Page 1283 - Politics
21 soldiers dead as gunmen storm Mali army camp
Suspected jihadists have killed 21 Malian soldiers in a raid on an army camp in central Mali, military sources said, after a dawn attack that the armed forces believe was led by a deserter. Driving cars and motorbikes, the attackers stormed Dioura army camp in the Mopti region on Sunday, in the latest assault on the military as the country grapples with the spread of extremist groups and instability. "The provisional toll is 21 bodies discovered," said a military source, in figures also confirmed by a local legislator. The attack was carried out "by terrorist groups under the command of Ba Ag Moussa, a deserter army colonel", according to the Malian armed forces. A second military source said there was "a lot of damage". "Our men responded. I saw at least four bodies on the ground," he said. President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, on Twitter, said the Malian people were "united against terrible acts", without giving any death toll. Once a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, Mali in
Iraq PM vows no return to war policies
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has said his country will not return to the "policies of destructive wars".
Didn't get any offer from BJP to become Goa CM: Digambar Kamat
Congress MLA Digambar Kamat on Sunday said that he didn't get any offer from the Bharatiya Janata Party to become Chief Minister of Goa."My programme in Delhi was finalised 2-3 days ago, there's no question of meeting anybody. I had gone to Delhi for personal work. I don't have any offers from the BJP; these stories were planted by vested interests. I'm not bothered about the leadership or the Chief Minister post," Kamat told ANI, adding that he didn't get any offer for Goa CM post."If becoming the Chief Minister of Goa is in my destiny then no one can stop him from getting the post," Former chief minister of Goa Kamat further said.Expressing grief over the death of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who breathed his last on Sunday evening, Kamat said: "It is a big loss of the Bharatiya Janata Party."Meanwhile, Goa Congress leaders G Chodankar and C Kavlekar again wrote a letter to Goa Governor staking claim to form Government."Coalition partners of Parrikar led Govt had allied with
Options are open: Goa Forward leader Vijai Sardesai
Goa Forward Party chief and state minister Vijai Sardesai late on Sunday said his party had not supported the Bharatiya Janata Party but Manohar Parrikar, who was heading the coalition government comprising the BJP, Goa Forward Party, MGP and independents, since 2017."We had given support to Manohar Parrikar not BJP," Sardesai told ANI.After Parrikar's demise that was announced on Sunday, the "options are open" for Goa Forward Party, Sardesai"Now that he is not anymore, options are open. We want stability in Goa and we don't want the dissolution of the house. We will wait for the decision at the BJP legislature meeting and then take the next step will be taken accordingly" Sardesai said.The four-time Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Manohar Parrikar died on Sunday evening after a prolonged battle against cancer at the age of 63.Known for his simplicity, Parrikar who had good relations across the political spectrum, breathed his last at his residence here.Hours after the reports ..
Congress to go solo in West Bengal after talks stalemate on Lok Sabha seat sharing with Left
West Bengal Congress on Sunday ended all possibilities of an alliance with the Left Front in West Bengal and announced it will contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state on its own.This comes two days after the Left Front announced its candidates in 25 seats out of 42 parliamentary seats in West Bengal."Left Front announced its candidates in 25 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal on March 15 without any discussion with West Bengal Congress. Due to the unyielding behaviour of CPI (M) and its ally parties in the Left Front, we are calling off the proposed seat sharing in the state and have decided to fight BJP and Trinamool Congress in Bengal with our own force," said West Bengal Congress president Somen Nath Mitra.The CPI (M)-led Left Front in West Bengal on Friday released a list of 25 candidates in the state for the Lok Sabha elections.The 25 seats include Raiganj and Murshidabad, currently held by CPI(M). The party had declared its candidates for these constituencies earlier. Out of 25 .
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar loses long battle to cancer
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar died at his private residence here on Sunday evening after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 63.
Modi continues to rule popularity charts despite slight dip: IANS-CVOTER tracker poll
Even a fortnight after the air strike by Indian Air Force fighter jets on terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot, Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to dominate the popularity charts despite a dip in his rating from the peak witnessed during the first week of March, but his distant rival Rahul Gandhi has shown only marginal signs of recovery.
German reporter released by Venezuela returns home
A German reporter held by Venezuelan authorities for four months flew back home Sunday after being conditionally released, a Venezuelan NGO has said. Billy Six (32) "is in the air right now, flying from Caracas," Carlos Correa, head of the Espacio Publico non-governmental group that defends free speech, told AFP. The organisation published a photo on Twitter showing the German in a plane making the sign of a "V" for victory with his fingers. Arrests of media employees have increased in recent months as President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido duel over who is the legitimate president of the economically-devastated stricken country. Six was arrested in northern Falcon state on November 17 for allegedly photographing Maduro at a proximity deemed too close by the leader's minders. After being held for four months by the Venezuelan intelligence service -- during which he staged a brief hunger strike -- he was released on Friday with orders to report to court every two ...
New Goa government by Monday morning: BJP MLA
A new BJP-led coalition government in Goa will be in place by Monday morning, party legislator Michael Lobo said.
Gadkari arrives in Panaji for BJP legislature meet
Union minister Nitin Gadkari arrived in Goa in the early hours of Monday by a midnight flight to decide on the leadership issue in the state following the demise of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Parrikar (63) died on Sunday evening at his residence near here after battling pancreatic cancer for over a year. Gadkari, who had successfully managed to cobble together a coalition in the state under the leadership of Parrikar in 2017, will be holding discussions with the BJP Goa legislature wing during the night. The senior leader is also scheduled to meet alliance partners, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa Forward Party and Independents, who had given support to the Parrikar-led government. "The new chief minister will be sworn in by tomorrow morning," a senior BJP functionary said. Asked if they would continue to support the BJP, the alliance partners said "no one should not be taken for granted" as their support was to Parrikar when the government was formed in 2017. Parrikar, .
Modi did what Manmohan Singh didn't: Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi played the role of "perfect chowkidar" by giving Pakistan a befitting reply after the Pulwama terror attack, something his predecessor Manmohan Singh could not do in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
#MainBhiChowkidaar gains momentum, PM urges people to continue working for India
Hours after BJP's #MainBhiChowkidar campaign gained momentum with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders, including president Amit Shah, prefixing the word 'chowkidar' to their names in their Twitter profile, the PM thanked and urged people to continue with the movement.He tweeted, "Fellow Indians, Happy that #MainBhiChowkidar has ignited the Chowkidar within all of us. Great fervour! Ecstatic to see the passion and commitment to protect India from corrupt, criminal and anti-social elements. Let us keep working together for a developed India."Modi also retweeted tweets of various people who used the hashtag #MainBhiChowkidaar in order to show their support to the campaign.Ministers, BJP supporters and many others have put 'chowkidar' before their name on Twitter as a mark of support.A day after kick-starting the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign ahead of crucial Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday renamed his Twitter account to "Chowkidar Narendra ...
Congress writes to Governor, formally stakes claim to form government in Goa
Congress late on Sunday evening formally staked claim to form the government in Goa, hours after state chief minister Manohar Parrikar passed away.The opposition Congress, which is the single largest party in the 40-member Goa assembly, wrote to Governor Mridula Sinha, the second time in 48 hours.The letter signed by Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Chandrakant Kavlekar and Girish Chodankar, President Goa Pradesh Congress Committee states that coalition allies had aligned with the BJP in 2017 on the condition that it would support a BJP-led government only if the coalition was headed by Parrikar, the then Defence Minister."Now, in view of Mr. Parrikar's death, BJP has no allies," the letter submitted.It said that it was up to the Governor to ensure "smooth transition and transfer of power"."Congress being the single largest party, it is submitted that the leader of the Congress party is entitled to be invited to form the next government. We, therefore, hereby once again
Decision after talks with Gadkari: BJP's Goa allies
All decisions about a fresh bid for power will be taken after a discussion with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who is expected to arrive in Goa soon, leaders from regional political party who were part of the BJP-led alliance government said.
BJP, Ajsu to jointly contest LS polls in Jharkhand
The BJP and the Ajsu, which are currently ruling coalition partners in Jharkhand, on Sunday said they would contest the Lok Sabha elections together. The saffron party will contest 13 seats and Ajsu, formerly known as the All Jharkhand Students Union before it registered as a political entity, from the Giridih constituency. "The BJP and the AJSU party have been contesting as partners in the assembly elections (since the creation of Jharkhand 19 years ago). This is the first time that we are contesting together in the general elections," BJP state general secretary Dipak Prakash told PTI. "The NDA alliance in Jharkhand has been forged with an aim to retain Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it is the need of the hour," he said. Asked when the BJP would announce its list of candidates, Prakash said the Parliamentary Board will decide. AJSU president and former deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto told PTI that the two would jointly work to win all the 14 seats. "I will campaign
Congress to contest all 42 LS seats in Bengal
The Congress on Sunday announced it would contest all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal as its seat adjustment talks with the Left Front have collapsed.
KCR calls for 'Congress, BJP mukt Bharat'
Telangana Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Sunday launched the party's election campaign with a call for 'Congress and BJP mukt Bharat'.
Congress stakes claim in Goa; BJP in a huddle
Claiming to be the single largest party in the 36-member state legislative Assembly, the Congress on Sunday formally staked its claim to form government in Goa with Governor Mridula Sinha.
Atmosphere perfectly conducive for LS polls in Tripura: CEO
Tripura Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti on Sunday said the atmosphere for Lok Sabha elections in the state is "perfectly conducive". Taranikanti's comments came in the wake of allegations by the opposition CPI(M) about largescale pre-poll violence. Addressing a press conference here, he said, "We hope to conduct a peaceful, free and fair Parliament election in Tripura, because the situation is conducive... The Centre has assured to dispatch adequate security forces for smooth conduct of polls." A total of 25,98,290 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise on April 11 and April 18 in the West Tripura and East Tripura (ST) Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively. CPI(M) state secretary had claimed in February that over 1,500 persons came under attack in incidents of poll violence in the last few months in the state. Taranikanti, however, said adequate central security forces would be deployed in Tripura. "We shall deploy flying squads, static ...
UK government warns it might not hold pivotal Brexit vote
British leader Theresa May's government warned Sunday it might not hold a planned Brexit vote this week unless it feels it can secure a win that avoids a lengthy delay to pulling out of the EU. London has been paralysed by political inaction and chaos as it barrels toward the March 29 end of its 46-year involvement in the bloc without a plan. Parliament has twice resoundingly rejected the separation terms May reached with the other 27 EU leaders last year. She doggedly vowed to bring them back by Wednesday for a third vote that - if it succeeds - would see her ask the EU for a "technical" Brexit delay until June. But May warned on Sunday that another defeat would almost certainly require a delay so long that Britain would have to take part in European Parliament elections in May. This would mean "we will not leave the EU for many months, if ever," May wrote in The Sunday Telegraph. Two of her top ministers then warned that May might not even submit her deal for a third vote unless she