Page 1333 - Politics
In audio message through its app, Cong seeks its workers' views on alliance with AAP
Amid flip-flop over alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP), the Congress has sought view of its Delhi unit workers over the issue through an audio clip released on its mobile app. "The Congress through its Shakti app has uploaded an audio clip by AICC in-charge PC Chacko who is asking party workers in Delhi their view on alliance with the AAP," said a senior party leader. The survey on Shakti app was launched Wednesday and will wrap up Thursday, he 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. Congress insiders said the alliance with AAP is "almost certain" and will be finalised by end of this month. "The result of the survey through Shakti app will be sent to the high command of the party that will take a final call on the issue," said the party leader. The development comes amid Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit, after a meeting with Congress national president Rahul ...
Andhra Congress leader Sabitha Indra Reddy likely to join TRS
Former Home Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh and senior Congress leader Sabitha Indra Reddy is likely to join TRS shortly along with her son Karthik Reddy.Sabitha, a sitting MLA from Chevella constituency, along with her son Karthik Reddy met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao here on Wednesday.She is the wife of P Indra Reddy, who also served as the Home Minister of AP. Telangana Congress working president A Revanth Reddy held talks with Sabitha and her son Karthik Reddy on Monday evening.According to sources, Sabitha has asked Chief Minister Rao to give TRS Lok Sabha ticket from Chevella parliamentary constituency to her son Karthik Reddy.Both of them are likely to join TRS during its public meeting in Chevella constituency.
Brexit withdrawal deal not 'negotiable': Macron
Britain's Brexit divorce deal with the European Union is "not negotiable", French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday, urging London to break an impasse over its looming exit from the bloc. "The withdrawal deal is not negotiable," Macron told journalists on a trip to Kenya, adding that any request to delay Brexit would have to be justified. "We cannot renegotiate an accord that we negotiated over several months and which we have said is not renegotiable.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq ready to cooperate with probe but don't accuse him of terror funding: Bhat
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was willing to cooperate with any investigation, but accusing him of terror funding was "ridiculous and political vendetta", its former chairman and executive member Abdul Gani Bhat said Wednesday. The Hurriyat Wednesday held an emergency meeting at party headquarters in Rajbagh here where it discussed the present political scenario, especially the summoning of its chairman to Delhi by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bhat, on the summoning of Mirwaiz by the NIA, said a "hostile environment" was being "wilfully generated to cause harassment". "Mirwaiz has made it absolutely clear that he is willing to cooperate with any investigation but what is upsetting is that a hostile environment is being wilfully generated to cause harassment," he said. The Hurriyat leader said Mirwaiz represents an office which is "so sacred" that interference in any form or at any level with his position .
BJP insulting people of West Bengal: Mamata
BJP's demand to declare West Bengal a "super sensitive" zone amounts to insulting the people of the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.Responding to BJP's demand to declare West Bengal a "super sensitive" zone, Chief Minister Banerjee said: "What is the reason behind this? This is humiliation. They are so scared. In Rajasthan, in Tripura, 98 per cent Panchayat seats were uncontested. These are blatant lies.""They talk of political murders. 99 per cent TMC leaders were killed. Is it because we are fighting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah," she asked.She alleged the BJP leaders are trying to curb her party's voice. Referring to the demand for appointing media observers, she said: "This is astonishing. They have demanded media observers to be deployed. This is a shame.""Where is the freedom of the press? I am telling the BJP to not commit such blunders. Bengal respects freedom of the press. Election Commission is an impartial ...
Delhi not property of individual or party, people will decide on statehood: Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday said the national capital is not the property of any individual or party and the people of Delhi would decide on granting it full statehood, as he raised the pitch for one of his party's key demands ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Kejriwal and his party members burnt copies of the 2014 manifesto of BJP, outside its ITO office, in which it had promised full statehood. Meanwhile, BJP workers led by Union minister Vijay Goel also burnt copies of AAP's manifesto and a symbolic tower of its "failed" promises while accusing it of "cheating" the people of Delhi. Addressing media, Kejriwal claimed that people of Delhi have been exploited and cheated for the past 70 years. City BJP president Manoj Tiwari said the national capital cannot be given full statehood as its chief minister protested in front of the Rail Bhawan, Kejriwal noted. "Tiwari says Delhi cannot be granted statehood as I had sat on a dharna. Tumhare baap ki Dilli hai (Is Delhi your .
Bihar grand alliance talks: Cong likely to contest 11 seats, deal 'almost' sealed
The seat-sharing deal between grand alliance members in Bihar has been "almost finalised" and the Congress is likely to contest 11 seats in the state, sources said. Intensive negotiations were held among grand alliance constituents here as top leaders of the formation sought to settle the issue of seat-sharing for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. "The seat-sharing deal has been almost finalised. The RJD has agreed on 11 seats for the Congress," a senior Congress leader said on condition of anonymity. All parties in the grand alliance will be given full respect and the decision would be announced in the next few days, the leader said. The RJD will get the lion's share of seats - about 20, sources said. The general election is scheduled to begin on April 11 and will continue till May 19. Polling on the different seats will be held in Bihar in seven phases. The 'mahagathbandhan', as the grand alliance is called, comprises old allies like the Congress and the RJD, besides new ...
In Bengal, CPI(M)'s powerplay to tackle ally pressure over seat-sharing with Congress
The CPI(M) leadership in West Bengal is in a fix over choosing between the Congress and its Left Front allies, who are not willing to leave the seats they have been contesting for decades. The Congress is keen on contesting Purulia and Barasat Lok Sabha constituencies which Left Front members Forward Bloc and CPI have traditionally been contesting. The development comes a week after the CPI(M) and the Congress resolved the impasse over Raiganj and Murshidabad Lok Sabha seats, following the intervention of Sitaram Yechury and Rahul Gandhi. The Congress has given up its demand for the two seats in the deal, but demanded Purulia and Barasat. This has led to a situation which has delaying the announcement of candidates of both the sides. Purulia and Barasat are currently held by the Trinamool Congress. "The Congress wants those two seats as they have a strong presence there. But the Forward Bloc and the CPI are not willing to leave the seats. Let's see what happens. Talks are on," said a .
Pompeo says China is in a 'league of its own' when it comes to human rights violations
China is in a "league of its own" when it comes to human rights violations, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday as Washington slammed Beijing for rights violations and deterioration of conditions. In its annual report, the State Department alleged that in 2018, the Chinese government significantly intensified its campaign of mass detention of members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang). "There's China, which is in a league of its own when it comes to human rights violations. In just 2018, China intensified its campaign of detaining Muslim minority groups at record levels," Pompeo said as he released the annual Congressional-mandated country reports on human rights. "Today, more than one million Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and other Muslims are interred in reeducation camps designed to erase their religious and ethnic identities. "The government also is increasing its persecution against Christians, Tibetans and anyone who espouses ...
I will not let PM Modi go to Lok Sabha from Varanasi: Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad
Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad said that he is fighting the election against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat as he doesn't want Modi to win the election by fighting against weak candidates."I am afraid that a weaker candidate should not contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by defeating whom he easily walks into the Lok Sabha. I will not let the murderer of my Muslim, Dalit and OBC brothers to go to the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh," said Chandrashekhar Azad.He said that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi visited and enquired about his health."She asked about my health and well being. She came on her own and I did not invite her, I will not invite others also," he said.Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who met Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar undergoing treatment at a hospital said that the meeting has no political implications but is rather her support to the voice of a youth fighting against the central ...
Cong releases 2nd list of 21 candidates, Priya Dutt to contest from Mumbai North-Central
The Congress party on Wednesday released the second list of 21 candidates including Priya Dutta from Mumbai North-Central Lok Sabha seat, and UP party unit chief Raj Babbar from Moradabad.In January this year, Priya Dutta had written to Congress president Rahul Gandhi saying that she doesn't want to contest the election. However, earlier on Wednesday she expressed her desire to contest the election.Dutt had entered electoral politics in 2005 and has been contesting from Mumbai North-Central Parliamentary constituency. She had fought three general assembly elections too, the last one in 2014. She lost the last Lok Sabha poll to Poonam Mahajan of the BJP.Out of 21 candidates, five are from Maharashtra, where 48 Lok Sabha seats are at stake, while 16 from Uttar Pradesh, where 80 seats are at stake.So far, the Congress has declared 36 candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, which will be held in seven-phase beginning April 11. The last phase of polling is scheduled for May 19. The ...
To press for full statehood to Delhi, AAP burns BJP's old manifesto
In order to press for full statehood to Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday burnt the BJP's 2014 special Lok Sabha election manifesto for the city.Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing the party leaders and workers on the occasion, said the people of Delhi are not ready to suffer injustice any longer and would embark on an unprecedented struggle to realise the full statehood dream. "We have done whatever we could for the people of Delhi during the last four years. However, there are critical areas which are outside the purview of Delhi's elected government. It is not possible to solve certain problems unless Delhi becomes a full state. Take women's security for example. Who will ensure that," asked Kejriwal.He said that time has come for all of "us to wage a joint struggle. We will have to make sacrifices for the statehood of Delhi." "I will not hesitate to lay down my life for the statehood of Delhi if the situation demands. This Lok Sabha Election is not an ...
BJP can't win single seat in Bengal, they are trying to hide behind central forces: Mamata
Slamming the BJP for urging the poll panel to declare West Bengal as a "super sensitive state", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday alleged the saffron party was trying to hide behind central forces as it can't win any seat in the state. Noting that the Election Commission has to take care of all political parties, not just the BJP, Banerjee said the poll panel is a constitutional body and should not be influenced by the canards spread by the BJP. The BJP has urged the Election Commission to declare West Bengal as a "super sensitive state" to ensure fair Lok Sabha polls and demanded that central forces be deployed at all polling stations in the state. "What is the reason behind demanding that all booths be declared sensitive in the state? This is an insult to the people of Bengal. The BJP can't win a single seat in West Bengal. That is why they are trying to hide behind the central forces," Banerjee told reporters. Taking a dig at the BJP, she said the party should ask for ...
Mahanta opposes AGP's alliance with BJP, asks party leaders to reconsider
Former Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad founder-president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Wednesday opposed the alliance of his party with the BJP, saying he only came to know about it from the media and asked party leaders to reconsider the decision. "I am opposed to this alliance as AGP being a regional party should have contested the Lok Sabha polls with the aim to keep its regional character intact," Mahanta told reporters here. The party leadership should have called for a general meeting and acted according to the decision taken there, he said. "I still hope that they will reconsider this decision and discuss the matter with the party members," Mahanta said. The former chief minister said the decision to oppose the alliance was on several grounds. "During the campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that after May 2014, all Bangladeshis will have to pack their bags and leave the country but after elections it was seen that Assam's land was given ..
Vaghani cross-examined in Gujarat HC in Ahmed Patel RS election case
BJP state unit president Jitu Vaghani Wednesday told the Gujarat High Court that he did not know or could not recall the chain of events leading up to Congress leader Ahmed Patel's victory in the August 2017 Rajya Sabha election from the state. Vaghani, also an MLA, made the submission when he was cross-examined by Ahmed Patel's lawyer P S Champaneri in the court. He is a witness in an election petition filed by BJP leader Balvantsinh Rajput, who has challenged Ahmed Patel's election to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Rajput had narrowly lost the election. During his cross-examination, Vaghani told the high court that he did not know about a BJP delegation visiting the Election Commission (EC) in New Delhi on the evening of the Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat on August 8, 2017. Vaghani said he had no idea about either the BJP or Congress delegation approaching the EC in New Delhi on the evening of the voting day. The BJP leader said he cannot recall the chain of events that led to the ..
Cong govt in MP on crutches, won't survive for long: Chouhan
The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh will not survive for long as it is functioning on the crutches of Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and independents, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Wednesday. He also said that the people of MP have committed a "mistake" by voting Congress to power in the state, which is why they must now ensure that the Modi government continues to remain in power at the Centre. "The Congress government in the state is standing on the crutches of SP, BSP and independents and it will not survive for long," Chouhan said while addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp Yatra' at Bairad in the district. "Though you people have made a mistake in the assembly elections, ensure Modiji's (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) victory in the Lok Sabha polls," the national vice president of the saffron party added. Hitting out at the Congress government in the state, he said the "rule of dacoits" has returned to .
Declare all WB booths as sensitive, demands Cong
The Congress Wednesday called on the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) demanding that all polling booths in the state be declared as sensitive. "Since fear psychosis prevails among the voters, all booths in the state should be declared as sensitive. Central forces should be deployed in these booths," state Congress president Somen Mitra said. Congress'Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Bhattacharya also alleged that the state administration was still working on the instruction of some ministers and ruling party leaders. "The EC should look into it and take total control of the administration in the state," Bhattacharya said. Earlier on Wednesday, the BJP also urged the EC in New Delhi to declare West Bengal as a "super sensitive state" to ensure fair Lok Sabha polls there and demanded that central forces be deployed at all polling stations in the state. West Bengal would go for a seven-phase Lok Sabha polling from April 11. The Election Commission will hold an all-party meeting ...
Declare all WB booths as sensitive, demands Cong
The Congress Wednesday called on the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) demanding that all polling booths in the state be declared as sensitive. "Since fear psychosis prevails among the voters, all booths in the state should be declared as sensitive. Central forces should be deployed in these booths," state Congress president Somen Mitra said. Congress'Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Bhattacharya also alleged that the state administration was still working on the instruction of some ministers and ruling party leaders. "The EC should look into it and take total control of the administration in the state," Bhattacharya said. Earlier on Wednesday, the BJP also urged the EC in New Delhi to declare West Bengal as a "super sensitive state" to ensure fair Lok Sabha polls there and demanded that central forces be deployed at all polling stations in the state. West Bengal would go for a seven-phase Lok Sabha polling from April 11. The Election Commission will hold an all-party meeting ...
TJS will contest four seats in LS elections
The Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) would contest at least four seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections and support the Congress in the other constituencies, party president M Kodandaram said Wednesday. "...Definitely, we should contest at least four places and announce support to Congress party from outside where we are not in contest. This is the view that has come," he told reporters here. The constituencies where the TJS would be in the fray include Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Malkajgiri. The party has not held talks on alliances for the parliamentary elections, he said. TJS had contested the assembly elections in December last as part of the "grand alliance" that comprised Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS. However, the TJS drew a blank. The party would release its manifesto in the next few days and anybody can voluntarily come forward tospread its message, he said. The party would undertake a 'yatra' for safeguarding and addressing the problems of Adivasis, he said.
TJS will contest four seats in LS elections
The Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) would contest at least four seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections and support the Congress in the other constituencies, party president M Kodandaram said Wednesday. "...Definitely, we should contest at least four places and announce support to Congress party from outside where we are not in contest. This is the view that has come," he told reporters here. The constituencies where the TJS would be in the fray include Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Malkajgiri. The party has not held talks on alliances for the parliamentary elections, he said. TJS had contested the assembly elections in December last as part of the "grand alliance" that comprised Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS. However, the TJS drew a blank. The party would release its manifesto in the next few days and anybody can voluntarily come forward tospread its message, he said. The party would undertake a 'yatra' for safeguarding and addressing the problems of Adivasis, he said.