Page 2408 - Politics
Had Patel been PM, farmers would not have been ruined: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again targeted the Nehru-Gandhi family Saturday, saying farmers would not have been "ruined" had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the country's first prime minister. Addressing a rally here ahead of the November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, he accused the Congress of "making false promises" and asked the opposition party whether late Indira Gandhi's "Garibi Hatao" (remove poverty) slogan a was a "lie" or not. The prime minister's comments came in the wake of Congress president Rahul Gandhi accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "making false promises" to people during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Modi also referred to a video clip purportedly showing Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, saying the Congress leader seeking votes only from a "particular community" was an insult to democracy. A video clip surfaced last week, purportedly showing Nath telling Muslim leaders to ensure "90 per cent voting" in Muslim-dominated areas. Modi also ...
J-K panchayat polls: 75.2% voter turnout despite threats, boycott calls.
Poll bound Jammu and Kashmir recorded a voter turnout of 75.2 per cent on Saturday. The Kashmir division recorded 55 per cent while the turnout in Jammu division was 83.3 per cent in the third phase of panchayat polls.Out of the 4.24 lakh people who were eligible to vote, over 3.2 lakh people exercised the right despite threats from terrorist groups and boycott calls given by the region's two major political parties, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party.The polling in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions began at 8 am and concluded at 2 pm.The first phase of panchayat polls held on November 17 recorded about 74.1 per cent polling across the state, with 64.5 per cent in Kashmir division and 79.5 per cent in Jammu division.In the second phase, held on November 20, overall 71.1 per cent polling was witnessed across the state. An overwhelming 80.4 per cent polling was witnessed in Jammu division and 52.2 per cent in Kashmir division, stated Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra.
Farmers won't have suffered if Sardar Patel was made first PM, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a whirlwind tour of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday intensified his attack on the Congress party, saying that if Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were the first prime minister of India, then the condition of farmers would have been better."If Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would have become the first PM of India, then the condition of farmers that has deteriorated in the Congress rule of 55-60 years would have been better today. The farmers of our country would have been strong," he said while addressing an election rally here."Sardar Patel was a true leader who empowered the farmers of this nation. I invite the people of Mandsaur to visit the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, which is double the height of Statue of Liberty in the United States," Prime Minister Modi added.He further trained guns at the Congress party saying, "Indira Gandhi ji gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' but were they able to eliminate poverty? They nationalized banks and said the poor .
Confident Guv will take 'decision' on release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts: TN govt
The Tamil Nadu government Saturday expressed confidence that Governor Banwarilal Purohit would take a "decision" soon on its recommendation for the release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The governor "cannot be compelled" on the matter, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar told reporters here, even as the state cabinet's recommendation for their release is pending with him. The three AIADMK men convicted in the killing of three women students in the 'Dharmapuri bus burning case' in 2000 recently walked free from prison because there was "no malafide intention" on their part, he said. Officials had also explained to Purohit the case before he approved their release, he said. Underlining the AIADMK government's "sincerity" towards the release of the seven convicts, Jayakumar said this was evident from the fact that the state cabinet met on a Sunday (September 9), where it decided to recommend to Purohit their release. "It is a cabinet decision, which means not only .
Nation without well-functioning institutions is bound to fail: Manmohan Singh
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that integrity of major institutions was under attack under the present dispensation and that a nation without well-functioning institutions was bound to fail.
Assamese youths joining ULFA due to BJP's indifference: Congress
Congress leader Debabrata Saikia Saturday blamed the BJP-led governments at the state and the Centre for ignoring the sentiments of the Assamese people which has allegedly led to the rise in youths joining the banned ULFA(I). Even senior police officers of the state have admitted that there is fresh induction of youths in the ultra outfit, the Leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly told reporters here. Senior leaders of state BJP, including Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and union minister Rajen Gohain were aggravating the situation by making "injudicious remarks", he alleged further. "Youths in Assam are frustrated and are joining ULFA(I) as the BJP-led governments at the state and the Centre are ignoring the sentiments of the Assamese people and pushing ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill," he said. "Sarma is not only denying the reality of the ULFA(I) getting a boost due to BJP's anti-Assam policies, but is also provoking the outfit by labelling it a dynastic entity,"
Main accused in Amritsar grenade attack case arrested
The Punjab Police claimed on Saturday that the main accused in the grenade attack on the Nirankari Satsang Bhawan in Amritsar district has been arrested.
Saudi royal says crown prince is here to stay
A prominent Saudi royal said Saturday that whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina next week for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone "that they have to deal with." Prince Turki al-Faisal told The Associated Press the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul last month is "an unacceptable incident that tars and mars the long record of Saudi Arabia's own standing in the world." "We will have to bear that. It's not something that should not be faced. And we do face it," he said. Intelligence officials and analysts say the operation to kill Khashoggi, who wrote critically of the crown prince for The Washington Post, could not have happened without Prince Mohammed's knowledge. The kingdom, which has offered several conflicting accounts of the killing, denies the crown prince had any involvement. The crown prince embarked late Thursday on his first foreign tour since the October 2 killing
Too early to assess JDS-Cong govt performance: Siddaramaiah
Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah said Saturday six months was too early a period to assess the performance of the Congress- Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah, who is also the head of the coalition coordination committee, said the much-awaited expansion of the H D Kumaraswamy-led cabinet would take place at the earliest, after discussions with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is busy campaigning for assembly polls in five states. "It (government) is going fine. Six months... it is too early to assess the performance of the government," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru. The former chief minister said the government was implementing the common minimum programme set out by the coalition coordination committee and the programmes of the previous government were also continuing. Responding to a question, Siddaramaiah maintained that there was good coordination between both the Congress and the JDS. The coalition government, ...
Cong expels 19 party workers for contesting against official
Acting tough, the Congress Saturday expelled 19 party workers for six years for contesting against official candidates and nominees of its allies in the December seven Assembly elections in Telangana. The orders will come into force with immediate effect, according to a statement from M Kodanda Reddy, Chairman of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee's (TPCC) Disciplinary Action Committee. Separately, the disciplinary action committee expelled five rebels from the party for a period of six years for working against the party's official candidate in Narayanpet Assembly constituency of Mahabubnagar district. Congress is contesting the polls in alliance with the Telugu Desam Party, the CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS).
Pilot hits back at Raje for her 'Sonia Cong's mother' remark
Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) president Sachin Pilot on Saturday hit back at Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for her remark that Bharat Mata is the BJP's mother while the Congress has only one mother, which is Sonia Gandhi."Such statements don't suit the ruling party," said Pilot, while talking to reporters here. "Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje cannot shrug her responsibility by making allegations against the opposition. It is the day of accountability," he added.On Friday while addressing an election rally, Raje targeted the Congress party saying that the party leaders had a problem in eulogizing 'Bharat Mata.' Raje said that the Congress leaders only respect the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and no one else."You all have no problem in saying Bharat Mata ki Jai but the Congress people do have a problem in saying it. The BJP treats the country as its mother but the Congress' mother is Sonia Gandhi. They only consider Sonia Gandhi as their ...
Cong abusing my mother as it lacks strength to fight me, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday alleged that the "arrogant" Congress was "abusing" his nonagenarian mother as it was bereft of issues and "lacked strength" to take him on after suffering "defeat" at his hands over the last 18 years. The Prime Minister hit back after Congress leader Raj Babbar compared the falling value of Indian rupee with the age of Modi's mother Hiraben during campaigning for the Madhya Pradesh elections . Addressing a rally here ahead of November 28 assembly polls, Modi also attacked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, saying his government is "not remote-controlled by a madam sitting inside her home" but had 125 crore countrymen as its "high command" . He alleged the "coffers of banks" were emptied out for the rich during the "madam's government". "The people in the Congress, you do not have the strength to fight Modi. In the last 17-18 years, I have challenged you at every instance and defeated you. And you are dragging my mother into politics? Does this ...
Iran urges Muslims to unite against US, including Saudi 'brothers'
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged Muslims worldwide on Saturday to unite against the United States and assured Saudis they were "brothers" who had nothing to fear from Tehran. US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Tehran in May and has since reimposed crippling unilateral sanaction. "What the United States wants of (the Middle East) today is enslavement," Rouhani told an Islamic unity conference in Tehran. Instead of "rolling out the red carpet for criminals," Muslim governments should unite against the United States and "the region's cancerous tumour", Israel, he said. Rouhani urged Shiite Iran's Sunni rival Saudi Arabia to end its dependence on "insulting" US military aid. "We are ready to defend the Saudi people's interests against terrorism and superpowers with all our might," he said. "We do no ask $450 billion for it and will not insult you." Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in January 2016 after protesters stormed ..
Ruling NPP leader in Meghalaya named in murder attempt of Meghalaya women's rights activists
A senior leader of the ruling National People's Party in Meghalaya has been accused of involvement in the murderous attack on frontline women's rights activist Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma, fighting against illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state, an official said on Saturday.
Cong demands Kerala minister's resignation
Congress Leader Ramesh Chennthala Saturday demanded resignation of Local Administration Minister K T Jaleel who has been accused of nepotism. The Muslim Youth League has alleged that Adeeb K T, a cousin of Jaleel, was appointed general manager in the Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation, flouting rules. Jaleel has dismissed as "baseless" the nepotism charges levelled against him. "Jaleel has violated the oath which he took charge as minister. He is accused of nepotism. He must resign," Chennithala, opposition leader in the state assembly, told reporters here. He also alleged that Jaleel has refused to part with the appointment details even under Right to Information Act. "We demand the file to be placed in the legislative assembly. The minister is not giving the details even as an RTI reply," he said. Jaleel is the second minister in the LDF government being accused of nepotism. In October 2016, just five months after coming to power, then Industries .
Mehbooba Mufti demands rollback of decision to treat J&K Bank as PSU
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday demanded a rollback of the Governor-administered dispensation's decision to treat the local J&K Bank as a public sector undertaking.
Spell out the date for Ram temple construction: Thackeray
Arriving here ahead of a planned VHP rally for a Ram temple, Shiv Sena Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray asked the Narendra Modi government on Saturday to spell out the date when it will be constructed. Day, months, years and generations have passed, he said. Mandir wahin baneyenge, par date nahin batayenge (You say you will make the temple there, but won't tell the date), he said. First say when will you construct the temple, the rest we will talk later, he said in what sounded like a dare to the Bharatiya Janata Party government ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections. Thackeray arrived in Ayodhya for a two-day visit, which he claimed was not a political.
SPO booked for election campaigning in J&K
A Special Police Officer (SPO) was Saturday booked for election campaigning in violation of the model code of conduct in Jammu andKashmir's Rajouri district. Fayaz Ahmed from Darhal was booked by police after reports of him campaigning for a family member who is contesting the polls emerged, a police officer said. According to police, reports of several other government employees indulging in election campaigning were also being probed.
Kerala CM acting as 'godfather' to BJP, RSS: Chennithala
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala Saturday lashed out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that he was acting as a "godfather" to the BJP and the RSS. He also said that an "atmosphere of fear" was prevailing at Sabarimala due to the restrictions imposed there and the state government was not doing anything to ease the troubles of devotees. "It seems like Pinarayi Vijayan is acting as godfather to BJP, RSS. His actions are strengthening the BJP and RSS which were inconsequential in Kerala until now," he said. "His only aim is to weaken the Congress party," the opposition leader in the state assembly added. Chennithala also demanded withdrawal of prohibitory orders in and around Sabarimala citing difficulties faced by the devotees. "There is an atmosphere of fear prevailing at Sabarimala. We can only see police personnel there. Even after the criticism from the high court, the devotees are facing trouble there," Chennithala said. "The government and the police see the devotees .
Rahul Gandhi taunts: 'how are all Modi-Modi?'
In a taunt at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked: "how are all Modi-Modi," as he mentioned names of fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi.