Page 1822 - Politics

Jind bypoll: Campaigning ends for multi-cornered contest

Campaigning for the January 28 bypoll to the Jind assembly constituency, witnessing a high-stake, multi-cornered contest, chiefly among the ruling BJP, opposition INLD, besides the Congress and fledgling JJP, ended Saturday. The campaign period for the multi-cornered contest ended at 5 pm, restricting candidates now only to door-to-door canvassing for seeking votes from about 1.75 lakh voters of the constituency. A total of 21 candidates are in the fray for the polls. A direct fight between the BJP and the opposition INLD initially, the bypoll turned into a high-stake contest after the Congress fielded Jat leader and AICC communication in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, while the Jannayak Janta Party, a breakaway outfit of Chautala family-led INLD, nominated political greenhorn Digvijay Singh Chautala. The by-poll was necessitated following death of INLD legislator Hari Chand Midha last year. Ruling BJP is banking on Middh'a son Krishan Middha, a Punjabi, while INLD has nominated ...

PM greets people on Republic Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people on the country's 70th Republic Day on Saturday. "Happy Republic Day to all fellow Indians," he tweeted. Several leaders took to social media to extend their greetings on the occasion. "As we celebrate #RepublicDay2019, let us renew our vow to our country: let us strive to live up to the ideals of justice, liberty and equality as enshrined in the constitution. Let us move towards a stronger, better India. Let us, with fierce pride, say in one voice: JAI HIND!" Union Minister Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore tweeted. Union Minister Arun Jaitley, who is recuperating after a surgery in a hospital in the US, tweeted, "#RepublicDay2019 greetings to everyone. Happy 70th #RepublicDay2019". Railways Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted, "70 & Growing Strong: As India celebrates its 70th #RepublicDay, let us cherish the memory of the day when we became an Independent Republic, and look ahead with aspiration & zeal towards building a New India." Union .

Muted R-Day celebrations in Nagaland as people shun event

The 70th Republic Day celebration remained a low-key affair in Nagaland amid a boycott call given by prominent organisations over the controversial Citizenship Bill. The student community and the general public at large abstained from participating in the celebrations, which left the venues empty. Naga student bodies and Yung Aung-led National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) had urged the public to stay away from the Republic Day celebrations. The organisations claimed that the Bill, once passed by the Rajya Sabha, could hurt the interests of Nagaland. Besides, their boycott call was also to express solidarity with other northeastern states who have been protesting against the Bill. Even the presence of government employees was sparse as the seating area marked for 'Administrative Heads of Departments' and 'Heads of Departments' at the main celebrations at Secretariat Plaza here remained vacant. Unfurling the tricolour in the presence of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, ...

Indians abroad mark 70th Republic Day

The nation's 70th Republic Day was observed with patriotic fervour on Saturday at Indian missions in various nations with events that saw the participation of Indians living abroad. The Indian Embassy in Russian capital Moscow celebrated Republic Day 2019 at an event attended by over 500 Indian citizens, people of Indian origin and Russian nationals. The ceremony commenced with the unfurling of the national flag by Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Varma, followed by singing of the national anthem. The ambassador read out President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation. The event also included a cultural performance by the children from the Embassy of India School in Moscow. To mark the occasion, the 'Rossiskaya Gazeta' - a widely circulated newspaper in Russia - brought out a special supplement on India in cooperation with the Indian Embassy. The publication contained articles, providing insight into the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. In .

Former CEC draws attention to critical aspects of electoral processes

Former chief election commissioner of India Navin Chawla on Saturday posed several questions regarding the election processes in the country, ranging from conflict of interest to need for reforms. Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival here, Chawla said, "Our Parliament consists of extremely rich people. Many of them are industrialists and businessmen. They find themselves on parliamentary committees, exactly those places where there is conflict of interest. Are those people in the parliament, representing the voice of the people?" Without taking any names, the former CEC said, "A current fugitive, now, was once put in the civil aviation ministry's parliamentary committee. The supposed rationale was that the man had domain expertise. We are on the way to becoming a rich and powerful Parliament, but one should ask if this is the voice of the people? he asked the audience. He expressed concern over the use of money and muscle power in elections. After his responsibility as CEC was ..

Cong banking on 'chocolaty' faces for LS poll: Vijayvargiya

Taking a swipe at the Congress over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's entry in politics, senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday said it was fielding "chocolaty" faces in Lok Sabha polls as it has a dearth of strong leaders. "A Congress leader demands that Kareena Kapoor should be fielded from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. Sometimes others talk about fielding Salman Khan from Indore. Likewise, Priyanka (Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) was also brought into active politics," Vijayvargiya told reporters here. "Agle Lok Sabha chunav ke maidan mein utaarne Congress ke pass mazboot neta nahi hai. Isliye woh aise chocolaty chehre ke madhyam se chunav ladna chahti hai (The Congress does not have strong leaders to field in the next Lok Sabha elections. For this reason, it wants to fight polls through these charming faces)," he said. He also said that "Priyanka would not have been brought into active politics if there was confidence within the Congress on (party chief) Rahul's ...

No impact of Parrikar's illness on Goa govt functioning: Naik

Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik Saturday said the illness of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has had no impact on the functioning of the state government. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Republic Day function held here, which was also attended by senior BJP leader L K Advani. Parrikar has been suffering from a pancreatic ailment and is undergoing treatment at his residence since he returned to the state in October last year following hospitalisation at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Parrikar has attended only a few official functions since returning to the state and has hardly been seen in public. "I don't think there is any impact of Parrikars illness on the functioning of the Goa government. Things are moving in the right direction," Naik said. He said the only difference was that Parrikar was attending office less when compared to earlier times. Expressing happiness at Advani's presence at the Republic Day function, ...

Manipur CM asks activists to join politics

Even as several civic society organisations and student outfits boycotted the Republic Day function, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren on Saturday advised activists in the state to join politics since they plan to run a parallel Legislative assembly.

'Central govt itself caught in doubt on how to rule'

: The TDP yet again targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday,this time using Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's purported remarks on CBI, saying the Central government itself was caught in doubt on how to rule. "They themselves are putting a question mark on whether it is the way to run a government," Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party leader Y Satyanarayana Chowdary remarked, referring to the 'investigative adventurism' comment made by Jaitley. Jaitley had Friday targeted the CBI over the Kochhar probe,advising the investigating agency to avoid 'adventurism' and concentrate only on the bull's eye. Jaitley,recuperating after a surgery in a hospital in the U.S., had tweeted that one of the reasons for the "poor" conviction rate in India is that "adventurism and megalomania" overtakes investigators and professionalism takes a back seat. "There is a fundamental difference between investigative adventurism and professional investigation," Jaitley had tweeted. Chanda ...

Rahul, Sonia Gandhi in Goa on 3-day 'private visit'

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi have arrived in Goa on a three-day "private visit", police sources said on Saturday.

TN Guv hosts "at home" reception

: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit hosted the Republic Day reception "at home" at the Raj Bhavan here Saturday. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal, Madras High Court Chief Justice Vijaya Kamlesh Rahilramani and senior Ministers participated, a Raj Bhavan release said. "It is a privilege and an honour to be addressing all of you on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of our Republic Day," Purohit said in his brief remarks. "On this day, every year we proclaim our commitment to be true and loyal to the Constitution of India which was drafted with great care and concern for the welfare of the people of India", he said. Noting that political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy, he said, "social democracy means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life." The Republic Day is an occasion to pledge "ourselves" to respect ...

Spain, France, Germany give ultimatum to Venezuela's Maduro

Spain, France and Germany on Saturday gave an ultimatum to embattled Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, saying that they would recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as President unless he calls a new election within eight days.

Mixed bag of hope, faith, cynicism as UP Congress awaits Priyanka

It's a mixed bag of hope, faith and cynicism at the Congress office at the Mall Avenue here as party loyalists await both "acche din" and the arrival of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, after her appointment as the party general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls.

On R-Day, Tej Pratap reaches RJD office to find gates shut

Lalu Prasads elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Saturday received a rude shock when he reached the RJD Bihar headquarters here to greet party workers on the occasion of Republic Day but found the gates of the premises shut. The mercurial RJD MLA summoned the caretaker of the premises, got the gates opened and went inside where he vented his ire at the partys state president Ram Chandra Purve who had reportedly ordered that the office remain shut for the day. This is a serious matter. No party keeps its gates shut on the Republic Day. It is an occasion when party colleagues get a chance to interact. It seems the old guard in the party is uneasy with the young blood, symbolized by myself and Tejashwi (younger brother), Yadav told reporters. On finding the gates padlocked I called up Madan, a loyalist of my father who keeps the keys to the premises in his custody. I was shocked when he told me that the premises had been locked for the day on directions of Ram Chandra Purve, he

BJD slams Rahul, says tie-up only with people of Odisha; not Cong or BJP

Spokesperson of the ruling BJD Sasmit Patra said the party had maintained equidistance both from the BJP and the Congress

BSF gifts sweets to Pak Rangers on R-Day

On the occasion of India's 70th Republic Day, the Border Security Force (BSF) offered sweets to its Pakistani counterparts at the International border here on Saturday. BSF commandant Mukund Kumar Jha gave the sweets to Pakistani Wing Commander Usman at zero line on the Attari-Wagah border. Personnel of BSF and Pakistan Rangers, the neighbouring countrys border-guarding force, hugged and shook hands with each other besides sharing pleasantries for few minutes, officials said. Forces on both sides also clicked photographs with each other, they added. It may be mentioned here that offering sweets to each other was suspended on January 26, 2018 due to heightened tension along the International Border and the Line of Control in view of ceasefire violations. However, the tradition was reinstated in August 2018 when both the nations celebrated their Independence Days. The countries also offer sweets to each other on major festivals like Eid and Diwali.

R-Day: Putin sends wishes to Prez Kovind, PM Modi; says India achieved 'impressive success'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended cordial wishes to India's president, prime minister and the people of the country on its 70th Republic Day, embassy officials said Saturday. Putin in his message said India has achieved "impressive success" in socio-economic, scientific, technical and other spheres. India celebrated the august occasion with a grand military parade and exhibition of its history, cultural diversity and strategic weaponry at the Rajpath -- the city's centrepiece boulevard -- in the presence of thousands of spectators including foreign dignitaries and the country's top political and military brass. South African President Ramaphosa was the chief guest at the 90-minute celebrations here marking the day when the world's biggest democracy was declared a republic in 1950. "Russian President Vladimir Putin sends his cordial congratulations to President of India Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to all citizens of the Republic of India," a senior ...

Ramesh Chennithala calls on DMK chief

: Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala Saturday called on DMK chief M K Stalin here and had a brief interaction with him. During the meeting held at Stalin's residence, Chennithala, a senior Congress leader, invited him for his son's wedding, a DMK statement said. In another statement, the DMK said CPI Tamil Nadu secretary R Mutharasan called on Stalin at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters. The meeting between the two leaders was a courtesy call, the statement said.

Kejriwal hits out at Modi on crop insurance scheme, casteism

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his government's crop insurance scheme alleging it has failed to benefit the farming community and charged the NDA with dividing the society on caste lines. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) is aimed at enabling farmers avail insurance cover against crop loss due to natural calamities. "Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi promised crop insurance scheme... Now, if a farmer's crop gets destroyed, the insurance firms refuse to give compensation to them saying that it is only applicable if over 70 per cent crop is damaged," Kejriwal said addressing rally for the Jind Assembly bypoll here. The bypoll for the Jind seat is scheduled to be held on January 28 and was necessitated following the death of INLD MLA Hari Chand Middha. Kejriwal claimed that Modi's promises to benefit farmers by way of crop insurance scheme have failed to yield the result and alleged that the prime minister also .

Merkel calls on each citizen to fight anti-Semitism

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on every single citizen to help fight anti-Semitism ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Merkel said Saturday in her weekly podcast: "Today we are seeing a very different kind of anti-Semitism: there's the hatred of Jews by our local people, but also by Muslim migrants." In recent years, Germany has seen a rising number of often violent attacks against Jews which led the government to appoint a commissioner against anti-Semitism. It's also funding the creation of a national registration office for anti-Semitic hate crimes. On Sunday, Germany and many other countries are marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day 75 years after the Soviet army liberated the Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland. Some six million European Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.