Page 1531 - Politics

JKPCC authorises party high command to finalise candidates for Lok Sabha polls

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Saturday held separate meetings to discuss the poll strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state. The party also passed a resolution authorising the high command to finalise the candidates for the six parliamentary seats from the state, a spokesman of the party said. He said the meeting of the coordination committee of the pradesh Congress, chaired by secretary AICC co-incharge Jammu and Kashmir Sudhir Sharma and attended among others by state president G A Mir, lasted over three hours. The meeting discussed threadbare the election-related issues with regard to the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state and preparations of the party for the electoral exercise, the spokesman said. He said the meeting also discussed the Congress' strategy to highlight the "failures" of the BJP government at the Centre at various fronts, especially the "worst ever" security situation and rise in the militancy .

Rijiju visits injured DIG of JK Police in AIIMS

Union minister Kiren Rijiju Saturday visited the AIIMS Trauma Centre here to enquire about the health of Jammu and Kashmir Police DIG Amit Kumar, who was admitted after sustaining injured during an encounter recently. After visiting Kumar, a 2006 batch IPS officer, Rijiju said the brave officer is "out of danger now". "He was badly hit by a bullet fired by terrorist during a counter-terror operation in Pulwama on February 18 in which 3 dreaded terrorists were killed," the Union minister of state for home tweeted. Kumar, posted as DIG, South Kashmir in Anantnag, of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, was injured in a fierce encounter between terrorists and security personnel. The officer was first shifted to a local Army hospital in Kashmir before being shifted to AIIMS. The encounter took place after the security forces, based on specific intelligence, launched an operation to nab alleged Pulwama attack mastermind Kamran known as Abdul Rashid Ghazi. Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five

Sena-BJP alliance: Athawale says his party was ignored

Union Social Justice Minister and RPI (A) president Ramdas Athawale rued Saturday that his party was not spared a single seat by NDA allies BJP and Shiv Sena while announcing their alliance for the coming polls. In politics "doors are always open" but he still wanted the next government to be formed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the Dalit leader said here. "We are happy that the Shiv Sena and BJP have come together, but they did not leave a single seat for RPI, and this is unfortunate. "RPI had been instrumental in garnering votes for the BJP in 2014 Assembly elections (in Maharashtra)," Athawale told reporters. His party should have been taken into confidence by the Sena and BJP while sealing their deal, he said. The RPI was not even called for the joint press conference (held Monday to announce the alliance), he said. "Our party cadre and people are disappointed that RPI is not getting a single seat. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and (Sena chief) ..

Open to political parties brought under RTI as long as other institutions included: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he was not opposed to the idea of bringing political parties under the ambit of the RTI as long as other institutions, including the judiciary and the media, were also brought under its purview. He said this in response to a question on sources of political funding during an interaction with university students at the JLN Stadium here. "Transparency should be increased, I agree with it cent per cent. Political parties are an institution for the people. And then judiciary, press, bureaucracy, these are institutions as well," he said. "So, if you talk of bringing them (political parties) under the RTI, then why not RTI for the judiciary, press, bureaucracy and individual bureaucrats. I am all for transparency, but it has to be applied across the board," Gandhi said. Why not have a provision of bringing top 20 businessmen of the country under the ambit of the Right To Information, he asked, adding that "I would want to understand what they

Popular mood in Kashmir is in favour of peace and end of terrorism: Union minister

Noting that the popular mood in Kashmir was in favour of peace and end of terrorism, Union minister Jitendra Singh said Saturday that whoever considered herself an Indian and a friend of Kashmir would support the Centre's actions in the valley to restore peace. He said Pakistan was left isolated at the global level after the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF men were killed, mainly due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal outreach. He said Modi, after assuming office in 2014, had pledged a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, which he was carrying forward to wipe out the menace from the state. "The popular mood in Kashmir is in favour of peace and end of terrorism which is not compatible or suitable with interests of some Kashmir-centric politicians who have only thrived in the atmosphere of mayhem," the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office told reporters here. He was reacting to the recent statements of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference ..

Rahul has limited knowledge on agriculture, should not advise us: Shah

Blaming previous Congress-led governments for the problems faced by farmers today, BJP president Amit Shah Saturday had a dig at Rahul Gandhi, asking how someone who has limited knowledge about agriculture gives advice on it. "Rahul Baba claims doubling the income of farmers is not possible and mocks us. I want to say we are BJP workers and we don't joke on such issues," Shah said. "Income will double with increased production and you'll see that (happening) by 2022," he said, adding, "Rahul Baba, who does not know if potato is cultivated or manufactured in a factory, advises us on farmers," he said. Addressing his party's farmers convention in Gorakhpur, Shah, who asked his partymen to raise hands and take a pledge to make Narendra Modi prime minister again in 2019, said, "If Rahul Baba takes name of four crops of Kharif and Rabi without paper, we won't ask him any question." "One family ruled for 55 years and they made the condition of farmers very bad... Farmers had no way but to ..

Seat sharing blues hit Bihar Grand Alliance

The seat-sharing problems are holding up the opposition unity in Bihar where a "Mahagathbandhan" was formed in 2015 and only to be disbanded later.

Russian army train showcases Syria war 'trophies'

A train carrying war "trophies" captured in Syria left Moscow on Saturday on a two-month tour to parade Russia's military gains in the eight-year conflict. The train went on show at Moscow's Kazansky station, before heading to Russian-annexed Crimea. It will then make its way to the Russian Far East, before returning to Moscow in April via Arctic, visiting 60 cities along the way. The Russian defence ministry said in a statement that it will travel 28,500 kilometres carrying "trophy weapons". On Saturday, Muscovites were invited to see the train, which carries tanks and other military vehicles -- many with Arabic writing on them -- captured from Syrian rebels and jihadists. Visitors could board carriages displaying captured AK-47 assault rifles and drones. The train also has a shop selling military souvenirs. Singers performed patriotic songs at the train station as soldiers presented the heavy weaponry to visitors. The event was planned for Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day -- .

BJP gen secy describes Cong MLA from Bhopal as 'beef-eater'

BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya stoked a controversy on Saturday by referring to a Muslim MLA of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh as a "beef-eater" during a party event. The BJP leader, known for making controversial statements, was talking about party candidate Surendra Nath Singh's defeat from the Bhopal (Central) assembly seat. Speaking at the gathering of BJP workers here, Vijayvargiya said, "Your (Singh's) loss caused me the greatest anguish. It is surprising that a nationalist government which stopped cow slaughter was in power (in the state), but a beef-eater won against you. It is a matter of shame for all of us." In the November 2018 elections, Congress's Arif Masood defeated Singh by 14,757 votes. The Congress ended the BJP's 15-year rule in the state in the polls. Reacting to the comment, Masood said, "Vijayvargiya should produce evidence as to when I ate beef. I have never had a meal with the BJP general secretary. This (the remark) only shows his ...

Kejriwal announces indefinite hunger strike over 'statehood for Delhi' demand from Mar 1

Raising the pitch on the issue of statehood for Delhi ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said in the Assembly that he will launch an indefinite hunger strike from March 1 to press the demand, terming it "aar-paar ki ladai" (final battle). The AAP-dominated Assembly also adopted a resolution demanding that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs take necessary legal and legislative steps to declare Delhi a "full-fledged" state without any further delay. "I will sit on an indefinite hunger strike from March 1 to organise people for the full statehood demand. Even if we die in this movement, we will gladly do so but this 'aar-paar ki ladai' will continue and Delhi will get full statehood," Kejriwal said in the House. Kejriwal had staged hunger strikes in his earlier avatar as an anti-corruption activist before the formation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and this will be first such stir after becoming chief minister of Delhi in 2015. In March last year, the AAP .

LS poll tie-up with BJP mirrors Amma's strategy, says AIADMK

The ruling AIADMK Saturday said its alliance with the BJP was in national interest and following in the footsteps of late party supremo J Jayalalithaa, who had struck a poll deal with the saffron outfit in 1998. On the eve of the 71st birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa, AIADMK top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami exhorted party workers to take a vow to bag "magnificent victories like Puratchi Thalaivi Amma," in the coming Lok Sabha elections and in the bypolls expected to 21 Assembly seats. "We have cobbled up a victorious alliance that would guard national interests like the one sewn by Puratchi Thalaivi in 1998," the top two leaders said in a letter to party workers. The AIADMK alliance had bagged 30 out of the total of 39 seats in Tamil Nadu in 1998 Lok Sabha elections, including three won by the BJP. The rest went to the DMK camp. Seeking to further defend its decision to go with the BJP,which is facing strong criticism from the DMK over various issues, ...

Protest leaders dismiss Sudan emergency, demand Bashir quit

Sudanese protest leaders on Saturday dismissed veteran President Omar al-Bashir's declaration of a state of emergency and vowed to keep up nationwide demonstrations until his "regime is overthrown". Bashir's three-decade rule has been rocked by two months of protests that a deadly crackdown has failed to suppress and on Friday he imposed a nationwide state of emergency and dissolved the federal and provincial governments. In a televised speech to the nation, the veteran leader pledged to form a government of technocrats to address the country's chronic economic woes, which have been the driving force behind the protests. But protest organisers and their supporters in the political opposition, said the state of emergency showed that Bashir's government was weakened and only its overthrow would now satisfy the protesters. "Imposing a state of emergency shows the fear within the regime," the Alliance for Freedom and Change said, "We will continue with our people to take to the streets ...

Congress and its supporters in competition of spreading lies on national security: Naqvi

Union Minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said the Congress and its supporters were engaged in a "competition of spreading lies" on the issue of national security. Addressing mentha and paddy farmers, and traders in Rampur, he said while the security forces are cracking down on terrorists and their backers, the Congress and its supporters are left screaming. "The Congress is a 'history-sheeter party' for misleading the country on national security and insulting the bravery of security forces. "When the security forces under the leadership of the government led by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had demolished Pakistani terrorists in Kargil, even then false and baseless questions were raised by Sonia Gandhi. Now, her son is carrying forward the legacy of lies," Naqvi has been quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office. He said first the Congress questioned 'surgical strikes' and now it is doing politics on such a sensitive issue of national ...

Our fight is against terrorists, not Kashmiris: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said India's fight is against terrorism and not against the Kashmiris even as he vowed again to settle the score with Pakistan over the Pulwama attack. Have faith in the Army and in the Modi government, he said here at a rally where he also seemed to refer to the reported harassment of Kashmiris after the car bomb attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans. Modi accused Imran Khan of not living up to the assertions he made soon after becoming Pakistan's prime minister, and also indirectly charged the Congress-led government in 2008 of not acting against that country after the Mumbai terror attack. He referred to the mood of veer ras (bravery and heroism) in the country after the Pulwama attack, particularly mentioning social media. But our fight is against terrorism, against the enemies of humanity. Our fight is for Kashmir, not against Kashmir, not against the Kashmiris, he added. He said the Kashmiri youths are also troubled by terrorism and are ready to

Kejriwal plans fast from March 1 for full statehood

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said here on Saturday he will launch an indefinite fast from March 1, demanding full statehood for Delhi.

NC welcomes Modi's statement denouncing attacks on Kashmiris

NC president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement denouncing attacks on Kashmiris in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack. "The statement will go a long way in pacifying people of the country. Although it took him too long to come out against the unwarranted and targeted violence being orchestrated against Kashmiris putting up across the country. However, we welcome the statement and expect corrective measures will be taken in this regard," Farooq Abdullah said in a statement issued here. The MP from Srinagar, however, said the prime minister must ensure that his directions are followed in letter and spirit. "Words are not enough. The prime minister has to ensure that his directions of not targeting Kashmiris are followed in letter and spirit on the ground as well," the National Conference president said. NC's vice-president Omar Abdullah said it was perhaps for the first time that a "full-throated" statement ...

Rajiv Gandhi assassination: Palaniswami asked to release all 7 convicts at an early date

Nalini Sriharan, a convict in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami appealing for an early release of all the seven life convicts in the case.Sriharan, who is currently on a hunger strike in the prison, asked Palaniswami to use the current political opportunity to release her and six others, who have been in the prison for more than 27 years. She said that this is their only last hope to live their life."Because of recent political development, we have become more confident that the Chief Minister will take every effort to convince the Governor of Tamil Nadu (Banwarilal Purohit) about the desirability of our early release from prison. This is our last hope and our life is absolutely in the hands of the Chief Minister," Sriharan wrote in the letter.The state Cabinet on September 9 last year recommended the Governor of Tamil Nadu to release the seven convicts by exercising Article 161 of the Constitution. ..

Invitation to OIC 'misplaced euphoria', 'futile exercise' to mislead people: Cong

The Congress Saturday expressed surprise that the government was celebrating the invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for the OIC's inaugural plenary, dubbing it a "misplaced euphoria" and a "futile exercise" to mislead the people of India. Senior party spokesperson Anand Sharma asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swaraj to respect the past position of India of not attending meetings of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) till it is accepted as a full member, given its large Muslim population. "I am surprised at the government celebrating the invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to address the OIC meeting in UAE. The euphoria is misplaced and it is a futile exercise to mislead the public opinion in India," he said. Sharma, who was the minister of state of external affairs in the UPA government, said that in the past India has always taken a firm position with respect to its engagement with the OIC, a powerful grouping of Muslim majority ..

"AIADMK-PMK alliance is a natural alliance': PMK

The PMK Saturday described as a "natural alliance" the tie-up between it and the ruling AIADMK for the coming Parliamentary elections and said more parties were set to join the combine. In a resolution adopted at a special meeting of its general councilat Pattanur near here, the party also said it was necessary for the alliance to sweep all the 40 Lok Sabha seats, including the lone Puducherry seat, for the development of the state and the union territory. The AIADMK Tuesday alloted seven Lok Sabha seats to the PMK under the seat sharing accord reached between the two. The alliance between AIADMK and PMK was "a natural alliance in which the BJP had also joined hands. Many more parties are also to join the alliance to contest the polls," the resolution said. The PMK would strive hard for the development of Tamil Nadu and also for amelioration of the lot of the people in the state. To achieve this goal it was "absolutely necessary" that the alliance emerged victorious in ..

North Korea condemns Kashmir suicide attack

North Korea on Saturday condemned the Kashmir suicide attack that claimed 40 CRPF troopers' lives, saying it firmly opposes all forms of terrorism.