Page 1355 - Politics
TDP asks EC to take action against YSRCP, alleges misuse of Form-7
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Monday demanded that the Election Commission take action against the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for allegedly misusing 'Form 7' in Andhra Pradesh to "seek deletion of 9.27 lakh genuine voters" from the electoral rolls in the state. A representation in this regard was made to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora by TDP leaders and Andhra Pradesh state ministers Kalava Srinivasulu and Nakka Anand Babu, TDP Party National Spokesperson K Rammohan Rao and Rajya Sabha MP K Ravindra Kumar. Form 7 is an application for objecting inclusion or seeking deletion of name in electoral roll. The party alleged that applications of Form-7 have been taken by a few individuals in bulk through "impersonation, forgery and by giving false particulars to the authorities" and these could be misused. The TDP requested the CEC to conduct a detailed inquiry into the issue. "We have requested the CEC to act on the misuse of Form 7 and take action against YSRCP .
Probe Raj's claim of another 'Pulwama-like' attack: Complaint
Veteran journalist and lawyer S Balakrishnan has sought a police inquiry into Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's claim of another "Pulwama-like" terror attack before the Lok Sabha polls. Balakrishnan Sunday submitted a written complaint to the Chembur police station, demanding an inquiry under relevant laws into the claim made by the MNS chief about a possible terror attack in the country, police said Monday. Citing media reports, Balakrishnan said Thackeray had said, "Mark my words there will be yet another Pulwama- like incident in the country". According to the application, Thackeray is a senior and responsible politician, whose statements should be taken seriously. He appears to be certain of a repeat of the Pulwama- type terror attack that took place on February 14 and resulted in the killing of 40 CRPF jawans in Jammu and Kashmir, the journalist-lawyer said. The police should record Thackeray's statement and inquire into his claim, said ...
PM speaks with Abu Dhabi crown prince
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi on Monday and thanked him for inviting India to address the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The prime minister and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces expressed happiness over the growing strength of all-round bilateral cooperation. "They reiterated their commitment to further consolidate the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said quoting the telephonic conversation. Modi took this opportunity to thank the crown prince for the invitation extended to India for addressing the OIC Foreign Ministers' Council as a guest of honour in Abu Dhabi on March 1. "He expressed hope that this historical participation would contribute to attaining the common objectives of peace and progress," the statement said. In a major diplomatic achievement, India for the first time addressed the ..
Ensure Congress victory in all 7 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi: Rahul amid alliance speculation
Booth workers should ensure Congress's victory in all seven seats of Delhi, party president Rahul Gandhi said Monday, amid waning possibilities of the grand old party's alliance with the AAP. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also later said that there are "no chances of alliance" with the Congress. Gandhi, in his address to Delhi Congress booth workers, said: "I want to tell the booth workers that it is up to you to ensure victory of Congress on all the seven seats here(Delhi)." He asked booth workers to interact with voters and inform them about Congress and "Chowkidar" (referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi). "Tell the people that only the Congress can change Delhi and India," he said. Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit last week had said after a meeting with Gandhi, that there is unanimity in the party against alliance with the AAP. Addressing the convention, she said: "Congress will win all the seven seats in Delhi." Earlier, a booth worker speaking in the presence of Gandhi, ...
Ruling TRS, Cong, BJP busy firming up strategies for LS polls
A keen fight seems to be on the cards with the ruling TRS, opposition Congress, BJP and other parties in Telangana busy firming up strategies for the Lok Sabha elections, to be held in the state on April 11. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi is ahead of its rivals in campaigning as its working president K T Rama Rao, son of party president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, has already addressed party meetings in preparation for the polls. Claiming that neither the NDA nor UPA is in a position to form the government, post Lok Sabha elections, on their own, Rama Rao has said his party can ensure a better deal for Telangana if it wins 16 out of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats (leaving Hyderabad represented by TRS ally AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi). As per a revised schedule, Rama Rao will address preparatory meetings on March 13, 15 and 17, TRS sources said Monday. The TRS president, the party's star campaigner, is also expected to hit the campaign trail soon. Asserting .
Pompeo, Gokhale say Pak must take 'concerted action' to dismantle terror groups
India and the US on Monday agreed that Pakistan must take "concerted action" to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and deny safe haven to all terror groups on its soil as Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale held talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo here, the highest level meeting between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack that escalated Indo-Pak tensions. Gokhale arrived in the US on Sunday for the bilateral Foreign Office Consultation and Strategic Security Dialogue with his American counterparts, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson. During the meeting, Gokhale and Pompeo agreed that those who support or abet terrorism in any form should be held accountable, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Pompeo was directly in touch with the leadership of India and Pakistan and monitored the developments after the Pulwama attack to ensure that the ...
Is Grand Alliance threat to BJP in Jharkhand real? (Dangal 2019)
With the announcement of parliamentary election schedule, both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Grand Alliance are making claims and counter-claims of increasing their tally this time round.
Balakot strikes: BJP questions Rahul's silence on Congress leaders' comments
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday hit out at Opposition leaders raising questions on the air strikes in Pakistan's Balakot, and accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of giving patronage to such leaders in his party with his silence.
Watchdog to map poll violence in northeast
In a first-of-its-kind, a watchdog group has been launched to map electoral violence in the northeastern states in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
BJP raps AAP for begging poll tieup with Congress
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi saying it was begging the Congress to stitch an alliance because it has accepted defeat in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Opposition looking for excuse to justify impending defeat in LS polls: Shivraj on Ramzan controversy
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said that opposition leaders were looking for an excuse to justify their impending defeat in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls by raking up the Ramzan controversy."The opposition leaders are making excuses because they know they are going to lose the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. He who does not know how to dance, complains that the stage is uneven," he said while talking to ANI here on Monday."Why are they bothered? They should not divert the people's attention unnecessarily," he said.Vishwash Sarang, another BJP leader, too lauded the Election Commission of India (ECI) for not being "narrow-minded" and requested the opposition parties to not "play the politics of separation during the election months.""The opposition leaders have accepted that they are going to lose the election. That is why they are adopting such tactics," said Sarang.The controversy erupted when Trinamool Congress leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim ..
Sharad Pawar not to contest Lok Sabha poll
NCP chief Sharad Pawar Monday said he will not contest next month's Lok Sabha election. The 78-year-old veteran politician said as two members of his family are going to contest the polls, "somebody had to step back." Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the NCP chief's decision to pull out from poll fray was because he had "sensed the change in the air". "Since I have already won elections 14 times, I decided not to contest the poll (this time)," the Rajya Sabha member told reporters after holding a meeting with party leaders. "Somebody from our family had to step back and I decided to give an opportunity to the young leadership. I thought this was the right time to take this decision," he said. Pawar announced that his nephew and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar will be NCP's candidate from Maval Lok Sabha constituency. "Jayant Patil (of Peasant and Workers Party of India), whose party has good presence in three of the six Assembly
SC to hear AMMK's plea for 'pressure cooker' symbol
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea by the AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran for allotment of a common symbol ("pressure cooker") to his party for the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Cong's defeat in LS polls will force Amarinder to fulfil poll promises: Sukhbir
Opposition SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Monday urged voters to defeat the Congress in the general election so that chief minister Amarinder Singh is "forced" to fulfil poll promises. Addressing a party meeting here, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president alleged that the chief minister was in a "deep slumber" and the state government had failed to provide good governance in Punjab. "The only job it has done is to launch a witch hunt against the SAD leadership to divert attention from its poor performance as it has miserably failed to implement even a single promise made to the people," Badal said. Every section of society, be it farmers, youth, Dalits, government employees or traders are "feeling betrayed" by the Congress government, the former deputy chief minister alleged further. Lashing out at the Congress government for "playing fraud" with the people by "not implementing" any of its poll promises, Badal claimed that Punjabis had decided to teach Congress a "befitting" lesson ..
Unicef calls for end to Syrian children's suffering
A Unicef official on Monday called on all parties with influence to make peace and put an end to the suffering of Syrian children in their country.
Protracted poll to facilitate another "strike": Mamata
In controversial remarks, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday appeared to suggest that the long-drawn Lok Sabha election process was intended to facilitate yet another "strike" as part of the BJP's "gameplan to disturb" her state. Banerjee, also the state's ruling Trinamool Congress chief, said the list of candidates of her party will be released on Tuesday. "I have been informed by some senior journalists that there will be another strike. What strike I will not say. In the name of so called... so called... so called... in the month of April. That is why it (voting process) will continue till May 19. "Please don't misquote me. I have great respect for a constitutional body like the Election Commission. But it is a part of the BJP's gameplan to disturb West Bengal," she told a press conference. With the TMC boss' comments being seen as an oblique reference to a likely military action by India, the BJP reacted quickly, dubbing her charge as "baseless". "She
Porters at APMCs on strike in MP
Porters working at 250 agriculture produce marketing committees in Madhya Pradesh Monday went on indefinite strike to protest against carrying bags weighing above 50 kgs, which they said is a violation of labour norms. MP Hammal Tulavati Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, the main organisation of porters, has threatened to boycott upcoming general elections, if their demand is not met. "According to a two-year-old order of the Madhya Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing (Mandi) Board, a porter is forbidden to carry gunny bags weighing more than 50 kgs as per the international labour working standards. Henceforth, we won't lift heavier bags," said MP Hammal Tulavati Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti convenor Raju Prajapati. Prajapati has threatened to appeal to 30 lakh-odd porters to not participate in elections, if their demand is not met. He claimed the state government has failed to implement the assurances it had given earlier when porters had struck work. Porters at 12 places ...
Pompeo, Gokhale hold talks, say Pak must take 'concerted action' to dismantle terror groups
India and the US on Monday agreed that Pakistan needs to take "concerted action" to dismantle terrorist infrastructure as Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale called on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and discussed major foreign policy and security-related issues after the Pulwama terror attack. Gokhale arrived in the US on Sunday for the bilateral Foreign Office Consultation and Strategic Security Dialogue with his American counterparts, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson. Gokhale and Pompeo expressed satisfaction over the significant progress and the quality of the India-US Strategic Partnership since the Secretary of State Pompeo's visit to India in September 2018 for the first ever Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The foreign secretary conveyed the appreciation to the US Government and to Pompeo personally for the firm support .
Qureshi briefs Bolton about steps taken by Pakistan to de-escalate recent tensions with India
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday briefed US National Security Advisor John Bolton about the measures taken by Islamabad to de-escalate tensions with India following the Pulwama terror attack. Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. The Foreign Office (FO) said that Qureshi and Bolton, during their telephonic conversation, discussed regional security situation following the Pulwama incident. "The purpose of the call was to provide him Pakistan's perspective on the recent regional developments," the FO ...
PDA announces 7 candidates for Lok Sabha polls
The Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) Monday announced the names of seven candidates for the coming Lok Sabha elections. The alliance comprises Sukhpal Singh Khaira-led Punjab Ekta Party (PEP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Lok Insaaf Party (LIP), Punjab Manch led by suspended AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi, CPI and the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI). The PDA has fielded suspended AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala seat, Paramjit Kaur Khalra from Khadur Sahib, Manwinder Singh Giaspura from Fatehgarh Sahib (SC), Baldev Singh Jaiton form Faridkot (SC), Vikram Singh Sodhi from Anandpur Sahib, former bureaucrat Khushi Ram from Hoshiarpur (SC) and Balwinder Kumar from Jalandhar (SC) seat. In a meeting held here, PDA leaders also arrived at a consensus on the 12 out of total 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, according to a release issued by Khaira. Out of them, the BSP will field its candidates from Anandpur Sahib, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, the PEP will contest on Bathinda, Faridkot and ..