Page 1310 - Politics
No room for authoritarianism in India: Manmohan Singh
Delivering a lecture here on Friday, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that in a democratic country like India, there is no room for authoritarianism and advised the leaders to "temper the harshness of change".
JD(U) Jharkhand gen secy joins JVM
JD(U) Jharkhand Unit general secretary Bateshwar Prasad Mehta Friday resigned from the partys primary membership and joined the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) along with his supporters. "I served the JD(U) for over a decade, but did not get proper recognition," Mehta told reporters after joining the JVM at Ichak in Hazaribagh district in the presence of JVM president Babulal Marandi. Marandi said he was happy that Mehta and his supporters have joined his party. The proposed 'Mahagathbandhan' of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and the JVM have not yet officially announced any candidates for the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand. The JVM had won eight seats in 2014 Assembly election but now has only two MLAs as six MLAs merged with the BUP.
What's stopping NDA from initiating action against Nirav Modi, asks Cong
The Congress Friday accused the Modi government of not acting against fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi despite having evidence and asked what was stopping the NDA from initiating action. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said the country's watchman is asleep and is snoozing while Nirav Modi is globe-trotting and opening new companies in London and elsewhere after fleeing from the country. "Today is 'world sleep day', as the Congress party shall expose how Prime Minister Modi i.e., 'desh ka chowkidar' and his government slept and snoozed while 'chhota Modi' i.e., Nirav Modi looted crores, fled the country, posed with the prime minister, globe trotted the world, opened a new diamond business in London which have a Panama Papers connection. "Simple question is - If the Congress party can expose this entire chain of events trace this trail, why did the CBI, ED, SFIO and other investigative agencies of the Modi government could not do it after 14 months of his escape," he asked. The Congress ..
SC seeks EC response to opposition plea on EVMs
The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Election Commission's response on a plea by 21 opposition parties seeking audit of at least 50 per cent of EVMs with corresponding Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs).
No problem with central forces: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday said the state will not have any problem if central forces are deployed in the state ahead of the 7-phase Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11. The Election Commission Friday deployed seven companies of central para-military forces in as many districts of the state. Three more companies will join them late this evening. "The state government was informed of the arrival of the (central) forces. Let them come, we don't have any problem," Banerjee, also Trinamool Congress supremo, said. Banerjee was asked to comment on the statement of West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh that the Trinamool Congress is averse to the deployment of central forces in the state. Senior state minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim later said the TMC had won the 2016 Assembly elections bagging 211 of the 294 seats, when central forces were on duty. The party had won by huge margin in by-polls to a Lok Sabha seat and two Assembly constituencies
PM Modi condemns Christchurch attack, writes to NZ PM to express solidarity
Expressing "deep shock" over killings of scores of people in the Christchurch terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra on Friday said hatred and violence have no place in diverse and democratic societies, and expressed India's solidarity with the people of New Zealand at this difficult time. In a letter to Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, Modi also stressed India's strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and of all those who support such acts of violence, the External Affairs Ministry said in an official release. At least 49 worshippers were killed in attacks on the Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and the Linwood Mosque in the city's suburb, seen as one of the worst attack on Muslims in a western country. In the letter, Modi offered heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and underscored India's solidarity with the "friendly people of New Zealand at this difficult time". Prime Minister has expressed his deep shock and ...
Pollachi case: CB-CID to grill Thirunavukkarasu
A court in Coimbatore on Friday permitted the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) to take into custody for four days Thirunavukkarasu, the prime accused in the Pollachi sexual abuse and blackmail case.
Nepal party demands govt to declare country as Hindu state, reinstate monarchy
A right-wing political party on Friday demanded the government to declare Nepal a Hindu state and hold a referendum to reinstate monarchy, which was abolished over a decade ago, in the country. Nepal was declared a secular state in 2008 after the success of the people's movement of 2006 that saw the abolition of monarchy. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party, led by former deputy premier Kamal Thapa, organised a two-week-long Rastrya Swabhiman Yatra from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west. "The government should declare the country a Hindu state and we will start a campaign for establishing a democratic system with the inclusion of monarchy," Thapa said addressing his supporters at the conclusion of the 2800-km-long yatra which concluded here at Bhrikutimandap. He said the march was organised by his party to preserve "national integrity and end corruption in the country". Thapa accused both, the Nepal Communist Party-led government and main opposition Nepali Congress for the current .
Air India suspends flights to and from Birmingham
Air India in the UK confirmed on Friday that it would be suspending all flights to and from Birmingham Airport from Saturday due to "extraordinary circumstances" involving the closure of Pakistan's airspace. The Indian national carrier said that its daily flights to India from London Heathrow remain unaffected as the New Delhi and Amritsar services in and out of Birmingham will be grounded until further updates. "The flight cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances, namely closure of Pakistan airspace and resultant impact which is beyond the control of Air India, said Debashis Golder, Regional Manager UK and Europe. "In fact, besides Birmingham, many other flights in our network have been cancelled, combined or being operated with restricted payload, to reduce impact on passenger travel to the minimum, he said. Pakistan airspace remains closed since Indian airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist camp in the country following a terror attack claimed by the terror outfit ...
Akhilesh, Mayawati, Ajit Singh to hold 11 joint rallies
In bid to give a tough challenge to the BJP, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati and RLD leader Ajit Singh will hold 11 rallies jointly in Uttar Pradesh including in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi.
Actress Sumalatha seeks support of S M Krishna for candidacy
Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of late actor-turned-politician, who is likely to contest asan independent from Mandya in the Lok Sabha polls, Friday met senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minster S M Krishna here and sought his support. Krishna, a prominent Vokkaliga leader from Mandyasaid he would discuss with the party leadership on supporting her in the polls. On her part,Sumalatha said she would reveal her decision on contesting the polls and her plan of action by March 18. "Sumalatha informed me about contesting the pollsfrom Mandya. I will also speak to the BJP leadership,"Krishna said. Speaking to reporters, he said the BJP would take a decision by March 18 on whether to field a candidate from Mandya or support Sumalatha by not fielding a candidate. Conceding that there is a demand within the BJP to field a candidate from Mandya, he said "After taking a total view... also looking into the decision thatSumalatha will take on March 18, BJP will take a ...
Bengal Left Front announces names for 25 seats
The Left Front on Friday announced its candidates for 25 of West Bengal's 42 Lok Sabha seats, including the two seats won by the CPI-M in 2014.
EC deploys first batch of central forces in West Bengal
The Election Commission (EC) on Friday deployed seven companies of central para-military forces in as many districts of West Bengal, ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11. Three more companies will also move in by late this evening for their deployment in South 24-Parganas district and Kolkata, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu said. The seven companies have been deployed in the districts of North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and North 24-Parganas. Personnel of these 10 companies of the BSF would carry out route marches in "certain vulnerable pockets" to instill confidence among the voters. However, the number of vulnerable pockets, which are decided on several factors including past incidents of violence, is still being assessed, Basu said. He said state Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab and state government officials Friday reviewed poll preparedness through video conference. The EC has ...
Sena advices BJP to not induct many opposition leader in party
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday opined that the BJP should not include all opposition leaders in the party.He said, "You (BJP) should not take all of them in your party; let some people be there as well. They need some people to comment on the elections. I am not commenting, as I fear that Shiv Sena or BJP may have to take a person on whom I have commented."His remarks come a day after Congress leader Tom Vaddakan joined the BJP, saying he had quit the grand old party because it was now resorting to "use and throw" approach. Former Congress MP from Haryana Arvind Sharma too joined the BJP on Friday.Trinamool Congress' AnupamHazra also joined BJP on Tuesday in the presence of BJP leaders KailashVijayvargiya and Mukul Roy.Maharashtra will vote for Lok Sabha elections in three phases. The polling dates are April 10, 17 and 24, said the Election Commission of India on March 11.
Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati to hold 11 joint rallies from April 7
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawatiwill hold 11 joint rallies, including one in Mainpuri where SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting polls, starting April 7 till May 16. SP chief spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said the programme of the rallies has been finalised. "Between April 7 to May 16, both leaders will address 11 joint rallies and RLD chief Ajit Singh will also be sharing stage with them," he said. The first joint rally of SP-BSP-RLD will be held in Deoband (Saharanpur) on April 7, followed by rallies in Badaun, Agra, Mainpuri, Rampur, Firozabad, Kannauj, Faizabad, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. In Mainpuri, the SP has fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav, while Akhilesh Yadav's wife, Dimple Yadav, is contesting from Kannauj. The SP president had on Wednesday met Mayawati and discussed kickstarting campaigning with a joint rally during the Navratras, which begin on April 6. Directives have been issued to party workers for coordinating with alliance ...
AI flies 5,000 security personnel to J&K (IANS Exclusive)
Air India has ferried around 5,000 army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel to Srinagar in special night flights in recent weeks as boots on the ground are being strengthened in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pulwama attack.
LS polls: Congress to contest 11 seats in Bihar
The Congress will contest 11 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, said Bihar Congress campaign committee Chairman Akhilesh Prasad Singh here on Friday.
Cong MP Shashi Tharoor's relatives join BJP
The BJP welcomedCongress leader Shashi Tharoor's aunt and her husband into the party fold at a function here Friday but faced embarrassment as they said they were already supporters of the saffron party. The development comes a day after congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan joined the BJP. Tharoors aunt Sobhana Sasikumar and her husband Sasikumar said they had been long time supporters of the BJP and wondered why such a function was organised to welcome them into the party. Welcoming 14 new members from diverse backgrounds into the party, BJP's Kerala president P S Sreedharan Pillai called them the cream of Kochi and honoured them with a party shawl in the media's presence. Addressing the function, Pillai hailed the historic background of Tharoors family in Palakkad district and said people from such backgrounds becoming part of the BJP have to be welcomed. When reporters approached Tharoor's relatives, the duo said they had been long time supporters of the BJP and did ...
Centre slept while Nirav Modi globe-trotted: Congress
The Congress on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of having "slept and snoozed" while fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi set up a diamond business in London after fleeing the country with the support of a firm linked to the Panama Papers.
Video of IUML-SDPI meeting sufaces, CPI(M) flays UDF
The Congress-led UDF Friday found itself in a soup after a CCTV visual of an alleged meeting between its ally IUML and SDPI, know for its radical views, surfaced, drawing flak from the ruling CPI(M). Indian Union Muslim League(IUML) leaders, MLA P K Kunhalikutty and MP E T Muhammed Basheer, both probable candidates to the Lok Sabha, were seen along with SDPI state president Abdul Majeed Faisi at a hotel in Kondotty near here. IUML is the second largest partner in UDF. Even as the IUML claimed that the meeting never had any political implications and was "purely coincidental," the SDPI leadership maintained that both the parties had discussed politics. "We have discussed politics.. Considering the political atmosphere in the country, SDPI will discuss politics with all the parties including IUML. We discussed the political scenario of Malappuram district. We have also discussed national politics," Faisi told reporters. Lashing out at the UDF over the "secret meeting" ...