Page 1055 - Politics
Panch shot dead by militants in J&K's Kulgam
A panch from Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir was shot dead by militants at his residence, police said Thursday. The terrorists barged into the house of Abdul Majeed Dar at Shalipora on Wednesday night and shot at him from close range, a police officer said. Dar, elected as panch in last year's Panchayat elections, was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition but succumbed to his injuries, the officer added. The deceased was formerly associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Communist Party of India(Marxist) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami condemned the killing. The heinous incident should be condemned by one and all, he said, adding that violence in any form is condemnable.
Poonam Sinha to contest against Rajnath in Lucknow (IANS Exclusive)
Punam Sinha, wife of actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, will be contesting against Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh from the Lucknow parliamentary constituency.
Gorakhpur MP Praveen Nishad joins BJP, Nishad Party enters NDA
Nishad Party leader and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha MP Praveen Nishad joined the Bharatiya Janata Party here on Thursday. The party has forged an alliance with the BJP and will support the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh.Praveen, the son of party president Sanjay Nishad, joined the saffron party in the presence of Union Minister JP Nadda."The entrance of the Nishad Party will impact several Lok Sabha seats in eastern, western and central Uttar Pradesh," Nadda said at a press conference at the party headquarters here.Nadda did not announce any seat-sharing pact with the new ally. He, however, signalled that Praveen may contest the Lok Sabha elections. "Since he is in electoral politics, he will contest the polls," he told reporters.Nishad Party president Sanjay Nishad said that their party in alliance with the BJP is committed to ensuring a second term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The Nishad Party severed its ties with SP-BSP-RLD 'Mahagathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh on March 29, .
TN candidate declares Rs 1.76 lakh cr cash, Rs 4 lakh cr loan
Candidate for the by-election to the Perambur assembly seat in Tamil Nadu, J. Mohanraj of the Jebamani Janata party, has declared loan dues to the World Bank of Rs 4 lakh crore and cash in hand of Rs 1. 76 lakh crore.
Azad defends Cong promise to review AFSPA, says necessary to ensure no human rights violation
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday defended his party's promise to review the AFSPA, saying while the security forces should enjoy full powers to eliminate militancy, it is also necessary to ensure that no human rights violation takes place. Asserting that the Article 370 - guaranteeing special status to Jammu and Kashmir - would stay forever, Azad also suggested that the administration should "re-look' its order of closing Jammu-Srinagar national highway for two days a week to allow smooth movement of convoys between the twin capitals. On revoking of Article 370, Azad said, "It is there for the last 70 years and will remain so for ever". A government notification on Wednesday said the Baramulla to Udhampur stretch of the national highway has been put out of bounds for the civilian traffics on Sundays and Wednesdays till May 31. Referring to the criticism of his party's promise to review AFSPA, the Congress leader said there are people who are taking "sadistic pleasure" .
I am here to send message of unity, Rahul Gandhi on Wayanad
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday said he will "absorb all the attacks" of the CPI(M), which is miffed over his Wayanad candidature in Kerala, and will not speak against the Left parties during his campaign. Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination papers for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, Gandhi also said he is contesting from seats in north and south to "send a message". The 48-year-old Congress chief is contesting from Kerala's Wayanad in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "The CPI(M) and the Congress have been locked in a fight in Kerala. This will go on. I understand that the CPI(M) has to fight me. But, I am not going to say a word against the CPI(M). "I am here to send a message of unity that south India is important, and I fully understand that the CPI(M) has to attack me. So, I will absorb all their attacks with happiness, but from me you will not hear a word against them in my campaign," the Congress chief said. There were
CBI inspects industrialist Hari S. Bhartia's house
The CBI and a joint vigilance team of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) conducted a "surprise check" at the house of industrialist Hari Shankar Bhartia for unauthorized construction, the CBI said on Thursday.
Guj Cong MLA resigns after ticket denial for LS poll
In a setback to the Congress in Gujarat ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, its MLA Kalu Dabhi resigned from the party's primary membership on Thursday after he was denied ticket for the parliamentary election. However, state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said Dabhi's resignation was not accepted and that efforts would be made to pacify him. Dabhi wanted to contest the Lok Sabha poll from Kheda constituency, where the Congress has fielded Bimal Shah, a former minister who quit the BJP to join the opposition party in January. Unhappy over Shah's candidature, Dabhi resigned from the party on Thursday. He, however, but did not quit as an MLA from his Kapadvanj Assembly seat in Kheda district. In his resignation letter to state Congress president Amit Chavda, Dabhi said he and his supporters were hurt with the party's decision to field Shah from Kheda, instead of him. Shah served as transport minister in 1998, when Keshubhai Patel was the state chief minister. Talking to ...
EU condemns stripping of immunity from Venezuela's Guaido
The EU on Thursday condemned a decision to strip Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido of immunity from prosecution, calling it a "serious violation" of the constitution that undermined the chances of a peaceful solution to the country's crisis. "The EU rejects the decision taken by the non-recognised National Constituent Assembly to lift Juan Guaido's parliamentary immunity," EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said, in a statement on behalf of all 28 members of the bloc. Lawmakers in Venezuela's Constituent Assembly, which is loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, authorised the high court to prosecute Guaido for proclaiming himself the country's ruler. "This decision constitutes a serious violation of the Venezuelan Constitution, as well as of the rule of law and separation of powers, as the only body authorised to lift the immunity of members of the parliament is the National Assembly," Mogherini said. "These acts undermine a political way out of the crisis and only lead to ...
Asia markets mixed as rally is stunted by profit-taking
Asian markets were mixed Thursday as growing expectations that China and the United States will reach a trade agreement were offset by profit-taking after an extended rally. Hopes Britain will avert crashing out of the EU next week also instilled some optimism on trading floors, with the pound extending gains. High-level talks between the world's top two economies resumed Wednesday in Washington, with reports saying they are edging towards an agreement to bring the curtain down on a long-running row that helped batter markets last year. Bloomberg News said the deal they are working on would give China until 2025 to meet pledges on purchases and to let US firms wholly own their businesses in the country. It said the aim was to get everything in place for presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to sign off on a trade deal. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow the talks were "making good headway" but added: "We're not there and we hope this week to get closer." The Bloomberg report ..
Trump prepares aid package for Venezuela
US President Donald Trump's administration is preparing an economic relief package for Venezuela that would put American dollars directly into the South American nation in the event that the government of incumbent leader Nicolas Maduro falls.
BJD fields Minakshi Mahanta from Champua assembly seat
The ruling BJD in Odisha on Thursday announced Minakshi Mahanta as its candidate from Champua assembly seat. In 2014, the BJD had fielded Odia actor Tatwa Prakash Satpathy alias Papu Pom Pom from the constituency. However, the seat was won by Independent candidate Sanatan Mahakud by a margin of around 14,000 votes. With this, the BJD has so far announced candidates for all the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 145 of the 147 assembly constituencies in the state. The party is yet to announce its candidates for Kendrapara and Baripada assembly seats. Meanwhile, the Congress has finalised the names of poll candidates for three assembly seats. Though the party's Central Election Committee has not yet come up with a notification to this effect, the OPCC confirmed that names of Ajit Mangaraj and Swagatika Patnaik have been finalised for Pipili and Khurda seats respectively. Mangaraj will replace Yudhistir Samantray, who was initially allotted the party ticket for Pipili seat. Samantray on .
Renamed fake accounts spreading political bias on FB
Barely a week away from when the world's largest democracy goes to the polls, the fake news factories on Facebook and its owned WhatsApp have become active like never before as the social media giant scrambles for solutions which are few and far between.
Group says 5 Egyptians disappeared after being deported back
An international rights group has expressed concern about the disappearance of five Egyptians who were recently deported back to the country, saying they are at serious risk of torture. Human Rights Watch said in a report on Thursday that Malaysia had deported four of the men in early March while Turkey deported the fifth in January. Three of them were sentenced in Egypt over links to Islamist groups. Michael Page, deputy Mideast and North Africa director at the New York-based watchdog, says "Egypt has a dire record of systematic torture, forcible disappearances, and unfair trials of dissidents." It urged authorities "to provide full legal access to these deportees." Egypt has waged heavy crackdown on Islamists and rights activists after the military's 2013 ouster of controversial Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Modi to address two election rallies in Kerala
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two election rallies on April 12 in Kerala -- one in Kozhikode and another in Thiruvananthapuram.
Who will get B.C. Khanduri's blessings in Pauri?
Newcomer Manish Khanduri of the Congress party is facing an uphill task against the much experienced BJP national secretary Tirath Singh Rawat in the Pauri constituency in the Lok Sabha elections due on April 11.
With Wayanad contest, I want to say India is one: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that his decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad in Kerala was aimed at sending out a message that India was one.
Philippines calls Chinese ships 'illegal' near disputed island
The Philippines on Thursday branded as "illegal" the recent presence of hundreds of Chinese ships near a disputed island in the South China Sea -- a rare public rebuke of Beijing by Manila, which has largely set aside the once tense standoff. Control over the South China Sea is a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it, and rich petroleum reserves are thought to sit deep beneath its waters. Under President Rodrigo Duterte, however, Manila has largely set aside its previously confrontational stance on China's claims in favour of seeking trade and investment from Beijing. Pag-asa, also called Thitu island, is held by the Philippines, but in the first three months of the year at least 275 Chinese fishing and coast guard vessels were sighted in the area, the Philippines military said. "The presence of Chinese vessels near and around Pag-asa (island) ... is illegal," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement. "Such actions are a .
Thai election body orders redo in places over irregularities
Thai election authorities have ordered a recount of votes and new elections in some polling areas after finding irregularities in last month's elections. Thailand's Election Commission said in a statement Thursday that it had ordered a recount in two polling stations and new elections in six polling stations due to the number of voters not matching the number of ballots in the March 24 general elections. The recount involves two polling stations in Khon Kaen province and the new elections were required at polling stations in provinces Lampang, Yasothon, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, and Bangkok. Sawaeng Boonmee, the commission's deputy secretary-general, said the date of the new election will be announced later but it will likely take place after Thailand's new year's holidays in mid-April.
Why Twitter blocked this French government campaign
In what appears to be a case of scoring a self-goal, a French government ad campaign intended to encourage voting in the upcoming European Parliament elections has been blocked by Twitter for fear of violating France's new fake news law, the media reported.