Page 1243 - Politics
AIADMK MLA dies of heart attack
Ruling AIADMK MLA R Kanagaraj died of a massive heart attack at his residence here Thursday, party sources said. He was 64 and is survived by his wife, son and a daughter. Kanagaraj who represented Sulur Assembly constituency in the district, was reading a newspaper when he suddenly collapsed, party sources said. A doctor who rushed to the MLA's house from the neighbourhood declared him dead, the sources added. The body has been kept at his residence in Sultanpet to enable the public pay homage. Kanagaraj worked from the grass-root level for the party for the last 30 years and rose to become a Panahcyat president and was elected MLA in 2016, defeating Congress candidate VM Manoharan by over 36,000 votes.
Pak says security forces rescued 4 kidnapped Iranian soldiers
Pakistan has claimed to have rescued four kidnapped Iranian soldiers from terrorists in the restive Balochistan province bordering Afghanistan. The Pakistan Army said that forces carried out an operation following a tip-off that extremists from a banned outfit had brought soldiers from Afghanistan to a "transitional hideout" in Amori area of Chaghai district of the province. "After an exchange of fire, four Iranian soldiers were rescued," it said on Wednesday. At least 12 Iranian security personnel, including members of the Revolutionary Guards, were kidnapped near the Pakistan border in October last year. Jaish al-Adl, an anti-Shiite and anti-Iran terrorist group, had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The kidnapping led to a public spat between Pakistan and Iran, which accused extremists hiding in Pakistan of carrying out attacks inside Iran.
NPP releases first list of candidates for Arunachal assembly
The National People's Party (NPP) has released its first list of candidates for 29 assembly constituencies out of 60 in Arunachal Pradesh. The list was released on Wednesday. The Lok Sabha and the assembly polls in the state will be held simultaneously on April 11. The party, led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, is contesting the elections in the state for the first time. The NPP has fielded two sitting ministers - Home Minister Kumar Waii and Tourism Minister Jarkar Gamlin - from Bameng and Aalo (East) assembly constituencies, respectively. Both of them were denied BJP tickets this time. Other BJP MLAs who were also denied tickets -- Tapuk Taku, Pani Taram, Thangwang Wangham and Paknga Bage -- also figured in the NPP list. All the four MLAs will contest from the constituencies they represented during the last term. The party also field 17 newcomers. NPP vice-president Nima Sange Saling informed that the party would declare its second list of candidates for the ..
JDU set to contest Arunachal assembly polls for first time
The Janata Dal (United) is set to contest the April 11 assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh, in what would be its maiden entry in the electoral politics of the Himalayan state. Chairman of North East Executive Council (NEEC) of the party, Senchumo Lotha, on Wednesday released the first list of candidates for Arunachal Pradesh. The party, led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has fielded former MLA Tani Loffa from the Seppa West assembly constituency in East Kameng district. It also fielded four new comers, including Hayeng Mangfi from Chayan Tajo constituency, Topin Ete (Aalo West), Dana Takio (Bordumsa-Diyun) and Dongru Sionju from Bomdila constituency.
Mapusa bypoll: BJP leaders, allies root for late Dy CM's son
The BJP has shortlisted the names of Joshua D'Souza, son of Goa's late Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza, and another party leader Sudhir Kandolkar for next month's Mapusa Assembly bypoll. A number of BJP leaders as well as ruling allies are particularly rooting for Joshua D'Souza. The by-election to this Assembly constituency in North Goa was necessitated following the demise of Francis D'Souza, a BJP MLA, last month. Apart from Mapusa, bypolls will also be held in Mandrem and Shiroda constituencies in Goa. Party sources confirmed that the names of Joshua D'Souza and another leader Sudhir Kandolkar have been shortlisted and sent to Delhi for final decision. Kandolkar is currently the chairman of Mapusa Municipal Council and one of the longest serving politicians in this civic body. He was a close aide of Francis D'Souza. Talking to reporters on Thursday, Goa Deputy Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo said, "I support Joshua as a candidate for the Mapusa by-election. I ..
BJP's Kalraj Mishra will not contest in LS polls
Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Deoria, Kalraj Mishra on Thursday announced that he will not contest in the ensuing general elections."I will not contest the elections this time; I have been given a lot of other responsibilities by the party so my time will be devoted to that," Mishra told ANI.Mishra had defeated Bahujan Samaj Party's Niyaj Ahmad with a margin of over 2.65 lakh votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.He resigned from the union cabinet in 2017. He was in-charge of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday announced that she will not contest the upcoming general elections.Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 11 and will go on till May 19 in seven phases. The polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in all seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Gandhi family never respected Lal Bahadur Shashtri: Siddharth Nath Singh
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sidharth Nath Singh has criticised the Congress alleging that the party including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra never respected the country's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri."This is condemnable. She (Priyanka) comes from Nehru-Vadra family. She has insulted the second Prime Minister of the country. She took out her own garland and put it on the statue, this indicates that she does not respect him. If she does not respect him she should not have put a garland in the first place," Singh told ANI on Wednesday.He added, "However, it is also a fact that the Gandhi family has never respected Shastri Ji. Had they respected him then Atal ji would not have had to make Shastri Memorial in 2005."His remark comes after a video appeared online showing Priyanka garlanding a statue of the former Prime Minister with a used garland.Soon after Priyanka garlanded Shastri's statue, BJP workers were seen "purifying" it with 'Gangajal' (water from the holy river Ganga).BJP workers
Soldier killed as Pak army violates ceasefire along LoC in J-K's Rajouri
An Army soldier was killed when Pakistan violated ceasefire by heavily shelling forward areas and posts with mortar bombs along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Thursday, officials said. Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Keri belt of Sunderbani sector this morning, they said. One soldier was was killed in Pakistani firing, they added. Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire over 110 times along the LoC since January. On Monday night, Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by resorting to shelling with mortar bombs and firing of small arms along the LoC in Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors, a defence spokesman had said. An Army soldier was killed and four others were injured Monday when Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing along the LoC in Rajouri district. "Rifleman Karamjeet Singh was critically injured and later succumbed to injuries," the spokesman had said. The border skirmishes ...
Iran leader calls economy 'urgent problem'
Iran's supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the economic difficulties of Iranians the main and most urgent problem of the country in a message aired Thursday on state TV. Iran has faced increased economic hardship in the last 12 months which was aggravated after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers last May. The renewal of American sanctions, which had been eased in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme, sent shockwaves through Iran's economy. "Specially in recent months the difficulties for people's livelihoods has increased," Khamenei said in a prerecorded message aired to mark the beginning of the new Iranian year (21 March 2019 till 20 March 2010). "The economy is the country's urgent problem, it's the country's (most) serious and primary problem," he added, mentioning the devaluation of the national currency, the drop in purchasing power and the fall in production as symptoms of the issue. Khamenei said ...
It's going to be 20 out of 20 in Kerala: Congress
The Congress-led UDF in Kerala on Thursday denied the CPI-M's charge of an "unholy nexus" between the Congress and the BJP and asserted that it was going to win all 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
China has responsibility to not shield Pakistan: US
China has a responsibility not to shield Pakistan and should urge Islamabad to take action against terrorists, a senior Trump administration official has said, expressing deep disappointment over Beijing's decision to block a bid in the UN to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist". Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) led by Azhar claimed responsibility for the February 14 terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pulwama district which killed 40 Indian security personnel. "We think China has a responsibility to not shield Pakistan and join the international community in calling on Pakistan to take action against terrorists operating on its soil," the senior Trump administration official said on Wednesday. After the Pulwama attack, the US, France and Britain moved a resolution in the UN Sanctions Committee of the Security Council to designate Azhar as a "global terrorist". The move suffered a setback as China put a "technical hold" on the proposal for .
Netanyahu to visit US before April elections
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next week on an invitation extended by President Donald Trump, CNN quoted White House press secretary Sarah Sanders as saying on Wednesday (local time).Netanyahu's visit comes just two weeks before the upcoming Parliamentary elections in Israel, scheduled to take place on April 9. The visit has been further scheduled when the Israeli Prime Minister is facing corruption charges in his country.The Prime Minister, however, last year had clearly stated that he would not resign even if he is indicted by the attorney general under one or any of the corruption charges against him. Denying the three corruption charges against him, Netanyahu cited legal procedure while asserting that the law doesn't require him to step aside before any hearing.Netanyahu is facing a tough challenge over the upcoming general elections, which will determine whether Netanyahu stays in power or not.Al Jazeera reported that the US Secretary of State Mike
Soldier killed as Pak army violates ceasefire along LoC in Rajouri
An Army soldier was killed when Pakistan violated the ceasefire by heavily shelling forward areas and posts along the Line of Control with mortar bombs in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Thursday, officials said. Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Keri belt of Sunderbani sector this morning, they said. One soldier was was killed in Pakistani firing, they added. Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire over 110 times along the LoC since January.
NPP legislators in Nagaland merge with NDPP
The National Peoples Party (NPP) on Wednesday suffered a major setback when two of its legislators in Nagaland merged with the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDDP).
New Zealand bans assault weapons, triggering similar calls in US
New Zealand imposed an immediate ban on assault weapons on Thursday, taking swift action in response to the Christchurch massacre and triggering renewed calls from leading American politicians for curbs in the United States. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons would be banned with immediate effect, making good on a pledge to ensure that nothing like last week's slaughter of 50 people ever occurs in the Pacific nation again. The killings by an Australian white supremacist have caused national soul-searching over New Zealand's lax gun laws. But the tough crackdown promises to have political repercussions beyond the country's shores, including in the United States where gun control is one of the most divisive political issues. "In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country," Ardern said. She added that high-capacity magazines and devices similar to bump stocks - which ...
Further terror attack on India will be 'extremely problematic': US warns Pak
The US has warned Pakistan that another terror attack on India will prove to be "extremely problematic" as it asked Islamabad to take more "concrete and sustained" actions to rein in terror groups including the JeM and the LeT. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district in February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. Addressing reporters at the White House on Wednesday, a senior administration official said: "We need to see Pakistan taking concrete and sustained action to rein in the terrorist groups, mainly the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba in order to ensure that we don't have re-escalation (of tensions) in the region". "If there's any additional terrorist ...
Heart attack kills AIADMK MLA Kanagaraj
AIADMK legislator R. Kanagaraj, representing the Sulur Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu, died of heart attack on Thursday morning, said police.
US envoy to discuss Afghanistan with Russia, China
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will host his counterparts of Russia, China and the European Union to discuss the Afghan peace process.
All 50 victims of Christchurch attack identified: police
New Zealand police on Thursday said that all 50 victims of last week's terror attack in Christchurch had now been identified, allowing burials to take place. "I can say that as of a few minutes ago the identification process and to all 50 victims has been completed and all of the next of kin have been advised," said commissioner Mike Bush. "That is a landmark for this process.
New Zealand bans semi-automatic, assault rifles
Military-style semi-automatics and assault rifles will be banned under stronger new gun laws announced by the New Zealand government on Thursday.