Page 498 - Politics
Saudi Arabia calls for emergency meeting with GCC, Arab League amid Gulf tension
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has called for an emergency meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the leaders of Arab League countries to discuss the security issues of the region and measures to enhance it, the state media reported late on Saturday.Gulf News cited a Saudi Press Agency (SPA), which reported after quoting the Saudi Foreign Ministry that Saudi Arabia has invited Gulf leaders and Arab states to two emergency summits in Mecca on May 30 to discuss recent "aggressions and their consequences" in the region.The meeting has been called following the attack on commercial maritime ships in the territorial waters off the coast of United Arab Emirates (UAE), last Sunday, and the Iran-backed Houthi militias' attacks on two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia two days later.Concerns about a possible conflict in the Gulf have flared up since Washington ordered carrier strike warships and B-52 bombers off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE. ...
Over 50 per cent voting in Punjab, over 51 pc in Chandigarh till 5 pm
Punjab saw overall 50.26 per cent voting till 5 pm while Chandigarh 51.18 per cent during the last phase of Lok Sabha polling on Sunday. The overall voting percentage at 5 pm on 59 seats was 52.91.All 13 Parliamentary constituencies in Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh went for polls on Sunday along with six other states for a total of 59 Lok Sabha seats in the last phase.Incidents of violence marred the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, where at least three Parliamentary constituencies including Bathinda, Khadoor Sahib, and Ferozepur violence and clashes were reported.A Congress worker was allegedly murdered by unidentified people in Hardo Sarli village of Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency when he was going to cast his ballot. Akali Dal workers were also allegedly attacked in Rampura Phul city of Bathinda, which left one person injured.Four other people were injured in Kot Mohan area of Gurdaspur seat after a violent clash broke out between the Congress and Shiromani Akali
After TMC, TDP moves EC against telecast of Modi's Kedarnath, Badrinath visit
After Trinamool Congress, now the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has written to the Election Commission seeking action against the telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kedarnath and Badrinath temples, even as the last and final phase of voting in the general elections was underway on Sunday.The Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP in its letter said the PM's action was a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and influences voters through a public display of his personal religious activities."Prime Minister Modi during his pilgrimage to Badrinath and Kedarnath are being displayed and continuously telecast by all the television news channels, which itself is a clear violation of model code of conduct and comes under indirect canvassing, influencing the voters through a person's religious beliefs and public display of his personal religious activities," TDP wrote in its letter.Naidu alleged that if continuous telecast of these activities of Prime Minister is not stopped, it ...
Trinamool accuses CAPF of influencing voters, vandalism
Trinamool Congress candidate from West Bengal's Barasat parliamentary constituency, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, on Sunday accused the central forces of vandalising her party's camp offices and influencing the people to cast their votes for the BJP in the Rajarhat-Newtown area near Kolkata.
Rahul attacks EC, says its 'capitulation' before PM is 'obvious'
As the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections got over, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked the Election Commission (EC), saying its "capitulation before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his gang is obvious" and that the poll panel was not being respected anymore.
Nearly 59 pc cast vote in Punjab, amid minor clashes; Chandigarh registers 64 pc polling
Nearly 59 per cent of 2.07 crore voters exercised their franchise for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab on Sunday, amid reports of minor clashes between Congress and SAD-BJP workers at a few places. About 64 per cent turnout was registered in Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat where polling remained peaceful, poll officials said. The 13 seats in Punjab and the lone seat of Chandigarh went to polls in the seventh and final phase of the general election. The poll percentage figures in Punjab and in the Union territory's lone seat were estimated at the close of polling at 6 pm, the officials said, adding that the exact turnout will be known later. As many as 278 candidates, including 24 women, are in the fray and results will be declared on May 23. Of the eligible voters in Punjab, 98,29,916 were female and 560 belonged to the third gender. The LS constituencies in Punjab that witnessed a higher voter turnout included Patiala (64.18 pc), Ferozepur (63.11 pc), Sangrur (62.67 pc), Bathinda (62.24 pc), ..
Three govt employees on poll duty die in HP; CM Thakur expresses grief
Three government employees have died due to different ailments while performing their poll duties in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, a state election official said. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has expressed grief over the death of three persons deployed on the election duty for Lok Sabha elections in the state. The deceased include presiding officer Vaneet Kumar who was a PGT at government senior school at Sapri in tribal Kinnaur district, homeguard jawan Devi Singh who was resident of Chandera village in Arki Tehsil of Solan district and polling officer Lol Ram who was a junior technician and was resident of Sajla village in Manali tehsil of Kullu district. In his condolence messages to the bereaved families, the Chief Minister said that the state government was with the family members of the deceased in this hour of grief. An ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh each has been announced to the next of the kin of the deceased persons. Polling for the four seats - Shimla (SC), Hamirpur, Kangra and .
Cyclone 'Fani' did huge damage to Jagannath temple, says Union Minister Pradhan
After the conclusion of over 70 day-long high decibel elections campaigning, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited famous Jagannath temple here on Sunday.Clad in his trademark white kurta and vermilion on his forehead, Pradhan offered prayers at the ancient temple with his supporters.Talking to media persons after visiting the temple, he said the famous temple has also suffered a lot from the cyclonic storm 'Fani' which hit the district on May 3."A lot of damage has been done by (Fani) to the temple as well. Life is gradually returning to normalcy. Everything will be fine soon," he said.Pradhan lauded his government for amicably working with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government after the "extremely severe cyclonic" storm hit Odisha earlier this month.He said: "The Government of India closely worked with the state government in the time of this crisis. I myself came many times here. The Prime Minister came inspected the situations."The minister said that that the ...
'You can't draw Russia link' to Austria sting: Russian senator
A Russian senator on Sunday said the hidden-camera recordings that toppled the Austrian government did not prove any link to Russia and Moscow did not want to spoil its relations with Vienna. Far-right Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resigned in disgrace on Saturday following explosive revelations in a hidden camera sting. Media reports emerged Friday alleging that Strache promised public contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer he met on the Spanish island of Ibiza a few months before 2017's parliamentary elections in Austria. "You cannot draw a Russian link to this clearly ugly incident based on the existing recording," Oleg Morozov, a member of the foreign affairs committee of Russia's upper house and a ruling party lawmaker, told RIA Novosti state news agency. "This could be a staged provocation. Or some incident to do with corruption that no state may be behind at all," he suggested. "Good relations with Austria are too dear to Russia to squander ..
Austrian president calls for September poll in wake of scandal
Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen on Sunday called for fresh elections in September after a corruption scandal embroiling the far-right brought down the coalition government in spectacular fashion. Just days before key EU elections, Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache was forced to resign in disgrace Saturday following explosive revelations from a hidden camera sting. Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz -- whose 18-month coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) had been held up as a European model -- reacted by pulling the plug on their union. "My preference is for early elections in September, if possible the beginning of September," Van der Bellen told journalists on Sunday after holding talks with Kurz. The president will hold further talks with other party leaders over the coming weeks in order to fix a date. The dramatic developments followed the publication by two German newspapers on Friday of footage from a sophisticated hidden-camera sting months ...
Karna CM fumes over political satire shows, says there is need to bring in law
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Sunday slammed news channels over "belittling" of politicians on their satire programmes, saying he felt there was a need to bring in a law to regulate them. Addressing a public meeting in Mysuru, he also slammed sections of media for raising doubts about the longevity of the JDS-Congress coalition government headed by him and asserted it would continue with the "good wishes" of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. "What do you think of politicians? You think that we are so easily available to be mocked? Who has given you powers to present everything sarcastically," Kumaraswamy asked the channels. "Whom are you trying to favour by belittling us among the masses? I feel the need to bring in a law," he added. Stating that the coalition government led by him was stable, Kumaraswamy said it had the blessings of Congress leaders. "This government will not go so easily as is being projected that soon after the election results on May 23 (the government ..
Voting ends in bypolls to 4 Assembly seats in TN (3rd Lead)
Polling in bypolls to four assembly seats in Tamil Nadu - Aravakuruchi, Sulur, Thiruparankundram and Ottapidaram - came to end at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
EC's 'capitulation' before PM and his gang obvious: Rahul
As polling for the Lok Sabha election ended, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday hit out at the Election Commission, saying its "capitulation" before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his gang is obvious. He trained his guns on the poll body, saying it is no longer "feared and respected", as he listed a host of examples in this regard, including Modi's visit to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. "From Electoral Bonds and EVMs to manipulating the election schedule, NaMo TV, 'Modi's Army' and now the drama in Kedarnath; the Election Commission's capitulation before Mr Modi and his gang is obvious to all Indians," Gandhi tweeted. "The EC used to be feared and respected. Not anymore," he wrote. The Congress party, including Gandhi, have been accusing the Election Commission of being "biased" and "partial". Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also hit out at the EC saying, "Our charge had been that the EC was sleeping on the job. Now, we can go further and say that the EC completely surrendered .
Hopeful that new dispensation will introspect Kashmir policy: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Sunday criticised the Centre's Kashmir policy and expressed hope that the new political dispensation will do an "introspection". He said it was "unfortunate" that the Centre had "choked" all means of peaceful protests, seminars and "was not allowing pro-freedom leaders to meet people" in the state. "We are hopeful that the new political dispensation in India will do an introspection of the last five years' policy with regard to Kashmir," he said. He said the separatist leadership was ready to support all Indo-Pak efforts aimed at seeking a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. "We have held several rounds of dialogue with those in power in India and Pakistan in the past. Even today, if the leadership of both the countries make efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue through meaningful dialogue, the Hurriyat leadership is ready to fully support it," the Mirwaiz told a seminar at the Hurriyat headquarters in Rajbagh ...
Yechury speaks to CEC, alleges widespread rigging by TMC in West Bengal
CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday spoke to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora regarding alleged widespread rigging in the last phase of polling in West Bengal by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and asked why no efforts were made to ensure free and fair elections.As polling is underway for nine parliamentary constituencies in the state, several incidents of violence were reported at different polling booths including Dum Dum, Diamond Harbour, Kolkata North, and Jadavpur."Spoke to CEC Shri Sunil Arora ji, apprised him of the large scale attempts at rigging and violence in Dum Dum, Diamond Harbour, Kolkata Uttar, Jadavpur. He has assured us. We hope at this final stage of the poll, they can ensure that people are allowed to vote, freely and fairly," Yechury wrote on his Twitter handle.Yechury claimed that no central forces were deployed in these regions and no efforts were made to stop the hijacking of democracy."There are no central forces, no efforts to stop the
Nitish targets Lalu, rubbishes claims about Prashant Kishor
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday repudiated arch rival Lalu Prasad's claim that he had sent poll-strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishor for rapprochement owing to unease with the BJP. Kumar also said that he was looking forward to the formation of a new government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and his JD(U) joining it. The chief minister, however, made it clear that his party will stick to its stand on issues like Article 370, Uniform Civil Code and the Ayodhya dispute, which was at variance with that of the BJP. The JD(U) chief, who had a low-key presence during the general elections, talked in detail on varied issues, including condemning BJP Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur describing Mahatama Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as "patriot", and also questioned the long-drawn polling in intense heat condition. Terming Thakur's remarks on Godse as "nindaneeye" (condemnable), he hoped that the saffron party would consider taking ...
Hindu Mahasabha workers celebrate Godse's birth anniversary
Hindu Mahasabha activists here celebrated the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, a functionary of the outfit said Sunday. Godse was born in Baramati in Pune district, then part of the Bombay Presidency, on May 19 in 1910. Hindu Mahasabha national vice president Jaiveer Bharadwaj said celebrations were held at its office in Daulatganj area. Terming him a "deshbhakt" (patriot), Bharadwaj said, "We paid obeisance to him and performed aarti in front of his photograph and distributed sweets." He claimed that several BJP leaders consider Godse a patriot but there was a section in the ruling party that had been denigrating him. Earlier, on November 15, 2017, the Hindu Mahasabha had installed a 32-inch bust of Godse at its Gwalior office, which the administration then removed. "If the bust isn't returned by district administration by November 15 this year, the Mahasabha will install another one at its Gwalior office," Bharadwaj said. Additional ...
Now, Hindu Mahasabha celebrates Godse's birthday
The controversy over Nathuram Godse refuses to die down. The All India Hindu Mahasabha on Sunday celebrated the birthday of the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi with a "havan" here.
Modi govt will return to power with majority: Sumitra Mahajan
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Sunday said the Narendra Modi government would return to power with absolute majority for the second time. Mahajan, who represented the Indore Lok Sabha constituency for eight consecutive times since 1989, was talking to reporters after casting her vote at a polling booth in Old Palasia here. "There is an encouraging atmosphere for the BJP in the country. I have full faith that the Modi government will once again form the government with full majority," Mahajan (76), popularly known as 'Tai' (elder sister in Marathi), said. Mahajan, who has the distinction of being one of the longest-serving women members of Parliament (MPs), was not in the fray this time as she crossed her party's 75-year age bar to fight elections. She had last month opted out of contesting the general elections saying she had freed the party to make its choice. She had, however, maintained that she would continue to work for the BJP and campaign for it. Thereafter, ...
Voted for development, say conjoined twins after casting
Twenty-three-year-old conjoined twins Sabah and Farah, who have been acknowledged as separate voters, Sunday urged people to exercise their franchise in large numbers after casting their ballots. The twins, joined at the head, had first voted in the 2015 Assembly polls when their names were printed on a single voter ID card and their vote was counted as a single one. This time they have been issued separate voter IDs and permitted to cast their votes separately. "We have voted for development and urge people to come out and do likewise in large numbers," the sisters told newspersons outside their booth in Samanpura locality of the city, falling under the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat. A poll official, who accompanied the young women, told reporters "as per Election Commission's directions transport arrangements were made for Sarah and Farah and we helped them to cast their votes at the booth". District Magistrate Kumar Ravi said the girls have been acknowledged as separate ..