Page 1094 - Politics

Tej Pratap names new party, may contest all Bihar seats

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav announced on Monday the launch of a political outfit 'Lalu-Rabri Morcha' and said it will contest on all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.

MP Congress demands stay on NaMo channel broadcast

The Congress in Madhya Pradesh Monday lodged a complaint with the election commission demanding suspension of "NaMo" TV channel telecast, which it said will be airing speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in violation of the model code in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls. State Congress spokesman Neelabh Shukla said "NaMo" television channel would be telecasting speeches of the PM, his rallies, besides the statements and programmes favouring the BJP. "NaMo is the abbreviation for Narendra Modi. With general elections round the corner, the BJP has started this channel which amounts to violation of the model code of conduct. We demand that the election commission immediately stops broadcasting on the channel," Shukla told reporters here. He said the channel would air Modi's speeches, rallies, and statements and programmes favouring the BJP. "We want the Election Commission to stop the telecast of the television channel immediately for holding elections in free and fair ...

What is going to be the country's future: Azam Khan on presence of Dadri lynching accused at CM's rally

Questioning the presence of Dadri lynching accused at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's election rally, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Monday said that such a thing sets a bad precedence for the future generations."People should think that if a leader or a political party is setting these kinds of parameters for the future generations, then what is going to be the future of our country," Khan told ANI.The prime accused along with 16 others allegedly involved in the Dadri lynching case were present at Adityanath's public rally in Bisara village in Greater Noida yesterday. The accused were heard chanting 'Yogi Yogi' during the Chief Minister's speech.While prime accused Vishal Rana was spotted in the front row during the rally, the rest 16 accused were seen moving around raising slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. All 17 accused are on bail.On September 28, 2015, an unruly mob had attacked a Muslim family on suspicion of consuming and storing beef in Bisara village of Dadri ...

Yogi refers Indian Army as 'Modi ji ki sena', draws flak from Opposition

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has referred the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena" while drawing a comparison between the steps taken by the BJP-led central government against terrorism and the previous Congress government."Things which were impossible for SP-BSP, are now possible; it is possible since Modi is here. Congress used to feed biryani to terrorists but Modi ji ki sena (Prime Minister Narendra Modi's army) gives them only golis and golas (bullets and bombs). This is the difference," the Chief Minister said while addressing a rally here."Congress used to encourage terrorists. The BJP government is breaking the backs of Pakistan and Pakistan backed terrorists by striking their camps, under the leadership of PM Modi," he added.The comment of the Chief Minister drew criticism from the opposition parties."It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'. Such blatant personalisation and usurping our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation. .

UAV, Pak F-16s detected near Punjab, forced to retreat after IAF scrambles jets

Amidst simmering tension with India, a large Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and at least four F-16 jets of the Pakistani Air Force were detected by Indian radars flying close to Khemkaran in Punjab on Monday morning, sources said.The Pakistani aircraft retreated after Indian Air Force scrambled its Sukhoi-30MKIs and Mirage 2000 fighter jets in response, sources added.This comes over a month after a PAF F-16 was shot down by IAF's MiG-21 Bison piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was later taken into custody by Pakistan after he crossed over during the mid-air dogfight.Several Pakistani drones trying to intrude into the Indian territory have been shot down by Indian Air Defence Systems after that incident.

Modi slams Omar Abdullah over separate PM remark, asks 'mahagathbandan' allies to spell out their stand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed National Conference leader Omar Abdullah for seeking a provision for the post of a separate Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and asked other constituents of the 'mahagathbandan', like the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, NCP and TDP, to spell out their stand on their ally's demand.Addressing a rally here, Modi said Abdullah and his National Conference want the "clock (of history) to be turned back" but it was not acceptable to the BJP.Till 1965, the Head of State of Jammu and Kashmir used to be called 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (meaning President) while the elected Head of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir would be called 'Wazir-e-Azam' (meaning Prime Minister). These nomenclatures were then abolished and replaced with the Governor and the Chief Minister, respectively."An ally of the Congress party, a very strong member of the 'mahagathbandhan', the National Conference has given a statement in which they have said that there should be a ...

LS polls: RS Prasad urges EC to deploy paramilitary forces in WB citing rising instances of 'undemocratic activities'

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday urged the Election Commission (EC) to deploy paramilitary forces in all the constituencies of West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections."West Bengal has a record of violent elections. They engage in all kinds of 'undemocratic activities', starting from the murder of a BJP party worker, to not giving permission to candidates for public meetings. In my representation today, I have requested EC to deploy paramilitary forces at all the 42 constituencies in the state," Prasad told reporters here after meeting with EC officials.In the memorandum submitted to the EC, the BJP stated that violence "continues to brew" as if "law and order never existed," while claiming that BJP workers are threatened and intimidated.The BJP mentioned that 'tainted officers' such as the likes of former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar must not be allowed to participate in the election mechanism.Prasad also said the BJP has asked the EC to ensure ...

BJD fields Bhartruhari Mahtab from Cuttack

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday renominated outgoing MP Bhartruhari Mahtab to contest from Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency.

Politicians in high offices should not be seen in vicinity of those facing grave charges: JD(U)

BJP ally JD(U) on Monday said politicians sitting in high offices should not be seen in the vicinity of those facing serious criminal charges and that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) must seek votes for the work of the Narendra Modi government in the last five years. Reacting to reports about the presence of some of the Dadri lynching case accused in the front row of a public meeting addressed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Bisara village on Sunday, Janata Dal (United) spokesperson K C Tyagi said it was not a good signal to the masses. "People watch the association of those in public life. Politicians sitting in high officers should not be seen in the vicinity of those facing serious criminal charges," he said. Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched in 2015 for allegedly keeping cow meat at his home in Bisara. Reports said some of the accused facing murder charge in the case were in the front row of Adityanath's election meeting. Tyagi said Prime Minister Modi ..

New government plane glitch hits German minister

A German government airplane that broke down and forced Chancellor Angela Merkel to delay her trip last November to a G20 summit, on Monday blew a tyre on its first flight after a four-month overhaul. In the latest of a series of defects plaguing German government planes in the past few months, the "Konrad Adenauer" Airbus carried Foreign Minister Heiko Maas safely to New York, but one of its tyres burst upon landing. The plane had to be towed to a parking space, with the delay forcing Maas to miss his first appointments while Germany was due to assume the presidency of the UN Security Council, said an AFP journalist on board the flight. An appearance with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had to be pushed back. The opening of a meeting at the Security Council on protection of humanitarian workers took place without Maas. Just a month ago, the foreign minister was stranded in Mali due to a hydraulic problem with his Airbus A319's landing gear. A Luftwaffe (air force) Airbus ..

SAD seeks probe into misappropriation of seized hawala money

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday urged the Punjab chief electoral officer to order a probe into the allegations of a church priest who had accused the police of misappropriation of seized hawala money. "The SAD asked Punjab's CEO to order an independent probe into the misappropriation of Rs 6.6 crore from a priest. This seemed to have happened with the connivance of the Congress party and its leaders and could be used to influence voters," a delegation of Akali Dal leaders alleged after meeting Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju here. On Saturday, the Punjab police had claimed to have recovered Rs 9.66 crore of "hawala" money from six people, including a church priest, Anthony, in Doraha city of Ludhiana district. The next day, Anthony held a press conference accusing the Khanna police of showing Rs 9.66 crore instead of the Rs 16.65 crore seized from them and claimed that the cash was accounted for. The police, however, had described these allegations as "baseless". The ...

Real smart cities are built by good leaders: Rahul's swipe

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'smart cities' project, saying real smart cities are built by good leaders. The Congress chief also said that his party will move to directly-elected mayors and elected councils to run cities if it comes to power. "Real smart cities are built by good leaders. To improve quality of life in our cities we will move to directly elected Mayors with 5 year terms and elected councils. "Administration will be run by multidisciplinary teams of specialists and experts accountable to the Mayor and council," he said on Twitter. The Congress had earlier accused the Modi government of not developing even one smart city despite claims of setting up 100 such cities in the country.

Manila protests Chinese boats near island in disputed sea

Manila has lodged a diplomatic protest after more than 250 Chinese ships were spotted in recent months off a Philippine-held island in the hotly disputed South China Sea, a presidential spokesman said Monday. Under President Rodrigo Duterte the Philippines has largely set aside the once-heated territorial stand off over Beijing's claims to the resource-rich waterway in order to court Chinese investment. However, Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters Manila had spoken up after reports emerged that a number of Chinese ships passed near Pag-asa (Thitu) island. The military put the number of vessels, including fishing and coast guard boats, at 275 for the first three months of 2019. "The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) has already made a diplomatic protest over it," Panelo said. "The mere fact that they are there and just staying there for a week. Why, what are you doing?" He did not say when the protest was filed and the DFA did not immediately issue any ...

Narendra Modi to hold two rallies in Bihar on Tuesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off his campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar on Tuesday with rallies in Jamui and Gaya Lok Sabha seats, both of which go to polls in the first phase, the BJP said here on Monday. According to a release issued by the BJPs state headquarters, the prime minister will be addressing a rally in the afternoon at Jamui where he will be joined by the partys national general secretary in-charge for the state Bhupendra Yadav and state president Nityanand Rai. This would be followed by another rally at Gaya in the evening where Modi will share the stage with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi among others. Incidentally, neither of the two Lok Sabha segments is being contested by the BJP. While in Jamui, LJP leader Chirag Paswan is seeking re-election, Gaya has gone to the Chief Ministers JD(U) which has fielded stone-cutter-turned former MP Bhagwati Devis son Vijay Kumar ...

Modi insulting democracy by seeing Indians in terms of communities: Cong

The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting democracy by trying to segment Indians in terms of castes and communities. Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said it was unfortunate that Modi saw Indians in terms of their communities as he stated that the Congress was scared to field its leaders from constituencies dominated by the majority community voters. "It is unfortunate that the prime minister of India has spoken such words. Unlike the PM of India, who sees the citizens of the country in terms of their communities and not as citizens of India, the Congress sees each and every of the 135 crore citizens as Indians. "....By trying to segment the Indian democracy in terms of castes and communities, the prime minister has insulted the democracy that we are," he told reporters here. Tewari said when the country adopted the Constitution in 1950 and the people of India gave to themselves universal adult suffrage, it meant that "irrespective of which caste, ...

The Chessboard: Why Rahul is headed for Wayanad, Amit Shah for Gandhinagar

In the first episode of Business Standard's podcast on Indian politics, Ankur Bhardwaj is in conversation with Aditi Phadnis, Business Standard's Political Editor and Shine Jacob

Rahul remains 'Amul baby', says Achuthanandan

Hitting out at the Congress President for deciding to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kerala, Communist veteran and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Monday said his description of Rahul Gandhi as an 'Amul baby' was still relevant.

Modi hits out at Omar Abdullah over his separate PM statement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah over his reported statement seeking a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir and asked the Congress and Mahagatbandhan leaders to make clear their stand. Addressing an election rally here, Modi said there were media reports that Abdullah has stated there should be a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir. "Two Prime Ministers for Hindustan? Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the 'Mahagathbandhan' partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he say that", he said. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar Abdullah's statement. "I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, do you agree with it? answer the people. U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu with whom Farooq ...

NC would seek restoration of terms of accession of J-K: Omar Abdullah

The National Conference (NC) would not allow any attacks on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and would seek restoration of terms of accession of the state, including the provision for 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (president) and prime minister posts, party vice-president Omar Abdullah said on Monday. Addressing a public meet at Bandipora in north Kashmir, the former chief minister said Jammu and Kashmir's accession with the Union of India was accomplished in lieu of various constitutional safeguards for the state and if these are tampered with, the entire scheme of accession will be under question. "We are not like any another state of India. Every other state got merged with the Union of India. We joined our hands with the Union on certain conditions unlike other states of India. Does any other state in India have its own flag and constitution? Our handshake with Indian Union was subject to certain conditions," he said. Omar Abdullah said after 70 years, forces as are inimical to the state's ..

AAP questions Manoj Tiwari's silence over 'full-statehood' to Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday questioned the state BJP president Manoj Tiwari over his silence on "granting full statehood" to Delhi."Manoj Tiwari talks a lot but speaks nothing on granting "full statehood" to Delhi. We have written a letter to him (Manoj Tiwari) seeking his reply on the issue (full statehood)," Delhi AAP convenor Gopal Rai said.The AAP has intensified its demand for full statehood, especially in the run up to the general elections.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if the Centre does not grant full statehood to Delhi. However, he eventually decided to postpone the strike in the wake of India-Pakistan tensions following the air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at terror launch pads in Pakistan's Balakot.Meanwhile, Rai also accused the Congress of being in "grand-confusion" over an alliance with the AAP in the wake of the impending polls.