Page 1746 - Politics
Visually impaired, blind voters to get braille voter slips in Lok Sabha polls
Visually impaired and blind voters will be provided with braille voter slips in the Lok Sabha elections due this summer. Braille is a script with raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision. It is a tactile reading and writing system used by blind and visually impaired people who cannot access print material. As part of its strategy framework for 'accessible elections', the commission has told all chief electoral officers to issue accessible photo voter slips with braille to voters who are visually impaired or blind. The braille enabled slips were used in the recently held assembly elections also. Electronic voting machines already have the braille feature. The ballot paper pasted on the machine with name and symbol of candidates is braille enabled. The Election Commission also plans to provide braille election photo identity cards to visually challenged voters across the country.
With surgical strike, India has declared its new policy to tackle terror: Modi in Srinagar
With surgical strike across the Line of Control, India has shown the world its new policy (neeti) and tradition (reeti) in tackling terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday. Addressing a function here, Modi said every terrorist will be dealt in a befitting manner and asserted that the government will break the backbone of terror in the valley "I assure all the youths of Jammu and Kashmir and the country that the government will give befitting response ('muhtod jawab') to every terrorist. We will break the backbone of terror in the state," he said.
Citizenship Bill very important, Rajnath talking to different parties: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will talk to different political parties, including those from the Northeast, on the Citizenship Bill, BJP president Amit Shah said Sunday, asserting the legislation is "very important" for the country. Shah said if any consensus emerges from Singh's consultations with different parties then they will certainly move forward with that. He underlined his party's commitment to the bill, which seeks to grants citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, saying such large number of refugees cannot be left to their fate. "We are firm on this," he said. "The home minister is talking to all parties from Northeast and other parties, which wants to give suggestion during this session. He is talking to them one by one and has already spoken to some parties," he said at a party event. Describing the bill as "very important" for the country, he said the BJP has brought it after lot of deliberations. "After taking ...
BJP launches campaign to seek people's views for manifesto
The BJP on Sunday launched a campaign to seek suggestions and voters' expectations for a "new India" from 10 crore families across the country before giving a final shape to its election manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls.
UP CM's rallies: Permission denied for chopper to land in WB
The tussle between the TMC and the BJP got uglier Sunday, with the West Bengal government denying permission to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's chopper to land in the state to let him address two scheduled rallies. Adityanath addressed the rallies there telephonically and lashed out at the "anti-people" Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state, saying the days of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's rule are "numbered". The UP chief minister and state BJP president Dilip Ghosh were scheduled to address "Ganatantra Bacaho Rallies" at Balurghat in South Dinajpur district and Raiganj in North Dinajpur district. Though the BJP had been allowed to organise the rallies, the district administration denied permission for Adityanath's chopper to land at both the places, party leaders said. Following denial of permission to land his chopper, Adityanath decided not to attend either of the rallies and instead addressed them telephonically. "This is nothing new. Whenever we try
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee attends rally after 3 years
Ailing former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Sunday attended a Left Front rally at Brigade Parade Ground, making a public appearance after a gap of almost three years. Left Front chairman Biman Bose announced Bhattacharjee's presence in the rally but said that he would hear the proceedings of the public meeting from inside his car due to ill health. Bhattacharjee left the venue after some time, but his wife Mira Bhattacharjee stayed back. The veteran CPI(M) leader, who was at the helm of the Left Front government in the state from 2000 to 2011, is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been confined to his home for several months. Bhattacharjee had stepped down from the CPI(M) State Committee in March 2018, citing ill health. Earlier, he had also relinquished the central committee and politburo posts. "Buddha-da joining the rally, even if it is for a few minutes, will boost the morale of party cadres. He is the tallest ...
Shah woos tribals, says NDA govt increased allocation of funds for their welfare
BJP president Amit Shah Sunday projected his party as the champion of tribals, saying the Narendra Modi government has raised budgetary allocation for their welfare to Rs 50,000 crore from Rs 30,700 crore made during by the Congress-led UPA dispensation. Addressing the valedictory session of the national convention of the BJP's ST Morcha here, Shah lashed out at the previous UPA government accusing it of having neglected the tribal people. Noting that a separate ministry for tribal affairs was started by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, the BJP chief said the party-led government has floated the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) with huge funds for the development and welfare of tribals living in mineral-rich areas. The funds under the DMF are being utilised by various states where mining activities are affecting the people and environment, he said. Shah's visit to this seaside pilgrim town is seen as an exercise to woo tribals, who constitute around one fourth of ...
Centre's crop insurance scheme aimed at taking away farmer's money: Rahul Gandhi
Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday said the Centre's crop insurance scheme is aimed at taking away farmers income to fill up pockets of big businessmen. At his first rally in Bihar after taking over as party president, Gandhi accused the Nitish Kumar government in the state of making "empty promises" like Modi. He promised that if the Congress is voted to power in the Lok Sabha polls a number of steps would be taken to deal with farm distress and unemployment. Raising the slogan of "chowkidaar chor hai" (the watchman is the thief) -- an allusion to Modi, Gandhi accused the NDA government at the Centre of committing irregularities in the Rafale deal. He alleged that policies of the Modi government, including crop insurance, were "aimed at taking away hard-earned money of farmers to fill up the pockets of big businessmen". In contrast, he said, his party's governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh waived farm loans within a few
Patna University to get central university status, if Congress voted to power: Rahul
Patna University will be granted the status of central university if the Congress wins the forthcoming general elections, party President Rahul Gandhi announced on Sunday.Addressing the first rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan after 28 years, the Congress chief said that Prime Minister Modi keeps talking about his baseless schemes, but has kept the youth of the state deprived of opportunities in terms of jobs and education."He (PM Modi) keeps talking, but has not given education or jobs to the youth of Bihar. Patna University will be given a central university status, if Congress comes to power at the Centre," he said.He also announced a guaranteed minimum income to the poor if the Congress comes to power following the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.He mocked the budget 2019 announcement of Rs 6,000 minimum annual income support to farmers and said, "PM has given Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani, but only Rs 17 per day to the farmers of the country."Rahul said the BJP makes promises while ...
BJP to go it alone in Telangana, to contest in all 17 LS seats:
The BJP would go it alone in Telangana for the upcoming general elections and contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, senior party leader Bandaru Dattatreya said Sunday. Asserting that his party is making efforts to cross 400 Lok Sabha seats this time, the former Union minister and an MP from Secunderabad claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a corruption-free government and his image and popularity continues to rise. "The BJP will independently contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha seats. The Assembly election was a totally different scenario. This is is parliamentary election and we are confident," Dattatreya, the lone BJP MP from Telangana, told reporters here. In the December Assembly polls in Telangana, BJP managed to win only one out of 120 seats. Dattatreya alleged that opposition leaders are involved in one scam or the other and they are "criticising" Modi only to garner votes of minorities. Be it Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister .
US envoy visits Seoul ahead of second Trump-Kim summit
United States Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun began his three-day visit to South Korea on Sunday to discuss the agendas to be considered in the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un slated to be held in February. Quoting sources, Yonhap news agency reported that Biegun is scheduled to meet Kim Hyok-chol in Panmunjom, a village located on the border between North Korea and South Korea, on Monday.The US envoy will also meet South Korea's top nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon in Seoul to coordinate talks over denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the corresponding measures taken by Washington to dilute sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.President Trump is slated to meet with his North Korean counterpart in the coastal city of Da Nang in Vietnam in the last week of February.On Saturday, CNN quoted a senior US administration official as stating that Trump's agenda during the meeting is still not concrete. The second meeting was
Govt's move to return excess land in Ayodhya to owners "historic": Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Sunday described as "historic" the Modi government's move to return the excess land around the disputed site in Ayodhya to their owners, including the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, and asked opposition parties not to put obstacles in the Ram temple issue's resolution. Asked about the Ram temple issue at an event here, he told reporters that his party wants a grand temple of Lord Ram to be built at the very site, where he is believed to have born, in Ayodhya at the earliest and dared opposition parties to make their stand clear on the issue. He said the central government's plea in the Supreme Court to return the land is "historic". It is believed that the return of the land -- if allowed by the court -- is likely to result in the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, which is dedicated to the construction of the temple, starting work on building it, giving a political boost to the BJP ahead of the parliamentary election as it has long championed the cause. Opposition parties should ...
Odisha announces scholarships for KALIA beneficiaries' children
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced the 'KALIA Chhatra Bruti', which will provide scholarships to the children of the KALIA scheme beneficiaries for pursuing higher education.
Modi attacks Cong for 'gimmick' of farm loan waiver
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress for using farm loan waivers as a gimmick ahead of the election to win votes and said the party's previous such initiative benefitted only middlemen and select farmers. He listed out various measures, including direct income support of Rs 6,000 to farmers cultivating on up to five acres of land, being taken by the central government to ensure welfare of the peasants neglected by the "previous governments". "Congress always left out 70-80 per cent poor farmers from the benefit of their farm loan waiver scheme. What about these people?" he asked. Modi laid foundation stones of various development projects worth Rs 6,000 crore which include setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur, a bridge over river Chenab, pollution abatement project on rivers Devika and Tawi, a campus of Northern Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication and University Institute of Engineering and Technology in ..
BJP launches mega drive to prepare election manifesto, to seek views of 10 cr people
Launching a mega drive to seek views from 10 crore people for BJP's manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha election, its chief Amit Shah asserted Sunday that only the Modi government can ensure inclusive growth as it has laid a "strong" foundation for India's long-term development. Shah, along with senior party leader Rajnath Singh, launched "Bharat ke mann ki baat, Modi ke saath", a month-long campaign to seek suggestions from people across the country to help the BJP prepare its 'sankalp patra' for the general election, expected to be held in April-May. Asserting that this nationwide exercise is the first of its kind by any political party in the country, Shah said it is aimed at "democratising" the process of preparing manifesto and will involve the general public in deciding the framework of the "New India" they want. "This is not a BJP programme but people's exercise. This is a unique experiment, will strengthen democracy in the country," Shah said. He said election manifestoes are ..
Will work towards winning all 39 LS seats: TN Cong chief
Newly appointed Tamil Nadu Congress chief, K S Alagiri Sunday said the party will work towards bagging all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state and the one in neighbouring Puducherry in the general elections. Interacting with the media a day after his escalation, Alagiri emphasised on strengthening the party's organisational structure, which will be a key factor winning the polls. "Today our secular friends are aiming for 40 constituencies in both TN and Puducherry in the upcoming elections. Congress party will also toil for this," Alagiri said. "My first target is to strengthen the party structure. A political party with a strong structure only will come out victorious. I will be working with other senior leaders for this," he added. In a move that was taken months before the 2019 general elections, a former Lok Sabha MP Alagiri was appointed as the president of the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee Saturday replacing the incumbent S Thirunavakkarasar. Taking a swipe at the ...
Congress promise of debt waiver to farmers is hollow: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday kickstarted the BJP's Lok Sabha election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, dubbing as "hollow" the Congress pledge to waive farmers' debts if it takes power.
Former Congress MLA Sagaria joins BSP in Odisha
Former Congress MLA from Koraput Krushna Chandra Sagaria joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Odisha here on Sunday.
Five student leaders arrested for torching govt vehicle in Nepal
Five student leaders in Nepal have been arrested for their alleged involvement in torching a government vehicle during a protest by a student wing of opposition Nepali Congress against the misuse of government vehicles. The Nepal Student Union cadres on Saturday took the vehicle of Chief of Education Department at Pokhara Metropolis under control and torched it as part of their protest to restrict government vehicles from plying on road on holidays. The agitating student cadres dragged the driver from the vehicle, poured petrol and torched it. The arrested student leaders include Nepal Student Union president of Pokhara University Rajendra Baral, officials said. NSU central member Bhanu Dhakal said that the misuse of government vehicles has increased in the recent time, and the student body has started a campaign to control the practice.
Homage paid to former TN CM Annadurai on his death anniversary
PWD Minister A Namassivayam led the Union Territory of Puducherry to pay homage to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and founder of DMK C N Annadurai on his fiftieth death anniversary on Sunday. The Public Works Department (PWD) was accompanied by Welfare Minister M Kandasamy and legislators of the ruling Congress as they paid tributes at the statue of Annadurai, fondly called Anna, in the neighbouring Orleanpet. Workers and delegates of different wings of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by the convenors of the party R Siva MLA and former Education Minister S P Sivakumar took part in a silent procession and garlanded the statue. Secretary of the Puducherry unit of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) P Purushothaman along with legislators A Anbalagan, A Baskar and Vayyapuri Manikandan led a silent rally of the party workers from the party headquarters to the statue.