Page 1134 - Politics
BJP declares 3 more candidates in MP, drops two sitting MPs
The BJP Friday declared candidates for three more Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, dropping two sitting MPs, while suspense remains on the fate of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. So far, the party has announced candidates for 18 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. It has yet to announce candidate from Indore, where the incumbent MP is Mahajan. On Friday, the party dropped sitting MPs Bodh Singh Bhagat (Balaghat) and Subhash Patel (Khargone). It nominated Dhal Singh Bisen from Balaghat and Gajendra Patel from Khargone. However, it retained sitting MP Rodmal Nagar from Rajgarh, the home turf of Congress stalwart Digvijaya Singh. In its first list announced on March 23, the party had announced candidates for 15 seats in the Congress-ruled state. In the first list, the BJP had dropped five sitting MPs.
SDF manifesto promises sops for youth
Sikkim Chief Minister and SDF president Pawan Kumar Chamling Friday announced various sops for the youth, including a one-time grant of Rs five lakh to those starting a livelihood venture, if his party is voted to power again. "Our policy is youth first ... youth has always been our priority," he said while releasing the election manifesto of his party, Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), at the Vijay Sankalp Rally in West Sikkim's Soreng town. He said that those youth not opting for Startup scheme will be given a one-time grant of Rs five lakh by the SDF government for starting a livelihood venture. Chamling, who is the founding president of the SDF, also promised that his government will increase the startup loan to Rs 30 Lakh from Rs. 20 lakh. Our government will launch a scheme 'One Person, One Profession' whereby every eligible individual will be helped with a profession, he said. The SDF president also promised to institute a Youth Forum in order to make Youths partners
AAP launches central 'war room' ahead of polls
Gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday launched its central 'War Room' comprising a 20-member team here.
Our manifesto will reflect people's voice, not one man's view: Rahul Gandhi
The Congress' soon-to-be released manifesto will lay major thrust on jobs creation, addressing agrarian distress and strengthening the education and health sectors besides charting a roadmap to boost economic growth, says party president Rahul Gandhi. He said the manifesto, being prepared after extensive nationwide consultations with key stakeholders, will reflect the people's voice and not just one man's views, an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an exclusive interview to PTI, the 48-year-old Congress chief said the Congress-led UPA is storming back to power as people have rejected Modi's politics of "false promises". "We want India's voice and aspirations to prosper. We don't believe in one man's voice. We believe in everyone's voice and choices. It requires tremendous discipline and hard work to do, but it works," he said. Congress is set to release its manifesto next week, ahead of the first phase of polling on April 11. Without divulging specific details of .
Army jawan killed in landslide in J&K's Baramulla
An Army jawan was killed in a landslide when he was patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, Army officials said Friday. Naik Parvej was leading an operational patrolling team in Baramulla when a landslide struck on Thursday, the officials said. They said the soldier fell into a deep stream flowing along the route and sustained grievous injuries. Parvej was evacuated to 92 Base Hospital here for medical treatment where he died later. The Army Friday paid tribute to Naik Parvej, with Corps Commander KJS Dhillon leading all ranks in paying homage to him. "In a show of solidarity, representatives from other security agencies also paid their last respects to the martyr," an Army spokesman said. The 29-year-old hailed from Shekhawas village of Rajasthan and he had joined the Army in 2009. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, he said. "The mortal remains of the martyr were flown for last rites to his native place, where he would be ..
BJP MP Naik files nomination from North Goa
Four-time MP and Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Naik, on Friday filed his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the North Goa seat in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
In Jharkhand, RJD turncoats may benefit in BJP list
The BJP is likely to deny tickets to three sitting Lok Sabha MPs in Jharkhand, taking the total number to five.
PM has no clue about Varanasi villages: Priyanka
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday took a pot shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying when he does not know anything about villages in his Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency how will he develop them.
BJP govt is anti-farmer, pro-rich: Priyanka
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday lashed out at the BJP, dubbing it "anti-farmer" and "pro-rich", and appealed to voters to oust the saffron party from power. Vadra accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring his constituency of Varanasi. "The BJP government is anti-farmer, anti-forces. Farmers are reeling in debt," she said at a "nukkad sabha" here on the last day of her three-day Uttar Pradesh visit. "The government's focus is only on helping the rich, making the rich richer." The government has money for businessmen, but not for the poor, Vadra alleged. The Congress general secretary incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh accused the government of trying to shut down MGNREGA scheme and claimed that workers under the scheme had not been paid for six months.
Shah hits out at Opposition parties for questioning air strikes on Pak terror camps
BJP president Amit Shah Friday lashed out at the Opposition parties for questioning the Narendra Modi government over air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and advocating talks with Islamabad to resolve various issues. The Narendra Modi government has given befitting replies to China and Pakistan, he said, adding "we are fighting to secure our country". Kicking off the BJP's Lok Sabha poll campaign in West Bengal from Alipurduar, Shah said, "We have given befitting replies to China on the Dokalam issue and to Pakistan for its use of terror elements against India. If Pakistan fires a single bullet, we will answer with artillery fire." He hit out at the Opposition parties, saying "when the government is fighting against terrorists to protect the nation, they are questioning it." The electorate this time will choose between "strong and decisive" Narendra Modi on the one hand and "thugbandhan leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav on the other", he said in a ...
Turkey reaffirms commitment to Russian S-400 defense system
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey is committed to a deal to purchase S-400 air defense systems from Russia despite warnings from Washington that the deal could put Turkey's participation in the US F-35 fighter aircraft program at risk. Speaking Friday at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, Cavusoglu said Turkey has met all of its obligations concerning the F-35 program. Cavusoglu said: "As a principle it is contrary to international laws for a third country to oppose an agreement between two countries." The Turkish minister said Turkey and Russia were discussing delivery times and that Turkey has no intention of selling the S-400s to another country. U.S. officials have warned Turkey's use of the Russian system would be a threat to the F-35.
AIADMK lauds economic reforms of Modi government
The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Friday lauded the economic reforms of the Narendra Modi-led government, saying that the NDA has ushered in economic stability. Patting its saffron ally, the AIADMK said the Centre's economic reforms have made India a 'decisive' player in South Asia, vis-a-vis economy. It particularly praised its ally on demonetisation and the 2017 roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), both of which are being severely criticised by opposition parties like the Congress, DMK and the Trinamool Congress. The GST "tax reform" may "taste bitter initially, but will later be sweet, like the Amla fruit" a write-up in AIADMK mouthpiece 'Namadu Puratchithalaivi Amma' said. It further said the Congress had borrowed loans from agencies like the World Bank "during its over 50 year-rule and left the country in debts" and claimed that the BJP government has not opted for borrowings in the last five years. This was an example of the BJP government's "efficient financial ...
Mahagathbandhan comes out with final allocation of seats
After a prolonged tug-of-war among its partners, the 'mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance) in Bihar finally allocated all of the 40 Lok Sabha seats Friday, announcing candidature of Misa Bharti from Pataliputra, Congress' Meira Kumar from Sasaram and RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui's from Darbhanga. As per the seat-sharing formula, the RJD has got 20 seats, out of which it is giving up one for the ultra-Left party, the Congress has nine, followed by five for Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP and three each for Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM and Mukesh Sahni's VIP. The announcement was made by Tejashwi Yadav at a press conference on Friday, but absence of any senior Congress leader on the occasion showed the party's displeasure over arm-twisting by Lalu Prasad's RJD. The announcement of Abdul Bari Siddiqui's name from Darbhanga draws the curtains on possibility of sitting MP Kirti Azad seeking re-election as a Congress candidate, who recently joined the party after quitting the BJP. Speculation is rife that
PM Modi hugged everyone across the world, but didn't hug his own people: Priyanka Gandhi
Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he travelled across the world and hugged everyone, but did not reciprocate the same with the people in India."The Prime Minister visited America, Japan and China and hugged everyone there. He visited the whole world and hugged everyone, but he did not hug his own people," said Priyanka while addressing a rally here.She said that she was surprised to know that Prime Minister Modi did not visit the villages in his Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, despite being popular due to his publicity stunts."I asked the people if the Prime Minister visits villages in Varanasi, I got a reply that 'he does not visit'. I was surprised because his popularity through publicity is such that I thought he must have been doing something for the people in the constituency," she added.Accusing the BJP of being the 'chowkidar' (watchman) for the rich, and not for the poor, ...
Make sure 'anti-Andhra' parties BJP, YSRCP, and TRS face worst defeat: CM Naidu sounds poll bugle
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party, YSR Congress Party and Telangana Rashtra Samiti are "anti-Andhra parties", adding that they should face "worst defeat ever" in the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.Naidu, who held a teleconference with Telugu Desam Party leaders here, said: "The BJP, TRS, YSRCP are anti-Andhra parties. They all should face worst defeat ever in the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.""We will not get trapped in the YSR Congress' luring; will not be afraid of the BJP and TRS' threatening. We will save the self-respect of Andhrites and boost their self-confidence. Our aim is achieving a happy state," he added.Continuing his tirade against the BJP, Naidu alleged that the raids which were conducted by the Income Tax department at Karnataka ministers' premises are the "epitome of harassment by the BJP". "The BJP is committing mistakes with the fear of defeat," he said.Stating that all should ...
Dhinakaran's AMMK gets 'gift pack' symbol
The Election Commission has allotted 'gift pack' as the common symbol for candidates of T.T.V. Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) in Tamil Nadu.
In Haryana, Rahul says Congress will do justice to the poor
Asserting that the 2019 elections is a fight between two ideologies, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party will do justice to the poorest of citizens through its NYAY scheme.Addressing the party's Parivartan Yatra, Gandhi said, "We worked for six months to know how much money can be transferred to the accounts of poor by the Congress government. It is how we came with NYAY Yojana. Under this 20 per cent poorest families of India, which have income less than 12 thousand rupees will be given yearly 72,000 rupees. If BJP does injustice, we will do justice. There 15 lakh promises was a lie but I won't do it."Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi protects the rich and gives them justice, the Gandhi scion said, "He had waived off 3.5 lakh crore of 15 people only. Farmers work day long in harsh weather but when they ask for loan waiver, Arun Jaitley says that they won't do it as it is not their policy.""Narendra Modi's make in India is such that Rafale contract was ...
Elders should bless young ones: Firozabad MP on uncle Shivpal Yadav's candidature
Firozabad MP Akshay Yadav, who is pitted against his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Friday said "elders should bless the young ones". Akshay Yadav is the SP-BSP combine candidate from Firozabad which will go to polls in third phase of the general elections. "The elders need to bless the young ones and he should also do so," the MP said when asked to comment on the ensuing 'chacha-bhatija' (uncle-nephew) contest on the seat. "He (Shivpal) made one nephew chief minister, while the other is contesting for MP's post, he should also be blessed," he said. "The people of Firozabad had elected me MP in 2014, bestowing their love on me... and party chief Akhilesh Yadav had also extended full support.. we are contesting on the issue of development," Akshay Yadav stressed. The BJP is yet to announce its candidate from the seat. Shivpal Singh Yadav, who founded Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) after falling apart with his nephew and Samajwadi Party chief ...
BJP announces names of 11 more candidates for Lok Sabha polls
The BJP Friday announced 11 more candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, including three each from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. With this list, the party has announced the names of 367 candidates so far for the upcoming seven phase Lok Sabha elections starting from April 11. The list of 11 names include three candidates each from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and one each from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir. The counting will be held on May 23. The party has earlier nominated Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its candidate from Varanasi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow. Party chief Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar.
Pakistan shells villages along LOC in J&K's Poonch district
The Pakistan Army shelled forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, a defence spokesman said. "Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling mortars and firing small arms along the LoC in Mankote and Krishna Gati sectors from 0750 hours," the Defence spokesman said. He said the Army was retaliating befittingly and there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side in the cross-border firing which was still continuing when last reports were received. The latest incident of ceasefire violation comes after a gap of two days. Pakistan troops shelled villages along the LOC in Nowshera sector on Tuesday. Seven persons including three soldiers have been killed in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch since India's air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26.