Page 1227 - Politics
Pompeo says Trump is like biblical queen who saved Jews
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says it's "possible" that President Donald Trump is like Queen Esther, who saved Jews in the Old Testament. Pompeo made the statement in an interview with a Christian broadcast outlet this week on a trip to the Middle East. The interviewer asked if Trump is "like Queen Esther," who interceded with her husband to save Jews in what was then Persia and is now Iran. Trump has backed new sanctions on Iran aimed at reducing its ability to threaten Israel. Pompeo said in response that "As a Christian, I certainly believe that's possible." The secretary of state recently drew criticism for holding a briefing exclusively for "faith-based" journalists. Pompeo on Friday vowed new measures against what he said was the "threat" from Iran.
JD(U) to field 15 candidates for Arunachal assembly polls
The Janata Dal (United) has decided to contest at least 15 assembly constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh in the polls due on April 11, according to party's National General Secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan on Friday.
Rahul to up ante against Modi in his Bengal visit
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is likely to give a big push to his party's Lok Sabha campaign when he addresses his first-ever public rally in this small census town of Malda district in West Bengal on Saturday.
Union minister Jitendra Singh among seven to file nominations in Jammu
Seven candidates, including BJP's two sitting MPs Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma, filed their nomination papers in three Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir Friday, officials said. Singh and Sharma filed the nomination papers for the Udhampur-Doda and Jammu-Poonch parliament seats, respectively, they said. Accompanied by Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Singh, arrived at the deputy commissioner's office in a procession and filed his nomination before the returning officer. After filing the papers, 64-year-old Singh, the Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, addressed a party rally. "I am seeking votes on my development report card of five years, which is in itself a history of sorts in journey of development in this constituency. There is a long list of major infrastructure projects undertaken and completed," he told reporters here. The sitting parliamentarian said development work carried out in the constituency in the past five years was "hundreds of times
BJP election panel meets to finalise more candidates for LS polls
The BJP central election committee met here on Friday to finalise the party's candidates in several states for the Lok Sabha elections with its top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, taking part in the exercise. The states, where the party's nominees for the polls were discussed, included Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat and Goa. The BJP had on Thursday released its first list of 184 candidates for the elections to 543-member Lok Sabha. Names of Modi and Shah figured in the list with the prime minister being fielded from Varanasi, the constituency he currently represents in the Lok Sabha. The highlight of the list was the party's decision to field Shah from Gandhinagar in place of its veteran leader L K Advani.
Pala, Agatha file nomination
Congress's sitting MP Vincent H Pala and ruling NPP candidate Agatha K Sangma filed their nomination for Shillong and Tura Lok Sabha seats respectively on Friday. Pala, who was union minister during the UPA II government, is seeking re-election for the third time from Shillong. Agatha K Sangma, daughter of the Late Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma and sister of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, is the common candidate of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance headed by the NPP. She was first elected to the Parliament in 2009 on NCP ticket from Tura and was the youngest minister then. Meanwhile, United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate Sayeedullah Nongrum and NPP nominee Ferlin CA Sangma Friday filed their nomination for the Selsella by-election in West Garo Hills district. The by-election was necessitated following the demise of Congress MLA Clement Marak last year.
Over Rs 57 lakh undisclosed money seized in Nagaland
Income Tax sleuths have made a seizure of Rs 57.10 lakh cash as undisclosed money, making it the biggest cash seizure by the Directorate General of Income Tax Investigationin in the North-East so far since the notification of the general election.
'Anything is possible' on Brexit, says EU's Tusk
EU Council President Donald Tusk said Friday that all Brexit options are on the table until the new April 12 deadline, including Britain cancelling its withdrawal. Prime Minister Theresa May returned to Britain to try for a third time to persuade recalcitrant lawmakers to approve her EU withdrawal agreement after European leaders agreed to postpone the March 29 departure date. If MPs back the accord, Britain will leave the EU on May 22, but if they vote it down again, London must say before April 12 what it plans to do, with a further delay only possible if it organises European Parliament elections. Tusk said all options were still available -- including Britain cancelling its withdrawal, an idea backed by a petition in the UK that has now gathered almost three million signatures. "Until April 12, anything is possible -- a deal, a long extension, if the UK decided to rethink its strategy or revoking Article 50, which is a prerogative of the UK government," Tusk said. "The fate of ...
Citing media report on alleged pay-offs to BJP leaders, CPI(M) demands action
The CPI(M) Friday demanded action on a media report that alleged that bribes of Rs 1,800 crore were paid by former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to the BJP top brass. Yeddyurappa rubbished as "atrocious and malicious" the report in the Caravan magazine citing a diary, seized by the Income Tax Department during raids, containing details of the alleged pay-offs. "The BJP is neck deep in corruption. Leave aside promise of removing corruption, they are taking money from their own leaders for making him CM. Action must be taken on it. Reject Corrupt BJP," the CPI(M) said in a tweet. "These are very serious cases of corruption involving the top most leaders of the BJP. The party that claims to be of chowkidars while (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi actively supports and protects such activities. If true, this calls for strictest action," tweeted CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Earlier, the Congress has also demanded an investigation into the matter by the Lokpal. The ...
BJP resorting to pseudo nationalism: Congress MP Pradeep Tamta
Congress MP Pradeep Tamta, who wants to contest from Almora, accused the BJP government on Friday of resorting to "pseudo nationalism" to win elections. Addressing a press conference in Almora, the Congress leader alleged that the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre has been a "total failure" on development front. "It has failed to provide employment to the youth and stop migration from the hills. Due to lack of jobs in the hill regions of the state, migration has increased manifold over the last five years," the Rajya Sabha MP said. "As it has failed on development front it is resorting to pseudo nationalism for votes," he alleged. Replying to a question, he alleged that local BJP MP Ajay Tamta had failed to fulfil the promises he had made to the people of Almora Lok Sabha constituency during the last parliamentary elections. "The BJP MP could neither construct Tanakpur to Bageswar rail line nor could start construction of a border motor road from Tanakpur to Jauljibi in ...
Multi-agency crackdown against Kashmir-based separatists in offing
Twenty-five assets linked to LeT chief Hafiz Sayed, four to Shabir Shah, and other immovable facilities in the name of over a dozen people linked to militant outfits will soon be attached or confiscated by investigative agencies as part of a crackdown against Jammu and Kashmir-based separatists and terrorist operatives, official sources said. Multiple agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the National Investigative Agency (NIA) and the Income Tax Department have collated data and are set to unleash criminal action against individuals and groups who run terror and the "stone pelting machinery" against the security forces in the Kashmir Valley, they said. While the ED has identified 25 assets "linked" to Sayed and his associates for attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), a similar action will be conducted to freeze four properties of J-K based separatist Shabir Shah. They said the ED has identified assets worth about Rs 7 crore as part of its money ...
We hope long winter in Indo-Pak ties will come to an early end: Pak envoy
Pakistan on Friday said a key take-away from recent developments was that a lack of engagement creates "dangerous vacuum and serious risks" for Indo-Pak ties, and hoped that the "long winter" in bilateral relations would come to an early end. Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood, in his remarks at a reception here on the eve of Pakistan's National Day, said the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, return of the two High Commissioners to their respective Missions, and bilateral meetings on Kartarpur Corridor "are steps in a positive direction". Coercive measures have not worked in the past and will not work in the future, he said and added diplomacy and dialogue remain indispensable for enhancing mutual understanding, addressing mutual concerns, and resolving long-standing disputes including Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani envoy also claimed that in the fight against the scourge of terrorism, his country has "turned a corner". "There is a real transformation ..
BJP trying to establish "Hindu Kingdom" in India: Congress
The opposition Congress in Christian-majority Mizoram Friday accused the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) of having a "secret understanding" with the BJP which is trying to establish a "Hindu Kingdom" in the country. "Though the MNF had denied having any relation with the BJP and openly opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, it has a secret understanding with the BJP. It is a part of the NDA and the NEDA," State Congress president and former chief minister Lal Thanhawla said. The BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) is a political platform of anti-Congress regional parties. Addressing a party workers' meet here, Thanhawla claimed that the BJP's hidden agenda to set up a "Hindu Kingdom" was clear by the introduction of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the saffron party's desire to impose the Uniform Civil Code which is nothing less than enforcing the Hindu way of life. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that sought to provide Indian citizenship to ...
Pitroda kick-started Pak national day celeberations: Modi; Cong says PM playing politics
An all-out political slugfest broke out on Friday after Congress leader Sam Pitroda questioned the government's aggressive action against Pakistan post-Pulwama terror strike, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi lambasting the Opposition, saying the remarks only reflect that the Congress was unwilling to respond to forces of terror. Leading the BJP charge, Modi also said Pitroda, Congress president Rahul Gandhi's "most trusted advisor and guide", has kick-started the Pakistan's 'National Day' celebrations on behalf of his party, "ironically by demeaning India's armed forces". Pakistan celebrates its 'National Day' on March 23. Countering Modi's tirade, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "the truth is that Prime Minister Modi is hiding behind the valour and bravery of our Army and Air Force, and is playing politics on the opinion of an individual leader, which is his personal opinion and not of the party. He is playing such politics as he does not wish to reply on the ..
Yeddyurappa denies paying crores to BJP leaders
Terming The Caravan magazine report that he paid crores of rupees to BJP national leaders a plant in the media by the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Karnataka unit President B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday refuted the charges.
Babul Supriyo replies to EC notice on song release
Union minister Babul Supriyo has replied to the show cause notice slapped on him by the Election Commission for releasing the BJP's campaign song without obtaining permission from it, an official said on Friday.
Former SP MP from Hardoi, 2 BSP leaders join BJP
In a jolt to the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, three of their leaders switched over to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
Delhi BJP shortlists names of 3 candidates each seven seats
Delhi BJP's election committee on Friday 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 polls, party leaders said. The list, which was finalised at a meeting of the state unit's election committee, does not include the name of former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, whose name was making rounds as a possible candidate from the New Delhi seat after he joined the BJP, said a leader who attended the meeting. "All the seven sitting party MPs' names have been included in the list which will be sent to the Central Election Committee for final selection of candidates," he said. Some other Delhi BJP leaders who attended the meeting claimed "objections were raised over celebrities joining the BJP for Lok Sabha tickets and demanded priority for dedicated leaders and workers during ticket distribution". The meeting chaired by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari was also attended ..
Kashmiri human rights activist detained outside Pak High Commission
Delhi Police Friday detained Kashmiri human rights activist Mohammed Ahsan Untoo when he was about to enter Pakistan High Commission, officials said. Untoo, who runs an organisation International Forum of Justice and Human Rights, had been invited among others, including separatists, from the militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir by the High Commission to attend the Pakistan Day. Separatists from the state, including moderate Hurriyat Conference chairperson Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and others, have been staying away from the function for the last three years. Untoo had recently met jailed JKLF leader Yasin Malik at Kot Balwal jail in Jammu. He has been taking up the cases related to alleged human rights violation at the State Human Rights Commission. The government Friday decided to boycott the Pakistan National Day event to be held at its high commission here as Kashmiri separatist leaders were also invited. India's representation at the annual event has been at the level of a Union ...
JKLF ban will make Kashmir open air prison: Mehbooba
The ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) will turn the state into an "open air prison", former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday.