Page 2441 - Politics
Cong alleges unfair means being used to influence Chhattisgarh elections
The Congress Tuesday alleged that some people were trying to influence the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections by using unfair means and urged the Election Commission to take immediate action against them. A Congress delegation headed by the party's in-charge in Chhattisgarh, P L Punia, met Election Commission officials and handed over a memorandum to them, demanding immediate intervention and action on its part. In the memorandum, the party alleged that the BJP candidate from the Samri Assembly constituency in the state "has been found distributing cash, electronic voting machines have been found in Chirmiri in the Manendragarh seat and police have seized a number of EVMs from the headmaster of a government high school". "Both the incidents point to insidious attempts on the part of certain individuals to infiltrate and influence the outcome of the ongoing elections in Chhattisgarh," the memorandum read. "The Election Commission of India has maintained that the integrity of EVMs is ...
Cong slams PM's 'silence' on CBI officer's M K Sinha's allegations
The Congress on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence" on the allegations made by CBI DIG M K Sinha in the plea submitted before the Supreme Court and said it is an insult to democracy and an affront to the nation's collective intelligence. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the allegations made by the CBI official has left Modi's anti-corruption plank in tatters and have opened a Pandora's box. The opposition party said it has pinned its hopes on the Supreme Court that it will "fix this mess". There was no immediate reaction by the government or the BJP on the charges. Singhvi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government as usual have maintained a maun vrat' (vow of silence) on the entire petition. This silence has gone on for too long and we will not stand for it. The protracted silence of the current dispensation is an insult to our democracy which mandates a government to be transparent in its dealings. "This silence of the BJP, broken .
Radio has a special place in J&K: Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday that the radio had a special significance in Jammu and Kashmir, evolving from a small set-up to the level of influencing the lives of people in remote areas.
NIA charge-sheets Maulana Masood Azhar's brother, 13 others in Nagrota army camp attack case
The NIA Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, deputy chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group and brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, and 13 others in connection with a case pertaining to the attack on an Army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2016, officials said. The spokesman of the NIA said in a statement that the charge sheet was filed under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (substitute of IPC in Jammu and Kashmir), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act against the accused. "Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that four local Kashmiri JeM members, namely Mohd. Ashiq Baba alias Mohd. Ashaq, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey (all arrested by NIA) had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu and subsequently to Nagrota in their vehicles for the ...
Congress condemns attack on Arvind Kejriwal
The Congress Tuesday condemned the attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said it does not support anyone practising such "dirty politics". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said he would not take even 30 seconds to condemn such an act and anyone who practices such politics. The remarks came after a man threw chilli powder at Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as "politically motivated" while asserting that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Delhi Police to attack the chief minister. "It will not take even 30 seconds for me to condemn such an act. The Congress does not believe in this kind of dirty politics. Whosoever has done it, it is neither definition of our politics, nor thought. I feel everyone should condemn such an act. Such a person who does such an act needs to be condemned, who ever it may be who practices such politics," Singhvi told reporters. Earlier, the ..
India, Singapore resolve to deepen cooperation; renew military training pact
India and Singapore on Tuesday agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in defence and regional maritime security and renewed the pact to conduct joint military training and exercises in India at the 3rd Defence Ministers Dialogue (DMD).
Critics urge Interpol to reject Russian candidate for chief
A growing chorus of critics is calling on Interpol to reject a Russian candidate to lead the organisation, over fears Moscow could abuse the role to target political opponents. The Kremlin has denounced what it says is "interference" in the vote, set for Wednesday at the close of Interpol's annual conference in Dubai, to replace the former president who was detained in China on charges of accepting bribes. Concerns have been raised over Russia's previous applications for Interpol "Red Notices", or international arrest warrants, for those who have fallen foul of the Kremlin. Russian interior ministry official and current Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk appears to be the favourite for the position. In an open letter this week, a bipartisan group of US senators said that choosing Prokopchuk would be like "putting a fox in charge of a henhouse". "Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists,"
Xi: Talks on pact to avoid sea clashes could end in 3 years
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday negotiations between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations on a nonaggression pact to prevent clashes in the disputed South China Sea could be concluded in three years and promised that any differences will be dealt with peacefully. Xi made the assurances after holding talks with President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials on a visit to the Philippines aimed at deepening relations with the American treaty ally. Xi's overnight visit to the Philippine capital, Manila, was his last stop on a three-nation swing through Asia, where he has offered infrastructure loans and aid and championed free trade amid a rivalry for regional influence with the United States. "We will continue to manage contentious issues and promote maritime cooperation through friendly consultation," Xi said. He said China aims to conclude the talks on the "code of conduct" in the disputed waters with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations within three years. Four members ..
AIMIM hurls bribe charge at Congress, Cong candidate rejects
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that the Congress candidate in Nirmal constituency in poll-bound Telangana attempted to offer Rs 25 lakh as "party fund" to cancel his rally in support of the TRS in the town, a charge denied by the Congress. Addressing a public meeting organised by his party at Nirmal Monday night, Owaisi claimed that he had a recorded phone conversation of the Congress candidate A Maheshwar Reddys offer of Rs 25 lakh to a local All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader as "party fund" for cancelling his meeting. Rejecting the charge, Reddy termed it "baseless and false" and said he would quit politics if Owaisi proved it. AIMIM, which is on friendly terms with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), has not fielded its candidate in Nirmal assembly seat, and organised the meeting in support of the ruling party candidate though there was no formal electoral tie-up between the two parties for the December 7 Assembly elections. The ...
Sabarimala pilgrims treated as 'Gulag inmates', alleges Shah; Kerala CM hits back
The political slugfest over the Sabarimala issue touched a new low Tuesday with BJP President Amit Shah accusing the Kerala government of treating pilgrims as 'Gulag inmates', prompting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to allege the Sangh Parivar was making the pilgrims 'scapegoats'. As the stand-off continued over the entry of menstrual age women to Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala after the Supreme Court lifted the ban, Shah slammed the CPI(M)-led government's handling of the situation as "disappointing" and accused it of making them spend nights next to "pig droppings". In a series of tweets, Shah said, "If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings and dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he can't treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity." Gulag was a system of forced labour camps established during Joseph Stalin's rule in the Soviet ...
Husband happy Sushma won't contest 2019 polls (Lead, Correcting headline)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's husband Swaraj Kaushal on Tuesday welcomed her decision not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
BJP, Police conspired to attack Delhi CM: Sisodia
Hours after the attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the whole incident was a conspiracy hatched by the BJP and Delhi Police.
Disqualified IUML lawmaker moves SC challenging his unseating by Kerala HC
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) lawmaker in the Kerala Assembly K.M. Shaji on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging his disqualification by the Kerala High Court for violating election code of conduct for making communal overtures during his election campaign.
Youth Congress to hold nationwide march against NDA govt over unemployment, corruption
The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) will organise a march from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to Delhi against the NDA government over issues of unemployment, corruption and social inequality. The "Yuva Kranti Yatra" will begin on November 26 from Kanyakumari and reach the national capital on Martyrs' Day on January 30 after covering all the states. "This government has been doling out slogans of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' but facts state massive rise in sexual and physical violence against women in the last four-and-half years. They have failed on all fronts be it promises of development, farmers' welfare or corruption issues," Youth Congress President Keshav Yadav said. Youth Congress Vice President Srinivas BV said, "The youth of the nation feels cheated. Tall promises of development have fallen flat and the government has been indulging in name-changing and divisive political stunts to take attention away from their failure. This is the reason why we are forced to march across the length ...
Modi's anti-corruption plank in tatters: Congress over CBI mess
The Congress on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plank of anti-corruption was in tatters. The party's reaction came following a senior CBI officer accusing top government officials, including NSA Ajit Doval, of influencing the agencys functioning and a Union minister being bribed.
Sushma Swaraj not to contest next LS polls for health reasons
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Tuesday announced that she will not contest the next Lok Sabha general elections due to health reasons. The 66-year-old leader, who is serving her fourth term in the House and has long been her party's most prominent woman face, said BJP will take a final call on the issue. Swaraj told reporters at Indore that after her kidney transplant operation in December 2016, doctors had advised her to stay away from dust, which has stopped her from attending programmes in open places. "Although my party has the right to decide my candidature, due to health reasons, I have decided that I will not contest the next Lok Sabha elections," Swaraj said. Swaraj, second term MP from Vidisha Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, said that despite holding important posts of Leader of Opposition and Minister of External Affairs, she regularly visited all the eight assembly segments in her constituency. "In December 2016, after the kidney transplant, doctors
Oppn demands explanation from Mamata on minister's resignation
Opposition parties in West Bengal on Tuesday demanded that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee clarify the circumstances that led to the resignation of state minister Sovan Chatterjee. Banerjee, while talking to reporters earlier in the day, said Fire Services and Housing Minister Sovan Chatterjee has quit the cabinet. The CM also said that Chatterjee has been asked to step down from the post of Kolkata mayor. According to TMC sources, he is likely to tender his resignation from mayor's post soon. Leader of opposition Abdul Mannan said the chief minister should issue a statement to clarify the reasons behind Chatterjee's decision. "The chief minister should immediately explain the reason and circumstances under which Chatterjee resigned. The Assembly is in session and, according to rule, when a minister tenders resignation, the chief minister should issue a statement," the senior Congress leader said. State BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said the senior TMC leader should .
Indian Army chief to visit Vietnam
Army chief General Bipin Rawat is scheduled to visit Vietnam from Novemebr 22 to 25, an official statement said.
Two lakh people for poll-related work in Telangana: Official
: Over 1.6 lakh employees and 30,000 policemen would be deployed for election-related work in Telangana which is going to polls on December 7, chief electoral officer Rajat Kumar said Tuesday. Speaking to reporters here, the poll official said, "All together, about two lakh personnel will be involved in the election process. About 30,000 policemen will be deployed at various polling stations.". Referring to the rules of the Election Commission of India, he said 20 per cent of workers should be in reserve to be used in case of emergency. The electoral officer said employees from banks and public sector undertakings would also be involved in the polls as observers. He said 3,583 nominations were filed by candidates belonging to various parties and the scrutiny of the nominations was on. The poll official said the State has 2.80 crore people enrolled in the voters list. He said personnel from the police and income tax departments have seized Rs 90.72 crore worth of currency
Maratha quota: Activist files plea against Maha govt move in HC
A Pune-based activist Tuesday filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the Maharashtra government's decision to provide reservations to the Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions. The petition is likely to be mentioned Wednesday before a division bench. A bench led by Justice B P Dharmadhikari is scheduled to hear a bunch of petitions filed in the past on the Maratha quota issue. In his plea, Hemant Patil sought that the state government be restrained from implementing its decision on providing such quota at least till the high court takes a final decision on the pending petitions. He also said the state already provides 52 per cent reservation for various caste groups and communities. Patil contended that if the current government provides 16 per cent reservation to the Maratha community, the state will be in breach of a previous Supreme Court judgement that prescribes an upper limit of 50 per cent for caste-based reservations provided by state ...