Page 1143 - Politics
Pradhan accuses Patnaik of suppressing facts in his nomination
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday accused Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of suppressing facts in his nomination for the coming Assembly polls in the state. There are reports that Patnaik was interrogated by CBI in November 2017 in connection with the allotment of a coal block to a "ghost company" when he was in charge of the coal ministry at the Centre, but the BJD president did not mention it in his nominations for both Hinjili and Bijepur assembly seats, Pradhan alleged. Hitting out at Patnaik over his role in the coal block allocation during his tenure as union minister for steel and mines, Pradhan said a Nagpur-based company which was registered in January, 1999 was allotted a coal block on April 3, 1998. People should know as to what interest the chief minister had in alloting a coal block to a company when it was yet to be registered, Pradhan told newsmen. A case was registered in March, 2014 and it has come to light that CBI had interrogated ...
Ulfa faction denies LS poll boycott, but not to vote
The Ulfa faction negotiating peace with the central government will refrain from voting in the Lok Sabha polls, said Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia on Thursday.
DD, AIR respond to EC query on source of feed of PM's address
Public broadcasters Doordarshan and Ali India Radio have responded to the Election Commission which had asked them about the source of feed of the prime minister's address to the nation on Wednesday, a senior poll panel functionary said. He also said that the prime minister's office had neither informed nor sought the EC's permission on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in which he informed people about the successful test of an anti-satellite missile. Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena, in charge of the Model Code division, told a media briefing here that the poll watchdog had sought details from DD and AIR about the source of feed of the PM's address. The two broadcasters have responded and the EC is examining their response "in the light of what we want to know". Saxena is heading the committee of officers set up on Wednesday to examine the matter related to Modi's address to the nation "in the light of the Model Code of Conduct" which is in force for Lok Sabha ...
CPI-M manifesto pledges to repeal sedition law
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Thursday released its election manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, pledging to repeal the sedition law, abolish death penalty and restore the Planning Commission.
I-T Raids fallout: BJP tried persuading Kumaraswamy to form
In the wake of Statewide I-T raids on JDS partymen, former Prime Minister and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda Thursday alleged that the BJP had tried to persuade his son H D Kumaraswamy to form a government in Karnataka with their help before the assembly elections. "The BJP had requested Kumaraswamy to come to Mumbai before the election and promised to give big money for JDS electoral expenses. I was aware of this. Knowing fully well about my stand, Kumaraswamy took a hard decision. He rejected the offer by saying he would not go against the wishes of his father to join hands with the BJP," Gowda told PTI here. The JDS supremo's statement comes in the wake of a statewide pre-dawn IT crackdown on his partymen and others. The Congress and JDS leaders have alleged that the raids were politically motivated. The former prime minister alleged that the BJP was taking revenge against JDS leaders because they failed to form the government with the help of Kumaraswamy. "The IT ...
We will 'remonetise' what Modi demonetized: Rahul Gandhi, says will scrap 'angel tax'
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday said the party's promised minimum income scheme for the poor will remonetise the economy 'damaged' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation, asserting the anti-poverty poll pledge has thrown the BJP in 'total disarray'. Gandhi also said the 'angel tax' for startups will be scrapped if Congress comes to power, calling it 'draconian'. In an exclusive interview to PTI ahead of the 17th Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11, Gandhi said 'Nyay' -- the world's "biggest scheme" for poor -- will trigger a powerful economic cycle of consumption and production in the country that would fire up the economy. He stressed that the scheme will not be implemented "rashly like the demonetization and GST of the BJP". Gandhi's big-bang promise of giving Rs 72,000 annually to each of the 5 crore poor families of the country on Monday came against the backdrop of criticism of the Modi government on joblessness, farm distress and slowdown in rural ...
PM's 'Mission Shakti' address: EC decision on Friday
The Election Commission on Thursday said it is examining and will decide on Friday if Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated the model code of conduct (MCC) when he announced the successful test of anti-satellite missile (A-SAT) in his address to the nation on Wednesday.
Qatar and France sign World Cup 2022 security deal
Qatar and France signed on Thursday a World Cup security agreement signed in Doha following a meeting between the country's respective prime ministers. The agreement "aims to build a strategic partnership for the preparation of the World Cup in 2022 and the management of the security of the event", according to a statement released after the signing. No further details were given. It was announced after a meeting between Sheikh Abdallah bin Khalifa al-Thani and his French counterpart Edouard Philippe in the Emiri Diwan. The deal emphasises the close ties between Qatar and France. Twenty-four hours earlier the French-designed Qatar national museum was opened to great fanfare in Doha, in a ceremony attended, among others, by former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. France's sporting ties to Qatar also include owning the French football champions, Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the French being seen as instrumental in helping the World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East for the first ..
EC asks Mizoram govt not to notify liquor prohibition Act now
The Election Commission Thursday instructed the Mizoram government not to notify the Act imposing total prohibition of liquor in the state till the Lok Sabha election process is over. The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019, would bring back total prohibition of liquor in the northeastern state after four years, and the government had planned to impose it from April 1. Mizoram Additional Chief Electoral Officer Krishna Mohan Uppu forwarded the EC's letter in this regard to the Commissioner and Secretary of the state excise and narcotics department. The letter asked the government not to notify the Act till the poll process is officially over on May 27. The Mizo National Front (MNF) government decided to prohibit manufacture, import, sale and consumption of liquor for the common people and the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Bill, 2019 was passed in the assembly on March 20. The governor also gave his nod to the bill. State Excise and Narcotics Minister Dr K Beichhua had .
UN pushes countries to crack down on terror financing
The UN Security Council ordered countries worldwide to step up the fight against terrorism financing Thursday by ensuring they have laws that make it a serious crime to fund terrorist acts. The council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution that was the first stand-alone measure dedicated specifically to countering the financing of terrorism. The resolution calls on all states to "ensure that their domestic laws and regulations establish serious criminal offenses" to prosecute those who collect funds or provide economic resources to terrorist organizations. The binding resolution was drafted under chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which means it can be enforced with sanctions. UN counterterror chief Vladimir Voronkov told the council that the measure "comes at a critical time" as recent attacks have shown that terror groups have access to financial flows through legal and illegal means. The resolution urged countries to establish financial intelligence units to strengthen efforts .
BSP-SP alliance names 19 LS candidates in Maharashtra
The Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party, which are contesting in alliance in Maharastra like home state Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday announced their first list of 19 candidates.
Parrikar was extremely angry over Uri terror attack: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday said the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was extremely upset and angry after the 2016 Uri terror attack that had claimed the lives of 17 jawans. Singh, here to participate in a condolence meeting held in the memory of Parrikar, who died on March 17, narrated his experience about working with his former Cabinet colleague and shared anecdotes. "After the Uri terror attack (on September 18, 2016), we were called by PM. I was with Parrikar in that meeting. Parrikar was extremely upset and angry over the incident," Singh said. "He had also played a major role in the air strike. He monitored the operation throughout night. He played an important role in two air strikes," the Union minister said. Paying glowing tributes to Parrikar, he said the late Goa Chief Minister had sensed the mood of the country before recommending Narendra Modi's name as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate during the party's National Executive meeting
Britain's May seeks third Brexit vote Friday
The British government said it intended to bring back Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal for a third vote in parliament on Friday to avoid a chaotic no-deal divorce from the EU. 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 bond with the European project. The government's back is against the wall as it tries to avert potential economic disaster and financial panic in the coming weeks. The House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said the government was trying to secure permission for a third vote from parliament speaker John Bercow. He already rejected a similar attempt last week after ruling that the version May was bringing back was essentially the same text that lawmakers had already twice rejected by resounding margins. "We recognise that any motion brought forward tomorrow will need to be compliant with the speaker's ruling and that discussion is ongoing," ...
No mention of any link between Masood Azhar with Pulwama attack in India's dossier: Pak
There is no mention of any connection between Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar with the Pulwama attack in the dossier submitted by India to Islamabad after the terror strike, Pakistan claimed on Thursday. Addressing a weekly briefing here, Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said that soon after receiving the dossier, Pakistan constituted a 10-member investigation team comprising officials of Federal Investigation Agency to probe the attack. However, "no linkage of Pakistan was found with the Pulwama incident". "The Indian dossier does not claim any linkage of Masood Azhar with the Pulwama incident," he added. India handed over the dossier to the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi on February 27 with specific details of Pakistan-based terror group JeM's complicity in the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14 and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan. The FO spokesperson said the Indian dossier contains 91 pages
All's not well in opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar
Contrary to the repeated claims made by top opposition leaders in Bihar, all is not well in their Grand Alliance reportedly because of simmering discontent over seat sharing for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
US initiates new move at UN to impose sanctions on Azhar
After several attempts to impose sanctions on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar were blocked by China, the US has initiated a new effort for UN action against the terrorist leader that would force Beijing to take a public stand in the Security Council.
Netanyahu says prepared for 'comprehensive' Gaza operation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday Israel is prepared for a widespread military campaign in Gaza as tensions simmered following the latest flare-up -- but only after all other options were exhausted. Netanyahu has been seeking to head off political pressure over Gaza ahead of April 9 elections, in which he faces a strong challenge from former military chief Benny Gantz. "In recent days I gave instructions to fortify forces, to add vehicles, to be prepared for a comprehensive campaign," he said during the inauguration of a new road in northern Israel. The premier, who was speaking after visiting military forces on the Gaza border, noted however that a war would be the last option. "All Israelis should know that if a comprehensive campaign is required, we will enter it strong and safe, after we have exhausted all other possibilities," said Netanyahu, who also serves as defence minister. Palestinian militants had on Monday fired a long-distance rocket from the Gaza Strip, ...
15 candidates file papers as process for 2nd phase of LS polls
The BJP Karnataka chief B SYeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra is among 15 candidates who filed their nominations Thursday, as the process for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in the State was set in motion. A total of 15 candidates have filed 20 nominations, poll officials said, adding that among thecandidates 14 are men and one woman. Raghavendra, a sitting MP, filed his nomination from Shimoga in the presence of senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa among other leaders. Yeddyurappa along with senior party leader and former Chief Minister S M Krishna was expected to attend Raghavendra's nomination filing, but could not make the trip as their helicopter from Bengaluru developed a technical problem,party sources said. Raghavendra is pitted against another former Chief Minister S Bangarappa's son Madhu Bangarappa, who is the JD(S) candidate from Shimoga. Madhu is a former MLA from Soraba. Suresh Angadi, a sitting MP, filed his nomination ...
No Cong leader ready to contest against Anurag Thakur in Hamirpur: HP CM
No Congress leader is ready to contest against Hamirpur's sitting BJP MP Anurag Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur claimed Thursday. The Congress is still looking for a suitable candidate as no one wants to contest from the Hamirpur seat," Thakur told reporters on the sidelines of a BJP's women wing function here. On the return of former Union Telecom Minister Sukh Ram to the Congress, he said it would not affect the BJP's poll prospects in Mandi as he has "made a mockery of himself and his family". The BJP would win the Mandi Lok Sabha seat with a thumping majority, he claimed. On sitting Shimla MP Virendra Kashyap's "failure" to campaign for party nominee Suresh Kashyap for the seat, Thakur said the outgoing MP had sought some time from the party on this issue. Addressing the BJP's women unit's function, the chief minister said with the women's support for the BJP in the state, the party would repeat its 2014 performance and win all four Lok Sabha seats in ...
CPI-M to contest three LS seats in Rajasthan
The Communist Party of India-Marxist has decided its candidates on two of the three seats that it would contest in Rajasthan. The CPM's central election committee, which had announced Wednesday that the party would contest three seats in Rajasthan, has fielded Sheopat Ram from the reserved seat of Bikaner and Amra Ram from Sikar. It is yet to decide its candidate for Churu Lok Sabha constituency. "We will contest election from three parliamentary seats in the state. I have been given the chance from Bikaner seat whereas Amra Ram will contest the election from Sikar. The party is yet to name its candidate for Churu, said Sheopat Ram, who had fought the state assembly elections unsuccessfully from Raisinghnagar seat last year. Sheopat Ram would face BJP leader and Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal who is contesting for the third time from Bikaner. The Congress is yet to name its candidate for Bikaner. Amra Ram is a four-time former MLA and has led farmer agitations. The BJP has already ..