Page 1339 - Politics
Probe Robert Vadra, but also investigate PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi
Asserting that law must not be applied selectively, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said if his brother-in-law Robert Vadra can probed so can Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged role in the Rafale deal. He also said economic growth is directly related to the mood of the nation and one cannot expect it to happen in a negative and fearful atmosphere. The Congress will change the mood of the country and make people feel happy and empowered, the Congress chief said while addressing women students at a college here. Gandhi, who asked students to refer to him as Rahul, said the law must apply to everybody and not be applied selectively. He said this in response to a question on Vadra, who is being probed in connection with a money laundering case related to purchase of assets abroad and a land case in Rajasthan's Bikaner district. During his informal interaction with the students, he also brought up the issue of the Rafale deal and reiterated his allegations about the .
Allegations of 'selling' RLSP tickets are absurd: Kushwaha
Stung by allegations that he was "selling" tickets for Lok Sabha polls, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwaha Wednesday said the charge was "absurd" as the seats that his party would be contesting were yet to be finalized. The former Union minister also challenged expelled RLSP leaders Pradeep Mishra and Nagmani, who made the allegations at a press meet here on Tuesday, to prove the charges and remarked, "I know who is their sutradhar (puppeteer)," in an oblique reference to Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar. "Mishra alleged that I took Rs 95 lakh for giving him ticket for East Champaran seat. Nagmani said I turned back on my promise and chose Madhav Anand for a seat as he had used his corporate connections to raise Rs 9 crore for the party. "They are saying all this when even I do not know which seats, out of the 40 in the state, RLSP is going to get," Kushwaha told reporters here. The RLSP chief also played an audio clip of Mishra's ...
I want Rahul Gandhi to become next PM: Jitan Manjhi
Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday said he was in favour of Congress president Rahul Gandhi becoming the next prime minister in the event of opposition "Mahagathbandhan" coming to power after the Lok Sabha polls. Before leaving for New Delhi, where he is scheduled to take part in deliberations on seat-sharing among the constituents of Bihar Grand Alliance, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) president dismissed reports that his party was likely to get only "one or two" seats in the state, which has 40 Lok Sabha constituencies. "The NDA has made it clear that it would contest the polls with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its face. The Mahagathbandhan or the UPA, call it by whatever name, made no such announcement since there is a general consensus that it should be decided after polls. "This has not been without precedence. Elections are often fought without parties or alliances projecting a face. But if you ask me about my personal opinion, I feel ..
BJP targets Rahul, Priyanka over land deals; Cong dismisses allegation as 'baseless, fake'
The BJP Wednesday dragged Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra into alleged corruption involving land deals, claiming the opposition party has come to define "family corruption" by "institutionalising" graft. Citing a media report, Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani told reporters that Robert Vadra is "merely a mask" in the controversial land deals and his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi is the "real face". Dismissing the allegations, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Facing imminent defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his favourites are resorting to levelling completely baseless and fake allegations". At a press conference, Irani said, "The country has come to know that the brother-in-law (Rahul) is also involved with his 'jija' (Robert Vadra) in this family package of corruption". Referring to the report, Irani claimed that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra purchased land in a deal involving H L Pahwa, who was ...
Will campaign for BJP vigorously even if denied ticket: Sakshi Maharaj
His remarks came a day after a letter written by the BJP leader to Uttar Pradesh party chief Mahendra Nath Pandey on March 7 surfaced in the media
Azhar's UNSC listing: China hints it may block move to declare him global terrorist
Hours before the UN Security Council is to take up a resolution on listing Jaish-e-Muhammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, China on Wednesday hinted that it may once again block the move, saying only "the solution that is acceptable to all sides" is conducive to resolve the issue. The fate of the proposal to designate Pakistan-based Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council will be known in less than 24 hours when the deadline to raise objections to the bid expires. The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, UK and the US on February 27. "I could reiterate that China will continue to adopt responsible attitude and participate in the deliberations in the UNSC 1267 Committee," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here. China, a veto-wielding member of the UNSC, has blocked the move by India and other member nations three times in the past to designate ...
3,000 Islamic State terrorists surrender to US-backed forces in Syria
Over three thousand terrorists belonging to the UN-designated terror organisation Islamic State have surrendered to US-backed Kurdish forces.This comes after the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched an attack to retake the last ISIS stronghold in Syria, reports CNN.Mustafa Bali, the SDF's spokesman, claimed that over 3,000 terrorists laid down their arms by Tuesday night, adding that three Yazidi women and four children have been rescued as well.Intense shelling of the Syrian town of Baghouz - the last territory claimed by ISIS - continued throughout Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. Bali claimed that ISIS fighters in the city were "surrendering en masse", adding that two weapons depots were destroyed in the attacks, killing 38 ISIS terrorists.
Don't know if I will get a second chance: YSRCP MLA indicates to quit politics
Appearing distraught after failing to meet YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, its MLA Sunil Kumar in a selfie video indicated that he would quit politics if he doesn't get second chance to contest upcoming Assembly elections due on April 11. An MLA from Putalapattu (SC) Assembly constituency, Kumar tried to control his emotions in the video while thanking the party cadres and leaders for their support.Stating that he "may or may not" get the ticket this time, Kumar said that he wished to help poor and needy people if his party came to power in the state. "It would have been very nice if I could help at least some people before leaving politics, but God did not give me chance. I don't know whether I will get a second chance. I thank all of you for your support all these days," said Kumar.On Tuesday, Kumar went to Hyderabad to meet Reddy in the wake of reports that he would not get a party ticket to contest in assembly elections. However, he was not allowed to meet the party
Cabinet nod for Daman & Diu civil courts
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Promulgation of the Daman and Diu Civil Courts (Amendment) Regulation, 2019 and the Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil Courts and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Regulation, 2019 under Article 240 of the Constitution.
Don't seek votes in Sabarimala temple's name: EC
The Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala on Wednesday told political parties that under no circumstances should votes be solicited in the name of the Sabarimala temple.
PRC issue won't hurt party's poll prospects, says Arunchal BJP
The ruling BJP in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday exuded confidence that the controversy surrounding the issuance of permanent resident certificate (PRC) will not have any impact on the party's poll prospects. The state is set to go for simultaneous polling to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly on April 11. Addressing a press meet here, BJP state unit president Tapir Gao said some vested interests had fomented trouble in the state over a "non-issue". "PRC is a cooked-up issue Whatever hues and cries occurred last month was the handiwork of vested interests. It will have no impact on the masses," Gao told reporters. Protests broke out in Arunachal capital Itanagar in February after a state government-appointed committee recommended PRC for six non-Arunachalee communities. Three people were killed in the clashes, prompting the BJP-led government to issue a statement stressing that the PRC issue would "never" be taken up again. Gao said the state election committee would shortly .
P J Joseph meets Cong leaders over Kottayam LS seat
Kerala Congress (M) leader P J Joseph, who is peeved over the party's decision to not field him from the Kottayam Lok Sabha seat, called on senior Congress leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala here Wednesday. The meeting came after KC(M) vice chairman Jose K Mani said the party has decided to field ex-MLA Thomas Chazhikadan as the UDF candidate from the seat after consultations with all sections in the party. Joseph, the working chairman of the KC(M), met Chandy at his residence Wednesday morning and followed it up with a visit to the Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala. The Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has allocated the lone seat of Kottayam to KC(M), turning down the party's demand for two seats. Later, Joseph told reporters here that he had met the UDF leaders and discussed the issue. The leadership would collectively discuss the matter and find a solution, he said. Kerala Congress (M) chairman KM Mani fielded loyalist Chazhikadan from the ...
Indian, Pakistani armies trade fire on LoC in Poonch
Indian and Pakistani armies traded heavy fire on the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, police said.
'Kumaraswamy failed to deliver on farm loan waiver'
The Karnataka coalition government led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has "failed" to deliver on its promise of farm loans waiver, BJP state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa said on Wednesday.
Vikhe Patil, Pawar scions take 1st political steps
Sujay R. Vikhe Patil, who made a high-profile entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday, and Parth A. Pawar, the NCP candidate, took their first political steps on Wednesday in preparation for their likely candidature for the Ahmednagar and Maval Lok Sabha seats, respectively.
Umesh Jadhav will contest polls from Kalaburagi against Kharge: Yeddyurappa
Karnataka BJP Chief BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said Dr Umesh Jadhav will contest elections from Kalaburagi against Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, while Tejaswini Ananth Kumar is likely to contest from Bengaluru South.However, the former Karnataka chief minister said the final decision will be taken by party high command."Dr Umesh Jadhav will contest elections from Kalaburagi against Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Tejaswini Ananth Kumar is likely to contest from Bengaluru South. The final decision will be taken by party high command," he said at a press conference here.It is worth mentioning that Tejaswini Ananth Kumar is the wife of late former Union minister Ananth Kumar, while Jadhav had recently quit the Congress and joined the BJP. Jadhav, a two-time legislator from Karnataka's Chincholi constituency, was among the three Congress MLAs who went "missing" last month. Thereafter, Congress had recommended their disqualification to the assembly speaker.At the press ...
Seat-sharing with AGP done, says BJP as Mahanta sulks
On a day when Asom Gana Parishad leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta expressed his unhappiness over his party's decision to ally with the BJP again, Assam finance minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the BJP, AGP and Bodoland peoples' Front have already finalized seat-sharing for the Lok sabha polls.
Capabilities of Rafale jet not in question: Rahul Gandhi
Amidst his allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the capabilities of the fighter plane were not in question but remained evasive on whether the contract would be cancelled if his party comes to power.Addressing a press conference here, Gandhi insisted that there was corruption in the deal and there should be an investigation."There are no questions about capabilities of the aircraft...(but) are we going to cancel the deal or not cancel the deal is a technical call. We do not have the information on that but the question of corruption is crystal clear," he said.He was responding when asked by a reporter whether the deal, signed in 2016, would be cancelled if Congress comes to power after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.Gandhi alleged, "Narendra Modi and Anil Ambani have stolen Rs 30,000 crore from the pocket of the pilots who bombed Pakistan.""Economic growth is related to the mood of the country. You cannot have a country that is
PM Modi appeals cricketers to make democracy win
With the spectre of Lok Sabha elections looming large over political horizon, political leaders are appealing the young, especially the first time voters. There are as many as 15 million young voters, between 18 and 19 years of age, will cast their vote for the first time in these elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, nudged cricketers like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, among others, to influence the young voters to come out in large numbers and vote in the upcoming general elections.The prime minister tweeted, "Dear @msdhoni, @imVkohli and @ImRo45,You are always setting outstanding records on the cricketing field but this time, do inspire the 130 crore people of India to set a new record of high voter turnout in the upcoming elections.When this happens, democracy will be the winner!"[{c707d603-0f1d-4e30-a9e3-c03d4e7a6c9a:intradmin/moditweetmar13.jpg}]This is one of the many tweets that Prime Minister Modi put out using his official twitter handle on Wednesday morning.The ...
Cabinet approves notification for LS elections
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a notification to begin the election process to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha.