Page 473 - Politics
Baig's outburst to give new direction to Ktaka politics: Gowda
Senior BJP leader and Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda Tuesday said Karnataka Congress legislator R Roshan Baig's outburst against his party leadership will give a "new direction" to the state politics. BJP will welcome all who share the saffron party's ideology, he said when asked if the party would welcome if Baig wants to switch over. On Monday, Baig had hit out at the Congress leaders for the party's performance in the Lok Sabha polls as projected in the exit polls a day ago. The MLA had held former chief minister Siddaramaiah's "arrogance" and party state president Dinesh Gundu Rao's "immaturity" responsible for the "flop show". He had also called K C Venugopal, who is in charge of the party affairs in the state, a "buffoon". "You cannot hide truth and true incidents. It will be in public sooner than later. Probably, Roshan Baig was keeping it to himself. He was forced to speak out looking at the current situation. I welcome," Gowda told reporters here. He further said, "Baig ..
Uddhav Thackeray to attend Amit Shah's NDA dinner
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will attend the dinner hosted by Amit Shah for NDA allies in the national capital on Tuesday.Other leaders like Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan will also be present for the dinner.With exit polls predicting NDA to get a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha elections, Shah has invited the key leaders of the BJP-led alliance for dinner to chalk out a strategy session before the votes are counted on May 23.While the BJP and its coalition partners have said that the exit polls are showing a true picture, the Opposition parties have termed it as wrong and inaccurate.Elections for 542 Lok Sabha seats were held between April 11 and May 19.
ED bars officials at headquarters from talking to the media; issues order
The Enforcement Directorate has issued an order that virtually gags its officials posted at its headquarters here from interacting with journalists and said non-adherence to the new directive would invite "punitive action". ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra issued a one-page memorandum Tuesday asking all its officers posted in the headquarters and the headquarters' investigation unit to keep away from "unwarranted interaction with the media." "It has been observed that certain information relating to ongoing investigations have been published in the media. These information relating to impending action may jeopardise the interests of ongoing investigations," the latest order said. Henceforth, it said, "any officer other than the authorised officer if found interacting with the media, the same should be brought to the knowledge of the principal special director or undersigned (Director) immediately." The order stated that "any deviation will amount to dereliction of duty and liable for ..
Working in various ways to resume talks with N Korea: S Korea
The United States and South Korea are working in various ways to resume denuclearisation negotiations with North Korea, said South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul on Tuesday."The overall situation shows that we are facing a lull, but I think you should know that we are working in various ways to resume negotiations. South Korea and the US are also sharing the need for keeping the situation under control," he said during a briefing here.Kim also outlined the importance of providing humanitarian aid to North Korea. "A hungry child knows no politics," he said while quoting former US President Ronald Reagan, according to Yonhap News Agency.The South Korean official's comment comes as talks regarding denuclearisation have been stalled between the United States and North Korea following the second summit between the two states, which ended abruptly in Vietnam in February earlier this year.The two sides reportedly failed to resolve their differences on sanctions relief, which led ..
EC meeting Wednesday on opposition's concern on EVMs: Congress
The Election Commission will meet on Wednesday to address the concerns raised by leaders of 20 opposition parties, who met the poll panel on Tuesday to voice their concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and use of VVPATs, the Congress said.
Four human rights activists held in Zimbabwe: lawyers
Authorities in Zimbabwe have detained four human rights campaigners on their return home from a foreign trip and seized their cellphones and laptops, lawyers said Tuesday. "They were detained upon disembarking from a South African flight at Robert Mugabe International Airport last night and held for several hours without access to their lawyers," Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights spokesman Kumbirai Mafunda said. The men arrested late Monday were identified as George Makoni, 38, advocacy officer for the NGO Centre for Community Development Zimbabwe; Tatenda Mombeyarara, 37, co-ordinator for lobby group Citizens Manifesto; Gamuchirai Mukura, 31, executive director of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD); and Nyasha Mpahlo, 35, governance officer at Transparency International Zimbabwe. Lawyers were granted access to the four at Harare's central police station, five hours after the arrest, Mafunda told AFP. Police could not be reached for confirmation and it was not
Baig calls state Cong chief a "flop show', Gen Sec Venugopal a
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 Siddarmaiah 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 ..
EVM tampering reports spark political row; onus on EC, says a concerned Pranab
Barely two days before the Lok Sabha vote count, a political row erupted Tuesday over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and a concerned former President Pranab Mukherjee also stepped in to say the onus is on the Election Commission to put all speculation around these voting machines to rest. Already locked in a battle with the EC over the reliability of the Electronic Voting Machines(EVM), the opposition also got fresh ammunition to press for their demand of increasing the tallying the paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with EVM figures after protests broke out in some parts of Uttar Pradesh. The protests erupted after videos of alleged movement and tampering of EVMs went viral on social media, a charge dismissed by the EC as "frivolous" and "unfounded". The EC also 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. Reacting to the protests, the Congress said the EC should take immediate and effective .
Modi, Shah meet Union ministers to thank them for 'service to nation'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Union ministers from the BJP as well as allies at a meeting hosted by party president Amit Shah at its headquarters. The BJP described the meeting as an occasion to thank ministers for "their service to the nation" ahead of the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election on May 23, following which a new government will assume charge. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, J P Nadda and Prakash Javadekar were among the key leaders from the BJP at the meeting. Some ministers from BJP allies, including Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party, Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Akali Dal and Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal, were also present. The saffron camp has expressed confidence that the NDA will emerge victorious, with the exit polls too forecasting a return of the Modi government. Shah is also hosting a dinner for BJP leaders and allies later in the evening.
Oppn leaders meet, move EC seeking VVPAT verification with EVMs
The leaders of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission on Tuesday ahead of the Lok Sabha election results and asked it to ensure transparency and fairness in the counting process by verifying EVM results with VVPATs. The opposition leaders, including from the Congress, the DMK, the TDP and the BSP, submitted a memorandum to the poll panel, demanding the tallying of votes of electronic voting machines with a paper trail of votes (VVPATs) of five randomly identified polling booths in an assembly segment before counting begins on Thursday. Before meeting the poll panel, the leaders met at the Constitution Club to discuss the current political situation and the need for fairness in the counting process. They held talks after meeting the Election Commission as well and decided they would be in constant touch with each other on counting day and after that too to discuss possibilities of forming a coalition government, an opposition leader told PTI. "It is requested that the ...
No illegal transporting of EVMs in Punjab: Electoral Office
There has been no illegal transportation of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Punjab, officials here said on Tuesday.
EC has problem with our demand for EVM-VVPAT tallying, says N Chandrababu Naidu
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has a problem with our demand of tallying votes registered in electronic voting machines (EVMs) with that of voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips, said TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu here on Tuesday.Naidu, who was talking to media persons after a delegation of 22 opposition parties met the EC here over EVM-VVPAT tallying issue, said: "We have a very genuine demand. We have repeatedly made representation to the EC and have even gone to the SC. We want that tallying of five EVM-VVPAT machines should be made at the beginning of the counting, but the EC has a problem.""If any discrepancy is found in the tally, then VVPAT for the whole assembly segment should be counted. We do not know what is the problem of the Election Commission? Former Chief Election Commissioner has also endorsed our demand. Former President (Pranab Mukherjee) also made it very clear that EC should keep transparency and create confidence among Indian voters," he ...
U'khand CM asks Modi critics to spend day at Kedarnath cave
Uttarkhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat Tuesday termed opposition criticism of the prime minister's Kedarnath visit exremely unfortunate and challenged the critics to spend a day at the cave where Narendra Modi meditated. "A media house has described the meditation cave as a state-of-the-art facility. I invite them to visit the cave and spend a day there. We will make preparations for their stay there," he said. The chief minister said the opposition parties were making such remarks as they were upset over the exit poll results, which indicated that the people had backed Modi again. He claimed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would get over 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. A day before polling ended, Modi visited Kedarnath. He spent several hours at the cave in meditation, an official said. The next day, he visited Badrinath. Opposition parties claimed that the publicity given to the visit to the holy shrines violated the poll code. Modi had, however, sought ..
Kremlin warns new Ukraine leader against calls for more sanctions
The Kremlin on Tuesday warned Ukraine's new President Volodymyr Zelensky against asking Washington for more sanctions against Russia, suggesting it would not help his efforts to end the war in the east. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman spoke after US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said in Kiev earlier in the day that Washington intends to impose sanctions on companies involved in the Moscow-led Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project. On Monday, Zelensky was sworn in as Ukraine's president and said his priority was ending the conflict with Russia-backed insurgents in the east, which has claimed some 13,000 lives since 2014. In a meeting with US officials including Perry on Monday, Zelensky called on Washington to support Ukraine and introduce more sanctions against Moscow. "This is the rhetoric that will not help Ukraine to sort out the problem of the southeast," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, referring to the separatist conflict in the ex-Soviet country's industrial ...
Sacked UP minister's portfolio allocated to MoS Anil Rajbhar
A day after sacking cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik Tuesday allocated his portfolio of backward welfare and Divyangjan empowerment to minister of state Anil Rajbhar. "Anil Rajbhar has been given additional responsibility of backward welfare and Divyangjan empowerment department on the recommendation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," an official release issued here said. Anil Rajbhar was holding the charge of Home Guards, Prantiya Raksha Dal, Armymen Welfare and the Food Processing and Civil Defence as the MoS with independent charge. The Governor had on Monday sacked Suhel Dev Bhartiya Samaj Party leader Om Prakash Rajbhar on the recommendations of the chief minister. Adityanath was unhappy with the sacked minister for adopting a collision course with the senior NDA partner-- the BJP, and often embarrassing the government by making controversial statements.
BCCI, state officials bemused as CoA announce election dates
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have its election on October 22 as per the Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai. The CoA chief further mentioned on Tuesday that the elections of the state associations are to be completed by September 14. This has surprised the board officials as well as state association officials.
TN Governor administers anti-terrorism day pledge to staff
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the anti-terrorism day pledge to his staff on the 28th death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, as Congress workers paid tributes to the former Prime Minister across the state Tuesday. TNCC President K S Alagiri led the party workers in remembering Gandhi and attended a slew of events to mark the day. Purohit, camping in The Nilgiris, administered the Anti-Terrorism Day pledge to the officers and staff of Raj Bhavan at Udhagamandalam, an official said. At Chennai, state police chief T K Rajendiran administered the pledge to police officials. Meanwhie, Alagiri and senior party leaders, including his predecessor Su Thirunavukkarasar, paid homage to Rajiv Gandhi at his memorial in Sriperumbudur near here, where he was killed by a female suicide bomber of the banned LTTE this day in 1991. Further, the party workers led by Alagiri took the anti-terrorism pledge. A medical camp was also held to mark the day.
Syrian government documents show reach of Assad's agencies
A Washington-based Syrian watchdog says thousands of documents collected from abandoned Syrian government offices reveal the reach of President Bashar Assad's security agencies, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of his secretive apparatus. The documents include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell anti-Assad protests. The Syria Justice and Accountability Center says the documents show officials at the highest level were either aware or involved in the bloody crackdown since 2011. The group analyzed a sample of 5,000 documents from nearly half a million obtained in 2013 and 2015 from several Syrian provinces after government forces withdrew. Its report, released on Tuesday, offers evidence of government violations of the laws of war. Director Mohammad Al-Abdallah says they may be used for criminal prosecution.
Cong issues show-cause notice to MLA over outbursts
The Congress issued a show-cause notice to senior leader and Karnataka legislator R Roshan Baig on Tuesday for his outbursts against the party leadership. The party has taken strong exception to Baig's comments against former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal and party state president Dinesh Gundu Rao. The remarks are being taken seriously as an "anti-party activity", the notice said, asking him to explain within a week why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. "On failing to reply further disciplinary action will be taken against you," the notice, signed by state Congress general secretary V Y Ghorpade, said. On Monday, Baig had hit out at the Congress leaders for the party's performance in the Lok Sabha polls as projected in the exit polls a day ago. The MLA had held Siddaramaiah's "arrogance" and Rao's "immaturity" responsible for the "flop show". He had also called Venugopal, who is in charge of the party affairs in the state, a ..
Indian-origin Dave Sharma wins Wentworthin seat in Aus federal election
Dave Sharma, the Liberal candidate and former Australian ambassador to Israel, has scripted history by becoming the first Indian-origin lawmaker in the country's Parliament after winning a seat in Sydney suburb in the federal election. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is close to securing a majority government as the election's final results are being counted. His conservative coalition has defied polls and is leading with 77 seats, the Australian Electoral Commission says. Only 76 seats are needed for a majority. Sharma, 43, defeated independent candidate Kerryn Phelps for the eastern suburb seat of Wentworthin district. Sharma, who had lost to Phelps in a by-election six months ago, claimed the seat of Wentworth with 51.16 per cent of the vote. "Very humbled by the trust placed in me by the people of Wentworth. Look forward to being a voice for them in Parliament and the party room," Sharma said in a tweet. He said the three main issues he wanted to focus on were national ...