Page 1129 - Politics
EU's Tusk calls Brexit summit for April 10
EU president Donald Tusk on Friday summoned leaders to an extraordinary summit on April 10, after British lawmakers again rejected the draft Brexit withdrawal deal they agreed with Britain. "In view of the rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons, I have decided to call a European Council on 10 April," tweeted Tusk, the head of the Council who coordinates summits.
Senior BJP leaders to join Prime Minister's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' event in Delhi
Several BJP bigwigs, including party chief Amit Shah and Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj, will take part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign via video-conferencing in Delhi on Sunday. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is also likely to attend the programme with party workers, said Delhi BJP leaders. Over 4,000 people, including party workers, will listen to the prime minister's address at Talkatora Stadium, said Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari. "Narendra Modi has revolutionised the masses who have rose in his support after Rahul Gandhi crossing the limits of decency heaped allegations on him without any evidence," Tiwari said. The Delhi BJP has arranged for gatherings of party workers and locals in seven Lok Sabha constituency to join in Modi's event. Party president Amit Shah will join one such gathering at Lawrence Road in Chandni Chowk constituency. Rajnath Singh will join the event at Ganesh Chowk in East Delhi, while Sushma Swaraj will be ...
AAP writes to EC over poll code violation by Modi
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday complained to the Election Commission (EC) alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to an Air Force officer in an interview was in violation of the model code of conduct.
Egypt frees rights activist after 5 years in prison
An Egyptian activist who rose to prominence during the 2011 uprising against former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, has been released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for organising an illegal protest, his family said on Friday.
LS polls: BJP to hold 1,000 rallies in Maharashtra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be among BJP's star campaigners in the state where the party has planned about 1,000 election rallies. The BJP will hold about 1,000 rallies in Maharashtra where polling for the 48 Lok Sabha seats will take place in four phases starting April 11, said the party's state unit spokesperson Keshav Upadhye. Speaking to reporters here, he said besides Modi, Shah and Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP president Raosaheb Danve and several state and central leaders of the party will campaign for saffron alliance candidates in the state. Upadhye's said Modi's first public rally will be held in Wardha on April 1 and he will also address election meetings for BJP-Shiv Sena candidates in other constituencies. Fadnavis, who started election campaigning in Kolhapur on March 24, will address over 75 rallies across the state. "Along with Amit Shah, Union minister Nitin Gadkari will also be a
Thackeray, senior Badal to join Shah during nomination
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and several Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari will be present when BJP chief Amit Shah will file his nomination on Saturday from Gandhinagar, said a senior Gujarat BJP leader on Friday.
UK lawmakers reject PM May's Brexit deal in Parliament
British lawmakers on Friday rejected the Brexit deal proposed by Prime Minister Theresa May in Parliament for the third time. MPs voted in the House of Commons against the terms of Britain's so-called divorce from the European Union (EU) by 344 to 286. May on Wednesday bowed to mounting pressure from within her own Conservative Party and offered to resign as the UK Prime Minister if her MPs agreed to back her twice-defeated Brexit divorce bill to get it over the line in a third parliamentary vote.
Jaitley's assertions on Article 35A show BJP's real intentions: Tarigami
The CPI(M) Friday hit out at Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's "Article 35A is constitutionally vulnerable and an impediment to economic development of Jammu and Kashmir" comment, saying the remarks revealed the real intention of the saffron party. In a blog, the senior BJP leader said Article 35A was "surreptitiously" included by a presidential notification in the Constitution in 1954. The Article 35A, he said, was neither part of the original Constitution framed by the constituent assembly, nor did it come as a constitutional amendment under Article 368 of the Constitution which requires an approval by two-third majority of both Houses of Parliament. The Article restricts non-permanent residents to buy property in Jammu and Kashmir. "Jaitley said Article 35A is constitutionally vulnerable and an impediment to the economic development of Jammu and Kashmir. It reveals the real intentions of the saffron party in relation to special status of the state," senior CPI(M) leader M Y ...
PM Modi roamed around the world, but didn't visit a single village of his LS constituency: Priyanka Gandhi
Congress general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting a single village of his Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency."Wherever I am going, I am getting to see the truth and reality of this government. I went to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency and asked people whether he comes to the constituency, people said yes he does. Then I asked whether he goes to villages? They said no, he does not go to the villages. So, I asked what does he do during his visits. They said whenever he comes, he holds big meetings, gives speeches and then leaves. Then I asked whether he goes to any village and find out about people's welfare? They replied no, he does not go to the villages. So, this is one reality," Priyanka said while addressing a rally here."He is one Prime Minister who did not make an effort to visit a single house in the villages. This is a government, which has neglected the ...
Sambit Patra files nomination from Puri
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra on Friday filed his nomination to contest the Lok Sabha election from Puri parliamentary constituency.After filing his nomination papers, he said: "With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party president Amit Shah, I am contesting the election.""We will bring in positive change in Odisha the way we changed UP and Tripura," Patra told reporters here.He said that Puri Lok Sabha seat was no longer a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) stronghold.The BJD has fielded Pinaki Mishra from the seat while Satya Prakash Nayak of the Congress is contesting from the seat.Polls for 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats will take place in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29 in Odisha. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
PDP flays BJP for its position on Jammu and Kashmir
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to convert the constitutional relationship of the state with India into an occupation.
Our aim only to register protest, say farmers on entering poll
Farmers who have jumped into the poll fray in large numbers in Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat in Telangana Friday said their aim was only to register their protest against government's failure to ensure remunerative price for their produce. As many as 170 farmers, who have filed nominations in the constituency from where Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election, made it clear they had jumped into the fray not with the intention of defeating her. They had chosen to contest the elections to the protest the TRS government's alleged failure to ensure remunerative prices for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) produce and establishing the turmeric board. With 185 candidates, including the farmers, are in the fray, for the April 11 elections in the state, the Election Commission will use ballot papers instead of EVMs in the constituency. Farmers have been seeking MSP of Rs 15,000 per quintal for turmeric and Rs 3,500 MSP per quintal of red jowar ..
Will fight for the people of North-East: Sangma
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma Friday said the National People's Party (NPP) would fight for the people of the North-East to give them an effective voice. Addressing a public meeting at Lamka town in Churanchandpur district, Sangma said since the states of the region have fewer Parliamentary seats as compared to bigger states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, "sometimes, Delhi does not take us seriously." Sangma kickstarted campaign on behalf of Thangmimlen Kipgen, who is contesting on Outer Manipur constituency. The Meghalaya CM had recently drew praise for taking a strong stand against Citizenship Amendment Bill, which could not be tabled in Rajya Sabha and is destined to collapse with the end of the present term of the Lok Sabha on June 3. In addition to Meghalaya, the NPP is ontesting general election in other Northeastern states.
China's OBOR poses security threat to US: Pompeo
China poses a security threat to the US and its allies, and its infrastructure as well as connectivity projects, including the One Belt One Road (OBOR), have an element of "national security", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said.
Denied ticket, ex-MP leaves BJP to join NPP
Upset over not being given a ticket, former Lok Sabha MP from Manipur Kim Gangte resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, and joined the National People's Party (NPP) on Friday.
BJP candidate Sujay Vikhe-Patil calls on Ahmednagar MP
BJP candidate from the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency Sujay Vikhe-Patil Friday called on Dilip Gandhi, the sitting MP from the western Maharashtra seat who has been denied ticket by the saffron outfit. Sujay Vikhe-Patil called on Dilip Gandhi in Ahmednagar, about 240km from here, to seek his support in the election after the latter's son announced he will enter the fray as an independent, BJP sources said. Sujay Vikhe-Patil's father Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, is a senior leader of the Congress in Maharashtra, had also called on Gandhi two days back and held a closed door meeting with him. Thirty-seven-year-old Suvendra, son of Dilip Gandhi, had last week announced that he will be contesting the Lok Sabha election from Ahmednagar as an Independent. According to a BJP source, there is resentment among Gandhi's supporters on denial of ticket to the three-time MP and giving nomination to Sujay Vikhe-Patil, a resident of temple town of Shirdi in the district who joined the .
PM Modi attacks CM Naidu for snapping ties with NDA, calls him 'U-turn babu'
Slamming Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for snapping ties with the NDA at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called him a 'U-turn babu' who has taken a U-turn in the state's development and aligned with those who are on 'bail-cart'."It is said that there are no scams in the government schemes. However, the schemes in its own are to commit corruption," Modi said adding, "People of Andhra know whose safes are being stashed with the ill-gotten money from these scams. When your Chowkidaar questioned this, U-turn babu has taken a U-turn from AP development and separated themselves from NDA," the Prime Minister said addressing an election rally here."Now 'U-turn babu' has found those people who run on 'bail-gaadi' and are on bail in corruption cases," he added while referring to 'bail-gaadi' in an apparent reference to senior Congress leaders who are out on bail for their alleged involvement in different corruption cases.Naidu-led TDP
BJD announces candidates for 18 more Assembly seats
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced the names of candidates for 18 more Assembly constituencies in Odisha. The party has so far announced candidates for 18 Lok Sabha and 119 Assembly constituencies.
EC, Railways join hands to create voter awareness
The Election Commission on Friday joined hands with the Indian Railways to utilise four long distance trains for creating awareness among voters about the Lok Sabha elections.
Modi dubs Naidu as U-Turn Babu, says polls in AP will see new
The April 11 elections would herald a "new sunrise" and see the "son set" in Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here Friday, in a fiery attack aimed at Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh. Your vote will make the sun rise and the son set. Do you not want the sunrise of AP? Should not the son set happen ? the Prime Minister asked people at a largely-attended election campaign rally of the BJP in this historic town that was the capital of the erstwhile Andhra state in the 1950s. Modi said he was told that it was the first time that a Prime Minister visited Kurnool. Peoples vote on April 11 - for the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and the state assembly -- would ensure the double engine growth for Andhra Pradesh, with a BJP government at the Centre and also at the state, Modi remarked. Your vote will also help build a New India that enables equal opportunities for all. Help strengthen this by voting the BJP, he appealed. In his ...