Page 1215 - Politics
CM Palaniswami, DMK chief Stalin trade barbs in campaign trail
Chief Minister K Palaniswami Saturday lashed out at arch rival DMK,dubbing it a "chameleon" for shifting its stand for power while DMK chief M K Stalin trained his guns on the AIADMK, saying it has forgotten late J Jayalalithaa,who opposed Prime Minister Modi. Palaniswami, spearheading the ruling party's election campaign at Vellore, said DMK was akin to a chameleon which changed its colours quite too often. "DMK has shifted its stand many a times for the sake of power and the word chameleon applies only to it and no other party. The alliance led by it is an opportunistic alliance," he said, adding that the AIADMK was a combine wedded to people's welfare. Though the Centre discontinued subsidy for the Haj pilgrimage (following a Supreme Court directive for gradual withdrawal of subsidy), the AIADMK government continued it providing Rs six crore for it, he said in the city, which has several pockets of Muslims. "Amma's government had always been a fortress in protecting .
Diary charges: Jaitley says falsehood and forgeries can never influence polls
Accusing the Congress of passing off forged and fabricated photocopies as B S Yeddyurappa's diary, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday said falsehood and forgeries cannot influence polls as voters are wiser than politicians. The Congress on Friday sought an investigation by the Lokpal into a media report that alleged bribes of Rs 1,800 crore were paid to BJP's top brass by former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The allegations were based on photocopies of BSY's purported diary which were submitted to the tax department. Observing that the forged and fabricated photocopies manufactured and provided by the Congress party were passed off as BSY's diary, Jaitley stressed "falsehood and forgeries can never influence a poll. Just as voters are wiser than politicians, they are also wiser than those who ride on the 'caravan' of falsehood and forgeries." In his blog titled "The Opposition's 'Caravan' Achieves a New Low From Falsehood to Forgery", the minister also accused some ...
Minister among 6 killed in Somalia suicide attack
As many as six people were killed, including a minister, and 11 others injured in a suicide attack in Somalia capital Mogadishu on Saturday, police said.
Thousands join London Brexit referendum march
Thousands gathered on Saturday to march through London calling for a second European Union (EU) referendum, as MPs search for a way out of the Brexit impasse.
Vikhe Patil skips Cong-NCP announcement of alliance in Maha
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was conspicuously absent Saturday when the Congress and NCP announced firming up of opposition's alliance in Maharashtra here. There were also reports that he was campaigning for the BJP in Ahmednagar, his home turf, which the Congress denied. Vikhe Patil's son Sujay has joined the BJP, which has fielded him from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency. The Congress veteran had earlier lashed out at the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for not giving up the Ahmednagar seat from its quota for Sujay. The leader of opposition in the Assembly had also said he would not campaign for the NCP nominee in Ahmednagar. Asked about reports that Vikhe Patil was campaigning for the BJP in Ahmednagar, state Congress chief Ashok Chavan said, "I refuse to believe that Vikhe Patil is campaigning for the BJP. "I will ascertain the facts from him. He wanted Ahmednagar seat for his son. We held discussions with the NCP but the things ...
Denied ticket, BJP's octogenarian MLA quits party
Odisha'a octogenarian MLA Duryadhan Majhi has resigned from the opposition BJP after being denied ticket by the party to contest the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Majhi, a five time MLA, was a minister in the Biju Patnaik cabinet and had joined BJP in 2014 after being denied party ticket by BJD. He is the lone legislator in the state, who has been denied the party ticket for the 2019 polls. BJP state president Basant Panda said: "The party leadership has decided not to field candidates above 80 years of age. The elder leaders may act as advisors." Majhi attained 81 years of age in April this year. Majhi, who is the sitting MLA of Khariar sent his resignation letter to BJP state president Basant Kumar Panda expressing his displeasure over the manner in which the party denied him the ticket. I am sorry to inform you that I have resigned from primary membership of BJP. Though all the senior leaders of the party including BJP state president had assured my ...
British PM says IS territorial defeat 'historic milestone'
Prime Minister Theresa May said Saturday the fall of the last bastion held by Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria marked "a historic milestone", paying tribute to British and coalition forces. "The liberation of the last Daesh-held territory is a historic milestone that would not have been possible without their commitment, professionalism and courage," she said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "I commend the tireless work and extraordinary courage of the British forces and our global coalition partners that have fought Daesh in Syria and Iraq." Kurdish-led forces among the 79 international partners pronounced the death of the nearly five-year-old "caliphate" Saturday after flushing out IS jihadists from their last redoubt in Baghouz, eastern Syria. Britain, which has suffered from multiple terrorist attacks in recent years by perpetrators said to have been inspired by IS, has vowed to remain focused on fighting the group and securing the region. "We must not lose ...
Jitin Prasada to take on Rajnath Singh in Lucknow
A day after he brushed aside as "hypothetical" the question whether he was planning to cross over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress sources said on Saturday former Union Minister Jitin Prasada may contest the Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow against Rajnath Singh of the BJP.
AIADMK's tie-up with BJP for nation's security: TN CM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Saturday said that his AIADMK has tied-up with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, taking into account the security of the nation.
NC sets up poll campaign panels for Jammu province
The National Conference, which has sealed an alliance with the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday announced setting up of two election campaign committees for the twin Lok Sabha seats of Jammu and Udhampur. The party also set up a four-member campaign coordination committee for the province. NC is supporting Congress candidates Vikramadatiya Singh for Udhampur and Raman Bhalla for Jammu Lok Sabha seats. In return, the Congress is not fielding any candidate against NC president Farooq Abdullah who is seeking re-election from Srinagar parliamentary constituency. As per the agreement, the other three seats - Anantnag, Baramulla and Ladakh - will witness a "friendly contest" between the two parties to defeat their opponents. Provincial president Devender Singh Rana constituted the election campaign committees for Jammu and Udhampur lok sabha constituencies besides a campaign coordination committee, a spokesman of the NC said. He said former minister and party state secretary Surjeet .
IS defeat on the ground is 'critical milestone': US envoy
An American envoy to the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group hailed the demise of the extremist group's self-declared "caliphate" in eastern Syria on Saturday as a "critical milestone". "This critical milestone in the fight against ISIS delivers a crushing strategic blow and underscores the unwavering commitment of our local partners and the global coalition to defeat ISIS," William Roebuck said, using an alternative acronym for IS. But the coalition envoy warned that the fight against the jihadists was not yet over. "While we have completed the territorial defeat of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, we still have much work to do to achieve an enduring defeat of ISIS," he said at a main staging base for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces whose Kurdish-led fighters defeated IS. "The campaign is not over. ISIS... remains a significant threat," Roebuck said at the Omar oil field in eastern Syria. IS's loss on Saturday of its last redoubt in the village of Baghouz signalled the ...
Won't tolerate dissent : Dilip Ghosh
The BJP leadership Saturday sent out a strong message to dissidents who have been protesting over selection of candidates in West Bengal saying that those who do not agree with the party's decison are free to leave it. "There is some resentment over candidate selection. Everything can be sorted out through discussions. But if some people think that by staging protests the party would be influenced to change its decision then they are wrong. They are free to leave the party," Ghosh told reporters. Protests erupted in various parts of West Bengal after BJP in its first list of 28 candidates for West Bengal nominated several defectors from the ruling Trinamool Congress and even the CPI-M to take on Mamata Banerjee's party in the state. Another candidate Mafuja Khatun was announced by the party today. She will contest from Jangipur, where the Congress has fielded former president Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee. With old-timers being overlooked in favour of ...
Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement won't contest Lok Sabha polls: Shah Faisal
Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement will not contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, its leader and former IAS officer Shah Faisal announced on Saturday.However, he made it clear that the party will contest the legislative elections whenever they are conducted."We are a newly formed party. Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement is no longer just about Shah Faisal. After having discussions in the core committee, we have decided not to contest the upcoming parliamentary polls," Shah said addressing a Press Conference here.Stating the reasons behind this decision, he said," First, that we are a newly formed party. Our focus is on people to people contact. Second, through this step, we want to reply to those people who were saying that this party has been brought by the Centre to increase electoral participation and manipulate the votes."Faisal claimed that his party is not eyeing elections or power. "Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement is here to fight for a long time. We are here to .
Tharoor challenges PM Modi to contest against him from Trivandrum
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from Trivandrum Parliamentary constituency against him in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. "Would Prime Minister Modi like to contest from South. If so, we welcome him in Trivandrum. Let him come and challenge me here. I will give my good fight for his money," Tharoor, local MP, told ANI. Stating that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is confident enough of winning both North and South of the country, Tharoor said"This shows that first of all, we have a candidate who is confident that he is going to be the Prime Minister and he wants to show that he is electable in both North and South of the country. I think that's a real question to ask Narendra Modi-- Does he have the confidence that Rahul Gandhi has?""Rahul Gandhi's contesting from Kerala will be a huge morale boost for the entire Congress. Someone like Rahul Gandhi, who is a president of the national party, contesting from our state...I ...
Gadkari accuses Congress of playing 'dirty poltics' over BSY's 'diary details'
Accusing Congress party of playing "dirty politics," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said the alleged BS Yeddyurappa's dairy released by the Congress is a "hoax."Referring to the diary released by Congres which talks about payments allegedly made to BJP's Central Committee members including him, Gadkari said: "These papers are fake. It is a hoax created by the Congress party.""We are not going to interfere into this. They were created to ruin the image of the leaders. The Congress party is playing dirty politics," said Gadkari.On March 22, citing a news magazine report, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala at a press conference alleged that BS Yeddyurappa's diary had a mention about the payments allegedly made to BJP's Central Committee members including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari, besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Will take BJP's development agenda in Puri during campaigning: Sambit Patra
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, who is set to contest from Puri in Odisha, on Saturday said that the party's development agenda will be the main focus during electioneering in the temple town.Thanking the top party leadership for nominating him as a candidate in the impending Lok Sabha polls, Patra told ANI: "I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah for showing faith in me. Our main agenda will be taking forward our development plank in Puri. I will fully serve the people of Puri."Asserting that the BJP would win in Odisha, Patra said that there is a "wave" for change in the country and it is a "wave" in support of the BJP."We request the people to elect us to full majority. There is a wave for change both in Odisha and in the country. See, in BJP-ruled states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision has led to the development, and the poor have been benefitted by our schemes and policies," he added.In a veiled jibe at the ruling Biju Janata ..
Cracks in JD (S)-Congress alliance, sitting Cong MP from Tumkur to contest against Deve Gowda
The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition in Karnataka received a fresh jolt after sitting Congress Lok Sabha member SP Muddahanumegowda announced on Saturday that he will file his nomination as the Congress candidate from Tumkur seat, which has been given to JD (S)."Elected representatives and all local leaders want me to contest. That is why on Monday, (March 25) we will start a procession from BGS circle to DC office and I will file nomination with the support of all our leaders as the Congress candidate for Tumkur," Muddahanumegowda said.JD(S) earlier on Saturday confirmed that former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo HD Deve Gowda will contest from the same town. Tumkur is one of the eight Lok Sabha seats conceded to the JD(S) as part of the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress in Karnataka.JD (S) spokesperson Ramesh Babu had announced that Deve Gowda will contest from the Tumkur parliamentary constituency as the combined candidate of JD (S) and the Congress.Soon after ...
Delhi Speaker, CM pay floral tributes to martyrs
Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday paid floral tributes to martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on the occasion of Shaheed Diwas.Paying tribute to them, Chief Minister Kejriwal said: "Shaheed Bhagat Singh's legacy and that of other martyrs prompted youth in India to begin the fight for the independence and today they continue to be a youth icon."Speaker Goel said that Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were the great sons of India, who raised their voice for the country's freedom.Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Deputy Speaker of Delhi Rakhi Bidlan and Delhi Cabinet Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam also paid their respects to the martyrs.
Rahul slams Mamata in West Bengal
Launching his party's poll campaign in West Bengal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying she makes only "fake promises" and "lies to the people" like Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Rahul said the Congress workers are beaten up in West Bengal and added, "let our government to power in Delhi, then you shall see what happens".Addressing his maiden poll rally in West Bengal's Malda, he said, "Did the youth get employment, did the farmers receive any help? Like Modi, Mamata Banerjee makes only fake promises and lies to the people."He went on to add, "On the one hand, Narendra Modi ji lies and on the other hand, your Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) keeps on making promises but nothing happens... Mamata has done nothing for the state. She just gives long speeches. Everyone knows about Bengal...the state is running for just one person."Rahul expressed confidence that the Congress will form the government in West Bengal in the ...
Afghanistan: 4 killed in twin blasts, Taliban claims responsibility
Four people were killed and 31 sustained injuries in twin blasts in a stadium in Afghanistan's Lashkar Gah on Saturday.According to the Aljazeera, two bombs went off during a function organised to celebrate Farmers' day. Reportedly, 1000 people were present during the event.Few important political leaders were also present during the event. Taliban has claimed the responsibility of the attackCondemning the attack, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, "The terrorists are the enemies of peoples' bright future and development, they are attacking civilian installations, gatherings, and occasions to spread fear and horror, and to hide their defeats on the battlefront."Taliban's attack has come amid the peace talks carried out by the United States in an effort to end 17 years of war.US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction Khalilzad Zalmay in January claimed that the democratically elected government only control half of the country.