Page 1249 - Politics
Dutch vote in 'Rutte referendum' after shooting
Dutch voters on Wednesday headed to provincial polls billed by the opposition as a referendum on Prime Minister Mark Rutte, after a campaign overshadowed by a deadly attack on a tram. Hardline right-wing parties pushed the issue of integration to the forefront as the country reeled from Monday's shooting in the city of Utrecht for which a Turkish-born man and one other person have been arrested. Rutte's coalition, led by his centre-right VVD party, looks set to lose its one-seat majority in the upper house of parliament, according to final opinion polls. That would leave it needing "kingmaker" parties to push through new laws. The ballot, in which 13 million people are eligible to vote, will be widely watched abroad as a bellwether for European Parliament elections in May in which populist parties are expected to make broad gains. The leaders of the 13 main parties on the fractured political scene had all cast their votes, including Rutte. Following the Utrecht attack, almost all ...
Railways decides to withdraw tickets carrying pics of PM during model code period
The Railway Wednesday decided to withdraw tickets carrying photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was part of an advertisement campaign by a Union ministry. The "suo motu" decision of the Railway not to use the tickets came a day after the Trinamool Congress approached the Election Commission, alleging that the use of such tickets was violative of the model code of conduct, which came into force on March 10 following the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, sources in the Railway said. They pointed out that nearly 1 lakh such tickets were printed and a few were remaining in the lot. The Railway said all its 17 zones have been directed against using the tickets carrying the picture of the prime minister. "It is a suo motu action. We have not received any direction from the EC in this regard," an official said. In a letter to the poll panel, the Trinamool Congress had said, "We are shocked to notice that even during the currency of the Model Code of Conduct, the railway ..
Afghanistan presidential election delayed to Sept 28: officials
War-torn Afghanistan has delayed its presidential election until September 28, officials announced Wednesday, the second time the ballot has been put back and five months later than it was originally scheduled to be held. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said the vote had faced "numerous problems and challenges, and there needs to be reforms along with preparation for the future election, therefore holding the elections based on the timelines previously announced is not possible".
Congress is anti-Tripura, party of traitors: Tripura CM
Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb Wednesday came down heavily on the Congress, dubbing it as a party of "traitors" whose leaders come to the state only to "eat the fruits of success". Deb also alleged that there existed an "unholy nexus" between the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at the Centre, due to which the Left Front government managed to be in power for 25 years in Tripura. Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers meeting at Pratapgarh here, Deb said, "They (Congress) are traitors. Nobody from the party earlier came to Tripura-- Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi or Manmohan Singh." "After we freed the state from the Communists with support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, why are they coming here? They are a band of Satans. They have come to eat the fruits of success," he added. The chief minister was referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's visit to Khumulwng near Agartala, where he had earlier in the day addressed a public rally. Dubbing ...
More N-E people now supporting NPP ideology: Sangma
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said people in the northeastern states have started accepting the ideology of the National People's Party (NPP).
Rahul Gandhi's charge that PM was posing for cameras at the time of Pulwama attack ridiculous: BJP
The BJP in Uttarakhand on Wednesday termed as ridiculous Congress president Rahul Gandhi's charge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was posing for the cameras at the Corbett National Park when the Pulwama terror attack took place, saying his pictures were taken hours before the incident. "The Congress president's allegation is ridiculous. The Prime Minister's pictures related to environment conservation were taken hours before the terrorist attack in Pulwama when no one had an inkling of it," state BJP media chief Devendra Bhasin said. "The Congress leaders are spreading lies because they have no issues to talk about in the election season," he said in a statement here. Launching the Congress' poll campaign for Uttarakhand at a rally here last Saturday, Gandhi had alleged that Modi was posing for the cameras for a national geographic documentary at the Corbett National Park at the time of the Pulwama terror strike.
Rs 95 lakh unaccounted cash seized in Guj ahead of LS polls
The Income Tax department has seized over Rs 95 lakh cash during its ongoing drive to curb the use of black money in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, officials said on Wednesday. Talking to reporters, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Murali Krishna said, the I-T department seized Rs 1.40 crore from various parts of the state in the last one week. "While Rs 44.61 lakh were returned to the owners upon the production of valid proof, Rs 95.43 lakh unaccounted cash was seized by the department," he said. Giving further details about the seizure, Joint Director of Income Tax department's investigation wing, Pankaj Shrivastava, said that two lockers were also found in the last one week. "Our teams are working in all the 33 districts to keep a watch on black money and illegal cash movements. In the last one week, we have recovered Rs 95.43 lakh in unaccounted cash. While around Rs 45 lakh in cash were seized from two angadia firm employees in Surat, Rs 50.43 lakh .
'Serious' risks in delaying Brexit to June 30: European Commission
Delaying Brexit to June 30 would bring "serious legal and political risks", the European Commission warned Wednesday in an internal briefing note ahead of an EU summit. Britain has asked to postpone Brexit to that date, but the commission, the EU's executive arm, urged leaders to choose instead between a short delay to May 23 or a longer one "at least until end 2019". The European Council, which groups the member states, confirmed it had received the letter from Prime Minister Theresa May asking for the delay, with leaders of the remaining 27 EU countries to decide on a possible postponement at their Brussels summit on Thursday and Friday. May needs more time because her lawmakers have refused to approve the deal she struck with the EU to leave the bloc. Elections to the European Parliament will be held on May 23-26, and the commission said that if Britain is granted a long delay, it must organise ballots. "Any extension offered to the United Kingdom should either last until 23 May ...
Cong files plea with Speaker on rebel MLA's resignation from
The Congress' Karnataka unit Wednesday filed an objection with the Assembly Speaker against the resignation of rebel party MLA Umesh Jadhav and requested himto defer his decision on it until the disqualification petition against him is decided. In a letter to Speaker Ramesh Kumar, the Congress said it is not "permissible" for Jadhav to resign as MLA, when the petition for disqualification is pending before him for consideration. "Kindly give an opportunity of hearing to show that the resignation is not genuine and voluntary by placingnecessary materials and documents at the time of hearing," aletter by Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao said. The leaders said in the letter they would also request the Speaker to take up the hearingon the resignation as well as disqualification petition together or in alternative the plea having been filed much earlier, till it is decided the decision on the resignation
Pak security agencies keeping watch, intimidating Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad
Officials of Indian High Commission in Islamabad are facing continuous harassment by Pakistan security agencies in the heart of Pakistan's capital city.According to sources, on March 14, two Pakistani security agency personnel were seen keeping watch outside residence of Naval Adviser of India. He was hosting a dinner at that time at his residence.Next day the naval adviser was aggressively tailed by two Pakistani security agency personnelIn another incident, staff member of Indian High Commission who was looking into arrangements for moving house of the Second Secretary was approached by a person who inquired, in an intimidating manner, about details of the occupants of the house, the time of vacating of the house and the procedure followed to rent the house.India High Commission has sent a strongly worded note verbal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Pakistan.India has urged MOFA to investigate incidents of harassment. In the note, India has also mentioned that incidents of
Modi's arrest a 'got-up match', says Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday refused to give any credit to the Modi government for the arrest of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi in London and termed it a "got-up match".
Don't fail to send this 'beautiful candidate' to LS: Stalin's
DMK chief M K Stalin's son Udhayanidhi, while seeking votes for his party's woman nominee in South Chennai constituency here, said people should not fail to send such a 'beautiful' candidate to Parliament as their representative. Seeking votes for 56-year old Tamizhachi Thangapandian, making her electoral debut, the DMK leader in the same breath said he did not refer to her physical appearance but only to her attributes like commitment to the people and party. Calling the candidate, Tamizhachi Thangapandian his "Akka" (elder sister), Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is also a film actor said, "I appeal to the South Chennai electorate, don't miss to send such a beautiful person as your representative (to the Lok Sabha)." "When I say beautiful, I am not referring to her physical appearance, I mean her lovely Tamil, her love for the party leadership, her principle to serve the people and commitment to the ideals of the DMK," he said after inaugurating the party's South Chennai ...
'Ranjitsinh's exit won't have impact on NCP; will win Madha'
The NCP Wednesday downplayed the exit of its former MP Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil, who crossed over to the BJP, saying the development would not affect its poll prospects in much-discussed Madha seat, currently represented by his father and party stalwart Vijaysinh Mohite Patil. Terming the development "unfortunate", NCP state president Jayant Patil disclosed that the party had decided to renominate Vijaysinh from Madha constituency. Vijaysinh was apparently unwilling to contest from the seat, once represented by NCP chief Sharad Pawar. In an embarrassment for the NCP ahead of the next month's Lok Sabha polls, Ranjitsinh switched over to the BJP with the "consent" of his father, who is said to be sidelined by the party brass. Vijaysinh, a former deputy chief minister, has not opened his cards on his next political move. "Sharad Pawar had finalised Vijaysinh's candidature from Madha constituency for the next month's elections. But he had suggested the name of another person ..
J&K 'missing' file: Bukhari points finger at Mufti
A former Minister in the Mehbooba Mufti government, here on Wednesday, alleged that the file related to fake state subject certificates vanished at her door during the PDP-BJP rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
EC showcauses Asansol mayor
The Election Commission has showcaused the mayor of Asansol, Jitendra Tiwari of Trinamool Congress for offering additional work to councillors who give the party's candidate lead in their respective wards in the coming Lok Sabha elections, deputy Chief Election Officer Sanjay Basu said here Wednesday. The EC has issued a showcause to Tiwari through the district election officer of West Burdwan, Basu told newspersons here. The EC has also showcaused TMC's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mandal through the DEO of the district, he said. Singh, who is also an MLA, had said in a meeting of councillors in Asansol that if a local body representative is able to give a lead of more than 5,000 votes in his or her ward to the TMC aspirant, additional development work worth Rs one crore will be given to them. Singh had also said that if a councillor manages to give a lead of 3,000 votes, then the person will get contracts worth Rs 50 lakh and in case of a lead of 2,000 or ...
Pound slides after UK requests Brexit delay
The British pound fell Wednesday on simmering Brexit tensions after Prime Minister Theresa May asked EU leaders to delay the nation's departure until June 30. On eve of an EU summit in Brussels, May told parliament that she has written to EU President Donald Tusk to ask for the withdrawal date to be moved from March 29. The European Commission warned in an internal briefing note that delaying Brexit to June 30 would bring "serious legal and political risks". The EU's executive arm instead urged leaders to choose instead a short delay to May 23 or a longer one at least until the end of this year. At around 1300 GMT, sterling was down almost one per cent in value, sliding to USD 1.3149, while the euro rose to 86.40 pence. The unit was already in negative territory prior to May's announcement. Analysts expressed doubt that the delay extension would allow May's Conservative government sufficient time to resolve the crisis. "The pound's Wednesday only got worse after the confirmation that .
Congress damaged key institutions during its rule, alleges PM
In a sharp attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday accused it of insulting key institutions like Parliament, judiciary, media and the armed forces when it was in power and also targeted the party over what he called "dynastic politics". The Congress has been mounting a relentless attack on Modi, alleging that his government has been systematically damaging various institutions. Modi's comments are seen as a counter to the charges on the principal opposition party. In a blog post, Modi also urged people to think wisely before casting their vote in the Lok Sabha polls even as he referred to Emergency and instances of imposition of President's Rule in various states by Congress governments at the Centre. Asked to react to Modi's attack, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told reporters in Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh: "The PM has attacked every institution in this country for the last five years, including the institution of which all of you are a ...
Pak PM discusses security situation with top military leadership
Pakistan Prime Minister on Wednesday discussed the security situation in the country, including on the eastern border with India, with the top leadership of the Army, Navy and Air Force, sources said, amid tensions between the two nations after the Pulwama attack. Khan met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi. The meeting came just two days ahead of the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad which would feature a display of military hardware. "The security situation of the country including professional matters pertaining to Armed Forces of Pakistan were discussed during the meeting," according to an official statement. Government sources said that the security situation on the eastern border with India was also discussed. Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after the February 14 Pulwama attack by .
May writes to EU seeking Brexit delay
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday wrote to the European Union seeking extension of the Brexit negotiation until June 30 to allow her time to secure backing of Parliament, which has twice rejected her current proposal.
2019 polls most crucial since Independence: Yechury
India is facing the "most crucial" elections after Independence where the criterion for deciding whom to vote for will not be the government's mere performance, but the fact that our secular democracy is in peril and has to be saved, said CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.