Page 1842 - Politics
Terrorists were planning attacks in Delhi, two held: Delhi Police
A possible terror attack in Delhi during the Republic Day celebrations has been foiled, with Delhi Police on Thursday claiming to have arrested two suspected terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit in Kashmir.Abdul Latif Ganai alias Dilawar and Hilal were arrested following specific input about plans to carry out terror strikes in "heavy footfall areas" in Delhi during the ongoing Republic Day celebrations, the Delhi Police said.Ganai was arrested during the intervening night of January 20 and 21, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Kushwaha said."An input was received from a very reliable source that a terrorist of JeM who is the mastermind of a spree of recent grenade attacks in Srinagar, is now planning similar terror strikes in heavy footfall areas in Delhi during the ongoing Republic Day Celebrations," Kushwaha said.A team of Special Cell rushed to Jammu and Kashmir and recovered two IEDs from his possession, he said.The team also arrested another terrorist ...
2 Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists planning terror strikes in Delhi held
A possible terror attack has been thwarted with the arrest of two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists who were planning to carry out attacks in the national capital ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, police said.
Take steps to prohibit paid political content, ads on social media: Court to Election Commission
The Bombay High Court Thursday said the Election Commission had a constitutional obligation to hold fair elections and hence should take steps to prohibit advertisements or paid political content on social media. A division bench of Chief Justice N H Patil and Justice N M Jamdar was hearing a petition filed by lawyer Sagar Suryavanshi, seeking directions to the Commission to prohibit all persons, whether politicians or private individuals, from posting advertisements related to politics or elections, or paid political content on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, 48 hours before the election day. Advocate Pradeep Rajgopal, appearing for the Commission, told the court that the poll panel has recommended amendment section 126 (b) of the Representation of Peoples Act, which prohibits public meetings, processions, campaigns, etc 48 hours before polling. "By way of amendment, we propose to include the term electronic media in the provision," he said. The bench ..
2019 election will be 'battle for India's soul': Shashi Tharoor
The upcoming general election will be a "battle for India's soul", Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Thursday and alleged that a fundamentally different idea of India was being advocated by those close to the ruling party. Tharoor said the idea that religion should be a determinant of nationhood was the idea of Pakistan and claimed that a determined effort was being made to smuggle this idea into India. The idea that religion should be a determinant of nationhood is the idea of Pakistan. The idea of India is that it will be a nation for everyone and religion will not be its basis. We now see a determined effort to smuggle the idea of Pakistan into India, he said at the Jaipur Literature Festival. The forthcoming elections is a battle for India's soul because we have seen a fundamentally different idea of India being advocated by those close to the ruling party, he said. Tharoor also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has failed to live up to his promises and the ..
TMC criticises Mohta arrest, opposition demands explanation
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) Thursday criticised the arrest of film producer and distributor Shrikant Mohta by the CBI in the Rose Valley chit fund case and said "no one is being spared in the Narendra Modi regime". The opposition Congress, CPI(M) and BJP demanded an explanation from the TMC regarding Mohta's arrest as the film distributor is considered to be close to the ruling party. "They are arresting and are trying to intimidate everybody. Be it a writer, an actor, a film personality.... They don't want to spare anyone. The people will give them a befitting reply," TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said. The BJP has turned the CBI into their extended party office, Chatterjee claimed. Senior TMC leaders who did not want to be quoted alleged that the BJP is trying to pursue its vendetta politics through these arrests. "The CBI should have arrested him earlier. The CBI is doing its work. But whenever it makes any arrest, the TMC raises baseless ...
Govt's intent to present 'regular budget' questionable: Cong
To reports claiming the Centre was planing to present a "regular budget", the Congress Thursday said it will be against all norms and established Parliamentary practices. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the government's intent in doing so is questionable and termed the move a "desperate attempt" to make "grandiose announcement and hoodwink people" in contravention of the Constitution. "The BJP government's move to present a regular budget few months before the elections is against all norms, rules and established Parliamentary practices. The term of the government is five years, which ends in May 2019. The government presented five full budgets and can only present a vote on account," he said. Sharma, a former union minister, said for a budget for 12 months, the government must have the same tenure. A tenure of three months and a budget for one year is "bizarre and unprecedented", he said, noting that the budget is followed by the Finance Bill that must be adopted in 75 days.
Priyanka's entry in active politics will be game changer in 3 months:Pilot; BJP says no impact in LS polls
Priyanka Gandhi's formal entry into politics was Thursday described as a gamechanger in the next three months by Rajasthan's deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, as the surprise move was dismissed by the BJP as having no impact on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who announced the appointment of his sister as general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Wednesday, said she has been given the target of ensuring that the party forms the next government in the northern state. As Priyanka's political plunge generated enthusiastic support from more Congress leaders, posters urging her to contest the coming general elections from Varanasi-- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency-- came up in the holy city. The move is going to be the game change in the next three months, Pilot said, amid speculation that Priyanka will stage a road show in UP next month. The elections to the Lok Sabha are due in April-May this year. Pilot was speaking at a session ...
Congress offered me ticket for LS polls: Former MP CM Gaur
Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Babulal Gaur on Thursday disclosed that he has received an offer from the Congress to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election as its candidate.
Berlusconi refloats political career as European Parliament candidate
Silvio Berlusconi, an Italian politician who has made comebacks from political, legal, personal and even health woes, is to relaunch his career by running as a candidate in the forthcoming European Parliament election, his party said on Thursday.
Arrested 'activist' pictures with Congress leaders emerge on social media
Pictures of social media activist Abhishek Mishra, who was arrested in Bhopal over complaints of hurting religious sentiments, emerged on Thursday suggesting links with Congress leaders even as the party denied any association with him.
Exclusive: U.S. voices concern as India's e-commerce restrictions hit Amazon, Walmart - sources
NEW DELHI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States government is concerned about India's revised e-commerce regulations and has told officials in New Delhi the policy will hinder the Indian investment plans of Amazon.com and Walmart Inc, three sources familiar with the talks told Reuters.
'If BJP-Sena don't join hands, Cong-NCP will come to power'
Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil Thursday said if the BJP and the Shiv Sena don't forge an alliance for the upcoming elections, the Congress-NCP combine will come to power in the state. Speaking to reporters here, he said Lok Sabha and state assembly elections will be held separately. The revenue minister said since the alliance between both the parties is very strong, it has withstood numerous "quakes" in the last four years. "Had the Congress and the NCP decided to fight the polls separately, then there was no harm in our going solo. However, even the Sena knows that in the present scenario, if we fight separately, the Congress-NCP combine will come to power," the minister said. The BJP will not be affected in case it loses, as the party will come to power at the Centre. The party is already in power in 20 states, he said. "While the BJP will win 100-110 seats and Sena 40-50 seats, it is the people who will suffer. None of the political parties will be affected,"
Dynasty politics: BJP has its own share
Priyanka Gandhi's full-fledged plunge into active politics may have re-ignited a debate on political dynasties but it may also hold the mirror to the BJP which has often accused the first family of Congress of imposing family politics on the country.
Desist from presenting a full budget, Congress warns Modi government(Lead)
The Congress on Thursday warned the Modi government against presenting a full-fledged Budget instead of a vote on account, saying it will violate Constitutional propriety and parliamentary norms and threatened massive protests.
Davos leaders urge India, US to join coalition against cyber threats
Emphasising that cybersecurity is crucial to keep the world safe, global leaders have urged India and the US to join an international coalition against cyber threats. "The world's biggest democracy needs to stand with the world's other great democratic nations. The world needs India," Microsoft's President and Chief Legal Officer Bradford L Smith said here at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2019. Participating in a panel discussion on 'A new architecture for cyber cooperation', he said, "It is really about keeping the world safe." The world depends on digital infrastructure, it depends on our devices, and they're under attack every single day, he said. During the discussion, Smith and other experts hoped that democracies which have not signed the Paris Call of November 12, 2018 for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, including India and the US, will join the multi-stakeholder initiative. The called for a "coalition of the willing" to embrace the Paris Call, a multi-stakeholder ..
Cong MLA Umesh Jadhav who skipped CLP meet surfaces, says he
Amid reports that he was being wooed by BJP, Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav who skipped the recent CLP meeting and remained incommunicado surfaced in his native Kalburgi Thursday and said he was still with the party, but dropped hints he was keeping his options open. I havent even thought about it. Im in Congress...," he told reporters when asked whether he would remain in Congress in view of the reported offer by BJP to give him ticket for the coming Lok Sabha elections. However, the MLA, who was upset at not being made a minister, said he will go by the instructions of his voters and supporters on accepting the saffron partys offer. I cannot decide it; I will have to discuss with my voters, people and supporters about it... will take decision in the interest of people," he added. Jadhav along with Ramesh Jarkiholi, B Nagendra and Mahesh Kumatahalli had skipped the January 18 Congress Legislature Party meeting, following which notice were issued to them asking why action .
Priyanka's entry in active politics will be game changer: Pilot
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said Thursday Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's formal entry in active politics will turn out to be a game changer in the next three months. He was speaking at a session titled 'Democracy, Freedom and the Political Process: Looking to the Future' on the first day of the Jaipur Literature Festival here. Pilot said Priyanka Gandhi has been working for long in Amethi and Raebareli, constituencies represented by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. After years of speculation on whether she would take the plunge, Priyanka Gandhi was Wednesday appointed general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. "The move is going to be a game changer in the next three months," Pilot said. He said people should not prejudge her qualities and abilities. "Everyone in the Congress works as a team and as far as Priyanka is concerned, she has been handling the party's war room for long and hence we should not prejudge her qualities and ability," he ...
BJP veteran Gaur claims Digvijay "offered" him Bhopal LS seat
BJP veteran and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur Thursday claimed he was "offered" to contest election from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat on a Congress' ticket. Asked about reports of Congress leader Digvijay Singh approaching him to join the ruling party, Gaur said, "He (Singh) visited my residence last month and offered me to contest election from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket." While the Congress maintained it was not aware of any such development, the BJP said the ruling party in the state was facing shortage of leaders. Asked if he has taken any decision on the offer, Gaur said, "I haven't thought about this offer yet. I heard his offer, (and) will keep (it) in mind." Gaur, however, rejected suggestions he was unhappy with the BJP and said his daughter-in-law and MLA Krishna Gaur was fielded by the party from Govindpura assembly seat. Reacting to Gaur's statement, the BJP said the Congress has been facing a dearth of leaders and making .
Naidu indicates TDP will go it alone in AP polls
A day after Congress announced that it would fight the elections in Andhra Pradesh on its own, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday indicated that his party, the TDP, too would not have any electoral tie-up with the national party in the state. Alliances in states would be based on the wishes of respective parties, he told Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders during a teleconference. "We are together fighting the BJP at the national level. We have come on a common platform with the slogans save nation, save democracy, united India. Ending the dictatorial rule (of Modi) is our common minimum programme," Naidu maintained. Naidu pointed out that the Trinamool Congress and the Congress did not have any electoral alliance in West Bengal. "Still, Congress leaders attended the opposition rally in Kolkata. We have all come together on a platform in Bengaluru and Kolkata. Protecting the Constitution is the agenda of 23 non-BJP parties," the chief minister said. AICC general ...
Vaghela set to join NCP
Former Gujarat chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela is set to join the Nationalist Congress Party, the state unit of the Sharad Pawar-led party said Thursday. The 78-year-old Kshatriya strongman had left the Congress before the 2017 Gujarat assembly elections. He had then helped the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls. "Former Chief Minister of Gujarat Shankarsinh Vaghela will join NCP in presence of party president Sharad Pawar and senior leader Praful Patel," Gujarat NCP president Jayant Patel alias Boski said. "Vaghela ji is a dynamic leader who knows the pulse of state and the country. I welcome his entry into the NCP and it will give a boost to the party in the state," he said. The former Union minister is likely to join the NCP on January 29, the party sources said. However, Vaghela has so far neither confirmed nor denied that he will join the NCP. Vaghela's entry into the NCP can lead to a three-way fight on a few Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat if the Congress fails to enter into a pre-poll