Page 1229 - Politics
AAP to kick-start LS campaign for Delhi's full statehood from Saturday
The AAP would start its campaign for Delhi's full statehood from Saturday under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the party said in a statement. The Aam Aadmi Party said the main agenda of this campaign would be to highlight how people of the national capital "were cheated by the BJP". It said the campaign for full statehood will start on the death anniversary of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The party has also planned a roadshow on Saturday in west Delhi which would be led by senior AAP leader Gopal Rai in the presence of party's Lok Sabha candidate for the area S Jakhad. The campaign would also focus on the impact of government decisions like demonetisation, implementation of GST, among others, the statement said. The AAP has divided its campaign into two phases. The first phase would take place from March 23 to April 7 and the second phase of campaigning would be held from April 8 to April 30. Under the first phase, Kejriwal would hold 35 jan ..
Pakistan trying to politicise Samjhauta Express blast case verdict: India
India on Friday accused Pakistan of trying to politicise the court verdict in Samjhauta Express terror case to "deflect" attention from its "failure" to bring to justice perpetrators of several terror attacks in India and the region. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said there was a complete lack of understanding on the Pakistani side about how India's independent judiciary functions. Last week, a special court in Panchkula in Haryana acquitted all four accused, including Swami Aseemanand, in the case. Sixty-eight people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed in the terror attack on Samjhauta Express in February, 2007. On March 20, Pakistan Foreign Office summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to protest against the verdict. "We reject Pakistan's attempt to politicise the matter. It is being done to deflect attention from their failure in bringing perpetrators of several terrorist attacks in India and the region to justice," Kumar said at a media briefing. He .
Yasin Malik-led JKLF banned by Centre
The Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was banned on Friday for "promoting" secession of the militancy-hit state from the Union of India, officials said here. Banning the outfit under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after a high-level meeting on security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said the Centre is of the opinion that the JKLF is "in close touch with militant outfits" and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. They said the outfit claims "secession of a part of the Indian territory from the union" and supports terrorist and separatist groups fighting for this purpose. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said the JKLF has been banned as the government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. The JKLF has been at the forefront of separatist activities in J-K and was involved in the killings of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989 leading to their exodus from the valley, he said. The ..
Twitter welcomes Election Commission's awareness programme
Social media firm Twitter Friday welcomed the Election Commission's awareness programme on its platform starting with the launch of a new emoji for the upcoming polls. "Committed to providing front row access to the election conversation, Twitter India welcomes the Election Commission of India's SVEEP onboard the platform. Twitter India is also launching a special election emoji, aimed at encouraging healthy participation in election-related discussions, and encouraging more people to go out and vote," Twitter said in statement. Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) is a programme of the Election Commission to educate citizens, electors and voters about the electoral process in order to increase their awareness and participation in the electoral processes through various modes and media platform. The handle was launched on Holi and one of their first campaigns on Twitter #DeshKaMahaTyohar is about ensuring no voter is left behind. The #LokSabhaElections2019 .
Cong, NCP top brass will decide about tie-up in Guj: Vaghela
Top leaders of the NCP and the Congress will decide whether to join hands for the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, former state chief minister and NCP national general secretary Shankersing Vaghela said on Friday. He also predicted that the BJP will not come to power in the country after the general elections. Vaghela, who quit the Congress in July 2017, months ahead of the state Assembly election after being in the party for over two decades, had joined the NCP in January this year. He said he has conveyed to his party that he was not keen on contesting the Lok Sabha election. Talking to PTI, the 78-year-old leader also dismissed reports, which said that the NCP might field him from Panchmahal Lok Sabha constituency in central Gujarat. "I am not in the race to contest the election, because I have made an entry at a late stage. Personally, I am not going to contest," he said. Vaghela said he has informed NCP chief Sharad Pawar about his decision. "I have told Pawar saheb that I
New Goa CM calls on Modi, Union ministers during Delhi trip
Three days after taking charge, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, his office said. This was Sawant's first visit to the national capital, where he also met some Union ministers, after being sworn-in as the chief minister following the demise of Manohar Parrikar on Sunday last. "Chief Minister Pramod Sawant meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi," his office tweeted this evening. During the day, Sawant also called on Union minsiters Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, who is also the BJP's Goa in- charge. The 46-year-old BJP chief minister, who took oath in the wee hours of Tuesday, left for New Delhi a day later to meet Modi and other members of his Cabinet. "The chief minister met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the afternoon and also Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari," his office said. Gadkari had played a key role in holding talks with BJP's coalition partners on ...
'Yeddy Diaries': Congress demands Lokpal probe
Days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, a political controversy erupted on Friday after a media report titled 'The Yeddy Diaries' published by news magazine 'The Caravan' alleged that former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa paid Rs 1,800 crore to some top BJP leaders with the Congress daring the government to order an investigation by the newly-appointed Lokpal.
Left parties left out of opposition alliance in Bihar; CPI chief says decision 'unfortunate'
With Left parties being left out of the RJD-led opposition alliance in Bihar, CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy said their understanding was with the jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad who had assured them a place in the coalition, but wondered if the same was conveyed to his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is holding the party's reins. Reddy told PTI that the failure of the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) to accommodate the Left parties was "unfortunate" and didn't bode well for the opposition as a whole in the bigger scheme of creating an anti-BJP front. The party's state leadership is scheduled to meet on March 24 to decide on its future course of action, Reddy said. "We had an understanding with Lalu Prasad Yadav, but he is in jail. So, I don't know how things have been conveyed to his son. He had agreed for six seats including Begusarai and Madhubani," said Reddy, adding that the RJD was "underestimating the strength" of the Left parties in Bihar. The 'Mahagathbandhan' Friday announced
NDPP, Cong nominees file nominations
One candidate each of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the opposition Congress filed their nominations for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland Friday. NDPP nominee Tokheho Yepthomi, who is the consensus candidate of the ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), and K L Chishi, former chief minister and Congress candidate, submitted their documents to Returning Officer M Patton. PDA candidate Sharingain Longkumer, an NDPP leader, also filed his nomination for the by-poll to Aonglenden assembly constituency. Polling will be held on simultaneously on April 11.
Denied ticket, Bengal BJP leader quits post
Discontent is growing within the West Bengal BJP over its first list of candidates for the 2019 polls as a senior state leader on Friday resigned while a group of BJP activists protested against the nomination of former Trinamool Congress leader Nisith Pramanik, who joined the BJP, from the Coochbehar seat.
Election Commission joins Twitter ahead of LS polls
The Election Commission of India on Friday joined Twitter ahead of the Lok Sabha elections while the micro-blogging site also launched a special election emoji aimed at encouraging participation in election-related discussions, encouraging more people to go and vote.
India government bans Yasin Malik-led JKLF
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) led by Muhammad Yasin Malik was declared a banned organisation on Friday by the central government.
Madras High Court declares Bose's election invalid
The Madras High Court on Friday declared as invalid the election in 2016 of the AIAMDK's A.K. Bose -- who died last year -- in a by-election from the Tiruparankundram Assembly constituency.
My son&nephew not contesting LS polls for "fashion," but for
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Friday said his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy and nephew Prajwal Revanna were not contesting the Lok Sabha polls for "fashion", but for the sake for the people. Conceding that that there were "small" issues between alliance partners Congress and JD(S) which would be resolved, he said both parties will follow "coalition dharma". "...on the basis of our (Kumaraswamy and Revanna) work, from our family again two young powers are in the fray,they are not contesting for fashion," Kumaraswamy said. Speaking to reporters after his nephew and PWD Minister H D Revanna's son filed his nomination in Hassan, he said "they will be with the people in their happiness and grief, as their family members. With this commitment they are contesting the election." Claiming that he himself was an example for their family's commitment to the people's cause, the Chief Minister said Nikhil and Prajwal were contesting the polls to also strengthen the JD(S) as an ...
Citing media report, Cong seeks probe into charges of pay-offs by Yeddyurappa to BJP leaders
The Congress on Friday sought an investigation by the Lokpal into allegations that Rs 1,800 crore bribes were paid by former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to top BJP leadership. Citing a media report, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should come forward and clarify whether bribes to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore were taken by the top BJP leaders as mentioned in the diaries, allegedly of Yeddyurappa. The BJP denied the charges, with party chief Amit Shah saying that after all the "fake issues" have collapsed, the Congress is now desperately relying on forgery. "The Congress campaign is in shambles. Now even forgery can't save them. Few loose sheets given by a Congress minister is only as credible and reliable as (Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi's leadership skills," Shah said on Twitter. Surjewala, while addressing a press conference, said it is for the prime minister to say whether contents of the diaries are correct, and if ...
U'khand: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Tirath Singh Rawat file nominations from Tehri, Pauri
BJP candidates Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah and Tirath Singh Rawat filed their nominations Friday from Tehri and Pauri Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttarakhand, which goes to polls in the first phase on April 11. Shah, a two-time MP from the seat, filed her nominations before returning officer S A Murugesan here in the presence of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, family members, party MLAs and Dehradun Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama. The chief minister, MLAs and party leaders accompanying her to the collectorate in a jeep were wearing headbands with 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' written on them. Bearing party flags and shouting slogans in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP workers followed her in the form of a procession through the streets as she started from BJP's city office to file her nominations at the collectorate. The party MLAs, who accompanied her to the nomination centre included Harbans Kapoor, Ganesh Joshi, Umesh Sharma Kau and Vinod Chamoli. Her husband Manujendra Shah, daughter .
All BJP leaders are 'corrupt': Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday accused all BJP leaders of being "corrupt" and cited a media report that claimed former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had allegedly paid bribes to the tune of Rs 1800 crore to the top party leadership. The report by The Caravan magazine cited a diary of Yeddyurappa containing details of the alleged pay-offs to senior BJP leaders. "All 'chowkidars' (watchmen) of the BJP are thieves," he tweeted, tagging the report. The Congress has demanded an investigation into the diaries by the Lokpal to confirm whether the bribes were actually paid. BJP president Amit Shah claimed that after all the "fake" issues have collapsed, "the desperate are now relying on forgery". "The Congress campaign is in shambles. Now even forgery can't save them. Few loose sheets given by a Congress minister is only as credible and reliable as Rahul Gandhi's leadership skills," Shah claimed on Twitter.
JSP has silently entered into pact with TDP: Former MP Harsha Kum
Former MP GV Harsha Kumar has alleged that Jena Sena Party (JSP) has got into a secret arrangement with TDP over seat sharing which is why the part did not field any candidate against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh in the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.Kumar was denied a ticket by Naidu and had announced at a public gathering on Thursday to quit the TDP."TDP and JSP are silently collaborating with each for the forthcoming Assembly and General elections. As both the parties have a tacit understanding, the JSP did not field a candidate against Nara Lokesh. TDP, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and JSP are together. You may think they are contesting separately but they all are one," Kumar had said on Thursday.The former MP further said that he recently heard a conversation between JSP chief Pawan Kalyan and CBI ex-joint director Lakshmi Narayana where the former was saying that "no fear has left now"."Kalyan is not a hero but a comedian. He is
BJP confident of winning Kanniyakumari seat
The BJP, fighting the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu in alliance with the ruling AIADMK, is supremely sure that Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan will be re-elected from Kanniyakumari.
BJP to face Tripura allies in LS polls over statehood
The candidates of Tripura's ruling BJP and its junior ally IPFT filed their nomination papers on Friday to contest each other in the Lok Sabha polls.