Page 1074 - Politics
Vijender Gupta takes on Delhi govt for 'obstructing Metro Phase-IV work'
BJP leader Vijender Gupta on Tuesday claimed that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has once again obstructed Metro Phase-IV "out of sheer political ill-will to defame the Centre."In a statement, Gupta said that the state government has put roadblock due to a supposed increase of Rs 1850 crore in a project with an estimated cost of Rs 24,948 crore."It has conveniently ignored that the Centre has already directed Delhi Metro to bring in 10-15 per cent reduction in the cost through optimization of resources. The fact remains that the Kejriwal government is putting roadblocks in every central scheme. The glaring example of such undue non-cooperation are Ayushman Bharat and Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System. Delhiites are paying a heavy price due to Kejriwal government's step-motherly attitude when it comes to central schemes," Gupa alleged.Gupta said it is unfortunate that the Delhi government has got the Metro work stopped on "flimsy grounds.""The cost-sharing dispute ...
US warns Beijing against force after Taiwan incursion
The United States on Tuesday warned Beijing against the use of "force or coercion" on Taiwan after the self-ruling island said that two Chinese fighter jets crossed a traditionally respected maritime line dividing the two sides. "The United States opposes unilateral actions by any party that are aimed at altering the status quo, including anything related to force or coercion," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters. "Beijing should stop its coercive efforts and resume dialogue with the democratically elected administration" in Taipei, he said. Beijing -- which considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification -- has stepped up its jet and warship crossings near the island since the 2016 election of Beijing-skeptic President Tsai Ing-wen. But going a step further, Taiwan's defense ministry said that two Chinese J-11 fighter jets took the highly unusual step Sunday of crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait that divides the mainland from the ...
President Kovind addresses Indian community in South Africa
President Ram Nath Kovind who is making a transit halt in Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon addressed the Indian community here.Addressing the gathering here, President Kovind noted that it was a privilege for him to visit Cape Town this year to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi."As we pay tribute to the Mahatma and his ideas of peace and non-violence on this occasion, it is natural to be reminded of the role South Africa played in his journey from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi," he said.The President arrived in Cape Town on a transit halt after a three-nation tour of Croatia, Bolivia and Chile."The 21 years he spent in South Africa from 1893 till 1940 turned him into a true stalwart of freedom and justice. In the honour of his 150th birth anniversary, we have begun the celebrations in the world over. And I take this opportunity as a part of the celebrations of Gandhi's birth anniversary," Kovind added.The President added that there were many ...
France, Germany lament British disarray over Brexit
- The foreign ministers of France and Germany on Tuesday lamented the disarray in British politics over Brexit, saying London must come up with a clear position on leaving the European Union. "Honestly, it's sometimes difficult to follow," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters after British lawmakers again rejected a series of alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal. "Three years after their decision, it would be great if they had a clear position. Otherwise the hard Brexit will have to take place in the coming days," he said. May announced earlier in London that she would ask the European Union next week to delay Brexit for a second time, beyond April 12, to try again to get her deal agreed and ratified in the British parliament. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said May's decision would allow for talks with the British opposition on a possible extension, but it was unclear whether this approach would succeed. "In the end, we will have to wait .
BJP attempting to show it is tough in J-K as polls approach: Mehbooba Mufti
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday alleged that the BJP is showing that it is taking very tough measures in the state as Lok Sabha elections are approaching.She told ANI, "We are being harassed as the 2019 elections are approaching. The BJP president yesterday said that he is taking very strong measures in Kashmir. They are trying to show the nation that they are very tough in Jammu and Kashmir."That is why they have attached Gilani's properties, have carried out an NIA raid on Mir Waiz, all this is a means to gather votes. Nothing is going to come out of this ban. We believe that democracy is a battle of ideas. We will keep trying," she said.Jammu and Kashmir will vote for the Lok Sabha Elections in five phases - April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.
LS polls: Congress releases list of 20 candidates, fields Pawan Bansal from Chandigarh
The Congress party on Tuesday released a list of 20 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal will contest from the Chandigarh seat.Besides him, the party has fielded Preneet Kaur from Patiala, Ravneet Singh Bittu from Ludhiana, Rajkumar Chabbewal Hoshiarpur, Santokh Singh Chaudhary from Jalandhar, Gurjit Singh Aujla from Amritsar and Sunil Jakhar from Gurdaspur in Punjab.In Gujarat, CJ Chavda will contest from Gandhinagar, Geetaben Patel from Ahmedabad East, Somabhai Patel from Surendranagar and Murubhai Kandoriya from Jamnagar.In Jharkhand, Subodh Kant Sahay will represent the party from Ranchi, Geeta Kora from Singhbhum and Sukhdeo Bhagat from Lohardaga.The party has also announced names of Pawan Kajal from Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) and Prabhu Ratnabhai Tokiya from Dadra and Nagar Haveli.In Karnataka, Congress has fielded Vinay Kulkarni from Dharwad and HB Manjappa Davanagere.The Lok Sabha election will start on April 11 and will end .
Algeria's Bouteflika: ailing president who clung to power
Algerian leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika held onto power for some 20 years through a debilitating stroke but the veteran of the independence struggle finally appears to have lost his grip in the face of mass protests. His presidency, the longest in the history of the North African state, survived the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled other leaders in the region. But on Tuesday, after weeks of demonstrations against his rule and a demand from the army to start impeachment proceedings, Bouteflika bowed to the pressure and submitted his resignation, state media said. It was Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office earlier this year that sparked public anger and brought hundreds of thousands out onto the streets across the country demanding he step down. Dubbed Boutef by Algerians, he had helped foster peace after a decade-long civil war in the North African country in the 1990s which killed nearly 200,000 people. "I am the whole of Algeria. I am the embodiment of the Algerian people," he
Kashmir editors' guild accuses govt of denying ads to yet another daily
Kashmir Editors' Guild Tuesday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of banning yet another local daily from receiving state advertisements, taking the number of proscribed publications to three. KEG regrets that while it was expecting the lifting of the ban on the government business to two major newspapers - The Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader - the government has added Kashmir Uzma to the list," said a statement by the editors' guild. "The ban, as usual, is unexplained and implemented without conveying the decision to the newspaper, it added. It said the ban is in the continuation with the onslaught that the Kashmir media has been facing since 1989. "The onslaught has led to untold miseries to the media and the shaking of the the institution's faith in democracy, the KEG said. The statement said the KEG in a meeting on Tuesday discussed the fresh ban order and reiterated its stand that the ban is not only strangulating the media, but is also impacting the idea of ...
Cong fields ex-rail min Pawan Bansal from Chandigarh, Preneer Kaur from Patiala
The Congress on Tuesday fielded former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal from the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's wife and former Union minister Preneet Kaur from Patiala for the upcoming parliamentary polls. Bansal had to quit as the railway minister in the UPA government after his nephew was found accepting bribe for appointments in the Railways. The Congress released a list 20 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls -- six in Punjab, four in Gujarat, three in Jharkhand, two each in Odisha and Karnataka and one each in Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The opposition party has fielded former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay from Ranchi in Jharkhand. In Himachal Pradesh, the party cleared the name of Pawan Kajal from the Kangra Lok Sabha seat. In Punjab, it re-nominated sitting MPs Sunil Jakhar from Gurdaspur, Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar, Ravneet Singh Bittu from Ludhiana and Santosh Singh Chaudhary from Jalandhar. In ...
UK opposition leader agrees to meet PM for Brexit talks
UK opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Tuesday he would be "very happy" to sit down with Prime Minister Theresa May and discuss a joint Brexit policy that could resolve the current impasse. Corbyn's comments came after May decided to seek a further "short" Brexit deadline extension from the European Union to give her time to forge a new approach and get her current deal with Brussels approved by parliament.
Algeria's Bouteflika submits resignation: State TV
Algeria's veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika informed the Constitutional Council that he is resigning in a move that is to take effect on Tuesday, state television said. Bouteflika "officially advised the Constitutional Council of the end of his term of office as President of the Republic" from Tuesday, said a news ticker on the television, shortly after the army chief demanded the immediate launch of impeachment proceedings against the protest-hit leader.
Brexit: May to ask EU for further extension
British Prime Minister Theresa May will ask the European Union for an extension to the Brexit deadline to "break the logjam" in Parliament.
Algeria army demands start of impeachment against Bouteflika
Algeria's military on Tuesday demanded the immediate launch of impeachment proceedings against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as it dismissed an announcement he will resign before his mandate expires. Armed forces chief Ahmed Gaid Salah called for "the immediate application of the constitutional procedure for removing the head of state from power", in a defence ministry statement after a meeting of top brass. The statement said the army considered an announcement from the presidency on Monday that Bouteflika would resign by the end of his term on April 28 as invalid because it did not come from the president himself. "Any decision taken outside the constitutional framework is considered null and void," the general said. Without naming anyone, Gaid Salah criticised "the stubbornness, the procrastination and the deviousness of certain individuals who are trying to make the crisis last and make it more complex with the only concern being their narrow personal interests". He said the ...
Azad addresses poll rally telephonically amid Pak shelling
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday addressed an election rally telephonically in a border village in Rajouri district as Pakistan shelling along the Line of Control played the spoilsport. Azad, who reached here on a three-day election campaign trail, was scheduled to address a rally at Laam area of Nowshera sector where the party had made all arrangements, a Congress spokesman said. He said over 3,000 people had assembled to hear the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha despite heavy shelling by Pakistan but he could not attend the rally because the local administration did not allow the landing of his chopper. The landing site was shifted to Qila Darhal, six kilometers from Laam, but the authorities did not allow the landing of the chopper there as well despite permission, the spokesman said. Azad later briefly addressed the people telephonically and sought their support for the Congress candidate, he said. Chief Spokesperson of Pradesh Congress Committee Ravinder ...
Don't want votes to be divided, otherwise it will favour BJP: Ajit Jogi on not contesting LS polls
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCCJ) leader Ajit Jogi on Tuesday said his party will not contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as it did not want the votes to get divided and thereby favour the BJP."We need to stop communal forces and those who spread hatred in any way possible. We thought that if we will contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, then the votes will get divided and will favour the BJP," Jogi told ANI here."Even if we win all 11 seats in Chhattisgarh, it won't have a major impact on 543 seats in Lok Sabha. BSP is our alliance. They can contest from wherever they want. Whether it will benefit Congress or anybody else, our aim right now is that we should not do anything that will favour the BJP," he added.The 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls in three phases on April 11, 18 and 23. The results will be announced on May 23.
LS polls: EC officials review EVM preparedness in Nizamabad constituency
An Election Commission team led by senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha held a meeting with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Telangana, Rajat Kumar to review special arrangements made for elections in Nizamabad constituency.Apart from evaluating the logistic requirements and other Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) protocols, the team witnessed a live demonstration of the working of EVMs using 12 ballot units.Agreeing to fulfil the additional requirement of officers and budget for smooth conduct of elections in the constituency, Chief Secretary S K Joshi in a meeting said a helicopter will also be at the disposal of Returning Officer (Nizamabad).Assuring smooth conduct of the exercise, Sinha said, "A total of 185 candidates are in fray for elections in the state. Telangana will create history with EVMs as more than four ballot units will be used in the constituency for the first time in the country."Sinha's comments come in the wake of the March 29 remarks by CEO Rajat Kumar ..
BJD approaches EC with complaint over poll code violation
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], Apr 03 (ANI): BJD has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) alleging that the Prime Minister's speech is being made available on mobile phones, which amounts to the violation of the poll commission's Model Code of Conduct.BJD leader Sasmit Patra told ANI, "Today using a mobile number anyone could call up and listen to the Prime Minister's speech while he was campaigning in Odisha's Bhawanipatna. So, we have gone before EC, since it did not have pre-certification from EC, it is a violation of poll guidelines and has demanded action be taken against BJP."Odisha will vote in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The state will be voting simultaneously for 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Congress promises NCTC, NATGRID for internal security
In measures aimed at enhancing internal security, the Congress, in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections released on Tuesday, promised to set up the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) within three months of forming the government in the Centre, and making NATGRID operational by December 2019.
Shah holds road show in Bangalore South
BJP President Amit Shah held a massive road show in Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency on Tuesday night to campaign for the party candidate Tejasvi Surya.
Star campaigners of 4 parties in Jharkhand approved
The Election Commission has approved lists of star campaigners of four political parties of Jharkhand for the Lok Sabha elections, state Chief Electoral Officer L Khiangte said Tuesday said. The lists of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the CPI (ML-Liberation), the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Forward Bloc were okayed, Khiangte said. Polling for 14 Lok Sabha seats of Jharkhand will be held in four phases on April 29, May 6, 12 and 19.