Page 1042 - Politics
Vote against barbarism, say 600 theatre artistes
More than 600 theatre artistes from across the country have urged the electorate to vote for "equality and social justice, and to defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism".
BJP leader in Bihar Renu Kushwaha quits party
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Renu Kushwaha on Friday quit the party after she was denied ticket to contest from the Khagaria Lok Sabha seat in Bihar.
US envoy wraps up Afghan visit, vows inclusivity in talks
The US envoy tasked with forging a peace deal with the Taliban met with officials in Pakistan on Friday, after telling leaders and various groups in Afghanistan they would be included in future talks. Zalmay Khalilzad was in Islamabad after spending five days in Afghanistan amid strains between Washington and President Ashraf Ghani's administration, which has complained bitterly of being sidelined in peace talks. "Intra-Afghan dialogue should be comprehensive and inclusive with representatives from the #Afghan government, women, young people, and civil society," Khalilzad said on Twitter at the start of his five-day visit. The Taliban has until now refused to meet with the Kabul government, accusing it of being a puppet regime. The diplomatic spat between Washington and Kabul came to a head last month when Afghanistan's national security advisor Hamdullah Mohib accused Khalilzad of a lack of "transparency", even suggesting the Afghan-born envoy wanted to be "viceroy" of his native ...
Vadra slams BJP for 'ignoring' Advani
Congress President Rahul Gandhi brother-in-law Robert Vadra on Friday accused BJP of "ignoring" veteran leader LK Advani after the party's denied a ticket to 91-year-old in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.In a Facebook post, Vadra said that it is "disgraceful" to not value the seniority and advice of "true leaders".Sharing a picture of a recent blog by LK Advani, Vadra wrote on Facebook, "The real leaders and messages -The most important pillar of the party-- long lost & forgotten. The true leaders with ethics & statesmanship should be rewarded & not ignored. We should not let them wither away. It is disgraceful if we cannot value their seniority and advice. ""I have always respected him as a good opposition leader. Sad to see that his own party has forgotten him," he added.In his blog, ostensibly to mark BJP's Foundation Day on April 6, Advani said that the BJP never regarded its adversaries as "enemies" or "anti-national".Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweet a ..
EC, IT dept harassing me and family: Kumaraswamy
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy accused the Election Commission and the Income Tax Department of harassing him and his family."The Election Commission and Income Tax Department are literally harassing me and my family. Let the EC officials perform their duties, but don't harass us over mere suspicion," Kumaraswamy said.He claimed that his car was searched at least 13 to 14 times in the past two days. He alleged that his car was checked twice within a distance of 60 kilometres on Thursday.Speaking to the media after JD (S) candidate Anand Asnotikar filed his nomination papers for the Uttara Kannada constituency, Kumaraswamy said, "Our car was searched twice between Gokarna and Karwar -- a distance of 60km. My son and JD(S) candidate Nikhil were also around during the search. The Election Commission is pressuring the police to search our vehicles."The Chief Minister also claimed that a record number of officials have been transferred since the election notification was issued."Never in ...
Denied ticket from Jalandhar, ex-Cong MP Kaypee to take a call on contesting as Independent
Denied ticket for Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, former Congress MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee Friday said he would take a call on whether to enter the fray as an Independent after consulting his supporters and family. The 62-year-old former MP, who had won from Jalandhar in 2009 but lost in 2014 when the Congress shifted him to Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency, Friday said that even though he enjoyed a clean image, his claims for a poll ticket had been overlooked. Kaypee termed this denial his "political murder". Notably, the Congress has reposed its faith in sitting MP from Jalandhar, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, by re-nominating him from the seat. "I am an old Congressman. Me and my family have always been loyal to the party... By denying ticket to me, they have committed my political murder, which I was not expecting. "There is a great resentment among my supporters as they feel a person who enjoys a clean image, one who and his family dedicated all their lives for the party, and whose ...
None of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets missing after US count: Report
A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are missing, contradicting India's claim that one of its fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight on February 27, a leading American magazine reported Thursday. Two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told the Foreign Policy magazine that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. "The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own plane was downed by a Pakistani missile," the report said. "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit," the report said. The report said that evidence also suggests that Pakistan's F-16s were involved in the aerial battle with the Indian Air .
Tusk proposes flexible 12-month Brexit delay: EU official
EU Council president Donald Tusk will suggest to member states Friday that they offer Britain a flexible 12-month Brexit delay to allow it time to prepare an orderly withdrawal. "This is Tusk's idea," a senior EU official told AFP, confirming news reports. "It will be be presented to member states today." As things stand, Britain is due to leave the European Union at midnight on April 12 next week. Under the suggested extension, Britain would be able to delay this. If the House of Commons ratifies the withdrawal agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May has already signed with the EU members, London could leave before the year is up. But if Britain is still a member when the bloc holds elections to the European Parliament on May 23, it will need to take part in the poll and send another batch of MEPs to Strasbourg. According to British press reports, May is due to write to member states on Friday to lay out her request for an extension.
All Pakistan F-16s counted, none missing: US report
India's claim of shooting down a Pakistani F-16 in February has been challenged as a report citing unnamed US officials said that all US-supplied fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have been counted and none is missing.
Triangular fight in Nandyal once represented by Narasimha Rao
Andhra Pradesh's Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency has the distinction of being the only constituency to elect two eminent leaders who occupied the top most posts in the country.
Central govt has failed to fulfill BJP's promise to get back black money: Mayawati
BSP supremo Mayawati has hit out at the BJP-led central government, accusing it of failure to fulfill BJP's promise in 2014 to bring back black money stashed abroad."In the previous election, BJP promised to get back black money but no money has come back though it has been in power for the last five years," she said, addressing a rally here on Thursday.Mayawati shared the stage with Tollywood actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan. Bahujan Samaj Party and Kalyan's JanaSena Party have stitched a poll alliance in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.She claimed that no development took place in Telangana since the state's formation in 2014."Even after Telangana was formed no development took place. Seventy per cent of the population in the state comprises Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class," the BSP chief said.Addressing the gathering, Kalyan targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "Chaiwala has now became chowkidar. Modi is trying to scare the people and that is .
BJP MP Poonam Mahajan visits Siddhivinayak temple before filing nomination
Sitting MP from the Mumbai North Central seat Poonam Mahajan, daughter of former BJP leader Late Pramod Mahajan, visited SiddhiVinayak temple before filing nomination on Friday."I am going to file my nomination today, with the blessings of Sree SiddhiVinayak our success story will continue. People love us, they trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they will also shower their love on me by electing me as their MP," Mahajan said talking to reporters.BJP and Shiv Sena are contesting the Lok Sabha elections in coalition on 25 and 23 seats respectively from Maharashtra.The youth wing of Shiv Sena led by Aditya Thackeray on Saturday said that they will not campaign for Mahajan in the Lok Sabha polls.Shiv Sena Yuva Sena members have alleged that Mahajan does not respect the senior leaders of the party and in fact, has not put her late father Pramod Mahajan's picture in the posters that are being used for campaigningMaharashtra will go to polls in the first four phases, beginning April 11. .
Modi thrashes Congress for questioning Balakot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha and launched a scathing attack on the Congress for questioning the Balakot airstrikes.
US disputes Indian claim of hitting Pakistan's F-16
India's claim that one of its pilots shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in an aerial battle in February "appears to be wrong" as US personnel counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none missing, a US news publication has reported citing military officials.
Chamling assures jobs to every Sikkimese youth
Pawan Chamling, bidding for an unprecedented sixth term as the Sikkim Chief Minister, has assured youths that those left out in the 'One-Family-One-Job-Scheme' will be covered within 100 days of the formation of his new government.
India suffered immensely under Cong's Emergency, BJP's undeclared emergency: BSP chief
BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday accused both the Congress and the BJP of making the life of the people in the country "miserable". "India suffered immensely under the Emergency imposed by the Cong govt of Indira Gandhi but the undeclared political & economic emergency of NOTEBANDI has made the lives of 130 crore people miserable causing huge unemployment. They now eagerly await to get rid of this BJP govt (sic)," she said in a tweet. With the tweet, Mayawati is understood to have given a message to party cadre to maintain equal distance from both the Congress and the BJP.
SC refuses to grant interim stay on operation of electoral bonds, to take up matter on April 10
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant an interim stay on the operation of electoral bonds scheme and asked an NGO to file an appropriate application for it. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the issue requires detailed hearing and, therefore, it will be taken up on April 10. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), alleged that thousands of crore are anonymously being given to political parties. He alleged that 95 percent of electoral bonds are being given to one party that is the ruling party. Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said electoral bonds scheme was brought to check the flow of black money into political funding. He said Bhushan was giving an election speech that 95 percent of the electoral bonds have gone to ruling party. The bench in lighter vein said, "it's election time. We will hear on April 10". ADR' application seeks stay on the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, which was notified ..
INLD state chief Ashok Arora says will fight LS polls if party asks
Opposition Indian National Lok Dal's state unit president Ashok Arora has said he will fight the Lok Sabha polls if his party asks him. Arora, a senior leader of the party, had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Haryana state assembly polls from Thanesar constituency in Kurukshetra district. When asked if he will fight the general elections, Arora replied, "My wish is to contest the assembly elections, but if party asks me to contest (the LS polls), then I will definitely fight." He said the INLD will fight on all 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state. "Our party will fight on all 10 seats," he said and added the names of the candidates will be announce soon. "After taking feedback from the people and in consultation with them and our party workers, we have prepared a panel, which has been sent to party's national president Om Prakash Chautala. "Soon, we will be meeting and consulting our party chief after which the names of candidates will be announced by April 16," Arora told reporters ..
Modi to address rallies in Amroha, Saharanpur today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address election rallies in Amroha and Saharanpur districts in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
Muslim League is a virus and Congress is infested with it: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that Muslim League is like a "deadly virus" and the Congress party is infested with it. He further said that if Congress and the Muslim League win the election then the virus would spread across the nation."Muslim League is a virus. The type of virus which if somebody is infested with cannot be saved and today the principal Opposition party Congress is infested with it. Just think if they win then what will happen? The virus will spread across the nation," tweeted Adityanath..