Page 1140 - Politics
Venezuela: Guaido rejects regime announcement stripping him of office
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognized as interim president by the US and its allies, on Thursday rejected an announcement by the regime that he was barred from public office. Guaido said the order, issued earlier Thursday by Auditor General Elvis Amoroso, was invalid. "He is not auditor general.... The legitimate congress is the only one with power to designate an auditor general," he said.
Two candidates withdraw from Nagaland Assembly bypoll
Opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) Toshipokba Longkumer and National People's Party (NPP) Tinujungshi Longkumer withdrew their nomination papers for contesting the by-election from Nagaland's Aonglenden Assembly constituency.
No Congress alliance with NCP, BTP in Gujarat LS poll
The Congress is determined to contest on all of Gujarat's 26 Lok Sabha seats and any understanding with the Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) of Chottu Vasava seems unlikely, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has decided to fight alone.
India 'disappointed' with Pakistan's response on Pulwama dossier
India on Thursday expressed its disappointment over Pakistans response to its detailed dossier on Jaish-e-Mohammeds (JeM) complicity in the Pulwama terror attack and said that identical script was followed by Islamabad in the past after the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008 or in Pathankot in 2016.
Venezuela: Maduro regime strips Guaido of public office
Venezuela's auditor general's office announced Thursday it has stripped opposition leader and speaker of congress Juan Guaido of the right to hold public office for 15 years. The move, announced by Auditor General Elvis Amoroso on state television, marked another effort by President Nicolas Maduro's regime to politically sideline Guaido, who is recognized by the US and 50 other countries as Venezuela's interim president. Amoroso said his office decided "to ban this citizen (Juan Guaido) from all elected public office for the maximum duration under the law." Venezuela's single-chamber congress, called the National Assembly, is in opposition hands and stands as the sole institution not under the control of Maduro. The country's supreme court and a parallel legislature set up by Maduro in 2017 regularly adopt decisions scrapping National Assembly motions against the regime. The National Assembly, for its part, often ignores or passes laws annulling decisions by what it regards as an ...
Manvendra Singh among Congress's new LS candidate list
The Congress on Thursday declared 31 more Lok Sabha candidates fielding former MPs Manvendra Singh from Barmer, Jitendra Singh from Alwar and Jyoti Mirdha from Nagaur.
Stoltenberg extends stay as NATO head to 2022
Jens Stoltenberg will remain as NATO secretary general through to September 2022 after the organisation Thursday extended his mandate by two years. The former Norwegian prime minister arrived in the post in 2014 and had been handed a previous two-year extension to 2020. In a statement, the alliance said its 29 members had "expressed their support for the Secretary General's work to adapt and modernise NATO and ensure it remains fit for the future." Stoltenberg, 60, vowed to pursue that goal and tweeted: "Honoured by the decision by the #NATO Allies to extend my term as Secretary General until 30 September 2022." The 70-year-old organisation faces numerous challenges, not least demands from US President Donald Trump that Washington's European allies increase their share of defence spending. NATO has also deplored Russia's threat to deploy new intermediate range missiles which can reach reach European capitals following the collapse of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) ...
Three killed in Comoros as opposition and government face off
Two "assailants" and a policeman were killed and two people injured in violence in Comoros Thursday, a minister said, after a defeated presidential candidate bidding to unseat the president was arrested. The Indian Ocean nation is in the grip of a political crisis following President Azali Assoumani's victory in Sunday polls that his opponents say was rigged and led rivals to unite against him. One of those hurt Thursday was a policeman who suffered minor injuries while another "assailant" was badly hurt following an exchange of gunfire near a barracks in the capital Moroni, Interior Minister Mohamed "Kiki" Daoudou told journalists. "The situation is under control, an investigation is underway," he said, urging people not to assume the bloodshed was linked to the opposition leader's arrest. Soilihi Mohamed is a widely respected former colonel who was named head of an opposition transitional authority hoping to unseat Azali. A group who attempted to help former major Faissoil Abdou ...
India won't comment on UN draft on Azhar for now
India has opted against commenting at this stage on a draft initiated for consideration of the UNSC members to list Masood Azhar in the sanctions regime as part of international community's efforts to fight against terrorism, sources said here on Thursday.
Britain to hold third vote in Brexit crisis
Prime Minister Theresa May will put her twice-rejected Brexit divorce deal to a third parliamentary vote on Friday in a renewed bid to avoid a chaotic split from the European Union in two weeks. May's throw of the dice comes a day after her dramatic pledge to resign in order to persuade her rivals to finally back her vision for breaking Britain's 46-year membership of the bloc. The prime minister's back is against the wall as she tries to keeping Britain's economy from imploding and the pound from plunging when a post-Brexit border splits the two tight trading partners. Andrea Leadsom, the government's representative in parliament, said Thursday that the new vote gave recalcitrant lawmakers the chance to secure Britain's delayed departure from the EU on May 22. "I encourage all MPs to support it and ensure that we leave the EU... giving people and businesses the certainty they need," she told MPs. The government is hoping that holding the vote on the day when Britain was meant to ...
I am Hindu, why then RSS is hostile to me: Digvijaya
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh asked Thursday why the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was hostile to him, a Hindu. Singh, who is the Congress candidate from Bhopal, said he was a disciple of Shankaracharya, but he did not show off his faith. "I have no dispute with the RSS. If the RSS is an organisation of Hindus, Digvijaya Singh too is a Hindu. Then why this hostility," he said, when asked by reporters why the BJP dubs him as anti-RSS and anti-Hindu. "I am an anointed disciple of Dwarka and Jyotish PeethShankaracharya Swami SwaroopanandaSaraswati since 1983. Neither I tom-tom my faith from the rooftop nor do I exploit it during elections," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said. "Politics divides, it divides even families. Therefore religion should not be connected to politics," the Congress leader said. To a question about BJP's slogan of "Congress-Mukt Bharat" (Congress-free India), he said, "This was the mindset of Hitler...this mean no opposition. .
British Parliament may vote again on Brexit agreement tomorrow
The British Parliament is set to debate on a motion related to Brexit on Friday, according to the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom.While it has not been confirmed, this suggests that a meaningful vote - for the third time - on UK Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement may take place tomorrow, according to CNN.This comes after May announced that she would step down from her post if the deal negotiated by the Prime Minister with the European Union was passed by the Parliament. This announcement has been met with mixed reactions across political lines, with many still not ready to back the deal.The British Parliament, on Thursday, also rejected all eight Brexit options, adding to the ongoing Brexit impasse.On the one hand, May has called for the Parliament to back her deal. While on the other, calls for a second referendum are gaining momentum. The British Prime Minister has previously quashed calls for a second public vote, showing her resolve to honour the 2016
BJP is bribing and inciting voters on social media to vote for Modi : Congress to ECI
Congress leader and Chairperson of social media and digital communication of party, Divya Spandana has written to Election Commission of India (ECI) against the BJP alleging that the party is on its social media pages allegedly "offering free gifts to voters enticing them to support Narendra Modi"."It has come to our attention via the media that BJP via the Facebook page "My First Vote For Modi" is enticing voters to vote for Modi with free gifts such as badges, bags, T-shirts, phone covers, caps etc. These gifts are also available for sale on site merchandise narendramodi.in," read the letter."We demand that this page and the network of websites that support it be taken down immediately and all associated costs and expenditures incurred so far, including advertising, cost of merchandise , salaries and emoluments of the staff running the page and site, be added to the Prime Minister Modi's personal campaign costs," read the complaint to EC.The letter seeks early and prompts action ..
Am here, requesting people to vote for Chandrababu Naidu : Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal have requested the people of Andhra Pradesh to vote in favour of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the Lok Sabha elections.Kejriwal who arrived at Vijayawada on Thursday for campaigning in favour of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart was received by Chandrababu Naidu."I have come to Andhra Pradesh to appeal to the people to vote for Chandrababu Naidu, " said the Delhi CM."Only a visionary and dynamic leader like him can build a modern Andhra Pradesh. In last five years he had laid foundation of a modern and vibrant Andhra Pradesh and this work needs to be taken forward," said Kejriwal.The election to 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to be held on April 11 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Now, Rajasthan Minister asks proof of airstrike
Rajasthan Cabinet Minister LC Kataria on Thursday joined a long list of political leaders questioning the airstrike conducted by Indian Air Force in Pakistan's Balakot."Who saw 300 people in Pakistan? Did someone go and count? BJP should answer," he said at a press conference here.Questioning the authenticity of the airstrike, he said, "When people got martyred in Pulwama, the entire nation was in shock. If 300 people were killed there (in Pakistan), then there should be some video. They too would be having parents, families. Tell us where were they buried?""Where did those dead bodies go? If this is not jumlebazi, then what is? They are saying that we inflicted severe damage in surgical strikes. Then tell us about it through media." he said and asserted that he felt proud of the soldiers.The Minister urged BJP to stop talking about space and start talking about what is happening on land."They are talking of space. First, talk of what is happening on land," he said referring to ...
Chennai: Food association uses Idli to spread awareness among voters
The food association of Chennai on Thursday used the traditional South Indian 'Idli' to create awareness among voters about the importance of voting and urged them to cast their votes in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections."As elections are just around the corner and Mar 30 is celebrated as a World Idly day, so I am making people aware about their democratic rights with different varieties of Idlis," Idli maker Iniyavan said.He added," We have made hundreds of colourful Idlis prepared from 125 kilograms of rice. This will attract many people as well as spread awareness among them.""I have also attempted to send a message through idli that People should not sell their votes for the sake of money," Iniyavan said.
EC order mala fide: TDP on transfer of 3 IPS officials in Andhra Pradesh
Two days after three IPS officers were transferred by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for allegedly working in favour of TDP, party's senior leader K Ravindra Kumar on Thursday termed the order mala fide and illegal."The order of ECI is mala fide and is not within legal parameters. On the day YSRCP MP approached the commission, I and my colleague went to them and requested not to act on some false representation," Kumar told ANI.Kumar's remarks came after the ECI on Tuesday transferred three IPS officers in Andhra Pradesh following YSRCP leaders allegations that the officers were working in favour of Naidu-led TDP.The ECI issued orders transferring Intelligence Director General AB Venkateswara Rao, Kadapa Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Dev Sharma and Srikakulam SP Venkata Ratnam.The ECI in its order stated that the immediate subordinates of the three officers would take charge.It also directed the officers not to take-up any election-related duty.Kumar also alleged that ...
Why not Varanasi, says Priyanka in jest to Cong workers on request to contest from Rae Bareilly, Amethi
When Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary and incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, was urged by her party supporters on Thursday to contest from Rae Bareilly or Amethi, she apparently responded in a lighter vein 'why not Varanasi!'.While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the sitting MP from Varanasi, Priyanka's mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi represents Rae Bareli in Lok Sabha.Priyanka was interacting with Congress workers when they requested her to contest from Varanasi. They said that if she contests from Rae Bareilly or Amethi, the BJP will be finished, sources said.Immediately, Priyanka quipped jokingly, "why not Varanasi", sources added.The Congress general secretary, who is currently on a three-day tour to Amethi, Rae Bareilly and Ayodhya, on Wednesday said that she would contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections if the party wanted her to do so.Meanwhile, posters slamming Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka were spotted outside the party office here today.Posters with ...
Tripura MPs use 83% fund, say rules create hurdles
The two MPs in Tripura have utilised 83.25 per cent of the total Rs 40.92 crore funds released under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in the past five years.
Mueller report more than 300 pages; Dems demand full release
Special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia report is more than 300 pages long, it was revealed Thursday, sparking fresh criticism from Democrats arguing that Attorney General William Barr's four-page summary was gravely inadequate and the full findings must be quickly released. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Barr's synopsis that cleared President Donald Trump of campaign collusion with Russia and criminal obstruction of the federal probe "condescending" and "arrogant". "Mr. Attorney General, we do not need your interpretation," Pelosi said Thursday. "Show us the report and we'll come to our own conclusions." She mocked the administration and Republicans as "scaredy-cats." The length of Mueller's confidential report makes clear that there are substantially more details he and his team have documented in their investigation than Barr disclosed to Congress and the public in his summary. The volume of pages was described Thursday by a Justice Department official and another person ..