Page 1252 - Politics
Doctors, lawyers, businessmen in MNM's first LS list
Doctors, advocates, a former IPS officer, a retired district judge, and businessmen figure among the candidates fielded by Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) from Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Pakistan government to sell properties of federal ministries to pay off debt
The cash-strapped Pakistan government has decided to sell unused properties owned by federal ministries to pay off the country's mounting debts, the media reported Wednesday. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday aimed at finding solutions for generating revenue and boosting up the country's paralysed economy which is already under a debt of over 27 trillion Pakistani rupees. Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that only those properties of ministries and allied departments would be put up for sale which are lying unused. "Prime Minister Khan has sought the lists of properties of ministries for disposal," the minister was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper. Chaudhry said the ministries had already finalised their lists of properties and sent them to the Cabinet. Explaining the procedures to be adopted for the disposal of assets, the minister said this could be done by adopting a uniform policy that would also ...
'Congress Darshan' back after 3 years; hails Nehru, Priyanka
More than three years after it was discontinued for publishing an unflattering article critical of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sonia Gandhi, Hindi language monthly "Congress Darshan" has hit the stands again, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In its cover story, the 60-page magazine has welcomed the formal political foray of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, sister of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. It also praises the first prime minister for his "immense contribution" to the nation building as well as to the Kashmir cause. The monthly is not a formal publication of the Congress. The journal was taken out of circulation after an unattributed article published in December, 2015, blamed Nehru for the Kashmir and China problems, and accused him of ignoring the counsel of his colleague Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on international affairs. That article had also published some objectionable remarks on the then party president Sonia Gandhi. After a controversy, the then content editor was ...
Sumalatha Ambareesh files nomination from Mandya LS seat
Sumalatha Ambareesh, the veteran actor and wife of late former Congress lawmaker MH Ambareesh, on Wednesday filed her nomination papers as an independent candidate from Mandya parliamentary constituency as an independent candidate for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the state.She will be contesting against Nikhil Gowda, son of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.It is worth mentioning that her husband Ambareesh had represented Mandya both as a Member of Parliament (MP) and also as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA).On March 18, she had contended that after her husband's demise in 2018, the people of the constituency started pressurizing her to contest the poll from Manyda seat.She had also said that she was touring the constituency and so far has covered 35 wards in Mandya city municipal council area.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 .
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra concludes her Ganga Yatra
Congress general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday culminated her three-day Ganga Yatra by offering prayers at Vishwanath temple here.Varanasi, which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi parliamentary constituency, is the last leg in Priyanka's three-day boat yatra.Earlier in the day, she also performed Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.On the second day of the yatra, she visited Vindhyachal, Bhadohi and Mirzapur. At Mirzapur, the crowd chanted 'Har-Har Modi' when she visited the temple.During her yatra, she undertook a 140 kilometres long journey on a steamer boat from Prayagraj to Varanasi.Priyanka is accompanied by party spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh, MLA Aradhana Mishra, MP Savitri Bai Phule and some students.The Lok Sabha elections will begin 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.
BSP leader from Amethi joins BJP
Bahujan Samaj Party leader from Amethi and former MLA Chandra Prakash Mishra 'Matiyari' on Wednesday joined the BJP here and said he would work to ensure the defeat of Congress president Rahul Gandhi from his Lok Sabha constituency. He joined the party in the presence of Union ministers J P Nadda and Smriti Irani, with Irani expressing hope that Mishra's presence in the BJP will help it win from Amethi. The BJP is likely to field Irani against Gandhi from Amethi. She had put up a spirited fight against him in 2014 but had lost. Mishra, a Brahmin face from the region, had been with the BSP for last 22 years and had contested Lok Sabha election in 2004 from Amethi against Gandhi. "Amethi remains under slavery and I will ensure that it tastes freedom," Mishra told reporters. The constituency has been a pocket borough of the Ganndhi family for decades. In 2007, Mishra won the assembly election from Gauriganj seat in the Gandhi family bastion. Polling in Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats
Taiwan leader to transit through US during Pacific trip: sources
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen will make a stopover in the United States on her way back from visiting three Pacific nations this month in a move sure to irk Beijing, sources said Wednesday. Tsai will leave for Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands on Thursday in a trip to shore up ties amid growing concerns about China's increasing clout in the region. She is scheduled to transit through Hawaii on March 27 on her way back to Taipei, the sources said without elaborating. Taiwan is typically low-key in announcing its leader's specific itineraries, fearing China will use its power to disrupt. Tsai's last state visit was to Paraguay and Belize in August with US transits that prompted an official protest from Beijing after she gave a speech in Los Angeles - the first time in 15 years that a Taiwanese leader spoke publicly on American soil. Beijing also protested when Tsai transitted through Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during her first official visit to the Pacific in ...
Purity of Indian democracy too sacred, EC monitoring use of social media: Prasad
IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Wednesday sounded a warning to social media companies not to allow their platforms to be abused to influence elections, and said the Election Commission is maintaining vigil on the issue. Stating that the purity of Indian democracy is "too sacred", the minister said while the use of social media for campaigning was okay, platforms should ensure that the data is not abused under any cimcumstances. Asked if the IT ministry was monitoring the situation, he said the Election Commission (EC) is already monitoring it and also has the power to take action. Prasad said, "the Election Commission is already monitoring it (situation). Let them monitor it...They held a meeting...it is only appropriate and desirable that the EC must monitor, co-ordinate and lay the ground rule for working of social media during elections. "On my side, I can only make this observation that the purity of Indian democracy is too sacred, and social media please ensure that the data is ..
AAP hits out at Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for his "anti-Delhi" policies
Hitting out at Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for his "anti-Delhi" policies, the Aam Aadmi Party Wednesday said a person who has nothing worthwhile to show in his performance as a minister is now venturing into the arena of electoral political analysis. Challenging Puri for an open debate, the AAP said it we will expose the "real face" of BJP and the Union Minister as well as question his anti-Delhi policies in the next seven days. The comments by the AAP comes a day after Puri reportedly slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for becoming "desperate" for an alliance. AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said Puri need not worry about the Aam Aadmi Party, but rather tell the people of Delhi about his "anti-Delhi approach". "For next seven days, we will expose the real face of BJP and Mr Puri and question his anti-Delhi policies. We challenge him for a open debate. New political wisdom has dawned on BJP's Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Hardeep Singh Puri, who was made a ...
Theresa May not to seek long delay of Brexit
British Prime Minister Theresa May will not seek a long delay to the Brexit process when she asks European Union leaders for more time to secure Parliament's backing for a withdrawal deal, which has twice rejected her current proposal, a government official said on Wednesday.
Mehbooba hits out at Omar, says J&K is not NC's personal estate
In a blistering attack at former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for dubbing emergence of new parties in Kashmir as a New Delhi ploy to divide Kashmiri mandate, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said J&K is not a personal property of the National Conference. Mehbooba's attack followed Peoples Conference chief Sajjad Gani Lone's diatribe against Omar Abdullah that he needed 'mental treatment" for opposing emergence of new parties. "It is unfortunate that National conference considers Jammu and Kashmir as its own estate. When (former Chief Minister) Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed brought Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, they called them worms of dirty drain (as a Delhi's party)," Mehbooba told reporters here. "When the PDP was formed, they alleged the same thing. Today when Shah Faseal formed a new outfit, Omar Abdullah says the same thing," said Mehbooba. The PDP chief said Omar Abdullah feels any party formed in J&K will claim right on their estate of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is a democratic .
Kartarpur Corridor: Villagers demand compensation for their land
As Pakistan and India discuss the alignment of the Kartarpur Corridor, some 600 villagers who are facing "forcible eviction" due to the project say they will block the development work if denied compensation of their land on commercial rates. The entire population (600) of village Kothay Khurd, where Gurdwara Dera Sahib Kartarpur is located (some 125-km from Lahore), has been ordered by the district administration to vacate their houses immediately for the development of the Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims from India. "My ancestors had settled in the village even before the partition and now our fifth generation is living here. Some officials came here and told the residents that the government was planning to build Kartarpur Corridor on our land, therefore we will have to vacate the land," Mohammad Arshad of Kothay Khurd told reporters. "We are living in the area for centuries and it was not possible for us to leave the area and the graves of our ancestors," ...
I-T Dept deploys surveillance teams in NE states for LS polls
The Income Tax Department has deployed surveillance teams and set up control rooms in seven north eastern states, to deal with any reported movement of unaccounted money ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next month. The Investigation Directorate of the department has gone ahead with the measure in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, an official release said here on Wednesday. It has also deployed air intelligence units at airports of the seven states. The department is "continuously gathering intelligence and keeping close surveillance over movement of cash/valuables or other items suspected to be used for bribing of electors during the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections", the release said. A dedicated email id and toll-free complaint numbers have been created to enable people to communicate with the I-T Department, it added.
Panthers Party to contest all six LS seats in J&K
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) will contest all the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, a party leader said on Wednesday. "JKNPP will contest all the six seats in J&K. It shall declare its candidates on March 23, 24, 25 and 26 for all the six seats in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh," patron of JKNPP Bhim Singh told reporters here. The general election in J-K will be held in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, with counting on May 23. Singh alleged that the state was passing through its most difficult times since the 1990s and there was a massive political as well as social crisis. "This is only because of the mess created by the ruling clique, who have been robbing (the) state and squeezing the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to serve their own interests," he said. The situation deserves a serious attention of all nationalist forces in the country, he added. Singh said J-K "suffered for several decades" under the rule of the National Conference ..
Cong finding it difficult to get candidate for Bangalore South
The Congress seems to be finding it difficult to choose a suitable candidate for Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency that has remained a BJP bastion for long, with several probables including former Minister Ramalinga Reddy declining to contest. According to Congress sources, along with Reddy, his daughter and Jayanagar MLA Sowmya Reddy, former MLA Priya Krishna and Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Gowda, who were approached to contest the polls from Bangalore South, have declined the offer. Former Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who died last year, represented Bangalore South after defeating IT czar Nandan Nilekani in the 2014 Parliament polls. "Initially I wanted to become corporator and to become Mayor, but when I was corporator for the first time, I got assembly ticket and went on to become MLA and then Minister, but I never wished to become a parliamentarian, so I'm not contesting," Ramalinga Reddy told reporters when asked about contesting Lok Sabha polls from Bangalore South. Stating .
Modi has reduced PMO to publicity minister's office: Rahul
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced the PMO to Publicity Minister's Office for marketing himself, Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged on Wednesday, as he launched a vitriolic attack on his rival over a host of issues including unemployment and demonetisation. Unsparing in his attack, Gandhi also wondered whether the prime minister ever studied at a university, and alleged educational institutions were undergoing saffronisation under his watch. Addressing a public rally and holding an interaction with students in the Manipur capital, the Congress leader raked up the issue of now lapsed Citizenship (amendment) Bill, accusing the Modi government of reneging on its 'act east policy' and attacking the culture and ethos of the people of the Northeast. "Modi has reduced the Prime Minister's Office to the status of Publicity Minister's Office as he is busy marketing himself," he said during an interaction with students. Attacking Modi over alleged loss of employment ...
PMO should be called 'Publicity Minister's Office', says Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has converted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) into the "Publicity Minister's Office".Rahul, who interacted with students and addressed a rally here, also raked up the issue of Modi's education, saying there is no evidence that he went to a university.Rahul said the Prime Minister has been taking ad hoc decisions and cited demonetisation as an example in this regard."The Prime Minister bypassed the RBI and carried out demonetisation. These are just ad-hoc decisions he takes," he said."Instead of calling it the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), it should be called the Publicity Minister's Office. Basically, that is all he (PM) is interested in," the Congress chief said.Continuing his tirade against Modi, Rahul said no one actually knows whether the Prime Minister went to a university or not."We still don't have access to the Prime Minister's university degree. Nobody actually knows ...
Pramod Sawant wins trust vote in Goa (Roundup)
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday won the trust vote in the Goa Assembly and pledged to carry forward his late predecessor Manohar Parrikar's vision of "positive thinking".
Mizo assembly resolution asks Centre not to reintroduce
The Mizoram assembly Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Centre not to reintroduce the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in any form in future. The civil societies, churches, political parties and the people of the state are against the bill, Home Minister Lalchamliana said after moving the resolution. The people of the northeastern region are also against the bill, Lalchamliana added. The state cabinet on January 10 had also opposed the bill, he said. Chief Minister Zoramthanga had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that the people of Mizoram and the state government opposed the passage of the bill, Lalchamliana said. Zoramthanga also attended a meeting of political parties of the Northeastern region on January 29, in which chief ministers of the regional states and other leaders opposed the move of the Centre on the bill, he said. Leader of Opposition Zodintluanga of the Congress supported the resolution and said ...
Talks failed because of the Left : WB Cong
The Congress Wednesday blamed CPI-M for the failure of the seat sharing talks between the two parties in West Bengal and iterated its decision to go it alone in the state. It, however, decided not to contest five seats in south Bengal as goodwill gesture to the CPI(M) for its decision not to contest four seats won by Congress in 2014 and it was now for the CPI-M t take a call on the matter, party leader Pradip Bhttacharya said.. "The seat sharing talks failed as CPI(M) and Left Front were not keen on a formal alliance. They just wanted a seat sharing deal for this election. We were not ready for such a marriage of convenience. We were not ready to forge an seat sharing deal by compromising our dignity," Bhattacharya, who is the chairman of Bengal Congress Coordination Committee and Rajya Sabha MP said. There is no question of going back on the list of candidates for 11 seats in the state that Congress announced Monday night, he said adding the party will fight the ...