Page 1127 - Politics

Congress fields Sukhram's grandson from Mandi

The Congress on Friday declared more Lok Sabha candidates fielding Ashray Sharma, grandson of former telecom minister Sukh Ram, from Mandi and Col Dhani Ram Shandil from Shimla.

Cong joins hands based on common ideology, BJP for opportunism: Cong on Jaitley blog

Hitting back at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his attack on Opposition's mahagathbandhan, the Congress Friday said a "Court Jester" of BJP's 'grand alliance' should be the last one to write any "bogus blogs" on electoral politics. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said parties that propped Prime Minister Narendra Modi are now dumping the BJP's "sinking ship". "BJP's alliances are based on political opportunism, while Congress' alliance is based on common ideology," Surjewala said in a statement issued by the Congress. He was responding to a blog by Jaitley in which he termed the Opposition's 'mahagathbandhan' a 'non-bandhan', political circus and a recipe for chaos. Dubbing Jaitley as a bogus blogger, the Congress leader said he should decide on which side of the 'alliance argument' the BJP stands. "If the BJP stands at the mahamilavti (highly adulterated) argument as espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, their argument falls flat, because a 30-member NDA during .

Pak opposition criticises govt for appointing 'murder accused' as federal minister

Pakistan's opposition PPP on Friday criticised the government for appointing Brig (retd) Ijaz Shah as a federal minister, saying how come Prime Minister Imran Khan included an accused in the murder case of former premier Benazir Bhutto in his cabinet. President Arif Alvi approved the appointment of Shah, a former chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB) from 2004 to 2008. Shah, a member of the National Assembly from NA-118 Nankana Sahib, will be the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. He was a confidant of former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary Information Nafisa Shah said: "During General Musharraf's rule, Ijaz Shah was massively involved in political engineering. Benazir Bhutto had said in an email that if she is assassinated, Ijaz Shah must be probed". She said in a statement that the "puppet government of Imran Khan is a continuation of General Musharraf's rule". "How come Prime Minister Khan can include an accused in the murder .

Wife of its Beed candidate attacked by 'BJP goons', NCP says

The NCP alleged late Friday evening that the wife of its candidate from the Beed Lok Sabha constituency in central Maharashtra was attacked by "BJP goons". NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik demanded that Election Commission declare the constituency as "very sensitive". "Goons of the BJP attacked NCP candidate from Beed Bajrang Sonawane's wife Sarika Sonawane with a sickle at Dharmala in Kej Taluka. The BJP is spreading terror. "The Election Commission should declare Beed as a very sensitive constituency," Malik tweeted. Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, who hails from Beed, did not name any party but said Sarika Sonawane had a close escape. "Let the contest be 'goons versus people of Beed'," Munde said. Bajrang Sonawane is pitted against BJP's Pritam Munde, the sitting MP, in Beed.

Will implement NRC in Bengal, vows Amit Shah (Roundup)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah said on Friday that if his party was voted back to power at the Centre, it will implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal and smoke out all the infiltrators from the state.

Delhi will get nothing by reelecting Modi, or making Rahul PM: Kejriwal

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal Friday attacked both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, alleging their parties did nothing for the national capital and the people of Delhi would get nothing by electing them as PM. Addressing a rally at Okhla, Kejriwal accused Modi of pitting different communities against each other and urged the people not to commit the "mistake" of bringing him back. "Modi destroyed the communal harmony in our society. He poisoned the minds of the people. Don't commit the mistake of bringing him back," he said. "Let us handle the Delhi Police and you (PM) take care of Pakistan. You are not able to handle Pakistan, how can you be expected to handle Delhi Police?" Kejriwal said, without elaborating. Accusing the Centre of creating hurdles in Delhi's development, the AAP leader said he faced obstructions at various stages to get clearances from the central government. "Delhi would get nothing by making Congress president Rahul Gandhi a prime ...

Congress MLA quits over inaction on liquor mafia

A Congress legislator in Madhya Pradesh has submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Kamal Nath over inaction on liquor mafia, alleging the administration is "protecting" them.

Modi to make poll pitch in North-East

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart his election campaign in northeastern states on Saturday from Arunachal Pradesh.

Cong supporting Maoists in Chhattisgarh for poll gains: BJP

Senior BJP leader and former Chhattisgarh minister Brijmohan Agrawal Friday accused the ruling Congress of supporting Maoists and trying to protect them for its own benefit in the next month's Lok Sabha elections in the state. Addressing a press conference at BJP office Ekatma Parisar here, Agrawal also accused noted economist Jean Dreze of being a "major link" of urban Maoists. "Congress has made a mockery of both internal and external security of the country. In Chhattisgarh too, the government has put the security of state at stake. "It seems the whole state has been left to the mercy of Maoists," he said. The ruling Congress dismissed the charges as false and said the BJP had failed to solve the naxal problem despite being in power for 15 years. Recently, the police failed to file a charge sheet in the court against N Venkat Rao alias Nakka Murty, an alleged urban operative of Maoists, within stipulated period of time that facilitated his release on bail, Agrawal ...

PM 'address to nation' didn't violate model code: EC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on the successful test-firing of an anti-satellite missile did not violate provisions of the model code of conduct, the Election Commission said Friday night. The poll panel took the decision based on the report of a committee of officers which concluded that the prime minister's address did not violate the provisions for 'party in power' in the poll code. "The committee has, therefore, reached the conclusion that the MCC provision regarding misuse of official mass media...is not attracted in the instant case," the commission said, citing the report of the committee constituted to look into the case. CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury had approached the EC alleging that the PM's address violated the model code. A copy of the report was also sent to Yechury. The Model Code of Conduct is in place for the April-May parliamentary election and some state polls. Citing meetings with top Doordarshan and All India Radio officials and ...

Nishad Party quits 'Mahagathbandhan' in UP; its leaders meet CM Adityanath

Barely three days after joining the SP-BSP-RLD 'Mahagathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh, the Nishad Party Friday sprang a surprise by parting ways with the fledgling anti-BJP alliance and meeting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. There was no immediate word from either side as to what transpired at the meeting between the Nishad Party leaders including its President Sanjay Nishad with Adityanath in Lucknow. "The Nishad Party is no more in alliance with the Samajwadi Party," Nikky Nishad alias Riteash Nishad, media in-charge, Nishad Party, told PTI in Gorakhpur. "There was conflict between the two parties on Maharajganj seat as Nishad Party wanted to contest with its own party symbol where as Samajwadi Party was not ready for it," he added. The party workers were not willing to contest on the SP symbol and many of them began quitting, he said. "So, our national president Sanjay Nishad ji went to Lucknow and on late Thursday it was confirmed that the Nishad Party is no more a part of the ...

Cong declares its two HP candidates, fields Sukh Ram's grandson from Mandi

The Congress on Friday declared its candidates for two Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh, fielding former Union minister Sukh Ram's grandson Ashray Sharma from Mandi and former MP and former state minister Col Dhani Ram Shandil from Shimla (SC) seat. The Congress is yet to declare its candidates on the remaining two (Hamirpur and Kangra) of the total four seats in this hilly state. The BJP declared its candidates for all the parliamentary constituencies in the state on March 23. In the Lok Sabha elections, Debutant Aashray Sharma, 33, will take on sitting BJP MP Ramswaroop Sharma on the Mandi seat. Former Himachal Pradesh minister and former MP Col Dhani Ram Shandil will fight against Pachhad BJP MLA Suresh Kashyap on Shimla (SC) seat. Aashray Sharma, along with his grandfather Sukh Ram, rejoined the Congress on March 25. Interestingly, Sukh Ram's son and Aashray's father, Anil Sharma, is currently the Power minister in Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government in the state. Anil Sharma is .

Modi went to Pakistan for biryani: Priyanka

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday took a pot shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he had gone to Pakistan in 2015 to eat biryani.

Modi government knows how to deliver on promises: Gujarat CM

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Friday said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is a contest between a "decisive" Central government and an "indecisive past". He said India hardly witnessed any development under the Congress governments and alleged the grand old party was responsible for corruption the country. Addressing a public rally here, Rupani said the Narendra Modi government has shown the courage to conduct surgical strikes in all spheres -- land, air and space. He later led a rally which concluded at the office of the district collector where BJP candidate Ranjanben Bhatt filed her nomination papers for the Vadodara Lok Sabha seat. The Gujarat CM said the voters have made up their mind to give a second term in office to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The April-May Lok Sabha election will be a contest between a "decisive" central government and an "indecisive past", Rupani said, slamming the Congress and its decades-old rule. He said the country now has a ...

Advertisement on train coaches to raise voter awareness

The Railways has put advertisements on train coaches in its efforts to raise voter awareness on directions of the Election Commission of India.The Railways is putting with vinyl wrappings appealing citizens above 18 years to exercise their voting rights in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.The first such train, Kerala Express, set off from New Delhi Railway Station to Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.The country will vote to elect its new government in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Sanjay Nirupam uses Urmila Matondkar as scapegoat, says BJP's Gopal Shetty

Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate from North Mumbai Gopal Shetty on Friday said his opponent Urmila Matondkar of Congress is a fine actress and he respects her, but the BJP will win with a higher margin of votes from here.Speaking to ANI, Shetty said that senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has used Matondkar as a scapegoat."We respect Urmila Matondkar and she is a fine actress. Just like Urmila is famous in the film industry, similarly I am famous in politics," he said. "To save his face in the elections, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has made Urmila a scapegoat," he said.He said that by fielding Matondkar against him, Congress has disrespected its own workers in North Mumbai. "When you don't get a competent candidate, then the party workers should be given a chance."Praising the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shetty said: "After every half a kilometre in North Mumbai, one can see development work done."He said, in ...

We are not in SP-BSP alliance, says Sanjay Nishad

Just three days after formally joining the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party led 'gathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh, Nishad Party has severed its ties with the grand alliance over allegedly being denied its share in the Lok Sabha seats in the state."The Nishad Party has taken a decision that we are not with the 'gathbandhan.' We are free, and can fight elections independently or can look for new options as well. The party is free now," said Sanjay Nishad, chief of the Nishad Party."Akhilesh Yadav has given assurance that he will announce about from where the Nishad Party will contest polls. He promised one seat from his quota. But we are nowhere neither on the posters of 'gathbandhan' nor on banners. Nothing has been announced till date," said Nishad.Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) on Tuesday joined the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party led 'gathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh in the presence of SP president Akhilesh Yadav.In March 2018 bye-polls, Sanjay Nishad's son Pravin ...

Omar Abdullah lashes out at PM Modi for 'destroying' businesses in J-K

National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Friday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly "destroying" the business of thousands of people across the state with his "deeds.""How do you think the hotel and business across the state will flourish if the BJP's Governor just sits at the Raj Bhavan and orders an economic boycott? PM Modi destroyed the businesses in the states because of his own deeds," said Abdullah while addressing media personnel here."If Pm Modi had kept the things 'peaceful' after he came to power in 2014, the situation would have been a lot more different than it is right now," he said.He also slammed BJP leader Arun Jaitley for his recent comments on the Article 35A, adding that the incumbent government is trying to create "misunderstanding" between the different communities in the state."Jammu and Kashmir is not the only state which has been accorded the special status. North-eastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep and ...

PM practices double standards on Pakistan, alleges Digvijay

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has double standards on dealing with Pakistan and can do "anything" to win the April-May general elections. The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said it was the Vajpayee-led BJP government which had freed a dreaded terrorist like Masood Azhar, the head of Jaish-e-Mohammed. "I have never been to Pakistan. Modi has been to Pakistan, hugged their (former) premier (Nawaz Sharif), attended a marriage, called their intelligence agency ISI to probe Pathankot (air base attack)," Singh told reporters here. "On one hand, he (Modi) gets people to oppose Pakistan and on the other, he writes a letter to Pakistan. Modi can do anything to win elections," said the 72-year-old Congress candidate from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. The Rajya Sabha MP said the Congress has always made sacrifices for the country. "Narendra Modi should look within who compromised with terrorists? The BJP (under the ..

EC, railways come together for voter awareness campaign

As part of voters awareness campaign, the Election Commission and the railways have decided to utilise four long-distance trains to carry motivational messages for electorates, a statement from the poll panel said Friday. The trains will display important contact details including voter helpline number and the National Voters' Services Portal address, besides motivational messages urging voters to exercise their franchise. The four trains are: The Kerala Express, Himsagar Express, Howrah Express and Guwahati Express. The Kerala Express, carrying posters for voter awareness, was Friday flagged off from the New Delhi Railway Station by Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh, SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation Program) director Padma Angmo, Election Commission of India, and Northern Railway DRM R N Singh Friday. The three other trains will be flagged off in coming days. The Kerala Express will be received by respective State Chief Electoral Officers and .