Page 1069 - Politics
Australian senator censured for blaming Muslim victims
An Australian senator was censured by his colleagues on Wednesday for seeking to blame the victims of last month's mosque shootings and vilify Muslims. Sen Fraser Anning was the target of widespread condemnation for blaming the attack in New Zealand on immigration policies. He faced more criticism later for physically striking a teenager who cracked a raw egg on his head in a viral incident in Melbourne. On Parliament's second sitting day since the March 15 attack in which 50 people died, government and opposition lawmakers moved the censure motion against Anning for divisive comments "seeking to attribute blame to victims of a horrific crime and to vilify people on the basis of religion, which do not reflect the opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people." "Sen. Anning's comments were ugly and divisive. They were dangerous and unacceptable from anyone, let alone a member of this place," Government Senate Leader Mathias Cormann told the Senate. Anning dismissed the ...
Cong promise to amend AFSPA "very dangerous," says S M Krishna
BJP leader and formerExternal Affairs Minister S M Krishna Wednesday termed the Congress' promise to amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in its election manifesto as "very dangerous." Krishna, a former chief minister,said the talk about having a separate Prime Minister for Jammu and Kashmir was "totally unacceptable", as he advocated a re-look into article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to the State. "That is going to be a very dangerous move, considering how the national security is poised today, how terrorists from outside and terrorists from within are trying to make an assault on our polity and our nation. So it will be a very dangerous move," Krishna said in response to a question about Congress manifesto speaking about removing AFSPA and sedition laws. The Congress party has said The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in J&K would be reviewed, adding that suitable changes would be made in the text of the ...
Azad attacks PM Modi, BJP over 'deteriorating' situation in J-K
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for the "deteriorating" situation in Jammu and Kashmir saying AFSPA could have been revoked from some districts as "conditions improved" during the UPA rule. The controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act gives sweeping powers to security forces under which they can arrest anyone or carry out searches in any premises. "What is the reason that situation in Kashmir, which was improving till 2014, has gone so bad that we have returned to the 1990 situation? If there is one person responsible for it, he is Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Azad said addressing an election rally at Lolab in Kupwara district, 120 kilometres from here. Azad, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said Modi and the BJP were responsible for different voices coming out from Kashmir. "The PM and the BJP are responsible for it because they created such a situation that Kashmiris and Kashmiri leaders have
Political compulsions not hurdle in defeating Modi: Chandrababu Naidu (Interview)
There may be some political and ideological compulsions among opposition parties but the consensus is to defeat Narendra Modi government, and "anybody can be a better Prime Minister than him", Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said.
Rahul targets Modi for failing on Rs 15 lakh promise
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP government has failed to deposit the promised Rs. 15 lakh into everyone's ban account, he has given Rs. 30,000 crore to an industrialist friend.
Rahul asks people to choose between 'BJP's lie of 15 lakh and Congress's truth of 3.6 lakh'
Launching a scathing attack at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 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."On the one side, there is Chowkidar's lie of fifteen lakh rupees in all bank accounts. On the other hand, there is the truth of Congress to put 3.6 lakh rupees in five years in the bank accounts of 20 per cent poorest people of India. We guarantee to pay them this amount," Rahul said addressing a public rally here."Four years back Narendra Modi came and made different promises in all public meetings. Do you remember he promised 15 lakh rupees? Is there anyone in whose account Chowkidar has put any money?" he asked the crowd.He also said that the NYAY scheme was formulated after Congress think tanks researched and held consultations for six months."I once heard the promise of .
112 FIRs, DD entries against political parties, others for poll code violation: Delhi CEO office
As many as 112 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries have been registered till date against various political parties and others for violation of the model code of conduct in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, the poll body in Delhi said Wednesday. The statistics surveillance team of Delhi's chief electoral office constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of political parties, has seized Rs 1.21 crore in cash. "A total of 112 FIRs or DD entries have been lodged till date in connection with the violation of the model code of conduct. "Out of these, 13 are against the Aam Aadmi Party (six FIRs and four DD entries), 11 against the Bhartiya Janata Party (eight FIRs and three DD entries), three against the Congress (all DD entries), one against the Bahujan Samaj Party (one DD entry) and Samajwadi Party (one DD entry), and 83 against others or non-political (entities)," the CEO office said in a statement. Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh had told reporters on Monday that social media was being ...
NPF to support Congress Lok Sabha candidate in Nagaland
Naga Peoples Front president, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu Wednesday said the NPF will support the Congress candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland. "In order to defeat the BJP alliance partner NDPP's candidate, the NPF party has decided to extend issue based support to the Congress in Nagaland," Liezietsu said at the consultative meeting of the NPF Kohima Division at Central office here. He said the NPF took decision not to field its nominee and divide the secular votes and give advantages to the NDPP candidate. Liezietsu said the NPF was supporting the Congress candidate as the Congress is also against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). He said BJP president Amit Shah in his public address in Assam recently stated that if BJP comes to power it will tbe bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill at the earliest.
Clarify stand on Omar Abdullah's separate PM for J&K demand: Shah to Rahul
Slamming NC leader Omar Abdullah for advocating a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir, BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday asked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to clarify his stand on the issue raised by his electoral ally. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president also asserted that his party, whether in power or in opposition, would never let such let such a demand get fulfilled. "Omar Abdullah says there should be a separate prime minister in Jammu and Kashmir. His associates are shouting pro-Pakistan slogans and Congress is silent," Shah said at a rally in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand where Lok Sabha polls will be held on April 11. "Congress is having an electoral alliance with the party. I want to ask the Congress president to clarify to the nation whether or not he agrees with his ally's demand," he added. The National Conference (NC) vice-president had on Monday said that his party would not allow any attacks on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and would seek restoration ..
JD(U) changes its LS nominee from Sitamarhi seat
Key BJP ally, JD(U) Wednesday changed its nominee from Sitamarhi Lok Sabha constituency and named former Bihar minister Sunil Kumar Pintu as the candidate in place of Dr Barun Kumar. Pintu, four time BJP MLA from Sitamarhi, switched over to JD(U) on Wednesday in the presence of Water Resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh at the party office. The party took a decision to name Pintu as its nominee from Sitamarhi after Dr Barun Kumar, who was earlier named as candidate, expressed his inability to contest the Lok Sabha election, Singh told reporters. Sitamarhi will vote on May 6 in the fifth phase, the nomination process for which will begin on April 10. We welcome Sunil Kumar Pintu in the JD(U) who will be partys candidate from Sitamarhi Lok Sabha constituency after Dr Barun Kumar, whom the party earlier named its candidate from Sitamarhi, wrote to the party expressing his inability in contesting the Lok Sabha election from there (Sitamarhi). Dr Barun ...
Mayawati hints at her prime ministerial ambition
Hinting at her prime ministerial ambition, BSP chief Mayawati said Wednesday she would use the experience she has gained as UP chief minister to give the "best government" at the Centre "if we get an opportunity". She said she has been Uttar Pradesh chief minister four times. "I have a lot of experience. I will use that experience at the Centre and work for people's welfare," the Bahujan Samaj Party supremo said at a press conference here. "If we get an opportunity at the Centre, we will adopt the UP pattern and give the best government in all aspects. At all levels, a good government," she asserted. Asked if she would like to become the prime minister, Mayawati, however, said things would be clear when results of the general election are declared on May 23. The BSP is contesting Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh in alliance with the Jana Sena, the CPI and the CPI(M). As part of the alliance, the BSP is contesting three Lok Sabha seats out of the 25 in the state
There could be 'conspiracy' to countermand bypolls to two
DMK president M K Stalin Wednesday said he suspected that there could be a "conspiracy" to countermand bypolls to two assembly seats in Vellore Lok Sabha segment, where IT raids were conducted. Reports reaching him suggested that plans were afoot to countermand the by-elections to Ambur and Gudiyattam so that the ruling AIADMK could continue to govern, he alleged. The raids at the residence of party treasurer Durai Murugan in Vellore district on Saturday was part of a plan to prevent the candidate from campaigning, he told a massive gathering in Perumanallur, some 60 kms from here in Tirupur district while seeking votes for CPI candidate K Subbarayan. Durai Murugan's son Kathir Anand is contesting from the Vellore Parliamentary constituency. He doubted whether those who conducted the raids brought the huge sum of money themselves and later announced that they had recovered crores of rupees from two premises, including a cement godown. Income Tax sleuths had seized Rs ...
U'khand to see straight fight between BJP, Cong: Poll watchers
The five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand are in for straight contests between arch rivals BJP and Congress, poll watchers feel, with the SP out of the electoral fray, the BSP drawing blanks in past general elections and other smaller parties having no "substantial base" in the state. Polls for the state's five parliamentary seats will be held on April 11. Since the creation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the BJP and the Congress have always emerged as the dominant parties in the state, except in 2004 when the Samajwadi Party (SP) won the Haridwar parliamentary seat, they said. SP's Rajendra Singh 'Baudy' had won Haridwar by defeating Bahujan Samaj Party's Bhagwandass in 2004. In 2009, the Congress won all the seats while the BJP wrested them from the grand old party in 2014. "Barring the Congress and the BJP, none of the political parties in Uttarakhand have a substantial support base. "So, the two national parties are almost invariably locked in straight contests in the state," noted poll ...
LS Polls: Cong accuses BJP of using money power to get votes in Arunachal Pradesh
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Arunachal Pradesh have been involved in a "cash for vote" scam amounting to Rs 180 lakh just a night prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Arunachal's Pasighat.In a press conference here, Surjewala alleged, "Unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 180 lakh was found during a raid at midnight on the convoy of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and BJP Arunachal President Tapir Gao."Surjewala also said that two videos of the raids have emerged on social media which prove the truth behind the incident. He said, "The raids were conducted in the presence of Election Commission's Expenditure Officer Samrita Kaur Gill (IRS). The cash was being reportedly transported in certain vehicles parked at the Siang Guest House in Pasighat."Surjewala further said, "Five vehicles were searched in the presence of the complainants who belonged to .
Meghalaya's NPP government let voters down: ADR survey
The National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya has neglected voter priorities and performed "poorly and underwhelmingly" on almost all governance parameters, including agriculture, school education and law and order, says a report by election watchdog the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Shinde faces odds on home turf against Ambedkar, Lingayat seer
Senior Congress leader and former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is contesting his "last" career election from home turf Solapur in Maharashtra, is facing headwinds from Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi's Prakash Ambedkar and BJP's Lingayat pick Jaisiddeshwar Swami. Perhaps realising that going will not be easy for him this time, Shinde, 77, has appealed to NCP chief and his "political guru" Sharad Pawar for his help. The Congress and the NCP are contesting the Lok Sabha elections in alliance. Shinde, a Dalit with a political career spanning more than four decades, suffered a drubbing from BJP's Sharad Bansode in the 2014 general elections in the traditional Congress citadel. Subsequently, BJP won Solapur municipal corporation and zilla parishad. Political observers feel the entry of Dalit leader Ambedkar and Jaisiddeshwar Swami in the poll fray in the constituency which comprises Lingayats, Padmashalis, Marathas, Muslims, and OBCs, could queer the pitch for Shinde, a
CEO to write to JK admin as Cong alleges its leaders' security 'withdrawn'
A day after the Congress alleged that the accommodation and security cover of its leaders in Jammu and Kashmir were withdrawn, the state Chief Electoral Officer said he has informed the Election Commission about the issue and will also write to the state administration. "We are writing to (the state) government to take their view on this (withdrawal of security and accommodation to Congress leaders and its chief in Jammu and Kashmir)," Shailendra Kumar, the CEO, told PTI Wednesday. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gulam Ahmed Mir Tuesday accused the state administration of withdrawing the security cover of several party leaders to "hamper" their poll campaign, especially in the militancy-hit south Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has to seek the approval of the CEO with regard to withdrawal of security and accommodation to political leaders during the elections as the model code of conduct is in place. Mir had Tuesday alleged "The governor's ...
Sharad Yadav files nomination for Madhepura seat
Former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) President and founder of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) Sharad Yadav on Wednesday filed his nomination papers as the RJD candidate from Madhepura constituency for the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.
BJP must explain its record in handling security issues:
Dismissing the BJP allegation that the Congress manifesto for Lok Sabha polls was soft on terror, AICC in-charge of Congress affairs in Telangana R C Khuntia Wednesday said the ruling party should explain its record in handling security issues during the last five years. "What are they doing? They should also explain....why terrorism is continuing? Why more forces are being killed? They should give the answer about five years," he told reporters here. The BJP should first explain why there were allegedly more incidents, instead of asking another political party about its manifesto, he said. "I think they don't have a right to say anything... they are in the government," Khuntia added. He alleged the BJP wants to take credit (for good things) but does not want to take responsibility for anything wrong. The Congress manifesto also dwells on national security, he said. In significant proposals, the Congress, in its 54-page manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, on .
US okays sale of submarine-hunting copters to India
The US has approved the sale of 24 submarine-hunting MH-60R Seahawk Multi-Mission helicopters to India in a $2.6 billion deal aimed at strengthening their strategic relationship, according to the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).