Page 1068 - Politics
LS polls: Centre creating scarcity of helicopters in K'TKA,
Karnataka Chief Minister H DKumaraswamy Wednesday accused the Centre of creating scarcity of helicopters in the State to prevent the coalition ofCongress and the JD(S) from reaching out to people. "The BJP government at the centre has created a scarcity of helicopters so that we cannot reach more people in the State. They have issued directions in this regard. Such low level politics is being played out in the state," Kumaraswamy said. Speaking to reporters in Hassan from where his nephew Prajwal Revanna is contesting the Lok Sabha election, Kumarswamy predicted that the 2019 polls would not be a cakewalk for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "This is not going to be a cakewalk for Narendra Modi. There is tremendous difference between 2014 and 2019... I won'tcomment on that but considering the developments in thecountry, I can say that it will be a tough election for Modi,"the chief minister said. Kumaraswamy also hit out at the prime minister for reportedly calling the ...
PM Modi flays Congress for seeking to dilute AFSPA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday hit out at the Congress for seeking to dilute the law that protects the armed forces in terror-affected areas and alleged the party is speaking the language of Pakistan. Modi accused the Congress of bowing down to terrorism and alleged that the anti-Modi obsession of opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi has actually turned them into leaders who are opposing the interests of the nation. "The Congress in its manifesto, which is full of lies, has promised to remove the law that protects our forces in terror-affected areas. Removing this will actually help Pakistan. The Congress has always bowed down to terrorism," Modi said during a rally at the iconic Brigade parade grounds in the city. Modi alleged that just like the dynastic politics of the Congress has ruined the nation in the last 60 years, the aunt-nephew (Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee) government has also ruined Bengal in the last seven years. The time has come to .
Adityanath 'incapable' CM, committed 'sin' by terming Ardh Kumbh as Kumbh: SP leader
Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav Wednesday alleged that Yogi Adityanath is an "incapable" chief minister and said he committed a "sin" by terming the Ardh Kumbh as Kumbh. In 2017, the Uttar Pradesh government had said that the Ardh Kumbh would be referred to as Kumbh and the Kumbh as Maha Kumbh. "Adityanath is an incapable chief minister. He committed a sin by terming Ardh Kumbh as Kumbh and tried to belie shastras, which say Kumbh is held in every 12 years," he told an election meeting here. Ram Gopal, who came here to be present at the filing of nomination by the party's Badaun Lok Sabha candidate, Dharmendra Yadav, also alleged scam in organising of the Kumbh. The Kumbh was held in Allahabad from January 15 to March 4 at the Sangam, the confluence of the Yamuna, Ganga and the mythical Saraswati rivers, and as per government data, it was attended by over 24 crore people. Dharmendra Yadav, who is a cousin of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, was renominated from the seat and he ..
Law and Order has improved in Manipur: R K Ranjan
The BJP's Inner Manipur Lok Sabha candidate R K Ranjan Wednesday claimed that law and order has improved in the state after the N Biren Singh led BJP government came to power. Addressing the public at A Moirang locality, Ranjan claimed that unlike in the past people now can safely move even during night time. He alleged that the Congress failed to develop Manipur during its rule of the state. During the Congress rule many youth were killed in alleged fake encounters, he said. The Congress candidate of Inner Manipur seat, Nabakishore alleged that the BJP government in Manipur gives more importance to people who are not indigenous to the state. Nabakishore said "rights are being given to others rather than indigenous populace" as the government is not concerned about the welfare of the state and their only concern is to "obey orders of Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi." Manipur has two Lok Sabha seats - Inner and Outer -. The elections to the Outer seat will be ..
Shah accuses Cong, NC, PDP of giving step-motherly treatment to Jammu, Ladakh
BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday accused Congress party, National Conference (NC), and People's Democratic Party (PDP) of meting out step-motherly treatment to Jammu and Ladakh regions while being in power.Shah, while addressing an election rally here, said: "For 70 years, NC, PDP, and Congress had given step-motherly treatment to Jammu and Ladakh. We kept protesting but development never took off here.""When Narendra Modi assumed power at the Centre as the Prime Minister, every day some new development initiatives take off here. Jammu has become an educational hub in the last five years. For the first time in 70 years, the people of Jammu have realised how development works are done," he said.Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said: "He fulfilled his promise of giving three per cent reservation to the people from mountainous regions."Accusing the Congress party of being weak in tackling terrorism, he said: "The biggest issue this country is facing is security. People of .
JAYS demands Cong give tickets to its leaders from 2 LS seats
Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), a tribal outfit, said Wednesday that it would scrap its alliance with the Congress if the latter did not field JAYS' candidates from Khargone and Dhar Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. JAYS national convener Hiralal Alawa, who won from Manawar Assembly constituency on Congress ticket last year, claimed the Congress fared well in tribal areas in assembly polls because of his party's help. "We had supported the Congress in tribal-dominated areas and hence the party was able to return to power (in the state). But the Congress ignored our contribution. We were not given a share in power," he said. "We had demanded that Congress field our leaders from four reserved seats (for scheduled tribes) -- Khargone, Dhar, Ratlam and Betul. But the Congress did not pay heed. They have already announced candidates from Ratlam and Betul. "If the Congress does not field our leaders as its candidates from Khargone and Dhar, we will have to part ways with ...
Rahul to file nomination from Wayanad on Apr 4; Priyanka to
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, will file his nomination by 11 AM on Thursday, senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala said. Senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnik said Gandhi's sister and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would accompany him to Wayanad. Wasnik also claimed that the announcement of Gandhi's candidature had enthused the people of the constituency. "The entire Congress party and the UDF had invited Rahul ji to contest in Kerala. Similar invitations were extended from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Finally taking into consideration, the feelings of the party members and the alliance partners, Rahulji decided to contest in Wayanad. Since the time this announcement was made, we can see tremendous enthusiasm among the party members and the people," he told reporters ...
Jobs, water, farm loans major issues in Maharashtra
Better employment opportunities, drinking water and farm loan availability have been identified as issues that could play a major role in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in voter survey.
Trump mocks Biden over 'inappropriate touching' row
US President Donald Trump has ridiculed Joe Biden after two women came forward to detail interactions with the former Vice-President they said involved "inappropriate touching".
France, Germany seek to boost multilateralism
France and Germany on Tuesday announced an initiative to bolster multilateralism, warning that the rules-based order embodied by such organizations as the United Nations was under threat of unraveling. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart Heiko Maas will officially launch the Alliance for Multilateralism in September during the annual General Assembly meeting of world leaders. The move comes as the United States under President Donald Trump is cutting funding to the United Nations, withdrawing from international agreements and shunning cooperation on key issues like climate. The US retreat has given China an opportunity to advance its agenda, promoting its controversial Belt and Road investment scheme while Russia has set up parallel tracks in Syria, for instance, that have sidelined UN efforts. "Confronted with the risk of deconstruction of our multilateral edifice, France and Germany are convinced that they can convey a message together," Le Drian ...
Mamata launches strong attack at Modi describes him as 'expiry
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing him as "Expiry Babu", and strongly contested his allegations against her as being a 'speedbreaker' in the path of state's development. Claiming that her government in West Bengal has done a lot for the welfare of the people of the state, Banerjee told a public rally here in Cooch Behar district that income of farmers in Bengal has increased three times under her rule. Mocking Prime Minister Modi as "Expiry Babu" and "Expiry PM", Banerjee dared him to participate in a direct debate with her in television or at a public rally. "I am not Modi, I don't tell lies," she said, alleging that the PM has made false claims about performance of the TMC government in West Bengal. She claimed that 12,000 farmers committed suicide during Modi rule in the country. The TMC supremo strong riposte came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made scathing attack at her at BJP rally at Siliguri .
Modi calls Congress, TMC Pak "sympathisers" who break morale
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday accused the Congress and the TMC of being sympathisers of Pakistan who wanted to "break the morale" of India's security forces and make them "helpless" in the fight against terror. Kicking off his campaign for the Lok Sabha election in West Bengal with rallies in Siliguri and Kolkata, Modi also trained his guns on TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, calling her the "speedbreaker" in the path of the state's development who wanted poverty to stay so her "politics of poverty" can flourish. Attacking the Congress, the prime minister said the actual age of democracy in India was barely 15-16 years as "family rule stifled talent and spread the poison of casteism" in society. "I saw this sham manifesto (dhakosla patra) released by the Congress. It is meant to break the morale of our security forces. "It promises removing AFSPA from disturbed areas like Kashmir. This is an attempt to render our brave soldiers helpless in the fight against ...
SP, RLSP leaders join BJP
Two SP leaders, former Uttar Pradesh minister Ram Sakal Gurjar and former MLA Rajendra Singh, joined the BJP on Wednesday, with Union minister Piyush Goyal asserting that their decision shows the Narendra Modi government's all-round acceptability. Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) leader Shivraj Singh, once a close aid of its president Upendra Kushwaha, also joined the saffron party along with the two Samajwadi Party leaders in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including its general secretaries Bhupendra Yadav and Anil Jain. The BJP hopes the induction of Gurjar and Rajendra Singh will boot its prospects in regions they come from. Gurjar is from Agra while Singh is from Fatehabad. Gurjar said the Modi government has done a lot of development work and boosted the country's military and economic prowess.
Yogi hits out at Congress for promising to scrap sedition law in manifesto
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hit out at the Congress on Wednesday for promising to scrap the law of sedition, which the party mentioned in its recently released manifesto.Speaking at an election rally, Yogi said: "It is shameful that the Congress in its manifesto has promised to scrap the provision on sedition, which is used against terrorists and those involved in terror activities, if the party comes to power."He further said it seems that the Congress has been hijacked by urban naxals - a term referring to alleged naxal sympathisers living in cities.Yogi also accused Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh of not supporting Hindus and instead standing by the rioters in Muzzaffarnagar."Where was Ajit Singh when two youth were killed in Muzzaffarnagar? Who had he supported then? He disgraced our entire heritage by supporting the rioters. If he cannot stand with us (Hindus) during our tough times, we should not support him when he is going through unpleasant times," ..
Congress doesn't have audacity to review AFSPA
Hitting out at Congress over its poll promise of reviewing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the grand old party does not have the "audacity" to go against the armed forces."The Congress in its manifesto said they will review the AFSPA. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that your party does not have the audacity to go against our armed forces. BJP is standing tall with our soldiers," he said at a public rally here.In reference to the Balakot air strike, Shah asserted that the BJP government gave a "befitting reply" to the terrorists while claiming that the Congress did not do so in the last 10 years of their tenure."The Modi government did the air strike in which the terrorists sleeping at their training camps were killed. We gave a befitting reply to terrorists. After this, there was a wave of happiness across the country. Victory processions were carried out everywhere. But, Rahul Gandhi and his party became sad. His face and ...
Punjab AAP chief seeks funds for Lok Sabha polls
Punjab AAP chief and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday appealed to the public to provide funds for his Lok Sabha election campaign.
TN CM dubs DMK-led alliance 'opportunistic'
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Wednesday dubbed the rival DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance "opportunistic" and claimed that it has lost the people's faith. Canvassing votes for the BJP candidate from Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency, H Raja, he said the NDA was a "successful alliance" which was based on principles. "The alliance headed by DMK is an opportunistic one. It has lost people's faith," he said. The ruling AIADMK is leading the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu, the constituents being BJP, PMK, DMDK, TMC and some smaller outfits. The Secular Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK, has the Congress, MDMK and the Left parties besides a couple of smaller parties. Referring to the MDMK joining the SPA, Palaniswami recalled its chief Vaiko had earlier walked out of the DMK complaining of family politics and that he had said DMK chief M K Stalin was "unfit" for any post. "Today he (Vaiko) says he will make Stalin Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," he ..
Sonia Gandhi unhappy over Congress manifesto layout
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was apparently unhappy over the layout of party manifesto released on Tuesday as she wanted a bigger picture of party President Rahul Gandhi on the cover, sources said on Wednesday.
Mamata a roadblock to Bengal's growth: Modi
Terming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a "speed-breaker" in the way of rapid development in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday said she was not interested in eliminating poverty as her brand of politics would then come to an end.
Footage shows UK soldiers shooting at image of Labour leader
Britain's military says it is investigating after soldiers were filmed apparently using a picture of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for target practice. Footage posted on social media shows members of the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan shooting at an image of Corbyn, Britain's main opposition leader. Corbyn, a veteran socialist, has often been critical of British military campaigns overseas. The British Army said Wednesday that the apparent behavior "is totally unacceptable and falls well below the high standards the Army expects. A full investigation has been launched." Labour defense spokeswoman Nia Griffith tweeted that the video was "shocking and completely unacceptable." She said it was "right that the Army is carrying out a full investigation." Politicians have reported increased threats and fears for their safety amid heightened tensions over Brexit.