Page 2398 - Politics
Modi, BJP raking up caste, religion as they have nothing to talk about devp: Cong
The Congress on Sunday alleged that BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have nothing to talk about development, which is why they are raking up caste and religion in their public rallies. Former Union minister Jitin Prasada claimed that people had expected the prime minister to speak on development issues at his rally in Alwar on Sunday, but instead of telling that what the BJP government did for Rajasthan, he talked about religion and other such issues. This reveals that Modi and the BJP have nothing to say anything on development, he said, adding Modi's rally in Alwar was full of "nervousness". Prasada also accused the BJP government at the Centre of failing to check rise in fuel prices, which affected every household in the country. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot held public meetings in Jharapatan in support of party candidate Manvendra Singh and claimed that the people of the state were "betrayed" by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje due to which there is extreme ..
Cong holding onto cow's tail for electoral survival: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Sunday that the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has now latched onto cow for its survival. The Congress, in its manifesto for the November 28 Assembly elections, has promised to build cow shelters across the state. "Congress leaders are now doing temple-hopping as they know that the the party can not achieve anything on its own. They are kneeling before God and holding onto cow's feet," Singh said, addressing campaign rallies in Sagar, Morena and Gwalior region. "They are holding on to the cow's tail and promising to build shelter homes for cows," he said. "For us (the ruling BJP) cow is not an election issue. Temple and cow are crucial parts of our culture," he added. Saying that chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the first choice of people, the senior BJP leader alleged that the "Congress does not like him as he is born in a simple family." The opposition party is yet to choose its chief ministerial candidate while the BJP has ...
Centre's protocol 'ignores' Cong leaders in Kartarpur Sahib corridor function: Pb min
Punjab minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa Sunday reacted sharply to the official protocol for the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Dera Baba Nanak - Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the Indian side, saying many of the state Congress leaders and ministers have been "ignored". The foundation stone for the corridor to the Sikh shrine in Pakistan will be laid on the Indian side by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday. Rural and Urban Development Minister Bajwa protested against the manner of arrangements for the function by the Centre, saying "Punjab leaders and ministers have not been given any space" in its lists of speakers and those sharing the stage. The religious leaders have also objected to the decision to field Union Minister (and SAD MP) Harsimrat Kaur Badal to propose the vote of thanks in the function, he said, adding "the Sant Samaj has threatened to walk out, if she is given this role." He asserted this task should have been assigned .
Cong against holding special session of Delhi Assembly
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken on Sunday wrote to the state Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, objecting to the Special Session of the Assembly called on Monday over the recent alleged chilli powder attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat.In a letter to the Speaker, Maken said, "In Vidhan Sabha, we discuss issues related to public and we discuss to solve these issues or debate over bringing out an ordinance or etc. But calling the Assembly Session to discuss personal issues is a complete wastage of people's money.""It is very shocking for us that the Delhi government does not have time to call for a special session of Assembly on important issues like dengue, pollution, illegal sealing, and law and order situation in the state. But it is calling a session to debate over personal issues," the letter reads.On November 22 Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had announced that a special session of the Assembly would be held on Monday to ...
Congress is biggest communal party: Shivraj
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said the Congress was the "biggest communal" party in the country. "The Congress practices petty politics and is the biggest communal party in the country," he said.Chief Minister's Chouhan's comments come in the wake of a viral video, wherein Congress state unit president Kamal Nath could reportedly be seen asking Muslim leaders to secure at least 90 per cent their votes for the party in order to dethrone the BJP government.Speaking to ANI, Chouhan said, "The Congress is practicing petty politics. They are the biggest communal party. Sometimes they want Muslim votes. At times, they visit temples. Some of their leaders roam around with a garland of lemons and chilly around their neck. They claim they that they will lose if they don't get 90 per cent Muslim votes. Then it is better to lose," he asked."In a democracy, people vote on the basis of the work a government does, the policies and the vision of the government, but to
Amid calls for early construction of Ram temple, 'Super Sunday' at Ayodhya passes off peacefully (Roundup)
The 'Super Sunday' in Ayodhya passed off peacefully and turned out to be a win-win for all the stakeholders, with the right-wing outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) managing to mobilise crowds for its "Dharma Sabha" and succeeding in bringing the Ram temple issue to centre stage, and the state government successfully warding off any untoward incident.
Rahul a part-time leader of Congress: Maha CM
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunday said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is a "part-time leader" who doesn't understand issues concerning Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, which is going to polls next week. Addressing a rally in Barghat (ST) constituency in Seoni district for the November 28 elections, Fadnavis also attacked the Congress for making "lofty promises" in its poll manifesto. Chhattisgarh, also ruled by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), had voted in two phases on November 12 and 20. "Rahul Gandhi is a part-time leader who spends most of his time outside the country. He addresses a couple of meetings when he returns to the country. He doesn't know issues of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He talks about the issues of Madhya Pradesh in Chhattisgarh and vice versa," he said. Hailing Dalit icon B R Ambedkar for enshrining right of voting in the Constitution, Fadnavis said power to rule was confined to dynasties in earlier days. "Prime Minister ...
BJP practicing 'frightening level' of communal polarization in poll campaign, alleges Ramesh
The BJP is practicing a "frightening level" of communal polarization in its campaign in election-bound states, senior Congress leader and party strategist Jairam Ramesh has alleged, adding this was more than an electoral challenge for the Congress. Ramesh also alleged that for every Amit Shah, the BJP chief, there are "10 Amit Shahs" of the RSS practicing covert polarization, comments that came amid renewed calls for construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have previously accused the Congress of dividing the society by indulging in caste and religious politics and appeasement of minorities, in response to allegations of communal polarisation. Ramesh said the high degree of communal polarization the BJP allegedly resorted to was responsible for the "staggering" mandate for the party in the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh last year and it was continuing in the poll-bound states "The only explanation I have for the UP win of .
Maken writes to Delhi Assembly speaker expressing 'disappointment' over frequent special sessions
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken Sunday wrote a letter to Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, expressing "disappointment" over frequent special sessions of the House called by the ruling AAP over "individual, worthless" issues. A special session of Delhi Assembly has been called on Monday to discuss, among other issues, the recent red chilli powder attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the secretariat on November 20. Maken, who was Speaker of Delhi Assembly during the Sheila Dikshit government, pointed out that while Congress called three special sessions of the House during its 15-year rule, while the AAP has done so 15 times in its three-and-half years in power. "No matter of public interest have been discussed in these special sessions called by the AAP government," he alleged. Maken, in his letter, said special sessions of the Assembly were called by the Congress to discuss conversion of vehicles to CNG, sealing and dilution of Delhi government's powers. "Calling frequent ...
Democrats to probe Trump money ties to Russia, Saudis: lawmaker
Democrats intend to probe US President Donald Trump's financial ties to determine whether they are the "hidden hand" driving US foreign policy on Russia and Saudi Arabia, the incoming chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Sunday. Adam Schiff, currently the ranking Democrat on the intelligence committee, accused Trump of being "dishonest" about the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "What is driving this?" Schiff asked, questioning "whether there's a financial motivation; that is, his own personal finances." "Is his personal financial interest driving US policy in the Gulf? Vis-a-vis the Russians? We don't know, but it would be irresponsible not to find out," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." Trump this week denied reports that the CIA had concluded that the Saudi crown prince ordered the assassination of Khashoggi, a critic and Washington Post columnist who lived in Virginia. He was murdered October 2 in the ...
Thousands march across Spain to protest violence against women
With banners and slogans against sexism and related crimes, thousands protested in Spanish cities on Sunday to mark international day for the elimination of violence against women. Protesters took to the streets in Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, and Bilbao, reflecting how the fight to stop violence against woman has become a national cause in Spain. "We are here for all those woman who have been murdered, in Madrid and in Spain. We are taking it very personally," said Rosa Orea at the Madrid rally. Since 2003, 972 woman have been killed by their partners or ex-partners in Spain, 44 of those so far in 2018, according to government figures. "The situation has changed for our generation, but we have to keep fighting, because this (violence) happens more than it seems," said Sofia Serrano a Madrid student. Violence against women has been a key political cause in Spain since 2004 when new laws were introduced against the crime. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday reinterated his .
Trump ups pressure on Macron as weighs in on French demos
Donald Trump piled pressure on Emmanuel Macron Sunday, pushing for resolutions to disputes on trade and defense spending, as he weighed in on the mass protests against his French counterpart's government. Writing on Twitter, Trump showed he had been keeping an eye on Saturday's demonstrations across France and refrained from showing sympathy for the beleaguered Macron, whose once cozy ties with the US president have chilled. "The large and violent French protests don't take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection," said Trump. "Both of these topics must be remedied soon." Around 130 people were arrested in France on Saturday during the nationwide protests, while 24 people were injured, five of them police officers. The protesters -- dubbed "yellow vests" for the high-visibility jackets that are widely worn at the demonstrations -- are drawn mainly from rural areas and .
JNU requests teachers' body to withdraw Monday's hunger strike
The Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday requested the teachers' association not to hold the proposed hunger strike over the rescheduling of the academic calendar and compliance of faculty attendance sent by the administration. In a circular issued in mid-November, the administration had said seven years in the varsity were necessary for granting sabbatical leave to a faculty member. It announced that proposals for seminar participation, conference travel, project meetings, prestigious fellowships, including those scheduled during vacations, would be allowed if teachers comply with the diktats of the university, the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) said. "You will be allowed to teach, conduct research and reimburse your medical bills if you fall in line and do not question the diktats of the competent authority," the circular said, according to JNUTA. The teachers' body gave a call for a 24-hour hunger strike from 10 am on Monday, demanding the restoration of academic and ...
West Bengal CPI unit not to participate in TMC Jan 19 rally
The CPI West Bengal unit Sunday said that it would not participate in the January 19 mega rally called by the Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to oust the BJP in the next general election. The West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has called for the mega rally of all anti-BJP parties in Kolkata on January 19. "We appreciate that she has forwarded her invitation (for the January 19 Brigade Rally). But the state CPI has decided not to participate in it," CPI state secretary Swapan Banerjee told reporters here. He said that though the party's national executive would take a final decision in connection with the matter, the state body has already decided not to go to be a part of the TMC's mega rally. He also questioned (Mamata) Banerjee's real intention to fight the BJP in the next general elections saying that "one one side the TMC supremo is inviting the CPI but on another side it is attacking the Left parties". "On one side Mamata is inviting CPI but ...
Cong neglected ex-PM and 'son of Telangana' Rao post his death: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Sunday alleged that the Congress had "neglected" the "son of Telangana" and former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao after his death and sought the response of Rahul Gandhi, the chief of the opposition party, in the matter. He also alleged that the Congress had not paid appropriate last respects to Rao, who died in 2004, when the party was in power at the Centre. Addressing a public meeting here in Siddipet district ahead of the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls, Shah asked Gandhi to explain the "kind of treatment" meted out to Rao after his demise. "Now Rahul Gandhiji is saying everyone should live with love. I want to ask him, when the son of Telangana and our former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao had died, (why) no 'salami' was given to his mortal remains and why were they sent to Hyderabad. "I want to ask him (Gandhi), why such a treatment was meted out to the son of Telangana," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had accused the Congress in the ...
Pak university VC comes under fire for his remarks against powerful army
The Vice Chancellor of a leading university in Pakistan has come under fire for allegedly making controversial remarks against the country's powerful army saying that terrorists were making up to its top ranks. A petition was filed Saturday with the Punjab province Governor and Chancellor of the University of Punjab Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar, seeking the removal of the varsity's VC Niaz Ahmed for the remarks. In the petition filed by one Muhammad Ali said that Ahmed, in a speech on campus, had claimed that the Pakistan Army was facing the challenge of terrorists making up to its top ranks. "A terrorist had made up to high rank in the Pakistan Army. In fact, he was working for the Taliban and had killed many of soldiers during the Swat Operation (in 2009)," Ali alleged. He also said that the VC further claimed that "in Swat, there was an army major, who went on leave three-to-four times and every time he told his subordinate soldiers not to retaliate to the Taliban's firing as per an ..
Senior leaders from PDP, others join BJP in Jammu
Senior PDP leader Vikas Bhatti, Swarnkaar Sangh district president Ashutosh Kapoor and Purani Mandi Shopkeepers' Association president Rakesh Jandial, along with their supporters, joined the BJP Sunday in the presence of party state president Ravinder Raina in a function held at the party headquarter here. BJP state general secretary Yudhvir Sethi, state secretary Ajay Pargal and state BJP All Morcha in-charge Munish Sharma were also present on the occasion. Raina expressed his gratitude to the leaders and their supporters for joining the BJP and hoped that the newcomers would work hard and provide their services to the party and the society. He praised the youth leaders, saying that they would prove to be assets for the party in the days to come. Raina also stated that the entry of such youth leaders would enable the BJP scale victory in every election to follow. Congratulating the new entrants, Yudhvir Sethi said that the youth brigade has joined the BJP due to the bold and tough ...
No Indian minister should go for Kartarpur corridor ceremony in Pak: Swamy
Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament (MP) Subramanian Swamy on Sunday backed Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's decision to decline the invitation to attend the stone-laying ceremony of Kartarpur corridor on Pakistan side. "No Indian minister should go to the other side of the border until Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism," he said."I don't think any Indian minister should go to attend any kind of event in Pakistan. They are also preventing our diplomats from accompanying the people to religious places. Until Pakistan stops sponsoring cross-border terrorism, we should not allow anyone to go there for any kind of event," Swamy told ANI.On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh declined an invitation for the stone-laying ceremony on November 28, citing terror attacks in his state and the relentless killing of Indian troops on the Line of Control (LoC)."Everyday Indian soldiers are either killed or wounded on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Rather than ..
Syria: Over 100 people hospitalised after suspected gas attack
A suspected poisonous gas attack by terrorist groups in Syria's government-held Aleppo city has left 107 civilians hospitalised, according to the country's state media."Terrorist groups shelled residential areas in Aleppo with explosive projectiles containing toxic gas that led to civilians choking," CNN quoted Commander General Issam al-Shilli of Aleppo Police as saying to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).According to hospital sources, SANA reported that the people hospitalised in the suspected chlorine attack had cases with severity ranging from mild to medium. The state media further said that the Syrian army responded by shelling the "source of the attack".About 94 people, including dozens of children, suffered from asphyxiation in the aftermath of the toxic gas attack in Aleppo city, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.The incident, if confirmed to be a chlorine attack, would invite wrath from other countries, who have previously accused the President .
Na Darbari, Na Maharaj, Is Baar Fir Se Shivraj: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that "neither Darbari nor Maharaj, Madhya Pradesh would vote for Shivraj" again. Urging the people to vote for the BJP in the Assembly polls, he said, "Na Darbari, Na Raja, Na Maharaj, Is Baar Fir Se Shivraj."Addressing an election rally here, Prime Minister Modi said that the Congress misruled Madhya Pradesh for more than 55 years while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given good governance to the state in the last 15 years. "Now you tell me whom you should vote for-Cong's misrule or the BJP's good governance," he asked the gathering.Lauding Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for various schemes and policies for the benefit of the people of the state, Prime Minister Modi said, "People of Madhya Pradesh are determined to bring back Shivraj led BJP government in the state.""From the Panchayat to the Parliament, each and every state was once ruled by the Congress party. But today people across the country are rejecting the Congress. The .