Page 470 - Politics
Modi, Shah meet Union Council of Ministers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah met the Union Council of Ministers here at the party headquarters on Tuesday, two days ahead of the counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections.
BJP LoP's letter to governor devoid of facts: MP CM
A day after Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Gopal Bhargava wrote to Governor Anandiben Patel demanding that a special session be convened to discuss various pressing issues, Chief Minister Kamal Nath Tuesday said the BJP leader has not bothered to check facts before sending his letter. In his communication to the governor, Bhargava stated that the Opposition wanted a discussion on important issues like the farm loan waiver and (to) test the government's strength. The letter says several problems, including some severe ones, are plaguing the state since the last six months after formation of the new House. Madhya Pradesh is in the grip of severe water crisis and lawlessness. Farmers condition is worrisome as they are unable to sell their produce. They are also disillusioned over the farm loan waiver, Bhargava's letter states. Countering Bhargava, the chief minister said, "It is clear that without verifying any facts and on the basis of your imaginations ..
Iranian President rules out possibility of negotiations with US
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the United States under current circumstances of heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries."I favour talks and diplomacy but under current conditions, I do not accept it, as today's situation is not suitable for talks and our choice is resistance only," IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying.Rouhani added that Iranian authorities feel the support of ordinary people, who do not buy the idea that their country is responsible for the spike in tensions, despite attempts by "the enemy" to portray it as such, reports Russia Today.Recently, the country officially halted some of the commitments under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal signed with world powers. The development implied that Iran no longer had any limit for the production of enriched uranium.Speaking on the same, Rouhani admitted that the reason Iran was reluctant to further walk away completely from the said deal was that it would lead to more
Cong leaders may have to go to mental hospital after results:
Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said Tuesday that Congress leaders might have to be admitted to a mental hospital after the results of the Lok Sabha polls. Vaghani's comment came as a reply to a tweet by Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Paresh Dhanani. Dhanani, Congress candidate from Amreli Lok Sabha seat, in a tweet Monday questioned the credibility of exit polls which are predicting a comfortable victory for the BJP. "Is it that only fools have voted for Modiji (prime minister Narendra Modi) by ignoring real issues or is it that innocent citizens just got carried away in the fake nationalism narrative?" he asked. Responding to him, Vaghani said Congress leaders had not questioned exit poll predictions of Congress victory in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly polls. "Then they did not feel that people were fool because Congress was winning," Vaghani told reporters in Gandhinagar. "Congress leaders have lost the capacity to digest defeat. Looking ..
UK MPs to get vote on second referendum in new Brexit law: PM
British MPs will be able to vote on whether or not to hold a second Brexit referendum -- but only if they approve draft legislation to implement the divorce agreement with the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday. May said the government would also allow parliament to decide whether to remain temporarily in a customs union with the European Union.
'No direct Russia involvement in Venezuelan affairs': Venezuelan Ambassador to Russia
Refuting the United States' claim, Venezuela on Tuesday said that there is no direct involvement of Russia in Venezuela's affairs, according to the Venezuelan Ambassador to Russia Carlos Rafael Faria Tortosa."We can expect any comments from the US government. But you must know that some concrete action, fact has to be behind any comment," Sputnik quoted the Venezuelan diplomat as saying."But our government sees clearly that there is no direct intervention (of Russia)...Cooperation, larger cooperation, broadening of this cooperation in various spheres. That's what exists between Russia and Venezuela. Therefore we firmly reject US accusations that there is any direct Russia's involvement in Venezuelan affairs," he added.This comes as Venezuela is witnessing a political crisis, which has exacerbated after National Assembly leader Juan Guaido declared himself to be the President of the nation, calling for the elected President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, to step down. The United States .
This election was like a pilgrimage for me, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told his ministerial colleagues that this Lok Sabha election was like a pilgrimage for him, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar informed the media persons after the meeting.Quoting Prime Minister Modi, Tomar said: "Prime Minister Modi said that he has seen many elections but this election's campaign did not seem like a campaign. He said it was like a pilgrimage for him.""Terming the completion of the NDA government's tenure as a successful experiment, PM Modi said the alliance should be further strengthened," Union Minister Tomar said further.Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday had a meeting with the members of his Council of Ministers and congratulated them for successfully working as a team for the last five years.The 2-hour long meeting was attended by all the ministers, who on their part congratulated Modi for the development works that the government did in the last five years under his leadership.Fully confident to return to power, Union ...
Rajnath Singh, Pema Khandu, Kiren Rijiju condemn killing of MLA Tirong Aboh, his family
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday condemned the attack on Arunachal's MLA Tirong Aboh and his family by suspected NSCN terrorists near Bogapani area in Tirap district.Taking to Twitter, the Union Home Minister expressed condolences and said that the perpetrators of attack will not be spared."Shocked and anguished by the killing of MLA Tirong Aboh ji, his family & others in Arunachal Pradesh. It is an outrageous attempt to disturb peace and normalcy in the North East. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared. My condolences to the bereaved families," he tweeted.Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the action will be initiated against the accused of the attack."Extremely shocked by unfortunate incident of killing of Khonsa MLA Tirong Aboh along with several others by insurgents. Strongly condemn this barbarous act. Action will be initiated to hunt down the .
Indian-origin candidates in Brexit clash for EU polls
The UK will vote in the European Union (EU) elections on Thursday to elect Members of the European Parliament (MEP), a vote necessitated by a failure of Brexit negotiations which should have seen the UK out of the 28-member economic bloc on March 29. It is being widely forecast that the electorate will use the European elections this week to punish both main political parties the ruling Conservatives and Opposition Labour Party for missing that deadline. All eyes will be on two fledgling parties contesting on either side of the Brexit divide, with a number of Indian-origin candidates joining the ranks of both the anti-EU Brexit Party, led by former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage, and Change UK, made up of Tory and Labour defectors unhappy with the policies of their former parties. I'm a doctor and I know how bad Brexit will be for our precious NHS [National Health Service] and everyone who relies on it. That's why I'm campaigning for Change UK in the European ...
17 of 48 regional parties defaulted on submission of donations report: ADR
At least 17 regional parties defaulted on the submission of their donations report to the Election Commission during 2017-18, according to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Amit Shah congratulates 'Team Modi Sarkar' for 5 years; hosts dinner for NDA allies
The Union Council of Ministers met on Tuesday at the BJP headquarters where the ministers thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for leading the BJP to a possible victory in the Lok Sabha elections.The meeting was attended by ministers including those from the NDA constituents.BJP national president Amit Shah, who called the meeting of ministers, congratulated "Team Modi Sarkar" for the "remarkable achievements" in the last five years.Shah also asked the council of ministers to keep the momentum going for a New India under the leadership of Modi."I congratulate Team Modi Sarkar for their hard work and remarkable achievements in the last 5 years. Let us keep this momentum going for a New India under the leadership of PM @narendramodi," Shah posted on his twitter handle.Meanwhile, the BJP president also said shared pictures of the "Aabhar Milan of Union Council of Ministers" that took place this evening at BJP headquarters in the national capital.Shah also hosted a special dinner for the .
State seems unwilling to solve Bhatpara 'disruption': Bengal BJPe
The West Bengal administration seems to be "unwilling" to resolve the violence in the state's Bhatpara Assembly constituency ever since the bypolls, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said on Tuesday.
Sena chief attends NDA dinner
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday attended the dinner meeting hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah here for NDA allies, hours after his party spokesperson said he would not attend it.
Activists demand reversal of EC order on VVPAT
A group of activists on Tuesday demanded the reversal of an Election Commission order about tallying the VVPAT slips after the counting of the EVMs. In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, the civil society members stated that the counting of the electronic voting machines should commence only when the tallying of the verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips for the five sampled booths in each constituency are completed. The activists, including Aruna Roy, also demanded that if there is a mismatch in a seat, all VVPAT slips in that constituency must be counted before declaring the result. The 24 groups, who have come under the banner of the People's Agenda, wrote the letter to Arora and the two election commissioners. The People's Agenda reminded the commission about the detailed memorandum shared in their meeting with the deputy election commissioner on May 7, outlining the key issues of concern that included a demand for 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips. They ..
EC rejects Lavasa's plea for recording dissent in orders on MCC violations
The Election Commission on Tuesday rejected by a 2-1 majority Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa's demand that dissenting views on model code violations during elections should be made part of orders and decided it will be only included in internal files."In the meeting of the full Commission held today, regarding the issue of MCC, it was inter alia decided that proceedings of the Commission meeting would be drawn, including the views of all the Commission members. Thereafter, formal instructions would be issued in consonance with the present laws and rules," the Commission said after a meeting of the full poll body to discuss the issue.Lavasa, who had raked up the issue and kept away from full Commission meetings protesting against the non-recording of his dissent on clean chits given by the other two Commissioners on alleged poll code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, attended the meeting today but is understood to have recorded his ...
BJP bid to corner Kamal Nath fizzles out
The BJPs attempts to embarrass the Congress with a floor test in Madhya Pradesh have all but fizzled out with the partys central leadership not supporting the local leaders on the issue.
Emergency could have been avoided: Pranab Mukherjee
Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who worked closely with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, says the imposition of Emergency in 1975 could have been avoided as it curbed the rights of people.
Not seen a film or TV show in 30 years: Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who on Tuesday mocked exit polls that predicted a majority for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha elections as "entertainment polls", said he was far removed from the "leisure of any such entertainment" in his life.
Oppn parties raise concerns over reports of alleged EVM tampering; Pranab also steps in
Barely two days before the Lok Sabha vote count amid projections of a return of the BJP-led NDA, Opposition parties Tuesday raised concerns over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. As protests erupted in Uttar Pradesh after videos of alleged movement and tampering of Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) went viral on social media, a concerned former President Pranab Mukherjee also stepped in to say that the onus is on the EC to put all speculation around these machines to rest. Reacting to the protests, the Congress said the EC should take immediate and effective steps to address the complaints of movement of EVMs from strongrooms in various parts of the country. Dismissing as "frivolous" and "unfounded" the allegations of EVM tampering, the EC said the voting machines used for the seven-phase polls that began on April 11 and ended on May 19 are "absolutely safe" in strongrooms Amid allegations and complaints that ...
Cong Punjab in-charge seeks report into face-off between Amarinder, Sidhu
AICC's Punjab in-charge Asha Kumari Tuesday sought a report from the party's state unit over the face-off between Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu, as more party leaders backed the CM. Sidhu is under fire from his own party leaders after he questioned during electioneering why Bathinda why no FIR was lodged against the Badals, who headed the previous state government, for the desecration of religious texts in 2015. "We seek a report on every event and in this issue too a report has been sought from the PCC (state Congress committee)," Kumari told PTI over the phone. She said state party chief Sunil Jakhar, who is seeking re-election from Gurdaspur, will give the report once he is free from the election process after the declaration of the results. Amarinder Singh on Sunday had accused Sidhu of "damaging" the Congress in the state and suggested that he wanted to be the chief minister himself. Meanwhile, more Congress leaders came out in ...