Page 1081 - Politics
Former RBI official joins Congress in Meghalaya
The Congress on Tuesday got a shot in the arm after former RBI Chief General Manager Beryl B. Sangma joined the party in support of former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is contesting from the Tura Lok Sabha seat.
Stop terror activities, India ready to help: Rajnath tells Pak
Asking Pakistan to stop promoting terrorism, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday warned India would exert "so much pressure and so many actions will be taken" that Islamabad would be forced to act against such activities emanating from its soil. He said he would like to tell Pakistan that it has to desist from its "acts" and stop training terrorists. Singh said India is ready to offer assistance to Pakistan if it alone cannot stop terrorist activities from its soil. "Terror activities should not happen from Pakistan and if Pakistan thinks it is not able to stop terror activities alone then it can seek assistance from India and India will be ready to assist. But, terrorism has to end from Pakistan's soil, Singh said. Addressing election rallies in Nizamabad and Mahabubabad districts, Singh listed various welfare measures undertaken by the Narendra Modi government and appealed to people to support the BJP and again elect Modi as the Prime Minister. The senior BJP leader ...
Will review AFSPA in J-K; nothing will be allowed to change constitutional position on state: Cong
The Congress on Tuesday said if voted to power it will review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir, and made it clear that nothing will be done to change the constitutional position on the state, a clear reference to Article 370 which the BJP has been long promising to scrap. Releasing its manifesto for Lok Sabha polls with a dedicated section on J-K, the Congress articulated positions on key issues of the AFSPA, Article 370 and dialogue with stakeholders in Kashmir very divergent from the BJP, which accused the opposition party of making "dangerous promises" and compromising on national security. Alleging that the BJP government had spread hate and divisiveness in its five year rule, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said,"their (the BJP) record in J-K is in front of you. Terror casualties are mounting...There will be a major focus on national and internal security". He also promised that his party will work towards uniting India by bringing people together. In ...
Cong releases poll manifesto with focus on jobs, farmers, 'Nyay' scheme
With a tagline "Congress Will Deliver", Rahul Gandhi Tuesday released his party's manifesto for Lok Sabha polls, making jobs creation, addressing farm distress, bringing a single moderate rate of GST and giving Rs 72,000 per annum to poor families as key focus if the party comes to power. In the 55-page document, the Congress also promised to come out with separate budget for farmers, fill up 22 lakh government vacancies, allocate 6 per cent of GDP to education, assured 50 more days of guaranteed jobs from current 100 under the MNREGA, boosting healthcare infrastructure and enhance safety of women. "When we started a year ago, I made it clear that nothing in this can be a lie, because we live in a time where we hear a large number of lies every day," Gandhi said, after releasing the manifesto in the presence of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior party leader P Chidambaram. The document, titled 'Hum Nibhayenge', touched upon a range of key ...
Inciting communal hatred only agenda of Modi, Shah: Rao
Congress in Karnataka Tuesday alleged that the sole agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah was to incite communal hatred among the people to derive political mileage. Addressing reporters at the district Congress committee office here, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP was trying to divide people on the lines of religion to garner votes as the NDA government has not been able to fulfil any of the promises made in 2014. Modi gave a 'communal colour' to the candidature of AICC president Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad, saying he was running away from Hindu majority constituencies, which exposed the Prime Ministers real self, Rao said. "Modi is claiming to be the chowkidar of the nation. He is only the chowkidar of looters, fraudsters and crony corporates in the country," Rao said. He said the ground reality in the country has changed and the Prime Minister would not be able to win only through self-marketing any longer. "People are waiting .
400 supporters, activists of IPFT join Congress in Tripura
In a blow to Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) ahead of the general election, 400 hundred supporters and activists of the ruling alliance junior partner led by its senior vice-chairperson Kritimohan Tripura joined opposition Congress on Tuesday. The defectors also opposed the tribal party's demand for a separate state. "The people of the state are confused with the demand for Tipraland and our leaders had cheated us. Now we understand that this demand is not practical. So we have decided to join Congress as it has assured us of development of the indigenous people", Tripura told reporters after joining Congress party here today. The Lok Sabha polls in the two Low Sabha seats in the state will be held on April 11 and April 18. IPFT has been demanding a separate tribal state since it came into being in 2009 by carving out the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which constitute two third of the states territory and is home to tribals, who ..
Open to stitching alliances: Rahul Gandhi on possible tie-up with AAP in Delhi
Amid continued uncertainty over its tie-up with Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said his party was open to stitching alliances across the country and was "very flexible" on the issue. "There is no confusion on this. The situation is actually very clear on this issue. We have constructed alliances. "We have been open to construct alliances and we have done it across the country. We are very flexible on this issue," he told reporters when asked about the Congress' stand on its alliance in Delhi. He also denied that Congres has not been able to firm up alliances in several parts of the state and said the party has stiched alliances with like-minded parties in Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and some other states. "We have an alliance in Bihar, we have an alliance in Jharkhand, we have an alliance in Tamil Nadu, we have an alliance in Maharashtra, so, I do not know where you are getting (this)..which news papers you are reading, but, as far as I
Jogi's party to not contest LS poll, to support BSP in C'garh
The Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) led by former chief minister Ajit Jogi Tuesday announced it will not contest the April-May Lok Sabha polls. The 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will see voting in three phases on April 11, 18 and 23. "Our party's core committee and parliamentary board have unanimously decided not to any field candidates. We want the BSP, which is a national party, to field candidates in all 11 seats. We will support the BSP," said JCC(J) leader Amit Jogi. "We have formed a regional party for the development and welfare of people of Chhattisgarh. As far as the national perspective is concerned, our first and last objective is to defeat forces engaged in spreading hatred and communalism in the country," he said. "All our efforts will be to defeat BJP in all the seats of the state", he asserted. The BSP has so far announced candidates for nine out of the state's 11 Lok Sabha seats with the exception of Raipur and Bilaspur. He said the JCC (J) would ...
Cong's poll manifesto is web of lies: SAD
The SAD Tuesday described the Congress' election manifesto as "web of lies", alleging that it intended to "cheat" people. "The Congress manifesto is a complete web of lies and deceit," alleged SAD senior leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Mohali. He also accused the Congress of failing to implement poll promises made during the 2017 assembly polls in Punjab. "The present manifesto will meet the same fate as deceit and lies are the other names of the Congress," Majithia alleged. His reaction came after the Congress released its manifesto in Delhi for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with its president Rahul Gandhi describing it as the "voice of people". SAD spokesman and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema alleged that the Congress' election manifesto was its "new project to cheat the people" in the same manner in which it had "cheated" the people of Punjab two years back. "I am confident that the people will see through this exercise which is aimed purely at acquiring
Complaint against Kerala CPI-M leader for sexist remarks
Congress candidate from Kerala's Alathur constituency, Remya Haridas, on Tuesday filed a police complaint against Left Democratic Front convenor A. Vijayaraghavan for his "sexist" and "lewd" remarks against her.
Pelosi says Biden should stop being touchy-feely with women
As former Vice President Joe Biden's camp scrambles to contain any political damage over his past behavior with women, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has some words of advice: Keep your distance. "Join the straight-arm club," Pelosi told a breakfast hour Washington event on Tuesday. In other words, keep your handshakes at arms' length and don't be touchy-feely. "Just pretend you have a cold and I have a cold," Pelosi said. Pelosi, D-Calif., told the event, which was sponsored by Politico, that Biden "has to understand that in the world we are in now people's space is important to them and what's important is how they receive it, not necessarily how you intended it." Her remarks came as Biden's aides are striking a more aggressive tone as he considers running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and faces scrutiny over his past behavior toward women. In a statement on Monday, Biden spokesman Bill Russo blasted "right wing trolls" from "the dark recesses of the internet" for ...
Wrong to term rising aspirations of people as job crisis or farm distress:Tejasvi Surya
With issues of inflation and corruption successfully tackled by Modi government, people have now moved to the next socio-economic level of "aspiration beyond basic existence", which will result in a positive vote for the BJP, according to its youth leader Tejasvi Surya who has been in the limelight after being fielded from Bengaluru South constituency. This aspiration for better paying jobs in urban areas and better price for farm produce in rural areas has been "falsely highlighted as 'jobs crisis' and 'farm distress' by anti-Modi brigade including economists", the 28-year-old BJP candidate said in an exclusive interview to PTI here. He also hit out at the Congress over NYAY scheme, saying the party's idea of social welfare has been redistribution of poverty, instead of creation of prosperity. He claimed the voters have not been enthused with the scheme because people see "nothing credible" in Rahul Gandhi's promise. Surya said due to steps taken by Modi Government, "issues of ...
101 FIRs, DD entries against political parties, others for poll code violation: Delhi CEO office
As many as 101 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 Tuesday. 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 101 FIRs or DD entries have been lodged till date in connection with the violation of the model code of conduct. "Out of these, 10 is against the Aam Aadmi Party (six FIRs and four DD entries), 10 against the Bhartiya Janata Party (seven FIRs and three DD entries), three against the Congress (all DD entries), one against the Bahujan Samaj Party (one DD entry), and 77 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 aggressively monitored to check any violation ..
Modi to interact with first-time voters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to interact with first-time voters, a voting segment he has often reached out to, on Sunday and will dwell at length about his government's work aimed at their welfare, BJP sources said. Modi has often referred to this group of electorate, who numbers close to nine crore, and asked party leaders to run campaign to connect with them. The prime minister has also spoken about the need to connect with the voters born in 2000-01, noting that the coming Lok Sabha polls will be the first time they will vote in a general election. A party leader said details of the interaction are being worked out. The BJP, especially its youth wing BJYM, has run a number of campaigns to woo the young voters. Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha spokesperson Rohit Chahal said it has organised events such as youth parliament, townhall with young voters and campus ambassadors to connect with new voters. BJP leaders have claimed that Modi remains a big draw among the young voters ..
Cong-NCP campaign set to 'shame' govt on broken poll promises
"Laaj kashi vaatat nahi" (how come they do not feel ashamed) is the question the Congress-NCP combine will pose to the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena in their media and social media campaign for the April-May Lok Sabha polls. The two opposition parties Tuesday announced a joint campaign that aims to shame the ruling dispensation on its "failure" to fulfil poll promises over the past five years. The campaign will be launched in print, electronic and social media and will seek an account from the BJP-Shiv Sena on a range of issues including agrarian distress, women's safety, education and jobs, Congress-NCP leaders said at their joint briefing here. Addressing reporters, NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress leader Hussain Dalwai said the campaigns content and details were worked out by the two parties voluntarily. "The campaign aims to highlight the poor show of the BJP and Shiv Sena. How come they not feel ashamed to seek votes despite not fulfilling old poll ...
BSP-LSP alliance announces six candidates for LS polls in Hry
The BSP and its alliance partner Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP), an outfit floated by rebel BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini, on Tuesday announced six candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Haryana. The candidates were finalised in consultation with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, the leaders of the two parties said. Of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, the Bahujan Ssamaj Party (BSP) will contest on eight and the LSP on two, they said. The candidates whose names were announced at a press conference in Rohtak included farmers, businessmen, social workers and party workers. LSP supremo Saini, BSP senior leader Meghraj and party state president Prakash Bharti said the names were announced after consulting Mayawati. The LSP fielded Ramesh Rao Pilot from Bhiwani-Mahendergarh parliamentary constituency but is yet to finalise a name for the Kurukshetra seat, even though Saini had earlier said that he would seek re-election from there. The BSP has fieldedNaresh Saran from Ambala Lok Sabha ...
Will form the govt with people's blessings : PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday thanked the people for giving him and the BJP the oppurtunity to serve them and said he will form the government again with their "blessings". "Modi will form the government again. Countrymen and Indians abroad are blessing the chowkidar," he said at a poll rally here. He said, the developments in the country in all spheres are due to the people and "Your chowkidar will complete the work that is left." Hitting out at the opposition alliance against the BJP, Modi said the 'Mahamilawatis' (highly adulterated) are afraid of the "chowkidar" in a reference to the 'main bhi chowkidar' campaign of the BJP. "The other group afraid of the chowkidars are the terrorists", he said adding blasts had rocked Gaya and various parts of the country almost everyday before the BJP came to power. But the blasts stopped since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Actor-politician Kirron Kher uses 118% MPLAD funds
Actor-turned-politician and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher has used 100 per cent of the funds allocated under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in the past five years.
Omar defends his statement on having sadr-e-riyasat & wazir-e-azam for J&K
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Tuesday defended his statement that his party would strive hard for restoring the terms of accession of Jammu and Kashmir, including the provisions for having a 'sadr-e-riyasat' and wazir-e-azam in the state. "I have not said anything wrong. I have only reiterated what is a reality. Is it not true that since the day J&K became the part of the country, it had its own 'sadar-e-riyasat' (president) and wazir-e-azam (prime minister) till 1965? Omar asked reporters at Pattan in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. He said it was the stand of his party even when he was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government at the Centre. This is not something new the NC is saying. When I was a minister in the NDA under Vajpayee, then also it was in our manifesto, then also we were talking about the internal autonomy and also about pre-1953 position. If it was right to say these things at that time, then how am I suddenly wrong now? he ..
Indian, Pakistani troops clash on LoC
Indian and Pakistani troops traded mortars and gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts on Tuesday.