Page 1052 - Politics
2019 LS polls 'watershed election', results to decide future of Indian democracy: Ashwani
Senior Congress leader Ashwani Kumar Thursday described the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as "watershed election", saying its outcome will determine the quality and future of India's democracy. "... the choice before the nation is clear, that is between freedom and fear, inclusion and exclusion, tolerance and intolerance, justice and injustice, and between equality and inequality," he told a news conference here. "This election is a watershed election, the outcome of which will determine the quality and future of India's democracy. Congress party is fighting this election to safeguard the fundamental values of the Republic," he said. The former Union minister also elaborated upon the Congress party's poll manifesto, which was released recently. "In order to prove and credibly establish that Congress will deliver on its promise of a 'liberal, free and just' society, we have in our manifesto included a comprehensive programme of action for the empowerment of the vulnerable, marginalised, ...
Amit Shah cancels Telangana visit due to 'emergency' meeting
BJP president Amit Shah has cancelled his visit to Telangana, where he was scheduled to address two public rallies Thursday, as he had to attend an "emergency meeting" on the partys manifesto and poll-related issues, a top leader said. Shah was slated to address public meetings here and Warangal. The Prime Minister, Amit Shah and other leaders held an emergency meeting this morning and discussed manifesto and other issues, party general secretary P Muralidhar Rao said. "Due to delay there, he could not come," Rao said. Shah, however, was likely to go ahead with his visit to Andhra Pradesh Thursday, Telangana BJP sources said. Lok Sabha polls would be held in Telangana on April 11.
Congress names Bharuch, Dahod candidates, Ahmed Patel not in race
The Congress on Thursday made the much-awaited announcement of candidates for the Bharuch and the Dahod tribal seats for the Lok Sabha elections on the last day of filing nominations. Veteran Ahmed Patel is not in the race.
Only BJP under Modi can provide stable govt: Muralidhar Rao
BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao Thursday said only BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can provide a stable government in the country and take on the challenges from terrorists and separatists. He dismissed the proposed alliance of opposition parties at the national level. "Thefore, when meetings are held in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata,... not just one Prime Minister on behalf of opposition, 15 Prime Ministers....," Rao said. If such is the situation, there would be a different prime minister on each day of the week, he said sarcastiscally. "Can this country accept 50 Prime Ministers in five years," he asked. Only Modi can provide stable and efficient government which is development-oriented, Rao said, addressing an election meeting here. "Today, who can face Pakistan, communal politics, betrayers of the nation, terrorists, separatists is only BJP, only Narendra Modiji," he said. Attacking Telangana Chief Minister K
Mainstream media projects Kashmiris wrongly: Ashvin
The mainstream media has painted a wrong picture of Kashmiris, says National Award-winning filmmaker Ashvin Kumar, whose film "No Fathers In Kashmir" is set for release on Friday.
I'm not 'splittist', Chinese govt considers me one: Dalai Lama
Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Thursday said people from Tibet have been seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue with China since 1974 but Beijing considers him a "splittist" though he isn't one. The Tibetan spiritual leader, in response to questions during a press conference here, also said, the Tibetans were "open" to such a solution, while reiterating that he was not seeking Tibet's independence from China. "In 1974, we decided to not seek independence and seek a mutually acceptable solution. And, in 1979, we established a direct contact with the Chinese government. So basically, our side is open," the Dalai Lama said. "I am not a splittist, but Chinese government considers me a splittist," he said. So, the Chinese government "wants me to fight for Tibet's independence", he added in a lighter vein, drawing laughter from the audience. "Splittist" is a person who advocates separation from a larger body. He said he preferred Tibet remaining with China, with "some .
PM Modi has only "television", no vision: Congress
The Congress on Thursday mocked the BJP-led government, saying its "dismal" performance bore testimony of the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only "television" instead of vision. The Rahul Gandhi-led party also slammed the BJP for criticising its manifesto, noting that the central government had no right to preach on national security, as the country saw a "260 per cent" rise in terror-related incidents during the last five years. "The dismal performance of his government shows Modi has no vision and only television," Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi told reporters. She alleged that the rich became richer and the poor turned poorer under the BJP rule, but Congress' election manifesto talks about giving justice to the farmers, women, youth, and the jobless and distressed sections. Accusing the BJP of not fulfilling promises made in its manifesto in 2014, she said the saffron party had assured to provide 33 per cent quota for women, double farmers' ...
China deploys new missile destroyer, frigate in its anti-piracy fleet
China has deployed its latest guided missile destroyer and frigate in the fleet of naval ships participating in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somalian coast in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, a media report said Thursday. China's 32nd convoy fleet to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters set sail from a military port in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy official announced. The naval fleet includes the guided missile destroyer Xi'an, the missile frigate Anyang and the Gaoyanghu, a comprehensive supply ship, state-run Global Times reported. It is the first time Xi'an and Anyang are participating in an escort mission, it said. One of the country's new generation of self-developed Type-052C guided missile destroyers, Xi'an, which entered into service in February 2015, possesses over-the-horizon strike capability at sea, the report said. Anyang, a domestically developed frigate, entered into service in April ...
BJP nervous after our manifesto launch: Congress
The Bharatiya Janata Party is nervous after the launch of Congress manifesto, which promises to give Rs 72,000 to India's poor families, the Congress said on Thursday."The way Prime Minister, Finance Minister and other BJP leaders are reacting on our manifesto is a clear sign of BJP's nervousness and frustration," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press conference here.The Congress has promised the creation of jobs to filling up vacancies and providing a minimum support income of Rs 72,000 per year for 20 per cent of the poorest families.Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asked people to choose between the "lie" of BJP's promise of Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts and "truth" of Congress party's assurance of providing Rs 3.6 lakh to 20 per cent poorest families in five years.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that some of the ideas in Congress manifesto are "positively dangerous".
Women group in Arunachal Pradesh takes up role of 'Chowkidar' to fight against abuse of money in polls
Pasighat (Arunachal Pradesh) [India], Apr 4 (ANI): Women Against Social Evil (WASE), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has taken up the cudgel to check the menacing role of cash in polls.It is doing a door-to-door campaign to minimise the role of money in influencing the people's voting decision in the wake of the impending Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.WASE volunteers have intensified their campaign after the recovery of Rs 180 lakh from one of the vehicles in the convoy of BJP Chief Minister Pema Khandu on April 2 late night in Pasighat area.Rebika Komut, a first-time voter while speaking to ANI, said that WASE is urging the people not to become a party to any corrupt electoral practices."When I visited the house of BJP candidate Kaling Moyong in Assembly constituency number 38 where we found the posters from WASE urging the candidates not to lure voters by using their money power," said Komut.Miren Komut said: "WASE has been quite in checking the flow of cash in electoral ..
Mamata calls PM Modi 'Hitler's uncle'
Intensifying attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of ensuing Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee on Thursday termed the PM as "Hitler's uncle"."He is the uncle of Hitler," the Chief Minister said while addressing an election rally here.The TMC chief asserted that if BJP is voted to power again, the party might change the constitution entirely."If he comes to power again, there will not be elections any more. The new drama of Modi Sena is pathetic. In fact, if he comes to power (again), they might change the overall constitution. They have already changed it so much," Mamta said and asserted that media is scared of the Prime Minister.Accusing the Prime Minister of changing his "identities" too frequently, she said, "(Prime Minister) Modi Babu doesn't have tea or kettle anymore, not even sugar or jaggery. Now, he claims to be a "chowkidar".""God knows why and how he became the Prime Minister? Is money the answer? This ...
You need a 5-year govt, not 6-month govt: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said that a nation needs a government that finishes its full term of five years and not a government for six months, in a reference to the Opposition's grand alliance."You need a five-year government, not a six-month-old government. This is extremely important because politics influences the lives of the people in the country. Not only this, government formulates policy and the faith of each one really depends on that policy," Jaitley said at the annual conference of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.Hitting out at the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), Jaitley said, "We have a proper coalition in our government. But coalition survives in a stable nucleus. You cannot have people making all kinds of announcements as part of their alliance and then sacrifice their regional constituency.""We have to take a fundamental decision that the Constitution framers described India as a union of states. There has to be a strong union. For the ...
Attempts on to postpone Tamil Nadu by-elections: Stalin
The huge cash seizure by Income Tax officials from the cement warehouse of a DMK leader in Vellore made the party allege on Thursday that by-elections in two Assembly constituencies in the Tamil Nadu district may be postponed.
If Article 370 is scrapped then India will become an occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir: Mufti
People's Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said if the Central government scrapped Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, then India will become just an occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir.Speaking at a rally here Mufti said, "If Article 370 is scrapped then India's relation with Jammu and Kashmir will be same as Israel's occupation of Palestine."Article 370 of the Indian Constitution grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.Hitting out at Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah, the former chief minister said, "Removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), protection of Article 370, dialogue with Pakistan, dialogue with Hurriyat leaders and return of the state's power projects were part of the agenda of the alliance."Reflecting on BJP withdrawing support from PDP in June last year that led to falling of government in Jammu and Kashmir later, Mufti said, "Earlier BJP says ..
JKPCC, CPI(M), KCCI demand revocation of ban for two days on J-K highway
The JKPCC and CPI(M) Thursday demanded immediate revocation of the order banning movement of civilian traffic on the Jammu-Kashmir highway for two days a week, saying the move would "add to the miseries" of people. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) vice-president G N Monga said the party understands the security concern, but that does not mean people will be left to suffer. According to the order issued on Wednesday by state Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra, no civilian traffic will be allowed to move from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Udhampur in Jammu region on Sundays and Wednesdays till May 31. The restrictions on civilian traffic on the 271-km highway will remain in force from 4 am to 5 pm, said the order, which follows the suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. The highway passes through important towns such as Anantnag, Awantipora, Pampore, Srinagar, Pattan and Baramulla. "The ban will add to the miseries of common people who are already suffering immensely .
Troop movement: Outrage in J&K over highway closure
Two former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have slammed the Centre's decision to curb civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway to secure convoy movement.
BJP tops poll ads spend on Google platforms
Political parties in India spent over Rs 3.76 crore on 831 election ads on Google platforms between February 19 and April 3, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading the table with the expenditure of Rs 1.21 crore for 554 ads, the Google India Transparency Report revealed on Thursday.
Govt accepts medical officer's resignation,to clear his way to
The Odisha government on Thursday finally accepted resignation of Dr Budhan Murmu from the post of medical officer of a primary health centre to pave way for his contesting election from Saraskana assembly seat on a BJP ticket. Acceptance of Murmu's resignation was notified by state's Health and Family Welfare department Thursday. BJP has given him ticket to enter into fray from Saraskana assembly constituency under Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha segment. Dr Bhudan Murmu, who is currently working as medical officer at Primary Health Centre (PHC), Bhaluki under Rangamatia Community Health Centre (CHC) in Mayurbhanj district has submitted his resignation from Government services to contest in the ensuing elections. After careful consideration, the Government has accepted his resignation with effect from April 4,2019, said the notification. The government's nod came a day after a BJP delegation comprising party's vice-president Samir Mohanty, general secretary Lekhashree ...
BJP changes Jalgaon candidate, Unmesh Patil replaces Wagh
The BJP Thursday changed its Lok Sabha candidate for Jalgaon in North Maharashtra, with its Chalisgaon MLA Unmesh Patil filing nomination papers for the election scheduled for April 23. Earlier, Member of the Legislative Council and BJP leader Smita Wagh had filed nomination as the arty'scandidate on March 28. Patil told PTI that Wagh accompanied him when he filed his papers, but did not comment on why the candidate was changed. "I filed my nomination today following the party's directive," he added. "She (Wagh) too is a dedicated party worker. There is no question of her having ill feelings over being asked to withdraw," he said. Jalgaon, considered a BJP bastion, is the home turf of Maharashtra water resources minister Girish Mahajan. A BJP source said the decision to replace Wagh was taken after the party realised that Patil has better chances of winning against NCP candidate Gulabrao Patil. "Some Shiv Sena workers were also unhappy with Wagh's candidature," he said.
Despite boycott calls, PM to canvass in Manipur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Manipur on Sunday for campaigning despite boycott calls given by the outlawed Maoist Communist Party, BJP sources told IANS on Thursday.