Page 1427 - Politics
NDA winning all 40 LS seats in Bihar "wishful thinking":
Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who was a notable absentee at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Sunday rally here, said Monday the claim by NDA leaders of winning all 40 seats in Bihar is nothing but "wishful thinking". On his absence from the rally where Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan appeared together and sounded the Lok Sabha poll bugle in Bihar, Sinha said, "I was neither called nor I was interested in attending it." Gandhi Maidan, the venue of the rally, falls in Sinha's Patna Saheb parliamentary constituency. Asked if everything was over for him in the BJP, Sinha quipped, "Only time will tell whether my time with the BJP is over or the party's time with me is over." Sinha, who was a Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet, is at odds with the party leadership after being ignored for campaigning in the 2015 Bihar assembly polls, and has been taking potshots at the prime minister and BJP president Amit Shah on ...
Modi's remarks prompt speculation over post-air strike action
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said he will find out those responsible for terror acts in India "even if they hide in the bowels of the earth". Modi also asked the opposition not to malign India's armed forces. "What our opposition leaders say become headlines in Pakistan newspaper today," Modi said, addressing a gathering here. In a veiled reference to India's air strike in Pakistan, Modi said, "If one work gets over, our government doesn't sleep, but gets ready for another." "We won't lag behind when it comes to taking big and bitter decisions," he said. Referring to the 2008 attack at Ahmedabad civil hospital, Modi said, "should not those sitting in Delhi at that time have taught those sitting in Pakistan a lesson." Minutes after his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan said last week that captured IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman will be repatriated to India as a gesture of peace, Modi had said; Abhi abhi ek pilot project pura ho gaya. Abhi real karna hai, pehle toh ...
Poll deal with DMDK will be done ahead of PM's rally: AIADMK
After several rounds of talks with DMDK, the AIADMK Monday expressed confidence that the poll deals with potential allies would be concluded ahead of a rally to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi near here on March 6. Infusing fresh traction to the parleys over seat-sharing, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam called on DMDK chief Vijayakanth at his residence here and told reporters that a 'good decision' will be out soon. "The talks continue to be on," he said and added that "either today or tomorrow, a good decision will be taken and announced." On the number of constituencies and the seats to be contested by the DMDK, he said "wait and see," adding it will be made known in a day or two. Panneerselvam -who is also the Deputy Chief Minister- visited Vijayakanth along with senior party leader D Jayakumar and said they enquired about the DMDK chief's health and wished him well. Vijayakanth had recently returned from the U.S.A after medical treatment and is ...
Shah says 250 killed in Balakot air strike, but why PM or Govt not giving details: Cong
Stepping up its offensive, Congress on Monday asked what was the basis for BJP chief Amit Shah's claim of 250 terrorists getting killed in Indian Air Force's air strike in Pakistan's Balakot and why was Prime Minister Narendra Modi or his government not giving the details of casualties. Congress spokesperson R P N Singh also accused the prime minister and BJP leadership of politicising the air strikes and said Modi should apologise to the country for trying to portray the Indian Force as being weaker without Rafale. He counter-accused the BJP and its leaders of spreading misinformation and "false propaganda" over the air strikes ahead of elections and said the people of the country would give them a befitting reply. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also said that if Amit Shah is claiming 250 casualties of terrorists in the air strike, why is the prime minister not providing details of the number of deaths. Singh said, "It is extremely shocking and tragic that the prime minister of ..
Nepal govt trying to impose press censorship: former PM Deuba
Former Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said Monday the ruling Communist government was trying to impose restrictions on press freedom in the name of regulating social media. Deuba's remarks came in the wake of new laws being introduced by the government to regulate social media under which anyone misusing it and insulting people will be fined up to Nepalese Rupee 1.5 million and handed a maximum of 5-year imprisonment. Addressing a programme in Bhaktapur, about 8 miles from Kathmandu, to commemorate the first death anniversary of freedom fighter Lila Bahadur Pandit, Nepali Congress president Deuba said the Communist government led by Prime Minister K P Oli was trying to impose restrictions on press freedom. "The government has tried to impose press censorship in the name of regulating Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and online news portals," Deuba said. The Nepali Congress, the largest opposition party, will counter if the Communist government imposes press censorship, the ...
IAF shoots down Pak UAV on Rajasthan border
The India-Pakistan tension might have eased a bit, but an Indian Air Force Su-30 MKI on Monday shot down a Pakistani Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in the Nal sector on the International Border in Rajasthan today morning.
Putin suspends Russia's participation in INF arms treaty
President Vladimir Putin on Monday officially suspended Russia's participation in a key Cold War-era arms treaty, after the US first moved to ditch the INF deal. Putin "signed a decree regarding the suspension of Russia's participation in the agreement between the USSR and the US," the Kremlin said in a statement.
BJP minister tries to pacify Sena's Khotkar over Jalna contest
In a bid to end differences between the BJP and the Shiv Sena over Maharashtra's Jalna Lok Sabha seat, a senior BJP minister Monday tried to convince Sena leader Arjun Khotkar to not contest against state BJP president and sitting MP Raosaheb Danve. However, Khotkar, who had earlier announced to take on Danve even if the Sena and BJP formed an alliance, maintained that he would follow the decision of his party chief Uddhav Thackeray on the issue. At a time when announcement on Lok Sabha poll schedule is eagerly awaited, Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh met Khotkar at the latter's residence in Jalna along with Danve. Though Deshmukh claimed Danve and Khotkar have agreed to bury their political differences, the Sena leader who handles textile, animal husbandry and fisheries portfolios as a minister of state, put the ball on Jalna in Thackeray's court. Speaking to reporters after the hour-long meeting, Deshmukh said, "Both the leaders have agreed to bury ..
Israel hits Hamas sites over balloons carrying 'explosive device'
Israeli attack helicopters on Monday struck Hamas military positions in Gaza, officials said, after the country's army reported a balloon-borne "explosive device" from the Palestinian enclave targeted its territory. Monday's raid, which resulted in damage to the Hamas positions but no casualties, was the third tit-for-tat exchange in as many days. A Palestinian official said three military observation posts were hit in the south and centre of the Hamas-ruled coastal strip. The Israeli military earlier said its air force struck "two Hamas military posts" in response to the latest launch of a balloon-borne device from Gaza. "A cluster of balloons carrying an explosive device was launched from the southern Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory," an army statement said. "No injuries or damage were reported." Palestinians in Gaza have for months flown clusters of balloons with incendiaries or explosives suspended beneath them across the border into Israel as weekly protests and clashes have
US puts end to dispute with EU over diplomatic protocol
The United States on Monday put an end to a dispute with the European Union over diplomatic protocol and lauded the 28-nation bloc as "one of America's most valuable partners." US Ambassador Gordon Sondland announced that "effective immediately" a recent diplomatic demotion of the EU ambassador in the largely ceremonial diplomatic Order of Precedence would be ended. The perceived snub caused friction in early January and was seen as underscoring deteriorating trans-Atlantic relations. EU Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said the bloc "was in touch with the U.S. administration to clarify this matter and we are therefore pleased that the United States took the decision to revert to the usual." Even if the diplomatic change had little direct impact on relations, it was seen as a harbinger of future relations in which the EU would sink ever lower in the esteem of U.S. President Donald Trump. Sondland now said in a statement that "the European Union is a uniquely important ...
Make upcoming polls 'most inclusive', hold it with 'absolute neutrality': CEC
CEC Sunil Arora Monday asked J&K government officials to ensure that the upcoming Lok Sabha and the state assembly polls are held with "absolute neutrality" and remain "most inclusive" as per the "principles of democracy". Chief Election Commissioner Arora, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir along with an Election Commission team to take stock of the state's poll readiness, gave this direction after a high-level meeting with the state government's civil and police officials. The officials who met the poll panel team included Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan, ADGP (Law & Order) Muneer Ahmad Khan, Kashmir IGP S P Pani besides deputy commissioners and district police chiefs of Kashmir and Ladakh divisions. "Elections are soon going to be held to uphold the principles of democracy. The commission desires that these elections should be the most inclusive (and are held with) absolute neutrality by the people involved in organising them," he said. CEC ...
Indian Oil get off to winning start in Gold Cup hockey
Defending champions Indian Oil got off to a bright start with a facile 6-1 win against Bombay Republicans in a Pool-A league match of the 53rd All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey championship here Monday. The Republicans put a dogged display against the superior Indian Oil side, boasting of several former Indian stars, and conceded just one goal in each of the first two quarters. However, the oilmen scored four in the last two quarters to take the match away from the Republicans, who managed to score one goal in the third quarter. For Indian Oil, Nilam Sanjay Xess scored two, while V R Raghunath, Talwinder Singh, Deepak Thakur and Roshan Minz struck one each, while the Republicans pulled one back through Tyron Pereira. Earlier, in a Pool-B match, South Central Railway, from Secunderabad, drubbed local outfit Killedar XI 11-1. The goal getters for former champions SCR were M G Poonacha (2), Raju Pal (2), Sheshe Gowda (2), Lovepreet Singh, Aiyappa P R, Guebhej Singh, Pratap .
NC, PDP, Cong for concurrent polls in J&K
All the mainstream political parties, which met the Election Commission (EC) team here on Monday, have favoured holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.
Seoul calls for three-way talks after Trump-Kim collapse
South Korea has proposed semiofficial three-way talks with the United States and North Korea as it struggles to put nuclear diplomacy back on track after the collapse of a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The proposal for the talks came during a National Security Council meeting on Monday led by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who said it was Seoul's "outmost priority" to prevent nuclear negotiations between the US and North Korea from derailing. At the meeting in Seoul's presidential palace, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said the proposed talks, which could include civilian experts from the US and South Korea, would help settle differences over how much sanctions relief Washington should provide North Korea in exchange for nuclear disarmament steps. Last week's meeting between Trump and Kim in Vietnam broke down over what the Americans said were North Korea's excessive demands for sanctions relief in exchange for a limited offer to shut
DMK inches closer to wrapping up seat sharing with allies
The DMK Monday inched closer to finalising a seat sharing pact with its allies for the coming Lok Sabha elections by allotting two Lok Sabha constituencies each to the CPI and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and continued talks with others. Days after finalising seat sharing with parties, including the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League, the DMK today clinched electoral deals with the fledgling Indiya Jananayaga Katchi as well, besides the CPI and VCK. The IJK will contest from one constituency in its "Rising sun" symbol, the DMK said in an official release here. Formal electoral agreements were signed between the leaderships of the DMK and the CPI, VCK, and the IJK. The IJK was part of the BJP-led front in Tamil Nadu in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and its top leader Pari Vendhar had said on Saturday that his party cannot be part of the AIADMK-saffron party combine, since the PMK was part of it, which had allegedly troubled his party in the past. While VCK was ...
Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper to run for President
John Hickenlooper, who served two terms as Governor of Colorado, on Monday joined the Democratic race for the 2020 US presidential election, citing an ability to bring people together in a time of "crisis".
Imran Khan's party tweets in Hindi
In an unusual move, Pakistan's ruling party on Monday tweeted in chaste Hindi Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement that the person who solves the Kashmir issue will be worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. "Main Nobel Shanti Puraskaar Ke Yogya Nahi Hun. Is(ka) Yogya Vyakti Vah Hoga Jo Kashmiri Logo Ki Iccha Ke Anusar Kashmir Vivaad Ka Samadhaan Karta Hai aur Upmahadweep Main Shanti aur Manav Vikash Ka Marg Prashasth Karta Hai," the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf pary tweeted quoting Khan, in an obvious move to catch the attention of Indian Twitterarti. (I am not worthy of the Nobel Peace prize. The person worthy of this would be the one who solves the Kashmir dispute according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people and paves the way for peace & human development in the subcontinent.) On March 2, a resolution was submitted in Pakistan's National Assembly Secretariat stating that Khan's decision of releasing Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has de-escalated the ...
Govt has turned battle against terror into battle against Kashmiris, Muslims: CPI(M)
There has been an "orchestrated effort" by the BJP and the RSS to rouse "jingoistic nationalism" after the Pulwama terror attack and the government has turned the battle against terrorism into one against Muslims and Kashmiris, the CPI(M) alleged Monday. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the government must step up diplomatic efforts to present an united India against terrorism in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack of February 14, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. "A united India rose against terrorism. Instead of strengthening this, the post-Pulwama developments are seeing an orchestrated effort by the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits to rouse jingoistic nationalism. "The targeting of Kashmiris in various parts of the country, the calls for abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A are all turning this battle of Indians against terrorism into battles against Kashmiris and Muslims to further deepen the communal polarisation," he said. He said the present situation
AIADMK govt rolls out scheme to provide spl assistance to BPL
: The AIAMDK government in Tamil Nadu Monday rolled out the scheme of providing a special assistance of Rs 2,000 each to about 60 lakh Below Poverty Line families across the state, even as the DMK petitioned the Election Commission and dubbed it as an 'inducement' of voters ahead of the coming Lok Sabha polls. The DMK, in its petition to the Election Commission of India (EC) Monday, alleged that the ruling AIADMK was "against a level playing field" in the Lok sabha polls and sought action. Chief Minister K Palaniswami launched the scheme here by giving away the certificates to 32 beneficiaries, in line with an announcement he had made in the state assembly earlier. Palaniswami had informed the House on February 11 that the proposal was part of the state government's efforts to ensure inclusive growth. "Considering the impact of Gaja cyclone (in November 2018) in many districts, as well as the drought, the special assistance was being provided," he had said. The ...
Modi, NDA leaders to address TN rally on March 6
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally at Kelambakkam, near Chennai, on Wednesday, Union Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal has said.