Page 1299 - Politics
LS Speaker gives up security, protocol vehicles
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday announced that she was giving up her Z-plus security as well as the protocol vehicles that formed part of her cavalcade in her capacity as the Speaker in the Lower House.
Jaitley accuses Opposition of manufacturing fake issues
Accusing the opposition of manufacturing 'fake issues' concerning Rafale, Nirav Modi and Balakot air strike, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday said if these were removed from Congress president Rahul Gandhi's speech, nothing would perhaps be left. In the sixth part of his 'Agenda-2019' blog, Jaitley gave a point-wise rebuttal to the allegations made by the opposition parties with regard to Rafale, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, demonetisation, Pulwama and Balakot incidents. "If fake issues are taken out of Rahul Gandhi's speech, nothing will perhaps be left. The Opposition is in pathetic state. "It has to manufacture fake issues against the Government since the real ones don't exist. The Opposition underestimates the wisdom of the electorate. I am confident that the electorate will respond to India's Opposition parties and show them their place," he said. The senior BJP leader further said it is a recognition of the performance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government that the ...
Mamata violated model code of conduct: Left to EC
The Left Front has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by announcing "her party's programme from the state secretariat."
AAP's SC/ST arm chief quits party citing corruption
The chief of Aam Aadmi Party's SC/ST wing Karm Singh (Karma) here on Saturday quit the party citing "corruption" as the reason for his decision.
Sikkimese youth endorse many government policies, seek more opportunities
Sikkim's youths, who will form a significant demographic in the upcoming elections, are happy with certain progressive policies of the government of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling but want more youth-centric policies to open up more jobs and opportunities for them.
SAD will follow diktat of Akal Takht on Dera Sacha Sauda: Sukhbir
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Saturday that his party would abide by the diktat of Akal Takht on seeking support from Dera Sacha Sauda followers in the Lok Sabha election. Akal Takht, the primary seat of Sikh religious authority, had ex-communicated the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda in an alleged blasphemy case of 2007. Talking to reporters here, Badal said, "We will follow in letter and spirit the edict of Sri Akal Takht Sahib regarding the Dera Sacha Saud on this matter." He was answering queries about Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar's challenge to him to clarify his stand on the matter. Jakhar had declared that the Congress would not seek support from the Dera Sacha Sauda followers. Punjab has 13 parliamentary seats and it will go to polls in a single phase on May 19. On Thursday's Indo-Pak meeting on Katrapur Sahib corridor, Badal accused Pakistan of creating "hurdles intentionally". Asking Pakistan not to put restrictions and conditions on the entry .
Modi makes tall promises, but does nothing: Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Saturday Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made false promises and had "zero achievements" to highlight. Addressing public meetings in Jamwa Ramgarh and Bhandrej, Gehlot alleged that Modi had failed to fulfil the promises he had made in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and took wrong decisions. The senior Congress leader claimed that demonetisation and the hastily-implemented goods and services tax were among the decisions that did not benefit the people. The chief minister said the farmers and traders were disappointed with the Modi government. "He (Modi) makes tall promises, but does nothing. He has been exposed in front of the public." Gehlot also hit out at former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, alleging that she had created a divide among the people of different castes.
EC bars parties from releasing manifestos in last 48 hours before polling
The Election Commission Saturday barred political parties from releasing election manifestos in the last 48 hours before polling. The commission has now made the release of election manifestos a part of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which is a set of rules to be followed by parties after elections are announced. The amended model code now states, "In case of single phase election, manifesto shall not be released during the prohibitory period, as prescribed under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act 1951. "In case of multi-phase elections, manifesto shall not be released during the prohibitory periods, as prescribed under Section 126 of the RP Act of all the phases of those elections." Section 126 of the act embodies "election silence", which prohibits any form of election campaign in the last 48 hours leading up to voting. As of now there was no rule on timing of release of manifestos. In 2014, the BJP had released its Lok Sabha manifesto on the day of voting in the
Chamling kicks off election campaign in Sikkim
Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) President Pawan Chamling, the country's longest-serving Chief Minister, kicked off poll campaign here on Saturday with a brief rally and a declaration that the people of the state should prepare the agenda of the government and the same will be implemented within 100 days of formation of the new government.
Rahul sets hectic schedule for polls, frames narrative
Congress President Rahul Gandhi has set a hectic pace of campaign for the Lok Sabha polls visiting six states in the past week and has outlined the partys electoral thrust to raise social and economic issues including jobs, healthcare and farm loans to oust the Modi government.
No interviews just before polling, EC to politicians
The Election Commission on Saturday asked leaders of all political parties to not give any media interviews during the "silence period", or 48 hours before start of polling when campaigning comes to end.
More farm loans will be waived once state's fiscal condition improves: Amarinder
As his government marks the completion of two years in power, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Saturday said more farm loans would be waived once the state's fiscal situation improves. He attacked the Akalis for criticising his government's farm debt waiver scheme, accusing them of "failing" to do anything for the farmers themselves. Addressing a press conference to mark two years of his government, the CM said, "If money is available, more will be given to the farmers, who deserve the same for the contributions they make for the prosperity of the nation." Under the current farm debt waiver scheme, the state government had committed to waive farm loans of 10.25 lakh farmers. Asserting that his government had laid strong foundation for the development of Punjab in just two years, Amarinder said the Congress regime had delivered on each of the nine 'nuktas' (promises) made in the run-up to the assembly elections. Even the promise of smart phones to youths was being fulfilled, with .
BJP's Tripura ally announces its own LS candidates
In a first major setback to the year-old BJP-led coalition government in Tripura, alliance partner IPFT on Saturday announced their own nominees for the state's two Lok Sabha seats.
Rahul Gandhi mimics Modi at rally in Dehradun
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday mimicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice over the Pulwama terror attack and the Rafale deal at an election rally here.
Appoint chief observer from outside Bengal: BJP
Demanding 'free and fair' elections in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Saturday urged the Election Commission to appoint chief state observer from outside the "sensitive" West Bengal to oversee the poll process, including the functioning of the office of state Chief Electoral Officer.
BJP, Cong launch Lok Sabha polls campaign in UK with rival car rallies
India's general election fever rolled into the UK on Saturday, with the overseas units of rivals BJP and Congress organising separate car rallies to garner support from the sizeable Indian diaspora in the country. The Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), the BJP's overseas unit, flagged off its campaign with European racing champion Advait Deodhar being part of the rally, in which hundreds of cars took to the streets of London, Birmingham, Leicester, Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle. The rival Congress' overseas unit, Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK, launched its rally from west London to cover Birmingham, Coventry and Slough before assembling back in south-west London. OFBJP President Kuldeep Shekhawat said: "There are around 10,000 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the UK who are actively or passively participating in this world's biggest dance of democracy, the Indian general election 2019". "The central message is consistent worldwide to support 'Team Modi' for a clean sweep in the
AGP workers clash with protesters in Assam
A scuffle broke out Saturday between Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) workers and protesters belonging to various outfits over the party's alliance with the BJP for the upcoming general elections, police said. A few people escaped with minor injuries in the incident that happened in front of the AGP headquarters at Ambari, they said. Several people, who claimed were ordinary citizens, had gathered in front of the AGP office on Saturday. When a group of AGP workers came out of the party office to disperse them, a scuffle followed in which a few women protesters received minor injuries. Security forces, however, quickly brought the situation under control. Protests against the AGP entering into fresh alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has evoked widespread resentment among people, including a section of the AGP's leaders and members, who are opposed to the alliance. Party members had locked the AGP office in Jorhat on Friday as protests raged on in various districts ...
LS Speaker returns protocol vehicles, security staff
Lok Sabha Speaker and Indore BJP MP Sumitra Mahajan Saturday said she had given up police vehicles and security personnel provided to her as part of protocol. Mahajan, in a letter to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, said she had stopped using these government vehicles from March 10 itself, when the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha poll schedule. "In view of the Lok Sabha election, the model code of conduct has come into vogue since March 10. On that day only, I stopped using the government vehicles. But being in the Constitutional post of the Lok Sabha Speaker, police vehicles and guards were accompanying my private vehicle," her letter said. "As Indore was a peaceful and safe city, I do not need vehicles and guards given under protocol. I want to inform you that I am giving up these facilities," she said in the letter. Mahajan has been Indore Lok Sabha MP since 1989. Indore will go to polls on May 19.
Cannot trust Pak on Kartarpur corridor: Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Saturday he did not trust Pakistan's intent behind the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, saying their agenda was "nefarious and political" and aimed at "exploiting" the sentiments of the Sikhs. "Pakistan is doing it with a different intent, which is not at all aimed at promoting peace," Singh said at a press conference here to mark two years of his government. "India's agenda is religious, but theirs is totally disruptive." The Congress leader said the number of devotees proposed by Islamabad to be allowed to pass the corridor was not at all sufficient and he wanted at least 15,000 pilgrims to be permitted to visit the historic gurdwara everyday. The chief minister reiterated his demand for an open visit at the Kartarpur gurdwara, questioning the rationale behind having a corridor if the need for passport and visa was still there. "Some identification was, of course, needed, but there was no need for passport etc," he said, adding that such .
Bangalore North Cong MLAs of seek redress of grievances
In a precondition of sorts, Congress legislators from Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat Saturday said Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will have to address their constituency related issues, a day after announcing they will work together for JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda's victory, if he contests from the constituency. Congress leaders from Bangalore North met legislature party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and requested his mediation. "Seven of us- five Congress and two from JD(S) are together. Let there be no doubt about victory of our (coalition) candidate. We will all work together, but personally there are some issues related to our constituency,"Yeshwanthpura MLA S T Somashekar said. Speaking to reporters after meeting with CLP leader Siddarmaiah, he said, "We have asked for his mediation in solving those issues." If we are convinced that our issues will be solved, we have assured him (Siddaramaiah) that we will abide by AICC's decision hundred per ...