Page 1188 - Politics
Trump signs proclamation recognising Israeli control of Golan Heights
US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognising Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights and told the visiting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that his country has "absolute right" to self defence. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war but its sovereignty over the territory is not recognized by the international community. Trump's move reversed more than a half-century of the US policy over the issue. "The United States recognizes Israel's absolute right to defend itself. The despicable attack this morning demonstrates a significant security challenges that Israel faces every single day. And today I am taking historic action to promote Israel's ability to defend itself and really to have a very powerful, very strong national security which they're entitled to add," Trump said at a White House signing ceremony. Trump was referring to the rocket attack by Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, on Tel ...
Now postal ballot facility for Kashmiri migrants, says CEO
The Election Commission has provided the facility of postal ballot to Kashmiri migrants for the Lok Sabha elections 2019.Earlier postal ballot facility was not available for Kashmiri migrant and they have to go to special polling centres in Delhi and Jammu for casting their votes."Election Commission has provided the facility of postal ballot to Kashmiri migrants. Now they would be able to cast their votes in the elections held in their respective Lok Sabha constituencies by means of the postal ballot. Three Lok Sabha Constituencies will go to poll in Jammu and Kashmir," said BD Ram, Chief Election Officer, Uttar Pradesh."Earlier postal ballot was not available for Kashmiri Migrant they have to go to special polling centres in Delhi and Jammu for casting their votes," he said.Jammu and Kashmir will vote for the Lok Sabha Elections in five phases - April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Israeli military attacks Gaza in response to rocket attack
The Israeli military on Monday confirmed that it has begun striking Hamas targets throughout Gaza.Al Jazeera quoted Gaza's Ministry of Information stating that the raids have targeted the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The residents of the region have reported hearing the sounds of explosions on Monday evening.Israel struck Gaza in response to the rocket which was allegedly fired from the Gaza Strip and struck a home in central Israel on Monday. Seven people were wounded in the attack. Israel has blamed Hamas for the attack.The spokesperson for Gaza's Health Ministry, Ashraf al-Qudrah informed that the hospitals and medical points across the strip are ready and on high alert.The Health Ministry has also called on residents to take precautions as Israel readies to launch strikes across Gaza.Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, reporting from Gaza-Israel border, also stated that Israeli officials issued similar warnings to residents on the Israeli side."We've seen several plumes of smoke ...
Congress releases 11th list of LS candidates
The Congress on Monday released its 11th list for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, comprising five candidates from two states and a Union territory.
Cong corporators oppose poll ticket to Tawre from Bhiwandi
More than 40 corporators of the Congress in Bhiwandi Nizampur city Monday openly opposed the party's decision to field former MP Suresh Tawre from the Bhiwandi Lok Sabha constituency in Thane district. Addressing a news conference here, a section of Congress corporators said the party should reconsider its decision to give ticket to Tawre from Bhiwandi, a powerloom town near here which has a large minority population. They threatened to resign from the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) if their demand was not met. They alleged that Tawre, during his previous tenure as the Lok Sabha MP, had done nothing for the constituency and also the partymen. Ibrahim Vali Mohammad Khan, who represented the aggrieved corporators, alleged Tawre had engaged in "anti- party" activities and hence the Congress faced defeat from Bhiwandi in the last lok Sabha elections. In 2014, the seat was won by BJP MP Kapil Patil. The corporators demanded that vice-president of the Thane ZP ..
BJP asks Delhi unit to send fresh list of candidates for general elections
Unhappy with its Delhi unit for objecting to fielding celebrities in the national capital for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has asked it to send a fresh list of probables, sources said on Monday. On Friday, the Delhi BJP election committee shortlisted three names each for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital, amid protests by party members over celebrities joining the organisation for tickets ahead of the polls. The list, which was finalised at a meeting of the state unit's election committee, did not include former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, whose name was making rounds as a possible candidate from the New Delhi seat after he joined the party. Some other Delhi BJP leaders who had attended the meeting claimed "objections were raised over celebrities joining the BJP for Lok Sabha tickets and demanded that priority be given to dedicated leaders and workers during ticket distribution". The sources claimed the central leadership was "unhappy" with its Delhi unit objecting to ...
Sena, BJP sweep Palghar Municipal Council elections
The BJP and the Shiv Sena have swept the Palghar Municipal Council elections in Maharashtra, results for which were announced Monday. The saffron parties have won 21 out of total 28 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party's Ujjwala Kale was elected as the president of the council by voters directly. The post of the president was earlier held by the Sena. The elections were held Sunday for a total of 28 seats of councillors. While the Sena won 14 seats, the BJP grabbed 7 seats, the NCP 2, and rest five seats went to Independents (Sena rebels). It was the first elections for the council after Palghar district was carved out from Thane district in August 2014. A total of 90 candidates had contested the elections. Out of total 47,850 eligible voters, 32,531 voters had exercised their franchise.
Cong changes candidate against Patnaik in Hinjili seat
The Congress on Monday changed its candidate in the Hinjili assembly segment against BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The opposition party announced that its former district president Sambhunath Panigrahi will contest against Patnaik in the Hinjili assembly segment under Aska Lok Sabha constituency in Ganjam. Earlier, the Congress had named Pam Krishna Panda as its candidate from Hinjili. The development comes just hours within the BJP fielding its vice-president Pitamber Acharya against Patnaik in Hinjili. Party sources said Panigrahi is a local man, though he has not contested elections in the past. Earlier, the Congress had named former MLA Ripunath Seth as its candidate against Patnaik in the Bijepur assembly segment under the Bargarh Lok Sabha seat. Patnaik filed nomination paper from Bijepur as his second assembly seat on Monday. The Congress also changed its candidate in the Rourkela assembly segment under Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat. Biren ...
45 file nominations for Ist phase of Assam LS polls
Forty-five candidates have filed nominations for the five out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, which will go to the polls in the first phase on April 11, officials said on Monday.
Trump says Russia probe head acted honourably, but warns of retaliation
President Donald Trump said Monday that Robert Mueller, head of the two-year probe into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, acted honorably, but he also threatened retaliation against his foes. "Yes he did," Trump said after Mueller -- whom he often bitterly criticized during the investigation -- declared there was no evidence of collusion by Trump or his campaign. Trump, who feels vindicated by the dropping of collusion allegations, said he would favor publication of the wider Mueller report. So far, only a short summary has been released. "Up to the attorney general. Wouldn't bother me at all," he said at the White House. But Trump blasted the investigation as "a false narrative, it was a terrible thing." "We can never let this happen to another president again," he said. "Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never, ever let this happen to another president again." Adding to suggestions that the White House would like to retaliate now ...
EC seeks report on Kolkata airport incident
The Election Commission has sought a report from the North 24 Parganas district election officer in the controversy surrounding Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira Naroola allegedly trying to stonewall Customs officials from checking her baggage at the Kolkata airport last week, an official said here on Monday.
Syria says US Golan move blatant attack on its sovereignty
The Syrian government said that Washington's recognition Monday of Israeli claims over the Golan Heights were a blatant attack on its sovereignty. US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognising Israeli sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, a border area seized from Syria in 1967. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the recognition "historic" and said the Golan Heights, which are still claimed by Syria, would remain permanently under Israeli control. The move, which breaks with decades of international consensus, drew criticism from the Syrian government. "In a blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, the president of the US has recognised the annexation of the Syrian Golan," a foreign ministry source said, according to state news agency SANA. "Trump does not have the right and the legal authority to legitimise the occupation," he said. The unnamed source also said the unlimited support the US gives to Israel makes
Mandi LS seat in Himachal likely to test two Rams' prestige
It may well be a Jai Ram versus Sukh Ram poll battle for the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh in the ensuing general elections. Former Union Telecom Minister Sukh Ram and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur's prestige will be at stake in Mandi seat, which is going to poll along with three other parliamentary seats of the hill state on May 19. The BJP has already renominated its sitting MP Ramswaroop Sharma, whose candidature was openly supported by Thakur despite Sukh Ram's grandson Aashray Sharma too vying for the BJP ticket from Mandi. With Sukh Ram joining Congress with his grand son on Monday, the Congress will most probably give its ticket to Aashray Sharma, a senior Congress told PTI. Mandi being the chief minister's home district, ensuring Ramswaroop Sharma's victory there will be a matter of personal prestige for Thakur. On the other hand, Sukh Ram too will leave no stone unturned to get his grandson win this seat. Ninty-one-year-old Sukh Ram, the former ...
EC advises TRS against using CM's residence for political
The Election Commission has written to the ruling TRS advising that the Telangana Chief Minister's official residence should not be used for any political activity, state Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said Monday. He was responding to a question by reporters here on the complaint by the Congress alleging that the CM's residence "Pragati Bhavan" was being used for political activity and it was in violation of the model code of conduct in force. "We have written a letter to the TRS party advising that political activity should not be taken up over there. We have left the matter at that. If violations take place further, we will take further view on that," Kumar said. On March 15, Congress leader G Niranjan had lodged a complaint with the CEO that the model code had been violated with the chief minister allegedly meeting a Congress MLA about her joining the TRS. Nine Congress MLAs have announced their decision to quit the party and join the TRS.
7 NPF MLAs back Nagaland coalition candidate for LS
Seven Opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) legislators on Monday extended support to sitting Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) MP Tokheho Yepthomi who is seeking a re-election from the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland.
Chodankar, ex-CM Sardinha Cong nominees from two Goa seats
Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar and former chief minister Francis Sardinha will be the party's candidates from North Goa and South Goa constituencies, respectively. With the announcement, the battle-lines have now been drawn formally between the BJP and the Congress in both the constituencies. Chodankar will be pitted against sitting BJP MP and Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik and Aam Aadmi Party's Pradeep Padgaonkar in North Goa. In South Goa, Sardinha faces sitting BJP MP Narendra Sawaikar and AAP's Elvis Gomes. The BJP has renominated both the MPs for the April 23 elections. Names of Chodankar and Sardinha were announced by the All India Congress Committee in a release Monday. The women wing president of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Pratima Coutinho was also an aspirant from South Goa. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena has fielded Jitesh Kamat from North Goa and Rakhi Prabhudesai-Naik from South Goa. A total of 11.31 lakh voters are eligible to exercise ..
Guv should be non-partisan: Gehlot on Kalyan's wish for Modi to be PM again
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday objected to Governor Kalyan Singh's statement that Narendra Modi should become the prime minister once again, saying he should be "non-partisan" as it does not suit the dignity of the post he is holding. "The post of Governor is constitutional and in democracy it is expected from governors to be non-partisan and maintain distance from party politics. It is really unfortunate that Sh Singh has made such statements which do not suit the dignity of the post he is holding," Gehlot tweeted. "Personally we have utmost respect for Shri Kalyan Singh ji. He is not only Governor of our state but is a very senior leader too," he said. On March 23, Singh, talking to reporters in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh had said, "We all are BJP workers and we want the BJP to emerge victorious. We want that Modi ji should become the prime minister. It is important for the country.
Will build 10 Singapore in Delhi if full statehood granted: CM
Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Monday promised to build infrastructure equalling "ten Singapore" if full statehood was granted to Delhi. Addressing a public rally at Patparganj in east Delhi, he called for people's support in the upcoming elections to ensure that Delhi gets full statehood. "We will build ten Singapore in Delhi. We will ensure that a flat is given to everyone who is staying in huts in Delhi," he said. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal claimed when the PM was unable to handle Pakistan, how could he be expected to take care of Delhi Police. "Let us handle Delhi Police and you (PM) take care of Pakistan. You are not able to handle Pakistan, how can you be expected to handle Delhi Police?" he said. Accusing the Centre of creating hurdles for Delhi's development, the AAP leader said he faced several obstructions at various stages to get clearances from the central government. He said the people of Delhi pay Rs 1.5 lakh crore worth ...
TJS candidates file nomination papers
: Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) candidates, contesting from three of 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana where polls are scheduled for April 11, filed their nomination papers Monday. The candidates are Arun Kumar (Mahabubabad), G Shankar Rao (Khammam) and Qavi Abbasi (Hyderabad). "We have fielded candidates for the Mahabubabad, Khammam and Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituencies. We have decided to extend outside support to the Congress in the remaining seats," TJS chief M Kodandaram told PTI. The assembly elections in December 2018 had witnessed the Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) burying their decades-old rivalry and forging an alliance 'Prajakutami' (Peoples Alliance) along with Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and Communist Party of India (CPI) to take on the TRS. But the alliance faced a drubbing at the hustings with the Congress finishing a distant second with 19 seats, while the TDP managed to bag two. The TJS and CPI drew a blank.
Trump says Mueller acted honorably in Russia probe
President Donald Trump on Monday said that Robert Mueller, head of the two-year probe into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, had acted honorably. "Yes he did," Trump said after Mueller -- whom he often bitterly criticized during the investigation -- said there was no evidence of collusion by Trump or his campaign.