Page 2524 - Politics
Amid tight security 18 sensitive seats to go to polls on Monday in C'garh
The 18 sensitive Assembly constituencies of Chhattisgarh will go to polls on Monday in Chhattisgarh's first phase polling for which a foolproof security arrangement has been put in place to ensure that the people cast their votes without any fear. Polling officers have already started moving to their respective locations where search operations are underway to avert any untoward incident. Some of these locations are in extreme interiors of the state and often lack network connectivity, which makes emergency intervention almost impossible.Polling officers who had earlier facilitated voting in these sensitive areas recalled how they were attacked by Naxals, who also snatched electronic voting machines (EVMs) from their possession. Notwithstanding high threat perception, the officers are confident to conduct the polling process smoothly. "We are not scared at all," said a polling officer, who did not wish to be identified.Dantewada's Additional Superintendent of Police Gorakh Nath Baghel
Cong accuses BJP of horse-trading to gain control of civic bodies in J-K
Jammu and Kashmir Congress president G A Mir Sunday accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading to gain control of civic bodies in the state. Mir's statement comes a day after BJP members, including a former Congress leader, were elected to the top positions in all the six municipal bodies in Kathua district. Naresh Sharma had won in the Kathua Municipal Council on Congress ticket and had recently joined the BJP along with three party councillors. "The BJP had lost most of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) although it indulged in horse-trading exercise to woo the independents and Congress councilors, through influence of power, by delaying the polls to the presidents and vice presidents of the municipal committees without any justified reason," Mir said. Addressing a meeting of senior party leaders here, Mir also accused the BJP of depriving the women 33 per cent quota to the heads of ULB, including to those of Schedule Cast and Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes. "This was done ...
Sri Lanka's parliamentary Speaker accuses Sirisena of usurping rights of legislators
Accusing President Maithripala Sirisena of "usurping" the rights of legislators, Sri Lanka's parliamentary Speaker Karu Jayasuriya asked public servants not to carry out his "illegal orders". Jayasuriya also hit back at his critics who suggested that his improper conduct forced Sirisena to dissolve parliament last Friday. On October 26, Sirisena abruptly sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, after three-and-a-half years of an estranged relationship with him. The island nation plunged into a constitutional crisis following the move. Sirisena had suspended parliamentary proceedings until November 16. Later, owing to domestic and international pressure, he issued a notice to reconvene parliament on November 14. However, on Friday, Sirisena dissolved parliament and announced snap polls on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House to prove the premiership of Rajapaksa. "I have watched over ..
Amid Maoist attacks, Chhattisgarh readies for election
Amid threats of Maoist violence, 18 of the 90 constituencies in Chhattisgarh will go to the polls on Monday to elect a new Assembly in the first phase of a battle in which the Congress is desperate to end 15 years of BJP rule.
Iranian border guards kill 2, wound 3 Pakistanis
A Pakistani official says Iranian border guards have killed two people trying to cross through an illegal route from the Panjgur district in Baluchistan. Sabir Baluch, a Baluchistan Levies Force official, says Sunday three others were wounded and taken to a Panjgur hospital. In search of opportunity, hundreds of Pakistanis attempt to cross over to Iran through illegal routes every year hoping to continue on to Europe. Many have faced arrest or gunfire by border guards. Iranian border guards have been especially vigilant after last month's abduction of 14 guards in a militant attack on one of their posts. Iran has previously called on Pakistan to help secure kidnapped guards held in a border area.
Congress gives 'nod' to 3 candidates in Barmer district
The Congress party has seemingly sprung a kind of surprise by giving 'nod' to three candidates in Barmer district as the party has not yet announced the candidates for Rajasthan assembly polls officially.Congress district spokesperson Mukesh Jain on Sunday claimed that the party high command has cleared the candidature of Hemaram Chaudhary, Harish Chaudhary and Mewaram Jain, who would be filing their nominations for Gudamalani, Baytu and Barmer seats respectively.According to Jain, Hemaram Chaudhary and Harish Chaudhary will file their nominations on November 13, while Mewaram Jain would file his nominations on November 16.The assembly polls in the state are slated to take place on December 7 in a single phase for all 200 seats, which are at stake in the state. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.
World leaders solemnly commemorate 100 years since WWI Armistice
Dozens of leaders from around the globe on Sunday converged in Paris to attend a portentous ceremony commemorating 100 years since the armistice that put an end to the brutal conflict now known as World War I.
NC for united fight against divisive forces: Slathia
A senior National Conference leader on Sunday called for putting up a brave and united fight against "divisive forces", saying the politics of hate is detrimental to the interests of the nation and the state. Without naming anyone, he said the people should close their ranks in combating every attempt of dividing the society on caste, region and religious basis and isolate the peace inimical elements by further strengthening bonds of amity and brotherhood. "Jammu and Kashmir has a rich and glorious pluralistic ethos which is needed to be promoted and sustained at all costs," former minister and state secretary Surjeet Singh Slathia said while addressing workers in Vijaypur assembly constituency of Samba district. He stressed on the need for fighting divisive forces, hoping that all segments of society will work towards building peaceful, harmonious and prosperous state. The state secretary complimented politically sagacious people of Vijaypur for their endorsement to policies and ...
Macron urges world leaders to 'build hope, not fear
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday urged global leaders to build hopes rather than "playing our fears against each other."Speaking at the Arc de Triomphe during the armistice centenary celebrations, marking the end of the First World War, Macron said that "the traces of that war have not faded from French soil," or from "our memories around the world," CNN reported.He also touched upon universal values that underlined the importance of countries to work together and eliminate differences."On 11 November 1918, at 11 o'clock in the morning, 100 years ago, day to day, hour for hour, in Paris, as in all of France, the bugles sounded and the bells rang. It was the end of four long and terrible years of deadly fighting," Macron was quoted by Sputnik as saying.The French President further said that France's vision as a generous nation that is a "bearer of universal values" is the "very opposite of nationalism", which, he claimed, only looks after itself. "Nationalism is a betrayal of
Army soldier cremated with full military honours in J-K
An Army soldier, who was killed in sniper fire by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated Sunday with full military honours in his home town, officials said Earlier in the day, a wreath-laying ceremony was held for Rifleman Varun Kattal at Akhnoor military station here where senior army officers and jawans paid floral tributes and laid wreath at his mortal remains, they said. The 21-year-old soldier was killed while guarding the LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district Saturday. He was critically injured by a Pakistani sniper from across the border and later succumbed at a military hospital. The body of the soldier was taken to his Mawa-Rajpura village, where hundreds of mourners joined his parents and other relatives to bid tearful adieu to him, the officials said. Senior police and civil officers and politicians also joined the funeral procession to pay their tributes to the deceased. The body of the deceased was consigned to flames ...
UP BJP chief praises Modi for Varanasi's 'development'
Ahead of Narendra Modi's visit to Varanasi on Monday, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey said on Sunday the development of the holy city during the tenure of the prime minister was "unbelievable". "This will be the 15th visit of (the) Prime Minister to Varanasi. In the four-and-half years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked significantly in the direction of fulfilling his promise of transforming Banaras to Kyoto. The repeated visits of Prime Minister to Varanasi proves that he is not only a Jan Nayak (people's hero) but also a sensitive person who is concerned about the people of his parliamentary constituency," Pandey said in a statement issued here. "Modiji should be praised as the country for the first time has got a Prime Minister, who considers people of his parliamentary constituency as part of his families, and is involved in their development, welfare and upliftment with readiness," he added.
Sri Lanka president usurped powers of MPs: Speaker
Sri Lanka's parliamentary Speaker Sunday accused President Maithripala Sirisena of "usurping" the rights of legislators and asked public servants not to carry out his "illegal orders". Karu Jayasuriya in a hard-hitting statement said Sirisena's actions since October 26 to sack Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and dissolve parliament undermined the freedoms of the people. "I have watched over the last two weeks as the executive branch has seized the rights and usurped the powers of members of parliament who were elected to represent the people. "I call upon all public servants to refuse to execute any illegal orders they may receive, no matter from whom.
Modi, Shah responsible for atmosphere of intolerance: Shourie
Former Union minister Arun Shourie Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah of creating an atmosphere of "intolerance" in the country. "Modi and Shah have created an atmosphere of intolerance in the country. Media should think about its implications and should openly speak about this," Shourie said at a programme at Pink City Press Club here. He said when leaders create such an atmosphere, local goons too follow them in acts like gagging media but the media should throw light on them. In the age of internet, he said, journalists should find ways to reach out to maximum number of people, reveal truth and raise voice on matters of public good. Targeting the Modi-led central government on demonetisation, Shourie, a former BJP leader, said the exercise to junk a bulk of currency in circulation in November 2016 was the "biggest money laundering scheme". The government has defended the decision, saying it helped increase the tax base and formalised the Indian .
AAP promises farm loan waiver, prohibition in Chhattisgarh
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sunday promised a corruption-free administration, prohibition and a loan waiver for farmers if elected to power in Chhattisgarh. Releasing its manifesto here for the state polls, which the AAP is contesting for the first time, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party announced a slew of measures for different sections of the society. The Delhi-based party has fielded candidates in all the 90 assembly seats in the BJP-ruled state. The AAP manifesto comes on the eve of the first phase of polling Monday covering 18 assembly seats spread across over half a dozen Naxal-affected districts. The second and final phase of voting, covering the remaining 72 seats, will be held on November 20. In its 36-point manifesto, the fledgling outfit has promised Rs 2,600 minimum support price (MSP) for each quintal of paddy, a loan waiver for farmers, jobs to youths and a ban on sale of liquor in the state. "After the AAP government is formed in the state, the priority will be .
Congress against Ram temple, RSS: BJP
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra on Sunday said that India's grand old party was against the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and was also against the RSS camps.Talking to media persons here, Patra said: "It seems that the Congress has only one motto-Mandir Nahi Banne Denge; Shakha Nahi Chalne Denge (Congress will not allow the construction of Ram temple; it will not let the RSS camps to be organized). The Congress party is against the construction of Ram Temple. They have been vocal about it on several occasions."The Congress in its manifesto for Madhya Pradesh assembly polls has stated that if it is voted to power, it will not allow the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct shakhas (camps) in the government buildings.Patra also said, "Congress has called Naxals revolutionaries, and Naxalism a revolutionary process. But, the Sangh (RSS), who does social work, deserves hatred and shall be banned." BJP
Former Goa RSS chief announces plunge into electoral politics
In what could be a worrying sign for the Goa BJP, former state RSS chief Subhash Velingkar, an arch rival of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, on Sunday announced his plunge into electoral politics.
'Grand alliance will win Dec 7 Telangana assembly polls'
The Congress Sunday said the party led 'grand alliance' in Telangana would emerge victorious in the December 7 assembly polls by winning 80 seats and form the next government. Addressing a press conference here, Rajiv Shukla, the Congress party's national spokesperson, attacked caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao over going back on his promise to make a Scheduled Caste leader as Chief Minister after formation of a separate Telangana state. Rao had also not fulfilled his promise to provide one lakh overnment jobs,two BHK houses, farmers' issues, education and the health sector, among others, he said. "There are some fake surveys (on TRS victory)...Our survey says the Congress led alliance will get 80 seats. Definitely Congress will form the government in Telangana," he said. Shukla said people have realised that the chief minister has made false promises and now wanted a change. The Congress leader alleged that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and KCR (as Rao is
Javadekar pays tribute to Maulana Azad on Education Day
Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday paid tribute to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his 130th birth anniversary, hailing him for his contribution in the post-independence nation building.
MP polls: BJP, Cong cajole rebels to opt out of poll race
The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have gone into damage-control mode to get party rebels to withdraw from the fray in Madhya Pradesh which goes to polls on November 28. The state has a 230-member Assembly and sources from both parties believe that these rebels could prove to be the decisive factor in 30-odd seats. The last date to withdraw nominations is November 14. According to a senior BJP leader, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state BJP chief Rakesh Singh, party vice president Prabhat Jha and state organisational secretary Suhas Bhagat among others were contacting party rebels to get them to opt out of the electoral race. "All our senior leaders are contacting our cadre who are fighting elections against the party's nominees. Like in the past, they are going to withdraw from the race," state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal claimed. On behalf of the opposition Congress, senior leader and former chief minister Digvijay Singh ..
People are in alliance with PM: UP Dy CM Maurya
Disparaging the ongoing Opposition's bids to stitch an anti-BJP alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Sunday said it was going to be futile as the people of the country have already forged an alliance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If the BJP keeps on doing good works, it would keep forming governments both in the Centre and states for the next 50 years, Maurya told PTI here in an exclusive interview. The UP Dy CM claimed the Opposition bid for unity would fail as it was devoid of 'neeti' (policy), 'neta' (leader) and 'netritiva' (leadership). "Various opposition parties may stitch an alliance among themselves, but the people of the country have already forged an alliance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Maurya told PTI here in an exclusive interview. "The people of the country are with the BJP. Hence, any plan, scheme or conspiracy (by the Opposition) will not yield success to them," the Dy CM added. Asked to .