Page 1181 - Politics
BJP for Joshi not contesting Lok Sabha polls
Former BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Murli Manohar Joshi has been asked by the party to not contest the coming general election, a development in line with its decision to not field many of its veterans in the polls, including its founding member and longest serving chief L K Advani. Joshi's office confirmed the development. It said Joshi has issued a brief statement for voters in Kanpur, from where the 85-year-old leader had won in 2014. The statement said BJP general secretary (organisation) Ramlal, a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) appointee, had conveyed Joshi the party leadership's decision that he should not be contesting the elections. "Dear voters of Kanpur, Shri Ramlal, General Secretary (Org), Bharatiya Janata Party conveyed to me today that I should not contest the ensuing parliamentary election from Kanpur and elsewhere," Joshi wrote in the statement. He had vacated Varanasi seat, which he had won in 2009, for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. It, however, remains ..
UK MPs seize control of Brexit process (2nd Lead)
British MPs have inflicted a fresh humiliating defeat on Prime Minister Theresa May, after voting to temporarily seize control of the Brexit process, allowing back-benchers to hold a series of votes on alternatives to her deal.
TRS working prez to launch intensive campaign from March 27
: The ruling TRS working president K T Rama Rao would undertake hectic campaigning for the Lok Sabha seats in Telangana from Wednesday till April 9, the last day of canvassing in the state. Telangana goes to polls in the first phase on April 11. Rama Rao would participate in roadshows and public meetings in various constituencies, TRS sources said. Rama Rao, son of party president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, has already addressed party's preparatory meetings for the elections. Claiming that neither NDA nor UPA is in a position to form government on its own post-Lok Sabha elections, Rama Rao has been seeking 16 seats barring the Hyderabad seat represented by ally AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi to see that the TRS plays a key role and ensure better deal for Telangana. The TRS chief is scheduled to address a series of campaign rallies for the Lok Sabha elections from March 29 to April 4. The Chief Minister had already kicked off his campaign from Karimnagar.
Opposition attacks Modi government over demonetisation, releases videotape
The opposition parties on Tuesday fired a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over demonetisation during a press conference at Constitutional Club in New Delhi.The opposition parties played a videotape at the press conference purportedly showed an alleged BJP worker in Ahmedabad exchanging the banned notes with the new denominations in lieu of a sum.Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the tape exposed the alleged involvement of the BJP in demonetization and that it was done to benefit the saffron party. He also accused the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre of swindling public money, terming it 'treason'. Sibal also accused the government of misusing government machinery, including police and banks to work in favour of the BJP.Sibal took a dig at PM Modi for adding 'chowkidar' as a prefix to his name. "After watching this video clip, the country has to decide who is chor (thief) and who is chowkidar (guard)? Who is a patriot and who .
'Chowkidar Chor Nahi, Pure Hai, India Ka Cure Hai': Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that 'Chowkidar' of the country--Prime Minister Narendra Modi--is not a thief but is pure and cure to all woes of India, and his becoming the country's prime minister again is sure.Singh, who was addressing an election rally here, said: "Chowkidar Chor Nahi, Chowkidar Pure Hai. Chowkidar Ka Dobara PM Banana Sure Hai/Desh Ki Samasyaon Ka Woh Hi Cure Hai. (Watchman is not a thief, but he is pure. Watchman is all set to become PM again. He is the cure to the country's all problems."Singh slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for dubbing Prime Minister Modi as a 'thief' over the alleged irregularities in the procurement Rafale fighter jets. Singh also took a potshot at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the city-state, which he alleged, has done nothing to improve the people's life."AAP leaders promised that they will provide free 20,000-litre water to the poor. They promised that the toilets ...
Cong's surgical strike on poverty: Rahul Gandhi on promised minimum income for poor
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday termed his party's promise of minimum guaranteed income to the poorest 20 per cent households a "surgical strike on poverty" and said nobody should be poor in 21st century India. Addressing a rally in Suratgarh town of Ganganagar district, a day after declaring his party would roll out the scheme if voted to power, Gandhi alleged that Prime Minster Narendra Modi gave money to the rich and top industrialists of the country, but the Congress would serve the poor. He said the promised minimum income scheme was a "big bang". "Dhamaka hai ye...bomb fatega (It's a big bang...a bomb will set off). This is a Congress's surgical strike on poverty. They (the BJP) worked to eliminate the poor we will eliminate poverty," Gandhi said. On helping the poor, he said, "We thought how it should be done. After discussion and brainstorming, we thought that there should be a minimum income line of Rs. 12,000 per month. Soon after formation of the Congress government
BJP set to put up stiff challenge to Congress in 2 Arunachal
The two Lok Sabha seats of Arunachal Pradesh, going to polls on April 11, are considered Congress strongholds, but tough contests are likely in both, with the BJP putting up a stiff challenge, analysts said. The two LS constituencies of the state--Arunachal East and Arunachal West--have been traditional bastions of the Congress party which has won each of the seats seven times since 1977, when the state voted in a general election for the first time. The Arunachal East seat, with 27 assembly segments, is likely to witness a tough fight between Tapir Gao of the BJP and James Lowangcha Wanglat of the Congress, according to analysts. Two new faces - Bandey Mili of the Janata Dal (Secular) and Mongol Yomso of the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) - along with independent candidate C C Singpho have also joined the race. The BJP had emerged successful from Arunachal East in 2004, while Independent candidates won the seat in 1977 and 1996. In the 2009 and 2014 elections, ...
LS polls: 14 candidates file nomination in Manipur
As many as 14 candidates representing various political parties and as Independents on Monday filed their nomination papers for the Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituencies.As many as eight candidates from seven political parties and an Independent in Thoubal district filed their nomination papers for Outer Manipur constituency.The eight candidates include BJP's Houlim Shokhopao Benjamin Mate, Congress's K. James, NCP's Angam Karoung Kom, Naga Peoples Front's Lorho S Pfoze, National People's Party's Thangminlien Kipgen, North East India Development Party's Ashang Kasar, Janata Dal (United)'s Hangkhapau Taithul and Independent candidate Leikhan Kaipu.In Imphal, six candidates from five political parties and an Independent filed their nomination papers for Inner Manipur seat.The six candidates include BJP's Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Congress's Oinam Nabakishore Singh, CPI's Moirangthem Nara Singh, Rashtriya Janhit Sangharsh Party's Senjam Nandishwore Singh, Manipur ...
US decision to recognise Israel sovereignty on Golan Heights garners global condemnation
Lebanon has condemned the United States decision to recognise Israel's sovereignty on Golan Heights.Citing NNA, IRNA quoted Lebanon Foreign Ministry as saying, "The US presidential declaration on Israel's right to annex the Syrian Golan is condemnable and breaches all rules of international law, undermining any effort to reach a just peace.""The principle of land for peace falls...for when there is no land to be restored, no peace remains to be given," the statement reads.Syrian Foreign Ministry had also stated that US President Donald Trump's recognition of the annexed Syrian Golan to the Zionist occupation entity is flagrant aggression on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.In the statement, Syria also stated that Washington's decision is indicative of US' hostility against the Arab world, adding that Washington proved that it is an enemy of the Arab world.On March 21, Trump had tweeted that after 52 years it is time for the United States to fully ..
Omar hopes new govt at Centre will reciprocate steps taken by Pak to resume talks
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Tuesday expressed hope that the new dispensation at the Centre will reciprocate steps taken by Pakistan so that New Delhi and Islamabad can move towards resumption of comprehensive dialogue. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was reacting to reports that Pakistan has decided to open the Sharda Peeth corridor to religious pilgrims. "One can only hope that in a post May 23rd India these steps will be reciprocated by the central government & we can move towards resuming the comprehensive dialogue between India & Pakistan," Abdullah said in a series of tweets. The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations. "After the welcome announcement to open the Sharda Peeth corridor to religious pilgrims by @ImranKhanPTI, we hope the government in Pakistan will only announce the Kargil-Skardu road as also ...
Darbhanga LS seat new bone of contention between RJD and Cong
The Darbhanga Lok Sabha seat, represented by former test cricketer Kirti Azad, who recently quit the BJP and joined the Congress, on Tuesday emerged as a new bone of contention in the opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar, with the RJD stating that it wished to field its veteran leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui from the seat. The Lalu Prasad-led party contended that its candidate had lost the seat to the BJP by a thin margin in 2014. "Darbhanga is our traditional seat. We have won it many times. Even in the 2014 polls, which were swept by the BJP-led NDA, our candidate lost the battle by a thin margin. "We would therefore like to contest the seat again and field Abdul Bari Siddiqui this time. A formal announcement would be made shortly," RJD MLA and chief state spokesman Bhai Virendra said here. Notably, senior RJD leader Mohd Ali Ashraf Fatmi won the seat in all Lok Sabha polls since 1991 except on three occasions - 1999, 2009 and 2014. The party's decision to field Siddiqui - a .
LS polls:Cong top guns to blaze campaign trail in Chhattisgarh
The Congress brass, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are among 40 star campaigners who will canvass for the party in Chhattisgarh, which will vote in three phases between April 11 and April 23. The Congress is hoping to end the poll victory jinx in Chhattisgarh, where the BJP always has had an upper hand. In the 2014 general elections, the Congress had won only one out of total 11 seats. "Other prominent leaders who will hit the hustings are former prime minister Manmohan Singh, PL Punia, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Wasnik, Raj Babbar, Anand Sharma, Randeep Surjewala and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel," said state Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi Tuesday. State ministers and party leaders will also campaign for candidates. "Rahul Gandhi had extensively campaigned in the state ahead of the 2018 assembly elections, which greatly helped the party in recording a landslide victory," he said. In that election, the Congress won 68
TDP, CPI, TJS to throw their weight behind Cong in Telangana
The TDP, CPI and TJS are throwing their weight behind the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, giving the Rahul Gandhi-led party some extra muscle to take on the battle-ready Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS). These parties were part of the Congress-led "Prajakutami" (People's Front) in the assembly elections in December last year but, there is no formal alliance for the April 11 Lok Sabha polls among them. The Congress is now contesting all the 17 Lok Sabha seats. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has decided not to contest in Telangana. "We are against the TRS and BJP", TDP spokesperson Nellore Durga Prasad told PTI. The TDP would extend support to any leading party fighting against the TRS and BJP in the constituencies, Prasad said, hinting that his party would back the Congress. The Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) President Prof. M Kodandaram said his party has fielded candidates in three segments -- ...
"Shotgun" calls Rahul Gandhi "master of situation", NYAY a
Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who is all set to quit the BJP and join the opposition alliance in Bihar, Tuesday showered praise on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, calling him the "master of situation" and his proposed minimum income guarantee scheme--'NYAY'a "masterstroke". Sinha, a two-term sitting MP from Patna Sahib, also slammed the BJP for doubting the feasibility of the proposed scheme. and drew a phrase from a yesteryear chartbuster years to make his point aap kare to raasleela baki kare to character dheela. It is a masterstroke by the master of situation @RahulGandhi declaring #MinimumIncomeGuarantee scheme. It has rattled our people so much that some of our prominent people had to rush for a press conference, calling the whole declaration/announcement chhal-kapat (skulduggery), Sinha tweeted. He said he would like to know from BJP leaders that when they announced various "jumlas" about Rs 15 lakh in the banks accounts of every individual, farm loan waiver .
Haryana Speaker accepts Abhay Chautala's resignation
Haryana Speaker Kunwar Pal Gujar on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala, who last week resigned as the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.
Kingmaker Lalu Yadav's RJD losing ground in Jharkhand (Dangal 2019)
There was a time when prominent leaders of the UPA in Jharkhand would visit RJD chief Lalu Yadav often but now the party is left fending for itself in the state.
Priyanka starts 2nd leg of UP campaign on Wednesday
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will kick off the second leg of her three-day Lok Sabha election campaign in Uttar Pradesh from Amethi on Wednesday.
China's president meets European leaders on deal-filled trip
Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting with the leaders of France, Germany and the European Commission, as European countries seek to boost relations with China while also putting pressure over its trade practices. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker came to Paris to join Xi and French President Emmanuel Macron for Tuesday's meeting. The leaders are notably preparing for a crucial EU-China summit. Tuesday's meeting is a key moment in Xi's European tour, which has involved huge business contracts, including one of the biggest deals ever for European plane maker Airbus. Xi also received the full honors of a formal reception in the French presidential palace Monday night. The EU is China's biggest trade partner and wants to solidify that relationship.
Pulling surprise, BJP denies ticket to Ananth Kumar's wife in
"It's Tejaswi and not Tejaswini!"exclaimed the Twitteratti as the BJP central leadership spranga surprise, announcing Yuva Morcha general secretary Tejaswi Surya as the party's candidate in its bastion of Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency. It was widely expected the BJP would field late union minister Ananth Kumar's wife Tejaswini given her active participation in scripting her husband's victories from the seat six times, but 28-year old Surya emerged the dark horse. Ending the suspense with just hours left for the deadline for filing nominations for the first phase of polls, the BJP central leadership announced in the early hours Tuesday the name of Surya, a lawyer and the party's national social media campaign team. The delay in finalising the name had even fuelled speculations that prime minister Narendra Modi might opt for Bangalore South as the second constituency, apart from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Senior leader Ananth Kumar, who died last year after ...
EU official backs key role for Kabul in talks with Taliban
The European Union's top diplomat has expressed support for US-led efforts to resolve Afghanistan's 17-year war but stressed that the Afghan government should have a leading role in the process. The remarks by EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini reflect the bloc's displeasure that the peace talks with the Taliban have so far sidelined the government in Kabul. The Taliban have refused to talk directly with the government, considering it a US puppet. Mogherini says the EU has "always been on the side of Afghan people with no other agenda" than peace, security and prosperity for Afghanistan. She says that EU supports "an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process." Mogherini spoke after meetings in Kabul on Tuesday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the country's chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah.