Page 1325 - Politics
"Only 30-40 people get benefits of Indian banking system":Rahul's sarcasm
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday sarcastically said only 30 to 40 people in the country are getting the benefits of Indian banking system under the BJP rule and promised more bank loans to young enterpreneurs who can generate jobs if his party is voted to power. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the "instrument" of a few people "being allowed to capture our banking system." "Today, you look at our banking system... 30 to 40 people get the benefits of entire Indian banking system," Gandhi said during his interaction with fishermen at the National Fishermen Parliament organised by All India Fishermen Congress at Thriprayar near here. The Congress president also hit out at some BJP leaders who allegedly flayed the decision taken by three Congress-ruled states-- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh--to waive agriculture loans, saying, "if you don't want to forgive farmers' loans, then don't forgive loans taken by businessmen like Anil Ambani, and Mehul .
Rahul to meet martyrs' families during his visit to Dehradun on Mar 16
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to address a rally here on March 16, will also visit the families of Major Chitresh Bisht and Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal who were killed in Jammu and Kashmir days after the Pulwama terror attack. He will visit the homes of Major Bisht and Major Dhoundiyal in the city soon after the rally to commiserate with their kin, senior pradesh Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana said. With nationalist feelings running high in Uttarakhand after the Pulwama terror attack and the counter terror offensive carried out by India in the form of an airstrike in Balakot in Pakistan, Rahul's proposed visit to the families of the bravehearts is being seen as a political move with an eye on votes. Uttarakhand has a large population of serving and retired military personnel with nearly every family having a member in the armed forces. Bisht had died while defusing a landmine along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir last month, ...
Might be late now for talks with Congress on alliance in Delhi: AAP leader Gopal Rai
The AAP has already set its agenda of fighting the upcoming elections on the issue of full statehood and it might be late now for talks on an alliance in Delhi, a senior party leader Thursday said a day after Congress sought views from its workers on a possible tie-up with the ruling party. On Wednesday, the Congress through its Shakti app uploaded an audio clip by All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge PC Chacko, asking party workers in Delhi about their views on an alliance with the AAP, a senior party leader said. In the message sent to the party workers through its mobile application, the Congress is trying to untangle the contentious issue of alliance with AAP, he added. Reacting to the move, senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said talks on alliance might be late now. "There is a very big challenge in front of the country and it is late now (for an alliance). After the official statement of the Congress, AAP thought if Congress is moving towards helping BJP, we need to stop the ..
3-member panel to decide BJP candidates in Bihar
BJP's Election Committee on Thursday authorised the party's state unit president Nityanand Rai, Prem Kumar, and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi to decide candidates and their seats for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the state, where 40 seats are at stake.After the meeting, Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav said the meeting has authorised to three leaders-Rai, Modi, and Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar-to select candidates for 17 Lok Sabha seats which the BJP would be contesting in the state.BJP ally-JDU-is contesting 17 seats, while Union Minister Ram Vilas Pawan led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will contest six seats. Yadav said that the final list prepared by the three-member committee will be sent to the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) for discussion and approval. It has been learnt that the NDA will declare candidates for all 40 seats before March 21.Yadav said that the entire exercise will be completed before the meeting of BJP Parliamentary ...
Pakistan misusing anti-terrorism act in Gilgit Baltistan, says activist
A political activist from Gilgit Baltistan has blamed Pakistan for misusing Schedule IV of anti-terrorism act in the region wherein political activists are being targeted.At an event organised here by Friends of Gilgit Baltistan, Chairman of Gilgit Baltistan Thinkers Forum, Col. (Retd) Wajahat Hasan Mirza said, "Most important thing, unfortunately, is to end Schedule IV which mainly targets the progressive and political cadre of the area. Its enforcement in a disputed territory like Gilgit Baltistan is totally illegal.""The enforcement of Schedule IV is the reason why the public is afraid of raising its voice which thereby, restricts them from attending any political gathering. They have to seek prior permission from the Police to even move places. The atrocity is such, that their bank accounts are seized and their property is confiscated as well," he added. "So, one can understand how difficult it is for the people residing in the region to raise their voice for political and ...
In a first, Amit Shah himself taking bio-data of Lok Sabha ticket aspirants
New Delhi [India], Mar 14 (ANI): In a first, BJP president Amit Shah is himself receiving applications from the aspirants of party tickets for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, beginning April 11 in seven phases.Many political parties including the Congress and the SP-BSP alliance have started declaring their candidates for the Lok Sabha seats, but the BJP has not yet come out with any list of candidates. The Congress party has come out with two lists of candidates so far.According to sources, the BJP president, which won 282 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections, does not to take any risks and hence he himself is vetting all applications.Before the party's top bodies-Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee (CEC)-meet, Shah wants to have a fair idea of ticket seekers and also to ensure that genuine ones are not left out, sources said. Regarding the selection of candidates, many theories are doing rounds in the corridors of BJP's grand central office in the national ...
NCP releases first list of 12 LS candidates
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday released its first list candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, including sitting MP Supriya Sule from Baramati and accommodating ally Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) on one seat.
Sacked IPS officer says he will contest LS polls
Former IPS officer Pankaj Kumar Chaudhary, dismissed recently by the state government, Thursday said he would contest the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. "I will contest election from one of the Lok Sabha seats in western Rajasthan. I am not going before the people with any big promise or equation but would work with a feeling to keep the nation first. I will work for the women empowerment in western Rajasthan, Chaudhary told reporters at a press conference here. He also said he has moved the Central Administrative Tribunal challenging the state government's order dismissing him. The CAT has issued notices to the state and the Centre in the matter. The controversial Rajasthan-cadre officer was dismissed on March 6 for allegedly having an extramarital relationship, which, as per his dismissal order, violated rule 3 (1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968. Forty four-year old Chaudhary, who hails from Varanasi, has been the superintendent of police of Jaisalmer between Feb and
Do CNG vehicles cause air pollution, HC asks Delhi govt
The Delhi High Court has asked the AAP government whether CNG vehicles contribute to the air pollution in the national capital. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambani posed the query to the Delhi government while hearing a PIL by an NGO which has claimed that rise in vehicle-generated air pollution in Delhi was due to "non-enforcement and non-implementation" of the 1988 Motor Vehicle Act. The court in its recent order has given four weeks to Delhi government to file an updated status report "particularly with reference to pollution, if any, caused by the CNG vehicles and the result of the same". With the direction, the bench listed the plea by NGO Campaign for People Participation in Development Planning for further hearing on July 29. The NGO's plea was filed in February 2016 when the second phase of the odd-even scheme of road rationing was announced by the Delhi government, alleging that the government has "maliciously misdirected themselves" to cut the ...
In ticket to Tehri: BJP's woman MP vs Bahuguna
With both the BJP and Congress stressing on "winnability" of candidates in the Lok Sabha battle, Rani Mala Rajyalakshmi Shah, the saffron party's first woman MP from Uttarakhand, is facing stiff resistance from her party leaders.
Jharkhand: Congress may name candidates after Holi
The Congress party is likely to announce the list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand after Holi, since the state is due to go to polls in the last four phases of the seven-phase parliamentary elections.
Nearly 6,000 vacant posts are being filled up by govt: Sangma
There are nearly 6,000 posts lying vacant in various departments of the Meghalaya government and efforts are being made to fill them up at the earliest, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said Thursday. "There are 5,984 vacancies to be filled up in 48 departments of the state government," Sangma told the Assembly during question hour here. He was replying to a question raised by Congress MLA George B Lyngdoh who sought to know the breakup of total vacancies till February 2019 in various state government departments, state sponsored societies and state owned agencies. Earlier, Lyngdoh had told the House that the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) was yet to fill up 1,873 vacancies and requested the state to speed up the recruitment process. In his reply, Sangma said that besides MPSC, there are vacancies that are to be filled up by the District Selection Committee as well. Sangma said government recruitments take time due to procedural delays. "The MPSC has been ...
TDP MLC quits party in AP, to join YSRC
Andhra Pradesh MLC Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy Thursday resigned from the ruling Telugu Desam Party reportedly because he was denied ticket for the Ongole Lok Sabha seat in the April 11 election and announced he would join the opposition YSR Congress. Reddy previously served as Ongole MP as a member of the Congress. He had quit Congress in 2014 and joined the TDP, but lost in the then Lok Sabha elections. He was subsequently made a member of the Legislative Council. Our family has a special attachment with late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. In deference to the wishes of my well-wishers and supporters, I have decided to join the YSR Congress, Reddy announced in Ongole, after sending his resignation letter to the TDP state president K K Venkata Rao. Reddy is said to be upset after TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu chose Environment Minister Sidda Raghava Rao for the Ongole parliament seat. Interestingly, Rao himself was unwilling to jump into the Parliament election fray but Naidu was .
India, US ask Pakistan to take tangible action against terror groups
India and the United States have asked Pakistan to take "tangible and irreversible" action against the terrorist groups emanating from its soil.The two sides also said that Pakistan should deny "safe haven" for the terrorist groups to "launch cross-border attacks", according to a press statement issued by the Indian Embassy here after a meeting between Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Wednesday."Both underlined the importance of Pakistan taking tangible and irreversible action against terrorist groups based in territories under its control and denial of safe haven for these groups to launch cross-border attacks," the statement said.A tweet by Bolton following the meeting said that the US stands "shoulder-to-shoulder" with India in the fight against terrorism."Met with Indian FS Gokhale to advance progress on the U.S.-India strategic partnership & our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific, as well as reiterate that the U.S. stands ...
My son didn't consult me before joining BJP: Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil
Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Thursday said that his son Sujay did not consult him before joining the BJP."Sujay did not consult me before joining BJP. About my resignation from the post of Leader of Opposition, I would say that I will follow whatever my party leadership asks me to do," Radhakrishna told media here.Sujay joined the BJP on Tuesday and told media that he has "taken this decision against" his father's wishes."I don't know how much my parents will support this decision but I will try my best to make my family proud by working under the guidance of BJP... I think the Chief Minister and other BJP MLAs have been supportive and helped me take this decision... BJP MLA Sunil Kardile has supported me and guided me during the last five years and I am thankful to him for helping me reach here," Sujay told media soon after joining the BJP in presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.Meanwhile, Radhakrishna said he will not campaign for NCP ...
AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik kicks off election campaign in North Goa
Union Minister of State for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) and North Goa MP Shripad Naik on Thursday offered prayers at Mahalsa Narayani temple in Mardol town and kicked off his election campaign for the ensuing the Lok Sabha elections."Goa has not been left behind in the process of development. Continuation of the developmental works is one of the issues for this election," he said.Speaking on mining issue, Naik further said, "People are suffering due to the closure of mining. The issue could not be solved as it was involving the Supreme Court. Once we are voted to power, we will solve the issue on a priority basis."Mining was banned in the state from March 15, 2018, after the Supreme Court quashed second renewal of 88 mining leases. The mining dependants are demanding amendments in the existing mining laws aiming to restart mining activities in the state."All the coalition partners are with Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and are working for the victory," the .
AAP responds to EC directive for removing Kejriwal's image from hoardings, demands 'level playing field'
Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pictures are widely in use under various pretexts, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday in its response to the Election Commission's order said that a "level playing field" should be ensured for free and fair elections.In its order, the EC had directed removal or covering of pictures especially of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the words 'aam aadmi', citing deference to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).Replying to the order, AAP national spokesperson and Lok Sabha candidate Raghav Chadha has argued that Modi's pictures are plastered all over the city under various governmental/non-governmental pretexts and must be subject to the same standards and regulations as are being imposed on the Delhi Chief Minister.In his written reply to EC, Chadha said: "It is essential that if a level playing field is ensured, the directions ought to be issued across the board, to all parties. It is pertinent to point out that directions ought to be issued only
Sheila Dikshit's admission: Manmohan Singh's response to terror not as strong as Narendra Modi's
"Manmohan Singh, yes, I agree with you, was not as strong as and as determined as he (Modi) is. But there is also a feeling that he is doing it all for politics," the senior Congress leader said in an interview to Vir Sanghvi for CNN-News18 channel.She was responding when told that after the Indian air strike at Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan on February 26, Modi would argue that when things like Mumbai attacks happened (in 2008), "we did nothing in return whereas he has offered a strong basket of response."Dikshit, a former three-time Chief Minister of Delhi, was also asked to comment on the "mood of national security" after the air strike and that "people will look to Mr Modi because he is a strong leader."In response, she shot back, "What do you mean by national security?"Singhvi said according to Mr Modi, it would mean going to other person's house and teaching him a lesson.To this, Dikshit said, "I want to ask you a counter question. Has there been any
Rahul consoles families of three slain YC workers
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday met with the family members of three slain Youth Congress activists allegedly killed by CPI-M workers and assured they will get justice. Gandhi visited the homes of Kripesh and Sarath Lal, who were hacked to death last month in Kasaragod district, and met with the family members and consoled them. "My promise to them is no matter what happens, they will get justice. We will ensure that whoever has done this will be punished. I understand the situation right now. Let me assure those people who had done this, that justice is going to come to them," Gandhi told the media after visiting Kripesh's house at Kalyot in Kasaragod district. Kripesh's father said Gandhi had assured them that a CBI probe would be ordered into their deaths. According to sources, during his visit to Sarath Lal's family, Gandhi reportedly told the family that the All India Congress Committee has been viewing the incident seriously and promised all possible help to them. The
Priyanka to kick off Cong's poll campaign in UP on Friday
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would formally kick off the party's poll campaign from Allahabad on Friday and is likely to take the river route to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar said office bearers of the state unit of the party discussed the details of her programme, which will be declared Friday after seeking certain official clearance. "Congress national general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra is arriving here tomorrow," Babbar told reporters here. A senior leader said she will begin her campaign from Allahabad, the birthplace of the first prime minister and her great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru, from where she may take the river route to Varanasi. "She may take the river route to reach out to the poor people, especially those residing on the river banks, and who have been continuously facing hardships for the past 30 years," Babbar said. In Allahabad, Priyanka ...