Page 1551 - Politics
Chhattisgarh BJP website hacked by Pakistani cyber attackers
The website of Chhattisgarh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) was allegedly hacked by Pakistani hackers on Thursday.Details traced by ANI showed that the website was hacked by a man, named, "Faisal 1337", who works under the banner of "We Are Team Pak Cyber Attackers".Speaking to ANI, D Mashke, state BJP IT cell, said: "More than 100 websites were hacked in a cyber-attack, our website was one of them."The BJP leader further said that a complaint has been registered in the case.Mashke also rebuked Pakistan by saying, "they can't take us head-on, that's why they resort to such things."Similar animosity was also shared by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as his website was also hacked by Pakistani hackers. "The country whose mind has been hacked by terrorists will only indulge in this. They have been exposed and isolated globally hence such antics," Naqvi told ANI. This comes after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a televised address to the nation, ...
After allocation of seats, Varanasi goes to Samajwadi Party
SP and BSP on Thursday announced the allocation of Lok Sabha seats for themselves in Uttar Pradesh, according to which they will contest 37 and 38 seats respectively. Varanasi, the Lok Sabha seat, which is currently represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has gone to the SP kitty.According to an official statement, SP has got five reserved seats meant for Scheduled Castes. These seats are Hathras, Hardoi, Etawah, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Robertsganj, and Bahraich. The statement issued has been signed by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati.The others seats where SP will put up its candidates in the coming Lok Sabha elections are Kairana, Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Ghaziabad, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Atta, Budaun, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Kheri, Unnao, Lucknow, Kannauj, Kanpur, Jhansi, Banda, Phulpur, Allahabad, Faizabad, Gonda, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Azamgarh, Ballia, Chandauli, Varanasi, and Mirzapur.Last month, SP and BSP had announced that their alliance for the .
Pulwama fallout: SC to hear pleas seeking security for Kashmiri students
The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Friday a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the Centre and the state governments to protect Kashmiri students, being targeted across the country in the wake of Pulwama terror attack.
Pakistani journalist launches #AntiHateChallenge condemning Pulwama attack
Amid the hate and tensions, an independent Pakistani journalist, Sehyr Mirza, has begun an #AntiHateChallenge on Facebook, condemning the Pulwama suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir which killed 40 CRPF troopers.
Cong MLA threatens to launch protest against own govt
Congress MLA Amarinder Singh Raja Warring Thursday threatened to protest against the state government if it did not act against private transporters whose buses were involved in "frequent" accidents, leading to deaths. During the Zero Hour in the ongoing Punjab budget session here, Warring, a legislator from Giddarbaha raised the issue of people "being killed" in accidents involving private buses in the state. Drawing attention of the state transport minister Aruna Chaudhary, Warring claimed that was no law to act against the accused private transporters. "Can't we lodge a case against them? Will they continue to crush people," asked Warring, calling it a "very serious issue". He demanded that firms whose private buses were involved in "frequent" accidents must be shut down. Urging the transport minister not to shrug off the matter, Warring sought a law be enacted to act against erring bus operators. "The law should have a provision to close down such bus companies. If we have to ...
EVMs wonder machines for Indian democracy, here to stay: Former CEC (IANS Interview)
The electronic voting machines (EVMs) are the "wonder machines" of the Indian democracy and those who question it are peddling conspiracies to sow seeds of doubt and undermining democracy, said former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi.
Withdrawal of security to separatists a step towards nailing anti-national elements: J-K BJP
The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit on Thursday welcomed the state administration's decision to withdraw security cover of separatist leaders in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, and said it is a step towards "nailing anti-national elements" in the state. The Jammu and Kashmir administration Wednesday withdrew security of 18 separatists and 155 political leaders, including Wahid Parra, a close aide of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, and ex-bureaucrat Shah Faesal. "We welcome the administration's decision to withdraw security cover of separatists. Security withdrawal is a step towards nailing anti-national elements. Those who favour Pakistan need to be taught a lesson," state BJP chief Ravinder Raina told reporters here. He also welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision of providing reservation to the economically weaker sections and extending quota for SC/STs in promotion to Jammu and Kashmir. Raina thanked Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Governor Satya Pal Malik for the "set back
Omar, Mehbooba feel vindicated by India-Saudi statement
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti said on Thursday that the joint statement by India and Saudi Arabia on holding talks with Pakistan vindicated their stand.
South Korean Prez hopes Gandhi's thinking can lead to peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond
South Korean President Moon Jae-in Thursday voiced hope that the great spirit of Mahatma Gandhi can usher in peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond, as US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are set to meet next week in Vietnam to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Moon made the remarks while welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a ceremony to unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi which will be put on permanent display at the prestigious Yonsei University here. President Moon praised Gandhi, saying his greatness lies in the fact that he walked the path of peace despite the violence or threats against him or his people. Noting that his country has also experienced colonial rule, the South Korean president insisted the countries must work together to help establish peace and ensure joint prosperity in the region. "I sincerely hope that the great spirit of Mahatma Gandhi can be realised into peace and prosperity in Asia, going beyond the Korean ...
Prabhu wanted compulsory in-flight announcements in local language, ministry said 'not feasible'
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu had asked his ministry officials to make it compulsory for airlines to use local languages for in-flight announcements besides Hindi and English but was told that this measure was "practically not feasible". On December 26, his private secretary Rohit Yadav wrote a note to the civil aviation ministry, stating that the minister has "directed that announcement on public address systems at all airports in India and also by the scheduled airlines should be in local language followed by Hindi and English". Yadav added in his note that a "direction in this regard may be issued to all the airports and scheduled airlines immediately. Compliance in this regard may be submitted to this office by 1600 hours today i.e. 26.12.2018." However, the ministry officials pointed out to the minister that such a measure is "practically not feasible for airlines" as an aircraft goes through several states and "the cabin crew may not know that language", according to the
Mulayam slams son Akhilesh over party's alliance with BSP
Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav Thursday made clear that he is upset with the alliance forged by his son and party president Akhilesh Yadav with the Bahujan Samaj Party. Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed unhappiness over the Uttar Pradesh pact ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, questioning why Akhilesh Yadav gave half the seats to Mayawati's party. The remarks come days after SP patriarch created a stir in Parliament, saying he wished that Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power. Addressing party workers at the SP headquarters here, he urged them to approach him for the ticket to contest the parliamentary polls and suggested that he could change any decision taken by his son. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati had jointly announced the alliance in January, saying the SP and the BSP will contest 38 seats each out of the 80 in Uttar Pradesh. Soon after the party patriarch's comments, the SP and the BSP released the list of Lok Sabha constituencies shared between the two alliance ...
Shammi Silva elected SLC President
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Thursday announced the election of Shammi Silva as its new president.
Australia's ex-Foreign Minister announces retirement
Former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, the highest-ranking woman to serve in a two-term government, announced her decision to quit politics, here on Thursday. She will not contest May general election, Bishop added.
Rahul Gandhi to address booth-level workers in Goa in March
Congress president Rahul Gandhi is expected to address booth-level workers of the party in Goa in the first week of March. Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said Gandhi would be speaking to the booth-level workers about the coming Lok Sabha elections. Chodankar also said the party will contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa.
Cong stands 'fair chance' in forming coalition govt: Fitch Solutions
Fitch Solutions, the research arm of Fitch Group, Thursday said the Congress has a "fair chance" of forming a coalition government in the next general election as re-lection will be a "tough challenge" for the Modi-led NDA government given the ongoing rifts between the BJP and potential kingmaker parties. The report titled 'Political Risk Analysis - Indian Election Could Lead To Fragmented Parliament And Weak Policymaking', also added that a likely coalition government post general elections due in April-May will have negative implications for continuity of policies of the current government. "We at Fitch Solutions are bucking the overwhelming consensus at this juncture that the BJP will most likely form the next government after the upcoming elections, and we believe that the INC has a fair chance of marshalling a coalition government, given ongoing rifts between the BJP and potential kingmaker parties," it said. The re-election of the NDA government, it added, will be a tough ...
Omar hits out at PM, Cong for silence on 'systematic targeting of Kashmiris'
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday hit out at both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the opposition Congress for not speaking out against the "systematic targeting of Kashmiris" in various parts of the country following the Pulwama terror attack last week. Addressing a press conference here, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said he had been looking for a statesman but only found politicians, and asserted that the country needs an alternative to the BJP, not BJP's B-team. "We didn't have much expectation from the BJP but we had expectations from the prime minister. We had hoped he would keep politics aside and say something," he told reporters. "While the PM is silent, it is sad the country's largest opposition party's leadership also remained silent," Abdullah added, a week after 40 CRPF soldiers were killed in a terror attack in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. Abdullah also asked Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik to ensure the ...
Omar slams Modi, Congress for silence over attacks on Kashmiri students
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress for their silence over attacks on Kashmiri students in parts of the country.
Bedi reconstitutes Puducherry Women's Commission
Lt Governor Kiran Bedi Thursday reconstituted the Puducherry Women's Commission after the tenure of the previous one expired in 2017. A government notification said a new team of office bearers have been appointed and the Commission is now headed by R Rani Rajan Babu. It also said that the Commission would improve the status of women in the Union Territory and would enquire into complaints of "unfair practices" affectingwomen. The territorial administration had constituted the Women's Commission in 2004 and its tenure was extended subsequently.
No clean chit given to anyone in Mandsaur firing: Digvijay
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has said the police firing incident at Mandsaur, in which six farmers were killed during the previous BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, will be re-investigated and no clean chit has been given to anyone in the case. A controversy had erupted when Home Minister Bala Bachchan told the assembly early this week that the 2017 police action was in "self-defence" and "to protect government and private properties", virtually endorsing the stand taken by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan administration. The written statement had left the state Congress, which had made the Mandsaur police firing a key election issue, red-faced. The Congress came to power in Madhya Pradesh last year after a gap of 15 years. "The police firing in Mandsaur district that left six farmers dead in June 2017 (during an agitation) will be re- investigated. No clean chit has been given to anyone in it," Singh told reporters Wednesday night on the sidelines of a function near .
Congress has shown its true colours: BJP
After the Congress Thursday targeted the Modi government over the Pulwama attack, the BJP hit back, saying the opposition party has shown its "true colours" after maintaining the "facade" of standing with the government and security forces following the terror strike. Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress of seeking to weaken the morale of the armed forces at a time when the whole world is "firmly standing" with India. Prasad also targeted the Congress for its "shameful" attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he was in Uttarakhand on the day of Pulwama attack as part of an official programme related to tiger conservation. "Was the Congress aware of the Pulwama attack? We were not aware," the BJP leader said in a jibe at the opposition party. The Congress attack on the Modi government would have pleased Pakistan, he alleged, adding that styles of what Imran Khan and the opposition party have said may be different but their contents bore ...