Page 1036 - Politics
Grand alliance lacks leadership: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Friday said the grand alliance lacks leadership."In elections, there are clearly two separate groups, on one hand, there is a group of NDA allies assembled under Narendra Modi and nationalist groups like BJP is there. While on the other hand there is a 'tola' of 'gathbandhan', those who have assembled under Rahul Gandhi. The group is without any leadership," said Shah.He said that the people are connecting with the Prime Minister and are becoming part of "Mai Bhi Chowkidar" campaign."Everywhere people are saying 'Modi-Modi', this shows that Narendra Modi will become Prime Minister once again and will enjoy more majority than in 2014. The whole country connects itself with Narendra Modi and says that "we are also chowkidar", said Shah.Adding, that N Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur was the "real chowkoidar many years ago" who made Manipur "terrorist free" he said, "Many years ago Biren Singh actually worked as a chowkidar when he was in BSF as ...
Crorepati, 6 with criminal cases in Bengal phase 1 poll
Out of 18 candidates across parties contesting from the two north Bengal seats - Alipurduar and Coochbehar - in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamool Congress' Paresh Chandra Adhikary is the only crorepati (millionaire), while six have declared criminal cases against themselves, said a study released here on Friday.
Ex-IAS officer Shah Faesal extends support to AIP chief Abdul Rasheed Sheikh for LS polls
Former IAS officer Shah Faesal Friday extended support to Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief Abdul Rasheed Sheikh for election to the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir. "In the given circumstances, @mlalangate (Sheikh) seems to be the best choice among candidates for Baramula PC. My vote is for him," Faesal tweeted. The 2010 batch IAS topper, who quit the government service in January this year and launched his own party 'Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement' last month, has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha polls this year and instead focus on mass contact programme. Sheikh, two-time MLA from Langate, is fighting the Lok Sabha polls in a multi-cornered contest which also features candidates from the National Conference, the Congress, the PDP and the BJP. After Faesal quit the government services, the former lawmaker had offered support to him if he chose to contest the polls independently. When the former bureaucrat decided to not take the electoral plunge this year, ...
DC issues order banning movement of vehicles from Myanmar to
The deputy commissioner of Champhai district has issued an order banning movement of all vehicles from Myanmar to Mizoram from Friday, an official statement said. Movement of people would not be restricted as of now, but the international border at Zokhawthar border trade centre and Saikhumphai entry points would be completely sealed from Monday next to prohibit human entry till completion of the polling on April 11, the statement said. The order banning movement of all vehicles from Myanmar to Mizoram and from Mizoram to Myanmar was issued by deputy commissioner Naveen Aggarwal in view of the coming Lok Sabha election in the state, it said. Election to the lone state Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram would be held on April 11. Bootlegging of liquor and other intoxicants from Myanmar was on the rise after closure of liquor vendor shops in the state from March 31, it said, adding that the order was also meant to stop the bootlegging.
Priyanka seeks vote through selfies as roadshow passes through alleys of Ghaziabad!
Congress general secretary and in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wooed the voters of Ghaziabad by clicking hundreds of selfies throughout the long road show in Ghaziabad on Friday.While it is not very uncommon for politicians to oblige with selfie requests from supports, Priyanka took a step forward and ensured best selfies for supporters by clicking them herself.Sitting atop a white SUV, Priyanka made the best use of the vantage point. It was a chance to create a personal bond with supporters and Priyanka did not miss it. She kept taking mobile phones of the supporters whoever requested for selfie and obliged them.Campaigning for Congress candidate from Ghaziabad parliamentary constituency Dolly Sharma, Priyanka's convoy passed through alleys of the city amid a sea of supporters, many of them holding Congress flags and raising slogans in support of the party and its leaders.Amid a large number of flags, a single large cut-out of Rafale also stood out ...
Rahul takes to Facebook and Twitter to reach out to voters
Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to social media on Friday promising farmers immunity from criminal prosecution for failure to repay their debt, besides lateral entry to capable ex-Army personnel in civil services, if his party is voted to power."Our farmers are warm-hearted. Their troubles are our troubles. Congress government won't allow any criminal prosecution against farmers who are unable to repay their debt," a Facebook post by him read."India's ex-Army men are our pride and they should be given the honour they deserve. We will give capable ex-Army men the permission for lateral entry in Civil services. The ones under 40 will also be included in the central armed police forces," said another post by the Congress president on Facebook.Turning philosophical on Twitter, he tweeted, "Hatred is cowardice. I don't care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by ..
Rahul Gandhi slaps journalists: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for allegedly slapping journalists when they asked questions on corruption charges.
Manipur journalsit Sapam joins BJP
Senior journalist Nishikant Singh Sapam on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the party headquarters in in Delhi in the presence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
BJD promises KALIA aid to 25 lakh more farmers
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Friday promised to provide 25 lakh farmers in Odisha two instalments of Rs 10,000 each under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, the day his party forms a government in the state.
Polls: Liquor, drugs, cash worth Rs 3.84 cr seized in Goa
The election authorities in Goa have seized liquor, drugs, cash and other items, collectively worth Rs 3.84 crore, since the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections came into force on March 10. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) gave the information on Friday. Polling in the two parliamentary constituencies in the state- North Goa and South Goa- and by-elections to three Assembly constituencies- Mandrem, Shiroda and Mapusa- will be held on April 23. As per the figures provided by the CEO, the authorities have seized different items worth Rs 3,84,20,898 from across the state so far. This includes liquor worth Rs 2.86 crore. Cash worth Rs 75.18 lakh and narcotic drugs worth Rs 22.17 lakh were also seized. "As liquor is cheaper in Goa, it is one of the commodities suspected to be extensively used to woo the voters. Cash distribution is not taking place much in Goa," a senior election officer said. Special surveillance was being carried out along the .
Himanta Biswa Sarma got Rs 3 cr from Sarada chit fund owner, claims Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the TMC's poll campaign in Assam on Friday and attacked Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP's "key person" in the northeast, claiming her government has proof that "he had received Rs 3 crore" from the owner of Sarada, a firm embroiled in ponzi scam. The Trinamool Congress chief also claimed that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill are "two lollipops" being doled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "fool" the people of Assam. Addressing the election rally in Dhubri, Banerjee said the TMC has decided to contest in Assam after "40 lakh people were excluded" from the NRC. "We will contest in nine Lok Sabha seats in Assam. We have made a start. Do not consider us weak," she said. Hitting out at Narendra Modi, the TMC chief said the prime minister talks about chit funds in West Bengal, but it is the state government which has exposed and arrested those involved in the ponzi scam. "Sarada's owner has ...
IUML leader slams Adityanath over 'Muslim virus' remarks
Slamming Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his "Muslim virus" remarks, Indian Union Muslim Leagueleader P K Kunhalikutty Friday said he was talking to vacant chairs in UP and BJP got upset over the popularity of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had tweeted that the Muslim League is a virus and the Congress was affected by it. "Muslim League is a virus. If someone is affected by this virus, he cannot survive and today main Opposition party Congress is affected by it. Think, if they win what will happen? This virus will spread in the entire nation," Adityanath tweeted. He also brought in the 1857 movement for freedom and its hero Mangal Pandey. "In 1857, entire country fought against Britishers with Mangal Pandey, then this Muslim League virus came and spread in such a way that the country was divided," he said. "The same threat is looming over the country again. Green flags are once again furled. Congress is suffering from Muslim ..
RJD to contest from Chatra & Palamau Lok Sabha seats: Tejashwi
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejaswi Yadav Friday said the party would contest from the Chatra and Palamau Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand. Yadav was here to take part in RJD candidate Subhas Yadavs filing of nomination for the Chatra seat. He said consensus on seat sharing among Mahagathbandhan allies in Jharkhand could not be reached, "(so) RJD will contest Palamau on the basis of Mahagathbandhan seat sharing formula while there will be a friendly contest in Chatra." As per the Mahagathbandhans seat sharing formula, the Congress got seven seats, including the Chatra seat, the JMM four while the Jharkhand Vikas Party (Prajatantrik) got two seats and the alliance left Palamau seat to the RJD. However, the RJD announced to fight from Chatra as well and Subash Yadav received the party symbol from RJDs vice president and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi in Patna recently. Apparently disappointed with the RJD leaderships decision, senior RJD leaders in Jharkhand, ...
UK appoints Amal Clooney as new media freedom champion
The UK government Friday announced the appointment of a new media freedom champion in prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney to counter draconian laws that hinder journalists from going about their work. The wife of Hollywood star George Clooney takes over as the UK Foreign Secretary's Special Envoy on Media Freedom and Co-Chair of a High Level Panel of Legal Experts. "Violence against journalists has reached alarming levels globally and we cannot turn a blind eye," said UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt after a meeting with the Canadian Foreign Minister and Amal at a G7 event in France. He said Amal's leading work on human rights means she was ideally placed to ensure this campaign has real impact for journalists and the free societies who depend on their work. "She will use her expertise to chair a panel comprising the world's best legal minds to develop and promote legal mechanisms to prevent and reverse media abuses," Hunt said. Amal, 41, said she was honoured to have been ...
PM Modi slams Congress, SP-BSP; calls them 'opportunists'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as "opportunists" whose "main aim is to dethrone" him and not the good of the nation."This election is for the consolidation of a new India where on one hand you have 'Chowkidaar' with his good record of five years and on the other is a list of opportunists whose main aim is to dethrone me," he said.Hitting out at Congress and SP-BSP, he said, "SP and BSP want proof from brave soldiers, and Congress respects the 'tukde tukde gang'. Should Modi protect our jawans or not? Should Modi save India from bombs and terror attacks? The country says so, but Congress wants to have a dialogue with terrorists."Without taking name, the Prime Minister also hit out at Imran Masood, Congress candidate from Saharanpur. Masood had in 2014 reportedly said that Narendra Modi, who was then a PM candidate, should be cut into pieces. "Shehzada is close to people who talk of 'boti-boti'. While they ..
Govts allotting works to private sector without implementing reservation quota, alleges Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Friday accused the Central government of giving only "minimal reservation benefits to the reserved category" by allocating many works to the private sector.Addressing an election rally here, Mayawati said: "Without implementing reservations in the private sector, many of the works of the Central and state governments are being handed over to the private sector which is why people of the (reserved) class are getting minimal benefits of reservation."She also came down heavily on the Congress and BJP governments of having not done enough to fulfil the reservation quota."The Congress party which ruled the country for the most period of time and the BJP which is now ruling at the Centre and even in states, have not been able to fulfil the reservation quota. We are seeing it here in Maharashtra too," BSP chief said.BSP which could not win a single seat in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 General elections has this time allied with its former arch-rival ...
SC declines interim stay on Electoral Bond Scheme
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to grant an interim stay on the operation of Electoral Bond Scheme, and directed the petitioner NGO objecting to the scheme to approach the court with an appropriate application.
AAP manifesto promises to address Goa's failing 'ECG'
Drawing on a medical analogy, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa in its Lok Sabha election manifesto said the coastal state's 'ECG' -- an acronym for Environment, Culture and Governance -- is sputtering and promised a revival of the three sectors.
LS polls: Shivpal Yadav releases manifesto for party
The Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) led by former Uttar Pradesh minister Shivpal Singh Yadav Friday released its manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha polls. Releasing the manifesto at a press conference here, Yadav said his party will work for the welfare of all sections of society after coming to power. "We will emerge as kingmaker in the coming polls," he said. The manifesto promises setting up a commission for farmers, industrial reforms and working for the security and honour of the minorities, among others.
Modi made the country more secure: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Friday said that Narendra Modi has made the country more secure by becoming the first Prime Minister to destroy terrorist camps across the borders. He spoke highly about airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan following the Pulwama incident in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Such retaliation made the country third in the world after the US and Israel to avenge any loss of its soldier's lives, Shah said while addressing a public rally at Wangjing locality, as part of an election campaign for BJP's Outer Manipur candidate Benjamin Mate. Making a fulsome praise of five years of Modi government, the BJP chief remarked that "from Kashmir to KanyaKumari and from Gujarat to Assam there are echoes of Modi's name which meant that the people are with him". Hitting out at the Congress, Shah said the price of essential items had sky-rocketed under the Congress rule, owing to incessant bandhs and strikes, but the incumbent government has made the state ...