Page 1733 - Politics
Modi-Shah biggest danger for country: Kejriwal
Calling the Central government's action in West Bengal as "extremely dangerous", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah as "the biggest danger" for the country.
'Alliance of corrupt' emerging to save each other, says BJP after Opposition's support to Mamata
The BJP said Monday an "alliance of the corrupt" is emerging, after several opposition parties supported West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her protest against the CBI's move to question Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar in the multi-crore Saradha scam case. At a presser in Delhi, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wondered if Banerjee backed the police commissioner because he held "secrets" and hence needed to be saved. Refuting Opposition's charge that CBI's attempt to question Kumar was an attack on federalism and Modi government's political vendetta, he said this cannot be an "alibi to save the corrupt". The CBI has acted as per law and it has the authority to arrest or question a person without a warrant, he asserted. "They (the opposition parties) should answer if probing corruption is a sin. Or if investigating the loot of thousands of crores from small investors is a sin. Theirs is an opportunist alliance and an alliance of the corrupt is emerging to .
Obstructing CBI officers is criminal offence: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
Amid the tussle between the CBI and the West Bengal government over probe into the chit fund scam, Union minister Jitendra Singh Monday said obstructing the probe agency from performing its duty is a "criminal offence". He said, this is in contrast to the high standards of public conduct and propriety that were established by Narendra Modi as the then chief minister of Gujarat when a series of "motivated and unsubstantiated cases" were filed against him by the CBI at the behest of the UPA government, but not even once did Modi obstructed the working of CBI and instead, voluntarily offered to face interrogation for hours together at a stretch. By doing so, Modi reiterated his faith in the rule of law and legally fought out the cases filed against him, and finally obtained a clean-chit, the minister said. "Obstructing CBI officers from doing their duty is a criminal offence," Singh told PTI. He hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for violating Constitutional propriety. "What is ...
BJP MLA seeks resolution against TMC govt blocking CBI probe
A ruling BJP MLA Monday demanded for moving a resolution by the Jharkhand Assembly condemning the unconstitutional approach taken by the Trinamool government in the neighbouring West Bengal by blocking CBI to probe a scam. Speaker Dinesh Oraon, however, said such things cannot be raised during Call Attention Motion. The West Bengal government has flouted Constitutional norms yesterday. A resolution condemning the incident should be passed by the House, BJP MLA Nirbhay Sahabadi urged the Speaker. Sahabadi was referring to Sunday unprecedented development in Kolkata when CBI sleuths attempted to question Kolkata Police Chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with chit fund scams, but were prevented from doing so and detained by the police there instead. Earlier, as soon as the House began at 11 am, JMM MLA Jobha Manjhi protested alleged removal of black veil worn by women during a programme of Chief Minister Raghubar Das in Giridih district Sunday. Joining the issue, BJP MLA ...
Siddaramaiah alleges BJP offering Rs 50 cr to lure Cong MLAs
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah Monday alleged BJP was offering Rs 50 crore each to Congress MLAs as part of its bid to topple the JDS-Congress government in Karnataka, but asserted none of them would fall for it. Separately, two ministers in the H D Kumaraswamy cabinet alleged BJP was still making attempts to poach Congress and JDS MLAs while claiming that a few saffron party legislators were in touch with the coalition partners. Rejecting Siddaramaiah's claim, BJP hit back saying the coalition government should focus on administration of the state instead of hurling charges. The claims by the ruling side came amid reports that disgruntled Congress MLAs might stay away from the coming budget session of the assembly thereby posing a threat to the eight-month old Kumaraswamy government. Senior BJP leader R Ashoka had last week claimed that 20 to 25 disgruntled MLAs of the ruling alliance were out of the reach of their leaders. The saffron party on Sunday had said it was
BJP misusing CBI, Mamata's response equally undemocratic: Left parties
Left parties on Monday said while the BJP-led NDA government was "misusing" federal agencies, Mamata Banerjee's response to it was "equally undemocratic" and accused both of sabotaging the probe into ponzi scams. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, in a tweet, said the sit-in by Banerjee in Kolkata came within hours of the Left Front's rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds in the city, and alleged that it was also aimed at diverting public attention from the rising protests by the people of West Bengal against both the BJP and the TMC. In an unprecedented development, a number of CBI officers, who had gone to question Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with chit fund scam cases, were bundled into police jeeps, whisked to a police station and briefly detained on Sunday. Hours after the incident, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee began a sit-in right in front of the Metro Cinema to protest "insults" she faced at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
Is Rahul Gandhi winning the social media war? (IANS Special)
Often mocked as the "Pappu" of the Indian politics, Congress President Rahul Gandhi is trying hard to do an image makeover and emerge as a witty leader through his sarcasm-filled tweets for his 8.41 million followers.
Sit-in is non-political, not targeted against one agency: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed her 'dharna' (sit-in) as "non-political" and not against any individual agency but the "anarchic moves" of the Narendra Modi government to "destroy" democracy.
UK seeks to reassure foreign investors over Brexit
Britain on Monday will seek to reassure foreign investors worried about Britain leaving the EU after Japanese automaker Nissan said it was scrapping a major planned investment less than two months before Brexit. Prime Minister Theresa May was due to hold a conference call with around 55 chairmen and chief executives of European multinationals with operations in Britain. "She'll be stressing on that call the importance of the UK leaving the EU with a deal," her spokesman said. Nissan's decision not to build its new X-Trail vehicle at its factory in Sunderland in northeast England was "very disappointing," he said, adding however that the company had confirmed no jobs would be lost as a result. Business Secretary Greg Clark was also due to make a statement to parliament on Nissan as Brexit supporters and opponents fiercely debated whether the decision was motivated by Britain's impending withdrawal from the EU. Britain is on course to crash out of the bloc on March 29 after MPs last ...
Country enraged over Mahatma Gandhi's insult under BJP govt: Sheila Dikshit
The entire country is enraged at the insult of Mahatma Gandhi under the BJP-led government at the Centre, Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit said on Monday after staging a silent protest at Raj Ghat here along with her party leaders and workers. She termed the Aligarh incident, wherein Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha activists shot an effigy of Gandhi before setting it ablaze on his death anniversary last Wednesday, "hurtful". "People of India are enraged and will never forgive such a hurtful incident under the BJP rule at the Centre," Dikshit said after the hour-long protest at Gandhi's memorial. Scores of protesters, carrying placards reading "Bapu Ke Seene Pe Vaar, Chup Kyon Hai Modi Sarkar", took part in the protest. The Congress strongly condemns the "shameful" incident and silent protests have been organised against it by the party across the country, Dikshit said. A video of the incident, which went viral on social media drew massive condemnation. Aligarh police have ...
Sidhu slams Centre, says CBI has been turned into a "puppet"
Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu Monday alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is being made to act like a "puppet" and there is an attempt to turn democracy into "danda tantra". Sidhu's remarks came in the backdrop of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sit-in against the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata police commissioner in connection with chit fund scam cases. "CBI is an independent and autonomous institution but you (the Centre) have made it a puppet...what prompted four judges of Supreme Court to come out in open and hold a press conference (last year)...?see the condition of RAW and how CBI chief was treated when he was trying to project a truth. "Democracy has been turned into 'danda tantra' (rule of the stick)," said Sidhu, adding the CBI's image has taken a beating. The cricketer-turned-politician was here to interact with students as part of a youth outreach programme launched by the Congress party. He was ..
Opposition sponsored Bihar bandh evokes mixed response
The Bihar bandh called by opposition parties in protest against the lathi charge on RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha and his party workers two days ago evoked mixed response Monday with normal life remaining unaffected by and large notwithstanding stray incidents of road blockade and arson. In the state capital, the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) activists received active support from its partners in mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance)--the RJD and the Congress. The CPI(ML) Liberation and the Aam Aadmi Party had also extended their support to the day-long bandh. RJD state president Ramchandra Purve and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh sat on a dharna organized at the Dak Bungalow crossing. They also demanded an apology from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the lathi charge which had left scores of RLSP activists, including Kushwaha, injured. In Ara, the district headquarters of Bhojpur,Superintendent of Police Aditya Kumar said the bandh went off peacefully though
Musharraf was responsible for no breakthrough on Kashmir: Sharif's confidant
Pakistan's former dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf was responsible for no breakthrough on the Kashmir issue as he launched the Kargil operation without the civilian government's approval to "sabotage" the talks with India and topple the Nawaz Sharif government, a close aide of the then prime minister said Monday. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and Senator Pervaiz Rashid told reporters that "Sharif and the Indian leadership were holding talks on Kashmir and the latter was ready to resolve it but Musharraf launched the Kargil operation to sabotage the talks and topple the Sharif government". General Musharraf, 75, who lives in Dubai, is facing several cases including a treason case for suspending the Constitution in 2007. The former military ruler left for the UAE in 2016 for medical treatment and has not returned since. He was the army chief during the Kargil War in 1999. "Gen Musharraf is responsible for the blood of Kashimiris. Musharraf was the reason behind the suffering of ...
CBI, an independent agency, let it work: Mukul Roy to Mamata
Mukul Roy, a former Trinamool Congress MP who was questioned in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam case, on Monday urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to allow the investigating agency to do its work. The BJP leader also defended himself in connection with the scam, a ponzi scheme through which lakhs of investors were duped of their savings, saying the CBI had failed to find any dirt on him. Banerjee has been on a protest since Sunday evening against the Central Bureau of Investigation's attempt to question Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with the case. She has termed her sit-in outside Metro Cinema in Kolkata a "satyagraha" to save the country and the Constitution and warned it will continue indefinitely. The size of the Saradha financial scandal is pegged at an estimated Rs 4,000 crore. After being prevented from questioning the Kolkata police chief on Sunday evening, the CBI moved the Supreme Court on Monday morning, accusing Kumar of destroying
Congress files police complaints against obscene tweets on Priyanka
The Congress on Monday filed police complaints in Delhi and across India seeking action over obscene and offensive posts in social media targeting party's Uttar Pradesh General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and also pointed to some BJP leaders making "sexist remarks" against her.
Doors of NDA permanently closed for TDP: Amit Shah
: Dubbing Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as the 'U-turn CM of the country", BJP president Amit Shah Monday asserted that the doors of the NDA were permanently closed for him and that the TDP would never ever be allowed into the alliance. Shah, who inaugurated the state-wide bus yatra of BJP state president Kanna Lakshminarayana at Palasa in Srikakulam district, hit back strongly at the Chief Minister, saying he was known as the U-turn CM of the country as he changed his stand on everything countless times. "He was elected as Congress MLA (in 1978) and later jumped into TDP (in 1983). To enjoy power, he joined the NDA in 1998 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister. In 2004, he jumped the ship when BJP lost and bit the dust for 10 years, Shah said. Seeing the huge popularity of Narendra Modi, Chandrababu fell on Modis feet in 2014 and returned to the NDA, the BJP chief said. When he realised that people of AP were deeply angry with his ...
BJP upbeat after Modi rally, says will form next govt in J-K
Buoyed by the massive participation of people in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally, the BJP Monday expressed confidence that the party will form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir. Modi addressed the rally at Vijaypur along Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba district Sunday after laying foundation stones of various projects, including the much-awaited AIIMS. "The jam-packed ground has changed the political scenario of Jammu and Kashmir and has laid the strong foundation for clean sweep of the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections," state BJP president Ravinder Raina told reporters here. He said, "The script for parliamentary and assembly elections has been written and all those who participated in the rally have entered their name in the making of history." "Soon, this mood will be evident in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), when the BJP will again form the government at the Centre besides J&K on its own strength," Raina claimed. He said the ...
Chavan asks Fadnavis to apologise for 'dog' barb at Opposition
Attacking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for terming political rivals as "dogs", Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan Monday alleged the former has "lost his mental balance" sensing the BJP's defeat in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Chavan also asked Fadnavis to apologise to the people of the state over his remark. Fadnavis had on Sunday said none of the opposition leaders, who have come together against the BJP, has a national stature. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "the king of jungle" while these leaders rule only in their own turfs, he had said at an event organised by the BJP's youth wing here. "Modi attracts lakhs of people wherever he goes. Kutta-billi (dogs and cats) rule (only) their own areas. Modi is the king of the jungle," Fadnavis had said. Hitting back, Chavan said, "The chief minister is losing mental balance sensing defeat in the upcoming polls. The chief minister has lowered the level of public discourse by calling opponents dogs." Asking ...
Cong protests 'insult' to Mahatma Gandhi on death anniversary
The Congress on Monday held a demonstration here against the alleged insult to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary. In a purported video circulated on social media, alleged members of right-wing All India Hindu Mahasabha were seen enacting Gandhi's assassination by firing at his effigy before setting it ablaze on Wednesday. Ministers BD Kalla, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Harish Chaudhary, Udailal Anjana, Saleh Mohammad, Ramesh Meena and other leaders participated in the dharna held under the banner of the AICC at the Gandhi circle here. "Some anti-social elements had insulted Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary which is not acceptable. The Congress has held similar dharnas across the country and expressed sentiments against the fascist forces," PCC vice president Archana Sharma said. Thirteen people, including the right-wing group's national general secretary Puja Shakun Pandey, who was seen firing at the effigy in the video, were booked in connection with the incident. Five ..
Rahul says Gadkari only one in BJP with some guts, seeks answers on Rafale, jobs
In a left-handed compliment, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Monday Union minister Nitin Gadkari is the only one in the BJP who has the guts, and asked him to comment on the Rafale deal, job crisis, "farmers distress and destruction of institutions". Gandhi's remarks came following Gadkari's remarks that "one who cannot take care of home, cannot manage the country". The union minister hit back at Gandhi, saying he does not need a certificate from Gandhi on his courage and alleged that the Congress chief is taking the help of reports "twisted" by the media to attack his government. The Congress president cited a report quoting Gadkari as saying that party workers should first fulfil their domestic responsibilities as "those who cannot do that cannot manage the country". "Gadkari Ji, compliments. You are the only one in the BJP with some guts. Please also comment on: The Rafale scam and Anil Ambani, farmers' distress and destruction of institutions," Gandhi tweeted and tagged with .