Page 2771 - Politics

Raj polls: Cong will focus on fielding candidates who can win elections, says Selja

The Congress will focus on fielding in the Rajasthan assembly polls candidates who can win elections, senior party leader Kumari Selja said Monday. Polls to the 200-member state assembly is scheduled to be held on December 7. The Rajasthan Congress screening committee chairperson said there are several capable candidates and selection will be a challenge, but the party leadership will work as per its discretion. Taking all aspects into consideration, it would be our effort to field candidates capable of winning the election, Selja told reporters after a meeting of the Congress state election committee here. She said that the party would focus on fielding "winning" candidates and maintain a balance while giving tickets. Rajasthan Congress Chief Sachin Pilot said members of the election committee have put forth their views and the final decision will be taken by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Pappu Yadav, Gohil late night meeting triggers ripples in political circles

A late night meeting between the AICC in-charge for Bihar, Shaktisinh Gohil, and Jan Adhikar Party chief Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav triggered political ripples within the Congress party and its ally, Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal Monday. Yadav, who represents the Madhepura Lok Sabha seat, met Gohil at the Sadaqat Ashram, the state Congress headquarters, late Sunday night. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Gohil said it was a courtesy call by Yadav, whose wife Ranjeet Ranjan is a Congress MP from Supual in Bihar. Talking to PTI over the phone from Khagaria Monday, Yadav said he discussed about attacks on non-Gujaratis, particularly those from Bihar in Gujarat, with Gohil who hails from that state. The JAP chief said they also discussed about the prevailing political situation in Bihar. "When two political personalities meet, it's obvious that there will be talk on socio-political issues... We discussed about the prevailing political situation in Bihar," Yadav said, ...

Parties intensify process to select candidates

Political parties in Karnataka have intensified the process to select candidates for the November 3 assembly and parliamentary by-polls in the state. While welcoming the schedule for the assembly by-polls, they had expressed surprise over the Election Commission's decision to hold by elections to three Lok Sabha seats, questioning the need for it in view of the general elections due early next year. The EC had on Saturday announced that by-pollsfor Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya Lok Sabha seats and Ramanagara and Jamkhandi assembly constituencies would be held on November 3. The by-elections were necessitated after BJPs B S Yeddyurappa (Shivamogga) and B Sriramalu (Ballari), and C S Puttaraju of JD(S) (Mandya) resigned as MPs on their election to the assembly in May last. By-polls to Jamkhandi assembly seat was necessitated following the death of Congress MLA Siddu Nyamagouda, while Ramanagara fell vacant as chief minister H D Kumaraswamy gave up the seat and retained ..

Cong's stand on Sabarimala will only help RSS-BJP combine: Yechury

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury hit out at the Congress over its stand on the Sabarimala temple issue, saying it would only help the campaign of the RSS-BJP combine against secular-democratic values. He said while the Congress' central leadership had welcomed the SC judgment as a progressive step, its Kerala unit had opposed the verdict. Yechury said the Congress' stand could not be accepted by any political party which believed in secular and democratic values. "The Kerala unit of Congress is opposing the implementation of the verdict and is protesting along with the BJP. By such a stance the Congress is only helping the RSS-BJP combine campaign against secular-democratic values and the right to equality enshrined in the Constitution," he told reporters. He alleged the BJP and the RSS opposed the apex court's judgment on the issue and were behind the agitations in Kerala. The CPI (M) had earlier welcomed the verdict on entry of women of all ages to the ancient Kerala shrine,

Rafale jets, S-400 missiles will boost IAF's capabilities: Dhanoa

The Indian Air Force is "ever-prepared" to meet any contingency and the procurement of 36 Rafale jets and S-400 missile systems would enhance its operational capabilities, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said on Monday as the force celebrated its 86th anniversary. In his address to IAF personnel at Hindon, the Chief of the Air Staff said the force needs to maintain a constant vigil in the aerospace safety area as "loss of aircraft in peacetime is not only expensive but also diminishes wartime capability". The IAF has been grappling with incidents of accidents involving its frontline aircraft and military choppers in the last few years. The Air Chief Marshal said efforts are being made to minimize accidents caused by human error by providing best possible training to the air crew and technicians operating current generation of fighter jets as well as "legacy aircraft" and weapons systems. "The IAF is ever prepared to meet any contingency that challenges the defence of our country. In the .

Turkey 'asks to search' Saudi consulate over missing journalist

Turkey sought permission Monday to search Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul after a prominent journalist from the kingdom went missing last week, media reports said, amid claims he was murdered. Ankara asked to search the consulate where Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi vanished last Tuesday after entering the building, Turkish NTV broadcaster reported. A Turkish government source at the weekend said the 59-year-old had been killed. Riyadh vehemently denied the claim and said Khashoggi had left the consulate. Ankara's search request was made after the foreign ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador for a second time Sunday over the journalist's disappearance. A Turkish diplomatic source confirmed Monday that the Saudi envoy had met deputy foreign minister Sedat Onal. "The ambassador was told that we expected full cooperation during the investigation," the source said. The ambassador was first summoned to the ministry on Wednesday. Protesters gathered outside the Saudi ...

Congress hits out at Centre over timing of K'taka by-polls

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday hit out at the Centre over the timings of the Karnataka by-polls.Kharge stressed that the dates of elections would delay the rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas in the state."Now that the election dates are announced, the rehabilitation work will be delayed because of the Model Code of Conduct. There are many areas in the state that are still affected by the floods, while some are affected by the droughts. No work can be done because of the rules," Kharge said.Kharge also alleged that the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy was not even consulted before the announcement of the dates for elections."Assembly elections are important, but announcing the dates without taking the state government into notice is not right. They could have stopped it but they have done this earlier, too. Whenever they want, they postpone or pre-pone election. It wasn't needed at all. However, we will fight the elections and .

J-K municipal polls: 56.7% voter turnout in first phase

Voter turnout in the first phase of the municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 56.7 per cent on Monday evening."The overall polling percentage across the state in the first phase of municipal polls has been recorded 56.7 per cent," said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jammu and Kashmir Shaleen Kabra.The voting which began at 7 am, concluded at 4 pm. In the first phase, polling was held for 422 wards spread across all the three regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.Kupwara district of Kashmir division witnessed the lowest voter turnout of 32.3 per cent while Kargil recorded the highest turnout of 78.2 per cent till 4 pm.The remaining three phases of the election will be held on October 10, 13 and 16. The counting will take place on October 20.

Man arrested for leaking BrahMos missile details to Pakistan

The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terror Squad (ATS) on Monday arrested a person from Nagpur for allegedly spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and passing details of the BrahMos missile.The ATS said that the accused, Nishant Agarwal, who was working with the Brahmos missile unit in Nagpur as an engineer, allegedly used to chat with Pakistan-based IDs on social media."We arrested Nishant from his residence in Nagpur. He was also working as an engineer on a defence project. We also found evidence of him chatting on Facebook with Pakistan-based IDs. He was arrested after we gathered conclusive evidence," Aseem Arun, Inspector General of ATS, Uttar Pradesh told reporters.Agarwal will be presented before the district and sessions court in Nagpur tomorrow and then be brought to Lucknow, Arun informed."We are also trying to ascertain on whether he received any money for passing the information and we will continue the investigation to find the answers. We also raided his family home

UP govt has waged war against Ram: Togadia

Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia on Monday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of "waging a war" against Lord Ram. Lashing out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state for detaining Mahant Paramhans Das, who was on hunger strike demanding a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Togadia asked if it was a "sin" to ask for a temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram. "The Uttar Pradesh government has waged a war against Ram... Is it a sin to peacefully demand a temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi? Togadia who reached Ayodhya on Monday said. The (UP) government has done a barbaric act (by detaining Das)... It is behaving like Mughal emperor Babar," he added. The firebrand leader has threatened to lead a march from Lucknow to Ayodhya from October 21 if the Centre failed to bring an ordinance to build a grand temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The 61-year-old, who had floated a new outfit-- Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) after leaving VHP, also criticised Prime Minister ...

Ajay Maken criticises use of force on protesting sanitation workers

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken Monday denounced the use of force on the protesting sanitation workers here, saying the BJP-led central government is taking "coercive" steps instead of finding a solution to their strike. Sanitation workers of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) who are on strike for the last three weeks staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar. Security personnel used "mild force" to disperse the crowd after it went out of control, police said. A senior leader of the sanitation workers' union alleged that police resorted to "lathicharge", a charge denied by the force. "Instead of finding a solution to the strike, the BJP-ruled central government and the municipal corporations have been indulging in coercive methods, which was clearly evident from the lathi-charge on the sanitation workers," Maken said in a statement. Instead of paying wages and arrears of the sanitation workers, the EDMC suspended 71 of them. Adding insult to injury, they were "lathi-charged" by .

Taking steps to cut time to grant patents, trade marks: DIPP Secretary

India is taking several steps, including hiring more manpower and increasing use of technology, to reduce time for granting patents and trade marks, a top government official said Monday. Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Ramesh Abhishek said as the economy is growing at a faster pace, focus on innovation and intellectual property rights (IPRs) are fundamental. He said steps taken by the department has helped to substantially improve the IPR regime of the country. "We have created capacities in our IP offices. Hundred examiners of patents (were hired). We added 450 more and now we are adding another 220 plus," he said here at the international conference on IPR, organised by industry body CII. Abhishek also said that the processes have been re-engineered and introduced use of technologies for grant and examination of patent, and trademark applications. "Patent examination of applications which used to take 5-7 years earlier, we are hoping to bring ..

EC, Cong clash in SC over voters' list in MP, Raj; court reserves verdict on Cong pleas

The Congress and the Election Commission Monday sparred in the Supreme Court over the pleas by two senior Congress leaders alleging duplication of names in the voters' lists for the upcoming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan reserved its verdict after concluded the hearing of the pleas during which senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Vikas Singh traded charges over conduct of the polls. Sibal is representing Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot while Singh is the counsel for the Election Commission of India (ECI). The two leaders also sought random verification of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the two states. Singh said attempts have been made to malign an important constitutional institution like the Election Commission and get favourable order by fabricating documents by alleging discrepancies in voters' lists. "I stand by what I had said earlier," the senior lawyer said, adding the ...

Rs 1 L promised to each SHG in Telangana by Congress

Seeking to woo women voters for the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana, Congress Monday announced various promises, including a grant of Rs one lakh each to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the state. "For the six lakh groups, women (Self Help) groups... in Telangana,the next Congress government will provide a grant of Rs one lakh to each DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) group," state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said, addressing a meeting of women organised by the party here. He said Rs 10 lakh bank loan would be arranged for each SHG and its interest would be paid by the state government. Reddy promised that all members of women SHGs would be given accidental and health insurance of Rs five lakh each. Claiming that Congress governments in undivided Andhra Pradesh had strengthened women SHGs by giving them grants and others, Reddy alleged that the TRS government has completely neglected the groups. He said the TRS government has ...

Non-BJP states should lower fuel prices: BJP

Accusing non-BJP states of not doing thier bit to give relief to the common man, the BJP on Monday asked them to reduce VAT on fuel prices and stop spreading propaganda against the Central government.

Grand alliance not possible at national level: CPI-M

The CPI-M on Monday said the formation of a grand-alliance at the national level was not possible though the party may think about it at the appropriate time but asserted that the priority was to defeat the BJP.

Gehlot attacks Rajasthan government over deteriorating health conditions

Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday attacked the ruling government for the deteriorating health and security conditions in Rajasthan, with the confirmation of 22 Zika virus patients in the state.

Youth will vote BJP to power in Raj: Javadekar

Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar Monday said the youth would vote the BJP back to power in Rajasthan. Youth play an important role for political parties and they will vote the saffron party to power in the state, said Javadekar, who is BJP's Rajasthan poll in-charge during a meeting of BJP's Yuva Morcha here. Rajasthan BJP president Madan Lal Saini said the Yuva Morcha had played a significant role in major movements and forming of governments. Youths have the capability to work day and night and they will contribute in BJP forming the government in the state, he said. Stating that the Congress does not have strong leadership, BJP general secretary (organisation) Chandrashekhar said the BJP has provided "good" leadership in the state and the centre which will help the party to come to power once again in Rajasthan.

JMM to fight Mayurbhanj LS, 30 assembly seats in Odisha

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will field candidates in Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat and 30 assembly segments in Odisha for the general elections as well state poll due next year, a senior party leader said Monday. This was decided in central committee meeting of JMM held at Ranchi on Monday, party's central committee member and former MLA, Ajen Murmu told PTI. JMM would put up candidates for seven out of the nine assembly constituencies in Mayurbhanj bordering with Jharkhand, he said. JMM candidates would also contest the assembly polls from different constituencies in Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Balasore, Jajpur and Phulbani districts in the state, Murmu said. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had in the past also fought Lok Sabha and state elections in Odisha and had even won some assembly seats. Murmu said JMM would endeavour to safeguard the interest of the tribal people in the state and to ensure balanced development. Murmu's statement regarding next year's elections came a

'Disappointed, but have not lost hope,' says Najeeb's mother

Disappointed with the Delhi High Court accepting the CBI's request to file closure report in her son's disappearance, JNU student Najeeb Ahmed's mother Fatima Nafees on Monday said she has not lost hope about getting justice, and that she has full faith in the Indian Constitution.