Page 477 - Politics
Oppn leaders set to meet; also to move EC over VVPATs
Top opposition leaders will meet in the national capital Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a non-NDA alliance staking claim to government formation and also move the Election Commission to press for their demand of tallying paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with electronic voting machine (EVM) figures. According to sources, leaders of opposition parties such as the Congress, TDP, Left parties, BSP, NCP and TMC will informally meet to discuss the way forward in case the NDA fails to get to the majority mark. Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress, Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), TDP's Chandrababu Naidu, Satish Chandra Misra of the BSP, Sitaram Yechury of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), D Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Derek O'Brien of the TMC are expected to take part in Tuesday's meeting among others. Notwithstanding exit polls that have predicted a majority for the BJP-led NDA, the opposition is going ahead with its strategy as .
With terror on agenda, Swaraj departs for SCO Foreign Ministers meet in Bishkek
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to discuss pressing issues, including the threat of terrorism and security of Afghanistan, as she embarked on Tuesday on a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek to represent India in the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).The May 21-22 meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) will exchange views on topical issues of international and regional importance, besides reviewing the preparation for the SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13-14, the ministry of external affairs said in a statement."India actively took part in various SCO dialogue mechanisms under the Chairmanship of the Kyrgyz Republic over the past year," the MEA added.Last month, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the SCO Defence Ministers' conclave in Bishkek to further boost defence and security cooperation among the member countries in the wake of evolving security challenges in the region.In addition, Swaraj's Pakistani counterpart Shah
Chandrababu Naidu working hard to stay relevant in Delhi
Taking centre stage in national politics, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu has been holding series of meeting with leaders of various parties to forge a non-BJP coalition at the Centre and all his efforts appear to be aimed at making himself relevant in Delhi.
Mayawati sacks close aide Ramvir Upadhyaya
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Tuesday sacked Ramvir Upadhyaya, once considered her right-hand man. She sacked her former Energy Minister over his anti-party activities, especially for supporting BJP candidates in Uttar Pradesh.
Ahead of opposition meet, Kumaraswamy cancels Delhi visit
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday cancelled his scheduled visit to the national capital on a day when opposition parties will be meeting Election Commission officials over the issues of EVMs.The Janata Dal (Secular) leader is skipping a visit to Delhi at a time when opposition parties are in a huddle after exit polls predicted a victory of the BJP-led NDA.Later today, 21 opposition parties will knock the doors of Election Commission (EC), pressing their demand of tallying VVPAT slips with EVM figures in an entire constituency, in case a discrepancy is found at any polling booth.Before the visit, the parties will also hold a meeting at Delhi's constitution club.Ahmed Patel of Congress, Sharad Pawar of NCP, Chandrababu Naidu of TDP, Satish Chandra Misra of BSP, Sitaram Yechury of Communist Party of India (Marxist), D Raja of Communist Party of India (CPI) and Derek O'Brien of the TMC are expected to meet the officials of the poll commission.Naidu is at the forefront of .
Buoyed by exit polls, Sena says Modi govt will get second term
The Shiv Sena Tuesday expressed confidence that a government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be re-elected for a second term as the exit polls show a "clear trend" in the BJP-led NDA's favour. At the same time, it also praised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for their "hard work", saying their party will get enough seats to bag the leader of opposition's post in the new Lok Sabha. Elections to 542 seats of 543-member Lok Sabha ended on Sunday and counting of votes is scheduled for Thursday. Most exit polls have forecast another term for Prime Minister Modi, with some of them projecting that the BJP-led NDA would get over 300 seats to comfortably cross the majority mark of 272 in the Lok Sabha. "There was no need for political pundits to say the Modi government will be re-elected. The ground situation was such that people were leading the poll campaign and had made up their mind to vote Modi back to .
Tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on 28th death anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were among several political leaders on Tuesday who paid homage to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 28th death anniversary.
Kumaraswamy cancels Delhi visit
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has cancelled his scheduled visit to Delhi Tuesday, where he was expected to take part in a meeting of opposition leaders over the issue of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), official sources said. "The proposed visit of the chief minister to New Delhi today stands cancelled," the CMO said, without specifying any reasons. According to the schedule of the chief minister shared with the media earlier, Kumaraswamy was to leave for Delhi by a special flight at 11 am and take part in meetings there, before heading back to the city in the evening. According to JD(S) sources, the chief minister was to take part in the meeting of opposition leaders over the EVM issue. Ahead of the Lok Sabha poll results on May 23, leaders of various opposition parties would meet the Election Commission (EC) and raise the issue of tallying paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with EVM figures. Opposition parties are demanding tallying of VVPAT slips with EVM figures in an ...
Yemen rebels say drone hits arms depot at Saudi airport
Yemen's Houthi rebels said Tuesday they launched a bomb-laden drone targeting an airport in Saudi Arabia that also has a military base inside of it, an attack acknowledged by the kingdom as Mideast tensions remain high between Iran and the US. The attack on Najran comes as Iran quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity amid tensions with the US over Tehran's atomic program, nuclear officials said Monday, just after President Donald Trump and Iran's foreign minister traded threats and taunts on Twitter. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67 per cent limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Middle ...
Modi congratulates Joko Widodo on re-election as Indonesian President
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Indonesia's Joko Widodo on being re-elected as president for a second term in last month's presidential elections of the South-East Asian nation.In a series of tweets, Modi also said that he was looking forward to working with Widodo to strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Indonesia."Heartiest congratulations @jokowi on your re-election! As two large democracies, we take collective pride in successful celebration of democracy. We wish you and people of Indonesia all success under your dynamic leadership," the Prime Minister tweeted."As our nations mark seven decades of our diplomatic relationship, I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen our bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. @jokowi," he added.Indonesia's Election Commission, earlier in the day, confirmed that Widodo won the second term as president after beating rival Prabowo Subianto, a retired general.However, the Prabowo-led ...
Dual hearings on Capitol Hill focus on Trump's Iran policy
As questions mount over President Donald Trump's tough talk on Iran, top national security officials are heading to Capitol Hill to brief Congress. But skeptical Democrats have asked for a second opinion. The competing closed-door sessions Tuesday, unusual and potentially polarising, come after weeks of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf that have raised alarms over a possible military confrontation with Iran. Lawmakers are warning the Trump administration it cannot take the country into war without approval from Congress, and the back-to-back briefings show the wariness among Democrats, and some Republicans, over the White House's sudden policy shifts in the Middle East. Trump, veering between bombast and conciliation in his quest to contain Iran, threatened Monday to meet provocations by Iran with "great force," but also said he's willing to negotiate. "We'll see what happens," Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a campaign rally. He said Iran has been "very ...
Rahul pays homage to Rajiv Gandhi at Veer Bhoomi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi paid homage to his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 28th death anniversary on Tuesday at his memorial, Veer Bhoomi, here. Rahul was accompanied by his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders. In a tweet, Rahul remembered his father as a gentle person who taught him to forgive and never hate. "My father was gentle, loving, kind & affectionate. He taught me to love & respect all beings. To never hate. To forgive. I miss him. On his death anniversary, I remember my father with love & gratitude," he said. Rajiv Gandhi took over reins of the Congress following the assassination of his mother and then prime minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984. The same year, he became India's youngest prime minister at the age of 40. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber at an election rally in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur town on this day in 1991.
Indonesia's Joko Widodo re-elected president as rival cries foul
Thousands of soldiers fanned out across Jakarta on Tuesday as unexpectedly early results in Indonesia's election showed Joko Widodo was re-elected leader of the world's third-biggest democracy. The election commission had been due to announce the final tally of the divisive poll on Wednesday, but the results were revealed early Tuesday with little advance notice amid fears of unrest. Presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto had warned of possible mass uprisings in response to his claims of widespread cheating. Tensions have also spiked high since police said last week that they arrested dozens of Islamic State-linked terror suspects -- including some who planned to cause chaos by detonating bombs at any post-election protests. On Friday, the US embassy in Jakarta issued a heightened security alert for Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim majority nation. There was a heavy security presence in Jakarta on Tuesday, including in front of the elections commission office, which was ...
Modi, Shah to hold dinner meet with NDA leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah will hold a dinner meeting on Tuesday with leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
EVMs safe, keep faith: CEO Uttar Pradesh amid allegations of irregularities
The Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday reiterated that polled EVMs are safe in the sealed strong rooms which are under surveillance and also urged people to keep faith in the poll commission."Polled EVMs are safe in sealed strong rooms under security, CCTV coverage and surveillance of candidates. There is no possibility of changing EVMs. Don't panic and keep faith", the official handle of CEO, Uttar Pradesh tweeted on Tuesday.The clarification by the polling officer comes after various rumours on social media regarding EVMs leading to tensions in some parts of the region.In Mau, police had to disperse a crowd gathered outside a strong room last night.In Bihar, RJD alleged suspicious movement of EVMs in Maharajganj and Saran parliamentary constituencies. The party's allegations were later refuted by the administration stating that it was for the purpose of training.After exit polls predicted victory for the BJP-led NDA, many opposition parties have also discredited the
Peacebuilding activities should align with national priorities: India at UN
India has emphasised that peacebuilding activities will give sustainable results only if they align with a nation's priorities and its leaders and institutions are involved in the implementation. Speaking at the General Assembly on Monday, India's Deputy Permanent Representative Nagaraj Naidu said "This would ensure that gains are long-term and prevent any relapse." "India believes that the efforts undertaken by the PBC (Peacebuilding Commission) in various countries and regions will result in sustainable outcomes if national ownership is strictly followed," India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu said. Naidu said the peacebuilding activities should align with the national priorities and implemented with the involvement of the country's leadership and national institutions. He emphasised that today's conflicts are increasingly intra-state, involving non-state actors and international terror networks. "The complex and interlinked nature of conflicts
PM Modi pays tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday took to Twitter to pay tribute to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on his 28th death anniversary. "Tributes to former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary," Modi tweeted. This comes after Modi dubbed Rajiv Gandhi "bhrashtachari no 1" (corrupt no 1) at an election rally earlier this month. Hitting out at the former prime minister's son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, Modi had said, "Your father was termed 'Mr. Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'BhrashtachariNo:1'." Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber during an election rally in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur town on this day in 1991.
ECI announces re-polling at a Kolkata booth
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday ordered re-polling at a booth in Kolkata's Uttar parliamentary constituency.ECI declared void the poll held on May 19 at polling station number 200 of the Kolkata's Uttar parliamentary constituency.The re-polling will be conducted on Wednesday, May 22 from 7 am to 6 pm.BJP's Rahul Sinha, TMC's Sudip Bandyopadhyay and CPI(M)'s Kaninika Bose Ghosh are in the fray from Kolkata Uttar constituency.Earlier on Monday, a BJP delegation led by Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway minister Piyush Goyal approached the EC and urged it to conduct re-polling in the constituencies where violence had taken place during all the phases of the Lok Sabha polls.The delegation had also requested the EC to withdraw false cases made against BJP leaders in West Bengal.Large scale violence was reported from different parliamentary constituencies across West Bengal in all the seventh phase of the general elections with Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP
BSP suspends senior leader Ramvir Upadhyay
The BSP Tuesday suspended senior leader and former minister Ramvir Upadhyay from the party for his "anti-party" activities. Upadhyay has also been removed from the post of chief whip of the party in the state assembly, BSP General Secretary Mewalal Gautam said. He said Upadhyay openly opposed party candidates in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Aligarh and other seats during Lok Sabha polls and backed opposition candidates. Taking note of these anti-party activities, Upadhyay has been suspended from the BSP with immediate effect, he said.
Accounting firm ordered to handover Trump records
A US federal district judge has ordered accounting firm Mazars that it will need to turn over Donald Trump's accounting records from before he was President to the Democratic-controlled House Oversight Committee.