Page 1136 - Politics
Arab summit in Tunisia to expose rifts, also unity on Golan
Arab leaders meeting in Tunisia on Sunday hope to project unified opposition to the Trump administration's acceptance of Israeli control over the Golan Heights and Jerusalem, but as with past Arab League summits, the gathering is likely to expose their own bitter rivalries. Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are likely to tone down any statement of condemnation, eager to maintain good relations with the White House as it cranks up pressure on their main rival, Iran. Affirming the international consensus that the Golan is occupied Syrian land would only further highlight Syria's absence from the Arab League, from which it was expelled in the early days of the uprising against President Bashar Assad. Some Arab leaders think Syria a founding member should be readmitted. Others, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have spent years supporting the insurgency. Arab League summits are nearly always marred by no-shows. This year, Algeria's ailing President Abdelaziz .
BJP announces three more candidates in final list
BJP has fielded candidatesin 27 out of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, with the party Friday finally announcing the nominees for the remaining three parliamentary constituencies. The party has supported independent candidate and multi lingual actress Sumalatha Ambareesh in the Mandya Lok Sabha seat and has not fielded anyone there. The three Lok Sabha seats for which candidates were announced by the BJP on Friday are for Chikkodi, Raichur and Koppal. While sitting MP Sanganna Karadi has been given the ticket once again from Koppal, Raja Amresh Nayak and Anna Saheb Jolle have got tickets from Raihur and Chikkodi parliamentary seats respectively. While the renomination of all sitting MPs as candidates was announced in the first list itself, his name not figuring in it had caused anxiety among Sanganna Karadi and his supporters. Sanganna Karadi was seen making repeated visits to state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa's residence to ensure his candidacy. Rajashekar ...
Will bring NRC in West Bengal, throw out infiltrators: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah said Friday his party will replicate the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in West Bengal on coming to power at the Centre to "throw out" infiltrators. He, however, made it clear that Hindu refugees will not be touched. "We will also bring in NRC in Bengal and throw out all inflitrators. We will also ensure that the Hindu refugees are not touched. They are very much a part of our country," Shah said. The NRC is a document containing names of all genuine Indian citizens in Assam. It, however, became a hugely contentious issue after the complete draft, released last year, omitted the names of lakhs of people who have been residing in the state for several decades. The BJP president also said the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are all about restoring democracy in the TMC-ruled West Bengal. "The TMC stands for three Ts -Trinamool, toll and tax. Under the TMC government, syndicates (groups of extortionists) are flourishing in Bengal," he ...
Jharkhand BJP MLA wants LS ticket from JMM
Tala Marandi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA in Jharkhand, is seeking a ticket from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to contest the Lok Sabha elections, JMM sources said on Friday.
As many as 82 FIRs and DD entries registered against various political parties: Delhi CEO
Delhi's chief electoral officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh Friday said 82 FIRs and Daily Diary (DD) entries have been registered against various political parties since March 10 for violating the model code of conduct. The poll panel also said its statistics surveillance team, constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of the political parties, has seized around Rs 10 lakh in cash from outer Delhi. Six FIRs have been registered against the Aam Aadmi Party, while four have been filed against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Most of the FIRs are related to defacement of property, the Delhi CEO said. One DD entry has been filed against the Congress. The office of the Delhi CEO said more than 2.32 lakh posters, banners and hoardings have been removed since the model code of conduct came into force. Police have registered 163 FIRs and arrested 200 people under the Arms Act, while 495 people have been arrested under the Excise Act, it said. Police have also "seized 221 unlicensed weapons and 2,280
Cong LS candidate attacked in Tripura, party pins blame on BJP
The Congress in Tripura has accused the ruling BJP of attacking its Lok Sabha candidate from West Tripura constituency, Subal Bhowmik, when he was on his way to Agartala from Sipahijala, a charge denied by the ruling saffron party. Bhowmik, who quit the BJP recently to join the Congress, claimed that a group of "50 activists of the saffron party" tried to block his way and damage his car at Melaghar Bazaar in the district, 10 km from here, on Thursday night. "I had a meeting scheduled at Indiranagar village in Sipahijala district last night. As soon as I left the venue, a group of more than 50 activists of the BJP tried to attack me and damage my car. However, the police came to my rescue and dispersed them," Bhowmick told reporters. The Congress had arranged for a meeting at local leader Idris Mia's residence in the district, where 70 activists of the CPI(M) joined the party. They were handed over flags of the grand old party by Bhowmik. Corroborating Bhowmik's claims, .
Section of BJP opposes Gavit's nomination from Palghar
A section of BJP workers and leaders in the district have opposed the candidature of Rajendra Gavit, who recently quit the party to join the Shiv Sena that nominated him for the Palghar Lok Sabha seat. Gavit, a tribal leader, had joined the BJP last year after quitting the Congress and won the Palghar Lok Sabha seat in a bypoll. On Tuesday, he quit the BJP and joined ally Shiv Sena, which nominated him from the same constituency. As part of the pre-poll alliance between the BJP and the Sena, the Palghar seat adjoining Mumbai fell in the latter's kitty. During a meeting of some BJP workers and leaders in Palghar on Thursday, they opposed Gavit's candidature saying the BJP had committed a mistake in giving the seat to Shiv Sena. BJP Palghar district president and Talasari MLA Pascal Dhanare, who led the meeting, said, "We have been working hard since months to elect the BJP nominee from the constituency and our efforts have now gone in vain." "The BJP had two seats in ...
Cong slams Modi govt over 'measly' wage hike under MGNREGA
The Congress on Friday hit out at the BJP-led government over the wage hike under MGNREGA, alleging that making a "measly" 2.16 per cent average annual increase in it shows the "anti-poor" mindset of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi, at a press conference, said PM Modi and his ministers are "mocking" the Congress' NYAY (minimum income guarantee) scheme but have "quietly squeezed" the funds meant for wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. "Pro-rich and anti-poor policies of the Narendra Modi government have created rampant and unimaginable rural distress in the past five years," she alleged. "Under MGNREGA, the Modi government has given a measly increase of 2.16 per cent as average annual wage hike for 2019-20 which is the lowest ever," Chaturvedi said. NREGA labourers in six states and Union territories will see no annual increase in their daily wages this financial year, she claimed adding, "The Modi government has ..
Controversial Gopal Chawla's name in Kartarpur Commitee jeopardises next meet on Corridor
The next meeting on Kartarpur Corridor which was slated to be held in Pakistan tentatively on April 2, is now in limbo.It is learnt that India is upset by the constitution of the recently announced 10-member committee by the Pakistan Government to oversee Kartarpur Corridor as it includes some controversial names like that of Gopal Singh Chawla, Maninder Singh, Tara Singh, Bisan Singh and Kuljeet Singh.Government sources said these names are involved in secessionist and anti-India activities. In fact, Gopal is linked with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and this has queered the pitch for Kartarpur Dialogue.India on Friday summoned Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan and sought clarification on what these controversial names have to do with the Kartarpur Corridor. Government sources said India is highly concerned about the security of its pilgrims and has made it clear to Pakistan in earlier meetings that the Corridor should not be used for anti-India secessionist activities.Sources said that ..
Uddhav Thackeray to accompany Amit Shah on his nomination filing in Gandhinagar tomorrow
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will accompany BJP president Amit Shah tomorrow during his nomination filing in Gandhinagar, in a show of strength of the NDA alliance."Amit Shah called Uddhav Thackeray and extended a special invitation, requesting our party chief to accompany him at the nomination in Gandhinagar. He (Uddhav) accepted the nomination and he is going to Gandhinagar tomorrow, in a show of strength of the NDA alliance," Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told ANI.Shah, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, is set to contest the Lok Sabha elections for the first time. He has been fielded from the Gandhinagar constituency, which is currently being held by BJP veteran leader LK Advani.On February 18, the BJP and its NDA ally Shiv Sena had announced the seat-sharing deal in Maharashtra. According to the agreement, the BJP will fight on 25 seats and Shiv Sena on 23 seats.In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 seats while the Shiv Sena garnered 18 seats. The NCP and Congress won ...
BJP MP Shripad 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.
Oppn cashes in on clout of BJP's 'ticket-less' MPs
With the BJP denying tickets to 12 MPs in Uttar Pradesh, the opposition is planning to cash in on the clout of these disgruntled parliamentarians in the upcoming general elections. In its list of 61 candidates, the saffron party has refused tickets to 12 MPs, four of whom have already switched sides and joined the rival parties -- Samajwadi Party and Congress. Allahabad BJP MP Shayama Charan Gupta and Bahraich MP Savitri Bai Phule are now official candidates of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress from Banda and Bahraich, respectively. Another BJP MP Anshul Verma from Hardoi also joined the SP ahead of the polls, terming the ruling party "anti-Dalits". Although Verma claimed that he joined the Akhilesh Yadav-led party "without any condition", the Samajwadi Party is planning to utilise his support base among the Dalits, especially in Hardoi area. BJP's Etawah MP Ashok Kumar Dohre Friday joined the Congress in presence of its president Rahul Gandhi. Asked about giving preference to BJP
Venezuela bars Guaido from office for 15 yrs
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will be barred from holding public office for 15 years, the maximum allowed by law, following a probe that showed irregularities in his financial records, the state Financial Controller has announced.
Democrats push for early release of Mueller report on Russia
Democrats intensified their demands for Robert Mueller's full report after learning the special counsel's findings from his Trump-Russia investigation run to more than 300 pages, while President Donald Trump boasted of total exoneration based on a four-page summary by his attorney general. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler was told by Attorney General William Barr that there's no intention of giving the confidential report to Congress immediately as he redacts grand jury testimony and other elements. Democrats say they may subpoena the report if it's not forthcoming by their Tuesday deadline, which Barr has said will not be met. Through the day, tempers were rising on Capitol Hill. Shaking her fist for emphasis, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Barr's summary, which cleared Trump of campaign collusion with Russia and criminal obstruction of Mueller's federal probe, was "condescending" and "arrogant." "Mr. Attorney General," she said, "show us the report and we'll come to our own .
Congress made fake theory of Hindu terror for political benefit, must apologise : Arun Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that the Congress should apologise to the society for propagating 'Hindu terror' theory which has been categorically discarded by the Panchkula court.Addressing a media briefing here on Friday, Jaitley attacked the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, which was led by the Congress, for its stand on Samjhauta blast case."Last week the Panchkula court gave the decision on the Samjhauta blast case of 2007. Since 2007, it was very clear that the state department of the United States would repeatedly provide us with information about the actual terrorists who were involved in that act. But apart from investigating on those lines, there was a theory of Hindu Terror and this slogan of Hindu Terrorism was given by Congress for a vote bank. They created this theory on fake evidence," Jaitley said.Taking a swipe at Congress leaders visiting temples, Jaitley said: "People who believed Hindus as terrorists are today busy showing their ...
Matter conveyed to Uddhav Thackeray: Sanjay Raut on brother's candidature from Mumbai-North East
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Friday said that the matter of his brother Sunil Raut contesting as an Independent candidate from Mumbai-North East constituency was conveyed to party chief Uddhav Thackeray.He made the comments a day after Sunil Raut said that he would contest from Mumbai North-East constituency as an Independent candidate in the impending Lok Sabha elections if BJP fielded Kirit Somaiya from that seat."The feeling of many Shiv Sena workers (on Sunil Raut planning to contest as an Independent candidate) has been conveyed to Uddhav ji. This should not be linked to politics," Sanjay Raut told ANI.On Thursday, Sunil Raut expressed confidence that he would contest from Mumbai North-East seat "no matter what"."I will contest Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-East constituency even if Kirit Somaiya is given a ticket by the BJP. I will go Independent if needed. I am 100 per cent sure that I will contest from this seat no matter what," he said.It may be noted that ...
India seeks clarifications from Pak on its key proposals on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor
India has sought certain clarifications from Pakistan on the key proposals put forward by it at the last meeting held in Attari to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.India has also objected to presence of certain people, who are known for their anti-India activities and links with terror organisation, in the 10-member committee formed by Pakistan to oversee the Kartarpur Corridor plan. The Indian government has for the time being put on hold the next meeting, that was scheduled to be held on April 2 as proposed by Pakistan, till the time it gets answers from Paksitan on its concerns and queries."India has also shared concerns and sought clarifications on reports that controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan to a committee to be associated with the Kartarpur Corridor. It has been conveyed that the next meeting on the modalities can be scheduled at an appropriate time after receiving Pakistan's response," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a ...
Pak still counting bodies but Opposition demanding proof: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday fired a fresh salvo at the Opposition for raising questions over the IAF air strike at Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot in Pakistan."It is been a month (since the IAF air strike took place) and Pakistan is still counting bodies. When India takes action against terrorists, enters their house and kills them, some people here are asking for evidence," Modi said at a public rally here.Accusing the Congress of demeaning the armed forces and scientists, the Prime Minister said it was about time to give an "apt reply" to those insulting the capabilities of the armed forces and the scientists."In the last seven decades, those people who have betrayed the poor are now insulting our armed forces and scientists day and night. It is about time to give an apt answer to people who are insulting the capabilities of our scientists and the armed forces," he said.Attacking the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, the Prime Minister said that Odisha ...
Supriya Shrinate 'honoured' to contest polls, says journalistic background will help build political career
Journalist Supriya Shrinate, who was chosen by the Congress party to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh, said that she is "honoured" to contest the polls, while noting that the skills she acquired as a journalist would help her address public grievances in a better manner.Supriya, in a telephonic conversation with ANI, revealed that she would like to fulfill the wishes of her late father, who was a former Member of Parliament (MP) from Maharajganj."I am truly honoured for the opportunity presented to me by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. My father was an ex-MP from Maharajganj, so I have an emotional connect with this region. There were many things that he brought for the first time and a couple of things that he was unable to do. With this new responsibility, I would like to fulfill my father's wishes for the people, particularly for sugarcane farmers in the region," she said.Supriya, the former executive editor with ET Now TV channel, said ..
Odisha Congress names 7 LS, 20 Assembly candidates
The Congress on Friday released the list of candidates for seven Lok Sabha and 20 Assembly seats in Odisha.