Page 1234 - Politics

Do a surgical strike on Congress culture: Shah

BJP President Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the Congress over Sam Pitroda's remarks on the Pulwama terror attack and urged the voters to do a surgical strike in the Lok Sabha polls against "Congress culture".

Govt should come out with 'more facts' on Balakot strikes, 'baffled' by PM's reaction: Pitroda

Congress leader Sam Pitroda on Friday asked the government to come out with "more facts" on the Balakot air strikes, and said that he was "baffled" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reaction to his question which he was entitled to ask. Pitroda, chief of Indian Overseas Congress, also said it was good to have a debate, discussion, dialogue and discourse, and it does not amount to questioning anyone. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi, using the hashtag 'Janta Maaf Nahi Karegi' (people will not forgive) in a tweet, attacked Pitroda for reportedly saying he wanted to "know more" about the Balakot air attack, including number of terrorists killed. Several BJP leaders, including BJP chief Amit Shah, slammed Pitroda for his remarks. "All I said is, can we get more facts, that's all. I don't know why this whole confusion... In democracy you are entitled to ask a question. It is good to have a debate, discussion, dialogue, discourse," Pitroda told PTI. "My asking a question should not create the ..

Jaitley slams Pitroda for questioning outcome of Balakot air strike

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday lashed out at Congress' Sam Pitroda for questioning the outcome of air strike conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Pakistan's Balakot.While speaking at the press conference in New Delhi, Jaitley said, "He believes what we did was wrong. No country in the world said this, not even the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) said this, only Pakistan was of this view. It's unfortunate that such people are ideologues of a political party."Further slamming Pitroda, who is a Congress party's overseas chief, the Union Minister said, "If the teacher is like that then his students will also be useless.""We will destroy the terror bases wherever it will perpetuate. Both Surgical strike and Air strike were meant to do that. We were supported by global leaders in our attempts," he added.This statement from Jaitley came hours after Pitroda questioned the death toll in the Balakot airstrike conducted by the IAF in Pakistan in retaliation to the .

LS polls: Prakash Raj pays visit to Dargah ahead of filing nomination

Actor turned politician Prakash Raj on Friday visited Ali Shah Dargah and offered prayers before filing his nominations papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.Raj has in January announced that he will not join any political party and will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Bengaluru Central as an Independent. He will contest poll against BJP's PC Mohan, who has held Bengaluru Central seat since 2009.Raj is known for his anti-BJP stance and has been very vocal in seeking justice for journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead outside her residence.Karnataka will vote to elect its members of Parliament during the second and third phases of polling on April 18 and April 23, respectively. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Sam Pitroda statement is shameful: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Terming Sam Pitroda's recent comment on Balakot air strikes as "shameful", Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said that Congress leaders are "dead people" and are not capable of becoming good leaders.He further said that the Indian Air Force conducted the air strike on the terrorists in Pakistan but the pain was felt across the Congress ranks.Speaking to ANI, Naqvi said: "Sam Pitroda statement is shameful for the nation. We were shocked to see that when terrorists were attacked in Pakistan Congress leaders were howling here. They are dead people. They do not have a sense what a leader should do for the country's safety and security."Claiming that "no action" was taken against Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai attack by the Congress government, the union minister said: "Now everything is clear, Congress wanted that [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi government to follow their poor international policy, which they had during their rule."He asserted that Prime ...

Dhinakaran's AMMK releases second list of candidates for LS polls

TTV Dhinakaran led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) on Friday released the second list of nine candidates for Lok Sabha elections.Thanga Tamilselvan will contest against O.Panneerselvam's son O.P.Ravindranath in Theni, Palaniappan will contest from Dharmapuri, and NG Parthiban will be fielded in Arakonam against DMK leader Jagath Rakshan among others.The party had announced its first list of candidates for 24 Lok Sabha seats and nine by-election seats on March 17.Lok Sabha elections and assembly bypolls would be held in Tamil Nadu on April 18 in the second phase of the seven-phased elections. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Deve Gowda's grandson files nomination from Hassan

Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) President H.D. Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna on Friday filed his nomination to contest the Lok Sabha election from Hassan in Karnataka.

Athawale senses a 'kill' in BJP-Sena tussle for Mumbai seat (Dangal 2019)

NDA ally and Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale senses an opportunity to wrest the Mumbai North-East Lok Sabha seat in the ongoing tussle between Maharashtra's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena coalition over the constituency, party sources indicated on Friday.

Russian hackers trying to disrupt EU polls: Report

Russian hackers are targeting European government systems ahead of the EU parliament election in May, according to cybersecurity company FireEye.

BJP's first list in Bengal pins hope on hardcore politicians,

The BJP in its first list of 28 candidates for West Bengal has pinned hopes on its veterans and defectors from the ruling Trinamool Congress to take on the Mamata Banerjee's party in the state. Of the 28 candidates, nearly 25 are new faces, with a thrust on active political workers rather than greenhorns from the glamour world. The saffron party, which bagged two Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 elections, is now targeting 23 of the state's 42 constituencies. Unlike the TMC list, which had 18 new faces and a mix of both old timers and greenhorns, hardcore politicians and personalities from the film industry, the BJP has put faith on its own leaders and defectors from other parties. There are four women candidates and one Muslim nominee in the first list. Of the candidates, five had recently defected to the saffron party from the Trinamool Congress and one from the CPI(M). Union minister and BJP MP from Asansol Lok Sabha constuency Babul Supriyo has been renominated from the ..

TN CM pitches for second term to Modi, says he alone capable

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Friday made a strong pitch for a second term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lauding him for the air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and saying he was the "only qualified" leader to ensure the nation's security. Modi was an "efficient and strong leader", he said launching his campaign for the April 18 Lok Sabha elections in the state from here, his native district in west Tamil Nadu. Palaniswami, also the joint co-ordinator of ruling AIADMK, took a dig at the DMK-led opposition, saying it was seeking votes in the absence of a Prime Ministerial candidate whereas the NDA was projecting Modi. He also accused the DMK of doing nothing for the welfare of the people of the state despite having been a partner in the ruling coalitions for 11 years at the Centre. For a large democratic nation like India, security was very important and to ensure this, it was imperative that the country had an "efficient and strong leader," Palaniswami,

Exit of former MLAs will not cause political loss: Congress

The Congress on Friday said the exit of five former Congress MLAs to join a regional party in Manipur will not "create any political loss" for the country's oldest party. "We have efficient candidates in all the constituencies," a senior Congress leader told PTI. The five former Congress legislators had resigned from the party on Thursday and joined the North East India Development Party (NEIDP). The Congressmen who joined the regional party were R K Anand, E Chand, Dr Ng Bijoy, Dr I Ibohanbi and K Sarat. The Congress leader said it was "good" that the former MLAs had left as some of them were "apprehensive about not getting party tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections." Ng Bijoy, who was appointed as the president of the NEIDP, told a press conference here that the Congress had "little interest" in regional issues. He claimed that the five Congress members had joined the NEIDP to work for issues pertaining to the state. Meanwhile, R K Anand was declared as the NEIDP

N. Korea pulls out of inter-Korean liaison office: Seoul

North Korea pulled its staff out of an inter-Korean liaison office Friday, Seoul said, weeks after leader Kim Jong Un's summit with US President Donald Trump ended without agreement. The office in the Northern city of Kaesong was opened in September as the two Koreas knitted closer ties, but the South's vice unification minister Chun Hae-sung told reporters Pyongyang had "notified the South they are pulling out of the liaison office". The decision had been taken "in accordance with an order from an upper command", he said, adding: "They said they didn't care whether we stayed at the liaison office or not." The South's President Moon Jae-in was instrumental in brokering the talks process between the nuclear-armed, sanctions-hit North and the US, Seoul's key security ally. Moon has long backed engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table, and has been pushing the carrot of inter-Korean development projects, among them an industrial zone also in Kaesong and cross-border

BJP workers stage protest against ticket distribution

Just hours after Nisith Pramanik was given the ticket to contest from the parliamentary constituency Cooch Behar, a group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party workers on Friday launched a protest here against his candidature.Speaking to ANI, a protester said that they are upset with this decision as Pramanik has joined BJP just a few weeks ago and they feel that the party has far better political contenders than him."We are very unhappy with this decision. Pramanik has just joined the party after leaving Trinamool Congress (TMC). We have better people than him in the party," he said.The protest took place at the party office in Cooch Behar where BJP supporters vandalized furniture, expressing dissent against Pramanik candidature.Pramanik on February 28 in presence of BJP National General Secretary, Kailash Vijayvargiya joined the party saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi can only save the country.Notably, the protest broke out hours after the BJP on Thursday released its first ...

Mayawati ridicules BJP's 'mein bhi Chowkidaar' campaign

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Friday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders over 'mein bhi Chowkidaar' campaign and accused the Centre of hiding unemployment, poverty data ahead of ensuing polls.Speaking to ANI, Mayawati said, "The Prime Minister is okay if the file on Rafale deal is lost, he is okay if the actual figures of unemployment, poverty, conditions of Dalits come out in public domain. Does nation want this kind of Chowkidar (watchman). PM Narendra Modi added Chowkidaar in front of his name after which a number of other BJP leaders and party supporters followed the suit."The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati also said that after the launch of 'Main Bhi Chowkidaar' campaign, state officials are in a dilemma whether to add 'Chowkidaar' in front of their names or not."In whole Uttar Pradesh, officials including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are in a dilemma whether to add Chowkidaar in front of their names or not. BJP can do whatever

Maharashtra: Congress' Pravin Chheda and NCP state vp Bharati Pawar to join BJP

Pravin Chheda , a prominent face of Congress in BMC from Ghatkopar area and Dr Bharti Pawar, vice President of National Congress Party's (NCP) Maharashtra unit area are set to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, sources from the BJP said.This comes days after Congress' Sujay Vikhe Patil quit as Maharashtra leader of Opposition and Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil of NCP quit his party.On a closer look, this is 'ghar wapasi' for Chheda as the leader was initially in the BJP but later joined Congress. He was the leader of opposition in BMC before 2017 elections and was defeated in the Municipal Corporation Election by the BJP candidate in 2019.Dr Bharti Pawar, as NCP candidate, had lost to the BJP's Harishchandra Chavan in the last Lok Sabha electons held in 2014. This time, the NCP has denied her ticket, fielding Dhanraj Mahale from the seat instead.A few days ago, Ranjitsinh, son of Maharastra former deputy chief minister Vijaysinh Mohite Pati also joined the BJP.Before that, Sujay ..

Twitter war of words erupts between BJP and Congress

With electioneering in full swing, political quarters are not missing any chance to take a jibe at their rivals.On Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress engaged in Twitter banter over the delay of presser by Rahul Gandhi by more than two hours in New Delhi.It all started with the BJP taking a jibe at Congress tweeting, "It seems Rahul Gandhi can't wake up in the morning".The party further stated that it was a good thing that Gandhi scion's press conference was delayed as "it is better not to spread lies in the morning."The Congress hit back immediately at the BJP for its tweet and said, "Morning, noon or night, we'd be happy to hear ChorChowkidar give a press conference - that is, if he's able to."According to media reports, Gandhi was scheduled to address a special press conference at 10:15 am today. However, the presser was delayed till late noon.

Congress' heart beats for terrorists: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah on Friday lambasted Congress' Sam Pitroda for questioning the casualty figure in the Balakot air strike, saying, "their (Congress) heart beats for terrorists."Taking to Twitter, Shah said, "Difference between Opposition and BJP is clear. They suspect our army, we are proud of our army. Their heart beats for terrorists, ours beats for the Tiranga. This election, through the power of your vote, do a surgical strike on the Congress culture."His remarks came after Congress president close aide Pitroda said, "Don't know much about attacks, it happens all the time, attack happened in Mumbai also. We could have then reacted and just sent our planes but that is not right approach. According to me, that's not how you deal with world."In an exclusive interview to ANI on Friday, Pitroda had questioned the death toll in the strike by the Indian Air Force in Balakot in Pakistan on February 26.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also slammed Pitroda, saying the "most trusted ...

BJP springs surprise, denies tickets to 6 sitting MPs in UP

The BJP has sprung a surprise by denying tickets to six sitting MPs from Uttar Pradesh, including Union minister Krishna Raj and National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Ram Shankar Katheria. In its first list of 184 candidates announced Thursday for the Lok Sabha elections in the electorally crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP fielded Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow. The party renominated Smriti Irani from Amethi to take on Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Significantly, the candidature of former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, an MP from Kanpur, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi who represents Pilibhit, and her son Varun Gandhi representing Sultanpur was not announced in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP faces a formidable alliance of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. In the first list, besides Krishna Raj (Shahjahanpur-SC) and Ram Shankar Katheria (Agra-SC), others who have been refused party nominations ..

Farooq leads campaigning of alliance candidates in Jammu

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday led the campaigning of joint Congress-NC candidates and said the alliance was aimed to keep India secular and "save" it from divisive politics. Vikramaditya Singh, grandson of erstwhile Sadr-e-Riyast senior Congress leader Karan Singh, and former minister Raman Bhalla, who is a joint candidate of the Congress and its alliance partner NC, from Udhampur and Jammu Lok Sabha seats respectively. "We have given this sacrifice for one aim - to keep India a secular country and also keep India strong. There is no other goal (in entering into an alliance with the Congress)," Abdullah told reporters here while kickstarting campaigning of the joint candidates. "To bring country out of this quagmire, we have come together. We ensure you (Congress) our full support," he said. Abdullah said the NC has come out to save this country from divisive politics. "We have come out to save this country from forces (who are dividing the country on the ...