Page 374 - Politics
Kurdish rebel leader calls end to jail hunger strikes in Turkey
Imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has called for an end to hunger strikes by thousands of jailed supporters in Turkey protesting the conditions of his detention, his lawyers said Sunday. Ocalan, the co-founder of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) held on Imrali island off Istanbul since 1999, was allowed to see his lawyers this month for the first time in eight years. "I expect the action to come to an end in light of the broad statements to be made by my two lawyers," Ocalan said in a message read by his lawyer Nevroz Uysal during a press conference in Istanbul. The first visit took place on May 2. After Turkish authorities lifted an official ban on lawyers' visits to Ocalan, a second trip by two of his lawyers was made on May 22. His lawyers said during their visit on May 22, Ocalan said the hunger strikes "had achieved their goal" and was insistent in his call for the action to end. "We believe the hunger strikers will end their action after this," the ...
Prayed to God not to give winner more than 250 seats: Jagan
Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister designate Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday said he had prayed to God not to give more than 250 Lok Sabha seats to the party taking power at the Centre so that he can make it grant special category status to the state in exchange for legislative support but unfortunately the BJP got more than 300 seats.
Will decide on supporting BJP after consulting supporters,vot
Multilingual actress and independent candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha seat,Sumalatha Ambareesh, who defeated Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil, Sunday thanked BJP for it's support and said she would decide on supporting the party after consulting supporters and voters. Sumalatha met state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa and another senior party leader and former Chief Minister S M Krishna and thanked them for their support for her victory in Mandya. BJP had supported Sumalatha by not fielding any candidate against her. "I want to clarify one thing that if an independent candidate wins, there is no provision in our constitution for him or her to join a party, but can support...there is a provision to give issue based support, this is what I have got to know," she told reporters in response to a question about her joining BJP. She said, "I have been saying that the opinion of people is important to me. I have plans to go to every taluk in Mandya to thank voters during ..
After poll debacle, Pinarayi govt to face opposition heat in
Days after the massive drubbing it received in the Lok Sabha elections, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government will be facing the Congress-led UDF opposition heat in the Kerala Assembly session beginning Monday. While the CPI(M)-led LDF could win only one seat, the UDF swept the April 23 Lok sabha polls cornering remaining 19 seats in the state. A bouyant UDF, fresh from its landslide victory, is likely to corner the government on a host of issues such as alleged shoddy handling of rehabilitation of people affected in the August deluge last year, the Sabarimala women entry and the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB)'s Masala bonds launched recently. The opposition front is also likely to hammer the government on the high court appointed amicus curiae report that lapses in dam management had aggravated the impact of the floods which had claimed over 400 lives besides causing widespread devastation last year. Soon after the poll results were out on May ...
Govt school headmaster suspended for social media post on
A headmaster of a government school here has been suspended for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by posting a video on social media purportedly "criticising" Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Lateef Mohammed Khan, also the General Secretary of city-based Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee (CLMC), a Human Rights Organistaion, was initially issued a show cause notice on April 29 for posting the video clip on social media in which he accused the Chief Minister of not keeping his promises. After an enquiry, the School Education department, suspended him on charges of violating the model code of conduct as a government employee. The suspension order was issued on May 17, Khan said and maintained that he has not violated any election code and that he will challenge the suspension order in the High Court. "It is a non-political activity and I do not belong to any political party," he added.
Jolt to Kushwaha's RLSP, all 3 of its legislators join JD(U)
After drawing a blank in the Lok Sabha elections, former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party Sunday received yet another setback as all three of its members in the bicameral legislature joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U). Confirming the development, Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and legislative council deputy chairman Haroon Rashid said letters to this effect have been forwarded by two RLSP MLAs-- Lalan Paswan and Sudhanshu Shekhar-- and MLC Sanjiv Singh Shyam on Friday. "The legislators had also appended letters of approval from the JD(U). They were asked to appear in person for completion of formalities. Henceforth, they shall be treated as JD(U) legislators," Chaudhary and Rashid told PTI here. Notably, the RLSP legislators had earlier revolted against Kushwaha's decision to snap ties with the NDA and join the Mahagathbandhan. They announced that they would remain with the ruling coalition and seek recognition from the Election Commission ..
Smriti Irani aide in Amethi shot dead
In the first incident of post-poll violence in Uttar Pradesh, a close aide of Smriti Irani, the newly elected MP from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, was shot dead by two men, with police not ruling out the possibility of it being a "political murder". Surendra Singh (50), a former head of Baraulia village, was shot at around 11.30pm Saturday, said Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram. Singh was referred to a Lucknow hospital but he succumbed during treatment, Ram said. Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, UP DGP Om Prakash Singh said, "We have come to know about old enmity. We are also finding out if there was any political enmity. In initial investigation, we have got some vital clues." "UP police teams are conducting a very intensive investigation. We have taken seven persons in custody, and they are being intensely interrogated. We have also got important evidence through electronic surveillance. I am hopeful that in the next 12 hours, we will solve the case," the DGP said. He
Shun confrontation with Centre: AIADMK tells Pondy govt
The AIADMK in Puducherry Sunday called on the Narayanasamy led Congress government not to indulge any longer in confrontation with the NDA government at the Centre. Addressing reporters here, the leader of the legislature wing of AIADMK, A Anbalagan said, "now that the BJP-led NDA has romped home for second successive term to form the government under leadership of Narendra Modi at the Centre, the Puducherry government should concentrate on development of Union Territory." He said only through cordial relations with the Centre could Puducherry make progress and bring the fruits of various welfare schemes to the people. The newly elected Congress MP V Vaithilingam should also ensure that the demands raised by the Chief Minister for Statehood for Puducherry, inclusion of the Union Territory in the Central Finance Commission and generation of jobs for the youth during poll campaigns were taken up with the Centre, he added. Referring to the tussle between Narayanasamy and ..
Women, first-time voters swung it for NDA: IANS-CVOTER Analysis
Female and first-time voters seem to have swung the results in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a detailed analysis of the 2019 Lok Sabha results by IANS-CVOTER show.
Modi to visit Varanasi tommorow, hold roadshow
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 26 (ANI): Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi ushers in a second term in office after a landslide win in the Lok Sabha elections, he is slated to visit his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi prior to taking oath as prime minister.Modi is set to hold a road show here to thank voters and is scheduled to address BJP party workers. He will also pay obeisance at Kashi Vishwanath Temple.The Prime Minister, who was in the fray from the Varanasi constituency won by a huge margin of 4,79,505 votes. As part of his political campaigning, he had held a grand roadshow and participated in a 'Ganga Aarti' there.Modi is set to reach Varanasi early Monday morning, following which he has planned to hold a roadshow from police line to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.Later in the day, he is set to address BJP workers at Trade Facilitation Centre, party sources said.Before swearing-in for the second term on May 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he ...
CM-designate Jagan invites Modi for swearing-in ceremony
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invited him for his swearing-in ceremony to be held in Vijayawada on May 30.
Chinese Vice President arrives in Pak on three-day official visit
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan arrived in Islamabad Sunday on a three-day official visit to Pakistan during which he will hold talks with President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan on a host of bilateral issues including the smooth development of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Wang, 70, is a member of the ruling Communist Party of China's (CPC) powerful Politburo Standing Committee. He is also a member of China's Parliament, National People's Congress and the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, a key foreign affairs body of the CPC. He was received at the airport by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other high officials. During the visit, Vice President Wang will call on President Alvi and have a separate meeting with Prime Minister Khan. Pakistan and China will sign MoUs and agreements and inaugurate projects to enhance bilateral cooperation in a broad range of areas, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. His visit underscores ...
Odisha guv invites Patnaik to form govt after he stakes claim
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal has invited Naveen Patnaik to form the next government in the state after the BJD president staked claim on Sunday. The BJD won 112 of the 146 assembly seats in the recently concluded assembly polls. "After being satisfied that BJD commands majority, the Hon'ble Governor extended invitation to Naveen Patnaik to form the new government," a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said. Patnaik called on the Governor after he was elected as the leader of BJD's legislature party for the fifth time in a row and furnished the list of 112 elected party MLAs, official sources said. Patnaik, who led the party to an emphatic victory in the Odisha assembly elections, is scheduled to be sworn in as the chief minister for a record fifth consecutive term on May 29. The state has 147 assembly segments but polling in Patkura was postponed twice following the death of a candidate and then due to cyclone Fani.
Modi, Amit Shah to arrive in Gujarat to celebrate victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah are arriving here on Sunday a two-day visit to their home turf Gujarat, which has once again given the party all the 26 Lok Sabha seats.
Naveen stakes claim for government formation in Odisha
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Sunday met Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and staked claim to form a government for a fifth consecutive time in the state.
Chinese Vice President to arrive in Pak on Sunday
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan will arrive in Islamabad on Sunday on a three-day official visit to Pakistan during which he will hold talks with President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan on a host of bilateral issues including the smooth development of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Wang, 70, is a member of the ruling Communist Party of China's (CPC) powerful Politburo Standing Committee. He is also a member of China's Parliament, National People's Congress and the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, a key foreign affairs body of the CPC. During Wang's visit, Pakistan and China will sign MoUs and agreements and inaugurate projects to enhance bilateral cooperation in a broad range of areas, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. His visit underscores the vitality of the time-tested and all-weather relationship between Pakistan and China. Wang's visit will reinforce the strength of bilateral ties and impart further impetus to the growing, ..
Lalu Prasad skips lunch, goes mum after RJD rout
Jailed former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad has stopped taking lunch and keeping quiet most of the time after his party suffered a humiliating rout in the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.
Final votes cast as Europe chooses future course
Tens of millions of Europeans will vote Sunday as 21 countries choose their representatives in a battle between the nationalist right and pro-EU forces to chart a course for the bloc. Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania and Cyprus were the first to open their polling stations at 0400 GMT and France, Germany, Italy and the rest followed over the next two or three hours. Seven EU member states had already voted, but no official results can be published until rest of the union has taken part. The European Parliament will give an estimate at 1815 GMT and provisional results will begin to emerge from 2100 GMT. Eurosceptic parties opposed to the project of ever closer union hope to capture as many as a third of the seats in the 751-member Strasbourg assembly, disrupting the pro-integration consensus. The far-right parties of Italian deputy PM Matteo Salvini and France's Marine Le Pen will lead this charge, and anti-EU ranks will be swelled by the Brexit Party of British populist ..
Cong's Patole booked for ruckus at Nagpur counting centre
The Congress' Nana Patole, who lost from Nagpur Lok Sabha seat to BJP's Nitin Gadkari, was booked along with his supporters for allegedly disrupting the vote counting process on May 23, police said Sunday. An official said Patole and his supporters entered the counting centre on May 23 without permission and then got into altercations with polling staff and also indulged in sloganeering. He said Kalamna police filed a case against Patole, local Congress leader Abhijeet Wanjari and 10-15 polling agents of the party on a complaint lodged by Shital Deshmukh, Additional Election Officer, Nagpur East constituency on May 24. Officials said District Collector and Returning Officer Ashwin Mudgal has informed the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi and the Chief Electoral Officer of the state about the complaint against Patole.
BJP won in 65 Assembly seats in Uttarakhand
If the Assembly elections are held today, the BJP will win 65 of the 70 constituencies, surpassing its previous best performance of 57 seats in 2017, Lok Sabha election data show.