Page 1108 - Politics
Govt extends deadline for linking PAN with Aadhaar till Sep 30
The government Sunday extended the deadline for linking PAN with biometric ID Aadhaar by 6 months till September 30, an official statement said. This is the sixth time the government has extended the deadline for individuals to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) to Aadhaar. In June last year, the government had said that PAN has to be linked with the biometric ID by March 31. "....now the cut-off date for intimating the Aadhaar number and linking PAN with Aadhaar is September 30, 2019, unless specifically exempted," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement. However, quoting of Aadhaar will be mandatory while filing income tax returns (ITRs) with effect from April 1, 2019. The CBDT said there were reports that those PANs which are not linked with Aadhaar number by March 31 may be invalidated, following which the matter was considered by the government and the date extended till September 30.
Modi, BJP diverting attention from real issues: SP
Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav here on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of diverting people's attention from real issues after having failed to deliver on their promises.
Modi's goal is to destroy Constitution: Rahul
Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ultimate goal is to destroy the Constitution of India, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asserted that his party would never allow this.
Will focus on address aspirations in five years: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he spent five years in fulfilling the country's requirements and his next five years will be focused on addressing its aspirations.
Party will decide at 'right time': Mahajan on candidature
Amid suspense over whether she would get the ticket this time, Lok Sabha Speaker and sitting BJP MP from Indore Sumitra Mahajan said Sunday that her party will take a decision at the right time. Mahajan, who will turn 76 next month, has been an eight-time MP from Indore. "This (to announce a candidate) is the job of the BJP organisation. The organisation would take appropriate decision at the right time," Mahajan, popularly known as 'Tai' (elder sister in Marathi), told reporters here. "Everybody is a bit anxious as the BJP candidate from Indore has not been announced. But I am attending the party's meetings every day as I am a BJP worker," she said. "I have been working for the BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha elections and will keep on doing so," said Mahajan, who has been winning from Indore since 1989. The BJP has announced candidates for 18 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh so far, but not taken a call on Indore. This has fuelled speculation that Mahajan ...
Nigerian journalist arrested by armed men: witnesses
Armed men thought to be state agents arrested a Nigerian journalist, previously detained for more than two years, at a meeting with colleagues on Sunday, witnesses and watchdog groups told AFP. "Two DSS (State Security Service) vehicles... stormed the office" of the Bayelsa Federated Newspaper Publishers' Association in Yenagoa in Nigeria's southern Bayelsa state around lunchtime, as Jones Abiri was in a meeting with six colleagues, the association's secretary general Eric Eweke told AFP. They "threatened that if tries to run, they would shoot at him," said Eweke. Another witness, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said: "The men jumped out of the vehicles in a gestapo fashion while he (Abiri) was chatting with his friends and shouted at him that he was under arrest. "While he was demanding to know his offence, he was forcefully pushed into a waiting vehicle at gunpoint." DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya told local press "I don't have any information" on the incident. Abiri ...
Captain Rahul runs away from sinking Amethi, says Prasad
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Sunday took a potshot at Rahul Gandhi for deciding to contest Wayanad seat in Kerala, claiming that the Congress chief is feeling "uncomfortable, insecured and helpless in Amethi", his Lok Sabha constituency for three terms in a row. Rae Bareli, the constituency of Sonia Gandhi, and Amethi are considered as his family's pocket borough, but he is so scared that he fled to a place far away in south India, Prasad told reporters here. The Congress Sunday announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala along with Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "Rahul Gandhi is feeling uncomfortable, insecured and helpless in Amethi. So he chose to contest Wayanad seat considering it as safe because of its ethnic profile," the senior BJP leader said. The captain ran away after noticing that the ship is sinking and and landed in the sanctuary of Wayanad where 49.48 per cent people are Hindus and the rest minorities, he ...
PM to campaign in Odisha twice in April first week
With electioneering for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Odisha gaining momentum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit the state twice in the first week of April, party sources said Sunday. The prime minister is scheduled to address a public meeting at Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters town of Kalahandi in western Odisha on April 2, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said. He is slated to visit Odisha again to address an election meeting in Sundargarh on April 6, he said. The Sundargarh rally will be Modis third poll meeting in Odisha in less than ten days as he had kicked off BJP's election campaign in the state from Jeypore town in Koraput district on March 29. Oram said the back-to-back visits of Modi, who is likely to highlight several development and welfare schemes being implemented by the Centre, will go a long way in bringing a wave in favour of BJP in the state. While Kalahandi is among the four Lok Sabha seats where the ..
Rahul asks JDS& Congress to strive unitedly to defeat Modi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Sunday asked leaders and workers of the Congress-JDS alliance in Karnataka to strive unitedly to defeat the Modi government in the Lok Sabha polls. Gandhi's comments come amid reports of deep resentment in several constituencies among local leaders and workers of the Congress and JDS, which are fighting the polls unitedly. He asked the Congress workers and leaders to work for JDS candidates and made a similar appeal to JDS counterparts, emphasising that their main target was to "defeat Modi." Gandhi accused the Modi government of benefitting only the rich and his "industrialist friends" and not doing anything to help the farmers who were in distress. He also raked up the "Yeddyurappa diary" issue, referring to the allegation that the former Chief Minister had paid Rs 1,800 crore as bribe to the party top brass. "Whose money is Rs 1,800 crore?" Gandhi asked, as he mentioned about the alleged entries in the diary about payments having been ...
BJP has two ways of dealing with terrorists -- bullet & bomb: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hit out at the Opposition for seeking evidence of the Balakot airstrike, alleging that only two factions were "pained" by the post-Pulwama retaliation -- Pakistan and the Opposition. "Pakistan was counting the dead bodies of terrorists. At that time, our Opposition was asking questions about the airstrike. This will not be tolerated at any cost," Adityanath said at a public meeting in Ghaziabad. At another rally in Greater Noida, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader accused the previous Congress-led UPA government of "serving biryani" to terrorists and having a soft approach towards handling terrorism. "Masood Azhar... Congress gives them respect by adding 'ji' after their name. But, the BJP has only two ways of dealing with terrorists -- bullet or bomb," he said. "After the air strikes in Balakot, Pakistan was crying. Only two factions were pained by this, either Pakistan or the Congress-SP-BSP. Rest of the country was celebrating it and ...
AAP questions Cong intention behind fielding Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad
AAP leader Gopal Rai Sunday questioned the intention of the Congress behind fielding its president Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad, saying the grand old party needs to clarify if it was under pressure by the Centre to split anti-BJP votes. The Congress has announced that Gandhi would be contesting the elections from the Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala, besides Amethi. "There appears to be a contradiction between the publicly stated strategy of the Congress of getting rid of the Modi government and its intentions," Rai said. "Instead of concentrating attention on removing a dictatorial and anti-federal regime, the Congress seems to be dividing votes where the anti-BJP forces are strong. Look at what the Congress is doing in UP, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh" the AAP leader said. "Now by going to Kerala, where the Left Front is strong and the BJP has no presence, what signal is the Congress giving? Why not some other state like Karnataka or Tamil Nadu," Rai asked. Instead of ...
Congress leaders visit Ayodhya but do not bow to God: Smriti Irani
Congress leaders visit Ayodhya but do not offer prayers in the temple as they are afraid of losing their vote bank, Union Minister Smriti Irani said on Sunday.Addressing an election rally here, Irani said, "They (Congress leaders) go to Ayodhya but do not bow to God because they fear they may lose their vote bank."The minister further said: "Those who filed an affidavit in the court during the Congress regime stating Lord Ram does not exist are now chanting the name of Ram."Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also made a similar comment at an election rally in Ghaziabad in the state.He had accused Congress general secretary and eastern UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of hurting Hindu sentiments as she did not visit the Ram Lalla shrine in the temple town."She (Priyanka) was asked why she did not visit the Ram Temple. She said that she didn't want to visit the disputed site. She hurt Hindus," Yogi said.Karnataka will vote for its 28 Lok Sabha seats in ...
JKPM biggest platform for youth, will welcome politicians with unblemished record: Shah Faesal
Former IAS officer and founder of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Movement (JKPM) Shah Faesal Sunday said his outfit would be the biggest platform for the youth, but will keep its doors open for politicians having "unblemished record". Faesal, along with other senior party leaders including former PDP minister Javaid Mustafa Mir, reached winter capital Jammu on a three-day visit Saturday to garner support and inform the people about the vision of the party which was launched in Srinagar on March 21. "We have talked to the people of Kashmir and have come here with a message of brotherhood, collectivity and to meet future and present leadership. It is a new political experiment where we talk about giving justice to the people of all the regions without any consideration for the region, colour, creed and caste," Faesal told reporters after addressing a gathering here. A man among the audience tried to intercept Mir's speech earlier and raised the issue of his welcome into the party fold. "Why
Hemingway legacy writes unifying chapter for US, Cuba: lawmaker
Ernest Hemingway's legacy helps to bring Americans and Cubans together, an American congressman said as he opened an archive at the legendary writer's onetime home in Havana, despite tensions between the two nations. "Hemingway is once again serving to unite Americans and Cubans," Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern said at the ceremony on Saturday at the facility, already a museum chronicling the some 20 years the author spent in Cuba. The inauguration came against the backdrop of a sharp pivot by the administration of US President Donald Trump following his predecessor Barack Obama's policy of normalization with Havana. "There is no good and rational reason" why the United States and Cuba cannot have normal relations, said McGovern, a Democrat, as flags of the two countries stood behind him. McGovern, who has made numerous trips to the island, in 2002 established the Finca Vigia Foundation with Jenny and Frank Phillips. Jenny Phillips, who died last year, was the granddaughter of
Despite rocket strikes, Israel reopens 2 Gaza crossings
Hours after five rockets were fired from Gaza Strip, Israel on Sunday re-opened the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings after they were shut down for nearly a week after a projectile from the Palestinian enclave was targeted towards Tel Aviv.The Erez crossing for civilians and Kerom Shalom crossing for commercial goods were re-opened despite the projectiles fired at southern Israel from Gaza Strip late on Saturday night, Haaretz reported quoting the Israeli military.The reopening of the key crossings at Gaza Strip comes amid mediation efforts by Egypt. Israeli forces retaliated by launching attacks on Hamas' military posts after five rockets were fired. No casualties were reported from both sides.An Egyptian security delegation, which arrived in Gaza Strip on Wednesday, left on Sunday through the Erez crossing, amid heightened tensions between Israel and Palestine.The re-opening of the two Gaza Strip crossings comes a day after thousands of Palestinians staged a protest along the Gaza ...
Adityanath accuses Congress of hurting Hindu sentiments
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday in a veiled dig at erstwhile Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party government for "suppressing sentiments" of Hindus and letting "illegal slaughterhouses" operate freely in the state."This is western Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, when people used to go somewhere with bullock cart, their cattle used to end up in illegal slaughterhouses. Who doesn't know what happened in Visara? How SP government suppressed sentiments (of Hindus) here?" the UP Chief Minister said while claiming that his government shut all illegal slaughterhouses after coming to power.The Chief minister was campaigning for Union Minister Mahesh Sharma here."Congress government had said that Ram and Krishna don't exist. I would like to ask Congress leaders what do they want to see by going from one temple to the other? Why this hypocrisy?" the Chief Minister questioned.Attacking Congress East UP general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for not visiting Ram Lalla at the disputed site
Pak Army Chief to brief parliamentarians on tension with India next week
Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will brief parliamentarians next week on the recent tension between India and Pakistan.The briefing, set to be held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on April 4, will be attended by a number of leaders from opposition parties, members of standing committees of the National Assembly and Senate on defence, Geo News reported.The Pakistan Army Chief will brief the parliamentarians on the 'hostile situation' at the Line of Control. Former ministers are also expected to be a part of the meeting in Rawalpindi.This will be the second briefing by Bajwa after one-and-a-half months since the last meeting was held in February.According to a notification issued by the National Assembly (NA) Secretariat, chairman of the NA committee Amjad Ali Khan will lead the delegation.Pakistan Defence Minister Pervez Khattak has also been invited as he is the ex-officio member of both the standing committees of National Assembly and Senate.The next ...
Congress veteran P Sudhakar Reddy meets PM Modi, desires to join BJP
The 'disgruntled' Congress leader P Sudhakar Reddy from Telangana met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Sunday and shifted his loyalty. He has severed ties with the Congress party and has expressed his desire to join the BJP."I have been with the Congress party for last 40 years and have served at various positions including in NSUI, and IYC. I have been humiliated several times on the party forum but I continued to work as a disciplined worker of the party," said P Sudhakar Reddy."But due to the failure of local leadership in Telangana, I was badly defeated in the last elections. The parliamentary elections are going on under their leadership again," said Reddy."The politics in Congress is now commercialised as the middlemen have increased and sincere workers are sidelined. The voice is not reaching up to the leadership in the Congress," he added."I have brought it to the notice but no remedies were made," said Reddy.He also alleged the Congress has seen Pulwama terrorist attack ..
Its fight between 'Asli' and 'Nakli' chowkidar : Tej Bahadur Yadav
Tej Bahadur Yadav, the BSF constable who was dismissed from the service in the year 2017 after he released a video on poor quality of food served to soldiers, is contesting as an Independent candidate from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat against Prime Minister Narendra Modi."I am contesting as an Independent candidate from Varanasi. The Prime Minister had said he will give the status of martyrs to soldiers of paramilitary forces and will give them a pension. I will ask the Prime Minister if you had made promises, what all did you do to date?" asks Yadav.He added, "It is an equal fight, on the one side you have an 'Asli Chowkidar' (real watchman) and on the other side, you have a 'Nakli Chowkidar (fake watchman)".Yadav had posted four videos on the social media in January 2017 that showed him complaining about the unpalatable food at his camp along the Indo-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir. The videos triggered outrage across the nation.After the videos went viral, the BSF dismissed ...
Other parties can't dictate from where Rahul Gandhi should contest polls, Congress leader Ashwani Kumar
Dismissing the war of words over Congress president Rahul Gandhi contesting from two Lok Sabha seats, former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Sunday said other party leaders cannot dictate from which parliamentary constituency Rahul should contest polls or not."It is entirely up to each party to decide from where its leaders will contest. It is not the first time a leader is contesting election from two parliamentary constituencies. The present Prime Minister himself had contested from two constituencies," Ashwani told ANI.Earlier in the day, Congress 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.Taking on the opposition leaders questioning Rahul's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls from two seats, Ashwani said: "It is not right for a leader of one party to dictate to the leader of another party from which parliamentary ...