Page 1089 - Politics
Medak: Nostalgia for 'Indiramma' among tribals, development concerns linger despite limelight
From marigold flowers, brass matka 'gift' to the six-point development policy, tribals in Medak parliamentary constituency in Telangana fondly remember all they received from former prime minister Indira Gandhi who had won from here in 1980. Thirty nine years after her win, elders in this constituency recount Gandhi's election rallies with awe, while some believe 'Indiramma' is still "blessing people here from heaven". "Abhi bhi apna dil Indira ko. Khitna sona de, phir bhi dil aur vote Indira ko (Now also, my heart is for Indira. You may give gold, but my heart and vote is for Indira)," says 90-year old Rupla Pathloth, a Lambani tribal farmer from Fareedpur village, when asked about the current elections. Pathloth, who owns two acres of farm land, received a brass water matka (pitcher) from Gandhi in the 1980 parliamentary elections when she defeated S Jaipal Reddy of the Janata Party with over two lakh votes. "Each Lambani tanda had got 10 brass water matka. I too had received one ...
Mining ban issue to hit BJP's poll chances, say local outfits
Organisations fighting for the resumption of mining in Goa have claimed that suspension of iron ore extraction activities in the state will impact the ruling BJP's chances in the Lok Sabha polls. The coastal state has two Lok Sabha seats, North Goa and South Goa, both of which have several talukas where distraught mining dependents are in sizable numbers, these outfits have pointed out. Both the seats are currently held by the BJP. The mining operations, a key source of revenue to the government, came to a standstill in March last year following a Supreme Court order which quashed 88 mining leases. Some outfits, like the Goa Mining People's Front, are miffed with the BJP-led Goa and central governments over the mining operations still lying suspended in the state. GMPF representatives earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amnit Shah and Union Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, seeking their help to amend the existing mining laws so that leases could get ...
Cong fields Mohan Joshi against BJP's Girish Bapat in Pune
Putting an end to suspense, the Congress has announced Mohan Joshi as its candidate from Pune Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra. The announcement was made late Monday night by the Congress in an official release, a day after its city unit started poll campaigning in the constituency though it had then not declared its candidate. Joshi's main rival in Pune constituency is five-time BJP MLA and state cabinet minister Girish Bapat. Joshi, popularly known as 'dada' in political circles, is considered a loyalist of the Congress since 1972. He earlier contested the Lok Sabha election in 1999 from Pune but lost to BJP's Pradip Rawat. Despite the then triangular fight between the BJP, NCP and Congress, he had secured 2.12 lakh votes. Joshi, a former MLC and ex-president of the state Youth Congress, also served as AICC observer for Rajasthan Assembly polls in 2013, Bihar elections in 2010 and polls in Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in 2008, 2007 and 2005, ...
Gorkhaland not a poll issue in Darjeeling for first time in
For the first time in about three decades, the demand for separate Gorkhaland state is not a poll issue in the Darjeeling Hills as parties, including the indigenous GJM and GNLF, are stressing on development and restoration of democracy in the region. The statehood demand and implementation of the sixth schedule of the Constitution had been major poll planks in the Hills at various times since the beginning of the protracted Gorkhaland movement in 1986. This time, the statehood issue has not found favour with the main opponents, the TMC and the BJP, and also the GJM and the GNLF, who are not in the fray but are nevertheless deciding factors in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat. "The statehood is not an issue for us this time. We are stressing on overall development of the Hills, which it has been deprived of for so many years," said Amar Singh Rai, a former Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) MLA and TMC candidate from the seat. "Our agenda is development. For the last 10 years, ..
Determined to deal with 'reckless' bully across the strait: Taiwan
Days after accusing China of breaching the median line in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan on Tuesday stated it is "determined to deal with any reckless military adventure by the bully across the Taiwan Strait," according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Apparently referring to China, the ministry made this statement while thanking the United States for its support during what is being hailed as a "rare incursion" by media channels."Your unwavering friendship and support are treasured, @AmbJohnBolton. We're determined to deal with any reckless military adventure by the bully across the #Taiwan Strait. Provocation only makes us stronger & as you said: 'Surrender is not an option'," the Taiwanese ministry tweeted.This comes as China has upped its calls for reunification with the island nation, which has been de facto independent from the mainland since 1949's civil war.Meanwhile, the United States on Monday (local time) backed Taiwan's protest against China, after two J-11 ...
BSP MLA Maulana Jameel joins Cong
BSP MLA Maulana Jameel joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters here, Jameel said he left the Mayawati-led outfit as he felt only Congress could defeat the BJP in the coming elections. The MLA joined the Congress in the presence of AICC general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia in Delhi on Monday. Jameel was elected on a BSP ticket from Meerapur assembly constituency in 2012.
Rahul Gandhi tweets give away Congress manifesto?
Will the tweets from @RahulGandhi, the official account of the Congress President, define the scope of the partys manifesto likely to be released on April 2? If it will, expect to find only the details for Gandhi may have already outlined much of what the party has to announce to its prospective voters.
US halts delivery of F-35 jet equipment to Turkey
The US has halted the delivery of support equipment and supplies to Turkey for F-35 jet fighter jets because of Ankara's decision to purchase the Russian-made S-400 missile system over repeated American objections.
Baba Ramdev says mood of the nation tilted towards second term for PM Modi
Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev has said that mood of people of the nation is tilted towards giving Narendra Modi a second term as the Prime Minister's leadership abilities dwarfed those of other Opposition leaders."This time also, we cannot see an alternative to Prime Minister Modi... 'Chowkidar' is not a thief, he is pure, the people of the country are saying this. Nobody in the world can say that Prime Minister Modi has robbed anything," Ramdev told ANI.Stating as "mere noise ahead of elections", the Opposition's 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' attack on Modi, the yoga guru said "A few people are badmouthing the Prime Minister... maybe they did not have good relations with him, that is why they are doing so but nobody can question the work Modi has done for the country.""Be it surgical strike, airstrike or 'satellite strike', due to all these the trust of people on Prime Minister Modi has increased. Opposition's alliance is dominating in few regions, but the mood of the nation is more towards Prime ...
World leaders greet Erdogan for victory in municipal elections
Leaders from across the world congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for sweeping the municipal elections, despite his Justice and Development (AK) Party's massive defeat in the bastions of Istanbul and Ankara.Leaders, including President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Chairman Milorad Dodik, former Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegovic, Guinean President Alpha Conde, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Erdogan for his victory, Anadolu news agency reported.Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter saying, " I am delighted to congratulate friend of Pakistan Recep Tayyip Erdogan on another important victory in the Turkish local elections. The people of Pakistan wish him many more successes."Turkish Presidential sources told Anadolu .
Russian Interior Minister arrives in Pyongyang: Reports
A delegation of senior Russian officials arrived this week on an unannounced visit to North Korea, local media reported on Tuesday."Vladimir Kolokoltsev, minister of Interior of the Russian Federation, and his party arrived here on Monday," the Korean Central News Agency said in its reports.The visit comes amid speculations that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might be preparing to visit Moscow for his first-ever summit with President Vladimir Putin anytime this month.Earlier, Kim Chang-son, known as Kim Jong-un's de facto chief of staff, visited Moscow and Vladivostok, amid speculations that the leader's Russia trip might be imminent.The North Korean leader had visited China four times since last year for summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping, including the latest one in January. He, however, has not travelled to Russia since taking office in late 2011.At present, North Korea is seeking to intensify its diplomatic ties with Russia since it reached an impasse with the United ...
US, S.Korea defence chiefs meet on denuclearization
US Acting Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan met South Korean Minister of National Defence Jeong Kyeong-doo here over the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, said the Pentagon.
UK lawmakers reject all four alternatives of May's Brexit deal
British lawmakers on Monday voted against all four possible alternative plans for Theresa May's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union (EU), after rejecting the deal tabled thrice in the Parliament.While the voting continued in the British Parliament on Monday (local time), lawmakers rejected all the proposed alternatives, which included plans to hold a second referendum, retaining much closer economic ties after leaving the EU, or stopping Brexit to prevent a no-deal departure, Al Jazeera reported.The second referendum proposal garnered the most votes in favour - 280 - but was beaten by 292 votes against.The next option that proposed UK to stay in a permanent customs union with the EU was rejected by 276 to 273 votes.The so-called divorce deal of May was rejected for the third time in the British Parliament on March 29 by 58 votes, with the EU warning that a no-deal Brexit is now a 'likely scenario'.The UK is set to crash out of the EU on April 12, unless the British ...
Brexit votes: MPs fail to back proposals again
British MPs have again failed to agree on proposals for the next steps in the Brexit process.
Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest LS polls from Wayanad will help BJP: CPI's PP Suneer
CPI leader PP Suneer on Monday said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Wayanad seat in the ensuing Lok Sabha election will help BJP. However, Suneer claims that the only contest in the region is between LDF and UDF."They have taken this decision to weaken our national secular democratic movements. This decision of Rahul will not help the Congress. Instead, it will help the BJP," Suneer told ANI here.Asked about Thushar Vellapally, BJP's candidate from Wayanad, Suneer said, "That is not a serious issue. The direct fight is between UDF and LDF."Earlier, the Congress had announced that Rahul will be contesting from Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala along with his traditional bastion Amethi in Uttar Pradesh to further strengthen the unity of north and south.Kerala will go to polls on April 23.
Bhupesh Baghel gifts mirror to PM Modi, asks him to see his 'real face' in it
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has gifted a mirror to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to identify his "real face" in it.In a tweet in Hindi, Baghel claimed that the people of India will show the mirror to the Prime Minister Modi in the upcoming election.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.
Ajit Doval pressured govt to increase Rafale aircraft price: Prithviraj Chavan
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday claimed that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had put pressure on the central government to increase the price of the Rafale aircraft."NSA Ajit Doval pressured the government to increase the price of aircraft by 3.2 billion. There was no need and even he being an advisor had no role to play in price matter. There was a committee of price negotiation to look after," Chavan said at a book launch here.At the event, Chavan claimed that Dassault Aviation had promised UPA to transfer the technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)."As per the agreement, it was decided that only 18 aircraft will be manufactured with Dassault and other 108 aircraft will be manufactured in India's HAL for which the technology will be transferred by Rafale. We have video proof of same being said by Rafale CEO. Later on, when they smelled that the government is about to change, they started avoiding technology transfer factor with us," ...
Top Venezuela court calls to strip Guaido's immunity
Venezuela's top court called on the ruling Constituent Assembly Tuesday to strip opposition leader Juan Guaido of parliamentary immunity. The decision by the Supreme Court of Justice could open the way for President Nicolas Maduro's rival Guaido, recognised as interim president by more than 50 countries, to be prosecuted. The court ruling cited Guaido's violation of a ban on his travel outside Venezuela when he visited Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay from late February to early March. It came as Guaido and Maduro are locked in a battle for power in the oil-rich country, which is facing a crippling and deepening economic and political crisis. The competition has been escalated into a geopolitical struggle, drawing in the United States and its allies that support Guaido, and Russia, Cuba and China backing Maduro. Though unpopular in a country spiraling ever deeper into economic chaos, Maduro has the upper hand at home, thanks to loyalty from his military chiefs and, ...
India, Chile hold bilateral talks, exchange MoUs in mining, culture, disability
President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday (local time) met and discussed wide-ranging issues of mutual interest with his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera and the two sides signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of mining, culture and disability.President Kovind who arrived in Chile on a three-day visit is on the last leg of his three-nation tour that included Bolivia and Croatia.During bilateral talks between the leaders, Chile announced that it will allow visa-free entry to Indian nationals holding a valid visa of the United States of America.Welcoming Chile's decision President Kovind said it would promote both cultural and business ties between the two countries.Thanking Pinera for his strong condemnation of the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, President Kovind noted that the two countries have also agreed to work together to strengthen the global response to defeat and destroy terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.In addition, both India and
Mayawati to kickstart poll campaigning from Odisha
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati is scheduled to visit Odisha on Tuesday to kick off her election campaign.Mayawati will address a public rally at Baramunda Ground in Bhubaneswar, a statement from the party read.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.