Page 468 - Politics
650 kg of poppy recovered in Ramban
As many as 650 kg of poppy was seized in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district on Tuesday night, officials said. A police party, conducting surprise checks on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Digdol, signalled an oil tanker to stop, they said. Seeing the police personnel, the driver stopped the oil tanker at a distance from the check post and ran away, they said. Upon searching the tanker, 33 gunny bags with 650 kg of poppy was found, they said, adding the drug consignment was being smuggled from Kashmir to Punjab, they said. The vehicle was seized and a case registered against the accused at Police Station Ramban, they said.
Naidu meets Gowda, Kumaraswamy for post-poll alliance
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday discussed forging a non-BJP alliance after the results of the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday with Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy here, a party official said.
Baig calls state Cong chief 'flop show',Gen Sec Venugopal a 'buffoon';Slapped with showcause notice
In a no-holds barred attack, senior Karnataka Congress leader Roshan Baig Tuesday accused the state party chief of being a "flop show" and scoffed at AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal as a "buffon", prompting the party to issue a show cause notice for his outburst. Baig, a senior MLA, also slammed former chief minister Siddaramaiah for "dividing" the Hindu society by attempting to give separate religion tag to Lingayat community and "abusing" the Vokkaliga community during his tenure in the top post. The attack by Baig who was miffed over being denied ticket to contest Lok Sabha polls came after the exit polls predicted a rout for the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka and NDA's return to power at the Centre. Baig also appealed to the Muslims to "compromise with the situation" (about BJP-led NDA being in power) and not to remain like "cattle" and be reduced to a vote bank. "Venugopal (in-charge of party affairs in the state) should have resigned when Congress got 79 seats in ...
J&K Governor reviews security for Amarnath Yatra
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Tuesday reviewed security arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra that begins on July 1.
Opposition raising EVM issue unnecessarily: NDA
Opposition parties had raised doubts on the EVMS "unnecesarily" and the act was out of "desperation" of losing the election, NDA leaders said on Tuesday after their meeting ahead of counting of votes on May 23.
Bomb-laden drone from Yemen rebels targets Saudi airport
Yemen's Iranian-allied Houthi rebels attacked a Saudi airport and military base with a bomb-laden drone Tuesday, an assault acknowledged by the kingdom as Middle East tensions remained high between Tehran and Washington. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The attack on the Saudi city of Najran came after Iran announced it has quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity, though still at a level far lower than needed for atomic weapons, a year after the US withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers. Underlining the tensions, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is seeking expanded executive powers to better deal with "economic war" triggered by the Trump's administration's renewal and escalation of sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. "A person or a nation might be under pressure but the Iranian nation will not bow to bullies," Rouhani vowed in a televised speech Tuesday night. By increasing production, ...
There will be tit for tat: Paswan on threat of post-poll violence
"There will be a tit for tat", Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Tuesday in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh when he was asked there were reports that violence can take place in the country after results of Lok Sabha polls on May 23.
Nitish terms opposition doubt over EVMs 'bogus'
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday termed as "bogus" the doubts raised by political parties about misuse of EVMs. The chief minister said the use of EVMs has brought about a lot of transparency in the electoral process. "Political groups tend to make such bogus allegations when faced with defeat. EVMs have been in use since much before the Modi government took over. I have always been in favour of these since this technology has brought about a lot of transparency in the electoral process," he said. Kumar, who also heads the JD(U), made the comment before leaving for Delhi to attend a meeting of the NDA on opposition parties raising concerns over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs.
No food security without peace, says FAO chief
Rome, May 21 (IANS/AKI) Hunger and conflict are interlinked and sustaining impoverished rural communities can help break the cycle, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation chief Jose Graziano da Silva said here.
Train services disrupted as post-poll violence continues in Bhatpara
Train services were disrupted, houses and shops set ablaze and workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress fought pitched battles as violence continued to scald the Bhatpara assembly constituency on Tuesday, two days after the by-poll for the seat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.
Former Union minister Kushwaha tells supporters to pick up arms to protect EVMs
Opposition RLSP chief and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday reacted angrily to reports of alleged tampering of EVMs by the ruling NDA, urging party workers and supporters to pick up arms for "protection" of votes.
NDA allies express faith in Modi, say India no more a soft state
The constituents of BJP-led NDA allies on Tuesday expressed full faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of results of Lok Sabha elections, saying the past five years have brought about a change in Indias perception that it was a soft state.
Venezuela's envoy to Italy resigns over lack of funds
Rome, May 21 (IANS/AKI) Venezuela's Ambassador to Italy, Isias Rodriguez, has written a resignation letter to President Nicolas Maduro after US sanctions against the socialist government left the embassy in Rome unable to pay staff salaries and rent.
Odisha: BJP complains to CEO over issuance of postal ballots
BJP state unit on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging that the polling officials issued more postal ballots than required for government officials who were on election duty."Returning officers have issued more postal ballots than the number of government servants on election duty in respect of that constituency. Instances of some people casting their votes at the booth as well as via postal ballot were also reported," stated the letter written by the party.Election Commission should verify and reject the extra postal ballots and take strict action against the concerned polling officials for dereliction of duty, the BJP said.
NDA represents country's expectations, ambitions: Prime Minister Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that NDA was an alliance, which would represent the country's expectations and ambitions."We have become an organic entity. NDA has played an important role in fulfilling the regional aspirations," said Prime Minister Modi in his address to NDA leaders who gathered here over a dinner hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah."NDA is an alliance, which will represent the country's expectations and ambitions," Prime Minister Modi was further quoted, as saying by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who briefed media persons."We have to come out of the caste narrative. The poor is the biggest caste. We have to serve them and solve the problem of poverty. We are committed to addressing the imbalance in regional development," said Modi.After the meeting, Modi tweeted: "With the NDA family. Our alliance represents India's diversity and our agenda is India's progress. We are best suited to address regional aspirations and enhance national progress."Earlier in the ...
Iraq to send delegations to US and Iran to calm tensions: PM
Iraq is planning to send urgent delegations to the United States and Iran, its prime minister said Tuesday, as Baghdad seeks to rein in soaring tensions between its top allies. Baghdad "will very soon send delegations to Tehran and Washington to push for calm", Adel Abdel Mahdi told journalists in the Iraqi capital. The United States and Iran have exchanged bellicose rhetoric in recent weeks, with the US deploying a naval strike group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over unspecified Iranian "threats". The bitter standoff has raised fears of the consequences for Iraq, which has sought to balance its ties between the bitter enemies. On Sunday, a Katyusha rocket was fired into Baghdad's Green Zone housing government offices and embassies including the US mission, days after Washington evacuated staff from Iraq, citing Iranian threats. Abdel Mahdi stressed the need to "avoid giving other parties the space to inflame the situation". "We will not allow Iraq to be a war zone or a launchpad for .
Documentary on Lok Sabha polls announced
A documentary encapsulating the story of the Indian elections will soon make way to the Indian small screen.
Traffic restrictions on Jammu-Srinagar highway to end next week
The Jammu and Kashmir government announced on Tuesday that there would be no restrictions on civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway from May 27 onwards.
Terrorists hurl grenade at a CRPF post in Pulwama
Terrorists on Tuesday evening hurled grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) post situated at State Bank of India (SBI) in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.No loss of life or injury has been reported yet.On May 18, three terrorists affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir police had said.
Pakistan violates ceasefire on IB, firing on
Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector on Tuesday evening, sparking off a gunfight which was still on, police said.