, as a policy, have decided not to accept any money, except under bond or a cheque... (Unless) somebody gives less than Rs 2000, which is a pretty small amount, but there also the prime minister has said you insist on a digital payment such as through Bhim app. "Our party has been working relentlessly to try and clean up the political funding system, and get legitimate money to fund politics. ...
Kalia assistance to all apllicants on first day of next BJD
BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday announced that financial assistance would be given to all applicants of the Kalia scheme on the first day of his government taking oath of the office after Assembly election. Stating that farmers and agriculture is his party's first priority, Patnaik said not a single eligible farmer will be denied benefit under the Kalia scheme implemented in the state for welfare of farmers. He said two instalment amount will be credited to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries after the BJD returns to power. "On the first day after the oath taking, all Kalia applicants numbering about 25 lakh farmers who are in the list but not given assistance would be given two instalments (Rs 10,000) at one go," Patnaik announced at an election meeting in Koraput district. Though a majority of beneficiaries have already received the financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for one crop, others identified farmers could not get it due to ...
Opposition stirring political violence in Sikkim: SDF
Sikkim's famed idyll is being scarred by political violence as elections draw near.
Malaysia won't join ICC over pressure from Muslim opposition
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday Malaysia won't ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the second treaty the government is withdrawing from after coming under pressure from the majority Muslim opposition. Malaysia earlier this year backtracked on acceding to a UN treaty against racial discrimination following a massive Muslim rally. Mahathir said the Cabinet decided not to ratify the Rome Statute as it has been manipulated by his opponents. He rejected allegations that the treaty will undermine Malaysia's sovereignty and its royal families after a powerful state sultan joined the opposition to Malaysia's joining the court. The court has been hobbled by the refusal of the US, Russia, China and other major nations to join. Others that have quit include Burundi and the Philippines. "This is not because we are against it but because of the political confusion about what it entails, caused by people with vested interest," a visibly upset Mahathir told a ...
Post scrutiny of nominations, 12 in fray for 2 Goa LS seats
Nominations of 12 candidates were Friday found valid after scrutiny for Goa's two Lok Sabha seats, election officials said. Nominations of 18 candidates were found valid after scrutiny for the three Assembly bypolls in the state. The Lok Sabha elections and three bypolls will be held in Goa on April 23 while counting of votes will be taken up on May 23. Between March 28 and April 4, a total of 16 candidates had filed nominations for the North Goa and South Goa Lok Sabha seats. Post scrutiny on Friday, the two seats will have six candidates each, comprising those from the ruling BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena and Independents. For the three bypolls, there are seven candidates in Mapusa, six in Shiroda and five in Mandrem Assembly seats. The nomination papers of the dummy candidates failed to clear the scrutiny, officials said. The Mapusa bypoll was necessitated due to demise of then BJP MLA Francis D'Souza, while in Shiroda and Mandrem, Congress MLAs Subhash ...
Odisha: Pradhan slams CM for 'poor' governance
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday slammed Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for "poorly "governing the state of Odisha."Chief Minister Naveen babu must answer why he poorly governed the state during his tenure. Even after 19 years, the Odisha Government has failed to provide basic necessities, like, electricity and drinking to the people," said Pradhan at a public meeting here, adding that BJP is committed towards providing "permanent land record" and "pucca house" to all.Accusing Odisha government of "deliberately" delaying the implementation of various schemes meant for welfare of farmers, he said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented PM kishan Yojana to benefit the small and marginal farmers, who have less than 5 acre land, which would have benefited 40 lakh farmers in Odisha, but the Odisha government deliberately delayed implementation by not providing the details of farmers of state."Pradhan further accused Patnaik and his relatives of stealing the amount ...
Sumitra Majahan not contest LS polls, says BJP free to name candidate from Indore
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Friday announced her decision not to contest the general elections and said that BJP is free to name a candidate from Indore parliamentary constituency.In a press statement, Mahajan, an eight-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Indore, said that the reason behind the decision was the delay in announcing the BJP candidate from the Indore seat."BJP has not declared its candidate from Indore. Why this state of indecision? Possibly the party has some hesitation in taking a decision. Even though I had a discussion with the leadership long back and left the decision to the party, it seems they are still in a dilemma. Therefore, I announce that I will not contest the Lok Sabha polls and the party is free to decide, without any hesitation," she said.Reacting to Mahajan's decision, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Sumitra tai is our senior leader. She has refused to contest the elections; hence, we are looking for a candidate."Apart from Mahajan, ...