Page 1268 - Politics
"Neutral" regional parties to get 120-plus seats: TRS leader
Regional parties not aligned with the Congress and BJP would get 120-plus seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections and may hold the key for government formation, according to a Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader. Speaking to PTI, Nizamabad MP, K Kavitha, daughter of the TRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, raised a strong pitch for these "neutral" regional parties to have a shot at power at the Centre. Kavitha, an influential party leader, said the TRS is in touch with various parties not part of the BJP-led NDA and Congress-anchored UPA on its efforts to forge a federal front of regional outfits. "Most of them are waiting and watching for the (Lok Sabha) results to come out but then taking up a neutral front is an idea which is appealing to many parties, not all of them have come out openly saying that," she said. A federal front would take good shape after the Lok Sabha election results are out, Kavitha said. All regional parties -- she named TRS, YSRCP, ..
Yogi's claims in UP are bogus: Priyanka
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on completing two years in power, saying his report card reads well but nothing has really been achieved.
Pallam Raju, Seelam key Congress faces in Andhra
Former Union Ministers M.M. Pallam Raju and J.D. Seelam are among the key candidates announced by the Congress for Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh.
Add 'Pappu' to your names: Haryana Minister to Cong workers
At a time when "#MaiBhiChowkidar" campaign is trending with BJP cadres prefixing 'chowkidar' to their names on Twitter, Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday targeted Congress, saying that its workers should add "Pappu" to their names over which BJP will have no objection."We have added # chowkidar to our names and you have a problem with that. You should also prefix # Pappu to your names and we will have no objection," Vij tweeted.'Pappu' is used by BJP to mock Congress president Rahul Gandhi.Gandhi and several Congress have targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, saying "chowkidar chor hai".'MainBhiChowkidar' campaign was launched on Saturday to further the narrative of the Prime Minister on graft. A day after the launch of the campaign, Prime Minister Modi and top BJP leaders such as Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan and JP Nadda added the prefix 'chowkidar' to their Twitter handles.
Concern raised over SKorean treatment of Bloomberg reporter
International journalists' organisations have expressed concern over South Korea's press freedoms after the country's ruling party singled out a Bloomberg reporter over what it claimed was a "borderline treacherous" article insulting President Moon Jae-in, resulting in threats to the reporter's safety. The Democratic Party said Tuesday that it has no immediate plans to withdraw a March 13 statement by spokesman Lee Hae-sik, who attacked the reporter by name over a September article whose headline described Moon as acting as the "top spokesman" of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the UN General Assembly. Moon's office has refused to answer multiple requests for comment. The Blue House responded sharply last week after a conservative lawmaker during a parliamentary speech borrowed the Bloomberg headline to criticize Moon's diplomacy with Pyongyang.
PC Chacko bats for ties with AAP
In a bid to oust the BJP out of power, Senior Congress leader PC Chacko on Tuesday batted for an alliance with the AAP in Delhi for the forthcoming general elections.Chacko's statement came after Sheila Dikshit penned a down a letter to party president Rahul Gandhi stating coalition with AAP will 'harm' the Congress in the long run.Speaking to ANI in New Delhi on Tuesday, Chacko said, "As far as I know there are senior leaders in Delhi who think that defeating BJP is party's immediate responsibility; for it we should form an alliance with AAP, that's the thinking of the majority of leaders.""Our president Rahul Gandhi will take a decision in few days time, and the policy of our party as decided by working committee is to go for an alliance with the parties who are opposed to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). I hope Delhi leaders will also follow this policy decision of the Congress," he added.Last week, Dikshit, after meeting the Congress president, had declared that there was unanimity ..
Pentagon provides list of military projects that could be hit to pay for wall
The Pentagon on Monday (local time) announced a list of military projects that would "derail" if US President Donald Trump takes money from national security budget for the proposed wall along the US-Mexico border."We know President Trump wants to take money from our national security accounts to pay for his wall, and now we have a list of some of the projects and needed base repairs that could be derailed or put on the chopping block as a result," said The Hill quoted Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Senator Jack Reed as saying.The 21-page list of military projects came days after acting Defence secretary Patrick Shanahan vowed to provide the document to Congress.On March 14, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to disapprove the emergency declaration by 59 votes to 41, in what was a sharp rebuke to Trump. The resolution was already passed in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives by 245 votes to 182 last month, with 13 Republicans supporting the ...
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar mediating between Congress-AAP in Delhi: Sources
NCP Leader Sharad Pawar intervened in the ongoing war of words and possible alliance discussions in Delhi between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress. Multiple sources in all three parties have confirmed to ANI that Sharad Pawar has taken the mantle of mediator between both parties to stitch an alliance in Delhi to mount a unified campaign against the BJP.This intervention of the NCP comes after the Delhi Congress unit's divergent views on an AAP-Congress tie up came to a head when Delhi Congress Chief Sheila Dikshit went on-record to convey her disagreement with leaders within the Delhi Congress on joining hands with the AAP.Media reports surfaced on Monday that Dikshit penned a letter to Congress President Rahul Gandhi informing him that a tie up with the AAP would harm Congress' prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.Dikshit's letter was in response to a recent 'phone survey' by AICC's Delhi in Charge PC Chacko to guage the 'mood' of party workers in the capital and their ..
No riots in UP since BJP came to power: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the state had not seen a single riot after the BJP came to power and his two-year government had shown zero tolerance towards crime and criminals. Presenting a report card of his government, which completes two years in office, he said the BJP-led state government had been able to change the perception about the state. According to the chief minister, the secure atmosphere in the country had become an example for the rest of the country. The UP Sthaapnaa Diwas (Foundation Day) was celebrated for first time after 68 years in 2018, he said.
BJP trying to turn LS polls into 'khaki election', says Shashi Tharoor
The Lok Sabha polls should be fought on perennial issues like poverty and disease and not on a tragedy of one moment, says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor while accusing the BJP-led government of trying to turn the 2019 vote into a khaki election after the Pulwama attack. The momentum was with the Congress when the Pulwama tragedy struck on February 14, killing 40 CRPF soldiers, Tharoor said, hitting out at the government for trying to make the upcoming Lok Sabha polls a "national security based election. "We were doing very well by all estimations and the momentum was with us when the Pulwama tragedy struck us. Thereafter, the government has tried to make this a khaki election, a national security-based election, Tharoor told PTI in an interview. They are trying to hype their nationalist message that they were trying to protect the nation at the time of danger which, to my mind and my party's view, has not been the principle challenge facing the country," said the former diplomat and .
Sangh backs pivot Modi to return to power (IANS Exclusive)
In the face of an increasingly hostile Rahul Gandhi, the RSS continues to bank on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the pivot to stay in power for the next five years. With Modi remaining BJP's single biggest vote catcher, it is an unequivocal thumbs-up for him from the Sangh.
India's leadership fully capable to act against terror: Doval
NSA Ajit Doval said Tuesday the leadership of the country is fully capable to deal with any act of terror and against those who abet it. Addressing the 80th raising day of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) here, Doval also said India has not forgotten and will not forget the terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, where 40 CRPF jawans were killed on February 14. "I can assure you that the country's leadership is very capable to effectively respond to such acts (Pulwama) of terrorism and those who aide it," he said. Doval, a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is believed to be the person behind the planning of the air strike on the camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot in Pakistan, carried out by the Indian Air Force in retaliation to the Pulwama terror attack, one of the worst on security personnel in Kashmir in three decades. "What should we do? What should be our way, our aim and our response and time to respond? The country's leadership is both capable and ...
Shah attacks Rahul for 'arrest' of techies for raising pro-Modi slogans
BJP president Amit Shah Tuesday targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over the alleged arrest of some techies in Bengaluru for raising pro-Modi slogans, saying youngsters give direction to the future and he should "stop intimidating youth of India, which has rejected your brand of politics". "Hugs for 'Tukde Tukde' gang and arrest of peaceful youth raising pro-Modi slogans? Where are the champions of 'Free Speech'? Yuvraj (prince) of CONgress must know that time follows the course taken by youngsters. Stop intimidating youth of India, which has rejected your brand of politics," Shah tweeted. The BJP chief in his tweet tagged a post by his party's Karnataka unit which said the state police had arrested some techies for raising pro-Modi slogans at Manyata tech park in Bengaluru. Gandhi was to address a meeting at the venue. "This is the real face of democracy in a Cong-JD(S) ruled state. It's total dictatorship where freedom of choice & expression of citizens is suppressed," it had ..
Trump names conservative lawyer as Mexico ambassador
President Donald Trump has nominated a veteran Washington lawyer as his first ambassador to Mexico, a delicate role in representing a US leader set on building a wall between the countries. Christopher Landau, who had been rumoured for a job since the start of the Trump administration, served as a clerk to two conservative-leaning Supreme Court justices before becoming a prominent lawyer focused on appeals. He has no diplomatic experience but studied Latin America at Harvard and speaks Spanish. His father, George Landau, was a longtime US policymaker in Latin America who served as ambassador to Chile, Paraguay and Venezuela. Trump announced Landau, who requires confirmation by the Senate, in a statement released late Monday. Numerous key diplomatic posts remain empty more than two years into Trump's tenure. The United States has been without an ambassador in Mexico City since May, when Roberta Jacobson, who was named by Barack Obama, resigned. She had initially decided to stay on ...
Prashant Kishor behind deletion of votes: CM Naidu
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday accused poll strategist and Janata Dal (United) National vice president Prashant Kishor for the removal of votes of the party sympathisers."K Chandrashekar Rao is doing criminal politics. He is grabbing the MLAs of Congress and TDP. Bihari dacoit Prasant Kishore has removed lakhs of votes in Andhra Pradesh. He is committing cyber crime," Chief Minister Naidu said while addressing an event in Ongole.Earlier, Naidu had criticized YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy along with TRS and BJP for removing the names of voters from the list."They submitted Form 7 to delete names from the voters' list. YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy along with TRS and BJP is trying to remove the name of voters from the list. Criminal action should be taken against those who are misusing Form-7 to delete the names," he said.Criticizing YSRCP, TRP and BJP, Naidu said, "All of them hatched a conspiracy to destabilise the TDP government and the Telugu Desam Party. ...
Cong still mulling alliance with AAP
Days after having unanimously decided to go it alone in Delhi, the Congress is again mulling options to align with the Aam Aadmi Party in the national capital in its bid to defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha elections. Sources said the Congress leadership is in talks with AAP leaders and senior leaders within the party are trying to convince Delhi Congress leaders for an alliance with the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP. AICC general secretary in-charge of Delhi Congress PC Chacko said, "I am in consultation with Congress party leaders in Delhi on the possibilities of forging an alliance with AAP. "The Congress Working Committee has decided to align with like-minded parties across the country to defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha elections. "I hope Delhi Congress leaders also go by this sentiment and decide on an alliance with AAP, but a final decision will be taken by the Congress president very soon," Chacko told PTI. Chacko's views are at variance with Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit, who has ...
Congress-CPM break up paves way for polarised Bengal polls
With the Congress-CPI(M) proposed alliance falling apart in West Bengal, the stage is set for a four-cornered contest in which the main contenders -- the Trinamool Congress and the BJP - are in an advantageous position to consolidate the voters in their favour. According to Trinamool Congress sources, the breakdown augurs well for the party, which would be in a better position to bag the nearly 30-per cent minority votes in the state in the absence of another credible "secular force" in the state. The CPI(M)-Congress seat-sharing talks failed after the latter accused the Left of insulting it by unilaterally announcing 25 candidates in the state, which has 42 Lok Sabha seats. The cross currrents of the failure to clinch the Opposition alliance will be felt directly in 15 seats spread across north and south Bengal, a TMC leader said. "Although the breakdown of the Opposition alliance has its benefits, it has taken away the buffer from us. Now the maximum anti-TMC votes would be bagged ..
Pak violates ceasefire in Akhnoor, Sunderbani sectors along LoC
Pakistan fired mortar shells and small arms in the Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors along the Line of Control late on Monday night, drawing a retaliation from the Indian Army.The ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Akhnoor sector started at 22:45 hours yesterday and continued till early this morning, an Army official said.The firing by Pakistan was retaliated by the Indian Army, he said.More details are awaited.
Goa CM asks BJP workers to refrain from presenting him with bouquets
After being sworn-in as the Goa Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant on Tuesday asked his friends and BJP workers to refrain from presenting him with bouquets in view of the state mourning declared as a mark of respect to late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar whom he described as his "idol and mentor".63-year-old Parrikar died on Sunday evening after a prolonged battle against cancer and a seven-day state mourning in Goa was declared the next day.In a Facebook post, Sawant said, "I have taken charge as Chief Minister with utmost humility and sense of gratitude towards my idol and mentor Manoharbhai. However the state mourning continues and hence I appeal to all my friends, family and karyakartas to refrain from presenting me with bouquets and greetings. Rather I look forward to your blessings and support in carrying ahead the glorious legacy of commitment towards good governance! Jai Hind!"He was sworn-in as the Chief Minister in the wee hours of Tuesday.In addition, 11 other leaders, who ...
LS polls: BJP's key 'invisible' general secretaries
As Lok Sabha elections near, the post of "Sangathan Mahamantri" (General Secretaries (Organisation)) becomes increasingly important in the BJP. The incumbent is a key political link with partys ideological mentor RSS and carries out coordination at various levels.