Page 1834 - Politics
Rahul Gandhi will be PM if Congress gets majority: Tharoor
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said here on Friday that Rahul Gandhi shall be the Prime Minister if the Congress gets a majority in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Sheer size of elections in India make it critical to embrace modern tech: Prez
President Ram Nath Kovind Friday pitched for the use of modern technology in elections, saying India's sheer size and logistics of polls in the country "make it critical" to embrace the latest means. He also said the voters have a "firm belief" in the integrity, fairness and transparency of the Election Commission. His remarks come at a time some political parties questioned the reliability of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and urged the Election Commission to revert to the system of ballot papers in the Lok Sabha elections due this summer. "India's sheer size and the logistics of elections in our country make it critical to embrace modern technology," he said at the National Voters' Day, which is organised to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission. EC came into being on January 25, 1950, a day before India became a republic. On Monday, a self-proclaimed cyber expert had claimed the machines could be hacked and that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were ...
Hooda terms fresh CBI case against him as an act of political vendetta
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said that the fresh CBI case against him and former officials of the state government is 'a result of political vendetta.'"The CBI case against me is a result of political vendetta. I will fight this battle myself. I have complete faith in the judiciary. No one can silence my voice," said the former Chief Minister.The CBI on Friday carried out raids at the residence of Hooda and other officials and also lodged a fresh case against him in connection with alleged irregularities in the acquisition of land in Haryana when he was the Chief Minister.The investigating agency is conducting searches at over 20 places including in Chandigarh, Rohtak, New Delhi, Gurugram, and Mohali with respect to the land acquisition irregularities.Former Chief Minister Hooda has been charged under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in connection with cases of land acquisition between 2009 and 2012.
India favours resolution of political crisis in Venezuela through constructive dialogue
India Friday said it was closely monitoring the emerging situation in Venezuela and favoured resolution of the political crisis through constructive dialogue. In fast-paced developments, head of the National Assembly Juan Guaido declared himself as "acting president" of the country on Wednesday, plunging the South American country into a political crisis. A number of countries, including the US, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, endorsed 35-year-old Guaido's move, while Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in his response, ordered the American diplomats to leave his country within 72 hours. In a television address on Thursday, Maduro accused the US of plotting the political instability in Venezuela. "We are of the view that it is for the people of Venezuela to find political solution to resolve their differences through constructive dialogue and discussion without resorting to violence," Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said. He said India was closely ...
BJP harassing opposition parties: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the BJP of using government agencies to harass opposition parties in the country.
Yogi, Puri inaugurate 29-km Noida-Greater Noida Metro line
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Puri on Friday flagged off the Noida Metro Rail Corp's (NMRC) 29.7-km Noida-Greater Noida metro corridor at the Sector 137 station here.
Mamata urges young voters to exercise franchise
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday hailed the importance of the National Voters' Day and said that young people should exercise their franchise in the upcoming general elections. On National Voters' Day Friday, Banerjee took to Twitter and said, Today is #NationalVotersDay. Being able to cast a vote and elect a person of our choice is what makes us the worlds largest democracy". "It is extremely important that the voters, specially the new, young voters, exercise their franchise in the upcoming general elections, she added. The National Voters' Day, is the foundation day of the Election Commission of India (ECI) which was set up in 1950. This day was first celebrated in 2011 to encourage young voters to take part in the electoral process. Every year, the National Voter's Day is celebrated in the national capital in the presence of the President of India as the chief guest.
Uproar in Pakistan over Aleema Tax'
The Pakistan government has added a new clause in the mini budget to allow tax authorities to settle the undeclared foreign assets of tax evaders, drawing strong criticism from netizens amid the row over Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister owing undeclared properties abroad. The measures were announced by finance minister Asad Umar on Wednesday to speed up growth by facilitating investment. The opposition leaders have objected the amendment made in the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and the measures to give tax relief by Umar were dubbed on social media as 'Aleema Tax', referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister, bringing a lot of pressure on government. The opposition has alleged that to let people settle foreign assets by paying taxes aimed to help Aleema Khanum, who was under scanner for owning undeclared foreign properties in countries like the UAE and the US. Umar was flustered when asked about it during a press conference on Thursday and angrily said that Aleema had already ...
Govt acting out of vendetta: Cong on CBI raid at Hooda residence
The Congress on Friday hit out at the government over CBI raids at former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's residence and accused it of acting out of vendetta. The party also warned officials of various agencies to be ready for accountability for working at the best of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to target his political opponents. Senior spokesperson of the Congress Anand Sharma said such actions when the prime minister and the ruling dispensation "target its political opponents by using agencies against them are dangerous for democracy in our country". "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a mindset of targeting his political opponents by defaming them with the objective of muzzling the voice of the opposition and to tarnish the image of their tall leaders. "We condemn in the strongest terms the action today in the form of raids on former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with the sole purpose of defaming him," he told reporters. Sharma also said the "ill-will" ..
Mizoram NGOs body to boycott Republic Day celebrations
A Mizoram NGOs body announced on Friday that it would boycott the Republic Day celebrations in the state on Saturday in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Egypt won't sign Rafale jet deal during Macron visit - Elysee
PARIS (Reuters) - France does not expect Egypt to finalise a deal to buy a further 12 Dassault Aviation-made Rafale fighter jets during President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the North African country next week, an official in the president's office said.
Nothing but political vendetta: Hooda on raids
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda called the CBI raids against him on Friday "political vendetta" to suppress his voice. CBI teams raided his house here and several other premises in Delhi and the National Capital Region in connection with alleged land irregularities during the Congress leader's tenure as chief minister. It's nothing but political vendetta. They want to suppress my voice, in which they will not succeed, he told reporters after the Central Bureau of Investigation officials left his home. He said he fully cooperated with the officials, adding, They found nothing. "They took a copy of an income tax return filed by my nephew a long time back," he said. "Nothing was found against me," he added. "I am from a family of freedom fighters, even the British could not suppress us, he said. He said that he would fight his battle himself. "I know the legal process and have full faith in the judicial system," he said. Lashing at Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal ..
10-pc quota for poor a 'mockery' of concept of economically weaker sections: CPI(M)
The recently announced 10-per cent quota for the poor is a "mockery" of the very concept of economically weaker sections, the CPI(M) said on Friday, opposing the government's criterion for the reservation. In a statement issued by its politburo, the party has said that it was wrong of the government to use the same criteria it has used for OBC creamy layer category and pointed out that the criteria for those sections include the most important point that these sections are also socially deprived which does not apply to the general category. "The CPI(M) opposes this criteria. It makes a mockery of the very concept of economically weaker sections. The government is not accepting even a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 and here it is including an income of almost Rs 70,000 a month for the benefit of reservations. This criteria will deprive weaker sections of any benefits which will be cornered by the better-off," the statement said. It further said that it was typical of this government's ...
Co-op sector scam during BJP rule led to discrepancies in loan
The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh Friday alleged that there was a big scam in the co-operative sector during the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan dispensation, which has led to "discrepancies" in the list of farm loan waiver beneficiaries. The opposition BJP, however, hit back saying the cooperative banks were creating such discrepancies at the behest of the Congress government. Addressing a press conference here Friday, state Sports Minister Jitu Patwari said, "There was a big scam in the co-operative sector during the previous Shivraj Singh government of BJP, which led to discrepancies in the list of beneficiaries of loan waiver scheme. These discrepancies are coming to light at several places." Congress MLAs and ministers have received complaints across the state that names of several such farmers, who have already paid their dues, figured in the list of the loan waiver beneficiaries, whereas names of those who are yet to pay their dues, are not mentioned among
CNN anchor apologises for Kamala Harris tweet
A CNN anchor has apologised for a tweet in which he appeared to suggest that Indian-American Senator Kamala Harris, who announced her 2020 presidential bid earlier this week, needed to prove that she was born in the US.
Chidambaram slams BJP for alleged encounter killings in UP
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Friday slammed the BJP for alleged encounter killings in Uttar Pradesh, saying the country's most-populated state is the victim of "muscular" policies of the saffron party after Jammu and Kashmir. In a series of tweets, the former home and finance minister said during the last 16 months, 78 people were killed in encounters by Uttar Pradesh police. "Is this the rule of law under the Constitution of India? It is the rule of law under the 'muscular' model of governance offered by the BJP. After Jammu & Kashmir, it is UP that is the victim of muscular government," he said. Reports say the UP Police, in the first 16 months of the Yogi Adityanath government, recorded more than 3,000 encounters in which at least 78 criminals were gunned down. Quoting officials, the reports say, the data in question was recorded between March 2017, when the BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh, and July 2018.
BJP sidelining senior leaders not good for party's future: Babulal Gaur
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Babulal Gaur on Friday warned that if the party continues to "ignore" senior leaders, its future is bleak."BJP has sidelined senior leaders of the party. If it doesn't take the opinion of senior leaders then its future will not be good. People who had a chance to win were not given tickets," he told media.Gaur's statement comes a day after he claimed that Congress leader Digvijaya Singh offered him to contest Lok Sabha polls from Bhopal constituency on Congress ticket."He (Digvijaya Singh) visited me on December 18 and offered me to contest polls from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat on Congress ticket. I told him I will think about it," said Gaur.According to sources, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce dates for the General elections in the first week of March.The elections are likely to be held in six to seven phases, the sources added.The election process has to be completed by May.The last Lok Sabha ...
I don't hate PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various issues, said on Friday that he doesn't hate him but only had differences in views.Gandhi added that the "abuses" he received from the RSS and the BJP was "best thing" that had happened to him as a politician and a human being and that he feels like giving Modi a hug when he abuses him."I realise PM Modi disagrees with me and I disagree with him. I will fight him and I will try and make sure that he is not the prime minister but I don't hate him. I give him the right to have his opinion," he said while addressing 'The Odisha Dialogue' event in Odisha.The Congress Party leader further said that unlike Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress party has a dynamic process which allows it to listen to the people."Ours is a dynamic process, we listen to the people. Not like Mr Narendra Modi who thinks he knows everything, there is no scope of feedback. This is the basic difference between us and .
Ker Guv seeks restructuring of Centre-State relations
Kerala Governor P Sathasivam Friday came down on the Union government for "penalising" the state for its achievements in various fields and sought a restructuring of Centre-state relations. Delivering his customary policy address in the state Assembly marking the beginning of its 14th session, he said the restructuring should be in such a way that it would enrich both the Centre and the state. The imbalance caused by the detrimental effects of "unhealthy" centre-state relations in general and the fiscal relations in particular have put Kerala at a "great disadvantage" in furthering the advances it has already made in several sectors, he said. "It is rather unfortunate that the state has been penalised for achievements it made in various fields such as health, education and social well-being," he said. As Kerala had progressed and achieved gains in these sectors and the Centre chose not to further aid these areas, the state is at a loss to understand the criteria with which it is ...
Modi fighting political battle through enforcement agencies: Kejriwal
Attacking the BJP-led Central government of misusing its powers, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fighting the political battle through enforcement agencies and had spared no opponent.